Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for this absurd adventure... especially for the one whose always been an optimist. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.
Chapter 3: Emergency Landing
Kagome had been thrilled with the assignment, checking out some island real estate for her boss's partner, taking pictures, making notes, compiling documentation. She'd treated the island-hopping expedition like a tropical adventure; however, this was way more adventure than she wanted. "Are we going to crash?" she demanded, knuckles turning white on her armrests.
"Now, Miss Higurashi, there's no reason to panic," her pilot said, his voice distorted up into the next octave.
"But... the plane's crashing!"
"Technically, I'm attempting an emergency landing," he insisted.
After nearly a week of traveling in his puddle-jumper, Kagome had taken a liking to the unassuming young man with warm brown eyes. Hojo was a nice guy, but the crisis was bringing out her temper. "Because we're crashing!"
"Yes, Miss Higurashi," Hojo admitted, smiling wanly over his shoulder. "I'm attempting to reassure you. That's my job."
Kagome's eyes flashed. "Your job is to fly the plane... not crash it! Can't you do something?"
"This is a sea plane. Once we're safely down, I'll radio for help," he explained. "Oh, hey... you should maybe grab the floatation device that's under your seat."
Flipping her skirt aside, she groped ineffectually for some sort of life preserver but came up empty. "Where?" she asked sharply.
"Umm... just a sec," Hojo replied. He fumbled for a battered information card. "Oh! The seat cushion is the floatation device!"
As the nose dipped, Kagome yelped, "What about that boat?"
"Boat?" Whether he meant to or not, the pilot veered towards the small ship and the lone figure on its deck. "I can't land on a boat," Hojo muttered.
"Pull up!"
"Can't!"
"Dodge?"
"Too late!" he warned. "Put your head down, and brace for impact!"
Kagome did as she was told, and in spite of everything, she hoped for the best.
End Note: This chapter was written for the Live Journal community fanfic(underscore)bakeoff and their Secret Ingredient for March 2011—Distort. Posted on March 14, 2011. 300 words.