Episode 129 - Cho Kyukai and A Plundered Bride
A village trembles beneath a threatening sky while the village men stand poised for battle, armed with only humble farm tools. Inside a hut, a family cowers - a terrified mother and daughter huddle together inside a ring of salt: the father prepared to defend them against an unseen foe. A twister drops out of the clouds in front of the hut and, silhouetted within the maelstrom, are three demons. The largest creature demands his bride in a fearful voice that scatters the village men like chickens. Impatient for his 'bride', the large yokai blows the hut, and the parents, to bits. As the young woman cowers unharmed in the rubble, a golden diadem slips gently over head. The yokai calls for her to join him, and bewitched, she obeys, vanishing into the yokai's whirlwind. Switch to Kaede's house: the victimized village sent one of their young men to seek the aid of demon exterminators. Kiske, a handsome young villager, tells the Inuyasha and the team about the kidnappings and Inuyasha steps up to help and the team heads to Kiske's village. On the way, Kiske and the team detour to a cave where the young village women have hidden. A bevy of young ladies flock to greet Kiske's and their visitors, but the reunion is brief. The sky outside darkens ominously, the swirling clouds loaded with the evil energy announcing the arrival of the girl-grabbing yokai. Inuyasha charges out to meet the foe, Kagome by his side. The plan? Use Kagome as "bait bride" for an ambush. The yokai makes a spectacular, cyclonic entrance but, as twister clears, the true nature of the 'enemy' is revealed - it's a big, dorky boar yokai and his two minions - a grouchy monkey and a spastic kappa. The trio isn't up to Inuyasha or Miroku's expectations and their disappointment is clear. Insulted, the yokai extols his demonic power and magnificence, but his bravura leaves Miroku and Inuyasha baffled, bored and impatient to leave. However, the yokai means to claim his bride - Kagome - and he flings a diadem her way. Inuyasha tries to intercept the circlet, but winds up wearing it himself and he falls under the yokai's "love spell" with disturbing results. Miroku, Sango and Shippo tackle Inuyasha, removing the diadem before he embarrasses himself further. But in the confusion, the crown find's it's way to Miroku's head and he is enchanted, exhibiting another unsettling display of misplaced affection. Since Miroku isn't the yokai 's "type", the creature frees him from the circlet and it flies off again, finally hitting its female target - Kagome. The yokai claims his bewitched 'bride', Kagome, ordering his minions to attack Inuyasha. The confrontation ends badly for the kappa and monkey, so the boar yokai battles Inuyasha himself. The fight goes well until Inuyasha hears Kagome cheering for his opponent. The yokai uses the distraction to whisk Kagome away to his castle where she joins the other "brides" - a harem of stolen village women. Inuyasha is angry over Kagome's kidnapping but, as always, Miroku has a plan. His strategy involves a special ofuda -- prayer paper - and Shippo's fox magic. At the castle, the yokai celebrates his nuptials while Kagome pours sake for her "groom". The party is interrupted by a feminine voice calling the yokai from the castle gate. The big galoot investigates to discover a pretty little redhead waiting at the gate, volunteering to be his bride. The eager yokai happily inspects the flirtatious new comer; a foxy tail pops out beneath the girl's clothing. Shippo's disguise diverts the yokai's attention long enough for Inuyasha to find Kagome and free her from the crown's spell. Happy she's back to normal, Inuyasha gives Kagome her bow, arrows and the ofuda, telling her about Miroku's plan. In the courtyard, the outraged yokai attacks Sango and Miroku, so Inuyasha leaves Kagome to her archery task and joins the fight, challenging the yokai to individual combat. The boar yokai is ready to rush Inuyasha when it senses the kai - spirit power - of the ofuda and, looking up at the castle balcony, spots Kagome aiming an arrow wrapped in the ofuda, at him. The yokai dances around in panic, but his antics don't help: Kagome shoots him square in the backside with the special arrow and the yokai evaporates! Freed from the enchantment, the team reunites the stolen women with their favorite fellow - Kiske - much to Miroku's disappointment.
