Kagome Higurashi

Kagome Higurashi is the main protagonist of Inuyasha. She was unknowingly born with the legendary Shikon no Tama inside her body until the day of her 15th birthday, when a yōkai pulled her into her family's sacred well, taking her roughly five hundred years back in time, and later extracted the newly reborn gem from her. After she accidentally shattered the jewel into hundreds of fragments that disperse all throughout Japan. Kagome, along with the hanyō Inuyasha, had to recover all the shards of the Jewel before they fall into the evil influence of the evil mastermind Naraku, meeting several allies and enemies in the process.

## Personality

Kagome's heart is pure and kind, always rich and sometimes uncontrollable, which is strangely similar to Inuyasha's lack of self-control. Because of her empathetic nature, she never hesitates to help those in need of it, treating all with warmth and respect. Even if she doesn't say a word, her feelings are easy to read due to her honest expressions, which cause those around her to soften in tough situations and be honest as well. The only dark part that Kagome ever had was her secret jealousy over Inuyasha's feelings towards her past life, but she eventually learns to be at peace with it and let go. Even with this, she wasn't without her flawed, quirky, and immature side, which is typical of her age.

Kagome was never afraid to voice her mind about what is "right" and what is "wrong," making her somewhat opinionated and stubborn. She eventually learned to not see the world in black or white, becoming the one others turn to when they need emotional support or advice as she can be direct and make hard but valid points, even to a friend. Still, Kagome is unforgiving of anyone who opposes her sense of justice until they stop, even when there was a large difference in power. This was shown when she nearly killed Naraku out of her disgust and fury towards his evil, manipulative nature and had wanted him destroyed as much as her companions since then.

Although she was just a modern girl for most of her life, Kagome was strangely unfazed by the horrors, violence, and death in the Warring States era because of her strong spirit. Her reckless courage is known to "always be in full force", being impulsive and jumping into potentially dangerous situations without the wait for help. Though she is usually calm and compassionate, Kagome has a hidden violent side to her when her short temper is brought into play. Inuyasha tends to be the cause due to his blunt, ill-mannered nature which she rarely tolerates nor has the patience for, clashing with her own immaturity and frequently in use "Sit!" on him (especially in the anime), which she almost never regrets (although mentally does at times) or apologizes for unless it was by accident and doesn't really seem to mean it, though with time she is learning to shed her teenage anger and impulsiveness, along with demonstrating better patience and understanding towards him. She was often disgusted towards Miroku's lecherous ways and didn't hesitate to criticize him, but became resigned towards it over time as she knows he was never going to change.

When she is involved in battles, Kagome uses her knowledge to the fullest and analyzes the situation to the best of her ability, unlike Inuyasha who most of the time just recklessly jumps in and acts instinctively. Even when backed into a corner, she figures out solutions and dares to execute it, often producing unexpected good results. Though she doesn't have particularly great cunning as Miroku does, Kagome's words are somehow able to move others and instill confidence as well as almost unconscious obedience due to her cheerful, positive character. She can also be slightly manipulative at times, as she would smoothly tell Koga what he wanted to hear despite they were lies, and it had the desired effect.

In the Warring States Era infested with evil spirits, Kagome gradually becomes a sort of conduit between humans and demons. With her ability to make people feel accepted and at ease despite their suffered misfortune, she could befriend Jinenji (accepting his half-demon nature and being one of the first to show kindness to him), Miroku (refusing to let him be alone after learning of his Kazaana), Sango (showing sympathy toward her after Sango's family was murdered and Kohaku was forced to become their worst enemy's subordinate), Shippō (doting on him, to point of being his mother figure), and mostly Inuyasha (breaking the tension between them despite he was gravely wounded, untrusting, and accustomed to loneliness). As Inuyasha is poor at expressing himself without pride, she uses her insight to interpret his feelings and more gentle side, though she could get exasperated with his rudeness and tactlessness at times.

Although she didn't know much about the Warring States era at first and people kept calling her Kikyō's reincarnation because of their striking resemblance in appearance and power, Kagome felt no fear and often handled the pain it brings on her in the best way she can. She stayed strong and took pride in her current life, being outraged at both Inuyasha (at first) and the dark priestess Tsubaki for seeing her only as a "Kikyō's look alike." Kagome has saved helped Kikyō and saved her life on several occasions and vice-versa, both for the fact that it was the right thing to do, their admiration for each other, and accepting Inuyasha's feelings towards both of them.

Kagome is clumsy in love and shows to almost never able to hide her feelings, even when she wasn't fully conscious of it. Her curious school friends always coerced her into reporting her love life and could guess what was going on from her facial expressions, despite not wanting or trying to tell them anything. At first, Kagome's relationship with Inuyasha was simply companions on a journey who constantly quarreled with each other. As she came to understand both his physical and emotional reliable strength and his surprisingly vulnerable side, little feelings of love began to grow inside her which only grew stronger over time. All she wants for Inuyasha is for him to be happy. However, Kagome becomes hurt by what Inuyasha says and does to protect Kikyō but was even more hurt by the jealousy she felt in her heart because of it. It was her first time falling in love and the first time she had ever felt genuinely bitter over something. Despite her envy, she refused to leave his side even if meant her pain, which surprised her friends. Whatever the case, Kagome keeps watching over Inuyasha and is always a source of comfort. She heals him when he is tired and embraces him when he is emotionally hurt by his uncontrollable demon side or his tragic past.