I am so dead. I'm way too hot but it's cold out, and I have a head cold on top of that. I feel like total shit. So what better thing is there to do than update?!

DISCLAIMER: updating, the chicken soup for the author's soul. If I can't afford a measly can of chicken soup, what makes you think that I hold any rights whatsoever to Inuyasha?

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Chapter Three: Female 2: Plain Jane

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Kagome was ushered out of the bathroom, golden ticket clutched protectively in her hands. People were crowding her, voices were screaming. Money was being held in her face in trade for the precious ticket.

Overall, it was more attention that she was used to. Kagome began to hyperventilate, ducking into the janitor's closet and slamming the door shut behind her. After the soothing click of the worn little lock, she settled down on an overturned bucket and stared at the ticket.

Hello,

Inuyasha Akurei formally invites you to come to the Pocky Factory at exactly three o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Bring no one with you and no recording devices inside. Contact with the outside world will be impossible for a short while.

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to see the mysterious Factory! See where the flavors are made and meet the people behind them.

Inuyasha looks forward to meeting you tomorrow.

Kagome blinked. 'Is it just me, or did that sound like a serial killer luring in a victim?'

The people outside got louder just then, making her cringe and scoot away from the door. "Definitely. I'm going to go there. I'm not giving this to ANY of them. This is my chance!"

She stood up, ticket clutched to her chest and fist in the air. "This is my chance to be something different, to become something! I can be famous like Shippou, I can be mysterious like Inuyasha! People all over the world will wonder about my fate, boys will wonder what I look like...!"

She glanced over at the door again when something pounded importantly on it. Kagome relaxed when she heard her principal's voice, yelling for her to open the door. She immediately moved the lock aside and walked out of her closet, ticket still clutched protectively and eyes wary.

"KAGOME!" the older woman exclaimed, a large grin on her face. "Newscasters will be arriving momentarily, the school is going to be on TV! Come to my office—EVERYONE BACK TO CLASS!"

They broke up reluctantly, all trotting back to their respective classrooms. Kagome followed the principal to the office, grateful for the sudden silence and the air conditioned room.

They sat down on respective sides of the desk and the principal folded her hands, giving Kagome a patronizing look. "Now, Hiragushi, you realize that you will miss several days of school because of this. Why don't you sell me the ticket? My education is complete,"

Kagome face-faulted.

"Um...no?!" Kagome jumped up, ticket clutched to her chest once again. "I'm not selling this to anyone! Don't you see? This is my chance!"

The determined pose returned, Kagome staring into space with stars in her eyes. Moments later the news crew arrived, cameras ready and reporter more than a little bit hassled.

"How much for it, ki—"

"I'M NOT SELLING THE TICKET!" Kagome cried, exasperated.

She was on the air before she knew it, the fake plastic reporter grinning a plastered grin at her and leering in towards her face with a microphone.

"Tell us, Hakome, how does it feel to hold one of the only golden tickets in the world?"

"My name is Kagome," she corrected icily, leaning back from the overbearing woman's floral cologne before she passed out from lack of oxygen.

"Oh! Deepest apologies, Gakome! Now, would you please answer the question?"

Kagome glared but answered. "It feels pretty nice. I'm excited to see what tomorrow will bring,"

"Would you say that you have any outstanding personality traits, Ms. Gakome?"

"Kagome. My name is Ka-Go-May," she sounded out, fixing her blue eyes on the reporter. "And no, I study hard and I am an excellent student."

"What do you plan to do with your ticket, KAGOME?" the reporter asked, smile strained. "Do you plan to sell it or go through with the Akurei demands?"

Kagome hesitated. "I'm not selling it, but I don't know about the demands. I'm really not too sure,"

"Before we go, tell our viewers at home what you intend to do when you reach the illustrious pocky factory?"

Kagome blinked as the cameraman held the large news camera right in her face. "I guess I'm just going to see what's there. I'm not taking any cameras or sound recorders. I have to see what the future holds in store for me,"

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Inuyasha clicked off the TV with a sigh. Three o'clock was nearing, and Kikyo would be arriving shortly.

Kagome looked...boring as hell. She had brown hair, blue eyes, and rather plain features. In comparison, even Sango was more stunning, although Inuyasha held absolutely no interest in the sisterly female.

She and Kikyo were alarmingly similar in appearance, too.

Inuyasha was bummed that he had been unable to avoid the entire golden ticket scheme and was now stuck with two average women. Sure, one was a sadistic maniac and the other an average prissy student, but he had been holding out hopes for a supermodel...

If only there was some slim chance, more than just two tickets. One more ticket would give Inuyasha that glimmer of hope that he needed to get through his introduction to Kikyo.

Lucky he had made photocopies of the monk's handwritten note. Also lucky that he had stolen blank ticket paper when they had run up the contest the first time around.

Inuyasha snuck into the packaging room and had released his glimmer of hope not moments before Kikyo arrived at the gates. She was surrounded by reporters and conspirators, not a single one of them seeing this as a chance at a unique destiny. Every single person outside of his gates was waiting for the chance to get inside, take pictures, and expose him.

He would be damned before any woman ruined his industry.

Inuyasha had Shippou go out to get her, the media rushing into a frenzy and commenting on how the boy had grown and the strange clothes he was wearing.

Feh. Kid's dressed in overalls and a t-shirt. What the hell is so strange?

Moments later, the doors were closed and Kikyo the Homicidal Maniac was a part of their world forever.

At least I still have one more ticket...

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wow. That took....all afternoon. It's eight o'clock and now I have homework. Sorry.

I love yellowcard. I really do. "only one" has got to be one of my favorite songs. Although Nirvana's "smells like teen spirit" is stuck in my head...

Anyway, should update sometime soon. Probably tomorrow, now that my concept maps are all finished. Gonna take a look at MP again this weekend...

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