A/N: Well here we go. For those who read the prelude, yes this will be a short fic, yes there will be romance. To know more you will have to read.

To clear up any questions that will come about I'm going to explain somethings up front. The world this takes place in is almost like the world of sword art online but this is NOT a crossover, I just really like that type of fantasy world. It's old timey with modern conveniences. There is technology and magic but it's not a world of the future, it's more open spaces with out power lines, cell towers, or paved roads. Also there will be many creatures of myth not just demons so don't let your imaginations be limited. I don't know how well that clears things up but if there are other questions I will do my best to answer them. Thank you to everyone for stopping by.

Standard Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the manga/anime characters. However any original characters in this fic belong to me.

Chapter one

Thirteen years later...

The hotel was like all the others before, on another seedy street, in yet another shady part of another city. The contractor was like all the others, some sniveling good for nothing who didn't want his or her hands dirty.

As usual, they were trying to hide who they were by sending a lackey, knowing after the first payment was exchanged the lackey would be killed. This time the messenger was a strict looking young man. Neat, short hair, every black strand in place, stuffy suit buttoned up tightly. He sat with his back pin straight in the grungy chair. Acrossed from him sat the mercenary sent to handle the negotiations. The merc wore a scowl on his face as he stared at the messenger. Unlike the other male his black hair was long, pulled into a tail at his neck and falling the length of his back. His clothes were nothing special, an anyone could buy it leather jacket with a black zipper hoody underneath and relax fit denim jeans that were nothing extravagant.

The merc kept his face neutral as the messenger in front of him spoke. It wasn't unusual for the help to give him history lessons. Some how mercenaries had gotten a rep as being too stupid to know the world around them. But since he killed them in the end, he always humored them by listening to their "superiority".

"There are many kingdoms, large and small, scattered throughout the realm." The messenger droned on. "Power between them has always shifted at least until the past fifty years. The West and the Middle Kingdom hold the most power, being the tightest bounded allies, we have no concern with them. The Northern Mountain and the North Valley hold nothing for us either."

"So that leaves the Eastern Sea or her sister kingdom the Eastern Forest." The young merc said plainly as he stayed hunched forward in the nasty lounge chair across from the messenger.

"What makes you believe we aren't from one of those kingdoms?" The man asked shifting in his chair a bit.

"Same reason I know you ain't a rep for the fucking desert people." Was his response as he watched the man in front of him carefully. "The East is the most peaceful region in all the realm. Even though they aren't the most powerful, the resources both sit on are enough to start a war over. Enough for the Southern Kingdom to seek help from those like me."

"Well informed aren't you." The little man smarted off with a slight glare.

"Couldn't do my job if I wasn't, could I?" The merc lipped as he leaned back in his chair a bit. "So what is it your boss wants exactly?"

Reaching slowly into his jacket the other man pulled out a photo and handed it to the mercenary. "The woman in the photo is Princess Kikyo of the Eastern Sea. She is the heir to the throne in her kingdom. In three days she will be traveling by private car to visit her cousin in the Forest kingdom for the season."

"Dead or taken?" He asked folding the photo and putting it in his jean pocket without looking at it.

"Taken. My employer needs her for negotiations." The man stood signaling his wish to end their business.

"Uh-uh-uh." Knocking his finger from side to side the mercenary smirked. "Payment."

"Ah, yes, the agreed amount." Showing the screen of his phone to the other man, the messenger waited for a nod of agreement, when he got it he sent the funds by wire transfer.

Smirking the young mercenary pulled out his own phone to check his account. Once the money showed up he locked his phone and stood himself. "Thank you very much."

Before the well dressed messenger could take his next step the merc pulled a blade with his right hand, from his left inside waist band, and stabbed the guy in the heart giving the blade a small twist. No muss, no fuss. Pushing the messenger back into the chair he had occupied the other man walked into the bathroom to wash his hands and the knife. After both were clean he wiped down the bathroom with the towel on the rack he had used to dry his hands, then he walked over to his chair. Wiping away any possible prints while checking the room for any others he might have left. Once he could find no other trace of himself he lifted the man's phone with the towel and pocketed it. A quick wipe to the door and then he was gone. Slipping into the night, not standing out, not trying to blend in, he became just another forgettable face in a forgettable neighborhood.

He walked about a mile through the empty, dirty side streets with the knife wrapped in the towel until he reached the river. Making sure he wasn't seen he tossed both in. Following the river another two miles he cleared all information of himself from the phone before mesmerizing the only other number in it. After turning the phone off he chucked it to the middle of the river as well.

Walking back towards the main road he hailed the first cab he saw. "City park." He told the driver as he climbed in.

There was no answer only the hum of the engine as they headed to a nicer side of town. The drive through the city was dim, filled with the orange glow of street lights and the yellow flashes of other head lights. A half hour later they arrived at City Park and the driver gave his shady fair the total for the ride. Paying quickly the young man shut the cab door and the driver took off becoming just another pair of red lights moving in the dark.

The young man wasn't surprised to see that the park was still well lit. It was still early enough that there were young couples wandering about. Sometimes he wondered what it would be like to be similar to them. A normal man living a normal life. A girlfriend, maybe a wife? Kids? No, probably not, he couldn't really stand snot nosed brats. Maybe that would be different if they were his own? In the end there was no point in wondering. He had no plan on giving up the life he was living. He liked the thrill of danger. The cause and effect he had on more than one person. It was a rush, a power trip, and he was addicted just as bad as any junky. He couldn't get out and he was alright with that.

Pulling his phone he dialed the number for a private car service. After arranging to be picked up at the south gate of the park in ten minutes he began his walk in the appropriate direction. Spotting a homelss man on his way the youth gave up his jackets. There was a chance there would be evidence on them but the sleeping man would never know how he had come by them and there was no one near the guy to tell the tale.

Walking on, the trees, the lights, the people all fell into the back ground as he began planning out the up coming mission. Ten minutes on the dot found him at the gate and a black town car waiting. The driver exited and made his way to the back when he stepped next to the rear passenger door.

"Mr. Takahashi." The driver greeted with a bow. "It is a pleasure to be of service to you again."

"Thank you." Inuyasha replied in return as he slipped into the back of the car. "Musashi's." Was all the instructions he gave the driver before they pulled away from the park.

In the dark back seat Inuyasha pulled off the beaded necklace he had kept hidden under his shirt. Instantly he was changed back into the half demon he truly was.

'The concealment charm was wonderful when on the job.' Inuyasha thought as he rolled the beads and carved wooden fangs through his fingers. Keeping his enemies from knowing his true identity made it easier to keep his family safe and uninvolved with his life style. Luckily many demons used the charms for various reasons and this particular car service was an employer of many such demons all through the realm. So entering as a dark haired human and exiting as a silver haired hanyou wouldn't raise any questions, though the ears did throw people off sometimes.

The trip to Musashi's was relatively quick. At the hotel the driver again opened the door for Inuyasha after parking under the awning. The hanyou stepped out of the car and into the well lit entrance of the hotel. The employees of the hotel were accustom to his presence. Musashi's hotel chains were in all but two kingdoms. They were the places most chosen by the rich and royal for the employee service and the privacy provided. Inuyasha stayed in them for that very reason. He and his brother's family were regulars when they stayed in the Middle Kingdom. The domain was ruled by the Panthers. Even though their ancesters had once been the enemies of his ancesters, they now had the fiercest alliance in all of the realm. There was still bickering but Inuyasha drummed that up to Toran and Sesshomaru's 'winning' personalities.

At the back of the gilded lobby was a grand stair case and an ornate glass elevator. Inuyasha stepped into the elevator and rode up to the 50th floor. There were three imperial sweats on the floor. The door to his room was marked I-3 with the "do not clean" sign hanging on the handle. It was his only sign that his team was inside. Sliding his key card, Inuyasha waited for the green light, indicating the door was unlocked, then turned the handle and walked in. Inside the room he closed the door and quickly slid the extra locks in place. Room service trays were every where and loud ass music blasting threw the room, exactly how princes were thought to act.

His team was made up of himself and two others. Koga Okami, a wolf demon prince, a.k.a. The Wolf's Howl. Job detail- recon and recovery, he also specialized in fire arms and explosives. There hadn't been a gun made yet that the wolf couldn't handle and if there had he probably blew it up. It was his speed that earned him his name. The wind that moved around him as he ran literally howled. It was a terrifying sound to any well informed prey.

Miroku Kaze, a Buddhist monk, a.k.a The Cursed One. Job detail- negotiations, seduction, and computer specialist. When there was a need for undercover surveillance he was their guy, though the lech had to be kept on a tight leash. His right hand was his secret weapon, a cursed void in his palm that sucked anything inside.

Last himself, Inuyasha Takahashi, half-dog demon prince, a.k.a The Steel Fang. Job detail- master mind, merciless blade weilder, and broker of illegal information, when it suited him. His best blade happened to have been forged from his father's fang and contained demonic energy.

He and his team worked as mercenaries. Having a range of skills and backgrounds gave them an edge most in the field didn't have. Inuyasha came from a background of wealth and privilege as the second prince of the Western Kingdom. His half brother had been the crown prince until their father's death. Shortly after leaving Sesshomaru the Lord of the lands, Inuyasha's mother followed the great king to the netherworld. Inuyasha was then the crown prince until his brother's first son and heir was born. Free from the spotlight of crown prince, Inuyasha decided on a course that would bring him money and adventure. Two years later he found himself face to face with a monk who was a little less than pure.

Miroku grew up in a gambling house in a desert village. His mother was a show girl and didn't know who his father was. Around the age of three he began showing spiritual powers, around the age of eight a wandering monk found Miroku and told him about his father and what had happened to him. Soon after the void developed in Miroku's hand. The monk offered to take Miroku with him but the kid wasn't ready to leave his mother. Staying on at the gambling house Miroku learned a variety of tricks from his mom's flavor of the month. Slide of hand, haggling, powers of persuasion, and much more. All tools he found useful once he set off on his own. It wasn't long after that he conned the wrong half demon. Only the arrival of another prince shifted attention away from Miroku saving his life.

Koga came from an equally wealthy background, crown prince of the Northern Mountain Kingdom. His was a mountainious people who prided themselves on war and defense. Koga understood the need to defend their home but grew restless as he grew older. Once he learned his father had betrothed him to a young female wolf from the Valley Kingdom, he left the mountain. After a year of wondering he was on his way home when he ran into a very recognizable prince who was threatening to run a monk through for stealing. It hadn't been that Koga cared, it was that he had spent the year trying to get a real fight out of commoners only to have them realize he was a royal and run away. He knew prince Inuyasha would give him a real fight, the hanyou had a reputation for it.

They were skilled in many fields and could blend in almost anywhere. Thanks to Miroku's powers the two with demon blood had a variety of concealment charms to make them appear as different blends of hanyous or even human.

"We got a new party to crash." Inuyasha announced. Even in a hotel such as this, even being their true-selves, none of them trusted they weren't being watched.

"Another party, huh? I was hoping for a tournament." Koga whined from the couch as he flipped through the channels, on the flat screen, not really caring about what was on. They had been doing a lot of kidnapping lately and he wanted to start a war! Something they could really get involved in.

"Calm down, Koga. I'm sure this party will be better than the last." Miroku said as he walked in from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and another in his hands drying his hair.

"What the hell are you getting ready for?" Inuyasha asked as he threw himself into a chair next to the couch.

"Why a date, my dear fellow! I have made arrangements with an exotic beauty of fairier sex." Miroku boasted as he walked into one of the adjoining bedrooms. "Plus did you really think I'd stay the night here with you two when we are in the Middle Kingdom?"

"Exotic beauty got a name there monk?" Koga asked looking over the couch where his team mate had been.

"Why yes! Now what was it?" Miroku paused for a moment as he stepped out from the bedroom with his jeans on. "Ayu...no, Ami...no, Ayame..."

"What did you say?!" Koga growled sitting up straight on the couch.

"Hahaha! You should see your face!" Miroku laughed as he held his gut. "It's Princess Abi of the Southern Cliffs. She called herself Angelic, but I recognized her."

"Wouldn't be good at your job if you didn't." Inuyasha snickered from his chair.

"Yes, being a lady's man is quite a job." Miroku stepped back into the room to fetch his shirt.

"I meant being a lech!" Inuyasha shouted as Koga started laughing.

"What do you think your desert rose would say about your date?" Koga egged as the two canines howled it up in laughter.

Miroku calmly walked out of the room, adjusting the cuffs of his dress shirt before adding a glove to his left hand that matched the one on his right. The leather was embroibered with sutra symbols that kept the void dormant without a rosary. The left glove was to simply avoid suspicion as to who he was. "I don't think you have room to question me on that, Koga, seeing how you left your betrothed and have her waiting in the wings. And you, Inuyasha! You never have any relationship longer than one night, no matter where we are." Miroku stated as he buttoned up his shirt.

"Feh!" Inuyasha spat turning his attention to the tv. "I don't need to waste my time getting my head turned by some skirt."

"Whatever." Miroku said slipping on his shoes. "So what's this party and how soon."

Inuyasha pulled the picture from his pocket and handed it to the monk. "Three days, Eastern Forest, we are going to borrow the party favor."

"Looks good." The monk said looking at the photo. The young woman had long black hair frozen about her face where a breeze had blown it up right as the picture was snapped. Her eyes were closed to protect them from stray hairs, her thick lashes laying on pale cheeks. Before handing it to Koga, Miroku finished mesmerizing her face. "I'll be back in the morning." With that said Miroku left to meet his date.

"I'm out too." Koga said handing the photo back to Inuyasha. He pulled a ring from his pocket and slide it on his left middle finger. Instantly his tail and pointed ears disappered, his long black hair faded to brown and his fangs became blunted teeth.

"Is that how you came in here?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yea, I sniffed out some scouts from my home earlier. Better to blend in." The human wolf shrugged as he slipped his shoes on and headed out the door.

Inuyasha got it. Whatever was waiting for the wolf prince, he wasn't ready to face the music just yet. He could understand that, Inuyasha himself had no desire to be at the Western palace with his brother watching Sesshomaru and his loving family.

A/N: So I know there's not a lot going on in this one but I cut it and am editing the other half right after this. The updates won't all be this quick just so everyone knows. Thanks for the love!