Episode 192

Thoughts Fall Short is the 25th episode of InuYasha: The Final Act.

Plot
Naraku notices that the group's gathering has once more restored light to the jewel; however, he tells them they forget he and the jewel are now one. At that moment, Naraku takes on a more fearsome appearance and the light in the jewel vanishes. Inuyasha says Naraku finally fed his soul to the jewel. Bakusaiga's attack continues to cause Naraku's to fall apart. Even near death, Naraku is still defiant, blasting the group with chunks of his body, coated with miasma, and they all do their best to dodge. Sesshomaru orders Jaken to take Kohaku and Rin away from the battle. Rin returns Sango's mask to her while Kohaku lends his to Miroku. For some reason, Kagome is uneffected by the miasma; she wonders why Naraku prevents her from firing an arrow as Naraku thinks to himself it's not yet time. Inuyasha then realises Naraku is heading for Kaede's village, making Naraku laugh that Inuyasha was foolish enough not to know where he was heading; if he's killed now, his miasma-laiden corpse will fall on the village.

Not caring, Sesshomaru cuts Naraku in half; however, the jewel remains unharmed. This turn of events surprises Sesshomaru, who thought his sword could destroy anything. Despite the loss of Naraku, his body continues towards the village. Everyone escapes Naraku's body and heads to the village as chunks of miasma hit the ground, killing the crops and trees. Miroku helps with the miasma by sucking in chunks heading for civilians. Inuyasha hits Naraku with Meido blades, sucking his remains into the afterlife. However, a violet light remains in their place. Kagome sees the jewel inside the light and shoots it. Inside the light, Naraku remembers Kagome saying the jewel never granted his true wish; he remembers his wish as Onigumo was to have Kikyo's heart. He then laments that he won't be joining her in the afterlife as the jewel is pierced by Kagome's arrow.

The light then hits the ground and races to the Bone Eater's Well, where Naraku's head appears with the jewel; he explains that the very moment Byakuya of the Dreams cut Kagome, he made a final wish on the jewel. However, Naraku explains that the jewel forced him to make its own wish; it will come true the moment he dies. Naraku then vanishes with the jewel. Miroku checks his hand and sees the Wind Tunnel is no more, meaning Naraku is dead. Everyone is relieved until a Meido opens behind Kagome and sucks her in; Inuyasha tries to grab her, but is unsuccessful as the Meido closes. Kaede points out that the Bone Eater's Well has vanished along with Kagome.

In the modern era, Sota encounters Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi who are wearing their new high school uniforms. They ask if Kagome is still too sick to go to the entrance ceremony, and Sota covers for her. Suddenly, all four hear a strange sound from the shrine and rush inside. Sota is horrified to see that the Bone-Eater's Well has disappeared, and calls for his mother and grandfather to hurry and come see.

In the past, everyone is left wondering what just happened; however they then remember Naraku said he made a final wish on the jewel. Shippo reveals that he saw Byakuya sample the Meido Zangetsuha, which was used on Kagome. Miroku then asks what happened to the Shikon Jewel. Inuyasha has a realization and grabs Tessaiga, begging his blade to take him to Kagome. Inuyasha opens a Meido and jumps into it, shocking everyone as they think he's jumping into Hell. However, Inuyasha knows the jewel feared Kagome and wouldn't want her to live. Exploring the Meido, he soon hears the voices of Kagome's family calling for her; Inuyasha learns that the Bone Eater's Well vanished in Kagome's era as well. When questioned about Kagome, he informs them something happened and he'll find her. This shocks Kagome's friends as they don't know about her traveling to the Feudal Era.

Meanwhile, Kagome appears in an alternate world. She is just an average high school student who never met Inuyasha or had anything to do with the Shikon Jewel. She spends her time with her friends and has her first date with Hojo. But some things don't seem quite right. She asks the Sota about the shrine that housed the well, but he doesn't know what she's talking about. Finally, staring at the Goshinboku Tree, she wonders why there is no scar, and suddenly remembers Inuyasha. Upon remembering him, she is pulled out of the false world and is shown floating in the darkness with the Shikon Jewel. The Jewel speaks to her and tells her that she has no choice but to give in and live in the darkness forever.

Inuyasha contiinues looking through the Meido for Kagome until he comes accross a demon, unknown to him, that is Magatsuhi's true form. Inuyasha slays the demon, but it reforms as the several demons that create Magatsuhi; they say that he doesn't need to search, as the "priestess" will soon be there, once she wishes on the jewel. This shocks Inuyasha, who thought the jewel was destroyed, but the demons say that he's IN the jewel right now and the only way for Kagome to escape the darkness is to become a part of the jewel by making selfish wish. However, Inuyasha continues to slays them and yells for Kagome not to make any wishes.

Trivia

 * The Meido Zangetsuha can send the user to other place besides the Path to the Underworld.