Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Just a rp for me, Hitsuzen, and Skye. The big announcement....they may all learn more than they want. Most of the other characters here are pets from another shop....ran out of things to say here.....yeah))

"You did it again! How do you keep doing that?" Vash looked skeptically up at Neko as he flattened his poker hand out on the table. A royal flush, suspiciously for the third time in a row.

"What can I say I'm just lucky," Neko smiled at his own little joke as he sat back in his chair as Vash examined his cards. From the look on Vash's face one would think he was interrogating the deck.

"I don't believe you're lucky, I believe you're cheating." Vash exclaimed.

"It does seem a little weird," Mitsu admitted placing her cards down. She didn't understand an ounce of the game so she, of course, was losing.

"I'm not cheating," Neko stated defensively. "You're both practically giving me a winning hand." And how true that was with just a touch of mind control.

"Play nicely dear," Daphne called from across the room doing some sort of cleaning to the fireplace in the den. Nothing of the conversation or what was really happening had filtered over to Daphne as she was cleaning, but hearing Vash raise his voice was enough to warrant a warning to 'play nice or else.'

"Yes, Daphne," The three chimed in unison as they hunkered in around the table.

"I still think you're cheating," Vash whispered harshly.

"And I think you have bad taste in clothing, but I keep that to myself."

"You tell me that every day!"

"What are you all going on about?" Daphne finally looked up from her cleaning, a look of unhinged fury caged behind the smile of a small British nanny on her face.

"Nothing...nothing." Vash said a little softer cowering away from the look.

"What exactly are you doing Daphne?" Mitsu asked curiously and that seemed enough to distract Daphne as she went on about the work she had been doing.

".....but seeing as its getting very cold and its been snowing I thought it would be nice to have a fire."

Both Vash and Neko looked utterly exhausted as Daphne belted out the last of her long speech on what she had been doing. Who knew so much went into cleaning a fireplace and making sure it wouldn't burn the house down.

"Well," Daphne smiled happily, "I think I'll go make us some nice hot tea." And with that she bustled off to the kitchen leaving the three to take in the blissful silence.

"Well, since Neko is cheating and Mitsu hasn't really been playing but rather, eating the plate of cookies we were using to bet with....I would have to say no one," Vash looked flustered, but in a way like he had been dealing with small children all day.

Mitsu sheepishly smiled as she nibbled on the last of the cookies.

"I think you're just a sore loser," Neko grinned as he gathered up the playing cards and put them away.

Instead of acknowledging Neko like Vash often did, he instead turned his full attention to Hitsu. "So what was going on with Yuki today? He seemed a little...." Vash searched for the right word...something kinder than stark raving mad.

"Unhinged?" Neko tried to supply helpfully.

"Yeah, I'll go with that," Vash shrugged.

"Is Yuki not feeling well?" Mitsu asked, a concerned expression flooding her face. She knew a little of what plagued Yuki, he had told her a little of his story. But Mitsu was sure it was only the surface of a much larger issue. Like the issue she had been trying to ignore with Neko....if he really was Neko. But was that really even a problem anymore? A little lost in thought Mitsu absently placed a hand on her stomach, a habit she had recently formed thinking that any moment she would feel the baby kick, despite the fact that Neko said that would be months from now.

Vash furrowed his brow in concern. What kind of news would make Yuki react that way? It couldn't be good by any means if it nearly got him shot in the end. Who could have missed out on that ordeal?

Neko seemed to have similar thoughts as he sat back in his chair focusing his attention on Hitsu. "Well, if its important news its really up to you if you want everyone here or not."

It was at that moment that Daphne choose to walk back into the room, a large tray in hand decked out with all the tea time essentials. "Oh, hello Hitsu dear, I didn't know you were back." Setting the tray down on the now empty table Daphne started to pour cups of tea. "Tea dear?" She smiled brightly as she offer Hitsu the first cup. Apparently the smell of brewing tea had put her in a good mood...and the fact that no one had made a disaster of her hard work in the short time she was gone.

It was silent for some time as the word began to process in the minds of those present. For some reason Neko was instantly uncomfortable with the conversation but made little show of it. Vash and Daphne on the other hand were both instantly excited.

"A baby? Congratulations," Vash smiled. He hadn't known that Hitsu had been seeing anyone but that was really none of his business anyway.

"Yes dear, congratulations! It will be so delightful to have another little one in the house. I do very much enjoy looking after Amon so I hope you will let me look after your little one as well." It was true, Daphne did enjoy the little boy, and seemed to be much more forgiving when he made a mess than anyone else.

"That's so exciting," Mitsu finally chimed in. Overly enthusiastic the thought of keeping her own pregnancy a secret was forgotten. "We can go shopping together for all the baby things we'll need. We can sit down and decide on names. OH! And there's this thing I've been reading about called a baby shower, we need to have one!"

"Hold on, hold on," Vash smiled as he patted Mitsu's head to calm her down. Apparently what she was saying wasn't registering. "I'm sure Hitsu is glad you're excited but this is her baby not....wait, why were you already reading about baby showers?"

"Oh umm...I uhh..." Mitsu looked suddenly nervous having realized too late her mistake. A careful glance in Neko's direction told her he was on pins and needles at the moment but wisely remaining silent. "I wasn't going to tell anyone yet..." The tea cup sitting in front of her suddenly became very interesting as she focused in on it.

"Tell us what dear?" Daphne seemed to already know the answer but it hardly upset her to know. It only meant one more little one would be running around. And it was crucial not to let Mitsu get too upset, the first few months would be critical to development.

Nervously Mitsu tilted her head downward while looking up at the others around her. Both Vash and Hitsu seemed to be awaiting an answer but it didn't come out as smoothly as Mitsu would have hoped. "Y...yes, I know someone else having a baby.." Good start....

"Really? Who?" Vash began to feel relived. So it was someone else who was having a baby. For a moment he thought-

"I am..." Mitsu's face flushed red as she watched Vash's face pale to white. For a few short seconds it was quiet again until the blood came rushing back to Vash's face and he let out a yell.

"WHAT?!" The normal questions started to run through Vash's mind. Who? What? When? Where? Okay...so maybe he didn't want the answers to all of those questions but they were still there. "Who?"

By this time Mitsu was hunkered down in her position on the floor trying to hide behind the coffee table. "Who what?" She asked meekly.

"Who did this to you?" Vash almost demanded.

"Vash dear," Daphne's cold voice sliced through Vash's anger and suddenly he was like a small child looking up at his mother who was holding a switch. "There is no need for all the shouting and its not good for the baby." Honestly, what was he thinking.?

"But....who...she.." At the moment Vash couldn't form a sentence. Between being confused, angered, and scared for his life there wasn't much to say.

Neko, during this ordeal, had stiffened into a sitting statue in the arm chair he was occupying. His face was void of color and a cold sweat clung to his skin. At any moment....the truth would come out...and he would be lynched.

Looking up from the table Mitsu tried to smile though the nervous expression clouded her face once again. Vash was still trying to control his temper as he mumbled to himself. Casting a cautious glance up at Neko, Mitsu found him to be immobile....and looking a little sick.

"Neko?" Mitsu asked quietly, worried.

Stiffly Neko turned to look at her, the look of dread in his eyes. How had this happened so quickly? He figured he at least had a few weeks to come up with a plan to break the news. Possibly a nice telligram, card, post-it, hell even a singing dancing bear would be better then this awkward situation.

"You..." The voice sounded cold and as soon as Neko looked up he was faced with angry teal eyes. "It was you wasn't it?" Vash yelled in Neko's face. Of course, there was no reply, which only gave Vash all the comfirmation he needed. "How could you do this to her? Did you rape her?" Vash was all about love and peace but this was something he wouldn't tolerate. As quick as a flash his gun was drawn and pointed at Neko's head. "Tell me what you did."

"Vash!" Mitsu had stood up from her spot on the floor, angry tears streaming down her face. "Stop it! Neko has nothing to do with this!"

Vash glanced at Mitsu questioningly, though his position never faulterd. "What do you mean?"

"I mean..." Mitsu took a deep breath. "Neko isn't the father." The lie tasted bad in her mouth, but this was what Neko had wanted right? An escape out?

"Then who is?" Vash asked as he pulled his gun away from an even more surprized Neko.

Mitsu simply shook her head as she fought back the tears that continued to come. Daphne was quick to move in and wrap her arms around the girl's shoulders and pull her back.

"Come on dear, leave the boys to me, you and Hitsu go about and celebrate. This is a happy occassion." Daphne smiled as she wiped the tears from Mitsu's eyes. "You're going to have a baby. You and Hitsu have lots of planning to do." With that Daphne herded Mitsu toward Hitsu and shuffled them out the door. Once they were gone she turned on the remainder like a rabid dog.

Mitsu only nodded at Daphne as she let Hitsu lead her the rest of the way down the hall to the kitchen. Listening to Hitsu's chattering Mitsu tried to reflect on how all this had happened. In the end she could only come up with one answer, it had been her choice and her choice alone. There was nothing to regret but maybe she had hoped for too much from Neko?

"I think I just made a mistake," Mitsu said softly. An unhappy smile pulled at her lips as she raised a hand to wipe away her already drying tears. For the moment she looked much older, far from the child she normally appeared to be. It was like time had taken a step forward and slapped her in the face.

"I'll say you have."

Mitsu looked around but didn't see the owner of the voice. For some reason it dawned on her to look up and that's where she found him. The Hellmaster himself, standing on the ceiling with a wicked smile on his face.

"Your choice in mates is really lacking." Phibrizzo began to walk along the ceiling approaching the two girls from above. It seemed an easy feat to defy gravity.

"Phibrizzo," Mitsu's voice was stern as she looked up at the facade of a boy. For a moment the Hellmaster was shocked to hear her voice have that much authority but he quickly smiled and shrugged.

"I'm not the one that will regret the decision in the end." With graceful ease Phibrizzo pushed off from the ceiling, flipped, and landed on his feet in front of Hitsuzen and Mitsu. "How about you?" Phibrizzo looked up at Hitsu with a devilish smile. "Do you have any regrets?"

"Oh?" The smile on Phibrizzo's face seemed to widen as he watched the blush creep across Hitsu's cheeks.

"Phibby," Mitsu's voice was strangely cold as she looked at Phibrizzo. "Don't say things like that."

Chuckling, Phibrizzo put on a more child-like smile as he regarded Hitsu once again. "I know what you're thinking and I'm not. Not just yet." Phibrizzo placed a finger to his mouth and in a very Xellos manner whispered his trade-mark phrase. With one final wink the Hellmaster disappeared.

"I'm sorry, Hitsu." Mitsu said softly gripping at the hem of her shirt. "Phibby was rude."