Episode 9 (Hanyō no Yashahime)

Meifuku the Meiōjū is the ninth episode of Hanyō no Yashahime.

Synopsis

 * 1) Towa, Setsuna and Moroha are tasked with slaying one of the Four Perils Konton.
 * 2) When the trio arrives at Konton's temple, they meet a young turtle demon named Meifuku, who seeks revenge against Konton for killing his father.
 * 3) The girls battle Konton, who is using Meiōjū's shell as armor, and Towa absorbs the shell, forcing Konton to flee.
 * 4) Meifuku returns the shell to his father, finally allowing him to rest in peace.

Summary
At night, two guards are guarding the entrance to a fortress atop a mountain when Konton appears and walks towards them. The guards asks Konton who goes there. Konton tells the guards to see the tree over yonder as he points at it. The guards look at the tree. Konton tells the guards that the tree is historically significant yet so distasteful and to begone as calls them 'menial flies'. The guards asks Konton what did he say. The Wind Lion and Thunder Lion appeared from the sky and attacked the guards. Konton takes out a talisman and throws it at the entrance before it catches fire as he uses the Eight Field Escape Trap to surround the fortress before it explodes in a puff of smoke, destroying it. Konton looks at the tree and says what an exquisite view. Meifuku secretly hides behind a bush as he angrily curses Konton. At Shikabaneya, Jyūbei tells Moroha that one of the fortresses of a certain commander has been destroyed. Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha questions Jyūbei about a certain commander. Moroha asks Jyūbei if it's one of the monkeys. Jyūbei tells Moroha 'no' as they keep sending soldiers to survey the situation but none return and they think this might be the work of demons so they came to him. Jyūbei asks Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha how about it. Moroha tells Jyūbei that it depends on the payment. Jyūbei tells Moroha that if she slay the demons then the commander will pay one thousand mon coins. Moroha tells Jyūbei that she's in. Jyūbei calls out to Takechiyo. Takechiyo appears in a puff of smoke. Jyūbei tells Takechiyo to go ahead and take Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha there. Takechiyo agrees. Moroha leaves for the entrance as she says let's go. Moroha was about to leave when she notices Towa and Setsuna aren't moving. Moroha asks Towa and Setsuna what's wrong and to come on and let's go. Towa tells Moroha that she and Setsuna aren't really interested in bounty hunting. Moroha questions Towa and Setsuna about not being interested as it was one thousand mon and it's a year's worth of rice. Setsuna tells Moroha that she can eat that by herself. Moroha tells Towa and Setsuna 'yeah' as she'll eat all that rice on her own and not and to just come with her already. Towa tells Moroha to for them to just split up for today. Moroha asks Towa why. Towa questions Moroha that they have different goals or something. Moroha asks Towa what does that even mean. Setsuna asks Moroha why must she and Towa go with her in the first place.

Moroha tells Setsuna that's because they're comrades. Setsuna questions Moroha about comrades as demon slaying and bounty hunting are different things. Moroha becomes hurt. Moroha tells Towa and Setsuna 'fine' and to be that way as she can take care of this job all by herself and goes outside. Moroha calls Towa and Setsuna 'a bunch of dummies' and their mother is a human. Towa and Setsuna step outside. Moroha makes fun of Towa and Setsuna then leaves. Setsuna tells Moroha that her mother is too. Takechiyo steps outside. Moroha tells Takechiyo to come on. Takechiyo tells Moroha that she's going the wrong way as it's another way as he follows her. Jyūbei steps outside and asks Towa and Setsuna so. Towa asks Jyūbei did he find out anything about the Dream Butterfly. Setsuna tells Towa enough of that already. Towa tells Setsuna that she has to as she came to the feudal era to get her dreams back from the Dream Butterfly. Jyūbei tells Towa that as usual he doesn't have anything. Towa asks Jyūbei not even a little. Jyūbei tells Towa 'sorry' but if she really wants results then why not put out a bounty for it. Towa becomes interested. Jyūbei tells Towa that is how his business works after all as the client pays money and someone fulfills their request and if she puts a bounty out for the Dream Butterfly as he's sure someone will go look for it. Towa asks Jyūbei how much would she have to pay. Setsuna tells Towa to stop it. Jyūbei tells Towa that the Dream Butterfly would be one thousand mon. Towa questions Jyūbei about one thousand mon. Setsuna tells Towa that it's a year's worth of rice. Towa says one koku is a year's worth and is ten tou a one hundred shou or one thousand gou. Towa asks Setsuna how many kilograms is a thousand gou. Setsuna tells Towa that it's quite the amount. Towa asks Jyūbei does he have a bounty that would fetch her that price. Jyūbei tells Towa for now there's only that one job he gave to Moroha. Towa smiles at Setsuna. Setsuna becomes annoyed and tells Towa that she can't be serious.

In the sky, Moroha rides on a transformed Takechiyo. Moroha asks Takechiyo what's with Towa and Setsuna as she just thinking that since they're cousins that she'd try to get along with them like relatives normally would but then she gets treated like that. Takechiyo becomes concerned. Moroha tells Takechiyo and here she thought she was finally thinking that she'd made some friends since she's been all alone this whole time so and he wouldn't understand as shihanyos have it pretty rough if they're alone. Towa calls out to Moroha. Moroha looks down at the ground to see Towa and Setsuna on a bicycle. Towa tells Moroha that she and Setsuna will go with her. Moroha becomes happy and tells Takechiyo to come on and to hurry up. Takechiyo ask Moroha that they're not going to wait for Towa and Setsuna. Moroha tells Takechiyo that she said hurry up and go. Takechiyo flies faster. Towa becomes surprised and tells Moroha to wait as she calls out to her. Moroha laughs to herself.

Later, Takechiyo, Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha stand on the gound as Takechiyo and Towa are exhausted. Towa asks Moroha why did she run from her and Setsuna. Moroha tells Towa that Takechiyo just suddenly booked it and blame him. Takechiyo says 'no' as he didn't. Moroha steps on Takechiyo for a moment. Moroha asks Towa and Setsuna what did they want as they were chasing her and all. Towa tells Moroha that she and Setsuna will help with her bounty hunting. Moroha asks Towa that she said she didn't want to. Towa tells Moroha that the thing is. Setsuna tells Moroha that she and Towa about it and consider her a reliable friend. Towa looks at Setsuna. Moroha asks Setsuna really. Setsuna tells Moroha let's slay demons together. Moroha tells Setsuna if she puts it that way then guesses she has no choice and sure as she'll bring her and Towa along. Towa tells Moroha thanks a lot. Moroha says 'all right' and calls out to Takechiyo. Takechiyo says the fortress should be up ahead and he's exhausted so he's going to head home. Towa asks Takechiyo that if he's heading back can he take this bicycle with him. Takechiyo groans. Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha walk up stairs until they notice something up ahead. Moroha wonders is that it then she senses something's here. Towa tells Moroha that she's right as it smells fishy literally. Setsuna says it's not much demon energy though before she uses her Kanemitsu no Tomoe to pull out a frightened Meifuku from the bushes. Setsuna asks Meifuku what was he doing. Meifuku runs away. Towa tells Meifuku 'hey'. Moroha tells Towa to leave Meifuku be as he's just some kid. Setsuna says the real thing is over there.

At Konton's temple, he is laying down and staring at a tree until he notices Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha standing nearby. Konton stands up and tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that he thought they would be another boorish group of samurai but instead he sees a trio of mysterious girls. Towa asks Konton was he the one who destroyed the fortress that was here. Konton tells Towa that he didn't destroy it as it was distasteful so he simply removed it and behold of this wonderful wonderful scenery as he points to the items around the area. Moroha whispers to Towa that it's definitely Konton. Konton tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha if they would perform a dance for him then he can perhaps reward them. Moroha questions Konton about a dance as he's got to be kidding and he'll be the one dancing for them before she takes out her Kurikaramaru. Moroha introduces herself to Konton and she's here to collect the bounty on his head. Konton questions Moroha that there's a bounty on his head as it's absolutely distasteful. Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha become surprised. Towa questions the name 'Konton'. Setsuna questions that Konton is one of Kirinmaru’s underlings. Towa tells Setsuna and Moroha to run into Konton in this situation and what should they do. Moroha tells Towa that they'll take Konton down obviously. Meifuku appears and tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha to watch out. Wind Lion and Thunder Lion appears behind Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha and tries to attack them but they dodged the attack. Konton jumps forward and takes out a sword and tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that he will not go easy on them as he calls them 'hanyos'. Setsuna battles the Wind Lion as it bites her Kanemitsu no Tomoe. Towa battles the Thunder Lion as she absorbs its thunder blast with her Energy Blade. Moroha tries multiple times to strike Konton with her Kurikaramaru but were all blocked. Moroha questions Konton that he thinks he can keep parrying like that as his belly's wide open. Moroha tries to strike Konton's abdomen but realizes that she couldn't. Konton pushes Moroha out of his way with his sword. Towa calls out to Moroha before she abandons her fight with the Thunder Lion to help her. Moroha questions Towa that her Kurikaramaru couldn't cut through it and wonders what kind of demon magic is this. Towa tells Moroha that if so then she'll absorb the demon power before she tries to absorb but realizes the she couldn't absorb its power. Konton points his sword and tells Towa that this is not a matter of demon energy or demon magic as this is an especially sturdy armor and will not crack from any hit it takes and not even a diamond will pierce through and behold the divine sword from ancient times. Konton uses Divine Sword to fire off blasts of demonic energy at Towa as it hits her, making her fall to the ground. Setsuna faces off against the Wind Lion and Thunder Lion. Konton says don't put him in the same league as this country's demons before he holds up a talisman and tries to use a spell on Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha. Meifuku use his black smoke cloud to pick Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha for an escape during their battle with Konton and takes them somewhere far away. Konton says how dare Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha as it's so distasteful. Konton gives the Wind Lion his talisman. Konton tells his Wind Lion and Thunder Lion to go after Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha. The Wind Lion and Thunder Lion leave to find Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha.

Later, Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha land in a random area by a lake with Meifuku as the black cloud clears away. Towa wonders where is this. Moroha asks more importantly who the heck is Meifuku. Meifuku becomes frightened. Towa tells Moroha that she's being rude as Meifuku saved them. Towa asks Meifuku that she, Setsuna, and Moroha saw each other earlier and wonders what's his name. Meifuku introduces himself and he's a meiōjū. Setsuna tells Meifuku that the meiōjū sports the sturdiest shell among all the demons. Moroha questions Meifuku about the studriest shell and she doesn't mean. Meifuku tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha to look in the lake. Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha at the lake to see a meiōjū skeleton. Moroha becomes surprised as it was a huge creature. Towa asks Meifuku are these the bones of a demon. Meifuku explains to Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that the bones are the remains of his father as he was quite the exceptional demon but Konton had laid a trap using a strange spell. In a flashback, Meiōjū fights Konton and his Wind Lion and Thunder Lion. The Wind Lion and Thunder Lion attacked the Meiōjū but their attacks didn't hurt it. Meiōjū flies up in the air as he hides in his shell. Konton tells Meiōjū how distasteful and to take this as he holds his Divine Sword and attacks him but it has no affect. Meiōjū tells Konton that nothing can pierce his armored shell. Meiōjū tries to use his Dark Lightning Cannon on Konton, Wind Lion, and Thunder Lion. Konton asks Meiōjū does he think he could defeat him before charges at him until he was trapped in a spell. Konton tells Meiōjū that he laid out an immobilizing field and he can no longer move. Meiōjū tries to move but couldn't before he is forced to the ground. Konton holds up two sutra talismans and throws them on Meiōjū's shell and extracts a piece of it. Konton says he has now acquired Meiōjū's armored shell. Meioju curses Konton. Konton uses his Divine Sword to kill Meiōjū. Meifuku appears as he sadly calls out to Meiōjū. Konton notices Meifuku. Meiōjū tells Meifuku to run before he dies. Meifuku runs and jumps into lake.

Meifuku tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that Konton killed his father and took his armored shell and used it to create a suit of armor. Towa realizes that's what that suit of armor is. Moroha wonders how does someone shape an armored shell into a suit of armor before she squishes something on her neck then looks at her hand to see it's Myōga. Moroha questions Myōga. Myōga says he lives and Konton and the other Four Perils are from the mainland so the spells they use are similar to Tao Magic and Fang Magic. Moroha asks Myōga that he researched it. Myōga tells Moroha that Konton probably extracted the shell's demon energy and used a spell technique to mold it into a suit of armor. Meifuku says he was just so focused on running away back then and he doesn't want to leave things as they are as he wishes to avenge his father so he's been following Konton around but he doesn't think he can win at all and if he could at least take back his father's shell and send him off properly. Towa asks Meifuku how long has he been following Konton around. Meifuku says maybe around 10 years. Moroha questions Meifuku about 10 years as that's too long. Meifuku says he's just barely 50 years old. Towa becomes surprised and questions Meifuku that he's older than her and he's 50 years old. Meifuku says he's so younger that his armored shell is only a single layer. Moroha asks Moroha that if 50 years aren't enough then how much longer does he need. Meifuku tells Moroha that ideally another 50 years. Moroha becomes surprised and tells Meifuku that he's kidding her. Moroha starts hurting Meifuku as she tells him that his armored shell is sturdy enough. Meifuku tells Moroha to stop. Moroha tells Meifuku to remove his armored shell as she'll use it instead. Moroha tries to remove Meifuku's shell. Meifuku tells Moroha that it's not something he can just remove as he can't and it's impossible. Moroha tells Meifuku to stand in front of her and become her shield. Meifuku tells Moroha that he'd rather not. Setsuna senses demonic energies and says they've caught up to them. Meifuku, Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha look to see the Wind Lion and Thunder Lion running towards them. Moroha wonders if it's just the Wind Lion and Thunder Lion. The Wind Lion releases the talisman from its mouth and flies into the air as it's summons Konton. Meifuku calls out to Konton. Setsuna says it is indeed a strange spell. Moroha tells Myōga that it might be better if he hid. Myōga tells Moroha that here he goes and 'goodbye' before he leaves. Konton calls Meifuku 'Meiōjū's little brat' and wonders after all this time he still bares fangs at him. Meifuku becomes nervous. Moroha confirms this with Konton and tells him that Meifuku said he's going to beat him and take his revenge. Konton tells Moroha that he sees and wonders about vengeance. Meifuku tells Moroha that he's not ready. Moroha tells Meifuku to go on and tell Konton that he wants Meiōjū's shell back. Meifuku confirms this with Moroha but he would like to do that one day. Konton asks Meifuku was he saying that he can defeat him. Meifuku backs away in fright. Moroha tells Meifuku to not worry about it as she, Towa, and Setsuna will help him out and they'll defeat Konton and get one thousand mon coins and even better if they take his head back then they can get a gold ingot. Moroha pushes Meifuku as she tells him so here and to go on now. Meifuku tells Konton that he'll avenge Meiōjū then hides behind Moroha when Konton pulls out his Divine Sword. Moroha tells Meifuku that he's so helpless and just become her shield. Meifuku tells Moroha okay. Meifuku turns into a shield for Towa as he hugs her stomach. Towa becomes surprised as he questions Meifuku about her. Moroha becomes annoyed. Meifuku tells Towa that Moroha is scary and he'll just be her armor. Konton attacks Moroha with his Divine Sword but Moroha blocked it with her Kurikaramaru. Towa and Setsuna are back to back as Towa faces off against the Wind Lion and Setsuna faces off against the Thunder Lion. Moroha uses her Crimson Dragon Wave on Konton he blocks it and attacks her with his Divine Sword as it pushes her and falls to the ground. Setsuna calls out to Moroha before she killed the Thunder Lion by slicing it in half with her Kanemitsu no Tomoe. Setsuna tries to attack Konton with her Cyclone Burst but Konton blocks it, surprising her. Konton uses his Divine Speed to attack Setsuna but Setsuna is blocking it with her wakizashi as it still hurts her. Towa calls out to Setsuna before she killed the Wind Lion by slicing it in half with her Energy Blade. Setsuna starts to fall to the ground. Towa calls out to Setsuna. as she runs towards her. Moroha says that it can't be helped as it's come to this. Moroha puts away her Kurikaramaru and and pulls out her Beni as she opens it up and starts to apply. Moroha tells Konton that with this rouge she becomes Beniyasha, Destroyer of Lands and and tremble before the bloodthirsty dawn. Konton uses his Divine Speed on Moroha, pushing her back as her Beni lands on the ground. Towa calls out to Moroha.

Konton faces Towa and tries to use his Divine Speed on her but she is protected by Meifuku’s armor and takes no damage from Konton. Towa tells Meifuku that his armored shell is doing its job. Towa says all right and let's go all at once before she charges at Konton. Konton and Towa clash before they couldn't break each other's armors. Towa tells Meifuku that his armored shell is just as sturdy as Meiōjū's. Meifuku tells Towa that this nothing compared to Meiōjū's and even with its demon energy removed his is still just as sturdy. Towa questions Meifuku that Meiōjū's demon energy was removed before her Silver Rainbow Pearl glows in her left eye. Konton holds up a talisman before uses his Exploding Field on Towa. Setsuna calls out to Towa. Towa appears from the smoke and uses her Energy Blade on Konton, striking Konton’s armor. Konton tells Towa that she must know she cannot absorb its demon energy. Towa tells Konton 'yeah' as the armored shell doesn't have any demon energy so she'll give him some of hers as her Silver Rainbow Pearl glows in her left eye again. Towa transfers her demon energy to Meiōjū's armored shell. Meiōjū’s armor shell reacts because of Towa’s demon energy as the spirit of Meiōjū awakens. Meiōjū repeatedly curses Konton. Meifuku calls out to Meiōjū. Konton uses his Divine Sword on Towa and tries to attack her with his Divine Speed as she blocks the attack. Meiōjū calls out to Meifuku and tells him to use his “Dark Lightning Cannon”. Meifuku calls out to Meioju and wonders if it's really him but his Dark Lightning Cannon is still. Meioju tells Meifuku that it'll be fine and from the distance his Dark Lightning Cannon will be enough. Meifuku tells Meifuku that he'll get. Meiōjū tells Meifuku to put him at ease. Konton holds up a talisman as he says he will not allow it and uses Exploding Field. Towa says oh no. Moroha shoots her Sacred Arrow at Konton's talisman, destroying it. Moroha tells Konton that don't he dare. Konton says how distasteful. Meiōjū’s spirit held Konton still and unable to flee. Meiōjū tells Meifuku to fire his Dark Lightning Cannon. Meifuku calls out to Meiōjū before he uses his Dark Lightning Cannon on Konton. Towa says now before her Silver Rainbow Pearl glows again. Towa charges at Konton and strikes Meiōjū's armor after Meifuku’s attack on him with her Energy Blade. Meiōjū's armor comes flying off of Konton and returns to the form of a shell. Meifuku releases himself from Towa and runs towards Meiōjū's armored shell as he calls out to him and hugs it. Meiōjū tells Meifuku that he did well. Meifuku calls out to Meiōjū. Towa becomes exhausted and unactivates her Energy Blade before she kneels down. Konton tells Towa that she managed to steal away his armor but she's exhausted her demon energy and prepares to attack her with his Divine Sword. Konton tells Towa to die. Towa becomes surprised. Setsuna uses her Cyclone Burst and Moroha uses her Crimson Dragon Wave attack to strike Konton. With the two attacks collided, Konton falls weak after a direct blow from the two attacks. Konton curses Setsuna and Moroha. Moroha tells Konton that now she's got him as she prepares to strike him with her Kurikaramaru. Konton uses a talisman to teleport away in smoke. Moroha says Konton got away. Setsuna says that she sees as it's a troublesome spell. Towa stands up and thanks Setsuna and Moroha. Setsuna asks Towa was she all right. Towa tells Setsuna that she thinks she used a bit too much demon energy. Myōga appears and calls out to Moroha. Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha notice Myōga. Myōga tells Moroha that her Beni is right here and to not forget it. Later, Meifuku puts Meiōjū to rest by placing his armored shell with his other remains in the lake. Meiōjū’s remains then dissolves in the lake. Meifuku tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that thanks to them he was able to get back Meiōjū's armored shell and for now he'll be praying for the depart soul. Moroha asks Meifuku just out of curiousity how long will he do that for. Meifuku looks at the lake and says for about 50 years. Moroha tells Towa and Setsuna that she still can't believe Konton got away. Setsuna tells Moroha that looks like she can't collect her bounty. Towa wonders as they chased Konton away. Moroha tells Towa that they can't collect the bounty unless they have Konton's head as she groans. At night, Konton is sitting in a cave on top of one of his spells. Konton curses as things will not end like this and curses Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha.

Trivia

 * This episode was originally titled "Meiōjū's Happiness in the Next World."
 * Starting with this episode, demons eaten by Mōryōmaru appear again.
 * This episode incorporates the story about the Meiōjū having been defeated by a monk and a piece of his shell having been stolen and used for an armor which was not adapted in InuYasha The Final Act as Mōryōmaru directly encounters and absorbs the Meiōjū in Episode 169, with a different Meiōjū.
 * It was the first episode of the English dub to air in 2021, one whole week later than scheduled.