Episode 11 (Hanyō no Yashahime)

Curse of the Man-Eating Pond is the eleventh episode of Hanyō no Yashahime.

Synopsis

 * 1) Towa and Setsuna learn about a pond that devours any human or animal that comes near it. When they go investigate it, they come across two siblings who lost their parents to the pond.
 * 2) They discover that a serpent and pond demon are working in conjunction, and ultimately slay the demons.

Plot
While Setsuna is playing her violin in a clearing and Moroha is overcooking pancakes in a portable cooking pot, Moroha suddenly notices a bird being swallowed up by a pond of murky green water but Towa and Setsuna do not believe her and leave. They talk to Hisui and Kohaku, who concur that the pond is indeed inhabited by something that devours any who come near it. Seeing that Moroha was indeed correct, the half-demon twins leave to investigate the pond. Towa and Setsuna arrive, and Setsuna runs to stop young Hikomaru from arguing with his younger sister Chiyo who wants to stop him from approaching the pond to avenge their parents, as she does not to lose him, too. Towa scolds the boy for hurting his sister and states that he would regret letting go of her hand later.

Back at the Corpse-Dealer's home, a disgusted Moroha is cleaning while complaining that she is suited to much better jobs. Takechiyo scolds her that it is the least she can do to pay of the debt she owes Jyūbei. Hikomaru and Chiyo take Towa and Setsuna to their home where they are raised by their grandmother. She explains that pond had been murky ever since she was a child but was once as clear as a mirror. Hikoumaru and Chiyo reveal that the "something" that has inhabited the pond is called Venom Serpent. The two siblings then notice the violin case, remembering that their father had played the Biwa near the pond when he was devoured. Setsuna plays the violin to comfort them but only makes them cry for their departed father. After a delicious meal, Towa and Setsuna are invited to stay the night. Towa later awakes and joins Setsuna outside the hut. She apologizes for accidentally falling asleep. Setsuna brushes her apology off. Towa firmly assures Setsuna that she definitely will find the Dream Butterfly. Setsuna simply says that her inability to sleep has been happening since she can't remember and that it has not been a hardship for her. She then tells Towa to sleep, as they have a job slaying the Venom Serpent that has been inhabiting the pond for decades.

Trivia

 * This episode features two demons from the manga that didn't appear in InuYasha The Final Act: Mizuchi from Chapter 396 and Numawatari from Chapter 423.
 * Chiyo and Hikomaru bear a strong resemblance to Yuki and her brother from Episode 43. Additionally both siblings lost their parents to a demon.
 * Moroha had a same fear just like her father.
 * Her father gets fear from her mother in Episode 160, Episode 168, and Episode 186.
 * Chiyo and Hikomaru display starry eyes which were featured in many characters in many works by Rumiko Takahashi:
 * The Mizunokōji family from Urusei Yatsura.
 * Genji Heita from Ranma ½.
 * Coach Suzuki, Jun Natsukawa and Mr. Eggplant from Kyōkai no Rinne.
 * Towa and Setsuna are revealed to be immune to certain poisons and venoms inherited from their father Sesshōmaru.
 * We see Kohaku not in his demon-slaying uniform for the first time since his youth. This is the first time in his home outfit.

Episodi 11 (Hanyo no Yashahime) Episodio 11 (Hanyo no Yashahime)