Inuyasha Manga: 063 Regain

That's... not a terribly descriptive title, I'm afraid to say. What is it our heroes are regaining? Ground? Pride? Dignity? Consciousness after having a whole person thrown unceremoniously at your head? That last one is probably Kagome's biggest possible concern at this point. With how pissed off Sesshoumaru is at her right now, I wouldn't be surprised if he just stabbed her while she was out cold to spite her and Inuyasha at the same time.

Oh boy, do I hate being right. Wakey-wakey, Kagome! Time to NOT be murdered!

Inuyasha curses Sesshoumaru for knocking Kagome out in the funniest fucking way ever. Sorry, but I'm really not sorry for still thinking it's hilarious. Miroku groans and drags himself next to Inuyasha by his staff, Sesshoumaru commenting casually on how the wasp poison didn't kill him. Raising a trembling right hand, Miroku says he has enough strength to suck Sesshoumaru up with the Kazaana within. After a short pause, Sesshoumaru encourages him to try it and see.

Inuyasha tells Miroku not to do it, though Miroku insists that it's the fastest way to end their current issue with Sesshoumaru.

Yeah, better not risk it, dude. You already look like shit.

Inuyasha steps around Miroku and says that if he understands, he should take Kagome and run as far as he can with her. Miroku and Shippou both stare at Inuyasha's back with trailing questions and objections. Inuyasha looks back at them to ask that they not let Kagome die, Miroku and Shippou shown as speechless after a shot of Kagome still laying there unconscious.

Inuyasha turns back to Sesshoumaru, who says he won't let them run away, because a single swing from the Tessaiga he's holding aloft will kill them all. The sword starts coming down while Inuyasha runs forward, mentally asking if Sesshoumaru really thinks he'll be ALLOWED to swing. That technique that killed so many youkai before is cutting up Inuyasha even in its initial stages as his presses through the beginning of the blow at Sesshoumaru.

The rock in front of Miroku, Shippou and Kagome explodes with the force, causing Shippou to scream, Miroku shielding the helpless Kagome with his body. He lifts an arm to protect his head from the flying debris, and rocks mostly bury them, but it's all over before anything else hits. Miroku pauses for a moment, then sits up so rocks tumble from his back, twisting around to question whether the blow has died down while Shippou brushes dust from his hair.

Inuyasha groans, pushing with all his might against Sesshoumaru's arm. Miroku and Shippou stare in amazement at how he's holding back the blade, but Inuyasha isn't very happy with the admiration. He turns his head to ask them what the hell they think they're doing before shouting at them to just run already. Miroku gathers Kagome up in his arms, debris still tumbling from his robes as he makes to follow Inuyasha's orders.

Sesshoumaru is looking down at Inuyasha with an almost pitying look, clawed fingers raised and cracking and calling him a fool.

Damn, that's DEFINITELY gotta smart.

Miroku and Shippou pause in their escape to look back at Inuyasha's wounding in shock. This is a mistake, because Kagome's eyes start to flutter open, and it's the first thing she sees. She screams Inuyasha's name and attempts to shove Miroku aside to get to him, but Miroku grabs her arm before she can get too far, saying he can't let her go any further. Kagome begins to protest, but Miroku tells her that she'd be ignoring Inuyasha's wishes if she goes, causing her to gape.

Meanwhile, Sesshoumaru mocks Inuyasha's attempts to buy his friends time to escape, sarcastically saying it brings a tear to the eye. Strangely, Inuyasha grins, asking Sesshoumaru if he hasn't noticed yet. There's an exclamation point above Sesshoumaru's head, but he looks more listless and out of it than anything. I don't know.

There's the expression! I was afraid Sesshoumaru was getting a little high off the fumes from his own poison for a second.

Inuyasha rips the borrowed hand from Tessaiga, practically tearing off a couple fingers while he's at it, declaring that Tessaiga is his once more. Jaken emerges from the remains of the oni again to remind us that since Sesshoumaru's left arm has been taken, he won't be able to touch Tessaiga anymore. Thanks for that, Jaken, you are clearly an invaluable expositor.

Sesshoumaru holds up the bleeding stump of the arm, glaring over the top of it, because he doesn't feel pain in the destruction of the borrowed limb. Well isn't that just dandy for him? Too bad Inuyasha's TORSO isn't borrowed, huh? Speaking of which, I think that injury is catching up to him.

Yup, definitely running on empty right now. Empty of blood, that is. Even Jaken sees that Inuyasha is losing consciousness and creeps a bit closer now that the danger of getting beaten is lower. Sesshoumaru warns him to keep his distance, though, and Jaken utters a small noise of question while he looks back at Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha twitches and his fists tighten around Tessaiga, which lets out a small burst of energy directed at the approaching Jaken. Jaken yelps and scampers backward as a pulse emits from Inuyasha and Tessaiga. He stutters, not understanding how Inuyasha could have done that when he didn't even swing the sword.

Oh what a bunch of BULLSHIT. Sesshoumaru could EASILY dodge any blow a sluggish, half-dead Inuyasha threw at him. The REAL reason he's not bothering with continuing the fight he reveals in the next panel, when he turns to walk away and tells Jaken that they're leaving, because there's no point in staying if he can't touch the Tessaiga anymore. Jaken breathes a sigh of relief when he agrees and follows as he's told.

With a swish, Sesshoumaru rises up into the air on his fur-turned-cloud, something Miroku interprets as a full retreat and Shippou stutters is their salvation. Bye Felicia. Kagome stands in front of both of them, looking traumatized as she stares at Inuyasha speechlessly for a moment, then wails out his name. She runs toward him with tears in her eyes, Inuyasha twitching with a distant look in his.

Holy shit! How much blood does Inuyasha HAVE???

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Another sprint of pure action by RT, without much to interrupt it at this point. The chapter was VERY fast-paced, and it felt like NO TIME before I had summarized the whole thing. The slowest part was when Inuyasha discouraged Miroku from using his Kazaana again and told him to take Kagome away, and even that wasn't as long a stint as SOME conversations have been allowed to go in the middle of battles in this manga so far.

Though this is the second time Sesshoumaru has just stood there and let people talk without interrupting or reminding Inuyasha they were in the middle of something. The first time was when Kagome and Inuyasha were discussing their chances and how he was going to go ahead and protect her. That instance was a little more conspicuous, because I find it a bit difficult to imagine a giant dog monster being able to hold off on chewing long enough to let his enemy and his not-girlfriend talk. Still, I'm starting to wonder if this isn't some sort of courtesy Sesshoumaru allows the people he murders, like he's allowing them last requests or last words.

Or not finishing them off when they're ripe for the picking.