Episode 81 - Finally Broken Naraku's Mystery
Sesshomaru and Naraku face off at Naraku's castle. Naraku senses Inuyasha's arrival and decides to conclude the fight with Sesshomaru, engulfing him in demonic tentacles. Jaken watches helplessly as his master is cocooned and the monster prepares to ingest Sesshomaru's demon power. Before Naraku can do so, Inuyasha explodes into the courtyard, eager to fight. Inuyasha opens with Kaze no Kizu, which Naraku attempts to repel. Naraku wasn't expected Inuyasha, nor is he pleased when the Tetsusaiga breaks through his barrier defense. Inuyasha battles on, but is quickly ensnared in the same tentacles wrapping Sesshomaru. Naraku can’t resist taunting Inuyasha about his lack of power, which is all it takes to ignite another wave of rage. Inuyasha breaks free of Naraku's trap, blasting him point blank with another Kaze no Kizu attack. The strike weakens Naraku’s grasp on Sesshomaru enough to allow him to burst through and escape. Joining forces, the brothers mount a ferocious battle and seriously wound Naraku. However, their old sibling rivalry returns over which of them gets to kill the demon. Their squabble allows Naraku enough time to get away. Sesshomaru starts to power up into his demon-dog form, when Naraku’s disembodied voice reminds him about the danger Rin faces with her present captor, Kohaku. Watching Naraku spiral off in a swirl of miasma, Inuyasha asks Sesshomaru about Rin's abduction the connection with Kohaku. He's met with stony silence as Sesshomaru departs to rescue Rin. Jaken is left behind to answer Inuyasha’s questions after a little persuasion. Back at the house where Kohaku is holding Rin captive, Kagome and the team combat a nightmarish assortment of demons. While the demonic horde distracts the good guys, Kohaku escapes with Rin. Attempts to follow the children are cut off by renewed demon attacks until Inuyasha arrives to beat back the evil swarm. Inuyasha picks up Kagome and tells the others they're going ahead to find Kohaku. Inuyasha must find Kohaku first -- if Sesshomaru beats them to Kohaku, Inuyasha knows he'll kill the boy for taking Rin. Further ahead in the forest, Kohaku leads Rin through the woods and into a clearing. Rin wonders why her new friend is acting odd. The situation worsens when he draws his scythe and moves to strike her down. Rin runs away in panic, but is snared by Kohaku’s scythe chain. Kohaku moves in for the kill and Rin faints from fear. Sesshomaru arrives in time to catch Kohaku poised for the death strike. But before he lands the blow to Rin, Kohaku’s attention turns to Sesshomaru and he attacks with the scythe. A blur of red appears, blocking the strike; Inuyasha has arrived. Sesshomaru ignores Inuyasha's request to leave the boy alone, grabs Kohaku by the throat, and prepares to kill him. Kagome, with Rin cradled protectively in her arms, begs Sesshomaru to show mercy; that Rin has just fainted and is unhurt. Kohaku dangles, blank-eyed and limp in Sesshomaru’s grasp and then -- Sesshomaru releases him and the boy falls heavily to the ground. Sesshomaru rationalizes Naraku wanted him to kill Kohaku and he wasn't going to fall into another trap, so he let the boy live. Kagome thanks Sesshomaru for his gesture as Rin regains consciousness. Overjoyed, the little girl springs from Kagome's arms and scampers happily to Sesshomaru. Kagome and Inuyasha watch dumbfounded as Rin skips after merrily after the stoic demon. During the commotion, Kagura escapes with Kohaku on her flying feather. When Sango, Miroku and Shippo arrive, Inuyasha and Kagome fill them in on events. Sango is sad, but relieved that Kohaku survived his encounter with Sesshomaru. Inuyasha is left wondering where the badly injured Naraku might be hiding, now that his castle has been discovered and it‘s barrier broken. Back at Naraku's deserted castle; the wandering Kikyo stands in the battle-scared courtyard and wonders the same thing.
