Kagome, Miroku and Sango in a Dangerous Situation

The machine-like Ginkotsu is attacking. His spiral blades are able to cut down trees in a single sweep! While Inuyasha fights, Shippo has taken the others to a temple. Problem is....Kagome can see that the Monk in charge (Renkotsu) has a shikon shard embedded in his neck. She fears he is one of the Band of Seven! He, however, is using something to put them all to sleep.

After a struggle, Inuyasha uses his Kaze no Kizu on Ginkotsu and hopes the machine-man is gone for good. He races to the temple. Seeing everyone asleep at the hands of this Monk, Inuyasha believes they are safe. The conniving priest convinces Inuyasha to tell him about the person who resurrected the Band of Seven. Just as Inuyasha is telling him, the temple is rocked by an explosion nearby. The dog demon must run off to continue his fight with Ginkotsu.

Once Inuyasha is gone, Renkotsu takes the shards from a sleeping Kagome stating that he now knows that Naraku cannot be trusted. He sets the temple on fire and confronts Inuyasha just as the hanyou has stopped Ginkotsu (at least for a little while). Inuyasha learns just who that fake Monk was! It was Renkotsu, and he was responsible for killing the actual Monks belonging to that temple. He then used their cloths to mask his scent of grave dirt. Inuyasha sees the temple is burning, but is unable to get there! Now he is fighting TWO members of the Band of Seven.

Meanwhile Myoga has been dropped on the temple roof. He is able to awaken Shippo. The small fox demon tries his best to arouse the others but they are unconscious from Mukotsu's poison.

A distance away, Koga has come face-to-face with Jakotsu. He likes Koga's short skirt, but sighs and says, "he's not his type" (Geez). Now the two of them are engaging in battle. Koga becomes more worried when Jakotsu hints that Kagome should be long gone by now. Koga continues to battle for a little while, but when the opportunity occurred, Koga raced off saying he'd continue this fight another time. His concern was for Kagome!

Returning to Inuyasha, the fight has become more desperate and personal for the young hanyou. He knows he must finish the two quickly in order to get to Kagome and the others. Ginkotsu has him wrapped in steel wires and chains. Inuyasha makes a last ditch effort by throwing the tetsusaiga at Ginkotsu. It causes the chains and wires to get entangled letting Inuyasha to use his claws to break free. He charges at Ginkotsu and removes his sword quickly. A powerful Kaze no Kizu reduces Ginkotsu to pieces. Inuyasha does not stop to battle Renkotsu. Instead he leaps past the other Band of Seven member and heads to the temple. Renkotsu is admiring the shards he took from Kagome just as Naraku's insects arrive to gather the torso of Ginkotsu.

Inuyasha has made his way to the temple. Fear grips him when he finds Kirara under some debris. He feels some relief when he sees Shippo using his fox magic to protect the others. Inuyasha praises Shippo for his strength. "But, but, but.... even though I was strong," Shippo stuttered crying, "everyone stopped breathing!!!"

What?! Is this really the end?! Find out in the next exciting episode!

Inuyasha Shows His Tears For The First Time

Frightened villagers show the beautiful Kikyo a defaced gravesite. The bones of the Shichinin, which were buried there, have all disappeared. They feel cursed until the priestess says that she will perform a purification. Kikyo wanted to ease their fears even though she knows that there is no longer a presence of evil. Could this be the doing of the white soul mountain (A holy mountain that can purify any sinner's impurities)? She gazes at the hair given to her by Rsetsu no Kansuke (Remember him?).

The scene cuts to the temple that is engulfed in flames. Shippo is struggling to protect everyone with his fox fire when Inuyasha arrives. "Everyone has stopped breathing," he tearfully tells the young hanyou. Inuyasha can't believe this is happening. He cradles Kagome in his arms and gently tries to awaken her. Myoga shows up and tells him that he must not shake her. He advises him to take everyone to safety.

After Inuyasha cleared the fire, the lifeless forms of Kagome, Sango, and Miroku lay on the ground before him. Both Shippo and Inuyasha blame themselves.

Speeding through the forest, Koga suddenly comes to a stop. His comrades, Ginta and Hakkaku, are struggling to catch up. Koga wonders if Inuyasha has somehow failed to protect his beloved Kagome. He whisks off again leaving his two friends in the dust. Perched on a tree above the wolf demons is Kohaku. "So...that person is dead?" he wonders as visions of Sango and Kirara appear in his head. Tears fall from his eyes yet he claims he is not sad.

Returning to the tearful Shippo, Myoga asks the young fox if he is sure that everyone drank the antidote. Yes, Shippo reassures him.....Jinenji's special antidote. Myoga looks around for Inuyasha and wonders if the hanyou ran off to seek revenge.

Elsewhere, in a dark cavernous area, Renkotsu is preparing a caldron. Above it hangs the remainder of Ginkotsu. The rebirth of the metallic menace is eminent, but this time he will be much much stronger. Watching him is a relieved Jakotsu. The feminine man (yep.....man) is relieved to hear that Inuyasha is not dead.

The scene changes to Inuyasha sitting on a rock in the middle of a river. He is once again angrily blaming himself when Sesshomaru shows up and belittles the hanyou more. "Why don't I kill you and take the Tenseiga? That will bring Kagome and the others back."Inuyasha says. He swings his tetsusaiga only to find that no one is there. Was this a hallucination? Maybe not. Sesshomaru is not far off and he senses that Kohaku is close as well. Rin wonders if Sesshomaru plans to kill Kohaku.

Inuyasha slowly walks back to Shippo and the others. He lifts Kagome in his arms and holds her tight while asking for forgiveness. A weak voice startles him. It's Kagome whispering, "it hurts.....I feel dizzy." Myoga said that it can't be helped since he sucked up a lot of blood along with the poison. Seems it hadn't quite circulated throughout their entire bodies, so he was able to revive them. An instant later would have been too late. Kagome looks at Inuyasha and apologizes for making him worry. "Idiot," he utters unable to control his emotions. He lays her back down gently and turns away from everyone. Shippo and Myoga think he is crying, but the young hanyou would never admit to that weakness even though his eyes tell otherwise.

Meanwhile, Kikyo attempts to get closer to the purification mountain. Due to the purifying powers of Hakureizan, there isn't a single demon in the surrounding area. Sadly, Kikyo can go no further...her soul stealers are beginning to disintegrate. She turns to leave but then senses the presence of a shikon shard. The priestess comes to a small dwelling housing a gentle looking man known as Doctor Suikotsu and several children. "Why does this man have a shikon shard embedded in his neck?" she wonders. Kikyo knows Suikotsu is dead, but the shard is not corrupted....that can only mean he has a kind heart.

In the next scene Kagome, Miroku, and Sango are given Myoga's special medicine. It tastes horrible, but they endure even after they realized what it is made of. In a quick tornadic flash Koga arrives. He is relieved to see Kagome is alive. He tells everyone how he was fighting with Jakotsu when he was told that Kagome had died. Inuyasha gets angry, but Koga furiously shouts back at him. "Kagome's hands, unlike always, feel cold. Her cheeks, which are always the color of cherry blossoms, look as white as a fish belly. You almost let her die, didn't you?!!" he yells. Inuyasha hangs his head. "I'll never put Kagome through such a situation again," he vows.

Returning to Kikyo, Suikotsu has just put all the children down for a nap, when three villagers arrive. One of them has a large cut on his leg. Suikotsu gazes at the wound and begins to grow pale. Kikyo asks if she can be of assistance, and the doctor utters a relieved....yes. After the men leave, Kikyo learns that even though Suikotsu is a doctor, he grows faint at the sight of blood. He tells Kikyo how he came to this village and then looks down at this hands in horror thinking that they are full of blood. As Kikyo watches, Suikotsu desperately tries to wash the non-existing blood from his hands. What could be plaguing this poor man, and could he possibly be part of the Shichinin seven? Watch the next exciting episode to find out.

The Secret of the Pure Light

Kikyo wanders the forest while various soul stealers replenish her life force. Her thoughts are on Suikotsu. "Can this man really be that pure?" she wonders. Kikyo resolves to keep her eye on the good doctor.

Late that night, Suikotsu has a frightening dream. He is helping a wounded child when an evil figure appears behind him. The figure tries to convince him that he really wishes to slice the child in half. Suddenly, the dark figures of the Band of Seven begin to chase him down. He wakes up screaming in terror.

The next morning while Suikotsu is gathering herbs with the children, Kikyo tends to an injured old man. The old man mentions that Suikotsu was believed to be one of the Band of Seven, because he arrived at the same time their graves split open and his name matched one of them. However, this doctor, Suikotsu, isn't anything like the frightening, berserker Suikotsu he remembers from years back. As he is speaking, Kikyo senses shikon shards drawing closer.

Out in the fields, Inuyasha and the others face Suikotsu. He denies being a part of the Band of Seven. Inuyasha attacks, but the man doesn't reciprocate. Miroku begins to doubt the doctor's involvement with the Band of Seven. Suddenly, explosions ring out. The village is under attack! Kikyo readies her arrow for the approaching cause. As Suikotsu runs up to her, Jakotsu's voice is heard saying what a pain in the ass it was to locate him. Suikotsu looks on in shock to see a completely rebuilt tank-like Ginkotsu with Renkotsu and Jakotsu riding on top. They urge him to come with them, but he doesn't even recognize the outlaws.

Inuyasha and the others arrive in the destroyed village. Both groups are surprised to see one another. When Inuyasha proceeds to attack, Renkotsu creates a net of fire around him and the others. Jakotsu on the other hand goes after Suikotsu. He (she) orders him to "Wake up!" When he doesn't....Jakotsu attempts to kill him with her multi-blade sword. Kikyo fires one of her arrows just missing the girly-man and knocking him off his feet.

Seeing Jakotsu in trouble, Ginkotsu fires at Kikyo sending both her and Suikotsu flying. When Ginkotsu aims to fire again, Inuyasha must make a choice. He rips through the fire net. At the same time, Kikyo's injury is causing her souls to leave her body. Suikotsu comes running up to her. Behind him the children are approaching. He screams for them to get back. Jakotsu sees his chance and unleashes his sword at the children. Suikotsu blocks the strike, but receives and potentially deadly blow. As he is slowly asking the children if they are alright, his shard begins to pulsate and turn black. The kind doctor transforms into an huge, evil man. He grabs the throat of one of the children. Kagome tells Inuyasha to save the child. "Sankon Tessuo!" Inuyasha shouts as he uses his claws to save the child. He then stares at the completely transformed man! "What are you?" asks Inuyasha.
"I am Suikotsu of the Band of Seven!" he replies smirking.

Uh oh! Another evil member to deal with....what now? Keep watching to find out!

Hidden in the Mist: Onward to Mt. Hakurei

Suikotsu has completely changed. It's obvious to Kagome that this man has multiple personality disorder. He and Inuyasha engage in a bitter battle. This allows Ginkotsu to turn his attention to Jakotsu and the children. His tank-like body drives forward without regard to Kikyo's body lying in his path. Luckily, Sango uses her boomerang to create a small opening through Renkotsu's net of fire (see last episode). This gives Miroku just enough time to break through and save Kikyo before she is crushed. Inuyasha and the others breath a sigh of relief!

Both Ginkotsu and Jakotsu want to go after the children, but Suikotsu is so unstable, they decide to take off. The children are OK, however, Kikyo is unconscious. Everyone can see that Kikyo's soul catchers cannot get through the barrier. Kagome tells Inuyasha to carry Kikyo outside of the barrier. Once out , the soul catchers are able to revive the priestess.

Kikyo informs Inuyasha that: The lands around here ward against evil and those with demonic powers. That's because Mount Hakurei (a holy mountain that cleanses any sin) purifies everything surrounding it. Suikotsu was only able to survive here because one of his personalities is completely pure. When his evil personality surfaced, Suikotsu had to leave the area. This mountain could be the reason that they had to retreat. The pure are soiled, and the soiled are purified. What is good is evil, and what is evil is good. To live is to die and to die is to live. There is no longer a distinction, because Mt. Hakurei is TOO pure.

When Inuyasha asks Kikyo what she is going to do, Kagome looks away sadly. Kikyo says she must stay behind and watch over the children for a while longer, Even if she wanted to go, she couldn't. The energy here repels her soul catchers.

The next day Kagome is distant with Inuyasha, and he wants to know why? Instead of just letting things pass, he is persistent. Finally Kagome admits that she already understands his feelings, but still resolved to be with him. However, she eventually lost it when Inuyasha wouldn't stop pestering her. The result.............SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT......(you get the picture).

The scene changes to the Band of Seven. Ginkotsu approaches Kohaku. The boy has come to reunite them with their leader. On a nearby hill, the long dark hair of a man swings in the breeze while he waits impatiently for the rest of his gang.

Leader of the Seven Soldiers: Bankotsu

A handsome young man in white attire struggles to write a letter. He crumples paper after paper until interrupted by Kohaku. The boy addresses the young man as Master Bankotsu and tells him that his comrades are here. The remaining members of the Shichinintai (band of seven) happily greet one another.

During their reunion, Renkotsu informs Bankotsu that both Kyoukotsu and Mukotsu were destroyed by Inuyasha. He doesn't seem surprised and then turns his attention to the letter. Bankotsu asks Renkotsu to finish writing the letter and explains that it is a threatening letter which is meant to preclude a visit to settle an old score. They will be seeking revenge to those political/military leaders who reside within a large castle. It was those leaders who were responsible for chopping off the heads of the Shichinintai years ago.

A brief flashback shows a military leader asking Bankotsu to spearhead the invasion of the Eastern territories for a huge price. Bankotsu and his group accept the mission.

Bankotsu not only wants revenge, he wants to get his baby back (his baby meaning the large sword called, banryuu). Once Renkotsu finished the letter, Bankotsu orders Kohaku to sneak into the castle and deliver it to the Lord.

Meanwhile Inuyasha and the others stand just outside of Mt. Hakurei. The serene and pure atmosphere prove too much for Kirara and Shippo since they are full demons. Inuyasha is unable to penetrate its barrier as well. The most surprising thing, however, is how Miroku is unable to stand its purity......and he calls himself a Monk? In discussing the mountain's barrier, they determine that it would be impossible for Naraku to survive there. In that case, the next plan is to capture the Shichinintai and force them to divulge Naraku's location. While on their way to locate the ruthless mercenaries, Inuyasha learns from an elderly villager that the military is forcibly drafting young people. As the man is talking, the Commander of a military group and his soldiers pull up on horseback. He asks their purpose, and luckily, lets Inuyasha and company off the hook. When the soldiers leave, the villager explains how that Commander was the one who lead the attack against the Shichinintai long ago. Knowing this; the group head in the direction of the castle.

The scene switches to Bankotsu and the others heading for the castle. A brief flashback shows the betrayal they experienced after carrying out their assignment. Seems the Commander felt this group was getting too famous for their own good. He said that they kill too much and the political leaders fear them even as allies. Bankotsu brags of taking down 999 men before being killed himself.....it's time for his 1000. They storm the castle and quickly slaughter the guards. Bankotsu enters the Master's quarters, grabbing his precious banryuu, and beheading the chief political leader (Master). Outside, the Commander and his reinforcements arrive. Bankotsu, armed with his deadly banryuu, destroys every last one of them.

The grounds of the castle is a scene of celebration and relaxation amidst the corpses of hundreds of victims. Jakotsu moans his longing to see Inuyasha again. Bankotsu reassures him that the smell of this catastrophe will surely lure the hanyou to them. Renkotsu asks his leader if he fears Naraku and why did the powerful demon revive them? Bankotsu answered, "He wants us to take care of Inuyasha, Koga, and anyone else pestering him." Speak of the devil...within minutes the flash of a tornado signals Koga's arrival. He demands to know where Naraku is. Instead of an answer, the wolf demon is presented with the fight of his life. Koga's great speed lets him escape sure death until Bankotsu wields his mighty banryuu a second time. Inuyasha makes a grand entrance just in time and it's tetsusaiga against banryuu. "I found you..." Inuyasha smirks. The two face one another as the episode ends.

What's in store for Inuyasha and the band of seven? Watch the next exciting episode!!