Episode 159 - Kohaku's Resolution and Sango's Heart
Sango attacks Kohaku, who finally makes a decision to close the zushi and halting the stream of rats. She pursues her brother while Miroku keeps a vigilant eye on the river of rodents. So far, Kikyo’s Mayose spell is working, attracting the rats to the oyadama tree. At the great tree, Kagome, Inuyasha and Shippo watch the multitude of rats climbing its heights to their death. Inuyasha scans for Kikyo but she’s gone. As if reading Inuyasha’s mind, Hakudoshi appears, cursing Kikyo for her interference. Demonstrating his aggravation, Hakudoshi attacks the oyadama tree with gigantic slugs. Inuyasha retaliates, attacking Hakudoshi. Wounded, Hakudoshi departs, giving Inuyasha a message for Kikyo: until she reveals herself to Naraku, more incidents like the rat plague will happen. Unable to pursue the brat, Kagome and Inuyasha do the next best thing; try to save the oyadama tree and salvage Kikyo’s Mayose spell. Though they destroy the slugs, the creatures have killed the tree and the Mayose spell is broken. The rats start their rampage again. While Sango chases Kohaku, Miroku notices the rats have changed direction and are headed straight towards them! Stalling for time, Miroku uses his Wind Tunnel to protect Sango and Kohaku. Sango finally pins Kohaku hoping to reason with him. As the Saimyoushou hover ominously over the siblings, Kohaku knows he must continue to act like Naraku’s loyal minion in order to destroy him. Even at the expense of breaking his sister’s heart. Back at the tree, Inuyasha makes the decision to go: the Mayose spell is broken. The only way to destroy the terrible tide of rodents is to find and destroy the zushi. Traveling on Shippo (his “balloon form”) Inuyasha and Kagome race back to Miroku and Sango. En route, Inuyasha senses trouble, catching the scent of blood - Sango’s blood! He leaves Kagome and Shippo to rush ahead. Kohaku manages to escape Sango, but is overtaken by the rats. They wash over him like a living wave, and Sango races to his rescue on Kirara while Miroku tries to stem the tide of rats. Sango pulls Kohaku from the rats, and then tries to break the zushi with her Hiraikotsu. She is appalled a barrier protects it. Beating on the zushi desperately, the mice inundate Sango, too. Miroku flails at the swarm with his staff, watching helplessly as Kirara attempts to pull Sango and Kohaku from the rat pile, only to be sucked down into the living mass. Inuyasha arrives and finds the trouble he anticipated - Sango, Kohaku and Kirara buried beneath a blanket of demon mice with Miroku about to join them! Suddenly a glowing arrow slices through the chaos, piercing and destroying the zushi’s barrier -- Kikyo’s purifying arrow. Wasting no time, Inuyasha crushes the zushi with Tetsusaiga and the demon rats vaporize. Arriving by air, Kagome and Shippo watch the horde disappear and spot Kikyo and her shinidama in the distance. As the air clears around them, Inuyasha spots Kikyo as she turns to go; Miroku only has eyes for Sango. She and Kohaku are on the ground, unconscious and wounded by the rats. Kohaku regains consciousness in Sango’s protective embrace; he grieves for his sister’s wounds, remorseful for the pain emotional suffering he’s caused her. Sango wakes and, despite her condition, beams with joy to see her brother alive. She tenderly caresses her brother’s cheek, but Kohaku bolts away from her, fearful of revealing his true heart to Sango. Sango’s heart breaks as she tearfully watches Kohaku leave her again, spirited away by Hakudoshi. Kohaku also suffers, leaving his sister with another bad memory, but his resolve is firm: he must continue to deceive Naraku in order to destroy him even at the expense of his sister’s feelings. Later, the team recovers in a hut deep in the woods. Outside, Shippo expresses concern for Sango, but Inuyasha reassures him she’ll recover. Kagome worries more about the wounds in Sango’s heart. Inside the hut Miroku watches over Sango. Sango tells him about the conflict she feels towards Kohaku. She can’t forgive her brother, but she can’t hate him either, and wonders why she saved him from the rats. Miroku asks her if she’s sorry she protected Kohaku and Sango replies she’d be sorrier if she didn’t. Miroku takes her hand, and assures her she did the right thing by following her heart. Elsewhere Kikyo surveys the devastation from the demon mice Naraku sent to coax her out of hiding. Cutting a lock of her hair, Kikyo gives it the shikigama girls, Asuka and Kocho with orders to fly around with the tress. It’s Kikyo’s turn to try and entice Naraku down from his web.
