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Season Six Episodes Summary
Episodes 141 to 147
Opening Theme: Grip! (96-127) & One Day, One Dream (128-153) & Angelus (154-167)
Ending Themes: Itazura na Kiss (109-127) & Come (128-148) & Brand New World (149-155) & My Will (156-157)
Series Director: Yasunao Aoki
Producers: Michihiko Suwa, Hideyuki Tomioka
Music: Kaoru Wada
Character Designs: Yoshihito Hishinuma
Art Director: Shigemi Ikeda
Episode 141
Aired: 2/9/04
Tokihanatareta uma honoo hizume
The Released Demon Horse, Entei
An elderly Shinto priest’s peaceful evening meditation comes to a cruel end at the hands of unwelcome visitors to the shrine - Kagura and Naraku’s evil infant creature. Kagura savagely attacks the old priest, allowing him to survive just long enough for the dreadful baby to wrench information from the dying man. On the road, again, Inuyasha and the others approach a village. Kagome is delighted - she’s hungry, ready for a break and eager to get to their destination. Sango, however, is less enthusiastic about the village - she senses something evil within the town. They arrive in the village and discover it was attacked, sustaining a lot of damage. A village elder welcomes the team, and tells them demons killed the village priest and caused all the destruction. Surveying the village, Inuyasha gets a whiff of something evil and leads the team to the ruins of the village shrine. What’s left of the building glows hot with energy and out of the rubble emerge three hostile demons who attack them. Inuyasha executes the demonic trio earning the team a hot meal and a roof for the night. While the gang dines, their elderly host tells them more about the demons who heaped such destruction on his village. It wasn’t the three demons Inuyasha killed, but a lone female who carried a baby with her. Kagura! The team speculates why she’s conducting this murderous reign of terror and the elder wonders if Kagura is attempting to release a powerful demon sealed nearby - a horse demon, or ‘Youba’, called Entei. The village elder spins a tale how a local priest, a demon slayer, sealed the creature after it’s destructive rampage years before. Elsewhere, an elderly priest tells the same story to his young disciples. He is the same priest responsible for sealing the demon so long ago. The old men weave a story of fear, mayhem, and death beneath the flaming, deadly hooves of Entei. The elderly priest tells the young monks he barely managed to seal the creature with his powers. Back at the village, Inuyasha and the others decide to pay a visit to the old hero and his shrine before Kagura beats them there first. At the temple, the old priest’s story is interrupted by the arrival of Kagura and the baby. Kagura attacks the elderly man as the young monks watch helplessly. However, the old priest has one last trick up his sleeve. When Kagura places the baby on him to steal his thoughts, the priest removes a holy dokko concealed within his robes and it’s power blasts the infant in two. It is the same relic he used to seal Entei. Kagura gathers up the bits of baby and flees the shrine, not sure what to do. During her flight, she encounters Naraku’s insects that guide her to Kanna. Kanna takes half of the baby back to Naraku and orders Kagura to keep the other half and protect it. Inuyasha and the team arrive at the shrine and find a dead priest and two young monks in hysterics. The monks tell them what happened, describing who committed the murder: Kagura and the baby. Their story reveals the reason for Kagura’s priestly killing spree. According to the monks, before their master died, he spoke of the ‘boundary between this world and the next” to his killers. Kagura came to the shrine seeking information about the last jewel shard’s location, not to release Entei as suspected. Regardless of Kagura’s motives, Entei is released from his mountain prison and immediately runs wild, wrecking havoc and destruction. Inuyasha and the team attempt to stop the beast, but the creature is a fleet and powerful opponent. No attack they can level at the demon stops its relentless violence. The team barely escapes being vaporized by a powerful blast from the creature before it flies off into the night. They learn the hard way that Entei is a deadly and formidable new foe. Meanwhile, Kagura bides her time, hiding with her half of the evil baby. A stirring of power catches her attention and she watches in amazement as the lifeless bundle she was ordered to protect starts to change. It moves and grows. A child-like hand bursts from the bundle of rags, fingers eagerly grasping for a hold on the world.
Episode 142
Aired: 2/16/04
Bousou Entei to senritsu no Hakudoshi
Out-of-Control Entei & Terrifying Hakudoushi
In a secluded cave inside a remote mountain Kagura holds a vigil over her half of the ‘split’ infant. The small bundle begins to stir with power, growing, and emitting a powerful energy that engulfs the cave, the mountainside and the valley below. Elsewhere, Inuyasha and the team pursue Entei. The fleet demon’s destination is the cave where his former partner, a bloodthirsty oni, is sealed. Entei releases the creature as Inuyasha arrives at the scene. Inuyasha struggles to stop the diabolical pair until the rest of the team arrives but the oni and Entei escape. Kagura, meanwhile, angrily searches for clothing for the child, as ordered. Her travels take her over a town in flames. Kagura stops to investigate the destruction (and loot clothing for the child) when she encounters Entei and it’s oni rider. The oni tries to worm information from Kagura, but she ignores him and takes off on her feather. Not to be overlooked, the oni chases Kagura across the night sky, lobbing a volley of fireballs at her. Reluctant to reveal the boy’s hiding spot, Kagura drops the new kimono near the hidden cave, leading Entei away from the boy. The chase ends in an open field and Kagura confronts the oni. Her attack is interrupted by the arrival of an elegantly clad boy who introduces himself as Hakudoshi. Entei spots the boy and immediately forsakes its old partner for a more powerful new master. The oni attacks Hakudoshi, but the child dispatches his powerful opponent smoothly and smugly. Hakudoshi approaches Entei and saddles up. Later, Inuyasha and the team encounter the razed town where they find evidence of Entei. Abruptly, everyone senses the approach of an incredible amount of power and watch as the clouds part revealing Entei. The creature returns to the scene of the massacre with a demonic whinny and a blast of demon fire. A potent barrier surrounds the creature repelling the power of Tetsusaiga, protecting it, and it’s diminutive new rider. From atop Entei, Hakudoshi greets his opponents arrogantly, bragging how Entei has chosen him for his new rider. He also tells the team he is the baby they thought was destroyed. Miroku questions Hakudoshi about priest killings and if the rumors were true about the Shikon shard lost within the boundary between this world and the next. Hakudoshi confirms the information, telling Miroku he ought to be grateful for the clue. Irritated by the boy’s attitude, Inuyasha blasts Hakudoshi but, Hakudoshi’s barrier repels Tetsusaiga’s power, and the demonic duo escape. Kagura joins Hakudoshi’s flight and, as they travel, Kagura asks what’s next. Hakudoshi has a new plan. The last priest who died gave him a mental picture of a world of white fog, and he wants to know more. The boy concludes humans won’t have the answer he needs, but perhaps demons do. Back at camp, Kagome hears someone crashing through the woods. She call’s Inuyasha’s name, expecting him to answer, but is shocked when a gigantic, headless creature stumbles blindly out of the forest and into the camp. Kagome and Shippo run, but Kagome stumbles and falls. Kagome and Shippo are about to be crushed by the mammoth demon when Inuyasha rockets out of the woods, destroying the monster. While Shippo rants at Inuyasha for being gone, Inuyasha apologizes to Kagome for his absence. Further examination of the body reveals a sloppy swordsman severed the demon’s head. Flash back to Hakudoshi standing in a forest clearing holding a very large halberd. A huge demon approaches the boy and, wielding his weapon, Hakudoshi leaps up and slices off the creature’s head. He drags it back to Entei and places the head on top of a pile of other severed heads. Watching, Kagura wonders what the boy is planning.
Episode 143
Aired: 2/23/04
Chichi wo tazunete sanzenri
3,000 Leagues in Search of Father
The team encounters a group of villagers who tell of headless demon on a rampage in the area. Inuyasha and the team investigate the phenomena and the trail leads them into the forest. Inuyasha doesn’t need to his keen sense of smell to track the creature; the demon left a path of destruction a blind man could follow! Moving deeper into the woods, pandemonium breaks loose. A small child with huge bundle runs screaming out of the forest, just steps ahead of a huge, headless monster. Shippo snatches the child out of harm’s way while Inuyasha confronts the juggernaut. Before Inuyasha can attack, the child tackles him, screaming for him to stop! Shippo leaps into the fracas, trying to pry the child off Inuyasha. During the tussle, the headless demon slams down a huge fist nearly pulverizing the trio, and sends them flying. The child falls to the ground transforming into its true form, a little demon. Inuyasha grabs the kid, demanding to know what’s going on. The youngster tells him the headless demon may be his father. When Inuyasha points out the lack of resemblance, the little demon agrees and Inuyasha obliterates the behemoth. The youngster introduces himself as Kanta, a kwauso (otter). Kanta tells the team that three days before, a strange boy appeared on a demon horse while he and his father fished in the river. He witnessed the boy behead and his father. Although the boy seemed to want the head, it fell into the river and was washed away and the boy left. The team agrees the culprit was Hakudoshi! Kanta was able to retrieve his dad’s head but while he searched for it, his father’s body wandered away. The child is searching for the rest of his father, hoping to reunite the pieces in time to save his life. Shippo volunteers Inuyasha’s help, telling Kanta how Inuyasha helped him avenge his father’s death. Shippo’s high praise for Inuyasha’s prowess, however, quickly disintegrates earning him a smack on the head from his ‘hero‘! Kanta is still thrilled to have such a strong (if flawed!) champion on his side. In a secluded house, Hakudoshi interrogates his collection of demon heads for information about the boundary to the netherworld. All the heads tell the same story about a land of white mist and nothing else. One by one, he scans the disembodied heads -- but not without some resistance on the part of the heads themselves ... Elsewhere, Rin and Jaken do the usual - wait for Sessho-maru. Sessho-maru has been especially moody since his encounter with Naraku at Mount Hakurei. Indeed, we find Sessho-maru poised on a breezy hillside, brooding. He is troubled: Tenseiga is trying to ‘tell him something’ but it’s message eludes him. Back in the village, Kanta’s headless Papa stumbles into town, terrifying the villagers. The frightened people attack on the poor demon’s body, turning it into a pincushion full of arrows and spears. Inuyasha and the others arrive in time to witness the panic. They follow the scent trail, discovering Kanta’s father’s body has blindly crawled its way to Sessho-maru. Kanta is distraught to see his father’s desperate condition. Inuyasha and company are stunned to see Sessho-maru. Sessho-maru regards everyone with his usual aloof distain. Kanta and Shippo leap into action and try to put Kanta’s Dad together again. It’s futile: the otter demon is dead and Kanta grieves hysterically. Inuyasha confronts Sessho-maru, demanding to know why he’s there, but Sessho-maru ignores him, and turns to leave. Kagome tries to stop Sessho-maru, pleading for his help with Tenseiga. Sessho-maru tells Kagome it’s not his business. Shippo bravely assumes advocacy for Kanta and his Dad. Frightened and teary, he blocks Sessho-maru’s way, begging him for help. Unmoved by Shippo, Sessho-maru tries to leave, then stops -- Tenseiga is pulsing! The sword ‘tells’ him to save Kanta’s father. With a sweep of the blade, Tenseiga restores Kanta’s father to life. As Kanta’s Dad recovers, he tells everyone about his ‘death’ experience in a strange land filled with white mist and the large, skeletal remains of other demons. Sessho-maru departs before Kanta and his dad can thank him. Enroute, Sessho-maru ponders the demon’s story. Kanta and his Dad also part company with Inuyasha and the others. Continuing the trek, Miroku wonders why Hakodoshi is so obsessed with such a strange place. Inuyasha and Kagome both know why: they’ve been to the place described by Kanta’s Dad --it’s the demon graveyard. The final resting-place of Inuyasha’s father.
Episode 144
Aired: 3/1/04
Housenki to saigo no kakera
Housenki and the Final Shards
Inuyasha wanders an eerie, skeletal landscape of white mist. The fog dissolves, revealing the enormous remains of his father. An image of the black pearl appears. Inuyasha jolts awake - it was just a dream - recollection of the place where he obtained the Tetsuagia. Watching the sunrise, Inuyasha remembers the black pearl embedded in his eye is the key that can open the door to the netherworld and the last Shikon fragment. Leaving the team, he goes ahead to find Myoga and a way to retrieve the pearl once more. Kagome and the others follow Inuyasha later. As they travel, Kagome tells the others the story of the black pearl, it's history and its ability to open up the netherworld. Inuyasha arrives at Toto-sai’s foundry where Myoga is currently staying. After interrogating his diminutive retainer, Inuyasha learns the black pearl is useless as a portal. It performed its task as a gateway and is now inert. Toto-sai tells Inuyasha he's crazy to look for a Shikon shard in the netherworld - no way one could have gone there! Myoga agrees - if there had been a shard of the Shikon jewel in that place, Kagome would have sensed it when she and Inuyasha went there to claim Tetsuagia. If Kagome didn't notice one then, why would one be there now? Inuyasha insists things have changed, and they have to beat Naraku to the fragment currently hidden there. He succeeds in convincing Myoga about the shard and the flea tells him about Housenki - the demon that created the black pearl. Perhaps Housenki can provide them with another jeweled portal. Armed with the information, Inuyasha and the team set off to visit Housenki. Everyone else is on the move, too. A quarreling Hakudoshi and Kagura trail Inuyasha's group. Kohaku, Kanna and the second baby travel to meet Naraku. Sessho-maru and his entourage follow Kohaku's scent - convinced it will lead to Naraku. The path to Housenki is difficult: Inuyasha must climb a steep cliff. (Everyone else on the team takes the easy way -- riding Kirara and "balloon" Shippou). Reaching the summit, Inuyasha is greeted by the business end of Hakudoshi's spear! Hakudoshi, however, just stopped by to taunt. He welcomes the competition, is pleased to compete with the team for the last jewel, and departs leaving behind an outraged Inuyasha. When the team arrives at Housenki’s, they discover the demon has died, leaving his son the trade. The son is willing to help them, but advises it will 100 years before another jewel is ready to open the gate. The unwelcome news further frustrates Inuyasha. They have to find another route to the netherworld. Elsewhere Hakudoshi hatches a plan, dispatching Kagura with a message for Inuyasha. Kanna and Kohaku meet Naraku. Sessho-maru picks up Naraku’s scent and hastens towards its source. As Inuyasha and the team discuss options around the campfire, Kagura appears with a message from Hakudoshi. She tells them about a gateway which exists in the Country of Fire. If they want to enter the netherworld, they should go there and use the entrance. No one, including Kagura, knows why Hakudoshi is being so generous with such critical information.
Episode 145
Aired: 3/8/04
Ano yo to no sakai ni iyouna monban
The Bizaare Sentries at the Gate to the Other World
Kagura’s information about a portal to the boundary world leads Inuyasha and the team, including Myoga, on a perilous journey to the desolate Country of Fire. On the way, they notice they have an escort - Naraku’s Saimyoushou. Although they know they are being watched, and suspect a set-up by Naraku and Hakudoshi, they continue their quest for the final shard. The team’s sixth sense is accurate. Hakudoshi is plotting something rotten and he dispatches Kagura to the Country of Fire with an assignment! The Saimyoushou lead the group to a cave inside the caldera of a volcano. Once inside, the passage opens up into a mamoth chamber. The team follows a grotesque path littered with the bones of dead demons. The path terminates at a huge chained door, guarded by two enormous, ancient statues. Inuyasha moves towards the door but is frozen in his tracks when a booming, disembodied voice asks” Do you want to pass?” Inuyasha’s ill-advised answer is obvious … yes, he does. The ‘”statues” posing the question are Gozu and Mezu, gatekeepers of the underworld. The only way to “pass through the gate” is to become one of the dead and the behemouths are ready to help Inuyasha fulfill his request. However, Inuyasha has other ideas. He battles the giants but discovers that Tetsuaiga is powerless against the two supernatural giants. (Tetsuaiga is a weapon of the living world and poses no threat to the gatekeepers of the dead!) Finally, with the help of Miroku’s ‘wind tunnel” as a distraction, Inuyasha slows the pair down long enough to break the thick chain, unlocking the door to the nether world. As the heavy doors creak open, Kagura appears, charging the doorway flanked by low-level demons. The evil gaggle is suddenly bathed in a dazzling bright light. Sensing the worst, Inuyasha gathers the team and heads for cover! They watch from the protection of sheltering rocks as the creatures are turned to stone by the light and Kagura plummets to the cave floor in a hail of petrified demons. Gozu and Mezu turn their attention to her and ask, “Do you want to pass?” Since no one wants to enter the portal, Gozu and Mezu shut the door. But, before the heavy doors swing shut, Kagome senses the presence of a jewel shard just beyond the portal on the other side. Later, a furious Kagura confronts Hakudoshi. Angry over being set up by the vile youngster, she attacks Hakudoshi, discovering the hard way Naraku is protecting the brat and still keeping a very close watch on her. Inuyasha and the others unwind at camp where Kagome reveals her vision of the Shikon shard in the netherworld. The fragment really does exist in that remote and dangerous place. All they have to do now is find another way into the boundary world between this world and the next!
Episode 146
Aired: 3/15/04
Kishouarai Toritsukai Abi-Hime
The Wild-Tempered Bird User, Abi
Myoga finds himself in deep trouble when Inuyasha accuses the old flea of withholding information about the portal. The elderly flea admits to knowing about the doorway, but not about the risk - would he have joined the gang if danger were involved? Sango and Miroku steer the discussion back to the real issue - finding an alternate path to the netherworld. It’s the only way to retrieve the jewel and beat Hakudoshi and Naraku. The next day finds the team on the road outside a small village. They discover that all the villagers have been slaughtered and their bodies sucked dry of blood. Elsewhere, bandits pillage and burn a neighboring village when they are attacked by a flock of demonic birds. The pterodactyl-like creature’s land on the bandits, pecking and sucking their blood away in a squabbling feeding frenzy. The silhouette of a woman appears against the backdrop of the burning village, and a cultured voice admonishes the birds to behave themselves. The woman elegantly approaches the carnage -- she’s the lovely and lethal Princess Abi, demon mistress of the birds. As the birds continue their feast, another shape emerges from the shadows; Naraku. He follows Abi back to her roost and offers to help her collect massive amounts of blood if she’ll help him in return. The demon tells Abi he knows her mother is dying from poison and that blood is the only thing that keeps her alive. As a show of ‘good faith’ Naraku presents Abi with a three-pronged halberd made from his own bones. He also tosses in a nest of Saimyoushou to sweeten the deal. With these tools, Abi can collect all the blood she needs for her mother. She reluctantly accepts, secure in the knowledge that Naraku is a mere half-demon and, if the impertinent halfling gets out of line, Abi will gladly destroy him. While Naraku collaborates with Abi, Hakudoshi takes a nap. Kagura observes the boy, angrily recollecting his earlier threats on her life. She hops on her feather and takes off for parts unknown before she’s tempted to hurt him again. The team meanwhile has located a village with live residents. Miroku and Inuyasha warn the headman about the mysterious blood-sucking threat that may headed their way. Miroku and the village elders agree on an exterminator’s contract and he just seals he deal when Abi’s ravenous flock attacks the village. The lead bird’s terrifying screech whips the other birds into a killing frenzy and they tear the village apart with the claws, beaks and fire. The team’s formidable skills barely keep pace with the torrents of incoming birds as wave after wave flies into the town threatening citizens. When Miroku opens up the Wind Tunnel, sucking up birds the others missed, a sudden swarm of Saimyoushou appears, flying towards him forcing him to retreat. Observing the battle from atop her cloud of flames is Abi. Inuyasha notices her too, and calls he out. Abi laughs at his audacity, accusing him of being a measly half-demon. Transforming into her demon form, Abi hurls a fireball at Inuyasha, but he dodges and comes back strong with a Wind Scar attack, blasting dozens of birds apart in it‘s path. Now she understands why Naraku gave her the halberd - to fight Inuyasha. Abi needs time to consider this new weapon and it’s implications so she retreats just as Inuyasha powers up the red Tetsusaiga. Later, the team discusses the nature of their new enemy. They all come to the conclusion that Naraku is using Abi to collect blood, but why he needs that blood to connect to the other world is a mystery!
Episode 147
Aired: 4/12/04
Meguriau Mae no Ummei Renka (1) (Spring Special)
A Fateful Love Song from Before we Met (1)
Long ago, in the country of Musashi, there lived a beautiful maiden, a miko named Kikyo, and her young sister, Kaede. Kikyo was not only lovely, but possessed great spiritual power which she dedicated to protecting humans from demons who threatened Japan in those days. But Kikyo’s power came at great personal expense: her duties so consumed her she could not live as normal women, with friends, frivolities and romance. Although respected and revered, Kikyo was forced to live a lonely, austere life with no one but her little sister, Kaede, as companion. Despite the loneliness and risk in her life, Kikyo is envied by jealous rivals: a miko named Tsubaki and a tiny, but ruthless demon spider. Another friendless spirit also dwelt in Musashi’s country: a youth - not quite human, not quite demon but somewhere in between. He survived using his human cunning and the power of his demon blood. The youth was called Inuyasha, and he vowed to find a way to empower himself. Inuyasha dreamed of becoming a full-fledged demon so he could live without menace from the humans and demons who scorned and rejected him. In the village of the Taijin (demon exterminators) the leader finds a miraculous, but ominous surprise inside a dead yokai - the fabled Shikon no Tama - the Jewel of Four Souls. The Shikon no Tama has returned to the Taijin village, the place of its creation but it is corrupt, and must be purified. Freed, the jewel’s powerful aura immediately draws demonic attention from the ambitious demon Mistress Centipede. Driving away the loathsome creature, the Taijin leader decides the Shikon no Tama must be entrusted to a miko with exceptional spiritual power to can purify the jewel and keep it safe from evil hands. Devout and pure spirited Kikyo is selected for the task. Protecting the Shikon jewel is a great honor, but the responsibility isolates Kikyo even more. Kikyo’s days are filled battling power hungry monsters, but her nights overflow with solitude. One moonless night, Kikyo’s battle with a Shikon-crazed band of yokai attracts the attention of the half demon Inuyasha. He observes Kikyo slaughter the yokai with just bow and arrow. She senses the youth’s demon aura, but only momentarily - the moonless night causes the half-demon to change into human form. When Kikyo calls for the intruder to show himself, Inuyasha remains hidden. Believing she speaks to a human, Kikyo tells him of the Shikon jewel. The human woman provides Inuyasha with an inspired plan - capture and use the Shikon no Tama to become a full demon but first he must conquer that woman, Kikyo. Inuyasha’s attempts to challenge Kikyo end in humiliating failure. When Kikyo refuses opportunities to kill him, Inuyasha becomes wary of her consideration. He stalks the miko for reasons other than the Shikon jewel; he’s seldom known kindness and wonders why Kikyo would show him such tolerance. Inuyasha’s observations reveal a solitary maiden of great compassion burdened with harsh responsibilities. Kikyo discovers Inuyasha is also more than he appears - his tough façade hides the tender heart of a lonely boy. An odd relationship blooms between the priestess and the half-demon. As their relationship flowers into something more than friendship, hungry, evil eyes observe. The malevolent spider demon watches and plots, eager to seize an opportunity to exploit the frail trust the young lovers share so he can win the Shikon jewel for his own. The news of Kikyo’s involvement with Inuyasha spreads. Tsubaki, Kikyo’s rival, confronts Kikyo. She accuses Kikyo of weakness; that her romance with a half-demon is the reason why demons plague the land. Tsubaki challenges Kikyo’s spiritual strength but loses miserably. Once again, the spider demon keenly watches, waiting for his chance. The spider’s opportunity arrives with Onigumo, a mortally wounded bandit whom Kikyo rescued and nurses with mercy. Onigumo lusts after the beautiful miko, desiring to pervert her virtue and possess Kikyo as his own. The spider demon makes a pact with Onigumo - his soul and Kikyo in exchange for his human body. Onigumo agrees and the spider calls forth a horde of demon minions who take possession of Onigumo’s flesh. But Onigumo was deceived. The spider, Naraku, merely used the bandit as a vessel for his evil, uniting the strength and wickedness of many demons inside Onigumo’s human form. Powerful and free, Naraku unleashes a torrent of demonic evil upon the countryside.
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