Ah, where to begin. Yes, I am an avid supporter of the InuYasha/Kagome relationship. That does not, however, mean that I hate Kikyou. Quite the opposite actually. I really like Kikyou as a character, and I think she adds a lot to the show/manga. She’s a very tragic character, but at the same time she is incredibly strong and independent. She’s very powerful and doesn’t require the protection of anyone else. She’s a very strong female character.

So then why do so many fans hate her? I’m not here to tell you which characters you should like or dislike. But if you are going to dislike a character, let it be for a valid reason. It seems that so many people hate Kikyou for reasons that aren’t even true. And why is it that some fans feel they are forced to choose between Kikyou and Kagome. Isn’t that InuYasha’s department? There seem to be so many anti-Kikyou sites out there, and I just can’t seem to understand it.

The main reason fans seem to hate Kikyou is that she is “constantly coming between Kagome and InuYasha”. GRRR!!! Every time I hear this I want to slap some sense into someone. Kikyou is *not* trying to steal InuYasha away from Kagome. Yes, when she was first brought to life she wanted to take him to hell with her. But can you blame her? She felt it was better to be with the one she loved in death than to be apart in life. Yes, Kikyou is still in love with InuYasha. But she is not, by any means, trying to take him from Kagome.

Kikyou has given up on InuYasha. She understands that she is dead, and can no longer be with him. She’s accepted that. If anyone is to blame for causing problems in InuYasha and Kagome’s relationship, it’s InuYasha himself. Yes he loves Kagome, but a part of him will always love Kikyou. He goes to her out of his own free will, not because Kikyou is forcing him. If anything, she tries to keep herself distanced from him.

Another reason I hear is that Kikyou is evil. Again, I have to repress the urge to slap someone… Kikyou is *not* evil. You have to try to put yourself in her position. Imagine thinking the person you loved has attacked and killed you. Imagine dying feeling utterly betrayed. Then suddenly you are brought back to life and that same person is there. Of course she was angry, and of course she wanted to kill him. That doesn’t make her evil.

And yes, she did try to kill Kagome. But can you really blame her for that. Kikyou is suddenly revived and learns that her soul was reincarnated in the body of another girl; a girl who has everything she can’t. Kagome has her soul and she has InuYasha. When Kikyou sees InuYasha after being revived she says that the burden on his soul as been lightened by Kagome, and that if she had lived it would have been her who’d have done so. Naturally she is jealous, and naturally she doesn’t like Kagome. Who would in her position?

Now I realize Kikyou has done some questionable things, but before judging her, try to see things from her perspective. If you can do that, and you *still* dislike her, fine. But at least you’ll have a valid reason.