Kagome Higurashi is a fifteen-year-old teenager who lives in a Japanese shrine steeped in history. She is also the reincarnation of an ancient priestess called Kikyo, who guarded the precious Shikon no Tama (Gem of Four Souls) and shut away Inuyasha, a half-demon who attempted to take the jewel in order to become a complete demon. Kikyo succumbed to her wounds and the diamond was burnt along with her. Kagome is dragged 50 years after Kikyo's death down the old well on her family's shrine and flung into the past. Kaede, the late Kikyo sister, meets her and believes Kagome is the reincarnation of Kikyo. They are ambushed and discover that Kagome does indeed own the Shikon no Tama, but it is hidden within her body! Kagome wakes the dog-demon Inuyasha by mistake and rescues him when the gem is taken from her flesh. Now Inuyasha wants to reclaim the diamond, but Kagome cannot allow him to do so. He is compelled to wear a necklace that enables Kagome to control him with a single word (through Kaede magic).
