Inuyasha - the Whitewater Team

My submission to 's May contest: "Portray the Inuyasha gang enjoying spring and having fun in the sun."

Now, I know when you think of whitewater rafting it strikes one as more of a summer sport, but around here the peak season IS in May (most years) after all. So what would Inuyasha and company do?

GO RAFTING ON THE KAWEAH RIVER BABY!

This picture was done using a reference photo my mom took of a group of rafters earlier this month, so it is almost completely accurate. Inuyasha and gang are heading into the upper part of a Class IV rapid known as the Osterizer. It has a rocky bumpy section up top (where they are) and a huge hole at the bottom that likes to flip boats. As you can see Sango has got the idea pretty good, she is sitting on the outside of the boat ready to padde, but Miroku is all hunched up inside so he won't be able to paddle as effectively. Kagome looks pretty darn apprehensive, and Inuyasha just looks annoyed. And then ther's Shippou... poor Shippou, you better get back in the boat or you're going for the Whitewater High Adventure's Trip!

Btw, Kirara refused to go.

The guide in back could be any one of my rafting buddies, I've sort of stuck him together with bits and pieces of all of them, just to be fair.

Watercolor and pilot pen, text added in photoshop. I'd like to dedicate this piece to all my good river buddies/idols: Frank, Aaron, Scott, Mike, Josh, and Petit. I know none of them have heard of Inu-yasha, and probably will never see this, but if it weren't for you guys I'd probably never have gotten this idea in the first place.

Inuyasha and crew are © Rumiko Takahashi.

Extra Note: The crew did NOT flip in Osterizer, although Shippou did fall out. Miroku mysteriously slipped out of the boat in the middle of Bumper (I think Sango had something to do with this), and everyone Except Sango and the Guide fell out in Powerhouse. They made it through Suicide Falls clean, but then the whole thing flipped in the Chair.

Toodles y'all, and happy Spring/Summer!