YuYu Hakusho Manga: 017 The Golden Awakening!!

You know, it's been a while since I've watched the sun rise. I tend to be a little bit precious about my sleep, and watching the sun rise requires either staying up the whole night long, or waking up early enough to not miss it entirely. Either way, I have a bit of difficulty making it past the initial stage of yawning and heavy eyelids, which seems almost impossible to resist in the moment. I do hope that I can manage it for this year's winter solstice, though, because taking place on a Saturday makes it the PERFECT time for a witnessing the metaphorical golden awaking of the returning sun. How poetic. 

I guess that "virtue" concept didn't really make much of a difference after all.

Botan says it's true he can return to life and congratulates him, but he's still asking in an elated, though disbelieving way, if she's not fooling. She tells him it's an official decision of the Underworld Council. After a moment of gaping speechlessness, Yusuke's expression collapses into a much more cynical orientation, and he makes a noise of bitter understanding. He asks what the conditions are, suggesting that it might be that he stand on his head the rest of his life as an absurdist joke, though he is indicating he expects it to be something equally ridiculous. Botan sweats a little, characterizing him as once bitten, twice shy. 

But she raises a triumphant finger and declares that there's no catch this time - it's the real deal. The next panel features an extreme close-up on little Koenma's face, and he confirms that it's no more, no less!

Koenma is really getting a kick out of sneaking up on Yusuke, isn't he?

Yusuke asks what's with Koenma popping in on him so often lately, asking if he doesn't have a JOB he has to do. Koenma simply answers that his dad is back, so he's got some time on his hands. In fact, he expresses his intention to devote his full attention to returning Yusuke to his body, which is a good thing, because tomorrow's the deadline they CAN'T miss. Ah, THERE'S the condition!

The simple question of what will happen posed by Yusuke trips a lecture from Koenma about the harmonics of the soul and body; in order to get Yusuke back in his body, they have to get him in there on a day when they match exactly, and the cycle is longer in Yusuke's case than average. When Yusuke asks what the length of the cycle is, suggesting a month or a year, Koenma says it's 50 YEARS. It's a bit flabbergasting for Yusuke to hear this, and for me too, but mostly because it kind of begs the question of why he would have been able to get back in his body every month to keep it alive... Anyway, Koenma jokes that it's a bit of a long haul for mortals, and it's a half-century wait for Yusuke if they miss tomorrow, which is another reason that the Underworld Council recommended full and immediate revival. I'm thinking it's probably more that readers were getting bored of this ghost content. 

Anyway, with eyes uncharacteristically wide open, Koenma reiterates that this is the situation, that he lives again tomorrow, and that they just need a LITTLE help from one of the living. Yusuke asks what kind of help, and I'm struck by how many questions he's had to ask in just a few pages, lol. Koenma says they need vital energy from the living in addition to the power from the Underworld, which at first a somewhat unnerved Yusuke interprets as some sort of sacrifice. Sweatdropping, Koenma asks if he LOOKS like the Devil. 

It's Koenma's turn to raise a finger, explaining that they'll just be taking a little energy as a catalyst, a breath of life into Yusuke's body. The inevitable question of how that breath gets into his body leads to Koenma stating that there's only one possible way - mouth-to-mouth.

It's hilarious that the most efficient way for Koenma to fuck with Yusuke is to suggest the most innocuous shit in the world.

Koenma even shows the curled corners of an impish little smile around his pacifier as he asks Yusuke if he's really surprised, citing artificial respiration as a lifesaving technique that has long been used. Not as lifesaving as continuous chest compressions to maintain bloodflow, of course, considering rescue breaths were removed from CPR training for the general public. But this was written before that started happening in CPR training programs. Koenma says that the difference here is that the mouth-to-mouth will be delivering vital energy rather than oxygen. He gives Yusuke the task of sending three people a message in their dreams tonight, with the goal of making ONE of them understand and act on it. 

It might be just as difficult as if Yusuke suffered cardiac arrest - this is definitely a good majority of the reason why they took rescue breaths out of the CPR curriculum. Hesitation due to EXTREME EMBARRASSMENT. 

Case in point: Kuwabara wakes up LITERALLY SCREAMING. Sitting up in bed in a cold sweat, he complains about the vile, stomach-churning dream he just had, and how it's already morning. He recalls that in his nightmare, he kissed Yusuke while he was glowing gold and he woke up, the memory showing Kuwabara holding the unconscious Yusuke in his arms in preparation for a smooch. Kuwabara shudders, asking himself why he dreamed such a thing, muttering that it's horrible and disgusting. Then the image of the ACTUAL kiss pops up in his head again, with a great big black X blocking out the view of their actual lips locking. Because the sight of two boys kissing is just TOO disturbing not to censor, apparently. Cue eye-roll. Kuwabara shivers some more, and emphatically denies that it means anything, trying to focus on the new day and his decision to play hooky. 

Cut to a building in which there is a condo that Atsuko rents, I assume ever since the house went up in flames. The panel provides the additional information that she pays for this condo by extorting money from Yakuza, but just kind of... leaves it there, like it's super normal or whatever. Come on, Chapter, you can't drop info like that and just NOT explain a little more, FFS! But apparently it can, and does. 

Keiko is knelt beside Yusuke's bed and peering at him, acknowledging that there's no golden glow, and thinks that it was just a dream after all.

Not really. Girl, did you forget your barely contained impulse to make out with the unconscious Yusuke BEFORE this dream happened? Maybe she blocked it out due to shame...

She stares at Yusuke for a little longer, looking all pensive, before she regains her senses and gripes about the DREAM making her all weird or whatever. She checks her watch, distractedly claiming she has to get to school. I guess she picks up another letter from Atsuko before she leaves, and grumbles as she sweatdrops about how Atsuko must have gone on another all-night bender. The following panel shows Atsuko sitting smiling around a beer can lifted to her lips on a couch, one one side a man is passed out with his head resting on a filthy coffee table, on the other is just a pair of man's legs sticking out over the side as he vomits in the space behind the sofa. She appears to be humming pleasantly. And Keiko thinks SHE'S the one being all weird. 

After the door softly clicks closed, we're given an x-ray view of Yusuke under his blanket, and that glow around his legs. Yusuke complains that he WAS glowing, and Keiko just couldn't see it. Koenma explains that power from the underworld enters at the feet and moves up. Why? Because it causes much more drama in this particular circumstance, of course! Koenma tells Yusuke that his whole body will be glowing by around noon. Yusuke clenches his teeth, growling about how school doesn't let out until the afternoon, and he can't count on his mother or Kuwabara. 

At school, Keiko is sitting at her desk with a dreamy distracted look, thinking about how Kuwabara didn't come to school today, which is a shame, because she was hoping to be able to talk to him about that dream. Kuwabara! This is what happens when you don't go to school, dammit! Keiko puts pen to paper and starts to scribble out notes, resolving to visit Yusuke again after school, but just then, a man opens the classroom door and calls her out of class. 

I don't BELIEVE it!

I've heard of torturing your darlings but this is ridiculous.

Keiko gapes in horror, and the next panel shows the hospital, at 5:30 pm, where Keiko is being told that her mother is quite weak and has the flu, but she'll be fine, just needing a little rest. Holy shit, imagine living in a country where you can go to the hospital in the event that you collapse from the flu! The man with his hands in his jacket pocket next to Keiko and the hospital bed - the view isn't clear from the distance from which Yusuke and Botan are looking through the window - says that Keiko can go on home, because her mother is going to be fine. She confirms it's her father when she emphatically insists she's going to stay until mom wakes up. 

Botan exclaims that this is bad luck and worse timing, because while Keiko's mother isn't seriously ill, this is keeping Keiko from where she's truly needed. Yusuke, on the other hand, has a perfectly relaxed little smile on his face. He says Keiko is a real multitasker, but there's nothing she cares about more than her family, and all she can think about right now is her mom, so the dream is completely forgotten. Botan looks nervously at him, but doesn't say anything further.

Koenma appears again to tell Yusuke that his whole body is lit up now, and all they need is that vital energy. The panel featuring his sleeping form exudes a pretty bright glow, as far as can be seen in a drawing. Botan sweatdrops, thinking that it would be best if Keiko's mom would just wake up impatiently. Then her eyes widen in epiphany, and she shoots forward on her oar with the eager declaration that Keiko's mom is asleep, which has given her an idea that she tells Yusuke to hold on for. Yusuke curiously asks after her, but she's gone. 

Again, Keiko is being told that a sedative her mother is under should keep her out cold until tomorrow, and that she should go home. Why... would they give a woman with the flu a sedative?? Sure, cold medicine can knock you out, but why didn't they just say THAT? It's 10:50pm and Keiko sits by her mother's bedside still, looking at her wristwatch once again, and thinking that maybe that would be best. She's still considering this when her unconscious mother begins to mutter, Yususke's name coming out of her mouth. In surprise, Keiko let's out a disbelieving exclamation, and her mother repeats Yusuke's name, urging Keiko to go to him and warning her that time is running out. 

The time is 11:50pm, and Yusuke floats outside that apartment where his body lies, arms and legs crossed in the air. He says Keiko isn't coming, but Koenma floats beside him, telling him that he's too impatient, and to have a little faith in Botan. But he also asks Yusuke what he'll do if this doesn't quite work out for him. Smiling, Yusuke says that there's NO WAY he'll make Keiko wait for fifty years, and he's not into the idea of coming back once a month for that long either. He doesn't let the implication just hang between them, saying outright that it would be best to just bite the bullet and let himself die. 

Yikes. But... fair, I guess.

A car speeds up and a familiar girl jumps out of there, slamming the door before running for the condo building. She's easily identified as Keiko. Botan also flies in on her oar and explains that she alerted Keiko through her mom, and it took her a while to get the harmonics right. Sounds... plausible? Botan asks how much time is left, and Yusuke barks that it's just five minutes. 

Keiko dashes to the door and has to pause to find the key in her bag, struggling to locate it at first. 

Y'all are killing me right now.

A clock is shown that ticks up to midnight, and a wide-eyed Koenma sweats, cursing about how he thinks they cut it too close. Keiko runs into Yusuke's room and notes that he's glowing in full now, but that glow is also fading. She leaps the rest of the way into the room toward the bed, and outside, Botan looks over in alarm at a pointing Koenma, while Yusuke looks like his ghostly form is stretching/glitching out. 

We're shown a view of the quiet entryway of the apartment, Keiko's shoes lying all turned over and misaligned where she kicked them off in her hurry. Still gotta observe norms, even in an emergency. The clock shows a minute or two past midnight, but Keiko is leaning over the side of the bed over Yusuke, her lips pressed to his mouth.

She pulls back, looking down at his sleeping form in all anxiety, begging him silently to come back. He's unresponsive, and the glow around him slowly fades, disappearing after a time. Tears start to well and drop from Keiko's eyes as she thinks that she was too late, she didn't make it, and she slumps back onto her ankles in sorrow. But after a moment of a fresh wave of grief setting in, she sees something that makes her gape. 

Yusuke slowly opens his eyes turns his head in her direction, and sits up, staring down at her on the floor beside him. 

I guess TECHNICALLY.

Keiko, hyper detailed with big watery tearful eyes, launches herself on Yusuke in her relief. Outside, Botan lets out a sigh of relief of her own, saying that it was all in the nick of time, but now Yusuke is back in his body and this case is all sewn up. Koenma tells her not to get ahead of herself, because it's only NOW that his case has truly opened. 

Lol wut?

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? It was a lot more suspenseful than I was expecting it to be. I mean, I know that he ends up being revived, I even remember the details from the anime regarding the suspense around the resurrection, but this chapter still had me a little nervous. There was a part of me that was concerned that the timing wouldn't work out, and I think it was because I had empathized with Yusuke's position to the degree where I was thinking I MYSELF wouldn't have the luck needed to make the deadline in this situation. When Yusuke was preparing to resign himself to death if Keiko didn't make it, I felt it, because that is EXACTLY the kind of planning I would be doing at that moment. The empathy YT was able to instill in me for this character helped carry the suspense of the ordeal, even though I was fully aware of the outcome. It's pretty impressive. 

Unfortunately, there is a problem with continuity here, at least when it comes to the assumptions one has to make regarding how Yusuke's trial period is supposed to work. As our own Blue Magic has pointed out, the spirit egg thread seems to have been abandoned entirely, at least for now. But even ignoring that, this "test" against Yusuke's morality and goodness is dependent on his having no definite timeline under which to work. The deadline of harmonics was never mentioned before this point, and the attitude was relaxed enough that there was never any indication of a short window in which to work. Even when Yusuke used up all his "virtue" to save Keiko in the fire, he shrugged it off and no one corrected him on him assuming he would have plenty of time to build it back up again. Koenma mentions the decisions of a council of the underworld a couple of times, and you would think Yusuke's harmonics would have come up in their meetings, and would have come out in his conversations with Yusuke thereafter. Only now, when the plot demands a ticking clock, does one conspicuously appear. Literally.

As I mentioned above, I think there's a possibility that YT was encouraged by his editors/publishers to end this ghost arc, possibly due to waning audience interest, and so he pushed through a rushed conclusion to it with the most tension he could insert under the circumstances. It works, like I said, you just have to avoid looking at it too closely. 

Happy longest night of the year, everybody!

Inuyasha Manga: 316 The Entrusted Arrow

Imagine being able to entrust a projectile to someone. Couldn't be me. I can't even trust my cat not to make a mess of my holiday decorations. This year, instead of having a tree for the little creature to chew on, and play around in the water if it's a live specimen, we had to put some lights on a tree outside. I still wanted to put out my ornaments, and since they wouldn't survive the elements, I bought a couple of tension rods and hung them on that in the window, in addition to some indoor lights, tinsel, garland, and beads. The result is a little ugly, and strange in isolation from an actual tree, but at least Grimalkin can't chomp on everything, tracking water all over the house afterwards. 

Yeah, I think this needs a a bit of an explanation. Otherwise I might be forced to conclude you're being oddly petty, my girl.

Kikyou says that Naraku releasing the barrier around the nest means that he must be luring Inuyasha and company into a trap. OR it could be an attempt to get his enemies to attack his liability Abi, but it seems like Kikyou isn't being framed in an "incorrect" light here. Inuyasha repeats the word "trap" as a question, and Kikyou explains that Naraku's aim is still Kagome's eyes. Oh yeah, remember when Shnooky tried to turn Kagome evil through her jealousy or something? Good times. 

Inuyasha connects Naraku's coveting of Kagome's eyes with her ability to see Shikon shards with some little effort, and Kikyou suggests that Naraku's plan is likely to lure Inuyasha's group into the boundary between worlds, and then have Kagome locate the Shikon fragment there for him. I always feel a little bad for Inuyasha - his character has devolved into such a simpleton that he has to be told the most obvious conclusion in the world like this. 

The shikigami have reappeared right behind Inuyasha, who looks somewhat unsettled by their popping back up, one carrying a bow twice her size and the other carrying a quiver of arrows. The one with the bow goes over to Kikyou to hand it over, and Kikyou uses it as a kind of crutch to push herself to her feet, as Inuyasha asks after her and she declares that she's going now. But her first step turns into a stumble. 

Inuyasha kneels next to her, kind of accusatory when he asks her to be honest about if she isn't completely healed yet, then starts to argue that whatever she's up to is impossible in her condition. Sweating, Kikyou assures him that it'll be fine, that her spiritual powers haven't declined any. You were still dependent enough on your body that you needed Kagome to help get that up and running again, though. 

In exasperation, Inuyasha asks if she's kidding, and tells her she'll be easy prey for Naraku, who he reminds her is aiming for her life, if she still understands that. In a softer tone, he refers back to that time at Mt. Hakurei.

And it wasn't for lack of desire either.

Inuyasha says he doesn't want to go through thinking that their hated enemy had taken Kikyou's life for a second time ever again. Way to make this about you, kid, lol! Kikyou gives him a bitter smile, and interprets this as her being a burden to him, but she doesn't seem to realize that the burden isn't stemming from her weakness of body she's struggling with. It's all the unnecessary DRAMA she's causing. 

Inuyasha begs her to stay here, and when she doesn't respond, he says her name with clear concern. At last, she calls for an arrow, and the other little shikigami steps forward to present the quiver of arrows. Kikyou chooses one and holds it out to Inuyasha, bidding him to take it. 

Why is EVERY reference to Kagome you make some kind of backhanded bullshit???

The transition panel shows a misty tree-dappled hillside, where Miroku, Sango, Shippou, and Kirara sit looking at the sky. Sango asks if the atmosphere doesn't seem a little strange, and Miroku agrees, encouraging her to look closer. Just barely visible through the clouds and mist, there are a couple of youkai snaking through the sky. Sango acknowledges Naraku's youkai, and Miroku says it seems like they're headed somewhere. Probably on the same mission they've been on this whole time, if I had to guess. 

Shippou wonders aloud where that Inuyasha has gone at a time like this. Sango mumbles about the shikigami Inuyasha followed, looking to Miroku for confirmation, who says that yes, they were probz Kikyou's. No points for THAT obvious deduction. Miroku sighs that Inuyasha has some BRILLIANT timing while Sango thinks that Kagome is coming off as a little scary, sitting some distance down the hill from where everyone else is, sulking about how Inuyasha must have wanted to be alone with Kikyou. 

I mean, to be fair, this doesn't NOT look like an illicit affair. 

Just as Kagome if internally complaining that it's like Inuyasha is trying to sneakily HIDE it, and wondering what's with that, a familiar bare foot with a ballooned hakama pant leg appears in the next panel in front of her. Inuyasha greets Kagome cautiously, and the group farther up the hill stare down at them in anticipation. 

So much for him trying to hide it, haha.

Kagome is struck dumb by the blatant admission, and behind her, Sango is in some disbelief that Inuyasha isn't trying to hide his actions at all. Miroku gives a verbal shrug, stating that the game was up anyway. Only if he knows that you saw him leave with the shikigami, of course, but even so, coming up with some story as to where he was all morning would have come with a greater risk. Best to just make a clean breast of the facts. 

Sweatdropping, Kagome hesitantly asks him to go on, and he holds the arrow Kikyou gave to him out to her now, saying it's for her. Kagome gives the arrow a confused look, identifying it as Kikyou's, so Inuyasha elaborates that it has the soil from Onigumo's cave spread on it, and Kikyou said it should be effective against Naraku. Hopefully. It's not entirely clear yet what's effective now that Naraku has come so close to severing Onigumo's feelings for Kikyou, to the point where he came awfully close to killing her again.

But instead of a discussion about whether Kikyou's old strategy is still the best method for hurting Naraku, Kagome is more anxious to learn more about what happened NEXT in this meeting between Inuyasha and Kikyou. Inuyasha is also sweatdropping now, repeating her question back to her, so Miroku steps up to them and elaborates that Kagome wants to know what happened between him and Kikyou, advising Inuyasha not to try to hide it. Inuyasha says he's not hiding a thing, that meeting up with her is all that happened in the most literal sense, and he really just wanted to see for himself that Kikyou was safe. 

Kagome wonders if this is really all, her brows knitted in consternation. Now Sango has joined Miroku, whose expression has turned to crestfallen disappointment, with her thoughts that Inuyasha is shameless. After looking up at Sango askance, he fixes his crestfallen gaze back on Kagome and asks if she's angry. She has her head tilted away from him and her eyes closed when she says that she's not really angry, and that she believes him. She can't help but voice that this is a bald-faced lie, though, when she demands that Inuyasha tell them what really happened. Frowning, Inuyasha knows now that not only is she angry, but she just doesn't believe him. 

Ugh, I kind of wish that RT would retire this needless drama already...

Oh yeah, Sesshoumaru exists. I forgot. 

Sesshoumaru is thinking that he can smell faint traces of Naraku's aura mixed among the "birds" at the nest. Literally, that's it. His entire presence in this chapter is just down to one page of him and Jaken noticing that Naraku is probably somewhere in the vicinity. Maybe. Why is this dude still HERE? XD

Kagome can't be TOO cross with Inuyasha, considering she's riding on his back. She's been known to pass on the piggyback ride when she's really pissed.

Inuyasha recalls in this moment what Kikyou told him about Naraku's aim still being Kagome's eyes, so he calls out to Kagome. She leans over to ask what's up, and he warns her that things might get a little dangerous when they get to that border between the two worlds, and as he's about to carry on with a contrary point, Kagome tells him it's a little late for him to be saying this. Kagome points out that they need her to go to search for that Shikon fragment. Or limit the time they spend combing the border for the tiny thing, anyway. 

Again, Inuyasha is thinking of what Kikyou said about Naraku setting a trap for them by taking away his barrier concealing the nest, but Inuyasha vows silently that he's not going to let the potential trap go how Naraku wants. He then assures Kagome that he'll be there for her, asserting that he'll definitely protect her. 

Oh NOW you believe him! XD

Inuyasha suddenly picks up Naraku's smell, and nearby as well. He places the bastard right at the bird nest that they're headed toward right now. Let's hope he ACTUALLY shows up this time, instead of one of his stupid puppets. 

Whether it's really him or a facsimile, he is indeed floating in front of that gaping cave in he side of the mountain, encased in his bubble barrier as usual. Abi faces him with the very spear he gave her, hovering before the giant eye peering out from the gash in the rock and scoffing. Girl has nerve, I'll give her that. Abi mockingly marvels at him coming there, and asks petulantly if he came here to get revenge for his castle being destroyed. Naraku is also smirking, and casually talks about how it seems her flying vampires have sucked up every last drop of blood from the humans at the castle. Abi tells him that this is indeed so, and because of that, her mother is feeling just SO much better. The cave housing the one massive eye starts to crack and split around the edges, as Abi informs Naraku that her mother wants to give him a little greeting. 

If someone gave me THAT look in response to an overt threat, I would rethink whatever it was I was going to do. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I understand that I am no longer in the target demographic for this story, and I've aged far out of it, but even when I was reading this the first time well within the range of the target demographic I thought the petty jealousy being emphasized between Kagome and Kikyou was boring and frustrating. I hate to repeat myself, but Kikyou is an amazing character that could be utilized in a much more interesting way, and the fact that she's being reduced to a drama mill for Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship is beneath her. I certainly think there was a time for jealousy to come into play, because it's natural for 15 and 16-year-old girls to be a little prickly when they're into the same boy. But my opinion is still that this should be a small part of a much LARGER narrative about the difficulties of establishing one's identity outside of expectations, growing to understand the different parts of oneself, and coming into one's own even while struggling to step out of someone else's shadow. The shallow way in which these two characters relate to one another has been driving me a little crazy for a long time, because RT just completely bypassing the deeper and more meaningful relationship here in favor of cheap romantic tropes disappoints me afresh every time I read it. 

Sorry, rant over, for now, but I can't guarantee I won't return to it again in the future. It's stuff like this that might be the reason I'm not into romance and shipping in fiction. 

That being said, I can definitely see Kikyou's reasoning at the beginning here, despite my jokes about it above. It makes the most sense that Naraku would not be exposing Abi to attack by removing the barrier if he wasn't "done" with her, and that has to mean that she has completed the task he entered into his alliance with her for. And later when we learn from Sesshoumaru, and then Inuyasha, that Naraku appears to already be at the nest, the only possible reason would be that he's ready to carry out whatever plan required the gathering the human blood. He could have kept the barrier up, disguising both his scent and the nest's, if he didn't want his enemies to show up, so it must mean that he's specifically SUMMONING company in his quest for the final Shikon shard. And there's also only one real reason he would do that - he expects that the jewel fragment will be difficult to find once he enters that vast expanse of a borderland. 

This is quite possibly the CLEAREST line of logic that any of the characters have engaged in during this story, so I'm kind of impressed. BUT, it also boxes Inuyasha and company in, so Kikyou advising him to just not bring Kagome with him is essentially useless. If it's safe to assume that Naraku expects to need Kagome's sight to find the Shikon fragment, then Inuyasha would undoubtedly need it too. And this is the last shard that was lost, so the stakes are pretty high in preventing Naraku from taking it. They can't just NOT GO either, so the only real choice is exactly what Kikyou is advising against. 

Which I guess is why she relents and gives Inuyasha an arrow to give to Kagome for her to use "well" or not. But refusing to say what exactly that means brings us right back to the petty rivalry RT is fomenting, because she doesn't HAVE to be cryptic here. But it's like how she didn't make an effort to meet with Inuyasha's whole group in the first place - a conspicuous decision by our author to twist the meeting into something that looks sordid because that's what she assumes her adolescent audience wants to see.

Maybe it was, and I was just weird in hating it. Wouldn't be the first time.

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 016 Finding the Guts for Glory!!

I'd recommend visiting the butcher, of course, but there's little glory in those literal kinds of guts. Generally, viscera tends to have the opposite connotation, but that must be a relatively recent development, because somehow possessing the figurative kind can really earn you some cred. There must have been a transition at one point, between collecting the actual entrails of one's enemies or prey, and just containing more spiritual STUFF than the average guy. I might very well go on an etymological adventure to find out myself soon, because my interest has been piqued now. 

In the meantime, Matsuo is looking pretty PEEVED up there. He's jumping rope in the boxing club, surrounded by sweatdropping fellow students who shoot him nervous glances. In his head, Yusuke is STILL TALKING, asking him how long he's gonna sulk like this. Looking a bit on the irritated side himself, Yusuke admits to taking over Matsuo's body and starting a fight, and that it was stupid of him, but he also questions how long his old pal was gonna let those guys just pound away on him like he was. Matsuo repeats to Yusuke for what must be the hundredth time that he's a BOXER and not a STREET BRAWLER, and implies he's deeply offended by Yusuke beating the tar out of Tachikawa in the sacred ring. We're told that Yusuke ALSO used Matsuo's body to beat up the first years that tried to stop him, and Tachikawa's friends when they tried to run away. Ever since this incident, Matsuo complains of people walking on eggshells around him. 

This certainly does seem to be the case, with the continued furtive glances and buzzing whispers in his direction from the rest of the students. The moment Matsuo looks at them, they whirl around, trying to pretend they weren't doing this. And then, right before the title page proper, there is a random bunny-girl recapping the story of this particular arc so far, how Yusuke ended up in Matsuo's body, etc. As always, this is a little bizarre, but that's probably because I'm not the het male audience that YT is aiming for, lol.

Once we return to the chapter, someone calls Matsuo's name behind him, and he looks around only to start bowing and scraping to an adult man who he calls "Captain", apologizing once more for what happened yesterday. But, surprisingly, the response is that the Captain is happy he's FINALLY standing up for himself. Cue the record scratch at Matsuo's confusion.

Ehhhhh... I don't know about this either, but I suppose it's better than the irritating habit of teachers to punish someone defending themselves.

Matsuo is still speechless and sweating, despite this better-than-expected review of his behavior, but when the Captain assures him that he's still the pick for their second-year representative at the competition, Matsuo glows ad thanks him with enthusiasm. Don't get too excited, kid. You DID already acknowledge that the only two kids who could even do it were you and the guy Yusuke pummeled into a hole the previous day. The Captain walks away and encourages him to keep up the training, and Matsuo promises to do so. 

But once Yusuke claims that this is great and things are going according to plan, Matsuo scowls at his periphery as he's putting on his boxing gloves, and mumbles a sarcastic agreement. He doesn't elaborate, though, just starts whapping away at the hanging boxing bag, exclaiming that he's gotta practice, practice, practice! Yusuke interrupts, but only to compliment him on the nice right he has. Steadying the bag, Matsuo asks if Yusuke really thinks so.

It appears that Yusuke is thinking to himself rather than responding when he continues to acknowledge the punch he observed - it looks to him like Matsuo could K.O. just about anybody with it, but he never actually shows his stuff in a fight. Yusuke has to recognize that his passion for boxing does seem real, however, and is betting on him when he gets into the ring with a REAL opponent. He's got his money on Matsuo getting that "eye of the tiger" deal going, and showing the world the "killer beast" that lurks within the guy they've been calling "dud" this whole time. 

Just such a real honorable opponent coincidentally shows up to ask Matsuo for a spar, given that the match is just a few more days away and they could use the real practice. Matsuo agrees to this, but he doesn't seem too stoked for it. Next thing we get is the ring bell clanging, and, well... this. 

Huh. It's NOT "eye of the tiger" after all.

Even the current opponent, who is handily knocking Matsuo around, is encouraging him to strike back. Yusuke is sweatdropping as he watches the one-sided spar. He accuses Matsuo of barely even trying, telling him he's supposed to be a boxer instead of a living punching bag, and that this is no different than the beating Matsuo took yesterday. Well, at least Matsuo's sparring partner isn't trying to hurt him. He thinks at Yusuke that it's easy for him to say all these things, which has never been truer for anyone ever - Yusuke is currently hanging out in Matsuo's body and mind, occasionally taking it over in order to SHOW him precisely what he's capable of. No one has ever been in a better position to say any of this!

It appears that the whole exercise is over when Matsuo's partner punches him in the stomach, because the next we know, we're looking at a wide panel of the outside of the school, with Yusuke's unique internal speech bubbles from inside Matsuo overlaid. He's complaining about how pathetic that display was, how Matsuo closes his eyes every time the other guy throws a punch, asking why he even TRIES to fight. Seems to me he's not even doing THAT much. Matsuo trudges through the school hallway, explaining that he can't help but flinch when he sees a punch coming, and became a conditioned reflex after being bullied for so many years. Yusuke asserts that Matsuo could turn that flinch into a dodge, but he appears to have reached his limit in offering advice. 

He says he doesn't know why HE'S even trying, griping about how much Matsuo goes on and on about boxing only to shut down in the ring. Yusuke points out the boxing is still fighting, even though there are rules of engagement, but Matsuo just uses it as another avenue to get bullied. OUCH. While Matsuo listens to this assessment with a silent sigh, looking utterly defeated, Yusuke tells him that he's got good footwork and power, which are important, but what he really lacks is GUTS. 

Yusuke's voice becomes a throb in Matsuo's head as he rants on and on about Matsuo being the type to freak under pressure, which will sink him every time, predicting that he'll probably puke his guts out on the day of high school entrance exams and flub those too. Then, all of a sudden, Yusuke is back on the track of offering help, because he claims Matsuo needs it in the WORST way. He claims that all Matsuo needs is the right kind of experience. 

Yeah, Matsuo didn't speak at ALL in four whole panels. It was just Yusuke rambling in frustration. But now he pipes up, retorting that Yusuke means experience in Yusuke's kind of street brawl style, to which Yusuke asks what's wrong with that. He tells Matsuo it's not all about using one's fists, that there's a kind of "science" to it. He doesn't really elaborate on this, but he does repeat that Matsuo needs to get some guts, and this, to him, translates into learning to BLUFF as well. He draws Matsuo's attention to another student that is walking toward them in the hallway, hands in pockets, scowling. Yusuke characterizes him as a punk wannabe, too cool for school (sound familiar?), and suggests that Matsuo gives him control so he can show him what he means. Matsuo stammers out a request not to get him in trouble, but he seems to go ahead and step aside to give Yusuke the wheel. 

Yusuke knocks shoulders with the other young man as they pass, and the kid turns to grasp Matsuo's shoulder to halt him and demands an apology.

The facial expressions in this comic continue to be priceless, LMFAO!!

The kid high-tails it, renouncing the whole interaction as he speeds off in the opposite direction. Yusuke cedes control back to Matsuo, telling him how easy that was, and inviting him to try it himself. Matsuo stutters that he CAN'T do that, it's just brute intimidation. Yusuke calls him a fool, telling him this is exactly how fights are won. He lectures that you have to use your eyes, voice, and face, and if you do it correctly, intimidation settles fights before they even happen. 

But it's not long before Matsuo is walking along outside the school and a group of three approaching point him out, one of whom says HE'S the guy to someone called Samejima. Matsuo starts freaking out, realizing the guy Yusuke had bumped into deliberately in the corridor is back, and he appears to have brought friends. 

Did your bud go and cry to his mommy too? Get you some friends who don't whine whenever someone makes contact with them in a crowded space, for fuck's sake. 

Yusuke asks if Matsuo knows this guy, and as he's frozen in terror, Matsuo thinks at Yusuke that every boxer in the area knows him - Samejima of the Rinju Junior High boxing team. There are rumors that he drags guys he doesn't like to the gym and puts out their eye, or broken limbs and such. Seems like that wouldn't be something that a gym would allow to happen, but sure. Matsuo thinks that Samejima makes small-time-bully Tachikawa look like Mother Teresa.

Ignoring, of course, the ways in which Mother Teresa herself was a torturous monster. 

Meanwhile, Samejima is asking Matsuo if he's on the Imawano boxing team, his friends sneering about Matsuo sweating. Matsuo answers nervously that he is, and when Samejima says pointedly that there's a guy from Matsuo's team that's supposed to be his opponent in the upcoming competition, Matsuo is struck even dumber than he was before. He staggers back as Samejima tells him to tell whichever guy is to face him that he's not leaving the ring in one piece. Matsuo blanks out, thinking that this is just his luck, and he's gone completely unresponsive when Yusuke asks if he's even there anymore. 

Yusuke concludes with some exasperation that Matsuo is in a standing dead faint, and that it's his own show from here on out, with Samejima grabbing Matsuo's collar and offering to give him a sample of what's in store for the Matsuo he's supposed to face in a couple of days. Yusuke slaps Samejima's hand away and says HE'S Matsuo, adding that, Samejima or Sasquatch, a baboon-faced moron like this guy shouldn't be copping such a tough attitude. Shit dude. Fuckin' WRECKED. Samejima's friends are absolutely floored by the fact that someone dared to insult their ring leader's face. 

Yusuke, through Matsuo, asks what the hurry is anyway, given that they'll meet in the ring soon enough. He even offers to rearrange Samejima's scrunched up nose for him then. Call it a free cosmetic procedure. 

This isn't bluffing, Yusuke, it's antagonizing. And it's not YOUR neck on the line here. 

Skip to the day of the match, and to a big sports arena building. The Captain of the team asks a couple of the kids where Matsuo is, and they respond that he's still in the locker room and said he needed to be alone. In reality, he needs to scream at the voice of Yusuke in his head, asking him what he's done, and whining that Samejima is going to MURDER him. Trembling, he makes for the door, saying he's getting out of there when Yusuke asks what he's doing. 

Somehow, Yusuke yanks Matsuo's head backward and refuses to let him wimp out like that, Matsuo crying out in alarm. Yusuke reminds him that he's about to get his precious match, something that he's SUPPOSED to have always wanted. It's his SHOT, his chance to show his stuff, and it doesn't matter WHO his opponent is. Matsuo retorts that it DOES matter, because Samejima will take him apart, but Yusuke asks how he knows that, because he's never even fought the guy. Hell, he hasn't ever fought anyone, for that matter. But Matsuo just continues to sit there on the bench in the locker room, insisting that he has absolutely no chance in despair. He claims that he was never cut out for boxing, and it makes no difference how much passion or effort he puts into it, because nothing makes up for the lack of talent or courage he lacks. 

Yusuke asks if Matsuo would really rather quit than try to win one fight, and Matsuo clenches his fist. After a long, tense silence, he stutters that he can't help it. 

"Why are you hitting yourself?"

Matsuo goes down over the bench with a cry of pain. Yusuke says he's had it with him and is sick of being stuck in his body. As Matsuo sits on the floor next to the overturned bench (which looks like it's sitting in an odd position considering direction of the force that knocked it over), Yusuke gives him one last lecture about how he keeps thinking like Matsu the Dud, making excuses to avoid his moment of truth. He says that like it or not, Matsuo's moment has arrived, and he needs to start thinking like Matsuo the Boxer instead, unless HE'S the one who's an insult to the sport. He has to follow through, go out there and DO it, whether he wins or loses. BUT, Yusuke also expresses a hope that Samejima DOES murder Matsuo if he goes out there and gets all pathetic on him again, just so he can escape this body. 

There's a long silence as Matsuo looks contemplative, if not still a little sorry for himself. The Captain and another man come to call to him outside the door of the locker room, telling him it's time, and when the door creaks open, the Captain looks elated while his companion wears a slightly surprised gape. Matsuo wears his gloves and headgear, and tells them he's ready, calm and determined. 

I guess you just had to get fed up enough.

But Botan pops out of the ether to provide another explanation, that it's because Matsuo has FINALLY made a choice, scaring the shit out of Yusuke in the process. He gripes at her that she shouldn't just appear like that, but she ignores this criticism, further elaborating instead that with Yusuke in Matsuo's head, arguing against his self-defeating thoughts, he at last realized that he could no longer let his doubts hold him back. 

Out in the arena, with joyous and encouraging hollers surrounding the boxing ring, Matsuo is already well into his match against Samejima. The Captain of the team is flanked by gaping, disbelieving guys, who wonder aloud if that's really Matsuo, but he's just grinning and in open awe. They all observe that Matsuo isn't flinching like usual, but plowing right in, even against Samejima. Alright, I ignored all the references to Yusuke being INSIDE Matsuo, but the gay subtext is just overpowering here, lol! Matsuo's determined expression is overlaid with the exclamation that he and his opponent are trading blow for blow, and as he throws one of those powerful rights that Yusuke commented upon earlier, someone shouts that he's taking the offensive. 

Samejima is cursing, yelling that no one gets the better of him, but Matsuo is concentrating on not running, looking his opponent in the eye, and punching as hard as he can. He gets whapped on the side of the head by Samejima, but while he acknowledges feeling Samejima's blows, he's confident that his own punch...

This hit brings Samejima down, confirmed by the referee. Matsuo's team, Captain and all, cheer at how wild it is that Samejima has fallen. Samejima himself is looking sullen, raising his forearm to rub at his injured jaw with a bitter curse. As he glares up at Matsuo, he resolves to throw away all the rules, determined to take the fouls if it means that he can mangle Matsuo good. Bold strategy, we'll see how it plays out for him. XD

The start of the next round is shouted out by the referee, and Samejima is already thinking about how he can cause maximum damage. He settles on smashing Matsuo in the face with an elbow, and after a series of blows and dodges, he makes the move, announcing that Matsuo's comeuppance is on the way when his elbow is in prime position. Matsuo's eyes widen, and instead of leaning away, he literally leans into the blow, so it strikes the headgear protecting his forehead. Then he takes his own shot.

Training wheels are off now, kiddo!

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Yusuke comes across as weirdly intellectual in this one! He's expounding upon the politics of fighting, and I find it FASCINATING. You would think a guy who began this small arc by excitedly playing spectator to a fight would be much more amenable to starting a brawl whenever possible, but the advice he gives Matsuo is very practical in this regard. His acknowledgement that a lot of the behavior that might lead up to a confrontation is mere intimidation and bluff, most often curbing aggression before blows are ever exchanged, is particularly insightful when it comes to Matsuo's situation.

Because my conclusion about Matsuo valuing honor and fair play had proven to only be part of the story, and may even be chalked up to an excuse he uses for his inaction when assaulted. Deep down, it's just his conditioned response to curl up and take it whenever he's threatened. In every area of his life, he's so used to losing that it has LITERALLY become his identity, his nickname proclaiming as much. It's a very deep well of habitual failure that he's stuck in, but it IS largely a mental one, so Yusuke's prescription of "getting guts" is accurate, if not a little simplified. After all, anyone who has suffered a mental block and lack of confidence could tell you that it's not the EASIEST thing to just get up and over it.

Which makes the ending of this chapter somewhat jarring. In his match, Matsuo isn't shown hesitating, or struggling to maintain his decisive mindset when he gets hit. It's almost as if he flipped a switch and suddenly had access to all the confidence in the world. Inspiring, to be sure, but a little on the reductive side to the effort that goes into overcoming your own mental sabotage. No doubt the actual match had to be much truncated to fit it into the few pages that were left in the chapter, so that certainly didn't help. Given that this comic is only 16 chapters in and not fully established yet, putting the extended match into an additional chapter was probably not going to fly with the publishers either, so I'm sure YT had to make a couple of choices as to how the content would be presented. 

The thing that REALLY raised my eyebrows was how the random guy Yusuke threatened in the hallway just HAPPENED to be a toadie to not only a formidable boxer on another school's team, but specifically the one that was going to face Matsuo in his fateful match. That's one HELL of a coincidence, sir!

Inuyasha Manga: 315 Scent of the Bird's Nest

Ignoring the poor grammar of the title's translation, I have to say that I don't envy the characters with a sharp sense of smell. My husband and I discovered a bird next right down on the ground over the spring and summer - We'd let the grass get overgrown, and a couple of birds took advantage of the ample material on the ground to create a little den for their chicks. It was a very small one, though, and looking into the mouth of it (from a distance), it looked awfully crowded with just three visible chicks inside. I don't imagine I would have liked the close smell in there if my nose were able to pick it up, but that might have been a moot point entirely. 

Because it must have been slight enough not to attract predators at all - those birds grew up and flew off just fine, despite being stuck on the ground for a couple of weeks. 

Again, Miroku, I thought you were supposed to be the smart one.

He seems to have surrendered the role to Inuyasha this time, who points out that there's probably still a connection, given that Naraku's whole objective seems to depend on Abi gathering human blood. Kagome is reminded that Naraku is trying to get the human blood to go to the border between this world and the next, where the massive bones of Inuyasha's father are sitting in their gargantuan armor. She acknowledges that they still don't know how one leads to the other, though. The implication is that Naraku needs this alliance between him and Abi to remain intact for the moment, however strained it is.

Shippou turns to Inuyasha and asks him if what they're talking about is not supposed to be important, and after Inuyasha responds with a confused noise, they look over to where Sango is sitting some distance from them, brooding and with the transformed Kirara her only companion. None of them move to go get her to share in the critical conversation, but stare, Kagome in particular thinking on Sango's current emotional turmoil. She's been down this whole time, because of her worry for Kohaku. 

I don't know if that's the correct question, my girl.

Miroku sits down silently on the side of Sango not occupied by Kirara, who looks over at him with a curious expression. Sango also looks over, acknowledging his presence, but in a more deadpan manner. He asks her if it's alright for him to be here, but she doesn't answer right away, so he continues. He says he doesn't want her to suffer by herself, and wants to know if there's anything he can do to help. Holy shit, is Miroku actually being... CONSIDERATE???

Sango tells him he can stay beside her just like he is, and he puts and arm around her and draws her to his side, saying he understands. This gets Shippou's attention from the short distance - he reports to an initially turned away Inuyasha that Miroku hugged Sango's shoulder so CASUALLY. Baffled, Inuyasha scoots over to where Shippou sits as well, asking if Miroku isn't caressing Sango's ass, and Shippou confirms it's the shoulder. Kagome tells Inuyasha he shouldn't be silly, because no matter how much of a lecher Miroku can be, he does choose the time and place. Oh, are we acknowledging he's responsible for his conduct at last? 

Inuyasha returns to the clueless frame in which he is so comfortable, using the fact that Miroku and Sango have agreed to get married at a certain point as an argument that she wouldn't get angry about the ass-pats anymore. Irritated, Kagome informs him that no matter how much you like someone, if they do something insensitive, you tend to get angry. He should be intimately familiar with this concept, given Kagome's recent behavior that hurt his feelings, but I guess since it wasn't an unwanted sexual advance, it hit different. 

Scoffing, Inuyasha asks what's left if you take the lecher out of Miroku anyway. 

Maybe at least TRY not to be so obnoxiously loud next time, guys. I mean, if you HAVE to examine the love life of your friends within hearing distance, that is. 

Back at the ranch vampire creature nest, Abi is telling her mother about how she attacked the castle, and Naraku wasn't drawn out by her act of war. The good news, of course, is that she was able to collect all the human blood at the castle. Mommy Big-Eye is very pleased with this, given that it's allowed her to greatly dilute the poison in her body. There must have been a shit-ton of blood at that castle. 

I'd say Abi has already been about as reckless as it takes for the both of you to pay for it, Eyeball. 

Oh, and that evidence she's talking about? The barrier has disappeared from around their nest. Apparently, Abi didn't even know about that barrier, because she responds in question about it, so her mother explains (only NOW for some reason) that that darn Naraku hid their home with a barrier without them asking for it. Abi interprets this as some sort of challenge to them from the measly hanyou, because she has to remain cocky despite making almost every stupid move she could possibly have made in this situation as per the demands of this thin-ass plot.

We return to where Inuyasha and crew have bedded down for the night, Inuyasha himself propped against the roots of a tree while his companions either use the transformed Kirara as a pillow, or snuggled in Kagome's sleeping bag. He opens his eyes when a sharp scent meets his nose, and stands suddenly, aware of the birds' scent reaching him out of nowhere. He thinks in disbelief that the nest is close by.

Oh boy, here we go again. 

Inuyasha greets the familiar little figures with an uncertain trailing comment about their identities as Kikyou's Shikigami. They waste no time in telling him that Kikyou is waiting, and as he's sweatdropping, processing this statement, they turn to fly right back off again. He shouts at them in frustration, running after them, apparently forgetting that his friends are sleeping nearby. After Inuyasha has gone, Miroku stands on the crest of the hill, looking after him in askance. Kagome slumbers on in her sleeping bag with a passed-out Shippou in her arms. Sleep soundly while you're not in a fight with Inuyasha, girl, because that shit's about to go out the window again REAL soon.

Inuyasha runs through the forest until he reaches a large tree with a light glowing around the other side of its trunk.

She and Inuyasha look at and utter each other's names, which just gives the whole situation MORE of an air of a secret romantic rendezvous. Inuyasha walks up to stand in front of her and after a moment of silence asks if her body is okay now. Awkward wording for a guy who is in more of a compromising position every second. Kikyou responds that he should have heard by now that Kagome has directly purified the miasma from Naraku that was once coursing through her. Inuyasha confirms this, but he can't help but notice that Kikyou still seems to be in a bit of pain, and concludes internally that she hasn't FULLY healed. 

Kikyou continues, saying that he's probably also noticed that the barrier around the hidden "bird" nest has been removed. Inuyasha hesitantly acknowledges that this must be why the scent of the vampire creatures has suddenly become apparent to him, but before he can really finish this statement, Kikyou asks him what Naraku is trying to do. Wait, I can't keep track of who knows what anymore - did Kikyou not figure this out like the rest of them? I guess not. 

Inuyasha informs her that Naraku is trying to go to the border between the worlds to pick up a Shikon shard that ended up there. This seems to make some sense to Kikyou, because she mumbles about this being the reason why he's been collecting human blood through Abi. If this is the case, she's ready to make a pretty strong prediction.

Bold statement for someone who literally just found out that this was Naraku's plan. 

It's broad daylight when we return to the campsite and Kagome is sitting up in her sleeping bag, reacting in disbelief that Inuyasha has gone off somewhere. Miroku is squatting at the foot of the sleeping bag, telling her that he went in pursuit of two children. He doesn't mention that they were weird FLYING children, but Kagome puts two and two together anyway, and immediately remembers the child-like shikigami who were giving her instructions on how to save Kikyou. It's the obvious conclusion to reach that Inuyasha has gone to see Kikyou. 

And we're back with Inuyasha and Kikyou at the tree in the forest, and it's kind of amazing how LONG they've been hanging out in this very spot? Especially considering how awkward this conversation has been so far. Kikyou talks about how Inuyasha and his friends are planning to get to the border between this world and the next, and an indignant Inuyasha snaps that of COURSE they're going, because they're not about to let Naraku get his hands on another Shikon fragment. 

Kikyou, my girl, I desperately need you to stop acting like a catty weirdo. It's not cute. Okay?

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised that Miroku is capable of being a decent human after being so problematic and such a source of annoyance to me for so long. A little bit of that residual irritation remains, though, because the scene above where he's asking Sango what he can do to comfort and support her suggests pretty heavily that he could ALWAYS have controlled his hands and lechery, but decided he couldn't be bothered before. Sango has been distraught over Kohaku's position and deeds in the past, so this isn't exactly a new situation, and Miroku has been a shit to her during those times. What changed? The low-key engagement between him and Sango? Is that what prompted him to have a little care when it comes to her feelings and mental well-being? 

There's still, unfortunately, a bitter aftertaste to this nice scene, and that is emphasized by the commentary of their friends, especially the incredulous Inuyasha. Because while it's overtly a joke to ask what is left if you take the lecher out of Miroku, it does raise a legitimate question about how a habit like that can just be dropped on a dime. The implication seems to be that the enthusiastic agreement to as many children as he can make was ALL he was really looking for, as opposed to his behavior actually being caused by a complicated mix of an uncomfortable acknowledgement of his own precarious mortality, the drive to have a little fun before his curse inevitably kills him, and the need to pass on the battle against Naraku if he should fail to kill the asshole before he eats it. This scene kind of reinforces the more shallow of these views on Miroku's character, indirectly claiming that a promise of commitment has cured him, because it's way easier than having him do the long and hard work of putting his misogyny aside. Not a very inspiring message, upon close inspection. 

The presentation of Kikyou seems to be more shallow by this point too. Since I've read the following chapters before, I'm aware that the final suggestion of Kikyou above is a bit of a fake-out, but it continues to give the distinct impression of RT leaning into the "love rivalry" angle between Kikyou and Kagome. Kikyou sending her shikigami to fetch Inuyasha while everyone else was asleep, when she could have just waited until the whole group was awake to send for all of them, is needlessly secretive for her purposes. She could have conversely had the shikigami ask Inuyasha to wake his group so they could all meet with her if she was afraid they would all go before she had a chance to give her critical advice. Either way, she could easily have arranged to argue to Kagome HERSELF that she shouldn't be going along to the border with the rest of the group. Instead, we have her acting like a jealous little girl trying to keep Inuyasha to herself because, I'm guessing, the adolescent audience is expecting it. Heaven forbid that RT use this opportunity to subvert those expectations in a meaningful way or anything. 

What a bummer. Kikyou is too cool a character with too much potential for her to be made to act like this.

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 015 Just One Win!

That's all it takes, often enough. Building confidence and power is quite a bit easier with even a single win, because it feels like you have something on which to base it. The demoralization that comes with failure is partly due to how it kind of convinces you that the universe is sending you a message not to even bother, so it can really be helpful to have what looks like a blessing from it by contrast. To a species that heavily relies on giving symbolic significance to pattern recognition, one win can make or break further efforts for a lot of people.

And then there are some people who have so many resources that winning and losing hardly even registers, because there are simply no consequences for either one. 

It's not hard to see which of these guys above has had more wins.

Yusuke is VERY excited, encouraging the fight and gushing about how he loves a good brawl to get the blood racing, but upon a second look, Yusuke has to admit that this looks more like a beating than a fight. As one of the bullies yells at their victim to get up, Yusuke seems to express some surprise when he gets a decent view of that victim's face. He exclaims that he knows the guy, someone he calls "Matsu the Dud". That already sounds pretty telling. 

Botan asks about his declaration of acquaintance, and Yusuke confirms that they met in grade school, explaining that the guy's name was Suekichi Matsuo, but everyone called him "Matsu the Dud" because he failed at everything. He characterizes the kid as a bully-magnet, and claims that he'd come to Matsuo's rescue a lot. Botan says that was nice of him, but I'm skeptical, given his insincere grin and the image accompanying it where a younger Matsuo has his arms tied to what looks like a push broom across his shoulders so he's forced to hold a T-pose. It looks like he's not wearing pants too, because with closer inspection you can see some *ahem* lumps drawn in the crotch area. A younger Yusuke stands by, smarming about how it doesn't look like Matsuo is having a great time. 

Yusuke reveals in the next panel that these "rescues" he refers to cost Matsuo a good 1000 Yen a pop, which is the real reason he was so happy to lend a hand. Botan cynically thinks that she should have known, and it looks a little like she's spitting a star as she sweatdrops? While Yusuke watches Matsuo get held by two guys and punched by a third, he says that Matsuo had mentioned wanting to get into boxing in junior high, but supposes that by the looks of things he didn't get too far. Matsuo is on the ground and being kicked from three different directions, his tormentors calling him a pansy and demanding he get up again, before Yusuke finally decides that this is just not right. He says it shouldn't take all three of those bullies to knock Matsu the Dud around, and they're just kicking him while he's down. Literally.

Pointing at the commotion, Yusuke tells Botan that he's got to put a stop to this business that has gone way too far. Botan reminds him that he's a ghost and that he can't really do anything unless he's in a body, and this seems to read to him as a suggestion, because he affirms this and starts descending to the ground. Botan angrily commands him not to dare, since he can't just slip into someone's body whenever he wants and that this is NOT how it works. He's not listening, though, already halfway into Matsuo's groaning body. 

Botan is in shock that he seems to have done it despite her insistence that he couldn't, Matsuo's body twitching. It's her explanation that this is because the kid is unconscious, but she's still quite affronted by what she characterizes as akin to a burglary, taking over a body when the soul isn't really there. Except, it SHOULD be there, right? Matsuo's just knocked out? Is it part of the lore that our souls leave our bodies when we're unconscious, because that happens A LOT in this one...

Anyway, the bullies call him a moron who should have just paid up and gotten it over with. 

Get THAT over with, douchebags.

After the brawl, Yusuke holds a handful of coins in Matsuo's palm, and exclaims that these guys just had chump change, and it must have been the reason they decided to mug his host. Yusuke scratches Matsuo's cheek, mumbling that he jumped into his body literally without an exit strategy. He wonders if he'll get ejected after 30 minutes like when he possessed Kuwabara, and seems to take this for granted, walking off to go wait it out at Matsuo's place. 

Botan asserts that waiting it out won't be enough this time, complaining about how Yusuke always leaps without looking. She contemplates reporting the incident to the underworld and have them discipline them, just when Koenma appears behind her in much the same way he did Yusuke in the last chapter. Koenma assures her that this isn't so bad, causing her to straighten up and whirl around in alarm and confusion that he's back again already. He cheerily points out that his appearances have been in two chapters in a row, busting through that fourth wall like the Kool-Aid Man. 

Koenma tells her that they actually had a meeting in the underworld, and that they've made a decision regarding Yusuke.

Awkward that he seems to have found a new one, lol.

After a speechless moment, Botan is in a little disbelief, admitting that she thought Koenma's intervention in the fire set Yusuke back a bit from being reunited with his body. Koenma confirms this, but he says that it brought something else to the fore, a little bad luck bringing some good fortune, so to speak. When Koenma came into direct contact with Yusuke's virtue as he pulled it out of Yusuke's chest, he was able to analyze the boy's soul. That must have been a LIGHTNING fast analysis - mine on these chapters take a few days at least. 

Koenma's main issue is that he couldn't really pin down Yusuke's true nature, with his extreme emotions, exhibition of immorality and decency almost simultaneously, and ALMOST consistent yet haphazard behavior. I don't know, bro, I think you're missing the forest for the trees, here. 

Are... are you sure that's the ONLY conclusion? You sure there buddy?

Oh well, who am I to argue with the toddler prince of the underworld? Koenma says their conclusion was that it's pointless to judge Yusuke's character as a non-corporeal ghost, and that it lacks definition without a body. I feel like that could apply to literally ALL living things, but go off I guess. It was Koenma's intention coming here to inform Yusuke of this, but he has found that Yusuke is already walking off in a body, sneezing, albeit not his own. So, Koenma suggests that this could be enlightening, and that he and Botan can sit back and observe for a while. 

The ultimate test here is supposed to be Yusuke helping the boy he's possessed with his problems or goals in some way, and if he succeeds, Koenma promises to return Yusuke to his own body for good. He admits that it'll break some long-standing rules, but they're pretty flexible when the occasion calls for it. Semantically I believe that would be BENDING the rules, not that it's all that important. Koenma does say that he thinks Yusuke is okay deep down, and asks Botan if she would agree as Yusuke's guide. She pauses a moment, but looks perfectly happy to say that she would indeed say so. 

Cut to a house with a side gate, and someone asking to be excused. A woman in a striped apron, labeled Suekichi's mom, walks out to greet the person who is speaking, finding her son in the entryway of the home claiming to have not seen her in a while and telling her she has a nice place. She snaps at him not to be cute, and asks what happened to his face, suggesting it was another mishap at boxing practice. From inside Matsuo's body, Yusuke is a little cowed, having been reminded that he's in another kid's body. Meanwhile, Suekichi's mom is still snapping at him, revealing that he let him box after he bugged her about wanting it so badly, but she's not putting up with this hobby if he keeps getting hurt every day. She thinks he'll end up too "punchy" to study or prepare for a good high school, which I think might be another way of her saying he'll get some brain damage. 

Yusuke, with Matsuo's mouth, tells her that it's okay, because he got into a fight rather than boxing. Unsurprisingly, this only confuses her at first, and then she yells that this is NOT okay with her. Can't say I blame her much. 

Got the spirit of the chapter down, I see.

Yusuke apparently spent a lot of time with this kid, because he recalled Matsuo going on about his boxing ambitions all the time, telling him that it wasn't about getting back at a bunch of bullies. He admired the pure sport of it, the opponents praying for each other beforehand and praising each other afterwards, the skill and discipline being everything. The younger Matsuo punches out at the air in excitement, expressing his goal of experiencing victory even if it's just once. 

Back in the present, Yusuke continues to observe the simple poster, and after a pause, mumbles that it's so far no good in this case. Suddenly, Matsuo/Yusuke appears mildly confused, humming in puzzlement both aloud and internally. A pulse passes through Matsuo's body, and just like that, he's holding a hand to his bruised cheeks as though he's just feeling it for the first time, whining in pain. He looks around, noting that he's in his room, and asking himself how he GOT there, muttering that he must have wandered back home absently. 

Yusuke's voice sounds inside his skull, announcing that HE'S the one who brought him here. Matsuo starts to panic, looking around and stuttering the obvious questions of who this is and where they are. Yusuke says he understands that it's been a couple of years, but he hopes that Matsuo hasn't forgotten his ol' pal Urameshi. He adds that he's actually INSIDE Matsuo, and he can't find his way out again. Understandably, Matsuo is pretty upset and alarmed by this; he's put his hands on either side of his head and denies Yusuke's statement at first, but it becomes apparent really fast that there really is a voice coming from INSIDE his skull. He starts supplying a stream of explanations for himself, everything from all the whacks in the head he's been taking, to the stress he's been feeling lately, to fatigue that might just be fixed with a small nap. As if he hasn't literally been unconscious up until recently. The whole time, Yusuke's voice is nagging at him to pay attention to it. 

That looks even MORE painful than I feel it should.

A transition panel shows the upper corner of a school, the morning bell ringing. Matsuo walks along a crowded hallway, acknowledging to Yusuke that he still hears him in his head even after a night's sleep. Hopefully none of those classmates surrounding him hear HIM talking to himself. Yusuke responds that now Matsuo knows he's not a dream, then starts complaining that there aren't many distractions in Matsuo's room. Apparently, Matsuo has a bunch of textbooks and boxing stuff, but not a single girlie mag. It IS possible he's not into girls, Yusuke. 

Matsuo freaks out about Yusuke rummaging around his room with his body while he was supposed to be asleep, punching the back of his head and calling Yusuke as shameless as he's always been, and alarming his fellow students in the process. Yusuke changes the subject to how junior high is almost over, and asking if Matsuo even has a SHOT at a match as Matsuo rubs the back of his own head, wincing. 

Smiling, Matsuo thinks at Yusuke about the city-wide junior high boxing tournament that takes place five days from now, and he's going to be the second-year representative for his school - his last chance at his victory. As Matsuo continues walking them down the corridor, Yusuke suggests that he smoked all the other contenders in his class, but Matsuo admits the truth that there are only two second-year contenders overall. After a small pause, Yusuke asks if he trounced the other guy, hopefully. Matsuo is stumbling over another disappointing explanation when someone else in the hall calls out to him. Someone NOT in his own head.

Looks like you guys have had ENOUGH sparring, frankly.

Matsuo protests that only basic exercises are scheduled today, but the guy with the square haircut grabs him by the collar and tells him to just shut up and come on. Matsuo is following of his own will in the next panel, not being dragged along like I thought, when Yusuke asks Matsuo who this clown is. He calls Square-Haircut Tachikawa, the OTHER second-year that said was representing the school. He's a kid big and tough enough to go up against high schoolers, but he's in trouble a lot and blows off practice, which is the reason Matsuo was the one picked for the match. Yusuke recognizes the guys behind Tachikawa as the ones beating Matsuo up yesterday, so it's obvious to him now that the incident wasn't just a random mugging. Yusuke's beating is why they have all those bandages on, I reckon.

In an out-building labeled for the boxing club, Tachikawa has got Matsuo down on the floor again, kicking him and mockingly asking what's with him. He demands Matsuo get up, repeating what he heard about Matsuo kicking the shit out of his guys with one lucky punch or something the previous day. Yeah, a guy does THAT much damage with one hit, keep telling yourself that. Inside Matsuo's head, Yusuke is urging him to go ahead and whack the dude, because thus far, this hasn't been much of a match. Matsuo staggers to his feet and holds up his gloves, complaining that Tachikawa isn't sticking to the rules - Matsuo wants to box, but his opponent clearly wants to brawl.

There's a few other students who have entered the club building, and are reacting to the sounds of punches and whacks from the ring with mild surprise, at most. The overwhelming attitude is a collective shrug at Matsu the Dud getting beaten up again, with an exasperated comment that the kid should either learn to throw a punch or quit. Tachikawa turns to shout at the first years coming in not to snitch on him to the seniors, then turns back to Matsuo and asks him if he's ready to quit and let HIM represent the class. Ah, that's why he's targeting Matsuo, a sense of misplaced injustice that a powerhouse like him should be passed over by a wimp like Matsuo. 

Matsuo's blood drips in the ring while Tachikawa continues to complain that it shouldn't matter when he misses practice, because he can wipe the floor with Matsuo, so he should be the one going to the tournament. Tachikawa argues that he would save Matsuo some pain if he would just quit already. A little pause later, Matsuo responds with a warbling refusal, but a refusal nonetheless. 

Tachikawa's reply is predictable. He scoffs, shuffles off his own gloves, and pulls back his fist for a bare punch, saying they'll see what he says after this. Matsuo's face is downright SMASHED by the punch, and the junior onlookers wince, muttering about the brutality of it. Tachikawa's group is reveling in the violence, though, laughing that Matsuo is getting his, and that it must really have been a fluke that Matsu the Dud managed to lay them all out yesterday. That would make me even MORE ashamed to getting my ass kicked like that, but hey, whatever helps them sleep at night. 

Matsuo lays on his side in the ring, bloodied and disfigured, Tachikawa looking down on him and chuckling that Matsuo will have plenty to think about when he regains consciousness. He then spits on the poor kid, the saliva landing on his cheek. Leaving the ring, Tachikawa invites his gang to leave with him, but then he hears a voice from behind him tell him to hold it. 

On his feet once more, Matsuo says he's had enough, that this isn't boxing, but street scrapping. Tachikawa says he's a bastard, but Matsuo isn't really talking to him anymore, but seemingly to himself. It's really Yusuke, of course, who has taken control of Matsuo's body once again, and the gloves come off as he suggests they dispense with the sport that Matsuo holds in such high regard and do things HIS way now. Tachikawa has returned to the ring, admitting he doesn't know what Matsuo is mumbling about, but he's happy to give him more pain if that's what he's after.

His teeth are flying and EVERYTHING. Tachikawa gurgles as the punch launches him, the audience of both junior students and his gang looking on in wide-eyed shock that he would not only go down with one hit, but that it came from "Matsu the Dud". Although, they're already correcting themselves in calling Matsuo by his proper name now. Yusuke, through Matsuo, is now stomping on Tachikawa in the ring, asking him if he thinks scum like him can mess around like this and threatening to all-out KILL him. Tachikawa howls like an animal, and the gathered students stand in complete frozen alarm for a minute. 

Hopefully this little incident doesn't lose Matsuo that coveted spot in the tournament...

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? It's amusing to me how... unconcerned Yusuke seems to be trapped in someone else's body, especially for a period of time that is way longer than the allotted 30 minutes that was put on his possession of Kuwabara. He doesn't appear to be in communication with Koenma or Botan at this point either, so he has NO idea what is going on. I suppose it isn't entirely unfair for Koenma to characterize him as a wild-card idiot who doesn't put any thought into his actions or the consequences, given how relaxed he's proven to be in this situation. 

Although, as I indicated above, I do think there's a slightly different explanation other than just "moron". Yusuke displayed in the very first chapter a devil-may-care attitude that seemed to stem from a deep-seated belief that he had no future. He saw his life going absolutely nowhere, so he didn't really value it. Any actions that other people considered reckless and alarming came down to an impulse of a split second, because there was only the present, and no real future. This extends all the way back to that first surprising act of self-sacrifice. In my opinion, his current laid-back attitude about being stuck in Matsuo's body and using it to defeat Matsuo's bully is just an extension of this habit of thinking. 

But I also wouldn't be surprised if the framing of this behavior continues to be reinforced as unmitigated stupidity. I've read enough of these comics to expect little else, lol!

Matsuo is an interesting contrast to Yusuke. He appears to be entirely rule-oriented, and is upset by the fact that his bullies refuse to actually follow them. If he wasn't physically capable of taking Tachikawa down, Yusuke couldn't have used his body to do it, but the only thing standing in his way turned out to be his sense of honor and sportsmanship. It makes him vulnerable to those who don't value those ideas, and so he ends up getting repeatedly hurt because he refuses to throw those rules of engagement out the window when they aren't an effective strategy for the current fight. I fully expect Matsuo to be a little pissed at Yusuke when he comes back to consciousness, because he ended up being forced to get down in the mud instead of sticking to those high-minded ideals of his.

It's not like I haven't seen THAT happen before.  ;)