Episode 139 - Big Duel at the Sho'Un Waterfall
The Younin, Hoshioni dangles the hostage Kagome like an impossible prize in front of an infuriated Inuyasha. Try as he might, Inuyasha cannot break the barrier Hoshioni created from a single blade of the halberd. The weapon is powerful as it can absorb and void even Tetsusaiga’s power! He taunts Inuyasha and the others as he disappears with Kagome and his four demonic henchmen. Inuyasha and the others, including the eager Akitoki, set off in pursuit using Akitoki’s half of the cursed halberd as a homing device. Reaching the refuge of the Furai Temple at the top of Sho-un Waterfall, Hoshioni dispatches Genbu, Suzaku, Seiryuu and Byakko to ambush Inuyasha and the others before they reach the temple. He also sets up a barrier - a large pentagram - to repel any intruders. Hoshioni and his evil quartet don’t have long to wait for action; the team arrives at the base of the falls and mounts their rescue effort. Inuyasha and Akitoki are the first to fall victim to Hoshioni’s magical defenses as they violently bounce off the barrier. Their fall is a signal for Genbu, Suzaku, Seiryuu and Byakko to engage, and the battle is on. Unable to use their usual defenses due to the barrier, Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku struggle miserably, enduring a vicious beating by three of the yokai brutes. Suzaku, however, has selected a more defenseless victim - Akitoki! Akitoki however, proves to be stubborn prey clinging to his half of the halberd for dear life. Inside the temple, captive within the barrier, Kagome wakes from unconsciousness to find Hoshioni waiting. For all his demonic ambition, Hoshioni strikes Kagome as a tragic creature. He questions Kagome, asking why she travels with a Hanyo. His questions and comments further disturb an already conflicted Kagome, as does his personal story. Long ago, Hoshioni was once involved with a human woman, a powerful Miko of the Furai Temple named Sukione (sic). Their relationship ended badly and it was Sukione who separated the halberd of “Heaven and Earth”, sealing one of the blades within Mt. Hakurei. With the destruction of Hakureizan, Hoshioni retrieved half of the lost weapon. He now seeks to restore the weapon completely. Kagome’s attempts to reason with Hoshioni fail and she is forced to demonstrate her own power. Recognizing Kagome poses a significant threat to his plans; Hoshioni places Kagome back under a sleep spell. At the base of Sho’un Falls, the battle rages on. Genbu is crushing Inuyasha; Seiryuu has pinned Sango inside a tornado of sharp serpent scales and Byakko is tearing Miroku to pieces. Only Shippou is free to help as he aids Akitoki, diverting Suzaku’s attentions away from the wretched youth. Even without Suzaku’s attack Akitoki is still in trouble. Hoshioni’s halberd blade, sensing it’s mate is near, ‘calls’ to it’s partner and Akitoki is helplessly dragged up the waterfall by his half of the weapon. Shippo goes to the rescue, but Suzaku attacks again in the form of a phoenix, pecking away at the little kitsune! Hoshioni’s demon thugs outmatch the team. Miroku’s fight with the ravenous Byakko catches Inuyasha’s attention even as Genbu attempts to wring the life out him. Unable to tolerate the deadly humiliation longer, Inuyasha frees a hand and attacks Genbu with his Hijin Ketsusou (Blood Claw) maneuver. The attack works, and Inuyasha breaks free of Genbu’s lethal hold. His success also creates a distraction among the evil yokai allowing Miroku to free his arm from Byakko’s fangs and open up his Wind Tunnel. One by one, Miroku dispatches Hoshioni’s henchmen until they all disappear into the void. Only Akitoki remains in peril - his part of the halberd dumped him outside the Furai Temple front door! The blade reunites with its partner and the Halberd of Heaven and Earth fuse together as one in Hoshioni’s hands. The weapon and its master power up. As the team joins Akitoki outside the temple, the doors swing open and a power-enhanced Hoshioni steps outside. In one hand, he holds the Halberd of Heaven and Earth - the other, Kagome’s limp body. With a mere swing of the demonic weapon, Hoshioni rips a hole in the heavens, blowing the team away. With a taunting, evil grin, the demon and his captive float towards the void while Inuyasha watches in livid frustration.
