A Wicked Smile; Kikyo’s Wandering Soul

[ ACT I ]

Continuation from previous episode. KAE and MIR are conversing in a forest after NAR escaped.

KAE:  A spider on his back…

MIR:   Yes. According to Inuyasha, a spider-shaped burn mark on his back.

KAE:  The robber Onigumo had terrible burns. Perhaps that is proof that it is Onigumo.

MIR:   (looks at his right hand) A spider on his back… That will also be the telltale sign of Naraku.

Cut to INU sitting on a tree branch, staring into the distance. KAG is on the ground, a distance away from him. She looks at him intently.

INU:   (thinking) Kikyo didn’t even consider using the power of the Sacred Jewel to live.

KAG:  (thinking) Kikyo chose death… She chose to follow Inuyasha.

INU notices KAG looking at him. They look at each other intently.

[ End of ACT I: 59sec ]

[ Title screen: A Wicked Smile; Kikyo’s Wandering Soul ]

[ ACT II]

Daytime. INU-gang stand in front of a mansion.

SHI:   What a huge mansion!

KAG:  Miroku, will we be staying here tonight?

INU:   He’s probably gonna tell ‘em that there’s an ominous cloud over the mansion again.

MIR:   (serious) No, I have a legitimate reason this time.

INU-gang are in the princess’s room and speaking to the lord of the mansion.

INU:   A demon that steals the souls of the dead princesses?

Lord:   It’s sad enough that my dear Princess passed away. (sobs) To have her soul stolen op top of this…

MIR:   (serious) Rest assured. We will protect her soul without fail.

SHI & KAG: Huh?

A bevy of female servants bring sumptuous food for INU-gang. Their rice bowls are piled up with rice like small mountains.

INU:   Told ya! It’s the same as usual.

MIR:   Well, can’t wage war on an empty stomach. (thinking) Still, it’s awfully quiet. I don’t like it.

Kids are playing in a field by the river. A girl stops by some flowers.

Girl 1: (happy) Found it! (picks out a leaf and waves) Priestess Kikyo! Priestess Kikyo!

KIK turns around and smiles to her.

Girl 1: (runs to KIK) Look! Look! Isn’t this a medicinal herb?

KIK:   Good for you! It’s called lantern plant and it relieves swelling.

Boy:   (runs to KIK with a bunch of flowers) Priestess Kikyo! What about this?

Girl 2: (runs to KIK with a bunch of flowers) What’s this, Priestess Kikyo?

KIK:   Let me see…

Cut to two monks staring at KIK from behind some trees.

Apprentice: Master Seikai… That priestess is demon? She looks absolutely human to me.

Master Seikai: You do not have enough training. Can’t you sense it? The evil that permeates this area?

Cut to KIK seated with the kids on the field, back facing the monks.

KIK:   Master Monk over there…

The children gasps in surprise. Master Seikai hides behind the tree. KIK turns around.

KIK:   You’ve been watching us for quite some time.

Master Seikai: (says casually, walks towards KIK) Well, well… You noticed us? I’m overcome by your beauty.

KIK:   Such flattery.

Master Seikai: I must apply myself much more diligently. I am much embarrassed.

Master Seikai trips and a sutra falls out of his clothes. KIK and the children look at it. KIK looks at Master Seikai.

Master Seikai: Will you pick it up? This is an anti-evil sutra. If a demon touches this, its true self is immediately revealed.

KIK reaches for the sutra and Master Seikai is surprised.

KIK:   (rolls up the sutra) I’m thankful for such a sutra. Here you are. (gives it to Master Seikai)

Master Seikai: (shocked, thinking) She touched the sutra, yet nothing happened.

He takes the sutra and static surges from it into his body. He yells and falls back.

KIK:   (stands) Let’s go, everyone.

KIK walks off with the children. Master Seikai drops the sutra and the words on it are gone. He touches his chest in shock.

Master Seikai: W-what was that?! Something went through my body. (notices the sutra) W-what is this?

Apprentice: (walks up to Master Seikai) What’s the matter, Master Seikai?

Master Seikai: Look!

Apprentice: The sutra is gone!

Master Seikai: She completely erased it! (shouts) Priestess!

KIK stops and the children turn around to look at the two monks.

Master Seikai: I don’t know what holds you back here but this world is not for you. Return to where you belong!

Boy:   (frowns) What’s he saying?!

Girl 2: (frowns) Funny monk!

KIK and the children walk away.

Master Seikai: That woman… She’s no ordinary demon. She’s much, much stronger…and evil.

Sunset. KIK returns to the village with the children. The villagers stop farming and look at her.

Villager 1: Oh, it’s Priestess Kikyo.

Villager 2: We’re lucky to have such a wonderful priestess.

Villager 1: Yeah… The sick are cured and the children are healthy.

Villager 2: We must be grateful.

KIK seems deep in thought. Flashback from episode 15 when she was revived by Urasue.

KIK:   (thinking) I want the spiritual power of a priestess. This body…free of bones…burned of flesh… This soul which has transmigrated into me suits me very well.

Holding up her bloodied hand (from the wound inflicted by NAR)

KIK:   Why did you betray me, Inuyasha?!

Cut to INU’s encounter with KIK, when she fell off a cliff.

KIK:   You tell me to die again…why do you pity me? Feel the heat in my hands… The heat of anger…of vengeance!

INU:   Kikyo!

Cut to KIK being washed ashore. Fade to present. Girl 1 tugs at KIK’s sleeve.

Girl 1: Priestess Kikyo! Priestess Kikyo!

KIK:   (collecting her thoughts) Sayo…

Sayo: Priestess Kikyo, you won’t go anywhere, will you?

KIK:   (smiles and kneels) Sayo, you like me?

Sayo: (nods) Uh-huh.

KIK:   Thank you. You are dear to me, too…like a little sister.

Sayo: (glad) Really?

KIK:   Yes.

Sayo giggles and runs off. She stops and waves goodbye to KIK happily. KIK stands and looks around the village.

KIK:   (thinking) I will live here. Here in this village. I can do that… However, is it not allowed?

Night time in the mansion. INU slides open the door to the room of the dead princess. KAG is alone inside, seated in front of the corpse.

INU:   Nothing out of the ordinary outside. So how’s the deceased?

KAG:  Hmm…nothing unusual.

INU:   (closes the door) I see… Where’s Miroku? (sits next to KAG)

KAG:  There’s another princess here. He was worried about her.

INU:   What?!

Cut to MIR and SHI walking along the corridor with the lord.

Lord:   The younger princess is so terrified.

MIR:   Please leave it to me. The younger sister of the late princess must also be beautiful. Err…never mind.

SHI:   Miroku… Am I gonna protect that princess, too?

MIR:   She may be nervous at our first meeting. So will you transform or something?

SHI:   (confused) Transform?

MIR:   (pretends to be the princess) So that she’ll go something like,"Oh, cute little fox!"

SHI:   What’s that?!

MIR:   When you’ve grown up a little, you’ll understand. (smiles and nods)

Back with INU and KAG.

INU:   (exasperated) That guy… He’s a monk! And since he acts like a saint, my hands are tied!

KAG suddenly leans onto INU. INU gasps and blushes.

INU:   W-what…Kagome?

KAG:  I’m afraid! Like this princess…might suddenly move.

INU:   Is that all?

KAG:  What do you mean? (taken aback, with sweat drop) Were…you…having dirty thoughts just now?

INU:   (stutters and blushes) S-stupid! (shouts defensively) That’s ‘cuz you came cuddling up to me!

KAG:  You were having thoughts!

INU:   I was not!

KAG:  You were!

Cut to MIR in the younger princess’ room.

MIR:   (serious) We should go back now. I’m worried about the late princess’ soul.

A fat princess appears and hugs MIR tightly.

Princess: Please don’t go, Master Monk! I’m so afraid!

They fall to the ground.

MIR:   Oh dear…! You are very safe here!

Princess: Meany!

Back with INU and KAG. The corpse of the late princess suddenly floats. KAG gasps and hugs INU tightly, whimpering. A long dragon like demon crash into the room from outside.

INU:   So it’s appeared!

The soul of the dead princess floats out of her mouth and the demon holds it. INU unsheathes TET and leaps.

INU:   Die!

The demon is slashed into two. The soul returns back to the corpse and she falls back to the ground.

KAG:  The spirit is safe.

INU:   But is this it? (sheathes TET) How boring.

KAG:  Wait… There’s still something outside!

KAG and INU rush outside. More demons fly across the sky with souls in their fins.

KAG:  It wasn’t just one!

INU:   They’re all carrying human souls!

KAG:  So many! What’re they going to do with them?

MIR comes running with SHI.

MIR:   Let’s go after them! Right now!

The fat princess chases them lecherously. MIR leaps over the parapet and runs off.

Princess: Master Monk… Please wait!

INU:   What were you doing?!

SHI:   I suspect that this princess too is a demon…

Princess: Little fox, you’re also a meany! (hugs SHI tightly)

SHI:   (almost suffocating) I’m sorry!

The demons fly off into the night sky.

Sayo lies awake in her hut. Her family are fast asleep.

Sayo: (thinking) Priestess Kikyo seems a bit depressed. It must be the monk’s fault…

Flashback of earlier on in the episode, when KIK and the children encountered the two monks.

Master Seikai: I don’t know what holds you back here but this world is not for you. Return to where you belong!

Back to present, where Sayo is clasping her ears and trembling.

Sayo: I can’t sleep. (peers to the door and notices KIK walking past) Priestess Kikyo…

Sayo gets out of bed and walks out of the hut.

Sayo: (looks at KIk’s back view) Where is she going so late at night?

KIK stops by a river. Sayo follows her and hides behind a tree.

Sayo: (to herself) Because of those words this afternoon, maybe she’s going someplace far away…

KIK unties her ribbon in her hair. Soul collector demons from earlier on fly in and surround her. KIK holds the souls in their fins.

KIK:   Souls of tragic women… Come to me.

Sayo: (terrified, thinking) Priestess Kikyo is manipulating the demons…

KIK is surrounded with souls. Master Seikai and his apprentice appear and look at KIK.

Master Seikai: You cannot cross to the netherworld, Priestess? You are the one who has died.

KIK:   Please overlook my presence. I want to live quietly in this village.

Master Seikai: If you want to live quietly, why do you gather the souls of the dead?

KIK:   Well, that’s…

Master Seikai: It seems that you cannot sustain that body without those souls. (holds up a sculpture with dragon decorations)

KIK:   What are you…going to do?

Master Seikai: I will return you to where you belong! I do this for your sake!

A burst of light from the dragon sculpture grabs KIK and transofms into a real dragon. It uses its claw to clutch KIK’s neck.

Master Seikai: You cannot escape my Demon-Binding Spell! I will extinguish your light! Save your soul!

KIK:   Save? You?! Save my soul?!

A light surrounds KIK and the dragon explodes. The claw that was gripping KIK’s neck is thrown towards Master Seikai and pierces through his throat. He yells in pain. The dragon remains dissipate into thin air. Master Seikai falls on his knees. His apprentice looks on in terror. Master Seikai falls over and the dragon sculpture drops and cracks. The apprentice shrieks and runs off.

KIK:   (walks up to Master Seikai) If you hadn’t interfered, you wouldn’t have died.

Master Seikai: (struggles and grabs KIK’s ankle) Just what…are you trying to do? The living are carving new moments in their lives. But…Time has stopped for the dead, like you. It can never mix. (loosens his grip on KIJ’s ankle) How sad…(dies)

KIK:   (thinking) Sad, you say? Me?

A rustling sound of leaves is heard. KIK turns around immediately and shouts.

KIK:   (harsh) Who’s there!?

It is Sayo, looking at KIK and trembling in fear.

KIK:   (relaxes) Sayo… Were you…watching?

KIK walks over to her and kneels.

KIK:   Sayo…

KIK reaches for Sayo’s face and she flinches away in fear. KIK backs off and lowers her head sadly.

KIK:   I’m sorry. I frightened you. (stands and walks off)

Sayo: (looks at the back view of KIK for a while and stands) Priestess Kikyo…

KIK:   (stops and turns her head) Good bye… I’m sorry.

Sayo watches as KIK walks out of her life.

[ End of ACT II: 15min 17sec ]

[ ACT III ]

Daytime. INU-gang picnics by a river, with food that KAG brought over from her time.

KAG:  (to INU) Let’s go. We have to save the souls of those women.

INU:   Huh? So where?

KAG:  Well…

SHI:   (licking a lollipop) The demon who stole the souls disappeared without leaving a clue.

MIR:   It’s no use returning to that mansion.

SHI:   Isn’t it that you don’t want to return? That young princess was really smitten with you.

MIR:   (flinches at the thought) Ahem… (sips his drink)

KAG:  (kneels next to INU) Are you tried of this?

INU:   Think about it… What’s the point in all this? It’s not like we’ll find a Sacred Jewel fragment.

KAG:  Not again! Look, we’re helping people.

INU:   And that’s what I’m tired of! I’m gonna be a great demon someday so why must I help petty humans?

KAG:  Acting like a villain! When you’re actually quite a saint.

INU:   W-what?! Don’t put me down!

KAG:  I’m flattering you.

INU:   Kah! Anyway, I don’t like this, so I’m out. Understand?

KAG stands up and looks into the river.

INU:   Are you listening?!

KAG:  What’s that?

Master Seikai’s apprentice float along into the river.

SHI:   An octopus!

MIR:   It’s a person!

KAG:  That’s terrible! Hurry! (grabs INU)

INU:   W-what?!

KAG:  (shoves him into the river) Help someone!

The apprentice lies on the riverbank. INU wrings his wet clothes dry while the rest sit around the apprentice.

MIR:   This priest is just unconscious.

KAG:  He’s moaning.

The apprentice wakes and screams when he sees KAG.

KAG:  (grabs INU’s legs) What?! Don’t scare us!

MIR:   What about Kagome?

A while later.

INU:   A demon?

Apprentice: Yes…

MIR:   You say that Kagome looks like that demon.

Apprentice: She was in human form but in actuality, a frightening demon! That priestess.

KAG:  (thinking) A priestess…who resembles me?

Apprentice: She was able to deflect my master’s spiritual powers. Oh yes… Her name…was Kikyo.

INU:   (grabs apprentice and shouts fiercely) If you’re lying, you’ll really pay!

Apprentice: I’m not lying. That woman lured away lonely souls of dead women…

INU:   Never mind that! The name! How do you know her name was Kikyo?!

Apprentice: The village children addressed her so. I’m not mistaken… They called her Kikyo.

KAG:  The stolen souls…were being accumulated by Kikyo?

INU throws the apprentice back on the ground.

INU:   (thinking) Kikyo… Are you still in this world? Didn’t…you die on that day?!

Cut to KIK walking in a dark forest with her soul collectors.

INU:   (voice-over) She’s still alive! If she walks this earth…!

Cut to INU leaping across the rocks on the riverbank.

INU:   (thinking, determined) I…want…to save you!

Back to the rest of the gang sitting on a log. The apprentice has left.

MIR:   Was it wise to let Inuyasha go alone?

SHI:   He shot off like a bullet.

KAG:  Inuyasha still probably loves Kikyo.

SHI:   What?!

KAG:  That’s why it’s better if we stay away…

SHI:   Why?

MIR:   I think I understand.

SHI:   Huh?

MIR:   The woman he once loved may have changed. If so…he would not want others to see her.

SHI:   What’re you talking about? She may turn out better than before. Then what?

MIR:   Well, I’d get back with her…

KAG:  (stands up and say coldly) Oh, I see… (pushes her bike and walks off)

MIR:   She seemed awfully cold just now.

SHI:   (whispering) I don’t think you imagined that.

KAG pushes her bicycle angrily in the forest.

KAG:  (thinking) This is so maddening…! What is Inuyasha up to?!

MIR:   (chases KAG with SHI) Err… Kagome.

KAG:  What is it?

MIR:   Umm… Shall we go after Inuyasha?

KAG:  (mad) No way! Why should I…?

A gust of wind blows and the sky turns dark.

KAG:  An evil wind? That’s…

KIK’s soul collectors fly past them.

SHI:   Those demons!

MIR:   Let’s go after them!

KAG:  Yes!

KAG, MIR and SHI chase the soul collectors. A barrier appears. KAG and the soul collectors enter without hindrance, but MIR and SHI are pushed back.

SHI:   W-what’s this?!

MIR:   It’s a barrier.

SHI:   We can’t pass?

MIR:   No.

SHI:   Kagome? Where’s Kagome?

KAG runs in the forest within the barrier. She almost trips but grabs a trunk in time.

KAG:  Be careful! It’s slippery. (turns around) Huh?! No, I’m alone!

KAG lose her footing and slides off the slope. She rolls further down and finally stops.

KAG:  (stands, rubbing her back) Ouch… This…is…

KAG looks in front of her. KIK is resting on a large tree, surrounded with souls. Her eyes are closed.

KAG:  Kikyo…

[ End of ACT III: 20min 35sec ]

[ End of episode 22: A Wicked Smile; Kikyo’s Wandering Soul ]

[ Preview for next episode ]

Kikyo is still alive. Back then, it was because someone wanted to make use of her priestess powers and revived her. However, being made from clay, she doesn't have warmth. Instead she falls into a dark and evil world. Inuyasha, run! Kikyo wants to take your life! No, Kikyo! Your enemy isn't Inuyasha! Next episode, 'Kagome's Voice and Kikyo's Kiss'!