|
Note:
The story takes place in a time in history known
as the Sengoku Jidai (1482-1558) also known in Japan as "The Era of the Warring States".
There was once a powerful
miko (priestess) who was in charge of battling and purifying youkai (demons). She was alone in this responsibly and eventually
died during a fierce battle.
When she died, she left behind a powerful jewel that was created from her own body, a
jewel called the Skikon no Tama. However, this jewel, which could be used for good or for evil, was taken and put to use by
a youkai and by the time it was finally recovered by the youkai exterminators - it was almost completely desecrated.
In
order to uncorrupt the Shikon no Tama, a miko named Kikyo was put in charge of the tasks of protecting and purifying the jewel.
However, many youkai were after this stone because it could increase their power greatly, therefore, Kikyo was always on guard.
However,
even a miko was to give in to human emotions eventually. And soon Kikyo did. Among the many youkai, and humans alike, after
the Shikon no Tama, there was a hanyou (half-demon) named Inuyasha, who wished to use the jewel to turn him into a youkai.
But, instead of stealing the Shikon, he and Kikyo fell in love and they finally decided that he was to use the jewel to become
human. The process of transforming Inuyasha into a human would completely purify the Shikon no Tama, which would make it,
most likely, disappear. With the jewel gone, she and Inuyasha would be free to marry.
However, both were caught in
a web of lies when they were tricked into killing each other... or so they think. The trap was actually the plot of another
hanyou, Naraku, who wanted to use the stone for himself. Because of his greed, he tricked Kikyo into thinking that Inuyasha
used her for the stone and, as he gave off the appearance of Inuyasha, he attacked her.
Meanwhile, Inuyasha waited
for Kikyo to arrive with the stone so he could become a human as he and Kikyo had decided on. Using Kikyo's form, Naraku also
attacked Inuyasha. The betrayal made Inuyasha mad so he goes to the village that Kikyo lived and stole the Shikon with the
purpose of becoming a youkai. Alas, Kikyo arrived at the village, injured and angry at Inuyasha for 'betraying' her, and seals
him to a tree by shooting him in the chest with a holy arrow.
Kikyo died from her wound that was given to her by Naraku
soon after she sealed Inuyasha. Nonetheless, she tried to take the Skikon to the afterworld with her to help free the world
from it. However, even when she dies, she did not hate Inuyasha - which as we find out later - prevented the jewel from becoming
corrupted once again.
50 years after the events between Kikyo and Inuyasha, enters Kagome, a girl from 500 years in
the future - and Kikyo's reincarnation. Kagome accidentally enters the Sengoku Jidai by an old well at her house, which happens
to be a very old shrine. She runs into Kikyo's younger sister, Kaede, who was now an old woman.
Through events out
of her control, Kagome was attacked because she apparently had the Skikon Jewel. As she tried to escape the demon that is
attacking her, she ran into Inuyasha, who was now awake but still sealed to his tree. To save herself, she freed Inuyasha
from his spell and he saved her.
However, as soon as the demon was gone, Inuyasha attacked Kagome in order to get
the jewel for himself and carry out his mission of becoming a youkai. Luckily, for Kagome that is, Kaede arrived and with
her help, Kagome and Kaede put a subduing spell on Inuyasha.
So over the next few days Inuyasha followed Kagome around
as he looked for a chance to steal the Skikon Jewel from her, but never attacked her again for fear of being 'Sat'. Kagome
gets attacked by youkai possessed humans who want the Jewel but Inuyasha ends up saving her. But, in the process of killing
the demon, which had stolen the jewel and was trying to escape, Kagome accidentally shatters the Skikon Jewel and it's shards
are scattered all over Japan.
It was now up to Kagome and Inuyasha to find all of the shards of the Jewel before any
more youkai could get them and become more powerful. The two are joined up with Shippo, a child fox-demon who is searching
for revenge for his murdered father, and through yet more events find out about Naraku and his trickery.
It does not
help matters that at this time, Kikyo has been brought back to life by an evil witch. Sure, Kikyo revolts and kills the witch,
but still - she is now full of hatred toward Inuyasha and wants only to take him to hell with her.
While hunting down
yet more Skikon Shards, the small group** is joined by more companions, Miroku [a hentai monk with a curse on his hand
(in more ways than one) that was put there by Naraku] and Sango [the last of her tribe of demon exterminators who were
all murdered by Naraku]. The group of five start traveling together to gather Skikon shards before Naraku does and also
to seek revenge on Naraku himself.
**The order that the "Small Group" that have joined
is, Shippo, Miroku, and then Sango (with her pet, Kirara/Kilala).
|
