| Episode 61: Kikyou Appears, Using the Ceremonial Spirits (Arawareta Kikyou Shikigami Tsukai) : At the start of this episode, Kagome gives us a rundown of what happened in episode 60 and of who Tsubaki is. After the episode title goes by, Naraku explains (to the audience, I guess--or else he likes talking out loud) that Inuyasha now faces a similar situation as when Kikyou sealed him to the sacred tree fifty years ago. Ku ku ku... Meanwhile! Sango, Miroku, and Kirara are still trying to bypass the barrier around Tsubaki's stronghold, but are unsuccessful. Looking down at the ground, though, they see Kikyou walk right up to the barrier, and are amazed when she passes right through! In the village hut, Kagome is still trying to fight Tsubaki's power over her body, and Inuyasha is hesitant about what he should do. If he runs, he'll live but Kagome will surely die from Tsubaki's curse. If he stays, she'll kill him. Deciding to stay, he runs at her to try to get the bow and arrow away from her, but Kagome cannot fight Tsubaki/Naraku's command to kill, and launches the arrow. Inuyasha cries out in pain, but before we see what happened, Tsubaki turns to see that Kikyou has cut off Naraku's head! (Actually, it's just his kugutsu being destroyed.) Naraku merely thinks this is interesting, and he, Kagura, and Kanna watch from a distance to see what happens between the two priestesses. Tsubaki temporarily loses control over Kagome, and Inuyasha, who only lost part of his sleeve (whew!), runs to catch her. She seems to be okay now, but she asks him to take her to where she can feel the presence of the Shikon no Tama. Leaving Kaede and Shippou with little explanation, Inuyasha runs off with Kagome on his back, reassuring her that he knew she couldn't control herself and promising to protect her through the upcoming ordeal. Miroku and Sango are still searching for a way inside the barrier, and it's Kikyou versus Tsubaki! They reminisce about old times, and Tsubaki reveals that fifty years ago when she feared the loss of her youth and beauty, she sought to take the Shikon no Tama from Kikyou, which would grant eternal youth to her. We see a scene from the past where Kikyou is explaining to Inuyasha that the Shikon no Tama, in the hands of a demon, increases that demon's power, but that if it were used to make him a human, the wish would purify the Shikon no Tama and forever dissolve the jewel. Also, it if were gone, Kikyou would no longer need to guard it, and she and Inuyasha could be together. Famous scene (also takes place in the past)! Inuyasha is pushing a boat along like the guys in Venice on gondolas, and Kikyou sits in the rear. They reach and dock, and she's the last to depart, sort of tripping forward onto him. She looks up at him, a little embarrassed, and that's when he suddenly hugs her close to him (and I think kisses her, too). Very beautiful, sad scene, cast in red since the sun in setting (perhaps their relationship is ending the same way that the day is ending?). Tsubaki's voice cuts in again, declaring that since Kikyou's heart is now distracted with love, she could defeat her, and take the Shikon no Tama for herself! She sent her shikigami after Kikyou, but Kikyou easily reflected it back to Tsubaki, damaging her youthful face and probably sending her over the edge into true insanity. Now back in present time, Tsubaki (realizing that Kikyou is the undead) scathingly asks her how she can even face her, now that she has her youth, beauty, and some kick-ass demonic powers? Kikyou insults her justly by saying that she didn't care what the cause of the evil aura was, and only came there to deal with it. It wasn't to solely seek out Tsubaki. Kagome and Inuyasha are almost to the kekkai [barrier] where Miroku and Sango are still waiting. As Inuyasha leaps into the air, Kagome notches an arrow into her bow. Tsubaki, inside, is amazed to see that Kagome's approach is purifying the Shikon no Tama on the ritual table. Kikyou explains to Tsubaki that she could never curse Kagome with the strength she has. Kagome launches the arrow, which completely and utterly annihilates the barrier. Go Kagome!! Now that they're in, the Yasha gang (minus 1 Shippou) go in for the kill! Tsubaki looks out of her hideout to see that the barrier is indeed gone, and sees the Yasha gang approaching. It's then that Kikyou learns of what Tsubaki made Kagome do, which almost killed Inuyasha. Kikyou gets pissed and grabs Tsubaki's hair, telling her that Kagome doesn't matter (that mud-woman b*tch!), but if Tsubaki touches Inuyasha, she'll kill Tsubaki. Then disappearing as if she really were a ghost (is she allowed to do that?!), she emphasizes her threat, certainly giving Tsubaki something to think about. Now that Kikyou is gone, Tsubaki exits the house, facing down the Yasha gang. They verify her identity, and Miroku and Sango inquire about Kikyou, who they saw entering the barrier. Inuyasha is surprised to hear this, and listens as Tsubaki evilly asks the rhetorical question, "Did she come here to save you, Inuyasha?" Her spirit is tied to this world because of her love for him. Kagome remains silent, poor thing. Inuyasha, putting Kagome down and asking Mirou and Sango to look after her, is about to draw out Tetsusaiga in order to fight Tsubaki, but she warns him that since she holds the Shikon no Tama, drawing his sword will only earn Kagome's death. Tsubaki reasserts the curse over Kagome, draining even more of Kagome's powers. Stepping down from the porch, Tsubaki calls forth a demon from the affected part of her face that was damaged fifty years ago. And now Inuyasha has to fight it without using his sword! Episode 62: The Bottomless Curse of Tsubaki (Sokoshirenu Tsubaki no Jubaku) : Episode 63: The Red and White Priestesses that Obstruct the Way (Ikute mo Habamu Kohaku Miko) : Episode 64: Tahoutou's Huge Demon (Tahoutou no Kyodaina Oni) : Episode 65: Goodbye to the Days of Youth (Saraba Seishun no Hibi) : Episode 66: Naraku's Barrier, Kagura's Resolution (Naraku no Kekkai Kagura no Kesshin) : Episode 67: Raging Wind of Revenge (Fukiareru Uragiri no Kaze) : Episode 68: To Shippou: The Enraged Written Challenge (Shippou He Ikari no Chousenjou) : Episode 69: The Faceless Man's Terror (Kao no Nai Otoko no Kyoufu) : Episode 71: The Conclusion of the Fight of the Three Vorteces (Mitsudomoe no Shitou no Hate) Episode 73: The Feelings of the Child Shiori and her Mother, and of the Despicable Man (Shiori Boshi to Aitsu no Kimochi) : Episode 74: Red Tessaiga Destroys the Barrier (Kekkai Yaburu Akai Tessaiga) Episode 75: The Conspiracy of the Four Felines (Hyouneko Shitennou no Inbou) |
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