Chapter 413

"The Second Head" is the 413th chapter of the InuYasha manga.

Synopsis
Byakuya traps the first head of Nikosen with a spider's web, killing it and taking back the shard.

Inuyasha in human form, along with Kagome and Shippō, escape the second head and take refuge in a cave.

Summary
Miroku and Sango, riding on Kirara, chase after Nikosen's head. Nikosen's head then runs into a Spider's web and gets trapped. Byakuya appears, standing on one of the strands and is curious "It's just you two humans...? Where's Inuyasha?" He laments the Dragon-Scaled Tessaiga couldn't even kill scum like Nikosen.

Meanwhile, the severed body of Nikosen that grew a new head is about to attack Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippō. Nikosen sees Inuyasha has changed and realizes the boy is only a half-demon. Kagome wonders how Nikosen could grow a new head, when the Shikon shard went to the original head that Miroku & Sango went after. Nikosen explains he can grow new limbs to his hearts content due to his life-force stalk. He explains that when he was a hermit-sage, he created a spell that extended his own life by feeding on the life-force of trees. When he became a demon because of it, his limbs became like branches or trees and can regrow as such. He does note that every time he regenerates, he loses some of his stored life force, though. Inuyasha foolishly attempts to attack with the rusted katana Tessaiga, but it does no damage to Nikosen. Inuyasha says if he can cut through Nikosen's life-force stalk he won't be able to regenerate anymore, but Nikosen says he'll never make a scratch with a rusted sword. He started to spew poison sap, melting Inuyasha, but Kagome saves him with a Sacred Arrow. Though, to Kagome's shock, Nikosen starts regenerating immediately after being hit, laughing that he cannot die so easily. Shippō uses his Fox Magic to distract Nikosen and the trio run away.

Back with Byakuya, Miroku questions the incarnation why Naraku would send a weak demon that could be defeated easily by Dragon-Scaled Tessaiga, what's the purpose of sending a weak demon. Byakuya says he doesn't ask his boss questions like that and just does what he's told. Nikosen's head speaks from the spider web and says that his severed body is slaying the boy, and asks if that means he gets to keep his Shikon shard. Byakuya smiles and sets the spider web on fire, killing Nikosen's head and retrieving the shard. He says "Once Inuyasha is dead, I'll give this to your body." Miroku and Sango run away to help Inuyasha, nervous if Nikosen's body is still alive.

Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippō hide from Nikosen in a cave, Kagome concerned over injuries Inuyasha sustained earlier. Inuyasha curses that his Robe of the Fire-Rat is useless when he's in human form. Tree roots break inside the cave and an eyeball peers inside; Nikosen has found them.