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Season Five Episodes Summary>
Episodes 102 to 115
Opening Theme: Grip! (96-127)
Ending Themes: Shinjutsu no Uta (86-108) & Itazura na Kiss (109-127)
Series Director: Yasunao Aoki
Producers: Michihiko Suwa, Hideyuki Tomioka
Music: Kaoru Wada
Character Designs: Yoshihito Hishinuma
Art Director: Shigemi Ikeda
Episode 102
Aired: 2/24/03
Bourei ni osowareta you ookami zoku
Assault on the Wolf-Demon Tribe
A grave cracks as Kohaku approaches it. He opens his hand to reveal he is carrying 7 Shikon shards. Ayame (Koga's anime only fiancee) meets up with the some other members of Koga's tribe when while they are being chased by a large group of demons. Eventually one of the wolves tries to get word to Koga, who is off with Ginta and Hagaku. By the time the wolf gets there he is seriously wounded and near death. He tells Koga what has happened and where the others are and then dies. Meanwhile Ayame meets up with Inuyasha and the others and tells them what has been happening. In the meantime two priests are walking through a wooded area. The younger man insists on turning back because of the rumors of a zombie in the region, but the older, confident priest is sure he can deal with any problems that may arrise. Suddenly the shadow of a giant creature emerges over the treeline. It has an oni in it's mouth and proceeds to devour it. The two men flee in fear while the large creature talks to Kohaku. Kohaku calls the man Kyokotsu and tells him it is his job to find more shards. Kyokotsu immediately notices that Kohaku has one and tries to kill him for it, but Kohaku quickly dodges and slices off his hand. Kyokotsu laughs it off and places his hand back on it's stump. Soon Koga comes across the demon who immediately desires the two shards in his legs. They battle it out, until Koga wrenches Kyokotsu's neck 180 degrees. The zombie falls but suddenly gets back up and grabs Koga. As Ayame, Ginta, and Hagaku watch, Koga rams his hand into Kyokotsu's forehead and rips out his Shikon shard. The creature's body begins to wither and die. Naraku's saimyosho return the Shikon jewel to Kohaku who is talking to someone else. Another member of the Shichinin-tai who has come back to life- Jakotsu.
Episode 103
Aired: 3/3/03
Shichinin-tai Yomigaeru
Revival of the Shichinintai
Inuyasha and the others are walking when they come across a few peasants standing in a field talking. Miroku goes and asks them what is going on, and they explain the rumors of the Shichinin-tai grave being destroyed and the men coming back to life. Down the road a ways Kirara suddenly reacts to Kohaku's scent and carries Sango off with her. Sango meets with Kohaku who is sitting in a tree with Naraku's wasps. At first he seems to be struggling to remember her, but he soon lashes out and tries to kill her. Sango refuses to fight back and tries to reason with him, until a smoking cloud begins to cover the forest floor. Kirara instinctively carries Sango away while Kohaku seeks higher ground in a tree. Cackling in a nearby tree is the hooded figure of Mukotsu. A group of samurai are charging down a road when they see a weird man up ahead. They come to a screeching halt when the Jakotsu absentmindedly refuses to get out of their way. He tells them he is the zombie they have been looking for and the commander orders his men to kill Jakotsu. The men take a knee and point ancient flintlock guns at him. Jakotsu is legitamately curious about what the men are pointing at him, when they fire off a round. Inuyasha smells blood in the air and begins to head towards the area where Jakotsu was just shot. Meanwhile Jakotsu is still standing, examining the bullet wound to his shoulder. The men prepare to shoot again, but this time he unleashes Jakotsuto, his trick sword. The blade quickly kills all the samurai. By the time Inuyasha arrives Jakotsu is still standing in the road, but has picked up one of the guns and is staring curiously down the business end of the barrel. Once he realizes that this person is -the- Inuyasha that he has been looking for he bursts out in a giddy glee over how cute he is. Miroku steps forward and gets the same treatment. Having heard enough he gets ready to unleash his Air Rip, but Kagome tells them that Jakotsu has a Shikon shard imbedded inside him. Inuyasha is going to have to cut it out, and so they begin their battle. Jakotsu seems to have the upper hand as his blows come from every direction. Inuyasha parries his blow and realizes that Jakotsu's sword can unfold many times allowing it to move like a snake. Jakotsu begins to gain the upper hand as he slices Inuyasha quite a few times. Sango arrives and uses Hiraikotsu to tangle Jaktosu's sword. Jaktosu's becomes livid that a woman would interrupt his fight and slices Sango's arm. This gives Inuyasha enough time to dash forward and punch Jakotsu hard enough to send him flipping backwards quite a few feet.
Episode 104
Aired: 3/10/03
Shinobiyori dokutsukai Mukotsu
The Stealthy Poison User, Mukotsu
Inuyasha and Jakotsu are battling it out when a short stocky figure appears on the ridge above them. Suddenly the area is filled with smoke and as soon as it touches Inuyasha his foot begins to burn. Jakotsu immediately flees as do Inuyasha and the others. In another part of the forest Sessho-maru, Rin, and Jaken are on the trail of Naraku, as they recall how Kohaku almost killed Rin. Shippo and Kagome head for a nearby well to refill their water supply when they come across a group of villagers that have died from the poison cloud that has appeared. Mukotsu, the poison user of the Shichinin-tai appears and captures Kagome when she falls to his poison. He manages to hold Miroku and Sango off, but Shippo escapes to go find Inuyasha who is off chasing Jakotsu. As this happens a peaceful Buddhist temple has a strangely dressed guest arrive. It is Renkotsu, another member of the Shichinin-tai. He immediately proceeds to kill all the monks living there. Deep in the woods Inuyasha is battling it out with Jakotsu. Shippo arrives and tells him Kagome is in trouble. Inuyasha heads back immediately, but Jakotsu tries to pursue him. Shippo crashes his flying toy horse into Jakotsu covering him in tiny screaming mushrooms. Meanwhile Mukotsu has taken Kagome into a village hut. She is semi-concious and he draps a cloth over her head and pretends that they are getting married. He dances around with her a bit and Kagome notices the shard in his throat. Miroku and Sango come crashing through the roof with Kirara, but Mukotsu makes quick work of them with his poison. Suddenly Kagome stabs him in the throat with pincers from the fire place and he bursts into tears over her betrayal. He punches her hard in the face and then starts to choke her to death when the back wall explodes revealing... Sessho-maru. Mukotsu tries to fight off Sessho-maru but his poisons are completely useless on the powerful demon. Sessho-maru kills him without batting an eye just as Inuyasha arrives. Unnoticed one of Naraku's wasps carries off Mukotsu's Shikon shard. Back at the temple Jakotsu and Renkotsu meet up to discuss what has happened and if either one of them has actually met Naraku. Renkotsu points out that only "elder brother Bankotsu" has met him. Jakotsu comments that only 4 of the Shichinin-tai are alive still and Renkotsu corrects him telling him there are still five (Jakotsu starts counting on his fingers to be sure). Deep in the forest the next killer from the Shichinin-tai arrives... Ginkotsu the machine man.
Episode 105
Aired: 3/17/03
Bukimina hagane no e soubi
The Strange Unfolding-Steel Weapon
Inuyasha, Shippo, and Kirara carry Kagome, Miroku, and Sango to safety after they were poisoned by Mukotsu. As they make their escape someone is hunting them as saw blades fly out of the thick woods. Inuyasha leaves everyone in a cave while he goes in search of the villian. In the distance he sees a shining object but realizes it was a decoy to lure him away. Kirara does her best to hold off the killer, Ginkotsu, but falls just as Inuyasha arrives. Ginkotsu manages to fire a few shots at the cave causing Inuyasha to order Shippo and Kirara to evacuate everyone. Meanwhile, Renkotsu is finishing burying the priests he murdered as Jakotsu hits the road in search of Inuyasha. Ginkotsu uses his saw blades and wires to keep Inuyasha from unleashing the Scar of the Wind but Inuyasha is able to get above him and use it to collapse the ground beneath him, crushing him. Kagome awakens in a temple where Shippo has sought shelter. The monk caring for them has a Shikon shard in his throat, but she is too weak to warn anyone. The monk is actually Renkotsu, and he places some insense that makes them fall into a deep slumber.
Episode 106
Aired: 4/14/03
Kagome, Miroku, Sango, zettai zetsumei
Kagome, Miroku & Sango in a Dangerous Situation
Inuyasha arrives at the Buddhist temple where Kagome, Miroku, Sango and Shippo are resting from the poisoning. There he meets Renkotsu, who has disguised himself as a Buddhist monk. He interrogates Inuyasha as to what he knows about Naraku, and attempts to learn what he can about why Naraku is after the Shikon shards. Myoga flies on the back of a crow and notices the giant gashes in the ground where Inuyasha's Scar of the Wind buried Genkotsu. Suddenly Genkotsu digs his way out and heads for the temple. Inuyasha hears a cannon shot outside and Ginkotsu is standing at the bottom of a flight of stairs. They begin their battle again, but this time Renkotsu joins in. Inuyasha did not suspect him of being a Shichinin-tai member, and it has cost him dearly. In the distance he sees embers of fire floating into the night sky. Renkotsu left Inuyasha's unconcious companions to burn to death. Elswhere Koga, Hagaku and Ginta are making their way through the countryside when they encounter Jakotsu. Koga and Jakotsu battle it out, to a standstill, but when Koga picks up Kagome's scent he rushes off leaving the battle unfinished. Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga is wrapped in chains by Ginkotsu and his is covered in flames by Renkotsu. A giant drill emerges from Ginkotsu's stomach, but in a bit of quick thinking, Inuyasha releases the Tetsusaiga and the taut chains cause it to go flying into Ginkotsu's stomach while chains lock up his drill. Inuyasha breaks free of Renkotsu's wires and slices Ginkotsu to pieces before rushing off to help Kagome and the others. Shippo has been doing his best to keep them save, and he erects a small shield. Kirara tries to help as well, but her injuries tire her out quickly. Naraku's wasps swoop in to gather the remains of Ginkotsu and carry them off while Renkotsu examines the shards he took from Kagome. Inuyasha arrives at the burning temple and Shippo gives him the sad news... they have all stopped breathing.
Episode 107
Aired: 4/21/03
Hajimete miseru Inuyasha no namida
The First Time I saw Inuyasha Cry
Inuyasha arrives in the burning temple and Shippo tells him they have all stopped breathing. He is shocked and in a fit of rage he uses the Scar of the Wind to blow the remaining flaming debris away from everyone. Myoga arrives and they carry the bodies out to a field by a stream. Shippo is in a constant crying fit, and Inuyasha blames himself for their apparent deaths. Sessho-maru momentarily arrives to chide his younger brother, but disappears before Inuyasha can strike out at him. In a cave Renkotsu is forging a new body for his injured comrade Ginkotsu, while Jakotsu sleepily looks on. Myoga tries to come up with an idea about how to save them, and Shippo says that last time they were poisoned Jinenji helped save them with his herbs. No herbs are available now, so Myoga sets out to suck the poison from them himself and revives them. Kagome wakes in Inuyasha's arms and everyone is shocked to see tears welling up in his eyes. Koga soon arrives and screams at Inuyasha for so recklessly endangering Kagome's life. This time though, Inuyasha does not disagree with him, which surprises Koga and leaves him with little to argue about. In a distant town, Kikyo arrives carrying the lock of the old theif's hair that she promised to take to Mount Hakurei. The villagers show her the broken shrine erected for the Shichinin-tai, and she meets the local doctor Suikotsu. He seems to be a very kind man who loves children, but Kikyo immediately notices he has a Shikon shard in his throat. The shard though is pure, rather than tained like those Naraku has. She notices a strange unease in the doctor though when a man comes in with a severely cut leg and needs treatment. He seems nervous around blood and after finishing with the patient he vigorous washes his hands even though they are are perfectly clean.
Episode 108
Aired: 4/28/03
Kegarinaki hikari no himitsu
The Secret of the Pure Aura
Late at night Kikyo wanders into the woods alone to feed on souls from her Soul Skimmers. She thinks over why a good man like Suikotsu would have a Shikon shard, and wonders why he seemed so uncomfortable around blood. Inuyasha and Miroku talk late into the night while the others sleep. They recount which of the Shichinin-tai have already been killed, and how. The next day Kagome says she can sense the presense of a Shikon shard and leads them to Suikotsu who is gathering herbs with two young children. Inuyasha attacks him, and the children become angry. Miroku decides that this plan isn't going to get them anywhere. In the village Kikyo is tending to Suikotsu's patients when an elderly man comes to talk to her. He tells her that there was once a member of the Shichinin-tai named Suikotsu as well, but he was an insane killer. Kikyo asks if they are the same person, and the old man seems mildly offended she would even suggest such a thing. As Inuyasha and Miroku stand around thinking of what to do next, a huge explosion and black smoke is spotted coming from the village. Suikotsu has already returned and stands beside Kikyo when Renkotsu and Jakotsu arrive, riding on the new and improved tank body of Ginkotsu. Inuyasha is shocked to see Kikyo there and then the battle ensues. Kikyo almost kills Jakotsu, but he dodges at the last second, and a shot from Ginkotsu's cannon wounds her causing many souls to spill out of her body. Inuyasha has his hands full dealing with Renkotsu, when suddenly the two children Suikotsu was with earlier run onto the battle field to try and protect him. Jakotsu notices them and decides to kill them. Suikotsu jumps into his blades path to save the children and is wounded severely. He hugs the children, but both Kagome and an injured Kikyo notice the glow from his Shikon shard has turned dark. Suddenly Suikotsu grabs one of the children by the throat and tries to strangle him. Inuyasha snatches the child, but Suikotsu annouces he has returned to the Shichinin-tai.
Episode 109
Aired: 5/5/03
Kiri ni kakereta Hakureizan he mukae
Heading to the Misty Mt. Hakurei
Renkotsu tosses Suikotsu his claws and Inuyasha must fight him hand to hand since he cannot reach Tetsusaiga. Suikotsu manages to get quite a few injuries inflicted to Inuyasha. The others are helplessly looking on as they are surrounded by Renkotsu's flames. Jakotsu sneaks up on the children and prepares to kill them, but when Suikotsu sees this, his head starts to hurt and Jakotsu realizes his doctor persona is trying to emerge again. Renkotsu figures out it is because they are so near to the pure barrier surrounding Mount Hakurei. Renkotsu commands Ginkotsu to run over Kikyo, who is lying unconcious from the mortar shell that landed next to her. Inuyasha has his hands full with Suikotsu, so Miroku has to make a daring last second save. Inuyasha manages to get Tetsusaiga, prompting the Shichinin-tai to retreat. Everyone goes to check on Kikyo, but they notice that her Soul Skimmers are being destoryed as they approach her due to the barrier of the mountain being so near. Inuyasha carries her off into the woods away from the barrier, and they share a quite moment while the others look on. The next day they follow in pursuit of the Shichinin-tai, while Kikyo stays behind. Kagome is not wanting to talk to Inuyasha, and Miroku tells him to give her some space. Of course he ignores Miroku and starts demanding to know what Kagome's problem is. She winds up telling him to "sit!" quite a few times in a row. The Shichinin-tai arrive at a cliff overlooking a large castle fortress where they finally meet up with Bankotsu, their long absent leader. His first order of business is to retrieve his halbeard that was taken by the lord of the castle when they were killed 10 years ago.
Episode 110
Aired: 5/12/03
Shichinin-tai no shuryou Bankotsu doujou
Enter, Bankotsu: Leader of the Shichinintai
Bankotsu sits atop a hillside overlooking a castle and attempting to write a threatening letter. Unfortunately he is illiterate, so when the rest of the Shichinin-tai arrive he asks Renkotsu to do it for him. The remaining five members of the group have reunited and seem quite pleased to all be back together again. They recount how it was this castle that they are looking down upon now where they were trapped and killed. When they were slain, Bankotsu's precious halbeard, Banryu was taken by the daimyou as a token of their victory over the Shichinin-tai. Now Bankotsu wants his blade back. Elsewhere Inuyasha and the others have finally arrived at the base of Mount Hakurei. Shippo and Kirara seem to be the worst off as the barrier has overpowered them and knocked them unconcious. Inuyasha tries to pass through but is elecricuted until he turns back. Even Miroku, a human, says the barrier's intensity makes him uncomfortable, while Sango and Kagome say they cannot feel a thing. They try to force Miroku to go throught the barrier, but he flees in terror before they can. The Shichinin-tai make quick work of the castle guards and Bankotsu storms into the palace to find his halbeard. He's very pleased to see to be reunited with his old partner and proceeds to cut off a few heads. After ransacking the castle, they stop in a small village for some refreshments. Bankotsu complains that they could have had their way with some women, but Jakotsu murdered them all. Just then Koga arrives ready to settle the score with the Shichinin-tai for poisoning Kagome. Five against one are bad odds, even for Koga, and he is barely able to dodge all the attacks hurled at him. Just as Bankotsu seems to be ready to strike the deathblow, Inuyasha arrives and parries Banryu with the Tetsusaiga.
Episode 111
Aired: 5/19/03
Gekitotsu! Banryuu vs Kaze no Kizu!
Clash! Banryuu vs. the Wind's Scar
As Koga is becoming overwhelmed by the attacks of the Shichinin-tai, Inuyasha and the others arrive in the nick of time to save him. He seems a little resentful, but Bankotsu is certainly glad to meet up with Inuyasha, who he has heard so much about. The two go at it immediately, and Banryu and Tetsusaiga seem evenly matched. Meanwhile Jaken and Rin are waiting for Sessho-maru to return. He has picked up Kohaku's scent and is still holding a grudge for the last time they met when he tried to kill Rin. Jaken babysits Rin while he is away, but she spots Kohaku and follows him through Mount Hakurei's barrier. Because it is lethal to demons, Jaken and Sessho-maru cannot follow after her. She follows the boy into a cave and he notices her. She is happy to see that he is his nicer self rather than the way he was when he tried to murder her. Inside the cave they are shocked to find a horde of small demons, and a mysteriously wonder how they could have penetrated the mountain's barrier. Back at the battle Renkotsu realizes that Kagome can see his shards. He has two in his body and four that he stole from her at the temple. If Bankotsu finds out, it could cost him his life. Renkotsu decides to try to kill Kagome in the melee, but Koga manages to save her. Miroku and Sango have their hands full with Suikotsu and Jakotsu respectively. Eventually Naraku's hell wasps arrive and while Bankotsu pays attention to them, Inuyasha unleases the Scar of the Wind. Everyone expects Bankotsu to have been killed, but by hiding behind his massive blade he manages to survive. Banryu, his halbeard, has seen better days though. It has a large gash in the blade. The wasps instruct Bankotsu to leave and then a familar face bursts from the ground... Naraku. Inuyasha makes short work of the Naraku puppet and Koga dashes off to catch the Shichinin-tai. Inuyasha plans to follow, but Kagome stops him. The remains of the puppet are unusual. They have none of Naraku's miasma, and they also smell like flowers. It's essence is very pure, unusually so. The fleeing Shichinin-tai soon come across a small girl in the mist. It's Kanna with Kohaku. Bankotsu is extremely angry that he was not told about Inuyasha's dangerous technique that almost killed him. When Kanna starts to speak, Bankotsu angrily slams his massive blade into the ground mere inches from her face and points to the nick in the blade. Kanna tells him to use the extra shards to repair and power-up his Banryu. Bankotsu was unaware of any excess shards, but Kanna tells him that Renkotsu is carrying them. At first Renkotsu plays dumb, but when he is staring down the business end of Banryu, his attitude changes. With the blade powered up, Kanna shows them Sessho-maru in her mirror. He needs to be dealt with, and Bankotsu decides to send Jakotsu and Suikotsu to handle it.
Episode 112
Aired: 5/26/03
Konen ni ukabu shoushima no kekkai
The Barrier of Hijiri Island, Floating on a Lake
From a lakeside village, a middle-aged man and young boy witness a strange light burst from the nearby forest, streak across the sky and ‘crash’ into a small island in the middle of the serene lake at the foot of a mountain. The man is head of the village and keeper of a holy shrine located on the island, Hiriji Island, at the base of sacred Mt. Hakurei. Ancestral duty decrees he must go and check on the shrine’s safety. The boy, his son and heir, Shintaro, asks to join him but the father refuses: if anything happens to him, Shintaro inherits the responsibility for both the village and shrine. Shintaro watches fearfully, as his father sails off into the mist of the lake. Elsewhere, Inuyasha, Miroku, Kagome & Shippo explore near a small stream. Inuyasha is literally trying to “sniff out” the source of Naraku’s latest puppet which had an unusually ‘pure‘ scent of flowers and water. While the land search continues Sango and Kirara search by air. Approaching Mt. Hakurei, Sango and Kirara try to break thru its purity barrier, only to end in a dramatic crash. After rejoining the team, Sango reports the sacred mountain’s barrier is very strong, confirming suspicions Naraku is very close. The team decides to investigate the lake by Mt Hakurei. Back at lakeside village, two weeks have passed since Shintaro’s father went to the sacred island, but he hasn‘t returned. Shintaro begs the village elders to for a boat so he can go to the sacred island and look for his father, but they refuse. With impeccable timing, enter Inuyasha and company, who join the conversation in time to hear the enticing word “sacred “: they want to know more. Shintaro takes them home for some story exposition and to meet his three lovely sisters. Shintaro explains that for over 100 years, his male ancestors were entrusted with the care of the shrine on Hijiri Island, a task assigned by the great priest Hakushin, a Living Buddha. Over the years, only Shintaro’s male kin can set foot on the holy island without fear of being cursed. Shintaro tells the team about his father’s failure to return from going to investigate the weird light. All signs point to Naraku, so it’s off to Hijiri Island with Shintaro. (But not before Miroku makes his usual proposition to Shintaro’s three lovely sisters, earning him the “baka bash“ of the week from Sango-chan!) During the boat trip across the lake, Shippo and Kirara become weak and drained. Shintaro explains Hakushin‘s spiritual energy created a purity barrier around Mt. Hakurei that not only cleanses human sin, but also eliminates evil energy and ’purifies’ demons (as in “poof”, gone!). Kagome wonders how Naraku could be involved with something so opposite, and deadly, to his evil demonic nature. Arriving at the island, Inuyasha, Kagome & Shintaro, forge ahead, forcing their way thru a milder, local purity barrier and land in a field of flowers. Inuyasha recognizes the same floral sent as Naraku’s puppet. Shintaro remarks the flowers weren't there before, and Inuyasha senses a trap. The others arrive just as Shintaro also notices Hakushin’s shrine is in ruins. Running towards it, he trips over the skeletal remains of his father. Examining the corpse, Miroku determines it’s the work of Naraku’s youkai. Kagome suddenly senses a presence of Shikon shards. Split seconds later, Bankotsu bursts out of hiding from the ruined shrine brandishing his Shikon-enhanced halberd, Banyruu. Yep: trap, all right! Evil Bankotsu isn’t too comfortable on the island, either, thanks to the barrier: he‘s cranky and eager to resume his fight with Inuyasha. They engage, and Inuyasha tries to use his Kaze no Kizu attack, but it won’t work because of the barrier: the katanna’s been purified. Inuyasha is at a dangerous disadvantage and he struggles to hold his own against Bankotsu. Shintaro races to the shrine to pray for help from Hakushin with Kagome hot on his heels. When they arrive, they discover the remains of the great priest are missing! If priest wasn’t generating the island’s new barrier, who or what, is? Enlisting Miroku’s help, Kagome and Shintaro scramble for answers while the battle between Bankotsu and Inuyasha rages on. They need to find the source of the barrier, so Miroku borrows some “demon power” from the ailing Shippo by touching a batch of o fuda (prayer papers) to the child’s head and flinging them to the winds. The o fuda find their target -- the source of the barrier is a dokko - altar equipment used Hakushin. Acting quickly, Miroku and Shintaro bust the seal around the dokko and end the purity barrier. The flowers vanish, all the demonic types feel better, and the Tessaiga's demon power is restored (a “win-win” for Inuyasha!). Problem is, Bankotsu is feeling perkier, too. Now the barrier’s gone, it can’t cramp his style, either. He’s ready to finish off Inuyasha with the super-charged Banryuu.
Episode 113
Aired: 6/2/03
Shounaru dokko to chikashimi butsu no nazo
Mystery of the Dokko of Hijiri & the Sokushinbutsu
The island purity barrier may be gone, but the situation remains grim: Bankotsu is eager to conclude his fight with Inuyasha. Although injured by the earlier pounding, Inuyasha responds to Bankotsu’s taunting by releasing his Kaze no Kizu attack. Bakotsu blocks with his own special attack, the Banryuusen - the Banryuu Flash. No problem: Inuyasha tries to use his Bakuryuuha attack. Big problem: Bankotsu may be evil, but he’s no demon, and the Bakuryuuha attack won’t work on him. As the dust settles, Inuyasha searches for a weakness in Bankotsu and his weapon. The overly confident, Bankotsu provides the answer himself by bragging about the Shikon jewel repair to Banryuu. Kagome senses the shards within the weapon have been corrupted, and coaches Inuyasha to aim his Bakuryuuha attack at the weapon, and not the warrior. Before Inuyasha can launch the attack however, Bankotsu releases a particularly nasty attack of his own: the Ryuuraisen, or “Dragon Lightening Flash”. Calling down a storm of lethal lightening which surpasses even the late Thunder Brothers best efforts. Bankotsu opens up the sky releasing all manner of electrical mayhem onto the good guys. When the smoke clears, our heroes are down for the count. The only one still conscious is Inuyasha, who is in extremely rough shape. Bakotsu continues to taunt him, preparing the final blow, which gives Inuyasha just enough time to get really mad. Before Bankotsu can finish him off, the angry Inuyasha fights back with vengeance. But, just when the battle turns in favor of the good guys, Hakushin’s dokken (the alter piece, remember?) flies thru the air, collides with Tessaiga and renders the katanna powerless again. Bad for Inuyasha but good for the rest of the team: the collision releases purifying, healing energy that revives the Kagome and the others. As they recuperate, the unfortunate Inuyasha has to fight a lethal foe with a dysfunctional weapon ... again! Bankotsu tries to deliver yet another final blow to Inuyasha (this time for sure!), when a glowing arrow pierces his sword arm ‘purifying’ Bankotsu’s flesh from wrist to elbow. While Bankotsu broods over his injury, the dokko starts to pulse with power, creating a new barrier and transporting Bankotsu away from the island. He and the dokko both disappear leaving Inuyasha and team others left with more questions than answers. Bankotsu finds himself in a misty room, feeling lousy. Two small figures emerge out of the mist: Kohaku and Kanna. Although he asks them where he is, Bankotsu gets no answer, so he follows the children further into the building ending up in a shrine room. On a platform sits a figure which Bankotsu realizes must be the remains of Hakushin, the priest he’d heard Inuyasha and the others talk about. Hakushin: the holy man responsible for creating the purity barrier surrounding Mt. Hakurei. In series of quick cuts: Inuyasha and the gang take Shintaro home, and say their goodbyes. This gives Miroku a last opportunity at the three sisters, only to be thwarted again by Sango. (Nice to see another couple enjoying a dysfunctional relationship...) We also catch up with Koga and his chums, Ginta and Hakkaku. They’ve been pursuing the Shichinin-tai towards the mountain, too, and Koga just knows they’re hiding inside Mt. Hakurei’s barrier. He’s determined to find and destroy them. Elsewhere on the mountain we discover Sesshoumaru, Jaken and Rin have arrived. On a high cliff, overlooking a misty valley, Jaken suffers from the purity barrier; Rin enjoys the scenery and Sesshoumaru broods, reflecting upon Naraku’s odd strategy involving the sacred mountain. Flashback to Kikyo, as she says her farewells to the children of Suikotsu’s village and starts her journey to Mt. Hakurei. As Kikyo nears the mountain, her strength wanes. Meanwhile Inuyasha and Kagome stand at the base of Mt. Hakurei. Inuyasha can feel the growing strength of the barrier. Although it’s seems impossible, they all sense Naraku is hiding on the mountain somewhere, somehow. Inuyasha can‘t chase Naraku safely into the barrier because he’s half demon. Neither Koga nor Sesshoumaru can pursue him there, because they’re full demons. Even Kikyo can’t enter the barrier. The purity of the mountain protects Naraku from all his adversaries however humans can enter the barrier, so Sango & Miroku volunteer scout the mountain and locate Naraku‘s whereabouts. All Inuyasha and Kagome can do is watch while Sango & Miroku leave on their mission, and trust they‘ll be all right.
Episode 114
Aired: 6/9/03
Tetsusaiga no kokou naru tatakai
Koga's Isolated Battle
Koga races through the mist of Mt. Hakurei followed closely by Hakkaku, Ginta and the wolf pack. Hakkaku and Ginta complain they are exhausted from running, frustrated by the barrier, and just want to go home, but Koga is on a mission and he won’t give up. While Koga lays down the law to the beta wolf demons, Renkotsu and Ginkotsu observe the pack from within the safety of the barrier. As Koga rants, the Shichinin-tai open fire, aiming for the Shikon jewel shards in Koga’s legs. Elsewhere on the mountain, Kagome, Inuyasha, Shippo and Kirara wait for Sango and Miroku to return from their reconnaissance. The barrier is starting to have a bad effect on Inuyasha, and he struggles discretely to fight it without alarming Kagome and the others. Shippo wonders how Miroku and Sango are doing, especially since Miroku is alone with Sango. Koga’s bravura wears thin in battle as the two Shichinin-tai continue to bombard him with cannon fire. They are protected from counter attack by Mt. Hakurei’s demon-proof barrier. All Koga can do is dodge the deadly salvos, and try to lure his adversaries out into unprotected open ground. Koga continues to evade incoming fire from the Shichinin-tai while Hakkaku and Ginta watch helplessly. Renkotsu adds his flame attack to the fracas as Ginkotsu continues to pepper Koga with mortar fire. When the smoke clears, Koga is gone! Certain he’s blown to bits, Renkotsu and Ginkotsu move outside the barrier to retrieve Koga’s Shikon shards. Koga bursts out of hiding, launching a surprise attack of his own. He’s ready to destroy the Shichinin-tai by removing their Shikon jewel shards. Koga places himself between the Ginkotsu, Renkotsu and the barrier cutting off their retreat. Though deprived access to the barrier, the Shichinin-tai point out they can go anywhere, but Koga is trapped against a demon-lethal barrier. Ginkotsu releases another barrage of mortar fire as Koga rushes Renkotsu, and slashing him, in an attempt remove his Shikon shards. The attack on Renkotsu makes Ginkotsu really mad. Ginkotsu undergoes a sequence of mechanical changes as he prepares his retaliatory attack against Koga. Amazed, but not daunted, Koga launches himself directly at Ginkotsu, who counters by launching his upper body back at Koga. They clash in airborne fury until gravity takes its toll and they crash to earth. Ginkotsu is wrecked, but he has one last offensive maneuver -- a self-destruct mode. He explodes, taking Koga with him. On their part of the mountain, Inuyasha senses something bad. He grabs Kagome, Shippo and Kirara without much explanation and they speed off towards the disturbance. More bad guys converge upon Mt. Hakurei -- Jakotsu and Suikotsu. They’re have an objective ... At a much quieter part of the mountain, Sesshoumaru, Jaken and Rin stand before a rope bridge. Before they can cross, Sesshoumaru senses a presence, leaps into action and is immediately attacked by Jakotsu’s Jakotsutou -- Snake Bone Sword. The new Shichinin-tai objective is to eliminate Sessho-maru. Cut to Renkotsu, staggering through the mountain mist. He holds a Shikon shard, which Ginkotsu fired off to him, before he self-destructed. Renkotsu grasps the jewel tightly as he mourns his comrade. Inuyasha, Kagome and the little ones arrive at Koga’s battleground. There are pieces of Ginkotsu everywhere, and Hakkaku and Ginta cry hysterically over Koga’s body, which is pinned beneath Ginkotsu‘s wreckage. Ginta and Hakkaku are certain Koga is dead. He certainly looks dead, but after a little coaxing, Koga regains consciousness. He‘s badly injured but alive. Even Inuyasha, is relieved until Koga grabs Kagome’s hand -- and the usual reaction from Inuyasha threatens -- however, in a remarkable display of maturity, there is no necessity for Kagome to issue a “Sit” command. As Inuyasha surveys the physical and emotional damage inflicted on Koga and the others, Inuyasha renews his oath of vengeance against the Shichinin-tai and Naraku.
Episode 115
Aired: 6/16/03
Suikomareru kuroi hikari
Swallowed by the Black Light
Sun filters down through the dense, misty forest canopy. Kikyo travels alone in this enchanted wood, her thoughts consumed with Naraku and his presence at Mt. Hakurei. Kikyo is not alone in this mystic landscape; up the path, Bankotsu sits and mourns fallen comrades with sake, bitterly confronting his own renewed mortality. Angry and resigned, Bankotsu picks up Banryuu and resumes his journey of death and destruction. He crosses paths with Kikyo: each senses the other’s identity and Kikyo challenges him to fight. Bankotsu accepts. Kikyo, however hesitates, asking Bankotsu why he chose continue an evil life again rather than use the gift of the Shikon shards to reform for the better. Bankotsu answers that he likes the way he is, bloodthirsty. He believes there is nothing after death and when you’re dead, you’re dead. Kikyo takes exception to his statements but Bankotsu tells her to mind her own business. Shouldering Banryuu, he says his good bye and suggests they both try to live as along as they can. On the slopes of Mt. Hakurei, Sessho-maru confronts Jakotsu at the edge of a hazy gorge. Sessho-maru recognizes Jakotsu’s scent as belonging to the Shichinin-tai and Jakotsu knows Sessho-maru is related to Inuyasha. Jakotsu makes the mistake of declaring that fact as he commences his attack on Sessho-maru, who powerfully retaliates. Concerned that Rin will be caught in the battle, Sessho-maru orders Jaken to remove the girl from danger. Jaken takes the child, and they start to cross a suspended bridge to the other side of the chasm. The escape is short lived: Suikotsu approaches the pair ominously from the other side. While Sessho-maru gracefully dodges and attacks Jakotsu, Jaken struggles with Suikotsu. The feisty goblin manages to ward off Suikotsu with his ninja stuck, but at a price: the flames from his weapon severely damage the bridge. As Jaken and Rin flee back to Sessho-maru, Suikotsu strikes again and the bridge collapses plummeting the three into the vapor below. Sessho-maru eludes Jakotsu’s final attack winning the bout and humiliating the miserable ronin. He wastes no time jumping into the abyss to rescue Rin. Jakotsu’s shame being beaten by Inuyasha’s brother turns his thoughts back to confronting Inuyasha personally: that make’s Jakotsu happy. Jakotsu, however, is the last thing on Inuyasha’s mind; he, Kagome, Shippo and Kirara are transporting the wounded Koga and pack-mates, Hakkaku & Ginta to a safe place so they can heal. Not even Inuyasha knows where they are going -- just that they have to find somewhere secure where the Shichinin-tai can’t attack Koga for his jewel shards. They race on, looking for shelter. Back at the bottom of the gorge, Sessho-maru discovers a river. The scent trail reveals that Rin was carried away, but he finds Jaken. The goblin is scuffed up, but revives when it’s time to brown-nose the boss. Sessho-maru sets off in search of Rin with Jaken following on his heels. It turns out that Rin was carried away, but not by the river - Suikotsu has her. Suikotsu appears to be back to his “Good Dr.” mode, putting the child at ease as they return to his village and the other children. Scaling Mt. Hakurei, Miroku and Sango discover a cave and enter to explore. Kohaku and Kanna observe them. Also recently arrived near the mountain is Kikyo, who picks up the energy of Suikotsu‘s jewel from the nearby village. At Suikotsu's house in the village, the orphans cautiously greet his return. Jakotsu has followed him to observe, disgusted Suikotsu’s “Good.” personality is back. Jakotsu is thrilled and the orphans appalled as they witness Suikotsu suddenly slaughter a group of visiting villagers. Rin uses the carnage as an opportunity to escape but is snared by the lurking Jakotsu. Sessho-maru travels towards the village, too, having picked up the sent of the Shichinin-tai -- where they are, Rin is sure to be. Kikyo also converges on the settlement, deeply concerned for safety of Suikotsu’s orphans. At the village itself, Jakotsu is delighted that Suikotsu has regained his ‘killer‘ personality; so is Suikotsu. The claw-handed Shichinin-tai is poised, ready to shred the orphans to bits. Suikotsu is about to strike the deathblow when he is paralyzed as Kikyo’s image flashes on his mind.
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