Watched Inuyasha when it first aired on Adult Swim when I was like 12, and it was practically what got me in to anime. I remember thinking at the time when Sango showed up she was going to turn the love triangle in to a square, then kind of getting miffed when she started going with Miroku. I thought maybe I was just badly self-inserting in to Inuyasha at the time, but now that I am rewatching the show, I feel even more strongly about the case.

When Sango first appears it's her being tricked in to attacking Naraku just like how Inuyasha and Kikyo were deceived. Inuyasha is so understanding of this that he basically saves her mid-combat when she's trying to kill him and doesn't even get mad when she stabs him. When she's injured she's on Inuyasha's back rather than Miroku's. The episode with the water god demon is a sub-plot about Inuyasha and Sango learning to fight together. When Kohaku reappears, Inuyasha plays the role of the villain to strengthen her resolve, and after Sango steals Tetsuaiga, he doesn't get mad and forgives her. I am now on episode 35 where Inuyasha  fights Sheshomoru and it's Sango who charges in to help him when he looks like he's about to be killed by Sheshomoru.

There is just so much chemistry between the two, and they both share the tragic story of being deceived by Naruku and going after Naraku for vengeance. They're both no-nonsense characters and as I recall Kirara bonds with Inuyasha as well, helping him master Wind Scar.

So far there is no chemistry whatsoever between Sango and Miroku. Miroku sexually harasses her, she gets mad, she thinks he's a total creep, and that's pretty much it. I might be wrong in this, but I recall they only start looking at each other when Miroku starts shielding Sango when she's about to get hurt from attacks. And frankly, for a battle girl like Sango, I REALLY hate that. Sango does not need to be shielded. And if I recall, Sango constantly gets mad at Miroku just hitting on other women even when their ship starts sailing and they're suppose to be an unofficial thing.

I tried some googlefu to see if maybe the author/creator said anything about this and couldn't find anything, but this genuinely feels like to me a Harry Potter and Hermione incident. Sango feels like she was suppose to be part of a love drama with Inuyasha, but the idea got scrapped because it would make things more complicated and there's another male character she can be with.

My two cents. Your thoughts?

I am rewatching Inuyasha after 20 years. And on Inuyasha x Sango, and Sango x Miroku...