Kagura

Biodata

Appearance

• Hair and eyes: Sleek black hair and red eyes; she wears her hair tied up with a feather tucked into it 47.
• First chosen outfit: Three light layers—a green innermost layer, red inner kimono, and purple outer robe—with a yellow sash 47.
• Accessories: Turquoise bead earrings, which she conjures herself 47.
• Makeup: Enjoys eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lipstick supplied by Xu Zhiqiu 47 86 87.
• Characteristic poses: Frequently folds her arms or holds her fan before her face, including to conceal amusement 54 69 83.

Personality

Kagura fiercely resents being treated as Naraku’s property. Immediately after her creation, she declares herself an independent individual and attacks him. Even when he squeezes her heart until she collapses, she makes no effort to conceal her hatred. Her desire for freedom remains central to her character: she envies Xu Zhiqiu’s ability to leave the castle and imagines flying wherever she pleases once her heart is returned 47 48 79 89.

Blunt, sarcastic, and curious, she openly criticizes Naraku’s schemes and repeatedly questions Xu Zhiqiu about their relationship. She enjoys watching his domestic disputes and initially concludes that Xu Zhiqiu is a lovesick woman pursuing someone who refuses to acknowledge her. Nevertheless, she knows when to withdraw rather than become the target of his anger 51 58 65 68.

Her concern for others is often expressed beneath a dismissive manner. Before Xu Zhiqiu asks Naraku for her heart, Kagura warns her not to attempt anything beyond her means and promises not to forget her or Kanna after gaining freedom. She also draws the timid Pure Spirit into the household’s activities and teaches her cards 89 93.

Abilities & Skills

Wind Manipulation

Kagura channels demonic wind through her fan, producing cutting blades and powerful whirlwinds 47 57.

• Dance of Blades: Uses a wind attack while subduing Naraku’s uncontrollably violent fourth incarnation 51.
• Dragon Snake Dance: Sends a powerful whirlwind toward her opponent; she can increase its strength when fighting seriously 57.
• Massed wind blades: Launches numerous sharp, fang-shaped projectiles 129 130.
• Precision cutting: Adjusts her wind’s speed and strength to cut trees into uniform blocks for mahjong tiles and thin pieces for wooden cards 87 90.
• Moving obstacles: Sweeps a massive rock into Miroku’s Wind Tunnel to obstruct its suction during a retreat 130.
• Limits: Her initial attacks cannot penetrate Naraku’s Barrier. Xu Zhiqiu’s Dragon’s Roar Sword and Kagome’s spiritually empowered arrow can dispel her wind attacks 47 57 130.

Feather Flight

A feather taken from Kagura’s hair enlarges into a platform that carries her through the air 51 56.

• Transports an iron prison cart containing Jūrōmaru 51.
• Carries bundles of purchases back to the castle 69.
• Provides transportation for missions and visits to Kanna 56 130.

Other Demonic Techniques

• Rapid drying: Uses demonic power to dry her wet hair immediately 47.
• Accessory conjuration: Creates a pair of turquoise bead earrings out of thin air 47.
• Scent recognition: Follows Naraku’s scent to the riverside campsite and recognizes the scents of Inuyasha’s companions on Xu Zhiqiu 69 79.
• Capture and restraint: Seals the hostile Jūrōmaru and confines him inside an iron prison cart, though she describes the task as difficult 51.

Vulnerabilities

• External heart: While Naraku possesses her heart, squeezing it causes incapacitating pain; he threatens to crush it if she disobeys 47 48 129.
• Purification: Mount Hakurei’s spiritual Barrier nearly prevents her return and later becomes strong enough that she fears being purified before she can pass through 82 86.
• Limited survivability: Unlike Hakudoshi, she cannot rely on a body that restores itself after destruction; she emphasizes that she has only one life 82.
• Miasma: In the epilogue’s other space-time, Naraku’s miasma fatally corrodes her even after she regains her heart 139.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Wind Fan — Her principal weapon and the means through which she directs wind techniques 47 57.
• Enlarging feather — Worn in her hair and used as an airborne transport platform 47 51.
• Baboon Skin — Temporarily draped over her by Xu Zhiqiu when she emerges unclothed from the dungeon jar 46 47.

History

Creation and Forced Service

Kagura emerges from a bursting jar in Naraku’s dungeon, already carrying a fan. Xu Zhiqiu intercepts a wind blade aimed at Naraku’s head and covers the newly created girl with the Baboon Skin. Kagura then openly rejects Naraku’s authority, only to discover that his Barrier blocks her attacks and that he controls her detached heart. Xu Zhiqiu stops the punishment and takes Kagura and Kanna away to bathe and dress 46 47.

Before leaving the castle, Xu Zhiqiu warns Kagura about Inuyasha’s Tessaiga. Naraku subsequently sends her to kill him, and she barely escapes the sword by keeping a trick in reserve. Her assignments also include accompanying Goshinki, delivering Jūrōmaru to Inuyasha’s group, and spying on Naraku’s enemies. She later reports that Jūrōmaru and Kagerōmaru were killed 48 49 50 51 54.

Life in Naraku’s Household

Alongside her missions, Kagura develops a close connection with Xu Zhiqiu. She helps provide food during Xu Zhiqiu’s weakened recovery, accompanies her to collect a new sword, and serves as her sparring partner when testing the Dragon’s Roar Sword. She also joins the household’s shopping trip and riverside cookout, though she complains about being sent back with the purchases 55 56 57 66 69.

Kagura participates in Naraku’s attempt to absorb Sesshomaru, having lured him to Inuyama Castle. After Inuyasha intervenes and the brothers join forces, Naraku retreats to Mount Hakurei to rebuild his body. Kagura continues surveillance there, but the mountain’s powerful spiritual Barrier restricts her movements 81 82 83 86.

Recovery of Her Heart

While confined near Mount Hakurei, Kagura helps Xu Zhiqiu make mahjong tiles and becomes absorbed in the game with the other incarnations. During a conversation overlooking the mountains, she admits that Naraku will never willingly return her heart. Xu Zhiqiu offers to ask him anyway, and Kagura promises that freedom will not make her forget Xu Zhiqiu or Kanna 87 88 89.

Xu Zhiqiu persuades Naraku to surrender the heart. Initially speechless, Kagura takes it and returns it to her body, finally feeling whole. She agrees to help collect Shikon Jewel Shards and later returns to the household after searching. Her subsequent activities include taking Kanna out for recreation and returning with gifts for Naraku and Xu Zhiqiu’s wedding 90 93 104 108.

Later Storyline and Epilogue

The later storyline again depicts Kagura with her heart under Naraku’s control. After nearly dying while testing Inuyasha’s Wind Scar, she confronts Naraku and is subdued through her heart. Xu Zhiqiu treats her wounds, and the two bond over their resentment of him. Xu Zhiqiu teaches her the Chinese insult “shabi,” believing he will not understand it; Kagura later reveals that he understood and nearly killed her for using it 129 135.

Kagura fights beside Kanna against Inuyasha’s companions and helps cover Naraku’s retreat by obstructing Miroku’s Wind Tunnel. After Xu Zhiqiu disappears from a room damaged by miasma, Kagura assumes Naraku has killed her and questions whether she and Kanna are merely tools to him 130 137.

In the epilogue’s other space-time, Kagura regains her heart but dies from Naraku’s corrosive miasma. She falls among flowers and smiles upon seeing the person she had wanted to meet, whose identity is not named in the passage. Her body turns to ash, and the narration describes her as finally becoming the freest wind 139.

Relationships

• Naraku — Creator and coercive master. He controls her through her detached heart and repeatedly exposes her to dangerous missions. His miasma causes her death in the epilogue 47 50 129 139.
• Xu Zhiqiu — Friend, protector, and advocate. She intervenes during punishments, shares clothes and cosmetics, treats Kagura’s injuries, and secures the return of her heart in Part One 47 48 90 129.
• Kanna — Older sister and frequent mission partner. Kagura braids her hair, promises to remain connected after gaining freedom, and later takes her out to play. Kanna remembers Kagura’s death while confronting Naraku’s final orders 87 89 104 130 139.
• Hakudoshi — Fellow incarnation and antagonistic companion. She resents his orders and mocks his inability to understand her mortality, but also plays mahjong and cards with him 82 88 92 94.
• Mugen no Byakuya — Fellow incarnation and gaming companion. The two later abandon official duties to go out and play 87 93 99.
• Pure Spirit — Household companion whom Kagura encourages to join the others and teaches to play cards 93.
• Inuyasha — Repeated combat opponent. His Tessaiga nearly kills her, and she remains wary of encountering him during Xu Zhiqiu’s sword-collection trip 50 56 129.
• Sesshomaru — Target of a lure carried out on Naraku’s orders, bringing him to Inuyama Castle for an attempted absorption 83.

Notable Quotes

“Naraku, I won't let you control me! I am the wind, the free wind, an individual in my own right!” 47

“Your body recovers no matter how badly it's destroyed. Of course you wouldn't understand someone like me, who only has one life.” 82

“Hmph. Even if I'm free, I won't forget you and Kanna.” 89

“You came. I'm glad.” 139