Setsuna

"It doesn't matter if I dream or not. The lack of it has never caused me to suffer."

- Setsuna pondering on the fact she can't sleep

is the deuteragonist and one of the title characters in the anime series Hanyō no Yashahime. She is the youngest daughter of Sesshōmaru and Rin and the younger fraternal twin sister of Towa Higurashi.

History
Shortly after Setsuna and Towa were born in Kaede's village to Rin, Sesshōmaru took them away and left them near the base of the Sacred Tree in a forest to protect them from Zero, who would target them due to a prophecy of their grandfather stating it will be half-demons that would slay Kirinmaru, with Jaken placing a protective barrier around the Sacred Tree to keep them safe from Zero. Setsuna and Towa lived together in the woods until they were four years old where Towa got pulled into a time portal to the present after the two of them were separated during a forest fire caused by Homura under Zero's order, with her father unable to intervene less Zero kill Towa and Setsuna herself. At some point afterward, Setsuna suffered from some sort of retrograde amnesia due to the dream butterfly, which causes its victim to neither have dreams nor sleep and she has no memory of her life until after the forest burned.

Some time after that, Setsuna was guided by A-Un and Jaken to the hidden Half-Demon village where she was cared for by a grown up Shiori for 6 years before heading off to the village she was born. Setsuna's stay in the village didn't last long as she soon returned to the hidden village. When an army of demons led by Gaga Gozen attacks the half-demon village, Setsuna fights to defend Shiori who had lost her demon powers during a Solar Eclipse.

Kaede would then leave her in the care of Kohaku, who had become the leader of the newly formed yōkai taijiya, where she was trained in their ways.

Personality
Setsuna has a calm, unflappable personality much like her father, Sesshōmaru. Born as the half-demon daughter of a powerful Yōkai, Setsuna appears to be somewhat resentful of her status as a hanyō due to the fact that she is not as powerful as some full-fledged yōkai.

As a child, Setsuna was cheerful and carefree but as she grew into adolescence, she became aloof and cynical. She seems to have no qualms in using violence against her opponents, as she firmly believes killing enemies is a means to survival. Her indifference towards others extends towards her own father, whom she feels is unworthy of being referred to as her father due to her never knowing him, and her own twin sister when they first meet.

However, she respects Kohaku and Hisui as they work alongside her as demon slayers. She also respects Kaede for looking after her. After meeting the Higurashi family, Setsuna develops a familial bond with them and is grateful for their hospitality.

During her travels, she also met a traveling monk, whose teachings she remembers well. This reflects in her attitude towards her foes, with whom she frequently seeks absolution for troubling them with battle.

Setsuna seems to not care about her Dream Butterfly curse, and is irritated by Towa's concern and soft-heartedness due to the influence of the modern era, up to the point where she forces the latter to "Cut down those ideals along with the Ghost Cat!" to which Towa refuses, reminding her of the time she spent there, and of Towa's promise to return after she restores Setsuna's memories and ability to sleep.

Setsuna is protective of the violin given to her by her aunt-in-law Moe; a small soft spot in her otherwise stern demeanor. She also regularly patrols the half-demon village she grew up in to protect them from demons that seek to harm the inhabitants. She also tries to avoid killing them whenever possible.

Physical Description
As a fraternal twin, Setsuna’s appearance is different from her twin older sister. Setsuna is a young woman of average height with fair skin, she's a bit taller than her twin older sister. She has long black hair with a hint of red, tied in a high ponytail, with violet eyes. Unlike most of the other hanyō—including her paternal uncle—Setsuna shows no other visible physical indication of being a half-demon, such as dog ears or elongated nails or canines, allowing her to fully pass herself off as a human. It is later revealed the lack of hanyō traits is due to a seal Miroku placed on her. When the seal is first seen undone in Episode 13, she takes on the typical appearances of a hanyō: her nails become claws, canines become sharper, she displays some of the marking Sesshōmaru displayed, and her ears become pointy. In The Stolen Seal, her schlera becomes red and she gains the crescent moon marking on her forehead. She also emits a green aura and has a pair of pink butterfly wings.

Setsuna is typically seen wearing the standard demon slayer outfit. Her version consists of a navy kimono-like skin-tight jump suit, along with dark violet armored plating on her chest, waist, left shoulder, and elbows. The elbow guard serves as a place to store small-scale demon slayer equipment. She also wears a lavender sash around her waist to carry a short sword.

Like her father, Setsuna has a large white fur over her right shoulder, which is split in two tails near the end. However, it is shown to be a piece of clothing rather than a part of her body like Sesshōmaru. She also wears dark violet boots with lavender trimmings and matching white fur near the top.

As a child, she walks barefooted and ties her hair in a low ponytail. Her bangs on her left are also longer, partially covering her eyes. She also wears blue kosode with a pink sash. When she first meets Kaede, she let’s her long hair run down freely and wears the large white fur around her neck as a scarf. During her time in modern Tokyo (first seen in Episode 4), Setsuna wears a long royal blue dress with sapphire heels, absent the aforementioned fur.

When she was born, Setsuna had light brown hair with some strands of red and was wrapped up in a lavender blanket.

During her full demon state forced by Zero, she gains a dark red marking on her right arm.

Powers & abilities
Setsuna is a powerful yōkai taijiya, tapping into both her training as a demon slayer and her natural abilities as a hanyō. This, combined with her alert, no-nonsense personality, makes Setsuna an incredibly dangerous opponent.

As a hanyō, Setsuna cannot fully tap into the powers granted by her demonic blood, putting her at a disadvantage compared to a full-fledged yōkai. However, it is revealed in Episode 13 that Miroku placed a seal on her to keep her demonic blood at bay. Nevertheless, Setsuna is still shown to be far stronger than most yōkai. She was able to single-handedly fend off a Rainbow Pearl-empowered Mistress Three-Eyes, and likely would have defeated her had Moroha not interfere.


 * Like her father, Setsuna has claw-like fingernails. She can also scratch with her claws and release a potent poison at the same time to melt her enemies. Though she normally applies it through her claw strikes, she can also spray the acid from her claws or transfer it into her punches. Her poison is strong enough to melt rock or bone; a mere human or yōkai will melt in an instant. If her poison is taken in internally, it will remain inside and be in effect for a long period of time — even in those with demonic power. However, Setsuna can only activate this in her full-yōkai form.
 * Naginatajutsu: Unlike her sword proficient father, Setsuna's main form of combat is a naginata. She is extremely well-versed in utilizing it in close-range combat, able to fend off various high-speed strikes from a Hitokon-possessed Towa before going in the offense.
 * Enhanced Physical Abilities: Being a hanyō, Setsuna’s physical abilities are far superior to the average human. She can fall down from a considerable height unscathed, a feat she already accomplished during childhood, as well clearing vast heights with a single jump. Setsuna also possesses incredible acrobatics and dodging skills, able to perform various back-flips and long leaps. Like her father, she moves with grace and elegance. As a child, she can push her sister Towa several meters through the air with one hand thrust. As a teenager, she is able to destroy a good portion of the ground with one swing from her naginata. Her speed is equally impressive, able to sneak behind Moroha and catch her off-guard despite the latter’s incredible sense of smell.
 * Enhanced Sense of Smell: Being a inu-hanyō, Setsuna possesses an incredibly sensitive sense of smell, able to detect a human/demon's presence and/or whereabouts even at far distances.
 * Accelerated Healing: When Setsuna was injured in the arm fighting Tōtetsu, she said it would heal quickly. In fact, the wound was gone after a few minutes. It should be noted, however, that she was a full demon at this time, so it is unknown how quickly she heals as a half-demon.
 * Violinist: During her time in modern Tokyo, Setsuna learned to play the violin from her half-aunt-in-law, Moe Higurashi. Despite having just learned it recently, Setsuna is proficient enough for Moe to praise her as a prodigy.
 * Sleep Deprivation: Due to having her dreams eaten by the Dream Butterfly, Setsuna can neither fall asleep nor have dreams. This resulted in her childhood memories falling to total amnesia. It's implied even Modern Era sleep medicine can't do anything for her; despite there existing pretty strong medication to induce sleep. Despite this, the condition has given Setsuna several advantages. She is immune to sleep inducing spells as well as the New Moon weakness of other hanyōs. Being unable to sleep also allows her to stay alert in the warring age.
 * Venom Resistance: Inherited from her father, Setsuna is immune from venom-based attacks, such as venom water.
 * Muretachi no Tsubame: By slashing the air, Setsuna can unleash a barrage of green yōki in the form of swallows towards her opponent.

Weapons

 * Kanemitsu no Tomoe: Setsuna's primary weapon. A naginata with a golden handguard and white fur tassel that matches her outfit's color scheme. It appears to be a highly valuable weapon, as Moroha initially expresses interest in obtaining it. It also acts as a means of sealing her demon blood.
 * Senpū-jin: By spinning the naginata rapidly above her head, she can create a massive cyclone of wind, sucking enemies into it and inflicting major damage. It can also function as a projectile attack by spinning the naginata towards her opponent.
 * Yadori Ga no Tsuki: By spinning the naginata, Setsuna can summon a swarm of resting moths that releases sleep spores, causing subjects to fall asleep. However, it has no effect on those who've been cursed by the Dream Butterfly.
 * Wakizashi: Setsuna carries a wakizashi in her waist as a secondary weapon; hers is shorter than the ones used by most demon slayers.
 * Golden Rainbow Pearl (formerly): Setsuna possesses the golden Rainbow Pearl inside her right eye.
 * Slayer potion: As a demon slayer, Setsuna keeps various anti-demon potion in her elbow guard.
 * Dagger (formerly): When she was staying at the Hidden Half Demon village, Setsuna received a tantō (traditional Japanese dagger) to aid in her training to use her powers. It ended up broken when clashing with Kanemitsu no Tomoe which at the time was used by Gaga Gozen.

Weaknessess

 * Demonic Blood: When the enemy is too powerful and can't defeat, Setsuna is willing to change into a full-fledged demon. While undoubtedly more powerful in this form, her demon blood overwhelms her into a whirlwind of rage whose sole purpose is destruction. However, knowing this form is very unstable, she requested Miroku to seal it with his spiritual power and only be unsealed, when the situation is dire. When she was younger, Setsuna had first succumb to the blood when the moth demon, Gaga Gozen, was attacking a human state Shiori and several Half-demons.
 * Poison: Having only inherited her father’s venom immunity, Setsuna remains susceptible to poison-based attacks, such as poison mist.
 * Sedatives: Due to having a strong sense of smell, certain scents can knock her out. Miroku used a sedative used by Demon Slayers to make her unconscious whilst she was in full-demon form.

Family
Sesshōmaru is her biological father. Having never met him, Setsuna treats her father as simply a stranger. She refuses the Tree of Age's request to fight Kirinmaru, believing that this is Sesshōmaru's responsibility and not hers.
 * Sesshōmaru

Rin is her biological mother and the one who named her. Despite deeply loving her newborn daughters, Rin permitted Sesshōmaru to take them on the night of their birth to protect them from Kirinmaru and Zero.
 * Rin

She is her paternal grandmother.
 * Setsuna's grandmother

Tōga is her paternal grandfather, whom she only learned of through the Tree of Ages.
 * Tōga

Towa is her older twin sister, whom she lived happily with in the forest until the age of 4. Setsuna and Towa grew up together and used to always be together when they were young. Setsuna had a loving and inseparable bond with her older sister and used to call Towa “Sis (Onee-chan)”. Initially, Setsuna was extremely close to her older sister, to the point that she pushes her away from a falling tree to save her. Unfortunately, the influence of the Yume no Kochō has caused Setsuna to lose all memories of her.
 * Towa

When the two reunited again ten years later, Setsuna treats her with indifference and refuses to believe that they are related. She even tries to attack Towa, telling her to use her strength to prove that they are sisters. After Towa was possessed by the Hitōkon, Setsuna was willing to kill her despite having access to an anti-demon potion, even stating that anyone who opposes her is an enemy.

After returning to the Feudal-Era, Setsuna continues to remain as cold and distant to Towa as ever. She regularly reacts with contempt whenever Towa attempts to bond with her. Having never consider her inability to sleep as damaging, Setsuna does not share Towa's desire to find the Dream Butterfly and regularly refuses to help in her quest.

The difference in upbringing further disconnects their bond. Having lived in the war-heavy feudal era, Setsuna considers Towa naive and emotionally weak. She criticizes her for being able to sleep after her first yōkai encounter, as well as calling her foolish for saying she doesn't want to cause any more trouble for the Higurashi family. When they travel back to the feudal era, Setsuna continuously warns Towa to keep her guard up, out of basic concern to not see the newcomer perish in an unfamiliar era. She also considers Towa's pacifistic nature as a hinderance. After the monk Juan was possessed by a cat yōkai, Setsuna insists on killing him and tells Towa to discard those ideals. Even after Towa successfully saved Juan, Setsuna still insists that this attitude will one day kill her.

As the two continued to spend time together, Setsuna gradually became more civil and tolerant towards Towa, especially as she began to remember their past. Besides being willing to play the violin to her upon request, she also began engaging in casual, and sometimes heartfelt, conversation with her. She also displays a certain protectiveness over her sister, often coming to her aid during battle, along with expressing concerns over her strange symptoms during her new moon transformation. Nevertheless, she still remains annoyed by Towa’s attempt to bond with her. As time passes however, Setsuna continues to open up to Towa. Eventually she reaches the point where she is able to tell Towa personal things about her past and was even able to smile and laugh in her presence again. She even becomes protective of her, as she wanted Towa to stay hidden during the next full moon when her powers left her, though she was pushy about it, criticizing her for not listening after she wandered off. This shows that Setsuna is slowly becoming a more social and caring person towards her older sister, though she is till not ready to admit it. It was hearing her sister's voice that enabled Setsuna to regain control over her body when she was consumed by her demon blood.

Inuyasha is her paternal half-uncle. Like Inuyasha, Setsuna is a hanyō (half-demon).
 * Inuyasha


 * Kagome Higurashi

Kagome Higurashi is her half-aunt-in-law. She first learns of her through the Higurashi family. It is revealed in the Episode 15 flashback that Kagome witnessed her birth in Kaede's village.

Moroha is her paternal half-cousin whom she met when she confused her with a demon who was attacking a village. Setsuna initially thought Moroha was a full demon and was surprised that she could use sacred arrows. She quickly came to view her as an annoyance, due to interrupting her battles and her constant remarks of her being a hanyō and even teasing and calling "Setsuna-chan".
 * Moroha

During their stay in the modern era, Setsuna begins to view Moroha in a better light, finally calling her by name and seeking her for advice in combat. However, she still remains annoyed and unimpressed at Moroha's sillier antics.

Moe Higurashi is her half-aunt-in-law. During her short time in the modern era, Moe Higurashi taught Setsuna how to play the violin, which she quickly mastered. The two got along well, with Setsuna praising her as a good teacher and telling her that she'll continue to play the violin.
 * Moe Higurashi

Mei Higurashi is her half-cousin-in-law, whom she saved from being killed by Mistress Three-Eyes. She appears to be in good terms with her, willing to engage in casual conversation with her cousin. When she was initially possessed by the Hitōkon, she was originally planning to cut it from her eye. But remembering Mei's smile, along with thanking Setsuna for saving her life, causes her to simply use the anti-demon potion on her instead.
 * Mei Higurashi

Others
Kohaku is Setsuna's leader in the demon-hunting band based in Kaede's village. She eagerly seeks new quests from him.
 * Kohaku

A fellow Demon Slayer, he and Setsuna often team up when on missions.
 * Hisui

A monk who Setsuna met sometime prior to reuniting with Towa, Miroku was the one who placed a seal on Setsuna's demonic blood to prevent her from losing control.
 * Miroku

The nekomata Kirara is one of the few beings whose company Setsuna enjoys. Kirara is often seen carrying Hisui, but helps other yōkai taijiya as directed by Kohaku.
 * Kirara

The priestess whom Setsuna was under the care of for some time, she was also one of the few who witnessed her and Towa's birth.
 * Kaede

A loyal vassal to her father, Jaken acted as a caretaker to both her and Towa growing up. She met him with A-Un at the ruins when he took her to the hidden village for hanyōs. However, upon meeting him during the clash between Sesshōmaru and Kirinmaru, she doesn't remember who he is.
 * Jaken


 * Shiori

Shiori let Setsuna stay in her village after the forest fire. To repay that generosity Setsuna keeps patrolling the village to save it from yōkai.

Enemies
TBA
 * Konton

TBA
 * Tōtetsu

TBA
 * Kirinmaru

Zero was the one who ordered Homura to set fire to the forest which caused Setsuna to separate from her twin sister, Towa when they were four years old. Setsuna even recalls her eyes from her dreams as a child. Even determined to make her pay for removing her seal and controlling Towa.
 * Zero


 * Riku

Setsuna deems Riku as a threat because he has the same scent as Kirinmaru.

Trivia

 * Despite being a half-demon like her paternal half-uncle, she and Towa seem to age at the same rate as humans. Rumiko Takahashi explains in Shonen Sunday Super that the reason Towa and Setsuna age normally is because half-demons age similarly to humans at first, but as they reach adolescence, their aging process slows down.
 * Setsuna retains her childhood kindness deep down; her solitary and combat-filled life simply pushed it into her subconscious, which is what makes her act against her cold hearted logic.
 * Setsuna's name, like her sister Towa's, is a homophone with a time word, "Moment" or "An instant." This is probably an allusion to the fact that both sisters travel through time.
 * Setsuna can be rendered unconscious with blows to the head but only briefly; she recovers within a moment when a rock hits her in Episode 8. She also can be unconcious by the special sedative for youkai.
 * Her demonic heritage likely compensates for inability to sleep, as a human would have died from little more than a week or two of no sleep. It's also possible that it is a side-effect of the Dream Butterfly taking her dreams.
 * It has become a gag that Setsuna tells Towa she's either too naive or too soft.
 * Setsuna can stand very low temperatures as seen in Episode 14, when she and Kirara where not affected by the icy cold in the mountains.
 * When she turns into a full demon, her voice becomes feral. A snarl can be heard when Towa asks about her condition.
 * According to Towa's seiyū, Sara Matsumoto, Setsuna is represented by the flower Evening Primrose.