Neko

Bathtime

Phil's POV

I carried the light weighted Neko outside to the business car, and opened the back doors. In two large crates, the duo from earlier were both sat cross legged, on opposite sides facing each other. The brown Neko desperately clawed to my shirt, latching on to me like a Koala. "Hey, bitch. I' not glad you could join us. Why so scared?" The male asked rudely. "He's just a little pussy." The female joined, both now laughing. The Neko in my arms began to silently cry, digging his face in my chest as if trying to escape their words.

"Hey," I raised my voice, and they both jumped back slightly. "I could have you euthanized whenever I please. I could even do it now if I wanted." I shrugged. Their faces turned white, then they gave me a look of disbelief. "Fine, I see how it is." I slammed the door shut, and walked to the front of the van, still carrying the brown haired Neko.

"Hey, we've gotta go." PJ said in a hurried tone, but his words just went in one ear and out the other to me. "This Neko, he's getting physically and mentally abused by the other two Nekos. Can he sit up with us, or can I sit in the back so he won't be hurt?" I begged. "I dunno..." PJ trailed off, looking at the slightly trembling Neko in my arms, still crying into my chest. "Fine, you can sit in back. Don't get in those cages, though." he decided, and I have a quick smile before carrying the Neko to the back of the van again.

I opened the doors once more, and let the Neko climb into the cage beside the female. In what little space was left, I crawled in, gave Peej the signal to drive, and closed the door.

"So, what are your names?" I asked as politely as I could whilst I fixed my hair. "I'm Leah." The female said disrespectfully, rolling her eyes, but I just simply brushed it off. "I'm Rick, and that there's William." The male pointed to himself, then the small Neko in front of me. "You know I don't like that name." He said quietly, and turned away to look at the door. "What did you say to me?! Who do you think you are?!" Rick burst, shaking his cage, to which Leah did nothing about; didn't even blink. The smaller Neko flinched away, and began to shake. "Hey!" I yelled loudly at him, and grabbed his cage, holding it still. He sat down calmly again, and Leah rolled her eyes once again.

"William? Is that your name?" I asked the slightly tearing up Neko. "No. Nekos are supposed to be named whatever they chose, right? I don't like the name 'William'." "Well, what name do you like?" I asked softy, and he stayed silent for a few seconds. "Daniel, or Dan for short." he finally decided. "Dan it is!" I cheered, and the van soon came to a stop.

PJ went and told Chris to get baths ready as I pulled Rick and Leah out. Peej lead them inside to be cleaned and vaccinated, and I slowly carried Dan inside.

We got into the bathroom, which had a silver counter, a brown counter filled with drawers and cabinets, a wardrobe, for the Nekos to chose clothes from once they were bathed, a sink, and a bathtub with soaps all around it.

"Ok, I need to ask you to get on the counter quickly." I smiled, and he hesitantly obliged.

I opened the cabinet and pulled out a syringe. I opened another cabinet when I suddenly heard Dan whimper. I didn't even have to ask what was wrong, considering nearly every Neko is afraid of needles.

"I know, I know. It's only a small one, though, and it'll be quick." I reassured, and he only calmed down a bit. I filled the tiny tube with the medicine, and walked over to Dan.

"Just don't look, it'll make it hurt less." I smiled, and gently rubbed his back. He nodded, and squinted his eyes saying, "Do a fast count down from three." "Ok." I reassured calmly. I counted off in a matter of only a second, "One, two, three." and pressed it into his arm. I saw a small tear fall down his cheek.

I pulled it back out and looked at him. He hissed, and his eyes went thin and dark. "Shh," I rubbed his back. "It's over. It won't happen again." He whimpered at the sight of the needle and his eyes dilated back to normal. "Ok." he said quietly.

I turned the bathtub water on while Dan undressed. Once the water was warm, I turned around to see Dan holding all of his dirty clothes. He was shaking once he noticed I was looking at him, and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"What's wrong? You know that it's normal to be naked in front of a human, right?" "Yeah, it's just... the last time I was fully naked, I-I was... Rick did... bad things to me. It really hurt, an Leah just laughed in the corner..." I frowned, but tried to not think about it. If I was sad and sacred, he would be too, and I don't want him to be.

"Well, let's get you in the tub, yeah?" "Yeah." he gave a fake, small smile, and put on foot in the water. He flinched away quickly, and I chuckled. "I don't like water." he said, and I smiled. "I know. There isn't a single Neko I've me that likes water."

Eventually, he got in, and became used to the water. I got on my knees in front of the tub, and poured a large amount of soap into my hand. I rubbed them together and then brushed them through his hair. He purred loudly, and pushed his head up against my hands. I laughed, and continued scrubbing his hair.

Then I tried to wash his body after rinsing his hair. He claimed he wants to try, but ended up dropping the soap, turning the normal bath into a bubble bath. We laughed it off, and worked together to get him clean.

Soon after, he laid down in the bubbles, and fully rested on his back. His head just barely stuck out of the water, and he held up his hands in a paw form. He purred as I cleaned his stomach, but squealed when I tickled him. "No! Stop!" He laughed, and I did.

We drained the bath, and I let Dan pick out an outfit from the wardrobe. He chose some black pants with a black t-shirt with a white circle.

"Beautiful." I complimented, and he blushed wildly. We left the room, and started walking.