Inuyasha: 10 Heroic Acts By Villains

Inuyasha, the beloved feudal fairy tale created by Rumiko Takakashi, has no shortage of likable villains, particularly when they manage to find some good in their hearts and perform heroic acts. As Inuyasha‘s sequel series, Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, approaches the premiere of its second season in Japan — it airs Oct. 2, 2021 — it allows time to look back on a few of Inuyasha‘s moments of rare decency from villains.

Though the altruistic acts performed by villains in the series often stem from dastardly ulterior motives, some of their actions came about because their hearts were genuinely in the right place.

Suikotsu Stops Himself From Killing Children

Suikotsu, a member of the Band of Seven, was originally a traveling doctor, tending to people injured in war. He was traumatized after being forced to kill a man who attacked him. This act of self-defense and Suikotsu’s constant exposure to death led him to develop an evil alternate personality. His other identity loved killing, wanting to murder even the small children that his good half cared for. Fortunately for the children, Doctor Suikotsu heroically managed to stop his evil self from harming them.

Jaken Protects Rin Against Suikotsu

The little green imp, Jaken, is Sesshomaru’s villainous and devoted minion. Much like his master, he changed because of Rin. But unlike Sesshomaru, Jaken didn’t actually care for Rin, often berating her and protecting her only out of obligation to Sesshomaru. As time went on, Jaken grew accustomed to her and was willing to fight to keep her safe, as seen during his battle against Suikotsu on the bridge where he used his Staff of Two Heads to engulf him in fire. Though he failed, his heart was in the right place, despite still fearing Sesshomaru’s wrath.

Kikyo Saves Rin And Suikotsu

In addition to being one of the best fighters in Inuyasha, the priestess Kikyo was a kind-hearted soul who loved helping children and people in need. Despite this, her spirit grew bitter and morally neutral when resurrected, and she developed into a more villainous character. Her old, altruistic self would oemerge, however, when she simultaneously saved Rin and Suikotsu. Suikotsu’s dark self threatened to kill Rin, but Kikyo purified the sacred jewel in Suikotsu’s neck. As as result, Suikotsu released Rin and returned to his good self. Both Rin and Suikotsu were grateful to Kikyo, and though Suikotsu died, he was happy to be set free.

Sesshomaru Saves Inuyasha From His Demon Self

Despite Sesshomaru and Inuyasha’s rivalry, there have been instances where Sesshomaru displays some care for Inuyasha. One notable occasion is in the episode “The Demon’s True Nature” when the two get into a scuffle after Inuyasha’s demon form slaughters some human bandits.

Sesshomaru easily defeats his savage brother, prompting Kagome to rush over and protect Inuyasha before Sesshomaru can kill him. She is shocked however, when Sesshomaru simply tells her how to remove Inuyasha’s demon form. Though his motive is left unclear, it is likely that Sesshomaru was just trying to stop Inuyasha’s violent rampage, as Kagome came to suspect.

Kagura Saves Kohaku From Falling

Naraku’s second evil incarnation, Kagura, tends to jump back and forth on the morality scale. Due to her desire for freedom, she sometimes finds herself committing heroic and selfless acts. One such example is when she saved Kohaku from falling to his death from atop her feather. A traumatized Kohaku, who had just come from murdering innocent people via orders from Naraku, chose to end his life by jumping. Kagura then swooped down as fast as she could and caught Kohaku, saving him. Though technically she did so only because she was supposed to, it’s true nonetheless that she saved his life.

Sesshomaru Saves Kagome And Friends From Mukotsu

Sesshomaru certainly has a tendency to show up at the right place and time to rescue others in need, even if he denies it. One of his most unexpected rescues comes when he saves Kagome, Sango, Miroku and Kirara from the poison expert, Mukotsu from the Band of Seven. Mukotsu had poisoned and kidnapped Kagome to make her his bride, but then he tried to strangle her after she stabbed him. Sesshomaru arrives and kills Mukotsu for “not answering his question.” Despite his stated reason, it’s likely he didn’t want Kagome hurt, as evidenced by the fact that he saves her and her friends many times after.

Kagura Protects Kohaku

In typical Kagura fashion, she flip-flops yet again as she hunts down Kohaku to kill him, but then she ends up protecting him from another Naraku incarnation, Hakudoshi. Kagura tries to kill him in an attempt to steal his jewel shard, believing it will help her kill Naraku, the strongest villain in Inuyasha.

After hearing Kohaku’s reasons for wanting revenge against Naraku, she starts fearing for his life. When Hakudoshi arrives, she orders Kohaku to run away and sends him away on a feather while she fights Hakudoshi. In perhaps her most heroic moment, Kagura proved to have a heart despite not literally having one.

Sesshomaru Saves Kanta’s Father

Perhaps one of the Sesshomaru’s most selfless acts was when he revives the little otter demon, Kanta’s father. After Hakudoshi beheads several demons, including Kanta’s father, Inuyasha and the others help Kanta recover his father’s headless body in hopes of reattaching his head. Meanwhile, a wandering Sesshomaru comes across the body and bears witness to Kanta’s desperate tears when his father doesn’t wake up. Even after Shippo begs Sesshomaru to help, in the character’s best scene in Inuyasha, Sesshomaru refuses, but he listens when Tenseiga pulses. He obeys and reunites the two, but he wonders why Tenseiga made him help, not realizing that it was a step in learning compassion.

Kanna Tells Kagome And Company About Naraku’s Weakness

Naraku’s first incarnation, the seemingly emotionless Kanna, proved audiences wrong regarding her feelings. After Kagura’s death, Kanna mourns her sister and wonders if she is now free from Naraku. The disillusioned Kanna is then ordered to fight Inuyasha with her Mirror Demon. Unknown to Inuyasha, Kanna suffers the real damage of any hits the creature takes. Inuyasha tries sparing her once he realizes this, but Naraku crushes her heart, causing her and the glass creature to shatter. A dying Kanna informs Kagome how to kill Naraku: light within the Shikon jewels. Thus, she avenges her sister and earns her own freedom. Kanna’s doomed existence is one of the saddest storylines in Inuyasha.

Sesshomaru Saves Rin Countless Times

Sesshomaru started out as a villain in the story, but he eventually turned antihero once he met Rin. His young companion (and later wife after she grows up in Yashahime) is the one person Sesshomaru doesn’t make excuses for saving. Everyone, even his enemies, acknowledges how important she is to him. He’s even willing to risk being stuck in hell just to save her. Perhaps one of his other most memorable rescues was when he first met Rin and revived her after she was killed by wolves. To Rin, there’s no greater hero than Lord Sesshomaru.

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