My pregnancy remained a secret inside the inner palace. Although Mami and I have gotten close, my lips remained sealed about the topic. The next time we spent time together, I made up a story and attributed my weight gain to the weather."I"ve been very sluggish due to the cold," I said, hoping that my lie was sufficient enough for her to not insist that I"m pregnant. "And to top it off, my menstrual cycle"s irregularity has been giving me weird cravings."
"Oh, I get what you mean!" she nodded sagely. "I"ve experienced that before! Why don"t you join me in the practice hall later? Exercising might help, I"ll teach you some of my naginata techniques."
"Erm, uhh…" I tried to come up with an excuse but I couldn"t. Suddenly, I remembered the pregnant woman in my mixed martial arts cla.s.s who still attended sessions despite nearing her third trimester. "Okay, but let"s stick to teaching me. I don"t think I"m ready to spar with you yet."
~~~
Mami proved to be a ruthless but effective instructor. Her every slice, strike, and lunge were sure and fatal, her focus and determination was something I should try very hard to replicate. She taught me three different techniques, with the last two more difficult than the one it succeeded.
"Don"t you just feel better after a good workout?" she smiled as she wiped her sweaty face. "It"s been a while since I enjoyed practicing like this. We should do it more often."
"I agree although could we tone it down a bit?" I asked. If it weren"t for the fact that I was carrying a child in my womb, I"d have asked for two rounds of sparring. "I mean, my muscles still need more time adjusting."
"What are you talking about? You"re a natural in this!" she laughed after giving me a look. "Why are you so bent on making yourself appear like you"re some novice?"
"I"m not!" I"m just pregnant, I wanted to add but didn"t. "The reason why I was able to perform well was because I tried my hardest."
"Then try your hardest again next time, silly!" and with that, she left for her chambers, leaving me in the hall with my maids.
~~~
"You what?" Kaname looked at me disbelievingly. "Did I hear you correctly? You went to the practice hall with Mami?"
"Yes," I said while smoothening the front of his sleeping robe. We just got out of the bath and were readying ourselves for bed. "But exercising is good for me, it will help with strengthening my core muscles thus making labor easier."
"No, Mami is addicted to exercising," he grabbed my face to make me look at him. "She will kill you!"
"You"re exaggerating, anata," I said with some difficulty as he was smooshing my face with his hands. "Also, stop what you"re doing. What am I? A cute animal?"
He laughed, gave me a peck on the lips, and released my face. "I"m serious, though. Mami spends most of her free time honing her skills, that"s how she"s able to release all her s.e.xual frustrations."
"s.e.xual frustrations?" I tilted my head to the side. "What do you mean?"
"I take it that you still haven"t talked about it," he said as he pulled me to the waiting mattress.
"Yes, the right timing has not presented itself yet," I confirmed while he positioned himself on top of me.
"Mmm," he was kissing my jaw and untying my sash. "Let"s stop talking about her and focus on the task at hand."
I rolled my eyes. "Task at hand? So I"m now some sort of responsibility now?"
"No, never," he captured my lips, his hands were feeling me up.
"Why even bother dressing after our bath when this was what you were planning to do in the first place?" I peered at him, slightly breathless.
"Good question," he said as he peeled off his robe, his core muscles rippled attractively as he did so. "Next time let"s just go to bed naked."
"Idiot!" I told him although I was amused.
"Am I not touching you enough? You seem to be still clear-headed."
"But the baby…" I moaned when his mouth and tongue explored a certain part of my body.
"Will be safe, the baby will be safe," he whispered rea.s.suringly. "I spoke with the palace physicians, they said it"s okay as long as we do it with either you on top or us lying on our sides. Besides, this is the only exercise that I approve of."
"But, anata…" I squirmed in his touch.
"Hush, listen to what your body is telling you."
~~~
I still accompanied Mami in the training auditorium the next day. As I was feeling sluggish and sleepy, I didn"t practice as long as I did the day before. Instead, I watched her do her thing on the sideline. Kaname was right, she"s a fitness junky.
"Your form is very good," I told her as we made our way to her room. "How long have you been practicing naginata jutsu?"
"Hmm," she tapped her chin with a forefinger. "Probably for two decades now."
"Wow, that"s some dedication!"
"Could you wait here?" she said as she led me to the parlor. "I"ll just freshen up, the maids with serve you some tea."
"Sure, take your time."
~~~
After fifteen minutes, she was back in a fresh set of kimono. Her bare face was slightly flushed from her warm bath, her hair was loose and damp.
"Sorry for making you wait," she smiled at me.
"It"s okay," I a.s.sured her.
"So where were we?" she asked as her maid poured her a cup of tea. "Where did we left off before I took a quick bath?"
"We were talking about how long you"ve been practicing naginata jutsu."
"Right," she nodded her head before signaling for all the maids to leave the room. When only the two of us were left, she spoke again, "Lady Hinata, how are you with secrets?"
When I met her eyes, they were serious. "I"m a scorpio," I told her. "No one keeps secrets better than a scorpio."
She looked confused. "What is that?"
"Umm, well—"
"Never mind, I know I can trust you. The fact that the shogun has given you his heart is enough reason for me to entrust my secret to you."
Her secret? Is she going to talk about the agreement she has with Kaname? Could it be related to the night with the fake fireflies?
"Lady Mami, I will not force you to say something you"re uncomfortable sharing to others. However I a.s.sure you, whatever your secret may be, I"ll take it with me to the grave. You may trust me."