Anzu was the first one out of the car when they reached the house. She found the spare key under the potted plant, entered the house and closed the door behind her without saying a word to the two siblings.

Jade was about to follow Anzu's example of giving her brother the cold shoulder when Jirou caught her by the arm.

"We need to talk."

"Jirou –"

"Now," he hissed.

"Okay, okay. What's up?"

"I saw Mai today."

Jade's eyes widened. "What?"

"She was at the crime scene investigating Siegfried's death for Jounouchi and Kaiba."

"Did she see you?"

He nodded.

"Well, what happened? Did she try and kill you or something?"

"No. She actually was quite civil with me. She even suggested that we work together to solve the murder."

"You're kidding."

"I'm not. It took me by surprise though."

Jade grinned. "It shouldn't have. This just proves Mai has a smart head on her shoulders."

"What do you mean?"

"Jirou, it's simple. For a first-class investigation, you need a first-class investigator, and you are the best there is when it comes to errands and digging up the truth. You may not be her favorite person, but Mai isn't stupid."

"Duo said the same thing."

"Well, there you go. I take it you want me to keep Anzu out of the limelight for a while due to Mai's presence?"

"Yes, but isn't just because of Mai."

"Jounouchi and Kaiba then," Jade ventured.

Jirou shook his head. "Whatever killed Siegfried has the ability to kill any of us – vampire, dhampir, or human."

"A werewolf," Jade suggested. "But, I haven't heard of a pack attempting to break the peace treaty -"

"Siegfried was killed by blood drainage induced through the neck, Jade."

Her vivid green eyes grew ten-fold. "You're suggesting that Siegfried was being hunted by a fellow vampire or dhampir?"

"Sally has the samples that Cher took from the body over at her lab for analysis. I am hoping that she has looked at them close enough to give us an idea on whom or what killed Siegfried."

The look in her brother's eyes when he said that last statement caused Jade to realize something. "You're afraid," she whispered. "Why?"

"It is not something any of us can ignore, Jade. If we do, we risk lives; as we did in the past."

"Jirou, what do you mean by that?"

Instead of answering her, Jirou cast a look at the darkened sky. "The night grows short. I must see Sally. Stay in and keep safe."

When she entered the house, Jade found Anzu hunched over a familiar piece of papyrus. "You shouldn't be reading that."

Startled, Anzu looked up. "Oh Jade, you scared me. I thought you were still out talking to Jirou."

"He's left now. He just wanted to make sure we'd be okay," Jade eyed Anzu again, this time a bit irritated. "I said you shouldn't be reading that, Anzu. Jirou would skin us both if he came home and found you reading his journals. We almost got busted tonight as it stands."

"I know. I am sorry Jade. It's just well, I can't explain. I feel something when I read about the past. Did you know the vampire kingdom's seat was located in the ancient city of Thebes?" She asked, changing the subject.

"Vampire History 101, 'Zoo – and it still is really. Only the name of the capital has changed."

"But Kaiba and Jounouchi are stationed in Japan, aren't they? Why would the vampires still retain the old capital if the majority of its governing body lives and operates in Japan?

"Sentimental reasons, I guess. The High Vampire was also considered the Pharaoh of Egypt too since he ruled from there. Besides, Kaiba and Jounouchi don't control everything."

"Ah yes," Anzu murmured. "The mysterious and elusive Yami Mutou. I had nearly forgotten about him. It's strange though…"

"What is?"

"Kaiba and Jounouchi I get. But that one I don't. Seto Kaiba and Katsuya Jounouchi both have rich histories. Yami Mutou just seems to just have appeared out of nowhere one day."

"How is that?"

"Jirou's chronicles; one minute he's talking about how great the vampire kingdom of Egypt and Pharaoh Atem are, then the next he skips right into the wars and how Lord Yami and the others brought peace."

"Well, you know Jirou. He always was fond of that military and diplomacy stuff. I guess Yami's tactics rank right up there with the pharaoh's, no?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Still, it's funny you know? The way this is written. Jirou makes it sound like Yami Mutou walked right of the pharaoh's shadow."

Jade stiffened. "You don't say?"

Anzu looked up. "I know, weird huh? Almost as weird as this mention of a sister..."

Alarm bells were going off in Jade's head. "Sister…"

"I found one of Jirou's private diary entries in this mess – it was an accident I swear! I was going through the history and it sort of just fell out of one of the books. In it, he mentions his sister, but I thought you were born in this era?"

"I was. Jirou and I have different birth mothers. His was a vampire, mine a human."

"Could it be possible that your father sired more offspring with his first wife – the vampire?"

"Yes - now, before you start asking questions, I don't know that much. Jirou doesn't like to talk about it. She died a long time ago, in ancient times. He took death pretty hard."

"She must have been something. He speaks of her with nothing but fondness and love. Was she very young?"

"About your age physically, I think."

"Oh. May I ask how she died?"

"She was killed. I don't know the details. Anyway, we shouldn't be talking about this. It's kind of dark spot in the family's past and a sore subject."

"I am sorry. It must've been really hard to lose a sibling."

Jade shrugged. "It's okay. It's not like I really knew her anyway. We were born centuries apart after all." She placed her hands on her hips and gave Anzu a Look. "Now are you done driving the nails in my coffin this night, or do you wish to continue?"

"No, I am done making trouble for one night," Anzu proceeded to collect the texts and place them neatly back in their holders. She then passed the volume to Jade, who took it with ease and placed it back on the bookshelf. "And don't worry, my lips are sealed."

"Good."

"Jade…" Anzu started quietly. She suddenly had the burning need to know. "D-Do you consider me to be your sister? I know I only 'pretend' to be at times and I-I I'm only human…"

"Of course I consider you my sister, silly. I do share my clothes with you don't I? And we both annoy the crap out of Jirou."

"Does Jirou see me like that, too? His sister and not just a charade we pull from time to time?"

Jade swallowed the lump in her throat. "You bet he does. After all, you and I are the reason he has that little streak of grey in his hair. Now, what do you say we ditch this place and go to Otogi's for drinks? It's on me."

The laboratories of Kaiba Corp were vast labyrinths. Each contained enough equipment and sanguine to run and supply the local hospital and blood banks for days. And it was among this equipment that Jirou found his quarry.

Sally Po was an extraordinary creature. A mixture of Chinese and European ancestry, she had come to Domino City looking for work and a fresh start after being discriminated against in her father's native China. Like Cher Degre, she was an expert in both vampire and human anatomy. But unlike the human Cher, Sally had one more thing going on her list of credentials. She was a dhampir.

And that fact alone made her one of the top medical and forensic experts in Japan.

Jirou started to approach when Sally's voice stopped him in his tracks. "You know, it's customary to set up an appointment to see a doctor."

Jirou couldn't hide his grin. "Yes, but not when it's official police business."

"Police business, eh?" Sally turned halfway on her lab stool. "Well, I afraid you're a bit late; the briefing was two hours ago. I am sure Cher will fill you in."

"Mai Kujaku sends her regards, Sally."

Sally whirled completely around. "Does she now?" A fine blonde eyebrow arched in question. "Since when did you take back up with the inner circle? I don't recall the decree of your exile being lifted."

"Officially it's not. But Mai knows when to bite the bullet – and I know how to gather information."

"I see." Sally adjusted her microscope. "Well then, I suppose you'll want to know the full analysis."

Jirou gave a nod.

"I thought so." She flipped on an overhead light, illuminating the workstation more. "Hair fibers are normal. They appear to be a light color but other than that they're clean. Judging from the salvia smell, I'd say it's a male. You've got a real nasty here."

"Sounds like an ordinary thug to me, but then again, I kind of figured you'd find something out of the ordinary." Jirou sighed. "All right, let's have it doc."

"Take a look for yourself." Sally gestured to the microscope. "It's the salvia your guys pulled off Siegfried's neck. Notice anything unusual?"

"It's viral," Jirou's voice betrayed his surprise. He pulled away from the eyepiece. "Can you tell what it is?"

"I have only seen this virus once before, in Kaiba Corp soldiers."

"You're referring to the Reaper Strand *?"

"Yes, but Kaiba ordered it quarantined and destroyed after the soldiers who were injected with it become too hostile. Reapers fed off of vampire blood."

"He also ordered all company records destroyed and the lab where the subjects were injected to be burnt to the ground. He couldn't risk his enemies getting their hands on it."

Sally pursed her lips together. "Someone must have gotten their hands on the research before that."

"Or they didn't destroy their records as promised." Jirou's eyes darkened. "The Reaper program was universal. All of Kaiba's business associates had a share in it. Still, those men were cowards, to begin with. None of them would dare cross Kaiba."

"What about Siegfried? Alliance or not, he would always compete with Kaiba. Do you think he has something to do with this?"

"I am not sure. When did Kaiba order the Reaper Project destroyed?"

"Seven years ago – what is it?"

"The massacre…"

"What about it?"

"Was the stuff destroyed before or after?"

"I think it was after. I remember tending to Anzu in the ambulance, and then I got the mandatory order from headquarters."

Jirou swore.

"What?"

"I think I just figured the central purpose of The Kaiba Corp Massacre. Those fools in black weren't sent just to settle a mere score. They were sent to get the Reaper files!"

"Impossible! All files were intact when we implemented their destruction. And besides, the KC mainframe is a cyber fortress. This makes no sense!"

Jirou's eyes blackened and he growled. "We're missing something. Something important, but I don't know what."

"I'll take another look the body and see if I missed any details there."

"You didn't destroy it, yet?"

"No, but I did remove the heart."

Jirou expelled a sigh of relief. At least Siegfried wouldn't be coming back as a depraved monster, stalking and hunting them.

The phone on the laboratory's wall chose that moment to squawk loudly. Sally answered it. "Yes?" There was a pause as the other party spoke. "Shit, are you sure? Right then, fill the order, and make sure it's Type O," she instructed, ending the call. Jirou could hear her mutter, "Idiots."

With the receiver cradled against her shoulder, she dialed an extension number. "Ami, do you have an address for Kaiba's rush shipment? Uh-huh – What did you say?" Shocked, Sally nearly dropped the phone. "You're positive? Okay, thanks, Ami." She hung up the phone and whirled on Jirou. "Where are Anzu and Jade?"

"At home, why?"

"How well can Anzu sense her connections?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, like when she met you, her past connections. Can she feel any of her connections from before?"

"It depends on the relationship she had with the individual then. She felt me close to me right away, but that's normal considering our blood tie, then."

"Damn," Sally muttered. "Kaiba's shipment – it's slated for Mutou Manor."

In a flash, Jirou took out his cell phone and punched a speed dial.

Sally tried to assuage him. "It may be nothing. The staff could just be low on supplies!"

Jirou ignored her. "Come on, Come on…" he growled. Finally, a voice answered.

"Yo, talk to me!"

"Duo –"

"Hey Jirou, are you done talking with Sally already? Man, that was fast –"

"Mutou Manor," Jirou interrupted. "You got eyes on it?"

"Hell yeah, I got eyes on it. Not much activity though. It's about as lively a snail since his worship decided to wallow in Egypt for the past oh, decade or so."

"Find out if there's been any ground activity in the past twenty – four hours. A blood shipment was addressed to there about twenty minutes ago, and I want to know why."

Duo sighed. First, the Jiang Shi investigation and now this. Jirou was in one of his moods too. The kind that said not to fuck around with me or you'll find a stake up your ass. Placing Jirou on hold, he craned his head around looking for Hubb, but his Familiar chief was nowhere in sight.

A young rookie breezed by his desk, a container of coffee cups in hand. "Hey Freddie, have you seen Hubb?"

"He checked out early; said something about taking the wife out to dinner."

"Hey, you wouldn't happen to know who's staking out near Hell hall tonight, would you kid?"

"Isn't that the old Mutou place? No one's lived there for years."

Typical rookie, he hasn't got a clue. Then again, that's the way they wanted it. Duo was about to pull the roster and find out which team had pulled duty when a loud crashing sound echoed throughout the precinct.

That came from Claudia's office. Duo wondered what on earth could have the mellow Claudia so uptight when Hilde scrambled from the dispatcher's office, paper in hand. "Duo!" she called. Her face was flushed as she ran towards him.

"Whoa, babe where's the fire?"

"At Kaiba Corp. Claudia just intercepted a coded message by accident from KC air traffic controllers Atum-Ra. Not only that, but our guys at the corporation say that this is a big one, a 737."

Duo's eyes grew large. "Where was that jet coming from?"

"Claudia didn't get that. Though judging by the size, and the fuel tanks, I'd say The Middle East."

"Shit, shit, shit!"

"What is it?"

"Jirou's on line three. Wants to know if there was any reason a blood shipment would be sent to Mutou Manor, and I think you've just found it, babe."

Her blue eyes widened in realization. "Atum-Ra - Atem - fuck! "

"It's more like 'fuck me sideways', babe. Jirou and his family are here, remember?" Duo cradled the phone between his cheek and shoulder and hit the hold button.

"Oh gods," Hilde muttered fearfully. "Anzu…"

Sally listened as Jirou's tires squealed on the pavement outside the lab. "God help all of us. May he show mercy us all, and may she forgive us for what we've done."

She downed the shot of whiskey. The bottle pulled from her cabinet as Jirou spoke with Duo, his worst fears confirmed. Sally could only stare sadly as he hurried out of the lab to home, to Anzu and Jade - his sisters. Once there, he would put up a barrier around the house to shield their presences.

Yami was coming.

Anzu would spend the duration of his visit under constant surveillance by Jirou and Jade, and she would wonder not only why her guardians put her under house arrest, but also why she felt a restless tug in her fractured soul.

And for the first time ever, Sally found herself wanting Jirou to fail and the ever curious Anzu to answer the pull.

Pouring another glass of the dark liquid, Sally checked her watch. "He should be over the city soon. Please Anzu, for your brother's sake, for all of our sakes. End this period of damnable secrecy and heal us all. Listen to what your heart tells you."

You okay, 'Zoo? You got quiet there all of a sudden."

"Hmm," Anzu blinked, her expression clearing. "I'm fine, Jade."

"Good, cause for a moment you were spacing out on me."

The two were walking on the downtown sidewalks, heading for the square and The Black Crown.

Anzu shivered.

"Got a cold chill? Someone must've walked on your grave." Jade teased.

"No. I – I actually feel warm."

"You are looking a little flushed." Jade took Anzu's wrist with two fingers.

"Hey!"

Jade checked her watch. "Whoa, are you that excited to see Otogi? Need I remind you that he and I are seeing each other?"

"Oh, will you come off it! I'm not ill, nor do I have the hots for your boyfriend!"

"Then why are you so nervous?"

"I am not nervous!"

"Then why's your heart pounding like a drum?"

"I – I don't know," Anzu admitted.

The sudden roar of jet engines erupted above them. Jade and Anzu watched as a massive jet flew overhead, heading towards Kaiba Corp.

"Money Bags must have an express delivery of some kind coming in," Jade mused. "Either that or he's threatened someone into his presence. My money's on the latter. It's probably some sniveling lackey who couldn't do the job right and now has to report to the boss man."

"Are you sure that's what it is?" Anzu murmured, never taking her eyes off the plane. There went her pulse and heart again.

"No, and who cares? Now let's go. I told Otogi we'd be there within the hour."

"Yeah, okay…"

There was ringing in her ears. Her pulse and heartbeat had slowed. Now, complete silence enveloped her, like a vacuum. Then, the silence was filled by the steady sound of a chime. Anzu turned toward Kaiba Corp's skyscraper. It was if someone had struck a magnet. The pull was near irresistible.

"Hey come on, what's the matter with you now?" Jade's voice shook her out of her reverie.

"I got a feeling…"

Jade tugged on her arm. "Yeah, well you can tell me and Otogi about it all over drinks. Come on."

Ishizu Ishtar starred out the window at the towering complex that was Kaiba Corp. "We're finally here." She turned to the persona seated next to her. "Have you informed him?"

Mahad shook his head. "There is no need to."

The privacy curtain behind them swung with a fury and a young girl with dark hair breezed into the aisle. "Master," she bowed to Mahad.

"What is it, Mana?"

"He wishes to speak with you."

"Thank you Mana, We will be right there."

Another bow, and then Mana disappeared behind the curtain. As she did, a door opened, this time in front of the pair, revealing a dark-skinned male with striking blonde hair and lavender eyes. "Sister," he greeted Ishizu.

"Marik, is there any news from Seto?"

"He's got two armored vehicles waiting to take us to the manor when we land. I've also been informed that Kisara and Mai have handled clothing and food. At least we won't need to hunt for nourishment or coverings while we're here."

"Master," Mana's impatient voice came from behind the curtain. It flew open again. "Oh hello Marik, I wasn't aware he summoned you too."

I didn't. A stern voice snapped inside her head. Mana gulped. "Pharaoh..."

Send Ishizu in first, Mana. I wish to speak with her alone.

"As you wish, um, Ishizu –"

Ishizu held up her hand in a stop-motion. "No need Mana. I heard my summons quite clearly. If you will all excuse me."

The first thing Ishizu did after stepping through the curtain was bow face down.

"There is no need for that, priestess."

"Old habits die hard, my king." She sat back on her knees. "As do some memories."

"Do not patronize me now, Ishizu." Yami massaged his temples as if he were in pain.

Ishizu gave him a pointed look. "You haven't eaten or slept in weeks."

"Hunger does not faze me at the moment and sleep is none becoming."

"Because of her," It wasn't a question. "A simple dream, a manifestation of memories –"

"Enough. What is our ETA?"

"We are over Kaiba Corp now. Seto is sending a pair of armored vehicles to escort us to our destination. I've been informed that new garments and food have been procured for us since our hasty departure left us unable to."

"I would think the investigation of a high profile murder would be our first concern and not material possessions."

"Yet it is not, is it my pharaoh?"

Ding!

Ding!

"Are you alright?" Ishizu questioned.

Ding!

Ding!

His head snapped toward the window in response. What is this feeling? "It's nothing."

The privacy parted then, revealing Mana. "Pharaoh, the pilot is asking for your permission to land."

"Then let it be done."

To be continued…

.

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*Reaper Stand is from the movie, Blade II. I don't own it.