Ten minutes?! What idiot would make these tests take 10 minutes?! Do they not realize the absolute anxiety-ridden state the women who buy these things are in? And why on earth does it take 10 whole minutes for a stick to show a tiny plus or negative?! She held the box in her hand as she skimmed through the directions again, annoyed at the wait times. She tossed the box into a small waste basket next to the toilet. She paced the small stall, glancing at the two tests that were sitting, pee soaked, on some toilet paper. Her heart was racing in her chest. She just wanted this to be over with.

She finally knelt down in a squatting position, her feet flat on the floor as they had taught her in elementary school. Apparently squatting with your feet bent was bad for you. She placed her head against her knees. Please be negative. Please be negative. She clasped her hands together. She wasn't religious by any means but she'd become a nun or a monk or whatever right after leaving here if these tests were negative.

"Please, please, please be negative," Sango begged quietly. She closed her eyes tightly. This was the first time in quite awhile that she had actually wanted something so badly. The last time she wanted something badly was when she was 10 and begged her mom for months to get a puppy. She never did get a puppy. She laughed at the idea of approaching her mom with the offer of letting her have a baby or a puppy. She imagined her mom running out that day to get a cute golden retriever.

She opened her eyes and peered at the tests. She clenched her jaw as she sat there and stared at them, deep in concentration. Maybe if she stared hard enough she could will them to be negative. She jumped as her phone rang- the ringtone echoing in the empty bathroom. She stood up, digging the device from out of her pocket and flipping it open.

"Yusuke...," she muttered outloud before hitting the green 'answer' button.

"Hello?"

"Sango? Where are you? Your mom called me and said you never came home. She's worried...Are you okay?"

Fuck. She didn't expect her mom to be home. She normally went grocery shopping around this time. Maybe she should have called her and told her that she was going to hang out with Yusuke. She'd have to be smarter than this if she was going to start lying all the time. She didn't want to lie but at the moment it was easier than being honest.

"Y-yeah I'm fine. I decided to go into town and look at some things," Sango laughed.

"oh, okay. Good. I can call your mom back and let her know if you want."

"Uh, sure. If it's not too trouble. Just let her know I'll be home in a few, okay?"

"Alright."

"Thanks, Yusuke," Sango said before hanging up and stuffing the phone back into her pocket. She glanced quickly at the tests, sitting on the floor. Her heart sank when she saw two obnoxiously bright plus signs taunting her.

The walk home seemed longer than usual. She also seemed to be more sensitive to sounds. She seemed to pick up on the noises of children specifically- laughter, crying, etc. It only made her cringe and grimace. She was not ready to have a kid. It was too soon. She had barely turned 17. She couldn't be a mom. A mom is...well like her mom. Mom's are organized and well put together. They wear aprons and cook delicious meals. They smell sweetly and answer kindly. They're nurturing and caring. And Sango...wasn't any of those things. Her life was a mess of confusion and uncertainty and a child had no place there. She then thought about Yusuke. She'd have to tell him. Fuck. She'd have to tell her parents.

She could feel a lump rise into her throat. She felt like she wanted to start crying. Was this normal? Being this emotional to everything? She did her best to swallow the lump that threatened to make her start sobbing in public, but it didn't help. She tried instead to focus on her steps and her breathing. Right, left, right left. In and out. In and then out. Breathe in slowly...breathe out slowly. It seemed to help her calm down. The lump in her throat had disappeared and she actually felt...content. Which was saying something since it had been weeks since she had felt anything other than worry.

Upon entering her house, her mother greeted her warmly. A bright, genuine smile was plastered on her face. The smile of a woman who didn't know that her only daughter was pregnant. 'That's a mom. Not me' Sango thought.

"Hi, mom. Sorry for heading off without letting you know," Sango apologized as she slipped her scarf and coat off at the door.

"It's alright, sweetie. Thankfully I was able to get in touch with Yusuke."

"Yeah. He called me." She said. She thought about Yusuke as she slipped her shoes off. She still needed to tell him...and her parents. Would it be best to tell Yusuke first or her mom? What was the etiquette in these situations? Sango figured the other person that was present during the baby-making should probably be the next to know, so Yusuke would be the winner.

"Uh, mom?"

"Yes?" her mothered asked, looking up from vacuuming.

"Um, could I go to Yusuke's for a bit? I forgot that he has some papers that I need," Sango said quickly. Again, lying. But what was a girl to do?

"Oh, sure. Just be in time for dinner, okay?"

"Sure thing!" Sango began sliding her shoes back on and ripping her scarf and coat off of their hooks. She took off outside before her mom could have a chance to change her mind.

"Put your jackets on!" her mom called from the door.

Sango began putting her arms into the sleeves as she ran. Her mother retreated back into the house.

She ran and ran. She was starting to appreciate all of the running they had to do in physical education now. She continued until she was just feet away from the Asahina condo door. She knelt down, her hands on her knees. Her breath came out in heavy gasps.

"Sango?"

Sango stood up and looked behind her to see Kaname. His hair was done up nicely and he was in a suit and tie instead of his usual monk robes. She wondered what the special occasion was but didn't care enough to actually ask him.

"Hey, Kaname," Sango said, doing her best to act naturally. She still had a weird feeling about him but she didn't want to offend him or worse, make him think that he intimidated her.

"What brings you here?" he asked in that same silky tone from the last time they had spoke.

"Was just going to hang out with Yusuke."

"Ahh...round two?"

As Kaname uttered those words, she felt her heart stop. At first she thought that maybe she had misunderstood what he meant but as she stared at him and watched a grin spread over his face, she knew that she understood perfectly. Kaname knew. He laughed, seeing her surprised face.

"How...," Sango began, her cheeks turning pink.

"My room is next to Yusuke's," he said matter of factly.

Realization hit her like a tidal wave. How had she forgotten? From the first time she met Yusuke, he had always complained about Kaname being so close to him. How had that piece of information escaped her?

"What happened?"

This time it was Kaname's turn to look surprised, "You don't remember?" he raised an eyebrow, a taunting smile tugged at the corner of his lips and threatened to creep even wider across his face.

"No...," Sango admitted in defeat. There was no point in pretending. She thought that maybe he could be bluffing at first but it wasn't looking good so far. He actually, legitimately knew.

"Well, I guess your memory issues could be explained by the missing whiskey bottle. That was mine, by the way. Anyway, I got home a little late but by the time I went into my room, you two were already going at it. You were actually quite loud and sounded rather...cute. I think that was the first time I've ever been jealous of Yusuke," Kaname smirked bitterly.

Sango blushed at the last bit but she tried to clear her head of his perverted adlib. So that was it. They just drank and...had sex. Loud, unprotected, drunken sex. Thinking about it now, she realized how silly it was to even ask what happened. Waking up naked next to Yusuke and seeing those stupid plus signs was more than enough to explain what happened. But hearing someone confirm that they actually...witnessed it happen seemed to make the whole issue feel resolved. Complete at last.

"Thanks, Kaname," Sango said before heading towards the condo doors.

"Sango,"

She turned once again towards Kaname. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't a bit nervous to hear what he was going to say next.

"If you need anything, I'm here. I know Yusuke is your friend and I'm just his brother but you can come to me, okay?"

Sango paused and stared at him. She waited for the all familiar smirk or grin to spread across his face but it never did. In fact, he looked more serious than ever. Sango nodded at him before opening the doors and disappearing inside. She slipped her shoes off and once again slid out of her coat and scarf- placing them atop a plethora of coats, hats and scarves that were somehow hanging off of a smaller number of hooks.

She once again made her way up towards Yusuke's room. Luckily she appeared to have come at a time when the house was mostly empty and didn't have any awkward run-ins with Yusuke's brothers. She didn't mind his brothers. Not at all. Most of them were actually really cool but at this moment in time, she didn't want to face anyone else. She barely wanted to face Yusuke right now.

She stood outside his door. Her finger was inches away from the doorbell but she was so nervous. Why was she so nervous? This was Yusuke. Dorky, silly, shy Yusuke. Her best friend. They've practically known each other for going on 5 years now. She could tell him anything in the world. She breathed in quickly and pressed the button. She remained still as she listened for the small jingle to play in Yusuke's room. To her surprise, he opened the door before it had finished. Was he just waiting at the door or something? She normally had to ring the doorbell a few times.

Yusuke's face lit up as soon as he saw her. He opened the door wider and she gave a small smile as she slipped inside.

She stood in his room while he excused himself- taking a moment to move some books off of his bed. Sango let her eyes graze across his room. She had this feeling that if she looked around more then maybe she would remember how things played out that night. Was it just a in the moment thing or did someone actually say out loud, 'Hey, let's fuck!'. However, it did no such thing. A quick glance around the room told her nothing, except the fact that Yusuke was a normal, messy teenage boy.

Yusuke walked up to her, "Okay, sorry. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, um, I thought maybe we could...talk," Sango said, eyes still looking over the room. They wandered to his bed. It was hard to believe that they had...her and Yusuke. Yusuke. Shy, meek and quiet...Yusuke and her?

"You can sit down," Yusuke muttered.

Sango cleared her head and sat on his bed. Yusuke plopped down beside her, making her bounce a little. It made her wonder what sex was like on this bed. Were they just bouncing around? She blushed at the thought.

"So, what's up? What did you need to look at in town today by the way?" Yusuke asked, remembering the conversation they had earlier on the phone.

Sango looked at him while biting her lower lip. Just say it, Sango. Just come out and say it. It's like ripping off a band-aid. You do it quick and get it over with, deal with the consequences later.

"Yusuke..," Sango swallowed. Dammit, why was this so hard?! She looked into his dark, red eyes and all she could see was an immature boy staring back. An immature boy that still had his whole life ahead of him. A life that she would no doubt ruin by telling him the words she wanted to say.

"Sango, if there's something you need to say, let me know. You know I'm here for you," Yusuke said, encouragingly.

See? She told herself. He's saying it clear as day. You can tell him, Sango. Just open those beautiful lips and say it! Sango turned her upper body towards Yusuke. He was laying down casually, his arms behind his head.

"Yusuke, I'm...pr-"

Yusuke's door flew open causing both of them to look towards the sudden intrusion. A very annoyed Fuuto stood there.

"Stop taking my books. If you're dumb enough to leave yours at school then you can walk down there and get it," he barked before slamming the door shut.

Sango looked at Yusuke who only shrugged in return, "I thought I put it in the right place. I didn't think he'd notice."

Sango couldn't help but to laugh. Those two never got along and seeing their squabbling today made her feel that things were a little more...normal. If that was possible.

"Anyway, what were you going to say? You're what?"

She had to think for a moment but it came back quickly enough. She was six letters away from laying it out in the open. Six small letters away from telling Yusuke the truth. Six letters away from not being the only person burdened by this knowledge. However, that small break had reignited fear from within her. She was suddenly having doubts about telling him again.

"I, uh, was going to say I'm pretty...hungry," Sango muttered, playing with her hands.

"I bet, you hardly ate at lunch," Yusuke commented. "Did you want a snack or something?"

"Ah, no. My mom's expecting me home in time for dinner. She'd be mad if I ate," Sango smiled.

Yusuke frowned a bit but understood. As Yusuke chatted away about sports, Sango continued to beat herself up over not telling him. The whole point of her coming over here was to let him know and she couldn't do it. It hurt to be in the same room as him, carrying his child, holding onto this secret while he sat next to her completely oblivious. She was almost angry at him for being so naive. Not so much because he was naive but because he was able to be. Men didn't have to worry about being pregnant nor worry about potentially telling someone- women had to.

After they had talked about soccer and school for a good half hour, Sango excused herself so that she would have enough time to walk home. She didn't want to run anymore today. She said goodbye to Yusuke and left his room, shutting the door behind her and letting out a large, disappointed sigh.