"My lord! Lord Tsume! Please! Lord Tsume, I beg of you! I beg of you, my lord!!! MY LORD!!!"

****************

"Tsume."
He opened his eyes and saw Natomi kneeling next to him. Tsume tried to sit up but his large stomach was keeping him from doing so so freely. It had only been about a month since Natomi had been taking care of Tsume and his stomach had grown almost twice its size. Tsume reminded himself of the time one of the small dogs had gotten pregnant by a larger dog. Though it had been only one baby, the poor little thing looked like the only way to move was to roll around like a little ball. Tsume felt the same way at the moment.
"Are you alright? You looked like you were dreaming."
"A nightmare... Help me up."
Natomi grabbed his hand and helped him sit up so he could get off the bed. When he sat up, a wave of nausea hit him and he slapped his hand over his mouth. Natomi turned and grabbed the bucket quickly, throwing it expertly across the room. Tsume caught it just in time to send his stomach contents into it.
"Guh..." he moaned, laying over on his stomach since it was so big.
"Damn, Tsume, you're huge..."
"Thank you for pointing that out..." he moaned, throwing the bucket.
Natomi opened the door as the bucket flew out and landed on the ground.
"I wonder what's going on... you may have more than one in there."
"What? Don't even joke about that."
"Ninja do a lot but rarely do they joke. A joke could get someone literally killed. And I'm serious. One child wouldn't make you this large. There must be another or... maybe two... Whoa! Hey!! Don't be so sensitive!" he growled, bowing his body to avoid being hit by the bo shuriken that Tsume threw.
"I'm a pregnant ninja who can't do shit and you don't want me to be sensitive?!" Tsume seethed.
"Come now, you can do a lot of things. Yesterday you did a back flip without my help and landed perfectly on your feet."
"And then I threw up for five minutes."
"Well, you did do a back flip..."
Tsume made a face as he sat up, crossing his arms on his stomach.
"If... if that was true, then what do I do? How would I..."
"I could try to get the doctor to come."
"You know that won't happen... You said that the Laota would take me in, right?"
"Yes, but you're still not strong enough to walk that length of time to the Laota Clan."
"Other than waking up like a turtle stuck on its shell and the vomiting, I'm actually stronger than I was."
"Oh, is that so? Would you like to spar with me then?"
"You'll need to give me a minute."
Natomi smiled as he watched Tsume wobble his way to a standing position and then wobble again to keep his balance. Natomi knew not to help him. He finally seemed steady and walked out to the front of his little hut. Tsume tried to pull down his shirt but they were all too small for him, so half his stomach was exposed.
"Next time you come, bring me more clothes... some that fit."
"How about we make it a game? You win, I'll bring you clothes and we'll go to the Laota first thing tomorrow. If I win, I'll bring you clothes but we'll go to the Laota Clan when I think you're ready."
"I still get clothes."
"That's not the issue here. The issue is you traveling with odd weight, sickness, and the length of time. You think you're ready. Prove it to me."
Tsume made a face and got into position. Natomi smirked and the fight began.

In the end, Tsume lost and Natomi rustled his black hair as he still gawked at his defeat.
"I will just chock it up to you being fat, Tsume." Natomi said with a laugh.
"That's not fair..."
"We know life isn't fair. It's not fair that Takuma had to be hurt for wanting to help his master, it's not fair you ended up like this in general, but there is nothing we can do. Now, you'll stay here while I feed you medicine."
"When will I be ready to go to the Laota then?"
"I don't know, really... From the size of you, you look like you're about to burst but it's only been five months. You're alright with sparring but the problem is afterward, when your feet are so swollen that you could float on the river with them. If you can't spar with me without them swelling so much, you couldn't make it to the Laota Clan. It takes two straight days to get there."
Tsume crossed his arms and sat down at the little table Natomi had brought.
"I'm useless then. A useless ninja isn't one at all."
"Don't worry, Tsume, we'll get there. In all honesty, we may even have to actually wait until the child(ren) are born before we can go. I won't risk everything just because you're impatient."
"Aren't you stretching my father's words?"
"Not at all. I asked to care for you until you were strong enough to go to the Laota Clan. You are not. Therefore, I am still doing as asked."
Tsume nodded and put his hand on his stomach.
"Could you bring back something else with the clothes?"
"Like what?"
"A book or something? I'm tired of waking up and looking at the ceiling. I have nothing to do."
"I could bring you some paper and ink... You were always good at drawing."
Tsume made a face. "Why can't I read a book?"
"Well... most of the books are about weapons, maps, or our way of life. There are no novels."
"I didn't expect any. I would like to freshen myself up and children are never too young to learn the shinobi ways."
Natomi laughed a little. "I'll see what I can procure."

Natomi walked into his house, putting his travel bag away. Inoue came from the back of the house.
"How was Tsume?"
"He's very large. I think there's more than one in there."
"Oh no... I know he must be so embarrassed."
"Well, he's by himself, so I don't think it's too bad. He'll need some new clothes though. I just have to find some big enough..."
"Master Yukorite came over to summon you for a meeting. He wants you to go to his house immediately."
Natomi nodded and did as told.
When he walked up to the door, Mayori was there smoking a pipe.
"Out visiting your freak?" he asked.
Natomi ignored him and knocked on the door. The door slid open and a maid led him into the back of the house, where Yukorite was looking out of his porch at the rock garden in his backyard. Natomi walked in and got on one knee, looking at the floor.
"You summoned me, Master?"
"Where were you?"
"I was delivering food to your son."
"If the upkeep of that monster is going to keep you from your duties as a ninja, then I will revoke my allowance of his cultivation."
"I apologize."
"Now that you're here, I can have a proper meeting with the other ninjas. Please get them and meet me in the dojo for further instruction."
"Of course, Master."
Natomi walked out and passed Mayori, who decided to walk with him.
"You know, that little project of yours is going to get you demoted. You should think about what you have here instead of that banished monster out there."
"When the time comes when I fear for my position more than my loyalty, then I will let you know. As of now, help me gather everyone for a meeting in the dojo."
Mayori shrugged. "I'm just warning you before you get surprised."
Natomi ignored him as Mayori walked off and they summoned everyone for the meeting.

Takuma swept the porch as Chekome walked past him.
"Takuma?"
He looked at her and she turned her head.
"Aren't you supposed to be at the meeting?"
"I was told that I was not to go to them anymore. I haven't learned enough to be a ninja worthy of hearing the plans." Takuma said, smiling a little.
Chekome frowned. "Is this because of Tsume?"
"I'm sure it is... Don't worry, milady, I'm not saddened by it."
Chekome frowned deeper and walked over to the small arsenal that Yukorite had in their room. She opened the cabinet and pulled out her katana, Hatobureka, and began to walk out of the door. Takuma blinked, having watched her from where he was, and ran after her.
"My lady, what are you doing?"
"I'm going to have a little chat with that husband of mine."
"But if you interrupt the meeting-"
"He has not only dishonored Tsume, but he has also dishonored the two of us. I do not take kindly to that."
"But how-"
"Tsume couldn't help what happened and he exposed him, banishing him. He lied to me about my son, thinking I was too weak to take what really happened. Plus, he did not consult me about what should happen. He has also caused you great heartache. You were Tsume's brother, companion, and friend and thus, you tried to help him. My husband stripped away your honor. I will not tolerate such injustice in my household."
"But-"
Chekome kicked open the door of the dojo and everyone looked at the intrusion. Yukorite turned and blinked at his wife.
"Chekome."
"Pull your sword and fight me."
"I am busy, woman."
"You have dishonored my household and now you turn from a fight?"
"My lady-"
"Hush." She growled. "Yukorite Benihone, pull your sword and fight me."
The other ninjas all looked at each other, never seeing such brazen words spoken to their master, especially from his wife. They all waited to see what Yukorite would do. He sighed and pulled his katana out its sheath.
"I sometimes regret marrying the daughter of a samurai."
"You should not have perched on my cherry tree if you did not want to look appealing." She said with a smirk.
"Alas, you should not have been out at night without an escort."
She lifted an eyebrow as Takuma just moved out of the way and sat next to the last ninja that was in the upper level. He didn't know what to do.
The two went at each other, the fight instantly made of color due to Chekome's blue and green kimono flying everywhere. Yukorite was lithe and nimble, quick as usual due to his close clothing. He stabbed his katana through her kimono and she spun out of it, taking her long black hair down to make it easier on her. She did a pose and Yukorite lifted his eyebrow at her.
"How long have you been preparing for this day?" he said in regard to her under clothing.
"You are growing old, husband, and seem to have become blind; I dress this way every day. While you are out, I must be ready to defend my people."
Her bandaged breasts and hakama was a style he never knew she knew. It made him reconsider letting women into the shinobi way of life... Then he saw her coming at him very quickly and he just barely back flipped away from her (distracted by her breasts) and landed a few feet away. The reconsideration stopped, seeing as those unveiled breasts were too easy to imagine even more uncovered.
"What would you have me do to restore your honor, my wife?" he said, jumping onto a rafter.
She came after him, jumping up toward the ceiling. He came down at the same time and they met in the middle, their swords clanging repeatedly before they ended up on the other sides of the room. Yukorite was about to go toward her when she came out of nowhere and kicked him back, making him fly into the wall. He heard the unmistakable sound of throwing stars against wood and felt cool steel under his chin.
He had been defeated, in front of his men.
"I cannot bring back my son, for he is banished. My own honor has been restored. You will now restore Takuma's honor as a ninja. Here before all the others, you will honor him."
All the ninjas turned to Takuma, who was so confused. Takuma just stood up and jumped down, walking to Yukorite, and went down on one knee.
"I did not plan this, Master, but... I would very much like to serve the clan as a shinobi warrior again. I have learned my lesson and believe I will be a fair addition, since you are down a warrior."
Yukorite sighed. "You are accepted." He looked at Chekome. "Does this satisfy you, woman?"
"To a degree. You will still be sleeping by yourself." She growled.
She picked up her kimono and walked out of the dojo as Yukorite took out the throwing stars from his sleeve and pocketed them. He then went to the center of the dojo and looked at all of the ninjas who were waiting patiently.
"I suffice to say that having the daughter of a samurai, who is also skilled in ninja ways, is not the best wife to have. I suggest getting a lovely farmer's daughter."
Mayori and Natomi looked at each other, their eyes laughing as Yukorite continued with the plans, Takuma still there and present.