The hall of Izumo shrine boomed with Ikusagami's voice.
"Are you serious?!"
"Now, now," Ookuninushi said, worry crossing his face. "I shall contact Mikage and Nanami to get the story from them."
Otohiko flinched knowing he had most certainly caused deep trouble for his lord.
When he had seen Tomoe released from his bonds and Nanami, in what he assumed, near birth, he knew he had to inform the other gods. He feared that if any harm were to come to Nanami and the halflings she carried, there would be no stopping Tomoe.
The god shivered with horror at the thought of being sent against such a ruthless foe.
"You know it to be true," the war god screeched, "He has been left to do as he pleases for far too long all because he is the familiar of Mikage and now he has impregnated a human and to make it worse a human god at that. I tire of your leniency. He has had a price on his head for too long. It's time to collect."
"And what of the yokai," Ookuninushi replied. "He has the backing of several strong clans. I'm not very keen on a war."
"So we are just supposed to exempt him from the law. Since when has any yokai held himself to the standing of the gods and not been struck down for it," Ikusagami yelled. "And what of the human? Will she also not suffer the consequences because she is a god?"
Ookuninushi squeezed the bridge of his nose, "The two of them have earned our respect after dealing with Akura-ou for us. What business is it of ours to meddle in their life?"
The war god fumed, looking at his superior. He then turned and stormed from the palace.
"Is it wise to let him go like this, " Otohiko asked, raking his hand through his hair.
His superior sighed, "It's all that can be done for now. He will eventually burn himself out and find something else to complain about."
The wind deity bowed, "I suppose you're right. What would you have me do?"
"How about you tell me how our little goddess is and how she is faring," Ookuninushi smiled giddily.
Otohiko smiled, launching into what he had seen and heard.

Nanami and Tomoe spent their remaining weeks of the pregnancy gathering items for the pending birth and just enjoying each other's company.
There had been a baby shower not long after their wedding, taking care of the majority of birthing and child raising.
They had received everything from cradles and clothing to toys and care items.
The couple was dumbfounded as to what they would do for their pending little ones so Tomoe had cleared out a storage room next to their own bedroom and turned it into a brightly lit and colored nursery. Nanami adored the scene of a lush fields surrounded by sakura trees. It reminded her of the first time Tomoe had taken her to see the field of sakura trees all those years ago. She giggled when she saw the foxes scampering about playing tag or relaxing amongst the trees. He had shouted menacingly at Mizuki for sneaking in an image of a white serpent to hang from one of the tree limbs.
During one of their trips to the world over yander Nanami was brought to a fit of giggles as her husband played with a toy katana, having a mock battle with some invisible foe. He hadn't been paying attention when he nearly collided with a display of kites.
The two left, Tomoe triumphantly twirling the sword in his fingers, Nanami smiling at his arm.
Nanami flinched as pain stabbed at her feet.
"Tomoe may we stop for a bit?"
He smiled, "As you wish," helping her to sit on a nearby bench.
She let out a heavy sigh, placing her hands over her stomach.
Tomoe knelt down in front of her, "I have to go to one more store up the street, will you be ok?"
She smiled, nodding drowsily.
He smiled, kissing her forehead.
He told the shopkeeper to watch over her and then went on his way.
He entered a shop not far away where he was having a special gift made for his little girl.
The raccoon dog behind the counter smiled at him, "Master Tomoe. You here for your order?"
He smiled, nodding, "Yes, your wife said it would be done today."
The yokai nodded, "Yes sir, it's right here."
He turned to the shelf behind him and picked up a slender red box covered in lotus blossoms.
"So how is the young Mistress," he asked, handing the Fox the box.
"Doing well thank you. Any day now she will be having the twins."
Tomoe took the box, opening it.
Inside lay a delicate hairpin in the shape of an Ume blossom, it's five pink petals were smooth and round with yellow seed beads streaming from its center.
"Is it to your liking?"
Tomoe was about to answer when an explosion rocked the shop and yokai ran screaming in all directions outside.
Tomoe dropped the box, making the hairpin fall out and shatter on the counter, "No..."
He bolted from the shop, racing to his wife's side but when he arrived he found a smoking crater, the bench and the shop it sat in front of, in splinters, not far away his son's sword also lay shattered.
"Nanami..."
He spun around, looking for her scent.
He managed to find it through the dust, finding it to be mixed with another yokai's scent that burned his nostrils.
Growling, he followed it outside of town until it abruptly ended against the trendline.
His worry turned to fury as he smashed several trees, lighting others with his fox fire.
"NANAMI!"
He ran back through the town looking for clues until a soft voice caught his attention, "Lord Tomoe."
"Sakurako I don't have time..."
The raccoon dog girl shook her head, "It's Lady Nanami."
"What?!"
His hair bristled as her grabbed her shoulders, "What of Nanami? Have you seen her? Where is she?"
She shook her head, handing him a folded piece of paper, "It was Norikubo and his gang. They left this and took the young Mistress."
He grabbed the note, ripping it slightly as he opened it.
In smooth handwriting the note read, "You have caused nothing but trouble you filthy fox. It's time you are put down for good along with your welps. The young Mistress shall also face punishment for her deeds. Perhaps I shall be kind and let you watch each other burn."
The note was unsigned but he recognized the scent permeating the paper.
He clenched his teeth, a growling hiss escaping his lips, "Damn him."
He turned to leave when the geisha grabbed his haori sleeve, "Lord this little one needs help. He is in very bad condition."
He looked to find little Mamoru unconscious in her hands.
He lifted the tiny primate, brushing his thumb against his cheek, he was relieved to find him gently sigh against his hand.
His heart broke for the shikigami, knowing he did his best to protect his lady.
Tomoe thanked the girl and took off toward home, Mamoru tucked away in the pocket of his haori.