A month later
Berry finally enjoyed Pantera's company and usually laid under her while Grimmjow was at work. Nikki gave him a modeling job, since he couldn't stand doing customer service. Both felines were used to him leaving early and coming in late. His neighbor would come over and feed them whenever she got of work. She was really nice and especially liked Berry. She always brought extra food from her job and fed it to them. Tonight was nothing new. The girl sat on the sofa with a sleeping Berry in her lap. She stroked his orange fur and sighed. "You remind me of someone I used to know. He was supposed to be back from school a while ago. No one has found him or his friend yet. I miss them." She stroked his fur lightly.
"I should go. See you tomorrow." She gently lifts Berry off her lap and sets him on the pillow. She stood up and quietly left the apartment. Pantera strolled from the back and sat by the sofa. She watched the kitten curl into a ball shaking. As if instinct, she hops onto the sofa and wraps her body around the shivering kitten.
xXx
Midnight usually followed his owner around the house like a lost puppy. The main reason was that he wanted to play, but Ulquiorra never made the time to play since he was working. Midnight would sit in front of the door waiting for Ulquiorra to come home. By the time he did, poor Midnight was asleep with a toy still in his mouth. When the sad kitten woke up, he was in his bed with a new toy to play with. It wasn't like he had a companion like Berry. He really missed his friend, but he was still afraid of the big blue panther.
Today, was no different than usual. After eating, he sat in front of Ulquiorra's door with his toy waiting. He rubbed his nose with his paw and looked at the door expectantly. He didn't make a noise nor did he move for a while. Soon, Midnight was nodding off, but didn't want to sleep yet. Just as he was curling up to sleep, the door opened quietly. A hand picked him up gently and lightly stroked his fur. The kitten mewed and looked up at his owner and his tail swayed back and forth happily.
Ulquiorra bent down and picked up the toy Berry brought with him. He dangled it in front of Midnight, who gladly reached to swipe at it, but it was pulled away in time. The kitten mewed happily, since he finally got his wish.
xXx
An hour later
Ulquiorra was in his study reading over statements when he head running water. He headed for the sound to see Midnight turning the cold handle on. He raised an eyebrow at this since cats hated water. They usually licked themselves clean. In curiosity, he walked over to the tub and watched Midnight. The kitten stopped turning to water. He noticed the kitten was shivering and he began to wonder what was wrong. He watched the kitten stop moving and fall into the water with his eyes closed. Ulquiorra quickly reached in and picked up the kitten before he drowned.
He felt much hotter than usual. The kitten suddenly woke up and started squirming in the pale man's hands. The kitten tried to hop out of his arms and right back into the cold water. He mewed in desperation. Ulquiorra stood up straight and left the bathroom with the feverish kitten. He opened his cupboard and pulled out a medium sized bowl. He filled it with ice cold water and set the kitten in the bowl. Midnight lowered himself in the bowl until only his head was sticking out. After he made sure Midnight was okay, he headed for the refrigerator to look for something to eat. He stood up straight at the sound of a crash. A clattering sound reached his ears, so he turned around to see the bowl roll around in a circle then stop at a long black tail. His eyes followed the tail. The beginning of the tail was covered by long silky black hair. The body was curled into a ball and it's skin was slightly red. Ulquiorra knelt next to the body. He could hear quiet sobs coming from the body.
He moved the hair away from the face. The stranger had a cute a feminine looking face with the same eyes that Midnight had. He immediately remembered the boy.
*Flashback*
Five years ago
Ulquiorra- Senior
Boy-Junior
Ulquiorra gathered his books getting ready to leave for next class. His hair was longer then and tied in a low ponytail. "Ulqui_kun?" He stopped what he was doing and looked up. It was one of his classmates, a young boy to be specific. He could've been a year younger than he was. He had long silky black hair that stopped at his waist. The classroom lights helped illuminate his skin, making it glow slightly. The fringes framed his effeminate face stopping at his chin, and his bangs slightly covered his eyes. His eyes were hazel with blue around the pupil. In his left ear was industrial piercing, and the piercing being used was black and arrow shaped. There was a tragus piercing in his right ear and an anti-tragus piercing in his left ear. He also had two loop earrings in his ear lobes. He wore a black hoodie that covered his hands, balck jeans, and sneakers.
"What have I told you about calling me that?" The young boy jumped slightly and looked down at the books he clutched in his hands. "I-I I'm sorry. It's just that…"
"What do you want?" He interrupted. "I-I I w-wanted to, uh." The young word couldn't seem to find the words, so Ulquiorra stood up. "W-wait. I wanted to ask you s-something?" Several eyes of the other students watched the scene unfold
"Well say it. I don't have time to wait for you to fix your stuttering problem." The boy's eyes watered slightly. "This is my last few days at school. I've been trying to find a way to ask you, but I wanted to know if you wanted to-"
"No." He said. The boy looked at the cold raven shocked and confused. Tears finally and he ran out of the room dropping his book that he always carried with him. Everyone in the room glared at Ulquiorra, but he could care less. He stepped over the book and walked out of the classroom.
*End Flashback*
He was looking at the floor as tears fell from his eyes making a small puddle. He then noticed the cat ears on his head that laid flat nearly blending in with his hair. "Midnight?" He called out to him. The raven turned slightly to look at him, but said nothing.
Ulquiorra stood up straight and began walking away. Midnight weakly stretched out to grab his leg, but he was just out of reach. The poor kitten felt depression was over him as his owner abandoned him. After a few minutes, he heard footsteps approaching, but he didn't move. A soft fabric wrapped around the neko making him feel warm and cozy. He turned his head to see Ulquiorra scooping him up bridal style. He looked from his owner to the direction where they were going. It was straight to the bed room. He was laid carefully on the bed and he watched Ulquiorra leave the room closing the door.
The neko rubbed his eyes and laid on his side. His tail wrapped around his waist and his ears remained flattened on his head. Once the tears stopped falling, he closed his eyes and went to sleep.
xXx
Grimmjow walked over to the elevator carry several large boxes that he bought for Berry and Pantera. He had been neglecting the two felines ever since he got his new job. He'd be out all day and then immediately go to sleep once he got home. Everytime he'd come home, Pantera would be curled around sleeping Berry. Today would be different. He'd spend as much time with them as possible. He struggles with the gifts, but manages to make it to his apartment. He struggles to unlock the door and steps through the door.
"Hey, Berry, Pant!" It was quiet, so he assumed they were already sleeping. He set the gifts on the table and headed to the guest room that he gave to his feline friends as their own personal space. He peeked in the doorway to see Berry playing with a ball of yarn and Pantera pushing it back when it rolled to far. He walked closer to the duo and sat in front of them. "Hey you two." The felines look at him for a few seconds. Berry stopped playing with the yarn and walked over to Grimmjow. He hopped into Grimmjow's lap and rubbed his cheek against the man's stomach.
"Glad ya missed me." Grimmjow scratched the kitten's head making it purr. He then picked up the kitten and set him on his head. He crawled over to Pantera and scratched behind her ear. "I missed you guys, too. Sorry for neglecting ya. I've decided to spend time with ya guys tonight." Berry mewed in response. "So cute. Let' go play."
xXx
After an hour of playing, Berry collapsed from a fever. "Shit, Berry!" He knelt by the sick kitten. "You'll be okay. Hold on." He hurried to his feet and ran to the kitten to look for something cold. He found his last ice back. He grabbed the kitchen towel and wrapped the ice in it. He hurried back, but wasn't expecting what he saw. There sprawled out on the floor was a tan, naked, and toned body. From the small amount of curves, he could see the body was male, but the nice, plump ass made him think otherwise. He noticed the long orange tail above his ass and the orange ears sticking out of his wild orange hair. "Woah." He heard a low groan from the body. He watched Pantera walk over and lick his face. The body turned on his side looked at Grimmjow with those warm chocolate brown eyes he was so used to seeing.
"Berry?" He asked realizing who it was. The neko glared at the man who moved closer. The neko tensed as Grimmjow knelt next to him. He rested a hand on his forehead. He heard a small whimper from the neko, which he would've found rather cute if the neko didn't have a fever. "Damn." He picked up Berry bridal style and carried him to the bedroom. He laid Berry on the bed and set the ice pack on his head. "Stay here." He closed his eyes and went to sleep without an argument.
