It was their anniversary, Kagome had spent the whole day getting ready around their children and now it was all for naught. No babysitter in a fifty mile radius wanted anything to do with the three Taisho children. Not because individually they were badly behaved, but together—at least with the older two—they tended to get into mischief and those not used to handling demonic powers—and those without spiritual powers like their mother—often ended up with more than just a little animosity towards them.

They'd made a new record this evening by running the babysitter off just as their parents had gotten out the door. Neither knew how they'd done it, and neither had asked. Because of this, the miko was more than a little irritated as she dragged Kei and Kasumi up to Kei's room by their ears, a particularly frightened Seishiro following behind in silence. Sesshomaru did nothing, the wrath of the angry priestess was certainly more than enough of a punishment.

"What was that?" All three children cringed, the ten and eight year old more than the six year old, as Kagome's hands landed on her hips. "You've effectively ruined your father and I's evening!" Kei was the first one to speak, frowning at the floor as his tone held a mixture of pride and guilt.

"I don't see why you had to go out…" Blue eyes focused on him and she answered, her tone holding just a little less anger than it had before.

"Because it's special to me, Kei, it's the day your father and I got married." She let her gaze drift between all of them, "you wouldn't like it if I opened your presents on your birthday, would you?" None of them answered her and she pressed the issue.

"Would you?"

"No, Mom…" The two elder ones offered in unison.

"No, because it's your day, right?" All three nodded and Kagome's voice softened even more, "Well today is my day, and your actions have ruined it." Silence filled the room for a long moment until Seishiro wrapped himself around his mother's legs.

"Sorry Momma…" He apologized softly, quickly followed in unison by his siblings and very quickly her anger melted away. Of course she was still disappointed, but they were just children and she sighed as she bent to return her youngests hug. Straightening after a moment, her voice held a stern tone, but the anger had all but gone from it.

"You're grounded for the night" Complaints started to sound "up, up ,up—" Once she had silence once more, she continued, "All three of you are to stay in your individual rooms, I don't want to hear a peep out of any of you until dinner, or after. Understood?"

"Yes, Mom…" They all chimed in resigned unison.

"Good" She pointed to the hallway, "Go" Kei sat down on his bed, Kasumi darted past her mother and into her own room, and Seishiro hurried to his room; and as the miko stepped out into the hallway, all three doors closed. And then it was over, she took off her shoes and headed down stairs to start dinner only to have Sesshomaru catch her halfway to the kitchen.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked mildly, catching her hand and effectively stopping her.

"To make dinner…" Disappointment was clear on Kagome's face as she turned to look at him; in fact she looked ready to cry. But he didn't let her. Pulling her against him, his chin rested on the top of her head as she buried her face in his chest; and after a moment he parted from her.

"Come with me…" Taking her hand, he led her to the den, happy that she didn't argue as he left her in the middle of the room and turned on some soft music. Her smile returned when he turned back to her.

"What're you doing?" He said nothing, but instead offered her his hand and after a moment of consideration, she took it and let herself be reeled in against him.

"What're they doing?" Kasumi pressed a finger to her lips and frowned at Seishiro as she shushed him; the little hanyou ever so slightly pouted at his sister until his elder brother answered him.

"They're dancing" Seishiro craned to look over his sister's shoulder only to find it futile and ducked under her arm.

"Why would they do that?" He asked, this time his tone a loud whisper that drew a shrug from Kei.

"Who knows, it's mom and dad…"

"C'mon, let's go back to our rooms before mom catches us" Kasumi served as the voice of reason between the two, picking up Seishiro and carting him back up the stairs. As she reached the top, Kei was still watching his parents and her call down to him was a harsh murmur. "Kei, come ON!"

"Okay, okay!" He returned in the same tone, hurrying up the stairs as his sister took their brother to his room.