inuyasha and kikyou

Both Inuyasha and Kikyou grew up very alone, very seperated, from their kind. Inuyasha never being accepted because he was a hanyou and Kikyou respected and untouchable because of her powerful status as a miko. It came to quite a shock to the two that upon meeting, they felt as though they had something in common and they both gave the other what they were seeking: acceptance. After a few interesting events they became almost inseperable as Inuyasha followed Kikyou around as she worked and Kikyou being a constant source of comfort and wisdom for Inuyasha.

It wasn't long before the two fell in love, as they even had started to travel and fight together. Inuyasha even became somewhat respected by the villagers because of Kikyou's feelings for him. So it only seemed natural for Kikyou to use the jewel to turn Inuyasha into a human, which he no longer minded the idea of as long as he could be with her. That way the jewel would disappear on account of being purified by the wish, Inuyasha could live a normal human life and Kikyou, no longer having to protect the Shikon no Tama, would be an ordinary woman free to marry. And so that's what they had decided to do.

However, Onigumo - a crippled, dying bandit that Kikyou was secretly taking care of - was jealous of their relationship because he wanted Kikyou for himself. Surrendering his body over to the possession of countless youkai in order to be able to live again, Onigumo became Naraku. Naraku however, did not want Kikyou but the Shikon no Tama that she constantly purified. There was a way to disrupt the purification of the jewel and that was to taint it with negative emotions of hatred and betrayl.

Naraku formed a plan to use Inuyasha and Kikyou's love for his own gain. While waiting for Kikyou to arrive at their meeting place, Inuyasha was attacked by Naraku, who was using the form of Kikyou, and caused the hanyou to distrust the miko. Angry, Inuyasha went to steal the Shikon no Tama which, he thought, was in the village. It went almost the same for Kikyou except for the fact that Naraku, in Inuyasha's form, physically attacked Kikyou - mortally wounding her - and stole the Shikon no Tama, which was on her person as she was ready to use it for Inuyasha. Naraku, as Inuyasha, drew Kikyou back to the village by informing her that he was going to kill all the villagers. He then placed the Shikon no Tama back in the temple, which was where Inuyasha found it.

As Inuyasha attempted to leave the village with the jewel, Kikyou arrived and shot him with an arrow which sealed him to the tree he was pinned against. Kikyou, on the verge of death, informed the villagers to burn the Shikon no Tama with her remains. Of course, the Shikon no Tama being destroyed in the deal was not part of Naraku's plans and so he went into hiding for fifty years while waiting for it to resurface.

That is a tragic enough story in itself, but after fifty years goes by and Inuyasha wakes up with the reappearance of Kagome and the Shikon no Tama - everything changes. Kikyou is brought back to life and Inuyasha and Kikyou attempt to sort out what had happened to them all those years before. They still have feelings for each other, but there is one problem; Kikyou is dead. At first they were going to die together, but it's apparent to Kikyou that Inuyasha now has feelings for her reincarnation, Kagome, even though Inuyasha never admits it to her.

So the couple go their seperate ways with their seperate missios, although each are silently tailing Naraku seeking revenge for the injustice of fifty years past. Although they meet up every once in a while, because Inuyasha is torn for the most part of the story between his devotion to Kikyou and his duty to Kagome, but they don't ever really talk about their past love nor does Kikyou attempt to take Inuyasha with her anymore. However, for old time's sake Kikyou does help out Inuyasha and Kagome in times when they get into threatening situations. At this point though, Inuyasha is out for revenge and Kikyou attempts to right the wrongs before going back to death.