Inuyasha Manga: 207 A Girl's Heart

Here's hoping a girl's heart isn't palpitating something fierce like a woman's right now. It's like all the anxiety of the past 10 months has fused into the second biggest knot in my stomach that I've ever experienced, my whole abdomen twisting and writhing in agony. The only thing that surpasses the sheer mental anguish was the bout of separation anxiety I had when my husband was miles away from me in A School, which led to me starting this blog in the first place just to get out of my own head for a few hours every day. Having my husband here with me during THIS ordeal makes it significantly better, but I'm still biting my nails, afraid to venture too far into the depths of social media. I don't want to see discouraging content, to be sure, but what I'm really afraid of is HOPEFUL content. That's the stuff that really kills. 

It's like she's the year 2020 personified. 

Sango rushes through the fog praying that Miroku stays safe until she gets there. The mansion emerges out of the clouds of mist, so I guess Sango was just running in a random direction and happen to stumble across it? Did the (old)men point her in the right direction? Seems plausible, we'll just go with that. 

This is the scene that Sango runs in on, which must have taken her a while to find in such a big house. Either that or the (old)men gave Sango very SPECIFIC directions indeed. She recoils from the sight of Miroku's lips descend upon the princess's, mumbling at her as he does so. Multiple veins pop on Sango's head while she stutters in apoplectic rage. When she stops tripping over her tongue, she yells at the lecherous Miroku to wake up, swinging her Hiraikotsu back for a forceful throw. 

The princess's already open eye bulges at the sound of a female voice, and with a rustle, her hair turns white, nose lengthening into a muzzle. 

The transformation was so fast, there wasn't even time for her outfit to rip. It just got bigger with her.

Sango realizes the giant bitch can't see her, just before Miroku shouts at her to wait. Bewildered, Sango asks if he didn't fall under the youkai's spell, seeing him crouched on the floor ahead, neither in a stupefied state nor exceedingly old. Miroku tells her to be quiet, so the youkai won't know where she is. Definitely NOT because he's a bit of a chauvinist who's annoyed with her bursting in on him while he's getting busy. Sango lifts her wrist to eye level to examine the bracelet Miroku had given her earlier, coming to the conclusion that her invisibility must be from its power. So it is now established that Miroku walks around with bracelets that can make one invisible to youkai, and I have SO MANY more questions that I have a feeling will never be addressed. 

Sango wonders why Miroku didn't just destroy the thing right away, since he's perfectly conscious and everything, seemingly refusing to consider a very obvious possibility. Miroku is now on his feet in a defensive stance, acknowledging the youkai's true form as a wild mountain dog. He pulls a couple of paper charms from under his collar, muttering that he would rather have solved this matter in a more "orderly" fashion, as though this was an issue of milling in line at a bank or something. Anyway, as he throws the charms at the youkai, he asks the princess to please endure a little pain for a moment. 

Once again, Sango is bewildered, this time at Miroku referring to the wild dog youkai as the princess. When the charms land and the youkai convulses from the resulting jolts, it becomes a little clearer for her. 

Miroku swipes his staff through the beast, pushing the princess out of it with the force. Must have been his plan all along. Just... with a different kind of staff. The princess lands chin-first on the floor, and Miroku hunches over her protectively as the youkai damns him and lunges. Miroku yells at Sango to make her move, and Sango wastes no time in swinging her boomerang. 

And you know that's that, because not only does the wild dog youkai dissolve as is right and proper of a truly dead foe in this story, but so does the whole castle around them. Sango watches everything turn to mist around her while she catches Hiraikotsu. She turns to ask Miroku what the hell is going on, but clams up and sweatdrops at the sight of Miroku embracing the princess beneath a gnarled tree, apologizing for the rough treatment he gave her. He suggests that she was lonely, having to be by herself for so long, and she confirms that the youkai had taken advantage of her weakened heart. When Miroku tells her that she'll be okay, and he'll accompany her to the village, she expresses her gratitude, fading away. The princess dissolves as well, into a cluster of floating lights right in Miroku's arms. Sango murmurs that she disappeared, and Miroku states that it's was the princess's soul she just saw. 

A less gorey succubus. Got it.

Back in the village, Miroku kneels in front of a fresh burial mound with some incense smoke rising from it, bowing his head. He explains to the gathered crowd of villagers, plus Inuyasha and Shippou, that he's transferred the princess's bones to this location, where they can hold a service for the good chance that her spirit will protect their village. One of the women says that they're all very grateful, for this as well as bringing their husbands back, who are are sparkling in their restored youth in the background. I'm not even going to ASK how they got their years back, but they sure look satisfied with how things turned out. One of them comments that it's like he's had a nice dream.

Ew. 

When Miroku's stood again, Kagome approaches him, and her asks what her deal is. She asks him if anything happened on the mountain, since Sango seems depressed after their return. Eyes wide with innocence, Miroku says he hasn't a clue, can't think of a thing. You know, for the guy who's supposed to be the smartest, he sure does take on that Inuyasha-ish density when it's convenient, doesn't he?

On a nearby river bank, Sango sits pouting at the water, thinking she somehow feels like an idiot. Miroku walks up behind her, calling her name, to her mild surprise. She doesn't answer him at first, choosing instead to look in the opposite direction when he sits down next to her and asks what's wrong. After a pause, Sango haltingly says that he really would have been fine without her tagging along. Miroku's got that dipshit expression on when he wonders aloud what she means, since she's the one who slayed the youkai. Sango folds her hands over her knees, rests her chin on them, and sighs that it's obviously because he LET her do that part. Miroku says Sango's name, with the SLIGHTEST amount of patronizing spice in his expression. I'm prepared for some major mansplaining now.

The next panel is panned out to reveal some eavesdroppers; Kagome, Inuyasha and Shippou lurking just over the crest of the hill. They're all staring wide-eyed at the scene, though Inuyasha still seems to be on the skeptical side. He says Kagome has GOT to have the wrong idea, since there's no way Sango would be in love with a lecherous jerk like Miroku. Kagome doesn't even respond, muttering that there sure is a "mood" now. What KIND of mood is debatable, but go off I guess. 

Anyway, back to Miroku's patronizing. He asks for confirmation that Sango came with him because she was worried about him. Sango blushes, tripping over her own tongue as she explains that of COURSE she was worried, because he loses his head when it comes to women, and his lecherous mind always takes over and it's not like she likes him or anything, baka. I would have brought up that one example of how he almost got his playing ass killed by a single giant praying mantis youkai because he can't resist the opportunity to fuck, but that's just me. 

Surprisingly *insert sarcasm here*, Miroku is rather encouraging of Sango's flustered state. 

Sweet nothings indeed.

Sango yanks her hand away and turns away as her flush overtakes her face, cradling her burning cheeks in her hands and stammers a question about just what he's saying. While she's wondering just what the hell she's supposed to do in this situation, in full panic mode, Miroku takes her back(side) turned to him as an invitation and grabs her ass. After a moment of frozen shock, Sango lifts a trembling fist, veins popping out all over her head where she had DARED to think he would try to comfort her or something. Trying to keep the anger in her voice under control, she refers to that hand of his, but it elevates to a yell over the slap sound effect when she asks if he can't do anything ELSE with it.  

If Kagome wasn't wrong before, Inuyasha, she sure as hell is NOW, for not yelling at Miroku for assuming he had permission to touch someone without asking. Will no one ever call this habitual sexual harrasser on his bullshit???

Yes. The answer is obviously yes, no one will EVER call him out.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I have a split opinion about chapters revolving around or developing Sango and Miroku's impending relationship. I do like them as a couple - I find Sango's shyness very adorable, and Miroku being coy and teasing is rather cute as well, in addition to them just having very compatible personalities as the two most down-to-earth members of the main group. They balance out the actively childish way that Inuyasha and Kagome can act toward one another, and I appreciate that more as I've gotten older. 

However, Miroku's regular predatory behavior is always adding bricks to the wall between me and actual enjoyment of the ship. Sango's impression of how she found him at the beginning of the chapter was proved incorrect from Miroku's full consciousness when he told her to be quiet. It's implied here that Miroku was planning on following through with banging the youkai with the princess trapped inside before he bothered to actually assist the princess's spirit. The princess was NOT in a position to consent to intercourse with him, but he was going to take advantage of her lack of capacity to turn him down anyway, again in a FULLY CONSCIOUS MANNER. 

I don't want to say that Miroku is canonically a confirmed attempted rapist, buuuuut... 

And as if this isn't bad enough, RT thinks she can make all these nasty implications AND play it off like Miroku is just clueless and horny in the end. The joke about how he just assumed that Sango was wordlessly "asking" to be touched in the final panel is so insidious in how it makes sexual assault out to be some sort of miscommunication, when Miroku had been ready to ignore the lack of consent of a woman being used as a costume for some fucked-up creature at the very beginning of the chapter. It's hard to know if RT realizes just how pernicious her refusal to portray Miroku as responsible and conscious of his shitty behavior is, since Kagome, modern though she is, treats him like his stupidity is genuine, and tries to "advise" him on how to consider Sango's feelings. That he doesn't CARE about Sango's feelings, or the feelings of the princess he nearly raped, or anyone's except his own, doesn't seem to have crossed Kagome's OR ultimately RT's minds. The idea that Miroku is somehow a sexual predator by bumbling into the role is funny to our author somehow, and not a calculated strategy by real men to never suffer any blowback or repercussions for hurting women. Isn't it just so amusing how Miroku manages to touch and prod and penetrate because he's too stupid to understand the concept of permission, especially when he's been set up as the smartest, more reasonable person in the main group? Ha. Ha. Ha.

So anyway, I hate this chapter and what it represents. Sorry.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 265 Showdown in the Heavens!

Ah, fresh air and freedom. Meanwhile, I'm down on the ground trying to Tetris all my shit into boxes and totes AGAIN. At least I'm not moving across the country this time - just basically down the street. It doesn't make this process any less infuriating though. Every time I pack, I'm forced to wonder where all of this crap came from. I don't buy a lot of stuff or make shopping a habit; it's like some unholy capitalism fairy snuck into my space when I wasn't paying attention and hid useless trinkets I don't remember even seeing before around my apartment, like sick twisted Easter eggs. 

Another purge of junk is therefore at hand. Joy. 

Not on earth for long, if the title is anything to go by. Just go with it, Yami, you're not being paid for this.

Kaiba crosses his arms in surly silence, while thinking that it's the card he threw at Yami is the only one that can overcome other!Marik's One-Turn Kill, but Yami doesn't know that. Thus, he has decided to uncharacteristically clam up and refuse to tell him so. But it's probably only a matter of time before Yami figures it out on his own anyway, so it's not like it matters. At this point, though, Yami looks over at Kaiba, wondering perplexed why he's given it to him. Kaiba just glares, waiting to see if Yami can discover how to use the card on his own. He chuckles in his head, a little dissonant with his serious expression, and thinks about that 20% figure for success again. Yami glares at him right back, in a kind of bewildered way. Kaiba responds with a patronizing comment on how it's up to Yami whether he wants to include the new card in his deck or not, suggesting that he consider WHY the macious KAIBA would give him a card, even that it might be harmful. Smirking, Kaiba insinuates that it COULD be a lesson not to be so trusting of others, chuckling out loud this time. At least his face matches the laughter now. 

Yami chuckles too, bowing his head in a humbled manner, before shoving that card right into the deck slot of his Duel Disk with the rest of his cards. This is where I'd normally complain about how there are rules in this tournament for how many cards you can have in your deck, but ehhhhh, I'm tired. Kaiba does NOT look amused, but Yami addresses him, insisting that he's going to BELIEVE in him. He makes yet another promise, too.

So many promises... 

A short distance away, Jonouchi is beside himself, hunched, grinding his teeth, with his fists curled up over the fact that Kaiba gave Yami a card. He says he doesn't like the look of it, warning Yami to be careful. He is unfortunately acquainted with the concept of an invader card in one's deck, so this checks out. Mokuba stands mystified behind his brother, wondering why he did that. Ishizu stands back too, quietly staring at Kaiba with an unreadable expression. Apparently he feels her eyes on him, because he addresses her, saying in no uncertain terms that the stone tablet means nothing to him, rambling about how civilizations are built from time and the ashes of the countless dead, stating he has no connection to someone who lived 3000 years prior. Ishizu disagrees - she says while civilizations rise and fall, kingdoms come and go, the human spirit is eternal. 

Looking more and more like a jaded middle-aged man than the teenager he's supposed to be, Kaiba scoffs at the words "eternal" and "spirit". He's convinced that those religion and superstitions are created from the wishes of desperate people, beliefs that are proven false by science and technology. Kaiba declares that miracles don't exist, as if he hadn't subscribed to the idea himself in the past to explain certain aspects of Yami's victories. With a sardonic little smirk, he tells Ishizu that she helped Yami out just like she wanted, but he's sure it will only prove that miracles simply don't happen. Kaiba eyes Ishizu out of his periphery and mocks her with the question of whether she'll sink into the depths of despair if Yami loses and her brother can't be saved. 

Come on, dude, you were doing so GOOD in the last chapter! Don't backslide now!

With perfect seriousness, Ishizu says that she believes in Yami, and believes friendship can defeat a god controlled by an evil mind. Kaiba has no retort except the wrinkling of his nose. 

Because other!Marik just cannot shut up for a single solitary minute, he quips about seeing Yami get that card from Kaiba, but states that it won't do him a lick of good. He claims that no matter what the card is, nothing can protect Yami from Ra. Yami displays his Duel Disk proudly, and announces in a bit of a non sequitur that he's going to defeat the evil with other!Marik. Which would be the whole of other!Marik, so no need to get so specific, Yami. Other!Marik bows his head to chuckle, then snaps his head back up to fix Yami with one of his crazy stares, saying he'd like to see him try. 

Moar Cards Guy instructs the competitors to step forward to cut and shuffle each others' decks, which has me all confused. Was this always a thing that KT skipped for expediency? I feel like I've seen it before in this tournament, but I don't have a very clear memory... I swear, sometimes reading Yu-Gi-Oh is a bit like waking up from a vivid dream; you're sure something happened, but you can't quite put your finger on what or when it was. 

As Yami's friends/fans cheer him on below the platform, he and other!Marik meet in the middle of it to exchange decks and shuffle. While other!Marik pulls wacky faces and wags his tongue (literally) at Yami, Yami just stares at him in determination. I commend Yami for not rolling his eyes at other!Marik and his sad, childish antics here. 

Jonouchi recounts the god cards Yami now has: Slifer and Obelisk, but points out that Yami is still at a disadvantage, since it takes three sacrifices to summon each god card. He also mentions that Ra can be brought back with Monster Reborn and use a quick attack to decimate enemies, just like it did to him. PLUS, there's that rumored second special ability that hasn't even been revealed yet. KT's gotta keep an extra secret in his back pocket for the big finale, apparently. Jonouchi then looks over at Kaiba and realizes that Kaiba has acted like he knows all about Ra's powers, and gave Yami a card, so he starts to think, somewhat reluctantly, that this card might be the key to defeating Ra. 

Did... did Jonouchi, class clown and coded idiot, just figure this out before Yami did? Damn, this boy sure has come far.

Other!Marik asks if Yami shuffled thoroughly, hoping that Ra would sink to the bottom of the deck. Yami says that other!Marik shouldn't be asking him, but his deck instead, because it already knows he's going to lose. Honestly, this is just the kind of shade people should address other!Marik with constantly. Treat him like the clown that he is. And other!Marik is cool with it - he just chuckles with a strange good nature at the joke, just not bothered at all. He knows this is his place. 

Below the platform, Honda and Jonouchi yell out encouragement for Yami, telling him not to be afraid of Ra and to kick other!Marik's clown butt. I added the "clown" part myself, but I feel like it's in the proper spirit of this statement. Jonouchi adds a silent plea that Yami save Mai, sweatdropping hard. Ishizu still stands back from the rest of the spectators, thinking that the fate of the Ishtars is now in Yami's hands, silently begging him to defeat the evil in her brother and regain his memories. When pretty much everyone watching has come down on one favorite to win, you pretty much know how this is going to pan out. 

Moar Cards Guy raises his arm, announces the names of the competitors, Kaiba muses on "Yami's" name a moment, and...

Let the final headache duel commence!

Right out of the gate, other!Marik is sexually assaulting his Millennium Rod with his tongue, while he declares that he's going first. I move to amend the rules so that edgy little edge boys never go first - can we get a vote on that? Not one that can take effect fast enough, unfortunately. Other!Marik has already called it, but before he actually acts on his first turn, he tells Yami to look around. Yami glares up at the sky in alarm, which has quickly become overcast and dark as other!Marik holds the rod up to it. Jonouchi frets to the rest of his Yami fans that this is just like the last time, the sky turning black.

Veins have started to pop out all over other!Marik's jaw and face, like some kind of unholy acne. He gushes that his and Yami's shadow game will be the greatest of all, darkness will cover the Earth, and the gates of Hell will open up. A great ball of crackling dark energy expands over the top of the tower, and Yami wonders what's happening now, grinding his teeth. Other!Marik literally pants like a dog, tongue lolling, and asks if Yami can see the sacrificial offering. No doubt deliberately ignoring how obvious other!Marik's boner must be right now, his eyes widen, fixed on the sky. 

How many fucked up fetishes is other!Marik going to represent in this duel? Is he just going for broke since it's the last one, or what?

And then I look at the next page and realize I asked this question too soon.

Yup, the non-con has come in. Only a matter of time before we get the hammers and leeches. 

Other!Marik has now decided to start his turn, and I SWEAR I WAS JOKING ABOUT THE LEECH THING BUT HIS SUMMON IS A BLOATED TENTACLED WORM CREATURE CALLED VAMPIRIC LEECH AND I AM SCREAMING. Yami is taken aback, and other!Marik doesn't hesitate to have his leech monster attack Yami immediately, which I assume is allowed by the text on the card, but the print is a little too small for me to read. The leech lunges at Yami, pointing its many tentacles straight at his face and dodging his cringe to dig them into his cheeks. Yami screams in pain and horror while his life points decrease to 3500. 

A real shame I couldn't get this entry out in time for Halloween - it's VERY appropriate.

Other!Marik asks Yami, unironically I'm sure, if he liked that HE feels the pain when the monsters attack, then tells him to direct his attention next to him again. Yami is once more alarmed. 

Pretty convenient that Yami got an attack to the face, but that's not the part of Yuugi that he loses. Almost as if it's essential that Yuugi's ability to scream for a weird edgy pervert's pleasure is preserved. 

Yami, of course, calls out to Yuugi in distress. Other!Marik thrusts his thumb over his shoulder to point out his own sacrifice, which is NOT Mai? Nope, it's OG Marik, hanging there crucifix-style just like Yuugi, unconscious. Yami identifies him in a wasted panel, and other!Marik explains that once the player's life points hit zero, the sacrifice's "body" is consumed. The quotations are mine, because these both Yuugi and OG Marik share a physical body with their respective players, so it seems like there should be a qualifier on that word. Anyway, other!Marik also says that the losing player too will be swallowed by darkness and suffer the ultimate pain. He talks about walking the razor thin line between victory or defeat, pleasure or pain, all while looking so high his eyes are almost completely rolled back. 

Saying Marik's name tentatively, Yami wonders what he should do here, considering the real Marik will die if the other!Marik is defeated at this point. He then looks up at Yuugi again with worry at his groans of pain, but Yuugi insists that he's fine and Yami should just fight other!Marik. Other!Marik doubles over with laughter, chuckling that this is the spirit he likes to see. 

Somebody, for the sake of my sensitive stomach, inform other!Marik there are COMMUNITIES he can join to satisfy his sadism. PLEASE.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Remember in Death-T, when Anzu was getting uniquely sexualized torture on the carnival horror ride to the haunted house challenge, and I said I felt like I had walked in on a very personal fantasy of KT's I REALLY didn't want to know about? I'm getting those same "this might be some sort of kinky outlet that I was not quite prepared for" vibes from other!Marik here. Granted, there were definitely signs for this one; other!Marik's sadist tendencies kept steadily escalating into sexual fetish territory over the course of his arc, so this isn't exactly out of nowhere like the previous example was. But I suppose I never thought the hinted orgasmic joy other!Marik displays in more subtle, mild forms before would ever cross the line. Here we are, though, watching him pant and lick and crow about the pleasure wracking his body when people in his immediate vicinity suffer. Is this comic for kids anymore? Because it's skirting DANGEROUSLY close to pornographic territory. All we need is a clear shot of that boner he's no doubt sprouted.

All that aside, I'm very confused about what Mai is doing there, being referred to as a "sacrifice" herself, but clearly not being linked to the players in the direct way the alternate, original personalities are in respect to gameplay as well as the obvious. Is she just being displayed for psychological torture purposes, high up out of reach, implied to never be recovered? Or will she eventually factor into the duel as a sacrifice like Yuugi and the original Marik? 

I hope she's not just some sort of sick pendant hanging over their heads with no significance whatsoever, but... it would be about par, unfortunately.

Inuyasha Manga: 206 The Lady in the Mountain

If I could live in a mountain, far away from civilization and its problems looming larger every day over me, I'd drag my sorry ass up there today. It would be better than sidling up to a ballot drop box while glancing nervously around for a MAGA hat. Thankfully, I didn't see one yesterday when I cast my early vote, but I DID see an angry-looking guy wearing a T-shirt I'm pretty sure referenced a local militia group glaring at me as he dropped his own ballot. This election season is the most nerve-wracking I've ever experienced, and even though my personal part is done, I'm biting my nails for what November 3rd will bring. 

If any of my readers are in the USA, make sure to cast your vote on or before the above date (the sooner the better). As for anyone else...

... Wish us luck, because there may be blood.

These crying women are not moving Inuyasha AT ALL, because he just stands there sulking and complaining that they're just helping people again. Kagome suggests that it's OKAY to help people like it's under debate while Miroku commiserates with the women feeling helpless without their husbands and promises to go and punish the naughty youkai. The woman at the forefront stutters her thank you, possibly questioning his wording, as I am. 

Miroku turns to ask Inuyasha if the plan to go after the youkai is okay with him, and something tells me he's not genuinely interested in the answer. Sango says in perfect sincerity that if they ALL go, the chore will be done much faster. Inuyasha supposes with a superior way that he'll probably be the one to finish the damn thing off, of course, and Kagome agrees with him cheerfully. They both know the title of this comic. But a couple of the women stutter out a word of warning to be on their guard, because the youkai is rumored to be a woman peerless in her beauty, apparently. Inuyasha and Kagome glance back at them as Miroku pauses dead. 

Yeah, I BET you will.

One of the women questions his declaration with some confusion, and he states he can handle it. Inuyasha also asks if he's sure about that, brows raised, but Shippou still sits on Kagome's shoulder with that exasperated look on his face. He doesn't hesitate to say Miroku obviously wants to be alone with the beautiful woman. 

The next page shows Sango changed into her slaying outfit, tying her hair up and out of the way of her glaring face. Kagome and Inuyasha are sitting on a deck nearby, and the former asks Sango as she shoulders her Hiraikotsu if she's going with Miroku. Sango turns and asks facetiously if Kagome is joking, predicting that the lustful Miroku will get himself possessed by the youkai for sure if he goes alone. 

When she's left, Kagome leans toward Inuyasha and tells him she has a thought, and he makes a curious hum at her. 

Cool, RT, have your gossipy 15-year-old protagonist frontload that relationship to the audience instead of writing it. That won't be awkward at all. Inuyasha even gives Kagome this look off pure cluelessness, eyebrows raised and eyes wide, like this is some kind of difficult concept to grasp for him. Kagome asks him if he didn't notice, Inuyasha sweatdrops and bulks, and Shippou has appeared on his knee to say that he too had this vague feeling, to drive home how unobservant he is. 

Meanwhile, Sango asks Miroku what he's sighing for as he lets out another long-suffering one. Let's all shed a tear for how utterly put-upon this douchebag is, shall we? Sango reminds him that they're going to exterminate a youkai, asking if he understands, and Miroku hangs his head with a pouting affirmative like the giant man-child he is. 

Sango, sweetie, I honestly don't get it. 

She begins to reiterate the story she heard from the village women before, for the benefit of the audience who didn't for some reason, that something happened a long time ago on the mountain. Some warriors who escaped after losing a war settled down in the area, and naturally being wounded, didn't last very long. A lady who escaped with them ended up being the last one left alive, and she ended up dying without a single soul to protect her. Miroku hums at the tale, suggesting that the woman's malice at being left alone to die was what turned her into a youkai. 

Sango begins to agree, but as Miroku comes to a bush ahead of them, he stops and stares with a critical expression. He tells her to look, but she's already spotted the heavily distorted space in front of them, the image of the surrounding trees bending around a central point like a ripple. Miroku says this must be the entrance to the youkai's lair, but it looks easier to enter than to leave. He tells Sango she should leave, but Sango refuses, barking that it's her line when Miroku bluntly states that he's worried about her. She reminds him that the youkai targets men, and that it's safer for her to come along. 

Again, Miroku sighs, groping under his collar. At least it's his OWN body he's pawing at this time. Meanwhile, Sango wonders in irritation just what this dude's intentions are. BAD, girl, they're always bad. You should just leave his stupid ass to be possessed. Suddenly, Miroku is dangling a beaded bracelet in front of Sango, telling her to use it. She makes a questioning noise, so he grabs her her arm and slips the bracelet on her wrist, though he still feels the need to order her to put it on as well, and says vaguely it'll help against some... things. Right, that doesn't seem phoned-in at ALL.

There's a whooshing as they pass through the barrier, Sango flinching against some crackling energy popping around her. She accuses Miroku of lying about how easy it would be to enter this place because she's encountering quite a bit of resistance. When she squints up at him, she finds him fading into the distance pretty far ahead of her, and though she calls to him, he doesn't seem to hear her. On the other side, he looks around, shouting Sango's name, asking where she is. He looks over his shoulder, realizing that she's been separated from him, but he doesn't look very happy about it for a guy who spent the entire walk over there pouting about her presence. 

Miroku is surrounded by mist, but it shifts aside to reveal a pretty swank house across an arced bridge. Somewhere off to the side, someone asks who's there. 

"What's a guy like you doing in a trap like this?"

Meanwhile, Sango's made it to the other side of the barrier, and she's accompanied by a transformed Kirara as she shouts for Miroku, asking where he is. I had to go back and examine previous panels to confirm that Kirara was indeed huffing it with Sango and Miroku in tiny kitten form. I guess it makes sense that Kirara came along if they needed a ride further up the mountain, but following them through the barrier and not being separated from Sango like Miroku was? 

Sango sees some shapes in the mist ahead, and runs toward them with determination, thinking at first that they must be youkai. But as she gets closer, and the shapes on the ground become clearer, she sees a collection of men squatting on the ground among vines of what look like multiple squashes. Very old men.

... And squash? I mean, there's so much squash. I guess they have something to eat, but really? Squash?

Sango kneels down next to one man and addresses him, but he cups a hand around his ear, indicating his hearing has gone a bit. But he tells her that he's not an old man, despite his geriatric appearance and need to ask the young lady to speak up. Sango is baffled at first, and then makes the shocked exclamation that they're the men from the village. She asks the (old)man she's kneeling beside what's going on, and he wistfully mumbles about it being like a dream. He tells her that, after getting lost, they all met a lady of surreal otherworldly beauty who invited them into a grand palace. While they were there, they had a lot of fun.

All that's missing are the winks and nudges when Sango asks dryly about their "fun" and the (old)man responds it was a lot of fun, his neighbor agreeing. Why can't THAT guy be hard of hearing in his old age? Sango stands again as the (old)man tells her that before they knew what had happened, they were all wrinkled and saggy and shit. Among the squash, or so I presume. Sango casts about a paranoid glance, thinking that the youkai must be sucking out the men's energy and youth. 

In the big mansion, Miroku is receiving tea from his wonderful hostess, and he extrapolates from what she must have already told him that she escaped here, far away from the war. She confirms this, and adds that after this, all her companions died. She hangs her head, a single tear escaping the corner of a closed eye, as she talks about how alone and lonely she was. Miroku stoically offers his condolences, and the woman implores him to stay with her even if just for tonight, since she cannot leave. I guess she's not exactly keeping it a secret that she's a ghost, huh?

They sure are... dilated. She looks like she's just been to the optometrist.

While Sango is running, I assume in the direction of the mansion, she recalls what the (old)man said about looking into the woman's eyes; you don't care about anything anymore and your mind goes blank. Implied intercourse aside, that really DOES sound like a fun time to me at this point. Wipe my mind too, mommy. Yeet me into oblivion. Sweating, Sango is convinced that the lecherous Miroku is going to effortlessly fall into the youkai's trap for sure. 

It certainly looks like he has, mumbling into her hair as they embrace. She also addresses him, while opening one of her glassy eyes menacingly over his shoulder. Sango calls to him desperately.

Elsewhere - 

Well then, prepare to be exhausted, Shippou. Because you'll be hearing the same old conversation repeat itself ad nauseum over the next 350-ish chapters, my boy. May as well get used to it.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I really want to tell RT that having her characters repeat information they got off-panel somewhere for the benefit of the audience when she could have just shown those characters getting the information in the first place isn't clever. It just overcomplicates telling us the story, and as a result throws me out of it. The village women could have just explained the origins of the beautiful youkai at the very beginning of the chapter to character and audience alike - she wouldn't have even had to sacrifice the joke she made about Miroku suddenly wanting to go alone. It just would have taken a little creative restructuring, which I KNOW she's capable of. Instead, we get Sango reiterating the story to Miroku as if he hadn't heard it before, so I have to wonder why she's telling him this if he was there, OR why he WASN'T there when she heard it. It's clunky and weird, and a really roundabout way of just saying what is meant. 

It's a little more understandable when Sango is running to stop Miroku from falling for the youkai's trick at the end, because an ominous echo of the (old)man's words about how looking into the woman's eyes affects a man in Sango's head in Sango's head between panels of Miroku actually doing so is effective. It drives home what might be happening to him, and the possibility that Sango might be too late. The two conflicting instances of how information is delayed in this chapter tell me that RT is a fan of the impact this trick can have in a narrative, but doesn't know how to USE IT in a way that is meaningful on purpose. Kind of a 50/50 shot for her. 

I'm kind of torn on how I feel about Kagome, Inuyasha and Shippou talking about Sango and Miroku's feelings/relationship while they're away. On the one hand, Kagome is a 15-year-old girl, and in the absence of the option to gossip about this juicy budding romance with her friends at school (like she normally would have), she has to settle for conversing about it with her clueless dog-boyfriend and the little fox-kid orphan wandering around with them. That's genuinely funny, and it remains somewhat charming in how honestly RT is portraying the age and (i)maturity of her teenage characters. 

On the other hand, I'm a 32-year-old writer who not only cannot give a flying FUCK about teen drama anymore, but is wincing at RT harpooning me with her elbow and the painfully obvious implications that she's going to stick Miroku and Sango together. I KNOW. YOU ARE NOT SUBTLE RT.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 264 The Entrusted Card

As long as it isn't entrusted to me. I have a credit card specifically for use in small purchases like gas and lunches so that we can build good credit, but I literally never use it. It just sits in my wallet because I hate the very CONCEPT of a credit card. I have the money to pay for things immediately, but instead I should pretend I don't, create this illusion of debt, and then pay it off immediately before it can incur interest? And this is supposed to give financial institutions the impression I'm good with money? Instead of me just, you know, not buying things I can't afford?

I swear, sometimes I think about the mechanics of capitalism's debt-based linear economy and I'm floored. We live in a more bizarro world than any universe that revolves around trading cards. 

Aaaaand now I feel like I'm back at college listening to boring slam poetry for an hour. 

Ishizu tells Kaiba to look at the carving, even though he's not standing in front of it at the moment. Does she think they're back in the museum for some reason, or that Kaiba has a photographic memory? She asks if he sees the priest facing the pharaoh on it, and before Kaiba can tell her that he doesn't because it's not HERE, she identifies that priest as the one who wrote the eulogy above in the stone - the Pert Kertu, or the "Death Prayer" for a friend. 

Kaiba hangs his head in silence for a moment, then starts to chuckle. He looks back at her with all amusement gone from his face, though, asking her what she's trying to say. Kaiba insists he really has no interest in whatever's written on a 3,000-year-old relic. Ishizu argues that the god cards guided him to start Battle City, and to put an end to those battles on this very tower on his very own Alcatraz. I have to agree with Kaiba; she's not making a lot of sense, so I can't really parse what she's trying to say here. She keeps rambling about Kaiba's battle with the pharaoh's spirit, until he growls and yells at her that he's heard just about enough about that damn pharaoh. Instead of shutting up about it, though, Ishizu placidly tells Kaiba to face his heart, because this duel tower he's built IS the place where souls meet. He growls at her again, but he's starting to look a little nervous too. Ishizu says that this is a "sanctuary" of battle built by his spirit. Not sure how those words really fit together, but hey, she's the one who grew up underground in a creepy cult, not me. I'm sure it means SOMETHING.

Scoffing, Kaiba sweeps his arm over Mokuba's head, who looks shocked as his brother brags he's about to sink this so-called sanctuary to the bottom of the ocean. Kaiba then turns to Mokuba and shouts that he's had enough yet again, and commands him to activate the detonator in the underground facility and set the timer for two hours. When Mokuba pauses, hanging his head sadly, Seto yells that he said to do it, disingenuously asking what the balls is the matter. 

Mokuba pouts, then...

What's this? A suggestion to stop the cycle of violence? Seto looks absolutely shocked by Mokuba's outburst. Mokuba, meanwhile, has gone back to hanging his head, explaining that while he did hate Yami/Yuugi and Co at first, they fought hard for him on Pegasus's island like he was their friend. Trying to stop Mokuba's sniffles and sobs, Seto tenderly tells Mokuba not to worry, that he'll leave the airship for them. But he all but recoils when Mokuba looks up at him again with angry tears, demanding a promise that once this cursed tower blows up, Seto will forget about their grudge once and for all. Mokuba says he wants Seto to go back to the way he was before they ever met their stepfather, to which Seto responds with wide eyes and sweat. He turns away from his brother, who is back to hanging his head, considering the word "hatred", wondering if he'll be able to let it go even when he destroys the tower. 

Ishizu interjects at this awkward point to remind Kaiba that Yami and other!Marik's duel will begin shortly. Both Kaibas look around at her, as though they had forgotten she was there, which honestly wouldn't surprise me. Kaiba is now thinking Yami's name. 

Back on the top of the tower:

Ugh, kid, you are NEVER going to be Pinhead, please stop trying. You're embarrassing yourself. 

Everyone just watches him while he giggles to himself, Yami and Jonouchi regarding him with serious glares, because as much as I joke the guy is not THAT scary, it's only because I'M on the safe side of the screen and haven't gotten one of those brain-eating shadow games from him. Other!Marik notices that Jonouchi is still alive and murmurs that he's made of some strong stuff. Rather than barking back at him, Jonouchi addresses Yami instead, warning him despite his foreknowledge that Marik's split personality is bad news. He's a freak who likes torturing his opponents, after all. Jonouchi reminds Yami to watch out, because other!Marik will do ANYTHING to hurt him. 

Oh thank goodness! I was beginning to think I was the only one who remembered the poor woman!

A placid Yami recites Mai's name in his head, but Jonouchi is doubled over, fists curled up in dramatic anguish, lamenting that if he were stronger he might have been able to save her. He yells a curse while Honda stands in the background, emotionless and expressionless, assuring him that it's alright. Yeah, fine Honda, it's all well and good that you're SAYING the right things, but could you look like you give a shit for half a second? Jonouchi turns to Yami and begs him to beat other!Marik and save Mai, yet another promise Yami accepts. How many of those things has he actually fulfilled, anyway? I didn't think to keep track, but maybe I should have...

Yami begins a lovely little soliloquy about how in this here Battle City, he's still trying to become a True Duelist (TM) himself, and he'll have broken his promise to everyone if he lets a friend die. And also, he will have let a friend die, which I feel should have a bigger weight than a broken promise, personally. Yami acknowledges that Jonouchi found the light by finding his courage, and he himself must now find the light in this battle of darkness. A shame Yami has to hand his "darkness" motif off to other!Marik in this duel. Doesn't seem fair. He looks okay with it, though, declaring (aloud or internally is unclear) that he's going defeat the evil mind that dwells within Marik.

Just like you did Kaiba? Because, uh....

Other!Marik chuckles, thinking Yami must be sure he's going to win with his two god cards, but he's got NEWS for Yami:

News that is old and uninteresting. 

Moar Cards Guy has reappeared out of nowhere to raise his arm and declare that the Battle City finals begin now, as is his sole purpose in this comic. Yami has at this point shrugged out of his jacket and is in the process of fastening it around his neck like an awkward cape again while he walks back to the platform. Jonouchi addresses him, saying that the finals are only a passing point for the two of them, and Yami agrees with a twist and nod. Awkward translation aside, I think there's going to be MORE Battle City than I bargained for, and this is devastating to me.

The Kaiba brothers and Ishizu still stand in the industrial corridor, which we can now see has a big convex glowing wall at the other end of it. I don't know what to make of the environment here, but it looks cool, so I'm fine with it. A beep sounds, and Moar Cards Guy is seen standing over a big red button with shattered glass surrounding it, and a timer directly below reading 2:00. He speaks into a headset, letting the elder Kaiba know that the detonator has been activated and set for two hours as ordered. Was he not just standing at the top of the tower signalling the start of the final duel in the tournament? Where is this bomb room so Moar Cards Guy could get there so fast?? I suppose I don't see his face, or his mustache, so this could be a completely different guy, but dude has the exact same haircut, if that's the case...

Anyway, Kaiba speaks into his collar his approval. Mokuba asks in a panic if the others are going to be okay, and Seto assures him that two hours should be PLENTY of time for them to escape. Normally, he might be right, but he's either failing to factor in the card game starting above that will likely take a while if precedent is anything to go by, or he's deliberately ignoring that probability. Stating that the outcome of the final duel is obvious, Seto tells his little brother to come along as he starts walking away from it again. 

Kaiba says there's only ONE way to stop this hidden power, and that's a key card, which he has. The key card into the cabin on his private plane out of here, no doubt. If there's one thing I've learned from Kaiba, it's that the only way to win is not to play. 

I jest, of course. It's Devil's Sanctuary, the description of which is conveniently blank, by the way. But Kaiba says even WITH this card, Yami's chances only rise to 20%. Dude, have you SEEN what that guy can do with 20%? That's pretty much a guarantee he'll win by this stage. Ishizu remains quiet, looking a little crestfallen. Kaiba looks over his shoulder at her, saying she entered Battle City to save her brother, trying to defeat him with occult toys because she wanted to defeat his evil side with her own hands. Is... is this commiseration with another person who wanted to save a little brother held captive by a maniac? 

Nah, Kaiba just cackles at her and says that what little hope she has is in the hands of Yami now. Dickhead. Or, is he? Ishizu says evenly that she's prepared for the possibility that her brother cannot be saved, and if that's the case, all she has to do is stay on the island. Kaiba twists to actually look at her, finding that she's hanging her head, outright depression written all over her face. He trails in a question of how she can stay on the island, and then it hits him what she's saying: if Marik can't be saved, she's willing to sink with the island. 

Kaiba, dude, you have the opportunity here to genuinely connect with another human being because of your parallel experiences. Don't blow this, PLEASE.

HALLE-FUCKING-LUJAH!!!!

I AM SO PROUD OF THIS BOY, I CAN'T EVEN!!!

Ishizu calls Kaiba's name as he enters the elevator again, turning to hit the button, and Mokuba runs to join him. The elevator starts to rise again, amidst loudspeaker announcements warning listeners that the self-destruct sequence has been activated and to evacuate immediately. Kaiba is lost in his own thoughts, though, asking himself what Yami said and immediately recalling that Yami claimed he had won through the power of friendship. He pulls out the card he's sure is the only one that can win the fight and resolves, if friendship really is the key, to entrust it to Yami.

The elevator doors open to Yami and other!Marik facing each other on the raised platform, though it doesn't appear they've busted out the monsters yet. Kaiba wonders if Yami can perform a miracle as Yami turns to him in mild shock. They stare each other down for a moment so Kaiba can raise the card to his cheek dramatically, telling himself there's no such thing as miracles, nor the power of friendship.

Oh, my dear sweet boy, I think you are COUNTING on Yami proving you wrong here. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I think I made my excitement about Kaiba's breakthrough very clear above, but just to elaborate, I really am just so stoked. This kid who has spent almost the whole story up to this point refusing to relate to others on a personal level FINALLY finding a connection with someone else and having an immediate empathetic reaction to it was so cathartic. This was such a long time coming, and though he tries to amp up his skepticism on that last page, he's actually putting some hope and trust in Yami by giving him that card, which is HUGE. At the very least he wants to give Yami a better chance at winning for Ishizu's sake, but that's still some immense headway he's made in actually giving a shit what happens to someone else. All because he drew a parallel between himself and someone else, realized he had a pain in common with her, on the tail end of his newest defeat. Kaiba JUST got finished stamping his feet and insisting that he didn't need anyone, that friendship is bullshit, only to get hit right in the face with an intense interpersonal connection right out of the gate that completely overrode the hatred that he was questioning his ability to forget a moment before.

And can we talk about how smoothly this happened too? The writing just fell into place with how closely Kaiba's and Ishizu's experiences matched each other. This is one of those times in a story when you genuinely didn't expect a parallel to be drawn between characters who seemed to not have a single thing shared between them. It truly comes across as a revelation for Kaiba, because it hits the audience just as hard, that not matter how different these people are, there can be a fundamental understanding between them. It drives Kaiba forward in a way that both losing to and beating Yami could never have done and gave him a reason to put his faith in someone else in one fell swoop. This was a masterful flow of narrative, and KT deserves congratulations for it. 

Not so much for the awkward parts in the middle of the chapter, though, unfortunately. Yami, Jonouchi and other!Marik didn't provide us with any new tension or revelations, just more of the same talk of promises, reiteration of other!Marik's nature, and Ra's superpower. Especially in light of Kaiba's incredible breakthrough, it all came across as very stale. 

But, it's not actively BAD, so I'll take it.

Inuyasha Manga: 205 Hanyou's Secret

The translation for this chapter I'm using is actually titled "Half-Youkai's Secret", but RT's word for half-youkai is shorter, and I'm lazy. Also, I'm always a fan of made-up language in a story and try to use it as often as possible, because it's the most basic of intrinsic lore. Part of what helps a fantasy world feel more real, at least to me, is the addition of its own terminology for various concepts that are unique to it. It gives the setting more depth with the implication that special features of it get their own name and significance.

It also kind of makes you feel like you're speaking in code when you're discussing this sort of content with people who aren't actually familiar with it, so that's a little bit of a downside. Or another upside, depending on how much of an incomprehensible weirdo you like to sound like. You do you, I'm not here to judge.

Looks like there might be some HEAVY judgment going on here, though. Or maybe just a little assessment of senses. From his perch on Kagome's shoulder, Shippou sardonically asks if Inuyasha managed to reveal his human form to Kagura, and Kagome stutters that it certainly looks exactly like that. Indeed, Kagura is almost certain that Inuyasha looked a bit human for a moment. 

Kouga glares up at Inuyasha's jerk back, blurting that Inuyasha must be some kind of moron showing up looking like he did. Miroku still supports him from behind, and reminds Kouga that he'd have been run through by Kagura's tornado if Inuyasha had been any slower. Kouga thinks it's amusing that Inuyasha burst onto the scene willing to reveal his vulnerable secret in order to save him. He looks like the OPPOSITE of amused, if you ask me, but I'm not sure if it's physically possible to reverse his grimace of pain in this situation, so fair. 

Kagura recalls that the night before was the new moon, and accuses him of losing his youkai powers every dark moon right to his face. His expression is pricelessly unimpressed. A regular Sherlock Holmes, Kagura is. *eyeroll*

Oooh, Kagura caught on to the hero's flaw, but it doesn't look like she's deduced that he's got the protagonist armor in this story yet. Shame; she could have saved herself the trouble. 

As Kagura releases her multiple sharpened tornadoes at Inuyasha, he swings down Tessaiga, yelling out his now automated Kaze no Kizu. 

Maybe it's less a protagonist armor and more a protagonist assault weapon. 

Shippou exclaims with utter shock that Kaze no Kizu is forcing back Kagura's wind as he clings to a stuttering Kagome's shirt. Evidently RT doesn't trust us to figure out this much for ourselves, as usual. While the extremely slow explosive power of Tessaiga advances toward her, Kagura thinks Inuyasha's attack seems different than before. She's also convinced she can't dodge it, and she's done for. 

Still flying around on Kirara, Sango notes the youkai, and Inuyasha stares at the falling chunks of them littering the ground, filling the giant gashes Kaze no Kizu created. Miroku states plainly that they served as Kagura's shield, while Kouga keeps sitting speechless on the ground. When the dust, and youkai gore, settles, Kagura is no longer standing on the other side of them. Inuyasha gripes that she escaped. 

He then turns to bark over his shoulder at Kouga to learn from this and never get in the middle of his fight with Naraku again. Or, he gets most of the way through this lecture before he notices that Kouga has slipped past him to dig through the remains of the youkai horde. Kouga triumphantly declares that he's found the Shikon fragments, pulling them out of the monster guts. Without questioning how Kouga managed to find them without Kagome's sight in the sludge of battle, Inuyasha immediately calls him a bastard in protest and lunges to claw at him. Kouga leaps away, called a bastard yet again, but he insists that NO ONE would give those shards to Inuyasha as he inserts them into his calves once more. He tells Inuyasha not to forget that Naraku is his friends' nemesis, and with the sweet youkai steroids enhances his performance, starts running off, shouting over his shoulder that he's going to get Naraku's head before Inuyasha, who should remember THAT too.

Kagome bids Kouga wait, citing Inuyasha as the reason, asking that he not tell anyone what he saw the night before. Kouga scoffs, says he doesn't give a damn what ol' Dog Turd looks like, and kicks up a whirlwind of dust while fucking off. Just think, he could have combated Kagura's death-tornadoes by just running away from the beginning. 

The grounded majority of Inuyasha and company stare after him, Shippou supposing Kouga won't tell through a gape. Miroku asserts with confidence that Kouga will be okay, and it's KAGURA they need to worry about.

I think Kagura's worried about herself too. Too much to pay much mind to Inuyasha's state of appearance at the moment. 

She sees Kanna heading across the T-intersection at the other end of the hall, and inexplicably decides to follow her sneakily. No wondering what Kanna is up to or anything, just... following her like she's about to yell boo. Kagura tails Kanna quietly down a flight of stairs, where she stops at a trapdoor on the floor. Kagura drops the sneaking biz and kneels in front of Kanna to examine the trapdoor, seemingly surprised that there appears to be another room beneath the dungeon in the basement. 

Kagura opens up the trapdoor to peer down the ladder below, and a tendril immediately snakes up through the door and around her neck, pulling her down. She lands in a wince-inducing face-plant on the floor below, and groans when she lifts her head. Surprised her neck isn't broken after that, honestly. Her eyes widen at a question coming from the shadows in the room about if she had fun on the outside of the castle. 

Kagura has a stomach of steel, because I don't know if I could see that in person and not regurgitate my lunch. She does gape in horror at the eldritch-looking monster disassembled in front of her, though, in disbelief that it's Naraku. She looks down at the body parts among which she kneels, concluding that they are the youkai that make up Naraku's body, meaning that Naraku is a hanyou much like Inuyasha. 

The tentacles and limbs suddenly tighten around her limbs and lift her up like a puppet to meet Naraku on his level. 

She winces and looks away, promising to never act independently again. After a pause, the slimy Naraku tells her she won't get a second chance. Meanwhile, Kagura is convinced now more than ever that she won't be able to get away from Naraku without help. She thinks on Inuyasha, and resolves to let that bastard live just a little longer. 

Elsewhere, Miroku sighs that it's going to be difficult from now on, unless he and Sango work extra hard. First of all, working harder sounds like it's still going to be difficult, depending on what the work is. Second of all, what work are Miroku and Sango going to be amping up the effort on? There's not really an answer, just Inuyasha scoffing and telling them they worry too much. He lolls his head to look over his shoulder and bets that he'll be the one to finish things in the end. 

Assuming he means the destruction of Naraku here, but that still doesn't give us much to go on regarding the work Miroku and Sango have to do. I'm VERY confused. 

Annoyed, Sango starts a retort, but Kagome assures her that this is just the way Inuyasha talks. Incomprehensibly?

Abundant trust for someone he has no reason to believe won't rat him out to her master yet isn't exactly a great thing, Kagome. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I've gotta hand it to RT, having the first time Inuyasha uses his automatic, no strategy required Kaze no Kizu be against Kagura was pretty fitting. Her powers over the wind was what really challenged Inuyasha in his use of Tessaiga earlier in the manga, so showing Kagura almost get mowed down by the attack she could easily counter before by her control over the wind before drives home the massive change in Inuyasha's level of sway over fights in general now. It still doesn't feel EARNED, but at least it feels REAL now. Like a tangible, measurable change.

I'm more interested in the visual at the end, though, because we haven't seen anything like it in a good while now. Naraku's countless limbs lifting Kagura right to his face said so much with no dialog. How he towered over her and the bulk of his parts were spread out through the room suggested a far reach, a wide range of influence. How Kagura is hung from tendrils, tied in them like she's a puppet. How Naraku masterfully uses his WEAKEST moment to appear ultra intimidating. The scene communicates so well the level of Kagura's subordination, because even when Naraku is sitting in a mess of his own disjointed organs and bile, he's still got a tight grip on Kagura and is still many times more powerful than her.

And her rejection of Sesshoumaru's suggestion that she be prepared to go it alone in fighting for her freedom is completely understandable as a result. No offense to Mr. OneManRevolution over there, but he doesn't have a CLUE what it's like living and dying at Naraku's whim, and probably still wouldn't if he had borne witness to Naraku terrorizing Kagura like the audience just did. He's still a work in compassionate progress, but while it's true that he has no obligation to help her, it's also true that the job is a bit more than she alone can handle, so she IS going to need some help from someone at some point. 

We'll check back in with him later to see if he's up for the task.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 263 The Monster of Victory or Defeat

After this morning, I know which one of those monsters is on my side! My husband and I saw a new apartment today and it's not only big enough to not be constantly be tripping over everything, but it's got a full-sized washer/dryer, plenty of storage space, and a fireplace. It'll cost a little more than our current place, but I'm not going to complain much. It'll only slow down saving for a house a little, and it'll mean I can actually STAND the apartment because I won't be constantly battling mold. Once my husband comes home from work, we're putting in the application, and our notice on this apartment, because we're in the EXTREMELY fortunate position to both have very good stable jobs at the moment and the apartment is most assuredly ours for that reason alone. 

Just don't tell the current apartment. I have a feeling that this place has it in for me...

I feel like if losing is all it took for him to defeat his madness, he would have defeated his madness by now. In case you haven't noticed, Yami, boy has a habit of losing to you. 

While Moar Cards Guy announces that they have a winner, and Yami is that winner, Seto Kaiba stands unsteady on his toes for some reason. His thoughts are as slow as the remnants of dragon disappearing around him, haltingly referring to his Battle City, the hatred instilled in him by his late adoptive father, his tower of revenge and standing at the top of it. Kaiba stares at Yami standing across from him, thinking that all he wanted was to beat that guy. His hand tries to grasp the ephemeral shreds of the Blue Eyes in front of him, internally lamenting that he was going to be the king of duelists. 

... Is he in another coma?

No, no, he's conscious, because he looks down at his hand with the horrified understanding that it's all over. He lost. Mokuba screams his disappointment from the sidelines, tearfully wondering how Yami beat his big brother AGAIN, who's allegedly the best. Allegedly. 

Seto is still staring at his hand, thoughts about his ultimate deck/ultimate servant drifting through his head. Now he looks at the Duel Disk on his arm, insisting silently that his strategy was flawless, his deck perfect in every way. He just can't get over the fact that he lost, his eyes ready to pop right out of his skull with the pressure this reality is putting on his brain. For real, it looks like it HURTS to be him right now.

Yami addresses him at last, confirming that it is indeed true: he won and Kaiba lost. But Yami says they have no difference in skill, at which declaration Kaiba growls, eyes immediately narrowing again. He flings his arm out in a gesture of offense, asking if that's supposed to be pity. Yami responds calmly that he recognizes Kaiba's skills as a duelist, but he wants to tell him something...

But, didn't you just say he had to lose to DEFEAT the madness and hatred? Did he lose to it or defeat it? A or B?

He elaborates that the monsters on the cards are not the only demons in a duel, listing the hatred in the players' hearts, sadness, jealousy and greed as the worst enemies, as they are inside us. Doesn't really explain how Kaiba losing the duel means he both wins and loses against these things, but he patronizes Kaiba by claiming he can only be on the road to true duelist status once he defeats all of them. So, get rid of all your negative feelings or you can never be good at this game? This Jordan Peterson shit is giving me a headache. Kaiba's grimacing in much the same way I am right now as he repeats that "true duelist" phrase. 

Meanwhile, Yami considers the fantasy of him and Jonouchi standing off against each other as HIS Battle City. He smiles down at his Duel Disk, certain that Jonouchi is still fighting to find that place in their shared delusion. Good luck with that, considering Jonouchi has already been eliminated in the Battle City outside his skull, and for all Yami knows, lying cold in a hospital cot. But Yami still believes that Jonouchi is fighting to be worthy of his soul card and become that impossibly true duelist with all positive motivation and nary a dark thought. The soul card, Red-Eyes Black Dragon, is the subject of Yami's smile. 

Yami looks up to address Kaiba again, saying he would have lost if he hadn't had Red-Eyes. He takes it off the Duel Disk to hold it up, reiterate that it was given to him by a friend, whose soul is in its shape. In the shape of a card so those gross Millennium Items can more easily play it as a pawn for their own shadowy ends, no doubt. Yami says he won through the power of friendship, which really pisses Kaiba off. Shaking his fist, he asks what power that is again. Eyes bloodshot and filled with drama, Kaiba yells that Yami is a fool, that he doesn't want to win if it means depending on others, that he doesn't NEED friends, and he needs no one but himself. Ignoring the fact that he lives in a society that he depends on and needs every day to manufacture and buy his products and give meaning to the wealth and power he hoards like one of his dragons, it's clear he'd prefer to think of himself as a robotic island with no need for human connection.

And that's the saddest thing I've seen today. But good news, Kaiba...

Yami only turns up the patronizing tone when he says Kaiba's name, and admits that he's only been able to win throughout this whole tournament because he had a rival striving for a higher place. I'm sure this is VERY comforting to Kaiba, who I'm sure isn't at all done tantruming. Still, Yami knows that winning because he had a rival to challenge him is the same for Kaiba too, then wonders what Kaiba even IS to him.

I feel like there should be another possibility added to those two. Can't quite put my finger on what, though...

Kaiba scoffs and scowls, grousing that boasting is the privilege of winners, so he promises to quiet down and step off for now. Because he's incapable of either one of those things for very long, Kaiba growls and pulls a card from his deck, chucking it aggressively at Yami as he states that per the ante rule, it's his now. As it's soaring through the air, it's revealed to be Obelisk by both Kaiba and the low angle from which it's drawn, and Yami catches it effortlessly between his first and middle finger. After affirming he has his second god card, he does the same aloud to Kaiba that he accepts the ante, at while Kaiba scoffs once more while he turns to make his way off the platform. He looks back at Yami one more time to state that he's not going to allow the guy who beat him lose in the final duel, and Yami agrees. Kaiba barks at Mokuba to come along, Mokuba dutifully running to join him in retreat.

Still, Kaiba can't help but think Yami is no match for other!Marik's Ra, even with two whole god cards at his disposal. Supposing they'll see if Yami can reverse his future of defeat, Kaiba walks off, Yami watching him leave, probably loving it for many, MANY reasons.

In addition to Obelisk as a prize, Yami gets another bonus.

Just keeps getting better and better!

Both Yami and Yuugi look ecstatic that Jonouchi is back among the living while Jonouchi swipes his finger under his nose in that not quite comprehensible gesture of resilience. Yami goes to him, grasping his hand in solidarity, asking what took him so long. Jonouchi winks and apologizes. On his way into the elevator with his brother, Mokuba looks back and exclaims in disbelief that Jonouchi is alive. Seto glances over his should and scoffs AGAIN, saying Jonouchi should have stayed dead. Maybe he should have stayed in a fucking coma, if that's going to be his attitude. They're heading down a hallway, which is quite the horizontal length in a TOWER, and I don't remember seeing it before, but okay. On their way, Ishizu appears, looking somber as ever. 

Back at the top, Anzu is explaining to Yami that they actually got there earlier, but Jonouchi didn't want to interrupt the duel. Jonouchi agrees that, as a duelist, he couldn't let THEM interrupt, as if HIS miraculous appearance wouldn't have been the show-stopper. They shoot the shit about how Kaiba is a pretty tough opponent, and Jonouchi brags that it was his own Red-Eyes Black Dragon that took him down. Arms crossed, Honda reminds Jonouchi it's not his card anymore. Clearly it didn't take long for Jonouchi to get back on his friends' nerves once he could speak again. 

But Yami gives Jonouchi a grateful look, thinking that he owes Jonouchi for giving him his power along with the dragon. Anzu asks if the next match isn't the very last, and Yami confirms it is, looking over his shoulder at other!Marik leaning on one of the massive projectors at the edge of the tower. He chuckles evilly about his upcoming opponent being Yami as Yami glares at him.

... Someone give this dude the Heimlich Maneuver, because I think he might be choking?  

Anyway, Seto and Mokuba Kaiba are looking strangely defensive when greeting the placid Ishizu in the hallway there. She tells them that other!Marik's shadow power has grown to it's limit, but for delivering the good news that he can't get any more wack, Ishizu doesn't look too happy. Ishizu asks Kaiba if he believes Yami can beat other!Marik with the two god cards he now has. Kaiba pauses, seriously considering, then answers honestly that the probability is extremely low because of how OP Ra is. 

He then brushes past her, insisting none of this in any longer his concern because Battle City is over. Whether Yami wins or loses, he's sinking the whole garbage island in two hours with a shit ton of explosives. Just in case Ishizu is a decent person who's concerned about the well-being and safety of the other people on the island (or even just selfishly wondering about her own), Kaiba assures her that he's no murderer; he'll leave them the airship as a life boat. It's actually a pretty generous life boat, to be honest. Assuming, of course, two hours isn't severely underestimating the amount of time the final tournament duel will need to conclude.

But Kaiba's TOTES not a murderer, guys. 

Ishizu isn't letting him just walk off. She states most matter-of-factly at the space Kaiba has since vacated that Yami needs his help. It gets Kaiba to pause and glance at her over his shoulder, though, scoffing. He asks what she's talking about, and if her stupid Millennium Item gave her another revelation. Considering how useless the last one involving Kaiba was, I don't blame him at all for his maintained skepticism. When Ishizu doesn't respond, just stands there with her eyes closed. Kaiba tells Mokuba they're leaving, but not before activating two timed bombs to destroy Alcatraz Island. If he can't win his freedom from the past, I guess he thinks he can just kind of... blow up the reminders of his imprisonment in it. 

Ishizu pauses again for drama, then mutters something about prayer for the dead, Pert Kertu. It seems to strike a chord with Kaiba, whose eyes widen in over exaggerated shock. Ishizu asks if Kaiba has read the stone slab from the museum, translated its carvings, as Kaiba gets himself lost in a vision of that very stone tablet to which she's referring. She turns to address his back, stating that the tablet recovered from the pharaoh's temple bears a prayer for the dead in Hieratic, a poem dedicated to the late pharaoh by his greatest friend. 

It was the least he could do after he sicced his pet dragon on the pharaoh's magician, no doubt.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? It's just about the most expected thing in the world that Kaiba's tantrum would not only be big enough to destroy the entire island upon his loss, but that he would PREMEDITATE his own calculated breakdown. Kaiba continues to have no chill, and is VERY aware of that fact. The alarming ease with which he just plans to be a gigantic baby about not getting what he wants is astounding, not in how unhinged it is (even though it's definitely that), but in how... familiar that kind of behavior is for an ultra rich boy character. Seeing them behave like this in real life has really left me so numb to it in fiction. You'd think it would be the other way around, but, well, maybe it is, in a way. 

My annoyance is actually more with Yami here, for his somewhat self-serving view of Kaiba's loss. Yami's assertion that Kaiba lost to his anger to win the greater battle over his reliance on it as a motivator isn't necessarily as contradictory as I made it out to be above. Losing the duel over being blinded by rage could absolutely open the door to re-examining one's temper and how powerful it makes one FEEL in balance with how it may actually cloud one's judgment at the same time... for any other character. Because Kaiba's issue isn't anger. It's manifesting as anger and hyper-independence because he has a childhood rooted in being passed between unreliable adult and abusive adult so they could extract what they wanted from him only to let the rest of him wither in neglect. Kaiba's ultimate issue is not letting go of his anger and being all fucking zen and shit, because the negative emotions here are justified. What he really needs to overcome is the years and years of programming that tells him mutually-supportive relationships are weak or somehow not real.

Telling Kaiba that his winning depends on him defeating all his justified negative feelings because they're not "legitimate" enough motivations sounds less like Yami was giving sage advice and more like he was trying to convince himself that beating Kaiba was GOOD for him. Despite the skew in motivation from doling out judgments on evil-doers to exploring his own past, Yami is still that dark justice spirit from the very beginning of the series. Given that this duel is implied to have been pending for literally thousands of years, unlike the other ones in this tournament, perhaps it's throwing Yami back into that sense of responsibility for explaining the lesson in the loser's punishment. It HAS been a long while since he's done that, and Kaiba's suffering from his loss, so maybe Yami has mistaken the obvious pain for one of his classic penalty games. 

At least Kaiba is actually conscious for the moralizing bullshit this time.