Twilight Menagerie

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MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! As my gift to all my readers, I'm pirating a local wireless network on my laptop to update!!! READ, REVIEW, AND HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

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Twilight Menagerie

Mally-chan and hato chiisai

Disclaimer: We own nothing. Nothing at all

YAOI WARNING!!!

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Chapter 16

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Rafel strutted down the hall, swinging the Nod about by the ears. Thankfully, she hadn't woken up from the anesthesia yet. Dartz, who was moving among the people at the promotional party, saw him and walked over.

"What are you doing with that rabbit?" He asked.

"Taking her back to your bunny."

"And... where was she?"

"Dai did somethin with her." Rafel said, and Dartz glared.

"Why do I have a feeling that you traumatized poor Ryou?!" Dartz hissed, snatching Nod and heading to Ryou's room himself. Rafel shrugged and went to find something to amuse himself with. Dartz reached Ryou's door and knocked gently.

Ryou's ears twitched and he clutched Tuc and looked at the door fearfully. "Y-yes?" he asked swallowing back a bit of fear, at the idea of Rafel returning for his remaining friend.

The door opened and in walked Dartz, gently cradling Nod, who was beginning to stir.

"Hello, Ryou. I beleive you lost something." And he walked over and lay the rabbit down before Ryou with a small smile. "Are you okay?"

Ryou squeaked as Tuc squirmed free of his arms and nuzzled his little mate, helping her hop down the ramp, and hurriedly into the bathroom.

"I...I'm ok...b-but what about Nod? Is she ok? They d-didn't do anything horrible to her did they?!"

Dartz shook his head. "I don't know what was done to her." He said. "I will find out..." He said, and pet Ryou's ears, gently.

Ryou shivered and pulled away. "My poor mate..." he mewled softly, ears drooping. "H-he said they're tormenting him... that other lion... h-he doesn't love Marik at all..." he mumbled looking at Dartz mournfully. "He's hurting my mate..."

Dartz blinked, and sat on the edge of the bed. "Shhhh... it's okay, Ryou. I'm sure it's not like that. Lions are just violent like that." He said.

Ryou shook his head. "Marik isn't like that at all, and he's a lion..." he said softly.

Dartz frowned. "All lions are like that, Ryou... Has Marik ever... Been around other lions?"

Ryou shook his head quickly. "N-not that I know of... he's always been happy with Malik, Bakura and I..." he said softly. "He's not violent at all..."

Dartz sighed and thought. "Well, around you all, he hasn't needed to. Now he's suddenly with a lion who has been around other lions, and he is finding himself not knowing what to do. So he has been forced to learn the hard way." He smiled and pet Ryou. "He'll be fine once he figures everything out."

Ryou shook his head once more, inching away from the touch. "B-but... I don’t want him to figure everything out, if that means he's getting raped and hurt! He's MY mate... I... I want him safe...." he stammered, giving Dartz a frightened look. "Y-you can’t possibly think that it's ok that he's being treated that way...."

Dartz shook his head. "Ryou... he needs to learn to get along with his own kind... I know Constantine isn't the best lion for him to go through this with, but... he's all there is."

Ryou glared slightly. "That's horrible! He doesn't need to learn that! I'm his mate, all he needs is me!" he huffed looking away sorely. "You're hurting him...."

Dartz frowned. "Ryou... Everyone needs to learn to get along with there own kind. Perhaps I should start putting you out with the other rabbits so you can learn to get along with them, too."

Ryou growled slightly. "I would sooner die." he said stubbornly.

Dartz blinked. "I don’t want you to MATE them!!!" He cried with a laugh. "Just spend time with them. Learn what it is to be with your own kind..." He said, patting Ryou.

Ryou glared at Dartz over his shoulder, his back to the man. "I don’t need to learn. Being a rabbit is more than enough for me, thank you very much." He huffed, looking back to the wall away from Dartz. "Learning such things isn't worth being in physical and emotional pain."

"You won't be in any pain!" Dartz said, reaching out to Ryou.

Ryou jerked away instinctively, inching away to the opposite edge of the bed. "Oh? Marik is, my beloved mate is in pain! He isn't eating!"

Dartz sighed. "He's been sick, Ryou." He said. "He'll get better, and he'll learn proper lion social behavior."

Ryou's ears quivered slightly. "Why? He doesn't need to learn it..." he mumbled glaring at the wall. "He's not mated to a lion, so what should some other lion matter to him? He has me."

"Everyone needs to be around their own kind SOME time, Ryou." Dartz said. "Haven't you ever yearned for the company of other rabbits? Don't you LIVE with other rabbits?" He looked at Tuc and Nod, on the bathmat in the bathroom.

Ryou's ears bristled at that. "I am NOT a rabbit...." he growled softly. "I'm a hybrid, and you know that makes me ONLY half." he grumbled, ears quivering angrily. "Marik doesn't want or need to be around that other lion...he hates him...You're just trying to keep us seperated..."

Dartz narrowed his eyes. "and why would you think that?" He asked, trying to keep the acting up, but he was starting to lose his temper.

Ryou sighed softly, ears drooping. "I...." Ryou shuddered and despite his ears drooping, the fur still stood on end. "Just let me have my mate back...please...you're hurting him..."

Dartz frowned. "He's hurting himself." He snapped, getting off of the bed and heading for the door.

Ryou glared after him. "No, you're hurting him by doing this! You're the one who told them to take him away! I know it was you!" he snapped in his mate's defense.

Dartz stopped in the doorway, trying to keep from exploding. "I think I know a certain skunk in need of... discipline..." He growled, then slammed the door.

Ryou jumped slightly and shook his head eyes wide. He hurried off the bed and to the door. "Please dont!" he pleaded through the locked door. "Please! Leave my friends alone!" he whimpered, pawing the door, scratching it. "Please! Dont hurt them anymore!"

"Then certain skunks should learn to keep their mouths shut..." Dartz snapped back. "RAFEL!!! GET OVER HERE!!! NOW!!!"

Ryou wailed. "Please! I'm begging you! L-leave my friends alone!" Ryou sobbed, tears running down his face as he scratched at the door. "Why are you doing this?!" he wailed, scratching all the harder. "Please stop! It wasn't Bakura! It wasn't him!"

Dartz growled and stalked to the lobby, grabbing Rafel by the arm and dragging him into a corner. "I want the golden back in with the dark lion first thing in the morning." He hissed. "And the skunk... I want him punished for opening his big mouth to the rabbit about the golden lion. And this time, do punish the skunk and not his pet rabbit. That strategy is obviously not working with him. Got it?!"

Rafel nodded rolling his eyes. "Right away sir..." he mumbled. "You're putting far too much effort into that stupid hare..." he added, annoyed, heading off to take care of Bakura.

Ryou whimpered, falling to his knees by the door, his fingers raw from trying to claw his way through the door, his claws chipped and aching from being broken against the hard wooden surface. "T-Tuc..." he mewled, noting that his fingers were bleeding in some places, due to either his claws breaking, or splinters.

Tuc got up and nuzzled his mate, before hopping over to Ryou and sitting by his side, waiting for Ryou to express what he wanted.

Ryou curled up near his friend and sniffled. "I dont know...what I'd do without you..." he murmured, grooming his friend's ears, smiling as Nod decided to weakly hop over to join them. "You too Nod..." he cooed, hugging them careful of his sore fingers.

"I dont know what I'm going to do..." he whispered, nuzzling Nod. "Are you ok?"

Nod looked up and licked the tears from Ryou's cheeks, and just started loving on him. Tuc nuzzled Ryou and started gently licking his fingertips.

Ryou hissed and whimpered pulling his hands away, tucking them into his kimono's fabric. "Dont...it hurts too much..." he said softly, licking Tuc slightly.

Tuc pouted and his ears drooped. Then, he sighed. 'Do you beleive me about him now?' He asked, cocking his head.

Ryou sighed. "Y-yes...I'm sorry, I guess...I'm just not a very good judge of character..." he mumbled sighing. "It's no wonder Marik is so protective of me...I'd walk right into a slaughterhouse just because someone asked me to…"

Tuc sighed and nuzzled Ryou. 'It's okay... but try not to walk into a slaughterhouse, hm? It would break the lunkhead's heart.'

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Said lunkhead was currently fast asleep in isolation, and Malik and Kheti were curled up sleeping as well. But poor Bakura was pacing in the detention kennels after attacking Constantine in an attempt to save Marik from being raped.

Rafel opened the kennel and grabbed Bakura harshly. "You just don’t care about that rat at all do you?" He hissed, glaring. "Well now you, and the little rat are both paying." he growled dragging Bakura down the hall. "You want to attack something? Well now you can." He hissed, as he roughly dragged Bakura down the hall.

Once they'd reached the end, he opened a door and smirked. "Alright boys..." he said smirking as a group of dobermans looked up, smirking. "Have at him." he said, tossing the skunk amongst them like a slab of meat.

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Ryou's door banged open and he squeaked in fear when he found himself face to face with Daisuke.

"Time for your checkup..." The man chuckled, and siezed Ryou by the ears.

Ryou gasped, wincing. "Put me down!" he squeaked, struggling to pull away, clinging to the doorframe, despite his sore fingers. "I dont want to!"

Dai gave Ryou a good jerk, making him cry out as that hurt his fingers. He carried him towards the elevator and pressed the button to go down, but as they waited, Rafel came around the corner... dragging Bakura by the tail. And the sight of the skunk nearly made Ryou hysterical; he was completely limp and bloody, and his breathing was raspy and labored. He left a trail of blood smeared across the floor as he was dragged. Dai looked him over, and snorted.

"Dartz is gonna kill you for making a mess like this in the hall." Dai told Rafel.

Rafel chuckled slightly. "Only if he sees it before I clean it up...it's just tile here." he said amused.

Ryou shook his head. "BAKURA!" he wailed, squirming to get away, to tend to his friend. "What did you do to him?! BAKURA!"

The skunk groaned and slowly lifted his head, looking up at Ryou. He gave the bunny a weak smile.

"... Hey Thumper..." He managed to force out, before his head dropped again. The skunk sighed and groaned, clutching his mangled arm. Dai snorted.

"I don't think that's what Dartz had in mind when he told you to punish the skunk, Rafel... it will be hell trying to keep him from scarring..." He complained.

Rafel rolled his eyes. "Hey skunk, feel like telling anyone anything about anything ever again?" he asked smugly. "Or should I just toss you back to the dobermans now?"

Bakura groaned. "I feel like telling certain somebodies to kiss my furry deoderized ass..." He mumbled, and Dai rolled his eyes.

Rafel chuckled. "Oh well in that case..." he began whistling a happy tune, did an about-face and began walking back to the doberman room. "Heh, I'm having such a GREAT day!"

Dai glared as Bakura gave a frightened cry and began to struggle. "Rafel, you ass. Bring him back here. He's gonna bleed to death if you don't bring him down to the lab right now. And Dartz will kill us BOTH if he dies!!!"

Rafel chuckled. "I'll bring him down in a minute, I'm gonna let one of the guys kick him around just a bit more." He said firmly. "Since he had to be smart about it."

Ryou struggled harder. "BAKURA! NO! Leave him alone! Please!"

Dai frowned. "Rafel... just fuckin' bring him now..." He sighed in a bored tone as the elevator opened. "I need to start working on him if he's gonna live..." Bakura whimpered. "Nothing you do will stop him from being a smart ass. He was that way from the beginning."

Rafel rolled his eyes. "I said I would in a minute, besides, that elevator isn't really big enough for the four of us, I'll clean up this blood and bring the damn rat down once you're ready for him." he grumbled, unhappy at having his fun spoiled. "I really doubt Dartz would care if ONE rat died..." he mumbled under his breath.

Ryou whimpered as the elevator doors closed and he squirmed more. "Put me down! I don’t need a check up!"

"Shut up!" Dai snapped, slapping Ryou's face. "I don't want to put up with your whining!"

Ryou yelped and snapped at Daisuke, squirming more. "PUT ME DOWN!" he yowled, clicking at Daisuke angrilly. "You monster! Put me down now!"

"Oh, shut up! Just ONCE!!!" The man bellowed. "Or I'll be taking that lady rabbit of your in again!"

Ryou growled at him, baring his teeth. "You wouldn't dare..." he said glaring. "I'd do far more than squirming and whining if you touch Tuc or Nod ever again!"

Dai smirked. "It's only a matter of time, my dear... I must finish what I started..."

At that, Ryou bit Daisuke's hand as hard as he could.

"YAAH!!" The man roared, and still holding Ryou by the ears, slammed his head into the wall, jerked his hand away, threw him to the floor and kicked him harshly in the side.

Ryou winced and curled up whimpering in pain. "Bastard..." he mumbled painfully, glaring at Daisuke. "Why cant you just go to prison already?!" he forced himself to sit up slowly, feeling a bit disoriented from hitting his head.

Dai snorted and snatched Ryou's ears, picking him up as the elevator opened and carrying him to the lab. Inside, there were several hybrids curled up shaking in small kennels, and an empty table with straps, just waiting... and sure enough, this was where Dai carried Ryou...

Ryou scrambled to get away as soon as Daisuke put him on the table. "No!" he shrieked, shaking his head as he rushed as fast as his injured body would take him to the door. He pulled on the door handle and threw open the door.

"GOTCHA!!" Rafel yelped, snatching Ryou up by the ears and carrying him in, dragging Bakura by the tail, who was sporting some fresh injuries and was whining in pain.

Ryou squirmed. "put me down!" he wailed as Rafel chuckled and closed the door behind them, locking it and tossing Bakura down, knowing the skunk was far too weakened to even pretend to escape. "Yeah yeah..." he grumbled, slamming Ryou down on the table and holding him down.

"Thank you." Dai said, quickly strapping Ryou down. "Put the skunk over there." He said, gesturing to another table. "I'll get to him in a moment. And... Bring down the lion, eh? Gotta give him an injection too. Preferably sooner than later. He's still konked out, right?" He asked, looking over several small jars full of colored serums.

Rafel chuckled. "What's on the science channel today Dai?" He asked, hefting Bakura up by his tail, roughly tossing him onto the table and strapping him down.

"The usual... genetic tinkering... patching up hybrids that got on your bad side..." He glanced pointedly at Bakura as he snatched up the proper vial. "Basically, this rabbit isn't... rabbity enough. So I'm introducing some more rabbit DNA into his system, courtesy of his little rabbit friend." He chuckled at Ryou. "You can call your little companion 'dad' by now!"

Ryou glared. "Leave me alone!" he howled struggling. "I'm more rabbit than I care to be!" he grumbled, craning his neck to begin chewing at the restraints, the straps easily gnawable to him.

Rafel laughed. "God for a rabbit he's got a lot of kick to him...you sure he's not a jackrabbit?" he chuckled, purposely poking Bakura in painful places.

"This is EXACTLY why I'm giving him more rabbit DNA." He said "And the lion is next." He turned when Rafel howled, and laughed when he saw the man's finger in Bakura's teeth. "You deserved that!"

Rafel punched Bakura in the gut harshly, causing the skunk to gasp in pain, releasing his finger. "and he deserved that." he replied shortly, tugging Bakura's ears harshly. "You need to come up with something to get that damn rabbit to just love Dartz already, this whole thing is getting ridiculous." he mumbled boredly, tormenting Bakura.

Ryou growled, glaring at Rafel. "I HAVE a mate!" he yowled, freeing a hand and swinging it at Daisuke fiercely.

Dai chuckled and caught the hand. "Oh... I have JUST the thing for that..." He drawled, grinning at Ryou. "Stop hurting the skunk, Rafel... he sounds like he may have a punctured lung."

Rafel chuckled. "Good, then maybe he'll quit blowing all that hot-air." he said laughing harshly. "Hopefully now he knows to keep his big mouth shut, and just worry about himself." He added smirking at Bakura proudly. "I'm sure the Dobermans would love to play with you more, but next time you're out of line, I'm just going feeding that genetic rat of yours to it, and this time I wont save it." he added smirking.

Ryou gasped. "S-Spunky?! What did you do to him?! Leave them alone! Please just leave everyone alone!" he wailed, lunging forward, trying to bite Daisuke once more.

Dai sighed and smacked Ryou again before strapping his hand down again and filling the syringe. Bakura let out a howl of pain and he whirled. "RAFEL!!! THE LION! FETCH!!!"

Rafel growled. "Pissy scientist. God." he grumbled, storming out to get Marik.

Ryou's eyes widened and he struggled more. "N-no! I dont need to be more rabbit!" he whimpered, ears back in utter terror. "Please! I'm good how I am! I-I don’t need any more tinkering with!"

"That's not for you to decide." Dai said, disinfecting an area on Ryou's arm after locating the vein. Then he stuck him with the needle and injected the serum before turning back to look for another bottle. "Okaaay... lion lion lion..."
Ryou hissed in pain and struggled, a frighteningly familiar burning sensation starting to spread through his arm.

At that moment Rafel opened the door, carrying Marik in. Ryou wailed. "MARIK!" he whimpered, hoping his lover was awake, hoping that he'd somehow rescue him.
"Don't bother..." Dai chuckled, helping Dai lay Marik out on the last available table. The lion was limp and unresponsive. "This is one exhausted pussy cat!" He snickered and looked at Ryou. "A good fuck can do that to someone..."

Ryou glared, ears back. "You mean a rape." He growled. "He doesn't love that other lion at all! I know he doesn't, he told me so himself!" he gasped, trembling slightly. It burnt so badly! "MARIK!" he whined, tears stinging his eyes.

"Oh, shut up..." Dai snarled, rolling his eyes and filling another syringe. "You're such a whiny little bitch..." And he jabbed the needle into Marik's arm. Bakura blinked slowly from where he lay.

Ryou's whimpers grew, tears sliding down his cheeks. "i-it hurts..." he whimpered softly, his body trembling from the stress of another genetic altering shot.

Rafel chuckled. "Lucky lion, he's dead out cold."

Da smirked and unstrapped Ryou, carrying him over to an empty kennel and dumping him in. Then he looked at Rafel. "Do be a good man and return this poor beast to his... loving mate..." He chuckled, grinning at Ryou and stroking Marik's mane.

Ryou forced himself to sit up, shaking terribly. his vision fuzzing. "MARIK!" he wailed, falling into a fit of coughs. "MARIK!" he sobbed, trying feebly with sore fingers to pry open the lock, despite being hardly able to make out the bars and lock at all.

Dai grinned at Ryou's misery as he moved over to start tending to Bakura's injuries. "Go on, Rafel... I know you enjoy seeing the rabbit's misery... but Constantine must be missing his precious mate..."

Ryou fell against the bars sobbing as Rafel left, his hoarse whines slowly fading until there was only sniffles, in Ryou's silent dark world. 'Marik....'

Rafel carried Marik into the elevator and they were lifted up to the dormitories. The door opened and he hefted the lion up into his arms and headed for Constantine's cage. He kicked the door to wake the napping lion.

Constantine stretched languidly. "Oh, brought him back did you?" He asked, sniffing Marik as Rafel put him down. "So, he's gonna be all...out of it for a while?" He asked simply curling up around him.

Rafel nodded. "Yes. He's been given more lion DNA. He'll be blind, deaf and unable to speak for a few days." He smirked and scratched Constantine's ears. "It's up to you to take care of him. Make him rely on you."

Constantine nodded. "Have that idiot human you serve do the same for that stupid rat..." he grumbled, resting his head on Marik's back. "I cant break them apart if they're not being broken from both sides."

Rafel smirked. "Oh, he's getting the same treatment. And Daisuke has something up his sleeve for them to, but I don't know what..."

Constantine smirked. "Sounds fun..."

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Dartz, Daisuke and Rafel all rode the elevator down to the labs as soon as they arrived the next morning. They walked into the lab and looked around at all of the blind and deaf hybrids, several of them mewling softly, unable to make more noise than that.

Rafel rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "I don’t see why we have to keep dealing with this stupid rat of yours. Couldn't you just pick a more willing hybrid? You've got quite a few to choose from." He grumbled, as they walked through the lab.

Ryou was curled up, trembling in the back of his kennel, nursing sore hands, which, although the splinters had been removed, the claws were still unkept, and he would scratch himself on accident, or bits of claw would bend in most unpleasant ways.

Dartz frowned. "Oh, the poor thing..." He breathed, then glared at Rafel. "And you keep your mouth shut before I decide to demote you to janitor!" He threatened, opening Ryou's kennel and gripping his upper arms, pulling him out and into his arms where he cuddled him gently.

Rafel growled, mumbling a few curses under his breath.

Ryou squirmed, trembling even harder. He shook his head and squirmed harder, he squirmed free and gave a yelping whine when he fell to the floor, hopping with an awkward limp away slowly, trying to not run into anything.

"See?! Jeeze." Rafel grumbled.

Dartz sighed. "Just take the skunk back to his cage." He said, scooping Ryou up and cuddling him, kissing his cheek and carrying him to the elevator. "Shhh... it's okay, little guy...."

Ryou made many displeased mewls, squirming harder. 'No...put me down! I'd rather be alone in this wretched darkness than near you like this...' he whimpered in his mind. He squirmed loose once more, wincing and forcing himself up after another fall from Dartz's arms, and hopping blindly in the elevator, mewling softly upon discovery there was no exit from the small square room.

Dartz walked in after Ryou and the doors shut. Then he stood there and watched the poor blind bunny.

"Stop your whining..." He growled. He knew Ryou couldn't hear him, so now was a good time to voice his frustration without scaring Ryou away from him for good. "You are mine... you will NEVER see your mate again! He will spend the rest of his life getting fucked, and you will spend your life as mine! Until you die!... or until I get sick of you. Then you'll be nothing but a whore..." He felt like kicking the little rabbit in his rage, but he held off.

Ryou however, bristled and became very still, backing into the corner, staring with blind eyes at Dartz. He couldn't hear, but he could sense the tension in the air and it only caused the poor youth to tremble more, and hunch down pathetically.

'Marik...Marik I'm scared...I..I cant see...I cant see him, I know it's him...Marik I'm scared...' he whimpered and tried to melt into the wall, desperate to get away from the pale haired man.

When the elevator stopped, Dartz quickly scooped Ryou up and held him firmly, walking out and towards the boy's room. He opened the door and walked in, plopping Ryou onto the bed, then moving away. A moment later, Ryou felt Tuc and Nod being set down beside him, Dartz holding them by the ears to stay safe. Then he gently pet Ryou's hair.

Ryou twitched, leaning away. 'T-Tuc....I'm scared...please...' his distress was evident in his actions, as he slowly felt his way away from Dartz, inching along as he felt that it was safe. 'H-he's going to take me from Marik! I cant see...I cant hear! I'm helpless..'

the man left the room and Ryou breathed a sigh of releif, but he returned moments later with a steaming bowl of vegetable soup. He walked over and picked up a spoonful, blowing on it a bit, then brushed it over Ryou's lips to let him know it was there.

Ryou pulled away once more. 'I'd rather starve than eat anything YOU offer me...horrible kidnapping mate-seperating man....' he growled softly, and inched away once more.

Nod looked at Tuc worriedly. 'what are we supposed to do now?..' She looked at Dartz and flicked an ear. 'He's obviously pretty frustrated as it is...you don’t suppose he's going to hurt Ryou do you?'

'I wouldn't put it past him...' Tuc confessed. 'Look what he did to the lunkhead!'

Nod flicked her ears once more. 'he's even worse than the last owner Ryou had. We really need to get him some instincts or something...his abilities to sense danger are weak at best...' she scratched her ears and watched Ryou crawl away from Dartz once more, refusing another attempt at being fed, despite his obvious lack of being fed prior.

'Oh my! Tuc he's going to--!' THUNK! '...fall off the bed...'

Tuc winced and sighed, rolling his eyes slightly and watching Ryou disappear under the bed. He glared at Dartz. 'Give up, moron. He doesn't want you.' And finally, Dartz set the soup down on a desk and stormed out, slamming the door. Tuc sighed.

Nod sighed as well. 'Come on then Tuc...we cant let the poor thing starve himself.' she said hopping down the ramp and nudging Ryou out, gently licking his cheek, and trying to guide him.

Tuc quickly joined her, comforting Ryou with licks and nuzzles, trying to nudge him in the direction of the soup. 'C'mon... You have to eat. The lunkhead won't like to hear of you starving yourself...'

Ryou whimpered softly, slowly and cautiously following his beloved friends, back up the ramp and into the bed. His ears perked, as if he were trying to listen to something, before they drooped. 'I'm so scared...i-is he gone? a-are you both alright?' Ryou curled up, pulling the blanket over himself and beginning to lick at his sore fingers.

Nod nuzzled him. 'You know, he's just like a little tyke...in fact he's practically our little tyke...' she said giving Tuc an amused look. 'we really should have taken better care of him...it's hardly a wonder he's got no clue...has he even got parents?' She said thoughtfully, tilting her head. 'come to think of it, I've never seen him with a human parent...you dont suppose he's the runt do you?'

'Certainly seems to be. He's smaller than most other humans.' Tuc nodded. 'And he's weaker than the others. He was bullied by a jackrabbit, you know.'

'You dont suppose his human parents saw what a runt he is and abandoned him do you?' She asked, beginning to groom Ryou's ears. 'Poor thing...'

Tuc frowned. 'It's always possible... these humans are so... fickle and picky.' Tuc replied, looking at the steaming bowl of soup across the room. 'He has to eat if he hopes to grow.'

Nod sighed and nuzzled into Ryou, who had already started to doze. 'Lets take him in.' She said suddenly.

Tuc's ears shot straight up. 'What?!

Nod flicked her ears. 'You know exactly what! He's clearly orphaned...lets take him in.'

'Nod, he... he's grown and mated!' Tuc whined, bewildered.

Nod sat up and gave Tuc a displeased look. 'He most certainly is not! By human standards he's barely grown at all, and it's clear his parents have abandoned him...besides, how could you possibly say no? You're responsible for him...he's your offspring.'

Tuc's ears shot up once again. 'HE'S NOT MY KID!!!' Tuc all but shouted out loud. He thumped his foot. 'They made him from me, so what?! He's he's... Noooood!'

Nod thumped her foot in return. 'He's yours! You've a responsibility! We've put it off for far too long. You KNOW it's the right thing to do.' She said warningly. 'He's completly clueless! He has no idea how to function as a rabbit, you and I should be nurturing him, oh I just KNEW that you'd do this!' she said turning away, her ears flicking. 'How can you turn away your own flesh and blood? He might not be born your child, but he is your child now, and you owe it to him to act like the father he doesn't have.'

'Nod! We're rabbits! And he's... well... he's... MOSTLY human!!!' Tuc whined. 'And he's like... FIFTY times our size!!!'

Nod thumped her foot once more. 'You're so impossible!' she huffed, nuzzling Ryou and licking his cheek. 'Fine, dont nurture him, or teach him anything he needs to know, just let him end up getting himself killed because you wouldn't take him in when no one else would.' She said glaring over her shoulder.

Tuc sighed and drooped. 'I wouldn't abandon him, it's just... oh, nevermind...' He nuzzled Ryou's cheek. 'Let's try to get him over to the food...'

Nod nuzzled Tuc slightly. 'I know he's a human Tuc...but he's a rabbit too...and it's time we helped him appreciate that. Besides...if we dont, sooner or later he'll get in trouble too deep for the previous master, and that one with the bird to dig him out of.' She licked his nose.

'Lets just try...We both owe him that much...'

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Malik and Kheti woke to Dust chittering excitedly. And it wasn't the good kind of excited either. They lifted their heads in time to see Rafel with Bakura, and Malik stared. The man was once again dragging the skunk by the tail, and Bakura was covered in bruises and bloody bandages, and was grimacing in pain, whimpering every now and then.

Malik growled, bristling and rushing to the glass. "What did you do to him?!

Rafel looked at Malik, then smirked. "He opened his big mouth and had to be punished. So I tossed him to the guard dogs for a bit..." He explained.

Malik snarled and charged the glass, trying to get at Rafel. "Why you filthy stinking bastard!" he howled. Kheti tackled Malik and held him back. "Malik stop..." she whispered harshly. "You'll only end up making things worse." She added, scolding him.

Spunky however was livid. He paced the front of Bakura's cage, pawing and trying to dig through the glass.

Rafel grinned at Malik, feeling like tormenting him again. "This is what happened when he doesn't keep his mouth shut... when he sabotages the plans of your master!" Bakura yelped as Rafel slammed him up against the glass front of Kheti's cage, and Dust went ballistic. The skunk groaned in pain and squirmed, staring at his mate.

Malik twitched furiously, but Kheti held him firmly in place. "Malik..." She said soothingly, grooming his ears. "Just don’t pay attention..." She whispered.

Malik growled, ears tilting back. Spunky shrieked, clicking and pawing harder, soft scratching noises becoming louder against glass.

Rafel chuckled and dropped Bakura, who hit the floor with a pained yelp.

"So..." He said, looking at Malik. "Did you enjoy fucking your vixen friend here?" He asked slyly. Bakura's eyes widened and he stared at Malik in shock.

Malik snarled once more and lunged for the glass, yelping loudly when Kheti caught his tail in her mouth and pulled him harshly back. "Malik!" she growled, ears back. "Don’t listen to him!"

"Oh, I'm sorry..." Rafel drawled sarcastically. "Were you planning on keeping that from your mate? Keeping it a... secret?" Bakura stared at Malik, looking almost hurt.

Malik growled. "There's a big difference between fucking someone and loving someone..." he sneered, tail lashing in Kheti's mouth. "She's my friend, but I couldn't love her... I love Bakura. Besides, we BOTH already have mates...it's hardly something Bakura would need to worry about."

Kheti nodded, keeping Malik firmly pulled back.

Rafel laughed. "Maybe. But the question was... were you going to hide what you had done from your mate? Or tell him that you fucked the bitch?" Bakura frowned slightly, waiting for Malik to answer.

"Of COURSE I'd tell him! He has a right to know what happened. But he also knows what position we're in..." Malik said coldly. "Trying to make me look like the bad guy when we're in a whorehouse isn't going to work. I love Bakura, and he's the only one I love."

Rafel smirked, despite his anger. "Riiiight... well tell me... did HE tell YOU that HE got fucked?" He asked suddenly. Bakura's ears shot up and his eyes widened dramatically.

Malik flicked his ears calmly. "We're in a whorehouse. What he does is his business, as long as he loves me, I don’t care."

"So... He DIDN'T tell you... Aren't mates supposed to be truthful? Hmmm... So I guess that means he didn't tell you that he liked it..." Bakura lowered his head and hid his face. "That he liked what was done to him... moaned like a bitch in heat and begged for more... heh... when he wasn't gagged, that is... apparently, your mate likes bondage. And likes to be dominated..."

Malik narrowed his eyes at Rafel. "Bakura...do you love me?" He asked softly.

Bakura curled up tighter for a moment, then raised his head and looked at Malik. He smiled despite his pain, and nodded. "Always." He said softly, then yelped in pain when Rafel growled and kicked him harshly in his bandaged ribs.

"Who said you could talk, rat?!" He snapped, watching Bakura writhe, whining in pain.

Malik smiled. "Then I don’t care if you enjoyed it. After all, if you're gonna have to do it, you may as well have a little fun...we'll have interesting stories when we get home." He said calming down, though he still glared at Rafel.

Bakura smiled weakly at Malik. "I love you--AARH!!" He howled as Rafel kicked him several more times.

"You will not speak without permission!" Rafel roared, then seized Bakura's tail and jerked him to his cage, opened the door and literally flung him in.

Malik hissed, glaring at Rafel, ears and tail bristling more than they ever had before.

Spunky rushed to his beloved care-giver and clicked at Rafel warningly. 'leave him alone!'

Rafel snorted and slammed Bakura's door, muttering about how much he'd like to toss Spunky to the dobermans, then left, casting a glare at Malik and Kheti.

"Spunky..." Bakura whimpered, turning and nuzzling the baby. He smiled. "You've... grown so much..." Spunky was half the size of Tuc and Nod now... much bigger than when then had first come to the Twilight Menagerie. He was hardly a baby anymore, but that didn't matter to Bakura.

Spunky nuzzled Bakura and began nursing his injuries, mothering Bakura for once. He made soft pleased noises, as he slowly cleaned Bakura up.

Bakura smiled and let Spunky do as he pleased. "thank you, Spunky..." He said softly, then reached out, wincing, and gently pet the bunny, then pulled him into his chest and curled up around him, nuzzling him. "My little Spunky Bunny..."

Spunky nuzzled into Bakura and yawned contently. "daddy..."

Bakura smiled and closed his eyes, sighing and relaxing. Wait... His eyes shot open and stared at Spunky. "What... did you say?!" He gasped, and lifted his head. "Did you just...?!"

Spunky raised an ear confusedly. He flicked his tail and tilted his head to the side.

Bakura let out a yelp and leapt to his feet, despite the pain. "Malik!! MAAAALIIIIK!!!"

Malik blinked and looked at Bakura. "Bakura lay down! Jeeze you just got the snot beat out of you and you're running around like a lunatic!" he scolded slightly. "What's wrong?"

"Spunky! Spunky!" Bakura blurted, running around like a lunatic, just as Malik had said. "He talked! He spoke! He said 'daddy'! He called me daddy!!! Holy shit, he can talk!!!"

Malik groaned. "Bakura! He's a rabbit. Rabbits can’t talk...calm down you're just hearing things." he explained calmly.

"He did! He did he did he did!!!" Bakura howled.

"BAKURA!!! Shut up and go to sleep! And whatever you're on... give me some. I'm SO bored!" Otogi called.

"He talked! I swear it!!!" Bakura howled.

"I didn't hear anything." Malik said flicking his ears. "And I've got the biggest ears around..."

Kheti nodded. "No one heard anything but you Bakura..."

"Well YEAH!!! He's right here NEXT to me!" He ran over and scooped Spunky up. "Spunky, say daddy for MamaMalik! Say Daddy!"

Spunky blinked and scratched his ear, beginning to groom his fur while Bakura held him.

Malik snickered. "See? he can’t talk, you're just imagining things..."

Bakura whined. "I am NOT!!!" He howled. "I swear! He did! Come on Spunky! Do it for Daddy! Who am I? Hmm? Who am I?"

Spunky squeaked softly, and licked Bakura's hand calmly.

Malik laughed. "That's it Spunky, tell old 'squeak' his name!"

Bakura whined and looked at Spunky. “C’mon, baby… you gonna let mean ol’ Malik talk to me like that? Come on, baby… say daddy!”

Spunky yawned once more and nuzzled into Bakura's hands, seemingly disinterested in whatever his weird dad was doing.

Malik laughed harder. "Riiiight."

Bakura pouted. "Come on, Malik! He did say it!! He did! He really really did!!!"

Malik chuckled. "Then why can’t he say it again? Face it Bakura you imagined it."

Bakura pouted and returned to his bed, curling up with Spunky again.

Spunky nuzzled into Bakura yawning once more. "Daddy..."

Bakura shot straight out of bed and poor Spunky found himself pressed up against the glass of the cage. "He said it again!!!" Bakura was howling, and many other hybrids were starting to get annoyed. "He said it again!!!"

Malik rolled his eyes. "For Ra's sake Bakura give it a rest, he did not! You're hearing things, no one believes you!"

"He did toooooooooooo!" Bakura whined. "Come on, Malik! Would I lie to you?!"

Malik scratched his ear. "Before or after the fact that Rafel told me you didn't tell me you had hot sex with someone else?" He teased.

Bakura frowned. "Malik..." He whined. "I... I'm sorry... I... You knew I was taken away to be... screwed, I... Malik..." He sounded very guilty and put Spunky down. He sighed and slunk back into his bed, curling up, depressed.

Spunky hopped after Bakura and licked his cheek. "Daddy..." he chirped.

Bakura's eyes snapped open again and he stared at Spunky. "Maaaaaaaaliiiiiiiiiik!!!" He whined. "He said it again!!!!"

"He did not!" Malik shouted back. "Quiet down!"

"Did toooooooo!" Bakura whined, and other hybrids around started shouting and whining for him to shut up.

Spunky licked Bakura lovingly, and cooed. "Daddy.... daddy.... daddy..."

Bakura stared at Spunky with wide eyes, that suddenly filled with tears. The skunk finally scooped up the baby bunny and began sobbing, licking and nuzzling Spunky.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When Marik woke up to find himself in silent darkness, it was frightening to say the least. The last thing he remembered was curling up with Ryou in a warm bed. But now, he felt no one beside him, and he was in a pet bed, not Ryou's bed. He mewled, and grew even more upset when he was unable to hear his own tiny plea.

Constantine sat up and smirked. "Oh, woke up did ya?" He murmured walking over and curling up around Marik, beginning to calmly groom him. "Now what? You're stuck with me..." he chuckled, giving his 'mate' the most tender loving care.

Marik mewed again, squirming a bit. But he was cold, and helpless. And he was still aching from the rape. But he also now knew where he was. The rough tongue could only belong to another cat. And that could only be Constantine. Marik shivered in both the cold, and fear. He was torn between cuddling into the warmth that the other lion provided, and running to a corner where he would be away from his rapist... and he decided on the latter choice. Marik quickly whined and scuttled away, tripping over the edge of the bed and bumping his head on the wall before finally curling up in the corner, shaking and mewling for his mate, looking around blindly for help that would not come.

Constantine got up calmly, and picked Marik up by the scruff of his neck, much like a lion carrying a cub, and carefully dragged him back to the petbed, curling around him once more, protectively. He purred calmly, bathing the frightened lion once more.

"Mrooowl!!" Marik whined, and squirmed, much like a cub trying to escape his bath. But it soon became clear to Marik that Constantine wouldn't be letting him go any time soon. And he also knew that continuing to fight would anger him... and that frightened Marik. The lion mewled again and curled up as small as he could, resigning himself to getting bathed by the larger male. Though he had to admit... he was nice and warm, and it felt good... The lion hooded his eyes, and absentmindedly began to purr.

Constantine licked his cheek calmly. "That's right, trust me, I'm all you'll have..." he said chuckling and continuing. It was only a matter of time, before Marik saw the light.

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Okay everyone, read and review!!! That’s what I want for Christmas! And not just this fic and Tales of Arabian Nights, but Vengeance of Sethos and the final chapter of Ahmose Inarus! Merry Christmas!!!

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