Night Time - In A Field
A painter sprints across nervously while a bunch of people chases him on horses with raised weapons. He carries a few paintings in his arms.
"After him! He has a Sacred Jewel fragment!" The First Horseman ordered the others.
They fire some arrows at him which miss at hits the tree right in front of him.
"Damn!" The Painter curses and takes a painting which glows.
"Get the Jewel fragment from him!" The Second Horseman yells but notices something and looks up.
A horde of demons appear across the sky and fly towards them.
"Demons!" A Horseman shouted frightened.
The demons attack the horsemen ravenously.
"Help!" The Third Horseman calls out raising a bloodied hand.
"These demons are thirsty for blood!" The Painter comments looking and then laughs cheering the demons on saying. "Drink your fill! Suck out their blood!" He raise up a bamboo ink container with a Sacred Jewel inside.
...
Daytime
A flock of crows fly past. Inuyasha's gang looks on at the field of corpses of horsemen from last night.
"Huh?! What's this?! Warriors defeated in battle? Looks like they were slaughtered." Shippo questions.
"I really can't stand this... Everywhere we go, there's nothing but war. I guess I should get use to it." Kimiko sighed out resigned.
"No, this wasn't a battle." Inuyasha replied back serious.
"Huh?" Kimiko asked confused.
"Strange... The smell... I don't smell blood at all." Inuyasha says a little confused.
"Probably the work of some demon. And no ordinary demon at that. Which means, it probably possesses a Sacred Jewel fragment." Miroku explains raising a hand in prayer.
"Miroku! Let's get one thing straight! I have no intention of teaming up with you! I'm not giving you any Jewel fragments!" Inuyasha declared to Miroku.
"What you mean is...first come, first serve. Right?" Miroku replied smiling.
"Absolutely!" Inuyasha agreed.
"Well then, I shall take my leave. It's probably better this way." Miroku said and walked off.
"He seemed quite dependable." Shippo comments.
"Say, Inuyasha... Miroku is going. Huh? Where's Inuyasha?" Kimiko started asking Inuyasha a question before realizing Inuyasha was nowhere in sight.
A yell is heard making Kimiko sigh already knowing the cause of it.
...
Inuyasha grabbed the clothes of a struggling man while he looks at a long piece of paper.
"Help! I'm supposed to deliver that!" The Man tells Inuyasha.
"Is this the thing I smell?" Inuyasha questions himself ignoring the man completely sniffing the paper.
Kimiko and Shippo arrive at the scene.
"Inuyasha!" Kimiko said sternly.
Inuyasha paused long for the man to takes his paper and run away.
"Hey! What're you doing?!" Inuyasha's demands running up to Kimiko annoyed.
"He's just an ordinary person! What's with you anyway?" Kimiko said in a scolding tone of voice.
"At that last place, I got a whiff of ink. If I follow that scent of the ink, I'll find the demon." Inuyasha explained is plan of action.
"And you kept such information from us?!" Shippo shouts angry.
"If we don't hurry it up, Miroku will get the Jewel fragment!" Inuyasha reminds.
"Oh dear... Do you dislike him that much?" Kimiko sighs out.
"Don't tell me you like his type!?" Inuyasha shouts out a little shocked.
"Very much!" Kimiko says with a straight face but after a couple seconds she lets a teasing smile on her face and says. "Nah, just joking—"
Kimiko notices Inuyasha is gone.
"She likes him? What could she possibly see in that guy." Inuyasha says to himself standing a distance away from Kimiko looking at his hands.
"Listen to me, will you?!" Kimiko yelled frustrated with him.
"He's so stupid!" Shippo commented.
...
In A Mansion
The Painter kneels to the lord.
"What?! You killed all the soldiers? Alone? If that is true, I will gladly hire you." The Lord says.
"Thank you! I had heard that those mercenary soldiers were becoming a nuisance to you. I thought it the perfect opportunity to demonstrate my strength." The Painter commented.
"My lord..." The First Subject says before he whispers in the Lord's ears
"What?" The Lord demanded shocked.
...
The Painter is being thrown out of the mansion by two subjects.
"What 'heir to a powerful family'?! You're just a wandering artist from the capital!" The First subject demands angry.
"Err...no! I AM powerful and killed those soldiers! I am not an artist! Please let me see the lord again!" The Painter begs.
"Fool!" The First Subject retorts as he beats the painter with wooden stick.
"One of our men remembered you from yesterday when you tried to sell your worthless paintings!" The Second Subject tells the Painter also beating him with wooden sticks.
"Damn!" The Painter cursed struggling.
"You there! Do not be so harsh!" The Princess voice orders the two subjects.
A Princess appears inside the mansion and looks on at the scene.
"Yes, Princess... But..." The First Subject answers but then turns to the painter angry saying. "Damn... You're lucky she saved your life."
The Princess walks off.
"So beautiful..." The Painter gapes amazed at the Princess.
On a bridge above a rapid river. The two subjects hold up the painter who is rolled in a straw mat and tied up.
"Good riddance!" The First Subject comments.
They throw the Painter into the river. He bobs up and down the water, struggling for air.
"Good luck! Don't catch a cold!" The First Subject mocks laughing.
"Never come again!" The Second Subject said.
...
Evening - Downstream
The drenched Painter walks along a path.
"Damn! Damn them to hell! I can summon my demon brigade and defeat any and all enemies! I deserve to become a warlord! No one should have any complaints! I WILL own a castle! I will prosper!" The Painter rants thinking hugging his paintings before image of the princess appears in his mind. "And yes! I will wed a princess! There is nothing I can't accomplish!"
"Hey, I want a word with you!" Inuyasha demanded suddenly appearing behind him and grabbing his collar.
"Wh-what?!" The Painter stammered confused.
"Huh?! Not again!" Kimiko complained cycling towards Inuyasha.
"That's the sixth one! He never gives up!" Shippo added from in the basket of Kimiko's bike.
"Wh-what?! Who are you?! I'm a powerful...!" The Painter started to demand angry but then pauses. "I'm just an ordinary artist!"
"An artist?! Just what did you do? You reek with the smell of blood mixed with ink!" Inuyasha questions skeptic.
"Lemme go! Lemme go!" The Painter demanding and struggles out of Inuyasha's grip and runs off.
"Hey, wait!" Inuyasha shouts.
The Painter turns around and flings open his hell painting of a demon. The demon suddenly gain colors and enlarges into a real one. It towers over Inuyasha, growls and attacks him. Inuyasha dodges.
"What?!" Kimiko asks shocked.
"A demon!" Shippo shouted.
The Painter sprints off into a boat and rows away.
"Hey, wait! You!" Inuyasha demanded the Painter.
"What's going on?! Is he a demon? No, he's human." Kimiko thinks pondering looking at the Painter.
The demon growls and swings his weapon at Inuyasha, who dodges. Inuyasha unsheathes Tetsusaiga and leaps. He swings Tetsusaiga downwards and slices the demon vertically into two.
"Hah! Just big in size!" Inuyasha mocks landing.
The demon falls backwards and explodes. Black liquid bursts out of his wound and rains on Inuyasha.
"Black blood!" Shippo shouted.
"That's blood and ink!" Inuyasha said before he suddenly falls back and faints.
"Hey!" Kimiko calls gently holding up Inuyasha.
"His nose is too sensitive and the stench of the blood and ink got to him." Shippo explained pinching his nose.
"Snap out of it, Inuyasha!" Kimiko shouts.
Inuyasha groans, his eyes twirling.
...
The Painter runs across a field and stops. He leans on a tree to catch his breath while looking back at Inuyasha's gang.
"Who is he? He got the scent of the blood and ink on me. But there's nothing to fear... Behind me, I have battalions of demons under control." The Painter asks himself nervous but then smiles.
...
Nighttime - The Mansion From Earlier
Miroku is speaking to the two subjects at the entrance.
"An exorcism?" The First Subject asked.
"I can sense an evil shadow over this mansion. I can exorcise the demons in one night." Miroku explained.
"Fool! This mansion is blessed each year by a priest of status which you'll never attain!" The First Subject retorts angry.
"Go on home! Lately, we've been plagued by rogues who seek access to the mansion! Evil shadow! Hah!" The Second Subject ordered before he walks into the mansion with the other Subject.
"I see..." Miroku comments before he sighs disappointed. "Too bad, I'll spend the night in the forest tonight."
Miroku turns around and walks off.
A dark cloud looms over Miroku. Two red spots glow.
"Is that for real?! Run! The evil shadow is here!" Miroku gasps asking himself in shock before ordering the two subjects.
"What's going on now? Is he still at it?!" The First Subject inquiries annoyed before he turns around and yells. "Argh!"
"Wh-what!" The Second Subject stammered out also turning back.
The dark cloud flies towards them. As it gets nearer, two demons jump out and attack.
"The bull-headed demon and the horse-head demon! I've only seen them in religious depictions of hell!" Miroku said.
"Someone! Save the princess!" A Maid's voice is heard.
"Coming!" Miroku replied smiling and runs.
...
A Room In The Mansion
The doors slide open only to reveal another door. This goes on continuously.
"Princess... Princess! Princess!" The Painter's voice says repeated eerily.
...
A Hut
The Painter is dreaming. His body is shaking. Paintings of hell surround him.
"Princess!" The Painter yells out talking in his sleep.
...
Dream
He tumbles to the middle princess. Her back is facing him. She turns around and smiles, and her eyes glows in red.
"What is the matter?! Your face...?" The Painter asks.
"Your blood... I want your blood!" The Demon Princess demands and grabs the painter's neck.
"Stop! Stop! Stop!" The Painter begs.
...
Mansion
Miroku runs to the princess in a room. The door crashes open and the bull-headed demon and the horse headed demon rush in.
"Stop!" The Painters voice is heard ordering.
The demon suddenly dissipates into ink and fly out of the mansion.
"Wh-what is that?!" Miroku exclaimed confused.
...
The Hut
The Painter wakes up from his dream in terror.
"Please stop!" The Painter yells and gasps for air.
Outside the hut, a dark cloud rains black liquid.
"Black ink rain?!" The Painter said shocked as he opens the door.
The rain suddenly stops and fly into the hut. It rushes into the ink container on a table.
"So while I was asleep, the ink took on its own?" The Painter realized and stares at the container.
...
The Mansion
Miroku is seated across the Lord. A feast is laid out in front of him. The princess sits behind him.
"Monk... Pardon the rudeness of my men earlier. I am so glad that you protected my daughter!" The Lord thanked and apologized to Miroku.
"No need to thank me. However, you must not let down your guard yet. I doubt if the attack by the demons is over. Now, let's see... I think it's best if the princess stays with me tonight. Same bedroom...one bedding." Miroku says.
"Hey! Whaddya intend to do when you have her alone?! You lecher!" Inuyasha voice is heard in the background.
Inuyasha, Shippo and Kimiko arrive in the backyard on her bicycle.
"Oh! Kimiko and Inuyasha!" Miroku states.
"Damn..." Inuyasha cursed looking around mad. "We're late!"
"Miroku, did the ink demons appear here, too?" Kimiko questions Miroku.
"Ink demons? Were those demons made of ink?" Miroku asked his own question.
...
Miroku and Kimiko sit in the mansion, while Inuyasha sits outside, in the backyard. Shippo sits on his lap, eating.
"An artist who manipulates the demons?" Miroku repeated.
"But he wasn't a demon." Kimiko reminds.
"I see... It could be that this artist is using the power of a Sacred Jewel fragment." Miroku commented.
"Then the one who attacked this mansion just now..." Kimiko starts but trailed off.
"Yes... I'm sure that they are demons controlled by the artist." Miroku confirmed.
"Demon drawings by the artist come alive...?! The power of the Jewel fragment is amazing! Huh? Inuyasha? Are you part of this conversation?" Shippo says to himself before asking Inuyasha.
"Keh!" Inuyasha scoffed as an answer.
"How long are you going to sulk?" Kimiko asked becoming a little fed up.
"What's the matter, Inuyasha?" Miroku inquired confused.
"Shut up!" Inuyasha demanded.
"Why can't you depend on Miroku just a bit? He's so jealous!" Kimiko comments.
"Wh-what?! Who's jealous!?" Inuyasha instantly denies gasping.
"I see... Kimiko, you do accept me then?" Miroku inquired holding Kimiko's hands.
"Yes. After all, you have a Sacred Jewel fragment." Kimiko replied unamused pushing his hand away.
"Huh?" Miroku states shocked she knew as a pink glow appears on Miroku's chest.
"Two... No, you have three." Kimiko tells Miroku.
"You have sharp eyes..." Miroku complements.
Inuyasha trudges towards Miroku immediately.
"Stop!" Kimiko demanded already knowing what he was going to do.
"Kimiko!" Inuyasha complained stopping near Miroku annoyed.
"These are fragments that I accumulated. Taking them will make you a robber." Miroku tells Inuyasha.
"You should talk! Who was that used that Raccoon to try to steal Kimiko's fragment?!" Inuyasha reminded Miroku angry.
"Oh... You have such a sharp memory..." Miroku comments.
The two subjects eavesdrop on the group's conversation from outside.
...
In the Lords room
The two subjects report to the lord.
"What?! That artist manipulated the demons?" The Lord demands intrigued.
"Yes, sire! I understand he possesses a Sacred Jewel fragment." The First Subject told his Lord.
"A fragment of the Sacred Jewel?! I've heard rumors... One fragment can increase your power many-fold...! A jewel to treasure, indeed!" The Lord says happily.
"We will take it from that artist!" The Second Subject said.
"Also, that monk seems..." The First Subject starts but trailed off.
"He possesses it, too?" The Lord asks.
...
Later
Miroku is sleeping in a room. The two subject's rush into the room and piercing the bed with swords. Miroku appears behind a screen.
"When did you?!" The First Subject asked shocked.
"What's going on?! I have done nothing wrong to warrant your attack! At least, not yet." Miroku demands mad before smirking,
The two subject's run toward Miroku, raising their swords.
"Hand it over! The Sacred Jewel fragment!" The Second Subject ordered.
Miroku blocks their attacks with his staff. The subjects fall backward. Inuyasha and Kimiko rush into the room.
"Miroku, what happened?!" Inuyasha inquires confused.
"Aren't these men of this castle?" Kimiko asked.
"They mentioned something about a Sacred Jewel fragment. Now, start talking." Miroku answered Inuyasha and Kimiko before questioning the two subject's he was holding.
"We just wanted your Sacred Jewel fragment!" The First Subject answers.
"Our lord went to get the one the artist possesses." The Second Subject added.
"So you know where the artist is? Where is he? Answer me!" Miroku demanded quickly.
...
Miroku gets onto Kimiko's bicycle swiftly.
"Kimiko! I'm going to borrow your contraption!" Miroku calls to her.
"Wait for me! Me, too!" Kimiko yells back chasing Miroku.
Inuyasha appears from behind and grabs Kimiko and Shippo.
"Hang on! We'll catch up!" Inuyasha tells Miroku sprinting but then begins thinking, worried. "The enemy is created by the power of the Jewel fragment!"
"Mortal men won't be able to defeat it!" Miroku also thinks worryingly.
...
The Lord surrounds the Painter's hut with an army of subjects.
"Go forth!" The Lord ordered his soldiers.
The subject's rush toward the hut with raised swords.
...
Inside The Hut
"I have an infinite number of soldiers! All I have to do is paint more of them with that ink! Come forth, ye demons of hell!" The Painter says laughing.
The Painter flings a few of his paintings. Demons rush out of the hut and attacks the subjects. They yell in terror and run away. The Lord's horse neighs nervously.
"Wait! Someone! Calm my horse!" The Lord requested panicked.
Inuyasha, Kimiko and Shippo arrive. Inuyasha puts a hand on Tetsusaiga.
"If you slay them, the noxious odor will overcome you. What'll will you do, Inuyasha?!" Shippo wonders curious.
"Shut up!" Inuyasha retorts and leaps and slays some demons.
"You saved me! I will reward you later!" The Lord says before he runs off.
"Ughh! This ink smells awful!" Kimiko complained.
"Inuyasha!" Shippo called out.
Inuyasha's eyes go twirly and faints.
"How long must you sleep, Inuyasha?!" Shippo demanded shouting annoyed.
A demon flies towards them.
"Inuyasha!" Kimiko called out cowering.
Miroku dashes in and destroys the demon with his staff.
"Miroku!" Kimiko says glad to see him.
A horde of demons loom towards the group. Miroku faces them and remove the beads around his right hand.
"Stay behind me at all times! I shall open my Wind Tunnel!" Miroku informed the group.
Miroku sucks in the horde of demons into his Wind Tunnel.
"What's that?! My demons are being sucked in?!" The Painter said shocked peeping out of his hut.
Miroku closes his Wind Tunnel and falls on his knees. The demons are gone.
"Miroku!" Kimiko called worried.
"It's the first time I've sucked in so much evil at once. I'm a bit exhausted..." Miroku reassured weakly.
"Damn! Being rescued by this guy...!" Inuyasha cursed thinking annoyed.
Rumbling noises are heard from the hut.
"What now?" Kimiko inquired fed up.
A huge three-headed snake bursts out of the hut. The Painter rides on its neck.
"This is also an ink painting, isn't it?" Kimiko questions.
"I won't let you get away!" Inuyasha shouts to the Painter running to the snake.
The snake demon rushes towards Inuyasha, who dodges. It rushes towards Miroku, Shippo and Kimiko, who shrieks.
"Kimiko! Where's the Jewel fragment?!" Inuyasha asked.
"I see it! Inside the bamboo container on the waist!" Kimiko told Inuyasha as she stands up and stares at the Painter.
"Got it!" Inuyasha says as he leaps onto the snake demon and turns back. "Right! I almost forgot to tell you! Hey, Miroku! Stop showing off by yourself!"
"Stubborn punk!" The Painter said and flings open a painting. "Go! Kill him!"
Several demons appear from the painting and flies towards Inuyasha .
"Keh! Create havoc, will you?!" Inuyasha mocks.
Inuyasha punches the demons out of the way as he moves up the snake demon.
"Oh! What kind of trick is that?" Miroku asked impressed.
"He's just slugging them." Kimiko answered simply unamused.
"What?! Giving up? Repent and turn over the Jewel fragment!" Inuyasha mocked as he reaches the Painter.
Two of the snake demon's heads turn around and spews fire at Inuyasha.
"The burning fires of Hell will consume you, bones and all!" The Painter replied.
The fire burns Inuyasha.
"Why you...! That's enough outta you!" Inuyasha growled out angry and runs up the snake's neck with Tetsusaiga. "Fool! As if I'd let a human kill me!"
"I'll never let you have it! I'm going to grasp happiness with this Sacred Jewel fragment." The Painter said and leaps off the snake demon.
"Enough, I said!" Inuyasha yells.
Inuyasha slashes the bamboo container away from the painter. He swings Tetsusaiga again, slashing the container into two. Ink bursts out of the container. The snake demon dissipates into ink. The Painter falls on the ground, rolls and crashes onto a tree. He lets out a yell of pain.
"My ink...! I'm losing my ink!" The Painter cries out shooting up.
He picks up a sword and thrusts it into his arm. Blood spills out. He throws the sword aside and looks up at the floating droplets of ink.
"Oh, ink of mine!" The Painter started saying smiling widely while he raises his bloodied arm. Here is blood! Come and suck this blood! Gather round this blood!
The ink rushes towards the painter and surrounds him.
"That fool!" Inuyasha states.
"I will not let it go...no one shall have my ink!" The Painter said laughing.
The Painter suddenly gasps. He is surrounded by ink and his body starts to shrivel.
"Blood... My blood is being devoured by the ink! Help me! Help...me!" The Painter realized before beginning to beg.
Inuyasha looks on helplessly as the ink devours the Painter. The Painter falls over and collapses. Miroku, Kimiko and Shippo rush to Inuyasha.
"Stupid fool... Devoured up by ink!" Inuyasha comments.
"How did this happen?" Kimiko asked horrified.
"The evil ambitions of the artist turned the ink into evil blood-sucking ink. He let his own blood be sucked up before he'd part with the Jewel. He went mad because of the Jewel fragment." Inuyasha explained.
The Sacred Jewel glows in the puddle of ink that used to be the Painter.
"The Sacred Jewel fragment that I came in search for is evil. It's too dangerous to touch." Miroku thinks disappointed.
Kimiko picks up the fragment.
"Wh-what...?" Miroku said shocked quietly to himself.
"Who wants to have it?" Kimiko inquired.
"Why must we discuss it?!" Inuyasha retorted angry.
"Well, Miroku saved us." Kimiko reminded.
"Kimiko, you hang on to it." Miroku tells her.
"Huh?!" Inuyasha questions shocked and a little suspicious of why he gave up so easily.
"Are you sure?" Kimiko asks Miroku before she smiles to Inuyasha saying teasingly. "Aren't you lucky?"
"Miroku is so mature." Shippo comments jumping onto Inuyasha head.
"Humph!" Inuyasha scoffed stubbornly annoyed.
"She purified that tainted jewel fragment just by picking it up..." Miroku thinks amazed.
...
Daytime - The Gang Walks Along A Path
"Huh? You're coming with us?" Kimiko questioned glad.
"Yes! I think it's much more fun in the company of a pretty girl." Miroku compliments.
"Oh dear!" Kimiko said unfazed.
"Keh!" Inuyasha scoffed sulking.
"Besides, despite his looks and manners, Inuyasha seems to be quite nice." Miroku added making Kimiko beam a smile at him happily.
"Huh?" Inuyasha inquired turning around.
"By slaying the artist, Inuyasha could have ended it all quickly. But instead, Inuyasha tried only to destroyed the ink. That's right... He just doesn't realize it... Inuyasha is quite a nice fellow." Kimiko thinks remembering before speeding up and getting Inuyasha into a conversation with the rest of the group.