"That is why, when you throw a throwing star, you must be quick with the wrist. If it doesn't spin properly then it won't land correctly into the target that you want. Sure, you can throw a throwing star and it will go, but using your wrist as the last action at the end will make sure that it drives into your target correctly, understand?"
Ripples of movement went through Tsume's stomach as he smiled, putting his hands on his now unbearably large torso. Two more months had passed and Tsume had unfortunately declared himself bedridden. His stomach was well past normal circumference and had gone into the abnormally large. It looked as if he were pregnant with more than one, alright; or the baby was just a humongous baby. Tsume hoped for the latter but knew that the former was the most likely of the scenarios.
A rush of wind caught Tsume's attention and he grabbed the hilt of the dagger he had under his pillow. He may not have been able to move, but he would at least try to defend himself. The door opened and Natomi walked in. He turned and stared at his trapped friend.
"You look like you are ready to pop."
"I feel about ready to pop. This is not a normal pregnancy."
"Indeed... Takuma made miso and fried rice so I thought I'd bring you some."
"How is he?" Tsume asked, struggling to sit up.
Natomi walked over and held out his hand. With great struggling, he managed to help Tsume into a sitting position.
"He's doing well. Since he's been back in with us, he's diligently trained and has become favorable in your father's eyes as well as the other ninjas. They praise him now instead of tormenting him."
Tsume's grey eyes brimmed with hormonal tears.
"That's good... I'm happy for him."
"Don't cry, Tsume."
"These children are doing it to me."
"Oh, you've accepted that there is more than one, I see?"
"Being this large could only account for that... Does he still hate me?"
Natomi sighed as he fixed the tray for Tsume.
"You insist that he hates you but that isn't the case."
"Then you don't feel him like I do... I feel it in my heart that he has rejected me. He hates me for not coming to rescue him. He hates that I chose loyalty over him when I chose these children over loyalty. He thought he was important to me, which he is, and thought that I would do the same as I did for these kids but..."
"I'm telling you, he doesn't hate you." Natomi growled, turning around and setting the tray on Tsume's stomach. "Now eat up. You have to be strong for your children."
"Natomi, what will happen if they try to come out?"
"That's a good question."
"Do I... do I just cut them out? I'm quite certain I was not provided with an exit."
Natomi thought about it for a moment.
"I can't really answer that for you. In truth, a doctor would have to take a look at-" Natomi stopped and looked toward the door, eyes trained on the outside.
Tsume was looking as well, having heard the padding of footsteps outside. They both waited, holding their breath for what could be coming. The door opened and Natomi stood up, blocking Tsume's view.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see what has become of dear old Tsume."
"You're not welcome here at all."
Tsume recognized the voice but he couldn't look around Natomi to see who it was.
"Am I not?"
"If he sees you here you will be whipped as well."
"I'm on orders actually... He was making sure that you made due on your promise and so far... I see nothing to suggest that is so... Oh..."
Tsume looked away, remembering who it was now.
"You look as if you may roll away, Tsume. Would you like me to help you?" Mayori said, pulling out his katana.
Natomi pulled his out as well, taking a stance in front of Tsume's bed.
"I will not allow you any closer. Speak your peace and leave."
"You have lied to the master."
"I most certainly have not. If you are not blind, then you can see that Tsume is hardly in a position to walk a two day's journey to Laota."
"What about when you asked to have it done? Was he not strong enough then?"
"No, he was suffering fevers and bouts of sickness. When he was finally able to gather strength from the medicine, his... the..." Natomi gripped his katana harder and glared at Mayori. "The children," he seethed with so much venom he could have been a snake. "Grew at an alarming rate and now he can hardly get up."
Mayori looked around Natomi again, lifting an eyebrow.
"I feel as if you are procrastinating."
"I am not."
Mayori sheathed his blade but moved Natomi out of the way, walking toward Tsume. Tsume grabbed his own katana that was laying beside him and Mayori stopped. He raked his eyes over Tsume's form, taking in the sharp features of his face and then setting his eyes on the dome that seemed to have settled over his superior's body, sticking out in the open for all to see. The taut flesh and ugly stretch marks made him cringe and then he saw it: a small lump roll under the skin. Mayori sneered, looking into Tsume's eyes.
"You traded your honor for this? The enchantress did more than blow powder on you; she made you idiotic as well. Not that I particularly care, but how do you plan to get them out of you?"
"We were actually just discussing that." Natomi said stiffly.
Mayori then shrugged. "You know, it's not my problem or my concern. You're a monster in my eyes, a horrid monster that is told to children when they are not being good. A myth and a curse." He turned around and walked toward the door. "I'll let Master Yukorite know that the abomination still lives here under your surveillance. My advice is simple: cut those demons out of you."
He left and Natomi turned to Tsume.
"I forgot that Takuma had told him where to find you. I'm sorry this happened."
"I... I think he might be right... There is no other way to do it, Natomi."
"We will find a way, Tsume... Just... Just eat your food."

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

Mayori landed back in the Kayoshi Village and walked to his master's house. Yukorite was playing a game of mahjong with Chekome and looked up.
"What's your report?"
"He is still there but I hate to say that there is reason for his extended stay."
"And that is?"
"The boy is... so large he cannot move." Mayori said, the statement making him nauseas as he thought back.
"Are you certain?"
"Sir, it's as if someone has tied millstone to his torso. He is confined to his bed until the demons have been eradicated from him."
"Demons?"
"Master, he was distorted like someone would be in a tale we tell our children. It's grotesque and unnatural. I would have rid him of the cursed things myself but Natomi got in my way. He has let those things take over your son."
"Mayori?" Chekome said.
"Yes, milady?"
"Could you take us there?"
"Chekome-"
"I would like to see if this is true." She moved a mahjong tile. "To talk so ill of our son..."
"It is not unwise to speak ill of things that are not natural." Yukorite said.
"It is unwise to talk so ill of our son in my presence." she hissed, moving another tile. "Once our game has finished, Mayori will take us to Tsume. I want to see for myself how grotesque he is."
"What do you plan to do once you've seen him?"
"Until he is in the Laota Village, he will be alive in my heart. Once he is safely taken there, I will perceive him dead. I do believe you have lost the game, dear husband, as well as owe me one last look at my son."
Yukorite sighed and looked up at Mayori, who seemed disturbed by the request.
"If you do not want to take us then ask if Takuma will."
"Yes, Master, I will do that."
Mayori turned on his heel and went to find Takuma in the house.

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

Takuma was busy cleaning the dojo, running along the floor with his butt in the air as he wiped it clean with the rag in his hands. He scooted up once and back again, going across the floor in a zigzag pattern.
"Takuma."
Takuma stopped and sat back on his knees. He saw Mayori and bowed and then stood up.
"Yes, Mayori?"
"The lady and Master want to see Tsume."
"Tsume? But why?"
"Does it matter?"
Takuma looked away and he went back down on the floor.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot."
"You refuse the master?"
"It would not be best."
Mayori grabbed Takuma by the ponytail and lifted him up. Takuma yelped and grabbed his head in defense.
"You will do what is told!"
He threw Takuma on the floor and turned away.

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

Late that night, Tsume managed to get himself off of the bed and wobbled himself to the front door. He wanted to take a bath since he had been unable to for a long time. He was tired of his own stench. He leaned on the door frame, catching his breath before he went along to the stream that was nearby. He grabbed the walking stick he had procured on an earlier trek and headed down to the stream.
Once he got there, he shed his kimono and under garment and stepped into the cool water. He went in deeper until his large belly was submerged and he felt the immediate benefits of the water holding his stomach afloat. He took his rag and began to wash himself off when he noticed something glowing beside his stomach. He frowned and watched as the light got brighter and brighter, enabling Tsume to almost see right through his stomach. He could see the shadow of a small body and when it moved a little, the light did too and he saw another shadow beside it. So it is two... he thought.
He sighed and moved to get away from the light but was confused when the light moved with him. He put his hand on his stomach and the light brightened even more and then his whole body began to glow a thick white glow. He looked at his hands in wonderment when he heard a twig snap and he turned.
"Dear lord..." he heard someone say.
In the full moon light, he could just barely see the two figures that were on the river's shore.
"You are harboring demons..."
"I am not." He said, not seeing who it was he speaking with. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"It is I, your father. And your mother."
Tsume panicked and gulped, unable to hide himself.
"Why are you here? Did you not whip Takuma for coming here? Will you whip yourself now?"
"Insolent child."
"Mayori told us that you were unable to move and yet here you are..."
"Mother?"
"Please answer me." Tsume made a face and began walking toward the shore. "Don't come any closer!"
Tsume made another face. "I'm going to shore to dry myself off..."
He finally made it and covered his large stomach as best as he could.
"Have you been putting up a front for Natomi so he will take care of you?" his father growled.
"No! I would never do that to him."
"Then why do we find you here instead of bedridden like it has been told to us?"
"I forced myself here. In what could take mere seconds or a little of three minutes took me half an hour to do because I had to stop to catch my breath, sit down, and rest. I didn't just hop over here."
"How long will it take to get back to your hut?" his father asked.
"I just said half an hour."
"We will meet you there. I want to see your true form."
"What 'true form'? I haven't changed... Why are you here?"
"Because Mayori said you were distorted. We want to understand."
Tsume grabbed a rock and chucked it at his parents.
"I am not an animal to be gawked at! I have been banished! Let me be!"
"Then let us be!" Yukorite snarled. "Stop making Natomi feel indebted to you."
"I have done nothing of the sort! I told him and I told Takuma not to help me! I didn't want anything to happen to them! I asked nothing of them. Leave me be... I don't want to see you. Go home."
"Then leave our lands. If you can walk this far, you can walk to Laota."
"I can do nothing of the sort until these children are out of me."
"Then let me take them out of you."
Tsume heard the sound of a sword being drawn and he gulped, having no weapon and no way to dodge anything.
"No!" he heard someone scream.
He was surprised someone jumped in front of him.
"I cannot let you do that him."
"Chekome-"
"Let him please leave peacefully. Yuko, please... Please let us part with dignity on both sides. Honor is gone, let dignity take its place."
He heard the sword be sheathed and footsteps retreat.
"When they have left your body, or this world, you will never come here again. Henceforth, my son is dead."
He left and Tsume choked down a sob.
He wanted to leave as much as they wanted him to.