Chapter 5: CH. 5

--Tsunade Pov--

It has been two months since the fateful encounter with my one-time lover, literally. Shizune and I had mended the bridge and I was back to my drunk gambling debauchery. But today was different, after going through my first bottle of liquor it was time to go gambling. Reaching the casino room floor I went to the roulette table and did my customary bet half what I have on red 16. I started this habit after I left Zach 2 months ago, it was his room where we had the great night that I still fantasize about. This is my way of honoring the memory we shared.

After the dealer stopped all bets I watched with disinterest as he flicks the ball on the wheel to start it spinning. As it started to slow down I began to lose interest, It's not gonna land on my number my luck is crap as always. Seeing the ball heading straight for black 33 I clicked my tongue and started to leave.

Dealer: "Congratulations ma'am you won!"

I froze stock still, I never won. The only time I won is when something bad is about to happen. Turning around in a daze I received my winnings and left the table.

Tsunade: "I need to find Shizune"

Not a second later I found her at a buffet and grabbed her.

Tsunade: "Shizune, come with me, I just won."

Shizune and Tonton froze and nodded their heads and got up with me. We made our way over towards the slot machines and I put the max bet in and before I pulled the lever I looked over to Shizune.

Tsunade: "Well, this is it."

She nodded in acknowledgment and I pulled the lever. Watching the reels spin put me on more edge than normal. When the first jackpot symbol popped up my stomach started churning.

Then the second one my chest started to tighten. Finally, the last reel stopped on the jackpot I thought my heart gave out and my mood became immediately sour.

Bells and whistles started going off on the machine and a crowd started to gather to see what was going on. I had Shizune sit in the seat while the animations and money were adding up on the screen. Going to the slot machine right next to it and repeating the process, doing this two more times before the staff told me to stop.

--In the office of the casino--

A man was watching over everyone who was gambling in his casino, mainly on one woman who was rumored to bring great fortune to casinos. Mainly with great losses to her purse, it was The Legendary Sucker! But today he wanted to pull his hair out, with everything she's won so far he's going to be far into the red for the month, maybe even the next couple months. Banging his fist on the desk he turned to his assistant.

Boss: "Stop her from gambling, give her the money she is owed and ban her from this establishment! We can't afford this anymore!"

The woman nodded and ran off to do as she was told.

Boss: "What could make The Legendary Sucker change her luck so much?"

--Tsunade POV--

Walking out of the casino in a daze and Shizune and Tonton dancing around at our replenished coffers I began to think about what could be happening. Many scenarios flashed through my head, but only one thing kept sticking. Something happened to Zach. Heading back to our current hotel my mind kept swirling on different theories.

Arriving in the room I just decided to take a shower and go to bed early, sleep off the alcohol and think about this with a sober. I proceeded to go into the restroom and took my clothes and looked into the mirror. I was starting to get a little fat, but I attributed it to eating and drinking more the last couple of months to take my mind away from certain issues. Running my hand down my neck where the hickey used to be I just sighed and got into the shower. I had been thinking of Zach more today than I had since the day I left.

Getting out of the shower I went to my suitcase and got out a fresh pair of pajamas and put them on. Crawling into bed I pulled the covers up and slowly drifted off to a night of dreamless sleep, my mind too tired from over-analyzing the day.

Before I knew it I slowly woke up semi refreshed. I sat up and stretched and started to feel a little bit nauseous. Getting up I went into the restroom to splash some water on my face in hopes to alleviate it but all it did was worsen it. Scurrying over to the toilet I opened it up and started puking.

After hugging the porcelain god for five minutes, after two and a half Shizune came in and held my hair out of the way. I started to diagnose my symptoms.

Tsunade: "Shizune, help me with my diagnosis."

Shizune nodded as I started to list my symptoms.

Tsunade: "I know I didn't drink enough yesterday to warrant the puking. I have a strange hankering for something sour. I have gained some weight recent…"

Before I finished my last sentence I gather some chakra in my hand and placed it on my belly to get a sense of my body. What I found shocked me, a new life. I was growing a new life in my body. Looking up to who was still trying to piece the clues together I stared at her with wide eyes.

Tsunade: "S-Sh-Shizune. I'm p-pr-pre-pregnant."

Her eyes became like saucers hearing what I just said, and I fainted.

Waking up in my bed with my feet propped up and a wet cloth folded on top of my head I wondered what was going on. Then it hits me like truck-kun hits the weeaboos who think they're getting resurrected. I'm pregnant with his baby. How am I pregnant? I'm too old, my ovaries are no longer fertile. I released my transformation jutsu and looked at my hands, they're the same as when I had the jutsu on. Getting up I rushed to the mirror to look at myself and everything was the same as when I had my jutsu up!

Hearing the door close and seeing Shizune and Tonton bringing in what looked like lunch I just stared at her in shock.

Tsunade: "We need to go back to that hotel bar where we met him."

--Shizune POV--

Shizune frowned because she didn't like that idea. HIM being the father is the only thing that had made sense but doesn't mean she had to like it. She felt that with each step to that man Tsunade takes is another step away from Dan. What's going to happen now that she is pregnant with HIS kid? Will she throw me away and forget about her past?

Shizune: "Why? So you can have another fling with that man."

I spat out, not even realizing how hostile I am. I know I need to grow up, but it's just so hard. Everything was fine before she met HIM. Before I could get deeper into my self-loathing and hatred of the man who changed the most important person in my life, I felt arms wrap around me in a strong hug.

Tsunade: "Shizune, I know what you're thinking. I want you to know, I will always love Dan. That will never change, and you're like a daughter to me. I've not been a good role model and probably won't be on in the future. That's why I need you. I need you to be the best big sister to the little life growing in me."

I froze as I heard what Tsunade said to me. Suddenly I felt her hands on either side of my head and a kiss was planted on my forehead and I just lost it. Lost in the feelings of happiness, grief, concern, and everything in between. With a firm resolve, I looked Tsunade in the eyes.

Shizune: "I will be the best big sister anyone could ask for! (A/N: AND THAT'S MY NINJA WAY!)"

Tsunade saw my resolve and nodded. But before anything else, she dropped another bombshell on me.

Tsunade: "By the way Shizune, look at me."

Looking at her I didn't see anything different, she looked the same as she has for the last 20 years.

Shizune: "You're the same as ever why?"

Tsunade: "I'm not using my transformation jutsu."

With that last sentence, my mind went through a blue screen of death. Then it tried to restart which only resulted in a corrupted hard drive and I passed out.