A Home of Our Own

A Home of Our Own

Summary: Kimi ga Iru AU. Neko fic! Nya nya!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh. If I did…*begins to laugh evilly*
Warning: none
Author’s Note: Hm…lots of clues in here! Kimi ga Iru sleuths get on it!

Story Time

Marik turned the key and the engine shut down, a growl into a soft purr, then nothing. He looked at the building then at the address he had scrawled on a crumbled piece of paper. That bastard probably wasn’t expecting him.

And that’s just how he liked it.

He broke through the boarded front door and raced up the stairs, ready to tear apart anything in his way.

Spread my secrets, tell lies huh? I’ll slice you to ribbons Alabaster trash and have a little fun with that kitten of yours when I’m done!

He kicked in a door, ready to face Bakura down and found no one.

The apartment was empty. He saw the pile of blankets and pillows heaped on the bed and walked over, shifting through it. There was a teddy bear there with a note on it. It had a face drawn on it, one eye lid pulled down, tongue out.

“Son of a bitch!” he cried, ripping the head off. He stalked over to the cupboards and dressers going through everything. Where were all their things!

He opened a closet and saw a promising looking box on the top shelf.

Hm…

He reached for it and looked inside, his eyes widening as he saw what was inside.

There was a drawing of two Neko’s flipping him off, one with a big red cloak on. It read in fat hiragana, “Kiss it!”

The small timer inside the box went beep beep and Marik threw it down, racing out. He had to get out before –

He was very unprepared for what followed.

The noise was deafening, he could have sworn his ears were bleeding and the heat was like nothing else. He raced down the stairs, coughing as smoke and flames blinded him. All he could think of was what he’d read.

~Akefia’s body was found in the ruins of the burned down building. He was barely recognizable save for the gold earrings in his ears. Tattoo recognition was necessary and when the barcode was scanned and his DNA was tested it was proven that it was experiment number 2275 from growth batch ninety-eight. Brain tissue testing showed that no psionic abilities manifested even as he was past maturity.~

Marik shook his head and dove through a window. He didn’t want that to happen to him. Not to him. He had to apologize. He had to make up for things.

He felt the glass in his back and his tail could have been on fire, he didn’t know. His body twisted in the air and sure enough he landed on his feet. A snap sounded before he fell to the ground. The building a towering inferno behind him.

****

A beep went off in Bakura’s pocket and the Neko grinned. “He found our present Little Brother.”

Ryou’s ears perked up under the cloak. He gave a questioning meow and Bakura answered.

“Remember the picture I drew? I left it with a present for our pursuer. I think he got a real bang out of it.”

The Neko began to laugh and Ryou just watched for a second before he tossed his head back and imitated the elder Neko. This made Bakura laugh and laugh harder when he saw yugi wringing his hands and laughing similarly. Yami turned around and narrowed his eyes.

“Aibou! We are not loud in cars!”

“I wasn’t! They were doing it too –”

“You aren’t a criminal Yugi. Don’t lower yourself to their standards –”

Bakura snarled. “Shut up Pharaoh. Maybe he wants to be a real man, not a wimp like you!”

The Egyptian Tri-color hissed and Malik gave a yowl. “All of you stop it or I’ll make you all go to sleep!”

Everyone quieted down until a thump was heard followed by a giggle. Malik’s eyes narrowed and he kept driving till it happened again. He looked in the rear view mirror at a giggling Yugi who kicked his chair again.

“YUGI!”

The boy’s ears perked up and his eyes widened innocently. “It wasn’t me!” He pointed at Ryou, who’s mouth gaped open. The pale Neko looked at Bakura and shook his head, the Neko laughing and holding him close.

“He is only joking. You must get revenge. Be clever now.”

Ryou watched Yugi, who was still laughing and went to wiggle his tail in Yami’s ear. The Neko spun around and pointed at Yugi.

“When we get home you are getting a lectue about behavior Aibou! You have never behaved this badly before in your life! If you act this way in public then it’s clear you need to be sent to an obedience academy for Nekos!”

“No!” the boy mewled. “I didn’t do it! He did it! Red Riding Hood!”

Malik burst out laughing and nearly swerved over the median. Yami shook his head.

“Lying will not help you now! I can’t believe you!”

The kitten’s ears drooped. “I didn’t do it!”

Bakura barked laughter. “You treat this kitten like you’re his mother! Relax Pharaoh. I did it.”

Yami gave a hiss and in a show of bravado, Ryou hissed back. He of course leaned back into Bakura, but the elder Neko patted his head in appreciation.

“Thank you Brother. What would I do with out your protection?” He smirked at Yami. “I think all the kittens in this car hate you.”

The Neko growled. “I’ll rip you to pieces!” And as he reached back, Malik jumped the curb, causing everyone to bump around. Yami clawed Malik’s seat instead, cursing as his head knocked against the rolled up window.

Malik turned off the car. “We’re here!”

The door was opened and Bakura hopped out. “Let’s go Brother!”

They dashed away, leaving everyone else behind. Yugi got out and jumped around.

“Yay yay yay!”

Yami swatted him on the rear several times, talking to him angrily, the kitten pulling away and meowing. Malik shook his head.

“Let’s go! You can spank him and get as kinky as you want later!”

Both Neko blushed and followed Malik without anymore problems.

**

Bakura turned the corner, Ryou behind them. They were already in the east wing of the house.

“Do you remember the floor plan Brother?” Bakura called behind him, knocking over a vase.

“Yes, we turn right here then left at the next hall!”

“Excellent…”

They did as Ryou instructed and came into a large room with a desk and chair. It was obviously an office, but judging by the expensive things on display, it was much more to the thieves about to plunder it.

The kitten reached for the lights and Bakura waved him down. “No. You can see in the dark just fine. Work on the safe, I’ll see what Mr. Kaiba has on his computer.”

Ryou nodded and went to the wall, knocking softly. When he found what he was looking for, he removed the expensive painting and began to work the safe.

**

Yugi walked around, looking at everything to the point where even Malik was beginning to get fed up. He took the kitten in hand roughlyand dragged him along.

“Come on Yugi! Damn!”

“Ow! You’re hurting me!”

“Just shut up!” the golden haired kitten snarled. “We have something to do!”

Yugi shook his head and scratched him, pulling away. “I said no! I can look if I want to!”

Yami gave the kitten a look and motioned to Malik. “Let’s go.”

Malik rolled his eyes and they left Yugi in the hallway, the kitten standing there rubbing his wrist. He kicked out and turned away.

I don’t need them…last time I rescue him…

He wiggled his tail around for a moment then ran after the other two Nekos who were already far ahead. When he caught up, they were at wooden double doors, about to go in. Yami spoke up.

“If you can’t behave, you have to stay outside.”

Yugi pouted and sat outside the door. “I hate you.”

“Grow up…” Malik said, pushing the door in.

The kitten stuck out his tongue and got up to run off. The other two went inside and frowned.

Dartz sat behind the desk, liberally clicking the mouse and staring at the computer screen with disinterest.

“Took you all long enough to get here. Seto’s unavailable at the moment. Do, sit down?”

Yami snarled, claws out. “I want answers! Where’s Sugoroku!”

“In a jail cell by now. He’ll be there for a while until his trial, then he’ll probably get death for all the people and Nekos he killed…not that the Neko part matters.”

“Hey!” Malik said. “We have rights just like everyone else –”

“Yes, but you shouldn’t.” the man got up. “You’re abominations that should have never exsisted…” He went over to a globe on a stand and spun it, stopping on Egypt.

“Gozuboro Kaiba was a traveling man. He traveled to see the world at its worst, the wars, the hate, the death. So he could aid it. But none the less, he traveled and when he traveled the Middle East, with all its pointless conflict, he saw the ancient reliefs and paintings of the Arab and Egyptian world, Sumarian art and old world Gods given form on clay. He was mesmerized by the half human half animal aspect of it all and put his scientist to work…”

Malik nodded. “And he made Nekos. I know. Look we have questions –”

“Shut up you freak!” he said venomously. “You horrific creature you CRIME AGAINST NATURE!”

He kicked over the globe and pointed at Yami and Malik. “Sit down.”

They both did as they were told and Dartz went behind the desk, one eye amber. The man sat as well, then continued.

“No, not ‘then he made Nekos’. First, came the experiments. Do you know what he used first? Convicts. Lots of them. Brutal, terrible experiments done to convicts. Less than deserving of anyone’s respect, but human none the less. The results were horrific.

The creatures were more beast than man, or didn’t survive the fusions, or worse, when the light faded and the water drained, they were these…puddles! Of entrail and half charred bone!”

Yami swallowed and Malik sank into his chair.

“He needed results. His backers were impatient. I’ll tell you something, I’m not his son. I had parents once. But do you know –that can wait. So he used more humans and more until he got it in his head, that convicts weren’t the answer, that you needed better stock. So he got better stock. Children, women of rank, wealthy men. He began snatching people off the streets, killing whole families for one or two children, and this was world wide. The wars helped cover his tracks. And that’s when the horror really began.

He got a few good results, but they were still very feline. Too much fur. They couldn’t stand, they couldn’t speak. Something was wrong with the mind, it was twisted and feral. There were accidents, deaths among staff. The man was running out of time and ideas, until he got the best idea of all. Why not use his wife?”

“NO! That’s sick!” Yami spat out.

“You think?” the man growled. “Only thing was, she came out perfect. Perfect and I do mean perfect. She looked completely fine after it all. Exactly the same. At first, they thought it hadn’t worked, until they opened her mouth and saw the fangs and watched her nails retract. No tail of course, but there were the tiny starts of ears on her head. Those ears, so pale, a beautiful pale turquoise…”

Malik’s eyes widened. “But –he –No!”

“And she was his wife and so he kept her. He apologized of course and she loved him still so she forgave him. And bore him a son. This son was witness to so many horrors, he refused to be the man’s puppet, refused to be what he was. Oh, he looked perfectly human, but he wasn’t. He knew he wasn’t, deep on the inside he knew he was an abomination like the rest. But that’s beside the point. The man didn’t stop. He never got a perfect one again, but he didn’t get a desired type of Neko. Something like what you are now, a bit rougher in the beginning, but you wretches could talk and walk straight.”

Dartz stopped and stared away absently before continuing. “So production began. The man brought more horrors into the world after figuring out what would bring forth the archetype he’d created each time. He stopped splicing in tubes and began to breed them and when people asked for different breeds, he began splicing again. There were failures of course, especially when the Inu project began –but again, I digress. His wife was still very much alive, the first son still very much hating himself, but as mother’s do, they tell their sons not to hate their fathers and as wives do, she did not deny her husband.”

His fist tightened. “Things do not always breed true. Gozuboro thought he’d get another perfect specimen and what he got was one of you!” He pointed accusingly. He was distraught and as much as my mother said sorry, he would not forgive her not as she forgave him for ruining her life for turning her into a freak!”

Yami’s tail flicked. He wanted to get away. Why was the man telling him this? Malik wanted to cry, but as he looked over to Yami, he didn’t know what to do. He wished Marik were here.

“And so, he began to beat her all the time and force her to be with him, he wanted perfection but each time he just got abomination. He started killing them off, much to her distress and when she tried to stop him, he cut the ears off her head and shipped her to a mill. There she was beaten and abused and used and bred and she died there after bearing many children, turquoise haired abominations that either died or were killed as the place was raided and the company had to make sure the place was wiped clean. Also about this time, some of the New Types, as they were fondly called in the records, began to display certain powers. Psionic powers. Learning this, Gozuboro stepped things up.”

Dartz frowned. “Governments heard of this, warlords heard of this and wanted legions of soldiers with these powers, things to be used and controlled. If you had a creature on the battle field who could,” he pointed to Malik. “Convince the enemy to commit suicide or,” he indicated Yami. “Shatter all their weapons and technology with a thought, the need for a human on the battle field would end. However…” His face darkened. “Initial tests were less than successful.”

They sat there in silence for a bit until Dartz spoke up again. “Their brains couldn’t take it. There were horrible deaths amongst the New Types, not only this, the ones that attempted to escape or didn’t display power were eliminated in horrific ways I won’t regale you with.”

“How do you know this?” Malik asked, at this point wanting to bolt.

Dartz merely continued. “He did more tests, he began using human splicing again, hoping that he could get better results with mature or younger brains I have no idea, but those failed as well, until one of the newly spliced breeds bore fruit. Female kitten that had been given to the Prince of Egypt seemed to be having constant headaches. When this happened, things would break or fly across the room. He ordered her kidnapped and sent back. Nefertiti was the first Egyptian Tri-color ever bred. Came in more golden tones, I have no idea what they used to get the radical coloring you and your siblings seem to have, but I really don’t care. They tested and drew blood and bred her and wore her out until she died. They then took her eggs and used cloning techniques to produce a few male and female pairs who seemed to display the power she had without going insane. They killed all the pairs but one and produced some kittens, giving some back to the Prince as a replacement for the ones he’d lost. Of course, in a few years time, there were Egyptian tri-colors all throughout Egypt, but strangely enough they didn’t all display the power. Gozuboro learned this and was furious as he’d killed off his last pair thinking he was done. To make a long story short, the same incidents continued to happen with several breeds at which point Gozuboro hunted up fertile pairs that displayed the ability and took them in for testing.”

Yami shook his head. “He did more?!”

Dartz nodded absently. “More and more until he got them to breed true. However, by then, things were getting rocky. There was a band of Animal Rights terrorists running around, shining press light on Gozuboro. The Neko Freedom Fighters. Made up of humans and Nekos who were outraged by what was going on and how it was being ignored. You know them now as the FFFC. They’ve evolved, can’t say how much though if what I’ve recently heard is any indicator of things. Anyway, the pair bred not one, but three –”

“I thought he found many pairs?” Malik asked.

“If they didn’t do as he wanted, they were killed. Anyway, not one, but three kittens who tested positive for Psionic power. The man thought he’d hit a gold mine. Until, the Neko Freedom Fighters raided the place some how and set the entire family free. They recovered the male and tried to recover the female, but when she escaped again, they ran her down with a car, leaving the kittens out there some where –”

“Bakura! You’re talking about the Alabaster file!”

“Yes, I am. If you were paying attention you’d know that the Egypt fiasco dealt with that one.” He pointed to Yami. “However, after that fiasco, Gozuboro had an accident. He fell out of a window. In any case, there were people who wanted to keep the operation going. Thinking that they’d have no chance to recover the Alabasters or the Tri-colors, they focused on a new project under the direction of a very evil man who was with Gozuboro every step of the way. One Sugoroku Motou. He supervised the golden project. He put those markings in your back Creature.”

“It’s Malik!” the kitten snapped. “Why are you telling us this? Where’s Kaiba!? We want to talk to him –”

“SHUT UP YOU STUPID CAT!”

Yami hissed and Dartz slammed his fist on the table. “Move and I’ll make sure you never leave alive.”

Both Neko froze then and Dartz kept talking. “However, before the Golden project was finished, he got a lead on the Alabasters and those Tri-colors. He sent one of his more uncouth operatives out to deal with you and ‘Atemu’ while they wound up killing Akefia and losing the Alabasters again. You’re familiar with Bandit Keith?”

Yami snarled. “He killed the mistress!”

“She found out his plan. Him brutalizing you wasn’t in the plan and when it all went south and a third was discovered, Sugoroku knew he had to act. Luckily, he’d already come across the Tri-color kitten and had put a tracker in him so if he displayed power he could track him, but after that night, he ‘found’ you all and took you in.” He pointed to Malik. “You and that terror you call a brother were lucky. Lucky like some never were.”

They all sat there and Malik’s eyes widened. “Kaiba did it! That accident, Gozuboro had that accident, I read it in some old papers when I was trying to get dirt on him! He pushed him didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“So, that was his mother?” Yami whispered. “That poor woman.”

“Seto is Human!” Dartz snarled. “Perfectly human! Gozuboro decided to get himself a new son. One he could mold, so he could sweep the unfortunate truth of his mistakes under the rug!”

Malik jumped as Dartz hit the desk again. “Then what happened to his son?”

Dartz snorted. “You really want to know? Well –”

The double doors opened to reveal and Angry Seto who had not gone to bed dragging Yugi behind him.

“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?”

Malik jumped up and pointed at Kaiba. “You killed Gozuboro!”

Yami stood up and flexed his hands. “You’re going to pay for what you’ve done to us!”

Yugi tapped his index fingers together. “It wasn’t my fault…I didn’t know he was there.”

“You ruined our life you bastard!” Yami advanced on him and Seto shook his head, pushing Yugi forward.

“Yeah well, get over it. I didn’t even own Kaiba corp till now.” He pointed to Dartz. I still have to talk with you –Where the hell are you going?!”

Dartz left the room. “I can’t stand the smell of filth in here.”

Malik hissed and Yugi huffed. Seto looked at the group and indicated his desk. “I have no idea what he’s been telling you but I guess I can start here if I want to fix Sugoroku’s mistakes…”

Yami watched Seto sit behind the desk and motioned for Yugi to sit down. “Fine, we’ll hear you out.”

**

Bakura finished and put more things in his bag, then shut off the PC.

“Ryou, I’m going back to the car. I’m taking alternative escape route two, the one we went over, alright?”

“Yes Brother.”

“Good, there’s a few locked drawers I didn’t bother with at the desk, you can go through them if you wish, you have fifteen minutes then I’m leaving you, alright?”

“Yes.”

Ryou watched his brother leave out of the window, leaping right out and into a tree below. He straightened up the room, feeling bad that Bakura had messed things up and went behind the desk, pushing his hood back.

I wish I were brave like him…I could never jump out of the window that way unless he were with me.

He took out a few tools and had the desk open in no time. He began looking through things, puzzling over the photos he found. He failed to hear the door opening or the person coming in. When the light came on he froze, pulling his hood back on.

Dartz looked around. “Who’s there?”

Ryou’s tail flicked nervously. He’d have to go for the window, he’d have to. He was about to get up and run when he felt someone behind him.

“No good thief! How dare you come in here and –Hey!”

Ryou made a break for it, yowling as his tail was grabbed.

“You’re one of them! You no good piece of trash!” Dartz ripped down Ryou’s hood and the kitten turned, eyes wide with fear. He hissed and lashed out, tugging at the cloak and shaking his head as he watched cloth rip from it. He didn’t have time to think as he ran for the window and leapt out, running for the rendezvous.

Dartz shouted after him, but the kitten didn’t care. When Bakura came in to view he began to call frantically, Bakura growing alarmed.

“What happened?!”

“That guy! That Kaiba guy came into the office and he was so fast and he ripped the cloak!” Ryou held it up, crying out as Bakura slapped him. Hard.

“You –Why the hell did I bring you along! Did you even recover anything of value?!”

“But Brother I –”

“Shut up you idiot and get in this car. We’re going. Worthless trash.”

Ryou ducked his head, determined not to cry. But as he crawled in the back seat, he could help but curl up and let tears leak out.

He hates me…

****

Marik slowly opened his eyes to searing white light, his whole body coming to as pain lanced through his leg and back. His ears went back and his tail whipped.

“He’s awake…” a soft voice said.

“Wha…” he croaked, vision blurry.

Someone leaned over him, but he could barely see who. He sniffed the scent and relaxed, feeling safe.

“big sister…” he said softly, before falling asleep.

Ishizu sighed and tucked the cover up, increasing the morphine drip a bit. She looked at Shadi.

“Go let someone know he’s awake and relay the info to Seto. He saved a lot of men tonight through his recklessness. That bomb would have killed so many…”

“Right.”

The bald man left and went to some offices above the Center’s main floor. Typing furiously in a cubicle, Rishid looked relieved when Shadi appeared.

“Thank Ra! Come type this report for me!”

Shadi kissed him, smiling. “I cannot my Lion, for the test of one’s own character is found in the smallest tasks.”

Rishid smiled back, leaning in for another kiss, frowning when he was stopped. “Why not?”

“Maik is awake.”

“Oh, what a joy. He was very bad when he came in. Any word on Malik?”

“No…” He sighed and let the big man hug him. “I cannot believe that Sugoroku was the same who –”

“Shhh…let us not think of it. Now we must be there for Yami and Yugi. And apologize.”

“mm…we have to make a report.”

Rishid pulled up the smaller man’s shirt. “It’s late at night…we can do it later…”

“Rishid, not here –Ohhhh…”

The man chuckled and pulled him into the privacy of the cubicle.


****
*EFC: Experimental Feline Companion FFFC: Freedom for Feline Companions
*Okay, that was a lot to write! Woo! I’m so tired out! Thanks for reading so far! I think I’ll do a special fic for the person who cantell me who Noa is.
*I’d like to thank Wicabeth for the inspiration for this fic!
*Schwarzwald loves ya’ll!