Author's Note: For those of you who have previously read this chapter, I am reposting it having edited some parts. I hope you will enjoy! And a special thanks goes out to my new found beta DarkSacredJewelXoX. To a new beginning!
-Kogalover0809
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any of the characters from Inuyasha; all original characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

Assignment

Kouga coolly reached out to retrieve the manila folder that was being handed to him. Kept within its unmarked cover was the information he needed for his recently assigned target. Without delay he thumbed through the contents that detained information on the poor bastard whose life would soon meet an unfortunate end. As he flipped each page with the brush of this index finger he could feel the intense gaze of his superior bearing down on him. He had been very lenient by offering this assignment to Kouga, particularly so because its completion would signify the joint of two widely successful organizations in the underground. In all his years working under the Coniuro Organization this would be his first at taking on something this vital.

Several years ago Kouga would have never imagined himself to be what he is today, a well known top-notch assassin in the underground world. Growing up he never had much, his parents' divorce had inconveniently caused a rift in the family. Early on his father passed away in a car accident, and while in middle school his mother had succumbed to the lethal clutches of drugs and alcohol. His life had never been normal, far from it, and as he continued to fight life's oncoming battle he soon realized that his life would never be the same.

"Do you fully understand the assignment that has been handed to you?"

Kouga looked up his clear blue eyes reflecting the intense light coming in from the window above. Having been distracted by his thoughts he nodded his head in agreement as he closed the folder shut in his hands. His collectively calm gaze settled on the slender individual sitting behind the relatively large mahogany desk. Kouga's eyes worked their way up from the man's perfectly knotted ruby tie and neatly pressed button down shirt towards his thin face that held a furtive grin. Kouga leaned in propped his elbow on the desk and proceeded to attentively wave the folder in the air.

"You sure I'm right man for the job?" Kouga questioned raising his eyebrows hesitantly, his dark bangs angled on his forehead as he tilted his head.

"You doubt my sense of intellect? I'm offended," his superior flatly replied. "Or was your question simply an indication that you are too good for this assignment? Really Kouga, I thought better of you."

A small sparkle flickered deep within the hazel eyes that were staring bemusedly at Kouga. He fought the urge to protest against the small accusation made against him.

"C'mon Shiro, give me a break. You know I'd rather do it and get it over with than shadow the damn guy with my tail between my legs," Kouga stated flatly. Knowing that Shiro would never hear him out he briefly repeated his given task. "Just to know that I heard you right, you want me to track down this person, infiltrate their daily routine, and report whatever I find back to you. Then based on this information as well as the clientele's own decision, you will inform me when and where to make my move." Kouga's brow furrowed indistinctly due to the odd instructions he was given. This was no typical assassination, if an assassination is even what you would call it.

Shiro nodded his head approvingly, a small grin appearing on his thing lips. "Correct. While I was going over the information myself I came to the inevitable conclusion that you were the best man to go with. Seeing as Haru doesn't have nearly as much experience and background like you do, and well…" He paused with a subtle hint of aloofness in his manner. "We all know that we can't count on Naoki ever since his last little mishap."

Kouga remembered the last time they went on the same job together; it had been too big for one to take on alone so he had been partnered with Naoki. The assignment was easy: take down all defenses, and exterminate the target. But Naoki, the arrogant bastard, was too quick in trying to infiltrate the all too well defense system that had been placed around their mark. His poor actions rendered him vulnerable, and in the midst of all the rapid gunfire he was shot. Luckily Kouga was able to pull him out but in doing so they had failed their mission. Naoki was fortunate that the Coniuro Organization spared his life, most likely because his talents were unsurpassable by most, despite his little calamity. He was placed on probation from any high ranking assignments, and in turn was left with taking up the less significant jobs.

"What's the code name for this one?"

Shiro leaned forward resting his chin gently on his intertwined fingers, causing a small section of his russet bangs fall into his face. "Corvus Mellori."

Kouga arched an eyebrow apprehensively; he knew his superior all too well when it came to picking out code names. Shiro had a thing for comparing targets to animals and referring to them as their species name. "So what does that one mean?"

"Little Raven."

"Hnn."

"I guess you'll figure it out when you see for yourself," Shiro said turning his attention to the computer screen at his side. He motioned his hand for Kouga to leave so that he could carry on with his own work.

Kouga got up from the oversized chair he had been sitting in and made his way to the door. Briefly he turned around to ask a question that had recently materialized in his mind but decided against it. Not wanting to further bother Shiro he quietly shut the door and made his way to the entrance of the house. Within a few minutes of walking around the maze that Shiro called his home, Kouga came across two greatly detailed wooden doors.

Kouga chuckled to himself. Shiro sure had a lot of oversized things; maybe he was trying to make up for something that was smaller in size.

Pulling his brown leather jacket tighter around him he opened the door and braced himself for the chilly air that had already begun to nip at his cheeks. Hastily he made his way to his Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano that was patiently sitting in the oval driveway. Its bright cherry red coloring contrasted greatly against the white of the snow on the ground. It was his first car that he had bought with the earnings from his first assassination, he was proud of it.

Opening the door he jumped in tossing the manila folder on the passenger seat and turned his attention on getting the car warm, inside and out. While the car sought to make its interior warm, Kouga's eyes had seemed to make their way back to the manila folder resting across from him. His mind wondered back to his unasked question and couldn't help but speculate why Shiro had selected Little Raven as the code name. Kouga reached out and picked up the folder. With his superiors constant gaze burning holes in him he was unable to effusively look over the information that had been neatly placed within his hands.

This time with more reserve he thumbed through each page of information. His target was twenty-five and worked at a high end law firm, no big deal. As he flipped through a couple more pages he discovered that the target originally thought to be a he was in fact a she. That caught in a little off guard as the majority of the time his targets were male. Changing his course of action Kouga decided to look for a photo instead.

As he reached the last page he came across what seemed to be a portfolio picture of a young woman. Her brown eyes twinkled up at him as she sat in front of a cheesy bookcase backdrop. Her pose was slightly reserved, yet had an indication of preeminence. A soft smile was painted on her lips and curved up into her rosy cheeks. Luscious locks framed her face; they were as black as the feathers on a raven and they tumbled down past her shoulders.

Kouga stared at the photo in his hands, trying to pinpoint something that was unsettling his mind. He looked back at her eyes, and then her smile. She resembled someone he had met before, but the sophisticated office attire prohibited him to see anything past that. After a few moments pieces from his memory seemed to form and it hit him; he did know who she was and her name seemed to resonate in his head. Kagome Higurashi. She was his intended target, she was Corvus Mellori.

Thank you all for reading. Stay tuned for the next update!