Inuyasha kneels on the ground, eyes glazed in shock, as the huntsman stabs him through the chest.

As the huntsman pushes the dagger through Inuyasha’s chest and out the back, blood spurting, Inuyasha looks down at the dagger hilt in shock.

Close-up of the huntsman holding the bloody dagger before his face. He is shocked and incredulous.

Inuyasha angrily looks down at his chest wound, which is bleeding profusely. His hands are covered with dripping blood.

The huntsman, looking frightened, wields his dagger in one hand while holding Inuyasha with the other. Inuyasha reaches toward him with his claws.

Inuyasha, kneeling, fights off the huntsman, who has one hand on Inuyasha’s hair and is dropping the dagger from the other. Blood is soaking Inuyasha’s hair and his folded-down kimono, and there are patches of blood on the huntsman’s kimono where the boy has tried to push him away.

The huntsman pulls his sword with his right hand, while his left grasps Inuyasha’s hair. Inuyasha is trying to pull away the hand at his head, while with the other hand he sinks his claws into the huntsman’s arm. Both are splattered with blood from Inuyasha’s spurting wounds.,

Inuyasha has wrapped his arms around the huntsman’s leg and is biting the man’s thigh. The huntsman has pulled his sword.

The huntsman holds Inuyasha’s head in one hand, while he brings the sword into position with the other. Inuyasha’s hands flail, trying to fend off the sword. The huntsman’s shirt and sleeve are covered with Inuyasha’s bloody handprints.

The huntsman is now on the ground beside Inuyasha. His sword stabs into Inuyasha’s ribs, as Inuyasha fends him off with one hand and claws at his face with the other.

Closeup of the huntsman as Inuyasha’s clawed hand pulls out his left eyeball.

Close-up of the huntsman. His right eye is closed, while his left eyesocket drips blood.

A blood-covered Inuyasha stares dumbfounded at the eyeball in his hand.

The huntsman lies on the ground. The blood-drenched Inuyasha sits on top of him, with the eyeball in his right hand. With the left, he props open the huntsman’s right eye.

Front view of the blood-covered Inuyasha holding up the eyeball.

Nighttime view of a small house with veranda. A kneeling figure is silhouetted in the light of an open doorway.

Nighttime view of woods, with the silhouette of a crouching figure.

Close-up view of the woman from the first pages of this book, peering out of the open door.

Close-up of the huntsman in the wood, looking battered and bloody, leaning on his sword.

The woman is now outdoors, kneeling on the ground next to the huntsman, who is now stretched out full, his sword in front of him.

The woman looks behind her for help, as the bloodied huntsman lies flat, head up.

Closer-in view of the huntsman, now looking weaker, speaking to the woman who listens seriously.

A young man stands before the two. The woman is on her knees next to the huntsman, who lies dead on the ground.

View of the exterior of a modern house. A figure sits on the ground next to a bicycle in what looks like a carport; a smaller person looks on from around a corner of the house.

A teenaged boy is kneeling on the ground repairing the rear wheel of the bicycle. He is watched by a small boy with relatively light hair, dressed in sweatshirt jacket, sweat pants, and sneakers with Velcro fasteners. This little boy is four-year-old Houjou Inuyasha ("Koinu"), the younger version of our bishounen anthropologist as well as the earnest Houjou-kun.

Closer view of the two. Koinu now squats next to the bike.

View of the two from Taro’s side of the bicycle wheel.

Full view of Koinu, who sits cross-legged holding up the four fingers of his right hand.

Close-up of Koinu, smiling broadly.

View of the two with the bike.

View of the two with the bike. Taro has stopped working and is leaning on the wheel of the bike looking at Koinu.

Both boys are standing.

Close-up of Taro, who is smiling.

Close-up of Koinu, who has his arms clasped above his head, self-consciously.

Koinu peeks through his fingers, bashful.