(Manten's jealousy)

Two weeks had passed since Hiten and Sakura had their love fling. She had to admit that he was getting quite protective of her nowadays, prior to how he used to treat her a month ago. It had been exactly a month since she had resided to live in the thunder brothers' home.

Days passed by and Sakura had a wonderful time. She and Hiten would go on long walks with their fingers intertwining with each other's all the time. He never said the three words 'I love you,' but Sakura didn't need him to say it; for she knew. Hiten had to admit that he was beginning to feel his mind settling peacefully upon his soul. And he could tell, because Sakura would smile at him for no apparent reason at all sometimes. She never did, but by this he knew.

It was too bad neither of them noticed Manten throughout the weeks...

I was dragged away from society.

I was dragged away from my parents.

An-chan was the only person who would stay by me, but that Sakura girl had dragged An-chan away from me.

Manten had to admit; he had been the kind sort to Sakura and had listened to her. Now, the tables had turned and he was the one being secluded in the corner. Hiten never agreed to go on hunts as much or agreed to go and sabotage some unsuspecting villages as much anymore. It was then Manten regretted that he ever was nice to Sakura. He had shown kindness to a stranger, and all he had gotten from it was ignorance.

Just then, he heard Hiten calling him for dinner. Brushing off the dust, he headed in the house.

"Yay, everyone!" Sakura yelled to no one in particular, holding three plates of human food. "Let's eat!"

"Why are you so happy today?" Hiten asked, picking up his chopsticks and his bowl of food. Sakura smiled and pointed to the meal. "Because I made this food extra carefully today, and it should taste nicer than other days!"

"Oh really?" Hiten and Manten both said and took a bite out of their dinner and found that it was better than they had thought. Looking up, Hiten spooned up some food from his bowl and put it to Sakura's mouth.

"It's really good, you should try some." He said. She smiled and inhaled the sweet spices; just then, she felt something rush over her lower stomach and felt like her stomach was going to drop. Sakura ran to the porch, as she felt a false gag coming over her. Hiten and Manten looked in surprise.

"What is it?" Manten asked. "Do you not like your own cooking?"

"No, I'm fine." She cheerfully said. "It's just...something."

"Okay. Now why don't you come and eat?" Hiten offered. Sakura sat down to get along dinner peacefully, but she couldn't get the bitter sourness out of her gut. It clawed at her as she felt another gag coming up followed by a pain in the stomach, and Hiten frowned.

"You don't look so good." He said impatiently, putting down his bowl in the midst of eating. "Go lie down, okay?"

"I'm fine, it's just that..."

Sakura stopped. And while she did, she patted her lower stomach with both hands and felt a not-so-large, but yet noticeable bump. Noticing this, Hiten's crimson eyes grew wide and he sat himself in front of her.

"Give me your hand." He said, and checked her pulse even before she could say anything more. Hiten felt a strong pulse from the girl. But that wasn't what he was looking for. He closed his eyes and waited for something else to come to him.

Another faint pulse.

It was hardly noticeable under the dominant pulse of Sakura's, but he could still make it out.

"Two weeks..." Hiten muttered, totally taken over by the fact. "Two weeks..."

"Two weeks what!?" Sakura and Manten yelled in frustration. They wanted an answer now. Hiten commented,

"Sakura...you're two weeks pregnant."

The week went by ever so peacefully for Hiten and Sakura. Hiten even said that he wouldn't go on hunting as much, for it could affect the baby. It was a girl, to be exact. Sakura wasn't too sure of how Hiten could get such an exact answer, but what mattered? She and Hiten would have a cute girl baby. They talked about how it would look like; whether it would have its daddy's eyes or its mommy's hair.

Meanwhile, Manten seriously felt left out. He did feel happy for the both of them, but couldn't help but feel the bitterness pushed deep within his mind coming out to haunt him. He was jealous...of Sakura. Of his 'sister-in-law.'

And all this had happened over a month and a week.

Over that time he had encountered a strange girl, seen his cold hearted brother show his soft side, overheard Hiten and Sakura talking about their intimate night, and had found that his brother had gotten Sakura pregnant; and was showing support for her instead of urging her to abort the child. Abortion was painful from what he had heard. You either had to hit the lower stomach of a pregnant woman or go through some serious operating.

He guessed that Hiten really did love her, for other times he got his prostitutes pregnant he would punch their stomachs to abort the child. But for everything there was a first, right?

He sighed and waited outside the house walls for his brother to return. Hiten had left that morning and it was the middle of a sunny afternoon. He thought if he were to greet his An-chan upon his return he would be able to exchange a few sentences with him. At the moment, Sakura was the only person in the house, probably comforting herself. Demon babies grew fast, and the woman bearing the child would only have to bear it for two months. That meant that three weeks later, Hiten would be a father.

Sakura would be a mother.

And he would be an uncle to the baby.

Trying to rid himself of the thoughts that shot in his head so that he could get to sleep, Manten lowered his eyelids and started too doze off on his chest, stubby legs crossed.

Just then he felt something slither up his upper chest. Looking down, he saw that it was a delicate greenish-yellow snake that was now proceeding to slither up his neck. Looking up, Manten prayed that it wasn't who he thought it was.

"Hello, Manten." Namie called out, towering above him.

Ahahaha! I love the climax! I already wrote out chapter 13 on paper, and even to myself it's sooo sad! Can any of you guess what it is? (tear...) I told you that Manten's going to do something bad, it's already in this chapter...not really 'bad,' more like jealousy. And (plays dramatic music) Namie is back! (By the way, you pronounce it 'Na-mee-eh.') I made her do something so evil in chapter 13 that you people won't even feel sorry for her when she gets punched in the face by Hiten!

Sorry if this chapter's a bit falling behind than the other ones, like the descriptions and so on...but I was having a crappy day at school today, so I'm really sorry...I promise I'll get better! Haha! Hope you people understand!

Oh yeah. (waves) Hi Lee-chan! You reviewed, you good friend of mine you!