Tomoe arrived home a short time later, hoping to find his former master turned father sitting in the garden enjoying his usual nite cap of sake.
When he didn't find the god there he burst through the sliding door, knocking it from its hinge causing it to slam to the floor.
Mizuki, who had been heading out of said door with several jugs of sake, slammed into the Fox, dropping the jugs, making them shatter on the floor.
The snake turned on him, fangs bared but stopped when he saw the intent to kill on Tomoe's face.
He looked to see where his mistress was, expecting to see an amused face over her husband's typical fights in the world over yonder.
He grew worried, "Tomoe where is Lady Nanami?"
Tomoe seethed, "She was taken by a gang of oni when I had my back turned. Where is father?"
"He just left for Izumo. He received a communication from Lord Ookuninushi in regards to you and her ladyship. He wanted you both to meet him there when you returned home."
"Good. Go and ready yourself as you will be coming with me."
Mizuki was startled by his request but did as he was told.
A short time later Tomoe arrived at Izumo shrine via his flaming chariot while Mizuki rode atop his shikigami, Tomoe having brought his friend up to speed on what had happened in the world over yonder.
When they arrived, Tomoe stormed into the shrine, nearly knocking those doors from their hinges.
"Ah there they...," Mikage smiled, turning to see his son and daughter but his expression turned to worry when he saw his son's face.
He stood abruptly from his seat, "Tomoe where is Nanami? What's wrong? Are the babies ok?"
"She has been taken and I know not where she is."
"What!?"
Mikage grew frantic as Tomoe handed him the note.
Ookuninushi stood as well, "By whom?"
Tomoe ignored the god, looking instead to his adopted father, "It may not be signed but is it soaked through with Ikusagami's scent."
Mikage read the note several times before handing it over to the other god who did the same.
Mikage grew worried, "This isn't good. If Nanami isn't found before she goes into labour, she and the twins won't survive."
"Which is why I'm going to the bastard and ripping him apart," Tomoe seethed.
Mikage shook his head, "That would not be wise."
Tomoe's anger flared higher, "And why is it not? The bastard has my woman and my kits. He deserves to die."
Ookuninushi spoke, anger entering his voice, "You and Nanami have helped the gods on more than one occasion and we are ever in your debt but to go off attacking a god is an all out death sentence. An act of war. No, we shall leave post haste in the morning so that your temper may cool, so you may think with a clear head. You will be of no use if you run in, head ablaze."
Blue flames engulfed the yokai, anger turning his voice to venom, "I shall not wait. Every second we are apart, is another second to losing her."
Mikage smiled, "Go and calm yourself my son. Perhaps a word to the mistress will cool your mind and heart."
His eyes grew wide as his hand shot into his haori and pulled out a small pocket mirror.
Mikage smiled, "Go call upon her."
He nodded, leaving the shrine to head to the porch overlooking the garden.
He reached into the other pocket of his haori, removing the sleeping Mamoru.
He placed the primate on his right shoulder, gently scratching the top of his head.
He took a deep breath then called out to his love, "Nanami are you there?"

Nanami began to stir as she regained consciousness.
Moaning, she opened her eyes to a dully lit room.
She looked around the room to find it in disarray and decay.
Dusty tapestries lined the walls, their images faded as the silk thread began to unravel.
Her hands bunched up a coarse fabric that she imagined was once a soft silk.
She pushed aside the frayed screen, slowly moving off of the dusty futon.
She placed her feet on the floor, standing slowly with the help of a screen still secured tightly to the ceiling.
She grew dizzy once she was fully standing and upon raising her right hand to her head, she found a silver chain swing before her eyes.
She brought both of her hands up to find them linked together with lightweight, yet strong locks. She gave them a tug making the links jingle.
She looked about the room to find a large window to her left.
Stepping toward it, she found her feet also made the same jingling sound.
Even though she had no way of seeing her ankles, she knew they too were chained together.
She heaved a quivering sigh as she walked to the window.
She pushed on the pane, finding it wouldn't budge though the shades did move enough for her to look outside though it too held despair as the trees nearby were rotten and dead, their limbs reaching for the sky like desperate fingers.
She turned away from the window to look at the opposite wall, finding a set of double doors.
She walked up to them, pressing her hands against the rough wood she found these too, locked tight.
Tears streamed down her face, her forehead resting against the cold wood.
She made her way to the futon, sitting slowly as desperation set in.
She thought back on what had happened, trying to remember what brought her here.
She remembered watching Tomoe go into a shop a few doors down. It was then when a group of rowdy looking oni had appeared, taking her roughly by the right arm.
She had asked them to leave her be, that her husband was on his way back from shopping but the brutes refused to listen, laughing as they yanked her to her feet.
With help from Mamoru, she had used her divine powers to send a charge through the one who held her but one of his followers used an artifact that caused the barrier she had erected to explode leaving herself and her shikigami unconscious.
The last thing she remembered was hearing the gang laugh and being lifted roughly against a body that smelled of sweat and old sake.
She covered her face with her hands as her thoughts turned to Tomoe and thinking of how worried he may be.
It was nightfall when her captor made his appearance.
Her heart skipped a beat when Ikusagami entered her room.
"You...but...why?"
He looked down at her in disgust, "I grow tired of you and your fox receiving special treatment while the rest of us must obey the laws passed upon us. I will be passing my judgement on both of you for your crimes since the other gods have grown too blind to see how you have put us in danger."
"But I don't understand. I thought we were allies, friends. This makes no sense."
He sneered, "How can I see a weak human and a loathsome fox as allies when all you have done is poison the minds of my fellow gods? Your fox has been allowed to roam freely for too long. It's time he faces his crimes."
She glared at him, "This is because of some stupid grudge? You endangered the lives of innocent yokai over a grudge?"
He struck her across the face, "Do not speak to me as though you know. You are a filthy human and now you are my bait. Be happy you and your spawn are not dead yet."
She placed her hand on her cheek which had grown red, a stinging sensation radiated from it.
He turned to walk away, stopping at the door, "Do not bother trying to leave. The only way in or out is if someone enters though this door from the outside."
The door shut, leaving her alone yet again.
She placed her hands over her face, tears rolling down her cheeks, "Tomoe..."
Suddenly a voice caught her attention. It was muffled but she heard it clearly.
"Nanami are you there? Nanami?"
The voice was coming from her haori.
"Tomoe..."
She plunged her hand into her pocket, drawing out the glistening silver mirror.
She had received the item from Tomoe not long after they were married in case Mikage had sent him on an errand and he was away during the birth, he would be able to get home quickly.
"Nanami please answer me."
She smiled in relief, "I...I'm here."
Tomoe sighed in relief when his loves face appeared in the shinning glass, "Thank the gods. Are you ok?"
She brushed the tears from her face, "I'm fine. Tomoe it's Ikusagami."
He nodded, "Yes I know. Do you know where he has taken you?"
"No," she replied sadly, "All I do know is I'm somewhere very old and the area is covered in a heavy miasma."
He placed his left hand against his chin, "Alright. Listen to me. We will be going to the war gods palace in the morning to find out what he is up to."
She panicked, "No, don't. He's using us to get to you."
She saw his deadly mischievous, smile cross his lips, "I know and I plan to kill him for taking you."
"Tomoe no."
She was growing frantic, "Please, No."
She placed the mirror against his cheek, feeling Tomoe's warmth radiating from the glass.
"Nanami haven't you learned that no one is allowed to touch my things and live. You belong to me my love and no bastard god is going to harm you nor my kits."
Tears rolled down her face, "Tomoe."
"Get some rest. I will see you soon."
She nodded, brushing away the tears, "Ok, I love you."
"I love you."
Tomoe kissed the mirror then looked up to the sky, wrapping his fingers around the piece of glass.
He was relieved that she was alright but it tore him apart for letting her capture take place.
He placed his right hand over his face, biting his lip.
"Were you able to contact her," Mizuki asked worriedly, leaving the shrine to sit with his friend.
"Yes, she and the twins are safe for the time being. I told her to get some rest. I can't believe I let this happen."
Mizuki smiled, placing a hand on the fox's shoulder, "It's not your fault."
Tomoe slammed his right fist against the support beam of the porch making the structure shudder and moan.
The snake looked out on the garden lit by moonlight, "You couldn't have known this would happen, especially from someone you called ally."
Tomoe grinned, "I'll make sure he is happily repaid."
He brought his claws up, his knuckles cracking as he flexed his fingers.