Inuyasha Manga: 080 Box Garden

Like those planting boxes that you put on tiers to grow your veggies and such in an enclosure? That would certainly be a handy thing for a hermit to have, especially one that needs a bite of fruit to avoid heartburn every once and a while. If you want to avoid contact with icky sticky society except to eat your fill of humans to lengthen your life, there's no better way to subsist. Except, of course, for the eating humans part. That's kind of douchey.

And apparently humans don't produce a particularly LEAN meat, the way Inuyasha tells it.

Inuyasha shouts that the Peach Man won't get away as he leaps forward, swinging Tessaiga's blade across the Peach Man's chest. It slices over the fur vest the Peach Man is wearing, and is repelled, forcing a shocked Inuyasha back. Though the Peach Man mutters in pain, he doesn't have any wound from the sword. Inuyasha gapes in confusion at the fact that the Tessaiga bounced right off the guy.

The Peach Man calls Inuyasha a moron for thinking he could possibly defeat a hermit like him, never mind what kind of youkai Inuyasha happens to be. Brandishing his leafy staff, the Peach Man produces a flowery atmosphere that assaults a bewildered Inuyasha with petals. Inuyasha demands to know if these flowers are supposed to blind him, and the Peach Man suggests that he take a closer look at them.

This is the story you tell the kiddies when they ask you where their Inuyasha figurines come from.

The Peach Man tells Inuyasha that HE'S the one who's gotten smaller, grinning wickedly at the tiny hanyou in his hand before tossing him into his mouth like a potato chip. Inuyasha curses as the Peach Man's tongue undulates and he's thrown into the throat. The Tessaiga lays hissing in its reverted form next to the Peach Man while he gulps down Inuyasha. He'll probably need extra fruit to counteract Inuyasha's acidic attitude in his stomach.

But fruit won't help much to guard against the backup floating to the winded rescue. Kagome assures Shippou that it's only a little further to the top while Miroku marvels at Shippou's unexpected powers. Internally, Kagome frets about how she was so careless as to forget that Inuyasha will lose his powers tonight on the new moon, making him human. She seriously looks freaked about this, almost like she's going to burst into tears at any second.

A sweating balloon!Shippou mutters that he's sorry, prompting an uncertain expression on Miroku, and an annoyed one on Kagome. They all plummet down the cliff, Shippou screaming that he's sorry and Kagome just screaming. Miroku seizes her around the waist with an arm and leaps toward the cliff from balloon!Shippou, intending to get off before going splat. He and Kagome land in a bush growing out the side of the cliff as Shippou transforms back into a kid, and to their surprise they slide right through a tunnel dug into the rock beneath it.

After a moment of pain in her backside from landing so hard (this is becoming a habit for her, I can see), she blinks in confusion at something sitting beyond the mouth of the tunnel.

This looks a little more like a model train environment than a garden, but okay chapter.

Miroku speculates that this must be the Peach Man's den, but Kagome is focused entirely on the miniature garden in front of her. She slowly approaches, at first asking what it is, and then saying that it looks like a box garden. Congratulations on naming the chapter, Kagome! I would wish you many blessings for doing so, but I happen to know for a fact that your chapter-naming is not going offer you any advantages in the hardships to come.

Looking closer at the miniature garden, Kagome is astounded to find a miniature man walking around inside too, slouching along a path and oblivious to the giant girl staring from the sky. Shippou and Miroku join her in peering into the box, Shippou noting that there are more people than just the one crowded under the trees. Miroku suggests that these might be people captured by the Peach Man, those in need of saving like the old man's head talked about.

Kagome feels a tug toward the miniature land below and falls forward in shock. Shippou shouts that the box is getting bigger and Miroku warns them not to look too long at it, but it's a bit too late.

At least everything is to scale. If Joe Johnston had directed this chapter, you would be trying to ride a bee out of your jungle of a backyard.

Kagome reaches up and feels the vicinity of her collar bone, alarmed, then turns to Miroku to inform him that her piece of the Shikon no Tama has disappeared. Miroku looks dumbfounded, and she wonders aloud what she should do, because she was so sure she had it around her neck.

It was the only thing on her that didn't shrink, apparently, dropping to the floor outside the box. The Peach Man chooses this time to walk in, straight for a giant jar in the corner. He asks himself if he should drink some of the medicine inside, because eating Inuyasha caused him some heartburn. I told you he would cause some serious stomach problems. Before the Peach Man scoops up a drink of the stuff, he sees Kagome's Shikon fragment glinting next to the box.

He identifies it as the huge shard it is, eyes alight, and pulls open his robe so his jiggling belly is exposed. There's a smaller shard already sticking out of this belly button, which allowed it to repel the blow from a sword. He shoves the larger fragment into his belly button as with the first, saying that it'll surely make his body like steel. Then, the Peach Man lifts the huge jar of medicine that he was contemplating earlier, pouring it down his gullet while guffawing about how useful his new shard is.

Inuyasha, meanwhile, is clawing his way up the Peach Man's insides, swearing that he'll kill the scummy guy when he gets out of there.

That flash flood could have used a warning for sure.

Inuyasha holds a hand up to his nose, cringing at the scent of medicine in the liquid pooled around him. He looks over to find that the bone he nearly smashed against before is rapidly dissolving in the corrosive substance and narrows his eyes in exasperation, because this place isn't what you'd call comfortable. It's somebody's stomach, boy. What did you expect?

Raising his claws and cracking his knuckles, Inuyasha resolves to just tear his way out of there. But, when he sinks his hand into what looks like the soft tissue in the wall of the stomach, he bounces back just like his sword did, splashing back into the medicine. Inuyasha complains that this guy is super flabby, inside and out. Geez Inuyasha, do you REALLY need to keep harping on about the guy's weight? Maybe he has a thyroid problem, or human flesh is a lot more fatty than anyone figured. In the case of the latter, surely you can think of something ELSE to criticize the Peach Man for.

Suddenly, a pulse overtakes Inuyasha.

See? You have your own body issues - no need to get all indignant about anyone else's.

It's best not to ask me, man. I would probably have been dead by now if I were you.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? There wasn't any character development for the main characters this time around. While the previous chapter was somewhat dark and horrific, I find the tone has shifted rather dramatically to humor in this one. The Peach Man strikes me as quite dense in the way he operates, and his actions are somewhat comedic. I kind of get the impression he's supposed to be kind of guy who never met a problem he couldn't eat; someone whose whole life revolves around food and consuming, without giving much back.

Which actually makes a measure of sense when you consider his confrontation with the man running away from his cliff-side house in the last chapter. The Peach Man is who people apparently come to when they're tired of being part of a society that uses them up without giving anything in return, and the Peach Man seems to embody a flipping of that script - the INDIVIDUAL who takes what life has to give him and doesn't have to answer to or care about a rule of law. In this instance, the hermit represents someone who is free from life's expectations and obligations, being free as a bird to take anything that he wants. He's so simple because of how little he needs to think of others and their needs, only thinking about what's good for him.

And THAT probably explains why he didn't give a single thought to WHY the big chunk of the jewel he found was in his house. In his hermit isolation, he never has to think or worry about people breaking into his shit, so in childlike glee, he just snatches up something he found on the ground, without dedicating a single note to the fact that it might belong to someone else, or that that someone else might be somewhere in his house. He doesn't give a crap; all he cares about is the sudden good luck he just game into.

Ah, to be so oblivious...

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 138 Dungeon Crisis

I don't know if there was ever a dungeon in a story that DIDN'T involve a crisis of some sort. When a protagonist is in a dungeon, you can trust things aren't at all good. Unless, of course, they OWN the dungeon, and in that case... it seems a little odd that they would be a protagonist. I mean, it's POSSIBLE, since the protagonist and hero of a story aren't always the same person, but in this manga that's highly unlikely.

Yeah! Eat it, Ryoji! How do you like that???

Actually, he seems to like it just fine, considering he's smirking in the next panel when he says that it may very well be too late for Yuugi to have summoned a monster. He says they'll see, because even though Yuugi managed to get ONE monster on his side of the table, Ryoji still has more of them, and a path that reaches all the way to Yuugi's side. He internally questions how ONE monster can defend against his attacks, smirk lingering.

Yuugi, isn't looking deterred by this, thinking that the real game is just beginning. Ryoji yells that he's taking his turn and throws the dice aggressively, no longer smiling.

Just in case you guys forgot the rules, friends. It HAS been longer than usual since we visited Yu-Gi-Oh, after all.

So Ryoji picks out one of his dice and presses the top of it so the sides unfold, revealing Grenadier Level 2. Yuugi sweats at the increased number of his opponent's monsters, though I'm more concerned with the description of Grenadier under it's stats, which says that if a player can't roll two trap crests, "it can bomb into dungeon for 1 space."

... lol wut?

Ryoji elaborates, thank goodness, that Grenadier has a special ability despite its low level. If he can also roll two trap crests, Grenadier can destroy one of the opponent's monsters, which is only the one at this moment. What the hell does bombing into the dungeon for one space have to do with THAT?? Who knows, but Yuugi doesn't like the sound of this special ability, thinking he has to increase the defense of HIS creatures in order to block Ryoji's inevitable attack. He's only too aware of how this crap goes by now.

Yuugi announces it's his turn, pulling a new die out of his dispenser, the other dice clacking into place after it's removed. He examines his new die and notes that it has three summoning crests on it, so it shouldn't be difficult to summon this time. He rolls his dice, and sure enough, two summoning crests come up. He cheers that he did it and presses on the top of one of his high-level dice to summon it, a lizardlike creature in armor that Yuugi calls a Crocozaurus. Is that the real name? And if so, how did Yuugi know it? It's like Capsule Monster Chess all over again...

Whatevz. Yuugi learns inexplicably that his cool new monster has a special ability just like Ryoji's, inflicting 1,200 points damage on enemies two spaces away if he rolls two attack crests. The Crocozaurus is on the opposite side of Yuugi's dungeon master, and Yuugi thinks it can increase the defense zone for it. Ryoji mentally chuckles, because he can see that Yuugi's monster has high stats, but the game's moves can be varied by the combination of crests.

He shouts that it's his turn and throws the dice, and OF COURSE he rolls two trap crests, because why WOULDN'T he roll two trap crests? Yuugi is at first shocked that Ryoji's summoning string has been cut, but then realizes what the trap crests mean a moment later. Ryoji is delighted, because he's been waiting for this. What WAITING have you been doing, Ryoji? You always seem to get everything you want the moment you roll.

Grenadier pulls a bomb out of nowhere as Ryoji explains that said bomb is activated because of his two trap crests.

Add Mario Kart to the list of shit Ryoji has ripped off.

Crocozaurus succumbs to the resulting explosion, and Yuugi sweats as he gapes at his brand new monster being wiped off the table. Ryoji chuckles, mockingly saying what a shame it is that Yuugi's summoning was so useless. Yuugi doesn't dwell too long, shouting that it's his turn and tossing the dice, but his roll only contains one summoning crest. He curses those dams again, frustrated that he missed summoning another monster.

On Ryoji's next turn, he aggressively rolls two more summoning crests yet again and summons Girafasoo, which is a bizarre dragon that looks like it has another foot for a head, at least from my view of this poor scan. Ryoji also got a forward crest, so it moves one step ahead. Yuugi sweats at its closeness, worrying that he might lose. Grinning, Ryoji reminds Yuugi that it's his turn, and Yuugi squeezes his eyes shut like he just wants to block out reality right now. I'm totally not blaming him for that, mind you.

Yuugi wonders how a beginner like him can beat the creator of this game. Well, Yami managed to do something similar in the last arc. Why don't you try to emulate him? Ryoji asks Yuugi what's wrong, and if he's going to give up, expression soured. He glares before shouting at Yuugi not to disappoint him, questioning if this is ALL he's capable of. Yuugi's eyes snap open, though he remains speechless. Ryoji reveals that he's aware Yuugi has defeated many duelists after he got the Millennium Puzzle and Yuugi is somewhat shocked that Ryoji seems to know about that. I guess the fact that word gets around about a kid wearing a big gaudy pyramid puzzle and beating all these high-profile gamers is somehow surprising. I dunno.

As though reading his mind, Ryoji tells Yuugi that he has been hearing about the Millennium Puzzle for years from his father, and the legend surrounding it about how the person who solves it will become the king of games. Ryoji says that the person has finally appeared before him, in the apparently yell-inducing Yuugi Mutou. Yuugi glares as Ryoji continues, saying that his greatest desire was to play against the person capable of solving the Millennium Puzzle, taking it away to test Yuugi's true ability.

After a pause, Yuugi asks Ryoji how his dad happens to know about the Millennium Puzzle, and Ryoji answers that the story takes place long before either of them were born.

Guess who!

This "mysterious" fellow whom Ryoji's dad admired so much one day informed him about the Millennium Puzzle in an apparently long-winded fashion, saying essentially that the one who could beat him was the one who would solve the Millennium Puzzle. Yuugi doesn't waste any time in deducing that this long-winded dude if his grandfather. Some things never change, eh? Ryoji tells Yuugi that his father challenged this braggart to a game, and the result was not in his father's favor. When Ryoji's father lost, an apparently evil curse on the board caused him to become disfigured. Some sort of shadow game?

Ryoji finishes up by telling Yuugi that their current match is linked to this long-past event through generations. Yuugi stares steadfastly on at Ryoji, and I get the feeling he's not convinced this is really the whole story either. However, Ryoji has been fully taken in by the tale by this point, to the extent that he has not only spent years chasing revenge for his father, but also the legend of the Millennium Puzzle. He yells at Yuugi that their game is a big bet on who gets to keep that precious puzzle. Yuugi continues to glare, with an element of shock mixed in judging by that exclamation point above his head.

Determined to defeat Yuugi, Ryoji thinks that he'll become the owner of the puzzle, because he's the one who deserves it. I'd like to know how he figures, but his logic isn't actually explored here. He just addresses Yuugi's persistent poop-face with an obstinate thought at Yuugi to show him the power of the one who could solve the Millennium Puzzle.

Yuugi's response is only too appropriate.

Atta boy! Let your dice do the talking! He looks determinedly at his summoning roll, then looks closely at each of the dice he's rolled to decide which one he should summon. Yuugi chooses one that he thinks is a bit of a risk with its particular ability, which makes me wonder where that information is on the outside of the dice. Wish me luck, because the chances of actually finding that out are close to zero.

Ryoji's eyes widen in the next panel at Yuugi's decisions, which are rather unorthodox given the rules we've seen played out before. Yuugi placed the die he chose pretty far from the established path, and left the die folded in a cube. He tells Ryoji that this is all deliberate, and he's not unfolding the die just yet. The option to put off a summoning until the next turn is apparently a rule that I don't remember being told to Yuugi, but Ryoji acknowledges it all the same. How did Yuugi know this? *shrug*

Ryoji wonders what Yuugi is planning, but doesn't dwell, thinking he can attack Yuugi while he's being a slowpoke in summoning his next monster. Ryoji throws his dice, and as they bounce, Yuugi gapes.

Yuugi notes with some worry that the two creatures Ryoji moved forward have reached his dungeon master, while Ryoji reminds him that there's also an attack crest in the roll, so...

But if the Lizard Dragon could attack the enemy from two spaces away, why did Ryoji bother to move it right up there?

Ryoji is smug regardless, telling Yuugi that he only has two points left, as if Yuugi didn't already know. Yuugi reaches over to the die he left in its cube form during his last turn, thinking that now is the time to act. It's Ryoji's turn to gape at now while the die unfolds, fretting that Yuugi has delayed his summon until this moment.

The monster is an iron ball that sprouts mechanical limbs and a head, called Iron Demon Gorugon, Level 3. It's capable of rolling and crushing any enemy in its path if the player controlling it gets an attack crest. Ryoji is definitely NOT happy about the special ability here, which activates rather quickly.

I'm glad, because I don't know how I would adjust to Ryoji as a protagonist. I don't think I could, to be honest.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? This one had a nice pace with that even tit for tat in the gameplay. When the game is too one-sided in who's winning, I get frustrated because it seems to slow down the action when only the one side is actually getting something done. Granted, a lot of that has to do with the villain's diabolical withholding of important game rules in order to put them at a disadvantage, but this cheating crap pisses me off in the long run anyway. Ryoji just totally discredits himself in all his later claims that he wants to see what his opponent is REALLY made of.

No you don't. If you did, you would have started this game with a thorough breakdown of all the rules and an even playing field, you dick. Which is my reason for simultaneously being so frustrated with this chapter. Ryoji talks about wanting to win against Yuugi to prove HE'S the one meant to be king of games, but he started this game with allowing Yuugi to choose his dice blind even though he could have done with some information about how they worked to begin with. And YET, even with this disadvantage, Yuugi is learning, but in an impossible way. He appears to have inexplicably learned all the dice and monsters within, their special abilities and moves, without any visible means of having done so. There's no chart or anything, so I'm left scratching my head at how he's getting this information.

It's like KT only just realized that he had to change his villain's motivations slightly to fit with the more sympathetic direction he was going, so he also had to change the fact that Yuugi started at a disadvantage. It creates a bizarre dichotomy in which you have to judge Yuugi as initially incompetent, or Ryoji as essentially an idiotic liar, and that's kind of infuriating.

I have to admit that I did really enjoy the small telling of the bare-bones of the story that led Ryoji and his father to this point. It revealed enough that we understand better the relationship between Ryoji's dad with Sugoroku, but it doesn't reveal EVERYTHING. It was a delicate line to walk, and I think KT pulled it off.

I do have a random question about this game, though - what happens when you're down to your last three dice and you roll summoning crests? Do you summon and lose a die, only leaving yourself with two dice left? Do you ignore the summoning crests? Do you HAVE to have three dice to roll? Who knows? WE probably won't.

It Was Inevitable

New jobs are always so bittersweet.

On the one hand, money is something everyone needs for various purposes, and my purposes are some rather expensive lessons. I also needed a social outlet that wasn't just talking to various loved-ones on the phone and staying cooped up in my new apartment otherwise. Lastly, this job is going to be so super cool and I'm really excited to work on this team. It's going to be a BLAST.

On the other hand, my other projects are inevitably going to get less attention because of it. I wanted to keep up my momentum, but honestly, that was an unrealistic desire, and I knew it from the beginning. Churning out a review EVERY DAY is exhausting, and as much as I've impressed some with how consistent and persistent I've been, it had to eventually end.

Of course, I definitely plan to keep this blog going, and the project WILL continue, if for no other reason than my own amusement, but I won't be posting every day anymore. Every two to three days will hopefully suffice, as my schedule changes and priorities shift. There's so much to do these days that the job is honestly only part of my cutting down on posting. Between flying out to see my family this week and getting ready for my husband's return to home port, my schedule is going to be booked almost solid, with only slivers of time left for messing around with reviews.

But, as the title proclaims, this was all inevitable. No matter how much I wanted to, I just couldn't keep up the momentum and have a life at the same time. Complete inactivity isn't in the stars for this project, though, so check in every few days for some new content.

I'll keep snarking, so feel free to keep reading!

Inuyasha Manga: 079 The Fruits of Evil

Welcome to Inuyasha's comprehensive guide to the fruits of evil! In this chapter, you'll learn how to identify and classify all those wild fruits that just seem to vibe the wrong way! Classics include the fruit of knowledge, the boner-fruit, and the sour grape! If you're not an expert on all those fruits that are best avoided by the end of this guide, your money back is guaranteed!

 No relation to the MEATS OF EVIL.

Oh hey, wow, official translation ahoy. That was unexpected and abrupt. Back to reading from left to right, I guess.

Kagome's friends Headband and Short Hair offer their assessments that she's got the high school entrance exams in the bag and their congratulations, while their classmates all clap and Kagome accepts the praise with a tear in her eye. She runs across a field in a full stadium waving a banner with her perfect math score on it, friends cheering, eyes still welling in joy. She thinks this isn't a dream, then questions this thought.

Turns out it IS a dream and Kagome is grinning like an idiot in her sleep with her math textbook laying across her chest as a nearby fire crackles. She sits up in her sleeping bag looking out over the slumbering Shippou at the foot of her bag, Miroku leaning on the side of a roofed rest area, and Inuyasha snoozing on his side by the fire outside. She's disappointed by the realization of her suspicion that it wasn't real after all. Dreams a super jerks like that.

Later, Inuyasha is cross-eyed with rage as he shouts at Kagome for suggesting she go back to her time again. He says he thought they were past that nonsense, and Kagome responds with irritation that she has a really important mock exam coming up. She prays that he gives her the three days to prepare she's asking for while Miroku wades around in the stream next to them (fishing no doubt), asking her what could be worth so much trouble. Shippou is in agreement, telling Kagome that she would enjoy herself so much more if she just stayed there forever.

Inuyasha yells a question about her liking her "exams" so much, but she yells back that she hates them, and it's looking like they still haven't discussed exactly how important these are for her success yet. Either that, or Inuyasha is refusing to accommodate the information in his brain because he just wants to piss and moan about something to make Kagome feel bad for leaving. Either one could be possible, honestly.

Shippou's attention is caught by something floating toward the rock he's perched on in the middle of the stream.

So, Miroku, still hungry? Shippou clings to him as his eyes widen at the sight of the heads, trailing off in their identification. Kagome finishes for him, more alarmed than sick at this point. Miroku leans down to scoop one of them up, suggesting that there's a battle upstream and they should put their souls to rest. His own shock cuts him off mid-word, though, while he looks at the head more closely. He stutters in disbelief, and it must be something super disturbing if it's bewildering a guy who just scooped a head out of a river.

Kagome asks him what it is, and he answers that there are no cut-marks. He sets it on the ground and on further examination, it definitely looks like the head never even HAD a body attached to it, skin smooth and unbroken where the neck-wound would normally be. Miroku wonders aloud if these heads can truly be human.

All of them sit around the head in conference, Kagome suggesting it could be some kind of model. Miroku finds that hard to believe, and Inuyasha confirms that this can't be the case, because they definitely have a human scent. So, they all just stare for a few more moments, until Kagome claps decisively and tells them all they have to investigate. While she gets up and starts gathering her things, Inuyasha asks her about that mock exam she was begging to go home for earlier, but she says she won't be able to study with this mystery hanging over her head.

Heheh. I know some don't like the official translation, but there are so many great puns in it.

Miroku stands too, saying they should go as long as Kagome is still with them. They walk quickly, side-by-side, Kagome asking Miroku if it's the work of a demon, and Miroku answering that this hypothetical demon may be using a Shikon fragment. Why ELSE do you think he wanted to confront it while you're still around, Kagome? You've already turned down his other interest in you.

Inuyasha snaps that they're forgetting HIM, because he's hanging back. Kagome tells him to stop dragging his feet then, and Miroku says they should finish this job quickly.

Oddly inaccessible place for a house, innit?

Although one man seems to be making his way down the mountain pretty well even on his bare feet. He's booking it too, huffing and puffing and complaining that he was tricked. Whatever ancient master he expected, it wasn't the THING he met, and he's planning on getting the hell out of this ungodly hole. All out loud, by the way, with the last part cut off when he sees a figure emerging out of the mist ahead of him.

Its a large man with weirdly... defined eyes for a manga character and a walking stick. He asks where Mr. Narrator is going after he was accepted as a disciple of the large man. When Mr. Narrator doesn't answer, the large man reminds him of his and his fellows being tired of starving from famine, conscription into war, and dying like bugs. The large man's flat mouth lifts into a grin and you can see pointed teeth gnashing within as he continues to reminisce about Mr. Narrator's disenchantment with the world, so he was offered training in the ways of the hermits.

Mr. Narrator cringes and takes a step backward at the large man's approach, promising not to tell anyone what he's seen here, but that's not a promise he'll get the chance to keep.

So, become a hermit or get eaten by one? That's a shitty set of choices.

Meanwhile, Miroku is leading the protagonist party along the stream further, Kagome commenting on the heavy fog. Miroku says they've climbed quite a ways up the mountain by this point, but the ground still appears pretty level, so...

Ahead, there are voices pleading and asking to be heard. Shippou makes a noise of alarm while Kagome confirms that she hears the voices too. She realizes that they're coming from a twisted tree planted on the rocky bank of the stream, which doesn't seem possible, but okay.

Those are some pretty morbid ornaments you've got hanging from your Christmas tree...

Miroku, ever the ambassador, strides forward to hear their tales, and stands beneath them asking for clarification on who these people are and what happened to them. A gray-haired man's head says they were all devoured by the old man of the mountain, confusing Inuyasha with the term "old man". Kagome is also somewhat surprised that it's not a youkai.

The man's head tells them that he and the others were all people who tired of the world, who left their homes in search of the rumored paradise on earth that the mountain was supposed to be, and the ancient master that tended that paradise. But they were only food for the "Peach Man" hermit. Inuyasha scoffs and calls them fools for being taken in by a story like that. Kagome indignantly yells at him, and Miroku wacks him on the back of the head, asking flatly if Inuyasha doesn't think they've suffered enough. Kagome begs the man's head for forgiveness and he gives it easily, then she asks if there's anything they can do for him.

He says it's too late for them already devoured, but there's still some on the mountain who haven't been eaten, and they might be up for salvation. Suddenly, something clatters above the group and they look up the cliff next to the tree, noting that something's dropping from above. Bones clatter to the ground and Kagome cowers behind Inuyasha, screaming as though they're going to get her or something. Come on, Kagome, you should be getting used to this morbid crap by now. Shippou stutters that these are human bones, and Miroku says they're still fresh.

The roots of the tree snake like tendrils around the bones, and one of the branches rapidly sprouts a head; Mr. Narrator's, to be exact. Kagome notes the new growth with a disturbed expression, and the man's head tells her it's the owner of the bones. The head is now an enchanted fruit, the heart of the Peach Man's elixir of youth and longevity. Inuyasha gives a snort of disgust.

Kagome calls for him to wait and Miroku shouts they should all go together, but Inuyasha yells over his shoulder that by the time he lugs every one of them up the mountain one by one, the sun will have set. You've carried multiple people up a wall before, Inuyasha. I'm pretty sure you could do it again. Still, he tells them to just wait right there and he'll take care of it. While Kagome begins to protest, Shippou jumps on her shoulder and quietly asks her what sunset has to do with anything. Kagome utters a confused noise, but Shippou decides to answer his own question anyway - tonight is the turning of the cycle. Shippou's looking all kinds of shady for answering his own questions like that.

Heart pounding, Kagome repeats Shippou's phrasing and realizes he means the new moon, the night Inuyasha's powers disappear, becoming human. Well, you guys DID say you wanted to handle this shit quickly, and nobody's quicker than Inuyasha when he's avoiding being caught with his human pants down.

Back up in the cliff house, the Peach Man chomps down on his namesake, sighing in relief. He tells his attendants fanning and serving him that he has to have a bite of fruit every once in a while to ward off indigestion. These attendants don't say anything in return, possibly because they're various forms of weasel dressed up in clothes. It's weird and unexplained, so just go with it.

Ah, if only it were so easy...

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I'm a fan of this arc because the horror aspects come back in full force, and this chapter is a strong beginning to that. The very concept of finding a human head without any sign of being severed from a neck is just so flesh-crawlingly creepy, and coming to find that the heads grow as fruits on a tree leaves a lingering chill. I'm curious as to how RT came up with such an idea, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's some kind of cultural reference I'm missing to it.

After all, there's something to be said for the fact that the Peach MAN isn't far off in name from the Peach BOY, though I don't think this villain and that hero share much in common beyond that. It might just be that the heads resemble peaches when the grow on his tree, but there could be some subversion there as well. I'm not terribly familiar with the Peach Boy, so I'm only speculating here.

Other than that, there were a few things that bugged me about the chapter. The man speaking as he was trying to flee the mountain was one. Granted, I will mumble to myself sometimes about things that are bothering me, but that doesn't ever sound like the out-and-out exposition he was laying down there. It's almost as if he had an audience that he wanted to tell all his motivations to like a terrible actor...

Shippou answering his own questions was another that just bugs me. I get the feeling that in the planning stages of the chapter, RT wanted Miroku to say that it was the new moon, but realized somewhat late that he was unaware of Inuyasha's transformations and it would look cheap if he said it, so the line was given to Shippou instead. It still looks super hokey as a hasty fix, though, so I'm a little peeved by it.

And finally, those animals serving the Peach Man are really throwing me off. Forget what I said about going with it, because it's just too strange. They appear to be sentient, possibly youkai, but who KNOWS how they came to serve this dude or why... Don't get me wrong, I'm GLAD it's unexplained, because there would be no room for an explanation in the story, but I think I'd prefer them not being there instead. Either give him terrified human slaves or nothing at all.

But that's just like, my opinion, man.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 137 The Path of Darkness

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Inuyasha Manga: 078 A Tender Smell

How can a smell be tender, chapter? I've heard of them being sweet and sour, crisp, musty, etc, but that seems too be mainly due to its very close link to the sense of taste. The "tender" description tends to be more associated with touch, the only connection to taste it has being in the texture of certain meats. So does a tender smell mean that whatever has it is pleasing to the palate? I hope no one gets devoured during this chapter for their especially tender scent.

"It was time for his monthly performance review and I had some suggestions for his improvement. Namely, I think he should die with me to increase that lacking bit to a 100% effort."

Kikyou admits she failed to take Inuyasha's life, prompting Kaede to sigh in relief. Not commenting on this, Kikyou moves on to tell Kaede that Kagome said something to her about a guy named Naraku being her real enemy. Kikyou glowers as she demands that Kaede tell her everything she knows about Naraku. Kaede stutters out an agreement, thinking that if Kikyou is alerted to the truth, then maybe her hatred for Inuyasha will dissipate and she'll no longer be bound to this world.

Back in the forest Kikyou vacated some time ago, Kagome is climbing over a log while her mind goes over and over Inuyasha saying that he never stopped thinking about Kikyou every single day. She mutters that she's being made fun of, Inuyasha sneaking around behind her speechlessly. He's not alone, because Shippou pops up on his shoulder and Miroku approaches from behind, Shippou suggesting that Inuyasha stop Kagome from going home. He's not listening, sweating and fretting that she did indeed see the kiss he and Kikyou shared.

Miroku asks what happened with Kikyou, and Inuyasha repeats the question before answering that it was what Miroku is always doing to girls. Miroku's eyes widen and he recoils, asking if Inuyasha really performed such an indecent act in front of Kagome. Inuyasha is appalled, accusing Miroku of thinking of something ELSE altogether. Ahead of them, Kagome stops suddenly in her angry hike through the woods, Inuyasha staring nervously.

Yikes! Them's fightin' words to Inuyasha, who growls and holds up a fist, demanding that Kagome cut that shit out, or at least starting to. An irritated Miroku knocks Inuyasha in the back of the head with his staff, sending Inuyasha to the ground. He tells Inuyasha to wait until Kagome is in a better mood, but Shippou points out that Inuyasha isn't going to hear him through his disorientation. You know you're being a moron with a 7-year-old is setting you straight.

Back at Kaede's place, the fire in the center of the hut crackles as Kikyou confirms she understands Naraku is formed from the bandit Onigumo. Kaede says it all began with Onigumo's evil thoughts, and his summoning of many different youkai to eat him so the demon Naraku could be born. After the explanation, Kaede stresses to Kikyou that Inuyasha was also deeply wounded by Naraku's trap. She doesn't finish her thoughts because Kikyou gets up and goes to the door in preparation to leave. As she's pushing aside the curtain over the door, she says she had only wanted to know the reason for her death.

Kaede gapes at Kikyou's melancholy expression until Kikyou asks if it appears that Inuyasha has changed. Her sister isn't able to utter much more than a hesitant noise, so Kikyou continues by saying that his face looks a lot kinder than the one she knew, when it expressed universal distrust and general peevishness. She asks Kaede if Kagome was the one to change Inuyasha, and Kaede admits that Kagome is quite a mysterious child. She speculates that it's Kagome's strength that is curing Inuyasha's heart.

Kikyou goes from a shadowed glare to a bitter smirk, chuckling that what SHE wanted to do, Kagome is doing instead. Oh come on, Kikyou. Surely you weren't attempting the old "I can change him" rotine. Say it ain't so. Kaede seems to be as disappointed as I am, but I'm pretty sure it's for different reasons.

If you ask me, you should be glad to get rid of THAT lame ambition.

Kikyou slouches out of Kaede's house, and Kaede leans out of the doorway after her, calling her name. She asks if Kikyou has finally cut off her lingering feelings. Kikyou turns to tell Kaede that they'll meet again, which I guess is a "no". She's surrounded and carried off by her soul-collectors again, with Kaede staring up at her and wondering how long she's going to wander like this.

Yeah, you guys just sit there and get fat while Kagome and Inuyasha work off their aggression with an angry hike.

Shippou observes that Kagome and Inuyasha have passed by at least five times by now, Miroku correcting him that it's actually been seven. Kagome complains that she's right back where she started, huffing out a question about where the damn exit to this place is. Inuyasha stalks after her, looking more annoyed than ever, and thinking this is getting ridiculous. You've been going round in circles seven times now and THIS is when it's getting ridiculous?

Inuyasha suddenly questions why he's so nervous about this and breaks his silent follow with a shout at Kagome. However, he sees tears pooling in her eyes while she stands hunched in profile, so he throws himself behind a rock in alarm. He sweats about her crying, while Kagome yawns, acknowledging she's super exhausted, which makes sense since she thinks she's been up since the previous day. Inuyasha's heart pounds, worrying that something is bothering Kagome after all, and worse, that it's his fault.

Deciding once again to face this problem head-on, Inuyasha comes charging from behind the rock and jumps in front of Kagome's path, demanding she listen to him at least while calling her a bitch.

Still, Kagome gives him the go-ahead, looking peeved all the way.

It shouldn't, because it's not.

Inuyasha begins with his suspicions that there really is something wrong, and she's angry about the kiss. Kagome is speechless a moment, surly in her internal admission that it was that too, but she eventually shouts that this isn't correct. She scoots around to yell in his face that he doesn't understand anything, causing him to lean away in wide-eyed shock.

Again, Kagome uses Inuyasha's confession that he wants her by his side as a reference when berating him. She asks if that or him being unable to forget Kikyou for a single day is true, assuming they're mutually exclusive, but in Inuyasha's gaping disbelief...

Kagome automatically interprets this as an intention to two-time her in a depressed slump. As he and Miroku spy from a nearby hill, Shippou says she's super tired, and Miroku states that thoughts like Inuyasha's should never be voiced.

Inuyasha looks down speechlessly for a moment, until he begins to explain that Kikyou was killed fifty years ago and her spirit can't move on to the afterlife, which he considers partly his fault because he didn't trust and believe in her at the time. This is Inuyasha's reason for not being able to forget about her, Kagome giving him a pitying look. She scoots back around, confusing Inuyasha, and says that there's one more thing. He recoils and sweats, like he's expecting this one more thing to be painful.

Kagome hangs her head while she asks if she's after all just Kikyou's replacement. Inuyasha is taken aback only for a moment, before leaning toward Kagome and claiming that he's been saying that's completely wrong. He turns his back to her too, saying that he DID think Kagome and Kikyou were similar in the beginning, but now he's convinced that Kagome is Kagome and there's no replacement for her. Kagome's eyelids droop as she leans back.

He looks at her out of his periphery, thinking she came to him. EW, no one needs that information, dude! Joking, of course, although I have no idea what that means otherwise. Inuyasha also thinks that she has a nice smell, which I'm guessing is because she doesn't smell like literal dirt. Inuyasha hesitantly continues to speak, saying he likes seeing her smile, and whenever he's with her he feels relieved.

Well, what do you expect when it takes you a hundred fucking years to get to the point??

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I don't blame Kagome for falling asleep at the end. Boy oh boy, what a snooze-fest. It was an entire chapter dedicated to speculation on Inuyasha's feelings with Inuyasha only vocalizing them toward the end. I don't mind when the topic takes up a portion of the chapter, but when that's the WHOLE THING? BO-RING. I can at least say that it was somewhat cute watching Inuyasha chasing after Kagome as she stalked around in a bad mood, but "cute" isn't the same as action. This comic has done a good job up until now keeping the tension pretty high, but this chapter really sunk the pressure of the series in a hurry.

Not that I think it was bad Inuyasha got to explain what he meant by not going a day without thinking about Kikyou. This was a good romantic conflict, because as I explained before, men in that society RARELY say anything directly. In that case his saying to Kikyou that he hasn't been able to forget about her WOULD seem like a love declaration to Kagome very similar to the one he made to her, the difference being that he said he wanted to be WITH Kagome where he didn't express that same sentiment to Kikyou. Maybe if the conflict had been spread out over a few chapters interspersed with actual plot-driving action, I would have liked it more.

But you know what no one really needed here? This regressive bullshit about girls CHANGING boys. Forgive me for going off on a feminist rant here, but girls are taught from day one that they should be exhibiting nurturing and coddling capabilities toward those they think are vulnerable or broken in some way, whether those are children or grown-ass men. Why the hell do you think we give little girls their own babies to take care of in the form of dolls? By the time girls reach their teens, they've been encouraged to home in on those who fit that description, the childish or troubled, to lavish with their feminine wiles in an attempt to "fix" them. Ever seen someone pissing and moaning about girls liking "bad boys" or those that treat them poorly? Yeah, they're actually complaining about the above bullshit.

And Kikyou seems to have bought into it hook, line and sinker. She was supposed to "heal" Inuyasha with her womanly nurturing love, but someone else is doing it instead. Newsflash, Kikyou: if Inuyasha's heart wasn't "healing" under your love, it's because he didn't WANT it to. People aren't changed by others, they're changed when they damn-well wanna change. Someone may be inspired to change by another person, but that individual is ultimately responsible for their own change in the end. No one else.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 136 D.D.D.!!

After seeing the stupid tricks Ryoji pulled in the previous chapters, I have a not-so-nice idea of what the name of this game means. I'm pretty sure my guess isn't anywhere CLOSE to reality, because I highly doubt that KT would name one of his games Dumb Double Doofus, but I'm tempted to disregard the real name altogether in favor of it. It would provide me a little more entertainment while I inevitably perform a string of facepalms on my way through this coming chapter.

Is Yuugi surprised that the other people in this world where GAMES RESOLVE EVERYTHING are interested in gaming? Because it seems to me that anyone who isn't interested in gaming is probably dead from someone killing them in a game by now.

Yuugi observes that's what everyone is here to buy, forming a line really early in the morning and everything. Anzu is amazed that people want it despite them not knowing a single thing about what it involves, but she shouldn't be. Waiting in line to buy something you know absolutely nothing about is what being a Dumb Double Doofus is all about. Yuugi checks his watch, which reads 10:30, and... hold up. 10:30 is really early in the morning to this boy? Seriously?

Anyway, Yuugi complains that Jonouchi is super late to the party, there being only a half-hour until the grand opening. Yuugi is worried that he doesn't have enough pocket money to by the game for Jonouchi too, seeing as Sugoroku's bad mood apparently caused him to reduce Yuugi's pocket money. Are you sure it's not because the game store you live in has been losing money because of the CAUSE of your grandfather's mood, Yuugi? Or was Sugoroku just being an asshole for no particular reason?

Bakura says that the limited amount of the new game they're selling today means that they'll only be selling a few copies per person. That's a good, solid number, Bakura. Glad to see you're still being the most approximate friend ever, as usual. Anzu snobbily says that if that's the case, they don't need to buy it for Jonouchi, because it's his own fault he's late.

Just then, Jonouchi comes flailing down the sidewalk, waving and making a scene while calling out a greeting to Yuugi. Yuugi excitedly says that Jonouchi is coming, despite the fact that it's unlikely there's a person for several blocks that didn't hear him. If you're wondering why Sugoroku is fuming when you get back home despite your super stealth plans to buy the new competitor game behind his back, that's why.

Jonouchi huffs and puffs out an apology that he's late and Anzu raises a finger to point to the trailing line, insisting he go to the back of it, nose raised and eyes closed. Jonouchi tells her not to be so serious, while Yuugi is just happy that he managed to catch up with them. Rubbing his jawline diabolically, Jonouchi is already planning to get a limited edition of the game and resell it for a profit. Anzu sweatdrops, muttering that this is clearly his REAL reason for coming, and Yuugi mirrors her expression.

Yuugi catches sight of his own house, looking deserted and like a ghost town despite the clamor across the road. He feels kind of bad admitting it, though. Yuugi asks his friends not to tell his grandfather that he came to buy the game today, because the Black Crown is their sworn enemy, missing completely the distressed looks they're casting over his shoulder at someone who just showed up behind him. It's Sugoroku, of course, sporting leaking eyes while Yuugi banters on oblivious about how he will always buy a new game, enemies notwithstanding. Yuugi leans in to tell his friends shaking their heads and mumbling for him to stop talking a secret: his grandfather is too old-fashioned, and that's why business has been so slow. Finally, Yuugi notices the looks he's getting and asks what's wrong.

I told you he heard Jonouchi carrying on, loud and obnoxious.

Woah. Looks like clown!dad's hidden face has less to do with humiliation and more with disfigurement. Shit, Sugoroku, what did you DO to this man???

Anyway, that sound he reacts to in the last panel there? Ryoji walking in on him and turning away to apologize once he notices that his clown!dad's mask is off. Clown!dad says it's alright as he hurriedly puts on the mask, urging Ryoji to come in. With some hesitation, Ryoji agrees, though standing well back when he tells clown!dad that everything's been set up and all they're waiting for is the opening. Chuckling, clown!dad enthuses about his revenge plan finally coming to fruition, Ryoji looking a lot sadder than this happy occasion calls for.

He hesitates to tell clown!dad what happened the day before, claiming that he threw a trap at Yuugi to test his strength, and smirking as he says Yuugi isn't as simple as he appears. Clown!dad hangs his head for a moment, then whips around to ask if Ryoji lost to Yuugi. Ryoji is speechless, then stuttering, clown!dad coming closer all the while. Turns out clown!dad has a small whip in his hand and WHIPS RYOJI ACROSS THE FACE, crying in disbelief that Ryoji lost.

Well shit.

Ryoji grunts in pain, opening his eyes to find that clown!dad is demanding to know how he can lose to Sugoroku's grandson, ranting that it's unforgivable. Ryoji tries to apologize again, but clown!dad has just gone off the rails. Clown!dad rips the mask off his face with a scream, and though the audience can't see his face clearly, Ryoji is disturbed as he's restrained by his shoulders and commanded by his father to look. Gesticulating and waving his mask, clown!dad raves that his face has been disfigured horribly, and it's all because of Yuugi's grandfather. Ryoji assures clown!dad that he knows because his father has told him the story hundreds of times before, begging him to put back on the mask.

And just like that, clown!dad jams the mask back on his head before apologizing for the whipping he gave Ryoji before. He asks if it hurts, acting all caring now, and I want to further disfigure this fucker's face my shoving my fist in it. Ryoji doesn't have the same impulse, assuring his father that it's okay, and a tear escapes clown!dad's mask hole as he tells Ryoji he's the only one trustworthy. Ryoji says he understands clown!dad's pain and hatred, so he asks him to watch him take that revenge for him.

He says Yuugi and Sugoroku's names with a cold glare as the announcement is made that it's 11:00. Time for those doors to swing open!!

Oh PLEASE, cop-man. You're not going to be anywhere to be found when real shit starts to go down, so don't even TRY to make it seem like you're bringing order to this overcrowded public train store.

The kids lucky enough to get to the counter first demand D.D.D. from the store clerk without a please or anything, one of them shouting that he wants 30 of them. The clerk apologizes that they're limiting sales to six per person. Yuugi is caught some ways away being squished by several people on all sides, nervous for how many people there are in such a small space. He complains that he's been pushed so far back that he's lost Jonouchi in the crowd.

Elsewhere, Jonouchi is celebrating a purchase of D.D.D. by holding one of the little foil baggies up triumphantly. Sugoroku cradles the bags in his hand, having bought it too. Who's the traitor now, you hypocrite? Jonouchi urges Sugoroku to open them to see what's inside, ripping open one of his bags as well.

You could hang those suckers from your rear-view mirror too!

Bakura observes that all the symbols on the sides are different while Jonouchi squints at his die and wonders aloud how you're supposed to play with them. Sugoroku suggests excitedly that they should all go over to his house to learn it together and Jonouchi agrees emphatically. Sugoroku, how old ARE you?

Anzu is the only one thinking of poor Yuugi in all this, looking back at the store again with the comment that he's awfully slow. Inside the store, Yuugi is still adrift in the sea of children, sighing that he doesn't know how much longer he has to wait and assuming that all the rest of his friends have gotten their game already. He sees clown!dad coming through the crowd, pointing at him with hearts over his head. He's clearly silent and wearing his mak, but expressing affection for Yuugi at the same time? How does that work?

Yuugi identifies the clown with a little confusion while clown!dad makes his way to him, putting a hand on his arm and gesturing with the other one. Flabbergasted that the clown is actually singling him out, he doesn't notice clown!dad slipping several bags of D.D.D. into his pocket and giving one of the store security members a significant look.

Clown!dad leads Yuugi a bit further into the store so he's much nearer the counter, which Yuugi squeals is awfully lucky. Two security members put a hand either of his arms and ask him to come with them, prompting Yuugi's confusion to kick back into gear. He asks why, but they don't answer, picking him up under his arms and taking him away as he asks them what they're doing and demands they let him go.

In a room in the back of the store, appearing as a sort of interrogation room rather than the office I think it's supposed to be, Yuugi is appalled by the accusation of the security members that he stole something. One of them states they're going to search him for the stolen items now while Yuugi protests that he would never do such a thing. The other security member yanks at Yuugi's arms demanding that he take off his jacket. When Yuugi's jacket is removed, the first security member snatches the Millennium Puzzle off Yuugi's neck to keep as collateral, grinning sadistically. Yuugi snatches for it, shouting that they should give it back, it being a super important item. The security member promises to give it back if Yuugi can prove his innocence.

My American brain is spinning right now.

It's totally possible to set your naive ass up, boy.

Someone says that their brain has been damaged by the customer's heinous actions, revealed to be clown!dad holding the Millennium Puzzle by its chain in the next panel. Don't put yourself in the same category as people with brain damage you excuseless fuck. Clown!dad pretends to be shocked (shocked I say!) to see that someone with such an innocent face could have a nature so ugly. I'm shocked that he's not bleeding right now, because that self-inflicted irony is SHARP.

Yuugi identifies clown!dad as the clown from earlier, and shouts that he didn't steal anything and he wants his puzzle given back now. Clown!dad calls Yuugi a brat who can't admit fault, determining that he needs some punishment. He orders his security members to take Yuugi away, and they do, Yuugi protesting the whole way. Clown!dad holds up the puzzle and glares at it, chuckling internally because he has the Millennium Puzzle now. And I'll be damned, his mask is emoting with a FROWN now! How is it doing that? *shrug*

Thrown into a dark room with only the checkered floor distinguishable, Yuugi shouts in alarm as the door is slammed. He looks around and his eyes widen.

Dramatic irony has caught up with Yuugi, who shouts his not!friend Ryoji's name in surprise. Ryoji asks Yuugi to sit opposite him so they can begin, Yuugi asking why he's here and what kind of place this is. With a smirk, Ryoji explains that the Black Crown is a store owned by his father, and he's about to play the new game D.D.D. with Yuugi as designed by himself. Yuugi gapes, floored by the information that Ryoji invented the new game.

Ryoji begins to explain D.D.D., or Dragon, Dice, and Dungeons, for those who hate acronyms. I'll stick with MY version of the longform, thank you very much. Yuugi repeats the full name of the game while he looks hesitantly down at the fancy looking arcade table he's seated at.

He has dice in a briefcase and a little disk-shaped thing to dispense dice too. Remind you of anyone? *cough*discountKaiba!*cough*

Sorry, I caught the consumption.

Yuugi pulls the briefcase toward him and removes a couple of dice to examine them, dumbfounded. All of the dice have a different color and symbol on each of their surfaces, and Yuugi doesn't know how to choose between them. Seeing that Yuugi is struggling, Ryoji tells him that each die is color-coded to denote what kind of monster type it represents; white for magic, grass for warrior, yellow for undead, green for beast, and red for dragon. Uhhh, is anyone going to tell Ryoji that "grass" is a plant, not a color? There were a ton of other actual colors he could have chosen from, but apparently he thought it would be great to make players confuse the green and grass monsters, huh?

HEY WAIT A MINUTE! Wasn't "grassland" the environment for warrior monsters in Duelist Kingdom?

And beasts are in there too, which are the OTHER green-colored monster dice. Also, I got this diagram from chapter 7 of the Duelist manga, and the current chapter we're covering is chapter 77. Coincidence?? Probably. Regardless, Ryoji is such a little HACK.

You'd think Yuugi would remember all this if this reviewer managed to, but he might be too busy trying to concentrate on learning these hack distinctions rather than analyzing them. Fair, because if he WERE analyzing them, I would be out of a job here. He glares at Ryoji, repeating the word "monsters" in his head, as Ryoji reveals that the black dice have special abilities. So, Yuugi announces that he's choosing the white, grass, and black types, piling them into his hand.

Once Yuugi has grabbed all the dice he needs, Ryoji explains that they're playing the "Dark Arena" stage, supposed to represent the "dark place beneath the dark underground", whatever that means. It's a black table surface covered in evenly spaced white square points, and two trapdoors open in it before Yuugi and Ryoji, much to Yuugi's eternal surprise. Ryoji alerts Yuugi that the game is about to start, instructing him to drop the dice he chose into his trapdoor, doing the same himself to illustrate.

The dice tumble into their compartment and it snaps shut on them, the table making some noise as it performs complicated dice-tumbling actions within. Yuugi stares when the dice he just threw into the compartment reappear to him in the neat line of the dispenser running along his end of the table. Ryoji says that his machine lines up the dice randomly, which is the key to victory or defeat. I guess it was too simple to just draw dice out of a bag or something, huh?

Ryoji instructs Yuugi to take the three dice the dispenser lined up for him.

My face exactly, Yuugi.

His perplexed gaze is drawn to the table when a little puppet sporting a conical hat and cape rises from another compartment right in front of him. Another doll has showed up on the other side of the table in front of Ryoji too, this one shaped like... clown!dad. That's... uncomfortable. The dolls represent the player's life points, three for each one of them represented by the hearts each doll wears on their chests. It's the Dungeon Master, because Ryoji can get around copyright infringement by ripping off other games JUST enough to fly under the radar.

Ryoji says that the person who receives three attacks on their Dungeon Master is the loser, wearing his smirk again. He calls for a start to the game, and Yuugi holds up one of his dice, nervous and sweating. As per usual "game start" is shouted by someone, because that's just how Yu-Gi-Oh do.

I think you mean you've ROLLED two summoning crests, Ryoji. If you're not careful, your flight under the copyright radar will speed right into it.

Ryoji tells Yuugi that rolling two or more of the same symbol on the dice will activate the ability it represents, so I'm sure you can guess what Ryoji is able to do here. Summon a monster! Yuugi sweats all the more at this news, while Ryoji picks up one of his dice and explains that the player can choose one of the dice he's thrown to use, his choice being a dragon die.

Gotta hand it to Ryoji, though. I haven't seen THAT one before.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Holy crap was reviewing this one a LONG process. It wasn't particularly complicated or anything, but there were so many scene changes and so much dialogue that it was difficult to recap ALL of it without spending forever on the task. The sheer number of things going on in this chapter was a tad overwhelming.

As much as I joked about Sugoroku being lured to the store by Jonouchi shouting Yuugi's name down the road, it's pretty obvious that he came there to check out the new game too. He's always been pretty clearly an older version of Yuugi, love of games, childish behavior, and all. Sugoroku's wonder at a new game came at a price in this instance, though, because he's overlooked his priorities. He appears to have lost sight and care of Yuugi, and that might cause some serious issues later on.

It already looks like his actions in the past have now gravely affected the present. What little we got to see of Ryoji's father's face makes it pretty clear that something BAD happened to him while playing a game with Sugoroku. I'm not prepared to believe that Sugoroku directly and with malicious intent caused the malformation of Ryoji's father, because that seems a bit beyond Sugoroku's good-natured personality. Nonetheless, Ryoji's father DEFINITELY believes it, and the only question now is what exactly happened.

And what a wondrous thing this remaining question is! I thought KT's lack of subtlety would have prevented him from simply giving away the past events, but boy was I wrong! I'm happy he's learned the value of withheld information and the nuance of revealing that information NATURALLY through character interactions instead of endless exposition, as well as the value of setting up a mysterious past event. Catching the smallest glimpse of Ryoji's father's face really makes me want to know how Sugoroku could possibly have been involved with that, and Ryoji's abuse and terrorization at the hands of his father provide an element of sympathy for Ryoji in particular that cultivates all the more curiosity for how he found himself tied to his abuser.

I'm also really impressed with how the abuse itself was depicted, with the sudden violence, followed by the apparent remorse by the abuser, is usually how the cycle happens. This is part of the reason why so many victims of abuse end up living years and years under their abuser's thumb, because the abuser is so good at making it look like they're ashamed of their temper, remorseful of their behavior, sorry for their actions. Ryoji's father is exhibiting those very tactics that keep a victim close so that he can continue to exploit Ryoji and the brainwashing that was inflicted upon him, keeping a tight grip on control. Granted, the relationships in this manga have always had very rich distinctions between them, but I didn't know if KT could pull off that same richness with a REALLY negative relationship. I stand corrected, and thankful to boot.

You know what I'm NOT thankful for? The missing creativity in the game. It looks like KT is just mashing together all his game ideas in this one, and it's painful. First Ryoji is a mash-up of Kaiba and Bakura (mostly Kaiba), and now this? The only thing that was at all new about it was the dice opening up to reveal the monster inside, which I don't know how would work anyway. Not hinges, that's for sure, because that hint at the end denoted that you can choose which configuration in which to unfold the die, creating a kind of pathway. Set hinges on the dice wouldn't allow for that. Magnets? Possible, but it didn't look like Ryoji had to pull apart the ends; more like it just fell open in the configuration he HAPPENED to want.

And what's with the table? Is this game even playable without renting a big fancy machine to mix up your dice for you? I remember asking the same question about Duel Monsters, but it was never answered.

KT, creator of the most inconvenient games EVER.