Tsubaki

Fifty years ago, Kikyou went with Tsubaki a few times to exterminate some demons that were near villages. The two worked together when fighting, but they still appeared divided somehow because Tsubaki was always trying to use her spiritual power to be better than Kikyou. Before parting, Tsubaki tells Kikyou never to fall in love, otherwise it will be her downfall. Kikyou laughs at the idea of her falling in love, and is not afraid of the curse that Tsubaki just placed on her. I believe that the reason Tsubaki placed a curse on her was because she was obviously jealous of Kikyou. Tsubaki is obsessed with beauty and youth, and Kikyou definitely had both of those things, not to mention was incredibly powerful. Tsubaki was probably frustrated that Kikyou had everything she wanted, and therefore decided she would rob Kikyou of her happiness.

Kikyou ends up falling in love with Inuyasha, and instead of saying she will never fall in love, she now thinks to herself that she is not afraid of death. Kikyou obviously acknowledges Tsubaki’s curse, but does not seem to think it is worth worrying about as long as she can be with Inuyasha. Tsubaki is upset that Kikyou was chosen to purify the Shikon no Tama, and ends up becoming a dark shrine maiden. She decides that she will try to take the jewel by force and use it to obtain eternal youth. Tsubaki returns to the village and meets Kikyou standing under a cherry blossom tree. She notices that Kikyou’s power has indeed weakened tremendously because her barrier around the village is reducing greatly. She demands Kikyou to give her the Shikon no Tama because she believes that Kikyou can no longer take care of it. Kikyou refuses, more than likely sensing an alternative motive from her. Tsubaki sends one of her spiritual snakes at Kikyou to kill her, and she simply deflects it with her bow. The snake flings back at Tsubaki and damages her eye, leaving a spiritual scar. Kikyou tells her she will not take her life and leaves Tsubaki in her boiling anger.

Kikyou and Tsubaki have a rivalry of sorts going on, although it is really only one sided. Kikyou probably recognizes that Tsubaki is jealous of everything she has and is always trying to be better than her. I do not think that Kikyou tries to be better than Tsubaki because that is not in her personality. Tsubaki most likely knows that and becomes even more frustrated that she cannot top Kikyou, who is not even trying to be better. Kikyou, though weakened because of her feelings of love, still was able to defeat Tsubaki with ease, dampening her pride even more. I cannot say why Kikyou did not kill Tsubaki, but the reason is probably something along the lines of she felt bad that the woman was so obsessed with jealousy and the Shikon no Tama. Fifty years later when Naraku hires Tsubaki to kill Inuyasha and Kagome, Kikyou easily passes through Tsubaki’s barrier to warn her not to harm Inuyasha. This probably only enrages her even more, knowing that Kikyou is still around and that she walked through her barrier like it was nothing. When Tsubaki finally loses to Inuyasha, Kikyou claims that the reason she lost was because of her obsession with the Shikon no Tama. However, I think Kikyou meant more than just losing that battle, but everything that she lost and did not have in her lifetime.

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