Episode 168

Naraku's Heart is the first episode of InuYasha: The Final Act.

Summary
Kagura has been charged with guarding the mysterious Goryōmaru. However, he was killed by Hakudōshi; how can he still be alive? Hakudōshi says the answer lays in letting out, but that would mean disobeying Naraku; has Hakudōshi turned on Naraku just like Kagura?

Only one thing is for certain: the balance between of the forces of good and evil is about to change.

Plot
Night at an abandoned temple, Kanna recites a poem as Naraku holds Kagura's heart in his hand. Smiling, Naraku says Kagura better not let "him" escape. At that time, Kagura watches a cell below Naraku, which holds Goryōmaru in it; she watches as captured demons are thrown at him continuously for him to kill and absorb. Kagura thinks constantly about how she can be guarding someone who's dead; she saw Hakudoshi behead him. No sooner does she ask Goryomaru what he is, Hakudōshi arrives and says the only way to get an answer is to let out Goryomaru. However, Kagura only laughs at this, asking if Hakudoshi lacks fear of Naraku.

Goryōmaru breaks his silence, telling Kagura that she has to choose; stay a slave to Naraku or come with him and have her freedom. Hearing this, Kagura thinks back to Mount Hakurei, which when Naraku expeled his heart as the Infant, and when it was split in two; one of the halves remained the Infant, while the other became Hakudōshi. Hakudōshi promises Kagura that he will return her heart right before obliterating Naraku; Kagura asks what they expect of her. Hakudoshi explains that at the moment, they lack sufficient strength to overthrow Naraku, and there's only one way of getting more power. Kagura realises Hakudoshi is saying they need to get the remaining jewel shards.

Elsewhere, by the Bone Eater's Well, Miroku asks Shippo transform into him. After examining Shippo's transformation, Miroku finds that nothing's wrong with it; no-one would be able to tell it wasn't him. Miroku asks Shippo to spend time around Sango in his form, prompting Shippo to ask if he means for the entire time Inuyasha is in Kagome's time. Confirming Shippo's question, Miroku tells him that he's going to "spread his wings" a little. However, no sooner does he says this, Sango arrives and clobbers him with a plank of wood. Reverting back to his normal form, Shippo claims that Miroku threatened him with his Wind Tunnel; Sango only sighs and says that this is typical of Miroku.

In the present, Kagome is taking yet another make up exam; however, she can't undersand any of the questions on it. All the time Kagome's spent in the Feudal Era has cost her dearly when it comes to her education. Yuka, Ayumi and Eri sit outside the classroom, waiting for her. They're worried about Kagome because of how much school she's missed, hoping she'll be able to pass her high school entrance exam. They then see Inuyasha arrive, sniffing for Kagome's scent; they greet him. asking if he came to get her. Once he confirms it, they say it's nice of him; he agrees. In the classroom, Kagome finally remembers the problems she's working on, deligently writing down the answers. However, once she catches sight of Inuyasha outside the classroom, her concerntration snaps.

In anger, Kagome gives a Sit! command, making Inuyasha fall down. Demanding an explaination as to why she did that, Inuyasha gets yelled at because he didn't listen to her and wait at home. As Kagome continues to scold Inuyasha, her friends realise that she controls him with fear. However, at that moment, her teacher explains Kagome didn't get a single question on her test right, meaning it's a hard road ahead for her. Kagome petrifies at the mention of this. Sad, Kagome is carried by Inuyasha as her friends walk along with them; they bid the two good-bye despite Kagome's protests (she wants to study, not go back to adventuring in the Feudal Era at the moment).

After packing her bookbag, Kagome and Inuyasha head for the well. Her family is surprised she;s off so quickly, but Kagome assures them that traveling the Feudal Era won;t affect her studying. While traveling through the well, Inuyasha asks Kagome if she needs help slaying the "Entrance Exam Demon"; he doesn't understand. Kagome tells him it's something he can't help with. Inuyasha, believing she thinks he would lose, says it's like saying Jaken could beat him.

At that moment, Jaken sneezes; you sneeze when someone is talking about you behind your back. Sesshōmaru asks if the crystals of demonic energy have reacted to the Fuyōheki; Jaken informs him that they have not, getting caught up in explaination and not realising he's getting left behind like usual.

Exiting the well, Inuyasha and Kagome take off to meet with everyone; however, her backpack opens and she loses her books and the container with the jewel shard. Kagome guesses that she brought too many books this time; Inuyasha complains as usual. Hakudōshi appears before them, saying he's been waiting. He sends Saimyōshō to retrieve the shard. Sango, Shippō and Miroku arrive as well; Miroku is told not to use his Wind Tunnel as it would suck in the poisonous insects and the jewel shards. Inuyasha sends a Wind Scar at Hakudoshi, only distroying the Saimyosho. Hakudōshi leaves with his newly-acquired shard. Kagome reassures the group they can get the shard back as she can sense it.

Still following Naraku's orders, Kohaku is hunting strong demons (possibly as fodder for Goryōmaru). He decaptiates a giant wolf that's attacking a village, only for its head to fly off on its own, He chases it, only to have his arm bitten by the head. Damaging its left eye, Kohaku sees a root-like demon emerge from the wolf's head and fly away; it's its true form. Searching for the demon, Kohaku hears something move and throws his kasaraigami at the source, only to see a young boy instead of a demon. Kohaku pulls his weapon back, only slicing a tree branch back. The child, Taichi, looks at Kohaku in shock as his father arrives; he notices Kohaku's wound, offering to take care of it.

At their home, Kohaku thanks the father for treating his injury. However, Taichi enters, possessed by the demon; Taichi wounds his father. This causes Kohaku to remember when he killed his own father under Naraku's control. Kohaku chases after Taichi, not wanting the child to end up just as he did. He manages to wrap his chain around Taichi's leg, forcing the demon to abandon the boy's body. Continuing after it, Kohaku is shocked to see it slain by Kagura's wind blades. Kagura reveals herself, explaining that she knows where Naraku's heart is. Kohaku is excited by this news, asking her to take him to it; however, she says that will only happened once he's dead, firing a wind blade at him.

Elsewhere, Kōga is questioned by Ginta and Hakkaku as to why they haven't stopped; he explains that there is a suspicious scent comng from ahead of them. No sooner has he explained this, they come face-to-face with Mōryōmaru, the demonic golem Hakudōshi created; however he now appears much different from the last time he was seen. Moryomaru greets Koga, and they begin fighting. However, Koga sees that no matter how much he damages Moryomaru, he just keeps pulling himself back together, just like Naraku. This prompts Koga to ask Moryomary if he's one of Naraku's allies. Moryomaru asks why it matters, making Koga lunge in to attack and avenge his comrades.

However, Moryomaru captures Koga iwth his tentacles, prepared to eat him and take his shards. At that moment, a sacred arrow severs his tentacles along with his lower half. Moryomaru flies off into the sky, saying that their fight isn't over. Koga agrees, yelling for his opponent to come back. Ginta and Hakkaku wonder if it was Kagome who saved Koga; however, he tells them it's not her, gesturing to look behind them. Above them is Kikyō, who has collapsed, seemingly from exhaustion; she notes it should not take so much out of her to fire a single arrow. What perplexes her is that Mōryōmaru seems different now, as if he now has a soul.

In the meantime, Kagura continues attacking Kohaku to his shard, promising to end his life painlessly as she can. Kohaku wonders what's happened to Kagura as she's the one who gave him a shard of demonic energy to find the Fuyoheki. Kagura thinks about her situtation, knowing she's just switched masters from Naraku to the Infant. Kohaku offers to be presented as an offering to the Infant, explaining that would give him the chance to plunge his blade into Naraku's heart. However, Kagura tells him that he won't be able to do that as Naraku, the Infant and Hakudoshi are too powerful. Naraku watches the conversation between Kagura and Kohaku in Kanna's mirror, saying she's right about Kohaku eventualy losing his shard along with his life.

Kohaku threatens to go find the Infant on his own, prompting Kagura to knock the crystal out of his hand and shatter it with a tornado of wind. When he asks Kagura why she did that, she tell him to run for his life. Hakudōshi arrives, annoyed that Kagura has chosen to betray him and the Infant after betraying Naraku. Taking one of the feathers in her hair out, Kagura tells Kohaku to be careful on his way down; she sends him off on the feather as he calls to her in concern. Hakudōshi heads off after Kohaku to get his shard, declaring her won't escape. To keep him busy, Kagura attacks Hakudoshi with Dance of the Dragon. However, it's useless as it doesn't even damage his barrierl Hakudoshi decides to gie Kagura a taste of her own attack, redirecting it towards her.

The Wind Scar, diverts the attack; Inuyasha's group has arrived. Everyone is confused by this as Kagura and Hakudoshi are Naraku's incarnations and thus should be on the same side. Sango heads after Kohaku on Kirara. Inuyasha tells Kagura to say everything she knows as Hakudoshi isn't going to let her live; she explains that he doesn't want her to reveal the location of Naraku's heart. At the mention of this, a beam of light hits Tessaiga; Goryōmaru has arrived. Hakudoshi asks him about an injury on his stomach, but is told that it doesn't matter. With that, Goryomaru burts with light as he explodes into a giant lump of flesh. It subsides, revealing Moryomaru. Hakudoshi gives him the stolen shard to heal, while Moryomaru takes off to get Kohaku's shard.

Inuyasha launches Adamant Barrage at him, but it turns out to have been an illusion. Hakudōshi appears behind Kagura, trapping her in his barrier; he's not through with her yet. He taunts Inuyasha into trying his attack again, but is surprised to find Kagura is useful shield. Kagura slices Hakudōshi apart with her wind blades, explaining Naraku's heart, the Infant, is in Moryomaru; both Hakudoshi and the Infant intend to empower Moryomaru and have him replace Naraku. Hakudōshi congradulates Kagura on her deduction, explaining it was a mistake for Naraku to remove his heart, even entrusting the Fuyoheki to it. The Infant decide to create a durable armor for himself; it was Mōryōmaru, who consumed the dead Goryomaru. Regenerated, Hakudoshi goes on to explain it was at that point that he and the Infant realised that Naraku without his heart is but an empty shell; the two of them are the original/real thing. Kagura retorts that Naraku has been aware of their plan to betray him the entire time. Hakudōshi laughs, saying though it may be true, Kagura should be worrying about herself right now; they both may be traitors, but it is her heart Naraku has in his possession.

Kagura slices Hakudoshi apart again, but he tells her its useless (as he can keep regenerating). Hakudōshi thinks to himself that no-one can kill him, not even Naraku himself. However, at that moment, Naraku smiles and the brat's barrier vanishes. With Kagura freed, Inuyasha uses the Wind Scar, destroying all but Hakudōshi's head. Miroku prepares to use the Wind Tunnel, but Saimyōshō are summoned by Hakudōshi. However, they fly away, making Kagura laugh;  Naraku has cut him off first. To save himself, Hakudōshi produces a cloud of miasma, which Kagome purifies. When it clears, Hakudōshi races to Kagura with a regenerated arm holding his blade. Hakudōshi yells that he is not a disposable tool like her, but Miroku opens the Wind Tunnel. Hakudōshi is caught in its pull, resisting as his arm is sucked in. Declaring himself to be the original/Naraku's essence, Hakduoshi is eventualy sucked in.

Miroku seals the Wind Tunnel, expressing that he cannot help but feel disgusted; it seems like they helped Naraku, since he had no more use for Hakudoshi. Kagome asks Kagura what she will do now, offering her a place with them. However, Kagura turns down the offer. Inuyasha tells Kagura that they'll get her heart back from Naraku, but she'll have to promise to stay alive until they can do that. Kagura laughs at what he's saying, and flies away on her feather. Thinking to herself, she says Inuyasha can't tell her how to live her life; she'll run as far away as she has to.

Elsewhere, Kohaku hides from Sango, only to be surprised by Mōryōmaru; he captures him and uses the Infant's ability to read hearts, allowing him to see Kohaku wants to kill him even if it means his own life, a noble gesture Hiraikotsu cuts Moryomaru's tentacles off, thus freeing Kohaku. Sango races over on Kirara to save Kohaku, who warns his sister to stay away. This surprises Sango, as Kohaku called her "sister". Inuyasha arrives, wounding Moryomaru againg when he tries taking Kohaku's shard. Inuyasha faces Mōryōmaru, calling him Naraku's heart. Mōryōmaru flees into the sky, declaring that soon, he will absorb Tessaiga's power, before teleporting away. Kagome confirms his escape as she cannot sense the jewel shard Hakudoshi stole. Sango asks Kohaku if he has regained his memory, and Kohaku confesses that he recalls everything, but can't face her. Kagome explains that Sango loves him no matter what he's done. Shippo guesses even Miroku can't take Kohaku's place in Sango's heart; Miroku retorts that he can't be replaced either.

Elsewhere, Kikyō sits at the foot of a tree, protected from being detected by Naraku by a barrier. Her shikigami, Aska and Kocho wonder about her health, but she says it's only a scratch. Two monks come across her and, mistakenly assuming that she is a demon, attempt using demon-repelling charms on her. Kikyō tells them that the charms do not work on her as they burn away. Scared for their lives, the monks run away, begging her to spare them. Kikyō slumps to the ground as her shikigami levitate next to her, wondering what is wrong. Kikyō is left unsure if she can defeat Naraku in her current state; her powers seem to be weakening since two novice monks were able to enter her barrier.

The episode ends with a shot of the full moon, as Kanna's poem from the beginning of the episode is said once more.

Trivia

 * There's a gap between the last episode and this one, which would have explained what is going on now. The part where Naraku shows Kagura the prisoner she is meant to guard with her life and her surprise that it's Goryōmaru have been ignored.
 * The plot of the episode is rather mangled from the manga chapters it's based on; Kohaku wasn't attacked for his shard during his hunt for demons, Kagura originally supplied bandits with Goryo urns to serve as a distraction, Hakudōshi wasn't waiting at the Bone Eater's Well for Inuyasha and Kagome, Goryōmaru threatened to absorb Kagura if she didn't obey him, and Kōga had already met Mōryōmaru (albeit in his first form) by this time.