Episode 61

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

Plot
Tsubaki continues with her curse on Kagome. Naraku has her put a curse on Kagome to force her 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 kill Kagome instantly. Naraku is enjoying how Inuyasha is re-experiencing the same pain he did with Kikyo and having "the woman he loves point an arrow at him," and hopes he will relish the pain since it "won't last long enough."

Some distance away, Miroku and Sango try to figure out how to get through Tsubaki's barrier only to find it too strong for them to break. 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 stunning Miroku and Sango, her interest now definitely piqued.

Back in Kaede's hut, Kagome is forced to fire an arrow at Inuyasha, only barely missing him in the previous episode. As she nocks another arrow, she struggles to fight Tsubaki's control and continues to beg for him to run away and save himself. He refuses telling her "Kagome, don't be stupid. As if I'd run...and leave you!" he then makes a charge for her. She is forced to release the arrow which seemingly impales him.

Back in her own shrine, Tsubaki compliments Naraku on just how twisted and evil he is to force Kikyo's reincarnation to kill the man she loves. His Kugutsu is suddenly obliterated and Tsubaki turns to face her old rival, Kikyo. Distracted by Kikyo, Tsubaki's spell weakens and Kagome regains control of her body. It is seen that her arrow missed Inuyasha and only grazed his arm. Kagome, weakened by her possession, collapses and Inuyasha catches her as she collapses. She tells him she senses the Shikon Jewel nearby and she asks Inuyasha to take her there. Kaede and Shippo arrive on the scene, they attempt to convince Kagome that she is too sick to go anywhere and that the curse still hasn't lifted but Inuyasha promises he will protect her and he and Kagome set out to find the Dark Priestess. Shippo is worried that Kagome is in too much pain, but Kaede says that Kagome is a strong willed girl and will be fine. Silently, she hopes that Inuyasha will find a way to break Kagome's curse and save her while he can. As they travel, Kagome apologizes for almost killing him, but Inuyasha demands she not think that way since it she was being controlled; therefore it not being her fault.

At the shrine, 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 doesn't care about her and then sens Inuyasha and Kagome coming close. Tusbaki then realizes she accidentially weakened the curse on Kagome.

As Inuyasha runs to the Shrine, Kagome asks Inuyasha why he didn't run. Inuyasha says he would never leave her and Kagome says that one wrong move and things could have ended up like they did with Kikyo. Inuyasha says that was a chance he had to take since he refused to run away and that he was staying with her so she "better get used to it." Inuyasha and Kagome then arrive outside the barrier. Tsubaki is stunned to see the Shikon Jewel being purified and demands to know if it was Kagome's doing and Kikyo says that any curse "by the likes of her" will have no effect on Kagome. However, Tsubaki blames it on Kikyo's "unwanted apperance."

Outside Tsubaki's barrier and Kagome brings it down with her Hama no Ya as Miroku and Sango watch in amazement.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. Kikyo, hearing this, demands to know if she attempted to make Kagome slay Inuyasha. 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 says to "do what she pleases" with Kagome, but 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 as well as the woman who placed the curse on her. The shrine doors then open and Tsubaki steps out, her snake shikigami draped comfortably around her shoulders. Inuyasha asks if she is the dark priestess and Tsubaki confirms it and deduces that he is Inuyasha, "Kikyo's lover." Miroku and Sango then demand to know where Kikyo was stating they saw her enter the barrier. She then says that Kikyo asked her to spare Inuyasha's life since she loves him so much that she even used the spirits of the dead to stay alive.

Inuyasha steps forward and says he can tell by the way Tsubaki put a curse on Kagome to simply try to kill him that she made a deal with Naraku. She casually admits it and Inuyasha angrily charges her and takes hold of Tessaiga. As he begans to draw it, she then yells to him that if he draws his sword she will kill Kagome instantly. Cowed, he backs down, much to her amusement. She says that as long as she has the Shikon Jewel in her hand, Kagome's life belonged to her. Inwardly, she reflects on how Kikyo told her she was no match for Kagome, her reincarnation, but after considering Kagome a pathetic priestess, she attributes her weakened hold on Kagome to Kikyo's distractions rather than the Kagome's own power. She then decides Inuyasha will be the first to perish.

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. Miroku says that Tsubaki has left Inuyasha virtually helpless. Inuyasha attempts to fight the demon without his sword, but finds himself losing and wondering how he can defeat the demon without his sword, and not risk Kagome's life.