Nanami couldn't sleep, unable to relax.
She feared for Tomoe and what would happen if he faced the war god.
The last meeting they had did not end well, as Tomoe had left the god battered but it hadn't been their first meeting as the war god had left Tomoe to die if she hadn't found him in time.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her stomach cramping gently.
She sighed when the sensation ended, stroking the bump gently.
"None of that now. This isn't a good time for you to make your appearance," she cooed, trying to keep her anxiety in check.
No one came to see her through the morning, leaving her to feel alone.
At mid day her heart raced as Tomoe's voice drifted from the mirror yet again, "Nanami are you there?"
She lifted it, smiling when she saw his face, "Yes love, I'm here."
"Are you ok?"
Another ripple caressed her stomach, stronger than the one from an hour earlier.
She placed her left hand over her stomach, sighing, "Yes but...Tomoe please hurry."
He saw the worry cross her face, "What's wrong?"
She smiled, "It's almost time."
His eyes grew wide, "What? How much time do we have?"
"I don't know. The contractions are a half hour apart and getting stronger."
He grew light headed as he placed his right hand over his face.
His kits were on the way and he was so far from her to help.
He swore, "Nanami I'm sending the kitsunebi to you. They will protect you until I can get there. Nanami I'm so sorry."
She smiled at him, "I love you. This isn't your fault, none of it is. Just relax and come get us ok."
She kissed the mirror as Tomoe did the same with his.
"I'm on my way. Hold tight. I need you to raise you divine powers so the kitsunebi can find you as quickly as possible."
"Alright. Be careful."
The afternoon drew to a close when she heard the lock to her door slide and the door swung open.
She looked up from her seat at the window to find Ikusagami standing in the rotten frame.
He wore a seething smile on his lips, "It seems your lover is on his way to get you. Pity though."
"Oh," Nanami replied snuggly, trying desperately to hide her discomfort with the contraction that washed over her stomach.
"You won't be where you are supposed to be."
The color ran from her face, "What...what are you talking about?"
The god's smile grew, "Tell me..."
He looked down on her, his right index finger tapping the top of her stomach.
Nanami glared at him, smacking it away.
A fang appeared in the god's mouth, "Have you ever had to watch as the other half of your being is murdered in front of your eyes?"
Nanami was taken a back, "No."
He looked out the window, "I have. It feels as though your heart has been ripped from your chest and cast into the very flames of hell."
Nanami was dumbfounded at his response, "What are you talking about? What is it you are after?"
He laughed as his left hand shot at her, his fingers wrapping around her throat as he ran his right palm roughly over her stomach, "I want what your bastard husband took from me. I know your contractions have started. It's only a matter of time until the child is born. I will take it as my own and while your mate watches, I will kill you. That is, if he isn't already dead."
Nanami clawed at his hands, fear running her cold.
He released her, making her fall to the rough floor.
She gasped, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"W...who are you? You're not Ikusagami."
The god smiled, "It matters not to you."
He left, the lock on the door tumbling into place.
She shook uncontrollably.
"He's after our baby," she wept, cradling her stomach.
A female voice called out to her from the window, "Lady Nanami are you in there?"
She looked up to find two blue fireballs dancing just outside.
"Kitsunebi," Nanami whispered, pushing herself up off the floor.
"Oh thank goodness," the male fireball replied.
"Are you alright," the female asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm afraid I can't let you in. There is a spell on it to keep is closed."
"Alright then I shall go inform the Master," the male sounding one said, leaving his fellow kitsunebi behind.
"My Lady are you aware this isn't Lord Ikusagami's shrine?"
"What... no?"
"Yes my Lady. We know not who it belongs to but you are currently west of there."
"No...no...no," Nanami grew frantic. "Where is Tomoe now?"
"He is currently entering the true shrine of the war god."
She drew out the pocket mirror, crying out to Tomoe.
"Tomoe answer me. Tomoe!"
She felt the mirror grow warm a moment later.
"Nanami what is it?"
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she desperately tried to catch her breath.
"Tomoe I'm not at Ikusagami's."
"What? Are you sure," he hissed frantically.
She shook her head, "The kitsunebi say I'm at a shrine to the west of there."
"Damn, are you ok?"
Her voice cracked, "No. Whoever this person is, he isn't Ikusagami and he wants one our little ones."
Tears rolled down her cheeks as her voice and body shook.
"All because you had taken someone he loved when you were young."
"What!? Nanami I'm coming just hang on."
"Please Tomoe, hurry. I don't want to loose our little ones."
A contraction made her catch her breath, "Please hurry."
The female kitsunebi desperately pushed against the window, "My Lady are you ok?"
Tomoe voice grew gentle, "Nanami you know I will come for you. No one will hurt our kits so long as I breath."
His chest began to ache as his heart began to break from seeing the woman he loved so upset. He swore that once he got her back she would never leave his arms again.
Nanami calmed, her breath coming in small hiccups.
"Try to rest my love, I'll be with you shortly."
She nodded, kissing the mirror.
"My Lady," the fireball whispered, "what shall you have me do?"
Nanami took a deep breath, "Return to Tomoe. Your energy is no doubt low."
"Lady Nanami?"
"Go, I'll be fine."
Tomoe stormed into the main hall of the war god's shrine, interrupting the gods conversation.
Ikusagami seethed, "How dare you barge in here you filthy yokai."
"Nanami is not here," he yelled, ignoring the god.
"Are you certain," Mikage asked.
"The kitsunebi have found her at a shrine to the west."
"I'm talking to you vermin," the war god growled.
Tomoe glared at him, "I shall apologize when I know my wife and kits are safe. Now tell me what God inhabit the shrine to the west."
Ookuninushi brought his right hand to his chin as he thought, "If it's to the west of here that God passed on ages ago and it's now over run with such a heavy miasma that even I would have trouble purifying."
Mikage asked, "Doesn't she also live there?"
"Yes."
Tomoe growled, "Who...who lives there?"
Mikage sighed, "Tomoe a long time ago you had taken the life of a young oni who had been defending his territory in that region. His name was Hasu.
Tomoe did remember.
It had been Akura-ou who had called to have the boy killed. He had tried to warn him when Hasu had attacked him leaving Tomoe no choice but to defend himself.
Tomoe grew saddened at the memory, "Yes I remember."
Mikage looked sadly at his son, "His mother, Mizuumi, has vowed revenge on you for his death."
"I see. Nanami told me that Ikusagami's imposter is after one of our children."
Mikage paled, "No doubt she wants the child to replace the one taken from her."
"Yes, it does sound like something she would do."
Tomoe turned, leaving the shrine.
"Where are you going," Mikage asked.
"To get my family back."
"I see."
Tomoe stepped on his firey chariot.
"Brother wait," Mizuki called racing up to the yokai. "I'm coming too."
The two set off for the rundown shrine.
Tomoe pulled out mirror, calling out to Nanami.
When she answered he grew worried by her strained expression.
"Nanami what's wrong?"
She let out a heavy breath, "The contractions are getting worse. They are now only a few minutes apart."
"Damn, we're on our way. Listen to me. This whole thing is my fault. You're right, it's not Ikusagami. It's an oni names Mizuumi. A long time ago I had accidentally killed her son when i tried to warn him of Akura-ou's coming attack on his territory," he told her.
"Tomoe it wasn't your fault. It was an accident."
He looked at her distressed face, "I'm so sorry Nanami. Just hold on a bit longer."
She nodded, "Alright."
"Tomoe there," Mizuki called, pointing at a darkened area of earth.
Tomoe looked to Mizuki, "Alright, listen to me. Find a way inside. Nanami says her room is locked from the outside and the kitsunebi were unable to enter through the window."
Mizuki smiled, "Leave it to me." Then fell to the ground, vanishing amongst the dead trees and grass.
Ikusagami appeared in Nanami's prison yet again, a smile curving his lips.
Nanami sat doubled over in the throws of a contraction when he purred, "Not much longer."
The contraction ended, giving the woman a chance to breath.
"You don't have to do this. Your son's death was an accident."
The god looked taken aback for a moment but quickly regained his composure.
He glared down at her, "It was Tomoe's blade which pierced my son's heart. You're husband came for blood."
"No," Nanami cried. "My husband was trying to help your son. He misunderstood Tomoe's intentions and attacked him. Tomoe had no choice but to defend himself."
The god gritted his teeth, "Tsk, what would you know. You're just a filthy human."
"I know your name is Lady Mizuumi and everyday you mourn the loss of your son. I may not understand that loss but please understand your son's death was an accident."
The god smiled, his image shimmering, "Sneaky, sneaky. You are still in contact with the deceitful fox."
Before Nanami stood a beautiful woman, horns protruded from the side of her head, through locks of shimmering black hair while lotus flowers cascaded though it's strands.
Her snow white skin was smooth, while her deep blue eyes shown brilliantly.
She wore a deep violet yukata with pink and blue lotus blossoms embroidered throughout it.
At either hip she carried matching katana.
Her voice was soft and flowing, yet carried the harshness of a crashing wave.
"Tell me dear," Mizuumi continued, "what do you know of your precious fox? Do you know the number of people, human and yokai, that have fallen at the feet of your precious one? What makes you think he won't turn on you?"
"Tomoe would never harm anyone unless they would cause him harm. Tomoe may have done some foolish things when he was with Akura-ou but back then he was lost. I love Tomoe and I trust him with every ounce of my being because I know that no matter what, he's there for me as I am there for him."
The woman smiled, "And yet he allowed you to be captured and is currently fighting a god. No doubt dead by now."
"No," Nanami gasped. "Tomoe may be hot headed but he also has more diplomacy then any god I have met. He already knew I wasn't at Ikusagami's shrine. He just needed sometime to figure out where i really was. Tomoe will never leave us behind...aahhhhh."
Nanami doubled over as a contraction tore through her, making her whimper.
An explosion rocked the shrine, startling them both.
"Lady Mizuumi come out. We have something to discuss," a familiar voice called.
Nanami smiled, "Tomoe!"
She grabbed the window pane, pulling herself up, calling out to him, "Tomoe I'm here."
The oni woman swore, leaving the room and locking the door behind her.
"No, please don't," Nanami cried behind her.
Tomoe stepped from his chariot.
"Lady Mizuumi," he called again, "I'm here for my wife. Return her to me."
Mizuumi stepped from the shrine, a smile on her lips, "So you survived. Does this mean you killed that foolish god?"
Tomoe shook his head, a sly smirk crossing his lips, "No, he is very much alive and well. In fact there is no doubt he is on his way here. You see he is a rather moronic kind of god and he no doubt wishes to punish you for impersonating him."
The woman sneered, "He is a weak fool and speaking of fools, draw your blade so that I may have some fun before I kill you."
Tomoe looked at her sadly, "No. I shall not draw my blade when we can discuss what happened to Hasu."
A snarl crossed the woman's face, "You have no right to have his name on your lips you filthy fox. You will die."
She rushed at him, swinging her katana down at his face but he was quicker, dodging at the last second.
Mizuumi recovered in mid swing, bringing the blade up horizontally, clipping a bit of Tomoe's hair that had flown out during his second dodge.
The woman continued to unleash a fury of swings, each one more calculated than the last but again Tomoe was too fast with each dodge.
It wasn't until she brought out her second katana, that Tomoe had trouble and was then forced to draw his.
"I refuse to fight you. I need to get my wife so that we may go home," he said when their blades crossed.
"It will be a cold day in hell before you touch her with living hands," she said as she kicked his right leg, making it buckle.
The movement made him bite his lip. He stood, barely dodging the katana she had sent flying at his face as she rushed him with the other.
Yet again their swords locked.
"Will you please come to your senses," Tomoe said angrily, "If I don't get to Nanami soon I fear I will lose her and our children."
A dagger appeared in her hand, "Good, then you will know my heartache."
She brought the smaller blade down, grazing him just below his left eye.
She jumped up, kicking off of his stomach and somersaulting away from him.
Tomoe gasped as the wind rushed out of him as Mizuumi again furiously attacked him, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She smiled as she again attacked with the dagger, making him duck the blade giving her another chance to land a kick along side his head.
She jumped back, laughing as he stood dazed, "Your death will bring so much joy."
It was then that he felt the cold metal slam into the right side of his back, stopping when the stray katana reached the hilt.
Tomoe looked down in shock at the blade protruding from the right part of his chest causing him to drop his sword.
Mizuumi took her chance, bringing her sword down on his left shoulder, making him gasp in pain.
She released the sword, leaving it cleaved to his chest, blood soaking his yukata and haori.
His legs buckled, dropping him to his knees.
She shrieked in laughter, "I've finally been blessed with revenge. My sweet Hasu you may finally rest now."
She brought her dagger up over head, ready to inflict the final blow.
"I'm sorry," Tomoe whispered, his eyes glazed. "It was an accident but if my death will make everything right then yes, kill me but I beg you...Please spare my family. Let them go."
"TOMOE!"