(Author's Note: I got this idea listening to the second half of the Rent Soundtrack, if it seems choppy at points, I am sorry. This is based off the Libretto of the Broadway play, not the Movie Script which is the only version of Rent I've seen. Also, I have tried to change some of the songs into basically just real conversations to make it seem a bit more realistic.

Songs featured/ Changed into conversations:

Tune Up 1

Voice Mail 1

Tune Up 2

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or Rent.

Rent is © to Jonathon Larson, InuYasha is © to Rumiko Takahashi.)

A short red haired man came into a small empty loft in a rundown building on 11th Street and Avenue B in New York. He holds a camera in his hands showing it everything in the small loft to it and recording the images and his own narration. A man with tied back silver hair watched him, plucking at an old electric guitar and adjusting knobs in a vain attempt to tune it.

"We begin on Christmas Eve with me, Shippou Yakahata, and my roommate, InuYasha." At this the aforementioned roommate lifted his head and glared at the man who was still showing the camera around.

"We live in an industrial loft on the corner of 11th street and Avenue B, the top floor of what was once a music publishing factory. Old rock 'n' roll posters hang on the walls." Shippou turned to a faded poster with InuYasha jamming on the very guitar he held in his hands.

"They have InuYasha's picture advertising gigs at CBGB's and the Pyramid Club. We have an illegal wood burning stove; its exhaust pipe crawls up to a skylight." The camera worked its way up the mentioned exhaust pipe until the camera was looking at practically all sky.

"All of our electrical appliances are plugged into one thick extension cord which snakes its way out a window." Shippou trailed the extension cord until he was on the fire escape looking over a large group of tattered tents. InuYasha eyed the amp that was plugged into the exact same extension cord warily.

"Outside, a small tent city has sprung up in the lot next to our building. Inside, we are freezing because we have no heat." He turned to InuYasha who was wrapped in a sweatshirt and heavy boots even though he was inside, just to prove his point.

"Smile!" InuYasha frowned and pushed the camera away as Shippou took a few steps back to officially start his movie.

"It is currently December 24th, Nine PM Eastern Standard Time; from here on in
I shoot without a script. See if anything comes of it, Instead of my old shit. First shot – InuYasha, Tuning the Fender guitar he hasn't played in a year." InuYasha glared at Shippou for the commentary.

"This thing won't tune Shippou." He growled lowly plucking the stubborn instrument.

"So I hear." Shippou said wincing as a particularly bad chord reached his ears from the amp. "He's just coming back from half a year of withdrawal."

"Are you talking to me?" InuYasha asked stopping his plucking for a moment to glare at Shippou again.

"Not at all!" Shippou said grinning. "Are you ready? Hold that focus – steady…" he commanded the camera that was still recording in his hands. "Tell the folks at home what you're doing Inu..." InuYasha sighed in annoyance.

"I'm writing one great song…" InuYasha started explaining but was interrupted by the telephone ringing sharply.

"The phone rings!" Shippou said shifting to the black phone which had begun to flash.

"SAVED!" InuYasha said excitedly starting to pluck at the guitar again.

"We screen." Shippou explained as if trying to tell the camera why neither of them were answering. "Zoom in on the answering machine!"

"SPEAK!" InuYasha and Shippou's voice boomed through the apartment before a beep signaled the start of the message.

"That was a very loud beep dear… I don't even know if this thing is working. Shippou? Shippou? Are you there? Are you screening all your calls? This is your mother! We just wanted to call and say we love you and that we're going to miss you tomorrow. Cindy and the kids are here, they send their love too. I hope you like the hot plate. Just don't leave t on when you leave the house! Oh, and Shippou we're sorry to hear Kagura dumped you. I say "C'est La Vie." So let her be a lesbian! There are other fishies in the sea." And with a singsong flourish, she finished. "Love Mom!" Shippou paled; horrified that had been caught on tape. InuYasha started cracking up.

He chuckled nervously before just sighing giving up at his pathetic attempt at covering up his horrification. "There are times when we're dirt broke, hungry, and freezing, and I ask myself, why the hell am I still living here?" he said sighing again. "And then they call. And I remember all too well." He turned to InuYasha again who was still chuckling at Shippou's embarrassment.

"Now, tell the folks at home what you are doing, Inu…." He said starting where he had left off. InuYasha sighed, laughter ceasing almost immediately.

"I am writing one great song… InuYasha began before the phone rang again.

"Phone rings," Shippou said frowning turning the camera back to the phone.

"Yesss." InuYasha said grinning wildly to himself.

"Shush you!" Shippou snapped as the "Speak…" began the message.

"Chestnuts roasting… A soothing voice sang through the phone.

"Miroku!" InuYasha and Shippou said in unison as Shippou picked the phone up.

"I'm downstairs." Miroku said from the pay phone outside.

"Hey!" Shippou began excitedly.

"InuYasha picked up the phone?" Miroku asked almost excitedly at the thought of his depressed friend becoming more social.

"No it's me." Shippou said slightly depressed that he had to let Miroku down.

"Throw down the key." Miroku commanded. InuYasha stood grabbing a small bronze key from a nearby table and padding outside to the fire escape. Miroku waved from the battered payphone. He threw the key underhand and Miroku caught it. InuYasha retreated back inside.

"A wild night is now preordained." Shippou said softly into the phone. Unfortunately, neither of them noticed a small group of men approaching Miroku who was backing slowly into the payphone.

"I might be detained." He said before hanging up trying to have at least a small chance of defending himself. He had no such luck.

"What did he mean?" Shippou asked himself aloud putting the phone down. The phone rang again and Shippou picked up. "What did you mean? Detained?"

"Ho ho ho!" A voice came through the phone.

"Kouga!" Shippou said frowning.

"Shit!" InuYasha said frowning even deeper. InuYasha ran over to the phone and pressed a button, putting him on speaker.

"Dudes! I'm on my way!" Kouga said into the phone happily.

"Great!" Shippou and InuYasha replied happily and in unison before turning away from the microphone. "Fuck." They said in unison, almost reading each others mind. They turned back to the phone.

"I need the rent." Kouga said lowly. His tone had changed immediately from cheerful to somber.

"What rent?" Shippou inquired, bewildered.

"This past year's rent which I let slide." Kouga said through his cell phone with obvious disdain at himself. Whether it was for having to collect the rent, or for having let the rent slide, Shippou and InuYasha could not tell.

"Let slide?" Shippou parroted.

"You said we were golden!" InuYasha snarled. "You know! When you bought the building!"

"When we were roommates!" Shippou finished.

"You have to remember you lived hear!" InuYasha growled through gritted teeth.

"How could I forget?" Kouga said softly. "You, me, Miroku, Kagura, which reminds me, how is the drama queen?"

"She's performing tonight." Shippou explained.

"I know." Kouga said lowly. "Are you still her production manager?"

"Two days ago, I was bumped." Shippou said grumpily.

"You still dating her?" Kouga asked raising his eyebrows, unseen to the two in the loft.

"Last Month I was dumped." Shippou said lowly.

"She's in love." InuYasha said gleefully.

"She's got new man already?" Kouga asked in utter awe.

"Well…" Shippou trailed off. "No."

"What's his name?" Kouga asked sighing.

"Kanna." InuYasha and Shippou said in unison. Kouga tried, and failed to stifle laughter.

"Listen, Rent, amigos, is due, or I will have to evict you. Ta ta, see you in a few." Kouga hung up. Leaving InuYasha and Shippou in silence. InuYasha returned to his guitar, he pulled a piece out from a small folder of music and began to pluck away at it. It was still horribly out of tune. Suddenly, a flash of light. The electricity had gone out.

"This power blows." Shippou said groaning.