YuYu Hakusho Manga: 013 Qualifications for a Girlfriend!

Ah, lucky 13 has graced us with an eye-roll worthy title this time. I was hoping for another high-stakes spooky one to reflect the season, but no, we're apparently interviewing potential girlfriends. Do people even APPLY to be a girlfriend? These days, who really knows? From what I hear, the dating scene is getting pretty wild. With dating apps trying to keep their users addicted to their product, young people getting information from older generations that just doesn't apply anymore, and a distinct nostalgia for "traditional" relationship models, there's a lot of confusion out there. Given this is an older manga, no doubt very little of that could apply here, but maybe there's some prototype for the current issues reflected in this one. 

I am. Hopefully she isn't too scarred from that terrifying experience a few chapters back...

Sayaka asks who Keiko is, and Botan responds that she's Yusuke's girlfriend, for which statement she gets a bonk on the head from Yusuke's fist. She yells at him that this hurt, demanding to know what's with him, and he insists that Keiko is a FRIEND, advising Botan not to overstate the relationship. As Sayaka looks serious for a moment, then says she wants to see Keiko, and Botan is down. She asks how Yusuke feels about it, and he responds that they can go for it, implying that he's not interested in going himself. They are in each other's faces, furious, Botan asking Yusuke if he's really not coming, and Yusuke answering in the affirmative. It's a very strange exchange, and one that is entirely pointless.

Sayaka watches a laughing Keiko contemplatively from next to Botan, both of them sitting on the oar. Yusuke is floating in a lounging position behind them, having come anyway, big surprise. 

After a moment of silence, Sayaka asks who Botan thinks is prettier, Keiko or her. *SIGH* Here we go, I guess. Botan makes a dumbfounded noise, so Sayaka asks again which of them is prettier. Sweatdropping, Botan waffles about not really having a perspective on these subjective LIVING WORLD matters, recognizing immediately that they have trouble, with Sayaka developing a crush on Yusuke. 

As she glances at him, Sayaka goes to HIM to ask who he thinks is prettier, and after a questioning noise much like the one Botan gave, his answer is QUITE different. Yusuke says that it's no contest - Sayaka is prettier - while an arrow above Yusuke's head assigns him the label of "irresponsible idiot". Sayaka grins, asking for further confirmation, and Yusuke obliges, calling her a bright and shiny spirit while Keiko is just a girl, and there's really no comparison. This shit is already going to Sayaka's head, and in a very underhanded way, she acknowledges that Keiko IS spretty. Not like HER, of course, but in her own, living, better than average way. 

But Yusuke still isn't done pumping up Sayaka's ego at Keiko's expense. He asks if she's kidding, then squishes his face in with a hand on each cheek, calling it Keiko's "lecture face", which is the only one he ever saw. He quotes her bossily demanding he get his butt to school, while Botan shouts at him not to dig himself in TOO DEEP. For real, dude, do you want this kid to eventually move the fuck on to Heaven or WHAT?? How is she going to do that if she's sticking by him like a lovesick puppy?

Botan tries to explain to Sayaka that Yusuke is a boy, and mushy stuff embarrasses him, so he's unwilling to admit it, but he does REALLY like Keiko a lot. Sayaka lets out a disappointed sound. Again, Yusuke and Botan are in each other's faces, the former asking less than politely for the latter to shut her yap, and the latter asking if he's saying she's wrong. Arms crossed, Sayaka has come to the conclusion that she's not getting a straight answer on this. She's resolved to settle the thing herself, put Keiko to the test, and see if she's WORTHY of Yusuke.

*SIGH*

Yusuke asks for clarification on her little declaration, and Sayaka explains that if Keiko is going to be his girlfriend, she has to be someone who she can respect. She flies off, Yusuke asking what she's up to. Botan begins her explanation by telling him that death sure didn't cure him of stupidity. I don't know why anyone would expect death to cure anyone of ANYTHING, but okay. Botan goes on to tell Yusuke that a big brother Sayaka has just discovered - that is to say, HIM - is suddenly in danger of being taken away by a strange girl, and Sayaka naturally wants a say in that. Yusuke questions the use of the word "suddenly" here, so Botan points out that Sayaka doesn't know how long he and Keiko have been friends. Botan laments the fact that Yusuke had to act all goofy and macho instead of just telling Sayaka that he was in love with Keiko. He complains that he would NEVER say that to a kid, or, at least, not when he's sober.

Bro, you'd be drunk in front of a tiny child before admitting that you like Keiko to that same child? The issues are REAL.

Cut to Keiko reading a passage in French aloud from a book in class, and her French teacher singing her praises for it. I'm studying French myself, but I can't read her quote, so she's doing a lot better than me! Then cut to the corridor, where Keiko's friends are asking to see her math homework, and she refuses to show them and let them cheat. Another girl is asking her to show her how to solve another problem, which I'm guessing she's much more happy to do, given that it's actually helping the other student out. Still, we don't see her respond. 

See girls? If you're not all of these things, you don't deserve a boyfriend!

... Why are you crying??

As Botan asks Sayaka what she thinks of this quality girlfriend material that you certainly don't see everyday, Yusuke wonders out loud about how Botan SOUNDS like she's selling fucking real estate. Yup, this isn't exactly the most flattering way to talk about Keiko, by any means. Sayaka seems unconvinced to boot, acknowledging that Keiko is popular all right, but questioning where her heart is. Holding up a finger, Sayaka says that while Yusuke might like Keiko, there's no evidence so far that Keiko gives a fig for HIM. Yusuke is sweating under the strain of the sheer EMBARRASSMENT this conversation is causing him. 

After a shot of a tree outside the school, we cut to inside another corridor, where a tall boy hails Keiko. This is definitely has ALL of their attention, including Yusuke's, who sweatdrops in his anxiety. The boy, a quite handsome fellow, scratches his temple in nervousness. He starts to say he's been "eyeing" Keiko, but then quickly revises his phrasing to say he's been thinking of her since school started. He asks her out, while the three spirits eavesdrop in tension, though Yusuke wears a surly expression like he's trying to hide it. 

The boy promises Keiko a fun time, and after a pause, Keiko says that she's sure that's true, thanks him, but ultimately turns him down. This seems to move Yusuke to astonishment, at the very least. The now flustered boy asks why, and if she means she already has a boyfriend. Once more, she pauses.

I mean, it's suggestive, but I know I'VE claimed to have a boyfriend even when I didn't just to avoid unwanted attentions before...

The once handsome boy has transformed into a flabbergasted caricature, gaping in mortification at Keiko's rejection as she walks away with a hurried apology over her shoulder. Botan is delighted, chirping that young love is grand and calling Yusuke a lucky dog. Sayaka is glaring in consternation, clearly irritated. Yusuke points out that this proves NOTHING, since Keiko didn't say WHO it was she likes, and it could be Kuwabara for all they know. At this, Botan turns weirdly violent and attacks Yusuke, demanding from amid their cartoon fight cloud that the idiot fess up. He whines about how the harpy needs to watch her nails. 

How does a ghost feel nails? Or the grim reaper HAVE nails? This comic confuses me sometimes. 

Arms crossed, a stern Sayaka allows for their ENTERTAINING the idea that Yusuke and Keiko love each other, Yusuke criticizing her for behaving like some sort of referee at no one's prompting. Sayaka ignores him, raising a finger once more, and saying that now the question is the depth of Keiko's love, whether she loves Yusuke a lot or just a little. Yusuke's exclamation suggests that he is not down with the continuation of this weird probing into his love life.

Cut to a note that Atsuko has left Keiko at Yusuke's house, flippantly announcing she's going away for a while and telling Keiko to take care of her slumbering son. Keiko's hand trembles in anger holding the note, and she fumes at Atsuko. Keiko looks to the side, farther into the house, which is covered in piles of garbage and cluttered. She complains about the pigsty this place is, where there's barely room enough to walk, and wonders aloud how Atsuko could have made this much of a mess in just a few days. Sayaka innocently suggests that Yusuke has had bad luck with parents just like her, but he tells her to cram it. 

Forget "felony sloppiness" Keiko, NEGLECT is actually a crime.

Keiko finds a miraculously clean checkered cloth (perhaps it's a handkerchief, but it looks more like terrycloth), and gently wipes away the dust and grime she comments on covering his face. Botan tells Sayaka as they hover near this scene that Keiko has never shied away from the burden of taking care of Yusuke in his coma. I mean, the alternative is letting Atsuko just kind of bury him in garbage.

Murmuring about one more spot, Keiko wipes it away, and detects a small sigh escaping Yusuke's lips in his deep slumber. She stares at him, heart beating hard, and the spirit audience stares in turn at her while she blushes and regards Yusuke with a romantic glow.

Hoe don't do it. 

The guy is SCREAMING for this to stop. Sayaka, being a little girl, I get not quite understanding the problems with this, but Botan? Girl, I expected better of you. 

Frankly, I expected better of Keiko, too...

Suddenly an announcement sounds from a double-horned PA speaker, from the Neighborhood Association, which warns of extremely dry conditions leading to high fire danger. Keiko sits bolt upright, vibrating with alarm, and it looks like she hears this crackling, buzzing declaration in her EYEBALLS. The speaker, mounted to a slow-driving truck, continues to belt the notification that there have been arson cases in this area, two suspected incidents in progress on another street, so it implores the residents to be on the alert. 

Yusuke is elated that Keiko's move on his UNCONSCIOUS BODY was stopped in the nick of time, and congratulates the Neighborhood Council on their punctuality. Botan and Sayaka grimace in the background, expressing their apparent disappointment that Yusuke wasn't fondled in his sleep. Why are all my girls disappointing me today? 

Keiko is frozen in the wake of her shattered romantic glow, wondering what she was thinking. Yeah, girl, what WERE you thinking? She trots off, mumbling about having to go run some errands for her mom, and promising that she'll clean up later. 

You should be thanking the Neighborhood Council too, by all accounts. 

Sayaka says that she hates to admit it, but that was a pretty romantic moment. More like a pretty CREEPY moment, lol. Botan characterizes it as sweet as all get-out, poking Yusuke incessantly in the back of the head. I suppose this is just something we're all going to have to disagree on. Botan DOES speak fact when she says it got someone all hot and bothered, while Yusuke growls in irritation at her literal prodding. 

While they're flying around, and it looks like Yusuke has started chasing Botan around with a raised fist, someone takes a furtive step out from an alley. Botan catches the hesitant movement and looks over to where a shaggy head has appeared below. 

Was this guy FOLLOWING the Neighborhood Council truck? What a coincidence otherwise!

A widow rattles as he slides it open, and a view of the room beyond shows piles of scattered trash, so it's clear this is Yusuke's house. The arsonist flings his burning can into the room and the room almost immediately bursts into flame, what with all the shit in there to burn. The guy says "ouch" as he's fleeing into the alley again, although I don't see what he did to hurt himself. Maybe the house went up so fast that he got a back-blast of heat that seared his hand or something, because he's holding his fist behind him at an awkward angle. 

Anyway, Botan and Yusuke are watching this, as well as the smoke pouring out from the house. Sayaka makes a dumbfounded comment, and Botan adds that the place is REALLY burning. Yeah, no shit. It's no surprise that Yusuke is the first to react, screaming about arson and how his mother didn't bother to lock the windows. It's acknowledged with all the garbage in there the house is like a tinderbox before Yusuke is shown hovering over his own body screaming at it to wake up, and that they're about to die. Again. 

He tries to lay down inside his body, muttering that he might be able to get in there long enough to get himself out, but he sits up and down to no effect, yelling that it's no good. Botan reminds him through her own panic that he just accessed his body a few days before, and he won't be able to again for another three weeks. Yusuke says that if they don't do anything, all he'll have to access in a few minutes is a pile of ashes. Botan insists she knows, telling him they need to get some help. 

So Yusuke goes to the neighbor, who earns the nickname "Noodle Face" from the way he's slurping up noodles when Yusuke yells at him to check out the fact that the house across the street is on fire. Another neighbor who is *ahem* preoccupied with an adult manga cannot hear Yusuke's screams of fire either. Yusuke reconvenes with Botan and Sayaka, who are yelling fire themselves in the open air, telling them that no one can hear him. Have they all forgotten about the whole "spirit" condition?

Yusuke half-sarcastically wonders aloud if there are any temple-trained sixth-sense dudes in the neighborhood. Botan snaps that things are NEVER that convenient. Then she recalls Kuwabara, but Yusuke tells her to forget it, because that guy could be anywhere, and even if he was at home, he couldn't get there before it was too late. 

I mean, can no one SMELL it by this point? Most of what's burning in there is trash!

Elsewhere, Keiko pauses at the sound of sirens in the distance, and a bunch of murmurs from the other people in the street. A couple of men start running, one of them shouting to the other that he heard there's another fire on Fourth St. The other agrees, saying that there's speculation it's arson again, and yet another man says there's been so many that the fire department can't get to them all. This arsonist has been BUSY - is he part of some sort of arson sewing circle, or what?

Keiko watches these men jog in the direction of the emergency, and notices that they're heading in the direction of Yusuke's house. She dashes after them, thinking that it CAN'T be, but when she arrives, it turns out it IS. Flames are licking out the windows as the crowd surrounding the house talk about arson some more, and how this is the fifth time today ALONE. Keiko is frozen for a moment, thinking in desperation about how Yusuke told her in her dream that he's going to be back, asking her to wait for her. It's contrasted in terrifying clarity with the flames bursting from every opening to the house. Keiko's only all-consuming thought is Yusuke.

Sayaka points her out, drawing Yusuke's attention to the fact that she's come back, much to Yusuke's disbelief. As his body lies among the approaching flames, Keiko grabs the nearest man to tell him that there's someone inside the house. He and plenty of others hear her, but they try to convince her that whoever is in there is done for, and that the fire is spreading way too fast, discouraging her from going in herself, because she's already pushing through the crowd to run to Yusuke's aid. She yanks herself free of any attempts to hold her away from the burning house, yelling at them to let her go.

Wow, they sure aren't trying very HARD to stop her, are they? 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I gotta admit, I started this chapter thinking this was going to be intensely boring for me, and for a little while, it kind of was. Romantic relationships have always been toward the bottom of the list of subjects I find intriguing about the fiction I consume. Sometimes they rise in the ranks, but that's usually when they are no longer in the stage where they're anticipating/denying the romantic connection and already navigating being an out-and-out couple. There's just not a lot that is NEW you can say about two people falling in love anymore, and what little you CAN say is laden with some very CREEPY implications.

Because Keiko leaning in to make out with her childhood friend in a coma? I don't think there are a lot of people nowadays who wouldn't recognize the problems with that if it were a BOY behaving that way toward an unconscious GIRL. At the very least, her protests wouldn't be dismissed as mere token resistance at what she should be okay with, and she wouldn't be told to shut up by spectators. Or, I HOPE that's not what would happen. As it stands, I don't think there's anything contradictory about Yusuke being in love with Keiko too, but wanting to express some kind of agency in when and how they kiss. That seems entirely normal to me, and that he would be denied something like that for some creepy little joke about his machismo is unfortunate. 

That being said, the context of this chapter DID make for a much more comprehensible backdrop for the second half of the drama than the version of it that was in the anime. Sayaka being a kind of exam proctor character was already strange, with an odd impersonal note as though Yusuke hadn't already been building a relationship with Botan and working with her up until this point. That she would take any interest in the relationship between Yusuke and Keiko under that role was almost baffling. Sure, there is SOME logic in her examining his relationships to get an idea of how much he is loved, but on the whole, it didn't seem as important to the determination as it was made out to be. 

In the manga, her being a child developing a crush on Yusuke and "inspecting" his love interest as a setup to show just how far Keiko and Yusuke's dedication for each other goes is a MUCH better and more organic way of communicating their relationship to the reader. And it deftly avoids the problem I mentioned in my first paragraph of analysis above - I was afraid that this would be JUST be a sappy chapter with a side of girl vs. girl pettiness. I mean, it WAS that, to be sure, but it managed to give that a purpose where too many stories just make it the end in and of itself. 

One thing is certain, the stakes have definitely risen in the last few pages.

Inuyasha Manga: 312 The Order

Maybe it's just the time of year, but this title is giving "horror story about a waitress at a restaurant who gets the impression that a long-time customer is asking for human meat". Or even "soldier is gaslit into thinking that an unlawful abusive order is fine and carries it out, only to be prosecuted for it later". Come to think of it, I think I might have to take a crack at writing these myself if I haven't seen them already around before. 'Tis the season, after all, and I've got a ton of fun creepy ideas swirling in my noggin. The true topic of the chapter promises to be creepy enough, though.

Kohaku, being a badass, as per usual.

Some arrows sail forth and take out a few of the "birds" too, fired by a line of archers who are told not to let the monsters near the bedroom, and to protect the young master at all costs. So Kohaku's purposes are aligned with the other staff of the castle so far, at least. As Kohaku slaughters more of the flock, he wonders if they came here specifically because they know that the baby is holed up in the castle. 

This train of suspicion is interrupted by Kohaku tripping over the head of a desiccated corpse on the ground, causing him to fall. Just as he's about to get the same treatment as that corpse, the "birds" are sliced and diced by someone else, a man with a spear who turns and demands to know what he's doing here. Kohaku doesn't answer, just gets to his feet while the men defending the castle assume he's the child of a servant, and tell him to hide himself. He offers what comes across as a somewhat resentful assent, but as he's running away, he acknowledges that the men protected him. 

Blurry sky transition panel!

"Why am I just hearing about this NOW, Kagome??"

Kagome says that there's just one Shikon shard there, so she thinks it's likely. Sango goes quiet, pondering the question of Kohaku being on orders from Naraku again, and what he's planning this time. Inuyasha instructs Sango to go straight to where Kohaku is when they get to the castle, which elicits a confused noise from her.

But who's going to "cleaR" them up while you're doing whatever the hell that is, Inuyasha?

Good as his word, the moment they clear the wall around the castle, Inuyasha tells Sango to go, and she thanks him before she and Kirara (other passengers having disembarked, I assume) rush to search the castle with Kohaku at the forefront of the former's mind. Inuyasha let's off a Kaze no Kizu with little hesitation at the flock streaming in. It tears through the "birds", but bends around some invisible obstruction in behind them, and he is SOMEHOW surprised by this, if the exclamation mark in the corner of the panel is anything to judge by.

Here's a lady who thinks SHE'S the main character. 

Inuyasha calls her a bitch, so RUDE, and asks if she hasn't learned her lesson yet. Abi isn't paying any attention, pondering instead the halberd Naraku gave her that created the barrier around her, thinking of it as the one and only benefit to working with him. After acknowledging this, she addresses Inuyasha at last, asking in turn if he isn't Naraku's enemy, because it seems to HER that he's protecting his castle. Inuyasha expresses frustrated confusion at first, but Miroku appears to have picked up what she's putting down just a moment sooner. By the next panel, though, Inuyasha has cottoned on, and asks about Naraku's supposed involvement with the castle. 

Abi scoffs, telling them that this is precisely what she's trying to figure out, but admits that the only ones offering any resistance so far are the humans. Inuyasha is still somewhat confused, asking her if SHE'S not the one working with Naraku, what the meaning of all this is. Abi denies any real involvement with Naraku, him being the one to approach her of his own accord, and that's it. This gives Inuyasha the impression that Abi has broken ties with Naraku, so he tells her not to get involved any further, because he and his crew plan to be the ones to waste that slimeball. 

Enraged at being told what to do by a hanyou, Abi declares Inuyasha just as much of an eyesore as Naraku, and dives with the halberd extended toward Inuyasha with the resolve to finish HIM off first. Inuyasha directs another Kaze no Kizu at her, because that worked so well the last time. As usual, the halberd puts up the barrier around her, and she scoffs her appreciation for Naraku's protection, even if she doesn't appreciate Naraku himself. 

Inuyasha's sleeve sizzles from the miasma issuing from the halberd. While Inuyasha's friends call out to him in concern, Abi smirks in smug approval of this new ability of the halberd she's just discovered. It's funny that she's only finding all this out after she's decided Naraku is a scrub who doesn't do a single thing for her. She lunges again with the halberd pointed at Inuyasha, threatening to make mincemeat of him, and Inuyasha charges for her too, Tessaiga raised, calling her impudent. Come on, son, you can come up with a better comeback than THAT.

Meanwhile, the "birds" hovering over the castle have decided it's time to kick up the assault on the castle a bit, and have turned to their neat trick of lighting themselves on fire. The castle's defenders are in horrified disbelief that their attackers are on fire, and diving down to ignite the buildings in the compound like tinderboxes. The fire is already outside the lady of the castle's door, one of her servants looking out to assess the flames approaching, which look pretty dire. The lady stutters a question about what they should do when a flaming vampire "bird" comes swooping right at the woman at the door, who cringes back in alarm.

And then it is sliced through, its killer standing defensively behind its corpse with his sickle and chain still held at the ready.

Well, to be fair, the smoke will probably get her first. 

She's a bit preoccupied with identifying Kohaku at first, but Kohaku insists that she hurry. She protests that there are monsters outside, and that she must protect their precious successor. With Naraku's words to protect the baby again echoing in his head, Kohaku assures her that it'll be alright, that he'll protect the infant even if it costs him his life. So much effort for Naraku's changeling...

Kohaku leads the group, Oku-gata-sama in the center of a knot of protective female warriors, through the burning building, killing burning "birds" along the way. The lady's maids complain about how painful it is to breathe, but she urges them to hang in there. Eventually, Kohaku knocks a door out of its track to get out of the castle, and immediately a group of the vampires dives to attack the emerging group. He easily slices through them as a group of castle defenders run up, calling to their lady and her newborn son. Kohaku assures them that the woman and her son behind him are safe. 

That's right, kid's a serious boss.

Oku-gata-sama offers him her sincerest thanks, and Kohaku humbly accepts it. One of the castle guards says they need to get to a safe place, looking up at the sky in worry. Another turns to Kohaku and charges him with staying in front of the lady of the castle, maintaining his protection. Kohaku nods in acquiescence, and just like that, he's in a position of absolute trust. Can't IMAGINE how this can go wrong. 

In the still burning castle, Kanna walks placidly into a courtyard full of desiccated corpses now acting as tinder. She notes that the lord of the castle has been killed by a bird, looks around, and determines that ultimately, the castle has fallen. It is at this point that the Shikon shard in Kohaku's back shines. The command echoing in Kohaku's head changes abruptly from just protecting the baby to GRABBING it and killing everyone else around him.

Things are all downhill from here, unfortunately. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? If I were Abi, I would be highly suspicious at the continued support of Naraku through the halberd, if indeed this castle were a place that was important to Naraku. At the very least, I'd be wondering how much longer these wonderful little perks of the halberd I was discovering would last once it became clear to Naraku that I was trying to attack him. Abi doesn't appear to consider any of this in her spat with Inuyasha, though, and is just delighted at all the lovely things Naraku's alliance affords her, despite denying outright the alliance when pressed on it, claiming that Naraku just approached her and that was it. She appears to view the halberd not as a conditional tool, but as an unconditional GIFT that Naraku cannot just withdraw whenever he pleases.

Abi is acting so conspicuously idiotic that it is all but a foregone conclusion that her role in the plot is to perform the dumbest actions possible so the story can move forward more easily. It's only too clear that if she were competent, this whole arc would have to last a LOT longer, and I'm starting to wonder if RT just didn't have enough time with this character. I'd be curious to learn if Abi and her vampire flock were under-performing in interest from readers, or if RT herself was a little bored of the character and wanted to move past her. Either way, it's not hard to see that Abi is being ushered off stage as quickly as possible.

As usual, I am simultaneously so proud of my boy Kohaku, and dreading his inevitable betrayal of the very trust he JUST gained within this new community. I cheer for him and his confident handling of the situation despite his age, proving that he is more than capable in an emergency at this point, a far cry from the frightened boy who was forced to kill his family when we first met him. But the heartbreak sets in at the end of the chapter when it's clear that history is about to repeat itself with his so newly found family. No matter how strong and confident and self-possessed a boy he's become, he is still under the yoke of Naraku, and that master's commands still override his will.

This poor kid just CANNOT catch a break.

YuYu Hakusho Manga: 012 The Hand of Evil

That's an icy grip a lot of us feel these days, I think. If it's not some micro-managing douchebag leader instructing us all how to live our lives like so many little clones, it's some billionaire's money flooding in to overrule the will of the vast majority of our interests so they can make another buck at all of the rest of our expenses. Whether or not it's "evil" in the classical sense is debatable, since one can chalk a lot of this up to addictive behavior and a societal fixation of the possession of capital as the only indication of virtue. In any case, it's clear that there are largely invisible forces working on us all the time, and even those who consider themselves "free" have a whole hell of a lot less control over their lives than they think. 

And then there are those who feel that lack of control a bit more... acutely than the rest of us, lol.

Eri struggles against the force trying to yank her in front of the oncoming train, panicking at her voice's complete absence. She mentally begs someone to help her, but she seems to be at a lonely crossing, and I don't see a single soul near her. 

But little Sayaka seems to look around in alarm, and announces with confidence that this drama isn't over yet. Yusuke asks her what she's talking about, Botan more kindly when she asks what's wrong, and Sayaka informs them that the curse didn't actually stop. The next panel is just their speech bubbles, but she is implied to be shoving Yusuke toward where Eri is in mortal danger, if his protests are any indication, and Botan promises that they'll be there in a shake. 

Meanwhile, Katsumi is running along herself, alarmed at the curse being burned into her arm, and its power still being in effect, a power she's totally unable to control. She calls to Eri in her head, as if she too has lost her ability to speak.

Ew! What are those tendril things?? They look like they might be slimy...

Katsumi wonders where Eri is in her desperation to find her as she sprints along. The ghost student we met in the last chapter appears next to her, urging her on straight ahead. She comes to a fork in the road and looks left and right, questioning which route she should take. The ghost student points to the right, which Katsumi seems to sense and she dashes off in that direction. Shouldn't... Katsumi KNOW Eri's route home? Or did Eri take a different way? It just seems like she should be aware of all the places that her bestie might be.

As the ghost student watches Katsumi running to help Eri down below, he asserts that this is all he can do, and it's up to her now. Disappearing, he further urges her to hurry, because she's Eri's only hope, the ONLY one able to vanquish that monster she's created in her heart. It's looking like I misjudged this guy. Sorry about that, guy.

Eri notices that Katsumi is on her way and seems to be mute again, but gives her friend a look that clearly communicates the plea for help again. Botan zooms onto the scene on her oar, Yusuke hanging onto the back while Sayaka sits behind her, pointing out where Eri is. Yusuke looks alarmed at the sight of Eri fighting the pull of the dark tendrils of the force pulling her toward the tracks, asking what the hell it even IS. As they hover uselessly over Eri's struggle, Botan explains that it's an accumulation of evil thought that was probably created by Katsumi. 

That DOES seem like an awful lot for one kid.

Botan says that, really, the evil in Katsumi's heart was pretty small, just a bit of jealousy. But transferring that into the tangible effects of the curse, it enhanced the energy and attracted all kinds of evil spirits to grow it even larger. Ripping the curse up was too little, too late, because the amassed evil around her little kernel of jealously has now taken over with a will of its own. 

The train's still speeding toward them, by the way, but simultaneously seems to be taking its sweet time for dramatic effect. Yusuke asks Botan what they can do, having all the answers as she does, but she asserts there's nothing they CAN do. Yusuke yells at her for a cosmic being who professes impotence, but she yells back that she's a GUIDE, not a MIRACLE WORKER. She explains that there are those in the living world that are SUPPOSED to guide and help the young'uns stay on the right path, but those closest to Katsumi really failed her in that regard, instead piling pressure on her that drove her to desperation. Now, BOTH girls are suffering for it. Big surprise. 

But Yusuke lunges downward, vowing not to LET the girls suffer on his watch. Sayaka expresses shocked disbelief, while Botan shouts at him to come back, that this is BEYOND him. There's some sort of time dilation going on here, because Katsumi is STILL some distance from Eri, STILL on her way. There's also a small crowd gathered on the other side of the train tracks, some wondering what Eri is doing, some acknowledging that it looks like she's being dragged by something, and another calling to her that the train is coming and she needs to get off the track. As if she's unaware. She's still fighting against the yanking force, begging it to stop. 

He's... BITING it??? 

The mass of evil spirits he's chewing on tells him to get out of the way, or they'll collectively swallow him whole, a threat the mass seems to find funny. Yusuke himself makes noises of alarmed confusion as a wave of malevolence rears and crashes over him, his clawing hand the only thing poking out of it. Sayaka cries out to him and Botan gapes, through which she says in despair that she warned him. Since when has THAT ever mattered with that kid?

Finally, the force of the curse overpowers Eri, and she is pulled straight forward through the air, something the watching crowd at the other side of the tracks recognizes with morbid amazement. She lands on the tracks with a grunt, and sits up as the train screeches ever closer, looking over with wide, fearful eyes. Katsumi's mouth is hanging wide open in a silent scream, tears flying out behind her as she continues to try to get to her friend's side. She reaches for Eri, but a snap sounds, and her hand comes against a barrier. 

It's the mass of evil she summoned, rising in front of her, asking why she tries to save Eri as she screams in terror. 

Suddenly she's shedding her clothes like a transforming magical girl? This chapter confuses me.

Anyway, Katsumi sees a vision of a younger her, from grade school, holding a slightly crumpled paper in her hands. She identifies it as one of the many times when she had just heard that Eri had gotten a better grade than her on a test. Katsumi always was just second best, and very bitter, because she knew she was going to hear about it from her mom when she got home for coming up short once more. But instead of placing the blame on her shitty mother yelling at her for getting SLIGHTLY less-but-still-good grades than her friend Eri, smaller Katsumi fantasizes about Eri not being around. 

Present!Katsumi shouts at her past self not to think like that, not to start down that dark path. She switches to a vision of little Eri getting pushed around by a couple of boys, recognizing that Eri's being teased again, and that she doesn't feel so bad anymore, just wanting to help a friend. Smaller!Katsumi chases the boys away, jeering them for thinking they're such tough guys as they recognize her and run in fear. She consoles a weeping Eri, telling her to call whenever she's being picked-on for her friend to come and kick their butts. Little Eri apologizes, admitting to hating the way she makes Katsumi worry about her, and wishes she was stronger like her. Again, Eri bursts into tears apologizing, but Katsumi says that this is precisely what friends are for, implying it's rather silly for Eri to say sorry for Katsumi sticking up for her. 

Present!Katsumi is kind of hovering over this scene, laid bare (literally, lol) by her realization that she feels terrible for having the thoughts she had, and Eri melted away all the awfulness. She had thought she was helping Eri, but over a panel of Eri's smiling face calling to her, she comes to understand that it was Eri helping HER. SHE claims to be the weak one, and wonders if Eri will ever forgive her. 

Did she cut it too close?

After a series of triangle panels, a couple of which feature Eri's abandoned school bag and a few people looking out of some windows above in shock, we get a look at Katsumi and Eri's faces, both dazed in the wake of the emergency. They're being approached on all sides by several people, the train having passed, asking after them, the possible MOTIVATIONS for Eri going out onto the tracks in the first place, expressing relief that they made it, and also a grumbling about how Eri appeared to be floating there for a minute. Man, either that train was extraordinarily SHORT, or faster than I thought possible, huh?

Katsumi is amazed that they're still alive, and after a moment of stunned disbelief, Eri throws her arms around Katsumi's neck, bawling that she was so scared. She acknowledges that Katsumi saved her, though Katsumi pulls away and denies this. Eri makes a confused noise. 

There's going to be a whole lot more crying on the way, I'll wager. I wouldn't stop crying for a WEEK.

Botan in still on her oar, her summary of events being that Katsumi's unwavering will to save her friend defeated the evil spirits. She supposes that in hindsight, the spirits didn't stand a chance. I don't know, I still think there was MORE than enough potential for this to turn out REAL bad. Botan asserts that the two of them will be alright now, though. Sayaka, however, is a little preoccupied with where Yusuke got to. Botan answers that his rash valor knocked him straight out of this world. LITERALLY. He's shown floating out in space over the planet, uttering a confused greeting for anyone that might be able to help him. Ghost in space!

Back in the faculty room that Eri was talking with her advisor before, someone gushes about BOTH girls getting perfect scores in all their subjects. Eri's and Katsumi's advisors sit across from each other while the girls stand off to the side, Eri's in particular holding up a paper and boisterously announcing that either of them would be a shoo-in for the exclusive private high school. He also assures them that whoever ends up NOT going will have no trouble getting into another very fine school. The girls tell him that they actually have a request about that, and he tells them to go ahead and ask. They ask them to please pretend that no choice has to be made, to which both men jovially tease that this could be arranged, but a moment later they fall into silent confusion. Then Eri's advisor SWELLS in his anger demanding to know what it is they mean. The girls say that they've decided they're BOTH going to another high school, an all-girl's school. 

The men immediately protest, the exclusive high school they were competing to get into being the tippy-top of the country in terms of education, insisting the girls think about the prestige this would afford them. Eri's advisor promises that they'll write the one who doesn't go to the exclusive school a glowing recommendation for a ANOTHER good school, so they can both get into excellent places. He's literally pleading with them to take this nice deal, which is the bare minimum of what he should have been doing if one of them were going to the fancy school to BEGIN with. 

Katsumi thanks him, but says they've decided on what they're going to do, as friends and not rivals. Eri follows up with the assertion that they'll decide on their own futures. 

Most of these prestigious schools aren't much more than a famous name and a few celebrity endorsements anyway. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? A feel-good ending, especially considering all the grisly directions YT could have gone with this one. My suggestion that the ghost student could have been an evil spirit all along was one of my tamer ideas about how all this could turn out - since the curse was burned into Katsumi's arm, I was convinced for a while that the offending arm might get ripped off to ultimately stop the evil. Of course, this isn't THAT kind of comic, often going for the warm-fuzzy feeling rather than the more extreme toward the end, and the final image of the girls laughing together does make me pretty happy for them. After being pitted against each other by all the adults in their lives, having to compete for the kind of education that should frankly be available to EVERYONE, it's nice to see that they've opted out of that toxic race altogether and valued their friendship much more highly. 

At the same time, the things I've mentioned strike me as missed opportunities, writing-wise. When a story shows me a ghost haunting a girl, insisting that he's trying to help her, but also admitting he's been summoned by a curse against her, I expect a writer to DO something with that. If not revealing him to be lying, then showing him struggling not to fall into line with the curse AGAINST the girl he's trying to save. When a story shows me that a sigil has burned itself into a girl's skin to avoid it's being destroyed easily, I expect a writer to DO something with that. And if it doesn't fit the vibe of what a writer is going for, then I expect something different to happen. Say that, SOMEHOW, the paper has become indestructible, or the sigil has appeared somewhere in her clothing that she doesn't immediately notice. THAT would also give an additional excuse for YT to take her clothes off in that one scene, lol!

Although, I have to admit that her being naked in her vision, as a metaphor for her true emotional state being laid bare, was really good visual shorthand. So often girls are stripped naked for no reason but reader titillation, so it was nice that there was an actual legitimate reason for it here.

I do have one additional complaint, though - there wasn't anything whatsoever for our main characters to DO. YT kind of hangs a lampshade on it, but it's disappointing to me that Yusuke does nothing in this chapter other than biting a mass of evil spirits and getting launched into space. The one action he did take made no difference, so ultimately he, Botan, and Sayaka were all just hovering around watching how things would turn out. It's oddly passive for characters that have been at least marginally involved in how things turned out in previous chapters.

Inuyasha Manga: 311 The Castle

There are certainly no shortage of THOSE in this setting. They're the only dwellings that compare in number to small abandoned buildings/shrines that the Inuyasha group can hunker down inside for the night. It's an interesting dichotomy built between tiny, empty shacks and massive mansions packed with staff, even if I don't necessarily think it was RT's intention to do so. It inadvertently says something about a world that would need to accommodate drifting teenage adventurers without tying them down to a living community. And that's to say nothing about some of the castles/mansions being illusions built by a malevolent demon douchebag. 

Oh, that's fine. I was that kind of a baby too, and as far as I know, I'M not a changeling.

As far as I know. 

The mother of the child looks down at him with a melancholy expression, musing on how the terrible events the night he was born seem like a dream now. All those who were in the birthing room died, and she can almost recall immediately after that a couple of blurry figures were in her presence as well, but she can't actually remember more than that, as her memories of that night have faded daily since. 

At the sound of the name "Kohaku" coming from outside, she looks over at a boy carrying a bundle of firewood on his shoulder, being warned not to walk the way he is. He pauses to look back, giving the lady of the castle a bit longer to examine his freckled face. 

Yoooooo, it's my BOI! 

The old man accompanying Kohaku, forces him to to kneel and bow, pushing his face straight into the dirt, and explaining to the lady that Kohaku has only just become a servant so he doesn't quite know how to act yet. She says she doesn't mind, but asks to see Kohaku's face a little clearer, and Kohaku lifts his head compliantly so she can more closely look at him. She hesitantly asks if she hasn't seen him before, but the old man shakes his head vigorously, insisting that wouldn't have been possible, because this lowly child would not have met someone of Okugata-sama. Kohaku agrees, instead of returning the careless "fuck you" the old man basically gave him. That, in itself, is true nobility.

The lady hangs her head a little, supposing it was just her imagination then. Later, while Kohaku is sitting on the edge of a porch with the old man, munching on snacks being produced at a nearby sunken fire with many other servants gathered around, he says that the Okugata-sama seems really nice, to which the old man agrees. An interim panel shows a misty memory of Naraku ordering Kohkau to stay at the castle with Kanna and protect the baby, information that probably couldn't be shoved into a more convenient corner. Kohaku is back at work with the firewood, interacting with other servants, being directed by them, and thinking about how peaceful the castle is.

Ah, the wonders of being a part of a community, and NOT being isolated with a malevolent demon and his sullen children. 

Cut to the town surrounding the castle, where someone among the bustle of the large settlement says they've only heard vague rumors about a flock of flying blood-sucking monsters, but when Miroku presses him about the activity around here, says he hasn't seen a thing. The interviewee turns to indicate the castle standing behind him and says that he doesn't think anything would dare attack the lord's mansion besides. 

The group strolls on the busy street, getting some looks from the locals, but the only one who seems to notice is Shippou, who looks right back from Kagome's shoulder. Inuyasha placidly restates that there's nothing around here either, which indicates that they haven't been having much luck in their search for the bird nest. Kagome says there isn't much they can do, since they have zero clues about where it could be. Miroku is strangely somber when he declares that they have no choice but to stay at an inn here, and Sango repeats his phrasing of having "no choice" with a bit of skepticism. To no one's surprise at all, she's dragging him by the collar in the next panel, away from a couple of women outside a building who are complimenting him on how handsome he is and pleading with him to come in and stay at their establishment. Sango asks him in clear irritation where he thinks he's going. Girl, it ain't worth it, just let him go already. 

Narrow sky transition panel!

I always wince when I see this place - looks like a location conjured by my nightmares if my brain is planning on jolting me awake with a falling dream. 

That's Kagura sitting in the window there, because she really doesn't have to worry about falling, looking somewhat bored upon closer inspection. But in reality, she's mulling over how Hakudoushi doesn't have a heart, and no matter how much you rip him apart he won't die. She glares back into the precarious hut out of her periphery, where he's sitting against a little half-wall, wondering WHERE his missing heart is. 

As if he senses her focus on him, he looks over and asks Kagura what she's thinking about. She tells him to shut his trap, because she's at least still free to have private thoughts. Gotta assert whatever freedoms you have when you have them, no doubt. A flock of those vampire terror birds passes at some distance, at the head of which is the figure of Abi, to Kagura's mild surprise, apparently. She also, apparently, hasn't ever seen Abi before, because she can only suppose that it's her. I guess their own supply of birds to attack the pass a few chapters ago were not handed over in person.

Hakudoushi joins Kagura at the window to order her to follow them, warning her to just observe and not do anything unnecessary. Kagura asks what he means by "unnecessary", but we don't get to know precisely what he's getting at, because we switch to Abi's point of view.

Are you sure? Because I would have thought that the alliance with Naraku was on a downward trajectory the moment it was made.

She remembers her mom's massive eye peeking out of the darkness of the cave as she explains that this Hijiri-sama person seems to be a hindrance to Naraku. Even from the seclusion of her cave, she noticed that there were youkai everywhere in the sky doing a blanket search for that single thorn in Naraku's side - Abi's mom used the birds to spy on these efforts. Through this spy campaign, she was able to ascertain that there was ONE area that the hordes of youkai didn't approach, which was the sky above a certain human castle, and she deduced that there would be no need to search it if it were connected to Naraku. 

So, at her mother's advice, Abi is going over there now, to see what happens when she attacks the castle. But a swarm of Saimyoushou buzzes up to her while she's on her way, and she asks aloud if they're here to watch her. She's not really looking for an answer; she points out the insects to her birds, and they tear the wasps apart dutifully at her direction. She keeps flying along, apparently in a hurry to see what this castle is all about, and merely looks over her shoulder to where the bugs are being dismembered to tell them to suck it. 

Take that, Naraku. Of course, Abi fails to realize that the Saimyoushou are not the only things following her. 

Are we really surprised? I mean, the guy's only talent is making enemies. 

Night has fallen at the castle, and Kohaku and his elderly companion are laying on parallel futons while a few men sit around some sort of game nearby. The old man is asking about what Kohaku apparently told him about not remembering his parents at all. After Kohaku confirms this, the old man asks if he lost his parents in a war, but Kohaku is only able to answer with a verbal shrug after a short uncertain pause. At first, all the old man can do is say that he sees, but then talks about what a good thing it is that Kohaku was picked up by the castle staff. He says all the people who work here are like a family. UGH, all I can think of now is toxic corporate culture in just about every shitty company I've ever worked for... But Kohaku seems to be satisfied with this characterization, at least, and agrees. 

Suddenly, everyone in the room looks around at a sudden outburst of screams outside. 

Because Kohaku isn't allowed to have any kind of family without losing them, apparently. 

As the castle guards are being drained by the vampire flock, someone opens the door to the servant quarters just a crack to ascertain the situation, his exclamation of disbelief cut off in shock and horror. The old man joins him at the door, and he stutters about youkai birds, Kohaku hovering in the background. Maybe he's too loud, or maybe one of the "birds" just happens to look their way, but either way, the next targets are acquired and the vampires lung for the door. The man who opened it gets his neck pierced by a beak, and he lets out a shout of pain and alarm. 

The old man pushes Kohaku back, warning him to watch out in genuine concern. Kohaku heeds the old man, but only to go back to a trunk next to his futon and rummage inside it, keeping one eye on the carnage at the door. From it, he pulls his sickle and chain, and just as the old man is about to be speared with a beak like the other man, sprawled on the floor from a trip and unable to get back up and run away in time, the birds' heads are sliced clean off. 

Witness Kohaku's badassery. This kid is an inspiration. 

He runs straight over the vampire corpse he created, towards the DOOR. You know, that portal leading to even MORE of these things? The old man calls to him, and Kohaku pauses only to turn and instruct him to close the door after he's left, and not to come outside. As he's making for the door again, there's a nagging Naraku voice at the back of his mind telling him yet again to protect that baby. 

Said baby is huddled against his "mother's" breast in another room in the castle, surrounded by female warriors with naginatas and waiting maids. One of the ladies by her side whimpers to her, but she assures the woman that it'll be alright. Like a mantra, she says that the baby is here in her arms, and all the people in the castle will protect him, even at the cost of their own lives. The little guy is, even now, snoozing peacefully despite all the chaos happening around him. Okay, fair, THAT'S pretty weird. At this point a normal kid would be screaming, no matter HOW chill his disposition. 

Meanwhile, Inuyasha and crew are on the trail of the vampire flock's silhouette in the sky, looking like a murderous cluster of bats. Inuyasha exclaims that the "birds" are back out again, running in their direction with Kagome riding piggyback. On Kirara the other teammates rush on in parallel, Sango pointing out that the castle they were just at was being attacked. Suddenly, Kagome senses a single Shikon shard.

Why didn't you notice this the FIRST time you were there, girl?

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Kohaku has always been one of my favorites in this series, because chapters and small arcs centering him always end up being incredibly fascinating. His position is one of juxtaposition, between his fundamentally sensitive, gentle, caring nature and the villain who is using him and his skills to manipulate his sister in the main group. Kohaku's two sides, youkai exterminator trained from an early age to deadly precision, and gentle eleven-year-old boy, are in constant conflict, and his master has to keep his memory blocked in order to make sure Kohaku doesn't completely BREAK before his usefulness has worn out.

This chapter showcases how deeply his human need for community and family extends through his musings over this feeling he has that he was living in a very similar situation to that of the castle sometime before. Despite the strict social rules that he got his face ground into the dirt for breaking, and trying to learn the ins and outs of his new role, he seems a lot more relaxed than at some of the other times we've seen him. It's notable that every time Kohaku is back with humans, he has to marvel at how much nicer it feels, how much more at ease he is. 

And then, at the end of the chapter, he has to return to the cold badassery that he needs to adopt when carrying out Naraku's orders. He springs into action immediately, doesn't even appear to need to THINK about it. I'm not sure if this is because he's NOT thinking - Naraku's orders echoing in his head. It might be that Naraku is whispering to him in real time, or it might be the memory of the command to protect the infant, but either way, Kohaku DOES pause in his carrying out of that command to warn his new grandfather figure to close and bar the door behind him and not to go outside. It's interesting to see the little ways in which Kohaku manages to express his autonomy whenever possible. 

I am curious as to why Kagome didn't detect the Shikon fragment in Kohaku's back when they were still in the town surrounding the castle, perhaps even right outside its gates, and now is detecting that very fragment far OUTSIDE the town in the woods. RT's sloppiness over when and how the abilities of her characters work seems to depend entirely upon whether it's convenient to her plot or not, once again. 

But hey, love that Abi continues to be incompetent as usual. At least she's consistent.