Inuyasha

About Inuyasha

Inuyasha is the half-human, half-demon hero of Inuyasha, a rough-tongued boy who spent fifty years sealed to a sacred tree before Kagome freed him. He wields the sword Tessaiga and hunts the shards of the Shikon Jewel alongside Kagome, Miroku, Sango and Shippo. Caught between his human heart and his demon blood, he wants the jewel's power at first, but the journey slowly teaches him what strength is actually for.

Appearance

Inuyasha looks like a teenage boy with a wild mane of silver-white hair falling past his waist and golden eyes with slit pupils. Two white dog ears sit on top of his head instead of human ears, and his hands end in sharp claws, with small fangs visible when he talks. He wears a baggy red robe made of fire-rat fur, loose red trousers and a black beaded necklace, the beads of subjugation Kagome uses to slam him to the ground with the word 'sit'. He goes barefoot and carries the worn-looking sword Tessaiga at his hip.

Personality

Inuyasha is loud, blunt and quick to pick a fight, with a bark that is usually worse than his bite. He grew up despised by humans and demons alike, so he trusts slowly and hides every soft feeling behind insults and bluster. Underneath, he is fiercely loyal and protective, often throwing himself between his friends and danger without thinking. He is stubborn to a fault, hopeless at talking about emotions, and his heart is torn for much of the story between his first love, Kikyo, and Kagome, who accepts both halves of him. On the night of the new moon he turns fully human, which he treats as his deepest shame and secret.

Background & Story

Inuyasha was born to a great dog demon father and a human mother, Izayoi, and grew up an outcast: humans feared his demon side and demons mocked his human blood. After his mother died he survived alone, chasing rumours of the Shikon Jewel, which could make him a full demon. Fifty years before the main story he fell in love with Kikyo, the priestess guarding the jewel, and the two planned a life together. The demon Naraku, disguised as each of them, tricked them into believing the other had betrayed them. Kikyo died believing Inuyasha had attacked her village, and with her last strength she sealed him to the sacred tree with an arrow. He slept there for fifty years until Kagome, Kikyo's reincarnation, pulled the arrow out. He joined her shard hunt first to get the jewel for himself, then to destroy Naraku, and finally to protect the people travelling with him.

Powers & Abilities

• Tessaiga: A sword forged from his father's fang that grows from a rusty blade into a huge fang when it protects humans. Its Wind Scar, Backlash Wave and later techniques make it one of the strongest weapons in the series.
• Iron Reaver Soul Stealer: Inuyasha's claw attack, slashing with demon-hardened claws strong enough to tear through steel and weaker demons in a single swipe.
• Blades of Blood: He flicks his own blood into flying blades, letting him attack even when wounded or disarmed.
• Demon blood: When his life is in danger without Tessaiga nearby, his demon blood takes over, making him faster, stronger and merciless, but unable to tell friend from foe.
• Half-demon body: Superhuman strength, speed, healing and senses, especially smell, balanced by one weakness: he becomes fully human on the night of the new moon.

Key Relationships

• Kagome Higurashi: The girl who freed him and his partner in the shard hunt. They argue constantly, but she is the first person to accept both his human and demon sides, and she becomes the centre of his life.
• Kikyo: His first love, the priestess who sealed him fifty years ago. Her resurrection forces him to face guilt and feelings that never had a chance to end properly.
• Sesshomaru: His older full-demon brother, who despises his human blood and wants Tessaiga for himself. Their rivalry slowly turns into a grudging, unspoken respect.
• Miroku and Sango: His closest companions on the road. He trusts them with his life, even if he would rather fight a demon than say so out loud.

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