Twilight Menagerie

Twilight Menagerie

Mally-chan and hato chiisai

Disclaimer: We own nothing. Nothing at all

YAOI WARNING!!!

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Chapter 2

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Ryou yawned softly and grunted, gently nudging Marik. "Marik... C'mon Marik...” He mumbled gently licking his lover's cheek. "Get up...” he whispered gently chewing his ear. "Seto said we're supposed to take inventory...” he whispered into said ear.

"Noooooooo...” Marik whined, then winced when he heard familiar banging on the front door. "I am going to rip out that skunk's intestines and hang him with them!!!"

Ryou laughed. "He's here to get Tuc, Nod and Dust." He said nuzzling Marik. "Unless you want more baby bunnies running around our apartment." Ryou gently chewed at Marik's ear. "Plus we have inventory... now get up...” he said shoving Marik lightly.

Marik groaned and pulled the pillow over his head, but suddenly let out a roar and fell out of bed. A moment later, Tuc's head popped out from under the blankets next to Ryou.

Ryou giggled and picked up Tuc, nuzzling him. "Now don’t you forget... you promised you'd be brave for Nod." He cooed. Only one of them had to be fixed, and it would be easier on Tuc than it would on Nod... so he'd 'agreed' to have himself fixed, for the good of the bunnies.

"I would say 'poor guy' but he just bit me, so I'm tempted to neuter him myself...” Marik growled, getting up off of the floor and glaring at Tuc before going and letting Bakura in. "Whatcha got there?"

"The bunny carrier. Spunky's coming to support his dad." The skunk said, walking in. He headed over to where Nod was with her little gray baby. "C'mon Nod... c'mon Dust. Into the carrier." He shooed them in, where Nod began grooming Spunky. "Okay... where's the victim?" Bakura asked, looking around.

Ryou glared. "Be nice, Tuc isn't a VICTIM. He's doing something for his mate, so that she isn't in a lot of pain." He said smiling and kissing Tuc's head. "Are you saying you wouldn't give up YOURS if it meant Malik would have to be CUT open to give up something?"

Bakura snorted and didn't notice Malik in the doorway waiting to hear the answer. "It depends on what he had to give up...” The skunk snickered.

Malik crossed his arms. "I see." He said glaring slightly. "So your balls are more important to you than anything I might have to give up?"

Ryou smirked. "Now who's the victim?"

Bakura froze, then slowly turned around. "Uhh... well... I mean... if it was, say, your spleen or appendix or... or one of your kidneys... well... You don't NEED those, right?" Marik snickered.

"You are SO on the sofa, Bakura...” The lion taunted.

Malik glared. "EVERY time someone is cut open that requires an anesthesiologist. EVERY time one of those is needed, that means there's a chance the person being operated on could die. It doesn't matter WHAT I do or don’t need." He hissed, crossing his arms and looking away.

"Are you saying that if someone were to lop off the family jewels that I WOULDN'T be under anesthesia?!" Bakura howled, horrified.

Ryou laughed. "Afraid not Bakura... it's an outpatient surgery. In and out in maybe 30 minutes."

Bakura's eyes widened and he paled. "Oh, c'mon Malik... baby... surely your spleen is worth my balls!" He whined.

Ryou snickered. "Oh really? Inpatient surgery that would have Malik in the hospital for at least 3 days, and in pain, on meds and inable to work for at least a week versus a 30 minute outpatient surgery that doesn't even require painkillers?"

Malik huffed. "You're sleeping in the recliner tonight Bakura." He said calmly. "I'd give up anything for you, balls included."

Bakura glared. "Right. Fine. Whatever. Where's the damn rabbit?" Bakura snapped, walking into the hall and scooping up Tuc, shoving him into the carrier. "Later." And he was out the door.

Ryou sighed. "He'll cool off while he's gone...”

Malik nodded. "Yeah... he doesn't mean to be an ass... he just says selfish things sometimes...” He mumbled. "Well I'm going to go shopping, we're running low on supplies...”

Marik nodded. "Right. Catch ya back here for lunch?" Malik nodded and everyone headed off, Ryou and Marik in one direction, and Malik in the other.

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

Bakura grumbled as he walked down the street. He glanced down at the carrier in which the four bunnies were. "Poor Tuc...” He mumbled as he walked. "Givin' up your manhood for your woman, eh?" He held the carrier up so he could see Tuc eye to eye. "Am I just a self centered bastard? Am I the ONLY man around here who values his balls?"

Spunky and Dust hopped to the front of the carrier and nuzzled Tuc, gently nibbling on his ears. Spunky looked at Bakura and if bunnies could smile, he had the broadest grin of all.

"I'm sure you have a good reason to value your testicles.” A man said chuckling slightly. "It IS spring... time when all animals, humans and hybrids all get horny as hell."

Bakura's eyes widened and he whirled, ears back, tail erect, and teeth bared.

"Who the fuck are you?!?" He snarled.

"Whoa whoa man...” The man said calmly, holding his hands up in a gesture of peace. "I'm just walkin', enjoyin' the mornin' air ya know?" he said, before grinning. "You're one of those hybrid people aren't ya? Dude... is it much different from being human?" He asked, sounding quite curious.

Bakura blinked and eyed the man up and down, before snorting and starting to walk towards the vet's office again. "It has its ups and downs." He said with a shrug.

"You don’t mind me asking about it do you?" The man said, walking alongside Bakura. "I mean... you're just so neat lookin... it's almost like you're... too unreal to be real!" he said, grinning. "Are those your pets?"

Bakura snorted and glanced down at the carrier. "Kind of... My... best friend's boyfriend's pet rabbits had babies. We live next door to each other... but anyway, they gave me and my boyfriend one of the babies... but my boyfriend is at the store, and my friend, Marik, and his boyfriend, Ryou, are working. So I get stuck with taking the dad to the vet to get neutered."

"Ohh...” The man said laughing. "You own your own house?" he gasped. "You're pretty lucky."

Bakura smiled and nodded. "Yeah." He said. "I am. I have my own home... my own job... I have an actual life where I can live for myself and not a middle aged pervert who just wants a furry fuck...”

"So you're a skunk right?" The man said grinning. "I heard skunks have the best sense of smell! Dude is it true?"

Bakura blinked. "I guess." He said. "I can smell things that the others can't."

"Oh yeah?" The man said giving Bakura a curious look. "If you pumped gas with a nose like that, I bet you'd get a killer headache...”

Bakura blinked and turned, giving the man a strange look. Okay... that was... a very odd comment. "Uhhh... yeah. I guess...” He said, starting to pick up his pace a bit.

The man grinned. "Yeah... I get nasty headaches when I pump gas, I bet it must suck." He said thoughtfully. "I haven't really pumped gas in a while though... I had to sell my car... been in a bit of a rut...” He said running a hand through his hair. "Kids these days aren't really interested in art... it's all techies techies techies... Computers are replacing artists." He said sighing. "You're pretty lucky, even if things get rough, you could always look for a master." he said sighing.

Bakura snorted. "I will not reduce myself to the level of a pet. I just got myself out of that position, I am NOT going back...” He said. "Besides. I have a stable job. And a very... good boss. I have it made right where I am. I have no desire to go anywhere."

"Yeah… for now. But if you ever lost your job, and had no more money coming in, how would you support yourself?" the man said calmly. "Most places still aren't hiring hybrids. The laws are still real fuzzy on whether or not you're a person. That'd scare me."

Bakura smirked slightly. "I'd make it." He said confidently, running his fingers through his hair. "I'm not worried. And I have... friends who would help."

The man sighed softly. He hated doing this, Bakura seemed like such a nice guy. "My name's Sasuke, what's yours?" He asked after a moment.

"... ... ... . Bakura." The skunk said after a bit of a pause. "And this is Tuc and Nod, and two of their babies, Dust and Spunky."

The man sighed once more, and pulled a small cylinder from his pocket. "Well... It was nice meeting you...” He said, a hint of sadness in his voice. "But... I have to feed my family somehow... it's nothing personal." He said, quickly jabbing the thing into Bakura's side and injecting him with more than enough sedative to knock out someone almost twice his size.

Bakura yelped and twisted, stumbling to the side and reaching for the injection site. "Ahh! what the?! You son of a... what did you... what did you do to me?!" The rabbit carrier fell from his hand and to the ground on its side, and Bakura fell next to it, feeling his strength drain away as a fog enshrouded his mind. "S-Spunky... you... okay?" He mumbled in a dazed tone, reaching out to the carrier. His thrashing tail slowly drooped to the ground. "Tuc... tell... . tell Ry... ou...” His head dropped and he watched blurred feet come closer and his ear flicked as a van pulled up and opened, several men leaping out. "M... Malik...” He whined slightly, and turned to snap weakly at the hand gripping his shoulder.

The man sighed slightly, shaking his head. "C'mon then...” he mumbled, as he picked up Bakura and carried him to the nearby car. "I had to do it... My family depends on me to feed them...” He mumbled, gently setting Bakura in the back end of the van, with the help of the other men. He checked the wire grate between the backseat and the front, to be sure that if Bakura woke up, he'd be safe. He sighed once more.

"Well... I'll take your bunnies too...” He mumbled, picking up the small carrier, full of frightened rabbits.

Bakura whined slightly and lifted his head when Sasuke placed the carrier inside of the van. "N-No... Malik... n-needs me...” He slurred. "Ryou's... bunnies... please... n-not... again... ... M-Malik...” And his head fell to the floor of the van with a muffled thump, and the skunk was silent.

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

Daisuke checked his watch as he walked. He couldn't be late, this was possibly his last chance at scientific greatness, and he couldn't afford to lose the funding. He knocked on an office door and straightened his labcoat. "Mr. Dartz?" He called as calmly as he entered.

A pair of eyes, one aqua, one gold, lifted up to stare at him from beneath pale blue hair. "You're cutting it close with your timing, Daisuke. I got you out of Domino, I expected better service from you." The man said.

Daisuke nodded. "I'm sorry sir, I'll work a bit harder to be more lax with my timing. We've gotten Bakura for you. Soon you'll have enough hybrids to make this a booming success." He said after a moment.

Dartz frowned. "Are you implying that it's not a booming success already, Daisuke?" He asked. When the man's eyes widened, he sighed and continued. "Bakura... the skunk?" He said, looking at the man who he had placed in charge of gathering hybrids for his business. "I see. Very good. When did they pick him up, what train is he being shipped on and how long before his crate arrives?"

"He'll arrive here within the day sir." Daisuke said calmly. "Is there any work you want done on him before he's sent to work?" He asked, presenting Dartz with a list of his best hybrids, and who owned them, or where they resided currently.

Dartz frowned and started looking over the files, flipping through pictures with long, delicate fingers. He would nod ever now and then, and sometimes would set a file aside.

Then, he stopped. "This one... a bird." He said, and glanced over the file. "Yami... Seto Kaiba owns him, eh? He is beautiful... one of your greatest triumphs I'm sure... oh... he was your first bird?" He looked at Daisuke to confirm.

Daisuke nodded. "Yes... the first successful bird... he's the ONLY bird who was created the way he was. Since him, we've lessened how much bird DNA is administered to be fused. He's a rare one if there ever was...” He explained calmly. "Is he something that suits your tastes?"

Dartz nodded. "Magnificent. A true credit to your work. I want him." He said. "However... owned by Seto Kaiba." He looked at Daisuke. "I know I am a very demanding person. And I am not foreseeing success. Grab him if you can. But I will not punish failure on this one...” He said, then started flipping through more files. He paused again a bit later. "This one. The panther, Otogi. He has the look of fiery spirit to him. Exquisite creature. I want him as well. For now, that will do. Grab them, and then bring me more files to look over. And...” He stopped and scribbled something. "This is a check. A bonus that will be yours when that skunk is delivered."

Daisuke nodded. "I will try to get Yami... and Otogi will be yours simply enough." He said bowing and exiting, pulling out his cellphone to give the coded 'kidnapping order' to his workers in Domino.

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

Marik purred and nuzzled Ryou as they walked towards Dr. Inogawa's office. When they got there, Marik opened the door for Ryou and followed him in, glancing around at several pet owners staring at the hybrid pair. Marik followed Ryou over to the receptionist.

"Hi. We're here for Tuc?" He said to the woman, wondering where Bakura was.
The receptionist looked over her list. "Tuc... ahh he was due in for surgery earlier today, but never came in." She said calmly, frowning.

Ryou blinked. "Th-that cant be right...” he said softly. "Bakura... he left this morning... with all the bunnies." He looked at Marik worriedly. "Marik... i-if Bakura didn't show up... w-where is he?"

Marik shook his head. "Are you sure? Is Dr. Inogawa here?" He didn't wait for an answer, he turned and barged into the exam rooms, looking for the man. He caught him in the hall just leaving one room, and grabbed him by the arm. "Bakura never brought Tuc in?!"

Dr. Inogawa nodded. "I waited for him, but he never came...” He said softly. "I haven't seen him at all."

Ryou peered in, looking distressed. "M-Marik... I don’t like this... what if some... something awful happened?" He whimpered. "He... he was alone. W-what if something happened? W-what if he was hurt o-or...” Ryou shook his head covering his mouth at the idea of their dear friend injured.

"W-what about Malik? A-and all... all of the bunnies?" He said softly. "What... are we going to do?"

Marik turned and quickly went to Ryou's side and hugged him. "Shhhh...” He said softly. "I'm sure... I'm sure he's okay. Maybe the moron just did something stupid and got picked up by the cops or animal control again... come on. Let's go home. See if Malik knows anything." And he pulled Ryou from the office. Once outside, he dropped to all fours and took off as fast as he could, much faster than was possible on two legs.

Ryou whimpered, biting his lip, before following suit. He wasn't fond of walking on all fours, but he couldn't possibly keep up with Marik on just two legs. "M-Marik! Wait up!" He called shaking his head. "I... I don’t want to be left alone!" He whimpered, catching up to Marik at a crosswalk, as they waited for the color to signal they could cross.

"D-don’t leave me behind!"

Marik turned and nuzzled the bunny quickly, but took off as soon as the light turned, darting between people walking along the side walk, the bunny hopping after him, right on the tip of his tail. They quickly got home and Marik straightened, banging on the door of Malik and Bakura's home. "Malik! Maliiik! Malik, open up! Malik!!!"

Malik blinked and hurried to the door, wiping his forehead. "I'm coming I'm coming!" he called opening the door. "What is it Marik?" He asked, looking at Ryou's distressed expression and frowning. "Is... everything ok?"

Marik looked around Malik's shoulder, sniffing. "Bakura... is... is he here? Have you heard from him?" He asked, tail lashing and ears back.

Malik blinked, confused. "No... he hasn't been home all day. Why? Is something wrong?" He asked, his own ears tilting back in worry. "Is... there something you're not telling me?"

Marik swallowed thickly. "We... we have to call Seto." He said. "Malik, Bakura never made it to Dr. Inogawa's office...”

Malik's ears and tail bristled slightly. "H-how... what do you mean he never made it?! It... it's not that far! Maybe he just... went off because he was angry at me!" He said, panic clear in his voice. "Nothing bad could have happened... th-that stuff's all over now!"

Ryou clung to Marik and whimpered. "Marik... s-something is wrong...”

Marik shook his head. "Malik, he would have taken Tuc to the vet, first... and he never did. I'm calling Seto...” and he pushed past Malik and ran into the livingroom, picking up the phone.

Ryou hugged Malik tightly while Marik began dialing Seto's home. "It's ok...” He whispered nuzzling the fennec, who was now seemingly near tears.

"Bakura... My Bakura... he... he isn't home... please Ra...” He said clinging to Ryou. "Ra please... make sure he's safe... keep him safe until he can come home...” He whispered, praying with all he had that his gods would watch over his mate. Hoping beyond hope that he'd be found safe and sound, and come home.

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

Bakura groaned and shifted slightly, before flicking an ear. His nose quivered as he sniffed the air... but he smelled nothing of his mate... or his friends... he listened. He heard a faint low hum. After a moment, he relized his body was bumping around and vibrating. After a few more minutes, he had deduced that he was in a car. Only then did his eyes open. He slowly raised his head and looked around. He was in darkness, but there were small holes of a dim light. Sitting up, he groped around in the darkness. He was in a box... He heard moveement behind him and whirled. A few moments later and his eyes adjusted, and then he recognized the carrier. "Tuc... Nod... Spunky!" He moved over to the carrier and peered in, making sure that the two bunnies and their two babies were safely inside of it.

Spunky peered out, limping slightly. He'd been very jarred by the fall earlier. He gently licked at the bars of the carrier, wanting to nuzzle with Bakura. It was evident in his beautiful red eyes.

Tuc and Nod seemed fine, and were cradling the other bunny, Dust.

The car slowed to a stop, before resuming motion. Spunky whimpered softly, trying to climb the bars, despite his hurt foot.

Bakura reached a finger into the carrier and pet Spunky. "shhhh... it's okay... I'm here... I'm here... I won't let anyone hurt you all...” He said, and pulled the carrier into his arms and crouched over it, curling his tail around it. His lip curled in a snarl as the car slowed, and stopped, then shut off. His eyes darted around and his ears swivelled about as he listened carefully. When he heard the car open, he growled.

The crate was hoisted up and carried for a long while, before being set down harshly, jarring the carrier away from Bakura, and almost instantly the box was opened and the bunnies disappeared from his sight, which was blinded by the sudden bright light. Blinded long enough to get him restrained well enough that he'd be hurting no one.

"What the hell are these little hairy RATS doing here?" One man said, looking in the carrier with distaste.

"Ehh... buy one get one free sale, how should I know?"

Bakura growled and lunged for the man holding the carrier. "NO!!! Give them BACK!!!" He roared. "Or so help me, I will rip you apart with my own teeth and CLAWS!!!"

The man smirked backing away enough that Bakura's restraints kept him at bay. "Oh... so these little rats mean something to you?" He said smirking. He reached in and snatched up the first baby his hand came in contact with... Spunky.

"Sit down and shut up or I'll crush this little rodent right in front of you, with my bare hands!" The man said smirking, giving the bunny a squeeze to emphasize his words, Spunky squeaked painfully and seemed to pant for air, the choke-hold on his tiny body was almost too much.

Bakura's eyes widened in a frantic panic. "NO!!! O-Okay! Okay...” He forced himself to relax and slowly sat down in a crouch and silently stared wide eyed at Spunky.

The man smirked. "Well well... good boy." He said looking at the small rabbit amusedly. "Lose the clothes skunk. " He said calmly. "You won’t need em where you're going."

Bakura winced and his eyes narrowed, but after looking at the baby bunny in the man's hand, he growled and slowly removed his trench coat, then his shirt, boots, and pants. After a hesitation, he removed his boxers as well, then crouched on the ground, bristling and growling.

"Do I hear growling?" The man said reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pocket knife, and pulling out the blade with his teeth. "I could use a new little fur pouch for my wife's jewelry...” he said, pressing the knife between Spunky's eyes.

The bunny held perfectly still, but whimpered softly, seeming to quake in fear, despite his lack of movement.

Bakura's growl turned into a pleading whine, then forced silence. He swallowed thickly. "N-No sir... you don't... you don't hear any growling...” He muttered, his tail bristling and his ears laying flat against his hair. He forced himself not to bare his teeth.

The man smirked. "You want to know what your NEW job is? Hmm skunk?" He said chuckling and toying with the knife, dangerously close to Spunky. "What you'll do, and do willingly for the rest of your miserable life?"

Bakura's eyes narrowed. "Whatever it is, I had better get dental...” He growled.

The man laughed. "You don’t get anything but what Dartz gives you, and you'll like it. If you give us any trouble, I can think of four new little pillowcases...” He said pressing the knife against Spunky's forehead once more, a small blotch of red appearing against his white fur.

Bakura's eyes widened and he lunged forwards, nearly escaping the men restraining him. "NO!!!" He cried, reaching for Spunky with a desperate look on his face.

"Shut up and back down you mangy rat!" He hissed, daring Bakura to make a move, even take a breath out of place. "C'mon skunk, move... I DARE you...”

Bakura whimpered and slowly backed away, lowering himself submissively to the floor, begging the man with his eyes not to hurt Spunky. He continued to whimper, pleadingly.

"Welcome to the Twilight Menagerie. A brothel." the man said smirking. "You should feel lucky, a job you're suited to. Fucking." he said smirking at the baby bunny who appeared to be getting quite sleepy from his inability to take deep enough breaths.

Bakura's eyes widened. "W-What?!" He gasped, suddenly looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"You heard me. You're a stray, public domain." he said smirking, loosening his grip on the rabbit enough to keep the thing alive. "Dartz decided, out of the kindness in his heart to house your miserable godforsaken ass, give you a place to live and hot meals... in exchange for very little work." He said chuckling.

Bakura shook his head. "But... I, I'm not a stray!" He cried, starting to become VERY frightened. "I have a home! A job! A mate! I... I am LEGALLY owned!"

"Owners don’t let their animals run off in the streets like strays. While they go galavanting off in a different country. You were abandoned!" the man chuckled. "Abandoned and unowned. You should appreciate our kindness."

"Kindness?!" Bakura shouted. "You KIDNAPPED me off of the street not TWO BLOCKS from my HOME!!! And now I'm being forced into prostitution?! What the fuck is the matter with you people?!?

In an instant the knife was under Spunky's chin. "What was that?" The man threatened, more white fur staining pink.

Bakura jerked and almost moved forwards, but he held himself in check. He growled, but quickly silenced it and lowered his eyes and body to the floor. "... Nothing...” He ground out between clenched teeth, digging his claws into the floor.

"Wow...” said one of the men restraining Bakura, who was currently kneeling and fixing a collar around his neck. "These things should ALL come in with a magic bunny!" He snickered, before standing and holding one of two leashes on the collar, and passing the other to the second man restraining the skunk.

"If he makes another mistake, he won’t have a 'magic bunny' anymore." The man said smirking. "I'll lop the damn thing's head off in a heartbeat. I suppose I could be generous and let him eat the remains...” He chuckled, picking up the carrier. "Come on then ratass. You're getting bathed and prepared for your new home."

Bakura was wide eyed and shaking in horror. Both from the idea of what he was being brought into, and in fear of what this saddistic man would do to the bunnies that Bakura hadn't realized until that moment meant so much to him... He forced himself up to all fours and quietly followed, completely submissive. He kept his eyes trained on the carrier, and his head and tail low.

The loading dock led them through an underground passage, and not long after ascending stairs, they entered a house. A large lavish house, with soft plush carpeting and richly decorated. "This is Twilight Menagerie." The man said smirking. "Only a select few even know where this place is, and it's a members only establishment."

The man led Bakura along, shoving the weak and quivering Spunky into the carrier. The halls went on forever it seemed, before they turned and Bakura was shoved into a tiled room, pulled across a showering area roughly, washed and shoved out the other end, dripping wet in a matter of moments.

Bakura made a face and shook himself off, then looked around for the man with the carrier, but before he knew it, he was lifted up onto a table and surrounded by people.

"Hey! What the?!" He yelped as he found himself attacked from all angles with hair driers, combs, brushes, and God knows what else. He found himself flat on his back with some guy poking around in his mouth with dental tools, a person on each hand and foot giving manicures and pedicures, and two people working on his tail while yet another seemed to be giving him a thorough check up. Bakura yowled loudly when he felt a thermometer under his tail while the one who put it there groped his intimates, but before he could even form coherent thoughts to turn into words, it was all over and he was lying flat on his chest while someone groomed his hair.

In a whirlwind of activity, it was all over and he found himself in the middle of another room, washed and groomed, and being assessed by several men. His eyes quickly found the man holding the carrier, but then, they fell on another... Daisuke. Bakura's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed.

"YOU!!" He roared, and leapt forwards, but the leashes on his collar were tethered to two posts in the middle of the room and held him fast. But he sure as hell gave the man a look that could kill, and a murderous growl.

Daisuke smirked. "Well well well... if it isn't the pathetic crack addicted druggie." he said chuckling. "You've cleaned up nicely, for a mangy skunk who spend all his life ripped out of his head... maybe I should go fetch you some of your precious goods." He said smirking. "Send you back into your pit of hell, it's never too soon to get a good healthy addiction burning bright again."

The other man laughed. "Now there's something worth seeing... I bet I have some on me...” He said smirking and pulling out a small sack... .

Bakura's eyes widened in horror. "Fucker...” He hissed, and growled, crouching down and slowly backing away, teeth and claws bared, ears back, eyes narrow, and tail up and bristeling. He had been clean for three years. After nearly ten years of being on all kinds of shit... and he did NOT want to go back...

"Here skunky skunky skunky...” The man chuckled inching forward with the opened bag of 'dust'. "Take a nice big whiff, you know you want to. It'll make you feel good...” He chuckled, while Daisuke took the rabbits away, not wanting to be associated with the 'dosage' of crack to the skunk.

Bakura growled and backed away as far as he could, eyes getting wide and frightened. "G-Get back...” He warned. "Get... get that shit away from me... I don't want it! Get back!!"

"Enough!" A cold voice called. "I do NOT want the animals made into addicts. I do not want to see that stuff ever again... is that clear?" A tall man with long light blue hair entered the room, narrowing mismatched eyes on the man with the coccaine.

The man sighed and nodded. "Yes sir...” He mumbled closing the bag and hiding it once again on his being. "He's been cleaned and checked over. He's ready for bedding whenever someone wants him." He said bowing his head.

"Daisuke took the rabbits that came with him. They seem to be his weakpoint." The original man said, as Daisuke returned carrying the carrier, Spunky's wounds tended to.

Dartz raised an eyebrow. "Rabbits?" He asked, turning to Daisuke. "What about rabbits?" He walked over and Daisuke held up the carrier. Dartz peered in. "His weakness?" He frowned and looked at the man who had told him this. "Rafel… Show me." He said, and Bakura's eyes widened in fear for the rabbits.

Rafel nodded and picked up Dust this time and smirked. "You skunk...” He said, drawing the pocketknife again. "Tell your new master Dartz how much you love and appreciate him, for what he's done for you, a useless stray." He smirked, Dust making soft whimpering sounds as the blade threatened to bite away his flesh and decapitate him.

Bakura’s eyes widened. “WHAT?!” He snapped.

"Wrong answer." Rafel said, and with one slick motion, Dust was whimpering loudly as blood dribbled down his paw, staining his fur a dark red. "Try again, but if I were you, I'd be enthusiastic... unless you want this little rat to loose a leg."
Bakura cried out in a desperate horror, then whined and slowly sunk down to the floor, bowing his head. "I... I am a useless stray...” He finally choked out. "Master... I am overwhelmed by your kindess in taking me in and... and giving me a... a home and a...” He cringed. "And a purpose... thank you, Master...” And he lay there glaring at the floor, his pride demolished.

Rafel chuckled and dangled the bunny by it's ears. "And you'll stay obedient and behave, or next time I'll be serving you these bunnies for your dinner." He hissed handing Dust to Daisuke to clean up the wounds, but the small puddle of blood on the tile floor remained, a warning of the very real threat.

"So don’t forget your place." he hissed laughing and wiping the blood on his knife, on his jeans.

Bakura winced and curled up tightly, coiling his tail around himself and basically hiding in it.

"Rafel, must you be so crude?" Dartz said in a bored tone, rolling his eyes. "Take notes while Varon gets the information on this beast for the data base." And he picked up a pen and a pad of information forms and slapped it into the man's chest. "Then take him to Amelda to have the photographs taken, and to get his uniform."

Rafel nodded and grumbled, leaving the room. Daisuke chuckled. "Bakura's the finest skunk I ever created. I'm surprised he cleaned up so well. Last I'd seen him he was a ratty mess of fur and mud." He said calmly, lifting Bakura's chin harshly and looking at him. "You'll be behaving NOW wont you?" He said smirking.

Bakura narrowed his eyes and without even thinking, snapped, sinking his teeth into Dai's hand. "BASTARD!!!" He growled through the flesh in his mouth. Dartz raised an eyebrow as Daisuke howled and started beating Bakura around the head to get him to let go.

"Indeed. I believe he remembers you." The man said with an amused smirk. "Do not bruise him. He still has those photographs." He said while Rafel and Varon returned, Varon quirking an eyebrow at the sight of the skunk holding onto Dai's hand.

"Rafel, please write under special notes that this one bites." Varon instructed as Bakura released Dai's hand and backed away as far as he could, growling. "And has aggressive tendencies...”

Daisuke growled, nursing his had. "For that Bakura... I'm keeping one of those rabbits...” He hissed. "I've been meaning to try new genetic experiments." He slapped Bakura harshly across the face, though he didn't bruise. "And I think I'll start right now." He said picking up the carrier with his uninjured hand and walking from the room.

Rafel raised an eyebrow, taking said notes. "Heh... Dai's even better with punishments than me. I bet the unlucky rabbit he picks won’t even survive the night...”

Bakura's eyes widened. "No... NO!!!" And he began screaming and thrashing desperately. Dartz simply stepped back with a slight smile of amusement as the other men ran to restrain him. But with a snap, one of the leashes broke. "DON'T!!!" Bakura shouted, hurling all of his weight into the next lunge, and the second leash broke.

He charged after Dai, who barely had time to turn around and utter a quick "Fuck!" before the skunk tackled him to the ground, snatched up the carrier and darted into the corner where he crouched over the thing, curling his tail around it, and growled menacingly.

"Hurt even ONE of them and you'll get nuthin out of me but trouble, and a helluva lotta medical bills...” He snarled.

Rafel chuckled as he and Varon grabbed the leashes and tugged Bakura away from the rabbits. "Take your punishment like a good Skunk, or I'll say to hell with it and let Dai have all of them." He said, forcing Bakura's head into a muzzle.

Daisuke growled and threw open the cage, taking his pick of the rabbits. A flash of white was the only clue on which rabbit he grabbed, before he hurried from the room.

"NO!!!” Bakura screamed, struggling as hard as he could as he was put into a harness this time, with chain link leashes, and placed back between the poles in the middle of the room. He dropped to his knees as he struggled, screaming and cursing a blue streak. "DAMN YOU!!! I'LL FUCKIN KILL YOU YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!" The three remaining bunnies darted out of their carrier, which Dai had left open, and dashed to Bakura who quickly wrapped his tail around them crouched over them, shaking in fury and fear over what would become of the rabbit that Dai had taken. He checked to see which one was missing. His eyes widened.

”Spunky? SPUNKY?! NO!!! BRING BACK SPUNKY YOU COCK SUCKER!!!”

Rafel laughed even louder. "Shut your mouth or I'll take another one!" He said smirking. "If you're good, I'll try talking Dai out of making your precious 'spunky' into a monster... or possibly killing it." He said chuckling. "If you keep acting up though, I'll just let him have the rat."

Dust limped into Bakura's tail, whimpering softly and gently chewing the fur. He looked at Bakura, terror plain on his face, as well as Tuc and Nod's. His brother had been taken away by a man that was obviously malicious in intent...

Bakura sobbed and grew quiet, gathering the bunnies into his arms and nuzzling his face into their soft fur, crying softly. Varon sighed.

"Right then... Ready Rafel? Start with the obvious. Species: Skunk. Sex: Male." He circled Bakura. "Build... Thin, well toned. Colors, black and white. Skunk, what's your name, and how old are you?" Bakura growled slightly, but after a glance at Rafel and the bunnies, he sighed in defeat.

"Bakura... Twenty one...” He answered softly. Varon looked to see if Rafel we getting all this down on the form.

Rafel nodded, writing down the information. "Height, weight?" He asked checking down the list. The list consisted of various things a potential 'sleeper' would want. Everything from basic personality, to other things, like preferences in positions and personal fetishes.

Varon looked at Bakura, waiting for his answer. Bakura snorted. "Are we talkin from my head to my feet, or the tip of my tail?" He growled, still huddling over the bunnies. Varon sighed.

"Head to feet." He said.

"5' 9." Bakura snorted. "My tail is 3' 4." He grumbled. "And I'm 150 pounds or so. Why?"

Rafel chuckled. "Favorite position?" He asked grinning.

Bakura's ears shot straight up and his eyes widened. "Excuse me?!"

"Rafel... first things first. What's your sexual preference, Bakura?" Varon said.

"WHAT?!" the skunk yelped. "Why the fuck do you wanna know that?! That is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!"

Rafel rolled his eyes. "Spoil my fun." He said amused. "We need to know who's better suited to sleeping with you." He explained calmly. "Now, Sexual preference, and favorite position?"

"FUCK OFF!!!" Bakura howled, mortified. Varon rolled his eyes.

"Do you REALLY want to lose another pet?" He asked.

"... bi." Bakura growled, drooping and laying his ears back. "And... I don't have a favorite position...”

"Do you ever submit in bed?" Varon asked, and Bakura gave an indignant snort.

"Nobody fucks ME, pal!" He snapped, then flicked an ear. "Well... side from my mate...” Varon blinked. "Sometimes...”

"Rafel, rate him a 4, please." He said.

"Four?" Bakura asked.

"1, total sub. 3, versatile. 5, total dom. You're a four, so you're a dom, who can be a sub, but prefers not to." Varon explained calmly, and Bakura snorted.

Rafel wrote things down quickly. "Alright skunky, length?" he said highly amused at Bakura's sudden embarrassment on the topic.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!?" Bakura howled.

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

Fifteen humiliating minutes later, Bakura was being led down a hall between two men, Rafel behind him carrying the carrier with the bunnies in it, Varon by his side, and Dartz following. He was led into a room that was like a photography studio and a wardrobe room all in one.

"Got a new one for you, Amelda." Varon called. A young man turned.

"Oh?" He said, running fingering through red hair and blinking green eyes at Bakura. "A skunk, huh? Deoderized I hope?"

"Fuck you, pal." Bakura grumbled.

Rafel grinned, picking up various clothes as Amelda began preparing the studio. "You have to pose all pretty like for your profile." He said calmly, handing Bakura a concoction of leather and fishnets.

"Put it on."

Bakura growled and snatched the clothes from Rafel... if they qualified as such... when he was done, he found himself in a pair of tight leather underwear, combat boots, and a fishnet shirt and stockings.

"I look like a fuckin whore!" Bakuura complained as Amelda put a spiked leather collar and bracelets on him.

"I believe the term is prostitute. And you ARE." Rafel chuckled. "Be sure to smile pretty, or the rats get it." He said pointing to the carrier Varon was holding.

Tuc, Nod and Dusty huddled together in the cage, each quaking in fear. "Wouldn't want some other rat to end up a lab rat."

Bakura winced, and his ears, head and tail drooped. He allowed himself to be led over to the set that Amelda had arranged; a black background and lots of blood red velvet pillows.

"Okay, basic portrait." Amelda said, moving into take a picture of Bakura's face. Bakura glared at the camera. "Oooh, very intense!" *click* "I like that!" *click* Bakura nearly snapped at him. He moved back and set the camera on a tripod, and the men holding Bakura's chains moved out of the frame. "Okay, pose for me." Bakura glared and crossed his arms over his chest. But other than that, he didn't move.

Amelda chuckled and had Bakura lay across the pillows, propping up his chin with one of his hands, and drapin the other over a pillow seductively. "Good boy...”

After carefully posing his tail, Amelda stepped back and assessed the pose. "Hmmm... suitable.." with that the picture was snapped, and Bakura's fate sealed.

"Your profile will be in our database by tonight, now if you don’t mind stripping again."

"Actually, I do...” Bakura growled, but at a glare from Rafel, he obeyed. Dartz smirked.

"Come... I shall give you a tour." He said, and turned, walking out of the room. Bakura growled and followed while Amelda and Varon went to get his profile up on the data base. "Currently, we are in the basement." Dartz said. "There are four basement levels. This is level A. Here is where all the cleaning and medical facilities are. Through those doors, are the dungeons." Bakura blinked.

"Dungeons?"

"Indeed." Dartz said calmly. "For those of out customers who enjoy that kind of... BDSM." Bakura winced and growled. "I have a feeling that you will be best suited to the dungeons."

The tour continued, the levels getting more and more lavish, the farther up the house they got, the more lavish it was. "Believe it or not, I will treat you with the respect a cunning creature deserves." Dartz said cooly. "I will provide you a room, clothing to wear, and as you're new here, you won’t have as many priviledges as the other hybrids, but the better you behave the more you'll earn."

They walked down a hall, that was finally above ground. "These rooms, are for doctor and maid fetishes... I doubt you'll be seeing these rooms. " He opened the door to a maid room. Inside was a mahogany desk many bookshelves and other such areas, it much resembled Seto's home office.

They ascended a gorgeous stairway. "This is the level for more specific fetishes, harems, slavery... whatever." Dartz said grinning. "Your room, is located on the second to the top floor." He explained. "The purpose for this is that our customer may decide his preferences before picking who will share his bed."

Bakura snorted as they walked up another flight of stairs. "Here are the living quarters." Dartz said. Bakura froze, and his eyes widened. It was like a combination of the creation labs, AND the pet shop!!! There were at least a hundred small cells with secure doors, and glass fronts. Inside, hybrids were confined all alone with only the bare minimum; a pet bed in the corner, a food and water dish, a litter box, and a couple of little toys to keep themselves amused. It was a very large room, that actually took up almost the entire floor. And like the pet shop, there were signs on each cage. Closer inspection showed the name of each hybrid, species, gender, sexual preference, and their number level of dominance.

Dartz smirked. "I bet you're thinking this is just like that pet shop...” He said calmly leading Bakura down the hall. "You may walk upright, if you so desire." he said calmly. "I don’t care how you choose to behave, as long as there are no complaints." He added.

Bakura was led farther back. "As you can see...” He said motioning to a few cages. "You can earn rewards. Such as... for instance, this Tiger desired a beanbag." He said, motioning to the tiger, curled up contently on a black beanbag. "Or this wolf, who craved a radio." Sure enough, the wolfgirl was laying contently next to a radio, which was playing calm soothing music. "The better you behave the more priviledges you earn."

Bakura's eyes narrowed. "And what about those who refuse to obey?" He growled. Dartz turned around and smirked down at Bakura.

"They lose priviledges. In your case, I am allowing you to keep your rabbits. But if you misbehave, they will be taken from you. Those who continue to misbehave eventually go to the basement. There, you remain in darkness, with nothing but a litterbox and a blanket."

"And after that?" Bakura asked.

"... well... you'll just have to find out, won't you?" Dartz said as he stopped at a cage that already bore Bakura's name on the front. It was beside a female porcupine and a male racoon. "I leave you now. I have business to attend to. Rafel, leave the rabbits with him." And he left.

Rafel chuckled and shoved Bakura inside, putting the carrier down. "Here." He said calmly, placing a black and silver kimono on the carrier. "Put that on, unless you wanna walk around naked." He closed the door, locking it behind him. "Have... a pleasant night." And with that, Rafel left Bakura to his remaining bunnies.

Bakura snatched the kimono and put it on, finding to his disgust that it barely made it to mid thigh. But it was better than nothing. He quickly opened the carrier and called gently to the three bunnies inside. Then scampered out and into his arms, and the skunk backed into the corner where he cuddled them. He hid himself and the bunnies within his tail, and cried.

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

Marik sighed and put down the phone, before turning to Malik and Ryou.

"Nothing... the cops haven't seen him, Rem hasn't seen him, Animal control hasn't seen him... NO ONE HAS SEEN HIM!!!" the lion roared in distress, flinging the phone across the room.

Ryou winced. "Marik... don’t throw things...” He said softly, hugging Malik. "It wont solve anything... just break things." He added, licking Malik's cheek.

Malik had broken down into tears not long before, and was showing no signs of stopping. "It's ok Malik... We'll find him. He'll turn up.." Ryou said softly.

"Ryou... where could he have gone? Why isn't he home?" Malik said shaking his head. "What if he's hurt?!"

Marik paced back and forth anxiously, desperately worried about his friend. "SOMETHING has happened to him. He's a moron, but he wouldn't do this on his own, he knows we would worry...” The lion said. "Seto has sent Yami out to search for Bakura from the skies...”

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

Yami flew over houses calmly. "Bakura!? BAKURA!" he called loudly, pausing at a corner and looking around. He sighed and decided right seemed like a direction with some promise. "BAKURA! C'mon out you ass! Everyone's worried!"

He grumbled softly, hating to admit he was just as worried as the others. Bakura was a friend, even if they didn't get along the best. "Bakura?! Where are you?!"

A man down in some bushes took aim with the sniper rifle. He waited with held breath, then pulled the trigger. The tranquilizer cartridge whistled through the air and met it's mark in Yami's left shoulder...

Yami howled in pain, hand rushing to his shoulder and meeting the dart. He hissed and pulled it out, shaking his head as the drug had already entered his system. "damnit!" He hissed, looking around, eyelids growing heavy. "You think this is funny?!" He flapped harshly, flying down the street as fast as he could, looking for some form of shelter... someplace to hide until he could wake up.

The man grinned and leapt up, chasing after the fluttering bird, who landed in an alley behind some houses. "Here birdy birdy birdy...” He called. "C'mere... C'mon...” He slowly approached Yami.

Yami growled, staggering backwards. "Stay back...” he hissed, flaring his wings out. "I wont be taken by... by the likes of you!" he grumbled shaking his head, fighting the tranquilizers as hard as he could. He yowled and snapped at the man, swiping at him. "I said stay back!" he growled.

The man frowned. "C'mon now... can't have strays running around... We have to get your all off of the streets. Come on now... I'll take you to a new home...” finally, he lunged and wrapped his arms around Yami, pinning the birds arms and wings to his torso. "GOTCHA!!!"

Yami growled, shaking his head. "I am NO stray!" He howled, lunging forward and biting the man on the neck. He kicked him in the shin harshly, struggling. "I have a home, AND a collar!" He hissed, glaring. "I'm WEARING the damn thing! Who gave you the right?!"

"OW!!! Fucker! C'mon, bird! I'm just following orders!!" The man howled as he heaved Yami towards the van heading towards them.

Yami growled and bit him again. "I don’t think so!" He hissed, struggling weakly, managing to free a wing, and beginning to use it as his own bludgeoning device, hitting the man in the face with it as hard as he could many times. "PUT ME DOWN!"

"OW!!!" The man howled, and let go of the bird as he fell backwards.

"DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY!!!" Shouted the driver of the van as he and a third man leapt from the car and charged at Yami.

Yami stumbled back slightly, before catching sight of the man charging at him. He yelped and turned, running quickly, and practically jumping into the air, flapping as hard as he could manage, trying to get as much distance between him and the men as possible before he passed out.

He landed on a roof and hunched down, gasping. "Damnit...” he mumbled shaking his head. "Stay awake... I gotta get home... Seto...”

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

Steve Irwin

The Crocodile Hunter, Wildlife Warrior, Reptile Expert, Conservationist...

A Loving Husband and Father.

You were taken before your time.

We miss you.

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

Lokivsanubis: Glad you like the new fic. And Steve was… IS my hero. I am crushed by his death. Of course I would make a memorial to him, as small as it is.

DEathJunkE: lol you should like this fic… though it will be VERY tense and angsty…

Velvetina: Yami and Seto quarreling is something that seriously will NEVER change. And Bakura is Bakura. And yes! Dust Bunny!!! And you BET Spunky is gonna live up to his name! And yes, Peggy is happy, especially now that he has Precious.

Keyhala: You’ve never reviewed?! How COULD you!!! *cries* Glad you love the hybrid fics!!! And I’ll hold you TO it, reviewing every chapter!

Miku: Oh, the bunnies have a MUCH bigger part in this fic.

wouldnt-u-like-2-no: Who has Rex been screwing? Wouldn’t YOU like to know… ^__________^

Switch: Huh? What? Um, okay. Well, I’m glad you liked the ending… ^_^ And glad you’re likin the sequel!

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