Setsuna no Takemaru
TITLE: Setsuna no Takemaru (Takemaru of Setsuna)MEANING: Setsuna is assumed as his place of origin, although Takemaru means "fierce" or "rash"
ALTERNATE NAMES: None
RACE: human (Deceased)
AGE: Unknown (appears 20s)
HAIR/EYES: Black / Black
THOSE HELD DEAR: Izayoi
KIN: None known
FIRST APPEARANCE: Eiga InuYasha - Tenka Hadou no Ken (InuYasha the Movie - Swords of an Honorable Ruler)
Setsuna no Takemaru was a young warrior who guarded the mansion where Izayoi was giving birth. Although he had secretly fallen in love with the young woman, he would not let himself act upon his feelings. However, a darkness seemed to form inside of him once Takemaru realized that the woman he loved would give birth to a youkai's child. Takemaru only appears in the third InuYasha movie, however, according to this movie, he is the one ultimately responsible for Inu no Taisho's death.
The full moon illuminates the snow-covered land as Izayoi awaits her beloved's arrival; she is about to give birth. Outside, Takemaru has set up a heavy guard to prevent the youkai from entering, and soon heads to where Izayoi resides; the birthing chamber. However, he is halted by the midwife, who persists that this room is forbidden to men. He attempts to ignore her, but when the midwife continues to prevent Takemaru from entering, he kills her. Before entering the chamber, he peers at the moon - a lunar eclipse is beginning to occur, and Takemaru proclaims that it is a perfect time to slay a youkai.
Upon entering, Izayoi pleads with Takemaru to remove the guards and tell everyone to get as far away from the mansion as possible. She tells him that "he" is coming, and that there is no one here strong enough to oppose him. Takemaru ignores her pleads and finally tells Izayoi his true feelings, and that he has come to release her from the youkai's curse. Before Izayoi can say anything in response, Takemaru plunges his spear into her chest and leaves her there to die. As he makes his way out of the room, Takemaru whispers to himself that his feelings will never change.
Takemaru reaches the mansion's entrance soon after Inu no Taisho blasts through the gate. As many of the guards scatter around him, Takemaru boldly states that Inu no Taisho has come to late: Izayoi is now in a place where even he can not reach her, and that he sent her there himself. Infuriated, Inu no Taisho charges past him, and although Takemaru attemps to fell the great lord, he is no match and soon Takemaru finds himself badly injured and losing blood fast. He turns to see Inu no Taisho disappear into the building.
Takemaru orders the remaining guards to set the mansion aflame, and soon follows after Inu no Taisho. Upon reaching him, he finds that Inu no Taisho has revived Izayoi and that she and the baby are now escaping. Takemaru insists that he has no regrets in dying if he is able to kill Inu no Taisho, and the two begin to battle. The winner remains undetermined since the burning mansion collapsies on both of them shortly after they begin their fight. Takemaru's remains are later buried in an unmarked grave in a bamboo field; left there only to be forgotten.
Centuries later, Takemaru is revived by the sword of hell, So'unga. The sword uses the hatred and anger Takemaru felt at the time of his death against him; merging Takemaru with the sword's evil and causing him to lose most of his humanity. After taking over a local samurai residence, Takemaru - or rather So'unga - begin the plan to decend on InuYasha and Sesshoumaru. After a hard battle, Takemaru is finally able to realize that Izayoi truly did care for him, and he is finally able to die in peace.
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