Just so we're clear: the monk's body hasn't recovered. You understand that, right? He merely can't feel the pain from his wounds anymore. The damage from the miasma remains.
I know... and I'm grateful even for that.
Master of Potions! You've helped restore Hiraikotsu to the way it was. I can't thank you enough.
"The way it was?" You forget that your Hiraikotsu has been swimming around in my herbs and poisons! It will never be "the way it was" as you say.
However, it won't be evident to you until you fight again. When you do, don't be surprised by how it may have changed.
I see you aimed at my footing. Are you so desperate to learn the secret of Tenseiga that you would knowingly walk into a trap, Sesshomaru?
Just who do you think you are?!
I do not care who you are. Now tell me: why do you know about Tenseiga?
Because once, long ago, I faced it in battle. (Sesshomaru is startled) Although, it looked nothing like it does now. Nothing at all. When I fought against your father, the sword was in a different form.
How dare you make yourself look so young!!
(thinking) "The sword had a different form?"
Your tactics amuse me: you fight without your sword, in order to learn its' secret? You underestimate me- a deadly mistake!
(surprised, thinking) The Meido...!
Meido Zangetsuha. Not bad, but Lord Sesshomaru's is bigger.
True- but that Meido was a complete circle!
Hmph! I'll have you know, Meido Zangetsuha was originally my technique. That's right, it was mine, until your father stole it from me. He took it... along with my face!
Huh! From what I've heard thus far, you summon me here not to reveal the secret, but to whine about your technique being stolen, and your face being destroyed.
Only one practitioner is needed for each technique. Especially, considering Tenseiga is an incomplete blade!
What did you say, Myoga? You know the guy Sesshomaru's fighting?
(terrified) I do! He's known as Shishinki, the Ogre of Death! He's a demon who was defeated by your father many, many years ago! He was a fierce opponent, as I recall! (thinking) It's impossible- how is he still alive?! Oh dear, this isn't good at all! If Lord Sesshomaru learns the secret behind Tenseiga, there's no telling what he'll do!
Is that the old flea, Myoga? I wasn't sure 'till now, but if you're here there can be no mistake!
That is Meido Zangetsuha!
That's it! You're gonna regret doing that! (draws and swings Tetsusaiga) Wind Scar!
(emerging through the dust) I heard that he had two sons, and now, here you are. The old man gave Tetsusaiga to his youngest, did he?
Hey, Sesshomaru, what the Hell's going on here? Why are you fighting with this guy?
Sesshomaru, don't you find it strange? Shouldn't the elder brother have received Tetsusaiga? Now, why do you suppose your father left it to him, instead?
Such cruelty! Bringing up the one thing that has tortured Lord Sesshomaru! He has tried to take the Tetsusaiga many times, without success; he even sacrificed his arm! He'd finally given up, and begun focusing on training with Tenseiga- and now, this!
Master Jaken, your explanation makes perfect sense-
But, if Lord Sesshomaru heard it, he would make you suffer just for saying it out loud!(Jaken gulps)
(Facing Sesshomaru and Inuyasha) Sesshomaru, what do you know of your sword? Do you have any idea how it was born? As I said, Tenseiga was nothing like it is now. It was in a different form, when I fought your father. The truth is, Tenseiga didn't actually exist at the time. (Inuyasha looks shocked) The sword I fought against was none other than Tetsusaiga!
(thinking) Is he saying that Tetsusaiga is the one that stole Meido Zangetsuha?
(chuckles) So, you didn't know, Sesshomaru? Well, let's see, how should I say this: Tenseiga was originally Tetsusai-
Now, then: I presume the old man was unable to control Meido Zangetsuha after stealing it from me, it's rightful owner.
Wow. Is all that true, Myoga?
Yes, yes, yes. It is true that my Lord was pondering how to use this technique, once he'd acquired it.
That is why he cast it away from Tetsusaiga. And so, that unwanted technique, the one Tetsusaiga had no use for, was given to your Tenseiga instead.
(thinking) "Unwanted technique?!"
So, Tenseiga was cast off from Tetsusaiga?
If that's true, it would mean that the two were originally one sword!
(thinking) Why?! Why did Father do this?!
And, on top of that, if I'm not mistaken, the younger brother smells part human. It seems unthinkable. Why would the old man bequeath Tetsusaiga- his original sword- to a mere half-demon? (mockingly) Poor Sesshomaru; it looks like your father passed you by in favor of your younger brother!
Sesshomaru, you should draw Tenseiga! Try it- something might happen!
(thinking) What do you want? Are you telling me to fight alongside Tetsusaiga? Worse yet- are you telling me to help Tetsusaiga? To help Inuyasha?!
There's nowhere for you to run, now. Prepare to be banished to the Underworld!
(thinking) Tenseiga was only cast off of Tetsusaiga to be rid of Meido Zangetsuha. Now, after inheriting this unwanted sword from my father, I'm supposed to use it to aid Inuyasha?!
Are you ready for it? Now, you and your father's swords shall spend the rest of eternity in the Underworld!
(hides his eyes) They'll never make it!
(thinking) I still do not know what Father was thinking, when he gave me Tenseiga. (he draws Tenseiga) Perhaps I never will- but I no longer care about that! (aloud) Never, Shishinki! I would never allow my life to be taken by scum like you!
Lord Sesshomaru's Meido Zangetsuha has achieved a complete circle!
It's swallowing Shishinki's Meido!
(stunned) It can't be! Tenseiga is supposed to be incomplete!
(smiles coldly) ...Now, I see. I pity you, Shesshomaru. What your father did was cruel! It was cruel, do you hear?!
Hey, uh, Sesshomaru. That thing you just did- that was a complete Meido Zangetsuha, wasn't it?
Wait up, Sesshomaru! This means you've mastered Tenseiga, now! I can assume that, right? Look, Father died before I was old enough to remember him. I have no way of knowing what he was thinking back then. But all of those things that Shishinki was saying- that Tenseiga was something Tetsusaiga didn't need, that it's incomplete- those were lies, right? I mean, Father left you Tenseiga because he trusted you, and because you were a real demon!
... Why do you ask, anyway?
"Why?!" Because, Sesshomaru, I'm sick and tired of you giving me trouble about this sword! Let's just agree that Tenseiga was your proper inheritance from Father, and let that be the end of it!
... Inuyasha is showing his respect for Tenseiga.
I think he's trying to cheer up Sesshomaru.
(nervously) I hope it works...
Can we agree, Sesshomaru?
... Inuyasha, are you blind? Can you not see it?
(thinking) Tenseiga was able to produce a complete Meido, only because Tetsusaiga was nearby. They responded to one another... and that will only lead to conflict.
Inuyasha... like it or not, you and I are destined to fight each other 'till the day we die. Do not forget that.
(angrily) Tetsusaiga has the ability to steal techniques from the weapons of its' foes. Tenseiga, on the other hand, has no such power. (He has a flashback of Shishinki taunting him as he died) Both of us know that Father's true intention, from the beginning, was for me to perfect Meido Zangetsuha- but only so that Tenseiga could then be absorbed back into Tetsusaiga! That is the truth- isn't it?!
(nervously) Ahhhh! Wow, I'm impressed!
You figured that out all by yourself, huh? Well, you are exactly right- are you disappointed?
(glaring at him) Huh- I'd be disappointed if Tetsusaiga could actually cut me down. But that shall never happen! (raises Tenseiga to strike)
(raises his hammer) Whoa, there! (he slams it into the ground, creating a circle of blazing lava around Sesshomaru)
(irritably, unseen) Say, Sesshomaru- why do you think your father set up your swords this way in the first place, huh?! Do you really believe he favored Inuyasha, and simply left you the short end of the stick, so to speak?! (Sesshomaru growls) Either way, your thoughts are too clouded right now to see the truth! As long as you remain so narrowly focused on the heirloom Tetsusaiga, you will never understand your father's long-term plans!
(thinking)... What was Father's long-term plan?
Sesshomaru, abandon these attachments. Abandon your attachment to the sword as well as your hatred toward Inuyasha. Once you do, you may very well surpass your father! (Sesshomaru scoffs and walks away, Totosai and his demon-ox are shown cowering behind a boulder) Well, I thought that was it for us!
Are you scared, Kohaku? Scared that my demonic energy might manipulate you into harming that girl? Perhaps you're afraid you'll lose control and kill her, just like you killed your father and comrades! [Kohaku has a flashback of the day he died] Do not be afraid; you will no longer have to suffer when I am through with you.
Sango. If you truly care for your brother, end his life, so he may finally rest in peace.
Do you not understand, Sango? Death is the only way to save Kohaku's soul from its' torment. I want you to think about it: your brother managed to escape my control and come to his senses, yet you siblings still cannot be together. Why is that? (pause) It's because Kohaku is avoiding you. You, his loving and devoted sister. But who can blame him? After all, Sango, you saw everything, every shameful act he committed. Like it or not, your very presence reminds Kohaku of his hateful past.
...Is that all you have to say?
That Kohaku is avoiding me? What's your point? I knew that already!
Naraku... Kohaku may have been under your control, but that doesn't change the fact that he killed our father in cold blood! I, too, re-live that day over and over again, just as Kohaku must! I know he feels anguish and shame for what he did, and that is exactly why I will not let him die! Until Kohaku can overcome that pain, until he is free, I will continue to fight you, Naraku!
(laughs) Your resolve is admirable... though, sadly, it won't be of much use to you.
Oh? You're able to speak, while under the control of my demonic energy. Amazing... with that Jewel shard in you, your body will be under my control, and yet you will remain conscious of it the entire time.
What will you do, Sango? How do you plan to save your precious Kohaku now?
Silence, Naraku! I'm sick of listening to your NONSENSE!
MKMiroku and Kagome
Sango!
Heh! Come now, you don't actually expect to defeat me with Hiraikotsu, do you- [Hiraikotsu smashes straight through his torso] Arggh! (thinking) Impossible! I am a mass of demonic energy; I cannot be shattered by the same energy! No... there's more than just my demonic energy. Something new... an entirely different poison-
(thinking) My body isn't recovering!
(amused) That didn't exactly go as planned, did it?
(irritably, as he recovers from his injuries) Shut your mouth, Byakuya.
Ok, fine. (Naraku drops a fragment of glass at his feet) Hmm? What's this? (picks it up)
A remaining fragment of the Mirror Demon; a memento of Kanna. I want you to go and give it to Sesshomaru.
(surprised) To Sesshomaru?
Yes, that's right. What no one knows is that Sesshomaru is but a pawn- my pawn. The time has come to make Inuyasha and the others aware of that.
(as she purifies Kohaku's Shard) Ok- how's that feel?
Good. It feels a lot better.
I might not be able to purify it as well as Kikyo could.
It happened when Naraku tried to take my Jewel Shard. I'm not sure why, but the minute his tentacles made contact, this pure light started flowing into it!
It almost felt...as though Lady Kikyo was purifying me!
(thinking) Does that mean Kikyo's power somehow entered Naraku- and remains there, even now?
(flashback) The light... will destroy Naraku.
The image Kanna showed me before she died- it was the Shikon Jewel! It was defiled, but in the center of it, there was a light! That must've been Kikyo's light!
(sits by her brother) And so...
Kohaku, are you suggesting you'll be able to use your shard to defeat Naraku?
Naraku said he was going to take Kohaku's head! He said once he did that, he could slowly defile the shard!
(defensively) Well, you almost died, Kohaku!
(to Sango) Don't listen to her! Look, Sister, it's clear that my Shard can cause Naraku pain! (Sango looks away) I know Lady Kikyo's power is protecting me! That's why-
Enough! (thumps him over the head) Stop your babbling!
Gimme a break; why do we have to keep tiptoeing around him? Sango, just tell it to him straight: it's a pain in the butt when he wanders off by himself, isn't it?!
Ugh! Sit, boy! (Inuyasha faceplants)
It wasn't Kohaku's fault this time- Sesshomaru left them there alone, so it was just Kohaku and the little ones around when he was attacked!
(angrily) "The little ones?!" Who are you calling "little?!"
Well, your height, your heart, your personality... so many things about you are little! (Jaken bursts into tears)
No, it's just as Inuyasha says. This isn't the first time it's happened. (Kohaku looks away) Kohaku, you know you are weak of heart and strength; that is why Naraku can take advantage of you! If you fight alone, you don't stand a chance against him! At least tell me you understand that much.
... It's true. You're right.
I believe that Kikyo left her power in your shard, but I don't think she'd have wanted you to sacrifice it. I think she'd want you to treasure it and protect it, like the beautiful gift that it is.
Yes. You're right. (thinking) Lady Kikyo...
(thinking) This must be Naraku's idea: he wishes to pit me against Inuyasha, in the hope that we will eliminate each other. There's no other reason for him to help me; an obvious trap. However... it is a trap worth springing.
Sesshomaru, what's going on? Have you lost your mind?
(scoffs) Idiot. You're still hung up about Tetsusaiga, aren't you?
All right! (draws Tetsusaiga) if that's how it's gonna be, then I won't hold back either, bastard!
Take this! Wind Scar! (nothing happens) What?!
(thinking) That scent from Tenseiga's blade... it couldn't be!
Wind Scar! (he launches the attack, which Inuyasha barely dodges)
This is good; there's no one around to interrupt our battle.
You disappoint me, Sesshomaru! I never imagined you'd sink this low!
Adamant Barrage! (he fires the attack at Inuyasha, thinking) You disappoint me too, Inuyasha. Is this really the extent of your abilities? If so, it only proved that you never deserved to wield Tetsusaiga in the first place.
Hmm, it would seem the scabbard's barrier protected you.
Sesshomaru! You... you were actually trying to kill me!
If you prove yourself weak, I'll kill you. Then, I'll get rid of Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga, for good! (he hurls Inuyasha back) Prove it, Inuyasha. Prove that it is you who is the rightful heir to Tetsusaiga; that is all I ask.
(thinking) "Prove it?" (chuckles) So you're telling me, if I win, you'll let this go?
Something like that. (he launches another Wind Scar, driving Inuyasha back)
..Sesshomaru, are you able to accept what has happened?
(sobbing) Lord Sesshomaru, I am literally sick with grief! For Tenseiga to be absorbed into Tetsusaiga like that, it's unbearable-
I do... not care. We're leaving, Jaken.
One moment, Sesshomaru. Although you may find little consolation in it now, I suggest you take it. (gestures at Tenseiga) It fell from the path to the Underworld.
Hmm? (thinking) That's... that's Tenseiga!
Wasn't that sword... broken, already?
I see. That light I was following must have come from Tenseiga.
(offering Tenseiga to Sesshomaru) You may not be satisfied with this sword that cannot cut, but Tenseiga is powerful, for it heals.
(scoffs) So, what? I'm supposed to take it and go around healing people, now? Don't be ridiculous.
Please wait, Lord Sesshomaru!
Um... (she takes Tenseiga and runs after Sesshomaru with Kohaku) I'll give it to him when he's in a better mood! I promise!
What's gonna happen to Sesshomaru? Everything that our father gave us, is now mine. There's nothing left.
If I were you, I'd be worrying less about my brother and more about mastering that new Tetsusaiga! (Inuyasha balks) You do realize you had help, right? You didn't escape from the path to the Underworld on your own.
...Yeah. (thinking) If I hadn't been guided by Tenseiga's light... I never would've made it back.
Besides, Sesshomaru hasn't realized this yet... but he's one step away from obtaining a weapon of his own. And he'll be pleased to learn that this weapon is not an heirloom from his father.
