Episode 48

Return to the Place Where We First Met is the forty-eighth episode of the InuYasha anime.

Synopsis

 * 1) Kagome, having just witnessed Inuyasha and Kikyō embrace one another, runs back to the modern era; Inuyasha resolves that he can't see Kagome anymore, because it would be too hard for her, and Kagome reciprocates these feelings, believing that there is no room in Inuyasha's heart for her.
 * 2) Kagome thinks that she must be in love with Inuyasha, when she can't bear the thought of never seeing him again.
 * 3) Kagome finally returns to the Feudal Era, and, even though she tried, she concludes that she cannot forget about him, and asks Inuyasha if he will allow her to stay with him.

Summary
Continuing from the previous episode, Kagome notes that Inuyasha is looking straight at her and wonders why he cannot avert his eyes from her. Inuyasha calls out to Kagome, but she turns and runs away, afraid to know what Inuyasha has to say to her. Inuyasha is left standing at the Sacred Tree in silence.

The next day in the village, inside Kaede's hut, Kagome gives Miroku and Sango the antibiotics, ointment, gauze, and bandages that she had brought back from the modern era the previous night. Miroku and Sango look at Kagome in confusion as Shippō sleeps. Kagome stands up as she prepares to leave. Sango calls out to Kagome. Miroku asks Kagome if she is returning home. Kagome says she just came back to bring some medicine. Sango tells Kagome that she should at least make up with Inuyasha as it was a silly argument.

Hearing Sango's reminder, she remembers she had a fight with Inuyasha, then flashbacks to Inuyasha's encounter with Kikyō. In the flashback, Inuyasha walks towards Kikyō. He tells her that he doesn't care how she feels about him now, but promises that he won't let Naraku have her, and only he can protect her from him, before hugging her against her will. As Kagome travels in the Bone-Eater's Well to the modern era, she comments that she had forgotten all about the argument she and Inuyasha had because her mind had been boggled with thoughts of Inuyasha and Kikyō's meeting.

After Kagome leaves, Miroku and Sango sit at the Bone-Eater's Well. Sango tells Miroku that Kagome seemed very depressed. Miroku says to Sango that he can guess why Kagome is feeling that way, as he remembers the lights emitted by Kikyō's soul collectors above the forest from last night. Miroku and Sango notice Inuyasha walking out of the forest. Sango calls out to Inuyasha and Miroku stands up. Inuyasha stops as he notices Miroku and Sango. Miroku tells Inuyasha that Kagome went back to her home again. Inuyasha only replies with "I see". Miroku asks Inuyasha if he was seeing Kikyō the previous night. Sango becomes confused. Miroku asks Inuyasha if Kagome indeed saw him and Kikyō together. Inuyasha confirms Kagome saw him and Kikyō. Sango angrily asks Inuyasha how he could sneak around like that, while Miroku becomes surprised and walks forward a little bit to meet face-to-face with Inuyasha. Miroku looks at Inuyasha closely as he says his face looks like the Buddha, wondering aloud why he looked so "calm and divine". Inuyasha doesn't answer and walks past Miroku and Sango as they watch him leave.

Back in the modern era, Kagome sits in her room on her bed. Kagome recalls again that after Kikyō left, Inuyasha didn't even try to avert his eyes from her and that he had tried to tell her something, but she was too afraid to listen, and instead ran away. Kagome begins to remember everything she has learned about Inuyasha and Kikyō's relationship; she flashbacks to the moment Inuyasha was first sealed to the Sacred Tree by Kikyo, that Inuyasha and Kikyō hated each other because of Naraku's deception, that Kikyō followed Inuyasha to death, and that Naraku who separated them is now after Kikyō again. In a flashback, Kagome recalls the moment she witnessed Inuyasha hugging Kikyō as he tells her that he doesn't care how she feels about him now, that he won't let Naraku have her, and only he can protect her from Naraku. Upon this flashback, Kagome resolves that there is no place for her between Inuyasha and Kikyō as she buries her face inside her pillow. Meanwhile in the Feudal Era, Inuyasha stands on a small ledge, gazing across a field at sunset. Inuyasha thinks to himself that he's tried but can't forget about Kikyō after all, so he has decided that he mustn't see Kagome anymore. In the modern era, Kagome again remembers that Kikyō gave her very life for Inuyasha's sake, and that she cannot compete with that. Like Inuyasha, she also tells herself that she can't return to Inuyasha anymore.

The next morning, Kagome wakes up and looks outside to see her grandfather sweeping. Kagome thinks to herself that Inuyasha won't come for her anymore, and tells herself that she should return the Sacred Jewel fragments that were still with her in the modern era. Kagome picks up the jar holding the shards and thinks to herself that after she returns them, everything would come to an end, and she would return to her normal existence as she gets dressed for school. At breakfast, Grandpa and Sōta -- out of Kagome's earshot -- discuss why Kagome only spent a few hours in the Feudal Era just for her to return without saying a word since. Grandpa tells Sōta that it is because of a boy. Hearing this, Sōta wonders aloud if Inuyasha and Kagome have gotten into another argument again. When Grandpa and Sōta attempt to talk to Kagome, Mama interrupts them. Kagome excuses herself and heads to school. After Kagome disappears, Grandpa and Sōta say that Mama is far too ignorant.

On the way to school, Kagome's three friends meet up with her, happy that she has finally recovered from her "illness". They soon ask about Kagome's "jealous boyfriend", whereupon Kagome -- wanting to avoid the subject -- pauses for a moment, finally turns to her friends, and announces with a beaming (but obviously put-on smile), that he has dumped her. Understanding the signal that Kagome is upset about the "breakup", the three girls decide to stop talking about it.

Back in the Feudal era, in a hut, Sango is taking care of Miroku's wounds. Shippō angrily asks Inuyasha how he could choose Kikyō over Kagome when Inuyasha was the one to get jealous just because Kagome got friendly with Kōga in Episode 46, yet now he wants to think only about Kikyō. Sango tells Inuyasha how shallow his feelings are. Miroku tells Inuyasha to go see Kagome, to which Inuyasha says to stop it, as he's decided not to see Kagome anymore. Miroku stands up and puts his foot on Inuyasha's head, annoying him. Miroku tells Inuyasha to stop misunderstanding him as takes his foot off of him and kneels down, reminding Inuyasha that Kagome took the Sacred Jewel fragments with her into the modern era. Miroku orders for him to go get them as only he can pass through the well. Sango asks aloud if the reason for seeing Kagome would just be the Sacred Jewel fragments. An angry Shippō further adds on, "Don't you care about Kagome?!" Miroku stands up and says it can't be helped because Inuyasha had already picked Kikyō, and it would be cruel to ask Kagome to come back. Inuyasha doesn't respond and only wears a troubled but determined expression on his face.

Later, Inuyasha is sitting on a fence by Kaede as she is picking herbs. Kaede asks if Inuyasha is really sure about choosing Kikyō, telling Inuyasha that the present Kikyō is made from earth and bones and not of this world. Despite this, Inuyasha says to himself that Kikyō's body may be different, but her soul still remains. Kaede asks Inuyasha if he understands what she is telling him. She continues and says he and Kikyō can never be together in this world as Kikyō's wish is for the two of them to die together. Inuyasha says it would be fine as he is prepared to leap into hell with Kikyō if that is her wish. Inuyasha looks solemnly up into the sky as he thinks to himself, if that was really his destiny with Kikyō, then he would embrace it without a second thought.

Back in the modern era, in the wellhouse, Kagome is holding the jar with the Sacred Jewel fragments. Kagome says to herself that she must go to return the Sacred Jewel fragments and prepares to go inside the well, but stops as she is afraid that once she gives them back, she would not be able to see Inuyasha again. Kagome imagines a plausible scenario from when she had originally ran away when Inuyasha called out to Kagome after meeting with Kikyō. In Kagome's imaginary scenario, Inuyasha tells Kagome sorry because he had already decided to go with Kikyō. Kagome becomes angry at the thought of Inuyasha telling her that. She becomes increasingly enraged when she remembers Inuyasha and Kikyō embracing each other at their meeting. Angered and frustrated, Kagome wishes Kikyō would just disappear. Kagome gasps and is taken aback by her own words. Surprised at the level of hatred she held towards Kikyō, Kagome wonders if she has really turned into such a horrible woman. Kagome leaves the wellhouse, thinking to herself that she probably has a horrible look on her face, and she cannot see Inuyasha looking like that.

On the way back to her house, Kagome walks in front of the Sacred Tree, and the shards of the Sacred Jewels inside the jar start to glow. Kagome notices the shards' shine, and turns to look at the Sacred Tree. After gazing at the foliage on the tree for a few moments, Kagome remembers that this was the place where Inuyasha was first sealed, and also where she first met Inuyasha 500 years in the past. In the tree's shadows, she remembers her and Inuyasha's first encounter, and the confusion because of Kagome's resemblance to Kikyō. Kagome repeatedly internally calls for Inuyasha as she remembers a montage of moments of him. Kagome says that she would have been better off if she had never met him in the first place if she had known that it would bring her this much pain. She begins to cry, and realizes and admits to herself that she loves Inuyasha and wants to see him again.

Ms. Higurashi comes home, and Kagome can no longer hold back her tears as she runs to her mother and sobs into her chest. After Kagome has calmed down a little, the two sit on a bench in the shade of the Sacred Tree. Ms. Higurashi tells Kagome that the sacred tree is very special to her. She tells how she had quarreled with her husband just days before the marriage, and wasn't sure if marrying Mr. Higurashi would be the right choice. But under the tree, everything became clear to her. She found the right words and finally accepted her marriage proposal. After, she tells Kagome that she doesn't need to know what happened to help her daughter, because she believes that Kagome will be able to come up with the right words on her own, to which Kagome tells her mother thanks.

In the Feudal era, Shippō and Inuyasha sit under the Sacred Tree. Shippō tells Inuyasha again that he should go to Kagome, but Inuyasha refuses because he is afraid to tell Kagome that they cannot stay together anymore. Miroku and Sango join in and say that Inuyasha isn't the only one suffering; Kagome is probably feeling worse and confused being left completely in the dark. When Inuyasha begins to explain his reasoning, the Sango, Miroku, and Shippō give up listening because Inuyasha's mind clearly had already been set, leaving Inuyasha frustrated as the three each insult him as they leave.

Inuyasha eventually decides that it is the right thing to do to bid a final farewell to Kagome. As Inuyasha makes his way towards the clearing in the forest where the well is located, he is surprised to find that Kagome has already arrived at the Feudal era, sitting atop the frame of the well's opening. Kagome, with a slightly saddened expression, turns her head to face Inuyasha, and the two gaze at each other in silence for a few moments. Kagome stands up and tells Inuyasha that she has thought a lot about him, Kikyo, and about herself. She says that she can understand Inuyasha's feelings now, which is why she shouldn't stay with Inuyasha anymore. Inuyasha nervously admits that Kagome was the first he could trust, noting that Kagome had once cried for his sake. He continues to say that Kagome was always loyal to his side, and that he feels happy -- that his soul is soothed -- when he is with her. But at the same time, Inuyasha also says that he shouldn't be able to experience bliss when Kikyō followed him to death, which is why Inuyasha believes that he should be the one to repay her with his death. Kagome agrees, and says that Kikyō's sacrifice is cannot be beaten, because after all, she is alive. Inuyasha does not respond.

As Kagome sits back down onto the well's edges, she continues to talk about herself and Kikyō. She says that Kikyō and herself are very different, and that they both have different hearts. She tells Inuyasha that the only resemblance she sees between herself and Kikyō is that they both share the mutual desire of wanting to see Inuyasha again. Inuyasha gasps slightly upon hearing this. Kagome explains that this realization was what gave her the courage to pass through the well again. Inuyasha says in his mind that he has also wanted to see Kagome again. Kagome says she wants to be by Inuyasha's side and that she cannot forget him. After a long moment of silence, Inuyasha is conflicted about how he should answer Kagome. Kagome stands up, walks towards Inuyasha, and asks him one final question, if he would allow Kagome to stay by his side. Inuyasha stares at the ground and asks if that was what Kagome really wanted. Kagome responds with a slight smile and nod. As the two stand in silence for awhile, Kagome mentally narrates her feelings. She knows that she can never break the bond between Inuyasha and Kikyō, but she truly wants the best for Inuyasha. Kagome says cheerily to Inuyasha to come with her as she grabs his hand, and the two make their way to a clearing for the final closing clip. Kagome narrates her thoughts as the episode ends: that she will always be by Inuyasha's side.

Music

 * Opening Theme — I Am — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Recap of episode 47 (Kikyō leaves Inuyasha) — Spiritual Power (Reiryoku) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Kagome comes across Inuyasha and runs away — Trap (Wana) — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Kagome goes back inside well — To the End of Sorrow (Kanashimi no Hate ni) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Kagome sits on bed and knows Inuyasha had something to say — Longing (Bojō) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Kagome wakes up, she decides she will return the jewel shards — Beautiful Memories (Utsukushii Omoide) — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Grandpa and Sōta think Kagome is having a problem — Osuwari! — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Kagome sees her friends once again; they ask her if she is still with Inuyasha — Light-Hearted Beat (Dokidoki Ukiuki) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Kagome is reluctant to return, she wonders if she is a horrible person — Painful Feelings (Setsunai Omoi) — TV OST Vol. 3
 * Kagome sees the Sacred Tree — In a Trip of Destiny (Shukumei no Tabi e) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Kagome cries and wants to see Inuyasha again, her mother talks about Kagome’s father — Fate and Love (Unmei to Koigokoro) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Miroku and Sango tells Inuyasha he needs to make a decision; Kagome comes back to the feudal era — Searching for the Shikon no Tama (Shikon no Tama o Motomete) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Kagome states that she also share’s Kikyō’s love for Inuyasha, she stays with him — Kagome and Inuyasha — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Ending Theme — Dearest — TV OST Vol. 3

Differences from the manga

 * The scene of Kagome at home eating breakfast with her family and the later scene of Kagome's mother comforting her under the Goshinboku are anime original.
 * In the manga, following her encounter with Inuyasha, Kikyō confronts Naraku at his castle. An Unnamed incarnation attacks Kikyō, but, having covered her body in dirt from Onigumo's cave, the incarnation is instantly destroyed upon touching her. None of this is present in the anime.
 * In the manga Miroku, Sango, and Hachiemon tell Inuyasha that they heard that a castle had recently vanished, and poisonous insects were seen flying away from it, leading them to believe that it was Naraku's castle and that they planned to investigate the following day. In the anime, Miroku and Sango approach Inuyasha and tell him to make a clean break with Kagome, and make no mention of Naraku's castle.