Episode 142 - Runaway Entei and Bloodcurdling Hakudoushi!
In a secluded cave inside a remote mountain Kagura holds a vigil over her half of the ‘split’ infant. The small bundle begins to stir with power, growing, and emitting a powerful energy that engulfs the cave, the mountainside and the valley below. Elsewhere, Inuyasha and the team pursue Entei. The fleet demon’s destination is the cave where his former partner, a bloodthirsty oni, is sealed. Entei releases the creature as Inuyasha arrives at the scene. Inuyasha struggles to stop the diabolical pair until the rest of the team arrives but the oni and Entei escape. Kagura, meanwhile, angrily searches for clothing for the child, as ordered. Her travels take her over a town in flames. Kagura stops to investigate the destruction (and loot clothing for the child) when she encounters Entei and it’s oni rider. The oni tries to worm information from Kagura, but she ignores him and takes off on her feather. Not to be overlooked, the oni chases Kagura across the night sky, lobbing a volley of fireballs at her. Reluctant to reveal the boy’s hiding spot, Kagura drops the new kimono near the hidden cave, leading Entei away from the boy. The chase ends in an open field and Kagura confronts the oni. Her attack is interrupted by the arrival of an elegantly clad boy who introduces himself as Hakudoshi. Entei spots the boy and immediately forsakes its old partner for a more powerful new master. The oni attacks Hakudoshi, but the child dispatches his powerful opponent smoothly and smugly. Hakudoshi approaches Entei and saddles up. Later, Inuyasha and the team encounter the razed town where they find evidence of Entei. Abruptly, everyone senses the approach of an incredible amount of power and watch as the clouds part revealing Entei. The creature returns to the scene of the massacre with a demonic whinny and a blast of demon fire. A potent barrier surrounds the creature repelling the power of Tetsusaiga, protecting it, and it’s diminutive new rider. From atop Entei, Hakudoshi greets his opponents arrogantly, bragging how Entei has chosen him for his new rider. He also tells the team he is the baby they thought was destroyed. Miroku questions Hakudoshi about priest killings and if the rumors were true about the Shikon shard lost within the boundary between this world and the next. Hakudoshi confirms the information, telling Miroku he ought to be grateful for the clue. Irritated by the boy’s attitude, Inuyasha blasts Hakudoshi but, Hakudoshi’s barrier repels Tetsusaiga’s power, and the demonic duo escape. Kagura joins Hakudoshi’s flight and, as they travel, Kagura asks what’s next. Hakudoshi has a new plan. The last priest who died gave him a mental picture of a world of white fog, and he wants to know more. The boy concludes humans won’t have the answer he needs, but perhaps demons do. Back at camp, Kagome hears someone crashing through the woods. She call’s Inuyasha’s name, expecting him to answer, but is shocked when a gigantic, headless creature stumbles blindly out of the forest and into the camp. Kagome and Shippo run, but Kagome stumbles and falls. Kagome and Shippo are about to be crushed by the mammoth demon when Inuyasha rockets out of the woods, destroying the monster. While Shippo rants at Inuyasha for being gone, Inuyasha apologizes to Kagome for his absence. Further examination of the body reveals a sloppy swordsman severed the demon’s head. Flash back to Hakudoshi standing in a forest clearing holding a very large halberd. A huge demon approaches the boy and, wielding his weapon, Hakudoshi leaps up and slices off the creature’s head. He drags it back to Entei and places the head on top of a pile of other severed heads. Watching, Kagura wonders what the boy is planning.
