Chapter 401

The Armored Shell is the 401st chapter of the InuYasha manga.

Synopsis

 * Meiōjū returns to the castle and steals the armor, restoring his full power.
 * Sesshōmaru appears and asks Byakuya what Mōryōmaru is planning to do with Meiōjū's shell.

Summary

 * Inuyasha smells the fishy scent of Meiōjū and knows he's coming back. Meanwhile Miroku has erected a barrier around the ancient armor so that Meiōjū cannot get it. The monk believes if Meiōjū gets the final piece of armor, his full powers will be restored and it may be impossible to penetrate through his shell.
 * Meiōjū appears in the sky and attacks Inuyasha with lightning attacks, and Inuyasha retaliates with Kaze no Kizu. Meiōjū demands to know where his shell has been hidden, and the group realizes the barrier must be working if he doesn't know where it is. Inuyasha says that's good, but it doesn't help because his windscar can't reach him. Byakuya, who is watching nearby, says to himself that he'll lend a hand. He blows an origami puppet out onto the wind, which flies into the window of the castle and attaches itself to one of the guards who are near the ancient armor. The mindcontrolled guard then destroys Miroku's barrier, and Meiōjū declares he can see the armor now. The beast crashes into the roof of the castle and takes the armor. Byakuya says now it's time to see the real Meiōjū.
 * Suddenly, Sesshōmaru appears behind Byakuya, attacking with his claws, Byakuya barely dodging. Inuyasha and Kagome notice the two of them. Byakuya says Sesshōmaru is just as bad as Inuyasha, attacking before introducing themselves. Sesshōmaru says "You have Naraku's scent on you. That's enough." Byakuya deduces Sesshōmaru's identity as Inuyasha's older brother.
 * Meanwhile, Meiōjū has grown in size and power after devouring the armor, his scales complete once again. Sesshōmaru says he saw Meiōjū a while ago as just a pile of bones, then followed the scent of Mōryōmaru only to find the beast completely revived. He asks Byakuya what Mōryōmaru is plotting. Byakuya says he's here to find that out as well.
 * Inuyasha prepares to fight Meiōjū again, and the turtle demon says the diamond spears will no longer work on him.