"Oh good. I was afraid you two wouldn't play nice."

Jade halted on the bottom step and addressed Mana with a grin, "Thought I'd end up a smear on the wall, Snips?" She winked. "Don't worry, Yami and I are good." A knowing look crossed her features. "Thank you, by the way."

"For what?"

"For running interference and smoothing things over."

Mana leaned back in her chair and casually sipped her tea. "I don't have any idea what you're talking about."

Jade stepped off the last step. "Anzu isn't here, Snips. Also, I doubt the bodyguards for Jirou were Kaiba's idea or thought up on a whim."

"Nothing gets past you does it?"

"It comes with the genes."

"Ooh, you are definitely Jirou's sister." Mana expelled a sigh that blew her bangs upward. "Okay, I may have not so subtlety suggested the bodyguards."

"Define, 'not so subtle'."

"I simply advised Pharaoh that he show clemency to Jirou - and by default you - or there was a strong chance he would find himself hexed for the rest of his life - which for a vampire is a very long, long time."

Jade lifted an eyebrow in surprise. "Your master would let you get away with that?"

"Master Mahad is a great teacher. Wise and powerful, but he suffers from the burden of all masters."

"And that is?"

"They are what we grow beyond."

"Speaking of, where is Mahad - and Ishizu for that matter?" Jade gestured to the now empty spots across the table from where Mana currently sat. "They were sitting right here when I arrived."

Mana took another gulp of tea before replying, "Antiquities business. Ishizu is meeting with the local museum creator. Master went with her since Marik begged off earlier. Not that I blame him," she muttered.

Jade gave a chuckle at the sorceress' obvious disdain. "Not a museum fan, huh?"

"Museums are fine. I, however, have no desire to listen to some guy with a fancy archaeological degree try and tell me my life's story over and over. It gets monotonous."

"Surely The Domino City Museum has other exhibits besides the Ancient Egyptian one?"

"Oh, they do. The Egyptian Wing is their pride and joy though; and since Ishizu is Secretary-General, they inevitably focus on it when she's in town."

"Aren't their carvings of her or Mahad on display?"

Mana shook her head. "She and Mahad were careful about not drawing any unwanted attention to themselves. The only antiquity the museum's inventory related to us is a stone tablet depicting the Pharaoh and Seto facing off in combat against each other."

"So the spotlight gets thrown Yami and Kaiba?" Jade was both amused and curious by Ishizu's decision.

"They don't frequent the museum and Ishizu has the tablet kept in the basement. Occasionally someone outside of the loop will note the uncanny resemblance and comment, but most of the time people don't think twice about it."

"Right..." Jade agreed. She checked her watch.

"You're going to see him aren't you?" Mana's tone was soft, and her eyes flickered tellingly. Jade had no doubt as to whom she was referring to.

"Yeah."

Mana nodded. "I'm coming with you." Her voice was resolute. She pushed her chair back, stood up from the table and strode into the kitchen with her empty tea mug.

Jade followed her. "Aren't you needed here?" She asked pointedly.

"Nope," Mana said nonchalantly as she washed and rinsed her used mug in the farmhouse sink. She saw the dubious look on Jade's face and sighed, "We're in Domino City. No one is trying to usurp the throne, Jade."

"I just don't want to get you in trouble, Snips."

Mana breathed deeply and began to recite, "There's a guard at the gate and at least fifteen cameras pointed at the mansion, courtesy of Seto. Marik, Jounouchi, and Honda are currently here - and as Pharaoh constantly likes to remind all of us - he 'can take care of himself'." She said the last part with air quotes, which made Jade giggle. "Which leaves me free to do whatever I want."

"Okay then."

Once Mana finished up, she and Jade made their way to the foyer were they proceeded to collect their shoes and necessities.

"Do you mind if we make a quick stop at the Black Crown first? I need to update Otogi on things."

Mana shook her head and slid on her jean jacket. She then proceeded to stuff her feet into a pair of tennis shoes. "I don't mind."

Shoes on, they headed out the door, down the steps and to where the Camaro sat waiting for them. Jade hit the key fob and made her way around to the driver side, while Mana claimed shotgun. As Jade slid behind the wheel, she noticed Mana run a loving hand over the leather interior of the passenger seat. "She's a beauty isn't she?"

Mana gave a nod, accompanied by a noise of agreement.

"She's Jirou's pride and joy." Jade rolled her eyes. "I swear, this car is higher on the totem pole of his life than me at times."

Mana chuckled as she fastened her seatbelt. "So, I have some stiff competition then?"

Jade threw back her head in laughter. "Oh, I don't know about that..." she trailed off. Her vibrant eyes twinkled mischievously and she nodded toward the review mirror and the metallic chain hanging from it. At the end of the chain was a golden pendant in the shape of a pentagram. In its center was a small emerald stone. She heard Mana gasp. "Jirou adores you, Snips." She started the car and followed the circular drive around until they were headed down the driveway and toward the road.

Mana's eyes shone brightly and she pursed her lips together. Her moss-colored eyes watered and gave a sniffle.

"Doc took it off of him in the ER. It's yours, isn't it?"

Mana nodded. "Jirou originally gave it to me as a token of our love. I gave it to him when -"

"When the preverbal shit hit the preverbal fan." Jade noticed Mana's tears and winced, "Sorry, I didn't mean -"

"No. It's okay -"

"- Cause I am already in knee-deep with Jirou as it is. If he finds out I made you cry too -"

"Jade, it's alright," Mana assured. She gestured for Jade to turn out of the drive and onto the main road. Curious about the Spitfire's comments, Mana arched an eyebrow. "Why would Jirou be angry with you? You got yourself and Anzu to safety. He'll be shocked by the situation, but he'll get over it -"

"I, uh, gave Yami permission to court Anzu and possibly resurrect her memories."

"You 'gave him' permission?" Mana hid her smile behind her palm.

"What?"

"Jade, you may have given Pharaoh your blessing, but it's doesn't matter - and not for the reason you're thinking," Mana added when Jade looked like she was about to protest. "It's not because he's Pharaoh either. He does covet her, but he's not going force her to do anything against her will. If anything happens between them, it's going to be because Anzu reciprocates or initiates things herself."

"You seriously think Anzu going to initiate things?

"You didn't spend the whole night talking to her..."

"And what? You got a confession out of her?"

Mana smirked. "It's what I do, remember?"

"Uh-huh. I suppose you can't tell me because it breaches the confidentiality clause?"

Mana gave a shrug. "She may not be my queen in name, but my soul recognizes hers, just as Jirou's and Pharaoh's did. I am bound to her, as Master Mahad is to Pharaoh."

"Anzu doesn't need a..."

"A confidant or a bodyguard? Oh, but she does Jade. You came to us for that very reason."

"Yeah, I did, but Mana," Jade began. "Anzu wouldn't want you to get hurt..."

"The only ones who are going to get hurt are the creeps who dared to hurt you, Jirou, and Anzu. No one - and I mean, no one - messes with our family." Mana seethed. As if to prove her point, Mana's eyes flashed pink, and Jade could feel the essence of raw Heka permeating the car's interior.

"Trust me, we're in consensus on that. So," Jade maneuvered the conversation back to the original and lighter topic, "Anzu told you she likes Yami, huh?"

"I'll say this It's not the 'love at first sight' that smacks vampires like a ton of bricks when we meet our soul's content and mate for the first time - but there is an attraction. An interest, if you will."

"Lots of girls are attracted to Yami, Snips."

Mana screwed her face up in distaste. "Don't remind me."

Jade chuckled. "I'm sure he's had plenty of admirers over the centuries. At least there has been no real attachment."

"It's not his attachment to them that's the problem."

"I figured. Still, Rao doesn't strike me as the stalker type."

"No, Aileen is a saint." Mana agreed. Her voice softened, "She was able to reach Pharaoh when none of us could. She understood his grief because she herself experienced it when her own mate was taken from her."

"She seems to understand the role of a Companion." Jade quipped. "Yami assured me that she wouldn't cause trouble."

"Thank the gods! We've already got enough problems as is. The last thing we need right now is another delusional bitch."

Jade glanced at Mana knowingly. "You're not talking about Aileen are you?"

"No, I am not," Mana affirmed.

"Let me guess, Crazy Bitch?"

Mana shot Jade a funny look.

"Jirou's words not mine." Jade elaborated. "The Pharaoh's favorite before Teana. Jirou said she was a real piece of work."

"He told you about her?"

"Some," Jade admitted. "He said that she didn't take Teana's ascension as queen well."

Mana snorted. "That's a gross understatement."

Jade nodded. "Jirou mentioned the harassment."

"Did he also mention the attempted murder?"

"What?" Shocked by the revelation, Jade's eyes widened, but she kept them on the road in front of her. She pursed her lips together and hissed, "No. He failed to mention that part."

"We stopped her. But not before she managed to stake and temporarily paralyze Teana."

"What the fuck?" Jade swore and shook her head in disbelief. "Was this chick just plain stupid or ignorant?"

"Desperate is more like it."

Jade groaned. "Ugh, let me guess the 'if I get rid of her, then we can be together' Lifetime movie motif?"

"Pretty much."

"Hell hath no fury..." Jade muttered. "You're right, though, Snips. There are enough people out to get our family as it is. A vindictive and delusional ex-paramour is the last thing we need right now."

They stopped by the Black Crown to catch Otogi up to speed on things. While Mana chatted with Jun, Jade let Otogi know that she had been reinstated and how Mana had convinced Yami to extend a sort of olive branch by placing Jirou under protection.

"You don't seem surprised," she commented.

Otogi gave a shrug. "He doesn't want to risk angering the two women closest to him."

"I know. I owe Snips an expensive thank you gift."

"Hmm. I'd also hazard a guess that he wants Jirou 'contained' for the time being." He smiled and shook his head. "I can't say I blame the guy."

"Huh?"

"It's not easy to date a girl with an overprotective brother."

Jade grinned. "Have some experience with that, do you?"

"Some."

She then asked him if he would mind being the go-between for the Coven and the authorities since both she and Mai were preoccupied. He agreed and said he would leave Jun in charge of things so that he could meet with Duo and the others later to exchange information.

"Hopefully, they found something that will be able to identify the bastards that tried to off us," Jade commented as she and Mana made their way through the hospital's sterile, yet inviting hallways.

Finally, after a few twists and turns and one elevator ride, they found themselves outside a secure unit.

The guard on duty glanced up from his post. When he saw Jade and Mana, he gave a slight nod and proceeded to buzz them through the door.

Jade went in first. A low whistle passed her lips as she took note of Jirou's new room. The room itself was private and afforded its occupant a lovely view of the city at night. In addition to the bedside table, lounger, and private washroom, there was also a flat-screen tv mounted high on the wall.

"Security and a semblance of luxury. Remind me to thank Kaiba for the upgrades." Jade remarked. Her eyes tracked to where Jirou lay, unconscious on the bed. Casually, she spoke, "Hey bro. Look who I found."

To be continued...