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.

The following takes place between 1am and 2am...

1:00

"Sesshoumaru-sama if I may ask," Jaken began after walking into his office and seeing him sitting at his desk. "Why were you not there for her release? I would think you of all people would be there to celebrate her innocence," Jaken continued confused at Sesshoumaru's actions.

Sesshoumaru glanced up at him for a few moments before sighing and dropping his eyes back to his desk. "After everything I have done this day, I find myself unable to face her. Unable to see the look of hurt that shines in her eyes or hear the pain I caused her in her voice," Sesshoumaru explained softly.

"I am sure, Sesshoumaru-sama, that Kagome will understand that you were simply doing what was best for the kingdom," Jaken assured him.

"And had that been true, Jaken, I would agree with you, however, by going down there myself it was no longer about the West, but about myself and the pain I felt. I knew of no other way to be absolutely sure of her innocence other than to cause her extreme pain, both physically and mentally. I know going down there that I might destroy what we have, but for the sake of myself and the West, it had to be done."

"Does this mean you intend to give up on her, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Jaken wondered concerned. It was not like to give up on anything and the thought that he might give up on something this important to him, had Jaken worried about just how much pain the heir to the West was in.

"No, never could I give up on her. I could sooner give up the air I breath. I will fight for her, Jaken, I just can not do it at this moment," Sesshoumaru explained before growing quiet once again. Jaken watched him in silence for a few moments before deciding to give him some time to himself. Giving him an unnoticed bow, Jaken left the office, silently sliding the door closed behind him.

1:05

Kouga watched as his father finished up a meeting with his advisors from just outside the door. He waited until he had dismissed them before entering the room and seating himself in front of the desk. "Father, there is something I find myself worried about. Do you think, there is any chance Lord Toga might believe we had something to do with what has happened? I may not agree with everything that is happening with Kikyou, but even I know it would be bad for the East if we lose our alliance."

"Worry not Kouga, if Toga even thought there was a possibility we could have been behind the attack, he would not have sent the messenger to tell us about it. No, what worries me, is the chance that it was not just a random attack by bandits. If it was not, then there is someone out there trying to destroy our alliance. Neither Lord Toga nor I can afford for that to happen,": Menomaru explained, his tone clearly expressing his worry.

Kouga watched as his father began to pace back and forth in front of him, wisely deciding to be silent for the moment. As the moments ticked by without any word from his father, Kouga began to wonder if his father had forgotten about his presence complete. As he continued to wait, remaining unnoticed by his father, Kouga decided to leave him be for the time being and quietly made his way out of the office.

1:10

Sesshoumaru was pulled from his silent thoughts and the door to his office slid open and he glanced up to tell Jaken not to bother him, only to find his father standing in the doorway staring down at him. Rising to his feet, Sesshoumaru bowed before his father as he waited for him to speak. "What are you doing, my son? Are you trying to make things harder on yourself?" Toga questioned as he entered the room and slid the door closed behind him.

"I do not understand what you mean, father. Perhaps you could explain further," Sesshoumaru suggested as he retook his seat behind his desk, his eyes never leaving his father's. Toga continued to stare at him for a few moments before sighing and seating himself in front of the desk.

"Do not play the part of a fool, my son, you know very well what it is that I speak of. Why were you not in the dungeon when she was released? More than I, you should have been there to face her," Toga insisted causing Sesshoumaru to sigh before lowering his head into his hands.

"I could not face her. Had I been there, I would have fallen to pieces and I am not sure they could have been put back together. I believe it would be better to allow sometime to pass before I am to meet with her."

"I have never known you to allow fear to control your actions, Sesshoumaru. You need to do what it is that you have always done, face your fears. Become stronger by overcoming them. The heir to the West can not hide away in his office because he is scared to face a woman he has wronged. Do you think it was easy for me to be there? It was hell and I still faced her. I owe her that much at least. It may have been your hands that hurt her, but it was I that gave the order, that allowed for it.

"Sesshoumaru, the longer you hide away in this office, the harder it's going to become for you. It will not be fixed easily, but hiding away, will never fix it. Speak with her, see her. Accept her anger and what ever it is she will say to you. Do it soon, so you both may begin to heal," Toga instructed before rising and making his way back toward the door. Without another word, he slid it open and walked back out into the hall.

1:15

Kagome stood staring down at her clothing as she tried to readjust them so that they would cover the bulges, instead she only made them seem worse. She groaned in frustration before removing her clothes and throwing them across the room with a scream. "Damn it," she swore under her breath as she sank to her knees and glanced down at her nearly naked form. Bandages covered most of her arms and legs, as well as, a good portion of her torso. The bulges they caused, made it impossible to get her clothing to lay correctly.

She knew she could not go out there in such an unkempt manner as it would give others the fuel they needed to pull her off of duty. Ever since she had been given her position, there had been those that fought to prove she was unfit, reporting every misstep she ever took. After all that had happened today, she dared not give them any more to use against her. She would allow no one to call her weak simply because she was a woman.

Nodding her head in determination, Kagome rose to her feet and began searching through her clothing to find something to wear that would completely cover the bandages. Finally deciding on a forest green and off white kimono, she dressed as quickly as she could, making sure that the belled sleeves did not show any bulges. Satisfied, she began brushing her hair as a knock came at her door. "Come in, Sango," she called out without bothering to look at the door.

Behind her, she could hear the door slide open but didn't pay her guest any mind as she finished brushing out her long hair. "One of these days, you have to tell me how you always know who it is at the door," Sango joked as she sat down on the floor behind Kagome, watching her as she finished preparing.

"It's a secret," Kagome told her with a half smile as she turned to face her. "What brings you here? Shouldn't you be at your post?" Kagome questioned as she walked over to the door and slipped her feet inside her shoes.

"I am, Kagome. My job right now is to worry about you. I can understand why you want to go back out there, but shouldn't you rest? Even if it's just for the rest of this day? I know you do not wish to show weakness, but no one that matters will see it as such if you decided to rest after all that has happened. And no one cares about those that would."

"It's not all about not showing weakness, Sango. If I stay here I will start crying and I don't know if I will ever be able to stop. Plus I will worry about what is happening with my parents and it will drive me to madness. I have to keep busy and this is simply the best way to do it. I thank you for your concern, my friend, but allow me this," Kagome pleaded before sliding the door open and heading out without waiting for Sango's reply.

Behind her, she could hear Sango enter the hallway, closing the door to her room, but paid her little mind as she caught sight of Kagura heading toward her. Knowing what was coming, Kagome fought the urge to sigh and held her head up with a forced smile on her face. "Forget it Kagome, no one would buy that smile as genuine. What post did Inuyasha-sama give you?" Kagura questioned as she fell in step with them, giving Kagome a look that said she wasn't buying her attempts to look alright.

"Wall sentry," Kagome explained allowing the smile to drop and settling for a more neutral expression. "And I don't wait to hear any complaints from either of you, it is the easiest job he could have given me. All I want to do right now is my job and in case you have forgotten, with Inuyasha-sama gone, I am in charge. So don't even think of over ruling me," she warned them as she glared toward two guards that were passing them. They weren't even bothering to try and cover up the fact that they had just been gossiping about her.

"Idiots," Sango mumbled just loud enough that the guards could hear her as she rolled her eyes. "But don't forget Kagome, there is one way to over rule you. The rest of us simply have to vote unanimously that you are unfit," Sango reminded her jokingly.

"Ah but you forget, Sango, one of you would have to challenge me for my position and beat me in a battle. I may be injured, but I am far from weak. And as I would have far more to prove, I would not lose. Now be good little girls and get to your posts. That's an order," Kagome told them with a genuine smile as they reached the courtyard and she began making her way toward her post.

"Still as bossy as ever, I see," Kagura joked with a smile at Sango before turning and heading off toward her post. Sango laughed quietly herself before doing the same, never seeing Kagome turn back once she had reached the ladder. Not wanting to climb it in front of them, in case any of her pain showed, she had waited until they left before slowly making her way toward the top. Each step caused her to flinch in pain, but she carefully kept it hidden in case some guard or kingdom official was watching her every move.

As she finally reached the top of the ladder, she found Jakotsu standing there with a hand stretched out toward her. "I can manage on my own, Jakotsu," she assured him and watched as he pulled his hand back before climbing up the rest of the way. "So what brings you to my post, Jakotsu?" she questioned as she straighten out her clothing and turned towards him.

"I am simply checking on you as Inuyasha-sama has asked me to do. I can see that you are doing fine, I will leave you for now. But I will be back," he told her with a smile before making his way down the ladder and out of her sight. Kagome rolled her eyes at him before turning to glance out over the wall.

1:35

Toga stared down at the small medal in his hand as he allowed his thoughts to wander uninhibited. His youngest son's words echoed in his mind and he couldn't help but find himself agreeing to them. Sighing, he closed his hand around the medal and closed his eyes as images of the day's events appeared before him. Unable to bare them for long, he reopened his eyes and glanced over at the painting of his late wife.

"Our son is right, my love. I do not know when he became so wise, but today I feel as though I am not but a fool when I stand next to him. Through it all he held strong to his beliefs and I allowed fear to cloud my own. I must have missed it some where along the way for I do not remember him becoming a man, but there can be no doubt in my mind that he is one.

"His faith never once wavered while I found mine constantly changing, ebbing and waning as though it was the tide. He stood up against those that cast doubts upon him while I hid away in fear. His conviction has stunned and amazed me. He knew what was right and stood up for it and all I could do was worry over my own choices. You would be so proud of him, my love, our baby has grown and when I think I still have much to teach him, I find him teaching me.

"I envy the strength he has shown this day, for I fear my mistakes will weight heavily on me for a long time to come and I could use all the strength I can get. I betrayed her, betrayed her loyalty and my own honor. Even now, after everything that has happened, she still wishes to protect the West and does not lay blame with me, and yet, at the first sign of doubt, I threw her to the wolves.

"I turned my back on a girl who has never done a single thing to lose my trust and now, as Inuyasha said, it is on me. Everything that has happened this day, and anything the future might bring because of it, it is all on my head. My shoulders must bare the weight of my choices until the day when I can be forgiven. And even if she truly forgives me, I do not believe I will ever forgive myself."

1:40

Hearing the sound of soft footsteps behind her, Kagome glanced over to find a sleepy Shippo making his way over to her. Smiling, she watched as he slowly made his way toward her, waiting to see what he wanted. Stopping in front of her, he raised his arms up, indicating he wanted her to pick him up and, making sure not to show him any sign of the pain it caused, Kagome reached down and wrapped him in her arms.

"What are you doing out of bed this late at night?" Kagome inquired as she turned herself so she was facing away from the kingdom once again and continued to keep a watch on the land on the other side of the wall.

"I wanted to see you," Shippo explained as he snuggled deeper into her arms and let off a sigh of contentment. "Kagome," Shippo began after a few moments of silence, where the other thing that could be heard was their breathing. "Are you going to keep your promise?" he finally continued softly, confusing her for a few moments.

After finally realizing what promise he was referring to, Kagome stared up at the sky silently for a few tense minutes and Shippo began to think that he had angered her and was about to climb out of her arms when she began speaking. "I will, Shippo. For even if it turns out that my parents really were behind what happened, it only means they have betrayed me as well. Do not worry yourself, no matter who it was, I will see them brought to justice, just as I have promised.

"Now shut your eyes and try to get some sleep. I will have you returned to your room once you are, but until then you can stay with me," Kagome told him softly as she gently began to rock him while keeping her attention where it should be.

1:50-2:00

"There you are, brother. I have been searching for you," Kikyou told Kouga as she saw him coming down the hallway toward her. "The kingdom seems to be in a fit about something, yet I can not seem to get anyone to tell me what is going on. Perhaps you can fill me in?" she questioned as she crossed her arms in front of her chest, making her request seem more like a demand.

"Too much is going on, that's what," Kouga complained with a sigh causing Kikyou to stare at him confused. "Earlier today the convoy on the way to the West was attacked, the Ambassador was killed. Father worries that it may not have been just a random attack and has decided that we will take the army to meet the other convoy as soon as they can be ready. He doesn't want to chance anything happening to them as well," Kouga explained causing his sister to gasp in shock.

"Those poor people," Kikyou whispered as she placed her hand over her mouth and glanced down at her feet. After a few moments of silence had passed between the two of them, she finally glanced back up at her brother and allowed her hand to fall back at her side. "Father does not believe it was random? What led him to believe that? Do you agree?"

"He doesn't have any evidence to support it, you know how he worries. I don't really know one way or the other, but I myself fear Lord Toga might believe we are behind it. Father says it is not so as he is the one that sent us word of what has happened, but even if he did not believe so when he wrote the message, there is no telling what he may believe in time. We can not chance another war with the West, and the peace has been far too short lived."

"I agree with father on this one, brother, I do not believe Lord Toga will ever think they we had something to do with this. He is far too intelligent a man and knows we have far too much riding on the alliance to have done something such as this. I am sure you have much work to do, I shall return to my courters so I will not be underfoot. Be safe when you go, Kouga," Kikyou pleaded with a slight bow before turning and making her way toward her room. Kouga watched until she was no longer in sight before turning and once again heading in the direction he had been going before she stopped him.

Please R&R, good and bad reviews are welcome, however, I will ignore flames.