Inuyasha Manga: 326 The Return

The return I'm noticing a lot lately is that of spring. My yard just kind of exploded into life, and I was NOT prepared for it. The grass and weeds have popped up in their aggressive manner, forcing me to recognize that while my yard is small-ish, it's not as small as it would need to be in order for me to easily start converting the lawn to moss. It's going to be a massive undertaking, and given how expensive everything is at the moment, it's going to take a lot of money too. I'm already exhausted, to the point where I'm kind of looking forward to winter again. 

Yeah, you're not that lucky, girl. Of course, this is something she acknowledges as she approaches that precarious mountainside shack where Hakudoushi hangs out all the time. When she flies in the doorway, she's surprised to see Hakudoushi suspended in the center of a visible barrier, his eyes closed and looking like he's taking a real nice nap. Kagura turns to Kohaku, who is sitting on the floor by the door silently, asking him what Hakudoushi is up to now. Kohaku remains tight-lipped, and Kagura turns away again, mumbling the supposition that it's useless asking him anyway. 

She DOES get a response from Hakudoushi, however, who has noticed her just getting in and is casting her a suspicious glare, demanding to know where she's been. Kagura remarks upon how Hakudoushi is awake after all, but he will not be diverted; he firmly tells her to provide an answer. After a pregnant pause, Kagura says she was taking a break, given how exhausting it is being with him every moment of the day. 

He just has time to scoff at her maximally offensive answer. 

Well, that looks ominous.

From the swirl of light in the barrier, there swells another bubble from the inside wall, expanding toward a very unconcerned Hakudoushi. But when a sparkle of light emerges again, and something from that sparkle shoots straight toward his chest, his expression turns shocked. Kagura and Kohaku watch from the sidelines, gaping.

Just as ominous as I thought. 

Both Kagura and Kohaku look rather disturbed by this sudden explosion of Naraku's gore in the barrier, the former stuttering Naraku's name is horror. Hakudoushi looks as if he's losing consciousness due to the sparking arrow that's embedded itself in his chest, and drops to the floor of the hut, the barrier dissipating around him and Naraku. Naraku's pieces, knitting together, continue to hover in the air, and when his head is at least whole again, he considers how KAGOME was the one who fired the arrow that was imbued with KIKYOU'S power. His thoughts turn to how the barrier of the now half-conscious Hakudoushi lying on the floor is what connected him to this world, and if Kagome had fired the arrow just a moment earlier, he would not have been able to return. Not sure I get how that's supposed to work, but it's magic, so meh. Naraku smirks about the luck still on his side, when he should REALLY be smirking about how the publishers/editors of this story are making too much money to let his crusty ass die. 

Narrow sky transition panel! Back at the grave site of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's father, Inuyasha kneels next to Housenki's giant diamond skull, holding up his hand and telling the old fossil that he'll be taking the Shikon shard glittering in his palm. Housenki tells him he can do what he likes, regretfully talking about how he couldn't protect the fragment, how he didn't think evil would come all the way here to get it. He reiterates that he wasn't able to stop the conflict swirling around the Shikon no Tama, with the implication that maybe SOMEONE ELSE can. 

But Inuyasha bluntly states that the conflict WON'T stop, Miroku and Sango looking somberly on as he adds that it won't as long as the jewel is still around anyway. 

That just sounds EXHAUSTING, bro. 

He's fifteen, though, and so full of energy that he vows without hesitation to keep fighting until he finishes off Naraku and those seeking the jewel stop. He's just projected his flagging ambitions to use the Shikon no Tama himself into more productive channels, good for him. Housenki scoffs about Inuyasha refusing to run or "protect the fragments" like he himself wanted, acknowledging his desire to stand and fight. No sure how this goal is incompatible with protecting the Shikon shards, but okay. Housenki suggests that they should all get on back to their own world, because if they dawdle any longer, the gate will close. 

Myouga has appeared on a mildly surprised Kagome's shoulder again to yip at Inuyasha and company to hurry and follow Sesshoumaru, who has already collected Jaken and is flying off. 

I think the young folk nowadays call it "cringe".

Over on Kirara, Miroku asks Sango what's wrong, because she's looking pretty depressed. Sango responds that it's what Inuyasha said about how the fighting won't stop as long as the Shikon no Tama exists, but she trails in her assessment of what it would mean if the jewel disappeared. Miroku completes her statement on her concern about her brother Kohaku's situation. She doesn't respond, but her thoughts dwell on how Kohaku's life is dependent on the Shikon shard in his body, and his life goes when the that Shikon fragment, and the jewel as a whole, goes away. There are always casualties. 

Meanwhile, Sesshoumaru is lost in his own thoughts - he's convinced that Naraku is still alive, though his barrier was broken and his body smashed all to pieces. The only question Sesshoumaru has is where the bastard's heart is. 

Sure, blame it on the arrow, lol.

For real, though, Hakudoushi recalls another arrow just like it before that could break his barrier too. The most recent one is lying on the floor, and while Naraku regards it, he asserts that the only one who can put that much intensity in an arrow, Kikyou, is alive. That's because no one is allowed to just DIE in this story, no matter how much they're fucked up. Hakudoushi asks Naraku point blank why the old man hasn't gone to kill her yet, and it's unclear if Naraku answers aloud or in his head. Either way, he can't locate her, and wonders if this is because Kikyou is hiding herself deeply or something. What, like in the Earth's core? Naraku doesn't elaborate, but he is no convinced that Kikyou isn't fully recovered yet, and his next step should be to flush her out and finish her off right away. 

Would be nice if someone had the same idea about you, dude.

Kagura and Kohaku are outside, both brooding under the moon. Kagura is thinking there can be no doubt that Naraku's and Hakudoushi's heart have to be with Hakudoushi's other half, the baby. Kohaku is thinking more specifically on how neither Naraku or Hakudoushi died, and questions if it's just because they're youkai, what he has to do in order to destroy Naraku. 

I thought it was useless talking to him?

Kohaku hesitantly tells Kagura he doesn't know, silently thinking back on that baby, and how he had been trying to carry it out of the castle before he was compelled to kill everyone in the vicinity. He DOES speak up to ask what Kagura would do if she knew where this infant was. Kagura reminds him that she's always saying that eventually the Shikon shard in his body will be removed and he'll drop dead. Wow, what a joy YOU must be to be around, girl... She tells Kohaku that the only way he can be saved is to kill Naraku. 

Sweatdropping, Kohaku is in cautious disbelief about the ability to kill Naraku, and the implication that it can be done if the baby is found. He also gives Kagura a strange look, acknowledging that she's trying to betray Naraku. While he's clearly STARTING to see her as a potential ally, he says again that he doesn't know anything. He's still dedicated to not letting anyone find out his secret that he's remembered everything and that he's after Naraku's life. Kohaku is convinced that if he continues to follow orders and be an obedient puppet, he'll eventually meet that infant again. Until that point, he's determined to take any directive Naraku gives him.

Better hope you aren't asked to do anything else horrible, because you don't have the plausible deniability of brainwashing anymore, pal. 

 Inside the precarious shack, Naraku is sitting with a finally fully healed Hakudoushi, who has gotten some trousers on again, at least. He tells Hakudoushi to draw out Kikyou, and to do it however he likes. There's a moment when Naraku considers who Hakudoushi can take with him, but it's not a long one to settle on one name.

Does he KNOW??? 

So, what do I think of this chapter overall? Naraku's smug attitude is becoming increasingly frustrating for me, the satisfaction of seeing him get his ass beat overtaken by his resumed scheming at the end. Not that I expected him to be chastened at all by his near defeat, but his conclusion that he's got luck on his side is especially infuriating knowing that we're only still dealing with him because of capitalism. But, it's nothing if not realistic for the WORST people to believe that their actions are condoned by Providence just because no one has been able to stop them yet. 

Kohaku's making a very DANGEROUS calculation here. As I said above, he's already been asked to do a ton of fucked-up shit, but so far he's remained relatively innocent of doing the actions himself because he was under Naraku's control. Now he's fully consenting to follow orders, with complete consciousness and free will, no matter what those are. I don't doubt he knows that he's going to be killing more people - the question is whether he thinks the lives he's going to willingly take are worth Naraku's extinction, and how many are too many before he has to give it up. 

It's doubtful that this was ever meant to last long, but then again, this comic has a very strong tendency to drag out situations for the purposes of maintaining an income. XD

Inuyasha Manga: 008 The Return

This return is going to be taking the phrase "facing your fears" to the most literal heights. I wouldn't want to go back to where a demonic woman sliced up birds and humans for fun. But you know Kagome, she's just gotta do what she's gotta do. Just be glad you're on the other side of the page. I know I am.

But before Kagome has to plunge right back into the depths of hell (as close to literally as she can get), she's embracing her soft bed and praising being at home with modern conveniences.

Getting a tad too comfortable, I see.

Her head is still dwelling on her experience, though, even if she can't quite believe it. She recalls Yura exclaiming the state of the jewel she stole from Kagome, and Kagome wonders who she was. All she knows about her is that she's after the jewel, and got it. Kagome sits up, ruminating on how angry Inuyasha is going to be when he finds out what happened to the fragment she'd been keeping. She imagines him calling her disgusting and saying that he's better off looking on his own. Smiling bitterly, Kagome says that it's damn right Inuyasha would be just fine without her. Well, maybe at this stage in your acquaintance anyway.

Kagome claps her hands together with a determined face, and promises to forget about the whole thing, because she's never going to go back there ever again. I wouldn't count on THAT any more than everyone being okay over there. The story isn't either; inside the shrine, as if replying to her resolve, the well makes a strange, haunting sound-effect.

At the table, Souta is asking his grandfather about how strong that seal is on it, and whether it will open back up again. Grandpa assures him that it's not, and Kagome isn't listening to either of them, enchanted by the oden sitting in front of her. Grandpa elaborates that he's plastered the well with ofudas, which he's convinced will stop any monster in its tracks. He turns to Kagome, telling her to put her faith in his charms too, but Souta points out that she's not listening as she continues to admire the oden, singing the praises of its very existence. She wipes away a tear, thinking about what a wonderful world she lives in. Picking up her chopsticks, she encourages everyone to dig in, and...

... Awkward sauce.

Inuyasha asks just who told her that she could go home whenever she felt like it. Well, Inuyasha, you certainly didn't ask her NOT TO, if you'll recall. Kagome is sputtering, too many questions about where he came from and how he got there to voice at once. He manages to pick out one of the questions from her gibberish and yells that he came from the well, of course. She repeats his words as a question and begins to protest before her grandfather buts in, saying that Inuyasha must be lying. The ofudas were handed down through many generations, after all.

I don't understand how that ensures that they work, but whatevz, Grandpa.

Inuyasha plucks one of the seals from his hair and asks if that's what Grandpa is referring to, telling him unceremoniously that it didn't work. Souta looks a little irritated with his grandfather as Grandpa cries over his ineffective protection barrier.

Inuyasha grabs Kagome by the arm and starts to drag her to the door against her protests, saying she's coming with him right that moment. Kagome's mother shouts at him to wait just one cotton-pickin' minute, and he turns to see what she wants. Kagome says "mama" like she's a godsend, but...

I see the apples didn't fall far from THAT tree.

Kagome sees something draped over Inuyasha's sleeve, a couple of strands of hair that she points out with a shout. Inuyasha asks what hair she's talking about as she plucks them from his sleeve, and she wonders how he can't see them. The hairs wrap around her hand and slice it, and she tears them off of her the moment she realizes they're moving. Grandpa notices that Kagome's hand suddenly started bleeding, and Mrs. Higurashi asks how she got that fresh wound right in front of their eyes. With this, Kagome realizes that she's the only one who can see the hair.

She wonders if they're Yura's hairs amidst a flashback of Yura pulling up on the strands attached to her fingers. Kagome, suddenly panicked, bolts from the room, saying that it can't be so. Oh, but it is. She runs into the open well-shrine door.

Dammit Inuyasha! Were you born in a barn?? At the very least, he's a sarcastic little shit as he leans against the doorway behind Kagome, casually recognizing that Kaede was right and Kagome's eyes work alright. She grits her teeth and balls up one of her fists before she looks over her shoulder and screams at him for bringing this dangerous thing straight to her home and family. It's amazing to me that she doesn't use that fist she made earlier to punch him in his smug face.

The aforementioned family is just visible outside the well-shrine now, calling out to her, but she shuts the doors on them, telling them they can't come in. All the while, she's thinking about how she has to stop the hair from coming any further into her world. It's wagging and waving around from the mouth of the well like a weird fire or something when a lock of it shoots out, aiming at Kagome. She jumps out of its way so it hits the wall behind her instead and alerts Inuyasha that there's another lock in front of him.

He takes a wild swing, asking Kagome if it's there as he does so, but the hair parts and coils itself around his arm and leg. Kagome looks appalled, probably at his continually horrible aim and inability to take simple instruction. Kagome's grandfather pounds on the door, telling her to open it. Inuyasha, with his feeling of the hair on him, is able to tear through it, calling it scum. The severed strands just run back together again, which Kagome notes as she cringes against the door. She thinks there's just no end to it, watching Inuyasha struggle against the force that's invisible to him while he curses.

She figures that this must be the strand that connects all the rest of the hair, which is not how hair works, but hey, it's easier than fighting an endless stream of uncuttable hair growing forever. Just ask Virginia.

Kagome points at the strand she sees and tells Inuyasha to cut that particular one. He swipes just past it and Kagome thinks if he won't be able to cut it without seeing it, then she'll just have to make it visible to him. Well, to be fair, he probably won't be able to cut it even then.

Kagome can think of only one way to make the strand visible, and that's by grabbing hold of it and slicing her hand deliberately. She mutters a sound of pain as Inuyasha looks on.

Girl don't mess around.

Inuyasha looks down as the hair uncoils from him and disappears. What, can he see it all of a sudden? Kagome crawls up the stairs and Inuyasha says the assault has finally died down. Well, no shit. Now that Kagome has time to think, she considers how strange it is that Yura is still targeting them when she already has the shard of the jewel Kagome had. It suddenly occurs to her that Yura is just after her and Inuyasha now, and starts running back toward the well. What was the point of crawling up the stairs if you're just going to leap back down them again. Damn kids and their energy...

She tells Inuyasha that they have to go back, and Inuyasha accuses her of not understanding how things work as he props a foot on the lip of the well. I think she understands how to get rid of nasty killer hair better than you, Inuyasha. Kagome says she really doesn't WANT to go back, but it's not really a matter of wanting to. She has to make sure her family isn't in danger. As she's contemplating this miserable reality, Something soft lands on her head.

Well, isn't that uncharacteristically nice of you? Kagome stutters out a thank you, and Inuyasha goes on to insultingly say that her skin is just really freaking weak. She says that his skin is really just freakishly strong as a comeback. After this brief exchange, they decide it's time to get their asses in gear.

That is the most morbid collection I have ever seen.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Just a little on the convenient side for Kagome. She was the first to be attacked, but after that, Yura's hair was completely focused on Inuyasha and didn't pay any attention to Kagome, which gave her the freedom of movement to point out and make visible the main hair to cut. It's possible that Yura can only focus on one opponent at a time, or maybe that she doesn't consider Kagome worth her time, but the way the fight was paced and laid out, it seemed more like an RPG turn-based battle that RT was playing and decided would be fun to recreate in her comic.

I still really liked the idea of Kagome cutting herself and wiping her blood on the hair for Inuyasha to see. She really is smart and resourceful, which is a quality of hers that is continually reinforced. Inuyasha has picked up pretty fast that she is an asset to him, no matter how much he dislikes her, and is taking cues from her. Throughout their whole encounter with the hair, he didn't say anything snide, but listened to her suggestions at where he should aim without any questions.

Not that he won't EVER question her and her judgment from this point forth. It's just noteworthy that he's already begun to trust that she knows what she's talking about. That's more respect than I got from my coworkers in the field some time ago.