YuYu Hakusho Manga: 018 The New Mission!!

As if I should be excited. It's not always the best thing to have a mission assigned to you. In times like these, I feel called to act in all manner of serious issues, but I don't FEEL GOOD about it. There's this overwhelming feeling like I and everyone else around me are fighting against a nightmarish hydra of cosmic horror proportions, and the hopelessness of it grows with every passing day. And I'm no spring chicken, alright? I've been around the proverbial block, and I know from experience that the work we're asking the youth to do these days to create a more just and healthy world for themselves is downright UNFAIR.

It's especially unfair when we're RESURRECTING them in order to put them in the fight, dammit!

Gotta make sure we stress that nothing inappropriate happened there. Keep your thirsty speculations out of this small time gap, fan-brats! XD

Yusuke is standing there, watching all the people chattering in the street, laughing together, children playing, all with the sparkling perspective of one who has not been able to partake in even the mundane parts of life for a while. He sighs that it really is great to be alive, which in and of itself is a somewhat discordant message of gratitude for this famously action/violence-oriented manga, but lovely nonetheless. Yusuke examines the palm of his hand, considering his time as a ghost and how it was one heck of an experience, but nothing beats life, after all. He blurts out, to the alarm of his neighbors in the street, that he feels so good that he could pick a fight with anyone or anything. 

This isn't really saying much coming from a guy who would pick a fight with anyone or anything when he was in a BAD mood too.

Uh-oh, I wouldn't be targeting a guy who just declared to the whole street that he's in the mood for a fight if I were a street psychic. Seems like a real dangerous game to be playing. 

Yusuke asks if the psychic is talking to him and she says she is, and begins motioning over the little glowing crystal ball in front of them, saying that Yusuke was born under strange stars which bestowed upon him strange traits. Wearing an amused grin, Yusuke asks for more specific examples of these traits and wonders what would happen if he told her that he was a ghost until yesterday. The psychic remains vague, mentioning that they amount to the talent and skill for his true mission in life, and he just scratches his chin in confusion at that. Then he turns to go, apologizing if she's trying to get him to sign up for something, because he's not interested - had enough of occult stuff to last him a lifetime. He says his only mission in life is to get his kicks while he can, and leaves the psychic sitting there speechless. 

Putting on a pair of shades, Yusuke retains his grin and says it's about time he got started getting those kicks. He's planning on starting with kicking back with a smoke in a cafe, which took me aback a little, because I don't remember smoking ever being allowed in cafes during my lifetime. The differences in culture and time I'm observing in these comics never fail to astound.

He slides up to a place called "The Far Cry", a name I assume is much in the same meaning as that series of games. Two guys walking toward Yusuke conveniently exposit how this is a Kasanegafuchi Junior High hangout, and they're getting pretty thick around these parts. As they pass Yusuke, both sweatdropping, they're talking about how it won't be long before they challenge Kuwabara's gang for their turf, and how it's a same the guy they JUST passed by isn't still around. Seems like Yusuke was missed in more ways than he imagined.

Without a word, Yusuke walks into the cafe, triggering the bell above the door. 

I'm sure he's sorry to disappoint.

As Yusuke sits down with a drink in the corner, he observes the unfriendly-looking group above and determines that they are indeed Kasane guys. He compares them to roaches moving in during his absence, and we're shown a little simple map depicting where Yusuke's school, abbreviated as Sara Jr. High in the lower left corner of the map, close to this cozy little cafe they are sitting in at the moment. On the other side of a river, named the River Sticks (wow, THAT'S booping us all on the snoot pretty hard, isn't it?), sits the similarly abbreviated Kasane Jr. High closer to the upper right corner. We're assured by the panel's third-person voice that it is to Yusuke's credit that this "gangster prep school", as it is known, didn't expand their territory. However, according to this map, the current turf distribution for Kasane is pretty wide, extending out slightly past the cafe and dangerously close to Yusuke's own school. These preppy posh gangsters mean business, apparently.

By the next panel, Yusuke has taken off his shades, but whether it's just because he's indoors or because he's maybe hoping to get recognized and get into a little brawl, I couldn't say. What I CAN say is that it's at this moment he notices something odd about the kid with the darker hair and glasses smoking in the center of the gang at the nearby booth - he appears to have horns protruding from his forehead a little below his hairline. That's weird, right? Yusuke takes a sip of his drink, also observing that this kid looks to be the leader of the pack. 

He picks up the start of a conversation about how Kuwabara is late, much to his mild surprise. A couple of the center kid's surrounding goons asks if there's a chance he'll ditch, and how their leader is so sure Kuwabara is going to show up. Issuing a jet of smoke from his lips, the leader reiterates that he's certain Kuwabara will meet them, because they have an ace in the hole. Rather than elaborating on what this could be, he shifts gears to tell his gang that he instructed Kuwabara that he and his friends should shoplift some manga on the way over, implying that this could be the reason Kuwabara is taking so long. Yusuke himself has got a little comic open at his table, and internally scoffs at the fat chance that is, because he knows that Kuwabara lives to FIGHT, and he's not one for stealing or extorting stuff. He is, at heart, a cinnamon roll.

The bell at the door jingles again. 

I'm getting to be very attached to Kuwabara's group. Just LOOK at those precious faces!

Kuwabara strides right for the gang's table, demanding to know where "Eikichi" is, wanting to see him. The gang leader cooly tells "Kuwa-chan" to hold on for a moment, asking if he's got the goods. Growling in frustration at his infantalization, Kuwabara produces a paper bag and throws it on the table, a corner or two of an manga magazine poking out of the corner. This is shocking to Yusuke, in disbelief behind his own open manga cover. Kuwabara asks if the gang leader is happy now, and demanding once again to see Eikichi. 

So he didn't shoplift after all!

Kuwabara asks what the hell difference it makes, and his tormentor responds that it makes ALL the difference, because he was SUPPOSED to enjoy the thrill of stealing them. And I'm sure you were SUPPOSED to just enjoy good grades and an illustrious career that has nothing to do with shoplifting, but sometimes we're disappointed, aren't we?

Anyway, the gang leader accuses Kuwabara of reneging on their deal, and taps some ash from his cigarette as he demands Kuwabara apologize. After Kuwabara makes a confused noise at the order, the gang leader smirks, calls him a "sleaze", and tells him to get on his knees to beg forgiveness for breaking his promise to steal some fucking comic books. I... guess apologies have been given for less... 

Kuwabara's friends are indignant, hissing through clenched teeth that this scumbag is asking for it, but Kuwabara tells them to shut it, and the only thing they dare utter after that reprimand is a stuttering of his name. He slumps to his knees obediently and with some difficulty spits that he's sorry for breaking his promise. The gang leader pretends not to hear him, so Kuwabara has to yell that he's sorry, perfectly humiliated. He asks the gang leader if he's happy NOW, and demands Eikichi back once more. 

Yusuke is struck by how bizarre the display is, and all for someone named Eikichi, while the gang guffaws at how pathetic Kuwabara is for actually groveling before their nerdy little leader. 

Hey man, there is a REASON the internet revolves around cats, okay?

Yusuke topples over in absolute shock in the background as Kuwabara chokes about his kitten Eikichi. The gang takes turns making fun of the fact that the top dog at Sarayashi Jr. High is a joke, pissing himself over a pet cat, and Kuwabara accepts this as all true, begging them not to hurt Eikichi. The guy holding Eikichi waves and rattles the little creature around, singing "wussy wussy 'lil pussy", and Kuwabara (and I) panics with the plea to stop. Kuwabara's friends are all sweating nervously, muttering about how the gang is going way too far, because Kuwabara is nuts for cats and Eikichi is his baby. 

CINNAMON ROLL.

Yusuke is still watching all this from behind his manga, peering at the gang leader, who says that they haven't done enough until Kuwabara gets with the program and tastes evil - it's fun and will prevail in the end. This guy needs his brain erased. Conveniently, he starts talking about Yusuke, how the previous leader of Sarayashi Urameshi was a real hard case that was a problem for them for a long time. He says he heard that Urameshi died saving some kid, and giggles about this being where doing good deeds gets you. A couple of his gang members mutter that they heard the zombie of old Urameshi kicked the shit out of Motomoto recently, and therefore suspect that he's not really dead. A couple more members openly laugh over this, countering that the word is those guys there were pretty wasted at the time, so it's clear they're not taking any claims they made seriously. The gang seems pretty split on the issue. 

The leader himself is in the latter camp, dismissing dead people altogether and abruptly suggests they all step outside for some air.

Maybe just accept that Kuwabara isn't all that inclined to do evil, my dude? What's your investment in converting him anyway?

Instead of giving Kuwabara up as a hopeless case of goodness and light, the gang leader points at Kuwabara's friends and commands him to knock them all out. Apparently they've been giving him the stink-eye the whole time they've been conversing, and the gang leader wants Kuwabara to pound them until he says to stop. Not more homoeroticism sneaking into the dialog here. As the flunky holds up Eikichi for Kuwabara to see, the gang leader counts to three in order to give Kuwabara a time limit. 

Kuwabara sweats heavily, grinding his teeth, but when he curls his fingers into a fist, he haltingly says he won't do it. The gang leader glares at him through his glasses, then holds up his cigarette so the smoldering end of it is aimed straight at Eikichi's big kitten eye. He tells Kuwabara to beat the shit out of his friends, or the cat will lose it's sight. The little creature is impressively sanguine as the cigarette comes close enough to singe the fur near its eye. It has ZERO fear for a little guy who just got whipped around in the air by the guy holding him. 

Kuwabara is clenching his jaw in sweaty tension again, and his friends encourage him to just do what the little evil fucker says, telling him that they can take the beating, and pay it forward to the gang once they hand over Eikichi. Maybe don't announce that, in case they decide they'll keep the cat to prevent it? Regardless, Kuwabara refuses again, emphatically. At this point, the gang leader's eyes are ringed with wrinkles from how hard he's glaring. He's just expounding upon his intentions to make good on his threat when a fist flies in from off-panel and shatters the jaw of the guy holding the kitten, gently seizing it with the other hand. Gang leader, Kuwabara, and gang members all gape in utter shock at the sudden assailant.

I LOVE that this slicked-back hairstyle has been characterized as "battle mode". Fucking SICK.

The whole gang is up in arms, freaking out about Urameshi's presence as if they're really seeing his ghost, screaming and carrying on. Where have I seen THIS before?

Same energy.

Kuwabara is half grinning, half twitching as he is overwhelmed with disbelief that the guy actually made it back from his near-death experience, his friends reacting with the same level of alarm as the gang members opposite them. Kuwabara recovers quicker than the rest of them, though, and looks back at his crew, shouting them out of their stupor as well. He points out the group of buttwipes in front of them, who are still kind of dazed with alarm, and pounces, encouraging his friends to sic 'em as well. 

There's a flurry of punches and hits, the scuffle carrying out in front of the gang leader, who is just kind of panicking on the sidelines. He looks between the mass fight and the lurking figure of Yusuke advancing on him in his sudden cowardice, whimpering about how much this sucks. Yusuke holds up a fist and grins, cracking his knuckles, telling the gang leader that he's forgotten something. He grabs the gang leader by the collar to prevent him running away when he turns to do so, screaming a pathetic no on his way. 

Down like a sack of bricks.

Yusuke calls the fallen gang leader a lowlife for hurting a defenseless kitten, which is definitely a generous term. But as he looks down at the douchebag, he hums in question. Out of the unconscious gang leader's gaping mouth reaches a tiny arm, soon followed by the head and torso of horned and fanged creature. It's rubbing it's own skull and whining in pain when Yusuke leans down and asks it point blank what it is. It answers that it's OUT OF THERE, and in a blur attempts to flee, but a close-up on Yusuke's eye communicates that it's a quick one.

The little creature insists that this is impossible, that no mortal should be able to see him, but is unable to deny that Yusuke not only saw him but caught him with bare hands. I hope it's not secreting some poisonous sweat or something. Yusuke asks in exasperation if this little tapeworm thought he'd let him get away, and said "tapeworm" is further astonished that Yusuke can UNDERSTAND him as well. I guess one doesn't have to be a SKILLED villain if one is relying on no one being able perceive one in any capacity.

At a voice off-panel congratulating Yusuke for his capture of a wanted criminal for five previous convictions, Yusuke looks over his shoulder to find that the street psychic from earlier is approaching him. She says the little demon's specialty is taking advantage of someone's dark side and leading them down the path of evil, with a very familiar GUIDE-like cadence. She looks over at the unconscious gang-leader while Yusuke is still kind of hung up on the fact that she's the fortune teller from earlier, and further explains that the tiny criminal Yusuke has caught prefers souls already inclined to his influence, which, uh, duh. Path of least resistance and all that. The street psychic says that she was actually on her way to assign taking custody of the now sullen demon still clutched in Yusuke's hand, but he's already taken care of that, so she tells him he's done good work yet again. 

She points at Yusuke, informing him that he has the instincts and abilities to track down/deal with these kinds of otherworldly threats, and announces that he's going to make a GREAT underworld detective. Rather than being proud, Yusuke looks like he's aiming a snarl at the fortune teller, as the demon in his fist complains that he can't breathe. Oh great, he's already following the police-violence shtick. Fantastic. 

Yusuke demands to know what the flippin' ding-dong she's even talking about, asking who she is anyway, and she responds with a hum about how soon we forget. She pulls down her hood, revealing a perky ponytail, at which Yusuke grimaces in alarm. 

He clearly doesn't like her as much as the readers do.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Definitely on Yusuke's side at the end of the chapter. Granted, I do like the new direction that the manga is exploring, and I did like it when I first saw it in the anime, because it seems a little more active and challenging for our main character. Still, I am totally empathetic to a kid who only JUST woke up from a coma and is just starting to appreciate being able to live his life again, being summarily assigned a whole-ass JOB by the people who are presumably linked to a kind of near-death trauma. There was no discussion of this with Yusuke, no OFFER of this position, his autonomy is just steamrolled over for the convenience of Koenma. I am very curious to see where Koenma is coming from on just ORDERING Yusuke to go out and grab underworld criminals for him, because I wouldn't be surprised if it's mostly due to his habit of looking at everyone around him as an idle underling - being a little prince of the underworld isn't likely to allow you to see anyone's autonomy very clearly, if at all.

I'm pretty amused with our villain in this chapter. The smug evil was so over the top, and the reference to a conflict between good and evil with the declaration that the evil would win in the end was funny enough to have me laughing out loud in a couple of places. It was fitting that the kid was merely possessed by some mediocre little demon creature, because every single thing that he was demanding of Kuwabara was so absurd. He stole Kuwabara's poor little kitten to force him to... steal some comics and beat up his own friends? Lame, and definitely not going to convince Kuwabara of how awesome being bad feels. Whoever this little evil influencer is, he probably should get a day job, because this shit is weak sauce. 

Kuwabara being motivated by love of his kitten is so him, which is perfect, no notes. But the poor thing DID disappear toward the end there, probably because it would have gotten in the way of Yusuke decking the antagonist. I can imagine YT getting a little tired of drawing it, because sadly, he doesn't seem as able to put the expressiveness in the animal as he has been putting it in his human characters. No reactions from little Eikichi at all, as far as I could see, not even when being handled roughly. I would have expected much more attempts at scratching/biting/writhing. Maybe I should be happy for him, as he clearly hasn't had the misfortune of seeing a cat in distress before writing this.