Sorry about the long wait, I just finished moving and a lot of my stuff is still packed. I'll be updateing this and my other stories as soon as I find all the disks. I hope you enjoy this story, thanks to all who reviewed. Please feel free to leave more.

Awareness came slowly and painfully to Minako. All she was, all she felt, was pain. She knew nothing else. All else was blocked. She lay still hopeing maybe it would pass, but it only got worse. She moned softly and tried to open her eye's but was blinded by the light. "Mina_chan?" a soft voice off to the side whispered. She finally managed to open her eye's. She looked slightly to her left "Tomo." He smiled down to her then turned to his side where she couldn't see. "Nakago, she's awake." Nakago appeared beside Minako looking down at her, with what looked like pity in his eye, though that left quickly. She looked up at him, not sure weather to be afread or not. So she remained silent. "Are you ok Minako?" He asked quietly, a trace of worry laseing his voice. He knew first hand what the Emperor was capable of. "I.. I think so, I'm really sore, but ok." She winced as Tomo touched her arm, as fire raced up it. "She'd going to need a doctor. This is pretty bad." Tomo said as he looked her over. "The emperor said no doctors or visitors remember. Even we are only permitted this once. He wants her isolated for a while. Put the ointment on her then we should leave." He looked down at Minako "This is only temporary. He wants to be sure you appresiate the freedom you are granted here. You must remember that you are still only a Konan women to him. A tool." Minako remained silent, her head buried in shame. "I'm sorry Nakago. I.. I just wanted to remember my brother. I ment no disrespect." Tomo watched her sadly. Then Nakago got up to leave. Tomo knowing it was time, did the same. "Be well Minako. Be strong." With those final words they left. She heard a click as the lock was put in place. Curling as much as her battered body would alow she cried from sadness, pain, and sorrow.



Minako woke suddenly as she felt the bed shift. She bolted up and look to see who it was. She was surprised to see Tomo's face smiling down at her. "Tomo_chan!! Why are you here? Wont you get in trouble?" It had been 3 long month since Minako had been locked up alone. She was fully healed from the lashing she had resived. She had only seen a doctor and a single maid who deliverd food, the entire time she had been there. Not even Nakago was permitted to see her. The doctor Lie was her only conection to the outside world. He would sometimes tell her of it. He watched over her for the pregnancy. After much pleading from Nakago, the emperor had relented and allowed the doctor in.



"The emperor has deemed your solitude over. You are now free to see who you wish. He camands only that you go to the temple and ask forgiveness. Nakago knelt silently, awaiting Minako. He was happy she was once again granted the freedom she once had. Though he would never say so openly. He would be glade of her company once again. He didn't know why he felt that way. Only that he did. He wondered about the child she carried. Would it be the son he wanted? Or would it be a girl, just like her mother. He was surprised that he didn't care either way. He was glade it was so. Minako opened the door quietly so as not to disrupt Nakago. He had gotten better with time. She couldn't say that she loved him. But she did have a newrespect for him. She knew that at least in part, it was thanks to him her isolation had finally ended. Slowly she entered the shrine and knelt beside him. "Good of you to join me" Nakago said in a quiet tone. "How do you feel? Have you and the baby been ok?" Minako placed a hand on he stumic. "We're both fine. The doctor says everything is normal." They remained silent for a moment, each lost in there own thoughts. Nakago rose. "we should go" He helped her up and they headed for the door. When they reached the hall by Nakago's room he turned to face Minako. "I would like you to remain close to myself or Tomo at all times. I don't trust that the emperor will leave you be. I wont have you or the baby hurt" Minako nodded in silent agreement, feeling safer with them then alone anyway. "Good. You will also sleep in my chambers from now on. I will also halt your training for the time being. I don't think it's a good idea at this time. Not till the baby is born at the least. "Yes sir." She looked up at him waiting. As he looked at her he noticed that the fire he was used to seeing in her eye's was no longer there. He feared what that ment and only hoped it could be rekindled.

Nine Months. Minako couldn't believe it had finally passed. She felt huge. She'd been confined to bed a week earlier. She was bored. She couldn't wait till the baby arrived. Anyday now the doctor had said. She was getting tired of waiting, of being so huge and sore. She was also miserable because Tomo had told her that Soi was to there that day. She knew the other women wouldn't openly it, but she would be pissed when she leaned of the impending birth. Nakago and Tomo had desided not to tell her till she arrived. Minako was sometimes afread of Soi. She head a click as the door opened. Tomo peaked around it. "How you feeling Mina_chan?" Just then Minako felt as if her insides were about to burst, then the bed was wet as well. "ahh.. Tomo, quick get the doctor and Nakago. The baby is on the way."

**He he gonna make you wait on this one. So what do you think? Boy or girl? What should the name be? You tell me what you think. See ya soon with more.**