Disclaimer: YuGiOh and its characters do not, never have, and never will belong to me. The only things I own are the setting for this story and the OCs. Which there won't be many of. (If there are any at all)

Oh, and watch out for shounen-ai hints.

Possible. Not definite, but possible, pairings include (with characters at the moment) BxR, Mx?x?x? ('?' get filled in later, when the characters make it into the story.)

Ummm… Nothing real new to say this time. Just that this will be the last update until December (most likely)

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Italics – thoughts

Line -- - POV change

Last time:

"Where the hell are you taking us?"

A cruel laugh was the only answer received as the car started and set off, the sound of another following, presumably carrying the rest of the soldiers and the scientist.

Enhanced green eyes observed the guards closely, fearfully. Their outfits, weapons, even headwear were exactly the same. In fact, the only unique aspect to either were their dog tags; each inscribed with an ornate 'P' followed by the individual's name.

The first read 'Croquet', the second: 'Keith'.

Chapter 7: In the Lab

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"Well?"

Marik stirred, almost imperceptibly as a loud, cutting voice broke through his haze of unconsciousness.

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I apologize sir." The new voice was flat, completely deadpan. "I ordered the squad to take them alive."

What are they talking about? Where're Kura and the kitty? With an unhappy mumble, the Egyptian opened his eyes.

He was lying on a hardwood floor next to a pair of unfamiliar pointed boots.

Ominous omen.

"And why, might I ask, did you do that?"

"I believed you would find it …beneficial… to the operation to keep them alive."

Alright, this doesn't look good. Who are these nut jobs? And why am I tied up on the floor? These boots smell weird…

"Explain."

Subconsciously, Marik's mind took note of the conversation but his coherent mind was much too preoccupied trying to remember what happened.

"I believe their deoxyribonucleic acid configurations are similar to those of 013EM and 007SL."

"Oh? Why?" interest crept into the speaker's tone. The harsh tone turned rich and amused.

"A cursory examination shows similarities much like those between 0210WC and the existing control."

"Very well; if your hypothesis is correct, this might be a chance to undo an old mistake." With feigned boredom, the nameless man, who Marik still hadn't seen beyond the shoes, passed sentence; "take them to the control lab."

"And re-tranquilize that one; he looks like he's waking up."

"Yes Sir."

"Oh, and Croquet?"

"Mr. Pegasus?"

"Good work."

"Thank you sir."

A sharp jab in the neck and Marik knew no more.

-tk…tk…tk…-

The sharp click of footsteps on a metal floor made Ryou cringe in his carrier. He was confused, scared, and lonely.

"Ryou?"

Huh? Father?

He gave a soft, almost inaudible whine in response.

"Ryou." Slight anger. This time, he whimpered gently, making sure the sound was loud enough to be heard.

"There you are! Come here boy."

The wire door swung open quietly, leaving a portal.

Needless to say, the young neko was very surprised.

W-what's going on? He seems so happy but why would he be? Did something happen to the other two? And why is he here?

"Ryou! Come!" Now he REALLY sounded angry.

Mechanically, Ryou obeyed, for once glad to give in to conditioning.

The drive was very long, about four hours and those guards kept their guns out the entire time. About halfway through, Bakura tried to shift around so they knocked him around until he blacked out. And when we arrived…

His pale brows furrowed slightly as a leash was attacked and a tug drew him into quadripedal movement. He paid no attention to the cold hallways or their layout.

I wasn't able to see much; there was noise and movement but not in front of the door and craning my neck to see out the side slats hurt. I guess the two guards did something to them before leaving. Probably took them along. Several minutes later, the guards returned and brought me in and just left the kennel in some room a little ways inside the building.

"Up."

"Mrrh?" Oh.

Effortlessly, he jumped onto the 3 ft. high stainless steel examining table being indicated, taking note of his surroundings.

A lab? I guess that makes sense. He wants to make sure I didn't catch anything from being outside.

"Good boy. Stay."

The scientist attached the leash to the examining table leaving about a foot of slack and stepped away, abandoning Ryou to his observations of the new environment.

It was not a large room, probably only 15 ft. wide and deep with a 7ft high ceiling. Cabinets, counters, and odd looking metal tools lined 3 of the walls; the fourth was taken up by six metal cages, 3 stacked on top of 3, and the only visible door. There were no windows and the entire lab was comprised of stainless steel and chrome, all shining brightly in the garishly bright fluorescent lights attached to the ceiling. The only furnishings were the table Ryou was currently crouched on in the center of the room and a wheeled platform covered in medical syringes and more sharp metal tools.

Well, Ryou settled down, stretching out on his stomach and closing his eyes. At least this is familiar. This place is just like the lab at home. I just hope he's not planning on keeping me in one of those cages.

A low click made the youngling's ears twitch and eyes reopen. But the door was at his back, not easily visible and he couldn't turn with the leash bound so tightly.

"Well, what do think of my lab Doctor?"

"Meh, I've seen better but it'll do."

The deep amused chuckle given in response made shivers run up the boy's spine.

"So glad you approve." The footsteps seemed to ring portentously as the strange man moved closer "This is our new…tenant, I suppose?"

Better then experiment or specimen, but why does everything he says sound so creepy?

Nervously, Ryou pushed himself up onto all fours for a better position, but couldn't move his head far enough from the table, the slack held him hunched and helpless. A series of trembles coursed through his body as the bizarre presence drew near, then stopped right behind him.

"Hm? Oh, yes. But only for the right price."

Than sinister laugh again.

"Oh, of course. I'm so glad you're more agreeable then your comrades."

"Those idiots? You insult my by mentioning us in the same sentence."

"Quite so."

Doesn't this guy ever not sound amused? That voice makes him even scarier! And what was he saying about the others? Are Yugi and Malik's creators here?

With a whine, Ryou shifted to quest for a scent, straining on the leash. If the man had been around the others, there had to be some trace on him, right? Unfortunately, the target was situated where the air circulation vents would push his scent away, downwind.

But maybe just a little more…

-SNAP!-

"Yip!" the clasp holding the collar and leash together broke, sending the boy sprawling the short distance to the floor.

"NO! Bad Ryou! No!"

A sharp kick in the gut brought Ryou stumbling up into a crouch, stars exploding in his field of vision. Whoops. I really shouldn't have done that; this lab doesn't belong to Father. Plus, I just embarrassed him in front of the guy he's supposedly working for!

He closed his eyes, ready for and resigned to another beating as the hand drew back to strike again.

But nothing happened.

"Now, now. I do believe you've already been paid, correct?"

Green eyes snapped open. A pale hand with tapered, elegant fingers was holding Father's wrist, keeping him from landing the blow.

"Y-yeah."

Ryou blinked. He stuttered? Why is he scared of this guy? I mean, he sounds creepy, but Father's never scared!

"Then I will thank you not to damage my property."

His…property?

Father crashed back into the cabinet as the hand released violently.

"This creature-." the hand, apparently with hidden strength, came to a rest on Ryou's head, making him go rigid. "-is no longer yours. It is mine, a privately owned weapon for my personal arsenal. I agreed to keep you on only until I have learned to control and understand it. You will be paid the designated price for staying on, a hefty sum."

As Father rose, a decidedly greedy glint in his eye, Ryou didn't dare turn to see the face of the man he'd been sold to.

"However, if you disobey me or damage any of my possessions, you will get none of it. What you will receive is a chest full of bullets and a one way ticket to hell. I have no obligation to respect or even pay you now that I have what I want. Do I make myself clear?"

"Y-yes sir."

"Wonderful. Now let's take a look at the product. Make it do what I want."

The hand release Ryou's ivory tresses and backed away. The boy sagged in relief.

"But I never taught-."

"I thought you said we were clear?"

"Y-yessir…Um…Ryou, stand."

Stand? He hasn't taught me a command for that; what am I supposed to do?

Several tense moments passed as Ryou considered and the scientist grew more nervous by the second.

He might want me to stand on two legs, but he never has before. Maybe he means on all fours?

"What's wrong Doctor?"

"N-nothing." The sheer desperation in the man's voice denounced him as very close to panicking. "Sometimes it just takes him a minute. Get UP boy."

Shakily, he rose onto his hind feet, off balance and confused but choosing what seemed to be the best option.

"Good boy!" his relief was tangible.

This was…what he wanted? Uncertain emerald eyes looked up into the doctor's face.

"Good work doctor. Neither of the other two knew that trick when we brought them in."

"What? Then why'd you make me do it?"

"Not you, the cat."

Curious and finally dropped from the conversation while unconfined, you turned to look at the mystery man.

He was tall, almost 6 ft, and thin but not skinny and strong. Long silver hair, darker then Ryou's own pale white, flowed straight and elegant to mid back. His eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses, a fashion accessory off setting a crimson and white suit (1). The eternally amused and hair raising voice only added to the image of a rich and merciless playboy who looked very out of place in the plain colors and uncomfortable atmosphere of the lab he owned.

Noticing the curious gaze, the man broke off his conversation and turned to meet the boy's eyes, smirking. When Ryou didn't back down or attack, he arched an eyebrow and advanced. THAT got a reaction.

"Doctor, keep it still. I want to have a look."

"Yes sir. Ryou, STAY." A hard nudge pushed the backpedaling boy into position, forcing him to stand nervously as the other man advanced.

"Well," he moved in a circled around Ryou, sizing him up as a predator would prey. "Something must be done about those clothes; they're filthy. And a thorough cleansing to get all that dirt off. Will it attack if I touch it?"

Fidgeting, the neko desperately prayed the scientist would answer in the affirmative, but knew he wouldn't.

"No, he'll stay put. I mean, he let those idiots play with him, why would he resist you?"

A vague chuckle. "Why indeed. Come here cat; let's have a look at you." That smooth foreign hand cupped his chin, lifting his head for inspection. The man was much taller, so Ryou was forced to crane his neck at a near uncomfortable angle to expose his face in full. Nothing was done in resistance, all Ryou could do was tremble.

"Good work; it's a cute little animal, but then, so are the others. Get him on that table to check muscle mass; I want to make sure it's healthy."

"I assure you-"

"Just do it."

"Ryou, UP!"

Face burning, Ryou obeyed, hoping onto the table on fours and staying still as the broken leash clasp was discarded in a garbage bin. A new, even shorter, tether, took its original place. He'd been through this particular test many times, but never with a stranger in the room. The familiar rough hands of Father jerked up a forelimb, pinching and prodding to expose his muscles and naming the different supplements used to help build each group. The process was repeated with the other arm, then, as the tattered vest was cut off, his torso.

Throughout, the silver haired leader stood back, nodding in approval. When the scientist stopped at the waistline, he raised an eyebrow.

"Why did you stop?"

"I thought…w-well..."

He's almost as nervous as I am! I guess that's how I learned modesty, through his reactions.

"Oh come on man, you're a scientist!"

"Er…"

"Fine, I'll do it." Cold metal brushed by the skin on Ryou's leg, making him whimper as the pants were cut off. "there." The scissors clanged as they hit the equipment tray. Ryou crouched uncomfortably on the table, stark naked. He thanked his lucky star modesty hadn't actually been part of his training. He was embarrassed enough as it was.

"So," the cool hand from earlier squeezed his thigh none too lightly, causing Ryou to yip and unclench his muscles out of reflex. "Good boy." A second hand grabbed his ankle, pulling back strongly until one leg was completely extended and the boy was jerked hard against the leash, making struggle impossible. The first hand released his thigh to run down the sensitive skin almost teasingly, squeezing for muscle in various places and making Ryou tremble as he brushed the back of his knee and calf. Then the procedure was repeated on his other leg.

"Is that enough sir?"

God I hope so. Ryou was on the verge of crying at the sensation of a stranger touching him. It would have been uncomfortable under any circumstances, but THIS test was already a nightmare.

"Yes. The muscle mass is perfect, just as it should be. Nice work."

"Thank you."

"Hm?"

"Sir! Sorry, thank you sir."

"Yes, well, put the creature in one of those cages for quarantine. Tests are done for today." He released Ryou's captive ankle and stepped back, allowing the boy to curl into an uncomfortable ball and the doctor to untie the leash.

"What about clothes?"

"It's a cat. It doesn't need clothes."

"Alright sir. Ryou, come."

He scrambled off the platform, nearly knocking both men over in his eagerness to get away. He hated cages, but the memory of the wilderness was already fading in light of his current situation and the confinement unit was his best choice at the moment.

He didn't struggle or resist as he was urged in and the door closed behind. The chain linked divider cast the cell in shadow, making the whole set up appear that much more dismal.

Each side was about 4 ft. long, creating a floor space of 16 sq. feet. Only enough for one step in any direction. The top was about 3 and a half feet high, allowing him to stand only on all fours. It was much smaller then any kennel he'd been forced to live in previously.

"See you later pet." The strange man's voice made him shudder and curl into a ball on the metal floor, cold against his bare skin. Suddenly, in here a box, alone and naked but for the collar, seemed a lot better then out there with HIM.

"Kura."

"ugh…yeah?"

"Where are we? I just woke up."

"So did I. And I have no idea. I just…ow…hurt…"

"You are in the control labs." A cold voice whispered from the darkness. "Specifically MINE."

"Gah!"

"Whoa!"

Challenging crimson eyes regarded the unwanted visitors scathingly "I'm Yami. Who are you and what do you want?"

TBC.

End Chapter seven.

Hope you like the chapter; sorry it's not very good. Inspiration's not an easy thing to find.

Bleh. Sorry this took so long; I sorta scheduled both chapters of FTI towards the beginning of the vacation so that pretty much negated that month and I've been really busy since getting back to school.

This time, you can blame it on a hormone high that's giving more energy then I can stand.

Oh! And please let me know if this story should be moved to a different rating cuz of the examination.

(1) I know these aren't the actual suit colors (at least I don't think they are) but they fit better. No ruffles and the glasses have a reason.

Thank you for reading.

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