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?

Inuyasha Manga: 351 Rakan Statues

Heaven forbid I criticize anyone else's decorating style. You're currently reading the words of a woman who has on display in her living room a collection of hanging lanterns with little rechargeable LED candles twinkling in them throughout the day, the Invader Zim DVD box set in the shape of Zim's house with a little GIR toy hiding in the roof, and a giant plush of a red sheep from Minecraft that permanently lives on the couch. None of it goes together, it's not harmonious, and a real estate agent would probably balk at having to try to sell this place. 

But those agonized monk statues in front of Goryoumaru's temple? A shade too far. Couldn't be me. 

How could anyone NOT see it. An eyesore, to be sure. 

She's actually talking about how she saw the youki disappear from the crystal she was watching as she went through the temple, rather than those creepy statues, directly applying egg to my face. Kagura explains to Sesshoumaru that this proves the fuuyouheki is in Goryoumaru's temple, his two little followers looking between the two with curiosity. Sesshoumaru of course can't help but draw the same conclusion from this fact that Kagura has: Naraku's heart has to be there. 

Kagura further speculates that this Goryoumaru guy's role in the whole scheme must be to protect the heart, causing Jaken to pipe up with the question of why SHE wouldn't know that, as a member of Naraku's circle as Goryoumaru presumably is. After a pause, she admits that this is because Naraku doesn't trust her, especially regarding information on his heart, never telling her a single thing about it.

Sesshoumaru says that if this is truly the case, any further action on her part is pretty much useless. 

Shall we just assume that he already knows about her lack of loyalty? She's not exactly subtle. 

But while she bows her head in acknowledgement of the point, she wonders why it is she's still alive if Naraku is onto her, assuming she would have been killed by Goryoumaru's blast through her chest if her betrayal had been noticed. Much like the main protagonists, she has failed to grasp just how vast is Naraku's manipulative potential, and therefore believes that she still has a chance at winning. I'm shocked that her level of naivete seems on a level similar to RIN'S. 

Kagura stands and murmurs about taking up the Sesshoumaru-party's time, saying she's leaving now. Rin seems perplexed by this, asking if she's really leaving, and causing Kagura to pause in mild surprise when the little girl further asks if she didn't come here to be saved by Sesshoumaru. Kagura recovers fast from the bold question, muttering that it's not quite like that, and trailing in her confession that she thought she wanted to see Sesshoumaru one more time before she died. 

OOF. 

Dead woman flying. 

Back at Goryoumaru's temple, dark and ominous clouds have gathered overhead, and the atmosphere is creepier than ever. Rain starts to patter onto the heads of those ghoulish statues, and Goryoumaru himself stands out in the mild shower, staring wordlessly out at the grounds. A couple of children run up behind him, one with hands over his head to guard against the rain, asking him what's up and warning him he'll get wet. You don't say. While Goryoumaru murmurs agreement with the kids, he still stares, and we learn his stare is directed at a nearby mountain, on the other side of which he believes the Inuyasha group is now searching. 

Goryoumaru has some IMPRESSIVE psychic intuition, because the next panels suggest he's not wrong.

Where does one START listing all the concerns one could have following that previous night? 

Well, Miroku starts with the question of where all that youki surrounding the temple came from in the first place. Kagome had apparently forgotten that particular detail, what with the multitudes of suspicious things surrounding the location, and mentions all the creepy statues that were around the temple too. She seems to have made a connection between the two. Miroku affirms her observation, calling the statues "rakan", which prompts Shippou to ask what that word means as he rides atop Inuyasha's head. 

Miroku says that it's a student who attained enlightenment in Buddhism, the statues depicting such not being unusual at a temple in practice. When Miroku trails at the "but" to his statement, Sango completes his statement by saying that the youki was coming from those statues. As he affirms her addendum, he tells the group that he can feel the same youki energy coming from this mountain they're hiking. 

Shippou has vacated the top of Inuyasha's head when Inuyasha suggests with a strangely prickly attitude about this leading to Goryoumaru's secret. Why are you MAD about that, dude? It turns out he's no fan of the slow detective work of following a trail of youki, and suggests that it would be faster to just go back and beat it out of Goryoumaru. Yeah, because that's likely to work out just as well as last time. Annoyed, Miroku says over his shoulder that he would have DONE that already if he could have. 

Cut to Kagura flying through the cloudy sky, scanning the wooded hills. Siamyoushou appear at her flank, and and she acknowledges them, as well as a swirling vortex around a bubble in her path. 

Oh no, not HIM again. 

While Kagura silently regards him, Hakudoushi tells her it's time to work. He doesn't have his usual self-satisfied smirk, which can't be a good sign. Kagura responds with more silence. Yeah, I wouldn't trust myself to say anything either, girl. 

The only thing that would make this cave MORE ominous is if it were topped with a pair of malignant demon eyes. 

Sango has put on her respiration mask, complaining about how intense the youki is here. Shippou clings to Kagome's arm in fear as she asks what that sound is. Inuyasha doesn't speak to that, but he can definitely smell the youkai in the cave, and a nervous Shippou asks for clarification that the scent is coming from the inside, even as Inuyasha marches inside. Inuyasha snaps that it should be obvious and demands they get going. Kagome follows without a word, which must be even MORE concerning for poor Shippou. 

Inside, water drips from the stalactites above onto scattered pieces of youkai. Well, where have we seen THIS before? Shippou has switched to riding on a transformed Kirara's back when he makes a trailing statement about what this is, finished by Inuyasha bluntly stating that it's a bunch of shredded youkai pieces. Kirara's tail no doubt provides a valuable light that Shippou would like to be as close to as possible. 

Sango draws Miroku's attention to something looming up ahead, and he looks alarmed at the big hulking shape of a lumpy mound in the middle of the cave. 

Isn't THAT a remarkable transformation!

Among the slow drip, drip, drip of water from the cave's ceiling, Kagome expresses alarm that these appear to be the same statues that were around the temple, her fist creeping toward her face in a gesture of apprehension. Sango comments that it's like a stalactite, but she's mistaken; stalagMITES are the ones that reach up from the floor of the cave. My pedantry is so egregious that one of the Rakan statues detaches from the larger clump of its fellows and tumbles to the floor in exasperation, causing Shippou to leap in fright. At least, I assume it's my pedantry. What else can be done if you can't roll your eyes except roll your WHOLE BODY?

Miroku is kneeling at the base of the structure, observing that the bottom is a pile of youkai parts like they saw on the way in. It appears to him that this mound of dead youkai slowly turn to stone Rakan statues, I'm assuming when they're exposed to the dripping water. Kagome asks if this is a NATURAL process, when she knows very well that youkai naturally DISSOLVE when dead (lol). Miroku responds in the negative, saying someone probably set up a spell here. What do you mean PROBABLY, dude??? 

Inuyasha asserts that Miroku MUST mean Goryoumaru, adding that Gakusanjin's scent is mixed in with the other youkai pieces, noting that it was transported here. Some of his remains or the scent? All one can say for certain is that Inuyasha DOESN'T smell the perpetrator, which should tell him something. Kagome stares at the mound of youkai pieces and stone, wondering just what this is for, because she just doesn't get it. 

I gotta admit girl, neither do I.

Kagura trails behind Hakudoushi approaching this temple, and she starts to voice her recognition before Hakudoushi twists to ask over his shoulder if she KNOWS this temple. She denies it, reminding herself not to say anything reckless. Or incriminating. Hakudoushi tells her a vague IMPORTANT THING has been entrusted to the temple, and Inuyasha's group has caught wind of that fact. Sweating, Kagura is practically electrified by her conclusion that the heart was here after all. 

The two are instructed not to move as they step through the gate to the temple, immediately surrounded by a ring of children with something to prove. Goryoumaru joins his child soldiers, casually verbalizing his recognition of Kagura by noting how she survived his attack on her blandly. Kagura is silently shocked by his familiar tone, but Hakudoushi doesn't say anything about it. He just looks over his shoulder at her again and tells her to finish off the "small fry". By which he means CHILDREN. 

Little slimeball. 

I'm questioning his use of the term "entrusted" earlier. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? This is about the point I always started getting a little confused about what precisely is going on in this arc whenever I re-read it in the past. Whether it was the translation or the nature of the subject matter itself, there were always parts of it that seemed a bit beyond my grasp. Miroku is AWFULLY vague about the nature of the spell that has been cast to turn the youkai remains into this VERY specific shape in stone, though he's usually the one who is more knowledgeable about the enchantments they encounter. What's it's all for I wouldn't expect to be answered quite yet, but I can't even conceive of any possible answers at this point. Taking these statues reeking of youki and putting them all around the temple would do the opposite of obscure its purpose, and just encourage suspicion. Clearly this was Naraku's purpose, but to what end always strikes me as frustratingly opaque. 

And killing Goryoumaru so VISIBLY is obviously theater, but to what extent isn't clear yet. Whether Goryoumaru is truly dying here or if it's a big false flag psy-op is ultimately not important. Again, it's the BENEFIT of this display that's the important part, and that's obscure. The only thing that that can be said for sure about it is that Kagura in particular was meant to see it, since Hakudoushi (and by extension Naraku) waited until Inuyasha and company were on the other side of the mountain when he went to the temple, and all the unnamed kids are inconsequential to their and the overall plot. With this, I can imagine that perhaps this is supposed to discourage Kagura from investigating the temple again, and convince her that whatever important artifact being held there is about to be moved to a new place. Other than that, I have no idea. Big shrugs.

Can we take a moment to talk about that look Sesshoumaru gives Kagura as she's leaving? Despite RT's same-face syndrome, which has only gotten worse as the comic has gone on, she's always been very precise with how she draws her expressions on that one face. I've never seen anyone talk about it, but this IS one of Sesshoumaru's more expressive moments, and that's not anger on his face. Maybe there's a little frustration there, but for the most part, he looks sorrowful and in fact WORRIED to me. I'd love to know what my readers think, because for a guy who isn't very forthcoming with how he feels, this was quite a powerful panel. It suggests he's much more sensitive to Kagura's situation than at first blush, and perhaps has a good idea of where she's headed if she doesn't lay low for a while. 

Happy 10th Birthday, Manga Snark!

10 years ago today, I posted the very first entry on this blog, featuring my recap of and yapping about the first chapter of the Yu-Gi-Oh manga! In my cold open to that post, at the end of the very first paragraph, I joked about how focus was not one of my strong suits. 

In hindsight, that was a fucking lie. 

What madness caused me to consistently comment on every single chapter of three separate manga for a decade straight? I can't say, but I AM comfortable saying that this is the longest running project of my life, and despite how strange some others might find it, I am immensely proud that it's reached 10 years old. As a container for my thoughts on specific fiction, it's been invaluable, and as a way to just get out of my head for a little while and into pulling apart another world, it's been a godsend. 

I've bought it a nice little cake for the occasion, even though my husband and I will be the ones consuming it. If I had a little more foresight, I might have ordered something beautiful and ready for social media, but alas, it is a mere generic celebration cake from the grocery store. 

I am so thankful to my readers, and everyone who visits the blog - your engagement encourages me every day and I'm flattered you have valued my opinions enough to take a look! You're all wonderful, lovely people, and I love seeing your comments! 

I'll be back next week with a new post. 😀

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 051 I Must Get Stronger!!

The same conclusion occurred to me around a year ago. I'd gotten awfully soft, my stamina had plummeted, and energy for anything outside of my computer desk job and regular chores was scarce. There was another explanation for my generally shitty mood, so I didn't consider that particularly fixable, but everything else seemed like a problem largely caused by a lack of activity. The tricky part was figuring out a way to get my body MOVING consistently, because I face a few road blocks. I feel uncomfortable in gyms and don't have access to a car to get to one during the day anyway, but a fairly predictable routine is needed to keep me accountable, and I also need something else engaging my brain at the same time so I don't get super bored while I'm going through the motions. 

Thankfully, I've found an inelegant solution to my issues, but regaining some strength has been slow going. I'm nearing 40, and I'm liable to permanently injure myself if I'm too zealous about it. Suffice it to say, I don't think I'll ever reach the level of strength that would allow me to punch a Nazi effectively, let alone the absurdity of whatever is happening here:

Popped out of him like a splinter. 

The fleshy sword lying a short distance from Toguro's hand warps and separates, transforming back into the man, who spends a moment recalibrating on all fours. Both brothers start to get to their feet, the younger letting out a breath of relief. As he stands upright, the left-most screen under the observation deck window blips to life again. 

How did he know when to pop back in? Would have been SUPER awkward if he had reappeared on his monitor while Kuwabara and Yukina were having their tender moment.

The younger Toguro says his hearing is pretty accurate, and he heard the boys' plan. He played along with it, but he didn't anticipate how hard it would be to throw a match like that. Above all of them, Tarukane is giggling madly, still on the observation deck. Toguro asks Sakyo if it was really wise to let Yukina go, since she was originally MERCHANDISE Tarukane apparently stole from the younger rich man. Ugh, I don't know if it would be worse for them to just use the word SLAVE and get it over with. I have ALL the icks now. 

Sakyo affirms that Toguro tells it true, but he says Yukina isn't really worth pursuing, because her jewel-tears are small potatoes compared to the scheme he's working on right now. Toguro says this is fine by him, but asks if he might make a request of his TRUE client; he wants to fight the boys again in earnest, in the TOURNAMENT. Spoiler alert, lol.

Sakyo assures him that Yusuke and Kuwabara will certainly be invited to the event, having counted upon Toguro wanting to fight them again. Toguro praises how sneaky it was for Sakyo to use Tarukane's downfall as a pretext to watch him in action against the boys, and Sakyo acknowledges his perceptiveness before asking how those kiddoes stack up. It's Toguro's estimation that the smaller one, Urameshi, will be formidable, given how fast he's gaining strength with every turn. Just before Sakyo's image disappears again, he tells Toguro he trusts him to assess the challenge with care, reminding him that the tournament is two months away. He also asks Toguro to "take out the trash" before he goes. 

Toguro looks up at the observation window, behind which Tarukane is still chuckling. He's writhing in mad amusement about how he's ruined financially, and he may as well be dead. Toguro affirms his orders and leaps up toward the window, looming for a moment behind the window and Tarukane's oblivious, giggling form. 

Clean off. 

Meh, I think they should have let the douchebag go bankrupt instead. Far more fitting of a punishment for any man who's made his money his entire personality. 

Cut to a morose-looking Kuwabara, face half in shadow. He walks ahead of his gang, who speculate on why he's been so wound-up and quiet lately, betting various small amounts on such explanations as a new image, a downer movie that deeply affected him, and getting dumped. That last one is what Yusuke says hits the nail on the head, muttering to Botan next to him. Botan is in school uniform yet again, and they're walking a little ways behind Kuwabara's friends, but evidently not a part of the conversation. 

Botan challenges Yusuke's assessment, saying bluntly that Kuwabara WASN'T dumped. Yusuke points out that Kuwabara's Ice Maiden went home to the glaciers, but Botan insists that long-distance relationships can be very romantic. As someone who has been in one, they can also be VERY difficult to maintain, which is why they often end. Thankfully mine DIDN'T but that's the exception. All back-and-forth is in between bickering about Botan putting back on her school girl act, and Botan sighing about it. She wouldn't want to get another teacher angry about her walking around out of uniform again. That was probably traumatizing. 

Though she's not so concerned about Kuwabara and Yukina, there are other things about this case that leave Botan with a bad taste in her mouth. In particular, Hiei copped out and didn't tell Yukina he was her brother when he had the chance. 

Different mothers? That's not what I remember from the show. 

Anyway, Hiei says in this little flashback that it's been two years since he learned Yukina was missing, apparently having snuck off to frolic with some animal. Disney Princess syndrome, huh? Well, she DOES have an affinity for befriending wildlife. Hiei speculates that this is when the Brokers got wind of her. Yusuke asks if Hiei by any chance got his Evil Eye to try and find her, but Hiei just scoffs in response. Real slippery about the subject, isn't he?

Yusuke suggests that it's at least a good thing that Hiei didn't kill Tarukane, Botan saying that Hiei would have been arrested for that, because it's forbidden to kill even loathsome toads of human beings like that. Just like in human law. Botan says there was a strong debate about whether they should even tell Hiei at all, and the compromised by assigning him to deliver the tape. Yusuke looks a little annoyed as he characterizes it as lame that they left it up to Hiei to watch the tape himself before he handed it over. 

It's case closed to Yusuke anyway, and Botan encourages him to take a break, since he's not up for any new cases at the moment. He's striding out of school, thinking it's been a while since he's hit the pachinko parlors, when he rounds the pillar in the gate onto the grounds to see a tall lanky figure in a trench coat hanging around just outside. Other kids already on the sidewalk look nervously up and over their shoulders as they pass. 

Well it WAS going fine. NOW? Not so much. 

Yusuke stutters in disbelief that this man standing in front of him died, and notices his own trembling at facing Toguro in the flesh again with alarm. Toguro invites him to accompany him somewhere they can talk. Don't let him take you to a second location, Yusuke!!!

Sadly, he does JUST THAT, the next few panels feature a mostly complete building that appears to be still under some construction with materials and rubble outside. Toguro is telling Yusuke that their first encounter wasn't on the up-and-up, but that's all done and over with anyway, so it's all good. I don't know, dude, have you ever heard what they say about first impressions? Yusuke has thankfully gotten ahold of his primal fear and is standing in a wide, cocky stance, telling Toguro to get to the point if he even has one. At least, Yusuke has MOSTLY gotten ahold of that fear, because he's still trembling a little. 

Toguro notices this and scoffs, asking Yusuke if he's afraid. Though he's sweating bullets and visibly nervous, Yusuke tells Toguro not to kid himself. He's DETERMINED to fake confidence to the very end. Toguro observes that though Yusuke is playing the tough guy, his instincts can't be fooled. Once again, Toguro has removed his overcoat, and his bare shoulders are surrounded by spectral fire. He lectures Yusuke on the virtue of learning to recognize danger, acknowledging Yusuke's strength and his trajectory of getting stronger, and this being the reason why he's showing the boy his REAL self. He instantly bulks up again, roaring as his body crackles with energy and popping physiology adjusting to his sudden gains. He tells Yusuke that it's all about muscle mass, and admits he was only at about 20% of his capacity when they fought last. 

I'm not sure how much of this oration Yusuke is actually absorbing while he's standing there with his mouth agape and eyes reduced to pinpricks with horror. 

Then again, how many words does he NEED to absorb when this picture is worth a thousand?

Toguro says he's at about 60% right now, and could level the whole building in about three minutes, asking if Yusuke wants to see. WHY would he want to see that? Yusuke stammers, completely speechless, and he looks like his heart damn near STOPS when Toguro seems to zip out of his sight entirely. 

Toguro reappears behind the increasingly frozen Yusuke, NOW telling him about the tournament that will be held in two months. It's an event where rich humans, in it for money and thrills, who get their power from the "dark world" sponsor teams of the strongest and most skilled demons, in it for love of blood and pleasure. This is Toguro's formal invitation to Yusuke and Kuwabara to compete, and if Yusuke refuses to do so, Toguro promises to kill him right here and now. As if this isn't coercion enough, Toguro warns that accepting means the boys had better get in shape, since their lives depend on it; the matches in the tournament are fights to the death. 

Yusuke is still gaping, but the stakes aren't much higher than those he's been forced to accept this whole time. 

Yeah, but... is it just the SCALE of the thing? Because I have to say, it doesn't seem much WORSE than what you've faced so far. 

Toguro is strolling leisurely off the construction site when he comes across two familiar characters: Hiei and Kurama, who just wordlessly stare at him. A half-page filler panel featuring a semi-realistic line-art drawing of a girl later, Toguro has reached the other two demons and drawls that he sees by their expressions that they got THEIR invitations to the tournament too. Were their invitations as... demonstrative as Yusuke's? They don't say, keeping a stony silence as Toguro informs them that they'll be on Yusuke's team, of course. 

Oh no, I would hate to be branded as an ally to a generally under-advantaged group. How awful. /sarcasm

As Toguro's head and shoulders float off (did YT forget to draw the rest of him walking away or what?), he advises them to go with smarts and strength for their fifth team member, whom they're free to choose themselves. At last, Kurama has the honor of the first word once Toguro is gone, asking Hiei what he thinks their chances are. Hiei responds that he's doesn't know. How the fuck SHOULD he? Is he a whiz at statistics or something? 

Cut to a gorgeous mountain vista in the country, and a veranda around a serene compound. Someone walks barefoot with purpose down the corridor, to where Genkai is sitting on the floor next to a low table, a TV playing off to the side. She's holding a steaming hot beverage as she asks her visitor to what she owes the pleasure of their intrusion. 

Can't blame procrastination for this one - it's not his fault. 

Scoffing, Genkai asks if he's finally taking this whole training thing seriously, then turns to glare at him, warning that it won't be easy. Yeah, if the glimpse we got of his preliminary training was any indication, I don't doubt that. 

No training montage, as usual. Just a panel that tells us time passes. 

Rich guys sure do know how to name things in a way that will make my skin crawl. It almost seems like a deliberate psychic attack at this point. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Now that we know the Toguro Brothers were REALLY working for Sakyo this entire time, I'm even MORE curious about what the younger Toguro's motivation is. It still doesn't seem to be money, the only kernel of interest he shows being in that tournament they talk about in their little conference call at the beginning of the chapter. Although, considering how close to the chest he's held all his cards thus far, I'm hesitant to take even THAT at face value. My only supposition is that he ended up in Sakyo's employment as a condition of Sakyo sponsoring he and his brother and whatever team he has (other than the two of them) in the tournament. I'm quite eager to learn how THAT deal was struck, though. 

Yusuke's fear at learning Toguro is alive is PALPABLE. Sure, it seems that he's nervous on the surface about how this guy he BARELY beat in the fight under Tarukane's mansion seems hale and healthy, but I think there might be another element to it. Yusuke knows personally what kind of trial comes with coming back to life, and how rare being offered that opportunity is, so he's aware that the guy didn't just raise from the dead. When Toguro bulks to such a massive degree in front of him and says it's only 60% of his potential muscle mass, Yusuke for the first time a real idea of how little of Toguro's power it took to knock him on his ass. Facing the prospect of a 100% jacked Toguro at a tournament TWO MONTHS in the future is monumentally horrifying, because none of the rest of his opponents thus far have had the opportunity to SHOW him what he's up against in advance. Anticipation and the monumental horror that brings might just give Yusuke the yips, so despite my dry humor above, I understand his absolute terror. 

There's a part of me that appreciates not having even SHORT montages of training for the boys before these arcs. I'd much prefer to skip to the action, and the element of surprise one gets learning in a tense moment just how much their skill has grown in the two months we didn't get to see should be a treat. 

Inuyasha Manga: 350 Kagura's Life

Oh, I don't worry about THAT! Kagura is young and spry, she's got a LONG life ahead of her, right? She's totally a competent double agent and doesn't ever do anything suspicious, always waiting until the coast is clear before she goes and investigates on her own. Kagura passes information to the other side with discretion and care. She wouldn't ever perform a rash raid on a potential ally to her hated master unless she was reasonably sure that she knew the risks and what crazy powers she might be up against, right?

RIGHT???

When even INUYASHA is wondering what the hell it is you're thinking, maybe you should have spent a little longer on a plan. 

Regardless, Kagura confidently flies over the compound, surrounded by her army of dead youkai. They appear to be generally heading for the building housing the recently revived Goryoumaru, the children, and captive Kagome. Goryoumaru still has her in a soft headlock, commanding her not to move. She looks up at him with terror, stuttering in disbelief. You'd think she'd be used to this sort of thing by now. 

The zombie youkai finally manage to batter the door in (where in the HELL are Miroku and Sango? You guys had one job!), and among them she spots Kagura, which also seems to shock the shit out of her. Kagura doesn't seem to notice HER, though, because she's too busy focusing on the youki crystal pinched in her fingers, reiterating in her head that this should indicate to her whether or not Shnooky is in this temple by the disappearance of the youki inside. She is struck with alarm when this is PRECISELY what happens. 

But she probably should have had a BIT more situational awareness. 

Well that's inconvenient. And looks painful too. 

Kagome cranes her neck around to give Goryoumaru a gape, his arm smoking like the proverbial gun. Kagura teeters on her feather as Inuyasha at last jumps back over the wall surrounding the temple, and Miroku and Sango stare at the collapsing Youkai bodies falling around them, no longer animated. 

Her clothes staying CRAZY flimsy. 

With a pained expression, Kagura throws her head back and glares at the sky, resolving not to die here. Her feather shoots upward and disappears into the distance, apparently for the purposes of finding a better place for her to expire. Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango stare up at the spot where she'd vanished in silence for a moment, then inuyasha looks over to where Goryoumaru is STILL detaining Kagome, a little dazed over their host shooting Kagura with his youkai arm. Presumably too much is going on at the moment for him to question Goryoumaru has an arm around Kagome's neck. 

And he doesn't allow any more time to pass in this compromising position. Goryoumaru lifts his hand and releases Kagome, who calls out to Inuyasha as she runs to him, asking him what happened to Kagura when she reaches him. They both turn to Goryoumaru when he says unequivocally that there's no youkai that could survive being pierced by his light attack. He's surrounded by the children, who fawn over him and his returned power. He tells them flatly that he's glad they're okay too. It's still not very convincing. 

Kagome reflects on his actions in the past couple of minutes and wonders if he was PROTECTING her from Kagura's youkai, but something BOTHERS her about that possibility. 

Yeah, he's still suspicious as FUCK.

Goryoumaru announces that the night has passed and the youkai are gone, which means that his guests don't have any more business at the temple. Standing in the gate onto the grounds, he asks them as politely as his very prickly attitude will allow to please leave. Inuyasha frowns at him wordlessly, but Miroku suggests they take this excuse to withdraw. 

As Inuyasha and company leave the temple behind them, Shippou wonders aloud from Kagome's shoulder if Kagura really did die. Kagome remains quiet on the question, and Sango cites the fact that Kagura got a shot straight through her chest, the implication being there isn't much reason to believe she's alright. Miroku muses on the still lingering question of whether Goryoumaru is associated with Naraku or not. Sango suggests there's no way he would have killed Kagura if so, and Miroku seems to agree. They haven't had much occasion to question how Kagura STANDS within Naraku's organization, to be fair.

Though Miroku DOES mention how Kagura's will to kill them just isn't there, despite how many encounters they've had as enemies. Another bead of sweat on her temple, Kagome says that Goryoumaru shot Kagura without the slightest hesitation. Surprisingly, Inuyasha speaks up about HIS suspicion that this might have been a bit of a deception, causing his friends to look back at him with surprise, Miroku calling his name doubtfully. 

Inuyasha explains that Kagura's life isn't something that means much to Naraku, and he's only letting her live because she's useful. Shippou has switched to Inuyasha's shoulder and is asking him if Naraku is done with Kagura and that's why he's letting her perish. Inuyasha admits he doesn't know, but he is pretty sure that erasing Kagura to clear their doubts on Goryoumaru is ABSOLUTELY something Naraku would do. He's not wrong.

Elsewhere, a hazy shape travels through the sky over some river rapids.

Oh hey, it's the stoner. What could possibly have caught his wandering attention?

Yeah, that'd do it. 

Jaken identifies Kagura with some confusion, Rin craning her neck to get a better look and determining Kagura looks in a strange way. More like a BAD way. Turning to Sesshoumaru, Jaken asks what he thinks, and Sesshoumaru pauses in silent consideration for a moment before he turns and decisively declares they should leave her and go. I would NOT want him as a bystander if I were in any kind of emergency. 

That distinct power of selective hearing that children seem to exercise most often activated, Rin starts wading into the rapids, tying the hem of her yukata up around her thighs, despite Jaken yelling at her. Rin's stated worry is that Kagura will be swept away, and she does her best to tug Kagura to shore by yanking on the woman's ankle. Of course, her best is TOTALLY ineffective, and she ends up slipping and falling into the water with a scream, unable to regain her footing. Sweatdropping, Jaken wades into the rapids next, bidding the idiot Rin to grab hold of his Nintoujou staff, which he holds out for her from what he THINKS is a safe distance. He's wrong. Rin does grip the staff, but he also slips and falls, and now BOTH of them are struggling in the river, screaming, coughing, and spluttering. 

Sesshoumaru looks over shoulder at this scene with a blank stare, fully embodying the abstracted parent that is regretting ever even having the IDEA of going to the park and letting the kids wear themselves out. It's GLORIOUS. 

Honestly? Metal. 

Sesshoumaru sits on a rick some distance away, gazing off into another direction altogether - he's clearly a little peeved by this shit and will have no part in it. More evidence of this is the lump Jaken has on his head. He and Rin are crouched by Kagura's side, still soaked from their adventure in the river. Jaken grumbles that Kagura is definitely a goner now, and little Rin asks if she's dead. Despite this woman being a former kidnapper, Rin does not appear to be HAPPY about her demise. In fact she's pouting about it. 

Their speculation is contradicted by the hole through Kagura starting to knit itself closed, and at speed. Jaken and Rin stare in alarm, haltingly commenting upon the wound healing as it disappears before their eyes, the spider scar mark of Naraku reforming in its place. Kagura groans and her eyes flutter open. She pushes herself up on her forearms, placing a hand over her restored chest as if feeling for the hole. Slowly, she realizes she's NOT dead, and scoffs internally, calling it tough luck for those suckers who tried to do her in. She thinks it ironic that it's the very fact that Naraku holds her heart in his palm that she survived her little escapade. Maybe she should start considering whether that's actually a BAD sign. 

Kagura looks around at a question of whether she's okay, addressing Rin and Jaken casually by her side, and then seeing Sesshoumaru sitting on his rock a ways away. 

He clearly resents saving ANYONE in this situation, lol.

Kagura drawls over her shoulder at Sesshoumaru about the confirmation that he has a merciful side after all. He just kind of ignores her, but Jaken has to act offended on his master's behalf of course, and curses her while criticizing her inability to utter a single word of thanks to the guy who rescued her from the river. Sesshoumaru stands abruptly and bids his little companions to follow, Jaken hopping to obey the order. 

But Kagura demands he wait a minute, incensed that he isn't going to even ask what happened to her. Sesshoumaru says he has no interest in whatever sob story she's going to tell him, though he does pause when she asks if that resolve will hold through her telling him she knows where Naraku's heart is. He looks directly at her for the first time with a glower. 

Cut to the precarious structure built out of the mountainside that is Hakudoushi's hideout. Naraku himself is sitting inside, looking down at his open palm. Hakudoushi is asking him if he hasn't noticed that Kagura is a traitor and why he's even letting her live. Nosey little fuck. 

No doubt she'll find it an empty and uncomfortable task. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Kagura is playing with fire and it's clear she's not taking the precautions she should be. She's no spy; not only did she fail to do any kind of reconnaissance on the temple or even the youkai hanging out around it, but she rushed into attacking it without any plan on how to extricate herself from the situation if it turned out she was in over her head. Given how her recklessness has come to a head in this chapter, it's a little funny that Hakudoushi would even have to ASK if Naraku has noticed Kagura is a traitor. She may as well be wearing a neon sign around her neck saying as much. 

Much as it still kind of bugs me that Sesshoumaru is hanging around the periphery of this story, not really having a solid reason to do so, I have to admit that he and his group are providing a little levity to the situation. That expression on his face when everyone's in danger of drowning and it's obvious that he's going to have to go and rescue them was PRICELESS. Classic "I'm surrounded by idiots" face. Part of the comedy gold that is inherent to Sesshoumaru is that he tries to be so serious, but no one around him will let him truly embody that ideal. 

It's very gratifying to see Inuyasha and company really start to question whether Naraku is manipulating their perception of what's happening around them. Frankly, it's about time that they are more critical of how things SEEM regarding anything surrounding Naraku, because he's been trying to manipulate their views and emotions this entire time. I suppose it helps this particular time that Goryoumaru is not much of an actor, and continues to act weird as all hell. There's ANOTHER character that might as well  have a neon sign around their neck, but considering how credulous Inuyasha's crew has been up until this point (when they're not coming to the right conclusions with zero information, mind you), I suppose I can hand it to them this time.