A thought on Inu Yasha the series

[timepiececlock]

If you've ever watched Inu Yasha, then you know that sooner or later if they ever get the Shikon Jewel back together, Kagome's going to have to decide how to use it.

Assuming it doesn't get used up against Naraku, I figure there's a couple of choices here.

1. She could turn InuYasha into a human, like he and Kikyo had planned.

2. She could use it to seal the time well, with her on whichever side.

3. She could destroy so it never gets used again.

The problem with 1 is that she's in love with InuYasha as he is, and probably doesn't want him to change. Also, changing yourself when you're alright to begin with is not such a great idea, and he might resent her for it later. Plus, it's kinda a selfish use for the jewel.

The problem with 2 is that while it solves the problem of the well, it means either Kagome and IY have to live separate lives, or that either she or IY have to permanently change worlds and assimilate.

The problem with 3 is that while it's gone (yay yay), its power is never used for anything productive.

Conclusion: If Kagome really wanted to do something good, she'd use the jewel to wish away Miroku's curse.

It's the only act that would be entirely selfess on the part of her or IY. (That or wish for Sango's brother to be himself and alive again... though there's so many spells on and off Kohaku already that maybe mixing magicks is a bad idea.) It means she would get to help someone, and finally the jewel wouldn't be the thing that defines her and IY's relationship. Their relationship would be defined by their own actions or left to chance, and not hinge on the jewel anymore. Also, as an act it would show an incredible amount of maturity.

Comments

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I'm sure Naraku believed that it would never be possible, and so dangling the possibility in front of them only made the curse that much more painful.

He certainly is a taunter.

It's sort of a fairy tale trope, actually. Offer a simple but valuable reward, but only if a seemingly impossible task can be accomplished.

Yup. Good point. I guess it is "a feudal fairy tale" and all.

[kimberly-a.livejournal.com]

My theory is that the eventual fate of the jewel will have something to do with Kikyo. Kagome, Kikyo, and Inu-Yasha have been so entwined with the jewel throughout the story that if I had to hazard a guess I would speculate that Kagome will use the jewel to somehow give Inu-Yasha and Kikyo another chance together.

Of course, I'm an Inu-Yasha/Kagome fan, and so I hope that isn't how it goes, but that would be my guess.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I would speculate that Kagome will use the jewel to somehow give Inu-Yasha and Kikyo another chance together

That would be interesting... but I think Kikyo's going to die-- either at the end of the show, or near to the end. I have a theory that Kagome and Kikyo can't keep on co-existing forever, because Kagome was born in the future with the complete soul, before it got split to make demon!Kikyo. So Kikyo has to die sometime in the next 400-500 years. Either die as a demon (I think she'll die in battle either against Kagome or with Kagome against Naraku), or maybe be made human again with the jewel or something and live and die like that.

I can see Kagome giving up and trying to give Kikyo a chance to reunite with Inu Yasha... that would be in character for her. But I don't speculate that she would succeed in doing so. Either Inu Yasha would decide he wants Kagome by that point, or something else would happen/intervene.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

um... really didn't want to hear that. Because with one vague line you told me and one line someone else told me two months ago, I just figured it out.

[kimberly-a.livejournal.com]

My internal sense of storytelling says that:

1. Kikyo should die at the end, since she's already died once and was revived unnaturally against her will.


2. Kikyo should be somehow redeemed by the manner in which she dies, because there is still some small amount of Kagome's soul within her, and so she isn't all bad.


3. Inu-Yasha needs to forgive himself for his role in Kikyo's death, most likely by growing out of the mistrustful, angry outcast he was before meeting Kagome into a gentler person who has a place in the world where he feels accepted.


4. Inu-Yasha needs to somehow learn to accept himself as a hanyou, rather than take the easy way out by becoming either full demon (as he originally wanted) or full human (as Kikyo wanted). He's been on a journey of learning about himself, and that has to have some result at the end.


5. Inu-Yasha needs to pick Kagome, since the dichotomy between Kagome/Kikyo has been set up as life/death.

Of course, my Inu-Yasha/Kagome preference definitely skews my expectations of the story. I don't really expect a happy IY/Kagome ending, but that won't stop me from hoping. :)

Sorry for rambling. I don't really have other friends who are interested in manga, so I'm excited to have a chance to trade thoughts.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

1. Yep yep. And also because she's driven by vengeance, and lit tradition says that all vengeance driven characters must die by the end.

2-3. yep. Right there with you.

4. I hope so too... that's why I like the idea of the jewel being used for something other than anything involving Kagome or Inu Yasha personally.

5. One of my favorite lines from Kikyo was in episode 50-something, right after IY chooses Kikyo. She says, "Of course he won't pick me. After all, I'm alive." I think that's how it went.

Sorry for rambling. I don't really have other friends who are interested in manga, so I'm excited to have a chance to trade thoughts.

Ramble away! I put up posts in hope that my few anime LJ readers will give me something to talk about with them. I don't have many people to talk to either, or we're at different levels of spoilerhood.

Side question that will affect a comment I want to make that might have spoilers: have you seen Escaflowne? Specifically the end?

[kimberly-a.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen Escaflowne, but I don't mind being spoiled. I was only a spoiler-phobe for Buffy. If, however, you think that being spoiled would somehow ruin the story, feel free to save me from myself by keeping the secret.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Oh, it will ruin the secret. I can't tell. In fact, I suggest two things:

1. Go out and retn or buy (I bought and am happy) The Vision of Escaflowne (tv, NOT movie!) right. this. minute. Or first thing tomorrow. You HAVE to watch it, because it's amazing and fantastic and so frelling cool in ever possible way. Characters. Story. Themes. Music. Animation. Music. Characters. Shocking developments you _don't_ want to be spoiled for at all.

2. Don't let anyone tell you about Esca till you're done watching it. And then talk to me so we can ramble on about it. And never watch the movie ever because it's badness will only depress you after the perfectness of the series.