Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 298 Out of the Darkness

I've been getting a bit of that these days, for sure, though not in the way this chapter means. There's been a steady uptick in spam comments on the older posts in the blog - lots of incomprehensible word vomit with shady links nested in there. With there being over 500 posts here, I'm not really surprised, as my blog has all the more opportunity to pop up in search engines and to bots with that amount of content. The digital entities crawling out of the darkness to tell me about their friend's cousin's essays being the best, or advertising some virus-riddled manga/anime website is absolutely mundane, and yet it's hilarious to me. There's something about a randomly generated message dancing in out of nowhere to invite you into unsavory territory that tickles me.

Probably not going to be able to say the same for whatever's coming out of the darkness here, though. 

It's just so hard to make a decision in these card tablet shops. He's been perusing for HOURS now. 

While Akhenaden just kind of stands there sullenly, someone calls out to him, and its no surprise when he turns to find it's Priest Seto. They're awfully chummy, despite there being not much reason shown for it. As Akhenaden acknowledges him, Priest Seto reports that his "ka hunt" went much better than expected, but then immediately follows up with the statement that there were many people in the city hiding superior ka, just as he thought. Well, which is it? Did you expect to find stuff, or not? Akhenaden is much more interested to know if Priest Seto ARRESTED these people, a little alarmed by the implications again. Priest Seto says the 20 they found were confined to the prison tower, where the pharaoh never goes and will never find them. Judging by the look on Akhenaden's face in the next panel, the pharaoh FINDING these people Priest Seto has unlawfully detained isn't exactly his concern. 

Akhenaden tells Priest Seto that it's not too late, and that he should let all of those people go, warning that they'll start down the path of darkness otherwise. I think Priest Seto is already WAAAAAY further down that road than is reversible, friend. Still he tries to explain how sin creates fear in the heart, and fear leads one to endless darkness. Bless his precious soul, lol. Priest Seto agrees that an ORDINARY person might feel fear in the face of a potential fall of the dynasty, and leaves the smug statement hanging, implying that he doesn't consider himself one of THOSE losers. Akhenaden doesn't say anything in response, leaving Priest Seto to tease that he may have found a ka to rival the gods. Akhenaden is alarmed yet again at this claim, in complete disbelief.

Why does it not surprise me that this is ridiculously similar to the center square on my anti choice bingo card? Next he'll be talking about how it might cure cancer one day or something.

Priest Seto says that the one who holds the ka is a woman who is very weak, so he's letting her rest a bit. He plans to find a way to draw the greatest amount of power possible from that ka the moment she regains her strength, though, using the prisoners he rounded up from the city to research the best way, torturing them in any way he can think of. He's inappropriately excited about the prospect of the prisoners clawing in agony from behind bars AND forcing the development of a monster that DOESN'T BELONG TO HIM. Akhenaden gapes while Priest Seto turns to walk back down the steps, promising to come back when he can show off his "work", pausing to smirk over his shoulder and reiterate that he'll come back to show off the White Dragon. Akhenaden repeats this phrase, teeth clenched in anxiety. 

Priest Seto proceeds to descend the stairs and leave, repeating that he'll see Akhenaden then. Akhenaden remains speechless, yet holding his hand half-out as though not quite deciding to call out to Priest Seto. Then, the moment Priest Seto is gone, Akhenaden collapses to his knees on the stone floor, groaning. I don't blame him; I've been crawling around on the hardwood floor for hours building furniture, and my knees are in AGONY. 

Akhenaden admits to himself that he's getting more and more afraid, wondering if this is the temptation of the Millennium Eye.

OH! That explains why they're always chilling. 

Wait, what's this about committing the same sin before...?

Guess bastardry runs in the family.

Outside of the palace, thief!Bakura kneels in the shadow of a statue's base, watching the many guards stationed around the entrance from around the corner. He mumbles that he's attacking at NIGHT this time, as a good thief should. Love the idea that he has to remind himself that thieves don't GENERALLY strut around in broad daylight to steal shit, lol! He observes that they've certainly increased the guard, but he's unconcerned, saying a hundred guards and a hundred walls couldn't keep him out. I hope he doesn't let THEM hear him say that, given that sort of statement acts more of a challenge than a deterrent in my experience.

Thank fuck he just lets them hear his footsteps as he steps right through the guards' ranks while they demand to know who's there and where the sounds are coming from. They ask each other if they're hearing things, only to receive the answer that it is DEFINITELY footsteps they're picking up. It's the ultimate gaslight.

Something it ABSOLUTELY needed. 

Thief!Bakura describes this as a camouflage technique which changes Diabound's scales to match the environment, effectively becoming a cloaking device and hiding him from the soldier's eyes. Once he reaches the base of one of the massive statues flanking the door amid the confounded guards on the outside of Diabound's shielding embrace, he takes that grappling hook from his shoulder and tosses it upward, so he can climb and leap into the statue's lap. He manages to get to the top of the wall, from which he can see in the distance the Wedju Shrine.

He considers himself reckless last time; trying to take on a the priests and the pharaoh at once because he wanted all the Millennium Items in bulk. He wants to take the more cautious route this time, killing them one at a time, because it DID work rather well for him the last time. He peers through the dark at the spire at the top of the shrine, marking it as his first field for priest-hunting. Imagine that, he and Priest Seto having very similar hunts going on at the same time. 

Once he walks into the shrine, the still sulking Akhenaden senses his presence creeping at the bottom of the steps behind him. 

Thief!Bakura looks marvelously deranged as he grins up at Akhenaden from the base of the stairs, I have to say. As he begins to climb the stairs, Akhenaden notes the Millennium Ring around thief!Bakura's neck, and trails in a conclusion of Mahado's death, as if that was ever in question to begin with. Akhenaden has not been paying the SLIGHTEST bit of attention, apparently. He's been too busy angsting about his shitty son's shitty actions. 

Thief!Bakura confirms as he ascends that he did indeed kill a priest in the former pharaoh's tomb, neglecting to mention that it was really a swinging ax that Mahado walked into of his own volition. Can't really blame him, that's a bit less impressive. He says the ring his his spoils of war, and now he's come here to get some more war AND spoils. Thief!Bakura insists that he HAS to collect all seven of these items, presumably because it's easier than catching the thousands of kinds of pokemon out there instead. Less labor intensive. 

Akhenaden gesticulates while he vows not to let this happen, reprimands thief!Bakura for entering this holy place, and returning to the promise to defeat him as the guardian of the holy stones. A little all over the place, honestly. He turns to address one of the tablets on the wall, and it glows in response, preparing to manifest in its spectral fire. Thief!Bakura conversationally recalls how Akhenaden can summon from the stone slabs due to his possession of a Millennium Items, but says his Diabound is faster, spurring it into action with his outstretched fists. The target slab is approached by a blur darting up the wall, then shatters. 

Thief!Bakura says he's too old and slow, because Diabound will tear this temple apart before Akhenaden will be able to summon a single ka. Akhenaden is in resigned disbelief over this, while thief!Bakura basks in the erratic energy crackling off the ring rattling around his neck, considering himself invincible due to absorbing it. He laughs, throwing out his hand to telepathically pick up Akhenaden, who gapes and gurgles in surprise. He groans when he's thrown straight back into the wall behind him, stone crumbling off the indent he made. His bones should be downright liquefied from it, but he still seems solid, so he should be okay.

Right?

My choice would be the sweet release of death from the amount of agony cracking solid rock with my body would bring, but that's just me. 

So what did I think of this chapter overall? I'm intrigued by the notion that Priest Seto is Akhenaden's son, because I don't think this has been hinted at before. I'm curious as to whether Priest Seto KNOWS that Akhenaden is his father, because he's never referred to Akhenaden as such, given I think I would have noticed before now. Either that, or he wants to put some distance between himself and his father to put down any suggestions of nepotism/that he didn't EARN his place in the priesthood. Seems like a very Kaiba thing to do, even in an environment where nepotism is pretty much everything. No one loves keeping it in the family like the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, of course, so it's not like proto-Kaiba would be the odd one out here. Still, Kaiba was all ABOUT the mythology he'd built around him being a self-made man, so I can imagine Priest Seto would have a similar mindset. 

I'm also all the more intrigued by what looks to be a resemblance between Akhenaden and MARIK'S father. There's a little bit of a difference in the facial hair, and Marik's dad has a fringe of bangs that can be seen from beneath his hood, but otherwise, they're twins. There have been no coincidences thus far when characters from the past resemble ones from the future, so I'm convinced they're one in the same. What it MEANS seems obscure right now. Over multiple lifetimes, this guy seems INCAPABLE of being a good father, but I feel like his fear of the cycle of violence he's instigated here is more of a point than anything. He's genuinely terrified of what he has wrought, and there appears to be some guilt buried in there too. I can't wait to learn more about just WHAT it is he did that fucked his and everyone else's reincarnation cycles, because he seems to have some grasp of how long-lasting the consequences will be, even now. 

Thief!Bakura is just out here doing thief!Bakura, so not much to say about his actions here. I think his change to a one-by-one strategy is less pragmatism and more how powerful he feels when he's squaring off against a single priest. Probably a little bit of the high from already having ONE Millennium Item and how much stronger that made him too. The playful way he claimed to have been reckless before and needing to be careful just strikes me as almost a jest, especially when he approaches Akhenaden with a that deranged serial-killer smile. That's not the face of a guy being "cautious", he's just having a ball.

Inuyasha Manga: 239 Mukotsu

Apparently, the "mu" in Mukotsu's name is written in the kanji for "mist", which tracks with how his poisons travel. The only real question is how that "mist" is made, because it has me scratching my head a bit. Usually, there's specific atmospheric conditions that allow mist to happen, and and people need specific things to replicate that - dry ice, machines, that sort of deal. In the last couple of chapters, it was actually described more as a "smoke" which seems more accessible and more like how it's behaving most recently. However, he doesn't appear to have any fire built or any smoldering tools to help him achieve this end, so we're back at questioning the HOW of poison travel here. Does he have lit charcoal disk in all his containers, or what?

Seems like that might not work for the bamboo ones...

What gave it away? Was it the random malicious intent? 

It was the random malicious intent.

Mukotsu laughs that they're right, and introduces himself graciously as the "poison user" of the group. Miroku tries to lead Mukotsu into giving them a little information by saying there HAS to be someone who revived the Shichinin-tai and assigned them certain targets. He suggests that this person is Naraku, but Mukotsu chuckles that Miroku should ask his brothers about that sort of thing, because he doesn't know. He also starts sliding a new bamboo cylinder from his back, ripping off the cover of it as he makes the caveat that they can even GET to his brothers, of course. While the gross crap sprays out at them inexplicably, Sango shouts at Miroku to get behind Hiraikotsu with her. 

Kirara looking absolutely PANICKED here; I feel like she's my avatar right now.

Sango/Hiraikotsu's silhouette is still visible beyond the smoke, though in a sketchy way. Still, Mukotsu decides that they melted away. But because he says this in earshot of Kagome while she's still laying on her front unable to see properly, she looks distressed thinking on her friends' fate.  Mukotsu turns to tell her that there's no more interference, and suggests the two of them have some "fun". Ugh, every woman and girl is well aware of THIS definition of fun that requires their utter misery. 

Ladies and gentlemen, trigger warning for attempted sexual assault, if you aren't already aware.

Kagome thinks on Inuyasha now, thinking his name like a silent prayer. Meanwhile, Shippou's toy horse is bouncing through the forest as he yells for Inuyasha himself, since he has the voice and mobility Kagome doesn't. He prattles to himself that he has to catch up to Inuyasha quickly, trailing off on the morbid part of what could happen to Kagome and the others. Suddenly, he has an idea, shooting up on the horse straight into the air above the treetops. With a battle yelp from Shippou, the horse explodes like a pinata, into a shower of acorns that rain down into the trees. 

Inuyasha is running down below, focused entirely on getting closer to Jakotsu's smell, when one of the acorns bounces off his head. Little doodles of arms and legs, and giant watery eyes, pop out on it in front of Inuyasha's face and it begins to wail. It hops around in his palm, crying, as Inuyasha identifies it as one of Shippou's. He whirls around, realizing that something must have happened in the village. 

Are those the two guys and the cow from before? Good to know RT didn't forget about them, I guess.

Mukotsu chuckles that help will never come now, as he's put up a smokescreen of poison all around this hut. Apparently all with that basket full of containers AND Kagome slung over his back, which is pretty impressive, if I'm honest. He kneels next to Kagome and tilts her chin up to examine her, talking about how lucky he is to get to do as he pleases with such a pretty girl like her. My skin is CRAWLING something fierce. He pulls off his mask to reveal the wide, toad-like face that he says doesn't really get him a lot of chicks. I'm sure he's written all about it in his online manifesto entitled, "Women Won't Sleep With Me Even Though I'm Such A Nice Guy So They Must Be Punished."

Again, dude, just get a fucking hobby. 

Kagome isn't really paying much attention; she's thinking that he must have a Shikon fragment somewhere on him since he's one of the Shichinin-tai, wondering where it is. Kagome finds it in the folds of his chin, then starts looking for a weapon near her, eyes landing on what looks like a pair of tongs sticking up in the ashes of the fire pit just a short ways from her head. 

From outside, someone calls Kagome's name, and Mukotsu stands to pull aside the mat hanging from the door frame. He acknowledges the silhouettes of Sango and Miroku THIS time, cursing them for surviving his first attack.

He dug a fucking DITCH too??? Mukotsu even fucking LIFTS, it's canon.

Miroku asks Sango if this poison will continue to gush up from the ditch, and Sango confirms that it will, as she's certain he's mixed a couple of different poisons that cause a strong reaction. No specificity here, folks - this ain't no chemistry class. Miroku suggests they try getting in from above, and Sango agrees that whatever nasty shit Mukotsu is using should be weaker higher up. 

Back inside, Mukotsu giggles, telling Kagome that her friends seem to be discussing how to rescue her. He confidently states that it's futile, though, and she doesn't respond, unsurprisingly. He climbs right on top of her, mockingly inviting her to make a "good memory" with him before she dies. I cannot describe to you the shrillness of the SCREAMS INSIDE MY HEAD right now. 

But our girl Kagome puts a stop to this horror with a stab, causing Mukotsu to freeze in alarm. 

Quick, girl, shank that rapist piece of shit again! 

Mukotsu raises a hand to where the tongs are stuck in his throat, humming in what appears to be confusion at first. Sweating, Kagome wonders if she got him, until he pulls the tongs out, scoffing a bit, and she sweats all the more as she thinks her attempt to defend herself was no good. Bizarrely, Mukotsu starts shedding big fat ugly tears, from nose and eyes, confusing the SHIT out of an already disoriented Kagome. 

Then he hits her. Punches her right in the face. He's doing the metaphorical heavy-lifting here; working REALLY hard to make the audience hate him all the more. As Kagome twists to look back at him, Mukotsu trembles in anger and continues to leak, accusing her of mocking him just like everyone else, claiming it's all because of his face. My blood is boiling at this bid to make himself out to be a victim of unfair judgment here, I can't even. Kagome too looks absolutely PISSED, asking him what the heel he's even talking about, considering his ACTIONS to be the problem here. 

They both look up at the sound of cracks in the ceiling. 

Sango lands with her boomerang held out in front of her, shielding those behind her, while Miroku kneels next to Kagome and calls out to her in concern. She wastes no time in telling Miroku to aim for Mukotsu's neck, indicating the Shikon shard is there. This is a detail Mukotsu FORGOT, apparently, dropping his fist into his opposite palm as he recalls. Guess he didn't consider the location of his Achilles Heel very important when prancing out to deliberately piss people off. 

Whoops, scratch that, he says he forgot he came to get KAGOME'S Shikon shards, actually. I don't want to hear anyone making fun of Inuyasha for rushing headlong into situations without thinking things through after seeing this guy put his whole ass on display like this. I swear, I'll bring him back up every single time it happens from now on. 

Anyway, Mukotsu also releases another blast from a separate bamboo container, which Sango holds Hiraikotsu against. She pulls out her sword and calls for the others to leave him to her, focusing on taking the shard from his neck. It's not long before she freezes and collapses to the ground, eyes wide and sweating. Miroku calls to her now, holding Kagome to the heavy fabric at his chest and covering his mouth and nose with his other hand. Mukotsu laughs that a gas mask is no use, because THIS poison gets in through the eyes and skin. He smiles, telling them that HE'S fine due to his body being acclimated to the stuff. 

Ugh, poison loogie to the FACE? That's just disrespectful.

Miroku internally curses, unable to move, and prays that Inuyasha forgives him. Inuyasha is on his way, with Shippou on his back asking him to hurry. He replies that he knows while silently begging Kagome to wait for him. He gets those measly two panels before we're back in the hut, Mukotsu shoving the immobile Miroku aside as he yanks Kagome away from him by the hair, snapping at him to get out of the way. Then he grips Kagome's throat, squeezing, and telling her he won't forgive her for hurting his precious fee-fees. His fingers grinding on her windpipe, Kagome thinks of Inuyasha like an inaudible prayer. 

Suddenly, Mukotsu's shoulder is sliced, blood spurting forth from it. Kagome hazily looks up at where the blow came from, disoriented. Sango and Miroku have a view from where they were deposited by the poison, expecting to see Inuyasha, it seems. 

... Quick, dude, shank that rapist piece of shit again!

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? This one has always been a bit of a difficult one to get through. The subject matter is VERY sensitive, and much like Kohaku's moments of self-harm (machinations of Naraku as they are), I was very reticent to showcase THOSE particular panels. They were very visceral, and it seems they've gotten MORE SO as I've gotten older. It's probably less to do with age as it is with my uncomfortable and increasing understanding that men like this ACTUALLY exist. When I first read this as a teenager, I was very fortunate not to have encountered them yet, so I wrongly considered this a bit of an exaggerated villainy. Oh, to be young and chipper again...

The punch and choking in particular were very disturbing, so I'm not going to blame RT for not wanting to get anywhere close to her main protagonist doing such a thing to a female villain. Even though the difference in context might be obvious to a good portion of us, Mukotsu is very much realistic in his justifications for his violence toward Kagome - he considered hurting his feelings a perfectly reasonable catalyst for violence against a woman, and that doesn't contrast as well as it should against actual, honest self-defense. Maybe if we lived in a better world where there weren't some people LOOKING for excuses to visit violence upon women, the difference would be more clear. But alas...

RT's mostly annoying habit of abrupt shifts between characters actually works here, but maybe because it's not as abrupt as usual. The shifts are connected and have a logical progression, especially the short one at the end showing Inuyasha in two small panels running to save his friends. It gets across the urgency of the situation and subtly indicates that he is probably not going to make it in time. That way, when Mukotsu's shoulder is cut, we can be properly surprised in both the moment when we have to question whether Inuyasha ACTUALLY made it, and then again in the moment when we see it's Sesshoumaru. It's very effective in this case, so good on RT for finding a legitimate way to use it.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 297 Bakura Lives!

Oh no, chapter, you don't SAY. I can't imagine how a guy who has been known to disappear with his personal soul god through solid-ass palace walls could have gotten out of a tomb with a big rock shoved in front of its entrance/exit. As much as I sympathize with Mahado, I have to grudgingly agree with Priest Seto that his whole plan was woefully flawed. How do you NOT take into account that thief!Bakura's soul-pet helps him get in and out of fortresses easily, and that a showdown one-on-one with him would put him in possession of a very troublesome artifact if he were to win?

Mahado, you were supposed to be the smart one. One more intellectual sacrificed to plot.

Of course. Can't help get her a job so she can use her power to those ends herself; he has to think of ways he can control and manipulate her so HE can use the power the way HE wants. And to punctuate this supremely shitty idea, he does the signature dorky Kaiba laugh to boot. 

Someone says that the woman is very weak, and barks orders for her to be taken back to the palace for food and water - I assume it's Shada, because the speech bubbles are next to him rather than Priest Seto, and he's the only other person present with the authority to make command these soldiers to do anything of the sort. When asked if they should put her in prison with the others, though, Priest Seto IS the one to tell them that they give her a proper room so she can get plenty of rest. At least he's affording her THAT dignity. He tells everyone that they are not to speak to the pharaoh about ANY of this, claiming they don't have the luxury to be merciful and lenient like in the past. What do you call putting up a strange woman in the palace then??? I swear, this guy is full of contradictions lately. 

Yuugi and crew overhear a group of soldiers as they are commanded to stay in the city and stand guard while the priests/rest of the troops head back to the palace. Jonouchi appears to be reaching a slow epiphany about Priest Seto mentioning the pharaoh when Yuugi exclaims that they MUST mean Yami. Anzu exclaims with excitement that they might be able to get into the palace if they follow them. Don't know what happened to Bobasa and his statement that they're just going to be repelled from the palace, but no doubt with him MIA these kids promptly forgot everything he ever said ever.

Oh, Bobasa is right there. Did he just not want to repeat himself and figured it would be best to let them fail on their own?

Yuugi looks up to behold the massive size of the statues towering above him, all of them marveling at this architectural wonder. They're so distracted that they only just notice that the doors have closed after the soldiers/priests when it gives a massive clank. Jonouchi shouts in panic that they've closed the gates, running up to one of the guards on either sides of the door to yell at him, demanding to be let in. He shouts that Yami's, or rather, the pharaoh's, friends have come to see him. A claim that TOTALLY would have been valid had they not been invisible, I'm sure. Yuugi has to remind a seething Jonouchi that they can't be seen or heard after Jonouchi gets no response to waving his hand in the guard's face, seeking any attention at all. 

I don't know, probably the same thing that was going on when you hit that wall in the previous chapter? I truly am the only one who remembers this, clearly, because Honda pats at the solid stone and worries that they can TOUCH this wall. Yuugi says it's no good, that they can't get in there, and Bobasa reminds them of what he said before: it's the strength of the pharaoh's will to keep intruders out that repels them from the palace. Jonouchi is incensed by this, protesting that they're Yami's pals, and asking if this means he doesn't remember them anymore. Well, you guys can't seem to keep track of what you can and can't do here for more than a few minutes, maybe it's possible for Yami to forget whole people. 

Or maybe it's getting difficult for KT to keep track of some details here himself...

Jonouchi mumbles angrily about the term "intruders", sure that Bobasa must be kidding with that. Then he yells up at the towering palace as though it IS Yami, accusing him of thinking he's too good for them now that he's pharaoh. He calls Yami a jerk for unexpectedly treating his friends so shamefully. The rest of them just stand and look crestfallen, until Yuugi insists that it's not like THAT. He's confident that they'll eventually get to see Yami, and looks back up at a massive statue, also sure that there's a cruel fate closing in on his partner in there. Yuugi repeats his intense determination to see Yami silently. Got his poop-face on and everything.

Is Jonouchi THAT loud? The set of lungs on that boy...

Siamun asks Yami if there's something wrong, but Yami sits back down and says it's nothing, albeit hesitantly. Maybe Siamun would have pressed the issue, if he hadn't seen the procession marching toward them at the throne, commenting that it looks like the priests have come back from the city. Priest Seto and Shada lead their troops to the foot of the dais and kneel, the former of which stating the obvious; they have returned. He says they were unable to confirm Bakura's death, which I thought was Isis's job anyway, but whatevz. Priest Seto continues on to say that they HAVE strengthened the city guard, though, and not even a mouse could get in there it's so safe and secure. Shada and Akhenanden hang their heads, looking uncomfortable. As they should.

Yami says that regardless, he has a bad feeling about this. While Priest Seto glares on silently, Yami is pondering how he apparently heard a voice from the Millennium Puzzle he's cradling in his lap, trying to tell him something.

Well now! Look who's gotten used to being semi-kind-of incorporeal!

THIS asshole.

He silently chuckles about looking down on the city like this awakening his memories, watching the soldiers flit back and forth between each other as they confirm that none of them has seen thief!Bakura. One of the soldiers asks with a shifty expression if another thinks the other priest killed the bastard, but his war buddy just verbally shrugs, asserting that they can't let their guard down regardless. Asshole!Bakura smugly thinks that if thief!Bakura were dead, he wouldn't be here. He also remembers when and where his ancient counterpart will appear, having slipped past all the guards around the perimeter of the city. Asshole!Bakura flies off laughing, and it's a downright ABSURD panel.

Outside of another tavern named with pictographs alone, the devil has indeed appeared. 

Oooh, I love his new necklace.

At first, his server is confounded by the golden jewelry as payment, while thief!Bakura keeps huffing as if he's run a marathon. After a moment, the inn-keeper agrees happily to bring thief!Bakura his requested food, having realized that the bracelet is worth more than his whole establishment. Meanwhile, thief!Bakura's outburst has earned him some attention from the fellow patrons, who glare at him out of the corners of their eyes. 

Thief!Bakura is served some food by an enthusiastic host, and begins scarfing that shit down, asshole!Bakura smiling down at him the whole time. The other patrons surround the table, delivering a vaguely threatening observation that it's a lot of money thief!Bakura has on him, and that he seems to have gold to spare. Thief!Bakura keeps eating, glaring up at them without responding. As the men start to take out knives and the like, one guy points out that they can see a particularly shiny relic hanging around his neck. Another holds out a dagger, asking if he isn't that thief, yet another confirms this and suggests they kill him, and ANOTHER calls behind him for the door to be closed so no one walks in on their murder.

Thief!Bakura laughs, mouthing a few words that the surrounding men can't quite make out, they have to read his lips, which comes out to a rather threatening question about whether they want to die. The leading man is briefly taken-aback by a sudden slice to his cheek. 

BRIEFLY.

... It's a good thing that you gave the inn-keeper so much gold, otherwise he might not have been able to flee this grisly scene and start over fresh somewhere that ISN'T covered in blood. Those stains are NEVER coming out.

No explanation as to what exactly that was and how the ring did it. Thief!Bakura just laughs that he's absorbed the power of the Millennium Ring and no one can stop him. As he plans the next step, getting his revenge on the pharaoh, asshole!Bakura asserts silently that he knows thief!Bakura's future. Points his thumb at himself as though anyone can see him, because no one has quite grasped the notion that they're invisible yet, apparently.

Sounds... fun? I mean, I am rather starved for entertainment for the past two years, but I do have RESERVATIONS about this little production you're producing. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I am getting just a tad tired of the reiterations of the rules Yuugi and crew have to abide by in the Memory World at this point. There have not only been multiple statements on how they can't get in the palace, how they're invisible, but they can't just go through walls - there have been a few DEMONSTRATIONS as well. I have afforded some room in the past for repetitions of rules, given that this is a serialization that might pick up a new reader at awkward points, but this is getting excessive. KT's got me wondering just how many more times these kids are going to have to learn these same things before it finally sticks, or before he finally trusts that his audience will be able to pick up on it from context alone. 

Thief!Bakura's return to the plot was very satisfying, though. That he would be practically starving by the time he got back to the city was understandable, since he's spent a while in that tomb by this time, and it gave him a good stage to really work with the Millennium Ring. They seem to be a frighteningly good team, the results of which were pretty metal, I have to admit. And they build anticipation for what the next meeting between him and Yami/the priests is going to be like, because as much trouble as they had with him before, it'll be orders of magnitude worse now. 

Also, asshole!Bakura hanging out watching thief!Bakura was just hilarious. That he's having so much more fun than Yuugi and company just speaks to how much he thrives on utter chaos.

Inuyasha Manga: 238 Poisonous Smoke

Breathed my fair share of that, for sure. Part of my beef with living in the city, and even the suburbs, was the SMELL - there was always some asshole revving his diesel engine, fumigating next door, burning something funky in a plant nearby. Despite how much less convenient it can be living in a woodsy area, I longed for my childhood out in the middle of nowhere most of the time I spent in the hazy B.O. of the city, because I could rarely enjoy my time outdoors without getting a whiff of something sour and nasty. 

A far cry of a complaint from the contents of this chapter, but just as malicious in a lot of cases. 

Huh, I didn't think Jakotsu really gave his name to them yet. I mean, he did introduce his sword, so I guess Inuyasha probably picked up on THAT bit...

Jakotsu basically gives Inuyasha a verbal shrug, saying he never met who gave him the shard. It's no surprise that Inuyasha finds this a little unbelievable, considering at this juncture one would have to wonder how you could just NOT meet someone who brought you back to life, so Inuyasha begins a threat under the condition that Jakotsu is lying. A rustle grabs Kagome's attention off to the side, she and the guys in the grill-session up front noting a fine smoke traveling down the short cliff-side next to them. As the stuff rolls over the soldier bodies lying around the perimeter, Inuyasha is alarmed to see their skin start to fizz and bubble, MELTING. Miroku exclaims in disbelief that the flesh of the HUMANS are dissolving, and Sango identifies the substance as poisonous smoke. No suggestions on what will neutralize it, though, so a fat lot of good this official identification does them here. 

Jakotsu adopts an annoyed attitude now, thinking about that jerk Mukotsu getting in his fucking way. He's not wasting much time on mentally cursing the guy, though. He's about to BOUNCE.

Boy isn't THAT dedicated to slicing up his crush.

Inuyasha yells him to wait up, but the smoke approaches him rapidly, and he's singed as he jumps out of the dense mist. Jakotsu calls over his shoulder to Inuyasha that he'd like to meet again, waving over his head at him. An "r/letsnotmeet" moment for Kagome to write about later for SURE. Inuyasha kneels on the ground next to the concerned Miroku and Kagome, groaning, the legs of his trousers mottled with damage from the smoke. 

NARROW SKY TRANSITION PANEL!

In the midst of a hilly forest, Jaken calls out to Sesshoumaru to wait as he leads the two-headed dragon upon which Rin is perched. He already seems to be waiting as much as he can possibly be, though, paused as he considers something he can smell. A smelly smell that smells... smelly.

No son, you back up off my boy Kohaku. He's squishy. 

From the dragon's back, Rin asks Jaken what Sesshoumaru is looking for. Jaken says it's Naraku most likely, which indicates that he doesn't KNOW? They could be heading for fucking JAMBA JUICE and he wouldn't have thought to ask, I guess. Jaken looks over his shoulder at Rin and explains that Sesshoumaru got pretty angry when she was kidnapped. Rin is all kinds of flattered that Sesshoumaru was angry over her kidnapping, but Jaken snaps at her not to get conceited. He says that while Sesshoumaru appears calm, he's a proud person, and he's likely furious after that little incident. He gets pissy when his childcare abilities are brought into question, apparently.

Jaken is suddenly aware of how Sesshoumaru has paused, turned around and looking down at him speechlessly. In the next panel, Sesshoumaru is walking away again while Jaken is splayed out on the ground, head filled with lumps. Rin leans over him, asking if he's okay, while Jaken thinks that he must have hit the nail on the head with his analysis. I'd say that's a fair conclusion to draw, considering this guy can't be bothered to communicate through anything other than between-panel punches. 

Yet another inexplicably empty building for our heroes to chill inside for the time being, I see. Kagome is tending Sango's cut from earlier with the first aid kit, asking if it hurts, and Sango stutters that she's fine. It looks like Inuyasha has already gotten patched up, an adhesive bandage on his face as he declares that the Jakotsu bastard couldn't have gone far. Miroku asks if Inuyasha is going after him while Kagome leans back to look out the open doorway at him. Inuyasha confirms that he's leaving to chase Jakotsu, because they haven't gotten a single clue yet from him. As he begins to leave, he tells them to stay here, a statement Kagome begins to protest. 

Miroku agrees, though, citing Sango's injury, but he does want Inuyasha's opinion on that poisonous smoke before they part. He says it seems like Jakotsu knew something about it, and Inuyasha agrees, mumbling that it might be another Shichinin-tai. Concerned, Sango asks if he means another zombie has come out, holding her newly bandaged arm to her chest. Inuyasha lets the obvious go unsaid, thankfully, starting to go again as he tells Miroku to stay behind and protect the girls, Miroku giving him an affirmative. 

We get a transition panel with some rustling trees this time, where the short little masked chap is sitting on the ground fussing with a mortar and pestle, pouring ingredients in there left and right. He chuckles about how convenient it is that his targets have split into two groups. Don't know how he managed to get that information without being close enough for Inuyasha to smell, but it might just be equally convenient for RT that Inuyasha's nose doesn't work as well as it should randomly. 

Jakotsu looms up behind the guy, who twists to greet him with a comment about how long it's been. Jakotsu steps right on his head and calls him a bastard. Calls him one AGAIN when he squats and grabs him by the collar and asks if he meant to melt HIM with the poisonous smoke too; but he manages to name him Mukotsu in the process, though. Mukotsu chuckles that it's just his greeting for their reunion, bidding Jakotsu not to be so mad about it. 

There's also a guy and a young kiddo there too, in case you want to prepare for resistance from them too, I don't know. 

Jakotsu appears confused at first, but is immediately elated when he figures out what this means: Inuyasha set out after him on his own. Mukotsu chuckles again while he grinds away on the mortar and pestle, then explains that three humans and a weak fox child are being left behind, and ONE of those humans is carrying Shikon fragments, namely Kagome. Jakotsu begins to saunter away, promising to leave all of them to Mukotsu. It's now his turn to be a little confused, asking if this means he can have the Shikon shard. Jakotsu wasn't about to walk away after all, it seems; he squats next to Mukotsu to assures him that he can take the fragment, because he gets Inuyasha in return. Mukotsu returns to his mortar and pestle, agreeing because Inuyasha isn't any use to him. 

We get a brief look at a couple of village men leading a cow through town, one of them suggesting that they get back where they belong before sunset, the other recalling that there's tell of a frightening zombie wandering about. Wouldn't want to get caught without a thin, flimsy screen separating the insides of their houses from said frightening zombie. Or some sort of weird projectile fired into the sky that they and the rest of the villagers watch explode in the air above them. A strange mist settles over them as they gaze puzzled at the clouds. 

Those folks in Chernobyl weren't in a hurry to flee the strange substance falling from the sky, either. It's probably fine.  

Later, Kagome is riding her bike with Shippou perched on her shoulder, and he points out a well in front of them. She thanks goodness and suggests they draw a bit of water, smiling all the way. An innocent cinnamon roll headed for the oven.

STRAIGHT for the oven.

Kagome drops to her knees beside the woman lying next to the well and asks if she's okay, coming to the conclusion much like she did with the Oni Head template princess that she's dead. Shippou is anxious for them to get the hell out of there, trembling as he stares off in the opposite direction, where there are several other people and animals collapsed dead where they stood recently. 

A sudden whoosh accompanies a new flood of smoke, rapidly making its way to the terrified Kagome and Shippou hugging each other at the well. Carrying Shippou with one arm and using her other hand to cover her nose and mouth, Kagome starts running, thinking it might be the poisonous smoke from before. A squat figure approaches them through the smoke.

These zombies think REAL highly of themselves, don't they? Tacking honorifics onto their names and shit. 

Kagome collapses to her hands and knees, shuddering while Shippou shouts her name in alarm. She haltingly tells him to run away, a request he refuses. At first. Mukotsu continues to slowly approach through his manufactured fog, identifying Kagome as the one who has the Shikon shards with a chuckle. Kagome struggles to twist to look at him from where she lays on the ground, Shippou peeking over Kagome's shoulder in horror, as Mukotsu tells her not to worry about dying right away. He says this poison keeps you conscious and immobile until the very end, and that this method of torturing/killing women like her is his hobby.

Good GRACIOUS man, just learn to make sourdough bread like everybody else. 

Calling out her signature boomerang's name, Sango slices straight through the bamboo flask of poison in his hand, effectively knocking both pieces straight out of his hand. SHIT, that's some mega-precision. Inuyasha could learn a thing or two from Sango about aim, methinks. As she catches Hiraikotsu again plumes of smoke come with it, but she's got her gas-mask on, Miroku hanging back with transformed Kirara, his sleeve over his nose and mouth. 

Kagome is not comforted by their presence; she pleads with her eyes for them to run away, as it seems she can no longer speak. Shippou realizes that this poison doesn't work on youkai, since he can move around just fine, so he turns to flee, begging Kagome to hang in there while he runs to get Inuyasha. Sango yells at Miroku to stay back from the poison in the air, and he mutters about this guy being Jakotsu's ally. 

See, this is what happens when people split up in horrors.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? So far, the village dude who first told Inuyasha and company the story of the Shichinin-tai has been right; these guys just get ALL their jollies torturing and murdering. But Jakotsu and Mukotsu seem to have slightly different M.O.s. Jakotsu has so far only really gotten into fights with folks that are at least armed, and his preferred victim is someone he expects to fight back, engage him a little. Mukotsu on the other hand has only gone for quarry that he doesn't expect to put up much of a fuss, or at the very least incapacitates them before his real "fun" begins. I think, even though we're not meant to identify with either of these villains, the former is clearly meant to be seen as a little more honorable in that respect, while the latter is more underhanded or despicable. 

But a turd that stinks slightly less is still a turd, of course.

The entry of Sesshoumaru into the main conflict of the story is SLIGHTLY underbaked. Jaken's explanation that the kidnapping of his ward from under his nose might have left him a little sore in the sense that it denotes a level of incompetence on Sesshoumaru's part is understandable, but him going out of his way to sniff out Kohaku/Naraku over it? I don't know, seems a little on the more desperate side for Sesshoumaru, a guy who has been thus far the one OTHERS prove themselves to, and not the other way around. This is a guy who has just WANDERED OFF from fights with Inuyasha over Tessaiga, something he REALLY wanted. Naraku doesn't have anything Sesshoumaru covets or obsesses over, he's just a guy who pissed him off a little a couple of times. His ego is such that he wouldn't need to recover by showing off how tough he is, hunting down and killing Naraku. Getting into tiffs over losing and having to show the scoundrel what he can really do is Inuyasha's game; Sesshoumaru has before this moment been more the type to just wave it off as a waste of time. That he's meant to be so angry over this slight is frankly a little silly, given how he's been characterized so far.

If he'd just kinda been wandering around the area and picked up the scent, that would be different, but it still wouldn't have given him the level of motivation needed to intervene in the upcoming situation, so I can see RT's dilemma here. At the same time, it's too clunky for me not to mention, especially considering how deeply entangled Sesshoumaru gets in this beef with Naraku. There's so little foundation for his involvement that, in retrospect, it's really funny how big a role he ends up having in the end. 

That's a ways down the line yet, though.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 296 Ka Hunt!!

Count me in! Seeing how cool these things look in the previous chapters, and how many cool things they can do, I've been really keen on them. They're like guard/attack dogs that your heart makes, and they're not even limited to just snarling at nefarious jerks. Isis's can spy on stuff, thief!Bakura's can slither through walls, we've seen them do magic and eat the attack strength of their allies... There's gotta be one or two that can do dishes, right? How about laundry? Sweeping?

Well... I'd prefer a SWEEPING camel, but I guess if this is the best I can get...

There is no ACTUAL winking camel, of course, just a whole bunch of drunk guys inside the tavern. One of them at a table asks belligerently where his beer is, while another at the bar laments that he really DID see what he said he did. I'm sure that is not AT ALL relevant. The guy at a table pours drink down his gullet as his buddy next to him, hunched and shifty, talks about how they've stationed soldiers in the city. The drinker hiccups a question about if they're coming to scold the drunks, then laughs that it would take 100 of those idiot soldiers just to match his wife, drooling out the corners of his mouth. He seems fun. 

Back at the bar, the bartender comments that his sullen patron at the counter is drinking like a dried-up mummy (hoo boy, is this what passes for local figures of speech?), asking what his story is. The sullen patron questions if the bartender has been listening to ANYTHING he's said, then repeats that he saw something; a white dragon flying through the air. In his memory of the event, he was traipsing through the desert with a shackle latched to his ankle, while a familiar silhouette glints in the sky in the distance. Though he admits he'd never seen it before, he claims to KNOW it was a god, so he prayed to it to get him out of the desert with his life. In the present, he breaks into a grateful grin, indicating that he is indeed still kicking. He promises all the gods that he'll never do anything bad again in his elation, then all of a sudden hunches back over the bar, tears leaking out of his eyes as he asserts that the dragon itself won't make it across the desert. He asks the bartender if he can guess how he knows, and the bartender inquires without much interest, more concerned with the possibility that his patron doesn't have the gold to pay for all the drink he's consuming. The sullen patron pays no attention to the second question, just continuing to cry as he bemoans that all people are born with their legs chained to fate, and just as everyone has a ka, there's someone out their who gave life to the god-dragon in the desert who isn't free either. 

Shit, dude. That's deep. 

Come on, all he wants to do is philosophize about dragons now, guys, give him a break!

The soldiers lead him out the door with angry shouts while he begs for mercy and not getting the desert punishment again. The bartender watches as he cleans his drinkware, muttering the guy must be mad from heatstroke. Outside, the sullen patron is pushed toward Priest Seto, the soldiers proclaiming they've found an escaped convict. Priest Seto glares at him sideways a moment, then barks at Shada to search the man's ka. Shada agrees to this with no more arguments; the guy is a convict, after all, so I assume he doesn't have any "leave alone the brain of the innocent" objections here. 

He holds out the Millennium Key, the man's confused face framed with the top of the ankh crowning the key. The dark recesses of the man's soul open up and Shada zooms in on them. 

Well I'll be goddamned and go to hell! I recognize that one! I didn't know it was DEEP.

Shada says this is a demon, just as he expected, and that this man's ka is able to create evil with the fall of darkness. Not really sure what that last part is about, but it's hard to say if it's just me forgetting a comment made earlier on or a weird filler phrase that's supposed to sound significant. In either case, Shada warns that this monster could cause trouble again if they leave it alone, despite being a rather low-level creature. Priest Seto ponders a plan to keep the poor guy in the dark to experiment with how great the evil can grow, because he's the REAL monster here. Out loud, he commands the soldiers holding him to take the man to the oubliette beneath the palace, then turns to the rest and tells them not to limit themselves to convicts - anyone who opposes them is fair game in this exercise. The remaining soldiers agree without hesitation, but as Priest Seto yells for them to get to the next victim city dweller who looks at them funny, Shada glares disapprovingly. He glare shifts to his periphery nervously when the soldiers just start harassing anyone nearby, and then he makes a frustrated noise, closing his eyes to the abuse.

At first, I thought he was going to be a chicken-shit and hold his tongue, because it would NOT have surprised me if this soul found a NEW way to piss me off like he's been doing the whole story. But I'm pleasantly surprised to see him turn to Priest Seto and yell at him that the pharaoh would NEVER let them do this. Priest Seto calmly responds that they live in an age when a few rebels can shake the kingdom to its foundations, and these are the people who could turn into the next thief!Bakura, so they have to stop that from happening at all costs. Spoken like the true precursor to a rationality-bro online who thinks if he doesn't lose his temper he's automatically being more reasonable. Never mind that this  argument (and many like it to come) rests entirely on paranoia and has no logical roots. 

Shit, this guy's defiance is super endearing, but it's also extremely sad to me that he's counting on a white dragon god to take this douchebag down. I wish I could have the faith that our own overpowered oligarchs will get theirs...

All this statement manages to do is intrigue Priest Seto in any case. The soldiers holding him threaten to never let the man see the sun again if he doesn't cut it out, but he tells them to do their worst, because he's sick of the desert anyway, mega-badass that he is. Shada considers this claim of a god, while Priest Seto whirls around and scoffs that they're moving on. 

Elsewhere in the city, in the bazaar where a few people appear to be sprinting through the street. Jonouchi wonders aloud what everyone's running from, what the hurry is. Honda appears to be more concerned with his jacket, fussing with his lapels as he asks if the others get the feeling they don't fit in here. He mutters that it doesn't really matter if they can't be seen, but he trails off and looks really sad about it. Clearly he wants one of those nice loose shifts he sees everyone wearing. Anyone drawn him in one yet? I'm sure he would appreciate the shit out of it.

His mood immediately lifts when Jonouchi leans over to him and says through a grin that they're invisible men, Honda immediately suggesting with his own creepy smile that they can sneak into the harems. Anzu yells at them that because these are Yami's memories, there's nothing perverted like that here, which seems like wishful thinking to me. Then again, she was knocked out for the time that Yami leered at her after he stopped a fake psychic from molesting her at the very beginning of the manga, so maybe she's blissfully unaware of how he's capable of impure thoughts. 

She rests her hands on her hips and says they're here to find Yami, and a blushing Yuugi urges them not to forget their mission to find Yami's true name. Seems he wasn't opposed to the idea of peeking in on a harem or two himself. Someone acts like they JUST remembered that Yami's name is indeed what they're there for, and Yuugi points in the direction of the palace with the suggestion they keep making their way toward it. They're bound to find SOMETHING relevant around its perimeter even if they can't get in there, right?

Or SOMEONE, maybe.

Yuugi and Jonouchi notice the commotion, the former making a noise of disbelief as the abuse continues. One man yells at the woman they pushed down to get out of the city, another shouting that she's going to bring them bad luck. He claims that it's her fault the pharaoh sent his troops in there to bother them, referring to her appearance as proof. What is it about this woman's looks they disagree with? The city-dwellers cite her pale skin, different from their own darker hue, and insisting that her blue eyes will bring disaster to the land. 

HEY! I'm pale and have blue eyes, and I feel... personally attacked. 

A child points to his own eye as he explains to another kid that legend has it if you look into her blue eyes directly, you'll be cursed. Wait, has she shown up here before? Are they just making up this shit about curses and junk on the spot??? The other kid, apparently his younger brother, cries that he's scared. Child, your big brother is making stuff up to upset you, stop being so gullible. 

The woman on the ground groans, and through a different font that seems faded and weak, she asks for water and promises to return to the desert once she gets some. A man dumps a bucket of water over her head and asks sardonically if that's good enough for her, barking at her to get out now. 

Whoops, forgot again about that whole "ghost"-like condition he's in. He propells himself straight through the jerkbag and plants his face right into a nearby wall, which is the only thing that's solid for him apparently. Rubbing his head and growling through grinding teeth, Jonouchi curses about how he forgot he's not able to touch anything here, raising a shaking fist.

Yuugi kneels next to the woman and asks if he's alright, Anzu hovering behind confirming that she's all cut up. Honda asks in frustration if there's nothing they can do. The woman herself, though her exhausted expression doesn't change, emits an exclamation mark through her silence. Yuugi and Anzu pick up on this somehow and follow her eye-line to where she's looking, at the horde of soldiers arriving on the scene lead by a finely-dressed priest.

I'm not the only one surprised to see somebody familiar in this chapter, it seems. 

In as "Peanuts" a fashion as possible, Yuugi, Anzu and Jonouchi declare in alarm that this is Kaiba. The city-inhabitants all get down on their knees, mumbling their deference to Priest Seto. His glare is fixed on the woman lying soaked on the ground in front of him for a moment, then turns to ask the people what they did to this girl. They stutter and mumble, but don't really provide an answer. Meanwhile, Priest Seto orders his soldiers to give her some water. She makes a delirious noise in response, and it seems that it's at this point Priest Seto realizes the extent to which she was abused. 

He looks back at the crowd of city-dwellers, asking them if they think they can throw stones at people who look different than them, then threatens to carve the TRUE meaning of different status into their skins. Yeah, don't torture a person based on the color of their skin! Torture them as an overreaction to their technical crimes and an experiment to see if you can turn their soul-monsters into a super-weapon!

Priest Seto's NOT!racism isn't really impressing me here, obviously, but Yuugi and company haven't seen his more dubious acts before this moment. The most they've seen of him so far is his verbal reprimand of peasants abusing another peasant. So they cheer him in this regard, as the poor young woman sits up and thanks the soldier offering her water. Another soldier tells Priest Seto how weak she is and he barks at them to tend her wounds. 

Appropriate that the sound effect associated with this woman's power is "RUM"; rum's magic is also extremely powerful, and I don't doubt she would be unstoppable if paired with it. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Well, well, well, it's looking like now that we're done getting the lore of Dark Magician's origins, we've moved onto the lore of the Blue Eyes White Dragon's origins. There are strong affirmations toward the white dragon's massive power through the whole chapter, from our fugitive's description of it as a GOD-like presence in the desert to Shada expressing his amazement at the magnitude of the girl's heka at the end. And yet, the pale, blue-eyed girl herself is very meek, thirsty, and disempowered. She is an outcast, and unable to defend herself from the horrible treatment she endures from the others she meets. This is a VERY interesting juxtaposition, though I'm not sure what to draw from it yet. Perhaps it's going to give Priest Seto the impression that her abuse is what developed her power so acutely? Will he throw her in the dungeon with the fugitive they've already taken from the streets due to this, or continue to treat her with kindness? Since they're one priest short at the moment, I'm sure if he wanted to go the kind route he could make the argument to Yami that they install her as a stand-in. Shada could attest to how strong her magic is. 

But something tells me that the former is a far more likely. His character has been entirely based on his political manipulations and cruelty in service to his ambitions so far; much like his soul-descendant Kaiba, Priest Seto clearly wants to be considered the best, most important person in the kingdom, and his urge to preserve his privilege as a powerful force in an unfair system is strong. His motivations seem to be to keep the status quo, because it's his current position in the existing framework that gives him an edge in his ambitions in the future.

Which is why that kindness he displayed, rough around the edges as it was, is so BIZARRE. There is literally NO indication that he might have a soft-spot toward someone of this woman's complexion/eyes before this point. There was no setup to indicate that he would treat anyone beneath him with any kind of respect whatsoever, when he treats his literal equals in the priesthood with utter disdain every chance he gets. This speck of humanity comes completely out of left-field, and it has me really confused. Even Kaiba's relationship with Mokuba as a conduit for his development into a halfway-tolerable human had a logical progression and a stable foundation. There's NOTHING like that here.  

I mean, KT could have at LEAST just had Priest Seto think about how pretty she is and thirst over her or something. It's shallow as fuck, but I'll take it over literally NOTHING, dude!

Inuyasha Manga: 237 Jakotsu

With over 60 hours of PTO I need to spend before the new year, and our main construction contractors taking the Friday following Thanksgiving off, it's time to kick back and relax for old Writch! I've a lot of loafing planned, along with some writing, blogging, reading, and NOT buying anything. As you might expect, I've never been one to participate in the nightmare tradition of Black Friday, but this year I am making a conscious effort not to spend a single red cent, especially on anything from Amazon. Mr. Wannabe-Space-Cowboy can suck it, I'm not giving him MY dollars unless he's ever planning on giving me something back in the form of fucking taxes and treating his employees with respect. 

That goes for all the other rich bastards out there as well. Let the people unionize, pay a fair share, and no more tricking people into fighting over garbage products that aren't even worth the "discount" they're offered under. 

A retail worker's Black Friday nightmare?

Inuyasha continues by saying that this guy doesn't smell like a regular human, but a corpse/burial soil. Jakotsu just tilts his head and makes a mocking noise, because he doesn't need to argue, it's all true. Miroku begins to suggest what Inuyasha might mean with a significant tone, and Inuyasha cuts him off with confirmation, then addresses Jakotsu again. He cites the rumor going around the area about a nasty zombie coming up from the grave, Miroku following up by mentioning the group of mercenaries who were cornered by the army and beheaded. He demands to know if Jakotsu is one of the Shichinin-tai, but Jakostu remains silent, staring. 

Patience stretched thin, Miroku tells Jakotsu to answer. Instead, Jakotsu grins and gushes about how in addition to Inuyasha being super cute, the priest is too, and he would LOVE to see his agonized face. 

Hey Miroku, how's it feel? You know, being the RECIPIENT of creepy sexual comments? You uh, feel uncomfortable? Just a little? 

Miroku begins to unwind the beads from around his cursed hand, asking Inuyasha if he's okay with Jakotsu being sucked up, and Inuyasha gives his blessing. Kagome tells them to hold their horses, though, alerting them to the fact that this guy has a Shikon shard, hypothesizing that the power of the fragment resurrected him. Miroku and Inuyasha give her a critical glance before Inuyasha turns back to Jakotsu, demanding to know who gave him the Shikon shard. Jakotsu, one-track mind that he has, observes that Inuyasha's angry face is even cuter. 

Inuyasha draws Tessaiga, shouting at the pervert to shut up, and promising to force the truth out of him. Jakotsu says that Inuyasha's sword is really interesting, and refers to his in competition with it - 

And the phallic symbolism is back in FULL FORCE in this comic. 

Miroku swings his arm out to protect the girls, warning them it's a concealed sword and to get back. Despite its prominent display before and after whatever its little trick is retracts and locks back onto the blade clutched in Jakotsu's hand. He chuckles about it.

Sango says she had thought the way in which the soldiers were killed, as if they were quickly wiped out and didn't even have time to cross swords with him. Can't IMAGINE why this would raise alarm bells. Inuyasha thinks that Jakotsu seemed to be whipping something long, but it also doesn't appear that simple to him either. His pondering on the guy's sword are cut off, almost literally.

The ring of dead men around Jakotsu just does not compare in the least with the severity of a nick on Inuyasha's shoulder, for sure. The source of Miroku and Sango's shock seems to be the bendy nature of Jakotsu's sword, though, by Miroku's exclamation on the next panel. As he winds up for another downward slash, Jakotsu asks if they like it, calling this sword the "attack captain" of the Shichinin-tai. When he swings the sword, he gives them the full name of the thing: "Jakotsu-sama's Jakotsu-tou". Thankfully he doesn't refer to it that way for the rest of his time in this manga, because it's a nightmare mouthful.

... Not gonna lie, that looks utterly ridiculous. 

Jakotsu never really seems to care much about how he looks to others, though, so that checks out. He scoffs and swings his arm again, creating a wave of interconnected blades that Inuyasha barely blocks with a grunt. Or, at least, he tries. The whip-sword bends upwards rapidly again and slices what looks like his thigh, or something? It's not clear. All as the earth breaks up at his feet from the rebound of Jakotsu's sword. Miroku frets about how this weapon bounced back, even after it was deflected, and Kagome yelps that it almost behaves like a snake, Shippou clinging to her side once more. 

Meanwhile, Jakotsu is having a bit too much fun. He's swinging his arm around, commanding Inuyasha to jump around some more. Inuyasha has no choice but to obey, leaping to the side to avoid another encounter with the sword. But the tip whips around the back of his head and nicks his cheek despite his evasive maneuvers. Jakotsu chuckles viciously, yanking the interconnected blades back, while Inuyasha gapes and silently curses about how he can't tell where the blades will come from. 

Really excited, Jakotsu gushes about Inuyasha's great expression, how thrilling it is to him. As he swings again, he shouts that he wants more, but this is followed by a cry of "Hiraikotsu" from the sidelines. Jakotsu finds his chain of blades tangled in Sango's giant boomerang, her frozen in the stance in which she just threw it. At first he quietly seethes about the female presence in the fight now, but it doesn't last long. 

The boomerang is returned to Sango violently in the string of blades and she flinches back along with Miroku and Kagome on the other side, but not in time to avoid a gash to her forearm when she lifts it to protect her face and neck. Kagome immediately rushes over to ask after Sango, who stutters that it's only a scratch. Looking overly sour, Jakotsu yanks his blades back into place on their hilt and then yells at Sango to get back and stop interfering with their fun. Presumably his and Inuyasha's, but I don't know how he can expect Inuyasha is having much fun here, being sliced and diced as he is. 

Especially when he rushes at Jakotsu's flank while the sadist is distracted with his lecture to Sango.

Noooooo, what could possibly be creepy about attaching sexual undertones to slicing into a guy while throwing a tantrum over a woman trying to intervene in the violence? 

When Jakotsu skids to a stop on one knee, having been propelled a distance by the force of Inuyasha's punch, he massages the bruise on his cheek and whines that Inuyasha is really cold. Is it because he's not fawning over how cute you look when you're in pain, or do you just not like it when YOU'RE the one who has to suffer injury? It's perfectly fair that Inuyasha doesn't try to clarify this point when he tells Jakotsu to shut up, though. He asks where Jakotsu got the Shikon fragment in his body from, barking that he had better answer soon.

Nearby...

Can't say I'd expect it - being dead and in the ground doesn't leave room for a lot of personality growth. Just decay.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Man, I'm really feeling how poorly Jakotsu's character has aged over the years during a more critical reading. The literal sadism during the fight that really shoves in your face how he's getting off to hurting Inuyasha, his lack of consideration or a sense of reciprocity when he thinks it's not fair when HE'S the one getting hit, the obvious abject HATRED of women in how he responds to Sango's interference in the battle; all of it reads as the most horrible stereotype of predatory gay possible, and it's really cringe-worthy. Not really the kind of bigoted skew you can ignore in our current year of 2021, much less the very end. 

The one saving grace of all this is the moment where Miroku gets a little taste of his own medicine, having to endure some sexual harassment from someone he's not attracted to for a change. It gives me a little bit of catharsis seeing the guy who just CANNOT keep his fucking hands and comments to himself get a little comeuppance, even though I know there will be NO reflection on this point for him later, despite how much he could stand a little of that. I'm also going to be a tad charitable here and not interpret Jakotsu's focus on how cute the boys are over there as an obsession with his sexual gratification, or at least not JUST that. He comes across as a little ditzy, someone childish who doesn't really consider anything outside of his current interest. He doesn't answer questions, doesn't engage in conversation, just pursues the part of the interaction that he's anticipating and that's all he really wants. While that CAN play into a stereotype of hedonism, it also isn't exclusively negative or aimed at gay men, so I can give that one just a smidge of room. But not more than that. 

As usual, there are rumors that have been flying around the internet for YEARS regarding RT's intentions for Jakotsu, the most prominent being that she only made him a man because she didn't want Inuyasha to beat up on a woman. Personally, I think that's a poor excuse for perpetuating hateful stereotypes about gay people in an extremely popular comic in its day, and sounds to me like she just thought responding to the criticism at the time with "well it would be much worse if I were making my hero commit violence against a woman right?" would give her a pass. I don't know how much thought she gave to the issue when she wrote it (after all, I am well aware of the time crunch she had to have been under in making these decisions for her weekly serialization, as any long-time reader of this blog knows), but it seems like it wasn't a lot because she's had female villains before. It's not like she couldn't have made a female Jakotsu square off against our strong heroines in order to avoid such a problem. 

But hey, far be it from me to encourage some creative problem-solving from an author I KNOW is capable of it.