Episode 120 - Good-Bye! A Requiem for Jakotsu
Inside the bowels of Mt. Hakurei, the battle between Inuyasha and Jakotsu draws to it’s close. The situation looks grim for Inuyasha; he‘s shackled by the cruel blades of the Jakotsuto and with a flick of his wrist, Jakotsu can tear him to pieces. Jakotsu is enchanted at the spectacle of Inuyasha subdued in such a manner. Inuyasha, not eager to die, stuns Jakotsu with an all-consuming Kaze no Kizu attack. Jakotsu and his vicious weapon are caught by surprise by the attack’s intensity and engulfed by its fury. When the smoke clears, what remains of the mortally wounded Jakotsu and his sword lay broken and trampled under a blanket of debris. Although Jakotsu invites Inuyasha to finish the job and kill him, Inuyasha declines, leaving to resume his search for Naraku. Out of the darkness, Renkotsu approaches his dying comrade. Jakotsu regards him with a resigned smirk: he knows Renkotsu is there to retrieve the Shikon jewel shard keeping him alive. Determined to survive, Renkotsu removes the shard from the failing Shichinin-tai’s throat and Jakotsu melts into dust. Renkotsu departs with his prize but, as soon as he leaves, a lone Saimyosho buzzes in and plucks Jakotsu’s hair ornament from his dusty remains and flies away. Outside on the mountain Kikyo searches for the object that escaped Mt. Hakurei’s barrier and discovers Hakushin, meditating inside a ‘bubble” of the remaining purity. Kikyo deduces that the monk inside the barrier was the one responsible for protecting Naraku and restraining his evil. The conversation between Kikyo and Hakushin reveals they have much in common: both strived for perfection in life only to have that perfection escape them because they gave into the needs of their humanity. Hakushin is hesitant to open up to the miko, but then realizes Kikyo can see through his facade and into his soul. She understands Hakushin’s guilt and his regret at having been seduced by Naraku’s evil. Through her empathy Kikyo provides Hakushin the forgiveness and salvation he needs to put his spirit to rest and, with Kikyo’s help, Hakushin passes into the next world. Others play out their own dramas elsewhere on the troubled mountain. Kagome anxiously waits for Inuyasha and the others to return from the barrier under the protection of Koga and his pack mates. As the mountain’s barrier deteriorates and escaping demons begin to flood out, Kagome decides she’s waited long enough. Kagome hands the ailing Shippo and Kirara off to Koga, and runs off towards the mountain in search of her companions. Unlike Kagome, Renkotsu wants to run away from Mt. Hakurei and avoid his finding his last comrade - the Shichinin-tai captain, Bankotsu. Renkotsu attempts to slip away without a confrontation, but Bankotsu intercepts him. The Shichinin-tai captain is aware of Renkotsu ‘s collection of Shikon shards, and the treacherous way he collected them. As evidence of Renkotsu’s deceit, Bankotsu holds up Jakotsu’s hair ornament. Determined to survive, Renkotsu fights for his existence, throwing his arsenal of artillery into the fight with his captain, but Bankotsu is victorious. He extracts the Shikon shards from Renkotsu and dissolves him into dust. Bankotsu has one more opponent to face -- Inuyasha. The sacred ground of Mt. Harukei continues to degenerate rapidly, until finally the barrier dissolves. A spectacular host of demons rampage through the miasma and unfortunately, Kagome has strayed into their path. Scrambling to protect herself, Kagome tries to notch an arrow into her bow, but drops it her haste. Taking advantage of her vulnerability, the advancing demons knock her to the ground, then turn back upon her. Just as they attack her, Koga appears, leaping to her defense at the last second. It seems he’s followed her up the mountain, and is determined to guard her -- for both Kagome’s sake and to keep his word to Inuyasha. Inside the mountain, Inuyasha continues to trail Naraku’s scent, calling out angry challenges to the arch demon. His challenge attracts a different, unexpected foe. Inuyasha’s path to Naraku is blocked by one last obstacle -- Bankotsu.
