When the coast was clear, they left the bathroom and headed back to the shop. Once they were safe in the shop, Angel examined Kurai closely. He sat at one of the tables in the staff lounge, eating candy with Murci. Angel stood next to Nikki, by the doorway. "I've heard of this, but I've never seen this in real life." Angel spoke up and Nikki looked him in curiosity. "What do you mean?"

"Well, as far as I know, there's a process that is being studied with the use of humans and animals. They call it Converusion(I made it up.). They take parts of animals and fuse them with dead, dying, or severely injured humans, so they can continue their life span. It's a very difficult procedure and not many can do it. It hasn't been fully approved to be done on the living, due to the risk of both subjects."

Nikki was taken aback by the explanation. 'Dead? Dying? Severely injured?' What happened to his poor nephew that he had to get such a life risking procedure done? "So you're saying Kurai died to get those ears?" Nikki asked. "That's the only way it would've been approved, unless he volunteered. Which I doubt, since he hates sharp objects. The success rate was higher the body was already dying or dead. Since humans have a high immune system the strange new cells wouldn't have lasted long in a living body. Although they change physically, mentally, everything remains intact."

"If that's the case, why doesn't he talk? Why can't he remember what happened to him?" Nikki asked. Angel tapped his chin in thought. "I'm not sure why. We'd have to ask whoever did this to them. They should have all the information you'll need." Angel answered. Nikki moved closer to Angel. "Who?" He asked hurriedly. "There's only three people approved for it. Kisuke Urahara, Szayelaporro Granz, and I'm not sure about the last one." Angel answered. "Can this be reversed?" Nikki asked. "Technically, no. Those cells are what's keeping them alive. You remove those and they might die." Angel answers and Nikki's shoulders drop in disappointment. "What's wrong?" Angel asked with worry.

Nikki looks at Kurai, who was sucking on a lollipop. He didn't notice Murci shift uncomfortably. "He can't stay in the house the rest of his life. No doubt he's been scarred from this experience. If those pictures and videos end up on the internet, he'll never leave the house again. I don't want that for him." Nikki watched them in sadness. Angel inwardly sighed. "Nikki." Angel touched the older man's shoulder. Nikki looked back at Angel. "Is it alright if my brother and I come over for the night?" Angel asked.

"Of course." Nikki answered and Angel nods. "When we get there, I need you to go somewhere with me."

Nikki eyed him skeptically. "Okay. Should I have Ichigo come over as well?"

"Ichigo? Kurai's friend?" Angel questioned. "He was affected, as well."

Angel thought for a moment. "I assume that someone takes care of him, correct? If so, he'll need to come with us." Angel spoke. "Alright." Nikki looked at Kurai once more. Sadness and hope overcame him once more. "Don't worry, Nikki. We'll find a way to help him." Angel reassured Nikki, but it didn't make him feel better, since there was a chance Kurai wouldn't be alright. Nikki dropped his head and sighed.

xXx

Rayne sat in the living room drinking the last beer in the house, while watching tv. "Open the door, Ich!" He could head his roommate banging on the room door, yelling at the orange neko behind the door. "Why the hell don't you believe what the hell he did?! Just cuz he's blood don't mean he aint capable of some fucked up shit." Grimmjow yelled through the door. "I didn't mean to piss ya off, but why the hell would I lie. You don't believe me? Ask him yourself. Just open the door."

After a long pause, the knocking started again. "Dammit." He heard the bluenette mumble. Rayne threw his head back and sighed. "Yo! Rayne."

Rayne turned his head to the sound of his name being called. There was Grimmjow standing there, shirtless and holding onto Ichigo's arm. "Ich and I won't be here for tonight. Something important came up." He tugged Ichigo towards the sofa
Rayne looked from Grimmjow to Ichigo. "He doesn't look to happy about it." Rayne pointed out as Ichigo glared at the floor with his ears flattened. "He's never happy about leaving." Grimmjow admitted. "Do whatever you want, but don't break anything and clean up after yourself."

Rayne rolled his eyes. "Fine. Pantera's staying here?" As soon as Rayne asked, Pantera ran past them and waited at the door. "She wants to see Nikki. You don't have a problem being by yourself, do you?" He teased the younger man, who scowled. He looked from Grimmjow to Ichigo. "Hey, Ich." The neko's left her stood at attention, but he didn't look up. "Feel better, okay?" Rayne reached up and scratched behind Ichigo's ears. Ichigo's eye twitched and wrapped his tail around Rayne's wrist. He then pulled away from the hand. Rayne chuckled as he watched Ichigo's cheek slowly turn pink.

Grimmjow eyed the two with slight irritation, even though his face was completely blank. "See ya tomorrow night, Rayne." Grimmjow tugged Ichigo away from Rayne. "See ya." Rayne waved and Ichigo only looked back as he was pulled out of the apartment. Rayne chuckled and shook his head. "You're so easy to read, Grim." He spoke to himself and downed what was left of the beer. A small sound reached his ear. He muted the tv and listened. It sounded like scratching, but from where? He stood from the sofa and listened. The scratching sound continued and it was coming from the fire escape. As he moved closer, he heard small mewls coming from outside.

Since it was dark, he couldn't make out what it was, so he turned on the flashlight form his phone. Outside the window, on the fire escape was a small silver fur ball curled up, with a small paw on the window. It's claws scratched on the glass. 'A kitten?' He watched its bushy tail sway back and forth. 'No. not a kitten.'

He opened the window and reached for the fur ball. He carefully picked up the fur ball and brought it inside. The fur ball uncurled itself and looked up at Rayne with closed smiling eyes. It's pointed nose sniffed the air. 'A fox?' Rayne smiled and cradled the fox in his arms. "You're kind of cute. First time seeing a fox." Rayne complimented the fox and lightly poked it's nose. The fox moved his face away and it's mouth latched onto his finger. He winced slightly as its teeth poked through the skin. The fox unlatched his teeth and licked the now bleeding finger.

"You're lucky I like you." The fox's tail tickled Rayne's nose and he laughed. "What were you doing out there anyway?" The fox turns on it's stomach and climbs up to his shoulder. It rubbed its cheek against Rayne's. "I bet you're hungry. Let's find you some food." Rayne heads to the kitchen with the fox on his shoulder. "I should give you a name too. I suck at names." He thought for a minute as he searched the fridge for edible food. "How about Silv? Short for silver." Rayne looked at the fox who tilted it's head. "I guess Silv for now. Maybe Grim could help." He mumbled to himself as he pulled out some cold cuts. Silv hopped off Rayne's shoulder and ran over to the dining room table. Silv used the pulled out chair to hop on top of the table. He waited for Rayne to come over with the cold cuts. "Must've been hungry, here you go." As soon as Rayne placed the plate down, Silv dug in. Rayne sat back on the sofa to watch tv. As soon as he sat down, he dozed off.