Welcome to Gaia! ::

There had been no need for Charlie to carry in the luggage. Two big monsters of some kind had been at the gate to greet the two and to carry in all that needed to be carried in. Other then the two monsters, there was no welcome committee for Charlie and Tahki. In fact, the inside of the mansion seemed to be almost completely empty.

Sure, there was of course fancy furniture and decorations scattered through the grand twisting halls and rooms. But there were no other souls as far as Charlie could tell. This did not seem to bother Tahki though. The gryphon seemed to think nothing of the emptiness that was this grand castle or mansion. But for some reason it really bothered Charlie. So much so that the demon clung to Tahkis hand as the two walked.

Their foot steps echoes did not help ease the demons uneasiness. His grip tightened which earned him a brow raise from Tahki.

"Is this house... haunted?" The demon finally asked after long moments of silence and foot step echoes. This just earned an amused smile from the gryphon.

"What?" Tahki couldn't hid the amused tone in her voice. "Of course not. Only monsters live here." She didn't remark on Charlies racism. Mostly because Tahki knew that would only lead to a more frustrating conversation. Right now the gryphon just wanted to enjoy being home.

Oddly enough the answer seemed to at least satisfy the demon. He kept his mouth shut. Even when they took an old looking elivator there was no peep from the demon. Not one. Tahki wasn't completely sure if she should be worried or relieved. In the end she went with the ladder.

Bing..Bing...Binggggg

The elevator doors opened up to a very bright white hallway. There were pastel orange colored doors that were spread down all the way through the hall with the exception of the one at the very end of the hall way. That one was painted blue. Charlie couldn't hold his silence anymore.

"I like this place!" He informed Tahki as he let go of her hand.

"Good. This is my floor. Uhhhhh..." Tahki wasn't able to finish that thought. The two big monsters from earlier emerged from one of the pastel orange doored rooms. They gave Tahki and Charlie both a nod as they passed and took the elevator down. Charlie just watched as the numbers lowered.

"Guess thats the room you'll be staying in then. Come on I'll show you around." She tightened her grip on Charlies hand again and pulled him toward the now open pastel colored door.

What once was a room littered in her luggage was now a room still littered in her stuff. Tahkis room was jammed pack with treasures and other miscellaneous things. Not to say things were spilling out on to the floor, no, but her cabinets were jammed pack with figurines and her bed was filled with plushies. Her desk was almost unusable except for an impressive looking computer and her closet was bursting forth with stuff.

Her parents had always complained about the state she kept her room but they never pushed her to fix her pat rat habits. They them selves had a bit of the same problem. To be fair, her entire race suffered from it. Treasure guardian pure blood came with a hefty price.

But, to Tahki, she'd done a great job tightening up. Once more, Charlie hadn't done anything in her process and let her be. Now the gryphon laid on her belly and hugged a giant two headed giraffe stuffed animal. Peace and quiet. Finally.

SHE'S A NAUGHTY GIRL WITH A BAD HABIT - BAD HABIT FOR DRUGS ~

Tahkis phone went off. It vibrated as the lyrics for naughty girl went off. Peace and quiet were shattered in that instance. The caller id concluded that it was her mother calling. So now they knew she was home already? Well of course they did. The thugs out front indicated they knew. Tahki took a breath and flipped her phone open.

"TAAAAHKIIIII! I'm so glad to hear you're home safe and sound ~" Her mothers voice was just a TAD over joyful.

"Y-yeah. The carriage ride was a bit much and ... I think Im going to take a nap and all. Was a long trip and..."

"NONE SENSE~ How does he like the room? Im sure its not as nice as what he's used to, you know demons and all, but we really tried to throw something together last minute you know." Tahki knew why her mother was so excited and where she was going with this now. Dread. That was all Tahki could feel right now, "So do you know what line of work his parents are in? A fallen angel? Thats no low class demon you know. We have this ONE couple that bank with us and darlin, their numbers would make your nose bleed. I didn't know you were dating a demon!"

Oh god. Oh god. Maybe bringing Charlie back with her was a very bad idea.

"HES NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" It came out more of a scream then Tahki had originally intended.

"Now now dear. Inside voices." Tahki could see her mother wagging her finger in her head. She wouldnt be surprised if her mother was literally wagging her finger right now. To Tahkis not surprise, her mother was wagging her finger right now.

"S-sorry. But he's not. He's a friend. Were not dating. Please don't think thats why... you didn't tell dad that did you?"

"Oh your father? No of course not dear," There was a hint of sarcasim in her mothers voice. So her father thought this too. And Tahki wasn't so sure her mother believed her with the tone she was taking with her. Stress. Tahki now felt stress. Dread. She wanted to puke.

"Mom he's fourteen. I'm sixteen and a lot taller then him." There was a hand on her face right now. Tahki just wanted a god damn nap.

"Thats not such a big age difference. But what ever. We'll be nice to your 'just friend' okay. We only want your happiness and we only want some one who can take care of you Tahki love," There was a lot of condescending tones now coming from her mother. If Tahki wasn't already used to this from her mother, she'd probably have hung up.

"Mom I know. But trust me. Its not like that okay." Tahki groaned, "I'm not going to school to look for a husband."

"Mhmm thats nice dear. Well listen. Me and your father are excited for you any ways. I'm very happy you want to up your pedigree value by going to such a nice school. What ever you choose I'm sure you know what you want ~ Love ya."

And then the phone went dead before Tahki could mutter I love you too back. Not that Tahki really cared right now. She had a bigger problem on her hands. A much bigger problem.

So much for taking a nap. The gryphon sighed and went ahead and grabbed a gaming magazine. There was nothing like a good gaming magazine to calm ones nerves. That was, until she saw that the new Resident Good title was postponed for another six months.

"JACK DAMMIT!" Tahki ripped the magazine up in her rage and huffed.

Dread.

Its all that Tahki felt since the phone call from her mother. Her playing her hand held game boil wasn't helping much though. Nor was the sappy music pumping from her headphones. In fact, her gut twisted and turned and there was a pinching at the core of her heart.

Her nerves were working against her. That much was clear. She felt her nerves on the inside twitch and turn and tease and just be general pricks. Confronting her parents would not be a cake walk.

Her inner angst was interrupted by a banging on her door. Before she could even invite who ever was banging the door in, the door opened. Charlies head popped out from behind the pastel blue door. He was frowning.

"Whats wrong?" Tahki put her game boil down and hurried to the door.

"Theres a man in my closet."

"...What?"

"He said he was the help. I put a chair up against it and tried to forget about it but. Tahki I really dont like men coming out of my closet." Charlie frowned deeper. If Tahki was with it in the way of dirty humor, she'd had made a coming out of the closet joke. But the truth was, in the ways of dirty thinking and in the ways of romance in general, Tahki only knew what was in her romance novels.

"... Some of the rooms are connected by the closet. Don't worry to much about it. I'll ask who ever it was to leave you be." She put a hand on Charlies shoulder the way a big sister might to a little brother. Charlie was still frowning deeply though. It would seem he didn't fully buy Tahkis promise.

The moment was interrupted any way though by one of the two monsters from earlier. He caught both Tahki and Charlie by surprise. Both let out a small eeeep as his large body framed the door way.

"Miss Yuki. You and Mr. Night have been summoned to dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Yuki are down stairs waiting." His voice was very deep and very monotoned. It was the sort of voice you'd expect from some one so large.

"..Y-yeah. Uhhh... Don't sneak up on us like that..." Tahki frowned. This was met with a knowing smile from the 'help' as he turned to walk off. Tahki did not like that smile at all. She quickly took her hand off Charlies shoulder and shoved him away.

"Come on were going to be late." She muttered as she passed him heading to the elevator.

"....HEY! Why are you in a bad mood all of a sudden? WHAT I DO?" Charlies little legs hurried as fast as they could to keep up with Tahki. The gryphon had already reached the elevator. Her expression was not a pleasant one as she stared back at Charlie. Charlie didn't seem to notice the look though as he entered the elevator.

"So dinner???"

Tahki said nothing to Charlie. The elevator door closed and the two went down to the main level.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The spread was amazing. At least to Charlie it was. Tahki was yet again unimpressed. At least she didn't show that she was impressed on the out side. Really her parents HAD gone all out. This was no typical dinner. There were assortments of the finest seafood that Halloween Town had to offer and various red bleeding meats and different sorts of fancy dishes that Charlie had never seen before. The table it self was actually a decent size and not one of the mellow dramatic long type typically depicted in mansions.

Tahkis parents were absent from the table when the two arrived. Charlie wasted no time picking a seat and helping him self to a big slice of some random creature he wasn't sure what it was. He took large greedy bites. The juices from the meat streamed down his face.

Tahki, was more elegant in the way she chose a seat. Though, it wasn't hard to be more elegant then Charlie. She left her own plate empty knowing it would be rude to start with out her parents. Tahki didn't bother to correct Charlies bad behavior though. It amused her a bit. If his poor manners didn't prove they weren't dating, then she wasn't sure what would prove it.

The sloppy eating continued for a long while. Still her parents were a no show. Tahki frowned and eyed the food hungrily but resisted on starting with out her parents. She'd been raised better. Mean while, Charlie was now slathering on gravy on his fifth piece of mystery bloody meat.

"OOOH! He does have a healthy appetite now doesn't he?" Two figures appeared in the room. One was slender and tall. She looked almost exactly like Tahki but the hair style was longer and kept wavy. Her eyes mirrored Tahkis with the glowing gold. She looked just like an older version of Tahki with wavy white hair. The figure looked as if back in the day she could have been a model. Now she was aging gracefully. Of course it could have been the amount of make up the woman wore. Her perfume, spicy and pleasant, gently filtered in along side her.

The other figure was taller and complimented the good looking woman. His eyes glowed a glossy blue, but the hair was the same white that Tahkis and the womans were. His hair was kept short, but some how stylish. His face was very stern though. The man looked like he could be a super villain in a comic book of some sort head of a huge corporation or something.

Both were arctic gryphons just like Tahki.

"OOOOH Tahki. He's simply ADORABLE! And bold to. Not waiting for us. Oooh hes just perfect. Perfect!" What was more then likely Tahkis mother literally skipped over to Charlies Chair and put her hands on his shoulders.

"Welcome to our hooome~" Her mothers voice was almost sing song.

"Come on now Winter. This is no way to act in front of guests," Tahkis fathers face did not make any sort of expression as he spoke to his wife. He didn't seem annoyed or angered. It was just matter of fact.

"Now come on Trent. I just wanted to see the demon that our daughter was bringing home." Winter made a pouty face at her husband. Tahki face palmed and just frowned. Charlie just kept eating.

"Thats why were all here having dinner together. Winter." Trent yawned and gracefully made his way to his own seat. Winter frowned and composed her self and followed suit after her husband. Tahki lifted her head, still frowning, and helped her self to the vast amount of sea food spread on the table silently.

Her parents were both silent and graceful at helping them selves to the food spread out. Only Charlies smacking and slurping could be heard. There was no talking, but it was evident that Winter was eager to learn more about the pink haired demon. She kept glancing over at Charlie every chance she got. If one didn't know why she was curious, one might think that she her self was interested in Charlie.

Trents hands folded on his lap after time passed.

"Now Charlie. I hear you and my daughter are -"

"DAD!" Tahki snapped and then covered her mouth. Trent didn't even turn his head to glance over at Tahki. His silence was enough to let Tahki know she'd just spoken out of place. The gryphoness lowered her head in shame.

"You and my daughter are a couple are you not?" Tahki felt her insides wince. Charlie didn't seem to be bothered at all as he stuffed his face with more food.

"Was a couple?" He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Winter actually grimaced at the site which earned her a small smile from Tahki.

"You and my daughter aren't a couple then?" Trent turned to Winter who turned to Tahki who sunk in her seat a little more.

"Thats what I've been trying to say?" Tahki nervously took a gulp of her water.

"Ooohh ho hooo... This is a joke I'm sure they are Trent. A bunch of kidders." Winter let out a hardy laugh which made Tahki sink more in her seat.

"Couple?" Charlie took a big swig of drink and wiped his mouth with his sleeve again. "You mean like special friend? Nah. Thats Amrita. Tahkis not Amrita." Charlie stuffed his face with some sort of sweet potato pumpkinish dish. It went every where.

"If this is a joke..." Trent frowned, "I find it distasteful and disrespectful." Tahki found her parents eyes falling on her again.

"I assure you this is not something I'd joke about... sir.. I really .. he's just my friend. Mom took it upon her self to assume things. Really. Dad..?" Tahkis pleaded to her father to believe her. She only got an icy stare in return. It was always hard to tell what her father was thinking.

"Winter.. you do get over excited." Was all Trent said before placing his napkin on his plate and walking off. Winter her self didn't seem all that bothered by Trents irritation. In fact her amused smile only widened.

"Well I think Charlies just lovely dear. And if you ever decided he was the one. We approve." Winter gave Tahki a smile and placed her napkin on her own plate to hurry after her husband.

Tahki had a feeling her mother only approved of Charlie because she thought he was loaded. Wouldn't they be surprised to find out that the demon was not rich at all. She was sure the poor manners would have clued them in on his poor up bringing.

BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPP

Charlie smiled after belching. "Now what?"

"Uh... I don't know. We can go explore the grounds I suppose." Tahki shrugged and placed her own napkin on her plate. Charlie mimicked Tahki with his unused napkin. The two wandered off else where.

The carriage ride for Charlie was delightful. He really didn't pay much mind to the brooding Tahki sitting beside him though. No, Charlie was to busy paying attention to Tahkis mother. She kept talking and talking and talking and talking about her self and Tahki. Charlie kept watching, but not all the way listening. But Tahkis mother didn't know the part that Charlie wasn't listening.

The carriage came to a halt finally. Tahki was starting to believe she'd entered her own personal hell of some sort. No offense to demon kind. The carriage door opened and Tahki was the first out.

"Slow down Tahki dear," Winter was the next out of the carriage and was shortly followed by Charlie. "We have all day to shop."

That statement only got a groan out of the gryphon teen.

Winter dragged Tahki and Charlie to all the finest shops Halloween town had to offer and spared no expense on her self or Charlie. Tahki declined her mothers outfit choices she picked out for her and just let her have fun dressing her self and Charlie. Charlie was very good at being Winters dress up doll. Anything she picked out, it seemed, he liked. Or at least he would say he did with a smile. Tahki couldn't help but wonder if this was a game to Charlie.

What ever. It didn't concern her. Right now she was to busy having a dark cloud hang over her head. Sure, Tahki loved her parents dearly. But that didn't mean their antics didn't drive her insane some times.

It was about when Charlie emerged from a dressing booth for what seemed the billionth time did Tahki feel she had enough. Charlie was wearing a stupid black and pink jogging suit that was some what similar to the one Winter had worn when she picked them up.

"Ooooh Charlie. Were twins. SO CUTE~" Her mother hugged Charlie and Charlie hugged back a little over joyed for all the attention, "Ooooh come on Tahki. Try on something and stop being a sour puss. Your boyfriend, I mean, friend that is a boy. He's trying things on. LOOK! CUTE~"

Tahki didn't bother to correct her mother this time. It just seemed to only egg her own further when she did try to correct her. Instead Tahki got and started for the door. A bone thin hand caught her shoulder before she was able to reach the door. To her not surprise, it was her mothers hand. But to her surprise, her mother was teary eyed.

"M-mom?" Tahki lifted a brow at the watery eyed Winter.

"T-Tahki. I just wanted to do something fun with you and your friend. Please don't ruin this for me. I was so crushed when you left for school." Winter sniffled and blew her nose on Charlies jacket which earned her a 'HEY' from Charlie.

"You were crushed?" Tahki blinked not sure how she should be reacting. This was all very awkward and all very public.

"Tahki.. ever since you were little you've been so much like your father. So serious and so quiet." Winter blew her nose again. People in the store were pretending not to be watching but it was clear to at least Tahki they were. "I just... you were so timid and fragile too. I was always so afraid of what the real world would do to you. But you left me and now your turning out to be more and more like your father."

"...Is that a bad thing?" Tahki frowned a bit. She was even more confused now.

"N-not at all. I guess it just means my widdle Tahki is all grown up." The sniffles came to a stop and Winter was pinching Tahkis cheek. Tahki was to shocked to wipe her hand away. "I want to know I still have a place in your life."

Tahki froze. This was a little to much for her to handle. This level of confusion and conflicting feelings. Should she be crying too like a soap opera? She felt bad just standing in place letting her mother get all emotional while her own face stayed in place like stone. On the inside though, she felt something warm and real. She was happy?

"M-mom..." Tahki started up finally, "You'll always have a place some where with me in my heart." The saying was a little to sappy for Tahkis taste but she rolled with it any ways.

Charlie took his jacket back from Mrs. Yuki and glared at her. "Im not a tissue..." He was completely ignored though because Tahkis mother was to busy hugging her daughter. Slowly, Tahkis arms lifted as well and embarrassed her mother in the most awkward hug in public she'd ever experienced in her life. The two stayed like that for a few long moments before Winter let go.

"Will you please try on something dear?" The older gryphon smiled, "I picked out a few things I think you'd like."

Despite her better judgement, Tahki agreed. Even though in the end NONE of the clothing were of her taste.

The day was here. The day they were to go back to school and Tahki hated to admit it but that thought made her a little sad. Being back at home had been pleasant and actually pretty light hearted. Save the fact that her mother was still semi still attached to the crazy idea that Charlie was her boyfriend. This couldn't be further from the truth.

One lesson was learned though. Think twice before bringing over a boil house guest. No scratch that. Think twice before bringing a house guest. Tahki couldn't imagine what her mother would say about her bringing a ghoul friend over. She might think that Tahki had taken a liking to the ghouls. Not that it mattered. Both were just as annoying.

The carriage driver was loading up the last bag, which made Charlie huff a bit. He had wanted to load the last bag. But the carriage driver had gotten to it before the demon. Charlie stood there a while looking pouty. Tahki grabbed his hand and dragged him in to the carriage.

With in no time they were off.

"Hey. Why weren't your mom and dad there to see us off?" Charlies own parents were never there for him for anything. But even Charlie knew that wasn't normal. He'd observed normal families.

"They work," Tahkis tone was matter of fact, "Its hard to keep up with business and a kid I suppose."

"Well ... They should have been there to say good bye..." Tahki reached over and messed up Charlies hair.

"Its fine. I know my parents have busy lives." She smiled. "Sides my mom sent me this text this morning." Tahki held up her phone. On it was a picture of Winter with Charlie posing in semi matching jogging suits. There was text at the bottom that said. 'Don't be a stranger~<3'. Charlie had to ask Tahki what the text said though.

"So your parents really do love you," Charlie smiled. He was pleased by this.

"Well duh they love me. And I love them! We just have different ways of seeing things some times is all." Tahki crossed her arms. The carriage went over another bump and caused Charlie to land side ways.

"Owww.." He helped him self up and glared at a giggling Tahki. "Hey! Its not my fault you over dramatic rich folk never heard of seat belts. SHEESH! I mean why do you guys like to use carriages any ways? Why not a car? We have cars you know..."

"Hey now," Tahki had her arms up in surrender, "We have cars. Winter thinks carriage rides are more romantic though I suppose."

"Well they suck."

"I agree."

"Then next time I come to visit have a car ready."

"..." Tahki scratched her head. She wasn't sure if Charlie was being cute or really being demanding. Knowing Charlie he probably meant it. But it was hard to get annoyed at him for what ever reason.

"Alright," Tahki agreed finally with a small nod. "Next time you come to visit there will be a car."

"YAY! I get to visit again!" The demon launched him self to the other side of the carriage and hugged on Tahki. He was happy. It was all Tahki could do but to pat his head and sit there awkwardly.

All and all. The visit had been a good one.