AN: PLEASE READ THE AUTHOR NOTES! IT'S IMPORTANT!

Warning: this story contains strong language, violence, blood, and other things. "If you're over the age of 18 and have never heard the word "fuck" before...well you have now!"(3)

This story has a circus theme to it that was created by KitsuneKittis on deviantart. Look her up, her stuff is amazing!

This story is a fanfic based on her world and is NOT intended to be cannon to her stories seeing as I don't own the idea, I just had an idea based on her idea. A fanfic based on a fanbase of a fandom. Crazy, huh?

This story will likely also contain characters from a Wonderland themed universe created by ApocalypseSakura who is on deviantart as well. Look him up too. In fact look up their group: Shattered-Mirror-Me on deviantart. Very cool and awesome.

There will be yaoi references, mostly Thief King Bakura x Yami Marik. Mostly there will be awesome action happening with yaoi as a side-dish.

Oh, and I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh either. No one really does except Kazuki Takahashi.

With that out of the way, here's a little explanation:

Akefia (aka Thief King Bakura) = The Ringleader of the Nightmare Circus
Marik (aka Yami Marik) = Half human/half lion pet of the ringleader
Bakura (aka Yami Bakura) = Knife-thrower
Malik (aka Marik Ishtar) = Acrobat
Ryou (You know who I'm talking about this time) = Clown

If/When I get to the point of a Wonderland version of a Yu-Gi-Oh character appearing I'll explain them too. And if you really want to know what everyone looks like, go to deviantart(dot)com and look up KitsuneKittis, ApocalypseSakura, or just go straight into it and look up Shattered-Mirror-Me.

I'm posting two chapters now and then working on a chapter of this, Hikari to Yami no Enishi, or SideQuest. I won't tell you which one because even I don't know anymore. Too many ideas not enough typing speed.

Without further adieu, I hope you enjoy the story. And for the record, I'm posting each chapter on deviantart first in order to give the aforementioned creators of these themes a chance to poke me with knives if I get someone OOC. Just a heads up :3 *cough look up mysia-ri on deviant art cough cough*

The first thing Marik noticed upon waking was how badly he hurt. The next thing was that his mouth was dry, his throat burned, and his stomach felt empty. The lion groaned, rolling onto his side and noticing yet another thing wrong: he was sleeping on the ground, flat on his back. Lavender eyes cracked open and surveyed the unfamiliar dirt and grass, nose wrinkling at the unfamiliar smells that assaulted him.

"Good morning, my dear little lion."

A muscle twitched in his brow at the unfamiliar...no, vaguely familiar voice. His head tilted and he strained to focus on the person speaking to him. The man who smiled down at him wore an off-white suit with teal trim. His long hair was teal as well as his right eye, his left being a bright gold color. Around his neck hung a round, emerald pendant edged in gold with a six-pointed star design drawn on it in black. That symbol set off a few bells as well in the lion's mind, but he was finding it hard to think.

"Are you still feeling out of sorts?" the man asked, coming to stand closer to Marik as though he had nothing to fear. He didn't even seem fazed when the lion growled at him in warning, struggling to get to his feet. "Ah ah, you need to stay down. You'll hurt yourself." He paused, pursing his lips. "What's the last thing you remember? I was worried that with your fever you might have...forgotten some things."

'What is he talking about?' Marik wondered, grimacing as he racked his brain. The last thing he remembered was that it was nearing time to start practice and he had spotted someone snooping around. Feeling a bit frisky, the lion had chased after the intruder. After a little chase, the fool man had reached for a gun and Marik had lunched at the man and ripped out his throat. After that...

"Where's my master," he growled, hoping it came out as threateningly as he had intended it.

"Oh I was afraid you would ask that," the man tsked softly, kneeling down and reaching to scratch Marik behind an ear. The lion thrashed feebly, trying to twist around and bite the man's wrist. "Shh shh, Marik. You need to rest. Don't you remember? Akefia sold you to me."

Marik froze, staring up at the man as though he had told him that the sky were made of pudding.

"Bull fucking shit, where am I? Who the fuck are you?" the lion growled, trying to get up again but his arms didn't seem to have the energy.

"Hmm, I'll remind you. I don't mind. Five days ago(1), Akefia and I made the final deal. It took quite a bit of convincing and money. Honestly I'm surprised I was finally able to find his price." The man shook his head. "But you are here in my...museum, so to speak. Here you will be cared for and will never have to work or worry about being beaten. You'll just have to put up with a few patrons coming to marvel at your physique and unique qualities and will be well cared for. I know it will be a bit of an...adjustment, but you'll be happy here."

Marik knew the man was lying to him. He knew that Akefia would never abandon let alone sell anyone in his crew, least of all himself. Everything smelled wrong and this man was just begging to be torn to pieces.

And yet the words seemed to seep into his brain and twist his memory of the past few days, which were vague to begin with.

An image of his master brandishing his whip made Marik shake his head violently and he used what strength he had to twist and swipe his claws at the man's smiling face. The look of primal triumph replaced with shock and confusion when the smile remained on the man's lips.

"I brought you a small meal," the man informed him, reaching behind him and bringing forth a paper plate with a small, raw steak on it. "You haven't eaten since you fell ill. After three days, it's best to start small. I'll check in on you later, Marik. I promise you things will get better after you've eaten and fully recovered."

The lion brought his hand before him, curious to see if he had even scratched the man and his eyes widened.

"Oh that. Yes, well we couldn't tend to you while you were ill. You were flailing around and out doctor couldn't take your temperature let alone administer your treatment." He started walking away, pausing only a moment more. "Oh, because you seemed to have forgotten, my name is Dartz."

"How is he, master Dartz?"

Dartz, momentarily ignored the short-haired blond to drop into the leather chair behind his large, oak desk. He turned to look out the large windows that over looked his outdoor "museum". He had acquired in his time numerous creatures of all shapes and sizes. His prized attraction was a large sea creature he had dubbed "the Leviathan". There had been, to his knowledge, only one creature he had never been able to claim.

Some time ago he had stumbled onto the Nightmare Circus and taken in a show out of curiosity. He had to admit that Akefia's crew was impressive despite their small numbers. Even the clown had some appeal.

It was during the last act that Dartz saw something that shocked him. Marik, the strange man-lion. He had wondered how word of such a creature had never reached him and was filled with desire to possess it. He approached the ringleader after the show and made an offer, doubling, even quadrupling it when the tanned man had turned him down outright. It quickly became evident that continuing to pursue the matter would land him a place in the next show or worse. He made a quick apology and vanished into the night.

But he still wanted that lion. It became a obsession to him to find a means to claim him. He sent one of his men to find a way. It had taken months of planning and scheming before Dartz felt comfortable enough to make a move. True he had had to sacrifice one of his men for the job, but he had never been fond of Alister anyway. And Valon had succeeded.

"The drug seems to be working, but it will take several more doses to fully erase his memory of that annoying circus man," Dartz tsked, crossing his legs and leaning back in his seat. He held out a hand and a glass of wine was slipped between his fingers. He idly swirled the glass before taking a sip. "Has Valon reported?"

"Yes sir. They have noticed the lion's disappearance but don't seem to suspect foul play just yet. He's disposed of Alister's corpse as you ordered and will be attending their show this evening."

"It's been 28 hours(2)," Dartz mused. "Make certain to give Marik another dose while he's sleeping and tell him that whole little ditty we've composed."

"Is that-"

"Dangerous, yes yes," the teal haired man cut him off. "Raphael, he will be fine. We aren't giving him large doses yet and the sooner he forgets his circus life, the sooner we can open his exhibit for display. It's likely that circus man will find out his precious pet is in a freak show as soon as we start showing him off and it will be easier for us if he doesn't remember him, yes?"

"Yes sir," Raphael replied evenly, bowing slightly even though he was out of his master's line of sight. He turned to do as he was told and a smile spread on Dartz's lips.

AN: Oh snap! Marik's claws have been cut? Dartz must have a death wish :o

(1)Dartz just told Marik he's been sold to him five days ago. Wait for it...

(2)Dartz lied. It's only been 28 hours.

(3)That's a quote from an outtake special of Dragon Ball Z Abridged. If you've never head of DBZ Abridged, you must live under a rock. Go look it up! :3

Oh and yeah. I just killed off Alister. I'm sorry.