-Redemption-

The storm continued to rage outside as lightning flashed across the bleak gray sky and the downpour of rain flooded the streets. Aged amber eyes watched as streaks of light ripped through the darkness while feeling the structure of the building shudder with the sudden boom of thunder.

"Sir, Special Agent Mushira is here."

"Send her in."

Hearing the opening click of the door, amber eyes blinked as the light from the hall way washed across the window before him, illuminating a figure in its wake before darkness once again reined as the figure closed the door behind them. "I'm surprised you could make it on such short notice."

"You sounded urgent on the phone, Captain."

The captain sighed lightly before turning his head enough so that he could see the agent sitting on one of the leather chairs positioned at the front of his desk. With another flash of lightning, the room's lights finally flickered back to their full brightness causing him to blink his eyes rapidly before focusing on the one seated.

"I reread the files on the recent murders… and I must say that I still find it hard to believe—but under the circumstances I have nothing that would suggest otherwise," the captain sighed, turning to look back out the window as rain continued to pelt against the glass mercilessly.

"I see."

Clearing his throat, the captain unconsciously twitched his salt and peppered mustache as he looked at his vague reflection in the window. "Doesn't it bother you, Agent Mushira, that there is apparently Demons scouring the city?"

"It does."

"Then why don't you sound concerned?"

"With all do respect, sir, I am concerned about what happens to the people of this city— I just go about showing my emotions differently than others."

The captain sighed. "I understand, but now back to the situation at hand. Aside from these two recent attacks, how many have there been?" he asked, looking over his shoulder to study the agent that was still sitting on one of the leather chairs.

"Eight."

"Ten in all… We've got to put a stop to these things," the captain paled, nervously stroking his mustache and beard.

"We will, sir. I have the squad tracking them now and I also have to report that we've found 'HIM'."

Blinking, the captain looked back at the agent with an arched brow. "Him who?" he asked before feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand on edge as the normally stoic agent's lips curled into a small smile.

"The one that will save us all."

Elsewhere…

"For crying out loud, Marik! Who the hell taught you how to drive—Miss Daisy!"

Dusty lilac eyes narrowed at the reflection of a pale skinned male with harsh cinnamon eyes that were vaguely shadowed by spiky white hair. "Keep it up, Frosty and I'll throw you out the damn door!" he growled back, turning his attention back on the road to swerve into the deep turn, causing the other passengers in the vehicle to hit against each other.

"Dammit, keep your eyes on the road!"

"Bakura! Leave him alone before you get us all killed!"

Bakura grumbled as he shot a glare at the blue eyed brunet that had yelled at him. "Make me, Rich boy!" he snapped back, inwardly smirking as the brunet shot him a glare of his own.

"Enough bickering, we don't have the time—but Marik if you would please at least push a bit more on the gas peddle I'm sure we could keep up with them!"

Marik grumbled as he shot another glance into the rear view mirror to glower at the brown eyed, blue streaked black haired male that was sitting beside Bakura. "Damn back seat drivers," he growled, inwardly plotting on ways to torture the trio that was insulting his driving while pushing down on the gas-peddle as asked.

The vehicle sped down the twisting roads as a chorus of beeps sped up into a frenzied crescendo. "Marik, stop the car!"

Slamming on the brakes, Marik growled as he heard the tires screeching across the pavement. "For the love of Ra, will you make up your damn mind!" he snapped, glaring over the back seat to have a set of brown and cinnamon eyes narrow back at him.

"They're here."

"Oh that really tells me a lot, Damon," Marik grumbled before letting out a small 'oomph' as the blue eyed brunet beside him whacked him on the back of the head. "Dammit Kaiba, what the hell was that for?"

"To get you to shut up," Kaiba snapped back, glaring at the other while retrieving the holstered gun attached to his left leg and loading it with some special ammunition.

The beeps continued to get louder and more off beat as brown eyes narrowed down at the small red dots that danced across the black screen. "Alright, there's six of them and four of us, so we have to be--"

"Careful?" Bakura chuckled, earning a glare from the other. "Damon, hate to break it to you, but I think you're forgetting with who you're working with."

"He has a point, aside from you and I, that just leaves Dumb and Dumber here," Kaiba added in, earning a glare from both Marik and Bakura.

Rolling his brown eyes, Damon shook his head before reaching behind him and pulling out a large case. Popping open the lid, he quickly tossed out two modified semi-automatic handguns to Bakura and Marik. "Looks like it's tracking these bastards on foot from here on out," he stated, retrieving the last gun and fastening it into the holster that was attached to his right leg.

The rest nodded before quickly getting out of the vehicle and securing their own arsenal of weapons into various holsters and sheaths that were hidden amongst their clothing.

"Here, can't forget these," Damon smiled, handing out a small communicator that fit into the ear as well the long extendable piece that reached down to the mouth. "Try not to loose or break this one, this time Bakura."

Bakura snorted as he grabbed the communicator and put in place. "Bite me," he muttered, before turning away and running down one of the secluded alleys.

"Alright, as for the rest of you—Be careful! I know I stress this, but we all know how these things work and it ain't pretty," Damon stated. "And I really don't feel like writing a eulogy filled with lies about you for your funerals."

Marik rolled his eyes. "Glad to know you care," he mock pouted, fixing his own communicator in place before taking off into another alley.

Crossing his arms, Seto looked back at the eldest of the squad and the ranking field agent. "So, is she still determined to go after the leech?" he asked, arching a brow as the other looked at him with a small frown.

"Vampire, Seto… and yes, she's still determined to go and get him and as much as I don't like it… I think she may be onto something about him being the only one that can stop these things," Damon sighed, running a hand through his blue streaked black hair. "These things are getting too damn crafty and not to mention after picking off some of the Werewolves… well it's like they're on PCP or something."

Shaking his head, Seto uncrossed his arms. "I know, I just don't think releasing an ancient Vampire would be the best thing in the world either," he countered, giving the other a small bow of the head before turning away and stalking off down another alley.

Left alone, Damon sighed lightly. "Neither do I, Seto, neither do I," he breathed out, looking back down at the tracking device in front of him and giving it another glance before placing it back into the carrier attached to his waist and darting down another alley.

Stalking through the dark interior of one of the abandoned buildings, Bakura came to a stop at the sudden sound of footsteps. Crouching down into the darker shadows of the room, he carefully crawled over so that he could look into the adjacent room. Peering into the room, he smirked at finding one of his targets.

The target was built like an average person with a rather lanky frame, but the difference was that this person was ghastly white with dark looking patches that covered opaque blue eyes. The figure was also devoid of any hair whatsoever making them look like rather dehydrated or malnourished albinos than the true demons that they were.

Stalking a little closer, Bakura frowned as the demon in disguise dropped a large box before ripping off the lid to reveal some rather grotesque weapons that could only be used for sacrificial killings or mass murder. Tapping onto his radio, he ducked back deeper into the shadows so that the demon couldn't catch his scent or hear the transmission.

( Bakura, what is it? Did you find one of them?)

-Yeah I found one, and he's packing some serious shit…-

(( Oh that really tells us a lot. How about telling us what he has. ))

-Oh go blow yourself, money bags. As for what he's packing, let's just say it's some rather nasty looking gear that could only be used for torture or sacrifice.-

( That doesn't sound good.)

-No shit, Sherlock.-

( I'm going to ignore that, Bakura. As for the demon, take him out as soon as you can.)

-It'd be my pleasure.-

Ending the transmission with another tap to the ear piece, Bakura crawled back out to look back at the disguised demon to have his eyes widen as the demon shed its human disguise to reveal its true form.

The skin was covered in opaque scales or leather skin that was still a sickly white with dull patches of gray to black while spikes covered the shoulders and down the back, creating the appearance of body armor made of spikes and spines. Two pairs of horns protruded from the skull. The larger pair having an almost spiral curl while smaller pointed horns jutted out just above the eyes.

As the demon turned, Bakura inwardly flinched at the view of the demon's mouth. Aside from the lethal claws and the barbed whip like tail, the demon's mouth was just as lethal. The mouth opened by folds that closed both vertically and horizontally and each was rimmed with sharp serrated fangs while the interior of the mouth was large and covered in even more rolls of teeth as a forked tongue flicked out to taste the air.

'Ugly bastard,' Bakura mused, shuddering at the view before ducking further down as the demon turned in his direction.

--…-sty… they're… att-ack…!--

Hearing the sudden jerky transmission, Bakura sucked in a hasty breath as he watched the creature stare in his direction. 'That damn idiot is going to get me killed,' he inwardly griped, sneaking back over to his corner from earlier and tapping his own communicator so that he could find Marik's frequency.

-Marik, you numbskull! What the hell do you want?-

Not receiving an answer, Bakura frowned at the constant static that echoed through the transmission. Feeling a bit worried, he reached up to tap the communicator but stopped as something wet and slimy dripped onto the back of his hand.

"What the-? Oh shit…" he blanched, looking up into unnatural opaque blue eyes that were narrowed down at him as another dribble of drool glistened from the demon's mouth. Scrambling backwards, Bakura made to grab his gun when the demon lunged at him, causing him to duck and roll out of the way before quickly getting to his feet and giving himself some distance away from the demon.

Retrieving the gun he received earlier, Bakura turned to aim it at the creature but found nothing there. "Damn it all to hell," he groused, keeping a steady grip on the gun as he looked around the room. Turning slowly, he cast a quick glance upward and let out a gasp as the demon jumped down at him, giving him only a second to react as he jumped back and instinctively pulled the trigger.

"Shit!" he cursed hearing the bullet ricochet off one of the support beams in the building instead of the demon. Cocking the gun once again, he took off running as the demon made another wild lunge at him from the corner of his vision. 'This is getting ridiculous,' he mentally griped, running down one of the halls to jump over some of the fallen rafters before turning just as the demon came around the corner- giving him a clear shot.

The demon wailed as the bullet penetrated its rough hide to only burst inside its blood stream, allowing the newly developed chemical inside the bullet to be spread throughout its body. Growling and drooling out globs of contaminated blood, the demon narrowed its eyes at the human target only a few yards away.

Bakura shuddered at the sudden look the demon was giving him as the once opaque blue eyes turned a nasty mixture of dark blue and crimson. Taking a few steps back, his eyes widened as the creature let out a bone-chilling roar before two more demons appeared out of nowhere… "Oh Fuck!"

Watching the demons take a step closer, Bakura didn't waste anymore time as he quickly turned and took off running down the large hallway. Sprinting as fast his legs could carry him, he darted around a corner to let out 'oomph' followed by a painful groan as he banged into something.

"Dammit Frosty, watch where the hell you're going!"

At the sound of the familiar voice, Bakura looked over to find Marik glaring at him while gingerly touching his forehead. "Marik…"

"Damn, that's going to leave a bruise…" Marik muttered before looking over at his white haired companion. "That's the name, Frosty."

Glaring at the infernal nickname, Bakura snorted. "Don't call me that and what the hell happened to your communicator?"

"Oh that… heh, well I sort of lost it when I was ambushed by this ugly looking--" Marik started before trailing off as 3 pairs of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness of the room. "—One of them!"

Bakura tensed as he turned to see the eyes as well. "RUN!" he yelled running over to his friend and jerking him up while continuing to run- nearly dragging Marik behind him.

Regaining his composure, Marik jerked his arm free from Bakura's grasp as he took up running alongside his companion. "I thought we were supposed to be the ones killing them and not the other way around."

"Tell them that," Bakura countered, looking over his shoulder just as the three demons jumped over one of the fallen beams that stretched across the hallway. "I've shot the one in the middle right in the chest and it's still kicking!"

Rounding another bend, Marik and Bakura both came to a dead stop as they ran out of the building to find Damon standing in front of them with a very large gun.

"Get down!"

Doing as told Marik and Bakura quickly went down as the demons chasing them leaped out of the building causing Damon to pull the trigger and release a small missile like projectile straight at the middle demon. As the missile made contact the demon let out another scream as the projectile impaled its midsection before exploding in a gory mess.

"Gah… I'm covered in demon guts!" Bakura wailed, wiping the slimy pale yellow goop from his face.

"I think I swallowed some of it…" Marik blanched, quickly turning away and puking at the rancid taste that tainted his tongue. "Ugh- that's disgusting!"

"Are you two alright?"

Turning to their squad leader, Bakura glared lightly. "Aside from the demon guts… peachy," he snorted before giving the large gun another glance over. "So you give the rest of us a fucking handgun and keep a damn rocket launcher for yourself, eh?"

"I'm the leader, I'm supposed to get all the perks," Damon smirked, causing Bakura and Marik both to glare. "Oh come off it you two… you survived didn't you?"

"Barely," Marik muttered, as he rose up his right arm to show the other two the ripped threads of his jacket as well as the bloody gashes that covered his bicep.

Damon frowned at the bloody marks before quickly reaching down into the deep pocket of his black cargo pants and pulling out a small first aid kit. "Bakura, patch him up while I go and find Seto," he said tossing Bakura the kit before tapping his ear-piece.

( Seto, do you copy? )

At the lack of an answer, Damon shook his head before reaching down and pulling out the tracker he had used earlier. Running his fingers across the small keys, he changed the frequency so that the tracker would instead find his companions rather than demons. Smiling as the dots turned a pale green, he took off running down the lane that Marik had went down earlier.

"Why didn't he just go down the alley that Kaiba went? I mean I know there's nothing down that way… hey wait a sec! What happened to those other two demons?" Marik asked, looking up at Bakura before hissing as the other applied the stinging ointment over one of his gashes.

"I don't know, but as long as they're gone I'm not complaining… it's already going to take me a week to get the guts out of my hair," Bakura grumbled, ripping off a piece of tape so to keep the gauze over one of the large gashes.

"The day you stop complaining is the day I'll turn my company over without a fight."

At the sound of the familiar voice, Bakura and Marik both turned to find Seto as well as Damon walking toward them, each one dragging a large chest behind them.

"That was fast," Marik stated, eyeing Damon before looking back at Seto and scrunching up his nose in disgust at the familiar goop covering the other's long trench-coat. "Looks like you got slimed too, eh?"

"Unfortunately," Seto grumbled, casting a small glare down at the blotches of goop that covered his jacket.

"Nothing your personal dry cleaner can't handle, I'm sure," Bakura muttered, earning a sharp glare before he turned his attention back to the unusually quiet squad leader to find him shifting through all the weapons in the chests, "Told you they were packing some serious shit."

Looking at the other, Damon frowned. "I know, and I'm worried because these are ritual weapons and with so many… it would be like a sudden massacre," he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Let's just pack all this up and head back to base."

"What about the other demons?" Marik asked, recalling that they had been tracking six of them and had already taken out two so there were still four at large.

"I lost track of them and besides I think we may need to come up with some better ammo. The two we took out weren't even the ones that do the killing… just suppliers."

"So in other words we've been on a damn goose chase!" Bakura snapped slamming the lid of the first aid kit closed.

"Not really, we've just put a damper on the other demon's supply unit though. It's still the same clan of demons; it's just that the ones we've been tracking just make the weapons."

Getting off the ground, Marik dusted off his pants before walking over to peer into the large chests. "How do you know all this stuff?"

Damon smirked lightly. "Actually this is all new for me, but it's just amazing what you can learn from a woman."

Bakura shook his head before grabbing one of the large chests and dragging it toward the large van. "Feh, yeah whatever… seriously Damon you give her too much credit- we all know she's a freak!"

Seto shook his head before following Bakura's example and dragging the other chest to the van.

Exchanging glances between one another, Marik looked back over at Damon before casting a side glance of Bakura.

"Can I tell her that he called her a 'Freak'?" he asked, smirking lightly as the other rolled his eyes.

Walking toward the van, Damon shook his head. "Just get in the van, Marik," he sighed, motioning for Bakura and Seto to load up as well before getting into the driver's seat. "I think I'll drive us back."

"Are you saying that my driving is bad?"

"I never said that…"

"I did and I'll say it again. Your driving sucks!"

"No one was asking you, Frosty!"

"Would you two shut up!"

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Damon sighed lightly. "It never stops," he grumbled lightly before starting the ignition and popping the vehicle into gear as the van jerked to life. "I wonder if I can still get a transfer to the 'Lab' unit."

Aged lavender eyes glanced nervously at the odd décor of the large room as the trickling of the hall fountain filled the background. 'Maybe I should've worn a suit,' the figure mused, scratching his dusky gray beard while eyeing his reflection in the mirror to stare unconsciously at his casual overalls, shirt, and the green bandanna that kept his unruly gray hair tucked away.

"Mr. Motou, sir?"

At the sound of quiet voice, the figure turned and offered the receptionist a small smile. "You can call me Solomon," he replied, watching as the young lady smiled in return.

"Very well, Solomon. Mr. Donavon has arrived and he'll be with you shortly."

Solomon nodded his thanks as the receptionist bowed her head and walked away, once again leaving him alone in the large room. 'Hmm for such a luxurious building… some of this interior gives me the creeps,' he sighed, looking down at the marble flooring that was polished and waxed to perfection, but the arrangements of red and black caused the entire floor to look as if you were walking on either lava or fresh spilt blood.

Shuddering at his mental musings, Solomon made his way over to one of the large black leather couches and took a seat. 'I wonder what that boy has gotten into,' He sighed as he glanced at a large painting of creatures he'd never seen before drawn much in the way the Ancient Egyptian painted or carved their stories and history on various columns and walls.

"I thought that would catch your interest."

Startled at the sudden familiar voice, Solomon whirled around to see the figure of a lithe man with blue streaked black hair and brown eyes waltz into the room wearing a rather snug navy blue outfit that was accessorized with multiple belts and pockets. "Damon, you should know better than sneak up on an old man like that," he chided, recollecting himself enough to shake a finger at the young man.

"Are you admitting to be an old man?"

At the question, Solomon glared at the other and 'hmphed' to himself as he crossed his arms.

Damon chuckled at the other's antics. "So how's the Munchkin?" he asked, causing the old man to look back at him with a small curve of his lips.

"You do know how much Yugi hates it when you call him that, don't you?" Solomon asked, earning a nod from the other. "However, he's doing fine with his studies… even though I don't think he's really decided what he wants to major in."

"I figured he'd go into archeology and follow in your footsteps," Damon smiled, walking over to sit behind the large desk. "I know how much he looks up to you."

Waving a hand, Solomon smiled. "I'd say History will always intrigue Yugi, but I think he wants something more. You on the other hand I'm very curious about… I mean what is it that you do? The last time I seen you, you worked for the government."

"Still do," Damon replied, crossing his arms over the desk's surface. "I just work for a special branch which is very interesting."

"Odd too, I imagine," Solomon countered, giving the room another look over.

Damon smiled. "Maybe, but then again its never dull."

Shaking his head, Solomon sighed lightly. "So dare I ask why I'm here?" he asked looking at the other with an arched brow as Damon merely smiled in return.

"I was just curious to know how you were doing and of course ask about Yugi as well since I haven't seen either of you in a long time," Damon replied, tapping his thumbs together as he eyed his elderly friend.

"Hmph, you're up to something," Solomon scoffed, causing Damon to face-fault childishly. "You're just like your father- meaning that you're clearly in over your head about something and need help in getting yourself out of it."

Scratching the back of his head, Damon pouted lightly. "It's not that bad. It's just you've been to Egypt so many times that you should know it by the back of your hand… but when it comes to me… well, I just think of it as a place full of sand and spitting camels."

Eyeing the other suspiciously, Solomon twitched his mustache. "What are you looking for in Egypt?"

"Eh, well… I can't really tell you," Damon sighed, giving the other a sheepish grin.

"A secret, eh?" Solomon asked, receiving a nod from the other. "Well how do you purpose I help you when I don't know what to look for?"

"Oh Fearless leader, c'mon we've got a meeting to go to ASAP!"

Solomon blinked at the unfamiliar voice before mentally chuckling at the annoyed look on Damon's face. "Fearless leader?"

Narrowing his eyes at the doorway, Damon counted down the seconds before a head of spiky white locks appeared in the doorway followed by another head of spiky pale blond hair. "I'll be there in a few, just go on without me."

"We're not going in there to be alone with her… she gives me the creeps. I mean I know Bakura is moody and everything…-"

"Hey!"

"… but at least he will crack a smile every now and then. I swear the woman is as lively as a fuckin' corpse."

"Friends of yours?" Solomon asked, eyeing the other with a small smile as Damon merely ran a hand through his hair and groaned.

"Co-workers," Damon muttered, glaring at the pair in the doorway. "Just wait for me –quietly- outside then."

"That won't be necessary."

At the new voice, both Marik and Bakura whipped around to let out a yelp before scrambling into the large office, allowing the new arrival a clear path into the room.

Standing up from his desk, Damon smirked at the hassled look on his co-workers faces before turning his full attention to the female that had just entered the room. Blinking, he couldn't believe his eyes as the lady smiled while approaching his elderly companion.

"Mr. Motou, it's good to see you again."

"Ms. Mushira, it's a pleasure seeing you as well."

Bakura and Marik both looked over at Damon before shrugging lightly, though Marik had to voice his own opinion.

"It's creepy to see her smile… I don't know if it's a good or a bad thing,"

Blocking out Bakura and Marik, Damon focused on the conversation that was going on between his superior officer and old time friend. "Um… you two know each other?"

"More like acquaintances really."

"Yes, Ms. Mushira was familiar with the work I had done in the past and she had this strange item and brought it to me. That item was still a mystery to me… but when Yugi found it… well, he solved the mystery and ended up solving a puzzle in the shape of a upside down pyramid with the Eye of Ra in the center," Solomon smiled, turning enough so that he could talk to both people.

Scratching the side of his head, Damon eyed his superior officer with a bit of unease. "A puzzle… how come neither of you could solve something as simple as a puzzle?"

Crossing his arms, Solomon shook his head. "I tried for two years to try and solve that puzzle, but none of the pieces seemed to fit. Yet… when Yugi touched it… it seemed as though the puzzle wanted to be solved—even if it did take Yugi a few years to actually put it all together as well."

"Mr. Motou, do you think it would be possible for us to borrow the puzzle for a while. I promise to bring it back to your grandson, but there is something I need to use it for."

Looking back at the young woman, Solomon stroked his beard. He knew that Yugi had become really fond of the puzzle and wouldn't part with it for long. "Hmm… I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you."

Nodding to the lady, Solomon glanced at his watch. "Well I best be on my way back to the shop. Damon it was a pleasure to see you again, and you're always welcome to drop by. As for the rest of you… it was nice to meet you as well," he stated before turning back to the lady and smiling. "I'll let you know tomorrow about the puzzle, Ms. Mushira."

"That's fine."

Watching his old companion leave the room, Damon frowned lightly before narrowing his eyes at the woman standing in front of his desk. "Alright, what the hell are you up to this time, Destiny?"

Turning to look at the other agent, Destiny crossed her arms. "Nothing," she replied, locking her own blue eyes with his brown. "It's just he has something I need at the moment."

"Is this still about that le—I mean Vampire?" Bakura asked, quickly changing his words as Destiny eyed him warningly.

"If you must know, yes," Destiny replied, taking a seat in one of the leather chairs in front of Damon's desk. "The Vampire that we're after was sealed away by the power of six magical items, well actually seven if you were to include his own item."

"Well that's just great… so that means we gotta track down six more items," Marik muttered, crossing his arms while leaning against the wall.

"Not really."

At the new familiar voice, everyone aside from Destiny looked over to see Seto walking into the room.

"What do you mean?" Damon asked, eyeing the other curiously.

Crossing his arms and he motioned his head toward Destiny. "She already has all six items."

"Well that's a relief. I really didn't feel like scouring the entire world to find some ancient relic," Bakura sighed, looking at the others. "So where's the last item?"

Damon frowned at the question before narrowing his eyes at Destiny.

"The last item is in the hands of a college student."

Seto blinked. "Why the hell would a college student have something like that?"

"Because it was given to him by his grandfather," Damon growled, glaring at the only lady present.

Looking back at Damon calmly, Destiny waved a hand.

"Why Yugi?" Damon asked, biting back the growl in his voice.

"There's a trick to the puzzle, and when Solomon talked of his grandson I knew he'd be the one to solve the puzzle. That puzzle is the key to unsealing the vampire that we need."

Rolling his eyes, Bakura scoffed lightly. "With all these old trinkets and sealing spells and supposed traps that you told us about earlier I have only one question to ask. Just who in the hell is this Vampire?"

Looking over at Bakura, Destiny's lips curled into another eerie smile, "He's a Pharaoh."

Please Review...