Kikyo and Inuyasha, Into the Miasma

[ ACT I ]

Daytime. A group of wounded peasant-soldiers in front of a temple.

Peasant 1: Oh boy…

Peasant 2: At least we’re alive.

Peasant 3: We’re better off wielding hoes than swords.

Peasant 4: I thought we’d all be dead, but we can go back home.

Peasant 5: It’s all thanks to that priestess. We must be grateful.

KIK walks into the frame to tend to a wounded peasant-soldier. Cut to two peasants attending to a badly wounded peasant lying on a straw mat.

Peasant 6: Hey, he’s conscious!

Peasant 7: Brace up, Yohei! The priestess’s medicine worked!

Peasant 6: Priestess! Yohei is revived!

KIK turns to look with a smile, which turns into disdain. Cut to a first person perspective of KIK’s vision. A small demon appears next to the wounded peasant and hops onto his forehead. KIK approaches them, and kneels down.

KIK:   (thinking) Evil still seeks this man’s life. (raises her finger and touches the demon, which disintegrates into black fumes)

Villager 7: What’s the matter, Priestess?

KIK:   Nothing. He’ll be all right. He can probably get up tomorrow.

Cut to a group of warriors walking towards the peasants and KIK.

Warrior 1: Does a priestess named Kikyo serve this temple? (walking towards the group of peasants and KIK and stopping in front of them)

Old Man: Are you the one who tends to soldiers injured in war regardless of which side they fought and who uses strange powers to bring back even those near death back to life?

KIK:   (turning from the injured man to Old Man) No strange powers…Only knowledge of healing.

Old Man: You can tell us at the castle. Come with us.

[ End of ACT I: 1min 27sec ]

[ Title Screen: Kikyo and Inuyasha, Into the Miasma ]

[ ACT II ]

Cut to warriors with KIK sitting on a palanquin.

Old Man: (walking beside the palanquin) Lord Kagewaki, master of the Hitomi Clan, has been in delicate health since birth. He recently became the head of the clan after his father passed away. His condition has steadily weakened and yet, he won’t let physicians near him, not even his own vassals.

Cut to castle.

Guard 1: No one may pass! The order is…

Old Man: (interrupting) I have brought a priestess who will cure Lord Kagewaki.

Guard 1: However, the lord forbid entry to anyone! The lord refuses to see anyone…!

KIK:   (thinking) What is this castle? This shroud of evil? (walks towards the room and enters)

Guard 1: Hey!

Cut to interior of room. KIK pushes aside the curtain to enter. Lord Kagewaki is sitting up on a mat.

KIK:   (thinking) So this man is the lord? I sense no life in him. As if he is dead from neck down.

NAR:  (thinking) Kikyo…

Both guards run to the curtain and kneel down.

Guard 1: Forgive me, my lord! But she refuses to stay away!

Guard 2: She claimed to cure your illness and forced herself…!

NAR:  Calm down. (both guards look up) Leave!

Both guards: Yes sire! (bowing)

NAR:  (KIK walking towards him) You there…what is your name?

KIK:   (kneeling down in front of NAR) Kikyo.

NAR:  (thinking) Kikyo is alive. The woman I myself set up fifty years ago…the woman who died, taking the Sacred Jewel with her…is still alive. This woman…What’s going on…?! (lightning)

Cut to a plot of field. Three farmers are kneeling down, examining their crops.

Farmer 1: W-what…? This is awful!

Farmer 2: These, too. All withered.

Farmer 3: What’s going on? There’s no dry spell.

Farmer 2: Suddenly this past month…(starts to rain) Huh? Rain? I-it’s red…like blood. What’s that?! (things starts to fall from the sky; as it gets to the ground, they turn out to be the carcasses of demons and the farmers run off in different directions)

Cut to hut with INU-gang with a few villagers.

MIR:   Hmm…So it rained pieces of demon carcasses?

Villager 1: Yes…it was so creepy! Our fields are ruined.

Villager 2: Not only our fields…the elderly, the young and the weak…so many of them have succumbed!

MIR:   I expect that much…There must be a source for a very strong miasma near by. I understand. (nods determinedly)

Cut to INU-gang walking.

INU:   So we’re gonna help again? Do we really have time for this? We have to find Naraku!

Flashback to KAG using bow and arrow to attack NAR.

KAG:  (aiming) Even if you apologize, I won’t forgive you! (releases the arrow)

MIR:   (voice-over) About Naraku…That arrow that Kagome shot should have caused a very deep wound. As strong as he may be, Naraku would be out of commission for a while.

End of flashback. Back to INU-gang.

MIR:   Besides, (holding a string of coins) I’ve already received a gratuity. We must help.

KAG:  (surprised) When’d you…?!

INU:   (angry) Don’t take it then! And don’t you get gratuities after you do something?!

MIR:   (putting back the string of coins) After the fact, they usually give less.

INU:   (KAG smiles at MIR) You amaze me! You dirty priest!

MIR:   (KAG hears and looks from MIR to INU) I am a monk.

KAG:  Sango, what’s the matter?

SAN:  (ahead of the group, looking at a mountain) I’m pretty sure the miasma source is over at the base of that mountain. (turning around to face the group) I was wondering if there is a demon other than Naraku who could create a miasma so strong.

MIR:   Other than Naraku…?

Cut back to a room in the castle.

Old Man: Well Kikyo? What do you make of the Lord’s illness?

KIK:   Well…I think it may be beyond my skills.

Old Man: I see…I knew it was no ordinary illness. So even you will abandon him.

KIK:   (kowtows) I am merely a priestess. Please permit me to leave. (a spear appears and points at KIK, subsequently three more appears)

Old Man: Forgive me, but the Lord has forbidden you to leave. We will have you stay here for awhile.

Cut to NAR’s room. He is lying on the mat.

NAR:  (thinking) Kikyo is supposed to have died…I can wait to kill her until after I discover her true self. Tonight, my wishes will be fulfilled. I’ve found an interesting woman.

Cut to INU-gang going up the mountain. INU carrying KAG’s bicycle. SAN, KAG and SHI riding on the transformed KIR.

SHI:   Because of the miasma, not even a blade of grass grows here.

INU:   We’ll soon be there…What’s going on in this mountain anyway? (seeing something and stops) Huh? (an entry appears at the bottom of the cave)

KAG:  What’s the cave? The miasma come from…(SAN coughs and falls off KIR) Sango! (KAG and SHI jumps off from KIR) Are you all right? You’re still not fully recovered. You must take it easy. (KIR transforms back to normal)

INU:   (cracking his knuckles) Sango and Kagome, you wait here. It’s only a demon-slaying no sense in all of us going in there. Miroku, let’s go.

MIR:   (nods) Shippo, the miasma doesn’t seem to bother you. Watch over them.

SHI:   Leave it to me! Be careful. This miasma is pretty strong.

Cut to KIK in the room at the castle.

KIK:   (thinking) I can feel a strong whirling miasma. Shall I go?

KIK’s soul catchers come out from the window and strangles the guard, killing him.

KIK:   (behind the door) Let me out. And bring me a bow and arrow.

Cut to KAG, SAN, SHI and KIR in front of the cave.

KAG:  Sango, are you all right? The miasma is getting stronger.

SAN:  (holding a mask to her mouth, perspiring) Yes…Kagome, how can you put up with it?

KAG:  Uh-huh…for now.

SHI:   (something seems to pull SHI and KIR into the cave) What’s this? Something’s pulling me in! What’s going on inside the cave?

KAG:  I wonder if Inuyasha and Master Miroku are okay?

INU holding a modern-day torch walking in the cave with MIR.

INU:   The miasma is getting stronger. (MIR coughs and falls to his knees) Hey, what’re you doing, Miroku?! So hopeless!

MIR:   (wince) I have undergone training, so I have some endurance. An average human would not stand a chance.

Strange noises are heard further into the cave.

INU:   There’s something…Let’s go.

INU and MIR walk to the end of the cave, which opens up to a huge ditch of purple liquid and demon carcasses.

INU:   What is that?

MIR:   Demon remains?

The liquid starts swirling, sucking the carcasses into a whirlpool. The liquid falls away to reveal a hulk-like demon. A reptilian demon also appears. They growl and each other and fight. INU and MIR look on from above.

MIR:   Demons fighting each other?

Hulk-demon punches reptilian demon. Reptilian demon bites off Hulk-demon’s hand. Hulk-demon grabs its neck with his other hand and bites into it. Both of them crash into the liquid pool violently.

MIR:   Hundreds of demons have been fighting and killing each other here. Those who lost and their debris showered the village. These are the remains.

INU:   Awful. But why are they doing this?

Hulk-demon squares off with reptilian demon again, breaks its neck and hurls its head to the ditch walls. The head falls into the pool. The remains flow rapidly to Hulk-demon and merge with its body.

MIR:   The last demon standing…

INU:   Merged its body with the others’!

After the merge, Hulk-demon has an additional in its abdomen, reptilian scales on its back and a tail.

Hulk:  Why can’t I get out?! The last demon standing was supposed to leave here alive?! (raises head towards the top of the ditch, which has a small opening)

MIR:   (thinking) It can’t be that this is…?!

Hulk:  (eyes gleaming red) Is there another demon here?

INU:   (riled) You mean me?

MIR:   Wait, Inuyasha! (holds INU back)

INU:   Lemme go! (shrugs off MIR and leaps into the ditch)

MIR:   (thinking) If my hunch is correct… (worried) No! This is bad!

Hulk spews a miasma from its mouth into INU’s direction.

INU:   (raising TET) I’ll fight you! (TET transforms)

Outside the cave.

KAG:  They’re taking too long!

SAN:  Let’s follow them. (stands up and nearly falls)

KAG:  Not you, Sango!

SHI:   If you go in there in your condition, you’ll die!

KAG:  Sango, let’s get away from here. It’s bad for your health. (SAN sweating and barely able to breathe)

KAG notices something in the distance and gasps. A silhouette emerges from the mist and reveals itself slowly.

KAG:  (thinking) Kikyo…

KIK:   Is Inuyasha inside?

KAG is dumbfounded and doesn’t reply. KIK walks into the cave.

SHI:   Kikyo. That priestess is Kikyo, isn’t she?!

KAG regains her composure and picks up her bow and arrows.

SAN:  Kagome!

SHI:   Are you following her?

KAG:  Yes! Shippo, you stay with Sango.

SAN:  Kagome, that woman…

KAG:  That’s Kikyo. I don’t know why she’s here, but something evil is going on inside!

SAN:  Kirara! (cute KIR meows) Take Kirara with you! Be careful, Kagome!

KAG:  Thank you! Later! (runs into cave with KIR)

Inside the cave, KIK walks stiffly and slowly. A white light starts to glow around her.

KIK:   (thinking) The souls of the dead inside my body are trying to get out. Are they drawn by the miasma in this cave? (places hand on her chest, a silent prayer and the white glow disappears) I can feel something other than the miasma. Is it from the man in the castle…?

Hulk emerges from the pool and throws INU off his back. INU lands on the ditch wall and springs back at Hulk.

INU:   (raising TET) Damn you! (cuts Hulk’s arm, who growls in pain) Next, the finishing blow! (A miasma emerges from the wound) The wound is closing up!

MIR:   Hold back your sword, Inuyasha! Do not fight!

INU:   Shaddup! If I don’t fight, I’ll get killed!

MIR:   Listen! This is just like the Fuko spell! The same method to create Kodoku!

INU:   Fuko spell? Kodoku? What the hell is that?!

MIR:   With the Fuko spell, poisonous worms and lizards are placed in one pot, have them kill each other off. The last remaining alive then becomes a creature called Kodoku.

INU:   You can say that, but…

Hulk:  I will kill you! I will be the only one to live and get out of here!

Hulk’s lower head spews fire at INU. INU leaps and blocks the fire with TET.

INU:   I have no choice, do I?! (slashes demon, who is knocked onto a wall by the force)

MIR:   (thinking) This is turning out bad. Unless the spell cast in here is broken, Inuyasha will… (KIK appears behind MIR) Huh?! What’s that?

KIK:   (white glow around her, thinking) Inu…yasha…

INU:   (turns back and notices) Kikyo.

KIK:   (bluish-white light streams out of her, thinking) The souls of the dead are leaving me…(The light from KIK drifts towards Hulk and merges with it) I see. This miasma is from Kodoku…(falls off weakly to where INU is)

INU:   (thinking) Why?!

Cut to KAG running.

KAG:  (thinking) Kikyo is here?

Cut to KIK landing on the ground.

NAR sits on a cliff, his body clad in his baboon suit. His bees buzz around him.

NAR:  (thinking) Soon it will come out. With my spell, I sealed countless demons in there. One by one, they killed each other, until only one remains victorious, and that one will become my new body.

Back in the ditch.

INU:   (sprinting) Kikyo!

Hulk’s arm slams INU to the ground from behind.

INU:   (in pain) Damn!

Cut to KAG running. Her Sacred Jewel shard breaks away from her and falls to the ground behind her. KIR notices, stops running and turns back.

KAG:  Kirara! (notices the Scared Jewel) Oh no!

KIR and KAG run back to retrieve it.

KAG:  (about to pick up the shard, pauses) What…?! I sense the Sacred Jewel. Not this fragment… There’s another. Someone else with a Sacred Jewel fragment. It couldn’t be…!

Cut to ditch.

MIR:   (choking) The miasma is absorbing Kikyo’s souls of the dead and getting thicker.

KAG:  (reaches MIR) Miroku! Are you all right? Hang in there!

MIR:   Kagome!

KIR meows loudly and leaps off.

MIR:   No, Kirara! (catches KIR by the tail)

KAG:  Miroku…what is this?

MIR:   This cave is under a Fuko spell. Unless we stop Inuyasha, he will become fused with the demon!

KAG:  Fused? I sense the presence of the Sacred Jewel! Is this a trap then?

MIR:   The strength of this miasma…There’s no mistaking it, Naraku’s behind this.

Hulk:  (notices the fallen KIK) This woman is not human. I will devour her!

INU:   Do not touch Kikyo!

INU chops off Hulk’s hand reaching for KIK. Another hand immediately grows out where it was chopped, and slams INU away.

MIR:   Stay cool, Inuyasha!

INU:   Get real, will ya! I will protect Kikyo!

INU, angry, turns back to yell at MIR and notices KAG. The two of them stare at each other, dumbfounded, as INU’s words ‘I will protect Kikyo!’ is replayed. Cut to close-up of KAG’s sad expression.

INU:   (thinking) Kagome…!

Cut to INU. A growl is heard behind him. Sensing the impending attack, he turns around and slashes at Hulk. Cut to KAG jumping off the ledge where she, MIR and KIR were.

MIR:   Kagome! What’re you doing?!

KAG:  (resolute) I’m doing to pull Kikyo up! (thinking) Otherwise, Inuyasha will continue fighting for Kikyo’s sake. (making her way downwards, thinking) Inuyasha would never stand by and watch Kikyo’s slaughter. I’m a bit jealous, though…

KAG reaches KIK and holds her up. KIK groans.

KAG:  Are you conscious? Can you stand?

KIK:   So foolish. (opens her eyes) By your coming here, Inuyasha will lose you forever. (gets up on her own)

KAG:  What’re you saying?! Inuyasha is trying so hard to save you! Yet you…!

KIK turns around and glares at KAG.

KAG:  (thinking) Kikyo…

Cut to INU slashing at Hulk again.

MIR:   No, Inuyasha! (another slash) Don’t kill it! (INU raises TET high up in the air) Inuyasha!

Cut to an arrow imbued in pink light flying swiftly and blocks TET’s impending slash on Hulk. The arrow is deflected upwards by the contact and flies out of the small opening at the top of the ditch. An explosion of pink light rays ensues. Cut to TET’s transformation thwarted. INU, stunned, turns to the direction where the arrow was shot, and finds KIK with her bow.

INU:   Kikyo…! (lands) What?!

The pool of carcasses is sucked upwards to the opening forcefully.

MIR:   The spell is broken! The miasma is disintegrating! (moves further into the ledge to avoid being sucked up)

Cut to KAG and INU being sucked up too. Cut to exterior of the cave. The opening at the top of the cave explodes and an air current of KAG, INU and demon carcasses surges.

KAG:  (reaching for INU) Inuyasha!

INU:   Kagome! (grabs KAG’s outreached hand) Are you okay?

KAG:  Yes…but Kikyo was…! (turns behind her)

KIK lies unconscious on one of the bigger carcasses. Both INU and KAG climb onto another carcass.

KAG:  Look! (turning to where the current is surging towards)

The air current surges toward a seated figure.

INU:   Naraku!

The air current merges with Naraku forcefully. INU jumps off the current holding KAG. They turn to look at NAR, whose nude body morphs from one with demon parts to one which is fully human.

INU:   Since you destroyed his body, Kagome, Naraku needed to create a new body for himself. That’s why he used the Fuko spell!

NAR:  So the mountain miasma lured you and you entered the cave upon which I had cast my spell. (laughs evilly) Inuyasha, you could have fused into this body, too. (turns sideways) Is this the woman who broke the spell? (zooms out to reveal an unconscious KIK at NAR’s feet) Thanks to her, I’m able to possess a new body.

KAG:  Don’t be stupid! The spell was broken so that Kikyo could save Inuyasha!

NAR:  (picks up KIK into his arms) It looks like this woman is Kikyo, the one who followed you in death fifty years ago.

INU:   You bastard! Do not touch Kikyo (rushes at NAR with TET) with your filthy hands!

INU slashes at an unflinching NAR, who emits a bout of miasma. It blows INU away.

KAG:  (rushing to INU who just landed) Inuyasha!

INU:   (thinking) Damn…damn it all!

Cut to NAR floating away with KIK, on top of the miasma.

NAR:  (thinking) I don’t understand. If it’s true that Kikyo wanted to save Inuyasha, instead of breaking the spell, why didn’t she aim the arrow at the demon Kodoku? Instead, Kikyo broke the spell and enabled me to possess a new body…

KIK’s eyes suddenly open and glances at NAR.

[ End of ACT II: 20min 34sec ]

[ End of episode 32: Kikyo and Inuyasha, Into the Miasma ]

[ Preview for next episode ]

Naraku has a new body and uses a more despicable method to enter the deepest fears in our hearts; like Inuyasha who is guilty for Kikyo's death, Miroku who is plagued by his Wind Tunnel, and Sango who misses Kohaku. Kikyo, are you willing to help us? But you snatched our Sacred Jewel fragments! What's your motive?! Next episode, 'Kikyo, Captured by Naraku'!