Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all of it's characters are property of the brilliant Takahashi-sama and I claim no ownership of them. I also do not own the concept of 24. Only the story belongs to me.


Special thanks to my betas PockyThief, Kiyota and Ethereal Siren.


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The following takes place between 5pm and 6pm...

5:00

"Steady those horses," the guard who was in charge of the executions called out as they began getting restless. "The prisoners are on their way out. Have those horses ready for them, I want this over and done with as soon as possible. We've wasted far too much time on this trash today as it is," the guard called out, getting the attention of nearby peasants who began making their way back over to watch the executions.

As the prisoners were lead over to the tree, surrounded on all sides with a guard detail, the peasants spit at their feet and threw rotten fruit and vegetables at them. Vile insults were shouted as well as cheering for their deaths. The guards paid the peasants no mind as the helped the prisoners onto the horses and secured the noose around their necks. "The charges against you are unlawful entry into the Western kingdom, attempted assault on Lord Toga, conspiracy to assassinate a lord and endangering the lives of members of the royal family.

"You have been found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging until dead. Any last words?" the guard inquired as he raised his hand in preparation to give the order to release the horses. When no words were uttered by the men, the guard dropped his hand and the horses were released with a slap to their backside. The horses galloped away from the tree as they neighed in objection to the treatment, leaving their riders to be yanked back by the rope. The crowd roared in cheer as the men dangled off of the ground, suspended in air by the rope.

"Start preparing the wagon. Get it over here now so it is ready once they are dead," the guard commanded as he gestured to the men who were still struggling to breath. The guards quickly moved to obey his command and started leading the horse drawn wagon over toward the tree. The peasants watched, as they continued to throw fruit and cheer, until the men finally stopped struggling and hung limp from the tree. Their entertainment over, the crowd began to disperse, leaving only the guards to perform their duties.

"Alright men, cut them down and get them in the wagon!" the guard called out as he made his way over to stand by the wagon to watch the proceedings. The guards moved to follow his orders once again and were soon cutting the rope of the first man and carrying him over to the wagon. As they tossed his body in, the next group of guards were already cutting down the second man. "I trust their grave is ready?" the guard inquired as he turned toward the guard he had left in charge of it earlier.

"Yes, sir. Their friend is already there waiting for them to join him," the guard informed him with a slight bow before pulling himself up into the front seat of the wagon. He paid the other guards little mind as they tossed another body into the back, causing the wagon to shake slightly.

"Alright get that last one in here. Once we're ready to head out, you men will come with me," he commanded as he gestured to a few of the guards that were there. "You three go round up those horses and return them to the stables. The rest of you, report to your next posts," he instructed as he took a seat in the front of the wagon, just as the last body was thrown into the back.

Reaching into a hidden pocket in his clothing, the guard pulled out the scroll of passage with Sesshoumaru-sama's seal adorning it as the guard next to him grabbed the reigns and urged the wagon forward. Behind him, he could hear the guards he ordered to go with them, climbing onto the back of the wagon as they made their way toward the gate.

As the wagon stopped in front of it, he showed the scroll and was quickly allowed passage outside of the kingdom. "Let's get this scum dropped into the hole and buried quickly, I wish to be finished with this soon," the one guard told the other as they began heading away from the kingdom where a large, unmarked hole was dug, one nameless body already waiting at the bottom.

5:10

Anyone who knew him never would have imagined that a man of his size, especially one wearing a kimono, could move as fast as Jinenji was currently, and all who saw him looked on in shock of his appearance. The normally reserved, calm, and un-rattled doctor was currently rushing through the halls of the kingdom, his long, white kimono hiked up to his knees in a very unladylike gesture. The pounding footsteps that echoed through the halls and the heavy panting of his breathing, warned people of his coming and they quickly moved out of his path.

It wasn't until he had rushed into Lord Toga's office, forgetting all about the formalities of knocking or being bid to enter, that he finally stopped to take a breath. The guards, already being informed to allow him entrance, could do little more than stare at him in confusion, their hands ready on their weapons just in case. "My lord, the guard has awoken," Jinenji began in between pants, "You must come my lord. You shall never believe who was behind the attack unless you hear the words from the guard himself. I even find myself unable to believe it."

"Alright Jinenji, just calm yourself. I shall go hear his words for myself. Guards!" Toga barked out and the guards quickly moved to surround the two as they began making their way out of the office and heading back toward the medical hut. "Relax, my friend, we can now have our only doctor injuring himself. We shall be there soon and I will hear the truth for myself," Toga insured the younger man as he rested his hand on his shoulder in hopes of calming him down.

"I only wish it was not the truth, my lord. This will bring nothing but heartache to the West," Jinenji informed him, confusing the Western Lord even more. By Jinenji's reaction, it was obviously not just a random bandit attack, but who could possibly be behind it, that would upset the West to the degree he was referring to, Toga couldn't fathom.

5:15

"Enter," Sesshoumaru called out, not bothering to look up from the scroll he had been reading when there was a knock at his office door. Kagome glanced over to see one of the guards that was posted outside the door, standing in the doorway and waiting to be told to speak. "Speak," Sesshoumaru finally instructed.

"We have received word that the injured guard has regained consciousness and that Jinenji-sensei is requesting your presence at the medical hut. The guard, that came to inform you, told me it has something to do with who was behind the attack," the guard explained after bowing.

"Shall I give the order, my lord?" Kagome questioned from her position as she turned to glance down at Sesshoumaru. At his nod, she called out, "Alright guards we will be escorting Sesshoumaru-sama to the medical hut. I want you two standing to his front, you two behind him," Kagome called out as she pointed toward the four guards that had been stationed outside the door. "You two will be to his left, Sango and you," Kagome said as she pointed to the last guard, " will be at his right. I shall be in front, within the circle. Get into positions and be ready to go on my command," Kagome instructed before turning her attention to Sesshoumaru as the guards moved as she told them to.

Once she received the nod from Sesshoumaru, she called out, "Alright men, move out!" as she took her place in front of him and laid her hand on her bow. As they made their way through the hallways, Kagome kept her eyes and ears open for anyone that might be around and pose a threat to Sesshoumaru.

5:20

"Right now, with Suikotsu and Kagura gone, and the others each paired off on royal guard duty, there's no one keeping an eye on anything else inside the kingdom other than you. I want you to keep up with your last assignment for now. Report directly to myself anything you find out of the ordinary. Anyone who looks out of place, or even slightly suspicious. On my authority you have the right to detain anyone who even looks like they might be up to something.

"Keep me updated on your progress," Inuyasha was telling Jakotsu as there was a knock at his door. "Enter," he called out, turning his attention away from his subordinate and to the guard who was currently standing in his doorway. "Speak," he bid the guard.

"We have just received a summons for you from Jinenji-sensei, Inuyasha-sama. It would seem the guard has awoken and has informed Jinenji-sensei of who was behind the attack," the guard informed him causing Inuyasha to look stunned for a moment and wait for the guard to continue, when he didn't, Inuyasha asked him who it was. "He didn't say, said you needed to hear it from the guard yourself."

"Alright, I'll head there then," Inuyasha decided as he stood and began making his way out of the office, completely forgetting about his guard detail. Hachi and Kirara glanced over at each other before rolling their eyes and motioning for the guards to follow them as they caught up with Inuyasha. Motioning for the other guards to take up positions around Inuyasha, Hachi and Kirara quickly fell into place next to him.

5:25

"Please repeat what you just said," Toga was instructing to the injured guard as Sesshoumaru arrived at the medical hut. Though nobody noticed it at the time, Toga's eyes were trained on Kagome the moment she stepped into the room guarding his oldest son.

"Ambassador Higurashi was behind the attack on the convoy. I overheard him on my way to warn them about the attack before coming here," the guard repeated, causing everyone in the room to turn toward Kagome, including Inuyasha who had entered at that moment. Kagome gasped as she stared at the guard in utter confusion.

"That's not possible," Kagome finally insisted once she was able to find her voice. "My father would never do something like this. You must be mistaken," she told the guard as she made a step toward him, but seeing all of the guards reaching for their weapons, Kagome thought better and stopped the movement as she placed her hands at her side and away from her bow.

"I'm afraid I did not hear incorrectly, miss. I heard him admit to his involvement as well as knowing of the attack long before he ever should have known about it. There is no doubt," the guard insisted as he glanced over at Kagome with saddened eyes.

"There must be some other explanation. Perhaps you misunderstood what was said or you injured your head during your battle. But there is no way that my parents are traitors, no more than the chances of me being one," Kagome insisted as she turned her glance away from the guard to look Lord Toga in the eyes.

"Arrest her," a voice called out from behind her and Kagome need not turn to know who spoke the words. She started to argue with Sesshoumaru, but she knew it would do her no good. Instead, she took a deep breath, blinking her eyes a few times, as she heard the guards around her unsheathing their weapons and pointing them in her direction.

"Sango, re-leave me of my weapons," Kagome instructed as she ever so slowly rose her right arm so the bow on her back could be taken off. One of the faceless guards around her made a complaint about a possible hostage getting so close to her to get the weapons and without bothering to face him, Kagome explained, "If I try to remove them myself, one of you morons might be inclined to be jumpy and stab me for no reason. Whether or not you trust me, she does and knows I would never lay a hand against her."

Kagome stood completely at attention as Sango walked over and began removing the bow from her shoulder, before taking off her quiver as well. "There is a dagger in the small of my back as well as one below my neck," Kagome explained as she kept her eyes focused straight ahead and made sure not to move in the slightest. "There is a dagger strapped on the outside of each ankle," she continued once Sango had removed the other two.

"Thin shackles are at my right hip as well as the key to them in that pocket," Kagome went on trying to remember if she had brought any other weapons with her that morning. "Smoke bombs are in my left pocket and I know there's something else," Kagome paused as she tried to remember what it was she was forgetting. "Right, the hair pins. They are daggers," Kagome told her once she remembered they were there and tilted her head down so Sango would have easy access.

"Did you wear your bladed necklace today, Kagome?" Sango questioned after she had removed the last two daggers.

"No but you may check to confirm," Kagome assured her and did her best not to look down, to not give the already 'trigger happy' guards a reason to attack her, as Sango parted the opening of her haori and searched for the necklace. "That is all of them," Kagome informed them and after Sango had stepped back, she lowered her arms behind her back. It wasn't a moment later that shackles were being placed around her wrists causing Kagome to flinch slightly against the cold metal.

As a few of the guards began leading her from the room she turned to stare Inuyasha straight in the eyes. "Find the truth, and find it fast," she bid him before allowing herself to be lead completely out of the room, already knowing where her destination was without having to be told.

"Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru called out to get his younger brother's attention, once he had it, he continued, "Pull your team from royal guard duty. It is no secret they are loyal to her, I shall take no chances and neither should you," he insisted before turning and storming out of the room with the remainder of his guard detail following after him, once Inuyasha had nodded to his own team members for them to stay.

5:40

Toga stood silent for a few moments after his eldest had left the room, feeling utterly defeated. Glancing back at the guard, hoping to get more information out of him, he found him to be once again unconscious. Before he had the chance to inquire about him, Inuyasha had stormed over to where he was standing. "This is insane. You know damn well Kagome had nothing to do with this, I need my second in command with our team, not sitting in some cell. Especially today," Inuyasha insisted.

"Go see to your other duties Inuyasha, now is not the time to be discussing this. As much as I would want to believe in her innocence, her parents are involved and if they are, there is no reason to doubt that she is as well," Toga replied giving Inuyasha a stern look, hoping he would drop it and leave him in peace.

"Kagome herself is enough of a reason to have doubt. This is not over, father, far from it," Inuyasha promised as he turned and stormed out of the room, gesturing for the rest of his team to follow. Sango and Miroku finished gathering up Kagome's discarded weapons before hurrying to catch up to the others. The normal guards who had been assigned to Inuyasha tried to follow after him, but he turned back with a growl and told them to get lost.

Turning back to Jinenji, as his son's escort returned to the room, Toga inquired, "What are his chances? Any idea when we might be able to get more information out of him?"

"There is no way to tell for sure, but I would not say his chances are good. Truthfully, it is up to his will to live. There is nothing left I can do for him other than to try and ease what pain he is in. I suggest you pray," Jinenji told him with a bow before turning and moving back over to check on his patient. Deciding there was nothing more he could do there, Toga headed out of the medical hut, paying little attention to the sudden increase in guards with him.

5:45

"Hachi, Kirara, you two mount up and go after Kagura and Suikotsu and inform them of what's happened. They shouldn't have reached the convoy yet and if only the two of you go you should be able to catch up to them fast enough. Take two horses each. I want them back and I want them back now," Inuyasha told them without bothering to stop or glance over his shoulder at them, as they continued down the hall toward his office.

"You do not wish for us to attack the convoy?" Kirara inquired, thinking it was strange for everyone to return back to the kingdom instead of going after the convoy especially since they already had members of the group out there.

"No the convoy is highly guarded and we do not have the time to get an army ready that would be able to even put a dint in their defenses. Not only that, but it would take far too long for an army to catch up to those two and if what that guard says is true, they are in danger. And what's worse, they don't even know it. No I want everyone back here. My first priority is to prove Kagome innocent, let that bastard Sesshoumaru deal with the convoy until I'm told otherwise," Inuyasha told them as he threw open the door of his office and entered with his group, sans Hachi and Kirara who began heading toward the stables, following him.

5:50-6:00

Rubbing her slightly sore wrists, Kagome wrinkled her nose at the overwhelming stench of fresh and aged blood that stained the small cell around her. Behind her, she could hear the guards, who had just a moment before, thrust her into the cell, making insulting jokes about her getting what was coming to her. Already used to the problems men tended to have with her being in a place of authority, Kagome paid them no mind as she walked over to the small, barred window on the far end of the cell.

Reaching up to place her hands on the bars, she glanced out to find it did in fact not lead to the outside as she had always thought, but to another hallway where she could see the armored feet of guards as they passed by. 'Of course it doesn't lead outside, the dungeon is underground,' Kagome reminded herself with a humorless laugh before turning back to glance around the rest of the cell.

It did not escape her notice, that instead of being placed in a normal cell as prisoners usually were when they were first arrested, she had been placed in the torture cell. It wasn't too hard to figure out with all the blood, but Kagome had hoped it was simply from them bleeding while waiting in the other cell. 'Once this is all taken care of, I'm going to have a word with those guards," Kagome thought to herself with a frown.

Glancing around the room again, she hoped to find a suitable place to sit, but the chairs, as well as the majority of the floor, was covered in blood. "Could have at least gotten me a clean chair," she mumbled as she glanced out of the cell. Down at the end of the hall, she could see a few guards standing guard while laughing about something she couldn't hear.

"I wonder if they realize how fast I could get out of here if I really wanted to?" Kagome questioned out loud to herself as she took stock of everything in the room that could be used in an escape. 'Small sliver of metal over there would pick the lock pretty quickly. Chair leg snapped off at a point would make a nice dagger, another leg for a club. Or I could even use the wood to start a fire to get them open the cell and take off during the confusion.

'Then of course there's the many people that would break me out of here if I only asked. Idiot guards, you never unshackle someone with my training. Morons probably think it's safe cause I'm a woman,' she complained mentally as she rolled her eyes at their stupidity. 'Got to remember to have Bankotsu fortify this place a bit more once this is over with. I'm kind of surprised no one has broken out of here yet, it really wouldn't be that hard.

'They're just lucky I'm really not a traitor,' Kagome decided as she leaned up against the bars, figuring they would be the cleanest in the cell. "Alright Inuyasha, put your skills into action and get me out of this place. I hate the smell of stale blood," Kagome complained out loud, trying her best not to think of just who it had been that ordered her arrest.


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