Chapter 5

(Shinta)

Oh Kami, what had I done? I woke up in Sano's arms, screaming and struggling. He held me down, and in a fit of fear and anger I had clawed at his arm. The feel of his flesh under my claws had scared me more, and I had screamed again, fighting my way away from him.

He now had me pinned to the ground on my back, his hands keeping my wrists still beside my head. "Shinta, calm down. It's okay, I promise."

I could feel tears streaming down my cheeks and the child within me was kicking and punching due to my heightened emotions. "No, it's not okay! I lost control!"

He began dropping soft kisses along my nose, forehead, and cheeks, carefully avoiding the forming bruise on the right side of my jaw where he had hit me earlier. "Shhh…Quiet my kodora."

I sniffled as he continued to plant moist kisses along my throat, calming myself slowly so the baby would stop kicking so hard. "Sano…"

He smiled at me. "It's alright Shinta, I promise. I'm okay." He held up his arm, where four bleeding slashes laced his tanned skin. "I'll heal."

I grabbed his wrist, bringing his arm closer and tenderly licking the cuts. He seemed confused, but he let me do it. The strokes of my tongue closed the cuts, clotting the blood.

He held up his arm, examining the slashes. "Wow."

I smiled slightly. "It'll keep it from getting infected. I've found that my saliva has the same healing ability that wolves' do." I wasn't sure how else to describe the property, but I knew that the cuts would heal a little faster now.

He grinned. "Cool." He moved off of me, and I sat up slowly, putting one hand on my lower stomach. His expression switched to concern. "You okay?"

I nodded, and then looked up. It was getting close to sundown. It was nearly time. "Sano, there's one more thing about my being a hanyou."

He tilted his head slightly. "What?"

At that moment the sun sank beneath the horizon, and I felt the transformation begin. There was a slight pain, but in a moment it was over. I opened my eyes to see Sano staring at me with a confused expression on his face. "Shinta?"

"It's my human night every full moon." I murmured.

He put out a hand, running his fingers through my now ebony black hair, his other hand touching the corners of my blue eyes. He smiled. "Beautiful…"

I couldn't help the blush spreading across my cheeks. I looked down, and then shivered slightly in the cool air. Sano's arms pulled my back to his chest, drawing the blanket over us. His hand settled on my swollen belly, a place he had grown accustomed to putting it.

The baby kicked into his hand and he chuckled. "That will never cease to amaze me, nor with anything else about you." I felt his lips against my hair, and then his fingers began to run soothingly though the obsidian strands. I sighed happily, a purr resounding in my throat.

Sano suddenly tightened his grip on me. "Aishiteru Shinta…"

My entire brain grinded to a halt. I could not formulate the response I wanted, no matter what I did. "Sano…"

I felt his sigh. "I see…"

"Iie!" I said quickly, turning in his arms and planting my side against his chest. I tucked my head beneath his chin, "Aishiteru mo Sano."

He hugged me tightly. "Good." His fingers lifted my chin, and his lips met mine in a gentle warm kiss. I responded eagerly, pressing my body close to him. He chuckled into my lips. "Calm Shinta…"

I whimpered into his neck as I pushed my nose into his throat. "But Sano…"

He laughed out loud. "No 'buts' kodora. Not with this belly of yours." He patted my stomach lovingly.

I suddenly had a thought. "Sano, my little one…"

He cocked his head. "What about it?"

I looked down and away from him. "I don't know who the father is." I sighed. "I think its Enishi."

I felt him stiffen. "That bastard that used to come just to fuck you until you bled?"

"Hai…" I whispered miserably.

He sighed. "Oh Shinta…" He hugged me tightly. "I don't care who the father is. I will love this baby as if it was my own. I love you kodora, and this baby is a part of you."

He leaned down past my face, pushing my kimono off my shoulders and down to my waist. The bite of the cold air on my stomach made me shiver, but I didn't stop him in his progress.

He trailed warm kisses up the curve of my belly, moving onto my chest. I gasped and arched into him as his lips grazed my right nipple, fingers clenching in his brown hair.

He looked up in shock. "What was that?" He suddenly grinned wickedly and locked his mouth around my nipple. I groaned, my back arching again. He suckled fiercely, his fingers twisting and pinching my left nipple.

My mouth gaped open, my eyes rolling up into my head. My body was nothing but a pool of burning, mindless pleasure. Strangled sounds came from my throat, I couldn't form proper speech.

Sano traveled up my throat, taking my lips in a fiery kiss. I looped my arms around his neck, pressing my body into his. He pushed his tongue deep in my mouth, easily reigning dominant over me.

He released my lips slowly, nibbling on them as he pulled away. I leaned against his chest with a happy sigh, snuggling close to his warmth. He pulled my outer kimono up over my shoulders, tucking it under my chin. Our blanket was over his shoulders, while I lay in between his legs, my kimono over both of us.

He kissed my head gently. "Sleep kodora…"

I was already losing the battle, my eyelids growing heavier. "Ai…shiteru…" I mumbled, finally giving myself up to sleep.

(Sano)

When Shinta's breath had evened out I hugged him closer. His slender hand clutched in my jacket reflexively, and he mumbled in his sleep.

I smiled at the image. He was just too cute, with his hair loose and flowing around his shoulders, all cuddled up to my chest, and his lips swollen from my kisses.

I gently brushed my lips across his forehead, brushing a stray hair from his pale face. "Aishiteru my kodora…"

Laying my hand on his stomach I settled myself down to keep watch. The baby shifted inside him, and I felt a tiny hand press against my own for an instant. I gasped, waiting for it to happen again, but the child was quiet.

I smiled. "Good night to you too little one…"