Nightmarish Reality: Battle in the Forest of Despair

[ Prologue ]

INU:   It's now time for Inuyasha!

KAG:  To find the Sacred Jewel fragments,

INU:   I have to defeat Naraku with this Tetsusaiga!

KAG:  We’re on a long journey seeking clues to find Naraku. We overcame the depressing moments together, but… Now, the horrible darkness hinders us.

INU:   Miroku and Sango and Shippo and Kirara!

KAG:  An excitng adventure unfolds!

INU & KAG: Inuyasha!

[ ACT I ]

Evening. INU-gang is in a misty ravaged forest. INU is sniffing the ground.

SHI:   (squats in front of INU, worried) How is it, Inuyasha? Still can't find the exit?

INU:   Shut up! You get on my nerves! (turns around and continues sniffing)

SHI:   (runs and squats in front of INU) You've been like this since morning. Night will come soon. (trembles)

INU:   Why are you shivering?

SHI freezes in action, sweat drop.

SAN:  Priest, this forest seems like…

MIR:   Yes, indeed… It has to be a demon territory.

A loud noise is heard suddenly. SAN and MIR wince. SHI climbs onto INU's head, trembling in fear. INU looks at him in a deadpan manner. KAG examines her bicycle tire.

KAG:  (sad) I did it again…

INU:   Won't you just throw that piece of junk away?!

KAG:  No way! My mother bought this for me. (gasps and turns around) It's coming. Some dark force.

MIR:   Finally. It's time for the master of this forest to appear…

SAN:  Could it be a demon or an evil spirit?

A huge flock of moths fly towards them and engulf the area.

INU:   (scoffs) The sooner it shows itself, the sooner we'll get this over with! (throws SHI aside and draws TET) Stop being so arrogant and just show yourself!!

A loud explosion is heard. A demon with red marks across his face and carrying a huge hatchet appears.

Demon: (laughs) Welcome to my "Forest of Despair".

* From the credits, this moth demon's name is Garamaru. Garamaru abbreviated as GAR from now onwards. *

[ Title screen: Nightmarish Reality: Battle in the Forest of Despair ]

MIR:   He is…!

SHI:   (climbs onto KAG's shoulder) Kagome, that demon is…!

KAG:  Yes… Gatenmaru.

GAR:  Oh… So you know Gatenmaru? He's the shame of our clan.

CUT TO FLASHBACK from episode 51 when Gatenmaru appeared with his group of bandits in a village.

GAR:  (voice-over) He worked together with the humans.

Cut to Gatenmaru fighting with INU.

GAR:  (voice-over) And I heard he was defeated by a half-demon.

Gatenmaru: (looks at TET) What a great sword for cutting!

END OF FLASHBACK.

INU:   (scoffs and swings TET) This half-demon here… see no challenge in killing you demons.

CUT TO FLASHBACK from episode 52 when INU turned full-demon and fought Gatenmaru in his moth demon form.

INU:   (voice-over) I defeated him in a pretty uninteresting way.

Gatenmaru: Can't be… Is this be his demon's blood?

Gatenmaru raise himself up and spews poison foam, which surrounds INU. The foam dissipates and INU is gone. Gatenmaru looks up to find INU leaping above him.

INU:   You pesky moth!

INU claws GAT from the mouth downwards, breaking his body into many pieces.

END OF FLASHBACK.

INU:   (points TET) I'll gladly accept if you want to take revenge for Gatenmaru!

GAR:  Revenge, you say? What a joke! That fool deserved to die. It's none of my concern.

INU:   Whatever! I just don't like you moth demons! Why not you go to hell?! (jumps)

KAG:  Inuyasha!

GAR hisses and spews light blades at INU. INU leaps and dodges. He swings TET at GAR who leaps backwards. A pair of colorful burst out from behind him. INU sprints forth to attack him, but GAR merely flies upwards. Suddenly KAG's cry is heard in the background.

INU:   (turns around, worried) What?!

A light orb appears on the chest of SHI, SAN, MIR and KAG. Everyone tries to push the orbs away from them.

KAG:  What's that…?

SAN:  We let our guards down!

SHI:   (struggling) It's struck! It's going further in!!

MIR:   Our strength…

The orb enters MIR's body. He winces in pain and falls to his knees.

MIR:   (weakly) …is being absorbed…

INU:   (runs to the group) Damn!

GAR flies lower and spins a cocoon each around everyone.

INU:   (horrified) Kagome! Kagome!

INU tries desperately to slash the cocoon web apart but to no avail.

INU:   (stops) Tetsusaiga is not working!

GAR:  (laughs) Eating human flesh is looked down upon in our clan. What we feast upon is your despair and fears!

INU tries to claw MIR's cocoon apart. A faint image of MIR unconscious is seen through the web.

INU:   Damn it! Miroku! You're being weak! Hey, Miroku!

The claw marks that INU made on the cocoon heals and MIR can't be seen again. INU runs to SAN's cocoon and puts his hands on it. The poison cocoon burns his palms but INU doesn't care. SAN remains unconscious.

INU:   Sango! Hang in there!

GAR:  (background) There's no use shouting, they can't hear a word you say.

INU runs desperately to SHI's cocoon. Cute KIR is also in the cocoon. Both of them are unconscious and don't hear INU's cries.

INU:   Shippo! Answer me! Shippo! Shippo!!

GAR:  (background) They won't live to see sunrise… Their bodies and souls will soon be devoured by me!

INU:   (takes TET) Wind Scar… I should test it.

INU tries to visualize using the Wind Scar to destroy the cocoons. He thinks that the cocoon would break but he would end up killing them too.

INU:   (sheathes TET) It's of no use. The only way to dispel this is to defeat him.

GAR:  (background) Now… In the nightmare they created, let the fear and dreadful memories of your past spew forth!

Cut to KAG, MIR and SHI entwined in each of their cocoons. Cut to SAN entangled in her cocoon.

FADE TO SAN'S PAST. KOH is chasing cute KIR happily in the village of the demon slayers. KOH tries to catch her but she's too fast for him.

KOH:  Hey! (chiding) Kirara!

KIR runs around KOH's feet, causing him to fumble. She then leaps on the head and jumps off, making him fall. KIR lands and mews. SAN and their father look on.

SAN:  (giggles) Are you okay, Kohaku?

Father: (to SAN) If he's struggling with Kirara, he may not be ready for the real battle yet.

KIR continues to chase KIR.

SAN:  Don't think so far, father. Kohaku has already mastered the Chain Scythe.

Father: If you say so.

SAN:  It's okay. I'll be with him when it comes to that. (looks at KOH)

Cut to flashback from episode 24 when KOH was possessed and killed his father and the slayers. SAN looks at KOH, horrified. Cut to the guards in NAR's castle firing arrows at KOH.

SAN:  Kohaku!!

Cut to SAN crawling to the fallen KOH weakly.

SAN:  Kohaku…

KOH:  (crying, weakly) Sister… I'm afraid…

SAN:  It's okay… I'm here…

Arrows suddenly pierce through SAN's back. She winces and falls over.

CUT TO PRESENT. SAN's hand turns into a moth-like one for a split second and reverts. SAN is still unconscious.

SAN:  (mumbling) Kohaku…

Cut to MIR in his cocoon.

FADE TO MIR's PAST. Monk Mushin and a young MIR are in a brothel. Mushin is drinking sake and enjoying a performance put up by the geishas. Young MIR is frowning.

Mushin: Nice, nice. How's this, Miroku? This allows you to forget about all the bad and dreadful times, right?

MIR:   Master Mushin, why isn't my father here?

Mushin grunts and takes a sip of sake.

MIR:   Master Mushin?

Mushin: Your father told me… not to let you see him depart this life…

MIR:   Departure from life?

Mushin: He's probably already…

Young MIR gasps. Cut to MIR's father being sucked into his own Wind Tunnel. Mushin holds to young MIR as he tries to runs to his father.

MIR:   Father!!!

Mushin looks away sadly.

CUT TO PRESENT. A pair of moth feelers appear momentarily over MIR's head and fades away. MIR is still unconscious.

MIR:   (mumbling) Father…

Cut to SHI in his cocoon.

FADE TO SHI's PAST. SHI is running in a field excitedly. He runs in some tall grass carrying an armful of acorns.

SHI:   Dad! Dad, look at this! I've found a lot of acorns!

SHI gasps and drops the acorns. Hiten and Manten appear, laughing smugly. Manten has worn SHI's dead dad around his waist as a pelt. SHI falls to the ground in disbelief. He then cries and wails.

CUT TO PRESENT. A moth abdomen appears momentarily over SHI's lower body and disappears. SHI is still unconscious.

SHI:   (mumbling) Dad…

Cut to KAG in her cocoon.

FADE TO KAG's NIGHTMARE. KAG and Sota are standing in front of the Dry Well hut in the Higurashi Shrine.

KAG:  What's wrong, Sota?

Sota: Buyo is inside. This place is creepy and scary.

KAG:  What's wrong?

KAG walks towards the well.

Sota: (scared) Sister…

KAG:  (gasps) Is it an evil aura?

A pink light glows in the well.

KAG:  No way! It can't be!

Amidst the pink light and fumes, NAR in his baboon suit appears and laughs.

KAG:  (grabs Sota) Sota, we need to run! NOW! Sota, come on!

KAG runs in the courtyard with Sota. A miasma starts to emit from the Dry Well hut. MOM and GRA run towards them.

Mama: What's wrong, Kagome?

GRA:  What's the commotion?!

KAG:  Don't come over!

A loud explosion is heard and NAR zooms towards KAG and Sota. They hug each other and shriek in terror.

CUT TO PRESENT. A pair of moth eyes appear momentarily over KAG's eyes and disappears. KAG is still unconscious. She gasps.

Cut to GAR standing on a withered tree.

GAR:  Suffering… Once the suffering is over, endless despair awaits. All of you should slowly experience the whole process…

INU jumps up to attack GAR. GAR dodges.

INU:   You bastard, what did you do to them?!

GAR:  (scoffs) I'm just letting them dream…

INU:   Dream?

GAR:  Be it humans or demons, the fear you have inside you will come to life in your dreams. That's what we feed on.

INU:   (furious) You despicable bastard!!

INU jumps and swings TET at GAR. GAR blocks with his hatchet. INU lands.

INU:   Let Kagome and the others out now!

GAR:  Oh, half-demon… I can see your fear…

INU:   What?!

GAR:  You must feel very lonely right now. That's why you're yelling away.

INU:   Stop your crap!!

INU sprints forth angrily and attacks GAR. GAR blocks with his hatchet. Static surges as the two weapons collide.

INU:   I can fight on my own!! But I will never let my friends become your food!

GAR:  (scoffs) Trying to be brave.

GAR backs off and his face morphs into that of a moth. His armor then burst to reveal a moth body.

GAR:  (shouts) I will have your fear of loneliness as my appetizer!!

INU:   Shut up and take this! Wind Scar!!

INU throws a Wind Scar at GAR which disintegrates him into pieces.

INU:   (walks to GAR's fallen head and scoffs) Not much of a challenge… (sheathes TET)

GAR:  (laughs) You think you've won?

INU:   What?

Cut to SAN's hand morphing into a moth's, MIR growing moth feelers out from his head and SHI's body morphing into a moth's.

GAR:  (voice-over) Even if I die, those cocoons will still eat their souls, and use their bodies to be reborn again.

Cut to KAG morphing into a moth.

GAR:  (voice-over) Prepare to meet your doom when that happens…

Fade to present. INU twitches in fear and anger.

GAR:  You'll then be eaten by your former friends. That's your fate. And when that time comes, you'll finally be saved from your fear of loneliness!

GAR laughs smugly as his head disintegrates into ash. INU turns to look at his friends in the cocoons.

INU:   (horrified) The cocoons won't disappear?! What should I do? What should I…

[ End of ACT I: 12min 41sec ]

[ ACT II ]

INU slashes the cocoons desperately with TET, but hardly makes a scratch. Every time he makes a cut, the cut heals.

INU:   Damn it!

INU then leaps and claws a cocoon angrily.

INU:   You…Bastard!!

The cocoon heals again. Smoke smolders from his claws.

INU:   Kagome… Shippo…! Miroku…! Sango!!

CUT TO SAN'S NIGHTMARE. SAN and KOH stand in a red background.

SAN:  Kohaku?

KOH:  (turns around excited) Be happy for me, Sister! I've finally done it!

SAN:  Huh?

KOH:  I killed a demon myself!

SAN:  Killed a demon?

Dead corpses of KAG, huge KIR and SHI lay in a pile behind KOH. KOH smiles proudly. Blood trickles from his sickle-chain.

SAN:  (disbelief) You…!

KOH:  (looks at the corpses) Father will praise me for this, right?

SAN whimpers and cries. KOH turns to SAN and gasps. Cut to SAN killing KOH with HIR.

KOH:  (weakly) Sister…

KOH falls to the ground. SAN turns to look at him in despair. There is a short pauses and she runs to KOH.

SAN:  Kohaku!!

SAN holds up KOH and hugs him tightly. KOH's eyes suddenly open, glazed. SAN winces in pain as KOH strikes her in the back with his sickle-chain.

KOH:  (expressionless) It's your fault, sister… You just wouldn't praise me.

SAN falls over.

CUT TO MIR's NIGHTMARE. Young MIR breaks free from Mushin who is trying to hold him.

Young MIR: Master Mushin, let go of me! Please, let me go!

Mushin: Miroku, your Wind Tunnel is almost breaking its limit. Don't go anywhere!

Young MIR continues running away from Mushin. He morphs into the present MIR and continues running.

MIR:   Naraku. I'll find Naraku!

MIR stops in a wide open field. NAR in his baboon suit stands a distance away. He turns to look at MIR. A gust of wind blows from MIR's Wind Tunnel hand even though he hasn't open it.

MIR:   (gasps and clenches his fist) So close to my goal…

SHI, MIR and SAN appear in front of MIR. MIR is taken aback and puts his Wind Tunnel hand behind him.

SAN:  What's wrong, Priest?

MIR:   Don't come near…!

KAG:  (walks towards MIR) Miroku?

SHI:   Miroku?

MIR:   Don't come over!

MIR winces and struggles as the wind from his hand gets stronger. SAN, SHI and KAG shriek as they are sucked into the Wind Tunnel.

MIR:   (disbelief) This can't be…! I didn't even open it.

NAR:  (laughs) Priest, did you want to be saved that much? Even if it means that you'd have to sacrifice your friends?

MIR:   It's all your fault! It was my father then, and now this!

The wind gets stronger and MIR yells.

CUT TO SHI's NIGHTMARE. An army of lizard demons from episode 55 chase SHI in a field. He runs desperately. Hiten and Manten suddenly appear behind him and blocks his way. They laugh menacingly. SHI gasps and turns around. The army of lizard demons have closed in on him. They stick out their long tongues menacingly. SHI runs to the side, yelling in terror.

SHI:   Help me!!!

Cut to KAG sleeping in class. She wakes and lifts her head from her math textbook.

KAG:  Thank goodness… I must have been dreaming. (yawns)

Eri:   (pokes KAG from the back with her mechanical pencil and whispers) What's wrong, Kagome? Surprised to see you sleeping in class.

Ayumi: (smiles and looks at KAG) You were in deep sleep!

KAG is taken aback.

Yuka: I think you've been studying too much.

KAG:  (grimaces) Not really.

A cloud of miasma suddenly appears outside the classroom window.

KAG:  (shocked) It can't be!

The miasma starts to engulf the school. Her classmates are surprised.

KAG:  Run, everyone! It's dangerous to stay here!

The miasma has entered the classroom. KAG gasps.

Cut to KAG in the cocoon, still unconscious.

INU leaps high up in the air.

INU:   Damn it! Blades of Blood!!

INU throws Blades of Blood at the cocoon which scratches it. INU lands.

INU:   Kagome!!

An image of KAG gradually morphing into a moth demon.

INU:   Kagome! Is that your true strength?! (furious) Are you guys so weak that you'd be devoured by a dream?!

INU claws the cocoon desperately. Smoke smolders from his hand.

INU:   (panting) I'll lose faith in you if you're giving up so easily. I'll defeat Naraku myself! Don't be crying later!

INU sprints forth and digs his claws through the scratches made on the coccon.

INU:   Wake up!! Don't let a moth demon eat your soul!

Static surges. INU winces in pain and struggles to hold on. He is then thrown off by the charge. INU gets up weakly and staggers. Blood drips down his hand.

INU:   Kagome, you're not a weak woman, are you?! Tell me… Tell me…!! (yells) Tell me to "SIT"!!

Cut to images of KAG, MIR, SHI and SAN morphing into moth demons.

[ End of ACT II: 17min 20sec ]

[ ACT III ]

CUT TO SAN's NIGHTMARE. SAN is pounced on KOH, like in episode 50. She raises her sword, about to kill KOH.

SAN:  Forgive me, Kohaku! You won't truly return to me unless I kill you!

KOH:  Why? Why, sister?

SAN:  (thinking) I'll kill you and I'll die, that's the only way to get you back from Naraku. I have no choice. (cries) I'm sorry, Kohaku…

SAN swings the sword down. INU suddenly appears and grabs SAN's arm, stopping her.

INU:   You can't kill Kohaku! We're going to get him back alive!

SAN:  But I'll cause trouble… If I stay…

INU:   Forget about it! It'd be better if we stay together! (smiles) You're strong at fighting, see?*

* These words were said to SAN in episode 30.

Cut to inside of SAN's cocoon. SAN changes from a moth demon back to her original state and wakes.

SAN:  Inuyasha…!

CUT TO MIR's NIGHTMARE. MIR is struggling his Wind Tunnel. INU suddenly appears and grabs MIR's arm.

INU:   What are you so afraid of?!!

MIR:   Inuyasha…!

INU:   I'll break your arm if you open your Wind Tunnel again!* You want to defeat Naraku and cure your Wind Tunnel, right? Then, there's no time to waste here!

* These words were said to MIR in episode 28.

Cut to inside of MIR's cocoon. MIR changes from a moth demon back to his original state.

MIR:   (thinking) That's right, Inuyasha.

CUT TO SHI's NIGHTMARE. SHI is running away from Hiten, Manten and the army of lizard demons.

INU:   (background) Hold yourself together, Shippo!

SHI gasps and then looks determined. He turns around and throws his fox fire.

SHI:   Fox Flame!

Hiten, Manten and the lizards yell in pain as they are completely burnt away by the fox fire.

SHI:   (lands, determined) Alright!

INU:   (walks up to SHI, proud) Shippo, looks like you tried your best there!*

SHI:   (smiles) Yeah!

* These words were said to SHI in episode 55.

CUT TO KAG's NIGHTMARE. The students are all unconscious on the ground as NAR's miasma engulfs the school. Cut to KAG running in the courtyard, trying to escape from NAR who is flying in the air. KAG trips and falls, but lands in a full-human INU's arms.

INU:   Kagome!

KAG:  Inuyasha!

INU:   You… Smell really nice…*

* These words were said to KAG in episode 13.

KAG:  What are you saying at a time like this?

NAR lands a distance in front from INU and KAG.

KAG:  Run, Inuyasha! You can't win in your human form!

INU:   (cruel) Fool.

INU transforms back into his half-demon state.

INU:   How could I leave you and run?! I will always protect you!!*

* These words were adapted from INU's speech to KAG in episode 7.

INU draws TET and attacks NAR.

Cut to inside of KAG's cocoon. KAG changes from a moth demon back to her original state. KAG wakes.

KAG:  (thinking) That's right. All these time, Inuyasha is always there for me.

The web tangled around KAG's arms break. KAG draws an arrow and aims it at the top of the cocoon.

KAG:  (thinking) As long as I'm with Inuyasha and the others, I'll triumph, no matter what the situation is!

KAG fires her Sacred Arrow which disintegrates the cocoon.

Cut to SAN breaking the cocoon with HIR. Cut to MIR breaking his cocoon with his staff. Cut to SHI burning his cocoon with his fox fire. Cut to huge KIR slashing the cocoon apart with her claws.

INU:   (glad) Guys!! (thinking) Great!

MIR, SAN, KIR, KAG and SHI run to INU.

INU:   (thinking) Now, those are the friends I have faith in!

KAG:  Inuyasha!

INU:   Alright, we'll rip out of this forest right away. It's over there!

A barrier appears along a path in the forest. INU raises red TET and runs,

INU:   Here we go… Wind Scar!!

INU throws a Wind Scar at the barrier. A hold opens up and gradually the desolate forest fades away to reveal a lush landscape. The sun is setting.

SHI:   The forest disappeared!

MIR:   It's just Garamaru's illusions.

SAN:  We were really held up in there.

INU:   Yeah, really.

KAG nods.

INU:   (turns and face the rest, smug) It seems to me that without me, you guys really aren't that strong after all.

SAN, cute KIR, KAG and SHI look at INU in silence, smiling. MIR closes his eyes and smiles to himself.

INU:   (surprised) What? (indignant) Is there a problem?

MIR:   That's true in today's case.

SHI:   Just for today, I'll let your comments pass.

KIR mews.

INU:   (defensive) What's with the way you said that?

KAG:  (smiles) Forget it, Inuyasha. Everyone is agreeing with you.

INU:   (folds arms and sulk) No way! I won't forget it until I hear a "thank you" from you guys.

MIR:   Kagome, as our representative, please say the magic word.

KAG:  Right.

KAG moves towards INU. INU back away apprehensively.

INU:   What?

FADE TO FLASHBACK of earlier on, when INU desperately yelled to KAG's cocoon.

INU:   Tell me… Tell me to "SIT"!!!

BACK TO PRESENT. INU frowns, worried.

KAG:  (moves close to INU) Inuyasha.

INU clasps his ears in desperation and fear.

KAG:  A-ri-ga-to. (thank you in Japanese)

INU lets go of his ears. His ears twitch.

INU:   (to himself) Oh, so it wasn't "Sit".

MIR:   Well then, let's go.

The rest of the group moves along.

SAN:  Yeah.

SHI:   I'm starving.

INU:   Hey Kagome! What did you say?! Say it again!

KAG:  No, I won't.

INU:   Just say it!

KAG:  (exasperated) Stop making such a fuss.

INU:   Hey, Kagome! Say it!

KAG:  Yes yes! I said "SIT"!

INU crashes to the ground.

[ End of ACT III: 22min 3sec ]

[ End of episode 100: Nightmarish Reality: Battle in the Forest of Despair ]

[ Preview for next episode ]

A few years ago, when I lost my father, I could only continue with my pilgrimage. It was snowing that day. The snow kept piling up and I was gradually buried underneath. Just then, a kind soul saved me.

Is this seven years ago, when you were saved by Koyuki?

This woman looks a lot like her… Could it be that this snow is also made from your tears?

Next on Inuyasha, "Seven Years Later: Lingering Snow". Wait…! This woman isn't human at all!