Kagome and Inuyasha travel the lands, seeking the fragments of the Shikon No Tama (whose history has never been fully explained). This means they must hunt down and defeat monsters that have taken up the fragments --- and they must fend off monsters that are seeking the fragments they hold. They also run into plenty of unrelated creatures and monsters on the side, in both old Japan and modern Japan (where Kagome also has to struggle to keep up in school); once or twice they even pick up a long-term ally or friend, from Old Myoga the Louse to Shippou the young fox.

That's the basic premise of the story. The episodes themselves are fast-paced, well-laid-out with good flow (Takahashi is brilliant at this), combining humor, horror, and plenty of both action and quiet moments of rest. The mood is distinctly darker than in Ranma (though probably lighter than that of the Mermaid stories), and the monsters do actually kill people.

The characters are a nice change from the previous long-running series, too. Kagome and Inuyash form a dynamic pair that is far more peaceful and cooperative than Ranma-Akane or Lum-Ataru, but is still conveniently prone to letting pride and panic disrupt what might otherwise turn into intimate moments (after all, the romance can't be allowed to develop too quickly). Inuyasha's gradual and continuing growth into a caring young man has been well-done and convincing (though of course he is nowhere near being polite yet). Kagome, despite being the main character, hasn't changed very much; she is a friendly, caring, and brave girl refreshingly not prone to fits of pride (unlike Akane). Unlike Lum or Akane, she also has no battle powers, but her insights and brilliant ideas save their lives nearly as often as Inuyasha's superhuman powers.

And unlike Ranma and Akane, many questions remain about both Inuyasha and Kagome. A late 1997 story addressed some of them, showing glimpses of Inuyasha's tragic relationship with Kikyou. What happened the fateful day the dying Kikyou shot Inuyasha and bound him to a tree? The story is fraught with betrayal and mystery. It is not even clear that Kagome is a mere reincarnation of Kikyou; she may be something else, or something more. (Early 1998 has yielded only a few answers: there is a mysterious shapeshifter who is after the Shikon No Tama, who apparently smells of ink. But there is a new question: what has become of Kikyou's resurrected body, now inhabited by an anguished, vengeful fragment of her soul?)

Inuyasha isn't happy about this partnership and quest, but is gradually convinced. He wants the Shikon No Tama for himself, after all, and he realizes he needs Kagome's sixth sense to find it. Early on, however, Inuyasha poses quite a threat to Kagome. Fortunately, Kaede outfits Inuyasha with a magical collar that instantly flattens him when Kagome tells him to "Sit!" ... he is part demon-dog after all.