The story begins in feudal Japan with InuYasha, a hanyō stealing the Jewel of Four Souls a jewel that can increase anyone's powers enormously, from a village. He doesn't get far before Kikyo, the young miko of the village shoots InuYasha with a sacred arrow, sealing him forever to the Sacred Tree (Goshinboku). Mortally wounded, Kikyo tells her younger sister, Kaede, to burn the jewel with her remains to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.