I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. Warning: This story is rated M for violence and character death. This takes place before the Three Kings Saga.

Chapter One- Clues

Kurama tilted his head as his mother was heading for the front door. "Mother?" he inquired.

"I'm just going for a walk, dear. Don't wait up for me." Her words were normal, but the tone wasn't. It sounded brusque, almost rude.

"Are you certain of going for a walk? You claimed you were ill this morning."

"Of course I'm certain!" Shiori snapped making Kurama recoil. She opened the door, stepped out, and practically slammed it behind her.

Kurama blinked before heading upstairs, frowning thoughtfully. His mother had been acting strangely over the last couple of months. Her temper with him had become much shorter, she craved meat constantly, and was taking walks three nights a month. The walks did not worry him nor did the meat craving. Her temper and behavior toward him was worrisome. She had always been patient, calm, and kind. Now, she would snap at him and tell him to mind his own business. He was confused and wondered what he had done to upset her.

Shiori growled under her breath as she stalked into the woods behind the house and headed into its dark heart. Her son was becoming nosy, poking into her business which he had no right to do so. She was a grown woman and could take of herself. Humus were curious creatures, she could testify to that.

Ah, but Shuichi is not fully human, she thought. I smelled the scent of fox on him. Is he like me only able to control it? She growled again, only it was out of jealousy. She emerged into a small clearing and, as she stood there, the full moon rose shedding light into the area and onto her. Her eyes turned red and glowed as her anger grew. She threw back her head and gave a loud angry howl as black fur grew over her body, her clothes melding with it. Her muscles bunched and enlarged while her limbs morphed into four legs. Her feet became paws with claws extending from them. A full bushed-out tail grew out behind her as her heels went up and her knees changed direction. She went to all fours and watched her nails lengthen into sharp claws while her fingers shrank into paws. A muzzle of sharp, flesh-rending teeth emerged from her nose and jaws. Her ears turned pointed and moved to the top of her head. She growled and snarled as the mind of a vicious angry wolf took over. She sniffed the ground and then the air before taking off as the scent of prey reached her nose.

Kurama sighed and shook his head. "I do not know what to make of Mother's behavior, Hiei. She's become a different person these last couple of months."

"Maybe she is a different person," Hiei said. "Think, Fox. Did anything unusual happen around the time that she started acting differently?"

Kurama lapsed into thoughtful silence, his brows furrowed. "She went for a walk one night and got attacked and bitten on the leg by a large dog," he finally said.

"A large dog," Hiei said. "Could have been a canine demon or one from the same family."

"Hiei, are you suggesting that Mother is a demon now?" Kurama chuckled. "If that was so, I would have smelled it on her immediately and her energy would have changed, but it has not."

A loud howl penetrated through the window's glass and the sound sent a shiver down Kurama's spine. "I have been hearing that sound for two months and always on the full moon."

"It sounds like an angry wolf," Hiei commented. "Kurama, your mother went for a walk and you let her, knowing there's a wolf out there? That's not like you."

"It is like me now, Hiei. Mother has become distant with me and that I should mind my own business. Besides, I heard this wolf last month while Mother took a walk and she came back unharmed."

"Hmm. She has a temper, constantly craves meat, and takes walks every full moon. An angry wolf has been heard by you the same time your mother was bitten. Fox, I am not an expert in human literature or myths, but your mother's new behavior and the appearance of a wolf all on the full moon would suggest a werewolf."

"Hiei, you think Mother is a werewolf or rather a wifewolf as female werewolves are called?"

"Her behavior points to the angry aggressive side of such a creature. Wolves are also carnivores which would explain her craving for meat."

"If she is a wifewolf surely I would have smelled wolf on her."

"Perhaps that is why she is distant with you. She is hiding her condition, despite her behavior toward you. In any event, since it is the full moon, you should be able to smell the wolf on her."

"Yes, the smell will be strong at this point in the month. I will try to smell her scent in the morning and if I catch wolf on her, I will confront her. Perhaps I will tell her the truth about myself."

"Do what you feel is right."

"I will and Hiei, please stay here tonight. We are just as vulnerable to becoming werewolves as humans are."

"True. All right, I'll stay here." Hiei sat on the window sill while Kurama went to bed.

Shiori seized a chunk of meat and chewed on it. She had taken down her prey with ease due to her vicious killer mind. She thought only as a hunter, did not remember being human. She believed she was a wolf. She swallowed her bite and then ripped the body apart to find something else to eat. Her prey in this case, was a stray demon, not that she knew that; to her it had smelled like delectable prey. She lapped up some blood before yawning, stretching, and curling up to sleep.

Filtered sunlight fell on her face and she squinted at it as her eyes opened. She uncurled herself and stared coldly as the corpse nearby. She recalled last night's events now that she was back in human form. The thing she had killed had not run from her, foolishly tried to engage her but her claws and teeth had struck and bit quickly. She had ripped his throat out and severed the main artery. Shiori felt no horror over what she had done. She had hunted and eaten her kills like this for two months and this cycle was the start of her third. She had given in to her vicious angry wifewolf side and knew that side was seeping into her human life. She did not care; she preferred to act hostile and aggressive. It all started one month before my first transformation:

She had gone out for a moonlit walk, her son telling her to have a good time. She had smiled as she thought of him. He was a sweet, good boy and she was proud to have raised him so well. He had never spoken angrily to her and she hadn't either. She honestly couldn't imagine ever speaking to him like that.

A howl had sounded through the air, making her freeze in her tracks. She had heard clicking claws and a low growl behind her but she didn't turn; instead she had run and heard the animal chasing her. She had kept running until something hit her legs, making her hit the ground. She had looked back to see a large gray wolf with glowing red eyes. He had bared sharp teeth before latching them onto her leg and biting down.

Shiori had screamed and her other leg had wiggled out from under the wolf and had kicked out at it. The wolf had released, yelping in pain. It growled angrily and was about to attack again when a light overhead from an apartment window came one. The sudden light had startled the wolf and it ran off. She had gotten to her feet and limped home. She told Shuichi it was a dog, tended to her wound, and then got onto the Internet to research werewolves for she was convinced that that was what had attacked her for no ordinary wolf had glowing red eyes.

She had been bitten on the last full moon of that month and in the time between moons, her behavior and personality began to change. Her senses became enhanced and that was when she caught that fox smell on her son. I think it's time to confront Shuichi about that scent. She got to her feet and headed into the house to wash up and change her clothes.