A Home of Our Own

A Home of Our Own

Summary: A series of separate Neko Fics that will culminate into a longer story about love, loyalty, and belonging. Kimi ga Iru AU
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh. If I did…*begins to laugh evilly*
Warning: Sadness
Author’s Note:

Side Tracks


Jou scratched his head and came out of the cardboard box, sniffing the air. He hadn’t meant to spend all night out, but he’d gotten tired going home. Besides, he didn’t want Honda in his bed, licking at him and trying to get a fuck.

He went over to some trash cans and inspected them, kicking them over and running away as an old lady turned a hose on him. He munched liberally on a chicken bone he’d found then tossed it away, leaving the alley and stepping into the morning air.

He briefly wondered it Bakura was doing alright and figured the street Neko would probably be ready to go back and fight that Marik guy any day now. When he did, Jou intended to go along. He still needed to talk to that lady.

He walked the sidewalk, people grabbing their kids, some people giving him dirty looks, but he didn’t care. He had pride as a stray. He didn’t need no fancy collar or all those toys. He didn’t need a human to drive him around or to take those fancy buses.

Jou stopped and looked in a mirror, grinning at his appearance. His green jacket was pretty worn and sure his jeans had seen better days, but they were his. A child stopped and pointed at him and he wagged him tail.

He liked kids.

The mother of the child shooed him and he frowned.

“I ain’t no dog lady! Y’can’t treat me this way!”

The woman’s eyes widened and she began to shout for help. “It’s a rabid Inu! Someone! Call EFC control!”

Jou rolled his eyes and jogged off, looking at the street signs before turning down an alley. He hadn’t noticed before, but he was technically in enemy territory.

Aw great…I can’t believe dis…there ain’t much t’ da Doom Patrol, but they’ll rip me apart if tha rumors are true…

He ran, sniffing actively. He’d probably get home long before he ran into those guys anyway.

****

Yami sat in the shop, aware of Sugoroku’s hand rubbing his back as the man read the newspaper. Yugi wasn’t home yet and every time he sensed someone approach the shop, his ears perked up, but it wasn’t him.

He rolled a ball beneath his palm carefully, not wanting the bell inside to sound and sighed. Sugoroku put down his paper and stroked Yami’s tail.

“Why don’t you go out for a bit, hm? Go exploring. You never go out anymore.”

“I’ll wait until Yugi comes home, then we can go together.”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you? Yugi’s going to be over there all day. He’s heard the Kaiba Corp is unloading new toys for the children to test. You know how hard it is to pull him away from those games.”

Yami’s ears drooped. “I thought that wasn’t until next week?”

Sugoroku shook his head, continuing to lie. “Nope. Ishizu called when you were still asleep this morning. Malik was very excited.”

“hm…” Yami put his head down on the counter and the old man patted his back.

“Go outside Yami. It’ll be okay. He’ll be home for dinner. I promise.”

“’kay…” Yami reluctantly went outside, but just sat on the steps. The man rolled his eyes and picked up his broom. He opened the door and swatted Yami gently on the tail.

“Shoo. Bad cat.”

Yami smiled and got up, starting to walk off down the side walk.

When the game shop was out of sight, the spike haired Neko sighed again and played at his leather collar.

Yugi, just come home…please?

He wandered towards some shops and looked in the windows. He was truly sorry for admonishing the kitten last night, but he was acting so inappropriately. If only Sugoroku didn’t pamper him so much…

He sighed. Again.

Maybe he’d go to the park.

****

Jou had forgotten all about where he was and where he was going when he’d spotted the platter of scraps outside the butcher shop’s back door. The smell was just too intoxicating and there were even bones.

He’d eaten quickly at first, then slowed down to enjoy the bits of sausage and even the bits of cheese he’d found. Perhaps there was a bakery nearby.

When he heard the low pitched growl in his ear, he froze and swallowed the mouthful he’d been eating.

“What. Are. Ya. Doin’ in moi terr’ tory Mutt? Y’got a death wish or wot?”

Jou breathed out carefully, realizing the other Inu was right at his shoulder. “I was –I was just hungry ya know! I was gonna go back home –”

The trash was kicked over and Jou jumped and spun, growling as he prepared to attack.

Holy shit it’s da leader of the Doom Patrol…

A whimper threatened to over take him, but he barked aggressively instead.

“I ain’t afraid of you! I run the East Side pack!”

“A pack full of puppies and kittens? Wotevva. You’re on moi turf now!” the brunette Inu growled savagely and dashed at Jou, catching him off guard for a moment. When the pack leader tackled him, Jou viciously bit into his shoulder and they rolled around on the ground, kicking, biting, scratching and barking until the butcher shop owner came out and pulled Varon back by the goggles on his neck .

“Varon! Are you mad!” the man hit him roughly on the back of the head. “’Ow many toimes do Oi hafta tell you not t’go pickin’ foights?”

“But –”

“This ‘ad betta not be all that ‘Doom’ business Oi keep ‘earin’ y’got it? Or Oi’ll ‘ave ya shipped back home an’ y’ kin run cattle and sheep with yer friends!”

The dog gave a defeated whimper and the man pulled him up and dusted off his clothes, holding up a bone.

“Now ya take this.”

The brunette took it, trying not to look over at Jou who was getting up himself.

“An’ ya apologoize.”

“But –”

“Varon,” the man warned. “Sheep from sun up till sun down! OI took a risk bringin’ ya t’ Domino. Do ya want t’ go back t’ the ranch?”

“No sir…” the Inu waved his tail and sighed when the man pushed him back towards Jou.

Jou gave a growl, yelping at the bite in his arm. The butcher pulled at his fiery red whiskers and sighed. He held out his hand and beckoned, “C’mere boy. Oi’ll get ya cleaned up. You too Varon.”

Varon growled and walked back inside the butcher shop. “Stupid Inu…got me in trouble…”

Jou just stood there warily, not trusting the man even though he smelled like several kinds of meat.

“Oi said ‘ere boy!’ oh damn, Oi bet ya speak that Japanese…” the man scratched his balding head and smacked his belly. “Oi know what’ll do ya!” He took some random sausage out of his apron and Jou began to walk over.

The mutt knew English perfectly well, he just wanted the sausage. He took it from the man and wagged his tail.

ECCs were really too close to their genetic donors.

“That’s a good lad…Wot’s yer name then?”

“Jou!” he woofed around some meat.

“Well Jou, ‘ow’s about ya come inside wif Old Matty and Oi’ll get ya cleaned up?”

The blond Inu nodded and went inside.

The backroom of a butcher shop was a dog’s dream and an Inu’s heaven. Jou figured he could feed his whole pack on one of the handing bodies alone. He was steered toward another upstairs room, where he saw the other Inu, Varon, being bandaged by a red haired Neko. He saw Jou and growled.

“None of that!” the man gruffed, digging in the kit to find something for Jou.

He got to work on the Inu quickly, explaining that he was so good at it because those two, Varon and the Neko, were fighting every other day. When Jou was all bandaged up, Matty, as he liked to be called, snatched the bone from Varon’s lips and gave it to Jou, ruffling the Inu’s hair.

“There ya go boy!”

Jou wagged his tail and beamed. “’ey, thanks guy!”

“Ya got a owner?” the man wouldn’t mind another pet.

The blond nodded absently and the man shrugged.

“Not a problem! Oi love dogs and I love Inu’s even more! We have more back home all ya got here are Nekos! Cats everywhere!” he put the kit away and ruffled Varon’s ears. “Wot cha need is a good dog! A good Aussie Shepard loike moi Varon. Ain’t that roight?”

The Inu gave a crooked smile, his tail still wagging for the man who cared for him. “Yeah…”

Jou noticed the Neko had left via the window and sat on the floor chewing on the bone. Matty sighed and petted Varon’s head roughly, his hands in the brunette spikes.

“Gotta get back to work. Ya let yourself out, got it?”

Varon looked up at the man. “Oi can manage! Lay off!” He gave a gently nip to the man’s wrist and he pushed off laughing.

“You be noice t’ Jou now Varon!” the man walked away, thumped more like it. The heavy set butcher left them and Jou stopped licking his bone long enough to look up at a frowning Varon.

“Wha?”

“Get out!”

The Inu rolled his eyes and stood up. “Whatevva! You’re just mad because your human knows a good Inu when he sees one!”

Varon growled. “Oi am a good Inu! You’re just lucky he likes strays!”

Jou waved his hand dismissively and left the room, tossing Varon the bone.

****

Yami looked at the park trees and dug his claws into the trunk of a fat oak, testing it out. He hadn’t taken to climbing trees since he was a kitten and didn’t know why he felt the need to now. He’d also chased a butterfly a while back and let some children pull his tail.

He didn’t remember when he became so tolerant, but he figured it had to do something with Yugi.

The kitten was a bundle of energy to say the least and was just as quick to pull his tail as he was to jump on his bed while he was still in it. He never would have allowed it if Atemu were still alive.

Atemu.

Always in control. He seemed to remember the Neko being very affectionate towards him only. The mistress said it was because they were twins, but Yami knew different. He knew the love behind his licks and caressed were more than brotherly, but Atemu never crossed the line, no matter how much they both wanted it.

That was why the boy fought so hard when Keith had tried to –

“Are you going to climb that tree or are you just going to stand there and hug it?”

Yami removed his claws and turned to give a lazy swipe at who ever was talking. His wrist was caught and he frowned, giving a growl.

“If it isn’t Pharaoh?”

Yami hissed and clawed at the other Neko’s face. “Don’t call me that! Don’t ever call me that!”

The Neko smiled and put his hands on his hips. “I saw that friend of yours. The dog.”

Yami raised his eyebrow. “Jou?”

“Yes…you should have never left us. We found an owner you know. We would have taken you and Atemu in. We could have been a real gang then if you’d only –”

“No, we couldn’t.”

“We’d have helped you escape!”

Yami narrowed his eyes. “Yeah right! Don’t feel sorry now just because you saw all that shit on the news! Hell, it’s still in the news any time Neko abuse comes up they mention…they mention it. And besides, Yugi was too young.”

“God, you’re still carrying that brat around?”

“Shut up Amelda! Yugi’s all I got now!”

The red haired Neko sniffed and watched his tail wiggle briefly. “You could join now.”

“You’re not a gang any way. Beside, I have a home.”

“Whatever.”

Yami climbed up the tree and laid on one of the branches. “Yeah, whatever.”

“What, is Yugi your mate or something?”

The spike haired youth threw acorns at him and Amelda jumped out of the way. “Get over yourself! You’re not better than us, even when you were just pretending, back when we were all kittens! You’re not better just because you have a home!”

Yami looked down at him. “I thought you had a home too?”

“Varon has a home. Anyway, forget it. It’s none of your business. Catch ya later Pharaoh!”

Yami threw acorns at him some more. “Damn it Amelda!”

The red Neko began throwing acorns back and even climbed in the tree until they were having a full on war. Amelda jumped at him and they fell out of the tree, lucky that they were on a low branch. The red head pinned Yami down.

“And the winner is Amelda!” the Neko tossed his head back, ears twitching. “Listen to that crowd. They love me!”

Yami laughed and tried to push the youth off. “Up, Amelda! I’m not playing.”

The Neko leaned down and grinned. “Get me off.”

At first Yami struggled to do that until he got the double meaning and turned very red. “Amelda!” he hissed.

The Neko leaned down and was about to kiss the other boy until some obnoxious dogs burst through the clearing chasing a frisby. The red head actually hissed and leapt in the tree, Yami laughing non stop as the dogs circled the tree, barking.

“Well, see you around Scaredy Cat!”

“Yami!” the Neko called. “Shit! Yami get back here and help me! They aren’t like Inu’s they’ll –”

One dog jumped and gave a audible snap at the Neko’s tail, causing Amelda to climb higher. Yami left the scene, laughing louder and louder, heading back to the shop.

****

Ryou watched Bakura pack up all their things and held his teddy bear, feeling sleepy.

“Where are we going Brother?”

“A new place. Let’s go.”

Ryou got up and followed his brother out of the den they’d lived in for over ten years. “Big Brother?”

“What?”

“What if they try to get me again?”

“Then I’ll kill them. Shut up and walk faster.”

“Yes brother.”

They walked for sometime until the light through the sewer tops told them it was sun down. Ryou was practically asleep on his feet and when he watched Bakura through sleepy eyes, the cloak on him told his mind that it was Akefia, not Bakura, leading him to their new home.

Ryou walked closer, grabbing Bakura’s tail and leaning on his shoulder. “Big Brother…” he sighed.

Bakura decided to not shout and curses and merely let Ryou climb on his back. He started to run then, knowing he could gain more ground like this. It was evident then that Ryou needed to eat more. He was way to light for his age and he didn’t want the kitten getting sick.

**

Marik looked at the screen and leaned back on the arm of Kaiba’s chair.

“He’s moving…”

“But that’s just Ryou.”

The Golden nodded. “Even still, I know Bakura’s with him.”

Seto watched the tracking device as it showed the Neko pair going miles away from their original home.

“Have the first den checked out. Try and get as much info as possible. We make a move on him now and we’ll lose more men.”

Marik nodded. “I won’t take Malik this time.”

“You will. There has to be someone to restrain you.” Kaiba pushed the Neko off the arm of his leather chair. “Have you read the Alabaster file?”

“No.”

“Read it, do some research. They’re dangerous Marik.”

The Neko purred, swishing away. “I’m dangerous too!” he left, closing the door.

Seto shook his head and went over the covered cage in the corner. He uncovered it and opened the door, allowing the small reptile to come out and perch on his shoulder. It nuzzled his cheek and spit a tiny white beam.

Kaiba laughed. “Yes, it has been a long day my Pet.” He went back to the desk and opened his lap top. “Let’s do a little work now so we don’t have to work later, hm?”

The creature thrummed and Seto began to type away.

Bakura, Bakura…


****
*Fanart! http://www.angelfire.com/punk4/lil_lover302/GhostsBakura.JPG
http://www.angelfire.com/punk4/lil_lover302/GhostsMalik.JPG
*Miri-chan found those!
*Thanks Wicabath again!
*Schwarzwald luvs ya’ll! *gets off work*