Twilight Menagerie

Twilight Menagerie

Mally-chan and hato chiisai

Disclaimer: We own nothing. Nothing at all

YAOI WARNING!!!

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Chapter 20

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Constantine yawned laying down in the grass and flicking his tail. The sun was perfect for basking, it was just warm enough, with a nice cool breeze. Prime kitty-basking time. He flopped out on his stomach and laid his head on his paws, ears flicking slightly as he began the age-old ritual of sitting in the sun... perfectly still... for hours on end.

But Marik was not in the mood for that. After nearly two weeks being cooped up in the room or sticking close to Constantine due to his blindness, a fresh day and full eye sight had him too energized to rest. The lion romped around the yard, scaring the meeker hybrids and ended up in the flower bed, chasing butterflies like a cub. But this small elusive prey was soon abandoned for something much more interesting; the tuft of fur on the tip of Constantine's tail, flicking about lazily. Marik slowly crept up on it, eyes wide and belly to the ground. Then... HE POUNCED!!!

Constantine yowled and whirled on Marik. "Marik!" He roared, grabbing the other male by his scruff and flipping him to the ground. "I'm TRYING to relax!"

"MOW!" Marik yelped and stared up at Constantine with large guilty eyes, the tuft of Constantine's tail in his mouth. Slowly, he released it and mewled at the larger male, tucking his own tail between his legs.

Constantine flicked his tail irritably. "Why don’t you practice hunting Marik. There's a few bunnies hiding in the bushes." He said laying back down. "It'll do you some good to get some meat on your bones. You'll make lions look bad if you walk around scraggly and thin."

Marik frowned and pouted, flipping onto his belly again. "I am NOT scraggly and thin!" He whined, tugging Constantine's ear. "And I don't wanna hunt the bunnies... I don't want to... hurt them...”

Constantine growled warningly. "Marik, you're a lion. Now go hunt one of those rabbits and eat it, or I'll get cross with you again." He said gruffly. "You don’t want that."

Marik immediately jumped away and huddled down with a mew. "I... I'm not hungry...” he mumbled, curling his tail around himself and halfheartedly batting at the tip.

"Well I am." Constantine said suddenly. "Now go fetch me a rabbit." he said unsheathing his claws and swiping at Marik. "Scoot!"

"NYAO!!" Marik yelped and darted out of reach. "But... I don't want to... hunt a rabbit...” He whined, looking back at Constantine.

Constantine growled warningly. "Eat, or be eaten. Which is it. I either get my pound of flesh from a rabbit, or I'll take it out of your hide for being so insolent!" he roared loudly, frightening anything within earshot.

Marik squeaked and ran for the tall grass, tail tucked in. Once in the grass, he sighed and slowly lay down, thinking. NOW what?! He couldn't bring himself to kill a rabbit... he couldn't EAT rabbit... not since... not since Constantine fed him... Ryou... Marik closed his eyes that stung with tears, but he held them back. Constantine would be angry if he had seen that Marik had cried... again. Marik looked around and finally got up. There were other creatures in the tall grass aside from rabbits.

He slowly and silently stalked through the grass, searching out any creature but rabbits. He froze as he heard something. His ears perked and his tail lashed as he stalked whatever it was. He drew closer, and closer... it was just beyond his view, but well within pouncing range. The lion bared teeth and claws, and launched himself forwards with a roar.

"YIIIIEEEE!!!!" Came the scream, and Marik gasped and retracted his claws just in time to crash into a small hybrid. The pair tumbled through the grass and finally landed, Marik on top. He blinked down at the small boy who shivered in ear underneathe him, ears tilted back in fear into his light bluish hair.

"Oh GOD it's gonna EAT ME!" the youth wailed loudly, beginning to sob uncontrollably. "I knew I'd die here I just knew it! Oh god how am I going to go? B-bear? Oh god it's a Tiger isn't it?!" He let out a harsh sob. "I dont waaaa-haaant to be eaten!" He squirmed slightly. "L-let me go! I taste terrible! I really do! Skin and bones! I swear! I taste worse than... than most things! I swear I'm just a cowardly little meerkat! You don’t want to eat me oh GOD it's going to EAT ME!" the poor creature proceeded to spaz rapidly, leaving little time for much else than... staring in amused shock.

Marik blinked and just sat there doing just that for a bit before smiling.

"Hey! Calm down!" He laughed. "I'm not a bear! OR a tiger! Come on, I'm not gonna eat you, I didn't even mean to pounce another hybrid! I'm sorry!" and he backed off of the boy. "Hey... it's okay, I won't hurt you."

The pale teen gasped for breath, before seeming to dig around in the dirt, picking up something and scampering away and down a hole, though it was obviously not very deep or well dug at all.

Marik blinked and couldn't help but be reminded of Ryou... a small weak boy who dug burrows, and... spazzed out easily. He smiled and slowly crept closer.

"I'm Marik." He said, peering down into the hole. "What's your name?"

There was a moment of silence, before the silliest reply came. "N-no one's home... l-leave a message after the beep." which was followed by... surprisingly no beep.

Marik snickered and slowly lay down. "How did you end up in this place, kid? I haven't seen you before, you're new...”

There was a pause. "Oh no... d-did I make the beep noise on accident?" he blurted, before something glimmered within the hole. More specifically two somethings, and for a short period.

Marik chuckled and folded his arms, resting his chin on them. "You remind me of... someone I used to know... and... loved...” He sighed sadly, but smiled down at the burrow. "Please... what's your name?"

"Oh god... h-he's still here...” was the whispered reply, before more shuffling, and bits of dirt began flying out, signifying it's occupant was digging, though it was short lived; the tunnel collapsed in on said occupant and he whimpered pathetically.

Marik sighed and stood, beginning to dig the... thing... out. Finally, he grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and pulled him out. Chuckling, he brushed him off. "You okay?" He asked, gently licking the creature's little ears.

The poor meerkat trembled and sniffled beginning to cry again. "Please don’t eat me... I... I'm young! I have so much to live for! I... I... I taste like dirt!" he pleaded, curling up beneath Marik, utterly terrified. This kid put spaz to a level that even Ryou couldn't rival.

Marik smiled and gently pet him. "I won't eat you." He said softly. "Or hurt you. I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die...”

The pale haired teen slowly calmed down from his hysterics, though he still trembled and remained hunched over fearfully. "O-ok...” he whispered, ears back. "I... I-I'm ok...”

Marik smiled. "What's your name?" He asked, gently purring and grooming the boy's ears.

"S-S-Syrus...” the meerkat replied softly. "Y-you swear you're not j-just toying with me?" He added beginning to fidget. "B-because th-the other hybrids said th-that you were gonna... e-eat me...”

Marik blinked. "What other hybrid?" He asked, cocking his head. "Who told you that?!"

Syrus squeaked. "E-everyone... th-they're all talking a-about it...” he said ducking down. "H-how you k-killed someone i-in cold blood!"

Marik's eyes widened. "E-Everyone... ?" He slowly got up and backed away, shaking his head. "Oh gods...” He turned away and slunk into the tall grass.

Syrus blinked, part of him screamed 'run you clumsy dork before he eats you!' but the other half... the half that when not frightened beyond comprehendable thought was saying 'help him.' He tugged his hair. "Oh I just KNOW this is going to get me eaten...” he huffed, slowly slinking after Marik. "M-mister scary guy... ?" he called softly. "M-mister scaaary guy?"

He found Marik curled up and shaking in the tall grass. The lion slowly lifted his head and wiped his eyes, turned to the meerkat. "Y-Yes?" He asked, almost in a whisper.

Syrus blinked tilting his head to the side, before squinting and rubbing something in his hand against his kimono. He sighed and put on the small pair of spectacles squinting a bit more. "Oh GOD a lion!" he squeaked falling over. He gasped a bit, taking long deep breaths. "O-ok... I'm ok...” he murmured to himself and looked at Marik once more, his steely eyes softening slightly, despite his fear. "Wh-why are you crying?"

Marik looked at Syrus and sighed. "I... killed him...” He said softly, turning away. "Gods, I killed him... I loved him and I... killed him...”

Syrus blinked. "You... loved him?" he asked curiously. "B-but I thought... that lions didn't like rabbits...”

Marik shook his head. "I loved him. What we were didn't matter... but... he betrayed me... left me... for the bastard who brought us here! And I... I couldn't take it... he broke my heart so many times, I just... snapped...”

Syrus' ears tilted back a bit. "W-well you... might wanna n-not mention that to anyone else you d-decide to love... i-it wont look good on a l-lover resume." he said softly. "H-how'd he break your heart?"

Marik sighed. "It doesn't matter...” He said softly. "I will... never love again. I have no more left to give...”

"N-never say never...” Syrus said after a moment. "I... I'm sure you'll find someone. Everyone has someone... b-besides i-if I just g-gave up every time I failed at something... well... gee...” he said suddenly frowning. "... gosh... I'd just be laying in a bed... I can’t do anything right...”

Marik smiled slightly, but it soon faded. "Fine... I will be able to love again. But I don't want to love again. And I won't allow myself to love again." He said. "I cannot take the heartbreak... Ryou was... he was all I had... I lived for him... and he... he left me FOR another... he left me TO another! He... abandoned me... and he was all I had. Now... I have nothing...”

"You seem pretty healthy to me... albeit depressed...” Syrus said softly. "You have more to live for than I do I'm sure... I bet you have lots of friends... a family."

Marik closed his eyes. "I have... no one." He said softly. "My friends turned on me when I killed Ryou... and I never... had a family. Ever."

"You still have your health." Syrus said softly. "And... I bet if you were given the chance, you'd have a happy life...” he added, looking away. "I won’t get such things... even as bad as things are f-for you... I envy you."

Marik snorted. "Don't bother." He said. "I have nothing. Not even my health, even if I look healthy...” He sighed. "I'm not... I'm a weak scrawny sickly runt." He spat, frowning. "Just look at the other lion... and you will know what a healthy lion looks like... and you're wrong. You have the chance of having a happy life, if you get out of here. You're sweet and kind and adorable... someone would adopt you immediately... I sat in a pet shop for three years... no one ever wanted me... I am... just not meant to be happy...”

Syrus inched forward and licked Marik's cheek. "I never made it to the pet shop...” he said softly. "I... was a mistake."

Marik blinked and looked at Syrus, offering him a gentle purr of thanks for his efforts at comforting him. "What do you mean?" He asked.

Syrus sighed. "W-when they made me... a lot of things went wrong...” he mumbled sighing. "I've never had very much luck... I've always been very clumsy and... well... useless." he said softly. "But when they kidnapped me... I guess they got some of my bad luck...” Syrus sighed and looked down. "No other hybrids wear glasses... b-because they're all meant to see perfectly... When they made me... I... I guess they got it wrong... my eyes were ruined... w-without my glasses I can hardly see anything but blocks of fuzz...” he said sighing. "The color was unappealing as well... p-plus no matter how hard they tried, I never got bigger... I'm scrawny and th-they tried giving me shots to make me calm down... b-but they never worked...” Syrus laid next to Marik. "They got irritated with the... constant failures... I ended up on the street...”

Marik purred gently and licked Syrus' cheek. "You know... I was on the street when they grabbed me and turned me into a hybrid... I was nineteen. And smaller than you are now...” He smiled at the little hybrid. "And I think you turned out fine. How long have you been a hybrid?"

"Long enough...” Syrus said wrinkling his nose. "If it weren't for the people here... I would have starved to death... This place is the closest thing to a family... I'll probably ever see. No family wants something so scrawny and useless...” he sighed. "P-plus they take one look at me, see th-the glasses and say 'his medical bills would be more than he's worth!'...” Syrus mumbled bitterly. "It's... not so bad here... I'm clean, and warm... a-and relatively safe from cars, bears and other life threatening things."

Marik frowned. "But you're nothing but a whore, here!" He cried.

Syrus nodded. "I know... but I'm alive... and I'm comfortable... not struggling in the street, o-or constantly being shunned. B-besides... I don’t get too many customers. The glasses...” he grumbled, flicking his ears.

Marik smiled and ruffled the boy's hair; he not only reminded him of Ryou, but of himself at a younger age... back when he was the pet shop runt.

"I like you, kid...” He said with a smile, and offered a paw. "I'm called Marik."

Syrus blinked. "... y-you want... t-to... be my friend?" he asked, sounding genuinely shocked at the idea anyone would want to be near him.

Marik smiled. "Sure...” He said. "Why not? being predator and prey doesn't matter. We're both hybrids, who were once human. That's what counts."

Syrus smiled slightly. "Oh... ok... n-no one's ever... said that to me before...” he said perking up, his steel-gray eyes sparkling. "I'll be your friend for as long a-as you'll have me...”

Marik smiled at him. "I'm glad." He said softly. "You don't have any other friends?"

Syrus shook his head. "N-never have... no one likes a clumsy loser...” he mumbled ears drooping a bit. "even my own brother hated me... because I was so... worthless." he admitted softly. "But I'll do my best t-to make being my friend worthwhile! I promise! I'll work hard t-to make you happy!"

Marik smiled. "Just be yourself." He said softly, closing his eyes and resting his chin on his paws, not hearing the body creeping up behind them in the tall grass, coming to investigate what was taking Marik so long. "That's all I ask."

But the pleasantries were short-lived. With a furious roar, Constantine pounced, pinning Syurs to the dirt by his neck, the poor boy's spectacles falling to the dirt while Constantine pressed harshly against his neck. It all happened so fast the smaller hybrid didn't have time to spaz vocally, his air supply cut off.

"Marik! What have I told you about lions?! Lions do not make FRIENDS with our food!" he snarled smirking at the spectacles on the ground. "Oh... what have we here? I'm sure you wont need THESE anymore." he hissed, slamming a fist onto the glasses, shattering the lenses. He raised the paw and pressed down on Syrus' shoulder menacingly. "You're a little scrawny...” he hissed, pressing down until there was a snap, and Syrus' now bluing face was pained, he struggled slightly, gurgling in pain. Constantine laughed. "Little runt... you'll hardly make a meal... but you're a fine snack...” he hissed, once again moving his free hand from Syrus' shoulder and slashing him across the chest, his little kimono shredded, and now stained by blood in some places.

Marik stared in horror, stunned, but quickly sprang into action.

"N-NO!" He cried, tackling Constantine. "Don't!! You can't! We... we're not allowed, you'll get into trouble!!!" He tried to convince Constantine to stop... without anyone else getting hurt... uh... more than they already were.

Constantine slashed Syrus' chest once more. "You mean this runt? I heard they were considering putting him down. He's never been bought, he's just a little eyesore and a drain on pockets." he hissed, smirking when Syrus' struggles tapered off, his face a fine shade of violet tinted red. "I'm just saving them the trouble."

"But they haven't made the decision yet!" Marik yelped, shoving Constantine away. "And how could you know that, he hasn't BEEN here long enough for anyone to HAVE thought about things like that! He's a freakin newbie!" Marik narrowed his eyes. "You're... lying to me! Why are you lying to me?! What else have you lied about?!?" Marik demanded, ears flattening in anger and eyes narrowing.

Constantine rolled his eyes. "He's not new." he hissed calmly. "He was here before you were...” he added flicking his tail. "this little runt... obnoxious thing...” he growled. "They kept him in the labs trying to help him. This is probably the first time he's been outside since he's came... but he's not any bit a NEW arrival." he said glaring at Syrus' still form.

Marik frowned. "are... are you... sure?" He asked, looking down at Syrus. "That doesn't give you the right to hurt him!" He lowered his head and gently nuzzled Syrus' cheek. "C'mon... can you get up?" He said softly, licking the meerkat's face.

Constantine slashed Marik across the side. "Stop that this instant!" he growled dangerously. "You're NOT a friend of your food. He's going to be put down anyway, you may as well save them the time and just eat him!" he roared. "Stop playing with your food and eat it!"

Marik glared back. "He is NOT my food! MY food comes from a butcher and cans, dammit!" He shoved Constantine in the chest, making the startled lion fall over. "Look, I don't know if you were MADE a hybrid or BORN a hybrid! But he and I were both human once! Eating him is nothing short of cannibalism! Sure, one day, a long time ago, I would have eaten him along with all the other failed bird hybrids I ate before the first success came along! But those times are over! My eyes were opened! By my lover! My MATE! RYOU!!! And I will NOT eat another hybrid ever, EVER again!!! So you can take your fuckin attitude and SHOVE IT!!!"

Constantine rose to his feet and tackled Marik, biting him harshly on the neck. "That MATE of yours is dead, YOU killed him and YOU ate him, along with every other carnivorous hybrid in this building. That little rat will NEVER come back so you can stop your pathetic mewling and preaching about how good he was. OR did you forget what a WHORE he was?" Constantine hissed, claws digging into Marik's arms. "Here... let me remind you." He added.

"He slept with that Pegasus man... I remember when I first met him. He reeked of that man. I'd say he probably slept with him once a day, if not more! He had your master kidnapped and made into a hybrid, he starved him nearly to death! He slept with Dartz, more than once! He dragged your bleeding ass heart along on a string, USING you to get what he wanted, and when you couldn't even provide half that, he left you like the piece of runt-shit you are!" he roared menacingly.

Marik's eyes widened and filled with tears with each passing word until they were flooding down his face. How he wanted to rip Constantine to peices... but he couldn't make a move against him.

"P-Please...” Marik finally whined. "Just... leave me alone... don't hurt Syrus... we're not allowed...”

Constantine snorted. "I work hard to teach you, to offer you the love you never had and you repay me by lashing out against me? You're no better than he is, and if you don’t watch it, not even I will want you... and you'll be next on the list of hybrids to be put down." he growled, slashing Marik harshly across the chest. "You pathetic whining mewling excuse for a hybrid...” he growled getting off of Marik and kicking dirt onto him, as though he'd just used the litter box. "That little rat's probably dead anyway." he hissed, storming off.

Marik lay very still for quite a while, as if expecting Constantine to come back and make sure he hadn't gone near the other hybrid, but after a while, he slowly rolled over and moved over to the little meerkat. "Syrus?" He whispered softly. "Syrus, are you okay?"

Syrus whimpered softly, slowly sitting up, one arm folding to his chest painfully. "A-ah...” he winced, looking around and squinting. "My... glasses...” he said sorrowfully. "T-they were so expensive... I know they wont replace them...” he mewled, finding them, but hissing in pain and pulling his hand away, fingers bleeding from the sharp glass.

Marik frowned sadly. "I... I will try to help...” He said softly. "Come on...” He nudged the meerkat. "Get up. I'll take you to find Varon or Amelda, okay?" He gathered up Syrus' broken glasses. "But we'll have to be careful not to let Constantine spot us... or he'll kill us both!"

Syrus whimpered. "I-its alright... I can do it...” he whispered standing shakily, his tattered kimono dragging the ground. He leaned forward and took the wire frame of the spectacles in his mouth and began limping away. "I don’t want you t-to be hurt...” he whispered, as he walked head hung low in shame as he went.

Marik walked right next to him, nuzzling and purring to the boy. "To be quite honest... I really don't care what he does to me anymore...” He said with a sigh. "But I won't let him just go around hurting anyone he chooses." He guided Syrus back through the tall grass, then through the flowers, and finally to the door, slipping inside quickly. They crossed the common room and got to the door to the hall. Marik pushed it open and poked his head out, looking up and down the hall for Varon or Amelda.

"Murrrrrumph!" He called. "Murrrumph!"

Syrus nudged past. "I-its alright...” he said softly, around the spectacles. "I know the way...” he mumbled squinting down the hall. "I-it's twice down... a-and th-the far door on the right...” he said softly, beginning to limp down the hall.

Marik frowned and shook his head. "I'll go with you." He said gently, finally removing his own kimono and draping it over Syrus. "C'mon...” He nudged Syrus to start walking.

Syrus smiled slightly, despite his pain. "Thank you...” he whispered gratefully. "b-but you dont have to...” he added quickly. "I don’t... want to trouble you...”

Marik smiled. "Trouble me? How?" He laughed. "How on earth would this trouble me?" He gave Syrus an amused lick on the cheek as they reached the elevator, and Marik pushed the button.

Syrus frowned. "W-well... the labs... th-that rabbit, when you and he both came down he seemed very unhappy...” he said softly. "i-it's not a friendly place."

Marik looked at Syrus. "You saw Ryou? And me? Wait... I've never been to the labs...”

Syrus nodded. "You were there... and a white rabbit, and a skunk." he said calmly. "I remember seeing you...”

Marik blinked. "What... what were we all doing there?" He asked, getting into the elevator as the doors opened.

Syrus looked thoughtful for a moment, leaning into Marik's side for support. "umm... a-ah yes. they were putting more lion into you... m-more rabbit into the rabbit and the skunk was just tossed to the dobermans, so he was getting patched up." he said calmly. "You slept like a rock the whole time."

Marik blinked and slowly drooped. "Oh... that would explain why I don't remember it...” He said in a low tone, then sighed and left thee elevator with Syrus once the doors opened. "Where to now?"

Syrus squinted. "Down the hall... w-we'll get to some stairs... then one last hall... a-and we're there." He said smiling slightly. "The rabbit... he was furious. he kept struggling and biting...” he said softly. "He was trying to wake you up... I wish I could have helped him... poor thing." he said softly, flicking his ears.

Marik sighed and stared at his paws as he accompanied Syrus down the hall. It hurt to hear about Ryou... to think about him... “I can't beleive I killed him...” He said softly after a few minutes. "I killed my one and only reason to live...”

Syrus flicked his ears again. "That is pretty sad... I... I heard they had other plans for him... I bet you really ticked them off." he said after a moment.

Marik frowned. "I don't care about THEM and their PLANS! All I cared about was... him...” He sighed as they got to the door, and stared at it. "Daisuke's in there, isn't he?" He said softly.

Syrus nodded. "H-he's the only one who's ever in there... Sometimes... Varon will come visit me." He said softly. "He brings me something to eat... and pets me sometimes. I really love him." He cooed sighing. Of course he would love the only human who showed him the smallest fraction of appreciation.

Marik nodded slowly and took a deep breath, before knocking, then poking his head into the room.

"H-Hello?" He called softly, looking around.

Daisuke turned. "Well if it isn't my little resident screw-up... oh and he's made a friend?" he asked, causing Syrus to hunch down in shame. "What a pair you two make, a killer and a mistake." he said chuckling.

Syrus looked down and limped inside.

"Ahh... got beat up did you? See? Maybe next time you won’t be so adamant about going outside." he said smirking. "And it seems you broke your glasses. Looks like you'll just have to go without. I don’t have the time or patience to make you another pair of lenses."

"Please?" Marik asked, making his way over to Daisuke. "It wasn't his fault... it was mine...” He bowed his head. "C-Constantine broke his glasses and beat him up... just because he saw me talking to him... it's not fair to punish Syrus for something that wasn't his fault! Please? I... I'll try to... make it up to you... somehow...” The lion fixed pleading eyes on the man he had always hated and feared. "P-Please?"

Daisuke waved him off. "In this place, we take responsibility for our actions. He begged to go outside, despite my warnings, and he got what he deserved." He said giving Syrus a slight kick to the side, making the boy yelp and fall over. "Maybe next time he'll listen to people who obviously know more than he does." he added scoldingly. Syrus whimpered, getting up slowly.

"Well, it's MY fault Constantine found him!!" Marik said, raising his voice. "So it's my fault if you have to blame someone!" He glared at Daisuke. "Damn you, why are you like this?! Do you get off on making us miserable?!"

Daisuke smirked at Marik. "Funny... I could say the same about a lion that killed it's mate in cold blood. Do you get off on hurting others?" he said chuckling. "If it is your fault he was found, then it just proves that you enjoy hurting everyone around you...”

Marik shook his head, eyes wide. "N-No!! I didn't want Syrus hurt! And I didn't MEAN to kill Ryou! It was an accident!!" He cried in a high pitched voice.

Daisuke laughed. "So sitting on his chest in a bathtub, was an accident?" he sneered. "Then you, my friend, have worse luck than Syrus." he chuckled.

Marik slowly bowed his head and drooped. "Please...” He whimpered. "Don't... just help him? Please?"

"There is no helping him." He hissed smirking. "I can patch his wounds... but in a matter of days it won’t matter... he's going to be put down." Daisuke chuckled. "You have to admit though... he faces death bravely." he said motioning to Syrus, who didn't seem to falter at hearing he was to be put down, for possibly the fifth time that day.

Marik's eyes widened. "What?! WHY?!?!" Marik cried. "No! That's not fair! Why put him down?! There's no REASON!!!"

Daisuke rolled his eyes. "Natural selection my boy. This hybrid is too scrawny and sickly, he's got too many flaws from the change. No one will buy him. We're just putting him out of his misery." He explained. "Just like anyone else. He can’t carry his weight around here... so we're getting rid of him."

Marik shook his head. "that's not true!!!" He cried. "I know someone would buy him! If you don't want him, send him to Seto Kaiba, or Pegasus Crawford! HELL!!! Ishizu Ishtar!! ANY of them would take him in!!! Gladly!!!"

"Oh? Do you think any of them would WANT him?" he said chuckling. "He's a useless little mistake of nature. No one wants him. No one even wants him for the most primal human desires. He's completely useless." he hissed smirking as Syrus winced and closed his eyes mournfully.

"He's accepted his fate, so stop your bellyaching."

"I WILL NOT STOP MY BELLYACHING!!!" Marik roared, pouncing and bringing Dai to the floor and sitting on his chest, glaring. "Dammit, Seto and Pegasus would take him in GLADLY!!! You're just a sadistic fuck who likes to play God with us!!! You're a sick son of a bitch and if you think I will sit by and let you destroy him you're SADLY mistaken!!" And he bared his claws and swiped them across Dai's face, just enough to sting and draw blood.

"I think Seto and Pegasus have had enough of a burden on them from you." Daisuke said smirking. "And when Pegasus finds out one day, about you killing his beloved pet, you'll be shunned. You'll be back in the streets starving, only this time I won’t be there to save your sorry starving scrawny hide." He chuckled. "You'll die in the streets...” he said laughing harder.

Syrus whimpered and gently tugged at Marik. "S-stop... please...” he said softly. "You'll get into trouble!"

Marik glared down at Dai. "I missed the part where I actually care." He hissed. "Fine. If Syrus can't carry his weight around here, then I will carry it for him!"

Daisuke laughed at this. "You hardly carry your own weight!" he chuckled. "Out of all the creatures here, you're one of the least purchased!" he laughed harder. "You can’t carry your own weight, let alone someone else’s deadweight!"

"I'll do whatever you ask of me." Marik ground out between clenched teeth, before quickly adding, "As long as it doesn't involve hurting someone else." He sighed and slowly got off of Dai. "Whatever you want, I'll do. You say jump, I say 'how high.' You tell me to spread my legs...” He stared Dai in the eyes. "I say 'how wide'. Is that good enough?" He said in a low tone.

Daisuke laughed. "As fun as that offer seems, I'm not the one you have to convince...” he said smirking. "He's gone." he added laughing more. "Won’t be back until after the fact."

"Then you get that fucker on the phone." Marik growled, seizing Dai by the front of his lab coat.

Daisuke growled and rolled his eyes. "Fine fine." he grumbled standing and picking up the lab phone. After a few minutes of talking he handed the phone to Marik. "There, you little bastard." he hissed. "Tell him what you want."

Syrus blinked, squinting. "M-Marik don’t get in trouble! I-its ok! I... I don’t mind! Please don’t make anyone mad at you!"

Marik blinked at the phone and found himself not knowing what to say. "Umm... hello?" He squeaked.

"Hello Marik." Dartz said calmly. "I hear you've been pitching a fuss. What's the problem?" he asked after a moment.

Marik blinked, startled that Dartz had recognized his voice. "Umm... I, uh... well... uh, sir...” He stuttered, finding it unnerving talking to the man that had stolen his mate away... his heart clenched again. "It's about... Syrus, sir."

Dartz nodded, in thought. "What seems to be the problem?" he said writing in the next answer to his crossword. "Did he get loose?"

"No sir." Marik said softly. "I want you to spare his life."

Dartz blinked. "I don’t think your mate will approve." He said calmly. "Constantine is a very jealous creature... and here you acted like you wouldn't be loving again." He added sounding amused. "You know you'll just end up killing him."

Marik shook his head. "I do not love Syrus... I do not love Constantine. No one could ever replace... Ryou. But Syrus doesn't deserve to die. If anyone in this place does, it's me."

Dartz laughed at that comment, knowing things Marik didn't. "Syrus is too much of a burden on the Menagerie's pocketbook Marik. He has no customer interest." he said calmly. "We can’t afford to keep hybrids who cannot work."

"Then give him away! Give him to a shelter! Or to Seto Kaiba! He would take him in! I know he would! Pegasus Crawford wouldn't turn him away either! But please sir! Don't kill him!"

Dartz rubbed his chin in thought. "I'll see what I can do Marik. But if you don’t behave, I won’t do anything to save Syrus." He said calmly. "That means eating anything presented to you, and stopping your moping. It's bad for sales." he warned cunningly.

"In exchange for your behavior, I'll see about having Syrus transferred with you." Though before Marik could ask, there was a soft click, signaling Dartz had hung up.

Marik blinked at the phone. "Transferred?" He repeated. "What's he talkin about?! Transferred where?!"

Daisuke chuckled taking the phone. "A few hybrids from this facility are being shipped to our new location." He said calmly, hanging it up. "From the sound of it, Dartz is considering sending Syrus I assume?"

Syrus blinked confusedly, perking up a bit. "H-he's not... g-going to have me killed?"

Marik slowly nodded. "If... If I'm good." He said softly. "He will transfer Syrus... with me. So... I'm leaving?" He cocked his head and looked at Dai.

Daisuke nodded. "You and Constantine were leaving for sure. Dartz has yet to select who else." he said smirking. "So it looks like you have to behave or else I'll still be serving Syrus for supper one day." he chuckled. "I'm sure he'll taste just as delicious as Ryou did."

Marik paled and looked away, unable to maintain eye contact with this man. "How did... Ryou die?" He asked softly. "Constantine said... I killed him... but he was... he was alive when I left!"

Daisuke laughed. "It was the most painful way of all...” he hissed amused. "He had too much water in his lungs, and it stagnated... he drowned in the most slow and agonizing way possible." he mused. "Isn't that nice?"

Marik's eyes widened and he slowly backed away, tears forming. "So I did kill him...” He whispered, then turned and ran from the room.

He made his way back to the common, and stared at Constantine... his mate. He lowered his head and headed for the tall grass, to hunt. Within ten minutes, he had caught a pheasant. Constantine was woken from his nap by a soft, sad whine. Opening his eyes, he saw Marik before him, pheasant in his mouth. The smaller lion dropped the pheasant before his mate.

"Murrrrr?" He whimpered, hopefully.

Constantine yawned boredly and flicked his tail. "I presented you with a fine lunch." he growled. "ungrateful...” he grumbled, ears tilting back. "But I suppose I'll let it slide... if you start eating."

Marik blinked. "But... I thought YOU were hungry...” He said softly, slowly approaching Constantine and purring softly, rubbing cheeks with the larger male and licking his chin in a submissive manner.

"I'm furious you helped... that... thing." he mumbled snatching the pheasant away, and merely ripping it's feathers out, before ripping into the balded bird. "You'll never be a lion... you're too weak."

"Murrrr...” Marik said sadly, and lay down by Constantine's side, resting his head on his paws. "I always was...” He sighed, watching a tabby hybrid chase butterflies in the flowerbed, and at a female rabbit nibbling flowers nearby. He winced and turned away, unable to watch her.

Constantine chuckled. "Why don’t you go over and hit on that rabbit? Or wait... maybe you're afraid you'll kill her too...” he sneered amusedly, chewing his oversized bite ungracefully.

Marik winced. "I made the mistake of falling in love with a weak creature." He said in a cold, monotone voice. "I won't make that mistake again. Not with anyone."

Constantine smirked. "Really now? What if Ryou were alive now? Would you say that with such confidence?" he sneered. "Don’t lie, you'd run back to him with your tail between your legs like a scared kitten."

Marik frowned. "So what if I would?!" He snapped.

"So, it just means you haven't learned a thing." Constantine said calmly, having finished his bird-treat. "As long as you think somewhere in you that a lion and anything less than another carnivore could co-exist, then you're just a worthless little runt."

"Then I'm just a worthless runt." He snorted. "I thought I had grown out of that. I guess I was wrong. I always have been and I always will be. Happy now?!"

Constantine laughed. "Until you learn your place, you'll always be the worthless runt you are. No one wants a lion who can’t even bear himself with pride. Even that rabbit didn't want you." he snorted, beginning to groom himself. "Dropped you like a ton of bricks for a man who held himself high, proud and strong... not some sniveling scrawny cub." he chuckled. "If you had held yourself with even the slightest bit of pride, I'm willing to bet he wouldn't have strayed from you... but then again you would have killed him eventually. Hunger is inevitable."

Marik winced. "The only pride I've ever felt was when I was with him...” He replied. "He WAS my pride... and it died with him."

"You had no pride when you were with him. He provided for you, who were supposedly the dominant one. You were his BURDEN." Constantine said flicking his tail. "That's not pride, that's pathetic."

Marik frowned. "that's not true. I had a job and provided for him... it was just chance that I lost my job the day before we were kidnapped... I would have found a way to provide for him...”

"Oh really? Begging that rich boy for money?" he chuckled. "You were a failure."

Marik glared. "I never begged him for money!" He gasped.

"So when he GAVE you a job, and GAVE you a house and GAVE you so much with nothing in return, it wasn't begging? Sounds like pity then." Constantine chuckled. "At least that punk skunk can provide for his little lover. You'd be wise to take after him"

Marik scowled. "Shut up...”

"You just hate hearing the truth... I wonder how it would have sounded...” Constantine mused. "If Ryou had told you to your face, those things he told me... that day we talked...” he chuckled.

Marik slowly looked at Constantine. "W-What?" He gasped.

"I saw him in the commons while you were sick... you remember." he snickered. "Ryou was absolutely lovestruck. Enthralled with Dartz. He kept cooing and nuzzling just about anything near him...” Constantine chuckled. "He had quite a lot to say about you... especially in comparison with his new attraction."

Marik frowned. "No... you're lying...” He said, looking away. "I won't listen to this!"

Constantine laughed. "But you haven’t even heard what he said and already you're mewling like a frightened little kitten." He said amused. "He said you were worthless... you were unappealing and had nothing to offer him...” he said despite Marik's protest. "Pegasus had offered him a home in the lap of luxury... and Dartz offered him even more. He called you a pathetic monster who couldn't control his rage...” he chuckled. "He told me all about losing your job, and how you would mewl like a kitten and cry like a baby when things didn't go your way. You made him SICK. He was always there cleaning up after your messes."

Marik shook his head. "If he felt that way about me, he would have gone back to Pegasus! But he STAYED with me! He loved me! And I loved him! I still do! Stop telling me these lies!" And he got up and ran from Constantine and climbed the nearest tree, settling in its low branches.

Constantine followed bellowing with laughter. "He thought he'd loved you... but the more he stayed near you, the more it became apparent that he was stuck in a pity relationship!" he called up laughing. "He wanted to leave, but you were just SO pathetic he couldn't!"

"SHUT UP!!!" Marik roared, covering his paws with his ear. "JUST SHUT UP!! It's not true! Leave me alone, please!!! Just leave me alone!!!"

Constantine laughed. "He smelled of Dartz! That man had probably shown him a world of passion like he'd never known with you!" he howled up the tree, chuckling. "He said 'I feel so bad for Marik... he'll be crushed... but I just can’t stand it any longer... h-he's too dependant... '." Constantine said in his best Ryou imitation.

"STOP IT!!!" Marik screamed, startling everyone in the commons. "STOP IT, PLEASE!!! IT'S NOT TRUE!!! IT'S NOT TRUE!!!"

"Oh but it is! It IS true!" Constantine said scraping his claws down the tree. "He told me everything! He told me he didn't want you as a mate, you were insufficient! 'H-he's just got this anger... h-he cant control it... I'm afraid one day h-he'll lose his temper with me... a-and... '...” Constantine mimicked. "And you know what?! He was right! You DID kill him in a fit of blind RAGE!"

Marik closed his eyes, dug his claws into his scalp, and screamed. "I HATE YOU!!!" He screamed. "I HATE YOU!!! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?!? JUST STAY AWAY FROM ME!!! PLEASE!!!"

"Just like Ryou would have been screaming had he not been drowning as you SAT on him!" Constantine howled with laughter at this point. "YOU KILLED HIM!"

Marik broke down into uncontrollable heartbroken sobs. He wanted to vomit, and throw himself out of the tree and break every bone in his body. He wanted to die...

"And his last words... the last thing he left in this world was this Marik. 'I hate him... '. He HATED you in the end! Not even in death, will he love you again!" Constantine yowled with smug satisfaction. "You were doomed to be broken apart, and now! Now you'll never have him! He's gone forever, and even after death, his spirit would never mingle near you!"

Marik let out an agonized roar and hurled himself out of the tree headfirst, intent on breaking his own neck. But falling from ten feet wasn't enough to do the job. The lion yelped and tumbled, then slowly staggered to his feet and turned. "This is YOUR fault!!" He screamed and Constantine, and attacked. The lions tumbled down the hill, Marik ripping into Constantine as viciously as he was capable of, trying to get his jaws around the larger lion's throat. A ferret gasped and ran to the door and out into the hall.

"MASTERS!!! MASTERS!!! FIGHT!! COME QUICK!!!" He screamed, searching out someone, ANYONE, to separate the lions.

Constantine roared powerfully and flipped Marik off, pouncing on him and biting into his back harshly, dragging his claws down his back, the powerful claws dug deep into the flesh.

Varon and Amelda gasped at the sight, having been lead there by the ferret, Daisuke and Rafel not far behind. They quickly aimed two tranquilizer guns at Constantine and Marik, both taking the shot.

Both lions yelped, and the fighting slowed to a halt, laying in the grass weakly. Daisuke smirked. "Looks like someone doesn't know how to behave...” he chuckled at Marik. "That didn't last more than an hour did it...”

Marik slowly raised his head. "I... hate him... please... don't hurt Syrus... he doesn't deserve to die... I do! Please, just... just end it!" His head dropped to the ground and he curled up, crying. "I just want to die! Please!!!"

Daisuke laughed. "Shut up your pathetic mewling." he said giving Marik a kick in the side. "You brought this all upon yourself!"

"Besides...” Rafel snickered, leering down at Marik. "You've been ordered for tonight. Make him happy and Syrus MIGHT be spared." He said to the lion, who slowly lowered his head.

"Fine... but please... don't make me stay with... HIM!" and he glared at Constantine.

Varon sighed. "Marik you have to." he said helping the weakened lion up. "C'mon... lets get you changed." he said clipping a leash onto Marik's collar and walking him from Constantine, who looked smug.

"Please...” Marik sobbed. "He's killing me! He's torturing me... I'd rather die... please don't make me stay with him!" He begged Varon.

"I'm sorry Marik... but Dartz ordered you stay with your own species. You're mates." Varon explained. "Besides, he isn't killing you, you're fine." he lead Marik to the room he'd be staying in, and cleaned him up before unclipping the leash. "Now be good for your buyer." he said calmly.

Marik slowly lay down and stared at the wall. "He is killing me... inside...” He said softly. "And he is not my mate. My mate is dead... And I will never have another...”

Varon left silently. Moments later the door opened. "Hey Marik!" Zaine's cheerful voice said. "I thought I'd pay my favorite lion a visit!"

Marik flicked an ear and sighed. But that was all the reaction that Zaine got.

Zaine grinned. "I got just the thing for you!" he said sitting next to Marik and producing something truly special. "I saw it at the hybrid specialty shop... I thought 'oh this is just perfect for Marik!' he said opening the small velvet box. Inside, was a beautiful silk collar with a pendant in the middle that adorned sapphires and diamonds. In the middle was the engraving 'My Forever'. "How's that for a gift?!"

Marik slowly turned and looked at it, dully. "Is that... for me?" He asked in a low tone.

Zaine laughed. "Of course not! It’s for you to give to Ryou!" he said proudly. "If this doesn't get you the most love you've had in a while I don’t know what will! He'll swoon head over heels for you!" he grinned. "Now that's romance!"

Marik winced and slowly turned away. "That's very kind of you, but...” He said softly. "I hope you can return it and get your money back."

Zaine blinked and sat next to Marik. "Why do you say that? Did he dump you?" he asked confusedly.

Marik closed his eyes and slowly nodded. "Yes...” He said softly. "He left me for... Dartz."

Zaine frowned. "Then you really should keep this, it'll win his little bunny heart. No man can resist this kind of charming." he said scratching Marik's ears.

Marik gave a harsh sob and jerked away. "It's too late!" He shouted, slinking under the bed. "HE'S GONE!!! HE'S DEAD!!! I... I caught him... with Dartz, and... I couldn't take it! I don't even remember doing it, but... I attacked him!! I tried to kill him! But Dartz stopped me! But it was too late... I had hurt him... and now he's dead! I killed him!!!"

Zaine blinked, putting the box away and peering under the bed. "Marik... come on out...” he said softly, reaching under and giving Marik comforting pets. "It'll be ok... c'mon out...”

Marik shook his head. "No, it won't be okay! How can it ever be okay?! I killed my mate! The only one I've ever loved! The one I LIVE for! Now I just want to die... but they WON'T LET ME!!!" He buried his face in his arms. "They... hand me over to this... bastard lion... and he hurts me! He tells me things! He rapes me! I just want it all to end! I want to not... feel anything anymore!!"

Zaine dragged Marik out and hugged him. "Calm down... do you think Ryou would want to see you like this?" he asked gently petting Marik. "If he really is dead, he'd want you to move on with your life... love again. He wouldn't want you do die miserable, or live a life alone because of heartbreak...”

"I don't WANT to love again! And how the hell am I supposed to love when I'm stuck in this hell hole?! Being FORCED into being the mate of a saddistic lion who loves to torture others!!! He calls me his mate and a worthless runt in the same breath! I've lost the one thing I cared about! Even my friends hate me now! Because they know I killed Ryou! Bakura and... and Master Malik! The way they looked at me... I have no home to go to... no friends... no family... Life isn't worth living anymore! And even if my friends didn't hate me, they're taking me from them!! They're transferring me and... Constantine... to the new location. I tried to make friends with a meerkat today! And you know what happened?! Constantine attacked him! Hurt him! And they want to put him down! Everything I touch gets destroyed!!! EVERYTHING!!! AM I CURSED?!?"

Zaine continued to pet Marik. "Calm down Marik... it'll be ok... I promise." he said calmly, continuing to comfort the lion. "What was the Meerkat's name?" he added, trying to get Marik on a happy topic. "Was he cute?"

Marik sighed. "His name is Syrus. He's... He reminds me... of Ryou...” He said softly, letting the man pet him. "He was cute... frightened, just like Ryou was at first... wore glasses... Constantine broke them, and they're refusing to get him a new pair... he can't see now... it's all my fault... if I had just avoided him... left him to panic in his burrow... he would still have his sight, and he wouldn't be hurt...”

Zaine chuckled. "You know... maybe you could warm up to Syrus. I've seen him... he's the little one in the lab. He'd be overjoyed to have a friend." he said scratching Marik's ears. “Varon showed him the tiniest bit of love, and now Syrus follows him around like a puppy. He even helps Varon get things done." he said smiling. "He's a little trooper, despite how tiny he is, he'd follow Varon to the ends of the Earth... just because he was kind. He'd probably do the same for you if you allowed him."

Marik sighed. "I tried to be friendly... and it got him hurt." He said. "I don't want him hurt... I would like to be his friend, but... nothing more than a friend. I could never love him." He told Zaine. "You have to have a heart to love."

Zaine chuckled. "If you didn't have a heart Marik, you wouldn't care if Syrus got hurt or not." he said scratching Marik under the chin. "You're just hurting... it's understandable." he said calmly. "Tell me more about Syrus, he seems like a nice happy topic."

"What's there to tell? I only met him today. I know nothing about him other than the fact that they abuse him worse than they abuse me." Marik said with a shrug. "And maybe the topic is a happy one... but I'm afraid that the mood of the topic does nothing for my mood...” He sighed and was silent for a while. "I wish I didn't have a heart... then it couldn't be broken...”

Zaine shushed him. "If you didn't have a heart... there wouldn't be a point to living Marik... would you honestly tell me that given the chance, you'd choose to never meet Ryou?"

There was a long pause. "Yes." He said, finally. "I may have loved him... but it has brought me more pain than I can endure."
Zaine frowned. "... That really disappoints me Marik... if you truly love someone, even after they're gone... you'd always want to have met them... was he really such a bad person?" he asked frowning. "That you'd give up ever having known him?"

Marik winced and curled up, clutching his tail to his chest. "I... I don't know!" He cried. "I don't know! I love him! I want him back! I'd give anything, ANYTHING, to have him back!!! To have him love me! To be happy with him! Live with him, grow old with him, die with him! I want that more than anything in the world!!!"

Zaine hugged Marik once more. "Keep the collar Marik... hide it somewhere where no one will know." he whispered and scratched Marik's back. "You'll be able to use it someday...” he stood, putting Marik down on the bed. "I'm going to go ahead and go... ok? Just go to sleep on the bed. You'll be able to stay here in this room tonight...” he said tucking Marik in. "Understand?"

Marik lifted his head. "NO!! They said if I wasn't good and didn't make you happy, they'd kill Syrus!!!" He yelped, and leapt onto Zaine. "You can't just go!!! They'll think I fucked up!!!"

Zaine chuckled. "I'll tell them you did a great job Marik... calm down." He said patting Marik's head. "I could never have sex with you, not when you're heartbroken. Talk about salt in the wound...” he said pushing Marik down. "Just take care of the gift I gave you, and take a nap ok? I'll take care of the rest... you need and deserve a break."

Marik slowly looked down and sighed. "If you don't screw me... someone else will...” He said softly, curling up on the bed.

"Go to sleep Marik... I promise you'll be ok...” Zaine said calmly. "Just sleep tonight, and don’t worry about your troubles... I promise you'll be ok." he said flicking off the light. "As far as anyone knows, I did screw you, lets keep this little vacation of yours between us." He said smiling and leaving the room.

He told Varon what a great 'lay' Marik was, and was about to leave when he noticed something of a spectacle in the main lobby. He blinked and peered in the window of Ryou's old room. "Oh my god...” he breathed shocked. They had been LYING to Marik! Sure enough Ryou was just fine, and apparently exposed to either more gas, or some other arousal stimulation, because both he, and his bunnies were... well they were getting PRETTY groovy... with a stuffed humping toy, and the smaller bunnies with each other.

Rafel was standing by the control panel, grinning from ear to ear as he watched Tuc bang Nod for all he was worth, and poor Ryou, humiliated as he was, desperately using his humping toy. He looked at Zaine.

"How was the lion?" He asked. "I hope you fucked some sense into him...”

Zaine nodded. "He's sleeping on the bed like a baby. He was very well behaved... say... is that the same rabbit that Dartz was interested in?" he asked curiously.

Rafel grinned and nodded. "Sure is! The boss FINALLY broke him and that mangy sad excuse for a lion up and today, fucked the bunny! Amelda saw them!"

"I see...” Zaine said thoughtfully. "And here you're toying with the poor thing." he said chuckling, though inside he felt like slugging Rafel. "Well, I'm gonna get back to my job, I'll see you around... try not to torment the animals TOO much." He teased, walking away. It was time for intervention... this was beyond out of hand...

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

Limpet666: Yes, Ryou is annoying everyone, he’s just gullible. TOO gullible. And we all love Yami, dear, he’s a laughing riot. And don’t check every damn day for an uptate. I only update on the weekends. Now you know when to look. Saturday or Sunday.

Andyouthinkimcrazy: Lol Yes!!! The awful man TOUCHED RYOU!!! And yeah, we adore the bunnies… And we ain’t sending Dust off… he’s still a baby…

Miku: Glad you’re reading now!!! Yeah, Constantine crushing rabbits with Marik’s body did the job… Marik’s been traumatized… >.> I was too, actually… T_T The bunniiiiieeeeessss…. *cries*