Twilight Menagerie

Twilight Menagerie

Mally-chan and hato chiisai

Disclaimer: We own nothing. Nothing at all

YAOI WARNING!!!

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Chapter 17

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Tuc was flat on his back, snoring, when Ryou finally woke up to find his hearing back. Tuc's snoring was what had woken him.

Ryou laughed silently and felt around for his companions. He picked up Tuc and rubbed noses with him. 'you sleep loudly.' he said without words, licking his cheek.

Tuc snorted and woke up, shaking his head and slowly rolling over. 'Do not....'

Ryou however, couldn't see so couldn't tell Tuc had responded at all. 'you snore so loud! Woke me up!' he smiled warmly and curled up with Tuc and Nod once more, yawning.

Tuc sighed and rolled his eyes, nuzzling Ryou and licking his cheek. But then, his ears shot up, and he thumped his foot in warning; Dartz was coming...

Ryou's ears perked, hearing Tuc's thumping, he whimpered softly and began backing slowly off of the bed and crawled under said bed, clutching Tuc and Nod fearfully.

A moment later, the door opened, and there was a sigh. "Now honestly." Dartz huffed. "must you hide whenever I come around?"

Ryou growled softly from under the bed, before coughing and whimpering. Growling wasn't really so good on his throat. 'T-Tuc...Nod...I'm scared...'

Nod gave Tuc a worried look. 'That horrible man is nothing but trouble....'

"Ryou, I have food for you." Dartz called, trying to tempt the bunny out. "You have to come out if you want it. I'm not going to leave it in the room anymore. From now on, if you eat, it will be from my hand." He said, firmly.

Ryou huffed and remained under the bed. 'Not if it was the last hand on this planet!'

Nod shook her head and groomed Tuc worriedly. 'Tuc...What if this man refuses to feed him...We can’t let him starve...'

Dartz frowned. "That goes for your little friends, too. If you don't eat... they don't eat." He threatened.

Ryou whimpered softly, and after a moment, barely peeped out from under the bed, looking highly displeased. 'Despicable creature...'

Nod and Tuc nuzzled him and helped him as he slowly emerged from under the bed.

Dartz smiled and immediately knelt, scooping Ryou into his arms. "there's a good boy..." He crooned, sitting on the bed and holding Ryou in his lap. "Such a good little bunny..."

Ryou squirmed away, growling softly, falling into another fit of coughs. 'You said eat, not sit with.' he looked away crossly. Nod hopped into Ryou's lap and thumped her foot warningly at Dartz.

'You leave him alone, can’t you see he hates you?!'

Dartz frowned and quickly seized Tuc and Nod by the ears and locked them into their cage, then picked Ryou up again, sitting him on his lap and offering him a little peice of banana nut bread. "There you go little guy..." He cooed.

Nod clicked at Dartz angrily from the cage, thumping her foot like a worried mother. 'PUT him down!'

Ryou squirmed away once more, making displeased noises, feeling around for Tuc and Nod. He whimpered, when he found that they were out of forseeable reach. 'Tuc? ...Nod? ...Wh-where are you?!'

Tuc began thumping his foot and cliking. Dartz frowned. "Does this mean that you and your friends are not hungry?" He asked in a warning tone.

Ryou's ears drooped and he sighed. 'fine...' he pouted and opened his mouth, though he was not sitting closer than arm's reach to Dartz.

Dartz sighed and rolled his eyes. "I can't reach you." He said. "Come here."

Ryou inched forward slowly, ears back and bristling as he did so. He planted himself as soon as he felt he was within easy reach of Dartz.

Dartz wrapped an arm around Ryou and pulled him into his lap. "Stay." He ordered, and stuffed the peice of bread into the boy's mouth.

Ryou narrowed his eyes but sat obediantly and chewed the bread. 'I hate you.' he grumbled swallowing. However he was starving, and the bread was a welcome meal, even if the company wasn't.

Dartz smiled and offered Ryou a bit of carrot after that. "Good boy..." He praised. "Your skunk friend is healing well." He began to update Ryou. "But if Rafel ever throws a hybrid to the dogs again I'll fire him!" He snarled. "I'm worried about your friend's mental health, though... he seems to think that the bunny hybrid of his can talk. Calls him daddy or something... I might try to find a psychologist for him... has he ever showed signs of... mental problems, Ryou?"

Ryou blinked and shook his head, chewing the carrot slowly. His ears flicked slightly in thought, before he once again shook his head. 'no... he's not crazy... he's just... weird.'

Dartz sighed. "Well... I am concerned." He said. "I mean, I know you can talk to other rabbits, but... well... I'd hate for something to be wrong with him, he's such a magnificent creature... That little rabbit of his is fine, though. Clings to your friend like nothing else. And the little winged one is... noisy and picky from what I've heard. Your fennec friend has been moved in with the female since we're running out of room here... they get along fine. They’re curled up together every time I see them."

Ryou flicked his ears and glared at Dartz. 'What about my mate?' his ears bristled a bit, showing his displeasure.

Dartz sighed and rolled his eyes. "Your panther friend is doing fine... he's bored, though... yells at the skunk to shut up all the time..." He stalled.

Ryou's ears bristled more. ‘My Mate.’ he mouthed aggrivatedly. ‘How... is... my... mate.’ he mouthed slowly once more.

Dartz frowned. "Your lion... FRIEND..." He stressed that word. "Is about at the same stage as you, so he should be getting his hearing back soon. Constantine is taking good care of him. He keeps Marik warm and bathes him, and makes sure he can find his food and water okay... helps him to the litter box, and acts as his eyes when they go outside for their walks. Marik never leaves Constatine's side. Stays pressed up against him like a little cub to his mother."

Ryou flicked his ears. ‘My mate.’ he corrected Dartz silently, before turning away, ears quivering slightly from frustration and anger. He glared back. ‘I wont fall for your tricks anymore either... I'm not a prize to be won, or stolen.’

Dartz rolled his eyes. "But anyway, Marik has grown to rely on Constantine, and Constantine has taken very good care of him. He's starting to take solid food again, and I even heard that he was playing with Constantine's tail the other day."

Ryou smiled and his posture relaxed. 'Good... he'll be ok...' he thought sighing. He wished he could be near Marik again... to make sure Dartz was speaking the truth. ‘I want to see him.’ he mouthed silently.

Dartz chuckled. "But my dear, you can't see anything!" He teased, petting Ryou. "But how about this... when you get your sight back, I will let you see him." He said.

Ryou huffed slightly. ‘Fine, but I'm no 'dear' of yours.’ He grumbled and looked away stubbornly. ‘It was horrible of you to try and steal me from my mate...you should be ashamed.’

But of course, Dartz really couldn't keep up with Ryou's silent mouthed words... especially when he was turned away. He began to feed Ryou some fresh fruits and veggies.

Ryou accepted them slowly before eventually inching away. "I'm full." he grumbled. ‘I ate, you had your fun.’


Dartz smiled. "I'll have some fresh food sent in for your friends while I groom you, then." He said, standing and cradling Ryou. "We have GOT to do something about your poor little claws..."

Ryou grumbled and began squirming immediately. "I don’t need grooming!" he squeaked and mewled trying to get away.

Nod clicked lividly. 'PUT HIM DOWN! PUT HIM DOWN!' she attacked the bars of the small cage the whole cage shaking with the effort.

Dartz blinked and glanced at Nod, and Tuc who began freaking out as well. "You do too, you're all messy and... well... honestly my dear... you stink." And he carried Ryou from the room and down the hall.

Ryou yowled and struggled fiercely, breaking loose and speeding down the halls quickly, hopping and occasionally running into things as he went. He panted softly, ears up and alert, as he paused in a seemingly large room. He whimpered and listened. There seemed to be no sounds...He groaned softly and limped forwards a bit more. He'd hurt his arm in the desperate flee from Dartz, having ran into several things he couldn't identify.

He felt around slowly, settling on something soft and beginning to tremble. "Marik.." he mewled and sniffled softly, beginning to nurse his bleeding arm and paw.

Dartz rounded the corner and sighed at the sight of Ryou curled up on a pile of laundry. "Ryou." He said softly. "Come now... it's okay... come here..."

Ryou jumped slightly, and limped back slowly, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I want Marik!" he mouthed, wincing and falling suddenly, having used his sore arm and lost his balance.

"Come on... let's get you groomed and cleaned up... you're such a messy bunny right now." Dartz said, slowly easing closer to Ryou.

Ryou whimpered, ears falling back as he struggled to get up, falling over himself once more and shaking his head. "P-please! J-just leave me alone!"

Dartz sighed and scooped Ryou up again, hurrying to the nearest bathroom and then settiing him down in a corner, where he would hopefully feel protected. Then he began to run a bath for Ryou.

Ryou sat in the corner sniffling and whimpering. He didn't want that man near him while he was bathing, bathing and helpless...it had never felt dangerous...but now it did. Dangerous and unwelcome, frightening...

He curled up tightly, listening to Dartz slowly turn the knobs, once the tub was full. "please...n-no.."

Finally, Dartz finished and walked over to Ryou, scooping him up. "Hush now..." He said softly. "I won't hurt you..." He said, and set Ryou into the tub. "Good boy..."

Ryou sniffled but remained still, ears drooping. He couldn't help but enjoy the hot water...he'd longed for a bath for a while now. He sniffled once more...feeling vulnerable.

Dartz smiled and began bathing Ryou gently, cooing softly to him. "It's okay... it's all okay..." He kept saying. "Everything will be fine. We'll get you gorgeous again."

Ryou sniffled, letting Dartz bathe him, but trembling the entire time, fearful Dartz would take advantage of his weakened and defenseless state...

He sniffled, shivering as Dartz washed him down, the feeling was inexplicably good.

Dartz slowly moved down Ryou's back and got to his tail, then stopped. "Is this okay?" He asked. "Or would you prefer to wash yourself in this area?"

Ryou sniffled softly, nodding. "It's fine... but don’t get any ideas..." he said softly, looking down and wiping his eyes. Pegasus had proven he couldn't wash himself when he was like this... and he didn't need any further humiliation for now.

Dartz chuckled. "Of course not. I wouldn't take advantage of you like that." He said. "I know I have... broken your trust in me... and I'm sorry. I lost my temper, and... it will not happen again..."

Ryou sniffled and wiped his eyes, which only got them wet with bath water. "I'm not a posession... I'm a person..." he mumbled mutely. "I want Marik... he's my mate... I'm happy with him..."

"You are owned, Ryou." Dartz said. "But you are still your own person. You always will be. And you are free to make your own choices... to certain limits..." And he washed Ryou's front private area, then moved on to his legs.

Ryou's ears twitched calmly. "As long as I choose what YOU want." he grumbled. "Why do you insist on me? Surely there is some other creature here..." he sighed. "I'm sure there are many more beautiful, or willing unmated candidates..."

"There is none like you..." Dartz breathed. "You are perfect. Exquisite... beautiful in body and soul..." He gushed.

Ryou's cheeks pinkened and he pulled away slightly. "I'm also taken."

Dartz frowned. "A lion and a rabbit just... it could never work, baby..."

Ryou's ears bristled, despite being wet. "It always has, and even if it for some reason DIDN'T I have Master Pegasus to take care of me, he's just as much a mate to me as Marik." he huffed, crossing his arms. "There's no more room for mates... I've got more than I can handle!"

Dartz eyes widened. "W-Whah?!?!"

Ryou laughed mutely. "Didn't you know? My master Pegasus was JUST like you, he wanted me for his own! But finally gave up when he saw how much I love Marik..." he said smiling serenely. "If for some reason Marik ever DID decide to leave me, I would return to my master, who would welcome me with loving arms... he thinks I'm quite sexy."

Dartz stared at Ryou, stunned. He was blown away and speechless! "You would... go back to the man who had you made?!"

Ryou nodded. "Of course. I love my master." he answered simply, despite lack of a voice. "I was made for all the wrong reasons, but he does genuinely love me." he added smugly. "So, as you can see, I have no more room for suitors. I've got plenty."

Dartz frowned. "But you don't... Constantine has taken Marik from you and made him HIS mate... and your master is not here. He gave you away."

Ryou stuck out his tongue. "He did no such thing. I am always welcome in his home. Once my friends and I get loose, we'll go home, and if Marik still doesn't want me... heaven forbid... Then I will return to my master. It makes me happy, to see him happy." he said firmly. "Besides, you wouldn't make a good mate." He said matter-of-factly. "You have nothing to offer."

Dartz's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in fury. "N-NOTHING TO OFFER?!" He spluttered. "How dare you?!?!"

Ryou giggled at having gotten Dartz's goat, his ears quivering in mischievous glee. "Well it's true! What sort of a future would I have living in a whore house? Master Pegasus offers a lavish mansion, love and affection, good food and comfort. Marik offers love, hard work and companionship, protection and tender loving care and a warm cozy home for two..." he flicked his ears calmly.

"And I can offer all of that!!" Dartz cried, flinging his hands into the air. "Good food, lavish comfort in a large mansion! Companionship, hardwork, protection! And I can give you loving care and affection if you let me! And I can also offer any hybrid you want should you ever feel the need to hump someone and I'm not available!!!"

Ryou gave him a disinterested look. "But it's not appealing at all, I already have those things offered me, and I wouldn't want someone other than my mate, so offering another hybrid just tells me you're insufficient." he once again said matter-of-factly.

Dartz stared at Ryou, mouth flopping open and closed. "why you disrespectul unthankful little... RODENT!!!" He shouted. "I could take so much from you..." He hissed. "I could take your little rabbit friends... I could send you back up to the dormitories where you could see your mate with Constantine every day... and I could fix it so that HE would be unable to see YOU!!!"

Ryou flicked his ears and glared. "And here you acted like you were sorry." he said closing his eyes and crossing his arms. "You have nothing to offer me as a 'potential' mate, AND you have a horrid temper, plus you threaten me. charming." he said smartly. "This is why I do not like you or trust you any longer."

Dartz growled, then quickly stood, plucking Ryou from the tub. "That's it..." He hissed. "As soon as the new location opens I'm sending your precious mate there. With his NEW mate!! And you will NEVER see him again!!!" And he stormed from the bathroom, leaving Ryou cold, wet and blind.

Ryou shivered, fearing to move. Though he couldn't help the silent giggles. Oh, he'd pissed Dartz off pretty bad... He sighed softly though after a moment, worried about Marik. If Dartz sent him away...would he be ok? He shivered more and mewled softly, ears quivering, listening for any sound of movement.

His ears drooped slowly, he slowly stood and hopped towards the door, or the area where the sound of a door slamming had come from, he slowly felt around, opening the door and hopping out. "It's not my fault he's not appealing at all." he said, before bursting into more silent giggles. "Oh how I bet that burns his pride, I bet that bit a hole through that Ego of his. The rabbit turning down the suitor, because he had nothing appealing to offer." He giggled silently, hopping down the hall, listening for signs of life.

But the first sign of life he heard was NOT one he had wanted to hear. "Well well well... Lookie what we have here, Daisuke?" Rafel said from behind Ryou.

Ryou gasped and shook his head, whimpering and instantly backing away from Rafel's voice.

"If it isn't the little white rabbit..." Rafel said snatching Ryou up by the ears. "What are YOU doing out of your room?" he added amusedly, as Ryou shivered and trembled from his grasp.

Ryou whimpered softly, squirming and wincing pleading silently to be put down.

Dai smirked. "I do beleive that he still can't see..." He taunted, tugging Ryou's tail. "He's all wet... must have just had his bath." Then, Dai frowned. "so where's Dartz?"

Ryou whimpered squirming. "He left me in there." he mouthed cringing away from Daisuke.

Rafel chuckled. "Want to make a special delivery to the boss? From the look of things, I bet this bunny could use some bonding time with his 'mate'."

Ryou snapped at Rafel's hand. "I am NOT his mate!"

Dai laughed. "Ooh! Watch it! He bites!!! Now now, Ryou... it's all okay." He said, petting Ryou. "Come. We will take you to Dartz." And they headed down the hall.

Ryou winced slightly as they walked, and grumbled. "He's NOT my mate!" he huffed crossing his arms as they finally reached Dartz's office. Rafel burst in smirking. "Special delivery. Seems you forgot this little rat in the bathroom." he said plunking Ryou down on Dartz's desk.

He wiped his hand on his pants and headed for the door.

Ryou grumbled crossing his arms, huffing. "ass." he grumbled at the sound of Rafel and Daisuke's exit. His ears twitched, trying to pick up sounds of Dartz...

Dartz blinked at the sopping wet bunny sitting in the middle of his desk. "Rafel! Wait!" He called to the man, and both men stopped. "I have decided to move both lions to the new location when it opens." He said.

Rafel nodded. "Sure sure....I'll tell that little twerp Varon about it." He mumbled offhandedly. "I'm sure we all knew that was going to happen." he added sarcastically.

Ryou had to bite back giggles at that, so he wasn't the only one who thought Dartz was being ridiculous...

Dartz glared. "Keep this up and I'll move YOU to the new location, too..." He snapped.

Rafel snickered as he exited, at this point Ryou couldn't falling to his side on the desk, giggling.

Dartz eyed Ryou. "And WHAT is so funny?" He asked.

Ryou snickered covering his mouth amusedly. "Even your workers think you're being silly!" he blurted voicelessly.

Dartz glared, then seized Ryou's hand and began to feverishly groom his claws.

Ryou however kept giggling. "That's so funny..." he mewled softly pulling his hand away and wiping his eyes. "Why must you persist? Even your workers are making lightly of you..." he giggled sitting up slowly, regaining his composure. "And besides, you've nothing to offer me, and I think that Rafel agrees with me..." he had to cover his mouth, to stop another wave of giggles.

Dartz growled and seized Ryou's ears. "I have tried to be nice... but you have pushed me too far. Let me make this quite clear... You do NOT have a choice! You will not see that lion, or your master again!! EVER!!!"

Ryou gave Dartz an indignant look. "Even if I don’t, you still offer nothing, and are undesireable." he choked back another wave of giggles, knowing this must be literally eating holes through Dartz's ego.

Dartz stopped grooming Ryou and put his head in his hands. "What do you want from me?!" He gasped. "I offer you everything I can! A home, love, comfort, protection, security... I offer you daily groomings! Your own room! Is it not good enough?! I'll get you a bigger one! A better one! With a bathroom TWICE as glamorous! Your own garden with a fountain and roses, and... ANYTHING!!! Dozens of rabbits to care for!"

Ryou blinked, shocked, ears falling back against his head, a dark blush creeping up his cheeks. Crap... Dartz offered something appealing, and otherwise unoffered....

Ryou backed away slightly, blushing. Great... he'd just found leverage into attempting to become a mate. Ryou shook his head... maybe he wouldn't realize it since he was so frustrated... and give up.

Dartz stared at Ryou, and his blush... hope perked up in him. He though about rabbits... what was appealing to them?! What about the female rabbits?! They liked being protected... they liked being... dominated... Dartz slowly stood and gripped Ryou's upper arms, then forced him back onto the desktop, covering the bunny's body with his own, and kissed him, forcefully. The kiss was long, and hot, and when Dartz finally released Ryou, he stared down at him, determined. "I can offer you all that... and much, MUCH more...." He hissed.

Ryou squirmed softly, blushing and whimpering. Damn! He hated to admit it, but no matter how many times that happened, it was just as wonderful each time, no matter who did it... or who's desk it was on for that matter... or linen closet... or limo... or bed...

Ryou shook his head. 'snap out of it!' he made displeased noises, but his struggles had ceased in that...moment of reminiscing. 'Stop acting like a horny rabbit! What about Marik?!' Ryou squirmed slightly once more.

Dartz's hands trailed down Ryou's body as he leaned in and kissed him again, his tongue invading Ryou's mouth. He climbed onto the desk and hung over Ryou, kissing him over and over again.

Ryou gasped, mewling into the kisses and squirming, half in pleasure, half in struggle. 'Snap out of it! Marik! Marik! MARIK!' Ryou shouted in his mind. He panted softly, ears quivering just slightly. 'Damn you hormones! Damn you! Stupid rabbits! Stupid hormones! stupid stupid stupid!' Ryou shoved Dartz slightly. "N-no..." he whimpered shaking his head, eyes wide.

Ryou looked relieved. ‘Thank you... good decision...Marik's better...yeah...' Ryou shoved just a bit harder against Dartz's chest. "Please...no..."

"why?" Dartz panted, grasping Ryou's hand and holding them to his chest. "I could give you everything! Everything you could ever want!!!"

Ryou swallowed hard, panting slowly dying down. "Wh-what about that doe? would you have forced her away from her mate to get her?" he asked silently, groaning and pushing Dartz once more. 'Damn you dominance...' Ryou grumbled in his mind, ears twitching slightly.

"She had no mate...." Dartz hissed. "She loved ME!!"

Ryou yelped slightly. "But I have a mate..." he said softly. "I love the mate I have...a-and although he cant offer near what Pegasus could, what you could...I love him be-because he loved me first...because he needs me..." Ryou's ears drooped slightly. "B-besides...a-although the gesture is nice...a-and I do love to be pampered..."

Ryou shivered. "I don’t need so much..." He gave Dartz a gentle look. "What would I do with a dozen bunnies? A larger even more lonesome room? I already feel small in the room I'm in..."

Dartz sighed and slowly returned to his chair, grooming Ryou's claws back to health, and then brushing his hair. "My poor blind bunny..." He sighed, giving Ryou's tail a fluff. then he picked him up and carried him back to his bedroom, where he began to rub lotions into his skin.

Ryou shivered at the touches. "Why do my looks matter so much?" he asked after a moment, sighing contently, when he heard his friends were safe, and from the sound of it, taking a snooze.

"You're... really so desperate to... mate me?" he added, curiously.

Dartz chuckled. "Someone with such a beautiful spirit should at least try to match that spirit in physical beauty. And as for the grooming... I enjoy grooming you. And you enjoy getting groomed. It's a win-win thing."

Ryou blushed again and flicked his ears. "Why do you want ME so badly?" he asked once more. "I'm sure that there are many beautiful hybrids here..." he mumbled blushing. "Why would you pick me, shower me with all these...offers and gifts to be my mate?" he asked relaxing slowly into Dartz's touch. "I don’t understand..."

Ryou snickered slightly, noting a soft sound...Tuc snoring. 'and he said he didn't snore. twice now!'

"Because..." Dartz whispered into Ryou's ear, cuddling him in his lap. "I don't love any of the others..." And he gave Ryou a slow, tender, romantic kiss..

Ryou whimpered, sniffling softly, a tear sliding down his cheek.


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Check out 2 new fics by me and Mally-chan; Full Moon and He Among Us Without Sin!!!