Final Battle: Strongest and Last of the Band of Seven

While familiar faces watch, thousands of demons escape from the glowing Mt. Hakurei. Not far off, Kagome and Koga work together to destroy those demons that are attacking them. Ginta and Hakkaku race up to them. To Kagome's surprise both Kirara and Shippo are feeling much better now that the holy grounds barrier has completely disappeared. Koga picks up on Naraku's scent so he and the others head to the mountain.

Inside the mountain, Bankotsu stands in front of Inuyasha. The two engage in battle....tetsusaiga against banryu. Bankotsu is tougher than ever for Inuyasha. After all, the remaining member of the Band of Seven is using all of the shikon shards from his fallen comrades. During this altercation, Inuyasha learns of Bankotsu's first meeting with Naraku and why the Band of Seven leader formed his group in the first place. After more fighting, Bankotsu recalls his resurrection (Oooooo....some really nice fan service here!!).

Also, from within the mountain, Miroku and Sango have made their way to an open shaft where they are stunned to see the face of.....Naraku! Suddenly, Kagura attacks them. After avoiding the attack, Miroku shouts his assumptions. He says the attack from the red tetsusaiga must have left Naraku incomplete thus coming here to reform his barrier and become stronger. Kagura sarcastically refuses to answer and attacks again....this time sending Miroku and Sango plummeting into the mountain's darkness.

Outside, Koga and Kagome are rushing to come to the aid of their friends. She is worried about all of them. The two speed up leaving poor Ginta and Hakkaku behind.....again.

Meanwhile, inside the mountain, Inuyasha is desperate to finish this fight with Bankotsu and find Naraku. When the Band of Seven leader uses his Banryu to attack, Inuyasha jumps above it and throws the tetsusaiga at the man. The distraction gave Inuyasha enough time to use his claws and slash the shards from Bankotsu's arm. Now both are without their weapons. Inuyasha lunges at the man determined to confiscate all of his shards. Bankotsu, however, gives the hanyou a right to the jaw sending Inuyasha flying. Bankotsu stares at the fallen hanyou saying he has no intention of losing to anyone!!

What will become of this fight? What happened to Miroku and Sango? Keep watching to find out!!!

The Power of Banryu: Duel to the Death on Mt. Hakurei

The episode begins with Inuyasha continuing to battle Bankotsu. Elsewhere, Miroku and Sango are dangling over the remains of thousands of demons. Miroku says they should go down and investigate. Once down, they find these unusual white fleshy objects. What could they be?

Meanwhile, Koga, Kirara, Shippo, and Kagome have arrived at the mountain. They enter hoping to catch up with the others. Shippo is not feeling too good about all this.

Returning to Inuyasha, Bankotsu is giving him a thrashing. Recall...the leader of the Band of Seven has shards in his arms so his punch is powerful. At one point Bankotsu has Inuyasha immobilized, but this gives our hanyou hero a chance to reach into his opponents neck and pull out the shards. Inuyasha says Naraku is using you.....pointing out that every exit is blocked with demons ready to kill the victor of their encounter. Bankotsu grabs his banryu and begins slaughtering demons. When he reaches 1000, he turns his attention back to Inuyasha. He swings his banryu in preparation for a deadly attack, but Inuyasha notices the banryu is using youki. Because of that, Inuyasha is able to unleash his "Bakuryuuha." The powerful counter attack destroyed the banryu and finally took down Bankotsu. After Bankotsu takes his final breaths, the ground begins to crumble under Inuyasha. The cave is becoming one giant wall of flesh...sucking up anything that gets in its way. Inuyasha is no exception as he becomes tightly entwined in fleshy tentacles.

(NOTE: This episode shows brief shots of Sesshomaru and group. Not far off, Kikyo is also seen fighting the increasing number of demons coming from the mountain.)

Traveling through the mountain, Koga begins to sink in the quicksand of flesh. Kagome tries to pull him out, but Koga won't risk pulling her in and lets go of her hand just before he is swallowed up. Kagome looks around wondering what could be happening? "It's as if we're in the stomach of a living thing," Shippo says. Kagome begins running. She senses Koga's shards are being drawn to Naraku's polluted jewel. They get to the end of the tunnel where they find Miroku and Sango surrounded by the white fleshy objects, but they are OK. The mountain begins to shake. Shippo sends Kirara to save Sango and Miroku before they plummet below. Shippo has shape-shifted to save Kagome. Suddenly rising from below are the fleshy tentacles carrying an unconscious Inuyasha. Kagome screams for him, but he does not hear her!!

Will Inuyasha break free from this fleshy prison? What could Naraku be planning? Keep watching to find out!

Beyond the Darkness: Naraku Reborn!

Picking up from last episode; Bankotsu has been defeated but the celebration is short lived when Inuyasha is swallowed up by fleshy grey tentacle-like arms. Kirara has managed to save Miroku and Sango, while the shape shifting Shippo is carrying Kagome. When an unconscious Inuyasha is carried past them, Kagome screams his name. He wakes up slowly and bewildered....just what is it that has him immobilized? Suddenly an ominous and familiar voice is heard snickering. "You have done well to make it this far, but you are too late," he chides, "You are already entwined within my intestines. It's all over for you!" Hoping to do away with the evil man/demon, Kagome fires one of her purified arrows and Sango launches her boomerang. Unfortunately, acid begins to spew where ever Naraku was hit. He uses his many intestines to pin all of them.

"How foolish," he says, "The whole of Mt. Hakurei is now part of my body." Shippo wonders if they will be eaten, but Naraku is not interested in them. He has no need for humans. Naraku pulls up the body of Bankotsu and takes the shards from the lifeless body and the banryu. The leader of the band of seven is reduced to dirt and bones. Then one of the tentacles pierces Inuyasha and takes his shards as well.

Outside the mountain, Kikyo notices that the Shikon shards are gathering into one. Not far off, Sesshomaru senses the rebirth of Naraku as well. A short distance away, Kanna and Kohaku exit the mountain. "It has begun," Kanna says.

Thanks to the power of the Shikon shards a powerful Naraku incarnation is undergoing construction. Once finished, a man-like creature hovers before them in a bright pink sphere of light. His body is similar to Naraku's old body, but now sports red eyes in the torso and hands, as well as horns and other body armor. (I wouldn't want to hug this guy!) Miroku warns Inuyasha that this youkai of Narakus is much stronger. Inuyasha ignores the warning and finally frees himself. After a failed attempt with his claws, Inuyasha calls for his tetsusaiga and engages a "Kaze no Kizu!" Oh No! Naraku has entangled the Kaze no Kizu in the flow of his youki making its power continue to circulate! "Inuyasha, your very own Kaze no Kizu will take the lives of your companions," Naraku taunts.

Returning to Kikyo; the beautiful priestess notices Kagura fleeing with a child wrapped in a blanket. Kikyo fires one of her arrows, but Kagura easily dodges it and prepares to retaliate. Almost immediately a voice is heard. "Stop Kagura! The one who will finish Kikyo isn't you." it says. Kagura looks down amazed that the child can speak...then continues on her way. Kikyo is left to wonder what it is that escaped Mt. Hakurei.

Meanwhile, Naraku senses Kikyo, while the others continue to avoid the circulating Kaze no Kizu. When Naraku begins to leave, Kagome notices bright orbs inside demon Naraku's sphere. Particularly one with two shards. It has to be Koga! She tells Inuyasha to go after Naraku and she will accompany him. Riding on Inuyasha's back and draped in his red clothing, Kagome takes aim with her bow and arrow...then shoots. Not only does she stop the Kaze no Kizu, but she also frees Koga's orb. As it plunges towards the ground, Inuyasha and Kagome give chase. "You're worried about your friend even at a time like this?" Naraku quips. The mountain starts collapsing emitting poisonous gasses. "Sleep together in the same grave as your friends." Naraku says as he makes his way out of the mountain to face Kikyo.

How will Kikyo fight this monster??? Who will survive??? Find out in the next exciting episode!

Farewell Kikyo, My Beloved

Picking up from last episode, Naraku has left the collapsing mountain expecting Inuyasha and the others to perish inside. Debris is hindering Inuyasha's chance of catching Koga's falling orb. Not only that, but Miroku warns that if they don't escape, the poison miasma will surely kill them all. Inuyasha asks Shippo to take Kagome out while he goes after Koga.

Outside, a large purple sphere traveling at great speed makes an abrupt stop in front of the priestess Kikyo. It's Naraku!

Returning to Inuyasha; the young hanyou has found Koga and uses his powerful claws to break the orb surrounding the wolf demon. Seems Naraku had plans to absorb Koga along with his two shards. Quite a distance above, Miroku and the others are unable to get out because Naraku has sealed the exits. That won't stop our heroes! Miroku uses his wind tunnel and soon the light outside paves the way for their escape. It isn't long before Inuyasha, too, sees the exit. However, an ominous vision of Kikyo appears before a bewildered Inuyasha. "Why am I seeing visions of Kikyo at a time like this?" the hanyou wonders. With Inuyasha and Koga working together, eventually everyone escapes unharmed just before the mountain crumbles to the ground. Curiously, right before reaching safety, Inuyasha has another vision of Kikyo.

Meanwhile, Kikyo and Naraku argue. The beautiful priestess demands that Naraku tell her his true objective. Why has he gone through so much trouble to be reborn?? Kikyo aims her bow and arrow and fires one as a warning. She demands an answer to her questions. He explains that it was no coincidence that she met Rasetsu no Kansuke. It was a plan to lure her to him. This was not fate or destiny but a well thought out plan by the evil man/demon. And with that he begins to show his true objective by attacking with one of his body's sharp tentacles. It breaks Kikyo's precious bow and causes a wide shoulder wound. As she looks up at him angrily, Naraku explains how he has gotten rid of the heart from the thief Onigumo (the one that cared for her), and now he can crush her and not feel a thing.
"So that is what Kagura was carrying," the priestess realizes.

"The bottom of this fissure is awash in my miasma. Your false body will melt with ease." Naraku says as his hand transforms into long sharp branches. "Kikyo, this is your grave!" he shouts piercing the beautiful woman and sending her into the depths below.

As Naraku peers downward, Sesshomaru creeps up behind him. "You've come out from hiding. Does that mean you've gotten stronger? The dog demon asks. "Why don't you find out for yourself?" Naraku taunts.

Without hesitation, Sesshomaru swings a mighty blow at Naraku, but the strong demon is able to send the power of Sesshomaru's attack right back at him. Sesshomaru slashes through the retaliation severing Naraku's new body."A futile attack. You cannot kill me!" Naraku laughs as he regenerates and disappears in a purple cloud.

As Sesshomaru returns his sword to it's sheath, Inuyasha comes running up. "Inuyasha, you have survived," the elder brother says, "Naraku was far more interested in killing that woman than you." That's when Inuyasha sees Kikyo's broken bow and looks down into the fissure. When he sees one of Kikyo's soul stealers simply dissolve, the hanyou's heart sinks. (A sad melody begins to play in the background.) "I did it again," he says to himself, "Once again, you were the only one I failed to protect..."

Before Sesshomaru can leave Inuyasha asks, "Did you stand by and watch as Kikyo was killed?" Sesshomaru turns and says, "The one who killed that woman was Naraku. And, the one who was not able to save her was you, Inuyasha. If you have the time to snarl at me, you would do better to spend it chasing Naraku."

Once Sesshomaru is gone, Inuyasha falls to his knees in tears. He quickly gets to his feet when Kagome and the others arrive. Kagome notices Kikyo's broken bow. "Did something happen to Kikyo," she asks.
Inuyasha answers slowly, "Naraku's goal was to take Kikyo's life."

On a tree branch a distance away, Kagura complains. Once again the small baby speaks. "Kikyo is dead" he says "Naraku has killed her."

The Darkness in Kagome's Heart

While Inuyasha frantically looks for Kikyo, the others sit by a campfire and explain some of Naraku's history to Koga. Is it possible that since Naraku has rid himself of his human heart and destroyed Kikyo that he can do whatever he wants without worry? Koga isn't about to let that happen! He says his farewells to Kagome a bit surprised that Inuyasha isn't interfering.

Dawn is breaking and Inuyasha has yet to return. When he finally does return, he acts as if it is alright that he hasn't found Kikyo, but Kagome knows differently.

A little while later, Kagome and the others are relieved to see that the boy Shintaro, his sisters, and the other villagers were unharmed when the mountain collapsed. However, other villages aren't so lucky. The demons that have escaped from the mountain are attacking villages over and over again. Things have gone from bad to worse. As our heroes are burying the dead from one of the villages, a Monk approaches and offers his assistance. He tells how he was on a pilgrimage in search of knowledge. A few days ago he had encountered an injured Miko (priestess) that washed up on a riverbed in a village on the other side of the mountain. She told him she was injured by a person named Naraku. "However, since she had such horrible wounds, she may have already died." he added. Kagome urges Inuyasha to go quickly. The young hanyou hesitates, asks Kagome to forgive him, and rushes off to find Kikyo.

A lot of time has passed and Inuyasha has not returned. Miroku says they should move forward since Inuyasha can find them by picking up Kagome's scent. Before they can get far, several men ride up on horses. They order Kagome and the others to come with them to the castle. Seems they were told to capture anyone who looks suspicious. Shippo and Kirara escape to find Inuyasha.

Once at the castle, the princess asks the men to bring Kagome to her and kill all of the others. "Why only me?" Kagome wonders. Once inside, she finds out exactly why. There is a beautiful woman holding a baby. "With Kikyo dead, you are the only one left who can see the shikon shards." she says. Kagome turns quickly to see the old Monk behind her, but he falls forward and disintegrates revealing none other than Kagura. It's then that Kagome realizes his story of Kikyo was just a way to get rid of Inuyasha. She also sees that that the women is being controlled by the baby. The offspring of Naraku! "What do you plan on doing with me?" Kagome asks. To her horror he says, "I want your eyes."

Outside the castle, Sango has a hidden weapon. She breaks free and fights with the men before they are able to harm anyone. In the process, she frees Miroku from his bindings and he, too, fights. They are outnumbered and know that it will take a while to fight these men without killing them. Unfortunately, they're concerned over Kagome's safety.

Returning to Kagome, the child orders Kagura to remove the girl's ropes. Kagome is forced to hold the child. He lays his head on her chest and searches her heart for any signs of darkness. Kagome is overwhelmed with foreboding fear and thinks; "Inuyasha will not come to save me for he is too busy searching for Kikyo." This is the kind of darkness the child was hoping for. "Hold me tightly. Our souls will become one, and you will be my eyes," he says. Kagome is unable to resist the child's power thus hugging him tighter.

Will Inuyasha return in time?! Don't miss the next exciting episode to find out!!