What Sunrise could have done
According to some interviews, the reason Yashahime was created was because the anime producer Suwa Michihiko demanded a continuation, which was an unreasonable request because after 12 years of various headcanons and fanfics following Inuyasha’s conclusion with the unlikely chance to get a sequel since Takahashi tended to just start a new manga once she concludes one and never made a sequel to any of her other works, it could hardly meet everyone’s general expectations.
However, Sumisawa and the Sunrise staff did not try to think of something that everyone would easily accept like they claimed.
- They knew that the relationship between Sesshomaru and Rin was perceived differently by fans. Rin was fond of Sesshomaru and he cared for her, but it was not necessarily romantic feelings they were displaying and Takahashi never remotely implied in the story that their relationship was or would become romantic whatsoever. And yet they depicted them as a couple and in a controversial way as they seemingly picked the youngest age possible for her in order for her to keep her childish voice tone and for their children to be born before Inuyasha and Kagome’s daughter, which makes it even more awkward. How can we not find this repulsive? Isn’t it obviously awkward to many for an adult and a child whom he looked after and who was obedient to him to become romantically involved? Especially since it was aimed toward a younger audience, it goes without saying: not only it’s immoral to portray an underage-adult relationship as normal and beautiful, it can also be dangerous.
- And after a most satisfying conclusion to the original story, to have Inuyasha and Kagome imprisoned in a secluded place for about 14 years, depriving them of raising their child who is sold off by her teacher to pay off her debt and literally becomes a slave struggling to pay for her freedom, and to waste such an amazing character with a great look and great abilities by treating her as comedic relief and frequently shunting her in favor of Towa and Setsuna, despite the three of them having been framed as a trio… They didn’t think it would be a massive bummer for those who were satisfied with the end of the original story to see the original protagonists who had already gone through a great deal of hardships and their child being trashed like that? It’s obviously necessary for what was last seen in the original work to have lasted for a continuation, as conflict is an important factor for a story to drive it forward, but that doesn’t mean it has to be devastating.
How on earth is that something everyone would be ok with? It’s plain obvious that they simply took the liberty to write something of their own vision, not really taking into consideration the fandom.
So based on what Sunrise and Shiina did (I find Shiina’s version to be better than Sunrise’, especially about the Youreisei (Grim Comet) which was given a better appearance and an origin), all the while using some ideas I came up with, here’s an idea of what they could have done that I believe could have most likely pleased the majority of the fans:
To begin with, it was stated that Inuyasha had concluded with no single thing unanswered, yet: Other than being stated to be 1000 years old and the Bone Eater’s Well having been constructed out of its wood in the first movie, the Sacred Tree of Ages had not been explored and it was not explained why the well connected between two eras.
Therefore, since the Tree of ages was an important element in Inuyasha, especially for being the place where Inuyasha and Kagome first met, I thought of this:
Instead of being daughters of Sesshomaru, Towa and Setsuna are daughters of a female demon who was affiliated with the tree of ages. The twins would be presented as mysterious half-demon twins and together with the daughter of Inuyasha and Kagome who had first met at the tree, they would form a trio of half-demon girls whose parents had a history with the sacred tree of ages, whose origins would be revealed as they venture.
And here’s what I thought so far for the mother of the twins and the sacred tree of ages:
The mother of the twins was a good-hearted demon who, during the Heian era, fought Kirinmaru who had a vile ambition, and defeated him, although he swore to return in around 500 years. (It could be that Kirinmaru wanted to use a chunk of the Youreisei which he had repelled, to activate the windmill of time to take back his daughter Rion which a piece of Youreisei nonetheless took away from him. But he had to fight the mother of the twins who was the guardian of the windmill, and not only was Kirinmaru defeated, but the fragment had lost its power. So Kirinmaru had to wait for the Youreisei to return for the chunk to regain its power)
Not too long after, she met a human male with whom she’d conceive her children, but both would suffer a tragedy leaving the twins orphaned. (It could have been that her pregnancy weakened her, and Zero took the chance to attempt killing her to have out of the way for when Kirinmaru would return. And she succeeded in mortally wounding her, by first killing her husband to render her so angry that she wouldn’t think carefully, although she managed to drive Zero away. She was ready to die and join her lover but eventually struggled to stay alive at least until her daughters were born, and she died after giving birth to them)
Someone placed her daughters in the sacred tree where they remained asleep and didn't age, and would wait for them to reemerge around 500 years later to defeat Kirinmaru again. They were released 15 years prior to Kirinmaru’s return so they'd be old enough to accomplish their duty, and the one who waited for them put the barrier in the forest around the tree and watched over them without letting them know of his presence. (I actually thought of Yotsume, instead of being an enemy, being the one who placed the twins in the tree and watched over them all the while using his illusion techniques to keep them from leaving the forest and not let anyone find them, since he reminds me of the owl in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
The reason why Inuyasha did not age while he was sealed to the tree and why the bone-eater well made from wood of the tree connects to around 500 years later would be explained as the origin of the tree of ages is revealed while the mother of the twins was alive, or the way the twins were placed in the tree to reemerge around 500 years later would be the reason.
Now, considering how the fans could interpret the future following Inuyasha’s finale for themselves, imagine the various interpretations, especially for the most prominent characters: What if some picture Inuyasha and Kagome having not just one child? What if some picture Miroku and Sango having more children? What if some picture Shippo growing up? What would become of Rin? (I picture her becoming a doctor running a clinic in the village of demon slayers: https://www.tumblr.com/kohakuxrin/647638096456859648/as-i-re-imagined-yashahime-with-towa-and-setsuna?source=share)
So I believe the best option is an adventure without involving the original cast (Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kirara, Kaede, Sesshomaru, Jaken, Rin, Kohaku, Koga, Ayame, Ginta, Hakkaku, and also Gyokuto, Kin’u and Hisui). It would have most likely been disappointing for many fans not to see what the original cast became, but I believe it is better than being likely upset with how they’d be portrayed.
Only the first episode “Inuyasha Since Then” would feature them as a throwback. I’d add a little scene with Koga, Ayame, Ginta and Hakkaku since they were prominent characters (my idea of a scene would be: some wolves report to Koga that something is going on in Kaede’s village but he assures Ayame that he won’t go for Kagome because he accepted that his responsibility lies in his leadership in the wolf demon tribe, and he thinks “Dog Turd, Kagome is your responsibility, so you’d better assume it well!”)
And as it gave an opportunity for Noriko Hidaka to also return to the cast like all the original cast’s seiyus did in “Inuyasha Since Then”, the spirit of the sacred tree of ages depicted as a sentient being with a mind and will of its own which borrowed the appearance and voice of Kikyo seemed alright to me.
Then the rest of the story would be with only new characters (Towa, Setsuna, Moroha, a substitute leader of the Demon Slayers and some members, Jyubei, Takechiyo, Yawaragi, Yotsume, Four Perils, Riku, Zero, Kirinmaru, Demon Mother and Human Father of the twins...) and some characters from Inuyasha whose involvement would most unlikely upset anyone (if they are well portrayed) would be involved (such as the Higurashi Family, Myoga, Totosai, Hachiemon, Sesshomaru’s mother, Bokuseno, Hosenki II, Master of Potions, Jinenji, Shiori, Royakan, Mimisenri, Nazuna, Sayo, Koharu, Taichi…)
All those who appeared in “Inuyasha Since Then” would not appear again during the Yashahimes’ adventure and whatever became of them would not be revealed, although a reason for the absence of most would be required. It could be that shortly before the trio assembled, Inuyasha and the others had to leave to a faraway place to take care of a situation of which as much help as possible was necessary, which would possibly mean that even Sesshomaru and Koga went along. (That situation could be the Youreisei, because Kirinmaru waited for it to return to have its chunk regain its power, and would not try to repel it again. And they had to be at a specific spot where it would appear, and had to prepare themselves for it). And those who seem not likely to participate in that situation like Kaede would not be seen by not having her village seen/involved.
Moroha was raised by her parents and it would not be said that she is their only child, to leave the possibility that they had more children if some fans prefer.
And as a finale, I though of this: Moroha had received a letter from her parents saying that they dealt with the situation without any casualty, but Towa and Setsuna wouldn’t meet them and return to the Reiwa era together for they’d be faced with making a quick decision of which era they wanted to remain. They say goodbye to Moroha who later sees her parents having made their return (their respective seiyus would speak but their faces would not be shown (like in Pikachu’s vacation: Ash and his friends were not fully seen)). Inuyasha rejoices at eating ramen again while Kagome reads a letter from her family that Moroha brought back. After reading it, Kagome wishes to send them a letter back and Moroha tells her that there is a way. In the present, Towa and Setsuna surprise the Higurashi family with a chest containing a letter from Kagome. They reveal that they discussed with Moroha and thought of having Kagome write a letter and bury it in a chest within the Bone Eater’s well in case they would not meet, which made it as if the well worked one last time, and they waited to reveal what they thought of after unburying it to avoid any disappointment if nothing was found. Kagome’s words moved the family to tears, and much to everyone’s surprise, she also wrote words for Towa and Setsuna, saying that although they didn’t get to meet, there was no hesitation in writing to her adopted nieces with whom her daughter had an adventure and she hopes they are happy to be adopted in her family who preserved the sacred tree of ages of which their mother was affiliated with. Then as Yashahime’s theme goes, both families in both eras celebrate for the Yashahimes at the same time.
