Episode 169

Kagura's Wind is the second episode of InuYasha: The Final Act.

Summary
All but three jewel shards are now in enemy hands. Hakudōshi is now dead, and the Infant is on the loose, seeking new ways of strengthening Mōryōmaru. Kohaku is now free of Naraku, but still holds a great deal of pain in his heart from his time as Naraku's puppet. Kikyō and Kōga each use a method to make themselves stronger to fight Naraku; however, only Kikyō knows the only true way to destroy Naraku for good.

Elsewhere, Kagura has now committed her final act of betrayal against Naraku and waits for him to end her life. Can Inuyasha's group defeat Naraku and return her heart? Will Kagura become the free wind?.

Plot
Kagura continues flying away on feather, fleeing Naraku even though he could still kill her remotely by destroying her heart; however, this may be because in this way, she has freedom. She says she'll fly as far away as she can.

In the Village of the Demon Hunters, Sango brings Kohaku to the grave of the villagers. She notices that Kohaku wasn't ready to come back and see the village yet. Inuyasha, Miroku, Myōga, Shippō, and Kagome visit Midoriko's Cave, and see what appears to be a chrysalis within the hole in her chest. Miroku tries to approach for a closer look, but is stopped by a barrier. Inuyasha notes they should keep an eye on the cave; he detects a scent.

To become stronger for avenging his comrades, Kōga seeks Goraishi - Lightning Claws - the strongest weapon of the wolf demon tribe. He is then confronted by a three-headed wolf, who protects the burial site of all their deceased comrades. Fighting the beast, Kōga is told he is cheating by using Shikon shards.

Miroku, Kagome, Myōga and Shippō discuss Inuyasha's eagerness to guard the cave alone; Miroku noticed the barrier was not evil, but pure. Kagome begins to suspect Kikyō may up to something. Within the statue, the chrysalis opens and a soul collector hatches. Inuyasha follows it, realizing it was Kikyō's scent he detected earlier. When he finds her, he asks why she wants Midoriko's soul. Kikyō reveals that Kagome was unable to completely purify the miasma that Naraku used against her; the wound is reopening, something Kikyō suspects is due to Naraku's increasing hatred of her. Kikyō absorbs the soul of the long-dead priestess, and collapses. Inuyasha rushes to her, and sees the wound on her shoulder heal.

A glow surrounds the stone body of Midoriko. Kagome suddenly looks up as Kohaku's jewel shard begins to glow. Kohaku rushes out of the hut, following some soul collectors, as the others hurry to follow him. They are blocked by a barrier and cannot follow Kohaku. At the same time, Kōga notices a reaction in his jewel shards, feeling that his legs have become heavier. Kikyō, apparently healed, gathers her bow and arrow. She explains to Inuyasha (with Kohaku listening in) that the only way to defeat Naraku is to purify the Shikon Jewel as he is absorbing it into his body - which will obliterate the soul of Onigumo. Asking Inuyasha to give Sango a lock of his hair, Kohaku races after Kikyō. When Inuyasha tries to follow them, he is blocked by a barrier.

Elsewhere, Mōryōmaru approaches a lake, send pieces of his flesh down to awaken the demon sleeping below the water. The demon surfaces, asking who dared to disturb the sleep of Meiōjū; however, he is quickly grabbed by Mōryōmaru's tentacles. Under the directions of the Infant (who speaks for the first time since being split in half), Mōryōmaru's tentacles swallow Meiōjū, thus adding the demon to his body. Now he possesses Meiōjū's shell - the ultimate armor. This will now protect the Infant, who resides in the Haku puppet, from any potential threat.

Kōga battles the guardian demon to acquire the Goraishi. He has an opportunity to take the claws, but chooses instead to save his comrades; the Goraishi vanishes immediate after he chooses to do this. When Kōga proudly tells the guardian that no weapon is worth the lives of his men, and attacks, he finds himself already wielding the claws, which render the guardian to shreds. The spirits of the wolf demon tribe tell Kōga that the claws are his, but they can protect him from that which controls the Shikon Jewel Shards only once.

Kagura continues flying away, but is shocked to find Naraku floating ahead of her. Naraku informs her that Hakudōshi is dead, something that sickens Kagura as she knows he allowed Hakudōshi to be sucked into the Wind Tunnel. Holding out her heart, Naraku tells Kagura that if he returns her heart, there will be nothing tying her to him or anyone else any longer; he returns her heart, much to her surprise. However, no sooner has Kagura feels her heart beating in her chest, Naraku pierces her with his tendrils - "Don't worry. I was careful to avoid hitting your precious heart." Kagura futilely attacks Naraku's barrier and he removes his tendrils. She flees, knowing he injected miasma in her. Naraku laughs that Kagura has now gotten the freedom that she desired and may go where ever she chooses for the limited amount of time she has left. Kagura slowly falls toward the ground.

Sesshōmaru is leading his companions through a valley when Jaken notices that the demonic aura from the crystal he carries is weakening - indicating the nearby presence of the Fuyōheki, and by extension, Naraku's Heart. Rin points out a nearby cave, and Sesshōmaru knocks down the cliff to open the cave. (Overdoing things seems to run in the family...) Mōryōmaru appears in a new armored form, thanks to Meiōjū's shell, and the two toss threats at each other. They begin to do battle, and Tōkijin seems not to even scratch Mōryōmaru's new armored shell. Mōryōmaru mocks Sesshōmaru as he first absorbs Sesshōmaru's demonic energy then turns it back on Sesshōmaru. Sesshōmaru attacks again, and cracks appear on Tōkijin. Mōryōmaru gets a hold of Sesshōmaru.

Kagura lands, then struggles to pull herself up; she believes a day is all she needs to heal from Naraku's attack, and walks off, determined to live. However, right as Kagura staggers into a nearby field of flowers, her wound reopens, forcing her to kneel down. As her blood stains the flowers around her, Kagura notes she lacks the energy to heal herself again. Kagura begins pondering to herself if this was the freedom she sought for so long.

A breeze carries Kagura's scent to Sesshōmaru. Mōryōmaru gloats over Kagura's death, saying she died in vain to obtain "freedom". In a fury, Sesshōmaru unleashes the Azure Dragon Wave, succeeding in cracking Mōryōmaru's armor, but also breaks the sword. Horrified his armor can be damaged, Mōryōmaru retreats. Sesshōmaru tosses aside his broken blade and seeks out the dying Kagura. Rin inquires about Tōkijin, but Sesshōmaru says he no longer has any attachment to it as it is broken; a broken blade that is reforged with still have flaws, and it wasn't able to break Mōryōmaru's armor. At the same time, Inuyasha has caught Kagura's scent and is now angry that they didn't force her to stay with them; Kagome hopes they can reach Kagura in time.

Kagura, still sitting in the field of flowers, suddenly notices that Sesshōmaru has arrived. Sesshōmaru tells her he followed the scent of blood and miasma. Kagura laughs, asking if he thought she was Naraku. However, Sesshōmaru says he knew it was her. Hearing this, Kagura becomes shocked; he knew she wasn't Naraku, and he still came out of concern for her. This makes Kagura happy. Sesshōmaru takes hold of Tenseiga, ready to save her life. However, when a second cloud of miasma escapes from Kagura, he realizes she is beyond the healing power of his sword. He asks Kagura if she's leaving, which she says is true as she's had enough. Kagura looks up at Sesshōmaru with a smile, content to have seen him one last time. She falls back, dissolving into the miasma as her feather ornament comes undone from her hair.

Inuyasha's group arrive just as Kagura completely disintegrates into the wind. Sesshōmaru begins walking away, but is stopped by Inuyasha. Inuyasha asks Sesshōmaru if Kagura suffered. Sesshōmaru looks up to sky, prompting everyone to do the same as they catch sight of the feather; he simply says "She was smiling." Sesshōmaru walks away, as Inuyasha's group continues looking at the feather, sadly watching it be blown around in the breeze.

As the feather heads upwards into the sunlight, Kagura's voice is then heard saying: "I am the wind, the free wind."

Trivia

 * Difference between the manga and anime; Mōryōmaru's third form and the breaking of Tōkijin happened after Kagura had died.


 * In the manga, Mōryōmaru resurrected Meiōjū, only for him to reclaim a stolen piece of his armor to restore it's invincibility before adding the demon to his body along with Diamond Spears stolen from Tessaiga.


 * When Meiōjū is absorbed by Mōryōmaru in the manga, Byakuya of the Dreams existed at the time.


 * Another difference, Inuyasha had the dragon-scaled Tessaiga by the time Mōryōmaru ate Meiōjū.