Laika looked outside as new snow started to fall in the rapidly depleting sunlight. "Okay, listen to me; we need to get back to my dormitory for now. Then I'll call the head of base and see what exactly happened." He cast a wary glance at Netto, "Just… follow me," he said.

Netto crossed his arms but did as he was told. Laika opened the door and a strong gust of nearly sub zero temperature wind blew into the room making Netto and Laika wince. "We were supposed to be back by now," Laika growled.

"I didn't set the Neko Virus free you know!" Netto retorted.

Both Rockman and Searchman gave silent groans as they got ready for another quarrel between Netto and Laika. Instead Laika's eyes softened, "I know," he said.

Netto's gaze went from angry to puzzled, he blushed and looked away but didn't say anything.

Laika pushed ahead in the knee deep snow as they walked back to the dormitories in the last few minutes of sunlight. Netto was colder then he had ever felt in his life and it was so bad even Rockman was shaking uncontrollably. Laika noted this and unconsciously picked up the pace.

"Come on," he said.

"I-I k-k-k-know…" Netto said through chattering teeth.

Laika looked back at Netto and finally realized what was wrong. Netto ears were freely blowing in the wind and he had learned awhile ago that cat's ears where what regulated a cat's temperature. It was certainly plausible, especially because humans also lost most of their body heat through their heads. Those two facts combined and the fact that it was just damn cold out made Laika realize that they needed to pick up the pace before Netto collapsed.

Laika reached over and grabbed Netto's hand, trying to pull him along as best he could. "Why the hell didn't you wear a hat?" he growled.

Netto glared at Laika. "B-be…" Netto shivered violently. "Be-c-cause I d-didn't th-th-think w-we'd b-b-be out h-here th-th-this l-l-late…"

Laika sighed; true he doubted either of them did. Much less figure in the fact that the Neko Virus was going to get loose while they were on a mission. "Just keep up with me," he said.

They walked the precious few blocks back to Laika's building. It wasn't a far walk by any means, and it wasn't particularly dangerous unless you were dumb enough to be outside after dark. However the dark was partially a blessing because no one spotted them going into the building. Laika pulled Netto over to the elevator and pressed the up button and waited patiently. Netto and Rockman were both still shaking violently but at least they weren't so cold that they stopped shaking.

The elevator opened up and they went inside. Laika hit the button with a "4" on it and the doors slid shut. Netto leaned against the wall and watched the numbers on the top of the doors change as they went up. The entire trip to Laika's dormitory was a silent one.

Finally the doors opened and they walked to the fourth room at the end of the hall. Laika pulled out his keys and opened the door. Netto went inside and Laika followed him, shutting the door behind them. Laika took off his jacket and Netto did likewise, whatever good it did him regardless.

"Well?" Laika asked.

"W-well wh-what?" Netto asked while giving Laika a dirty look.

Laika pulled off his gloves and walked over to Netto. Netto looked up at him and Laika felt his ears. Netto winced but didn't protest because Laika's hands were so warm. Laika could tell immediately that Netto was very cold because as soon as he touched Netto's ears he stopped shivering. Laika let them go after a few seconds and tossed Netto a blanket. "You need to be more careful with your ears," Laika said simply.

"And just what the hell does that mean?" Netto asked while looking at the blanket like it was some kind of foreign object.

Rockman and Searchman linked into the main computer to get a better view of what was going on.

"Netto-kun," Rockman said. "Cat's temperatures are regulated through their ears."

Netto blinked, "Really?"

Rockman nodded, "Really."

"So, that's why I was so cold?" Netto asked.

"Yes," Laika answered before Rockman could. "Now," he said while picking up a small hand held computer and sitting on the couch, "I'm going to find out what really happened."

Netto walked over and sat next to Laika, the blanket completely forgotten for the time being. "What's that?" he asked.

"A military issued radio/handheld. I can get all the latest information before the general public does on this," Laika explained.

"Cool," Netto said simply.

Laika hushed the younger boy and turned it on. "All units who have navis that aren't infected are to report to general Ansei, all units who are infected please stay in your dorms for further instruction." A voice came out of the small device. "I will repeat the first broadcast now; the Neko Virus escaped from Sci-Labs at 7:27 this evening. It has mutated since last time and the vaccine will no longer be enough to keep it at bay, however navi's who were vaccinated last time will only be infected by the first level of the virus. So your navi's are in no danger as of now, however we request that…" Laika switched off the radio.

"Well, at least we know what happened," Netto said in a hopeful voice.

Laika leaned into the couch with his hands in a steeple position over his mouth and nose. He breathed out slowly through his nose as if carefully choosing his next words. "Netto?" he asked.

"Yeah?"

"I think," Laika placed the hand held on the table. "That you should stay with me for the time being."

"Why?" Netto asked.

Laika glanced at him, he was angry or upset with the idea, just puzzled. "Well, until we learn more about this, or until the virus is captured you're going to have to stay on base. I doubt there are any air ports open with this thing on the loose. So, instead of reporting to the General I can just say you're staying with me to avoid any…" Laika paused, "awkward situations."

Netto shrugged, "Fine with me. Rockman?"

Rockman smiled, "I don't mind, Netto-kun."

Laika nodded, "Okay, now that we've got that out of the way, are you hungry?"

Netto looked at Laika, a little surprised.

"What?" Laika asked.

Netto shook his head, "Nothing. Yeah, I'm hungry," he said answering Laika's first question.

Laika smiled and nodded, "I have oven pizza," he said.

"Sounds good," Netto replied.

Laika went into his small kitchenette and put the pizza in the oven. Then he put the tea kettle on and started to warm some water. "Stressed, Laika-san?" Searchman asked from the kitchen monitor.

"Why do you ask?"

"You only make tea if you're stressed," Searchman pointed to the now simmering tea kettle.

Laika gave his navi a short laugh and opened a cupboard and pulled out a bag on chamomile tea. "I'm not stressed; I'm just a little surprised is all."

"Netto-san?" Searchman asked.

Laika nodded, "Who knew such a thing could happen. However… what's done is done and I guess all I can do is deal with it the best I can."

Searchman nodded and the tea kettle went off.

Netto's ears went back as the shrill whistle pierced his conversation with Rockman. "Ow…" he said.

Laika quickly pulled the tea kettle off of the stove. "Sorry," he called into the kitchen after guessing what Netto and Rockman's responses to the tea kettle were after seeing his own navi's response.

"It's fine!" Netto yelled back.

Laika looked at the water. "Want some tea?" he yelled.

"Sure," Netto called back.

Laika poured two cups of chamomile tea into two cracked china cups. He came back out into the main room and handed one to Netto who took it gratefully. "Smells good," he said.

Laika nodded, "I like tea," he said as an after thought to the nod.

Netto drank some and looked at Laika. "Um Laika?"

"Yeah?" Laika asked.

"Are you mad at me for not telling you about me and Rockman sooner?" Netto replied.

Laika looked at his tea and drank some, "A little," he admitted. Netto's ears dipped slightly and Rockman looked a little put out. "But what's done is done and at least we can do something about it."

Netto gave Laika a broad smile and to his amazement Laika smiled back.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

After they had eaten, they watched TV to see if there was any news on the Neko Virus. At about 10 pm Netto fell asleep on the couch while leaning against Laika's shoulder. Rockman fell asleep in his PET ten minutes later and 15 minutes after Netto was asleep Laika realized that he had fallen asleep.

"Searchman?" he asked while looking at Netto.

"Yes, Laika-san?"

Laika turned off the TV. "What do I do?" he asked.

"You should probably put them in bed, Laika-san," Searchman suggested.

"Won't he wake up?" Laika asked.

Searchman shrugged.

Laika sighed and cradled Netto's body. Netto stirred a little but quieted down when Laika picked him up. "He's a heavy sleeper," Laika noted.

Searchman nodded and picked up Rockman, transferring them into Netto's PET. Rockman was not quite the light sleeper his brother was and woke up to give Searchman a sleepy smile. The military navi nodded back then returned to the monitors throughout the dorm.

Laika carried Netto through the dorm and lay him down in the extra bedroom that would be used if Laika was ever given a room mate. He pulled the covers over Netto and walked out of the room taking care to shut the door.

"This will certainly be an interesting time, huh Searchman?" Laika asked his navi.

"Yes, Laika-san," Searchman agreed.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Awwww, Laika being slightly fluffly! And it was hard… Laika is like the least fluffly character EVER but hey, I try.