The Wild

Bunny Love

Hatochiisai & Mally-chan

YAOI WARNING

Disclaimer: We do not own Yugioh. If we did, it would not be for public television.

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Chapter 8

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The bus pulled away from the Bed & Breakfast, and Ryou giggled and patted his lap, petting Scamp when he hopped up into it.

Marik chuckled as Scamp flipped over for a belly rub, and picked up Angel. "Hello princess." He said, planting a kiss on her head and smiling down at Tuc, Nod, and Skitter. Precious sat happily in Pegasus' lap and Dust was perched on his head, preening.

Yami chuckled. "Dont get featherdust in his hair Dust!" he said, eating a morning snack of an apple.

Ryou giggled and nuzzled Marik. "I bet you've never seen a castle before...they're truly beautiful." he cooed.

Syrus nodded. "Full of history and gore and tragedy too!" he chirped, looking up from the guidebook he'd been reading. "For instance, most castles here are supposed to be HAUNTED!" he squeaked. "Exciting!"

Marik chuckled at Syrus and ruffled his hair. "Well, here's hoping poltergeists don't toss you into the water." He teased. "I'm hungry..."

Syrus blinked a few times. "Oh don’t be silly, I'm not afraid of ghosts." He said waving Marik off. "I'd far rather face them." he added firmly.

Marik chuckled. "Maybe I should make you afraid of something... maybe I'll EAT YOU!!" And he pounced. Mokuba grabbed the guide book Syrus had and whacked Marik over the head.

"DOWN!"

"Owwie!!" Marik cried, scuttling away and under Seto's seat, rubbing his head. Seto chuckled and took the book from Mokuba.

"Stop that, he's just playing."

Ryou laughed. "Marik stop teasing Syrus, you KNOW he has nervous tendancies...I for one am proud of him. He's facing his fears like a grownup. To say he's not afriad of poltergeists is pretty brave!"

Yami snickered. "Not really, when you think of the motives behind it.."

Syrus glared. "I'm just saying in comparison...a poltergeist is nothing...." he mumbled.

Yami laughed. "Big wuss."

Marik grumbled and remained under Seto, where Hunter decided to join him. Marik purred and nuzzled him and the lion bunny pounced and tugged his ear.

Ryou shook his head and sighed. "You know that's just a scary story people tell children to keep them in line Syrus." He said flicking his ears.

"That might be, but hundreds of people see it a year! I'd rather not take my chances!" Syrus said firmly, gesturing towards the loch.

Marik and Hunter rode under Seto the rest of the way to the castle, and were the first off of the bus when they got there, a yapping Scamp at their heels. Marik caught up Scamp's leash before he went tearing off to God knows where, and stood, sniffing the air and looking around, curiously.

Yami blinked up at the large castle, which rested at the TOP, of a rather LARGE hill. "...ohhh...I bet the view would be great from up there..." he said wings quivering slightly. Views were the last thing on his mind, he was REALLY debating on how useful the property would have been to fly to and from...way back when.

Ryou sniffed the air. "The smell of wet grass is so nice...I always wonder what it would have been like to live so long ago..." he cooed, nuzzling up to Marik. "Though I'd far rather live in England, than Scotland...Scottish folk were real brutes..."

Seto looked at Ryou. "Actually, the English were brutes." He said. "They were the ones who invaded Scotland and killed the people and raped the women... Ever seen 'Braveheart'?"

Ryou flicked his ears. "We may have invaded their land and raped their women and killed people, but we didn't prance about in kilts with painted faces and pee on our enemies...we just shot the little blighters."

Seto chuckled. "But you were a bunch of murderers and rapists. And personally... I think it takes a real man to wear a kilt."

"You gonna wear a kilt for us, Seto?" Marik laughed.

"I'm not THAT much of a real man, thanks." Seto shot back with a grin, and Marik laughed.

Yami smirked. "I can vouch for that!" he said laughing loudly at the glare he got.

Ryou giggled. "Well I personally murdered no one. Besides could you honestly see ME charging out into battle?"

"No, I can see you squealing and giggling and turning red and hiding your face when the Scottsmen moon you barbarian Englishmen." Seto teased, and everyone burst out laughing.

Ryou shook his head. "I would NEVER be out on the battlefield to be mooned, and besides, I wouldn't giggle nor turn red... scottsmen are notorious for hairy arses."

Seto rolled his eyes. "Ryou, we don't need to know that." He said as they began to march up the hill towards the (AN: fictional) castle. Hunter and Scamp tugged against their leashes, Marik grinning at them and chuckling.

Ryou stuck out his tongue. "You're just upset because you probably have a hairy ass too..."

Yami's hand shot up to his mouth, trying to choke back the laughter that little comment caused. It wasn't true, but it was just too damn funny...

Seto, in good spirits for once, looked at Ryou and his hands went to his belt and he started unbuckling. "You wanna see it?" He asked.

"GAAAH!!!" Marik, Mokuba and Syrus screamed, and charged up the hill.

Yami couldn't hold it in any longer, he fell to the ground, laughing. "Oh gods!" he howled gasping for breath.

Ryou squeaked and buried his face in Marik's hair. "He's raping my eyes!" he whined loudly.

Yami tore into more laughter. "Just wait til you actually SEE it!" he choked out amongst his laughter.

"I don’t REALLY WANT TO!" Syrus whined burying HIS face into Mokuba's hair mimicing Ryou.

Seto laughed. "So shut up about Hairy Asses and let's go see the castle!" He said, walking up the hill. Marik followed with Scamp and Hunter chasing each other around, and all of Marik's focus was on NOT getting tangled in the leashes and tripping.

Yami had to regain his composure before he could get back off the ground. "Oh gods that was just....I think I twisted something with all that laughing..." he chuckled, finally getting up and hurrying to catch up to Seto, still snickering.

"Nice...tell me, do you moon little angelic Englishmen often? Or is this just while you're in Scotland?" he said snickering and wrapping a wing around his lover, still thoroughly amused.

Seto chuckled. "It must be the Scottish air." He said, watching Marik finally lose his battle and roar as he fell flat on his face, his legs tangled in leashes as Scamp tried to catch Hunter.

Yami snickered once more. "I like it, but something tells me...what happens in Scotland stays in Scotland..." he said snickering once more.

Ryou giggled and picked Scamp up by his scruff. "Alright you, stop that. Poor Marik can hardly contain Hunter." He scolded softly, deciding Scamp's punishment would be a thorough grooming session.

'NO!! NOOOOO!!!! NOT THE FUR!! NOOOOOOOO!!!' Scamp threw his head back and howled.

"Ryou! What are you doing to that poor thing?!" Seto laughed.

"Grooming him!" he mewled, continuing despite Scamp's howling and whimpering.

Syrus blinked. "Oh all that fuss over a bath? ...I rather like my baths..." he mumbled looking up from his travel book. "Baths are great for blood pressure." he added calmly, burying his nose right back into his book.

Yami rolled his eyes. "Or else you would have croaked off years ago I'm sure..."

Seto smacked Yami upside the head. "You be nice." He said sternly as they finally got to the top of the hill and faced the castle.

"Wow..." Marik breathed, eyes wide. "Look princess..." He said to Angel, who had ridden up the hill on his head so as not to get dirty.

Angel squeaked delightedly. 'oh it's so OLD! But I bet it was really beautiful when it was new!' she chittered eagerly. 'and just LOOK at the view it has of the lake!'

"It's a Loch sweetie." Ryou corrected.

Angel blinked and nodded. 'well it's a lake too.'

Yami wrinkled his nose at Seto. "Watch it hairyass..." he grumbled rubbing his head.

Seto snickered. "YOU watch it, Featherass." He shot back, looking at the castle. "Nice." They all trooped towards the entrance, Tuc and Nod hopping on either side of Ryou while Marik took Scamp, holding him in one hand, Hunter in the other, Angel still on his head. Skitter flapped about their heads with Dust, while Pegasus carried Precious.

Yami snickered as they entered the castle. "You like it and you know it." he mumbled, giving Seto an amused look.

Ryou giggled. "You two are so cute sometimes.." he said peeping his head between them. "Just like a married couple... you must have wonderful sex."

Syrus choked and tripped, falling over at THAT little outburst. "Oh God don’t remind me! They're far too LOUD!"

Yami squawked annoyedly. "Oh shut up! I can’t help it if Seto's loud!"

Seto glared. "I'M LOUD?!?!" He howled. Marik turned back.

"Basing my decision on the evidence you just provided, yes. You are loud." The lion said, walking into the castle. Mokuba burst out laughing.

Yami smirked proudly. "Point goes to me I believe." He snickered.

Ryou giggled. "Poor Seto...it's ok Seto...by Bakura's logic, the quieter you are in every day situations, the louder you are in bed." he reasoned patting Seto's back.

Yami snickered. "Yeah, and considering you spend all day in silence staring at a computer screen, it's only LOGICAL that you scream your head off..."

Marik turned and looked back at them. "Oh, Ryou's a screamer all right!" He snickered.

Ryou blushed. "I don’t think you'd remember, it's been nearly a year... I'm sure your imagination has made it a lot better through memories." He said smirking.

"oooh! Point goes to the bunny!" Yami said clapping. "Low blow, but effective!"

Marik frowned and pouted. "Not MY fault I haven't gotten any recently. And it's been SIX MONTHS. NOT a year." And he went back into the castle and out of sight.

Yami snickered. "Ohh lion's mad..." he grinned at Seto. "I'm going to find the dungeon." he said snickering. "Care to join me?"

Seto rolled his eyes. "Is this your way of telling me that you feel like having kinky Dungeon Master sex?" He asked, and Mokuba and Syrus squealed and ran after Marik.

Yami laughed. "Actually, that wasn't my intentions...but hey...since you brought it up...." he said smirking and giving Seto a kiss, before grabbing him by the shirt. "Lets go find that dungeon...we have a castle to defile."

Ryou sighed and shook his head. "Honestly..."

Seto stumbled along as Yami dragged him off, while Skitter flew up to a high doorway and hung from it. Dust found a high perch up on a wall and looked around before preening. Mokuba and Syrus skittered off to explore which left Ryou alone with Tuc and Nod, and Pegasus and Precious in the front hall.

Ryou shook his head. "Well master...I guess it's just you and me..." he said softly, stooping to scratch Tuc and Nod's ears. "How are my two dear friends?" he cooed, picking them up and nuzzling them.

Nod nuzzled into Ryou and flicked her ears. 'We're alright Ryou...quite a place, castles.' she said looking around. 'though I think perhaps next time you shouldn't take the flying little ones, they're going to be a pain to get down from their perches.'
Tuc sighed. 'I'm more worried about Malik and Bakura getting Sparkle out of the lake.' He said, flicking an ear. Pegasus watched silently, petting Precious.

Ryou nuzzled his friends. "Well...you can go explore if you'd like...just be sure to stay out of mischief." he cooed, putting them back down.

He nuzzled into Pegasus' arm and sighed. "What would you like to do master?"

Pegasus smiled and set Precious down. "go with your parents, Precious." He said, and the chubby bunny followed his mom and dad. Pegasus then kissed Ryou's forehead.

Ryou smiled and hugged him. "You didn't answer my question master...what would you like to do? We could explore...there's a lot of rooms according to Syrus' guidebook..." he cooed softly smiling.

Pegasus laughed. "We are going to be decent tourists, Ryou. Come on now. You are such a NAUGHTY little bunny." He said, ruffling Ryou's hair.

Ryou blinked. "Oh for heavens sake I wasn't suggesting--!!" he squeaked turning a dark shade of red. "Master you're the naughty one! I-I was just suggesting we don’t lollygag about in the front hall all day!"

"Riiiiight..." Pegasus snickered, walking off into the castle.

Skitter chittered in laughter over head.

Ryou squeaked and followed. "Master that's horrid! I wasn't!" he whined tugging his ears. "I could NEVER!! Not in a strange castle in a different country! ...that's just weird..." he pouted catching up to Pegasus and nuzzling him. "Naughty imp."

Pegasus laughed. "Sure wasn't what it sounded like to me." He teased, poking Ryou in the side. "My precious baby bunny..."

Ryou nuzzled Pegasus once more. "You've just got naughty ears that's all." he mumbled sighing.

Pegasus chuckled and swung Ryou up into his arms. "Wishful thinking, I guess." He laughed.

Ryou blushed. "Master Pegasus! And you were blaming ME for your naughty thoughts!" he scolded nuzzling him and smiling. "Shame on you...bad master!"

Pegasus laughed and kissed Ryou, glancing up at a chittering; Skitter was following them. He smiled. "We have little prying eyes following us."

Ryou laughed. "Skitter! Why don’t you go with Tuc and Nod?" he cooed smiling. "I'm sure you'd like to look at that big oak tree...I bet it's full of acorns..." he added flicking his ears.

Skitter chittered and flapped around their heads before hanging from another doorway and staring at them. Pegasus snickered.

Ryou wrinkled his nose. "Well… oh maybe the belltower! If you don’t want to eat, perhaps you could talk to the bats!" he said grinning. "I bet they'd think you were interesting."

"Ryou... there is no bell tower." Pegasus snickered.

"Shh!" he grumbled. "Skitter didn't know that!"

Pegasus laughed. "You little imp!" And he kissed Ryou.

"I seeeeee youuuuu..." Marik giggled from a doorway.

Ryou squeaked and giggled, blushing. "You're no better than Skitter!" he said shaking his head. "Poor master..." he whispered nuzzling him. "No naughty thoughts for you..."

Pegasus laughed and waved Marik over. He then reached up to scratch the lion's ear, but ended up petting Angel instead, making Marik laugh.

Ryou nuzzled Marik, giving him a kiss. "poor Marik..." he cooed sighing contently near his two loves. "Did you explore?"

"Meh..." Marik shrugged, holding Scamp and Hunter who were trying to tackle each other.

Ryou shook his head and sighed. "You two stop it right now or I'm going to lock you in the bus!" he scolded. "There's a time for play, and a time for being serious...you should have respect for this place!"

Ryou sighed and thunked them both lightly on the head. "Now stop that...you'll have pleanty of time to play chase once we leave the castle." he added softly. "Why don’t you go with Skitter to explore with your mother and father?"

Marik set them both on the floor. They stood there for a moment, then Hunter roared at Scamp who ran off yapping, Hunter at his heels. Marik blinked, then sighed and shook his head.

Ryou sighed as well, watching as Skitter flew after them chittering angrily. "At least Skitter tries to make them keep the peace..." he mumbled shaking his head. "So...what shall we do?" He said smiling at his two mates.

Marik shrugged, looking around. "Syrus and Mokuba are playing hide-n-seek." He said.

Ryou laughed. "I didn't ask what everyone else was doing...I ASKED....what YOU two wanted to do." He said crossing his arms. "You're both eluding the question."

"Uddunuh." Marik said and wandered off. Pegasus lifted an eyebrow.

"REAL intelligent, that one..." He muttered, watching Marik meander about.

Ryou shook his head. "We all have our moments..." he mumbled sighing. "Well...I for one, am going to look at the master's chambers." he said grinning and trotting up the nearby stairs, eager to see what it would be like to have been master of the castle.

Marik followed on all fours, pausing to sniff every now and then, and Pegasus followed, watching.

Ryou and Pegasus toured the castle with an enthusiastic Angel on Marik's head. But time soon came to head back for lunch. Now they faced the task of rounding up Dust, Skitter, Hunter, Scamp, Tuc, Nod and Precious, not to mention Mokuba and Syrus and Yami and Seto...

Once everyone was gathered, they were ushered back into the bus and Ryou nuzzled Marik. "Isn't Scotland beautiful?" he cooed, watching the landscape pass as they drove back.

"It's cold." Marik pouted, cuddling Hunter, Scamp and Angel, while Tuc sat in his lap, Nod in Ryou's and Precious in Pegasus' lap. Dust was with Yami, and Seto was playing with Skitter.

Ryou giggled. "Well yes...it is. But isn't it pretty?" he asked again. "It's so green here..."

Syrus looked up from his book. "It says here that the plantlife is nearly always green, even through a harsh winter..." he mumbled.

Ryou laughed softly. "I bet..."

Marik frowned and sniffled, then sneezed. "It smells funny." he muttered, then turned and buried his nose into Ryou's hair. "Ahhh... all better." Pegasus laughed and scratched Marik's ears, and the lion purred softly. Seto smiled at them before going back to playing with Skitter's wings.

Ryou blushed. "Brat..." he cooed giving his mate's cheek a loving lick. "You're spoiled...spoiled completly rotten! Oh but I love you..." he mewled nuzzling into him and closing his eyes contently.

"I'm not spoiled..." Marik whined. "HE'S spoiled!" He cried, pointing at Precious, then at Yami, Mokuba and Seto. "And him! And him and him!!!"

Yami rolled his eyes. "If you think I let SETO spoil me you're off your rocker. Yugi yes, but he's my little brother, I spoil him right back."

Syrus blinked. "...Mokuba? spoiled...? Never! He's a bit of a mischief maker, but certainly not spoiled...Seto is though..." he said confused.

Ryou laughed. "Stop that, you're going to start a war in this bus...."

Marik grinned. "and the one with the sharp teeth will WIN!!" He bellowed, flashing said teeth at the others.

"MAOO!!" Hunter roared, hopping up to Marik's shoulder and glaring around.

"that's right, Hunter! You show 'em!"

"MROOOWW!!!" Hunter roared at Yami.

Yami raised an eyebrow. "Oh I'm shaking in my boots." he mumbled boredly. "Get him Dust."

Dust crowed and flew forward, knocking Hunter to his little rump on the floor, before divebombing him and chittering angrilly. 'Dont mess with us! I'll kick your tail!' he squeaked loudly, flittering off back to sit on Yami's head.

Yami snickered. "Way to go little guy..." He said reaching up and petting his proud little friend.

Hunter whirled, charged and leapt on Yami's leg, sinking his claws into the bird and biting! Marik roared with laughter as Hunter climbed up the yelping Yami's leg, then his chest, and tackling Dust off of his head.

Ryou glared at Marik. "Marik! Shame on you!" he said pulling away and glaring, crossing his arms.

Yami yelped and grabbed Hunter and thrust him out the window and dangled him there. "Knock it off you obnoxious little pile of cat vomit!" he hissed, puffing up.

Dust flew back to Yami's head chittering angrily, featers disshelved. 'Drop him! Drop him and leave him on the side of the road!' he crowed furiously.

Marik's ears shot up and he roared, dropping Angel and Scamp and flying over his seat at Yami, landing in Seto's lap, nearly squashing Skitter, who had taken flight just in time. The bat bunny flew around the bus shrieking hysterically while Seto howled and cursed a blue streak; Marik had landed on his crotch.

"GIVE HIM BACK!!" Marik roared at Yami, swatting Dust to the floor and trying to get the terrified squealing Hunter.

Yami glared. "Get off of Seto, before I decide to drop his scraggly butt on the roadside!" he squawked back furiously. "Touch either of us and I promsie I'll lose what...little...grip I have." he added warningly.

Ryou gasped, getting up to tug Marik off of Seto. "Marik stop it! CONTROL your temper!" he hissed. "You just HIT Dust, to get Hunter! We do NOT play favorites with the bunnies!" he said glaring at Yami. "And you! Don’t you DARE drop that bunny or I'll toss YOU out that window too!"

Yami glared, but nodded. "Fine...I won’t drop him..."

"GIVE HIM BACK!!" Marik roared, getting out of Seto's lap and ending up in Yami's. One hand wrapped around Yami's throat and the other went out the window for Hunter. "DON'T YOU FUCKIN' HURT HIM OR I'LL FUCKIN' KILL YOU!!!"

Yami growled and bit Marik. "OFF!" he howled.

Ryou tugged Marik. "Marik Stop it! He said he wasn't going to drop him!! Get off of him and he'll give him back! For heaven's sake!" he howled, before doing something drastic. He bit Marik on his ear quite harshly and gave another heaving pull to get him off of Yami.


Marik yowled and toppled backwards off of Yami, nearly squashing Ryou and Dust both. Pegasus scooped up the winged bunny and watched in silence.

Yami pulled the trembling lion-bunny in and tossed him on Marik. "For Ra's sake..." he grumbled rolling his eyes. "I wouldn't have dropped him...though I deeply considered it. Ryou would be crushed." he growled glaring.

Ryou glared at Yami and sighed. "Don’t provoke Marik please...it's obvious he STILL has anger issues." he turned his glare on Marik. "Shame on you! You attacked one of our own bunnies to get to Yami..." he growled, before walking over to sit next to Pegasus, and check Dust for broken bones.

Yami growled softly, but calmed down. "Sorry Ryou." he mumbled looking at Dust from his seat, worriedly.

Marik growled loudly at everyone, taking Hunter and scuttling under a seat, where he cuddled and groomed the bunny, mewling to him softly, the bunny mewling right back.

Ryou growled. "Oh hush up, you're BOTH in the doghouse." he said warningly. "And just look what your little outburst did to Syrus!" he added, pointing back to Syrus, who had climbed into Mokuba's seat, hidden his face in his hair and covered his head with his travel book, trembling violently.

Pegasus stroked Ryou's hair. "Hush now, baby. He's done very well with his anger until now... he really cares for these bunnies. And Dust is just fine, not even a bruise on him. I think what Marik did LOOKED worse than what it was." He kissed the top of Ryou's head.

Ryou grumbled. "Well if he's going to lose HIS temper, then I think I'm within MY rights to become quite angry with him." he said calmly. "I think I'll ask Bakura to sleep with Marik tonight...I'll spend the night with Malik."

Scamp hopped across the floor to Marik and whined, pawing at his arm. Marik stared at Scamp, then wrapped his arm around him and pulled him close as well, beginning to groom him.

"Ryou, Hunter was being threatened. He was only protecting him." Pegasus said to the bunny. "Yami should have known better than to threaten something that Marik loves."

"Marik loves Dust too, and he attacked him to get to Hunter." he said glaring at Pegasus. "I don’t care if Hunter was threatened or not! You don’t attack ONE thing you love, to save another. Dust wasn't even the one harming Hunter. I don’t want to talk about it ANY further." he added letting Dust flutter back to Yami.

But Pegasus didn't drop it. "Ah, but Dust DID attack Hunter." He said to Ryou, petting the boy.

Ryou glared at Pegasus. "I SAID I don’t want to talk about it." he warned.

Pegasus sighed and shook his head, and the rest of the ride back to the Bed & Breakfast was silent. When the bus finally pulled up in front of the place, the first one off was Skitter, flying through the doors and heading straight at Inogawa, Hinaru, Rem and Zaine, who were all sitting around a table, talking. She landed in the middle of the table and chattered excitedly before going for Hinaru's fruit salad.

The rest of the bus occupants filed out, and Ryou left for their room, giving Marik a warning glare that clearly said 'Stay away from me...' before going up to their room.

Hinaru blinked and sighed. "Marik lost his temper..." she said rubbing her forehead. "If he doesn't learn to control it soon, I'm just going to give him drugs." she grumbled. "Marik!"

Marik, who was sitting in the grass, looked at her, Hunter in his teeth. The lion bunny dangled calmly, looking around and sniffing the air, watching Scamp charge after a wild rabbit, yapping excitedly. Mokuba and Syrus went after him before he got lost. Marik stared at Hinaru a moment, ears swivelling around and tail thrashing a bit. He blinked.

"Come here!" She called once more. "I think you have some things to tell me." She added sternly.

Marik's ears perked, then lay back. He was in trouble and he knew it. Inogawa sighed as the lion got up to all fours and scuttled away, belly to the ground. He looked at his wife.

"I think he's running." He said calmly as Marik scurried across the road and into the grass, heading down the slope towards the water and the dock.

Dr. Hinaru sighed standing. "I'll be back..." She grumbled hurrying to catch Marik. She managed to catch up to him on the dock, grabbing his ear harshly. "I thought we talked about this Marik...No running away from your problems!" She scolded swatting him on the behind. "What would Rem say?" she added in a disapproving tone. "What did you do?"

"MAOO!" Marik whined, and Hunter grunted as he fell to the dock. The bunny looked around, then sniffed at Hinaru's shoe. "Lemme go!!" Marik howled. "I was just protecting Hunter!"

"Oh really? Then why did Ryou glare deathwishes at you and storm to your room?" she said tugging him by the ear, back to the bed and breakfast. "You've got some explaining to do...and I think it might be beneficial to lock you in the bathroom while we talk about it." She scolded, dragging him painfully to her room, and into the bathroom, where she locked him and herself in.

"Now talk."

Marik whined and stared at the floor. "Yami's a fuckin' ass!" He spat. "He grabbed Hunter and held him out the window of the bus and threatened to drop him!!!"

"So, for no forseeable reason, Yami picked hunter up, and dangled him out of a window, saying he'd drop him?" She asked giving him a skeptical look. "I doubt that."

"Hunter was just being a cub! Yami was being an ass and made him mad, and sicced Dust on him, and Hunter went for revenge!" Marik whined. "He had every right to fight back!"

Dr. Hinaru gave him a knowing look. "Oh? So he broke up a fight between two bunnies, just to dangle YOUR bunny out of the window? Marik are you telling me the WHOLE story?"

"I... I don't remember!" Marik whined, shaking his head and frowning. "All I saw was Yami threatening my cub!!!" He blinked. He blinked again. "Umm... I mean... Hunter..." He stammered, blushing.

Dr. Hinaru sighed. "Well Marik, either you can tell me, or Ryou can..." she warned. "And something tells me if I ask Ryou, I'll hear about some things that might call for a re-admittance to the hospital."

Marik's eyes widened and he shook his head. "N-No!!! I don't wanna go back! I was just protecting Hunter!" He cried, backing into the wall. "I don't remember!!! Yami made fun of Hunter and Dust attacked him and Hunter bit Yami and climbed his leg and tackled Dust and Yami grabbed him and stuck him out the window and then I was in Seto's lap and there was yelling and Hunter was crying and I had to get him and... the next thing I knew, I was under the seat with Hunter and Scamp and Ryou was mad and... I don't... know why..."

Dr. Hinaru frowned. "Maybe I should ask Pegasus to cut the vacation short for you and me... from the sound of things you're not even trying to contain your temper. You're just letting it loose and not even remembering." She said sighing. "I thought you'd gotten OVER that Marik. You're a Person, and people do NOT attack other people." she said rubbing her forehead.

"But... Hunter... And Yami was..." Marik stammered, then slowly lay down and curled up. "I had to protect Hunter..." He whispered.

Dr. Hinaru shook her head. "Yami is Ryou's friend, I highly doubt he'd drop Hunter out of a window...it's unreasonable." She said calmly. "At most he was probably trying to shock the thing into behaving. Marik you were out of line, from the SOUND of things. You don’t attack other people over animals. Besides, what would attacking have got you if Ryou weren't there? Yami would have dropped him out the window and that would be the end of Hunter. Cornered birds and people do very cruel things..." She shook her head. "I'm going to talk to Pegasus...maybe we can just go ahead and head home...I don’t think you can handle being around so many people yet..."

Marik sniffled and curled up tightly in the corner of the bathroom, hiding his face. Hinaru left him there and went to go find Pegasus, who was eating lunch with Seto, Yami, Malik, Bakura, Ryou (who had been coaxed out of his room) and all the rabbits, excluding Scamp who was leading Yugi, Mokuba and Syrus in a merry chase around the lodge outside, to Rem, Inogawa and Zaine's viewing pleasure.

Dr. Hinaru sighed and tapped Pegasus' shoulder. "May I have a moment with you?" She asked softly, motioning to a spot away from the table, for a private discussion.

Pegasus blinked and excused himself from the table, following her. He looked concerned. "What is it?" He asked.

She sighed. "I think perhaps Marik should head back to Japan with me..." She said calmly. "He's...not holding onto his lessons from the hospital at all...admittedly so. I truly think it might be best for him, and the rest of your party if we went back to the hospital for more therapy..." she said biting her lip. "Keeping him here might...make him regress even more."

Pegasus frowned. "Are... are you sure?" He asked her. "That would crush him... and Ryou, too. He just got Marik back. He was only protecting Hunter, who is like his own child... he loves those rabbits deeply. He was protecting him... I certainly would hope he would protect Ryou with even more ferocity than he showed on the bus. He was frantic, Dr. Hinaru."

Dr. Hinaru sighed. "I know it's a bit harsh...but if he loses his temper like that once, he'll do it more than once...he doesn't even remember what happened very well. That kind of anger fit is the most dangerous kind Pegasus...that's the kind of rage that serial killers usually express...I REALLY urge you to consider sending us back..." she added shaking her head. "He admitted being unable to control that anger, and I fear he might regress further, only resulting in MORE time away from Ryou..."

Pegasus frowned and shook his head. "Do you not think that the sight of a loved one in mortal danger is the best excuse for his loss of control?" He asked. "I really don't want to send him away... it would break Ryou's heart... Marik will be gone for his birthday... And Marik is what Ryou wanted for his birthday... This trip will be incomplete if he is missing... this is something that they can never get back... this trip can never be repeated. This will be something that will be with them for the rest of their lives. And I know Ryou... he will not let it go. He and Marik both will spend the rest of their lives thinking of what this trip COULD have been if you take Marik."

Hinaru sighed. "There is NO excuse for losing control of anger..." She said softly. "Marik is a VERY dangerous hybrid, and him losing his temper is like letting a homicidal maniac loose with an automatic rifle in a shopping center." She added. "I realize this will break their hearts Pegasus... but if he doesn't get back to the therapy, I cannot and WILL not be held responsible for any innocent bystanders he mauls." She said sternly.

"If you choose to ignore my reccomendation to send him back to therapy, you're relinquishing ANY right to lawsuit or medical protection." She added. "If he mauls someone after you go against clinical reccomendation, the ONLY result will be a HARSH lawsuit on you, and an even harsher punishment for Marik."

Pegasus winced and sighed, slowly looking down. "I... this is not something I cannot decide... alone." And ten minutes later, everyone was gathered in the Bed & Breakfast sitting room. Pegasus looked around, and sighed.

"In light of Marik's... loss of control..." He said slowly. "We have a decision to make." He looked around at everyone. "Dr. Hinaru wishes me to send her back to Japan tomorrow. With Marik. And have him re-admitted to the Willow Ridge Hospital. And we will continue this trip without him."

Malik blinked. "Oh Ra, he lost it already!?" he blurted shaking his head. "For the love of Isis!" He sighed and hugged Bakura, ears drooping slightly, despite his obvious displeasure.

Ryou sighed and hung his head.

Dr. Hinaru sighed and shook her head. "Pegasus has decided to take a vote. If Marik loses his control and mauls someone, if he goes against my reccomendation it will result in heavy fines and lawsuits, and a harsh punishment for Marik." She explained. "So he's gathered you to vote."

Bakura winced and hugged Malik, then cursed loudly and got up. "I can't..." He hissed, and stormed from the room. Pegasus sighed and watched the skunk go, wincing at the loud slamming of the front door. Seto leaned forwards, staring at the floor and wringing his hands.

"I vote to let him stay." He said after a moment. "He only lost it because SOME one..." He glared at Yami. "Was stupid and threatened Hunter. It was an act of protection. And no one was hurt." He blinked and slowly glanced down at his own groin. "Umm... yeah. No one was hurt."

Yami coughed, looking down. "As if someone had to point THAT out to me." he said glaring. "I vote the same, because I know it was my fault without being TOLD that it was." He glared at Seto again and hugged him slightly in apology.

Malik shook his head. "I'm going to help Bakura...so I guess I'll forfeit my vote too.." he said bowing his head and hurrying from the room to make sure his lover was ok.

Zaine frowned. "I hate delimmas...I mean...how am I supposed to choose here? It's his health versus our wants...if the doc says he should go...she probably knows what she's talking about..." he said frowning.

Mokuba bit his lip and looked at Syrus, then sighed and fidgeted.

"Ummm..." Otogi said softly, and everyone looked at him. "I... I think Marik has a good heart... and, well... if he did it to protect someone... how can we condemn him for that?" He asked softly, looking around. "I'd like to think he would protect us in the same way, ya know? I think he should stay." He said, and after a moment, Mokuba nodded.

"Me too... I vote for him to stay." He said softly. Pegasus sighed and looked around at those who hadn't voted; Syrus, Yugi, Rem, Zaine, Inogawa... and Ryou. Inogawa sighed and leaned back.

"If Sachiko thinks he should go back..." He said. "Then I agree." He looked at his wife. "But... if you do take him back, Sachiko... I might, ummm... recommend putting him on... on a suicide watch."

She nodded. "I know." She said calmly. "I'm not a novice honey, I've been doing this for years." she added shoving him slightly. "Honestly."

Syrus bit his lip and looked at Mokuba. "I dunno...I..I hate to disagree with Mokuba...b-but Doctors have always known just what needs to be done...w-when I'm sick...a-and well...if a doctor says he needs to go home..th-then he...probably does..." he said softly. "s-so...I'm g-gonna agree with the t-two doctors. I'm sorry Mokuba! don’t hate me!" he said looking away and tugging his ears, looking near tears at having disagreed with his dear friend and 'owner'.

Mokuba blinked at Syrus, then petted him. "I'm not mad." He said softly, and hugged Syrus, tightly. Pegasus sighed and looked around.

"Yugi?" Seto asked, looking at the raccoon on Yami's other side. "What do you think?"

Yugi blinked and looked thoughtful. "I really...dont know to tell you the truth..." he said flicking his ears. "On the one hand...Ryou and Marik really love eachother....but on the other his doctor is saying her opinion...I cant really say I know Marik well enough to ...well to have an unbiased decision..." He said shaking his head.

"I mean, I know Ryou and all...but I hardly know Marik at all...we never sat down to meet eachother...so I don’t know if he's really as dangerous as miss Hinaru says, or not." He said looking down and scratching his head. "So...well...that being said, I'm going to have to go with the doc on this one...just because I just don’t know him well enough to gauge whether or not it was just an anger thing at my annoying older brother...." he said elbowing Yami, who grumbled.

"I SAID I was sorry!"

Pegasus looked down. So far there were four votes for Marik to go... four to stay, and two forfeits... He looked around. "Miss Rem?" He asked, and everyone focused their undivided attention onto Marik's mama.

Rem frowned. "Marik's a little angry at the world...but I think he could manage the rest of this trip if he knew that another outburst meant going home..." she said shaking her head. "I think he deserves a second chance..."

Zaine kissed Rem's cheek. "I dunno... he IS pretty... well... unstable..." He said. "I saw what that Constantine guy did to him... and I can't forget that he DID try to... kill Ryou. Twice. And has threatened to kill Mr. Pegasus... I'm not sure he can handle himself... I really think that maybe he should... leave..." Pegasus sighed and looked down as Bakura and Malik returned, wanting to know the decision.

"Five votes for him to go." He said softly. "Five for him to stay." He looked at Bakura and Malik. "Two forfeits." He turned to Marik's mate. "Ryou?"

Ryou frowned. "I'm not voting." he said softly. "I refuse...to be the tiebreaker for this." he added standing slowly. "If he goes...he goes...if not that's fine too..." he said looking down. "I'm not having a part of it..." he mumbled walking to the door. "I'm sorry..." He added shaking his head and leaving.

Pegasus winced. Everyone looked at him. He sighed and looked down, thinking over everything... He trusted the doctor, yes, but... when it came to Marik, he trusted Rem above all others. "Let him stay." He said, and Bakura closed his eyes and let out a releived sigh. "Let him stay under the warning that another outburst like that will earn him an immediate trip home." He said, looking at Hinaru.

Hinaru nodded. "If anything results of a second outburst, I will not be held accountable, and if the victim deems fit, you will likely have a lawsuit, fines and a punishment for Marik on your hands..." she said calmly. "But I will respect your wishes." She said calmly standing. "Hopefully we can enjoy the rest of this vacation in peace and relative calm." She added.

Everyone nodded and stood as well. "I'll go tell Marik the results of this little vote, and the warning issued with it." Hinaru added leaving.

She opened the bathroom door and looked at Marik firmly. "We all took a vote Marik..." She said calmly. "On whether you should leave for therapy, or stay. Do you want to know what the results were?"

Marik curled up tighter, shaking, and mewled. It was a few moments before he spoke. "D... Does Ryou... hate me?" He sniffled, keeping his face hidden.

"There were five votes for you to leave Marik..." She said calmly. "And six for you to stay...Ryou didn't vote." She said calmly. "I cant tell you if he hates you or not." She said scratching his ears. "You're allowed to stay, but if you lose your temper just ONE more time, it's straight back. No second chances." she warned firmly. "Understand?"

Marik gulped and nodded quickly, but still didn't reveal his face. After a moment, an ear flicked. "Who else didn't vote?" He asked softly.

"Malik...and Bakura." she said calmly.

Marik slowly drew in a breath, then released it. "And... What did... Rem say?" He asked.

"She was the one who suggested you stay with the warning that a second outburst sent you home." Hinaru said reaching forward and scratching Marik's ears.

Marik pulled away slightly. "I... didn't mean to hurt anyone..." He whimpered. "I was afraid that... that I was going to loose Hunter..."

"It doesn't matter Marik...you're off the hook just this once..." she said opening the door. "Go have some fun. Just remember, if you lose it again, it's back to the hospital you go." she warned.

Marik slowly uncurled and scuttled out of the bathroom on his belly, and ran from the room, down the stairs and out the front door. He ended up under the parked bus.

It wasn't long before he was discovered by Yugi's prying eyes, the sun sinking in the sky. "Oh hey Mairk!" he said smiling. "You know, Pegasus really saved your hide...He was the one who broke the tie for you to stay or go..." he said crawling under next to the lion, hoping to get to know him a little. "How...are you feeling?" he asked, curiously. "Not too mad at yourself or Yami are you? I know he's a pain, but he's got a good heart...he just does dumb things on the spur of the moment.."

Marik growled. "He could have killed Hunter!" He howled, scooting away from Yugi and staring out from under the bus and at the loch.

Yugi sighed. "I don’t think he would have Marik...Yami's very religious… and you know... cats are next to godly in his religion....I doubt he'd ever hurt a lion-bunny. It's just a catbunny." he said softly. "Besides...he knows how much those bunnies mean to you, he has one of his own..."

Marik snarled. "He STILL put him in danger!" He snapped, tail lashing angrily. "He ever does something like that again and I'll pluck him and stuff him for Christmas Dinner!!!"

Yugi sighed. "Marik... Ryou would be heartbroken if you did that... Yami and I have been his friends since he was very small...ever since he came to Japan... you'd kill a part of his past if you did that." he said shaking his head. "Come on now, Yami said he was sorry... he voted for you to stay too you know... he feels bad enough."

"He should." Marik grumbled, laying his head on his paws to watch the sun set. "HE was the one being an ass..."

Yugi sighed irritably. "You know...grandpa taught us growing up...that it takes two people to start a fight..." he said calmly. "Yami cant start a fight, if you don’t let him you know..."

Marik frowned and glared at Yugi. "You know how it started?! Hunter was just being... HUNTER!!! He was trying to scare Yami, which was just... CUTE!!! But Yami made fun of him and had Dust attack Hunter!! I did NOTHING!! Not until he stuck Hunter out the window!!! It was a fight between brothers that YOUR brother started!!!"

Yugi glared slightly. "If you're going to yell, I'm going to start a fight of my own, and tell that doctor that you're losing your temper again already..." he warned. "I came out here to meet you and get to know you, and try to be friendly, but if you're going to act like that then it's no wonder Ryou refused to vote." he grumbled crossing his arms and glaring strongly.

"Just because something happened you didn't like doesn't mean you get the right to take it out on me. I wasn't the one holding anything out of a window, I wasn't the one who got mad at you for losing your temper, and I wont be the one who takes it. I'm not Ryou, I don’t have the patience he has. He might let you run amok and scream and rant and rave, but I wont. Now calm the hell down before I decide to go in there and just have them ship you off now." Yugi added glaring.

"You have to have a level of respect for people around you. I don’t care how tough your past was. If grandpa saw you acting like this he'd send you to your room without supper, and probably ground you. Rem would probably do the same. You're a grownup, start acting like it." he crawled out from under the bus. "You're what? twenty three? twenty four? Ryou's seventeen. It's REALLY sad that Ryou ends up being the one who soothes YOUR anger, tends to YOUR needs and protects YOU. Marik...I hate to be cruel to you...especially since I hardly know you...." Yugi added sighing and giving him a sad look.

"But you're an adult...you're supposed to set an example for people younger than you...Yami might not be the best example...but you know, he does set one. He tries hard at anything he does, and when something doesn't go his way, he doesn't cry for momma, or grandpa, or anyone else. He solves his own problems...when mom and dad died...he didn't let that take over his life...it's because of him that I was able to grow up and get over the loss too...Ryou's just a kid Marik...he's not an adult yet...and you're making him be an adult...because you cant do it yourself." he shook his head, ears and tail drooping.

"It...was nice...meeting you though..." he added with a soft smile. "I'm...sure you're a real nice guy...for Ryou to love you so much. I know he has good judgement...I used to love him as much as you do too..."

Marik kept up his poker face through out Yugi's lecture. But it wasn't easy. He wanted to scream and cry. He wanted to shout back at Yugi and make him shut up, he... he wanted to attack him... And it took all the strength he had not to. After calming himself enough, he slowly slunk out from under the bus.

"Just leave me alone." He grumbled, and made his way down to the water's edge, flopping down and watching the water lap at the dakr pebbles that made up the beach. He sighed as the sun began to sink behind the hills that encased Loch Ness, and shivered as a cold wind whipped over the loch and washed over him, easily chilling him.

But despite the chill, Marik remained on the beach well into the night, staring out at the water. And despite urges from Dr. Inogawa, fussing about what the chill could do to Marik's health, no one would venture out to retreive the lion. Rem insistied on waiting for him to come back in on his own. The night was cold though, and it wasn't until after everyone had gone to bed that Marik finally returned to the lodge, and headed straight for the roaring fire in the fireplace of the sitting room. He slunk in, heavy on his paws, and dropped to the floor before the fire.

"Marik?" a small voice peeped up, peeking from around the corner was little Syrus, in his oversized pajamas and clutching an empty glass, obviously seeking out water. "A-are you ok?" he asked softly, walking over to his friend, forgetting his water for the moment.

Marik frowned and closed his eyes, pretending to be alseep as Syrus approached. He wanted to be alone...

Syrus whimpered softly. "I-if you didn't want to...see me you c-could have just said something..." he said ears drooping. "I...I can tell you're awake...you're not breathing right...t-to be asleep..." he mumbled inching back and sniffling. "I...I was just worried a-about my friend...."

Marik sighed slowly, opening his eyes and staring into the fire. "I just want to be alone..." He said softly. "Get your water and go back to bed. I'll see you tomorrow, I guess..."

Syrus nodded sniffling softly. "A-are you sleeping down here?" he asked softly. "You...sh-should at least get a blanket..."

"... I'm fine." Marik mumbled, yawning and stretching on his side like a housecat. "The fire is warm..." He turned and looked at Syrus, offering him a small smile. "But thanks."

Syrus smiled weakly. "W-welll if you do go upstairs...y-you're supposed to...to sleep with Bakura tonight." He said looking at his slippered feet, which both bore scooby-doo slippers. "R-Ryou's sleeping with Malik."

Marik winced and turned away, scooting closer to the fire. "Thanks, but... I think I'll stay down here tonight... see you tomorrow..." He said softly, rubbing at watering eyes.

Syrus sniffled and inched forward, giving Marik a lick up his cheek before backing away again. "I....I'm sorry you had such a bad day..." he cooed softly, before tugging the small blanket off the couch and tossing it gently over Marik, and handing him a couch pillow. "Things will be better tomorrow...i-it's a whole new day...a-and you'll start over fresh and new..." he mumbled, hurrying off to get his water and return to his room.