"How are they doing, Sebastian?"

The demon hesitated for a moment before blowing out the candle on Ciel's night stand. "Amethyst continues to remain in her feline form. Neither of them have moved from the bed, spoken, or eaten."

Ciel watched as Sebastian moved toward the door. "It's been three days, you know. If you don't do something to snap them out of it soon, we'll lose them both."

Sebastian glanced of his shoulder at the boy. "It's strange, grief has never affected my existence even though I have ended countless lives. Now that it is, I am unsure how to keep it from killing them."

"They have to save themselves. What they need is for someone to be strong for them. You do that naturally, Sebastian. You keep things going smoothly. I always thought it to be a strange talent for a demon to possess, but you do. You kept me going when I might've otherwise given up. Our schedule is clear for a few days, spend your time with them. They need you more than I do."

My lord, I don't…"

Sebastian, don't make me order you on this."

The demon blinked twice before lowering his gaze. "Yes, my lord."

Sebastian made his way though the darkened town house back to his room.

Both Nekos were exactly where he had left them. Hikaru in human form, wearing only slacks. Amethyst in feline form, curled up against Hikaru's chest.

Sebastian stripped down to his slacks, grabbing the book he'd gotten on Neko bonding. He'd read through it twice already, but maybe there was something he'd missed. Something that would help him understand their grief and how to get them back to normal.

When he settled on the bed, Hikaru lifted his head for the first time in days. The red-head stared blankly at the demon for a moment.

The corners of his lips quirked up, glad to see one of them reacting to his presence. "You've been in here for a while, would you like something to eat?"

Hikaru blinked once before glancing down at the black and purple cat that was curled up against him. He looked confused for a moment before he frowned. "Amethyst…"

Purple eyes lazily opened to meet green as Hikaru sat up and looked at her a little more closely.

"I can see your ribs. Our bodies need more nourishment in that form, you should eat," Hikaru muttered as he ran his fingers over her ribs.

"No."

His eyes met Hikaru's briefly before moving back to his mate. After reading the book, he'd learned a lot about what feline bonding was, and he'd come to terms with the fact that his mate had bonded to another Neko. With Kaoru gone, the two of them were experiencing a level of grief that a demon was simply incapable of comprehending, and he refused to put her through it again by removing Hikaru.

Hikaru huffed and stood from the bed, his legs nearly giving out.

Sebastian was by his side instantly, holding the smaller male's waist to steady him. Both males stood staring at each other for a long moment until Hikaru turned away with a light flush to his face.

"Thanks…"

Well that's interesting…

Hikaru cleared his throat before locking eyes with Amethyst. "Kaoru wouldn't want us starving ourselves. I'm going with Sebastian to get food. While we're gone, I expect you to take your humanoid form and get dressed. When we get back, you and I are going to eat."

"I'm not…"

"I will not lose you too, Amethyst! I need you. Sebastian would lose it if you died. So it's time to get our shit together. You will turn before we get back, or so help me I will make you," Hikaru said sternly.

"Okay."

With her confirmation, Hikaru turned and walked out. "Come on, Sebastian, I don't know how to cook."

Sebastian glanced at his mate one last time before using demon speed to catch up to the red-headed Neko. "Thank you."

Hikaru looked at the demon out of the corner of his eye as his cheeks flushed with color. "I didn't do it for you or anything. I need her as much as you do now, you know."

When they got to the kitchen, Hikaru leaned against the counter, watching Sebastian cook.

"Amy requests?" When the boy didn't answer him, Sebastian turn his attention to him.

Hikaru was staring at his feet, completely oblivious to the demon.

In a few short strides, Sebastian crossed the kitchen, taking the Neko's chin between his thumb and forefinger to look him in the eye.

Hikaru's entire face turned red. "Wh-what…"

The dark haired male smirked as the unexpected scent of arousal hit him. "I asked if you had any requests, Hi-ka-ru." With each syllable, Sebastian moved in until only an inch or two remained between them.

Hikaru glanced from Sebastian's eyes to his lips before closing the gap between them. He could feel the demon's smirk against his lips as he pressed closer, seeking the skin-to-skin contact that he had been missing. The Neko's hand slid down the demons chest, intent on stroking the erection he could feel pressing into him.

Sebastian broke the kiss and stepped back, catching the smaller male's hand and pressing a kiss to his palm. "I don't think this is the proper time for that. You and Amethyst both need to eat."

Hikaru nodded, watching as Sebastian went back to cooking. "How did you know?"

Sebastian smirked as he set up trays for both Nekos. "At first, I wasn't sure if it was part of your natural scent or if you were actually aroused. Scent isn't the most telling of things sometimes. However, demon hearing is quite keen and the two of you didn't make much effort to be quiet."

Hikaru blushed brightly and took the tray offered to him before scrambling to follow the demon. "So… you're Bi too?"

"Demons don't recognize gender when choosing sexual partners. Once you bonded with Amethyst, I had the choice to accept you or kill you and now that I've seen what happens when a bond between Nekos is broken I won't even consider the second option."

Hikaru nodded. "Fair enough. Let's just focus on getting Amethyst through this. We can worry about relationship dynamics when she's healthy."

Amethyst was sitting on the bed in a night slip when they returned, staring blankly ahead.

"I made your favorite, Amethyst."

Purple eyes met red for the first time in days, and relief flooded the demon when she offered him a half-hearted smile.

"I really don't feel up to food," she said, voice hoarse from disuse.

"Too bad. I don't feel like it either, but we can't just lay down and die. We're all Sebastian has, so eat up," Hikaru said firmly.

Sebastian placed the tray on her lap as Hikaru settled on the end of the bed to nibble at his own food. Then he sat beside Amethyst to make sure both of them ate.

Amethyst managed half her plate before she pushed it away. When Hikaru finished his, Sebastian took both trays back to the kitchen, leaving the two Nekos alone.

Hikaru shifted on the bed to sit on Amethyst's left side, and took her had to run his thumb soothingly over her knuckles. "You okay?"

"Yeah… I mean I guess… I just… It feels like a huge raw gaping wound in my chest. I've never felt anything like it."

Hikaru tugged her into his side as she started crying. "Losing a Neko you've bonded with is like losing a piece of your soul. When our mom died, Kaoru and I barely survived it. Kaoru would always remind me that mom wouldn't want us to give up. He wouldn't want us to give up either."

Sebastian walked in to find his mate crying into Hikaru's shoulder.

Hikaru smiled when he noticed the demon watching them. "Not to mention, you and I have something that Kaoru and I didn't."

Sebastian silently moved to his side of the bed, catching Amethyst's attention.

"We have Sebastian."

The males exchanged half-smiles before Sebastian was caught off-guard as his mate flung herself into his arms. He held her while she cried, shifting so that he laid on his right and she laid on her left with her face pressed to the demon's chest.

Hikaru was about to lay with his back to them, but Sebastian's left hand shot out to grab his right, intertwining their fingers and pulling him closer until he was spooning with Amethyst, laying their intertwined fingers on her waist.

Amethyst looked from their hands for her mate's eyes curiously.

"After facing the reality of what Nekos are like when a bond is broken, I've decided that I'd rather accept a second male than hurt you by breaking it."

Amethyst swallowed thickly before pecking her mate on the lips. "Thank you, Sebastian."

The demon smirked as he locked eyes with Hikaru. "It could be worse, you could have bonded to Grell. At least Hikaru is fuckable."

"Hey," the male Neko muttered as color rushed to his face.

"Consider it a compliment, I don't consider many beings worthy of it."

Amethyst giggled, catching both male's attention. "I'm so glad you two are getting along."