Episode 116 - The Real Face: Exposed
Inuyasha and Kagome find refuge in a secluded cave near a mountain stream. The cavern is a perfect place to drop off an injured wolf demon, which is exactly what Inuyasha does after hauling the unconscious Koga to safety. While the group settles in to recuperate, back in the mountain village the paralyzed Suikotsu menaces the cowering orphans. Jakotsu observes the scene as Rin struggles in his clutches. A single Saimyousho buzzes in, communicating to Jakotsu Sessho-maru is on his way. Jakotsu orders Suikotsu to forget the children and they leave: killing Sessho-maru is the new priority. They plan to lure him into Mt. Hakurei’s demon damaging barrier, using Rin as bait. What the Shichinin-tai duo doesn’t realize is that Sessho-maru has already breached the warding, intent on rescuing Rin and exacting revenge on her kidnappers. Kikyo arrives in the village shortly after the Shichinin-tai’s departure and finds the children huddled together, horrified, after witnessing the bloodshed caused by Suikotsu. The children tell her although Suikotsu looked like the kindly doctor they all loved, a different, evil Suikotsu murdered the village elders and tried to kill them. Kikyo warns the children to leave the village: it’s too dangerous for them to stay, and embarks in search of Suikotsu. Elsewhere, the two Shichinin-tai prepare to spring their trap. Jakotsu doubts Sessho-maru’s ability to enter the barrier; Sessho-maru however, materializes out of the mist proving him wrong. Jakotsu wastes no time in drawing Jakotsutuo and attacking. The snake sword slashes lethally at Sessho-maru, but he dodges its blades elegantly -- or so it seems ... The Jakotsutuo manages to strike him, finally tasting demon blood. Jakotsu is elated and confident Mt. Hakurei has affected Sessho-maru and made him vulnerable to attack. Sango is feeling vulnerable too; Miroku has gotten them lost inside the cave they were investigating. As they search for an exit, they spot someone or something, glowing, beckoning them to follow. Sensing no demon, the duo decides to go in pursuit. The source of the glow is Kohaku wearing a luminescent cloak. He wants to lead them out of, and away from the cavern. The clash between Sessho-maru and Jakotsu escalates. Jakotsu is eager to exploit the demon’s diminished capacity, but Sessho-maru wages a strong offensive. Jakotsu taunts Sessho-maru, threatening to kill the captive Rin if he makes a wrong move. Sessho-maru smirks in reply. Angered by his reaction, Jakotsu swings his sword. Sessho-maru launches his defense flinging Toukijin aside, and charging Jakotsu headlong. Sessho-maru’s strategy finds two marks - the Toukijin plunges into Suikotsu’s chest and Sessho-maru’s claws thrust into Jakotsu’s torso. Although wounded, the Shichinin-tai are still determined make good their threat to kill Rin. Suikotsu is about to cleave the cringing Rin when an arrow streaks through the air, striking him in the throat. It’s Kikyo‘s arrow, fired to cleanse the corrupted jewel shard. Against the agonizing influence of the barrier, Kikyo makes her way to the wounded Suikotsu while Jakotsu flees in fear. Kikyo’s arrow has restored the “good” Suikotsu. He asks Kikyo to remove the Shikon shard because he wants to die again and finally end the misery of his two personalities. Suikotsu tells her the story of how a traumatic incident caused his personality to shatter and what led him to become one of the Shichinin-tai. Helpless against the sins of his evil self, Suikotsu wants the peace of oblivion. As Kikyo tentatively reaches to take the shard, a flash of metal streaks towards Suikotsu, fatally slicing open his throat. The jewel shard pops free into Jakotsu’s eager grasp. Jakotsu dashes off, abandoning his withered comrade. Back at the mountain cave, Miroku and Sango have followed the strange glow to safety. Outside the fissure, Sango discovers a special, luminescent cloak the demon slayer’s use. All signs point to Kohaku. In another cave on the mountain, Koga slowly recovers under the care of Kagome and his pack mates. Outside, Shippo spies on a pensive Inuyasha, floating on his back in the steam, obviously preoccupied. Shippo wonders what Inuyasha is thinking so hard about but only we know the answer: he‘s simply admiring the beautiful day.
