Deadly Games
Chapter 1
Smiles at Rumiko Takahashi I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters. They were created by the wondrous Rumiko Takahashi-sama. Cowers away from threatening lawyers I also do not own any aspects similar to any of the Mario Party games that may be used in this fanfic.
"Come on Inuyasha! Hurry up!" Kagome dragged the reluctant eighteen year old through the walkways of Shikon Park. Inuyasha planted his feet firmly on the ground as Kagome determinedly pulled on his arm. Inuyasha pulled his left arm away from the annoyed girl and crossed it over his right arm. "I'm not going to any stupid magic show until we ride the roller coaster first!" Kagome pouted. "It's not a magic show and it is not stupid!" Inuyasha got up in Kagome's face and shouted, "I don't care what it is; why do we have to go see it?" Kagome stood on her tiptoes to make herself as intimidating as possible and shouted back, "Because I promised Kikyo! She is my sister, and it's something she put a lot of time and effort into it! Right, Sango-chan?"
Kagome looked over Inuyasha's shoulder at her best friend who was waiting patiently with Miroku for their friends to stop arguing. Sango shrugged. "You're right to want to keep your promise, Kagome-chan, but I also want to ride the roller coaster… really badly!" Kagome sighed in defeat, then retorted in a pouting tone, "Hey! You're supposed to be on my side, Sango-chan!" Then Miroku spoke up. "Kagome-sama, how about we just go ahead and ride the roller coaster first, and then go see your sister before we do anything else?" Kagome crossed her arms and replied, "Alright. But only if you ride with Miroku-sama, Sango-chan!"
Sango blanched and shouted back, "But why!" Kagome put on a cute, mischievous smile and answered, "Because we were supposed to go see Kikyo first, and I had to ride with Miroku-sama on the Twister. Also, because I said so!" Miroku narrowed his eyes and commented quietly, "You two make it sound like riding with me is a bad thing." Sango looked to him. "It is if you decide you don't want to keep your hands to yourself!" Miroku laughed nervously, and Kagome said, "So, how about it, Sango-chan?" Sango sighed roughly and replied with a hint of annoyance in her voice, "Fine."
Kagome giggled and clapped her hands. "Goody! Let's go then!"
Kagome, Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango had all been the best of friends since fourth grade. They all met when they were put on a team together for soccer. As they became closer, they learned they all loved extreme thrills and especially loved Shikon Park. After fifth grade began, they would always go to Shikon Park during the summer and stay in a nearby hotel for a week. Just one year before they had started visiting Shikon Park during the summer without parental supervision. This was okay because Sango and Kagome were eighteen, and Miroku and Inuyasha were nineteen.
Kagome turned in the opposite direction and began to skip towards the roller coaster. That's right, skip. Not walk, skip. Kagome was known to be a matchmaker at Tokyo U, and she had been trying to get Miroku and Sango together since middle school. It was kind of strange that Kagome could help get any two people together, but she couldn't even help herself in the love category. The truth was, she had a major crush on Inuyasha since fifth grade, but was never brave enough to tell him. And whenever she did gather up the courage, one of them would say the wrong thing and start arguing before Kagome could get anything out in the open.
As for Miroku and Sango, well, they were the biggest challenge Kagome had faced since she had gotten Kouga and Ayame to confess their feelings for each other in tenth grade. Sango spent more time with Kagome than anyone else in the group, and she didn't feel comfortable going anywhere with Miroku unless Kagome or Inuyasha came too. Kagome knew how Miroku felt about Sango because he had told her, but she wasn't sure about Sango's feelings for Miroku. If she did have any feelings for him, she certainly didn't show it. Most of the time she was either angry at him, or she was being coy and withdrawn. Either way, Sango had feelings no one knew about. Not even her best friend, Kagome.
After walking through Shikon Park for a short period of time, they arrived at the entrance to the roller coaster. It was one of the coolest roller coasters in history. The railings were a metallic blood red color and the pods were black with red flames flaring on the sides. The metal bars on the insides of the pods were sturdy and secure. The seats were made from red comfortable leather, and they were positioned high up for any vertical upward climbs. The roller coaster itself was exhilarating. It started out by simply going extremely fast and taking many sharp and upward curved turns like most average roller coasters. Then the riders were taken up and down four consecutive 90 degree hills. After the hills, there was a loop that would take the riders upside down. When they reached the bottom of the loop, the pods would stop moving, and the riders would be put at ease for a few short moments. After a few seconds, the riders would be taken back through the loop, and the rest of the ride. But the second time, they went through the ride backwards.
The wait to get into the roller coaster wasn't long since it was a Wednesday. The four walked up onto the boarding platform and waited in line to get on the roller coaster. Sango tapped her foot impatiently as the line moved as slow as a crippled tortoise. She began to occupy herself by counting the number of tracks on the railings. Soon, they stepped up behind Kagome and Inuyasha who were settling into a pod. Once Inuyasha and Kagome's pod took off, the man in charge of the ride stated simply to Miroku and Sango, "You'll have to wait shortly for the next pod to come." Sango grumbled and blew a piece of hair from her face in frustration. She shivered when Miroku put his hands on her shoulders and said soothingly, "Have patience, Sango. See, here comes the next pod. We didn't have to wait long."
Sango shrugged, and in doing so made Miroku's hands fall away from her shoulders as she climbed into their pod. Miroku climbed in after her, and the man lowered the metal bar into their laps and pushed down on it to make sure it was secure. He gave them the thumbs up, then pushed down the lever, and Sango and Miroku's pod gradually began to move forward.
As their pod slowly climbed up the first hill, Kagome tilted her head to the side and saw Miroku and Sango climbing into their pod. She quietly said to herself, "I didn't think Sango-chan would actually go for it." Inuyasha glanced over at her. "What did you say?" Kagome shook her head. "Nothing." Inuyasha placed his hand on the top of Kagome's head and turned it to face the front. He explained, "Keep your head turned to the front or you'll get major whiplash. Stupid." Kagome briefly removed her hands from the metal bars and clasped them together. She said dreamily, "Ah, Inuyasha… I didn't know you cared." Inuyasha muttered, "I don't…"
Their pod rocked at the tip of the hill, then went cascading down it. Kagome clung to the metal bar using one hand, and desperately held down her skirt with the other. Inuyasha smiled broadly and casually crossed his arms. Thing like roller coasters didn't scare him.
Sango yawned as their pod zipped through the first stage of the roller coaster. Miroku chuckled lightly. "Anxious to get to the fun part?" Sango nodded. "This part is so boring." Sango showed no emotion as their pod began to position itself vertically and climb the first hill. Miroku shifted uncomfortably as silence settled in between them. He looked the other way thinking of what to say. He then turned to Sango and questioned suggestively, "Do you want me to hold you when we go down the hill?" Sango glared at Miroku. "I most certainly do not! You know I don't get scared when I ride this." Miroku shrugged. "Hey, it was worth a try."
Contrary to what she had said previously, Sango screamed loudly throughout the entire ride. As their pod settled in back at the boarding platform, Miroku laughed and helped Sango out of the pod. "You don't get scared, huh?" Sango glared at his remark and retorted once she caught her breath, "I don't. You just kept trying to make passes at me during the ride. I only screamed that loud so you would back off." The two walked to the back of the platform where Kagome and Inuyasha were waiting and Miroku rolled his eyes. "Riiight."
Kagome smiled energetically when Sango and Miroku reached her and Inuyasha. "Okay! Now that you're done riding your precious roller coaster, we're going to go see Kikyo now! No questions!" Keeping her promise as a best friend, Sango made her way to Kagome's side and they walked to Kikyo's tent in groups of two.
Just before Kikyo's tent was a black and navy blue tent. Gold rimmed the edges of it, and black smoke emitted from the bottom of the tent. Inuyasha stopped by it and walked in with interest. There was nothing inside except for three silhouettes in the back and a black and purple mist that made it hard for Inuyasha to breathe. The figure standing in between the other two figures stepped forward. It was a man who had black, slightly wavy hair that cascaded down his back. He wore a blue kimono shirt that had gold ripples on the sleeves, and dark blue pants
He opened his eyes and Inuyasha saw they were a piercing red color. The man finally spoke. "Inuyasha…" Inuyasha cautiously stepped farther into the tent and questioned, "How do you know my name? Who are you?" The man smirked. "I am Naraku. And as for how I know your name; that is simple. I know everything about everyone. And I can grant your deepest wishes using this." Naraku pulled a shining and round pink gem from his sleeve. The only strange thing about it was there seemed to be a large piece missing from the top of it. Naraku turned his attention back to Inuyasha. "But the use of my powers comes with a price. Are you willing to pay it?" Inuyasha felt slightly dizzy and out of sorts. Like he was in a trance. He was ready to agree, when Kagome had finally noticed the lack of his presence and burst into Naraku's tent.
Annoyed, she grabbed Inuyasha's arm and demanded, "What are you doing in here? We have to go see Kikyo now!" The hint of a worried tone wasn't gone completely from Kagome's voice. At the sight of Kagome, Inuyasha felt like himself again and replied, "I was just looking! You aren't my mother, you know!" Kagome shouted, "I know I'm not your mother, because I-!" She decided not to finish her sentence and shook her head. "Just come on!" Inuyasha grudgingly allowed Kagome to lead him out of the tent. Naraku frowned in disappointment and glided back into the shadows.
Once Kagome had brought Inuyasha up to the entrance of Kikyo's tent, the four entered. In the center of the tent, Kikyo sat at a small glass table. She jumped up when Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, and Miroku came in. She walked up to Kagome and gave her a light hug. "Glad you could make it, emotto-chan." Kagome nodded. "Well, I did promise." Kikyo smiled. "Right. Come this way please." The four followed Kikyo into another room behind the entrance room. In the room, there was only an average tea table and four seats. On the table appeared to be a board game. The only light in the room came from holes in the tent that were shaped like moons and stars.
Kikyo beckoned the four to sit down around the table. She gestured to the board game lying on the table, already set up. "I requested that Kagome come see me, but not for the normal palm readings I do for everyone else. I wanted to share this with her and her friends. No one else knows about it because it can only be played once. The game is fairly easy to play. You work your way around the board for twenty turns, and along the way, you collect items, coins, and play mini-games at the end of each turn. As you play the game, you try to collect the Millennium Stars that are randomly placed around the board. It costs twenty coins to earn the star once you've reached it. After the twenty turns, whoever is ahead of all the other players by means of stars or coins, wins a marvelous prize that I crafted with my miko powers. It grants the wish of whoever possesses it."
Sango smiled. "You've got my interest!" She turned back to the game board. "Let's get to playing!"
Kikyo spoke up, "One moment, Sango-san. I wish to speak to Kagome shortly." Sango sat back. "Alright." As Kagome stood and walked into the front room with Kikyo, Inuyasha thought, 'Grants wishes? Why does that sound so familiar?' In the front room, Kagome looked to her big sister and asked, "What did you want to talk to me about, onee-san?" Kikyo fiddled with the bow on her miko style pants. "Well, about that prize I mentioned… I don't exactly have it. Well, not all of it anyways." Kikyo pulled a large pink glowing gem shard from her sleeve. "This is all I currently posses. The rest was stolen from me. I was going to try to get it back today. Would you mind occupying your friends until I get it back?" Kagome smiled. "No problem!"
Kikyo sighed with relief. "Good. Now go play. I have regular customers waiting outside." Kagome nodded. "Kay!" She then turned around and walked into the back room.
The four friends played the highly entertaining game long into the evening. They all wanted the prize. At some points, they became extremely competitive, but never put their want to win over the value of their friendship. After seventeen long turns, they fell asleep at the table.
As her last customer exited the tent, Kikyo stacked up her cards, and walked to the back room. She nudged the tent opening to the side and peeked in at the teens. She smiled at the four asleep at the table. Kikyo tightly closed the entrance to the room and whispered to herself, "I'll wake them when I'm ready to leave." Kikyo gasped when she heard a sinister voice behind her question, "And when would that be, Kikyo?" Kikyo spun around to face none other than Naraku. "Naraku! What do you want?"
Naraku demanded, his voice dripping with acid "The rest of the Shikon No Tama! Where is it!" Kikyo steadied herself as Naraku's miasma filled the room and shouted, "Even if I knew where it was, I wouldn't tell you!" Naraku smirked. "Well, then maybe your dear sister and her friends can help us find it." Kikyo stepped forward and pulled her bow and quiver from underneath the table. She positioned an arrow in her bow and pointed it at Naraku. "Don't you dare!" Naraku shook his head. "You shouldn't be so hasty, Kikyo. I just want to ask them a few questions. And so you won't get in my way…" He waved his hand, and Kagura appeared as a wind blew through the tent. She raised her fan, and brought it back down, shouting, "Dance of Blades!"
Golden light shot out from it, and shot through Kikyo in several different places. Kikyo's shaky hand released the bow, and she fell to the ground. Kanna emerged from outside the tent and looked to Naraku. "Find the Shikon no Tama! Or, better yet, have the children find it for us. Kagura, go! Kanna, come with me." Kanna followed Naraku out of the tent, and Kagura sauntered into the back room.
Kikyo's breath was becoming shallow and raspy. She removed the Shikon shard from her sleeve. She stared into it, and willed the last of her magic into it. She knew the only way to save Kagome and the others was to hide the Shikon shard… inside the game.
Kagura raised her fan, and dark power swirled around her. She was ready to bring it down, killing the four teens, when she saw a swift pink light fly into the board game. Kagura's red eyes squinted at the board game. In the center was a glowing light. Kagura's eyes widened. "The Shikon shard! Kanna!" Kanna appeared beside her younger sister. "Kagura…" Kagura looked down at the emotionless girl and said, "Naraku ordered us to use the children to get the Shikon shard. That damned Kikyo sent the Shikon shard inside of the game, but I thought of a way we could use the humans to get it. Use your mirror, Kanna."
Kanna nodded and extended her mirror towards Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, and Miroku. Their souls flew out from their bodies and into her mirror. Their bodies flopped lifeless to the ground, and Kanna leaned over toward the board game. "Let go…" She whispered to her mirror. Four souls spilled out of her mirror and fell into the board game. The board flashed brightly, and as the light died down, Kagura and Kanna exited the park on Kagura's feather.