Inuyasha Manga: 056 Controlling the Oni

Let me guess; candies, right? Your oni monsters get oni candies that make them stronger, and evolve them into cooler oni, right? And much like the speculation around the candies in Pokemon GO, I think the speculation here is that the candies the painter feeds his oni are probably made up of some pretty messed-up stuff. I mean, what else would he be collecting the guts of soldiers his oni kill for? Unless there's one more thing about his motivations we haven't been told about quite yet...

#ArtistStruggles

He's planning on sending her one of his special chauffeurs again tonight, so he can get a good look at those eyes again, most likely.

Meanwhile, back at the castle, Miroku is asking Kagome about the suspicious painter she tells him Inuyasha and she encountered outside of town. She says he wasn't a youkai, but it's easy for her to recall how he was controlling the oni that he produced straight from his chest. Kagome begins a thought with "perhaps" and Miroku finishes it with the supposition that this human painter could be using the power of a Shikon fragment.

Just outside the door and on the walkway, Shippou sits on a surly Inuyasha's lap as he eats a little snack and asks if Inuyasha is going to join the conversation. Inuyasha scoffs, prompting Kagome to ask him when he's going to stop sulking already. Miroku asks Inuyasha what his deal is, and Inuyasha shouts at both he and Kagome to shut their mouths. Kagome insists that it should be just fine to rely on Miroku for a little while, whining about how he has such a jealous nature. Inuyasha denys being jealous about anything when he twists around to face the accusation with aplomb.

Just kidding, it's indignant rage and an unfinished insult.

Miroku grabs Kagome's hands and asks if she's really been desperately searching for him. Seeing this, veins pop out all over Inuyasha's temple, and he might have an aneurysm, guys.

Miroku looks like he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar, in more ways than one, given how Kagome is pinching his actual hand. Inuyasha looks like he's in shock at this information, because I guess Kagome didn't bother to tell him where they were heading before when they caught up with Miroku at the end of the last chapter. Kagome peers at Miroku's chest, estimating he has two or three fragments, and he compliments her on her good eyesight. Inuyasha zooms over to seize those shards, but Kagome sits him before he can get close enough.

He calls Kagome a bitch, demanding to know why she kept quiet until now. Miroku leans down to tell Inuyasha he'd be a nasty thief if he stole the fragments Miroku collected all on his own, and Inuyasha retorts that he's one to talk.

The lord of the castle peeks around the corner meekly at them, addressing Miroku. He asks if the priest forgot about his plan to help the princess, who has joined him in looking in on the room of strangers with a weary expression, and I'm not sure if it's because of her illness or because she's already sick of their bullshit. Miroku assures him that they will help, so bids the lord not to worry, but the lord isn't so sure it will be okay regardless.

Miroku promises to save her, and pleads with her to be patient. Kagome also encourages her to do her best. The princess nibbles on a little snack similar to the one Shippou was eating while she closes her eyes and agrees.

Miroku and Kagome go outside to hide in the bushes and Inuyasha pops up to join them, surprisingly. Miroku asks if he's going to help them after all, and Inuyasha scoffs, denying that he's there to give them a hand. But that smell is coming closer again.

It's not a chauffeur; it's an entire freaking PARADE. No one noticed this procession coming for the princess EVERY NIGHT? I know you guys were asleep, but for fuck's sake...

Inuyasha glares at the incoming cavalry, noting its scent is the same blood, guts and ink smell that was on the painter. The demon creatures land and gently tug the princess into their wagon, urging her to come with them tonight as well. They then fly away with her looking out the back of the wagon like she's only mildly concerned or something.

Miroku hops on Kagome's bike and takes off in the direction of the disappearing princess as he says he's borrowing it. Kagome whirls around and makes a discouraging noise before starting to run after him in an effort to catch up. Yeah right, girl. Inuyasha grabs her by the back flap of her sailor blouse and deposits her onto his back, much to her surprise. While she stares curiously at the back of his head, Inuyasha says that there's no mistaking the fact that the painter is totally involved in this mess as well. He's convinced the man is using a Shikon fragment, and thinks he knows how his trick works.

Meanwhile, back at his remote home, the painter is pacing around an unfinished painting of the princess while he frets about her not being there yet. Hearing some rattling outside the room, he stops short, drops to his knees, and crawls quietly to slide aside the panel looking out of the room to see if he can't catch a glimpse of the princess.

It's not clear to the painter that the princess might be hiding her face for a reason other than fear, probably because she's always pretty scared during the beginnings of these non-consensual modeling sessions. Sweating and staring, the painter silently urges the princess to show him her face.

Oh snap! Shippou pops back into his real form as the painter throws open the door and demands to know what happened to the princess. He recognizes Shippou as having been with that "youkai brat" Inuyasha when they met before. Wow, he's super observant if he noticed tiny baby Shippou in the midst of all that hullabaloo. Bravo, sir.

Shippou is getting a little too into the role of captured spy, chuckling about being exposed and about to announce just who he REALLY is. Before he can get out his name, though, the painter just whips around and tells one of his horse-headed monsters to kill it. The monster obliges, aiming for Shippou when it swings down its crescent blade. Shippou jumps out of the way with a scream.

The painter goes back into the other room, dumping a whole pile of scrolls onto the floor. He sorts through them as he mutters how unforgivable all those who stand in his way are. Yeah, THEY'RE the unforgivable ones. Sure.

Inuyasha, Miroku and Kagome arrive outside the house, Miroku calling out that he senses some demon energy, or "youki". A swirling atmosphere like motor oil in a puddle surrounds the house, and Inuyasha announces that there's something coming right before a giant cloud bursts out of the house in front of them.

More cartoon-ception! My irony meter is exploding right now.

Inuyasha says that there's a spell controlling the oni the painter has drawn, but they're FAR from just a bluff. The painter himself shakes out his scrolls while he giggles, encouraging the drawings to devour his enemies.

"No, seriously, say you're scared and leave so that I can look more manly in comparison."

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I'm on the line between really liking the decoy-setup they orchestrated here and side-eyeing the continued practice of putting Shippou in danger. True, this plan is VERY similar to the one in which Shippou acted as Kagome's double back when they were fighting Hiten and Manten, and I didn't complain about it then. But back then, Shippou and Kagome were in danger of being killed anyway, and the plan wasn't putting him in the way of any more harm than he was already in. This plan seems just a TAD on the exploitative side to me, given that he didn't HAVE to be involved in it at all.

Not that I don't believe Shippou probably came up with the idea himself. I was already convinced that he was probably the mastermind behind that first decoy plot too, because there was no way Kagome would have known he would be capable of mimicking her appearance without him telling her his idea in the first place. Besides, he's rather desperate to be an active member of the team, and to be recognized for his ability to help in all kinds of situations. The kid has had a shit ton to prove ever since he joined up with Inuyasha and Kagome, because little kids always do. It's a natural part of the process of growing up to constantly want to be viewed as a peer of those you look up to, and a necessary part of emulation, which wouldn't exist if kids didn't have that "fake it till you make it" mentality.

And, I have to admit, Shippou would be SO ANNOYING if he just sat around doing nothing. My hatred of a useless character is so much more prominent than my outrage at these kids not taking proper care and consideration of younger kids.

Sorry Shippou. On both counts.