I was Googling "autumn festivals in Japan" because I wanted something fun for the twins around November when they're 6 months old and I found out about the Kamiari festival that's very conveniently held in Izumo every year. I researched it as well as I could but if there's some obvious nonsense, just ignore it

"Who's a big boy now?" Keiko smiled at Yoh who laughed. Hao beside him rolled his eyes. These games might work on Yoh, but not on him. He didn't care that a few days ago, he was exactly six months old. Six months with this family, and Yohmei and Mikihisa still didn't accept him. Hao didn't care about them though. They could hate him as much as they wanted, he would show them who was more powerful and ancient between the three of them anytime.

Yoh however, dearly loved all the attention he got from his parents and grandfather. He threw his smiles left and right. The only time when he fell silent and insecure was when new people showed up for the celebration, some of Keiko's friends who wanted to see her sons. Then, Yoh felt silent while Hao mustered the most intimidating expression he could as a baby, having been reminded earlier to be civil, and, despite how much he hated it, he actually tried his best for his current mother.

I'm sorry , Keiko thought towards him when her friend cupped his cheeks and cooed, hoping to get some reaction out of him. Please don't do anything to them, they're just curious.

Hao felt like a different person when he sighed inwardly.

When are they going to leave? he asked, and Keiko stole a glance at the clock.

Soon .

It took them another two hours.

Now, however, he had been seated in the pram, together with his brother. They were both wearing their small jackets, as the November weather was quite cold already, and they were guarded by Mikihisa and Yohmei.

It was time for the annual Kamiari festival at the Izumo shrine, which meant that Keiko had momentarily returned to work, donning her miko outfit, along with several other shrine maidens that were to help her.

The locals were gathered alongside Inasa-no-hama beach. They were awaiting the gods' arrival. Mikihisa held the pram firmly in front of him, letting the children see what was happening.

It was shortly after sunset and the bonfires on the beach were lit. The flames curled around the wood and reflected in the kids' eyes.

"Look closely," Yohmei said, holding his pipe in his hand like he always did. "This is the ceremony welcoming all the gods in Izumo."

While Yoh seemed fascinated by everything, Hao stayed silent. He had seen such a ceremony countless times before, and in some years, it would be him who would be celebrated. He would be the saviour, become the shaman king like he couldn't in his past lives, and then he would get rid of all these silly little humans. However, one side of him would've liked to be cherished and welcomed by humans, the other knew that that would never happen. He despised humans, didn't he? Despised them for he knew how shallow, petty creatures they were, despised them for killing his mother all those years back. His mother for whom he searched all levels of Hell and couldn't find her.

Mikihisa leaned forward to the pram and pointed towards the ceremony happening at the beach.

"Look there, there's your mama," he said, earning a laugh from Yoh. At this age, he could recognize simple words and could point at things and people when they were named, and, of course, Keiko was very happy with how well he was developing for a premature baby. While doctor Nakamura warned her that her sons might be developing slower than babies carried to term, she had seen no such thing. Both her sons were thriving.

"Hao," Mikihisa said, and the boy raised his head and looked at him, unimpressed. Both twins also recognized their names by now. Of course, Hao had always known when they were talking about him or to him, but Yoh was happy to be spoken to… except the times when he had done something.

He had pushed a plate down from the table last week, and while gentle, his parents told him clearly that he couldn't do such a thing. It consisted of a simple "no" in a strict tone. Yoh had thrown a tantrum right there, but after some time, he was again happily playing with his swan plushie.

Now, the boys looked towards the beach. They could see the silhouettes of the shrine priests, illuminated by the orange glow of the fire. One of them was Keiko, but no one could make out which one she was.

The ceremony had ended, and the whole crowd went to the shrine. Mikihisa had chosen a slow pace to match Yohmei. At his old age, he used a cane as support, and therefore, the pace needed to be adjusted to him. Not that either of them minded; the procession was blocked out of view by the priests carrying white fabric between them and the crowd. There was nothing to see anymore.

"I believe it is time to go home," Yohmei said, noticing that Yoh had fallen asleep in the pram. They could always go pray at the shrine the next day. The gods were supposed to stay there for a week, that was enough time to go there during the week. Though, Yohmei chuckled, it would probably be better to leave the kids at home. There would be sake present and that wouldn't be appropriate.

Hao raised an eyebrow at Yohmei's thoughts. What a fool; sake never hurt anyone, especially if they weren't drinking. And he knew that right now, as much as he hated to admit it, he preferred the baby formula and the mashed fruits and vegetables that Keiko prepared for him and Yoh every afternoon as a snack. She had started introducing them to new foods every few days, and so far, Hao's taste buds really enjoyed the taste of real food on his tongue.

"You're right, Father," Mikihisa agreed, steering towards the Asakura compound. They both knew that Keiko would come home late, as the ceremonies still needed to be held at the shrine. Meanwhile, they could guard the house and put the twins to sleep.

I liked the bonfires, Hao commented casually as he was picked up from the pram. For a second, Mikihisa looked taken aback. His son almost never spoke directly to him, but since Keiko was away, he was probably the next best person.

He smiled and patted Hao's back.

"Of course you would," he said, making Yohmei look at him as if he had gone crazy. The old shaman chuckled.

"He speaks to you too now?"

Mikihisa regarded him with a curious expression. Yohmei held sleeping Yoh in his arms, letting the boy drool all over his haori.

The young man shrugged.

"Maybe if you weren't so intent on disliking him, he would speak to you too," he said lightly. Despite him being wary of Hao, he had seen that he was also still just a baby. A dangerous baby, but still a boy nonetheless. Keiko had asked him to try to see him like that, anyways, and he was trying for her sake.

"I thought you didn't like him too? Why is he speaking to you and not to me then?" Yohmei wondered aloud.

Because you're a fool, Yohmei. And I'm a much better onmyouji than you'll ever be , Hao cackled in his mind. Yohmei's face coloured red.

"Why, you-!" he raised his fist before he remembered that he needed both hands to keep Yoh steady in his arms, and hurried to support his grandson. Keiko wouldn't be happy if he let anything happen to him.

You win, for now , he thought bitterly, followed by Hao's own, ringing laugh.

"Let's go wait for Keiko," the old shaman decided, entering the house with baby Yoh. Mikihisa lifted his son in front of him. Hao was sporting the most innocent look he could.

"What did you say to him?" he inquired, genuinely curious. There weren't many things that could get Yohmei angry… except maybe Kino's cooking.

Nothing important, Hao replied, yawning.

Mikihisa entered the house.

"I think it's time to go to sleep for you," he said, letting him rest his chin on his shoulder.

No… Hao's voice sounded softer now. Want to… wait for Keiko . He accompanied this statement with another yawn, and Mikihisa smiled.

"Mum will be back soon, alright? And she would be sad if she knew that you haven't been sleeping because of her," he said, and a second later, he felt Hao shaking his head slightly.

She would be happy because I waited for her, he argued, but his telepathy was becoming weaker. He was falling asleep, and he knew it. He knew that and he was still fighting back. Mikihisa sighed, smiling. Having children sure was an adventure.

"Let's go, I'm sure she will also be tired when she comes home," he said, raising an eyebrow when no remark came. Instead, he heard the soft breaths of a sleeping baby. He entered his and Keiko's room to put him down into the crib next to his brother.

"There's a good boy."