Episode 96

Jaken Falls Ill is the ninety-sixth episode of the InuYasha anime.

Synopsis

 * 1) A group of stray Saimyōshō attack Rin, and Jaken protects her, however, he is poisoned by one and sends a worried Rin out to find some medicinal berries so that he might be healed; Rin must return the berries to Jaken before nightfall, or else he will die from the poison.
 * 2) Rin tracks down Jinenji and asks him where she can find the berries.
 * 3) Rin finds the berries in a nearby ridge, and, with the help of A-Un and eventually Sesshōmaru, she is able to get the berries back to Jaken in time to save his life.

Summary
Sesshōmaru and his companions are walking in the forest when Rin requests to leave to find food after her stomach growled. She leaves and Jaken is forced to oversee her actions. During Rin's search for food, a cluster of Saimyōshō disguised as a large handed monster attacks her. Sesshōmaru instantly comes to the aid of Rin, who had been snatched by the monster. When the Saimyōshō disperse, Jaken uses his staff of two heads to control and destroy them. Unfortunately, several Saimyōshō sting Jaken before being killed. Sesshōmaru follows a weakened Saimyōshō figuring it will lead him to Naraku. Jaken quickly tells Rin to take out the stingers that are in his arms, but before Rin could remove the stingers, they are absorbed into Jaken's body, allowing the poison they contain to spread throughout Jaken's body. Jaken tells Rin how she can save him: find the Sennensō berries, they will counteract the poison. Rin goes to see half-demon herbalist Jinenji. Jinenji, who is afraid of being seen in his human form, only tells Rin where she can get the berries for Jaken. Later Jinenji remarks how much Rin is like Kagome. Rin sets off with A-Un to the top of a mountain in demon ridden valley to find the berries.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha and his gang notice the two Saimyōshō that stung Jaken and try to follow them back to Naraku, before they die from losing their stingers. Sesshōmaru arrives, believing Inuyasha killed them, and fights him. The fight is broken up when Kagome tells Sesshōmaru that Naraku disappeared around the Ox Tiger, and Sesshōmaru leaves to look for him.

At the valley, A-Un keeps the demons at bay, but Sesshōmaru ends up saving Rin in mid-fall from a cliff but nonetheless she was able to collect the berries for Jaken. Jaken is given the berries by Sesshōmaru and by the time Rin awakes from her ordeal Jaken is better, but unaware of her heroism. Rin is relieved to see Jaken better.

Music

 * Opening Theme — Grip! — Best of Inuyasha II
 * Kagome talks about Sesshōmaru also looking for Naraku — Fight to the Death (Shitō) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Kagome wanted to bring food to Jinenji but Inuyasha ate it — Osuwari! — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Saimyōshō arm is cut by Sesshōmaru — Hell Insects, Saimyōshō (Jigoku Mushi Saimyōshō) — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Jaken protects Rin from the Saimyōshō — Inuyasha’s Metamorphosis (Hengeshita Inuyasha) — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Rin rides A-Un to get berries per Jaken’s advice — Evil Spirits Desiring the Shikon no Tama (Shikon no Tama o Nerau Chimimōryō) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Inuyasha’s group see Saimyōshō — Shōki — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Sesshōmaru and Inuyasha clash — Inuyasha’s Metamorphosis (Hengeshita Inuyasha) — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Rin asks Jinenji for berries — The Hidden Well to the Sengoku Era (Kakushi Ido kara Sengoku Jidai e) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Jinenji tells Rin where she can get the berries, Jaken holds on — Sign of Unrest (Fuon na Kehai) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Rin finds the berry and demons try to stop her, Rin climbs the cliff and A-Un holds off demons — Ryūkotsusei Resurrected (Yomigaeru Ryūkotsusei) — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Rin gets the berries, but she falls and Sesshōmaru catches her — Tsubaki the Dark Miko (Kuromiko Tsubaki) — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Kagome visits Jinenji and he says that Rin came by — Searching for the Shikon no Tama (Shikon no Tama o Motomete) — TV OST Vol. 1
 * Sesshōmaru, Rin and Jaken continue onward — Rin and Sesshōmaru — TV OST Vol. 2
 * Ending Theme — Shinjitsu no Uta — TV OST Vol. 3