Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me.
Chapter Two:
Episode One: First Man Down
"First man down," chirped the annoying obviously dyed blonde woman with fake tiger ears on top of her head. It was a disgusting attempt to be cute. And it failed miserably. "And we're only two hours in. Nikko has the live coverage of the first man down. Or," she giggled from the television and gave an exaggerated wink, "Should I say first 'girl' down."
Inuyasha snarled, "Do you HAVE to watch that show, Miroku? It's insulting." Seeing the fake ears felt like he was being mocked. He flattened his own fuzzy ears against his head and glared at the woman on screen.
Miroku smiled warmly. "You are too touchy, Inuyasha. You know I watch the show trying to catch a glimpse of Sango in her demon slayer outfit in case they go after any of the crew." He turned to his friend with a knowing grin. "What's the matter? Did Kagome get tricked into going out on another date again? Why don't you just ask her out already? She obviously likes you back. And you wouldn't have those friends of hers always trying to set her up on dates. They'd leave her alone if she had a boyfriend, you know. Be a man."
"I'm a hanyou, not a man. And she's human. So just shut up and turn off this garba..." He froze. His world just tilted and came crashing. Then he shouted as he jumped to his feet. "TURN UP THE VOLUME!"
The dog demon didn't wait for his friend to move. He leapt over the coffee table in his friend's living room and pounced on the television set.
"This... can't be happening..."
Inuyasha watched in horror as he saw her on the screen. Kagome was curled up on herself, covering her head for all the good it would do her against the enormous bear demon approaching. No... not Kagome. It wasn't possible! It couldn't be Kagome! Why would she be there? MOVE KAGOME! RUN! His hands shook as his fingers touched her sobbing figure on the screen. It was her. He knew it was. He would recognize her anywhere! He barely registered Miroku kneeling down beside him, or the swear word that he had never before heard the monk say as he, too, recognized the figure on the screen.
"This is live feed," Miroku whispered as he clutched his prayer beads. "This is happening now."
"As you can see, folks, the high school delinquent is the first to be taken down. Let this be a lesson to all you kids out there," the woman laughed as she wagged her finger at the screen and winked again.
When I find that woman, Inuyasha swore darkly, I will kill her slowly.
"IT NOT FAIR!" they heard the dark haired girl on the television scream.
The camera zoomed in on her anguished face. The tears Inuyasha saw there ripped through his soul. He was in physical pain. How could this be happening to Kagome? No one on this earth is as kind as that stupidly soft hearted girl. Competitors are supposed to be hardened criminals with death sentences. What crime could Kagome possibly have committed to get her on this slaughterhouse of a show?
His heart stopped as he watched her tiny form against the backdrop of the giant demon. Was that blood on her arms and legs? Inuyasha felt sick to his stomach. He never could stand the sight of her blood, not even when she scraps her knee during gym. Even on screen it affected him. Get up, he begged her. Please get up. Then he was able to breathe again as she did. Inuyasha and Miroku watched as she rolled to her feet, her bow in hand, and shakily aimed an arrow at the bear. An arrow against a bear demon. What kinds of monsters arm a girl with a flimsy bow against an island of demons?
Kagome... don't give up.
"Please work," she pleaded with the arrow. The microphone barely picked up the sound, but Inuyasha heard her trembling voice.
Then an odd thing happened. The arrow began to glow. Open mouthed, Inuyasha saw the arrow fly, and arc of shooting sparks trailing after it. The camera moved away from Kagome and focused on the bear as the arrow struck. A second camera must have been there, a second smaller picture appeared on the screen of Kagome's arms dropping to her side. She turned her head as the bear screamed in agony. The force of the arrow took off its right arm and shoulder. It thrashed around, but Kagome simply stood there. Inuyasha shouted at her to move, grabbing the television set and shaking it. The bear finally fell, and then it was Kagome filling the screen once more. There was a close up as she took two deep breaths, then her knees buckled and she fell to the ground bonelessly.
"Look at that!" said the hostess said in surprise, though Inuyasha picked up a note of disappointment. "Guess she had a trick up her sleeve after all." Then the hostess perked up again, "It was a nice last stand. Kudos, kiddo. What a way to make an exit. Stay tuned to see who the next will be to fa... hold on folks." She put her hand to her where her headphone clung to her real ear.
Cameras zoomed in on the girl again. She was breathing shallowly, but she was breathing.
"Well, looks like she made it after all. She is just asleep." She sighed, not bothering to hide her disappointment this time. Oh yes, Inuyasha couldn't wait to meet this woman. He cracked his knuckles. Then the woman brightened up as someone handed her a sheet of paper. "Breaking news! A swarm of bee demons have cornered one of our competitors on the edge of a cliff! Let's see who wins this battle to the death!"
Just that quick, Kagome was gone, replaced by a picture of a man swinging an ax at over a dozen bees the size of sheepdogs.
Inuyasha pounded the floor, cracking the hard wood. Then he stood up and had Miroku by the throat against the wall in a heartbeat. He was growling and his eyes were tinted red, claws flexing. He was losing control.
"You get on the phone with that woman of yours," he snarled, "You tell her to get Kagome to safety. Now."
Miroku fumbled for his phone with one hand as the other was at his neck, trying to keep enough pressure away so that he could get a little air. Somehow he managed to pull it from his pocket and flip it open with one hand. He speed dialed Sango.
"Sango?" he gasped when he heard her soft 'hello'.
"Now's not a good time, Miroku," she sniffled.
He coughed, lungs beginning to burn. He could no longer swallow as Inuyasha's grip tightened. "Sa...nnn...go..." His vision blurred.
"I've already made my way through one tub of mint chocolate chip, leave me alone so I can get through the rocky road. I got fired! Can you believe that? FIRED!"
Inuyasha dropped Miroku and snatched the phone from his friend's twitching body.
"You," he growled. "Get Kagome out of there now or I will cut you down."
"Inuyasha? Is that you? I can barely make out what you're saying. Did you say something about Kagome?"
"Get her off that island NOW, slayer!"
There was silence on the other end of the line. Then a clinking sound, her spoon most likely being sat carefully back on the table. When she spoke again, Sango was strangely calm.
"Which island, Inuyasha?"
"Don't play dumb with me! Your island!" He swore at her viciously. "Get her off now!"
She gasped in horror. "No! Kagome isn't... she can't be!"
"I swear to you, Sango. I will kill you and every last breathing member of your family if you do not go get her right now.
Her voice stiffened. "I am no longer employed by Last One Standing, Inuyasha. I was fired. I heard they were planning on... expanding the criteria for applicants. They were going to go after minor violators. This was supposed to be about volunteers already on death row getting a cha..."
"SHUT UP! I WANT KAGOME BACK NOW!" His claws were digging into the floor, causing deep grooves in the wood.
"Inuyasha, listen to me. I. Am. Not. On. The. Island."
The dog demon howled, then crushed the phone in his fist. He breathed heavily, crouched low. His head snapped in Miroku's direction as the young man coughed.
"...koff...koff... how many times... koff... do I have to tell you," the monk wheezed as he pulled himself into a sitting position, "To end a call, all you have to do is close the lid."
"This is no time for jokes," Inuyasha snapped, "Kagome is in danger!"
Miroku sighed and rubbed his throat. "Yes, my friend. But we need to be calm. We need a plan." He ignored Inuyasha's outburst as he broke a nearby chair as he straightened his clothes. "Sango may not be on the island at the moment, but perhaps she can find a way to smuggle us into the island. We'll need a boat."
"Too slow."
"A plane, perhaps."
"TOO SLOW!"
"Well, my friend, I am all out of magic carpets and teleporters. What is it that you suggest?"
But Inuyasha couldn't think straight. He only felt the desperation of having to be on that island NOW. He had to find a way to her fast. He needed.... magic. He roared in frustration. Frantically he glanced back at the television, praying to have some glimpse of his friend. Instead he saw the man still fending off bees, then losing his footing and plummeting down a cliff. The perky woman came back on and cheerfully added the man's name and picture on some sort of digital score card. The first man was down. Unlike other programs, it wasn't a scripted one death a day. One season five died in an afternoon when they tried to band together. Kagome wasn't safe just because one man has been 'eliminated from competition'. Inuyasha could feel his teeth and claws lengthening.
It took a few moments, but a familiar voice finally broke through to him. He crouched down and turned to see their visitor. He hadn't heard her arrive. He hadn't heard anything but the pounding of his blood in his ears. Kagome's mother was at the door, sobbing hysterically.
"This was all a horrible mistake! I should have read the whole contract! They said it would clear her record." Her voice was close to shrieking. "They said she'd never go to college if she didn't have a clear record. It's my fault! I signed the paper! But they didn't say THIS would happen! I thought it was some sort of reform camp! Kagome was going to get in trouble for her absences. Kicked out of school! I had no choice!" Her voice faltered. "I thought I had no choice. Please... Please find my little girl," she begged Miroku before turning her tear stained face to Inuyasha, who never hated anyone as much as he hated that woman at that instant. "Bring her home!"
Miroku smiled sympathetically at the woman. "Mrs. Higurashi, we are going to try, but we can't promi..."
"I'll bring her home."
"Inuyasha," Miroku scolded gently, then said in a lowered voice, "We can't promise something like that. We can't promis..."
"I. Will. Bring. Her. Home." His eyes were golden fire and his voice a menacing rumble. No one was standing between him and rescuing Kagome. Not even Miroku.
Miroku sighed and rubbed his eyes. "What we need is a little magic."
Kagome's mother suddenly stopped crying. "You need magic?" She wiped her eyes, looking hopeful. "What kind?"
Hold on, Kagome, Inuyasha pleaded as he glanced back at the television screen. Just hold on for me.
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"Jump down the well?" Inuyasha turned a skeptical eye on Kagome's grandfather. He shifted the yellow backpack Kagome's mother had stuffed with food and a sweater. "What've you been smokin', old man?"
"It's an old family spell," he assured the dog demon, "Our ancient ancestors used this very same spell once. There was this priestess Kikyo who once..."
"Ain't interested in no history lesson, old man. I just want Kagome." His cheeks turned pink. "...er... to get safely home."
Miroku was as skeptical as his companion. "What exactly kind of magic is this?" he asked.
Kagome's grandfather took a deep breath and began to launch into a detailed explanation of how the magic worked. The portal would appear where Kagome is. The spell is attached to the jewel the girl always wore. Inuyasha didn't care how it worked. All he cared about was if Kagome was on the other side of the well. It didn't look like he had many options, so he took a deep breath and jumped, preparing for a bone jarring landing on the bottom of the dusty old well. He had to take the chance.
Miroku watched in astonishment as a blue light engulfed his friend. "It worked," he said in amazement.
"Of course it worked."
Miroku bowed. "Thank you for your help. We will return shortly with your granddaughter."
He leapt over the side of the well.
THUMP!
Stars burst behind his eyes and he groaned. His legs felt like they were on fire. He wondered if he broke any bones. After a quick inspection, he decided he was just bruised, not broken. He looked up to see Kagome's grandfather looking down at him.
"Huh," he said as he scratched his head, "Guess it only works the one time."
Miroku let his head fall against the side of the well. "Will it bring them back?"
There was no answer. Miroku looked up to see Kagome's family looking worriedly at each other. Well, if nothing else, at least Inuyasha would be able to protect Kagome. That is... IF that was where the well took him. And that was a big 'if'. But, he had to have faith. And hope. With a smile he began climbing out of the well. Now all he had to do was call his favorite demon slayer and see about renting a boat.
"Good luck," he whispered to Inuyasha before he pulled himself over the lip of the well. "You'll need it."
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Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay. Hope no one has given up on the story yet.