Inuyasha Manga: 214 The Hyakki Bats

I don't care or know much about sports, and the Superbowl has only caught my attention lately as anything OTHER than an annoyance because What We Do in the Shadows has provided me with a beautiful alternative term for it (the Superb Owl Party is a GOAL when the pandemic has finally made its exit). All that said, this title immediately put my mind in the realm of a baseball team name. Just think of it; not only could they have a purple and black color scheme for their uniforms, and a cute bat silhouette for the logo, but also the inherent pun when the team is batting would be gold. They would HAVE to have either the best or the worst batters in baseball, but either way, I would live for it. They would be my TEAM, and I don't even DO that. 

What did you expect? If Naraku doesn't evolve like a twisted Pokemon to withstand all the revenge attacks coming from every angle imaginable, he would kick the bucket, and RT would have to milk a new cash cow. 

While Kagome wraps up Inuyasha's torso in gauze within Kaede's hut, to the left of Kaede, Sango, Miroku and Shippou seated around the central fire pit, Miroku confirms that Naraku has certainly gotten stronger. He also informs Kagome that Naraku is different from Inuyasha - instead of losing his youkai powers on a set day of the month, Naraku makes a conscious choice about when it's going to be. Sango reiterates that this means they can't know when it'll happen, and Miroku looks crestfallen when he admits that he thought they might have been able to defeat Naraku if they could correctly determine when he was inert, but no dice. 

Inuyasha scoffs, asking Miroku what is up with his negative expression. He says that whenever it is, they do know that there is a time when Naraku is inert, and until that time, his plan is to just get stronger than Naraku. Seems like he managed to figure out what I was getting at in the last chapter recap; he DOES have many more days than Naraku's ONE to get his sorry ass in shape. This haughty positivity, but positivity nonetheless, leaves Miroku in awe. He comments on how optimistic Inuyasha can be, only to have Inuyasha get in his face about what that's supposed to mean, and Sango mutters a question to Kagome about if this means Inuyasha ALWAYS intends to come across optimistic and positive. 

Kagome says she has no idea. She's just here for the dog ears, it seems. 

NARROW SKY TRANSITION PANEL!

Okay, which water god is THIS little precious baby being sacrificed to in this poor-people version of the litter from 100 chapters ago?

... Definitely doesn't look like a water god.

The woman at the head of the procession yells up at the winged giant that it's a promise - she'll give up her daughter to him, and in return, he won't attack the village anymore. He leans down so his massive leering face is almost level with hers and giggles that it's a promise. I'm sure the foreboding laughter isn't in any way an indication that he doesn't take his promises seriously. 

Mom turns to the girl on the offering platter, of a sort, and tells her to go to her grandfather now, a very... angry look on her face. Shiori, as she's been called in the previous order, protests that she would really rather not go, because she's scared of her grandfather. The various men who were carrying her earlier have lowered her to the ground, kneeling as they beg her to leave, for the sake of the village. 

So, she walks toward her monstrous grandfather, looming over her even as he's crouched as low as he can go on the ground. Shiori turns to address her mother, who is clutching some kind of leaf to her chest. Probably a symbolic thing I don't know the significance of, but if anyone reading this has an idea, leave me a comment! Mom thinks that this way, Shiori will be able to be happy, the definition of which doesn't usually include living with a terrifying giant grandad without a mom in my experience. But, I guess whatever convinces her that she's doing the best for her kid instead of making both of them progressively more miserable. 

We cut to the open maw of Toutousai's dope skeleton home, where a Kirara changed to her sabertoothed form sits patiently out front. Inside, Toutousai repeats back a request to teach Inuyasha a tough-ass attack that can cut through the strongest barriers, seeming a little confused. Inuyasha asks if Toutousai wouldn't obviously know about one of those kinds of attacks, and demands that Toutousai tell him this information he's already convinced himself the old man has this instant. While he hammers at a blade on a stone in front of him, Toutousai states that there's no attack that's so convenient as that. There certainly was one convenient enough to rip apart the dragon monster that killed Inuyasha's dad, but I guess we're willing to WORK for our bread this time, huh?

Toutousai suggests that Inuyasha should take it slow and steady, practicing his swings properly, complaining that the youngster is rather impatient. When he looks over to where Inuyasha was sitting, having not received a reply, he finds that Inuyasha has disappeared. Toutousai exclaims that Inuyasha has left already, most likely the moment Toutousai didn't hand him the answer he wanted. Hasty indeed. 

Inuyasha is flying down the mountain astride Kirara with his arms crossed in a huff, pouting about there not being any move so convenient as the one he needs. His expression goes even more sour when there's a sucking sound at his neck. He slaps the spot it's coming from and pulls his hand away to let a flattened Myouga flutter down into his palm, greeting him cheerfully regardless. Don't know how the physics of Myouga's descent into Inuyasha's hand on the back of a speeding flying cat works, but okay. 

After Inuyasha acknowledges him, looking somewhat surprised, Myouga perches on a bead of Inuyasha's necklace of punishment and states that he heard Inuyasha's conversation with Toutousai earlier. No comment on the rude eavesdropping, but Inuyasha exclaims in disbelief when Myouga mentions that while Toutousai said what he said, there is ONE way to go about this barrier-breaking business. 

That's a weirdly specific power for BATS to have... Maybe some kind of extrapolation on echolocation? *shrug*

Myouga says that there's been a protector of the barrier for generations, and tells Inuyasha that he must slay whomever is the protector now. Inuyasha looks on with intensity as Myouga explains that the blood from a youkai that could raise such a powerful barrier needs to be sucked into Tessaiga. Apparently, Tessaiga can absorb the powers of a strong enemy when it cuts them, which was totally a thing from the beginning, right? All those times that Inuyasha was slashing at enemies and cutting them before he learned Kaze no Kizu, he has their powers now. Right? This totally isn't exactly what Toutousai said didn't exist a few measly panels ago - a convenient power that allows him to get his sword to counteract whatever he needs it to defeat in the future, a "get out of jail free" card that allows him to just absorb anything that will win him the battle with ease. 

RIGHT?

Anyway, Inuyasha questions none of this, because he's a stupid teenage boy who is excited about the implication that his sword can get stronger. 

And the scene shifts once again before we can think too hard about any of this. 

At least they're not giant?

After yet another narrow sky transition panel, someone yells about a lying bitch who deceived them, and it's Shiori's mom, knocked to the ground by punches and smacks. As she sits up to glare resentfully at them, what looks like the ring-leader of the mob surrounding her mockingly repeats the terms of the trade of Shiori for the Hyakki bats leaving the village alone. He reminds her (because there's no way she doesn't ALREADY know this) that many more have been killed since that bullshit deal was made, then accuses her of being an accomplice of the bats, or at least as good as. That's about as over-baked as an excuse to abuse a woman can be, dude. Just admit that you and your boys feel too weak to attack the bats and are projecting your impotent aggression onto a more helpless target to give yourselves the illusion that you're big strong men defending your village. 

He and the other village men raise their makeshift farm-implement weapons to charge at her - there's one with a HARPOON who gives a rallying cry to get her. But she never gets GOT, shown as surprised at the whacks taking place over her shoulder nowhere near her. 

With a cocky little grin, Inuyasha demands that they tell him where the nest is, while his friends cluster around Mom. Kagome kneels on one side of her, asking if she's alright, and Miroku kneels on the other side, lecturing the men beaten by Inuyasha that ganging up on a woman is cruel. Free and clear to gang up on other men, though? The mob-leader tells Inuyasha they don't know where the bats are, and to ask the fucking woman they tried to murder earlier. Another man takes it upon himself to spill the tea on how, despite being human, Mom got it on with a Hyakki bat guy and had his child. He calls her a "stuck-up bitch" too, just to drive home how bitter he is that she didn't choose to have babies with his classy ass instead. As Mom sits there stewing and glaring, Kagome and Miroku gape at her, the former thinking on this concept of a child with a youkai. Well hot damn if THAT doesn't sound familiar!

By the next panel, they've migrated to another little cluttered hut, in which Shiori's mom asks what Inuyasha and crew intend to do when they find the Hyakki Bats' nest. They are all seated around the central fire pit like they were in Kaede's place, where Inuyasha makes a mockery of the question before he bluntly states that they came there to bust those bats, of course. Mom is shocked by this, and Miroku bids him to hold off on the violent talk, because he wants to address the references earlier to handing Mom's daughter over to the bats. 

He kind of trails so she can jump in and explain what that's about, so she begins with the fact that the Hyakki Bats have nested in the area for a long time, and are terrible buggers that swoop in from the sky to suck the blood of human and animal victims. Think those vampires from The Lost Boys, but... you know, more like genuine bats. But she identifies one alone who was different - a darker-skinned fellow with pale hair, much like little Shiori, who wore his bat wings in a fashion resembling a long cape; again reminiscent of a classic vampire, which is reminiscent of a bat. It's basically just a cryptid based of the cryptid based on the animal. This guy, Tsukuyomaru (with a "dono" suffix added onto the name for good measure), didn't kill humans, and he persuaded the other bats not to touch the village after his daughter Shiori was born. Kagome begins to ask why they were still attacking, and Mom says it's because there was no one to stop them after Tsukuyomaru died, so they renewed their attacks. 

Must have learned his negotiating techniques from the mob... or oil companies. 

Mom says Taigokumaru also mentioned that he and his son had been guardians of their bat barrier, a generational responsibility that is passed down in their particular lineage which Shiori has to inherit. This information takes Inuyasha aback, and Miroku has to ask for clarification that Shiori is a hanyou. Inuyasha wonders aloud if a hanyou kid can have so much power, and after a short pause, Mom observes that Inuyasha looks like a hanyou himself. She suggests that he should understand from experience that hanyou aren't necessarily inferior to youkai, OR humans. Inuyasha listens to the big neon flashing POINT with a placid expression, but Kagome is clasping her hands in admiration for Mom and her non-racist message. 

Myouga appears on Inuyasha's shoulder, asking Inuyasha how he's considering this, and Inuyasha responds with some uncertainty. Meanwhile, Shiori's mom continues, saying that Shiori has the power to fulfill her role in the succession of the barrier - the primary reason for all of this. Mom tearfully claims she thought Shiori would be better off living with the bats, and that the village would be safe, but the Hyakki Bats ultimately broke their promise to her. 

Woah! Okay, that was abrupt, but now we're here I guess. And without a moment to adjust either.

What's wrong, Inuyasha? The thought of murdering a tiny baby a little icky to you?

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Shiori is probably the cutest little character I have ever seen come out of this series, and I instantly fell in love with her from the first time I read this chapter. I think I just really adore RT's little girl characters, because they always tend to get cute designs, but also manage to be distinct characters who are endearing and lovable in their own ways. You'd never mistake Shiori for Satsuki, but I love them both so much and they are just the sweetest babies. Just precious.

The struggle presented with her and her mom is also deeply compelling, because they are caught in a supremely vulnerable position between the hateful abusive villagers and the uncaring abusive Hyakki Bats. The latter won't keep their agreement with Shiori's mother, because they don't consider her on equal terms with themselves and will do what they want without anyone who can stop them, as she put it. The former attack Shiori's mother when the bats continue to hunt them, because they are powerless against their real enemy and want to take out their frustration on a scapegoat. This situation is relatable and does a lot to communicate both Shiori and her mother's characters quickly. Shiori is shy and hesitant, while her mother is bitter and forlorn from the constant resentment of her family from all sides. They resemble a more desperate version of Jinenji and his mother.

As much as I love Shiori and am very intrigued by their precarious circumstances, I'm less impressed with the rest of the chapter. The "I'm out of time, gotta wrap this up" ending to it was jarring, and Tessaiga's previously unmentioned power of absorption is... very poorly executed, if I want to be nice about it. I would assume RT wrote herself into a corner with Naraku's stronger barrier and this was the only way she could think to write herself OUT of it, except that barrier business is HARDLY what I would call a "corner" in writing terms. It could have turned into one, but there is no immediate need to address the issue of getting through Naraku's barrier, especially when the protagonists can't even FIND him most of the time. Not only could this be put on the backburner while they collectively figure out more reliable ways to seek their villain out, but I don't see why Toutousai's advice couldn't be used to enhance Tessaiga's already developed set of powers. I genuinely don't understand why a brand new power has to be introduced when Kaze no Kizu and Bakuryuuha couldn't just be tweaked a bit with a similar quest to the one Inuyasha has found. 

Also, why wouldn't Toutousai, Tessaiga's swordsmith, not be the one to tell him about the absorption power? Was he just there to be an unnecessary naysayer? What exactly was the purpose of him telling Inuyasha that there was no convenient way for him to break really strong barriers when RT literally walked that back a few panels later? Make it make sense!