Episode 14 (Hanyō no Yashahime)

The One Behind the Forest Fire is the fourteenth episode of Hanyō no Yashahime.

Synopsis
Towa and Setsuna encounter an evil mountain god who seeks a woman who is surprised to see them. Once confronting this mountain god, he is amazed that the half-demon twins are alive and fights them to claim their gold and silver Rainbow Pearls for himself. Towa then realizes that he was responsible for the forest fire that had separated her from Setsuna for a whole decade and vows vengeance.

Summary
In the snow, Tamano is running until she collapses from exhaustion. Riku appears in front of Tamano. Tamano tells Riku that she doesn't know who he was but to help her before she passes out. Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha are walking together to Shikabaneya. Setsuna questions about another bounty. Towa questions they haven't been turning in anything lately. Moroha is upset as she tells Towa and Setsuna that 'no' as they haven't as they're slaying demons left and right but they never get their heads. Setsuna asks Moroha why does she has a debt in the first place. Moroha says it's because of her master. Towa questions Moroha about her master. Towa accidentally drops her smartphone that she brought with her from the modern era. Setsuna notices the smartphone and picks it up. Towa tells Setsuna sorry about that. Setsuna examines the smartphone and finds it a threat because of how strange looking it is along with the sounds it makes when the camera accidentally turns on. Setsuna says she'll cut the smartphone as she points her Kanemitsu no Tomoe at it from the ground. Towa tells Setsuna to wait before she picks up the smartphone. Moroha asks Towa what is the smartphone. Towa tells Moroha that it's a smartphone and wonders didn't she see her using it when they were over in the modern era. Moroha questions Towa about it as she doesn't remember. Towa explains to Setsuna and Moroha that on top of that being on a phone they can check the time or email, take pictures and videos, search the Web, check their socials and there are also other apps they can install on it, and over there it was a necessary item. Towa gets nervous as Setsuna is still cautious of the smartphone. Towa tells Setsuna and Moroha that of course with no signal here there's no point in having this but she just can't seem to let go of it. Moroha tells Towa that an item she can't let go. Setsuna says she doesn't really understand. Moroha says wait a minute as she has something like that too before she takes out a Mummified Kappa Foot. Moroha tells Towa and Setsuna to see the Mummified Kappa Foot that Grandpa Higurashi gave her. Towa and Setsuna were shocked and uncomfortable.

Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha reach Shikabaneya. Moroha tells Jyūbei that they're here. Moroha walks in but bumps into Tamano. Tamano asks Moroha was she all right. Moroha becomes surprised and tells Tamano 'sorry' as she got the wrong house and steps right out. Towa asks Moroha what's wrong. Moroha says there was this really pretty person and. Towa and Setsuna questions Moroha about a pretty person. Towa says 'hello' as she, Setsuna, and Moroha entered Shikabaneya. Tamano bows to Towa. Towa greets Tamano. Towa and Setsuna seem quite shocked. Moroha asks Towa and Setsuna to see as isn’t strange for someone so beautiful to be here. Jyūbei tells Moroha to just drop it. Takechiyo tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that they got a wonderful job from their very special client. Riku appears and tells Towa that they meet again as he calls her 'dear princess'. Towa questions Riku. Moroha calls Riku 'that guy'. Takechiyo tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha to be more respectful. Riku stops Takechiyo from talking any further. Riku tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that it's not really a job coming from him but rather a request from Tamano. Tamano tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that it's nice to meet them as she introduces herself. Moroha calls out to Tamano. Riku tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that Tamano escaped from Homura an evil god from the Northern mountains. Towa says an evil mountain god. Setsuna questions the name Homura. Tamano confirms it as she and Homura lived alone in a mansion in the Northern snowy mountains. Moroha asks Tamano does that mean she and Homura were husband and wife. Tamano says 'no'. Moroha becomes confused. Jyūbei tells Tamano even if she doesn't think so Homura probably thought that they were married. Setsuna asks Tamano what does she mean. Riku asks Tamano whould she tell Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha what happened. Tamano tells Riku 'of course'. Tamano explains to Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that ever since she was little she's been raised by her grandparents in a village at the foot of a snowy mountain but something happened after she turned 13 and for some reason marriage proposals kept arriving almost everyday and even merchants and samurai from faraway towns came to visit but she didn't want to leave the village so she declined all of them however one night Homura suddenly appeared and dragged her away to the snowy mountains. Moroha questions Tamano that Homaru dragged her away as he's a jerk. Setsuna agrees with Moroha. Towa asks Tamano why would Homura do that. Jyūbei says because Homura wanted Tamano all to himself obviously. Towa questions all to himself. Moroha becomes confused. Riku smiles.

Tamano explains to Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that she was forced to live with Homura in his mansion deep within the snowy mountains but strangely only his mansion didn't have any snow in it and it always seemed like spring and at first he treated her with warmth and kindness as he took very good care of her but then just for the reason that their eyes met he had killed the gardener and after that he began to do the same to all the guests who visited. One day, Tamano begs Homura to stop this already as he killed another man with his fire abilities. Homura tells Tamano that she's also to blame as she must have behaved in a way to lure them in. Tamano tells Homura that she would never do such a thing. Homura tells Tamano that she might not be aware of it but she's been seducing all the men to come with him. Homura locked Tamano up in a jail cell, isolated from ever seeing anyone else besides himself. Homura tells Tamano that she belongs only to him as he will never have anyone look upon her ever again. Tamano begs Homura to not keep her here. Homura leaves as Tamano calls out to him. Tamano explains to Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that Homura had her locked up in a jail cell but. Tamano used a hair-pin like tool that she kept in her kimono to pick the lock of the jail cell and escape from it. With success in escaping Homura’s mansion, Tamano runs through the snowy mountains but falls while running. Takechiyo explains to Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that she was able to escape from the mansion and when she was going down the mountain that's when Riku saved her. Riku says that's how that story goes. Towa says she sees. Jyūbei tells Tamano that it's not like he doesn't understand Homura getting worried and jealous. Moroha questions Jyūbei after he goes through all the jealousy as it kind of feels nice doesn't it. Riku asks Towa what does she think. Towa wonders is like her how she just can't seem to let go of her smartphone and like being addicted. Everyone doesn't understand what Towa means by that. Towa says it's nothing. Riku smiles. Towa says with someone so deeply jealous and if Riku took Tamano. Setsuna says Riku's probably in grave danger. Moroha confirms it as she tells Riku that he's going to get killed by Homura. Riku tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that's why he's come here to ask them to slay Homura in his stead. Towa questions Riku about slaying Homura. Tamano tells Riku that to ask Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha to do something so dangerous as Homura is very powerful as he cannot put such young ladies in danger. Riku tells Tamano that Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha are no ordinary young ladies as they are the hanyō princesses. Tamano says hanyō princesses. Riku tells Tamano that Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha don't have a reason to refuse as it's the head of the evil mountain god and his bounty will be tremendously high. Moroha becomes surprised and interested. Takechiyo tells Moroha that she won't have to clean this place anymore. Moroha accepts the mission to slay Homura without a second thought. Moroha asks Towa and Setsuna that they'll do it. Towa and Setsuna look at each other. Towa and Moroha fly on Takechiyo and Setsuna flies on Kirara into the snowy mountains on their way to Homura’s mansion. Towa questions Setsuna that she guesses they got pressured by Moroha and accepted the job. Setsuna agrees with Towa. Moroha questions Towa and Setsuna that 3 heads are better than one. Takechiyo says he didn't think he would have to tag along too. Everyone has reached the snowy mountains. In the meantime, Homura finds out that Tamano has escaped from the jail cell he locked her in and becomes infuriated.

Moroha says it's so cold as she and Towa start to become affected. Takechiyo says he can't go any further as it's too cold. Takechiyo and Kirara land on the ground as they dropped Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha off. Towa says it's snowing so hard. Takechiyo tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that he's heading back and to see them before he flies away. Setsuna tells Kirara that she can head back too and thanks her. Kirara flies away. Moroha says it's freezing and wonders where's the mansion. Towa says she can sense it. After a bit of walking, Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha find Homura’s mansion. Towa tells Setsuna and Moroha that there's no snow over in that area. Setsuna tells Towa and Moroha to let's go. Moroha says it's so cold. Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha head her Homura’s mansion. At Shikabaneya, Tamano is looking out the window. Riku asks Tamano what's the matter. Tamano tells Riku she's just so worried about Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha and wonders if this was the right thing to do. Riku tells Tamano that if someone doesn’t slay Homura, she’ll never be able to get away from him and no matter where she hides he will always find her. Riku expresses his thoughts to Tamano as he says he for one would never understand the love affairs of human beings before he walks out. Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha peeks through Homura’s mansion at the entrance. Towa says it's just like Tamano said as it seems like spring here. Setsuna agrees with Towa. Moroha tells Towa and Setsuna to look at that. Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha look to see Homura in distraught after Tamano’s disappears from his mansion. Towa says that's Homura. Setsuna questions about Homura. Moroha charges into the mansion, surprising Towa and Setsuna. Towa calls out to Moroha. Moroha faces Homura and tells him to look all he want as Tamano isn’t at the mansion anymore. Towa and Setsuna catches up with Moroha, preparing for battle with Homura. Towa questions Moroha that she doesn't think about the consequences at all. Homura consistently asks Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha are they the ones who took away his Tamano. Moroha questions Homura about his Tamano as she doesn't belong to him. Homura tells Moroha to shut up and repeatedly asks where's Tamano. Moroha tells Homura that like she, Towa, and Setsuna would ever tell him. Homura tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that if they don't tell him. Homura shoots Moroha with his fire breath, thrusting her away from the mansion. Towa and Setsuna take cover before they called out to Moroha. Moroha repeatedly says hot before she crashes to the ground. Luckily, Moroha’s Robe of the Fire-Rat protects her from Homura's fire breath as she's now covered in snow. Moroha tells Homura to not underestimate her Robe of the Fire-Rat. Towa and Setsuna become annoyed for a moment before they focused their attention on Homura. Homura repeatedly ask Towa and Setsuna where's Tamano and to hurry up and tell him. Setsuna tells Homura that Tamano will never come back. Homura becomes confused. Towa tells Homura to listen as he can’t just keep someone at his side without their consent as that's just selfish as she takes out her Kikujūmonji and activates her Energy Blade.

Homura repeatedly tells Towa to shut up. Towa signals Setsuna to attack. Setsuna prepares to fight Homura. Homura becomes surprised at Setsuna as he sees the glow in her eyes. Setsuna uses her Scourge of Swallows on Homura. Towa charges at Homura. Homura becomes surprised at the glow in Towa's eye. Homura tells Towa and Setsuna that he knew it was them the ones with the Gold and Silver Rainbow Pearls. Towa continues to charge at Homura as her Silver Rainbow Pearl continues to glow. Homura says he definitely cannot before he uses his fire breath on Towa. Setsuna calls out to Towa. Towa tells Setsuna that she's fine. Homura tells Towa and Setsuna that he didn't think they would still be alive. Setsuna asks Homura what does he mean. Towa asks Homura does he know her and Setsuna. Homura tells Towa and Setsuna that he could've sworn he had killed them both back then. Towa and Setsuna become surprised.

In a flashback, at night Zero calls out to Homura as she commands him to burn the forest down. Homaru questions Zero about the forest. Zero asks Sesshōmaru if that's fine by him. Sesshōmaru remains silent before he walks away as Homaru watches. Zero tells Homaru to burn the entire forest and erase Towa and Setsuna from the face of this world. Homaru tells Zero 'understood'. Towa and Setsuna tried to escape the forest as Towa tells Setsuna this way. Setsuna calls out to Towa. Towa let's go of Setsuna's hand. Setsuna calls out to Towa as she falls down. Homura uses his fire breath to burn down the forest. Homura tells Towa and Setsuna that he thought he had burned everything down but for them to have survived. Towa tells Homura that means he's. Homura confirms it with Towa and Setsuna that he was the one who burned down the forest. Towa becomes enraged and tells Homura because of him. Setsuna witnesses how angered Towa has become after hearing Homura’s story that affected their lives. In a flashback, Towa calls out to Setsuna before her eye starts reacting before a rainbow portal opens up and forcibly sucks her through as calls out to Setsuna. Towa angrily tells Homura that she and Setsuna were torn apart at the forest. At Shikabaneya, Riku is currently gazing at the ocean. Riku asks Tamano was she going somewhere. Tamano comes out of Shikabaneya and calls out to Riku. Riku tells Tamano that even if she goes it's not like she can change anything. Tamano tells Riku that she understands but she needs to be the one to settle things with Homura as she can't put Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha in danger because of her and starts to leave. Riku tells Tamano that if she wants to go that badly then he’ll accompany her as there's something he wants to see for himself. Riku calls upon Takechiyo with a ring from his accessorized blue earring that he wears on his earlobe. Takechiyo flies toward Riku and questions that he called him. Takechiyo lands near Riku and Tamano as he's still covered in snow. Takechiyo says it was freezing over there. Riku asks Takechiyo 'sorry' but could he make another trip there. Takechiyo becomes surprised and nervously tells Riku that if it's for him then there's no problem at all. Riku tells Tamano 'all right'. Tamano tells Riku 'okay'.

Towa and Setsuna are in an ongoing battle with Homura. Homura says he's in trouble if they find out about Towa and Setsuna as he can't let them live. Homura uses his fire breath on Towa and Setsuna. Towa blocks Homura's fire breath and calls out to him. Setsuna blocks Homura's fire breath. Towa and Setsuna head towards Homura as they prepared to attack him. Homura tells Towa and Setsuna that he'll send anyone who tries to tear him and Tamano apart to the next life. Towa and Setsuna's Silver and Gold Rainbow Pearls glow. Towa angrily tells Homura that he's the one who tore her and Setsuna apart. Setsuna uses her Cyclone Burst while Towa uses her Azure Dragon Wave to attack Homura at the same time. Homura asks Towa and Setsuna do they think they can defeat him with that. Homura counters Towa and Setsuna's attacks, leaving them in a state of vulnerability. Moroha uses her Crimson Dragon Wave to protect Towa and Setsuna. Moroha finally meets up with Towa and Setsuna once again covered in snow. Setsuna calls out to Moroha. The snow comes off of Moroha. Moroha tells Towa and Setsuna that they can't get swallowed that gigantic sphere of fire and suggests they retreat for now. Towa refuses as she needs to defeat Homura no matter what as he's the one who tore her and Setsuna apart. Setsuna is speechless of Towa’s determination in avenging their lost past and calls out to her. Homura tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha to make sure they dodge his gigantic sphere of fire and here it comes as this time he'll turn them to ash. Riku, Takechiyo, and Tamano arrived at Homura’s mansion. Tamano tells Homura to stop. Homura stops from attacking Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha, growing emotional hearing the sound of Tamano’s voice as he calls out to her. Tamano pleads for Homura to stop this already as Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha have nothing to do with this. Homura tells Tamano that he doesn't care about that and wonders why is Riku with her. Tamano looks at Riku. Homura becomes jealous. Moroha tells Riku that he's making Homura even angrier. Riku asks Tamano doesn't she think she should return to Homura’s side. Tamano tells Riku 'no' as she'll never do that. Homura becomes stunned and asks Tamano why would she say such a thing. Tamano tells Homura that she'll say it as many times as she needs to and she will live by herself without him as she'll never return to him. Homura becomes surprised. Moroha tells Tamano that she tells Homura. Towa questions did Tamano risk her life just to come here just so she can break up with him. Homura asks Tamano what has happened to her as no one can ever tear their love apart and assumes that she is being swayed by Riku and begs her to come back to him. Riku tells Homura to now come on. Riku tells Tamano why not go to Homura. Tamano tells Riku 'no' as she will not return. Homura calls out to Tamano. Homura falls to his knees on the ground in despair and asks Tamano why would she say that and even though he loves her this much and wonders doesn't she understands his love for her. Homura engulfs his surrounding in flames due to being in complete despair from Tamano’s rejection. Takechiyo moves away from the flames. Riku tells Tamano to be careful as he took hold of her hand. Tamano tells Riku 'yes'. Homura becomes even more jealous and tells Riku to stop it as Tamano is his as his love for her is the greatest. Homura repeatedly calls out to Tamano. Agonized by his own feelings of jealousy and more, Homura’s body becomes engulfed in flames after being in complete distraught. Moroha says Homura's really mad now. Homura’s burns himself up. Moroha says Homura's burning himself up. Homura repeatedly calls out to Tamano. The mansion starts to burn up. Moroha tells Towa and Setsuna that they have to run and fast. Setsuna calls out to Towa. Towa is agitated that she didn’t slay Homura herself. Setsuna calls out to Towa as she grabs her arm. Towa calls out to Setsuna. Setsuna tells Towa to let's go. Towa is hesistant. Setsuna tells Towa to come on. Towa escapes the burning mansion with Setsuna and Moroha. Homura burns himself into ashes after becoming overwhelmingly angry. Tamano is horrified before she closes her eyes. Riku smirks and observes Homura’s suffering as he thinks to himself that it's utter absurd as nothing good comes from loving a human being not for Tōga nor for Sesshōmaru nothing but destruction.

At Shikabaneya, Tamano tells Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that she cannot thank them all enough for their help. Moroha tells Tamano that Takechiyo can fly her to where she wants. Takechiyo asks Moroha why was she the one offering but really it's no problem for him. Tamano says 'no' as this is fine. Towa tells Tamano that now she can live with her grandparents peacefully again. Tamano agrees with Towa as she will return to her grandparents at the foot of the mountain. Tamano tells Takechiyo, Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha to take care of themselves before she leaves. Towa and Moroha wave goodbye to Tamano. Moroha curses Homura as she's disappointed that he got so angry that he burned himself straight into ash and thanks to that her bounty is gone. Takechiyo tells Moroha that it's too bad and laughs as he leaves. Towa takes out her smartphone and says as for her that she thinks she's done walking around with it as it's not like she can contact anyone and she has Setsuna with her here. Towa notices that Setsuna is gazing at her and asks her what. Setsuna asks Towa was she feeling better. A flashback of Towa yelling for Setsuna is seen. Towa asks Setsuna about what. Setsuna tells Towa that she sees. Towa tells Setsuna that it's fine. Riku secretly hides listens behind Shikabaneya.

Trivia

 * This the first episode to air in 2021.
 * It is also the first episode to have BURN as the opening theme and Kesshou as the ending theme.
 * This episode marks the first time on the show that the girls fight not a demon, but a god.
 * It is revealed that the forest fire that resulted in the separation of the half-demon twins was not random but deliberately by Homura, who was ordered by a green-eyed, white-haired female demon named Zero to "erase those cursed half-demon sisters from the face of this world."
 * In addition, it turned out that Zero gave this order with the permission of Sesshōmaru, who was agree for unknown reasons.
 * This is Riku's third appearance. He does not utilize the Purple Rainbow Pearl he had taken from Kyūki.
 * Towa mentioning how one cannot get a signal with a cellphone in the Feudal Era is what Kagome had said in Episode 185.
 * Homura's great obsession with Tamano is quite similar to how the human man Mikagi/the Progenitor was with his tennyo/celestial maiden/angel wife Ceres, even after her spirit was continuously reborn into the bodies of daughters in the Mikage family, in the manga and anime miniseries .
 * This is the first time Towa brings out her inner rage.

Episodi 14 (Hanyo no Yashahime) Episodio 14 (Hanyo no Yashahime)