YuYu Hakusho Manga: 059 A Close Game!!

My husband and I had one of those recently. He's on a racing game kick and downloaded a few to play, so I was helping him test them out, even though I haven't played one of those in a while. It's hard for me to play the competitive games since my drive for competition is close to nonexistent, but it's fun to unlock all the characters and upgrades and such. The two of us were neck-and-neck in one race, when he hit one of the tricks left behind by one of the robot racers, and I thought I was home free for first. He not only caught up, but it was a photo finish - he nosed ahead of me after ramming into my side just before the finish line. 

It was an incredible comeback, and inspired me to go for broke in the next race. After all, NEAR nonexistent isn't NONEXISTENT. 

Great, there's more opportunity for Chu's foot to punch through him like it's done to the platform there. 

Kuwabara has a fist raised and a grimace on his face, but his dialog suggests he's pretty stoked with how Yusuke blocked that powerful kick with just one arm. Must be the arm he's whipping around in circles up there. I have to guess because I certainly didn't see it, lol! Yusuke lifts his OTHER hand, forefinger extended toward Chu in that classic gun shape, tip glowing. Chu looks... confused. 

Yusuke suddenly swings his arm up and points in a random direction, firing off that Reigun shot at a point high behind Chu's head. The top wall of the stadium explodes above the spectators, a MASSIVE chunk flying off in a could of debris. Sure hope Keiko and his MOM aren't near that section. 

Not QUITE to revolver capacity, I see. 

Koto calls Yusuke's display of his own ace sportsmanship to a fault, which is probably an accurate description. It's something she claims has never been seen in the history of this tournament. Kuwabara yells that Yusuke is an idiot, and asks if his long nap addled his brain. It SHOULD be the other way around, but maybe Yusuke is wired a bit different. 

Chu laughs that the nap probably DID have a negative effect on Yusuke's cognitive function, but he professes to like the kid anyway. He must have laughed TOO hard, because he starts to stumble on his feet, belching and expressing some worry. Chu says that he boozed pretty hard while he was sidelined and now he's starting to feel it. Only NOW??? He strikes a semi-wide stance, reaching for the right side of his belt as he informs Yusuke that he also has a specialty. The tiny bottle he pulls from it looks absolutely MINISCULE in his huge fingers, and he identifies it as "Orgesbane", from the demon world, which packs a hell of a punch. He knocks it back like a shot, and Rinku warns everyone to clear the deck.

A pulse thumps through Chu, and he throws back his head, barking several hoots like battle cries. 

Is that some sort of an attack, or does he just think this is a big joke? 

Rinku looks absolutely tickled when he reminds everyone that he warned them, and admits that it's a bit gross, but apparently there's a PRACTICAL reason for the flatulence. He says that Chu always has the clear the "sluices" so the full effects of inebriation can set in. I guess the metaphor of a gate to control the flow of water works... if Chu has constant diarrhea. Anyway, Rinku tells them that they'll REALLY see something now, as the Drunken Fist ritually summons Chu's true self to the human realm. Chu's true wracked with permanent diarrhea self. 

Yusuke just glares, but the exclamation point in his speech bubble indicates some alarm. Kurama says from the sidelines that the sour alcohol smell is fading, the alcohol itself blending with a strong demonic aura. Chu sighs that it's all better now. Oh goodness, I hope he didn't do himself a TERRIBLE mischief. 

Of COURSE this personified nausea's technique is being compared to iffy carnival candy. 

Hiei mutters that he should have FIGURED Chu was an aura alchemist, given how he was creating an alloy mix of alcohol and his pliable demonic aura. But it ain't no philosopher's stone he's producing between the palms of his hands, though the energy does seem to be coagulating there into a spherical shape. Kuwabara tensely observes that it looks a bit like the Reigun's effect, and Kurama agrees, adding that it packs in just as much power. As Chu and Yusuke race parallel to one another, each sporting their own personal energy blast, Kurama says that Chu seems to have worked out the formula in no time. 

Chu asks if Yusuke is ready, and Yusuke affirms that he's that AND able. Again, Chu's foot punches a hole in the platform below as he pitches his energy ball with a grunt, and Yusuke fires off his own through his finger gun, letting out a yell. 

Both shots pop out of existence, cancelling each other out. Hiei declares it a tie. When Yusuke and Chu are suddenly standing face-to-face again, Kuwabara notes that they both rushed in toward each other after their shots. Clearly they were prepared for the blasts to meet and wink out. They're punching each other again, each of them landing at least one hit, as far as I can tell, though that isn't much in this blur of action. If Koto isn't doing her job of narrating this to the audience, at least Kuwabara is, stating that neither of the combatants are blocking, just punching, and it's an all-out BRAWL out there. Hiei drawls that each one is looking for an opening to fire at the other, because at this close range, one shot would be deadly. 

Kurama isn't the only one who's noticed - Chu realizes that this is his chance, and quickly builds a big ball of energy that practically obscures his own midsection. Rinku calls this massive blast "The Blockbuster", Hiei says it's a huge amount of explosive aura that Chu will pay for if the fight continues beyond this point, and Kurama thinks that Yusuke WILL countering it, but that means they'll both be mauled. HOW that would happen remains to be seen, but in fairly short order, thankfully. Chu tells Yusuke to eat this blast, knocking it forward with a powerful hit from his elbow/forearm.

No kidding.

Kurama thinks in alarm that the Reigun can't counter this shot, while Hiei is far more evenly tempered when he thinks that Yusuke landed badly and won't have a chance to dodge. He seems totally neutral on the prospect of Yusuke dying, which, considering the situation they're all in, I suppose is a good thing. Kuwabara, on the other hand, is the exact opposite of placid - horrified, he shouts that Yusuke is going to GET it. 

Regardless of all the doubt of his teammates, Yusuke raises his finger gun to point straight into the oncoming blast. Chu grins, quite confident that because he put all he had into this shot, the Reigun is no match, and Yusuke may as well SPIT at it for all the good it'll do. Yusuke, of course, goes ahead and shoots, surprising Chu with the rapid fire. Kuwabara is even more anxious now, yelling that BOTH of them are going to get it, because Yusuke's shot went directly THROUGH Chu's.

I suppose Yusuke has finally met his match. Kuwabara must be SO jealous. 

When the smoke clears, Koto remarks that BOTH competitors have vanished, wondering aloud if they both dodged or got knocked out of bounds. Her question is answered with the former when she perceives some panting behind her and whirls around to find them STILL facing one another down there. She notes they're still standing, but quite scuffed up, though. No surprise there. 

Sweating, Chu suggests to Yusuke that he just used his fourth shot, and his aura is spent, so there's nothing left but normal human strength. Smiling through his huffs, Yusuke affirms this. A wobbling Chu freely admits that it's the same for him. After a short pause, they both start chuckling. Koto herself is grinning too over them being stalemated and laughing about it, and says she'll never quite understand what makes true combat junkies tick. 

Once the giggling session ends, Chu says they have to settle this regardless, and Yusuke agrees.

Sounds just as unhinged as anything ELSE that's happened thus far. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? The tone continues to be considerably lighter than in the previous two fights, and surpassing the level of levity from the first one. Kuwabara and Rinku's match was comedic in parts to be sure, but there was much more suspicion and enmity between the two, with Rinku genuinely trying to kill Kuwabara. The tension of the tournament was maintained in that less friendly attitude - in this chapter, that tension is somewhat interrupted. 

Because Chu and Yusuke are having much more fun in the ACT of fighting, as Koto points out by labeling them as junkies for combat. Who wins or loses is less the point than the violence itself, the ongoing evolution of a fight, action and reaction. Koto says she'll never understand it, but I think I see in here the shadows of an almost zen philosophy around being in the moment instead of trying to focus on an uncertain outcome or expectation. What matters is the reality of the NOW and immersing oneself in it regardless of the seconds that follow it, because true presence is what allows for the optimal response to current circumstances. 

But maybe that's just me. 

Interesting that the two HUMAN fights have thus far been the more amusing, and the two demons on the team carried much more seriousness. Not sure what to make of that, honestly.