Kagura's Dance and Kanna's Mirror

[ recap ]

Flashback of KIK standing on a field, waiting for INU. NAR sprints from behind her and attacks. KIK falls onto the ground. NAR, disguised as INU, holds up the Sacred Jewel in his hand.

KAG:  (narrating) Naraku… Fifty years ago, in order to steal the Sacred Jewel… Naraku tricked Inuyasha and Kikyo to battle each other.

Flashback of KIK shooting an arrow at INU.

KIK:   Die, Inuyasha!

Cut-scene of Onigumo devoured by demons.

KAG:  (narrating) Now he is gathering the Sacred Jewel fragments and his evil power is growing steadily.

Flashback of episode 28 when MIR released his Wind Tunnel to suck up a horde of demons.

KAG:  (narrating) Miroku has been cursed by Naraku with a Wind Tunnel in his right hand.

MIR:   Wind Tunnel!

KAG:  (narrating) One day, the Wind Tunnel will devour Miroku himself. He must destroy Naraku before that happens.

Flashback of episode 24 when SAN and the other demon slayers were wiped out at Kagewaki's castle.

KAG:  (narrating) Sango's father and fellow demon slayers were killed before her very eyes. Naraku had resorted to the dirty trick of using her brother Kohaku.

SAN:  Kohaku!

Cut to INU's first meeting with NAR in the forest.

KAG:  (narrating) He never dirties his hands… a despicable coward! Someday, we'll get him!

[ End of recap: 1min 3sec ]

[ Title screen: Kagura's Dance and Kanna's Mirror ]

[ ACT I ]

Nighttime in a hut in a forest. KAG is tending to INU's wound, while the rest of the group sit around.

KAG:  So you're saying that this Kagura was born from Naraku?

MIR:   I'm saying it's a possibility.

KAG:  But…

SHI:   Naraku is a man. How can a man give birth to a woman?

MIR:   Naraku became one from a host of various monsters. What if one of them became separated from him?

KAG:  I see… She didn't know enough about us to be Naraku in disguise.

MIR:   (closes his eyes) In any case, regardless of how a woman looks, if she's basically made from Naraku, I'm not interested.

KAG:  It's not like you're going to go out with her.

SHI:   Miroku, get a hold of yourself!

Flashback of previous episode.

KAR:   Fool! I can easily create wind!

KAR swings her fan and a wind vortex appears around herself. At the same time, INU also creates a wind vortex around himself. The wind vortexes slowly collide into each other. INU performs the Wind Scar.

INU:   Take that!

KAR swings her fan and a wind vortex appears around herself. At the same time, INU also creates a wind vortex around himself. The wind vortexes slowly collide into each other.

KAR:   The Wind Scar!

INU:   (voice-over) A woman with the same scent as Naraku. For sure, she had a spider-shaped burn scar on her back the same as Naraku.

Back to present. INU arrange his clothes after KAG finished tending to his wounds.

INU:   But it's strange. For a woman, this Kagura was somewhat strong. If he can create someone like that…

SAN:  Uh-huh… Why didn't he do it earlier?

MIR:   That's just it. It's not that he didn't choose not to do it…

SAN:  He couldn't do it, until now.

KAG:  Does that mean Naraku has gotten new powers?

In a new castle of NAR's. NAR sit in a room while KAR stands near him.

NAR:  Kagura, because you took Tetsusaiga's blows, I was able to see the power of his sword. Go now. Once more.

KAR glares at him.

NAR:  Already your older sister, Kanna, has been dispatched.

Cut to a girl dressed in white walking along a dark path. She holds a mirror in her hand. NAR's poison insects follow her. Cut to close up of her face, which is expressionless.

[ End of ACT I: 3min 44sec ]

[ ACT II ]

Daytime in a swamp. A group of workers search the swamp. An injured lord follow them on a horse.

Man 1: Damn! Where'd that bitch go? She resisted the Young Lord of the Keeper of the Oil.

Lord:   When you find that Koharu, beat her soundly!

Man 2: Yes, my lord!

Koharu abbreviated as KHR from now onwards.

As they move along the screen, a girl is seen hiding among the tall grass.

KHR:  (clutches her arms, thinking) Oh…what'll I do?

The men move on and notices someone further up in the swamp, who is getting some water.

Man 2: Oh, who's that?

Man 3: We found her!

Man 1: There's Koharu!

Man 1 rushes forward and attack the figure with a bamboo in his hand. The figure turns out to be SAN, who dodges and knocks him on the head with a bamboo container. Man 1 falls back onto the water. KHR gasps. The lord and two other workers reach SAN and Man 1.

Lord:   W-who are you?!

SAN:  (kneels and picks up HIR) That's my line. You look like ordinary humans.

Man 1: She's not Koharu!

Lord:   (gaping) How pretty… Bring her back.

Man 2: Yes, sir! Come with us!

Man 3: If you resist, you'll get it!

KHR:  (rushes out of her hiding place towards SAN) Oh no…she's in danger!

INU suddenly appears leaping through the air.

INU:   Wait! (slugs the three men and punches the lord in his face) So you're their leader?!

The lord falls off his horse onto the swamp water. The horse runs away. The three men rushes to the lord.

Man 3: Lord!

Man 2: (passing by and to INU) F-forgive us!

Man 1: Young Lord…hang on!

Man 2: Huh?! The Young Lord's face has changed!

They carry the lord and escapes.

INU:   (incredulous expression) What's with them?!

KHR:  Err… Um…

SAN:  You're the one they were after?

KHR:  Y-yes.

MIR, KAG and SHI appears and walk toward the group.

KAG:  Sango?

MIR:   What's the matter?

KHR looks at MIR intently.

KHR:  (gasps) Master Miroku!

MIR stops and everyone looks at KHR.

KHR:  It is you, Master Miroku! (runs and hug MIR) Master Miroku! Master Miroku! How I've longed to see you!

INU and SAN look with surprised expressions.

INU:   Huh?

MIR:   Have we met before?

KHR:  I'm Koharu!

MIR:   Koharu? (remembering) Oh… that girl!

KHR:  It's been three years, Master Miroku!

MIR:   (puts a hand on KHR's back, smiling happily) Oh…you've changed so much! My goodness…how nice to see you!

INU walks next to KAG. SAN gapes at MIR and KHR.

INU:   Is she Miroku's friend?

KAG:  (whispering to INU) Seems closer than just a friend.

SHI:   (on KAG's shoulder, nodding) I agree.

Cut to close up of KHR's face. She is almost tearing in happiness.

KHR:  (narrating) I…lost my parents and siblings in the war.

Cut to flashback of a young KHR moving crates in a hut. She stops, sniffles and wipes away a tear.

KHR:  (narrating) The Keeper of the Oil took me in, but worked me night and day. It was hard work…and I was hungry. I cried every single day. Then…

Cut-scene of MIR offering a rice ball to young KHR in a field.

MIR:   Here, go on and eat.

KHR:  (narrating) Only Miroku who was in the village to perform an exorcism was kind to me.

Cut-scene of MIR and KHR sitting on the field talking. KHR is eating the rice ball.

MIR:   You're Koharu, right? How old are you?

Young KHR: Eleven!

MIR:   I see. Listen, Koharu. Will you bear my child?

Back to present. SAN, KAG, SHI, and INU huddle together and back away from MIR suddenly.

MIR:   W-why're you pulling away from me?

SAN and KAG rush to MIR with angry glares.

KAG:  (clenches her fists) Miroku! How could you say such a thing to a child!

SAN:  You animal!

KHR:  (holds up her hands dreamily) I was so happy!

SAN and KAG trip.

KAG:  (yells at MIR) Take responsibility!

MIR:   Yes… But I didn't lay a hand on Koharu.

SAN:  I hope not!

MIR:   She was still a child.

KHR:  Back then, Master Miroku left the village right away.

Cut to flashback of MIR turning away from KHR and walking away. Young KHR looks on.

KHR:  (narrating) I believe that he would come back for me. I trusted him.

Cut-scene of an older KHR working in a hut, carrying a flask. The lord peeps at KHR lecherously at the door.

KHR:  (narrating) Recently though, the Young Lord of the Keeper of the Oil started looking at me strangely.

Back to present. INU-gang and KHR sit around on the swamp.

KHR:  Last night, he tried to force himself on me.

KAG:  And you escaped?

KHR:  Yes! I beat him up with the firewood and when he stopped moving…

KAG:  I-I see…

KHR:  (goes to MIR, clasping her hands) Master Miroku, please take me!

MIR:   Koharu!

KHR:  I have nowhere to go! (holds MIR's hands) Besides, I'm an adult now. I can bear your child.

The group gasps and stares at the two of them, wide-eyed.

KAG:  (blushing, thinking) She's younger than I am. Girls of the Feudal Era are amazing!

Later. MIR, SHI and SAN sit on the steps of the hut where they rested last night. INU walks up to MIR and sit behind him.

INU:   Hope you understand, Miroku, we can't take that girl.

MIR:   Yes…

SAN:  Still, we can't just abandon her.

MIR:   Yes… Until I find someplace safe for her to stay, I cannot leave.

SAN:  I'll say… after all, you even asked her to bear your child.

MIR:   No… I ask that of every girl I meet.

SAN:  You never asked me.

MIR:   (pauses, then holds SAN's hands) I'm sorry, Sango! Will you…

SAN:  Don't say another word!

KAG and KHR squat by a river, talking.

KAG:  Master Miroku is your first love?

KHR:  Yes! I've never forgotten him for a moment! I knew we'd meet again… That thought helped me get through even the toughest times.

KAG:  First love, huh?

KHR:  I'm so fortunate. I can die in peace!

Cut to KHR's reflection in the water.

The little white girl from earlier on sit on a tree branch, looking into her mirror. The poison insects hover around her. Cut to close-up of the mirror, which shows KHR's reflection.

Cut to a village. MIR is talking to an old man in front of a farm.

Headman: Oh, such a poor child.

MIR:   Headman, do you think she can stay in this village?

Headman: Of course! Leave it to me, Lord Monk.

Cut to KHR looking agitated.

KHR:  I promise not to be a burden! So please!

Zooms out to reveal the group (minus MIR) sitting around KHR.

INU:   No!

KAG:  It's very dangerous to stay with us.

INU:   Just forget it and stay here.

SAN:  It's better this way.

SHI:   Yes, yes!

KAG:  Koharu…

MIR walks towards them.

MIR:   I just spoke to the headman.

KHR:  Master Miroku…

MIR:   Koharu, come with me.

MIR and KHR walk away from the group. They stop a distance away.

KHR:  Master Miroku, we just met again. And to be parted so soon…

MIR sits KHR and they both kneel down.

MIR:   Please understand, Koharu. (hugs KHR) When it comes time to battle, I'm not sure whether I'll be able to protect you. The demon I seek is that formidable. (hugs KHR tighter) It's hard for me to say goodbye, too.

KHR closes her eyes and bury her face into his arms.

Cut to the rest of the gang looking at MIR and KHR.

INU:   Is he trying to convince her?

KAG:  Seems more like he's seducing her.

SAN:  Cripes, he's so touchy-feely! He's only making her more attached. (notices INU looking at her) What?

INU:   I may be imagining it, Sango, but you've been awfully prickly.

Sparks appear from SAN's eyes.

SAN:  (defensively) You're imagining it!

Fire emit around SAN. INU hides behind INU.

KAG:  S-sango…

Nighttime in the village. The group sends KHR to the headman and bid farewell.

KHR:  Master Miroku, please stay with me for one night, at least.

Headman: You heard Koharu. Please stay the night.

MIR:   No… the longer we stay, the harder it will be on Koharu.

KHR starts to cry and runs into the house.

SAN:  What's wrong with staying one more night with her?

KAG:  Koharu is new to this village.

MIR:   I can't… If reason gives way to passion and Koharu gets with child, Koharu will be burdened for the rest of her life with my memory.

KAG and SAN gasp, move back and glare at MIR.

SHI:   (on KAG's shoulder) Reason gives way to passion? What does that mean, Miroku?

MIR:   Well… (goes up to SHI and holds up a finger happily)

KAG:  You don't have to explain! Shippo is still a child!

Cut to KHR crying to herself in the house.

INU:   (voice-over) Crying…

Cut to INU walking towards the house with folded arms.

INU:   (sighs) I just can't stand tears.

KAG:  Inuyasha

INU:   (reaches KHR) Listen! We'll be leaving the village after dawn. But remember, no tears tomorrow! Got that?

KHR:  (gasps and smiles) Yes!

KAG:  (smiling gladly at INU's gesture, thinking) Hmm…?

KHR throws some firewood into a fireplace outside a hut.

KHR:  Master Miroku, how is the bath water?

Cut to inside, where MIR is having a bath.

MIR:   Just right.

Cut to KHR.

KHR:  I'll do my very best and prepare the finest meal for you!

MIR:   Hmm…I'm looking forward to it.

KHR gets up and trots off. The girl in white suddenly appears from behind a tree. She holds up her mirror and shines it at KHR. KHR's reflection is seen in the mirror. KHR gasps. Her soul flies out and is sucked into the mirror. KHR falls onto the ground. The girl in white looks at KHR expressionlessly.

The group is having dinner in the headman's house.

SHI:   The stewed vegetables are delicious!

KAG:  Isn't it? How cute of Koharu. She outdid herself to please Miroku with her cooking.

INU picks up TET and looks back apprehensively.

KAG:  Inuyasha?

MIR:   (stops eating) We're surrounded.

KAG:  Huh?

MIR:   The meal Koharu painstakingly prepared will go cold.

INU:   Hmm…but it's strange. I don't smell any demons.

MIR:   In any case, let's go and check.

MIR and INU get up.

MIR and INU rush out of the house. A mob walk towards them from the distance, with torches and weapons in their hands.

Man 1: Kill them!

Man 2: Don't let them leave the village!

Man 3: Beat them to death!

INU:   What's with these guys?

KIR runs out of the house and reaches MIR and INU. She growls. The men raise their weapons and surround them.

INU:   Are they from the village?

MIR:   Are they being mind-controlled?

Man 1: Kill them!

The mob rush towards INU and MIR.

INU:   Why you…! (jumps and punches the men)

MIR:   (shoving a man away with his staff) Inuyasha, they're mortals! (knocks another man)

INU:   I already know that! (kicks another man in the butt)

INU, MIR and KIR fend off the men's attacks. Cut to interior of house, where SHI, KAG and SAN peep from the door.

SHI:   What's going on anyway?!

SAN:  So many of them. I'd better go, too.

KHR:  (opens a door and rushes in) It's terrible!

KAG:  What's the matter, Koharu?

KHR:  A demon appeared and the headman and the others…!

SAN picks up her HIR and KAG gets her bow and arrows. The four of them walk further into the house apprehensively. They reach a room where the headman and his wife lie unconsciously on the ground.

SHI:   What's this?!

KHR:  Headman!

SAN:  A demon did this?

KAG:  Koharu! What kind of demon was it?

KHR:  Well…I just got a glimpse of it…

KAG:  (thinking) But why? Inuyasha didn't catch any scent of demon.

SAN opens the door to another room. The girl in white appears.

SAN:  Is that it? (prepares to attack but the girl fades away) Disappeared!

They glance around the room. The girl suddenly appears behind them and fades away when they notice her. She appears again and SAN attacks immediately.

SAN:  Hiraikotsu!

HIR fly towards the girl. She tilts her mirror which forms a barrier around her and reflects HIR back at SAN. SAN is hit and lets out a yell, falling backwards. SHI tries to help but could not make it in time.

KAG:  Sango! Shippo! (rushes to SAN) Sango, are you all right?

Girl:  (softly) Kagome…

KAG:  (thinking) This girl is the demon?

KHR suddenly runs behind KAG and grabs her arms, making her unable to move.

KAG:  Koharu, what's the matter?

The girl tilts her mirror, which shows KAG's reflection.

Girl:  (softly) I want your soul.

KAG gasps. Her soul flies out and is sucked into the mirror.

Cut to MIR and INU running away from the mob. They punch the men.

MIR:   Inuyasha, hold back! The villagers are being controlled! Do not hurt them!

INU:   I know that!! Still…it'll never end like this!

KAR suddenly appears on a rock behind the mob.

KAR:   You guys are so dense. Why don't you just kill them all? So that they'll never get up again.

MIR:   Kagura!

INU:   Not you again!

KAR:   Ha! I guess if you could kill them, you'd already have done it.

INU:   So you were the one controlling the villagers!

KAR:   Yes, it was me. Humans without souls are as good as dead.

INU:   Without souls?

KAR:   Why around now, even that Kagome is having her soul sucked out.

INU:   What?!

MIR:   Does that mean there's another demon?!

KAR:   (opens her fan) Now then, unsheathe that Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha. This time it won't end like the last time.

INU:   (worried, thinking) Kagome…

KAR:   What's the matter, Inuyasha? Got cold feet?

INU:   Miroku, go back to Kagome and the others.

MIR:   Inuyasha, what about you?

INU:   Isn't it obvious? (unsheathes TET) I'm gonna get rid of this wench!

KAR:   (laughs and sends wind blades at them) Dance of the Wind Swords!

INU:   (blocking the wind blades with TET) Go, Miroku!

MIR:   All right! (turns back and runs off)

KAR:   It's too late!

MIR runs but is faced with a mob further up. KIR appears and kicks them out off the way.

MIR:   Thanks, Kirara!

MIR reaches the house. KHR lies unconscious on the ground.

MIR:   Koharu! Koharu, brace up! (holds up KHR) Koharu!

KHR:  (wakes) Master Miroku, I was so scared!

MIR:   Don't be afraid. You're okay now.

In the other room, SHI wakes. The girl in white is still sucking in KAG's soul. KAG is unconscious.

SHI:   Hey! What're you doing to Kagome?!

SHI jumps towards the girl but is thrown off by a barrier around her.

Back to MIR and KHR. KHR lie in MIR's arms. She holds up a knife and points it at MIR's back. Her eyes suddenly widen in anger.

[ End of ACT II: 20min 34sec ]

[ End of episode 41: Kagura's Dance and Kanna's Mirror ]

[ Preview for next episode ]

He's powers have increased! Not only did Naraku create Kagura, he also created a girl called Kanna. The flow in his hand… that's the Sacred Jewel that Kikyo snatched from me! Why is it in his hands? Under Kagura's wind gusts, Inuyasha wielded Tetsusaiga. Together with Miroku's Wind Tunnel and my sacred arrows, we have to annihilate Naraku this time! Next episode 'The Broken Wind Scar'!