The sun was high in the sky when Sango opened her eyes to the day. She yawned softly and smiled as she heard Lee's soft breathing next to her. Shifting closer to him on the soft green futon, she sighed contentedly. She laid her head on his bare shoulder and kissed his cheek, giggling shyly. Lee opened his eyes as she touched him and then relaxed, lovingly stroking her hair and putting his strong arm across her shoulders.
"I love you so much," Sango whispered gently.
"And I love you, My Angel," he crooned lovingly. They lay silent for a moment longer. Neither wanted to leave the other's embrace, to start the rigor and stress of a shinobi's day. Finally Sango had to break the silence.
"It's nearly eight," she said. "The others will be awake soon." Lee nodded slowly. "The others" referred to Yumi, Gaara, Kikyo, and the others still staying with them. It was their third day at Sango and Lee's house, and Gaara and Kikyo planned to start home that evening.
"I suppose we should go..." said Lee. "We have training this afternoon."
"'We?' What about your guard mission to the Land of Lightning today?"
"Oh! I almost forgot about it! Thank you."
"Hmm..." sighed Sango. "I wonder how Hinata and Tenten are lately..."
"I am sure that Guy-sensei will know."
"Yeah, I bet he will. I'll ask him later. So anyway," she said as she stood up to change out of her sleeping kimono behind a screen, "go ahead and start preparing for your mission. Breakfast will be ready in half an hour."
"Gah!" Sango groaned irritably as she headed to the training field. "What's with me lately?" She massaged her throbbing temples tiredly. "I've had this on and off for a week! And I..." She stood still and put her hand over her mouth in a sudden wave of nausea. It passed as quickly as it came. "How weird... Maybe I have a virus... Maybe training'll help me fight it off..." She shook her head to gather her senses and headed off again.
By the time she reached the field, Sango was in high spirits. With Lee away on his mission and Tenten only able to look on from the sidelines, it was time to fight two-on-one with Guy-sensei and Neji. It would be hard, and they wouldn't pull any punches, but she felt confident in herself and her sensei's lessons.
"Ready, Sango?" asked Guy.
"You bet!"
"May the better man - or woman - win," said Neji, smiling across the field at Tenten. She was now three months pregnant, just a week or two behind Hinata, and she was just barely showing - almost imperceptibly. She smiled back and placed a hand on her stomach.
"Show our baby your power!" she called proudly.
"Of course!" Neji called, assuming a fighting stance with Guy. Sango took up a fighting stance quickly.
"Aaaand..." said Guy. "GO!" They leapt toward each other quickly, and Sango threw her leg weights to the ground as she sailed through the air.
"Hmm," Sango thought quickly as she dashed around them, "I'll take out Sensei first. His speed could be a problem if I don't." Before Guy could remove his weights, Sango had already connected her kick with his right shoulder and leapt back, sending him flying through the air in a spiral.
"Now for Nej- ow!" Before she could touch a punch to Neji's jaw, he had pierced the chakra points in her arm with his Gentle Fist. "Tch, nice try!" she said, disappearing in a cloud of smoke. "The real me's right here!" She pulled back for a punch.
"Unh!" Neji gasped as her fist sunk into his ribcage and sent him up above her head. Leaping after him, Sango kicked from above and slammed him down to the ground as her foot connected with his back.
"Oh, that looks like it hurt," Tenten winced.
"Not so fast!" cried Guy, sinking his fist into Sango's shoulder from behind.
"Aaagh!" cried Sango, sailing into the nearby river with a loud splash. Wincing, she kicked her way to the surface and caught her breath. Stepping onto the bank, she prepared to spring into another attack. But suddenly she felt dizzy and tired. She bent forward as if to be sick, panting hard and trying to keep her balance.
"Sango, what is it?" said Guy, by her side as soon as he noticed.
"What's wrong?" Neji said worriedly. "Did we hurt you that badly?" Tenten stood by him quickly.
"No, I... I - I don't... " Sango stammered dazedly. "Uhn..." she gasped quietly. Her legs buckled weakly, and she fainted and fell into Guy Sensei's arms.
"Sango! Sango!" Tenten yelled.
"It's no good," said Neji. "This has never just happened to her before."
"Something's really wrong," Guy said worriedly.
"Neji, can you take her to the hospital?" said Tenten.
"Of course! Right away!"
"And I'll run ahead to tell them you're coming," said Tenten.
"I'll go get Lee!" said Guy. "He should just be outside the gates by now. He needs to know!" They all left in the instant, Neji going more slowly so as to protect Sango from further injury.
"Not now, please," Guy thought desperately as he leapt to find Lee. "They're so good together, and Lee's so great. Please, don't take her away now! Let it all turn out alright..."