Inuyasha: Difference between revisions

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Typical Japanese teenage [[Ordinary High School Student|Ordinary Middle School Student]], [[Genki Girl]] Kagome, granddaughter of a Shinto priest, has the ability to climb down into an ancient well on the grounds of her grandfather's shrine and, in doing so, [[Time Travel]] to [[The Time of Myths|allegedly-feudal-Japan]], except for the fact that demons, goblins, vengeful ghosts, malevolent wizard-priests, short-tempered twelve-foot-tall ogres, and [[Youkai|all manner of other creepy-crawlies]]<ref>significantly, this is one of the few Japanese fantasy anime that ''isn't'' set in a pseudo-medieval-European fantasy world; just about ''everything'' in it is based on Japanese myths and legends, and that alone makes it worth your time to look for</ref> are all over the place and you can barely swing your arms without hitting one of them. Another noteworthy difference from most anime is that almost all of the characters who are supposed to be Japanese humans are actually depicted with black hair. If you've seen just a bit of anime, you might recognize how unusual this is (other [[Hair Colors]] are much more common).

 

 

Oh, and did we mention that Kagome happens to be the [[Reincarnation]] of the [[Miko]] that Inuyasha once loved 50 years in his past, who just happened to be the one who fired a sacred arrow which sealed him to the sacred tree, essentially killing him?

 

 

 

 

Naturally, [[Status Quo Is God]] (no matter how much it seems like things are building towards a resolution), and the anime was consequently [[Cut Short]] with no proper ending, due in large part to the anime actually catching up with the production of the manga (and thus running out of episodal stories to do). The remaining chapters of the manga that the anime didn't cover before its abrupt end were adapted into the 26-episode series ''Inuyasha: The Final Act'', which picks up where the original anime left off and tells the remainder of the manga's story through to its conclusion.

 

* [[24-Hour Armor]]: Sesshoumaru and Kouga never go anywhere without their armor. Given that Inuyasha's fire-rat robe is supposed to double as armour, he never goes anywhere without it either.

** And there is an semi-official IY Abridged, done by ICanadianJutsuI and Scarlotte of [[YouTube]] and hosted on the former's channel (which is here [http://www.youtube.com/user/lCanadianJutsul\]). It's quite funny and currently has 9 episodes. The guy who's doing it is on his ELEVENTH YT channel. Check it out!

* [[Abuse Is Okay When It Is Female On Male]]

* [[Action Girl]]: Sango, Kikyou, Ayame, eventually Kagome.

* [[Action-Hogging Opening]]: One or two.

* [[Actually a Doombot]]: Naraku’s puppets.

* [[Adorably Precocious Child]]: Shippo, though on the road to becoming more like Inuyasha.

* [[Aerosol Flamethrower]]: Kagome uses one of this once.

* [[Alas, Poor Yorick]]

* [[The Alcoholic]]: Mushin and Yakurou Dokusen.

* [[All Amazons Want Hercules]]: Kagura, for Sesshoumaru.

* [[All of the Other Reindeer]]: Every [[Half-Human Hybrid|hanyou]] in the story, including [[The Hero|Inuyasha]] himself.

* [[Almost Kiss]]: {{spoiler|Inuyasha and Kagome almost shared one before being rudely interrupted. It was the closest they got to a kiss in the manga. ''Final Act'' [[Reunion Kiss|fixed that.]]}}

* [[Aloof Big Brother]]: Sesshomaru

* [[Always Save the Girl]]: Sango suffers from this.

* [[Amplifier Artifact]]: The Shikon Jewel is shattered by accident by one of Kagome's arrows. Other demons that get even one or two shards get a comparatively large power boost. Naraku collects all the shards for reassembly into the intact Jewel for the purpose of becoming the ultimate youkai.

* [[Anatomy of the Soul]]: The soul is divided in two: Kon and Haku. Kon it's the heart (will) and Haku is the power that moves the body:

** Kikyo's Kon is the part she stole from Kagome's soul but she needs to constantly steal Haku to be able to move.

* [[Anchored Ship]]: Both Inuyasha/Kagome and Miroku/Sango are Type 1.

* [[And Then What?]]: Near the end, Byakuya asks Naraku what wish he will make on the Shikon jewel after he has killed Inuyasha and the rest; he admits he isn't sure.

* [[Animate Dead]]: Kagura's Dance of the Dead.

** A case can also be made for Kagura possibly reaching [[Anti-Hero]] status by the end of her character arc when she begins acting directly against Naraku - again depending on your mileage.

* [[Anti-Villain]]: Saint Hakushin; Kagura and Sesshoumaru both evolve into this role as well, and [[Your Mileage May Vary|some]] also count Bankotsu and Jakotsu, although their actions overall make them more arguable cases.

* [[Appendage Assimilation]]: Sesshoumaru tried to replace his severed arm with other youkai arms, but they all turned out to be useless and after a while he just stopped trying.

* [[Applied Phlebotinum]]: The Shikon no Tama.

* [[The Archer]]: Kikyou, later Kagome.

* [[Armor-Piercing Question]]: {{spoiler|Kagome to Naraku: "The Shikon Jewel didn't grant your real wish, did it?"}}

* [[Artifact of Death]]: The Shikon no Tama and its search only brings death and destruction.

* [[Artifact of Doom]]: There are... A lot of this in this show.

** Later, Sesshomaru commissions the making of the deadly sword Tokijin, crafted from the teeth of Naraku's detachment Goshinki. It possesses its own maker, but when Sesshomaru takes it for himself, he shrugs off the sword's attempt to possess him through sheer willpower.

** Dakki, the youki-absorbing sword that transformed its human smith into a pseudo-youkai in order to try and absorb Tessaiga's youki {{spoiler|and then transferred the full force of Inu Yasha's attack to said smith's body in a desperate attempt to save itself.}}

** The best example however, would be the {{spoiler|Shikon no Tama, the real [[Big Bad]] of the story}}.

* [[Artificial Human]]: Kikyo's body is made of her ashes and clay.

* [[As You Know]]: One of the many methods that the show uses to recap events.

* [[Asia Rune Chant]]

* [[Attack Reflector]]: Kanna's mirror, and later Naraku's barrier develops this as well.

* [[Attempted Rape]]: In the manga, [[Master Poisoner|Mukotsu]] attempts to rape Kagome but she's saved by [[I Was Just Passing Through|Sesshoumaru]]. The anime [[Lighter and Softer|tones this down]] into having Mukotsu try to force Kagome into marriage with him.

* [[Back-to-Back Badasses]]: Inuyasha and Sesshomaru in movie 3.

** Inu Yasha and Koga vs. Naraku's two speedster detachments

** Hell, '''Shippo''' is something of a badass, when one considers all the things he's done even though he's a little kid, up to and including having to be knocked out to keep from following the team into the final battle against Naraku... and then did it anyway once he regained consciousness. Just look how the much larger kitsune treat Shippo's exploits during the kitsune youjutsu exam that he didn't even know existed until after he was auto-enrolled into it by accident.

** Whenever Inuyasha turns human he continues to try the same potentially fatal exploits that wouldn't even bruise him as a half demon, up to and including fighting homicidal demons three times his size. Crosses the line into [[Determinator]] territory when he ([[Heroic Resolve|of course]]) keeps fighting after massive blood loss and broken bones.

* [[Badass Long Hair]]: And how!

** Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, Koga, Naraku...

** And of course, Kohaku. His shikon shard doesn't seem to do anything but keep him alive and under Naraku's control, but by the end of the series he's able to easily slaughter groups of trained guards and youkai like they were nothing.

* [[Band of Brothers]]: The Inu-tachi.

* [[Barrier Maiden]]: Poor little Shiori...

* [[Barrier Warrior]]: There are several, including Miroku, Kikyo and Naraku, but the most impressive is Saint Hakushin who is able to create an enormous barrier surrounding Mt. Hakurei which is incredibly powerful, enough to weaken youkai in the surrounding area and purifying them instantly if they get too close.

* [[Bash Brothers]]

* [[Bathing Beauty]]: Kagome is the picture for the page.

* [[Bathtub Bonding]]: Kagome and Sango, but instead of a bathtub it's a hot spring.

* [[Battle Boomerang]]: Hiraikotsu.

* [[Battle Butler]]: Kanna, the only minion who's honestly ''loyal'' ( {{spoiler|At least until right before she dies.}}).

** Discuss Inuyasha's love for Kikyo around Kagome. I dare you.

* [[Betty and Veronica]]: Kagome and Kikyo.

* [[BFG]] Renkotsu's grenade launcher and gatling gun, And Ginkotsu's flak cannon and ( {{spoiler|Missile launchers after being made into a giant cybernetic tank.}}).

* [[BFS]]

* [[Blade Below the Shoulder]]: Sango has a retractable blade hidden in her right sleeve that she uses as a last resort.

* [[Blade Brake]]: Inuyasha rams Tessaiga into the ground to prevent being sucked into the Wind Tunnel. In one of many amusing examples of just how alike the two brothers really are, when Sesshoumaru first experiences the power of the Wind Tunnel, he reacts in exactly the same way (and since he's holding Tessaiga at the time, he even uses the same sword).

* [[Blatant Lies]]

** Inu Yasha's youkai form. Insanely high levels of strength and speed, a much improved healing factor, enough youki to make even ''Sesshoumaru'' [[Not So Stoic|feel one, brief moment of fear]] and have a youketsu capable of holding the evil spirit of the ''Shikon no Tama'' immobile against its will and decay a frggin' portal to hell when its sliced by the Dragon-Scale Tessaiga. Of course, there's the little matter of him being a bloodthirsty monster that has barely any of Inu Yasha's restraint, and each time it gets even less controllable and less intelligent. Of course, he does get to occasionally take advantage of it and Tessaiga at the same time, whenever someone starts stealing some of Tessaiga's forms, or he boosts Tessaiga with purified Shikon shards.

* [[Blood From the Mouth]]: This happens to Miroku (along with blood from the eyes, nose and ears) when he tries to suck Naraku into his curse only managing to absorb a lot of miasma.

* [[Blow You Away]]: Kagura. Her wind powers include tornados, flight, manipulating the wind to (attempt to) cut off the wind-based attacks of opponents and even [[Razor Wind]].

* [[Body Horror]]: Naraku's main fighting style.

* [[Boomerang Comeback]]: Sango uses this technique several times. She lets her enemies attack her while Hiraikotsu is away so they'll be hit by it when is returning to her.

* [[Bowdlerise]]: First villainess [[Creepy Centipedes|Mistress Centipede’s]] breast size is flattened in the Viz dub. Some scenes that focus on Kagome bathing and Shippo's crotch are also skipped.

* [[Brainwashed and Crazy]]: Kohaku. After being revived, Naraku erased his memories to be able to control his mind. He then ordered Kohaku to kill a lot of innocent people, including his own sister.

* [[Bratty Half-Pint]]: Shippo.

* [[Breath Weapon]]: Ah-Un being a dragon has this, in both heads.

* [[Bridal Carry]]

* [[Broken Bird]]: Kagura, Kikyou.

* [[Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl]]: Inuyasha and Kagome.

* [[Brought Down to Normal]]: Happens to Inuyasha (and every other half demon) every month, most often during a plot that could be resolved effortlessly with Inuyasha's normal powers.

** And to Miroku, of all people, in one of the questionably canon movies, when {{spoiler|his wind tunnel is removed by Naraku}}.

* [[Brutal Honesty]]: Inuyasha, which normally earns him a [[Face Fault|SIT!]]

* [[Cain and Abel]]: Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru for a while. A better example would be Kinka and Ginka, brothers who are attached to one another because neither of them had managed to kill each other in their childhood as was the nature of their species.

* [[Calling Your Attacks]]: Once the manga hit its stride, almost all the characters do this. Uniquely, Sesshoumaru's the only one who rarely calls his attacks out loud. He ''[[Badass|thinks]]'' them instead.

* [[Came Back Strong]]: {{spoiler|Sesshoumaru}} in Chapter 518.

* [[Canon Foreigner]]: Ayame (Koga's childhood love interest), and Akitoki Hojo (an ancestor of one Kagome's classmates) only appear in the anime.

* [[Catchphrase Interruptus]]: Talking about his infamous question:

'''Sango''': "You don't have to say it!" }}

* [[Cats Are Mean]]: A rather impressive filler arc showcased some cat demons as this.

* [[Chronic Hero Syndrome]]: Kagome, although it's Inuyasha who ends up doing the saving most of the time.

* [[Clothing Damage]]: Kagura is prone to this.

* [[Cold Flames]]: Shippo's foxfire.

* [[Color Failure]]: When Shima claims that she has already given herself to Miroku; he, Sango and the youkai Nushi (who Shima is promised to marry) all experience this.

* [[Comedic Sociopathy]]

* [[Comic Book Time]]: While the manga lasted for 12 years, the whole story happens in barely one year, not taking into account the three-year [[Time Skip]] at the end.

* [[The Constant]]: The Sacred Tree and Bone Eater's Well. To the extent that, {{spoiler|when the Bone Eater's Well ''disappears'' in the [[Final Battle]], it's seen as a very, very bad sign by everyone on both sides of the well}}.

* [[Conveniently an Orphan]]: Everyone in Inuyasha's group except for Kagome who has a [[Open-Minded Parent|living mother]] and the two humans in Sesshoumaru's group are an orphan and [[Self-Made Orphan]].

* [[The Corrupter]]: Naraku (His favorite tactics are those that involve messing with his enemies' hearts).

* [[Counter Attack]]: The Backlash Wave.

* [[Creepy Centipedes]]: The Mukade-Joro and tons of regular demon mooks serving Naraku.

* [[Cross-Popping Veins]]

* [[Cry Into Chest]]: Sango finally breaks down crying into Kagome's chest releasing all her heartache when the group forgive her for betraying them.

** Kagome does this to Inuyasha a lot. It usually freaks him out somewhat.

** Sesshoumaru's darkest hour occurs when he finally learns {{spoiler|the truth about Tenseiga's origins and the real reason why he was given Meidou Zangetsuha}}, resulting in him {{spoiler|believing that his father had been [[The Unfavorite|training Inuyasha to kill him.]]}} His [[Heroic BSOD]] is so overwhelming that even {{spoiler|''Myouga'' is desperate to help him. He's left so shaken that when [[Big Bad|Naraku]] attacks his group he doesn't even try to rescue them; Inuyasha ends up saving them while he watches from a distance. Nothing in the manga - not even Kagura's death or Rin's second death - has ever made him despair the way thinking his father hated him did.}}

* [[Date Peepers]]: Every time Inuyasha/Kagome or Miroku/Sango have any romantic moments, the rest of the group will be either spying or eavesdropping.

* [[Death Glare]]: Sesshoumaru. Early in the manga, he scares off a pack of wolves with his glare alone. Later on, he's badly injured to such an unusual degree that Kagome and Shippou worry about it and discuss healing him. His glare sends both of them scurrying behind Inuyasha for protection.

* [[Death Is Cheap]]: Ask Kikyo... or Kohaku... or Rin. The series does try not to take it ''too'' far: before he could master Tenseiga's Meidou Zangetsuha, Sesshoumaru had to learn that even Tenseiga's ability to revive the dead has its limits, since he couldn't properly appreciate the value of the lives of others as long as he assumed he could simply bring them back. However, the lesson is rather undermined when Sesshoumaru's mother revives Rin a second time anyway.

* [[Deflector Shields]]

* [[Defrosting Ice Queen|Defrosting Ice King]]: Sesshomaru, thanks to [[Morality Pet|Rin]].

* [[Devour the Dragon]]

* [[Diagonal Cut]]: Inuyasha kills Hiten in this manner.

* [[Died in Your Arms Tonight]]: {{spoiler|Kikyo in Inuyasha's arms.}}

* [[Dirty Old Man]]: Yakurou Dokusen.

* [[Disney Death]]: Too many to count.

* [[Distant Finale]]

* [[Diving Save]]

* [[Does Not Like Shoes]]: Inuyasha, Rin, Kagura, Kohaku, Kouga... apparently Rumiko Takahashi has a well known [[Author Appeal|foot fetish]], meaning you'll see plenty of her characters barefoot, and plenty of [[Foot Focus|close-ups]]...

* [[Doomed Hometown]]: The demon slayers' village.

* [[Double Standard]]: When Inuyasha gets jealous of Kagome's interactions with Kouga, in which she does nothing to discourage his flirting with ''her'', Inuyasha is usually subdued by Kagome. When it comes to Inuyasha's relationship with Kikyo and the two meet up, he's normally also subdued by a jealous Kagome and is criticized by the rest of the group for hurting her feelings.

* [[Dragon Rider]]: Rin and Jaken. {{spoiler|Kohaku}}, too, for a while.

* [[Dramatic Wind]]

* [[Dress Hits Floor]]

* [[Drop What You Are Doing]]: [[Played for Laughs]]. When Kagome asks Sango, who's cleaning Hiraikotsu, if she's in love with Miroku (more like states it), Sango drops the weapon in shock and breaks the floor.

* [[Dynamic Entry]]: Happens several times. One example consists of Kagome, Miroku and Sango being saved from Mukotsu by a clawed hand slicing into Mukotsu's body signify the arrival of - to Kagome's shock - [[I Was Just Passing Through|Sesshoumaru]] rather than Inuyasha.

* [[Dysfunction Junction]]

* {{spoiler|[[Earn Your Happy Ending]]:}} {{spoiler|After everything the main characters went through, almost all of them got a happy ending. Miroku and Sango are [[Happily Married]] and have three kids; Shippo is learning to get better with his powers; Kohaku, accompanied by Kirara, is atoning by helping other people; Rin is staying with Kaede and is often visited by Sesshoumaru; and even though they were separated for three years, Kagome and Inuyasha are reunited at the end.}}

* [[Eat Me]]: Naraku lets Moryomaru absorb him so he could get close to Akago and consume both of them from the inside.

* [[Effeminate Misogynistic Guy]]: Jakotsu.

* [[Embarrassing Cover Up]]: Made by Kagome's grandfather.

* [[Emotionless Girl]]: Kanna, at least before she dies.

* [[Empathic Weapon]]: Several weapons in the series are this, most notably [[BFS|Tessaiga]], [[Healing Shiv|Tenseiga]] and [[Battle Boomerang|Hiraikotsu]]. [[Evil Weapon|Tokijin]] starts off as one, but its will is completely suppressed by Sesshoumaru's.

* [[Episode Title Card]]: Always read aloud by Inuyasha himself.

* [[Eternal English]]

* [[Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas]]: Princess Abi joins Naraku to save her dying mother.

** While it's hard to tell how he and his mother feel about each other, a significant part of Sesshoumaru's character development involved getting over his daddy issues which required her help.

* [[Even the Guys Want Him]]: Inuyasha not only is in the middle of a [[Love Triangle]] with Kagome and Kikyou, but [[Villainous Crossdresser]] Jakotsu is explicitly and obsessively in love with him. Jakotsu was also attracted to Sesshoumaru and Miroku, but concluded that he preferred Inuyasha.

* [[Everyone Can See It]]: Everyone could see Inuyasha and Kagome liked each other since the beginning. Everyone could also see Sango liked Miroku, except for Inuyasha.

* [[Evil Evolves]]: Naraku. Oh, Naraku.

** Tessaiga, though just demonic and not technically evil, qualifies as well late in the series, absorbing power from the demons it slays.

* [[Evil Weapon]]: Tokijin.

* [[Exponential Plot Delay]]: It never ends! ''It never ends!'' (Well, until it finally does; the story does progress and characters do develop, just very slowly except for near the beginning and end of the series.)

** Bonus points for the fact that Ranma and Inuyasha share voice actors in BOTH Japanese and English (Kappei Yamaguchi and Richard Ian Cox, though only for the latter half of Ranma in Dick's case), and Kelly Sheridan is the English voice for both Ukyo and Sango. Further, David Kaye voices both Soun and Sesshomaru, and Paul Dobson voiced both Happosai and Myoga.

* [[Eye Scream]]: In the manga, Sesshoumaru stabs Inuyasha's right eye in order to get the black pearl that's hidden there, a portal to his father's grave.

* [[The Fair Folk]]: The demons tend to be otherworldly and ruthless. Some are very ugly, others very beautiful. It's stated that [[Bishonen Line|the most powerful and dangerous ones are those]] that ''look'' like humans.

** This actually plays into Japanese culture; the beings referred to in Japan as [[Youkai]] and [[Obake]] would probably be considered more Fey than Demons by Western standards.

* [[Fan Service]]: Kagome does seem in many shots to be almost entirely made up of ''very'' shapely legs, though we [[Magic Skirt|never see]] ''up'' her skirt. Twice, Kagome's breasts were bared though this is edited for the American releases as is the short shot of Shippo disrobing for a dip in an onsen. Also, Sango's Taijiya uniform is ''[[Sensual Spandex|very]]'' [[Sensual Spandex|form fitting]]. All of the main girls have been subject to nude scenes shortly after their introduction. Kagura's top gets ripped off numerous times.

** Never mind the extreme frequency with which Inuyasha, Miroku and [[Estrogen Brigade Bait|other male characters]] go shirtless.

* [[Fantastic Romance]]: Inuyasha and Kagome.

* [[Fate Worse Than Death]]: Midoriko and Magatsuhi, having to battle each other forever inside the Shikon Jewel.

** Shikon shards in the body will make it insensitive to pain no matter how severe the injuries are, which is how, for example, Sango manages to go toe-to-toe with Inuyasha in her first appearance despite being grievously injured.

* [[Field Power Effect]]: The one night of the month half-demons lose their powers.

* [[Fire-Forged Friends]]: The main group was formed because all the members (except Shippo) share a common goal, and at first they were hostile to each other. Inuyasha and Kagome are forced to work together to find the Shikon shards, they let Miroku join after learning they share a common enemy and Sango joins for the same reason. They warm up to each other and end up being [[Nakama|best friends]] since they don't really have anyone else.

* [[The First Cut Is the Deepest]]: Kikyo to Inuyasha

** Averted by Sango, who never uses Miroku's name at all, always calling him "Houshi-sama" even after she's promised to marry him. (This and Miroku's use of ''yobisute'' mentioned above are distinctions not carried over into the English dub due to the difficulty of translating them effectively.)

* [[Fish Out of Temporal Water]]: Both Kagome and Inuyasha.

* [[Florence Nightingale Effect]]: How Onigumo falls in love with Kikyo.

* [[Follow the Chaos]]: Naraku, along with his "stink", also tends to leave behind trails of dead bodies everywhere he goes

* [[Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling]]: Plays with this. Kagome isn't flighty per se, but often forgets to bring her homework to class, only for Sota to pick up the slack. Then again, considering she's spending most of her time in the Feudal Era, she can hardly be blamed for losing focus on her supposed off days.

* [[Foreshadowing]]: A brilliantly blatant yet easy-to-miss example occurs when Naraku manipulates Sango into stealing Tessaiga for him. He is able to hold it and briefly uses it against her. Amids the ensuing drama, the audience isn't likely to remember that said sword was suppossed to have a demon-repelling barrier around it that should've left a full demon like Naraku with some ugly burns on his hand... this is explained when we learn that Naraku isn't a full demon at all...

** Another moment occurs as a result of the same incident. Sango tells Inuyasha's group that they can't trust her because, if Naraku attempts to use the same tactic on her in the future (making her choose between friends and a loved one), she'll make the same decision all over again. Right at the end of the manga, Naraku attempts what Sango feared and does indeed try to repeat the incident. {{spoiler|This time, it's a choice between Rin's life and Miroku's life and, as warned, Sango does indeed make the same decision again: attempting to kill Rin to save Miroku.}}

** The villains of the the fourth movie, "Fire on the Mystic Island", are also based off of [[The Four Gods]], though somewhat less blatantly than the aforementioned Demon Ninjas.

* [[Free Sample Plot Coupon]]: Downplayed. Kagome already has the Shikon pearl inside her at the start of the series, but after some unsavory events it is fragmented into several pieces, scattered through Feudal Japan. Thus the objective is to retrieve them, and the first of them is held by a very powerful opponent, negating the trope entirely.

* [[Fuel Meter of Power]]: The Wind Tunnel is constantly expanding (a process that is accelerated every time it's used and even more so if it's injured) until it's big enough to break the seal and kill Miroku.

* [[Full-Frontal Assault]]: Muso, although it is toned down by [[Barbie Doll Anatomy]]. [[Moral Guardians]], you know...

* [[Furo Scene]]

* [[Future Spandex]]: Sango's fighting outfit includes this under her body armor.

* [[Gentle Giant]]: Jinenji.

* [[Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!]]: After Miroku hallucinates about the Wind Tunnel absorbing him, Inuyasha has to hit him to get him out of the shock.

* [[Good Thing You Can Heal]]: Inuyasha.

* [[Gotta Catch Em All]]

* [[Hair Colors]]

* [[Half-Human Hybrid]]: The title character.

* [[Head Pet]]: Inverted. When Shippo travels on Kirara, he usually does it on her head.

* [[Healing Factor]]: Everyone with youkai blood. {{spoiler|Sesshoumaru [[Up to Eleven|ups this to eleven]] later on in the series, however, which results in him being able to regenerate his missing left arm.}}

* [[Held Gaze]]: This type of gaze occurs a few times between several different pairs, including {{spoiler|a [[Tear Jerker|moment]] between [[The Stoic|Sesshoumaru]] and [[Broken Bird|Kagura]]. As her life ebbs away, they talk, run out of words, and finally hold each other's gaze as she [[No Body Left Behind|distintegrates]] into [[I Die Free|the wind]].}}

* [[Hero Stole My Bike]]: Miroku stole Kagome's bike and the Shikon Shard she carried when they first met.

* [[Hidden Eyes]]

* [[Hime Cut]]: Many, notably Kikyou and Sango.

* [[Hitchhiker Heroes]]

* [[Homage]]: Doesn't the whole plot around how only the "right" person can pull the sword Tessaiga from the place it stands remind alot of [[King Arthur]]?

* [[Horned Humanoid]]

* [[Horse of a Different Color]]: Kirara and Ah-Un.

** Inupapa looks like Sesshomaru with a ponytail.

** Shiori's dad, Tsukuyomaru is a [[Dark-Skinned Blond]] bishonen.

* [[How Do I Shot Web?]]: It takes quite some time for Inuyasha to master the Wind Scar.

* [[Human Shield]]: Naraku uses Rin as a shield while prompts Sango to kill him.

* [[Hypocritical Humor]]: Miroku: "What a terrible guy, to trick girls with a fake medicine"

* [[I Am a Humanitarian]]: Several Youkai feeds on humans/humans innards, but Tokajin the sennin takes the cake. Seriously toned down in the anime.

* [[I Just Want to Be Free]]: Kagura.

* [[I Just Want to Be Normal]]: Kikyo.

* [[I Never Told You My Name]]: In the Hoshiyomi filler arc, demons manage to get a photo of three of Kagome's friends from her backpack, and use it to create puppets of them in order to trick Kagome and Hojo into handing over the magic blade that their master needs. Kagome is suspicious to begin with, but her suspicions are confirmed when one of the three calls her by her name - which she hadn't mentioned to them.

* [[Informed Attribute]]: In the anime, Kagome and Kikyo don't look much alike at all, Kikyo having much paler skin and smaller eyes, just to mention a couple differences at a glance. Averted in the manga, where they do indeed look very similar.

* [[I Shall Taunt You]]: Mouryoumaru tries to goad Inuyasha into getting so angry he does something stupid by insulting Kagura's death. To everyone's shock (including Mouryoumaru's) the one who flies into an [[Unstoppable Rage]] is actually Sesshoumaru instead.

* [[I Was Just Passing Through]]: Sesshoumaru's favorite excuse whenever he helps the heroes.

* [[I Will Definitely Protect You]]: Inuyasha to Kagome: "Shut up! I'm saying I'll protect you!"

* [[Identity Amnesia]]: Kohaku.

* [[Impossibly Cool Clothes]]: The demon slayers' uniforms, not to mention Inuyasha's fire rat kimono.

* [[In the Past Everyone Will Be Famous]]: Subverted. When Inuyasha and Kagome meet a young samurai named Nobunaga, she immediately asks for his autograph excited to be meeting the famous [[Oda Nobunaga]]. It turns out he's ''Amari'' Nobunaga and is offended to be mistaken for that "idiot".

* [[Incendiary Exponent]]: The first time Inuyasha turns into a human, he ends up having to fight a spider demon. So he pulls up a bunch of wooden grave markers amidst cries of blasphemy, ''sets them on fire'', and then uses them as flaming javelins.

* [[Interrupted Suicide]]: Inuyasha arrives just in the nick of time to stop Sango from [[Kill the Ones You Love|killing her brother]] and committing suicide.

* [[Interspecies Romance]]: Inuyasha, Shiori and Jinenji all have human mothers and [[Youkai]] fathers.

* [[Intoxication Ensues]]: Inuyasha: "I ain't drunk. And why are there two Kagomes?" On another occasion he ends [[Crowning Moment of Funny|following a butterfly and falling off a cliff]].

* [[Involuntary Shapeshifting]]: Inuyasha turns human during the night of the new moon. He also transforms into full youkai when in danger (and not having Tessaiga near to seal his blood) and when a very corrupt Shikon shard is nearby (and not having Kagome near to purify him).

* [[It Only Works Once]]: Tenseiga can revive the dead, but only once. A second revival requires a trip to hell and a [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?]], and that likewise will only work the one time.

* [[It's Personal]]: ''Everyone'' wants revenge against Naraku.

* [[Jidai Geki]]: The story (while not in the present) takes place during the Sengoku Jidai.

* [[Joker Immunity]]: Naraku in the anime.

* [[Joshikousei]]: Kagome

** The main characters mirror the Journey's main characters to some extent. Inuyasha just like Goku is bad tempered, is set free from a long curse at the beginning, has an elongable weapon, has animal traits and is subdued by a talisman which is under control of the person he's protecting. Kagome, like Tripitaka, is on a quest for a sacred item, is the reincarnation of a noble soul of the past, is the preferred target of demons and is helpless compared to most other characters. Miroku and Sango have some traits in common with Pigsy and Sandy respectively.

* [[Just a Kid]]: Lord Kagewaki: "The most skilled [slayers]? But I see here before me a young girl, and you even brought a small child".

* [[Lap Pillow]]: Inuyasha rests in Kagome's lap while he's poisoned during his human night.

* {{spoiler|[[Last Kiss]]}}: {{spoiler|Inuyasha and Kikyo shared a kiss right before she died.}}

* [[Leeroy Jenkins]]: Inuyasha's preferred battle strategy.

* [[Let's You and Him Fight]]: This is Naraku's preferred tactic.

* [[Light Is Not Good]]

* [[Lighter and Softer]]: One example would be Mukotsu's attempted rape of Kagome in the manga. The anime gets around this by having [[And Now You Must Marry Me|Mukotsu attempt to force Kagome into marriage with him]].

** [[Evil Weapon|Toukijin]] is so powerful and evil not even [[Ultimate Blacksmith|Toutousai]] can approach it. Sesshoumaru overcomes the blade's evil will easily and the sword obeys him loyally {{spoiler|until the day it's destroyed.}}

** Tenseiga accepts only Sesshoumaru as its true master even though Sesshoumaru doesn't want it at all. {{spoiler|Even when he deliberately shatters the blade and discards it, the sword ends up reforging itself and landing back on the ground near Sesshoumaru. The only reason Tenseiga is not a [[Clingy MacGuffin]] is because it can be physically separated from Sesshoumaru. It just won't stay separated.}}

* [[Lunacy]]: Inuyasha loses his powers whenever is the new moon.

* [[Magic Skirt]]: ''Kohaku'' has more panty shots than Kagome...

* [[Mega Neko]]: Kirara.

* [[Megaton Punch]]: Inuyasha.

* [[Men Don't Cry]]: Inuyasha says this to a crying Shippo when they think Kagome, Miroku and Sango have died. When it turns out they haven't, Inuyasha tries to hide his tears which Shippo is fast to point out.

* [[Mind Control Eyes]]: Kohaku and Kagome

** In the questionably canon second movie, {{spoiler|Inuyasha is forced to transform into a full demon by Kaguya, complete with the classic [[Red Eyes, Take Warning|"eyes fade to red"]] effect.}}

* [[Mineral MacGuffin]]: The Shikon no Tama/Jewel of Four Souls

* [[Missing Mom]]

* [[Mistaken for Dying]]: Mushin in a filler episode of the anime.

* [[Monstrosity Equals Weakness]]: It's stated that the more human-looking demons are the most powerful.

* [[Morality Pet]]: Rin, for Sesshoumaru. Kohaku becomes something of a [[Morality Pet]] for Kagura for a short time {{spoiler|until she dies saving his life, resulting in him defaulting to Sesshoumaru. One imagines that if everyone else got killed off, Fluffy'd probably end up with Shippo as well.}}

* [[Morphic Resonance]]: When Shippo shape shifts he is usually unable to conceal his tail.

* [[Mouthy Kid]]: Shippo.

* [[The Movie]]: Four times. They're generally [[Non-Serial Movie|non-serial]], but occasionally nods to them are thrown into the anime, like Sesshomaru's Soryuha technique, which was made up for a movie. The fandom periodically circulates rumours of a fifth but that generally refers to either the ending of an old computer game or a more recent OVA that was released as part of the Rumic World Specials and can be found, with minor editing, as episode 15 of the the Final Act.

* [[Muggle and Magical Love Triangle]]: Kagome has the most desired boy in school fall in love with her, but even when she goes on dates with him she finds herself thinking about Inu Yasha, half-dog demon from the mythic past.

* [[Multi Melee Master]]: All demon slayers are this, carrying a main weapon and a short sword, and if Sango is any indication, a chain and a hidden blade in their sleeve, too. Sango even fights with the Hiraikotsu and the sword [[Dual-Wielding|at the same time.]]

** Naraku is intent on killing Inuyasha. Although he also is intent on killing the other cathetus.

* [[Muscles Are Meaningless]]

* [[Nakama]]: Our [[Five-Man Band]].

* [[Naked First Impression]]: Miroku to Kagome (she didn't see him).

* [[Named Weapons]]

* [[Narrating the Obvious]]

* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]]: Literally for Kagome. She managed to kill the youkai that had stolen the Shikon no Tama but in the process also broke the jewel, putting into motion the plot of the story.

* [[Nigh Invulnerability]]: Naraku in many different ways depending on his current body.

** The Shikon no Tama.

* [[No Cure for Evil]]: Sesshoumaru, courtesy of [[Healing Shiv|Tenseiga]], at least until he receives [[Character Development]].

** Averted with Kikyou, who spent much of the manga as an evil mockery of her former gentle self while continuing to retain her healing abilities and her desire to heal. Eventually, her kind nature was [[Redemption Equals Death|saved and restored]].

* [[No Ontological Inertia]]: The only way for Miroku to free himself from the Wind Tunnel is to kill Naraku, the one who placed the curse on his grandfather.

* [[No Social Skills]]: Inuyasha.

* [[Oh Crap]]: Naraku has several, like when Kagome blew up his body realizing she's Kikyo's reincarnation or when Kohaku tried to purify him with the light in his shard. In those instances he's always quick to run. His servants likewise get more than a few, especially Byakuya who thought he could handle {{spoiler|Sesshoumaru with an army of a few thousand youkai to back him up.}} [[Oh Crap|He was wrong]].

* [[Old Retainer]]: Myoga and Jaken.

* [[One-Man Army]]: Despite the back-up his friends give him, Inuyasha is more than capable of this. His sword can slay a hundred youkai with a single swing... and that's its weakest ability. Then there's Miroku, who can take out many youkai with his Wind Tunnel (when he's allowed to use it). {{spoiler|And Sesshoumaru's sword can slay thousands of youkai with a single swing.}}

* [[The One That Got Away]]: Debatably Sesshomaru and Kagura, sounds like a classic case of losing the one you love before getting a chance to tell them how you feel.

** There are in fact Only Four Faces - Young Woman, Young Man, Old Woman, and Old Man. The difference between the first two and last is also debatable.

* [[Only the Chosen May Wield]]: Tessaiga can only be wielded by Inuyasha. Tenseiga can only be wielded by Sesshoumaru.

* [[Ordinary High School Student]]: Kagome

* [[Ornamental Weapon]]: Kouga carries a sword he never uses. He even admitted he just had it for decoration after having to use it to free himself from Moryomaru.

* [[Poisonous Person]]: Naraku oozes miasma.

* [[Portal Slam]]: {{spoiler|The Bone Eater's Well stops working for three years after the final battle leaving Kagome "trapped" in her own time, only to work one last time to let her return to Inuyasha.}}

* [[Posthumous Character]]: Midoriko

* [[Power Floats]]: Sesshoumaru and Naraku.

* [[Power Glows]]

* [[Puppeteer Parasite]]: A salamander youkai had a whole village of women controlled by making them ingest its eggs.

* [[Puppy Dog Eyes]]

* [[The Quest]]

* [[Quirky Miniboss Squad]]: A number of these, including The Band of Seven, and Kanna and Kagura, sometimes with Kohaku, Hakudōshi, and / or Akago.

* [[Razor Floss]]: Yura of the Hair

* [[Razor Wind]]: Kagura's 'Dance of Blades' is, of course, with blades made of air.

* [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old]]: All youkai seem to be this, notably the Inu no Taisho's elderly retainers, Toutousai and Myouga. Sesshoumaru confirms that Bokusenou is a two-thousand year old magnolia tree. Sesshoumaru's mother's age is never stated but she's almost certainly this. Inuyasha himself is a cipher, but even if he was just a teenager when Kikyo put him on ice, Sesshomaru's appearance hasn't changed since Inuyasha was ''born'' - 65+ years older than his half-brother yet he still looks like a [[Bishonen]] in his late teens. Kirara, being a nekomata, falls under this as well; the anime even implies that she was Midoriko's companion.

* [[Red Eyes, Take Warning]]: When the eyes of Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha turn red it means they're going to transform into a giant dog and full demon respectively. Either way you should be running... ''fast''.

* [[Red Oni, Blue Oni]]: Inuyasha and Sesshomaru have this relationship going big time. Inuyasha and Miroku as well. Also, Jaken and Sesshoumaru as well.

* [[Religion Is Magic]]

* [[Restraining Bolt]]: Tessaiga prevents Inuyasha from becoming full demon and losing his mind in the process.

* [[Resurrected Romance]]: Kikyo and Inuyasha.

* [[Revenge]]: The reason why most of the characters hunt for Naraku.

* [[Roof Hopping]]: There goes Inuyasha now, look at him go; boing boing boing.

** Heck, Inu Yasha roof hops without roofs, somehow managing to double jump his way across the country side, way above the height of most roofs. To quote Kagome's friends, "Kagome's boyfriend runs like he's flying."

* [[Running Gag]]: "Inuyasha.... SIT!"

** [[Subverted Trope|Subverted]] more than once in the OVAs. In the 2nd, {{spoiler|the command forces Inuyasha out of the path of Kaguya's attack.}} In the 3rd, {{spoiler|just when it seems no force in the world can get Sou'unga to release him, he gets Sat with so much force that ''[[Explosive Overclocking|the beads explode!]]'' }}

* [[Sadistic Choice]]: Kill an innocent little girl or the person you love the most will die. So, what are you going to choose Sango?

* [[Sailor Fuku]]

* [[Say My Name]]: Behold Adult Swim's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kecaTtDS2o view] on the matter.

* [[Scarily Competent Tracker]]: Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru with their heightened sense of smell. Jaken may also be this as, no matter how often Sesshoumaru leaves Jaken behind, Jaken ''always'' finds him again. How, is anyone's guess.

* [[Scars Are Forever]]: Sango has a big scar on her back where Kohaku stabbed her.

** No matter his form, Naraku has a giant spider-shaped scar permanently on his back. In one episode he ''cuts off the flesh of his back'' to remove the scar only for the scar to ''immediately grow back in place.''

* [[School Uniforms Are the New Black]]: Kagome frequently strolls around in modern-day school outfit in feudal Japan.

* [[Screw Destiny]]: One big theme in the series. Specially in the last battle {{spoiler|which is against ''the Shikon no Tama itself''}}.

* [[Second Love]]: Inuyasha's first love was Kikyou, {{spoiler|but he ends up with Kagome}}. In the anime, Koga initially chases after Kagome {{spoiler|but ends up with Ayame.}}

* [[Secret Keeper]]: Kagome's family.

** [[Ultimate Blacksmith|Toutousai]]. Although it was obvious he knew the truth about [[Infinity+1 Sword|Tessaiga]] what had been hidden much better were the secets he was keeping about [[Healing Shiv|Tenseiga]] and [[More Than Infinite|Bakusaiga]].

* [[Selective Obliviousness]]: Inuyasha.

* [[Self-Made Orphan]]: Kohaku.

* [[She Is Not My Girlfriend]]: [[Never Live It Down|"She's a shard detector!"]]

* [[She Will Come for Me]]: Kagome {{spoiler|while inside the Shikon no Tama}}: "Inuyasha will come... I believe in him."

* [[Shock Collar]]: Inu Yasha has a collar of enchanted prayer beads (or rosary) designed to make him hit the ground whenever Kagome says "Osuwari" or "Sit" / "Sit, boy". Kagome is an easily pissed off [[Tsundere]] Type B. Bad day for Inu Yasha.

* [[Shrines and Temples]]: Kagome lives in a Shrine.

* [[Shut UP, Hannibal]]: In "Hitomiko's Barrier"

'''Kagome''': You are rather talkative! }}

** In the last battle:

{{spoiler|'''Sesshoumaru''': "So what?" ''Bakusaiga!''}} }}

* [[Sick Episode]]: Actually two of them, while Kagome is sick with a severe cold.

* [[Situational Sword]]: Tenseiga has the power to protect Sesshoumaru from death - but it only kicks in if Sesshoumaru sustains an injury that might potentially kill him without that protection. It's also [[Healing Shiv|incapable]] of killing the living, but turns out to be capable of killing spirits.

* [[Sizeshifter]]: Kirara.

* [[Small Name, Big Ego]]: Jaken tries so, so hard to convince people to pay him the respect he believes he's due. It almost never works.

'''Sango:''' "... for such a little body." }}

* [[Sneeze Cut]]

* [[So Last Season]]: Inuyasha's constant upgrades to Tessaiga generally quickly diminish in usefulness.

* [[Soulless Shell]]: Moryomaru.

* [[Sphere of Destruction]]: Meidou Zangetsuha's perfect initial form.

* [[Split Personality]]: Suikotsu from the Band of Seven. One personality is a kind and gentle doctor; the other one is a [[Complete Monster|bloodlust killer.]]

* [[Stepford Smiler]]: Miroku tends to hide his troubles and worries with a smile and a grope.

* [[The Stoic]]: Inuyasha at times because he's a brood machine. Although Sesshoumaru's stoicism is somewhat exaggerated by the fanbase, he's still one of the most stoic of any manga or anime characters and is certainly the most stoic of this manga's cast. He is not unemotional, however, and there are plenty of occasions where he proves that he's actually [[Not So Stoic]] after all.

* [[Storm of Blades]]: The Kongosoha.

** To elaborate: Miroku has what amounts to his own personal black hole in his hand, which he can use to suck any foe into oblivion. Early on in the series, Naraku begins using some poison bees that would kill Miroku if he sucked them in. This leads to nearly every episode having a scene where Miroku tries to use his world-breaking power, only for the bees to show up out of nowhere, forcing him to back off.

* [[Suck Out the Poison]]: Myoga, being a flea youkai, did this twice. Once when Inuyasha was poisoned during his human night, and once barely saving Kagome, Sango and Miroku, when they almost died from Mukotsu's poison.

* [[Summon to Hand]]: Tessaiga has done this for Inuyasha a few times, although is more ''Summon to Scabbard''.

* [[Supernatural Sensitivity]]

* [[Superpower Meltdown]]: Miroku's black hole palm.

* [[Super-Powered Evil Side]]: Suikotsu of the Shichinintai, Inuyasha as a full demon.

* [[Suspended Animation]]: Inuyasha, sealed to a tree by Kikyo's arrow for 50 years.

* [[Swiss Army Weapon]]: Tessaiga, oh so very much.

* [[Sword Beam]]: Inuyasha's Wind Scar/Kaze no Kizu. Tessaiga's and especially Tokijin's "sword pressure". Also, Sesshoumaru's anime-only Souryuha.

* [[Taken for Granite]]: Miroku, Sango and Kirara were turned into glass in a filler episode.

{{spoiler|''Slice.''}} }}

* [[Tame His Anger]]: Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and Koga go through this as the series progresses.

* [[Tareme Eyes]]: Kagome, Shippo, Kohaku and Miroku. Everyone else is [[Tsurime Eyes]].

* [[Team Shot]]

* [[Tear Off Your Face]]: In one arc, Naraku expels his heart, which takes the form of a naked faceless man, who proceeds to slay a whole bunch of bandits and rip off their faces, looking for a suitable one for him. Without them he's shown to be [[The Blank]].

* [[Tears of Blood]]

* [[There Is No Kill Like Overkill]]: Using the Wind Scar on an ordinary cockroach.

** Attempted by Byakuya against Sesshomaru in chapter 523. It doesn't work.

Byakuya: "[[Oh Crap|Maybe I should have gone for millions...]]" }}

* [[They Do]]: {{spoiler|In the [[Grand Finale]], Inuyasha and Kagome eventually become the [[Official Couple]] and share a [[True Love's Kiss]] - although the kiss only occurs in the anime}}.

* [[Those Two Guys]]: Ginta and Hakkaku.

* [[Time Travel]]

* [[Time Travelers Are Spies]]: Kagome was suspected to be one when she first arrived at Kaede’s village.

* [[Timey-Wimey Ball]]: Not a big problem, since the "fighting bad guys" matter more than the time traveling, but for example, Kagome finds a jewel shard in the present. So that means it's also back in the Sengoku period, meaning the Shikon no Tama eventually comes up to complete plus one extra shard stuck in a tree somewhere.

* [[Took a Level In Kindness]]: Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, Kouga, and Kagura all experience this at varying speeds and to varying degrees.

* [[Toplessness From the Back]]: All main female characters. Subverted by Sango and Kagura since it's done to show the large scars they have on their backs.

* [[Traumatic Superpower Awakening]]: After first being sent to the past, Kagome first becomes aware of the Shikon jewel inside her when attacked by a demon. Though the jewel is expelled, this incident results in her learning of her other latent powers.

* [[Triang Relations]]: The Inuyasha/Kagome/Kikyo Triangle is closest to a Type 7 situation, where "Alice" is Inuyasha, and "Bob" and "Charlie" are Kagome and Kikyou who are rivals rather than having no interaction. Inuyasha was effectively engaged to Kikyou when she died and his relationship with Kagome was already well under way when Kikyou came back from the dead (shortly after Kouga's entry into the storyline, Kagome and Inuyasha are a confirmed couple), making him honour-bound to both women and completely unable to choose between them. At one point he even admits to Miroku that he was hoping he could solve the problem by having them both (which would have been relatively common for a man in Japan's past, but modern-girl Kagome was definitely not thrilled by that suggestion).

* [[Tsundere]]: Kagome, though being a Tybe B aka more deredere she later mellows a bit. Inuyasha could count a bit as a male example, and Sango also has some flashes of Tsundere-ness despite being kind of a [[Yamato Nadeshiko]].

* [[Tsurime Eyes]]: See [[Tareme Eyes]].

* [[Ultimate Blacksmith]]: Totosai, also Kajinbo and Toshu.

* [[Umbrella of Togetherness]]: Miroku and Sango share one in the anime.

* [[The Unfair Sex]]: The primary reason for why Kagome suffers ''[[Die for Our Ship]].''

* [[Unholy Holy Sword]]: {{spoiler|The Shikon Jewel.}}

* [[Unresolved Sexual Tension]]: Sango and Miroku with the whole blush-grope-slap routine, at least until [[They Do|they agreed to marry.]]

* [[Unusual Ears]]: Inuyasha, of course. And Kagome just loves them!

** And her mom follows suit in the same book. "Are these... real?" (tweak tweak)

*** Jakotsu prefers human Inuyasha, but he does want to keep his dog ears as a trophy.

* [[Viewers Are Goldfish]]: The recaps can get pretty ridiculous. The Japanese version also reminds you who ''every single character'' outside of the [[Five-Man Band]] is, every episode, by showing their name over the entire lower half of the screen.

** Even the [[Five-Man Band]] wasn't immune to this, with their names being verbally announced along with onscreen captions during the opening credits.

* [[Villain Exit Stage Left]]: Naraku.

* [[Villain Team-Up]]: Naraku and Sesshoumaru.

* [[Villains Act, Heroes React]]: Constantly. Inuyasha's group are always a step behind Naraku and persistently keep falling into his traps rather then plan out anything ahead of time.

* [[Villainous Crossdresser]]: Jakotsu. He gets [[Character Development]] and becomes more [[Affably Evil]], getting an [[Alas, Poor Villain]] death.

* [[Visible Sigh]]

* [[Vitriolic Best Buds]]: Inuyasha and Shippo. Sometimes, Inuyasha and Miroku too.

* [[Weapon Tombstone]]: The demon slayers tombs are marked like this.

* [[Weapons That Suck]]: Miroku's Wind Tunnel.

** During the final battle, Naraku makes {{spoiler|Sango face exactly the same choice again: do as he says (kill him by killing Rin) or let a loved one die (Miroku this time). She fulfills her earlier warning by making the exact same decision. Although Sango gives her life to Sesshoumaru in compensation for trying to kill Rin, he seems to forgive her as easily as Inuyasha did, albeit with far less fuss.}}

* [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?]]: It's eventually explained that the reason that Midoriko, the [[Miko]] sealed in the Shikon Jewel, was so powerful was because her heart bore each of the "four souls": Aramitama, Nigimitama, Kushimitaka, and Sakamitama. That is, Courage, Friendship, Wisdom and Love. An anime [[Villain of the Week]] reveals to Inuyasha and friends that other Shikon Jewels can be made if you can find four souls that strongly embody each of these four characteristics and seal them into a single gem with a Miko as the center. In fact, he attempts to defeat the group because Kagome (the Miko), Inuyasha (Courage), Shippo (Friendship), Miroku (Wisdom) and Sango (Love) are pefect candidates for this process.

** A more canon example, this is the lesson Sesshoumaru's entire journey through the manga leads him to learn.

* [[When All You Have Is a Hammer]]: Wind Scar. Doubles as [[The Worf Barrage]]

* [[When She Smiles]]: Who could forget the adorable smile that little Rin bestowed upon [[The Stoic|stoic]] Sesshomaru in episode 35 of the anime?

* [[Where It All Began]]: {{spoiler|Naraku and the Shikon no Tama are destroyed at the Well that brought Kagome to the past at the beginning.}}

* [[Whip Sword]]: Jakotsu's sword.

** And Hakudoushi (White Child) is the shota version.

* [[Will They or Won't They?]]: Inuyasha/Kagome and, in a lesser extent, Miroku/Sango.

* [[Womb Level]]: The [[Final Battle]] happens inside Naraku's body.

* [[The Worf Effect]]: Sesshoumaru is the favored "test target" for Naraku's new abilities/henchmen.

* [[Would Hurt a Child]]: [[Big Bad|Naraku]] has no compunctions about doing any horrible thing to ''anyone,'' children included. Various other youkai such as Goshinki share his willingness to harm kids; even Kouga has no issue with letting his wolves kill Rin during his first appearance (although his personality is considerably softened thereafter). Kagura may be a notable exception, given that she fails to do anything more serious than kidnapping Rin, and becomes quite protective of Kohaku. Thanks to a multiple personality disorder, Suikotsu flipped between being a gentle doctor who wouldn't hurt a fly to a homicidal maniac that was willing to include children in his body count.

* [[Wrecked Weapon]]: Goshinki broke Tessaiga, breaking with it the seal on Inuyasha's youkai blood.

* [[Yamato Nadeshiko]]: Sango looks and acts the part... and that doesn't stop her from being an effective [[Action Girl]], since her family's tradition is ''demon slaying''. Also, Kikyou was quite the [[Yamato Nadeshiko]] [[Miko]] before her death.

* [[Yandere]]: Naraku/Onigumo, the original evil spirit of the Shikon no Tama, and, of course, Jakotsu.

* [[You Are Not Alone]]: After failing miserably at defeating Naraku and saving her brother plus having just betrayed her new companions, Sango tries to leave the group but the others don't let her telling her that being alone is not a solution and it's best if they all stay together.

* [[You Are Worth Hell]]: Sango prefers to stay and die with a poisoned Miroku than save herself while being chased and cornered by youkai. {{spoiler|And in the final battle when the Wind Tunnel is about to consume him, she asks him to take her with him}}.

* [[You Have Outlived Your Usefulness]]: Naraku does this all the time, or at least tries, {{spoiler|especially to his detachments.}}

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Shonen Demographic]]

[[Category:Viz Media]]

[[Category:Flying Dragon]]

[[Category:Trope Overdosed]]