Chapter 4

(1 month later, Sano)

Something was wrong. I just knew it. Shinta was not acting normally, and I was extremely confused. The little redhead was quiet and secluded, moody often as well. But he didn't complain, and this was slightly reassuring. The night before he had hid beneath our blanket the whole night, saying that he was freezing. I had let him have the blanket; I hadn't thought that it was that cold at all. I had let him have his privacy, but it was confusing me greatly.

We had just settled down for the night when I knew that someone besides us was there. I jumped in front of Shinta, shielding him with my body. His fragile hands pressed on my back. "Sano? What's wrong?"

"Quiet." I hissed, crouching down a bit. I could feel Shinta's fear, but I focused around me. "Show yourself…" I whispered slightly.

A few bandits burst from the trees, brandishing swords. I met one in midair, my fist striking his temple. He dropped like a stone and lay still. I whirled, dodging a sword and knocking another to the ground.

I let out a whoop, but my joy was cut off as I heard Shinta scream. I looked around to see him motionless on the ground, a bandit standing over him. I roared out a challenge, dealing with the last two bandits within minutes.

I ran forward. "Shinta!" Just before I touched his shoulder he whirled, looking at me. I yelped and backpedaled frantically. "Oh Kami!"

Blazing gold eyes ringed in blood red, long, glistening white fangs, and a clawed hand raised and ready to strike. The snarl rumbled through his chest, trailing off into a hiss of fury. His eyes suddenly cleared to their soft violet and his lips fell from their snarl. "S-sano?" he whispered. Then his eyes rolled back and he fell to his side in the dirt, limp and still.

I ran forward again, rolling him over and gathering him close. "Kuso…" I muttered, lifting him and running from the area, leaving the bandits behind. Shinta remained still in my arms, only his breath against my chest reassuring me that he was even alive.

When I'd reached what I deemed a good distance I lay Shinta gently on the ground and hastily built a fire. I covered Shinta with the only blanket we had. He suddenly stirred, his eyes opening. "Sano?"

"Kami Shinta…" I murmured. "What are you!"

(Shinta)

He knew. Oh Kami he knew… I had bared my fangs at him, showing the secret I had longed to keep. When he spoke I looked away, and then sat up painfully. "Please, let me check my injury first." I whispered.

Concern flashed in his eyes, and he helped me remove my kimono. I heard his gasp as it fell around my waist.

"Shinta…Nani…" he was lost for words, eyes on my swollen belly. He reached out, fingers ghosting across the black bruise already spreading across my stomach. He looked back to my face. "What is this all about?"

The child squirmed within me and I pushed Sano's hand flat onto my belly. He felt the movement, and a gasp escaped his lips. "I'm pregnant Sano, about four and a half months along. That's one reason I wanted to get out of that place."

His face was ashen, and he yanked his hand away from me. "P-pregnant? But…how?"

I released my demon aura, allowing the illusion to fall. He blinked. "I'm a hanyou Sano, half wolf demon. Because of that I can bear children."

He just sat there, face pale. I felt my emotions begin to grow and my eyes started to burn. I hunched my shoulders miserably, sniffling, trying not to let the tears flow. "Gomen…" I whispered.

Sano's strong arms suddenly drew me close to his chest. "Oh Shinta, please don't cry. I should be sorry, not you."

I stifled my sobs in his shoulder, and he rocked me gently, whispering soothing words. After a while I tapered down to a few sniffles and hiccups, and Sano shifted to look down at me. "Better?"

I nodded. "I still should have told you."

Sano shook his head. "You had every right to hide this from me kodora. So, what about that outburst earlier?"

I sighed. "It was my instincts. As you can see, the bandit punched me in the stomach. When you approached my only thought was protecting my little one. You were a threat in my sight." I grinned weakly. "Gomen?"

He chuckled. "It's okay, I understand." I turned in his arms, setting my back against his chest and laying my head on his shoulder. I saw his hand rise, but he hesitated. "Can I touch Shinta?"

I chuckled and nodded. "Hai, you can." He laid his hand flat on my belly, and the baby shifted inside me. It was a strange sensation, but I had grown used to it. His hand was warm on my skin, and I felt an almost loving feeling course through me. I had not yet been with Sano for 2 months, and yet I was falling for him, hard and fast.

(Sano)

The feeling of something moving beneath his pale skin was positively mind-boggling. He was quiet, resting his head against my shoulder. I brushed my fingers up his drum-tight belly, feeling the curve of his stomach. He was not big really, but it was still enough of a bulge that one easily noticed. However, with his kimono on it was invisible to the eye. "So this is why you didn't want other clothes." I murmured. There was no response, and I looked down into his sleeping faces.

I brought my fingers up to ghost across his cheek, and he sighed slightly, a smile curving those full lips. 'He's so young…' I thought. 'To be carrying a child. I wonder who the father is…'

I set my hand on his swollen stomach again, and the baby shifted at my touch. I smiled, pressing a kiss to Shinta's forehead. I pulled the blanket up over my legs and up to his chin, tucking it around him. I set my cheek against his hair and relaxed, getting ready to spend the night keeping watch.

(A/N: We're starting to get to the romance, so this is where the yaoi starts getting serious. Please don't complain to me, I've warned you.)

"Shinta, why don't you take those pads out of your kimono? It makes you look like you've got breasts." I said, absolutely bored and trying to make conversation.

He chuckled. "That was the point Sano. Besides, I think they're sown into the cloth of my kimono. I'd probably rip my kimono up trying to take them out."

"Oh…" I said dejectedly. I looked to the side and noticed Shinta rubbing his larger stomach. Five and a half months along now, and you could easily see his distended belly through his kimono. He looked so much like a woman; it was a little unnerving sometimes.

"You alright kodora?" I asked. "Got an ache?"

He looked at me, and then shook his head. "Iie, the baby's just kicking particularly hard today." He smiled. "I'm fine, don't worry."

I walked over to him, sweeping him into my arms. He protested, wiggling in my arms. I shushed him. "It's fine, stop it Shinta. I can carry you."

It was true; he was barely a weight in my arms, even with the added pounds of the child. He hit me on the shoulder. "Put me down Sano! I can walk just fine!"

"I know. But you deserve a break." I said, continuing to walk with him struggling in my grip.

"Sano!" he howled, his face growing red with anger. "Put me down! Just because I'm pr—"

He was cut off as I kissed him soundly, turning him in my arms and clasping his body to my chest. His pregnant belly was pushed into my own stomach, but I ignored it. I heard his enraged, "Mmmfff!", but my eyes were closed, and I slipped my tongue between his teeth, exploring his beautiful mouth and touching his tongue.

I felt his fangs begin to lengthen, and one nicked my tongue, drawing blood that slowly began to fill my mouth. I paid it no mind until Shinta went limp in my arms, his head falling back away from me.

I panicked. "Shinta! Shinta, what's wrong!" He did not move, just hung from my grasp. "Answer me kodora!" I lay him gently on the ground, horror rushing through me. He was motionless, lips open slightly and eyes glazed. A small trickle of what I knew was my blood ran from his lips.

I shook him. "Shinta! Please kodora, answer me!" He suddenly blinked, and then threw himself at me. His lips meshed with mine, tongue driving into my mouth. I pushed at him as he pushed his body closer, shoving him off. I gasped as I watched him. "Shimatta Shinta, what the hell was that!"

A growl echoed lowly in his chest, causing me to shiver. His eyes were stained red, with blazing gold irises and slitted pupils. I backed away from him as he advanced towards me.

I suddenly stopped, "Shinta, stop this! What do you think you're doing?"

He lunged, and I couldn't help myself. I slapped his pretty face, forcing his body away from me. I heard his yelp of pain as he hit the ground, and I darted to his side. "Shinta!"

Sobs were tearing from his throat, and I gathered him close, whispering comfortingly. I rocked him gently, and he cried until late in the night, until he finally fell asleep from mental and physical exhaustion.