Inu-Yasha Manga Spoiler: Kikyo and Midoriko?

As some of you probably know, I'm not exactly a manga-enthusiast. However, yesterday I stumbled across a *huge* manga plot development, but unfortunately it was only mentioned vaguely on an otherwise illiterate website, so contacting the webmaster (probably) would've proven to be fruitless. And I'm dying to satiate my curiosity so - NOWINSPOILERVISION!

Spoiler: Kikyo and Midoriko

Do Kikyo and Midoriko really combine their souls to form one? How is this accomplished, and does Kikyo still retain her memories, "love" for Inuyasha, etc.? Or are they an entirely new person?

I'd really appreciated if someone could clarify/discard this rumor, as the implications of it have been weighing on my mind for the past day or so - thanks in advance!

 

isn't that in book 37 or something.... gyah. gotta read it. it's just calling out to me, but collecting dust on my bookshelf... -_-.

i'll get back to you soon...

hopefully.

 

I'm pretty sure this particular event occured in Volume 38 of the manga. Chapter 376, Onaji Tamashii to be exact.

Spoiler: Kikyou and Midoriko

Kikyou indeed does combine her soul with Midoriko's. This is possible because Kikyou's soul and Midoriko's are the same. Possibly Kikyou is the reincarnation of Midoriko? But because their souls are the same, Kikyou is able to combine her souls with Midoriko's. She did this because of the wound Naraku had given her and Kagome had purified, needed to be healed. Midoriko's soul is powerful enough to keep Kikyou's body alive to keep her moving and being able to fulfill her goal.

I hope this clarified up the rumor, which I'm quite certain is true. ^__^

 

that's what i always thought...

and yeah, it was book 38. (lol, i thought i only had up to book 37... guess not. )

looking at the chapter right now...

but it looks like kikyo took midoriko's tamashi right now... *flips page.*

okay. so that scar that she got from naraku a while ago, was healed by kagome; but then it started to open again. meaning that that's how much naraku hates kikyo, and the only way that she was able to survive, was to take midoriko's tamashi... otherwise her body would return to just ash and bones.

gyah. that had nothing to do with it... confusing!!!!

'youkai to sashi chigaete shinda miko. iwaba... midoriko to watashi wa... onaji tamashii wo motsumonodoushi.'

kinda meaning that midoriko died for a demon, saying the midoriko and kikyo have the same souls, because kikyo died kinda for inuyasha.

so nyah. they don't have the same souls. i think...

 

Oh! I forgot

Spoiler: Kikyou and Midoriko

Kikyou I believe does retain her memories and love for Inuyasha. But as she is absorbing in Midoriko's soul and collaspes, something awakens Midoriko's body.

I'm not sure what, and I might have to recheck sometime.

 

... no wonder it looks as if she's coming alive... scary...

 

Kikyo cannot be the reincarnation of Midoriko. Midoriko's soul was trapped inside the Shikon jewel along with the soul of the powerful demon she was fighting. That is how the jewel was created in the first place. It's how the jewel can be tainted by evil (from the demon side) and be pure as well (Midoriko's influence).

I don't buy this whole "alike souls" bit either. Midoriko died fighting a genuine battle to protect the world against a very powerful being. She sacrificed her life in order to take it down with her. Kikyo was tricked into believing she was betrayed by her beloved and pinned him to a tree before succumbing to her injuries.

In the manga, this chapter (376) occurs in volume 38.
http://www.wot-club.org.uk/trans/iv38/v38p08.html

 

Well, Kikyou managed it and this rumor is true, that's all Kagome's Arrow wanted to know. Whether Kikyou's and Midoriko are the same or not, Kikyou still managed to absorb Midoriko's soul.

I do find Midoriko and Kikyou somewhat alike. The reason they died was pretty similar. As you stated, Midoriko died to protect the world against a powerful being. Kikyou was tricked, severely wounded and chose to die. Instead on wishing to live, she chose to take the Shikon Jewel with her to the world beyond to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. They both chose to die for a cause.

 

Yeah...I was kinda confused by Kikyo and Midoriko, too, but now it's clearer...thanks to the explanations!