YuYu Hakusho Manga: 038 "Annihilation," Roars the Tiger!!

I wish I could be half as confident as Byakko. Dude rips such extreme ass that he launches himself into the stratosphere, and he not only still has the nerve to show his face to these teenage boys making fun of him immediately afterward, but also straight up threatens them with a "Hell Room". Actively seeking revenge for his no doubt smarting asshole. Couldn't be me. I would bury myself in a pit for a thousand years in the hopes that when I finally emerged, everyone will have forgotten about it. 

Of course, the level of fart he released there would probably be too legendary to not have stories passed down through the generations afterward. Byakko is likely just hedging his bets and forging ahead in the hopes he can kill these kids before word gets out. 

In any case, the boys march along a crumbled passage, Yusuke wondering if he heard the overgrown fleabag correctly about a "Hell Room", and Kuwabara says that whatever Byakko meant by that, it's up ahead. It's not long before both of them are gaping in horror, asking where they even ARE right now.

Is... that lava? Or... ?

Whatever it is, it bubbles ominously, causing Yusuke and Kuwabara sweats. The former characterizes it as a serious pit of suffering, and the latter says one slip and it's all over. Byakko grins through his grotesquely massive fangs, chuckling that this is his special "gaming" room, suggesting it's quite a sight. Well, it's certainly nothing like Genkai's gaming room, and I would say one of these resembles what I would consider a room dedicated to gaming a lot more, but I digress. Byakko reveals in the next panel that it's ACID below when he says it's his favorite touch, saying it'll eat the boys down to their bones. He asks if any of them have the guts to come over and face him NOW. 

Yusuke immediately steps out to take on this challenge, acting unimpressed with the "Hell Room", and declaring that he'll finish off all the rest of Byakko's nine lives, however many there are left. A hand on his shoulder stops him, though, and Kuwabara follows up with a demand to hold up, because he's still claiming Byakko as HIS opponent. Yusuke trails in a protest, and Hiei picks up the thread by telling Kuwabara evenly that he's fought well, but it's Yusuke's turn now - his uncharacteristic gentle kindness serves a purpose, because he expresses the want for Kuwabara to rest, convinced they'll have use for him later. 

But Kuwabara isn't interested in taking a break, stating that this ain't baseball. 

Weird analogy, my guy, but okay.

Hiei scoffs about irrational creatures, extending his irritation with Kuwabara to the rest of humanity, no doubt. Yusuke mumbles himself about Kuwabara being a stubborn son of a bitch (leaving off that last word), and Kurama teases that Kuwabara reminds him a bit of Yusuke himself. Two peas in a pod, those two. 

An impatient Byakko asks what the hold up from his isolated platform in the middle of the acid pit, mockingly suggesting they're scared. Kuwabara yells at the moron to shut it, that he'll be right down, and jumps down to the first platform. The moment he lands, his weight cracks it, and the edge on which he's perched starts crumbling off into the sea of boiling acid. 

Hooooooo boy, giving me palpitations. 

Kuwabara cranes his neck to look behind and below him, where the rubble from the platform is splashing into the acid, and admits haltingly how close that was, adding it's not a GREAT start to this round. Kneeling on the overhang from the entrance above, Yusuke shouts to him that they can still switch, but Kuwabara calls back that there's no way, calling this fumble just a "dramatic flourish". You'd think HE'S the one writing this comic or something.

Once he's securely atop the platform, he takes off his shirt, claiming it's real hot in here. Any excuse to expose his titties. He invites Byakko to get this started, promising to finish the big cat this time. Byakko responds by clutching at his throat and making a hacking noise, lines of lightening emanating out from his head. The boys back at the entrance to the room stare in shock, and Kuwabara looks on with puzzlement while Byakko gurgles. 

Byakko reaffirms that he's a cat, after all, and asks if they want to see his version of a hairball. LONG before anyone would figure out how to answer that question, he opens his snout and a crackling ball of energy is expelled. 

Well... it's LESS embarrassing that the gigantic fart. 

Maybe.

Kuwabara scoffs that this is a pathetic pitch, and adopts a batter's stance to hit it with his Reiki Sword, and says he'll send it back with what he calls a "Teikyo High Two-Run Walk-Off Homer". That's quite a mouthful. Kurama shouts a warning at him not to swing at that, urging him to jump off the platform he's on QUICKLY. Kuwabara casts a questioning glance backward, but goes ahead and takes this advice, though he does wonder aloud WHY he should do that. 

A moment after he's vacated the platform, the "hairball" comes in contact with it, and it is surrounded by crackling energy, vibrating fiercely. As Kuwabara yelps at his near miss, the platform explodes, shattering, and leaving nothing but a pointed spike on the stone stem that once held it aloft. Hands still around his own neck, Byakko calls what Kuwabara and company just saw his "Tiger Shatter Scream", which reduces anything it hits to dust. Hiei says he'd heard of a demon who can produce sonic blasts that could shatter molecular bonds, expressing surprise that it's Byakko. He says that the only defense is to avoid getting hit with it. Should be easy with how ridiculously slow it moves, right?

The problem is that Byakko is already hacking up more, and quickly. Kuwabara has to jump to another platform as the other one turns into a fine dust. Byakko laughs, telling Kuwabara to keep dodging as much as he wants, but he'll run out of space soon. He's still firing off shots of from his horking throat, by the way. 

He wasn't exaggerating. 

Pointing a mocking finger, Byakko asks Kuwabara what's wrong, because there are PLENTY of platforms over by him, and all Kuwabara would have to do to get over there is jump two meters farther than 9-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Carl Lewis without a running start. 

So. Question. How does a demon who is stuck in a demon city with no contact with human society for quite some time by the sound of it know a single fucking thing about African American Olympic athlete CARL LEWIS??

No one else is concerned with this weird detail, which is understandable, to be fair. Kuwabara growls in frustration, and Yusuke blurts that Kuwabara is no Carl Lewis - the other platforms may as well be the MOON. Your confidence in Kuwabara is breathtaking, Yusuke. A line of long, sharp knives sprout from Byakko's knuckles, making him yet another cheap Wolverine knockoff, as he mouths off about how speechless in the face of death Kuwabara appears to him. He swings his fist, slinging the knives out of it, and suggests that Kuwabara could try begging for his life or wetting his pants instead, which might get him mercy. Or might not. Either way, those sharp objects are already in the air, so I'm not sure how it matters. 

Already? I thought this what you GAME ROOM, dude. That was barely enough time to finish a round of poker. 

Kuwabara clenches a bleeding fist. Byakko horks up another ball of exploding energy, bidding Kuwabara die, and Kuwabara watches this incoming attack with the certainty that he's cooked. BUT, he's also very determined to take Byakko down with him. He lets out a roar, lunging for the edge of the platform, Hiei in some awe at his upcoming jump as Yusuke yells his name. Kuwabara launches himself off the platform toward the next nearest, and it seems he's barely off it before it's annihilated. He sails over the sea of acid, reaching, stretching out for safety, but he's FAR short, and begins to fall. Yusuke yells his disbelief, Kurama gaping in horror. Byakko laughs how Kuwabara was a mere five meters short, and he gloats that the rest of the party will soon follow their teammate. 

But he's soon taken aback himself, because Kuwabara's smug smile is closing in on him rapidly. He says that it can't be, though it most certainly is. 

Kuwabara is bound by neither logic nor convention. 

As he's flying at Byakko, Kuwabara tells him that, like it or not, the abyss is waiting for BOTH of them. He uses his momentum behind the punch he delivers to Byakko's face, while yelling at him to die, and it propels both of them toward the edge of the platform. To Yusuke's horror, there's a splash, and he sees Byakko's limbs thrashing in the acid, hears the sizzle of them burning. 

Not gonna lie, that's gotta be one of the most horrible deaths for me to imagine. No wonder Yusuke is screaming. 

Another rumble passes over the room, and the rest of the team stares out at it with speechless horror at first. Trembling, Yusuke haltingly stutters that Kuwabara can't, though he's unable to quite finish stating what must have just happened. 

But Hiei spots and points a figure hanging off the edge of the platform out: it's Kuwabara dangling precariously by the end of the bandage wrapped around his waist snagged on a knob of chipped stone on the platform. Holy fucking SHIT, dude, he cut that one the closest anyone EVER has. Kuwabara yells at the team not to just STAND there and help him up, because he's scrabbling to get a handle on this situation without falling to his horrible death anyway. Cheering for Kuwabara being saved by the nearest snag, he leaps down to go give him a hand, Kurama and Hiei hanging back.

No word on HOW they managed to get over there, given how perilous it was for Kuwabara to do so, but they're all on that platform in the next panel, Yusuke bonking the newly rescued Kuwabara on the head as he chastises him for scaring the spit out of him, thinking Kuwabara had eaten it for sure. He asks Kuwabara why he didn't holler out that he was alive sooner, but Kuwabara just retorts that all the hits to his head HURT, and if Yusuke isn't careful, he'll push him straight into the acid for REAL this time. 

Congratz. The upcoming threat HAS to be better than a flatulent feline with a penchant for acid baths. Or at least, I HOPE. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I gotta admit, I'm so glad Byakko is gone. He was a shockingly conventional villain, and overstayed his welcome by a lot. The ability to disintegrate the platforms was fine for raising the stakes, but the "cat" theming of it seemed tacked-on and unnecessary, and the change of location seemed awfully awkward to begin with. It was presented with the exact same cadence and attitude by Byakko as when the team first came up the staircase and found his sky-bridge arena. He presents them with the same cocky invitation to choose their fighter/follow him willingly to a second location. No seizing Kuwabara to drag him away to the "Hell Room" as punishment for humiliating him, and certainly no attempt to just hurl the boy from the arena in a fit of rage. That would be inconvenient for story trajectory. 

And it would be inconvenient for the little trick Kuwabara pulls for his victory at the end of the battle too. Don't get me wrong, I like that Kuwabara continues to express creativity and cleverness in his use of his Reiki Sword, and I think it was a good fun idea for what he could do. But when the location change seems an awful lot like it's in service to an idea that YT had INSTEAD of the idea coming organically as a solution to a problem for the character, that's a bit of a problem. It strongly suggests that he leads with a cool way for a character to win a battle and specifically designs that battle FOR the victory moment, and that's BACKWARDS to how this should work. The solution to the conflict should organically flow from the circumstances around it, not the other way around. 

That's not to say that these scenes CAN'T be written convincingly when a writer has put the cart before the horse in this particular way - stuff often comes to you out of order when you're developing a story. But I just don't think YT did a very good job HIDING that. I also think a lot of the trouble of failing to hide it came from Byakko's character just being lukewarm to begin with, and his mediocrity as a villain made it difficult to build the conflict around him. He was just... boring, in both design and personality, and when there isn't much there, it's hard to know where to go with him. 

No wonder he went out without much more than a grunt and a sizzle. Rest in acid, you basic cat bitch. 

Inuyasha Manga: 337 Fuyouheki

Well, that's ONE title for which I don't have to look up the meaning! It's a relief, because the less work I can get away with today, the better. I'm having one of those low-energy funks that make the process of doing anything that much more difficult, and I suspect I won't be getting as much done today as I might have otherwise. If it weren't for all that capitalist programming that has colonized my brain, I would probably just hang out in bed, but I'm far too brainwashed for proper rest. My poor body will have to settle for a reduced workload. 

Normally I don't put title pages in these reviews, but this one is so comprehensive, and in color, that I couldn't resist. Please ignore the incorrect chapter number and the inconsistent spelling of "Fuyouheki" - the set of fan translations I'm working with is still laboring a whole chapter ahead, apparently. XD

I think I know who's going to win THIS staring contest.

Kikyou notes an a slow, deliberate way that Kohaku's life is connected with the Shikon fragment in his neck. He sweatdrops at this observation, his Shikon shard glowing for emphasis, as Kikyou reiterates that his life is in Naraku's hands. But internally, she can't help but also note that the Shikon fragment in this kid is polluted due to Naraku's evil, but the soul of the boy is different. 

She abruptly asks Kohaku why he obeys Naraku, taking him aback somewhat. He wonders who Kikyou is and why she's asking such a thing, but suddenly he gapes in surprise at her, much to her own confusion. 

Oh shit, talk about a jumpscare! 

Kikyou's eyes widen in horrified revelation when those branching claws of Naraku's rapidly close around her in her periphery. If she had a traditional digestive system, she might have shit herself. 

Meanwhile, Miroku reports from the back of Kirara that the crystalized youki he's holding up is losing the youki part of it, leaving just the crystal. Shippou stares with wide eyes over his shoulder, and Sango conversely narrows her own eyes at the news. From Inuyasha's back, Kagome asks for confirmation that the Fuyouheki is up ahead then, and Miroku asserts that there can be no mistake. Clenching his teeth in a silent snarl, Inuyasha knows that it's not just the stone that's ahead, because he can smell Kikyou as well. 

You think that the dire situation will keep everyone from reigniting all that relationship drama from earlier? Yeah, me neither. 

To be entirely fair, she looks like she's holding her own somewhat well, all things considered. 

The smug Naraku says he hasn't seen Kikyou in a while, not since Mt. Hakurei. He may as well just flip her the bird at this point. As Kikyou says his name in utter contempt, she's thinking of how she didn't notice him even when he was right behind her, and even now she's not sensing his presence or any of his youki. For once, she is at a loss, and wonders what the hell is going on here. Well, we know that he didn't do the simple thing and just finally take a fucking BATH...

Naraku chuckles, asking Kikyou why she doesn't have a happier expression. Just when I think I can't hate this asshole even more, he goes and suggests that a woman SMILE more for him. He has attained absolute PERFECTION in his douchebaggery at least. He suggests that she did, after all, want to see him so very bad, referring to the fact that she was out looking for him, no doubt. To KILL him, but I guess the reason doesn't really matter, huh? 

Kikyou releases the arrow she's had trained on him with a small groan. 

He made it kinda hard to miss. 

Naraku is giggling like it doesn't hurt as his body is dispersed by the arrow, and I guess I have no reason to believe it WOULD hurt. Maybe he made this new body without nerve endings or something. Meanwhile, Kikyou tries to reach up to grab another arrow on her back and finds she can't reach that far, since her arm is curled around a large rigid tentacle, one among many that keep her enclosed in a very cramped cage. Funny, in the panel above it doesn't look like she wouldn't be able to bring her arm up and around to get more arrows, but it's possible her confines are still solidifying around her.

The floating bust of Naraku turns his attention to Kohaku and asks what he's looking at, then commands him to take Kikyou's head. Kohaku sweats, silently regarding Kikyou tangled in a cage of thick tentacles, identifying her as the person Naraku fears the most. His hand trembles on his sickle, and he asks himself silently what he's going to do. Naraku has noticed that Kohaku has failed to immediately act, and suggests he's hesitating, which causes Kohaku's resolve on his precarious plan to return. His grip steadies on his sickle.

But suddenly a bent object flies out of the sky and causes Kohaku to leap out of the way before it strikes the ground where he was standing. 

Kikyou's gotta admit, these guys really came in clutch this time.

Kohaku thinks on his sister, and Inuyasha thinks on Kikyou, and I can't help but notice Kagome is just kinda absent from these panels. Inuyasha yells at that bastard Naraku, drawing Tessaiga to cut him, but with a scoff, a liquid cloud of miasma explodes from him. So he STILL hasn't taken that bath, huh? As Sango and Miroku gape in alarm at the oncoming flood of miasma, Kagome at last has appeared on the scene, arrow drawn, announcing she's going to clear the nasty stuff with its purifying power. She releases the arrow and it hisses as it burns away a good portion of the corruption, the rest breaking down and dissipating in a mist. 

I see Naraku fucked off as fast as he could. Big fucking surprise. 

Miroku echoes this observation with a bit of disappointment, while Sango mutters Kohaku's name under her breath, who is also suddenly gone. Kagome just stares, hair blown back by a melancholy breeze. No doubt she's looking at Inuyasha approaching Kikyou as the cage of discarded tentacles dissolve around her. He asks if she's alright, and instead of answering directly, she clutches her shoulder and says stiffly that she was careless. Ah, hurt pride, then. She explains that she couldn't feel any youki from Naraku, and Inuyasha grumbles about how that jerk Naraku must have used the fuyouheki specifically so he could attack Kikyou, though he does phrase it as a question. There's still some doubt that Naraku would go to all the trouble for that end alone it seems. 

Kikyou repeats the name for the youki-vanishing stone, so Miroku explains what it is but also expresses his suspicion that Naraku left awfully fast for Kikyou to be the whole reason he has it. Sango hesitantly addresses Kikyou, asking if her brother Kohaku did anything bad to her. 

You and everyone else. Of course, for Kikyou, it looks more to her like Kohaku's weren't the eyes of someone being manipulated. For me, it's more the fact that he trembles with the weight of what he's being commanded to do every five seconds. 

In the sky, Kagura is giving Kohaku a lift on her feather, cursing about how she THOUGHT he might be able to get close to that baby since he was the only one who was called out. To her surprise, Kohaku SPEAKS. Hesitantly, granted, but he says the infant should be nearby. After Kagura twists to make a questioning noise at him, he continues by telling her that Kikyou was getting awfully close, and Naraku came out to head her off deliberately, probably to distract her from the child. 

Kagura is silent at first, regarding Kohaku warily, then asks him what's up. She points out that he's usually quiet, but he's talking an awful lot all of a sudden. Internally, she suspects that his memory has returned. 

Kohaku addresses her with a simple question: she wants to be free, right?

Who ISN'T at this point?

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I find Kohaku's gamble here pretty interesting. Through his first meeting with Kikyou, it finally seems to be dawning on him that his solo-vigilante plan isn't going to work. Sure, it was hard for him to aid in the demise of so many innocents, and harder still to act against his own sister while hiding his consciousness from her, but I think being asked to kill KIKYOU was the last straw. He acknowledged that Kikyou's name was familiar to him because Naraku is SO afraid of her, and it had to have occurred to Kohaku that he cannot afford to dispose of such a powerful ally. If one of the most effective foes of Naraku goes, what chance does HE have? 

So it makes sense that he would show is cards to Kagura at the end. He's FINALLY recognized that he needs someone on his side. Even someone as universally distrusted as Kagura could be a valuable ally to him on the inside if he can feed her information, because she's got powers and the ability to roam that he doesn't have. That ability to travel is notable as well because of how little surveillance she's under despite the lack of trust there is for her. Naraku has his saimyoushou, but they aren't on Kagura's tail as much as I would expect. It's convenient for her, but also I think it speaks to how Naraku is distributing his resources, and the possible reason why he snatched that fuyouheki. It suggests he's spreading himself a bit too thin as it is, and needs an additional tool to make sure important parts of him are safe. Kohaku and Kagura can definitely take advantage of that together. 

And it's good for the Inuyasha gang to confirm so rapidly that those youki crystals work to locate the stone. That's at least one thing that doesn't have to be complicated.

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 037 A Double-Edged Sword!!

Well, if it's flexible enough to grow into a spear and wrap all the way around a castle tower, I don't see why it couldn't be double-edged as well. That characteristic seems way more plausible than the other ones anyway. My only question is how that double edge can be used if it's already OCCUPIED, so to speak. Those creatures of Byakko's are still suspended lengthwise from Kuwabara's energy, as far as I know. Unless he can create another sword or the creatures finally perish, I don't see how it's going to come back into play.

This arena and parapet situation is more confusing the more I look at it. That spiral staircase doesn't look big enough to benefit Byakko at all, and I'm not sure where the bridge from his elevated perch to the entrance to the castle behind him connects. 

Byakko smashes a fist down on the short wall ringing him, shattering it in his anger. He yells that this whelp Kuwabara has pushed his luck far enough, and at last resolves to come down and kill the boy himself. Kuwabara demands that Byakko stop the comic-book posturing, hanging that lampshade nice and level on how obvious it is that this is, indeed, a comic book. He invites the giant cat to hop on down there so they can get this started. Byakko does just that, leaping over the side of his ruined wall and calling Kuwabara a brat while he's at it. Kuwabara is VERY alarmed when Byakko's bulk shakes the arena below. 

Yeah, that IS how it tends to work. 

Pointing with a massive claw, Byakko warns Kuwabara up front that his Reiki Sword will be useless against him, and it's Kuwabara's only real weapon, he doesn't stand a chance. Kuwabara defiantly manifests a new sword in his hand, which I guess answers one of my earlier questions, as he suggests that Byakko take a taste of the thing and they'll see just how useless it really is. He lunges and swipes the energy blade past Byakko's thigh, and asserts that Byakko definitely felt THAT as a spurt of blood escapes him and he groans. 

Not that it matters too much. 

He just seems to get more angry than anything else. 

Kuwabara slashes Byakko again, this time across the chest, and from the sidelines, Yusuke is pumped that Kuwabara is on the offensive since size doesn't matter to him in a one-on-one fight. Kurama looks over at him, but he appears considerably less enthusiastic about how this is going, especially as Kuwabara slashes yet AGAIN, but to very little material effect, it seems. 

Kurama says something is wrong here, and Hiei agrees, as Yusuke's grin collapses. Hiei points out that their faces say it all, because even though Kuwabara is scoring all the hits, HE'S sweating, and Byakko looks quite immaculate. He's even smiling. Hiei unnecessarily declares that Kuwabara is the one wearing out, because the trembling and sweating are communicating that fairly well on their own.

Kuwabara wonders what the hell is going on here, because none of his attacks are actually having an effect, and he's about ready to keel over. He notes that this isn't all, though he DOES question his perception at first...

He was already a giant to begin with, too.

Kurama shouts that he gets what's going on here now, drawing attention to Kuwabara's Reiki Sword. Kuwabara looks down at it in confusion, and is horrified to find that it's shrunk significantly, almost to dagger size. Ouch, that's gotta hurt the quintessential male ego. Kurama explains that Byakko is sucking up Kuwabara's aura, adding it to his own, and draining Kuwabara dry in the process. 

Byakko laughs how his secret's out now, no longer needing to be coy about WHY he declared the energy weapon to be ineffective at the beginning. He asks Kuwabara what he's going to do now, suggesting fighting with his bare hands in jest. Kuwabara refuses emphatically and puts ever more reiki into his sword, lengthening it back to its proper size. Of course, he grunts and stumbles as well, because it's taking quite a bit out of him to do this, and he doesn't appear to have much strength left to draw from anyway. 

Yusuke yells at Kuwabara not to do it, warning him that Byakko will only get bigger if he does. Pointedly ignoring Yusuke, Kuwabara yells through clenched teeth at Byakko, who calls him a fool before he leaps up, thrusting the Reiki Sword directly into Byakko's teeth. 

That looks like it stings. What's more, the last of Kuwabara's Reiki Sword blinks out of existence from his spasming fingers, and he crumples on the floor of the arena with a thump. Byakko stands over him, belly distended from his feast on Kuwabara's energy, and burps. I guess that should be a compliment on the quality and quantity of Kuwabara's aura. He indeed comments on how there was more energy in the kid than he expected, and even complains that it sits a little heavy on his stomach. That'll stick to your ribs, that meal will. 

Even so, Kuwabara GETS UP AGAIN, haltingly insisting he's not done yet, manifesting what he can of the Reiki Sword in his hand again. Yusuke is horrified to see that it has at last shrunk down to the size of a dagger. Chuckling, Byakko notes how wobbly Kuwabara is on his feet, and asserts that the real ordeal for him begins now. Then he whacks Kuwabara right in his face, propelling him across the arena. He's not fucking around anymore. 

As Kuwabara yells in pain, and then coughs up blood, Byakko makes clear that he's talking about a little after-dinner torture for his own entertainment.  

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the exercise? 

Byakko stomps over to Kuwabara, and Yusuke yelps that the other boy's aura is basically gone, and he can't fight anymore. He's really CONVINCED Kuwabara's going to die this time, but Kurama says there's one option left for him. It all depends on whether Kuwabara notices in his haze of pain and exhaustion that Byakko hasn't grown at all when he gorged himself last on that scrumptious aura, according to Kurama, who also admits that it might also amount to suicide while being his only shot. Gee, that's encouraging, but coming from the guy who almost traded his life for his mother's health, not all that surprising. 

Meanwhile, Kuwabara is getting knocked into the short wall surrounding the arena, cracking at with the force. Big yikes. BUT, just as Kurama said, Kuwabara is starting to get wise to the fact that Byakko didn't grow after consuming basically what was left of his aura. And he's starting to get ideas about that. He recognizes he's got no time to think about it, though, so he resolves to take the gamble. 

In turn, Byakko has noticed that Kuwabara is mumbling a little to himself, and asks what THAT'S about, tromping over to him to get another hit in. He suggests it might be Kuwabara giving up and going into his swan song, and lunges for the kid with his claws extended, promising not to let all that muttering go to waste. 

But Kuwabara responds to the command to die by yet again manifesting a Reiki Sword with a growl in effort, declaring Byakko is getting everything he's got. Byakko is confused by the renewed effort, apparently. 

Better than doing nothing, I suppose. 

Kuwabara lets out a scream, eyes bulging. The Reiki Sword disappears yet again, and he gurgles, falling forward right onto his face. His team gapes from the sidelines in alarm, beyond shouts of encouragement or dismay. While he burps once more, Byakko chuckles that Kuwabara is crazy, because he just can't fathom why the boy would let him have what was left of his aura. Yusuke calls to Kuwabara in concern, but Byakko is already holding an enormous foot over Kuwabara's head, planning to tenderize him with a few good kicks, starting with his head. 

Yusuke yells at him to stop, threatening to kill him if he doesn't. Kurama restrains him with an outstretched arm, however, asserting that "it" is starting to happen. What is "it" you may ask? Well, Byakko is the one to gurgle this time, his stomach issuing loud, trembling complaints, much to Byakko's confusion. Kuwabara is starting to push himself to his feet, so I guess ALL of his energy isn't gone. Yusuke expresses his elation that Kuwabara isn't out for the count after all, just down for a second. 

Kuwabara taunts Byakko on his gluttony, meanwhile, and how quickly he devoured all that crude, human-flavored aura. Suddenly, Byakko is lifted OFF HIS FEET by the biggest flatulence I have EVER SEEN. 

Are you trying to ABSORB BYAKKO'S FART, Kuwabara????

Although that is NOTHING compared to how difficult it is for me to absorb all of what this single page of three panels has to offer. It's... a lot. 

Byakko is going at such a velocity that he's blurred in the next panel, before he crashes straight through the stone wall of the tower behind him. Yusuke smugly calls this fireworks, and declares this yet another victory in their favor. He then turns to Kuwabara, asking if he's alright. Bruised and bleeding, Kuwabara says he's more or less okay, wincing as he claims to have gotten some of his aura back. Hopefully Byakko's gas doesn't smell as bad as one might fear. Kuwabara adds that he'll be back to normal after a little breather, because he's pretty much used to getting the pain of an ass-kicking. 

Sadly, Kurama draws their attention to something that causes him some distress. It's Byakko emerging from the rubble, looking murderous. Sweatdropping, Yusuke asks if this dude is immortal, before Byakko admits grudgingly that he's impressed at Kuwabara's effective tactics. Of making him into the demon equivalent of a balloon that's been blown up and let go.

Issue all the threats you want, man. All I can see when I look at you is a literal fart at this point. You've pretty much lost all your intimidation factor. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I don't know if I can get over the fact that, for even a moment, I was led to believe that the villain in this one was defeated by his own monstrous flatulence launching him into the stratosphere. That is BANANAS. It also seems so unexpected that the prim and proper KURAMA of all people was the first to conceive of this notion that Kuwabara could over-stuff Byakko into doing himself this hilarious mischief. I suppose even the most mild-mannered polite boys can be prone to try to cut the tension with a well-placed toot.  

It's interesting to think of aura as literal FOOD for Byakko, though it's not so far removed from what Gouki was doing by eating souls. He even mentioned different flavors, and getting indigestion from time to time, so I suppose it shouldn't be THAT shocking to me. Still it's quite another matter having indigestion being a point of weakness in an antagonist, to the point of making me wonder how pure energy is converted into a gaseous explosion to begin with. Since Kuwabara was able to reabsorb some of it in the wake of the Byakko rocket he'd created, maybe it was just a literal overflow that just came out the funny end? Because it's clear there's only SO big Byakko can get, there being a limit to how much he can consume at one time, and there wasn't any time to "digest" between eating that last bit of Kuwabra's aura and his... failed trip to the moon. 

Still I am curious to know how that aura is converted to size, how Byakko can also consume matter like Kuwabara's body as he threatens, whether it DOES anything for him nutritionally. Who knew that a goofy fart joke would raise so very many questions for me?? 

Inuyasha Manga: 336 Gakusanjin

Now that Spooky Month is underway, I'm getting cozy. I've got my cauldron-shaped coffee cup, I've got my witchy knit conical hat and cloak out for business now that there's been a drop in temperature, I've got my blanket with the first page of "Hound of the Baskervilles" printed on it, and I've got a whole stack of scary movies ready for the watching. I've also been learning how to make origami bats, and am planning a couple of other crafts for the season. I've already busted out the decorations, curiously motivated to get the place looking as festive as possible, though normally I'm not much of a homemaker.

It's definitely NOT to keep myself away from the internet and all the horrible fucking news coming from it every single day. Why would you suggest such a thing? 

Welcome to the club, pal. 

Inuyasha shouts up at the mountain monster that he's already said he doesn't know, and that they're looking for Naraku too. Miroku steps forward and references what the mountain monster said about Naraku stealing his "protecting stone", asking what it is. It is at this point that the mountain monster gives his name, Gakusanjin, which I'm told by the wiki means "Mountain Mortal". That "mortal" part of the name strikes me as... foreboding.

Anyway, Gakusanjin says the protecting stone he's referring to allows him to remain and sleep as a mountain, calling it "fuyouheki", or "demon-sealing stone". A storm of new words coming at us today, friends. It's new to Kagura as well, who is apparently floating out of sight of Inuyasha and company, but no doubt this thundering conversation isn't difficult to eavesdrop on from a respectable distance. 

Miroku asks if the stone allows Gakusanjin to rest, and he elaborates that it erases his youki and repels his enemies, protecting him from unnecessary trouble. No need to swat at flies all day when you're just trying to get some shut-eye. 

The significance of this is clearly not lost on these two.

Kagome voices just that significance, that the stone could erase even Naraku's youki in his hands, with just a touch of disbelief. Sango adds her own suggestion that this would effectively hide him from them. Inuyasha shouts up at Gakusanjin a stream of questions, asking what shape the fuyouheki thing is, what color it is, and whether it has a scent. Gakusanjin asks in turn what Inuyasha will do if he has that information, and Inuyasha spells out that they're going to get the stone back for him. This evokes a chuckle from Gakusanjin, who asserts he can't trust words like that, and reminds Inuyasha that he said he didn't know where Naraku was, so he's just an eyesore to the grumpy old hunk of rock.

As he leaps out of the way of this blow, Inuyasha comments on how bad a mood Gakusanjin has on his waking. It's also entirely possible that this is just his personality, so there's that. Anyway, Inuyasha unleashes a Kaze no Kizu, shocking the hell out of Gakusanjin, and causing Kagome and Miroku to shout in alarm. Once the smoke clears from the attack and Inuyasha and Gakusanjin are done regarding each other in suspicion, Inuyasha puts away Tessaiga, bidding his team to walk away from this interaction since it doesn't look to him like they can talk anymore. 

Kagura further notes that it was only the mountain in FRONT of Gakusanjin that was blown away, wondering what in the world that jerk Inuyasha is even up to. As if his notoriously terrible aim isn't still a solid explanation. Gakusanjin asks out loud to this brat why he didn't cut him, even though he should have been cut. Kagome has to restrain him with a nervous smile as Inuyasha turns, asking if Gakusanjin WANTS to be cut, hand at the ready on Tessaiga once again. 

Miroku steps forward again to inform Gakusanjin that Inuyasha didn't cut him because there's no point in them attacking him, because their one and only enemy is Naraku. He promises the living mountain that they'll restore the fuyouheki to him if they come across it while they're going after Naraku, asking if that satisfies him. 

After a pause, Gakusanjin raises a fist, much to the alarm of the still tense ant-like people below. Inuyasha is still ready to draw Tessaiga again, complaining that the bastard Gakusanjin is still spoiling for a fight. 

But ANY movement of a giant can seem threatening at first. 

Sweet, everybody loves a shiny rock. 

Inuyasha makes a confused noise as Gakusanjin says that just one should be enough, and only after Miroku asks what these are exactly does he elaborate that they are his crystalized youki. Holding one in his palm, Miroku acknowledges that he can feel a strong youki coming off it. Gakusanjin says that the youki in the crystal will vanish when they get close to the fuyouheki, and it will appear to return when they get farther away from the stone. No color indicator is mentioned because I can only imagine how difficult that might be to show in a normally black and white comic. 

Sango murmurs that it seems Gakusanjin has decided to trust them, and Miroku agrees, adding that this WILL be helpful in their search for Naraku. Kagome offers Gakusanjin a tentative thank you, but Gakusanjin dismisses them again, indicating he's had quite enough of them. Inuyasha is caught up in wondering why Naraku bothered to steal something like the fuyouheki in the first place, given how difficult it is for them to find Naraku ALREADY. He can't seem to imagine why Naraku might need to hide his youki even more. 

But someone else riding a giant feather on the wind away from the scene can.

Shnooky! I should have known!

Elsewhere, at the mouth of a cave in the side of a rocky cliff, Kanna is cradling just this infant, her mirror sitting propped on some boulders nearby so she can watch the image of Kikyou's two little shikigami flying around. Meanwhile, Kohaku is running at top speed with a couple of escort Saimyoushou leading him along his way. He's acting on orders from Hakudoushi, who apparently just told Kohaku about an order fresh from Naraku to protect Kanna. 

Great! Now I just hope there's not some excuse for you NOT to act accordingly on this very good opportunity.

Kohaku of course recalls that Kagura said Naraku can be killed if the infant is found, information he seems to take entirely for granted. Suddenly, the Saimyoushou are buzzing in his ear and he looks up to see those same shikigami children flying straight over his head. He wears a strangely quizzical look as he lifts his sickle and repeats the insects' order to destroy the flying children, who are still holding the ribboned lock of Kikyou's hair. 

As they float along, a single strand comes loose and starts to unwind the whole bundle, and the one holding it (with the ponytail) comments dryly on this fact. The other one (pigtails), says this indicates that something is nearby, just before they are flanked by a swarm of Saimyoushou. Kohaku's sickle also soars up to meet them. 

Graphic child death? Not as graphic as it might seem. The still puzzled-looking Kohaku watches the paper dolls that really represent the two shikigami flutter down through the air, two cuts in their middles to indicate where Kohaku had sliced them. Before he can think on this much, an attack explodes the ground at his feet and he has to leap out of the way. 

The paper dolls dive out of the air in a certain direction, not being directed by air currents at all, and into a hand held up to them with a familiar bell sleeve. Kikyou and Kohaku stare each other down, her arrow embedded in the ground between them. She begins to vocalize just what Kohaku must be to Naraku, while he stands there in silent confused nervousness. 

Elsewhere, Kagome declares she senses a Shikon shard. 

Always love it when RT busts out the paints. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? It's a small detail, but the idea of crystallized youki is quite useful for the upcoming arc, and I think it was a phenomenal device to help the Inuyasha group get around Naraku's new setup. I can't help but marvel at how simple it is, and how much it can do for the plot despite that. One of RT's strengths is stuff like this, that puts forward a straightforward yet elegant answer to a villain's much more complex machinations, because there's always room for a loophole somewhere no matter how careful those plans are. It's this consideration and construction of those little loopholes that makes RT writing herself into a corner a rarer occurrence than with some other storytellers in this medium. It happens, but stuff like this keeps it to a minimum. 

And, let's face it, it would be just a LITTLE funny if Naraku went so far in the name of security for his little hellspawn that it ended up making Shnooky even EASIER to find. I mean, between Kagura overhearing that perfect distillation of why Naraku might find the fuyouheki appealing (all because it's awfully difficult NOT to notice a mountain moving around), and Kohaku being ordered straight to the infant's side to protect it, he's liable to accomplish the exact opposite of his assumed purpose. Of course, the use of the term "assumed" is very purposeful here.  

It was kind of sad how confused Gakusanjin was about the fact that Inuyasha didn't follow through on a fight with him. It's clear that he's been sleeping for so long because he was tired of constant fighting, and his immediate assumption upon waking was that anyone he crossed paths with was going to pick a fight with him. What must his existence have been like back when he was awake before, if his worldview is narrowed to one of pure violence? Frankly, if it was THAT bad, I don't blame him for wanting to sleep away the millennia, poor guy. 

The color page at the end was something of a surprise, considering how little action there was to highlight there. It's a shame that lovely paint couldn't have been used to enhance a more dynamic scene.  

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 036 Byakko's Battle Roar!!

Oooh, so close to alliteration across the board. They might have chosen a word like "bellow" to make it slightly poetic, but I suppose these aren't QUITE synonyms. "Roar" has a much more animalistic bent to its meaning, and at the very least, we know that this Byakko character isn't going to be human. Given how interesting Genbu's design was, I'm looking forward to seeing Byakko and how his design manages to make a translator abandon the siren song of a great alliteration. 

Is that my tinnitus, or...?

As the boys continue on their way through the castle, Yusuke asks Kurama how he's doing, and Kurama responds that he's still on his feet at least, so it's not so bad. I don't know, people can still be able to walk and yet be in really bad shape. Hiei retorts to this by asserting that Kurama won't be much use in a fight, regardless, and the rest of them will have to deal with what's ahead without him. Kuwabara tells them not to sweat it, because he'll take whoever is next. Yusuke scoffs that he almost FAINTED at the sight of the first guy, but Kuwabara yells for him to shut up, insisting he just wasn't ready 

Kuwabara tell Yusuke he wasn't just sitting around while he was training with Genkai, holding up his right hand and saying that he figured out how to manifest his Reiki Sword with just his bare hand through trial and error. On the spot, he does just that, showing off to the others what he's capable of. Hiei says it's not bad - not quite the dead weight he thought Kuwabara was - and while that's about as close to a compliment as Hiei will probably EVER get, Kuwabara flies off the handle again. He brandishes the energy sword at the unimpressed Hiei and asks if he wants a taste of it, Yusuke flatly telling him to cool his shit. 

His temper is quick to quell, as he backs down with a rueful grin, saying it's no big deal. It's mostly because he wants to continue showing off his research, which he says didn't stop at the manifestation without aid. He commands the sword to extend with a call for them all to watch.

Yusuke seems impressed that Kuwabara's sword can turn into a spear, which no doubt will make it easier to stay at a greater distance from a particularly aggressive melee enemy. He chuckles that he can extend and retract it at will, and it remains extremely difficult for me not to make some obvious jokes about this. 

I mean, I know you hit puberty relatively recently, kiddo, but surely you've figured it out before NOW...

Kuwabara thrusts a thumb at himself, and says that while the first bruiser caught him off guard, he's ready for ANYTHING now. He says "bring it on", but when he dismisses his Reiki Sword, he cradles his forehead in his hand, complaining of dizziness from slinging all that aura around. Annoyed, Yusuke snaps at him to save any other tricks he has for an actual opponent. Gee kid, I hope you don't need a LONG TIME to recharge from that little show-off session!

A massive roar from a great fanged mouth sounds from elsewhere in the castle, making the boys pause and look around in concern. A rumbling passes through the surrounding stone, but it probably only contributes a little to Kuwabara's tremble as he asks what THAT was, characterizing the sound as "otherworldly". I mean, you are in a demon castle, my dude. Kurama informs them that it was Byakko's roar, and it sounds like he's in a pretty shit mood. 

A few calls to press on and seconds later, they end up out on a parapet in the open air, connected to another across some distance by a narrow walkway, and what looks like a big ARENA in between. There's a large figure, about three times the size of the little humans, on the opposite side. 

That's... just a furry, right? Maybe if he starts munching on walnuts I'll inexplicably take him more seriously.

But seriously, Yusuke and Kuwabara are once again in a state of shock, alarmed at how big this guy is (10 feet or more as Yusuke estimates), and Kuwabara in particular muttering about how THIS wasn't the deal. Hey man, YOU'RE the one who jumped on the next battle. 

Byakko curls his clawed fingers in frustration, complaining about being cooped up in this depressing castle, without delicious human flesh to eat. These are the reasons he cites for being so irritable to begin with, but it's an added insult in his eyes for the Underworld to send two puny humans and a couple of traitors to fight them. Shouldn't you be happy that humans, with succulent flesh no doubt, have wandered into this situation? It would seem to address one of your irritants.

If you can win. 

The great tiger-man flexes, shouting at them that he slurps down humans by the "six pack", raising ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS about how humans are packaged and distributed in the supposed demon economy. He further threatens Hiei and Kurama with shredding, and feeding them to the rotten scamps, which I assume are the gutter imps they met down below? An effective communicator Byakko is not. 

Yusuke balks, complaining that Byakko's voice is grating enough to make him feel like his innards are being gouged. I don't generally perceive sounds in my guts, but go off my guy. Kuwabara steps forward, declaring he's had enough of Byakko's bullshit, and as Yusuke calls his name in question, Hiei expresses his surprise that Kuwabara is intending to take Byakko all by himself, having assumed all that was just talk. Kuwabara makes a threatening and rude gesture at Hiei, babbling about how one-on-one is how street fighting is done. Yusuke observes his trembling from the side and suggests dryly that it must be from eagerness, because he's not buying this for a solitary second. 

Regardless, Kuwabara cracks his knuckles, determined to do what he said he would, which Yusuke just interprets to mean that Kuwabara can't back out now that he's talked himself into a corner. 

Sure Kuwabara, that phrase TOTALLY doesn't make you sound like an infant right now. Of course, the odd inconsistent perspective in the panel doesn't help by making him look absolutely MINUSCULE in comparison to everything else. 

Byakko questions the single human coming toward him all by himself, then starts laughing, asking if it was the Underworlds plan to make him die from sheer mirth. Kuwabara points at him and demands he cut it out, yelling that they'll see who laughs as soon at Byakko gets his ass down into this arena. Smiling Byakko says he'll pass, and there's no need for him to waste even the minor amount of energy it would take, as he plucks four strands of hair from atop his fluffy head. He tosses them in Kuwabara's direction with blessing to go ahead, and the fluttering hair confuses evokes confusion from the kid. At first. 

Damn, I gotta get me some of them. 

One of these creatures lunges at Kuwabara, screeching, and Kuwabara screams as he's knocked aside and blood spurts from his chest where he'd been clawed through his uniform. He manifests his Reiki Sword at this point, but Byakko calls this impudence, and gleefully declares it'll be useless against all four of his creatures at once. 

Two of them are now bounding for him, and he swings wildly for them, but this appears to be a largely impotent retort. 

Pun very much intended. 

while Yusuke clenches his fists and teeth in his tension beside him, Hiei placidly states how he's never seen such pathetic sword skills, predicting the creatures will lay him out in a matter of mere moments. Kuwabara crouches, grunting in pain, trembling already from the effort his inept attempts have taken out of him. It's looking BAD, folks. 

Yusuke calls for Kuwabara to switch off with him, citing the fact that his shotgun blasts are better at taking out multiple targets, and that Kuwabara's fighting style is just NOT meant for this kind of battle. Byakko laughs that Yusuke is just being polite, suggesting they all jump in at once, even though these runts shouldn't have tried to fight him in the first place. Kuwabara refuses this suggestion himself, though. Face bloodied and cut, he says he's not tagging out until "Fuzzy Fangs" faces him himself. It's a shame Kuwabara can't fight back with his nickname game - it's MUCH more developed than his sword skills. 

Kuwabara threatens to KILL Yusuke first if he interferes with the fight; a threat that couldn't be emptier if Kuwabara TRIED. Foot elevated onto the railing on his own personal parapet, Byakko asks if Kuwabara hasn't learned his lesson yet, as though the situation has been grinding on for hours or something. He commands his creatures to rip off Kuwabara's limbs one-by-one, and to leave him the torso and head for his supper. Now I'm imagining Kuwabara as the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and I really wish I had the time to edit out a meme to that effect. Kuwabara is far less amused, balking at the oncoming renewed attack. 

That's an entirely fair objection. 

Yusuke yells at Kuwabara not to be a jackass and to switch with him, because that sword is not going to be able to take these things out. Kuwabara looks over at Yusuke screaming his name, but instead of responding to this plea, staring down the narrow path between them seems to give him an idea. He starts running back toward Yusuke on the other side of the bridge. Byakko interprets this as Kuwabara losing his nerve, encouraging him to flee back to his companions all he wants, but warning him that it's not going to make any difference; the creatures are going to devour them all anyway. 

Meanwhile, Kuwabara is urging himself to RUN RUN RUN, until the moment when he whips around to face the creatures all chasing him across the bridge, organized into a nice, neat little line. He asks Byakko if he wants to see some REAL nerve, and as his team looks on with shock, he commands the glowing Reiki Sword in his hand to grow. 

Ew, that's looking pretty obscene. Some sort of "creature centipede" connected with aura instead of a contiguous series of digestive systems. 

Byakko admits that this was smart of Kuwabara, but points out this is hardly a killing blow. He draws attention to the fact that his creatures are still hungry, and the one in front lunges further at Kuwabara, willing to work around the energy spear running through its mouth. Cringing, Kuwabara turns tail and runs, the string of creatures trailing after him like a grotesque ribbon. He sprints around the tower, the end of the spear dragging along the stone walls and gouging deep tracks into them as he tries to outrun the hellhounds he's leashed. 

Eventually, he catches up the the tip of the spear and ties it off to the handle in his hand. 

That's somehow MORE obscene than the panel above, lol.

Vein popping in his temple and vibrating with rage, Byakko growls ferociously, and clenches his clawed fists, telling Kuwabara he should have let the creatures kill him. Kuwabara points at him in challenge, asking what he's REALLY got, so high on his narrow victory over the creatures that he forgot how difficult it was for him to get this far. He demands that Byakko haul his furry butt down and face his opponent himself. I can't tell if Yusuke is grimacing at Kuwabara's overconfidence or if he's baring his teeth at their enemy in a show of defiance. 

Either way, I think Byakko is just about fed up.

Count to ten or something before you have an aneurysm, dude.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I'm starting to see a pattern here regarding how these particular bosses present themselves within the story. Much like Genbu, Byakko has started off with a vast cockiness, inviting them all to come at him at once, and when only one of the team advances to face him, he deploys part of his body to assault the offending enemy. Obviously it's not the exact same; Genbu literally blew himself apart, whereas Byakko more delicately creates support for himself with the deliberate plucking of some hairs. Still, they both fight initially only in part as opposed to their WHOLE selves like their opponents are forced to do. It's a unique advantage of battle, and I'm curious to see (or rather, remember) if the others follow this quirky little pattern.

Otherwise, I'm quite bored with Byakko's design. He's just a giant beast-man, and I've seen enough furry content scattered across the internet for it to fail at being novel for me at this point. Combining a general human form with animal features is as old as antiquity, of course, so it's clear that this design wasn't going to be surprising from the beginning, and probably wasn't meant to be. Still, I'll always favor a more creative monster than one that strikes me as conventional. This is no shade on YT, as there's only so much time to develop these guys, but I had to bring it up.

I thought Kuwabara's solution to Byakko's little creatures was pretty interesting, though, because lining them up to spear them all at once took an impeccable sense of timing, if nothing else. Considering he was leading them over to his friends, one of which was injured, this could have gone pretty badly. Not that there was anywhere to go BUT right where the rest of the team was once he had to keep running from the still aggressive creatures, but at least he had them all on a track, so to speak.

And as funny as it was that he managed to tie off his Reiki Spear to its own end to create that disturbing little carousel of creatures around the tower, I have to wonder: How long will that ring of energy last now that it's detached from its source?