Inuyasha Manga: 341 Pieces

One of these days, if I can carve out enough time, I intend to go through a closet that has been accumulating junk pretty much since we moved into this house. There are vinyl figures, old clothes that are no longer worn, gifts that we never ended up using, and knick-knacks whose origins we don't even really remember. It's frustrating how, no matter how mindful I am about my consumption levels, I always seem to accumulate a ton of junk in the course of regular life. It doesn't help that I have a slight tendency to hold on to items I think MAYBE might be useful one day. You know, if I am in a very specific situation or want to do a specific kind of project. It's wholly irrational, since there's barely enough time to clean these days, let alone take on new little crafts with pieces of garbage I hold onto in the hope they'll be creatively satisfying. 

If the pile of junk grows high enough, I might even have to worry about something similar to this. 

Won't look NEARLY as cool as that, though. 

Chuckling, Hakudoushi asks why Inuyasha and company down below are so shocked, since they know that he made Mouryoumaru from various youkai parts. He says adding parts for flying was pretty trivial. Mouryoumaru's branching tentacle limb still embedded in the ground where it punched in front of him, Inuyasha asks who Hakudoushi thinks is so shocked. The tentacle limb whips up and around, jabbing at Inuyasha, who asserts that Mouryoumaru just flew to dodge, and there's no way he can stand up to Kongousouha. 

Without finding some way to prevent him dodging again, you're kinda just wasting your energy, aren't you?

Kouga's underlings are amazed regardless because of how that tentacle limb was blown away, but Kouga points out that it was JUST the arm that was destroyed with a scoff. Miroku and Sango look up, the former questioning if the main body escaped. Indeed, it still hovers up in the air, if not a bit higher. In a rage, Inuyasha demands the bastard get his ass back down there, as if he'll descend to die at the deployment of a firm tone. 

A clump of spheres starts growing out from behind Mouryoumaru, then plummet to the ground. Miroku identifies it as haku in disbelief, both he and Inuyasha gaping up at the spectacle. The spheres splat over the ground along with strips of discarded flesh, and Miroku warns Inuyasha to be careful of all the pieces of arm that were embedded in the haku, Inuyasha scoffing that this is just a waste of time. As the tentacle limb reforms around the haku and jabs toward him, he declares he'll blow it away every time. 

Cool. Still only targeting one part of it. And Inuyasha still thinks the OTHER guys are the suckers too. At least until THIS happens:

Let's face it, he really should have figured this would happen. Yet he expresses disbelief when looking at the tentacle digits sticking out of the wound in his arm. Kouga's underlings shout that smashing the arm won't work, looking up at the shredded flesh regrouping around the balls of haku midair. Once it coalesces enough, it launches at Kouga this time, who leaps out of the way handily. But he does note bitterly that the target is still his Shikon fragments, judging by the aim of the tentacles for his ankles, presumably. 

Inuyasha is alarmed by this statement, as though he JUST remembered the Shikon shards were still being hunted by Hakudoushi and Mouryoumaru's boss. He's not really shining intellectually today, is he? As he's shrugging off the remaining strips of tentacle draped over his back, he's even MORE alarmed that these haku-enabled tentacles are snaking along the ground toward Kagome now. He calls her name and lunges forward to save her.

Kouga yells at Inuyasha over his shoulder that he better not get near Kagome when he still has the tentacles on him. Maybe he should keep clear of EVERYONE until he finds where he left his brain and shoves it back into his head. Because he doesn't seem to have clocked that he even still has Mouryoumaru's flesh riding on him, feeling around for it curled over his shoulder, much like Sesshoumaru's fluffy accessory. 

His fingers sink into the flesh, and Kouga's underlings observe this, telling him entirely too late that he mustn't touch Mouryoumaru's skin, a trap he won't get out of if he gets caught. Inuyasha's ALREADY got Mouryoumaru's flesh knitting over his hand, and barks at the underlings to speak up sooner next time. Kagome gapes over at him in horror, watching him yank his hand back with a curse. 

Got no time when you're dodging slime. 

Sango reiterates what the underlings have already discovered: the body of Mouryoumaru hardens and softens depending on if it's attacking or defending. As the pieces of flesh coalesce in the air again, Miroku rips the sealing beads off his right hand and declares he can at least reduce the amount that's available for the assault. Way to take some responsibility for controlling the amount of creepy wandering tentacles, Miroku! Maybe one day you'll realize you can do that with your own hands too. 

Hakudoushi pouts and swears a little at Mouryoumaru's flesh being sucked into the Kazaana, but he sends out the EXACT countermeasure to this that you presume he would. The Saimyoushou come buzzing in from behind Mouryoumaru (or perhaps from inside him, since they appear out of nowhere otherwise), and Shippou performs a similar appearing act on Miroku's shoulder, warning him that their venom poses a risk while Sango identifies the insects with distress. As if Miroku's not already echoing Hakudoushi's curse and wrapping his hand back in the beads. 

Inuyasha acknowledges that the clouds of flesh hovering around are BARELY lessened, but he still figures it's a little better at least. Still, he's uneasy, no doubt because Kouga is still leaping here and there with Kagome in his arms, trying to outrun the attacks of the tentacles. Kagome says SHE needs to do something about the remaining flesh around them, telling Kouga to put her down. He responds with disbelief at the request, and Inuyasha is no less floored by it, gaping in her direction while she explains that the repeated physical attacks against this youkai aren't doing the trick. Kouga asks if she means her arrows can work instead, and she affirms this. 

So Kouga does one final leap out of the way, sets her down like she asked, and she nocks an arrow quickly.

Sango looks impressed, announcing Kagome did it, and Kouga's underlings gush about how Kouga and Kagome are in perfect sync. This ticks off Inuyasha, who knocks them over both their heads in quick succession. Kagome rushes forward, calling Inuyasha's name, but he yells at her not to come near him, a plea Two-Tone echoes as he holds her back by her arm, Mohawk pointing out that some of Mouryoumaru's flesh is still attached to Inuyasha's shoulder. 

Mouryoumaru and Hakudoushi are still up in the air, carefree as can be, no doubt.

More likely to just get scattered around again. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Mouryoumaru LOOKS cool, but by no means was this chapter engaging. The characters act like the soft flesh that absorbs turning hard to attack is somehow NOVEL, but we've seen this ALL before. Naraku has been pulling this exact thing for AGES now, and it's a little disingenuous to present it as some new set of powers no one's ever seen before. Even detaching parts of his limbs and attacking independently from his main body is very much familiar ground by now. 

This is probably the most blatant indication I've seen YET that RT ran out of ideas and is doing some heavy recycling. It wouldn't have to be a terrible thing - after all, Hakudoushi is an offspring of Naraku, and since Hakudoushi is familiar at least with his own form and function, it would make sense that he would model his creation after that particular example. But there's no attempt at that simple explanation and instead the chapter is trying to convince us that it's a brand new thing that is completely shocking. 

Just a strange direction to take, honestly.  

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 041 Fist of Dark Lightning!!

Kinda felt like it for a moment. Recently I was chopping cooked Andouille sausage for a jambalaya, and stuck myself real good with the knife. Thankfully, it wasn't deep or wide enough to have to visit the hospital, and stopped bleeding very soon after I bandaged it, so I at least didn't have to spend a fortune getting stitches (#USHealthcareNightmare). However, I do still have some bruising around the area, and a little tingling every once in a while. Hope that's not a bad sign, because my copay went up after re-enrolling in my employer-sponsored health insurance plan. Couldn't possibly have anything to do with the discontinued ACA subsidies or anything.

*Sigh* If ONLY our massively militarized society could afford universal healthcare!

I guess it's better than having these creepy worms, though. 

Keiko compares their pursuers to mad dogs, still alarmed over the fact that ONE of them is a teacher. Despite this, she focuses in on how Botan talked to Yusuke, and demands to know where he is and what he's doing, not to mention who BOTAN herself is. Sweating, probably due to both physical exertion and the very hot spotlight Keiko is putting on her, Botan says it'll take some time to explain, promising they'll have a nice long chat over tea when all this is over. She adds that they'll have to weigh their options for escaping in the meantime. 

Back inside the school Keiko complains that the phone she's trying to dial out on isn't working, and Botan evenly says that it figures that their zombie stalkers are trying to cut them off. Keiko suggests the faculty lounge, and Botan enthusiastically agrees that other teachers should be able to help. When they arrive, Keiko hardly needs to call out for anyone who might be there, spotting Takenaka sitting with his back to them ahead. Expressing her relief, she approaches him with her hand outstretched, attempting to inform him of all the people on the grounds acting real weird, Iwamoto being one of them.

But she trails off when the silent Takenaka wobbles in his seat a little. 

SHIT! He was the ONLY good one!

Both girls recoil in horror at the sight, and Keiko mutters in horror that they're alone. The horror increases when Iwamoto, grumbling through his clenched teeth about killing them, appears behind them. They resume their flight, Botan yelling over her shoulder to stay away. Keiko clamps a hand over her mouth, either to dampen whatever terrified noises are issuing from it, or hold back vomit. Either are a perfectly understandable reaction to this situation.

This same image is on the giant screen behind Suzaku, who smiles and strokes his chin in his apparent amusement. He asks Yusuke what he thinks of Keiko staring in this little horror film he's making, claiming she's got a flair for it. Suzaku admires her "marvelous" expressions, a talent that life-or-death situations bring out as a matter of course. 

Yusuke clenches his shaking fists, suggesting that they bring out something ELSE in him. 

Also a perfectly understandable reaction in this situation. The kids are valid. 

As Suzaku has observed, Yusuke delivers a series of rapid punches that are barely visible, but Suzaku manages to not only fend Yusuke off with blocks, but with one hand, to his alarm. Suzaku also notes that Yusuke is actually LIGHTNING fast, a little hint of where Suzaku's experience is at, I suppose. Both of them seem to be mainly admiring the other's ability in this first stage. 

Yusuke throws a punch that sails straight through thin air as Suzaku darts completely away, straight upward as Yusuke perceives shortly enough. He scoffs that Suzaku can't dodge him now, pointer finger starting to glow. Suzaku immediately recognizes this as Yusuke's Reigun as Yusuke yells at him to eat it and fires the shot. The blast heads straight for the hovering Suzaku, and Yusuke thinks it's a bullseye, but Suzaku prepares to meet this shot with a measured yell.

He can block more than just fists, it seems. 

The blast glances off path and explodes straight through the domed ceiling of the tower. Suzaku descends from the air, lightning arcing past the giant hole the Reigun made, as he casually tells Yusuke how powerful the blast was. Well no shit. Suzaku admits that a direct hit to him might have done some serious damage, and that it's something he hasn't felt in years; he flaps his arm about as he talks about it still stinging. 

Sweating, Yusuke thinks this guy is TOO MUCH, and despairs over how his Reigun failed to blow Suzaku to bits despite all that training from Genkai. Yeah, those whole WEEKS of training that the manga skipped right over should TOTALLY have prepared you for this! 

Murg flies over and asks Suzaku if he needs her to hold the whistle for him, but he assures her he's fine. He reckons he's got Yusuke's full measure now, and he should only need one free hand for what he wants to do, especially now that he has direct access to the flashing sky. He looks up at the hole in the ceiling, lightning still arcing past it, and holds up a couple of fingers. Forgot to lick them first, I see. Murg happily gushes about the Fist of Dark Lightning, and wins the prize for saying the chapter title while she warns Yusuke that he's gonna get it now! Huzzah!  

The lightning shoots straight down through the hole into Suzaku's fingers. It's not a euphemism.

Says he only needs one hand, proceeds to tuck the whistle under his arm so he can use two. 

Suzaku lunges for Yusuke, whether he's ready or not, as he declares, swiping the boy across the face with his outstretched arm. It doesn't even look like a punch, with the index and middle fingers still extended, but I suppose it doesn't need to be. The electricity from Suzaku's hand passes into Yusuke and arcs all across his body, and he SHRIEKS in pain. Yusuke is able to admit in his head that Suzaku just GRAZED him and he feels like he's being fried alive. Electricity doesn't need a LOT of contact, it turns out. 

Yusuke collapses on the floor on his face, and Suzaku casually talks about how his protective aura is stronger than expected, and Yusuke is the first human not to die on contact with his lightning attack. As Yusuke pushes himself onto his hands and knees, he thinks it's awfully swell to have the distinction of being the first not to die with a small tap, but he's also sure he's gotta figure out a way to block the next attack before he's barbecued for SURE. 

Suzaku compliments Yusuke on his willpower, since he's getting to his feet, but warns him he's only rising to certain death. But he's kind of dedicated to the order of events he's already planned, because he wants to return to Keiko's plight so that he can ensure once SHE dies, then Yusuke does too. Yusuke questions this certainty in Suzaku, saying that Keiko is no pushover, and it'll take way more than this dipshit plot contrived by Suzaku to bring her down. He asserts that it's the same for him as he continues to push himself up. 

Sure hope your soles are ACTUAL rubber, kiddo.

Murg clocks that he's trying to use the soles of his shoes to insulate himself against the lightning, and laughs that it's an effort on par with blocking cannon fire with soap bubbles. But Yusuke stands firm in his defense strategy, refusing to listen to her. It DOES sound like something someone would say to discourage ANY level of resistance whatsoever. (Haha, resistance...)  

Suzaku placidly says he pities Yusuke, and ALL humans really, so helpless against despair, so susceptible to delusion. Demons, on the other hand, NEVER succumb to delusion, and that was something ELSE we were seeing the Beasts display all throughout this arc. Suzaku promises to release Yusuke from this nightmare of irrationality, like some sort of internet debate bro, and lunges for him again, wishing him goodbye and to rest in peace. 

Cut back to the girls at the school, who are cornered at the end of a hallway, their exit cut off by a crowd of insect-zombies. After the acknowledgement that they're trapped, Keiko says that since they're after her, Botan can run and she'll lead the thread away. Botan refuses this offer, vowing to go down swinging before running from these creeps. They're both sweating like crazy. As the insect-zombies advance on them, Keiko says she also planned to go down fighting, and Botan replies it's just the two of them then. 

They both look off to the side where a fire extinguisher is hanging on the end of a chain of lockers. Botan asks if Keiko is thinking what she's thinking, and Keiko says she'll distract the zombies. 

Separation was a good strategy after all, though brief. While the zombies seize the struggling Keiko, grasping at her limbs and clothing, Botan quickly grabs the fire extinguisher and begins spraying the contents at Keiko's assailants. Somehow, she manages to miss Keiko altogether, covering just the insect-zombies in foam, and urging Keiko to follow her back down the hall and out of their range while they recover from their disorientation. But as she flees, looking behind her to make sure Keiko is on her way, a shadow looms in her path. It's Iwamoto, who grabs her throat and lifts her straight off her feet with one fist, the other still clenched and bleeding. Regardless, he's laughing his ass off at Botan's gurgles as he strangles her. 

Keiko calls Botan's name and her open palm sails through the air toward Iwamoto. 

Hell yeah, girl, smack him up!

Back at the Demon City Tower, another blast blows through the roof, and the shoes Yusuke was using for protection basically shred into oblivion. And YET, Suzaku is in disbelief in the next panel. Yusuke is blocking him from making contact with a thick aural insulation around his crossed hands. He roars, balls his hands into fists, and delivers a punch, his hands still covered in reiki protection. Suzaku is thrown back quite a distance, and when he skids to a stop on his knee, he exclaims that the shoes were just a blind so he wouldn't notice Yusuke concentrating his aura into a barrier to deflect the lightning. 

Yusuke tells Suzaku that his script for that horror film he was talking about earlier SUCKS, and he's demanding a rewrite. 

Don't lose sleep over it, Keiko. If there's ever a time to slap a teacher, it's when he's trying to kill someone in front of you. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? The thing I appreciated the most was pretty balanced amount of time covering both Yusuke's and Keiko's struggles, giving them roughly equal importance. Keiko isn't just framed here as the object Yusuke is trying to save, and is shown helping Botan just as much as Botan is helping her, and doing her own active defending. I LOVE that Yusuke verbally states that Keiko is no weakling, and Suzaku is going to find it difficult to kill EITHER of them. It suggests that he's not as distracted by her being in danger as Suzaku intended him to be, and therefore is way more engaged in defeating Suzaku than was calculated. 

Which hilariously highlights Suzaku's BLANDNESS as a character. His reactions to setbacks and even the furthering of his plans are almost indistinguishable from one another, and overall very neutral. I've commented before about how the faces characters make in this comic are delightfully expressive, and while that has already toned down just a bit, Suzaku doesn't even meet THAT standard of expressiveness. He has NONE of the wacky cartoon color that I've come to associate with this comic, keeping a relatively straight face throughout like an aging beauty queen who's trying to avoid getting wrinkles. It's SO fucking boring. 

Is this an indication of how bored YT was in writing Suzaku? Because I know I'm bored READING the guy. 

Inuyasha Manga: 340 Mouryoumaru

This manga just loves to throw mouthfuls at me, like it's a food fight and I couldn't begin to tell what it is that's splattering over the side of my head. Thankfully, I have the wiki to guide me in what names mean, because guessing is pretty much out of the question, given how I've paused my relaxed study of Japanese. Those lessons were taking so much more time than the other languages that I'm studying, and it was cutting a large chunk out of my day. By contrast, French has become a blast to learn, and Spanish is just IMPORTANT to know at this point. My enthusiasm for Japanese has sadly lowered in comparison lately. 

But maybe someday, in the far future, when I've got more free time or less of an urgent need to pick up other tongues, I'll get far enough to understand the construction of some of RT's character names. 

This one, by the way, apparently means "Perfect Monster".

One COULD make the argument that it TAKES a perfect monster to MAKE a perfect monster. 

Hakudoushi tells Kouga that he's an offspring of Naraku, as if anyone even ASKED, and Kouga suggests that it's been HIM making all these crude mish-mashed youkai the whole time. Chuckling, Hakudoushi says that he made all kinds as a test, and all this trial and error showed him that his creations' bodies moved better the closer their forms were to a human one. With his latest attempt behind him, he explains that a human form is most familiar to human haku. Makes so much sense, it's kind of a wonder you needed to experiment so often to come to that conclusion. 

Suddenly, the little bastard orders his giant composite monster, referred to as "Mouryoumaru", to eat Kouga along with his jewel shards. Congratz to him for saying the chapter title so very early on, and I hope he chokes on his victory. Kouga glares sharply at Mouryoumaru, and at first it's not clear that Mouryoumaru intends to do more than the same. 

I half expect him to start shouting "Victor" over and over. 

Kouga lunges forward too, encouraging the giant to go ahead and TRY to eat him, enthusiastically. I assume he finds the idea ridiculous. After he kicks Mouryoumaru in the gut (and fails to notice that he doesn't appear to react AT ALL to the attack), Kouga mocks Hakudoushi by telling him not to cry when his precious new toy is broken. Hakudoushi just scoffs in response, and Kouga notices something odd happening as he continues to hang where he landed his kick.

How did you NOT pick up on that immediately, dude? 

He acknowledges that he's being sucked in with horror, and takes a swipe with his fingers are Mouryoumaru's torso to fight back. He does shred it at first, but his wrist is enveloped in the shredded flesh as it knits back together, trapping his hand as well. His underlings are shocked that he got stuck in the process of trying to rip the monster's body, Mohawk exclaiming that it's like it's body is goo. 

Kouga manages to reach the sword that is always at his side and actually USE the damn thing (for the first time, I believe!) to slice through the flesh holding his wrist, as well as the stuff holding his leg. 

Now do what you do best, dude, and get the HELL OUT OF THERE. 

The little balls of haku are briefly visible before the wound Kouga opened up in Mouryoumaru closes up, something that the underlings note accurately. Kouga mutters about how the wound is now healed, and the haku isn't escaping from it like the other youkai he fought earlier. Hakudoushi reiterates what he already said, that the haku is most familiar with THIS body shape. 

Kouga tries to figure out what he can do to not attack carelessly and NOT get absorbed, but as he's contemplating this, Mouryoumaru lunges, shattering the ground under Kouga's feet and forcing him to jump out of the way. Yet another shocking revelation for the underlings, who are flabbergasted that the monster is solid enough to crust rocks now. 

Mouryoumaru chases Kouga, much to his chagrin, causing him to question if he should get out of here since the odds don't look good. I refer you back to my sentence after the previous panel. He's distracted from his calculations by something glowing in front of him. 

Those jagged lines are looking rather familiar... Hakudoushi recognizes it as Kaze no Kizu himself, in a kind of deadpan manner, as it tears toward a gaping Mouryoumaru. When the dust from the attack settles, the deep scars dug into the ground all lead back to Inuyasha, who asks Hakudoushi what the fuck he's planning this time. The picture of class and elegance as always, my boy. 

Awfully nice of Hakudoushi to keep Mouryoumaru in the barrier as well, since it's clear he would almost certainly have survived Kaze no Kizu. 

Miroku is in a little shock over the human-esque youkai crouching next to Hakudoushi, and Sango mutters about knowing that the designs were getting much much more anthropomorphic. Kagome isn't quite so concerned with that as she is with where Kouga is, expressing some worry over his well-being. Kouga immediately shows himself, but surprises me with his first action NOT being massaging Kagome's hands, but whacking Inuyasha over the head and calling him an idiot. It's just the order of events that surprises me, not that he did this at all, mind you. 

Inuyasha turns a frankly scary look on Kouga, commenting on his survival with displeasure, and Kouga grins about Inuyasha wanting to catch him in the crossfire. Kouga then goes straight for Kagome, holding her hands as she apologizes for Inuyasha's behavior. Both Kouga and Inuyasha tell her not to apologize, but Kouga's tone is tender, while Inuyasha is quite annoyed as he glares over his shoulder. He's still facing Mouryoumaru, though, and asks Kouga if the reason he's running from this new composite youkai is if it's more trouble than the others they faced earlier. Kouga returns to whack him over the head again, objecting to the characterization of what he was doing being "running scared". 

But Kouga's underlings are more than happy to dish the deets: Two-Tone says the the monster's body can switch between hard and soft, and Mohawk says that even cutting its flesh with a sword doesn't hurt it. Kagome asks about this sword, and Kouga admits it's just something he took off a human for decoration, and he never thought he would have to USE the thing. Kouga is into AESTHETICS? The Kouga lore only SLIGHTLY deeper than a puddle now, go figure. 

Inuyasha scoffs that Kouga shouldn't compare his wimpy sword with Tessaiga (he wasn't?), preparing for what he must consider the REAL fight. 

This had BETTER work.

Hakudoushi just stares silently, and Mohawk mutters that the sword looks like a jewel as he and Two-Tone look on in wonder, Kouga displaying a more stoic expression. Inuyasha lets off an impressive volley of diamond spears with his shout of Kongousouha. A placid Hakudoushi responds by addressing Mouryoumaru, who remains silent, before the spears hit. They create a chaotic cloud of action as they meet their target, Inuyasha's team gaping in amazement at the spectacle. 

But when the dust clears again, not even the remains of Hakudoushi and his monster are anywhere to be seen among the diamond spears sticking out of the scarred ground. Miroku questions whether the two are gone, Inuyasha more inclined to the interpretation that he blew them both to pieces. Lol, he wishes. 

Ooooooh, cliffhanger!

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Did RT actually recently READ Frankenstein before this arc? I can't help but note how very similar the two massive, somewhat beautiful, enormously strong monsters built from the parts of others are to each other. Of course, Hakudoushi is no Victor Frankenstein, and made HIS monster specifically to maim and kill, not disturbed at all by the appearance or behavior of the thing. 

Of course, I'm ALSO reminded of the OTHER massive human-shaped foe Kouga in particular fought in the Shichinin-tai arc: Kyoukotsu. I was wondering the whole time if that guy was really human, how he could be SO large and what his origin could possibly have been. We never got ANYTHING even resembling a backstory for him, and he died so fast it was pretty much moot by the time we started hearing those of the other band members. Given how oddly similar he is to Mouryoumaru in size and strength, though, this new arc is reviving my suspicions about the Shichinin-tai not being entirely human.

No surprise that the brand new technique Inuyasha got at the border between worlds would already be rendered obsolete. We're not even allowed to think for a MOMENT that Naraku might be defeated, the chapter ending with a refutation of Inuyasha's assumption he wasted the incarnations. Because this series hasn't quite been wrung dry yet. Not only has RT opened far more storylines than can be wrapped up nicely in this moment, but Inuyasha as a brand is still running strong and popular at this point. It's clear even at this fairly early stage that, despite Inuyasha collecting new attacks like Pokemon, NONE of them will be actually useful in the resolution of the plot. 

Pull on your rubber boots, because we're in for a slog. 

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 040 Prelude to Carnage!!

I think it's a little LATE for a prelude to anything there, especially carnage. We've already had some pretty disturbing injuries and deaths so far, so the war is WELL underway. Maybe it's more of an intermission? Releasing the reader to go get some popcorn, soda, kick back and mull over all that they've seen so far before the second half of the production? Not the best case scenario either, I have to admit. The last chapter already may as well not have existed, and if this one is also so throwaway as to behave more like a breather, then YT is two in a row for less-than-thrilling content. 

Fingers crossed that's not what we're facing here. 

Does this bird have Bette Davis eyes???

The fabulous bird is a variant that can speak, and flies into the castle window calling for Suzaku, and find him, or his silhouette, standing over the shattered remains of his demonic CCTV orb. With lashes like those, I'm going to err on the side of the feminine when I say that she utters an "oops" at the sight, but Suzaku greets her as "Murg" in a perfectly cordial way, his rage seeming to have disappeared. Murg giggles about how it appears his three fellows have failed him, and a little bit of his temper returns as he says shortly that that's enough. He asks Murg what she found out about Yusuke, and she reports that it's something interesting and useful, she thinks, telling him to peer into the human world. 

They turn to what looks like an ENORMOUS oval screen with an ornate border. The castle surveillance was covered by a tiny orb, but on the human world they have a massive HD TV?? The image on it is fuzzy at first, but quickly solidifies into Keiko's, who Murg describes as Yusuke's classmate and dearest friend. Not if you judge by how he ditches her every chance he gets, lol. 

Suzaku questions the term "friend" and if Keiko isn't more like a GIRLfriend, and Murg chuckles that his assessment is close enough. She characterizes the relationship as platonic, but most intimate. Only because both of them are a bit squirrelly about expression. Regardless of what labels one puts on it, Murg is certain that Keiko is Yusuke's Achilles' Heel. 

Oof, that thing is as gaudy as his speech. 

As the storm continues to rage outside the castle, Suzaku announces the overture, and Murg praises the sweet tune he plays. I doubt it sounds great, but lovely music has been produced from uglier instruments, I'm sure. 

Keiko is indeed at school, and the hall where she walks is basically empty. Save Iwamoto, who questions why she's still here, as if HE has any business still being EMPLOYED at the place after the shit he's pulled. He tells her to go home and study for the upcoming exams, because she could make the regional top ten scorers. Keiko promises him that she'll leave after she's filed the papers she's holding for the student council newsletter. 

Iwamoto states his approval, but demands one more thing of her - to STOP associating with Urameshi. Her sarcastic reply is aimed as his back while he's walking past, as well as a mocking face with her tongue sticking out. Deserves the finger all day every day too. Mind your fucking business, old man.  

Unbeknownst to either of them, a creepy demon insect skitters along his shoulder and into his ear. 

In the room marked Student Council, Keiko hums a tune, while wondering where her paperwork goes. To her surprise, the door slides open, and a shadowed Iwamoto glares into the room. She asks him if there was something else. 

Hey man, maybe you should calm down. 

But he doesn't calm down, and just becomes more agitated as a nervous Keiko watches his fist clenched at his side tremble at first, then rapidly start to shake violently. His fingers are curled so tightly that at last, blood spurts from between them. Keiko gapes in alarm, then has to cringe away when Iwamoto punches out the glass in one of the door's windows. She screams and runs out into the hallway, Iwamoto's deranged laughter following her in her flight. He holds out his bleeding fist, yelling at Keiko that students that don't listen to teachers deserve to suffer and DIE. 

Soooooo, he's not that much different possessed by the demon insect? 

Keiko runs out of the school, wondering what in the hell got into Iwamoto, having observed before she fled his glassy, unfocused eyes. She soon finds out that he's not the only one with this condition. 

The guy on the left doesn't even appear to be drooling. Maybe he's just a weirdo. Regardless, YT leaves a little note under the above panel that he can't believe he drew this. 

While Keiko stares in horror at the zombies blocking the school gate, Iwamoto comes stumbling out of the school behind her, grumbling her name in a long, drawn-out manner. He reaches out for her, and she yelps, veering off the run around the building instead. She had fragmented worries about the people acting all crazy back there, wondering what's going on. 

Panting, Keiko comes across some foliage, and crouches beside it to at least be a LITTLE concealed, just before a pair of arms reach out of the bushes and seize her, one hand over her mouth to stop her screaming. Girl must be having a heart attack.

Lightening flashes at the castle of the only remaining Beast, Yusuke and the rest of the team running along. He encourages his teammates that there's only one guy left to defeat, and as Kuwabara shouts an affirmative, Yusuke adds that they should hurry, because it's important they get back to the city. A beep sounds from his pocket and Yusuke pulls out the communicator, answering with a petulant and impatient air. Botan identifies herself, saying she has news. BIG news. 

Whatever's left of their minds, anyway. 

Yusuke's face darkens as he urges them to get out of there, but as Botan is assuring him that they will and reminding him to get that whistle fast, Keiko exclaims in alarm at Iwamoto pushing aside their screen of foliage. He asks through his clenched teeth what Botan is doing out of uniform. Does he recognize her from when she's been in the school before? He swings at them, roaring that they're rule breakers, and Keiko launches herself at Botan to push her out of the way while warning her of the danger. Botan drops the communicator and Iwamoto stomps on it, shattering the thing. You'd think a spirit gadget like that might be less vulnerable to ordinary physical damage. 

On the other end of the communicator, Yusuke yells at the fuzzy screen, demanding from a now cut-off Botan info on what just happened. When she doesn't answer, he growls to cover his panic, resuming his run with renewed gusto, yelling that time is running out and they gotta finish this. When our mysterious final villain sees this (presumably on his giant fucking screen because the orb is broken), he tells Murg that she was right, pointing out how Yusuke's composure has broken. Suzaku says he looks forward to his reaction to seeing Keiko's mutilated body, not to put too fine a point on his evil. But before that, Suzaku has to stall the party until he has Keiko in his clutches for this ultimate purpose. Smoke rises from a little pot on a strange candelabra with a shelf sitting right in the middle of it? I assume it has something to do with the "production model hominids" Suzaku mentions should do the trick. 

Meanwhile, the boys skid to a stop outside the highest tower in the castle, announcing that this is the one that has the big boss's chamber at the very top. Yusuke and Kuwabara pause, however, when they see a silhouette emerging in a little doorway off to the side of the tower, jutting up from the structure below. 

They look slimy. 

With the observation emerges that there's like a ZILLION of these guys and it'll take an eternity to fight their way through all of them, Kurama agrees that it'll at least take time they don't have, Hiei noting that these things don't feel pain or fear, like scarecrows. Or... perhaps robots, because at least those are presumably animate. Kuwabara complains about Suzaku being a real sicko, throwing this shit at them when they're trying to save Keiko. Do you expect him to NOT try his darnedest to make a failure of your efforts? He is, after all, the one who's trying to murder her. 

Yusuke hollers that despite what Suzaku may think, he's prepared to finish off ALL the slime shields in their way with a volley of reiki fire. He begins to brace himself for the shot, but Kurama puts a hand on his shoulder and advises him not to expend his energy thus, because losing his cool and his strength like that would just be playing into Suzaku's hands. Yusuke insists there's no other way to get through, though, but Hiei suggests from behind him that perhaps there is. At this comment, Yusuke is taken-aback slightly, though he doesn't even see the exaggerated eyes on Hiei in this shot. They look like your typical alien eyes, and it's a little hilarious. 

Hiei draws Yusuke's attention to a window up above his eyeline, and some distance about the door into the tower itself. Yusuke balks at the suggestion, saying they're not grasshoppers, and none of them could possibly jump that high. As another branch of lightening strikes, Hiei says that none of them could do it from THERE. 

Next thing you know, we get an extreme closeup on Kuwabara's sweating, strained face. 

Kuwabara is getting the short end of the stick AGAIN, I see. 

As Kuwabara and Yusuke run straight for the tower, Kuwabara tells Yusuke he has one shot, and to make it count, which Yusuke says is the plan. With a whoop of encouragement, Yusuke leaps at the last moment, running straight up the backs of Kuwabara, Kurama, and at last, Hiei. He pushes off Hiei with a powerful jump, right for the gaping window. At first, it looks like he might fall just short of it, but...

Dude, I feel like lunch is only the BEGINNING of what you'll owe these guys if you get out of this alive.

Kurama and Hiei give their silent regards, a little sedate wave and a solemn nod respectively, and a grinning Kuwabara says they'll hold Yusuke to his promise. No doubt he's ALREADY hungry, with how much this excursion has taken out of him. After a thumbs-up, Yusuke runs down a hallway leading from the window, and emerges into a shocking scene: a weird dark stone room, with the giant ornate screen showing Keiko and Botan in tense conversation, while someone in a loose cowl-neck jumpsuit tied at the waist with a winding, floating cloth belt blowing into the grotesque flute in front of it. 

Somehow, the flute-player is able to ask Yusuke if he likes the music with his lips still positioned over the flute. He suggests it's a fine funeral dirge for the girl Keiko, and admits that Yusuke got here a bit early, destroying his hopes to have everything ready before the boy arrived. Yusuke is preoccupied with the image of a sweating, terrified Keiko running from a threat, muttering how the castle's boss is a slimy scum-ball.

Listen, I know modern culture has often conflated eroticism and ultra-violence, but don't you think it's a little silly to suggest Yusuke would ENJOY watching Keiko die horribly? While calling for civility, no less. 

But Yusuke isn't having any of it. He tells Suzaku that he's here for one thing and one thing ONLY: the whistle/flute. Yusuke says he MIGHT only beat Suzaku to a pulp if he hands it over, and Suzaku gets the only answer he can possibly get when he asks what happens if he says no. 

Obvi.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Despite the dangerous context, it's great to see Botan and Keiko interacting and helping each other. The last time they came across one another, Keiko was a little cold, a little jealous, and the fact that she's not holding some sort of silly grudge is a good sign for YT's writing of these characters, because I've seen a few too many instances of crises losing their tension when the female characters in them nurse silly grievances instead of focusing on their immediate survival. I can't tell you how relieved I am to see this doesn't seem to be one of those instances. 

There was an interesting contrast here between Yusuke's anxiety over the time that was being wasted and the team's solution for getting him into the final tower. Like a murder mystery happening in an active circus, there's a balance of tension and comedy here that's oddly pleasing. And it doesn't hurt that the idea for launching Yusuke into the tower window was pretty clever. The only thing I really have a problem with in its execution is the same problem I have with most of these plans - the TIME it takes to explain and execute strikes me as a little long, given how many "hominids" came out to block them. You'd think there would be plenty of room for the opposition to get in the way, but somehow didn't.

I don't have... ANYTHING to say about Suzaku. He's not remarkable in the slightest. His flute/whistle design is WAY more interesting than his, and even his little bird friend is somewhat more intriguing. Suzaku as a character seems lukewarm, not nearly as lively as Genbu or Byakko. I'm all set to be quite disappointed with the more humanoid Beasts. I wonder if there's something being said here on the human shape in demons...

Also, I REALLY hope this incident is what finally gets Iwamoto the sack. That guy needs fuck off forever. 

Inuyasha Manga: 339 Experimentation

About the only experimentation I do these days is with cooking, and that's only when I forget an ingredient for a recipe I had planned. I recently had to make some breakfast burritos without onion, because somehow I'd convinced myself that I bought one at the grocery store the last time I went shopping, to the point where I didn't check until I'd already gotten WELL into the process of making the burritos. I threw some onion powder in with the bell pepper I'd managed to remember to buy and hoped for the best, but I don't think it turned out as good. There's just not as good a variety in texture without the onion. It's not inedible, so I suppose the experiment wasn't an absolute failure or anything, but I still wish I had just remembered to put the stupid onion on the grocery list. 

I hope this doesn't have a further detrimental effect on my willingness to try something different when I find my plans can't go forward as expected. 

That thing is SO WEIRD.

Both his underlings and Inuyasha's group approach Kouga, calling out to him with varying degrees of relief. At Kagome's voice calling his name, he turns and greets her, looking surprised. Inuyasha intercepts Kouga before he can get all touchy with Kagome, getting right in his face and asking what the fuss is about, Kouga in turn complaining that he has to talk to Inuyasha first. 

Sango addresses Miroku, who is kneeling by the body of the dead abomination, and he affirms that it's obviously a mishmash of different youkai. He looks up to see the last of the glowing orbs dissipating in the sky. Sango asks if they're souls, but Miroku says that's not the case, claiming they're instead "haku", which the translation characterizes as "spirits". Not sure what the difference is? Both Inuyasha and Kouga turn to question what that is.

So, basically an autopilot?

Inuyasha expresses his understanding as the haku stuff allowing the corpse to move WITHOUT a soul. Kouga notes that whatever the case, this isn't normal, and suggests that someone was controlling the thing. Suddenly, he's got an arm around Kagome, as she nonchalantly wonders aloud if Naraku is involved. Kouga asserts that it stinks of Naraku while Inuyasha FUMES in the foreground. 

It's only a moment before Inuyasha leaps over and brushes Kagome straight out of Kouga's side-hug, and they're in each other's faces again, Kouga asking what his deal is, Inuyasha asking why he's got an arm around her like it's normal. Kouga answers that it IS normal for lovers meeting again after such a long time, and Inuyasha is nearly apoplectic, cracking his knuckles and threatening to kill Kouga, demanding to know who EXACTLY he thinks are lovers here. Kagome sweatdrops, telling Inuyasha to stop in a deadpan tone. 

Inuyasha rounds on her, telling her to shut up. Do you think he knows he's not making a case for himself here? He says that Kouga is taking advantage of Kagome's ambiguous attitude, which sounds suspiciously like he's accusing her of leading Kouga on. Kagome responds with confusion, asking how he can say that. When he returns her confusion to her, she spells out for him that he's blind to how it affects her when he goes off with Kikyou, which makes her angry. Inuyasha falls into a shameful silence, something Shippou comments on from Sango's shoulder, as she observes that he can't really object to that statement. It's not UNTRUE, that's for sure. After a moment of consideration, Inuyasha points out that he hasn't ever hugged Kikyou's shoulder like Kouga just did to Kagome, but Kagome crossly says that's NOT the point she was making. Then she explodes into a tirade about how when he meets Kikyou, he withdraws into his own little world, and he doesn't get to take her for granted just because she restrains herself from going off about it. 

Well, that was a long time coming. And I do mean a LONG time. I hope Kagome's getting it out of her system, because I'm so over this. 

Kouga smugly reads this display as Kagome completely and totally hating the "dog-turd" Inuyasha, telling Inuyasha to suck it. Not that he'll be able to hear Kouga over the dirt packing into his ears. Kouga's underlings are both thinking that it seems like Kagome is completely IGNORING Kouga, though. They wisely keep this assessment to themselves. 

At his first opportunity, Kouga grabs Kagome's hand and pulls her close, looking into her eyes as he bids her goodbye, since he's leaving. She questions how soon he's going, but in the polite, neutral way one might to an important guest who visits the house. Kouga promises to find the guy pulling the strings in this case, the sooner the better. Miroku deems this a worthy occupation of time, citing the pieces of youkai scattered a long way in every direction, and Sango agrees that the corpse in front of them isn't the only one moving by its haku. 

A narrow sky transition panel puts us in front of a couple of farmers hoeing their field. One of them hums in question, presumably to a noise that in the nearby trees. This is immediately preceding a mantis-armed, tentacle-faced creature popping out of the foliage to lunge at the men, who scream in horror. 

Almost as hideous as the last. And it's not the only one. Sango is riding Kirara with Hiraikotsu held at the ready on the very next page. 

They're extraordinarily easy to kill, aren't they? I'm reminded of the parasite yadori sanagi, but chances are these new pests don't have a nest that can be destroyed to get rid of them. 

With Kagome trotting along behind him, bow on her shoulder for easy access, Miroku approaches Inuyasha and asks how it's going. Inuyasha says he can still smell many of these creatures in the area, so they've only really made a dent. Another sky transition takes us to the gang reconvened and traveling at speed, but Miroku is on the ground running like Inuyasha, and Kagome is on Kirara's back behind Sango. She apologizes to Sango for taking Miroku's spot, but Sango says she doesn't particularly mind. 

Meanwhile, a grumpy Miroku runs next to Inuyasha and demands he just apologize to Kagome already, because this is a problem for him. Inuyasha still doesn't seem convinced this little spat is any fault of his, but Miroku doesn't appear to be paying much attention to that.

Yeah, you're not earning my sympathy with that shit either, dude. 

Inuyasha suddenly catches the scent of a youkai and human blood, alerting the others that whatever it is this time seems to have gotten a village, who all react with tense alarm. Indeed, ahead there is a multitude of human corpses laying about, and something else... disturbing.

Looks like SOMEONE has been well-fed.

Cursing, Inuyasha draws Tessaiga and brings it down on the creature with a yell. As its "haku" escapes it, Inuyasha looks over to find another massive silhouette looming a short distance away. Inuyasha comments on yet another of these fuckers lurking around, and goes for this one too.

Those stripes are TOTES infringing on Sesshoumaru's style. I hope he has a lawyer.

The rest of Inuyasha's group gape in alarm, Miroku wondering aloud just exactly WHAT is going on here. Inuyasha turns and makes a questioning sound, so Kagome spells out the obvious to him - that all of these composite youkai are becoming closer and closer in form to humans. Pausing to look down at the creature he just took down, Inuyasha agrees that it does look much more human in appearance compared to the first mishmash model, and trails in a statement about what it looks like. In her head, Kagome thinks it's as if all the youkai composites so far have been experiments, and speculates on whether the ones they come across in the future looking more and more human. 

Elsewhere, Kouga continues to run his underlings ragged, who as usual plead for a little mercy on the pace. Kouga isn't very sympathetic when they express the want to rest because they're going to DIE, claiming their whining makes them sound so helpless. But he skids to a stop anyway when he looks ahead again and sees a very familiar figure of a child dressed in white jacket and ballooning hakama ahead. 

Hakudoushi correctly identifies him as Kouga, leader of the Wolf Tribe, further elaborating on his interest in him being narrowed to the Shikon shards in his legs. The underlings express confusion on the childlike appearance of Hakudoushi, while Kouga just asks directly who the hell the kid is. 

That's not the question he asked you, but I guess it's fine. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? It's serendipitous that Guillermo Del Torro's interpretation of Frankenstein came out recently, because I was already thinking about this movie when I got to this chapter, and this whole "experimentation with animating dead bodies" thing is giving HEAVY Frankenstein vibes. Hakudoushi also has a history of dismembering (and decapitating) youkai en masse in an attempt to gain something material out of their parts, so the precedent makes this whole scenario all the stronger. The question remains as to why he's assembling the youkai parts in an more human configuration as he goes, and that mystery is well set-up for pondering by the reader; with how much emphasis there is BOTH visually and in dialog about it, a lot of curiosity can be built around WHY that might be. 

Also, I can't gush enough about how WEIRD these creatures are. Y'all know how much I LOVE a great monster design, and I'm loving all of them in this one. Amazingly grotesque, 10/10.

All I can say about the relationSHIT drama I've already said, so I won't repeat myself on that front, since you already know how I feel about it. I WILL say that it seems RT has only just remembered that Kouga has jewel fragments in his legs, as a way to continue to make him relevant in the overall story despite his main "make Inuyasha jealous" purpose. The fact that we went through a whole subplot of going to the border between this world and the next for a single remaining Shikon shard and Kouga was barely mentioned at the beginning of it, and yet he pops back in now to exacerbate the tension between Inuyasha and Kagome, shows just where his value lies for RT in the narrative. It's REAL CRINGE. 

In any case, I am looking forward to him fighting in the next chapter. Whenever he's forced to fight, it's a fun show. 

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 039 Hiei Joins the Fray!!

What, the little stunt he pulled at the Gate of Betrayal didn't count as being in the fray? I suppose he didn't really do any fighting there, except perhaps against his own reflexive rejection of teamwork. And that was defeated by his even MORE reflexive affront that the masters of the castle would dare to dangle something petty like being one of their own in front of him so he would betray his team to begin with. Being a dedicated loner seems a little like a balancing act for him; weighing all necessary alliances against each other while resenting everyone who forces him into them. 

No wonder he's a bit prickly.

I hope your sixth sense wasn't reduced by your heavy aura loss in that last battle. 

But Yusuke is confident enough to accept this answer without question and head straight for the cited door. When Hiei expresses some doubt about Kuwabara's assessment, Kuwabara assures him that mapping out mazes and traps is kinda his forte, with a note below this pointing the reader back to when Genkai was choosing her successor. Oof, that's an awkward explanation.

The wind howls around the castle while the remaining antagonists watch the proceeding team in a shining orb, commenting on the one in their number who has a strong sixth sense and allows them to make straight for their goal without falling into any traps. One of the pairs of eyes gleaming out of the shadows scoffs that there's only two of them left, the other pair turning a glare on them. This second pair assures Master Suzaku that they've only seen the preliminary scuffles, and he'll take all of them out, identifying himself as Seiryu. 

Don't think there will be ANY more resistance beyond them? Good luck, lol.

The gang arrives at a pair of great bronze double doors, flanked with elaborate statues of dragons. Yusuke deems the decor pretentious, and Hiei thinks the statues are worthless. Kurama says that this must be Seiryu's chamber, judging by the demonic aura leaking out that's more potent than the others they've come across. Kuwabara agrees, complaining of goosebumps, but that could just be due to his continued shirtless state.  

When they push open the creaking door, Yusuke gapes in alarm.

Invested a lot to look that intimidating, didn't you? 

Seiryu chuckles after sharing his plan to dismember them all and then kill them, as if they didn't hear similar threats from the last guy. In fact, Yusuke informs him that they've heard that line before, calling him a "skank". Does Yusuke know something about this guy's sex life that I don't, or do we have different definitions of that word? Either way, Seiryu glares silently for a moment, then hums over an uninvited guest they have. 

Some confusion colors Yusuke's expression, but he and the others look around at the sound of intermittent scuffing sounds in the direction from which they came. Kuwabara identifies it as something dragging something else along, grimacing. Hiei reiterates it's coming from down the hall. Then the great doors open again. 

His form is REMARKABLY intact for having taken a swim in acid. 

Byakko begs for some energy from his ally, stuttering that he'll repay Seiryu once he's stronger. Sweating bullets, Kuwabara is horrified that Byakko is still ALIVE. Yusuke mumbles that it's too much, no doubt referring to the amount of pain he can imagine Byakko feeling right now. 

Seiryu quietly calls Byakko a fool, ridiculous, AND a failure. The triple insult. Byakko says Seiryu's name in supplication, but Seiryu is pitiless. He extends a hand, not to help, but to gesture in a way that suggests the movements of a technique. Calling Byakko useless and, even more so an EYESORE, Seiryu is surrounded by a sudden gust of wind-like energy. Byakko recognizes the stance and is begging again, this time that he NOT do what he's about to do. 

Seiryu bids him to fall to the "Ghostly Ice Fist", punching toward Byakko without coming close to touching him. Though he has not been hit, Byakko's body seizes up and FREEZES OVER entirely, shocking Yusuke with the sudden icy fate of the giant cat-like creature. 

Ah, the old freeze and shatter trick. 

Gets 'em every time. 

Kuwabara is SHOOK by this display, Yusuke exclaiming his disbelief that he killed one of his fellow Beasts. I mean, at this point, I don't know if I believe Byakko is dead; he seems to THRIVE off of humiliating almost deaths. Byakko's frozen head thuds on the floor and utters a groan. SEE??? I wouldn't be surprised if he puts himself back together somehow and shows back up the moment we need another demonstration of Beast powers. 

Seiryu scoffs that he laid 100 freezing punches at near absolute zero on Byakko, an attack that no one but his precious Master Suzaku can dodge. Byakko's head spews blood from the mouth, managing to ask Seiryu WHY. This dude just keeps on TRUCKING. Seiryu explains that he's proven himself weak and worthless, though I wouldn't PERSONALLY call swimming out of acid and talking as a disembodied head WEAK. Regardless of my definitions of words, Seiryu calls Byakko a loser in short, and spits on him. The spittle lands on Byakko's temple, he lets out a final groan, and goes silent at last. Rest in piss? Why do I feel like it's STILL too early to say goodbye to this douchebag?

Yusuke looks absolutely INFURIATED, as Kurama comments levelly that these Beasts have no sense of camaraderie, driven solely by greed and hunger. Kuwabara admits he wanted to destroy Byakko, but the way Seiryu did it is super wrong and weird. He insists that Byakko deserved better, vowing to get him some justice. Vein in his temple popping, Yusuke agrees heartily, and promises to do the honors himself. 

But Hiei tells Yusuke to wait, and with a sober expression, tells him to save that rage for later, when he'll need it to face Suzaku. Yusuke begins to protest, but it's a very timid one, and Kuwabara and Kurama remain in a speechless awe as Hiei steps toward a chuckling Seiryu.

Nah, he just wanted to show Kuwabara he's not the only one who has pecs. 

Hiei glares into his periphery, not answering Seiryu. Kurama says he's never seen Hiei like this before, asserting he is, or WAS at least, exactly as Seiryu described above. But he seems to be pretty upset at what Seiryu has done to Byakko. Everyone has a line, I suppose. Kurama continues, observing that self-interest isn't what moves him now, which appears to bewilder him, but Kurama can't say precisely what this means. The only thing Kurama CAN say for sure is that the battle aura surrounding Hiei is the strongest he's ever seen. Maybe he's discovered his own amygdala. 

As Yusuke and Kuwabara look on, Hiei and Seiryu glower at one another, the latter striking an offensive stance and promising to crush the former. Hiei grasps the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it at the most opportune moment. When Seiryu yells at him to die and makes his first move. 

... Is it over ALREADY? Seiryu certainly looks shocked enough at his bisection in the next panel to suggest it might be. The reactions of the bystanders are looking on about the same level of shock too. The lightning fast Hiei has landed and replaced his sword in its sheath before Seiryu's parts have succumbed to gravity themselves. 

Dare to DREAM. We all thought Byakko was gone too, and he made a surprise encore. 

Kuwabara is absolutely in AWE at how flippin' awesome that shit was, asking rhetorically if any of the rest of them saw it. They saw the results, maybe, but I think the process might have been a little fast to pick up. Kurama scoffs, saying he saw, but lost track after the first stroke. Kuwabara admits that he MIGHT have to revise his opinion of the little runt, hunched over and arms hanging like the caricature of a gorilla or caveman, which I suppose might indicate how primitive he is in skill compared to Hiei. 

Yusuke blurts a delighted noise of admiration, gushing about how amazing it was that Hiei laid Seiryu out in one blow, the wind whipped up in the flurry still appearing to clear the field. As the team approaches Hiei, Kurama asks how many cuts that was, and Hiei responds that it was SIXTEEN. I would have only required one to defeat me, so it just seems like overkill in my book. Yusuke admits he only caught eight of those slashes, and Kurama tells him his eyes are way better. Kuwabara says Seiryu was filleted before he even blinked. When Yusuke praises Hiei on how fast he is, saying he would be beat in a rematch between them hands-down, Hiei turns and walks away, merely saying that MAY be the case. 

This aloof response confuses Yusuke, who thought he'd agree outright, but Kurama claims that Hiei has changed since he came here. Where, Demon City? The castle? This very ROOM?? It's not clear, but Kurama says Yusuke might be a good influence on Hiei. For once, Yusuke's expression is quite neutral, and he's not wearing some goofy, exaggerated face. Not sure I like it all that much. 

Meanwhile, the shining orb the Beasts use to spy on their "guests" show the four teammates strolling forth before being shattered in a fit of rage. 

For real? Seiryu is REALLY failed that FAST? 

Talk about style over substance. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I have to admit it was rather anticlimactic. Even being suspicious that perhaps Seiryu's death is yet another fake-out, given YT has trained me to think that way over the last few chapters with Byakko in them (INCLUDING this one), Hiei's victory with no struggle whatsoever was disappointing. Both of our other combatants were HEAVILY injured and fatigued by their battles, so it seems almost like an insult to them that Hiei should win his in the blink of an eye with very little effort. Moreover, part of his stated reason for taking on Seiryu was to clear the field for Yusuke to take on Suzaku ahead, but Hiei's victory is so ridiculously complete that he no doubt has energy to spare to face Suzaku too, no problem. 

And it doesn't exactly make Hiei look like the biggest badass, from my point of view. His teammates were pretty impressed, but Seiryu only got to show his stuff against once, and it was against a severely weakened Byakko, who couldn't even BEGIN to fight back. Seiryu was calling Byakko weak and useless, but the dude kept coming back from defeat over and over, and it just took a few slashes from Hiei to take Seiryu down. Again, I'm not convinced Seiryu is REALLY dead, as I've learned from Byakko not to trust an obvious death, but even so, he went down this initial way without much time to be so much as a nuisance. It gives the overall impression of a blowhard who was talking a big game and wishcasting projected strength with a lot of expensive trimmings, but someone who was ultimately a weakling himself. 

Which WOULD be interesting, but only if we know something substantial about the character in question, or even WANT to know something about them. Seiryu isn't given enough time to pique interest, and doesn't seem to add anything that makes him stand out from the other Beasts in the castle. It makes you wonder why he's here, if he adds nothing substantial to the story except being a body that stood for mere seconds between the team and Suzaku. Guy may as well not have had a name, for how quickly he was discarded.  

Anyway, tired as I'm getting of all the unlikely survivals here, I can't help but hope that my suspicions are correct, because this seems like an AWFUL waste. Hiei deserves an ACTUAL challenge on par with the others, not a throw-away tension-killer that lasts a couple of panels and we're done.