"This is all your fault," Souten grumbled.

"How is this my fault?" Shippou asked incredulously, pulling his stethoscope out of his ears.

"You're the one who encouraged me to take her home! I didn't even want a cat, and now I'm going to have five!" She pointed at the very pregnant feline.

"You've had her for over two months, Kaminari-san," the vet said with a sigh. "She wasn't pregnant when she left here." The cat mewed softly, pawing at his fingers.

Souten crossed her arms, eyes blazing. "That's not the point. I only signed up for one cat."

"You're welcome to put a flier up in the waiting room." He reached out and scratched the cat's chin, the animal leaning into the touch, the blue bell on her collar jingling as she licked his hand. "We talked about this being a possibility when you first adopted her. Why did you agree to it if you didn't want to deal with a pregnancy?"

"Because you were the one who asked!" she blurted, slapping her hand over her mouth a moment too late.

Shippou's fingers stilled, the cat continuing to move her face against them as heat crept into his cheeks. "Because I asked?"

She turned away from him. "I'll put the flyer up. Let me know if anyone's interested."

Shippou grabbed her wrist before she could leave, Souten refusing to look at him. "I can help you with it if you like."

"Why would you want to do that?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Because it's you." The cat mewed softly as if to agree, or encourage, and Souten nodded stiffly.