who will inuyasha choose? kikyo or kagome? [Archive]

Hunter_Of_Peace

July 6th, 2004, 07:56 PM

Hard to say. There really is no clear sign of who is better than the other based on different consequences. Lets take a look at the key points.

Kagome:
ill tempered most of the time but very nuturing and caring when it comes to the innocent peoples perils. She is the reincarnation of Kikyo and was born with the sacred jewel buried in her flesh at the begining of the series. Her looks are identical to Kikyo but her personality is more light hearted and unexperienced when it comes to life. She has just only met InuYasha on bizarre instances but the two have seemingly grown on each other day in and day out. The relationship with Kagome and InuYasha is growing and is new and fresh for InuYasha.

Kikyo: InuYasha's first true love and sypathetic human that he has ever met. Through his life, he was always considered the freak and outsider to both his human bretherin and his demon kind. It was until he met Kikyo that he started to find greater light in warmth in human kind than in his cold world of demons. Lets not forget that also his mother had shown him compassion but that was only one woman. Kikyos caring relationship and love had even brought InuYasha to the conclusion that he wanted to become fully human with the help of the shikon jewel. However, the relationship turned tragically as the envious and dreadful .......(dang it, I forgot his name!.....the guy in the baboon suit) attacked both InuYasha and Kikyo in their similar forms. Their betrayal among one another caused a disconection in their love but with InuYasha's reawakening from a short slumber of a strange kind of death, he learned the truth and is consumed with grief on his misjudgement. He wants to set things straight between him and Kikyo but the final past reincarnation of Kikyo is the spirit of the vengeful and hateful Kikyo. In the end, Kikyo holds a greater amount of history between InuYasha's life as a caring person. However, with the ups and downs of the relationship, would InuYasha risk having an easily loving relationship with Kagome than a complicated turn out with Kikyo?........

I ultimately have no clue since I am neither InuYasha nor the writer of the series. If I had to chose by an offhand guess, I would say Kagome since she holds almost the same qualities as Kikyo but with a more light hearted and unmature sense. Thanks for reading this post because I surely wasted a good 10 minutes on it.

Lancaster

July 6th, 2004, 08:08 PM

Um, Kagome.

How can there be any doubt?

Flounder_81

July 6th, 2004, 08:32 PM

Considering Kagome is the one thats actually alive, I'm going to throw a vote in her direction. ^_^ Half-demon or not, I don't think Inuyasha is down with the necrophilia.

Lemina

July 6th, 2004, 08:36 PM

Having only seen the beginning of Inuyasha by far, I'd have to say Kagome and Inuyasha would be the ideal couple. At first impression I thought Kagone was a girl who was so sweet and I've always thought she looked so cute together with Inuyasha. I've lone to see more of this anime one day, it totally interested me when I watched the first episodes on the Cartoon Network Adult Swim.

DAM8024

July 6th, 2004, 09:11 PM

Considering Kagome is the one thats actually alive, I'm going to throw a vote in her direction. ^_^ Half-demon or not, I don't think Inuyasha is down with the necrophilia.

I voted for Kikyo of course. And he must be down with necrophilia cause he has told and shown Kikyo how much he still cares for her on numerous occasions.

J77

July 6th, 2004, 09:45 PM

Kikyo no doubt.

nerfer

July 6th, 2004, 10:40 PM

I voted Kagome, their relationship has grown by leaps and bounds throughout the series. Besides, she is the heroine of the story, it would make sense for her to end up with the hero!

Greek Honeybee

July 6th, 2004, 11:01 PM

I doubt necrophilia has anything to do with his decision. :rolleyes: I doubt he has too many weird fetishes. He's the type of guy who is driven by strong emotions, but lust ain't one of 'em. He does love them, however. (And yeah, I know you guys are just kidding, anyway.) :P

I think it would all come down to the circumstances leading him to make any decision between them. If he felt obligated to make the honorable choice, he will die with Kikyou. If he felt free to choose the girl that makes him happy, however, it'll be Kagome. ;)

Keiichi-chan

July 6th, 2004, 11:07 PM

I'll go against the grain and vote Kikyo as well. I feel bad for her getting her lover stolen that flusie schoolgirl reincarnation of herself,Kagome. Kikyo saw him first and she is doing some serious female **** blocking. I mean have we forgotten the 'dibs' rule ppl? Don't stick your fork onto someone else's plate.

Greek Honeybee

July 6th, 2004, 11:17 PM

I mean have we forgotten the 'dibs' rule ppl? Don't stick your fork onto someone else's plate.
So.. what does the 'dibs' rule say if the someone else is dead? As in, not among the living at all. At least, that's how it was when Inuyasha and Kagome started getting close. There was nothing illegal about that at the time.

Besides, Kikyou had him once, and dumped him rather decisively. She had, for all intents and purposes, thrown the dish back. With that alone, it's assumed by both parties that the relationship is over. Then someone else picked him up while she wasn't looking, and NOW he looks like a tasty morsel. Well, too bad. ^_^

SoulfulFX

July 7th, 2004, 04:48 AM

Meowchi said it best several times... if Inuyasha and Kagome don't end up together ...well... I cannot be held responsible for what I do next... :ssj:

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 7th, 2004, 06:09 AM

I know that this is going to upset Kikyou fans, but Kikyou and Inuyasha's relationship really can't go anywhere. There is really no place for it to go, to move forward. But Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship can still move forward; it still has someplace to go. Kikyou is not the same Kikyou who Inuyasha loved, and he no doubt has realized that. So in the end, it will be Kagome.

laken cascade

July 7th, 2004, 06:50 AM

meowchi

July 7th, 2004, 07:15 AM

Meowchi said it best several times... if Inuyasha and Kagome don't end up together ...well... I cannot be held responsible for what I do next... :ssj:
:lol: and that my friend is why I like you so much. Friends that :ssj: together stay together. :lol:

All I have to say is damn.... why in the world did this turn into 3 damn threads about Kagome vs Kikyou?

Greek Honeybee

July 7th, 2004, 08:32 AM

that is true however , how can Inyusha and Kagomes work either , what with them being seperated by thousands of years , i mean Kagome has to go back to the "real world" someday and leave all of them behind

Least with Kikyou , Inyusha will always have her even if she is a dead body
Nah. Inuyasha's gonna ditch the Sengoku Jidai, since they never liked him anyway, and live in Kagome's era, where everyone thinks he's so cool. ;)

And Kikyou will go there too, because we still have to set her up with Houjou-kun. :D

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 7th, 2004, 09:04 AM

Nah. Inuyasha's gonna ditch the Sengoku Jidai, since they never liked him anyway, and live in Kagome's era, where everyone thinks he's so cool. ;)
Also keep in mind that the well is not going to close just because the quest for the Shikon no Tama is over; the Shikon no Tama has nothing to do with the time travel via the well. And we all know that Grandpa Higurashi's seals are never going to work on that well. So, even if Kagome has to go back to her time, Inuyasha can visit her; and Kagome can alwas visit him (and the others, as well). She does get summer vacations, even if they are only a month long.

And Kikyou will go there too, because we still have to set her up with Houjou-kun. :D
:cheers:

*roars with laughter*

Brill

July 7th, 2004, 09:20 AM

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 7th, 2004, 09:32 AM

You know, after 148 episodes it's still a coin-toss. The fact is that neither relationship has really progressed since the beginning of the series, which will most likely leave a dry taste in our mouths when Takahashi decides to finish this thing :P
I must protest. Perhaps Kikyou and Inuyasha's relationship has gone nowhere since the beginning of the series, but Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship certainly has progessed. Unfortunately, as Bake-heika has pointed out many times, the anime undermines the relationship between Kagome and Inuyasha; but in the manga, the development is more obvious. There are subtle signs of development, but as someone who picks up signs of romance like that *snaps her fingers* it's blatantly obvious that those two are getting further along in their relationship. It's going somewhere, that's for sure, and that "somewhere" is certainy not the grave. It's obvious that their feelings for each other grow as the series moves forward.

Hankoubou

July 7th, 2004, 10:11 AM

Yeah, it is kind of obvious he is going to go with Kagome, but maybe it is just me when I say, I could careless how their relationship ends.

((On a side note, I wonder if anyone is goingto say a certain thing to me today.))

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 7th, 2004, 10:29 AM

Yeah, it is kind of obvious he is going to go with Kagome, but maybe it is just me when I say, I could careless how their relationship ends.
Yes, it is obvious that Inuyasha is going to end up with Kagome in the end, but this has posed another question: What exactly is going to happen to Kikyou? As has been mentioned many times, she will either join with Kagome's soul (although that might create problems in Kagome and Inuyasha's relatioship), acheive nirvana if she can, or go to hell. But even if she does one of those, how is that going to affect Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship? Inuyasha will never be able to forget Kikyou, nor can we expect him to; but he must also put her aside for a brighter future with Kagome.

It's an interesting, though, really. You have no idea how many times I've sat around daydreaming what might happen. -_-; I really do need to get a life, don't I?

((Oshous-sama, check your messages.))

Hankoubou

July 7th, 2004, 10:50 AM

((I would reply, but your box is full.))

Brill

July 7th, 2004, 11:33 AM

I must protest. Perhaps Kikyou and Inuyasha's relationship has gone nowhere since the beginning of the series, but Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship certainly has progessed. Unfortunately, as Bake-heika has pointed out many times, the anime undermines the relationship between Kagome and Inuyasha; but in the manga, the development is more obvious. There are subtle signs of development, but as someone who picks up signs of romance like that *snaps her fingers* it's blatantly obvious that those two are getting further along in their relationship. It's going somewhere, that's for sure, and that "somewhere" is certainy not the grave. It's obvious that their feelings for each other grow as the series moves forward.

Inuyasha and Kagome are friends, even confidants, but they are not lovers. Even though they have kissed--wait a sec, if you're a manga-thumper they haven't, but I just saw it--regardless their relationship has played at affection but never gone the distance. Even after all this time it's sophmoric at best. Hell, even Souta has gotten further than Kagome with the declaration of his affections. While I agree that that the pendulum is swinging towards Kagome now, it still hovers in Kikyo's court. I could totally see Inuyasha going to hell with Kikyo, souls reunited. That is a very common theme in anime. While the public sentiment it geared to a Inuyasha-Kagome pairing doesn't mean its going to happen. Time will tell.

meowchi

July 7th, 2004, 12:21 PM

I think that even if he does decide to die with Kikyou, he will end up with Kagome in the future.
This is a story based on reincarnation, so there for even if he does die with Kikyou, he will end up with Kagome in the future. I really could give a crap less about what happens to Kikyou. But in all honesty I don't see her going to hell. She's not evil, there for she has no real reason to end up in hell.
I guess I am just trying to say, that in a major way Kagome and Inuyasha were lovers in the past (She is Kikyou's reincarnation.... Kikyou and InuYasha were lovers) so it only makes sense that they end up together, Again, no matter how it works out for poor Kikyou.
I really hope that made sense to some one other then me.

Brill

July 7th, 2004, 12:53 PM

Well Kagome has 5 possible outcomes:

The Fushigi Yugi: finds the human variant of InuYasha in her own time when the jewel is gone.

The Escaflowne: They can magically talk to each other in different eras via the old tree as was suggested by the movie.

The Now and Then/Here and There Part 1: She stays/dies in the feudal era.

The Now and Then/Here and There Part 2; She returns home with warm fuzzies and that's all.

The Zenki: Shard is believed destroyed, finds a piece in her time, and is allowed to go back to that era and the series is never resolved (yeah I know it's lame, but still possible).

Pick your poison.

Kagura Hakubi

July 7th, 2004, 02:29 PM

By... Warm Fuzzies... do you mean memories or a certain furry boyfriend?

I personally could care less about Inuyasha's love life, but I'm one of those wierd people who prefer to pay attention to the secondary characters rather than the leading couple. I mean... I hope they end up happy, and I'll enjoy it if they get screwed over (Sadistic, me? Never!) but it's so obviously going to be a happy ending it almost sickens me... Now... Kagura/Sesshoumaru, Miroku/Sango, and all those tantalizing shots we get of Shippou and that Ucchan-lookalike village girl... heh, those are my kind of thing.

Animegrl/Parnaz

July 7th, 2004, 02:38 PM

I think Inuyasha will choose Kagome.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 7th, 2004, 02:52 PM

Inuyasha and Kagome are friends, even confidants, but they are not lovers. Even though they have kissed--wait a sec, if you're a manga-thumper they haven't, but I just saw it--regardless their relationship has played at affection but never gone the distance. Even after all this time it's sophmoric at best. Hell, even Souta has gotten further than Kagome with the declaration of his affections. While I agree that that the pendulum is swinging towards Kagome now, it still hovers in Kikyo's court. I could totally see Inuyasha going to hell with Kikyo, souls reunited. That is a very common theme in anime. While the public sentiment it geared to a Inuyasha-Kagome pairing doesn't mean its going to happen. Time will tell.
I am not a manga-thumper; I watch the anime and read the manga. Kagome and Inuyasha are in love, and it takes a fool not to see it. As if they are going to advance to the "I love you, so let's be mates and live forever and have many children!" state so quickly. What kind of series do you think this is?

((Oshou-sama, my box is no longer full.))

Greek Honeybee

July 7th, 2004, 03:13 PM

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 7th, 2004, 03:18 PM

You completely forgot The Maison Ikkoku: Kagome is fully accepted into Inuyasha's life after he comes to terms with his former lover's death. :P
Hasn't Inuyasha pretty much gotten over Kikyou's death? He no doubt realizes by now that the Kikyou walking the earth now is not the same Kikyou that he had known 50 years ago. Hasn't he realized that by now and accepted the fact that she'll never be the same?

That does not mean that he has to stop loving her. I think that's going to take a long time. Of course, having Kagome there to help heal the wounds does no harm.

I think the Maison Ikkoku is one of the likeliest choices. Fushigi Yuugi would also be possible. The Zenki would not happen because the jewel has nothing to do with Kagome's time traveling. An Escaflowne ending would have fans in an outrage. I don't think Takahashi would do that.

Greek Honeybee

July 7th, 2004, 03:27 PM

Hasn't Inuyasha pretty much gotten over Kikyou's death? He no doubt realizes by now that the Kikyou walking the earth now is not the same Kikyou that he had known 50 years ago. Hasn't he realized that by now and accepted the fact that she'll never be the same?

That does not mean that he has to stop loving her. I think that's going to take a long time. Of course, having Kagome there to help heal the wounds does no harm.
That is true. I originally wanted to say "after he accepts his former lover's death", but that's not the real issue. I realized that he can accept it all he wants, but he still can't move on with Kagome until he comes to some kind of understanding with the part of Kikyou that's still wandering around. He has to get through to her so that she can rest and set him free. In that sense, "comes to terms" seemed like a better choice of words.

Brill

July 7th, 2004, 03:28 PM

I am not a manga-thumper; I watch the anime and read the manga. Kagome and Inuyasha are in love, and it takes a fool not to see it. As if they are going to advance to the "I love you, so let's be mates and live forever and have many children!" state so quickly. What kind of series do you think this is?

This is a Takahashi series, where clearcut developments in relationships is always debatable. Need I say Ranma? Kagome and Inuyasha are in love? Have they declared their feelings to one another? Have they made out yet? Have they chosen new drape patterns together? The answer is no. This is typical Takahashi, always insinuated, but never declared. The most amazing thing here is that we know almost nothing as to what Inuyasha feels. All we ever get is him flustering when he is confronted with the issue. The only one who we get a glimpse of is Kagome, and she "supposedly" stepped aside. Kikyo gets so little airtime it's almost impossible to truly see where she sits in this bozarre love triangle. If Takahashi actually took either couple forward that would be progess. It's been rather stagnant since Kagome made her decision to step down.

Brill

July 7th, 2004, 03:33 PM

You completely forgot The Maison Ikkoku: Kagome is fully accepted into Inuyasha's life after he comes to terms with his former lover's death. :P

That is true. I originally wanted to say "after he accepts his former lover's death", but that's not the real issue. I realized that he can accept it all he wants, but he still can't move on with Kagome until he comes to some kind of understanding with the part of Kikyou that's still wandering around. He has to get through to her so that she can rest and set him free. In that sense, "comes to terms" seemed like a better choice of words.

Well that is implied in the options listed. She has to end up somewhere.

The other issue is, is she the former lover? InuYasha has never told anyone that he has replaced Kikyo with Kagome. He definitely has to come to terms with Kikyo but his decision, so far, is that he belongs to the remnants of Kikyo, not Kagome. This can change, but it hasn't happened yet.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 7th, 2004, 03:49 PM

I believe that Kikyou could be considered Inuyasha's former lover because the Kikyou walking the earth now is not the same Kikyou who Inuyasha loved. The Kikyou he loved is dead. He must realize that.

If you ask me, InuYasha is more realistic than some series, in that, in the midst of complicated love triangles, the people involved don't know how to admit their feelings to each other. Inuyasha is romantically stupid, nor is he going to admit his feelings that easily.

It has been stated many, many times that InuYasha is not like Takahashi's other series.

Greek Honeybee

July 7th, 2004, 04:29 PM

The other issue is, is she the former lover? InuYasha has never told anyone that he has replaced Kikyo with Kagome. He definitely has to come to terms with Kikyo but his decision, so far, is that he belongs to the remnants of Kikyo, not Kagome. This can change, but it hasn't happened yet.
I'd hardly say Inuyasha and Kikyou are "together" anymore in any sense. As touching as their meetings might be, the fact is that they're apart for roughly 98% of the series. She usually avoids him unless she needs him for something, and he has no problems going for months without seeing her as long as he thinks she's okay. He might've promised his life to her, but the only real connection left between them is his guilt and her unwillingness to let him live beyond her. That's not really what I'd call signs of a stable, loving relationship.

Inuyasha and Kagome are there for each other day in and out. She chooses to stand by him and support him in whatever capacity she can, and he throws hissy fits if she's away from him for more than three days. They do love and need each other, and confirm it to each other every chance they get in the little ways that count. How can it be argued that they're not really "together"? Do you really need verbal vows sealed with a kiss, regardless of what actually lies between them?

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 7th, 2004, 04:54 PM

I'd hardly say Inuyasha and Kikyou are "together" anymore in any sense. As touching as their meetings might be, the fact is that they're apart for roughly 98% of the series. She usually avoids him unless she needs him for something, and he has no problems going for months without seeing her as long as he thinks she's okay. He might've promised his life to her, but the only real connection left between them is his guilt and her unwillingness to let him live beyond her. That's not really what I'd call signs of a stable, loving relationship.

Inuyasha and Kagome are there for each other day in and out. She chooses to stand by him and support him in whatever capacity she can, and he throws hissy fits if she's away from him for more than three days. They do love and need each other, and confirm it to each other every chance they get in the little ways that count. How can it be argued that they're not really "together"? Do you really need verbal vows sealed with a kiss, regardless of what actually lies between them?
You're absolutely right, Bee-chan. Kikyou is a dead love who left behind guilt in Inuyasha's heart. How can that relationship progress, when it has already died, in a sense? I always get the sensation that Kikyou blames Inuyasha for the tragic end of their relationship. "It's his fault for not trusting me, so why should I let him live when I cannot?" Even though she knows that Naraku is the one who wove the webs of betrayal, I think she still puts part of the blame on Inuyasha's shoulders. But what about her trusting him? If they had both trusted each other, Naraku would not have been able to trick them. But I don't think Kikyou thinks that way. It's almost as though Inuyasha is her loyal pet dog, and if he does not obey her, then it is his fault. What kind of relationship is that?

You're also right in pointing out that Inuyasha does not make a big deal about Kikyou's absence, but when Kagome goes back to her own time, he sits around and pouts. He may put up the excuse of, "We need her in order to find the shards!" but the real reason is that he is afraid of losing her and simply does not want her out of his sight. He is so overprotective of her, because that is the only way he knows to demonstrate how much he cares for and loves her. And he cannot forget that Kagome chose to stay by his side. When she could have decided never to return to him, she chose to stay by him, and that meant so much to him.

Just because Inuyasha and Kagome have not kissed and admitted their love with words and vowed never to leave each other does not mean that they are not in love! It's just that both are uncertain in the relationship, and both are afraid of rejection. (It does not help that Inuyasha is romantically stupid.)

(Am I just repeating what you said, Bee-chan?)

Brill

July 7th, 2004, 09:05 PM

I'd hardly say Inuyasha and Kikyou are "together" anymore in any sense. As touching as their meetings might be, the fact is that they're apart for roughly 98% of the series. She usually avoids him unless she needs him for something, and he has no problems going for months without seeing her as long as he thinks she's okay. He might've promised his life to her, but the only real connection left between them is his guilt and her unwillingness to let him live beyond her. That's not really what I'd call signs of a stable, loving relationship.

Inuyasha and Kagome are there for each other day in and out. She chooses to stand by him and support him in whatever capacity she can, and he throws hissy fits if she's away from him for more than three days. They do love and need each other, and confirm it to each other every chance they get in the little ways that count. How can it be argued that they're not really "together"? Do you really need verbal vows sealed with a kiss, regardless of what actually lies between them?

Then why is Kikyo always found just outside of the gang's vision looking in on them on more than 1 occasion. This forced separation is partially due to the notion that Kikyo can trap Naraku by enticing the heart of Onigumo. The destruction of Naraku is her sole purposr in her new life, Inuyasha is second. But she still does have feelings for him, she wants to be with Inuyasha again, but her duty is more important to her at this moment. I find it ironic that Kikyo and Inuyasha get 10% of the airtime, but 60% of the relationship coverage. Granted Inuyasha has only been awakened for a few months form his sealing. The feelings for Kikyo are still pretty strong. They are shifting but have not yet completely left either.

Do you need a kiss, no. Do you need a declaration of love, no. But there is no substantial evidence that Inuyasha loves Kagome more than Kikyo. Doing a few considerate things for someone doesn't equate to love either. Friends do it all the time and they aren't in love. Inuyasha has declared his feelings and his life with Kikyo, he has done nothing of the sort for Kagome. When he means it, he says it. Does he go after Kagome because he wants her near him, or does he want her to find the jewels to hunt Naraku. I say neither reason has more sway than the other He cares about Kagome, but that doesn't automatically mean he loves her either. It's hinted, but never stated. True Takahashi. Besides, if he truly loved her, why the hell does he always get fluestered when asked about her. If he had committed his love to Kagome he wouldn't get embarrassed, angry maybe, but not behave like a 5th grader. While this series goes further than Ranma does, its realtionships are stuck in limbo.

Greek Honeybee

July 7th, 2004, 09:33 PM

You're absolutely right, Bee-chan. Kikyou is a dead love who left behind guilt in Inuyasha's heart. How can that relationship progress, when it has already died, in a sense?
I'm sure that they could've progressed if that's really what they both wanted. But other things take priority, like plotting revenge. That's another reason why I consider their relationship to be pretty weak. Concentrating on each other just isn't all that important to them. And when a couple gets to that point in a relationship, you know something is falling apart. (I'm sorry, Briwisc, what were you saying..?)

I always get the sensation that Kikyou blames Inuyasha for the tragic end of their relationship. "It's his fault for not trusting me, so why should I let him live when I cannot?" Even though she knows that Naraku is the one who wove the webs of betrayal, I think she still puts part of the blame on Inuyasha's shoulders. But what about her trusting him? If they had both trusted each other, Naraku would not have been able to trick them. But I don't think Kikyou thinks that way. It's almost as though Inuyasha is her loyal pet dog, and if he does not obey her, then it is his fault. What kind of relationship is that?
I don't know if she blames him anymore, but you have a point that we've never seen any indication that she's willing to accept any responsibility for what happened. Then again, she did die, and some might say that's payment enough. On the same token, I think 50 years imprisonment for theft and a murder he didn't commit is a pretty hefty price that Inuyasha has paid as well. But, last we heard, she's still not willing to let Inuyasha off the hook. If she's changed her mind, she's not letting anyone know.

Here's a point that doesn't get brought up often: Even if Inuyasha did believe in her and went searching for the real Kikyou, she still would've shot him on sight for what she thought he did. But, like I said, she died for it, and fate still saw her fit to be reincarnated and reunited with him - just as a new identity.

And, yes, it does annoy me immensely that this version of her sees his life, and most everyone else's including her own, as a possession. Also that she seems willing to tug on the reigns of his guilt complex in order to use him and the group as tools in her plans against Naraku.

You're also right in pointing out that Inuyasha does not make a big deal about Kikyou's absence, but when Kagome goes back to her own time, he sits around and pouts. He may put up the excuse of, "We need her in order to find the shards!" but the real reason is that he is afraid of losing her and simply does not want her out of his sight. He is so overprotective of her, because that is the only way he knows to demonstrate how much he cares for and loves her. And he cannot forget that Kagome chose to stay by his side. When she could have decided never to return to him, she chose to stay by him, and that meant so much to him.
True. There's also his statement that Kagome is his home. When she's not around, it reminds him of what his life used to be like. Being alone and never really belonging anywhere. Regressing to that is what he is most afraid of.

Just because Inuyasha and Kagome have not kissed and admitted their love with words and vowed never to leave each other does not mean that they are not in love! It's just that both are uncertain in the relationship, and both are afraid of rejection. (It does not help that Inuyasha is romantically stupid.)
Actually, Kagome has confessed to herself that she loves him and promised to never leave his side. And now that Inuyasha has found where his heart belongs, he'll do anything to keep from losing it. They might not say these things out loud, and it might help matters if they did, but it does show that they're both dedicated to each other, regardless.

I don't think he's romantically stupid, just inexperienced. Just as you're inexperienced when it comes to Scottish accents. It certainly doesn't make you stupid. ;) He has no idea what a "mood" is, or why Kagome gets upset when he doesn't talk to her much after a run-in with Kikyou, because he's an outcast and doesn't have the social experience to know what makes a woman tick. (Normal guys that are like that, however, don't have that excuse and are just romantically stupid because they should watch more shoujo and learn something,.. but would rather gouge their eyes out with rusty spoons. :P </kidding>)

(Am I just repeating what you said, Bee-chan?)
No, no! You've brought up some good points here. ^_^

Keiichi-chan

July 7th, 2004, 11:29 PM

Besides, Kikyou had him once, and dumped him rather decisively.
When did she dump him? You don't consider a small thing like an arrow to the heart 'dumping' do you?lol They were tricked into attacking each other but I don't remember anything about them breaking up. It was pretty obvious Kikyou and Inuu were passionate lovers before that incident. For all we know (not sure of how much time is pasing during the series) he has spent more time with Kagome than he did with Kikyou and he never slept with her, so I doubt they would have a relationship together. Inuu only pays attention to her because she resembles Kikyou in the first place. If Inuu was ever with Kagome he would just be thinking of Kikyou the whole time anyway. Imagining she was Kikyou.

miakarayne

July 7th, 2004, 11:41 PM

This is a Takahashi series, where clearcut developments in relationships is always debatable. Need I say Ranma? Kagome and Inuyasha are in love? Have they declared their feelings to one another? Have they made out yet? Have they chosen new drape patterns together? The answer is no. This is typical Takahashi, always insinuated, but never declared. The most amazing thing here is that we know almost nothing as to what Inuyasha feels. All we ever get is him flustering when he is confronted with the issue. The only one who we get a glimpse of is Kagome, and she "supposedly" stepped aside. Kikyo gets so little airtime it's almost impossible to truly see where she sits in this bozarre love triangle. If Takahashi actually took either couple forward that would be progess. It's been rather stagnant since Kagome made her decision to step down.

On the contrary, this series is much more "romantic" than any of Takahashi's series prior (not including Maison ikkoku)... In Urusei Yatsura and Ranma, the main character would never admit or proclaim their love. Here, in Inuyasha the love is implied/proclaimed much much more-so. So that does leave the possibility of a Maison Ikkoku-ish ending.

I'd hardly say Inuyasha and Kikyou are "together" anymore in any sense. As touching as their meetings might be, the fact is that they're apart for roughly 98% of the series. She usually avoids him unless she needs him for something, and he has no problems going for months without seeing her as long as he thinks she's okay. He might've promised his life to her, but the only real connection left between them is his guilt and her unwillingness to let him live beyond her. That's not really what I'd call signs of a stable, loving relationship.

I must whole-heartedly agree with this statement. As many have said in other posts, Inuyasha feels more of a "commitment" relationship for Kikyou in the sense that he feels responsible for her death 50 years ago. Their "love" is not one that can last. Whereas with Kagome, you know, he does not have to have any real relationship with her. He could still treat her like he did at the beginning of the series; and that is with complete contempt. We all know his personality by now, he could, and would, definitely hold a grudge or dislike for someone for a very long time, even if he did have to spend every day with them (heck, he is still rude toward Shippo!) The reason why he is with Kagome now is because he wants to be with her, not because he has to be (like at the beginning of the story).

I cannot say how Inuyasha will end, relationship-wise. All that I can say is that I will be 100% satisfied with any ending Takahashi-san gives it (and I do hope she doesn't take too long!) ... But I did vote for Kagome.

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 02:55 AM

Whereas with Kagome, you know, he does not have to have any real relationship with her. He could still treat her like he did at the beginning of the series; and that is with complete contempt.
Heck, he doesn't have to have anything to do with Kagome at all, once Kikyou returns. He could just ditch Kagome and travel with Kikyou full-time; since she can sense and purify jewel shards just as easily, is more knowledgeable, experienced and has better control over her powers, and wants the same revenge on Naraku that he does. (Not to mention it would make a lot more sense after he promised to protect her.) There's every reason to do so, so what's stopping him? Really, he's impulsive enough that he doesn't even need all those logical reasons. If he wanted to be with her badly enough, he'd chase her down anywhere she went, reason be damned.

But the thought never seems to cross his mind. When Kikyou walks away and leaves him standing there alone for the umteenth time, he just turns around and faces the "Osuwari's". :P He does that by choice.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 06:31 AM

Once again, Bee-chan makes such excellent points! Ten bonus points for Bee-chan! If you ask me, Kagome and Inuyasha's romance is full of subtle signs. (Of course, considering that half of me is a diehard romantic, I pick up on those signs like that. *snaps her fingers*) There is no outright declaration, but does threre need to be? Inuyasha is not the most social person on earth; he does not know how to admit his feelings, because, for most of his life, his feelings were locked inside of him. The only way he knows to show how much he cares for Kagome is by protecting her (which involves following her just about everywhere, even when she goes home) and just being with her. He is struggling with so much inside of him, that I do not blame the boy for not admitting his love to Kagome before this!

Has he ever admitted to Kikyou that he loves her? He once said that he loved her. Key word: loved. He did not say he loves her, he said he loved her. Which makes me think that he realizes that the Kikyou walking the earth is not the same Kikyou, and while he cannot put aside his feelings for the old Kikyou, perhaps he does not love the new Kikyou. But he loves Kagome. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that.

Bee-chan is also right in stating that Inyuasha does not have to stay with Kagome. He could run off to find Kikyou and never return. Whenever he and Kikyou have a talk, he could decide right then and there to go with hell to her. But he doesn't. He may say that it has to do with his revenge against Naraku, and that's definitely part of it; but if one thinks about it, he also does not want to leave Kagome. He cannot bear to leave Kagome. He cannot bear to leave behind the one person who accepted him for who he is, who is willing to stay by his side no matter what, and who has taught him to open up and trust again.

He will find a way to admit to Kagome how much he loves. He will find a way.

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 06:45 AM

I must whole-heartedly agree with this statement. As many have said in other posts, Inuyasha feels more of a "commitment" relationship for Kikyou in the sense that he feels responsible for her death 50 years ago. Their "love" is not one that can last. Whereas with Kagome, you know, he does not have to have any real relationship with her. He could still treat her like he did at the beginning of the series; and that is with complete contempt. We all know his personality by now, he could, and would, definitely hold a grudge or dislike for someone for a very long time, even if he did have to spend every day with them (heck, he is still rude toward Shippo!) The reason why he is with Kagome now is because he wants to be with her, not because he has to be (like at the beginning of the story).

Kagome is definitely Inuyasha's friend, even his confidant at times, but that doesn't automatically make them lovers. Cam Inuyasha and Kikyo resume a normal relationship...well she's dead. So unless Seeshoumaru could pull a miracle out of Tensaiga, she's gonna stay that way. Could they goto hell together, sure. Kikyo wants them to, and Inuyasha has versed such sentiments.

While Inuyasha could pull a Maison Ikkoku ending, it won't. They are so far back in the romantic development area that there is too much too cover in too little time. And if Takahashi does so in the end it I don't think it will go over well at all.

Sharp-kun

July 8th, 2004, 07:56 AM

Neither. We;ll get a Ranma style ending.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 08:05 AM

Kagome is definitely Inuyasha's friend, even his confidant at times, but that doesn't automatically make them lovers. Cam Inuyasha and Kikyo resume a normal relationship...well she's dead. So unless Seeshoumaru could pull a miracle out of Tensaiga, she's gonna stay that way. Could they goto hell together, sure. Kikyo wants them to, and Inuyasha has versed such sentiments.
Inuyasha may have said that he would eventually follow Kikyou to hell, but did he say when? No, he never specified when he would follow Kikyou to hell.

Of course Inuyasha and Kagome's friendship does not automatically make them lovers; but their relationship has gone beyond just being friends. They are most definitely in love. Kagome has admitted it to herself, and it takes a fool not to see that Inuyasha loves Kagome.

Inuyasha never cried for Kikyou. But he cried for Kagome. Now that says something.

While Inuyasha could pull a Maison Ikkoku ending, it won't. They are so far back in the romantic development area that there is too much too cover in too little time. And if Takahashi does so in the end it I don't think it will go over well at all.
They are not as far back in the romantic development as some people seem to think. We never hear Inuyasha's thoughts, but more than once have I realized that it is very likely he has admitted to himself that he loves Kagome. But he is not a very social character, and Takahashi keeps up that image by rarely giving us the inside scoop to Inuyasha's thoughts.

I have many hypotheses about how the series is going to turn out--how Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship is going to turn out, how Inuyasha and Kikyou's relationship is going to end. I have many hypotheses about how the series is going to end. Many.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 08:11 AM

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 08:30 AM

I am really starting to wonder if he is going to go to hell with Kikyou. I mean like we all seem to be saying you can just tell that he does love Kagome, so how in the world could he bring him self to just up and leave her forever.
Some thing really major would have to happen before I could see him doing that. Also like every one else has said, he has a fit when she goes home for more than a day. So really... is he just going to up and be okay with not being around her anymore?
Of course Inuyasha is not just going to abandon Kagome and to hell with Kikyou without suffering! He cannot bear to live her behind--we all know that. He said that he would follow Kikyou to hell, but he never said when. He is a demon. Of course he is going to hell eventually, if one thinks about it. So he is eventually going to follow Kikyou to hell.

Of course he is not going to be okay with not being around Kagome anymore. Even if he left her, he would be heartbroken, and nothing would ease that pain except being with her again.

Here is another thing: Kikyou said that she was willing to live with Inuyasha if he used the Shikon no Tama to turn human. If he turned human. It is almost as though she were saying, "I do not want to be around a demon, so if you care for me and want to stay with me, you will turn human for me." She never said she loved him for who he was. In fact, she never said that she loved him, not before her death.

Kagome loves Inuyasha for who he is. She would, without second thought, say to him, "I love you as a hanyou, Inuyasha, but if you decide to turn human or youkai, I won't stop loving you. I love you for who you are. It does not matter what form you take."

Inuyasha, although he might not realize the strength of Kagome's love, knows that she accepts him for who he is--that she accepts him as a hanyou, which very few creatures, human and youkai alike, ever do. Perhaps not even Kikyou accepted him completely as a hanyou. Yes, one could say that she wanted him to use the jewel so that she would free of it, but she could have used the jewel in other ways, if she truly loved him the way he was; she did not have to tell him to use it to make him human.

Mimiru

July 8th, 2004, 08:38 AM

I hate Kagome, but he's going to end up with her... but Kikyo still kicks "assets"

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 08:40 AM

Out of curiosity, why do you hate Kagome so much yet love Kikyou so much? I'm not trying to criticize you or anything. I'm merely curious to know where your opinions come from.

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 08:41 AM

Inuyasha may have said that he would eventually follow Kikyou to hell, but did he say when? No, he never specified when he would follow Kikyou to hell.

No he's never stated when, he has left that decision in Kikyo's hands , "...I will go to hell with her, if that is her wish." and since Kikyo is hellbent on destroying Naraku, it wouldn't happen til that event occurred.

Of course Inuyasha and Kagome's friendship does not automatically make them lovers; but their relationship has gone beyond just being friends. They are most definitely in love. Kagome has admitted it to herself, and it takes a fool not to see that Inuyasha loves Kagome.

No they are very close friends, even confidants. Yes Kagome loves Inuyasha, but does he love her in return? A bowl of soup and the occasional relenting on making kagome come to the feudal era ASAP does not make you a soul-mate last time I checked.

Inuyasha never cried for Kikyou. But he cried for Kagome. Now that says something.

He cried for the loss of all his freinds, but most of the sentiment was for Kagome for sure. Inuyasha is definitely developing emotionally, and this is one of his big moments. He was not like this with Kikyo because he was still emotionally more immature then, than he is now. Plus there was that whole betrayal issue. He didn't lament the death of Kikyo because he still believed she betrayed him. A totally natural response.

They are not as far back in the romantic development as some people seem to think. We never hear Inuyasha's thoughts, but more than once have I realized that it is very likely he has admitted to himself that he loves Kagome. But he is not a very social character, and Takahashi keeps up that image by rarely giving us the inside scoop to Inuyasha's thoughts.
A few nice acts demonstrates one is on the path to falling in love, it does not equate to being in love. That's why they have to goto the next level, because of the few moments that we see of Inuyasha and Kikyo (when she was alive) he is capable of so much more. Yet he hasn't done this yet with Kagome. While Kagome was on the path and has fallen in love, Inuyasha hasn't yet. Will he? Who knows. This is one of the more maddening aspects of the series, and Takahashi has reverted back to her old plot devices of akward moments and occasional acts of kindness. Ranma 2.0. If Takahashi wants to NOT make this a ranma clone she needs to get cracking.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 08:44 AM

No they are very close friends, even confidants. Yes Kagome loves Inuyasha, but does he love her in return? A bowl of soup and the occasional relenting on making kagome come to the feudal era ASAP does not make you a soul-mate last time I checked.
Yes, he loves her in return. He has never said it, because he is afraid. It has been discussed many times that Inuyasha is afraid that Kagome will reject him. Remember, she has Kouga after her; and in Inuyasha's mind, why wouldn't Kagome push Inuyasha aside for the full-fledged ookami youkai Prince Kouga? He is so afraid of being alone that he cannot bear the thought that, if he admitted his love to her, she would reject him and leave him alone in the world and heartbroken.

Yes, he loves her. He may not say it, but he shows it. One can see it in his eyes. And it's more obvious in the manga that it is in the anime. (Of course you would not know, being the anime-thumper that you are.) I have. more than once, caught a look in Inuyasha's eye as he gazes at Kagome that just says, "I love her." I have caught this look many times. Many, many times.

mikosakura

July 8th, 2004, 08:45 AM

Okay, first of all, do y'all realize how much you've posted in the last four days? I'm so far behind. :crybaby:
But anyway, about Inuyasha going to hell with Kikyo, Tacchan is right that he clearly loves Kagome so he probably wouldn't want to abandon her, but that doesn't change the fact that he may still feel obligated to Kikyo. I mean, he is a hanyou in the fuedal ages. All he really has are his friends and his honor. He may feel that no matter how much he wishes to remain with Kagome, he is honor bound to follow Kikyo, even if it breaks his heart in the process. Theoretically, he could join her after Kagome, the mortal human, passes on, think about it. That hardly seems like it would be very noble, telling Kikyo to go to hell alone and he'll catch up in a few hundred years.
I'm not saying I want Inuyasha to follow Kikyo to hell and leave Kagome, because believe me I don't, but I do think it is still a possibility.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 08:47 AM

Well, maybe we'll all just get lucky, and Kikyou will give up on the going to hell together. And just let InuYasha live and be happy with Kagome. Maybe she will see in the end that Kagome was the one to soften his heart, and that Kagome is the one he should be with.

mikosakura

July 8th, 2004, 08:54 AM

That would certainly be a nice ending. ^_^

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 08:55 AM

You're right, meowchi. Kagome has softened Inuyasha's heart. Kikyou once said that, if she had lived, she would have been the one to soften his heart; but I always thought, How could she? She is so cold herself, how can she possibly warm someone else? Kagome is all bouncy light and warmth.

As for Kikyou, I have begun to think that she won't go to hell in the end. I have begun to think that she is going to die without any regrets, anger or hatred. I would say more, but I prefer to keep my thoughts to myself, for my own personal reasons. But I do not think she is going to go to hell. Achieving nirvana seems more of a possibility than sinking to the flames of the underworld.

You're right, though, Sakura-sama, about his honour. But perhaps his honour will work out in different ways? Who knows? I have more hypotheses about that, but like I said, I prefer not to give those away, for my own personal reasons.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 08:57 AM

[QUOTE=Briwisc]He cried for the loss of all his freinds, but most of the sentiment was for Kagome for sure. Inuyasha is definitely developing emotionally, and this is one of his big moments. He was not like this with Kikyo because he was still emotionally more immature then, than he is now. Plus there was that whole betrayal issue. He didn't lament the death of Kikyo because he still believed she betrayed him. A totally natural response. [QUOTE]

That's all well and great, but he had pleanty of time to cry for Kikyou after he found out that it wasn't her that betrayed him. He thought she died at least 2 other times, after he found out about the set up..... and still no tears. Not a single one.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 09:00 AM

mikosakura

July 8th, 2004, 09:07 AM

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 09:08 AM

He pounded the ground and cursed to the point where his mother would have washed his mouth out with soap, were she still alive; but he never shed a tear for Kikyou. That says something...and it leads me to thinking more and more about what his relationship with Kikyou really means to him. It leads me to wonder, What is going on behind those golden eyes, underneath that head of silver hair? What is he truly thinking? We never really know, do we?

And yet he chokes up and cries at the thought that Kagome had died. He would have mourned for Sango and Miroku, yes, but it was Kagome's apparent death that really hit him hard. It was Kagome for whom he was crying, not Sango, not Miroku. Kagome. It was Kagome who he held in his arms, apologized to, called himself an idiot for letting her die. Kagome.
Very good points.. he gets mad that he let Kikyou die again. But when he sees Kagome he breaks down. Big diffrence to me.
Also in the anime (I am not sure about the manga) when they first meet Shippo, after they fight the brothers (can't remember the names) he thinks Kagome and Shippo are dead, when he seems them in the fox fire thing, Mouga is telling him that they are on there way to the after life or something like that.
He is starting to get tears in his eyes. He gets all sad, and says something to the effect of I'm sorry. That part also said a lot to me. He was really upset and about to cry then. And that was at the start of thier adventure.

Sorry and the randomness of this post, and any spelling errors. I am at work and having to answer phones. :P

mikosakura

July 8th, 2004, 09:12 AM

In the manga, he reaches for Kagome's hand and says something to the effect of "I never got to tell her." I think that was important, but I'm still not sure quite what he meant by it. It was very early on in the series, so I don't know if it meant he was sorry for treating her so poorly, if he was beginning to have feeling towards her, or if he was merely seeing Kikyo's reincarnation and thinking of what he had wanted to tell the former miko.

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 09:13 AM

Yes, he loves her in return. He has never said it, because he is afraid. It has been discussed many times that Inuyasha is afraid that Kagome will reject him. Remember, she has Kouga after her; and in Inuyasha's mind, why wouldn't Kagome push Inuyasha aside for the full-fledged ookami youkai Prince Kouga? He is so afraid of being alone that he cannot bear the thought that, if he admitted his love to her, she would reject him and leave him alone in the world and heartbroken.

The fact that Inuyasha fell in love with Kikyo so readily when he was more emotionally immature totally disproves this. Yeah Inuyasha is possessive of Kagome when Kouga is around. You've never met people who are possessive of their friends? They are "my" friends not "yours". These are the first friends he's ever had. This totally falls within these bounds.

Yes, he loves her. He may not say it, but he shows it. One can see it in his eyes. And it's more obvious in the manga that it is in the anime. (Of course you would not know, being the anime-thumper that you are.) I have. more than once, caught a look in Inuyasha's eye as he gazes at Kagome that just says, "I love her." I have caught this look many times. Many, many times.

:lol: Anime-thumper. I love it. I've never said the anime trumps the manga. I just say don't discard developments in anime because they don't happen in the manga is all. For example, the whole kiss incident. Not to jump on your parade, but manga is limited in the number of expressions one can give. That's what gives the text extra meaning. Besides, why do women want men to tell them they love them. Because it vaildates the actions directed towards them. That is still the problem that shadows this relationship. All these females posters and it takes a guy toi make this point. Don't let your wishes blind yourself to what's on the table. Inuyasha is still in Kikyo's court although the events of Mt. Harukai are pointing to Kagome's direction now. There is still a lot of ground that needs to be covered for a Inu-Kag releationship.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 09:16 AM

Of course what you said is true Tacchan, and it is understandable that he would cry for the the one woman aside from his mother who has actually shown him true acceptance and compassion. But that doesn't mean he doesn't care about Kikyo. What do you think Kikyo's reaction would have been to watching the hanyou cry? Would she have tried to comfort him, or would she perhaps see it as only another sign of weakness and imperfection? I could be wrong, but I really think that Kagome would be the one to appreciate his tears much more.
Kagome most certainly would appreciate his tears more! But you saw how hard he tried to keep from crying. It did not work. That is why he turned away from Kagome. He thinks that crying is a weakness, and he did not want Kagome to see his weakness. So he turned away from her, so she would not see him cry. I don't think he was able to contain his emotions anymore at that point: His grief and sorrow and extreme happiness that she was alive burst forth in the form of tears that he could not control.

Kikyou would find his tears a sign of weakness and imperfection, and she would have probably scoffed him rather than comforted him. But like I said, he could not control those tears. One would think that he would have cried at the end of episode 124, but he did not. He managed to gain control of his emotions and keep his tears from falling. But for Kagome, he coudl not keep control. That was my point.

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 09:18 AM

That's all well and great, but he had pleanty of time to cry for Kikyou after he found out that it wasn't her that betrayed him. He thought she died at least 2 other times, after he found out about the set up..... and still no tears. Not a single one.

True, but Kikyo isn't dead is she? The next time they meet is when Inuyasha and Kikyo prepare to go to hell. He was still intent of going with ther at that point.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 09:21 AM

True, but Kikyo isn't dead is she? The next time they meet is when Inuyasha and Kikyo prepare to go to hell. He was still intent of going with ther at that point.
He thought she was dead. He thought she was dead. He truly believed she was dead. And yet did he go to hell at that moment? There was no, "Kikyou, I'm coming!" and WHAM! to hell! now was there?

We think that he is intent on going to hell with Kikyou. We are never privy to Inuyasha's most innermost thoughts. We have not the slightest idea what he is thinking, now do we? Oh, we can guess, but do we really know what's in his heart?

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 09:25 AM

True, but Kikyo isn't dead is she? The next time they meet is when Inuyasha and Kikyo prepare to go to hell. He was still intent of going with ther at that point.
Nither was Kagome, but he still cried when he saw that she wasn't dead.
And he was ready to go to hell with her untill he thought about Kagome. I just don't see him leaving Kagome to be with Kikyou. He hasn't done it yet, and if any thing they are even closer now, then they were then. So really, why would he pick Kikyou over Kagome now, when he couldn't even do it way back then.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 09:27 AM

And he was ready to go to hell with her untill he thought about Kagome. I just don't see him leaving Kagome to be with Kikyou. He hasn't done it yet, and if any thing they are even closer now, then they were then. So really, why would he pick Kikyou over Kagome now, when he couldn't even do it way back then.
THANK YOU! He could not go to hell with Kikyou back then. He just could not,. And back then he was not as in love with Kagome as he is now. How can he just leave Kagome behind like that, when she means so much to him? He loves Kagome just as much as he loved Kikyou, if not more.

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 09:32 AM

He thought she was dead. He thought she was dead. He truly believed she was dead. And yet did he go to hell at that moment? There was no, "Kikyou, I'm coming!" and WHAM! to hell! now was there?

We think that he is intent on going to hell with Kikyou. We are never privy to Inuyasha's most innermost thoughts. We have not the slightest idea what he is thinking, now do we? Oh, we can guess, but do we really know what's in his heart?

Well of course she was dead untiul Urasue ressurected her. Once that happened, he viewed her as living, even though the body was cold, the soul was still Kkyo's. He still oved her when only her soul remained. Now that's a soul-mate people.

Well he has made comments of choosing Kikyo, and going to hell with Kikyo, and cheiahing the soul of Kikyo. What loving comments has he said about Kagome? Yes she was teh first to shed tears for me, and has allowed him to relax. Which of these two developments have more sway? I'd say the former.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 09:33 AM

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 09:35 AM

Nither was Kagome, but he still cried when he saw that she wasn't dead.
And he was ready to go to hell with her untill he thought about Kagome. I just don't see him leaving Kagome to be with Kikyou. He hasn't done it yet, and if any thing they are even closer now, then they were then. So really, why would he pick Kikyou over Kagome now, when he couldn't even do it way back then.

Inuyasha and crociodile tears? You think he'd stop on a dime? I don't know about you but I can't turn my emotions off that quick.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 09:36 AM

Well of course she was dead untiul Urasue ressurected her. Once that happened, he viewed her as living, even though the body was cold, the soul was still Kkyo's. He still oved her when only her soul remained. Now that's a soul-mate people.

Well he has made comments of choosing Kikyo, and going to hell with Kikyo, and cheiahing the soul of Kikyo. What loving comments has he said about Kagome? Yes she was teh first to shed tears for me, and has allowed him to relax. Which of these two developments have more sway? I'd say the former.
Yeah a real soul mate.... he gave up the chance to be with his soul mate when he thought about Kagome, and how he could not leave her .
I would say that actions speak louder than words.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 09:39 AM

Inuyasha and crociodile tears? You think he'd stop on a dime? I don't know about you but I can't turn my emotions off that quick.
:lol: this is getting pretty funny.

He started to cry even more when he found out that she was alive. My point was that even when he knew that Kikyou the unkillable, was still alive, the 3rd time, still NO tears. Not a single freaking one. That is my point.

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 09:40 AM

THANK YOU! He could not go to hell with Kikyou back then. He just could not,. And back then he was not as in love with Kagome as he is now. How can he just leave Kagome behind like that, when she means so much to him? He loves Kagome just as much as he loved Kikyou, if not more.

Well Kagome did interfere with the whole process didn't she? If left unmolested they would have gone to hell. Kagome disrupted all of Kikyo's souls and that sealed the portal in the process. Who broke the trance of Inuyasha? Kagome or Inuyasha. It's never clear.

Does he really love Kagome more? Has he wrapped his arms around Kagome in a loving embrace like he did with Kikyo, instead of the farewell hug he gave her befire the battle with Royakan? Survey says: BZZZT!

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 09:41 AM

Yeah a real soul mate.... he gave up the chance to be with his soul mate when he thought about Kagome, and how he could not leave her .
I would say that actions speak louder than words.
Once again, THANK YOU, meowchi! *high fives* Occhan, usually "soul mate" is defined as the other half of one's soul, the one whom one is meant to be with. Now, if Inuyasha and Kikyou were soul mates, then why did their relationship FAIL?

Inuyasha gave up the chance to live out his days with Kikyou when he continued to travel with Kagome. If Inuyasha loved Kikyou more than he loved Kagome, if he really did not love Kagome, THEN WHY THE HELL IS HE STILL TRAVELING WITH KAGOME?! WHY THE HELL HAS HE NOT LEFT HER YET?!

Actions speak louder than words. TENFOLD!

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 09:45 AM

Does he really love Kagome more? Has he wrapped his arms around Kagome in a loving embrace like he did with Kikyo, instead of the farewell hug he gave her befire the battle with Royakan? Survey says: BZZZT!
You don't think that was a loving embrace? Looked like one to me.

Onizuka

July 8th, 2004, 09:45 AM

:lol: this is getting pretty funny.

He started to cry even more when he found out that she was alive. My point was that even when he knew that Kikyou the unkillable, was still alive, the 3rd time, still NO tears. Not a single freaking one. That is my point.
Yeah, He won't care about Kikiyo one bit.
Kagome is the one who makes him happy, its most likley he'll choose Kagome.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 09:46 AM

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 09:47 AM

Yeah, He won't care about Kikiyo one bit.
Kagome is the one who makes him happy, its most likley he'll choose Kagome.
He'll always care about Kikyou. She'll always be in his heart, even as he gives his heart to Kagome.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 09:49 AM

Well Kagome did interfere with the whole process didn't she? If left unmolested they would have gone to hell. Kagome disrupted all of Kikyo's souls and that sealed the portal in the process. Who broke the trance of Inuyasha? Kagome or Inuyasha. It's never clear.

Does he really love Kagome more? Has he wrapped his arms around Kagome in a loving embrace like he did with Kikyo, instead of the farewell hug he gave her befire the battle with Royakan? Survey says: BZZZT!
Inuyasha was under a trance. Kagome's voice brought him back from his trance. Kagome saved the boy's life. And when he broke out of the trance, he did not continue to go to hell with Kikyou, now did he? No! He ran over to Kagome and asked her what she was doing there. And when Kikyou asked if Inuyasha loved Kagome more, Inuyasha turned bright red in the face! That was episode 23. Back then he was confused. 150-some episodes' worth later, his relationship with Kagome has heightned. Now, if Kikyou asked Inuyasha if he loved Kagome, he would no doubt give an answer that would the equivalent of "Yes." (Of course, being Inuyasha, he would not give a straight "Yes.")

So why does not Kikyou ask? Because she does not need to. Kikyou sees that Inuyasha loves Kagome. Remember one of the episodes in which Kagome saved Kikyou? When Kikyou asked, "Why did you save me?" Kagome responded, "Because someone would have been very sad if you had died." As Kagome was walking away, Kikyou said, "Same to you." She meant, "Someone would have been very sad if you had died, as well." It does not take a rocket scientist to realize that both girls were talking about Inuyasha, and that they were referring not to his caring for the girls, but to his loving the girls.

He has held Kagome in a loving embrace, like Bee-chan said. But he has held her close to him, tight to his body. He loves holding Kagome. He said she that did not need her bike because he would carry her. He loves holding her, carrying her; he loves touching her, having her that close to him, for the love of God! (And no one take that in a lecherous way. This is not Miroku we are talking about.) He is being affectionate in the only way he knows how.

Now, does he do that to Kikyou? NO!

And as I said before, take a closer look at Inuyasha's eyes. There is a sparkle of love in his eyes sometimes when he looks at Kagome. I have seen it.

(But then, I have a friend who is a diehard romantic and knows how to detect signs of love. One could say some of her romance-testing skills have rubbed off on me. When there is any sign of love, my love-o-meter starts buzzing.)

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 09:52 AM

Inuyasha was under a trance. Kagome's voice brought him back from his trance. Kagome saved the boy's life. And when he broke out of the trance, he did not continue to go to hell with Kikyou, now did he? No! He ran over to Kagome and asked her what she was doing there. And when Kikyou asked if Inuyasha loved Kagome more, Inuyasha turned bright red in the face! That was episode 23. Back then he was confused. 150-some episodes' worth later, his relationship with Kagome has heightned. Now, if Kikyou asked Inuyasha if he loved Kagome, he would no doubt give an answer that would the equivalent of "Yes." (Of course, being Inuyasha, he would not give a straight "Yes.")

So why does not Kikyou ask? Because she does not need to. Kikyou sees that Inuyasha loves Kagome. Remember one of the episodes in which Kagome saved Kikyou? When Kikyou asked, "Why did you save me?" Kagome responded, "Because someone would have been very sad if you had died." As Kagome was walking away, Kikyou said, "Same to you." She meant, "Someone would have been very sad if you had died, as well." It does not take a rocket scientist to realize that both girls were talking about Inuyasha, and that they were referring not to his caring for the girls, but to his loving the girls.

He has held Kagome in a loving embrace, like Bee-chan said. But he has held her close to him, tight to his body. He loves holding Kagome. He said she that did not need her bike because he would carry her. He loves holding her, carrying her; he loves touching her, having her that close to him, for the love of God! (And no one take that in a lecherous way. This is not Miroku we are talking about.) He is being affectionate in the only way he knows how.

Now, does he do that to Kikyou? NO!

And as I said before, take a closer look at Inuyasha's eyes. There is a sparkle of love in his eyes sometimes when he looks at Kagome. I have seen it.

(But then, I have a friend who is a diehard romantic and knows how to detect signs of love. One could say some of her romance-testing skills have rubbed off on me. When there is any sign of love, my love-o-meter starts buzzing.)
You and I are on the same page here, you could be my new best friend. :lol:
This is off the subject, but you should watch Pretear. It's so swwweeet!

Onizuka

July 8th, 2004, 09:54 AM

I need some friends too, yea know :(

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 09:55 AM

:lol: this is getting pretty funny.

He started to cry even more when he found out that she was alive. My point was that even when he knew that Kikyou the unkillable, was still alive, the 3rd time, still NO tears. Not a single freaking one. That is my point.

This is where we disagree. He was crying that they were dead. He didn't start balling when he found out when they were alive. The floodgates were already open when the discovery was made.

You fail to recognize that Kikyo and Inuyasha's relationship has changed, mainly by Kikyo's choice. Inuyasha wanted to pursue it but Kikyostopped it. If they had resumed where they left off and Kikyo has died oh so many times, and he didn't shed a tear, the the claim holds true. However they are one drastic different footing than 50 years ago.

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 09:57 AM

So why does not Kikyou ask? Because she does not need to. Kikyou sees that Inuyasha loves Kagome. Remember one of the episodes in which Kagome saved Kikyou? When Kikyou asked, "Why did you save me?" Kagome responded, "Because someone would have been very sad if you had died." As Kagome was walking away, Kikyou said, "Same to you." She meant, "Someone would have been very sad if you had died, as well." It does not take a rocket scientist to realize that both girls were talking about Inuyasha, and that they were referring not to his caring for the girls, but to his loving the girls.
Actually, that was a filler episode. I don't particularly agree with it, either. That would imply that she saved Kikyou to serve a purpose in her agenda: making Inuyasha happy. That was OOC, I think. Later, when Kikyou asked why Kagome had saved her life from Naraku's miasma, Kagome's reason had nothing to do with Inuyasha. She wanted to save Kikyou because it was just the right thing to do.

And so, Kikyou didn't thank her. :rolleyes: ;)

Hankoubou

July 8th, 2004, 10:01 AM

Inuyasha gave up the chance to live out his days with Kikyou when he continued to travel with Kagome. If Inuyasha loved Kikyou more than he loved Kagome, if he really did not love Kagome, THEN WHY THE HELL IS HE STILL TRAVELING WITH KAGOME?! WHY THE HELL HAS HE NOT LEFT HER YET?!

Actions speak louder than words. TENFOLD!

You remember this little Jewel Inuyasha is after to become a full demon, and you know how Kagome is the only one who can sense jewel shards? Yeah, that pretty much sums up the answer.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 10:02 AM

Actually, that was a filler episode. I don't particularly agree with it, either. Later, when Kikyou asked why Kagome had saved her life from Naraku's miasma, Kagome's reason had nothing to do with Inuyasha. She wanted to save Kikyou because it was just the right thing to do.

And so, Kikyou didn't thank her. :rolleyes: ;)
That was a filler? Oh, drat it. But still, Kikyou knows that Inuyasha loves Kagome. And so of course Kikyou sees Kagome as an obstacle in her path to getting Inuyasha down to hell with her. And of course Kikyou does not thank her, because, if the situation had been turned around, Kikyou would not have saved Kagome for the same reasons (if she would have saved Kagome at all, which she would have not).

I have this feeling that, if Kikyou were in trouble and Inuyasha were nearby, she would expect Inuyasha to come and save her no matter what. And if Inuyasha were not able to save her, she would rest the blame for whatever happened to her on his shoulders--even if she was the one who got herself into trouble in the first place. But if Kagome were in trouble and Inuyasha could not save her, she would find some way to get out of the trouble. And if she could not, she would not blame Inuyasha for whatever happened to her.

Kikyou thinks of Inuyasha as her pet dog. Kagome does not. That is one of the major differences between those two.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 10:02 AM

You remember this little Jewel Inuyasha is after to become a full demon, and you know how Kagome is the only one who can sense jewel shards? Yeah, that pretty much sums up the answer.
Kikyou can sense them, too.

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 10:03 AM

You remember this little Jewel Inuyasha is after to become a full demon, and you know how Kagome is the only one who can sense jewel shards? Yeah, that pretty much sums up the answer.
But Kikyou can sense jewel shards too. That's the whole reason Urasue brought her back.

Darn it.. :P

Hankoubou

July 8th, 2004, 10:07 AM

Now, does he do that to Kikyou? NO!

Now as in does he do it at this present time, No, he doesn't.

Let's go 50 years back and would bet that you find him doing the very same things with Kikyou, apart from the carrying because I am sure she could manage the walk and would prefer not to be carried. Oh, and what is one thing Kagome and Inuyasha have yet to do, that he and Kikyou have?

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 10:11 AM

Let's go 50 years back and would bet that you find him doing the very same things with Kikyou, apart from the carrying because I am sure she could manage the walk and would prefer not to be carried. Oh, and what is one thing Kagome and Inuyasha have yet to do, that he and Kikyou have?
Probably not. Kikyou was not getting into the same type of dangers that Kagome is now. Inuyasha would never have had any reason to carry her. Besides, she is a more powerful miko than Kagome in that her powers are more developed. She was never defeated and probably rarely injured to the point that she needed to be carried. She was very confident in her abilities as a miko...almost too confident.

And I know what that "one thing" that Kikyou and Inuyasha have done that Kagome and Inuyasha have not is. But who is to say that they are not going to? Right now things are too hectic for Inuyasha to simply stop and plant a kiss on Kagome's lips. Not to mention it was not he who kissed Kikyou, but she who kissed him. Kagome is afraid. She is afraid that she is second place, that Inuyasha does not love as her as much as he really does. And like I said, is this really the time or place? I think NOT!

Hankoubou

July 8th, 2004, 10:13 AM

Not to mention it was not he who kissed Kikyou, but she who kissed him. Kagome is afraid. She is afraid that she is second place, that Inuyasha does not love as her as much as he really does. And like I said, is this really the time or place? I think NOT!

Takes two people to kiss, I am very sure if he didn't want to do it he could have pushed her away.

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 10:13 AM

That was a filler? Oh, drat it. But still, Kikyou knows that Inuyasha loves Kagome. And so of course Kikyou sees Kagome as an obstacle in her path to getting Inuyasha down to hell with her. And of course Kikyou does not thank her, because, if the situation had been turned around, Kikyou would not have saved Kagome for the same reasons (if she would have saved Kagome at all, which she would have not).
I think this Kikyou just doesn't understand the concept of saving someone beyond duty. She's a miko, so it's her duty to tend to sick and wounded and protect villagers. That's one reason why she wanted to be free of the jewel and live a normal life. It was her duty to protect it, and she felt trapped by that. That's the difference between her and Kagome. Kagome will give up her normal life for the sake of the jewel and never really regret it because she can't turn her back on doing the right thing for its own sake.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 10:14 AM

Takes two people to kiss, I am very sure if he didn't want to do it he could have pushed her away.
He was frozen with shock. Why else do you think his eyes were so big? Besides, who is to say that he was not already under the beginnings of the trance?

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 10:17 AM

I think this Kikyou just doesn't understand the concept of saving someone beyond duty. She's a miko, so it's her duty to tend to sick and wounded and protect villagers. That's one reason why she wanted to be free of the jewel and live a normal life. It was her duty to protect it, and she felt trapped by that. That's the difference between her and Kagome. Kagome will give up her normal life for the sake of the jewel and never really regret it because she can't turn her back on doing the right thing for its own sake.
Exactly. Kikyou is trapped in the world of duty. Kagome is beyond that. I'm sure that Kagome often has second thoughts about what she is doing. Why is she giving up a normal life, risking failing school, to hunt for the shards of a jewel? Why doesn't she just go home and live her normal life, get into a good high school, and forget the jewel? But she can't bring herself to do that. Her heart is too warm for that. She would never forgive herself for turning her back on doing the right thing, even if it means that she will never pass middle school and never have a normal life.

Hankoubou

July 8th, 2004, 10:17 AM

He was frozen with shock. Why else do you think his eyes were so big? Besides, who is to say that he was not already under the beginnings of the trance?

Why are trying to avoid the kissing between the two, at that point he was still in love with Kikyou as much as he was 50 years ago. Kagome didn't have as much of an affect on him, I am sure he kissed back.

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 10:19 AM

Sure didn't look like it. Either in the manga or anime. He didn't respond at all.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 10:22 AM

Why are trying to avoid the kissing between the two, at that point he was still in love with Kikyou as much as he was 50 years ago. Kagome didn't have as much of an affect on him, I am sure he kissed back.
That was episode 23. We are 150-some episodes' worth later. His feelings for Kagome have advanced to definite love. But he is not the type to kiss anyone. He is so insecure, that he is no doubt afraid of what she might do if he were to kiss her: He is afraid that she will reject him. He fears the worst.

Kagome is afraid that Inuyasha does not love as her as much as she loves him. (Even though he does.) She is afraid to kiss him because she is afraid to find out if she is second place to Kikyou. She, too, fears the worst.

They need to get over fearing the worst and just admit their feelings to each other, but this is more realistic than that. Their relationship is very realistic.

In due time, we will see the result. In due time.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 10:23 AM

Sure didn't look like it. Either in the manga or anime. He didn't respond at all.
That's what I thought. He just stood there with his eyes bugging out of their sockets, staring at her as she kissed him. There would have been movement if he had responded. But it was like she was kissing a statue. A bug-eyed statue.

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 10:39 AM

Sure didn't look like it. Either in the manga or anime. He didn't respond at all.

Even if the kiss is questionable, you can't critiicize the lovers embrace in episode 46, where kikyo fought it initally, and then gave in to their passion. Kagome and Inuyasha have never done this either. Unless you consider the second movie, yet that too is flawed since they revert back to their former states for the rest of the series.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 10:40 AM

That's what I thought. He just stood there with his eyes bugging out of their sockets, staring at her as she kissed him. There would have been movement if he had responded. But it was like she was kissing a statue. A bug-eyed statue.
He sure seems to be a little uneasy about that kiss. The point that Kikyou kissed InuYasha is a very good one. He didn't kiss her first, she kissed him. And Kagome had to watch the whole thing. So, why in the world would she set her self up to be second in line, by doing the same thing to him that she saw Kikyou do.
Not only that, but she is too shy to just plant a kiss on him. And on top of that she very well may be afraid not only of rejection, but of Kikyou herself. God only knows what Kikyou might try and do to the poor girl if she saw her kiss him. Kikyou has already tried to kill the girl.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 10:44 AM

Even if the kiss is questionable, you can't critiicize the lovers embrace in episode 46, where kikyo fought it initally, and then gave in to their passion. Kagome and Inuyasha have never done this either. Unless you consider the second movie, yet that too is flawed since they revert back to their former states for the rest of the series.
You act like they got buck naked and got it on. It was a hug, they didn't stand there saying OMG !!!! I love you so much, I'm never going to leave you, ect.
I have seen InuYasha hug Kagome in the same way. I wish I could remember episode number and Manga vols. but I am not that good. But your point is a very weak one, IMO.

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 10:46 AM

He sure seems to be a little uneasy about that kiss. The point that Kikyou kissed InuYasha is a very good one. He didn't kiss her first, she kissed him. And Kagome had to watch the whole thing. So, why in the world would she set her self up to be second in line, by doing the same thing to him that she saw Kikyou do.
Not only that, but she is too shy to just plant a kiss on him. And on top of that she very well may be afraid not only of rejection, but of Kikyou herself. God only knows what Kikyou might try and do to the poor girl if she saw her kiss him. Kikyou has already tried to kill the girl.

But then Inuyasha hugs her the nex ttime in episode 46, and she returned it. That is saying something. You know they killing attempt card gets played way too much on this forum. If Kikyo had wanted to kill Kagome when she was tied done she could have. She's a great shot and its hard to miss an immobile target at point blank range. Kikyo wanted to scare Kagome not kill her.

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 10:51 AM

You act like they got buck naked and got it on. It was a hug, they didn't stand there saying OMG !!!! I love you so much, I'm never going to leave you, ect.
I have seen InuYasha hug Kagome in the same way. I wish I could remember episode number and Manga vols. but I am not that good. But your point is a very weak one, IMO.

Yes, because they're Japanese and Inuyasha isn't a hentai series. I wonder what would happen if it was.... :naughty:. The anime uses the respectful form of courtships.

Really? Where? There is the farewell hug in episode 17, the hand-clasp in episode 47, the second movie kiss, and that's it. You have never seen Inuyasha hug Kagome like that, at least not til episode 140. it may get better.

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 10:55 AM

He sure seems to be a little uneasy about that kiss. The point that Kikyou kissed InuYasha is a very good one. He didn't kiss her first, she kissed him. And Kagome had to watch the whole thing. So, why in the world would she set her self up to be second in line, by doing the same thing to him that she saw Kikyou do.
Kagome could just haul off and kiss him, and be on equal footing as Kikyou, and he might even feel relieved about her making the first move. But she doesn't, because she doesn't want to steal or seduce him away from Kikyou. She wants it to be his choice. Otherwise, it won't be his genuine feelings.

But he can't make that choice on his own because he feels he doesn't have the right. Just as he can't tell Kagome he loves her and abandon Kikyou, he can't go with Kikyou and leave Kagome unprotected from Naraku.

I think that, in his perception, once the jewel and Naraku are destroyed, he'll have fulfilled his obligation to Kagome at the start of the series, and will then fulfill his to Kikyou. It's all about duty, just as it was for Kikyou. But, just as with Kikyou, it doesn't exactly correspond with what he wants.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 10:55 AM

But then Inuyasha hugs her the nex ttime in episode 46, and she returned it. That is saying something. You know they killing attempt card gets played way too much on this forum. If Kikyo had wanted to kill Kagome when she was tied done she could have. She's a great shot and its hard to miss an immobile target at point blank range. Kikyo wanted to scare Kagome not kill her.
That's funny, it seems like if you push some one down a hole that opens up to sticks of doom, or what ever the hell was down there, you want them to die. Not just scare them.
It was after that point when InuYasha comes and gets her out, that he is actually mad at Kikyou, because he has a feeling that she tried to hurt Kagome. Now just think how mad he would have been if he had known the truth.
Kikyou can't risk trying to kill Kagome now, because she would lose InuYahsa forever.

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 11:05 AM

Really? Where? There is the farewell hug in episode 17,
I think that may be the hug she was referring to. He was shaking with emotion while he held her, saying that he was afraid she would die if she stayed with him. He said later on that it would be the same for him as if he were losing Kikyou, meaning he acknowledges that he feels the same way for both at that point. He assumed he would be all right as long as he felt she was safe in her own time, just as he's okay without Kikyou being next to him all the time. But he was wrong. He was weakened by her absence, and he wasn't expecting that. He realized that he needs her in a way he's never needed Kikyou before.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 11:05 AM

Kagome could just haul off and kiss him, and be on equal footing as Kikyou, and he might even feel relieved about her making the first move. But she doesn't, because she doesn't want to steal or seduce him away from Kikyou. She wants it to be his choice. Otherwise, it won't be his genuine feelings.

But he can't make that choice on his own because he feels he doesn't have the right. Just as he can't tell Kagome he loves her and abandon Kikyou, he can't go with Kikyou and leave Kagome unprotected from Naraku.

I think that, in his perception, once the jewel and Naraku are destroyed, he'll have fulfilled his obligation to Kagome at the start of the series, and will then fulfill his to Kikyou. It's all about duty, just as it was for Kikyou. But, just as with Kikyou, it doesn't exactly correspond with what he wants.
And that is the whole problem.
What really is his duty to either of them. To Kagome he feels like he need to protect her. With Kikyou he wants revenge against Naraku.
So when Naraku is dead there is a very good chance that he is going to feel like his duty is done. He killed the bastard that tore them apart. And then there is still the issue of Kagome..... I'm just saying that when the battle is all over, can he leave her. Naraku is dead, Kikyou is on her way to hell or where ever, and there is Kagome and his friends. Can he leave them, will he.
I guess we will all have to just wait and see.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 11:07 AM

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 11:21 AM

I think that may be the hug she was referring to. He was shaking with emotion while he held her, saying that he was afraid she would die if she stayed with him. He said later on that it would be the same for him as if he were losing Kikyou, meaning he acknowledges that he feels the same way for both at that point. He assumed he would be all right as long as he felt she was safe in her own time, just as he's okay without Kikyou being next to him all the time. But he was wrong. He was weakened by her absence, and he wasn't expecting that. He realized that he needs her in a way he's never needed Kikyou before.

So you're saying Inuyasha loved Kagome at episode 15, when kagome herself didn't love Inuyasha yet? You need some chronological points to follow this argument, Bee. Personally I think Inuyasha didn't want to lose a friend, not a lover.

Are you saying If Kikyo and Inuyasha joined forces that they couldn't be as stong, if not stronger, than the Inu-Kag team? Yes at times, when they combine forces they can do great things. However, as the series progresses, what happens to this stipulation? It dies, that's what. We have 80+ episodes where the only thing Kagome does is shout "InuYasha". Every full-moon Kagome will save the day with her powers, but it's very infrequent. Now in episode 139 they 'rediscover" this ability to power up. It's too flimsy for a cornerstone argument.

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 11:34 AM

So you're saying Inuyasha loved Kagome at episode 15, when kagome herself didn't love Inuyasha yet? You need some chronological points to follow this argument, Bee. Personally I think Inuyasha didn't want to lose a friend, not a lover.
If you insist that he's loved Kikyou so passionately all this time, then yes, he's admitting that he feels the same way about Kagome. She didn't acknowledge her feelings as love until episode 48.

Are you saying If Kikyo and Inuyasha joined forces that they couldn't be as stong, if not stronger, than the Inu-Kag team?
Huh? That wasn't my point at all. Where did you get that from?

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 11:43 AM

If you insist that he's loved Kikyou so passionately all this time, then yes, he's admitting that he feels the same way about Kagome. She didn't acknowledge her feelings as love until episode 48.

I think you're giving too much liberty with that quote (is that in the manga?) He was worried about her getting killed by being near him with Naraku on the loose. This doesn't even come close to putting her on level footing with his feelings for Kikyo (at this point in time).

Huh? That wasn't my point at all. Where did you get that from?

"...He was weakened by her absence, and he wasn't expecting that. He realized that he needs her in a way he's never needed Kikyou before."

So what did you mean by this?

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 12:03 PM

I think you're giving too much liberty with that quote (is that in the manga?) He was worried about her getting killed by being near him with Naraku on the loose. This doesn't even come close to putting her on level footing with his feelings for Kikyo (at this point in time).
Yes, it was in the manga. Vol 7, Ch 9, Pg 13. He's trying to remind himself why he sealed her down the well.

[Closeup of Inuyasha looking sad. Overlaid is a drawing of Kikyou being cremated, and Kagome smiling.]
Inuyasha (thinking)
As long as she's living somewhere, that's okay.
I couldn't stand it if she died again.

[COMMENTS] Inuyasha is referring to Kikyou/Kagome, and saying he doesn't want to experience a similar situation.

(He might be confusing the two girls again, but that seems to go against his assertion that they are two seperate people to him by that point. We'll have to confirm this translation with Bakeneko...)

He's equating his feelings of loss at Kikyou's death with how he imagines he'd feel if Kagome died. They both mean the same to him.

In Vol 8, Ch 2, Pg 10. After Kagome had returned:

[Inuyasha looks faintly embarrassed.]
Inuyasha
You damn fool...
Don't come again...
I told you didn't I!

[White frame.]
Inuyasha (thinking)
It doesn't matter where...
I wanted Kagome to be living safely...

But then, in Vol 8, Ch 4. When he thought she was going to leave him again:

[Inuyasha looks down a bit.]
Inuyasha
You see...
I had thought it okay no matter how far away you were...

[Closeup of Inuyasha, looking down, and sad.]
Inuyasha
But... it's when I saw your face that,

[Closeup of Kagome with a quiet expression.]
Inuyasha
for some reason... my strength came back.

It's always with Kikyou that he feels okay without her near as long as he thinks she's safe. He assumed it would be the same with Kagome, but he'd never been separated from her for any length of time before to prove it. He had so much trouble with Rouyoukan partly because of his injuries, but mostly because he was seriously hurting from having to let go of Kagome. That's never been his experience with Kikyou, and the pain was more than he anticipated. Once she returned, it was like a switch had been pulled and he fought as strong as ever, injuries or no injuries.

meowchi

July 8th, 2004, 12:12 PM

I couldn't have said it any better. That is where the feelings for the two of them are complety diffrent. He doesn't need to be close to Kikyou, he just needs to feel like she is safe. With Kagome it's a whole other ball game. He can't stand to be apart from her.
And it's for those reasons that I do not see him ever leaving Kagome. As long as getting to feel like Kikyou is safe, then he really has no reason to leave his "home"

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 12:41 PM

It's always with Kikyou that he feels okay without her near as long as he thinks she's safe. He assumed it would be the same with Kagome, but he'd never been separated from her for any length of time before to prove it. He had so much trouble with Rouyoukan partly because of his injuries, but mostly because he was seriously hurting from having to let go of Kagome. That's never been his experience with Kikyou, and the pain was more than he anticipated. Once she returned, it was like a switch had been pulled and he fought as strong as ever, injuries or no injuries.

BTW, nice exerpt but I wanted to save space. ^_^ When Inuyasha and Kikyo were courting he was never out of her sight, following her everywhere like a little puppy. Now things are different. They have now gone their separate ways, and Inuyashs still thinks only of her (episode 46). For this one episode this is the case, and then we hear nothing of it for ages. It's a recurring theme every now and them, but Kikyo could have the exact same effect. When Kikyo was threatened by the giant souls-stealer he slit that thing down the middle with one stroke. They both have given Inuyasha the incentive to be more than he can be. It's just that only Kagome hangs around him 24/7.

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 01:18 PM

BTW, nice exerpt but I wanted to save space. ^_^ When Inuyasha and Kikyo were courting he was never out of her sight, following her everywhere like a little puppy. Now things are different. They have now gone their separate ways, and Inuyashs still thinks only of her (episode 46).
He never says he only thinks of her. Just that he thinks of her every day. Of course there are other things on his mind. And as he later explained to Kagome in Vol 8, Ch 10; (While I'm excerpting.. ;) )

[Closeup of Inuyasha looking down.]
Inuyasha
50 years ago, Kikyou was killed,
but even still, she can't go to Nirvana...

[Inuyasha continues to explain.]
Inuyasha
It was half my fault...
Because I didn't believe in Kikyou...
Kagome ......

[Closeup of Inuyasha.]
Inuyasha
That's why,
I can't forget about Kikyou.

Of course he still cares for her, but it's his guilt over her death that won't leave him alone.

For this one episode this is the case, and then we hear nothing of it for ages. It's a recurring theme every now and them, but Kikyo could have the exact same effect. When Kikyo was threatened by the giant souls-stealer he slit that thing down the middle with one stroke. They both have given Inuyasha the incentive to be more than he can be. It's just that only Kagome hangs around him 24/7.
The subject is never brought up because they both understand that they need each other and haven't left one another since. Well, aside from when he chose Kikyou in 47. (And he still didn't go with her, did he?) He agonized about having to leave Kagome behind for all of 48.

His strength when fighting for the two might be the same, but being without Kikyou doesn't leave him debilitated to the point of helplessness like he was against Rouyoukan.

Of course, the only way we're going to find out whether Kikyou really has the same effect is if she and Inuyasha become trapped on some desert island alone for a month or so. (That's about the only way to prevent Inuyasha from returning to Kagome. :P )

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 01:53 PM

He never says he only thinks of her. Just that he thinks of her every day. Of course there are other things on his mind. And as he later explained to Kagome in Vol 8, Ch 10; (While I'm excerpting.. ;) )

Nor has he said that he's dumping Kikyo for a girl from the future.

His strength when fighting for the two might be the same, but being without Kikyou doesn't leave him debilitated to the point of helplessness like he was against Rouyoukan.

If it was more than a one time event I'd say yeah. But Inuyasha fares pretty well against Kouga and Co. when kagome is captured. Against Tsubaki and her demons when Kagome is cursed. Good against Menomaru and Kaguya's forces when kagome was held captive. Did very well in Mt. Harukai while Kagome watched from the base of the mountain. Like I said, if there were more than just one instance, I'd say this position would have more merit. Personally I think the Royokan episode what just to reinforce the notion that Inuyasha and Kagome work better together than apart. I don't think he is Uber-Inuyasha when Kagome is nearby because he still gets the crap kicked out of him whether she's present or not.

I'd say the choice is still a coin-toss. *fling*. It's....

Of course, the only way we're going to find out whether Kikyou really has the same effect is if she and Inuyasha become trapped on some desert island alone for a month or so. (That's about the only way to prevent Inuyasha from returning to Kagome. :P )

Brings new meaning to the concept of "Survivor". :lol:

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 03:56 PM

As for episode 46 (you are referring to the episode in which, in the anime, Kikyou pulled the knife on Inuyasha, right?), Kikyou returned the hug because there was nothing else to do. She had given up on getting Inuyasha to let go of her.

Why didn't Kikyou kill Kagome in episode 23? You think Kikyou would miss out on a chance to humiliate Kagome, to watch Kagome suffer as she, Kikyou, drags Inuyasha to hell with her? How can one be humiliated and suffer if one is dead? That is why Kikyou did not kill Kagome, if you ask me. As for why Kikyou has not killed Kagome yet... She is more focused on Naraku than on her romantic rival. And I also think that she is bit more confident than she should be...

Bee-chan is right in that, Kagome could very well kiss Inuyasha, but that is not her way. She wants to know that she is not just a convenient filler, but that Inuyasha really truly loves her (which he does, but we all know that he is not going to be admitting that so readily). She does not want to seem as though she is seducing Inuyasha. It is without a doubt that Kikyou would see Kagome as more of a potential threat if she (Kagome) kissed Inuyasha, and would not hesitate in severely harming, even killing, Kagome. Kagome no doubt knows that. She is not stupid; she is a very bright girl.

It is also true that Inuyasha does not do his very best in fights when Kagome is not around. When he shoved her through the well, he fought poorly against Ryoukan (or whatever his name was). But when Kagome returned, he fought like a demon possessed! Yes, he may do well when Kagome is not threre, but ever stop to consider that he also thinks in the back of his mind that he fighting for her, for Kagome? He cannot bear the thought of losing her because he was unable to protect her. You saw how he blamed himself for her "death" in the Lankotsu incident. He is so overprotective of her, so afraid that he will lose her, that he fights like he's possessed for her sake.

I have never seen signs that he fights like that for Kikyou. Never. That says something. One could argue that he would, but would he really? No matter what, he cannot get Kagome out of his mind. Even if he were stranded on an island with Kikyou, his thoughts would always turn back to Kagome.

I think there is a reason Takahashi made Inuyasha a dog demon. I think there is message she wants the readers/viewers to figure out.

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 05:02 PM

As for episode 46 (you are referring to the episode in which, in the anime, Kikyou pulled the knife on Inuyasha, right?), Kikyou returned the hug because there was nothing else to do. She had given up on getting Inuyasha to let go of her.]

Oh if she realy wanted to escape she could have unleashed her powers on him and easily gotten away. Instead she gave into her passion.

Why didn't Kikyou kill Kagome in episode 23? You think Kikyou would miss out on a chance to humiliate Kagome, to watch Kagome suffer as she, Kikyou, drags Inuyasha to hell with her? How can one be humiliated and suffer if one is dead? That is why Kikyou did not kill Kagome, if you ask me. As for why Kikyou has not killed Kagome yet... She is more focused on Naraku than on her romantic rival. And I also think that she is bit more confident than she should be...

The attempt on her life can later in episode 34 (?), when Kikyo took Kagome's shards for Naraku. That was the attempt on Kagome's life and if Kikyo wanted to slay Kagome she could have done so without batting an eye.

Bee-chan is right in that, Kagome could very well kiss Inuyasha, but that is not her way. She wants to know that she is not just a convenient filler, but that Inuyasha really truly loves her (which he does, but we all know that he is not going to be admitting that so readily). She does not want to seem as though she is seducing Inuyasha. It is without a doubt that Kikyou would see Kagome as more of a potential threat if she (Kagome) kissed Inuyasha, and would not hesitate in severely harming, even killing, Kagome. Kagome no doubt knows that. She is not stupid; she is a very bright girl.

Kikyo is interested in Inuyasha's life, not what he does to pass the time. If Kagome was so bright why does she fail her tests so much. ^_^ Kagome is an average Jaoanese teenage girl.

It is also true that Inuyasha does not do his very best in fights when Kagome is not around. When he shoved her through the well, he fought poorly against Ryoukan (or whatever his name was). But when Kagome returned, he fought like a demon possessed! Yes, he may do well when Kagome is not threre, but ever stop to consider that he also thinks in the back of his mind that he fighting for her, for Kagome? He cannot bear the thought of losing her because he was unable to protect her. You saw how he blamed himself for her "death" in the Lankotsu incident. He is so overprotective of her, so afraid that he will lose her, that he fights like he's possessed for her sake.]

Inuyasha always fights for humans, otherwise his sword doesn't transform, at least until the upgrade. It's unknown if that requirement is necessary with his upgraded Tessaiga. He cannot bear the thought of not protecting her? He's doing pretty crappy job. He says he's going to protect Kagome, and two scenes later Kagome's in danger. He doesn't look too bad for botching the job on more than one occaion. He also blamed himself for Kikyo' death. Remember that.

I have never seen signs that he fights like that for Kikyou. Never. That says something. One could argue that he would, but would he really? No matter what, he cannot get Kagome out of his mind. Even if he were stranded on an island with Kikyou, his thoughts would always turn back to Kagome.
Inuyasha saving Kikyo from the Uber- Soul stealer. The ferocity was just the same as he does for Kagome.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 05:16 PM

Does Inuyasha know about the conditions of the sword, that is transforms because he is protecting humans? No, I do not think he does. No one has told him. But notice that it transforms even when he is only protecting himself. I think, in the back of his mind, or in his heart, he is protecting someone--and that someone is Kagome. He is fighting for Kagome.

Inuyasha blames himself for a lot of things. He blames himself for Kikyou's death, yes, but he also blames himself for Kagome getting hurt. As for protecting Kagome, he has never had to protect anyone but himself before. He does not know how to protect someone else.

The Uber-Soul Stealer was a long time ago. Inuyasha's feelings toward Kagome have progressed since then. He is most definitely in love with her, and deeply in love at that.

Kikyou gave into her passion because, deep down inside, she does care for Inuyasha. But that was not my point.

Kikyou likes to see Kagome humiliated. How can you humiliate someone if he or she is dead? That, and Kagome is the rest of Kikyou's soul. I would think that Kikyou wants her soul back. Also, who is to say that, if Kagome dies, Kikyou won't die as well? After all, the part of her soul that Kikyou has came from Kagome. Perhaps Kikyou realizes this and realizes that she needs Kagome to live in order for her (Kikyou) to live and fulfill her request of destroying Naraku.

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 06:16 PM

Inuyasha blames himself for a lot of things. He blames himself for Kikyou's death, yes, but he also blames himself for Kagome getting hurt. As for protecting Kagome, he has never had to protect anyone but himself before. He does not know how to protect someone else.
I don't know if it's really a matter of knowing how, just that protecting humans isn't as easy as it looks. Look at Sesshoumaru. Nearly unstoppable Daiyoukai, right? How many times has Rin been Kidnapped? :lol: Their father definitely didn't want his boys to grow lazy now, did he?

Kikyou gave into her passion because, deep down inside, she does care for Inuyasha. But that was not my point.
That, and there's also the part about sticking a knife to his throat. She let him hold her so that she could get close enough to strike. That's why she "gave in to the passion", such as it was. She was really just using his own feelings as an example of what she has planned for Naraku.

At least, that's what the animation team was trying to get at. None of her struggling or threatening happened in the manga...

Greek Honeybee

July 8th, 2004, 06:24 PM

Kikyo is interested in Inuyasha's life, not what he does to pass the time. If Kagome was so bright why does she fail her tests so much. ^_^ Kagome is an average Jaoanese teenage girl.
How many genuinely stupid people get straight A's? How many smart people fail in the school system? Academic grades aren't any indication of intelligence, from what I've seen. And Japanese schools are notoriously stressful. Not to mention the added complications of leading two lives and only making maybe a quarter of her classes, in between treks across the country in the civil war era battling youkai. If anyone can pass at all under those conditions, it'd be a miracle.

If you ask me, her life is a lot more burdened than Kikyou's ever was. :uhh: Yikes.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 8th, 2004, 06:41 PM

You're right, Bee-chan. Trying to defeat Naraku and his cronies and protecting Kagome from being kidnapped and/or killed is not an easy task for our poor hanyou. Add to that all the burdens he is carrying on his shoulders, and one could imagine that he's pretty stressed out. And the fact that he does not willingly show his emotions equates to all that stress being piled up inside of him.

Frankly, I'm surprised he hasn't exploded yet.

Just because Kagome does not excel in school (as if she can) does not mean that she is not smart. She is quite smart, otherwise she'd be dead. One does not survive the Sengoku Jidai with a low intelligence, and her situation is more dangerous than most.

I'm surprised she hasn't exploded yet, either.

nerfer

July 8th, 2004, 09:30 PM

Indeed if Kag's grades at school aren't what they should be I don't think its due to a lack of intelligence on her part.

More like not enough time to study with all the poor girl has on her plate!

Brill

July 8th, 2004, 10:18 PM

How many genuinely stupid people get straight A's? How many smart people fail in the school system? Academic grades aren't any indication of intelligence, from what I've seen. And Japanese schools are notoriously stressful. Not to mention the added complications of leading two lives and only making maybe a quarter of her classes, in between treks across the country in the civil war era battling youkai. If anyone can pass at all under those conditions, it'd be a miracle.

If you ask me, her life is a lot more burdened than Kikyou's ever was. :uhh: Yikes.

And whose the bright person who cones to the rescue when things are dire: Miroku. Kagome is average. She comes up with the occasional bright idea, but her other demeanor reflects that she is an average girl. Kagome's life is more burdened, mentally perhaps, psychically not.

Kagura Hakubi

July 8th, 2004, 11:48 PM

I think that she actually says that she gets above-average grades in the first chapter of the Manga, you know, about the same time as she states that it's her 15th birthday? She doesn't give her blood type, though, which is a change from the usual female-character oriented thing... I think CLAMP started that tradition, but it's spread. I can't give any examples in the two minutes I have though.... ¬_¬

meowchi

July 9th, 2004, 07:12 AM

Why would it even matter if she was getting the worst grades? I know a lot of people who didn't do that well in school, but are not dumb by any means. I think Kagome is pretty smart, she seems to be doing okay on figuring out things about InuYasha, at least, with out any help from any one else.
Also you need to keep in mind, that she has never had to deal with any of the things that she is dealing with now. To me, the fact that she is still alive, makes her pretty damn smart.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 9th, 2004, 07:41 AM

That's exactly what I said. One cannot survive the Sengoku Jidai without some form of average or above-average intelligence; and the fact that Kagome has survived some of the most dangerous situations in such a dangerous era proves her intelligence. The girl is the opposite of stupid.

meowchi

July 9th, 2004, 07:52 AM

Exactly.
So, I would really like to know what makes people think that Kikyou is so freaking great. I think we have listed quite a few things in the past that make Kagome great to us. And I would like to see some of Kikyou's great points listed. If this is going to be a Kagome or Kikyou thread, lets do it in style.
List some of either girl’s strengths.
I'll go first:
Kagome - She loves InuYasha for who he is, not who he could be.

Brill

July 9th, 2004, 08:30 AM

Just don't confuse common sense with intelligence. They are separate issues. You can be good in one and suck in the other.

meowchi

July 9th, 2004, 09:51 AM

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 9th, 2004, 10:08 AM

Common sense can be linked to intelligence, occhan. You do have to have at least an average IQ to have common sense.

nerfer

July 9th, 2004, 11:08 AM

Kagome certainly doesn't have the skills Kikyou does, but she is untrained (often wondered why it never occured to Kaede to train Kag up, oh well)

But she does have common sense, she certainly isn't stupid. Like in episode 8 'The Toad Who Would Be Prince.' Sure Kikyou probably could have used her miko knowledge to force the demon out. But Kag had no such training, so she used her own smarts, got out her can of hairspray, added some fire and hey presto!

Some pretty quick thinking if you ask me!

And Mikadzuki Tatsu is right, in that IQ and intelligence while separate are linked. Many psychologists agree, Intelligence isn't merely about being smart. Common sense is a part of how intelligent a person can be. I'm no rocket scientist, but I have buckets of common sense!

Brill

July 9th, 2004, 11:08 AM

Using that logic, then all of the people in the cast of InuYasha just have common sense, and show no form of real intelligence.
Also if we are basing this on book smarts, then Yes, Kagome is far more intelligent then the others are. None of them have ever been "educated."

You're confusing the terms, meowchi. Intellignce is different than common sense (wisdom). You've never heard of the absent-minded professor? Really smart but can't conduct themselves in a normal social situation. All in the group have fair to decent common sense except Inuyasha. Everyone has average intelligence except Miroku, who is very bright. That is the difference between the two.

Greek Honeybee

July 9th, 2004, 01:26 PM

Kagome certainly doesn't have the skills Kikyou does, but she is untrained (often wondered why it never occured to Kaede to train Kag up, oh well)

But she does have common sense, she certainly isn't stupid. Like in episode 8 'The Toad Who Would Be Prince.' Sure Kikyou probably could have used her miko knowledge to force the demon out. But Kag had no such training, so she used her own smarts, got out her can of hairspray, added some fire and hey presto!

You know, I'd love to plunk Kikyou down in the middle of Japanese middle school and see how she handles facing exams on x/2-1<(3x+5)/4 and the English language. :devil: You know, those tests determine your ENTIRE FUTURE, and all...

Let's see how smart she really is! :lol:

Brill

July 9th, 2004, 01:45 PM

You know, I'd love to plunk Kikyou down in the middle of Japanese middle school and see how she handles facing exams on x/2-1<(3x+5)/4 and the English language. :devil: You know, those tests determine your ENTIRE FUTURE, and all...

Let's see how smart she really is! :lol:

Meh, Bill Gates didn't finish college. He did pretty well. Besides mikos don't need math, along with all subjective buddies. BTW, x > -9. ^_^

Greek Honeybee

July 9th, 2004, 01:54 PM

Well, I was just using that situation as an example because you were using Kagome's grades to indicate her intelligence. It was commented in the manga that she was consistently among of the top 30 in her class before her life turned upside down.

Brill

July 9th, 2004, 02:05 PM

Out of 35? :) I don't use her grades to make my asessment, I use other variables.

Greek Honeybee

July 9th, 2004, 02:18 PM

In a school in Tokyo?? Try 135. ;)

If Kagome was so bright why does she fail her tests so much. ^_^
I kinda figured you were joking, but it really isn't her fault.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 10th, 2004, 01:33 PM

Who says that miko do not need schooling, do not need math? Is it not true that miko can often be healers, as well? And one has to know math in order to make sure that one does not mess up medications. I daresay that mathematics are needed no matter what. You sure would not play it by hear if someone's life were at stake!

venom112

July 10th, 2004, 10:19 PM

Of course Inu-Yasha will choose Kagome. It's a Rumiko Takahashi series, which can only mean one thing...
main character male and main character female hate eachother, but other characters show up from time to time to court the MC male or the MC female. Despite claiming they dislike eachother the MC male/MC female gets angry at the attention the other is getting. In the end They reveal they've liked eachother all along and become a couple. That's pretty much how all of Rumiko's series go though.

Kuro

July 11th, 2004, 03:28 AM

He'll choose Kagome simply becaues I think Rumiko Takahashi want to live to make another series... ;)

And I would KILL to see Kagome's Ultimate Showdown: The Battle Against History Lessons! Mwahaha! Can't you just see it?

SENSEI: Higurashi, in this report your just handed in, what do you mean, "history was undoubtedly influenced by the death of a powerful, and power-thirsty being by the name of Naraku, who had taken his form from the prince Kagewaki." I have never heard such ridiculous, fanciful...
KAGOME: *plunks down a giant baboon pelt in front of him* So... just WHERE do you want me to begin?

clamp_fan12

July 11th, 2004, 05:05 AM

Brill

July 11th, 2004, 07:32 AM

Well Takahashi lived after Ranma. So anything is possible.

DAM8024

July 11th, 2004, 08:30 AM

How many huge threads have we had about this? Almost everything posted so far has already been brought up in previous debates. Ok I've tried to stay out of this for awhile but let's go again :punch: . And to think everyone gets pissed at me when I go into Kikyo defense mode and here, the debate has gone on for pages and pages without me ^_^ . Briwisc, well done!! ;) I'll start off by addressing key posts from the beginning of this thread.

...Besides, Kikyou had him once, and dumped him rather decisively. She had, for all intents and purposes, thrown the dish back. With that alone, it's assumed by both parties that the relationship is over. Then someone else picked him up while she wasn't looking, and NOW he looks like a tasty morsel. Well, too bad. ^_^

Actually, Kikyo didn't "dump" him. It was Naraku's trap that tricked Inu Yasha and Kikyo into fighting each other.

I know that this is going to upset Kikyou fans, but Kikyou and Inuyasha's relationship really can't go anywhere. There is really no place for it to go, to move forward. But Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship can still move forward; it still has someplace to go. Kikyou is not the same Kikyou who Inuyasha loved, and he no doubt has realized that. So in the end, it will be Kagome.

I'm not upset but you are making an assumption here. Kikyo and Inu Yasha's relationship can progress but it is on hold because their priority is to destroy Naraku. Kagome and Inu Yasha's relationship definitely can move forward but it has not moved even close to the level that Kikyo/Inu Yasha are at. Finally, Inu Yasha realizes Kikyo is not the same Kikyo but at the tree scene, Inu Yasha stated that he doesn't care and still cares for Kikyo as she is now.

I must protest. Perhaps Kikyou and Inuyasha's relationship has gone nowhere since the beginning of the series, but Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship certainly has progessed. Unfortunately, as Bake-heika has pointed out many times, the anime undermines the relationship between Kagome and Inuyasha; but in the manga, the development is more obvious. There are subtle signs of development, but as someone who picks up signs of romance like that *snaps her fingers* it's blatantly obvious that those two are getting further along in their relationship. It's going somewhere, that's for sure, and that "somewhere" is certainy not the grave. It's obvious that their feelings for each other grow as the series moves forward.

As much as the anime undermines Kagome and Inu Yasha, it also undermines Kikyo and Inu Yasha at the same time. Bake-heika or whatever you call him has also mentioned this. I agree there are signs of development for Kagome/Inu Yasha, but some need to realize that some signs advance their friendship and not every intimate moment between Kagome/Inu Yasha is a proclamation of their love. As for their relationship not going to the grave, it is quite possible that Inu Yasha or Kagome might go to the grave by the end of the series though it would be a shocker :O .

I'd hardly say Inuyasha and Kikyou are "together" anymore in any sense. As touching as their meetings might be, the fact is that they're apart for roughly 98% of the series. She usually avoids him unless she needs him for something, and he has no problems going for months without seeing her as long as he thinks she's okay. He might've promised his life to her, but the only real connection left between them is his guilt and her unwillingness to let him live beyond her. That's not really what I'd call signs of a stable, loving relationship.

Inuyasha and Kagome are there for each other day in and out. She chooses to stand by him and support him in whatever capacity she can, and he throws hissy fits if she's away from him for more than three days. They do love and need each other, and confirm it to each other every chance they get in the little ways that count. How can it be argued that they're not really "together"? Do you really need verbal vows sealed with a kiss, regardless of what actually lies between them?

Kikyo and Inu Yasha care and love each other. This much is obvious though at times Kikyo has trouble expressing it due to her clay body. Their relationship is only on hold because their priority is to resolve the Shikon jewel issue and destroy Naraku. Neither Kikyo or Inu Yasha have agreed to end their romantic, intimate relationship. Also consider that Kikyo could throw herself into Inu Yasha's party further causing tension between her and Kagome and Inu Yasha but she chooses not to. Reason is again that her priority is on destroying Naraku. Also remember Inu Yasha ran to Kikyo much faster then Kagome at the moment that he heard Kikyo was around a few times earlier in the series (he also left Kagome). Inu Yasha knows that usually Kikyo can take care of herself. Let's compare Kagome's 3 days wait to the moment he hears that Kikyo is there, the exact second he goes to her.

As for Kagome and Inu Yasha, its hard to see that they really do love each other unless one of them is almost dead. Sometimes they have their moments but it's so rare to see even by 100+ episodes. In contrast, half the time he sees Kikyo, they share intimate, romantic moments. Basically Kagome/Inu Yasha is not up to the level of Kikyo/Inu Yasha.

To be continued...

empath1

July 11th, 2004, 09:05 AM

Inuyasha will choose Kagome and whats her face will finally die.

DAM8024

July 11th, 2004, 09:30 AM

You're absolutely right, Bee-chan. Kikyou is a dead love who left behind guilt in Inuyasha's heart. How can that relationship progress, when it has already died, in a sense? I always get the sensation that Kikyou blames Inuyasha for the tragic end of their relationship. "It's his fault for not trusting me, so why should I let him live when I cannot?" Even though she knows that Naraku is the one who wove the webs of betrayal, I think she still puts part of the blame on Inuyasha's shoulders. But what about her trusting him? If they had both trusted each other, Naraku would not have been able to trick them. But I don't think Kikyou thinks that way. It's almost as though Inuyasha is her loyal pet dog, and if he does not obey her, then it is his fault. What kind of relationship is that?

You're also right in pointing out that Inuyasha does not make a big deal about Kikyou's absence, but when Kagome goes back to her own time, he sits around and pouts. He may put up the excuse of, "We need her in order to find the shards!" but the real reason is that he is afraid of losing her and simply does not want her out of his sight. He is so overprotective of her, because that is the only way he knows to demonstrate how much he cares for and loves her. And he cannot forget that Kagome chose to stay by his side. When she could have decided never to return to him, she chose to stay by him, and that meant so much to him.

Just because Inuyasha and Kagome have not kissed and admitted their love with words and vowed never to leave each other does not mean that they are not in love! It's just that both are uncertain in the relationship, and both are afraid of rejection. (It does not help that Inuyasha is romantically stupid.)

(Am I just repeating what you said, Bee-chan?)

What I said to Greek Honeybee is "Also remember Inu Yasha ran to Kikyo much faster then Kagome at the moment that he heard Kikyo was around a few times earlier in the series (he also left Kagome). Inu Yasha knows that usually Kikyo can take care of herself. Let's compare Kagome's 3 days wait to the moment he hears that Kikyo is there, the exact second he goes to her."

On the issue of trust, I've already answered it in another thread. Here is what I said. "Back then, one of Nemesis's main points is that Kikyo and Inu Yasha did not act as a normal intimate couple would and neither questioned what was going on hinting at trust issues in their relationship. Due to the very short length of the flashback in episode 15, it seemed as if Inu Yasha just ran away from imposter Kikyo when she shot at him and did not question what was going on. Although I argued and even went to the manga that Inu Yasha did say something. Now I forget what he said in the manga exactly. Still it was taken as speculation at the time. As for Kikyo, we agreed that the moment she was sliced by imposter Inu Yasha, her rationalizing ability decreased tremendously so she could not really question Inu Yasha.

The spring special clears this up. As the viewer, we see the actual thought process of both Inu Yasha and Kikyo and we see that they say much more then we were led to believe before. Inu Yasha does act like a normal person would and question Kikyo before she taunts and shoots at him causing him to run away. This is a positive then as Inu Yasha did what he would be expected to do in such a situation.

The negative, which has always been argued by Kagome fans is that Naraku effectively used their fears against each other to set one against the other. While we see their thought process, it is confirmed that this is exactly how Naraku was so successful. Certainly it can be said that there were trust issues.

My argument (which still holds I think) has always been that Inu Yasha and Kikyo acted as most normal couples would. I will use as I did back then, real life examples that are good analogies to what happened with Inu Yasha/Kikyo. If some guy was given seemingly convincing evidence that his girl was cheating on him (as Naraku impersonated Kikyo very well), then would he really say "no way, my girl would never cheat on me?" I very much doubt it. As long as there is a slight chance that his girl would cheat on him, he would have to consider the possibility given strong evidence that his girl would cheat on him. Of course, the guy should question the girl and present the evidence (as Inu Yasha did try to figure out what was going on when Kikyo was there). Inu Yasha acted fine.

Let's use myself in the next example. If my sister attacked me with a knife, would I stand there and say no she would never attack me ever? No, there is a very small chance (perhaps a 1 percent chance) that she would attack me and so I would question her as to why she is doing this. If she continued to attack me, I might attempt to disarm her or run away. This is what Inu Yasha did and of course, Kikyo was fatally injured and hurt so she could not move or think rationally.

Add to this the fact that Kikyo and Inu Yasha did not start their relationship out like a normal couple. Inu Yasha tried to attack Kikyo to get the jewel in the beginning so an attack by either one of them on the other is not completely out of the question. Also since this is the feudal era and keeping this all in context, violence is much more common and even expected."

To be continued...

Tsurashi-chan

July 11th, 2004, 09:55 AM

Kagome! I believe InuYasha's feelings for her a lot greater now. I know that she is no Kikyo, but when they are together(Inu & Kag)they are both happy. She is alway there by his side. She is willing to put her life on the line for him and vise versa. When Kagome goes back to her own time, InuYasha seems lost without her and she is lost without him. That to me is LOVE!

venom112

July 11th, 2004, 10:05 AM

Well Takahashi lived after Ranma. So anything is possible.
Yes, but Ranma ended up with Akane, which would basically be the same as if Inu-Yasha and Kagome got together.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 11th, 2004, 12:22 PM

Yes, but Ranma ended up with Akane, which would basically be the same as if Inu-Yasha and Kagome got together.
Exactement! And as Bee-chan said, if Takahashi wants to live to make another series ;) she is going to put Inuyasha and Kagome together. And that is final.

Sorry, Kikyou/Inuyasha lovers. But Inuyasha and Kikyou's relationship is in No Man's Land..,and staying there, stuck in sinking sand with no chance of being pulled out anytime soon. So one can argue that Inuyasha and Kikyou's relationship is on hold because of Naraku--but the same could be said for Inuyasha and Kagome. One could say, Although their relationship progresses a bit, it is kept from moving forward too much because of Naraku.

So there.

venom112

July 11th, 2004, 12:53 PM

Sorry, Kikyou/Inuyasha lovers. But Inuyasha and Kikyou's relationship is in No Man's Land..,and staying there, stuck in sinking sand with no chance of being pulled out anytime soon.
Well once again it is a Rumiko Takahashi series, so any viewers of the show should know full well from episode one that Inu-Yasha and Kagome will end up together. So they shouldn't have ever gotten their hopes up in the first place. It's kind of like seeing a variety of male character designs in a Clamp series. It's just not going to happen.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 11th, 2004, 01:06 PM

Well once again it is a Rumiko Takahashi series, so any viewers of the show should know full well from episode one that Inu-Yasha and Kagome will end up together. So they shouldn't have ever gotten their hopes up in the first place. It's kind of like seeing a variety of male character designs in a Clamp series. It's just not going to happen.
Interesting analogy. *snicker* But you're right. Of course Inuyasha and Kagome are going to end up together. It's a no-brainer. Of course, the question left is, What will happen to Kikyou? I have so many hypotheses streaking through my head like comets, but I cannot let even one of them escape!

I have begun to wonder what some of my friends would think, if they were to read these Kikyou vs. Kagome arguments. Some of them are Kikyou advocates.

Brill

July 12th, 2004, 05:30 AM

Asuming that neither dies, gets separated by time, gotos hell, or follows some other love interest. The love aspect is more reflective of Ranma than Maison Ikkoku so you never know. It's not a slam dunk.

clamp_fan12

July 12th, 2004, 08:56 AM

DAM8024...how can you type so much...-_-;;

Anyways this debate will probably go on and on and on until Takahashi ends the series...probably.

Yami No Yume

July 12th, 2004, 10:46 AM

I would have to go with the 'someone else' bracket... I think he'll choose Miroku **people start pelting her with rancid tomatoes, claiming Inuyasha is not a Yaoi** Fine, fine. I think that something will happen where he can choose both Kikyo and Kagome (they fuse souls again). I mean, really... The Kikyo that walks the earth dead and cold isn't the real Kikyo. I seem to think she was nicer... Plus, if Inuyasha doesn't choose both girls in one body, then... um... people would throw stuff at Takahashi. I still say it should go Yaoi, though **picks up a sign that says 'We want Yaoi!** I'm off to various anime companies, who wants to join me?

Jellochu

July 12th, 2004, 12:20 PM

KAGOME! kagome is so cooool i so hope he chooses her just cuz shes like one of my faves in the show!

SoulfulFX

July 12th, 2004, 03:26 PM

*watches Kagome bludgeoning Kikyo in the poll*

*likes to use the word bludgeoning when describing poll dominance*

*wonders if Takahashi thinks the same way*

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 12th, 2004, 04:34 PM

You're right, clamp fan. This is going to keep on going on and on and on until Takahashi ends the series. Then this mess will come together once and for all. But until then, we are left only to argue over this matter until our meters are on "boil" and smoke is coming out of our ears!

throughhim413

July 12th, 2004, 11:18 PM

This won't be resolved until the end of the series as has been said above. However, I think that the episode in a few weeks, titled I believe "The violent, two-timing boy who brings happiness" should shed some light on this. It had better be Kagome though. If I watched all this and he goes with Kikyou, I'm flying to Japan and giving someone a piece of my mind. ...But hopefully that won't happen... BTW, it should be wrapping up pretty soon, right? Isn't Inuyasha supposed to end in September in Japan?

mikosakura

July 13th, 2004, 06:18 AM

It's rumored that the series will end in September, but so far there's been no offical word saying whether or not that's true. Personally, I don't really think that's enough time for the series to completely wrap up, but then, who knows what the animators will do.

throughhim413

July 13th, 2004, 11:04 AM

I really don't want to see it end, but then again, it's about time that something big happens. Everything is heading so that it could end, but I agree, it would be sort of rushed... Guess we'll just have to wait and see... And as for the Kagome/Inuyasha relationship, it would almost cheapen it if it didn't happen right near the end. I mean, like all great anime endings, everything will come crashing together at the same time to bring about some ultimate resolution. Or so I hope...

Greek Honeybee

July 13th, 2004, 12:47 PM

I've had a rough week, x_x so I'm just going to make this as short and sweet as I can...

Actually, Kikyo didn't "dump" him. It was Naraku's trap that tricked Inu Yasha and Kikyo into fighting each other.
Dooonn't give me that. :P She shot him! She wanted him dead! With or without her. For whatever reason, in most normal relationships, that pretty much means it's over! :rolleyes:

It might be hard for you to see the strength of Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship, but trust me, it's there. And, frankly, I'm still wondering how much personal experience you have with this sort of thing. I've been in relationships that could be compared to both, and there's a reason why I'm so terribly against Inu/Kik. I learned all those lessons a long time ago.

Dark Soap

July 13th, 2004, 12:49 PM

I think Inuyasha will choose Kagome for obvious reasons.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 13th, 2004, 03:03 PM

"The two timer boy who brings happiness"? Pardon me while I try to figure out which episode that is and why this list of episodes that I'm staring at (on the 'net) does not have an episode that matches that title...in the next few weeks, that is, past Tsubasi the kuromiko.

I am not exactly sure where the anime is now (I have not seen every single episode that has been aired), but I know that it is not that close to the manga, and that ending it this September means that it is not going to be completed. But those are just rumours. We do not know what to believe. (I loathe rumors...)

Bee-chan? I think a certain tree nymph around here needs a zen hug. *zen hugs Bee-chan*

And I am not going to get into anymore about Kagome and Kikyou and the end of the series, at least not right now. I am not in the mood. Call me later.

Greek Honeybee

July 13th, 2004, 03:37 PM

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 13th, 2004, 03:43 PM

Tacchan: That episode is 160 and will be shown for the first time in Japan on the 26th. It's based on chapter 332, as seen on Kuro's site. Then, they'll skip ahead to the Shima arc (ch 343-345) and going into some original filler before reportedly picking up the canon where they left off.
Ah. Throughhim has said "in the next few weeks," and I was assuming he/she was talking about the dub. So I went to a site that had a list of episodes and started looking at the ones after Tsubasi. That is why I was confused. But that explains everything. Thank you.

As for me,..? Thanks for the hugs. I honestly didn't mean for my post to sound so snippy. I'm just getting pulled through a harmless family reunion, of sorts. Harmless... >_< I'll go take a nap now.
I was hugging you in part for the bad week, but mostly for what else you had said, as well. (And for some reason I don't want to repeat it. Something inside of me tells me to keep that door locked.)

throughhim413

July 13th, 2004, 05:38 PM

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 13th, 2004, 05:45 PM

Honeybee, thanks for backing me up. :huggles: I am very thankful. Mikadzuki Tatsu, I'm glad that the issue was sorted out. If you want to see the list I was looking at, it's the Inuyasha episode list at tvtome.com. Sorry if I caused confusion. I don't watch the dub :eek: , it makes me sick hearing Kaede saying "thou" all the time... But I'm getting off topic, so go Kagome! Ok then...
Ah, good ol' TVTome. ^_^ (One of the best places to spoil half a series for oneself just by looking at episode titles!) It is all sorted out now, so there is no need to apologize for any confusion you created (it was just a little confusion, after all).

Tatsumaki

July 14th, 2004, 01:01 AM

Realy I feel sory for inuyasha...
If he chooses kagome then kikiyo will probly either die or kill kagome, but if he chooses kikiyo... well kagome will probly just go run away and cry or something

Greek Honeybee

July 14th, 2004, 02:27 AM

I was hugging you in part for the bad week, but mostly for what else you had said, as well.
Oh, that..? Don't worry! Like I said, I've been in relationships that could reflect both of those surrounding this triangle.

I don't know if the details belong in a public forum, even though I feel they do relate to the discussion. If you just don't care about my love life, stop reading now. I won't be insulted. ^_^

Anyway, I was trapped with responsibilities that left me all alone, and he was an outcast that hated what he was. We sought comfort with one another and went through a lot together. I had placed all my hopes in him, and loved him so deeply and desperately that I felt like I was losing myself sometimes. But in the end, I found out he was actually in love with someone else the whole time, and he wound up dumping me.

I guess I knew it all along. There were signs and people would outright tell me, but I turned a blind eye because I couldn't take it. There was no plot from some jealous third party, in this case, and I obviously didn't die, but my heart did become twisted with rage and hatred towards him. My whole world fell apart and my soul shattered because I had no faith in myself to fall back on when he left. I threatened both him and his girlfriend and basically became a psycho-stalker. A more emotional version of Kikyou, if you will. It's not a time in my life I'm proud of at all. I really needed to be slapped for it! :P It goes a long way to explain my aversion to Kikyou in general. Even though I was guilty of the same thing, I can never justify her actions or reasons, any more than I can my own.

I went on like that for a few years. I eventually gave up on them and continued with my normal life, though the hatred always plagued me and I was never the same. There was nothing beautiful or noble about me or my plight. I was nothing but a tangled, hideous mess inside. And I now know that it was no one's fault but my own.

Until I met this wonderful man. He's intelligent and strong, but very open with his feelings and empathic towards those of others. I was drawn to him, but felt ashamed of my past. None of that would seem to matter to him, however. He has a way of seeing through to who people really are, despite their actions and the front they put on.

Just his presence comforts me, with his gentle eyes and warm voice, and I could feel my heart healing every day. Gradually, I found myself forgiving my ex and his girlfriend, and everyone else I blamed for my difficult past. But I still have trouble forgiving myself for what I did. Aside from that, I've never felt more confident and comfortable with myself, because of him. I've never felt healthier in my life.

I know he could never hurt me, because of his open and warm heart. I have faith that he's just not capable of it. And even if he could, if he used me or dumped me for someone else, my concern would be for his happiness, rather than my own well-being. That's what love is meant to be.

But if he ever calls me a *****, I will bodyslam him. ;)

Oniwa-Kun

July 14th, 2004, 09:34 AM

kagome because as everyone else has said she is still living

DAM8024

July 15th, 2004, 10:14 AM

I wonder if I should continue to respond to the old posts in this thread since it is unlikely anyone will respond to them.

Exactement! And as Bee-chan said, if Takahashi wants to live to make another series ;) she is going to put Inuyasha and Kagome together. And that is final.

Sorry, Kikyou/Inuyasha lovers. But Inuyasha and Kikyou's relationship is in No Man's Land..,and staying there, stuck in sinking sand with no chance of being pulled out anytime soon. So one can argue that Inuyasha and Kikyou's relationship is on hold because of Naraku--but the same could be said for Inuyasha and Kagome. One could say, Although their relationship progresses a bit, it is kept from moving forward too much because of Naraku.

So there.

It doesn't look good for Kikyo/Inu Yasha but saying stuff like "no chance" is not really fair. There is always a chance. Also, it is not for certain that Kagome and Inu Yasha will end of together cause one of them could die or there could be an ending that no one can predict. Yea, Kagome/Inu Yasha have the same priority in finding and destroying Naraku so they haven't progressed as far. Consider that Kikyo and Inu Yasha did not have Naraku to hinder them (he was in the process of being made) for a long time so their relationship progressed quite far before they were tricked.

Dooonn't give me that. She shot him! She wanted him dead! With or without her. For whatever reason, in most normal relationships, that pretty much means it's over!

It might be hard for you to see the strength of Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship, but trust me, it's there. And, frankly, I'm still wondering how much personal experience you have with this sort of thing. I've been in relationships that could be compared to both, and there's a reason why I'm so terribly against Inu/Kik. I learned all those lessons a long time ago.

She tried to kill him twice. The first time she still thought Inu Yasha really betrayed her. Later on, she found out it was Naraku. The last time she tried to kill him, she wanted to be with him in death and it was out of desperation. So the answer is no and their relationship isn't truly over yet.

I never said there is no strength in their relationship. I only said that some fans see too much into it or blow little things out of proportion making Kagome/Inu Yasha's relationship more then it really is. Even the ones who debate longest with me for pages (like Bakeneko) agree that Kagome/Inu Yasha have a long way to go and they have many problems in their relationship such as Kagome's immaturity. Furthermore, I still think she is extremely young to be thinking about marriage or long term relationships.

I've read about your experiences and it is interesting. I'm sure it must have been hard for you and I hope your current relationship works out. Yet, you should realize that Kikyo/Inu Yasha have not really ended their relationship so the circumstances are different. Neither of them have given up on each other although having Kagome in there complicates matters quite a bit. For Kikyo/Inu Yasha, there is still a chance for them to work it out.

No I don't have much experience with relationships yet. -_-; Yet if I was clueless, I would not be able to present Kikyo's side of it successfully for this long. Nor would I be able to write about trust issues between couples for many paragraphs as I did a few posts back in this thread.

So, is this discussion done for? ^_^

Sheri_Chan

July 15th, 2004, 10:26 AM

I personally think he'll run off with Sango :lol:...

No... that wouldn't seem right. He'll end up choosing Kagome is what I really think.

Kikina

July 15th, 2004, 10:32 AM

he would totally choose Kagome, since Kikyo, although she was brought back, is dead!

DAM8024

July 15th, 2004, 11:39 AM

kagome because as everyone else has said she is still living

he would totally choose Kagome, since Kikyo, although she was brought back, is dead!

Kikyo knows she's dead in a sense. Inu Yasha knows she's dead but it's not that easy. Inu Yasha still loves Kikyo even though she is dead in a sense and she in a clay body. The fact is it is really up to Inu Yasha to decide and he has said that he still cares for Kikyo even in the state that she is in.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 15th, 2004, 04:05 PM

Kikyo knows she's dead in a sense. Inu Yasha knows she's dead but it's not that easy. Inu Yasha still loves Kikyo even though she is dead in a sense and she in a clay body. The fact is it is really up to Inu Yasha to decide and he has said that he still cares for Kikyo even in the state that she is in.
"Dead in a sense"? No. Kikyou is dead. The part of her reincarnated soul that she retrieved from Kagome was enough to breathe life into her, and bring back her memories. But she is, in a sense, a reproduction of the Kikyou that once was. She is not the same Kikyou; that cannot be denied. So, in truth, the Kikyou who Inuyasha loved is dead. The Kikyou who was Kaede's older sister is dead. But that does not mean that those who cared for her cannot care for her now, even though she is not the "real" Kikyou, even though she is not the same Kikyou she was 50 years ago.

Brill

July 15th, 2004, 09:08 PM

Is she? Her body may be gone but her soul remains. Inu Yasha still loves it even in a clay pot.

nerfer

July 15th, 2004, 09:22 PM

Takahashi said it best herself when asked about it, when she said he wants to be with whomever he happens to be with at the time.

Why? Because he loves both of them.

We could endlessly compare why he loves one against the reasons for why he loves the other. But that would get us nowhere, since he doesn't love them in the same way. How could he? Kagome and Kikyou are two completely separate people. And so he loves different things about each one.

When he is with Kagome, he wants to be with her. When Kikyou is around, he wants to be with her.

I think in the end, someone will have to make a choice for him. Kikyou's sole purpose now, is the destruction of Naraku, once that is accomplished, there is no reason for her to continue living upon the souls of the dead.

Perhaps she will make the decision for InuYasha and decide to move on and tell him to live, freeing him from the ties that bind them together and allowing him to be with Kagome.

Well at least that's the ending I'm hoping for, I really want to see those crazy kids get it together! ^-^

meowchi

July 16th, 2004, 07:58 AM

Perhaps she will make the decision for InuYasha and decide to move on and tell him to live, freeing him from the ties that bind them together and allowing him to be with Kagome.

Well at least that's the ending I'm hoping for, I really want to see those crazy kids get it together! ^-^

I think that very well may end up being the end. She has got to know that InuYahsa will never truly leave Kagome, and be happy. She has seen it at least twice.
So maybe she will just tell him to live and be happy. I was reading the manga yesterday, vol. 14 or 15, and there is so pretty big Kagome / InuYasha moments in there, that seem to get looked over quite a bit. If I get some time I will post them latter on today.

Brill

July 16th, 2004, 08:40 AM

Why? Because he loves both of them.

We could endlessly compare why he loves one against the reasons for why he loves the other. But that would get us nowhere, since he doesn't love them in the same way. How could he? Kagome and Kikyou are two completely separate people. And so he loves different things about each one.

When he is with Kagome, he wants to be with her. When Kikyou is around, he wants to be with her.

While he cares for both of them, he doesn't love them equally. And when both of the girls are together there is a favorite, a #1 and a #2. While Inuyasha may like that arrangement, the girls do not--and justifiably so.

I think in the end, someone will have to make a choice for him. Kikyou's sole purpose now, is the destruction of Naraku, once that is accomplished, there is no reason for her to continue living upon the souls of the dead.

Perhaps she will make the decision for InuYasha and decide to move on and tell him to live, freeing him from the ties that bind them together and allowing him to be with Kagome.

This will resolve nothing. The gang is already trying to make him choose and that just makes him put his feet down and growl. He needs to do some soul-searching. After the events at Mt. Harukai I'd say he'as about 60% Kikyo and 40% Kagome with respect to his affections. I'll be watching upto the spring special (148) and while the numbers for Kagome's are increasing, Kikyo still yanks Inuyasha from whatever he's doing to pursue her.

meowchi

July 16th, 2004, 10:57 AM

After the events at Mt. Harukai I'd say he'as about 60% Kikyo and 40% Kagome with respect to his affections. I'll be watching upto the spring special (148) and while the numbers for Kagome's are increasing, Kikyo still yanks Inuyasha from whatever he's doing to pursue her.

I don't think that's really the case at all. He only goes to her when he knows that she is in danger. He never just says to him self, I want to see Kikyou and up and leaves to go and find her. I also don't see the affections being a 60 / 40 spilt. It's more of a 50 / 50 if you ask me.
He never says that he loves Kagome, but his actions towards her show that he does. His actions also show that he does not love one more than the other. He loves them both the same, why oh why can't we all just accept that fact??

Brill

July 16th, 2004, 12:23 PM

I don't think that's really the case at all. He only goes to her when he knows that she is in danger. He never just says to him self, I want to see Kikyou and up and leaves to go and find her. I also don't see the affections being a 60 / 40 spilt. It's more of a 50 / 50 if you ask me.
He never says that he loves Kagome, but his actions towards her show that he does. His actions also show that he does not love one more than the other. He loves them both the same, why oh why can't we all just accept that fact??

Of course he only goes after her when she's in danger. If Kikyo wanted to stay with Inuyasha, fight Narkau by his side, then that would completely invalidate Kagome's character. She would have no reason to goto the feudal era. She wouldn't have fallen in love with Inuyasha and Inuyasha would follow Kikyo like the little puppy he did earlier. If the wall between Kikyo and Inuyasha wasn't created they could have written Kagome out of the script by episode 15. Because of this wall, we don't see him travelling with Kikyo. Would he sense Kagome in danger and ditch Kikyo to go after Kagome? The answer is maybe yes, maybe no.

As for him loving one more than the other. That clearly is the case. Since he has shown deeper affections with Kikyo , Inuyasha is capable of acting similiarly to Kagome, but he doesn't. Why is this the case? If he had done similar things to Kagome as he has done with Kikyo in the past then I'd say sure thing. We knoiw Inuyasha is capable of it, yet hasn't done it with Kagome. The moment Inuyasha doesn't bolt on the meer rumor of Kikyo is the time that Kiyko and Kagome are at 50/50. Unitl then it's still 60/40.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 16th, 2004, 04:25 PM

Of course he only goes after her when she's in danger. If Kikyo wanted to stay with Inuyasha, fight Narkau by his side, then that would completely invalidate Kagome's character. She would have no reason to goto the feudal era. She wouldn't have fallen in love with Inuyasha and Inuyasha would follow Kikyo like the little puppy he did earlier. If the wall between Kikyo and Inuyasha wasn't created they could have written Kagome out of the script by episode 15. Because of this wall, we don't see him travelling with Kikyo. Would he sense Kagome in danger and ditch Kikyo to go after Kagome? The answer is maybe yes, maybe no.
And what gives anyone around here the idea that Kikyou would stay with Inuyasha? She may love him (although I am starting to doubt the strength of Kikyou's love for Inuyasha), but how can anyone forget how much she loves her anger and hatred as well? Kikyou would never travel with Inuyasha. She is fighting her own battle, and if you ask me, she looks at Inuyasha as little more than her pet dog.

Just to let you know, occhan, Kagome would still have reason to be there even if Kikyou traveled with them.

As for him loving one more than the other. That clearly is the case. Since he has shown deeper affections with Kikyo , Inuyasha is capable of acting similiarly to Kagome, but he doesn't. Why is this the case? If he had done similar things to Kagome as he has done with Kikyo in the past then I'd say sure thing. We knoiw Inuyasha is capable of it, yet hasn't done it with Kagome. The moment Inuyasha doesn't bolt on the meer rumor of Kikyo is the time that Kiyko and Kagome are at 50/50. Unitl then it's still 60/40.
Inuyasha does not--I repeat, does not--love Kikyou more than he loves Kagome! Perhaps it comes from having friends who are diehard romantics (and therefore having them rub off on me), but I have come to be able to pick out even the subtlest signs of love, and Inuyasha shows as many signs, if not more, of loving Kagome, as he does for loving Kikyou.

Inuyasha is scared to death of being rejected and abandoned. We all know what happened with him and Kikyou! Did you ever stop to think that, perhaps the reason Inuyasha seems more "comfortable" around Kikyou is because he knows that that relationship is long since doomed and that there is no jeopardizing a doomed relationship? (I put "comfortable" in quotation marks because Inuyasha is never truly comfortable around Kikyou. Nor do I think will he ever be.)

Brill

July 16th, 2004, 10:34 PM

And what gives anyone around here the idea that Kikyou would stay with Inuyasha? She may love him (although I am starting to doubt the strength of Kikyou's love for Inuyasha), but how can anyone forget how much she loves her anger and hatred as well? Kikyou would never travel with Inuyasha. She is fighting her own battle, and if you ask me, she looks at Inuyasha as little more than her pet dog.

Just to let you know, occhan, Kagome would still have reason to be there even if Kikyou traveled with them.

You're missing the point Mika. If Kikyo, after she was ressurected, was her old self, she would have stayed with Inuyasha most likely. They would let their feelings grow deeper and go after Naraku together. Kagome would be the third wheel in that whole process. They wouldn't need Kagome between Kikyo and Inuyasha, otherwise Kagome's presence would have been moot. There would be no reason for her to stay.

Inuyasha does not--I repeat, does not--love Kikyou more than he loves Kagome! Perhaps it comes from having friends who are diehard romantics (and therefore having them rub off on me), but I have come to be able to pick out even the subtlest signs of love, and Inuyasha shows as many signs, if not more, of loving Kagome, as he does for loving Kikyou.

It doesn't matter how good your lovedar is, the fact is that Inuyasha has not responded to Kagome to the same extent as he has to Kikyo whom he did love. A few tears and a cup of soup doesn't equate to someone whom you've declared you'd goto hell with it. The problem with the Kagome argument is that you only have inferences, looks, anf conjecture. Inuyasha has not made moves on Kagome and that the problem. Let me ask once again, If InuYasha loves Kagome why does he always get flustered when asked about it?
Inuyasha is scared to death of being rejected and abandoned. We all know what happened with him and Kikyou! Did you ever stop to think that, perhaps the reason Inuyasha seems more "comfortable" around Kikyou is because he knows that that relationship is long since doomed and that there is no jeopardizing a doomed relationship? (I put "comfortable" in quotation marks because Inuyasha is never truly comfortable around Kikyou. Nor do I think will he ever be.)
Inuyasha is afraid of rejection now that he can appreciate what a friend is. Additionally, Inuyasha has comes to the terms wtih the betrayal 50 years ago. That's why he's not flipping out when Kikyo is present now. It's not a coincidence that the first question he asks Kikyo after her saved her from the giant soul stealer in episode 46 was "had he changed". Inuyasha has been slowly developing his human side this entire series. The fear of abandonment is more for comic relief than any serious nature. He's not scared witless over any of his relationships or fear of losing them. If Kikyo would release her hated and obsession with Naraku, they would resume their relationship.

Greek Honeybee

July 17th, 2004, 01:05 AM

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 17th, 2004, 07:42 AM

Brill

July 17th, 2004, 09:13 AM

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 17th, 2004, 09:28 AM

Once again I'll ask, If Inuyasha has this "mature" love for Kagome why does he get fluestered when asked about it. If he had a mature love for Kagome (and I don't he has yet) why the problem? Maybe because he's not there yet. Why some couples don't need to physcially express their love fir each other, Inuyasha is a man of action. That's how he reveals himself. He is not a mature individual yet and he still uses this medium to express himself. He did it with Kikyo, and he's done nothing for Kagome except make a bowl of soup. Both of Inuyasha's love(s) are immature to both girls and he will need to express it, if we follow Bee's model. But he hasn't with Kagome. I could easily argue that Kagome and Inuyasha are really good confidants. There is a reason why lovers express therir affections to each other, it sets the boundaries for themsleves and the perception of others. Do they have to be open about it, no. But there has to be involvement people, love is a process, not a destination. You can't go 148 episodes and be in love supported by a bowl of soup. Maybe, it's just me but it might require a tad more.
Occhan, when was the last time you fell in love with someone? Just think about it for a moment: Who normally asks him about his relationship with Kagome, about loving Kagome? Sango, Miroku and Shippou. Who befriended the three of them first? Kagome.

"Hey, Inuyasha, don't you love Kagome?" one of them asks.

Inuyasha thinks to himself: Kuso! If I tell them that I love her, they might tell Kagome. And what if, once she finds out I love her, she decides to reject me? Kuso kuso kuso! So he gets flustered and starts sputtering and trying to avoid the subject, because he is afraid. He may assume that Miroku, Sango and Shippou are more Kagome's friends than they are his. He may not realize just how strong the friendship is, because he is not used to having friends at all.

Really, it is a no-brainer, and makes perfect sense.

And did you ever stop to think that perhaps the Japanese relationship standards are very different from the American relationship standards? Perhaps now, because of Western influence, there are more similarities, but this is 16th century Japan we are talking about. There is no United States of America. There aren't even any colonies!

Really, it makes perfect sense. When it comes to being flustered about having feelings for someone, oh, I have been there!

LeeTerriermon

July 17th, 2004, 11:10 AM

as u can c, everyone really thinks it's gonna be Kagome, cuz if he doesn't at the end, then people will hate the creator of Inuyasha i would think to make the ending like that.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 17th, 2004, 11:48 AM

Even if the fans said, "Oh, I hate Rumiko Takahashi for Such-and-Such," when her next series comes out, those same fans are going to be, "Oh my God, it's by Takahashi! Buy up, everyone!"

The Queen of Manga can never be hated by her fans. It just does not happen. ^_^

Expected or unexpected? That is the question.

throughhim413

July 17th, 2004, 11:55 AM

Briwisc,
It's surprising to me with some of the insights that you've made that you cannot decipher the subtleties of Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship.Originally Posted by Mikadzuki Tatsu
There is a lot one can tell by looking at someone's eyes and body language. A lot.
Truer words have never been spoken. If you're looking for a flashing sign that says "Inuyasha and Kagome love each other," I'm afraid that you're not going to find it. Their relationship is as much in the things not said, in the things that they cannot allow the other to hear. The subtle things they do for each other and the times when they do them is what you have to notice. If you'll look a little deeper than surface level, you'll find that Inuyasha is unable to express himself on the subject because he is fearful of rejection. As I myself have experienced many times, he doesn't want to risk losing what relationship he already has with Kagome even for a chance with something greater.
Originally Posted by Briwisc
Inuyasha is a man of action. That's how he reveals himself. He is not a mature individual yet and he still uses this medium to express himself. He did it with Kikyo, and he's done nothing for Kagome except make a bowl of soup.
I've known many "men of action" who don't use that medium to express themselves to express their feelings to one they love. Now note that word, love. Men of action will use physical flirtation with someone they like, but not someone they love. Like many men, upon realizing that the feeling is love, becomes timid in the face of those feelings. Thus, when the other members of their group question his feelings, the first thought that comes to mind is, "I can't tell them how I really feel." You and your silly bowl of soup... Have you not seen the countless times when Inuyasha has rushed off to save Kagome or the times when he has been distracted during a battle for her safety?

Also, Inuyasha cannot tell his friends for another reason. It is again the difference between like and love. It's no big deal to tell another person who you "like", but to tell them who you love in the deepest, most secretive part of your heart is an entirely different matter. The maturity of Inuyasha's love is internal although fairly apparent. It is the danger of placing one's feelings in words that hold Inuyasha back. I would have to say that Inuyasha does not have trouble with actions but with words. He does many things that prove his love to Kagome, he simply never says it. The times that she has saved him, the times he has saved her, the way he worries about her when she sits alone, the way that he fights for her when she is in danger, these things prove the depth of their relationship.

Mikadzuki and Honeybee, you are my heroes for the day.

emotoaster

July 17th, 2004, 12:03 PM

What about that wolf demon that loves Kagome?

mikosakura

July 17th, 2004, 12:09 PM

The wolf demon is named Kouga and he doesn't really count because Kagome's already made it clear that while she values him as a friend, she doesn't return his feelings.

Greek Honeybee

July 17th, 2004, 12:13 PM

Once again I'll ask, If Inuyasha has this "mature" love for Kagome why does he get fluestered when asked about it.
When was the last time that's happened in the manga? I honestly can't remember, but there's been little denial from either of them since the events of episode 48. They still have him get flustered now and then in the anime and movies, but then, they still have Miroku asking every other girl he sees to bear his children long after he chose Sango for that job. (He'll still flirt in the manga, old habits die hard, but he has yet to utter that famous line once since Ch 292 of Vol 30.)

But it is true that Inuyasha's not the outwardly mushy type. Kagome doesn't expect that from him, and that's fine with her. But when he's with Kikyou, he tries to change himself into something he's not because he is driven by guilt. He's a man of action, but he's no Don Juan. :P

By the way, what's with this whole bowl of soup thing? :wacko:

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 17th, 2004, 12:19 PM

Truer words have never been spoken. If you're looking for a flashing sign that says "Inuyasha and Kagome love each other," I'm afraid that you're not going to find it. Their relationship is as much in the things not said, in the things that they cannot allow the other to hear. The subtle things they do for each other and the times when they do them is what you have to notice. If you'll look a little deeper than surface level, you'll find that Inuyasha is unable to express himself on the subject because he is fearful of rejection. As I myself have experienced many times, he doesn't want to risk losing what relationship he already has with Kagome even for a chance with something greater.
(Now I am very glad that I decided to learn to read eyes and body language, instead of trusting people's words. For that same skill works not only with real people, but with cartoon characters as well.) There is so much that one can learn about Inuyasha by staring at his eyes all the good long day. You never know when that boy is going to let his mask drop for a few fleeting seconds and everything underneath is going to be revealed. It never lasts for very long; two seconds later, the mask may be sealed again. Although he is not good at handling emotions, he is certainly good at hiding some of them.

I've known many "men of action" who don't use that medium to express themselves to express their feelings to one they love. Now note that word, love. Men of action will use physical flirtation with someone they like, but not someone they love. Like many men, upon realizing that the feeling is love, becomes timid in the face of those feelings. Thus, when the other members of their group question his feelings, the first thought that comes to mind is, "I can't tell them how I really feel." You and your silly bowl of soup... Have you not seen the countless times when Inuyasha has rushed off to save Kagome or the times when he has been distracted during a battle for her safety?
You are absolutely right. Inuyasha is so in-tuned to Kagome. He so easily gets distracted when he senses that she is in danger. Have you not heard him suddenly turn, look at her, see her in trouble, and scream, "KAGOME!" And then he starts fighting like a demon possessed so he can escape from the opponent for a few fleeting seconds to get to Kagome's aide. He wouldn't do that if he were not in love with her. He would not do that if she did not mean the world to him.

Inuyasha is so scared that Kagome is going to reject him, that he does not want anyone, even Kagome herself, to know. He probably does not realize how much she loves him, because he does not know the signs of love. Who has been there to teach him? No one. He knows that Kagome cares for him, but does he know that that caring goes beyond just close friendship? Perhaps a part of him knows that Kagome loves him, but has he discovered that part of him yet? No, I do not think he has.

Also, Inuyasha cannot tell his friends for another reason. It is again the difference between like and love. It's no big deal to tell another person who you "like", but to tell them who you love in the deepest, most secretive part of your heart is an entirely different matter. The maturity of Inuyasha's love is internal although fairly apparent. It is the danger of placing one's feelings in words that hold Inuyasha back. I would have to say that Inuyasha does not have trouble with actions but with words. He does many things that prove his love to Kagome, he simply never says it. The times that she has saved him, the times he has saved her, the way he worries about her when she sits alone, the way that he fights for her when she is in danger, these things prove the depth of their relationship.
Oh, he definitely has trouble with words--almost too much trouble! But it is not entirely his fault. He was forced to grow up alone; and how else does one communicate with a demon except with physical strength? As a hanyou, he had to carve his own path.

Like you said, throughhim, Inuyasha is afraid to put his feelings into words, because words cannot be taken back. If "worst come to worst," he can find an excuse for his action, but he cannot take back a vocal declaration of love (or a kiss, for that matter, which would be a physical declaration of love). So he is afraid. We all know that that puppy fears the very, very worst when it comes to relationships and being rejected and abandonment.

Since he is so afraid of putting his feelings into words, he puts his feelings into actions--even the subtlest action. That's all he knows how to do.

Mikadzuki and Honeybee, you are my heroes for the day.
:redface: (Yes, that made me blush. In fact, that made me turn the color of ripe red apples.)

mikosakura

July 17th, 2004, 12:30 PM

I agree with nearly everthing you said Tacchan. However, I don't think it's a matter of Inuyasha having a part of him realize that Kagome is in love with him and he hasn't discovered it yet. I get the feeling that he is aware of her feelings for him but a) he has sepent so much of his life being treated as a lowly hanyou that he cannot comprehend her emotions and while he most likely doesn't doubt her, he perhaps feels he can't allow himself to believe that she is capable of loving him wiithout any selfish motives and b) the last time anyone felt anything even akin to love for him, Naraku stepped in an destroyed it. He may be absolutly terrified that admitting to himself that Kagome has honest feelings for him could put her in danger, possibly even from himself.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 17th, 2004, 02:25 PM

Oh, of course! It is just as Bee-chan said: Inuyasha cannot fathom how Kagome could prefer him, a lowly, orphaned hanyou, over Kouga, the brash, young prince of a wolf tribe and a full-fledged youkai. And I would not be surprised if sometimes he thinks to himself, Perhaps that wimpy wolf could do a better job of protecting Kagome than I could. (Even though Inuyasha, despite being a hanyou, is probably just as strong as, if not stronger than, Kouga.)

Of course he does not doubt Kagome; but that does not mean that he realizes just how much she loves him. (The only person who truly knows just how much she loves him is Kagome herself, if you ask me.) And we all know that little evil voice in the back of our minds: "Selfish gain. Selfish gain. Her own selfish gain," it chants in Inuyasha's ear. He does not want someone he loves to take advantage of him and hurt him--Who does?

One must also keep in mind that his first relationship left a large scar on his heart--and not just a scar from Kikyou's arrow (which must have left a mark), but an internal scar that does not heal and throbs and aches. The poor boy does not need another scar.

Of course loving Kagome puts her in danger. But it is not just Naraku. We all know how scared he is of turning into a full-fledged youkai, now that he knows that he loses control of himself. The last thing hewants--and needs--is to attack, and perhaps kill, Kagome. That would just be the limit.

Karou36

July 17th, 2004, 02:28 PM

i think inu yasha will chose kagome for kikyo doesn't have the same loving feeling that kagome gives to inu yasha.

DAM8024

July 18th, 2004, 12:11 AM

I'll tell you one thing I've learned from it all. Romantic love shows itself in ironic and unexpected ways. In our culture, poetry and passion is believed to be the rule. Love isn't worth pursuing unless there is a constant, unrelenting drive to prove it over and over, like when two people begin to fall in love. That rush of burning infatuation. But when that initial rush falls away, as all infatuations will eventually do, what is there left to fall back on between them?

In my experience, the kind of romances where the couple feels the need to make bold declarations of love are often the most insecure ones and most likely to trip over themselves. Why should any couple feel the need to prove their feelings so dramatically unless there are uncertainties between them? It's always been a sign of an immature kind of love. Perhaps one that hasn't yet gotten passed that infatuation stage and settled into itself. Or perhaps it has, and the two become confused at that and afraid that the passion is gone, and then what's the point in continuing together? Either way, I see Inuyasha and Kikyou as always struggling to prove themselves to each other, as though they were still strangers inside.

The couples that are most content to just let things be casual are the confident and mature ones. The ones that find that quiet comfort in each other, and don't feel rushed or threatened by too many obstacles either within their hearts or in anything life throws at them. Couples that feel comfortable about bickering and sharing petty disagreements, without the fear that such ripples will tear them apart, are signs that they have reached a deeper understanding and acceptance between them. It might make them look silly and immature, but that doesn't matter to them in the grand scheme of things. Inuyasha is a silly and immature person, just as Kagome is, and that's okay with them. Because they have a more mature romance.

Kikyou and Inuyasha have never seen that side of each other because they've always been too afraid to reveal it, which is childish of them. Little insecurities like that can add up if not addressed and keep a distance between them. A distance they feel the need to bridge with bold romantic moments. They won't grow as a couple that way.

I kind of agree with your first paragraph. As for your second, I start to disagree here. Look at shows such as Fushigi Yugi where the main couple are proclaiming that they love each other in almost every episode. They can't help but to say and prove their feelings for each other over and over again. I mean would you call their love immature? In this particular show, they had to overcome many obstacles to their love and in the end, I would not say their relationship was immature or insecure. Furthermore, I don't think Inu Yasha and Kikyo went into an infatuation stage and became confused afterwards. The only confusion is due to Kagome's presence, which complicates the issue into a love triangle. Inu Yasha and Kikyo still love each other very much and it shows practically every time they meet.

Let's see, you say that Inu Yasha and Kagome act immature and that is normal for a mature couple. I agree couples that are casual are good, but if there are fights constantly in every other episode, that is not a good sign. The only reason why Kikyo and Inu Yasha can not be casual is because Kikyo has a different agenda in destroying Naraku so she chooses not to travel with them and to avoid conflict with Kagome. Inu Yasha and everyone else also have their own method of destroying Naraku. As it has been said before, all relationships are on hold until Naraku is destroyed. Now if Kagome/Inu Yasha are always fighting and she holds the power of sit over Inu Yasha, which she can use forever on Inu Yasha fairly or unfairly. Add the fact that Kagome is only in middle school in her world which is really too young to marry, then we see that these are all factors working against them. I think that a couple that fights too much is not a good couple. Looking silly and immature doesn't really mean a mature romance if you compare them to Miaka/Tamahome or hey Kikyo/Inu Yasha :P.

Kikyo and Inu Yasha have not revealed that side of them not because they are too afraid to reveal it, but because their relationship is different. You can't be so quick to dismiss their relationship just because Kikyo isn't misunderstanding Inu Yasha and condemning him to countless sits for almost no reason. Kagome/Inu Yasha are the ones who are acting childish or as you say silly/immature. Also consider Kikyo's position as a miko never really allowed her to be silly and act immature so their relationship never really had those aspects. It doesn't mean their relationship is doomed to fail. Are you saying serious people will always remain single? I doubt it as I have seen all kinds of people end up happily married for years including serious, no nonsense couples.

Ok all couples have some insecurities. Basically, Kikyo/Inu Yasha have some distance because they are focused on destroying Naraku. Little romantic moments are there to reaffirm that they love each other.

DAM8024

July 18th, 2004, 12:38 AM

Bee-chan, what kind of magic do you wield that helps you come up with all of these truths? Because you are absolutely right. If you truly loves someone and that person truly loves you in return, what need have you to prove your love, unless you were uncertain? Inuyasha may be afraid of being rejected, but he never feels the need to prove himself to Kagome (except to prove that he can do a better job of protecting her than Kouga can, but that's just an alpha male competition, if one thinks about it). And Kagome never feels the need to prove herself to Inuyasha. Just by being with him she is proving her love to him; she needs do no more. And just by being with her, Inuyasha is proving her love to her; he need do no more (except keep Kouga away from her, at least in his mind).

It is also true that both Kagome and Inuyasha are a bit immature--but that does seem to bother either of them? No. In fact, if one thinks about it, the fact that neither care about the immaturity of the other makes them all the more mature, and makes their relationship all the more mature.

But Inuyasha and Kikyou hate to reveal to each other anything that could be taken as immaturity. It is as though they want to prove to each other that they are mature; but doing so proves immaturity, and makes their relationship all the more immature. And if he is constantly trying to prove himself to Kikyou, how can Inuyasha be comfortable in that relationship? He may seem comfortable, but everyone is capable of acting. But only really good actors can completely mask the truth. Inuyasha is not one of them.

There is a lot one can tell by looking at someone's eyes and body language. A lot.

Haha, magic :P. Perhaps its the same kind of magic you wield since you seem to have the same views. Then Briwisc and I must use black magic j/k. Anyways, like I said to Greek Honeybee, there are many romantic anime series out there where the couples are proving and proclaiming their love for each other. These couples work out great so just because they are proving their love doesn't mean they are going to fail in the end. There is nothing wrong with showing someone how much you love them or saying it. Plus, I do think that saying that you love someone needs to be said once in awhile. Even if Kagome/Inu Yasha said it once, that would be better then none. Briwisc makes a good point. Inu Yasha has acted with Kikyo much more romantically then he has acted with Kagome. He has said how much he cares for her and it has shown many times they have met with each other. There is nothing wrong with proving that you love someone. It doesn't need to be forced. It can just come out naturally. I don't think Inu Yasha was thinking hard about being rejected or thinking of proving himself when he is with Kikyo. He doesn't care about those things and he just says how he feels about her that he has thought about her every day since he was reawakened. That is important.

Again, I don't see how immature = mature. Neither of them have given it much thought that they are both immature with each other because they have other things to worry about like Naraku and all the violent situations they get into day after day.

Hm, now mature = immature and acting. I just don't get it. I don't think Inu Yasha is acting with Kikyo. I don't think Kikyo is acting. They really do care for each other. What's the point of acting? Who are they acting in front of? No one is there to watch. They aren't the kind of people to act. Kikyo especially can't act as she is a miko who has to follow a harsh lifestyle so she has no acting experience. She is not acting mature. She is mature. A miko has to be mature in order to take on numerous responsibilities. Inu Yash acts mature with Kikyo because their relationship is just like that. Relationships don't have to be filled with immaturity in order to work. Mature relationships with mature people can work too. I'm not sure what the point is in trying to discredit Kikyo/Inu Yasha in saying their relationship is all an act. They really do care for each other.

If there is anyone acting, I would go as far to say it is Kagome. Haha, she is a naive middle school girl/drama queen who fantasizes about romantic relationships and how she wants Inu Yasha to act like the perfect man. If Inu Yasha deviates even slightly, there is a SIT! for him. ^_^

DAM8024

July 18th, 2004, 01:01 AM

Briwisc,
It's surprising to me with some of the insights that you've made that you cannot decipher the subtleties of Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship.
Truer words have never been spoken. If you're looking for a flashing sign that says "Inuyasha and Kagome love each other," I'm afraid that you're not going to find it. Their relationship is as much in the things not said, in the things that they cannot allow the other to hear. The subtle things they do for each other and the times when they do them is what you have to notice. If you'll look a little deeper than surface level, you'll find that Inuyasha is unable to express himself on the subject because he is fearful of rejection. As I myself have experienced many times, he doesn't want to risk losing what relationship he already has with Kagome even for a chance with something greater.

I feel I need to add a response to this. You say there is worth in the things that are not said or not heard. Basically, subtle signs. Now subtle signs are sometimes dangerous for people like us the viewers of the show. We can take many subtle signs of things not said or heard and blow them out of proportion into something that they were never meant to be. There are many moments between Kagome/Inu Yasha early on in the series that fans have taken to be signs that they want to get married soon and have kids when in reality, those signs are only meant to develop their friendship because it is so early and they only got to know each other a little better. As for fearing to be rejected, I guess when Inu Yasha is with Kikyo, then that theory goes out the window because he doesn't fear anything then. He just says right out how much he cares for her or loves her. Also consider, Inu Yasha can't go for anything greater with Kikyo or Kagome until Naraku is destroyed.

I've known many "men of action" who don't use that medium to express themselves to express their feelings to one they love. Now note that word, love. Men of action will use physical flirtation with someone they like, but not someone they love. Like many men, upon realizing that the feeling is love, becomes timid in the face of those feelings. Thus, when the other members of their group question his feelings, the first thought that comes to mind is, "I can't tell them how I really feel." You and your silly bowl of soup... Have you not seen the countless times when Inuyasha has rushed off to save Kagome or the times when he has been distracted during a battle for her safety?

When he even hears that Kikyo is possibly in trouble, he rushes off like a mad man to her. Now when Kagome is about to be killed, only then he starts to worry. Hm, we see a difference here. Also consider that he blames himself for letting Kikyo die even though it wasn't his fault at all. Now if he let someone else die, he would feel even worse so that is why he is distracted when Kagome is about to be killed and considering that Kagome is the most vunerable member in their party so she needs extra protection.

Also, Inuyasha cannot tell his friends for another reason. It is again the difference between like and love. It's no big deal to tell another person who you "like", but to tell them who you love in the deepest, most secretive part of your heart is an entirely different matter. The maturity of Inuyasha's love is internal although fairly apparent. It is the danger of placing one's feelings in words that hold Inuyasha back. I would have to say that Inuyasha does not have trouble with actions but with words. He does many things that prove his love to Kagome, he simply never says it. The times that she has saved him, the times he has saved her, the way he worries about her when she sits alone, the way that he fights for her when she is in danger, these things prove the depth of their relationship.

Mikadzuki and Honeybee, you are my heroes for the day.

Oh but he has no problem saying how much he cares for Kikyo. When he is with Kikyo, he becomes a lovesick puppy who cannot stop saying how much he cares for her. He has no trouble with words then. When he is with Kagome, he can't say anything because their relationship hasn't developed up to that point. All they really do is fight and Kagome yells sit. There are a few tender moments in between mostly after one of them almost dies, which is traumatic in itself. It cannot be denied that Kagome/Inu Yasha have a long way to go in their relationship.

Although we are on opposing sides, I respect Mikadzuki and Honeybee for their good points.

DAM8024

July 18th, 2004, 01:07 AM

"Dead in a sense"? No. Kikyou is dead. The part of her reincarnated soul that she retrieved from Kagome was enough to breathe life into her, and bring back her memories. But she is, in a sense, a reproduction of the Kikyou that once was. She is not the same Kikyou; that cannot be denied. So, in truth, the Kikyou who Inuyasha loved is dead. The Kikyou who was Kaede's older sister is dead. But that does not mean that those who cared for her cannot care for her now, even though she is not the "real" Kikyou, even though she is not the same Kikyou she was 50 years ago.

Whoops sorry I almost missed this. I said in a sense because she is animate and she has part of her original soul. I've had long arguments about whether Kikyo is truly dead. In the end, I admitted that she can be seen as undead but not truly dead like the ones who are buried in cementaries. I agree she is not the same Kikyo and the Kikyo that Inu Yasha loved is not all there anymore. I think part of the original Kikyo is there but not all of her, which is sad. However, there is always a chance that Kikyo could gain a new body and the rest of her soul, which would make her close to what she was originally. Finally, yes I think Inu Yasha still cares for her even though she is not the same as he has even said so himself.

mikosakura

July 18th, 2004, 07:52 AM

Of course he still cares about her. Even if he is able to acknowledge that she's no longer the same woman she once was, that doesn't even remotely mean that he can just stop himself from caring for her. He can tell himself and anyone else that she's not the same Kikyo all she wants, but in the end, it's still Kikyo's face that he sees and that triggers the memories of the old Kikyo. Nothing can change that.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 18th, 2004, 11:39 AM

Exactly. He sees her face and memories of the old Kikyou, the Kikyou he loved, come flooding back into his head. How can he not care for her? It is almost unfortunate for him that dogs are known to have such good long-term memories, and that he is no exception; he cannot forget who Kikyou once was.

The relationship between Miaka and Tomahome, in which both kept declaring their love for each other, cannot be compared to the relationship between Inuyasha and Kagome, or Inuyasha and Kikyou. Why not? Because Miaka is nothing like Kagome or Kikyou, and Tomahome is not Inuyasha. They are very different people, and different people handle relationships differently. Miaka is immature--a pansy, as one of my friends called her: the kind of girl who very much D.I.D., with Tomahome as her knight in shining armour. Kagome and Kikyou are not D.I.D.s, and Inuyasha is no knight. So it is not at all fair to compare those relationships.

For the kind of people that Kagome and Inuyasha and Kikyou are, what I am saying about their relationship makes perfect sense. Inuyasha has always felt as though he had to prove himself...except to Kagome. He knows that he does not have to prove himself to Kagome, because she loves him just the way he is, and he knows that. But what about Kikyou? He was always trying to impress Kikyou, prove that he was worth something. He was not sure that she would care for him if she thought that he was anything but a mature, strong dog demon.

There is also something else: Some people claim that they love someone because they are unsure of their feelings, and they feel that saying it aloud makes it the truth. Inuyasha and Kikyou's relationship strikes me as that kind of scenario. And when I take into account how Inuyasha never really seems comfortable around Kikyou...

But Inuyasha never feels the need to declare his love for Kagome because he is so sure of it. He does not need to say it aloud to make it the truth and break any uncertainty, because the uncertainty isn't there. And his comfort in being with Kagome is obvious.

mikosakura

July 18th, 2004, 04:16 PM

There is also something else: Some people claim that they love someone because they are unsure of their feelings, and they feel that saying it aloud makes it the truth. Inuyasha and Kikyou's relationship strikes me as that kind of scenario. And when I take into account how Inuyasha never really seems comfortable around Kikyou...

But Inuyasha never feels the need to declare his love for Kagome because he is so sure of it. He does not need to say it aloud to make it the truth and break any uncertainty, because the uncertainty isn't there. And his comfort in being with Kagome is obvious.That is exactly what I think too. If not that they claimed to love one another because they didn't know how they felt, then that they said they loved one another because they really wanted to love someone. I've been in relationships that were based on either not knowing how I felt so assuming it must have been love when it wasn't and in just wanting to have someone that I loved more than actually loving the person I was with. In both cases, the result was an unstable and awkward relationship where I was never able to feel comfortable with the person.

Brill

July 19th, 2004, 08:38 AM

Haha, magic :P. Perhaps its the same kind of magic you wield since you seem to have the same views. Then Briwisc and I must use black magic j/k.

Me? Black magic. I'm gray. I think it can still go either way at the end. After Harukai, Inuyasha's heart was 60% Kikyo, 40% Kagome (+/- 5%). ^_^

Exactly. He sees her face and memories of the old Kikyou, the Kikyou he loved, come flooding back into his head. How can he not care for her? It is almost unfortunate for him that dogs are known to have such good long-term memories, and that he is no exception; he cannot forget who Kikyou once was.

He still loves the soul of Kikyo though. It's the same as someone who stays with their mate when they become a "vegetable" due to an accident or stroke. That's real love, not intimidated uncertainties when there is no proof but conjecture.

The relationship between Miaka and Tomahome, in which both kept declaring their love for each other, cannot be compared to the relationship between Inuyasha and Kagome, or Inuyasha and Kikyou. Why not? Because Miaka is nothing like Kagome or Kikyou, and Tomahome is not Inuyasha. They are very different people, and different people handle relationships differently. Miaka is immature--a pansy, as one of my friends called her: the kind of girl who very much D.I.D., with Tomahome as her knight in shining armour. Kagome and Kikyou are not D.I.D.s, and Inuyasha is no knight. So it is not at all fair to compare those relationships.

Actually if you remove Miaka's food fetish, she and Kagome have very similar backgrounds and opinions. True Kagome is braver than Miaka, and Kagome is more intolerant than Miaka, but they both have similar hearts and behave very similiarly towards their lovers except Miaka is more open about it than Kagome is. Hell, it's taken her 126 episodes to admit she loves Inuyasha to someone else. Can't even tell her mom, whom she trusts unequivocably. Let's also remember that Takahashi loves dragging people through these romantic quagmires, where the glass is always half-empty/half-full and never moves the line. This is an annoying habit of hers.

For the kind of people that Kagome and Inuyasha and Kikyou are, what I am saying about their relationship makes perfect sense. Inuyasha has always felt as though he had to prove himself...except to Kagome. He knows that he does not have to prove himself to Kagome, because she loves him just the way he is, and he knows that. But what about Kikyou? He was always trying to impress Kikyou, prove that he was worth something. He was not sure that she would care for him if she thought that he was anything but a mature, strong dog demon.

If you're equating "proving yourself" with loving actions then you're right. Realtionships do need a physical connection, but the fact that Inuyasha has done none of these things for Kagome except make a bowl of soup, then one can easily argue that Kagome and Inuyasha are just really good friends and no amount conjecture can refute, or at least more than friends but less than a couple. I can argiue that Mona Lisa and Da Vinci had sex the night before because she's smiling in her portrait, but I have no evidence for that being th case, just conjecture.

There is also something else: Some people claim that they love someone because they are unsure of their feelings, and they feel that saying it aloud makes it the truth. Inuyasha and Kikyou's relationship strikes me as that kind of scenario. And when I take into account how Inuyasha never really seems comfortable around Kikyou...

But Inuyasha never feels the need to declare his love for Kagome because he is so sure of it. He does not need to say it aloud to make it the truth and break any uncertainty, because the uncertainty isn't there. And his comfort in being with Kagome is obvious.

Really, has he told someone? Hell even Kagome acknowledges it to herself and Kagura, but InuYasha doensn't have to because the house of cards you've built depends on it, since he has already declared his love for Kikyo. That's not a very good reason. His comfort is there when she is absent. I don't see him getting all willy when he takes off to Haukai all alone. Even after 130+ episodes Inuyasha still presses Kagome to come back ASAP to get the shards. He doesn't go to pieces when she is away, unlike Tomohomoe for that matter.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 08:58 AM

You are forgetting something, occhan. How often are we privy to Inuyasha's deepest, most personal thoughts? He does not need to declare his love for Kagome aloud because he has already acknowledged to himself that he loves her. As I said before, sometimes people declare aloud their love because they are unsure of their love, and they think that perhaps saying it aloud makes it the truth. But Inuyasha does not need to declare his love, to hear himsel say it aloud, to know that he loves Kagome. He knows. But we the viewers are never privy to his personal, deepest thoughts like that. He is the quite the secretive canine, you know.

I have said it more than once, and I am going to say it again: One may put on a mask, but a mask does not always cover the eyes.

Brill

July 19th, 2004, 09:08 AM

Akira Raine

July 19th, 2004, 09:12 AM

If Inu yasha ever chooses Kikyou I'll scream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kagome and InuYasha were meant to be together it's soooooooooooo obvious. I hope Takahashi won't make InuYasha choose Kikyou. Not that I hate Kikyou but he should love Kagome. I mean she was so sad when he told her that he had to choose Kikyou. So in the end they should end up together.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 09:17 AM

Actually, aside from Kagome we know Inuyasha thoughts the best in the entire series. And once again, I'll say that Mona Lisa and Da Vinci had sex the night before he did her portrait. You only have the smile to judge and no other corroborating evidence. So did they?
I did not say that we don't know his thoughts. I said that we did not know his deepest thoughts. And we don't. How often are we privy to Inuyasha's thoughts of romance? He is secretive. It is all part of his character. Go take some lessons in eye-reading.

meowchi

July 19th, 2004, 09:47 AM

I did not say that we don't know his thoughts. I said that we did not know his deepest thoughts. And we don't. How often are we privy to Inuyasha's thoughts of romance? He is secretive. It is all part of his character. Go take some lessons in eye-reading.

We never really hear his deepest thoughts about Kagome. But it's like you keep saying, we don't need to hear them. We get to see how he acts with her, it's like in the manga, after kouga kidnaps Kagome, her and InuYasha get mad at each other because he thinks that she has feeling for some one other then him. You know that it hurts his feelings by the way he acts, you don't need to see his deepest thoughts to know that.
Then we have him going to get Kagome, when he is in her room, he comments on her smell, and how nice it is. Then we have dear little brother telling him that she was in a bad mood, InuYasha is afraid that she is still mad at him, so he runs away. He can't stand for her to be mad at him. Then we have him coming to see her again, she is sleeping and says his name in her sleep. He is VERY supprised to hear her say his name, and he is thinking to him self about her talking about him in her sleep. Then the alarm rings, and he breaks it, and runs off again. Still afraid that she is mad at him.
I don't know about any of you, but I never watch my friends sleep. I also never comment on how they smell. Nor do I stalk them when I think they are mad at me, Nor do I get pissed when I think they like other people.
The whole just friends thing is pretty damn stupid, if you ask me. Normal people just don't act like that about friends.

Brill

July 19th, 2004, 09:52 AM

I did not say that we don't know his thoughts. I said that we did not know his deepest thoughts. And we don't. How often are we privy to Inuyasha's thoughts of romance? He is secretive. It is all part of his character. Go take some lessons in eye-reading.

That and $0.70 will buy you a can of soda, Mika. Can I get college credit for that? If your entire argument is based on looking at Inuyasha eyes, then that's not much of an argument. Look at Kagome, her disposition towards Inuyasha really hasn't changed all that much since the beginning, so how do we know she loves him, because she says so. Now look at InuYasha, how do we know he loves her back? Big question mark. The series started off with him loving Kikyo, and he still does love Kikyo, but as you said he's showed nothing of that caliber towards Kagome. Unless you count eye-reading as gospel, and I don't think most people do.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 10:50 AM

meowchi

July 19th, 2004, 11:01 AM

What meowchi says is very true, occhan. And you are forgetting one very important thing: Kagome and Inuyasha are not the same person, did not have the same upbringing, and are not going to act the same when it comes to love.
And what you are saying is also true. We seem to keep forgetting that he is part demon. And she is a normal teen aged girl. They are from diffrent worlds and aren't that much a like. I'm sure that is one reason that he is able to show Kikyou more affection, then he can towards Kagome. For the simple fact that she is from the same place that he is, and I'm sure they have more in common with one another.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 11:48 AM

And what you are saying is also true. We seem to keep forgetting that he is part demon. And she is a normal teen aged girl. They are from diffrent worlds and aren't that much a like. I'm sure that is one reason that he is able to show Kikyou more affection, then he can towards Kagome. For the simple fact that she is from the same place that he is, and I'm sure they have more in common with one another.
I am not sure that it is that as much as Inuyasha knows that the relationship cannot go anywhere. But he still tries hard to impress Kikyou. It's in his eyes, and his body language--that, and his lack of comfort when he is with her. He always tenses up at the mention of her name. Besides, who is to say that he was not so nervous and unwilling to admit his feelings with Kikyou as he is with Kagome? We do not know much about they acted around each other back when they first met 50 years ago, now do we? No, we do not.

Brill

July 19th, 2004, 12:08 PM

We never really hear his deepest thoughts about Kagome. But it's like you keep saying, we don't need to hear them. We get to see how he acts with her, it's like in the manga, after kouga kidnaps Kagome, her and InuYasha get mad at each other because he thinks that she has feeling for some one other then him. You know that it hurts his feelings by the way he acts, you don't need to see his deepest thoughts to know that.

Yes, Inuyasha is very posessive of his friends. You've never met someone who has "their" freinds and you have "your" friends. This scenario also fits into the above situation and is more credible becuase Inuyasha is still an undeveloped selfish hanyou in this part of the story.

Then we have him going to get Kagome, when he is in her room, he comments on her smell, and how nice it is. Then we have dear little brother telling him that she was in a bad mood, InuYasha is afraid that she is still mad at him, so he runs away. He can't stand for her to be mad at him. Then we have him coming to see her again, she is sleeping and says his name in her sleep. He is VERY supprised to hear her say his name, and he is thinking to him self about her talking about him in her sleep. Then the alarm rings, and he breaks it, and runs off again. Still afraid that she is mad at him.
I don't know about any of you, but I never watch my friends sleep. I also never comment on how they smell. Nor do I stalk them when I think they are mad at me, Nor do I get pissed when I think they like other people.
The whole just friends thing is pretty damn stupid, if you ask me. Normal people just don't act like that about friends.

And why did he go back, because he felt slightly guilty about the whole fight and he was trying to muster the courage to apologize. Also remember, he loathed humans except for Kikyo and had no experience with them til his unsealiing. How would he know what a girls room is supposed to look like? He wonders around Kagome's world like a kid in a candy shop. It's not surprising to see him acting this way.

What meowchi says is very true, occhan. And you are forgetting one very important thing: Kagome and Inuyasha are not the same person, did not have the same upbringing, and are not going to act the same when it comes to love.
True, but your missing the point Mika. Even Kagome has to declare her love for Inuyasha to figure out where she stands. Inuyasha has to declare his love for Kikyo to get to understand his position as a viewer. Yet when it comes for Inuyasha to describe his feelings for Kagome, he doesn't have to say squat?!? What you construe to be assent is in fact, romantic ambiguity. Takahashi did it in Ranma to string the viewer along, and she is doing it Inuyasha for the exact same affect. If Inuyasha declared his feelings for Kagome, then you goto a showdown between who he loves more Kikyo or Kagome. But until this issue is resolved later in the series (if it's ever resolved, the fact that you aren't slamming me with Chapters 33-37 suggest that it isn't), Inuyasha is stll in Kikyo's pocket.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 12:57 PM

True, but your missing the point Mika. Even Kagome has to declare her love for Inuyasha to figure out where she stands. Inuyasha has to declare his love for Kikyo to get to understand his position as a viewer. Yet when it comes for Inuyasha to describe his feelings for Kagome, he doesn't have to say squat?!? What you construe to be assent is in fact, romantic ambiguity. Takahashi did it in Ranma to string the viewer along, and she is doing it Inuyasha for the exact same affect. If Inuyasha declared his feelings for Kagome, then you goto a showdown between who he loves more Kikyo or Kagome. But until this issue is resolved later in the series (if it's ever resolved, the fact that you aren't slamming me with Chapters 33-37 suggest that it isn't), Inuyasha is stll in Kikyo's pocket.
And you are missing my point. Kagome admitted that she loves Inuyasha, but she admitted it to herself. We viewers just happened to be privy to her thoughts. Inuyasha has also admitted that he loves Kagome, but we viewers were not privy to his thoughts. We are not privy to his thoughts like that. He is a secretive character, and making the viewers privy to his every single one of his thoughts ruins some of that mysteriousness.

Are you not listening to me when I tell you that a mask does not always cover the eyes? Why do I get the impression that I am one of the few people here who is capable of reading a person's emotions just by looking in one's eyes?!

Brill

July 19th, 2004, 01:24 PM

And you are missing my point. Kagome admitted that she loves Inuyasha, but she admitted it to herself. We viewers just happened to be privy to her thoughts. Inuyasha has also admitted that he loves Kagome, but we viewers were not privy to his thoughts. We are not privy to his thoughts like that. He is a secretive character, and making the viewers privy to his every single one of his thoughts ruins some of that mysteriousness.

Let's not forget her little revelation to Kagura/Naraku Jr.. He admitted it? Where? Please point out where he has admitted it? I must have missed that secret epsiode. He is a secretive character only in this one area by Takahashi's design--to drag us along. He's pretty transparent in all his other dealings.

Are you not listening to me when I tell you that a mask does not always cover the eyes? Why do I get the impression that I am one of the few people here who is capable of reading a person's emotions just by looking in one's eyes?!

Because Mika I can tell you firsthand that women want more than eyelooks to demonstrate that you love them. Because in reality people need more assurances. This is a piece of fiction, and the author can do whatever she wants to constantly play at these relationship games; but at some point people are going to get fed up with these high-school antics that are still going on and say "enough". Personally, I think Takahashi should have advanced the relationship further by now, or just dump it. She has decided to drag it out ambiguously with no resolution til the end apparently. While you might be able to pull this off with the shard quest, doing it with relationships that have a 100-episode gap is just plain retarded. My 2 cents.

Greek Honeybee

July 19th, 2004, 01:44 PM

Because Mika I can tell you firsthand that women want more than eyelooks to demonstrate that you love them.
Correction; women who can't tell which way is up believe only what they're told. :P Lots of jerks have no problem saying the words "I love you" for all the wrong reasons. (Not that I think Inuyasha is one of them.)

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 01:50 PM

Let's not forget her little revelation to Kagura/Naraku Jr.. He admitted it? Where? Please point out where he has admitted it? I must have missed that secret epsiode. He is a secretive character only in this one area by Takahashi's design--to drag us along. He's pretty transparent in all his other dealings.
I never said that he admitted it out loud, you fool! I said that he has admitted it to himself, but the viewers are never privy to that side of his thoughts. Like I said before, you can read it in the boy's eyes. Goodness!

Because Mika I can tell you firsthand that women want more than eyelooks to demonstrate that you love them. Because in reality people need more assurances. This is a piece of fiction, and the author can do whatever she wants to constantly play at these relationship games; but at some point people are going to get fed up with these high-school antics that are still going on and say "enough". Personally, I think Takahashi should have advanced the relationship further by now, or just dump it. She has decided to drag it out ambiguously with no resolution til the end apparently. While you might be able to pull this off with the shard quest, doing it with relationships that have a 100-episode gap is just plain retarded. My 2 cents.
Not all women need vocal assurances, you know. And before you say anything, you must remember one very important thing: I am also a girl. I think I would know a bit of about what some girls want. And I have a few female friends who are going steady, and not all of them always need their boyfriend to say, "I love you" all the time.

Actions speak louder than words.

There is no gap in the relationship. It is advancing, and if you are unable to see it, then I'm sorry, but that's your problem, not mine.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 01:51 PM

Brill

July 19th, 2004, 02:30 PM

Correction; women who can't tell which way is up believe only what they're told. :P Lots of jerks have no problem saying the words "I love you" for all the wrong reasons. (Not that I think Inuyasha is one of them.)

Correction; affimtations of love don't have to be declarations, maybe I used the wrong word earlier and that is the cause of the coinfusion. Since the moment Inuyasha has chosen to be with Kikyo in episode 48, how many instances have occured that have Inuyasha doing "anything" for Kagome's behalf (aside from the daily saving from clutches of death scene). I count 2. Now for some of you, you can extrapolate that into meaning they are soul mates, but some may that doesn't cut it for a 100-episode span, and I happen to be one of them.

I never said that he admitted it out loud, you fool! I said that he has admitted it to himself, but the viewers are never privy to that side of his thoughts. Like I said before, you can read it in the boy's eyes. Goodness!

Listen to your argument Mika. He had to have said it, because it has to be true. If I said that Inuyasha s hates Kagome and has admtted it to himself because he uses her as a jewel-detector, would you believe me? I have no evidence for the said statement, but it's true because I said it is and time-after-time he complains about haivng to go get her. That's exactly what you've just done. Does this make it true, no.

Greek Honeybee

July 19th, 2004, 02:47 PM

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 02:57 PM

Correction; affimtations of love don't have to be declarations, maybe I used the wrong word earlier and that is the cause of the coinfusion. Since the moment Inuyasha has chosen to be with Kikyo in episode 48, how many instances have occured that have Inuyasha doing "anything" for Kagome's behalf (aside from the daily saving from clutches of death scene). I count 2. Now for some of you, you can extrapolate that into meaning they are soul mates, but some may that doesn't cut it for a 100-episode span, and I happen to be one of them.
So you are one of them. That is your problem, not ours, and if you do not have the patience to see with more than just those eyes of yours, then we are in no position to help you--now are we? How many instances have occured in which Inuyasha has done anything for Kagome's behalf? When has he done anything for Kikyou's? Inuyasha does not know how to handle relationships the way other people do, because for most of his life he has been alone. He does what he can do. And what he does is very important: protecting Kagome. That is what he gives her.

Listen to your argument Mika. He had to have said it, because it has to be true. If I said that Inuyasha s hates Kagome and has admtted it to himself because he uses her as a jewel-detector, would you believe me? I have no evidence for the said statement, but it's true because I said it is and time-after-time he complains about haivng to go get her. That's exactly what you've just done. Does this make it true, no.
Fool! SINCE WHEN IS INUYASHA THE KIND OF PERSON WHO ADMITS HIS FEELINGS FOR SOMEONE WHOM HE IS AFRAID COULD GET KILLED TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT USE IT AGAINST HIM?! Kagome admitted that she loved Inuyasha, but that was in a fleeting moment in which, had she had the chance to think more carefully, she perhaps would not have admitted her love for him.

How do I know that Inuyasha loves Kagome, even though he has not said it aloud and even though we viewers are not privy to his deepest, most personal thoughts? BECAUSE I CAN READ IT IN THE BOY'S EYES!!

Greek Honeybee

July 19th, 2004, 03:16 PM

Kagome admitted that she loved Inuyasha, but that was in a fleeting moment in which, had she had the chance to think more carefully, she perhaps would not have admitted her love for him.
Actually, I'm pretty sure she was thinking quite clearly at that time. ;)

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 03:25 PM

Actually, I'm pretty sure she was thinking quite clearly at that time. ;)
When she admitted that she loved Inuyasha to Naraku Jr. and Kagura? Perhaps she was. But she was also a bit stressed out (perhaps "a bit" is an understatement), and one does not always think clearly when one is stressed out.

But still, Inuyasha is not Kagome. He is not going to admit his love aloud like that. For he has been trained to his emotions, for his own safety. In the modern times, Kagome is not in danger if she admits that she loves someone. But Inuyasha, in the Sengoku Jidai, is, because an enemy could use that someone he loves against him. He is so afraid of losing someone he loves that he is afraid of admitting his love to her, because he knows that it could be used against him; and that Kagome could get killed in the process.

However, who does not know that he loves, or once loved, Kikyou? He does not have to hide that anymore, because everyone knows the tale of the miko who sealed the youkai to the tree.

So he has to do what he can to protect Kagome...because she is the last person he wants to lose.

Sumire

July 19th, 2004, 03:39 PM

Kagome, Kagome, Kagome! Kikyo must die...again. Ooooh or mabye Sesshomaru! :devil: ^_^

Greek Honeybee

July 19th, 2004, 03:52 PM

When she admitted that she loved Inuyasha to Naraku Jr. and Kagura?
Oh, I thought you meant under the Goshinboku. -_-; I have to pay more attention, don't I?

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 04:00 PM

Oh, I thought you meant under the Goshinboku. -_-; I have to pay more attention, don't I?
Perhaps. If you want to think of it that way.

Brill

July 19th, 2004, 04:46 PM

I'm just saying that words are only words. When love goes without saying, it means one of two things; that the couple is confident that it's always there, or the couple just doesn't care either way. I don't think Inuyasha and Kagome fall into the latter category.

But is the converse true? If a couple is silent that does means they are in love. I'd say not. They are silent, but that doesn't not equate to lovers. That is the fallacy with this argument.

Kagome knows him well enough to know not to put much stock into what he says. He meant well when he promised to never leave her side, but she knew it was a promise made out of guilt and fear of nearly losing her. What has always reassurred her about his true feelings is the way he protects her. He's shielded her from an enemy's weapon countless times by risking his own body. He's thrown himself off a cliff to protect her (in his human form, no less). This means a lot more to her because that's part of who he is and how he displays that she's precious to him.

Let's also not forget that he protected her when he hated her guts. Though the motives for his protection have changed, it doesn't mean he's gone from hate to love either.

On the other hand, he might say he'll risk his life for Kikyou, but we haven't seen him actually do it. From what I've seen, he's not willing to make that commitment to her. He never jumped off the cliff to save her when she slipped out of his grasp. He never dove into the river of shouki to find her. I can't imagine him not doing those things for Kagome.

Well he did fight the giant soul-stealer that was sucking Kikyo dry in episode 46. Maybe you don't equate that with risking his life, but then they aren't together that much to begin with

So you are one of them. That is your problem, not ours, and if you do not have the patience to see with more than just those eyes of yours, then we are in no position to help you--now are we? How many instances have occured in which Inuyasha has done anything for Kagome's behalf? When has he done anything for Kikyou's? Inuyasha does not know how to handle relationships the way other people do, because for most of his life he has been alone. He does what he can do. And what he does is very important: protecting Kagome. That is what he gives her.

And since when are you an expert, Mika? I've watched over 200 titles over the last 12 years. I'd be surprised if you've seen 10. I've seen the best and the wost that anime in America has to offer and if you think this is the best relationship story out there, you're in for a shock. I've watched this series for 148 episodes and I can cleary say it has done nothing for the Inu/Kag relationship for over 100 episodes. As for protecting Kagome, he protected her when he hated her, and he protects her when he doesn't. Doesn't mean he loves her? It's not an inverse relationship no matter how much you want it to be, Mika.

Fool! SINCE WHEN IS INUYASHA THE KIND OF PERSON WHO ADMITS HIS FEELINGS FOR SOMEONE WHOM HE IS AFRAID COULD GET KILLED TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT USE IT AGAINST HIM?! Kagome admitted that she loved Inuyasha, but that was in a fleeting moment in which, had she had the chance to think more carefully, she perhaps would not have admitted her love for him.

Funny, he did a pretty good job for Kikyo in episode 46 and follows up with kagome in episode 47. That seems pretty obvious to me or maybe you missed those episodes. I can send them to you if you need a refresher.

How do I know that Inuyasha loves Kagome, even though he has not said it aloud and even though we viewers are not privy to his deepest, most personal thoughts? BECAUSE I CAN READ IT IN THE BOY'S EYES!!

Mika, you are the child that cries "Wolf!" because the sheep have a scared look in their eyes. It might be true, but doesn't mean it is.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 04:50 PM

I am about to lose my temper with you, occhan. Call me later when I am not about to explode.

By the way, cartoon relationships do not compare to real-life relationships. That is what I was basing off of.

Brill

July 19th, 2004, 04:54 PM

That's true they do not. However, the believability is dependent on how well it reflects with reality

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 05:00 PM

That's true they do not. However, the believability is dependent on how well it reflects with reality
I am comparing these relationships to real-life relationships that I know of. And I am going to say it again: I am about to lose my temper with you, so leave me alone. Call me later after I had a chance to calm down.

meowchi

July 19th, 2004, 05:08 PM

Let's also not forget that he protected her when he hated her guts. Though the motives for his protection have changed, it doesn't mean he's gone from hate to love either.
As for protecting Kagome, he protected her when he hated her, and he protects her when he doesn't. Doesn't mean he loves her?

:lol: He made it VERY clear that he did not like her, and that he wasn't protecting her, he was only getting rid of the monster, so he could tear her apart and take the jewel from her. But that was a good try.
He protects her now, not the jewel.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 05:11 PM

:lol: He made it VERY clear that he did not like her, and that he wasn't protecting her, he was only getting rid of the monster, so he could tear her apart and take the jewel from her. But that was a good try.
He protects her now, not the jewel.
Exactly. Thank you, meowchi. Why, there is hardly much of the jewel to protect, and Inuyasha knows that Kagome is more than capable of protecting it on her own. He feels his duty is not to protect the jewel, or even to just defeat Naraku, but to protect Kagome, the love of his life, from harm. He would never forgive himself if she were injured, or, worse, killed. He would blame himself for not protecting her. We all know he would.

He protects her because he loves her and is so afraid of losing her. The very thought of losing her probably makes a side of him choke up in pain. How do I know this? Because I am attuned to emotions and what people hide from others. It is something I learned because I had to.

Brill

July 19th, 2004, 05:28 PM

I am comparing these relationships to real-life relationships that I know of. And I am going to say it again: I am about to lose my temper with you, so leave me alone. Call me later after I had a chance to calm down.

I'm not going to stop arguing because you're having a bad day, Mika. I don't coddle people. You got flippant with me, first. You wanna yell at someone, look in the mirror.

Brill

July 19th, 2004, 05:31 PM

:lol: He made it VERY clear that he did not like her, and that he wasn't protecting her, he was only getting rid of the monster, so he could tear her apart and take the jewel from her. But that was a good try.
He protects her now, not the jewel.

That doesn't erase the fact that he did protect her, as a jewel-detector to be sure, but he did.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 05:33 PM

I'm not going to stop arguing because you're having a bad day, Mika. I don't coddle people. You got flippant with me, first. You wanna yell at someone, look in the mirror.
I did not say that I am having a bad day. I am not. But you are getting me riled up, and that is a fact. I prefer not to lose my temper. None of you have seen me when I lose my temper, because I have been careful not to lose it around any of us.

Besides, let's face it: Is arguing back and forth going to change our opinions any? It seems we are not budging one bit, now does it? We are as firm on our opinions as tree roots in the soil. Nothing I can say is going to change your mind, and nothing you can say is going to change mine. So tell me, is there a point of going back and forth? Be honest with yourself, and answer me truthfully.

meowchi

July 19th, 2004, 05:43 PM

Exactly. Thank you, meowchi. Why, there is hardly much of the jewel to protect, and Inuyasha knows that Kagome is more than capable of protecting it on her own. He feels his duty is not to protect the jewel, or even to just defeat Naraku, but to protect Kagome, the love of his life, from harm. He would never forgive himself if she were injured, or, worse, killed. He would blame himself for not protecting her. We all know he would.

He protects her because he loves her and is so afraid of losing her. The very thought of losing her probably makes a side of him choke up in pain. How do I know this? Because I am attuned to emotions and what people hide from others. It is something I learned because I had to.
Yes you are very right my friend. And here is some proof just to back you up. :D And this one of the small things he does say to Kagome to show that he loves her.
http://images.snapfish.com/33%3B34%3B3923232fp64%3Dot%3E2334%3D%3A %3B%3B%3D%3B%3A7%3DXROQDF%3E232358652467 %3Bot1lsi

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 05:49 PM

And that was early on, too. He has gotten to the point where, if he were worked up enough, he would blurt out his love for her. His tight embraces and little scenes like that are the closest he can get without actually saying the words, "I love you." Perhaps a certain male around here needs to stop thumping the anime so much and check out the manga more?

meowchi

July 19th, 2004, 05:56 PM

Yeah, it seems like the manga just says it like it is. Pretty point blank if you ask me.
"it's because I thought about YOU that I am here right now" seems pretty cut and dry if you ask me.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 05:59 PM

Yeah, it seems like the manga just says it like it is. Pretty point blank if you ask me.
"it's because I thought about YOU that I am here right now" seems pretty cut and dry if you ask me.
Exactly. As Bake-heika has stressed many, many times, the anime sometimes undermines the relationship between Inuyasha and Kagome; there are so many sweet moments in the manga that are either cut out in the anime, or edited so that they are less romantic and touching. That scene in the anime is not as touching and romantic, or as point blank, as the same scene in the manga. And of course the manga is the canon, the original work; so which is best to go by? It is a no-brainer, is it not?

Greek Honeybee

July 19th, 2004, 06:00 PM

But is the converse true? If a couple is silent that does means they are in love. I'd say not. They are silent, but that doesn't not equate to lovers. That is the fallacy with this argument.
A couple can be completely mute and still prove that they love one another (or not, it's their choice), but it won't be through any verbal confirmations. I'm not sure what you're getting at here.

Let's also not forget that he protected her when he hated her guts. Though the motives for his protection have changed, it doesn't mean he's gone from hate to love either.
He said he hated her guts. He also said he hated her scent, too. That's what I mean about not always trusting what he says. I'm with Bakeneko's opinion that he was trying too hard at the time to personify his ideal of an evil youkai. He tried to deny his own humanity and not care about the welfare of others, including Kagome, but he is human. He didn't have the best attitude at the time to be able to judge his true feelings. We're much better off going by his attitude later on.

Well he did fight the giant soul-stealer that was sucking Kikyo dry in episode 46. Maybe you don't equate that with risking his life, but then they aren't together that much to begin with
I don't know if you'd consider that much of a fight. Even with Tessaiga being as heavy as it was, it wasn't exactly Sesshoumaru or even Gatenmaru he was fighting.

Besides, my point wasn't whether he was willing to fight for them, but to give his life for them, without hesitation or second thoughts. There was little doubt in his mind that he would succeed in kicking the worm's sorry butt and come out victorious. When he hurled himself over the cliff to protect Kagome from Toukajin, he pretty much resigned himself to dying.

meowchi

July 19th, 2004, 06:05 PM

Exactly. As Bake-heika has stressed many, many times, the anime sometimes undermines the relationship between Inuyasha and Kagome; there are so many sweet moments in the manga that are either cut out in the anime, or edited so that they are less romantic and touching. That scene in the anime is not as touching and romantic, or as point blank, as the same scene in the manga. And of course the manga is the canon, the original work; so which is best to go by? It is a no-brainer, is it not?
Well to you and I it is. ;) I also thought the putting up the following page would really make my point all the better, so here it is.
http://images.snapfish.com/33%3B34%3B7523232fp63%3Dot%3E2334%3D%3A %3B%3B%3D%3B%3A7%3DXROQDF%3E232358654576 7ot1lsi

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 06:09 PM

A couple can be completely mute and still prove that they love one another (or not, it's their choice), but it won't be through any verbal confirmations. I'm not sure what you're getting at here.
Of course. I have seen relationships in which there are not many words involved. You can just tell by watching them that they love each other by the looks they give each other, the tiny gestures.

He said he hated her guts. He also said he hated her scent, too. That's what I mean about not always trusting what he says. I'm with Bakeneko's opinion that he was trying too hard at the time to personify his ideal of an evil youkai. He tried to deny his own humanity and not care about the welfare of others, including Kagome, but he is human. He didn't have the best attitude at the time to be able to judge his true feelings. We're much better off going by his attitude later on.
Inuyasha says a lot of things that he does not mean--such as hating Kagome. But his actions never lie. Sometimes he acts without thinking, and those are the actions that count the most. When he stops to think about how his action may affect others, then it is not automatic, and thus one could say does not count as much. Actions speak louder than words. It is one of my favourite sayings.

I don't know if you'd consider that much of a fight. Even with Tessaiga being as heavy as it was, it wasn't exactly Sesshoumaru or even Gatenmaru he was fighting.

Besides, my point wasn't whether he was willing to fight for them, but to give his life for them, without hesitation or second thoughts. There was little doubt in his mind that he would succeed in kicking the worm's sorry butt and come out victorious. When he hurled himself over the cliff to protect Kagome from Toukajin, he pretty much resigned himself to dying.
Exactly. He knew that he was going to win against that worm--no doubt about that. But he would do just about anything to save Kagome's life, even if it meant sacrificing his own. And not just with Toukijin, but with the Peach Boy, whatever his name was. He threw himself over the edge of the cliff to defeat Peach Boy, and one of his "last words" had to do with, as long as Kagome was safe, he was happy. He was certain that he would die, but he was willing to do it...for Kagome.

meowchi

July 19th, 2004, 06:19 PM

I've got lots of pics that I can post. All you have to do is say the word. The one I really want everyone to see, is the scene I was talking about earlier. Where he came to her world after the Kouga fight.
It's the best insight into how he feels about Kagome, IMO at least. He is just too cute in that chapter.

DAM8024

July 19th, 2004, 07:20 PM

Wow Briwisc, you are doing a great job defending Kikyo. I wonder what would have happened if I had you back in the old days of the Kikyo/Kagome debate. Anyways, I'm trying my best to make my points without being offensive and let me point out that this discussion only lasts as long as we want it to last.

Exactly. He sees her face and memories of the old Kikyou, the Kikyou he loved, come flooding back into his head. How can he not care for her? It is almost unfortunate for him that dogs are known to have such good long-term memories, and that he is no exception; he cannot forget who Kikyou once was.

See, I agree with you here but then you say that Kikyo/Inu Yasha are fake and acting so that they aren't really in love with each other and they don't really care for each other. I can't agree with that. Then you say that their love is so artificial that they have to prove it to each other. Again, I don't think their love is like that. Bottom line is Kikyo/Inu Yasha really do care for each other and these brief moments when they share how they feel for each other are not "proving" anything but showing how much they care for each other.

The relationship between Miaka and Tomahome, in which both kept declaring their love for each other, cannot be compared to the relationship between Inuyasha and Kagome, or Inuyasha and Kikyou. Why not? Because Miaka is nothing like Kagome or Kikyou, and Tomahome is not Inuyasha. They are very different people, and different people handle relationships differently. Miaka is immature--a pansy, as one of my friends called her: the kind of girl who very much D.I.D., with Tomahome as her knight in shining armour. Kagome and Kikyou are not D.I.D.s, and Inuyasha is no knight. So it is not at all fair to compare those relationships.

First off, I'm not sure what D.I.D. is. Please tell me what it stands for. Secondly, I think Miaka and Kagome are similar in many ways. They both have a certain strength that allows them to persevere in tough situations. They are both open and honest about their feelings and they both trust others easily. Of course, maybe it is because they are both middle school girls but I do think Miaka is a bit more annoying. I'm not the first one to bring up FY to compare to Inu Yasha. During old Kikyo/Kagome debates, others have compared Kagome/Inu Yasha to Miaka/Tamahome when I had not seen the series yet. Back then I said what you said now that it is a different relationship and that I had to watch FY.

The main reason why I bring up FY is because you said that relationships where the main couple proclaim their love for each often fail because they are insecure and feel like they need to prove their love. I'm saying that this is not the case and we see that Miaka/Tamahome proclaimed their love so often that it annoyed even fans of the show. However, there is nothing wrong with them proclaiming their love for each other and their relationship was not doomed to fail. In fact, it worked out well and they overcame many more obstacles to their love then Kagome/Inu Yasha. So we see that just because Kikyo/Inu Yasha say they love each other does not mean their relationship is going to fail because Miaka/Tamahome worked out fine.

For the kind of people that Kagome and Inuyasha and Kikyou are, what I am saying about their relationship makes perfect sense. Inuyasha has always felt as though he had to prove himself...except to Kagome. He knows that he does not have to prove himself to Kagome, because she loves him just the way he is, and he knows that. But what about Kikyou? He was always trying to impress Kikyou, prove that he was worth something. He was not sure that she would care for him if she thought that he was anything but a mature, strong dog demon.

There is also something else: Some people claim that they love someone because they are unsure of their feelings, and they feel that saying it aloud makes it the truth. Inuyasha and Kikyou's relationship strikes me as that kind of scenario. And when I take into account how Inuyasha never really seems comfortable around Kikyou...

But Inuyasha never feels the need to declare his love for Kagome because he is so sure of it. He does not need to say it aloud to make it the truth and break any uncertainty, because the uncertainty isn't there. And his comfort in being with Kagome is obvious.

Again I don't feel like Inu Yasha is trying to prove anything to Kikyo. Why would he need to prove something if he really does love her and care about her? Ok, you may have a point if Kikyo did not love Inu Yasha and Inu Yasha was trying to win her over but it simply isn't the case here. Kikyo does love for Inu Yasha as much as he loves her. There is nothing to prove because they both love each other and have shown it on numerous occasions.

On the other hand, as Bakeneko has mentioned, Kagome/Inu Yasha is a work in progress. Briwisc is right here. Sometimes, it is hard to see where the intimate friendship of Kagome/Inu Yasha ends and where their romantic relationship begins. In this relationship, it seems like good friends will become a strong couple but it hasn't really happened yet with Kagome/Inu Yasha up to the level of Kikyo/Inu Yasha. Sure it may happen in the future but maybe not ;).

Kikyo/Inu Yasha are not those "some people." Inu Yasha is more sure of his feelings then he is sure of his feelings for Kagome. That should be obvious. With Kagome, he'll actually deny that he has any feelings for her to Miroku or Sango. To himself, sometimes he even questions himself with Kagome like "I don't care for her in that way, right?" Now that is uncertainty. Finally, he may be a bit uncomfortable around Kikyo because she has changed in her clay body form. However, he said right out that he doesn't care about her clay body and that he still loves her.

Mikadzuki Tatsu

July 19th, 2004, 07:27 PM

I never said that Inuyasha and Kikyou did not care for each other and that their relationship was fake. I have been witness to relationships in which both parties care for each other deeply but are not certain of their feelings, and by saying it they feel it makes it the truth. Those relationships never lasted very long, because there was always the pressure to prove one's love to the other. And yet I have also been witness to relationships in which neither party felt that many words were needed. Those relationships lasted a long time. A few are still going strong. That was my point.

And like I said before, Inuyasha would do just about anything to keep Kagome safe, even if it means not telling her, or anyone else, how he truly feels about her. The last thing he wants is for someone to use her to get to him. It a common theme: the bad guy uses the hero's love to draw the hero into his trap. No doubt Inuyasha fears the worst; no doubt he fears that Naraku will kill Kagome if it means getting to Inuyasha.

Everyone knows that Kikyou and Inuyasha loved each other. So what is the point of hiding that? It shan't do him any good to deny that he loved Kikyou, because his greatest enemy knows it. But does Naraku know that Inuyasha loves Kagome? He may not. Who is to say that Inuyasha may not do whatever it takes to keep Naraku from finding out just how much Kagome means to him? Inuyasha knows that Kagome did not grow up in such a dangerous era, and thus he may feel that she needs more protection that Kikyou does, simply because of the upbringing.

Then there is that side of him that fears she will leave him once their quest is over. He wants a broken heart as much as he wants to be left alone--which is not at all. The boy's heart is scarred deeply enough; he does not need another scratch.

D.I.D. stands for "damsel in distress."