Inuyasha Manga: 329 Weakening Spirit Tree

Don't @ me, Chapter. Sure, my occasional tree visualization of root and branch isn't what it used to be, but I have a lot on my mind lately! My meditation sessions have been a struggle to focus for a while now, because of all the shit going on in my own life, the lives of my loved ones, and in the world at large. It feels like my head is overflowing, and instead of all the excess stuff that I have no personal power over/can't act on spilling out, it seems to have colonized my brain and pushed all actionable things right out. I need to find a way to banish the invaders, or my breath will continue to be harder and harder to follow in the future...

Still thankful I don't have the mental load THIS kid has, though. 

With a pained expression, Sango tells Kohaku that every village they passed was completely eaten by rats, as new ones continue to pour from the box. Sango hangs her head, mumbling that she didn't want to get involved with Kohaku yet again, Kohaku watching her and sweatdropping. He says plainly, if not a little hesitantly, that he can't disobey orders. When Sango's head snaps up, her eyes are brimming with tears, and she yells Kohaku's name. Then she leaps from Kirara's back with Hiraikotsu extended above her head, ready to swing the weapon, seemingly at the alarmed Kohaku. 

Oh good, she was just going for the box. At least she gave him an excuse to close the thing, if nothing else. 

Of course the end of the rat stream explodes into a knot on Hiraikotsu's elbow from where it fell and smashed a few rodents. Miroku calls for Sango to stop, reminding her of what she herself had told him only a couple of chapters ago, but she swings Hiraikotsu to throw off the vermin, yelling at Miroku to just suck the damn things up. 

Kohaku runs off toward an incline up a nearby hill, fleeing between a few buzzing Saimyoushou, which is probably preventing Miroku from doing what Sango ordered him. She groans in frustration as she runs after her brother, announcing her intention to smash the zushi, at the very least. Miroku looks over his shoulder at the rats still streaming off into the distance, and determines that even if he uses the Kazaana, the rats are too focused on going forward that they won't even look around. Not sure why he would care about the rats looking at him when he's vacuuming them into oblivion, but it's clear that he's wondering if the mayose charm drawing them is really THAT powerful at least. 

It's definitely BIG, that's for sure. 

As Shippou gapes up in wonder at the tree, he asks what happens to the rats that reach the sky, and Kagome answers that they get purified, most likely. She's looking a little worried here with her contracted brows and sweatdrop, and the silent Inuyasha isn't looking too much different. He notes that nowhere around the base of this massive tree is Kikyou in sight. Whether it's disappointment or concern isn't quite clear either.

Suddenly, a voice from the sky complains about how annoying a woman Kikyou is, for having setting this giant rodent trap up and then fucking off. A swirl of evil aura appears in the sky, and at its center, what looks like thick boneless appendages come worming their way out. 

Oh great, it's not tentacles, just... more fucking pests, lol!

Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippou all gape in alarm, the latter voicing the reality that they're looking at monstrous slugs. Standing on the side of one of these is Hakudoushi, STILL pissing and moaning about how he thought he'd finally dragged Kiykou out into the open. That's what you get when you devastate an area WAY too large to monitor where any one person may show up, kiddo. 

Inuyasha calls to Hakudoushi in a none-too-friendly way, accusing him rightly of being the bastard who unleashed all these fucking rats. Hakudoushi chuckles that Inuyasha shouldn't even need to ask, implying he's the only one depraved enough for a shitty plan like this. Which, you know... fair enough. 

At the edges of one the slugs' undersides sticking to the tree, the bark and wood crack under the slime breaking it down. Kagome cries that the mayose tree is being corroded by the slugs, and Shippou adds that the tree will be destroyed if they don't do something fast. Inuyasha grunts and yanks Tessaiga from its sheath as he leaps toward the tree. Hakudoushi mockingly asks if he'll cut him at the monsters, and Kagome calls to him, Shippou warning him not to use the Kaze no Kizu; he'll just be doing what Hakudoushi wants if he cuts down the tree along with the slugs. Inuyasha yells over his shoulder to the mouthy little brat that he KNOWS this, and continues his ascent up the tree with slug platforms to aid him. Shippou grumbles that Inuyasha's expression shows he doesn't understand, as if the ONLY reason Inuyasha could be going up the tree is to use Kaze no Kizu. 

Granted, there's no denying how RT loves making Inuyasha do the dumbest things...

Kagome holds up her bow and retrieves an arrow from her quiver, asserting that they have to protect the tree regardless. At least there are none of those arrows this time that will deliver a shock if she's trying use it in a way Kikyou doesn't like, lol! She nocks it and says that she's certain she can purify the youkai slugs. 

Shippou is congratulatory over her hitting the slug, but Kagome reminds him that they're pretty big targets. Gotta hand it to the girl, she stays humble. 

Meanwhile, Inuyasha is still hopping from slug-platform to slug-platform, demanding that the little bastard Hakudoushi stay right where he is above him. In his defense, he doesn't appear to be preparing to move at all. Inuyasha attempts to lecture him, asking how many villages he thinks had to parish just so he could draw out Kikyou, as if that's going to move the little psychopath. In fact, Hakudoushi's smirk remains firmly in place, asking Inuyasha in turn if he's really angry about that. It's at this point that Hakudoushi leaps from his perch just as Inuyasha is coming up to him, passing him in midair. Inuyasha swings away at Hakudoushi with a Kaze no Kizu.

See Shippou? He didn't aim at the fucking TRUNK, did he?

Hakudoushi's head smugly chuckles above what's left of his blown-away body, and as Inuyasha growls in anger and frustration, he begins to disappear into a vortex of swirling aura. Before he vanishes, he tells Inuyasha to give Kikyou a message if he sees her: As long as she continues to evade and run from Naraku, this same kind of catastrophe will continue to crop up endlessly. 

Or until the islands run out of villages to wipe out, of course. 

Inuyasha growls out a curse again, looking up at the slug above him and the sizzling trunk underneath it. On the ground, Shippou observes the rats with some concern, stuttering to Kagome that they're acting strange. Kagome lowers another arrow a bit with a noise of question, and Shippou explains that until now, they've been aiming themselves for the tree without hesitation, but now...

There's a joke in here somewhere about edging, but I'm not sure I'm the one to make it. XD

Kagome calls for Inuyasha to handle the slugs further up the tree, and Inuyasha responds he's already on it, clawing through another of the gooey youkai pests. Kagome concentrates on blasting another to oblivion with her arrow. Hopefully there aren't so many that she runs out of arrows. 

Back at the source site for the rats, Kohaku is leaping along with the zushi strapped to his back, but his escape is cut off by Hiraikotsu spinning out of the air from over his head and into the ground just in front of him. Or, maybe it just grazed the ground, because it returns to Sango's hand behind him, Kohaku following its path over his shoulder with his gaze. He turns and grunts as he throws his sickle at her, but she deflects the half-hearted resistance with Hiraikotsu's broad side, yelling his name in both warning and pleading. She insists that he HAS to break free of Naraku's grasp. Oh, if she knew he already has, it would absolutely SHATTER her at this point.

Kohaku contemplates her with some hesitation a moment. 

Scant meal as you are, I suppose you're better than the nothing they were heading for. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Hakudoushi's lack of concern with not being able to actually confront Kikyou is just more evidence that he pulled this youkai rat stunt because he thought it was FUN, and trapping Kikyou was just an minor excuse. This is something that we already know, though. What's particularly interesting about this, however, is how Hakudoushi is not treating this like a failure. Naraku gave him the task of drawing out Kikyou, and while it did have that effect, he created a mess big enough for her to slip out of and back into hiding without him catching her. It further emphasizes Naraku's habits to let a lot SLIDE when it comes to the failures of those in his service, something that I'm only now coming to recognize. We've only really seen him PUNISH Kagura, because she's outwardly antagonistic toward him, but the rest of his incarnations and "servants" are hardly ever given so much as an admonition for screwing up in their missions. It all just rolls off him like water off a duck's back.

How very Zen of him. Of course, he probably also considers the rat incident just as amusing as Hakudoushi, so in his mind it's worth it just to wipe out a few villages. 

I don't know if I have much else to say on the subject of Sango and Kohaku's respective dilemmas. Kohaku did look like he wanted quite badly to admit to Sango that he WAS indeed broken from Naraku's control there for a second at the end, but again, that's a double-edged sword. If he tells her that he's conscious, then she HAS to judge his actions based on his own autonomy, and letting that box stand open doesn't exactly look GOOD on him, even considering his unique reasoning. Besides, it's at least fair reasoning that he needs to continue keeping up appearances for his plan to work out, and it would be majorly anticlimactic if he threw that away so soon after making such a weighty decision. 

SOMEBODY'S gotta stick to their guns in this thing! 

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 029 Kaze-maru - Ninja!

I've been trying to cut down on my use of the em dash and en dash in my writing lately, because I hear that there's a tendency to ChatGPT and other LLMs to overuse these punctuation features, and I certainly don't want anyone to mistake my writing for that of so called "AI". As a result, I've become sensitive to the use of dashes everywhere I see them, and I can't help but flinch whenever I see them in other texts too, even ones that predate our current LLM issue by a long way. It's not their fault, but a filter's a filter. To make matters worse, the use of the hyphen in Kaze-maru has hardly been consistent when it's been used in previous chapters. In a single chapter, his name as been translated as Kaze-maru, Kazemaru, and Kaze Maru, and I've just stuck with the hyphenated spelling for consistency's sake. 

It might help if HUMANS could agree on how to spell names before they publish, instead of being so wild with them. 

Not a moment to recover? Is Genkai not vibing with Yusuke's punk persona and trying to get rid of him?

Yusuke complains that he just finished a match, and Genkai retorts that the order of the matches are set, which is a tough break for Yusuke. Uh, girl, the only one who's setting these rules is YOU. What's with the "I just work here" attitude you're adopting? Anyway, she's also sick of the fights in the dark, apparently, so she tells them they're also switching locales as she opens the massive door out of the abyss of a room.

Well, at least it'll be easier to for the audience to see the battles now too.

They climb a hill through the trees as a group this time, Yusuke bringing up the rear, huffing and puffing the whole way. Ah, the cigarettes are already taking their toll. He pisses and moans that his Reigun is all used up and he's a mass of bruises, not giving himself good odds for this round. Botan, who is slightly ahead of him on the trek, silently agrees, and adds that Kaze-maru might very well be Rando. They both peer at the backs of the two left besides Yusuke and Kuwabara, worrying and wondering which one it might be. 

The group emerges from the trees in a clearing with some tall grass that half-obscures Genkai, who announces that they've arrived. 

Genkai might be going for Yoda vibes here...

She states in all seriousness that ancient battles were fought here, and there's no more spiritual a spot on the whole mountain. It's her assertion that their powers will flower fully on this ground, swampy though it might be. Kaze-maru agrees with her, surrounded with spectral fire, saying that he feels the power surging through him. Botan turns to Yusuke and asks if HE feels anything while he examines his extended forefinger and thumb. He answers that he's getting SOME strength back, but not nearly enough for a decent shot, and he has some anxiety about being cooked if Kaze-maru is Rando with powers he hasn't shown yet. 

Wearing a smug smirk, Kaze-maru claims to sympathize with Yusuke being dealt a shit hand, and starts to lecture Yusuke on how you have to play the cards luck has given you in the real world. I wouldn't expect a guy like this to use gambling metaphors, but I guess it works for the target, so it's fine. Kaze-maru adds that Yusuke MAY prevail with enough spiritual energy, but rather than this being a hopeful note, it comes across as more mocking. Yusuke thinks that he'll only prevail by delivering one good counter punch, clenching his fist. It's no wonder his instinct is to fall back on his base brawling skills, as he doesn't appear to have much faith that he can get through this otherwise.

Kaze-maru takes a step forward, drawling about how interesting it is to meet someone like himself that can emit reiki in the same way he can, but acknowledges that it seems Yusuke's energy is spent. With this observation out of the way, he lunges for Yusuke and declares he could defeat the kid right now with his bare hands. To his horror, Yusuke's shoe gets stuck in the squishing mud and he's forced to watch Kaze-maru's fist sailing straight at the side of his face. 

That's going to hurt in the morning. Or now. 

It unsticks Yusuke from the ground, though, so that's good. He's left sprawled on the swamp some distance from Kaze-maru, having been flung through the force of the ninja's punches. Groaning, Yusuke pushes himself up as Kaze-maru strolls over, Kuwabara laments how beat Yusuke is to the point where he can't even hit back or dodge. 

Kaze-maru pulls back for another hit when he arrives at Yusuke's side, promising to make it a quick defeat for him. But Yusuke responds with an exclamation of "now!" and swings at Kaze-maru once he's close enough. Sweatdropping, Kaze-maru twitches back, so Yusuke's punch barely goes past his head. Yusuke complains that he missed, but blood spurts from a new cut on Kaze-maru's cheek, surprising him quite a bit. He leaps back some distance, and as Yusuke bares his teeth at him, Kaze-maru admits that Yusuke's not quite as spent as he thought, and he'll have to stay out of the tot's reach. 

Just thought I'd remind everyone that this is a grown man fighting a literal teenager. 

Well, the title DID emphasize that he's a ninja, after all. 

As the stars whizz toward him, Yusuke acknowledges that he's in pretty bad shape, but he should easily be able to dodge those. And in fact does, fairly easily. This doesn't appear to bother Kaze-maru, though, who stands with a neutral expression, arms crossed. Yusuke asks if he's got anything else, or if he plans to just stand there, but his attention is drawn by a growing whir behind him. To his alarm, it's the whole set of stars coming back around at his head. 

The stars slash Yusuke yet again on their third pass, causing Yusuke to cry out in pain. Kaze-maru lifts a finger from his crossed arms to wag it at Yusuke, calling these little missiles reiki-seeking throwing stars that Yusuke won't be able to escape. Over another shot of one spinning relentlessly in the air, Kaze-maru says they'll keep going until they hit their target. 

Yusuke takes a wide defensive stance in front of a tree, the stars steering toward him once again. At the last second, he leaps out from their path, and the moment one of them makes contact with the tree...

Really? They have to EXPLODE too??

Apparently. As Yusuke is thrown back by the force of blast, Kaze-maru lightly admits that his stars also explode when they're hit, so even a near miss can mess one up. Pointing in his supposed triumph, Kaze-maru declares that Yusuke out of options. Yusuke pushes himself again to his feet with more effort than ever, it seems, groaning while he thinks that he's toast if there's one more explosion like that. He staggers, and senses the turn in midair of the remaining stars as they steer for him once more, knowing that this is it. But he also knows he can't just STAND here if this guy is Rando.

Interlude by a sketch of Botan wishing everyone a happy New Year with best wishes and all that. Being as far as I can be from the New Year during my coverage of this chapter is a LITTLE amusing to me. 

Back in the chapter proper, Yusuke glances nervously over to Kuwabara, and laments how much it sucks, but...

He doesn't realize he's the new tree yet, does he?

Yusuke he's going straight into WHATEVER Kaze-maru has got, so that if HE goes down, so does Kaze-maru. Kaze-maru holds out his palm, which glows with building power, insisting (a little nervously, I might say) that Yusuke take his energy blast, because the fool cannot be allowed to get anywhere NEAR him. 

After a splash, Kaze-maru is left alone on the field, looking around and questioning where Yusuke disappeared to. He's incensed that Yusuke pulled off this impossible vanishing act, but his anger is quickly replaced with panic when his stars, in Yusuke's absence, start heading straight for him. He yells at them halting exclamations of discouragement and disbelief, as though they'll be moved not to attack their own master.

Maybe program them for that possibility next time, my dude. 

Kaze-maru arcs back with the force of the self-inflicted explosion, exclaiming haltingly that he just doesn't get it, then thumps on the ground, defeated. But Kuwabara seems more interested in the fact that, as he and the others advance on the battlefield, Yususke really appears to have vanished into thin air. Botan's attention is drawn by a glubbing in the swamp, and then an arm extends from the muddy water, waving, and she points out the spot in excitement. Kuwabara drags Yusuke out of the bog, mocking him for being so desperate as to hide in there, but Yusuke coughs that he WASN'T hiding; he just FELL IN. He and I both seem to be in disbelief that it turned out to be the right move anyway, lol. 

Smiling, Genkai says that it would seem it was, telling Yusuke that his sudden disappearance threw Kaze-maru off his timing, and though it was accidental, it's still Yusuke's win. She asserts that Lady Luck was smiling on him this time. Still not the biggest miracle she pulled off for him in this story though! XD

Kaze-maru, still conscious, though immobile on the ground, whines that he can't believe it, and Yusuke agrees. Botan can say for certain now that Kaze-maru is down for the count and is not giving off any subconscious demonic aura that she can detect, he's NOT Rando. With this affirmation, Yusuke concludes that the only one it could possibly be is the guy Kuwabara is now going to face in the second semi-finals match that Genkai is yelling at them to prepare for. The guy who Kuwabara is currently thinking should be a cinch to beat. 

Yeeeaaaaah, definitely should have struck us as more obvious...

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I may have been somewhat torn on the re-frame of Yusuke's bad habits in the previous chapter, but my opinion of the content of this one is less difficult to parse. I definitely appreciate the element of luck being emphasized in this one, because it's just not covered in most stories that I come across. Skill and work are subordinate to opportunity in my experience, and the former just don't matter much without the latter coming around first. Without a little luck, Yusuke wouldn't have been in any position to win this one, because he just wasn't in any physical condition to continue to perform at capacity. 

And it looked to me that Genkai, smiling like she was, appreciated Yusuke's luck here too. One might have expected her to be a little frustrated that fortune had played so big a role in the outcome of this match as opposed to the skill and power of the two fighters. But she appeared almost pleased with the winner. It's possible, because she had already decided on the order of the matches, that she had been hoping the old swamp would provide a bit more of a leveling effect on the playing field, with its power-boosting properties as well as its environmental advantages. Because she's expressed her intention to go with whoever won in her trials no matter what, she would be interested in making things as fair as possible, and to make up for her personal hand in the matter as much as possible. I don't doubt she's aware that her own decisions are affecting the scales in various subtle ways, so I wouldn't be surprised if she was trying to mitigate that as much as possible. If adding a little luck into the process for anyone to grasp and take advantage of is the result, then that's all the better. 

And no doubt a spiritual adept like herself is partial to the idea of seeming randomness like luck provides an avenue for Providence to act for the best too. XD
 

Inuyasha Manga: 328 Mayose

I've never been much good at cleaning. I get a little grossed out by it, and the sensations that come with touching/scrubbing grime. Because of this, I tend to put off cleaning up, and have had to come up with all kinds of strategies to motivate me to overlook my sensory disgust at the cleaning act. This week, I'm going to have to employ EVERY SINGLE ONE, and maybe come up with a few more, in order to avoid being completely mortified by a visitor swinging by. Thankfully, my husband isn't nearly as grossed-out by the process of cleaning as I am, so he's able to help me quite a bit, but it's going to take both of us to make the kitchen and dining area presentable, because there are corners there that are quite neglected. Lots of dust, lots of clutter, and a few stains that I've mostly forgotten about. 

It's going to take a LOT more effort than a more functional adult would have to spend on the task.

Better than the herculean effort it's going to take to clean up THIS mess, though. 

Sango and Miroku fly over the countryside on Kirara, the former commenting on how EVERYTHING has been covered by rats. Miroku reminds Sango of how she said that the rats only increase when cut, and she affirms this, expressing frustration that they increased so damn much that they can't tell where their source is. Miroku guesses that she means the zushi box, to which Sango responds that she's HEARD the rats will disappear if the box is destroyed. That sure is an uncertain statement as solution to a REALLY big problem.

Elsewhere, in the craggy side of a mountain, a bubble of a barrier bulges out of the mouth of a cave, where Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippou hang out and wait. Shippou complains about how Sango and Miroku are late, and Inuyasha bitterly questions why he has to hang out inside the barrier too. Shippou suggests it's because Inuyasha would easily become frustrated and start swinging his sword around, only to increase the population of rats. Inuyasha gripes at the little brat for calling him an idiot, before Kagome points out something to Inuyasha on the other side of their protective barrier. 

No surprise there. Kagome takes this as confirmation that Naraku was behind this Zushi Nezumi going out of control business, and Inuyasha scoffs that he always figured that was the case anyway. He adds that he didn't think Naraku would have died from the arrow, though there's a bit of a doubtful note at the end with a trailing "but".

Shippou announces that Sango and Miroku have returned upon spotting them outside the barrier, and once they're back inside, Miroku asks for confirmation that Kagome also saw they Saimyoushou. After she tells him she has, Shippou suggests that Naraku is searching for them to get revenge. Miroku is doubtful of this hypothesis, rather feeling that Naraku is pulling strings from behind the scenes in order to get someone to show themselves. Inuyasha asks what he means, as if there could be any doubt about it, and Miroku repeats that it should be obvious Miroku is trying to draw a certain someone out, they themselves being a possibility, but Miroku seems to pause before listing ANOTHER, more likely option. Inuyasha and Kikyou come to the conclusion to which Miroku is leading them at the same time: Kikyou. Kagome in particular lands pretty hard on the notion that Naraku's target is Kikyou. 

Well done, kiddos. 

And well done Naraku. As usual, he seems to be getting exactly what he wants. 

The little manufactured child by Kikyou's side draws her attention to the sky, where the other little child, called Kochou, was flying toward them. Once near the ground, Kochou extended a branch of the Ogatama Tree that she was apparently instructed to retrieve. With a determined look, Kikyou accepts the foliage, and tells Kochou and her twin Asuka that they're going down the mountain. 

What, to where the RATS are??

To where they WERE, anyway, a barren valley covered in abandoned wagons and skeletons that the rats had left behind them. Kikyou draws a perfect pentagram in the dirt with the tip of her bow, and sticks the branch she got from Kochou right in the center of it, like it's a miniature tree. Raising two fingers and concentrating on this little branch in the pentagram wordlessly, it starts to grow.

And boy DOES it grow in a hurry. 

The rats surging over the ground suddenly start turning their heads, and then their bodies in a single direction, something that Inuyasha and Miroku notice from a the peak of a bluff somewhere. Inuyasha in particular appears astonished by this sudden gathering of the disorganized hordes. Kagome and Sango aren't far behind them, the former commenting on how they all seem to be heading for the same place, the latter agreeing that the flow is becoming one steady stream of rodents. 

Miroku says hesitantly that somewhere a "mayose" could be being performed. Inuyasha repeats the term as a question, so Miroku explains that it's a way of bringing together and destroying youkai all at once, but it couldn't be done without a STRONG spiritual power. 

I'm continually perplexed at how weak we're supposed to THINK Kikyou is, when she's out here doing shit like THIS. In front of God and everybody, as my father would say. 

Kagome suggests to Inuyasha they go and check it out, with more than a TOUCH of irritation in her expression. Inuyasha says her name in response, as though about to argue, but Sango cuts in with her own plans to try and find out where the rats are coming from, and Kagome calls to her in curiosity. Sango elaborates that it's worrying her that the number of rats passing is increasing and the flow isn't stemming at ALL, meaning that the rats are still coming from their box. Miroku agrees with her implication that this won't be over until the source of the trouble is addressed. 

So Inuyasha is carrying Kagome over the flood of rats toward where they are heading, Shippou tagging along on Kagome's shoulder and asking with a sweatdrop if Naraku will show up ahead too, if Kikyou is really there. Kagome can only really respond with a nervous noise, only just remembering herself that Naraku is after Kikyou's life. She's really SO consumed with her own personal drama that she's forgotten WHY Kikyou had to come out of hiding in the first place. GIRL. 

Inuyasha tells Shippou it would have been better for him to go with Miroku and Sango if he is so scared of meeting Naraku, but Shippou snaps back that he can't do that, because then who would be there to comfort Kagome when he and Kikyou meet and a weird mood develops? In his overinflated righteousness, Shippou calls Inuyasha a two-timing dog, and Inuyasha adopts a glower and warns the little guy that he's liable to be dropped right into the teeming rats if he says one more word. Probably best to hold that tongue until you're NOT relying on this guy to keep you from being devoured alive, kiddo.

Kagome and Shippou gape at what they judge SEEMS to be a tree, but Inuyasha adds that it's reaching straight up into the sky. The branches are disappearing far past the clouds, and the rats, as Kagome observes, follow those branches ALL the way up and vanish right along with the top of the tree. The shadow this thing casts must be absurdly large. It would block out the damn SUN.

Meanwhile, following the stream of rats back the opposite way, Sango and Miroku fly over an obliterated village that Miroku judges was devoured some time ago, but he's not more specific about how long he thinks that is. Sango agrees, adding that the rats have forced a path through it. The point is that they seem to be traveling back to earlier sites of the destruction. Miroku mutters about how terrible this is, and Sango urges Kirara to hurry. 

CONSCIOUSLY following orders just might be hitting different for Kohaku. He recalls Hakudoushi telling him that Kikyou has made a move, and as he's leaving to run and meet her, instructs Kohaku to stay here and watch over the zushi, warning him not to close the door on the little box. Kohaku even now puzzles over WHY the door should remain open when Kikyou has been lured out and its purpose is presumably fulfilled. It seems to be rhetorical, because he has already drawn the conclusion, with a look of disgust on his face, that Hakudoushi is ENJOYING the destruction of the rat horde. 

Give the boy a prize.

Kohaku leans on the box, his hand near the door, thinking on closing it to stop the rats, how even now it COULD save some lives. But he's aware of the saimyoushou hovering nearby, and notes with a sweatdrop that he's being watched. If he closes it, he's SURE that he'll let Naraku know that he's regained his memory and autonomy. Quite the dilemma he's created for himself.

Suddenly his name is called, and he looks up to find Sango and Miroku hovering on Kirara above him. 

And to top it all off, he just keeps breaking his sister's heart. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Kikyou's condition is very convenient to not interfere with the resolution of this rat problem. Miroku says himself that immense spiritual power is needed to create a "Mayose" charm, so I can't help but think, once again, that Kikyou can't be in THAT bad of shape right now. Perhaps it really IS just her physical condition that's still recovering from the corruption of Naraku's miasma river, but I should think even that would impact her ability to execute spiritual feats - I know that when I'M in extreme discomfort, I can't concentrate all that well on simple meditation. Granted, this is a pretty time-sensitive issue, and there's no one ELSE who can get rid of the sheer amount of rats that have been unleashed. 

I suppose I still think that if Kikyou's condition is as bad as we're supposed to believe, she should also be FORCED to seek help, primarily from Kagome, because she would be the only one who might be able to pull off what is needed here. It's an obvious literary avenue that is FAR more interesting than the contradictory path that RT is taking here.

Good thing Kohaku is here to make up for the confusion around Kikyou's state with his much crunchier complexity. His current situation is no easy puzzle, and forces the reader to ask a lot of anxiety-ridden questions. How far would you go to get your shot at eliminating ONE guy? How many people would you let die? How many would you kill on orders? How much evil is WORTH IT? And how many of us would have whatever it takes to make this continual decision? Because every second, Kohaku is having to reaffirm his commitment to his plan. In full consciousness, he has to ask himself these very questions - when it's enough and how many sacrifices are justified on the altar of killing Naraku - every moment. And I don't expect the reaffirmation to be any easier over time, especially when so much of his newly regained consciousness has to be dedicated to convincing himself that it's all worth it. 

It's true what they say. 

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 028 The 4th Match: Urameshi vs. Kibano!

It's always a little awkward to have two colons in my post titles, but my brain is especially fuzzy right now and it's troublesome. I'm dealing with ANOTHER aggressive virus, and on top of having not gotten a lot of sleep last night, it feels like my brain is leaking out my nose and my throat is on fire. I don't know what it is with 2025, but I'm proving to be ultra fragile when it comes to my health - it's not even the half-way mark on this year yet and I'm sick to death of... being sick. I don't know WHAT my husband's coworkers are getting into, but he'd better stop bringing that shit home with him every other week, because I don't think I can survive another one of these diseases!

Just the LOOK these guys are giving each other is exhausting for my overtaxed constitution. 

The next two-page spread gives us a short bio for every one of the candidates for Genkai's apprenticeship that are left, pretty much the same ones we got in their introductions, so no need to reiterate that here. I'm super DUPER not being lazy, just economical. 

As Yusuke and Kibano take their first steps toward the darkness, Yusuke calls for a pause in the proceedings. Kibano scoffs, asking if Yusuke's changed his mind, but Yusuke doesn't answer at first, just digging in his pocket for a moment. 

For super heavy moments, no doubt.

Yusuke expresses an intention to take a quick drag off the tobacco before battle, to which Botan responds by whacking him in the back of the head with a bit of fan paper. He rounds on her, claiming that hurt, like he's not facing far worse pain in the dark in the next few seconds. Botan says she MEANT it to hurt, and tells him that just because Keiko isn't around doesn't mean he can go wild. She demands he give her the cigarettes, Yusuke whining that it's his last pack and demanding she let go of it. 

Kibano flatly states that he'd like to get started with their match, and Botan looks back at him with a nervous laugh, happy to oblige, but Yusuke is still reaching for that pack of cigarettes they're fighting over. I guess Yusuke capitulates, because the next thing we see is Kibano asking Yusuke if he's ready and suggesting they go, Yusuke agreeing that he's right there with him. 

Once they're fully immersed in the dark, Yusuke remarks on how pitch black it is in there, and how they can't even see each other. Kibano's voice floats out of the dark, saying he doesn't find that problematic, considering he knows Yusuke's position precisely. Yusuke thinks he's bluffing, because his sixth sense didn't measure up to Kuwabara's, and shuffles to the right. Kibano accurately reports this out of the dark, which has Yusuke in alarmed disbelief. 

He... looks like a little baby chicken! Awwwwww!

It's clearly not supposed to be cute, but I'm a little loopy with illness right now. Kibano says he's been trained to fight without the need for sight, and in lieu of sight, he can sense his opponent in other, more accurate ways. He does NOT explain just where he's been keeping this sensory deprivation mask on him this whole time, given it doesn't seem like something all that easy to stash under his minimal gi aesthetic. Hand outstretched, Kibano says he can sense that Yusuke has been through a lot (quite the understatement), and Yusuke's glaring experiences allow Kibano to zero in on him. Yusuke stands out against the darkness for Kibano, surrounded in the spectral fire of a fighting spirit that swirls and emanates from Yusuke's body so he's fairly ablaze with it.   

With a triumphant yell, Kibano whacks Yusuke right on the chin with his fist, knocking him back in the dark. Kuwabara remarks on this in alarm, Botan gaping behind him. Yusuke lifts himself into a crouch with an exclamation of pain, swiping the back of his hand across the smarting spot he was hit. Suddenly, Kibano whispers in his ear from immediately behind him that it was a nice recovery. Then...

Yusuke is just barely able to avoid a spring and pounce of Kibano, whose fist actually shatters the FLOOR when he punches the spot Yusuke was a moment before. I can't be certain, because it's not clearly drawn, but I THINK Yusuke has picked up a jagged splinter from the broken floorboards and this is what he swipes at the retreating Kibano, daring him to sense THAT. He does indeed, and disappears once again into the darkness, leaving Yusuke questioning where he got to. 

A creak rises out of the black behind him, and Yusuke turns to lunge in its direction, declaring that Kibano was clumsy and he's got the sneaky bastard. Kibano does emerge from the black in front of Yusuke, and he taps Kibano back, but it seems to glance off Kibano rather than be a lick on par with what he's been giving. 

Ooof, I felt that one in my stomach. Or maybe it's the nausea. 

Yusuke is left trembling in pain, groaning as he holds his gut and side where Kibano kicked him. Once again, from the darkness surrounding Yusuke, Kibano teases that sounds may hint at his location, but they won't tell Yusuke precisely where to aim. Kuwabara is convinced that Urameshi is screwed, because the mask Kibano is wearing is also a helmet, which must be why Yusuke's knuckles glanced off his head so easily. Of course, this makes me question even HARDER where Kibano has been keeping that thing this whole time. 

Botan worries quietly over how much of a rank beginner Yusuke is in comparison with his competition's special training. She thinks he'll have to OUTWIT his opponents, but she's not SUPER confident he can do that. And coming from the ray of sunshine that she is, that's pretty dire. 

Kibano declares that it's time to wrap this up. He holds up a fist, and with Kuwabara and Botan reacting with horror while he grunts in his effort, his whole arm swells in volume, the veins standing out. Apparently, this is a result of him bringing the aura OUTSIDE his body INSIDE, which doubles his defensive power, according to his own explanation. Meanwhile, it looks like his arm has been stung by a REALLY BIG wasp. 

His fist is bigger than YUSUKE'S HEAD. Can aura grow BONES?

Once more, Yusuke is left on hands and knees, hacking over his injuries in the dark. Kibano compliments him on his reflexes and resilience, because he'd MEANT that "supercharged explosive thrust" to be a nat 20. Yusuke stands on shaky legs, agreeing, I suppose, on his hardiness. Kibano adds that Yusuke's sustained some hefty damage, though, and his fighting spirit is dimming. But from Genkai's point of view, Yusuke's aura is drawing in, even if she doesn't specify if it's in a similar way to Kibano's. She DOES say that it's probably not wise to corner Yusuke.

Yusuke is thinking about how even Kibano's glancing blows are murderous, and he can't dodge what he can't see. He's convinced that there MUST be a way to pinpoint Kibano's position, and after a moment of considering it, he realizes there IS. Kibano is insisting to Yusuke through the dark that he's too badly hurt, and this is the last chance for him to get away from this with his life, if he STAYS DOWN, that last part added as Kibano leaps for Yusuke with another punch to Yusuke out of the dark. Yusuke let's the punch glance off his jaw as he latches onto Kibano's passing arm, declaring he's got him. 

Break for this issue's filler panel: a feather-haired blonde with a "DEATH" headband that is named Lena. She's labeled a friend of Botan, who loves nothing more than telling cute guys that they're about to DIE. Unhinged as that is, it's rounded off with her flirtatious suggestion that the viewer is going to buy it next month. Like... the FARM? 

Back in the fight, Yusuke promises to repay Kibano's blow with interest, asking if Kibano wants a broken arm. Kibano snaps back with the statement that Yusuke is just FULL of surprises, but it won't amount to much. 

At this point, I'm starting to think that Kibano is just exaggerating his skills, rather than Yusuke is resilient. So many "killing" "ending" blows that just DON'T work as advertised...

Kuwabara is still despairing, however, over how Yusuke seems to be at Kibano's mercy - unable to sidestep attacks and getting tossed when he tries to grapple. But while Kuwabara tries to encourage that "slouch" Urameshi (sort of), Botan isn't convinced that Yusuke is quite so hamstrung. She acknowledges that he still has the Reigun, and though he has just one shot, he just has to know where to aim. 

Kibano pops one of the ear-mufflers off his mask, asking if Yusuke is more amenable to giving up yet, again giving Yusuke credit for his ability, but also for the multitude of limitations holding him FAR from a chance at victory. He even thinks that he'll be amazed if Yusuke has the strength to STAND at this point, and indeed Yusuke gets to his feet with some difficulty. He also haltingly states that not only is he NOT willing to give up, but he's going to win this thing. Yusuke declares a guarantee that Kibano's next attack will be his last. 

Kibano calls him a macho idiot, telling him it SHOULD be enough for him to have fought a good fight. Clearly, he doesn't want to continue hurting this CHILD, so at least it's fairly obvious by this point that he's not the evil demon Yusuke is here to stop. Not that Yusuke still doesn't want this apprenticeship real bad. Yusuke asks if Kibano is scared and wants HIM to make the first move, at which jibe Kibano grinds his teeth, calling Yusuke a punk. Mega uber punk. Again, he inflates his arm with aura, and agrees to oblige Yusuke's supposed death wish. He flits around Yusuke in the dark.

Kibano leaps at Yusuke, throwing his oversized fist down toward the boy with a shout of farewell, Kuwabara and Botan both calling out in alarm at Yusuke. Yusuke himself calmly points his glowing right pointer finger under is other arm right for where Kibano is, telling Kibano to wish HIMSELF so long. 

That thing just SHATTERED.

Even as blood is spattering from Kibano's forehead, he asks in amazed bewilderment how Yusuke knew where to aim. Yusuke tells him to check his belt before he passes out, and Kibano is blown away to find a LIT CIGARETTE tucked into his belt, demanding to know how such a thing got there. I'm just wondering how the damn thing didn't catch him on FIRE. Yusuke explains that he planted the cigarette while they were grappling, the thick gi and mask covering eyes, nose, and ears keeping him from even noticing. Kibano collapses with a dumb final exclamation, and the fight is done. 

Just wait until you can't run a few yards for shortness of breath. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? By no means was it a perfect setup and payoff. After all, that mask came out of nowhere, literally, and it was rigid enough that I can't imagine it being hidden about Kibano's person without having noticed it before this point. Also, Yusuke's little stunt came with a fair amount of risk of not just setting Kibano on fire, but the whole place, depending on how flammable those floorboards are.

But, all that aside, I did think this is one of the BETTER setups and payoffs that YT has put in place. If it DID set Kibano alight, it's not like that wouldn't have gotten Yusuke the win anyway, which is one way that Genkai's anything goes attitude would have worked in HIS favor for a change. It also manages to reframe one of Yusuke's delinquent behaviors as a positive, further underlining how our flawed hero can use ALL of himself to push past obstacles. It helps a reader to further envision how ANYONE, even someone society tends to look at as "bad" with a lot of bad aspects, can make their way through a problem. It's part of what I've always liked about this series - the core message that one doesn't have to be a perfect boyscout type to make a positive difference in the world. 

It's quite a bummer that there has to be some degree of the GLORIFICATION of a habit with deleterious health effects, though. I agree with Botan - the lighting-up habit isn't exactly something to be proud of, even if it DID get Yusuke through this particular ordeal, and I'm really hoping that any kids reading this didn't come away with the urge to start smoking because Yusuke made it look briefly cool and useful. 

Remember young'uns! Smoking is bad!

Inuyasha Manga: 327 Zushi Nezumi

"Wardrobe Rat"? What a title. I'm not sure what I thought about that back when I first read this chapter, but to be fair I wasn't really paying too much attention to the titles back then. My curiosity about the Japanese language in particular came later, so I imagine I just glanced over the foreign title and rushed right into the content instead of considering what it meant. Like many anime and manga fans, I had the assumption that it was something cool and culturally significant that I wouldn't understand the references to anyway.

It was a period in my life when I assumed a lot of hidden meaning behind the stories I consumed, before I realized that most of the time... it's not that deep.  

Middle manager energy. 

A hazy gibbous moon is shown high over some wooded hills and swaying bamboo, followed by a couple of skeletons still mostly clothed lying around a firepit in a house. Sitting nearby contemplating the human bone he's munching is a giant rat with a box strapped on his back like a backpack. This great rat turns to reveal a massive third eye in the middle of its forehead at the sound of a voice behind him, accusing him of letting his underlings eat the flesh of his prey while he devours the bones. It's Hakudoushi, who has walked into the room, and identifies the massive rodent as Zushi Nezumi. Nah, son, that thing would only BARELY fit in a wardrobe. 

Zushi Nezumi hums in confusion, calling Hakudoushi a brat and assuming that he's a survivor of the village he's apparently started picking clean. 

Well, there goes our chapter's namesake. I guess he's not nearly as important as having a chapter named after him would suggest.

As Kohaku catches his chained sickle again, Hakudoushi comments on how used to this sort of thing Kohaku is in a mocking sort of way. He instructs Kohaku to retrieve the box from Zushi Nezumi's back and bring it with them. Kohaku obediently does what he's told, with a acquiescent statement, and while he's unstrapping the box from the rat, Hakudoushi warns him not to accidentally open it here or else he'll die. The skeletons are probably a pretty big indication of that.

Narrow sky transition panel! Inuyasha steps alone up to a big tree with a tangle of twisted roots, this time in the daylight. 

Being melted from the inside by miasma is probably not an easy thing to recover from, to be fair. 

The bulk of his group is waiting for him on a nearby track or road, sitting around on its margins. Sango comments on how Inuyasha is late, and Shippou asks Kagome if it wouldn't have been better for them to go as well. Kagome, her chin resting in her hands and looking a little despondent, says that Inuyasha wanted to talk to Kikyou alone. Shippou waves the sucker he's snacking on at her and asks why she's so "open minded", as if her being less accepting of Inuyasha going off to see Kikyou was going to stop the phenomenon. He complains about Inuyasha being a really troublesome guy, forever wagging his tail and sticking to his previous woman, repeating the saying "feed a dog for 3 days and it's forever grateful" as a somewhat ridiculous parallel to this very complex and emotionally fraught situation for Inuyasha. 

Inuyasha himself responds to this by punting the little runt some distance while asking who got "raised", which I assume is an alternate translation of the saying above, possibly replacing and recontextualizing the "feed"? In any case, Kagome immediately asks Inuyasha what he and Kikyou talked about, and Inuyasha says haltingly that Kikyou wasn't there. Kagome takes this as a lie, and tells him that he doesn't have to do that, to which statement Inuyasha responds with some confusion. He even asks her why he would have to lie about it at all, calling her a moron. 

She predictably retorts with a placid sit command. 

What, it wasn't ABUNDANTLY clear before? 

Sango and Shippou sympathize with Kagome, the latter opining about how one suffers when one is open-minded. Inuyasha understandably gets a little pissed at them - sure he's been ground into the dirt by a painful spell, but sure, lets shed a big fat tear for the girl continually using it against him because she can't regulate her own jealousy response. 

Cue another narrow sky transition panel, which takes us to a village that appears abandoned at first panel, then overrun with a multitude of rats swarming over the bones of livestock and humans once we get a view of the ground. Another panel shows us the inside of a house, which, much like earlier in the chapter, contains a couple of human skeletons lying on the floor. Inuyasha's party has apparently started moving after their little EPISODE earlier, walking along, when Miroku placidly states that something's coming toward them. Despite his sense of smell that should have alerted him to this long before Miroku, Inuyasha utters a distracted hum in question. 

A lone horse is galloping in their direction, on its back an old man and young boy, the former crying out for help from the strangers. Close on the horse's heels is a great moving mass. Inuyasha draws Tessaiga without further prompt, Kagome instead voicing the question about them being chased. It soon becomes apparent just what that mass following the horse is composed of. 

NORMAL rats are bad enough!

Sango suddenly yells at Inuyasha not to cut these rats, Kagome calling her name in question at this odd advice. But Inuyasha's Tessaiga is already on its way down onto the tide of rats, even as he looks over his shoulder and utters a noise of confusion at Sango. The sword slices through a multitude of the little creatures and...

Manual mitosis. 

Sango says she knew it, uttering the name Zushi Nezumi, at last informing the group that the rats only INCREASE by being cut. Miroku asks how you're supposed to exterminate these pests then, and she answers that they can succumb to a poisonous smoke, but a particular kind of herb is needed, implying that she doesn't have access to that at the moment. Miroku rips the beads from his right hand, declaring that this is the only way, and uses the Kazaana to vacuum up the rodents. 

Once the cleanup is all over, they speak to the two survivors who were on the horse, who confirm that their village was attacked by the horde of rats as they huddle together in their grief and horror. The old man says that he and his grandson were lucky and had been on the other side of the mountain at the time of the infestation, but all the rest of the villagers weren't so lucky as them, trailing in stating their fate. No doubt it's "luck" too that they resemble so closely the old man and boy whose village was attacked by that moth youkai back in the 180's, though I consider that a distinctly bad kind. 

Kagome turns to Sango, asking her about the term she used for the rats - Zushi Nezumi. 

But she adds that this big rat should only attack enough for what it needs, and has never heard of a whole village being swarmed before. I guess the one at the beginning actually only attacked that one house. 

Ominously, Inuyasha tells them that there are many more rats, that he can smell them from far away, and it seems to him that they're RAPIDLY increasing. Cut to a bare rocky incline, at the peak of which is set the box Kohaku collected at the beginning of the chapter, its little doors wide open and rats spilling from it in diverting streams down the hill. On an adjacent peak, Hakudoushi crouches and looks down on his handiwork from a safe distance, Kohaku standing behind him. Hakudoushi giggles evilly that they're all pouring out endlessly, to which Kohaku reacts with a pained and repulsed look. 

As scene from one of these villages is shown us, where farmers turn at the noise of the skittering rats' approach, and stutter in disbelief at the horde of rodents they behold. A farmer swipes at the rats with his hoe, but as we've seen before, the result is just a knot of extra rats on the implement, which the farmer drops when he falls backward on the ground, rendered dumb by the counterintuitive explosion of creatures. 

Hakudoushi expounds further about how the rats increase rapidly at every place they go, one scene showing skulls immersed in a whole river of them. Resting his head on the heel of his hand in a somewhat whimsical manner, Hakudoushi muses on how this whole country will soon be eaten by rats. Kohaku asks hesitantly, with a look of concern, if Hakudoushi thinks Kikyou will come out, and Hakudoushi appears to JUST remember that's what this whole exercise was about in the first place. Watching an ocean of rats devastate the countryside is just plain FUN for him. He asserts that Kikyou will HAVE to notice pretty soon whether she likes it or not, and he questions why she WOULDN'T come out in response. Kohaku hangs his head, thinking about what Hakudoushi is doing just to lure out Kikyou. 

And for the lulz. Don't forget about the lulz, Kohaku!

Dramatic irony ahoy!

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? While I am still sympathetic to Kagome's jealousy to some extent - fifteen-year-olds are not known for being in control of their emotions or the responses to the same - more than ever I feel really bad for Inuyasha. It IS somewhat suspicious that he would have taken so long that Sango commented on him being late, especially since the chapter gave no explanation for the time he took. Still, for everyone to assume that he's lying, side with Kagome to the point of condoning her physical abuse of Inuyasha, and all without considering WHY he would lie about something like that, is really frustrating. They all knew where he was going and why he was going there, so there would be no need for him to claim that Kikyou wasn't even there when he arrived. For anyone who has been in a situation like this, where even friends weren't giving them the benefit of the doubt, it's kind of maddening for this situation to be played off like a joke. Not gonna lie, I kind of hate it.

The other thing I'm not all that thrilled about is the level of devastation that is being escalated here. I understand the need for something very big to draw out the reluctant Kikyou, because nothing less than a massive emergency would make her act in her condition considering the risk involved. I also understand that Hakudoushi is very much enjoying the idea of this level destruction he gets to watch unfold. But all that under consideration, the population of the day and the logistics just would not sustain this much of a blow. After the chaos following the fall of Mt. Hakurei, villages being decimated and wiped out by youkai escaping it, I can't help but think about how there has to already be a massive dip in population. Something like an endless swarm of flesh-eating rats wouldn't be something human or animal populations could just bounce back from, and no matter the lack of records, it would be a matter of historical significance for centuries to come. Just a TAD difficult to suspend my disbelief on this note.

No surprise that Kohaku's already having to consciously participate in mass murder, either. Obviously we can't allow his decision to go unchallenged for a single second, lol.

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 027 Mortal Maneuvers in the Dark!!

I must be doing some of those while I'm asleep in bed, because my neck always seems to be stiff and sore when I get up in the morning. None of my pillows seem to be giving me proper support, despite my having bought some of them special for the magic support powers they are supposed to have. Of course, the money I spent was always carefully balanced with my means, so it's always possible that the higher-end products are the ones that will really be effective. But there's also the possibility that they are no better at all, or even harmful in the long run, because it is simply NOT TRUE that you get what you pay for. 

Either way, I'll end up spending a small fortune trying things until I find something that only kinda works. Genkai is right: getting old sucks. 

Maybe Yusuke shouldn't have wasted all that energy catching the Bat Master. Hopefully he's not fighting right away...

Genkai has led them back to her compound, telling them that the particular building they're heading toward is going to be the battle arena and they'll face off two-by-two until only one of them is left. Classic tournament style, big shocker there. 

How much you want to bet that the place doesn't have lights because it's a new installment and Genkai hadn't gotten around to putting in the wiring yet? XD

Genkai says that this round will test what they can FEEL, not see. She invites them to use any techniques or weapons they like, and the only rule is that they have to defeat their opponent and return to their gathering spot. Yusuke teases a nervous Kuwabara, asking if cat's got his tongue and if he's freaking out about fighting one-on-one. Kuwabara responds that it's a bad feeling he's had ever since they left the forest, something that's wrong. When he says it's as if there's a monster or savage beast lurking nearby, Yusuke's attitude suddenly gets serious, and he curses the fact that he keeps forgetting that Rando is somewhere, after the master's techniques. 

Yusuke asks if this feeling is coming from one of the other guys, and after a moment of consideration, Kuwabara confirms that's probably the case. He can't tell which one, though, because there's nothing obvious about any of them that would indicate danger. But Kuwabara insists he can SMELL it, struggling to identify a suitable analogy to what this is like. Yusuke suggests the simile of a fart in a crowded elevator, and Kuwabara agrees that it's close enough. Well, he DID invoke his sense of smell. 

Genkai scratches her cheek thoughtfully, humming over how they'll determine the match-ups. She realizes as she's pondering that she doesn't even know any of their NAMES. No doubt before this point it would have been a little difficult to remember them all, or maybe that's just my issue with recalling names talking. In any case, Genkai tells them to each introduce themselves.

We've got a guy with an eyepatch, who calls himself Musashi, who's labeled a spiritualist, 4th Dan in Kendo, and master of the quick sword draw. Then the little guy with a wide eyes introduces himself as Shaolin, traveling the country and training along the way in spiritualism, labeled 1st Dan in Kung-Fu. Then the guy with long hair and scars on his face calls himself Kibano, says he's challenging his own limits, and is labeled a martial artist who is expert in "various" disciplines - no specifics. The plump man with a thin curling line of a mustache says he's Chinpo, labeled a "Mystery Man of China", whatever that means. The one with the Swastika tattoo on his forehead is Kaze-maru, and says he's one of the last ninjas, and is labeled a VIP bodyguard as well as an expert in modern Ninjutsu. The man with glasses and a heavy brow introduces himself as Kuroda, doesn't say ANYTHING else, and is labeled a skilled assassin with a knife. At last, we have our boys; Kuwabara, self-proclaimed punk, labeled number 2 fighter at Sarayashiki Jr. High School and a delinquent with a sixth sense. Urameshi, self-proclaimed ULTRA punk, labeled number 1 fighter at Sarayashiki and highly proficient in street brawls. 

With all those details out of the way, we can move on to the fighting.

Can't get this show on the road YET, though, because Kuroda has a couple of pertinent questions. As a little precursor to such, he says that his profession requires he kills his opponent, and notes, rather threateningly, that his opponent in this match is a professional rival. Kaze-maru glares at him silently, his buddy Kisano in the background looking a little annoyed in the background. 

Anticipating where he's going with this, Genkai says that all of them are allowed to fight in any way they see fit, and asks if the third phase DIDN'T eliminate anyone who were willing to kill or be killed. And here I was under the impression that SHE wasn't really interested in anyone dying in these little qualifying games of hers. My mistake? Anyway, Kuroda seems to have gotten the answer he wanted if his smirk is anything to go by, and asks her if she'd object to mentoring an assassin. Genkai says without any hesitation that she'll teach the victor, no matter what his profession or ambitions. 

Like, girl... WTF?

Anyway, she asks if this is good enough for him, he says it's good, and Yusuke glowers in the background, thinking that this hag is insane, and reiterating to himself that he can't let Rando win. Especially not now. Thus, Kuroda whips off his glasses and glares at Kaze-maru, and their match is announced as the first. 

The only thing that's going to kill either of them is cutting an artery on all their fucking EDGE. 

When they've both disappeared into the dark and all that can be sensed from them is the thuds, clacks, scuffs, and whacks, Yusuke complains that he hates not being able to watch, looking a little anxious with his clenched jaw and sweatdrop. Kisano is also sweatdropping, and voices the rhetorical question of which one has the advantage. 

At least, it was supposed to be rhetorical. Kuwabara blurts that the assassin has the upper hand. Yusuke is in disbelief that he can apparently see the combatants, but before Kuwabara can elaborate, his eyes widen at something going on in the dark. There's a fully visible flash in the inky black. 

Oh, that looks familiar. In fact, Yusuke gapes horrified at the darkness settled after the blast, recognizing it as a flash from a Reigun, a technique he HAS but acknowledges is not nearly so powerful as THAT. Sucks to suck, kid.

Kaze-maru stumbles out of the dark arena into the limited light, stooped and clutching his abdomen, the sleeve on his left arm shredded and the mesh undershirt exposed beneath. He's declared the winner, but he grumbles that he didn't think he'd have to play his ace right off the bat like that. But it did save him from getting offed by the biggest weirdo here, so it could be worse. 

Musashi asks what that WAS that Kaze-maru did, and Kisano guesses that it was an aura weapon of some kind. Yusuke agrees that it's what it looked like, mumbling that it WAS a Reigun after all. Botan appears LITERALLY OUT OF NOWHERE to tell him that's pretty much it. Both Kuwabara and Yusuke look over, the latter demanding to know what Botan is doing, and she suggests that she COULDN'T sit this out, but doesn't elaborate. What she DOES elaborate on is how Kaze-maru probably probably emits his aura through the palm of his hand, and says that Yusuke's Reigun to THAT is like a water pistol to a Howitzer. Damn, make him feel MORE inadequate, why don't you? She adds that Kaze-maru has plenty more energy in reserve even after that shot. 

While Yusuke reconciles himself to the fact that he won't be able to match Kaze-maru Reigun to Reigun then, Genkai side-eyes Botan. Apparently, it's news to HER that Koenma is betting on the cocky tough Yusuke, but she's sticking to her selection process no matter what the Afterworld prefers. Is this just how old women rebel? 

As Genkai examines Botan, Botan is sticking out her tongue and claiming to be hip? I... don't get it? 

Sure Botan. Whatever you say.

Anyway, Shaolin has already won his match with Chinpo off panel, lightly scuffed and claiming that it was awfully close. Botan strokes her chin thoughtfully, saying it's not a surprising result, given he outscored his opponent in the first tests. It's unclear whether she's talking about Shaolin or Kaze-maru still, but since Yusuke moodily tells her to watch that right hand that might go off, maybe the latter? This whole conversation is difficult to follow. 

Yusuke gives Kuwabara a mocking thumbs-down and warns him cockily not to trip over his own feet. Kuwabara just scoffs and tells Yusuke to go screw himself. As Kuwabara and Musashi stroll into the darkness, Musashi glares at him and tells his CHILD opponent that it's his last chance to back out, because he's not holding back, intending this fight to be to the DEATH. Big strong man, threatening a kid like this.

Said kid asserts that he doesn't scare easy, but I recall how long it took him to get to that delinquent base to rescue Keiko. But he's not exaggerating about being in his share of fights, and his sixth sense being SUPER sharp. He's just talking about how he can clearly see Musashi despite the dark enveloping them when he sees that Musashi has disappeared. 

Then he gets clocked right in the face, taking a hit that takes him right off his feet. He's used to that, though, and is quick to look around for his assailant. He observes Musashi just over his shoulder and declares as much, but Musashi again fades rapidly into the void. Sweating, Kuwabara is in nervous disbelief and is looking around in a panic to try and see his opponent as Musashi's voice floats out at him to tell him that he's well aware of the youngster's acute sixth sense, but Musashi has trained himself to suppress his aura. 

Do you think you're helping, Yusuke? 

Kuwabara demands to know what Yusuke cares, and tells him to mind his own battles, claiming to be doing JUST FINE, thank you. Musashi questions the assertion that he's doing fine from his cloak of darkness, insisting he's already beat Kuwabara, stating that the boy can barely stand. Kuwabara spits some blood, while declaring he's spitting on Musashi's wimpy punches too. He tells Musashi that he doesn't KNOW brutal until he's gone a round with Urameshi. The bromance is SO STRONG here. 

Musashi growls in frustration, then he flares back into visibility, a wooden sword now drawn and pointed at Kuwabara, grousing that his opponent leaves him no choice. Kuwabara is in a little confused disbelief over the wooden sword, so Musashi explains that it's no ordinary wooden sword, carved from a tree over 1000 years old and polished with holy water. Sounds like it's just... soggy. Regardless, Musashi says this sword is a proven demon slayer, and is pretty good at downing other kinds of enemies as well. 

It's not long before Kuwabara is looking around again, alarmed at how Musashi has disappeared AGAIN. An ominous sound is accompanied by a look of shock and horror from Kuwabara. 

I was wrong, the sword couldn't crack like that if it were soggy.

The tip that broke off the sword clatters to the floor along with Kuwabara. Musashi complains about the break, and calls Kuwabara sturdy, which isn't a half-bad assessment. Kuwabara shakily gets onto his hands and knees with a groan, then pushes himself to his feet, haltingly agreeing with Musashi about his own sturdiness, which causes Musashi even MORE surprise. This is perhaps why he decides it's better to fade back into the dark again, as he asserts that his next blow will finish Kuwabara anyhow, and the fragment Kuwabara has brought back to his feet with him will be no defense against this inevitability. 

Bloody and gurgling, Kuwabara acknowledges that while he clutched at the piece of wood next to him without thinking, Musashi is absolutely correct that it won't do him any good. Musashi doesn't even give him time to dwell in fear on this apparent fact before he reappears behind Kuwabara and swings down the sword at him with a roar that it's time to die. Kuwabara swings around, yelling as well. There's a flash. 

Good question.

As Kuwabara holds off Musashi's wooden sword with one that is made almost entirely of projected energy, Musashi insists that it CAN'T be. He declares, despite his disbelief, that Kuwabara has created an aura sword, and Genkai agrees through a gape, adding that the boy is GIFTED. You sure you don't wanna throw away the tournament right now and just take on Kuwabara for your pupil? Because this is the first time you've been in obvious and undeniable AWE. 

With a little extra effort and a clenched jaw, Kuwabara's aura sword cuts through the splintering wooden one and sends a screaming Musashi reeling into the darkness. Kuwabara stares at the energy weapon he created, questioning just HOW he did it. Genkai doesn't say so out loud, but SHE at least has it figured out - Kuwabara was able to bring out the true power of a highly charmed object once he'd grasped it. With a little smile, Genkai thinks that Kuwabara will only get more powerful with time. 

When Kuwabara walks back into the circle of light, declared the winner, Botan enthusiastically says he's turned into a serious contender, though she is sweatdropping a little. Yusuke is also nervously sweatdropping, chuckling that he supposes that's true. Kuwabara walks past him, telling him to win his match, and he'll be waiting. Yusuke snaps at Kuwabara to do so, asserting he'll be right back.

Ooooh, what a cliffhanger!

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I definitely feel Yusuke's concerns around seeing how much stronger Kaze-maru's Reigun is than his own. Up until now, the stakes have been fairly low, and even after Yusuke got explicitly competitive because he wants to win the apprenticeship, it was difficult to SEE the skills of those with which he was competing. Sure, the games measured visibly the POTENTIAL of the candidates, but there was no real demonstration of that raw power until the hopefuls started using it against each other. It's suddenly become obvious how inexperienced Yusuke is, and how that training that his imminent opponent was talking about just before their forest ordeal.

Even Kuwabara is showing a TON more promise - he managed to manifest a sword out of fucking NOWHERE! Not sure if Kuwabara killed Musashi (I HOPE NOT!), but if so, his Aura Sword is able to do much more than the Reigun can at this point. Kuwabara is always surprising and delighting me with how he stumbles upon serious chops when he puts some effort in. I'm happy for him, but I'm conflicted by my concern for Yusuke as well, so this chapter has been something of a mixed emotional bag. It's complicated, though in a very good way. 

Meanwhile, I'm NOT too impressed with Genkai's about-face here. She showed some concern for people who might get stuck in the forest, but now she doesn't seem to care at all that her potential students are aiming to use deadly force. I understand that it raises the stakes a bit, and makes it even more necessary for Rando to be eliminated, but it's a little weird that Genkai's attitude turned on a dime like that. Could she think of NO OTHER WAY to further test her candidates? And furthermore, won't these deaths be INVESTIGATED? Does she want to draw that kind of attention on her and her compound???

And the ultimate question - what is Botan ON? She's a bit more loopy than normal, and that's saying something.