My hands hurt, fingers clasping the solid rectangle to the point of strain. ". . . hypnosis. . ." I said, shaking my head. It took me a moment to remember where I was.

"Are you all right?"

Neji. He was here, too. Stay calm, Keiden. . . "Oh, yes. Just a little tired, I guess."

"Do you want to head home?" he asked quietly, concern painting every syllable.

"Actually, there's something I forgot to tell Tenten, and I should let her know before I forget again. . ." My excuses were becoming lamer by the second. "This pregnancy keeps stealing my train of thought from me."

He didn't say anything— he probably saw right through my little act, which would only encourage him to stay by my side.

Edgy, I glued a grin on top of my lying teeth. "I can make it there myself. I'll meet you at the Compound very soon." Before he could object, my lips found his cheek, and I slipped the book into his hands. Without another word, I walked away.

Lady Tsunade. . . gotta tell Lady Tsunade. . .

I was suddenly extremely paranoid, as if my revelation had silently alerted the ANBU squad and now they were coming after me. It took every ounce of self-control I had to keep myself from sprinting to the Hokage's office. Frightened, I put a hand to my womb; the baby hadn't been moving for quite some time.

"It's okay," I whispered, more to myself than to him. "Almost there. . ."

Taking a moment to sniff out the faint trail of sake, I plowed onward, grateful nobody was in the mood to stop me for a quick chat. The toe of my sandal bumped the first stair in no time.

One. . . two. . .three. . . four. . . five. . .

By the time I made it to the final step, my back was aching, a trait that instantly plagued me as unusual. My journey to Tsunade's door had become a bit slower. I raised a hand to knock—

"Who is it?" a voice barked from the other side of the thick wood. Well, she isn't the Hokage for nothing. . .

"It's Keiden, Lady Hokage," I said calmly. "May I come in?"

There was a pause. "Sure."

Pushing the door open, I stepped into the airy room, greeted at once by the telltale muffle that was Tsunade's heartbeat.

"Sit down, sit down," she instructed, her pulse making its way toward me and steering me to something that rikk-rikked beneath me when I was seated. "You're looking well."

"Thanks." My lower back still ached, but I just attributed it to my recent climb.

"So," Tsunade said. "What is it?"

The bluntness of her question deserved an answer of a similar nature. Taking a deep breath— still terrified about what I'd discovered— I stated, "I'm so sorry."

"What on earth for? It's not like you came barging into my office— certain knuckleheads should take lessons from you—"

"I'm not who you think I am," I interrupted. I couldn't believe it had come to this; after all the time I'd spent here. . . why now?

Tsunade seemed to understand immediately, for she responded with, "Well?"

"Well?" I echoed, my breathing already quickening.

"Well, aren't you going to attempt to kill me? Well, why haven't you escaped from the village? Well. . . what are you going to do?" The last part had been spoken in a tender whisper.

I put my head in my hands. "I'm going to tell you everything."

And I did: I told her that I was an Akatsuki spy, that my mission was to steal information, that Kabuto's death was always meant to be by my own hand, that I was supposed to return to the hideout. . .

"But I can't do that," I said shakily. "I can't go back there."

"I know," Tsunade said, her voice tense enough to put a new pressure on the atmosphere. "So. . . when're you planning on asking your husband to end your life?"

I flinched. Again, so blunt. "Tonight. We can't let it go on much longer." My control was cracking.

There was a strong hand on my shoulder. "The baby?"

At that, I burst into tears. "I don't know. . . I don't know. . ." I clutched my stomach, almost willing it to give me an answer. All I got was a sharp cramp. "Ouch," I hissed under my breath.

"Keiden?" Tsunade sounded even more worried now.

Sniffing, I launched into another gruesome housekeeping item. "I remembered my past while alone with N-Neji. I lost control, charging at him. His immediate reaction was to defend himself."

"I. . . I understand." The hand that still rested on my shoulder gave it a squeeze. "Keiden. . ."

"I have to go," I said quickly, standing after another wave of pain sliced through my abdomen. "It will be tonight, Lady Tsunade."

She helped me to the door, an action I didn't have the heart to object to. "You'll be honored for this."

I shook my head. "Please. . . don't. The fact that my husband and I will be destroying another threat to the village is honorable enough."

Tsunade released my arm, and, in turn, I hugged her, pressing my ear against something large and rather soft.

Oh. . . so that's why her heartbeat's always so hard to hear. . .

"Thank you," I said faintly.

"For what?" the Hokage asked, awkwardly patting the top of my head.

"For giving me the trust I never deserved."