Twilight Menagerie

Twilight Menagerie

Mally-chan and hato chiisai

Disclaimer: We own nothing. Nothing at all

YAOI WARNING!!!

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Chapter 7

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Ryou nuzzled Precious and smiled, beginning to groom his little ears. "You're so spoiled... Tuc and Nod would tease you." He cooed.

Pegasus chuckled, looking up from where he was working at his desk.

"So... which turned out to be the girl?" He asked.

"Nod." Ryou said softly, tugging Precious' ear. "She turned out to be a She...and had these beautiful baby bunnies..." he cooed dreamily. "They're almost like Marik and my children..."

Pegasus smiled. "How many? Three, wasn't it? How many boys and girls? Were all three white?" He asked.

Ryou grinned. "Only yours was white... Marik and I kept Dust...he's gray and white, and Malik and Bakura have Spunky, he's white with black paws."

"So, all boys then..." Pegasus mused. "Somehow I can't see that skunk wanting a bunny..."

Ryou sighed. "Well Malik did, Bakura didn't seem so thrilled with it... I hope Spunky's okay..." he mumbled, ears drooping. "I miss my bunnies..."

Pegasus smiled lightly. "I know you do, baby." He said. "But one day, you will have them back. And Tuc and Nod will do what bunnies do, and the next thing you know, you will be overrun by little bundles of joy!!!"

Ryou laughed. "Tuc agreed to be fixed." He cooed, licking Precious suddenly, the force of the lick bowling the baby bunny over.

Pegasus blinked as the bunny wiggled his way to his feet and made a speedy dash around the room, ending up under Pegasus's chair. The man smiled and scooped up the baby bunny and placed him on his desk. "Little rascals... BOTH of you!" And he pointed an accusing finger Ryou.

Ryou giggled softly. "Oh but I'm a good little rascal... want me to prove it?" He cooed, smirking wickedly.

"Don't you start that again!" Pegasus chuckled, and grabbed the phone when it rang. "Pegasus here........ uh-huh.... uh-huh.... I see.... yes, of course. I understand. You're fired." And then he hung up. "Trouble at the office, baby. I'm going to drop you off with Miss Rem. She'll take you to work since I'm needed elsewhere, okay?"

Ryou blinked. "Wow… you're heartless!" He said trying not to giggle. "That poor man or woman..." He walked over and hugged Pegasus. "Alright master... lets go then." He cooed, still wearing his pajamas. "If… it's ok I'd like to wear these for today... I'm a little shy of wearing the playboy suit outside..."

Pegasus smiled. "What about you little maid dress?" He teased, standing and walking towards the door.

Ryou followed quickly and nuzzled Pegasus, sneaking him a VERY passionate kiss. "That... my precious master... is something I wear for only you..." he cooed, before walking out in front of him, leaving Pegasus to his thoughts of THAT.

Pegasus blinked, then smiled. "Rascal." He said again, following Ryou with Precious in his hand. "Down to the car, baby." He told Ryou.

Ryou grinned and hurried to the car, hopping in eagerly.

Pegasus climbed in after him and opened his arm, letting Ryou snuggle into his side. "Now... tonight, I want you to go home and check on Marik. See how he is, and try to talk to him. And talk to Rem before you do that. She knows him better than anyone, aside from Bakura. Will you do that? I want to see you and Marik happy with each other, okay?"

Ryou nodded slowly, nuzzling Pegasus. "yes master..." he said wrinkling his nose. "But if he's mean again I'm going to move back in with you until he's not a jerk!" he said huffing softly.

Pegasus blinked, then laughed. "Okay, baby. Okay." and minutes later, they pulled up outside of the pet shop. "Now you run in and tell Rem that I had to go to work. She'll take care of you. And... ask her about Marik, hmm?" He gave Ryou a little kiss on the nose. "Go on now."

Ryou smiled and hurried into the pet shop. "Rem?" He called softly.

Rem smiled looking up from serving breakfast. "Oh hello Ryou!" She said walking over to meet him. She laughed softly once he'd explained Pegasus' request to watch him. "Alright sweetie... I'm kind of busy, I'll stick you in with Rex." She said opening the cage for Ryou, who went in quietly and sat down. She filled a bowl with waffles and sausages. "C'mon then Rex, eat your breakfast!"

"Whuh? Mornin already?" Rex was heard mumbling from in his cave, followed by a loud belch. "Okay, okay..." And he stumbled out. "Ummm... Rem?" He called trotting over and poking Ryou. "This isn't what I meant when I said 'rare'! This thing's still alive!"

Rem laughed. "Rex, it's Ryou." She said amused. "I put your breakfast in your bowl, now stop scaring him and get dressed."

Rex snickered. "Hey Ryou." He said, grabbing a sausage and shoving it into his mouth. "What's up?"

Ryou sighed softly. "Marik... was really upset last night... that hamster really upset him, and I don’t even understand why...." He mumbled ears drooping. "Do you know anything?"

Rem blinked. "Hamster? Hamster... I don't remember any hamster there last night, Ryou..." He frowned. "Ohh! The chipmunk?!"

Ryou nodded. "I guess that's what he was...." He said softly. "Why did Marik get so upset?"

"Well... I dunno..." Rex said, pulling on a pair of shorts and eating some waffles. "What did Honda say to the big guy?"

Ryou looked thoughtful. "He said there was a nickname for him... and that he used to be short... I don’t understand what's so wrong with that..."

Rex stopped chewing, and slowly looked up. "Oh... he was talking about Marik when he was first brought to the shop..." He said softly. "I know what Marik was upset about..."

Ryou's ears perked up. "Please tell me..." He said softly. "Marik won’t... and I think I deserve to know."

Rex sighed and settled down. "Well... I wasn't here when he first came in... all I know is what the other coyote told me. We roomed together before he was bought by a breeder. He was here when Marik was brought in. Marik was... nineteen, I think? Well, anyway, I think you know that Marik grew up on the streets, right?"

Ryou nodded. "Yes, he told me that a long long time ago..." he said softly. "Please continue."

Rex nodded and wolfed down another piece of sausage. "Well... I suppose you also know that when he was picked up by the lunatics that made us, he was literally dying. They picked him up in the middle of the night... if they hadn't..." He sighed and lapped at his orange juice. "Marik would have been dead by sunrise."

Ryou shivered softly. "I know..." He mumbled softly. "I thank God they found him every day..."

Rex nodded. "Well... it was a few days before they changed him. They had to get him stabilized... not that they cared whether or not he lived or died... But just giving him some hot soup twice a day for three days really did wonders for him, or so I heard. And they changed him. He was weak, and nearly died again when his temperature skyrocketed. I'll bet YOU remember that... I felt like my flesh was being singed from my bones." Rex shook his head at the memory.

Ryou shuddered softly. "Yes of course... I remember... please tell me more..."

Rex sighed. "Well... Marik's stomach was weak... he was only fed warm broth once a day for a week. And they had to give it to him by putting a rubber tube down his throat and pouring it into his stomach. By the second week, he was strong enough to eat on his own. Third week, and he was eating twice a day. Then he was brought to the pet shot. He got a bowl of broth in the morning and evening, and canned cat food with extra vitamins in the afternoon. It took that long for him to be able to take soft solids. Rem took a picture of him then... she wanted to look back later, and see how much healthier he was compared to when he came in... I can get her to show it to you... do you... wanna see?" Rex asked.

Ryou nodded slowly. "Please..." He said softly. "I... I know it will be a horrible sight... but I want to see it..." he said, ears drooping.

Rex nodded. "Rem!!! Hey Rem!!! Gotta sec?"

Rem blinked and nodded coming quickly. "Yes Rex?" She asked calmly. "What do you need?"

Ryou gave her a pleading look. "He says you have a picture... of Marik... when he was younger."

“Yeah Rem. That picture of Marik when he was first brought in.” Rex specified.

Rem nodded slowly. "Oh... I see." She said softly walking away. Within moments she'd returned with a small photo of Marik. "I took this when he first came in..." She said softly. Sure enough, the picture was of a frightened Marik, skin and bones. Every rib, every bone was clearly visible... Ryou gasped softly. (hato has a sketch of this picture in her DeviantArt Account as well as a picture of Marik then and Marik now)

"Oh my goodness..."

Rex sighed and moved closer, looking. Marik was huddled in the very back corner of his cage, back to the camera, and was looking at it over his shoulder with frightened teary eyes. Each vertebrae was easily seen as well. "How big was he, Rem?" Rex asked.

"Four feet, six inches tall." Rem said softly. "He weighed only sixty five... seventy pounds... that's twenty pounds underweight." Rex sighed.

"And he's what now... six feet?"

"Six foot two and weighs one ninety seven." Rem said proudly.

Ryou smiled softly. "Is this what he's so ashamed about?" He asked. "B-because there's no reason... even skin and bones he's the most beautiful creature I've ever laid eyes on..." he whispered, hugging the picture. "May...I keep this?"

Rex smirked and looked up at Rem. "You still have the negatives Rem... you can always get another. Let Thumper keep it, huh?" She smiled and nodded. Rex turned back to Ryou. "Now Ryou... the thing about Marik is after he was here for a few months, with a good healthy diet and proper care... he started to grow. Didn't he Rem?"

"Shot up like a stalk of bamboo." The woman laughed.

"He grew, and he filled out. And his voice started to change. He finally hit that little thing we like to call puberty. See... before then, he was this... stick thin kid with a goofy nasal voice... And... the other hybrids gave him a nickname... I'm one of the only ones in this shop who knows... They called him 'Kermit.' As in the frog. Cause he had such a geeky voice and was so skinny. Well... you can imagine that he didn't take it well. He hated it, and that was all they called him... but then, he started to grow and get strong. And his voice changed..." Rex watched Rem go about her work.

"And he started to... assert his place as... King of the Store, you could say... well... let's just say that they learned not to call him that. And now, well... he likes to think of himself as big and strong and he doesn't like thinking about back then... when he was so weak, he couldn't even stand up much less stand up to anyone... it makes him remember when he was at the bottom of the food chain... see? THAT'S why he got so upset. He hates how he used to be. And he wants to forget that that's who he was."

Ryou nodded slowly. "I see..." He hugged the picture. "Rem... I want to go see Marik... when can I?" he asked softly.

Rem smiled slightly. "I'll take you." She said laughing. "Marik could use a good loving talk." She opened the door. "Rex, make sure everyone eats and gets dressed." She said calmly. "I'm counting on you to keep the hybrids here in their training to be human again."

With that, Ryou and Rem left, leaving her assistant in charge of people, and Rex in charge of the hybrids. They arrived at Marik's house after a short drive and Ryou went in slowly, clutching the picture to his heart. "M-Marik?"

The house was silent... Marik didn't answer Ryou's call.

Ryou sighed softly, closing the front door behind him, hearing Rem drive off back to the pet shop. It wasn't far, so if Ryou needed to, he could call her to ask her to come back.

"Marik... please?" he called once more. "Please talk to me..."

Again, there was no answer, and Ryou couldn't help but grow worried. Had Marik left? What if those people came in the night, and took him away? What if... NO!!! Marik was here... he was fine... he just wasn't answering him. Though that didn't make Ryou feel much better.

Ryou's ears flattened back fearfully. "Marik..." he whimpered, beginning to look for his lover, room by room. "Please... Please talk to me." He whimpered, having checked the kitchen and the living room. "Marik?" he called once more.

The lion still did not answer, so Ryou made his way back to the bedroom. And there he found the lion, curled up in a basket of clean laundry that Ryou hadn't gotten around the folding. His tail was hanging out and the usually twitching tip was limp. The lion was fast asleep, and sleeping like the dead.

Ryou smiled and nudged Marik. "Marik..." He whispered, giving him a big wet lick. "Marik wake up." He chuckled softly. "And for heaven's sake get out of my laundry."

"Murrrrrrrrr...." Marik whined, and slowly dragged himself out of sleep. His eyes blinked open and he lifted his head. "Hmmm?" He still looked half asleep.

Ryou nuzzled him softly. "Marik... I found out why you were so angry..." he whispered lovingly, clutching the picture to his chest, the back facing Marik. "Please... talk with me..."

Marik blinked and shook his head to wake himself up. Then he looked at Ryou. "You... found out... what?" He asked, looking very nervous.

Ryou sighed softly, and turned the picture around. "Marik... I got this picture from Rem..." He said softly. "Do you know what I see when I look at it?" He nuzzled Marik. "I see the most perfect person in the whole world... the person I'd die for in a heartbeat..." He whispered.

Marik stared at the photo, a look of horror and dismay. He winced and turned away from it. "I... I never wanted to you see me like that..." He gasped, lowering his head and hiding his face in a pair of pants. "I hoped you would never know that I was so... weak..."

Ryou put the picture down. "Marik... you don’t look weak to me... you look frightened and hungry... but not weak." He said softly, pulling Marik into a hug. "You look so strong in that picture... Marik... you survived." He whispered. "That takes more strength than anything."

Marik drew in a long, shaky breath. "I was scared... I was so scared... I'd never been that frightened in my life... I didn't know what was going to happen to me... I was... scared..." He slowly turned his head and hid his face in Ryou's chest; he was shaking.

Ryou cooed softly and rubbed Marik's back. "But you weren't weak Marik..." He said softly. "I think you're beautiful no matter how healthy or unhealthy you are... and honestly, if I weren't so concerned about seeing the bones in that picture, I'd say you were downright adorable..." He said after a moment. "You look absolutely cute."

Marik sighed and slowly turned to look at the picture, wincing at himself staring back fearfully. "That wasn't even me at my worst... I had started to put on weight, then..." He said, softly. "I didn't trust anyone... not even Rem..." A faint ghost of a smile touched his lips.

Ryou smiled. "But your eyes are perfect in this picture..." Ryou said smiling. "You can see just how beautiful they are... and such a wonderful soul..." Ryou nuzzled Marik. "Do you feel better?"

Marik winced. "You have no idea how... painful that time of my life was... I can hardly bare the memory..." He gasped, shaking his head. "I... I wish I could forget... The other hybrids.... they were all so big... and... they scared me..." Marik confessed, still shaking. "They made fun of me... teased me... called me names... and when they could... they would push me around. That's the only reason I ever grew to trust Rem. She was always there... she would stop them, and..." Marik smiled slightly. "She would hold me... and hug me... and pet me and talk to me, and..."

Ryou laughed and tackled Marik softly. "You're just a big fuzzy kitten." He teased softly. "You love Rem because she loves you so much!" He giggled and kissed his mate. "Now stop pouting.... no one but you and I know... and I promise not to tell."

Marik smiled. "You know... after I had been there for about a month, I got sick... I got very sick... and she wouldn't leave me alone. She spent the night in one of the back rooms with me, at the shop... and then took me home with her for the night a couple of times..." Marik smiled. "That was when I really started to trust her... She was the only one I would allow to come near me." He began to purr and nuzzle Ryou. "She took such good care of me..."

Ryou chuckled softly. "You must have mellowed out a lot by the time I came around... you seemed all too willing to be petted and loved by then." He said grinning.

Marik smiled. "Yeah... I guess... Rem at that time was the only one I ever got... kind attention from... by the time you came, I was... addicted to it. Anything to feel that I was... loved..." the lion sighed and nuzzled Ryou, licking his cheek.

Ryou shook his head. "You're a love struck kitten." And with that he lunged onto Marik and pinned him, cuddling close. "It's a wonder you didn't end up in my cage sooner than you did!"

Marik blinked, then chuckled. "I dunno. But it only took me a couple of days..." He licked Ryou's cheek. "And didn't we have fun when I did find my way in?"

Ryou blushed and nuzzled Marik. "Not as much fun as we have now." He said smiling. He cooed softly, before sighing. "I hope... that you will learn to control your temper Marik..." He said after a moment, looking quite sad. "You're so frightening when you're angry... plus Seto..." His ears drooped.

Marik sighed. "I... I know... but... that was just such a sensitive issue... And... well, Yami started teasing me... and then Honda started teasing me... and you just came in at a wrong time and I didn't want to talk about it, and then Rem started getting upset with me and I just couldn't take it!"

Ryou nuzzled him. "Marik... you are a beautiful person... but you are the most dangerous creature too…" He said softly. "They're just worried that one day you'd kill someone, accidentally, in one of your fits of anger." He whimpered. "If you did... they'd kill you. Then who would be there for me? Who would take care of me?"

Marik's eyes widened. "I... I never thought of that..." He breathed after a while, then lowered his eyes to the floor. "I never thought of that..."

Ryou nodded. "It's why you have to stay calm... People are scared of you. No matter how angry you get, you have to stay calm. If you kill someone Marik... it will kill me too."

Marik swallowed and nodded. "I'll try..." He said softly. "But... I'll need your help, Ryou... I'm not good at keeping my temper, I know that..." He hugged Ryou. "I'm depending on you now..." He purred and nuzzled Ryou from his comfy bed in the laundry.

Ryou grinned and gave Marik's rump a slight swat. "What have I told you about sleeping in my laundry?" He said semi-sternly.

"Mao!" Marik squeaked, and leapt out of the laundry basket with a guilty smile. "It's comfy." He shrugged.

Ryou wrinkled his nose. "We bought the couch you wanted, just so you'd stay out of my laundry!" he huffed. "I'm willing to bet you haven't bathed! I have to wash these clothes all over again, stinky lion."

Marik sighed. "Sorry, Ryou... I was so... exhausted last night... honestly, I don't even remember leaving the closet and getting INTO the laundry..."

Ryou rolled his eyes. "Go take a bath." He said firmly.

Marik's ears shot up and his eyes widened. "Bath?!" He exclaimed, far from happy at this idea.

Ryou nodded. "Yes, take a bath. It's about time you did, I won’t be mated to a lion who won’t bathe!" he said crossing his arms. "I have a VERY sensitive nose. I refuse to smell you any longer."

Marik drooped. "Murrrrrrrrr..." He whined, but sighed and shook his head. "Okay..." He looked up and stuck a finger under Ryou's nose. "Only for you would I do this willingly. I hope you appreciate it!" And he turned and trotted from the room on all fours, grumbling under his breath.

Ryou laughed softly. "Oh yeah?! Well I wash your stinky socks and drawers!" he called back teasingly. "Who's got it worse now?!"

"WHO SAYS I HAVE TO WEAR DRAWERS?" Marik called back in an equally teasing manner.

Ryou huffed. "Public decency laws!"

"I'll wear jeans!" Marik called back, and stuck his head out of the bathroom. "It's called 'going commando', dear."

Ryou gave Marik a skeptical look. "It's called chaffing, dear." He taunted back.

Marik laughed and ducked back into the bathroom to shower.

Ryou giggled softly and picked up the basket, heaving it to the washer and dryer they'd hidden in a large walk in closet. "I better smell that soap strongly! I'll know if you try fake me out!"

Marik groaned. "Ra dammit, the only way I'd have it worse is if you had BAKURA'S nose!!!" the lion called from the bathroom. "Which would you prefer, dear? Sparkling Apple, Rose Garden Rain, or Wildflower Meadow?"

"Rose garden rain!" Ryou said grinning. "I love the smell of that one!" he grinned, dumping the clothes into the washer and pouring in their detergent. "hmmm..." he cooed, loving the scent of their detergent as well.

He closed the washer, and went to their bedroom, changing clothes. Afterwards, he went to the living room to watch television until his lover was done showering.

Finally, Marik trotted in, buck naked and soaking wet. "Fine. I bathed. Happy?" He asked, smelling strongly of Rose Garden Rain.

Ryou grinned and sniffed the air. "Mmm you smell simply wonderful!" he said teasingly. "Now why don’t you dry off and we can talk about what we'll do until I have to go to work."

Marik cocked his head with a smug smile. He was up to something. "Sure." He said, positioned himself on his fingers and toes, and shook himself off, showering the room, and the bunny, in water.

Ryou gasped loudly. "MARIK ISHTAR!" he howled. "I'll string you up by your tail!" He shrieked lunging over the couch and tackling the lion swatting at him angrily, though not very hard. "LOOK AT THE MESS YOU MADE!!"

Marik toppled over and curled up, giggling. "If I have to take a bath, so do you!" He squeaked. "Ow! C'mon, Ryou! Stop!!! I'll clean up!! I--OW!! STOP!!!" And he pounced Ryou and tackled him to the floor, pinning him, giggling.

Ryou squirmed. "Marik I'll kill you! I JUST cleaned house!" he howled growling softly, his rabbity 'you messed with my stuff' quirk kicking in. "So help me I'll use you as the MOP!"

Marik giggled. "But then I won't be clean anymore! And I am NOT taking another bath!!" Finally, he managed to get his hips between Ryou's legs, and pinned his wrists down, and then DROPPED, pinning Ryou's body down with his own. "Can we calm down now?" He asked, licking Ryou's cheek.

Ryou twitched, but nuzzled Marik. "Ever do that again and you're sleeping on the couch for a month." he grumbled, looking away sourly.

Marik chuckled. "Riiiiight..." He said, getting off of his mate. "We'll just see how long the horny bunny lasts."

Ryou huffed. "If I need to, I can go get Pegasus, that'd make you kick yourself." He said stubbornly. "He's my mate too you know."

Marik frowned at that. "You can't have two mates!" He protested, slinking from the room.

Ryou squeaked and hurried after Marik and hugged him quickly. "I love you." He cooed. "I'm sorry... you know I can’t help thinking of him like that Marik.." He said softly. "I wouldn't do that with my master. You're the only one to pet this bunny." He added, nuzzling. "I'm sorry…"

Marik blinked down at Ryou. He tried to glare, but his purr gave him away. He slowly smiled. "Dammit..." He muttered, before nuzzling Ryou. "I love you. And... I'm sorry I was so snappish with you last night. And... I'm sorry that I never told you about... well..." He sighed.

Ryou nuzzled him, hugging him close. "It's understandable." He cooed. "It's a beautiful day... the sun's shining, the birds are singing... what would you like to do with it?"

Marik sighed and smiled down. "I would like to take a picnic lunch to the park, eat together, and then nap on the blanket in the sun." He said. "But since we can't... I'll settle for the backyard."

Ryou nuzzled him and sighed. "I'll make us a nice lunch." He said grinning. "You grab a soft blanket." He added giving Marik a quick kiss to the cheek, before eagerly going to the kitchen, always happy to thrill Marik with his 'excellent' cooking.

"Can I go out naked?" Marik called after Ryou, grinning.

"NO!" Ryou shouted back.

"awwww...." Marik pouted, giggling to himself. He went back to the bedroom, and after thinking to himself, decided to go commando and just pulled on a pair of jeans. Then he stood, ran his fingers through his hair and headed out to the kitchen with a blanket under his arm.

Ryou grinned, clutching a small basket. Inside was a two sandwiches, some chips and a bowl full of cherries. "I... thought this would be a good lunch. Something healthy and something not so healthy." He said flicking his ears. "You have to at least eat four cherries." he added.

Marik snorted and spread out the blanket. "Do they have pits?" He asked. "And what about drinks, dear?"

"Soda." He said, presenting their favorite sodas.

"Yay!!" Marik sang, and popped one open, slurping it, before finally running outside, spreading the blankets and dropping down onto it, purring and squirming around on it.

Ryou laughed, walking out and sitting next to Marik, offering him a hot steak and cheese melt sandwich. "I made it a little fast... I hope it's ok."

"Oooooohhhh..." Marik purred after smelling it. "No complaints here!!!" And he chomped into it, then groaned. "Mmmmmm....." And he purred and nuzzled Ryou.

Ryou blushed, nuzzling him. "Thank you..." He said sheepishly, pulling out his cucumber sandwich and nibbling on it politely.

Marik purred loudly as he continued to savor his sandwich, looking the happiest Ryou had seen him since Bakura had disappeared.

Ryou grinned nuzzling him. "Have some chips Marik, they're good for you. Baked kind." he offered, pushing the basket towards him.

Marik smiled and munched. "Should I have some bunny, too? Is that good for me?" He asked, wrapping an arm around Ryou and licking his cheek.

Ryou laughed. "Not while we're outside." He said softly, finishing his sandwich and nibbling a few chips. "Perhaps later, inside..." he said blushing.

"awww...." Marik pouted, but smiled. "Okay." He nuzzled Ryou, and took another bite of his sandwich.

Ryou smiled and began eating the cherries, laying down and sighing. "I love the feel of the sun..." He sighed stretching."

Marik sighed and relaxed. "Me too." He said, cuddling up to Ryou. "I love you."

Ryou nuzzled into him and sighed happily. "I love you too..."

No sooner had Ryou said this then a dart whistled through the air and found it's mark in his upper arm.

Ryou gasped loudly and pulled it out as quickly as he could, ears tilting back. "M-Marik they're here!" he said latching onto Marik shaking his head, becoming a tad sleepy. "They shot me!"

Marik leapt to his feet as masked men hurtled the backyard fence. Then lion scooped Ryou into his arms and whirled, running into the house and slamming the door closed. He carried Ryou into the living room, and skidded to a stop when the living room window was shattered, and two men entered. From the kitchen more shattering was heard, and within moments Marik was crouching over Ryou in the corner, growling and facing six men with tranquilizer guns, nets and ropes.

Ryou whimpered softly, clutching Marik and struggling to stay awake. "Oh god... th-they're going to get us, Marik... I'm... scared..." he whimpered softly once more and slumped, passing out asleep.

The lion bared his teeth and let out a threatening growl.

"Get out of my house!" He hissed.

The men looked at each other for a moment, before bursting into laughter. "Shut up lion, animals don’t own anything." they chuckled more, one man pointing a REAL gun at Ryou. "Back off or you won’t have a bunny to protect anymore..." he hissed warningly.

Marik roared and crouched over Ryou, so that the man wouldn't even be able to get a clear shot at the rabbit. "Didn't you ever learn that cornering an ANIMAL is just asking for trouble?!" He growled, tail lashing. "GET OUT!!!"

The men growled in unison. Two lunged forward, looping restraining ropes around his neck and pulling, two more tackling the struggling lion to the floor and pinning him painfully, two others rushing forward to grab Ryou.

Marik gave a roar of furious desperation, thrashing and turning, sinking his teeth into one man's shoulder. "NO!!! RYOU!!! LET ME GO!!! DAMN YOU!!!"

The two men carried the limp sleeping Ryou from the room quickly. The man Marik had bitten howled in pain as three more dove down on the lion and the two with ropes tied him to the bed and they all ran from him at this point desperate to get away with their lives. The lion hadn't been tranquilized and the health and well being of themselves was more important than Daisuke's order at the moment.

Marik roared in fury and began chewing away at the ropes, freeing himself in under thirty seconds. He got to his feet and whirled, leaping out of the broken window and charging towards the men in the van. "DAMN YOU!!! GIVE HIM BACK!!!"

Two men stared at Marik like deer in the headlights before tossing Ryou's body into the van and frantically climbing in after him, the van speeding away.

Marik roared and dropped to all fours, chasing them down the street, taking great leaping strides covering fifteen feet with each and reaching a speed of thirty miles per hour. His eyes were fixed on the van with the intensity that a wild lion would have in the heat of the hunt.

The men in the van floored it, and soon disappeared around a corner, seeming to vanish into thin air, the last clue to Ryou's location completely gone.

"NO!!!" Marik screamed, tears flooding his eyes, and people came out of their houses, watching the lion tiredly slow to a trot, then to a plodding walk. "No..." He finally ground to a halt, and his head dropped. "NOOOO!!!" He whirled and bolted, running as fast as he could, then pushing himself even harder and faster to the point of physical pain. He skittered around a corner and charged towards the pet shop doors. He slammed his shoulder into them, and burst through.

"REEEEEEMM!!!" He screamed, staggering into the middle of the place, and finally collapsing.

Rem gasped and ran to Marik's side, dropping what she'd been doing. "Oh my God, Marik, are you ok?!" She said worriedly, picking him up and hugging him, worried about the panting and exhausted lion. "What's wrong? What were you doing outside alone?!"

"R-Ryou!!" Marik sobbed, near hysterical. "They got Ryou!! I tried to stop them! I tried to protect him!! But there were too many!! And the car was too fast!! I couldn't stop them! I couldn't catch them, I... I couldn't protect him!!!"

Rem gasped and hugged him tightly. "It's ok Marik... it's ok..." she cooed to him.

Though no sooner had she spoken than a throng of men rushed into the pet shop, at least two darts hitting Marik in the side.

Rem's eyes widened. "Get out of here!"

Marik let out a roar and skittered to the side, trying to get away from the sting. He turned and twisted at awkward angles, trying to bite at whatever was sticking him. The men surrounded Rem and the lion, and another dart was shot into his hip. The lion roared and whirled again, starting to stagger. He turned and blinked, blearily, then leapt at a man who darted out of his way. The lion fled to his cave at the back of his cage, and Rem followed, trying to protect him.

"Move aside, woman..." One man ordered, as they all converged on the cave with control sticks, ropes and netting.

"What do you think you're doing!? You can’t just TAKE a hybrid!" She growled, shutting Marik into the cave quickly and locking the small door. "He's not yours to take, and it's obvious you have no intention to treat him well!" She said standing defiantly in front of his cave. "Leave this place!"

"Look lady... we're just doing out job. We're told to pick up that lion, we pick up that lion. Now move before we make you." The man growled. "And open that door."

Rem glared. "I can’t." She hissed. "It opens from the inside..." She moved away, to prove her point. Indeed, there was no handle and no keyhole. "So you may as well leave."

The man smirked. "Gentlemen.... smash that door in." He said, and the men began to move forwards.

Rem glared. "Don’t you dare! You leave that lion alone!" She said, slugging one of the men, effectively knocking him completely out in one shot. "GET OUT!"

"I warned you lady!!!" The man shouted. He raised his rifle and fired, striking Rem just above her right collar bone with a tranquilizer dart. The hybrids in the store started going nuts.

Rem growled and pulled the dart out before it had injected much and turned, literally STABBING the man who'd shot her. "Take THAT you bastard!" she howled, kneeing him in the gut and balling both fists together, pounding his neck fiercely, knocking him out, and possibly breaking his neck.

The hybrids howled. "GO REM!! KICK HIS ASS!!" Rex cheered. The men converged on her, quickly pinning her to the wall, one administering another sedative. Two men were left pinning her to the wall while the others converged on the cave.
"Get that door open and take that beast down." snarled the man who was taking over leadership from the real leader down on the floor.

Rem glared and head butted one man harshly, freeing an arm, and grabbing said man's head and SLINGING him like a rag doll against the other man, head first, knocking them both to the floor, and likely giving at least one of them a concussion. "LEAVE MARIK ALONE!" She shrieked, though it was obvious she was being affected by the sedative.

With a few kicks, the door to Marik's little cave was open, and one man knelt, taking aim with his rifle at the growling lion, huddled in the back of his den. Marik roared as he was hit yet again with another tranquilizer dart. Then they reached in with control sticks, getting the cords around the lion’s neck and dragging him out. The lion thrashed, but he was obviously being affected by the sedatives as well. He raised his head and fixed panicked eyes on Rem, begging her to protect him as nets were flung over his body.

Rem lunged forward knocking another man to the floor trying feebly yet desperately to get to Marik. "Marik..." she said softly, finally unable to stay conscious any longer, collapsing mere inches from her target.

"R-Rem..." Marik whimpered as he was easily thrown to the ground, and his paws bound together. He whined as one man nudged Rem with his foot. "No! Don't hurt her!" Marik begged, and whined again when they dragged him from his cage. "Rem! REM!!"

"Shut up." On man snapped, slapping the lion.

"MAMA!!!" Marik wailed as he was dragged through the back of the store and out to a van. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the back doors of the van opening, and the last thing he heard was "Wait til we tell Dai about the fight that woman gave us!"

'Dai? Oh gods....'

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

Ryou groaned softly, his eyes fluttering open and meeting only darkness. He shook his head softly sitting up and catching sight of a few small dots of dim light. He gasped, as the events came back to him, he scooted silently closer to the holes, peering out.

There was another crate beside the one he was in, in the back of the van, and men were currently unloading the third. The most horrible, frightening noise was coming from the crate, sounding like some demonic scream.

"Fuckin animal..." One man snorted. "Who had the bright idea of bringing in a God forsaken Tasmanian Devil, eh?!"

"Shut up and take him in..." bitched another man, and the back of the van was closed.

Marik groaned as he slowly awoke in the crate next to Ryou's.

Ryou whimpered softly, ears up and quivering, listening intently for even the faintest of sounds. When he heard none, he sighed in relief. "M-Marik... I'm scared..." He whispered, gently scratching the side of his box. "A-are you ok?"
Marik groaned. "R-Ryou?!" He gasped, bolting upright. BAM!!! "OWW!!" The lion howled as he cracked his head on the top of the box. "Ah, son of a bitch!!!

Ryou whined. "Marik be careful!" he scolded softly. "A-and be quiet! They'll hear you..." he said frightened. "Please c-can you get out? I... I don’t like it in this box, I don’t like these men, a-and I'm scared..."

"I don’t know, Ryou, I... ohh... my head... I'm still dizzy... they shot me with about four or five darts, I... I'm still woozy... Are you okay?"

Ryou nodded slowly, despite Marik being unable to see him. "Y-yes... do you know where they're taking us?" he asked, hugging himself and shivering at the idea of being kidnapped a second time in his life.

Marik sighed. "I don’t know... I... I hope Rem is okay... she fought so hard to protect me... oh, you should have seen her, Ryou... she took down FOUR of those guys before they took her down... FOUR!! With her BARE HANDS!!! And they had to use sedatives to get her down! If they hadn't, she would have wasted them all!" The lion shook his head in amazement. "Human or not, she is the closest thing to a lioness I have EVER seen!"

Ryou couldn't help but smile at Marik's awe at his adopted mother. "Marik, she loves you... of course she'd fight to protect you..." he said softly. "Are you ok? N-no permanent damage right?"

Marik sighed and curled up. "Not... not physically..." He said softly.

Ryou's ears drooped. "Marik, don’t worry... we'll be ok..." he said softly. "I know you'll protect me..."

Marik shook his head. "No! Don’t you get it? I already failed to protect you! I'm a... a useless failure! I can't protect you, I can't provide for you, I... I can't take care of you!" And the lion punched the side of his crate. "No matter how hard I try... It's never good enough... I'm so sorry, Ryou... I'm so sorry..."

Ryou cooed softly. "You did your best Marik... and for that I will always be grateful."

Marik sighed. "But my best wasn't enough." He lay his head down. "I'm just glad that you're not hurt."

"Your best is more than enough." Ryou replied calmly. "No matter what, we're there for each other." he said smiling. "Please don’t be sad, we're still together... we'll be ok..."

Marik smiled. "Okay." He said, sitting up. "I love you."

Ryou smiled. "I love you too..." He whispered, before gasping. "Shh! They're coming back..."

Marik growled when the back doors of the van opened again. "Ahh, shaddup!" A man ordered, banging Marik's crate.

"The rabbit first. We'll deal with the lion later." Another man said, and they unloaded Ryou's crate from the van.

"NO!!! LET HIM GO!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!" Marik howled, pacing as much as he could in his crate. Rafel snorted and shut the back of the van, and followed the men carrying Ryou's crate.

Ryou yelped, pressing low to the box, frightened and now unbalanced due to being carried. "P-put me down! Please!" he squeaked whimpering loudly. "Please! I want to go home!"

"Shut up, rat." Rafel snapped. "Get him out and harness the little beast." The crate was set down and opened, and Ryou was jerked out by the ears, stripped and harnessed. He found himself between two men, holding chains attached to his harness while Rafel put a collar onto him. Rafel nodded and turned, walking away. The men followed, pulling Ryou along with them.

Ryou struggled fiercely. "Stop! Where are you taking me! Let me go!" he wailed small claws catching on the floor as they walked. "Please! Stop!" he shrieked, yelping when he was suddenly plucked up, and ran through a bath, groomed, combed, nails trimmed and hair clipped. He squirmed violently, snapping as doctors took his temperature and tried to touch him to examine him.

"NO!" he hissed, snapping onto the doctor's arm and holding on tightly. "NO ONE BUT MARIK!"

Rafel quirked an eyebrow. "HAH!!! He's a little spitfire." He chuckled. He gripped Ryou's jaw and squeezed until he was forced to let go. "You okay, doc?"

"I'll live... tell Dartz he is in good... DENTAL health." He snorted, and Rafel laughed.

"Come on, rat. And don't try that again, unless you want to be punished.." The man snorted as they dragged Ryou into the next room and chained him between the pillars.

Ryou struggled, ears back in fear as he looked around frantically, trying his best to get loose, yet managing to hide himself the entire time. "Let me go! Please! This is kidnapping!" he howled struggling more. "LET ME GO!"

"Oh, hush now." Varon said, walking into the room. He smiled. "Oh, he's precious!!" He walked over to Ryou and knelt before him. "Hey there... poor little guy... don't be scared, I won't hurt you." And he gave Ryou a sincere smile.

"Watch it, Varon. You should see what his teeth did to the doc." Rafel drawled, and Varon blinked, then laughed.

"Really now? We have a biter, huh?" He stood and began writing. "Okay... white rabbit, male. What's your name, little guy?"

Ryou struggled to back away, whimpering. "Leave me alone!" He said beginning to sniffle. "Please! I want to go home!"

Daisuke chuckled darkly, stepping into the room. "I wouldn't be too eager to put him out..." he said smoothly.

Ryou gasped struggling fiercely. "NO! Please! I didn't do anything wrong! Go away!" He wailed, freaking out more and more the closer Daisuke got to Ryou.

"You see, this little rabbit has a...condition..." Daisuke drawled smirking. "To remain loyal to anyone who mates him...he'd go insane if you put him to work."

Ryou's eyes widened. "W-what?! No! I want to go home! No one but Marik!"

Varon frowned and turned. "Say what? Does Master Dartz know this, Daisuke?" He asked.

Daisuke nodded. "I've got the solution right here." He said, pulling a small syringe from his pocket. "But you may want to leave him unworkable for a day or two for him to recover..." he said grabbing Ryou harshly by the ears and jamming the needle into his thigh.

Ryou wailed in pain, hissing and struggling. Once Daisuke let go he groaned softly, quivering. He felt drained... not sleepy, just physically drained, and very confused.

"He'll still hold loyalty for those that have mated him up until now... but he should be ok to work in a day or two..."

Varon frowned and nodded. "Uhh... yeah. Sure thing..." He said. He bit his lip, then knelt and stroked Ryou gently. "Poor little guy... Dai, I don’t know HOW you can mess with their brain chemistry... it just seems so... WRONG."

"He's an animal." Dai said calmly. "That's all he'll ever be, don’t tell me you're growing soft on us." He said smirking.

Ryou's ears drooped and he groaned softly, panting as though he'd just ran a mile. His legs quivered and he slumped to a laying position. "Thirsty..." he mumbled pathetically.

Varon rolled his eyes. "Whatever. What's his name, Daisuke?" He asked as he filled in eye and hair color and skin tone.

"Ryou." Dai said calmly, nudging Ryou with his foot. "Get up Rat." He growled.

Ryou struggled to get up and whimpered, "Please... I want to go home..." he breathed, giving Varon a pathetic look, his absolute saddest eyes. "I... I want to go home... I'm scared..." he whimpered, slowly regaining a little strength, though he still felt highly confused.

Varon sighed. "Sorry little guy. You're at your new home, now... So... how tall are you and how much do you weigh? And what's your sexual preference?"

Suddenly those incredibly sad eyes filled with tears. "B-but... I have a home already... please... this isn't fair..." he whimpered.

Varon smiled and ruffled Ryou's hair. "Height and weight, kiddo?" Ryou sniffled and told Varon. "5'3, 112 lbs did you say? You ARE a little guy... Okay... what's your sexual preference and how dominant or submissive are you?"

Ryou sniffled struggling to back up. "Th-that's none of your business..." he said softly. "Please you must know this is wrong... let Marik and I go!"

Varon smiled sadly and ruffled Ryou's hair. "Sorry kid. I'm just doin my job. Now answer my questions. Do you like men, and/or women, and how dominant are you?"

Ryou looked down. "I t-told you... that isn't any of your business..." he mumbled beginning to fix his hair. "Why do you need to know those sorts of things?"

Varon sighed and turned to look back at Dai, silently asking for some help.

Daisuke rolled his eyes. "For god's sake it's a RAT. Can’t you do anything on your own?" he scolded, stepping forward and grabbing Ryou harshly by the ears. "TELL HIM!" he said firmly giving Ryou a good shake.

Ryou gasped and winced, whimpering. "Guys!" he wailed. "I like men! Please! You're hurting me!"

Daisuke shook him once more. "How dominant are you?!" he commanded sternly.

Ryou wailed shaking like a leaf. "N-not at all!"

Varon rolled his eyes. "I don't like to hurt, frighten and intimidate these creatures. I leave that to barbarians like you and Rafel."

"Watch it Varon." Rafel sneered.

"Blow me." Varon shot back with a grin, and Rafel rolled his eyes.

Daisuke dropped Ryou and the youth, being unprepared, flopped to the floor and winced, hitting the ground quite harshly chin-first. "They're animals, it's not like it'd kill you to treat them that way. You treat them as though they're somehow special, and they get ideas."

Varon frowned.

"Treat them like that and they'll fear you." Varon said, moving over to Ryou and gently petting them. "If they fear you, they will hate you, and one day, they WILL turn on you. You can only push them so far. Poor little guy..." He smiled down at Ryou and continued petting him.

Ryou whimpered pulling away once more. "P-please... I want to go home... don’t touch me..." he said softly, looking utterly terrified. "I... I want my warm bed, a-and my Marik..."

Dai rolled his eyes. "Right, well I'll remember that when the RABBIT comes for me." he said sarcastically.

Varon rolled his eyes, then looked down at Ryou. "Well little guy, when you decide to go Monty Python Killer Rabbit on him, be sure to give him a bite for me, eh?" And he chuckled and ruffled Ryou's hair. "Ready for your pictures, cutie?"

Ryou pulled away. "Please... I don’t want to..." he said softly, mewling softly at Varon. "I... I'm scared and... I want to rest... I don’t feel well..." He breathed, sniffling, tears trickling down his cheeks. "Please?"

"Ah ah... no tears now... c'mon... let's take you to Amelda." And he stood and waved off the men who came to take his leashes. He picked Ryou up and carried him out of the room and down the hall, feeling sorry for the poor little bunny.

Ryou squirmed. "Please! I... I don’t want to!" he pleaded, whimpering. "Put me down!" He was shaking like a leaf in a storm, absolutely terrified and in tears. "Please! I... I want to go home, I don’t want pictures! I'm tired and thirsty!"

"Well, when we're done with the pictures, you'll be taken upstairs to your room where you can rest." Varon said, walking into the photography studio. "Ameeeeldaaaa! Look what I got for ya!!!" Varon sang.

Amelda turned and grinned. "Aww look at the cute little rabbit!" Ryou whimpered and instinctively tried to burrow into Varon's clothes, to elude the now cooing and grinning Amelda. "Please NO!"

Varon laughed and put Ryou down. "It's okay. Amelda won't hurt you."

"Oh, I could make him so pretty!" Amelda exclaimed. "Oh he's just precious!" And the next thing Ryou knew, he was sitting on his knees on pink and white cushions in little baby blue lacy thigh high stockings, gloves and a thong, looking over his shoulder and back at the camera. (See this in hato’s DeviantArt account!!!!

Ryou whimpered softly, trying to cover himself, hunching and blushing darkly. "Please... I don’t want pictures..." he said looking away from the camera and hunching his pale cheeks stained dark red. This was humiliating! "Is there something I can wear? I... don’t like being naked..."

"But you're so cute like that!" Amelda giggled. "Look at me!" Ryou turned, throwing him a sad look over his shoulder. *CLICK* He zoomed in on Ryou’s face. *CLICK* "Beautiful!!!" Amelda sang. "Okay gorgeous. You can take them off now. Oh, you're too CUTE!!!"

Ryou sniffled and took off the stockings, before backing away from both of them, turning and darting into the walk-in closet of clothes and costumes, seeking shelter and a hiding place. He hopped up onto a shelf, climbed another and hid on the top rack of the closet, hoping that Varon and Amelda wouldn't find him.

He shivered, wishing Marik were near. Without Marik around he felt so helpless!

Amelda walked in and looked up. "Oh, c'mon, cutie... I won't hurt you... Come on down. If you don't, Rafel will come in to get you down. And... well... he will hurt you." Amelda frowned. "That guy is NOT nice." He opened his arms to Ryou. "As long as you co-operate, he won't hurt you, okay?"

Ryou backed up trembling. "Please! I... I want to go home! What about Marik?!" He wailed sniffling. "I want Marik!"

Amelda blinked. "Marik? Who's Marik?" He asked, cocking his head.

"My mate!" Ryou said whimpering. "I want him! They left him in the truck! I want Marik!" he said sniffling. "Please! Please give him back! I... I don’t want him hurt... please I'll be good... j-just give my mate back to me!"

"Mate?" Rafel sneered, entering the closet. "That lion is your mate?"

"Lion? You have a LION?!? Oh my GOOOOD!!! I wanna see him!" Amelda squealed. Rafel rolled his eyes.

"Shut up, you'll see him. But this rabbit won't if he doesn't come down from there." He glared at Ryou.

Ryou glared back, bristling. "L-leave me alone!" he whimpered, giving Amelda a pathetic look. "P-please! I don’t want to be hurt either!"

Amelda looked up at Ryou, then winced and looked down at the floor.

"Get down here..." Rafel snarled. "Or I'll take my anger out on that lion's hide!!!"

Ryou gasped and shook his head, inching back and slowly climbing down sniffling. "Please... l-leave Marik alone..."

"Good boy." Rafel snorted, wrapping an arm around Ryou's waist and lifting him up, heading for the elevator.

Ryou squirmed. "NO! I want Marik! Please!" he said struggling. "Please! I... I want my mate!" he pleaded trying to get loose. "I want Marik!"

"You be a good boy or you will NEVER see him again you filthy little rat!" Rafel growled.

Ryou shook his head horrified. "NO! I want Marik! Please! I want my mate! I want to go home! Put me down!" he howled struggling more. "Put me down! PUT ME DOWN!" he yelled, biting Rafel harshly, wanting his mate more than anything, since the threat of never seeing him again had been played. "MARIK!!!"

"OW!!! FILTHY RODENT!!!" Rafel roared, flinging Ryou to the ground and kicking him into the wall. Amelda's eyes widened and he ran over, kneeling next to Ryou.

"Rafel, you go take care of the lion, I'll take this little guy up to his room, okay?" The redhead said, picking Ryou up and cuddling him.

Ryou winced sniffling and nuzzling into Amelda's arms crying softly. "I'm scared... I want Marik..." he breathed softly. "I want my bed... my home... my mate." his ears drooped and he sniffled. "Please... give my mate back..."

"Shhh... we'll see little guy." Amelda said, getting into the elevator. The doors closed and they waited. And when the doors opened, Ryou found himself being carried into the "dormitory".

Ryou's eyes widened. "Why? Why did you do this?" He said eying all of the animals. He gasped. "MALIK!" he said shocked. "MALIK!" He squirmed out of Amelda's arms and pressed close to Malik's cage. "Malik! Are you ok?! Oh god Marik and I've been so worried!"

Malik's head jerked up and his eyes widened. "Ryou!!!" He gasped, skittering to the front of his cage. "Oh Ryou..."

"Hey kiddo." Kheti said with a smile and wink from the cage next door to Malik.

"Ryou, are you okay?" Malik asked, his tail wagging.

Ryou squeaked. "Kheti! Malik!" He sniffled wiping his eyes. "I'm ok... b-but I'm scared and Marik..." He sniffled. "Where's Bakura? Is he here too?" he asked softly, looking a little overwhelmed.

Kheti laughed softly. "Oh he's right over there." She said flicking her tail and pointing. Ryou quickly turned and gasped. "Bakura! Tuc! Nod!" He was so glad to see his precious bunnies he slammed into the glass without thinking.

Kheti blinked and winced slightly. "Ouch..." She said softly. "That's gotta smart..."

Bakura jumped awake and looked around, wildly. His eyes widened. "Thumper!!" He winced and got up, then awkwardly moved to the side of his cage. "Yeah... umm... there's a wall there, kiddo." He smiled as Tuc and Nod started trying to dig their way under the glass. "Are you okay, Ryou?"

Ryou rubbed his head groaning. "Well... aside from the massive headache, the lump forming on my head, and the humiliation I just endured... yes.." He mumbled beginning to try to claw his way though the glass. "Tuc! Nod!" He whimpered. "Oh are you ok?!" He wailed, much like a mother would if she feared for her babies. He gasped suddenly. "W-where's Dust and Spunky?"

Bakura blinked, then winced and turned away. "I... Ryou... I'm so sorry..." He gasped, staring at the ground. "Dai has them... both of them... And he's... messing with them. he made Spunky... he made him a hybrid."

Ryou's eyes widened. "But he's just a baby! He... he could die! He was just weaned!" he said shocked and frightened. "Oh God the babies!"

He clawed even harder at the glass. "I'm so sorry Tuc! I'm so sorry Nod!" He wailed, sobbing. "I'm sorry..."

Bakura sighed. "Spunky survived the hybridization progress... but now Dai's doing something ELSE to him! And Dust, and... oh, Ryou, I'm so sorry!" Bakura broke into tears. "It's all my fault! I'm sorry!!!"

Ryou sniffled. "It's not your fault..." he said softly. "Please... my Tuc and Nod..." he whimpered, clawing the glass.

"It is my fault... he took them because I wouldn't... I wouldn't behave..." Bakura confessed. "I'm sorry. If I just shut my mouth and did what I was told to do..."

Ryou shook his head. "Bakura... it's ok… l-lets just hope they'll be ok..." he mumbled giving Tuc and Nod sad looks. "My poor bunnies... now their babies..."

Bakura sighed. "That sick fuck..." He shook his head and looked back up at Ryou. "Are you okay? What happened? How did they grab you?"

"R-right out of our back yard... Marik wanted a picnic... he got fired..." Ryou mumbled looking down. "He threw a fit when someone came and reminded him of how he was when he first got into the pet shop... Seto fired him..."

Bakura's eyes widened. "Seto fired him?! Oh man..." Bakura shook his head, then punched the wall. "ARE WE NOT ALLOWED TO BE HAPPY?! ARE WE FUCKIN CURSED!?!"

"Quit yer bitchin, Bakura!" Otogi was heard. "Screaming about this ain't gonna help us."

Ryou winced. "Bakura... don’t talk like that... We'll be ok... I'm sure..." he said softly, licking the glass softly, wishing he could get to Tuc and Nod. "Th-they have Marik too..." He added softly.

Bakura winced and slowly lay down. "Well... at least we're all together then, right?" He asked, looking up and giving Ryou a sad, pained smile.

Ryou pouted. "Don’t make it sound like we'll die... w-we'll be ok." He said offering a weak smile. "Come on..." His ears drooped. "Seto and Pegasus will find us... I'm sure they will!"

Bakura sighed and nodded. "I hope so..." He said softly. "GODS I hope so..." He cuddled Tuc and Nod, hiding his face in their warm bodies.

"C'mon, little guy..." Amelda said softly, laying a hand on Ryou's head. "This way."

Ryou whimpered. "Bakura... please take care of my bunnies... Tuc and Nod have been through so much already... a-and their babies..." he mumbled sniffling and seeming to droop as he followed Amelda, downtrodden himself at the fact that they were all trapped.

Amelda sighed and took Ryou to an empty cage between two female bunnies on one side, and a male rat on the other.

"Here you go little guy. We'll bring your lion up in a bit, okay?" He scratched Ryou behind the ears and closed the door, heading for the elevator.

Ryou sniffled, catching sight of the small kimono and putting it on, preferring to be clothed at least a little.

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

Daisuke kicked Marik's box. "Hey! You!" he said sternly. "Knock off the growling unless you want your precious Ryou to become a new type of hybrid." He hissed.

Marik let out an even louder growl, then grew silent. He was heard shifting around in the box, and then he exploded.

"YOU!! YOU FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!!! HAVEN'T YOU DONE ENOUGH?!? I'LL FUCKIN' KILL YOU!!!"

Daisuke chuckled. "You should thank me you mangy mongrel. If it weren't for ME you'd have never met that rat." He hissed amusedly. "Now shut the hell up."

Marik stopped yelling but crouched down and continued growling, glaring at the holes in the side of his crate, just WAITING for the chance to break out and kill that bastard.

Daisuke clicked his tongue. "Fine Marik, I'll just go get that little mate of yours and turn him into something so hideous and deformed you'll never want to see him again, something so grotesque and mute that all he'll be good for is to display in a museum as the exhibit on genetic surgery gone horribly wrong!... heh if he survives that long..."

Marik roared. "DON'T YOU TOUCH HIM!!!" He took a deep breath, shaking his head. "Nothing you could possibly do to him would make me want to never see him again... I love him... Why I'm telling you this, I don’t know. I don’t think you've ever loved anyone in your life... you don’t know what love is, you psycho!"

Daisuke chuckled. "I'm going to get him now Marik, I'm sure he'll be glad you were so defiant that he had to suffer for your punishment." He taunted.

"NO!!" Marik blurted. "No! Please! I... I'll be good..." He slowly lay down. "I'll be good..."

Daisuke chuckled. "Too late. I feel like... introducing some new genes to something… Ryou seems the perfect candidate." He said darkly.

"No! Please!" Marik cried in desperation. "If you have to make a guinea pig out of someone you can use me! I won’t fight you! But leave Ryou alone!!!"

Dai paused thoughtfully. "Hmm... naaah..." He said smirking. "I like my victims utterly terrified..." He chuckled. "And no one is more frightened than Ryou..."

"No!" Marik cried, beginning cry out of fear for his mate. "P-Please! I'll do anything! Please! Leave him alone!" He began to pace, frantically. "Gods, please!"

"What could I want from a useless mutt like you?" Daisuke said calmly. "What could you offer me? Nothing. That's what!" he said putting his hands in his pockets. "Ryou offers me terror, new ideas and a good fuck perhaps..."

"NO!!" Marik screamed, and went berserk. "I won't let you! I won't let you!!" And he started slamming his shoulder in to the side of the crate, over and over again.

Daisuke laughed at this. "If you know what's good for you, you'll stop before I decide your friend Bakura needs some work as well." He hissed kicking the box. "Or maybe that precious 'master' Malik of yours? Maybe he needs some new genes..."

Marik broke into near hysterical sobs. "NO!! No, no, no, no...." and he dropped to the floor of his crate and curled up, shaking like a frightened kitten, and began to mewl.

Rafel chuckled from the door. "Aww what a good little mongrel.." He said opening the crate and sedating the lion enough to prevent attack, before harnessing him and fastening a collar on him.

Daisuke smirked. "Remember Marik... you’re the one who decides whether or not 'master' Malik and Bakura get new genetics..." he said leaving.

Marik glared after Dai, but he heaved a reluctant sigh and lowered his head, staring at the floor. Then he swayed a bit the plopped down; those sedatives were different, and made him feel a bit woozy.

Rafel chuckled kicking Marik slightly. "Get up you king of beasts, it's time we got you cleaned up for your pictures." He sneered. "You don’t want to keep that rat of yours waiting..." He tugged harshly on the leash, not really needing help with the lion, as he'd given him more than enough sedative to ruin any chance of mauling.

"Murrrrrrrr..." Marik said sadly, and slowly plodded after the man, trying to keep his balance.

Rafel snorted slightly, dragging Marik, for the most part, to the baths. He was bathed and his mane was combed through with fine-toothed combs as the doctors gave him the once over. One man frowned and picked through Marik's hair. "Well good news, he doesn't seem to have any fleas." He chuckled, as the workers quickly gave Marik a much needed trim and began filing his claws down to an un-dangerous level. Once they finished, Rafel once again began dragging Marik harshly to be examined.

"Well here's that lousy lion you wanted. He's a little aggressive... so I sedated him." He said calmly.

Dartz, who had only just come in, looked Marik over. "A bit heavily, too, don't you think?" He commented as Marik dropped to the floor and fought to keep his head up. "Magnificent, though... looks strong and healthy."

Rafel snorted slightly. "If you think this is heavily, you should have seen his behavior before he was sedated. Any less and he'd be mauling us all." He said coldly.

Varon sighed. "Hey fella... how tall are you? And your weight?" He asked, gently patting Marik on the head.

Marik groaned and shook his head, blinking up at Varon.

"Huh?" Was all he said as Varon waited for his answer while writing in his species, gender and physical characteristics.

"Your height and weight." Varon said once more. "I need to know."

Rafel rolled his eyes. "Amazing that rat would love an idiot like him..." he said sarcastically.

Dartz blinked, and slowly smiled. "It is." He said, though he meant it in a way that Rafel did not.

"Ummm...." Marik thought a moment, blinking. "Six foot... two, I think? And... around... two hundred pounds...."

Varon nodded. "Ok sexual preferences? How dominant are you?" he asked smiling.

Rafel snorted. "I hate cats."

Marik groaned and shook his head, toppling over.

"Woop?!" He blurted, and slowly sat up again. He blinked at Varon. "Are you soliciting me for sex?" He slurred, and Dartz burst out laughing.

"Rafel, how heavily sedated is he?!"

Rafel rolled his eyes. "Just a dose and a half. Not too much. Hell if I'm carrying his ass through this place."

Varon ruffled Marik's hair. "Sexual preferences and dominance if you please?" He said laughing and wiping a few amused tears from his eyes.

Marik blinked a few times. "I do NOT take it up the ass!" He blurted. "But I'll sure as hell GIVE IT!!!" And he banged his fist on the floor, then looked down at his paw and blinked at it, confused.

"Mr. Dartz..." A woman said, entering the room. "A call for you on line three."

"Heyyy... bring those... legs over here..." Marik giggled, looking her up and down.

Varon laughed. "You little drunkard..." he said laughing and writing down Marik's information, labeling him bisexual and a 5 on the dominance scale. "C'mon lion, you like pictures right?" He said taking the leash and getting up, giving it a light tug. "Let’s go get you some pictures."

"Camera bad." Marik mumbled, following. "Steals your soul."

Varon laughed slightly. "Well if that's the case then your bunny friend's soul got stolen too, you don’t want your soul separate from his do you?"

"Huh?" Marik asked, following Varon into the room.

"Ahhh... here's the lion." Amelda said with a grin. "Awww... he's pretty!"

"I'm not a girl!!!" Marik howled, looking ready to burst into tears.

"Rafel... please find a different sedative next time?" Dartz chuckled.

Rafel nodded grumbling. "Of course..." he muttered followed by a soft "Fucking cats.."

Varon chuckled as Amelda dressed Marik in tight black jean shorts that were tattered and full of holes, a chained belt, combat boots and thick spiked collar with a chain dangling from it, the last link appearing to be broken. "Alright lion, gimme a sexy smile for your pretty bunny!"

Marik blinked from where he was lounging on a black leather sofa. He stared at the camera, then opened his mouth and let out a massive yawn, teeth catching the light. Dartz chuckled.

"Try again, Amelda." He said, watching as Marik blinked down at his jeans in confusion.

"Too tiiiiight..." He whined, and unbuttoned them, and unzipped them.

Amelda laughed. "Marik! Smile for Ryou!"

Varon blinked then burst out laughing, as Marik had unthinkingly made himself even sexier. "Hurry so you can come see your pretty bunny friend!" he called in a singsong voice.

Marik's ears perked. "Bunny?" He asked, looking around. Dartz smirked and walked up behind Amelda.

"Your bunny is mine now. He belongs to me. I own him. He is not yours." He said smoothly, and watched Marik's ears tilt back and his eyes narrowed. He glared and began to growl, one lip curling to show a large sharp canine. "Take it, Amelda."

Amelda smirked and took the picture. "You'd better watch out Dartz, that bunny's pretty attached to this lion, and I don’t think the lion's keen on the idea of you loving on him either."

Varon gently ruffled Marik's hair. "Do you want your bunny?" He asked, hoping to soothe the lion

Dartz chuckled. "It was all for the photo, Amelda." And he left the room.

"MY bunny!" Marik announced, thought his ears wiggled at the petting.

Varon nodded. "Yes and the little bunny was very scared. he wants you." He explained. "Now take off those clothes and lets get you to the bunny."

Amelda stepped forward, putting the appropriate collar back on Marik. "You be good ok Marik?"

"My bunny." Marik said proudly, then yowled and pounced the tuft on the tip of his tail. Rafel rolled his eyes.

Varon rolled his eyes as well. "If you don’t move it, he'll be MY bunny." He said calmly. "Do you want that?"

Marik's head snapped up.

"MY BUNNY!!!" He roared, then stumbled a bit, the shouting making him dizzy.

Varon sighed and lugged Marik over his shoulder, grunting at the weight. "Good lord you're one heavy lion!" he grunted, walking towards the elevator. "You want the bunny? Want the pretty white bunny?" He asked, hoping to soothe the lion and prevent movements as his grip wasn't the best.

"My bunny's pretty." Marik smiled, and began to purr happily. Then he looked down, and Varon yelped at the lions paws grabbing his ass. "He has a tail. You don't have a tail."

Varon laughed uneasily. "No, I don’t. I'm not a bunny." He said calmly. "Do you think your bunny wants you touching other bunny tails?"

"But you don't HAVE a tail!" Marik announced.

"Do you think your bunny wants you touching other butts?" Varon said rolling his eyes, waiting calmly for the elevator to reach their floor.

Marik blinked, then stopped. "Murrrrrr..." He pouted. "Are we in an elevator? Can I push the button?"

Varon chuckled, deciding to amuse himself with Marik. "Oh no, we're not. We're underwater. If we leave this room we'll drown."

"NYAAAAOOOOO!!!!" Marik howled, panicking and pitching a fit, struggling and fighting his way off of Varon's shoulder, and sending them both crashing to the floor. "NYAAAAAOOOO!!!!"

Varon chuckled. "Oh God don’t MOVE! You'll break the wall and kill us both!" he gasped in mock panic.

Marik flattened himself to the floor, gripping the carpet with his claws and freezing, fixing wide frightened eyes on Varon.

"I can't swim!!!" He cried, shaking violently. "I can't swim! I WANNA GO HOME!!! REEEEEEEEEMMM!!!"

Varon's eyes widened and he knelt. "Shh! The sharks will hear you..." he breathed quietly.

"MEEP!!!" Marik squeaked, and clenched his eyes and mouth shut, digging his claws into the carpet even harder.

"Marik... you're going to break the floor!" he gasped silently. "Relax..." He said calmly, reaching behind himself and hitting the wall of the elevator hard, making a resounding BOOM noise. "Oh God, the sharks! They heard you Marik!"

"MAAAOOOO!!!!" Marik howled, leaping from the floor and landing on Varon, crushing him in his terrified grip as he continued to cry.

"Shh! Don’t cry, you'll make them hungrier!" he breathed shoving Marik off. "If you want to live you have to give the sharks a reason to leave us alone... QUICK! Tell them why you should live!"

Marik huddled down on the floor, threw his head back and bellowed "I WANNA GO HOOOOME!!!!" Then he heaved and threw up all over the floor of the elevator.

Varon burst into laughter. "Marik they got inside! They're going to eat you!" he howled frantically. "They smelt your throw up!"

He was glad to see they were almost to their floor. He'd have to tell Rafel to clean that little mess. It was HIS fault he'd over drugged the lion.

Marik flung himself into the corner with a roar and curled up, hiding his face and shaking.

Ding. Varon grinned. "Marik you lived! Your bunny came in and ate ALL the sharks!" He cheered. "Aren't you glad?" He said slowly pulling Marik out of the elevator.

Marik howled and struggled, bolting. "I WANNA GO HOME!!!" But he didn't get far before he tripped and fell flat on his face. Bakura stared.

"I don't wanna know..." He mumbled.

Ryou gasped. "MARIK!" he said hurrying to the glass. "Marik! Are you ok?!"

Marik groaned and slowly got up to all four paws. He made a face, and vomited again. Bakura winced

Ryou winced as well. "Ewwww! Marik!" he whined and covered his eyes. He uncovered them once Marik recovered. "M-Marik are you ok?" He asked softly.

Varon carefully picked up Marik and deposited him in the room directly across from Ryou. "Here you go, boy... nice view of your bunny." He said closing him inside. "Drink some water and lay down, that'll make you feel better."

Marik whimpered and did so, crouching over his water dish and lapping up the water. Then he slunk over to the bed in the corner and flopped down.

"What happened to him?!" Bakura demanded of Varon.

Varon sighed. "Rafel gave him too much of a sedative that didn’t, um… sedate him... more like inebriated him, but he'll be ok." With that he left.

Moments later Rafel returned pushing a carpet cleaner and carrying a box. "Hey rat thing. Look what I got." He said smirking at Bakura and motioning to the box.

Bakura's ears and tail perked up. "Spunky?! Dust?! Are they okay? PLEASE let me have them!!!" And he began pacing anxiously.

Rafel chuckled, Spunky poking his head out of the box and whimpering softly, looking dazed, confused and sleepy. "Well I have one little rat..." he said grinning broadly. "The other one's gonna die."

Bakura's eyes widened. "NO!!! NO!!! Where is he?! DUST!!!" He screamed, shaking and running back and forth. "PLEASE!!! Let me have them!"

"No... I don’t think I will... I was thinkin of teachin this one how to... heh... swim." He said opening the vault of water on the carpet cleaner and holding Spunky over it. The small creature squealed in fright and began trembling and whimpering.

"NO!!!" Bakura shouted and flattened himself to the floor, closing his eyes. "Please... I'll do whatever you want... please... please... anything..."

Ryou gasped. "Put him down! You MONSTER!" he wailed shaking his head. "S-Stop! You're scaring him!"

Rafel chuckled lowering the bunny, the steam rising from the scalding hot water. "Skunk bunny soup... Mmmmm."

"Damn you!" Bakura gasped. "PLEASE!!! I'll be good! I'll be a good boy! Please! I'll do anything... please! Please let me have him!!!"

Rafel sneered. "Hell if I care. You HAD your chance, as far as I'm concerned this is my rat now." He hissed.

Bakura shook his head. "Please! I'll do anything! Just give him back! Name your price! PLEASE!!!" the skunk begged.

Rafel chuckled. "Priceless. You ain’t got nothin I want." He said, lowering Spunky another inch, the bunny's nose inches from the water.

"Please..." Bakura pleaded. "Please... I'm begging you... In the name of all that is holy, please!!!"

Rafel smirked. "Tell you what, there IS something of yours I want." He said grinning wickedly.

Bakura narrowed his eyes, worried. "And that is?"

Rafel chuckled. "Oh... nah... nevermind." With that he lowered Spunky another inch, his whiskers now submerged in the scalding water.

Ryou began to sob. "STOP! PLEASE!"

"NO!!!" Bakura screamed. "PLEASE!!!" He stood on his knees, pressing himself against the glass, fixing tear filled eyes on the man. "Master... please..."

"What are you willing to trade for this little rat?" He said raising Spunky, but just barely.

Bakura's mind raced, trying to think of what this man would want to hear. "All that is... mine to give..." He said, hopefully.

Rafel smirked. "Really? You swear?"

Bakura closed his eyes and gulped, then nodded. "Yes... master... I swear."

Rafel grinned. "I'll trade you then. This rat..." He said smirking. "For that one." He said pointing to Malik.

Bakura frowned. He had expected this. "Malik is not mine to give." He said. "I may be his mate, but he is STILL his own man. I can give you myself. I cannot give you another."

Rafel chuckled. "Oh well... too bad." He said lowering the bunny once more. "Looks like I get to keep skunny here."

"It's in your best interest if you give him to me." Bakura said quickly. "You harm him, and you will get nothing but trouble from me... give him back... and I will do all I can to..." He grimaced. "Please you... I think giving him back to me would be the better deal in the long run."

Rafel shrugged. "You give me trouble, I'll just take one of the other rats in your little cage, and by the sound of that big rat's bawling, I'd say you'd be losing more than me, by causing trouble." He said smirking. "You can either trade me your fox friend, or say goodbye to the furry rat."

Bakura winced and slowly sank to the floor.

"No." He growled. "He is NOT mine to give."

Rafel smirked and lowered the bunny more.

Spunky let out a pained shriek as his front paws touched the water.

Bakura whipped his head to the side and fisted his hands in his hair, letting out a sob of horror. "Oh gods... oh gods, I'm sorry..."

Rafel laughed. "Say goodbye to the bunny!" he said smirking wickedly. "Last chance to save this rat's life." He added. "Unless you just enjoy causing this thing pain."

Bakura darted into the corner and caught Tuc and Nod up in his arms, curling around them and facing the wall, waiting for the heart wrenching scream he was expecting from the innocent baby bunny... it was better this way... Spunky may be facing a painful death... but it was better than a life of agony in being used for experiments, just to punish Bakura... Bakura sobbed. In the long run, this was kinder...

Another loud pained shriek... and another this one growing more frantic.

"Bakura for Ra's Sake just do it!" Malik wailed. "Don’t just let him kill Spunky!"

Bakura shook his head, unable to take Spunky's shriek and bare sudden frantic escapes of Tuc and Nod from his arms as they tried to run to their baby's aid.

"OKAY!!!!" He screamed. "OKAY!!! JUST STOP IT!!! PLEASE!!! LET SPUNKY GO!!!"

Rafel smirked, pulling the now quivering bunny away and opening Bakura's door enough to shove the poor creature in. "Thanks." He said smirking.

Spunky whimpered loudly, unable to stand on the two paws that had been burnt. He sat up on his hind legs and whined softly for Bakura to come tend to him.

Bakura scuttled over and burst into tears, gently lifting Spunky into his arms and taking him back to the bed, where he lay the bunny down on the soft blanket and let Tuc and Nod come to check him over.

Spunky was panting softly, letting out pained whimpers and coughs, his paws and some of his chest and neck were reddened beneath the soaked white fur, showing his burns. He curled up, laying on his side to remove pressure from the afflicted areas.

Bakura nuzzled him as gently as he could. "I'm so sorry, baby... I'm so sorry... It's gonna be okay... shhh... daddy's here... daddy's here... shhhh...." He began to give the little skunk bunny a gentle grooming.

Spunky gave Bakura a hurt look. 'W-would you really have let me die...?' his eyes pleaded. 'D-daddy would you really have?'

Bakura winced and gently licked his little face. "I'll never let him hurt you again..." He whispered. "I'll take care of you... I promise... I hope you can forgive me, one day..." and he curled up around the bunny with a depressed sigh.

Spunky sniffled softly and nuzzled into Bakura whimpering. Everything hurt… but as long as Bakura was there... he'd try.

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

Lokivsanubis: You BET we fired Marik! ^____^ and yeah, Ryou’s a cutie… glad you like the update!

Velvetina: Awww… bad day? Well, glad the fic could brighten the mood a bit… Heh… glad you liked the lemon. ^___^ Sleep well!!!

MewMew2: Yay! Glad you like our fics! Happy reading!!!