I challenged myself recently to write ten YYH pieces inspired by the first ten songs that played on my randomized iPod. This fic was born of Avalon's "Let your love", but trust me - the song contrasts massively to the story told here. lol Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: Dun own it. Do want it.

Calling

Smart mouthed, arrogant and obnoxious, he was perfectly suited for the world of demons and apparitions, rejoining them as one to be widely feared after his stint of time in the human dimension. In territory where the sword ruled and the claw claimed lands, he was home, but not free of his chains.

His invitation to return was abrupt and unexpected – a spiritual testament given to him by Mukuro herself. Of course, he had no idea that Mukuro was female. Perhaps she intended this to be so, as a test to observe his skills in other matters. Or maybe she just wanted to humiliate him for subjecting himself coincidentally in her service. He contemplated that thought for but a brief time, soon after tossing it to the wind since she had done nothing to perpetuate his anger on the possibility.

After his initial tests in that hellish dungeon, being resurrected from a journey to the other side of life, Mukuro took him under her wing and gave him one task to accomplish. He had sneered at the thought of further training when he felt an entirely new level of power and strength fill him, but she was insistent that he required more.

"Your body and your energies have climbed to nearly unreachable levels, yes, but you're still lacking the motivation you need to survive the days ahead…"

"Feh, and what sort of motivation do you suggest I need? Do you intend to steal my jewel again and dangle it in front of me as if I were some dog?"

Mukuro had already grabbed said jewel by the twine and had pulled him as close as possible to her, making him stiffen uncomfortably below her. "This jewel is not the reason you're still alive, nor will it be the benefactor of your strength when you die. To many it's a worthless trinket, and to others it has great value, hence what originally got you into so much trouble in your youth."

She released the twine, but did not release him from her spell of intimidation. He knew he was no match for her as he was, yet he already felt as strong as he could become. What could Mukuro possibly offer him to strengthen him more?

"Your body has faced many dangers, and even your soul, yet there is one part of you that can achieve limitless potential if trained properly. Your spirit…"

Once again, she tested him – tried him. Using one of her most terrifying techniques, she threw him into a chasm of his worst nightmares and forced him to find a resolution before she would wake him. For days the trial went on and he suffered more than he ever had before, witnessing traumas of an unbearable kind and taking part in the slaughter of his people when he had long relinquished the desire to do so. What did Mukuro seek to gain from his imaginatively engineered horrors?

Finally, the answer came when he was faced with the choice to take his sister's life or Mukuro's. One he loved and the other respected in an odd way. It should have been an easy choice, but he found himself at a crossroad he did not want to be. Sword lifted, he prepared for the strike when Mukuro's lone eye seemed to open a window to a time when she was faced with similar pain. There, he bore witness to her decision and surrendered his sword to the ground before taking a life.

"Take my soul, Mukuro! I can't choose between the two of you!"

A possible scenario that could have taken place sometime during the relationship Hiei & Mukuro share. lol Thanks for your time! Love you guys!