A Looming Migration?

So, I think I might have to move this blog.

There are a couple of reasons for this. The first was rather petty - I don't like how Google has capitulated to this fascist regime and its insistence on renaming the Gulf of Mexico. I am of the opinion that anyone and everyone who can do so has a duty to resist everything that the current POTUS and his cronies do, including the little things that there seems no real harm in. Relabeling and redefining things is a very real tactic that despots use to destabilize established institutions and gain consent to big atrocities through a series of innocuous demands. I won't be having it, and I don't want to risk complicity by continuing to use Google's blogging platform.

The other reason is more practical, though. Lately I've been noticing that there's a tendency for Blogger's text editor to freeze at odd times when I'm typing out a post. No cursor, new text will not appear, and it is impossible to reload the page no matter what I try. My only recourse is to exit the window and open a new one, and sometimes I have to do it multiple times during a blogging session. It really takes the wind out of my sails when this happens, because when I hit a groove in writing, it is immensely disruptive to have everything just come to a screaming halt, interrupting in the most brutal way the train of thought I was on.

I initially chose Blogger because it was free, accessible, had its own image hosting, and I could access it from pretty much anywhere. But, and pardon my Cory Doctorow, this platform has become so enshittified as to finally tip those switching costs into the "affordable" column. The only question now is where I want to go.

There are a lot of options out there, and I feel a little paralyzed by choice, as well as the work of migrating. As I said, Blogger's image hosting has always made the process easy, but I think most of the alternatives will require a separate image site. I'll also have to decide if I want to try to move all the posts I've already done (close to 700 as of this posting), or just keep this blog open and accessible, with a link to its new home for posts going forward once I've acquired a new host. Reposting all the content from here would be a monumental task, but I kind of want all my posts in one convenient place, if possible. I suppose this is going to largely depend on whether I choose a host that's compatible with Blogger, so I can download all the old posts and import them onto the new blog. 

These are my main difficulties presented, and now I'd like input from the readers. Where would it be most convenient for YOU to follow me? Is there a platform that you particularly like or think would be easy to make a transition to? Would you like to make an argument for why I should stay here, despite my issues above? There may be some factors that I haven't considered that you foresee, so let me know! Either way, it'll be a process; in the event that a move happens, it certainly won't happen overnight, and there will be plenty of time to discuss the options. 

In the meantime, I'll continue to post. I have a bit of a stubborn streak, as longtime readers may be aware, and no amount of dissatisfaction with my platform will induce me to give up my almost decade-long effort to record every inane opinion I have on select manga. Refusing to indulge this little amusement would just be punishing myself and frequenters of this blog, and make absolutely no difference to Google. 

As usual, we're all just looking out for ourselves in the cold shadows of immense money-printing machines. 

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 024 The Fearsome, Gruesome Binding Curse!!

I'm a little mystified by the grammar of this title. Should there not be another comma between "gruesome" and "binding" to indicate another item on the list of descriptors? Or is "binding curse" a compound noun that is being described by "fearsome" and "gruesome"? I have to assume it's the latter, but it still LOOKS extremely strange to me. That lone comma, punctuation that you don't often see in chapter titles, sticks out like a sore thumb, and it's really bugging the part of my brain that always wanted to be an English teacher. I'm really hoping it doesn't distract me the whole time I'm editing this post.

Oh no, he's set me off again in a different direction. Hiei, WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO? Yourself or Yusuke? Somebody make it make sense!

This better not be my entire experience of this chapter.

Hiei asserts that Keiko WILL become his demon slave, and that there's no stopping it, despite Botan's continued efforts. Still, Yusuke remains stony-faced and placid, stating that this is what Hiei SAYS only. It's clear this masterful attitude is REALLY pissing Hiei off, who glares daggers before screaming that he KNOWS it. He then yells that Yusuke is fast, but his own speed is beyond imagination. To illustrate this point, he materializes here, there and everywhere around Yusuke, taunting him and claiming Yusuke can't even follow his after-image. 

At a certain point, above and slightly behind Yusuke, Hiei starts to bear down on his opponent, declaring he's got him. It's somewhat premature - Yusuke glowers up at him as he makes his assault, no doubt because he gave away his position by shouting his head off.

A decent question, honestly. 

Walking over to loom over Hiei's grunting downed form, Yusuke admits he's not much impressed by Hiei OR his evil eye. As Hiei pushes himself back up, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth by the back of his hand, Yusuke suggests that they finish this up already. Grinding his teeth and clawing the floor in frustration, Hiei curses it all, and whips off his duster/cloak when he stands, to reveal a bare chest. I'm just wondering WHY he's doing this when he says that he never thought he'd have to TRANSFORM to fight Yusuke, and his skin shades, splitting into a bunch of similar "gashes" to the one on Keiko's forehead. 

Uh... It seems counter-intuitive to cover yourself in giant weak-spots, but you do you my guy.

Apparently Yusuke and Hiei have moved somewhat far from where Botan is tending to the comatose Keiko - there are a number of boxes stacked between them and and the fighters now. Yususke looks at where a glow has sprung up behind those boxes, at Keiko's approximate location, and worriedly calls out to the girls, asking what's going on with that light. Hiei explains that Keiko's third eye is reacting to his own, and chuckles that she's as good as demonified now. 

As the eye on Hiei's forehead glows ominously, Yusuke finds he's been frozen in place, and Hiei takes advantage of the immobility to punch him in the face while declaring that Keiko's condition is the LEAST of his worries now. Yusuke's head snaps around in a very uncomfortable looking way, because he is rooted to the spot and can't actually fly with the force of the hit. 

Outside the warehouse, someone steps up who identifies the incredible torrent of demonic power within, muttering about how this must be Hiei's true form. Gee, I wonder who it could be? Possibly the only other person who we are aware knows Hiei personally? 

I very much doubt that. I'm expecting a Mick Jagger attitude here before long.

Hiei goes ahead and beats the shit out of the stationary Yusuke while he can't do anything but stand and take it. It's surprising to me that when Hiei stops, he's smiling. He walks over to where he dropped the stolen sword, saying that now Yusuke should see the difference in their abilities. I guess cheap tricks to make sure your opponent can't fight back is still an ability, so, sure. Hiei points the sword at Yusuke, telling him that he did put up a good fight for a human, so out of respect he's going to finish him off with one thrust. 

... I'm not touching that joke. 

Yusuke sweats, knowing that there's no way for him to stop what's coming, and braces for the incoming strike, Hiei screaming at him to die. A new hand reaches out to interfere. 

You'd think a guy with that many eyes could have seen Kurama stepping in.

Hiei sweatdrops and asks Kurama if he's out of his mind, since he just took the killing stab in the gut that was aimed for Yusuke. Instead of answering, Kurama flings some blood from his wound into all three of Hiei's eyes. Alarmed at the use of blood as a defense, Hiei stumbles back, grinding at his eyes with his fists, cursing Kurama for his attack on his third eye in particular. 

Yusuke lifts his arms and flexes his fingers, exclaiming that he can move again, while Kurama explains that the eyes that erupted all over Hiei's body had enhanced his powers, but the one on his forehead is the source of that power. Kurama tells Yusuke that eye is blind now, so the field should be evened up. Smiling as a trickle of blood leaks from the corner of his mouth, he urges Yusuke to finish up this business, while he sees to the girl. Yusuke reminds Kurama that he's got a sword sticking out of his gut, but Kurama in turn reminds hims that he's a demon, so he'll get over it. Fuckers are REALLY hard to kill. Again, Kurama urges him to go and win the fight before Hiei's third eye recovers, already on his way to the place beyond the crates where Botan is still trying to tend to Keiko. 

As Yusuke utters Kurama's name in acknowledgment of all the pains he's taking, Hiei groans before yelling after Kurama that he's a traitor, and threatening to massacre him for it. He balks at the approach of Yusuke, though, who asks if he isn't forgetting something. 

Hiei, my dude, try and decide who you're talking to before you open your mouth. PLEASE. 

A furious fight commences, in which Hiei lands a punch, then flits away so fast that Yusuke is unable to land a return hit. Hiei smacks Yusuke again, and once more speeds off to intercept Yusuke as he flies from the force of it, getting behind him to kick him in another direction altogether. All this success has got Hiei pretty cocky, thinking that Yusuke is STILL no match for him.

Yusuke struggles to his feet, pointed in a fleeing position, which is exactly what Hiei takes it for and laughs at him for it while speeding to intercept him. But Yusuke is mentally measuring distances, thinking he's almost in position. Hiei lunges at him, declaring he's going to die, when Yusuke raises his finger and refuses to die for this jerk just yet. Hiei looks shocked at the pointing digit, and the coming spirit blast from it. It looks for all the world that he won't be able to dodge, but...

Missed him by a hair!

Hiei is apparently familiar with this particular energy blast, because he calls it the "Rei Gun" too, and calls it one hell of an ace up Yusuke's sleeve. He grants that Yusuke has proven himself to be far more than he seemed at first, but he also says he can tell that Yusuke is all done, and as Yusuke scoots conspicuously along the wall he's backed up against, acknowledges that if Yusuke had had a little more time to improve, he might have winged him. 

Yusuke doesn't respond, still scuffing along the wall. Hiei tells him he can shuffle his position all he likes, but there's nowhere for him to go. At last, Yusuke comes to a silent halt, resting against the wall, which Hiei says is better, holding his clawed hand aloft as he declares that he and his friends are going to Hell, then lunging for Yusuke while promising that he's sending him there first. 

Dafuq?

Hiei chokes that he's been hit, questioning who did it, and what happened. He turns at a clattering noise sounding behind him and notes in astonishment the broken surface of the Mirror of Darkness he'd come to bargain for, next to his discarded cloak. 

So, spiritual energy follows physics, but VERY slowly? Okay...

The shading fades from Hiei's skin and he haltingly says that he can't believe Yusuke, before he loses all his considerable strength and falls forward. Yusuke holds out the flat of his foot to catch Hiei's face before he lands right in his lap, then staggers to his feet with the wall as support, scoffing in exhaustion that that's Hiei taken care of, but it was one hell of a fight. 

Once he's collected himself, he trots over to where Keiko's condition is being treated, asking if she, Botan, and Kurama are alright. He makes a special inquiry about Keiko, trailing in his worried question about her status. Botan assures him that Keiko is alright, the antidote in the hilt of the sword Kurama was kind enough to bring over working to close that weird third eye of hers. Sighing in relief, Yusuke turns to Kurama, who is sitting hunched against the wall, to ask how HE'S doing, adding that he OWES Kurama big time. Kurama tells him not to sweat it, because he's got some time before his trial to sit at home and mend for a while. 

Botan reprimands Yusuke for not telling her his plan, asking when he found out that his Rei Gun blast could reflect off mirrors. Making a questioning noise at first, Yusuke puts a finger to his temple and grins, a little amused by the fact that Botan thought he had a PLAN. He characterizes it as a flash of insight, a realization that Hiei was so fast he'd never get him with a direct shot. He says that he saw the mirror across the way where Hiei had dropped it, and took a chance that his shot was enough like light that it would reflect back. Sweating, Botan balks, then asks what Yusuke would have done if THAT hadn't worked, and Yusuke answers that he would have just thought of something else, adopting a somewhat irritated expression. 

"... It means I've clocked you as a fucking idiot."

The next panel labels the moment just as "later", and shows Yusuke and Botan walking along on the street casually. Yusuke is bragging that Gouki and Hiei had been arrested and the three treasures that had been stolen were restored with two whole days to spare. Wait, Gouki was ARRESTED? 

Anyway, Yusuke supposes that Koenma's dad never found out that the treasures were stolen to begin with, but Botan informs him that since the sword was all rusty with blood and the mirror was cracked, they couldn't fix them up before King Enma returned, so he found out anyway. Yusuke bets the guy was pissed, but Botan's expression is pretty chipper for someone who had to deal with the kind of wrath that Koenma described. Not to mention that wrath hadn't manifested in the living world the way Koenma talked about either. Botan says that Enma was only a LITTLE mad, because after all, the treasures had been recovered.

Yusuke questions the "little" part, and Botan tells him not to breathe a word to anyone, before whispering behind her hand that Koenma got a pretty severe spanking for the whole debacle, a illustration of just that behind her to back her point to the reader. Who would Yusuke TELL this to, anyway? What, is he going to be gossiping about it to the thieves he apprehended? Of course, he's guffawing about it in the middle of the street, saying a kid's a kid no matter how many centuries old he is, so this kind of thing must have been what Botan was worried about. She shushes him, trying to get him to lower his voice, as if any of the passersby will have any notion what they're talking about anyway.

Giving her a thumbs-up, Yusuke says to Botan that it's better Koenma get spanked than earthquakes and shit. He declares the Three Dark Treasures Case closed. Just then, a figure walks past them, wishing them a good morning. It's Keiko, looking consternated despite her cordial greeting. Yusuke lets out a quiet "oops" as Botan says the whole thing isn't quite tied up in a nice bow. It seems it's just occurred to Yusuke that he STILL hasn't cleared things up with Keiko yet. 

Does... does Keiko even REMEMBER getting slashed by Hiei?

So, what do I think of this chapter overall? Yusuke's ultimate win SHOULD have been really clever and cool, but there were quite a few issues that got in the way. For starters, note how there were TWO paragraphs of recap between Hiei dodging the initial shot and getting hit. Hiei said an awful lot in that time, when he really should have had very little time to get out half a taunt to Yusuke. Also, Yusuke had time to gauge its trajectory, taking several panels to scoot into its line. Light is notoriously fast in its travel, so his comparison to it later in response to Botan didn't make a lot of sense. 

In fact, I think it would have been much more justified in comparing it to billiards. Yusuke basically doesn't go to school, which doesn't really give him a great basis for citing something that he would have learned THERE more than within the realm of his experience. I imagine he's played a game of pool with some frequency, or maybe he could even have recalled his gambling with pachinko machines as a basis for comparison instead. These are physical objects that bounce off of obstacles, AND they move slow enough to be more apt to reflect with happened here. 

And lastly... Hiei is COVERED in eyes. He should have been able to SEE the blast coming at him from behind, like he should have been able to see Kurama coming to intercept his sword thrust. Does he not actually SEE through the damn things? What's the point of them being EYES if they don't FUNCTION LIKE EYES? I mean, I guess it's creepy to have Biblically accurate Hiei, but beyond that...

In conclusion: great concept for defeating a villain, but poorly executed in this instance, and probably shouldn't have been used here at all. 

Inuyasha Manga: 323 The Last Fragment

I'm on my final fragment too - the last fragment of my sanity. Over the past week I suffered a somewhat painful sinus infection that gave me some severe sinus headaches, so I had a lot of difficulty actually focusing on anything for too long. I'd already been feeling pretty useless, because I've been struggling to actually GO to my chapter DSA meetings, due to a number of things cropping up every time there's been one on the calendar, not the least of them various sicknesses I don't want to spread. My actions lately have been relegated to the phone and internet, which just highlights to me how small and insignificant my voice really is in the grand scheme of things, and that in turn throws me into a fresh bout of stress and despair. 

No wonder a new ailment pops up every week. My body can't take the unraveling of my mind. 

Ah, to be a manga protagonist, who is sure to overcome ANY challenge, even if they aren't aware of it...

Naraku says in absolute certainty that Inuyasha's Tessaiga cannot cut him again, but Inuyasha is disentangling himself from the horns and spikes of Housenki, asserting that this fight isn't over yet, so he doesn't know WHAT Naraku's on about. He doesn't protest, though, when another branching tentacle reaches behind him into the crater in Houseki's body, surrounding the Shikon shard there with little flanges to pick it out. It's Kagome's turn to wear the Captain Obvious hat, because she shouts from atop her bone-bird that Naraku is trying to take the fragment. 

Still, it took this alarming shout for Kirara's riders to wake to the alarm, and Sango responds by throwing her Hiraikotsu and severing the tentacle before it can return to the main body. Kagome affirms that the tentacle has been sliced, as if she's the only one with working EYES, before Miroku takes the mantle of the expositor to state that Naraku can be cut when he's OUTSIDE the barrier. I mean, why else would he even HAVE a barrier, dude? 

Anyway, the stump of tentacle still lodged in Housenki starts gushing some nasty, bubbling shit that is definitely NOT blood. 

I think Naraku might be the ONLY person on the face of the planet who could actually benefit from crunchy claims about detoxifying shit.

So fast it can only be made out as a blur of motion, another of Naraku's tentacles strikes Inuyasha straight off of Housenki's head, slicing him up a little as well. Then it branches into flanges again and finishes its job delicately picking the Shikon fragment out from between the diamond spears. Naraku chuckles that he finally has the last of the Shikon shards, Inuyasha's whole group, including him, gaping over the phrase like it's unexpected or something. I thought we already knew this? 

I guess Inuyasha was still hovering in midair for the last couple of seconds, because that's where he is when Housenki comes barrelling at him like an oncoming train. 

At first I thought it was Housenki himself that threw himself at Inuyasha, still single-mindedly targeting the youth as an enemy, but from the angle of the crash depicted here, and Naraku's cold comment that he has no more use for Housenki immediately after, I think Naraku must have flung him instead. 

Miroku yanks the beads off his Kazaana hand, threatening not to let Naraku get away, Sango casting him an irritated look over her shoulder as she says his name in warning, because SHE at least knows where this is going. Naraku scoffs, holding up a familiar little orb-like nest, which immediately starts spawning a whole shit-ton of giant wasps. 

Gee, who could have seen THAT coming?

Despite how obvious this course of events was, Miroku identifies the Saimyoushou with a dumbfounded gape, while Sango tells him in no uncertain terms NOT to use the Kazaana. Isn't he supposed to be the SMART one? I know I've asked this question before, but he just keeps being dumb, so I really can't help repeating myself. 

Naraku invites Miroku to choose the relatively quick death of taking in the Saimyoushou's poison, or the slower one of wandering around this graveyard until... well, Naraku doesn't say starvation, but that's the implication. The perpetually shocked group stares up at Naraku with alarm, Miroku asking what he means. I imagine Naraku being condescendingly patient while he explains that the river of blood that brought them all here has disappeared, so there's no avenue through which the Inuyasha crew can return to the living world. 

From where he's been deposited in his father's remains with Housenki's skull lying next to him, Inuyasha gapes. From Kagome's shoulder, Myouga reminds them that he TOLD them they might not be able to make it back, and she gives him a horrified look from her periphery. I guess it pays to listen to your elders... SOMETIMES. Miroku, in a defiant rage, yells at Naraku that that path back should be closed for HIM as well, as if it couldn't possibly have occurred to him that Naraku has made other arrangements. Because that's what he DOES. Naraku just scoffs smugly again, confident that he alone can return. 

Inuyasha uses Tessaiga as a crutch to push himself back to his feet, not liking at ALL how smug and relaxed Naraku is looking. 

Naraku might have won this whole war ten times over by now if he wasn't so in love with gloating.

He spies a glitter in the distance, which quickly expands into a blast that smashes into his barrier, much to the Inuyasha gang's further surprise. I don't think they'll ever have a moment to recover from their alarm, especially considering the next panel.

Family reunion. Take two. Hope it goes better than the last time we were here.

The perpetually shocked gang is, big surprise, gaping at the sudden appearance of Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha even lets out a little half-finished noise of question, peering up at his brother from their father's skeleton. Naraku is speechless too, but in the wary, uncomfortable sort of way. As he wonders how Sesshoumaru GOT here in the first place, sweatdropping, he scoffs and asks whether big brother came to rescue his hapless younger sibling, labeling this presumed purpose as "kind". It's a very wooden joke. And I should know, knowing how many of those I've made on this blog over the years. 

Sesshoumaru doesn't answer - he's looking up at his father's skeleton with something akin to deference. Inuyasha is asking himself what the FUCK Sesshoumaru is doing here, the companion of Naraku's wonderings, when Sesshoumaru darts from the air straight into Inuyasha's face. 

 Man, what the shit was that for???

Kagome gasps from her perch, and a cry of Inuyasha's name issues from Kirara's back. Inuyasha groans in frustration and pain, opening one eye to glare at Sesshoumaru. As a guy who has already had ENOUGH shit kicked out of him during this fight, he did not need this, and it shows. 

His crew unanimously decided to descend to his aid, Kagome yelling his name and Sango and Miroku giving Sesshoumaru a wary look. Inuyasha at last finds the words to ask out loud what his bastard of a brother thinks he's doing, and Sesshoumaru immediately responds with a snide reprimand for his failure of a half-breed kid brother damaging their father's grave. He's just jealous that Inuyasha actually has a purpose for being in this story at this point. 

Sesshoumaru is already turned halfway back to the hole in his father's rib cage and a swift exit. In no time, he's facing Naraku in the sky again, Toukijin drawn, calling Naraku scum. He's got a mean name for everyone. Naraku just scoffs. 

Inuyasha's cursing again, as Jaken, who was apparently left behind in the dog-daddy's remains, says Sesshoumaru's name in a whimper. From his skull's vantage point, Housenki looks hard at Inuyasha, or at least, I imagine him to do that. It's kind of hard to tell. For the first time in a while, he speaks, calling to Inuyasha, addressing him as "kid". Kagome and Inuyasha look over their shoulders at him, with apprehension and irritation, respectively. 

By and large I feel like you can bet that if Inuyasha is standing, he's fighting. There are very few exceptions to this rule.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? It's not that I didn't LIKE this chapter, on a surface-level, comfortable sort of way. This story has been going on long enough that the sheer inertia of my initial enjoyment is enough to carry me through the rest of it, even if the repetition is starting to get to me. 

Because we've been here before. Our protagonists being manipulated into fighting someone they don't have to by Naraku, not being able to get through Naraku's barrier, Sesshoumaru showing up out of seemingly nowhere (from the protag point of view anyway) to save the day, we've seen all of it in some combination in the past. Even the setting is recycled, so there's not a lot that's new here. The most frustrating part of the chapter was Miroku, YET AGAIN, being unable to use his Kazaana due to the presence of Saimyoushou, making him effectively useless once more. In fact, it's only Sango that has so far been able to put up any kind of resistance, and that was more in defensive rather than offensive maneuvers. 

The narrative itself seems to prevent the rest of the group's PARTICIPATION in the conflict at all, and I think that may be the very center of what's been bothering me about this arc. A majority of the team has to sit back and WATCH the action, offering commentary and worried screams, little more than an in-universe audience for a play. One of the things I've always LOVED about the Inuyasha team is how well it gels, how their different abilities and skills have played off each other in the past, and how their different personalities have helped or hindered that. And it's not any more new for a majority of the team to be shunted off to one side while one or two characters fight, but here it seems especially egregious because none of the other characters can jump and leap or even fly like Inuyasha can, so they just have to stay suspended in one spot in the air like that to avoid doing something that might cause them to plummet to their mortal deaths. But as the reader from beyond the fourth wall, this is VERY boring to read about, and irritating, because it feels like Inuyasha could have come here all by himself and it would have made no difference in the story at all. 

All of this culminates In Sesshoumaru's appearance, and makes it seem like the only reason HE has to be here is because RT was committed to making most Inuyasha's group impotent in this battle, but needed a deus ex machina to help everyone out of the situation. Up pops our favorite racist pretty boy to not only provide a distraction for the villain for a little while, but also open up a path of escape for everyone afterward! It gives the unfavorable impression that RT keeps him around as a get-out-of-jail-free card for those times when she needs someone that much stronger than Inuyasha's crew, because his bland-ass character sure as hell doesn't have any personal reasons for being invested in ANY of this. 

Look, guys, I love Sesshoumaru just as much as any Inuyasha fangirl. In my youth I had a pretty big crush on the guy. But come on, we have to face the facts. He's a tool, both in the literary sense and the colloquial.

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 023 Hiei of the Evil Eye!

Uh-oh, time to grab an amulet to protect against that malevolent gaze! I've noticed those glass beads that are painted up like an eye are getting a bit more popular these days - I see them everywhere in trinket shops and metaphysical stores. I'm not sure if it's a coincidence, but it seems somewhat fitting regardless, given how the rest of the world is looking on my country right now. It's not difficult to feel the burn of that angry gaze on you, and I imagine that there are quite a few people who are willing to try any little trick to ease the discomfort of it.

Except, maybe, holding their fascist government accountable. That's a little too complicated. 

Partnering with demons isn't generally a great idea, but these mistakes are always being made, it seems...

Over a vow to make sure future allies are TRUSTWORTHY, a sword swings around, the sword that promises to create an army of monsters that will obey and listen to one guy.  

Kind of asking a lot, aren't you?

The next panel, a title panel in the style of a premonition, is a little terrifying - a premonition of a smugly menacing Hiei standing in front of a Keiko laying unconscious on the floor. I don't LOVE where this is going. 

Next, we're outside the school, where someone is saying their pain is gone, and cuts on their face are all healed. It can only be Yusuke speaking, who claims that Botan's "pneumatherapy" works wonders. According to a note beneath this claim, "pneumatherapy" is equivalent to the term "spirit healing". Botan is in her cleric era. She's sitting on the roof of the school, in full schoolgirl disguise, having to hold her skirts around her thighs to avoid an uncomfortable panty-shot. Meanwhile, Yusuke is standing, gushing some more about how he's good as new a mere two days after being beaten to a pulp by Gouki. He says that the pounding her got would normally have put him out of commission for two WEEKS. 

Botan says that a good assistant should be proficient in pnuemapathic medicine, which is just a simple western white magic, no biggie. Must be a nice break from her regular duties, which I imagine are WAY more demanding. Yusuke hesitantly asks her what the deal is with her uniform, as though he just noticed, because she's not a student here. She asks in turn if she doesn't look good, though, before telling him it's camouflage - she would come across as suspicious if she met him at school in street clothes. Once again, she cites some obscure guidelines dictating the behavior of a good assistant as requiring she think of things like this. While she plays with the ends of the scarf in her sailor uniform, humming some tune, Yusuke thinks about how she makes her living fortune telling, though he has no idea where she lives or even how OLD she is. She's more of a mystery to him than his foes. 

Does it really matter what the answers are to these questions? All that matters is that Botan is clearly having a ball pretending to be a schoolgirl assistant. There's definitely NO weird fetishes being served for anyone here, trust me!

Botan changes the subject, informing Yusuke that Kurama is up for parole, and he's clearly reformed, readily accounting for himself. Girl's singing a different tune about the guy now that he's actually been convicted of something. Oddball. Yusuke says this is good, and repeats that he has one more artifact to recover, and three days to do so. Consulting her little notebook, Botan warns Yusuke not to let Hiei's size fool him, having heard that he's particularly vicious, and will stick at nothing to get what he's after. Where are you getting this intelligence, and why can't you be more specific??

The door to the roof creaks open and a wild Keiko appears! She's got a bitter look on her, and says she knew Yusuke was here. He's a creature of habit, after all. She starts lecturing him on loitering around, not turning in his homework, and warning him that a really steamed Takenaka is looking for him. Yusuke appears annoyed, and eventually asks Keiko who cares about that, because he's busy. Then BOTAN leans around Yusuke to joke about the joys he's experiencing by being a hero. 

Oooooooh, I smell DRAMA brewing. 

Botan is suggesting to Keiko that they should get together over a cup of tea when Yusuke whacks her in the back of the head and yells at her to knock it off. When Botan turns to complain that the hit hurt, Yusuke asks her through clenched teeth if she's not forgetting about being inconspicuous. You know, that thing he was wearing the school uniform for, supposedly. Sweatdropping, Botan mutters that this is right, and makes her way to the door, nervously saying that she got carried away, she'll be leaving now, and urging Keiko to just forget she was here. With a farewell to Yusuke, Botan is gone.

Keiko is still in shock, but is coming out of it on the "later" comment Botan made to Yusuke, already latching onto it. Yusuke is also sweating heavily, side-eyeing Keiko while cursing Botan for an idiot who's done it now. He's undoubtedly in trouble, when with a carefully blank expression, Keiko turns to inquire if the girl who just left is a new friend of his. He flaps his hands in dismissal, though he's still sweating bullets, saying it's a LOOOOOONG story and he can explain... eventually. Way to NOT look guilty of an indiscretion, kiddo. 

Again, Keiko's face is CAREFULLY neutral when she asks if that's so, and turns her back on him as she says it's fine, he just needs to go see Takenaka now. Yusuke trots up behind her, telling her to wait, because he's very much aware that she's not happy with his answer. She forces a very unsettling wide smile at him over her shoulder, asking him what answer he's referring to. Yusuke drops Botan's name upon referring to his answer on her, Keiko asks if that's the girl's name, Yusuke points out that Botan told her herself and repeats that he can explain everything, but Keiko flatly declares that she doesn't care. Ah, kids in love. 

A transition panel shows us the city skyline, somewhere in which is a location 10KM away from the school.

He's got a weird third eye AND a minion? Hiei really is the quintessential villain right now, huh?

Hiei hums in thought, saying he COULD just kill Yusuke and take the treasures, but wonders aloud what the fun in that would be. He follows up with a vaguely sinister statement that the girl presents possibilities. 

Said possibility-presenting girl appears to be walking alone, deep in thought about Yusuke's insistence that it's a long-ass story about what his relationship with Botan is about. Crestfallen and moody, Keiko thinks to herself that it's fine, that she DEFINITELY doesn't care. She's failed to notice the silhouette in the path of her walk, she's so absorbed. Until Hiei is right before her with his sword drawn and a creepy little smile on his face. Keiko only has a moment to express shock before a crackle of energy strikes her.

Or maybe that was just the sword. 

The demon-detector compass on Yusuke's wrist starts beeping frantically, and he's alarmed to find that it's telling him a demon is about 5KM away. Yusuke starts to make his exit from the classroom, and when reprimanded by Takenaka, who reminds him they're in the middle of CLASS, Yusuke apologizes about something important having just come up. He's not about to ask for a hall pass.

In what looks like a track suit now, Botan meets him at the (strangely open?) gate to the school, and he asks if she saw the proximity of the demon as well. She confirms this, apparently shocked that Hiei has shown his hand already. It suddenly occurs to Yusuke how weird it is that his little wrist compass is able to detect anything farther away than 500M at his level of power, and Botan explains that this is apparently because Hiei isn't in hiding and WANTS Yusuke to know where he is, a trick that, according to Botan, takes some major demonic powers. 

And it gets worse - Botan says she got a telepathic message from Hiei, who has taken Keiko hostage and will only give her back in exchange for the other two treasures Yusuke has recovered from his former allies. Yusuke's expression is pure shock. 

Thankfully, he recovers quickly, and next thing we know, he and Botan have arrived at a warehouse setting, which looks fairly abandoned. Yusuke demands that this scumbag Hiei comes out, announcing to the whole place that he's here for Keiko. His demand is answered not by Hiei, but a bunch of dead-eyed men who emerge from behind shipping boxes to approach him normally at first, then holding out their arms in zombie fashion. Yusuke looks... less than impressed. 

A satisfying response to useful idiots.

Botan looks on the knocked-out people with dismay, telling Yusuke that they're just regular people under mind-control, but Yusuke is too busy yelling for the creep in charge to get his ass out there himself. He vows to pulverize whoever dares to challenge him, human zombies or demons. Meanwhile, Botan marvels at how many Hiei is controlling at once, asking rhetorically if he has the use of The Evil Eye. 

A little figure emerges off to the side, affirming that Hiei indeed DOES have that power. 

He's got SEVERAL minions. That is so fucking SICK. 

Yusuke and Botan call out Keiko's name, gaping in horror. Hiei drawls that he's surprised Yusuke got a look at his Evil Eye and is still sane, concluding that he must have SOME spiritual power to manage it, which must be what the Underworld was counting on. Yusuke yells at Hiei to shut it, holding up the two treasures he's collected over the past few days and barking his offer of them in exchange for Keiko, as was the original proposal. Hiei amicably says that it's no problem, and that the game is only worth playing if you follow the rules. No mention of who gets to MAKE those rules.

The orb and mirror have been tossed to the side, about halfway between Yusuke and Hiei, and likewise, Keiko has been laid on the floor on the other side at about the same distance. Hiei makes his way to the treasures and picks them up to examine them, determining with satisfaction that they're the real deal. Meanwhile, Yusuke and Botan have gone to Keiko's side, the former kneeling next to her to prop her up. She's still unconscious, though. 

Hiei chuckles that he was PLANNING on taking out Gouki and Kurama himself anyway, stealing their treasures for himself, telling Yusuke that he's saved him the trouble. It's not even a sarcastic thanks - he's very good about not giving anyone reason to think he's in debt to them. Yusuke is on his feet again, though, and wearing a jovial laughing expression that kind of makes him look a LITTLE like Kuwabara. Genuinely, for a moment, I thought Kuwabara had just showed up out of the blue, lol. Yusuke asks if Hiei really thinks that, and guffaws that he's a bigger moron than he looks, Hiei glaring at him out of his periphery.  

Why do I feel like it won't be that easy?

Maybe it's because Hiei's expression is listless when Yusuke comes at him with that fist. When Yusuke throws his punch, it's straight THROUGH a fading afterimage of Hiei, to his shock. For a moment, he's furiously questioning where Hiei is and where he went, then Hiei reappears on one side of him, snidely commenting that it was an easy dodge. Hiei asks if this is Yusuke's idea of a surprise attack, saying it wasn't much of a surprise for how sluggish it was. Yusuke curses silently about how he THOUGHT he had Hiei, while admiring the speed with which he moved that he's never seen before. Hiei asks who the moron is NOW, before he holds out a hand that appears to now be clawed, and opens his mouth in a wide malicious grin. He asks if Yusuke really thought he'd just give Keiko back in a straight swap, inviting the idiot Yusuke to look at her forehead. 

Suddenly, Yusuke is back by Keiko's side and casting a tense and confused glance where Hiei has indicated. There's a mottled fold of skin there that looks to Yusuke some kind of gash, with no blood. But then it starts to expand, revealing the whites and iris of what he now identifies as an EYE, much like the one Hiei has. Hiei laughs cruelly, claws raised in the air, as he says he returned Keiko like he promised, but her fate is in his hands. 

Well, that's inconvenient. 

Ask Yusuke expresses his horrified disbelief, Botan jumps into action and braces a hand over Keiko's forehead, projecting energy at the new eye. With considerable crackling effort, the eye starts to close again, and Botan grunts that she's going to TRY to hold this back. In the meantime, she urges Yusuke to take Hiei down. 

Hiei himself seems impressed that Yusuke's friend can suppress "demonification" without holy water, saying that he's rarely seen such sophisticated white magic. Lots of lore dropping in this chapter, lol. Anyway, Hiei explains that without holy water to help Botan, the toll taken on her must be immense, and she won't be able to sustain the effort for long. Sweating profusely already, Botan confirms that it's true, and her actions are sapping her spirit energy away. As Yusuke glares and grinds his teeth with Botan trying to hold off Keiko's transformation in the background, Hiei gleefully declares that they can REALLY get down to their life-and-death cat-and-mouse game. What a mouthful! He informs Yusuke that the antidote to Keiko's condition is in the hilt of the sword he holds, and all Yusuke has to do is take it from him. C'est facile? Hiei makes it clear that he's not convinced Yusuke could do that in a 100 years. 

Not that Hiei doesn't deserve that, but... the sword was right there, buddy.

Hiei goes spinning away, and quickly makes some cat-like maneuvers in the air to skip back onto landing crouched right side up. He is alarmed at how fast Yusuke was on him that time - in an instant - and asks who the hell he even is. 

He's also the type to stop making goofy faces when he's finally serious about the fight. Don't know which way on the hatred scale that slides Hiei's current feelings, but it might serve as a factor.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I'm not thrilled about Keiko being relegated fully to the kidnapped "damsel in distress" role here, but that should be easy to guess for anyone who's spent any amount of time on this blog in the past. It should also be pretty easy to guess that I'm not any more thrilled that their little argument before this kidnapping came down to Keiko defaulting to jealousy over Yusuke interacting with another girl. Romantic miscommunications are some of the laziest ways to introduce drama into a relationship in fiction, and in a genre that I already don't find very engaging, can become grating fast. In fact, these elements combined rub me the wrong way and give me an unfavorable view of the chapter as lazily written on the whole. 

There are a couple of solid attempts at making an effort to work around the cliches, though. It's established at the beginning of the chapter that Botan has been using a specific kind of magic to help heal Yusuke, which comes in handy at the end, so that's a fair setup and payoff. It's also somewhat satisfying that Hiei, whose suggestion that Keiko presents him an opportunity indicates that he's counting on Yusuke giving up and giving in through despair, has to contend with the fact hat his plan in fact had the OPPOSITE effect when Yusuke fights back all the harder. However it might have been better if we had SEEN Botan actively healing Yusuke a couple of chapters ago after Gouki's first beating, or if Keiko was given just a little more agency by being somewhat forewarned of the possibility of being targeted. 

I mean, has Yusuke talked to her about NOTHING that happened to him while he was "dead"? Hasn't mentioned Botan even ONCE? We know it wouldn't be totally unbelievable to Keiko, given that he's addressed her as a ghost in her dreams and in "person" (as Kuwabara) before - if it were me, I would be more than curious about Yusuke's near-death experiences and be asking all kinds of questions. Hell, if my husband were in Yusuke's shoes, he would basically tell me everything from beginning to end the moment he woke up. Do these kids have ZERO curiosity about each other and what's going on in the other's lives??? 

And that's not even getting into how convenient it is that there happens to be an ANTIDOTE to demonification...

Inuyasha Manga: 322 Unbreakable Barrier

I don't know about that. Any barrier can be broken when pressure is applied to the right places. There are lots of historical examples of people busting through various kinds of obstructions against their advancements - whether physical, mental, or societal, it's been demonstrated time and again that if there's a will, there's a way. In the past, the strongest barriers tend to be the naturalized arguments against the abilities of the targeted groups, since they are cultivated in just about every corner of culture and even within the population itself. 

Even THOSE come down eventually, so Inuyasha and company should be able to get through Naraku's measly physical bubble. 

Already we can see that a shift in strategy is in order. Even Sango expresses some incredulity, wondering aloud if Inuyasha thinks he's going to succeed here. Kagome recalls herself how Inuyasha couldn't break Hakudoushi's barrier a while back, even with the Red Tessaiga he's using now. Still, Inuyasha seems expectant while the smoke clears from his attack on Naraku here, peering through the haze for an indication on effectiveness.

 Ooof, can't deny THAT burn.

Inuyasha curses and tells Naraku to shut his face, throwing another Kaze no Kizu at him. After the attack clears and yet again, his barrier remains whole, Naraku mutters that it's futile. Another bubble starts to emerge from the parent barrier, crackling with energy. From Kagome's shoulder, Myouga freaks out, warning everyone to get away from there, but it's not really necessary. It's not like the people here weren't present for the LAST TIME Naraku performed this new little trick he does. Sango even blurts out herself in a panic that Naraku's about to bounce back Kaze no Kizu. At least you're not in an enclosed space where it can ricochet at you from every angle this time...

Naraku invites Inuyasha to get wrecked by the Kaze no Kizu he himself unleashed, a glow from the charging attack lighting his face from below. But Inuyasha scoffs, standing his ground, though he his sweating pretty profusely. As the Kaze no Kizu is shot back in his direction, he knows there's ONE thing he hasn't tried yet. He swings his sword at the incoming energy and declares the Bakuryuuha.

I hate how placid Naraku is in these situations. He doesn't even allow me the shadow of an illusion that it might work...

But hope springs eternal, and Inuyasha is left with a second to wonder out loud if he got the bastard. Then he notices something coming at him from the fog behind him out of his periphery. It's Housenki's diamond skull rushing at him, narrowly failing in impaling Inuyasha with his little stone antlers, but still giving him some new cuts and scrapes at the side and underarm if the panel's blood-spatter is any indication. 

Batting LESS THAN zero, if that's possible. Naraku giggles that it's over for Inuyasha, who groans a curse in response. It's looking pretty bad. 

So it's actually a little bit of a relief to transition with a narrow panel back to Sesshoumaru, with the gate guards Gozu and Mezu stepping toward him. If I can count on anyone to make an impossible fight seem effortlessly winnable, it's my boy Sesshoumaru. Show those statues what-for. The Man-Bun Guard, in the spirit of full disclosure no doubt, tells Sesshoumaru that only the dead can pass the gateway, and the Ponytailed one states that those who DO pass will have to be killed by their hands. Sesshoumaru scoffs that this is interesting. 

The guards thrust their respective weapons down at him simultaneously, shattering the stone floor beneath him so he has to leap away. He's not put on his back foot for long, though. 

Unlike Naraku, they're fully willing to ACT like they're going down, ACTUALLY crashing to the ground as if they've been defeated. Kagura gapes in awe at the guards being felled by the single strike, though she SHOULD be aware that this has happened before? From his place clinging to the tail (heh) of Sesshoumaru's furry shoulder wrap, Jaken stutters that the guards got GOT, saying this is JUST what he expects from the great Sesshoumaru. 

But the guards are already starting to push themselves upright and onto their feet, looking perfectly placid about standing after such a savage attack. Jaken, still gripping Sesshoumaru's fur, stutters in his disbelief, while Kagura's face has returned to a frustrated frown as she thinks that even Sesshoumaru can't pass. 

Sesshoumaru almost seems annoyed that Tenseiga is calling for his attention - the old inheritance is at it again. 

By serendipity, the guards choose this moment to inform Sesshoumaru that they can't be cut by a sword from this world, and scoffing, Sesshoumaru mutters his understanding of the current situation. He shoves Toukijin's point into the ground, with no regard for damage to its blade (what with "pressure" being all he needs to cut, I suppose), and draws Tenseiga instead with the thought that THIS sword should be able to cut the statues. 

The guards stop immediately, and the doors to the gate start to open, that Medusa-like light beginning to filter between them. Kagura is stirred to alarm this time, watching Sesshoumaru silhouetted against the light growing at his back as he still holds Tenseiga ready. She shouts at him to look out, that the light will turn him to stone if he's bathed in it. 

But that's his secret, Cap.

He's always been stoned.

Oh, I should be ARRESTED for this joke. 

The Man Bun Statue tells Sesshoumaru, one who possesses a sword from the next world, that he may pass. Jaken croaks in awe that they're kneeling, because it's apparently NOT something that was bound to happen to Sesshoumaru of all people. The Ponytail Statue states that since the sword Sesshoumaru has can cut those of the next world, they can also be cut by it. Sesshoumaru puts away Tenseiga, calling the statues wise for their unwillingness to struggle in futility. After all, they saw how fast and easy it was for him to get a hit in with a sword that COULDN'T hurt them.

Sesshoumaru turns and walks through the gate, with his weird boots with their strange parallel tread. Seriously, what is up with those shoes? His whole outfit is bizarre, but those shoes have me scratching my head every time.

He needs to get on with it, then. I'm tired of that guy being a menace. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I was happy for a split second that Inuyasha got to test out Bakuryuuha directly on Naraku here, but it was almost doubly disappointing when it turned out to be totally ineffective. This is supposed to be Tessaiga's ultimate move, according to the sword smith, and the very first time it's used on Naraku it does squat? That's not just bleak, that's a pretty major flaw in the structure of Tessaiga's power development. The later problem of Tessaiga absorbing more and more strange powers that he couldn't manage after a time can be traced back to THIS moment. THIS is where it all went awry. RT introducing the "power absorbing effect" to Tessaiga to begin with was a bit hokey, but the fact that Tessaiga's native moves end up being too far behind the curve right here was the reason she started overusing that shit, and it's just a shame. 

As for Sesshoumaru, the ease with which he got past Gozu and Mezu was very much expected, because he's always the most special boy to ever special, and plays that role in a more exaggerated capacity every time he pops up in the story. I did think it was a little funny that the guards knelt and bowed to Sesshoumaru, and not just because the deferential gesture looks pretty stupid coming from giants who still TOWER over the guy they're bowing to even when they're making themselves as diminutive as possible. It's also because Sesshoumaru just HAS the Tenseiga, as an inheritance that he didn't even value very much at first. I'm much more impressed with TOUTOUSAI now - the guy made a blade that can't put a scratch on living things but can fuck up anyone from the other side, and that's just straight-up metal. Send him the awards. 

Although, it's very interesting to note here that we get to see two swords passed down to the brothers in action in the very same chapter. One of them is practically inert, though it is normally extremely destructive, and the mere threat of the other one working is enough to get an enemy to stand down, even if it's normally not for fighting at all. Little bit of an opposite-day situation going on there, which is kind of impressive. You have to hand RT THAT at least.

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 022 What Binds a Mother and Son!!

Is this a boy-mom chapter? That mother who coddles her son to the extent of becoming overly attached to him in a way that crosses over into emotional incest? Gracious, I hope not. I've seen a couple of videos featuring these kinds of mothers, and it always comes across as the creepiest shit, like she's going out of her way to raise the kind of man she would like to have as a husband, and then unironically falls in love with him. 

I don't know WHY I've seen these videos, strangely. I'm not a mother myself, and I don't go looking for family and mom content, so it's weird that the algorithm on our most prolific video site has recommended them to me. Right? That's weird, right? 

These women are clearly a little concerned for this child who looks like someone tried to put him through a wood chipper. He's real handy, though - did he fashion a crutch/walking stick out of that tree Gouki smashed? Nice.

As Yusuke staggers and shakes, that little energy compass starts to beep madly on his wrist, and he's understandably alarmed by the detection of another demon. To his horror, it goes from 200 meters to 150, getting closer every moment. He's got the impression that the entity is seeking him out, and the only comfort he receives is from the possibility that whoever it is MAYBE won't attack him in a crowd. It's little sobered by the fact that he's in no shape to fight if he IS attacked. 

Honestly? Could be worse. 

Kurama walks right up to him boldly, and Yusuke remains silent for a moment, giving him a cautious look. But Kurama assures him that there's no need to bristle, that he's not here to fight or run. He tells Yusuke that he's looking instead for a favor. A bewildered Yusuke repeats the word, still wary, but clearly also intrigued. 

Cut to the apartment building where Yusuke has retired to tend to his many wounds. Botan is still hanging out there and firmly states that Kurama is a CRIMINAL, and therefore whatever he asked of Yusuke must be in service to some trick. Wow, Botan, you're being awfully dogmatic about how you view a guy who, by your own admission, has never been convicted of anything and is virtually unknown to you. 

Apparently, Kurama had asked for a three-day grace period, after which point he'll return what he stole. Botan has noted that the full moon is in three days, which is when that Mirror of Darkness Kurama swiped is at its most potent power. 

Yusuke is being uncharacteristically quiet...

He breaks his silence to ask Botan why Kurama even bothered to come to him then, since either way, Yusuke cannot stop him. Botan admits it's a good question, and Yusuke goes on to say that the conversation he had with Kurama gave him the impression that the mild-mannered thief isn't all that evil. After an exclamation of disbelief, Botan insists Yusuke can't mean that when Kurama's "friends" nearly killed him. Yusuke counters with a little something he hadn't mentioned to her before - Kurama and those "friends" weren't exactly getting along during his first encounter with them, Kurama wanting out of whatever pact the three had for whatever reason that Yusuke never found out. He speculates that something important might have changed with Kurama that made him reconsider the whole thing, and though it's possible it's just in Yusuke's head, there was something in Kurama's eyes that was ultimately believable. 

As Botan is staring in silence, Atsuko comes into Yusuke's room to announce dinner, inviting her to join them. Botan offers a polite but nervous thanks (does she even EAT?) and Yusuke complains to his mother that they're trying to have a serious discussion. Atsuko suggests that it shouldn't be so serious that he has to keep it from his mother. There's some kind of note in this panel that someone thought we were trying to get away from this comedy stuff, and I'm not sure if it's a character or YT. Either way, no sir, I love the comedy stuff and you should keep it in. Atsuko takes Yusuke aside to comment in a low voice on how pretty Botan is, and warn Yusuke against two-timing Keiko. He snaps that he's not two-timing anyone, and I really hope this is not considered part of the "comedy stuff" mentioned earlier, because I definitely think this has no business here. 

Meanwhile, Kurama is standing on the railing around the roof of a building across the road from Yusuke and Atsuko's apartment, placidly staring at it. Real weird-like. 

According to the next panel's label, it's three days later, and Yusuke is strolling along in school grounds with his usual surly look, uniform still torn where he was scratched by Gouki. He's healed to the point where he only has a bandaid on his cheek though, so that's progress. A sweatdropping teacher points him in the direction of the school gate, informing him that there's someone wanting to meet with him there. Suddenly, Yusuke is elated, rushing to the gate with the hope that someone's calling him out of this boring institution. He's a little surprised when he sees who's waiting for him though. 

Looking a little stiff there buddy. Were you standing on that railing this whole time?

He reminds Yusuke that he's returning the treasure he stole today, and Yusuke admits with a nervous laugh that he forgot about the whole thing. A scraggly note on the panel points out boldly how Yusuke is NOT detective material, which is one HELL of a lampshade. Kurama says that he'd like Yusuke to meet someone before he gives back the mirror, and Yusuke repeats the request as a curious question. By the next panel, Kurama has led Yusuke to the Nakayama General Hospital, which Yusuke regards quizzically. 

In room 501 A, labeled Minamino, a woman with fuzzy eyes and mottled hands sits up in bed and says it's nice it is that Kurama brought a friend. He tells her to take it easy and not get up while Yusuke is growing more dumbfounded every moment, puzzled all the more by Kurama's mention of a "mom". He had to come from SOMEWHERE, bro. Kurama's mother says that it's alright, and she's feeling much better today. It's here that Yusuke takes special notice of her hands, which seem to be covered in a rash of some sort. 

Kurama offers to peel an apple for his mother, but she declines politely, suggesting that she may be in the mood for that later. Regardless, Kurama lifts a knife to peel that apple anyway, insisting she needs to eat, or she'll never get better. She relents, calls him "Suichi", and tisks, calling him worse than the doctors. Yusuke sweatdrops, and adopts that weird kitty-face that he's worn a couple of odd times before, still pondering over the concept of demons having MOTHERS. Really having a time wrapping his brain around it. 

Later on, the boys have climbed to the roof of the hospital, because I guess roofs are probably where you can get the most privacy as a teenage boy. Maybe. Kurama is explaining to Yusuke that it's a complicated situation - to his mother, he's "Suichi" and she KIND OF gave birth to him. Yusuke rightfully questions how she could KIND OF do something like that, and Kurama answers that it was through a deception that's lasted 15 years. He says he's actually a youkai, a fox spirit, which, yeah. Duh. Yusuke just stares in anticipation. 

Too bad Botan's not here to take notes. Of course, it might be good for Kurama.

Over a panel showing the progression from a demure pregnant mother, a swaddled infant, a wide-eyed toddler, and a precocious looking little boy, Kurama tells Yusuke that he was too weak to shift into human form or possess a body, so the only option available to him was to enter an embryo that hadn't acquired a "proper" soul yet. I put "proper" in quotes because that sounds somewhat sinister to me, like there's a possible quibble over definition, but I doubt this is really explored in the future. He estimated that in about ten years, his powers would return to him and he'd become fully INhuman, at which point he'd disappear from the little human family he'd occupied.

Kurama says this was the INITIAL plan, anyway, and when Yusuke asks a leading question about this not working out, he pauses for a moment. He opens his mouth again to ask if Yusuke noticed what were actually SCARS on his mother's arms, rather than a rash like I had speculated. Yusuke says that he had noticed, and that they looked old. This leads into a specific flashback for Kurama, who says that this happened when he was six, and that's when everything changed. Baby Suichi comes home, his mother asks casually how his day was, and he says it was okay, walking past her in the kitchen with purpose while he informs her that he needs a large can for arts and crafts. His mom offers to get one for him of the top shelf nearby, but she's engaged at the counter with what looks like a cutting board, and Suichi declines. He's already standing on tip-toe on a stool, determined to get one himself. As he's choosing, the stool wobbles and goes out from under him. He pulls open the cabinet on the way down, dishes clattering out as he grasps at anything to regain his balance. Somehow, the dishes shatter behind his head before he hits the floor, and his mom springs to put her arms between his little head and the broken porcelain, screaming his name in fear. When he sits up, she's made two tracks on the floor in the blood as she moves to sit up, continuing to bleed profusely. 

Look at this badass. I would be SCREAMING, but she's smiling. Girl is a beast. 

Kurama says it really shouldn't have been possible for a creature with a demon heart, but all doubt about it vanished when she became so ill - he was a son who loved his mother. This is the most adorable shit ever. He adds that now she has maybe a month to live, then holds up the mirror he stole, telling Yusuke that he can save his mother with it. Thus concludes his somewhat involved explanation of how he intends to use the mirror, and upon its successful use, how he will return it and surrender himself. 

Yusuke points out that this course of action really WILL leave Kurama's mother all by herself, but Kurama says this isn't QUITE true. His mother has been seeing someone romantically, the president of a small company where she had been working part time. So he's her boss? I know this is SO not the point, but YIKES. Said boss is I suppose visiting her himself, as we see in a panel while Kurama expounds upon his opinion that once she's well, she'll actually be better off WITHOUT her doting son. Somehow. I can't imagine how that follows, but sure, Kurama. 

Yusuke doesn't challenge him on this either, sweatdropping silently for a moment as he looks at the somber pseudo-youth. Then he asks Kurama why he's telling him all this. 

I imagine true trust is hard to come by for a dude who literally invaded a human body. 

Yusuke scratches his cheek, looking a little flustered, like he's taken aback by being labeled as "trusting". He is being just a bit pollyannish about this dude, at least, in comparison to his normally tough outlook. 

Mom's boyfriend comes running up to them, gasping that he's been looking for Suichi, and impressing on him the sudden urgency of his mother's condition. She's passed out in her hospital bed now, oxygen mask affixed to her sweating face. Someone, whether the boyfriend of the doctor attending to her, says that she's in critical condition and may not pull through. It's definitely the doctor who is telling both boyfriend and son that the next 24 hours will tell, though, promising to do everything they can for her, but admitting her chances aren't good. 

The full moon is shown risen in the sky outside before we see Kurama stride resolutely down a hospital hallway, saying that this is it, and he has to do this. Yusuke is trotting behind him, somehow asking in disbelief if he'll use the mirror. Kiddo, did you NOT hear all the crap he was saying just a few minutes ago? But Yusuke also says he's heard it requires a price from wisher in return, asking if Kurama knows what that will be. Kurama pauses a moment before he states that he does know, and the price is one's life. 

Yusuke expresses some shock at this, as Kurama elaborates that the demonic device takes your life the moment your wish is granted, which is why it's called "The Mirror of Darkness", no one ever possessing it for long. I guess you won't have to turn yourself in for stealing it after all, huh? He's knelt down on some tiles in a shaft of moonlight, placing the mirror on the floor before him. Kurama calls to the mirror to awaken  in the moonlight, and show on its surface the thing that he desires, that he may invoke it's power. It's all very mystical-sounding. 

The mirror flashes with a sudden surge of the light reflected on it. 

Kurama gives the mirror a solid affirmative. Yusuke babbles that maybe he should stop and think about this whole exchange of his life for his mother's, asking in a panic if it's really the best deal available to him. Kurama assures him that it is, but even the MIRROR asks Kurama if he's sure if he want's to sacrifice his life for this woman's happiness. Don't forget HEALTH, Mirror, because if you try to pull some monkey-paw shit... Kurama implies it's worth it if it makes amends for his sins and deceiving her for 15 years. I feel like an apology is more proportionate a response. And less dramatic. 

Anyway, as Yusuke stares numbly, the mirror says after a small pause that Kurama's wish is its command. The light swells from it again, and the energy from it crackles around Kurama's hand outstretched hand. He groans while Yusuke watches in nervous horror, until Yusuke drops to a knee next to him and puts his hand over the mirror too. He cuts off Kurama's question about what it is he's doing, demanding the mirror take some of his life too, so that it doesn't have to take all of Kurama's. Kurama asks if he's insane, and Yusuke responds with the question of if Kurama has ever seen a mother despairing over her lost child. He insists that no woman should ever endure that kind of agony, Kurama peering at him earnestly. 

The mirror gives a mighty flash, the mightiest yet.

Surprise, they both ate it!

Just kidding, of course. Kurama is surprised to open his eyes. He sits up in an initial daze, muttering with amazement that he's alive, then in fragments about the mirror, if it did what it was supposed to, and whether his mother is alive. Kurama then hurries to his feet and takes off back inside, calling for his mom. He spares not one single FUCK for Yusuke, also alive, groaning into the tiles. 

Yusuke sits up too, rubbing the raw nose that he landed on a moment ago, griping about his pounding head and sweaty brow, but acknowledging that he is indeed alive, in spite of himself. As he cradles his head and stands to collect the mirror that's lying nearby, it is given an ellipse in a speech bubble, clearly still capable of speaking, but perhaps not sure what to say? Yusuke muses absently on there being one more treasure he has to collect, and how he hopes Kurama's mom is okay. Then the mirror, whether internally or out loud I'm not quite sure, marvels about how some jump in without thinking, but wondering if it would still be called "The Mirror of Darkness" if more people were like Yusuke. 

Kurama arrives back in his mother's hospital room to be greeted enthusiastically by her boyfriend, who says it looks like she's going to be okay. The doctor corrects him, saying she's better than okay, and he anticipates that she'll make a full recovery yet. He certainly SEEMS amazed when he says that the will to live never ceases to amaze him. All this as Kurama sweatdrops, utterly stunned for a moment. 

His mother is actually conscious, and she weakly calls to him, asking if Suichi is there. and reaching out her scarred arm. He calls back in a haze of relief before sitting next to her and holding her hand, assuring her that he's here, and promising not to go anywhere. He sheds a single happy tear. Outside, Yusuke tosses the mirror up and down, a jaunty smile on his face, clearly pleased to have done this job that did NOT end in his bones being broken horribly. Good for him!

Awwww! Mac n' cheese from the box it is!

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? VERY cute on its face - I always love it when a story manages to create a diverse set of bonds that represent more of the spectrum of human relationships than just romance, and I don't think I've seen a mother-son relationship given this kind of significance for motivation in fiction before. Often, if it's represented at all, it's more a "mama's boy" type of unhealthy attachment that the son has to overcome in order to develop independence. Here, we see that Kurama, being a demon spirit in a human boy's body, has always been precocious and independent. This isn't about him being coddled and babied to the point of clutching at his mother's skirts all the time, but genuinely giving a shit about her as a person, and valuing their relationship developed over the past 15 years. 

It's also clear he feels some guilt around the fact that she doesn't know what he really is, and his suicidal impulse to give his life for hers is in his mind some sort of penance for his invasion of her family. This is the setup for a TREMENDOUSLY good conflict, because the obvious drawback to telling someone you love about a secret fundamental to your identity is the possibility of cataclysmic rejection. Kurama could be made to struggle with the decision to confess who and what he is to his mom, building up the courage to face the possibility of losing her if she is sufficiently horrified by the truth. Unfortunately, if the manga is anything like the show, I don't believe this will ever be resolved. It'll just be dropped after this, he'll just continue to lie to his mom about where he is and what he's doing, and the conflict there will just disappear. A shame, because I would REALLY like to see how it would develop and how it comes to a head.

Looping back around to what I really like about this, though - the way that Yusuke's own recent experience ties into this is really well done. The mirror jokes that Yusuke didn't really think through his interference, but I think there had to have been quite a bit of consideration about the matter to remember his own mother bawling at his funeral and connect that so keenly to the result of Kurama killing himself so his mother can live just to mourn him. At the very least, his empathic capacity averted a tragedy, and it contrasts pretty heavily with the quiet calculating Kurama planning his own death in advance to save his mother. 

Sometimes, putting TOO MUCH thought into something can blind you a bit to certain peripheral consequences.