A Home of Our Own

A Home of Our Own

Summary: Kimi ga Iru AU, Neko fic
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh. If I did…*begins to laugh evilly*
Warning:
Author’s Note:


Wrongfully Accused


Ryou stood beside the later that led up to the park, leaning around the corner and twitching his tail.

I know he said not to leave…but…I just want to go see…

He put his paw on the bar then pulled it back, running back towards the den as fear welled up inside him. The day he’d left Bakura’s eye sight to go chasing bugs was the day he got the beating of his life.

It was only a few weeks ago, but he remembered very well.

He ran and ran, starting to cry for no reason. Where was Bakura? Why did he always leave him alone during the day. He missed Akefia, he wanted them to be all together again.

He gave plaintive meows, racing towards their den where Bakura was just arriving. He saw Ryou’s distress and dropped a bag he was carrying.

“Ryou?!”

The kitten flew into his arms and sobbed, nuzzling and licking him all over, trying to regain the comfort of his scent. Bakura rubbed him back and took him inside.

“Geez, Ryou, what happened?”

The Neko hiccupped and wiped his eyes. “I wanted to go outside, but you said not to and I went over there and I just stood there and then I got so afraid and I came home and I missed you a lot!”

Bakura scratched his head and waved his tail. “Well, I’m here now. So just calm down.” He grabbed the bag and took out a soft, stuffed bear.

“I saw this guy coming out of the store with it. He was ungodly rich. He had a stretch limo!”

Ryou sniffed and moved his ears separately. “What’s a limo?”

Bakura shrugged. “One of those car things I told you to stay away from. If you see any cars coming near you, what do you do?”

“Run…” he said softly, eyeing the bear. “Are you gonna sell it?”

“No.” He shoved it at Ryou. “It’s so you’ll have a friend to play with when I’m gone.”

The boy nodded, brown eyes falling to the bear as he stroked it on the head. “Thank you…”

“Whatever…it’s getting close to sun down. I got us some food.” Bakura grabbed another bag and pulled out what looked to be the half eaten leftovers from some restaurant. He separated the food unevenly, Ryou getting more, and sat back to much on some interesting looking carrots.

Again, Ryou ate quickly, happy to have eaten twice in one day. He wiggled his tail and laid back on the bed, holding the bear.

“Where did you go today Bakura?”

“Uptown.”

“Where’s that?”

The stray smiled crookedly. “It’s up town!”

They both laughed and Bakura went over and laid beside him, staring with the Neko up at the ceiling.

“There’s nothing but rich humans there and Nekos that run around with out collars…”

“Like us?”

“Nah, those Nekos I saw had money…they were like those humans…couldn’t be bothered to see me for a second.”

Ryou started to purr and the elder Neko smiled. “They’d see you though. Everyone loves kittens.”

The boy laughed and hugged the bear. “Did they have food?”

“Oh yeah.”

“What kind of food? That ice cream stuff?”

“Yeah, I saw it. And, uh, those French fry things I brought ya one time.”

“I liked those…”

They lay there in silence a bit until Ryou spoke. “Can I go with you?”

“When? To the surface? Hell no. It’s dangerous.”

Ryou turned away and softly hit his tail to the ground. “Okay.”

“Damn straight ‘Okay’.” Bakura leaned over and licked Ryou’s ear. “Come on, get up. You need a bath.”

The white haired boy sat up and put the bear down. “Where are we going? Behind the restaurant again?”

“Nah. There’s a fountain in the park. No worries, the sun went down…”

Bakura led the boy out of the den and over to the sewer entrance beneath the park. Ryou clutched his bear.

“What if they see me?”

“Run.”

“What if I see another bug?”

Bakura gave him a stern look. “I think we’ve been over that.”

They climbed the ladder and came out onto soft grass and the gentle transition from afternoon to night. Bakura hid Ryou in some bushes and scouted the area. He came back fast and beckoned him forward.

“Let’s go.”

Ryou followed his brother closely, setting down the bear and stripping as he was told. They got in the fountain and bathed in the cool water, scrubbing at their skin with handfuls of dried grass.

They washed each other’s back and shook dry, lapping off the excess before putting back on their clothes. Ryou looked at Bakura’s ratty blue jacket and blue striped white shirt in comparison to his own clothes. They were old, but had been newly stolen just two months ago.

“Bakura…”

“What?” the boy asked, pulling his tail through the hole in his pants.

The boy shook his head and picked the bear back up, sitting down. Bakura joined him, stretching out his legs.

“Fresh air is so nice…”

Ryou nodded, playing with the bear. “I like this place. Can’t we live here?”

“There are humans here. No.”

Ryou’s ears dropped a bit, but the boy quickly recovered and continued to play with his bear. Bakura looked at him, briefly wishing he could go back to being that innocent. He’d protected Ryou so well this far. He didn’t like to think about things like if he were gone, what would the ignorant kitten do? He just couldn’t.

**

Marik stopped his bike, answering his cell phone. He laughed a bit as Malik chomped on his shoulder, but listened closely to the device.

“You were right Kitten!”

“Hm?” Malik put his chin on Marik’s shoulder. “What?”

“Just got a report. That Bakura’s in the park again.”

“Oooo! Let’s go!”

“You’re way too eager…”

Malik laughed and held on as they turned around and zoomed back north.

**

Bakura was aware of Ryou doing cartwheels on the fountains edge. The boy was constantly saying “Brother look at me! Look what I can do!” but he wasn’t looking.

He kept hearing this odd noise, on and off, with a crackle. He heard a twig snap, hard and opened his eyes in alarm.

“Ryou!” He grabbed the kitten off the fountain just as a tranquilizer dart flew past. He pulled him close and unsheathed his claws.

Five people, two holding a net and one holding a tranq gun came out of the brush.

“Please, stay calm. We don’t want to hurt you, we just want to help you.”

Bakura growled and whispered to Ryou. “Run.”

“Bakura no, I want to stay.”

“If you don’t run, I will make you wish you had. On the count of three?”

The humans came closer, taking their stillness as cooperation. They were wrong.

“THREE!” he roared, running forward as he pushed Ryou away. He dodged the tranq gun, knocking it from the owner’s hands, his claws finding their throat.

“Filthy humans!” he yowled again, tail puffed. “You’re not taking me! YOU WON’T!”

He charged again, hoping his brother had enough sense to find a manhole and get home.

Ryou ran, crying and looking behind him, hoping Bakura would show up any minute. He wasn’t paying attention and tripped over a large tree root, crying out as he twisted his ankle. The bear flew from his hands and under a boot.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the great Bakura crying.”

Ryou cowered and backed up against the tree. He was face to face with another Neko. It was golden haired and bronzed skinned and looked a lot healthier than him or Bakura on their best days.

He shook his head and was about to try and climb the tree when he was confronted with another golden haired Neko.

“Marik, I don’t think this is Bakura…”

“I don’t care. I just heard the radio. He killed four of our guys! Get him Malik.”

The boy reached forward and Ryou jumped away, falling as his ankle gave out. He began to cry and crawl away, screaming as his tail was stepped on.

“Oh no. You aren’t getting away this time.”

Ryou dug his claws into the ground and started meowing frantically, giving the cry that would surely bring Bakura to his rescue.

Marik put his hands over his ears and clocked Ryou on the back of the skull with his Millennium Rod.

“Damn that’s annoying.”

The kitten gave another soft cry before he blacked out, tears on his face.

**

Bakura paced the den, trying to get it together. Ryou still wasn’t home and it was almost sun rise. All he had to do, was calm down, and track him. That was easy. He knew exactly what his brother smelled like.

All he had to do, was do it.

He rifled through the covers and pulled out Ryou’s favorite toy, the Ring.

So when I find you, you won’t be angry I left you.

**

Ishizu shook her head as she observed the unconscious British Alabaster. “That isn’t Bakura. All you two did was frighten a kitten out of his mind and beat him with your little toy.”

Marik sighed. “What do you want. He looked like the guy.”

Malik pressed his face to the glass. “He sure was crying a lot. What do you want me to do with this?”

He held up the teddy bear and Ishizu frowned. “What did you do to it Malik? Geez!”

The bear was split down the middle, its head half torn off. The Egyptian golden shrugged.

“I was checking for stolen goods or drugs!”

The woman frowned. “How would you feel if I did that to your Cobra plushy?!”

The kitten looked horrified. “Not Mr. Sunshine!?”

“Yes Mr. Sunshine!” She snatched the bear. “I can’t believe you…the damn thing looks brand new…”

Marik shrugged. “Whatever.”

“Not whatever.” Came an angry voice. “I lost four agents tonight! And I just received word you didn’t even get the right EFC!”

Seto Kaiba stood in front of the observation window pissed off to say the least. “Every time I let you two loose, you fuck up!”

Malik went over to the man and nuzzled his shoulder. “Don’t yell at me…” He looked up at Kaiba with sad lavender eyes and was pushed away.

“That crap isn’t going to work on me. I have a little brother, I know your games. Ishizu! I want you in my office first thing tomorrow!”

“Yes Sir…”

The man walked away and all three Ishtar’s sighed. They were in it deep this time.

****

When Ryou awoke, the first thing he noticed were the funny smells. He sat up and looked around.

He wasn’t at home at all.

Someone came in and smiled. “Oh, you’re awake. Hello, my name is –”

He began to call plaintively. Where was Bakura?

“Oh, it’s alright, I just want to –”

The woman came near him and he flattened his ears, hissing and clawing out before he back off the bed and into the corner. He began to call plaintively again, edging along the wall as the woman approached.

“Please, it’s okay!” She reached out. “We’re here to help –OW!”

Ryou scratched her, hissing and continuing to claw as she backed away. He flattened his ears and raced for the bed, sliding beneath it and into a corner. He gave a growl as the woman looked under the bed and hissed, clawing out. His tail twitched, puffing out to the max.

Where was Bakura? Why were there human scents every where?! Where was his toy?

He gave more plaintive calls until he heard the woman leave the room. He continued to call, hugging his tail and hoping his brother would come rescue him.


Outside, in another room, Ishizu got her arm bandaged, Malik and Marik nuzzling her sympathetically.

“He got you good…”

“He’s really afraid…I’m mean really. What did you guys do to him?”

Marik crossed his arms and sat on a small table. “Well, he was running, he tripped, we found him, he was already freaking out. I called him Bakura, he shook his head and tried to climb the tree but –”

“But I was there and then Marik stepped on his tail when he tried to crawl away and then Marik hit him.”

Ishizu shook her head, thanking the nurse when she was done. “…Maybe he just needs a night alone and he’ll calm down in the morning. Ask Shadi to put some food out there for him and we’ll have a fresh start tomorrow.”

“Okay!” the Nekos chorused.

****

Bakura jumped off the building into the alley, stopping his fall by catching various fire escapes and balconies. When he landed, he immediately heard the growl of a dog.

“Aw, shut the fuck up Honda. You don’t scar anyone.”

The Shepard mix Inu came out of the shadows, his whole posture one of attack.

“What are you doing in our alley you no good Cat!?”

Bakura unsheathed his claws. “Ripping you to shreds if you don’t watch it!”

“Relax Honda…”

Someone stepped out of the side of a narrow doorway and stopped. Fingering the tag-less spiked collar, a blond youth folded ears came out into the dingy alley light. Honda wagged his tail briefly then turned his attention back to Bakura.

“He’s here again! Just like I told you!”

The blond came out and walked past Honda, looking Bakura in the face.

“Y’here t’start trouble thief?”

“No. I need some information.”

“Dat costs cash!” the Inu scratched his ear, tossing his hair briefly. “Got cash Kitty Cat?”

Bakura growled. “I got plenty and plenty else if you keep calling me ‘Kitty Cat’ you Mutt!”

The blond laughed. “Same old Bakura. Come on inside…I need some advice about Shizuka anyway…”

“Hmph.”

They walked back down the alley, Honda still growling.

“Cut it Hiroto! I mean it.”

“But Jou –But Boss –”

“Shaddap!” they went inside and Bakura was immediately tackled by two kittens. One was blond with taped glasses on her nose and the other was a brunette with bright blue eyes.

“Bakura!” they cried happily. They purred as he patted their heads and he disentangled himself to follow Jou through the rest of his den.

The East Side Pack consisted of a group of core members that looked after countless strays, including Neko kittens. Bakura helped them out from time to time after their boss, Jou, helped him avid capture.

He followed the Retriever mix into his private room, shooing out a green eyed Neko with raven locks.

“I told ya t’ stay outta here Otogi! Geez!”

“I was watching tv!” He stood up and strutted past Bakura, trying to ooze lust.

Bakura didn’t bat an eye. “Maybe when you’re older kid.”

“Come on!” he mewled. “Just one night!”

Jou ushered the boy out. “OUT!”

He pushed him out and both laughed as Otogi scratched at the door meowing. They sat down on floor cushions and Jou turned off the tv.

“What is it?”

“They took Ryou.”

Jou frowned. “Which ones? Today?”

“Last night. I think it was…Golden Psycho…”

The Inu frowned. “Are you for real? The Neko that aced those five guys?”

Bakura nodded and fisted his worn jeans. “I think he works for that place…the F…the F something…got that big pound on the south side.”

“Dat ain’t good Bakura. They took me and Honda there when we were puppies. They took Anzu and we nevva saw ‘er again.”

“I gotta rescue him Jou.” He slapped money down. “How much to get directions?”

Jou pushed the money back towards Bakura. “Naw. I’ll go wit ya.”

“Why?”

“I gotta talk to that lady again…the lady I told ya about with the black hair. She’s nice, I swear. Gotta ask her ‘bout Shizuka.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

Jou shrugged. “She says she can’t see. It looks like her eyes are cloudin’ over.”

“Damn…what about Rebecca? How are those glasses?”

The Mutt shrugged. “She broke em right afta ya got ‘em. That’s why we got tape on them.”

They sat in silence and Jou spoke up.

“They got the Mew Mews.”

“What? Those four hell raisers?”

Jou nodded. “Heard they got a new member. An Inu female…”

“Rare.”

“Yeah and she ratted them out for a slab of beef. What’s this world comin’ too. You wanna beer?”

“Nah. Back to Ryou.”

“I know an easy way t’ get there. Get in.”

Bakura’s ears perked. “How?”

“’Memba that trash can I go to some times, behind the game shop?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Those people are real nice. Real nice. The old man there, he helps us out a lot, doesn’t try to make us get homes or nothin’. His Nekos, they’re cool. They go to that place and visit or even ‘foster’ a kitten or two. We can get them to check if Ryou’s there, then get them to bring him.”

Bakura mulled it over, his tail doing loop-de-loops behind his back. “How long?”

“As little as three days man.”

“What if it doesn’t work out?”

Jou grinned, tossing blond hair out of his eyes. “Then we storm the place.”

A knock came.

“What Honda?”

“Are you alright Jou?”

The blond shook his head and leaned close to Bakura. “You lay them one time and they’re your bitch for life, only draw back is, he’s a real nag.”

The Neko snickered and Jou got up to let Honda in.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Look, go play outside or somethin’. I got business.”

Honda wagged his tail, giving Jou a look. The boy sighed. “Whatever, later.”

“But Jou –”

“Look! It ain’t my fault yer in heat! Now back the fuck off or I’ll have you neutered!”

Honda yelped and ran off, Bakura laughing, then waxing serious.

“I want to know by day’s end.”

Jou shut the door, smirking at Bakura. “Not a problem…”

Bakura answered that smirk. “What’s gonna happen when it gets out you like pussy cats?”

Jou let Bakura pull him down. “I plan to settle and have puppies one day, but right now, I’m looking for something else besides Honda’s tail…”

“Don’t think you’re taking my mind off Ryou…”

“Just fuck me so we can go to the Old guy’s place…”

“Whatever…”

****

Ryou stared at the food again, trying not to doze off, but not succeeding. He’d been fighting sleep all night and now it was certainly past midmorning. He would have eaten the food, but there was human scent all over it.

He was so tired, but he didn’t want them to try and sneak up on him while he was asleep. He didn’t dare leave the safety of underneath the bed, but he wanted to have that food so bad…

He gave another plaintive cry and closed his eyes. He’d call for Bakura again when he woke up…


****
**EFC: Experimental Feline Companion
*Ah…let’s see…I have a One shot and Miri-chan’s fic to do…Do you all want a Ryou Dartz one? I was thinking of going Raph Peg instead of them…
*I’d like to thank Wicabeth for the inspiration for this fic!
*Schwarzwald loves ya’ll!