Inuyasha Manga: 125 Toutousai

I'm not looking forward to impending old age. Sure, I'm only turning 30 today, but I'm not exactly short on reminders of the raw deal my golden years are going to afford me. Last week I woke up with pain shooting from my left shoulder up my neck. No injury, I hadn't been doing anything strenuous, but that didn't stop the pain from developing into screaming agony by the next morning. Two doctors and a hospital visit later, I'm popping muscle relaxers and hardcore ibuprofen, unsure as to if the pain would EVER go away.

Surely I can look forward to SOME benefits, or at least a fair few eccentricities that people have to put up with.

Living here would be a pretty boss eccentricity. It's pissing Jaken off something fierce. He's hopping along the hot ground trying to keep his contact with it as brief as possible. Reminds me of how I have to walk on the sand at the beach. Sweating, he complains that this unbearable place's ground is cooked. He calls out to Toutousai, asking if he's here, which happens to be a giant fish skull? Maybe? Not sure, but it doesn't appear to have bony limbs that have been preserved, so we'll go with that. The spine and ribs recede into the mountain behind it, bits of what looks like leather slapped haphazardly over it.

Jaken asks if a requested sword has been completed, since it's the day it was promised. Yes, Saturdays are always when I complete MY swords. When Jaken enters the gaping skeletal mouth, the inside of which is littered with various smelting tools, he comes upon a note carved into the wall, which says the carver has moved. No doubt to a cooler climate that doesn't smell of sulfur.

By the next panel, Jaken has met with Sesshoumaru in a grassy area, no longer having to play hopscotch over a scorching landscape. Sesshoumaru presumes that Toutousai has skipped town. Jaken bows before Sesshoumaru, apologizing profusely. He says that Toutousai is a picky swordsmith, not fulfilling the orders of people he doesn't personally like.

Sesshoumaru doesn't like to be reminded that he's an unlikeable snot, apparently.

Elsewhere, Inuyasha tells Kagome to stop worrying about something. He says everyone is safe, and they can find more Shikon shards. Despite his command, Kagome hangs her head, apologizing and clearly STILL worrying about it. Behind them, Sango whispers to Miroku that it's very unlike Inuyasha to be so understanding, and Miroku whispers back that it's probably because the fragment stolen was taken by Kikyou. Shippou unnecessarily brings up that Inuyasha and Kikyou have a previous relationship that might have something to do with his greater range of forgiveness in this instance. Inuyasha and Kagome keep walking along, though both of them look pretty exasperated by the obvious topic of conversation behind them.

Kagome looks over at Inuyasha, and after a stuttered question about what she's staring for, he asks if she also thinks he's covering up for Kikyou's crime. She plainly asks if he's not, and he hunches defensively, getting quite irritated with everyone's assumptions. He hears a noise from the sky, though, and looks quizzical before picking up seizing Kagome by the waist and jumping out of the way of a bolt of lightning. Kagome's bike goes flying from the blast.

One of MANY inquiries, I'm sure.

The old guy identifies himself as Toutousai, and before any of those other questions can be asked, he tells Inuyasha to draw his sword, calling him by name. Inuyasha pauses to consider the weird fact that this old guy knows his name, and the impatient geezer leaps right off his three-eyed cow wielding a long-handled mallet, prepared to come at Inuyasha if Inuyasha is unwilling to draw the Tessaiga. Inuyasha pulls out the sword, telling Kagome to get back.

The peanut gallery is full today, isn't it?

Toutousai is repelled back and lands on his haunches with way more grace than someone that old has any right to. He claims that the sound from the reverberating sword still hasn't "matured", whatever that means. Inuyasha is dumbfounded at first, but then charges at Toutousai, sword raised, demanding to know what he's after. Toutousai doesn't answer, instead pulling a long piece of leather from beneath his collar and sticking out his ABNORMALLY LONG, THIN TONGUE TO LICK IT.

*shudder*

Inuyasha swings down a blow, which is caught by the leather Toutousai has stretched out above him , much to Inuyasha's surprise. His entourage is pretty amazed by this as well, but Toutousai is just annoyed, complaining that Tessaiga's blade is all chipped and has been used too roughly. At this point Inuyasha is wearing the weirdest combination of consternation and confusion on his face that I have ever seen, wondering just what the hell this dude is. Luckily, Myouga hops up on his shoulder to greet Toutousai familiarly and get to explaining who he is before Inuyasha can get too much more turned around.

Myouga tells Inuyasha that Tessaiga was forged by the weird old swordsmith before him.

The only thing that amazes ME about this information is how Toutousai didn't think to give it freely right off the damn bat. Did the cat have his creepy long tongue or what?

Inuyasha asks what he's there for, doubting that Toutousai came here to sharpen the sword. Toutousai says that he came to help Inuyasha master Tessaiga appropriately, unless he doesn't qualify for its use. Terms and conditions apply, and if Inuyasha doesn't meet them, Toutousai plans to smash up the prize sword. Kagome lets out a long questioning noise, and Inuyasha asks if this bastard means to test him with a sharp glare.

Toutousai says he's guessed right. Bust out your number two pencil, boy. Toutousai begins with a doozy of a problem - someone is trying to kill him. Inuyasha and friends all stare wide-eyed at this old fart in disbelief. Toutousai puts the whole thing in context by quoting the villain, who told him to make a sword that rivals Tessaiga, or they would kill him. He considers this an absurd request from an idiot, and demands that Inuyasha protect him from said idiot. Inuyasha grabs Toutousai by the face and corrects his demand by suggesting it should be more of a request or at least contain the word "please".

Toutousai doesn't respond, looking past Inuyasha and announcing his would-be murderer's arrival.

Who else but the rotting corpses rising from their unmarked graves in the yard THIS GUY:

I've got to admit, this is a way better deal than that other thing.

Inuyasha, Kagome and Miroku all cringe in recognition, while Sango is probably in the background shrugging wondering what the big deal is. Sesshoumaru jumps off the back of his cool dragon ride and lands gracefully on the ground in front of Inuyasha, Toutousai cowering behind the hanyou. Inuyasha gapes while saying his brother's name, and Sango indeed has to ask Miroku who the hell this guy is in order to get caught up with the rest of the class. Kagome, apparently ALSO has to take the remedial course, asking Toutousai if this is who he meant when he said that someone was after his life. Well, Toutousai only SAID that he was the guy when looking at him and saying "he's here" earlier, but sure, you can act like a moron, Kagome. No sweat.

Sesshoumaru is set against that marbled background, and you know what that means: he's seething. He asks why Inuyasha is with Toutousai, and Toutousai peeks out from around Inuyasha's shoulder to answer that Inuyasha is here to punish Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru raises his remaining hand, you know, because he's already been punished ONCE by Inuyasha, something he seems to have forgotten, and cracks his knuckles. He claims that someone seems to be in a rush to die, but Toutousai says that he COULD make a sword for him if he defeats Inuyasha. Kagome lets out an indignant cry and points out that this is quite a bit different than what he said earlier. Toutousai puts on a spaced face and asks if he said something different before after all.

OH! I get what the advantage of old age is!

Sesshoumaru smiles, and bids Toutousai not to forget what he just said. Dude, you were watching the last exchange, I know you were. Don't even BEGIN to believe that Toutousai won't flake on you in another two seconds. Sesshoumaru leaps at Inuyasha.

Let's be honest, Kagome, you just KNOW Inuyasha would have been in for a punch in the face the moment Sesshoumaru showed up, regardless of Toutousai's influence.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I'm always a fan of a chapter with Sesshoumaru in it, but he wasn't the one who stole the show. That honor goes to our new addition to the secondary cast, Toutousai. He made one hell of an entrance, and then shrunk into the act of a frail, forgetful old man. Don't know why he's even BOTHERING to act, either, considering he straight up TOLD Inuyasha that he was going to test how worthy he is of Tessaiga. There's no better test than to pit siblings against each other to see which one needs the stick they're fighting over more.

Which is why it's so easy to see why Kagome is pissed. The pretense is so brazen as to be insulting, and I'm not certain I wouldn't pop the asshole one if I were in her shoes. From my current vantage point, though, he's just funny.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 183 The Reason for Dueling

I can guarantee you that it was better than Andrew Jackson's reason for dueling. He just did it because he was a thin-skinned douchebag who had nothing better to do than commit literal genocide. In fact, he probably should have done a bit MORE dueling for the sole purpose of taking time away from killing Native Americans and implementing economic policies that led to full-scale monetary panic. Since his dueling was the old-fashioned kind carried out with a gun, and the only person he actually managed to win against was because he cheated, I don't feel like it would have been too much of a problem for everyone to keep him good and busy with daily duels.

Hey, it works for Kaiba. I can't even IMAGINE the horrible atrocities he would commit if he couldn't be preoccupied with his deck.

By contrast, this guy doesn't even seem like much of a threat to the fish he wants to eat at this point. Probably lost his appetite.

Anzu and Sugoroku jump up from their seats, cheering Jonouchi's win. Sugoroku states with elation that Jonouchi can move on to the finals now, and does his best impression of George Takei's 'oh my!' quote. Anzu ceases her merry-making when she looks down at Jonouchi, who looks dead serious, wondering what's wrong. He certainly doesn't LOOK like he just won his way into the tournament finals.

Jonouchi is glaring at Ryota when he asks what he did back there. After a short pause, Ryota laughs and congratulates Jonouchi on a job well done, supposing Jonouchi isn't so bad at this card game after all. Jonouchi isn't placated, and asks Ryota why he didn't bring back Fortress Whale with his card instead, since he wouldn't have lost if he had. Ryota hangs his head and smiles, claiming that it doesn't matter, but Jonouchi insists that it does. Ryota says the only thing that matters now is that Jonouchi won by getting his opponent's life points down to zero, asking if that isn't enough for him. Jonouchi demands that Ryota not talk to him like that, because he's a duelist, and if Ryota threw the match, he's going to want to play him again fair this time.

Ryota half-scoffs and mentally complains that there are some real fools in the world, but then he smiles at the true duelist eyes this fool in front of him has. He says Jonouchi's name and when Jonouchi gives him a quizzical look, Ryota explains (really slowly, if I had to guess) the fact that the Legendary Fisherman was his trump card. Jonouchi still doesn't really understand the phrase, but Ryota tells him that this is the reason he didn't want to prolong the match, given that the Legendary Fisherman was the very SOUL of his deck. Jonouchi appears to be finally gaining a little perspective on this concept, looking intently at Ryota.

Ryota looks at the card with affection, and Jonouchi can help but question why THAT card in particular was so important to him. Ryota explains that he's been using a sea deck with this card in particular for a long time, winning fighting and winning, acting as a companion that looks like his dad.

Awwww, it's his woobie! As far as coping mechanisms go, it could be a lot worse, and it's a little endearing.

Jonouchi describes the card as Ryota's dad's "alter ego", which isn't a very accurate term to use here, but I guess the translators were having a hard time thinking up a better phrase to use. This, by the way, is our official translation, striking again. Jonouchi begins to elaborate in his mind on the concept he's trying to get across; when Ryota's dad didn't come back from that fatal fishing trip, Ryota put his feelings for his father into the card, simulating the act of them fighting together in the duels.

Ryota says that he believes his father is still alive out there, and it's essentially why he couldn't leave the stand-in at the graveyard, even if it meant he would lose. He tilts his head back and reveals tears streaming down his face. Jonouchi looks subdued, watching this guy cry as he does. It doesn't last long, though. Before Ryota gets too blubbery, he rubs at his eyes to rid himself of those troublesome tears, putting back on his grin. He heads off any mockery with his own, claiming it's silly of him to be so sentimental and call himself a duelist at the same time, given that winning is the only objective he should care about.

Now don't you go all Kaiba on us, Ryota. ONE asshole with an obsessive need to win is quite enough for me, thanks.

Jonouchi appears to agree with me, and tells Ryota that he's not silly. Each duelist fights for something special in their hearts, and if he were in Ryota's shoes he would have done the same. Ryota looks taken aback by Jonouchi's understanding for a panel, and in the next one, he's looking back at his Legendary Fisherman card fondly. He says that the rule in Battle City is to give the winner your rarest card, and even though the Legendary Fisherman isn't all that rare and only has four stars, it's the most important one he's got. So, he holds it out to Jonouchi, wanting him to have it instead. Jonouchi is blown away by this gift.

You look like he's offering you a lung or something, Jonouchi, calm your shit.

Ryota tells Jonouchi that he realized something during their duel, and it's that if his father were here right now, he'd chastise him for being too reliant on a card that resembles him. He'd say that he should believe in his own heart first and foremost. Oh and he'd probably steal someone else's boat just for good measure to go fishing in a storm. After all, Ryota's out of the running for that prize money now.

Jonouchi says Ryota's name tentatively, but Ryota eases his conscience by stating that even without the card, his dad will always be fighting by his side. Jonouchi grins, convinced, and Ryota happily hands over his precious woobie. They grow up so fast.

After the sportsman-like handshake for the crowd, sweetie.

Well done, boys.

Marik's Rare Hunters are watching this without the enthusiasm the rest of the crowd shows. One of them contacts Marik with glowing Eye of Horus telepathy, asking if he wants them to capture Jonouchi now that his duel is done. Marik tells them to hold off on that, because a new ally means a change of plans. He's leaning on his motorcycle outside, with a sweating, bleeding and unconscious Bakura draped over the back of the bike. He chuckles, lifting Bakura's head by the hair and telling him to wakey wakey. He wants to be prepared, I guess, now that Jonouchi and pals are leaving the aquarium.

They saunter out of the aquarium, Anzu telling Jonouchi that he rules and Sugoroku informing him that he's gaining quite the rep. He agrees, but says that his real battle is just beginning. Seems awfully excited about it too, walking in that strange bow-legged way he does. Anzu reminds him that he has six puzzle cards and should be able to find out the location of the finals now, and Jonouchi laughs and confirms this, as though he wouldn't have done it sooner had he remembered himself. He fans the puzzle cards out in his hand above his Duel Disk, informing the audience Anzu that once they're all put together, the Duel Disk will produce a holographic beam pointing the way. Jonouchi is certain Yami must already be waiting there, and sends a mental message to Yami that his promise is kept and a plea to wait up.

Why does every character in this comic like to pretend they have psychic powers??

And now, for something completely different:

Boy is this going to be an interesting story to tell. Hey Bakura, are you wishing you had left your fucking Millennium Ring at home yet?

Jonouchi shouts Bakura's name right next to his ear when he runs to his side to help support him, and Marik dribbles empty platitudes about how Bakura can move. Bakura gurgles in response to the concern, both real and fake, his eyes sporting dark bags beneath. Marik asks if Jonouchi and company are his friends, because he found this kid lying in the street. Anzu is nothing if not indignant, demanding to know what happened to Bakura, seeing as how he's been sliced up. Jonouchi's eyes practically bug out of his skull as he starts demanding his own answers, such as who did this, and who did this to him??!

Marik lowers Bakura down to the sidewalk, claiming he treated the wound as best he could, which I'm sure is true. He does say that Bakura needs a hospital, though, which would beg the question why Marik brought him to a fucking AQUARIUM instead. But, these kids are denser than the inside of a black hole, which is why no one berates Marik for taking him on the detour to visit his buddies first. Jonouchi kneels next to Bakura, bidding he listen, and for him to rat out whoever did this to him. After a moment of hazy speechlessness, Bakura says he doesn't remember, and just sort of woke up like this.

Another huge red flag that Marik attempts to distract from by acting like a reasonable bystander a bit too late and offering to call an ambulance. Anzu assures him with a glare that they'll take care of him from now on and that Marik has their thanks. She doesn't appear too keen on him, though. Jonouchi asks Bakura if he can stand, even as Bakura attempts to do so, and as a couple of kids behind him shout that he's the punk who stole their Duel Disk. Oh yeah, good to know that guy he knocked upside the head wasn't damaged permanently.

The two guys approach him, offering sarcastic thanks for the theft, and Bakura looks down at his arm to find a Duel Disk, the origins of which he's just mystified about. The two dudes lunge for him, not really inclined to believe his amnesia, and insisting he give the stolen item back. Marik jumps in between Bakura and the two boys, telling them to stop because Bakura's hurt, but this only earns him a punch in the face and another sarcastic remark that Bakura is GOING to be hurt.

Jonouchi is alarmed by the injury to... the guy whose name he doesn't know (exactly how Jonouchi refers to Marik, by the way), and ask Anzu asks Marik if he's alright, he cracks his knuckles in anticipation of a brawl to deal with these nameless jerks.

Yeah, the time it takes me to look at the next page is just WAY too long, bro. Slowpoke!

Sugoroku supports Bakura, promising to get him to the hospital by cab. Ambulances are expensive, kiddos. Jonouchi thanks Sugoroku, then turns to Marik to apologize for all the trouble finding Bakura in the street must have caused him. Geez, Bakura is so inconsiderate... Marik says it's okay, though.

Jonouchi spies the Duel Disk on Marik's arm and observes that he must be a duelist too. Marik confirms this, but doesn't want to duel because he says he's not very good. Didn't Kaiba set up his tournament to only involve people he deemed worthy of the title it would give them? Jonouchi ignores red flag #3 to brag that he's already qualified for the finals. Marik acts super impressed with this, then introduces himself as "Namu". Jonouchi and Anzu parrot their names at him in turn, and he says they seem like good guys he'd like to be friends with, internally chuckling at his own evil sarcasm.

While Jonouchi and Anzu talk between the two of them, Marik gets a radio call in his head. It's an emergency transmission informing him that Kaiba and Yami have teamed up with one god card each. The minion contacting him is currently hunched over as Kaiba and Yami walk away in the background, and said minion is convinced that he and the others can no longer stand up to them. Marik doesn't look happy at first.

The only way these goons are going to defeat Yami and Kaiba is if you're making them sit through your extended production of Phantom of the Opera. Twice the phantom for twice the snooze!

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? The first part was cute, and it really put Ryota's plays into perspective in retrospect. The fact that he structured his entire stealth strategy around the card that represented his dad to him brings all his other moves and the emotions he displayed into sharp focus. For most of the match, I was a little perplexed by what I thought was some severe mood swings, but it makes more sense now. And it gives us a nice little bookend on Ryota's story. I'll be surprised if he shows up again after this.

Goodness GRACIOUS but is the plan Marik and assole!Bakura came up with all kinds of stupid. They should have at LEAST come up with a better cover story for Marik. Sure, Jonouchi doesn't know that HE wasn't even ranked high enough to participate at first, but he at least was aware that each duelist in the tournament had to be given a certain amount of cred before being given a Duel Disk and entry. Marik claiming to be a novice strikes me as a flub on KT's part in remembering the conditions for the tournament in the first place.

And was asshole!Bakura absolutely SURE he couldn't have come up with a much better idea than stabbing himself and leaving his host without memory of what happened? I mean, the fact that he has a Duel Disk that he apparently stole from a couple of tournament participants without having any idea how is bad enough, but being injured so badly and not being able to point out someone who did it? Doubly suspicious. Bakura's friends KNOW what's been happening when he loses his memory.

Don't they? They SHOULD, because this has happened multiple times throughout the series thus far, and his pals should be able to identify the warning signs at this point. I guess you could chalk it up to concern for his injury coming before everything else, but if THAT were the case, you'd think they'd be questioning why Marik or "Namu" didn't bring him straight to the hospital instead of dragging his ass all around Domino first.

It's a good thing that KT has long established that these kids are all morons LOOOOONG before this point. And I never thought I'd say that.

Inuyasha Manga: 124 The True Naraku

I'm not banking on the "true" Naraku surprising me very much, if at all. Unless he's out adopting starving orphans on his days off from fucking with Inuyasha and crew, he's probably going to look like the same asshole from all angles. That dynamism is about to be awarded to another villain anyway. No, Naraku will continue to slink along in his two-dimensional existence, like the shadow he is, committing atrocities for evil's sake because the plot requires somebody to constantly be shitty to Inuyasha and crew.

I almost feel bad for Kikyou. She's trying so hard to be intelligent about setting up a trap for Naraku to be lured into, trying to get rid of the reckless (and *cough*moreintimidating*cough*) elements in her way, but in the end she's overthinking it. Naraku is more shallow than a puddle; she only need to look toward her own motivations to understand his.

Kagome grasps at the vines to prevent herself from slipping over the cliff, glaring at Kikyou's legs while she does so. Kikyou glares back, reminding Kagome that they are one in the same person, then telling her that it's better there's only one of them in this world. Kagome gapes wordlessly, undoubtedly still too shocked to ask Kikyou the obvious question:

Besides, someone else arrived just in time to yell out Kagome's name.

It is EXACTLY what it looks like, Inuyasha. EXACTLY.

He calls out Kagome's name again, jumping to her aid. Kikyou glares, with nothing to say for herself, apparently. Inuyasha lands on the cliff next to Kagome and grabs her wrist to pull her up out of the crack in the ground. While she clings to his Fire Rat coat, he asks if she's alright, wondering what in the world was happening here. Kagome tries to stutter out an answer as to what Kikyou was trying to do, but she doesn't quite get there. Both she and Inuyasha look toward Kikyou, both perplexed and scared, mouths hanging open.

Kikyou holds the Shikon fragment she took to her chest, claiming that all she did was steal it. Does she think this makes her look better? Inuyasha says Kikyou's name, clearly flummoxed. She elaborates that Kagome's life was in danger as long as she carried it, because Naraku was planning to dissolve her in the bubbling quagmire in the fissure behind them in order to get a hold of the Shikon shard. It is clear Kikyou isn't very practiced at lying.

Kagome mentally protests that it was KIKYOU that was trying to murder her face just moments ago, not Naraku. She's not so inclined to say this out loud, though, and remains silent, but obviously still distressed. Kikyou's Shinidamachuu surround her and carry her right out of there, to spare her the humiliation of trying to explain her precarious position any further. Inuyasha yells at Kikyou from below, asking where she's going, but she doesn't answer, drifting away with a blank look back at him. Both Kagome and Inuyasha watch her until she's out of sight.

When Inuyasha looks back down at Kagome, she's still sitting slumped with her face pointed at the vines below. He asks her what happened between her and Kikyou, and her response is an apology for Kikyou taking the jewel from her. Inuyasha barks that this is not an answer to his question again, this time reluctantly suggesting himself that Kikyou may have been after Kagome's life. Somehow, Kagome thinks this means she can't tell Inuyasha now, because it would be unbelievable that Kikyou could want to kill her. Except Inuyasha considers it within the realm of possibility, since he brought it up?

Eh, she's fifteen and stupid. Which is why she convinces herself that it would seem like she was making up the whole murder plot. She doesn't like it, but she keeps her mouth shut on the truth, and instead asks Inuyasha if he still loves Kikyou. Inuyasha is taken aback, sweatdropping, then questions what it is that she's TALKING about right now. In turn, she questions what he's upset about. He informs her that the entire reason he came rushing her way is because he remembered her and the danger she might be in, which seems to leave her a bit on the confused side, based on her slack jaw and the question mark in her speech bubble.

Inuyasha knows that if he hadn't thought about Kagome, he would have been a goner too, lost to Naraku's Kikyou illusion. Though he's not prepared to say this out loud, he DOES say something else a bit surprising to Kagome.

AWWWW! Look at you! You're so CUTE!!!

Miroku is in no mood for this show of affection, though. He has arrived on the other side of the fissure in tatters, carrying Sango's Hiraikotsu on his back with an unconscious Sango and Shippou draped over it. Looks like Shippou did indeed get his share of horror. Miroku asks Inuyasha and Kagome if they're finished being cute yet, and they look exasperated by the interruption. Sorry guys, you're not the only ones with issues.

Back at his castle, Naraku broods heavily next to a table where his broken puppet doll has been busted, fuming about it. He's concerned that he's unable to see what's goin on or where Kikyou is, when her unmistakable form appears on the other side the blinds screening the room. She walks in and right up to him silently, and they stare at each other a moment, until he says her name in disdain.

She tells him to remember that his little parlor tricks don't work on her, and that his warding spell that keeps away Inuyasha and friends was a simple break as well. Well, you know Naraku. He's nothing if not simple. She holds up the fragment of the jewel she picked off Kagome, then tosses it carelessly down next to him. Internally he's alarmed, but he doesn't let on.

Kikyou says she's leaving it with him, since he wanted it so badly and all. He picks it up, but his glare remains on Kikyou, unwavering. She smiles when she says that he seems to be the one who needs it the most, being not a youkai, but...

OH SHIT!

Naraku tries to play it cool, acting like this is something she's just SAYING. So, Kikyou lays down her reasoning that he had intended to change properly, but got that human thief Onigumo all mixed up in there and still hasn't gotten rid of his essence. She cites this as the reason he wants the Shikon no Tama, because he wants a fully youkai body. That sounds familiar. Hey Kikyou, didn't you have a friend who...

Whoops, never mind.

Naraku keeps right on glaring, and asks why she would hand him a Shikon fragment if that WERE the case, considering he's her hated enemy who sent her to her death 50 years before. She shouldn't be so willing to do him any favors. She smirks, confirming that he previous body and life were destroyed, yes, but her new borrowed body makes her feel more alive. She claims that since she's been dead, her soul has been free of both love and hate. Well, she's got to get in practice for lying in SOMEWHERE, and Naraku seems to buy it, wondering if she's saying that this is the reason she doesn't hate him. Oh, Naraku, gullible doesn't look good on you.

Kikyou turns to leave, ready to return to the temple his retainers had fetched her from, not planning to run or hide from him. She invites Naraku to send for her if he wants to see her, calling him Onigumo playfully before she slips out. He just sits there, speechless, and not five seconds after she leaves...

And thus starts a new tradition: Naraku getting naked and free with it. I'm sure the burn scar isn't the only thing that's risen up he's looking to examine either.

Kikyou's words about him being a hanyou pop back up in his mind, and he looks back down at the jewel, completely confused as to what she was thinking. Outside the castle, Kikyou mentally encourages him to collect all the Shikon shards he wants, because once he's got them all, she's planning to send him to hell, looking all business about it and everything.

Later and elsewhere, someone wants to make sure Myouga isn't trying to trick them. Backlit by an ENORMOUS rising moon, a bent-backed stranger sitting atop a cow asks if what's-his-name can really use Tessaiga effectively. Myouga tells this stranger that INUYASHA is the name, and a close-up reveals an old man with bulging eyes scratching his balding head. He correctly identifies "Inuyasha" as the stupid younger of the two sons who's wielding the fang/sword passed down from his father.

Myouga hums in thought, and admits that it was only ONCE that Inuyasha managed to bring down 100 youkai with a single swing of the sword, and since then, nothing. Except the danger zone, which Myouga complains about like he expects a situation requiring the slaying of 100 youkai at once to be a fucking picnic or something.

Does he follow around ALL the swords he's made like this, making sure their current owners are worthy? Sounds like a micromanagement nightmare...

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Well, I got what I wanted; a Kikyou who LIES to get herself out of uncomfortable spots. This wasn't quite what I had in mind, but I'll take it, if only because her motivations for doing so are a bit less speculative and more concrete now. She got caught doing something deplorable and attempted to lie her way out of her ex thinking she's terrible, and then she went up to Naraku and lied that she doesn't have feelings so that she can convince him to take the bait she's laid out. The murkier area comes in whether she knows that her lie didn't quite land with Inuyasha, versus how it struck a chord with Naraku.

Because Inuyasha WANTED to buy it, but he couldn't. He had Kagome's trauma there reminding him that if Kikyou wasn't actively trying to kill Kagome, she wasn't going to go out of her way to SAVE her. Inuyasha is now almost fully disillusioned (literally) to the fantasy that the Kikyou he knew is the Kikyou that exists now, nor the Kikyou that can ever exist again. He still feels he has a duty to her, as someone who let her down (indirect as it may have been), and that maybe he'll join her in death one day, but he's no longer under the impression that Kikyou is without fault in the current circumstances.

By contrast, Naraku DOESN'T want to buy Kikyou's bullshit. He knows something is up, but he can't figure out what. The fact that Kikyou knows he's a hanyou is all the more insulting to him, because he's still got very little information on how she's here in the now and not still dead. Kikyou let slip that she's in an imitation body, but that's hardly much to go on, so she certainly SEEMS to know more about him than he does about her. He's only taking the Shikon shard because he needs it and it's useful to him at the moment, but it's really eating at him that she knows his secret and that he's got no clue what she's planning to do with it.

He really shouldn't worry, considering she's just your basic sixteen-year-old girl green with envy at her twin's superior performance in all her attempted endeavors, leading to her letting said twin get beaten down and her ex-boyfriend seeing it, so she just said, "fuck it, I'm done with trying to be a goody-goody, I'm gonna be BAD now."

I'll say hi to her when I see her in Hot Topic.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 182 A Warrior's Gamble!!

I haven't commented in a while on the excessive use of exclamation points in the titles to this manga, but I feel like I have to bring back some criticism here. Why is there ONE exclamation point on this title, let alone multiples? It seems like a rather somber statement; a warrior doesn't generally gamble, and they probably have to be in dire straights in order to do so. The punctuation just puts an excited note on the end of a end-of-the-rope kind of sentiment.

Of course, Jonouchi himself feels like the personification of excited punctuation on the end of dire sentiments, so I guess it works? Maybe?

Oh good, I was afraid there wasn't a good reason as to why this panther didn't have to follow the regular rules of warriors in this game. Complicated interactions with a gravity that doesn't exist in game is a MUCH better explanation than Panther Warrior being a jaguar specifically, with a built-in love of swimming. The latter would just be stupid.

Ryota is aggravated that Jonouchi's Kunai with Chain was able to accomplish such an acrobatic move, landing with catlike (heh) grace on top of a monster with 50 more attack points than its got. Yet, when he's back in frame, Ryota is scoffing through a big smirk. He reminds Jonouchi that even though the Panther Warrior is on Fortress Whale's back, the sea creature is still stronger. Jonouchi appears to at least have the decency to be nervous about this, sweatdropping and everything. Sugoroku and Anzu are both looking pessimistic as well, Sugoroku pointing out that an attack from Panther Warrior would just end up hurting Jonouchi himself anyway. Anzu speculates that Jonouchi just jumped to show off, if she knows him. Which she does.

Ryota congratulates Jonouchi on figuring out how to "fly", but his beast warrior is still no match for the Fortress Whale. Pretty close though. So close that Jonouchi is now wearing a grin and telling Ryota that it's not over yet. Then he shouts at his Panther Warrior to attack, and it lifts its sword over its head with a roar, preparing to stab down into the whale's brain. Ryota asks in alarm what Jonouchi is doing, and for a split second I think there's actually an answer.

Then I remember it's JONOUCHI we're talking about, and feel foolish for letting myself believe he had a plan.

Ryota brags about how his whale didn't even budge as it continues to hover in the air like a big weird cloud. With guns attached. Now, with the false climax out of the way, Ryota wants to show Jonouchi what else his Fortress Whale can do, commanding it to spin and throw the Panther Warrior off its back. It does just that, spinning like a sideways top, tossing a panther-shaped shadow from its body in doing so, much to Jonouchi's dismay. He's worried for Panther Warrior, which falls back first toward the ground, growling all the way. It is a cat though, after all, and flips to right itself before landing next to Jonouchi, unharmed. Jonouchi breathes a sigh of relief, but I'm just confused. Aren't monsters who attack another stronger than themselves destroyed in this game? Unless that monster attacked is in defense? Which Fortress Whale clearly is not? Am I off my rocker here?

Nope. Ryota cites this rule as well, when he reminds Jonouchi that Panther Warrior will die at the end of this turn, and it'll lose Jonouchi some points as well. He speculates that Panther Warrior has internal injuries due to the spin it just endured, which means its only a matter of time until it succumbs to them. Sure, let's all pretend that virtual monsters can have internal injuries. Then we can get some balloons and go to the puppet show!

Jonouchi sweats some more, as Ryota declares that he'll never let his fortress fall to someone like him.

But again, Jonouchi's expression has turned upside down by the next panel while he chuckles. Ryota can't help but inquire as to what is so funny, and Jonouchi instructs him to look back up at his whale. There he observes that Panther Warrior's sword is still stuck snugly in Fortress Whale's thick skin, and Kunai and Chain is still hanging out, strung between the hilt of the sword and the narwhal tooth at the front of Fortress Whale's head. Ryota's recovered alarm prompts an explanation out of Jonouchi, who says that though Panther Warrior's attack is slightly less than Fortress Whale's there's still one more face down card in front of him that he hasn't used yet.

This is a card that Ryota apparently forgot about, a trump card that Jonouchi politely asks him if he's ready for. It's Lightning Blade, producing a bright light straight above Panther Warrior's sword, and freaking the shit out of Ryota in the meantime. The sword acts as a lightning rod for the bolt aimed at it.

Well, you were wanting to fry up a whale before, Ryota. Dig in.

The Lightning Blade has an added effect that means its shock hits all the other monsters in the water too, luckily. So, Ryota ends up with no monsters, grinding teeth, and a mere 150 points left to his name. Meanwhile, as the Fortress Whale sinks, Panther Warrior grabs hold of a flying Kunai with Chain, pulling it and the sword back to its owner.

Ryota frowns, suggesting to Jonouchi that he let the whale shake Panther Warrior off to avoid being struck by the lightning too. Jonouchi chuckles, thinking that the PW just got thrown off. He's not about to tell RYOTA that, though. Ryota's already preoccupied with what he's going to do with the rest of his turn, though, so he doesn't really notice that Jonouchi hasn't answered. There's one more magic card that Ryota feels he has left to play, Return of the Doomed. One guess as to what it does.

So Ryota puts it out there, still covered by the virtual ocean so Jonouchi can't see what it is, of course. Ryota stares down Jonouchi silently, a hand perched on his hip as if daring Jonouchi to do something about it. Jonouchi is cautious, knowing that Ryota has probably used his card to hide yet another monster in the sea. He asks himself what he should do, since charging in recklessly could lose him more points that he simply doesn't have. Ryota's got a smile back on, just having brought his greatest monster back to life.

Without further ado, Jonouchi shouts that he's taking his turn, and Ryota yells back to bring it on. Jonouchi draws a card and recognizes it with some surprise. Ryota reminds him that the Kunai with Chain is gone now, meaning Panther Warrior can no longer cross the ocean. Jonouchi begs to differ, commanding Panther Warrior to attack. This just seems to infuriate Ryota immediately following his confusion that Jonouchi is attacking at all. He resolves to just snipe the guy from hiding, like before. Ah, so THAT'S the monster you brought back.

Jonouchi apologizes for spoiling Ryota's plans, disingenuously, I might add, revealing that his new card:

What is the card actually called? Who knows, but boy, does it BLOW.

It's Jonouchi's turn to be blown away, though, because what does he see now that the ocean has been cleared but Legendary Fisherman, riding atop its weird shark/killer whale hybrid. Jonouchi questions this decision, given that Fortress Whale is so much stronger, but Ryota just looks agonized when he explains that this is the only card he couldn't bear to see die. The Legendary Fisherman itself looks on, eyes shadowed and expression severe.

Isn't that just a punch in the gut.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall. Seriously, that last part kind of caught me off guard. Here I was thinking that this was just one of those chapters that took forever to cover two lousy turns, and bam! It hits me with emotions at the very end, promising some deep Ryota development in the next installment. I'm a little glad it did, because this chapter wasn't that great standing on its own, and if I weren't committed to writing a post for the next chapter, I would have seriously considered putting down the manga for a while to go read other things.

You see, at this point I'm not sure KT is aware of why a chapter would or would not work slowed down to the level we see here. It didn't work here because there wasn't anything else going on, story or character development wise, in the background. We just had prolonged coverage of one long, protracted turn. It didn't even consist of particularly clever moves, just clear appeals to real physics affecting a bunch of projections that it shouldn't be. We've stepped back into Duelist Kingdom logic, where the cards and their effects rely EXCLUSIVELY on the technology being able to show these things happening in the context of the game. How would any of this work in just playing the game analog style? How could a player claim that their Panther Warrior's sword was still stuck in the whale after being spun away so that Lightning Sword would work? I'd argue that this would end in a fist fight if the holograms weren't there to dictate what was possible.

And yes, I still think that the holograms aren't actually holograms at this point, but the actual monsters summoned by Kaiba's technology. Still, the characters don't know that, or they SHOULDN'T, at least. None of these kids has stopped to really consider how realistically the monsters are acting within their surrounding world, and yet they seem to have accepted this to the point of suggesting they have suffered internal damage from the move of another monster.

I mean, did I miss a chapter somewhere in which the characters all came to the same conclusion I have, and I'm just scratching my head because I haven't seen them do it? Someone point me to where it says here that Jonouchi and Ryota have decided these monsters are the real deal, please and thank you.

Inuyasha Manga: 123 Intent to Kill

Excuse me, but I don't recall a license being issued in the previous chapters. Just who does this person intending homicide think they are? James Bond? Why, only the most brazen of individuals would be so bold as to invite such a comparison! They would have to wander around giving out their own name instead of an alias despite the fact that they should be lying low, and...

... Oh. Oh no.

Licensed or not, the intent here is pretty clear, even if it's also pretty clear that this isn't the scene RT named the chapter after. It's looking like Kagome might be defeated by it too, hanging off the ledge without the ability to pull herself up. She should have known that the chin-ups in gym were worth her weight to put in the effort. Kagome calls out a stuttering cry for somebody, but between a snoozing Kikyou in the tree surrounded by a barrier to keep out the drifting soul collectors and Naraku's inert puppet, no one is around. In fact that puppet's head, lying right next to the little doll allowing Naraku's continued observance, chuckles and says that no one will come to save Kagome. Everybody who would be inclined to rescue her are wrapping up their lives with elaborate death illusions, and they're screening their calls.

So to speak.

Kagome's feet scrape the wall of the ledge and some rocks crumble off into the flaming goo below her. They hiss as they dissolve, and Kagome shivers at the sight and sound. She calls for Inuyasha specifically, straining to reach the vines above her. She hears footsteps.

Not as sleepy as she let on I see.

She smiles, like she's having a casual conversation over tea, and holds up the doll Naraku was using to control his puppet. Kikyou supposes that Naraku must have really wanted to avoid getting close to Kagome if he's using such a device. I mean, would YOU want to get within 500 miles of someone who literally blew you up the last time you met? I don't think so.

And then, Kikyou crumbles the wooden doll with her BARE HAND.

Girl's work on her finger strength is LEGENDARY. But after Kagome watches the pieces of the doll rain down in front of her face for a moment, she expresses some amazement that... Kikyou can move. Not that she crushed a wooden doll to pieces with nothing but the flex of her hand. Either the fear of her dire situation has fried her brain, or Kagome is a little bit dense.

Kikyou tells Kagome that she could have moved any time she wanted. She just didn't want to. Sweetie, we're having this intervention because we care about you, and you need to know that the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem! Just let us help you overcome your nap addiction! But, no, she claims that she was just trying to determine what Naraku was up to. This intervention isn't going well. At any rate, she says that Kagome seems to be Naraku's greatest obstacle. Kagome is so dumbfounded by this, she forgets to ask Kikyou why she's not bothering to help her up with her SUPER STRENGTH.

Elsewhere amongst a stir of power in the mist of Naraku's illusion, someone is contemplating what would have happened if he had trusted Kikyou way back when.

What these two things have to do with one another I'm struggling to figure out. At least his next thoughts relate to him not knowing what happened after Kikyou's arrow shit him, reflecting on falling into loneliness. And death. Don't forget about the death. He seems to be more concerned with the loneliness, though, until he remembers his name being said by a certain someone. Kagome, whom he recalls telling him sweetly that he's no longer alone.

This memory prompts Inuyasha's eyes to open, as well as an internal question of where Kagome is at the moment. The illusion of Kikyou embracing him also opens her eyes and tightens her grip on the cloth at his shoulder. Inuyasha starts to understand that this is all Naraku's trap. His eyes are all the wider when he asks himself yet again where the hell Kagome got to. Illusion!Kikyou does NOT look happy.

Well, if one has a choice...

Inuyasha wisely keeps the thought that meeting Kagome allowed him to regain his heart to himself, but aloud he insists that there's just no way he can let Kagome die here. Presumably before he can think better of the idea, he tells illusion!Kikyou that he might be with her someday, but today is not that day. In response, a pissed illusion!Kikyou recedes from him, crackling with veins standing out.

Oh, that was woodgrain, not veins. Never mind.

It's at this point that Inuyasha seems to come to the full realization that this was all an illusion. Kikyou was never there to begin with. Good thing too, because if it really was her, he might not have survived that confession session. With a curse, he rips himself free of the flaming vines. He's still standing in the midst of a roaring fire, though, so that's a problem I think.

Or not, because on the next page, We skip over to Miroku's position collapsed in a mound of creepers. Inuyasha charges in, no longer on fire, screaming Miroku's name, and with claws at the ready. He slashes at the vines, knowing they're responsible for Miroku's incapacitation. Once they're ripped out of his right arm where they'd embedded themselves, Miroku leans over, bleeding, face in the dirt as he mutters about his arm in a panic.

Inuyasha seems somewhat unsettled to see the illusion from the other side before he grabs hold of Miroku by shoulder and wrist to steady him and shout him out of his trance. Miroku's eyes finally seem to see reality again and he lets out a small noise of confusion when he sees his right hand intact. He stutters to Inuyasha that the Kazaana had just been sucking him into it. Inuyasha takes this to mean that each illusion features its target's personal weakness, but he's not in a hurry to explain this to Miroku. He tells the still dazed priest that he should go find Sango, who should also be tangled up in the vines. Internally, his primary concern is still where Kagome happens to be, so he runs through the forest to find out, in a panic.

She's still hanging off the ledge with one hand, and a nearby vine with the other, while Kikyou crouches on top of the small cliff, doing nothing to help. They stare at one another wordlessly, and it's more than a tad awkward. The Shinidama Chuu float out from behind Kikyou and down behind Kagome, where they coil around and under her, much to her discomfort, judging by all the screaming.

Kagome thinks for a small moment that Kikyou is saving her, but Kikyou's intentions don't have that much goodwill behind them. She reaches out and takes the piece of Shikon no Tama hanging around Kagome's neck, prompting a little noise of protest and shock from her, and a question as to just what it is that Kikyou thinks she's doing. Though a little more halting. And a bit less forceful. I'm just projecting, is what I'm getting at here.

Kikyou holds the shard close to her chest in a possessive way, explaining that since she was the one who originally purified it, it's not for the likes of Kagome. After Kikyou says that she's had enough of Kagome and company (including Inuyasha?), the soul collectors fly off, leaving Kagome cartoonishly suspended in midair over the fissure in the ground for a panel. Then it's down she goes.

And THERE'S the chapter title!

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? It's turning up the villain up to 11 on Kikyou this time around. There's not much room for interpretation of this, because there's not much point in arguing that the point isn't for Kagome to die here. But since Inuyasha isn't in the picture for this meeting, and in fact Kikyou implies that she's a bit sick of his bullshit as well, I'm thinking he's not the crux of Kikyou's issues with Kagome this time around.

Instead, I'm inclined to interpret Kikyou's animosity toward Kagome here is a kind of irritation at the fact that Kagome is inspiring a greater fear than SHE is. Kikyou was face-to-face with Naraku, she was picked up and carried away by him, and despite all her skill and power, he doesn't consider her a threat. Kikyou was the one who purified and kept the jewel during her lifetime, she was the one who should have stood in Naraku's way, but Naraku is comfortable enough to just sit there with her right next to him.

The fact that he was able to trick her so easily the last time with fairly low consequences may be a factor, as well as the fact that she was acting helpless in his grasp earlier, whether it was true or not, might be playing something of a factor here. Regardless, Kikyou is peeved that Kagome's bold and candid approach to fighting Naraku seems to be more effective. Whatever plan Kikyou has to get Naraku in the end is something that she needs subtlety to pull off, but Kagome just waltzes around shooting arrows, and it seriously breaks her cool. Getting rid of Kagome would not only leave Kikyou the room to be as surreptitious as her plot requires, but it would also sooth her pride knowing that Naraku picked the wrong priestess to be afraid of. A twofer, for sure.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha's focus on Kikyou is almost fully broken now, and he's wandering around looking for Kagome rather than the original damsel. If Kikyou is peeved now, she's gonna be even more sour when she finds out that Inuyasha's greater concern for Kagome's safety was the reason he could break out of his illusion of death all by himself.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 181 Conquer the Sea!!

Do you ever experience days when nothing you read looks right to you? When I first saw this title, I thought it said "conquer the seal". My immediate reaction was, "Noooooo, not the seal! Leave the dog-mermaids alone, they've done nothing to you!" Then, of course, I wondered if "conquer" was spelled correctly and had to pick up my dictionary to make sure. Following that, I contemplated the fact that I'm already confused on more than one point in a mere THREE words, and how that's probably not going to bode well for my understanding of the chapter as a whole.

It's going to be a LOOOOONG post, guys.

Kind of redundant today, aren't we Jonouchi? Some whales are already big enough to be classified as the biggest animals to ever grace the planet. Shouldn't we be a bit more awed by the heavy artillery on its back that is apparently unaffected by water?

Ryota brags that his monster is the biggest beast in the ocean, powered even more by his Umi field magic card, while Jonouchi frets about how he's supposed to beat such a behemoth when there's clearly no way in hell. Meanwhile...

I see asshole!Bakura is at it again. Look at how bored Marik is, though. You'd think people stab themselves in front of him all the time and that he's used to i-

Okay, that's fair.

Anyway, asshole!Bakura describes his self-injury as a loan of his host to Marik, apparently. Marik chuckles before Bakura collapses on the ground, groaning, and likely changed back into less!asshole!Bakura. I don't know if the double-exclamation is a proper use of this fandom convention, but I feel it's a more fair title for him. I'm still mad that he wears around that Millennium Ring like he's not aware it might kill him and his friends one day. Fuck him. But, you know, on a deep, spiritual level.

And back to Jonouchi and Ryota, the former of which is cringing away from the massive beast taking up the entirety of the space between himself and Ryota now. A good shot of his face shows that he's freaking out about the whale floating above the game, making it not a regular whale at all, but a FLYING one. Are we really not paying any attention to that set of gun barrels on its back? Or is Jonouchi just not able to see them. Fair enough, he's at a bad angle.

Ryota informs Jonouchi that his deck full of landlubbers and warriors won't stand a chance against his whale dropping in from the sky. The sheer weight alone would simply flatten them, I'm sure. Jonouchi's pupils have constricted to the size of pinpricks in the midst of his sweat-drenched face as he is lost in fear, and the comic takes this opportunity to remind us of his life points: 2850. Pointing, Ryota advises Jonouchi to extract a lesson of humility and not underestimating the sea, because he HATES guys who don't take the ocean seriously. Whoops, that's a big hit to their compatibility, huh? So much for Kaiba's matching algorithm.

Jonouchi looks surprised by the fact that Ryota doesn't like people who openly mock his duel theme. Ryota says that he's experienced the dangers of the sea first hand, because he's a fisherman who carries his scars with him from his battles from the sea, just like his father and all other fishermen. True for the REAL ocean and his understanding of it, but not so much for a poor facsimile in a card game. But the increasing conflation of this game with reality is something of a trend lately. The holograms are getting to everyone's heads.

Again, Jonouchi gapes at Ryota wordlessly, and Ryota takes this opportunity to begin his tragic tale, featuring a baby Ryota and his father losing one of those sea battles he was referencing earlier.

So, your dad wasn't willing to gamble with his OWN boat, and just grabbed someone else's? Sorry for your loss, but that's kind of a dick move for somebody who knew that losing a boat is essentially losing livelihood.

Jonouchi frowns, still wordless, but no longer looking weirdly shocked. Ryota asks him if he gets it now, and declares he'll be taught to fear and respect the sea. Jonouchi finally responds that he already respects Ryota as a good duelist, but with a determined shout he tells Ryota that there's no way he can give up while he's still a duelist. I mean, he wasn't ASKING you to give up, but you have to keep up your streak of misunderstanding and drawing totally insane meanings from otherwise straightforward statements, don't you?

Ryota grins, daring Jonouchi to just TRY and stand up to the ocean. He announces his battle phase and commands his Fortress Whale to attack, which is difficult to discern from it just, you know, floating there. At least in a panel so small. Jonouchi is banking on his Rocket Warrior to block the whale's attack so that he can live for one more turn, but Ryota expresses doubts that they'll see THAT happen, mostly because he's got something up his sleeve.

A load of spears come out of nowhere and make a pincushion out of Rocket Warrior. Jonouchi is again struck with horror at the new attack from the hidden enemy. A smirking Ryota counts the steps in his plan; first was Fortress Whale, and the second is Sea Stealth II. Wait, Fortress Whale wasn't PART of Sea Stealth II? Even so, it seems like that Sea Stealth actually came first, because now Ryota has Fortress Whale's guns trained onto Jonouchi, telling him to brace himself. Jonouchi can only grit his teeth in the face of this massive enemy.

Whoops. Famous last words, Ryota. 

The crowd is cheering, amazed that the whale monster shot Jonouchi with its cannons, and certain that Jonouchi doesn't stand a chance now. Anzu urges Jonouchi not to give up, because he only has to in this one duel in order to get into the finals and face Yami. Jonouchi doesn't look so good, though; a little on the woozy side. He asks himself what it is he can do, considering that hidden enemy is still going to target any monster he plays, the one per turn he can play.

Sugoroku looks pretty grim about Jonouchi's chances if Ryota does another dual attack. The only chance he can see for a turn-around is if Jonouchi can manage to find Ryota's sniper, but even from Sugoroku's high vantage point, he can only see the waves of the virtual ocean. He wonders where this sniping monster could possibly be.

The killer whale pops back up out of the water while Jonouchi despairs over his poor chances. When Jonouchi curses in one panel, the killer whale is in such a position (and of a certain expression) to make me think IT'S the one cursing on Jonouchi's behalf, and that is HILARIOUS to me. Not as hilarious as this:

... This kid is my spirit animal.

Jonouchi faces down the giant "killer whale" as Ryota asks him what the hell is taking him so long, given that it's his turn. He impatiently insists that Jonouchi hurry up and play a card. Jonouchi doesn't do anything except issue a dead-eyed stare, a look that reminds Ryota of a dead fish. He inquires if Jonouchi has given up so soon, and what happened to the eyes he had when he waltzed into the aquarium looking for a duel. Ryota has, of course, referred to the aquarium as his territory, which Jonouchi repeats in his head with some surprise.

He remembers back to Duelist Kingdom once again, where Ryota had lured the other duelists to the water's edge where he had the advantage. It makes him contemplate the notion that the whole aquarium holds the same territorial advantage for him, meaning his sniper could be anywhere. He wonders if he's looking in the wrong place, and just as the real killer whale jumps again, he has an epiphany while he stares at Ryota's Fortress Whale.

Sure now that there is only one place the sniper could be, Jonouchi declares that he's ready, to which Ryota responds with a cocky "bring it on". Jonouchi draws a card, which turns out to be Kunai With Chain. He takes stock of his one monster, trap and spell card, as well as the one card he has face down in front of him, deciding with gritted teeth that this will have to be enough. Throwing caution to the wind, he puts two more cards face down, one of which is clearly the one he just drew. Next...

A least he's not giving you the thousand-yard stare anymore, dude. Count your blessings.

With Jonouchi's 300 points as compared to Ryota's 1400, I can't really blame the guy for shouting his assumption that this is the end. Ryota plays Sea Snake in defense, then lays out his plan to defeat Jonouchi, starting with defeating the Panther Warrior with a stealth attack. After that, he promises that his Fortress Whale's "whaling" on Jonouchi will be quick and painless. A classic beating isn't exactly what I consider quick and painless, but hey, Ryota is clearly not a guy who's that great with words. I mean, "whaling" is the best kind of word-play we can expect from him, soooooo....

Sweating, Jonouchi reminds himself that he only has one chance to defeat the unknown sniper. He waits, glaring uneasily into the rolling virtual waves, anticipating the attack. Just when the killer whale jumps again, he's ready to launch his counter-strike.

Okay, A) is this a killer whale or a shark? B) Is that seriously why Ryota was in the aquarium, to train this animal to jump for a hologram??

That's dedication to cheating right there.

BTDubz, that's the Legendary Fisherman that is sniping from behind his whale buddy. Not Ryota's dad. Just thought it was necessary to make that distinction, because they're a tad difficult to tell apart. Ryota is absolutely dumbfounded at what is happening, so Jonouchi fills him in. He says that when Ryota played his Umi field card, that virtual water went into the killer whale tank as well, and it had to be where the sniper was hidden. So THAT'S what my spirit-kid meant by there being two killer whales. Gotcha. Ryota is furious that Jonouchi saw through his Sea Stealth strategy, and that his Legendary Fisherman is caught by the ankle with the Magic Arm.

Woah, Ryota is not going to take his kind-of-dad being shot with canons too well, I'll wager. In fact he looks downright traumatized as he watches his Fisherman disappear in a hail of shells, light and smoke. His points are reduced to 900. It doesn't take him but a panel to go from horrified to livid, and starts yelling at Jonouchi that his Panther Warrior should have been caught in shrapnel and perished in the blast as well. Seriously? This game takes SHRAPNEL into account?

Why am I even surprised anymore?

A smug Jonouchi asks Ryota if he's sure about his assessment, and explains that he had Kunai With Chain face down as well.

Also, Jonouchi is a bit up the ladder in terms of the hierarchy of story importance. Sorry Ryota.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I liked the look of it. It's rare that I'll pass eight pictures of the chapter in a post, but what can I say? I like whales. I also found this chapter more difficult to describe in terms of my usual style. Yu-Gi-Oh already has a lot of REALLY busy panels, but these ones are somehow BUSIER than what I'm used to. I found myself missing details along the way, and for some of those panels I thought it would have been better to just show rather than tell.

That's not to say there was a ton going on in this chapter. Just because a frame is busy visually doesn't mean there's much substance. This was another one of those chapters that is mostly taken up by a character's emotional turmoil and the fretting about how one is going to win. It's not the worst of those by far, and in fact one of the ones that I'm not going to complain too much about, because the ratio of action to angst wasn't unbearable this time. Still, there were a LOT of shots featuring Jonouchi's face in various states of weird emotional void or just confusion.

I can't say I wasn't entertained by the little mystery put in front of me, though. The kid in the crowd noticing the other creature in the killer whale tank was a nice touch, and I love the implication that Ryota was in there training the killer whale to cover for his hologram. The way Jonouchi figured it out was kind of interesting too, calling on his memory of how Ryota worked the last time he encountered him. It shows that he was paying attention, even if it wasn't his duel, and he learned from it. He's in a good habit of learning from Yami's struggles as well, which undoubtedly helped him get as far as he has.

My only question is: would a killer whale even be able to SEE a hologram? Or was it just watching Ryota? Questions, questions...