Inu-Yasha Inuyasha and Kikyo's Relationship

What do you guys think about the relationship between Inuyasha and Kikyo? Do you think there was ever any real love between them?

May Contain Spoilers


In my opinion, the relationship between them was kind of a pity party(Im not bashing) Before Naraku tricked them, they seemed to start off feeling sorry for each other but eventually fell in love. In the episode Back To Where We First Met, Inuyasha said that since Kikyo lost her life that it was only right that he repaid her with his own life. It sounded more like an obligation, not love.

 

Couldn't agree more, but in the interest of not constantly repeating myself I'll just repost a statement I made earlier in the Inuyasha-Kagome thread.

From what I can tell (and this is my take on it) Kikyo and Inuyasha were drawn to one another simply because they shared a common lonliness - both had been austrisized throughout the course of their lives and in a way you could say they used each other to fill the gaps in their hearts. Both needed someone in their lives, so they found the first person they believed truly understood them and clung tight, but they lacked the unfaltering trust you need to form a substantial relationship. I speculate that - yes - if Kikyo and Inuyasha hadn't been forced to split, there was a developing romance there that *could* have evolved into something truly meaningful, but Kikyo died before that chance was ever given, and frankly I never saw Kikyo/Inuyasha's relationship as being anything incredibly romantic, just kind of depressing.

 

Now that I think about it, I think it did start out of pity. I do believe that they both loved each other at one time though. Then Naraku ruined everything.

 

Its true that inuyasha pityed kikyo and vis-versa in the begining, but i do belive that they loved each other, i suppose pity was like a common thread to lach onto and keep them interested in each other(yet again, in the begining) but then i think it evolved, the manga and anime dont really talk much about how deep it got between them but still leaves the impression that they loved each other very much, lets be honest here i pity my stuipid neighbor-boy but theres no way im giving up half of who i am to console the jerk,and i dont think inyasha would either unless he truley cared..........

 

I speculate whether it was truly love that Inuyasha and Kikyo felt for each other or just a mutual lonliness that bonded them together. Yes, I believe that they deeply cared for each other and understood each other in a way Inuyasha and Kagome may never be capable of, but why was their trust so easily broken? Even Naraku was able to see the weak link in their relationship and manipulated it in order to turn them against one another. It wouldn't have surprised me a bit if they'd ended up spending their lives with one another (pre-Naraku), but I don't think it would've been a truly romantic relationship. I think Inuyasha was fascinated by Kikyo, how she could've lived a life so akin to his and yet still be so optomistic, nurturing, etc. when such an experience had turned Inuyasha (who, in different circumstances, may have matured into an openly warm and loving individual) harder then ever (do NOT take that in any other context then intended).

 

i think that their relationship is just kinda wierd. i mean, why would inuyasha think that he has to re-pay her or whatever but like, with his own life? i mean, it's not like he really did kill her. he should just get on with his life and just, live.

yeah, okay so like whatever...

 

Well I think it's more of a pride issue then anything else. Inuyasha obviously believes that if Kikyo had never encountered him, she wouldn't have been murdered, and while we don't know whether or not that's an accurate deduction, Inuyasha obviously believes so and therefore refuses to accept that he was an unfortnate bystander of Kikyo's demise.

Besides, I think some small portion of him is hoping to see some gilmmer of the Kikyo he once "fell in love" with, instead of the ressurected one he deals with presently. You'll notice that (initially, when Kikyo was first ressurected and violently angry at quite a few of the protagonists) whenever Kikyo pulled a "Kikyo stunt" (stealing the jewel from Kagome, tying her to a tree, pulling a dagger etc.) Inuyasha's resolve regarding Kikyo would slightly waver before the situation's pushed to the back of his mind and he can dream freely about the days before Kikyo's death, though I think he exaggerates them to make the recollections more vibrant then they actually occurred.

But I do agree with you in that he needs to move on in regards to Kikyo, and make a decision on the course of their relationship. (Wow, we actually agree on something! Let's eat yogurt!!! ) Especially since his laziness in coming to his own conclusions seems to be taking its toll on the participants - Kagome now has some serious paranoia/jealousy issues to wade through, which I suspect will continue for quite awhile, possibly after Kikyo's laid to rest, Inuyasha's torn, confused, and guilty, though Kikyo seems unaffected for the most part *shrug*.