Story of An Assassin

Chapter Two- New Assignment

Waking up to the sound of birds chirping Mayakashi slowly opened her eyes. Scanning the cave she stretched her body and her senses searching for any danger in area around her. Deciding there was no trouble, Mayakashi put on her boots and grabbed her cloak, and then headed out the cave. Looking up to the sky she decided to go visit headquarters to see if there were any challenging assignments for her.

Mayakashi decided to run, it would get her to the headquarters faster and she'd get a good workout.

Mayakashi tied her cloak around her neck and took off. How she loved the way the blood pumped harder in her veins, the way her muscles contracted, and how she could feel her heart rate pick up while running. Running was the next best thing to fighting for her. It made her forget everything.

The sun had begun to set as she reached to headquarters. Mayakashi stopped in her tracks and looked around. She sensed no one and assumed that no one followed her. Walking into a cave hidden behind a waterfall, Mayakashi kept her guard up.

"Ahh…Mayakashi, how wonderful it is to see you. Are you ready for your next assignment?"

"Yes, Sensei, I am."

"Hmm…okay. This assignment has come from the Southern Lord,Shigekazu. It will be a very difficult assignment, but I have no doubt that you can get it done my dear. The lord would like you to somehow get into the Western Lord's army and kill the general"

Taken back Mayakashi decided to ask a question.

"Why?"

"Now you start asking questions about the assignment, you never cared before."

"I have heard many good things about Sesshoumaru-Sama's general. I'd like to know why he is to be killed."

"Apparently Lord Shigekazu's general challenged Lord Sesshoumaru's and he killed him. This is his way of revenge."

"Hmm…somehow this doesn't seem right. I'll get into his army and then I decide for myself whether this general is worth killing. If I deem him not, you can send someone else to come in my place. Can you get that message to Lord Shigekazu?"

"Yes, and I'll have the reply by tomorrow morning, I'll ask for a time limit as well. Come to me then."

Nodding her head Mayakashi started to leave the cave.

"Mayakashi, you may stay with my wife tonight, go to the next village it is to the east and ask for Keiko."

"Yes, Sensei."

Mayakashi ran to the village to get there in time before the light had faded away. Walking up to a man who was closing his shop, she politely asked where Keiko's hut was located. The man gave her a torch lit with fire and told her the last hut on the left was her home. Thanking the man she made her way to the hut. Placing the torch in a holder located outside the home Mayakashi tapped on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Mayakashi, Sensei Yuuto sent me here."

"Oh, please come in"

Opening the door, Mayakashi looked into the deep brown eyes of an older woman, Keiko, who stood for her seat to greet her.

"Ahh…very beautiful just as Yuuto told me. Please take off your cloak and have a seat."

Doing as the woman said, Mayakashi had a seat and examined to room, normal like any other hut around, Mayakashi was content and look up to Keiko.

"Would you like some tea, while you explain why you have come here?"

"Yes, that would be fine."

Handing Mayakashi a cup of tea, Keiko sat down across from her and looked at Mayakashi waiting for her to begin.

"Sensei has a new assignment for me and he will have the final information for me tomorrow morning. He told me to sleep here tonight."

"I see. Thank you, Mayakashi. For being loyal to my husband and his crazy assignments, he will not discuss those matters with me but I know what the assignments are and what you do. Be careful though, this one may be very difficult. It's in the western domain, correct?"

"Yes, that is right. How much has Sensei Yuuto told you about me?"

" I will not lie, he has told me many things. It's hard to believe some of the things you have done, you most definitely do not look like an assassin, far from it actually. But trust me everything he has told me I will keep safe, I will not tell anyone."

"I believe you. I trust anyone Yuuto trusts. He's the only one I trust these days. He is my teacher, he's taught me everything. It's funny how I trust a man whose face I cannot see, yet I trust none of the faces I see."

Shaking her head Mayakashi leaned against the wall and relaxed a bit.

"Well, Mayakashi, would you like something to sleep in?"

"That would be nice."

Getting up Keiko walked over to a closet and pulled out a box.

"These should fit. Try them on and then come back in here."

After putting on the nightwear, Mayakashi braided her hair and walked back into the room where Keiko was. Sitting down Mayakashi finished her tea and decided to head off to sleep.

"Keiko-san, your welcome."

Smiling Keiko looked at the young girl.

"Good night Mayakashi"

"Good Night"

Keiko stayed up and looked at the fire.

'Mayakashi…I feel sorry for you. You live the life of an assassin. To never love, to never use your real name. Hopefully you'll meet someone and you will be able to get away from that life, and live a life of your own.'

Sighing Keiko extinguished the fire and went to sleep.