Midoriko

Midoriko (翠子, Green Child) is a minor character in story of InuYasha.

History
Midoriko was a miko many years ago. She was well known for being powerful and has slain many yōkai single handedly. It is because of this, however, that her fate was sealed.

In her final battle, Midoriko was ambushed by many yōkai. The battle lasted for 7 days and nights and eventually a yōkai, created from the possession of a man, who secretly desired Midoriko, by many yōkai, got her in its jaws. Midoriko, in one final attempt to defeat the yōkai, forced out the yōkai's soul and her soul from their respective bodies. Both yōkai and Midoriko died, but their souls combined to create the Shikon no Tama.

Midoriko and the demon remain imprisoned within the jewel and continue to battle, until Kagome made a wish to make the jewel disappear forever.

Current Story
Although many years have passed, her body exists (in crystallized form in the anime, as a mummy in the manga) in the Yōkai Taijiya Village (The Demon Slayer Village). She made a cameo, in which she saves Myoga (however, it could just be Myoga seeing things). It is said that Midoriko and yōkai are still fighting inside the Shikon Jewel.

As the story continues, her soul and the yōkai were split from the Sacred Jewel, as it has intentions to use Naraku, Kagome, and Kikyo instead. However, she and the yōkai were finally banished when Kagome wished for the Shikon no Tama to disappear forever.

In the manga, what became of Midoriko was never shown. However, in the anime series, after Kagome makes her wish, Midoriko ceased her fighting and disappeared along with the demons she fought, implying that her battle has finally ended and she is allowed to move on.

Attack and Ability
As a priestess, Midoriko had high levels of spiritual power. She was also thought to have the power of 100 samurai.
 * Purify: Midoriko can purify yōkai.
 * Possession: Midoriko has the power to possess a person.
 * Stamina: Midoriko has extremely high stamina as she was able to fight many yōkai for seven days and seven nights.
 * Swordsman: She is seen carrying and using a sword as a weapon, it is assumed she knows some swordsmanship.

Anime/Manga Difference

 * It is hinted that Kirara fought by Midoriko's side in the anime, while in the manga, it had made no hints towards this.
 * In the manga, Midoriko's fate after Kagome made her wish for the jewel to disappear forever was never shown. In the anime series, after Kagome makes her wish, Midoriko ceased her fighting and disappeared along with the demons she fought, implying that her long battle has finally ended and she is allowed to move on.

Trivia

 * Despite being responsible for the whole story of InuYasha (she was responsible for the existence of the Shikon Jewel), she has a really minor role in the actual story.
 * In InuYasha Movie 4, the clothing that the fake Kikyo is wearing looks very similar to Midoriko's clothing.
 * Midoriko is the only priestess shown in the story that wields a sword. Not counting the Kikyo in Movie 4 as she was a clone.