Cats Have 9 Lives Chapter 3

Author's Note: I got a review! Yay! As an answer to that one reviewer, let me just explain that Neko's number of lives will probably go into the negatives by the time I complete this fic, so, yeah. Onto the reading!

CHAPTER 3, START!

Neko was right about to bring food—soup that looked like the illegitimate love child of mucus and the ninth Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie— to the newcomer, Lady Orihime. In truth, she was sort of excited—she was going to finally meet the girl everyone was talking about! She hoped that the famous woman would be nice, at least. Oh, maybe she'd even thank her for putting together her furniture!

Then again, maybe she was as mean as those Numbered Arrancars that follow Lord Aizen around have said. Well, she could always spit in Lady Orihime's food, right?

Finally, Neko was at the door. Gulping, she risked a knock. To her surprise, it was Master Ulquiorra Cifer who opened the door.

Wow, Lady Orihime really was as pampered as Loly and Menoly said.

"Come in." Ulquiorra spoke, glaring daggers (as usual, Neko thought) at the 99th Arrancar.

"Yes sir," she muttered back, before finally seeing the person she wanted to meet. She finally looked at her, and—

Orange! Neko thought, smiling at the color of her hair. Reminded her of that intruder that Master Grimmjow was on love with.*

"Hello… Lady Orihime?" Neko asked, earning another glare from Ulquiorra. Yeah, she wasn't supposed to talk to the new recruits, she knew, but this person actually seemed nice (And she had to see whether or not she would enjoy spitting in her soup.)!

"Hello, little miss," The orange-haired human answered, "what's your name?"

She asked my name! She's nice! "N-Neko," she replied with a shrug, setting down her tray of food (mucus). "I put your furniture together… well, twice. Sorry it collapsed the first time."

"Oh, it's alright, it didn't—"

"I told them they shouldn't have gone to the Goodwill, that they should have gone to IKEA! But they didn't listen to me," Neko defended, earning another scathing glare from Ulquiorra and a confused look from Orihime.

"Oh… well, it's fine. How about you sit down for a while and we can talk?" the human asked, with a glance to Ulquiorra to check if Neko's visiting was okay.

A nod came from the statue of an Arrancar. Hey, that would be a nice nickname… Statue…

"I didn't get to thank you for building these couches for me," Orihime smiled.

"Oh, well, it's my job, so…" Neko responded, snapping from her thoughts. "I'm surprised you're so comfortable. Sitting on Hollow furniture usually gives me the willies." Like right now, she thought, trying to rub away the goose bumps on her arm.

"Hollow furniture?**" Orihime echoed.

"Yeah, you know; if you turn this couch over on its side, you'll find that it has a hole in the bottom. Proof that it had a soul. How else do you think that couches and inanimate objects get to Hueco Mundo?"

Silence.

Orihime's eyes were wide with confusion, making her look somewhat like a lost dog.

"So it's like sitting on the dead," Neko spoke into the awkwardness. I think I just made it worse.

"Well, I'd ought to be going. I have to deliver supplies for Master Granz's experiments, so, bye!"

Orihime stood up to bid Neko goodbye as the 99th Arrancar was led out the door by the fourth.

Neko noticed that she didn't sit back down.

Good choice, she commended inwardly.

As the door closed, Ulquiorra stood in silence, his eyes still cold and livid.

"So, how's the weather?" Neko asked.

…He started walking away.

"You know, you could've at least joined in the conversation. You two seem to be close," Neko commented, walking in stride with the fourth Espada.

She earned herself another glare as Ulquiorra quickened his pace and sped away.

Now that was just rude.

"You know," she yelled at the quickly disappearing Espada, "I finally figured out your super power." The pale man stopped and turned toward her, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Your emo powers enable you to make the color white depressing!"

…

Splatter.

Number of Lives Left: 6

*Neko still thinks that, even after getting a Cero in the face.

** My own personal twist.