Episode 23 (Hanyō no Yashahime)

The Three Princesses Strike Back is the twenty-third episode of Hanyō no Yashahime.

Summary
Towa and Setsuna tend to go after Zero, wanting to end her personally in retribution for what she did to Setsuna. However, Riku shows up and fights against Moroha to defend the lady who looked after him all those centuries ago. Just what revelations will be revealed in this battle between the creator of the seven mystical Rainbow Pearls and the prophetic half-demon twins?

Plot
Osamu Kirin is seen talking with Sōta and Mei asking about Towa about her transfer, who uses a faux illness as an excuse for Towa's absences. When Moe arrives outside from the airport, Kirin suddenly mentions something about the unfortunate comet to which Sōta says that he has heard something about, but cannot see it. Kirin mentioning that a normal human cannot see the comet. In the feudal era, Kirinmaru is looking up at the night sky. Zero is preparing and looking for a way for Towa to release her hidden power. She asks Riku as to how she might accomplish this. Knowing that doing so will cause Towa a great amount of pain, Riku decides to lie, telling Zero that she may not have it due to her kind personality. While Zero is not fooled by Riku’s attempt to protect Towa, she lets it slide and the two prepare for theriver enemies’ arrival. Elsewhere, Jyūbei tells Towa and Setsuna about her blood blade and heritage of poison claws and swords from Sesshōmaru and at the same time tells Moroha that she has a commission and this time Towa and Setsuna want Moroha to kill Zero.

Kirinmaru for his part visits Sesshōmaru's mother and gives her a typical compliment and mentions that her sister Zero is very obsessed with the issue of Sesshōmaru's daughters the supposed prophecy. Sesshōmaru's mother says she doesn't care for her granddaughters and a half demons worth comes from survival. Kirinmaru cannot let her get away with knowing that it is the objective, adding that the windmill hasn't moved to which Sesshōmaru's mother says she has not seen Akuru in these years. Kirinmaru mentions that Sesshōmaru is having difficulty finding Akuru's pinwheel, which his mother says it's his way of passing time. Kirinmaru says Sesshōmaru's true intention is to take care of Towa and Setsuna. Sesshōmaru's mother denies it as it would almost make Sesshōmaru seem human.

Towa and company arrive at Zero's base of Izayoi's mansion on Takechiyo to confront her and seek to end her. Towa and Setsuna split up. Towa finds Zero and has a short conversation before they battle with Zero demanding her to reveal her hidden powers. When Setsuna finds Riku and has a short conversation with before they battle, who deflects her Cyclone Burst and Scourge of Swallows. When Zero attacks Towa, Moroha appears on Kirara to battle Zero, attacking her with her Sacred Arrow and Crimson Dragon Wave and Crimson Backlash Wave as she knows Zero's attacks. At the time of Moroha's attack Riku manages to still protect Zero with the Great Dog Demon's ashes, Myōga who was there for her suggests to Moroha that they leave the place was not the right thing to do since it would be disrespectful this Moroha apparently did not care enough, Zero suggests that Riku give Towa the silver Rainbow Pearl back to what he says has to be a joke since he has tried hard to obtain them and return them to what this surprises Zero a lot and makes her annoyed and she begins to release her power and out of nowhere, she receives the attack of Setsuna who manages to kill Zero with her awakening blood blade, which causes Riku to worry and go to her side.

Sesshōmaru and Jaken find Akuru, instead deciding to go to Rin in the Sacred Tree of Ages. Kirinmaru on his ship notices the Windmill of Time has gradually begun to move. Noticing that Rin is waking up, tells Sesshōmaru that Zero is dying and asking who was the cause of the attack since Zero is connected with Rin. In this case Rin will die too. Now in the underworld, Zero talks with Sesshōmaru's mother via the Meidō Stone. It was a conversation to shoot darts frequently, for being intrusive to Zero to which she says that it is fine since Rin would pay with her life and that would make Sesshōmaru sad. She threw a hint with Izayoi herself in if she maintains her posture not to interest humans, Sesshōmaru's mother asks Zero what she really wanted to do, Zero answers that all she had wanted was to protect her younger brother from all half-demons but particularly those who have any biological ties to Tōga. Sesshōmaru's mother says that it is mere jealousy and compares Zero with humans which angers her.

Sesshōmaru arrives and revives Zero with Tenseiga in order to keep Rin alive by sending her back into her enchanted sleep as Jaken felt so relieved. This makes Zero quite furious at Sesshōmaru for his interference and ends up smashing the Tenseiga sword. Enraged that Sesshōmaru used his fang to resurrect her, Zero declares that she shall personally take care of his twin daughters herself. She demands that Riku give her all seven Rainbow Pearls, as she requires her full demonic abilities, to do so. At that point, the sun glows brightly and who should emerge but Kirinmaru.

Trivia

 * Sōta Higurashi using a faux illness as an excuse for Towa's absences is similar to what Grandpa Higurashi used to do for Kagome in the original series.
 * Riku lies to Zero about how Towa’s hidden demonic powers can be unlocked, since he doesn’t want her to endure unnecessary suffering.
 * Zero is resurrected by Tenseiga, therefore saving Rin as well by sending her back into deep sleep.
 * The following episode's preview contains rain instead of the usual music and is mostly silent with the exception of the title card being read.

Error

 * Before Zero is killed by Setsuna, the gold Pearl is missing among the gathered Rainbow Pearls.