Chapter Summaries

Kikyo rescued Han, a mysterious girl born from a lotus, from a demon siege and entrusted her to Zhiyá at Kiyomori Temple. After recovering from her injuries, Kikyo left to protect Kaede's Village, while Han promised to visit her someday.

• Kikyo answered a dying samurai's plea and rode to Sawada Castle, where she cleared demons from the gates and entered the valley behind the castle to find the source of the spiritual energy.
• Kikyo found Han emerging from a lotus and brought her out of the valley, then defended her from pursuing demons as they flew toward Kiyomori Temple.
• Kikyo spent her last arrow and unleashed her spiritual power to destroy the demons, and Zhiyá caught her as she fell and brought her to the temple with Han.
• Zhiyá named the girl Han and told her to become a priestess so she could one day stand beside Kikyo.
• After recovering for two days, Kikyo insisted on returning to Kaede's Village despite Zhiyá's warning that she needed a month to rest.
• Han said goodbye to Kikyo and promised to visit her someday, and Kikyo left Kiyomori Temple without looking back.

Han settled into daily life at Kiyomori Temple, where Gardenia and the other priestesses cared for her and Master Zhiyá guided her studies. After explaining the Four Souls and the Shikon Jewel, Zhiyá left Han looking forward to gathering herbs and food with the others that afternoon.

• Han woke beside Gardenia, checked the talisman that concealed her unusual appearance, and joined the priestesses for breakfast.
• Han spoke with Morning Glory about her troubling dream of demons attacking her village as they walked to morning practice.
• Han studied at the Many Treasures Pagoda and impressed Zhiyá with how quickly she read advanced books.
• Han asked Zhiyá whether people possessed all Four Souls in their fullness, and he explained that Kikyo did while he did not.
• Zhiyá told Han that the Shikon Jewel could not be destroyed and that demons might be fighting over it, then reassured her that her own power was different.
• Han returned to Gardenia and Morning Glory, eager to gather herbs, mushrooms, and wild vegetables with the priestesses later in the day.

Han and the shrine maidens encountered the bandit chief Onigumo while gathering herbs, then brought his wounded companion to Kiyomori Temple for treatment. Zhiyá exposed the bandits and drove them away, while Daisy stayed behind with him after the others left.

• Han and Yuriko gathered medicinal herbs on a distant mountain with the other shrine maidens.
• On the way home, Ran led the shrine maidens to Kiyomori Temple after armed riders demanded help for their wounded companion.
• Han fired an arrow when the bandits threatened Ran, but Ran calmed the confrontation and guided them to the temple.
• Zhiyá treated the wounded man, identified the visitors as Onigumo's bandits, and ordered them to leave with the help of his shikigami.
• Tsubaki warned Onigumo that he would die the next time he faced danger, and he led his bandits away.
• Zhiyá asked Daisy to stay behind, while Han left with Yuriko and hoped her master could help Daisy.

Han comforted Daisy as she described how bandits killed her parents and how she later lost her little brother, leaving her consumed by grief and guilt. Daisy questioned why Master had treated a bandit, while Han pondered the suffering caused by war and human desire as dawn arrived at Kiyomori Temple.

• Han found Daisy at her door and went with her to a veranda to talk.
• Daisy told Han that bandits had killed her parents while she and Shinichiro waited at home.
• Daisy recalled finding Shinichiro dead in the river and blamed herself for his death, so Han comforted her.
• Daisy asked why Master had saved a bandit and struggled to accept Master's belief that people deserved a chance to change.
• Han reflected on the painful pasts of the shrine maidens and wondered whether war or human desire caused the suffering as sunrise reached the temple.

The shrine maidens at Kiyomori Temple celebrated Tanabata by writing wishes, praying, and setting decorated bamboo branches afloat on a river. In Kaede’s Village, Kikyo and Kaede shared their own wishes, and Kikyo reaffirmed that being with her sister mattered most to her.

• Gardenia and Han discussed their Tanabata wishes, and Gardenia wished for her parents’ happiness in heaven and everyone’s safety.
• The shrine maidens tied their wishes and ornaments to bamboo; Han wished for her own Spirit Bow and for Kikyo to be happy and reunite with her.
• Kikyo and Kaede tied wishes to a small tree, and Kikyo told Kaede that staying with her was what made her happiest.
• Tsubaki told Yuika that she wished to stay with their teacher forever as the shrine maidens carried their bamboo branches to the river.
• The shrine maidens prayed together, then set the wish-laden branches afloat and hoped one another’s wishes would come true.

Han and the priestesses encountered a wounded Bear-Shaped Demon on their way back from Tanabata, and Han stayed behind to protect the others. Sesshomaru defeated the demon and left before the priestesses returned; Han collapsed from her injuries as they reached her.

• Han heard a powerful demon approaching and urged the unarmed priestesses to hurry back to Kiyomori Temple.
• Han held off the Bear-Shaped Demon with a barrier while Gardenia led the other priestesses away to fetch weapons.
• The Bear-Shaped Demon broke through Han's defenses and wounded her, but Sesshomaru appeared and defeated it with his strength and Light Whip.
• Sesshomaru questioned Han about what she was, and she introduced herself as a priestess named Han; she noticed the sword Tenseiga at his waist.
• Sesshomaru left when Han's master and the priestesses approached, and Han lost consciousness after Gardenia saw her injuries.

After recovering from the demon attack, Han delivered medicine to Sentarō and encountered Sesshomaru, who offered to take her to a swordsmith to find a weapon suited to her. Han asked Zhiyá for permission to go, and he agreed despite the other shrine maidens’ worries.

• Han brought medicine to Sentarō and reluctantly accepted white radishes from his grateful mother.
• Sesshomaru appeared and offered to take Han to a demon swordsmith who could forge her a suitable weapon.
• Han asked Sesshomaru to let her return to Kiyomori Temple and say goodbye before their journey; he told her to meet him the next day.
• Han told Zhiyá and the shrine maidens that she planned to travel with the demon who had saved her to find her own Spirit Bow.
• Zhiyá granted Han permission to go, and the shrine maidens began preparing talisman paper and arrows for her.

Han left Kiyomori Temple with Sesshomaru to find Totosai, hoping the swordsmith could identify what she was. After an emotional farewell, she walked beside Sesshomaru as they began their journey.

• Han said goodbye to the priestesses of Kiyomori Temple, and Gardenia comforted her as they cried together.
• Han embraced the priestesses one by one, and Tsubaki urged her to stay safe and return if she encountered trouble.
• Han reached Sesshomaru and followed him, choosing to leave with the demon despite not knowing what lay ahead.
• Sesshomaru told Han they were going to find Totosai, a demon swordsmith who might know what she was.
• Sesshomaru slowed his pace until Han walked beside him.

Han and Sesshomaru fought a Black Python and its snake demons during their night journey, then tended their wounds and rested together. Han fell asleep holding a corner of Sesshomaru’s robe while he wondered about her unusual healing ability.

• Han washed at a river, where giant snake demons attacked her and Sesshomaru joined the fight.
• The Black Snake Demon appeared, battled Sesshomaru, and transformed into a gigantic Black Python; Sesshomaru revealed his true form as a white Dog Demon.
• Han shot the Black Python in both eyes, then nearly got crushed by a falling tree before Sesshomaru caught her.
• The Black Python begged for mercy after Han’s arrow badly wounded him, and Sesshomaru let him leave with the surviving snakes.
• Han treated Sesshomaru’s wounds with herbs, which rapidly neutralized the poison, and Sesshomaru wondered about her healing ability.
• Han and Sesshomaru rested beside the tree, and Han fell asleep holding a corner of his robe.

Han and Sesshomaru traveled deeper into the forest and met Hakuōju, who revealed that Han was a spirit with the true form of a lotus bud. Hakuōju could not tell Sesshomaru where to find Totosai, but gave Han flowering branches as they continued their journey.

• Han woke beneath a tree, shared the morning with Sesshomaru, and offered him a rice ball, which he refused.
• Sesshomaru explained that demons needed power rather than food, and the two traveled together for many days.
• Han and Sesshomaru reached Hakuōju, an ancient magnolia demon, and Sesshomaru asked him where to find Totosai.
• Hakuōju examined Han and identified her as a spirit whose true form was an unopened lotus bud.
• Hakuōju gave Han several flowering branches, and Han and Sesshomaru continued into the forest.

Sesshomaru explained that Han was born as pure spirit, leaving her uncertain about her identity as they traveled to find Totosai. The pair entered a strange bamboo barrier and faced illusions of rabbits, where Han aimed an arrow at the sky to attack the barrier.

• Han asked Sesshomaru what spirit was, and he explained that she was pure spirit without a body or the four souls.
• Sesshomaru considered the danger of keeping Han beside him but continued traveling with her to find Totosai.
• Han and Sesshomaru entered a bamboo grove enclosed by a barrier that concealed their path and surroundings.
• A group of rabbits appeared, and Sesshomaru's sword attack revealed them to be illusions.
• Han sensed an unusual spot in the sky and aimed an arrow at it as the rabbits attacked her and Sesshomaru shielded her.
• The unseen voice cried out in panic, and the rabbits abruptly froze.

Han and Sesshomaru discovered that the rabbit from the vanished Bamboo Grove was Yunai, a White Hare of Inaba from Gensokyo. Sesshomaru concluded that Yunai had crossed time and space and could return home only in five years, so Yunai joined Han and Sesshomaru on their journey.

• The barrier vanished after Han’s arrow broke through it, and Sesshomaru caught the rabbit that tried to attack them.
• The rabbit introduced itself as Yunai, a White Hare of Inaba from Gensokyo, and explained that a crack in a barrier had swept it outside five years earlier.
• Sesshomaru concluded that Yunai had traveled five years into the past as well as across space, and warned that it could not return before its own time.
• Han invited Yunai to stay with them until it could return to Gensokyo, and Sesshomaru allowed it.
• Yunai accepted Han’s offer, shrank to a fist-sized rabbit, settled on her shoulder, and continued the journey with Han and Sesshomaru.

Han and Sesshomaru found the swordsmith Totosai at Sui Mountain and asked him to forge Han a sword for protection. Totosai took Sesshomaru’s tooth as the material and told Han to seek her own power, leaving her pondering what that power was.

• Han, Sesshomaru, and Yunai Rabbit crossed snowy Sui Mountain and entered the volcanic cave where Totosai lived.
• Sesshomaru confronted Totosai about Tessaiga, and Totosai explained that Sesshomaru’s half-demon brother Inuyasha could wield it.
• Sesshomaru asked Totosai to forge Han a protective sword, and Han offered her demon-bone Wakizashi as an example of her weapon.
• Totosai pulled one of Sesshomaru’s teeth for the sword and used a branch from Hakuōju as material for its scabbard.
• Totosai urged Han to discover her own power, and she left with Sesshomaru wondering what that power might be.

After leaving Sui Mountain, Han and Sesshomaru traveled with Yunai to the Wolf Demon Tribe so Sesshomaru could challenge its chief, Lei. They found the tribe’s chief was ill, and an elder’s hostility toward Han brought them to the brink of a fight.

• Han and Yunai recovered from Sui Mountain’s heat, and Yunai explained that it had gained barrier-making powers after swallowing a mysterious Jade Gem.
• Sesshomaru announced that they were going to the Wolf Demon Tribe to challenge its chief, Lei.
• A hidden wolf demon shot an arrow at Han and Sesshomaru, but Sesshomaru caught and broke it while Han fired back.
• After an aged voice summoned them, Zhu Feng escorted Han, Sesshomaru, and Yunai through a barrier into the Wolf Demon Tribe’s stronghold.
• An elderly white wolf told Sesshomaru that Lei had been ill for a long time and could not accept the challenge.
• The elderly wolf condemned Sesshomaru for traveling with the human miko Han, and Sesshomaru stepped in front of her as both sides prepared to fight.

Sesshomaru and Han met the ailing chief of the Wolf Demon Tribe, who asked Sesshomaru to marry his daughter Ayame when she grew up. Sesshomaru refused but agreed to stay longer, then reassured Han that he would not take another demon as his wife.

• An elderly wolf demon recalled the humans’ artillery attack and resented Sesshomaru’s presence as a demon from the Western Lands.
• A young wolf demon escorted Sesshomaru and Han to the chief, Lei, who was gravely ill and introduced his sleeping daughter, Ayame.
• Lei explained that Ayame had been wounded in the attack and that he had given her his demonic power to save her.
• Lei asked Sesshomaru to take Ayame as his wife when she grew up, but Sesshomaru refused and agreed to remain with the tribe for a while.
• Han asked whether Sesshomaru would someday take another demon as his wife, and he reassured her that he would not.
• Sesshomaru moved the Yunai Rabbit away from Han’s neck, and Han laughed as they stood together looking at the scenery.

Han spent time with young Ayame in the Wolf Demon Tribe, where Ayame showed her a cherished field of irises and asked her to stay. Before returning to Sesshomaru, Han discovered that a particular iris held a deep connection to Ayame and promised that Ayame would take it with her when the surrounding flowers withered.

• Sesshomaru watched Han leave with Ayame for the girl's secret treasure spot, and Han promised to return soon.
• Ayame led Han to a winter meadow of irises, where Han pulled her away from the poisonous flowers before she could be harmed.
• Ayame explained that the irises reminded her of her deceased mother and asked Han to stay with her, but Han said the Wolf Demon Tribe was Ayame's home, not hers.
• Han noticed a distant glimmer among the flowers and followed it with Ayame to a solitary iris beside the river.
• Han heard the iris's story and told Ayame to take it with her once the other irises had withered, then led her back toward Sesshomaru.

Han and Sesshomaru returned to Totosai’s home, where Han received and named her new sword Clear Torrent. After Han gave Totosai some of her blood as payment, Totosai urged Sesshomaru to revisit the Western Lands because the Leopard Cat Tribe still remained.

• Han promised Ayame she would return to visit, then left the Wolf Demon Tribe with Sesshomaru and Yunai.
• The wolf demons discussed Han’s departure, while the white wolf worried about the tribe’s internal divisions and weak leadership.
• Totosai gave Han the sword he had forged, and Sesshomaru named it Clear Torrent.
• Totosai asked Han for some of her blood, and she agreed despite Sesshomaru’s refusal.
• Totosai told Sesshomaru to return to the Western Lands because the Leopard Cat Tribe had not been wiped out, then departed on Mengmeng.

Han and Sesshomaru traveled toward Kiyomori Temple after Han refused to let him bear the cost of her choice. Sesshomaru promised to meet her again and find her a Spirit Bow, while the worried mikos awaited Han’s safe return.

• Han followed Sesshomaru in silence, then caught his sleeve and asked where they were going.
• Sesshomaru told Han they were returning to where she came from, and promised they would find her Spirit Bow once everything was over.
• Han brightened at Sesshomaru’s promise as they continued their journey together.
• That night, Han made replacement arrows by the campfire while Sesshomaru quietly watched her.
• Han and Sesshomaru slept beneath the moonlight, while the mikos at Kiyomori Temple prayed for Han to return safely before New Year’s Eve.

Han parted from Sesshomaru with his promise to return, then arrived back at Kiyomori Temple with Yunai and reunited with the mikos. She reported to Zhiyá, who welcomed Yunai and asked Han to recount what she had seen; Han left the hall sensing something strange about her Master and feeling a faint foreboding.

• Han called Sesshomaru back and asked him to return, and he promised he would before they parted ways.
• Han reached Kiyomori Temple with Yunai, where Sayuri and Ran welcomed her home.
• Sayuri accompanied Han through the snow-covered temple, and Han reunited with the mikos along the way.
• Han told Zhiyá about Yunai, and he allowed her to keep the rabbit and decide whether to bind it as a shikigami.
• Zhiyá asked Han to describe what she had seen outside to the others, and Han left Morning Heart Hall with a strange feeling about him.

Han and Yuika went into Wall Mountain to gather pine branches, but encountered a horde of monsters attacking a group of demon slayers and fought to protect them. They retreated toward Kiyomori Temple with the wounded slayers, where Master and the other mikos arrived to face the threat.

• Han and Yuika gathered pine branches on Wall Mountain after Yuika shared memories of her late hunter father.
• Han sensed a large group of monsters approaching, and she sent Yunai to warn Master while she and Yuika went to investigate.
• Han and Yuika found demon slayers under attack and used Purification Arrows to help drive the monsters back.
• After confirming all the demon slayers were alive, Han and Yuika fought alongside them but realized the monsters kept coming.
• Yuika called for a retreat toward Kiyomori Temple, while she and Han covered the demon slayers as they withdrew.
• Master and the other mikos arrived as Han, Yuika, and the wounded demon slayers reached them.