Page 13
Panel 1
Full-length view of the two standing in the hallway. Koinu is still scowling.
Panel 2
Full-length view of the two standing in the hallway. Koinu is grinning.
Panel 3
Closeup of the two. Koinu again has his wide-eyed smile.
Koinu: This is so awesome! I finally got sent out to the hall, just like normal people! I was afraid that I was going to go all the way through school and never get sent to the hall!
Panel 4
Closeup of the two. Koinu is smiling; Kagome is moving from mitigated back to unmitigated.
Koinu: That would be like . . . dying a virgin! And I already did that!
Panel 5
Closeup of the two facing each other. Koinu is noticing Kagome’s expression.
Koinu: . . .
Kagome: . . .
Panel 6
Closeup of the two. Koinu looks away, blushing.
Koinu: OK, I’ll stop talking.
Panel 7
Closeup of the two. Both stare into space, looking serious.
Panel 8
Closeup of the two. Kagome still stares into space, but Koinu has turned to look at her, with a smile.
Panel 9
View of the two. Kagome is wide-eyed with shock as Koinu bends over sideways to kiss her.
Page 14
Panel 1
Close-up of the two. Koinu is pleased, Kagome is scandalized.
Koinu: That’s the fourth time I’ve kissed you. Twice last night, once this morning, and now number 4.
Kagome: Inuyasha, you can’t do that! We’re being punished!
Panel 2
Close-up of the two. Koinu is pleased with himself, Kagome is getting annoyed.
Koinu: Why not? I bet there’s no rule against it.
Kagome: They’ll make one just for us.
Panel 3
Once again Koinu leans over and kisses her; this time Kagome looks a bit indignant.
Koinu: Then I’d better move fast.
Panel 4
Close-up of the two facing each other. She’s almost amused.
Koinu: That was five.
Kagome: You’re planning to keep count?
Koinu: No, I’m planning to lose count really soon.
Kagome: You’re going to get us in trouble.
Panel 5
Close-up of the two. He is smirking, she is giving him A Look.
Koinu: Ha! What are they going to do to us? Send us out to the hall?
Kagome: . . .
Koinu: OK. I’ll be good.
Panel 6
Close-up of the two. He looks at her almost shyly.
Koinu: I could . . . hold your hand . . .
Panel 7
Full-length view of the two. He has taken her hand.
Panel 8
Closer view. He smiles gently at her; she is charmed again.
Panel 9
Full-length view of the two holding hands. Kagome has her eyes shut.
Page 15
Panel 1
Close-up of the two hands clasped together.
Panel 2
Same view, but Kagome’s fingers have opened, her hand limp.
Panel 3
Close-up of Koinu looking sideways toward Kagome.
Koinu: ?
Panel 4
Full length view. Koinu still holds Kagome’s limp hand, but she has slumped to the floor, eyes closed.
Koinu: Kagome?
Panel 5
Full length view. Koinu kneels on the floor, holding the unconscious Kagome in his arms.
Koinu: Kagome!
Page 16
Panel 1
Close-up of a pertly pretty, smiling woman.
School nurse: Miss Higurashi? Honey, how are you doing? We still can’t reach anybody at home, sweetheart!
Panel 2
View of the interior of the infirmary. There are two institutional-type beds. On one of them lies Kagome, apparently asleep under the covers. On the floor, leaning against the bed, Koinu sits in typical Inuyasha fashion, cross-legged, arms folded, head down.
School nurse (offscreen): And . . . um . . . Mr. Houjou? You can go back to class now, dear.
Panel 3
Close-up of Koinu. His head is down and his eyes are closed.
Koinu: No, thank you.
Panel 4
Close-up of nurse.
School nurse: Um . . . Mr. Houjou . . . Miss Higurashi will be fine, dear. It’s time for you to go back to class now . . .
Panel 5
Close-up of Koinu. His eyes are open slightly.
Koinu: Thank you, I’m fine right here.
Panel 6
Close-up of School Nurse. She is abashed.
School nurse: . . .
Page 7
Panel 1
View of Kagome and Koinu in the infirmary. Both appear to be sleeping—Koinu, of course, sitting up in his samurai pose.
School nurse (offscreen): Principal Sukina!
Sukina(offscreen): Now, who are they?
School nurse: (offscreen): Higurashi Kagome and Houjou Inuyasha. Both first year, class B.
Sukina (offscreen): Ah, yes, I know them.
Panel 2
Close up of Koinu, eyes closed.
Sukina (offscreen): The boy is one of our stars. Outstanding student, advanced placement in several subjects. Edo University is already looking at him. Remarkable background—old samurai family—connections to the emperor—father is highly placed in the foreign service, mother famous in her own right.
Panel 3
Close up of Koinu reacting; his eyes are slightly open and his brows are frowning.
Sukina (offscreen): The girl is nothing special.
Panel 4
Close up of Kagome; she is awake and listening apprehensively.
Sukina (offscreen): Shrine child, father dead. The parishioners provide a scholarship. Very sickly . . . she’s struggling here . . . some emotional problems, we think . . .
Panel 5
Close up profile of Koinu; he is scowling as he listens.
Sukina (offscreen): It seems likely she’s out of place here . . . This might be the time to talk to the mother about finding a different situation.
Panel 6
Kagome sits up in bed; Koinu has not moved.
Kagome: Inuyasha, are you still asleep?
Koinu: I wasn't sleeping.
Panel 7
Kagome leans forward to talk to Koinu, who still has not moved.
Kagome: I could hear the principal talking. I’m in trouble for being sick! They’re going to kick me out of school!
Koinu: Don’t worry about it.
Panel 8
Kagome sits up again, shocked. He still stares straight ahead.
Kagome: But . . . they’re going to call my mother and tell her I can’t come back!
Koinu: I said it’s not going to happen. Don’t worry about it.
Panel 9
Koinu now sits on the bed facing Kagome.
Kagome: But they’re right. I can’t keep up. I can’t concentrate, and I’m too far behind.
Koinu: It’s OK now. I’m taking care of you now. You’re going to get well. And I’m going to teach you whatever you need to know.
Page 18
Panel 1
View of Kagome and Koinu in the infirmary. He is holding a flip-phone type cell phone (it’s 1998, remember?).
Koinu: Come on. It’s time to get out of here. You’re going to eat, and I need to talk.
Kagome: What? We can’t!
Koinu: Yes, we can. I’m taking you to my house. You can call home when you get there.
Panel 2
Koinu talks on the phone as Kagome looks on.
Koinu: Kamura-san. This is Koinu. Is my mother there? Drat. How about Auntie Barbra? I’ll hold.
Panel 3
Koinu smiles as he talks on the phone in English.
Koinu: Auntie Barbra! You great fucking Kiwi cow! Mum’s not about? Well, can you get the car? Higurashi and I are going over the wall!
Panel 4
Kagome looks on blankly as Koinu talks on the phone.
Koinu: C’mon, you fat Kiwi whore! What could you possibly have to do that’s more important than springing me and Higurashi from school? Excellent! We’ll be out front! I’ll be the one with a girl on my back. Ciao!
Panel 5
Koinu talks to Kagome.
Koinu: Excellent! My Auntie Barbra’s coming with the car.
Kagome: You were talking English? You speak it really well.
Koinu: Oh. Yeah. No big deal. We used to live in Wellington—New Zealand. And in London for a bit. And New York, but I was just a baby then.
Panel 6
Kagome is wide-eyed, Koinu is wary.
Kagome: Um . . . What did you call your aunt?
Koinu: Call her? Oh . . . just . . . "a big Kiwi cow." It’s just a nickname I have for her. She’s from New Zealand.
Panel 5
View of the two. Kagome is interrogating, Koinu looks away, evasive—we’ve seen them do this before…
Kagome: There was another word.
Koinu: Oh, yeah . . . it’s . . . kind of a rude word . . .
Kagome: I know. I’ve heard kids at school use it. That’s what you call your aunt?
Panel 6
Koinu is cheerful, Kagome is dumbfounded.
Koinu: It’s OK! She’s not really my aunt. She’s my nanny. Come on, let’s get out of here. Can you walk?
Panel 7
Koinu holds Kagome’s arm as she swings her legs over the side of the bed.
Kagome: I . . . I think so. . . I’m just a little shaky.
Koinu: Never mind. Wait here a minute. Dammit, Kagome, do you realize how thin you are? I’ll be right back.