Jaken falls Ill

Trudging through the forest also in search of Naraku are Sesshomaru, Jaken, and Rin. Rin is peacefully riding along on Aun when her stomach starts to growl. Though Jaken protests, the child dismounts and goes searching for food.

Not far off, Kagome is frustrated with Inuyasha. Seems the young hanyou devoured the snacks that were meant for Jinenji. (If you recall, Jinenji was the large hanyou that cured the injured Kirara with his special medicinal herbs.) Since they were traveling in that direction, Kagome wanted to stop by and see him. Everyone agrees to a visit....everyone except Inuyasha that is.

Meanwhile, Rin has just happily found a large patch of mushrooms when she is suddenly grabbed by a large demonic hand. Her screams alert Sesshomaru, who quickly destroyed the hand. Too bad its destruction unleashed hundreds of Naraku's poisonous insects. Sesshomaru continues to fight while Rin and Jaken notice the bug's deadly nest. The insects swarm and attack. Jaken tells Rin to "Get Down" while he uses his staff to destroy them, but there are so many. (Jaken's motive for protecting Rin is to receive praise from his beloved Sesshomaru.) Finally, Sesshomaru uses a swift swipe of his sword, which destroys all but a few of the insects. Unfortunately, those few sink their stingers into Jaken before flying away. Sesshomaru chases the fleeing bugs hoping they will lead him to Naraku.

Poor Jaken. The poisonous bug's stingers are now embedded in his arm. Before Rin can pull them out, they are absorbed into his skin. Jaken screams in terror. He tells Rin that the poison will spread quickly throughout his body. Rin asks if there is any way she can make the poison go away. He tells her that to the East of here is a field of medicinal herbs. She will find a poison medicine maker call Jinenji.  Tell Jinenji to give you the Sennensou no Mi (Fruit of the Thousand Year Old Plant). The Sennensou no Mi must be within Jaken's body before the sun sets. Rin mounts Aun and speeds to Jinenji's field.

The scene changes to Inuyasha and company who are having a little difficulty with directions. As they are arguing, two of the poisonous insects are spotted. The group gives chase until the bugs simply drop dead. Sesshomaru appears and accuses Inuyasha of killing them. The two get into a huge confrontation (ah yes, brotherly love). The winner of this fight is Sesshomaru, but before he can kill Inuyasha, Kagome tells the elder brother to head Northeast in order to find Naraku.

At the same time, Rin has arrived at Jinenji's location but finds that the hanyou is not willing to see anyone. Rin expresses her determination to find the plant. Jinenji says Rin reminds him of Kagome. He tells her the plant can be found at the top of a mountain at the entrance of a chasm. However, he says that evil spirits live there and think of humans as meat. He asks her to wait till the sunsets when he will be back to normal, but Rin says that's too late and leaves. (Aun can be seen flying past the two fighting brothers.)

Soon, Rin makes it to the mountainous area. While Aun destroys the many demons trying to attack her, Rin scales the mountain inching her way closer and closer to the precious purple plant (say that fast 3 times). Just as her small fingers grasp the needed anecdote, the ground crumples beneath her feet. Rin screams as she falls into the dark depths below her. A swift figure plucks the child from immanent doom. Sesshomaru had arrived in time to save his human companion. He looks down at the unconscious child who still clutches the Sennensou no Mi.

Back in the forest, Jaken watches the sun receding. He is about to embrace death when Sesshomaru appears and tosses him the healing plant. Around the same time, Kagome and the others are visiting Jinenji and are told of the young child that came calling. Jinenji is confident Rin is OK, because the child possesses the same strength and heart as Kagome. Inuyasha insists that Kagome's heart is not that big, which results in a succession of "sit....sit....sit....sit....sit."

It's evening and Rin awakens to find a healthy Jaken standing beside her. She is overjoyed. Not far off Sesshomaru gazes in the Northeast direction "Let's go," he says. And off they venture hoping to find the elusive Naraku.

Kirara, Come Home

It's evening in the Feudal Era and everyone is asleep by campfire. Something startles Kirara from his restfulness.

The next morning Kagome is gathering fresh water when Sango approaches wondering where Kirara is. Inuyasha says she needn't worry....Kirara may just need some space and will probably return soon. Sadly, the sun sets and there is still no word from Kirara. Kagome gives Inuyasha Kirara's bowl as a means of picking up the cat's scent, but her scent seems to disappear into the sky. Sango begins to blame herself for taking advantage of her feline pet. Then Shippo places additional guilt on all of the others by recalling incidents he witnessed where Kirara seemed to be used and abused (Inuyasha using Kirara to practice his Kaze no Kizu; Miroku using Kirara to attract women villagers; and Kagome asking Kirara to wait for her....then staying in the real world longer than intended.). Shippo rubs it in thickly how they were tormenting the poor cat youkai. Just as they are feeling their worst, a huge rumble shakes the very ground where they stand.

The group enter the forest to see if the commotion may be Kirara. Instead, Inuyasha finds an ape demon about to devour a middle-aged man. Inuyasha tells the frightened man to run and faces the demon. Sango and the others arrive and notice a scarf belonging to Kirara is on the ground. Not only that, but the bones of many beasts are close by as well. Shippo and the others assume the ape demon has eaten Kirara. It yells, "and you will soon join him!" just before attacking. The ape is really fast using tree branches to boost his speed. Sango has a flashback of the day her father brought home Kirara. The two were inseparable.

"I won't forgive you! This is for Kirara!" she cries before using her weapon to slice through the trees and ultimately destroying the ape demon.

Afterwards, Sango gazes at Kirara's bowl. As her tears fall into the empty dish, the others look on helpless and saddened. A moment later, Inuyasha turns and is startled to find himself face to face with Kirara. Everyone is overjoyed to see him. Sango races to embrace her treasured friend. Everyone is watching happily when a familiar voice is heard. Inuyasha smacks his neck and opens his hand to none other than.....Myoga. The aging flea explained what had happened the night Kirara left. Seems Toutousai asked Myoga to bring Inuyasha a huge sharpening stone for his Tetsusaiga, but he needed Kirara's help carrying the stone. It was late in the evening when the two departed. Shippo was told to tell the others, but the young fox may have been half asleep. Inuyasha angrily turns to Shippo. The little fox youkai cries for Kagome's help. Kagome calls Inuyasha's name, but instead of the usual "sit", she tells him, "in moderation, ok?" Inuyasha agrees and resumes chasing the young fox who made them all feel so guilty.

Kikyo and Kagome: Alone in a Cave

Kikyo wanders the forest...her soul stealers following closely. She suddenly hears the faint cry of a child calling for help. The pretty priestess makes her way through a patch of white flowers that paves the entrance to a cave. Unfortunately, the crying child was an illusion, and Kikyo learned too late that it was all a trick.

Meanwhile, the thunderous results of the repetitive instruction, "SIT...SIT...SIT....SIT!!!!" could be heard echoing through a clearing in the forest. Seems Kagome was very unhappy when Inuyasha criticized a meal that she had spent a long time preparing. After slamming the hanyou's face in the dirt with that ominous three letter word, Kagome decides to cool off by taking a walk. It isn't long before she senses the presence of a shikon shard. She, too, is fooled by a crying child illusion and enters the cave to take a look. After she enters, it quickly seals shut.

The cave is dark, but Kagome still manages to make her way through. Imagine her surprise when she spots Kikyo, who is struggling to breathe....her soul stealers are nowhere to be found. Kagome wants to help Kikyo, but is told that it's no use for they are in the stomach of a Mikofuuji (priestess sealer). Mikofuuji is the name of a demon that eats the powers of a priestess (miko). Even though Kikyo swears it is useless, Kagome refuses to give up. The two girls are walking through the cave looking for a way out when Kikyo begins to cough and struggle. Kikyo tells Kagome that a normal miko would be dead by now. She asks her reincarnation to leave her and save herself. She hands Kagome her bow and arrows telling her, "In order to escape this place, you must go to the depths of this cave and strike the heart." Again Kagome refuses to abandon Kikyo.

Back at the campsite, Inuyasha waits impatiently for Kagome to return. Miroku and Sango feel she's been gone a long time, and tell him to go looking for her, but the hanyou is still being stubborn.

Inside the cave, the girls are confronted with hundreds of flying bug-like demons. Kagome uses Kikyo's bow and arrows to fight them off. When Kagome falters, Kikyo uses what strength she can muster to destroy some of the attacking insects. When the insect attacks end, Kikyo has become even weaker. Kagome thoughtfully offers to carry her.

Kikyo and Kagome find their way to the center of the cave at about the same time Inuyasha finally decided to do a search. Kagome fires a purifying arrow at the huge one-eyed Mikofuuji, but it has no effect. The demon retaliates with his long, numerous tentacles. Kagome uses the bow to knock them away. "What can work to destroy this demon?" she wonders. An idea comes to her.....using the shards may work! When one of the tentacles knocks Kagome's bottle of shards out of her hands, she runs over to Kikyo and uses hers. It looks good at first, but the small shard didn't have enough power. Kikyo tells Kagome to hurry and retrieve the bottle of shards. She struggles through the tentacles, but Kagome is able to grab her small jar.

Kikyo places the shards in Kagome's hand then cups her own hands over Kagome's. Kikyo looks into Kagome's bewildered eyes and says, "believe in me." A bright pink aura emits from within their hands and when it's over, the three shards have become one....a larger, stronger shard. Kikyo utters for Kagome to aim well for there is no more chances....then the struggling priestess collapses. With determination, Kagome takes aim and fires. A direct hit ultimately disintegrates the Mikofuuji, and what was once a cave is now brightly glowing particles drifting into the sky. Kikyo's soul stealers arrive and revive their priestess.

Not long afterward Kikyo asked, "Why did you save a dead person like me?" Kagome replied, "If you died, there's someone who would be sad." Kikyo silently thought, "you, too."

On her way back, Kagome finds Inuyasha leaning against a tree waiting for her. As they are walking back, she wants to tell him about Kikyo, but instead they walk quietly arm in arm.

Koga and Sesshomaru, A Dangerous Encounter

Coming Eventually.

Truth Behind the Nightmare: Battle in the Forest of Sorrow

Inuyasha has been sniffing the ground for a while. He's looking for an exit to a forest they have wandered into. Suddenly, Kagome senses an evil presence. A swarm of dark moths approach just before a man carrying a large hatchet shows up. He chuckles at them. "Welcome to my forest of grief," he says. Everyone recognizes the man as a moth youkai similar to Gatenmaru from episode 51 (remember?). Inuyasha hates this youkai and proceeds to attack. Unfortunately, the attack caused Kagome and the others to let their guard down. Just enough time for the demon to send out bright orbs that absorbed their energy. Inuyasha turns to see everyone slowly surrounded by large, stringy cocoons.

The youkai (Garamaru) leaves gloating that by nightfall his other selves will return to devour their bodies and souls. Since it's too dangerous to use his Kaze no Kizu, Inuyasha is unable to free his friends. He knows the only way to break the spell is to defeat that moth demon.

Inside the deadly cocoons, Sango, Miroku, Kagome and Shippo experience dreams of fear and despair. These nightmares feed the moth youkai. Our heroes bodies appear to be changing.

It's not long before Inuyasha catches up with Garamaru. The evil demon transforms into an even larger moth demon saying Inuyasha fears loneliness that is why he wants his friends released. An angry Inuyasha destroys the demon, but wait! The cocoons haven't disappeared. The remaining skull portion of Garamaru gloats at the young hanyou saying his other self will eat the souls of Kagome and the others and use their bodies to be reborn. "You will be eaten by your former friends!" he says before disintegrating. Inuyasha tries not to panic but wonders what can he do now?

Inuyasha desperately tried to get his friends to wake up, but they continue to have horrible nightmares. "Kagome, you're not that weak of a woman! Tell me to SIT!" he screams. One by one, Kagome and the other's dreams begin to change as Inuyasha appears in every one of them. He takes a nightmare of despair and changes it to a dream of hope. All of them wake up and break free of their insect prison. Inuyasha gains renewed faith in his friends and locates the way out of this forest of Grief. Using the red tetsusaiga, he breaks through the barrier. The forest disappears and the others realize it was all Garamaru's illusions. After they thank the young hanyou for saving them, the episode ends with the usual comical bantering between Inuyasha and Kagome.