Spring turned to summer which drifted into fall.
It had grown intolerably hot, giving Tomoe several small heart attacks when he would find Nanami passed out due to over exertion. He had come to leaving Mizuki to watch over his love or sending the serpent on his errands just to keep Nanami safe.
"You need to take it easy," Mizuki told her.
The two sat on the porch watching the leaves on the trees change color and begin to fall.
She brushed the sweat from her brow, taking a cup from him, "I'll be fine."
"My Lady you are pale. Please just take some time out to rest."
She smiled, "Alright. Since you're so persistent."
Mizuki sat beside her playing his flute.
Nanami sighed, leaning against the porch post, "You have gotten better at that."
He smiled, "Thank you my lady. Does the tune please you?"
She nodded, "It's very relaxing."
Her stomach gave a gentle rock as the twins gave swift kicks.
She smiled, moving her hands over her stomach, "It seems the twins are also enjoying it."
Mizuki smiled, staring curiously.
She smiled, "Would you like to feel?"
He looked last nervously, "Really?"
She nodded.
He timidly placed his right hand over her bump, smiling as he felt the movement of a little foot.
He smiled, placing his other hand on her stomach.
The twins took turns making the familiar chase their movements making them laugh.
Mizuki looked up at his mistress, "Nanami may I?"
She nodded, smiling.
He then laid his ear against her stomach, listening to the little ones move about.
They laughed as one of the twins kicked Mizuki in the face.
After a day of relaxing Nanami smiled in relief as Tomoe appeared from the shadows of the garden.
He strode up to her, a smile crossing his lips.
He gathered her into his arms, holding her close and kissing her heartedly, happy to be reunited.
"How was your trip," she asked when he released her.
He smiled, "Good. I got everything Mikage asked for."
"Including his favorite sake?"
He nodded, "Yes."
He then looked sheepishly away, his face crimson, "I also got a few extra things."
"Oh?"
"I'll show you later. Have you eaten?"
She looked up at him skeptically, "Mizuki and I were going to head into town to get some ramen."
He glared down at her then took her hand and went inside.
A short time later he looked satisfied over a bowl of rice and beef curry.
After the meal, Nanami sighed in contentment as she and Tomoe sat on the porch watching the sun set behind the trees.
Tomoe smiled as she sat with her back against his chest. He dug into his satchel and drew out two perfectly ripe peaches.
Her eyes lit up, "Oh Tomoe how did you know?"
He smiled, using his claws to peel one, "It's been awhile and I know the one's in the mundane world make you sick right now."
He handed the fruit to her, smiling as she took a bite.
She was elated.
After eating the first peach, she could not bring herself to take the second, encouraging him to take it.
"How was ur day," he asked, massaging her stomach. "I hope you took it easy."
She smiled, a moan of pleasure escaping her lips, "Yes I did. Mizuki kept me company."
"Good."
She smiled, "You said you had gotten a few things on your trip?"
He smiled, "Yes, I couldn't resist."
He dug in the satchel again and removed two packages wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine, handing them to her.
She opened the first package to reveal two tiny kimonos. One was purple and pink, the other blue and green.
"Oh Tomoe they are adorable," she cried. She placed them over her stomach smiling happily.
She folded the pieces and laid them next to her and picked up the second package.
In side she found two stuffed kitsune toys, one blue and the other pink.
The fur was soft and natural feeling as she ran her hands over them.
Tears sprang to her eyes, "Oh my love, they will love them."
He smiled, "Do you think so?"
She nodded, tilting her head back so that he could kiss her.
He wrapped his arms around shoulders, hugging her tightly.
They sat in silence for some time, enjoying each other's company.
Tomoe sighed, burying his face into the top of her head.
"Are you sure it's me you want," he asked, worry creeping into his voice.
She turned to look at him, "Of coarse. I love you and can only love you."
He looked down at her, his eyes a deep violet, anxiety creasing his brow, "After all I have done and who I am."
She turned, skepticism crossing her face, "You're not getting cold feet are you? The wedding is next week and I don't want to lose you over something so silly."
He looked out over the garden, which had since grown dark, shadows reaching in all directions, "Nanami you don't know what I did. I've killed so many..."
She placed a finger over his lips, "Tomoe that was a past you. I loved you even when you nearly kill those bandits who tried to hurt me. I love you now because you stand by me, protecting me. I will love you past, present and future, regardless of what you have done."
He drew his hands over the side of her face, "I love you Nanami," he drew her into a heated kiss, leaving them breathless.
He felt a soft bump hit his stomach and looking down he found her swollen mound pressing against him.
He placed his hands on either side of her stomach, "I love you both as well." He kissed her stomach twice receiving two thumps to the face.
He smiled laying his right against her stomach, listening to his precious kits move about.
Nanami swept her hands through his hair, tickling the back of his ears.
There was just over ten weeks left in the pregnancy and the parents-to-be were relieved that there were no complications and everything was going smoothly, Nanami's only complaint was how harshly the twins kicked against her.
Tomoe's anxiety grew as the weeks went on, as a feeling in the back of his mind told him that something was going to happen, putting both Nanami and their children at risk.
He felt Nanami stop stroking his head and upon looking up he found her fast asleep.
Smiling, he kissed her forehead and lifted her into his arms, cradling her close and carried her to their room.
***
The day of the wedding came, the shrine a buzz with activity.
Tomoe stood before a mirror adjusting his white hakama when he heard a knock at the door.
"Yes?"
The door opened to Mikage who quickly slid into the room and shut the door behind him, "Hello Tomoe."
The familiar cringed as he tried to think if he had done something wrong, "Hello master."
"May I have a word?"
"Yes."
He went back to fiddling with the garment until it finally lay right.
"Tomoe you have been a great, all be it a pain, familiar and I consider you a good friend.
Tomoe looked at him curiously.
"Now that you have a family and everything that you have desired, I think it's time to end the contract."
"Master?!"
The God smiled, "You and your family are welcome to stay but your duties as familiar are hereby over and to ensure that you never enter into another contract..."
He placed a finger on the fox's chest, "I nullify all strands you have connecting you to the gods."
Gold rings appeared around Tomoe's wrists, shattering into sparks. Golden light raced down his back restoring his silvery, waist length hair.
Tomoe smiled, "Really?"
Mikage smiled, "I never wanted to keep you as a familiar for so long but I knew that you had so much potential as a guardian to the humans than as a dead yokai."
Tomoe bowed, "I thank you for all you have done for me master."
Mikage smiled, "You don't need to call me that anymore, but if I may, father, has a nice ring."
Tomoe smiled at the thought, he had truly come to adore the man in such a way.
"Yes, father."
Nanami sat before her mirror, applying the last bit of makeup to her lips when her door opened.
Ami and Kei quickly dove in, shutting the door behind them.
"Hey you two. Are you ok?"
Ami snickered, "Yeah, Kei has found her match with one of Kurama's older brothers."
"Ami," Kei cried, blushing.
Nanami snickered, "So you met Jiro?"
"Is that his name? What's his story?"
Nanami smiled, "He isn't used to women because it's forbidden to come into contact with one. His people claim we create unclean thoughts."
"Oh whatever, that's total bull."
Ami and Nanami smiled as the blush grew deeper on Kei's face.
"Anyway," Ami said, "we are actually here to help you into your shiromuku."
"Thank you," she replied, setting her lipstick down.
The two women set to work, first doing her hair, bringing it tightly against her head, bending and weaving.
"Do you have a hair pin," Kei asked.
Nanami handed her her treasured sakura blossom pin.
Ami smiled, "That pin means a lot to you guys."
Nanami smiled, "Yeah more than anyone will ever know."
They then began to dress her in her kimono.
"Oh wow," Kei smiled, when Ami removed Nanami's bathrobe, "Your stomach is huge."
Nanami blushed, running her hands over the mound.
At thirty weeks, she certainly felt huge but it was worth it. Seeing her stomach grow kept her hopeful that her kits were healthy and given the opportunity to survive against the odds placed against them.
Once the layers were secured, the two draped the wataboshi over her head.
They stood back, smiling.
"Oh Nanami you look beautiful," Ami wept.
Nanami smiled, standing before a full length mirror, tears brimming her eyes.
She barely recognized her reflection.
The three made their way to the shrine's main hall which was brightly lit, most of which coming from the porch that had had its doors removed.
It was streamed in red and gold banners and lanterns as silvery butterflies danced among the guests.
Nanami and Tomoe's closest friends sat facing the aisle, their breaths catching at the sight of her.
She giggled when Mizuki lost his place on his flute, making a long wheeze come from the instrument.
Mikage beamed happily at her from the other side of the hall.
Tomoe stood before the god, his back to her.
She smiled knowing that he had finally been restored to full yokai power and that he alone and not just his familiar side loved her.
She noticed his ears swivel around his head, listening to her soft steps.
Tomoe twitched when Nanami's scent entered the room.
Everyone else could see his woman but him. Every muscle in his being screamed for him to turn around but he knew that if he saw her he would pounce and whisk her away thus ruining the beautiful ceremony everyone had created for the two lovers.
She finally stood next to him, calming his every nerve.
She held out her left hand as he reached out for it.
She bit her lip from a giggle as his claws raked over her palm, sending a tickle through her hand.
The two smiled as Mikage began, "We are gathered here this day to bring these two souls together and bring about the ratification to a promise. Their hearts were put through many a trial, growing stronger with each passing day. Though their love is taboo they have shown they can face the very fires of hell together and returned unscathed. It is today that I give them my blessing."
The two faced each other and Tomoe felt his heart skip.
He desperately tried to catch his breath but it wouldn't come.
The whispers of her beauty did not describe her properly and he just wasn't ready to receive such a vision.
His Nanami, the woman he had taken such a liking to in the past. Who looked at him in fear the first time they had met was now gazing at him with complete love and gentleness.
She looked up at him worryingly, his distress growing.
She slid her left hand over his hand that still held hers and squeezed it gently.
He took a deep breath, calm washing over him.
"Nanami," he finally said, tightening his grip on her. "When I met you I had no idea what you would do to me. You are so sweet and full of the brightest energy and love I had ever seen. It drove me mad that someone like you would come into to my life and touch me so. You calmed the burning flame in my chest and then filled a hole I never knew I had. I am stronger knowing that you stand at my side and I can't see a future without you in it."
Mikage handed him a delicate gold ring, which he slid onto Nanami's finger, "This ring is a symbol of my devotion to you. No matter what, I will always be there for you..."
He smiled, placing his hand over her stomach, "and our kits."
She smiled, tears streaming down her cheeks, "Tomoe my life was lonely and sad but you pushed that all away when you held me close. You taught me to be stronger and to give my all. It's so frightening when you aren't close. For once in my life I have a family and a home that I can call my own and it's all because of you."
Mikage handed her a heavier ring, which she slid over Tomoe's finger, "This ring is a symbol of my devotion to you. No matter what, I will always be at your side."
The two of them smiled at each other, interlocking their fingers.
Mikage touched their shoulders, smiling happily.
The ceremony ended and everyone made their way to the garden to celebrate.
As the party went into full swing Tomoe led Nanami out of view of the others, kissing her hungrily as husband and wife.
They smiled, putting their foreheads together.
He placed his hands on either side of her face, "You kept your promise. After five hundred years, You kept your promise."
She giggle, placing her hands over his, "As did you. I'm sorry I made you wait for so long."
He laughed, "It was worth every second. I love you my Nanami."
"I love you my Tomoe."
Just then she flinched as a jolt rocked her stomach.
She gasped as she clenched her teeth.
He caught her as she fell to her knees, "What is it? What's wrong?"
Panic crept into his voice as he held her in his arms.
She grasped his arm, breathing heavily, "I'm fine. The twins just kicked a little to hard."
"Do you need me to get the midwife?"
She shook her head, "No, I'm ok."
She tried to stand but her legs could no longer hold her up.
She looked up at him, grinning, "It seems my legs have grown tired."
He smiled, shaking his head, "So reckless."
He lifted her into his arms as though she was a feather and cradled her against his chest, returning to the celebrations.
Unknown to them, they had had a visitor who grew sad when he saw Nanami's state.
"Oh dear," Otohiko frowned and disappeared.