"Alright! This feels great!" said Sango. She was sitting in the natural spring, called an onsen, more relaxed than she had been in a very long time. Her jet-black hair was pulled tightly into several braids, which had been pulled up into a tight bun at the top of her head. She had folded the towel she was wearing and set it on top of her head, as was the usual custom. Yumi and Kikyo were doing the same, and except for Yumi's spiky pigtails still showing, their hair was the same.

"Look, I'm a nun!" said Yumi, putting her towel down over her head like a shawl. "Hey, wait! I have an idea! Hold this Kikyo."

"Ack!" said Kikyo as Yumi's towel hit her in the face. Yumi dove under the foggy water, swimming around through the rocks. When she resurfaced, her face was cherry red.

"Oweee!" she said. "It's too hot! My face hurts!"

"Duh," said Kikyo. "It's a hot spring."

"Oh yeah. Oopsie!"

"Yumi, you're hopeless."

"I know."

"So Sango," said Kikyo, "wanna know some weird Japanese birth traditions?"

"I guess..." said Sango.

"Well first, taking it easy for the first three -"

"Broke that one," said Sango.

"Okay, not eating any crab or lobster."

"I haven't, but why?"

"It's believed that'll make your kid a thief."

"Okay..."

"Screaming in labor is said to disgrace your family. But I did."

"Yeah, I'll probably break that one."

"And, finally... Hospitals almost never offer pain meds or c-sections, so..."

"Oh my - stop! Just stop there! I don't wanna know!" Kikyo laughed.

"I know the feeling. And anyone who tells you the pain isn't terrible is lying through their teeth. But it's possible to deal with."

"How?"

"Knowing you have no choice."

"..."

"Well that just sucks, huh?" said Kikyo.

"Uh, yeah!" said Sango, resting an anxious hand on her stomach. She looked a little afraid. Suddenly the baby kicked again. "Okay, this is becoming extremely uncomfortable."

"Again, I know the feeling."

"Sango, Sango!" said Yumi. "Can I feel it kick?"

"Knock yourself out."

"Yay!" said Yumi, pressing her ear to Sango's stomach. "Ha ha! It's so cu- Oweee!" she said, jerking back and holding her ear. "It kicked me!"

"What did you expect? This is Lee's child, too."

"Well, come on, guys," said Kikyo. "We still have a ton to do!"

"Yeah! Right, Sango?"

"Er, sure. Unh!" said Sango, struggling to get to her feet and finally using a rock to push herself up. "Let's go."

"Yaaay!" Yumi said as she sipped along the sidewalk. "I got lots of stuff!"

"Yeah," said Sango, dressed in a new purple maternity kimono.

"That's great, Yumi, really," said Kikyo, stumbling behind, "but can you at least carry your own bags?! Oh no! I'm gonna- fal- Aaahhh!" screamed Kikyo, falling over backwards and landing under the bags. "Owww..."

"Kikyo!" said Sango, laughing as she tossed the bags off of her. "You okay?"

"No..."

"Come on, they're not that heavy!" said Yumi. Kikyo glared at her.

"Fine. Then you take them!"

"Aaaah!" Yumi screamed as Kiky threw bags at her. "Yumi abuse! Heeelp!"

"... you she'd be here!" came a familiar voice from down the street.

"I know, I know!" said another. Sango whipped around, instantly breaking into a smile.

"Tatsumi! Ruku!"

"Hey, Sango!" said Ruku.

"See, I told you! She is here!" said Tatsumi. "You're such a baka! Why would she be at Ichiraku so late in the day?"

"Must you always attack me with words?"

"Want me to use rocks?"

"Guys, guys, please!" Sango cut in. "Why are you looking for me?"

"Oh yeah. Hi," said Ruku.

"..."

"..."

"Hi? That's all you-"

"Aaaaaah! Stranger danger! Stranger danger!" Yumi screamed as she ran away from Kikyo. "Uh... stop, drop, and roll! Forty-two! Uh... Somebody call whatever the number is for 911!" Sango coughed to try and suppress laughter, but it failed. She and the others burst into hysterical laughter, snorting and howling with the fun in it.

"What?" said Yumi. "I really don't know the number for 911!" This only made them laugh harder. Ruku and Tatsumi were on their stomachs, doubled up from laughing so hard. Sango had to lean against the store's wall to stay on her feet. Even Kikyo was laughing at Yumi.

Finally the giggles subsided and everyone straightened, sighing and wiping tears from their eyes.

"E-heh... heh... phew," said Tatsumi.

"Ah... Dang, that was funny," said Ruku.

"Anyway, we just came to say hi and ask how you are," said Tatsumi.

"Fine," said Sango, "but impatient. How do I look?"

"Pregnant," Ruku answered simply.

"Thanks, I guess, but that's not what I meant."

"Oops. Good, then. Very good. Glowing, in fact."

"Liar."

"Maaaaybe..."

"Anyway, what time is it?"

"Seven p.m."

"Awww!" said Yumi. "So girls' day is over?"

"Yeah. Sorry, Yumi," said Sango.

"No problem... Kikyo's still at my house..."

"Uh-oh..." said Kikyo.

"Come on, come on!" said Yumi, pulling her.

"Ow! Yumi, my hair! Ow! Bye, Sango! Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" Sango stared blankly after her. Then she shrugged, picked up her bags, and headed toward home.