I wonder what Neji'll think of this. . . "Even though I don't have the Byakugan, d'you think I'd still be fast enough to simultaneously attack the pressure points of my opponents?"

Whoa— he hadn't done that awkward-silence thing in a long time. Figuring it was a good opportunity to brush up on my mind-reading skills, I hazarded with an explanation.

"If the enemy is too strong, I'll need to have the upper hand in terms of speed."

"Hn," he finally replied. "You already have the upper hand in terms of speed."

Humph. "No, that's different— I can pin people to the ground before they know what hit them, but they can just as easily get up again."

Was he laughing at me? "You're doubtful of your strength as well?"

"All right, fine!" I threw my hands up in a playful semblance of defeat. "I'm just running out of material!"

Neji was quiet again.

"Okay. . . maybe I am getting bored. . ." I scratched my head.

His heartbeat was high above my head. "Ready when you are."

Thrilled, I hopped up as well— but something began pulling me from side to side. Vertigo? "It's okay. . ." I shook my head, and the tugging stopped. Odd. "Head rush." I must have stood too quickly.

Using the information Sakura had given me so many months ago, and the mental picture of my husband's body I'd gathered from the few times we'd embraced in bed, I charged at him. I kept my hands in tight fists, save for my middle fingers— they jutted out slightly, producing bony knobs that were perfect for striking pressure points.

Temporal, carotid, axillary, brachial, radial, ulnar, femoral, popliteal, dorsalis pedis, tibialis posterior. . . I was just about to attack those same points on his right side, but the slash of Neji's kunai sliced the air. I retreated.

"Shoot— not fast enough," I murmured. Raising my voice, I called out, "Sorry, Neji! It'll wear off in a minute!"

At the sound of his relieved sigh, I steered toward him again, trying a different approach and aiming for his arms first. The buh-dummm hit the ground, and the rubbery smell of his sandals became level with my waist. Great— he's gonna kick me! I leapt away just in time with a grunt.

"Third time's a—" My stomach jerked unpleasantly, and my knees felt like they were melting. I grabbed the nearest tree for support just as another painful spasm forced my eyes closed.

"Are you all right?" Neji's pulse was beside me now.

"Just give me a minute. I'll be fine. . ." Something lurched sharply inside me.

"Keiden, you don't sound fine."

". . . I think I'm gonna be sick," I gasped. My legs collapsed beneath me, and I threw up, the motions wrenching angrily at my tender stomach.

When I was certain that I was completely empty, I hastily wiped my mouth. "Sorry about that. . . I just felt so off all of a sudden. . ." What on earth was going on?

"There's no need to apologize. . . Keiden?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't think. . . I mean, could it be that. . .?"

I took in a jagged breath. Was Neji saying what I thought he was saying? "No way!" I squeaked, pressing both hands onto my abdomen.

We left the grounds at once, hurrying all the way to the hospital.

"Keiden! Neji! What's going on? Are you okay?" came Sakura's voice the moment we stepped through the front door.

I laughed breathlessly at her worried tone. "We're fine, Sakura. Everything's fine."

"Oh," she sighed. "Well, then, what brings you here? I thought you hated this place, Keiden."

Neji spoke up then— or, at least, tried to speak up. "We think that. . . uh, we weren't sure if. . ." His heart thumped helplessly. "We wanted to know. . ."

"Oh!" Sakura squealed. I felt her hand at my wrist. "You, my friend, are coming with me!"

Without further ado, I was promptly dragged into an unfamiliar room, the door slamming shut behind me. Poor Neji. . . now he wouldn't be able to hear what was going on. . .

Sakura sat me on something that crinkled under my weight, and she rolled up one of my sleeves. "I'll be taking a blood sample to test for hCG, okay?"

"Okay," I answered, my voice quivering with anticipation. There was a quick prick at a spot near my elbow, and I tried to concentrate on something other than the feel of the heavy liquid flowing out of my arm.

"There," the medic said, removing the needle. "This'll take a few minutes, so sit tight. I'll be right back."

Only nodding this time, I listened to the bdm leave. I found it strange that the sound of the door opening didn't send Neji's pulse flooding into the room— which led me to believe that this place probably had another door.

My insides twitched animatedly at the thought of what could be growing within me. I'd always had a way with kids, and the prospect of having one of my own sent happy flutters up and down my spine. It took nearly everything I had not to bang down the other door and demand to hear the results.

But, because my sense of time always did this to me, Sakura emerged much sooner than I thought. She took my hand, squeezing it gently.

Please please please please please please please—

"Congrats, Mom."

I jumped up and threw my arms around my friend's waist, fighting the urge to scream with joy.

She giggled. "Go— tell Neji before the two of you explode!"

Obliging instantaneously, I shuffled as gracefully as I could to the door that led to my husband, opening it with a creak. I wanted to have just a tiny bit of fun at Neji's expense, so I erased all emotion from my face before stepping out to greet him.

The buh-dummm flopped dejectedly.

Okay, stop torturing the proud papa. . . I pulled him into a jubilant hug. "I'm pregnant!"