Mally-chan and Hato Chiisai
Disclaimer: We own nothing within this fic.
YAOI WARNING
Pegasus/Ryou, Marik/Ryou, Bakura/Malik, Seto/Yami
Chapter 1
"You know what the price of one of our kidnappings is..." the man said in a gruff yet hushed voice.
"Yes, I do." The other man said smoothly. "I want him. I'm willing to go to these lengths to have him forever."
The gruff man smirked. "You're sure? You know once it happens there's no undoing it. His genetics will be altered for life."
The smooth man nodded one amber eye flashing in the moonlight. "I'm prepared for that..." he said softly, looking away from the gruff man in thought. "Can I make a request however?"
The man nodded intrigued. "I don't think our scientists would care about a special request. Just make sure there is no tie to us."
The amber-eyed smooth talking man nodded. "Pick something suited to his demeanor...soft and gentle...cuddly and beautiful."
The other man chuckled and nodded, taking his leave. This was going to be a fun one. Who'd ever think Pegasus J. Crawford would ever hire an underground genetic altering kidnapping group to get someone for him?
Xxxxxx
Ryou yawned softly walking home from school. He'd stayed late to help Yugi and Jou with their cleaning duties. He had lost track of time though, when they finished and decided on a few quick games of duel monsters. Jou had only agreed on the condition Yami not give Yugi any playing tips, making the elder Mouto brother grumble softly and sit aside.
Ryou laughed softly at the image of Yami pouting. It was rare anymore that anyone agreed to play games with him. What was the point of playing the KING of games? It wasn't a challenge, it was massacre. Yami never blatantly beat the snot out of anyone, but he never lost, and it got terribly old.
The man smirked as he saw his target pass him...Ryou Bakura. "One white haired girly boy coming up." The man mumbled softly, quietly walking behind Ryou in a most normal manner.
Ryou frowned. He hated it when people walked behind him. He'd always felt uneasy. Ryou bit his lip and continued walking; forcing himself to swallow his fears and deal with it. He couldn't just demand all life NEVER walk behind him, it was unreasonable.
The man smirked broadly as they neared an alley. Just as Ryou was to pass it, he grabbed the youth in a headlock and pulled him into the alley, pulling a small metallic cylinder from his pocket.
Ryou struggled in fright. "Let me go! Who are you!" he gasped as his shirt was lifted and a cold metal came in contact with his side, before he felt a sharp sting, and struggled more fiercely. "NO! Stop it let me go!" he shrieked, feeling the drug pumping through his body, filling him with a dull burning sensation, and making his eyes droop closed.
"Stop..." he murmured, the last of his strength leaving him, his eyes closing and slumping into the arms of his captor.
"Now that wasn't so hard now was it?"
xxxxx
Ryou opened his eyes groaning softly. "Where am I?" he breathed, unable to stop the throbbing in his head. "Ohh..." he grunted, looking around dazedly, trying to identify his surroundings. He could smell the sanitizer in the room, it looked like a hospital. He shivered, realizing he was completely nude and strapped to a cool operating table. He bit his lip and forced himself not to panic. Someone must have taken him to the hospital after he'd been knocked out. He closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. "C-calm down, it's just a hospital..." he breathed so softly he hardly heard himself.
A door opened across the room, and an odd off tune whistling began, followed by a few assorted noises, such as the snap of rubber, and some glass clinking. The whistle briefly stopped and a muttering was heard, but then the whistling started up again.
"Awake yet over there?" Came a male voice.
Ryou squeaked softly and bit his lip, naturally uneasy. "U-um...y-yes." he said softly. "I...I would like to go home now...if that's alright." he stammered, squirming beneath the restraints. "So... i-if I could just have my clothes back, I can...find my way out." he added, looking around once more, hoping to find his clothes folded on a chair, or perhaps some other sign of comforts from a friend who had heard he was in a hospital.
"Sorry kiddo. No can do. For one, you'll be taken home when the time is right. And second, you will no longer have any need of clothes by that time." And the man walked into Ryou's view. He was wearing a white lab coat and had a stethoscope around his neck. He put the ear pieces in his ears and placed the cold metal plate on Ryou's chest, and listened for a moment, then nodded and wandered out of Ryou's view again.
Ryou blinked. "Of course I'll need my clothes!" he blurted. "I'll not be a streaker, and I want to go home now." he said a bit more boldly than he was feeling. "Keeping me here is against the law, you cannot hold a person unwilling, it's kidnapping." Ryou added, biting his lip. Forcing himself to swallow the building fear, as his mind was putting pieces he didn't want to fit together, together. "S-so please I'd just like to leave now."
"Sorry. Can't leave. And yes, you've finally guessed it. You've been kidnapped. Now shut up and let me work." And the man came back over, rolling some machines on wheels. He stuck some little wires onto Ryou's chest, abdomen, inner elbow and temple with some medical tape, and the monitors of the machines lit up with his pulse.
Ryou shook his head, eyes wide. "But... but why! You've no use for me! You can't just, just..." Ryou squirmed roughly, trying to free an arm, or a hand. "Let me leave! You can't possibly keep me here like this!" he bit back a whimper as fear freely washed over him. What would he do? "M-my friends will come looking for me, they'll notice I'm not there..." he breathed staring at the man, fear evident in his eyes. "They'll tell the police, I'll be found sooner or later."
The man smirked as he held up a needle, checking it, and then swabbed the inside of Ryou's elbow with some disinfectant.
"That's what they all say kid. But you won't be identifiable by the time I'm done with you. You won't even be human anymore by the time anyone finds you, IF anyone finds you. You've been specifically chosen. We picked you up on request. You may as well get used to the fact that your life is officially over, and you're going to have a new one." he slipped the needle into Ryou's arm once he had located a vein.
Ryou hissed in pain and glared at the man. "Not human? What are you going to do to me?" he said shaking his head, not liking the burning around the injected area. "Why me? Why me!" he demanded fearfully. "Why are you doing this?" he continued, the questions hitting him at a million miles an hour.
Who would have had this done to him? What were they intending on doing? Not human...He hated that phrase most of all. How could he not be human? "Who asked you to do this?"
"I'm afraid that the identity of the one who requested you must remain hidden for now." The man said. "But we were instructed to genetically alter you to take on characteristics of the animal that most suits you. And I think we found the perfect one. You will be one of our greatest successes, and with all of the screw ups with the birds, we really need a success right now for our own encouragement." he shuffled out of view for a moment, and then returned. He gently prodded the area around the needle. "Experiencing any burning sensation at all?" he asked, and Ryou gulped and nodded slightly. "Good. Just so you won't be alarmed, your senses will begin to leave you soon. It will take some time for you to regain them after the physical metamorphosis begins to take place."
Ryou shook his head. "W-why?" he breathed softly; sweat slowly forming over his body. It was so hot! He whimpered softly and tried to remain calm. "Please stop this... it hurts!" he whimpered, breathing beginning to pick up, as though he'd been working out in the sun for hours. "What is going to happen to me!" he said shaking his head, gritting his teeth and forcing himself to focus on anything but the increasing burn that was spreading through his body at a now alarming rate.
"What do you mean my senses will leave me? You can't do this! Make it stop!" he gasped sharply as the temperature seemed to suddenly skyrocket to a nearly unbearable heat.
The man dabbed a cold cloth on Ryou's forehead. The transformation alone put a lot of stress on the body, and the increase in temperature in combination with the transformation could be lethal. He wiped Ryou down trying to keep his temperature from getting too high.
"Your DNA is being broken down and rebuilt with animal DNA. And just as I said, your senses will be leaving you. I think it's only a matter of moments before you lose your sight right now."
Ryou wailed in agony as he closed his eyes tightly, the burning unbearable, he shook his head and whimpered, opening them and finding the man's words to be true, his vision was blurring and things were fading. Colors, then finally shapes...everything was gone in a matter of moments.
"N-no...please stop this!" he felt tears welling in his eyes, the eyes that could no longer see. "Please! Make it stop!" he shook his head as tears rolled down his cheeks. He felt more vulnerable than he had before. Without his eyes...he couldn't see he couldn't possibly get away now, not without his vision.
The man grunted. "Once you've lost your sight your vocal cords should tighten up, so you can't make any noise. So make as much noise as you want right now, it will be some time before you can do that again." And he went off in his off tune whistling again.
"No! Stop this! PLEASE!" Ryou wailed coughing as his throat began to burn and tighten as though someone were strangling him. "Please stop this! I want to go home!" Ryou began coughing more harshly as he tried to force himself to speak once more, and found it only forced wheezes through his throat. He sniffled and shook his head, biting his lip and wanting to crawl away. 'I have to get away...what will...become of me?'
He shivered as the cool rag was once again placed over his body to cool the heat. The pain was so intense, not even the coolness of the rag offered comfort, as his body began to tremble softly from the stress of the injection.
"Ah, right on time." The man said as Ryou lost his ability to speak. "Next you should loose your sense of smell, and then your hearing. Then, you should lose all consciousness. Now, when you wake up you still will not have regained your senses, alright?"
Ryou shook his head. 'No it's not alright!' He yelled in his mind, struggling despite the intense heat and pain. He squirmed and felt almost sure if he could just keep it up, he could work an arm free. He paused briefly to catch his breath, frightened as he realized he'd lost his hearing in the struggle. 'N-no...' he shook his head and struggled more fiercely.
'I can't just give up...' I can't...He whimpered as the heat was slowly dying down, and he was becoming tired. He lay still, whimpering softly as he felt himself slipping. 'I...I want to go home...I'm scared...' he was lost in this silenced darkness...and he didn't even know if he'd find his way out. What would happen to him now? Ryou slowly slipped into unconsciousness.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Pegasus walked down the white hall, the heels of his shoes clicking loudly on the tile. He reached the door he had been given directions to and walked in.
"Ahh, Pegasus, good to see you. I assume you're here to see the patient?" The male said smirking. "He's still sleeping, but you're welcome to go in and have a look. Just be careful of his ears, and the base of his spine, new bones are forming in those areas and if you feel the need to touch them, exercise extreme caution." he said calmly, offering the clipboard to Pegasus so he could see for himself that Ryou was doing fine.
Pegasus nodded, looking over the information he had been handed. "I would like to see him." he said. The man nodded and led Pegasus to a long hall lined with doors. Each door was labeled and had a window in it. Pegasus glanced in windows as they passed, reading the labels and seeing the experiments in various stages of the transformations they were undergoing. Finally, he reached a door with the label 'Oryctolagus cuniculus; albino (Ryou)'. The geneticist unlocked and opened the door, and Pegasus went in.
The room was white and sterile and very empty save for a bundle of blankets on the floor in the corner, with a small shivering body huddled among them. Going to investigate, Pegasus found Ryou, shivering in the cold of the room. He moved the blankets around, inspecting him.
Ryou shivered and whimpered softly, jumping when he felt movement near him, his eyes opened and he looked around blindly, shaking his head as he backed into the corner more, fearfully. 'P-please leave me alone! I want to go home!' He shook his head and sniffled, hugging himself and trembling in fear. 'I didn't do anything to deserve this, p-please...j-just leave me alone...'
Ryou still had the memory of the pain of the shot, and didn't want to repeat it. 'J-just leave me alone!' He shouted to himself tears welling up in the eyes that blindly stared into Pegasus's visible eye.
Pegasus jumped, startled by Ryou's sudden movements, but he was soon distracted by the boy's mental cries and the terrified look in his large pink eyes. Pegasus moved closer, reaching out and gently petting Ryou's long hair, and running his hand down the boy's back, noting a tiny little nub at the base of his spine.
"Shhhh..." he said quietly, despite the fact that Ryou could not hear him. "Shhhh... I won't hurt you."
Ryou sobbed softly, trembling as Pegasus gently stroked his back. 'P-please...don't hurt me... just let me go home... I want to go home...' he sniffled, slowly calming down and looking around the room blindly. 'I'm scared...j-just please I want to go home, let me leave...' he thought, wondering briefly why he was even bothering to converse with someone in his mind, but not about to stop.
He was desperate to find someone he could trust, who could get him home. 'Please take me home... t-take me away from here. I need to go home...' he thought shaking his head. 'I'm lost and afraid... I can't see or hear... speak... smell... I'm so lost...'
Pegasus continued petting him for a few minutes, then moved closer and wrapped the blankets around Ryou's body. Then he settled down with Ryou's head in his lap and continued petting him, trying to calm him down. He looked up at the geneticist in the doorway.
"I want no one touching him but me. I want him to be able to recognize my touch. Is this clear?"
"Of course." The man said calmly, stepping in and handing a cloth to Pegasus. "His eyes will need to be wrapped, I left them unwrapped so you could see the changes in action." he said taking a few notes before stepping back from them. "is he to your likings so far?" he asked calmly as Ryou's trembles slowly died down and his breathing evened out, slowly trusting the calm movements of the hands.
Ryou sniffled softly and nuzzled into the warm body near him. 'Who are you? Why... are you being kind to me? What if the man was being honest? How could you be kind to something inhuman?' Ryou shivered at the image of a horrible monstrous beast that flashed in his mind, a horrible beast that had white hair and answered to the name Ryou...
Pegasus smiled lightly. "I cannot say until the changes are complete, but so far I have nothing to complain about. Has he been fed?"
"Not yet, he actually wasn't due to wake up for a while longer, I can get something for him now though. I'm sure he's hungry." The man said exiting the room, returning after a few minutes with bits of watermelon and banana. "Soft enough he can chew easily and full of vitamins and water that he needs." The man said, handing the bowl of cut and seedless fruit to Pegasus.
Pegasus nodded and took it, picking up a small banana slice and brushing it over Ryou's lips, testing to see if he was hungry.
Ryou pulled back at the sudden sensation of cold over his lips. 'w-what... is that?' He tried to sniff and pouted when he once again found his nose useless. 'I wish I could see...'
The man frowned a bit. "He might not take solids, this particular breed of animal is fickle, some take to solids right after waking up, and others require something more liquid." he said exiting, and returning with a bottle, filled with what appeared to be a fruit smoothie. "Try this sir." he said handing the bottle to Pegasus. "Vitamin enriched fruit drink. If you decide to bring him food on your own, nothing but fruit and vegetables." he added suddenly. "Something other than fresh fruits and vegetables could make him sick."
Pegasus nodded and put down the banana, taking the bottle. He pressed it against Ryou's lips.
"Come on... take it... I know you must be hungry..." he encouraged, petting Ryou.
Ryou pulled away once again wrinkling his nose. He was hungry, but what on earth was that thing the hands were trying to put in his mouth? 'I don't want it... I don't know what it is.' He thought stubbornly. His stomach growled loudly, despite his stubborn thoughts.
Ryou sighed softly, feeling the rumbles of his stomach, but not hearing it. 'I wish I could hear... I wish I had a nice meal... my friends...'
Pegasus frowned lightly and fisted his hand gently, but firmly into Ryou's hair, holding him still and pressing the rubber nipple against Ryou's lips, trying to force him to take it in. Once he figured out what it was, he was bound to be more agreeable about it.
Ryou squirmed at first, fighting to get that thing out of his mouth. 'No! I don't want it!' He shouted tasting the rubber and making horrible displeased faces. He sputtered and calmed when suddenly his mouth was filled with the taste of precious precious food! '... a... a bottle.' He realized, and immediately began sucking harshly on the bottle, trying to get as much of the delicious sustenance into his stomach
'I'm so hungry, oh this is wondrous!' He chirped in his mind, leaning forward nearly falling over Pegasus' lap in a seeming attempt to just inhale the bottle, plastics and all.
Pegasus wrapped an arm around Ryou's waist, holding him firmly in place and laughing.
"Easy there, little one. Hungry as you are I doubt you'd be able to swallow the entire bottle without trouble!" he held Ryou, and glanced back at the geneticist. "He's already half done. Can I get another for him?" he asked.
The man nodded and exited, returning with another. "He's certainly energetic. Seems he's doing just splendid." he chuckled a bit, sitting the full bottle next to Pegasus, as he struggled to keep Ryou calm about the glorious food he was receiving.
'Oh give it to me! More please I'm so hungry!' Ryou squirmed to get closer to the bottle. He gasped as he fell forward, losing his balance, across Pegasus' lap. 'Ouch!' he shook his head, looking for the bottle. 'The food... where is the food?'
Pegasus made a few faces as he tried to contain Ryou, so far without much luck. The squirmy child was everywhere, his mental cries leaving no doubt in Pegasus' mind as to what he was getting so fussy over.
"What did you put in that bottle!" He asked, half in amusement and half in exasperation. Finally he had Ryou under control and in his lap, and he reached for the second bottle. He picked it up and dodged it thought the still groping hands, and stuck the thing right into Ryou's mouth. The groping and struggling stopped as Ryou simply sat huddled in his lap and sucked fiercely on the bottle.
The man laughed a bit. "Well his ability to taste is very poor without his other senses, so as with all things that need bottles to start, we add a bit of artificial flavor that they can pick up, despite their stunted senses." The man said chuckling. "Nothing special or unhealthy."
Ryou yawned a bit after finally finishing the second bottle. 'I wish I knew what time it was...' he thought to himself, looking around through blind eyes. 'I hate this darkness...' he curled into a ball in Pegasus' lap and remained still, not sleeping, but not about to move from the only human contact he had.
Pegasus smiled slightly and pet Ryou's hair, letting him settle there for a bit.
"I think he has calmed quite a bit so if you want to bandage his eyes now will be a good time. When will he begin to regain his senses?" He asked, fluffing Ryou's hair up and away a bit so he could check on his ears. They had seemed to lengthen a bit and had moved about an inch and a half or so up the side of his head.
The man carefully wrapped Ryou's eyes, doing his best to not touch the youth. "It depends on a few things, but gauging from his activity, the animal chosen, and his rate of progression, I'd estimate a couple of weeks. His vision and sense of smell will be the senses that will take the longest for him to regain.
Ryou wrinkled his nose and raised a hand to feel the cloth over his eyes, and tugged at it lightly, not liking the idea of being blinded further, if it were possible. 'Off... come off!' he made a few soft grumbles through his nose and searched for the area where he could begin untying it.
Pegasus impeded his progress, however, when he took Ryou's hands and pulled them away. "No..." He said, despite the fact that he could not be heard. "It must stay on." And he pet Ryou on the head, in a way of apologizing. "What about his training?" He asked.
"Well, up until he regains the senses he could identify you with, you can come in and train him how you see fit, and once you are no longer able to hide your identity, and we will have him sent to a local pet shop, where he will be trained further. When you can come innocently in, if you wish, and purchase him. Or simply pick up your order, depending on your preference of how you want him to see it." The man chuckled a bit.
Ryou huffed softly and tried once more to remove the cloth from his eyes. 'It bothers me and I want it off now.'
The man laughed a bit. "He's a stubborn one though, fought this whole thing to the bitter end. But I believe you'll be pleased with the final result."
"I have seen several of your projects, and I have faith that this one will be satisfying." Pegasus replied, once again taking Ryou's hands away from the bandage and petting him in apology. "What about my request to install a loyalty to me in him?"
"All taken care of Pegasus, he will be loyal to you, but we can discuss the trigger for that loyalty later. Animals have a... way of sensing things." he said. "You can visit as often or rarely as you please, just remember to check in with us. You'll also have to speak with our trainers about tips, and Ryou's other needs, if you're to be the only one to touch him."
"How often will he be fed and watered?" He asked.
"Once a day for three days in increasing amounts, to reintroduce eating to his system. Then, three meals daily at morning, noon, and just before bed. We will also bring in something for him to chew, his teeth will not change, or have minimal changes, but he will have insatiable desires to chew." The man said calmly. "No one will touch him, if you wish to feed him at those times, if you are unavailable, we will place the food near him, and leave him to figure it out."
Pegasus nodded. "I cannot come in three times a day, but I will try to come in and bring him his lunch. What about the necessities? Is he supposed to relieve himself in his blankets? And what about bathing?"
"We normally have someone come in to guide him to the facilities and bathe him, as well as launder the blankets but if you wish to be the one who does this, we provide this twice a day, as rarely is it needed more than that. Depending on the length of your stay, you could help him once when you come, and once before you leave." The man replied.
Pegasus nodded. "I see. Very well. I'm sure I'll find a way for things to work out to my satisfaction." And he looked down at Ryou, pleased that he had given up on getting rid of the blindfold. He ruffled his hair.
Ryou wrinkled his nose and made an unpleased noise. 'Stop that... I had my hair how I liked it!' he huffed in his mind, trying immediately to fix it, and with surprising detail managed to place his hair almost exactly as it had been.
The man laughed. "This particular breed of animal is a bit of a neat freak. Doesn't like their things being touched." He chuckled. "Which will indeed make his loyalty even stronger, because he will defend his territory to the death if need be. Heh... already exhibits signs of animal instinct."
Pegasus chuckled and ruffled Ryou's hair again, simply for the amusement of watching Ryou nearly spaz over it. 'I must think about moving his blankets around at some point,' he thought to himself. "When he is placed in the local pet shop, how will he be housed?" he asked, despite the fact that this was at least three weeks away.
"Clear glass enclosure, with feeding holes for guests to offer treats. His particular enclosure will be that suited to his needs. Soft wood shavings, and his food and water will be provided in the fashion always presented to his type of pet." He said, watching Ryou huff and place his hair back into position once more.
Pegasus nodded, then gently transferred Ryou out of his lap and back into the blankets. "Very well. I must go, but I will return tomorrow to feed him." He said, standing.
Ryou whimpered. 'no wait! please don't leave me alone!' he felt blindly for his lost companion. 'oh please! c-come back!' he sniffled as tears began to well in his closed eyes. 'I don't want to be alone!'
Pegasus smiled and pet him gently on the head, and wrapped the blankets around him. Then he turned and left the room, the geneticist closing the door behind them.
Ryou sniffled softly and shook his head, feeling the wind of the door close. 'I'm scared...' he thought laying back down and sniffling trying to force himself to sleep once more. 'I hope my friends find me soon...'
Pegasus walked down the empty hall, one hand in his pocket, and the other carrying a basket of fresh fruits and vegetables (and a little cheese cube for a treat) for Ryou, who had graduated to solid foods from bottles. It had been a week and a half since his first visit, and he had been told the day before that Ryou's hearing was bound to return any day, so he could no longer talk to the boy. He reached the check in station and was led to Ryou's room, and let in. Pegasus smiled at the boy, who was digging around in his blankets, struggling to make a satisfactory nest for himself. His little behind was up in the air as he worked, and a fluffy little tuft of a tail could clearly be seen at the base of his spine. Pegasus made a few little kissey noises, checking to see if Ryou had regained his hearing yet.
Ryou paused and an ear raised lightly. He sat up and looked around, ears twitching a bit, trying to decide if he'd heard something or not. He wrinkled his nose a bit and sat down, listening.
Pegasus was ecstatic! For the first time he had clearly seen Ryou's ears, or at least one of them. He had been told that Ryou had been fused with the genetics of a rabbit, but he hadn't really understood the perfection of that choice for Ryou until that moment. He nearly laughed to himself in delight. He made the kissey noise again, hoping to see both ears perk up this time.
Ryou's ear perked up again, the other hanging limply against his hair. 'I think I heard something...' he thought to himself, flicking the ear that was listening. He smiled to himself and lowered the ear, looking in the direction of Pegasus. 'I bet the hands are here, and they're messing with me...' his ear lowered back into his hair, practically disappearing it blended so well with the soft white locks.
Pegasus smiled to himself. It was adorable how Ryou referred to him as 'the hands' but that was all he let Ryou know of him. He moved across the room until he got to Ryou, and pet him gently on the head.
Ryou nuzzled into the touch and opened his mouth. 'I'm hungry... what'd you bring me? I know you have something yummy, you always bring something yummy' he thought tilting his head up, mouth obediently open awaiting a delicious treat.
Pegasus nearly laughed out loud again, and slowly settled down, petting Ryou gently for a few minutes before reaching into the basket for a slice of pear, which he had learned was one of Ryou's favorites. He pressed it against Ryou's mouth, gently.
Ryou eagerly accepted the fruit and chewed, delighted. 'mmm...' he finished it and opened his mouth once more. 'that was delicious...' he murmured in his mind. 'sometimes I wonder if you can hear me...you always know just what I like.' Ryou nuzzled into the hand petting him. 'any more tasty treats for me?'
Pegasus smiled and pet Ryou before offering him a bit of cucumber. Ryou accepted this with a disappointed noise, so Pegasus gave a bit more pear after that, and then a slice of radish, and a little carrot stub.
Ryou ate every piece he was given, glad to be receiving food. 'its all so good, not as good as the pear, but all so good!' he thought chewing delightedly on the carrot stub, before nuzzling once more against Pegasus' hand and arm.
Pegasus smiled, then reached into the basket for a few of the special treats he had brought for Ryou, first selecting a little slice of watermelon. He offered it to his little bunny.
Ryou took a small nibble before gasping softly, both ears shooting into the air.
'Watermelon! Oh I've been craving one forever! Oh it's so delicious!' he lunged forward and took a great bite, delight evident in his blushing pink cheeks. 'ohhh... mmm I'm in heaven... oh how I've craved some watermelon, it's been nagging at me for a long time now!'
Ryou hugged himself and hummed in delight. 'wonderful watermelon oh I bet it's so nice outside, I'd love to go out and sit in the sun somewhere, its cold in here...'
Pegasus grinned in delight, finally getting to see Ryou's bunny ears. Sure, they were small and not fully developed, but they were as cute as could be. Pegasus made a mental note: Bring more watermelon. He also made a mental note to see to it that Ryou was given more blankets. He pet Ryou as the boy purred slightly, then reached into the basket and drew out the small cube of cheddar cheese and offered it to Ryou, wanting to see his reaction to this new treat.
Ryou nibbled the cheese and grinned, imagining himself sitting out in a warm patch of sun nibbling on watermelon and cheese. 'mmmm...' he thought, licking his lips a bit. 'I like that... I bet the weather outside is just perfect to bask in the sun...' he curled up next to Pegasus and nuzzled his leg, his ears slowly retreating back into his hair.
'Thank you for the food, I was so hungry. I think I'm being cheated out of food, or there's mice in here... or maybe I'm just very hungry lately...' he mumbled in his mind. 'or the food is disappearing, it just feels like you're giving me more than I get when you're not here...'
Pegasus frowned at that and decided to speak to someone about how well Ryou was being fed. He continued to feed his pet bunny some apple slices, and then gave another treat he had brought for him; a bit of pineapple.
Ryou wiggled his nose, as another blush spread across his cheeks. 'mmm oh it's sweet and sour at the same time... so delicious...' he licked his lips and savored the taste, before finally finishing the bit of pineapple. 'oh that was great, hands, you know just what I like.'
Pegasus smiled and continued feeding Ryou bits of fruit and vegetables, waiting for him to start refusing the food. When he did, Pegasus set the basket aside and cuddled Ryou a bit, before getting up.
Ryou pouted a bit. 'Don't tell me you're leaving already! you just got here please don't go!' he sat up and sniffled shaking his head. 'don't! you just got here! please stay!' he pleaded in his mind, his ears drooping slightly more than usual. 'please? Please don't leave me alone... i hate being alone...'
Pegasus smiled and placed his hand on the back of Ryou's head and pushed forwards a bit, trying to guide Ryou and make him understand that he was coming with him.
Ryou blinked and stumbled forward a bit, latching onto Pegasus' arm, to keep himself from stumbling. 'w-where am I going? I don't like this...' he pouted and followed blindly, fearful of running into something 'I'll... I'll hurt myself I don't like moving, I can't see...'
Pegasus smiled and guided Ryou into the bathroom he had been show the day before. He had been told that someone would be in there to help him when he bathed the bunny, and he looked around for such help.
A woman smiled calmly and pointed to a pre-filled bathtub nodding, before holding up a bar of soap, and a washrag, having been told to not elicit conversation that may cause Pegasus to speak.
Pegasus nodded and lifted Ryou up, smirking at his squeak, and placed him in the water. Ryou didn't seem too happy at first, he thrashed a bit, ears more erect but still back, and his tail was tucked down. He whimpered and tried to get out of the tub, but Pegasus held him there firmly, petting him. After a bit he took the cloth from the woman and wet it, then gently ran it over Ryou's cheeks to let him know he was only getting a bath. After Ryou calmed, he removed the blindfold and gently moved the cloth over his eyelids, then down the rest of his face. He then took the soap and proceeded to lather up his bunny in soapsuds.
Ryou pouted and huffed slightly 'I can wash myself.' he mumbled in his mind, wrinkling his nose and flicking a sudsy ear. 'I'm not a baby'. he reached for the hand that was washing him and snatched the cloth, to wash himself, and just as he was about to begin showing how 'un-baby like' he was, the soap slipped from his hand and he pouted. 'that's not fair!'
Pegasus couldn't help it this time; he laughed. Ryou's ear flicked, and Pegasus shut up, snatching the cloth and soap away and continuing with Ryou's bath.
Ryou crossed his arms looking away from the sound of laughter. 'it wasn't funny.' he pouted opening an eye to see if he could see. He sighed softly 'I want my eyes back...' he pouted, closing the eye again miserably. 'I could wash myself if I could find the bloody soap.' he thought pouting, the tips of his ears drooping.
Pegasus smiled and put his hands under Ryou's armpits, lifting him from the bath. To his amusement, Ryou tucked his legs in tightly... just like a bunny. Pegasus sat him on the floor and wrapped a big fluffy towel around him and rubbed him dry, then carried him back to his room. He set him down in the middle of the room, took the towel and backed away, watching him.
Ryou opened his eyes futilely, and huffed. 'heyyy...' he pouted, looking around for his blankets, he crawled forward, feeling for the blankets and yelped when he hit his head on a wall and grumbled. 'ouch...' he thought, wondering how he'd missed that.
After a few moments of looking Ryou settled in his nest of blankets and pouted, rubbing his head. 'stupid walls...'
Pegasus smiled and slipped out the door, closing it behind him and going in search of someone to speak to about certain needs Ryou had that he felt were not being met.
"Oh good afternoon Pegasus, here to see your pet I presume?" The geneticist said inspecting something through the glass window of a different door.
"Yes, I just left him. While I was with him a few concerns came to my attention." He said, glancing through the window and in at the occupant. "I believe that you will need to give him extra bedding or raise the temperature in his room. And I think you're not feeding him enough at breakfast and dinner. He seems famished when I come in to tend to him. Oh, and I believe he is starting to get his hearing back as well. I am quite satisfied with the progress of his physical changes so far."
The man nodded. "We were just about to up his diet. I'll see he gets more blankets, The temperature I'm afraid isn't adjustable between rooms." He scratched a few notes. "I thought you'd like my choice for him, he is very timid." The man chuckled a bit. "Is there anything else you feel he needs?"
Pegasus thought a moment, then shook his head. "Nothing comes to mind." He said. "I do like the decision you made of a rabbit for him. A good choice, it fits him perfectly." He looked back into the room they were next to. "What do we have here?"
"Ahh, well this one is another attempt at a bird." The man said calmly. "He was taken in not long after Ryou, and so far, seems to be proceeding successfully." He explained. "Birds are not mammals, and as such are difficult to induce to human DNA." He pointed to the sleeping youth on the floor. "He however, may be our first successful attempt."
"really?" Pegasus said, intrigued, and looked in to examine this experiment closer. His eyes widened. 'Is that--! Oh, this is TOO funny!' He thought to himself, and burst out laughing. It was that blasted little snot, the King of Games himself, Yami Mouto! There was NO mistaking that hair! He managed to calm his laughing after it had triggered an agitated howling from another room down the hall.
"May I ask what you do with failed experiments?"
"Feed them to the lion." the man said calmly. "We have to get him off his ass somehow." he added, noting the displeased look on the sleeping youth's face. "Would you like a closer look? It seems you know the boy. He'll turn out to be a songbird if the genetics take."
Pegasus grinned. "I would LOVE to take a closer look at-- did you say LION!"
The man nodded "We make all manner of creatures. Lions, rabbits, you name it." he chuckled. "The lion just happens to be a bum we found on the streets, nearly dead. He turned out brilliantly." He said unlocking the door and inviting Pegasus in. "He sleeps like a rock, so you can touch him if you wish, as you can see he seems to be forming wings."
Pegasus walked over to Yami, sleeping on a blanket on the floor. He circled him for a moment, then knelt and felt his newly forming wings, carefully.
"Quite amusing. Yes, I know this little bastard... nothing but a thorn in my side. It was actually because of him, however, that I found Ryou; they are good friends, actually." He stood, looking back at the geneticist. "And I hope I can see this lion at some point, he sounds fascinating."
The man laughed. "He was quite stubborn about it; he nearly broke loose before the injection was complete." He said watching the teen wince on the floor and roll on his side, huddling under the blankets. "I had to restrain him until he passed out from the strain."
"Hmmm... sounds strong. Can you handle him now with the changes?" Pegasus asked as they left the room.
"Yes of course. His bones should be much weaker than before, to give him access to flight." The man replied.
Pegasus blinked, and then laughed. "I meant the lion." He clarified.
"Oh, the lion? Oh he's no trouble. If anything he likes the changes, probably because now he gets fed. As I said he was a bum on the streets who was dying at the time." The man laughed, watching Yami cough a few times, wincing. "He'll be at the pet shop, if you take an interest, you could look him over when you go to pick up your rabbit."
Pegasus nodded. "I'll look him over, maybe. He sounds fascinating. And I can't wait to see THIS one fully changed." And he jerked his head towards Yami. "Now, I must be returning to work. I'll be back in tomorrow." And he walked down the hall.
The man nodded. "I will see you then." he replied, once again going about his work.
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