Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha or related characters they belong to the respective owners. OC's are mine.

A/N: Warning! Torture later in chapter.

Chapter Forty Nine:


Naraku walked around the execution site examining each portion of the clearing. The eyeless one kept his face pointed in one direction, but both Naraku and Kagura had the distinct feeling he was watching them. Kagura turned to look at the Inuyokai inhabiting the forest.

She narrowed her gaze at them, "What did they come back for?"

The eyeless one tilted his head, "They never left." He moved to stand on the edge of the clearing, "What you see are their shades. They like me are spirits, but unlike me they are only visible in the dark. Meaning sunlight equals no see them, of course I can see them all the time."

Kagura frowned at that, "Right…" She turned to Naraku, "Are you finished here Naraku? I'm sure there's a puppy somewhere that needs kicking."

Naraku glared at the wind sorceress, "I'll be finished when I say I am." He turned toward the eyeless one, "So, this place was used to deal with hanyo before?"

The eyeless one grinned, "Yes…though not for a very long time. One of my brothers had a few hanyo children…our father put them to the slab as soon as he found them, though sometimes he even found them before they were born. I do miss the screams…my elder brother frowned on the use of this place. Said I was too bloodthirsty for my own good. Even tried to have me exorcised…I got even for that. I told his son his one true weakness." The eyeless one turned to the edifice, "Though truthfully now I'm fearful of facing my brother in the afterlife…him and his son are no doubt itching to see me again."

Kagura glared at him, "Fascinating…" She turned back to Naraku, "…Are you sure he'll be of any help to us?"

Naraku narrowed his eyes at Kagura signaling her to shut up then turned to the eyeless one, "What is needed to use this site?"

The eyeless one turned to his visitors and shrugged, "Nothing much really. Primarily you need the condemned of course. The proper method of execution is to bound them to the slab, poison them with a poison stronger that the condemned's own if they are Inuyokai or another poison baring yokai. After you've poisoned the condemned you stab them in the gut and leave them to bleed out, we here keep watch and prevent anyone from interfering, unless it is someone who can actually defeat us such as a human with spiritual power or a very strong daiyokai."

Naraku nodded, "Then I guess this site will be of use after all."

The eyeless one frowned, "As I said before. I can't allow you to use this site."

Naraku grinned evilly, "It's not like I'm giving you a choice."

The eyeless one moved to attack but suddenly found himself enclosed in a barrier. The eyeless one snarled, "You! I know I shouldn't have listened to you. I'll break out of this stupid barrier and use your blood to fertilize the grass of my clearing."

Naraku smirked, "Not likely…now I just have to have the proper bait to entice Inuyasha to come to his own execution."


Modern Era…

Kagome exited the well house to find Sota and three other boys playing a trading card game under the sacred tree. She walked over and quickly realized the other boys were yokai and hanyo. One of the yokai boys, a wolf yokai by the looks of it placed down a card, "I play Inu no Taisho on the front line."

Sota frowned, "Isn't Inu no Taisho better in the leader position?"

The wolf boy shook his head, "That's the obvious position to place him if you don't know your teammate's cards. Since your bowing my spare deck I know you have both Lord Sesshomaru's card and The scarred one's card."

Sota nodded, "Oh, I remember." He placed the scarred one's card down just behind the Inu no Taisho card.

A bat boy then took a turn, "Oh…I see you guys are going for canine supremacy." He placed a card down, "I play Ryukotsusei in leadership position."

Kagome looked over her brother's shoulder, "What are you guys playing?"

The boys all jumped at her voice and Sota turned to see his sister, "Kagome you're back!"

Kagome smiled at her brother, "Yep…I have a math test tomorrow." She looked down at the cards and noticed the remarkable likeness to the yokai she'd met, "So what are you playing?"

A hanyo that appeared to be of the either Inu or wolf decent spoke up, "It's daiyokai smash. It's a card game we play among ourselves. It's kind of like a badge of honor to know what it is, and it helps us hanyo and yokai kids to know which human kids actually know about us."

Kagome knelt down next to her brother, "So how's it played?"

The bat took over, "Well…the players divide into two teams, but the players on each team aren't allowed to strategize. You have to trust your teammates to strengthen your cards, while you support their moves. Also, if a daiyokai card is played but you also have that daiyokai's card in your deck you have to discard it. That's only logical since of course there can't be two Inu no Taisho or Ryukotsusei on the battle field. The only double cards that can be played are soldiers, spells, non-signature attacks, and stat bonus cards."

Kagome frowned, "It sounds pretty complicated. Who invented this game?"

The wolf boy shrugged, "Not sure…it's been around since the 1950's at least."

Kagome smiled at the boys, "Well, you guys have fun. I got to go study." She turned to Sota, "You don't stay out here too late, there's school tomorrow after all."

Sota nodded then turned back to the game after his sister walked off. The wolf chuckled as he put down a card, "You know Sota your sister is just as nice as my cousin Ginta has told me."

Sota turned to his friend, "He's that wolf that acts as the host at the resort?"

The wolf nodded, "Yep, but he knew her from a long time ago." The wolf indicated the well house, "She met him back then first."

Sota nodded then played his own card.


Kagome entered the house to find her mother talking to several women, obviously the mothers of Sota's friends. Kagome bowed to them, "Um, hello…I hope I'm not intruding."

Kagome's mother stood up, "Welcome home Kagome. I wasn't expecting you home so soon, is anything wrong?"

Kagome shook her head, "Nope just have a test tomorrow…I figured I'd have an easier time studying here." She bowed to the guests again, "If you'll excuse me I have some studying to do."


Sota and his friends were just cleaning up their cards when a couple larger yokai landed on the grounds. One of them turned to the kids with a frown, "Hey, you lot, what you doing out so late? Get inside or at least in the shadows."

Sota and the others bowed. The hanyo spoke up, "Sorry uncle Kenshirou…we were just heading in."

Kenshirou crossed his arms, "Runt, you know better than staying out in the open…what, am I going to do with you?"

Sota turned to his hanyo friend, "Is he really your uncle?"

The hanyo shook his head, "Doubtful…Lord Sesshomaru takes in all hanyo who have the possibility of being Inuhanyo. He's never sure if one of the younger tribe members might have gotten a little tipsy and spent a night with a woman of ill repute."

Kenshirou growled, "Okay…that happened once. He can't hold it over my head for all eternity."

The four boys and the other yokai all stared at Kenshirou with blank faces as the Inuyokai huffed and turned toward the door. The other yokai shook his head, "You just lost a lot of respect with those kids Kenshirou…maybe you should keep from opening your mouth."

Kenshirou growled, "And maybe you should go take a dip in the ocean charcoal breath."

The Fire Dragon glared, "Yeah, very mature butt sniffer."

Kenshirou watched the four boys enter the house, "Why are we even here? It's not like we can warn her."

The Dragon pulled one of his scales from his pocket, "Because she'll need this…seeing as I didn't give it to her when we first met."

Kenshirou frowned, "What's that supposed to do again?"

The Dragon flipped the scale into the air and caught it, "For the last time, this scale will be of importance to her. You were there when she used it were you not?"

Kenshirou growled, "It's been five hundred years."

The Dragon hissed at the dog as Kagome ran up to them. She smiled at Kenshirou, "Kenshirou! Is that you? You look different?"

Kenshirou puffed out his chest, "Of course I look different I was just a pup when you saw me last."

The Dragon shook his head, "And yet you still act like a child." The Dragon bowed to Kagome, "My Lady…sorry I don't formally introduce myself, but I find doing so twice to be redundant."

Kagome frowned at the yokai, "I've seen you before, haven't I?"

The Dragon smirked, "You witnessed the fall of my, oh so loathsome father just a few days ago. We weren't introduced of course, introductions will occur in the not so distant future." He handed her the scale, "I can't tell you the exact use of this scale, but you'll know when to use it. Oh, I remember you did tell me something. I'm supposed to give you a clue…what was it again?"

Kenshirou whacked the back of the dragon's head, "Stop goofing around!"

The Dragon snarled then glared as he turned back to Kagome, "The clue had something to do with the way my scales reflect light…not really sure what that had to do with anything, but you also said to mention dagger, moon, and Izayoi. I really don't know how those things are related."

Kagome frowned as she didn't know how Inuyasha's mother related to the other clues. She pocketed the scale, "I'm sure I'll figure it out when it's time."

The Dragon bowed then turned to leave. Kenshirou smiled at Kagome, "Well, guess I'll be seeing you later…err back then…err whatever." With a wave he turned and took off as well.

Kagome watched the two figures as one went toward the west and the other went toward the east. Her eyes widened as she suddenly realized something about the message she received before.


Feudal Era…

Kagome climbed to the top of the well and hefted her pack over the top then climbed to sit on the edge. She frowned as she looked around the clearing. There was no sign of Inuyasha anywhere, nor was there any sign of any other yokai. She stood up and walked toward the trees, "Hey! Is anyone there?"

Kagome tensed at the awkward silence. She noticed the forest was also eerily silent.

Kagome heard movement behind her and turned. Standing with her fan pointed at Kagome's throat was Kagura. The wind sorceress glared at the miko, "Hmmm, this is easier than I thought. I can't understand why Goshinki and the others had such a hard time."

Kagome frowned, "You work for Naraku?"

Kagura sneered, "It's not like I have a choice. I'm that creeps slave, I have to do what he tells me."

Kagome narrowed her eyes, "No one can make anyone do anything. We all have fee will even you."

Kagura laughed, "Free will? Not likely, Naraku controls my heart. If I defy him he'll kill me. Just like he'll do to you once your usefulness runs out."

Kagome moved to run, "Where's Inuyasha and the others?"

Kagura sneered, "About now Kanna should have that whole pathetic village unconscious." She laughed when she noticed Kagome's worried expression, "Oh don't fret girl…your friends will be just fine. It wouldn't do to have them harmed before the fun really starts."

The wind sorceress stepped forward and grasping Kagome's arm readied her feather transport and carried them away.

In a nearby bush an injured Inuyokai forced himself to his knees and threw back his head to send out a call of alarm.


Kanna in the village heard the call and immediately departed allowing the souls of her victims to return to their bodies.

Minutes later Inuyasha sat up with a growl, "What happened? Why were we all sleeping out here?"

Miroku frowned, "Hmm, this is peculiar. I can't seem to remember anything since this morning."

Sango helped Kaede stand and turned to the others, "I've got a strange feeling something bad happened."

Kaede narrowed her eyes, "I seem to remember seeing a small girl holding a mirror, but it's all very hazy."

Shippo frowned, "Hey! I think I saw that girl to…I think I tried to talk to her, but then my head got all fuzzy."

Inuyasha started to snarl.

The others turned to him; it was Sango that spoke, "What's wrong Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha turned to the others, "Naraku…I can smell one of his incarnations. It was here in the village."


Kagura landed with Kagome next to the edifice. She turned the girl so she could meet face to face with Naraku. Naraku smiled at the girl, "Kagome…you so remind me of Kikyo…how is Kikyo doing these days?"

Kagome huffed, "What do I care? As long as she stays away I'm happy."

Naraku chuckled, "Well, I hate to burst your bubble. But you weren't the only one I sent out my special invitations to."

Naraku stepped aside to show Kikyo trapped in a barrier right next to the eyeless one. Kikyo narrowed her eyes at Kagome, "Kagome! You must leave this place immediately. It is a trap for Inuyasha."

Kagura pushed Kagome through the barrier so they were trapped in the same one. Kagome stood unassisted and turned to Kikyo, "How'd he capture you?"

Kikyo glared at her, "After our last encounter I learned what Inuyasha told me was the truth. I set out to confront Naraku on my own, but soon ran afoul of one of his plots."

Kagome turned and glared at the evil hanyo, "Just wait till Inuyasha gets here! You'll be in big trouble."

Naraku chuckled, "Oh, I'm sure he'll come. I'm just betting on it."

Kikyo spoke up, "Kagome…Naraku has captured us to lay a trap for Inuyasha. This place is an ancient ritual execution site used by the Inuyokai tribe. Naraku has taken it over and is perverting its just purpose for his own nefarious plans."

Naraku bowed his head, "Kikyo, you wound me." He turned to the eyeless one, "This place's just purpose was corrupted long ago."

The eyeless one ground his teeth, "You will suffer this indignity. I will see you placed on my slab…and I will watch you wither and die for what you've done."

Kagome turned to the Inuyokai, "Can't you break this barrier?"

The eyeless one shrugged, "I would if I could, but I'm not as powerful as a living Inuyokai. My power was stripped from me along with my original body."

Kagome clenched her fists, "We'll find a way out of these barriers. We just have to."

Inuyasha arrived at the well closely followed by Sango and Miroku who had Shippo on his shoulder. They stopped short when they found several soldier Inuyokai scouting the area and a couple tending to a pair of wounded soldiers. Inuyasha growled, "What happened?"

A captain wearing the mark of the Lady of the West stepped forward, "It seems we have a situation my lord. My men were attacked by a wind sorceress, and she was able to kidnap your miko associate before they could summon reinforcements."

Sango looked at the wounded Inuyokai, "Will they be alright?"

The captain looked over his shoulder and nodded, "They'll heal up in a day or so…nothing the likes of us can't shrug off." He turned back to Inuyasha and his companions, "We're trying to track the scents but the wind sorceress really mixed them when she used her powers. It'll be a miracle if we get a good lead."

Inuyasha snarled, "What leads do you have so far?"

The captain shrugged, "We know she headed in a westerly direction after abducting your companion, but beyond that I'm not entirely sure. I had to ensure the safety of my men, and secure the area before I sent scouts to follow the attacker."

Inuyasha grumbled then headed in the indicated direction, "Feh, I'll go after her!" The hanyo bolted from the clearing.

The captain attempted to stop Inuyasha but didn't react quickly enough, "Damn!"

Miroku turned to the captain, "Don't worry. We'll follow him."

Kirara transformed and as soon as the others were on bolted after the hanyo.


Several hours later just before sunset Kirara landed behind Inuyasha in a strange clearing. As the others dismounted Miroku looked around the clearing, "This place has an ominous aura surrounding it."

Inuyasha glared at a stone edifice before him, "We shouldn't be here…this is bad."

Sango readied her weapon, "Inuyasha, are you sure the scent leads here?"

Inuyasha put a hand on Tessaiga, "Yes…but I don't see how or why…there's no reason Naraku should know of this place."

Shippo shook as he looked around, "Inuyasha! What is this place?"

Suddenly a barrier sprung up trapping everyone but Inuyasha. Just as the hanyo turned toward his friends Naraku appeared and caught him by the throat and pushed him into the edifice. Naraku smirked at the hanyo, "It seems things are going in my favor."

Inuyasha attempted to pull the Tessaiga, but Naraku grabbed the hanyo's hand and squeezed forcing bones out of place. As Inuyasha grimaced in pain Naraku forced his wrists into the straps.

Naraku smiled at his captive audience, "We'll isn't this just an amusing collection of witnesses…don't fret…you'll all be released from your little cages just in time to be framed for this deed. While I regret not taking responsibility, it will be much more interesting to see how mangled your remains will be after the Inuyokai are through with you."

Ignoring the shouts and threats of those in the barriers Naraku turned back to Inuyasha, "It will also be very amusing to see your families reactions when they discover your corpse bound to this rock…a piece of their own sordid past."

Inuyasha snarled and strained to free himself.

Naraku chuckled, "Don't bother Inuyasha…if your uncle could not free himself from those bonds what hope do you believe you have."

Inuyasha froze as realization hit him.

Naraku took the opportunity to blast his miasma into the other hanyo's face ensuring he inhaled a significant amount. Stepping forward Naraku smirked as he pulled back the robe of the fire rat to expose Inuyasha's white under robe. Pulling out a dagger he placed the point just above the hanyo's navel. Naraku looked the dazed hanyo in the eyes, "Now, don't die to quickly Inuyasha."

Naraku pulled the dagger back then slammed it forward. The dagger entering his gut caused Inuyasha to reflexively lurch forward and gasp. The hanyo's body seemed to relax as it sagged down applying tension on the restraints. Naraku glared as he wrenched the dagger out causing a jagged gash across his gut.

Naraku examined his work then turned to those forced to watch. Kikyo remained emotionless while Kagome was in tears. Inuyasha's other friends were in shock. Kirara was continuously trying to claw through the barrier. Naraku smiled then turned his back on them and spoke over his shoulder, "While I'd love to sit and wait I hear it takes several days for the full yokai to bleed to death. No doubt it won't be nearly as long for a half breed. So I bid you a farewell…I doubt we'll be meeting again."

Naraku departed with all eyes on him save of course for the eyeless one. He instead was turned to Inuyasha. Snarling he slammed a fist on the barrier, "Wake up you stupid mutt!"

The others stared at this strange yokai.

He ignored the stares and continued to yell at Inuyasha, "Wake up! You need to vocalize you mutt! Do you want to die?"

Kagome fumed, "Can't you see he can't call. Why don't you do it?"

The eyeless one turned to her, "Um, I might have not mentioned this…but I'm not actually alive. So my vocalizations would be ignored!"

Inuyasha twitched then grimacing lifted his head, and let out a rather pathetic half whimper half howl.

The eyeless one looked stunned, or at least as stunned as you could not have eyes, "You call that a vocal?"

Suddenly a resounding howl could be heard from the forest.

Kagome and the others looked surprised. Kagome looked to the tree line, "They heard!"

Several yokai lights suddenly descended on the clearing. When the lights vanished Kagome could recognize the scarred one, Sesshomaru, as well as three of Inu no Taisho's other siblings.

Sesshomaru starred wide eye at his brother's state, "Uncle!"

The scarred leapt at the stone and slashed the bonds holding the hanyo. The medic sister caught Inuyasha and lowered him to the ground. Sesshomaru knelt next to her as the giant one and the stealth master turned to those in the barriers. The stealth master turned motioned his brother, "Get them out of there…that abomination was foolish to think I wasn't close by."

The giant Inuyokai hefted his weapon and slammed it on each barrier shattering the barriers and freeing those inside. Kagome rushed over to Inuyasha while Kikyo merely stood motionless off to the side. The scarred one glared at the stone then turned to his sister, "How bad is it?"

She narrowed her eyes at him, "He's been poisoned and stabbed in the gut…how bad you think it is?" Turning back to Inuyasha she examined the wound, "This is not good…that abomination's miasma is too strong. It's already been absorbed by his system." She looked back at her brother, "We need to get him home…youngest sister's antivenin might help."

The scarred one nodded, "Alright then…everyone move in. I'll transport everyone at once."

Kikyo stepped back but she was quickly caught by Miroku, "Sorry lady Kikyo, but I'm sure we'd all enjoy hearing what hand you had in all this." He forced her closer to the group.

Kagome didn't know how he was going to move everyone, and was surprised when clouds started forming across the ground. The clouds suddenly became solid and lifted them all from the ground. The scarred one then turned and the newly created cloud sped off toward the western palace.


Western Palace…

Inu no Taisho watched as his brother lowered the cloud into the plaza and it dissipated. He stepped forward to see his son lying barely alive from a stomach wound. He glared at his brother, "How?"

The scarred one snarled, "Naraku…he defiled the site of execution."

Inu no Taisho watched Inuyasha's friends as the hanyo was rushed toward the healer's wing, "I want answers."

Kikyo willing stepped forward, "Your lordship, I am truly sor…"

Inu no Taisho snarled as he narrowed his eyes on the resurrected miko, "I will here answers from those I don't have a desire to see ripped apart. You tread on thin ground with me puppet. Don't think I know nothing of who you are."

Kikyo stepped back as Sango moved forward and knelt, "My Lord, First Teacher…I am sorry I failed. I foolishly allowed myself to be trapped…"

The scarred one growled interrupting her, "Stand up Sango…you have not failed. Even you could not expect such deviousness of this foe."

Inu no Taisho nodded, "I will not hold any of your responsible for this affront." He turned back to his brother, "Brother…this means war."


End Chapter Forty Nine

A/N: Okay, the ending here felt strange…umm…yeah, well start of next chapter will be nicer I swear. Oh, yeah if you haven't noticed yet this is where we're basically leaving canon behind, might be a few more canonical like tidbits here and there, but for the most part it's going out the proverbial window.