Akago

Akago
InuYasha character
File:Akago2.jpg
First appearance	"Farewell Kikyo, My Beloved"
Created by	Rumiko Takahashi
In-universe information
Species	yōkai
Relatives	Naraku (father) Kanna (sister, deceased) Kagura (sister, deceased) Goshinki (brother, deceased) Kagerōmaru (brother, deceased) Juromaru (brother, deceased) [unnamed 1] (brother, deceased) Muso (brother, deceased) [unnamed 2] (brother, deceased) Hakudōshi (brother, deceased) Byakuya (brother)

Akago (赤子, lit. "red child"), also referred to as Akanbo ("baby boy"), is a character in the anime and manga series InuYasha. It is interesting to note that The status of Akago as this character's actual name is contested, since Akago is standard modern Japanese for baby (whereas all the other characters' names have obscure and/or archaic meanings). In the official English translation, he is simply referred to as "the infant".

Overview

He was split in half by a priest who managed to attack him as he lay dying (revealing a brief image of the boundary to the afterlife). Akago's two halves are taken by Kanna and Kagura. Kagura's half becomes Hakudoshi while Kanna's half turns back into Akago. He was placed under the care of a daimyō's wife (who was led to believe he was hers). Later, Abi-Hime's birds attack and Kohaku kills the daimyō's wife as Kanna took Akago into hiding again.

Akago's fate is unknown in the anime. However, in the manga, Akago is placed inside the body of Mōryōmaru, which adapted many of his personality traits and served as both his sword and shield. Inevitably Naraku absorbs Akago from inside of Mōryōmaru, taking back his heart.

Abilities

He is unusual in that he can speak and read a person's mind. He has the power to latch on to the darkness in a person's heart and twist them to his will. He can also create a barrier with which he can manipulate attacks of yōki (yōkai energy) sent at him, and then use it to attack his opponents.

Although many make the common misconception that Akago is the heart of Onigumo (i.e. Onigumo's soul), he is really the physical life force of Naraku. Without this physical life force, Naraku can handle infinitely more damage and regenerate more because what physically keeps him alive is not in his body.