Nikki laid fats asleep on the living room sofa when there was banging at the door. He didn't hear it but he did feel a punch to the stomach. His groaned out and curled into a ball, holding his stomach. He opened one eye to look up at his attacker. Golden eyes glare at him. "What the hell, Shiro?"

"I've been banging on tha damn door for five fuckin minutes! Ya didn't hear, jackass?!" Shiro plucked his forehead. Nikki glared and rubbed his forehead. "How the hell do you know where I live?!"

"I followed ya! Needed ta make sure Murci was in good hands." Nikki's left eye twitched in irritation. "Why the hell wouldn't he be?! HE's with me!" Nikki yelled at the offensive albino, who folded his arms and pouted. "Ya don't have ta yell." Shiro muttered and Nikki looked at him incredulously. "You bang on my door. Barge your way into my home. You attack and yell at me, but I don't have to yell? Seriously, Shiro?" Shiro huffed. "I didn't yell."

"You didn't yell?" Nikki asked in disbelief. He stuck his blue tongue out at the blonde. Nikki rolled his eyes and turned away from Shiro. Something shifted behind him and he rubbed his eyes as eyes wrap around his waist. "What do you want, Shiro?" Nikki asked with a sigh and closed his eyes. "Besides you….Ichi's missing." Nikki's eyes snapped open and he pushed Shiro away. The albino grunted and rubbed his elbow. "What did you do?" Nikki sat up and glared at Shiro. "I went ta see him at tha time ya told me. Kit kat came home early and we fought. Ich ran off."

"Shit." Nikki murmured and rubbed the back of his head. "Ooooo. Language, Nik." He shot daggers at Shiro, who just smirked at the blonde

xXx

"Kurai stop it! You need to get cleaned up." Murci tried pushing the stubborn neko into the hot bubble bath, but he held on to the edge. "Kurai." The neko whined and shook his head no. "Come on. You're only part cat. Your human side can't be scared of water, too." Images flashed through Kurai's head, which made him all the more frantic. "Stop freaking out. You're only delaying the inevitable." Kurai jumped away from the tub. Murci lost his footing and fell in head first. His legs hung out over the edge and water spilled out.

Kurai quietly moved closer to the tub and peeked inside. Hands shot out and held onto Kurai's shoulders. He was pulled into the tub making a bigger mess. Kurai cried out as he sat up from the water. HE coughed and hacked while rubbing his eyes. Murci sat up next spitting out water and wrapped his legs around Kurai's waist, so he couldn't get out. Murci grabbed the shampoo and poured it in his hand. Once he lathered it up, he started scrubbing Kurai's head clean. Kurai whimpered and tried to rub the shampoo out of his eyes. "You're going to rub it in. Hold on." Murci reached forward to turn the shower on. Kurai jumped as cold water hit him. He whined and tried to move away from the man. "No." He pulled Kurai against his back. Kurai flattened his ears and covered his eyes as he was forced back in the cold water.

"Almost done." As he reached for the soap and wash cloth, the water rippled and Kurai turned in his lap. He looked down to see Kurai looking up at him. "Yes?" He moved closer until their noses nearly touched. He looked at Kurai nervously. "Kurai?" He called again. Kurai moved closer and kissed his nose. Murci froze as Kurai hopped out of the tub. His tail brushed against his nose. Kurai bounced over to the door and opened it. Murci snapped out of his daze when he heard a sudden outburst. "Kurai! What the hell?!" Yelled a familiar voice. "Oooo. Nice." Spoke a watery voice. Fear slowly tickled his spine when he recognized the uniquely strange voice.

Nikki guides Kurai back into the bathroom and closed the door behind him He paused when he sees Murci in the bath tub. "You were supposed to help Kurai, not take a bath." Murci still looked at the wall in front of him with a pink tinge still on his face. "Murci?" Nikki looked at Murci with worry. "Murc." Murci blinked twice and looked at his blonde friend, who raised an eyebrow. "It was the only way he'd take a bath." At the mention of a bath, Kurai tried to run back to the door. Nikki held on firmly. "Just like a cat to not like water." Kurai stuck his tongue out. "I'll pinch it if you do it again." Kurai folded his arms and pouted.

Nikki ruffled his wet hair. "Your brother told me he always had to tie him down until he cleaned himself." Murci dropped his head, not believing that he didn't try that. At the same time, he wondered if that would be cruel to the neko. What was Nikki thinking now? "I need you to keep an eye on Kurai. I have some….business to attend to." Murci narrowed his eyes at the man. How much more torture was he going to go through. He was lucky to be in the water and not standing up. He was sure that Nikki would kill him, if he did.

"We'll be back soon, hopefully."

Nikki turned to the door to leave. "Nikki." He paused and looked at a nervous Murci. "Was that?" He stopped. "Am I?" He stopped again while looking away. Kurai looked between the two in confusion. "No, he's not here for you. I told you, you're fine." Nikki smiled reassuringly before leaving the bathroom. Murci looked down at the water in deep thought. Was he really safe being here? He asked himself as something black moved across his vision. His thoughts vanish as the water rippled again. He looked at Kurai, who sat in front of him with his knees to his chest. He gave Murci a kiss on the forehead. His face turned a shade darker and he covered his mouth. "Dammit, Kurai."

The neko only closed his eyes and laughed. Murci's eyes widened at the sound of the neko's laughter. It was pleasing to hear, but still shocking. He's heard whines, grunts, moans, groans, and even whimpers, but never laughter. The only thought that came to Murci's mind. 'Did he just….laugh?'

xXx

"There's nothing to talk about Shiro." Nikki spoke as they walked down the stairs with Shiro following. "There's plenty to talk about. You just won't hear me out."

"Why do I need to?"

"You aint even givin me a chance." Nikki rolled his eyes and opened the front door, nearly bumping into Nel. "Hey, Nel." She looked at him with an unusually large smile. "Hey, Nikki. Where ya goin?" Before he could answer, Shiro popped up from behind Nikki and waved "Sup, Nel." She waved right back. "Hey, Shi." She looked from Shiro to Nikki. "I didn't know you knew Shiro, too." Nikki sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "Nik and I had a thing." Nikki sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose while Nel frowned. "Had a thing as in…" She pointed between the two and Shiro nods. "Yup. Best I ever had, actually."

"Shut up, Shiro." Nikki covered his face with his hands. "Then he left me fer ya, big tits." Nel laughed nervously. "Nikki." Nikki waved his hands defensively. "It's not what it looks like." Nel held her hand up to stop him. "I know about Ichi." Nikki eyed her skeptically. "Grimmjow is waiting by the car for you. He was hoping that he'd beat Shiro here, but…" Nel shrugged. "Obviously, Shiro got ahead start, like always." Nikki visibly winced. He knew she was mad at the unusually even tone of voice. "I'll talk to you after you find Ichigo. So don't try and get out of this." Nel gently moved past the two and Nikki slapped Shiro across the head. "What did I do?!"

"Seriously? Idiot." Nikki walked out of the house, hoping that Shiro didn't get him into even more trouble.

xXx

Shiro sat in the passenger seat playing with Nikki's hair, while Grimmjow sat in the back seat with his arms folded. "Stop it, Shiro." The albino pouted. "But yer hair's so pretty." Shiro whined and dropped his hand. It was quiet for a few minutes before Shiro said something. "Why'd ya leave?"

"Because I wanted something better and I could do better." Shiro narrowed his eyes. "Do better as in what? Bein with Nel?" Nikki shook his head no. "That's not what I meant, Shiro."

"So you're with her just because?" Shiro asked with slight hope. "No. I'm with her because I care." Shiro frowned. "Tryna cause more trouble for us, Shiro? Leave him alone." Grimmjow finally spoke in aggravation. "The fuck do you know, Blueberry?"

"A lot more than you think, Snowflake. I know you two fucked before he met Nel." Nikki stomped on the breaks and turned to Grimmjow in fear and confusion. "I know about all you fuckers." Shiro turned around and glared at Grimmjow, who glared back. "You don't know shit! The only thing you know how to do is lay d-" Before he could finish, Grimmjow punched him square in the jaw

"It was your fucking fault, you stupid son of a bitch!" Shir reached in the back and grabbed a fistful of his shirt. He pulled his arm back, ready to give out a good licking. "Shiro no!" Nikki held his arm back. "How the fuck was I supposed to fucking know?!"

"You were there and you didn't do shit about it! I saw you fucking stand there and watch! You don't give a damn about no one but yourself!" Shiro snatched away from Nikki and opened the passenger door. "Fuck you, Grimmjow." Shiro climbed out of his seat and slammed the door shut. "Shiro, wait!" Nikki called to the albino who disappeared into an alleyway.

"Good riddance." Grimmjow spoke while turning away. "Grimmjow. "Nikki called. "Just fucking drive, so we can find Ichi. I know he's fucking starving." Nikki could see the anger and hatred in the blue haired man's eyes, but decided it was best not to know at the moment.