Kaiba stared at the cell phone in his hand. Jade Matushita was on her way here? Was the mutt actually serious? No, it had to be a prank, or at least that was what he had thought in the two minutes before Mai had also called and confirmed that Jirou's spitfire of a sister was with them and they were on their way to the manor.

Just what in hell had Kujaku been doing, anyway?

The doors to the main room burst open then, revealing a concerned Kisara. "Is everything alright?"

Seto shook his head, his expression going from blank to sour. "Peachy," he growled. He noticed that Honda, Shizuka, and Mana were clustered behind Kisara in the doorway. With a huff, walked around his wife and pushed his way through the three on-lookers and into the interior of the spacious sitting room.

Ishizu and her brother had taken up residence on one of the long couches, while Mokuba and Rebecca – having returned from visiting Leon – were sprawled out on each ends the love seat. The two teens were engaged in playing footsie with each other. Yami sat on the center cushion of the other long couch, Mahad to his right; the left side had been previously occupied by Mana – who by now had finished her eavesdropping along with Honda and Shizuka – and was skipping back over to her self-designated spot. Her partners in crime were weaving their way around Seto where now standing diagonally from him and Kisara, who had settled beside him.

"Oh my, this is unexpected." Ishizu quipped, saving Kaiba any explanation. Her eyes which had a glossy look to them cleared up and she looked at Kaiba.

"What is it, Ishizu?" Marik wanted to know. "What did you see?"

All eyes were now focused on the priestess. Ishizu used to the attention, merely raised her hand in a stop-motion and shook her head. "Not 'what', Marik, but 'who'. A familiar face, with ties to our family, will be arriving here soon, but perhaps Kaiba should be the one to explain the details."

"Well, who is it?" Honda asked.

"A young female dhampir," Ishizu revealed.

Mana bulked in surprise and curiosity. "What?"

Yami's eyes slanted back and forth between his priest and priestess. "Enough of these games," he hissed.

"Jounouchi and Mai," Seto said. "The dhampir is with Jounouchi and Mai, who are on their way back here. Apparently, Mai picked up a loose end on her trip."

"It was never just merely a trip, Seto. Mai went to warn the dhampir's brother of our, presence within the city. She was caught in the crosshairs of a skirmish connected with Siegfried's death." There was a tone of surprise mixed with confusion in Ishizu's voice when she mentioned the last part. Disbelieving blue eyes stared up at Seto. "You didn't."

"Given the circumstances, I thought it was in our best interest to leave no stone unturned."

A gasp came from beside him and Kaiba winced. Kisara had managed to put the pieces together. "Jade is on her way here?"

Kisara's slip triggered a chain reaction that might have been hilarious had she mentioned any other name. There was only one dhampir by that name known to have the right to be able to claim ties to the coven. Shizuka and Honda both looked like someone had just walked over their graves. Mokuba and Rebecca, who had been laid out on the cushions, each suddenly jackknifed upright and nearly tipped over the love seat. Mahad and Marik each a master of their emotions, were eluding calm outwards, but even their eyes had widened a fraction of surprise.

None of these reactions held Seto's attention, however. Instead, his eyes where trained forcibly on where Yami and Mana where. Mana had jumped to her feet and was staring at Kisara the way weary traveler in the desert dunes looks at an oasis, while Yami's expression was one of displeasure.

Mana made a noise somewhere between a choke and sob. "Kisara…" Seto was torn between sympathy and apathy when he saw the faint hope in her eyes.

"Jade, as in Jade Matushita?" The light in Mana's eyes was extinguished by Yami's low growl and Kaiba wanted to disappear right then and there as steely, crimson eyes found his own.

"Yes. She wants an audience. She wishes to speak with you."

"N-"

"It would be in your best interest to speak with the girl, my Pharaoh." Yami's attention turned to his priestess. "Past occurrences aside, her brother was investigating Siegfried's death. Jounouchi and Mai believe her information may be worth our while."

Praise Ishizu and her wisdom, Seto thought. Now, with both he and Ishizu throwing their hats in with Jounouchi and Mai, Yami would find it difficult not to accept Jade's request for an audience. Numbers meant something, after all. "I concur. It's not like the mutt to joke around with an issue like this."

"You concur?" Yami's eyes shifted from Ishizu to Seto and then back again. "And tell me, high priest and priestess why should I hear what this dhampir has to say?"

"Because," a new voice chimed. "This dhampir is trying to protect someone precious to her."

Everyone's attention flew to the foyer outside, as Jounouchi, Mai, and a petite female with waist length red hair, pulled in a high ponytail and olive skin, now stood in the doorway. Piercing green eyes that had given the dhampir her namesake took in the surroundings and vampires. "Nob Hill; I guess if you invest well over three thousand years, you do well."

"Jade!" Mana cried.

Yami growled and all the vampires save Seto, Jounouchi, Mai, and Ishizu, crouched in defensive positions, hissing at the newcomer.

"Hey Snips," Jade greeted Mana, before turning her attention to Yami. "Call off your guard dogs. Jirou isn't here and I'm unarmed, see?" To prove her point, she lifted both of her hands above her head and showed her palms to the antsy group. "All my gear has either been confiscated by your goon squad upon arrival," she looked pointedly at Kaiba, "or it was sent to kingdom come when those ass holes in black blew our house up and sent my brother to la-la land."

"She's telling the truth," Mai vouched. "The house is toast and Jirou's in some kind of coma at Domino General."

"You two helped her?" Shizuka bristled in disbelief at her brother and sister-in-law.

"Yes, Shizuka, we did." Jounouchi clarified.

"Why?"

"Spitfire here has reason to believe that the same vampires who came after her and Jirou are the same ones responsible for Siegfried's 'accident'."

"Jirou got too involved," Jade folded her arms. "Somebody didn't like him investigating. I get the feeling he knew something, however before he could tell me just what that was, he was rudely interrupted by your untimely arrival." Her eyes sharpened on Yami. "Thanks to our little family feud, I can't get a single one of my sources to talk. The big bad pharaoh shows up, and they all clam up."

"If you think that you can just come in here and expect us to believe –"

Jade whirled on Kisara. "Chill, Sweetness. Siegfried's murder isn't the only reason why I'm here. Nor is the territorial pissing match between his highness and my brother, although the latter is somewhat relevant. That aside, I've come to ask for asylum."

Yami's eyes flashed like embers. "There is no asylum for traitors and killers of their own blood," he snarled.

"It's not for Jirou or me, but it is for someone of our blood, I suppose. A young girl whom Jirou –"

Surprised, Seto cut her off. "He has taken a Fledging?"

"Not exactly," Jounouchi muttered.

Mana sucked in a breath and her face drained of color. "He's taken a-a wife?"

This time Jounouchi made a gagging noise, and Mai cuffed him upside the head. "No Mana, he hasn't taken a wife or Fledgling. She's just a human."

There were gasps and looks of surprise all around. Ishizu was the first to recover. "You're asking asylum for a human?"

Jade nodded. "She's not just any human. She's Kouta Mazaki's daughter."

Kisara placed her finger on her chin thoughtfully. She was sure she heard of that name, but couldn't place it.

"Kouta Mazaki was my Familiar and my best legal consultant before the massacre claimed he and his family," Kaiba informed her and everyone else.

"You agreed to let the authorities send Jirou to clean up the aftermath, remember?" Jade jerked a thumb in Yami's direction. "You ignored the decree against my brother because you couldn't spare anymore precious vampire-manpower to the crime scenes, as the primary objective was ensuring your own safety and the integrity of your mainframe." Her face turned smug. "Well, that and the fact that the goons in your employment couldn't spot the really solid evidence if it bit them in the rear, but I digress."

"That may be, but Kisara I personally went over the fatality reports. I specifically remember there being no survivors at the Mazaki residence." Seto turned to his wife. "Do you?"

Kisara shook her head. "I even remember double checking that residence now because Kouta was such a valuable asset Three bodies – one female, one male, and one female child," she recited. "No survivors."

"The dhampir Sally Po was the coroner then, was she not?"

"How did you –"

Jade smirked. She finally figured out how her brother had managed to fool the books when it came to Anzu. She clicked her tongue in approval.

"What?"

"Let's just say Sally Po is a close personal friend and the closest thing Jirou and I have to a mother figure in this day and age." Jade threw Jounouchi and Mai a look over her shoulder. "This does explain how he managed to cover up the absence of her body in the reports."

"I'll be damned," Mai muttered.

"So," Seto drawled. "The reports where altered." His face turned into a scowl. "That's illegal."

"I know, but Nii-sama felt obligated to keep the girl out of harm's way. He sought to protect her from the wolves, and now here I am delivering her straight into the den it seems, but I really don't have a choice, do I? Not with her seeking answers and the doom squad on our backs, anyway," she lowered her eyes and continued, "So, Jirou took her in and raised her alongside me. I was floored by this action. Here I was, a child dhampir struggling with my duality, trying to suppress the beast within in me and my brother goes and brings a human – the ultimate temptation – home with him. What's worse, he tells me to share everything with her and dots on her like she's the greatest thing in the world, and tells me to consider her my sister. I didn't understand how or why Jirou could do such a thing. It was only when he let me see Anzu through his own eyes and memories that I finally understood."

Jade eyed her audience with newfound vigor. She looked to Ishizu. "I will only show you once, priestess what my brother showed me." She let go of her shielded thoughts and memories and allowed Ishizu to see.

"It can't be!" Ishizu exclaimed. Her blatant shock caused her to stumble backward.

Mahad and Marik were at her side in an instant. "Isis – Ishizu!"

"No. It's not possible!" She glared at Jade.

"It is possible and you know it." Jade retorted. She reached into her jacket pocket and removed a small holographic disc. "This was taken two years ago, at Otogi's Christmas Party. I know it's unorthodox for our species to celebrate Christmas, but with Anzu's arrival, Jirou decided to cement some new traditions. She is, after all, family. Isn't she, Ishizu?"

"What have you done to her, dhampir?" Yami snapped.

Jade smirked. "I have merely proved to her, your majesty, that you're not as crazy as she thinks."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Shizuka demanded.

Jade ignored her and addressed Yami. "Been having any good dreams lately, Pharaoh?"

All heads turned toward her. Jade noticed that Yami, in particular, was giving her the classic hand caught in the cookie jar expression. Bingo, time to kick this in the right direction. "Dreams of yesterday perhaps? Dreams of what you believe to be a ghost of the past come back to haunt you? When you watch her from the sky, it feels as if she so real and so close that you just want to reach out and touch her – your beloved wife – and yet for some unfathomable reason, you can't?"

The Pharaoh barred his fangs. "How do you -"

"My human sister, Anzu, has been dreaming of an ancient palace in a land of sand, where strange, beautiful eyes look down upon her with an immense sense of guilt and loss. She tells me that in these dreams she is wearing a linen gown and is decked out in the most precious of jewels. She also wears a golden crown, upon her brow. Each time she wakes, her head tingles with the slightest fraction of pain and she feels confusion, excitement, and loss. These symptoms manifested out in the real world tonight when your jet flew over the city –"

"Enough!" Yami barked. "I do not know how you came to know such things –"

"I told you. Anzu told them to me after she dreamed about them."

"She possesses a unique gift?" Marik asked.

"She gets premonitions, see's memories by touching people. She also has some empathic abilities, but that's not my point. My point is that the essential part of Teana has been reincarnated as Anzu Mazaki."

"How dare you!" Kisara raged. "How dare you poison us with such lies? This all just some scheme you've concocted –"

Jade flicked a switch on the hologram's base and an image sprang froth. The location backdrop was obviously the Black Crown. The whole place had been decorated with garland and tinsel and a Christmas tree could be seen. Around the tree, clustered together like the little odd family they were, sat Jade and Anzu, with Jirou smashed affectionately in between them, one of those 'I really hate this, but I'll tolerate because I love you', looks on his face.

"Merry Christmas, Aniki!" The synced voices of Jade and Anzu came from the base's hidden mini-speaker. "We love you!" Jade's voice proclaimed. "And it was all 'Zoo's idea!"

"Hey, I can't take all the credit." Anzu's amused voice said. "Sally helped too and is getting a copy of this."

"Right, love you, Sally and thanks for capturing the memories!"

"I second that motion. Prayers and love Sally, and thank you." Anzu's voice was full of emotion on the last part. It caused Jade to remember why the holographs where created in the first place. Anzu had wanted to do something special yet simple for her two saviors that Christmas, instead of usual gifts, so Sally had brought her camera to the event and purchased the voice recorder so that the girls could secretly record a message for Jirou. They also had managed to surprise Sally with her own holograph. The good doctor had been in tears, Jade recalled when she and Anzu had presented the gift to her.

"Believe me now?" Jade asked. She noticed Honda comically rubbing his eyes and blinking repeatedly, as if he were trying to gauge what he was seeing was real or not. Kisara and Mana were doing a perfect replica of Jounouchi and Mai's reaction from earlier, while Shizuka had her hand cupped to her mouth and made a small noise of shock. Marik, Jade noted, lost his grip on his sister, as did Mahad, and poor Ishizu was left to tumble back to the ground as the supports from her reaction to her earlier foray into Jade's memories succumbed to their emotions. Kaiba was trying hard not to gape. Mokuba and Rebecca each stared at the image with big saucer-shaped eyes.

Jade focused her attention on Yami. Just as she expected, he was focused keenly on the image that was Anzu, although his glossy eyes confirmed that his brain had checked into a catatonic state. I can't exactly blame him. It's not every day you discover beloved has been reincarnated and has been living beneath your nose for a time. Plus, the longer he's MIA upstairs, the longer I get to say I have seven lives left.

"Whoa," Mokuba breathed.

Rebecca inched forward in curiosity. She accessed Anzu's image. "Is she real?"

"As real as you or me, minus the vampire bit, mind you."

"Holy Shi –"

Quick and nimble, Kaiba clamped his hand firmly over Mokuba's mouth.

Jade laughed. "That was my exact reaction when I found out the truth."

"How is this possible?" The question came from Shizuka.

Jade arched an eyebrow. "What reincarnation? Well, it's pretty easy, all things considered. As to the why your guess is as good as mine. Don't bother asking Anzu, though. She knows nothing of the situation."

"You mean she doesn't know of her past life?"

"Negative. As far as she concerned, she has always been Anzu Mazaki and no one else."

Mana was aghast. "She doesn't remember us?"

Jade shook her head. "Sorry Snips, but she doesn't even recognize Jirou for who he is. But that is the reincarnation process, isn't it? A new personality is developed during each life in the physical world, but the soul remains constant throughout successive lives."

"Then how can you be sure she is our 'Ana?" Kisara shot back.

"For starters, she can read the ancient hieroglyphics that make up the vampire gifs used by Kaiba. Anzu told me that when she was thirteen years old, her father came home with a gif on his ring finger. She read Kaiba's name as if it written in plain Japanese or English. She also can read and understand Jirou's diary text, something that even I have trouble with after nearly a lifetime of lessons."

"That doesn't prove anything –"

"She can also write it and I'm not just talking your everyday stuff, but the upper-crust brand." Jade's face turned somber. "There was also an incident a while back. Well, it was more like a couple of incidents. It doesn't matter though, really."

"You're referring to the writing on the wall," Ishizu stated.

Jade was surprised, but then remembered that she had allowed the priestess to look into her memories. She quickly schooled her features. "Yes, among other things."

"Hold on," Jounouchi rubbed the bridge of his nose. "'The writing on the wall,' what is that?"

Jade clicked her tongue. "Anzu had a sleepwalking episode. Long story short, Jirou and I – we had been out – came home to find our living room walls covered Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs. Translated they read 'death is only the beginning' and they were written in a special cipher. The very cipher Teana used to communicate with Jirou back in Egypt. Anzu was passed out on her bed –"

Ishizu cut her off. "The Hieroglyphs were written in blood. Her injuries weren't significant, but she did use her own blood to write the message, which mirrored Teana's final words to your brother."

Jade nodded. "Yes." She spun to face the other members of her audience. "It was after that incident that Anzu began to dream. She has the Sight, so her dreams reflect reality. The first dreams where nightmarish. She dreamed of sand and blood and eventually, even her own death, or rather her death as Teana. Of course, I didn't know it at the time, but Jirou did." Jade bit her lip. "On the night she saw her death, Anzu woke up screaming. Jirou and I did our best to calm her, but she was in hysterics. We had to call Doctor Po in. Sally gave Anzu an injection to make her relax. Jirou then erased her memory of the terrible nightmare, saying it was for the best. In reality, I don't think my brother had anticipated her ever remembering her past life, at least not so vividly and so soon, anyway. So he wiped her memory and continued to hide us in the city. His plan would have worked, had it not been for Anzu, me and his highness. Anzu's too strong. She's got a good handle on her gift nowadays. Jirou underestimated the strength of her soul, and didn't expect to get attacked by thugs and render her unprotected, both physically and mentally."

She looked directly at Yami. "And he sure as hell didn't anticipate the untimely arrival of the only other being with a blood tie of equality and perhaps even prominent to his own with our sister. I have betrayed my vow to Jirou and revealed her to you. The question is will you help me, Pharaoh?"

"Now wait a minute," Honda interrupted. "You can't just expect us to take this Anzu under our protection. I mean, I know we all have control when it comes to being in close proximity to them, but let's not forget that this girl is human."

"Not to mention, the mess of trouble we'd be inviting into our home," Marik added.

"What are you getting at Ishtar? I thought you all were tolerant of humans?"

"We are, Jade. Look, I don't know the details, but someone is after your family. Offering any of you shelter would simply get us involved in a feud that is not ours."

"It is your business, Marik. Or is Siegfried Von Schroeder just another wino on the street? Is my sister?" Her statement caused a number of faces to grimace. "Like or not, Jirou, and I are part of this coven. Then again, perhaps I overestimated you."

She was cut off by her cell phone ringing. "Talk about timing." Jade secretly grinned. The tone was Epica's Unleashed and the one she had assigned specifically to Anzu. She flipped her cell open, discreetly hitting the speaker button. "Hello?"

"Jade," came Anzu's worried and irritated voice.

"Anzu, I told you not to call."

"I know, but Otogi's insisting that we leave."

"Is he now? We'll then you'd better get going then, hadn't you?"

"Drop the act, Spitfire," Anzu growled. "Otogi told me what you're up to, Jade." Her voice dropped an octave. "Are you alright? Have they hurt you?"

"Now where in the world would you get an idea like that?"

"Otogi said that Jirou wasn't exactly on good terms with the higher-ups and I was–"

"Worried about me?" Jade chuckled. "It's okay. I've got this. In fact, I was just about to make the deal when you called."

"Oh, I hope I didn't hinder your chances."

Jade's green eyes met Yami's amethyst ones, the pharaoh having come out of his trance when her cell rang. He was currently listening to their conversation and starring at the red RAZR with wide and attentive eyes. "Nah, I think we're all good here. Oh, by the way, how's your head? Still feeling flustered and whatnot?"

"It's better. Although Jade, where are you exactly?"

"In a house, just north of the Ueno District and Kaiba's domain and in a room full of curious vampires. Why do you ask?"

"It's nothing really."

"What 'Zoo? Tell me."

"It's just Otogi told me where you were going and I – I feel as if I should've gone with you. I still do, truthfully."

"You're just worried."

"I am worried," Anzu stressed. "But also I feel antsy; almost left behind. I can't really explain it, Jade. All I know is that my gut – my intuition – is telling me that I should be there with you." She sighed. "Maybe I am just overreacting. It has been a long night.

"Hey I understand completely, 'Zoo, but I really need to go now. Vampire business, remember?"

"Oh, right! Boy, I picked one heck of a time to unload on you, huh?"

Jade let out a chuckle. "I'd say it was perfect timing. Now, how about lending my boyfriend – who I know has been listening in over your shoulder – your phone so I can tell him the details personally?"

Anzu let out a peal of laughter. "It would be my pleasure. Just don't get all mushy with each other and use all my minutes up."

"Ha. Ha." Jade sniped. She heard Anzu pass her cell phone to Otogi and turned the speakerphone off. "Hey gorgeous," she greeted. Otogi said something then, and she responded, "No, I seemed to have misjudged them. They appear to want nothing to do with the situation or Anzu."

"Now hold on!" Mana exclaimed. "I don't believe we've decided just yet."

"Oh? Perhaps I spoke too soon?"

"Mana," Mahad chided.

"But master –"

"It's true we've not reached a consensus yet, young one. But the decision is not yours to make."

"Master, how can you –"

"Bring her here."

Everyone's attention snapped toward the voice. "My Pharaoh," Ishizu began. "I do not think –"

"I said, bring her here. It was not a request, Ishizu."

Ishizu nodded. "I know that. I only wished to point out that this girl isn't –"

"Let it be done." Yami turned to Jade. "You have one-hour dhampir," he stated before heading out of the room. "Mahad, Mana."

Mana rose to her feet and followed him out. Mahad lingered long enough to share a look with Ishizu before he too followed.

Ishizu shook her head in disdain. "I fear his feelings cloud the issue at hand."

Jade gave Otogi the 'go ahead' and flipped her cell shut. "You're probably right. However, we won't be the ones who tell him that."

"No, we won't." And despite his apparent cordialness just now, I fear that neither you nor Jirou is off the hook completely.

Ishizu knew that images and phone calls often paled in comparison to the real-flesh-and-blood deal.

To be continued…