Episode 23

Kagome's Voice and Kikyo's Kiss is the twenty-third episode of the InuYasha anime. It first aired in Japan on April 16, 2001.

Synopsis

 * 1) Kagome confronts Kikyō; she tries to explain that it wasn't Inuyasha who betrayed her 50 years ago, but they were victims of an elaborate ruse.
 * 2) Kikyō ignores Kagome's words, resolved to destroy Inuyasha.
 * 3) Inuyasha and Kikyō meet, Inuyasha declares that he's never stopped thinking about her, even for an instant, and the two kiss.
 * 4) Kikyō attempts to drag Inuyasha into the netherworld with her, so that they may be together forever; before she is able to do so, Kagome's voice saves Inuyasha.
 * 5) Having witnessed the whole thing, an upset Kagome decides that she needs to go back home.

Summary
Inuyasha takes off to find Kikyō, but Kagome ends up finding the shrine maiden first and tries to explain the true circumstances which led to her death. Kikyō, even after learning this and that Inuyasha still loves her, still cannot overcome her bitterness and tries to drag him to hell to join her in death, embracing and kissing him before she does so.

Quotes
Shippō: "Inuyasha(!) What're you doing here? Have you seen Kagome?" Miroku: "I've seen him like this before. Kagome is just fine." Kaede: "That Kagome is a strange girl. She has been able to slowly heal Inuyasha's heart." Kikyō: "That girl, again. So she's the one who changed him..." [bitterly] "...If I had lived, I would have been the one to heal his heart..." Inuyasha: "The same thing you always do with women." Miroku: [jumps back; shocked, appalled] "Wha—?! You mean—?! You did something like that in front of Kagome?!" Inuyasha: "What do you usually do?!" Miroku: "What'll you do, Inuyasha?" Shippō: "Who will you choose?" Miroku: "Decide now(!)" Shippō: "Well?" Inuyasha: "...Can't I choose them both?" Shippō: "You mean— Two-timing?!" Miroku: "Well, it often happens with men. But regardless, no matter what happens, Kagome must never find out about this. If she were ever to hear what you just said..." Kagome: " SIT!!! "
 * [Shippō and Miroku find Inuyasha imbedded agroof in the ground]
 * Kikyō: "By the way, Inuyasha has changed. His face had a softness. In the past, he trusted no one. His eyes were cold."
 * Miroku: "She's gone. Inuyasha, Kagome wasn't her usual self. What on earth happened with Kikyō?"
 * Kagome: [reappearing in bottom of well] "What's the matter with me? I was in such a state I forgot my things here. Hey, is anyone out there?" [hears others talking]