Transform Heartache into Courage

Picking up from last episode, Naraku's offspring has found the darkness in Kagome's heart (basically it's losing Inuyasha to Kikyo). Meanwhile, Sango and Miroku are working hard to take down the castle's soldiers without killing them. Kagura watches them in amazement. The child, however, feels it's only a matter of time before the humans begin killing each other.

Quite a distance away, Inuyasha hasn't located Kikyo. In fact he is unable to pick up her scent. Even other villagers do not recall seeing a priestess recently. As he is wondering what is going on, the hanyou sees demons flying overhead. Inuyasha finds Shippo and Kirara, who were both able to escape from the many demons. When Shippo tells him how the others were captured and taken to a castle, Inuyasha realizes the old Monk must have tricked him. He races off to the castle and arrives just in time to save Miroku and Sango from a barrage of arrows. He is told Kagome is in the castle. Unfortunately, he arrives too late! Kagura, Kagome, and the child are already flying away. The three arrive at another dwelling where Kanna has been waiting for them. She hands Kagura a tainted shikon shard to be placed within Kagome. That way they will have complete control over the girl. However, Kagome is trying desperately to fight the dark thoughts, but she is unable to move her body. Naraku's child sees this impertinence and tries to darken her heart even further.

Inuyasha runs through the forest with great speed. He recaps everything that has happened and wonders how he could be tricked like that. "Kagome, don't you die on me!!" he screams as he gets closer to the perpetrators.

The scene returns to the baby who is putting dark thoughts into Kagome's head. "You loathe Kikyo and resent Inuyasha. Fill your heart with bitterness. Hate them," he is telling her. When he thinks she has been fully brainwashed, he instructs Kagura to insert the tainted shard. What a surprise...the shard is repelled. Kagome beings to speak, "You're wrong. Inuyasha can't forget about Kikyo. Even if I can bring myself to accept that, in my mind, the pain is still there. However, bearing a grudge against Inuyasha and being envious of Kikyo are feelings any human would have! But, these feelings aren't to curse them, as you said they are. If Kikyo didn't exist....I have found myself wishing that, and worrying But ....all that means.... is that...... I love Inuyasha!" Just as she says that, Inuyasha comes crashing in. Kagome releases the baby, and Inuyasha catches her as she passes out.

Within a few minutes Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara arrive. "The Monk and the Exterminator," the child says, "How many of the castle's soldiers did you kill?" "I don't kill without cause!" Miroku shouts peering at the child while wondering if it is the true form of all those lumps of flesh Naraku bore at Mt. Hakurei. "Are you the human heart of Naraku?" Miroku questions. The child says it's possible, but he does not feel the longing for Kikyo nor does he feel any pain or sorrow.

Inuyasha grows furious hearing this and unleashes his "Kaze no Kizu." Unfortunately, the child easily erects a barrier that absorbs the shock of the attack and then sends it right back at our heroes. Luckily, they are able to escape unharmed. As the child, Kagura and Kanna float off in the purple orb barrier, they warn that this isn't over yet. Since Kikyo is gone, Kagome is the only one who can see the Shikon shards. They want her eyes so they can complete the Shikon jewel....a jewel tainted with hatred that is. "There are many ways to corrupt that girl as long as you cannot forget about Kikyo, Inuyasha," shouts the infant. Inuyasha grits his teeth and turns his attention to the unconscious Kagome, "I'm sorry I left you...I'll never let you fall into the hands of Naraku again."

Flying away, Kagura notices that the child is not well. Seems the confrontation with Kagome has drained a lot of his energy.

Everyone returns to the village where Inuyasha apologizes to Lady Kaede. The elder woman admits that Kikyo's soul was suffering on this Earth and her sister is now at rest "Inuyasha you stop suffering as well," Lady Kaede says wishing her sister's bones could return to the gravesite. Meanwhile, Kagome has been sleeping and awakens to see her favorite hanyou. "Inuyasha, you did come," she says. A little while later the two sit along side one another and talk. Truth is, even though she will get upset knowing Inuyasha cares for Kikyo, Kagome will still love him.

Just what is this child of Naraku's and why is it's power limited? You'll just have to continue watching to find out!!

Don't Boil! The Horror of the Dried Demon

Coming Soon

The Dried Demons & The Fighting Cultural Festival

The episode opens with youkai eating and completely destroying Kagome's economics class culinary presentation. Yuka screams when she discovers the disaster a little later. Kagome keeps a cool head and leads everyone to the convenience store (Hojo's?) where they practically clear the shelves. The presentation is saved, but the result is cuisine for people who have very unusual taste buds.

A short time later, Kagome walks the hall pondering what had happened. A mushroom-like youkai (Kurotenmudake) quietly emerges from the wall behind her. InuYasha, Sota, Grandpa, and mama arrive just in time. InuYasha uses his "Sankontessou" to destroy it. Afterwards, Kagome learns that she was responsible for bringing the youkai to this world--seems if you boil the himino, they turn back into youkai. Oops! Kagome believes there were four, and the whole family along with InuYasha vow to find them all. Just then, Ayumi comes running up to Kagome to remind her of the choir recital. Kagome freaks when she thinks her friend has seen InuYasha's true form. However, the culture festival is full of people wearing costumes, and Ayumi doesn't realize InuYasha is NOT in a costume.

While Kagome readies herself for the recital, the others try to seek out the remaining youkai. During the recital, Kagome sees another of the youkai just beyond the audience. She is torn between destroying the youkai and finishing her recital. Luckily, InuYasha arrives and takes care of the youkai himself.

After the recital Kagome meets up with InuYasha in order to find the last 2 youkai. Uh oh, her friends grab her again...for it is time to prepare for the play that she is supposed to star in. She plays the lead female role, Escargot Pudding. Guess who plays her main suitor...it's none other than Hojo as Pierre Pannacotta (looking really kawaii, too!!!). Kagome skips around the script in order to finish the play quickly...this makes the theme seem like more of a comedy than a love story.

The play reaches the point where Escargot and Pierre run into each other's arms and embrace. CRASH #%$&...InuYasha falls through the ceiling onto the stage right between them. Kagome tries to play along with this major disruption by telling InuYasha (now called Hannabart Pekopon *snickers*) not to fight over her. She motions to Hojo to play along as well. Hojo challenges InuYasha to a duel....which is not exactly what Kagome has in mind. Suddenly, one of the remaining youkai bursts onto the stage. Hojo (not realizing it's the real thing) goes after it, but InuYasha is way ahead of him. Kaze no Kizu finishes that youkai! Kagome...er...Escargot grabs InuYasha and asks him to fly her out of the building, which now has a gaping hole in the ceiling. Escargot and Hannabart fly off in a dramatic finish. And what does the audience think of all this? It's the greatest thing they've ever seen!!

Outside, Kagome and InuYasha spot the last youkai on the rooftop. It's nothing more than an oversized catfish. Yummy, the economics presentation is now complete with the main dish.

The cultural festival is a success for Kagome and all of her friends. Since the school duties are fulfilled, it's back to the Feudal Era to find the Shikon Shards.