"Hn." Hiei said. "And what does the great Ruler of the Spirit World have in mind? Tossed into the deepest pits of hell? Slave Worker for the S-Classes?"

"No." Koenma said and lowered his eyes onto the contract on his desk.

Hiei frowned and grabbed it. "What is this?" he said, his eyes roaming across the sheet.

Koenma waited.

Hiei's eyes slowed, widened, and went still. "What is this?" he said in a deadly soft tone.

George, standing behind Koenma now, began to shake.

"Just what it looks like." Koenma answered.

"Do you think I would ever agree to this?" I'd prefer the bowels of the underworld! A thousand years of torture in the Spirit World dungeons..."

"Let me see that." Kurama said and stepped close behind Hiei to snatch the paper.

"It is a gracious offer." Koenma was saying as Kurama read the contract. "It is not a thousand years you would serve. Not even a hundred, merely the length of one human's lifetime."

"Not just a human!" Hiei spat and the seal was lit again.

That was enough for George. He bolted, screaming.

Koenma didn't bat an eyelid, he kept his eyes trained on Hiei as Kurama himself came to the end of the contract's terms. "Be wise, Hiei. Offers such as this do not come anyone's way that often. Consider...if only for the sake of your sister." Koenma said.

Hiei snarled.

"Yes, Hiei." Koenma continued, "We know about Yukina. What do you think would happen to her if you were in...what did you say, the "bowels of the underworld". You could possibly eventually use your jagan to watch her again, but what, I wonder, would you see?"

"Are you threatening Yukina?" The power rose like a warm wind. Kurama shivered. Koenma looked pale, but held his ground.

"No, Hiei. I am not. I would not. Not even for my purposes would I, but no other apparition would give you such a guanantee, now, would they?"

Hiei's mouth showed sharp teeth, but for the first time his eyes showed something Kurama had rarely glimpsed. Realitization, panic and the faint glimmers of regret.

Kurama stepped suddenly forward, stepping passed Hiei who didn't even glance at him. "My Lord, Koenma, please. You must give us time to discuss this."

Koenma tilted his head. "Time?" he said, "There is no time. Decide now."

"An hour. No more."

Koenma peered passed Kurama at Hiei who was exiting the room even as Kurama spoke. "Very well." Koenma said. "You have your work cut out for you, Kurama. You have read the terms?"

"Yes. Very closely."

"Good. Because this is a package deal. You, Kurama may be in for a lighter punishment, but for your past crimes your time would be more than this human body you posses can offer. The stakes are high."

Kurama nodded. "Double or nothing." he said and turned and followed after Hiei.

In the dim light of his office, Koenma leaned back in his chair and read the intellegence reports. Demon insects. That was troubling, but worst were the stirrings of the humans in the affairs of the demons. Especially a demon named Toguro.

Perhaps he should have told them the stakes were higher than they imagined.

They must sign the contract or...

Koenma sighed. Did he really want to finish that thought?

Answer: Hell no.

....to be continued....