Shattered Glass

Author's Warning: From here on out, this story becomes a little different. I've been planning to do this from the beginning, and I'm sorry if this offends any of you. A MPreg is when a man gets pregnant, and this is exactly what I've done. I know I'll most likely lose all of you now, but please, all I'm asking is to give this a chance. Please don't stop reading simply because I've thrown this little twist in there. Thank you for your reviews and comments, by the way.

~Kirishtu


VIII

Whirring filled silence. Dark eyes watched crimson. Whirring faded to silence. A smile.

---

Ino watched Shikamaru curiously, her friend a little more energetic than usual. He was substituting for Iruka-sensei; the poor chuunin was out with a cold, which meant Iruka was being ‘taken care’ of by Kakashi.

“Hey, Ino,” Kiba called, waving at the blonde girl as he and Hinata approached, startling the blonde kunoichi out of her reverie.

“Hey guys,” Ino replied, smiling. “What’s up?”

“We were on out way to meet Shino.” Hinata said quietly, clasping her hands before her. Kiba grinned a bit.

“We’re gonna do some training. You wanna come with?”

“No,” Ino replied. “I’m keeping an eye on Shikamaru. Does he seem… I don’t know, chubby, to you?”

Kiba and Hinata looked toward the brunette chuunin, and Kiba shrugged.

“Maybe. Anyway, I’m off. Catch up soon, or we’ll leave you behind, Hinata.” Kiba clasped his hand on the Hyuuga kunoichi’s shoulder before walking off, leaving the two women alone, watching Shikamaru instruct children in throwing implements of pointy death.

“He does look kind of… pudgy.” Hinata said after a while. Ino glanced at her and then back at her former teammate.

“He was throwing up, up until the beginning of this month.” Ino said, sighing. “Maybe he’s eating. Maybe he’s depressed about Kankurou.”

“How long have they been apart?”

“Almost three months. He seems to be doing okay, though.” Ino tilted her head as she watched Shikamaru duck a stray shuriken. He was yelling at the poor kid, softening the reprimand with a pat and a private lesson. Hinata nibbled on her thumbnail and looked at Ino.

“I could see if he’s sick. Sometimes his chakra could be low, so he eats more to keep up his energy.”

“Would you?” Ino asked. “That would be wonderful.”

Hinata smiled and activated the Byakugan, staring right at the brunette chuunin. Chakra was flowing healthily throughout his body, and she sighed in relief, about to close her eyes when she noticed something odd.

Chakra was swirling around Shikamaru’s stomach, just a little, as though new chakra was being formed. Hinata blinked and released the Byakugan, looking toward Ino.

“Something’s weird.” Hinata said. “I think something’s messing with his chakra paths.”

“Doctors?”

“Or Tsunade-sama.”

Ino nodded and Hinata moved on her way, leaving the blonde to watch her friend. She wasn’t alone in that, dark eyes watching from shadows.

---

“There is nothing wrong with me,” Shikamaru growled for the third time since he and Ino had gone to see Sakura and the Godaime. He was currently shirtless, cold as hell, and laying on his back on a table surrounded by women and machines. He felt like an experiment.

“Then we’ll find nothing wrong.” Tsunade said as she rubbed cold gel on Shikamaru’s stomach, smearing it liberally as she felt the firmness of his stomach. It worried her a little bit.

“Shizune, the paddle please. Sakura, turn on the monitor. Ino, move.”

Ino grinned and moved to stand by Shikamaru’s head, both ninjas’ eyes centered on that ultrasound image. Shikamaru made a choked sound.

“What is that?” He asked, panicked. “A tumour!?”

Tsunade nearly dropped the paddle, partly from shock and mostly from laughter at Shikamaru’s outburst. Ino and Sakura looked at each other and then at the screen. Shizune blinked and looked over at the Godaime. Tsunade looked to the boy on the table, and smiled despite the murderous look he was giving her.

“That is your baby, Shikamaru.”

“I’m having a baby,” Shikamaru stated more than asked. Tsunade nodded.

“Kankurou must be the father. Don’t look so scandalized Shikamaru. I’m the Hokage.” Tsunade grinned. Shikamaru looked to be in a state of shock.

“I’m having Kankurou’s baby.” Shikamaru looked toward Ino, the girl taking his hand. “I can’t have a baby. I’m male!”

“Does it matter?” Tsunade finally snapped. “This is your baby. You are going to be this child’s mother whether you like it or not. If you don’t want this child, I will find a foster home. I will not allow you to get rid of this life!”

“Tsunade-sama,” Shizune whispered. Tsunade paused and looked at Shikamaru. Tears were sliding down his face, his gaze on that black and white screen.

“Hokage-sama,” Shikamaru began, “I want kids. I want a child. I just didn’t… think it would be me,”

“It’s not just you, Shikamaru-kun,” Tsunade said softly. “Kankurou as well.”

“Oh god.”

“Ino, take Shikamaru home please. Make sure he rests.”

“Yes ma’am.” Ino pulled Shikamaru to his feet, and they left the room, Shikamaru’s hand pressed to his abdomen. Tsunade rubbed her face.

“Sakura, find Naruto. Tell him to come to my office. Lee as well. I have a message that needs delivered.”

Sakura nodded and ran from the room, leaving Shizune and Tsunade alone. Shizune gazed questioningly at her friend, and the elder woman sighed.

“Keep it quiet. The less who know about Shikamaru, the better. And stress this with Naruto. Lee, especially.” Tsunade told her friend. Shizune nodded and left Tsunade alone, staring at the blank screen.

“What’s going on…?” she asked the silence. She left with more questions than answers.