Kirara
Kirara (verbally pronounced "Kilala") is the nekomata companion of Sango, the youkai exterminator (taijiya) that hails from a mountain village of other exterminators. Kirara usually appears as a tiny feline no larger than a kitten with cream-colored fur, black ears, various black markings, large red eyes, and two tails, but her transformed form is a large saber toothed tiger-like youkai. Despite her youkai blood and appearance, she is fiercely loyal to Sango and her friends and has been in Sango's family for generations. She has taken a particular shine to Shippo, evidenced by her keeping the young kitsune company when her presence is not required in battle, and she has aided InuYasha on occasion by helping him learn how to wield the Wind Scar.
It is strongly hinted at in the anime (but not in the manga) that Kirara was at one time the companion of Midoriko, creator of the Shikon no Tama (also "The Jewel of Four Souls"). As the taijiya village was built near the site of the legendary battle between Midoriko and the youkai that nearly consumed her, this is a logical assumption. In episode 91 of the anime, Shippo encounters another nekomata named Kuroro that is similar in appearance to Kirara and has several offspring, showing that there are others of her kind in the world (though it's unknown whether these others are capable of transforming as Kirara can). Some people also believe that Kirara is an ancestor of Kagome's present pet cat Buyo. Others believe that because Kirara has been in Sango's family for generations, her family is in some way acquainted with the priestess. Kirara is also believed to be a descendant of the Nibi No Nekomata, a large cat demon referred to as the "Two Tails".
She spends the almost all of the entire series as Sango's companion. After Naraku is defeated, Kohaku takes her in as his companion while he becomes a great demon slayer and Sango starts her new life with Miroku and their children.
ABILITIES
Transformation: Kirara is able to transform into a larger, more ferocious saber-toothed tiger-like version of herself. When she transforms, she is engulfed in flames and then reappears, breaking the flames apart, in her larger cat form. Fire is often present at her feet and at the tips of her tails in this form and also drags along behind her as she flies.
A formidable opponent, she displays her strength and agility on several occasions. She also seems to have an unusual resistance to most poisons but is still susceptible to Naraku's miasma. She is also able to pass through certain kinds of barriers. She is resistant to fire in her transformed form.
Flight: Kirara can fly in her transformed form. She can easily carry three people on her back and is often used as transportation when InuYasha's group is traveling somewhere. When Kirara flies, she moves her legs as if she were running on air. Fire is visible around her paws and tails when she flies.
