Kagome is the protagonist of this manga/anime series. Her grandfather is the keeper of Higurashi Shrine, a shintō shrine near Tokyo. On her fifteenth birthday, she is pulled into the Bone Eater's Well by the centipede yōkai - Mudake Jōrō. This takes her back in time to the Sengoku period of feudal Japan. In the past, she finds the half-demon, InuYasha, asleep and pinned to a tree by a magical arrow. Kagome eventually releases InuYasha by removing the arrow from his chest, freeing InuYasha and hence beginning their adventures.


Kagome's relationship with InuYasha is quite a rocky one to begin with. This is because Kagome is in fact the reincarnation of InuYasha's former lover Kikyo.

Kikyo had been a priestess who not only guarded the village which InuYasha haunted, but also protected the Shikon Jewel. The Shikon Jewel is an item which is desired by every demon, including the half-demon InuYasha. The two, cut off from their respective races (InuYasha being only half-demon, and Kikyo being a human with unusual spiritual abilities), fell in love. Kikyo had wished to use the jewel to make InuYasha fully human. However, the series' main villain (Naraku) intervened. Naraku leads InuYasha to believe that Kikyo betrayed him, and so in revenge, he destroyed Kikyo and her entire village. Kikyo's responded by binding him to a tree with her sacred arrow. Kikyo then dies, leaving InuYasha in a deep trace, from which he is eventually released from by Kagome.

At the beginning of the series, InuYasha seems angry towards Kikyo for binding him (still not realizing that Naraku had been the one responsible). InuYasha's resentment towards Kikyo was carried over towards Kikyo's reincarnation, Kagome.

Later in the series, the two become quite close. Other characters, such as Miroku, Sango, and Shippo, often speculate that Kagome and InuYasha are in love. The two avoid discussing their relationship, but there are clear indications in the series of their bond. This includes displays of intimacy such as holding hands, frequent physical contact below the shoulder, and Kagome allowing InuYasha to rest his head on her lap. In Japanese culture, such gestures represent obvious feelings of love between two people.

Kikyo is the origin of Kagome's powers, as she is her previous incarnation. Their relationship is uneasy due to Kikyo's past relationship with InuYasha. Kagome is upset that Kikyo still contacts InuYasha, often talking to him in private.

In the beginning of the series, Kikyo tries to kill Kagome and take InuYasha with her to the afterlife. However, after learning the truth about Naraku's role in her death, she turns her focus from Kagome and InuYasha to Naraku and the jewel.

Kagome has mixed feelings for Kikyo, but Kikyo does acknowledge Kagome and even helps her become a more powerful miko. Kikyo dies knowing that Kagome can finish her task of destroying Naraku and purifying the Shikon no Tama on her behalf.

Kagome treats Shippo like a little brother, bringing him candy and toys from the modern era and allowing him to sleep in her sleeping bag. Shippo is quick to take Kagome's side in an argument, but never really states how he feels about Kagome.

While Miroku is lecherous at times, he has great respect for Kagome and her power. Kagome is constantly trying to get Miroku and Sango together and confess their love for one another.

Sango and Kagome become close friends very quickly. Sango is the only other female character in the group. The two often consult and confide with each other about love interests and other important topics like the whereabouts of the the Shikon Jewel's shards. They call each other's using the -Chan honorifix - a sign of close affections between the two girls.

Koga is first introduced when he tried to make Kagome his woman by kidnapping her. Eventually, as the series progresses, Kouga becomes a trusted ally to the group - often arriving in the nick of time to save so