The Jungle

The Jungle

Mally-chan and Hato Chiisai

Disclaimer: We own nothing within this fic.

YAOI WARNING

Pegasus/Ryou, Marik/Ryou, Bakura/Malik, Seto/Yami

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

Chapter 25

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

It was a peaceful afternoon in the aviary behind Seto Kaiba's house. Seto himself was off at his office, his brother was in his room, grounded and not caring. Because he was playing his video games anyway. In the aviary, the songbird hybrid was curled up in his hollow tree, napping. And below it, on a soft patch of moss, the lion was also napping, Tuc and Nod cuddled into his side, while he himself cuddled his bunny plushy between his front paws. The other birds in the aviary were also taking an afternoon nap. All knew peace and rest. All but one...

A pale lean body snuck through the undergrowth of the aviary, dark narrow eyes gleaming and fixed on his prey. Little black ears were perked forwards and alert, and a long bushy tail hung low behind the body, just above the ground. A smirk appeared on the beast's lips, showing sharp teeth when he found himself within range of his golden prey.

"HYAAAAAAHH!!!" Bakura bellowed his battle cry, launching himself at Marik's sleeping form.

"YEEEEAAAAH!!" Marik roared, startled from his sleep, Tuc and Nod darting away in a panic. "OOF!!!" The skunk tackled the lion.

Yami yelped and nearly fell out of the tree, scrambling to cling to the branch he'd been perching on. "DAMMIT BAKURA!" he howled, hoisting himself back onto the branch, as the other two hybrids began to wrestle on the moss, the bunnies following in suit. Yami sighed and groaned irritably. "Cant you save that for when I'm NOT sleeping!?"

"Ah, don't be such a stick in the mud!" Bakura snapped back as Marik rolled away. "Come on, Marik! You've been in here all day! Come out and play 'Hunter' with me!"

"I can't!" Marik snapped, glaring at Bakura and looking around for his bunny plushy.

"Why not?"

"I'm fuckin' grounded..." Marik grumbled, and Bakura blinked.

"For what?"

"For putting that stuff on you that made Yami think you were Ra's gift to bird hybrids." Marik snickered, and Bakura glared.

"Ass." Yami grumbled, yawning and trying to get back to that sweet place known as dreamland. "Seto will be home soon, if it'll get you out of my aviary, I'll ask him to move you somewhere else." He added. "Now shut up so I can sleep."
"Oh, YOU shut up, Yami!!!" Marik growled. "YOU can go into the house and sleep on Seto's bed if you want! If we're pissing you off, you can just LEAVE!!!" And he snorted and picked up his plushy in his mouth, and trotted across the aviary, settling down on another patch of moss.

"Murrrumph!" He called, and Tuc and Nod scampered over and cuddled up to the lion again, who began to lovingly groom them. Bakura snorted, then looked up at Yami.

"You're lucky..." He said, softly. “To have Seto with you…”

Yami groaned and looked away. "I know what you're going through ok? But there's nothing I can do about it, and right now, there's nothing Seto can do either. Suck it up." he grumbled bitterly. "We're trying our best to come up with a plan to get them back, but until then you could stop distracting me, or making it harder for us." He added softly, turning to give Bakura a tender look. "I know you love them, but... you have to be patient."

Bakura sighed and nodded, looking up at Yami. "I know, but... I mean, you still have your lover. Marik at least has those two bunnies and that crazy doll of his... but I have nothing. I miss Malik. I'm worried about him." He drooped a bit, but then changed the subject. "Were you really that... enamored with me just because Marik put some weird shit on me?"

Yami nodded after a moment. "I didn't even see you, I just saw this...VERY pretty blue.... thing." Yami replied after a moment. "I... am particularly fond of blue."

Bakura snickered. "Oh... so Seto's eyes must be absolutely hypnotic, eh?" He asked, grinning and lashing his tail in amusement.

Yami narrowed his eyes. "Watch it or I'll swarm you again, just to amuse myself." he said plucking a loose feather and dropping it, watching in particular amusement as it danced along the air as it fell.

"Whaaat?" Bakura whined. "It's an honest question, Yami..."

Yami sighed after a moment. "Yes... he has beautiful eyes." he said after a moment.

Bakura smirked. "Yeah.... so does Malik." And he sighed, then looked around at the ground before beginning to dig.

Yami chuckled. "Looking for something?" He called down, leaning over the branch to better see what Bakura was doing.

"Yes." Bakura answered simply. He snorted, then turned and began digging somewhere else. "HAH!!!" He plucked a grub out of the dirt, and popped it into his mouth before turning and digging in yet another spot.

"Bakura!" Yami scolded. "Would Malik want you doing that?" He said firmly.

Bakura chuckled. "No... but his sister LOVES it when I de-grub her garden!" He announced, eating another grub.

"It's true." Marik called. "Whenever Malik told Bakura to stop digging for grubs, Ishizu told him to ignore Malik and dig for grubs all he wanted as long as he didn't hurt her plants!"

Yami groaned. "Stop digging up the grubs!" He called down. "That's what the quail eat!" he growled down. "If you're hungry, go inside and make a sandwich!"

"But I like grubs." Bakura stated.

"Dear God, PLEASE tell me you're not digging for grubs again..." A voice groaned, and the three hybrids turned to see Seto in the doorway of the aviary. Bakura smirked.

"Okay. I won't." He said, then went back to his digging. Marik snickered and turned, knocking Nod to the ground after the bunny had nipped his ear. Marik growled playfully as the bunnies "attacked." Seto smirked at Marik gently wrestling with Tuc and Nod, then looked up at Yami.

"C'mon down, Yami. Time to spray your wings." He said.

Yami grumbled and gracefully hopped from the branch to land near Bakura. He whacked him on the head slightly. "DON’T eat the grubs in here, go outside and do that if you think you have to!" he grumbled, walking out of the aviary with Seto.

Seto snickered at Bakura's mumbled curses and closed the aviary door. "Having fun with your friends?" Seto asked.

"If you call being woken up early from a nap fun, sure." Yami replied calmly, looking up and watching some clouds as they walked back towards the mansion.

Seto smirked and held the door open for Yami. "How are they holding up?" He asked, this time being serious.

"They're holding... I don’t know if it's so much...up." He said focusing his gaze on his path, pulling his eyes from the sky.

"Bakura misses Malik, and Marik misses Ryou, but they have each other to keep themselves strong while they wait... I'm sure they'll be ok."

Seto sighed and nodded. "Well... the remodeling of the club is almost done." He said. "At least we have SOME good news, huh?"

Yami nodded. "I'm sure once they start working on that they'll feel better. Idle hands are the works of evil they say." Yami chuckled. "If they have something else to occupy their minds it won’t hurt so much."

Seto nodded. "I hope so. There's nothing more depressing than a heart broken lion carrying a bunny plushy in his mouth and being followed around by a pair of bunnies and an equally depressed skunk..."

Yami nodded a bit. "Yes..." He said after a moment. "Well... we'll set things right eventually." he added, taking a seat on a stool after they'd reached their destination. "Have fun at work?"

Seto turned and gave Yami a flat look as he opened the fridge. Yami snickered.

"That bad, huh?" He asked.

"Oh, shut up, Yami." Seto snorted, pulling out a soda and popping it open. "Sometimes, I fuckin' hate that company..."

Yami chuckled. "I'm sure you do, but the pay's better than the game shop." Yami said amusedly. He yawned softly. "stupid skunk..." he mumbled looking out the window.

"Stupid skunk?" Seto repeated, blinking. Then, he grinned. "Why? What did he do this time?"

Yami groaned. "I'm just grumpy. I was sleeping." he said looking back to Seto and smiling slightly. "he woke me up."

Seto chuckled. "Ah. I see. Well, hopefully when Malik returns, he'll act more like a man." He said, heading out of the kitchen and towards the stairs.

Yami hopped off of the stool and followed. "One can only hope." he said stretching a bit as they walked, his wings flaring out slightly from the stretch. "mmm.... that feels good.." he mumbled, stretching one wing, before switching to the other.

"Y'know... I've been thinking, Yami..." Seto said, walking up the stairs. "When we were last at the vet, he said that your wings were tense, and that it was a sign that you wanted to court, and... mate." Yami blinked. "Well... that's been taken care of... but your wings are still tense. I know you don't want to fly but... Yami, that's what your wings are made for. And I don't think it's good for you to not use them."

Yami blinked, taken aback. "It might not be good, but I'm not comfortable using them." He said after a moment. "I don’t like high places."

Seto rolled his eyes. "Yami. This is something you're going to have to get over." He said, turning and opening a pair of French Doors and walking out onto a balcony. He walked to the edge and leaved over the railing, looking down at the aviary, seeing a couple of blurs moving around as Bakura and Marik played.

Yami walked slowly out onto the balcony and sighed. "Seto, I... I'm much happier as I am. I don’t like high places you know that. There are other ways to make me less tense than flying." he said calmly.

"True." Seto said. "But properly exercising your wings is the best way. And you can only exercise them properly through flight." The CEO pointed out, sipping his soda.

"Or chasing Bakura around like an enraged chicken." Yami said chuckling at the thought of how Bakura would react to that.

Seto blinked, then chuckled. "That's fine, just as long as he isn't covered in my ultraviolet solution again... that's for you and me to play with ONLY."

Yami blushed and laughed. "Don’t make it sound so dirty." He said shaking his head.

Seto turned and looked back at Yami, wearing a playful grin on his face that only Yami and Mokuba ever got to see. "Why? That's the point." He teased.

Yami laughed once again, his voice smooth as pooled silk, thanks entirely to the hybrid genes. "Don’t do that." He said walking to stand next to Seto, leaning over the balcony, resting his arms on the cool railing. "It's not like you use it as a lubricant or something." He said amusedly. "It's just for decoration."

"Seems to work like an aphrodisiac for you." Seto snickered, waiting for Yami to take the bait.

Yami choked. "It does not!" he said turning on Seto and glaring. "You didn't see me trying to screw Bakura! He was just beautiful!"

Seto chuckled. "Oh really? Well, maybe. The fact is, it gets your attention and holds it. That's the hardest part, you know." And he poked Yami in the shoulder.

Yami huffed, crossing his arms. "Well it's like someone shoving a neon pink sign in front of your face, it's hard to not notice!" he argued irritated.

Seto chuckled. "Yeah? Well, so is the ground hurtling towards you." He said, then planted his hand between Yami's wings and shoved, knocking him over the railing and off of the balcony.

Yami yelped and scrambled to flap his wings, just barely managing to slow himself enough that nothing was broken when he landed in an ungangly mess on the ground.

"RA DAMN YOU SETO!" he shouted up groaning and trying to untangle himself from his wings. Yami rubbed his head and shook it out, groaning in slight pain, looking up at the balcony, and damn was it high!

Seto peered down at Yami with wide eyes and an open mouth.

"Oh my goodness..." He said, lifting a hand and placing it on the side of his face. "I wonder how on earth that ever could have happened?" He said in an innocent and baffled tone, but slowly grinned in amusement.

Yami glared up at him. "you PUSHED me off the BALCONY!" he shouted, feathers puffing up slightly, obviously furious. "What did you THINK was going to happen?!" he howled, grumbling as he slowly got to his feet and dusted himself off.

Seto chuckled and sipped his soda. "Well, for one, I thought that you would spread your wings and fly! Not flap around like a flightless bird and fall on your ass. I mean... LOOK at your TAILFEATHERS!!!"

Yami growled. "Did you ever consider I'd need TIME to spread them?!" He howled, furiously trying to fix his tail feathers… well those that hadn't fallen out when he landed on them.

"You can’t go shoving me off of your balcony! There's not nearly enough time for me to even pretend to fly!" he growled, crossing his arms, furious.

Seto sighed and nodded. "Yeah... I'm sorry Yami, you're right. Next time I'll try it from the third floor." And he chuckled.

"There won’t BE a next time!" Yami growled, glaring.

Seto chuckled again, watching curiously as Bakura crept up behind the furious bird on the ground.

"HI YAMI!!!" The skunk shrieked into Yami's ear.

Yami yelped and turned around, puffed up and panting, looking ready to kill. "Dammit Bakura!" he shrieked, beginning to squawk making the most unpleasant noises anyone had ever heard. "LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Bakura giggled and turned, darting across the lawn in excitement, his tail flying behind him like a banner. Seto laughed.

"Well... I wonder what got Bakura all riled up?" He said, watching Bakura being to chase his tail.

Yami panted softly, calming down. "I don’t know and I don’t care...." he grumbled, sitting on his knees and beginning to preen, calming himself further. "Please don’t do that again." He said glaring up at Seto.

Seto smirked and sipped his soda, not replying.

"SETOOOOO!!!" Bakura howled. "CAN YOU UN-GROUND MARIK NOW?!"

"NO!" Seto replied, and Bakura answered with a long string of loud curses.

Yami snickered. "Think you can get him out of my aviary at least Seto? Bakura coming in there every ten minutes is upsetting the birds." he grumbled softly. "and he's eating the Quail's food."

Seto sighed. "Well... if all goes well, they will have their own homes, soon." He said. "Come back up here so I don't have to yell to talk to you."

Yami glared up. "On a cold day in Egypt!" he grumbled. "Not when I know you're trying to get me killed!"

Seto rolled his eyes. "I am not trying to kill you, don't be a baby." He moaned.

"Why don’t I push YOU off that balcony then!" Yami grumbled getting up and walking back into the house, back up the stairs, but not stepping back out onto the balcony. "Happy?" he said glaring.

Seto chuckled and walked inside, closing the door. "If you pushed me off of a balcony, I'd get killed. I don't have any WINGS!!!" He roared the last word at Yami.

"Well act like I don’t!" Yami roared back. "I don’t USE them, they're NOT useful, so don’t SHOVE me off your balcony!"

Seto sighed. "Fine... I won't shove you off of the balcony." He said, but then turned, grabbed Yami and picked him up. "How about off of the landing!?" He asked, before dumping Yami over the railing of the landing, sending him plummeting down towards the floor of the front hall.

Yami yelped and latched onto the nearest thing, which was the slanted railing of the stairs. "Seto!" he growled, glaring, while clinging to the railing. "STOP!"

"Yami!" Seto howled. "That's cheating! Let go!!!"

Yami slowly pulled himself up, glaring at Seto. "It's not cheating! I SAID I didn't want to fly, and you'll RESPECT my wishes!" he said glaring. "Now stop tossing me off of things!"

Seto sighed. "Fine, fine, fine..." He grumbled, heading down the hall towards his office.

Yami grumbled, following after he'd sorted himself out. "Why is it so important that I fly?" He said, giving Seto a slightly agitated look, but unable to remain too mad at his lover. "Look... I don’t like heights... ok? If you think I need to exercise them... then I'll do that. But I don’t want to fly..." he said shaking his head. "It's not like I want to fly, so why make me?"

"Because... whether you want to or not, you NEED to..." Seto said. "Come into my office." And he entered said room, going over to his desk and sitting down. He picked up the phone, dialed, and waited. A moment later, he set it down, pushing a button.

"May speak with Dr. Inogawa, please?" He asked.

"Of course, sir." Said the woman on the other end.

"Hello? Dr. Inogawa speaking." The vet said, as he sorted papers in his filing cabinet. He'd had a slow day today, and was grateful for it, he'd been working himself a bit too hard lately, with all the new hybrids he'd been checking over.

"Hello, this is Seto Kaiba." Seto said, looking at Yami who was glaring at him from his perch in the corner. "I'm having a bit of trouble with Yami."

"Oh?" The vet said calmly, pushing the papers aside. "What seems to be the trouble this time. He change his mind and decided he liked a different color better?"

Seto blinked, then laughed. "No, no, although with my brother and those other two hybrids bored out of their minds in this house that has become another problem altogether... right Yami?" Seto said, grinning over at the bird.

Yami glared silently.

"Well what seems to be the problem then?" Dr. Inogawa asked, curious now as to the plight with the bird.

"Well..." Seto began. "I remember you saying that his wings were a bit too... tense. And that it was a sign that was ready to mate. Well... that's been taken care of. Hasn't it, Yami?" Seto asked again, laughing at the looks Yami was giving him. "But his wings are still tense."

"hmmm..." The doctor said calmly. "Does he have knots in his back, and complain about his own tenseness?" He asked, taking a few notes.

"Well, he does have knots in his back, I have to massage them out every night, and they're quite tight. As for complaining... he complains about everything so I really don't pay that much attention when he starts to whine and bitch..." Seto said.

"Shut up Kaiba." Yami growled, crossing his arms and glaring death.

"Hmm... has he been doing his regular activities? Singing, bathing and preening?" The vet asked taking a few more notes.

"Yes he has." Seto said. "Well... it's hard to get him to bathe properly, he doesn't like the water pressure in my showers. I had one made for him, but he doesn't like the bathroom... Jesus Yami, do you have to have something to bitch about to be happy?" Seto asked, turning and giving Yami a frustrated look.

Yami narrowed his eyes. "You made it that putrid pink color!" he grumbled.

Dr. Inogawa laughed. "Well of course he hates bathrooms Mr. Kaiba, he's a bird. He's meant to bathe outside in the sunshine." He said calmly. "Perhaps a solution would be to put a fountain in your yard, one that doesn't spray as harshly as a shower, and more in an upwards direction." He explained calmly. "The water will come down much softer. The reason he hates your showers are because his wings are apparently already strained, and it hurts him to have more pressure on them."

Seto sighed. "Alright... But Yami, you're not bathing naked in the yard." He said. "Dr. Inogawa... the main reason I'm calling is that... Yami refuses to fly."

"Put up a privacy fence for him..." The doctor said chuckling. "He refuses to fly? Are his wings injured?" he asked after a moment, sounding surprised.

"No." Seto said, then chuckled. "He um... he claims that he has a fear of heights."

"A fear of heights?" The doctor burst out laughing. "ALL birds are afraid of heights when they're first learning. After all, wouldn't you be? He must have never been properly taught to fly. Has he flown before?"

"Yes." Seto replied. "He flew up to the top floor of the Industrial Illusions Tower. That is his... only major flight. Other than that it's just jumping from high spots and fluttering to soften his landings. Oh, and to get to the chandelier to escape his weekly wing misting..."

"I see..." Dr. Inogawa smirked a bit. "He seems to prefer being on the ground... His species is a bird of flight, in fact very rarely do they like to be walking on the ground, it's almost a miracle they stop flying to perch." He said calmly. "Has he been looking up a lot, at clouds, or other birds, or the sky? Perhaps he isn't flying, because you cannot fly, and feels strongly enough for you that he's putting his own desires aside."

"But I WANT him to fly! That's what his damn wings are FOR!!!" Seto howled.

"Calm down Mr. Kaiba!" The doctor laughed. "I have an idea. Have you tried shoving him off of things to encourage flight?" he asked.

Seto blinked, then looked at Yami, grinning. "You want to answer that, Yami?" He asked, amused.

"Ahh... so that didn't work..." The vet said sounding miffed. "You've got a stubborn one." He said picking up a pad of paper. "Have you tried going somewhere where he cannot possibly go, unless he flies? Perhaps a ride in a helicopter, or hang gliding?"

Seto blinked. "Ummmm... no. But knowing Yami, he'd just stand there and pout until I came back, and then he'd start bitching again..." Seto sighed, leaning back in his seat.

"Hmm...a VERY stubborn one..." he said. "Has he even exhibited signs he desires to fly?"

"No." Seto grumbled, crossing his arms and glaring at Yami.

"hmm... There might not be a way to make him. Birds are stubborn creatures by nature, if they don’t want to do something, that generally means they wont." The vet said shaking his head. "If he's bothered enough by his fear, then perhaps you need to sweet talk him into wanting to fly." Dr. Inogawa looked at Yami's file. "Perhaps appeal to his deepest natural desires. Make the sky something desirable."

Seto blinked. "...... huh?" He finally managed to say.

"If someone offered you something you didn't want, would you take it?" The doctor began explaining. "Probably not. But if they offered you that same thing, and made it SEEM desirable, by saying...perhaps...'this is the most delicious cake!' or 'the color of this paint looks MUCH better once it's dry.' Then, you might be persuaded to try it."

"What, tell him to try it, he might like it?" Seto asked, eyeing the phone like it had suddenly turned into a hedgehog.

Dr. Inogawa laughed. "No, that's too obvious. Take him somewhere nice, that has... oh... a nice big drop, like a cliff.... or a building more than five stories, and tell him something like, how you wished YOU could fly, and how lucky he is. Maybe even ask him to fly, so you can watch, and think about what it'd be like. Romance him."

Seto rolled his eyes. "Tried to romance him into it. He said if I loved him, I wouldn't push him." And Seto glared at Yami.

"That's why the place must be a cliff, or a tall building." The vet chuckled.

Seto sighed and shook his head, then looked at his bird. "Yami... you are the biggest pain in the ass, do you know that?!"

Yami smirked smugly. "I take pride in the fact."

"Stubborn cock..." Seto growled. "I'm taking you to the top of Kaiba Corp. and throwing you off, dammit!!"

Yami growled back. "You wouldn't dare."

Seto smirked and leaned forwards over his desk. "Dare me."

Yami leaned forward himself, hissing. "I don’t need to, I know you won’t."

Seto grinned. "Is that a challenge?"

Yami growled. "Like I said, I won’t waste the breath, I know you won’t do it."

Seto chuckled and leaned back. "Oh... JUUUUUST wait..."

"Ha ha ha, that's a fine idea Mr. Kaiba, but you may want to provide him with some way of safely landing, incase he truly isn't a very good at flying." Dr. Inogawa said, chuckling at their little spat.

Seto snickered. "Yeah... I throw him off the edge of the stairs and he just grabbed the banister..."

"Then tie his hands before you toss him off." The vet replied amusedly.

Yami huffed, plucking a few feathers. "Ass."

Seto snickered, then glared at Yami. "Yami, stop that!" He snapped. "Or maybe I'll just tie his ankles together. that way, if he wants to go anywhere, he'll have to fly."

"he'd hop" Dr. Inogawa laughed. "Just tie his hands so he wont grab onto anything, and toss him off of a building or cliff that is more than five stories tall, any smaller and he wont have time to get enough momentum to rescue himself, and might break his bones or die."

Seto sighed. "Okay. I'll think about that. Ummm... there's actually something else I wanted to discuss with you... completely off topic..." Seto said, glancing at Yami and giving him a significant look.

"Oh?" the vet asked curiously. "Yes?"

Seto sighed and leaned back in his chair, thinking on where to start. "How much do you know on the... hybrid creation process?" Seto asked.

"I'm sorry Mr. Kaiba, I do know the creation process quite well." He said calmly. "It's very obvious, but it is not my concern."

Seto sighed. "You know the truth?" He asked, softly.

"It's very obvious. I've worked with animals all my life." He said calmly. "Animals, though smart are incapable of cognitive and sequential thought. Animals do not love, they mate for bearing young." The vet closed Yami's file. "I know what the truth is, but there is nothing I can do about it, all I can offer, is my services in keeping those hybrids healthy."

"But it bothers you, doesn't it?" Seto asked. "You sound depressed just talking about it."

"It bothers me, but there's nothing I can do about it." He said clicking his tongue. "But I do have work to do, so if you don’t mind, I need to return to it."

Seto smirked. "What if I told you that there WAS something you could do about it?" Seto asked, glancing at Yami.

"Such as?" Dr. Inogawa said, raising an eyebrow.

"Would you be willing to meet with me?" Seto said. "I think this would be better discussed in person."

Dr. Inogawa sighed. "Mr. Kaiba, it's not my business... to meddle in the affairs of others. I'm afraid I'm too busy to help your cause at the moment." He said shaking his head. "I do wish you the best of luck however."

Seto sighed. "I understand. Should you change your mind, however... do not hesitate to get in touch with me." He said.

Yami's expression softened immediately, and he looked sorrowfully out the window to the aviary, knowing what had happened.

"I will Mr. Kaiba, once I have a bit less on my schedule, I will give you a call."

"Thank you." Seto said. "Good day." And he hung up the phone, looking over at Yami.

Yami sighed. "Let’s... not mention that to Marik and Bakura..." he said softly, after a moment of silence.

Seto sighed and nodded. "This is one hell of a fight we're planning on entering... and our side is severely lacking..." He said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"It'd be easier if I could just prove who I am..." Yami grumbled shaking his head. "No one cares... people want.... well... in essence, slaves." he said lowering his eyes. "And because no one cares, or is willing to help... people are being kidnapped off the streets, at other people's discretion, and made into pets." Yami sighed deeply. "It's slowly killing them..."

"I know..." Seto sighed. "I know Yami... But we're going to fight it. And we'll get support as we go along. She may be just one person, but Rem is going to be very important to this fight... perhaps she could convince Dr. Inogawa to join our cause."

"I hope you're right..." Yami said softly. "Because... for their sake, we need to get them a place to call home..."

Seto nodded. "Well, the club will make a big difference." He said. "And the rehabilitation center. Once that's up and running, we'll start making regular trips to all the animal shelters for hybrids." He smiled. "Yami... do you think that if I asked... Rem would be willing to head up the rehabilitation center?" He asked, looking at the bird.

"I don’t know Seto... if something goes wrong... they could all be discredited, and their lives could be ruined as well..." Yami replied softly. "I'm not sure... that we have enough of a fight to risk it... and I'm not sure how she'd react to that..."

Seto sighed. "I'm not asking her yet. Not until things are underway." He said.

Yami sighed and looked at Seto. "Does it really mean so much to you that I fly?"

Seto looked at him. "Yes." He said. "Yami. I think that you would like it, if you just tried. I mean... you're a bird... you have wings... it should feel so... natural to do it. And besides... who on this earth has never wished that they could fly? You can... it's a gift, even if it doesn't seem like it..."

"I never wished I could fly." Yami said stubbornly. "When it came to super powers, I always wanted the heat vision..." he mumbled glaring at a wall.

Seto blinked and quirked an eyebrow, then laughed. "Heat vision, huh?" He asked. "Hmmm... well, I'm certainly glad you didn't get that. Your glares are dangerous enough as it is..."

Yami nodded a bit. "Yugi always wanted to have the Dark Magician's magic. To heck with that. If I could just glare and set people ablaze, my problems would be over." he chuckled softly. "Everyone would stop pestering me."

Seto snickered. "Either that or they would pester you just to see the heat vision..." He said, smiling. "But seriously... you never wished you could fly?"

"Never." Yami said nodding. "I've always hated flying, even in planes. I don’t feel safe..."

"Why?" Seto asked, leaning forwards.

"I don’t know...I just never liked it." Yami replied after a moment.

Seto sighed. "Well... have you really given it a chance?" He asked.

"I flew to the top of that building. I hated every minute of it." Yami said after a moment. "I'm much happier on the ground. Besides, you wouldn't know anything about how 'nice' flying is. you can’t."

Yami plucked a few more feathers from his wings absently, obviously upset about the topic of flying or not.

"Stop plucking." Seto said firmly, then sighed and leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.

Yami groaned, embarrassed, dropping the feathers he'd plucked. "Sorry... I don’t notice I'm doing it..." he said sheepishly. He sighed, sitting across from Seto's desk and leaning forward resting his head on his arms.

"...I don’t like taking chances that I don’t need to...." he said after a moment. "I don’t like flying...it's a chance I don’t need to take...I don’t like having little control over what happens to me..." he mumbled. "The wind.... controls everything, and it could change, and I'd fall and die..."

"That's not true." Seto said. "If you glide, the wind controls you. But if you fly, you learn to USE the wind, Yami. Stop making excuses already."

Yami looked up at him pathetically, a look that he'd never given anyone. "Seto... you can say these things, because you've never done it... I'm not very good at it..." He buried his head in his arms. "Besides, you should be more worried about me flying, than me not flying, most bird owners don’t want their birds flying."

"That's because they're afraid that they will fly away. I know you won't. And you're not good at it because you won't learn. And I'm not worried about your flying. I'm worried about you NOT flying. It... It's not... NATURAL."

Yami laughed softly. "Oh, and by all means, the situation thus far is." he mused.

Seto rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean..." He grumbled.

Yami stretched a wing out and looked at it. "I don’t know Seto..." He said looking from the wing to his lover. "I... I just hate to place my life on something that I was never meant to have... let alone something that... is so frail." He lowered his eyes. "The bones are so... weak and hollow..." he mumbled, laying the wing on the desk and closing his eyes. "I bet you just think I'm making excuses... because I feel like being an ass... but I'm not... I really am frightened by these things."

Seto smiled. "You don't know what they can do. That's a reason for you to be afraid. But they are a part of you, and you need to learn to handle them." He stood and walked around the desk, then knelt, taking Yami's hands. "Yami... please. Try. Learn to fly. Learn to use them." He kissed the tops of his palms. "You may find it come in handy sometime in the future. Please try."

Yami sighed. "I... suppose... but you have to swear to stop throwing me off of things!" he said glaring slightly. "I'm sure I bruised a disc back there..." he grumbled, rubbing his sore back.

Seto smiled and nodded, letting go of Yami's hands and wrapping his arms around the hybrid's waist, staring up at him from his place on his knees.

"I'm sorry..." He said, gently rubbing Yami's back. He sighed and closed his eyes, laying his head against Yami's belly.

Yami sighed and wrapped his wings around Seto. "I'd feel better about it if I had the assurance I wouldn't fall to my DOOM if I messed up." He said closing his eyes and wrapping his wings around Seto slightly.

Seto chuckled and hugged Yami before standing. "Start small." He said. "Liiike... OUT THE WINDOW!!!" And he picked Yami up and ran towards the window that happened to be open.

Yami's eyes widened and he latched onto Seto, digging his fingernails into him, not purposely, but he was frightened.

Seto laughed and slowed to a stop, looking down at Yami. "Oh, calm down. I'm not gonna do it." He said, kissing Yami gently. "I promised you I wouldn't throw you anymore."

"I'd like to revise that promise to include any variation of throwing, including tossing, tripping, heaving dropping and any other word that is a synonym of 'throw'." he said slowly letting go, shaking slightly.

Seto blinked, then laughed. "I'm not altering my promise!" He said, walking out of his office and into his bedroom. "I reserve the right to throw you!" And he tossed Yami onto the bed.

Yami laughed and shook his head. "And you just finished promising you wouldn't throw me." he chuckled and sat up, yawning slightly.

"I am revising the promise. I will not throw you out of windows or off of high ledges." Seto said. "But I can throw you onto beds, sofas, into bathtubs, and into cars." He announced.

Yami laughed loudly at that. "You ALSO just said you weren't altering your promise." He said amusedly.

"To your specifications, no." Seto said, grinning, enjoying this playful debate with Yami.

"Now Seto, you didn't specify that you wouldn't alter it to my specifications, your exact words were 'I'm not altering my promise!'." Yami said smirking.

Seto snorted. "Next time..." He said, grinning. "Get it in writing."

Yami chuckled and stretched out once more. "Mind rubbing my back once more?" He asked sweetly. "I said I'd try flying, I think I've earned a back rub."

"Sure." Seto said, smiling. He crawled over to Yami and straddled his hips, beginning to massage the tight muscles in his back. "I love you..."

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

Yami sat on the counter in the bathroom, watching Marik and Bakura dress themselves. Marik was struggling with the buttons on his shirt, while Bakura tried to check out his own ass in the mirror, but his tail kept getting in the way.

"Great Ra! Fuckin’ buttons..." Marik growled, his ears tilting back and his tail lashing.

"Showing your teeth to the buttons won't frighten them into co-operating..." Bakura snickered, turning and smoothing out his tight black shirt, then pulling on his red shirt, which he buttoned up half way.

"Bakuraaaaa...." Marik whined. "Can you button my shirt?"

"No. Do it yourself." Bakura said. Marik whined and kept working, but finally decided to give up when he had five buttons left to go, which actually looked quite good. He turned and made a face, tugging his tail a bit in the hole in the back of his jeans, then pulled on his brown leather jacket. He smirked, then looked at Yami.

"Yami... can you show me how to tie my shoes again?" He asked as Bakura buckled his own boots.

Yami chuckled and hopped off the counter. "I'll show you a way you'll remember." He said calmly, stooping to Marik's left foot. "Think of it like dancing, you pull the strings straight, they bow, do a twist, one dips low, they both stand up again." He said starting to tie the shoe.

"Then one bows and the other twists around it, you pull them apart, and you get bunny ears." Yami said, revealing the completely tied shoe.

Marik had watched all of this with intense concentration.

"Okaaaayy...." He said, then knelt and picked up the laces of his other shoe. "Stand straight... bow.... twist, straight again...." He mumbled, every now and then looking up at Yami to make sure he had it right. "Make loops... one bows... the other goes around it... then under.... and pull... HEY!! BUNNY EARS!!" Marik exclaimed, proudly. Bakura rolled his eyes, but snickered. Marik was SO proud of himself.

Yami chuckled. "Good, remember how to tie those shoes, okay Marik? I'm not going to teach you again."

Yami stretched a bit and checked the ties on his shirt in the mirror, moving his wings to get a better view.

Seto opened the door then. "Are you boys finished primping and preening in the mirror?" He asked, smirking. Bakura and Marik grinned, and Yami gave Seto a look. "Then let's go." The CEO chuckled, turning and heading out. Bakura followed, but Yami suddenly found himself caught up in a big bear hug.... or... lion hug. Marik purred loudly and nuzzled Yami, then gave him a long lick up the side of his face.

"Thanks." He said, then dropped the bird hybrid and trotted out of the bathroom.

Yami groaned and wiped his cheek. "Ra he slobbers..." he grumbled hurrying after Seto and the others. "Where are we going Seto?" He called after them, finally catching up and walking alongside the CEO.

Seto grinned. "That's for me to know and you to find out." He said, and Bakura and Marik whined, making Seto and Mokuba snicker. They headed out the front door, but there was no limo. At a loud noise, the hybrids turned and stared as the helicopter on the helipad started it's prop. Seto smirked and walked over to the chopper. Marik and Bakura ran over eagerly and leapt inside, squabbling over seats. Mokuba followed and separated them, giving them each a window seat while he sat between them. Seto took up the seat beside the pilot.

"Hmmm..." He said, loudly. "Looks like there aren't anymore seats, Yami!" He called, then gave Yami a mischievous grin.

Yami glared. "Oh don’t think I don’t know what you're doing...." he huffed, crossing his arms. "I said I'd try, you don’t have to rub it in my face." he mumbled looking away.

Really the idea of flying after that helicopter... Yami shuddered slightly. Those things were damn fast, and he wasn't very adept in the air, let alone... he could easily become a thinly sliced turkey if he got too close to that thing!

PLUS it was... in the AIR that Seto was going, probably hundreds of feet. At least Bakura and Marik had seatbelts.... and 'oh shit' handles...

Seto chuckled and got out of the chopper, placing his hands on Yami's shoulders. "I know you can do it!" He called over the roar of the prop. "I won't let the pilot go too fast. I want you to try and stay right below and off to the right so I can keep an eye on you!" He shouted, stroking Yami's wings. "And if you get too tired, let me know, and I'll let you into the chopper, okay? I promise, we're not going too far. Please give it a try?" And he fixed a hopeful gaze on Yami. Yami couldn't believe it; Seto Kaiba was giving him the pleading eyes.

Yami sighed, glaring slightly. "Stop that, you're embarrassing yourself." he mumbled letting his wings droop. "fine... I'll go in the house... and try jumping off the roof..." he mumbled. "Because there's no way on Ra's great earth I'm going to run after you like a lost dog."

Seto blinked, then laughed and shook his head. "You just HAD to put that image into my head, didn't you?" He asked. "And hey, Mokuba, Marik and Bakura use that look on me and it proves effective... I thought I'd try it out myself." And he darted forwards and gave Yami a quick kiss on the lips. Yami was facing the chopper, so he got to see Mokuba in the window making a face and shouting 'eeeeew! Not in public, Seto!' while Marik and Bakura cheered and gave him thumbs up.

"Good luck!" Seto called, getting back into the helicopter, which lifted off of the ground a moment later.

Yami groaned and walked leisurely into the mansion, not in ANY hurry to fly. "I should just pick a spot and sleep." he mumbled glaring at everything between the front door and the stairs.

Yami stared at the steps for a moment, deeply considering his options. "Ra I hate you Seto...." he mumbled, drawn to follow him, even though flying scared him. "You're an ass..... arrogant.... egotistical..." he mumbled another insult, for every step he climbed, and eventually found his way to the bay window, that hung just over the roof of a balcony, giving him free access to the roof.

He looked at the ground and swallowed hard, looking at the helicopter.

At Seto's command the helicopter was hovering not far above the house. When Yami looked up at it, he could clearly see Seto watching him, and could actually see the mixed emotions on the man's face; hope, and anxiety. He could also see Mokuba, Marik and Bakura's eager faces pressed against the window.

Yami grumbled, feathers ruffling slightly. He narrowed his eyes at them for a moment before hanging his head and sighing. There was no getting out of this....

Yami peered over the side of the roof again and bit back a whimper. "Damn heights..." he grumbled, unfolding his wings and stretching them a bit, still peering over the side, like a penguin peering over the edge of it's icy land looking for seals.

Yami groaned looking up once more, seeming to scoot from side to side along the roof, before finally doing something incredibly stupid. He used a hand to cover his eyes, and just STEPPED off the roof.

Seto yelped when Yami did this.

"WHAT IS HE DOING?!?!" He howled, leaping to his feet.

"MR. KAIBA!! SIT DOWN AND BUCKLE UP!!!" The pilot ordered, jerking Seto down by the seat of his pants. Marik closed his eyes and smacked a hand to his forehead, while Bakura and Mokuba howled with laughter.

"THAT STUPID IDIOT!!!" Bakura roared, holding his sides. Marik was shaking his head. But they all watched to see if Yami would actually be able to get the wind under his wings.

Yami however, did manage to get the wind under his wings, which took very long almost liquid flaps. He peered out from behind his hand and wailed. "Oh Ra, I want to stop now!" he whined loudly, not liking the use of his own wings.

Yami struggled to remain where he was in the air, motionlessly, trying to calm himself enough to continue with Seto's little 'plan'.

He vaguely heard cheering, and when he looked up, everyone but the pilot was applauding him for his efforts. A moment later, Yami groaned when Seto pulled a bull horn.

"GREAT JOB!!!" He bellowed into the device. "Now come on! We'll go slow for you!!!"

Yami took a few more deep breaths and looked at the ground. "If it's all the same to you, I'd like to land now!" he called up, looking crossed between frightened and annoyed.

"WHAT?!" Seto called, cupping a hand around his ear. "I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!! COME ON!!!" And the chopper started moving away.

"SETO!!!" Mokuba howled from the back. "That's mean! Even I could tell what he said by reading his lips!"

"GO SETO!!!" Bakura laughed hysterically, and Marik shook his head, chuckling to himself.

Yami looked up at the helicopter like he was deeply hurt. "I know you heard me..." he mumbled to himself. "If you hadn't heard me you wouldn't have said you couldn't hear me." he added glaring at the chopper and slowly followed, staying rather close to the ground, despite the looks Seto gave him.

Seto was hoping that Yami would fly higher, but for now, he would let him stay at an altitude he was comfortable with. But he watched Yami like a hawk, looking for any signs that he was having trouble or was getting fatigued. Mokuba and Bakura were watching as well, chatting animatedly and laughing, making up little 'what if' scenarios about Yami, such as flying into a window. Marik was staring out the other side of the chopper, and looked lost in thought.

Yami slowly calmed down as he flew, and sighed, watching the ground roll by below him. He hated to admit being wrong, but his wings felt much better, and the wind on his face, in his feathers and through his hair was very refreshing...

Yami chuckled to himself, feeling a bit.... playful at this point. He veered off suddenly into a patch of trees known as the garden terrace, where he would sometimes go for privacy despite having his own little aviary. He loved the brilliant colors there, and since there were trees, Seto would have to search for him... heh.

"H-HEY!!!" Seto howled, trying to jump up, but his seatbelt kept him in place. "Where'd he go?! TURN AROUND!!"

"Oh, get a grip, Seto! He's playing and TRYING to get you to panic!" Bakura called, and Mokuba giggled.

"Well... he got his wish!" The boy laughed.

Yami laughed, softly peering out of a tree at Seto's reaction. "Ass, that's what you get for making ME panic." He said chuckling and flitting to the next tree, starting to enjoy this 'flying' stuff.

Seto grumbled and tried to keep Yami in his sights, but all he got were red flashes every now and then between the leaves. He picked up the bull horn.

"YAMI! THAT'S ENOUGH!!!" He called. "DON'T OVER WORK YOUR WINGS! STAY WITH US!!!"

Yami snickered and sat down in a tree. In all honesty his wings felt great! Plus this game with Seto was more than a little fun... hell it was great!

Yami grinned to himself, wondering just what his limits were... and just how far he could push them...

Seto groaned and rubbed his forehead, then turned to the pilot. "Keep going to our original destination!" He called. Hopefully, Yami would follow, like the vet had suggested. Seto shook his head and turned back to check on the others. He made a double take

"MARIK!" He shouted, and the lion jumped. "TELL ME YOU DIDN'T BRING YOUR DAMN TOY WITH YOU!!!" Marik gulped and looked down at the little bunny plushy, bell around it's neck, sitting in his hands. He gave Seto a guilty grin. Seto rolled his eyes and went back to watching Yami.

Yami on the other hand, had no intention of letting Seto have his way easily, he had to pay him back for tossing him off the balcony AND the stairwell. He followed slowly, flying lot higher, before getting a sadistic, yet efficient idea of payback.

Oh he'd get hell for it afterward... no doubt about it, but then again... when did he and Seto ever NOT one-up on each other? He began the second thing birds do best, faking injury, flapping one wing as though something were wrong with it.

Seto watched. He frowned for a moment, then felt his heart in his throat.

"YAMI!?" He screamed, then looked at the pilot. "GET TO HIM! NOW!! SOMETHING'S WRONG!!!" Marik, Bakura and Mokuba all pressed their faces against the window, anxiously, as the chopper headed for Yami, Seto hanging out of the side in frantic worry.

Yami suddenly just FELL... fell flat out from the sky. He wasn't just doing it to get back at Seto for scaring the life out of him, he was also doing it because he was curious to see if he could get away with it, without breaking every bone in his body... not that he'd mind Seto fawning him.

Seto did have the most loving hands the world had ever known, and a smile that was more beautiful every time he saw it...

"YAAAMIIIII!!!" Seto screamed, frozen in his fear. The chopper turned and descended quickly, Marik, Mokuba and Bakura hugging each other and screaming.

Yami suddenly flared open his wings and caught just enough wind beneath them to stop himself and land, without a scratch. Though he did wince at that little stunt. Ok, so songbird wings were NOT meant to do that without more practice...

He chuckled softly to himself and shook his head, looking up at the chopper and giving Seto a look that said clearly 'next time you throw me off a balcony, expect to be paid back in spades.'

Seto's eyes widened, then narrowed as he glared in fury. He pointed a finger at Yami and shouted, thought Yami couldn't hear it, "YOU ARE IN SUCH DEEP SHIT YOU FUCKIN' COCK!!!" Of course, Yami could easily read lips.

Yami laughed loudly, the laughter even causing his wings to quiver. He smiled up at Seto. "I wouldn't have it any other way!" he shouted back up, amusedly.

He chuckled to himself and offered Seto an apologetic look, looking particularly refreshed and more than a little amused at the situation. He got Seto back, but he hadn't intended on giving him a heart attack.

Seto dropped into his seat and closed his eyes, covering his face.

"Hey! Calm down, Rich Boy!"

"Bakura... If you don't shut your mouth for the rest of this ride... I am going to get you neutered!" Seto barked. Marik and Bakura were both silent. And finally, the helicopter descended, landing in the parking lot of the club formerly known as Exotica.

Yami perched on the roof of the building peering down at them, knowing he was in a bit of trouble, and knowing Seto wouldn't be able to get to him quite as fast that way.

"Have a nice flight did you?" He chuckled, still looking highly amused.

Seto got out of the chopper and glared up at Yami. "Have a nice flight my ass, GET DOWN HERE!!!" He roared, jabbing a finger towards the ground as the other three got out of the helicopter.

Yami smirked. "Do I look like an idiot?" he said amusedly. "if you want to berate me, you're going to have to come up here to do it." he said smugly. "maybe next time you wont do the SAME thing to me, when you THROW me off of balconies!" Yami said, before laughing.

Seto growled. "Dammit, Yami! You're going to give me a heart attack!!!" He shouted. Marik and Bakura blinked up at Yami, Marik's bunny plushy peeking out of the pocket.

"And throwing me off of the balcony wouldn't give me one?" he countered.

Seto growled. "Yami... If you don't get down here RIGHT NOW...."

Yami began to preen. "If I don’t come down there right now, what?" he challenged, glaring down slightly.

Seto sighed. "Then, I guess you won't get to see the club. We're here because all of the renovations are finished."

"REALLY?! SCORE!!!" Bakura shouted, and he, Mokuba and Marik headed for the front door, making Seto roll his eyes.

Yami smiled softly at Seto, hopping off the roof, using his wings to float down carefully. "Sorry I scared you..." he said after a moment. "but you know I cant let you get away with something, without returning the favor..." he said smirking. "Otherwise we wouldn't be us."

Seto sighed and shook his head, then shook his finger under Yami's nose. "I nearly wet myself because of you! I thought I was going to go into cardiac arrest!!!" Then, he crushed Yami to his chest. "God, don't you scare me like that again!"

Yami laughed softly and hugged Seto back, chuckling softly. "Really now? You were that worried?" He said resting his head on Seto's chest, cooing slightly, his chest still heaving slightly from the exertion he'd had during flying that day.

He'd had the workout of his life, but he felt like a million dollar bird.... Seto's million dollar bird.

"I love you...." Seto whispered, kissing Yami's hair. "Of course I was that worried." And he backed away slightly. "Don't ever do that to me again..."

Yami cooed at him lovingly. "I didn't just do it to get back at you..." He said after a moment. "I was curious if I could or not..." he said sheepishly.

Seto blinked, then let his head slowly droop and fall to Yami's shoulder. It lay there for a minute, and then Seto banged his head on Yami's shoulder a few times.

"I hate you." He said, after a moment.

Yami laughed and hugged Seto tightly. "I hate you too..." He said cooing and singing him a soft little ditty that only they could hear, in appreciation of introducing him to something he, although feared, also immensely enjoyed.

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

Pegasus' car pulled up before the house and the man got out, smiling at his bunny hopping up and down in the window. A moment later, the front door was opened by the butler, and Ryou came scampering out.

Ryou hopped into Pegasus' arms and nuzzled him, before giving him a worried look. "Master..." he said softly. "I... I'm worried about Malik..." he said after a moment. "He's... not looking very well."

Pegasus blinked. "Really? Hmmm... I haven't seen him since I put him into his new cage... It's been... what, a week? Eight... nine days since then, right?" He looked down at the bunny in his arms. "Have you been trying to teach him to be a good fennec?" He asked, putting Ryou down on the floor once inside and followed him up the stairs.

Ryou nodded. "Yes. But I think he's very sick... he won’t eat anything... and he's very thin...." he said, hopping quickly to Malik's cage and pointing in. "He's always sleeping and he... is sick!"

Pegasus frowned, seeing several servants in the room, all looking into Malik's cage, worriedly. Pegasus walked in.

"He's not eating? Is he being fed?" He asked.

"Sir, whenever we feed him, he pushes the food out of his cage... at least he used to. Sir, he hasn't moved from his spot in two days!" One of the maids said. Pegasus frowned and looked into the cage. Malik was lying on his side, back to the front of the cage between the little pond and his cave. Pegasus frowned and rapped sharply on the side of the cage; Malik didn't twitch an ear.

Ryou sniffled softly and shook his head. "Master, he has to be ok!" he cried desperately. "Please make him better!" he whimpered and began pawing against the glass. "Malik!" he mewled sniffling.

Pegasus frowned and finally unlocked the cage and opened the door, stepping in and striding across the sands, kneeling by the fennec, eyeing his skinny body and his protruding ribs. Malik's eyes were closed, but after a moment Pegasus was able to detect the slight expanding of Malik's ribs as he breathed.

Ryou darted in and sniffled, nudging Malik slightly. "Malik please wake up! He woke up yesterday, Master!" he sniffled, big tears beginning to roll down his face. "Malik please!" he said, sobbing softly and licking his face. "Wake up!"

Pegasus frowned and scooped Malik up into his arms. He was alarmed at how light the hybrid seemed. "Ryou, come on! Get on your bunny suit and meet me down in the car! NOW!" He ordered, rushing from the cage and down the hall.

Ryou rushed to his bunny room, grabbing his bunny suit and with the help of the maids, got it on and hurried to the car, hopping in quickly. He panted softly and nuzzled Malik. "Master.... w-will he be ok?" He asked sniffling softly.

Pegasus looked down at Ryou, who barely managed to stay upright as the car lurched into motion. He sighed slowly, not quite sure how to break it to his bunny.

"I don't know, Ryou." He said, finally. "It doesn't look good... but we'll see what the vet says..." He told the frantic little hybrid.

Ryou whimpered softly and nuzzled Malik. "Please make him ok..." He said giving Pegasus a pathetic look. "I'm sorry I was mad at him... h-he's not bad..." he said starting to cry softly.

Pegasus sighed. "We'll wait and see, sweetie..." He said, petting Ryou. "He refused to eat?" And he looked at Ryou for confirmation of what the maid had told him.

Ryou nodded crying. "H-he wouldn't eat.... I even tried giving him better food than he was supposed to have... h-he wouldn't eat..." he said crying all the harder.

It was true, after Malik had started to refuse food, Ryou had tried several times to give him steak and other tidbits of food he was sneaking to the fox. "Please make him better master... i-if he dies I'll never be happy again!" he said, ears drooping low and sobbing harshly.

Pegasus transferred Malik out of his lap and to the seat next to him, then picked Ryou up and rocked him. "You know I will get him the best help money can buy, baby... but I'm afraid that it may be too late for Malik..." And he looked down at the golden fennec beside him that was barely breathing.

Ryou sobbed louder and pulled away from Pegasus, hunching next to Malik and licking his cheeks. "Please Malik, wake up!" he sobbed, gently pawing him, giving his ears soft tugs. "Please be ok!" he sobbed louder, trembling from his sorrows and the force of his tears.

Pegasus looked up when the car screeched to a stop outside of the vet. He picked Malik up and exited the car, rushing into the vet's office, not even noticing when the door closed on Ryou's waist, trapping him in the doorway.

"I NEED DR. INOGAWA, NOW!!!" He shouted at the receptionist.

Ryou yelped softly and squirmed, trying to pry the door open enough to let himself in. He winced and laid on the floor, whimpering. After all, Malik's trouble was far more important than his little door accident.

Dr. Inogawa hurried out at the loud commotion, and spotted Pegasus immediately, and the poor hybrid in his arms. "Pegasus, what happened?!" he asked, not even bothering to exit the lobby, before looking Malik over.

Pegasus shook his head. "I put him in Ryou's care since he wasn't behaving. But apparently, according to Ryou and several of my servants, he's been starving himself. Refusing food. I was not told of the situation, so you can bet some people are going to be fired after this." Pegasus said. "I found him like this in the middle of his cage. Can you do anything?"

When Pegasus followed the vet back into the office, the receptionist ran around her desk and across the room, opening the door for Ryou to get through.

Ryou scuttled to Pegasus whimpering and looking at the doctor as he examined Malik. "Please make him better..." he said softly, sniffling and trembling softly. "I'm sorry I was mad at him for being bad..."

It didn't take long for Dr. Inogawa to finish his examination, and formulate a conclusion. "I can give him some fluids... but this veterinary hospital isn't prepared for this level of dehydration and starvation. He lacks several vitamins that are desperately needed, his body is weak and the only possibly solution other than putting him down, is to take him to an advanced medical facility where they have the necessary equipment to care for him..." He said after a moment. "We lack the tools to... cure this great of a problem." He said looking at the fox mournfully.

Ryou's eyes widened and he began to cry all over again. Malik was going to die, and it was all his fault!

Pegasus frowned, reaching down and petting Ryou.

"What about taking him to the labs where he was made? Could they do anything?" He asked.

"Well... they do have the necessary equipment...." the vet said thoughtfully. "I could get the medicines he needs, that we have available, and send it there immediately." He said smiling. "Take that fox back to the labs, and I'll have the medicine there within the next few minutes after you arrive."

Ryou perked up slightly, sniffling softly. "S-so... M-Malik will be ok?"

Pegasus looked down at Ryou. "We'll see. We'll do all we can." He said. "Come on now, back to the car. Thank you, Dr. Inogawa." And he turned and left, just as quickly as arriving, Ryou almost getting caught in the door again. The drive to the labs was just as quick, and in no time, Pegasus was pounding on the back door.

Daisuke answered it quickly, gasping at the sight of Malik. "Mr. Pegasus, what happened?!" he asked, quickly scooping the fox away and rushing down the hall with him, millionaire and rabbit on his heels.

He opened a door and set Malik in a nesting area, and turned a small heating lamp on, adjusting the temperature and beginning to insert various interveinous drippers into the sandy-colored fennec.

"He was very... defiant. Especially with me, the only one he would really be good for was Ryou, so I put Ryou in charge of caring for him. But... Malik refused to eat. He starved himself. I was only made aware of this situation today. Please tell me you can save him... Ryou cares deeply for him." Pegasus said, reaching out and gently petting Malik's fur. "And so do I. He's such a beautiful creature. And I don't want to see my bunny heart broken by his death..."

Dai frowned. "I'm sure I may be able to save him... but he'll need to stay with me a few hours at the very least... he should be able to go home this afternoon if his condition stabilizes... when I send him home with you, I'll be providing various syringes and medicines that he will need injected with every hour on the hour for the next two days... understand?" Daisuke said seriously.

Ryou's ears perked slightly and he hiccupped softly. "B-but... he'll live?"

Daisuke nodded. "He'll live, but he will be very weak... you'll have to feed him very soft foods, in VERY small doses until his stomach reconstitutes."

Pegasus sighed and shook his head. "I... I don't want to take any chances... I would prefer it if he stayed here with help on hand should something go wrong. Can I leave him with you for a day or two?" He asked. Dai blinked, then nodded. Pegasus sighed. "Alright... I think I will... stay here with Malik as well." Then, he turned and looked at Ryou. He looked at Dai. "Would Rem be willing to take Ryou for a day or two while I stay with Malik?" He asked.

"Of course. You drop him off while I get everything set up for Malik... I assure you nothing will go wrong while you're gone." He said smiling slightly and petting Malik's head. "We'll have this little fennec healthy again very soon."

Ryou pouted. "B-but master Pegasus I want to stay with Malik!"

Pegasus smiled and picked Ryou up. "Thank you, Daisuke." He said, then looked down at Ryou. "Sweetie, Rem will take care of you, and when you see Malik again, he'll be much better." He set Ryou into the nest next to Malik. "Say goodbye to your friend, okay?"

Ryou sniffled and nuzzled Malik, licking his cheek. "Please get better... I'm so sorry..." He said sniffling and wiping his tears away. "You're a very good fox...." He mumbled gently tugging Malik's ear, wishing he'd wake up.

Pegasus smiled and picked Ryou up. "Come on..." He said. "Let's go see Rem." And he took Ryou back to the car and they headed to the pet shop. "I promise Ryou. I will stay with Malik and watch over him for you. Okay?" He said, petting his shaking bunny.

Ryou sniffled softly and nuzzled into Pegasus whimpering softly. "m-make sure he's ok..." he said looking at him with tear-filled eyes. "I... I will be good... while Malik is sick... p-please make him better soon..." he mumbled looking down. "I want to stay with him..."

Pegasus smiled and hugged Ryou, rocking him. "Shhh... I know. I'll take good care of him. I know he'll be happy to see you when he's better. And Rem will take such good care of you." He kissed Ryou's little sniffling nose as they stopped in front of the pet shop, that was in full business swing for the day, people wandering in and out. "Stay right next to me, Ryou." Pegasus said as they got out of the car.

Ryou sniffled and nodded, wiping his eyes and hopping alongside Pegasus meekly, not used to so MANY people around him. He yelped slightly when he nearly tripped over the feet of an exiting man, and hurried to catch up with Pegasus.

Pegasus walked through the crowd, looking for Rem. Many people stopped to watch Ryou hopping by his side. Pegasus grabbed one of the men who worked there.

"Where is Miss Rem?" He asked.

"Oh, she's tending to the coyote." He said, pointing back towards Rex's cage. Pegasus nodded and headed over, finding Rem in Rex's enclosure, and checking on his broken wrist, a result of Marik's attack. He knocked on the side of the enclosure to get her attention.

Ryou whimpered softly, catching sight of Rex. "R-Rex...." he breathed, eyes wide, backing up slightly.

Rem smiled. "Well hello Pegasus. Ryou oh hello sweetie!" She exclaimed, finishing putting the new wrappings on Rex's injury and exiting his enclosure. "What do I owe the visit?"

Pegasus sighed. "Miss Rem... I need a great favor from you." Pegasus said, bowing his head slightly to show how much he needed this favor.

Rem blinked. "Well yes of course." She said smiling softly. "How can I help you?"

Pegasus sighed again. "I'm afraid that Malik is in very poor condition; he has been starving himself and is near death. Daisuke is giving him emergency care. I will be staying with Malik to keep an eye on him. Would you be so kind as to keep Ryou for a day? I cannot keep him in the labs, and he's so upset over Malik... I trust you above all others to take good care of him." And he looked down at his little bunny, petting his head.

Rem knelt and picked up Ryou carefully. "I'll take fine care of him Pegasus…
Poor Malik... you make sure he's ok." She said scratching Ryou's ears, trying to soothe the upset bunny. "Bring Malik by when he's healthy again so I can give him a look over, you know how I love every animal that comes through." She said softly.

Ryou sniffled and clung to Rem, shaking softly. "Master... please make sure Malik's ok..."

Pegasus smiled. "I will, Ryou. You be good for Miss Rem." And he kissed Ryou's nose, then turned and left. Rex glared at Ryou from in his cage and growled.

Ryou whimpered and shrank down into Rem's hands. "I... I've been a good bunny!" he whimpered, looking at him fearfully.

Rex snarled again. "Can I play with the bunny Rem?" He asked, a sadistic tone in his voice.

"Now Rex, you're still injured, you need your rest." She said patting Ryou's head, as the bunny clung to her tighter. She walked over to Ryou's old cage and opened the door. "Look, it's your old cage Ryou." She said patting his head. "Why don’t you get a drink of water and relax, I'll put some fruit in your bowl..." She said putting him down.

Ryou sniffled softly and nodded, hopping slowly to the water dispenser and beginning to drink, before crawling under his log and burying himself in the soft wood shavings, fatigued.

Rem hurried to the phone, calling Seto immediately.


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

Here's my DeviantArt account!!!

http://hatochiisai.deviantart.com/

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