Does Kagome belong with Inuyasha? Or maybe Kikyou?
Basic Plot
InuYasha follows Kagome Higurashi, a fifteen-year-old girl whose normal life ends when a demon drags her into a cursed well on the grounds of her family’s Shinto shrine. Instead of hitting the bottom of the well, Kagome ends up 500 years in the past during Japan’s violent Sengoku period with the demon’s true target, a wish-granting jewel called the Shikon Jewel, reborn inside of her.
After a battle with a revived demon accidentally causes the sacred jewel to shatter, Kagome enlists the help of a young dog-demon/human named Inuyasha to help her collect the shards and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. Joining them on their quest are the orphan fox-demon Shippo, the monk Miroku, and the demon slayer Sango.
Inuyasha was my first real anime and manga series that I finished. Due to this, it’s dear to my heart and I love making theories regarding it!
Love Triangle?
The love triangle in Inuyasha is one of the few “battles” that fans just can’t agree on. Fangirls will argue until they’re blue in the face who our hanyou belongs with. Let’s dive into it a little, shall we?
If we read between the lines and analyze the entire series carefully, in my opinion, Inuyasha loves Kagome more. Inuyasha feels morally obligated to protect Kikyou and follow her to the afterlife because she died due to him. While she is his first love, a large part of his longing comes from guilt and the need to repay her for what she did. In other words, guilt is one of the important element that really bounds his feelings towards Kikyou, more than the feeling of love.
There were also many many times in which Inuyasha had the opportunity to follow her to the afterlife but every time, he didn’t because of Kagome. He wants to go with Kikyou but not enough to leave behind Kagome. Not to mention, Kagome’s voice wouldn’t reach his heart had he really truly wanted to die with Kikyou.
In terms of his relationship with Kagome, it is entirely different than his with Kikyou.
In terms of trust, it is obvious that it is lacking to a great extent with his relationship with Kikyou even after they found out about the whole Naraku scheming ordeal to break them apart. However, the trust between Inuyasha and Kagome is impeccable, every time she gets in trouble, she never failed to believe in Inuyasha that he will come to save her, and he never failed to not save her.
Related: Kagome and Kikyou Don’t Look Alike…Do They?
Kagome changed Inuyasha into a better person, I feel she spent more time with him and got to know him much more than Kikyou did. Inuyasha and Kikyou will always share a special bond because Kikyou was Inuyasha’s first love and vice versa. She was the first person he ever cared for and trusted and that’s a big commitment coming from someone who never trusted a soul before that. Inuyasha will always care for Kikyou but he cares much more for Kagome.
Perhaps, if Kikyou had lived, their relationship would have grown stronger but I doubt it for a few reasons. One being that Kikyou wanted Inuyasha to change into a human for her. You can’t go into a relationship expecting someone to change. You have to accept them the way they already are.
More Thoughts
Lastly, when Inuyasha says that he was born for Kagome and vice versa. That’s not anywhere near “oh, I’m stuck with Kagome because Kikyou is dead.” Our hanyou never says words that he doesn’t mean. He shouts out his feelings aggressively, so for him to say this is pretty important. So I believe that Inuyasha doesn’t belong with Kikyou. He has always loved Kagome and belongs with her.
Still, that doesn’t make Kikyou’s death any less sad. I cried during her death and watching Inuyasha shed tears nearly broke my heart.
Have you watched or read this amazing series? Who is your OTP? Let me know in the comments below!
As always,
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