Nikki returns from the bar. It was quieter than it was two hours ago, it made him wonder what was going on. "Kurai? Murci? Nel?" He called out, but there was no answer. He walked into the living room. The tv was on and there were dishes on the living room table. Nel, Kurai, nor Murci was in the living room. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose while shaking his head. He started walking fout of the living room, when something tickled his nose. He backed away and squeezed the tail. He heard a whine and looked up. There was Kurai sitting on the shelf that he never bothered to take down. "What ae you?"
"Found you." Nikki turns as Murci pops up next to him. Kurai frowns at his uncle, who only shrugged. "I didn't know." He mouthed to his nephew, who stuck his tongue out at him. "Don't do that, Kurai." In response, Kurai flicked Nikki's nose with his tail and Nikki tugged on the tail, emitting a screech. Kuria fell off the shelf, but Murci caught him. "Hey, you should be more careful. Just because cats land on their feet, doesn't mean you will." Kurai hugged Murci in gratitude. "Sorry about that, Rai." Nikki apologized with mild disinterest. Kurai pouted and pinched Nikki's nose, but he moved back in time.
"You have claws now. Can't do it." Kurai frowned and his ears flattened against his head. "doesn't meant you can't do anything, just be careful." Only one ear stood up. "I didn't know you had a nephew, Nikki. "He's adorable." Murci complimented while rubbing his cheek against Kurai's. Nikki only chuckled. "Seems you've grown attached to Kurai in such a short time." Kurai climbed out of Murci's lap and gathered the dishes. "You think so?" Murci watched Kurai hurry into the kitchen. "Well, he likes you, otherwise, he would've ran off." Murci scratched the back of his head. "I don't know. I've always been good with people."
"Unlike your brother." Nikki spoke begrudgingly. "Did he do something wrong?"
"Not in his eyes." Nikki answered. "Nel knows." Murci changed the subject and Nikki dropped his head. "Where did you go anyway?
"Your debt is paid off. You're free." Murci was speechless for the moment. No one had ever done anything like this for him. Not his brother, not his parents, and certainly not strangers. This man, Nikki, that he only met a few months ago, bought him dinner and clothes, he gave him a temporary home. Of course, everything came back to haunt him. Now he's giving him a place to stay and he freed him of the big debt that he couldn't pay for on his own. "Hello?"
Nikki waved a hand in front of the shorter man's face. Tears welled up and he hugged the man tightly. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. I don't know how to repay you." He kept on hugging and wouldn't let go. " I don't like debts. It's almost like being a slave to whatever you owe. No matter what you do, it just builds up until it overwhelms you. I can't let you just live here. You'll need a job." Murci nods in agreement. And then paused. "It's not…" He trailed off and looked at the floor. "What? No! My business is legitimate and not strenuous in any way, shape, or form." Nikki reassured the raven. "You can work at one of my stores. You'll be working under Angel to be exact." Murci sighed in relief.
"Thank you, but…what if it isn't enough. What if he gets angry now that I'm gone?" Sadness and fear overwhelmed him. Nikki heard someone clear their throat. It was Nel waiting for him by the stairs. "I will do my best to help you. We'll go out tomorrow for clothes. Get some rest. You can stay in the room next to Kurai's." Kurai poked his head out the door at the mention of his name. "Off to bed." Kurai went to grab Murci's hand and pulled him up the stairs.
Before Nikki could speak, Nel smacked him upside his head. "Are you insane?!" Nel yelled. "No. I wouldn't be here with you otherwise." He answered while rubbing the back of his head. "Don't get smart." He looked into her eyes and they were mixed with anger, worry, and hurt. "He shouldn't be here. It's too dangerous. You paying off the debt won't be enough. He's been pushed too far in to be bought."
"So, the kid got in trouble. It can't be that bad." She smacked his arm. "They're going to come for him and they might come for you just for being involved."
"Then I'll just hire your services." She glared. "This isn't funny, Nicholas." He narrowed his eyes at her. He knew the situation was serious, but he didn't like his full name being called. "He came here for help. No one would help him, so I did. What if this was Grimmjow? Or even Ichigo?" She stiffened at the question. "Do you think Shiro would stand idly by and watch his brother struggle? No, he took care of his brother up until he went missing. Even then, Shiro looked for Ichigo. What about Grimmjow?" Nel turned to leave and Nikki blocked her path. "Would you have let your brother hanging years ago? Would you have let him die?" Nel still couldn't look him in the eye.
"Kurai is the only family I have left. If he was gone…I can't even fathom the pain I'd be in." Nikki took a deep breath. "He is Ulquiorra's problem. Not ours." Nel spoke with a shaky voice and Nikki shook his head no. "I don't know what happened between the two, but he begged for his help and he turned his back. I couldn't just turn away from that. You still have your brother, I don't."
"So, what are you trying to do? Replace your dead brother with the kid."
"No. I'm helping him get better. Helping him heal, get him off his feet."
"It's not gong to help. He'll just go right back."
"At least I'm trying. It shows that someone in this world cares." Nel shook her head no. "This is suicide." He looked at her in disbelief. Where was the Nel he knew? She'd jump at the chance to help others and she's turning her back before giving him a chance. "Guess I'll die trying." Nikki did an about face and left. "Nikki!" She called and he waved goodbye. "Sleeping in the guest room. Goodnight." She watched him head upstairs. Instead of going after him, she plopped down on the sofa and changed the channel.