Kagome Higurashi

Kagome Higurashi (日暮 かごめ, ひぐらしかごめ, Higurashi Kagome) is one of the main protagonists of the series. Born in modern Japan as the spiritual reincarnation of the priestess Kikyo, Kagome has the Shikon Jewel unknowingly hidden inside her body until 1997, when a demon named Mistress Centipede pulls her into the Bone Eater's Well and 500 years back through time. They emerge in the Feudal Era about 50 years after Kikyo's death, where the demon extracts the jewel from Kagome. Kagome takes over the task of protecting the Shikon Jewel from evil influences, but accidentally shatters it into numerous shards that disperse throughout the country. She shares many traits with Kikyo, such as their spiritual powers and abilities, physical appearance and (according to Inuyasha) even a similar scent. However, she does not retain Kikyo's memories and in comparison to Kikyo's personality, is a very different individual.

Summary
Kagome is the main heroine of the InuYasha series. Her family in modern-day (1997) Japan lives near an ancient shrine. She is a miko (Shinto Shrine Maiden, or a type of priestess) and is the reincarnation of Kikyo. One day, 15-year-old Kagome is searching for her cat in the shrine's old well and is pulled into it by a centipede woman, climbing out of the bottom of the well into a field in feudal Japan. She was found by Kaede, a village priestess, but upon returning to the well, she finds a white-haired, dog-eared boy pinned to a tree. She frees him after being chased by the same creature that brought her there, Mistress Centipede. The dog-eared boy, the hanyo named Inuyasha, mistook her for Kikyo, the one who bound him to the tree. Kagome learns that he seeks the Shikon no Tama. Also known as the Jewel of Four Souls, the Shikon no Tama has been inside Kagome's body since her birth, but she remained oblivious to this fact until the Jewel was ripped from her body by the Centipede demon. Inuysha destroyed the demon. Later, a crow demon stole the Jewel from her and, in an attempt to slay the creature, Kagome accidentally shattered the jewel with a purifying arrow, and its shards were spread across feudal Japan and implanted in demons. Throughout the series, Inuyasha and Kagome travel with Miroku, Shippo, Sango and Kirara to defeat Naraku, the demon who seeks the Jewel for his own purposes, and search for the Jewel shards.

Kagome's grandpa often makes up fake illnesses to excuse Kagome from school to continue her quest with Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Kirara and Shippo in the feudal area. She is often stressed over tests and wants to go back home to study, though Inuyasha wants her to stay. This usually causes arguments between the two. Occasionally, though, he follows her to her world, normally causing trouble for Kagome and her family.

The leader of the Wolf Tribe, Koga, is infatuated with Kagome, often calling her "my woman." She is normally polite when rejecting him, but reject him she does. However, her refusals are so delicately phrased, most times both Koga and Inuyasha can't see them for what they are. It often causes fights to erupt between Inuyasha and Koga, and Inuyasha and Kagome.

Through their traveling, Kagome begins to develop romantic feelings toward Inuyasha, but is usually left heartbroken because Inuyasha still has feelings for Kikyo, and often goes out to find her. The relationship between Inuyasha and Kagome grows stronger throughout the series.

At the end of the series, Kagome leaves her original time to live with Inuyasha and her friends. Although it is never stated that they get married, it is implied by her calling Sesshomaru 'onii-san,' which means big brother, and how one would refer to an in-law in Japanese culture, since they think of them as family. In addition, Kagome's brother, Sota, tells one of his friends that Kagome had left right after graduation to get married.

Ironically, Kagome is perhaps the most powerful of the Inuyasha group - but she rarely shows it, preferring instead to act as the "heart" of the group. She is the one the others turn to whenever they need emotional support or advice, and she is also the one everyone in the group is quickest to defend or worry for.



Relationships
Inuyasha initially was angry about how he thought Kikyo had betrayed him and projected it at Kagome, but eventually he realized that she was not Kikyo and slowly opened his heart as she showed him kindness and compassion. However, their friendship and blossoming love does not stop Kagome from shouting "Sit!", either to keep him from misbehaving or to get her way. The relationship is seen and discussed at length by Sango and Miroku, who talk to Inuyasha and Kagome on their rightful gender sides (Sango talks to Kagome and Miroku talks to Inuyasha). Throughout the series it is shown from the beginning of the manga/anime to the end that they have come a long way from being close friends to falling in love. They get married three years after Naraku's death and the destruction of the Shikon Jewel, when Kagome is eighteen years old.
 * Inuyasha

She treats Shippo almost like a little brother or even a surrogate son, bringing him candy from the modern era and forcing Inuyasha to 'sit' whenever he bullies Shippo. Kagome is very protective of Shippo and will defend him if he is in danger of getting killed by a bad guy. Their relationship is like big sister and a little brother, with Shippo running to Kagome for help when Inuyasha is hurting him badly or when Shippo needs some feminine advice for girl issues.
 * Shippo
 * Shippo

Sango the Demon-Slayer starts out as aloof and distant from the rest of the group, though she warms to Kagome first. The two act like sisters toward each other, and discuss secrets and feelings amongst themselves as well. Eventually Kagome in the manga says "Sango is my best friend, I will do anything to save her." Coincidentally, both are the eldest child in their family, both are older sisters with younger brothers, and both own a cat.
 * Sango

While he is at times a lecherous nuisance, she respects his knowledge and actions and knows that he would gladly give his life for his friends if the need arose. She is often seen cheering on the romance between Miroku and Sango, and getting upset with him if he does anything that makes Sango unhappy.
 * Miroku
 * Miroku

Kagome's feelings for Koga, and vice versa, have always been a little misleading. She is polite to Koga, almost to the point of leading him on. She admires him in a detached, friendly sort of way, but his declarations of love and mating have left her feeling distressed about how to let him down easy. In relation to Kagome, Koga seems to be the "Hojo" character of the past.
 * Koga

Kagome's three friends in the modern era, although they tend to be more than a little nosy about Kagome's "jealous boyfriend" and wonder why she is interested in him. They always seem to be into her personal life whether it is about her romance or her classes and upcoming events. They also, have been friends for a long time, maybe since the beginning of school or have met in middle school. The three of them act like sisters to Kagome always trying to help her in her life and with all the tasks that she has to go through every day. It is shown at the end of the manga series that they all graduate, says their goodbyes and stay friends.
 * Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi
 * Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi

Hojo is one of Kagome's male classmates that often brings herbal medicines and similar items to treat her "illnesses". His ancestor, Houjo Akitoki, had such an infatuation with her that he even convinced his future wife to change her name to Kagome.
 * Hojo

In the beginning of the series they had been enemies, but later on becomes allies of sorts. During the final battle it is seen that the Great Demon Lord protected her while she was unconscious from an earlier fight with Inuyasha (who was possessed by Magatsuhi), also, Sesshomaru let her cling to his Mokomoko-sama while they were inside Naraku's body. At the end of the anime and manga, Kagome even calls him "onii-san" (big brother or brother-in-law in Japanese) which signifies that he now tolerates her.
 * Sesshomaru

Kikyo

Even though Kagome is Kikyo's reincarnation the two have very different personalities the two seem to have a rivalry over Inuyasha, at one point where Kagome wished Kikyo was out of their lives, but does care for her as she has saved Kikyo two times in the series. Though being Kikyo's reincarnation she has Kikyo's spiritual powers and abilities. Though she did call Kagome incredibly due to the fact that Kagome was able to move inside the Priestess Sealer when they were both trapped in a cave.

Powers and Abilities

 * Purification Powers: This power and ability allows Kagome to purify anything she touches. In the first series Kagome was not aware of when she used these abilities, and they were not as strong and powerful as Kikyo's who can blast light purple spiritual energy at an enemy from a distance. On the 1st episode Kagome projected a blast of spiritual energy at Mistress Centipede. During Final act she knew how to use the powers by putting her hands on what she was purifying like a jewel shard for example.
 * Kagome_purifies_miasma.jpgSpiritual Powers & Abilities: Kagome can pass through barriers, spells, and illusions, and also sense evil auras and be unaffected by them. It is also revealed that her innate spiritual powers and abilities are to an enormously great extent, are sealed by Magatsuhi the evil will of the Shikon Jewel. When Magatsuhi was destroyed by Sesshomaru's Tenseiga her innate spiritual powers and abilities were released to their full potential.


 * Note: Kagome's spiritual powers are pale glowing purple in color though sometimes it is purplish pink and pale blue on some occasions.


 * Jewel Detecting: This power and ability enables Kagome to sense the exact location of the Shikon Jewel shards wherever they may be.


 * Kyudo Skills and Reflection Powers: Kagome uses a basic short bow as a weapon. If she infuses her spiritual powers into the bow, she can deflect an enemy's attack. After receiving the sacred longbow from Mount Azusa Kagome has the power and ability to strike evil spirits or the user's intended target bypassing others, if the opponent should happen to be using a hostage as a shield, the arrow will bypass the hostage and hit the enemy instead.


 * Archery: In an era of bows and swords, Kagome is not a melee fighter, and so the bow was a natural choice. After learning from Inuyasha that she had been an archer in her previous lifetime, she decided to take the same path. Though at first she wasn't very good, the dangers of the Feudal Era provided her with plenty of opportunities to 'practice', and her skill increased rather quickly. She became proficient enough to lead moving targets and hit them with a high degree of accuracy, often times saving lives in the process.


 * Sacred Arrow: Kagome can infuse her spiritual powers into her arrows. This allows the arrows to penetrate demonic forces and purify objects such as the Shikon Jewel itself.


 * Arrow of Purification: When Kagome infuse her spiritual powers into one of her arrows, she can purify even the strongest and most powerful demon-based attacks such as the Wind Scar itself.


 * Sacred Backlash Wave: This attack is a combination of Inuyasha's Backlash Wave and Kagome's Sacred Arrow. It consists of Kagome firing one of her Sacred Arrows into the center of Inuyasha's Backlash Wave, creating a very powerful attack.


 * Sacred Wind Scar: This attack is very much like the Sacred Backlash Wave, but not as strong. It consists of Kagome firing a Sacred Arrow, followed by Inuyasha's Wind Scar. It can also be performed when Inuyasha uses the Wind Scar before Kagome fires her arrow.


 * Time Barrier: According to Princess Kaguya ("Inuyasha Move 2: Castle Beyond the Looking Glass"), Kagome has an unusual spiritual energy aura that does not go along the flow of time itself, making her invulnerable into any time-stopping spell. Her modern possessions (such as her first aid kit) also seem to possess that very same power and ability.
 * Time Travel: Kagome can travel five hundred years back in time to the Feudal Era and her own time through an ancient well at her family's shrine called "the Bone-Eaters Well." Only she and Inuyasha are able to pass from one time to the other.
 * Eyesight: Being Kikyo's reincarnation Kagome is able to see things that are or may seem invisible to the human eye, in episode 1 Kagome saw where the forest of Inuyasha was located was because she saw a light shinning in the sky and Kaede stated that Kagome had this ability in episode 1 and 3.

Appearance
Kagome has pale skin(not as pale as Kikyo's though), long wavy black hair and big brown eyes(blue in manga).

Kagome usually is always seen wearing her green school uniform also known as sailor fuku, it is a common style of uniform worn by female middle school and high school students, and occasionally, elementary school students. A red ribbon is tied in the front and laced through a loop attached to the blouse.

Slight differences are present between her physical appearance in the manga opposed to the anime, one of which being that her eye color in the manga is blue, where in the anime it’s brown. In the manga she resembles Kikyo physically more than she does in the anime version.

On other occasions Kagome is seen wearing other outfits that are a combination of different sweaters and skirts. She's also been seeing wearing the same outfit as Kikyo and Kaede wear. This is the traditional miko outfit. When she first wore this outfit InuYasha told Kagome to undress because she looked like Kikyo.

Aliases

 * Kikyo (by Inuyasha at first)
 * Sis (by Sota, and originally by Ginta and Hakkaku)
 * Lady Kagome (by Miroku in the manga and Japanese Dub)
 * Human/mortal (by some demons)
 * Priestess/Miko (by some villagers and a few demons)
 * Sister (by Ginta and Hakkaku originally)
 * Wench (by some demons, Naraku, and Tsubaki)
 * You (by Inuyasha instead of using her name)
 * Kikyo's reincarnation
 * Kagome-chan (by Sango)
 * Impudent Wench (by Naraku in the second movie)
 * Higurashi (by her teacher in the manga)
 * Jewel Detector (by Inuyasha early on)
 * Demon/Yokai (by some villagers due to the "odd" way she's dressed)
 * Miss Kagome (by Ginta and Hakkaku in the Japanese version)
 * Young Kagome (by Kaede)
 * My Woman/Mate (by Koga)
 * Stupid/Idiot/Baka (by Inuyasha during some of their bickering)
 * That Half-wit human (by Inuyasha once)
 * Some reincarnated shrine maiden (by Yura)
 * Kikyo reborn (by Kaede)
 * You Stupid Girl (by Inuyasha)
 * My reincarnation (by Kikyo)

Quotes

 * "Sit boy!"
 * "I'm going home!"
 * "I was wrong! Kill him!"
 * "I wanted to know. Painful things, sad things. I wonder what InuYasha thinks?"
 * "That's right! Because my arrows only hit the bad guys!"
 * "I am Kagome! Not anyone else!"
 * "Do you really think we could let him go off on his own?"
 * "Pay no attention to him. He may look fierce... But he's basically a big cuddly puppy dog."
 * "I can't compete with Kikyo, because, after all, I'm still alive."
 * "Naraku...you are totally despicable...now die!"
 * "I won't let you go, even if you beg for forgivness!"
 * "Why can't you just leave me alone? I've endured this the whole time."
 * "Inuyasha, I know you're strong. If you really want to do it, you can do anything."
 * "But, Inuyasha, I also know that it was no accident you and I met."
 * "I know... all these feelings... they mean... that I... they mean I'm in love with Inuyasha!"
 * "You can't want to die with her."
 * "Inuyasha, may I ask you a single question? Inuyasha, will you let me stay? "
 * "I want you to be happy. I want you to laugh a lot. I don't know what exactly I'll be able to do for you, but I'll always be by your side."
 * "The Shikon Jewel didn't grant what you actually wished for, did it?"

Trivia

 * Her first name Kagome is not a traditional Japanese name and it means "lost". It come from a children's chant and game, in which it means "circle you". Kagome is also the name of a star-like figure. In the anime, Kagome's mother states she named her after the light she saw in Kagome's chest and thus is named after the jewel. Her last name Higurashi means "cicada" which might be a reference to Kagome being Kikyo's reincarnation, like cicada's molting.
 * Kagome always wears her school uniform in the anime, except some episodes where she wears her PJ's or miko clothing
 * It is possible that Kagome's spiritual powers may increase when she uses Miroku's staff as an arrow
 * Kagome always hated the children's chant/song when she was younger, as she shared the same name with it
 * Kagome, along with Shippo, Miroku, Tessaiga, and Inuyasha make a cameo appearence in Ranma 1/2 OVA Episode 13. During one of Akane's nightmares, her body is seen, but only her back is facing the viewer. She is recognized by her clothes. She is seen to Akane's right.
 * When Miroku asked Kagome to bear his child, Kagome said "Heke?". This could be a reference to Hamtaro, ask Moneca Stori, Kagome's English voice actor, also voiced Laura Haruna from Hamtaro.