How would you describe Sesshomaru's feelings for Kagura? I'd really like you to analyze that (: PLEASE.
Well, specific words like “feelings” are difficult to use when describing Sesshomaru’s character, you know? Because, while I believe he has feelings, Sesshomaru’s personality creates a whole new definition for certain words. So, we have to be careful when we talk about him! Haha.
And, to be honest… I think Sesshomaru’s main feelings towards Kagura was always just a deep sympathy towards her. During their first meeting, Kagura comments on Sesshomaru’s look saying that he has a fine face. She is already complimenting him. She then goes to think that Sesshy might be strong enough to actually finish Naraku off. This is the first time she truly thinks Sesshy can kill Naraku. Sesshomaru has nothing to say except that she smells like Naraku, and Sesshomaru’s feelings for Naraku are very bitter at this time due to Naraku doing the whole arm/shard betrayal. So, during their first meeting Kagura’s mind was already working when it came to Sesshy. But, Sesshy saw her as nothing but an extension of the half-demon who he hated and made a fool of… Naraku.
At their second meeting during the time Kagura attacked Koga and stole his shards, Sesshomaru didn’t have any sympathy for her at all. Kagura literally went to Sesshy’s aid asking for protection and she would give him her allegiance. She was putting her plan into action that she began to think of after their first meeting when Sesshy just received the Tokijin. She was giving up everything so that she could try and work out a deal with Sesshomaru. But, he didn’t want to listen to it. He saw it as weak; and told Kagura to deal with her problem on her own. Again… nothing from Sesshomaru’s side; just Kagura’s.
The next time they “meet” is when Rin is kidnapped by Kagura. And, I can tell you that Kagura most likely didn’t want to do that. She probably only wanted to do it because she knew it would lure Sesshomaru into Naraku’s trap and he could possibility kill Naraku. They didn’t talk, but Kagura cheered from the sidelines in hopes that her creator would be killed by Sesshomaru or Inuyasha.
Their next meeting occurs when Kagura approaches Sesshomaru at Tekkei’s grave and tells Sesshomaru about the Ring of Fire location. So, here we have Kagura deliberately disobeying Naraku by luring Sesshomaru to the Border so that he could try and put an end to Naraku’s life. She is once again trying to rely on Sesshomaru’s aid. Sesshomaru takes the bait. And, you’d think he’d kill Kagura after what she just did to Rin by kidnapping her; but Sesshomaru realizes that Kagura meant no harm by doing it — that she was just following orders. Especially since he knows she is trying to betray Naraku. Even Jaken comments on how obsessed Kagura is with our Lord Sesshy:
But, sadly… Sesshomaru’s viewpoint hasn’t really changed on Kagura at this point. He is still pinpointed on getting revenge on Naraku and nothing else really. I’m sure he appreciated Kagura brining him to the Ring of Fire — but, he wouldn’t admit that. But, she is definitely gaining Sesshy’s trust. Kagura’s last words before he goes into the Border is, “I knew it. So Sesshomaru is the one to kill Naraku.” So, she is still trying to put he trust and faith in Sesshomaru.
Their next meeting is when Kagura gives a piece of Gakusanjin’s youki to Sesshomaru. She meets him late at night and decides to give a youki piece to the SessGang. Jaken thinks it may be a trap, but Kagura comments on how powerful Sesshomaru is… Jaken is stunned by this. They decided to take the youki and Rin then comments on how Kagura might be in love with Sesshomaru! Jaken is surprised by this and thinks it’s a crazy idea. Sesshomaru, obviously, overhears this although he doesn’t make a comment on it. Rin’s word might have began to open something up inside of Sesshomaru… maybe something he didn’t notice before… again, Kagura is gaining trust with the SessGang by giving this small piece of youki to them. Sesshomaru is taking note of this.
Their next meeting occurs after Kagura infiltrates Goryomaru’s temple and she is washed away by the river. Rin and Jaken notice her, and ask Sesshomaru to save her. But he refuses. Suddenly, Rin runs into the river and tries to save her, followed by Jaken who tries to save Rin. All three kept swept away by the current, making Sesshomaru have to save the gang. When Kagura wakes up, Sesshomaru tells Kagura he is uninterested in her “sob story” until Kagura mentions that she has info on where Naraku’s heart is. That is what makes Sesshomaru finally listen. So, again… no real emotion is shown towards Kagura yet from Sesshomaru. Until… Kagura apologizes for taking up their time and she thinks, sadly, to herself that she wanted to see Sesshomaru one last time before she dies. And, even Sesshomaru comments to Kagura that she will probably die soon. I think that made something click inside Sesshomaru’s head. I think he started, here, to feel a small drop of sympathy for Kagura.
Rumiko draws Sesshy’s face as Kagura leaves the scene. This is what it looks like:
To me, this isn’t normal, cold Sesshomaru. Normally, Sesshomaru wouldn’t even look that way. He would be looking in a totally different direction. But, he was staring at Kagura as she left — and I think that’s where it clicked for him, “So, she’s going to die.” And, I think he realized that she was always relying on him… and that he meant something to her. His look is very calm, but it seems like he also has a worried look on his face. Rumiko does SUCH an amazing job when drawing facial expressions… so, it’s not like this face is an accident. It’s like I said in the beginning… when it comes to Sesshomaru’s emotions we must be careful and analyze everything because he can be so mysterious. But, look at his face above… it’s truly another Sesshomaru. He is looking up at Kagura… and it seems he looks like he is feeling sorry for her. It’s so sad. Rin’s words are now apparent to Sesshomaru. Kagura is in love with Sesshomaru.
AND NOW FOR A BIG MOMENT. Okay, so their next meeting is when Kagura releases Moryomaru from his cell and he attacks InuGang on the night of the New Moon. Sesshomaru comes to save the day and the youki fragment Kagura gave to Sesshomaru begins to disappear .. meaning Naraku’s heart is near! Moryomaru is surprised and asks Sesshomaru where he got it… and just as Jaken is about to spill the beans… SESSHOMARU STOPS HIM. He takes up for Kagura! Kagura knows if Jaken would have told him, then Naraku definitely would have killed Kagura! But, Sesshomaru stops Jaken!! Kagura then thinks, “Is he sticking up for me?!” And, that’s exactly what Sesshomaru did! So, that look wasn’t for nothing — he really did start to gain sympathy for Kagura and this is the proof. He didn’t want to put Kagura in any more danger, so he covered up for her. That is HUGE for Sesshomaru’s character.
Because, I mean, why ELSE would he do it? The “old” Sesshomaru could have cared less if Jaken told Moryomaru… because it wouldn’t have affected Sesshomaru at all. Jaken would have told Moryomaru, and Moryomaru would have told Naraku and Kagura would have been killed. Boom. Nothing would have affected Sesshomaru. But instead, Sesshomaru went out of his way to shut Jaken up and and stick up for Kagura~! So, his opinions was beginning to change for Kagura. He didn’t want to see her dead, it seems.
And, then… their last meeting is Kagura’s death. It is first to be noted that in the manga Sesshomaru is NOT fighting Moryomaru like he is in the Final Act. The Final Act had to combine a lot of events in order for them to fit 200 chapters into 26 episodes. In the manga, he is merely walking try to find Naraku’s heart when suddenly he picks up Kagura’s scent. He starts to head her way, and Jaken comments saying, “Where are you going, Sesshomaru-sama?! The youki is pointing this way!” Meaning that Sesshomaru, as we already know, is heading towards Kagura.
He shows up at her death scene and we all know this scene by heart. Sesshomaru realizes that it was her and went to her on purpose. At this point, I’m pretty sure Sesshomaru knew how much he meant to her and he wanted to at least try and save her… but, it was too late. Could Tenseiga possibly save her? That’s probably what Sesshomaru thought while he was on his way to save her. But, it couldn’t. But, just being there… brought Kagura comfort… she got to see him one last time. And after she dies Sesshomaru comments to the InuGang that she was smiling when she was dying. And, Sesshomaru has seen MANY demons and humans die… and rarely do they have a smile on their face.
But, Kagura’s face did have a smile on it. And that affected Sesshomaru, I think. He knew that she was happy because he was there. And that stuck with Sesshomaru. His sympathy was now kicking in full effect. To think that the great and powerful Lord Sesshomaru would actually go to another demon’s death to try and save her… or to just be there for her is well… preposterous. But, guess what. HE DID. The cold and vicious Sesshomaru was there for someone. He put someone else before himself… a deed he rarely does. That is to be noted.
And, now for the final segment and perhaps the most important one, even over him appearing at Kagura’s death scene. Moryomaru attacks the InuGang and Sesshomaru, once again, sniffs him out and also appears at the battle scene. Moryomaru begins to talk horribly about Kagura and how idiotic she was to betray Naraku the way that she did. It immediately strikes a nerve with the InuGang that he is talking that way about Kagura… but, it even strikes a nerve with Sesshomaru! Kagome notices it:
So, here we have Sesshomaru getting very angry at mere words. Sesshomaru doesn’t get mad at words unless it’s an insult directed towards him; and even then he ramins cool, calm, and collected. Moryomaru is insulting Kagura’s death and Sesshomaru is, once again, taking up for her even when she is dead! Sesshomaru’s level of rage begins to steadily increase and Moryomaru taunts him:
Even Moryomaru knows this is a bit weird for Sesshomaru to be charging to recklessly. But, it’s happening! And, it’s more proof that Sesshomaru’s sympathy for Kagura definitely existed. Could this be “love”? I don’t know. But he is sticking up for a demon who constantly seeked his aid and wanted to only help him. An emotion is now present inside of Sesshomaru’s body that has probably never existed before! He is truly avenging someone in flesh that has nothing to do with himself. With Rin being kidnapped, that affected Sesshomaru’s ego. But, with this… it’s different. He was actually trying to avenge someone for the way that they were treated and the main point is that he can’t control himself!
And, here we have the final moment in which Sesshomaru continuously makes his Tokijin take blows to Moryomaru’s meiojuu armor. He seriously wants to kill Moryomaru so badly that he would risk his amazing Toikijin sword just so that he could finally put Kagura’s will to rest. It’s amazing that even Moryomaru comments on it; and I think Rumiko put this specific dialogue in for a reason. It was obvious that Sesshomaru’s will and feelings towards Kagura are there. What exactly they are remains a mystery.
Whether or not Sesshomaru actually fell in love with Kagura is out of reach. He never really comments on Kagura again after this battle… but, Kagura’s death is definitely added to Sesshy’s collection of why he wants to destroy Naraku. Even Sesshomaru is sick of the way Naraku is dealing with people’s emotions. (And this is even before Magatsuhi steals Rin)
So, we know something was definitely there. At first, he didn’t care anything for Kagura… but as time went on he began to truly show some sort of affection towards her. And no one can deny that.
