Chapter 1:

"Kurohyu Kitsune Twins"

A lone figure stood against the cherry blossom tree on the cliff. His long, silver hair tied into a braid, floated carelessly ontop of the breeze. From atop the hill, one could see the entire western territory. Well at least part of the huge domain.

The figure wore a vest with a long sleeved haori. His pants were loose against his body, hidden pockets hiding lethal weapons. His belt, one side slanted on his hip, held a sword, a katana, and a dagger.

Amber eyes, cold and uncaring, searched the land available to the eye for a challenge. The crescent moon adorned his forehead was a deep blue and two maroon strips traveled across each of his cheeks. Face void of emotion, he closed his eyes and let out a barely audible sigh.

Yes, this man was obviously prepared for fighting. In fact, he was a mercenary, taking on jobs that caught his eye for money. His name was Taisho Sesshoumaru, the most feared mercenary in the western lands of japan. And yes, he was a youkai.

Right now, he was waiting for the messenger of his next assignment. Though he hated the pig of his recent organization, he admitted that it paid well and he was in need of supplies. His thoughts were disturbed, however.

"....T-taisho-san.....?" came a small voice behind him. Sesshoumaru opened his eyes and turned to the messenger. The messenger looked barely fourteen, a small scrawny boy dressed in willage clothes.

"Hai.....i am taisho....."Sesshoumaru said, his smooth, deep voice ringing through the air.

The boy nodded and handed him the letter. Sesshoumaru took it without a word and stuffed it into his pocket. Just as the boy turned to leave, sesshoumaru stopped him.

"Boy.....what is your name...."It was more of a command then a statement. The boy turned back toward him with a surprised expression.

"Ah.....i-it is shinta, taisho-san...." Shinta said.

"...come here.....shinta....." sesshoumaru said in a bored tone. As shinta stepped closer, sesshoumaru reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a few gold coins. He tossed them to shinta.

"Here....use it for your family.....or do with it as you may...."he said, turning his back in dismission.

Shinta held the coins with an astonished look that quickly turned into gratitude. "Arigatou, taisho-san!!! Arigatou!!!" he stammered, happiness written all over his face.

Sesshoumaru's reply was merely a 'Hn'.

When the boy was gone, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the parcel. Using his claws, sesshoumaru quickly dispatched the annoying envelope and impatiently read his assignment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Begin letter~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Dear Taisho-san,

Here is your next assignment. If you so choose to accept it, your payment will be $80,000,000.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Pause letter~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened slightly at the price. 'Must be an important one,' he thought. He continued to read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Continue letter~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Your assignment......take out the 'Kurohyu Kitsune Twins'. These two trained assassins and mercenarys have taken on the assignment of capturing the current shogun's daughter. Though the shogun himself is just a human, his daughter is one of the rare full blooded Shiro-Inus. Yes, she is actually his half daughter.

The 'Kurohyu Kitsunes Twins' are the only and last descentants from the actual 'Kurohyu Kitsune Clan. Be careful. Even right now, one could be studying you, the enemy.

Now, good day to you, Tasho-san.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End letter~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Hm'. Sesshoumaru felt a aura right above him and looked up.

There. On a limb, sat a young demoness. Her ebony locks also tied into a braid. On the end of it, a single feather.

Her clothes, similar to his own, were merely decorated in blue. Eye the color of sapphires, were directed at the sky, a smirk on her features.

Sesshoumaru frowned. 'Could this be one of the kitsunes?' His frown deepened as he glared at the intruding female. Before he could demand anything, however, she interrupted him.

"Hai, taisho-san, I am one of the kurohyu kitsune twins. The name is Higurashi Kagome," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she looked down at him.

He growled.

"Ah....i wouldn't do that Taisho-san my sister can be.....quite the spitfire," came a young male voice. Sesshoumaru turned toward the other kitsune.

He was nearly identical ( of course, their twins!!!>) to his sister. Hair tied in a braid, he also wore similar clothes, except his were black. On top of both their foreheads was a light purple cross shape.

"You must be the other kitsune," sesshoumaru stated, his voice cold enough to freeze water.

"Ah, yes yes. Tis I, the fabulous Higuarshi Bankotsu," he said bowing dramaticly, his voice laced with amusement and sarcasm. Snickering was heard from the tree as kagome laughed at her brothers antics.

"Hn.....and here this sesshoumaru thought you weren't funny," he said, narrowing his eyes in agitation.

Bankotsu grinned in triumph. " I never cease to amaze people, right ka--"

A rock hit him square in the head and he was sent spiraling down the slope of the cliff. His eyes were all swirly as he continued to roll. And all the while he was grinning like an idiot.

Jess: *laughing like a evil person* I can just imagine that happening!!!

Bank: *laughs* me too hahaha!!!

Kag: yay im a cool youkai!!!muwahahahaha!!!!

Sess: why was I generous to that boy!!!???

Jess: *ignores the question* im a wolf demon, kag & bank are shadow fox demon (kurohyu kitsunes) , miyoko is a white dog demon ( shiro-inu) and sess is a dog demon.

Sess: feh!

Inu:when am I coming in??

Mi: yea and me?

Jess:sigh in the next chapter ........on with the fic!!!hehehe!!!

Sesshoumaru blinked as he watched the kitsine boy (hehehe) roll down the slope. High in the tree, kagome tossed up a rock and caught it again, smirking at her accomplishment.

"That takes care of him for a while."

She jumped down and stood in front of sesshoumaru, her head barely coming up to his chin so she had to crane her head up to look at him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, kagome hauled herself up to eye level and leaned close to his ear and whispered to him.

"Watch your back, or you might lose your life," she whispered, smirking as he shuddered at her warm breath tickling his ear, "oh....and you better get to there by tomorrow if you want to have a chance to protect the daughter, Taisho-san......"

She jumped back and whistled to her brother. Bankotsu appeared beside her in a flash. Both of them grinned like tricksters and waved to him then disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Sesshoumaru sighed. This was going to be an interesting assignment indeed.