Episode 24 (Hanyō no Yashahime)

Sesshōmaru's Daughter is the twenty-fourth episode of Hanyō no Yashahime, and the finale of the first season. The title refers to Towa as opposed to Setsuna.

Synopsis
Kirinmaru, who descends onto the battlefield, apologizes to Sesshōmaru’s about his heavenly life-sustaining sword, Tenseiga being broken because of his elder sister’s rudeness and sends the seven Rainbow Pearls over yonder. Zero, unable to forgive her younger brother’s attitude, announces that she will cut ties with him and leaves. Riku stabs Kirinmaru in the stomach with a sword and runs after Zero. Sesshōmaru also goes after Zero.

At the same time, Tōtōsai, the swordsmith who says he can create the peerless famous sword “Yukari no Tachikiri”, hurries to the battlefield with Sesshōmaru’s retainer, Jaken. An enraged and fully empowered Towa and Moroha confront Lord Kirinmaru but with an overwhelming power before them, they will end up having to pay a huge price.

Plot
As Kirinmaru lands on the battlefield, the Half-Demon Princesses fly away with Kirara as they comment on how overwhelming Kirinmaru's demonic power is and how easy it would be for him to easily kill them if they try anything. As Zero demands Kirinmaru to not stop her, Kirinmaru expresses his remorse to Sesshōmaru as Zero had mercilessly broke Tenseiga, one of the great swords of his father, the Great Dog Demon, and silences Zero's anger with his own fury that her obsession took her too far. Sesshōmaru says he doesn't need to apologize as Tenseiga didn't mean anything to him, but he places the broken Tenseiga back and takes out Bakusaiga and challenges Zero, whom he is willing to cut, seeing Zero's murderous feelings towards his daughters have gone too far and knowing Rin would rather die than have their daughters dead just as Jaken who takes care of Rin sees her crying sensing that something bad will happen. Kirinmaru manages to interpose himself before Sesshomaru can attack and tries to appease Sesshomaru by reminding him he didn't find Akuru's pinwheel and when he refused, Kirinmaru warned Zero that Rin will no longer be his shield. With Zero ready to accept the challenge, Sesshomaru reminds Kirinmaru of how Zero's ways completely go against all of Kirinmaru's honorable ways, Kirinmaru decides to agree with Sesshomaru and punishes Zero's dishonor by scattering the Rainbow Pearls through the land, leading Zero to renounce her relations with Kirinmaru and leaving to search for the pearls. As Kirinmaru is about to pursue her, Riku stabs him, both to prevent him from chasing after Zero and to also ensure Towa's survival, before leaving, with Towa touched by Riku's actions and saddened that they did not have more time to talk.

Sesshōmaru goes after Zero even as Kirinmaru asks what should he do with the half-demon princesses. With Sesshōmaru saying that it is the rite of Courage and Cowardice, Kirinmaru decides to face them one more time, while revealing he had been holding back to not kill them last time but could no longer resort to that this time, offering them one last chance to escape. As they refuse with Moroha finding it ridicolous and insulting that Kirinmaru wasn't taking them seriously last time, Setsuna wishing to pass the rite, and Towa wanting to retrieve Setsuna's dreams, Kirinmaru smirks and challenges them to fight him. Even with Kirinmaru injured and the half-demon princesses showcasing more powers, skills, and techniques, he is still able to easily fend off their assault, commenting how they were not able to properly manifest their powers due to having relied on the Pearls for so long, and soon takes out Moroha after easily countering her Heavenly Arrow Barrage and acknowledging on it's force while stating her Rainbow Pearl only weakens her spiritual power.

Jaken is hurrying to the area and manages to reach Tōtōsai who states that he does not know if he will arrive in time to save Rin's daughters and that this will be the moment where the Yukari no Tachikiri, the Heavenly Sword, is born. Kirinmaru is easily overwhelming Towa and Setsuna as he has Towa on the ropes in a blade lock, Towa overpowered by Kirinmaru's incredible strength while Kirinmaru is curious on why Towa was unable to exert the power to fight and injure him like before. He blocks Setsuna's assault with two fingers and states she does have some remarkable skills but her weapon is simply too weak and won't do any harm to him before flicking her aside. This makes Towa increases her power and reminds Kirinmaru that Towa's true potential is seen when Setsuna is in danger as he easily tosses her aside. As he goes after Setsuna, Towa manages to hurt him in the area where Riku attacked, dealing more damage, and when Setsuna attacks, Kirinmaru blasts Towa aside and is able to block Setsuna's attack but Setsuna uses her Blood Blade to break the barrier and cut him. This results in Kirinmaru attacking her with such a powerful demonic-energy enhanced slash that Setsuna's weapon is broken and she is left fatally injured, her chest griveously cut. As Towa rushes to Setsuna's side, Setsuna tries to comfort Towa and in her last moments apologizes to Towa and in her mind she begins to remember everything and that side she has with her sister and also says that now the butterfly is making her sleepy the butterfly disappears in her head and her final words were goodnight, as she passes on.

As Towa cries out in grief, Kirinmaru regrets what happened and says that if the Tenseiga had not been destroyed, they could have revived Setsuna. Moroha then appears in her Beniyasha form with complete control and mastery, now able to unleash her true powers, and Towa is determined to avenge her sister and activates her own full power. Impressed and interested, Kirinmaru challenges the two of them to take him on at the same time and as Towa and Moroha furiously uses their strongest attacks, Kirinmaru activates his powers, transforming into a more monstrous human form of himself, and blocks the attacks. He comments that Sesshōmaru created the Azure Dragon Wave but Towa improved it so that the dragon has two twin heads, naming it the Twin Azure Dragon Wave, and the Crimson Dragon Wave of Moroha was powerful enough that it only obeys her and even he cannot force it away, forcing him to explode his barriers and take the attack on as he could, resulting in a massive explosion. As the three of them are still fully able to fight, Kirinmaru praises them for being able to use so much demonic energy with no loss of control as they get angry at his repeated lecturing demeanor and wish to avenge their beloved ally's death. As they charge at Kirinmaru, who slashes at the ground and empowers his sword with demonic energy, the area changes to a galaxy-like field that Kirinmaru pleasantly recognizes, stating that this is the battle he had always wanted as the two manifests battle avatars. Kirinmaru avoids and neutralizes all their attacks and he eventually overpowers Towa with a demonic-energy black hole that she cannot absorb, reverting her back to normal, before he then cuts down Moroha as well just as she was rushing to Towa's aide, effectively defeating them after a hard-earned fight.

As Towa wakes up, she finds Kirinmaru waiting and levitated on the ground as Kirinmaru says that he had not fought like this since his battle with the Great Dog Demon and regrets that he ended this way, adding that he wants to see them again and promises to remember Setsuna's name in his heart before he flies away. Moroha wakes up with Kirara in front of and regrets that they could not win in this battle and Towa who feels utterly ashamed with herself apologizes to Setsuna who could not avenge her and felt weak since she could not protect her sister. At the end, Sesshōmaru appears in front of Towa and bestows the broken Tenseiga onto her, knowing that she is capable of harnessing her demonic energies into it and possesses a compassionate heart enough to be able to freely wield such a useful gift, presumably to revive her fallen twin sister.

Trivia

 * Originally, this was the finale of the anime, but was followed by another season due to successful ratings and popularity from fans of the InuYasha franchise.
 * Shippō remains the only member of the original cast to have not appeared in the present day. It's possible he left Kaede's village like Miroku and Sango did or he's off training to enhance his Fox Magic; considering he was the weakest fighter of the group and always wished to get stronger.
 * The Rainbow Pearls are again scattered, this time by Kirinmaru, to keep Zero from interfering with his ultimate designs.
 * Zero ditches any loyalty to her brother and leaves him to his fate.
 * Riku betrays and stabs Kirinmaru; his true loyalty being to Zero for being his caretaker.
 * Kirinmaru wears a mask to hide his scales.
 * Towa can only transform into her demon form when she suffers great emotional pain; unlike her uncle, who subconsciously taps into it in life or death situations.
 * Ironically it is Towa's love that gives her strength. The very thing Setsuna kept telling her to get rid of.
 * This also marks the first time Towa accesses her full demon form.
 * Moroha finally manages to master her Beniyasha form, having control of her demonic energy and not immediately feeling completely wiped out from it.
 * When Setsuna's blade of her naginata turned red is very similar to how Tessaiga transformed into red Tessaiga.
 * Kirinmaru gets another facial scar, this time from Setsuna.
 * Kirinmaru breaks the Kanemitsu no Tomoe and fatally wounds Setsuna.
 * Setsuna is the first main character to die; albeit temporarily, as Tenseiga can save her since it's her first death.
 * As Tōtōsai is heading out on Mō-Mō, he is likely going to repair Tenseiga. Tōtōsai can sense when his own creations need him and expertise in strengthening them further.
 * At this point, Sesshōmaru passes down the Tenseiga to Towa, as he knows how compassionate her heart truly is, also knowing that she has a greater chance of reviving Setsuna.
 * This fits with Towa's wish to save lives and not harm others.
 * Sesshōmaru says Towa's name for the first time.
 * When Towa becomes a full demon, the crescent moon marking on her forehead originally had the ends on a diagonal position. But is later seen to match that of Sesshōmaru, her grandmother and Setsuna (in demon form).

Episodi 24 (Hanyo no Yashahime)