Episode 114 - Kouga makes his stand
Koga races through the mist of Mt. Hakurei followed closely by Hakkaku, Ginta and the wolf pack. Hakkaku and Ginta complain they are exhausted from running, frustrated by the barrier, and just want to go home, but Koga is on a mission and he won’t give up. While Koga lays down the law to the beta wolf demons, Renkotsu and Ginkotsu observe the pack from within the safety of the barrier. As Koga rants, the Shichinin-tai open fire, aiming for the Shikon jewel shards in Koga’s legs. Elsewhere on the mountain, Kagome, Inuyasha, Shippo and Kirara wait for Sango and Miroku to return from their reconnaissance. The barrier is starting to have a bad effect on Inuyasha, and he struggles discretely to fight it without alarming Kagome and the others. Shippo wonders how Miroku and Sango are doing, especially since Miroku is alone with Sango. Koga’s bravura wears thin in battle as the two Shichinin-tai continue to bombard him with cannon fire. They are protected from counter attack by Mt. Hakurei’s demon-proof barrier. All Koga can do is dodge the deadly salvos, and try to lure his adversaries out into unprotected open ground. Koga continues to evade incoming fire from the Shichinin-tai while Hakkaku and Ginta watch helplessly. Renkotsu adds his flame attack to the fracas as Ginkotsu continues to pepper Koga with mortar fire. When the smoke clears, Koga is gone! Certain he’s blown to bits, Renkotsu and Ginkotsu move outside the barrier to retrieve Koga’s Shikon shards. Koga bursts out of hiding, launching a surprise attack of his own. He’s ready to destroy the Shichinin-tai by removing their Shikon jewel shards. Koga places himself between the Ginkotsu, Renkotsu and the barrier cutting off their retreat. Though deprived access to the barrier, the Shichinin-tai point out they can go anywhere, but Koga is trapped against a demon-lethal barrier. Ginkotsu releases another barrage of mortar fire as Koga rushes Renkotsu, and slashing him, in an attempt remove his Shikon shards. The attack on Renkotsu makes Ginkotsu really mad. Ginkotsu undergoes a sequence of mechanical changes as he prepares his retaliatory attack against Koga. Amazed, but not daunted, Koga launches himself directly at Ginkotsu, who counters by launching his upper body back at Koga. They clash in airborne fury until gravity takes its toll and they crash to earth. Ginkotsu is wrecked, but he has one last offensive maneuver -- a self-destruct mode. He explodes, taking Koga with him. On their part of the mountain, Inuyasha senses something bad. He grabs Kagome, Shippo and Kirara without much explanation and they speed off towards the disturbance. More bad guys converge upon Mt. Hakurei -- Jakotsu and Suikotsu. They’re have an objective ... At a much quieter part of the mountain, Sesshoumaru, Jaken and Rin stand before a rope bridge. Before they can cross, Sesshoumaru senses a presence, leaps into action and is immediately attacked by Jakotsu’s Jakotsutou -- Snake Bone Sword. The new Shichinin-tai objective is to eliminate Sessho-maru. Cut to Renkotsu, staggering through the mountain mist. He holds a Shikon shard, which Ginkotsu fired off to him, before he self-destructed. Renkotsu grasps the jewel tightly as he mourns his comrade. Inuyasha, Kagome and the little ones arrive at Koga’s battleground. There are pieces of Ginkotsu everywhere, and Hakkaku and Ginta cry hysterically over Koga’s body, which is pinned beneath Ginkotsu‘s wreckage. Ginta and Hakkaku are certain Koga is dead. He certainly looks dead, but after a little coaxing, Koga regains consciousness. He‘s badly injured but alive. Even Inuyasha, is relieved until Koga grabs Kagome’s hand -- and the usual reaction from Inuyasha threatens -- however, in a remarkable display of maturity, there is no necessity for Kagome to issue a “Sit” command. As Inuyasha surveys the physical and emotional damage inflicted on Koga and the others, Inuyasha renews his oath of vengeance against the Shichinin-tai and Naraku.
