Episode 40 (Hanyō no Yashahime)

The Three Princesses Escape is the fortieth episode of Hanyō no Yashahime, and the sixteenth episode of the second season titled "The Second Act".

Synopsis

 * 1) The Half-Demon Princesses along with Inuyasha and Kagome Higurashi are ready to return to the land of the living. Inuyasha tells Towa that she must call upon Tenseiga to ensure their escape from the Border of the Afterlife.
 * 2) Meanwhile, Sesshomaru's haku continues to be drained further endangering his life as a gravely concerned Rin and Jaken watch over him.

Summary
With Sesshomaru growing ever weaker, Rin and Jaken take him to the Sacred Tree of Ages as they await Towa and Setsuna's return. Meanwhile, Shippo transports himself and Takechiyo to the village of the demon-slayers and reunites with Sango. Takechiyo explains that Inuyasha and Kagome have been within the Black Pearl all this time, prompting Sango to realize that the time to utilize the Black Hiraikotsu has finally come. Towa manages to call forth Tenseiga, but it is embedded in the pedestal that Tessaiga was once in all those centuries ago. As more demonic power is required, Setsuna and Moroha join their demonic strength with that of Towa's and manage to pull it out.

They all finally escape the Border of the Afterlife, where an overjoyed Shippo awaits them. Moroha decides to keep the Black Pearl within her late grandmother's rouge, as it holds memories that are most precious to her. Rin finally reunites with Setsuna and meets Towa for the very first time, with Jaken reminding the twins that their father is in grave danger. Towa utilizes the supreme power of the Kyuyokon root within Zanseiken to absorb all of the Demon Fireball's energy. Sesshomaru tells his eldest daughter to desist, but she continues, even her strength diminishes. Towa then falls unconscious as her mother screams her name.

Trivia

 * The pedestal from which Tessaiga, in "Tetsusaiga the Phantom Sword", was embedded in reappears; both it and Tenseiga are embedded in it to help the Half-Demon Princesses escape, along with Inuyasha and Kagome, to return to the physical world.
 * Identical twins Kin'u and Gyokoto still play with Shippo, even as young adults.
 * This is Sango's first actual appearance in the second season.
 * This marks Sango's first appearance in the second season. It is revealed that the repaired and upgraded Hiraitoksu she had received all those years ago has now been further enhanced into a Black Hiraitoksu.
 * Towa's hair turning black from infusing demonic energy into Tenseiga is similar to when she attempted to return her twin sister to life.
 * Towa, Setsuna and Moroha meet Shippō for the first time while Inuyasha and Kagome meet Takechiyo for the first time.
 * The fact that Inuyasha knew that Shippō can teleport means he learned that technique before he and Kagome were imprisoned in the Border of the Afterlife.
 * This is the very first time Moroha refers to her rouge as Grandma's rouge which she now uses to hold the Black Pearl as it holds precious memories for her.
 * Towa meets her biological mother for the first time since her release from the silver-scale curse.