"But why can't we go outside mama?" Imploring dark gray eyes blinked up innocently from the face of their eldest, thick sooty lashes batted in a puppy dog look that worked on most occasions, but not this time. However it wasn't Kagome that answered her son, or even Shinobu who stood nearby having finished his own rounds in securing the shrine against what may come.
"Can't you feel it Hajime?" The softer more reserved voice of Hajime's twin question from her position staring out the window into the distance, where both Shinobu and Kagome knew something was going on, some terrible battle they were allowed no part of.
"What Ren?" The three year old Hajime cast his wide eyes toward her.
Ren, who had always been keener in regards to her spiritual sensing when compared to her brother who simply had more power, scrunched up her face trying to put words to what she was feeling. "Power. Anger. Fighting. It's bad Hajime."
Stooping down to her sons level she took his tiny shoulders in her hands forcing his attention back to her. "Ren is right Hajime. Something bad is happening, it's not safe right now, promise me you won't go outside." She stared into his eyes unblinking until he consented with a nod. With a sever look she held out her pinky. "Pinky promise me Hajime."
With a giggle he held out his own pinky. "I pinky promise mama."
"Good." She nodded allowing a smile to lighten her features as her had moved to his wild hair in an attempt to flatten it, and failing miserably when he darted from her hold and toward his sister, tugging Ren away from the window.
"Come on Ren, let's find grandma!" His excited voice fading as he ran with Ren being dragged behind him like a much beloved toy.
Shaking her head in amusement she took the offered hand of her husband gracing him with a brilliant smile when he pulled her into an embrace. "I cannot help but wonder at whom Spirit World has found to play my part in this fiasco." She felt his warm tuffs of breath as he spoke voice muffled by her hair.
"My heart bleats for whoever they are. It is unfair that the gods can play with us as they please." She huffed.
"And what would you do my love? Break the bindings of all of humanity?" There was both amusement and understanding in his response.
"Fate is cruel." Was all she whispered after a time as she clutched him harder, feeling him do the same in return.
"Agreed."
Both took comfort in each other as their thought drifted to what might have been, and as decreed by fate should have been, and thankfully would never be.