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

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Chapter 5

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The animals all watched as an angry Rem carried Bakura out of the shop and into the back rooms. Once she was far from earshot, Yami chuckled softly. "So, who's the lion?” he asked, stretching out again, frowning at a few feathers that were out of place, once again preening.

Ryou frowned and refused to look at Marik. "That's Marik.” he said softly, his stomach still turned from the morning's activities that took place in Marik's cage. Yami nodded a bit.

"Lovely. So, how are things going with you?” he asked petting Ryou's hair, as the pale youth sighed and looked down.

"I'm not being very agreeable with that woman...how do you do it?” he asked softly, causing Yami to grin.

"Well, it would be much harder, if Bakura weren't such a shining example.” he said chuckling and ruffling Ryou's hair, causing the pale youth to make displeased noises, and immediately begin fixing his hair.

Marik looked at Yami. "So, you're a friend of Ryou's, huh? Yami, is that right?" Yami nodded. "Heh. Welcome to the Pet Shop. I hope Ryou will cheer up now that you're here. And I hope you don’t go out of your way to torment Bakura, he's tormented enough as it is."

Yami chuckled a bit. "I don’t torment people, he had it coming. Hit me with that silly puzzle thing."

Ryou nuzzled into Yami's arms again and sighed. "It's good...to have something familiar here."

Yami nodded. "You don’t look very good...has she been treating you bad?” Yami asked, tilting Ryou's chin up. Despite how it may have appeared to Marik, he was more of a big brother to Ryou; after all, Ryou and Yugi had been best friends since he'd known Ryou.

Ryou sighed. "No, I just don’t do what she wants me to." Yami nodded, and without warning hefted Ryou up, carrying him to the food dish, before sitting down with Ryou in his lap and smiling, beginning to feed the bunny.

Ryou blinked but finally gave in and let Yami feed him, absolutely famished, and knowing he could trust Yami. "Starving yourself, you know better." Yami said gently.

Rem returned after an hour, and laid a still slightly sedated Bakura on the floor of his enclosure, closing a small door in the stump, and locking it shut. "Behave or I'll never unlock this stump again." She said calmly, leaving the now pastel pink and black skunk in his enclosure.

"I'm sorry Yami, but I'll--” Rem paused, noticing that he had gotten Ryou to eat, and was in fact still feeding him. She smiled a bit, glad the stubborn bunny had mellowed down. "I'll fix your enclosure when I can, until then, you'll just stay with Ryou, and it shouldn't be too long." She said calmly picking up the shattered bits of glass and walking away to call the company that supplied the glass paneling.

Bakura groaned; the sedatives always made him feel sick. He simply lay sprawled in the dirt. Marik blinked.

"Bakura? Are... are you....."

"Okay? No." Bakura groaned.

"No... Are you..... Bakura, you're PINK!!!" Marik yelped, then toppled over, laughing. Bakura groaned and would have yelled at him, but he felt too ill.

Yami snickered. "Oh how pretty, a little pink kitty!” he said amused. Ryou nearly choked on the piece of fruit he was eating and sat up in Yami's arms to look at Bakura.

"Oh my gosh...” he breathed, wide eyed. "PINK!” he fell out of Yami's lap giggling, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Yami gave Bakura a smug grin. "Don’t throw things at the bird.” he said calmly, proclaiming his utter annihilation of Bakura's pride. "Game over, I win.” he added as Ryou giggled in hysterics.

"Yami that's not very nice! ...but...but oh I can’t stop laughing!"

Bakura got up and whirled. "FUCK OFF YOU--” he stopped and his eyes widened as he vomited. "Uhhg....” he groaned, and stumbled to a back corner, collapsing and curling up. Marik blinked.

"Bakura? You okay?” he called. Bakura didn't answer. Marik sighed and glared at Yami. "Okay, now you really ARE being an ass.” he said.

Yami rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, I'll apologize.” he said irritated. "Once he's conscious again."

Ryou glared at Marik. "Let’s all just be nice until Bakura's awake again. Ok?” he said, shaking his head and sighing, curling into Yami's arms. "Yami doesn't hurt people on purpose, he just pushes their buttons....and he does it very well."

Yami chuckled. "I do what I love. I'll apologize to him later, and offer a truce to him. If he can be civil to me, I can be civil back. I don’t care to be fighting all the time, but if he's not willing to accept a peace treaty, then...well..."

Marik rolled his eyes. "Bakura will NEVER be civil. Trust me. He's been in here a year. I'm his best and only friend, and he's not even civil to me. And he will NEVER accept a peace treaty. All he wants is to ignore you, and for you to ignore him, and then he'll start acting... friendly... in his own rude way."

Yami chuckled softly. "I don’t think anyone will be ignoring him for a while. He's very hard to miss, being...pink."

Ryou tried to stifle his own chuckle. "It's not night to laugh at other people's misfortune....it's not nice." He said, berating himself. Yami shook his head a bit.

"It's not, but I feel much better. Laughter is the best medicine, and when this is over, I believe you and I owe Bakura a thank you."

Ryou nodded a bit, yawning softly. Yami looked at Marik for a moment. "So, when is it you intend to wash that poor woman's blood from yourself? Or is it fun for you to be soiled with other people's blood?” he asked, looking somewhat unnerved.

Marik smirked. "Awwww... upset that I'm eating one of your own kind?” he asked. "I'll wash up when I'm damn good and ready." And that moment came just as quick as it was out of Marik's mouth. Rem came in with some custodians who removed the corpse and cleaned up Marik's cage while Marik whined as Rem cleaned his face. Then they all left and the doors to the Pet Shop opened for the day.

Yami snickered. "Good to see you were ready.” he said amused.

Ryou giggled a bit, before crawling under his log and laying down, as Yami merely laid on his stomach beside it and watched the bunnies hop around on Ryou's head, before snuggling up to him.

"This one is Nod, and the one that's got the bandages is Tuc. Marik....bit him.” he said softly, petting the small injured, though still playful bunny. "Marik's not a bad person...he's...just not much of a person...anymore." Ryou whispered, looking at Marik sadly. "He's really nice..."

Marik looked at Ryou, hurt. "Do you really think of me as a monster, Ryou?” he asked.

Ryou bit his lip and looked away. "It...it's hard not to when I just watched you eat someone, that you and I both know was a person before that man messed with her DNA..."

Yami looked at Marik for a moment, then back to Ryou. "You like him don’t you.” he mouthed to Ryou, so Marik couldn't see or hear. Ryou nodded and sighed, laying his head on some of the bedding. He really had developed a fondness for Marik, which he, despite everything he'd seen Marik do, couldn't shake.

Marik looked at Ryou sadly, then got up and slunk into his cave, head hanging low. He flopped down, his back to Ryou.

Then, the children started screaming and pounding on the glass, excited by the new birdie and bunny, and at the pink skunk.

Yami frowned and petted Ryou's hair. "He's part lion Ryou, even if he hadn't lost himself in this mess; he'd still need to eat..." He whispered softly, as Ryou nodded.

"I wish he didn't look so proud of it...it would be fine if he could just...eat. But he looks like a bloodthirsty monster...you should have seen the look in his eyes. He tore her limb from limb and played with her intestines, and the whole time he was immensely proud, and amused. That's not human....it's ...cruel." Yami shuddered a bit at the image.

"Yes...it is. But maybe he just needs a push in the right direction Ryou. If you come out and amuse these loud children, I'll go talk to him...ok?"

Ryou nodded a bit, crawling out of the log and VERY slowly, he approached the holes at the front of his enclosure, allowing children to pet him and tug his ears.

Yami looked at the glass, squinting as it was hard for him to differentiate the glass from safe air, and flapped his wings a bit, lifting up and flying a bit awkwardly into Marik's enclosure, causing a few children to squeal in delight and watch as the 'pretty birdie flew'. "Stupid man messing with my feathers." Yami grumbled. "Marik?"

Marik blinked and looked out, looked around, then looked up at Yami in his tree. Marik blinked. "You flew?” he asked, surprised. At Yami's nod, he chuckled. "Wonder how long it will take them to clip your wings.... what do you want?” he asked, eyeing Ryou being petted by the children who had begun to offer him little bits of fruit through the holes.

Yami slowly climbed out of the tree, and stood in the soft sand. "Do you like him?” he asked, watching Marik eye Ryou.

Marik blinked. "Huh?!” he blurted, stupidly, but blushed.

Yami rolled his eyes. "I won’t tell him, calm down, what we say is between you and me. Ryou's too occupied to hear.” he said calmly. "Do you like him?"

Marik frowned and grumbled something, but Yami didn't hear.

"What?" He said calmly. "I didn't hear you, stop pussyfooting around. You're not a cat and we both know it."

Marik growled. "It's none of your business; now get moving before I eat you too!!!"

Yami rolled his eyes. "If you ate me, Ryou would never look at you with love in his eyes. He'd see you as a monstrous beast." Yami said taking a defiant step towards Marik. "He would hate you, with every fiber in his being. You'd be lower than scum, you'd be the guy that killed his best friend, for SPORT.” he said firmly. "Now do you like him or not?"

Marik glared at Yami, growling. But then he stopped and laid his chin on his folded arms. "........maybe......"

Yami sat next to Marik, thinking for a minute. "He's cute isn't he?” he said, switching tactics.

Marik blinked and quirked an eyebrow. "Well... yeah...” he admitted.

Yami smirked a bit. "He looks soft too doesn't he? You ever wondered what it'd be like to touch him. Feel his cheek, kiss those soft pink lips? That hair...He's pretty tempting, and the longer you look, the more you wonder about it..." Yami said softly, watching Marik's gaze.

"Wonder what it would feel like to have him in your arms? He's not very strong, you just want to protect him, he looks so gentle and prone to danger...if he wasn't he wouldn't be here." Yami continued, preening a wing once more. "But it was lucky wasn't it? Lucky for you that he was in that danger, lucky for you that something so beautiful just landed in your lap...someone who you'd like to stay near. Right?" Yami asked calmly.

Marik gulped and slowly nodded, then blinked and shook his head. "Wh-What?! What are you squawking about?! Go away and leave me alone!!" And he turned his back on Yami, curling up in his cave.

Yami chuckled. "I knew you liked him.” he said amused. "They don’t call me the king of games, because I'm just good at common card games.” he said rolling his shoulders a bit, stretching his wings out. "He doesn’t hate you, you know."

Marik snorted. "Who asked you.....” he grumbled, sounding depressed, but slightly hopeful.

Yami chuckled. "Oh...well he does like you, but...I guess you're too busy to talk about ways of gaining his interest..." Yami said standing and heading towards the tree. "I mean, it is a laughable idea, lions and rabbits. He'd be better off with the skunk..." Yami said looking thoughtful.

Marik whirled. "SHUT UP!!!” he roared. "Look, maybe I do like him, but what's the point?! He's only going to be here a few weeks, anyway....." And he lay down again, looking depressed.

Yami turned and looked at Marik. "I just happen to remember hearing something that you may find interesting....but...hey if he's leaving he's leaving, it doesn't concern you right? Just the guy of your dreams, slinking away to the arms of someone he doesn't want..."

Marik growled. "Is there a point to this?" He asked.

Yami shrugged. "Just that I recall that man mentioned the one who was going to be taking away Ryou, had an interest in you...but I mean why blow it? You've got all your beastly needs here. Cannibalism, nudity...everything a beast could ask for...No reason to better yourself for Ryou, or someone who may well buy you too..."

Marik leapt up. "What?! I might be bought by Ryou's owner?! How?! Why?! Where did you hear this?!” he asked, following Yami.

Yami climbed up the tree, stretching his wings slightly. "Why should the great lion care? I thought you wanted to be left alone. I thought I was just squawking." Yami said smirking. "Besides, you can’t even admit you like him man to man..." Yami gave him a condescending look. "Is it because you've gotten so used to this there's no humanity left in you?” he asked in a brave and insulting tone.

Yami gave his wings another flap. "And I heard it from Daisuke; he was talking to whoever wanted Ryou over the phone. If you ever want Ryou's love, try to remember what it is to be human...he's not an animal, and he needs the love and companionship of another human, who will take care of him. Someone, who should know what he is going through..." Yami said smiling. "I think that someone should be you, but it's up to you if you pursue that soft bunny or not."

Marik stared up at Yami, blinking, not glaring, and just.... staring. He looked like a sad lost kitten for a moment, before nodded and hopping onto his log, laying down and watching Ryou eat little treats that the children were offering him.

Yami turned and smiled softly for a moment. "Why not do something that he'll like, tonight, I'll go sleep on top of my tree. You'll have him all to yourself. Offer him something silly, like a stick bouquet, it'll melt his heart. He's a real lovesick little thing, if you push the right buttons. Just try to remember what it is to be a loving, genuine human. He doesn't blame you for what happened no one does...but if you love him, you can reach a medium, where you both accept these changes, but go on with your lives. You're not animals...and no amount of coaxing should change that."

Ryou yelped, tripping over himself and falling into a fit of giggles as children began to pet his belly, tickling him. "Yamiiii heeelllp!"

Yami laughed, returning to Ryou's cage and taking away some of the attention.

Marik watched Yami strut around and show off his plumage to the children, allowing Ryou to escape for the time being. He sighed and smiled as Ryou went to his water bottle to get something to drink. He turned and looked at Tuc and Nod who were playing near the back of the enclosure.

Ryou yawned and laid down near the glass between his and Marik's enclosure, giggling softly at Yami's antics.

"Why thank you.” he said, bowing, his wings outstretched as he accepted gifts of every variety. "Thank you.” he said as a child squealed delightedly. Yami smiled, pulling a loose feather and offering it to a shy child, who was afraid to touch him.

"Yami, you're such a ham!" Ryou giggled shaking his head and flicking an ear lightly, glad for the break.

Marik sighed and got up, walking over the glass wall and lying down next to Ryou.

"So, uh... where do you know him from?” he asked.

Ryou smiled, watching Yami. "He's a friend from school...He's Yugi's bigger brother...but we all hung out together...” he answered softly, his fluffy tail flicking softly. "It was so much fun...we used to goof around all the time..."

Marik smiled at Ryou, inwardly squealing over his little fluffy tail. "I see. I'm glad he's here. You're happy. And he got you to eat."

Ryou nodded a little. "He would have made me if I didn't agree to it...He always took care of Yugi and me...I think he thinks it's his duty...” he said smiling a bit, seeming to daydream about the old days.

"In school he'd always make sure we got enough to eat, and he taught us to play duel monsters, chased off any bullies, but Jou loved that more than Yami. He usually spent the prize money from those tournaments he won, taking us out to Kyoto and we'd all go to the hot springs for winter vacation. I remember...every cherry blossom festival....he'd go to the goldfish scooping game, and get Yugi and me the two most beautiful fish....” he said softly.

Marik smiled. "He's like a brother to you, isn't he?"

Ryou nodded a bit. "Yeah...I didn't ever have a brother. Father was always busy with work, so I spent a lot of time with my friends...I suppose...my life wasn't that great, I suppose I shouldn't care if it's gone...” he said looking down for a moment, before turning to face Marik. "I feel bad...for saying those things about you..." Ryou said looking at Marik apologetically. "It's what lions do..."

Marik sighed. "True but....” he sighed. "I'm human, Ryou. I've been like this so long that I've kind of.... forgotten that. Then you came in here and reminded me.... and it hurts. But... thank you." Marik smiled at Ryou, and began purring loudly in his gratitude.

Ryou blinked and smiled a bit, nuzzling a bit against the glass. "You mean it?” he asked softly, looking surprised and hopeful.

Marik smiled and purred louder. "Yes.” he said, nuzzling back. He smiled when Tuc and Nod came running over and began hopping on Ryou, Nod tugging his left ear. Marik chuckled.

Ryou giggled softly, blushing at the interruption, and realization he'd been nuzzling glass. "S-so um...I...” he gently picked up Nod and began scratching his ears.”Um...I'm...sorry about this morning...” he said softly. "It...Was just terrifying...” he said sheepishly.

Marik nodded. "I'm sorry too, Thumper. I know it scares you but sometimes the instincts just take control, and the thought of live prey really gets my blood going, y'know?” he sighed and rolled over onto his back, wiggling on the sand to scratch an itch, and unintentionally giving Ryou a close up view of his naked groin.

Ryou squeaked and buried his face into the bedding, causing the bunny in his arms to squeak in surprise and scurry off. Ryou blushed darkly, quickly burrowing under the soft wood shavings and peering out after a few moments, cheeks as crimson as his eyes.

Marik looked at him, blinking. "What was that?” he asked, scratching his belly.

Ryou covered his eyes and blushed darker. "You remember the part of humanity...where you feel shame for being nude? Or at least embarrassment for flashing someone?"

Marik nodded, blinking, and then looked down at himself. "Oh!” he said, and rolled onto his belly, grinning. "Sorry! I lost my shame for my nudity after I had spent a month naked in this place!"

Ryou peered up; blowing some of the shavings off of himself, once he'd seen Marik was for the most part decent. "Th-thank you.” he stammered. "I...I wasn't saying you are ugly...but well...it's awkward..." Ryou stammered, only managing to make himself more embarrassed.

Biting his lip, Ryou began to worry on one of his floppy ears. "So...I...guess...this means you....like me?” he asked sheepishly, looking for a moment at Yami, who only smirked knowingly, before going back to hamming it up with the children.

Marik smiled. "Of COURSE I like you.” he said. "Why are you being so shy? You need to come out of your shell and try not to spend so much time under that log of yours. Otherwise you'll end up like Bakura; no where to hide."

Ryou blushed and bit back a giggle. "Unlike Bakura, my log doesn't have a door to lock.” he said unable to hide the glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "I... just feel... so..."

"Exposed and vulnerable?" Marik asked.

Ryou nodded, looking down. "I...this whole rabbit thing...it's so...."

"Cute?" Marik asked, and laughed at the look Ryou gave him. "Degrading?"

Ryou nodded and looked down, his ears drooping a bit. "It’s such a big change...before I was who I wanted to be...for me. Now I'm suddenly not myself anymore...I'm...just a pet.” he pouted looking up. "Yami told me to just play along...but it's so hard for me...I'm scared. I don’t like how the people look at me...I can’t help but wonder...if I ever got home...would the rest of the world see these eyes, ears and that tail… and look at me the same? Would anyone ever see me as human?” he leaned forward and nuzzled the glass once again, unthinkingly.

Marik sighed. "Some would. Some wouldn't. But Ryou... you're not going home. I know you like to think you will some day, but the chances of that are slim. Genetically, we are not human, and therefore we have no rights by law.” he sighed. "And until that changes, we're stuck like this.... nothing but pets."

Ryou frowned. "I want to get away...I want to do all the traveling I told you about...don’t you?” he asked hopefully. "We...we could all get away and hide these ears and tails; we could go back to ourselves and live happily.” he added quickly. "We...well you and I....we could...” he blushed, finding the desire to travel with Marik soooo tempting. "We...could travel together...” he said so softly it almost went unheard.

Marik blinked. "So suddenly, I am included in these.... dreams of yours?” he asked. He flicked his tail. "Why?"

Ryou blushed. "I dunno..." he stammered. "I...if you don’t want to..."

Marik smiled. "I'd love to....” he rumbled. Suddenly, the door to his cage opened and there stood Rem. Marik sighed and got up. "Here we go again.” he said, winking at Ryou and trotting over to her.

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Ryou blinked watching as Rem patted his head and gently clipped two tough looking chains to his collar, giving them each a good tug, sending Marik tumbling forward a bit.

"Alright you big lovable ball of fur, go out there and show them just how cute and cuddly a lion can be!" She said proudly, handing the chains to two VERY large men, who were obviously there to keep him in line.

Ryou stared as Marik began walking through the pet shop on all fours, as though it were nothing, and letting people who dared come up and touch him. Yami chuckled a bit, as the children inched away from him, towards the lion.

"I think he's a bigger ham than I am.” he said, amused as Marik merely let some child tug his ear, while another tugged on his hair.

Ryou blushed watching, unable to help himself from once again admiring Marik's features, and how he seemed to have no shame about his body...not that he needed to be ashamed. He was simply perfect...

Marik yawned, showing off his big sharp teeth and stretched his legs back one at a time, then lowered his chest to the ground, stretching his arms out in front of him, baring his claws, making children run to their parents. Rem followed, smiling at his performance. Marik sat down and scratched his left ear with his back paw, then stood and shook his "mane", lashing his tail and making lion noises. Bakura watched all of this in disgust. How Marik could find that fun, he would never understand.

Ryou inched closer to the front of his enclosure, gazing at Marik and watching curiously.

Rem smiled after a moment, carefully opening the door to his enclosure and plucking him up to carry. "You seem like you're behaving better. Do you think you can behave while we walk around the store? Or should I put you back right now?"

Ryou looked at Marik and bit his lip, looking back to Rem. "Um..."

Marik plopped himself down, stuck a leg up into the air and licked himself. Bakura rolled his eyes in disgust, and one of the men jerked the chain.

"Miss Rem does NOT let you do that, now stop it.” he snapped at Marik, who chuckled and lay down on his side to let the children pet him again.

Ryou immediately buried his face in Rem's shoulder, which, to her seemed to be a 'yes I'm good' answer, and she closed the door to his enclosure, holding the small shaking and blushing rabbit in her arms.

"Children, do you want to pet the bunny?" She asked, as Ryou's eyes went wide.

He glared at Marik and wrinkled his nose. "You sneaky...."

Marik turned and looked up. "Thumper!” he cried, joyfully. He watched as Ryou was set down in the pen they were in and the children swarmed all over him. He just sat there for a bit letting Rem scratch his ears.

Ryou panicked slightly and whimpered as children were all over him and Marik. They were everywhere! He began backing himself up, yelping when he hit the pen's wall. "M-Marik!” he yelped, squirming when a particularly LARGE child, who by all means should not have even been considered a child, hoisted him up in his arms and was clutching him like a rag doll.

"Mommy I want this fluffy thing! I like how his eyes are so red!" The boy said, clutching Ryou so tightly he was sure he'd pass out.

"Put me down put me down put me down!” he chanted, his voice sounding just a bit forced, because it was.

Marik leapt up and roared loudly, charging over towards Ryou. Children screamed and parents grabbed them, pulling them out of the pen while Marik pulled his chains right out of the shocked men's hands. The boy dropped Ryou and ran and Marik ran over, sniffing the bunny over for injuries, and then nuzzling him as he crouched over him, protectively. Marik nuzzled Ryou's ears and licked his cheek, purring loudly.

Ryou blushed and nuzzled Marik back suddenly, surprising himself with just how soft Marik's hair was. He breathed in and blushed, looking up at him with large eyes. "You smell good...” he breathed lightly, blushing darkly. He slowly sat up, as Marik allowed him, and he felt the eyes of the pet store on him for the first time since the loud roar.

"Awwww....." Many children and parents were cooing. Ryou twitched and tugged his own ears. "Oh god...” he whimpered feeling utterly mortified.

Children finally began re-approaching the two, as the men roughly tugged Marik back to his place. Rem laughed a bit. "He's so tame he protects our resident bunny." She said calmly to the parents. "They became friends, and I guess he just likes to make sure his little friend is doing ok." She explained as parents and potential buyers stood to listen.

Ryou stared dumbly at Marik, as children swamped him once again, petting and pulling on him from several angles at once. Though the only thing on his mind, was just how soft that mane had been, and how in that instant, he'd felt safer than he had since he'd arrived.

Marik smiled at Ryou, wincing as a three year old pulled his tail. He turned and licked the three years old's cheek to distract him and it worked. The child squealed and ran to his mommy, babbling about the lion licking him, surely the highlight of his young life.

Marik smiled and started tugging on his chains, trying to get back over to Ryou again who found a child pulling on each ear.

Ryou squealed when he felt a child pull his tail, the most painful thing since stubbing your toe...twenty times in a row. "Ahh! Please stop that!” he squirmed to get away from the net of children and gagged when he found one to be tugging on his ribbon, thusly stopping any attempt to get away. "Ow ow ow ow.” he yelped when the child who'd had his tail once again tugged it lightly.

"Mommy look he's got cotton on his butt!"

"Muuuuurrrrrrrumph..... muuuuurrumph! Murumph!!" Marik was saying, trying to get to Ryou. He was straining against his chains, and the men were straining to keep him still. His claws skittered across the tiles, offering no help in trying to get traction, which was the only reason the men holding his leashes were able to hold him back.

"I do not have COTTON ON MY BUTT!" Ryou thundered, frightening the children slightly, red in the face, looking very disgruntled. "It's a TAIL!” he said, harrumphing, his ears out behind his head, fur bristled slightly. Rem gave Ryou a soft thump to the head.

"Ryou behave! If the children say you have cotton on your butt, you say 'how much?'." She said making him glare.

"I don’t have cotton on my butt...” he grumbled, lying down as once again he was swarmed with children, this time the large child returning with a vengeance. Ryou's eyes widened, hearing only one word, split into syllables as the boy approached, looking overly excited.

"Bun~ny!"

Marik began to make whining noises and throw himself forwards, gaining inches each time. But when the boy grabbed Ryou by the ears and picked him up, making him squeal, Marik lost it. He let out a huge roar and whirled, leaping at the men holding his chains. They both shouted, dropping them, and Marik immediately turned right around and charged at the children around Ryou, head-butting the large boy to the ground. He stood over Ryou and roared at the boy, who screamed and ran, crying, and then he stood there lashing his tail and growling, showing his teeth and glaring at anyone who made a move.

Ryou slowly sat up, looking dazed. He smiled and nuzzled Marik once more, cuddling into him as Marik curled up next to him. Rem carefully examined the boy, before giving Marik a swift knock to the head.

"What's gotten into you Marik? You don’t treat people that way! SHAME!! SHAME!" She said berating him. Ryou yelped when she picked him up by the ears, pulling him away from Marik. "You apologize right this moment to that poor boy!" She scolded, handing Ryou to one of the large men who had been holding Marik's chains.

Ryou gulped, looking at the amused man fearfully. "....I....I'd like to be put down now..."

The man chuckled and pet Ryou, watching Rem and Marik. Marik was glaring defiantly at Rem and refusing to apologize.

Rem swatted Marik once more. "Apologize or I'll just let them hold Ryou." She said, noticing the other man begin tickling Ryou.

Ryou squirmed laughing like an idiot, trying to squirm away. "S-s-stop that! AHHH!” he squealed, yelping occasionally when the man drew close to places he thought a bit inappropriate, but all in all laughing his head off.

Rem smirked at Marik. "You know, I think I will let them hold him, since you're being so stubborn..." She said smugly. "He seems to be having fun."

Marik looked up at Rem and growled loudly at her. Bakura stared and drew closer to the front of his cage.

"Ohhhh..... he's goin down a dangerous path....” he said, loud enough for Yami to hear.

Rem gave him a sharp smack to the cheek. "Marik!" She said kneeling down and grabbing him by the ears. "You apologize this very moment, or you'll really make me angry!" She said firmly. "Bakura's already made me mad once today, do you want a piece of it too?"

Marik growled again, but not as forcibly. "He was hurting Ryou!!” he whined, trying to pull away from Rem. "He was scaring him!!"

Rem tugged his ears harshly, forcing him to look at her. "You're the animal, not the master. If the boy wants to scare Ryou, it's his right. Was Ryou bleeding? Did he have any broken bones? No. You know you're not to act like that unless someone's life is in danger. Now you apologize." She said, calming him a bit. "Now be nice and apologize."

Marik narrowed his eyes and growled. "....... No."

Bakura's eyes widened. "Oh shit. HE'S in trouble!!"

Rem frowned and hefted Marik up as though he were nothing. "Boys, I have to take care of the lion. Let the children play with Ryou while I'm away."

Ryou squealed in laughter as they continued tickling him, until putting him on the ground, once again to be swarmed by children who all LOVED that cuddly bunny.

"Mommy I want to keep him he's got long floppy ears!"

"Mom! Look at his pretty eyes!"

"Mommy I love how he has such pretty long hair!"

Rem carried Marik away, bending his tail painfully near breaking, to prevent him from trying anything. "I don’t know what's gotten into you, but I'm nipping this in the bud, I will not have another animal misbehaving, especially you!"

Marik growled. "He's frightened! The kids scare him!! They're hurting him!!” he whined, wincing at the pain in his tail.

"He's fine Marik. If he was being hurt, he'd be squealing in pain." She said, walking now from sight of Ryou. "Now what is wrong with you Marik?" She said, keeping a firm hold of him. "Why are you acting like this? Was there something wrong with your food today?"

Marik blinked. "Huh? No! Those Kids are just irritating and he was upset!!" He said. "Now leggo my tail!!!

"Are you going to apologize to that child?" She said calmly. "Or do I need to punish you?"

Marik glared. "No, I will NOT apologize! He shouldn't be allowed to TOUCH any of the people in here!!!" Marik froze. He had just said 'people'....

Rem stared at him in shock. "So Ryou's the one who made you act like this!" She growled. "I should have known..." She carried him back to his enclosure, tossing him in and slamming the door shut quickly, before he had a chance to turn around. She carefully composed herself and picked up Ryou.

"I'm sorry kids, bunny needs a bath." She said. "Feel free to ask these men to help you with some of the other animals ok?" She said, her voice so soothing and sweet Ryou knew he was in trouble, and he didn't even know why. Rem glared once the children had dispersed and carried Ryou by his ears to the back room.

"I need to call Dai...this is getting ridiculous." She growled at him, making him tremble in fear.

Marik was pacing frantically back and forth, roaring and looking for a way to get out of his enclosure. Bakura was watching him, alarmed at Marik's behavior. Yami glanced at him, and Bakura gave him a worried look.

Yami frowned a bit. "Calm down Marik...” he said a bit worried himself. "It will be ok."

Rem locked Ryou in a holding cage in the back, for animals like Rex who pitched a fuss when it was time to be bathed. "C'mon Dai pick up...." She said tapping her foot. "C'mon...." She sighed in relief when she heard the soft click of the phone being picked up.

"Dai...we have a problem."

Dai blinked. "Oh? What's going on? Something wrong with the bird?! Oh, god, please tell me the bird is fine!!"

Rem sighed softly. "Yes the bird is ok, the skunk attacked it, but I handled it. That
rabbit's been putting ideas in the lion's head! He shouted at me today about how a child shouldn't be allowed to touch the PEOPLE here!" She said frantically. "This rabbit is a nuisance! Something has to be done about this, if he keeps this up, all the animals will start uprising in attempt to be human, and we could be arrested for making them this human!" She said shaking her head.

"I don’t know what else to do....the rabbit didn't do anything himself, but now the lion is acting up, because he was! Dai I'm running out of ideas, and patience."

Dai frowned. "This IS a problem.... bring him in. We'll just have to teach him that this is not acceptable... I'm going to give him an injection. Bring him in immediately."
Rem nodded, hanging up. She unlocked the cage and grabbed Ryou by his ears, unchaining him. "You're in for it now little mister." She said sternly.

Ryou whimpered softly, looking at her with wide eyes.

Rem hefted him over to a small crate and tossed him in, locking it closed and picking it up. She carried the crate out to the front of the store. "I need you to watch the shop for me ok?" She asked the men softly. They nodded in response and she exited.

Yami frowned, catching sight of the crate.

Rem hurried to her car, and put the crate in her trunk and drove to the labs where Daisuke kept animals that were not quite ready to be adopted.

Dai was waiting when she arrived at the labs. He took the crate from her and carried it into the room where he first created the new creature that Ryou was now. He put the crate down and opened it up, seizing Ryou by the ears and jerking him out, dropping him on the metal operating table. He crossed his arms and glared.

"Two days... TWO DAYS you've been gone and you're already causing trouble!!” he shouted.

Ryou whimpered. "I...I-I'm s-sorry...” he said softly, scooting back a bit. "I-I didn't do anything today...” he whimpered shaking like a leaf.

"Oh no? You've got the LION thinking he's HUMAN!!" Dai roared, and looked over at Rem.

Rem nodded. "It's about time you learned your place in the world." She said firmly, walking closer and grabbing Ryou by his ears.

Ryou quaked in fear. "P-please! I-I didn't do it!” he said as Rem held him still. "D-don’t hurt me!” he knew he was in danger, and all he could find himself doing, was shaking harder and harder, he couldn't even bite. "I'm sorry!"

Dai frowned. "Maybe next time you consider thinking of yourself and the others as human, you will remember this.” he said, picking up a syringe.

Ryou's eyes widened and he began frantically squirming. "W-what are you doing?! Don’t!" he said, panicking and thrashing wildly. "I don’t want it! Don’t!” he wailed as Rem held him with little effort. Ryou squirmed harder, but it seemed as though Rem had some sort of superhuman strength.

"Don’t! I-I don’t want to have another shot!" Ryou remembered the fierce burning, the time he'd spend alone in the dark. "I don’t want to be alone in the dark again p-please!"

Dai snorted. "Well, you're going to be alone in the dark. And you will be alone in the dark again and again until you learn what you are!!" And he jabbed the needle into Ryou's backside, injecting the serum. Then he and Rem released Ryou and backed away.

Ryou hugged himself, as he felt the familiar burn travel through his body, though not nearly as intense as the first time. He whimpered, shivering softly as the room somehow felt much colder. 'Probably because I already have rabbit DNA...' He looked at Daisuke and glared.

"How long?” he asked, his voice already growing hoarse. His senses seemed to all be shutting down at rapid speed. Maybe this shot had been just to do that...

Dai frowned. "Time does not matter to an animal....” he said, and that was the last thing Ryou heard.....

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