Full Moon

Full Moon

By Mally-chan and hatochiisai

Disclaimer: We do NOT own Yugioh. All original characters DO belong to us, such as Mikado, Ahmose and Takeru, who are hato’s.

YAOI WARNING

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Chapter 8

Corn Moon

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Night fell slowly over the island, and it was easy to tell at night, that this was a wolf's island. Every so often the howling of other wolves was heard, signaling where their pack was, and how many there WERE in the pack.

Marik was eager to get going, but Ahmose kept them all hidden until the wolf pack was far away, and the night security guard had walked inside. Then, silently, he led them from their hiding place and around the building to Ryou's pen.

Bakura snorted softly as they padded around. 'why are we sneaking? We're wolves. What are they gonna do? Suspect something?' he growled softly. 'this feels stupid as hell.'

'Just be quiet. We don't want to bring that pack in to investigate...' Ahmose said. He sniffed around the fence, then chose a point hidden between the building and a bush, and began to dig. 'Now help me!'

Otogi and Bakura helped, beginning to dig as well. 'I still feel like a dumbass.' Bakura grunted softly. 'We could take them easily if we HAD to.'

'Not the whole pack. The woman said there was at least fifteen. There are only five of us...' Ahmose said. 'Can you please stop complaining for FIVE minutes?!'

Marik, in the meantime, searched for Ryou. He couldn't see him, so finally, he whined slightly, calling to him, while Malik played the lookout.

Bakura made a slight laughing sound. 'As long as you're not the alpha I don’t have to listen.' he teased. 'I'm hungry.'

Ahmose growled and swatted Bakura with a paw. 'Shut up and keep digging!' He ordered.

Marik in the mean time, yipped softly.

However, Marik's calls went unanswered.

Bakura grumbled and went back to digging. 'snooty alpha's pup...' he huffed amusedly.

'Watch it.' Ahmose chuckled, and poked his head through the hole to see how big it was. 'Bigger.'

Bakura grumbled. 'fucking human pup.' he grumbled. 'I'm going to need another damn bath. I hate getting my fur muddy.' he pouted as he dug.

'You'll survive, we'll just wash our paws off in the sea.' Ahmose said.

Marik in the meantime was pacing back and forth, whining. He yapped.

Once again the calls went unanswered, and the hole was finally wide enough. 'happy now?' Bakura grumbled as Ahmose tested it.

'Yes.' Ahmose said, then yapped at Marik, who darted over and slipped through the whole in a flash, and charged straight to Ryou's little hut, poking his head in.

Ryou was sound asleep.

Marik's tail began wagging. He "talked" to Ryou. "Ruuurrrrr... Rurrr rurr rurrrr..." And he approached and began licking Ryou's face.

Ryou wrinkled his nose and slowly woke up shaking the dust from his fur. He blinked at Marik and backed up, hackles raising. He growled and crouched down, bearing his teeth. A strange wolf he didn't know! IN his home!

Marik lowered his chest to the ground, keeping his rear in the air and wagged his tail, making friendly noises.

After a few unsure moments, Ryou calmed down and stepped forward to sniff this new wolf in his pen. He yapped slightly and licked him, before yawning and curling back up, beginning to chew his squeaker once more.

Marik approached and licked Ryou again, then bounced out of his den and romped around, trying to entice Ryou out.

Ryou blinked and tilted his head to the side, picking up his squeaker and hesitantly following the wolf, tail wagging.

Marik darted forward and licked Ryou's cheek again, then danced away and over to the fence. 'Come on!!!' He said, startling Ryou.

Ryou's eyes widened and he yelped, dropping his toy and backing up.

Marik blinked and cocked his head. 'What's wrong, Ryou?'

Ryou stumbled back more. 'You....can talk?' he whimpered. 'No one else talks...'

Marik blinked. 'No one else? Oh... you mean the other wolves? Well, of course they can't.' Marik said, and trotted over to Ryou, nuzzling him. 'That's because they're not like us. Come on, Ryou. We came to bring you back home.'

'My name's Zephyr...' Ryou squeaked. 'That's what everyone calls me, a-and this is my home...' he backed up more, ears back, tail tucked under. 'I'm not different than the other wolves...'

'Sure you are.' Marik said, cocking his head. 'You're a werewolf!

'Nuh uh!' Ryou barked loudly. 'Go away! I'm not sure I like you....' he barked again.

'But... Ryou... It's me. Marik.' He whined. 'You... you and I are... are gonna be mates. Remember? You were attacked while we were playing... and chasing fireflies...'

Ryou tilted his head to the side. 'I'm supposed to mate a girl.' he stated proudly. 'Make puppies.'

Marik sighed. 'No Ryou. Less than a month ago, you were human. I made you a werewolf. You must have gotten amnesia from your attack.'

Ryou blinked and shook his head. 'Liar!' He whined. 'You're lying...'

Marik blinked, and then slowly began to change. His legs filled out and grew muscular, and his back legs lengthened. His toes on his front paws bacame fingers, and his chest expanded, until finally, he was kneeling in his halfway form.

"You can become this, too..." He said.

Ryou yelped loudly. 'I'm not sure I want to!' he crawled back into his den, and stared out, bristled and shaking slightly.

Marik looked back. "He doesn't remember!!!" He called, and one by one, the others slipped into the pen and went over to Ryou's house, looking in at him.

'Ryou? You don't remember us?' Ahmose asked.

Ryou whined and buried his muzzle under his paws. 'Go away! Stop it! I'll call the lady on you!' he was whimpering and shaking.

"She's not here." Marik said. "Ryou... we've come to take you home." And he changed to his human form. "Ryou, look at me." The others followed his example, so there were five naked boys between 16 and 21 staring at him.

Ryou blinked. 'Um...well you're naked.' he said tilting his head to the side. 'and staring...' he buried his face back under his paws.

"Ryou, we're your friends..." Ahmose said. "I came to help stop the attack... my father was attacking you... but he had chased you away by the time I got there..."

Ryou blinked and sighed softly. 'Then why should I go with you? He'd just attack me again if that's true. I dont want that.'

"We'll protect you." Ahmose said.

"Ryou, please!" Marik begged. "I love you..."

Ryou gave Marik a soft look and sighed. 'alright...I...suppose there's no hurt in going...but if I dont like it you bring me right back! I'm special.'

Marik chuckled. "Right... come on then." He said, and they all returned to their wolf forms and headed for the hole they had dug.

Ryou sighed and stooped to pick up his squeaker. 'Alright...lets go...' he said softly.

Marik snickered and they all slipped out of the hole, and headed for where their clothes were, Marik trotting next to Ryou.

Ryou squeaked the toy the entire way, quite loudly at that.

Bakura twitched. 'I'm gonna kill him....' he growled loudly.

Marik looked at Ryou. 'Shhh... we don't wanna bring the wolf pack running... they'll kill us!!!'

SQUEEEEE!!

'I am being quiet.' he replied calmly.

Marik looked at Ryou. 'Stop squeaking that thing!!!'

Sq-sq-squeeeeee!

Ryou blinked 'why? I like it'

'Because it's noisy.' Marik said. 'We need to be quiet.' And they reached the bushes and tree where their clothes were hidden. Then, they all returned to human form and dressed, staring at Ryou.

Ryou blinked. 'what?'

"Change." Marik said.

'into what? I dunno how to change!' Ryou barked, beginning to chew his squeaker again.

Marik sighed. "Ryou, let me have the squeaky."

Ryou growled at him. 'touch it and die blondie.' he snarled.

Marik's eyes widened, and the others laughed.

"He's feisty, Marik." Malik giggled. Ahmose chuckled.

"Ryou. Just will yourself to change." He said.

'into what?' Ryou asked again. 'a person?' he asked squeaking louder.

Squeeeee SQUEEEE s-s-squeeee!

Bakura growled. "Gods make that squeaking STOP!"

"Yes, Ryou. A person." Ahmose said with a smile. "It's the person Marik fell in love with."

Ryou sighed softly, and tried to focus on becoming human. After a moment he started chewing his toy again. 'I cant.' he said after a moment, ears drooping.

Marik walked over and sat down by Ryou, petting him. "Sure you can..." He said, and hugged Ryou. "You can do it..." He whispered into the wolf's ears.

Ryou growled softly, pulling away. 'dont touch my toy!' he warned, thinking this was a trick to get his beloved squeaker. He snorted and began squeaking it more.

Marik chuckled. "I won't." He said, and kissed Ryou's fuzzy cheek. "Come on, Ryou... remember. We met at a college frat party that these losers dragged us to. You wanted to go home... so I walked you home. We stopped on the way and had dinner together."

Ryou tilted his head to the side thoughtfully. 'nope...not remembering this.' he said putting his squeaker down and trying to change once more.

Marik smiled and rubbed Ryou's back. "I want you to concentrate hard..." He said. "You have long white hair, like your fur... deep brown eyes... You're a bit shorter than Malik, over there. You used to live in England, and just recently moved here to Japan. Your father is an archeologist working in Egypt..."

Ryou whimpered softly, looking like he was trying truly hard to concentrait. 'I dont remember...' he pouted.

Marik sighed. "You like to cook." He said. "You would cook for me... and then we would sit down on your sofa and watch a movie... you would fall asleep, and I would carry you to bed and tuck you in... and we would curl up together and sleep all night long..."

Ryou sighed and shook his head, ears drooping. 'not a thing...'

Marik frowned and looked at the others, then back down at Ryou. "We were in the kitchen when I first showed you my wolf form. I changed for you. You... you didn't care... you still loved me... but... Seto Kaiba... he loved you, too."

Bakura groaned. "lets just knock him out and stuff him in a bundle of clothes. This is getting annoying." he said dressing. "I hate humans so much sometimes..." he grunted.

Otogi elbowed him. "Be nice." he said sternly. "A human might be important to you someday."

Marik glared at Bakura. "Ryou... you HAVE to remember by morning..." He said. "If you don't... we... we may never get you back..."

'Why? What happens at morning?' he asked flicking his ears and picking his squeaker back up.

Marik sighed. "They'll find out you're gone and go searching and find US. We'll be thrown off the island for sure, possibly arrested, and we'll probably NEVER be able to get back here again."

'What's so wrong with that? it's nice here...' Ryou said looking around. 'And the lady says I'm a good boy. AND I got my squeaky. They're nice here.'

Marik frowned. "Ryou... we're werewolves... we can't live here... Please..." And he pulled Ryou close and hugged him, kissing his nose. "I love you."

Ryou snorted slightly. 'You could if you wanted, you can be wolves.' he yawned and stretched. 'besides...I'm not sure I want to leave...I dont remember any of that...'

"But Ryou..." Marik gasped. "You can!!! We'll help! But you HAVE to change!!!"

Ryou squeaked at his toy more. 'but I'm not supposed to leave...' he said looking around. 'The lady wanted me to stay because I'm pretty.'

"But I love you..." Marik breathed, stroking Ryou's fur. "I love you. I will fight for you... Please, Ryou."

Ryou blinked and sniffed at Marik. 'I'm trying! It's not like I'm not trying...' he pouted. 'I dont think you're bein honest though...I think I'm not a werewolf.'

Marik smiled. "You are! I know!!! You were born human. You've been a werewolf for less than a month!!! How about this... Look at Bakura!" Bakura raised an eyebrow. "You look like him! Only smaller and softer and cuter!!! Come on!! Try again!!!"

Ryou looked at Bakura for a moment. '....he's ugly.'

Bakura's eyes widened and he growled, lunging at Ryou. "You little human bitch!" He howled. "I'll rip your legs off and FEED them to you!"

Otogi was laughing his ass off as Bakura chased Ryou, who had grabbed his squeaky and bolted when he'd seen Bakura lunge for him.

Marik's eyes widened and he was immediately in wolf form, shouldering Bakura over and dashing after Ryou while Ahmose tackled Bakura and pinned him in his halfway form, snarling in a dominant manner.

Bakura snarled back, but laid still, looking pissed. "I'm not ugly...I'll kick his ass..." he said coldly.

Ryou however had finally stopped running, quite a ways from the other werewolves, stopping at a pond and panting, setting his squeaker down and getting a drink.

Marik trotted up behind him, and licked his ears. 'My poor Ryou...' He cooed.

Ryou blinked and looked up from his drink. 'you followed me?' he snorted but looked back to the water. 'I dont think I like him.'

'You made him mad.' Marik said. 'You called him ugly! That wasn't nice.'

'Well he's not pretty.' Ryou said looking amused. 'he's glaring and dirty.'

Marik snickered. 'Come on, Ryou... you HAVE to change!!!'

Ryou sighed and squeaked his toy a bit. 'I have to...?' he asked looking droopy. 'I like it here...I dont know if I want to leave it...I mean..not to be mean...but I dont remember you at all...'

Marik turned and pressed his nose to Ryou's in a little wolf kiss. 'If you suddenly remember... you'll regret staying...'

Ryou nodded and hung his head laying down next to the water and looking at his reflection. 'I'm scared.'

'You were scared when I made you, too... We were out in the woods... It was the Harvest Moon...' Marik sighed.

Ryou flicked his tail. 'I dont want hurt again...I...I woke up and I was hurting...I dont know what happened, but it hurt so much...and they brought me here and the hurting stopped. I dont want to hurt...'

Marik sighed. 'Ryou... try again. Keep trying. Don't FORCE it. Just close your eyes and WILL it. Relax! Imagine your body changing.'

Ryou closed his eyes and tried once more, finally some results happened, when he managed his halfway form, but after that he whined and laid down. "Hurts..."

Marik grinned and changed to HIS halfway form. "You did GREAT!!! You're almost there!!!" He said, licking Ryou's cheek. "Oh, and you're just so beautiful..."

Ryou sniffled and looked in the water at his reflection. "I look ugly. I hate it."

Marik frowned. "I think you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen..."

"Boys aren't beautiful." Ryou said curling up and beginning to chew his squeaker.

"You are." Marik insisted, licking Ryou's cheek.

Ryou grumbled slightly and shook his head. "If I ask to come back...will you bring me back?" he asked after a moment. "If...I get scared and want to come back...o-or I get hurt..."

Marik sighed deeply. "I would take you anywhere you wanted to go..." He said softly, though his heart ached at the idea of Ryou asking him to bring him back.

Ryou sighed and closed his eyes. "Don’t sound so sad. I don’t even remember you."

"That's why I'm sad..." Marik whispered, and wrapped an arm around Ryou. "I love you... hell, I'm risked my life by loving you... and protecting you... and... changing you... and now, by attempting to rescue you..."

"Even if I remember...I wont be the same as I was." Ryou said after a moment. "I wont be the same person."

"Why?" Marik asked.

"Because I'm not who I was now I bet." Ryou said flicking his ears. "i dont remember any of that...All I know is that I dont know you, I dont know anything but what I've seen and learned now. I'm not even sure if I can pretend I'm a mate to you..."

Marik winced. "Then don't pretend. Relearn. And maybe... fall in love all over again?" He asked with hopeful eyes. "Try again..."

Ryou sighed and tried once more. Marik finally got the results he wanted, but poor Ryou had passed out shortly after finishing, and laid naked in the soft moss.

Marik smiled and slowly gathered Ryou (and the squeaky) up in his arms and returned to the others to dress him.

Bakura glared death at Ryou. "I hate him." he growled, bristling.

Marik gave Bakura a look. "Oh, shut up, or Ahmose will make you sit with the bitches when he becomes Alpha. You sure SOUND like the women, sometimes." Ahmose grinned, amused.

"Least I dont act like them." Bakura grunted. "I bet that kid doesn't even love you anymore."

Marik glared. "He can't remember me, stop being a fuckin' asshole before I toss you into his pen and leave you there for their exhibit!!!"

Otogi snickered at that. "I think he'd enjoy the bitches here. Did you see that Mexican wolf?" He whistled. "Nice..."

Ahmose chuckled again, watching Marik dress Ryou.

"Bakura, please TRY to be nice..." He said.

"I am. I'm just failing, because I was against that kid from the start. I dont like him." Bakura said coldly. "The only reason I'm even here is because I DO like Marik."

Marik sighed. "Ummm... Thanks?"

Malik rolled his eyes and elbowed Bakura. "Hush. Marik can love the human if he wants." He said, though it was easy to tell he wasn't any bit more thrilled with it either.

Bakura huffed. "Whatever."

Marik frowned, slightly hurt at Malik and Bakura's lack of support... in fact, the only one who seemed to be on his side was Ahmose. Otogi seemed... well... undecided...

Otogi smiled at Marik. "Dont mind it...it's just tradition that humans are never really welcomed fully into a pack." He said shaking his head and putting a finger on his chin. "Come to think of it most packs dont welcome them in at all..."

Ahmose snorted. "Well... that's gonna change. WITH restrictions." He said.

"You sure that's a good idea Ahmose?" Otogi said after a moment. "You could lose a lot of support with that..."

Ahmose looked at Otogi. "I SAID with restrictions." He said. "The only time I will permit a pack member to bring in a human and change them is if they mate them."

Otogi sighed. "I dunno...I guess." he said after a moment. He was still undecided about humans in the pack.

Bakura grumbled. "Can we discuss this crap later?"

Ahmose shrugged. "Sure... we may as well get some sleep." He said.

The next morning they all woke bright and early, except their friend Ryou, the white wolf pup. He was curled up clutching his squeaky, sleeping soundly.

Marik smiled and gently pet Ryou's hair with a sigh. "My poor little baby... I love you..." He cooed, and Ahmose smiled slightly, deciding that he should call HIS lover when he got home.

Ryou yawned softly and hugged his squeaker tighter slowly rousing from his slumber and yawning, looking around confusedly. "Huh...?"

Marik smiled. "Good morning, love..." He said, leaning down and kissing Ryou's cheek. In the meantime, Megumi had the whole facility in an uproar over Zephyr's escape, but the vet was trying to calm her, saying that Zephyr was physically healed enough to join the pack, perhaps he had done just that, don't panic.

Of course the other women agreed that Zephyr was too young to be out, and he was still slightly injured (and just too cute) to possibly be injured by the other wolves. Not to mention he hadn't been trained back into the wild. He was domesticated.

Ryou sat up slowly and blinked confusedly. "ahh...you..." he said rubbing his eyes, dropping his squeaker, before picking it back up, and looking quite amusedly at his fingers. "Hmm..."

Marik smiled. "You did it... I'm SO proud of you..." Marik cooed, petting Ryou's hair. "You're a good boy..." He said, talking to Ryou like the woman Megumi had, that had made Ryou so happy the day before. "VERY good..."

Ryou perked up a little and smiled broadly. "Duh!"

Marik grinned. "I love you..." He said, and kissed Ryou's cheek. "Are you ready to go home and try to remember?"

Ryou frowned slightly, and had he been a wolf, his ears would have tilted back, and tail tucked under. "I...I dunno..." he said softly. "I'm not supposed to..."

"No, Ryou... you are not supposed to be here... but that bastard Takeru hurt you and made you forget... come on, baby... come home and at least give it a try?" Marik asked, petting Ryou's face. He smiled. "You can bring your toy with you..." He bribed.

Ryou sighed, and drooped. "A-alright..." he said softly. "But if they want me back you bring me back! I like the nice woman..."

Marik smiled. "If you want to come back, we can bring you back, you can return to wolf form and they will never know you left the island."

Ryou slowly nodded. "Alright..." he said after a moment. "Then I'll go..."

Marik grinned. "Wonderful!!!"

"We'll wait here til the first group heads to the ferry to go back." Ahmose said.

Ryou nodded, beginning to squeak his squeaker in his hands boredly. "I'm hungry."

Marik sighed and smiled, sadly... "I'm afraid we didn't think to bring anything..."

"Speak for yourself." Ahmose snickered and reached into the deep pockets of his jeans and pulled out a few little cheese paste and cracker packs that didn't need refrigeration. He tossed them around. "Here."

Ryou blinked and sniffed at his little package. "...it smells funny." he said fiddling with it to unwrap it.

Marik smiled. "It ain't gourmet, but when you're hungry..." He smeared cheese over the cracker with the little red plastic stick, and popped it into his mouth.

Ryou ate calmly, using the stick to just eat the cheese after eating the crackers. He grumbled. "Not very good..." he said making a face.

Ahmose smiled. "I just grabbed the first thing I could." He said with a shrug, munching his own cracker.

Ryou sighed and squeaked his squeaker more. He perked up when he heard footsteps nearby, and sniffing the air he found it to be someone from his home!

"Shh!" Marik hissed, and he dragged Ryou down to lie on the ground as the others ducked and covered, and he laid a hand on Ryou's to silence the squeaker.

Ryou squeaked and squirmed, looking eager. Those people were the ones who had food! AND treats!

"Shhhhh..." Marik said again, frowning. He and the others listened, carefully.

Ryou squirmed more whimpering. The footsteps neared, but eventually turned away and faded.

Marik breathed a sigh of releif, looking back at the others, then at Ryou.

"Ryou, do you really want to stay that bad?" He asked, looking worried and hurt.

Ryou blinked. "They have food dummy! I'm hungry, they have food." he stated blinking. "Then I am not hungry anymore. Seems like a good answer to me." he said proudly.

"Hey!! That place DID have a small cafeteria bistro!!!" Malik suddenly announced.

"Well, let's go!" Marik said.

"Did everyone bring money?" Ahmose asked, looking around, particularly at Bakura who had earned the position of pack mooch.

Bakura chuckled. "Nope." he said shrugging. "As if you had to ask."

Ryou squeaked his toy and grinned. "If it's food, then lets eat it!" he said happily. "I'm hungry."

Otogi laughed and shook his head. "I'll cover Bakura." he said rolling his eyes.

"Ryou, leave that toy here, okay?" Marik said. "We'll come back and get it, I promise. But they might recognize it inside..."

"NO!" Ryou said quite...viciously. "MY TOY!" he thundered and clutched it tightly. "MINE!"

Marik blinked and looked at the others, pulling a twenty out of his pocket. "Um... maybe you should just bring us back something..." He chuckled, and Ahmose grinned, taking the bill.

"Sure thing." He said, and the group walked off. Marik smiled and shook his head, looking at Ryou.

"You are too cute..."

Ryou snapped at him, which looked incredibly funny and cute seeing as he was a human. "Mine..." he growled.

Marik laughed. "Of course it is. I wouldn't take your toy from you!" He said, hugging Ryou and nuzzling his cheek.

Ryou growled softly, and went back to squeaking his toy. "Why cant I go eat with them?"

"Because you won't put down the toy. Don't you think it would be suspicious if a teenaged boy walked into the cafeteria squeaking a squeak toy that had belonged to the wolf that just went missing this morning?" Marik asked.

Ryou grinned. "Nope."

Marik blinked, then chuckled and shook his head. "I love you..." He said, kissing Ryou's cheek. "You're acting like yourself already..." And he leaned back and began telling Ryou more about their relationship.

Ryou wrinkled his nose. "Hmm..." he laid down and squeaked his toy. "I'm hungry..."

Marik smiled and lay down with Ryou, hugging him. "Ahmose will bring you food." He said, kissing the top of Ryou's head.

Ryou squirmed away slightly. "You're snuggly...It's weird..."

"Weird? Why?" Marik asked.

Ryou shrugged. "I dunno...you're just...cuddly all over me and...well I hardly know you." Ryou said after a moment. "It's weird."

"Oh..." Marik mumbled. "Sorry..."

Ryou went back to squeaking his toy. "Why did you come here for me?" he asked after a moment, yawning. "Why did you let ...Takeru? Why did you let him hurt me?"

"I didn't LET him..." Marik said softly. "He brought help... Rex attacked me and pulled me away when Takeru hurt you... I tried to get to you... I tried to save you, but..." He sighed and shook his head. "And I came here because I'm in love with you, and I want you to be my mate..."

Ryou yawned again. "Doesn't seem like you're very strong then...if some other wolf took you down. I want a strong mate...if it's going to be a boy. Strong and big!"

Marik frowned. "I was caught off guard..." He said softly. "It wasn't supposed to happen..."

"You dont look very strong or big.." Ryou said after a moment squeaking his toy.

Marik frowned. "I'll get stronger..." He told Ryou.

Ryou grunted. "A strong mate is attractive." Ryou said after a moment.

"... you don't think I'm attractive?" Marik asked, looking very down.

Ryou shrugged. "You're not strong." he said squeaking his toy. "I just met you too, why should I think you're attractive?"

Marik drooped and sighed, and said nothing. A few moments later, the group came back.

"I brought a roast beef sandwich and a turkey sandwich." Ahmose said. "Who want's what?"

Ryou perked up. "BEEF!" he called loudly, snatching it and beginning to eat it.

Otogi laughed. "I guess Marik gets turkey."

Ahmose smiled and offered the sandwich to Marik.

"Um... maybe later..." The blonde mumbled. "The, uh... the crackers filled me up." Ahmose blinked and frowned a bit, but nodded and sat down, setting the sandwich aside, deciding not to pry.

Ryou calmly ate his sandwich, and after a few moments, started in on Marik's. He finished and smiled, sighing contently before squeaking his toy again, patiently waiting with the other 'wolves' for the boat.

Marik blinked as his stomach gurgled, but Ryou's squeak toy covered the noise. Marik rubbed his stomach. IT may be hungry, but HE wasn't. Finally, Ahmose stood.

"There." He said. "Let's go."

Ryou got up with the others, his squeaking intensified with his curiosity. As they neared the dock, he caught the attention of Megumi inadvertantly with the squeaking.

She quickly rushed over.

"Where did you get that?!" she gasped, reaching for the toy. Marik grabbed her hand, quickly.

"He found it on the ground." He said, softly. "Don't try to take it from him... he um... he's a bit... off. He'll get VERY upset if you try to take it..." He said. She blinked.

Ryou blinked and grinned at Megumi. "Hi!" he chirped, squeaking the toy more.

Marik snickered. "We, um... have to get him home for his nap before he gets tired and cranky." He said, and Megumi blinked.

"Didn't I see you all yesterday?" She asked.

"Yeah. We, uh... we came back to see more." Marik said with a smile and a shrug. "Um... HE," He pointed at Ahmose, "has a research paper to do for one of his sciences."

"Uh... yeah. I dragged them along with me." Ahmose said with a grin.

Ryou grinned at Megumi again. "They can talk too! I thought I was the only one." he said proudly. "When the brown one wouldn't talk to me, I was sure I was doing something wrong!"

Megumi blinked. "Ah, we better get your brother home, Bakura..." Ahmose said, elbowing Bakura. "He's talking funny again." And Marik smiled at Megumi.

"Thanks again! This place is SO cool!" He said, and pushed Ryou onto the ferry.

Ryou waved. "Bye nice lady! I'll come back soon so you don’t worry about me!" he called over his shoulder as they herded him onto the ferry.

"Ryou..." Marik said. "What did I tell you about NOT drawing attention to yourself with the squeaky?!"

Ryou squeaked it. "I didn't." he said squeaking it more. "She was saying goodbye to me." he said smiling. "I like her."

Marik sighed. "Well, no harm done." He said as they took their seats, and a few minutes later, the ferry left the dock. Marik smiled and draped an arm around Ryou, smiling him.

Ryou squirmed away slightly, yelping when the boat started moving. He grinned and peered over the edge and watched the water. "ooohh!"

Marik chuckled and watched Ryou watch the water. Ahmose raised his eyebrows in an amused smile and looked over at Bakura.

Bakura rolled his eyes, relaxing. "Kids.." he mumbled yawning. "Ahh...I cant wait to get home, shower and lay down. My back is killing me."

Ahmose chuckled. "You're not a wolf. You're a pampered house dog. A PET!!!"

"The pot calling the kettle black." Bakura retorted. "You fawn over Yami, and he pets his little puppy."

Ahmose gave Bakura a look. "Yes, and Ishizu swats you on the ass when you mess up the furniture."

"Yami swats you on the ass to make you moan." Bakura countered smirking.

Ahmose's eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he turned bright red, and Malik and Otogi burst out laughing.

Bakura smirked. "I think we're both 'pampered house pets'." he said smugly.

Ahmose snorted. "I am NOT a house pet." He grumbled, folding his arms and glowering at nothing in particular. Then he smirked. "If sleeping on the ground hurt your back, maybe old age is just affecting you early."

"If getting fucked hurts your back, maybe old age is affecting YOU early." Bakura countered smirking.

Ahmose sighed and rubbed his forehead. "YOU try doing nothing but getting fucked for nearly a week..." He grumbled.

"Been there done that." Bakura said hugging Malik and laughing with his lover. "We both quite enjoyed it."

Ahmose snorted and rolled his eyes. "You two aren't wolves, you're rabbits."

"Must make you and Yami jackrabbits." Bakura laughed.

Ahmose rolled his eyes. "No, it makes YAMI a jackrabbit."

"Oh then you're just his humping toy?" Bakura laughed more.

Ahmose whirled and swatted Bakura with a warning growl, letting him know that he was running out of patience with the timber wolf.

Bakura growled back slightly. "get off my case, and I'll get off yours."

Ahmose snarled, then smirked. "Maybe it's just my poor parentage, but I thought as your soon-to-be-alpha, I'm SUPPOSED to get on your case..."

"You aint alpha yet, so you aint got a place in my business." Bakura said glaring. "So butt out."

Ahmose smirked. "YET being the word." He said, ruffling Bakura's hair before closing his eyes and leaning back, relaxing.

"Ahmose, quit pulling rank before you're even IN the rank..." Marik laughed, turning.
Ahmose just smiled and flicked his fingers, saying 'I'm done.'

The boat ride continued in relaxed silence, Ryou contently watching the water and enjoying the breeze. Once they reached the shore, they disembarked and Ryou squeaked his toy. "So...where are we going now?"

Marik sighed. "Well... I think, since it's day time and Takeru will be at work, I'll take you to YOUR house so you can try to remember." He said.

Ryou blinked. "My house?" He looked unsure. "Are you sure you're telling the truth?"

Marik smiled. "Of course!" He said. "Um... hopefully the door has been replaced..." He muttered, then at Ryou's look, explained. "Takeru broke into your house to kill you because he found out I was in love with you. We knew he would be coming so we spent the night elsewhere and have been since living in a hotel room waiting for the next full moon when Ahmose will overthrow his father, Takeru, and take the position of Alpha. When that happens, we will be safe to be together."

Ryou blinked nodding slowly. "Can I go back now? I dont want to be killed."

Marik blinked. "Ryou, just give it a CHANCE!!!"

"Besides." Malik said. "Takeru isn't hunting you right now."

"He isn't?" Marik asked.

"No. He's waiting until after Hunter's Moon to kill you two. He's decided that Ahmose has to go, first." Malik said.

"Great." Ahmose grumbled. "Love you too, Dad..."

Ryou grinned. "Oh good, then I suppose I can stay." He said smiling. "Alright...I guess lets go then."

Marik rolled his eyes, but smiled and chuckled and led Ryou to Ahmose's car. They all piled in and Ahmose took Marik and Ryou to Ryou's house first, sending them on their way with a 'good luck.' Then, Marik took Ryou up to the front door.

Ryou blinked and looked at it, tilting his head to the side. "It's very...big." he said after a moment. "and this was mine?"

"Well... it's the house your father bought when he moved you to Japan... but he hasn't been home since he left on a dig only two weeks after you came here to Japan." Marik said, and swiped the key from under the doormat, letting them in. To his surprise, the place had been cleaned. He frowned and sniffed, and was surprised to pick up Mikado's scent, but the pup hand't been here in at least four days.

Ryou blinked and smiled. "looks nice." he dropped to all fours, changing to wolf before he'd even hit the carpeting. He squirmed out of his clothes, shaking out and sniffing around.

Marik chuckled. "Ryou, stop that. Come back so we can talk. Please?"

Ryou snorted. 'I can hear you.' he hopped onto the sofa and stretched, laying down. 'I can hear you just fine.'

Squeeeee!

Marik rolled his eyes. "Well... wouldn't you at least like to see yourself the way you are meant to be? A human? Come on... there's a mirror over here on the wall... Oh, and..." He chuckled and walked over, shoving Ryou off of the couch. "No wolves on the sofa. YOUR rule that you always enforce with ME."

Ryou blinked and shook out. 'fine.' he grumbled and changed back to human, looking upset. "Where's the mirror?"

Marik smiled and sighed. "Gods, you're beautiful..." He said, and gently ushered Ryou over to the mirror. "There... your name is Ryou Bakura. You're sixteen years old, and a Sophomore in High School with TOP grades. You have a father... and once had a mother and sister... but they were taken from you in a car crash ten years ago... You look like your mother..."

Ryou blinked at his reflection gazing at himself for a long time in silence. "I look...like a girl." he said after a moment.

Marik smiled. "I think you look like perfection..." He said softly, laying his hands on Ryou's shoulders and staring at his reflection with overwhemling adoration.

slowly a blush spread over Ryou's features. "Me?" he asked after a moment. "I'm not perfect. I'm just a pup!"

Marik smiled and wrapped his arms around Ryou's shoulders with a sigh. "You're a beautiful young man who will soon be in your prime." He said. "And I hope to be there to watch you grow every day into a full grown wolf."

Ryou blinked and looked sad for a moment. "I suppose..." he said sighing. "Why would you want that? What if I never love you again? What if I never know you again? I cant be that..."

“I am confident that you will remember.” Marik said, gently running his hands up and down Ryou’s arms. “It… it’s not fair that just as soon as I get you, I lose you… I won’t let that happen…”

"You already did lose me." Ryou said wrinkling his nose. "I dont know you."

Marik sighed, but smiled and hugged Ryou. "But you're here... I haven't lost you completely..." He said, kissing Ryou's cheek. "So I still have hope. Come on. Let's go to your room and get you into the shower."

Ryou pulled away once more shaking his head. "Stop that...I dont like it." he said shaking his head, looking fearfully upset. "Stop hugging and kissing all over me. I dont know you! I dont know anything about you, and I dont like being coddled all over! I feel like someone who's marriage was pre-determined! I dont like it!"

Marik blinked, then gulped and removed himself from Ryou, backing away a few steps. "Okay..." He said, softly. "Come... come on then..." And he led Ryou up the stairs. "These are pictures of you and your family..."

Ryou looked over some of the pictures as they walked, frowning. He sighed and hung his head. They were pictures of him...but it felt wrong...it felt wrong to be here, when those images didn't bring memories with them. It was like watching someone else's life, in their body.

He looked back up at some of the pictures. The last hanging on the wall was near his room, and the bathroom. It was a beautiful pale haired woman, taken in portrait styles, holding a baby. He blinked and tilted his head to the side looking at it.

Marik paused and looked back at Ryou. He blinked, then walked over to him. "That's your mother." He said. "You told me her name was Reiko." He smiled and pointed at the baby. "That's you."

Ryou blinked more and continued looking at the picture. "She's very pretty."

Marik smiled. "And you look so much like her." He said.

Ryou frowned, continuing to gaze at the picture. "I dont think so."

Marik blinked. "You don't? Sure you do! Why would you think that?"

Ryou looked away from the picture. "Because she's a girl, and I'm a boy."

Marik smiled. "But you still look like her." He said. "Come on. The bathroom is here. I'll bring you some clothes."

Ryou went into the bathroom and sat on the counter and sighed. That picture bothered him. There was something about it....

A moment later, Marik walked in and handed Ryou some clothes with a smile. "Here... do you need help, or can you remember how to work the shower?"

Ryou blinked and frowned. "Ummm..."

Marik smiled and went over to the shower, turning it on and adjusting the temperature. "There... do you want me to leave?"

Ryou nodded. "Yes." he said looking at Marik and wrinkling his nose.

Marik smiled and gave Ryou a nod, then left, closing the door quietly behind him.

Ryou bathed, and after some interesting stuggles, managed to dress. He peered out and looked around. "You can turn it off now." he called.

Marik smiled and walked in, and showed Ryou how to do it. "Are you hungry?" Marik asked, kindly.

Ryou shook his head. "No, I'm just gonna go get some sleep." he mumbled yawning.

Marik smiled. "Do you want to sleep alone in your bed? Or with me in OUR bed... um... kind of our bed..."

"Alone please." Ryou said after a moment. "I dont sleep with strangers..."

Marik sighed, but nodded and led Ryou to his room. "I guess there was no point in your getting dressed then." He said, watching Ryou strip to his boxers and climb in bed. Marik sighed and smiled and tucked Ryou in. "When you wake, I'll be in the room at the end of the hall, okay? Sleep well..." And he kissed Ryou's forehead.

Ryou growled at him slightly and curled up back to Marik. "Stop that." he mumbled.

Marik winced. "I'm sorry..." He said softly. "I can't help it... I'll go now..." He mumbled, and shuffled from the room, closing the door softly.

At that same time, a certain alpha-to-be was returning to his 'hotel room'. He was going to have a chat with Yami, but found the room to be empty.

Ahmose sighed, not at all surprised. He calmly turned and climbed into his car, a devious smirk forming across his face. His heart pounded as he suddenly came to the idea that it was time to turn the tables on Yami... He drove to the game shop and sniffed around. Yami had been here recently. The question was... was he still here? Ahmose parked his car and headed around to the side of the yard where many trees grew. He easily climbed up a certain one, placing himself outside of Yami's bedroom window, hidden from view in the shadows on the branch he chose to perch on.

It took three hours of waiting, and the sky was dark, before Yami actually returned to the game shop. Walking alone at night! Shame him! He was carrying a large duffle bag of something, and walked calmly down the street as though he didn't even know about the dangers that existed at night.

Ahmose snorted and crept along the branch, forcing open Yami's window (that Yami always kept unlocked cuz he liked to open and close it numerous times during the night, the oddball) and closed it, then slipped behind the open door of the closet (something Yami NEVER closed for some reason) leaving a nice little triangle of space between the door, and the corner where two walls met. Then, Ahmose waited.

Yami slowly approached the room, and just as he was about to enter he stopped, turned and walked right back downstairs. Damn him! Once downstairs he chuckled to himself. Ahmose was in his room. He'd seen some of that long black hair through the door. He'd forgotten to braid it back to hide it. He snickered softly, and sent poor Yugi up to his room to fall into Ahmose's trap in his place.

Yugi turned and looked at Yami. "Go into your room? What the hell for?" He asked, looking at Yami suspiciously.

"I forgot to grab something at the hotel and need to run back real fast. Could you grab my keys so you and grandpa dont have to wait up for me?" he asked shrugging. "I'll give you one of my Dark Magician Girl cards in exchange for it."
Yugi rolled his eyes. "Oh, fine..." He grumbled and walked up the stairs and into Yami's room. Ahmose raised his eyebrows and smiled, shaking his head, amused as he found Yugi's scent reaching his nose. So... Yami was onto him... Yugi grabbed Yami's keys and trotted out of the room and down the stairs, and Ahmose slipped out o his hiding place in favor of another... a very... surprising one...

Yami smiled and thanked Yugi, trotting right back outside, though this time he didn't have his duffle bag. He walked right back down the street for a while, calmly.

Ahmose, in the meantime, relaxed calmly in his hiding place, quite comfortable. Eventually, Yami would come back. And Ahmose was quite content to wait for him... hell, he may even catch a quick nap. The game had begun...

Yami walked to the corner store, and bought something, It took nearly an hour before he finally returned, walking back down the street.

Ahmose was still in his hiding place, and getting a bit drowsy. He yawned and lightly closed his eyes, waiting. He would wake up if someone entered the room.

Finally, the long awaited entrance of Yami. He entered, and flopped down on his bed, smirking to himself, hands in his pockets.

Ahmose smirked, hearing Yami. He waited.

After a moment Yami laughed. "Come on out Ahmose, I know you're there." he called loudly.

Yugi blinked as he walked by, on the way to his own room. "Yami, have you gone nuts?" He asked.

Yami shrugged. "Suppose so." he said continuing to lay on his bed. "Not any more nuts than you though."

Yugi snorted and went on his way. "Riiight..." He called back. A moment later, the door in their adjoining bathroom opened as Yugi walked into it. "I'm taking a shower." He said, closing Yami's door. Yami heard the shower turn on. Suddenly, there was a high pitched, bloodcurdling scream. Then, the door flew open, and Yugi, buck naked, bolted out of the bathroom and leapt right on top of Yami, screaming hysterically.

"THERE'S A MONSTER IN THE TOWEL CABINET!!! THERE'S A MONSTER IN THE BATHROOM!!!"

Yami laughed hysterically. "And you called me nuts!" he shoved Yugi off after consoling him, and went to 'investigate the monster'.

Yami opened the towel cabinet... but nothing was there...

"It's gone Yugi!" he called back, leaving the bathroom and shaking his head. "I didn't see any monsters."

Yugi whimpered and slowly crept in, eyes wide and apprehensive. But suddenly, they got wider, staring over Yami's shoulder, and he screamed again, then slammed the bathroom door and ran. Before Yami could do anything, a furry arm wrapped around him, and a paw covered his mouth, jerking him back and right into the shower, getting him soaking wet. There was a rough chuckle behind him.

"That was TOO funny..." came the rough, gravelly voice that for a moment, Yami didn't recognize.

Yami chomped down on said hand and busted out his purchase from the corner store, squirting the foamy contents all over his 'attacker.' Shaving cream.

Ahmose howled and held up his arms, changing to his human form aside from his tail, which was wagging as he laughed, grinning. But he quickly swatted the can from Yami's hand, shoved him up against the wall and kissed him, then just let his forehead rest on Yami's shoulder as he chuckled, Yami's shirt still fisted in his hands.

Yami shook his head chuckling. "You ass, scaring little kids." he said shaking his head.

Ahmose smiled and looked up at Yami. "ME ass? You're the one who sent Yugi in as bait when you knew I was in your ROOM!!!"

Yami laughed more. "I can do that to my brother, we're brothers." he said amusedly. "So what are you doing here?"

Ahmose sighed and started helping Yami peel off his wet clothes (Ahmose was already naked). "Well... we found Ryou." He said. "And we got him back... but... He has amnesia, Yami. He thought he was just a normal wolf... we got him to change to his human form, but... he doesn't remember Marik... Marik's really trying hard but... I dunno... I watched him struggling with Ryou not remembering him and... I wanted to be near you so bad..."

Yami smirked. "What happened to not liking my attitude?"

"I'm still annoyed with you... but I still love you..." Ahmose murmured, nibbling Yami's ear.

Yami chuckled and gently shoved Ahmose off with a kiss. "Well, I was thinking I'd let you keep your little word of masturbation." he said snickering. "I've had my fill of fucking you, you can hardly walk as it is."

Ahmose grinned. "Werewolf healing. I'm fine." He said. "And I don't care if you don't wanna fuck me right now, I just wanna be with you."

Yami swatted Ahmose but smiled. "Alright fine..." he said sighing. "Just stop scaring my kid brother." he said kissing his dark haired lover. "and next time you're gonna try to 'catch me' you might want to braid your hair."

Ahmose chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind..." He mumbled.

Yami laughed once more and stepped out of the shower. "Come to bed, Yugi called the shower first." He said offering Ahmose a towel, and grabbing one for himself.

Ahmose laughed. "Will your grandfather be okay with that?" He asked.

"Yeah he's fine with it." Yami said shrugging. "As long as we aren't waking him up or something. You know Grandpa." He took Ahmose's hand and lead him from the bathroom.

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

Meanwhile, a pale youth had finally decided he wasn't getting any sleep, and got out of bed, creeping into the hallway to gaze once more at the picture that haunted him so....his mother.

Down the hall, Marik was curled up in the guest bed, fast alseep and snoring.

Ryou sighed softly and carefully picked the picture off of the wall, and walked to the livingroom, sitting down and staring into the woman's eyes. She...felt familiar. It scared him, and drew him into the picture, that this woman he'd never known, was so familiar.

He closed his eyes for a moment, sighing.

After a moment, something began to form in his mind... A kitchen... little hands in cookie dough, and a woman... his mother, laughing and telling him not to eat it all or they wouldn't have any cookies for Santa.

Ryou whimpered, eyes snapping open, dropping the picture to the floor, the glass cracking when the framestruck the carpet. He shook his head, staring at the picture and scooting away from it.

But that didn't stop the memories. Suddenly another came to him, of the woman smiling down at a little boy in bed, petting his hair as he drifted off to sleep... and another...

"Mommy, whacha drinkin?"

"Coffee."

"Can I have some?" A laugh.

"Why sweetie?"

"Smells good."

"Okay then..." A little boy sipped the stuff, then shuddered and made a face, opening his mouth and letting it dribble out. The laughter again... "Lemme make you some little boy coffee, hmm?" Then a man walking in.

"What's going on?"

"We're having coffee, dear."

"Ryou? He's drinking coffee?"

"Shhh... he's having cocoa. It's the little boy coffee..."

"Ah... Sounds good, I think I'll join you and your mom then, little man."

"Okay, daddy!"

Ryou gasped and shook his head more, clutching it and whimpering. Tears were welling up in his eyes. "stop..." he whined softly trying to get away from the foreign memories as they washed over him. He was getting more and more frightened...frightened of his memories...frightened of who he was, and what he'd forgotten. What about the other wolves? What about the nice lady? What about home!?

But the memories rushed in. More and more and more... Ryou couldn't stop him. And then, the final memory... a beautiful morning... birds were singing. The smell of flowers and freshly cut grass and freshly dug earth was in the air... But there, the joy stopped. A group of people stood around two graves, one large, one small, and white coffins that fit... The man from Ryou's memories, his father, was holding a little boy who was clutching a pair of lillies. He carried him over to the coffins, and the little boy laid a lilly down on each. "Daddy? When will mommy and Amane come back?" the little boy asked. The man gave him a sad smile and bowed his head, hugging his son. "Shhh..."

Ryou shook his head more sobbing and holding his head. he turned into a wolf and bolted back to his room, hiding under the bed and whimpering. It hurt...his heart hurt...

A few moments later, there were golden paws padding into the room, and then Marik crawled under the bed, whimpering. 'What's wrong?' He asked, licking Ryou's ears.

Ryou whined softly burying his face in his paws. 'it hurts...' he snuffled nosing over to his squeaker and chewing it half-heartedly.

Marik nuzzled Ryou. 'What hurts?'

Ryou gave Marik a crushed look. 'stop..' he laid his head down. 'leave me alone...I dont like it..I dont like remembering...take me home...'

Marik froze. 'W-What? Already?! But... Ryou... Please... please remember more...'

'I dont want to!' Ryou whined louder. 'I dont like it! it hurts my heart!'

Marik looked at Ryou. 'And if you leave it will hurt MY heart...'

Ryou sighed and shook his head. 'I dont like it...' he covered his head with his paws. 'I dont like it at all...'

'But Ryou... I... what do you remember?' Marik asked.

Ryou sniffled. 'mother..' he looked away. 'I want to go home.'

'You remember your mother?' Marik asked.

Ryou whimpered softly and nodded.

'.... everything?'

Ryou sniffled slowly and shook his head. 'I dunno..I...I remember mother...'

'What about her?' Marik asked, nuzzling Ryou.

Ryou squirmed away. 'stop it.' he growled defensively, looking very upset. 'I dont want to!'

Marik sighed and laid his head down, staring at Ryou. 'If you resist it every step of the way, it will only make it harder.’

'I want to go home.' Ryou said after a moment. 'You just want me here so YOU can be happy!'

'... You were happy with me...' Marik whimpered, laying his ears back.

Ryou shook his head. 'I'm not happy right now!' Ryou whined shaking his head. 'I dont know where I am or who I am a-and I just want to go back where I know I'm safe!'

Marik stared, and drooped. 'As you wish... get dressed...' He mumbled, and slunk out from under the bed and out the door.

Ryou crawled out from under the bed and changed back, getting dressed shakily. He whimpered and sniffled, tears running down his cheeks. He didn't want to hurt the blonde wolf...but he was terrified, and just wanted the familiarity of home...

Marik was also dressed, sitting on the sofa downstairs, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.

Ryou peered out at him. "O-ok..." he said softly.

Marik jerked his head up and looked at Ryou. He opened his mouth to answer, but closed it after a moment and just nodded, standing. "Come on, then." He mumbled, and led Ryou over to the door and out. "...What... what do I tell your father when he comes home and finds you gone?"

Ryou blinked. "I dunno. I suppose you could say I left." he said after a moment.

Marik sighed and shook his head, then led Ryou down the street. A few blocks away, he stopped, looking at the restaurant they had gone to that first night they met.

"Would you like to get something to eat before you go back?" He asked.

Ryou looked at Marik nervously. "I...I guess..." he said after a moment.

Marik smiled weakly and nodded, leading Ryou to the restaurant, and requested the table they had been at before. He smiled at Ryou when they sat down.

Ryou looked around, looking just as frightened as he'd ever looked. "Why are you being nice to me?"

Marik looked at Ryou. "Why would I not?" He asked softly, not opening the menu.

"Because all I want to do is go home." Ryou replied looking down. "I..I dont like it...I want to be where...things are familiar..." he sniffled and wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry..."

"I'm being nice to you because I can't bear to hurt you. Which is... why I'm taking you back..." Marik said softly.

Ryou nodded slowly. "You...could stay with me..." he said softly. "If you like me that much."

Marik sighed. "I doubt they would let us..." Marik said. "They kept certain breed separated. They would keep you with other Arctic wolves and me with Arabian wolves... like how they keep the red wolves together and the Mexican wolves together... If you go back, we won't be able to be together. At all." Marik said. "But... if you want to go back, I will take you back." The waitress arrived, and Marik ordered the same thing that he had ordered last time.

Ryou ordered the same as Marik. "But...I'm the ONLY arctic wolf." Ryou said blinking as the waitress left.

"They said that they were gonna get a female for you." Marik said. "You... you can have a mate... and someday, pups..." Marik said, forcing a smile.

Ryou smiled dreamily. "I look forward to a mate..." he said closing his eyes and sighing. "It would be nice..."

Marik winced and looked down quickly, biting his lip and wringing his hands under the table. It was taking everything he had just to hold it together.

Ryou sighed once more and set his squeaker down on the table. "You...could stay with me. You'd be safe there...that wolf that hurt me wouldn't hurt you there, and you could be happy..."

Marik shook his head. "No... my place is here with my pack... I am a werewolf... I can't live as a man, or a wolf. I am both. I have to live as both. I can't if I go with you."

Ryou blinked but nodded. "Oh...well...alright then." He said looking out the window. "I'm sorry."

"... So am I..." Marik said softly, and the waitress returned and set their steaks down before them.

Ryou picked it up, and began eating ravenously. Disregarding even the silverware.

Marik's eyes widened. "RYOU!" He hissed.

Ryou blinked and looked confused. "Huh?"

Marik sighed. "Fork and knife, Ryou."

Ryou blinked and took another bite of the steak before putting it down and licking his hands.

Marik sighed and rolled his eyes, leaning back in his seat and just watching Ryou, his own meal untouched.

Ryou picked up his fork and stabbed it into the steak, eating it.

Marik sighed again, and continued watching Ryou. He didn't even remember his own meal anymore... and besides... for the second time that day, he found that while his STOMACH was desperately hungry, he himself was not.

Ryou finished his meal quickly and looked absolutely content, even bordering on sleepy. "Mmmm..." he cooed yawning.

Marik smiled, sadly. He didn't want to speak... He didn't want to move. He just wanted to sit here and stare at Ryou. To be in his presence forever.

"You didn't eat..." Ryou said after a moment. "Aren't you hungry?"

Marik blinked. "What? Oh... um... no. No, I'm not hungry..." He said quietly, and sipped his water.

Ryou blinked. "You should eat." he said after a moment. "You havent eaten since this before I met you. You're only making yourself weaker."

"I'm fine." Marik mumbled in a muted tone. "If... if you want it..."

Ryou snatched it eagerly and began eating once more.

The corners of Marik's mouth twitched in a shadow of a smile, and he watched Ryou devour the steak.

Ryou finished that one as well and shook his head a bit, picking up his squeaky. "Full..." he mumbled, looking serene.

Marik smiled slightly and nodded, but said nothing. He knew it was time to pay and leave.

Ryou stretched and got up after Marik had paid and trotted outside yawning once more. "Hnnn..." he mumbled as they walked. "Home..." he yawned again.

Marik stuffed his hands in his pocket and closed his eyes, inhaling Ryou's scent deeply, knowing he may never do so again.

Ryou grinned. "I cant wait to get home...My little den...the nice lady..." he yawned. "So sleepy, I'll end up sleeping all day!"

Marik sighed and just walked, leading Ryou back to the dock where the ferry was. When they got there, he purchased a single ticket, then turned to Ryou and placed it in his hands. "Here..." He whispered.

Ryou smiled brightly and took it. "Thank you." he said softly. "You...can always come and visit me." he said after a moment. "So you wont miss me. I'll always be there."

Marik forced a pained smile and nodded. "Yeah... you better... get on the ferry... it leaves in a few minutes... And this is the last trip..."

Ryou nodded and turned hurrying through the turnstyles. "Bye bye!" he called from the otherside. "Dont forget me! I'll wait for you!"

Marik bit his lip to stop it from shaking and waved back, his last sight of Ryou blurring with tears. By the time he had blinked them away, Ryou was out of sight.

There was a loud horn, signaling that the boat was disembarking, and Marik's eyes caught the boat, as it began its journey back to the island Ryou called home. Among the few other passengers, was a small patch of unmistakable white hair.
This time Marik could not stop the trembling in his lower lip, and he turned and bolted from the dock, fleeing as fast as he could without changing forms in public, tears blurring his vision. He ended up at the hotel he and Ryou had stayed at. He packed their stuff and checked out, paying, tossing their bags in a dumpster outback, then, after checking for Security cameras, he undressed and flung his clothes into the dumpster as well, changed to his wolf form, then picked up his wallet in his mouth and ran. Fifteen minutes later, he was burying his wallet in the park at the base of his favorite tree. Then he flopped down, shaking, and stared at an ant, struggling through the grass.

The ant was carrying a large crumb, and doing it's best to make it home. After minutes, the poor creature made it to it's friends, who helped carry the large crumb into the hole.

'What the hall are you doing?' came the bark next to him. A white timberwolf was giving Marik an odd look. 'If Takeru sees you he's going to kill you.'

Marik slowly raised his eyes. 'Don't have anywhere to go.'

'Where's the runty human?' Bakura asked looking around. 'He have to take a leak?'

Marik winced and turned away. 'He... went back. To the sanctuary.'

Bakura blinked. 'You let him? Why the hell did we even bother getting him if you were just going to send him back at night?! Gods Marik.' Bakura hit him with a paw. 'Fucking waste of time.'

Marik just sighed again. 'The more he remember, the more scared he got. All he kept asking me was 'take me back, take me back, take me back.' And I promised him that if he asked, I would take him back. So I did. Sorry to waste your time, Bakura.'

'Fucking humans.' Bakura snorted scratching behind his ear and shaking his head out. 'And what about you? What are you going to do? Just lay here and wait to die?'

'No.' Marik sighed again. 'I'm gonna wait for Hunter's Moon. Ahmose will need all the help he can get. I'll be there to support him. After that... I don't know what I'm gonna do...'

Bakura flicked his ears. 'It's a blessing in disguise Marik. With that human out of the way, you can pick a real mate.'

'Sure. Whatever...' Marik mumbled, curling up.

'Well no one was behind you on this. It was dumb.' Bakura laid down and sniffed some of the grass. 'Plus, I don’t think Ahmose will let you turn another human, which is perfect, because humans suck anyway.' Bakura wagged his tail. 'If you wanted someone young, why not wait on the bitch pups? They'll come of age soon enough.'

'... Ahmose was behind me.' Marik said softly. 'He's the only one that understands...'

'He's gonna find out just like you did. Humans don’t love us. Humans love humans. Not werewolves.' Bakura said after a moment. 'That kid had it made in the shade with that rich guy, and now he's gonna spend the rest of his days as a wolf in a sanctuary. If he could remember, he'd be kicking himself. Trading the cushy pillow life for a doghouse.'

'Shut up and go away...' Marik growled, laying his ears back. 'If he's happy, that's all that matters.'

Bakura's tongue lolled out in amusement. 'Don’t you understand? He's DAMNED. He's never going to be happy again.' Bakura got up and let out an amused bark. 'You just had to meddle in things you KNEW you shouldn't have. I don’t support Takeru in many things, but I think he's right in forbidding human mates. No one wants them here. Except you, and Ahmose. I hate to say it, but you're both wasting time.' He trotted away a bit.

'That kid's never coming back, and when the time comes, that Yami-guy isn't going to pick Ahmose. He's going to stay human. You'll see.’

Marik whirled and snarled loudly, ears back and teeth bared, his hackles raised. 'I don't want to see you again until Hunter's Moon!' He barked. 'Just stay the hell away from me, you bastard!!!'

Bakura laughed more. 'Trust me, I doubt you'd be any help to Ahmose.' he said with a flick of his tail. 'your own brother and sister agree with me. You were a dumbass to meddle with the humans. Ahmose will probably fall to his father, and you'll be next in line... and then prissy little Ryou gets to die too...'

Marik growled, getting up. 'Then so be it.' He snarled, then turned and padded away from Bakura, wanting nothing more than to get away from the timber wolf in that moment.

Bakura let out a howl of laughter. 'Takeru's gonna rip him up, he might even let you live long enough to watch, so the last thing the runt sees is your face before he dies! The ultimate betrayal! Precious blondie bringing the one who 'hurt him' to his safe little haven!'

Marik whirled, and charged Bakura with a furious roar, tackling him to the ground and slashing into him with teeth until he had the white wolf pinned. 'Takeru will not learn from ME where Ryou is!!! And he had BETTER not learn from YOU you fuckin' traitor!!! You let Ryou alone to live how ever he wants!!! SWEAR IT to me that you will NOT tell, or by the gods and all the Full Moons, I will KILL YOU RIGHT NOW!!!'

Bakura snarled and flipped Marik over him and charging, biting harshly on his neck. 'Please, I don’t need to tell Takeru where Ryou is. If an idiot like YOU can figure out where he is, Takeru can too.' Bakura flipped Marik to the ground and slashed his stomach. 'You're a fucking wuss. You couldn't kill me even if you wanted to. Then even your own brother would hate you...your own FAMILY would disown you. It's not my fault if the truth burns the widdle puppy.' he sneered.

Marik growled. 'I already am disowned...' He snarled, but it soon quieted. 'I've lost everything, Bakura. My pack, my family, my lover... and my best friend. Just leave me alone... I don't want to see you again... ever...' And he turned his back on Bakura and flopped down.

Bakura backed off at that. 'Fine. I'll tell Malik for you.' He said flicking his tail. 'If I were you, I'd get my pathetic mewling ass out of town. Takeru's going to find you soon...and I wont even bother trying to hide you. I'm done doing idiot errands and favors for you. You're too weak to even do your own shit.' he trotted off slowly. 'All I can do is laugh at that miserable damned one. Reduced to dogfood and squeakers. Choosing brainless wolf bitches over you. HA! You pick like a champ.'

Marik laid his ears back again and growled, but it turned into a miserable whine. '... I hate you...'

'You shouldn't. I'm the only person who would stand up and defend you, and be HONEST with you. Some just cant handle honesty I guess.' Bakura looked back. 'I dont tell you what you want to hear. I tell you what you need to hear. What the REALITY is. Ryou IS going to die. I wont tell where he is, but he will die. I give it a week after Hunter's moon, give or take.'

Marik frowned. 'There's a difference between honesty and cruelty... and ever since Ryou came into my life, you have been CRUEL. You are not the Bakura I knew... I don't know WHO you are... but you are NOT my friend.' Marik said. 'You sure sound like a traitor to me...' He turned and looked at Bakura. 'But if you wanna be honest, FINE. Who will you be supporting? Ahmose or Takeru? I thought you were going to support Ahmose. I'm not so sure anymore.'

Bakura flicked his tail pausing. 'I'm not sure. I thought I'd support Ahmose, I tried to be optimistic in the favor of humans...but your little bitch leaving you just makes me feel even more strongly that it's a bad idea. I might just skip the meeting that full moon. Support no one.'

Marik lay his ears back and stood again. 'You disgust me. You have no loyalty to anyone but yourself.' He snorted. 'You don't give a damn about who is counting on you... well, I may be an outcast... but at least I know where my loyalties lie. And I will be there Hunter's Moon, no matter the outcome.'

Bakura growled and turned back to face Marik. 'You have no right to talk about disgust. You've single-handedly managed to disgust the entire pack! Do you honestly think anyone but Ahmose even wants you THERE?!' he growled louder, hackles raising. 'I'm not the only one who wont be there. Your bother and sister aren't going as well. We dont want involved. We talked about it together. All of us. Ishizu and Malik and I agreed NOT to go. I doubt that pansy Otogi's goin to show either. Alpha fights should be between just the two of them. It's not a full-pack war. It's one wolf dominating the OTHER.'

'So... everyone is abandoning Ahmose.' Marik sighed, drooping. 'All the more reason for me to show up. It doesn't matter what happens to me... either way, Hunter's Moon will be my last night with the pack... I'll either die fighting by the one I beleive should be Alpha, or once Ahmose has established his leadership, I will leave. I know perfectly well that even if Ahmose is Alpha and wants me to stay, I am not welcome with the pack.'

'Marik, you wouldn't even last until the fight. The pack will tear you apart before that even happens. If you know what's best, if you have an OUNCE of brains in you you'll go somewhere safe. You refused to listen to me, to Malik, to Ishizu, to ANYONE up until now. After all this, dont you think it might be smart to actually LISTEN this time? Every decision you've made is wrong. It's time to make the right choice, and just leave with your life."

Marik looked at Bakura. 'What life?' He asked, then turned and walked away. 'I hope to see you Hunter's Moon. It will be the last time I ever see you... Take care of my brother, Bakura. I hope you two are happy together.'

Bakura sighed and shook his head. 'You'll never learn...' he said turning and walking away as well. 'goodbye Marik...'

Over the next week, the whole pack was tense. Everyone knew something was going to go down Hunter's Moon. They all knew that there would be blood that night. Many resolved not to go. When Takeru got wind of this, he sent the message around to the whole back that attendence WAS required, and anyone who DIDN'T show up would be seen as a traitor and put to death. Not many were happy, but Takeru had draw the line in the sand and was making his stand. And Ahmose was preparing to make his.

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

'Zephyr' was once again safely in his pen, chewing his squeaker. He'd hidden his clothes in a tree not long after arriving, and had been glad to get home. Though over the weeks he had began to wonder if his blonde friend WOULD ever come back to visit him. Even today, he'd been waiting patiently for the human friend he'd made to come visit...