Part 2

Hunter pushed away from the wall and took a few steps towards the nearest spare room. Then suddenly with a soft hum he turned back and knocking gently on the bathroom door he waited. When there was no answer he knocked again calling loudly, "Hey Kitty-kat, listen there's some antiseptic cream and wipes in the cupboard under the sink. Feel free to use to them on those marks of yours."

There was a moment silence broken by the sloshing of water then the door opened a crack and Hunter found himself staring into a single grey blue eye. He gave a slight smile adding, "I just thought you might want to take..."

"Thank you," breathed the neko, flashing Hunter a rare smile before closing the door.

Hunter stared sadly at the door almost wincing as he heard the lock fall into place. With a soft huff he turned and headed towards the smallest of the 4 bedrooms suddenly wondering where he had put the spare linen.

x o x o x o x o x o x o

It was over an hour before Hunter heard the soft pad of bare feet coming down the stairs. He was lounging on his favourite lazy boy, his legs stretched out in front of him, another beer in hand. He glanced over and smiled warmly at the neko lurking in his doorway. Running his eyes over the now bathed and dressed cat he nodded in approval chuckling, "There those clothes suit you better than those rags the shop dressed you in."

And they did, a white Affliction t-shirt decorated with skulls and horses and a pair of soft blue jeans. They were slightly too big for him but compared the crap he'd been wearing before they looked stunning. The neko gave him a ghost of a smile as he absently stoked the soft material of the shirt, he murmured, "I like this."

"That style looks good on you," grinned Hunter. Then indicating with his beer bottle, he offered, "Sit down, relax on the couch or curl up or whatever it is you do to feel comfortable but just sit down and stop standing everywhere you make me nervous when you lurk."

The neko glared at him but he did obey. After hesitating for just a moment, he slowly sank down onto the soft leather sofa he'd admired before. Hunter turned his attention back to the TV but every now and then he'd glance over at the neko and smile. The cat was curled up the long legs tucked under him the tail curled over his thighs the tip still flicking and twitching showing how unsure the neko really was. His head was on one side and his ears were twitching obviously listing for sounds Hunter couldn't hear.

With a soft chuckle Hunter said, "By the way we're gonna have company later on."

He heard the sharp intake of breath then remembering what he had learnt about the neko's past he quickly added, "John's coming over and he's bringing the kitten. I figured you didn't believe when I said John would never hurt him so I gave him a call. He's going to bring your little friend over so you can see how he is for yourself."

There was a moment's silence. Hunter flicked a look at the neko and found the cat staring at him, a look of stunned amazement on the cat's face.

"You did that for me?" asked the neko softly, almost as if he couldn't believe Hunter was telling him the trust.

"Yep,"

"Why?"

"Because you didn't believe me and I don't like it when people think I'm lying," explained Hunter softly not bothering to look around.

There was a moment's silence then a softly murmured "Thank you" broke the silence

Hiding his smile with his bottle, Hunter took a quick swig then replied, "You know instead of thanking me you could tell me your name. Or at least give me a name you want to be called." He looked over and fixing the neko with a fond glare, he added, "It's kinda weird not knowing who I'm sharing my house with."

The neko stared at him statue still not even the tail flicking as the cat thought about answering the simple question. As the seconds stretched into minutes Hunter shook his head knowing it was too soon to start pressing the neko for answers. Fighting to keep the disappointment out of his voice, he murmured, "Okay but don't blame me if I end up calling you Kitty-kat all the time." He shot the silent figure a look then with a half smile he asked, "You hungry?"

He got a slight nod in return.

Pushing up out of the chair he headed towards the kitchen asking, "I'm assuming you can eat anything right? I mean you don't need special cat food or something do you?"

"No," chuckled the neko, giving a low soft rumbling laugh that made Hunter smile, "I can eat anything."

"Good, I hate the idea of having to do even more grocery shopping than I already do," grinned Hunter. Opening the fridge he stared at the stocked shelves then asked, "You okay with a ham sandwich for the moment? I was gonna cook tonight."

"You cook?" asked the Neko unable to keep the surprise out of his voice.

"Well of course I cook." Replied Hunter pulling out the ingredients from the fridge, "Why wouldn't I?"

"I would have thought your wife did the cooking."

Hunter didn't respond to that comment he simply concentrated on cutting the pepper giving it all of his attention much to the confusion of the now frowning cat. The neko's next question was cut off by a loud ringing. He watched as Hunter walked to the wall mounted phone answering the ringing phone.

"Hey man...yeah no it's fine...I'm just fixing him a sandwich and...yes I'll make you one as well when you get here...sure okay...see you soon then." As he hung up Hunter looked over calling, "That was John he's about half an hour away, he said he and that kitten had stopped to pick up a surprise and that they'll be here soon."

"A surprise?" asked the neko nervously, "What sort of surprise?"

"No idea," replied Hunter honestly, "But if I know John it'll be something stupid and delightfully brilliant."

The neko nodded slowly but the way his tail flicked around nervously and the way his ear twitched belied his obvious nerves. Suddenly wishing he could do something to reassure and soothe his nervous companion Hunter murmured, "I promise it won't be anything that causes you distress."

The neko titled his head then after a moment's pause and with a heart melting smile breaking over his face, he replied in a low rumble, "I believe you."

x o x o x o x o x o x o

When the knock echoed through the door Hunter couldn't stop the low chuckle that escaped his lips at the way his neko came to attention. With a soft shake of the head he soothed, "Easy Kitty-kat, that'll just be John," he paused then added reassuringly, "Don't worry I don't have many unexpected visitors and when possible I'll let you know people are coming."

The neko blinked at him then giving the ghost of a smile he nodded his ears rotating with excitement as Hunter walked out to the large front door. He trailed after the big man watching as Hunter opened the door revealing their expected guests.

"Hey Big Guy," grinned John he was beaming proudly one hand resting on the small of the back of the shorter neko. Evan was bouncing with excitement and as Hunter greeted John the small neko gave a loud squeak and pushed pass Hunter calling, "Sorry I can come in, cant I?"

"Yeah sure," chuckled Hunter shaking his head as the ball of energy all but ran down his hall and leapt into the waiting arms of the older neko. He couldn't help smile at the change in the small cat since the last time he'd seen him. Despite being the more active of the two in the store even the kitten had been subdued. But now bouncing down his corridor dressed in a green check shirt and fitted jeans Hunter could see why John had wanted the small neko. And if he was honest he couldn't think of anyone better suited to his annoyingly cheerful best friend than the hyperactive kitten currently nuzzling his own silent cat.

The two men watched mesmerised as the cats greeted each other. Randy bending his head to nuzzle against Evan's dark hair the two of them giving off soft mews of delight as the familiar bonds were strengthened and renewed. As the greeting finished Evan snuggled against Randy, his head resting against Randy's shoulder his hair tickling the older neko's chin.

"Randy I missed you so much" exclaimed Evan not noticing the look flash over Randy's face at the use of his name. But as his eyes flicked to Hunter the older man simply averted his eyes acting as if he hadn't heard the much requested name.

Pushing Evan away Randy held him at arms length his blue grey eyes roaming over the small compact figure that he knew as well as his won body. Evan gave him a vampish grin teasing, "Relax I'm fine, john has done nothing to me. The only thing he'd done is given me a home and clothes and look... " he lifted his head proudly showing a black stone necklace.

Randy's face hardened and he growled, "He's put a collar on you. Already?" his head napped up and he fixed the distant human with a death glare.

"Its not a collar!" snapped Evan glaring at his oldest friend, "Its a necklace and he bought it for me when we were in the supermarket getting your...oh my god I forget the present!" and then he was gone running back past the two amused humans and bouncing out to the car. There was a series of soft expletives then moments later Evan reappeared carrying a large patisserie box. He looked questioningly at John grinning as the large man soothed, "Why don't we asked Hunter if we can go to the kitchen before we reveal what's in the box?"

Evan nodded and fixing Hunter with the biggest set of puppy eyes the small neko asked, "Please sir? May we go to your kitchen?"

"Damn it," chuckled Hunter looking at John, "No wonder you fell for him – how the hell do you say no to those eyes?"

"You don't," grinned John. He reached over, stroking Evan's lower back, his fingers trailing over the exposed tail making the smaller cat purr with delight. It was an interaction Hunter noticed with a pang of jealousy wondering if he would ever be able to make Randy purr with such delight.

"You just ask him to postpone it," finished John. He gave a loud laugh ordering, "Go on Squirt go take that box into the kitchen and come on you," he indicated for Randy to join them, explaining, "You need to see this."

Randy moved to join them but as he went to walk past Hunter, the older man caught his elbow and leaning in he whispered, "Even though I heard what the kitten called you – until you tell me the name you want to be called, I'll keep calling you kitty Kat, okay?"

Randy stared at him then nodded slowly, a surprised smile flickering over the normally serious features. Giving him a warm smile Hunter held the door open letting the cat go in before him.

John and Evan had set the box on the counter top and as Hunter and Randy joined them, Evan opened the lid calling happily, "John let me get you your favourite cake. And I had them personalise it."

Randy stared at the cake – a chocolate cheesecake topped with red berries – and the message piped in the centre "To the best friend in the world – here's to the start of a new adventure". He looked over at Evan then at the two humans before simply turning on his heel and stalking out of the kitchen leaving a stunned silence in his wake.

TBC