Broken

"Senju Ai is now the head of her clan. As such, a certain level of decorum must be maintained - even as she learns to rain death on Konoha's enemies. The Elemental Nations will remember the Senju clan was feared with good reason." Continuation of: Cosmic Comedy. WARNINGS: Strong OC, OC-centric, Dark, Gore. Rated M for: Adult situations (limes), language and shinobi business.

Secondary warning: Homosexual, bisexual, heterosexual, asexual and transgender characters will be getting significant screen time. If that isn't your cup of tea, please don't read ^_^

Arc 3 – Daddy's little girl – Chapter 31 – Heartfelt choices

8-8

~Wednesday, November 15th, 7:00 AM, master bedroom, main house, Senju District, Konoha~

Sixty-five. The amount of researched and studied exercises a pregnant woman is allowed to do, is exactly sixty-five. They were actually specially designed by Senju Hazako, well over five hundred years ago. The scroll detailing them even goes so far as to stipulate when you're allowed to do which one and what you should pay attention to as added insurance that your body's natural warning system is being listened to.

Only... I'll still need Shizune and Sakura to see this if I can have half a hope to talk to Jei about this. I sigh. I really have been... somewhat of a bitch towards him. It's so not my fault though! I mean, he's the one that went and got me pregnant!

Fuck... is that the only thing on people's minds –mine included– these days? No. Fuck it! The GSE... I'll need a meeting with Kosuke-san about that, today or tomorrow. I need to know how the kids are officially progressing, and I need to make my plans accordingly.

And are my breasts already becoming sore? Fucking hell! That's... No. Raiza. She and Jun are being given dozens of extra little tests. I've had Rika keeping a subtle eye on them, checking how they are progressing here in the house. So far, only those two show any kind of actual leadership skills.

Speaking of which, Raiza's already showing some skill with Lightning release. Hmm, should I wait until after the GSE to start with her secondary element training? Would it really matter? I mean, before... the situation changed... I was already working on four elements – Water, Air, Lightning and Yin. Technically, I've also been toying with other options (Yang, Earth and Fire), but frankly I've just not had the time to delve into those yet.

No, fuck it. Raiza starts her secondary element training today. But where to start her? Hmm... Yin? Powerful illusions could really help her in the long run, and it really isn't a bad place to start... and that cuts out the 'will this work' crap I'd gone through. She'll have to deal with that eventually, of course, but for now, Yin release sounds like a solid place to start.

What about Jun though? I'll need to talk to Pou, see where she is in her training and how I can help; even if only indirectly. Then there's Hansuke... he's been... troubled lately by something, but won't tell anyone what. Hisao too... I don't understand... what could be trouble them so much? Perhaps it's just nerves? No, that doesn't sound right. That would affect everyone. Argh! I've been so kami-damned busy with everything that I still haven't talked to Nisshou about this 'she' that will 'return his affection' at some point.

Well... at least I know that Tanyu and Rei have been hanging out with Ikue more often. And somehow, Yu-chan finds a way to 'drag' Fuu along – she smiles every time, telling me her latest 'reasoning' that she and her two friends 'need Fuu to guard them'. Jei wasn't too impressed when Yu invited Fuu home by us, but after Yu explained Fuu wouldn't be allowed anywhere but the visitors' sitting room, and that she'd already arranged that Team Alpha stay close by, just in case... Well, Jei didn't fight it too much, from what I'm told.

How odd is it though... six weeks pregnant today, and I'm already physically drained. I end up taking three or four catnaps during the day, and I still sleep ten hours straight at night.

I sigh. It always seems to come right back to this, doesn't it. "Akiko, I need to talk to Shizune. Please find her and ask her to come by when she can?"

"I'll go, Ai-sama. I'd feel better if Inejiro and Akiko stay with you." Yuka offers, bowing low and fading into the paintwork. Fine, so obviously just saying what I need done will be better, if they'll just decide for me who's going to be doing it.

"Perhaps a short nap, Ai-sama?" Yumi suggests, that look in her eyes again. I sigh. Fine, it's not like I'm not tired anyway.

8-8

~Wednesday, November 15th, 8:15 AM, master bedroom, main house, Senju District, Konoha~

"She's been like this, how long?" I hear Shizune asking. I'm still out of it, so I know she isn't talking to me. Her tone suggests this isn't the beginning of the conversation, and she is most definitely in 'Medic mode'.

"We've noticed it slowly becoming more and more prominent over the last week." Yumi explains. "Her chakra reserves haven't dipped, and she hasn't had any sudden spikes. But she's... lethargic."

"Odd that it would change so drastically so quickly..." Shizune mutters. I sense the familiar sensation of her scanning me, checking not just my babies but my health as well. "How's her appetite?"

"Steadily increasing. She's been sticking to the menu as prescribed, but the portions sizes just don't keep up with her needs. Mostly we've been offering her fruits and salads to counter balance this, and she doesn't mind too much. Especially since we eat alongside her." Yumi says.

"Hmm, could it be that her body needs the extra for her own growth in addition to her babies?" Shizune thinks about that. "And she hasn't been training or using her chakra in any way?"

"No, Shizune-sama. She's come to terms with the situation, and simply seeks another route. She'd likely called you here to discuss her being able to train based on scrolls she'd found, but makes no overt or covert moves to train as far as we can tell." I sigh, listening to them discuss me like I'm not even here is annoying.

"No I haven't been training. Yes, I'm dying to get back to it. Is there anything else you want to confirm, nee-san?" I don't open my eyes. Not in the mood to just yet.

"I want to take some blood samples. There's something I need to confirm. And I'll be making a private appointment for you in Konoha General. We simply don't have the equipment for what I need to check." That gets me curious. She could simply check my blood work via jutsu, why isn't she? Furthermore, an appointment in Konoha General? That'll alert all of Konoha that something's up with me!

"Shi-"

"I don't want to hear it, Ai. I'm not taking any risks with you." I sigh, not in the mood for this at all. I've been purposely keeping well within the Senju District to ensure that no one outside our walls can discover... but then again... Kakashi knows, the Ono clansmen doubtlessly either already know or can easily figure it out, the Sengo clansmen, Tenten especially, would know my own habits well enough to know something major is up.

I sigh, really not in the mood to deal with this, but knowing there really isn't much of a choice. "Make sure Jei and daddy know when the appointment is. I'll want both of them there with me." I don't add the others, just telling those two will likely alert the whole fucking clan – no matter how much I demand it be kept a secret. Anything concerning me seems to be... not public knowledge, exactly, but... definitely something that the whole clan makes their business to know.

"You really haven't been scanning then." Naruto sounds amused. Huh? My eyes fly open, looking around. Yup, Naruto-nii, daddy and Sasuke are all here.

"Don't you two have pregnant wives to tend to?" I snipe.

"Shadow clones." Naru-nii points out. I sigh. Should have seen that coming.

8-8

~Wednesday, November 15th, 9:00 AM, en route to waiting room, Maternity Ward, Konoha General Hospital, Shinobi District, Konoha~

I sigh. This is turning into more of a nightmare than I'd first feared. You'd think they'd arrange to have us enter through some 'secret entrance' or something, to not raise suspicion. But no! We casually stroll through the main entrance, like everyone else. Get spotted by every familiar face en route, mind you. And Shizune doesn't even lower her voice when explaining the receptionist that we have an appointment 'with Masao-sensei, under the name Senju Ai'. I groan, for the millionth time today. The receptionist is new, so she carefully explains EXACTLY where the MATERNITY WARD is, and that we should announce arrival at the MATERNITY WARD reception desk. Yes, after noticing that we're here for me, she'd taken extreme care in PROPERLY ANNUNCIATING what I'm doing here. What's worse, Shizune doesn't seem to fucking notice and therefore doesn't tell her to shut her fucking face!

I'm half tempted to go back and slap her. But the fact is, Jei won't let me, and I'm just not in the fucking mood. So instead, I just lean against Jei, and curse these uncomfortable seats for being so... uncomfortable! Fucking hell! That people manage to sleep in these fucking things is not something I'll ever try to understand.

Shizune once again announces our arrival and confirms our appointment, so she's instructed to take a seat. I recognize this nurse – one of the many Ono clansmen working here, and one that's been in and out of our district recently. She's a LOT more discrete, understanding my paranoia with having my dirty laundry hung out in plain view.

Once Masao-sensei starts walking to us, I notice how daddy and Jei suddenly get nervous. He has a very serious look on his face, but frankly he works in a fucking hospital. I roll my eyes, sigh, and wordlessly follow the group to the examination room. Once the door is shut, and Shizune instructs me to sit next to her, leaving Jei and daddy to stand behind me, I start getting a little freaked out as well.

This is officially my first doctor's appointment. Sure, I've been seeing Shizune every tick of the fucking clock, but... it was so easy to write that off as her tending to me for a training injury, or something. This is... something else entirely.

"I'm sure we can handle this swiftly, with you just telling me what tests you want done, Shizune-san, but please understand that once that appointment was made, you made Senju Ai my patient." Everything just went to hell. He didn't even greet us properly, cutting straight to the point. "That means I'll want to run tests to officially confirm what I need to know, and I'll handle things as I see fit. Yes, I will take both of your advice into consideration, considering you both are likely my superior in skill, but I'll ultimately have the final say."

I grumble. Just what I need, even MORE fucktards being overly protective of me and ignoring what I ALREADY know.

"I understand, Masao-sensei." Shizune seems quick to agree. I just grumble some more.

"Good. As you can understand I have already assembled a team of experts. We'll not want to take any risks with you." He's speaking directly to me this time, but I don't answer. "I know you won't be happy with me, Ai-san, but there is so much more going on than you likely know."

"Ah, yes. Because I've never had a pregnant patient, delivered a child, or dealt with post partum patients." I drone, sarcasm dripping from every word.

"Have you researched pregnancies of other Usagi summoners within your clan?" He asks. What does that have to do with anything? "I thought as much. My predecessors have kept details accounts of all unique cases, and a Usagi summoner's pregnancy just so happens to fall under 'unique cases'. Fortunately, we have records as far back as Senju Touka, Senju Kirimi and Amatsu Ten. So I can carefully assert that this is directly connected to the Usagi contract's affect on you, and not a clan specific quirk."

"Gee, think you can dance around it any more without actually saying anything?" I snipe, already feeling my mood sour.

"You're not going to like anything I have to say." He warns seriously. Well, I haven't exactly been impressed thus far, so I guess you're just on a role, huh. "Without even hearing too many details from Shizune-san, let me see if I can highlight the cause for concern." He reaches into a drawer, pulling out several aged medical files.

Opening the one on top, he flits through its contents. "You're pregnant with twins. A boy and a girl." He informs me. Aww, I get one of each? "You're overly tired, take short naps throughout the day, and still sleep soundly at night. You're appetite is steadily increasing, but you never seem to put on any weight for it. You often feel as if you've been training all day, and are simply worn out physically."

"Psh. You had me, up until that last part. I know what training feels like. I've been tired yes, but no I don't feel like I've been training at all." I say.

"Then you are currently less than eight weeks along, correct?" He doesn't even seem bothered, at all. I narrow my eyes at him, but confirm that I am six weeks. "Be patient, it'll come." He says.

"What are you getting at?" I ask, losing what little patience I have.

"Every pregnancy of every Usagi summoner we have on record is not your standard pregnancy, even when taking twins into account." He says, still being vague as fuck. "Standard due dates are a month, sometimes two, shorter than average. Paediatric care significantly differs as well. Simply put, your babies will physically develop quicker than the norm. And trying to use female contraceptive jutsus are useless, in case you were wondering how this happened in the first place."

"Okay... whoa!" I manage. "What..."

"Rabbits ovulate after copulation, not before, Ai-san. Every contraceptive jutsu designed, cannot handle that. So if you consecutively have intercourse at three day intervals, you'll get pregnant again. Whether you're declared sterile or not." When those words register, all feeling drains from my face. "The saying goes 'breed like rabbits', does it not?"

"So I'll have to start handling that then." Jei announces.

"Yes, you will. There's nothing Ai-san can do to prevent another unplanned pregnancy." He continues.

"Wait. Hold up. Slow down." I demand. "Roll back a few steps. Back to me and my babies. What's this about shorter pregnancy? Advanced physical development?"

"It's not as significant as you might fear." He assures me. "And the other's had been summoners for far longer than you, so the odds are slim that it'll have so great an impact. However, yes, it is a possibility."

I motion for him to continue, not really liking where this is going. "Worst case scenario, your babies will grow twenty to twenty-five percent faster than any other. That means that they will be soaking up not just chakra at an accelerated pace, but nutrients and ATP faster than you can normally cope with."

"ATP?" Jei asks, concerned.

"Adenosine TriPhosphate. Cellular energy. It's what many consider to be the 'physical energy' shinobi train with, as opposed to 'spiritual energy', or chakra. Thanks to Ai-san being a... well, let's be honest, a pigheadedly devout trainee in all things shinobi, she should have less of an issue coping than most... However, that doesn't mean I'll be monitoring her any less stringently."

I blush; furiously, embarrassingly, deeply crimson. I can even feel my ears heating up from it. "I'll not lie to you, Ai-san. Of the three Usagi summoners, only one survived her first pregnancy. Mostly thanks to the Second's innovation. A Yang release breathing exercise to help balance the energies within. I suspect that this is the only reason Touka survived not just one, but three pregnancies."

"... I don't understand. How would...?" Tobirama isn't the type to not have that in his notes, and I've been craving all things Tobirama recently – last two to three years, kind of recent.

"My grandfather just so happens to be the doctor that cared for her, through all three pregnancies. He'd taught my mother who taught me." He explains. "The bond between Senju and Ono is one older than Konoha, Ai-san. Do not fret, your clan's secrets are safe with us." He assures me, his tone solemn.

"I understand." I nod, hating this (somewhat) less. "I'll have to think of some way to thank Shizune-nee for unwittingly dragging me to you then."

He waves it off. "Now, shall we?" He motions to the observation table behind me. I nod. Once I'm (uncomfortably) laying on the table, and properly tuck my hair out of the way so I don't lay on it, he starts the usual tests. I can't actually scan to confirm the mixtures he's using, but I recognize the tingling – Shizune, Choco and Hibari have been a bit... zealous in monitoring me. He goes from the general diagnostic, to the Gyno-scan, to the bloodwork scan, to the bone density scan. He does a few scans I can't readily identify, but I can guess they're the organ tissue scan, the skin tissue scan, and the menstrual cycle scan.

Once he's satisfied, he takes out a few vials meant for blood tests. "Everything seems to be in order. It seems there is no significant deviation thus far. Your babies are developing more or less on schedule for a six week pregnancy. Naturally, it's too soon to confirm sexes, but that'll come in time." He says. "However, I'd rather be paranoid and run a few tests. We'll test for hormone levels, mineral content, and a few other regulation tests I'm sure you know just as much about as I do." He teases.

I roll my eyes, but say nothing. He goes through the motions, clamps my arm, swabs a section with alcohol, and jabs a needle into my vein. Six vials of varying sizes are soon filled with my blood, before he places a dry cotton swab over the point the needle pierced me and extracts the needle entire. He then tapes the swab to my arm, to ensure the pressure remains constant and a clot can form.

"Right. Now that we have all the boring stuff out of the way... would you like to see your babies?" He asks, a teasing smile on his face. Jei and daddy look like they're going to jump out of their skin, so excited!

"... Please?" I try not to cry. I'm not sure what he'll do... I've never actually heard of anything that lets you actually see the baby... but...

"Alright, can you expose your abdomen for me?" He walks over to some contraction I've never seen before. Shit, even with all the medical experience I have, I've mostly worked in the field, where a jutsu is all you've got to work with.

I look to daddy, blushing a little. Still, I'm sure he won't perv on me, so I'll trust him. I unzip my flak jacket, pulling it and my shirts –both my top and mesh armour– up and out of the way. Masao-sensei takes a long sanitary cloth –almost like one you'd use to dry your hands– and stuffs it into my pants, pulling it down to expose the area surrounding my womb. I blush deeply, seeing more than a few strands of pubic hair in plain view. A gel is then applied on my skin, and he clicks something on.

"Technology is such a wonderful thing, if used properly." Masao-sensei says, almost conversationally. "My clan's been working on and perfecting ultrasonic scanners for civilian doctors." I wonder what that even entails. But when the screen lights up... and he places that weird scanner against my tummy...

Weird lines and scribbles are all I can make out at first. But the longer I look, the more I recognise little details. I see the gestation sacks (two of them, one for each of my babies), I see little forms within each. And within those two tiny little forms, I see flickers of life. He's explaining everything we can see, how the little detail we can actually make out is perfectly normal because of how early we are in the pregnancy. I listen with one ear, but the rest of me is glued to that screen, glued to seeing my babies for the first time; even if they are little more than vague lines on a screen.

"The hearts are beating. Hold on let me put it on speaker for you." He does something, I suppose, and I hear a steady heartbeat... after a brief count, I calculate it to be one-hundred and six beats per minute. "One-oh-six bpms. Perfect. Let's check the other." A second, and distinctly different, heartbeat is heard a second or two later. "Ninety-eight bpms. Beautiful, both of them."

"Is that..." Daddy wonders, obviously worried.

"Between ninety and one-ten bpms is perfectly healthy at six weeks. Nothing to worry about." He assures them – and me, if I'm honest. I just don't know a lot about this topic; I know how to keep you healthy and not get you killed.

He keeps explaining this, answering that, but there isn't too much more to discover, given that both of them are tiny enough to fit on a single screen. "Jei..." I reach out for his hand, feeling a squeeze not a second later. "Our babies..."

"I know." His voice is filled with just as much awe as mine, just as much... wonder. "It... kind of feels official now, doesn't it?" My eyes are still glued to the screen, but I feel myself nod in response.

Tears fall before I can stop myself. "Yeah." I'm pregnant. I'm actually, factually, truly and thoroughly... pregnant. My babies... my beautiful babies... they're growing inside of me.

"Ai-san, I trust you understand what this really means?" Masao-sensei asks, pulling the contraption away from me and letting the screen go blank again. "I've dealt with more pregnancies than you ever will. And many of them were kunoichis. I know how hard it'll be to willingly give up everything. But... do you think those two are worth it?" He wipes the gel off my tummy, and motions for me to make myself decent again.

I think about that, truly think about that, as I right my mesh armour and tuck my top properly into my pants once again. Before I reach for my flak jacket, I decide to stop fighting the urge, and rub my flat tummy with my left hand.

"They are." I say, still awed by what I'd just seen.

"Good, because I'm going to have you on fourteen hour a day bed rest." He says. "And you're going to have to eat far more than you're accustomed to. If you notice that you start craving meats or seafood, you are to give in to those cravings, do you understand me?"

"Nn." I nod, rubbing my belly idly. I pray it won't come to that, but if it does... anything for my babies. "What about sweets?"

"You're already craving sweets, huh? Don't go overboard; pregnancy diabetes isn't something I want you to contend with. Especially considering all the additional risks you already face." He says.

"'Already craving sweets'?" Jei asks.

"The Usagi natural diet is fruits and vegetables. It isn't that strange that she'd crave the sweetness, considering the amount of berries her summons eat daily." He explains.

"What about meat and seafood then?" I ask.

"Well, consider that you are bound by your contract, but your babies aren't. They might not care what they make you crave." He offers, a smile on his face. A male doctor admitting that the baby craves something? He's catering his word choice to me.

"About the bed rest...? Do I really need to be in my bed, or can I set up a futon in the living room? I mean. I'm already sleeping fourteen hours a day, so this isn't exactly something new to me." Why'd I say that? Why'd I bring that up? I don't know... but seeing his eyes study me... I'm nervous what that might mean for me.

"You need rest. Emotional, physical and mental. So long as you are in a low-stimulus environment, I won't complain where you are." He offers, but turning to Jei I notice that protective streak acting up. Shizune seems to fully support him as well.

"I will see to it." Jei promises, nodding to Masao-sensei solemnly. I roll my eyes, hating how there's nothing I can say to change his mind.

"Good. I want you to set up another appointment in two weeks. And you might as well plan in every two weeks for the next few months. I'll be keeping a close watch on you." He assures them, but he's mostly irking me. Before we leave, he hands Jei a scroll, but I'm too annoyed to even ask what it's for.

8-8

~Wednesday, November 15th, 4:00 PM, master bedroom, main house, Senju District, Konoha~

Jei pretty much banished me to our room the second we got home. 'To catch up on lost rest', he'd said. Once he gets the kids –he'd sent three shadow clones, just in case– he brings all of them upstairs for a family meeting.

Of course, seeing as I'm on fourteen hour a day bed rest, Jei figures confining me to a futon for the other ten isn't such a bad idea. Sad how Shizune agrees, at least for now. Neither wants my muscles to atrophy, but limiting how much I move around to ensure I'm not as tired... I already heard Shizune thinking out loud about teaching Tanyu some massage techniques to make sure my muscles don't suffer too much.

Raiza and Tanyu are the first to enter, bearing healthy snacks and a few sweet red bean tofu rolls. They carefully place their haul on the low table in front of me, and take their usual seats beside me. I'm immediately wrapped in their arms, sandwiched in their love. They tell me about their day without me asking, but nothing really major happened. Mostly it's Yu-chan telling me how many shortcuts she'd found to finishing her coursework quicker, and Raiza telling me about how she and Jun sorely miss my giving homeroom – it turns out Jei's even more of a slave driver than I am.

I mostly just listen, snacking on all the yummies they'd brought me. I shouldn't already be hungry, I mean, Yumi brought a meal in for me not three hours ago. I still manage to eat far more than I usually would... and I already eat more than the average person. Just what are these babies of mine doing to me?

It's another ten to fifteen minutes before Jei brings in Nisshou, Kawarama and Itama. I notice how Itama is watching me, worry in her eyes. Obviously Jei wanted to speak with them privately before letting them see me.

Another round of hugs follows, but I notice how even Itama is being super gentle and careful with me. I sit her on the low table in front of me, and hug her from there – it's the only agreement I could make with her to get a proper hug.

Everyone is seated, casually looking around to see if the Usagi really are still here. I smirk at that, the Usagi wouldn't leave my side while they still live. "I know you guys have been worried about me lately. How I've been so tired." I start the meeting. They all nod, even Itama. "It turns out there's a lot of things I didn't know about being an Usagi summoner. How it affects my pregnancy being a major one."

They all worry for me, I can see it in their eyes, in the way they fidget in their seats. "I'm fine. And your Tou-san and Shizune-nee are going to do everything to make sure I stay that way." I assure them. "But it means there's going to be some major changes for me."

Nisshou, Tanyu and Raiza seem the most worried about that. "For starters, I'm supposed to sleep and rest a lot more now. I'm on fourteen hour a day bed rest, and your Tou-san has me resting even more than that. Masao-sensei assures me that this is normal, given what he knows about my situation. So there isn't anything to worry about."

I give them a moment to let that sink in. They aren't used to seeing me sleep at all; I go to bed after them, and wake up the same time as them. That's probably why they've been so worried, finding me taking catnaps so often.

"As well, if I'm resting, I'm not allowed to be put in a high-stimulus environment." I turn to Itama. "So just like when you're going to take a nap, everything around me is supposed to be quiet. No running around, no jumping, no screaming." No fun, no life.

"I know this is going to suck, and not just for me. I won't be allowed to help you train directly for a long while. But, when I'm not supposed to rest, I promise you, the six of you are my top priority." I offer, meeting each of their gazes in turn to show them I mean it. "Your Tou-san is going to be taking over my duties entirely for a while. I've negotiated that he'll come to me with some things he feels won't stress me out too much, but I know him... I'll end up hearing about most of it only after the babies are born. That means, most of my attention can be focused on you. I want to hear about your days, in excruciating detail. I want to help plan your trainings, to help you prepare for that test next month."

"What about the others?" Tanyu asks. "You won't be allowed to keep up with everyone, will you."

"No." I answer honestly. "I'll try my best, but other than the Inner Circle families, I doubt I'll be up to keeping in touch for a while. Let alone being allowed to. That's why we're planning a really small wedding ceremony on Saturday."

"But..." Tanyu wants to object, to tell me how bad an idea it is. I raise a hand to stall for what I want to say.

"It's going to be just the Inner Circle families. Your Tou-san's already discussed it with Chazu, calling it 'most auspicious'. After the twins are born, we'll hold a proper one for the whole clan."

"So you need us to be your ambassadors." Raiza sees through the restrictions, to the heart of the matter.

"Yes." I turn to look at her. "I'll need you to be there for the clan, since I can't be. Your Tou-san will do all he can, but they need all the light they can get. Offer it to them. Be there for them. And come to me if you need guidance." Raiza smiles at me, a very you-don't-expect-me-to-fall-for-that kind of smile. I turn to Tanyu and Nisshou, who are all bearing the exact same smile. I try not to groan, but it takes considerable effort.

"I will, I promise!" Kawarama offers. Well, at least I'll be allowed to help a five year old get through the day...

8-8

End Chapter 31

8-8

A/N: This is the exact reason why Ai's life isn't going to be very entertaining for a while. Sorry, but there's just too much at stake for her, and we all know people are too careful with her to take any risks.

The majority of this arc is Ai living vicariously through those around her. So anything really focusing on Ai, will mostly be her complaining, or the very limited plotting she'll be allowed to do. I'm sure the majority of people reading this think her situation is being overstated (perhaps even exaggerated to an extent), but there is always a percentage of pregnancies that lead to similar situations - i.e. mandatory bed rest. The reasoning might be totally different, but this is just the hand dealt to her.

'Vague Truths' (of which Chapter 30 is the first part) will be a recurring theme throughout this Arc, and they will be focussed on Jiraiya specifically. I cannot and will not promise when this theme will recur, but I'd called it 'part 1' for good reason. If I really can't offer good screen time for it, I'll just place interludes revolving around him. I really want to properly flesh him out as a person, even if he ends up being a total Tsundere - which I don't think he will. But then, I'm kind of biased when it comes to my own writing.

Updated October 14th, 2015.