The Jungle

The Jungle

Mally-chan and Hato Chiisai

Disclaimer: We own nothing within this fic.

YAOI WARNING

Pegasus/Ryou, Marik/Ryou, Bakura/Malik, Seto/Yami

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Chapter 10

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Malik grumbled as he was dragged down the street by Marik and Bakura, on leashes clipped to harnesses that Ishizu had made him buy for them, saying that they would be easier to control and less likely to slip off. This time Marik wasn't in a loincloth, but a pair of ripped up jean shorts with his tail poking out of a hole. Bakura was in a pair of black shorts, and both were eagerly pulling Malik in the direction of the park, babbling excitedly about how long it had been since they had a good romp outdoors (Bakura not counting his daring escape).

Malik groaned. "Guys! Slow down!” he said loudly. "You go any faster and you'll be dragging me through the dirt!” he yelped as he stumbled, and nearly fulfilled that idea a bit earlier than he'd like. "Slow down!"

They obeyed, but only slightly. Once they got to the park, however, they lunged forwards, jerking their leashes from Malik who ended up doing a face plant into the grass. Malik cursed and grumbled as he got up, brushing himself off. Marik and Bakura were running around a field, engaged in what seemed to be a game of tackle-tag.

Malik sighed and dusted himself off, sitting on a nearby bench and watching the skunk and lion play around. It really was a sight to see. Marik had perked up quite a bit since Bakura had stumbled into their lives. It made Malik feel better to be giving them their own choices about living their lives. He frowned. "If only they could make their decisions in a way that didn't end up injuring me in some way or another..."

Bakura chased Marik in circles around a tree, trying to catch him. After a few rounds, Marik leapt up into the tree and lounged on a branch, grinning and watching Bakura continue to run around the tree.

Malik snickered a bit, watching this. "Hey he's in the tree!” he shouted, giving Marik's little ploy away, watching as Bakura suddenly climbed the tree and tackled Marik out of it, them both landing in the grass laughing, before resuming their games. "Honestly... one of those two is going to break the other one's bones..."

After watching them for a while, Malik got up and headed for a nearby drinking fountain. Marik had leapt up into the tree, Bakura following, and was climbing higher and higher to stay out of the skunk's reach. Malik headed back to his bench, but suddenly was grabbed and swung around until he was slammed into a tree.

"Payback time, pretty boy..." The owner of the hand snarled, and Malik's eyes widened; he recognized the guy as someone he had beaten up in one of his infamous night club fights... and now the guy was back, and oh, how nice... he had a few friends with him. The man pulled his fist back and slammed it into Malik's nose. Malik gave a pained yelp and fell to the ground.

Hearing the yelp, Marik and Bakura paused in their chase and peered through the branches, looking for Malik. And when they saw him Marik was out of that tree faster than Bakura thought was possible. Marik roared and charged at the boys beating Malik up, Bakura on his heels.

Malik watched in awe, rubbing his nose as Marik was on the man that had punched him in an instant. He was now sitting on top of him, and looking ferrally pissed. Malik rubbed his nose more. "Shit that hurt...” he mumbled checking to see if he was bleeding, for a moment, as his two friends seemed to have stopped time for the moment. "You know, the polite thing to do would have been to introduce your friends before hitting me, so I will be polite instead… That, is my friend Marik.” he said, calmly introducing the men to Marik. "Lion hybrid, and that...” he said pointing to Bakura, who seemed to be sitting on the other two men, ass in one man's face, tail raised as though he were about to spray, and his jaws in the other man's face... effectively stopping both of them dead. "Is my friend Bakura. A Skunk hybrid." Malik grinned a bit. "So Marik, Bakura... I have a feeling they came looking for a fight... want to oblige them?” he asked, slowly standing up.

Marik grinned, showing his teeth and baring his claws. "We would be delighted, Master Malik....” he growled, and Bakura let out an excited cackle. The men who had attacked Malik then found themselves on the receiving end of the worst thrashing of their lives. Within minutes they were running as if for their lives, limping, bruised, bleeding, and covered in scratch marks. Marik let out a loud roar after them as a final warning to stay the hell away from Malik. Then he and Bakura both ran over to Malik, Marik knocking him down, purring loudly and licking his cheek, and Bakura giving off an interesting noise that resembled a purr as he wrapped his large tail around Marik and rubbed his cheek on the boy's chest. Malik blinked, a bit surprised at the sudden show of affection.

"You two ok?” he asked after a minute, petting Marik and scratching Bakura's ears. "I mean, I know that was fun, but you two are... even more frightening when you're doing this lovey dovey thing." Malik said chuckling a bit. "So, have you had enough exercise? I think we should probably get outta here before they call the cops on us.” he said after a minute. "I don’t think having hybrids attack humans is a good idea... or at least not legal... and you know Ishizu's rule about the cops calling our house again.” he said, slowly standing back up.

Marik chuckled and Bakura blinked. While Malik got the leashes untangled, Marik explained the cop thing to Bakura, who was then laughing himself silly at Malik. They headed home, but as soon as they were inside Ishizu was pitching a fuss over Malik, who was sporting a black eye, bloody nose and busted lip.

"WHAT DID YOU MONSTERS DO TO HIM?!?" She shrieked, dragging Malik into the kitchen to clean him up.

Malik groaned. "They saved my ass.” he mumbled wincing as she broke out the iodine on a few small scratches on his cheek. "Some of those guys from the nightclub tried to kick my ass.” he mumbled seeming to pout at being doted over.

Ishizu blinked. "What?"

"He got jumped." Bakura said calmly. He and Marik were side by side, facing opposite directions and trying to get the other's harness off, without much luck.

"We came to the rescue and kicked some ass!" Marik stated, proudly. Ishizu blinked, then swooped down on them, hugging them around the neck and kissing each of their foreheads.

"Oh, you little dears!!" She cried. "Good boys! Good skunk! Good lion!" And she hugged them again. Bakura gagged and Marik shot Malik a look of confused shock. Then Ishizu ran off saying she had to get to work and she would be brining back treats for them when she got home for saving her precious baby brother, and with a slam of a door, she was gone. Bakura and Marik blinked, then both slowly turned to Malik for an explanation.

"Don’t ask. Just smile and nod.” he said calmly, standing up and smiling. "And here.” he said, pulling Marik over and motioning for Bakura to watch. "This is how you take them off.” he said, teaching both of them to remove the harness. "You should be able to do things for yourself when you need to, incase I'm ever not around to do it for you."

"If you're not around, we ain't wearin' the fuckin' harnesses..." Bakura grumbled. "What's on TV?" and he wandered into the living room. Marik chuckled and looked up at Malik. He purred and rubbed against him, then trotted after Bakura.

"Hey! A lion documentary!" Malik heard Marik exclaim.

"Whatever."

"HEY! TURN IT BACK!!"

"I am NOT watching Animal Planet!!!"

"GRRROOOOOWAARRRR!!!"

"FUCK!! Okay! Okay!! Here!!" Bakura screeched. Malik chuckled and walked into the living room to watch TV with his new friends.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Yami groaned and moved his sore wing a bit. It was stiff and sore, but it was slowly working back into its normal working order. Sighing, he folded it as best he could, and looked around. He was still woozy from the shot he'd received, and didn't want to try walking just yet. The last thing he needed was to give Seto more to laugh about.

After a while, Yami looked at the soft moss he was sitting in, and decided to pull up a clump. Beneath, was soft rich soil. "Mmm...” he mumbled, picking up a small stick, and playing tic-tac-toe with himself, to pass the long otherwise silent and boring hours.

Seto watched him from the door to the aviary, which Yami had his back to. Sighing, he opened the door and walked in.

Yami sighed replacing the moss, not bothering to turn around. "What do you want?” he asked calmly, fixing his eyes on a pair of small finches that were calmly beginning to build a nest nearby.

Seto sighed and walked over. "How does your wing feel?” he asked, awkwardly.

"It's fine." Yami replied calmly, no hostility in his voice, though it was still obvious he was miffed.

Seto sighed. "Well... I thought you might get bored, and seeing your tic tac toe game I was right, so... here... I brought you this." And he held out a deck of cards.

"What's the catch?" Yami said, turning to eye Seto questioningly. "Why would you care if I was bored or not?"

Seto blinked. "No catch.” he said, tossing the deck to Yami. "Boredom can drive one to insanity.” he then smirked. "However, the better you behave the more games you get. Now... are you hungry yet?"

Yami's eyes narrowed. "I'm not your little pet Kaiba.” he said, placing the deck aside. "I'm not going to just roll over for a game.” he said, turning away. "And no, I'm not hungry..."

Seto chuckled. "You honestly think I would expect you to "just roll over for a game", Yami? I know you better than that. And hungry or not, you need to take this." And he held out one of the pills that the vet had given him.

Yami sighed. "I don’t need anything, but to be left alone.” he said calmly. "Why do you insist on coming to see me so often? It's not as though my attitude will suddenly change, and I'd be glad to see your sneering smile." Yami growled softly. "Why you do anything anymore is beyond me... you lost me when you did this to me." Yami said after a moment of silence. It was true, Kaiba's actions had confused him to a point that it was becoming more and more difficult to guess the next action the blue-eyed teen would make.

Seto frowned. "What do you mean I lost you? I never HAD you in the first place! And guess what... now I do. You belong to me!" And he glared at Yami.

Yami rolled his eyes and glared at Kaiba. "Congratulations, you own a bird hybrid, you must be very proud of yourself.” he mumbled, turning back to the finches.

Seto glared, teeth clenched and fists shaking in anger. He whirled and stalked out of the aviary, slamming the door closed behind him and locking it.

Yami sighed softly, casting his eyes to the ground. Taunting Kaiba, though the fun was losing its luster, was all he seemed to have left. His wings drooped a bit. "I wonder if Yugi is ok...” he said after a moment. "I wish I could still see him...” he sighed, beginning to reminisce on caring for his brother, teaching him to play games... playing the idol so Yugi's face would light up each day.

"I miss him.” he sighed, noticing he'd been doodling a poorly drawn image of Yugi in the dirt. If he could just be sure he was ok... that he had at least gone on with his own life. Yami stood slowly and looked at the glass walls of the aviary, each plate of glass fitted to a space too small for him to squeeze though. As much as he hated to admit it, Kaiba had him in check... not that he'd complain, as the skies were currently darkening, signaling it would most likely rain in the next few hours or so. "Kaiba...” he mumbled after a few moments of silence. "Kaiba!"

"WHAT?!" Kaiba snapped over the intercom system. "I'm trying to work, here!"

"You're always working, so I really couldn't give a damn." Yami replied sighing after a moment of silence. "You're a man of business are you not? You and I both hate losing, and neither of us will do something without a personal gain.” he added, calmly. "But I'm sure a business man like you makes quite a few propositions every day, closes a few deals here and there..." Yami trailed off. "Have I got your attention?" he mumbled, sounding none too thrilled with his own plan.

A loud sigh was heard over the PA system. "Yami, just spit it out already, I haven't got time for your... heh.... uh, games....."

Yami rolled his eyes. "I'll give you what you want, if you give me what I want. A fair trade. I want to see my brother..." Yami said after a moment. "...enough to let you utterly rip my pride to shreds.” he added under his breath.

Seto blinked and turned to see the observation screens.

"Say what?” he gasped, not sure if he had heard him right.

Yami visibly winced. "I SAID. I want to see my brother... and I'm willing to do what it takes to see him... whatever it takes."

Seto sighed and let his face fall into his hands. He had never expected this. NONE of this... And he felt that he had to tell Yami the truth.

"I'll be right down.” he said over the PA, and headed down to the aviary.

Yami nodded a bit, and sat back on his mossy spot, wincing slightly when he stretched out his sore wing to rest it.

A few minutes later, Seto came in. He looked at Yami for a good long while then took a deep breath and said the last thing Yami had ever expected to hear from him.

"Yami, I... I'm sorry."

Yami blinked a bit, and slowly turned, careful of his wing. "...for what?” he said confused.

Seto sighed. "For... everything. I never meant for this to happen to you. I... I didn't know what they would do to you....” he explained. "I... I thought they were a temporary kidnapping ring where they held you for a limited time, then released you, and... I wanted you out of the way for my company's tournament that week. I didn't know they would turn you into... This. I didn't Yami. And by the time I found out, it was too late.” he slowly approached Yami and knelt. "There was nothing I could do. They never said they were going to make you a hybrid.... they just did. And so I bought you. If I hadn't, who knows what could have happened to you. Some people are just perverts with fetishes for hybrids, and I couldn't stand the thought that you might end up with someone like that. It's all my fault that this happened to you, and... while I can never make it better, I will do all I can to make this life... bearable for you. So... yes, Yami.... I will bring Yugi to see you." And he slowly gave Yami a sad, but genuine smile. "I'm so sorry....."

Yami stared, and then sighed a bit. "So all this... over not wanting me to play in a tournament.” he mumbled shaking his head. "you could have just asked.” he added crossing his arms, looking a bit sour, but not as angry as he'd looked prior to then.

Seto blinked, surprised at how well Yami had taken this confession. Then, he laughed, which startled Yami again.

"As if you would have listened to me!!” he chuckled, pointing at Yami. "You would have competed anyway just to spite me!!!"

"Probably..." Yami said looking away. "But I guess I am gone from the tournaments now...” he added, looking more than a little sorrowful. "Despite how much I hate how you went about things... and how angry I am for being turned into a hybrid... if you didn't know... you didn't know." Yami said after a moment. "If you didn't know... it's not your fault... entirely.” he added softly. "But I still hate you, for what parts are your fault.” he added sternly, shivering softly. The temperature in the aviary was slowly changing, due to the weather outside slowly beginning to rain. "And... I need to move somewhere.” he added calmly. "It's chilly in here."

Seto nodded and smiled. "You have every right to hate me for what I've done to you, Yami... and... come here. There’s a Thermostat so you can handle the temperature yourself." And he walked over to a rock on the ground which turned out to be plastic. Seto opened it to show Yami the thermostat.

Yami nodded a bit. "I see... so... did you throw this all together when you found out?” he asked, as Kaiba showed him how to program in the ideal temperature.

Seto looked at him. "Yeah... I started making calls as soon as they told me what they had done and what you were going to become.” he said. "But they made you out to be... a lot less human. To be honest, that worried me. But you haven't changed. Not your personality, at least. The only change was physical. And, despite the fact that you royally piss me off sometimes, I'm glad you didn't change. If there's anything I can get for you... I don't think you've seen your bedroom yet, but... if there are any changes you'd like made, let me know."

Yami looked up at the tunnel he was meant to fly to, that would lead to his bedroom.

"Well I would have... eventually...” he said after a minute. "But then my wing...” he said motioning to the outstretched wing. "Is there another way? I'd like a bed... and maybe a shower..."

Seto chuckled. "I had misters installed. I heard birds like that." At Yami's look, he laughed and ducked away as if expecting to be smacked. "But if you'd like a shower, I hope I can trust you enough to take you into the house without stuffing you into a box?"

Yami raised an eyebrow. "If I could fly, don’t you think I would have flown out that door?” he said, motioning to the aviary door, which was slightly ajar. "My wing is too sore to move that much. I can be civil with you.” he added, slowly standing. "I'll do what I can... to endure this and get along with you... if you grace me with the same attitude." Yami added, slowly folding the sore wing, grimacing at the movement.

Seto nodded. "It's a deal.” he said, and then looked at the fogged windows of the aviary. "Uhh... wanna wait for the rain to let up a bit?” he asked, not particularly wanting to go out and get cold and wet.

Yami wrinkled his nose. "Alright...” he looked at Seto. "So... you honestly had no clue?” he said, outstretching his one good wing. "That they'd do this to me?" Yami looked Seto over harshly, his eyes staring deep into the soul of the other teen. "You swear you didn't know... even a little?"

Seto shook his head. "Absolutely not. If I HAD known, I would have asked that you be made a squirrel." And this time, Yami gave him a reason to duck as he chucked the deck of cards at him. Seto darted behind a tree, laughing. "JOKE!” he gasped. "It was a joke!!!"

"I am NOT squirrel material!" Yami squawked, feathers puffed up, making him appear twice as big as he normally looked. He hissed a bit and looked away sorely. "Squirrel... feh.” he mumbled. "I'm lucky I even lived. You know what happened to the other people they tried to make into birds?" he said calmly, sure Seto had no clue.

Seto blinked and warily poked his head out from behind the tree. "What?” he asked.

Yami frowned a bit. "I'm the only bird hybrid that survived. Ever.” he said calmly. "They always got it wrong. Their bones would melt, they'd go insane... simply put, anyone they tried on, always came out looking like something the cat dragged in... After it was hit by several semi trucks."

Seto eyes widened. "WHAT?!” he roared, looking furious. "THEY COULD HAVE KILLED YOU?! I'LL SUE!!!” he screamed, and began fumbling for his cell phone.

Yami laughed. "Oh really? Did you forget who told them to kidnap me in the first place?” he said amused. "You sue them, and then everyone will know what you did."

Seto frowned and grumbled. "Well... I'll at least give them a piece of my mind....” he pouted.

Yami laughed, his voice sounding like smoothed silk now, as his anger had melted away, leaving only his genetics to manipulate the sound of his voice. "Oh, that will teach them! Shame on you!" Yami said waving a finger. "How DARE you do what you've been doing to hundreds of people to someone I asked you to kidnap?! Then try out a new form of genetic treatment on him, when I had no specific request!"

Seto gave Yami a look, then the finger. "Oh, shut up. You're cockier than ever... pun intended."

Yami looked offended for a moment, before smirking. "At least someone's bigger than you."

Seto gave Yami a disgusted look, then a smirk. "Only if we're counting your entire being, squirt.” he said.

Yami's eyes went wide. "I'm MUCH bigger than you! And NOT counting my whole being!” he huffed, looking away. "But that's none of your business."

Seto rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah....” he said. "Not my fault if you took the work 'cock' in the wrong way. Pervert. I meant in bird terms. You were the one who had to think ‘penis’."

Yami flapped his good wing a bit, stirring up a few felled wings. "You started it.” he mumbled boredly, before suddenly twitching, and seeming to attack his own wing with his hands, furiously preening at new pinfeathers, and plucking old loose feathers out.

Seto sighed and shook his head, then blinked at Yami. "... what are you doing?” he asked, not knowing much about birds, much less preening.

Yami plucked out one of his primary flight feathers calmly and tossed it to Seto. "Here. A gift.” he said calmly. "Every so often... I grow new feathers.” he said calmly, showing Seto a pinfeather. "So, I gotta get rid of the old ones, and get the new ones out in the air.” he said, slowly scratching away the wax-like coating, freeing a brilliantly colored new feather.

"Ohhhh....." Seto said, nodding his understanding. "Cool."

Yami chuckled. "I suppose it looks pretty gross.” he said calmly. "I'd never want a bird, if I were human again, after this." He said. "But really... the only thing it is, is a nuisance.” he said, finishing, a pile of old feathers littering the floor, each big enough to adorn an old woman's hat. "You could sell them I suppose. To old women..." Yami said amusedly. "Or some hippie somewhere who needs to make some more dream catchers for when they 'trip out'..."

Yami suddenly whirled and was in Seto's hair... literally. Appearing to do the same thing as he'd been doing in his wings.... preening.

"GAAAAH!!" Seto roared, loudly enough that Mokuba came running to the window upstairs. The boy's eyes widened, and then he came running. Moments later he was in the aviary, smacking at Yami, screaming 'ATTACK BIRD!!! ATTACK BIRD!!! GET OFF MY BROTHER!!! YOU'LL KILL HIM!! SOMEONE HELP!!!!' and the like.

Yami squawked and scrambled to get away, sufficiently ducking into a hollow in a tree and glaring out, a trail of feathers lost in the battle with Mokuba the only proof of his hiding place.

Mokuba was immediately over his brother.

"SETO!! Are you alright?! Talk to me! Seto, please!! Do you have both your eyes, or did he gouge them out? I'll call an ambulance! Oh, jeeze!! And I'll have someone get a shot gun and shoot that Demon bird from Hell! Seto, c'mon, you need help--"

"MOKUBA!!!" Seto finally roared, and his brother stopped. "Stop spazzing out! I'm fine!!!"

"Ass..." Yami mumbled. "All I was doing was fixing his hair.” he added sourly.

Mokuba blinked. "Fixing his hair? Oh, okay." And the boy left as thought nothing had happened.

Seto snorted and rolled his eyes. "Tell me Yami... is Yugi like that at all?"

Yami slowly emerged from his haven. "Not... that I've been attacked by many 'demon birds from hell' lately. But yes... he fawns over me as much as I fawn over him.” he said examining his wings a bit. "My poor feathers..."

Seto chuckled. "Well, next time you want to play with my hair, don't just fly at my head. It freaks people out, me included. Looks like the rain has let up... you still want that shower?"

Yami nodded. "You wouldn't happen to have a change of clothes would you?” he asked, his good wing quivering a bit. “Augh... I'm going to be fixing my feathers all night...” he pouted. A look rare to Yami's face... and a real treat to witness too.

Seto chuckled as Yami came up to him, and he led him outside where there was only a slight drizzle. "I'm not sure, but we'll see.” he said, leading the way into the house.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mokuba was walking by the bathroom when the door opened. Yami flapped out, squawking and soaking wet and fluttered down the hall, showering everything with water. He made his way to the front hall and landed on the chandelier where he sat, panting and looking very agitated. A moment later Seto stepped out of the bathroom, fully clothed and also soaking wet. Mokuba blinked.

"What did you do Seto, give the bird a bath?"

"Shut up. Yes." Seto growled. "Where'd he go?" Mokuba snickered and pointed. Seto turned and walked down the hall before stopping at the railing of the stairs. "Get down here and get off the lamp! That's crystal!!!” he roared at the naked bird.

Yami looked down and glared. "Kiss my feathered ass.” he grumbled, working fiercely to get the water out of his feathers. Within moments, he flapped his large wings, splattering nearly everything in the room in water.

"WHAT... made you think it was OK to do that?" Yami grumbled. "You do NOT throw FEATHERS under running water!" Yami groaned slightly, his back was killing him. The weight of his wings was tripled from the water, and all the flapping he'd done had caused his muscles to knot in a horrible way. "Ugh...” he mumbled, letting his wings droop, unable to keep them folded with the cramped muscles.

Seto scowled. "That's what I'm SUPPOSED to do!!!” he roared, flinging his arms up into the air. "According to your care instructions you are to have showers and NOT baths!!!"

Mokuba was laughing himself silly by this point and many of the help had come to see what the commotion was about.

Yami glared. "NO!” he grumbled irritated. “There are showers, and then there's that WATERFALL you call a shower!" Yami howled back. "That was NOT a shower!"

After a few minutes of fuming Yami looked down and sighed. He hadn't really handled that so well... and it wasn't Seto's fault his showers were not... of proper water pressure. Yami sighed again. "....Sorry.” he mumbled slightly, feeling his pride howl in agony.

Seto sighed and nodded. "You are forgiven. But next time you don't like how the shower is, tell me instead of flying through the house and making a big mess." And he looked down three floors at all the maids, cooks, butlers etc. that were staring up at them, Mokuba among them with an umbrella as Yami was still dripping significant amounts of water.

"Smart ass..." Seto grumbled at his brother, and then looked at Yami. "Come down from there and we'll get you dried off... And you have that nasty look on your face, you're in pain. Let me see your wing and I'll give you some of those pain killers that the vet gave me. Then I can show you your room.” he glanced down at Mokuba. "And you'd better hurry before my brother gets the wise idea of getting out the video camera. I doubt you want your naked ass on film."

Yami grumbled, and with a pained grunt, flapped-fell to the floor, his wings too heavy and back too cramped to hold himself in the air for long. He landed well enough, but there wasn't much flying done in between ceiling and floor. Pushing himself up, from his ungraceful landing on the floor and followed Seto from the room, his wings dragging the floor slightly from the water-weight.

"Your brother... is something else." Yami mumbled, still scowling from irritancy.

Seto sighed and rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "YOU'RE telling ME?” he asked, glancing back at Yami with a half glare, half grin. He sighed and went into the bathroom and gathered some towels and a blow dryer, then proceeded down the hall again after giving Yami a towel to hide his nudity with.

"This is my room.” he said, pointing to one door. He pointed to the one across from it. "This is Mokuba's.” he went one down from his own room. "And this is yours.” he unlocked the door and pushed it open. "I wasn't sure what you would need, so I did a bit of everything." And he gestured broadly to the room. The floor was hardwood with hay scattered over it thickly, up high near the ceiling in one corner was a perch swing, a stationary perch sat in another corner, halfway up the wall on a platform was a nest, and on the floor in the corner was a normal bed. Food and water dishes were fixed on the wall, and between the two windows was a small doorway that led to the aviary.

Yami raised an eyebrow slightly. "Good grief... you prepared for a bird emergency?” he said trying not to chuckle slightly. "Uh... thank you.” he added quickly. "You... wouldn't happen to have some clothes would you?” he said after a minute. He grimaced at the idea of Kaiba loaning him some of his own clothes. They'd be oversized on him, and he'd look like Yugi, trying to wear his clothes.

Seto frowned. "Afraid not.... hmmm..... Hang on." And he ran off, returning a moment later with a pair of blue satin pajama pants. "I've grown out of these, so they may fit you okay. I'm just a bit long in the legs, so if anything we'll need to roll up the cuffs. Here, give them a try."

Yami nodded and proceeded to put on the garments, after some minor adjustments had been made for his new body parts. Yami smiled a bit. "Well... other than the awkward look of them...” he said amused at just how much they'd had to cut away on the shirt. Sighing a bit, he flopped down onto the bed and spread his wings out, hoping they'd dry a bit faster, and to take some of the pressure off of his back. "What a pain...” he groaned.

Seto smirked. "Roll over.” he said, plugging in the blow drier. "I'll help you dry your wings and see if I can massage some of those kinks out of your wing." Then he blinked and looked down at himself. "Umm... after I change into something dry...." And he blushed lightly before shuffling out of the room, his shoes squishing pleasantly as he did so.

Yami snickered slightly, feeing sadistically proud that he'd soaked Seto to the bone. He sat up slowly, and turned over, flopping onto his stomach and leaving his wings spread out. "Heh...” he chuckled shaking his head and grabbing a pillow. He laid his head on it and sighed slightly, relieved of a lot of pain from holding up his wet wings. "I will never ever laugh at a wet animal again....” he mumbled closing his eyes. "Especially birds..."

"How sentimental of you...." A voice said, and Yami jerked his head up to find himself staring into the lens of a video camera. "That's right folks, you're lookin' at the rare and arrogant Yami Bird! What an honor it is to share space with this magnificent creature! He's onto us, and he's looking a bit grumpy. But isn't he a beauty!?" Mokuba was saying in his best Australian accent and moving around, video taping Yami from different angles. "This is the first specimen that's been successfully brought into captivity, but he hasn't adapted yet! Now we'll get to see how he co-operates with his handler!"

"MOKUBA!!!" Seto howled, coming into the room. "GET OUT OF HERE AND PUT THAT THING AWAY!!!"

Yami lunged at Mokuba. "I'm going to tear you limb from limb you little--!” he shouted, scrambling to chase the annoyance from his room, wings flapping in a dominant 'you'd better run, because if I catch you, I'm gouging your eyes out.' way. "You better run fast, because if I catch you I'll make you rue the day you were BORN!" Yami howled after him, panting from the sheer anger from the fact that Mokuba had eluded him. "Ahh ahh!” he winced and turned tiredly back to his bed, flopping down, his wings in severe pain from the flapping he'd unknowingly done trying to catch Mokuba.

"You rest, I kill." Seto said, moving over to Yami and handing him a pill to swallow. "He's MY brother. I'll deal with him later." And he plugged in the blow drier and began to dry Yami's wings.

Yami sighed a bit, content for the moment; the hot air was being blasted at his wings. "Thanks..." Yami said, after looking around to ensure Mokuba was nowhere to be found. He'd felt a bit better since he'd begun getting along with Seto... despite little problems that Mokuba started. "For, you know... owning up to a mistake." Yami said after a moment. "I... appreciate it. It took real guts to come out and buy me after you found out what happened... you could have just left me."

Seto sighed. "I could have, yes. But I never could have lived with myself. Yugi will be relieved to know you're... alive. He's been a wreck, what with you and Ryou going missing. Ryou went missing a day or two before you did, did you know that?" Seto asked, fluffing up Yami's feathers to get them thoroughly dried.

Yami nodded. "I knew. He was at that pet shop.” he said after a moment. "I remember… hearing about it while I was being held. Apparently, my senses came back in the wrong order...” he said after a moment. "I remember... I couldn't see at the time... but I remember hearing them talking about him... He had been special ordered by someone who was willing to pay a lot for him." Yami explained. "I remember he was close to where I was at the time... but he was purchased not long before you came in and got me."

Seto stopped. "Are... are you serious?! Ryou was nabbed by these guys?!" At Yami's nod Seto got up and flung the blow drier across the room, effectively destroying it. "DAMN IT!!! And he was bought right before I came in to get you?! I could have saved him if I had been earlier?! GOD DAMMIT!!!" And he punched the wall.

Yami winced slightly. "Calm down, I know who bought him too." Yami said sitting up and wincing a bit at his sore muscles. "I'm sure he's fine..." Yami said after a moment. "The one who ordered him had called in and decided he didn’t want Ryou..." Yami said, cautiously. He didn't need that wrath turned on him, not when his bones were much easier to break. "Just... calm down...” he said, trying to soothe the beast within Seto.

Seto nodded and dropped onto the edge of the bed. "Sorry... it just makes me mad. I feel bad enough that this happened to you and the thought that I could have helped Ryou and.... I'm just mad." Then he turned and began feeling Yami's wing joints, and rubbing them. "Did... did they turn him into something, too?"

Yami nodded. "If you think I have it bad..." Yami said after a minute, groaning softly as Seto rubbed away some of his pain. "He's a bunny."

Seto's hands stopped for a moment. "A bunny?" Seto repeated. "Ryou's a bunny?!"

Yami nodded a bit. "Yes. An albino white rabbit. His eyes were as red as mine. It was a bit of a shock at first; red is a big jump from brown. Not to mention those floppy ears, or that tail."

Seto sighed. "Don't hate me for saying this, but... it fits him." Seto reluctantly admitted.

Yami nodded a bit. "I thought so too." Yami said after a minute. "He was adorable. I mean... he was cute before... but something about those floppy ears just made him unbelievably cute." Yami added. "And the fact he was so shy... but the lion and him were good friends. He was taken care of."

Seto blinked and continued to massage Yami's wings. "Lion? Ryou made friends with a lion?"

Yami nodded a bit, relaxing and sighing, loving the feel of Seto's hands rubbing out the knots in his back. "Yeah... he said he'd just been a homeless guy before they kidnapped him... he was pretty content to be an animal. I felt pretty bad for him. But those two were in love. It was cute."

"Wow... How well was Ryou taking everything... being a bunny and all that?” he asked.

"He didn't. He didn't take it at all... gave people hell, and almost got that lion thinking straight, before he was bought." Yami said, slouching and closing his eyes, now content. "I have a feeling they will get back together... I remember who bought Marik. It was a kid named Malik Ishtar... I remember, Rem said it loud enough I'm sure everyone heard..."

Seto nodded, filing that back in his mind. "And... Who bought Ryou?"

Yami frowned a bit. "Pegasus.” he said after a moment. "I don’t much care for him... but he seemed concerned that Ryou was there.

"Pegasus?!" Seto repeated, and once again his hands stopped moving. "Pegasus bought Ryou? Hmmm.... I don't like the sound of that...." And he began to massage Yami's wings again. "That feel any better?"

Yami nodded. "Yes...” he mumbled, stretching a wing out, glad to feel the knots being worked away. "Much better..."

Seto nodded and backed away a bit. "So Ryou is a bunny... why didn't the guy who ordered him want him?"

Yami chuckled. "He REALLY liked that lion..."

Seto blinked then his eyes widened. "Whoa, whoa whoa... back wing a bit there, bird. WHAT?!"

Yami laughed. "The lion and the bunny made 'it'.” he said calmly. "You know... sex.” he chuckled, folding his wings a bit. "They were in love."

Seto shook his head in amazement. "Ryou had sex with the lion?! RYOU?!"

Yami nodded. "Ohhh yeah. Kept me up half the night. There's NO sleeping when you know that's happening next door." Yami said amused. "It was cute, but annoying."

"You were next door to them?" Seto chuckled. "That must have been a wild night."

Yami nodded. "Ryou's pretty loud, for such a shy little guy.” he chuckled softly. "I'm sure he made more than a few people there horny."

"Confessing something, Yami?" Seto teased, snickering.

Yami rolled his eyes. "I'll confess something, if you can honestly say you could sit two doors down, hear everything, and not be slightly turned on."

Seto chuckled. "Two doors down? I thought you were right next door?"

Yami nodded a bit. "Well technically I was right next door. There were no walls that blocked the show.” he said calmly. "But between Ryou and I was this skunk thing... Ra I loved pissing him off..."

Seto blinked, and then laughed. "A 'skunk thing'?” he repeated. "You mean in that cage that had the shattered front when I picked you up?"

Yami nodded. "Yup. That was Bakura's cage. He was a skunk. I'd just finished pissing him off enough to get him to go find Marik. He was pouting since he'd left."

"..... You pissed him off enough to.... HE ESCAPED?!" Seto cried, looking like his day had just been made. "You pissed him off so much he ESCAPED?!"

Yami chuckled. "I have that effect on people."

Seto blinked then burst out laughing. "Are you telling me... that there is a NAKED SKUNK running loose over town?!"

Yami chuckled. "Nah... He probably found Marik by now. Skunks have very sensitive noses."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Malik yawned boredly, flipping through the channels again, tired of animal documentaries for the day. He finally settling on a show about animals doing stupid funny things, satisfied that it would amuse all three of them.

While Marik was greatly entertained by the show, Bakura soon got bored and eventually had found his way onto the sofa and was currently napping with his head in Malik's lap.

The front door opened and Ishizu came in, looking in on her brother and his two... pets. She sighed, but smiled slightly. He seemed a lot happier since he had gotten Marik and Bakura, and once she had gotten used to them they weren't so bad to her either. Bakura got the grubs out of her garden and Marik was good protection, she reasoned with herself. Perhaps having the hybrids in the house was a good thing after all. She smiled and walked into the room.

"Hello." She said, smiling.

"Hi." Marik mumbled, and Bakura raised his head.

"Hey.” he said, and Malik lifted a finger in greeting. Ishizu sighed and walked over, kissing her brother on the cheek.

"Hey sis." Malik said amusedly. "Have fun at work today?” he said watching Bakura trot over to her and begin nuzzling her legs. He grinned and began scratching Marik's ears.

Ishizu blinked at Bakura's show of affection and smiled, patting him on the head.

"Well... this one certainly makes one feel welcome when they come home." She said. Then the doorbell rang. "Who on earth?" She said, looking up. Bakura and Marik both whirled and stared at the hall that led to the door, noses quivering. Then, their eyes widened.

"PIZZA!!!" They both howled in ecstatic excitement and tore out of the room, bumping into each other and the wall, their claws skittering on the tile floor of the hallway as they tried to be the first one to the door.

Malik laughed. "Guys! Guys!” he called, hurrying after them. "No jumping out and scaring deliverymen!” he said pushing them away from the door a bit. "Now... no sudden moves." Malik said pulling out his wallet and opening the door. "Thanks.” he said calmly, as the man hurried away with the money, a little unnerved by the lion hybrid in the house.

Malik closed the door slowly. "We have one meat lovers.” he said, handing the pie to Marik. "One veggie pizza with an addition of ham." Malik added, handing Bakura his own pizza. "And one extra large pepperoni for me and sis."

Ishizu sighed and shook her head, slightly annoyed and slightly amused. "Well, into the kitchen, then." She said, and they all trooped into the kitchen. Ishizu sat down at the table with Malik, and Marik and Bakura lounged on the floor, eating their pizza ravenously.

"I haven't had pizza in over a year!" Bakura was moaning, and Marik snorted.

"I don’t know if I've EVER had pizza.” he grumbled. Bakura looked up with a sympathetic look and pet Marik on the head. Marik purred, and both concentrated on their dinner. Ishizu sighed and shook her head, slowly eating her own slice.

"They certainly are... interesting, Malik...."

"Yeah... they just need a push in the right direction.” he replied smiling. They were slowly regaining the humanity they'd lost, whether they knew it or not. "I'm proud of them you know... it's almost like having a kid... only I don’t have to handle shitty diapers or spit up.” he chuckled when they both glared. "You two don’t make a mess or you'll have to take a shower.” he added warningly.

Both froze with guilty looks on their sauce covered faces, and Ishizu couldn't help but laugh at them, pizza hanging out of their mouths.

"Do we have to?!" Bakura cried in dismay, letting the food fall from his mouth.

Malik nodded. "Yes. Once you're done you both march to a bathroom and take a shower.” he said firmly. "And yes, you have to use the sissy smelling soap."
Both hybrids immediately began to whine, but at a look from Ishizu they stopped and concentrated on their dinner... and giving Malik pouty looks. And before they knew it, dinner was over and they were both sneaking out of the room to try and avoid bathing.

"Freeze!" Malik said sternly, grabbing them both by their tails. "You're taking a bath.” he said tugging both tails lightly. "Now MARCH."

Both groaned and marched to the bathroom. Once there, Marik hopped up into the sink and Bakura perched himself on the toilet. Both were glaring at the tub and muttering 'you go first' to the other through their teeth.

Malik closed the bathroom door and locked it. He sighed, filling the tub with hot water, not hot enough to burn but hot enough to soothe any achy animal muscles. "Bakura. Hop in. You're going first.” he said calmly.

"WHY ME?!?" Bakura whined loudly, as Marik grinned.

"Because your name starts with B." Malik said reasoning. "Alphabetical order. Next time Marik goes first."

"WHAT KIND OF A SHIT REASON IS THAT?!"

"Sounds good to me." Marik chuckled.

"FUCK YOU!" Bakura screeched.

Malik swatted Bakura over the head. "Stop whining like a baby and clean yourself.” he said pointing to the tub. "It'd be over in five minutes if you'd just do it."

Grumbling the entire time, Bakura crawled into the tub. Then, he sat there and stared at Malik.

"Well?" Malik said raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to you know... CLEAN yourself?” he said handing Bakura a bottle of liquid soap and a sponge. "Get to it."

Bakura blinked looking genuinely surprised. "I... I can clean my self... on my own?” he asked.

Malik nodded. "You have hands right? Use them. Marik, turn around and give him some privacy." Malik said smiling. "You wash up, and when you're done I'll get you a towel.” he said nodding. "Don’t cheat, I'll know, this soap smells like sissy flowers and stuff... it's the only soap Ishizu buys...” he mumbled wrinkling his nose, before turning and sitting down on the floor, facing away from Bakura, giving him privacy to clean himself.

Bakura blinked and slowly, and honestly, awkwardly began. "Wow..." He mumbled, after a moment. "This is harder than I remember it being.” he said. Marik snorted.

"You're just out of practice.” he said.

"I'm doing better than you will street bum!" Bakura spat. "Have you EVER bathed yourself?"

"WHY YOU--” Marik roared, whirling, but Bakura had been waiting and threw the washcloth in his face.

"I'm done." Bakura announced.

Malik pulled Marik back and sniffed Bakura's hair lightly. "Good job.” he said standing and plucking out four fluffy towels. "One for your waist, one for your hair, and the other two are for your tail. Start drying off, and try not to soak the carpets too much.” he said proudly, holding out the towels for Bakura, waiting on him to get out of the tub and take them.

But before he did, he crouched on all fours and shook himself, including his tail, and thoroughly soaked the bathroom, including Marik and Malik.

Malik glared. "Bakura!” he growled. "After Marik's bath, you're cleaning the bathroom.” he said, trying to remain calm. "That is NOT how you dry off in the house. I don’t care how you do it outside, but inside you have to dry off like a person!"

Bakura blinked and huddled down, upset at being scolded.

"Yes sir.” he squeaked, took the towels and ran from the room, Marik laughing at him as he went. Malik filled the tub and Marik climbed in. He took a significantly longer time than Malik, and at times almost seemed completely lost, and Malik decided that Bakura had probably been close to correct about Marik never washing himself before. But eventually he was done. He wrung his hair out and took the offered towels before going to find Bakura, who was lounging on Malik's bed, looking through a Playboy magazine, and, to Malik's horror, was displaying a raging hard on... but as he thought about it, he understood how that made sense... it had probably been over a year since he had seen a naked human female.

"BAKURA!!!" Marik howled, snapping Bakura with his towel. "GO TO THE BATHROOM AND TAKE CARE OF THAT!!!" Bakura yelped and ran, slamming the door of the bathroom behind him. Marik snorted and picked up the magazine, looking though it himself.

Malik yanked the magazine away. "Marik!” he said annoyed. "How would your bunny friend feel if he caught you looking at this?” he said shaking his head. "You JUST yelled at Bakura about this book. Hypocrite." Malik sighed, putting his magazine away and pulling a set of pajamas and, after looking Marik over, cutting a hole in the rear.

"Here.” he said handing them to him.

Marik had suddenly seemed to droop. He sighed and pulled on the pants, poking his tail through the hole, and then curled up on the middle of Malik's bed. He stared at the wall, depressed.

Malik sighed softly, after repeating the process for a second pair of pj's for Bakura.

"Look... don’t be sad. You'll find him. You know he wasn't sold to someone far from the pet shop.” he said, beginning to scratch Marik's ears a bit. "He's probably trying to find you too. I bet he dresses up like a human, and walks outside every day looking for you." He added smiling a bit. "I'm sure whoever bought him is just as nice as me, and your bunny could be out there looking for you right now...” he said comfortingly.