Forsaken Love: Ghostly Memories A Kikyou Shrine

Known as Shinidimachuu (snake-soul collector demon), these serpent-like youkai [demon] are a large asset to Kikyou's ressurected life. When Kagome called back most of her soul, Kikyou was left with only a small portion. That small portion is not able to sustain Kikyou's body, making it deteriate from the lack of soul that keeps everybody animated. Where the Shinidimachuu came from is not known but they appear first in Episode 23: Kagome no Koe to Kikyou no Kuchizuke [Kagome's Voice and Kikyou's Kiss].

The Shinidimachuu collect souls that want to be used by Kikyou. They collect the souls of young maidens who have passed on and bring them to Kikyou. Kikyou knows these souls by their names and even know who they are. The Shinidimachuu provide more then souls however. They can also provide light in the dark (they have natural light to them), carry an object [i.e Kikyou], they also allow themselves to be used as a diversion. The Shinidimachuu do have restraints though. Because of their youkai, the Shindimachuu can not cause harm onto real life forms.

The Shinidimachuu can also not enter places of extreme purity [i.e Mountain Hakurei]. The Shindimachuu are impure due to the fact that they are shadows of demons, their own souls being too tainted to enter the purified area without disintergrating unlike their mistress, Kikyou, whom can easily make it pass the barrier. The Shinidimachuu are much more then soul collectors to Kikyou. She understands they are her only company and treats them as so.

The Shinidimachuu are extremely loyal and a constant light for Kikyou. They are perhaps the only ones she truly intrusts herself with, other then her shikigami.

First making the appearances in the manga in Chapter #301 and the anime in Episode 149: Seija wo Michibiku Hushigina Hikari [Mysterious Light Leading The Saint], these two small girls are what are known as shikigami in Japanese. Shikigami are a form of white magic practiced by powerful miko [priestess] such as Kikyou. A miko will fold a piece of paper into a paper-doll and then place some of their own magic and a soul into the paper folding, creating a walking doll to do their bidding. Only priestesses of super-natural gift and powers are able to give their Shikigami human-appearances, thoughts and characteristics. Kikyou accomplished this because of her own superior abilities.

These two small apprentices are known as Asuka and Kochu. They guide and protect Hijiri-sama (Kikyou) and offer their talents to their leader. Kochu and Asuka are able to cast barriers, fly, make medicines and even cast some spells. They are loyal to Kikyou and while they are usually emotionless, they express their adoration for their mistress in small gestures. Later in the manga, the two are used as distractions for Kagura but in the end are ripped apart by Kagura's kaze [wind]. Kikyou picks up their remains and will later recreate them. The shikigami play their largest and most meaningful part in Episode 151: Kagome Honnou no Sentaku [Kagome's Instinctive Choice].