Episode 53

Father's Old Enemy: Ryukotsusei is the fifty-third episode of the InuYasha anime.

Synopsis

 * 1) Inuyasha deals with the repercussions of his demonic transformation, and resolves that he never wants it to happen again.
 * 2) He goes to Tōtōsai to make his sword lighter, who, with the aid of Myōga, tells him that he has to surpass his father in strength; to do this he must fight and defeat the one demon his father could not, Ryūkotsusei.
 * 3) Initially, Inuyasha merely had to pierce the heart of the dormant Ryūkotsusei, but Naraku appears and awakens the beast.
 * 4) Inuyasha struggles against the formidable opponent; Tōtōsai says that the only way for Inuyasha to defeat Ryūkotsusei is to use the Bakuryūha, Tessaiga's ultimate technique.

Summary
In the beginning of the episode, Ryūkotsusei lies dormant, Inuyasha's father's claw still impaling, and thus sealing him. Naraku proceeds to appear, melt the claw, unseal Ryūkotsusei, and vanish. Inuyasha assaults Ryūkotsusei with confidence until his sword is deflected, at which time Ryūkotsusei taunts him, explaining his extremely hard skin protects him.

Kagome and the others fly to the scene of the fight after having consulted with Tōtōsai, who tells them he is confronting Ryūkotsusei. A man accompanying them on the flight tells them that he must use the Backlash Wave (Bakuryūha) to defeat him.

The episode ends with Ryūkotsusei knocking Tessaiga from Inuyasha's hands and wounding him, causing his demon blood to take over, as the others fly into view, with Kagome shouting his name. Inuyasha's eyes open, red in color, as he thinks Kagome's name.

Music

 * Opening Theme — I Am — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Flashback to Inuyasha’s demon rampage — Dilemma (Kyūchi) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Inuyasha talks to Tōtōsai about not wanting to be demonic anymore — Evil Spirits Desiring the Shikon no Tama (Shikon no Tama o Nerau Chimimōryō) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Tōtōsai says Inuyasha must kill Ryūkotsusei — In a Trip of Destiny (Shukumei no Tabi e) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Naraku says he will use Ryūkotsusei to kill Inuyasha — Evil Demon, Naraku (Jayō Naraku) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Inuyasha sees Ryūkotsusei’s frozen body — Shōki — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Naraku melts the claw, Ryūkotsusei awakens — Ryūkotsusei Resurrected (Yomigaeru Ryūkotsusei) — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Ryūkotsusei laughs at Inuyasha — Attack (Shūgeki) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Tōtōsai sees the dark clouds, Inuyasha fails to cut through the dragon’s skin — Ryūkotsusei Resurrected (Yomigaeru Ryūkotsusei) — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Ryūkotsusei knocks down Inuyasha, the latter wants to surpass his father in power — Fierce Fighting (Gekitō) — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Ryūkotsusei fires multiple charges of light, he knocks Inuyasha down a cliff, Inuyasha unconscious without Tessaiga — Inuyasha’s Metamorphosis (Hengeshita Inuyasha) — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Ending Theme — Dearest — TV OST Vol. 3