1Author's note: This idea came to me a couple weeks ago and I just had to write it. It takes place when Youko Kurama is still the leader of his den of thieves. This is a one-shot but it ended up being kind of long, so I divided it into two chapters.

Disclamer: Don't you guys ever get tired of reading disclaimers? I don't own YYH or its characters, but I do own my character, Jinei!

Damaged

A Yuyu Hakusho story

By Tari Laitaine

Masquerade... paper faces on parade... masquerade... hide your face so the world will never find you...

-Phantom of the Opera

Five years ago...

Ten year old Jinei walked into the kitchen where her mother was, carrying a heavy basket of tomatoes from the garden. Dropping the basket on the table, she wiped the sweat from her forehead. It was an abnormally hot summer day in her small village.

"Done, mother," she said.

"Fine," she replied without looking up. "Lunch is almost ready, go call your brothers in."

Jinei pouted. She hated talking to her brothers. They always belittled her because she was their little sister. They were very skilled at swordsmanship and could probably be found behind the house practicing.

"Sabou! Ja-ku!" she called as she rounded the back of the house. "Lunch is ready."

She hadn't seen it coming, it happened so quickly. One moment she saw a flash of silver sword inches from her face, and the next thing she knew she was on the ground, blood spilling over her hands as she clutched her face, screaming "My face! My face!"

One would think a moment of such pain would eventually dull with time. But not for Jinei. She carried that memory and its scars with her wherever she went.

Five years later...

Jinei awoke, her face sweating and her heart racing from the nightmare, glad for once that it was morning so she could escape that painful memory of her past. Her palm flew to the left side of her face, applying pressure. She could still almost feel her brother's steely blade slice through the tender flesh because he hadn't seen her in the way.

Jinei slipped out of the covers of her bed and walked hesitantly toward the mirror on her wall. Although she could wake and know her past lay five years behind her, her scars reminded her every moment of the accident that had ruined her life. Jinei stared critically at the image in the mirror. Her hair wasshort, straight, a dirty blonde color. She had a slim body with round hips, a nice figure. But that was not where the damage was. It was her face. She had a stubborn, defiant look about her face; strong, high cheekbones and... the entire upper left side was heavily scarred, the tissue where she used to have an eye distorted beyond repair

Jinei scowled, disgusted with the grotesque face that stared back at her in the mirror.

Reaching in her drawers she pulled out the blue scarf she wore everyday, wrapping it neatly around her head so that it covered the scarsShe looked again into the mirror.

It may cover my defect, but it still makes it obvious that I'm hiding something.

Frustrated at the fact that the impaired face in the mirror was hers, Jinei pulled the mirror off the wall and tossed it under her bed. I have to start my work anyway, she thought bitterly, trying to push that phantom image in the mirror from her mind.

Her scars were the reason she was here, a slave in Lord Youko's Den of Thieves. Soon after her parents had found out how irreparable the damage had been, it didn't take but a couple of years until they traded her to the legendary thief, Youko, to be a slave in his den. She had been a bribe to keep the fox demon from ransacking their village. She could still hear the words her father said as he bartered her off to Youko, "I know she's impaired, but she'll work hard, I promise."

Feelings of bitter anger rose in Jinei's chest at that memory. She felt like a damaged piece of merchandise that had been discarded, once promising, but now worth only the life of a slave.

Not that she could really complain of her life here. She had come somewhat to enjoy the demanding life of a slave. The hard work kept her mind off her past. She'd even realized that she preferred being here than being back in her village where the people avoided her like she was some sort of freak.

The demons here were decent enough. Youko had a strict no touching policy when it came to his maids, so she didn't have to worry about any of them getting fresh with her. The thieves here also seemed so care free, a characteristic Jinei found refreshing. Jinei's problem was that she felt like she didn't belong here. All the demons here, like Kurona and Hiei, were so beautiful, and she was more than imperfect. When she first started as a slave here, she had angrily avoided Youko's eyes out of hatred at his being her new master. Then, she realized that the reason she avoided him was because he was so beautiful. She felt intimidated in his presence, a reminder to herself of how much of a misfit she was here.

And every time she looked in the mirror she was reminded of how flawed she was, and the only comfort she had was in wearing this scarf, a mask to hide herself from the rest of the world.

Lord Youko strode down the hallway of his den towards the dining hall, his fox tail swishing casually behind him as he surveyed the activity going on around him. The servants were busy preparing for the guests they were to receive tonight. Youko didn't particularly care for the mountain demons, they were too barbaric for his liking, but they did claim to have a good deal to offer him, and Youko loved making beneficial deals.

Youko let out a sigh, walking into the lavishly decorated dining hall. It was hard work managing a successful den of thieves such as this one. He was lucky to have so many hard-working servants under his command, or else nothing would ever get done. He had personally chosen some of the most attractive women to grace his den. The other thieves in the den were appreciative of that, but Youko had a strict "no touch" policy just in case they got any ideas.

As Youko walked through the hallway, examining everyone hard at work, his gaze fell upon one of his servants, Jinei.

She was on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor vigorously with a hardened look on her face. Youko tilted his head to the side and let his thoughts wander. Jinei always seemed so angry and frustrated. She practically alienated herself from the other demons and maids of the den, including himself. Youko had figured out after years of watching Jinei avoid mirrors that she wasn't just angry at him or the fact that she was a slave, but more so at herself. She was frustrated by her marred appearance, believing that she wasn't as attractive as his other slaves. Youko wished she wasn't so hard on herself. She may have a scarred face, but what difference does that make?

Youko could still remember the day he'd acquired Jinei. He could still see the anger and fear in that small twelve year old's face as her father bartered her off. It was because Jinei felt so lonely, bitter, and betrayed in those first days that she'd refused to eat or even look at him in the face. It was only after three years of careful coaxing that Youko had brought this slave to trust him. Her frustration made her work hard and Youko in turn trusted her above all the other slaves to get her chores done.

Youko shook his head realizing he was staring at Jinei's figure. She was standing now, brushing off her wet pants. The fox demon walked toward her.

She kept her head down as Youko spoke to her, "Jinei, I want you to make sure that the dining hall is ready to receive our guests by sundown." He reached out, grabbing her chin. "Is that clear?"

Jinei pulled away, avoiding her master's golden eyes, "Yes, milord."

"Good," Youko smiled. "I knew I could count on you."

"Youko!" The fox demon turned his attention toward his partner in thievery, Kurona, who was calling him from the room entrance. He probably has some news about our guests's arrival, he thought, and turned away from Jinei.

But for the rest of the afternoon Youko couldn't stop thinking about her. Every time I reach out, she pulls away. Doesn't she know I don't care what she looks like?

Note: psst! Now read chapter two!