Chapter 6

(Sano)

"I feel like a cow Sano." Shinta suddenly said, crossing his arms.

I glanced at him. "Nani?"

He glared at me. "A cow Sano! I feel like a big fat cow!"

I couldn't restrain a snort. "You're not a cow, love. Besides, you're not that big."

"Not that big!" he shrieked, clenching his hands into fists. "Look at me! I'm huge!"

I dropped a kiss on his lips. "Well, I'll admit you are big, but you're 7 months pregnant, you've got to take that into account."

His eyes grew wide and rapidly filled with tears. 'Oh shit…' I thought. Shinta was suddenly against my chest, pounding with small fists. "See!" he sobbed. "You just said that I'm fat!"

I hugged him tightly. "I did not Shinta; I said nothing of the sort." I pulled him up into my arms, planting a kiss on his swollen stomach through his kimono. "I think you're beautiful kodora…"

He sniffled. "Really?"

I nodded, kissing him again. "Of course, now please don't cry. I hate it when you cry."

He nodded. "Okay."

Only a few minutes later he was dead to the world, snuggled up against my chest. I chuckled, but kissed his forehead gently. This was more of a daily routine lately, and I had grown used to carrying him more often. He was tired more, and slept a lot, but I didn't mind.

I walked for a while longer, and then sat down for a bite of lunch. Before waking Shinta I brushed my fingers over his belly. His obi no longer fit; instead his kimono had been tied with the long strip of cloth he kept in his sleeves for when he worked. It was tied around his chest, above the bulge of the child, holding the kimono in place around him.

I shook him gently. "Shinta. Come on kodora, wake up. You need to eat something."

His eyes fluttered open and he yawned, stretching slightly. "Sano? Why do I have to? I'm tired…"

I chuckled. "You can sleep more later, but right now you need to eat so you stay healthy."

He sighed, but accepted the food I handed him, eating happily. I shook my head slightly, but ate my own food.

He finished rather quickly and then looked to me. I was still eating and I knew that he was still hungry. I handed him what I had left. "Here, go ahead and eat."

He shook his head. "Iie, this is yours!"

I grinned. "You eat it. I'm not all that hungry anyway."

He studied me, but ate anyway. I watched him as he chewed the fruit, watching the juice as it dripped down his chin. I couldn't resist.

I pushed his hand away from his mouth, licking the juice from his skin, running my tongue up and licking his lips clean. His tongue met mine, and then our lips meshed together, the fruit forgotten as his arms looped around my neck and mine wrapped around his waist, pressing his stomach into mine.

He moaned into my lips, fingers tightening in my hair. I drove my tongue deep within his mouth. I felt his fangs lengthening, just as they did every time I kissed him like this. I carefully avoided them, not wanting the taste of my blood to send him into a blind frenzy again.

Our passion was interrupted as Shinta shuddered in my arms. I pulled back from him, worried. "Kodora? What's wrong, love?"
His face was pained, but he made no sounds of discomfort. He breathed deep, and then relaxed. "I'm fine Sano. Just a bit of pain."

"Are you sure?" I asked firmly.

He nodded. "I'm positive. It was only an ache. Besides, it's gone now."

"Alright then. I'll trust you." I said. The baby suddenly kicked, the strength of it passing through Shinta's skin and into my stomach. I blinked as Shinta laughed. "Well that felt weird."

My pretty redhead snorted. "You should try being on my end. It's even weirder."

I chuckled, pulling fully away from him. "Well, we'd better get moving again."

He nodded, putting up a hand to me as I stood. I helped him to his feet, and he smiled in thanks. We continued on, our fingers laced together between us.

"Shinta? Are you sure you're okay?" I asked carefully. "You're awfully pale kodora."

Shinta smiled at me. "I'm okay Sano. I'm only tired. This is hard on me you know."

I moved up behind him where we stood by a river, wrapping arms around his waist and putting my hands on his stomach. He leaned into me, resting his head against my shoulder and closing his eyes. "I know…" I murmured into his ear. "But you know something? I'm so proud of you kodora. Being eight months pregnant is hard, and you're being very brave."

He chuckled. "Arigatou."

I kissed the top of his head gently, and then put my chin against his hair. "Aishiteru Shinta."

I heard his smile in his voice. "Aishiteru mo Sano." He yawned. "Do you think you could carry me for a bit, love?"

I grinned, sweeping him into my arms in response. "Of course kodora."

He snuggled close to my chest with a soft 'arigatou,' and within minutes he was asleep. I walked along quietly, not wanting to wake him. He desperately needed the rest.

The sun began to sink in the sky, and I began to look for a place to stop for the night. Shinta shifted in my arms, shivering and trying to move closer to me.

I narrowed my eyes, looking up and around us. 'Shimatta, this sounds exactly like the night we were attacked before.'

I reflexively held Shinta's body closer to my chest, sinking back into the shadow of the trees. I watched as the sun sank, and then I realized something. 'Kuso!'

It was the full moon! I looked down, watching as Shinta's crimson hair faded to ebony, his small fangs disappeared and his slightly sharper than normal nails grew dull.

It was then I grew worried. "Shinta?" His transformation always woke him, whether or not he was deeply exhausted or not. I gave him a jolt. "Shinta, wake up!"

He did not move, and I lay him down, worriedly touching his face, shaking him, even lightly smacking his cheek. He never responded, only lay there limply.

I growled, quickly looking him over. Imbedded in his forearm was a needle. 'Ninjas…' I thought venomously. 'Someone is after us…'

I saw a man step from the trees near me. "I suggest you back away from the boy. He belongs to me."

I looked up and clenched my fists. "Enishi…"

Next chapter shall be the birth! –cheers- It will be a slightly emotional chapter, and I hope that you'll review and read the next chapter!