Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me.

Chapter Three:

Episode Two: Fight or Flight

"Welcome back viewers! It's another exciting day at Last Man Standing! Who will be the next to fall? Will they fight or run for their lives? Stay tuned and find out!"

Kagome groaned, that annoyingly cheerful voice dragging her back to consciousness. Her head hurt. Her legs hurt. Her arms hurt. In fact, pretty much everything hurt. Even her hair hurt. Her hope that this was all a dream died a little as she felt the rocks digging into her side. Slowly and painfully she sat up. Looking over she saw one of the camera men watching a small portable television. So that's where the voice came from. As soon as they noticed her moving they snapped off the volume and trained the camera back on her as they tried to become inconspicuous once more.

Jerks.

As Kagome began to stand on wobbly legs, the memory of the fight slammed into her. She was so startled by the images that she fell back on her rear. She had been attacked by a demon! And she shot it! She scrunched up her brow in thought, amazed that she had been able to actually shoot it. Wait... wasn't there some sort of light? Did that come from the arrow? HER arrow??? She looked at the quiver of arrows and picked one of them up. She inspected it closely, but as far as she could tell, it was just an arrow. How very odd. Putting the arrow back, Kagome tried to think of what she should do next.

Running seemed stupid. She didn't know where she was going. She didn't even know where she was. Staying put, however, seemed even stupider. And she didn't care if that was a real word or not! Briefly she wondered if it was her grammar teacher who had her sent to this place.

Gingerly Kagome got back on her feet. She brushed off her skirt and wished fervently that she had on a pair of jeans. Especially after seeing the angry red slashes along her bare legs. As if seeing the scratches was their cue to start stinging, her legs suddenly felt like she had been cut by fire. She was sure it was some sleazy sicko who thought her running around in this place in her school uniform would get more ratings. Gritting her teeth, Kagome secured her quiver of arrows and bow and began walking away from the sun. She had no particular place in mind to go, so walking against the bright sunlight seemed like as good of a plan as any. She chose the open road rather than the forest. Sure the forest had more hiding places. But that meant more hiding places for the demons too. At least in the open she had a shot at seeing them first.

Her heart beat loud in her chest as she nervously started down the path out into the open. She jumped at every shadow that moved. A loud growling stopped the girl's feet from moving. She put her hand to her stomach, and it growled again.

"I would kill for a cheeseburger," she sighed. "You guys don't happen to have any food on you, do you?" The crew was silent and still, apparently still pretending they were invisible. It's not like she really expected anything different.

Her eyes stopped looking for demons, and started looking for anything edible. If demons didn't kill her, starvation just might. Or thirst. Thirstation? So far she hadn't seen any water. How could there be no water? This was an island! She couldn't remember being quite this hungry before. Her hands were beginning to shake slightly

Up ahead she saw something strange. Something familiar looking. It was a well! She began to run towards it. Mouth already watering at the thought of a cool drink. If she was lucky it would be clean and fresh. If it wasn't... well.... she'd just maybe close her eyes and drink it. She tripped once, falling to the ground and skinning her knee.

"Just great," she complained as she wiped away the blood.

Picking herself back up she began to walk towards the well. Running was a bad idea anyhow, she told herself. It uses too much energy and might draw the attention of something with sharp claws and teeth.

Of course the well was dry. It was too much to hope for that the silly thing would actually be useful. Kagome felt tears prick at her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She took a deep, steadying breath, and turned away from the cameramen who were greedily hoping for a few tears to help bolster the ratings. The scavengers... Instead, Kagome flipped her hair back over her shoulder and began walking calmly on, as if finding out that her oasis was nothing more than an illusion hadn't shattered her.

She hoped that she could find something out there. Something to make it through this nightmare.

Hope, it seemed, was the only thing she had left.

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It was a little disconcerting to be falling down, then falling up. Suddenly, after an endless disorienting journey, Inuyasha's feet touched solid ground. He was still in the well. His stomach was rolling.

He took a deep breath to yell at Kagome's grandfather for wasting his precious time, then he noticed the smells. This was not Kagome's family shrine. The air was filled with the scent of salt water, foliage, and blood. Quickly he jumped out of the well, clearing it by several feet. When he landed, he dropped down to a crouch. He scanned the unfamiliar area, and sniffed the air.

There it was.

Kagome's scent.

The scent of her blood made his stomach roll. It wasn't much, so hopefully she wasn't too badly injured. Still... he hated the thought of Kagome bleeding at all. Inuyasha studied the area, looking for any trace of his friend.

No....

He sniffed the air again.

Oh no!

He took off at a dead run into the unfamiliar terrain. He caught Kagome's scent alright. She was heading straight towards the stench of a nest of demons! That piddly little bow of hers wasn't going to save her this time. He HAD to get to her before she reached them. He just had to!

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There were hundreds of them... or it seemed like it. Even the cameramen were nervous.

Apparently, Kagome scolded herself, I chose poorly.

She had literally stumbled into the demons' camp. Glancing up at the small hill she had skidded down, she cursed the exposed root she had tripped over. Her shadows had let her fall, capturing every bump on film. One day, she vowed, they would get what was coming to them. Somehow, some way. Maybe her grandpa knew a spell to turn them into mice for her cat to chase. The thought made her smile.

The smile, however, abruptly disappeared when the first demon began licking its chops. Suddenly she felt very much like the mouse about to become dinner.

"Leave her be, boys," boomed a voice. "She's mine!"

Before her stood a young man with long dark hair that blew in the breeze. He smiled at her... and she noticed the pointy teeth... and the pointy ears. Her heart began to beat harder. His bright blue eyes studied her, and he seemed to be wearing... fur?

"I am Kouga, prince of the wolf demons." He inhaled deeply, grinned, then reached out and grabbed her wrist. "I claim you as my woman."

"Whaaaat????"

Kagome tried to step backwards and snatch her hand back, but he had it gripped tight. From the corner of her eye she saw the cameramen trying to get a better angle. Jerks.

"I give to you my protection, woman."

"Um... thank you for your kind... uh... offer," Kagome said as politely as possible as she continued to try to pry her hand out of his grip, though he didn't even seem to notice her struggle. "But I don't even know you."

He cocked his head to the side and looked at her again with his cool eyes. It was like he saw something there that she couldn't. It was a little flattering, but very very disturbing. But at least the other demons seemed to no longer be threatening. In fact, they looked curious. Curious, but still very scary. And kinda hungry. Was that an arm someone was munching on? Suddenly she was glad she hadn't eaten.

"They will try to kill you here," he whispered as he leaned close, his breath tickling her ear. "They will kill you and cheer as your blood paints the earth. They will play the scene over and over, to see every gory detail as you die a painful and horrible death. And then they will forget about you when the watch the next episode." Kagome gulped. Then he pulled back a little and smiled at her, showing his pointed teeth. "But I can keep you safe. Stay with me, and I'll keep you safe. You have my word."

Death... or staying with this oddly suddenly possessive wolf demon? Kagome was willing to take her chances out there. Though Kouga seemed pleasant enough, there was something about him that was a little unsettling.

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF KAGOME!!!"

Suddenly her view was blocked by a familiar red fire rat robe.

No way!

NO WAY!

It was impossible!

Inuyasha?

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Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay, it couldn't be helped. Hope no one has given up on the story yet.