I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. Only the nameless woman is mine.

Chapter One- Hiei

Hiei floated in the sky high above the ocean. The surface was as smooth as glass and a deep sapphire blue from his height and he would have smiled if he could, but seagull beaks weren't made for smiling. He soared up a little higher before going into a steep dive and, as he plummeted toward the water, he began to change. His feathers turned gray and became rubbery skin. His tail feathers and legs merged together into a gray tail. His beak turned gray and took on the look of a dolphin beak. When Hiei hit the water, he was no longer a seagull, but a dolphin. He let out a dolphin laugh before laughing in his own voice. I love being a shapeshifter. I can spend twenty-four hours in one form before I have to change or I'll be trapped in that form forever, still able to talk but unable to change again. Hn, no danger of that as I only spend a few hours in one form at a time.

He began to swim for shore, diving in and out of the water to breathe. He had found out some time ago that swimming was faster than flying and often chose an ocean life form to return to land when out in the water.

Hiei swam until his belly met wet sand and then took his human form, got to his feet, and walked onto land. He boarded a bus once at the bus stop and rode it into downtown. He got off in the dark heart of downtown that was dreary and depressing, not at all like the bright, sparkling ocean he had flown over and swam through. The buildings were in various states of decay and neglect, alleyways were unlit and trash littered the sides, filling the air with the stench of rotting food and garbage. Hiei went down the foulest smelling alley, becoming a cat to see through the darkness. He trotted down the alley and into a side alley that led to a well-maintained door and a shiny plaque that stood out in the gloom, a light shining above the door. Hiei became human, sparing no look at the words on the plaque as he got out a key. The words read, "Mukuro, lady of potions, spells, and charms. Bring me your problems. I will solve them."

Hiei had read this sign several times before and knew it spoke a false promise and advertisement. Mukuro was no lady: She was a sorceress. She did provide a service to the people who came to her for magical help. She accepted all requests and made bargains with them, asking for something precious to that person as payment. These bargains, while the conditions were reasonable and could be met, always ended in failure and the person in question ended up paying the price by either serving Mukuro for several years or living as a rat or some other animal whose body parts or organs were needed for her spell and potion ingredients. The fail rate wasn't known and neither was the reason for the fails: Mukuro sent Hiei out to sabotage the bargains.

Hiei hated to destroy others' hopes and dreams, but he had no choice. Mukuro threatened to trap him as a harmless, helpless animal or even one she'd kill for ingredients if he didn't obey her. Since he loved his gift and life, he did her bidding and watched as his boss' clients failed and paid the price.

He opened the door and entered a hall with electric lamps and covered with a long red carpet. The walls were bare and gray so that nothing distracted one from the double mahogany doors with shiny brass handles. Hiei, however, went to one side of the doors and tapped a specific brick three times. A section of the wall slid to one side, revealing a well-lit staircase leading down. He started down the stairs, the wall closing behind him. He descended until he came to a lavishly furnished living room. He went to the red-haired woman seated in an armchair and knelt before her. "Mistress," he said.

"Welcome back, Hiei. I hope you enjoyed your day off as I suspect you will soon be busy."

"Yes, Mistress. I enjoyed it immensely."

"Good. Get something to eat and then to bed. We will have company in the morning."

"Yes, Mistress." Hiei headed to the kitchen and, once out of sight, he scowled. He hated call Mukuro Mistress, but he said it to keep his gift and life.

Mukuro smirked as Hiei left. She knew the teen hated her, but that didn't concern her. He wouldn't raise a hand against her as she could change and kill him. She knew a spell to seal his gift once he had transformed. If she suspected that he was thinking of harming or leaving her, she could lie about a client and once he became whatever she wanted him to be, she would seal his gift and trap him in that form or she could just use the spell to trap him. I probably won't have to use it. Hiei likes his gift and will do anything to keep it as it is. I was lucky to find him and get him to tell me about his ability, not to mention trick him into entering my service. She smiled as she reflected on that day:

Mukuro had been on a yacht, doing some fishing. She had desired fresh fish for dinner and had a net in the water and a fishing pole with the line and lure in the water. She could have bought a fish at a fish market, but she had wanted to make sure it was fresh. She had checked her pole and saw it empty before the tightening of her net ropes caught her attention. She had seized the ends and hauled it up and onto her boat. Inside were a few fish, one of which was larger than normal for that species.

"Oh, yes," she had said, pointing at it. "That one will be my dinner."

"No," the fish had gasped and Mukuro did the same.

"You can talk!?" she had exclaimed, knowing she couldn't eat a talking fish.

The fish had flopped for a few more moments before becoming a teenage boy with spiky black hair and unusual red eyes. Those eyes glared at her. "I'm not a fish," he had snapped. "I'm a shapeshifting human."

"A shapeshifter? That's fascinating. Tell me about it, Mr. uh…"

"Hiei. I'm just Hiei. I was born with the ability to change forms but only for twenty-four hours. Any longer and I'm stuck in that form forever but still able to talk."

"I see. Well, I am Lady Mukuro a sorceress who helps people for a price. I make bargains with people and if they don't fulfill their end, they must either serve me or become animals who will 'donate' their body or parts for my spells and potions."

Hiei had felt sick at hearing of this woman's profession but didn't let it show. It is no concern of mine what she does.

"Hiei, I would be willing to pay you as a hire for my business."

"You want to hire me?"

"Yes. You could spy on people and report to me whoever could benefit from my services."

Hiei had turned to stare at the water. He had used his ability to secure food and water, but had wished he could buy food like other people. This hired pay offer would grant his wish. He had turned back to see a blank paper with a line for his name, a pen beside it. I guess we'll fill out the terms after I sign. He had seized the pen and signed.

"Excellent. Now, can you become a cat for me? I love cats."

Hiei had shrugged before taking the requested form. He had seen her smile and chose to be a seagull so he could fly off but when he tried to, nothing happened. "What?" he had said, confused.

"I sealed your power," Mukuro had replied. She held up the paper that was now covered in writing. "You're my slave now and will call me Mistress. You will live with me and will spy on clients. Your job will be to use your power to sabotage my clients as they attempt to fulfill their bargains."

"Never," Hiei had hissed.

Mukuro had shrugged. "Then, you will be a cat forever unless you agree to work for me. If you do, you are on notice that any action you take against me will result in me ordering you to change and then I'll seal your power again and leave you to become trapped. It is your choice." She had folded her arms and waited.