Episode 146 - The Wild-Tempered Bird User, Abi
Myoga finds himself in deep trouble when Inuyasha accuses the old flea of withholding information about the portal. The elderly flea admits to knowing about the doorway, but not about the risk - would he have joined the gang if danger were involved? Sango and Miroku steer the discussion back to the real issue - finding an alternate path to the netherworld. It’s the only way to retrieve the jewel and beat Hakudoshi and Naraku. The next day finds the team on the road outside a small village. They discover that all the villagers have been slaughtered and their bodies sucked dry of blood. Elsewhere, bandits pillage and burn a neighboring village when they are attacked by a flock of demonic birds. The pterodactyl-like creature’s land on the bandits, pecking and sucking their blood away in a squabbling feeding frenzy. The silhouette of a woman appears against the backdrop of the burning village, and a cultured voice admonishes the birds to behave themselves. The woman elegantly approaches the carnage -- she’s the lovely and lethal Princess Abi, demon mistress of the birds. As the birds continue their feast, another shape emerges from the shadows; Naraku. He follows Abi back to her roost and offers to help her collect massive amounts of blood if she’ll help him in return. The demon tells Abi he knows her mother is dying from poison and that blood is the only thing that keeps her alive. As a show of ‘good faith’ Naraku presents Abi with a three-pronged halberd made from his own bones. He also tosses in a nest of Saimyoushou to sweeten the deal. With these tools, Abi can collect all the blood she needs for her mother. She reluctantly accepts, secure in the knowledge that Naraku is a mere half-demon and, if the impertinent halfling gets out of line, Abi will gladly destroy him. While Naraku collaborates with Abi, Hakudoshi takes a nap. Kagura observes the boy, angrily recollecting his earlier threats on her life. She hops on her feather and takes off for parts unknown before she’s tempted to hurt him again. The team meanwhile has located a village with live residents. Miroku and Inuyasha warn the headman about the mysterious blood-sucking threat that may headed their way. Miroku and the village elders agree on an exterminator’s contract and he just seals he deal when Abi’s ravenous flock attacks the village. The lead bird’s terrifying screech whips the other birds into a killing frenzy and they tear the village apart with the claws, beaks and fire. The team’s formidable skills barely keep pace with the torrents of incoming birds as wave after wave flies into the town threatening citizens. When Miroku opens up the Wind Tunnel, sucking up birds the others missed, a sudden swarm of Saimyoushou appears, flying towards him forcing him to retreat. Observing the battle from atop her cloud of flames is Abi. Inuyasha notices her too, and calls he out. Abi laughs at his audacity, accusing him of being a measly half-demon. Transforming into her demon form, Abi hurls a fireball at Inuyasha, but he dodges and comes back strong with a Wind Scar attack, blasting dozens of birds apart in it‘s path. Now she understands why Naraku gave her the halberd - to fight Inuyasha. Abi needs time to consider this new weapon and it’s implications so she retreats just as Inuyasha powers up the red Tetsusaiga. Later, the team discusses the nature of their new enemy. They all come to the conclusion that Naraku is using Abi to collect blood, but why he needs that blood to connect to the other world is a mystery!
