Kirara Who Doesn't Return

[ Prologue ]

INU:   It's now time for Inuyasha!

KAG:  To find the Sacred Jewel fragments,

INU:   I have to defeat Naraku with this Tetsusaiga!

KAG:  Sango's little brother Kohaku, was taken by Naraku. But Sango has her cute and reliable friend, Kirara, with her.

INU:   Miroku and Sango and Shippo and Kirara!

KAG:  An excitng adventure unfolds!

INU & KAG: Inuyasha!

[ ACT I ]

Daytime. INU-gang is traveling. A cute KIR is walking with them.

SHI:   (narrating) Our friend Kirara is a cat with two tails.

Cut to INU-gang fighting a giant octopus. The octopus grabs INU with one of its tentacles. Cut to KIR transforming and killing the large octopus.

SHI:   (narrating) She lends us her large size when we fight. She's always adorable in her kitten form.

Cut to KAG putting a red scarf around cute KIR. SHI looks on. KIR shakes her head and the scarf flops over. She plays with the ends of the scarf as SHI and KAG smile and look on.

SHI:   (narrating) Because she's so sweet, everyone uses her selfishly.

Evening. INU stands at the edge of a cliff and looks at the setting sun. Cute KIR stands behind him and scratches her ears.

SHI:   (narrating) But you should really tell them your feelings, Kirara!

[ Title screen: Kirara Who Doesn't Return ]

Nighttime. INU-gang is resting in a forest clearing. SHI is sleeping on large KIR.. Something runs in the grass towards the group. KIR's ears twitch and she wakes.

Daytime. SHI and KAG are filling water bottles by the river.

SAN:  (background) Kirara! Kirara!

SHI and KAG look up. Cut to SAN talking to INU and MIR, who are setting up a fire for cooking fish.

SAN:  Has anyone seen Kirara?

INU:   I haven't seen her.

MIR:   Yeah.

KAG:  (walks up to SAN) What happened to Kirara?

SAN:  I couldn't find her when I woke up.

SHI:   (walks past the group) Maybe she went for a walk.

SAN:  Kirara doesn't usually go off like that.

MIR:   Could she have run away?

INU:   (puts down the firewood) She was probably hungry.

SHI:   (rushes out and scowls) It's a rebellion.

KAG:  (chiding) What are you saying? You're just making Sango worry.

MIR:   I don't think anything happened to Kirara.

INU:   She's just gone for a while, don't kick up a big fuss!

KAG:  Inuyasha!

INU:   (takes a fish) Even if you keep on worrying, she won't come back. If you let it be, she'll be back soon. (eats fish)

SAN:  I hope so…

INU:   Don't worry. Kirara isn't a baby. (eyes SHI) Unlike some other baby I know.

SHI:   (drinks water) You're right about that. (realizing, spits water at INU) What do you mean, Inuyasha?!

INU:   You're the only one making a fuss! You're the kid here!

INU chases SHI round the campfire.

MIR:   Kagome, Sango, the fish is ready.

KAG:  Inuyasha…

SAN walks off. KAG looks at her, concerned.

[ End of ACT I: 4min 8sec ]

[ ACT II ]

Evening. SHI, MIR and KAG stand below a tree. INU is seated on a branch on top.

SHI:   (folded arms) Didn't you say she'll return?

INU grimaces. He looks at SAN, who is further up and looking forlorn.

SHI:   She's still not back!

INU:   Shut up! How was I supposed to know?

SHI:   What?! Have you forgotten what you said before?!

INU jumps down from the tree. SHI gasps and jumps. Before INU can grab him, SHI is already biting onto INU's arm.

INU:   You…let go! (tries to shake SHI off) You…idiot!

SAN:  I'm going to look for Kirara! (runs)

INU:   Wait!

SAN stops and looks at INU.

INU:   This isn't the way to do it.

MIR:   This is where Inuyasha comes in.

INU:   Huh?

Cut to KAG holding up a SHAM plate to INU.

INU:   What's this?

KAG:  Kirara's plate. Cats use it when they eat.

INU:   Why do I need that?

KAG:  (smiles) It'd be a good way to get her scent.

INU:   I don't need that to find Kirara! Hmph!

KAG giggles.

Cut to INU sniffing the ground while the rest of INU-gang look on.

KAG:  Do your best, Inuyasha!

INU sniffs a spot on the ground. He backtracks and sniffs again. A sweat drop appears.

KAG:  (hopeful) So? Anything?

INU:   (guilty) No, her scent stops here.

KAG:  (slouches over) So she didn't go for a walk…

Nighttime around a campfire.

MIR:   Let's split up and look for her.

INU:   It's no use. Her scent disappeared into the sky. Kirara's scent isn't anywhere nearby.

KAG:  But we can't just leave it like that.

INU:   I know that.

KAG:  But…

INU:   Sango, have you got any clues?

SAN:  Huh?

INU:   Did you quarrel with her? Think carefully!

SAN:  I don't think so…

KAG:  Think again. Has she been behaving strangely? Or found a bunch of wild cats to hang out with…

SAN:  Maybe… it's my fault. (looks at KIR's plate) I never though twice about dragging Kirara into a fight. I never got her permission. When she completes errands, I don't even reward her with her favorite fish…

MIR:   Sango, don't say that about yourself.

KAG:  That's not why she ran away.

SHI:   (folds arms, smug) I know!

INU:   What do you know?

SHI:   Why Kirara isn't here.

All:   Eh?

SHI:   I know because Inuyasha always bullies me. I thought about it and understood.

KAG:  What is it? Tell us, Shippo!

SHI:   (dramatic) Kirara…

The group gasps.

SHI:   (spins in a circle) Because of Inuyasha and all of you… (stops and raises his hands) Kirara ran away!

Waves rush out from behind SHI in a dramatic manner. Cut to INU thumping SHI with TET.

INU:   Don't talk like an idiot.

KAG:  What do you mean?

SAN:  I didn't do anything!

SHI:   My guess was right!

All:   Huh?!

SHI:   (puts hand over chest) Put your hands over your hearts and ask yourselves! Do you really not know why Kirara ran off?

SAN, KAG and MIR each put a hand over their hearts.

INU:   I swear I'm innocent!

MIR:   I don't think I've done anything…

SHI:   To recall all those things you've done to Kirara, I'll expose all of your atrocities! Inuyasha first!

INU is shocked.

SHI:   (pointing) Inuyasha, in order to learn Backlash Wave, you used Kirara to practice Wind Scar!

INU:   (pondering) To practice Wind Scar?

FADE TO FLASHBACK. INU and KIR are standing in a field, away from a village. They are alone. They face each other, standing far apart. INU draws TET, pauses and TET transforms. An aura surrounds TET. Large KIR also emits an aura. The two vortexes collide.

INU:   Wind Scar!

KIR is thrown back by the Wind Scar and growls.

INU:   (worried) Damn!

KIR lands. She whimpers and falls over. INU rushes to KIR.

INU:   Kirara! Are you okay? (examines KIR, shocked) What…?!

Three bald patches appears on KIR's head.

INU:   She's losing hair?

INU looks around to see if anyone saw them. KIR stands.

INU:   That's… not so bad!

INU pats KIR and more fur drops out.

INU:   It's f-fine, it's fine…! (laughs uncomfortably and walks) Let's get some food!

KIR runs after INU. Cut to SHI witnessing everything from behind a tree.

SHI:   I saw you, Inuyasha.

END OF FLASHBACK. INU glares at SHI and growls.

KAG:  Is that true?

SAN:  So that's why she was bald… at that time.

SHI:   And you thought nobody knew! But Kirara left!

A sweat drop appears on INU.

SHI:   Inuyasha! It's your fault!

INU is taken aback.

MIR:   (gives INU the evil eye) So that's how it is…

SAN:  (gives INU the evil eye) Kirara's baldness was because of Inuyasha. So Kirara left.

INU:   (defensive) W-Wait a minute! It isn't my fault that Kirara left! That happened so long ago, even Kirara forgot!

MIR:   Worse thing could have happened.

INU freezes in motion and ponders.

SHI:   Perhaps there was…

All:   Huh?!

SHI:   Miroku. Did you forget something?

Everyone looks at MIR, surprised. MIR ponders.

CUT TO FLASHBACK. A group of village girls are doing their laundry and playing with the water in a river. MIR walks past, with cute KIR on his shoulder.

MIR:   Oh… Young village women. (smiles) This is where Kirara comes in.

Cut to KIR running towards the girls. She stops and looks at MIR.

MIR:   Kirara, go for it!

KIR mews and runs to the village girls. They pick her up and gush over her.

Girl 1: A cat! She's adorable!

MIR walks slowly towards the girls. KIR mews and jumps into MIR's arms. The girls surround him.

MIR:   This is Kirara. She's my pet.

Girl 2: How cute!

MIR:   All of you are cute too.

The girls giggle and blush.

Girl 2: Priest…

MIR smiles. A glint appears over his teeth.

SHI:   (voice-over) That's not all.

Cut to two old village woman standing next to MIR. Old woman 1 gropes MIR's butt.

Old woman 1: (gushing) What a young priest!

Old woman 2: (hugs MIR) Please stay in this village.

Old woman 1: (tugs MIR) Please come to my house…

More old woman surround MIR.

MIR:   (disgusted) This is where Kirara comes in. Kirara!

KIR, who is standing behind MIR and scratching herself, transforms into her large fierce form. She roars and the old women flee. MIR holds up a sutra at the women.

MIR:   Evil Spirits Begone!

Pan sideways to reveal a jizo statue (SHI) behind KIR.

SHI:   (thinking) I saw you, Miroku!

END OF FLASHBACK. SAN, KAG and INU glare at MIR furiously.

KAG:  How could you!

INU:   Miroku, it's your fault!

MIR:   (scratches his head) No… you see…

KAG:  You're impossible! Kirara is our friend. You shouldn't use her out of convenience!

SHI:   Ooh! Kagome, are you saying you didn't do anything?

KAG is taken aback. Everyone looks at her.

CUT TO FLASHBACK. INU-gang is eating crabs. KAG stands, looking worried.

KAG:  What should I do? (paces up and down the room)

INU:   What's wrong?

KAG:  What am I going to do?

INU:   You have a test?

KAG:  Test? That's not it… What should I do? (realizing) That's it!

Cut to SHI bathing.

SHI:   (sinking into the bathtub) It feels good!

He hears KAG calling KIR in the background. He peeps out of the window and sees KAG talking to KIR.

KAG:  If you take me down this road, I'll give you fish and toys! Okay?

KIR mews. KAG smiles.

SHI:   (thinking) I saw you, Kagome!

END OF FLASHBACK.

SHI:   What did you do that time?

KAG:  (embarrassed) A-At that time…

FADE TO FLASHBACK. Large KIR lands near the Dry Well and KAG gets off her.

KAG:  Will you wait there for me? I'll return soon!

KIR looks horrified as KAG jumps into the well.

KAG:  Kirara, please wait!

KIR looks into the well.

Cut to the living room in KAG's house. A birthday cake is on the table. A chocolate chip with the words ‘じいちゃん お誕生日 おめごとう' is on the cake. MOM, GRA and Sota are seated around the table.

Mama: Well then, shall we eat?

GRA:  Alright, let's eat.

KAG:  (walks in) Grandpa, happy birthday!

Mama: (surprised) Kagome!

GRA:  I knew you'd come home!

Sota: Brother Inu is not here today?

KAG:  (holds up a octopus tentacle wrapped with blue ribbon) Grandpa, here's your present.

GRA:  (excited) This is…!

KAG:  I'm not sure, but it's different from the Water Demon's hand.

Mama: Can you stay for a while today?

KAG:  Well…

GRA:  Since you're here for my birthday, eat with us!

Sota: I agree!

KAG:  Since I'm here…

Cut to KAG reading comics in the living room while GRA and Sota watch T.V.

KAG:  Since I'm here…

Cut to KAG taking a bath.

KAG:  Since I'm here…

Cut to KAG lying in bed and pulling her blanket over her.

KAG:  Since I'm here…

Cut to KIR waiting faithfully by the Dry Well in the Feudal Era.

FADE TO PRESENT. KAG looks down guiltily.

KAG:  (thinking) I completely forgot about returning!

SAN:  Even Kagome… (walks off)

KAG:  I didn't mean to…

SHI:   (scoffs) You guys don't know how to treat a demon well. Especially Inuyasha.

INU:   Huh?

SHI:   (jumps up and down) If you hit me again, I'll make you starve for a whole week!

INU:   (frowns and grabs SHI's tail) Don't be a brat.

KAG:  Sango!

MIR:   Sango, there's been a mistake.

KAG:  I'm sorry… I…

INU:   It's not like I had bad intentions…

SAN:  I understand. I'm no different from the rest of you.

KAG:  That's not true!

SAN:  I act the same way! I'd take her out riding at night when I'm frustrated.

KAG:  That's not anything serious! I mean, I'd make her change form just to light a fire, let her undergo danger, pinch her nose when she's sleeping, even make her wear clothes.

INU and MIR gape at KAG.

MIR:   K-Kagome…

INU:   Compared to her, we're pretty innocent.

SHI:   It's a confession.

Suddenly noises are head in the forest. INU-gang is taken aback.

Cut to a villager running in a forest. Something strikes him and he falls to the ground. A one-eyed ape demon trudges up to him and he shrieks.

* The Ape Demon abbreviated as APE from now onwards. *

APE:   So it's a human. Did you think I'd let you leave my forest alive?

Man:  S-Spare me!

APE:   Why should I? Food is scarce in this forest.

APE reaches in to grab the man. He cowers in fear.

INU:   (background) Well! Instead of Kirara, I find an ape demon!

APE and the man look up. INU appears on a branch behind APE. APE realizes and turns around to claw the tree. INU jumps and lands in front of the man.

INU:   It's alright, you can go!

Man:  (terrified) It's another demon…! (runs away wailing)

INU:   Oi…

APE:   (looms over INU) Bastard, my food!

APE slams the ground where INU is but he dodges. The rest of INU-gang come running.

KAG:  Inuyasha!

MIR:   Demon!

SAN:  Where's Kirara?

INU:   She's not here, but I smell her scent.

APE:   What are you talking about?

A red scarf is seen on the ground.

SHI:   T-That's…!

KAG:  That's the scarf I gave to Kirara!

APE steps on the scarf and laughs.

SHI:   That's not it, look! The bones of beast are lying everywhere!

Piles of skulls are seen behind APE.

SAN:  (gasps) It can't be!

SHI:   (crying) Bastard! You ate Kirara?!

APE:   (laughs and scratches his head) Idiot, I don't remember everything that comes in here.

INU:   (glares at APE) Bastard, did you eat her?!

APE:   Don't worry, you'll be joining her soon… Inside my stomach!

Sharp light rays are emitted from APE's eyes and strike the ground. INU-gang dodge the attack. INU leaps up.

INU:   Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!

INU tries to claw APE but he sprints up a tree and around the forest.

APE:   This is my forest. Everything here is on my side!

APE throws sharp light pins at SAN, who is in a daze.

MIR:   (grabs SAN and run) Look out!

KAG:  He's too fast!

MIR:   He's using the tree branches to boost his speed. Not to mention he's attacking from above. What he boasted about earlier was true.

SHI:   (sad) If only Kirara's here now…

The red scarf lands in front of SAN. SAN looks at it sadly.

FADE TO FLASHBACK. SAN's father holds up cute KIR in his arms to young SAN.

Young SAN: Kirara?

SAN's father: That's right, you'll take care of her from now on.

SAN is surprised and gasps. She holds cute KIR in her arms. KIR mews. Young SAN laughs as KIR climbs around her. Cut to KIR running in a field. Young SAN chases her. KIR suddenly transforms in her large form. She stops and looks at young SAN, who is awed. Cut to young SAN riding on KIR in the sky. Cut to young SAN sleeping on KIR.

END OF FLASHBACK. SAN stands.

SAN:  Kirara…

INU:   (draws TET) He's just a demon that knows how to move quickly. It's easy to handle…

SAN steps forth. INU is taken aback.

SAN:  Bastard… This is for Kirara!

SAN swings HIR which cuts down a circle of trees. APE falls to the ground as the tree he's on falls. APE gets up.

APE:   Do you think you can destroy me?

APE leaps high up in the air towards SAN, who remains still. HIR, in its return flight, grinds APE into two. APE completely disintegrates. HIR lands and strikes the ground. SAN walks off sadly. The red scarf flies in the air.

[ End of ACT II: 19min 00sec ]

[ ACT III ]

Daytime. SAN is holding KIR's plate and crying. The rest of INU-gang look on from a distance sadly.

MIR:   Sango…

KAG:  If only we'd treated Kirara better…

SHI:   Kirara is… (breaks into tears)

INU turns around. He sees something ahead and gasps.

INU:   What…!

MIR, SHI and KAG turn around too. They gasp. Large KIR stand in front of them.

INU-Gang: Kirara!

SAN gasps and looks up.

MIR:   You're alright!

KAG:  That's great!

SAN:  Kirara… (runs to KIR) Kirara!!

KIR and SAN run towards each other. SAN hugs KIR affectionately. KIR growls and breaks free from SAN, who is taken aback. KIR then licks SAN's cheek. SAN laughs and hugs KIR. KIR snuggles up to SAN affectionately.

INU:   (glad) You got us worried.

KAG:  But, why?

MYO: Master Inuyasha! (appears on INU's neck) It's been a while, Master Inuyasha!

INU:   Grandpa Myoga!

MIR:   Why are you here?

MYO: Totosai sent me… To deliver the sharpening stone for your Tetsusaiga.

KAG:  Stone?

A large sharpening stone is seen nearby.

MIR:   (shocked) You brought something so heavy?

MYO: What, that's simple. Kirara carried it for me.

All:   Huh?!

MYO: I came here, and went back to Totosai's place on Kirara. It was a long journey.

CUT TO FLASHBACK of two nights before. The group is sleeping around a campfire. SHI is sleeping on large KIR. KIR wakes as MYO leaps onto her tail.

MYO: Kirara, it's been a while! I need a favor from you.

SHI:   (wakes and sits up, sleepy) What's going on so late at night?

MYO: Shippo, please tell Master Inuyasha I'm borrowing Kirara. Don't worry, she'll only be gone for a day.

SHI:   Got it. (nods and plops back to sleep)

END OF FLASHBACK.

KAG:  Then… what about the scarf?

MYO: Oh, that was…

CUT TO FLASHBACK. KIR is flying in the air. The scarf comes loose and flies off KIR's neck. KIR growls and turns to chase it.

MYO: What are you doing, Kirara? We have no time for this!

KIR stops and looks at the scarf. Her eyes flop over and she looks disappointed. Cut to the scarf landing near a pile of bones in the forest.

END OF FLASHBACK.

MYO: That's what happened!

Cut to SHI inching away from the group quietly.

KAG:  Shippo.

SHI:   (freezes and turns around, laughs uncomfortably) You see… (backing away) That is… I… I was half-asleep…

INU walks up to him. SHI gasps.

INU:   (cracking his knuckles) Half-asleep? Prepare to die, Shippo!

SHI:   (terrified) Save me, Kagome!

KAG:  Inuyasha.

INU and SHI look at KAG in anticipation of 'Sit'. KAG pauses for a short while.

KAG:  (smiles) Do it well.

INU:   Okay! (runs after SHI)

SHI:   (running) Miroku! Sango!

INU chases SHI as SAN hugs KIR. MIR and KAG look on.

KAG:  (thinking) Are you glad, Sango?

SHI:   Help…!

[ End of ACT III: 22min 5sec ]

[ End of episode 97: Kirara Who Doesn't Return ]

[ Preview for next episode ]

Kikyo…! What happened to you? Let's get out of this place, Kikyo!

It's too late…! I've lost too much souls. Just leave me here. You should get out soon. Perhaps you still have a chance to live…

I won't give up so easily! If we want to get out of here, we should work together. Next on Inuyasha, "Kikyo and Kagome Alone In a Cave".

This warmth… Is this Kagome's strength?