The Plot of the Panther Devas

[ ACT I ]

Daytime. In the mountain range where INU fought Ryukotsusei in episode 53 & 54. SES-gang walks up to a cliff edge facing a mountain face.

Rin:  Where is this?

JAK:   The spot where a giant demon known as Ryukotsusei was sealed. But… To destroy it totally without leaving a trace of it… Lord Sesshomaru, is this really the work of Inuyasha?

SES:   But I don't know how he did it.

JAK:   Never expect that Inuyasha manage to defeat Ryukotsusei. It took everything in your father's power to put Ryukotsusei under seal. And that Inuyasha…

JAK panics as he sees SES leaving with Rin and A-Un.

JAK:   Don't leave me, Lord Sesshomaru! (runs after SES)

SES walks on, deep in thoughts.

[ Title screen: The Plot of the Panther Devas ]

Night time in a forest. KOG-gang is moving. Suddenly KOG turns around, worried.

GIN:  What's the matter, Koga?

KOG:  Don't you smell it, guys?

HAK:  (sniffs the air) Smell? Do I smell cats?

GIN:  (sniffs the air) They are not from here.

Cut to a group of cats running across a plain. KOG-gang looks on from a cliff edge. The wolves growl.

GIN:  Why've they come?

KOG:  (shrugs) Who cares? (walks off)

HAK:  Hey… Koga!

GIN:  You going to let them go?

KOG:  Don't bother about them. It'll be more trouble if we get involved.

GIN:  (looks at HAK) Well, yeah…

HAK:  (shrugs) I guess it's none of our business.

In a cave, RYO (Royakan from episode 20) is sleeping and snoring loudly. The pack of cats are running outside. RYO wakes.

RYO:  (sits up) W-What! (panics and runs out) It couldn't be them!

The pack of cats runs off into the horizon.

Daytime. INU and SHI sit on the roof of KAE's hut.

INU:   (frustrated) She's late!

SHI:   She really is late.

INU:   It's been three days already! (stands and jumps off)

SHI:   Where are you going, Inuyasha?!

INU:   (leaping) Isn't it obvious? I'm going to get Kagome!

SHI smiles.

At the Dry Well.

INU:   There! (jumps in)

At the Higurashi shrine. Sota and Mama return. GRA is reading newspaper in the living room.

Sota: I'm home, Grandpa!

GRA:  Welcome home.

Screen zooms out to reveal INU seated across GRA, with Buyo in his lap. Mama and Sota enter the living room

Sota: It's you, Inuyasha!

Mama: Welcome!

INU:   Where's Kagome?

Sota: Still at school, I think.

Mama: She should be home soon.

At a traffic junction. KAG waves goodbye to her friends.

KAG:  See you!

Yuka: Bye bye!

Cut to living room in KAG's house. INU is playing with Buyo's tail.

INU:   Take that! (pulls Buyo up by her tail) And that!

Buyo meows.

KAG:  I'm home!

INU:   (puts down Buyo's tail, cheerful) She's home!

INU shouts as KAG walks past the living room.

KAG:  What're you doing here?

INU:   What's wrong? I just came for you.

KAG:  (exasperated) You didn't have to…

INU:   I had to! How long're you planning to stay here?!

KAG:  I was back there for so long! Give me a break!

INU:   (stands) Get ready and let's go!

KAG:  What?! Right now?

Mama: Why don't you eat dinner first?

INU:   We can eat when we get back.

Mama: We're having steak tonight. (holds up a packet of beef)

INU:   (interested) S-Steak?

Evening. SAN, SHI and MIR sit outside KAE's hut.

MIR:   I see… Inuyasha went for her?

SAN:  That's a good thing. We need Kagome back.

SHI:   (sulks) I wish I could visit Kagome's home once.

Voice:   (background) Master!

SHI turns around.

HAA:  (peers out from behind a tree nervously) Please help me, Master!

SHI:   It's old Raccoon Dog!

MIR:   Oh, Haachi! What're you doing here?

HAA:  Well… I had no choice, but to hide in human territory. (walks towards the group carefully) It's them, from the west.

MIR:   Can you make it clearer?

HAA:  Cats!

SAN:  Cats?

KIR meows.

HAA:  (lifts his eyes to make them look like cat eyes) The cat goblins are killing every demon in sight and searching for Sacred Jewel fragments.

MIR:   What?!

HAA:  I didn't want to get caught, so I escaped all the way here!

MIR:   (exasperated) Just who are these goblins?

HAA:  I told you! Cats! Not just any cat or cat goblin!

SHI:   It's not getting any clearer!

HAA:  We better run away first!

SAN:  Miroku…

A cat-like girl young woman with red hair and a tail walks down the stairs next to KAE's hut slowly.

Red girl: I understand there's a priestess in this village.

HAA panics and breaks out in sweat.

Red girl: Isn't this where the priestess lives?

KAE:  (walks out of her hut) Is there anything?

Red girl: (examines KAE, slouches and shakes her head furiously) No, you're not her! Someone much younger, wearing something skimpier.

MIR:   Could she mean Kagome?

HAA:  (tugs at MIR's sleeve) Master! Master!

SHI:   Miroku! Miroku!

MIR:   (breaking out in sweat) What's the matter?

SHI:   Cats! The smell of cats!

HAA:  (points to the red girl) It's them! The cat goblins from the West!

Red girl: Cat goblins? (scoffs) We're Panther Demons. (glares fierely) Don't just lump us with common cats!

HAA panics and hides behind MIR. SHI scampers behind SAN and climbs onto HIR.

KAE:  What do demons want here?

Red panther: We want the Sacred Jewel fragments.

The red panther raises her hand and a bunch of panthers appear from all over and kneels behind her.

Red panther: Hand them over!

MIR:   (raises his staff in defense stance) Sorry we can't!

SHI:   Besides, we don't have any fragments here!

Red panther: So where is this priestess?

SAN:  We don't have to answer that.

One of the panthers flashes his claws.

Red panther: Go!

The panthers sprints forth and attacks. SAN and MIR fight them while HAA runs away. He is stopped by two panthers and turns back. Another panther blocks his way and HAA wails. He jumps into the water. Two panthers chase SHI. KAE shoots an arrow at the red panther, who dodges by leaping onto the gate post. She looks around and snaps her fingers.

Red panther: Retreat!

The panthers leap onto the gate post.

Red panther: I guess the priestess isn't here right now. (throws a smoke bomb) We'll be back.

The smoke dissipates and the panthers disappeared. SHI stops running.

SHI:   Did they run away?

MIR:   They'll be back.

SAN:  Luckily Kagome had gone back home.

MIR:   It may be better if she stays away a bit longer.

SHI:   But Inuyasha went to get her.

HAA climbs out of the water.

In KAG's house. INU is stilling playing with Buyo. This time he pulls her front paws.

INU:   (teasingly) Take this and… take that!

Buyo meows and scratches INU angrily. She sits and pouts, shaking her tail. INU winces.

GRA:  (still reading the newspapers) You better don't tease the cat.

INU:   I'm just playing with it.

GRA:  Buyo doesn't think so. That's why she scratched you. A cat's wrath is frightening.

INU:   What do you mean?

GRA:  They say a cat's curse lasts seven generations. A cat's vengeance runs deep.

INU:   (waves his hand casually and scoffs) Who cares if a cat curses me! (grabs Buyo's rear paws and holds her upside down) Take this! And that! (laughs to himself)

KAG:  (runs to living room, angry) What are you doing, Inuyasha?! Sit!

INU crashes to the ground.

KAG:  (nice tone) Dinner time!

At the dinner table. INU is given a huge bowl of rice and a large steak.

Mama: Why not spend the night here?

Sota: Inuyasha, you can sleep with me!

INU doesn't reply as he is busy wolfing down the steak, grabbing it with both hands.

Night time. A group of panthers gather in a field. Four panthers are conversing. One of them is the red panther from earlier on. One has blue long hair, the other has brown long hair with a flower in it. The last is a tall and fat male.

Blue Panther: And?

Red Panther: The Sacred Jewel fragments are kept by some strange priestess. But she wasn't there. And some fellows interfered. (turns to the Flower Panther) Can you come with me?

Blue Panther: Go with her, Shunran.

* The brown hair panther demon, Shunran, abbreviated as SRN from now onwards *

SRN:  (nods) Sure.

Male Panther: But what about you, Sis?

Blue Panther: I know where he is, so I'll go see him.

Male Panther: You sure about going alone?

Blue Panther: Leave it to me. You give Karan a hand.

* The red hair panther demon, Karan, abbreviated as KRN from now onwards *

Male Panther: All right.

Blue Panther: We'll meet next at the entrance to the valley.

The blue panther raises her hand. The panther demons kneeling behind steps aside. The group walk off in different directions.

[ End of ACT I: 10min 19sec ]

[ ACT II ]

Daytime. At the Dry Well. INU jumps up and helps KAG up. INU jumps up and helps KAG up.

INU:   Kagome, here. Are you okay?

SHI:   Kagome!

INU is shocked and falls over. MIR (reading a book), SHI (playing with cards), SAN (cleaning her gas mask), KIR (napping in SAN's lap) and HAA (napping) are seated by the well, in a line.

MIR:   So you've returned.

SAN:  You could've stayed away longer.

INU:   What's with the long faces?!

KAG:  Did something happen?

MIR:   If anything, it's about to start.

INU:   Can you make it clearer?!

SHI:   Cats.

HAA:  (wakes) Cats!

KAG:  Cats?

INU looks confused.

At a river. Rin is stomping her feet in the water, scaring some fish.

Rin:   Jaken, keep at it!

JAK is in front of her, in the water, desperately catching the fish. SES sits under a tree on the riverbank, looking on. A-Un is napping.

Rin:   No! To the right! To the left! In front of you! Back!

JAK:   Back? Front?

Rin:   In front! (gasps) Over there!

JAK:   Got it! (holds up a fish and sways proudly) Am I great?

Rin looks at JAK happily. Behind them, SES walks upstream by himself.

Rin:   Amazing, Jaken!

JAK:   Say it more!

Rin:   Such a great one!

JAK:   Yes, sure!

The Blue Panther walks across the river. Every step she takes, the water under her turns to ice. SES stops walking as he notices the river gradually turning into ice.

SES:   Toran?

* The Blue Panther, Toran, abbreviated as TRN from now onwards *

TRN:  (walks towards SES on the ice) It's been a long time, Sesshomaru.

SES:   So you're still alive?

TRN:  What a way to greet someone. (laughs) I intend to have a duel with you this time.

SES:   We had it long time ago. But if you insist, it won't be like fifty years ago.

TRN:  You're still as boorish as ever. However, I agree that it won't be like fifty years ago. Our master is waiting for you.

SES:   Master?

TRN:  Yes, our Commander in Chief. Your old man is dead and gone, but our master is going to be resurrected. At long last.

SES:   Resurrected for what?

TRN:  To attack the lands in the east once again. And…I guess you could call it revenge. Against you.

SES:   Then… this time I'll squeeze the breath out of him permanently.

TRN:  I'm glad to hear that you're willing to fight.

SES puts his hand on Tokijin.

TRN:  Hold it… Don't be so hasty. Not here. (spreads her arms and the ice starts to crack) Come to our castle. (the ice cracks and fly upwards) And you can bring all the help you need.

SES stares at TRN in silence. TRN goes off and the river is back to normal again.

Rin:   (background) Lord Sesshomaru!

Rin runs towards SES with a string of fishes in her hands. JAK and A-Un chase her.

Rin:   Look! So many!

JAK:   Don't leave me!

Rin:   Lord Sesshomaru! (reaches SES) Look!

SES:   Jaken!

JAK:   (reaches, panting) Yes, my lord?

SES:   The Panther Tribe has appeared.

JAK:   (panics, exclaims) It's them again?!

SES:   Rin.

Rin:   Yes?

SES:   Wait here with A-Un.

Rin:   All right, I will.

SES walks off.

JAK:   (chases SES) Please wait, Lord Sesshomaru!

Rin:   (waves goodbye) Don't forget to come back for me! Promise!

At the Dry Well.

INU:   Cat goblins?!

HAA:  I remember! Something like this happened fifty years ago, too.

INU:   Fifty years ago?

HAA:  Cats attacked from the West.

INU:   Never heard of that. Are you sure about this?

MIR:   Inuyasha… this incident might occur while you were sealed?

INU:   Well then, there's no way I'd know.

SHI:   I never heard of such a thing either.

INU:   (teasing) That's because you're just a kid!

SHI:   (runs to INU and tries to punch him) That's rude!

KAG:  What happened at that time?

HAA:  (clutches his head) I took off while I could…

MIR:   You would!

HAA:  I returned after I heard that the cats had gone. And sure enough, the cats were all gone.

INU:   Why?

HAA:  Well… I don't know anything more…

Voice:   (background) I see…

HAA panics.

Voice:   (background) You are strangely dressed for a priestess.

SHI:   (pulls his eyes upwards to look like a cat) A cat!

KRN appears with the Male Panther.

KRN:  Cat! Cat?! Shut up, you raccoon dog!

SHI:   (hiding behind the well) I'm a fox!

INU:   What do you want?

KRN:  We're not looking for you. (points to KAG) We want that priestess with the Sacred Jewel fragments.

INU:   If you want the fragments, you'll have to go through me!

Male Panther: (scoffs) A half-demon!

INU:   So what?

KRN:  Are you Inuyasha?

MIR:   You know her?

INU:   I don't know her!

KRN:  You're Inuyasha? Sesshomaru's younger brother?

INU:   Well… I don't think of him as much of a brother.

KRN:  Let me deal with Inuyasha. Shuuran, you handle that priest and Demon Slayer.

* The male panther, Shuuran, abbreviated as SUN from now onwards *

SUN:  Got it! (growls)

SUN and KRN sprint forth and attacks.

INU:   Damn you!

KRN throws a fire at INU and lands.

KRN:  I'm your opponent! But I won't kill you here. Now… (spews flames which envelope her) Come at me!

INU:   D-Damn it!

SUN attacks MIR and SAN, who leap and dodge, making him fall to the ground.

KAG:  Sango!

SRN suddenly appears behind KAG and showers her with a gust of flowers.

KAG:  What…? (faints)

KIR, who was standing next to KAG, faints too.

SAN:  Kagome! (notices SRN) You're…!

SRN smiles. SUN smiles and raises his fist to the air. Electricity start to emit from a headband on his head. He yells and releases the electricity. INU is blinded by the light. The screen fades to white, then to normal. SRN, SUN (with KAG in his arm) and KRN stand smugly in a line.

SUN:  (looks at KAG) She has the Sacred Jewel fragments, all right.

INU:   (gasps) K-Kagome…!

KRN:  She seems pretty dear to you.

INU:   Let… Kagome go!

KRN:  Then come to our castle and get her. We'll be waiting, Inuyasha!

The three Panther Demons fade away. INU runs after them but is stopped by a group of Panther Demons minions.

INU:   Hold it! Damn it! Get out of my way! (claws the demons aside) Damn it!

SHI:   (leaps onto INU's shoulder) I'm going, too!

SAN:  (holds up KIR) Let's follow them, Miroku.

MIR:   What about Kirara?

SAN:  She's all right. She's just unconscious.

HAA:  (runs to MIR and bows) Master! I'll make a move first!

MIR:   (fierce) You're coming, too!

HAA tries to run away but MIR grabs him.

Cut to INU and SHI (on his shoulder) sprinting through a forest.

INU:   Where?! Where did they go?

SHI:   Calm down, Inuyasha. It reeks with the smell of the cats.

INU:   That's for sure. (stops and sniffs) That way! (runs)

MIR:   Inuyasha!

SAN:  Where's Kagome?

INU:   I'll definitely get her back! This way!

Cut to SES and JAK walking along a river.

JAK:   Would Lord Sesshomaru intend to take them on alone? No… (worried) That's too dangerous! Even Lord Sesshomaru couldn't… (stops) What? Isn't that…?

RYO, kneeling on the ground, greets SES.

RYO:  Lord Sesshomaru! (bows as SES walks past him) I, Royakan, will assist you once again.

SES:   Not necessary.

RYO:  Lord Sesshomaru!

JAK:   W-Wait for me! (chases SES)

SES:   (stops) Royakan.

RYO:  (excited) Yes?

SES:   Leave before you die.

JAK:   L-Lord Sesshomaru… it's an offer of help. You must accept his help!

SES:   Not necessary.

RYO cries.

JAK:   Then at least get Inuyasha this time…

SES:   Jaken…

JAK:   Yes?

SES:   It's enough to have you with me. (walks)

JAK:   (touched, tearing) Lord… Sesshomaru… (chases SES while crying) I shall follow you to the ends of the earth! Lord Sesshomaru! (stops and scratches his face nervously) But this means I may end up dying…

INU-gang and HAA (transformed) are traveling across a plain. A tornado suddenly twirls towards them.

SHI:   Isn't that Koga?

KOG:  Hey, dog-face! Where's Kagome?

INU:   Ha! None of your business!

KOG:  I've been picking up the foul scent of cats lately. But today, I catch a bit of Kagome's scent, too!

INU:   So what?

KOG:  You dog-face! Don't you dare tell me that Kagome's been kidnapped by cats! Why you! She was captured? What were you doing?!

INU:   Shut up! They used some dirty tricks!

GIN & HAK: (background) Koga! Where are you?!

KOG:  (turns back) Can't waste any time! (runs off)

GIN and HAK come running, out of breath. They stop and KOG runs past them in a tornado.

GIN:  Wait!

HAK:  Hey! Koga!

GIN and HAK chases KOG.

INU:   Damn that Koga!

MIR:   But even one more ally is better for us.

SAN:  He's right. Besides, Koga goes crazy when it concerns Kagome.

SHI:   And he's strong.

INU:   Shut up!

INU grabs SHI and throws him behind. MIR catches him.

INU:   Don't rely on him! I'm going to save Kagome by myself!

Evening. The three Panther Demons walk in a valley. TRN is waiting for them. KAG is in SUN's arms.

KAG:  (struggling) Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!

KRN:  (holds up KAG's Sacred Jewel container with 3 shards) We got it, Sis.

KAG:  My Sacred Jewel fragments! Give them back!

TRN:  Who's the girl?

KRN:  Seems like it's Inuyasha's woman.

TRN:  Inuyasha? The younger son of the dog demon?

SRN:  Yes! He's alive! It's so shocked!

KRN:  She seemed like a good bait, so we brought her along.

KAG:  Hey you! Just what do you want with Inuyasha?!

SRN:  We want his life.

KAG gasps.

KRN:  What about you, Sis?

TRN:  I don't need any bait for him. He's sure to come.

KAG:  (thinking) Who are these people? What exactly do they want?

KOG:  (background) Kagome!

KOG-gang appears on a cliff edge above them.

KAG:  Koga!

KOG:  I'll save you in a minute.

KRN:  Hey, Wolf Boy! We've never invited you here.

KRN throws fire at KOG-gang who backs off. When the fire settles, the four Panther Demons have disappeared. KOG leaps down into the valley.

KOG:  You're not getting away!

Panther Demon minions jump out and attack him. KOG punches them and they run off.

KOG:  (chasing) Hold it!

INU suddenly appears and runs in front of KOG.

KOG:  Hey dog-face!

INU:   I don't need your help!

KOG:  Who wants to save you?! I just want to save Kagome!

INU and KOG continue chasing the minions until they reach a huge soil wall blocking the path. They stop.

KOG:  What's… this wall?!

INU:   (shouting) Kagome!

KOG:  (shouting) Where are you?!

INU:   (shouting) Kagome!

KOG:  (shouting) Kagome, are you there?!

HAK:  (runs to KOG from behind with GIN) What's wrong, Koga?

GIN:  Where're the panther demons?

KOG:  Not only their presence, even their scent is gone!

INU:   I can't pick up any scent at all… no cats, not even Kagome.

KOG:  Yeah… The scent stopped here. Just like Naraku's barrier.

INU:   (gasps) Barrier? (unsheathes TET and points it at the wall determinedly)

KOG:  What're you going to do? (looks at INU, surprised, thinking) What…! The dog-face's sword…

INU closes his eyes in concentration. TET gradually turns red.

KOG:  … is glowing red…

INU yells and swings the red TET.

[ End of ACT II: 22min 8sec ]

[ End of episode 75: The Plot of the Panther Devas ]

[ Preview for next episode ]

Inuyasha's brother, Sesshomaru, has a grudge with the Panther Demons?

Royakan said fifty years ago, the Panther Demons also waged a war.

And a long time ago, Inuyasha's father also had a fierce battle with them!

What a grudge!

Damn! Why is Kagome caught up with this?! Stupid dog! Unforgiveable!

Next on Inuyasha, "Target: Sesshomaru and Inuyasha"!

Kagome, wait for me! I'll save you!