YuYu Hakusho Manga: 054 The Vanguard Battle Begins!!

Please forgive me if my writing is at all... confused right now. We got our cat Pooka spayed and her recovery has been a whole battle of its own. Upon coming home from the animal hospital, she immediately started trying to run and jump on everything, and she stayed awake for the first two days straight wired on her adrenaline and confusion and fear. Her strict regimen of meds to keep her calm doesn't always work and she's writhed her way out of two different recovery cones AND a body suit, so our sleep has been rather patchy for the last few days in our efforts to keep one eye open and on her at all times. What's more? Our other cat Grimalkin rejected her when she came home, hissing and swatting at her, because all the smells of the anesthesia, her new medical outfit, and her own terror masked her scent enough to make her somewhat unrecognizable. It's day five and we're FINALLY making progress on that last issue, Grimalkin no longer hissing at Pooka and cuddling with her a little. A relief, to be sure, because it was a complication we were unprepared for. 

The good news through all this is Pooka's incision wound is healing well and fast, so I'm hoping we can get her out of her hated cone and suit soon. Fingers crossed!

Bet SHE'S never had to wear a cone. 

Whatever medical indignities she has or has not endured, she declares the Dark Tournament open, though I still don't know WHO she is that empowers her to do so. We're shown a snapshot of a couple of men sitting in the VIP seats, another hefty cigar-sucker like Tarukane (except with some hair) and a slim lined middle-aged sort, both wearing suits. The former chuckles to his companion that this is the best part of selling one's soul to the dark side; the regular goody-two-shoes of world will NEVER know the thrill of being able to see Hell unleashed. Don't I WISH. 

The cheapo public seats are filled with demons calling for hitting, kicking, pokes in the eye, which is... pretty tame coming from literal malevolent spirits. Did they actually come here for a screening of some Three Stooges films? Anyway, they complain that they didn't do any of that preschool violence for weeks so they could come here, because bad deeds are restricted for prospective audience attendees to the event. 

Wait, so let me get this straight: if one wants to go to a bloodsport tournament between demon combatants that promises to end in death for a lot of them, the demons who want to come and watch have to be good little hellspawn and on their best behavior leading up to it? Like they're performing goodness for Santa Claus? 

It's kind of a wonder that ANY of those seats are filled, lol. 

Looks like demons have housing issues too.

Back in the VIP seats, we're shown a man with deep lines around his mouth right down to his large chin called Sukezo Gondowara, labeled the sponsor of the aforementioned Jolly Devil Six. A thoroughly unimpressed-looking Sakyo sits next to him, yet he asks him anyway what he thinks, calling his team "the dregs of the red light district" but with the potential to be legends. He in fact believes that the Jolly Devil Six are the REAL challenge to Toguro's team, since it's his opinion that Yusuke's team will be dispatched in short order. 

Said team emerges to jeers from the crowd, who perceive the guest team has arrived, and in the process note that Yusuke is still unconscious, one of his arms slung over Kuwabara's shoulder who drags him out upright. They mistake this for a dead faint, call Hiei and Kurama human-loving bastards/traitors, and yell that there's no WAY any of them are coming out of this alive. At least, the stated HOPE is that the the "legitimate" teams chew them up and spit them out. 

Kuwabara sweats and clenches his jaw, sarcastically calling the crowd a friendly bunch and supposing its members have to let loose on SOMEONE. Kurama question their use of the word "traitors", saying he'd be offended if they weren't such low lives. Clearly he's offended either way. 

The unnamed announcer lady calls the two teams to the center of the arena, and they comply. 

Uhhhh... I get that he didn't want to look like a toddler at this event, but this... This just makes him look like he's high on E at a rave. 

The ticket scalper balks, recognizing Koenma despite him being "all growed up" so to speak. The little goblin-like creature scratches the back of his head in nervousness, asking Koenma if he's here to watch the bloodbath. Koenma tells him an acquaintance of his is competing as a guest, which is a bit of a COLD way to refer to Yusuke. I mean, sure, they're not FRIENDS, but surely he's more than an acquaintance! I guess "child soldier" was a little on the nose. 

With an irritated expression, Koenma chatters to this random scalper about how he had THOUGHT about ending this whole bloody spectacle entirely, but he asserts that this event vents demon stress which reduces predations in the human world. What kind of terrible "The Purge" logic is this shit?? 

Absolutely fucking wild. 

The goblin scalper calls Koenma wise, calling this place a dark sanctuary where battle is the only language understood, the law is decided by the victor, and even the noble Koenma has no rank over any other spectator, unable to object if he saw his own parents murdered. Sounds like the "poetry" of half my mediocre middle school classmates. No WONDER he's scalping tickets for some extra cash. 

Koenma swings around to leave, muttering a thanks for the laughably edgy little screed. Nearby, Botan calls to him, accompanied by Keiko, Atsuko (as I was informed in the comments of the last chapter review, thankfully!), and Shizuka. She tells him that Yusuke's team is in the arena, and the goblin scalper is taken aback by what he assumes to be Koenma's substantial harem, calling him quite the ladies' man. Yeah, the pacifier brings all the girls to the yard - triggers that maternal training, I guess. Koenma corrects him with the simple statement that they're the friends and family of the guest combatant he mentioned earlier, adding that he HAD to bring them along due to Botan's loose lipped habits. She makes the excuse through nervous laughter that she was just trying to be nice. Still, the goblin remains kind of impressed in a shocked sort of way that THREE human women had the guts to come here. 

Yusuke snores on a glaring Kuwabara's shoulder as the three members at the forefront of the opposing team glares right back, though the little one notes that Yusuke is still asleep. The announcer informs the audience with her microphone that the team captains will decide the mode of battle and what constitutes a win. Apparently, if they're unable to agree, it falls to the house rules that stipulate one-on-one matches where the team with the most victories takes the win. 

The fair-haired guy, Zeru, stares unrelentingly at Yusuke's team while Kuwabara frets that their captain is still snoozing on his shoulder. Kurama tells him that it's HIS office then, to which he responds with bashful nervousness. He laughs that he's flattered, since it means that he's Yusuke's second, and verbally throws caution to the wind before squaring his shoulders and resolving seriously to show their opponents leadership, Hiei looking annoyed at his back. Meanwhile, Yusuke has DISAPPEARED. I assume in his eagerness that Kuwabara literally shrugged him off, and he's lying crumpled on the floor right now. 

Kuwabara walks right up to Zeru, hands in his pockets. Aural tension crackles between them. Zeru downplays the importance of his opinion (somehow the captain doesn't think it MATTERS what he says), but says he likes the one-on-one battles, given that it prolongs the fun. Kuwabara agrees wholeheartedly, asserting that this is a real man's way to fight. Fantastic, they agree. As Kurama hands Yusuke back over to Kuwabra, because I suppose HE just took Yusuke for the moment it took to agree, Kuwabara is stoked at how cool the non-existent negotiations were. 

Zeru's attention is on the sleeping Yusuke, his gaze flashing after a moment. 

The fuck? Is he starting the first match already?

Kuwabara complains that Zeru's aura is hot as an oven, and characterizes this swell of power as an attempted provocation of Yusuke. The masked member silently notes that this guy is out to kill, and Kurama wonders at the fact that he hangs out in the human word despite his icy eyes and fiery aura. The implication being that these attributes would be better utilized in the demon world, Kurama questions what demonkind has come to. 

I mean, YOU'RE hanging out in human world, dude...

Kuwabara hollers straight in Yusuke's face, yelling at him to rise and shine, but it's hopeless. The kid snoozes on. Observing that Yusuke still hasn't stirred, he wonders whether he's ill or just stupid. A little of column A, a little of column B. 

The announcer calls for the first contenders to get on the field. Little Rinku saunters forward with his hands clasped behind his head, the very PICTURE of relaxation as he bids his teammates later. With the crowd roaring and Kurama and Hiei looking on silently, Kuwabara grins and volunteers to take this one. The audience screams about Kuwabara being up, yelling for him to be killed. Rinku frowns in disappointment, mentally grousing about always getting the doofuses, and how the teasing he did yesterday didn't seem to scare his opponent like he'd intended. I'm sorry, kid, you're just not that intimidating. 

Anything goes in one-on-one battles, per the announcer, who also adds that a count of ten will determine out-of-bounds and knock-outs. Rinku smiles innocently, hands now behind his back as he expresses that he's as prepared as he's going to be, no anxiety to be found on his face. When the announcer begins the match, Kuwabara confidently invites the shrimp to bring it with a beckoning motion, and Rinku complies. 

You'd think the twerp were in a gymnastics competition. 

The announcer, who at LAST introduces herself as Koto, is impressed by Rinku's supreme agility, admitting she can BARELY follow him. At some point Rinku assumes that he's darted around enough so that Kuwabara can't see him properly, but when he comes close to Kuwabara, he sees the older boy pulling back his fist in preparation. 

He lost his hat and everything!

Up in the VIP seats, the team sponsor recoils, his expression a little like Rinku's above. The cheap seats murmur in disbelief at the hit to Rinku. Kuwabara pulls back for yet another punch, telling Rinku in no uncertain terms that the gloves are off. Rinku attempts to scramble away, but Kuwabara literally delivers a kick straight to his rump as he's turned away. Kuwabara is smugly holding up a fist again when Rinku turns back and rushes him in his indignation, delivering an uppercut to the tyke's chin and sending him flying. 

The crowd is now roaring with insults for Rinku, claiming they've never seen anything more pathetic, asking who sent the little runt into the ring anyway. From the sidelines, Kurama says evenly that Kuwabara can be surprising, and his love of fighting was apparent in the times he's spared with the tough. Hiei seems overall unimpressed, and asks Kurama what's with all the samurai posturing Kuwabara is doing, since he SHOULD have finished this with his aura sword by now. Uh, dude, weren't you listening? He LOVES fighting. Are you in the habit of rushing shit you love? 

Although, it does feel pretty scummy watching a huge teenager beating the shit out of a tiny baby child like this...

Rinku clutches his stomach and makes a noise like he's fighting back vomit. Kurama looks pleased, convinced Kuwabara has got the kid and this is it. As Rinku falls backward and Kuwabara dashes at him, Kuwabara says he's not into torture, so he's going to make this quick, promising Rinku he's going down for the count. 

But Rinku smirks slyly and flits away before Kuwabara can land a new punch. Kuwabara looks dumbfounded, and even more shocked when Rinku reappears behind him with the stated hope that Kuwabara enjoyed his moment. Kuwabara just begins to turn when... 

Oof, that sounds like it hurt. 

Kurama gapes in horror, the crowd drones in shock, and Zeru just... stares, as usual. Rinku once more clasps his hands behind his head and saunters off, a giant smug grin on his face. He's following up on his trailing comment earlier about hoping Kuwabara enjoyed his moment, declaring it now over with a laugh. He also asserts that he could have taken him out from the first moment, but asks where the fun is in that, echoing my point from before. Finally, he discourages the announcer from doing a count at all, because he's pretty certain he broke Kuwabara's neck back there and the teenager is well and truly dead. 

Hiei smiles creepily, thinking the little grease ball Rinku ALSO enjoys a fight it seems. The audience pumps fists and heaps praise upon the little dude who appears to have won. For a brief second, anyway.

Look whose moment is over NOW. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Forget Yusuke, poor Kuwabara has the weight of the WORLD on his shoulders throughout the whole beginning of this thing. He's forced to be interim team leader because Yusuke just CAN'T rise and shine, and that means negotiations that he was not all too prepared for, and then stepped in to take the very first round of the match. Sure, it seems to be going about as well as you might hope, but it all still looks ABSOLUTELY exhausting. Kurama is BARELY picking up any slack by taking Yusuke off Kuwabara's hands for a moment there, and Hiei is FULLY committed to being as hands-off as possible until his round starts. Granted, I expect it from Hiei given his character, but Kurama's refusal to take damn near ANY responsibility this situation is a little disappointing.

The background on this tournament we get through Koenma and the scalper's conversation is pure comedy. The suggestion that demons who value blood and destruction above all else can not only be expected to not partake in those things themselves just so they can vicariously watch others do it, but they actually DO IT? But it makes the reader question how much of this blood and destruction mentality is natural to them and how much is learned. If they can refrain, then it implies that it's not an intrinsic part of how they function. Between the necessity of eating SOULS for some of them and the ability to just NOT hurt humans, what IS the basic nature of these creatures? That might be as impossible a question to answer as what the basic nature of HUMANS is. 

And why shouldn't it be impossible to answer? We're the one's who invented "demons" after all.

Inuyasha Manga: 353 Stone Oni

All these haunted garden statues are giving me the creeps, but the chills they offer aren't nearly enough to overcome the heat of this year's El Nino. Our nearest city experienced record highs for this time of year, and as the summer wears on, things aren't liable to get much better. I'm perpetually freezing to death on the regular, but even I was too warm. Though our house manages to stay fairly cool even on hot days, this fact doesn't do much to curb my spiking climate anxiety. 

We'll see if throwing myself into another review does the trick.

Maybe Sesshoumaru could lend me a little something to take the edge off, if all else fails.

Jaken glares at the youki crystal he's holding up in front of his face, reporting that it's not reacting at all. He turns to Sesshoumaru and asks if Kagura was making up her story about Naraku's heart being here, but Sesshoumaru is lost in his own analysis of the environment. He can smell Inuyasha's former presence, as well as something else that he doesn't even identify yet in his HEAD.

Not for long, obviously. Once the group gets closer to the treeline, they find the shredded remains of myriad youkai shredded and chopped, which disturbs the SHIT out of Jaken and Rin. And that's not the ONLY thing. 

Someone's been exhumed. 

As Jaken and Rin cower behind Sesshoumaru's furry shoulder ornament, the former asking what the deal is with all the dead youkai, Sesshoumaru comments rather on the fact that someone seems to have been buried in this spot. He suggests it was THAT person who was responsible for all the carnage around the empty grave. I mean, okay, but dead people don't usually just get up and start killing youkai. Maybe since he (along with plenty of others in this story) is familiar with zombies menacing an area by this point, he's less concerned with the "HOW", so much as the "WHY". If he's concerned at all, of course.

As Jaken sidles up to the corpse of a giant eyeball with legs and hums critically, Sesshoumaru resolves silently to remember this scent. Given historical precedent, he probably has no doubt it will pop up again. 

Narrow transition panel to Inuyasha and company racing at breakneck speed over a rocky landscape, Inuyasha himself complaining about how they really got delayed, Kagome clinging to his back with a concerned look. On Kirara a short way to the rear, Miroku tells Inuyasha there was really no way they could have left Goryoumaru unburied to give chase right away. Kagome adds that their new knowledge that the baby is Naraku's heart on its own is valuable, but Inuyasha interrupts her to snap that it's not GOOD enough. He is, after all, a man of action. Inuyasha insists that they have to find the heart before Naraku can hide it somewhere new. 

A narrow shape in the sky hovers in the distance as they fly through a jagged canyon. 

No surprise that it's Kagura, as Kagome identifies from their advancing position on the ground. Inuyasha looks a little mystified by her just hovering there, and from Miroku's shoulder, Shippou recalls that she was going to follow-up on the location of the baby. That's not how I remember her parting words to go after Hakudoushi and Kanna, but I suppose the implication could be there. Miroku wonders aloud if Kagura is INVITING them to follow her. What OTHER reason could she possibly have to sit there stationary in a visible spot waiting for you to catch up? 

Kagura herself notes that the group below has seen her and that it's coming over. On the ground, Sango expresses some suspicion about how much of a distance Kagura is keeping from them, and Miroku interprets this as a lack of courage to guide them directly. Kagome seems to agree with this assessment, reminding them that Kagura told of how Naraku has a grip on her heart. All Kagura can think is that these bastards better do a good job, because she's not interested in dying in vain either. 

Another narrow transition panel leads us to another view of the massive stone oni from below.

Had to get out of the canyon to look the thing in the mouth. 

Without ANY hesitation, it seems, Inuyasha encourages the group to enter the statue, and he receives no argument either. Kirara follows him into the cavernous mouth of the carving, like it's some kind of cheap Halloween attraction. They've got more guts than me, that's for sure. I hope they don't LOSE them in there. 

When Shippou DOES ask if they're going to be eaten as they start to approach the throat and he takes a last nervous look at the gaping mouth behind them, Miroku assures him that it's just rock carved to LOOK like an oni. He should know that this is no guarantee of safety, but there's literally nothing else he can do while actively entering the statue than trust that it won't spring to life. 

Inuyasha pauses at the back of the mouth, commenting on the deep shaft descending into darkness from there as he gazes down it. Kagome thinks she can sense something down there in the dark, and at the same time, Inuyasha's nose twitches, picking up a scent. Once more, he tells the group to press on, jumping into the hole. 

This carving is REALLY realistic. Look at those BONES. 

After letting Kagome off his back into the ankle-deep questionable water at the bottom of the "cave", Inuyasha advises her to keep close, and she stutters her agreement. She says his name with some concern when he draws Tessaiga, but he just screams out into the cave to the bastards he KNOWS are there, letting off a Kaze no Kizu at the wall. A silhouette, all tentacles and spines, emerges from behind the crumbling divide. 

Yeah right. $50 bucks says it's a fucking puppet or something. Nothing less will buy me a tank of gas these days.

Inuyasha is clearly suspicious of the obvious as well, asking what's going on for Naraku to just stroll out here like this. I mean, he WAS behind a wall... Miroku interprets this to mean that the Shnooky heart was already hidden elsewhere, while Naraku asks Inuyasha what's wrong with him that he's not the LEAST bit happy at finally cornering his hated enemy. I doubt anyone would be HAPPY to see you under ANY circumstances, dude. 

Naraku (or his proxy, as it may be) holds out his hand, palm up, to surprise the Inuyasha group with a the almost complete Shikon no Tama, dark as a lump of coal. Kagome has her brows drawn down in anger, noting that its evil aura has grown stronger still than the last time they encountered it. Naraku appears at first to be offering the jewel as a parting gift - before their journey into the afterlife, at least. But then he clarifies that he MEANS the Shikon shard Kagome already carries. How can you give someone something they already HAVE? 

Who knows? He doesn't really bother to elaborate as the Shikon no Tama in his palm pulses and crackles. 

This doesn't look good. 

Shippou and Kagome both shriek in pain, jerking their feet out of the "water" with urgency. The newly pulsing walls glisten, secreting more moisture that drips down on the group's collective heads, Sango shouting in alarm that this is ACID. Outside, Kagura is shocked by the oni statue throbbing before its eyes spring open, looking malicious in its new vitality. Despite Kagura's disbelief, it has indeed come to life. 

Hakudoushi hovers at Kagura's back while she's distracted with horrified fixation on this giant creature into which she's led the Inuyasha team. He smirks at her. 

And where does THAT get you when your hand just dissolves seconds later, dude?

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Inuyasha's pursuit of Naraku has always been SOME level of reckless, but it has reached a whole new level in this chapter. From snapping at Kagome that just having the information they've gained on Naraku's heart isn't enough, to automatically diving into the most suspicious mouth-shaped cave in the history of ever, to vowing to grab the Shikon no Tama off Naraku basically even when he would fucking die in the process anyway, he's so eager to solve this Naraku problem as fast as possible that his brain is fully off. No strategizing anymore. Not even the beginnings of strategizing. Just lunging for what is most likely, if historical precedent is any indication, not REMOTELY close to the throat. The desperation for any kind of strike at this purely malevolent force that has taken so many lives and been so destructive is potent enough that it doesn't seem to matter to Inuyasha though.

But you know, I can't really blame him. I'm tired of Naraku's shit too. Every action of his is more outrageous and heinous than the last, and you have to wonder how he's gotten away with it all having pissed off so many people. I suppose his only saving grace is that all those people he's pissed off so thoroughly are distrustful enough of EACH OTHER that they aren't ready to enter into a real alliance to take his horrible ass out, and some part of that is by design. Keep everyone fighting amongst themselves and even when they realize they have goals in common, they can't quite bring themselves to join forces because the prejudice is so deeply ingrained. 

What do you mean? Of COURSE I'm still talking about Naraku. Who ELSE could I possibly be talking about?

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 053 The First Opponents!!

My opponents are far less deadly ones, but in some ways, more frustrating. I've got a couple of creative projects at the moment that have stalled, one of them being a cat toy that I've sewn for my niece. It's mostly complete, all I really have to do is embroider on the nose, but it's proving to be the most challenging part by far. The fabric is a sort of "furry" polyester stuff, and embroidering the eyes over the top of the little hairs sticking out every which way was already quite difficult. The thread I have for the nose is similar ENOUGH in color to be a bit of a challenge to see the thread in the fur, and that makes it VERY challenging to see where the last stitch was placed and where to put the needle next. I keep setting it aside to think on what I'm going to do next, but my husband's trip to visit his sister an her family is a month away, so I'm kind of running out of time now. 

I would NEVER be able to maintain the grueling training regimen over two months straight for a tournament that Yusuke has with how many breaks I have to take, so I suppose I should consider myself lucky. 

I can't IMAGINE who else would have that particular skill! XD

Once again, we see the pirate captain of the boat announce that Urameshi's team is taking the 16th spot in the tournament, and Kuwabara runs to greet the masked member as they step off the platform. He gushes that the attack was ACE and welcomes them to the team, but is eager to ask just exactly who they are. Before he can FINISH the question, however, the masked member points up over Kuwabara's head and he turns to see a whole horde of demons leaping for him from overhead, to his horror. These demons declare that they don't give a shit about the rules, and are motivated to kill the winning team for the fame alone. 

Kuwabara dives out of the way as the masked member leaps upward without a single word or cry. Several demons also raise their weapons in preparation to bring them down on Kurama and Hiei's heads, announcing their plans to slice and dice. The two do not appear at all intimidated by this, Hiei observing that it seems they're up for a match themselves, but saying it's better than just sitting around for the rest of the trip. Kurama agrees, holding up a rose.

Of course, there's a couple of demons advancing on the sleeping Yusuke as well, something that Kurama notices with alarm, but without the flexibility to lend his aid, it seems. The demons creeping up on the sleeping kid chuckle about him being dead to the world, and dead for REAL here in a moment. Kuwabara has noticed too, lamenting that Yusuke is so out of it that Akiko Matsumoto (someone I'm unfamiliar with) could be singing directly in his ear and couldn't wake him. The demons menacing Kuwabara tell him that this is the least of HIS worries.

Kuwabara resorts to something he considers overkill in this moment, manifesting an Aura Sword in both hands, calling this "Double Sword Fencing". He wildly swings these at the attackers, yelling at them to clear off or they're hamburger, but one of Yusuke's assailants is unperturbed, declaring that he's taking Yusuke's head and the fortune he assumes comes with it. Aiming a blow from overhead at the sleeping teen, the demon yells at Yusuke to die, and for a split second, Kuwabara thinks he's too late. 

But the demon's isn't the hit that lands.

Caught him in the WRONG dream. 

Kurama is amazed by how Yusuke appears to train even in his SLEEP now, so the regimen has become instinctive. Damn, and here I was thinking that Yusuke had been woken up and was just slow to realize who his attacker was. Kuwabara notices that Yusuke was referring to an "old biddy" in his tirade, and realizes, perhaps a bit late, he had been training with the shrimp boat sensei Master Genkai this whole time. He looks over at the masked member as he does so, who is fighting off their own attackers, delivering spinning kicks with hands clasped behind their back to every demon that comes near. 

Kuwabara dismisses his notion that the masked member could be HER, assuming that she wouldn't risk her neck. The question isn't whether she WOULD but what incentives could induce her to do so. But Kuwabara is already moved on to wondering who it could be OTHER than her though. 

Alright, if you don't want to take the evidence head-on, suit yourself.

The pirate captain is standing on his platform surveying the giant brawl from above and humming in thought. He mutters that Mr. Sakyo was right, and random thugs just seem to annoy the Urameshi Team. It had been the captain's intention to see their potential, but the members of the team are barely giving 10% effort.

 

That font is but ONE of those horrors, I'm sure. 

Zoom in on that claw of rock that is such a distinct feature of the island, in the crook of which sits a big boxy building. The team of protagonists are dropped off in front of a rotating door, Kuwabara holding upright a still zonked Yusuke, and their car zooms off. Somewhere. As if there could POSSIBLY be anywhere else to go on this rock. Kuwabara looks downright in awe of the ritzy place they've been dumped off at, and is no doubt even more so when a man in a suit stiffly greets them as honored guests and offers to take them to their room. 

They are led through either a lobby or reception area with a milling crowd, all looking on the fancier, dressed-up side. Kuwabara regards all of it very weird, and asks through clenched teeth if this is the Dark Tournament, disbelief and even some disgust framing the question. 

I don't know dude, it would be hard NOT to have a pretty good idea what you were in for, going to an event like this. Especially with all the rich psychos standing around. 

As Kuwabara stomps by, dragging the unconscious Yusuke along, he fails to notice a couple of familiar people in the crowd. Keiko and Botan ALSO overlook Yusuke and Kuwabara, though the former is clearly looking for Yusuke when she demands to know WHERE the boy is from her companion. Sweatdropping, Botan urges Keiko to calm down, but Keiko rounds on her, asking how she can possibly calm down when they almost DIED because of Yusuke. She insists they have to keep track of Yusuke's location, his actions, and the surrounding circumstances so that they can be ready, and it wouldn't be easy to argue otherwise, even if I wanted to. Botan doesn't appear to want to either, as all she's doing is assuring Keiko that she knows, and trying to get her to keep it down. The surly Keiko just expresses her intent to whup Yusuke when she finds him.

Botan acknowledges that Keiko probably had to be plucky and fearless, growing up with Yusuke. The girl reportedly didn't even BLINK when Botan told her about the tournament, and just demanded to be taken there. Shizuka must have made a similar demand, because she's there too, a chandelier being excitedly pointed out to her by... Keiko? I'm unsure who else it's supposed to be, but the hair looks much longer, the blazer either differently colored or gone altogether, and a chandelier seems an ODD thing to focus her attention on at a time like this. Botan looks on this strange behavior from what looks to be an entirely different person with worry. 

Anyway, we jump to a door labeled 404, and the stunning view from the panel of windows looking out at the island behind it, along with a host of beds and other furniture. Though we don't see him, Kuwabara's character voice is clear when he enthuses about how posh this room is and what a great vacation spot the island would make. If, you know, it wasn't exclusive to a bunch of rich thugs and their sick gladiator games. 

Kurama and the masked member perch themselves on opposite ends of an L-shaped modular couch, Hiei restlessly stands off to the side, and Kuwabara sits on the edge of a bed where he's dumped the still conked Yusuke. A man with a room service cart enters and leaves a cup of tea for each of them, even sleeping Yusuke, but Kuwabara views the cups with suspicion, suggesting they might be poisoned. Kurama and Hiei have taken up cups themselves, the former explaining that it's unlikely because of how the tournament organizers want them all to be at their peak potential for a show of maximum combat. Hiei adds that the hosts are particularly interested in seeing them in action before they're torn limb from limb. Kuwabara pops open a sealed canned drink, saying it never hurts to be careful, so he's sticking to his OWN beverages. He's WELL prepared, I see. 

Kurama says this is precisely what's odd, because Yusuke is still asleep, but HIS cup is gone. Kuwabara looks around at Yusuke in question and he snores, STILL completely out of it. 

A slurp sounds from the other side of the room and the CONSCIOUS team members all jump out of their seats and face the direction, alert for a possible emergency. It seems there's still some suspicion in the more relaxed Kurama and Hiei after all. 

Where did this little baby child come from???

Unsurprisingly, I'm not the only one with that question, Kuwabara also demanding to know who he is. He suggests that the kid must have hidden somewhere, and Kurama adds that he came out and took the cup without them noticing. An awkward hypothesis that seems to be born out of paranoia alone. As he squats on one foot while balancing the stolen teacup on the tip of the other, the unknown child assures them that he just came through the door like they did, but he "forgot" to knock. I don't believe THAT for a second.

The kid removes his hat out of cursory respect while he introduces himself as Rinku, from Team Special Ops. Who NAMED your team? General "I Almost Joined, But" Blood Agent? Then he calls his group something even CUTER than that, the "Jolly Devil Six", when he tells them that they'll be the opponents of Team Urameshi in the first round of the tournament tomorrow. Oh give me a BREAK. 

Kuwabara gets stuck on the number in that adorable little moniker, asking if there isn't supposed to be FIVE to a team. Rinku asks if they didn't know they could bring a BACKUP if one of the main team dies in battle, then brags that all six of HIS team are so super tough that they played rock-paper-scissors to decide who was to be on the main team and who was going to be backup. 

Yeah. Lucky THEM. 

Kuwabara grinds his teeth in barely contained anger, internally promising to demonstrate actual funny to this kid who's playing at it in a minute if he doesn't shut his trap. But because he's a child, he can't stop running that motor on his mouth; he says it's just a fact that they'll be eliminated quickly, telling them that the captain of the previous winning team nominated Team Urameshi as guests, but after seeing them himself, Rinku reckons he could take their whole group himself in an elimination match. There's a parenthetical bit here explaining what an elimination match is, one person fighting a team one member at a time until he loses and his next team member takes over or beats the whole group, but I'm not sure if this is Rinku talking or just an aside note. I'll interpret it as a part of his dialog because it's in the speech bubble and seems like the kind of over-explaining a precocious little shit would do. 

Either way, someone else nearer the door tells Rinku that this is QUITE enough of his babbling. Kuwabara and Hiei turn their heads in the opposite direction to find a new intruder into the room, this one a fair-haired man in a black T-shirt with large muscles, feet and arms crossed in a closed off, but relaxed pose. Kuwabara complains about yet ANOTHER lurker, someone he's SURE wasn't there before. Hiei has to admit to himself at least that this new guy slipped by HIM too. Rinku runs to the man, calling him Zeru, and apologizing for getting carried away due to his excitement about all this tournament stuff. 

Zeru turns to leave with his tag-along kiddo and wishes the occupants of the room a good evening, because by this time tomorrow, they'll be like those tea cups. What does he mean by that? Kuwabara and Hiei look back at the coffee table with alarm, on which the remaining cup has been cleaved in two. The question of when that happened hangs in the air, but Yusuke snoozes on, oblivious to all. 

As they continue on their way, presumably back to THEIR room, Zeru ponders aloud whether the sleeping one sensed that they didn't intend to attack or if it was something else. Rinku chirps that it was probably just that he's a loser, but Zeru doesn't seem so sure. 

They may not have been invited to amuse YOU, but ALL of you were invited to amuse SOMEONE. Maybe you should keep that in mind, dude. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Yusuke fighting in his sleep is pretty funny, but I can't help worrying about how effective his rest is going to be if he keeps having to waste all the energy he's regaining from sleep defending himself every five seconds. Doesn't seem sustainable, especially if they can expect to be attacked by random eliminated teams when they hear who the snoozing team lead is. Just add them to the obstacles stacked on the tall tottering Jenga tower that this team is working with. Learning from what looks like a TODDLER that they could have a backup along is like adding insult to injury too, though to be fair, the fifth member seems to have been hard ENOUGH to come by. These boys are COOKED, as the young folk say. 

With such a rocky start to the whole tournament, it's no wonder paranoia is high, and not just the obtrusive kind that Kuwabara expresses. Hiei and Kurama also look quite on edge in this chapter, despite both being willing to drink the tea they were given. Each was surprised by the actions taken by the intruders into their room at different points, completely overlooking them because of the sheer speed with which they were committed. Given how fast these two have been known to attack, especially Hiei, the intruders must be orders of magnitude faster to pull that off right under their noses. OR Kurama and Hiei are just orders of magnitude more distracted/nervous, take your pick. 

And as the cherry on top of the whole situation, Keiko has managed to bully Botan into bringing her and Shizuka to the tournament. Adding them in complicates matters a bit, because we've seen that the demons on the ship were able to sniff out humans, so Keiko might just be putting herself in MORE danger by being there to keep an eye on the situation with Yusuke. 

I hope she at LEAST saves the whupping she owes him until AFTER the tournament. He doesn't need another person beating up on him right now, lol.

Inuyasha Manga: 352 Death of Goryoumaru

I initially misread this title as "Death of MORYOUMARU", which just goes to show how ready my brain is for these two identities to be reconciled. I stopped counting how many times I had to check to make sure I was using a "G" instead of an "M" in the previous chapters, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn I switched the latter for the former a few times without realizing. The names are just SO similar in pronunciation and romanized spelling that I forget who's supposed to be who. Oh well, at least this particular problem will soon be a thing of the past, if I can count on the "G" to be well and truly dead. 

And what greater honor can there be than your final moments being captured in full color? Goryoumaru is a lucky* guy!

* - read HEAVY sarcasm into this word. 

Kagura looks silently on as the kids sputter in horror and shock, calling out to their idol. Goryoumaru groans, stumbling back, and opens up his youkai arm to shoot the light youkai at Hakudoushi, only to find that it bounces straight off the little asshole's barrier. He seems GENUINELY shocked that his attack didn't land, and to add insult to injury (quite literally), Hakusdoushi drawls that it's a rather BORING one. This kid could kill with his shitty attitude alone. 

Inuyasha's sense of smell is SHARP today, because he looks around from the cave's macabre contents from the OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.

Damn son, you're on target today!

They're already racing through the woods in the next panel, Inuyasha carrying Kagome on his back and the rest of the group riding Kirara. Kagome asks if this scent he's picking up comes from Goryoumaru's temple, and Inuyasha affirms as much, clearly not overly communicative in his hurry. 

At the temple, Hakudoushi hovers in the air above a kneeling, DYING, Goryoumaru. He groans, but he's surely trying to stay conscious as long as possible. Impressive, considering the wound he just got in his NECK. Hakudoushi laughs at him, promising to return that exact boring attack back to Goryoumaru. A bubble swells out of the side of Hakudoushi's barrier, shining at a horrified Goryoumaru, but at that moment Inuyasha and group soar over the temple wall and Inuyasha himself yells out at Hakudoushi. How far away could they have POSSIBLY been??

Hakudoushi glares over his shoulder at the intruders, grumbling about these bastards still hanging around. The bubble that was aimed at Goryoumaru now protrudes toward Inuyasha.

Better the things should be misdirected at people who can actually get away, I guess. 

Not that he looks like he's going to last much longer anyway. He's slumped over on the ground, blood soaked down his front as the children he'd recruited gather around him, crying out to him in distress. Hakudoushi looks back down at him and scoffs, swinging that naginata at him again. A splatter of blood, shocked and horrified looks from Inuyasha and company, a surprised gape from Kagura, and Goryoumaru's head rolling off later, it's clear that the dude is gone. Kagome is in disbelief over this, but hers isn't the only stunned reaction to the compounding circumstances. 

Too bad we can't give the girl a prize for her shoddy detective work. 

Kagome draws attention to Kanna, and Sango identifies the infant as belonging to Naraku with equal shock. Hakudoushi steps up to Kanna's side, telling Kagura that he's leaving Inuyasha's group to her, to which command she gives a glower. The barrier reappears around Hakudoushi, encompasses Kanna and Shnooky as well, and lifts them up and out of there swiftly. Inuyasha declares that they won't get away, drawing Tessaiga while he lunges in their direction and releasing a Kaze no Kizu. 

Then why kill him?

Inuyasha makes a sound of confusion and Kagura just stares up at her hated fellow offspring. Once the barrier bubble disappears into the distance, Inuyasha turns to Kagura and demands to know just what the FUCK is going on. She snaps at him that he should be able to tell by looking - until this very moment, Naraku hid his heart in the temple. Inuyasha repeats the principle word in disbelief, Miroku asking if this means the baby is this so-called "heart". Sango murmurs behind Miroku about how this is just the same as another time, and when Miroku turns to hum in question at her, she recalls the time Princess Abi attacked a human castle with her "birds".

Who could forget such trauma?

Kagome asks Kagura why she's telling them this, and Inuyasha bluntly adds on a question about how she's still alive after being shot through the chest directly with one of the blasts from Goryoumaru's youkai arm. Kagura barks that she doesn't know, but mentions the fact that her heart is still in the possession of her jerk of a spawn point. Starting to pick up on the extent of her lack of connection with Naraku and his underlings, Miroku asks her if this means she attacked the temple to try and find Naraku's heart. 

Kagura glowers at him in clear distrust, and after a pause refuses to answer with anything but a vague verbal shrug. She seems to realize that her standing around chatting with a supposed enemy is probably a bad look, so she turns and pulls a feather from her hair, saying she's going after Hakudoushi and Kanna, and bidding the Inuyasha group not to get in her way. Indeed, they watch her shoot up into the sky and disappear, Miroku muttering the observation that Kagura intends to betray Naraku. Nooooo, you don't say. You truly are the SMART one, aren't you?

Kagome recalls how Hakudoushi said Goryoumaru didn't know anything and wonders about the implication that Goryoumaru was just being used. His headless body is currently surrounded by the horde of children he'd recruited for youkai-slaying, which the whole Inuyasha party appears to notice with a grave frown at once. 

Another day, another funeral. 

Miroku advises the little child soldiers that they should leave the temple ASAP. The morose children begin to give a half-hearted protest, but Inuyasha tells them they'll do as Miroku says if they value their lives, pointing out that the youkai have started to gather again because they too seem to have noticed that Goryoumaru is gone. Kagome adds that even if that weren't the case, the youki surrounding the temple would attract them anyway, though she keeps to herself that it's the Rakan statues radiating the energy. Some of those very statues sit just at the tree line, several of them basically right next to the grave and the incense wafting off the lit stick atop it. 

Meanwhile...

She's looking DANGEROUSLY eager right now...

Kagura silently approaches a sphere in the distance that I assume is Hakudoushi's barrier, and some jagged barren mountains. She seems to express some surprise since the former, but perhaps it's more for THIS sight:

Related to the Rakan statues, by any chance?

Kagura spies the white form of Kanna in the open mouth of the oni, carrying Shnooky, who in turn grasps the fuyouheki.

I don't know, how did you rushing into the last known location of the infant without a plan or preparation go for you the previous time? 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I love how Kagura didn't even bother to PRETEND to fight Inuyasha and company at this point. She's locked into following that baby to the ends of the earth, and has thrown out even the thinnest of covers. All she has to do here is resist the urge to get Naraku dead as soon as possible, and she is absolutely failing. Sad as it is to admit, Sesshoumaru was right, and she really should take his advice and assumed that Naraku was soon to be onto her traitorous behavior, if not already so. Of course, I can't really complain if her recklessness leads to interesting results. 

I do think it's weird that the last chapter was spent investigating the strange origin of these creepy temple statues, and are then introduced to a massive creepy statue at the end of this one. The statues depict different things, and there's no way they could have been created in the same way, but I find their proximity suspicious, even if I don't recall there being any concrete connection between them. We'll see if there is, since the weeds of this part have been impenetrable for me up until this point. In the past, I just went around them and scratched my head with a shrug, assuming there was just subtext in there I didn't get. Maybe there still is, but THIS TIME, I have a comment section, so feel free to enlighten me!

As for Goryoumaru, I don't really have a eulogy for him. He was a weird, problematic dude, but I do feel bad for the kids who to some degree relied on him for safety and shelter. I still think you were a fundamentally bad dude, but RIP I guess. 

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 052 The Dark Tournament Begins!!

I'm exhausted just THINKING about it. My last few days were packed with activities, NONE of which were deadly combat, but I still struggled to get my ass out of bed this morning. I can't even imagine how much more difficult it would be if I were covered in bruises, wounds, and facing yet MORE physical abuse down the barrel. And make no mistake, this isn't even a projected description of the middle of the tournament. I have no doubt whatsoever that Genkai beat the absolute shit out of Yusuke for two months straight, so he's probably suffering precisely that at this very moment.

I certainly don't envy him. 

An unenviable position indeed. 

The next panel acts as an introduction to these characters with which we are already familiar by this point: humans Kuwabara and Urameshi, and demons Kurama and Hiei. Then we're shown a ribbon of cliffs rising out of the ocean, shrouded in darkness, but a light flickers in a grove of trees nearby.

I know that's not a "B" on the end of the SFX, but those last two "O"s kind of LOOK like it, and it's got me giggling despite how ominous the picture is. 

Whoob. XD

The gathering of demons express their elation at the looming event, a cyclops saying he's been looking forward to this. One with four curved horns framing his face says that they can run completely amuck, and his companion sporting two mouths on his long chin filled with razor teeth reiterates the rules of the game, the winner promised WHATEVER they want. A demon with a wide open mouth and a single eye perched in the back of his mouth vows to eat a thousand humans. Not sure how he's going to do that with his anatomy, but cool. The most grotesque of these by far is the one next to him, who has a crocodile mouth protruding from the mouth of what looks like an empty HUMAN SKIN wrinkled around the head of the beast, and he says that mouth is watering already. Which one? Who knows, but I shudder to think. 

No doubt it occurred to YT that he wasn't going to top THAT monster design, so the next panel is all shadows and silhouettes. One of those warns the others not to get too excited because they have to beat his team first, which isn't going to happen. Another says he'll have to eat those words. Typical trash talk. More of them notice the smell of human nearby and suggest it's a pre-tournament snack. The tradition of tailgating is cross-spirit, I see. 

That expression of Kuwabara's is entirely appropriate. 

The concern over how poorly this tournament is starting for them, however, is based on how late Yusuke is and how they never got themselves a fifth sucker to fight on their team. Hiei tells him not to worry about all that, asking if HE'S ready. Grinning, Kuwabara answers in a confident affirmative, crediting Kurama for shaping him up. Kurama sweatdrops, though, as if he's not NEARLY so confident in his impromptu student's training. Kuwabara doesn't notice this, too busy insisting to himself that he's going to win this, and make the dark world fear him so that no demon or human will ever mess with Yukina again. 

A short, stocky stereotypical pirate right down to his bushy beard, eyepatch, smoking pipe, and peg leg tells everyone to get on a barge-like boat. It has a large circular section with a grid superimposed over the top bisecting the vessel, and looking SUSPICIOUSLY like a fighting ring. Kuwabara tells the pirate to hold it, because one of the guest fighters isn't here yet, who snaps back with the assertion that the rules dictate whoever is too late to catch the boat is a "refuser". He promises to send the assassins to take out the delinquent.

Before Kuwabara can protest, a voice from behind says that won't be necessary. 

Ugh, who decided on that font?? It makes my eyes bleed!

Kuwabara demands to know where Yusuke has been, and when the crowd of demons hears his name, they recognize it as belonging to the guy who got Rando and Suzaku. It's only a short step from there for them to conclude that they have it MADE if they take Yusuke down. Same shit, different day. 

Yusuke either notices none of this talk, or ignores it altogether when he ambles forward and complains about feeling sore and stiff all over. Kuwabara says he looks pretty shaky indeed, and he would hate to know why. Hiei silently glares at Yusuke, then addresses him as he's passing. Before you know it, he's alert and leaping back from a blade Hiei draws on him, dropping his bag on the way. Hiei slashes away and Yusuke dodges, creating a blur of action that the demonic spectators and Kuwabara alike are bewildered by. Kuwabara at least says he ALMOST can't follow their rapid movements. 

Is it a fair assumption that this is a positive greeting?

Hiei says he doesn't know how Yusuke did it, but his skills are ALMOST adequate now. Lots of "almosts" clogging up this chapter, huh? Kuwabara criticizes the use of the word, complaining that he couldn't move like that in a million years, but Kurama assures him that he shouldn't sweat it because the fact that he could just barely follow their movements shows he's progressed as well. No doubt that's a relief to his teacher as well, lol.

Hiei steers the conversation to the masked companion of Yusuke, referring to them as "Short Stuff" when asking if they are the fifth member of the team. Pot, meet Kettle. Kuwabara is alarmed at this person being shorter than Hiei, and crows that he can barely see them, claiming that he could blow them clear to Mars if he sneezed in their direction. The masked person remains silent, which must be AWFULLY difficult for them, considering who they OBVIOUSLY are. Yusuke grins as he drops a cryptic statement about how they could do a lot worse when it comes to a fifth, though Kuwabara expresses some skepticism. Hiei assures him that this person fills out the team, and he and Yusuke can pick up any slack if necessary. 

Do participants being transported to an island tournament by boat seem super familiar to anyone ELSE? 

Said participants aren't impressed with their lack of accommodations either. They yammer amongst themselves about how the boat is a pretty drab old tub, and how there are no refreshments or deck chairs. Bold of them to assume they would have time to enjoy those, despite the lengthy ETA. The pirate captain of the ship, or cruise director as the case may be, calls for the attention of the participants from a high platform, informing them that this isn't a pleasure cruise - he's announcing that the tournament preliminaries are being conducted RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. 

How anyone with an eye or two or three could not have seen the giant fighting ring and not drawn that conclusion is beyond me. 

The ship rumbles and the passengers shout in alarm as the circular deck rises up, and exclamations finally indicate there's some acknowledgement that this was an arena all along. Not sure why it needed to be elevated any more, but whatevz. The pirate captain says that 16 teams will compete in the Dark Tournament, and since 15 teams are already on the island, that means that only one from this boat will be able to fill that slot. As everyone looks at one another warily, Kuwabara complains some more about how no one told them about this. Better get used to that, kiddo. 

The pirate captain instructs the teams to pick their strongest member, who will vie for participation of the group in the tournament against the others. A massive ogre says a little warm-up match suits HIM just fine, because he's convinced his team is going to win anyway. Several demons, sporting many numbers of horns, scales, fangs, claws, and muscles galore, step forward to represent their team in the announced travel round. 

Kuwabara is in disbelief about the Battle Royale styled match coming up, saying that it isn't always the strongest that comes out on top in those. He looks around over his shoulder, yelling at Yusuke that this is his chance to strut his new stuff. 

Did that little scuffle with Hiei earlier REALLY wear him out that much??

Kurama says this can happen after intense training, claiming Yusuke has fallen into a deep sleep to restore his strength and aura. Kuwabara is incensed and asks who the hell is going to go up there, then. The masked fifth member walks toward the platform silently, so Hiei says that's settled at least. He also suggests this will give them an opportunity to see what they can do. Kuwabara demands to know what happens if their "mystery" member loses, because he doubts that the team members of losers in this match can just GO HOME. Hiei says Kuwabara is probably right about that, and with a creepy little smile, adds that they'll just have to kill everyone aboard the boat so no one can complain about it. Like it's so fucking easy. Kuwabara seems annoyed by this answer, grumbling at the prospect of having to face such an issue. 

Once the fifth member takes their place on the rumbling stage, the pirate captain, whose eyes have turned black in the first indication that he might also be demonic in some way, yells at the participants to begin. The crowd of demons are all facing the diminutive representative of Yusuke's team, and they seem to agree that this puny opponent is the first target. The general strategy is stated to be killing all in their turn, starting with the runt, and a call to pile on this one shrimp is shrieked, the group leaping toward them as one. Kuwabara freaks out that his fear the demons would gang up on their team member is coming true, and observes that there's no room to run, so this person will be smashed flat. Kurama gapes in horror next to him.

Well, that's all sewn up, I guess. 

All the challenging demons splash into the ocean, lost to the sea, the only one left on the platform the fifth team member of Yusuke's group. The pirate captain declares the match for Team Urameshi, and their claim on the 16th spot in the Dark Torunament. 

I know you're just a tad dense, Kuwabara, but you can't POSSIBLY have any doubt as to who's under the mask at this point. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? The story isn't wasting our time here, breezing through the boat battle nice and easy, and it's such a relief to me. I mentioned in the last chapter's review that I actually liked not having to sit through a montage of training and such, but mostly that was because I was looking forward to being surprised by how much their team's skills had grown in that two-month period. I realize now that this isn't really the only reason why I like not messing around with a bunch of drawn-out material; there are an AWFUL LOT of shounen titles that will stretch every battle to the max in order to squeeze more content out of their story. It's a MEME that Dragonball Z's fights take like fifty episodes to sort of finish, and that One Piece's massive chapter count is practically inaccessible to new readers at this point. 

But YT isn't wasting our time here. He clearly understands that while there NEEDS to be lead-up and an ease into the tournament, this preliminary battle isn't something that the audience is looking forward to. In order to narrow down the no doubt MASSIVE amount of teams trying to participate in this thing without absolutely BORING everyone to death, YT just knocked this one out with a competent blow-out by the member we're least familiar with so audience and characters alike can get a better idea of what their capabilities are, and we can all move on to the REAL tournament. VERY well-handled, and the brevity is a breath of fresh air. 

I say "least" familiar with when it comes to our "mystery" member because I don't know a single person who was not aware pretty much immediately that this was Genkai when we all read it back in the day. Not only is this person the same height and build, with the same style of dress, but Genkai was INTRODUCED through her search for a successor. If she had already trained up a person other than Yusuke that he could later take along with him to the tournament, she wouldn't have needed to recruit a protege in the first place. 

Still, in the future chapters I will probably keep referring to the fifth teammate as such until her identity is revealed in the story organically, though. Even if it's obvious who she is, I want to play along with YT's game to see if I can tease out what precisely the point of it is, because I'm not sure I ever truly grasped that in watching the show. I'm looking forward to having a closer look at this, because in my previous projects, reading the content more carefully has revealed a good bit of missed context to me. 

Anyone else notice that YuYu Hakusho has been a somewhat hot topic lately? Regular Eyepatch Wolf made a short video on it, TeamFourStar has begun a brand new abridged series on it... Is something in the water?