The Dried Demons and the Culture Festival Battle

[ Prologue ]

INU:   Amidst the chaos of the Warring States Era, we continue our journey.

KAG:  In a time 500 years ago, everyone’s fate is tied to the fragments of the Sacred Jewel.

INU & KAG: Let’s battle on! Inuyasha!

KAG:  The demons are appearing at the Culture Festival. Inuyasha is fighting them… Wait! Grandpa, Mom, Sota, and Hojo! Don’t be too hasty!

[ ACT I ]

Recap from previous episode. Cut to school. The festival is in full force. Fireworks are let into the sky. The courtyard is filled with foodstalls. Inside the school, students are running about with preparations. KAG runs past some students, holding some bags.

KAG:  Excuse me…

Cut to cooking room 2, nobody is around. The dried meat that KAG brought are cooking in a pot. A while later, demons fill up the room, knocking over the utensils and food. They open the door and walk out.

[ Title screen: The Dried Demons and the Culture Festival Battle ]

Cut to Yuka screaming. KAG runs into the cooking room.

KAG:  What happened?!

KAG is horrified to see the food, utensils and furniture in the cooking room are messed up. Some of the students start to sob to see their hard work all thwarted.

KAG:  Wh-What happened?

Yuka: I don't know… I was away for a few minutes.

KAG:  (looks at the food) This is terrible. Who did this?

Girl:   Don't just stand there! What should we do?!

Yuka: (frowns) The festival can't start because of this. How disappointing.

KAG:  (serious) Don't give up yet.

Yuka: But, what do we do?

KAG:  (spins around and smiles resolutely) Don't worry, I have an idea.

Cut to a 24hr convenience store. An old is shopping.

Old man: Well, that's all…

Cashier: That will be 1360 yen.

Old man: 35 yen… 36 yen…

Suddenly the shop trembles and the cashier is taken aback. KAG and her friends enter the store in a dramatic manner, posing like female warriors.

KAG:  Everyone, let's hurry!

The girls cheer and rush into the shop. They snap up almost all the ready-made food. Both the cashier and the old man gape as the girls do their furious shopping.

Girl 1:  How many did you find?

Girl 2:  Anything else we need?

Girl 3:  Oh, that too!

Back in the cooking room. KAG wipes her perspiration.

KAG:  (relieved) Just in time…

Yuka: That's great, but what's this?

KAG:  Lightly pickled potato chips, corn soup with rice cakes, hamburger with yoghurt sauce, chocolate fondue with pickled radish…

Yuka: Kagome, you perform so well under stress!

KAG:  Well, I've been through many dangerous situations.

Yuka: Can these be eaten?

KAG:  What?

Yuka: Well?

KAG:  Well… (smiles) Maybe not.

The faces of the girls turn green.

Yuka: Okay…

Cut to KAG walking in the corridor, deep in thoughts about the mess in the cooking room earlier on.

KAG:  (thinking) I fixed it somehow… But… Who made that mess?

Suddenly a fungal-looking Kurotenmudake demon appears from the wall and tumbles behind after KAG.

GRA:  (background cheery) Hey! Kagome…

Around the corner in front of KAG, her family and INU (wearing a cap) appears.

GRA:  (waving) We're here!

KAG:  Hi, everybody!

The family and INU notices the Kurotenmudake looming behind KAG.

Sota: (shocked) What's that?!

INU:   That's… a Kurotenmudake! (leaps forth) Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!

INU kills and shatters the Kurotenmudake into pieces.

INU:   (turns to face KAG) That was close…

KAG:  (fierce, shouting) Why are you here?!!

INU:   (shouts back) Shut up!! What are you doing, Kagome?

KAG:  What do you mean? What is it?

INU:   (accusingly) You brought that dried meat here, didn't you?

KAG gulps.

Cut to INU, KAG and her family sitting on a bench in the corridor, eating.

KAG:  What?!! If those dried meat are boiled, they become demons again?!

INU:   (slurps noodles) You didn't know that?

KAG:  I wouldn't bring them if I did…

INU:   Never mind, how many did you bring?

KAG:  I think it was four, including this one.

GRA:  What?! Four? No wonder I couldn't find them!

INU:   (takes off cap, stands and flexes arms, smug) Keh! I have to take care of the demons here too? What a fuss!

GRA:  (holds up a charm) Don't worry! Our Higurashi shrine charm will destroy those demons!

KAG:  (pats GRA's shoulder) That's dangerous. Just let us take care of this.

Mama: (pats KAG's shoulder) What are you talking about? You have your presentation to worry about.

KAG:  Huh?

Sota: I'm scared, but I'll help!

GRA:  That's right! We're doing this for Kagome! Let's all do our best!

Mama: (cheering) Do our best!

GRA and Sota cheer, too.

KAG:  (pulls INU's ears and whispers) Listen, Inuyasha. We have to do something before the demons cause trouble.

Ayumi comes running towards them, waving.

Ayumi: Kagome!

KAG:  Ayumi…

KAG suddenly panics when she realizes INU has his cap off. His ears twitches innocently.

KAG:  (waves frantically) Hey, you! Be more careful!

KAG is so worried and waving so frantically that INU and her fall to the ground and collapse onto each other.

INU:   What are you doing?!

GRA:  (covers Sota's eyes) Kids shouldn't watch this.

Sota: (innocent) What are you doing, Sister?

Mama: You two are so energetic!

KAG:  (thinking) What should I do? His weird clothes and dog ears… Everyone will know he's a half-demon!

Ayumi: What are you doing?

KAG:  (stands) N-Nothing!

KAG laughs uneasily. INU sits up, rubbing his head in pain. Ayumi looks at INU for a long silent moment.

KAG:  (horrified, thinking) Oh no…!

Ayumi, however, just grabs KAG's hand as if nothing is wrong.

Ayumi: Hurry up! The chorus performance!

KAG:  Oh… right…

Ayumi: (drags KAG away) Let's go!

KAG:  But…!

Ayumi: Come on!

KAG is dragged away by Ayumi helplessly. GRA, Sota and Mama form a line and start cheering.

Mama: Let's cheer for Kagome!

Sota, Mama & GRA: Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!

INU looks bewildered by the whirlwind events.

Cut to KAG and Ayumi walking down a stairs.

KAG:  (thinking) Why didn't Ayumi say anything about Inuyasha?

Ayumi and KAG turn into the corridor. KAG is shocked to see a lot of students in various costumes, such as bunny suits, comic characters.

KAG:  (thinking) Now I get it… (heaves a sigh of relief, speaking) I'm safe, after all.

Ayumi: (stern) Hold on a minute, Kagome. Say that only after the performance! The alto solo is very important.

KAG:  Y-You're right! (panics, thinking) I completely forgot…!

Ayumi: Kagome!

KAG runs after Ayumi.

[ End of ACT I: 8min 11sec ]

[ ACT II ]

INU is walking in the courtyard and browsing the food stalls.

INU:   (scoffs) They're just dried demons, I can handle them without Kagome! Three left… Where are they hiding?

INU sniffs the air. The place is filled with smells from food.

INU:   (wry) There's no use smelling…

INU spots a store selling curry a distance away.

INU:   This is the kind of food that hurts my tongue!

INU spins around and runs for his life.

The choir are in their singing costumes and about to go on the outdoor stage.

KAG:  (worried, thinking) There are demons out there… But if I run away now, I'll ruin everyone's effort. (groans) What should I do?

Cut to INU sprinting in the backyard of the school.

INU:   Damn! Where did those demons go?

Cut to Mama, Sota and GRA in the school cafeteria. Male student have dressed up like waitresses. GRA looks around suspiciously.

GRA:  Demons, show yourselves!

Sota: (swings arm) Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!

Mama: My, my, Sota!

Waiter: (in mock female voice) Sorry to keep you waiting…

Mama: How cute!

GRA:  (disdain) My goodness…

Cut to a huge crowd gathered in front of the outdoor stage to watch the choir performance. The choir is on the stage, ready to perform. GRA finds a spot to stand and gestures to his family.

GRA:  Hey, over here!

Mama: Yes, yes! (looks at stage) Kagome is over there.

Ayumi raises her baton to conduct. Gradually the crowd is silent. Ayumi then conducts and the choir members sing heartily.

Song:
That which can be seen over there
Is in the light of the Sacred Jewel
Even in pieces its power is still the same
Even on humans and demons
Its power gradually works
Even through the ages it illuminates the land

The crowd is engrossed with the singing. Suddenly a flower demon is seen frolicking in the bushes behind the crowd.

KAG:  (thinking) That's… That's a demon! What now?!

KAG is about to rush to the demon when her solo part comes up. She freezes herself and continue singing, with tear-drop.

(Kagome's solo:
Even on humans and on demons
Its power gradually works
Even through the ages it illuminates the land )

As she is singing, thoughts are running through Kagome's mind.

KAG:  (thinking) I can't keep singing. But if I run away, Ayumi will be mad at me! She may never lend me her notes anymore!

An image of Ayumi's notes with wings appear across KAG's mind.

That which can be seen over there
Is in the light of the Sacred Jewel
In order to become one, it manipulates fate
Now, the last shard, shine in peace
In order to become one, it manipulates faith
Now the last shard — shine in peace

KAG:  (looks at demon, thinking) But I must do something about the demon…! (looks at Ayumi conducting happily, thinking) Notes? (looks at demon, thinking) Or demon? (shakes head resolutely, thinking) What am I thinking?! I have to do something!!

KAG is about to run off the stage when INU leaps out and towards the demon.

INU:   Finally! Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!

INU slashes the demon into pieces. He stands up straight and looks at KAG in a dashing manner.

KAG:  (touched and relieved, thinking) Inuyasha… Thank you…!

Cut to KAG and INU running in the corridor. KAG is now in her school uniform.

KAG:  Two left! We have to find them fast!

INU:   If the smell here didn't bother me, everything would be done in a second!

Eri:   (background) Kagome!

Both INU and KAG stop, shocked.

KAG:  (thinking) That voice…!

KAG wails helplessly as Eri and another girl drag her away forcefully.

Eri:   It's time to raise the curtains!

INU, left in the cold, looks on and blinks his eyes in disbelief.

Cut to KAG in the backstage of the auditorium. She is wearing a princess costume, looking worried and biting her nails.

KAG:  (thinking) I have to end this play as soon as possible.

Eri walks up to her in a green dress.

Eri:   (pleasant) Kagome. Don't look so nervous, okay?

KAG:  I'm not nervous…

Eri:   (waves arms dramatically) Now, Kagome… From now on, you're not Kagome anymore. (turns a circle) Just imagine you are Escargot Purin!

KAG:  (sweatdrop) Eh…

Eri:   (clasps KAG's hands, serious) The words will come out naturally, so just be confident!

KAG:  T-thanks…!

Eri:   One more thing. (scowls) I'll kill you if you screw up. (waves cheerily) So do your best, Kagome!

KAG is at a loss for words.

Hojo: Higurashi!

KAG turns around to find Hojo in a prince costume and holding a pumpkin. The background turns all glittery and romantic.

KAG:  Hojo…?

Hojo: (hands KAG the pumpkin) Here!

KAG:  A pumpkin?

Hojo: Eat this and it'll help to calm your nerves.

KAG:  (thinking) I think I'm supposed to think of the audience as pumpkins instead of eating it…

Hojo: (jogs away) Well! Eat it, Higurashi!

KAG:  Ah! Hojo…!

Hojo continues jogging away.

KAG:  (thinking) Hojo… This is raw…

Cut to INU sprinting in the backyard, shouting.

INU:   Hey, demon! Stop hiding and show yourself!

Cut to GRA, Sota and Mama in the haunted house. Two students in scary costumes try to scare them.

GRA:  (holds up charm) Evil demon! I'll destroy you with this charm!

Sota: Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!

Mama: Oh my, that's my Sota! (giggles)

Cut to auditorium. The place is packed with students. KAG's family and friends are also seated, waiting for the play to start.

The words in brown serif fonts denote the lines that the actors are saying.

Yuka: How exciting!

Ayumi: Indeed!

The curtain call comes on and the auditorium goes dim. The curtains are drawn and the stage is set-up like an old English living room. The audience claps. KAG walks onstage.

KAG:  Josephine! Where's Josephine?

Eri:   (panics and goes onstage) Y-yes! Josephine is here, Miss Escargot Purin! (thinking) What's with Kagome? She skipped 7 pages of the script!

KAG:  I want to get married right now! So will you find me a husband? (thinking) I'm sorry, but I have to do this…!

Eri:   Y-yes, but isn't it a little too early…

KAG:  (fierce) Josephine, are you ignoring my orders?!

Eri:   Yes, I'm going!

Eri panics and hurries offstage. Midway, she trips and the audience laughs riotously. Cut to audience.

Yuka: Isn't this play supposed to be a very sad love story?

Ayumi: (ponders for a moment) But who cares? It's funny!

Yuka: Well, you're right…

Ayumi: (thinking) Kagome is brilliant!

Next scene onstage, Escargot Purin (KAG) and Pierre Pannacotta (Hojo) are in a park by the moonlight.

Hojo: Escargot…! You're my starfish, my shellfish, my sashimi!!

KAG:  I'm so happy, Pierre Pannacotta! I think I am…

Hojo: Don't say anything… (spreads arms) Come! Into my arms!

KAG:  (runs towards Hojo dramatically) Pierre…!!

Hojo: (runs towards KAG dramatically) Es-cargot…!!!

Hojo and KAG are about to hug with the backdrop explodes. INU bursts in comes between them violently. Both Hojo and KAG fall apart on the ground.

INU:   Hold it!!

Cut to Eri backstage, looking on.

Eri:   (horrified) What's this?!

The audience is shocked. Cut to stage, where INU is growling furiously. He draws himself full length and glares at Hojo.

KAG:  (thinking) I-Inuyasha…!

INU:   (threateningly, jealous) Who the hell are you?!

Hojo: (shocked) I… I am…

KAG:  (thinking) Damn…! I have to do something!

KAG rushes to INU and grabs him.

KAG:  Please stop!

INU:   Huh?!

KAG:  You are both fighting over me… Please stop it!

INU:   (blinks eyes in confused manner) What… are you talking about?

KAG:  (whispers to INU) Just play along… (looks at Hojo, whispers) okay?

Hojo: (stands, whispers) Got it, Higurashi.

KAG:  Please, Hannabult Pekopon! I'm the one at fault… So don't attack him!

INU:   Han-E-Kopon…?!

KAG:  (gestures to Hojo) Pierre! Please run away! Don't risk your life! (thinking) Good, now I have to make Hojo run away.

Hojo: I will not run away!

KAG gapes at Hojo.

Hojo: Keep away from Escargot!

KAG is horrified by the turn of events.

Hojo: Get your dirty hands off her! Hannabult! We shall fight and decide who's better for Escargot! (draws prop sword)

INU:   Very well.

INU draws TET, which transforms and points it at Hojo. TET is about three times bigger than Hojo's prop sword.

KAG:  (horrified, thinking) Why is this happening?!

Suddenly the stage rumbles and a watermelon-like demon bursts from the stage ground.

INU:   This is…!

KAG:  A demon!

INU:   Ha! So it was hiding here!

KAG:  (knees buckling, thinking) It's over… Everything's over! After all I've done…

KAG looks hopelessly at the audience. The audience, however, is cheering on loudly and all excited.

Student 1: Cool!

Student 2: How exciting!

Sota: Come on, Brother Inu!

Student 3: Kill it! Come on!

KAG:  (gaping in disbelief, thinking) It's still safe…

Hojo: (points sword at demon) The fight is over.

INU:   (scoffs and turns to demon) Your life is spared.

Hojo: (runs towards demon, raising sword) Go to hell, demon!

KAG:  (pale, clasps face, thinking) What are you doing, Hojo?! (shakes head, thinking) That's a real demon! (shouts) Inuyasha… No, Pekopon! Do something!

INU:   Why do you have to shout so loud? Wind Scar!

INU leaps heroically and throws a Wind Scar at the demon.

KAG:  (tearing, thinking) Why must he use the Wind Scar?

The Wind Scar destroys the demon and a good part of the auditorium, creating a hole in the ceiling. Hojo is in awe and shock.

INU:   (to Hojo, smug, childish) Ha!! Saw that?!

KAG:  (grabs INU) Let's go, Pekopon!

INU:   (confused) Huh?!

KAG:  Please, take me and run away! (points to hole in ceiling) Take me away from this place!

INU:   (eye-twitching, sweatdrop) Oi. Are you sure you're okay?

KAG:  (glares at INU, fierce, in low tone) Just do it!

Cut to INU leaping through the hole in the ceiling, with KAG in his arms. When they're high up in the air, KAG waves cheerily at the audience.

KAG:  Goodbye, everyone! Escargot Purin will leave her loneliness behind and be happy forever! Sa-yooo-na-ra!

Hojo and the audience look on in disbelief. There is a moment of silence. Suddenly a student stands and claps wildly.

Student 4: Bravo!

The audience grows wild, clapping and cheering.

Student 5: Cool! This was the best show ever!

Student 6: I'm looking forward to next year!

Cut to backstage, Eri is moved to tears.

Eri:   It-It was great, Kagome… Mission accomplished!

Cut to INU and KAG running in the courtyard.

KAG:  I didn't think we could make it, but we did, somehow…

Suddenly the ground shakes violently.

KAG:  What's that? An earthquake?!

INU:   I'm sure this is caused by a demon!

KAG:  A demon?

INU:   (interested) If it's producing such an effect, it must be quite a strong demon!

KAG and INU look at the rooftop of the school, where part of a large demon is seen.

KAG:  You feel something?

INU:   I can see that the last demon is… over there!

KAG:  The roof?

INU:   (runs) Let's go, Kagome!

KAG:  Okay! (follows)

Cut to rooftop. INU and KAG gape at the demon in disbelief.

KAG:  Is this a demon?

INU:   Y…Yeah! I think it's called Yumenamazu…

The demon turns out to be a large fish. As it is out of water, it can only struggle pathetically.

Cut to cooking room. The large fish demon is sliced up, although still alive, and presented as sashimi. Everyone stares at it in disbelief.

Yuka: That's the last dish…

GRA:  This is an incredible festival!

Mama: Kagome was great!

Sota: Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!

Evening. INU and KAG are walking in the streets.

KAG:  We had a long day… (slouches over) I'm tired…

INU:   (chiding) What are you talking about? It was easier than fighting Naraku and the Shichinintai.

KAG:  (thinking, smiles) I suppose you're right.

INU:   So, Kagome, did you finish what you had to do?

KAG:  I guess so.

INU:   Then let's go.

KAG:  Where?

INU:   To find the Sacred Jewel fragments, of course!

KAG:  Sacred Jewel fragments…

INU:   (clenches fist resolutely) I won't let Naraku have his way anymore!

KAG looks at INU for a moment and breaks into a cheery smile.

[ End of ACT II: 21min 6sec ]

[ Epilogue ] shown after ending song.

NAR is standing in a swamp. Bubbles froth on the surface and Mimisenri appears.

NAR: You sure took your time.

Mimisenri: I've heard… It's faint, but I'm sure I heard it. However… it wouldn't be so easy for you this time.

NAR: Cut the crap, or else I'll kill you. Hurry up. Tell me where the last Sacred Jewel fragment is.

Mimisenri: The last Sacred Jewel fragment… is located in a place in-between this world and the next.

NAR: (thinking) A place in-between this world and the next…?

Cut to Sengoku period. INU-gang is journeying again.

[ End of Epilogue: 23min 40sec ]

[ End of episode 128: The Dried Demons and the Culture Festival Battle ]

[ Preview for next episode ]

Many demons appeared at the shrine, and released the demons who were sealed!

This demon abducts beautiful women against their will, and makes them carry his child!

That's ridiculous. How can he do that?

Do you really think so?

Ladies, I promise to take care of all of you.

Next on Inuyasha, "Chokyuukai and the Abducted Bride". I like pork chops, but not you!