Inuyasha:  Often ridiculed for being a "Half-breed", Inuyasha defends himself and his reputation with his sword, Tetsusaiga, rather than his kind words.  Although his main aim in life is to retrieve as many shards of the Shikon Jewel as possible, Inuyasha does all in his power to protect his closest friend, Kagome.  Pathetically enough, Inuyasha has a skill for saying the worst possible thing to Kagome, and never apologizes for his unintentionally cruel behavior towards her.  This often results in constant streams of "SIT" from the angered teenager, and then Inuyasha's pride comes crashing down both literally and non.  Inuyasha is now on a journey to not only find the shards, but to keep them away from Naraku, an evil demon who destroyed the love between Inuyasha and Kikyo, turning them against each other and forcing them into hatred.

Kagome Higurashi:   The reincarnation of the dead Priestess, Kikyo, Kagome has inherited many of the formerly powerful Miko's powers, including an excellant shot with a bow, spiritual arrows, and even the talent to spellbind Inuyasha.  Although Kagome appears to be in love with the half-demon, his incescent attacks on her feelings frequently make her "SIT" him, and more often than not she storms home.  Kagome is normally the character who befriends the others, keeps Shippo's hopes up, and even discourages Sango from totaly killing Miroku.  Unfortunately for Kagome, Kikyo's revisal from the dead forms a rival over Inuyasha's heart.  Kagome's soul is nearly stolen, and then she must deal with the compulsive death attempts.  Through all of the complicated love plots, Kagome remains loyal to Inuyasha, and continues to be not only his "Shard Detector," but his closest friend.

 

Miroku Miroku is a monk who often breaks his vows of chastity to sneek his hands everywhere they are not allowed to go.  On a daily basis he his hit, slapped, drop-kicked, and generally injured for his lecherous ways, if not by Kagome or Sango, than by a villager who feels rightly wronged.  Despite his perverted ways, Miroku is a reliable friend and strong fighter; the curse Naraku has placed on his Grandfather grants Miroku an immensly strong attack, the Wind Tunnel.  Miroku is often accompanied by a small racoon that can transform into various modes of transportation, and is convenient in the art of hauling off an injured friend. Sango:  Sango is the final human to join the comradeship of Inuyasha and Kagome.  After her brother, Kohaku is possesed by Naraku and forced to kill his entire family, including Sango, Sango is found by the lord of the castle that the demon slayers were exorcising, still alive.  He takes her into his care, and makes sure she overhears a planted conversation between the Lord and Naraku that a half-demon nemed Inuyasha has gone in and destroyed her entire villiage, leaving no survivors.  Naraku implants a shard of the Shikon jewel into her back, and leads the way to Inuyasha, who she promptly attacks.  From the warnings of Kagome, Inuyasha realizes that Sango has been corrupted by Naraku, so he tries his best not to kill her.  The Shikon jewel prevents Sango from feeling the pains of her wounds, and is not until she collapses from loss of blood does she realize she was deceived.  Kagome and Miroku nurse her back to health, and when her wounds finally heal, she joins the gang to locate shards and kill Naraku.  Like Miroku, Sango's humanity in no way affects her strength.  Her boomerang bone is very useful in defeating normal foes and Naraku's poisonus insects alike.  She also carries with her the constant companionship of Kirara, a large, transforming cat demon, who, when in her dangerous war form takes out enemies in great number.