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

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

Chapter 19

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

Pegasus got out of his limo and headed towards the entrance to the hybrid labs. He had left Ryou in his bunny cage and had come to see Malik for the first time. He carried a large box and a few bags on his arms, and he had to kick the door to knock on it.

Dai answered, his wrist wrapped up and in a brace. "Oh hello Pegasus, bright and early I see!" He said smiling and welcoming him in. "I'll show you to his observation room." He said, taking some of the bags Pegasus carried, and began leading him down a long hall.

Pegasus nodded. "Thank you." He said. "I have treats and toys for Malik in the bags, and some blankets for him in this box. You said he was a type of fox, am I—oh… what happened to your wrist?"

Dai grumbled. "Yes, he is a type of fox, and you were right, he's VERY fiesty..." He mumbled glaring ahead of him. "Are you sure you don’t want me to modify that...?"

Pegasus blinked. "Malik did that to you?!" He gasped. "How?!"

"The little prick bit me." Dai grumbled. "He has more fight in him than I've ever seen!" Dai added frowning. "I suggest caution if you're going to approach him, he didn't sleep as long as we planned he would, and he has.... an almost eerie sense of where you are." he added shaking his head. "Nothing but trouble."

Pegasus nodded. "I can imagine." He said. "I'll be careful, but it might be best if someone was present during my visitations with him if he is violent."

Dai nodded slightly. "He's mellowed out a little, it's been a few days since he's eaten, and of course as all animals do, he's gotten hungry." He said smiling. "Hopefully he'll stop being so stubborn and become domestic." He added. "Though I'm still a bit concerned... He pulled the needle out during his genetic alteration... and well... everything seems fine, but his eyes.... I think you should take a look at them." Dai said as they reached a door labeled ‘vulpes zerda, Malik’.

Dai opened the door and almost instantly Malik's head was up, facing their direction. He had no senses, and his eyes were blindfolded shut, his hands chained together to inhibit his movement due to his violent tendancies. "I'm not sure if you'll like them or not."

Pegasus walked in.

"He still doesn't have his senses, correct?" He asked, setting the box down and eyeing the goosebumps on Malik's arms and the shivering in his body as he unpacked blankets.

"No senses what so ever.... but somehow he still can tell where you are in the room... I have to wonder how he does that..." Dai said, nodding as he walked to one side of the room, and Malik faced him each step of the way, as though he were watching him and nothing had happened to his senses at all.

"See? Isn't that eerie?" He asked, straightening his tie a bit. "I chose a desert fox, called the Fennec for him, since he seemed too exotic to turn into a mouse, or squirrel. But this particular breed of fox gets no larger than the average house cat."

Pegasus nodded and smiled. "It sounds perfect for him. And it is odd how he knows where you are..." He picked up a blanket and slowly made his way over to Malik.

Malik's head immediately whipped around to look dead on at Pegasus, his posture seeming to dare him to come closer. 'I might not be able to see you, but I know you're there, and I will make you regret it if you come closer.' he hissed in his mind.

'No one turns ME into an animal without my permission!' he snarled, bearing his teeth, showing that tiny fangs were beginning to develop, but holding his ground, giving Pegasus the choice to brave him or not.

Pegasus smiled at Malik, amused at his attitude. But he got closer, then flung the blanket out. Malik jumped slightly, feeling the breeze, and a moment later, the blanket floated down and settled over him. Pegasus knelt and pulled it around Malik's shoulders, keeping a careful watch on the boy's mind, which would give him ample warning to move if he decided to attack.

Malik leapt forward, but didn't attack, merely pinned Pegasus to the ground, growling. 'Don’t play me for an idiot, I know you did this....' he breathed dangerously in his mind. 'I'm not stupid, it's because of YOU that I'm here right now, and no amount of mock 'kind guestures' will change my opinion of you!' Malik snarled down at Pegasus, but yelped as Dai and another man grabbed him by the hair, neck and waist. Malik became frantic and struggled fiercely, before suddenly calming down. Dai sighed, putting the syringe away.

"Stupid beast..." he grumbled. "I have to sedate him just to have you visit... I'm so sorry..." he said shaking his head.

Malik groaned softly, not sleepy, just weakened. 'Ass... just you wait...' he growled softly

Pegasus slowly stood, staring. "He's quite... vengeful." He said, slowly. He turned and went to the box, pulling out a few more blankets. He laid them out and shaped them into a little nest like what Ryou used to sleep in when he was in the development lab. Pegasus then turned and picked Malik up, turning and transferring him across the room, laying him down in the nest and covering him with a blanket again, tucking him in.

Malik growled dangerously, despite the fact he didn't have the strength to pull another stunt like that, even if his life depended on it. 'Don’t touch me!'

Dai sighed. "He went out like a trooper that's for sure.... damn foreigners... they are ALWAYS harder to deal with." he grumbled, not fond of the Egyptian. "I'm sorry that he's so hostile, I'm not sure how to deal with him, he wont agree, even if it means his own discomfort. He wont let anyone close enough to feed him, or keep him hydrated. He simply won’t do it."

Pegasus nodded.

"Let me try..." He said with a smirk, and sat down next to Malik. "Pass me those bags." He said, and Dai walked the bags over. Pegasus smirked and reached into one, taking out several small stuffed animals; a skunk, a lion, a bunny, and the doll of a person. Then, Pegasus reached out and gently took Malik's hand.

Malik yanked his hand away, snarling loudly. 'BACK OFF!' he yowled, baring his teeth once more. 'Get out of here before I tear you a new one!' he snapped at Pegasus, dismayed when he merely caught part of his jacket, and not any flesh what so ever.
Pegasus frowned and gave Malik a slight slap on the cheek, taking his hand back again.
Before Malik could try anything, he grabbed the lion plushy and stuck it in his hand. Malik paused, and Pegasus held the plushy in one hand, Malik's hand in the other. He moved Malik's fingers over the plushy, letting him feel it; a thin body with four legs, a long thin tail with a tuft of fur on the end, a thick fuzzy mane on the neck, shoulders and head, and whiskers on the face.

Malik growled softly. 'lion...' he yanked his hand away once more. 'Marik. I need to get home and protect Bakura and Marik!' he growled.

Daisuke watched interestedly at the reactions this little fox had to these small toys.

Malik shook his head, a wave of guilt washing over him. 'Bakura....' he whimpered as Pegasus forced him to feel the skunk doll.

Pegasus set the plushies out before Malik, making him feel the lion and skunk on the floor, side by side, but a distance of a foot was between them. Then, he had Malik feel the bunny plushie, and set it between Marik and Bakura, once again making the boy feel this. He dug through the bag and pulled out a bird, which he had Malik feel before he set it beside the skunk. He then took Malik's finger and traced boxes around each one, trying to give Malik the idea of the four hybrids in their cages in the pet shop, for Malik had been there and seen them in that order the day he bought Marik.

Malik frowned, dismayed and confused, he remembered this set up, and the pet shop. He growled pulling his hand away. 'What game are you trying to play with me you sicko!? Are you mocking me?'

Dai chuckled a bit. "He seems a little irritated at your game Pegasus." He said watching Malik hunch down, growling.

Pegasus pet Malik's head and took his hand again. Malik continued to growl, but did not resist while Pegasus moved the lion over to the bunny, sitting them side by side. As Malik felt it, he glared down at the lion and the bunny. Then, Pegasus narrowed his eyes and slammed his fist down on the lion, almost crushing Malik's thumb as he did so. Then he moved the lion away from the line, Malik feeling him doing so. Then, Pegasus picked up the human doll and made Malik feel it. Then, he pressed a finger against Malik's chest, letting him know that the doll represented him. Then, he put the lion next to the doll, and moved them both away, setting the lion among the blankets next to Malik.

Then, Pegasus picked up the bunny and held it to his chest, and made Malik feel him holding it there. 'He is mine.' Pegasus was thinking to himself.

Malik snarled, not liking the implications this man was making. 'He's not yours, he's a PERSON and he loves Marik.' he growled. 'He'll never love you like he loves Marik...' He added spitefully, figuring out that this man had to be the same man from the park that day.... the man who bought Ryou.

Pegasus snorted. Then, he had Malik feel the skunk. He bounced it along, trying to symbolize Bakura running away, and laid him to rest next to the lion among Malik's blankets. Then, he picked up the doll of the person, and moved him over to the bird, then set them both aside.

Malik growled, remaining still, wondering where this was going. He didn't like Pegasus taking his hand and making him feel things he couldn't see, and was just waiting for him to hurt him.

Hearing this thought, he gently pet Malik on the head, making the boy growl and show his teeth again. Pegasus chuckled, and pressed a finger to Malik's chest again, then tapped the blindfold where his eyes were, then traced a '4' onto his palm, before placing the bunny in his hand. Malik nodded slightly, piecing together 'you look for bunny'. Then Pegasus traced another '4' on his hand before setting the lion in his palm. 'For Marik.' Malik interpreted.

Pegasus then brought Malik's hand to his own chest, then pressed down all his fingers except for his thumb and small finger. These he moved up to Malik's face and ear like a phone. 'You make a phone call' was Malik's interpretation.

Then, Pegasus grabbed Malik's wrists and held them together, tightly, representing his capture, then removed the lion and skunk from the blanket and set them out on the floor, tracing squares around them with Malik's finger again, finally telling Malik the fate of his pets.

Malik growled, lunging at Pegasus once more, yet again somehow just missing him, and merely getting a mouthful of clothing. 'You cocky bastard! You think this is funny?! I'll show YOU funny!' He lunged again, stumbling over his chained hands, and awkwardly flopping to the floor with a painful thud.

He forced himself up again and growled menacingly. 'Hold still you little prick!' he snarled, lunging a third time, wanting desperately to tear Pegasus a new one.

Dai once again called in help, and they pinned him, finally having had enough, they chained his wrists to a small hook in the floor, and put a muzzle on him, to prevent further biting urges.

Pegasus smirked down at Malik.

"He needs to be more patient..." He chuckled. "The story isn't done yet." And he knelt and placed the person and bird under Malik's fingers. Malik struggled at first, but Pegasus did not let him, go, so he finally calmed down. Pegasus moved the doll and bird over to the skunk and lion, then moved all four away, and back to the place where the bird and person had been originally.

Malik calmed down slightly, growling just the same. 'At least they're ok...' he grumbled in his mind, yanking his hand away once more, wishing he could spit venom at Pegasus.

Dai smiled a bit, glad that Malik no longer presented a danger to Pegasus, since the muzzle prevented him from biting.

Pegasus smirked and pressed a finger into Malik's chest again, then placed one last plushy into his hands. Malik felt it. A slim body, four legs, long narrow face like that of a canine, pointy ears and a long bushy tail. Pegasus took one of Malik's hands and made it pet the little plushy, then pressed Malik's palm against Malik's chest. Pegasus smirked, waiting to see if Malik figured it out.

If Malik could have glared, he would have, but the blindfold prevented the most part of his glare. 'You bastard...' he breathed, struggling against the chains, making loud clinking that he couldn't hear.

Dai smiled. "Take a look at his eyes, if you will Pegasus, I want to make sure you're satisfied, if not I may have to take him back, and re-administer the DNA, to get it right."
Pegasus nodded and reached out, removing Malik's blindfold.

Malik winced slightly, the light stinging his eyes, despite being unable to see through them. They were still as they had been before the alterations. Brilliant indigo eyes blinked up at Pegasus, blankly.

Pegasus blinked.

"They haven't changed at all." He said, looking at Dai. "Y'know... I'm actually quite glad they didn't change. I've never seen eyes quite like Malik's... leave them be." And he bandaged Malik's eyes up again. "Could you bring me a bottle? I'll see if I can get him to eat." And he placed all the plushies in the blanket with Malik, petting the boy on the head.

Malik growled laying down weakly, sighing and giving up on scaring the annoyance away for the moment. The sedative was more than he could fight anymore, and he just wanted to lay in peace.

'Just leave me alone... you had your little fun.'

But Pegasus did not leave him alone. He continued petting Malik, stroking his hair and gradually progressing to stroking his back, as well. Dai finally returned with a bottle, and Pegasus turned and poked it into Malik's mouth before the boy could do anything, and held his head in place so he couldn't pull away.

Malik growled, trying to pull away. 'I'm NOT giving you the pleasure!' he growled in his mind, despite his hunger. He'd been starving himself, and he was desperately hungry. But he just couldn't find room in himself to let someone feed him like he was some animal. 'I can eat on my own, and I won’t be eating from a bottle.'

Pegasus frowned and released Malik, looking back at Dai and holding up the bottle. "Put this in a small bowl. Let's see if he's more agreeable to that."

Dai did just that, offering Pegasus the bowl, filled with the contents of the bottle.

Malik sighed, curled up in the blankets, beginning to shiver again. Between the genetics, and the temperature the weather offered, he was chilled.

Pegasus set the bowl down before Malik and pet his head, then took his hand and guided it to the bowl, so he knew it was there.

Malik picked up the bowl, and like every other bowl full of liquid he'd ever had, he drank it, much like milk after a bowl of cereal.

Pegasus smiled and pet Malik once he had finished, then offered him a treat; a little bacon chewie dog treat.

Malik got one taste of that dog treat, before spitting it out. 'I'm not a dog.' he grumbled, curling up, pulling blankets over himself to keep warm. His genetics were that of a desert fox, and this climate was much less than saharan.
'What is it you intend to do now? Are you here to taunt me until they ship me off to be sold? They'll come to get me you know... they'll come to that shop the minute I'm there to get me out.'

Pegasus chuckled. 'You're on reserve, kid.' He thought to himself, continuing to pet Malik. He looked at Dai, standing.

"I'm going to bring an electric blanket for him, next time. He's cold." He said, turning and heading for the door. "Obviously, he prefers a bowl over a bottle, so see that he gets fed in that way, please. And... if you can, you might try to lower his aggression level... if you can." Pegasus said.

Dai nodded. "I can arrange a few injections. Though I can’t guarantee his personality will not be altered by them." he said warningly. "I can make him peaceful and loving as Ryou, but I can’t promise he'll have that same spunk and feisty personality you wanted to keep in him."

Pegasus frowned. "I want him to stay spunky... but he is VERY aggressive. If anything, you will have to TRAIN it out of him. I don't want a pet that will attack his own master."

Dai nodded. "I'll start him with two injections to chill him out... and if that doesn't do the trick, then I'll have Rem train him harshly until he's pleasant and calm." He said making some notes. "I'm sure the injections will work... hopefully by your next visit he'll have mellowed out a bit more."

Pegasus nodded. "Thank you. Now, if you will excuse me, I must return home to my bunny." He said, and left the labs.

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

Ryou scampered to the edge of his cage and pawed at the side, eagerly awaiting Pegasus letting him out. "What will my playmate be like?! oh you have to tell me! Will it be a he or a her?! Oh master Pegasus Please tell me all!"

Pegasus laughed at his eager greeting when he walked into the Bunny room.

"Your new playmate is a boy, but he's not very nice right now... he tried to bite me more than once." He said, opening Ryou's cage and stepping aside to let him hop out.

Ryou hopped out immediately and gasped. "He.... tried to bite you? You didn't hurt him with Rex did you?!" he asked worriedly. "Please don’t hurt my new friend, I'll be twice as good for both of us!"

Pegasus smiled and knelt. "He's only just changing, Ryou." He said, petting his bunny's head. "He has to be trained. Then we'll see if we need Rex, okay?"

Ryou pouted. "Please don’t use Rex.... he frightens me..." he said crawling into Pegasus's lap and nuzzling into him. "He bites me and claws me and is mean!"

"Well, I don’t want your playmate to do that to you either. So Rex might be necessary. But he won't hurt you, you're a good bunny." He said, kissing Ryou's cheek. Then he slowly grinned. "And guess what good bunnies get?"

Ryou grinned and cheered. "Rewards!" he giggled and nuzzled Pegasus's cheek gleefully.

Pegasus laughed and cuddled his bunny. "That's right! And what's an extra special reward for extra good bunnies?"

Ryou thought for a minute. "Outside?" He asked hopefully. "Will master Pegasus take me outside to play?!"

Pegasus grinned and picked Ryou up, tossing him into the air and catching him again. "YOU GUESSED IT!!" He cried. "YOU GET TO GO OUTSIDE!!!"

Ryou squealed in delight and giggled as Pegasus tossed him. "oh master Pegasus!" He giggled and hugged onto him tightly. "What shall we do? Will you play with me! We could dig in the dirt and roll around in the grass!"

Pegasus laughed. "I don’t know about digging in the dirt, or anything, but... we'll see. Come on." And he set Ryou on the floor and walked out of the room. Ryou was a bit confused; he was not wearing his harness, OR his bunny suit.

Ryou hopped after, confusedly. "Master am I not... going to wear the jingly bells?" He asked softly as he hopped along.

"No." Pegasus said. "I don't think you need to wear any of that. I'm sure you will be a good bunny in the yard." He said, leading the way down the stairs. "You will, won't you?"

Ryou nodded quickly. "Yes I'm a good bunny!" he said, not wanting Pegasus to think he was a bad bunny even half a second. That would be all it took to call Rex in again.

Pegasus smiled and reached the back door. He opened it, then looked down at Ryou.

"Go ahead!" He said with a smile. "Give your legs a good stretch! While you do that, I'm going to go get some treats from the kitchen for the good bunny."

Ryou giggled and darted out into the yard and scampered about madly, tumbling about in the grass and chewing on flowers in the garden, rolling, the whole ten yards. He finally laid down to rest under the tree, shaded from the sun, panting softly.

A small sound caused him to perk up an ear. He frowned. That sound was... familiar... and it wasn't good, either. Ryou lifted his head, looking around with his ears perked and nose twitching frantically. Danger was coming... he just knew it! And a moment later, it appeared. The small remote control car buzzed over the lawn, heading straight for Ryou.

Ryou shrieked and in an instant he shot across the lawn and into a bush, shaking so badly the bush shook as well. "NO! BAD BAD THING! GO AWAY!"

The car drove straight at Ryou, intent on its prey in the bush, and a moment later it shot into the bush and hit Ryou's foot.

Ryou squealed and darted out of the bush and back to the tree, trying desperatly to climb it, and merely making himself look like an idiot. "Master Pegasus save me!!" He sobbed frightened as the small car approached.

Pegasus was trying not to laugh, but it was just TOO funny!!! The car roared towards Ryou who ran around the tree, and the car followed.

Ryou sniffled, biting back tears when he saw it. Refuge! He darted to the very edge of the lawn, an into a burrow just big enough for him to fit into, obviously dug by a dog or badger that had recently been outed, and had yet to be refilled.

But to Ryou's horror, the car dove over the edge and ran right into his nose.

Ryou yowled, hurling it out and beginning to bury himself in the hole, crawling farther in, and whimpering in the small little den within. Obviously not a dog hole, but the home of an old badger, who liked his holes large. He whimpered at the closed dirt entrance and curled up fearfully.

Thankfully there was a hidden exit letting air into the den, otherwise he'd slowly suffocate, but he had to wonder if Pegasus knew...

Pegasus blinked and slowly made his way over to investigate. What he found was the collapsed entrance of a burrow. His eyes widened.

"Ryou? RYOU?!" He called, flinging the control aside and dropping to his knees, beginning to dig with his bare hands. "RYOU!!!"

Ryou yelped the dirt was cleared away, and he fearfully poked his head out, a broad smile covering his face at the sight of Pegasus. "master Pegasus!" he said, overjoyed that the horrible monster hadn't figured out how to dig!

He pulled his head back into the den and giggled inside. "I found a nice place to play!" he sang out, flinging a bit of dirt out the entrance, signifying he was doing a little remodeling to the den.

Pegasus blinked, not sure he liked Ryou digging around in a strange burrow. "Ryou... what are you doing in there?" He called.

Ryou curled up and grinned. "I made a home!" he said proudly, before crawling out, dirt covered and looking filled with pride. "Look at my pretty house!"

Pegasus blinked and looked down at the burrow. "Ryou... it's a hole in the ground..." He said, weakly. Then he pointed at the mansion. "That is your home."

Ryou pouted slightly. "but... I like it!" he said pouting. "I made it very nice inside!" he argued softly; after all, bunnies ALL love burrows.

Pegasus sighed and shook his head, smiling and petting Ryou. "Why don't you explore it. See if there is another way in, okay?"

Ryou giggled. "There is!" he chirped hopping over to a nearby bush and disappearing into it, before peeping out the entrance by Pegasus once more. "See?"

Pegasus chuckled. "Yes I do." He said. "Any others?"

Ryou giggled and nodded. "But I can’t tell those! those are for emergency..." he said whispering and grinning proudly. "It's a nice home."

Pegasus frowned. "Ryou. I need to know where all of the exits are. Find them and show me. ALL of them. Understand?"

Ryou blinked. "... why?" he asked confusedly.

Pegasus frowned down at Ryou. "Are you questioning your master?" He asked in a warning tone.

Ryou whimpered and backed back into the hole whimpering. "N-no... n-no I... I... w-was just curious...." He said fearfully from inside the hole.

Pegasus leaned over and peered in at Ryou. "Then show me, Ryou." He called down to his bunny. "All of the exits."

Ryou sniffled softly and nodded, proceeding to show Pegasus two other exits, before retreating back into the hole and looking out at him fearfully. "W-why did master Pegasus have to know?" He asked softly. "... Is it ok for me to know?"

Pegasus memorized the four burrow entrances, and smiled down at Ryou. "Thank you." He said, reaching down into the burrow and giving Ryou a little scritch under the chin. "You're a good bunny." He said. "You wanna come out here with me? I thought you liked going outside in the sun."

Ryou crawled out and nuzzled Pegasus. "Am... I not supposed to know why you needed to know?" he asked once more, beginning to groom his ears with his hands, knocking the dust from them.

Pegasus smiled and lifted Ryou's face, kissing his little bunny nose. "I needed to know just in case." He said. "Come on, now. I have treats for you." And he headed over to the large tree that he sat under the last time he let Ryou play outside.

Ryou hopped after him, curling up in the shade of the tree and stretching, quietly grooming his ears as he laid quietly near his master. "Master.... tell me about my playmate..." he said in a dreamy voice.

Pegasus smiled and chuckled. "Well... he's a bit bigger than you, but not too much... he's been fused with an animal about the size of a bunny... he's gonna have big ears like you, but they'll stand up... he'll have a fluffy tail like you, but much longer... Hmmm... what else?" He mused, offering Ryou a little cherry.

Ryou nibbled it out of Pegasus's hand and yawned, nuzzling into his leg. "What kind of animal is he?" He asked licking away the juices of the cherry from Pegasus's fingers.

"He's a fennec." Pegasus said. "A little desert fox."

Ryou blinked. "But... don’t foxes eat bunnies?" He asked fearfully. "I... I don’t want to be eaten!"

"Not this kind of fox. They're too little." Pegasus said. "They eat small lizards, mice, birds, insects and some plants." He said, petting Ryou and offering him a strawberry.

"Master Pegasus... am I a good bunny enough... th-that.... you might take me to Paris again? I'm sorry I was bad..." he said softly. "I promise I won’t ever be bad again."

Pegasus smiled. "We'll have to wait and see, Ryou." He said, petting him. "When your new playmate is properly trained, I'll look into it, okay?"

Ryou smiled and nodded. "I would.... like to go to Paris... l-like you promised we would." he said stretching. "be... because you said I'd never want for anything... and I want still... to... to see the world..." he said, looking sad for a moment.

Pegasus smiled and offered him a little bit of mango. "Then we will go to Paris. When everything is right." He said.

Ryou turned away from the treat, mind drifting back to days at school, when he would listen eagerly in world cultures, wanting so desperately to visit the many places they discussed. Missing how Yugi would taunt him about being such a hopeless romantic when it came to places like Paris and Switzerland...

Pegasus frowned. "Ryou?" He called. "Is something wrong?"

Ryou shook his head slightly, snapping out of his daydreaming. "Oh.... no... I was just daydreaming." He said smiling softly. "remembering things..."

Pegasus frowned, but then pushed Ryou over onto his back and began rubbing his chest and tummy. "Who's a good bunny?" He cooed, grinning.

Ryou nuzzled Pegasus's arms. "I'm a good bunny." he said softly. "Very good bunny..."

"Yes you are. And do you know what the good bunny needs now?" Pegasus asked in a teasing voice.

Ryou blinked and nuzzled Pegasus once more. "What does the good bunny need now?" he asked curiously. "I already have rewards..." he said smiling and licking Pegasus's hands.

Pegasus chuckled. "The good bunny needs a..... BATH!!!" And he began tickling Ryou.

Ryou squealed and squirmed away, darting into his hole giggling. "nooo! I don’t want a bath!" he giggled from in his hole, chasing his own little tail slightly. "Good bunnies don’t need baths! Good bunnies need.... a cookie!" he chirped proudly.

"Good bunnies get a cookie if they're good in the bath!" Pegasus laughed, trying to grab Ryou who jumped back just out of his reach, teasing him. Pegasus chuckled and waited for Ryou to inch closer, then tried to grab him again, only to just miss him again. "Ooooh... I'm gonna get my bunny..." He sang.

Ryou giggled and shook his head. "Nuh uh!" he sang back inching closer, only to jump back once more, but not before giving Pegasus's hand a loving lick. "Too fast for you!"

Pegasus grinned and folded his hands, resting his chin on them and smiling down at Ryou. "Who's my good bunny?" He crooned, softly.

Ryou grinned mimicking Pegasus's movements. "I'm your good bunny!" he sang proudly, looking at Pegasus joyfully.

Pegasus smiled and nodded. "Yes you are. You are my VERY good bunny. But if the good bunny wants a cookie, he's going to have to come out for his bath." He said, trying to coax Ryou out of his hole.

"A cookie and a cheese cube." he said giggling. "Good bunny doesn't like baths."

Pegasus blinked then laughed. "Okay. A cookie and a cheese cube." He agreed. "And... maybe you would like to spend the night in master's bed again?"

Ryou's face stained pink at the mention of 'master's bed'. "I...." He started softly, peering out, blushing. "I...." he stammered speechlessly.

Pegasus gave him a sly grin. "Well?"

Ryou yawned softly. "I won’t get any SLEEP that way!" he finally blurted, blushing. "Master should take me to his bedroom when I am not worn out from outside..."

Pegasus laughed. "Come out of there you silly little bunny..."

Ryou grinned and slowly crawled out of the hole, his beautiful white ears dusty and brown in some spots.

"Cookie and cheese for me!" he cheered, climbing into Pegasus's arms proudly. He was a good business bunny, and made a good deal!

Pegasus laughed and cuddled his bunny.

"You are a dirty, DIRTY little bunny." He said, grinning. "And that can apply two ways, no?" And he gave Ryou a suggestive wink.

Ryou blushed and nuzzled him. "Not a dirty bunny! A tired bunny..."

Pegasus laughed and pet him, picking him up and carrying him into the house.

"And did the dirty tired bunny like his trip outside?" He asked, carrying Ryou up the stairs and into the bathroom.

Ryou nodded and nuzzled into Pegasus a bit more. "Yes... can I come outside more tomorrow?" he asked eagerly. "I liked digging in my home!" he added cheerfully. "A-and we can roll in the grass and eat your plants and run!"

"And eat my plants?!" Pegasus repeated, then burst out laughing. He sighed. "No Ryou. You won't be going outside again for quite a while."

Ryou pouted suddenly. "Why not?!" he whimpered. "I like outside!"

Pegasus smiled and ran a bath for Ryou, plunking him into the tub. He knelt outside of the tub and tapped Ryou's nose. "Because. Starting tomorrow, I'm getting some landscaping done. It won't be safe for a little bunny until it's done. And do you know what's going to be done?" He asked in a teasing sing-song voice, purposely giving Ryou a clue that it might be something special for him.

Ryou blinked, ears perking up to half height. "What?! Something for me?!" he said excitedly. "Oh what's going to be done master Pegasus?!" he gasped, excited now from Pegasus's little teasing game.

Pegasus laughed, quite amused at how easy it was to excite his little bunny. He dunked Ryou's head under the water, then began to lather it up with shampoo.

"Well..." He began. "First, I'm having all the plants ripped out and new ones put in. Plants that are safe for little bunnies to nibble on." He said. "Hold your breath and close your eyes." He told Ryou, who obeyed as he was dunked under the water so Pegasus could rinse the shampoo out of his hair. He resurfaced and Pegasus picked up a sponge and began to wash his bunny’s body.

"Then, I'm having a little waterfall put in, with a tiny little creek that will go into a fish pond. Doesn't that sound fun?"

Ryou grinned and nodded. "Just for me?" he asked shaking the water out of his hair suddenly, beginning to groom his wet ears.

Pegasus laughed and caught Ryou's hands, making the bunny look at him. "For you, and your new playmate." He said. "There will even be some special surprises that I'm not telling you about. You'll have to discover them on your own. Is my bunny happy?" He asked, lifting Ryou from the tub and wrapping him in a fluffy towel, carrying him into the master bedroom and setting him on the bed where he proceeded to rub Ryou dry.

Ryou nodded and began grooming his ears, before getting a slightly sad look on his face. "Master Pegasus..." He said softly. "Do... you love me?... l-like a mate? " he paused and tugged the ear he was working on slightly. Fearful that his thoughts of humanity that day had been caught. He missed his friends.... and school.

Pegasus blinked at Ryou, before putting down the towel and picking up a brush, starting to brush Ryou's hair.

"I have been very lonely for a very long time, Ryou." Pegasus said. "Then I got you. And I'm not lonely any more. You have made my life so much brighter, and made me much happier." He hugged Ryou and kissed his cheek. "I love you very much. You are my precious baby bunny, and I will love you forever and ever... for the rest of your life, and mine." And he finished brushing Ryou's hair, then moved in and kissed him. "As long as you are with me, and love me, I am happy."

Ryou smiled an almost sad smile. "I love you too." he said snuggling up to Pegasus and yawning, before licking his cheek. "Will I get to play in the house while you work tomorrow? I promise I won’t get into anything. I want...." he blushed softly. "To take a nap in the sunshine on your pretty purple couch... downstairs... by the window so I can watch for you to come home!"

Pegasus blinked, then smiled and undressed. He pulled down the blankets and set Ryou among his many plush pillows, then lay down beside him and pulled the blankets up, gently tucking Ryou in.

"Yes." He whispered, kissing Ryou's forehead. "You may."

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

Pegasus walked down the hall towards the room where Malik was, a small tupperware in one hand, and an electric blanket in the other. He opened the door to Malik's room and walked in.

Malik's head raised up weakly. ‘Leave me alone...’ he muttered in his mind laying his head back down and clutching the small toys to himself, shivering softly.

He'd not eaten or drank in a while, unwilling to let anyone near him, and after the injections, simply refused the food offered to him. Slowly starving himself, though not intentionally, he simply just didn't have the heart to eat, knowing Pegasus was going to be buying him. Knowing that he was no longer human, worrying about his sister, his friends.

Pegasus smiled and walked over to Malik. He set the little tub of treats for him down, and plugged in the electric blanket, turning it onto it's highest setting and then draping it over Malik. And the boy could feel it warming him immediately. Pegasus then sat beside him and reached out, gently petting Malik's hair and glancing at his ears that were beginning to show signs of changing.

Malik pulled away slightly, growling softly, but not making any attempt to attack, far too weakened by hunger to try something like that. 'Just leave me alone. Haven't you had your fun? You've ruined my life and gotten me out of your way, isn't that enough?' he said laying his head on the floor and sighing submissively.

'You're just getting sadistic pleasure out of this...'

Pegasus' smile faded. He scooted a bit closer and continued petting Malik gently, beginning to lengthen the strokes from his hair to down his spine as well, until he was rubbing Malik's back soothingly.

Malik sighed and pulled away once more, curling up with his back to Pegasus, clutching the lion and skunk doll tightly. 'Stop it... you're just trying to trick me. You kidnapped me, had this done to me, and you're not just doing it because you wanted me, you're doing it to get back at me! You're doing it a SECOND time, to get me out of your way!'

Malik made a huffing sound and groaned softly, flopping down and sighing. 'I'm so dizzy...'

It felt like his blinded world was spinning, he'd not eaten but that one small bowl of food Pegasus had offered before, since he’d gotten there... and it was beginning to get back at him for it.

Pegasus frowned and opened the little tub he'd brought. The scent of chicken and steak wafted throughout the room, but Malik would not smell it. Pegasus wrapped an arm around the boy and pulled him closer, petting him, until Malik's head rested in his lap. Then, before Malik could pull away, Pegasus poked a small bit of steak into Malik's mouth.

Malik groaned in approval, chewing the steak greedily. 'bastard...' he mumbled in his mind, unable to stop himself from enjoying every delicious morsel of the food Pegasus offered him.

He ate it slowly, savoring it, despite his hunger, because he didn't want to make himself sick with the delicious food after going without for so long, but it was hard to stop his greedy chewing.

Pegasus smiled and pet Malik, then reached for the water dish that lay nearby. He lifted it to Malik's lips and tipped it just enough so that the Egyptian boy could feel the cool water on his skin.

"Come on, little guy... drink up. I know you're thirsty..." Pegasus encouraged softly, despite the fact that Malik couldn't hear him.

Malik's features softened, and he sat up slowly, taking the water dish and drinking from it eagerly, feeling like he'd been lost in the desert for days without either pleasure, despite it being his own stubbornness that had caused his plight.

'water... oh water....' he finished the water, panting for the air he'd denied himself, to drink the precious fluids.

Pegasus smiled and pet Malik again, then pressed a small piece of grilled chicken to his lips.

"Come on... there's a good boy..." He crooned.

Malik groaned, flopping back to the floor weakly and quietly chewing the small bit of chicken, swallowing and groaning his immense gratitude. 'Ra.... give me strength....' he mumbled sadly.

'Why are you doing this to me?' he asked the nothingness in his world at the moment. 'Why can’t you just leave me to die....'

Pegasus pulled Malik close again, half way into his lap.

"I don't want you to die..." He whispered as he cuddled Malik, trying to get that across to the boy. He offered him another piece of steak.

Malik pulled away from the steak slightly. 'please don’t... if I eat anymore I'll get sick... I'm starving... but I cant eat more... my stomach doesn't have the strength...' he mumbled miserably, letting Pegasus cuddle him.

'I miss my sister... Marik....' Malik slumped down miserably. 'Bakura....' his heart ached. He'd never get the chance to apologize... to make things right with the skunk. To let him know he hadn't abandoned him, that he still cared.

Pegasus' eyebrows shot up. So... Malik had something going on with the skunk... He chuckled, finding that to be quite amusing. He put the steak back and offered Malik another bit of chicken, knowing it would be easier on the boy's stomach.

Malik chewed the chicken and swallowed, groaning and crawling back to the cave he'd formed in his blankets, shivering slightly.

'so cold... why cant it ever be warmer?' he sighed, curling up inside the blankets, enjoying the heat. 'Just let me go home... I'm out of your way... just leave me be, and let me find my way home... I need my sister... I'm all she has....'

Malik's heart ached even more thinking of how his sister would react to losing her only remaining family.

Pegasus sighed and closed the little tub of meat, then gave Malik another pat and rose, heading for the door. It was obvious that Malik was not in a visiting mood...

He got into the back of his limo, telling the driver to take him home. The thought brought a smile to his lips. With some luck, his little bunny would be waiting for him. And sure enough, when the limo pulled up he saw Ryou's excited face in the window by the door, ears straight up in the air.

The butler chuckled as he headed for the door, watching Ryou's little tail twitching rapidly in his excitement. He made a little kissey noise, gaining Ryou's attention, then opened the front door for the bunny as Pegasus got out of the car.

With the soft jingle of the bells on his booties, Ryou hopped up into Pegasus's arms the moment he stepped across the threshold. "Master Pegasus!" he chirped proudly. "Oh I had so much fun today! I slept in the sunny patch on the couch, I ate a cookie that miss maid let me have... oh it had raisins in it and nuts! Oh! And I also got to run and jump all through the house!" he said quickly, panting from lack of breathing during his little news flash that was his day.

Pegasus laughed and walked through the front hall, petting his bunny and kissing his face. "Were you a good little bunny?" He asked Ryou.

Ryou nodded quickly, beginning to groom his ears as Pegasus walked. "I was very very good! Will my playmate come home soon?"

Pegasus chuckled. "Not for another two or three weeks." Then he looked at the butler. "Was he a good bunny?" He asked, and the butler bowed and smiled.

"He was very good, sir." He replied. "A perfect angel with a fluffy tail who jingles everywhere he goes." And Pegasus laughed, giving Ryou's little tail an affectionate tug.

Ryou squeaked and wrinkled his nose. "nnoooo!" he said raspberrying softly. "No tugging good bunny tails!" he huffed softly, returning to his grooming. It only took him a moment to groom his ears to perfection, and with a hop, he was out of Pegasus' arms and darting through the hall, before suddenly hopping back and running back past Pegasus, in the opposite direction he'd been running before, as though he were chasing an invisible creature through the hall.

Pegasus blinked and turned, watching Ryou hop around, and the butler smiled.

"He has had these little bursts of energy off and on all day, and has amused the landscapers in the backyard, sir." The butler said.

"Amused them how?" Pegasus asked, watching Ryou dart past him again.

"Watching them through the windows, following them. He's been very curious as to what they are doing to HIS yard, as he calls it." Pegasus laughed at the butler's explanation.

"I see. Well, thank you for keeping an eye on him. You may go home early if you wish, and give my regards to your wife." He said, and the butler bowed.

"Thank you, sir. Have a good evening." And he walked away. Pegasus turned and walked down the hall, looking for Ryou who had vanished.

"Where's my good little bunny?" He called in a sing song voice.

Soft laughter was heard beneath the couch, two little red eyes peering out at the feet of their master. 'he'll never find me....' he thought gleefully in his mind, noticing something interesting.

Nothing was more interesting to a bunny, than a fellow bunny, this one of dust.

Pegasus blinked at the giggle, and a little tiny jingle. He smiled.

"Hmmm... I wonder where my bunny went?" He mused, loudly, and walked out of the room. "I guess I'll go tell the maid about his playmate instead..."

Ryou picked up the dust bunny in his mouth, squeaking at the odd taste, and scampering after Pegasus. "mmph!" he squeaked, catching up to him and nuzzling his leg, dust bunny in tow.

Pegasus looked down at Ryou and quirked an eyebrow at the dusty face looking up at him.

"Well, there's a little dust bunny..." He said, snickering. "I think you need a bath."

Ryou wrinkled his nose and shook his head, scampering off once more and hiding under his master's bed. "No bath!" he called in a pouty voice. "I want to see my playmate!" he grumbled, chewing on the wooden leg of Pegasus' bed.

Pegasus grinned. "I'll tell you about him while I give you a bath." He negotiated. "Come out from under there. And no chewing on the furniture, you know better."

Ryou took one last nibble and crawled out, ears drooping. "But... I want to play with him now..." he pouted softly, hopping slowly to Pegasus and nuzzling his leg.

Pegasus smiled and led Ryou into the bathroom, running a bath and undressing his bunny before plopping him into the tub.

"Your friend isn't in a playing mood right now. He's still in the development stage. Remember that? You couldn't see, or hear, or smell... And I would come in every day and feed you and pet you and love you..." And the man poured some bubble bath into the tub, wondering how Ryou would react to the stuff.

Ryou squeaked and watched the bubbles slowly overtake the tub. He sniffed at them and sneezed, having got a nose full of bubbles. They smelt good, but tickled his nose.

He looked at them curiously, beginning to paw at them curiously, before suddenly lunging forward and biting them, succeeding in only getting a mouth full of foam.

Pegasus laughed at Ryou's antics in the tub, and watched the Battle of the Bubbles for a while before beginning to wash Ryou, covering him with the foam.

"Well look what I've got..." He chuckled. "A Bubble Bunny!"

Ryou snapped at the bubbles that had managed to balance themselves on his nose grumbling. "Not a bubble bunny!" he huffed, rising to all fours in the tub and beginning to chase himself, causing quite a splashing session.

Pegasus raised his hands and howled his disapproval, and yet was laughing in the same breath.

"Calm down! No splashing in the tub, Ryou!" He called. "Now sit and be a good boy..."

Ryou plopped down, mid-step, causing another splash and he looked at the thoroughly drenched Pegasus and laughed softly. "You got a bath too!"

Pegasus snickered. "Yes, I believe I did. Perhaps I need to... train my bunny a bit more?" He said, slyly.

Ryou blinked and tilted his head to the side. "Training?..." his eyes widened and he shook his head. "Not the bad room!" he said burrowing into a tunnel of bubbles and peering out fearfully. "I'm a very good bunny, not the cold bad room!"

Pegasus chuckled. "If you don't want more training then you need to come here and let me finish bathing you." He said, peering into Ryou's bubble tunnel.

Ryou peered out, slowly emerging and licking Pegasus' cheek. "I'm a good good bunny." he whispered lovingly.

Pegasus smiled and kissed Ryou's cheek right back. "Yes you are." He said, and washed Ryou's hair, then finished bathing him. He drained the tub and took Ryou out of the tub, rubbing him dry with a towel, and blowing his hair dry. He brushed Ryou's hair on the counter, and then set his bunny on the floor.

"You wait right there while I take a shower." He said, undressing and getting into the shower.

Ryou blushed and laid on the floor yawning softly, quietly nibbling slightly on the rug. He couldn't help his wandering eyes that would occasionally peer at his master. 'Master.... mmm so strong and wonderful...' he thought dreamily, sighing contently. 'Such a kind loving mate...' he flicked his ears slightly, blushing as he looked over his master's strong body, remembering the night they mated.

But with that memory, came the memory of the night he'd been punished in the same way, for thinking about the lion... Ryou whimpered softly and pushed the thought from his mind, not wanting his mind reading master to think he was thinking about the lion in a kindly way.

Pegasus turned off the shower and stepped out, pulling his bathrobe on. He smiled down at Ryou.

"You're such a good boy..." He praised, and began blowing his hair dry. When he was finished, he hung his robe up again and walked into the bedroom, making a little kissey noise, signaling Ryou to follow him.

Ryou hopped after, being careful not to slip on the tile. "Where are we going?" he called after Pegasus, finally catching up and hopping along side him, delightedly rubbing against his leg.

Pegasus chuckled as he walked into his closet and pulled on a pair of satin pajama pants and a bedrobe.

"I thought we would do something special this evening." He said as he stepped into house slippers. "It's a surprise. Come with me." And he walked out of his room and down the hall.

Ryou hopped hurriedly after pouting slightly at how his master got to dress for the occasion, and he couldn't. "I like surprises..." he said softly looking around half expecting to catch sight of something different somewhere.

Pegasus smiled down at his little naked bunny. "I know you do." He said, taking a left turn down a hall that Ryou had never been down before. He stopped at a pair of French doors and opened them, revealing a balcony overlooking the front yard of his mansion. "Go on out." Pegasus said with a smile.

Ryou hopped out warily. He blinked and took a deep breath of the evening air, glad to be outside as the sun was beginning to set. "Ohh...pretty..." he said softly, propping himself up on the balcony slightly, to get a better view of the sunset.

Pegasus smiled and closed the door, leaving Ryou outside and walking back down the hall, picking up the nearest phone and calling downstairs to the servants waiting. Then he returned to the balcony.

"Ready for dinner?" Pegasus asked Ryou, smiling down at Ryou's little tail.

Ryou blinked and nodded. "mmmm dinner sounds good... I'm hungry, miss maid only gave me one cookie... I wanted three." he said wrinkling his nose and grooming an ear, before hopping after Pegasus. "What is for dinner?"

Pegasus smiled and knelt. "Something special for my little bunny." He said with a smile. "Something extremely EXTRA special..." And he ruffled Ryou's hair.

Ryou blinked and hopped eagerly into Pegasus' arms. "Tell me tell me!" he sang curiously. "Oh please master Pegasus tell me!" He squirmed and nuzzled into his master. "I shall die of curiosity if you don’t tell me!"

Pegasus laughed and shoved Ryou down to the ground and began to tickle him.

"Oh? Why should I tell my bunny, huh? Why should I? Has he been a good bunny? Good enough for me to tell him? Well? Well? What's wrong, can't talk?" He teased as Ryou squirmed and giggled hysterically.

Ryou giggled, squirming desperately to get away. "I'm a good bunny!" he wailed out, between giggles, tears rolling down his cheeks from laughing so hard. After a long struggle, he scampered away panting for breath and wiping his eyes. "I.... I'm..... a good.... bunny..." he breathed harshly, laying down to catch his breath.

Pegasus grinned and stood, turning as the doors opened and six servants came out. Two were carrying a low table, low enough for Ryou to sit at and Pegasus to kneel at. Another carried two cushions, one large one for Ryou to lounge on, and a smaller one for Pegasus to kneel on. One was carrying a bottle of wine, a bottle of water, and a wine glass, and the other two were carrying trays with silver domes over them.

Pegasus watched as the table was set down and the cushions set up on opposite sides of the little table. The servant who had the cushions knelt and pat the big one, looking at Ryou.

"C'mere, little guy." She cooed. "This one is for you."

Ryou gasped looking at Pegasus with wide eyes. "... f-for me?" he asked eagerly. "I... I... I can eat at a table too?!" he eagerly hopped to the cushion and sat on it proudly, already greatly enjoying this little surprise.

Pegasus grinned at Ryou, and knelt on his cushion. A servant filled his wine glass, then filled a little glass bowl in front of Ryou with water. He smiled and pet Ryou on the head, then left.

The last two servants set down the trays and removed the silver domes from the platters, leaving as well. Pegasus looked down at his meal of linguine with shrimp, crab, lobster, scallops and crab with sun dried tomatoes in a white wine sauce.

Ryou looked down at his meal of penne pasta covered in grilled vegetables; carrots, celery, zuchinni, squash, eggplant, broccoli, asparagus, artichoke hearts and tomatoes, all lightly glazed in a light lemon garlic sauce. Pegasus smiled at Ryou.

"Surprise." He said.

Ryou looked at Pegasus shocked. "I... I c-can eat the fancy people food?" he asked, sniffing at it eagerly, but daring not to touch it. "... I... I am... allowed?" he asked whimpering needily, wanting desperately to nibble on the delicious looking treat before him.

Ryou gently lapped at the water he'd been provided, not daring to touch the delicious food unless Pegasus gave him the ok, just like a good bunny.

Pegasus laughed.

"Of course you can eat it! It was made especially for you!" He said, gathering some of his pasta and seafood onto his fork and sticking it into his mouth. "Dig in!"

Ryou's eyes brightened and he immediately began to delicately nibble on the vegetables, followed by slurping on a noodle. "Mmmmm Master Pegasus..." he mewled and took another drink of his water. "You..." he started, blushing. "Still... give me... human things...." he said softly, looking near tears. "Master Pegasus... I am... very happy." he said wiping his eyes slightly. "H-how did you know I missed human things?" he asked softly, his heart singing praises in Pegasus' name. He always knew just how to make things perfect...

Pegasus smiled at Ryou. "All hybrids want human things." He grinned and ruffled Ryou's hair. "But only special hybrids who are very good get such special rewards. Master is very happy with his bunny. Which is why the good bunny is getting a special meal and a special friend, and a special yard just for him." And he sipped his wine, watching Ryou.

Ryou nodded eagerly. "I... I can have more human things soon?" he asked eagerly leaving his cushion to nuzzle into Pegasus' lap. "L-like in Paris? We can have another dinner in Paris like this?!" Ryou asked eagerly. "Oh.... Paris..." Ryou said dreamily. "I would love Paris so much master... you, me... my playmate.... I'd have so much fun... and I'd want lessons EVERY night!" he said blushing darkly.

Pegasus' eyes widened and he turned his head aside, spewing his wine. He doubled over, coughing, and at first Ryou was worried that his master was hurt, but then Pegasus fell backwards, laughing.

Ryou pouted and licked Pegasus' face. "It's not nice to trick bunnies... I thought you were hurt!" he said ears drooping slightly, feeling like Pegasus was laughing at the prospect of going to Paris.

Pegasus pet Ryou and finally sat up, getting his laughter under control.

"You.... are too cute..." He panted, grinning and hugging Ryou. "I'm sorry if I upset you...." And he kissed his cheek. "Go finish your dinner, baby."

Ryou nodded pouting slightly, still feeling like the butt of a mean joke. He hopped back to his cushion and nibbled quietly on his delicious dinner, still greatly appreciating it.

Pegasus smiled and continued eating his dinner. "You are such a good bunny." He said. "I hope your friend will be as good as you..."

Ryou nodded. "I'll help him be good master Pegasus.. I promise!" he chirped happily. "Can I visit him soon too?"

Pegasus blinked and paused, his fork halfway to his mouth.

"Now, there is something I hadn't thought of..." He said, slowly.

Ryou blinked and looked up, nibbling on a bit of noodle, he slurped it quickly and tilted his head to the side. "What is?" he asked before stooping down to nibble on a bit of asparagus.

"Taking you with me to visit your new friend." He said, taking a bite of his dinner and chewing thoughtfully. "That just might work..."

Ryou grinned slightly. "So... I can go see my friend?!" he said hopefully, tail twitching eagerly.

Pegasus frowned. "I'm not sure... It also might NOT be a good idea..." He mused, taking another bite.

Ryou blinked. "No no it's a good good idea! I could take care of him Master Pegasus! I'm a good bunny and he needs me!"

Pegasus smiled. "Okay Ryou. You can visit him. But not yet. I want to make sure it's safe for you to visit him first, okay?" He said, sipping his wine again.

Ryou blinked and tilted his head to the side. "Safe? Is he dangerous?" he asked softly.

"Well... he did try to bite me the first time I saw him. I think he's just scared right now." Pegasus replied, taking another bite of his dinner.

Ryou blinked. "Please take me to see him soon, if he's scared he will want someone who will take good care of him. Master I will take good care of him!"

Pegasus smiled. "Alright Ryou. Next week, though. I will take you next week. Is that okay?" He asked, gazing at his little bunny.

Ryou nodded smiling softly. "Alright.... will he be able to see?" he asked hopefully. "or hear? or speak? smell?" he asked once more, eager to know if his friend would be able to know him.

"He might be able to hear. But I'm not sure." Pegasus said, taking one more bite of his dinner. "Oooh... I'm full." He moaned, and lay back on the stone patio, staring up at the stars.

Ryou hopped over and playfully snatched a piece of shrimp from Pegasus's plate and nibbled it slightly, before wrinkling his nose a bit. "Fishy..." he said, putting it down and taking instead a sun dried tomato. "mmmm..."

Pegasus blinked, then laughed. "That's what you get for trying to eat people food that was not specially prepared for you. Your meal safely follows a proper diet for my little bunny." And he went back to his star gazing.

Ryou giggled and nuzzled Pegasus. "I wanted to try it..." he said softly. "Oh oh master... will my playmate like shrimp? You should give him some shrimp! I bet he'd like them a lot!" he said sniffing at another tomato, before nibbling on it. "mmmmmm.... how come your tomatoes are so yummy?"

Pegasus chuckled. "They are sun dried. So they have much more flavor." He said. "and I think your new friend might like shrimp. I shall simply have to find out, won't I?" And Pegasus lifted his head and glanced at Ryou with his face in his master's bowl. Pegasus grinned and tweaked Ryou's tail.

Ryou squeaked and tackled Pegasus licking his face. "Master Pegasus.... you know I don’t like that." He said nuzzling him. "You're so mean to your bunny sometimes..." he teased softly

Pegasus laughed and squirmed to escape the licking. He flipped Ryou onto his back and began to tickle him again.

Ryou squealed and managed to free himself and quickly darted into the house, to hide once more from his master.

Pegasus blinked, then grinned and leapt to his feet, racing into the house after his bunny, his house slippers flying. He saw a fluffy tail dart around a corner, and he went after it. "I'm gonna get my bunny!!!" He called, teasingly.

Ryou squealed in delight and skittered under Pegasus's bed once more, unable to prevent gnawing on the leg once more, excited to the point that he just couldn't stop himself. "Master will get the bunny, oh no!" he squealed delightedly

Pegasus threw himself on the floor and wiggled under the bed after Ryou, reaching for him. "I FOUND YOU!!!"

Ryou shrieked in surprise and glee and latched onto Pegasus nuzzling him, and nibbling on his robe. "Master Pegasus found me!" he cheered.

Pegasus laughed and a servant walking down the hall peered into the master's room, bewildered at all of the laughing and thumping. Then Pegasus' foot appeared, sticking out from under the bed, confusing then amusing the servant, who politely closed the bedroom door and went on her way.

"I've got my bunny! I've got him! I've got him! He's mine!!!" Pegasus was shouting, tickling and playfully wrestling with him.

Ryou shrieked and squirmed away once more, scampering out from under the bed and suddenly slipping on the floor, thumping into the wall and laying there dazed. "ouch..." he mumbled sitting up and shaking his head, his ears flopping from side to side.

Ryou pouted and rubbed his head looking at Pegasus sadly. "Your.... walls are hard... they hurt." He said suddenly.

Pegasus chuckled as he dragged himself out from under the bed. "Ohhh... did my poor bunny hurt his head?" He said, and pulled Ryou into his arms, rubbing his head. "I'll kiss it better..." and he kissed the top of Ryou's head, then stood, cuddling Ryou and setting him on the bed. "There's my good bunny..." He whispered, and stripped before climbing into bed next to Ryou. "Good bunny..." He murmured, kissing Ryou's nose and tucking him in before turning off the light. "Sleep well."

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

Yami grumbled, sitting on the chandelier. "I'm not coming down so you can spray me with that foul smelling goo you call medicine!" he shouted down glaring. "I don’t CARE what that quack of a vet said!" He crossed his arms and looked away, still pissed at Seto for the microchip, the nudity, and the shots.

As far as he was concerned, Seto was not on his friend list for the moment. No matter how much of a crush he may or may not have on him.

Seto frowned up at Yami, holding the spray bottle in his hands.

"For God's sake, Yami! Why do you have to fight against EVERYTHING!?! MOKUBA!! PUT THE CAMERA DOWN AND GO TO YOUR ROOM!!!" Mokuba pouted and trudged off, upset at being denied the opportunity to film Seto and Yami screaming at each other. Seto turned back to Yami. "Are you coming down here or not?" He hissed.

Yami glared. "Not even if you paid me." he growled. "The stuff stinks, it has the worst texture I've ever felt, it's oily and gritty and I don’t want it ON me." he huffed. "I cant stand it! Why do you have to be so adamant on making me miserable?!" he grumbled looking away, wings drooping slightly.

Seto glared, then suddenly smirked. "Have it your way." He said, and turned, walking away and returning to his office.

Yami blinked and raised and eyebrow, knowing it was surely a trick. He sighed softly, flapping his wings and landing softly, before following Seto to his office, to give the blue eyed teen his 'victory' despite his objections to being sprayed with the foul goop.

His wings had regrown nicely in the past week, but the luster wasn't what it once was, and Yami blamed that foul goo for it, that, and the fact that every time he went to preen, Seto wigged out and kept him from completing the much needed task.

Seto looked up at Yami as he walked into the room, and smiled.

"Ah, here he is." He said into the phone, then offered it to Yami. "Your brother would like to have a word with you." He said, a wide evil grin on his face.

Yami glared but took the phone from Seto, preparing for the worst lecture yet. Nothing was worse than your own brother telling you off, especially since he was SUPPOSED to be the role model.

"Yami?" Yugi's voice came over the phone.

"Yes..." Yami grumbled.

"Why aren't you cooperating with Seto?! He's only trying to help! Why do you have to be so arrogant?! What you want may not always be what's best for you! Why do you have to be so difficult?!" Yugi scolded.

Yami groaned, glaring at Seto. "You sprout wings, and have this goo sprayed on them, then you'll have half a clue what the problem is!" Yami grumbled mouthing 'I'm getting you back for this.' to Seto.

"Well guess what Yami? I'm not sprouting wings. And I'm not having goo sprayed on them. But unless you want to live with BIRD FLEAS!!!" Yugi screamed, knowing how much the very idea mortified Yami. "Then you will cooperate, shut up, and let Seto take care of you! He's done so much for you since his mistake... he obviously cares about you... why do you have to be such an ass, Yami? There are some things in life more important than your oversized ego!!!"

Yami growled, having enough of that he hung up on his own brother, without a second thought. "I hate you..." he hissed. "I came in here to let you have your little victory, you underhanded devious bastard..." he said glaring darkly.
"But since this is the way you're going to play... you better start watching your back..." he added hotly, having half a mind to leave surprises in Seto's shoes, or something else flat out rude.

Seto quirked an eyebrow. "I'll tell your brother on you...." He snickered.

Yami growled, and turned heel and left, fuming. He spotted an open window and flew out of it, flying to the top of the mansion and sitting on the roof, fuming at Seto. He didn't know what made him madder, the fact that he had been willing to give up and Seto had the gall to drag his BROTHER into it... or the fact that he'd just threatened to do it a second time!

He sighed and leaned back against the chimney that peeked out of the roof, as did many others. He thought many times about just flying off, and trying to live life on his own... it made him insane to be so dependant... he didn't really mind the medicines... or the hospitality.

Yami closed his eyes sighing once more. It was the fact that he was completely dependant... something he'd never wanted to be... and there wasn't anything he could do about it. No matter what Seto said, for the time, he was just a pet as far as terms went... and just like any pet, he'd just gotten punished for being 'disobedient'... even if that punishment was a screeching brother.

Seto sighed and rolled his eyes, turning to his computer and going back to work; Yami would come back.

Yami turned and looked down at some noise. Marik was romping around the back yard, playing with Tuc and Nod, while Bakura dug through the flower bed for grubs.

After a moment, Marik ran over to Bakura and nuzzled him. Bakura turned and nuzzled back, and then the pair trotted into the middle of the yard and curled up together, Tuc and Nod joining them, and all four relaxed in the sun.

Yami sighed and shook his head. "I wonder if it even matters to them one way or the other anymore..." he said, beginning to preen his wings for the first time in days. "It's been so long since they've been regarded as anything but animals... I wonder if it matters to them at all..." he sighed and plucked out a loose unhealthy feather tossing it aside, scratching the skin that it had grown from glad to be rid of the nuisance that had been bothering him for days.

"They both have someone waiting for them..." he added thoughtfully. "Marik has Ryou to look forward to... and Bakura has Malik..." he sighed once more.

Yami watched Marik bathing Tuc gently with his tongue, and Bakura doing the same to Nod. They had both been very diligent in the care of the two bunnies Ryou had been forced to leave behind. But sadly, both hybrids had stopped all attempts at becoming human again since Malik was taken away. Malik had been such a support for them, and when he was gone it was as if their human spirit had gone with him.

Sighing he closed his eyes once more. Malik had been the best thing to happen to those two... it broke them all over again when he'd been kidnapped... and he had to wonder if Malik would come out of it broken as well.

Opening his eyes, Yami watched the clouds float by. He'd debated with himself several times now, if it was worth it to try... Seto would be happier if he just mindlessly obeyed... but then again it's possible he'd feel even worse for making him a bird to start with, if he lost himself to the animal in him.

"I cant stand being cooped up..." he mumbled softly. "I don’t have any reason to be here... what am I waiting here for?" he asked himself softly, slightly jealous of Bakura and Marik, and the lovers they had waiting. Sure Seto had said he loved him... but that had been it... for some reason it just wasn't the same.

Seto sat at his computer, his fingers resting on the keyboard and his eyes staring at the screen. But his mind was on Yami. He simply sat, thinking of him, and waiting for him to come back. He felt kind of bad for upsetting Yami like he had, but it infuriated him when he tried so hard to take care of Yami and all he got was an arrogant, stubborn, ungrateful spitfire of a rooster!!! But gods, how he loved him despite all of that...

Yami gave up preening his wings, letting them droop down, the tips of his wings dangling near the window of Seto's office. "Ra... what am I going to do with myself..." he said miserably. He shivered slightly at a cool breeze and closed his eyes, crossing his arms to warm himself slightly, chilled slightly, despite the warm day.

"I can’t even enjoy the same things I used to... I used to love sitting outside...." he mumbled bitterly. "Now I get chills in the middle of bright sunny days!" he glared at the bricks of a nearby chimney. "I can’t play the games I loved... I can’t take care of myself... I can’t sit outside. I'm just a damn bird." he closed his eyes and sighed.

But he soon opened them when he heard his name being called. He turned and looked down into the back yard, seeing Seto walking towards the aviary. He walked in, and emerged a few minutes later, once again calling his name.

He strode across the lawn and over to the skunk and lion, speaking to them. They both looked up and listened attentatively, then shook their heads. Bakura made a sudden double take, then pointed up at the roof. Seto turned and looked up, raising a hand to shield his eyes from the sun. Uh oh... busted...

"Yami?" He called, taking a few strides towards the house. "What are you doing up there? Come down, please?"

Yami sighed and hanging his head miserably, he gave his wings a flap and landed near the house, walking inside and waiting for Seto to follow.

Seto blinked and followed. He caught up with Yami and grabbed his upper arms, turning him around to face him.

"Yami?" He called, softly. "Are... are you okay?"

Yami nodded slowly. "Fine..." he mumbled. "Lets go get that stuff sprayed on me..." he added pulling away and heading up the stairs towards Seto's office, where the offensive spray was kept.

"You're lying." Seto said, firmly. "I... I'm sorry."

"For what?" Yami said calmly. "You didn't do anything."

"Yes I did." Seto said. "I've upset you." And he laid a gentle hand on Yami's shoulder. "I don't like seeing you upset. You're depressed. And I worry about you. Please tell me what's bothering you?"

Yami sighed and handed the spray bottle to Seto. "Just spray it already." he said spreading a wing so Seto could coat it in that horribly foul stuff.

Seto frowned and sighed, but began to spray, thoroughly coating the wing. "I know you don't like this stuff, Yami. But I don't want your condition worsening. Now... tell me why you're mad at me."

Yami folded the wet wing and unfolded the dry one, spreading it. "I'm not mad." he replied calmly.

"You're depressed. I want to know why." Seto said, simply, getting to work on the second wing.

Yami sighed. "I'm fine Seto. let me be." he said in a tone much sharper than he'd intended.

Seto frowned and put down the spray, grabbing Yami's shoulders and spinning him around, shoving him up against the wall.

"NO!" He shouted. "No, I will NOT let you be!! I have had enough of your sulking and moping and mood swings and all that other shit I have to put up with from you! You are NOT fine! I can see it! And I hate it! It kills me that someone I love is hurting and won't let me do anything to help them!!!"

Yami sighed. "Fine..." he mumbled looking Seto in the eyes. "I'm upset... because I'm stuck here..." he said much softer than someone would expect from Yami. "I can’t do anything for myself anymore Seto... it's making me insane... I depend on you for EVERYTHING.... and it's killing me inside." he said calmly, looking away.

"I can’t even enjoy the things I used too. it's too cold outside for me to enjoy the outdoors, card games are out... I'm a BIRD. I disagreed with you and you called my brother to PUNISH me." he added.

Seto frowned. "I called your brother because I was trying to help you and you wouldn't let me. And I knew that you would listen to him when you wouldn't listen to me. I hate this whole situation... It's all my fault that you are miserable. And I wish to God I could undo what I have done to you... I would gladly die if it meant that you could go back to your former life... your human life. But I made a mistake, and YOU are the one that is suffering because of it! And I HATE myself for it!!!" Seto shook his head, his fingers digging harshly into Yami's shoulders. "God, I would do ANYTHING to give you back what I unknowingly took from you..." And he slowly released Yami and slid to his knees. "I'm so, so sorry... but that doesn't change what's happened... and I'm sorry for that too..."

Yami sighed and sat on his knees and looked at Seto for a moment. "It's not your fault... you didn't know. I'm... just losing myself. I don’t have anything to do anymore. Everything I did... everything that made me who I am... is in-accessible to me..." he said offering a small smile to reassure Seto it wasn't his fault.

"I just... don’t like being dependant... no matter who it is, and I'm just... starting to wonder if it's worth it to try anymore..."

Seto looked up at Yami, his eyes red and full of tears. "Don't you ever lose who you are!" He snapped, harshly. "Don't you dare! I brought you here to my home because I thought I could give you the best chance at having what you used to! But I haven't done a good job of it. And I'm sorry.

"But from now on, I am going to do everything within my power to give you your life back. And not just your life, but Marik's. And Bakura's. And Ryou's, and Malik's, and every other hybrid out there! What they have done to you is wrong! It's wrong and it makes me sick." Seto grabbed Yami's shoulders and pushed him against the wall again.

"On my life Yami, you will regain your life! I swear it! You will duel again! You will regain your title as the King of Games! You will walk down the street in daylight, tall, proud, and independent! Your brother will look up to you, and you will take care of him! You will run your family's game shop, you will finish school, and you will do everything you ever dreamed of it! And I will help you in any way I can!

"I don't care if you are a hybrid, with animal DNA. You were human, and your heart and mind still are! Don't you ever forget it!!!" And then Seto darted forwards and crushed his mouth to Yami's in a fiery kiss that seemed to last for a lifetime. Only when Yami felt his lungs burning with the need for air did Seto slowly pull away.

"I love you, Yami..." He panted, staring him in the eyes. "I love you more than anything..."

Yami blushed darkly staring at Seto stupidly. "Well.... um...." he stammered dumbly. "Ra... I uh..." he looked around the room a bit, trying to think of SOMETHING to comment on. ".... I uh... is that walnut?" he blurted suddenly, eyes latching onto the wooden desk, piled high with papers.

Seto blinked, then rolled his eyes.

"No, it's Chestnut." He said. "Yami, look at me."

Yami kept his eyes trained on the desk. "I don’t want to.... I know how you're looking at me, and if I look at you...." he said trailing off, turning his head more away. "Mokuba was in the sugar." he added suddenly, once more trying to comment on something other than the embarrassingly loving situation. "Ra I know he's filming this.... I know he's filming this somewhere..."

Seto frowned and grabbed Yami's chin, turning his face towards his own. "Yami... if you look at me... what?"

Yami's expression melted almost instantly. "Seto... I..." he started, his wings quivering slightly behind him. "I...." he lunged forward suddenly, tackling Seto to the floor kissing him lustfully. "Ra..." he breathed harshly, kissing him again, pinning the surprised teen to the floor and spreading his wings over them. "I love you..." he growled softly.

"If I look at you I.... feel like that..." He added shamefully, blushing darkly at his own little outburst.

Seto blinked his wide eyes, then grinned and chuckled.

"Oh do you?" He said, amused. "In that case... look at me more often..." And he ran his fingers down Yami's cheek. "Much more often..."

Yami shivered and backed off of the blue-eyed teen. "Knock it off..." he mumbled wrapping his wings around himself, wrinkling his nose at the texture of the now dry feathers. "I bet you think it's funny..." he grumbled. "I can’t help it... every time you look at me, I just want to preen myself and get more attention, it makes me crazy!" Yami said looking away once more.

"Every time I look at you I just crave your looking back. Ra I need help..." he mumbled hanging his head.

Seto got up and walked over to Yami, wrapping his arms around him from behind and lowering his head to whisper into his ear.

"Yami... I meant what I said." He breathed, making Yami shiver. "I love you." And he placed a gentle kiss just under his ear. "Are you trying to tell me that... you love me, too?"

Yami groaned softly, leaning back into Seto's arms and closing his eyes contently, he nodded slightly, swept away by the instincts he'd been granted from being a bird. The bird in him had chosen his own rival as a life mate... and despite his fighting, he was loosing, and he was starting to like it.

"I'm such a masochist..." he mumbled opening his eyes half way. "Falling in love with someone I can hardly stand to sit around for more than ten minutes... who I can’t stop fighting with even if I was paid..."

Seto smiled and hugged him lightly. "And I'm sure I'm not helping anything... I'm a stuck up prick, Yami. And I know it. Feel free to tell me so if you think I deserve it. I...." He slowly stepped around Yami and looked him in the eye, cupping his cheek. "I want to make you happy. Please... give me the chance? Because God knows I've learned... if you won't GIVE me a chance... I'll never HAVE a chance when it comes to you..."

Yami closed his eyes once more, arching his neck into the hand cupping his cheek, nodding slightly. "I can’t say no..." he mumbled softly, his wings spreading slightly, quivering and showing Seto the most brilliant, though not tidy from being sprayed and neglected from lack of preening.

A common show of a male bird, trying to attract a mate, the brilliant plumage, and Yami was too lost in Seto's touch to even notice himself doing it, let alone the soft singing that he slowly started. A beautiful wordless melody that, despite Yami using his voice, sounded almost exactly like a songbird in the morning mists, singing for a loved mate.

Seto's face lit up in a smile as he watched Yami show off his colors and listened to him sing.

"I love it when you do that..." He said, and ran his fingers through the hybrid's hair.

Yami shivered, voice quivering slightly in the middle of his beautiful love-filled song, wings spreading a bit wider as he leaned into any touches offered to him, by the object of his affections.

The song soon ended, and the wings folded back, and Yami opened his eyes, groaning softly, gazing at Seto in an almost dull stupor, drunk from the sudden outburst of his animal instincts. "Seto...." he croaked out finally. "I...." he started, but just let the sentence fall short.

Seto smiled and reached out, gently caressing Yami's wings, then bent down, and kissed him.

Yami moaned softly into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Seto and kissing back in slight defiance, not about to let him self be dominated just because the bird part of him craved it.

Seto chuckled. "You're a fighter..." He mumbled between kisses. "I love it... you are the only person in this world who presents a challenge to me... don't stop..." And he massaged the muscles in Yami's back that supported his wings.

Yami let his wings droop to the floor, allowing Seto's hands to massage his back, arching into the touches. "Ra... only you know just which muscles are sore...." he mumbled clutching Seto's shirt for balance. "When did you become a bird expert?" he added groaning loudly, lifting one wing awkwardly as Seto rubbed another muscle, which caused the single uplifted wing to quiver harshly from Yami's delight.

Seto smiled. "I'm following my instinct. I want to please the one I love... am I accomplishing this goal?" He asked.

Yami groaned once again, nodding dumbly. "I would have died a long time ago... if it weren't for those massages you gave me..." he mumbled letting the wing droop back to the floor lazily.

Seto chuckled. "Glad that I'm good at giving them." He said, then kissed Yami again. "Are you ready to take your pills, now? I want to keep you healthy. If I lost you, I would die... another reason why I got you microchipped...." And Seto offered Yami a sheepish and guilty smile.

Yami grumbled, upset the massage had suddenly stopped to talk about pills and microchips. He folded his wings and sighed. "I don’t mind the pills... it's that spray that makes me nuts... I think the guy was lying. My wings never itched...." he huffed slightly. "Now they don’t itch either, they just reek of that stinky ooze... and my feathers stick together and it makes me crazy!"

Yami suddenly turned and began preening a wing.

Seto sighed and smiled. "Well, we'll see when you go in for your follow up. Just promise me you'll be careful?" And he laid a gentle hand on the hand that Yami was using to preen his wing with.

"I'm fine." Yami replied, suddenly plucking another unhealthy feather that was about to fall out anyway, from his wing. "If I don’t preen soon, I'm going to become a mass of matted feathers and even worse mood swings." he added sourly. "Let’s see you be pleasant when things are sticking you in places you weren't even AWARE of before."

Seto choked and doubled over, half coughing and half laughing.

"That sounds so wrong!"

Yami glared. "Incase you forgot, I have feathers back there too, and if I don’t preen them soon, I can think of a FEW things that will be set ablaze in this house." he said turning and plucking out three tail feathers.

Yami held up the long spindling feathers to Seto. "those things are NOT fun to have jabbing your spine and ass." he mumbled grouchily. "Ever since that plucking thing, even Mokuba doesn't offer me the refreshing plucking I need." he mumbled, plucking out each unhealthy, barely lingering feather, littering the floor quickly, but finishing as fast as he'd started, leaving only brilliant feathers, each preened to perfection gleaming in the sunlight with a new luster much brighter and healthier than before the plucking incident.

Seto chuckled at Yami. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry... Wow... you do look MUCH better. Turn around and spread 'em." He said, just waiting for Yami to take the bait.

Yami raised an eyebrow at the odd request, but turned and spread his wings wide, feeling like he was walking dead into a trap.

Seto chuckled. "I half expected you to yell at me." He said. "I'm sorry, I purposely goaded you..." Then he reached out and stroked Yami's wings. "Oh, yeah... they look MUCH better..." He said with a smile. "Do they feel better, love?"

Yami blushed slightly and coughed. "I'm fine..." he said, folding the wings and turning back to Seto. "By the way... I'm going to put something awful into all of your shoes, for calling Yugi on me." he said after a minute. "He said I had bird FLEAS... FLEAS!" Yami raved, crossing his arms and huffing indignantly. "I don’t think I even had them to start with!"

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