Episode 61

Kikyo and the Dark Priestess is 61st episode of the InuYasha anime.

Plot
Tsubaki continues her curse on Kagome. Naraku has her force Kagome to kill Inuyasha in the same fashion that Kikyo had 50 years earlier. Should Inuyasha stay with Kagome, he will die by her arrow; should he run, Tsubaki will curse-kill Kagome instantly.

Some distance away, Miroku and Sango try in vain to get through Tsubaki's barrier. Down on the ground, Kikyo arrives, having come to investigate the evil aura she detected. She notices Inuyasha's friends in the air and enters the barrier effortlessly, her interest now definitely piqued.

Back in Kaede's hut, Kagome is forced to fire an arrow at Inuyasha, only barely missing him. As she nocks another arrow, she struggles to fight Tsubaki's control and manages to whimper for him to run away. He refuses and makes a charge for her. She lets the arrow fly.

Back in her own shrine, Tsubaki compliments Naraku on just how twisted and evil he is. His Kugutsu is suddenly obliterated; Tsubaki turns to face her old rival, Kikyo.

Distracted by Kikyo, Tsubaki's spell weakens and Kagome regains control of her body. It's seen that her arrow missed Inuyasha and he catches her as she collapses. She tells him she senses the Shikon Jewel shards nearby and she and Inuyasha set out in that direction as fast as they can, leaving Shippo with Kaede.

Kikyo and Tsubaki size each other up after fifty years. Kikyo mocks Tsubaki for selling her soul to her demon for youth and beauty. Tsubaki, in turn, chastises Kikyo for judging her when Kikyo herself is dead and consuming human souls just to stay animated. Kikyo tells Tsubaki she might as well just give it up; she's no match for Kagome. Tsubaki laughs it off, saying if Kagome could have been cursed like that at all, then she was nothing much.

Inuyasha and Kagome arrive outside Tsubaki's barrier and Kagome brings it down with her Hama no Ya as Miroku and Sango watch in awe.

The energy from the collapsing barrier draws Tsubaki's attention to the door and she looks outside to see Inuyasha arrive with Kagome in tow. Tsubaki curses Kagome for letting her arrow miss Inuyasha. Arrows suddenly fly up from behind, one parting strands of Tsubaki's hair and the other pinning her sleeve to the doorway. Tsubaki turns to mock Kikyo for the latter's sudden loss of self-control and asks if what she made Kagome do struck a nerve. Kikyo angrily stomps up to her from behind, snatches her up by her hair and icily threatens to kill her if she hurts Inuyasha. Clearly terrified, Tsubaki jerks free and tries to hit Kikyo with the arrow she pulls from the doorway. Kikyo jumps nimbly away and as she fades away into nothing, she warns Tsubaki that she will follow through if anything happens to Inuyasha. Tsubaki collects herself and prepares to confront the group.

Outside, Miroku and Sango arrive, glad to see Kagome is better, but still worried for her. Kagome announces that the Shikon shards are in the shrine on the opposite side of the lawn. As if on cue, the shrine doors open ominously and Tsubaki steps out, her snake shikigami draped comfortably around her shoulders. Inuyasha deduces she is Tsubaki. Tsubaki, in turn, deduces he is Inuyasha, Kikyo's lover.

Having earlier seen her enter Tsubaki's barrier, Miroku and Sango demand to know where Kikyo is. Tsubaki laughs and says that Kikyo came to beg for Inuyasha's life. He steps forward and says he can tell just by the way Tsubaki made Kagome try to kill him that Naraku is behind everything. She casually admits it. When Inuyasha charges her and takes hold of Tessaiga, she tells him if he draws his sword she will kill Kagome instantly. Cowed, he backs down, much to her amusement. Inwardly, she reflects on how Kikyo told her she was no match for her reincarnation, but after considering how pathetic a priestess Kagome is, she attributes her weakening hold on Kagome to Kikyo's distractions rather than the girl's own power.

After reassuring herself that she is the best miko ever, Tsubaki unleashes an enormous wolf/fox demon from her eye to slay Inuyasha, who—for the life of Kagome—would sooner be slaughtered than ever draw his sword.