Father's Old Enemy, Ryukotsusei

[ ACT I ]

INU walks alone along in a desolate, smoldering landscape. He is deep in thoughts. Cut to flashback from previous episode when he turned full-demon and annihilated Gatenmaru.

INU:   You pesky moth!

Back to present.

INU:   (thinking) I don't remember a thing while I was transformed.

Image of KAG forms in the background.

KAG:  Tetsusaiga suppresses the demon blood that flows through him.

Cut to flashback from episode 43 when Goshinki broke INU's TET.

Goshinki: Tetsusaiga is merely a dog's fang. (bites the blade and breaks TET)

KAG:  (voice-over) At that moment, Tetsusaiga was broken, awakening the demon blood inside Inuyasha.

Cut to INU transforming to full-demon and annihilating Goshinki.

KAG:  (voice-over) Once awakened, the demon blood will try to protect itself and retransform.

Cut to image of KAG.

KAG:  That's why you must not let go of Tetsusaiga. Otherwise, when your life is in danger, you will transform, Inuyasha.

Back to present. INU stops walking and looks at his claws.

INU:   (thinking) The next time I transform, I might use these claws and tear you apart… (clenches his fist) Kagome…

INU looks up. Pan to reveal INU outside TOT's home.

Cut to inside, TOT is making a sword.

INU:   (entering) Hey, you there, Totosai?

TOT:   (turns around) Huh?

INU:   We need to talk.

TOT:   Hah, I was expecting you around now.

INU looks at TOT intently.

[ End of ACT I: 3min 20sec ]

[ Title screen: Father's Old Enemy, Ryukotsusei ]

[ ACT II ]

Daytime. KAG, SAN, MIR and SHI sit on KIR's back and fly across and sky.

SHI:   (looking around) Geez! Where did Inuyasha go anyway?

SAN:  Kagome, don't you have any ideas?

KAG:  (nods) Uh-huh…

MIR:   Inuyasha no doubt wants to make Tetsusaiga lighter. Maybe he's training somewhere.

SHI:   Think so? (shakes his head) I don't think Inuyasha would be that diligent.

KAG:  (chiding) Shippo…

SAN:  In any case, we'll just have to search every place we can think of.

KAG:  (nods) Yeah… (worried, thinking) I haven't told the others but Inuyasha is going through a lot of suffering now. That's why I think it's better to leave him alone but I can't just sit still and wait. Inuyasha…

Back at TOT's place. TOT and INU are seated across each other, with TET placed between them.

TOT:   I'm so disappointed in you, Inuyasha. How can you let Tetsusaiga's weight hinder you still?

INU:   Shaddup! That's why I'm asking you for a way to make it lighter! There must be something!

TOT:   (scratches his cheek) Why don't you work it out yourself?

INU:   (shouts) I'm in a hurry! (pauses and looks down) I don't want to transform anymore.

TOT:   Hmm…

Flashback from episode 51, when INU first fought Gatenmaru. Gatenmaru spews out a poison web which burns INU's hands and causes him to drop TET.

INU:   (voice-over) Just 'cuz I can't master Tetsusaiga, I was cornered by that petty demon and I lost my senses.

Back to present.

INU:   I never want that to happen again. It gave me the creeps.

TOT:   Hmmm…

Something hops onto INU and he winces.

INU:   Hey! (pulls away his hair to reveal MYO sucking his neck)

MYO:  (sucks for awhile and heaves a sigh of relief) Master Inuyasha, I'm glad you're fine… (INU slaps him and he falls off) Owweee…I was worried about you.

INU:   Kah! You've been hiding out here! Hey, Old Myoga! How dare you keep it from me!

MYO:  (landing on TET) Huh? What are you talking about?

INU:   Don't act innocent! The connection between Tetsusaiga and my transformation! Kagome told me that Tetsusaiga serves to suppress my demon blood.

MYO:  (chiding) Hmm…that Kagome! I made her promise not to say a thing.

INU:   Hah! So now I know (picks up TET and MYO falls off) but unless I'm strong, my sword can be taken from me.

MYO lands on the ground. TOT looks at INU in silence.

INU:   (looking at TET) I have to master Tetsusaiga, or else…

TOT:   (serious) Hmm…so you've put some thought into this. And you've had enough of transformations.

INU:   (serious) Yeah…

TOT:   (looks up) Well, I guess it can't be helped.

MYO:  (turns and look at TOT) Huh?

TOT:   (looks at INU) Inuyasha, go and kill Ryukotsusei.

INU:   Ryukotsusei?

MYO:  Ryu… (pauses and looks at TOT with sweat forming) You said Ryukotsusei?

TOT is silent.

INU walks in a deep forest. MYO is sitting on his rosary beads.

TOT:   (voice-over) Ryukotsusei, Inuyasha is the demon your father battled and put under seal. Inuyasha…why do you think this new Tetsusaiga is so heavy? It is because your fang embedded in the blade has not yet reached the power of your father's fang.

INU:   In other words, if I destroy the demon my father fought, I'll surpass my father?

MYO:  Now listen, Master Inuyasha, to “destroy” as Ryukotsusei still remains under seal, all you have to do is stab its heart.

One of NAR's poison insect appears and follows them.

INU:   What? I don't have to fight him?

MYO:  Of course not! (leaping up and down) Even your father barely managed to seal it. He wasn't able to finish it off.

INU:   Damn…and I'm supposed to kill it while it's asleep?

MYO:  (shakes in exasperation) If you keep complaining, I will not show you the way!

INU:   Who're you talking to?

MYO:  Err…well…I…

INU:   Me? Hey! (punches MYO)

MYO:  Don't!

The poison insect turns around and flies off. Fade to KAN holding up her mirror. She stands in front of a seated NAR. They are in his castle.

NAR:  Interesting, Kanna. You… Kagura… Goshinki… Juromaru… Kageromaru… None of you were able to kill Inuyasha. (looks into the mirror) Let's test this Ryukotsusei. (laughs)

The camera zooms in to KAN's mirror, to reveal a deep forest. An image of INU walking is superimposed.

Cut to INU jumping across the top of a waterfall. Cut to him climbing a mountain.

INU:   Old Myoga, aren't we there yet?

MYO:  Just a little further. You'll be able to see it soon.

INU:   Damn…!

TOT sits on Mou-mou, his three-eyed cow. They move along a path.

KAG:  (background) Old man!

TOT:   Huh? (turns around)

KIR lands behind TOT. KAG gets off KIR and runs towards TOT while the reset remain seated.

TOT:   What do you all want?

KAG:  We're looking for Inuyasha. Do you know his whereabouts?

TOT:   (folds his arms and closes his eyes) Inuyasha… (tilts his head to the left) Hmm…Inuyasha? (tilts his head to the right) Inuyasha, huh?

SAN and MIR gets off KIR and stand behind KAG.

KAG:  (worried) It involves Tetsusaiga, so we thought he'd come to you.

TOT:   What'll I do…?

KAG:  (grabs TOT's legs and shake him) You know, don't you? Where is he?!

TOT loses his balance and falls off Mou-mou.

TOT:   Oh boy…

KAG:  (kneels next to him with SAN) I'm sorry. Are you all right?

TOT:   Inuyasha has gone to the Valley of Ryukotsusei.

KAG:  The Valley of Ryukotsusei?

SAN and KAG look at each other.

Back to INU climbing the mountain.

MYO:  Master Inuyasha, over there!

INU looks to where MYO was referring to. Nearby, a huge dragon like demon is pinned on the side of a mountain. A huge claw is pierced through its chest. A mask is embedded in the head on the demon. The eyes of the 'mask' is closed.

INU:   (reaches the top of the mountain and looks at Rukotsusei) So, that's… Ryukotsusei.

* Ryukotsusei abbreviated as RYU from now onwards *

MYO:  Correct. And look at the seal, where your father's claw has immobilized him. Ryukotsusei's heart lies beneath it.

INU gasps as he notices NAR, in his baboon guise, squats on the claw. NAR stands and laughs.

INU:   Naraku!

NAR continues to laugh evilly.

The group is seated around a campfire. TOT is barbequing a stick of fish and mushroom by spewing flames from his mouth. The rest of the gang is seated across him.

MIR:   But, Master Totosai…if there was such a way, why didn't you tell it to him earlier?

TOT:   (eats the fish and mushroom in one gulp) That'd have been too easy. If it's too easy, he won't learn.

KAG:  But Inuyasha has suffered enough.

SHI:   Kagome…

KAG:  He agonized over it, then decided to come to you.

SAN:  That's true.

MIR:   Even if they were bandits, he did kill human beings.

TOT:   Hmm…that's why I told him. If he felt nothing after killing humans, he has no right to wield Tetsusaiga.

Back with INU.

INU:   Naraku! What're you up to?!

NAR puts a hand on the claw and melts it with his miasma. He looks at INU and fades away. The claw continues to melt away.

MYO:  Huh?! The claw that seals Ryukotsusei!

The claw is completed melted. MYO gasps and trembles in disbelief and horror. The wound on RYU where the claw was glows in red. Sounds of RYU's heart beating are heard. RYU flexes its claw. The sky turns overcast and lightning flashes. Both pairs of eyes, one on the dragon, one on the mask, open and glow in red. NAR appears and stands on a cliff nearby.

NAR:  (laughs) Listen, Ryukotsusei. The one over there is the son of the hated man who put you under seal. Fight him to your heart's content.

The mountain crumbles as RYU pries himself from it. The gigantic RYU looms over INU and growls.

MYO:  N-No! Let's run for it, Master Inuyasha!

INU:   (scoffs) What are you blubbering? I didn't like the idea of prickling someone held under a seal! (unsheathes TET) I'll face him head on and make Tetsusaiga lighter! Come at me!

RYU:  Little man! You say you'll kill me, Ryukotsusei? (chuckles) Not a bad idea for entertainment. I'll have some fun with you.

INU:   “Fun”?!

RYU zooms towards INU and crushes the ground near him, causing INU to fly off. INU lands on RYU's back and sprints towards his head.

MYO:  (grabbing onto INU's hair) No! It's hopeless!

RYU turns his head around and INU leaps. He lands on the mountain nearby and sprints.

RYU:  Such an eyesore!

The dragon part of RYU opens his mouth and static appears. A lightning ball is shot and hits the ground where INU was. INU dodges and leaps in the air, and scoffs. RYU laughs. INU looks at where the lightning ball is flying. It hits NAR's puppet and destroys it.

Cut to NAR's castle. The wooden stuff that NAR uses to control his puppet catches fire and burns in a blue flame.

NAR:  (smiles) Hmm… Ryukotsusei isn't bad at all. (thinking) It should be easy for him to kill Inuyasha. What a good show. I'll enjoy this.

Back with INU and RYU.

RYU:  A mere demon puppet. It didn't even serve as a warm-up.

INU:   So, you were going after Naraku from the start?

RYU:  Hey, little man! I hope you'll give me more fun than that.

INU:   (scoffs) Be more than happy to, Ryukotsusei!

Back with TOT and the rest of INU-gang who are near the base of the Valley of RYU.

TOT:   (looking at the mountain) W-what's he doing?!

MIR:   What's this strong evil aura?

KIR growls and her hair are all fuzzed up.

SHI:   W-what happened?!

KAG:  Old man…could it mean Inuyasha is…?

TOT:   (slaps forehead) That fool! He's awakened Ryukotsusei.

SAN:  I've never felt such a powerful evil aura.

MIR:   Does that mean Inuyasha is fighting such a formidable foe?

KAG gasps and runs.

SAN:  Kagome!

MIR:   Let's go, too!

SHI:   Hey, wait!

TOT:   Oh boy…what a bad day this is.

RYU growls.

RYU:  Come at me, little man! I'll have my fun with you.

INU:   Stop talking so big! (looks at RYU's wound, thinking) The scar left by my father's claw… If I pierce through it… (leaps and raise TET) Tetsusaiga will become lighter!

INU attacks the wound with TET, but is pushed backwards. He falls on the ground.

INU:   (thinking) Tetsusaiga couldn't pierce it!

RYU:  Just because it's for fun, doesn't mean you have to go easy on me. My body is harder than steel. (spews lightning ball at INU)

INU leaps away and the ball crashes the ground violently. INU lands on a boulder nearby and breathes heavily.

MYO:  (on INU's hair) M-Master Inuyasha! This is hopeless!

INU:   Shaddup! I just got started.

MYO:  I already told you, even your father barely managed to put this Ryukotsusei under seal! Not only that, the wound inflicted upon him during the battle ultimately killed him.

INU:   (shocked) W-what…?

RYU:  Oh…so he died. Little man…you're his son, huh? Could it be you came to avenge him with that silly sword?

INU:   Hah! Unfortunately, I don't even remember the old man's face! As if I'd care about avenging him!

MYO:  (jumps onto INU's nose angrily) Hey! You've been saved countless times by Tetsusaiga, your father's heirloom!

INU:   Shaddup!

MYO:  (jumps off crying) Ungrateful son! I'll have nothing to do with you! (jumps into the valley)

INU:   Running away, are you?!

RYU crushes the boulder where INU is standing on with his tail. INU is thrown onto the face of a mountain and falls.

INU:   (wincing in pain) Damn!

Fade to image from episode 6, of the remains of INU's father.

INU:   (thinking) The reason why this new Tetsusaiga is so heavy is because my fang, used to forge it isn't up to par in strength with my father's.

Back to present.

INU:   (grabs TET and struggles up) Yes…I must somehow destroy Ryukotsusei…and surpass my father! (stands)

RYU move towards INU. INU heaves TET over his shoulder and sprints towards RYU.

KIR and Mou-mou fly towards the Valley of RYU. SAN and MIR are on KIR's back, while TOT, KAG and SHI are on Mou-mou's back.

MIR:   Such an ominous evil aura!

TOT:   This is bad.

KAG:  But how did Ryukotsusei's seal get broken?

TOT:   As if I'd know… But what a problem this poses.

KAG:  Huh?

TOT:   If Ryukotsusei acts up once more, this plain of Musashi will become a field of ashes.

KAG:  I-Is he that frightening a demon?

TOT:   Uh-huh.

SAN:  How can we defeat such a demon?

TOT:   There's only one way to defeat the reawakened Ryukotsusei. He must use the Backlash Wave.

KAG:  Backlash Wave? What is that?

TOT:   It is the ultimate technique of Tetsusaiga.

MIR:   You mean it's even stronger than the Wind Scar?

TOT:   The Wind Scar is a trick for a beginner.

KAG:  But…Inuyasha can barely wield Tetsusaiga, not to mention the Wind Scar! Let alone the ultimate technique…

TOT:   I guess it's impossible.

Something flies onto MIR's chest and he slaps it. It's MYO.

MYO:  (flattened) Ouch.

MIR:   Master Myoga…did you abandon Inuyasha again? (turns to KAG, worried) Kagome!

KAG:  (worried, thinking) Inuyasha! Stay alive!

RYU spews a torrent of lightning balls at the running INU. The smoke clears away to reveal INU lying on the ground.

RYU:  So weak. You're not worth tormenting. It won't relieve my anger towards your father for putting me under seal.

INU gets up and heaves TET over his shoulder. He sprints towards RYU who grabs him with his claws effortlessly.

RYU:  Do you not understand…with such an inferior sword… (crushes INU on a rock wall, yelling) you cannot kill me?!

RYU pushes INU further into the rock wall, causing it to break. INU falls. TET falls out of his hand.

INU:   (thinking) Tetsusaiga!

Cut to image of KAG.

KAG:  You must not part with Tetsusaiga. When your life is in danger, you will transform, Inuyasha.

Back to present. TET lands on the ground and transforms back to its rusty state. INU lands a short distance away from TET and rock pieces fall around him.

INU:   (reaches out his hand weakly) Tetsusaiga…

RYU spews another lightning ball. The rest of INU-gang and TOT appear and fly near RYU.

SAN:  I see them! Over there!

KAG is very worried. Cut to INU lying face down on the ground, with smoke smouldering from his body.

RYU:  So easy… Dead, already. Huh?

INU pulsates.

RYU:  W-what's with him…?

KAG:  Inuyasha!

INU-gang and TOT fly towards RYU.

SHI:   Inuyasha isn't holding Tetsusaiga!

INU pulsates faster.

KAG:  (yelling) Inuyasha!

INU opens his eyes suddenly, which is a blood red. He has turned full-demon.

INU:   (hoarse) K-Kagome…

[ End of ACT II: 22min 10sec ]

[ End of episode 53: Father's Old Enemy, Ryukotsusei ]

[ Preview for next episode ]

Inuyasha transformed into a demon! If we stay here, he may come after us as well. What? Totosai? You say we have to fall back? I will not abandon Inuyasha! He's trying all by himself so hard to discover his true powers! Just then, Tetsusaiga begins to pulsate. Next on Inuyasha: "Backlash Wave: Tetsusaiga's Ultimate Technique". Don't miss it!