WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 45 of Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, "Osamu Kirin's Apparition Conquest," now streaming on Crunchyroll, Funimation and Hulu.
In the latest episode of Yashahime, the three half-demon princesses successfully return to the feudal era to save their parents from Osamu Kirin's mysterious plan to destroy all demons by using the Grim Comet. While they're away, Kirin takes advantage of the chaos by putting Kirinmaru to sleep and stealing Rion away from the injured Riku in an attempt to bring his questionable plans to fruition.
Things take a shocking turn when the Grim Comet reveals a giant cocoon that later releases the Grim Butterfly into the world. After the Grim Butterfly absorbs Rion and Kirin, the giant mythical insect starts purifying the world of lowly demons that evaporate and vanish from thin air. With Rion using the butterfly as her new body to watch over the world for all of eternity, Kirin proudly proclaims the Grim Butterfly as the world's new king.
When the three half-demon cousins remain stuck in the modern era of Japan, they beg the Tree of Ages to take them back to the past so they can save their family from Mr. Kirin's plan to use the Grim Comet for his own goals. Akuru, the time spirit behind the Windmill of Time, appears before them and struggles to force open a gateway of time for them. After successfully opening the door into the past, Akuru dies in Towa's arms and his spirit magically fades away. The group says goodbye to the Higurashis in the present day before returning to the past to meet up with their parents.
When Rion sneaks into her father's throne room while he's sleeping to give him the Kyuyokon fruit to suppress his demon powers, Osamu Kirin stops her and claims to be her ally who'll help her realize her dream. Kirin describes his shared dream of a peaceful world full of flowers, trees and animals that Rion yearns to see. When Kirin embraces her, Rion recalls the loving warmth her father once had and the pleasant memories she has of Kirinmaru. This encounter convinces Rion to join forces with Kirin and use the Kyuyokon fruit to change the world in a new way she didn't know was possible.
When Riku runs into Rion and Kirin, he warns her not to trust him, but she instead betrays his trust and friendship by telling Riku that she doesn't need him anymore. Under Kirin's instruction, Rion holds up the Kyuyokon fruit to the Grim Comet, and it unleashes enough power to reveal the giant cocoon that was hiding in the center of the comet. The cocoon quickly hatches to reveal a ginormous multi-color butterfly with incredible mythical and spiritual power. With a new king born into the world, Rion can use the butterfly as her new eternal body, and Kirin will survive even if Kirinmaru dies as long as he remains connected to the butterfly.
Kirinmaru finally wakes up and finds Kirin, who tells him that it's Rion's dream for her father to beat Sesshōmaru once and for all. Blindly believing Kirin's claim, Kirinmaru goes to the Tree of Ages where Sesshōmaru has just woken up by Rin's side. Instead of backing down or hiding Rin away, Sesshōmaru confidently stands his ground and prepares to defeat Kirinmaru in front of his wife. Not knowing who's the biggest threat or enemy in the series at the moment, fans will have to wait to see the fate of the Great Dog Demon family.
