Hikari lay on the couch snoring lightly still trying to sleep even despite the disturbance of Ikuto's warmth having dissipated. groaning and peaking an eye open, his face half smoothed in the pillow, Hikari slowly began waking up. "what time is it?" he asked through a mostly muffled voice. Wiping his eyes a little and grunting not much unlike a cranky child he sat up, itching the bandage on his arm. the neko's hair was a fluffed mess and he was in terrible need of a bath and a change of cloths.

Ikuto looked up from the floor and eyes Hikari. "U-Uh. It's a bit after 11:45." The raven got up and walked over to the frazzled boy -- he needed to be cleaned up. Ikuto laughed and tried to straighten out the fuzz on his head. "You really need a bath," he smirked. I wonder if he even likes bath... he's a neko after all. Taking his hand, Ikuto lifted Hikari off the couch and towards the bathroom to take a nice shower. "Let's go. Shower time. We need to get you clean."

hikari gave a grunt of disaproval at being pulled off the couch but was careful not to hurt Ikuto remembering his wounds. however some of that cuation went with the wind at the sound of a 'shower' digging his heal's in the floor he gave red eyes a stubborn look, wich for all its furry was still fussy and cute. "I'm fine i dont need one." its not that he smelled bad but for the sake of good hygene it was advisable. looking to Ikuto's arm Hikari remembered to be carefull in his fussing not wanting to hurt his freind. Even thinking the word felt nice and chased away some of his morning grump.

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((edit- heading to work, be back in 4 hours))

Ikuto blinked and looked at Hikari, clearly amused by his adorable grumpiness. Gripping Hikari's hand firmly, he pulled the neko closer to him before swinging him over his shoulder with ease. For a scrawny kid, the raven was pretty strong. He held on to the small of Hikari's back and the space right behind his knees as he carried the neko into the bathroom. Hikari's head was facing behind Ikuto, while his legs dangled in the front. "I'm not taking no for an answer. You are in desperate need of a shower. Trust me, I'll agree to anything if it means that you'll take a shower," he chuckled.

giving a disgruntled groan he hung limp like a rag doll. he'd only been bathed as a kit and that was ages ago. now the thought brought an unsettling annoyance and dread. Putting up too much of a fight to get out of it would hurt red eyes, the last thing Hikari wanted. Once in the bathroom itself the typicaly happy and outgoing neko had a tandancy to sidle himself into a corner. his ears down, tail curled and eys a mere slit he gave the tub the same nastly glare he'd given the wall in the bakery as if they where bitter enemies.

Ikuto chuckled lightly and bent down to pet Hikari's head. "There's nothing wrong with showers. It feels good after a while -- trust me, I hated baths as a kid, so I know." Lightly, he flicked the neko's nose and gave him that unusual charming smile. But, then he sighed and gave Hikari a slightly pissed face. "I will take a shower with you and scrub you down myself if I have to, Hikari." Grabbing the boys arm, he pulled the neko up and started to strip him of his shirt.

Hikari loved every moment of Ikuto's smile, wishing somehow it would never end.....unfortunately when it did red eyes meant business. putting his ears back and struggling to stay in the corner his shirt was taken from him despite the neko's reluctance. Like a child scorned and throwing a fit the neko snatched for his shirt back. He didnt like the idea of being washed, especially not by red eyes, but either way he had no intentions of getting in. For as helpful and cute as the neko could be he was just as stubborn.

Grumbling in annoyance, Ikuto pulled the neko against his body and started to take off Hikari's pants. "You're taking a shower now. If you don't take one now, you'll smell absolutely atrocious and I'll have to jeep you outside," he threatened. His crimson eyes bore into Hikari's, his determination to the max. He quickly grabbed the elastic of his boxers and froze right there with a gleam in his eyes. "Don't make me take this off myself. Do it yourself and get in the shower and clean yourself, or else I will clean you." He sighed. The least I can do is make him like it...

((sorry i never got a notice for the thread))

Hikari covered himself using hs hands, partly hoding the boxers and turnig From Ikuto. With a long whiney 'myaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa' the neko drooped his ears and curled his tail up. His cheeks reddened his eyes lowered to the floor, their blue tint rather dark and glinting in the light. partly embarressed and partly upset it was clear from his body language he gave up. He'd never thought red eyes would be so determined about the matter leaving him entirly unprepaired for this.

Feeling absolutely horrible, Ikuto grimaced and scolded himself. How stupid do I get...? His gaze reverted to the emotionless one he used carry. Eyeing a sweatshirt hanging on the door, he grabbed it and put it over Hikari's shoulders, petting the neko's head apologetically. "I'm so sorry, Hikari. I shouldn't have been like this." The raven gave him a small smile laced with regret and sorrow in his eyes. "Please, don't forgive me for being such an insensitive moron." He walked out of the bathroom afterwards, trudging into the kitchen and leaning over the sink. A wave of nausea hit him as the voice came back.
You're horrible. What a guy you are. Pushy pushy. I'm surprised he's still here.
Why don't you do what you always do?
Ikuto gripped his head and tried to come to grips with himself. Instead of committing his usual act, the raven grabbed a book and isolated himself in his room.

((no problem ^^))

still staring at the floor the sandy haired neko frowned knowing he'd upset Ikuto. your supposed to make him happy idiot.... he thought with a sigh. standing alone in the bathroom he glanced over to the shower, hugging the sweater close to him. It took him a while to work out how to make a both bt eventualy he got it. looking for things to make him smell nice he came acrost bubble bath soap. putting some in the tub as the watter ran it tok Hikari a while to work up the courage to get in.

After a long while of silence from the bathroom a Clean and still damp neko snuck out of the bath room, water drops trialing off his tail. Rifeling through his things he found his only clean cloths and put them on.

Once that was done Hikari looked around for Ikuto, it was silent and calm all about the house, almost to a point it was chilling. Cracking red eye's door open the neko peaked in wondering if in doing so he may be scolded.

Ikuto was sitting cross-legged on the floor, reading his novel, when he heard the water in the bathroom turn on. He slammed his palm to his forehead and muttered, "Idiot... Made him feel guilty..." Quietly, he krept into a corner and kept reading, flipping through the text slowly. He tried to ignore that voice -- it had faded away before. Why couldn't it just go away?
You're the biggest idiot here. Why can't you act normal? Heh, 'cause you're not normal. You don't feel normal. Do what you always do to feel normal.
"Get out of my head..." he whimpered, clutching his head. Ikuto didn't even notice the door opening.

spotting Ikuto Hikari sniffed at the air, all e could smell was the bath soap he'd used. In the corners of the room form rose and feel like a slow moving black liquid, shadows once again churning. drooping his ears and silently crossing the gap between he and red eyes Hikari got down into the corner with him. Nuzzling his damp head against Ikuto to get his attention. He hadnt meant to get so upset over it he was just grouchy.

Jumping in shock to the sudden wet touch, Ikuto refocused his eyes on Hikari, who had starled him. He saw that the neko had taken a bath -- he even smelled like the bath soap. "Hikari..." he whimpered again, petting his head. "I'm so sorry. I was horrible. Truly horrible." The raven cringed again, that dark voice getting louder in his head. He needed to release the cooped up stress, but he already told himself that he would never set the blade to his skin ever again. For Hikari. And only Hikari.

Laying down and resting his head on Ikuto's leg he began to purr. As a neko such a thing went beyond words, its meaning far too deep to be categorized through the human vocabulary. Hikari forgave and cherished Ikuto, nothing would ever change that. He wasnt mad, not then and not now, but in his upset he'd perhaps over reacted. His soft ears where still slightly damp, his hair hopelesly tangled and his cloths clearly clarly came from a dumpster and where washed.

Even clean Hikari was hopelesly messy.

Looking down at the purring neko, Ikuto's eyes shook -- full of so many emotions. He couldn't even explain it at that point. Instead, he merely laid a hand on Hikari's head and bent down until his forehead was resting against the other's head. He wept silently, one hand petting the neko's damp hair. "You're always here." he choked, shaking slightly. "Thank you, Hikari. My God, thank you." He nuzzled Hikari gently and smiled slightly, feeling more light ever second that the neko just laid there.

((off to bed))

his tail patted the floor softly and his purring deepened. He intended to be there, always and forever, owing Ikuto his life. It wasnt simply a life debt anymore, red eyes was becomeing a close freind, teaching him how to live in the world and helping him along. Nuzzling up closer to the dark haired boy, his body warmth radiated like the sun on a nice summer's day, his hair slowly drying and becoming like soft fluff. As he lay he closed his eyes and was perfectly still, waiting for red eyes to calm down once agian.

((kay -- me too))

Ikuto exhaled slowly, and then leaned back against the wall, his hand still on Hikari's head. It felt so completely right -- he didn't want to ever let go of Hikari. Ikuto smiled happily as he slumped against the wall, enjoying the warmth the neko emitted. In a minute or so after calming down, the raven fell asleep, his mind exhausted from the "voice".

Hikari continued to lay there silently until Ikuto's breathing slowed and deepened. then carefully carefully moving to sit up he smiled. red eyes had managed not to hurt himself and that was enough for him. moving his arms under the sleeping dark haired boy he gently picked him ups and placed him on the bed. considering his choices a moment the neko decided to curl up at Ikuto's side and fell asleep as well.

Several hours later, Ikuto stirred slightly, waking up from his slumber. The familiar warmth was resting at his side. Fluttering his eyes open, the raven looker over and saw the neko snuggled against him. He chuckled lightly, ruffling Hikari's hair. Ikuto got up and heard his stomach growl, deciding that it was probably time to make something good -- Hikari would wake up for sure at the smell of food. Walking to the kitchen, the raven threw on a kitchen apron and grabbed some stuff out of the fridge, planning to make a great plate of chicken Alfredo. For the next forty or so minutes, Ikuto prepared and sautéed and cooked the dish, placing everything on the table in the end. He sighed happily, realizing that his lips never relaxed the smile that he had since he woke up not so long ago. What has that Hikari done to me? he laughed to himself.

soon after the neko stretched and opened his eyes, a lovely scent filling the air. LOoking over he smiled seeing Ikut was awake and gone. this could only mean one thing, food. he loved red eyes cooking and he was hungry enough after such a complicated morning. Wandering out of the bed room and into the kitchen, his soft hair all in ratted tangles, the neko walked into to greet his freind smiling.

Hearing footsteps, Ikuto turned around with a surprised expression, but it changed into a gleeful grin as he saw Hikari standing there. "Nice to see you awake," he teased, wiping his hands with a rag. "I bet you're just as hungry as me, hm?" The raven motioned to the food on the table, taking his seat at the table. He seemed... Lighter. As if not covered by shadows of grief. Sure, he would have his moments, but at least it was this good now.

smiling and taking a seat at the table he eyes the fod rather unsure of it. he's never had anything that looked close but it smelled pleasent enough. happy that red eyes seemed much better the neko looked to his freind unable to stop smiling "you cooking never fails to please me" he said complimenting the odd looking dish

Ikuto laughed, shaking his head. "I'm not amazing -- but it's decent. It's just pasta and baked chicken covered in Italian alfredo sauce... I hope you like it." The raven wagged his fork at Hikari and motioned for him to sit down. Hopefully, the neko would like this -- he was looking at it in an odd fashion, so Ikuto didn't know how he'd take it.

sitting down and picking up his fork he stared it down a moment, despite its aroma it looked questionable. decining it best to at least try it he took a bight and quietly munched. Just eating a little peice of it reminded the neko how hungry he realy was. the creamy texture, mellow flavor of the suace and juicy chicken where shockingly delightful. smiling, a noodle still hanging out of his mouth, Hikari looked to Ikuto in a aproval and thanks