"You say you can help me. Can you?" the demon almost sounded like she was pleading.
Kagome was the only one who could answer. "We can set you free, but we can't help you get your powers back. We don't know where the Jewel of the Demons is."
The girl faltered, then sank to the ground. She almost whispered to them.
"S-save…me…"
The priest had returned.
He had somehow made Tetsusaia collapse, and now that she was unconscious, he spoke to them.
"You'll do no such thing. All of you are helpless, and you shall be fed one by one to another demon that makes weekly trips here. See, he needs to have one mortal to eat every visit, or he'll destroy us. I figure you'll all suffice for one week each. Except this little one. He'll be more useful as a temple boy. We can always use another to clean."
Inuyasha laughed. "Set us free and I'll rid you of that demon. I'm stronger than anything that needs to eat people."
This time, it was the priest's turn to laugh. "Ha! Don't be ridiculous! This demon is far bigger and mightier than you are! What could such a small demon such as yourself do against a giant such as he?"
"Let me free, and I'll show you."
The priest had stopped laughing. "No. This is some trick! You shall be eaten none the less, and he shall be angrier that you fought him. He might start demanding two people a visit! Or worse…" The priest shuddered.
"Let me out. Put a hex on me if you're so worried. Make it so that if I try to escape, you can draw me back."
Kagome couldn't believe her ears. Inuyasha requesting a spell? Never! But here he was, working his honor code!
"Hmm…fine! I shall do just that! But should you fail to defeat him, your punishment will be greater than any demon has ever suffered at the hand of humans!"
The priest began to chant. The scrolls around Inuyasha's neck disappeared. His hair began to wave in an unseen wind as it lightened to its usual white. His ears grew out of his tresses and his ropes loosened.
"Heh. Now let's make a deal. I beat him, you let us all go."
Kagome put her two cents in. "And you let Tetsusaia go with us!"
"WHAT?!"
Inuyasha was dumbfounded. How could Kagome do that? Weasel that demon into his deal?
"You heard me! If Inuyasha wins, we get Tetsusaia!"
"And if he doesn't?" the priest mentioned insidiously, wringing his hands.
"Then…then you can do what you like with us."
"KAGOME!"
"I agree. Kagome, you really shouldn't throw us all into a deal like that." Miroku added.
"Fine. The deal is done. The demon you seek will appear at sunrise. Wait for him, Inuyasha. If you run, I use my spell and you forfeit the deal." The priest seemed very sure of himself.
"At sunrise then." Inuyasha went outside and sat in a tree, awaiting dawn…