Miyu

By

Jeslyn Nighthawk

A/N: I finally came up with a name, though I am not entirely satisfied. Still open to suggestions. No reviews for the last chapter, except for my beta-reader. I love her, but she does not count. So if you enjoy my story, or if you hate it, or even if you are just indifferent, please leave me a review so that I can improve it. That is the point of writing fanfiction. To grow as a writer.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Inu-yasha though I do still dream of one day owning his brother. Credit for the name of Miyu's unit, the Ospreys, goes to Michelle West and the series, The Sun Sword. Miyu's unit resembles West's Ospreys in many ways, and the name seemed particularly appropriate.

Part 2: To Fail

Chapter 1

Ten years later…

            Lord Inutaisho looked down at the shadow youkai at his feet. There was a sad look in his dark eyes as he glanced back at the paper his vassal had just delivered.

            "You are sure of this information?" He did not need the creature's affirmative nod. He knew that none of his servants would ever bring him intelligence that was other than accurate. "You may go- and send in Myouga on your way out."

            The creature bowed and left. Moments later, a flea appeared on the Dog Lord's shoulder. "You summoned me, Lord Inutaisho?"

            "I assume you have read this report as well?" Lord Inutaisho asked as he looked down at his faithful retainer. At the flea's nod, he ordered, "Then send a message to the front. The Ospreys are to return home as soon as possible. I don't want her to hear this from anyone else. It would break her."

            "Of course my lord," And the flea disappeared to carry out the orders.

            The great inu-youkai turned and walked onto the small balcony outside his library, gazing into the heavens. Ten years ago he had stood here with Himura and discussed this very possibility. What's done is done, he thought to himself, there is nothing left I can do.

***

            There was no moon tonight, and the stars were covered by thick black clouds. It had been nearly two years since she had been called upon to perform this duty personally, and Miyu was profoundly glad for the lack of revealing light.

            Despite the span of time since her last mission of a similar nature, Miyu knew she was the best for the job, and this was too important to trust to anyone else. One small strike of a dagger here would prevent this small uprising from turning into civil war. Cut off the head, cut out the heart, and the body is sure to follow. Miles away, at a different enemy outpost, one of her men, Juro, was taking care of the first part of that theory. She would take care of the latter.

            For a man who was plotting against a powerful youkai lord, this man, Katsuro, had pitiful security. His guards were lax, and never noticed her stealthily moving by, never caught her scent on the wind, or sensed her youki in the air. They were spaced too far apart, and the walls of the compound they guarded were low and full of hand and toe-holds.

            Once in the compound, Miyu moved silently through the shadows to the west end, where her intelligence said Katsuro was sleeping. Another point against him: the only rooms guarded at all were the ones he was sleeping in, and they were guarded by only four men. Three of which were asleep. Miyu reached out with her youki and wove a complex sleeping spell over all four guards. Now even the one who had been wakeful was unconscious on the ground, and the others were safeguarded against waking.

            Moving towards the door open to let in the cool breeze from outside, Miyu silently pulled a dagger from the sheath hidden in her sleeve. She approached carefully, feeling ahead of her for any other guards or servants that might alert her prey. She felt her blood and youki rise in anticipation, but she repressed the feeling. One had to be cool to survive in this line of work. Passion led to sloppiness, and that led to discovery. Discovery led to death. Her life was simple at times like these. There was only the stalk, the hunt, the kill. Then there was escape. If she allowed her instincts to overtake her at that critical moment, it was likely she would become careless and be discovered on her way out. She wouldn't be the first assassin to be killed in the afterglow of a successful job. If she failed in that matter, she doubted she would be the last either. Killing was a heady thing, especially for a youkai.

            There, lying in the futon beyond the next doorway, she recognized the white streaked red hair of the kitsune, Katsuro. Neither seeing nor sensing anyone else in the quarters, Miyu approached the futon, carefully suppressing her youki so that it not be sensed by her target. Once she reached the side of his bed, Miyu was able to see that this was indeed her target. She struck immediately. Her dagger encountered the soft flesh of his neck cutting almost to the bone. Blood sprayed, but she moved back in a flash, avoiding most of it. After all, if she smelled too strongly of his blood, she would be easy to track.

            As quickly as she had entered, and as silently, she left the compound. The smell of blood had aroused the guards, and as she was making her way through the woods, she heard the uproar behind her as they discovered the body of their leader. As a precaution, she stopped at a nearby stream where she had earlier stashed a change of clothes. She quickly stripped and used her youki to ignite a small fire out of the wood she had gathered earlier in the day. While the clothes she had worn on this assignment were consumed by the flames, she submerged herself in the icy water of the stream in order to remove any hint of blood from her hair or skin. Once out she dried immediately with a flair of youki, and dressed as quickly as possible. That done she headed back to the Osprey camp. It appeared she would survive for one more assignment.

***

            As usual, both Himura and Takeda were waiting for her at the edge of camp when she returned. The looks of relief on their faces were identical, unusual agreement from the two men with such drastically different personalities. Although Takeda was full of the fire and rashness of youth where Himura had the calm and wisdom that came with experience, both had been united in their belief that she should have given this assignment to one of her men. Neither liked her taking liberties with her life.

            They departed soon after making sure she was alright, though Takeda took slightly longer to convince. With a grateful sigh, Miyu moved towards the welcome comfort of her tent.

            She was not expecting orders, so she was surprised to find a messenger from her uncle awaiting her inside her tent. He did not speak, simply bowed to her, handed her a sealed scroll, and left.

            Miyu opened the scroll and frowned. That was odd. Normally her uncle left it up to her where, when and how the Ospreys were to move. Truthfully, she doubted he really wished to know the details of some of their operations.

            Still, the orders were clear.

            The Ospreys were to return home. Immediately.

TBC

A/N: Okay here is the beginning of the second part. I hope you all enjoyed it. I really, really, really need feedback, so please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please review, or I might just withhold the next chapter. I'm that desperate. My beta-reader doesn't count.