As Hayate and Kazane walk into town, they are met with pure chaos. People were running in every direction, some screaming and others crying out in pain. They look around and see people running everywhere, carrying their children or pets as they flee for their lives. Even more terrifying is that spirits are flying overhead, equally frightened.

Hayate and Kazane quickly realize that the town is under attack. Without wasting any time, they spring into action and begin to assess the situation. Hayate quickly scans the area to identify the type of spirits causing the chaos. He notices that there’s something dark and twisted emanating an aura of pure evil. It’s spread so far that he can’t place where it’s coming from. Kazane didn’t look like she was having much luck on her end. 

Surveying the area once again, he noticed most of the town's residents were fleeing in the same direction. "What’s happening?" Hayate asked, stopping a random man who was running by. "Is it a spirit?"

"No! There’s a fire!" The man exclaims. "It’s in the south part of town!"

Hayate's eyes widened in confusion and shock. This wasn’t a spirit? But that didn’t make any sense. Wait, the southern part of town? "Hayate!" Kazane spoke sharply, cutting through his thoughts.

With nothing more needing to be said, he nodded. If there was a spirit, it could wait. They needed to get home

Sprinting south, they watch the fire come into view. The farther the couple ran, the larger the flames grew. We must be getting closer to the source. Kazane concluded. 

Sprinting south, they watch the fire come into view. The farther the couple ran, the larger the flames grew. We must be getting closer to the source. Kazane concluded. The smoke was so thick and the heat was intense, but they kept running. All of a sudden, they came to a clearing, and there, in the distance, was a burning building. Turning another corner, they discovered the source to be.…their house. The couple dropped the bags of gifts. For a moment they froze, processing the scene. Their home was on fire! Their kids!

Reeling from the shock, Kazane and Hayate barged through the burning door and went searching for their children. It’s stupid and irrational. With flames this intense,  there’s no way their kids should be alive. But they were! They could hear muffled cries coming from upstairs. The couple drew their swords, quickly and easily cutting through whatever stood between them and their children. Neither knew how much time had passed as they raced through the house. Hayate and Kazane gather the kids one by one into their arms, shielding them from flames and falling debris. When they both emerged from the house, Kazane set three of their children on the grass.

They weren’t moving. Kazane dropped to her knees and began to shake them. Please wake up, she begged.

The kids didn't respond. They were probably dead. If not, they would have been badly burned or worse. As fear was about to overtake her, the kids started coughing. Relief filled the mother as she held them close. Thank the gods! They’re alive. They’re…wait… Kazane quickly recounted. Some are missing.

She looked to Hayate who had three more in his arms. They only had six. “HAYATE!” She shrieked, once the realization set it. “The twins! Mika!”

He turned around looking frantic. "Shit! I don’t see them."

The man was ready to rush back on but the sudden growth of the flames kept him out. Hayate swore under his breath. The fire was growing too intense. If he ran back in now, he'd certainly burn up, body and spirit. But the same could be said for their oldest children.

Out of nowhere, his wife shot past him. Hayate barely managed to catch her arm. “What are you doing?!” He said, yanking her away from the flames.

Kazane frantically looked at him with disbelief. “We can’t leave them!”

“If you go in there, you’ll burn up completely!”

“So will they!” Kazane tried to pull away but Hayate kept a firm hold. “Hayate—”

The sound of glass shattering cut her off. Both Hayate and Kazane froze for a moment before running off to find the source.

On the other side of the house a few yards away, the couple saw the twins, Haruto and Haruka, withering on the ground as they desperately fought against the flames that engulfed them. "No!" Kazane screamed.

Hayate and Kazane rushed over and dropped to their knees next to the two, the other children approaching from behind. "No!" Hayate shouted to the kids. “Stay back!”

He holds Haruto down while Kazane does the same to Haruka. The twins kept crying out, begging their parents for help.

“It’s okay! Everything will be fine!” Kazane said, more so to herself. She further restricted her daughter's movement. In the back of her mind, she wonders what has become of Mikazuki. To her displeasure, Kazane already has an idea.

She shakes her head, pushing the thought away. Right now she needs to focus on what’s in front of her. “Hayate!”

“I know!” He answered immediately. With less worry about hurting his son, he pinned Haruto. 

—Spirit Art! Seal!

A circular mark carved its way on Haruto’s left arm and Haruka’s right. The flames that covered them began to shrink until they completely disappeared. After a tense minute passed, the couple released the twins who had passed out from exhaustion. Both parents breathed a sigh of relief. No one spoke as a tense moment of silence passed. What could anyone say? The couple would be in tears if they were able to shed any. “They were cursed.” Kazane forced out. There was no reason to deny it. “I don’t know what kind was placed on them, but it’s powerful. These seals might not even fully contain it.”

“Something is better than nothing.” Her husband replied somberly.

Kazane gently lays Haruka next to her brother. Hayate glanced at his and his wife’s scorched limbs and then his own. Compared to the twins, this was nothing. These wooden bodies of theirs that have survived many battles can easily be repaired. But what good is it if they can’t protect their children? If they had been faster, had they come home soon, would they have prevented this? His voice caught in his throat. How could this happen?

“Who did this?” Kazane asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“This has to be the work of a spirit. A strong one.” Hayate responded, trying to remain calm. “That’s the only explanation for why the fire was so powerful.” “Do you think it was a demon?”

“I wouldn’t rule it out.”

“Mom? Dad?” Said a meek voice.

The two looked back at the remaining six children. Their tattered clothes and faces were covered in ash and soot. A few trembled in place, still shaken up by what had occurred. But all of them were alive. And they had their parents. Kazane and Hayate took a moment to collect themselves before walking over to their children and kneeling in front of them.

“Hey there, kiddos. You alright?” Hayate asks gently.

All of the kids nodded.

Tiayo, their second son, stared at the twins who were still unconscious. He was too young to understand what happened, but he seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation. This wasn't a game. It wasn't pretend.

“Dad? Mom? Are they dead?

Hayate placed an arm around his son's shoulder. "Of course not! They’re just really tired, okay?"

"Okay," Taiyo said, looking down.

The parents pulled the children close and huddled around them for comfort. "Don't worry. We're going to take care of them." Kazane said.

Hayate then looked at the house. Flames had spread across most of it. It was only a matter of time before the whole thing collapsed. The family moved closer together as they sat at a safe distance, watching their home go up in flames, along with their oldest child.