Sweetnest Overload

[dramas-vs-novels]

An Evening in Qiandeng Temple (Hualian 18+; Part 1)

Summary: An extension to the end of Chapter 243, as Hua Cheng returns to Xie Lian, the two are married, and Xie Lian leaves his ascetic form of cultivation behind. AKA: ‘tis a smut fic.

PART 1: || AO3 ||

PART 2: || Tumblr || AO3 ||

For my fanfic library, check out @rhysand-vs-fenrys-vs-writing.

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[shinidamachu]

Kagome had literally just gotten back and was still inside the Well. Inuyasha was all the way down to Kaede’s. Still it was more than enough for him to catch her scent, even if he was in the middle of a fight.

He was so sure it was Kagome, her scent so stamped to his brain, that his focus changed completely and he turns his back to the enemy just to face the direction the smell was coming from.

His still unhealed wounds had put him in clear disadvantage, especially fighting a demon powered by a jewel shard and Naraku's shenanigans and Inuyasha was having his ass kicked not too long ago. But now, knowing Kagome was back at his side, he seems to have found the inner strenght necessary to turn things around.

This detail didn’t go unnoticed by Miroku and it’s not the first time it happens. It was the exact same thing with the thunder brothers. Suddenly the demon Inuyasha was fighting so hard to face is not important or worthy of his time anymore. Kagome was back. His strenght was back. Nothing else mattered.

[born-for-eachother]

I feel like these moments in episode 53 are very underrated. They’re prime examples of just how important Kagome is to Inuyasha; her opinion and her affect on him.

We start off with Inuyasha reflecting on the events from the other day, then he thinks about what Kagome told him regarding how tessaiga is pivotal to keeping his soul intact.

Notice how the background is bright and pure? It looks identical to how the shikon jewel looks when it’s purified. Again, this is how Inuyasha views Kagome in his mind. Talking to him in a soothing tone and being completely honest with him, for his own well being.

Inuyasha pauses and looks at his hand, his claws. He thinks back to what he thought the other day. “Next time I transform, I might even come after you with these claws, Kagome.”

He squeezes her hand as he thinks about that the first time, almost as if to communicate that he’s scared. Scared of hurting her, losing her. (Also this scene is so much better in the manga omg) He become so dependent on her comfort and how she soothes him.

He makes a fist here, his reaction to that scary thought undoubtedly bothering him. I’d like to think that he’s going to be resolute in trying to prevent himself from transforming again, if only to keep Kagome and his found family safe.

Sometime while Kagome was still embracing Inuyasha, they discussed the secret purpose of his sword. He was clearly very upset still and Kagome respected his feelings by not sharing how he felt with their friends just yet. Their intimacy with eachother, especially in the emotional sense is so strong that we don’t even have to actually see those moments to know sometimes.

Kagome’s voice is Inuyasha’s lifeline, and even as he’s not coherent, he still recognizes Kagome’s voice and calls out to her in a strained voice, albeit in his mind.

Kagome’s influence on him has never been questioned, it’s been positive since the beginning. It’s just when she influences him in dire situations such as these, it goes to show how close they really are and how their connection runs deep.

[mustardyellowsunshine]

Jealous dog-boy, part 5.

(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4)

[mustardyellowsunshine]

Jealous dog-boy, part 4.

(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) ... (Part 5)

[mustardyellowsunshine]

Jealous dog-boy, part 3.

(Part 1) (Part 2) ... (Part 4) (Part 5)

[mustardyellowsunshine]

Jealous dog-boy, part 2.

(Part 1) ... (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5)

[mustardyellowsunshine]

Jealous dog-boy, part 1.

(Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5)

[cruncylotusroot]

@shinidamachu @splendentgoddess Reading second time and now at the chapter Kikyo final death. I have a little better understanding compare to the first time I read and watch this anime / manga few months back. Kagome is my fav character in the series so this comment may a little bias.

The whole ordeal and disaster was begin from Kikyo - she started it subconsciously.

She known as kind, caring and considerate woman. There are so little material to know how Kikyo pre-dead. I think she also deeply flawed - she is arrogant and shows hubris throughout the series.

As jewel protector she would know the background and history of it (I assume). Chapter 94 was explain on the birth of the Shikon no tama, where there was a man who secretly love Midoriko and the yaokai took advantage of the man’s weakness and possessed him. Yet she still taking care Onigumo and lead to the birth of Naraku. So Kikyo was the very reason why there’s Naraku at all. I do not know why she taking care wanted criminal Onigumo - there could be few reason, here is the theory:

1. It merely fate - the Jewel orchestrated the whole thing to keep the cycle

2. Because of her pride and she wanted to be the one who make his life all better as she is well known miko of the land. Similar statement she made for Inuyasha

3. Because she is lonely and she forgotten on the Jewel history.

4. She is naturally kind hearted person. However if this is indeed the true reason why did she not tell Inuyasha about it - the man she was dating? Sounds fishy to me.

Kikyo is not evil, she just tragic character. Because all the people she met worshiping the ground she walked on, she can’t have normal conversations with other that make her feel less human and lonely. If she has met someone who would talk to her like equal she may less lonely and will embrace her duty to guard the jewel instead of trying to run away from it.

Throughout the series keep mentioning that Kikyo is the first person who willing to talk and kind to Inuyasha. This goes both ways, Inuyasha is also the first person that talk as an equal with Kikyo. And both mistaken that as a form of love (I will not call that love - as it will take a lot more than that). If Kikyo were to meet other man who did not know her background and talk to her like equal, Kikyo May fall for that man too. Because how lonely she is and longing to have “normal” life thus she try to find any possible way to achieve that.

I have also been wondering why Kagome get stronger while Kikyo weakened when they are in love? Personally I don’t think that is curse, Kikyo want to stop fighting and have normal live, whereas Kagome wanted to protect the person she care and love. Kikyo lack motivation she no longer willing to fight that’s why she weakened.

So, was Kikyo truly in love with Inuyasha? Very hard to say, I can’t find enough proof that she completely in love with Inuyasha pre-resurrection. I don’t think her relationship with Inuyasha was deep at all, she states this herself eps 23 "The love you speak of is but a shallow emotion which only served to deepen the hatred". I think they were in love with their potential and any remnants of their relationship are sustained by grief.

However I also notice that she did grow her feeling for him post-resurrection after she witness the goodness in him as Kagome change him to the better. But the sad thing is that even after her second chance she still know so little about Inuyasha until the day she died again. She still did not know the sacrifice she was asking Inuyasha to give up when she proposed to turn him human.

Post resurrection she is more arrogant and shows hubris, she knew how Naraku was born yet she gives Naraku the jewel shards she stole from Kagome and thinking she would be the only one could defeat him because he has onigumo’s heart and this screws over everyone. She miscalculated big time - Naraku is strategist he is very good at it and every time he is miles ahead Kikyo that’s why she failed miserably. I got the point that she want the jewel to be complete faster but giving it to Naraku was wrong move. I was wondering initially why she did not take the jewel from Naraku and give to Kagome instead as she have half of it? Kikyo will never do that because of her hubris and thinking she will be the only one can do the job. There could also possibility that the jewel influenced Kikyo to make Naraku stronger without she notice it, as Naraku is the candidate to replace Magatsuhi. She missed one thing - this time is no longer her fight - her time has expired, it was Kagome’s.

This analysis by @inuyashaographer is very comprehensive on the problem with Kikyo’s plan

[inuyashaographer]

Q: What do you think of the groups interaction with Kikyo in chapter 248? It's really off putting she was on the verge of dying!

A: I'm assuming when she's passed out in the barrier?

Well, to start out, I don't think Kikyo dying was on the table in this scene. If Kikyo were actually at risk of dying I feel like there would have been a lot more urgency to the situation, I don't think Takahashi had that in mind.

From what I gathered about the scene, Kikyo would simply never wake up, and moving her away from the barrier would allow her to wake up again.

As for Kagome, it's not a perfect scene for her but it's not meant to be one either. Kagome puts her own feelings aside as she's the one that points out the way to wake Kikyo up, it's also her that states that Inuyasha should be the one to move her, because she knows how Inuyasha is feeling in that moment.

Now does she like that their together? Of course not, but this is an example of Kagome handling things internally, she's not attempting to make a scene out of the situation, she states clearly what should be done, she ensures that it's Inuyasha that brings Kikyo to where she needs to go to, and then deals with the rest of the situation personally.

Now some might call that being petty having these kinds of thoughts while she watches Inuyasha and Kikyo walk away, but even when she thinks "I don't like to see them like this though" she was still the one that suggested it be Inuyasha.

Which brings me to the alternative.

What would have happened if Kagome had said nothing? What if Kagome had not said that she needed to be moved, what if she merely thought about it and left everything else to everyone else. What if when Miroku offered she'd continued to say nothing and it was Miroku that had moved her? That would have gone 10 times worse and actually would be a detriment to Kagome's character.

That's what this scene is really meant to convey, Kagome doesn't have to like the decisions she makes, and her thoughts prove that her thoughts aren't entirely selfless, she's not a perfect person, but she tries her best to make the decision that benefits others even if it might hurt her in the process. Her actions and words count way more here than her thoughts. Kagome later would save Kikyo with the same practice in mind, she might not be pleased with how Kikyo tends to treat her, but regardless Kagome will go out of her way to ensure Kikyo comes out of a situation alive, without any doubt in her heart, but a conflict of emotions.

That's why I feel this scene speaks to more Kagome's maturity in the situation. Her thoughts aren't perfect in the scene, but there are thoughs, their her emotions and she tries to keep them in check and to her self. I point to the scene in the Wellhouse where Kagome said that she wished Kikyo was gone... and yet, each and everytime that she could Kagome made sure that Kikyo was safe in the best possible way she could. We're not perfect people on the inside, but dealing with those emotions internally makes for maturity. and going against her emotions only adds onto that.

Guess you could argue that it's kind of a wash on Kagome's character, it makes her look neither good or bad, but honestly, I think it actually makes Kagome come out better, especially in the long run. There are many bad turns this scene could have actually taken, but frankly, Kagome probably handled the situation the best way that she could.

So where do Miroku and Sango come in?

Well honestly, Sango is mostly just there in the scene, she doesn't entirely get what is going on, so she winds up asking the wrong question at the wrong time.

Now Miroku, is there to attempt to cushion the blow. Miroku actually understands what is happening, and in a pretty compassionate move he actually attempts to get involved in the situation because he knows that Kagome is putting Inuyasha's feelings before her own. Miroku attempts to make the offer to move Kikyo in order to make things easier on her, but instead Kagome shoots that down and says it should be Inuyasha to carry her. Miroku's response in the end "Kagome is so kind hearted I'm in awe." Isn't meant to be praise towards Kagome, but meant more as a exasperated response after he clearly tried to get involved and she rebuffed him from doing so.

Now keep in mind, what follows is Kagome attempting to put distance between Inuyasha and herself to give her time to process her thoughts. Once again Kagome tries to deal with her emotions internally, it's only when Inuyasha continues to push her that she loses her temper and explodes on him. This entire sequence and the one that follows it SHOULD have ended with Kagome allowed to process her thoughts to herself and move on from them. However in this scene she has Miroku and Sango talking about the situation outloud, and then later has Inuyasha attempting to clear air that she clearly didn't want to talk about at the time. She never gets her time to cool down and process her emotions, because everyone around her wants to talk about them.

[inukag]

it’s been years since I read the manga, but I think the difference between the final fight the other anon mentioned is that, after Inuyasha hopped into the meido, all the demons in the Jewel literally dissolved what was left of Midoriko’s soul to make room for Kagome’s soul, which is way darker than what happened in the anime, and Inuyasha had to slay all the demons in the Jewel including what was left of Naraku so the latter wouldn‘t take the original Jewel demons’ place in the Jewel. Because Inuyasha killed them all, the Jewel became truly pure enough that Kagome could actually wish away the Jewel.

Well you and the other anon got me curious so I rewatched TFA 25 & 26 (the two episodes where Inuyasha & Kagome are in the meido/jewel) and chapters 553-557 side by side like this:

and I can tell you for a fact that the only differences are:

1- In the manga Kagome finds the correct wish before she hears Inuyasha's voice but she's afraid of what will happen to her if she makes the wish. In the anime she hears Inuyasha's voice first, then the jewel tells her to wish to see Inuyasha again and she's like "Is that the only correct wish?" and then she realizes what the correct wish is.

2- In the anime after Kagome wishes for the jewel to disappear we see Midoriko put her sword in its sheath, the demons disappear and Naraku says "It's so warm. Is this what it feels to be at peace?".

In the manga we only see Inuyasha and Kagome holding each other after she makes the wish.

The rest is exactly the same, word for word. I think this last difference might be what the other anon was referring to, but I don't think it's a bad addition. It just shows that both Midoriko and Naraku's souls are being purified and are free from fighting.

Also Inuyasha fighting demons wasn't doing anything, he was just doing that out of frustration (he was stuck in there for 3 whole days looking desperately for Kagome!). He was still fighting demons when Kagome said she wasn't going to make a wish because she trusts Inuyasha and she knows he will come for her.

That's when meido Tessaiga activated and showed Inuyasha the way to Kagome. Inuyasha has said before that him & Tessaiga are "one soul" so Tessaiga is really just an extension of Inuyasha and his soul, that is connected to Kagome.

So it's really Inuyasha and Kagome's connection, their trust in each other and Inuyasha’s meido zangetsuha technique that allowed them to defeat the jewel. Kagome also doesn't get enough credit for staying strong through the mental torture the jewel put her through for 3 whole days in complete darkness!

[inukag]

I’m trying to find an ask that you or someone else responded to. It pointed out that Inuyasha and Kikyo’s relationship was about escapism, using a quick and easy way out of their roles as half-demon and priestess so they can be “normal,” and how that crashed and burned. Only when they resolved their minds, not wanting to wish on the jewel and embracing their respective roles as half-demon and priestess, did they get peace.

I really liked that moral of the story because Inuyasha and Kagome ultimately won by accepting each other, Kagome wanting him to stay a half-demon and Inuyasha assuring Kagome was Kagome and no one else. Too bad the anime pretty much took it all out and changed it into some cheap love drama. Not to mention they simplified the battle inside the jewel so it looks like you only needed to wish away the jewel, when in the manga it only worked because all the upgrades and power-ups gained during their journey helped them defeat the demon in the jewel, which would not have been possible pre-Naraku :/

It sounds like something @shinidamachu might have said? I talked about Inuyasha and Kikyo a bit in this ask I answered a while ago, but I don’t know if it's exactly what you're looking for.

It's been years since I watched The Final Act, did Sunrise really change the battle against Naraku that much? The only difference I remember on top of my head was between episode 22 and chapter 538 & 539 where in the manga Inuyasha ditches Tessaiga to save Kagome while in the anime Kagome throws Tessaiga at Inuyasha and falls 😭 I think in TFA it was still pretty clear that Sesshomaru had to cut down Magatsuhi so that Kagome could kill Naraku? I think all the sword upgrades helped but in the end it was really Kagome's battle, she was the only one who had the power to purify Naraku's soul and make the right wish on the jewel.

I agree with what you said about the theme of "Acceptance" in the story, I think it's incredibly important and it's definitely the reason why Inuyasha and Kagome work. I have to say though, I don't think the manga did a much better job at resolving the "love triangle" than the anime did at the end of the story. There's a few things missing that would have made for a much more satisfying conclusion, in my opinion:

1- Kikyo seeing Inuyasha on the new moon and realizing how much he hates being human, realizing the sacrifice he was ready to make for her and apologizing for asking him to use the jewel to change himself. 2- Kikyo acknowledging that Kagome is doing the right thing and that Inuyasha deserves to be happy and live with Kagome. And by "acknowledging" I mean verbally telling both of them that she's sorry for her actions and that she realizes now that she should be happy that her soul evolved into Kagome and that Inuyasha healed and found happiness, even if it's not with her.

I think it's disappointing that Kagome gets like, 3 arcs in the series where she has to prove to Inuyasha and Kikyo that she respects their past, but Kikyo never gets an arc where she proves to Kagome and Inuyasha that she respects their future together. I know it's because Kagome is alive and Kikyo only has limited time as her resurrected self, but it would have helped alleviate Inuyasha's guilt a lot. I think it's also disappointing that Inuyasha still romanticizes his wish to become human during his last conversation with Kikyo, it felt completely at odds with the rest of his story to me. I think Kikyo does a good job at letting go of her pride at the end by saving Kohaku instead of using her light for her vengeance against Naraku, it shows that she trust Kagome and Inuyasha to finish the job for her. But I don't think this fixes everything else that happened between her, Inuyasha and Kagome. But that's how I see it, maybe others were satisfied with their arcs the way they are in the manga.

[mamabearcat]

“ i’m going to protect you, now. because that’s what we do for the ones we love. we keep them safe. “ 💜💜💜

Gradually getting through all these asks. Hopefully will have them done before 2022! Thanks @superpixie42 🥰😘

Dammit. Why did this sort of shit always go down on the night of the new moon?

Inuyasha staggered to his feet, gripping the untransformed Tessaiga tightly in his blood spattered fists, ignoring Shippou’s shrill protests. He knew Kagome would screech at him for heading back into battle again; she was always so worried about little things like head wounds, even when it wasn’t his human night. He was pretty sure the bleeding had stopped now anyway, and he was pretty sure dawn wasn’t too far off.

He blinked, trying to get his eyes back into focus, and did his best to ignore the pounding headache and ringing in his ear. His eye stung where his blood had dripped down past his eyebrow, but it didn’t matter. None of it mattered.

Apart from Shippou, who was currently tugging hard on his sleeve to get him to sit back down, everyone in his pack, everyone he cared about were all out there putting their lives on the line. He belonged out there with them.

He paused in the doorway of the broken down hut, trying to get a handle on what was happening. The large swarm of youkai still whirled overhead, the shrieks and yowls a cacophony that hurt even his human ears. A swarm that he could have easily taken out with one swing of his Tessaiga if only it hadn’t been the night he turned human. He gripped the currently useless katana in his fists angrily, swaying slightly as his head throbbed and his vision blurred.

Shaking his head slightly to see if it would dissipate the ringing in his ears, he spotted Miroku collapsed against a tree panting heavily, feebly clenching and unclenching his cursed hand. He’d obviously overused his kazaana.

Even though he couldn’t see her, he could hear Sango’s cries of ‘Hiraikotsu’ coming from above the swarm as she rode on Kirara, the flames from her paws just visible.

Kagome was standing out in the clearing, feet planted firmly as she shot arrow after arrow, the pink glow of her reiki trailing through the darkness. He couldn’t see her face, but could see the strain in her arms; they were shaking slightly as she took aim yet again. She ducked as a swooping youkai took a swipe at her arm, drawing blood.

With a snarl he lurched forward, ready to protect her, even as he almost stumbled over his own feet, his vision blurring.

“Are you stupid?! Get down! Kitsune-bi!”

A small ball of brilliant blue fox fire shot past his vision, incinerating the saimyōshō that had snuck its way out of the swarm of youkai.

“Inuyasha, get back inside!” Shippou hollered, trying to make his small voice heard over the whirling mass above. “Kagome told you to sit down because of your head!”

“Can’t”, he slurred. “Gotta see what’s goin’ on. Gotta help protect her.”

“Jeez. Fine, you can stay out here. But just sit before Kagome sits you.”

“Shippou, you don’ understand, I gotta-“

“I do understand you big dummy!”

Shippou’s small face was scowling, his tiny fists clenched.

“Why do you think Kagome’s out there right now? And Kirara and Sango and Miroku? You protect us all the time. But you’re hurt, so I’m going to protect you, now. Because that’s what we do for the ones we love. We keep them safe. So sit down before you fall down!”

“Oh.”

With a grunt, Inuyasha slid down the wall, the creaking wood barely holding against his weight. As soon as he was down, Shippou climbed into his lap and whipped a leaf out of his sleeve, placing it on Inuyasha’s head.

“There, that should take care of those stupid hornets of Naraku’s – they won’t be able to see you now.”

Inuyasha did his best to wipe the blood out of his eyes, then draped his sleeve protectively over Shippou’s back. Even though the kit talked tough, he was still small, and right now he could feel the tiny kitsune shivering with fright, his tail fluffed up like a terrified cat’s. He patted his hand gently on the kit’s back.

“Thanks Shippou.”

Shippou didn’t answer, but he burrowed a little closer, his tiny hand clenching on Inuyasha’s sleeve. Inuyasha watched as Kagome concentrated on taking out the three final saimyōshō with her arrows.

“She’s amazing”, he slurred, eyes blinking as he struggled to keep them focused on the girl in front of him, ducking and weaving as she avoided attacks while taking aim.

“Don’t tell me, tell her”, muttered Shippou, his tiny paw digging him in the ribs.

“Maybe.”

“Miroku, Sango, Kirara, I got ‘em all!” Kagome yelled, and Miroku lurched to his feet, his arm at the ready.

As soon as Sango and Kirara were out of the way, he opened his kazaana, sucking in the remainder of the swarm and then collapsing to his knees as soon as it was sealed. In a moment Sango was at his side, hugging him close, while Kirara moved behind him to act as a support for Miroku to lean on, her loud purr obvious praise of his quick action.

Kagome tore past them into the hut, her frantic cry of Inuyasha’s name growing even louder when she couldn’t locate him and Shippou straight away.

“Out here Kagome!” called Shippou, carefully climbing onto Inuyasha’s shoulder so he could remove the leaf from his head.

“Inuyasha!”

Kagome dragged the medical kit out of her backpack, and was immediately on her knees at Inuyasha’s side, turning his head to inspect the wound on his temple with anxious eyes.

“At least it’s stopped bleeding”, she sighed in relief. “And you do have a big lump, but I don’t think you’ve cracked anything.” She put her fingers under his chin, turning his head from side to side to look into his eyes. “How do you feel?”

“Amazin’”, he mumbled, struggling to keep his eyes open and locked onto hers.

Shippou snorted and rolled his eyes, wriggling off Inuyasha’s lap to go sit with Kirara.

“Huh?”

“You are… amazin’.”

Kagome’s cheeks pinked, but she rolled her eyes.

“And you are concussed. Why did you leap off Kirara like that?!”

“Cause tha’ big one was gonna hurt you. Hadda take him out. Cause-”, his eyes fluttered closed, and Kagome gently tapped him on the cheek.

“Gotta stay awake Inuyasha, it’s not good to sleep with a head wound like this. Stay with me, okay?”

“Always. Keep you safe. Protec you.”

Kagome sighed as she poured some alcohol onto some cotton wool, and began cleaning the edges of the wound as Inuyasha hissed in discomfort.

“I don’t like it when you get hurt like this Inuyasha. It makes me worry.”

“Me too. Your arm. Lemme see.” He pulled at her sleeve, trying to see the bloody scratch marks. Kagome gently removed his hand, smiling a little at his irritated huff.

“I’ll do you a deal. Tonight I’ll worry about you, and as soon as the sun comes up, you can worry about me.”

“Don’ work like that”, he whispered, hissing again as Kagome did her best to close up the wound with tape, knowing as soon as the sun rose that he would have no trouble healing this wound, but not wanting it to get dirty in the meantime.

“Oh? How does it work then?”

“I worry about you all the time”, he huffed. “Even though I know you’re smart. And you’re getting’ stronger. Too many bastards around wantin’ to hurt you.”

“Good thing I’ve got an even bigger bastard wanting to protect me then”, she joked.

“Damn straight.”

[mustardyellowsunshine]

Inuyasha really did feel comfortable waltzing into Kagome’s room naked as the day he was born, huh? They really have reached new levels of closeness at this point. 😂

Also this may be the cutest panel ever:

[cruncylotusroot]

@shinidamachu @splendentgoddess did you notice that most every time Kagome osuwari him, Inuyasha hand is like this 🤟. This hand is sigh of I love you where letter I = ☝️, love - letter L for pointer and thumb (I don’t have the emoji to show), and U / Y would be 🤘. I may read too much into it, but I read the meaning of 🤟 somewhere before that is I love you.

[shinidamachu]

I must confess that I haven’t noticed anything like that in my Inuyasha reading, neither did I know about the meaning of the gesture until now (I’m just taking your word for it), so I wouldn’t know what to look for, anyway.

I also don’t remember this happening so often in the anime, but then again maybe I just didn’t pay attention to this sort of detail because I didn’t think too much of it.

Regardless of wether it’s reading too much into it or not, I can’t deny it’s a brilliant concept. If it wasn’t on porpuse, then someone should be seriously kicking themselves for not making it so.

[cruncylotusroot]

@shinidamachu 😃 I notice in manga mostly and check in anime - reflect the same. The hand sign start somewhere in eps 17 or 23 I don’t quiet remember - subsequently I notice this pattern there forward. Sharing with story .....

[mustardyellowsunshine]

Inuyasha really did feel comfortable waltzing into Kagome’s room naked as the day he was born, huh? They really have reached new levels of closeness at this point. 😂

Also this may be the cutest panel ever:

[cruncylotusroot]

@shinidamachu @splendentgoddess did you notice that most every time Kagome osuwari him, Inuyasha hand is like this 🤟. This hand is sigh of I love you where letter I = ☝️, love - letter L for pointer and thumb (I don’t have the emoji to show), and U / Y would be 🤘. I may read too much into it, but I read the meaning of 🤟 somewhere before that is I love you.

[shinidamachu]

ma’am the post u made about kagome taking over inu’s mind is a bit biased. although InuKag are obvious and endgame, the initial stages - esp where inu was avoiding her glance, were truly because of the remaining wounds / live he had for kikyou. which is that we saw in the next part of her resurrection. I think it’s nice to find inukag moments but I feel you’re trying to erase kikyou from the references and that’s not really an honest interpretation.

Thank you for being so polite.

Well... of course that post is biased! I don't remember ever selling myself as neutral. In fact, I don't think neutrality is something possible to achieve because it's human nature to be partial and anyone who says otherwise is lying to you.

I'm not trying to erase Kikyo from the references, even because I have no such power — no one does. It just turns out I'm mostly focused on Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship, to which in my opinion Kikyo plays no part besides being a point of conflict.

I firmly believe that Kagome didn't met Inuyasha because her soul belonged to Kikyo once upon a time, but rather that Kikyo met Inuyasha because her soul would one day be Kagome's.

The way I see it, Inuyasha was attracted to and fell in love with Kagome not because she is Kikyo's reincarnation, but because she is Kagome. And by the time he tried to kiss her, I just don't see how he would still see Kikyo in her when he had more than enough time to realize they could not be more different.

He would have loved Kagome even if she had nothing to do with Kikyo because the similarities they shared are not what piqued his interest. I'd even argue that the physical resemblance slowed the romantic process down, considering that the staged betrayal made Inuyasha build his walls even taller than they were when he met Kikyo — which makes Kagome managing to get his trust so quickly that much greater.

He fell for Kagome because she gave him true acceptance. She trusted him and made sure that he knew he could trust her in return. She gifted him with companionship, friendship and comfort without ulterior motives. She cried for him when no one else did. I really don't know what from any of these screams "Kikyo" to him.

I'm not denying she had a huge impact in his life, because how could she not? And I'm not denying he was still confused and wounded about what happened to her because that was quite obvious. But by the time he tries to kiss Kagome, he does so because of all the "Kagome" things she has been doing since they met, none of which reminded Kikyo's personality except archery. All there's left is the physical similarity and I don't take Inuyasha as that shallow of a character.

I also don't think Inuyasha and Kikyo ever truly loved one another, so that's probably the keypoint of our disagreement. To me, they were infatuated and more in love with the idealization they created of each other and the life they could have together than with their actual, real versions. And this definitely affects the way I perceive scenes like Inuyasha trying to kiss Kagome.

Especially because... as far as we know, Inuyasha never tried to kiss Kikyo in the manga. Canonically, their very first kiss was the one Kikyo layed on him in an attempt to drag him to hell. Their second and last one was the goodbye kiss.

So why has he never tried to kiss Kikyo before, but was going in for the kill with Kagome? And if he had tried to kiss Kikyo when they were in a relationship, why didn't she let him? Why hasn't he tried to kiss her all of those times they saw each other between the first kiss and the goodbye one?

Why has he never covered Kikyo with his Fire Rat Robe? Why has he never trusted Kikyo? Why has Kikyo never rode on his back? Why were they always so far away apart when together? Why has he never rested his head on her lap? Why did she never learn about his New Moon secret? Why did he rarely acted like a dog demon when she was around?

It's your God given right to think I'm wrong, but I do have my reasons to interpret things the way I do, the same way I'm sure you have your reasons to interpret things the way you do. Art is subjective and I think it's fair to say both points of view are valid.

I, myself, have read a considerable share of takes I found dihonest, such as "Inuyasha loved Kikyo more" and "Inuyasha settled for Kagome" and "Kagome is an annoying, abusive bitch." The difference is that I simply blocked those people so I wouldn't have to be exposed to their content.

Instead of coming to their inbox pointing out the supposed dishonesty of their interpretation, I just recognized that people are entitled to their own opinions and they're not always gonna align with mine. So I express my interpretations on my own blog, in the hopes that people who agree with me will appreciate it and people who don't will blissfully ignore it.

That's my advice for you, anon. If you feel like I'm trying to erase Kikyo from the references and that my interpretation is not really honest... maybe block me or the #Sid Reads Inuyasha tag and start creating your own content, vocalizing on your own space the interpretation you judge to be unbiased and honest. I promise there are no hard feelings from my part and you’d feel much happier.

That being said, I'm not really sure what you intended with this ask. What I do know is that I'm not going to change your mind and you're definitely not going to change mine, meaning I reserve the right to express my takes the way I see fit and I won't censure myself on my own blog just to make you happy. That would mean being dishonest with myself.

I understand if you feel annoyed, bothered or uncomfortable with some of my posts, but — and I genuinely say this in the nicest way possible — this does sound like a "you" problem.

[shinidamachu]

In the original inuyasha who do you believe is the most underappreciated character?

Well, to me — and I say this unironically — it's definitely Kaede.

There are some other Inuyasha characters that I feel like could be more appreciated. Kagome and Inuyasha (funnily enough) are on my list because some people just like to be unnecessarily hard on them. Miroku, Sango and Shippo also come to mind, since I frequently see them get sidelined and most often than not, in favor of characters that are... not as important to the plot or general dynamic of the main group.

And don't get me started on Inuparents. It still blows my mind to this day that we know so little about the love story that generated the main character of the show.

But the thing is: in those cases, it's not uncommon to see posts calling out how underappreciated those characters are and, as a response, they do end up getting at least some kind of "recognition." It also helps that they're protagonists.

Even controversial characters such as Kagura, Koga, Kikyo and Sesshomaru (although I'd argue the latter is painfully overrated), receive their fair share of attention and love from their so called defense squads, despite the fact that it's not an universal thing and they could definitelly be more loved.

All of those characters are the target of valid criticism, but also of unreasonable hate and appreciation posts as a counterpoint. But Kaede? She has none of that. Rare are Kaede fanarts and scarce is her role in fanfictions, even though she is a hardcore badass.

And her life story is fascinating as well. We have no idea of who her parents were, or what happened to them, but I think it's safe to assume she lost all of her family (except for Kikyo) at a very young age. All she had, all she knew was her big sister, whom she has always admired and looked up to.

But let's face it... being such an important person, in charge of such an important task, Kikyo were too busy being a priestess to actually be Kaede's big sister rather than her tutor or mentor. As a result, I also think it's safe to assume Kaede had very little of a childhood, which sadly is probably an echo of Kikyo's lost one, in a cycle that should have been broken but wasn't. It's very tragic, but at least they had each other...

Until they hadn't. Kikyo died and whatever was left of Kaede's childhood was gone with her. She took upon herself to follow her sister's footsteps and she does look more happy being a priestess than Kikyo ever was, but it doesn't mean it didn't come at a great personal cost.

At the very least, she spent fifty years mourning her sister while the very man who supposedly betrayed Kikyo — betrayed them, if you consider the anime canon — and killed her, was peacefully "sleeping" on a tree of the nearby forest.

Then she had her beloved sister forcefully brought back from her well deserved rest by a dark witch, but it's not the sister she remembers. She is full of rage and malice. She is feeding off innocent souls. She is becoming the very thing she used to fight against. And the man who had actually plotted her murder was the one they tried to save all those years ago.

The narrative always tend to make us feel sorry for Kikyo's fate, which... totally valid. But it never really addressed in depth how awful everything must have felt for Kaede. Especially about how helpless she must have felt.

That being said, she had a strong personality since she was a little kid, as you can see in the first painel. She is wise, she is fair, she is funny:

Her kid character design was gorgeous (and I wish we had gotten to see a little bit more of young Kaede), but even though she is already an old woman and it's not as close to the action as the others, she is still holding her own when she could have simply retired.

You can see how much of an excellent job she ha done protecting the village for those fifty years and she is also a first class bullshit detector:

Not to mention she is a female character who has lost an eye as a colateral damage of a battle, but this has never defined her and most importantly: she never gets her eye magically fixed in the end. It's just there, because that's the way it is: not a big deal. And it doesn't refrain her from doing anything. That's very good, very rare representation.

Finally, I must say: I think the lack of hype when it comes to Kaede comes from two main reasons.

First, writting. It feels like exploring the her sisterly relationship with Kikyo would have been the most logical, realistic and organic way to go. Both of them would have greately benefited from it, since it would have made the duo even more sympathetic, relatable and appealing, creating an amazing, emotional charged conflict. But they had very few scenes together, compared to other characters that aren't even blood related to them.

I often felt like Kikyo cared more about claiming Inuyasha's life and defeating Naraku than for her little sister and like Kaede, in returned, had a stronger bond with Inuyasha than with Kikyo herself. Which is just, you know, not good. Especially when you have the obvious parallel with Sango and Kohaku, that was used for Inuyasha and Kikyo instead. Such a good opportunity wasted in favor of the dragged out love triangle. What a shame.

And second... I really think it also has something to do with the fact that Kaede is old, fat and not exactly what the kids would call "shipping material" although a few people have pointed out that it would have been cute to see Kaede and Grandpa Higurashi developping a relationship of sorts, even if platonic, which is something else that could have been addressed in the writting, although harder to find the time to.

My point is: people would have been all over Kaede if she was a young, skinny pretty thing they could ship with some equally hot character. I guess even fictional women have an expiration date.

But Kaede is an awesome character. She has taken in Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, Miroku and Shippo as if they were her own, dumb gradchildren. Same with Rin. And we just don't love her enough for it.

Hashtag peace.