Episode 47

Onigumo's Heart Still Beats Within Naraku is the forty-seventh episode of the InuYasha anime.

Synopsis

 * 1) Kikyō confronts Naraku, who had been spying on her; Kikyō surmises that it's because Naraku still has Onigumo's heart beating within him, and bears feelings towards her.
 * 2) In an effort to destroy her, Naraku unleashes a Giant Shinidamachū, and it begins to devour every soul around it, including the souls inhabiting Kikyō's body.
 * 3) In her weakened state, Kikyō stumbles upon Inuyasha. Inuyasha vows to protect her from Naraku, he says that he won't allow Naraku to have her, stating that his life is hers, and hers is his as well.
 * 4) Kagome returns to the Feudal Era, and witnesses Inuyasha with Kikyō together, hearing the whole thing.

Summary
As Inuyasha and the others recover from their battle with Jūrōmaru and Kagerōmaru, Kagome tells Inuyasha that she is now back to her time, but he is still angry because Kagome has fought on Kōga's side after the fight with Jūrōmaru and Kagerōmaru. So Kagome leaves and Shippō runs after her because he is not satisfied with this unsolved problem. He tells her that Inuyasha cares about her and that is why he is so jealous, which Kagome simply takes note of. Then she says to Shippō that he shouldn't tell Inuyasha that she will be back soon so that Inuyasha is worried. Then she disappears and an uncomprehending Shippō is left behind.

Kikyō is in the temple where she is helping the injured soldiers when she senses Naraku and walks in his direction. Kikyō asks Naraku what does he want. Naraku says to Kikyō that she is sharp as usual. Kikyō tells Naraku how could she not notice him and not only today as he has come to spy on her countless times then notices he seem to be concerned about her. Kikyō laughs at Naraku, who asks what was so funny. Kikyō tells Naraku that he can't help but be concerned about her because Onigumo's heart beats strong within himself. Naraku knows this as well as Kikyō does, but he doesn't want to go into it and disappears. Kikyō now knows Naraku is gone before she leaves.

In the modern era, Kagome comes home again and her whole family greets her. First she takes a bath and takes care of medication. Actually she wanted to go back quickly, but when she later lays in her cozy bed, she decides to stay a little longer.

In his castle, Naraku thinks about what Kikyō said and thinks to himself that a woman like that can be killed off anytime but the reason he can't is that because within himself still beats the heart of Onigumo who so coveted Kikyō. Onigumo's heart. A shallow, evil criminal who was unable to move yet yearned for Kikyō so much that he offered his body to countless demons to be reborn as himself. Naraku thinks it's that foolish human's heart that still yearns for Kikyō and still beats inside himself then he realizes as it is nonsense and Kikyō belittles him. Naraku says he is not Onigumo and now that he has the nearly whole Sacred Jewel he finds Onigumo's heart useless and unnecessary before he summons a giant red Soul Collector rises from a lake nearby and it flies into the air.

At the temple, the injured soldiers now notice that a threatening-looking cloud is hanging over the village and cannot explain where they came from. Kikyō also sees the clouds and also that it devours the souls of the dead, which it actually devoured then she sees the contours of the soul collector and realizes that Naraku is coming after her before she grabs her bow and arrows.

One of the injured soldiers asks Kikyō what's wrong. Kikyō quickly asks to borrow a horse then leaves on a quickly caught horse, but the Giant Soul Collector follows her as it devours souls. Kikyō thinks to herself does the demon intends to eat all the lost souls in this region as she won't allow it before she sent 2 soul collectors to defeat the giant Soul Collector. Kikyō comes to an abyss and takes out her bow and arrow to shoot at the giant soul collector as it simply evades her arrows. The giant Soul Collector heads towards Kikyō as her much smaller soul collectors cannot stop him. Kikyō cannot shoot a second arrow because the giant soul collector slowly pulls the souls of the dead out of her body and she rides her horse along the cliff, but the soul collector catches up with her and pushes off the cliff as it follows her again.

Meanwhile, Miroku, Sango, Shippō, and Kirara sit with Kaede and Inuyasha in their hut in the village and talk about the danger posed by Naraku's incarnations in view of the events with Jūrōmaru and Kagerōmaru then they tell Inuyasha that he should bring Kagome back as reinforcement and when he says that he doesn't need her, Sango realizes that she must be the reason for Inuyasha's nervousness and tension. Miroku says that Inuyasha is very difficult for Kagome and Shippō is sitting there and has to keep quiet about the fact that he knows that Kagome isn't actually angry and is returning. As they continue to talk, Inuyasha gets very angry and finally leaves.

Later Inuyasha sits at the Bone-Eater's Well and calls Kagome 'stupid' and says to himself because she didn't come back right away he's getting blamed and asks what he did wrong then wonders if Kagome is angry with him after all and what she's doing now. Just as he is so lost in thought, Inuyasha smells a demon and becomes surprised to see a giant Soul Collector flying in the air and looks to see Kikyō and her Soul Collectors coming out of the forest, who walks less than stumbles. Kikyō calls out to Inuyasha before she finally falls to the ground. Inuyasha runs towards Kikyō worried and takes her in his arms and realizes she's injured then asks her what happened. Inuyasha sees Naraku's Saimyōshō and wonders to himself if this is another one of his tricks. Kikyō weakly asks Inuyasha where was the giant Soul Collector. Inuyasha realizes that Naraku is trying to get of Kikyō and he wasn't going to allow him harm her before he runs away with her, while avoiding attacks from the giant Soul Collector. Inuyasha leans Kikyō against the Sacred Tree and tells her he'll take care of the giant Soul Collector right away and rest before he turns to fight. When the giant Soul Collector wants to kill Inuyasha, he hits it with his Tessaiga in the throat and then cuts him in half so that the souls of the dead can escape again. The Soul Collectors appear and started collecting souls for Kikyō. Inuyasha sees the dead souls and realizes Kikyō can't move without them. When Inuyasha approaches Kikyō, he calls out her name. Kikyō is slowly waking up and asks Inuyasha what was he doing here. Inuyasha tells Kikyō he was going ask her the same thing and tells her why was she here. Kikyō explains that Giant Soul Collector was chasing her. Inuyasha says to Kikyō that she came here knowing that he would rescue her. Kikyō tells Inuyasha to not be a fool and says that she kept running desperately and found herself here, much to Inuyasha's hurt and sadness.

In the modern era, Kagome is still lying on her bed and sleeping and when she wakes up she realizes that it is already night and she starts packing up to make her way back to the Feudal Era as soon as possible and asks why no one has woken her up. Sōta tells Kagome they didn't realize was still asleep.

At night in the Feudal Era, Inuyasha looks up and realizes that he had leaned Kikyō against the Sacred Tree where he slept for 50 years. Kikyō asks Inuyasha what was he thinking. Inuyasha tells Kikyō they haven't changed at all since 50 years ago. Kikyō says to Inuyasha those are silly words as she has changed a lot since she has long ago sealed him against the Sacred Tree. Inuyasha tells Kikyō that because of Naraku's deception they hated each other and he was sealed to the Sacred Tree for 50 years and she died. Inuyasha asked Kikyō to tell him if he's changed then and before he knew of Naraku's existence he did resent her but she told him that his life belongs to her and says her life belongs to him. Kikyō became shocked for a moment and tells Inuyasha that he's not so different from Naraku after all. Inuyasha becomes hurt and asks Kikyō is he really the same as Naraku. Kikyō tells Inuyasha that deep within Naraku Onigumo's heart still beats, confusing Inuyasha. Kikyō says Onigumo desired her and wanted her to kill Inuyasha with her own hands was something that the jealous heart of Onigumo schemed for. Inuyasha questioned that Onigumo was jealous over something so ridiculous. Kikyō confirms it as that is what humans are. Inuyasha asks Kikyō does Naraku have feelings for her since he has Onigumo's heart. Kikyō says that Naraku doesn't want to acknowledge it but he has a lingering feeling for her and he's trying to erase that feeling by getting rid of her, making Inuyasha angry. The Soul Collectors have finished replenishing Kikyō with dead souls. Kikyō stands up and tells Inuyasha their conversation is over as she has replenished herself with lost souls. Inuyasha questions Kikyō that she isn't planning to destroy Naraku by herself as she isn't strong enough and couldn't believe Naraku was in love with Kikyō and can't stand the thought.

Meanwhile, a yellow backpack comes out of the well and immediately afterwards Kagome, she felt it's so late and guess Inuyasha's probably had enough time to himself now. When Kagome sees strange lights in the forest and follows after them as she arrived near the sacred tree and quickly hides behind another tree as she sees Inuyasha and Kikyō standing together. Kagome asks herself what was going on and what happened in her absence. As Inuyasha walks towards Kikyō, he tells her that he doesn't care how she feels about him now but he promises that he won't let Naraku have her either and only he can protect her from him before then hugs her against her will. Kikyō tells Inuyasha was he crazy and let her go as she tries to pull away from before she slowly hugs him back of her own free will. Kagome sadly retreats back behind a nearby tree. Inuyasha promises Kikyō that he will be the one to slay Naraku so she doesn't have to fight anymore and he will protect her. Although initially Kikyō seems to reciprocate the hug to Inuyasha, she pulls out a knife from her sleeve and wields it to his neck, confusing Inuyasha. Kikyō tells Inuyasha that all men are such fools and they believe that as long as they embrace a woman she belongs to them. Inuyasha calls out to Kikyō but she tells him to not move. Kikyō says to Inuyasha after watching him she realizes that so well and as long as Onigumo's heart exists inside Naraku there will be an opportunity and she will use that chance to purify him and totally destroy him, upsetting Inuyasha. Kikyō then moves away from Inuyasha with her Soul Collectors into the air. Inuyasha is left shouting Kikyō's name but she leaves anyway and leaves him alone. Kikyō thinks to herself that once the thread of fate is tangled it cannot be undone. Inuyasha continues to call out to Kikyō as she disappears.

At Naraku's castle, Naraku thinks to himself that envy a human emotion from the heart of that simpering fool Onigumo and it was despicable before he cuts off the spider scar on his back with a sword. At the village, Miroku sees lights from the forest as Kaede realizes those are lost souls and her older sister Kikyō is somewhere nearby. Back at the Sacred Tree, Inuyasha still watching up in the sky. Kagome sit down on the grass as Inuyasha heard the noise and became surprised that Kagome come out of one of the trees. Inuyasha thinks to himself did Kagome watched him and Kikyō. Kagome thinks to herself that Inuyasha is looking straight at her and how can he not avert his eyes.

Differences from the manga

 * In the manga, one of Naraku's attendants at the castle sees him slice off the spider mark on his back, and Naraku kills the man. Kagura then comes in and mocks Naraku. This is not present in the anime.
 * Kikyō pulling a knife out and threatening Inuyasha does not occur in the manga.
 * In the manga, Naraku is watching Kikyō and Inuyasha's embrace through Kanna's mirror in his castle. This is not shown in the anime.