Inuyasha Manga: 282 Kikyou's Life

Or the approximation of a life, anyway. It's already been established that everything from her body to her existence in the current moment is a bit of an imitation, but adding that to the title wouldn't be as punchy. Besides, it's not like her walking around in imitation form didn't have an effect on the other characters, even if the effect on HER was a bit limited. Being unable to grow and change in a large capacity gives her character evolution very little wiggle room, but just like a good Superman story, the focus will generally be on the impact on the people AROUND her rather than herself. 

What's with the perspective here? Either Inuyasha is TINY or Sesshoumaru very oddly large. Send it back!

Totally not what I should be focusing on in this scene, BTDubz. Inuyasha quietly says Kikyou's name, asserting internally that this CANNOT be happening. He thinks about what Kikyou said about Naraku not being able to kill her while Onigumo's heart that still yearns for her remains. The worst way in the world to find out that someone in your life made a BIG miscalculation.

Jaken has sidled up to the edge of the crevice in the rock and comments on how terrible the miasma is, and how there's no way that woman survived. Then he notices that Sesshoumaru has turned around and started strolling off, he cries out to his uncaring master and scrambles to join him. Inuyasha's shout for him to wait just a fucking minute actually gets Sesshoumaru's attention though, and he pauses to turn and stare at Inuyasha out of his periphery. Inuyasha asks if Sesshoumaru just stood there and watched Kikyou get murdered, a fair question, all things considered. Sesshoumaru shoots back his own question about what kind of connection Inuyasha had to that woman, but then adds that he's not particularly interested in the answer, because Sesshoumaru is basically a conglomeration of utterly superfluous actions and words nowadays. He then twists to give Inuyasha a more direct harsh glare and tells him that NARAKU was the one who killed this Kikyou person.

Sesshoumaru, allow me to raise a popular quote that is frequently attributed to Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing" or something like that. Then again, Sesshoumaru has never claimed to be a good man, so maybe he wouldn't think much of this either way.

Still, fuck you very much, dude. 

Sesshoumaru starts off again, tossing over his shoulder the advice that if Inuyasha has time to growl at HIM, then he has time to go after Naraku, Jaken agreeing whole-heartedly before they disappear into the fog that totes shouldn't exist anymore now that the holy ground is gone. Regardless, Inuyasha growls some more, grinding his teeth, trying to come up with some sort of thing to say to the memory of the woman he failed to protect.

The rest of the group, plus Kouga runs/rides in on Kirara, Miroku calling to Inuyasha. Kagome does the same as she dismounts Kirara, when he doesn't answer. He remains silent, staring over the side of the crack in the earth, standing next to the broken bow on the ground. Kagome recognizes it just like Inuyasha did, and has pretty much the same expression. She states firmly to the others that something has happened to Kikyou, getting a general response of bewilderment more than anything.

Is it insensitive of me to express some doubt? Because until I see the dissolve FX...

A narrow sky transition panel leads into a picture of the moon in the night sky, then a stream of smoke coming up from the ground in a sheltered spot nestled between two shorter cliffs. Kouga blurts out a surprised statement about Naraku just doing all this shit to kill one ordinary woman, almost looking defensive as he lists Naraku's seclusion in a mountain and controlling of a massive barrier in disbelief at the Inuyasha crew sitting around a campfire. Miroku answers that Kikyou is no ordinary woman, informing Kouga that Naraku was pretty scared of Kikyou's spiritual powers. Kagome adds that Naraku had a human heart, Onigumo's, that yearned for Kikyou and he REALLY wanted to get rid of that shit. Sango recalls the time that Naraku literally expelled that human heart into the world and they had to deal with that shit. 

Miroku elaborates on this to Kouga, the whole Musou incident where the guy with Onigumo's memories (highly truncated, anyway), but that guy was reabsorbed into Naraku by the end of the whole debacle. Naraku had said it was too early for Musou to come out, as Miroku remembers. Kagome starts to comment on what Naraku is doing now, when Miroku intercepts this trailing thought, connecting it with the weird lumpy baby flesh creatures that he and Sango saw in Mt. Hakurei. Sango says Naraku made those things to spit out and and seal his human heart, adding a "probably" on the end there so she doesn't sound TOO much like she read the script. 

Working off all this new information, Kouga concludes that after finishing off the frightening miko, Naraku is now able to do whatever he wants without recourse. Not that he wasn't already kind of doing that? Miroku and Sango just kind of glare at him over the fire, letting the "well, I GUESS" response hanging out in the subtext. Kouga turns, announcing that he's not going to let Naraku just get away with whatever, and that he's leaving now. 

Before he can make good on this promise, Two-Tone and Mohawk jog up to him, panting, at last having caught up apparently. Kouga drawls a greeting, then grabs Kagome's hands in his, bidding her farewell and asking her to take care. Once she affirms his well wishes and asks of him the same, Kouga lingers awkwardly in that romantic pose for a moment. Kagome asks him what the deal is and he turns to look around, saying that the "Dog-Turd" isn't interfering with his declarations like usual.

Yeeeeaaaaah, did you notice KAGOME'S gloomy expression, Kouga?

Did you?

Shippou glares at his lap, internally cursing that Inuyasha for leaving Kagome on her own and gone looking for Kikyou. Disgusting, to continue to care about another lady even after she's presumably dead. How dare he. 

Kagome is moping a bit, contemplating Inuyasha, in an emotionally fraught mental space. Meanwhile, Inuyasha is thinking on Kikyou as he rushes along on the barren rocks among charred trees. He sets down next to that miasma river, still glugging along, with what looks like a whole-ass horse skeleton sitting in the middle of it. 

Oh, I guess it's a deer? It didn't have antlers in the previous panel, so you understand my confusion. Of course that's a small thing to gripe about during this ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER, but given how frequent those are in the real world nowadays, I'm a little desensitized. 

Inuyasha says Kikyou's name in clear frustration, whirls around and suggests to the surrounding polluted landscape that Kikyou is somewhere in it, and receives no answer whatsoever. He's running along the miasma river, reflected in it as he wonders WHY Kikyou tried to fight by herself, and why she couldn't have waited until he arrived. Not that it was even her INTENTION to fight, but Inuyasha is tripping balls if he thinks that Naraku himself would have waited until Inuyasha arrived to attack. Must be all the miasma fumes. 

He recalls what that dick Sesshoumaru said about HIM being the one to fail at saving Kikyou, taking it entirely too much to heart and slowing to a dazed amble along the toxic river bank, looking upwards as though there's an epiphany there about what his responsibility in this situation is. He then drops to his knees and punching the ground, cursing. He's certain that if he had just run a bit faster...

Come on, RT, try not to SHOVE the reader into guessing your big twist here. 

A short distance from the smouldering remains of their campfire, and her friends sitting/laying around it in light slumber, Kagome is sitting up staring off into the distance, still thinking on Inuyasha. At long last, his form emerges from the morning fog, and she stands in anticipation, though looks pretty anxious at him appearance. Miroku and Sango open their eyes and look over too. It was a REALLY light slumber, apparently. 

As Inuyasha comes up, he spots Kagome and calls her name in question, asking if she stayed awake this whole time waiting. He's hanging his head morosely. Kagome affirms this, not asking aloud if he didn't find Kikyou, because it's pretty obvious that he didn't. Inuyasha lowers his head even further, mumbling that he thought he could have at least found some remains. Kagome looks on Inuyasha with sorrow, saying his name, no doubt unable to think of anything else to say here. 

Inuyasha looks up, pained expression barely controlled, and apologizes but also says he's okay now. LIAR. Kagome doesn't call him on it, acknowledges his statement even, though she thinks on the word he used and watches him pass her with the absolute knowledge that he doesn't LOOK "okay" at all.

Hooo boy, if that isn't a question EVERYONE wishes they knew the answer to. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Suprise! The cold-open actually had something of a point to make about the analysis here at the end! Part of Kikyou's role as a foil to Kagome is rooted in her past with Inuyasha and the big betrayal/misunderstanding they had at the VERY beginning of the story. Once they learned the truth about how they had been played against one another by Naraku, Kikyou's reaction was a shaky strategy based on her former experience protecting the Shikon no Tama and housing Onigumo in that cave; a very limited plan that counted on circumstances to be as static as she is.

Inuyasha's reaction was a bloom of guilt and shame at the two of them failing to trust and rely upon one another. He has declared in the past that he's dedicated to not making that mistake again, to protect her thoroughly and trust she knows what she's doing, but even that wasn't enough in this case. Her (alleged) death has the impact on him in this chapter it does because he now feels like he failed her twice over, with the compounding pain that goes with it. 

This is why, even though I'm finding Sesshoumaru EVEN MORE insufferable at the beginning of the chapter than usual, I think his rhetorical question about Inuyasha's connection to Kikyou is so interesting. He's clearly gathered though Inuyasha's reaction here that it was an intimate, even romantic, type of connection, so it's understandable that he would discourage any elaboration on the subject. But BECAUSE he doesn't know the details of that connection, he can't possibly know how hard he was really hitting Inuyasha with that "it was you who failed to save her" line. I'm not saying that knowing the background of this having happened before would have discouraged Sesshoumaru from saying what he did, but I do think it's kind of fascinating how much psychic damage he did without even realizing it. 

Almost as fascinating I find it that Kouga was noting INUYASHA'S expressions before he took off without noticing KAGOME'S at that moment. I've mentioned before how Inuyasha and Kouga's relationship has long evolved into a loop without Kagome even really in it anymore, but this is some more blatant evidence for that here, even if it's a very small slightly comedic statement. At this point we may as well acknowledge that Kouga has completely stopped seeing Kagome as a romantic prospect, and views her more as a button to push to get Inuyasha's attention. 

And, at last, we get to Kagome. There isn't much in THIS chapter to go off of here regarding her feelings - she, like Miroku and Sango, seems to be on the gloomy side, but slid way further along the scale. But it's very obvious that there's a lot more going on behind how upset she is than meets the eye. Fifteen as she is, it's probably not a stretch for anyone to suppose there was just a little relief, maybe even slight happiness, at Kikyou being gone, since there's her young'un impulse to view the bond between Inuyasha and Kikyou as a threat. There's the same "duh" factor to more jealousy flaring up at Inuyasha going off to look for Kikyou and leaving her behind to fret. But if that were EVERYTHING, she wouldn't be looking like THAT. Though RT's same-face syndrome is one of the more notorious in the industry, she's also REALLY good at depicting nuanced and dynamic facial expressions. Kagome's feelings around Kikyou's (alleged) death are just as complex as Inuyasha's, because she ALSO has a bond with Kikyou. They share the same soul. It ain't nothing. But since this chapter is dealing more with the intricacies of Inuyasha's reaction, it's not shocking that RT didn't try to stuff it overfull with Kagome's contemplations too. 

One emotional crisis at a time is probably a good rule to follow.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 340 The Ties That Bind

Being all tied up in something can be a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, being bound can provide a sense of stability and security, and on the other, it can be restricting as hell. Trying to find out where you feel the most of the former and least of the latter is tricky, because while we can't avoid ties altogether (no matter what all those "freedom" evangelists might claim in all their hypotheticals), knots are hard to untangle in the cases where you've made a pretty big mistake or it's time to move on. You don't want to tether yourself to the first thing that offers you a fair amount of security and then be stuck watching it deteriorate around you like a melting glacier you depended on to keep you cool and collected. That's an untenable position.

... Not that I'm having that problem right now or anything.

At least you're not surrounded by talk about a monster-recession too, Yuugi. 

Jonouchi comments seriously on what a close match this is, but acknowledges that Atem is still thinking one step ahead. Ishizu thinks on how Atem is like an iron fort, and the outcome of the fight will depend on whether or not Yuugi can breach that fort. I should note that both of them keep referring to Atem as the "other" Yuugi or self. Just to draw some attention to how reluctant everyone STILL is to separate the two even mentally.

Yuugi's eyes are closed, and he thinks about how he's trembling, but not because he's afraid. His eyes open again, and he's adopted a small determined smile when he thinks about how happy it makes him that Atem is actually taking him seriously. Again, Yuugi reiterates in his mind how his "other him" winning means he stays here in this world. He starts to interpret the deck that Atem has chosen for this duel, translating it into a nonverbal expression of the sad feelings he would have if he has to lose the bonds he has with Yuugi and his other friends. I'd say it's a bit of a stretch, but Yuugi's had this dude sharing intimate mental space with him for literal years by this point, so it would be weird if he WASN'T able to accurately read Atem's emotions through any number of small cues. 

Inclining his head in a somber expression, Yuugi knows he feels the same way, but when he looks back up with full poop-face on, he is certain Atem has to return and that he HAS to defeat him. He announces that his turn is over aloud, after all that internal dialog. 

Uhhhh, excusez-vous? This shit opinion only exists because you didn't see Yuugi absolutely SPANK asshole!Bakura before. 

Atem demands they all behold his spell card, "Tricky's Magic 4", which comes as a surprise to Yuugi, who is in disbelief that Tricky can use different spells. Apparently this one is a cloning spell, because Atem explains that since there are three separate gadgets fastened onto Stronghold, Tricky can split into three identical monsters as well. As it proceeds to do so, Yuugi's mouth hangs open in further disbelief, and no doubt we can ALL predict what's coming next.

Yup, Atem announces his intent to sacrifice them.

Oh boy, I think Atem might be taking Yuugi a little TOO seriously, lol!

Yuugi gapes up at Obelisk in terror, sweatdropping and generally looking a little ill about it. Its own expression can't really be read - it looks kind of like some sort of giant Cenobite with its perpetually exposed teeth and gums. Jonouchi and Honda look up with alarm at the god Atem summoned, concluding that this perfect, incredible deck was built to blast Yuugi away and he's not showing the least bit mercy. Anzu is speechless, though her shock is somewhat less pronounced than the others'.

Atem commands his Obelisk to strike. 

I think the seriousness has calcified.

As Yuugi doubles over, digital smoke wafting off his back, Ryoji comments in awe about how that one attack took out all of Yuugi's monsters, and Bakura says that Yuugi will be finished off with a direct attack next turn if he can't do something on this next one. Meanwhile, Atem plays a single card face down and ends his turn, of course. While Yuugi and Atem continue to stare down one another across the manufactured distance between them, Jonouchi shouts at Yuugi not to give up (I guess this looks an awful lot like it to him), though Honda points out that the Swords of Revealing light are still out there and asks how Yuugi can possibly defeat a god. 

Yami is still peering at Yuugi across the way, and for a moment Yuugi's face looks kind of shadowed. But then...

Would you prefer he CRY? Because I would. But then again, I'm not a badass, so...

Everyone's sort of nonplussed by Yuugi's little smile here. Ryoji says Yuugi's name with shock, Bakura wonders aloud if Yuugi has some sort of trick up his sleeve, and Sugoroku answers that Yuugi is IN FACT quite cornered and there's no turning back for him, but he too is perplexed as to why he's wearing this weird expression. Anzu suggests that maybe Yuugi is expressing some happiness because he wants Atem to stay, but Honda snaps at her not to be so stupid, and Jonouchi insists that NO ONE would grin when he's about to lose, adding that Yuugi isn't that kind of duelist. The kind that Jonouchi doesn't think exists anyway. Cool. 

Jonouchi's explanation is far simpler: haltingly, he says Yuugi is just... having fun, much to the further confusion of Honda and Anzu. He elaborates that right now, in this duel, Atem is throwing everything he can at Yuugi, and Yuugi himself is loving it. Anzu looks at him with a dawning realization as Jonouchi further explains that this is the first time these two have faced each other as rivals (not to mention PHYSICALLY), and while Yuugi has always been kind of following along in the shadow of Atem, they're coming at one another head-on. Anzu considers the words "always" and "following", and she looks a little ashamed here, gazing at Yuugi as if she's JUST noticed that he's also going through some shit.

Jonouchi recalls on the boat when Yuugi confessed that there was something he hadn't yet told his "other self", and Jonouchi silently encourages Yuugi to make that leap.

And hey, Atem seems to be down with this too, thinking at his partner to bring it on. 

Yuugi begins by setting a card face down, then brings out little Silent Swordsman, Level 0, into the fray, at 1000 attack points. I don't bother to mention defense because Yuugi has indeed summoned it in attack position. Yuugi just keeps mystifying everyone today - Atem is in a little disbelief over the questionable move, and Marik openly questions why, since Obelisk will be dealing a whopping 3000 points of damage if it attacks, bringing the duel to a swift end. Jonouchi grinds his teeth with anxiety.

But Atem seems to be working out what's going on here. He thinks that Yuugi must have Time Jump hidden among his face down cards, and when he activates it, it'll bring Silent Swordsman's level up with the 3 turns it blows over. However, the attack strength would STILL only be up to 2500 at that point, still far below what is needed to defeat Obelisk. Atem assumes that this was some sort of attempt to scare him into holding back, instead of working out that there's probably ANOTHER piece of this move that he's not quite grasping yet. 

Atem calls out the start of his turn, quickly summoning Big Shield Guardna for backup defense, as you do, and commanding Obelisk to attack. As the giant fist is coming in for a mean punch to the diminutive Silent Swordsman, Yuugi throws out his hand to trigger one of his face down cards, Time Jump, just at Atem had supposed. Atem is secure in his reading of the situation, and his knowledge that Silent Swordsman still doesn't have the power to survive Obelisk's attack. But when Yuugi announces that this isn't ALL, Atem is taken aback once again. 

Yuugi plays his SECOND face down card, Crumbling Axe, the text of which instructs the player to lower the selected monster's attack by 500 points each for every turn it was hanging out face down. Yuugi reiterates that Time Jump raises Silent Swordsman's level (so he's all grown up now and his massive hands and feet are much more proportional to his body now), and Crumbling Sword lowers Obelisk's attack points. 

Well, if Yuugi wasn't having fun before, he sure is now.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? It's a good thing that Yuugi's here to do some interpreting on Atem, because to me, his opinions/feelings in this duel are kind of erratic. Half the time he's thinking that Yuugi can't surpass him or that Yuugi is trying to scare him into going easy on him or something, and the other half he's summoning gods and encouraging Yuugi to bring it in a genuine way. He's so all over the place that I'm having a lot of trouble getting a read on the guy. 

But since this is my blog, and I really should TRY to come up with an analysis of viable motivation that covers all of his contradictory statements/actions, I'm thinking there's a contrast being drawn here between Atem's repeated attempts at seriousness and Yuugi's almost laid-back taking the whole experience in stride. As Jonouchi said, it's clear Yuugi is having FUN here - he's treasuring what could potentially be his last minutes with someone so close to him and at the same time using them to express himself and his feelings about the situation and their face-off. In a way, Yuugi is MAKING this the conversation that he admitted he wanted a couple of chapters ago, saying what he's wanting to say, which is that Atem doesn't have to be concerned about how things will turn out when he has to go, because Yuugi is a capable and strong individual in his own right.

But Atem isn't using the duel as a medium like Yuugi is. Beyond Yuugi's observation that the deck Atem put together is a statement on his fears about severing ties with all his friends in going away, Atem appears to be trying to dissociate himself from the intimate nature of this duel. He's trying to treat it like one he might have with any of the antagonists they've met from the beginning, as an exercise of his judgment with a just outcome. Whether he feels good or bad about it (which seems to shift every second), he's already drawn the conclusion that Yuugi CAN'T win this duel, and he's going to be staying. Atem clearly doesn't think Yuugi is bad, but he has assumed that Yuugi is WRONG, and this needs... correcting, just like the other wrong-headed folks he's dueled. So, Atem's treatment of the duel as a cold hard judgment of skill leaves him missing a lot of what Yuugi is trying to SAY with the moves he makes, including the pretty obvious stuff.

But hey, maybe now that Yuugi has taken down Obelisk, he's going to get wise and start paying a bit more attention. One can only hope.

Inuyasha Manga: 281 New Body

Just in time for beach season! Yet another reason for him to shed all those pounds in Mt. Hakurei, I'm sure - no doubt that wouldn't go over well among others on the sandy shores, but it would probably have less to do with a lack of body positivity and more to do with the beach being ENTIRELY obscured by the literal mountainous bulk. Not that I care much for the idea of Naraku in a bathing suit either way. Seems wrong and inappropriate. 

Do not link the fanart I am CERTAIN exists somewhere!!

Kikyou is already displeased enough.

Naraku observes with a nasty smile that Kikyou doesn't bleed because of her bones and soil imitation body. Way to add insult to injury, dude. Kikyou drops to the ground, what's left of her bow still under her hand as though she can't give it up, and she haltingly calls Naraku a bastard. Naraku responds with a chuckle, saying she was careless for presumably showing up there without worry since she was under the impression he couldn't kill her. When he refers to the useless human heart that had some kind of *ahem* covetous thoughts of Kikyou remaining in him as the reason WHY she would be so confident, Naraku's smile drops off his face and he looks none too pleased. Kikyou draws the conclusion that he's gotten rid of that hateful heart, and further stipulates that when she saw Kagura escaped carrying something, whatever it was had a human heart. 

What about the unhealthy amount of smugness? That doesn't strike you as "a thing"?

Kikyou just glares at him, her hand clutching at the jagged wound in her shoulder, which appears to be leaking some vaporous substance. She silently asserts that these are the dead souls escaping. Again. She just can't seem to hang ON to those things, can she? Naraku tells Kikyou that he no longer has any reason to let her live, and the ground behind her proceeds to split open into a deep chasm with a river of bubbling miasma at the bottom. 

Naraku states this too, just to make sure she knows how well her measly imitation form will dissolve in there (we can't have anyone possibly NOT understanding that this is basically an acid vat), all while his hand extends and twists into some more gnarled tentacles. With one more announcement that this is her grave, Naraku's hand/tentacle mass lashes out at her lightning fast. 

Well Kikyou, at least you know what it's like to be dropped into a chasm to your death now. A little taste of your own medicine, even if it's somewhat late in the game. 

Kikyou's last thought as she's falling head-first down into the miasma below is of Inuyasha, like she's calling for him, but her mouth's not open. Her eyes are double-wide, though. From the top of the cliff, Naraku watches Kikyou's form recede down into the chasm, probably imagining a cartoon whistling sound to accompany the visual, the sick fuck (never mind that I'M the sick fuck writing that down). He asks if she understands, not that she can ANSWER him now, of course. He asserts that this was his desire, doubling down on the notion that it was a new body, this time with the implication that it's one that would do the murder he wanted.

At Naraku's back, someone was a flower-patterned sleeve comments on how curiously cautious Naraku was just to ultimately kill a single lady.

Jaken is sweatdropping pretty frickin' hard there. Apparently it's because he's all hot under the collar about how big of an ego Naraku's gotten to be just referring to Sesshoumaru without honorific by this point. To be fair, Sesshoumaru's name is plenty long enough without tacking more syllables onto the end of it. 

Naraku looks cheekily over his shoulder and says it's a surprise that Sesshoumaru would be coming after him too, suggesting that Sesshoumaru has an INTENSE interest in him. Didn't I SAY that he has no logical narrative reason to be here? So it's Sesshoumaru's own fault if people draw weird conclusions about his "interests" because of it, no matter how loudly Jaken screeches about how it's actually Naraku who was meddling with them first. 

But he doesn't get to finish his defensive screed about who is responsible for their current meeting, because Sesshoumaru cuts him off to tell him to stand the fuck by. Then Sesshoumaru addresses Naraku, saying that his exit from the barrier must mean he's gotten a bit stronger. Naraku doesn't answer for a moment, then suggests that Sesshoumaru try him out. Sesshoumaru scoffs. 

Don't send me THAT fanart either!!

Because this is BASICALLY just that, except with a literal sword. Naraku's giving Sesshoumaru the bedroom eyes and everything here.

Jaken can be forgiven for assuming that Sesshoumaru got Naraku, because Naraku's expression in the next panel is less flirty and more disturbed that his bony carapace is getting annihilated from Sesshoumaru's attack. But Sesshoumaru knows better, directing a critical look at where he'd just swung his sword. Although he's been blasted to bits from mid-chest down, Naraku chuckles from within his protective bubble with all his viscera contained within. He tells Sesshoumaru that he's going to bounce the attack he just endured right back to sender, the barrier emitting a jagged blast around its circumference per the promise.

Sesshoumaru holds up Tokijin in a defensive stance as his own blast crackles around him, forcing him backward a bit, which Jaken notes with disbelief and alarm. After a moment of intense concentration, Sesshoumaru stops skidding at the heel and pushes off from the ground, lunging up toward Naraku and slicing his giggling head in half. Naraku don't give a shit, chuckling that Sesshoumaru's efforts are futile. 

Yeah, I think we've caught on to that irritating fact, bro.

Sesshoumaru glares up at the sky, silently pissing and moaning about Naraku's impudence in using him to test his new body. I guess his FULL AGENCY in participating in the test doesn't factor into the complaint here, nor their recent discussion about how he NEVER had to be here. I can't say I'm particularly sympathetic to him right now.

He looks over at a familiar bare-footed step, Inuyasha squaring up for... some kind of confrontation, no doubt. Sesshoumaru expresses the mildest surprise that Inuyasha's alive, but supposes that Naraku wanted to kill "that woman" more than him anyway. Inuyasha is taken aback by this offhand statement, then spots the broken bow on the ground near the chasm, which he automatically identifies as Kikyou's. He looks a bit alarmed, but mostly in disbelief by the puzzle he's putting together.

Meanwhile, in some forest somewhere, Kagura is perched on a branch up in a tree, thinking about that damn Naraku forcing this crap on her, probably referring to the bundle still hitched in the crook of her arm. A voice from that bundle asserts that Kikyou is dead, and Kagura has to ask it to repeat itself, having been deep in loathing thought about stupid Naraku and everything.

What do YOU know about it? You're just a baaaaaabyyyyyy.

So, what did I think about this chapter overall? Kikyou's presumed death (things are rarely dead in this manga unless we get to watch them dissolve, remember) is pretty good at subverting the expectations that have been built thus far. As I mentioned in the previous analysis, we don't really have any reason to believe that this interaction between Naraku and Kikyou will be any different than the previous ones, nor does Kikyou herself. She had an inkling before that Naraku had OTHER motivations for hiding himself away and rearranging his form again, but clearly she didn't think it had anything to do with getting rid of her, otherwise she would have been a lot more careful in meeting with him again. The scene reframes Kikyou's confidence in her understanding of Naraku and his limitations as arrogance and miscalculation, hubris that leads to a literal downfall. Despite the unlikelihood that Naraku would be able to literally rearrange the humanity right out of himself, Kikyou's relative certainty that he wouldn't have found SOME way to hurt/kill her just made her more vulnerable in a way that none of us really saw coming. It carries a somber, unsettling tone, because Kikyou having already died at Naraku's tricky hands probably had the most reason of any of them to seek vindication, but the fragility of her state of being almost made her the most likely not to be able to see it through.

And then there's the guy who has the LEAST reason to be there, sucking up the air right afterward. Honestly, RT drawing attention to the fact that Sesshoumaru is there chasing after Naraku like the others with very little rhyme or reason just makes me irritated. Rather than a tool for releasing the tension like her little spats between Inuyasha and Kouga, this one just feels like a joke at the audience's expense. "Well, my fans demanded more of him because he's pretty and popular - here he is, just like they wanted, even though he's basically just superfluous right now."

Good job, RT, Sesshoumaru is an annoying purposeless twat. I'm sure that is precisely how you meant this to pan out, lol.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 339 Yuugi vs. Atem!!

The "how" of this upcoming match is still blowing my mind a bit, because it occurs to me that the solidification of a split shadow is an interesting way to manifest another body for one of these souls. In the beginning of the story, Atem as the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle was aligned with the dark, doling out punishments and judgments against wrong-doers in a distinctly spooky/shady manner. He even seemed to take pleasure in some disturbing retributions really early on. As the story progressed, his orientation shifted more toward the light side of the spectrum, the traditional alignment for a "good" guy in most fiction. The polarity was pretty fully flipped, but now, with the split shadow, Atem seems to have been identified by the "shadows" again. So, the question is: could all the references to light of the heart and casting of shadows in the painful metaphorical discourse between Atem and Zorc have had another layer? Was Atem REALLY ever the "light" side that was being talked about, or was it actually YUUGI, whose shadow he's been living as for the vast majority of the story?

Or am I thinking too hard about all this and should I just accept my whiplash with grace?

Either way, we get a recap of the ritual instructions over the image of the Millennium Tablet complete with all the items and a light emanating from the cracks around them, and the Door to the Afterlife. It might be a little like putting together Ikea furniture, folks - insert Millennium Item into corresponding slot, say the name of the pharaoh, and the door will open to welcome him, AFTER the Wadjet Eye judges the pharaoh's worth and someone takes the pharaoh's sword to quiet his soul. Not complicated, but still somewhat... challenging.

I'm feeling SO weird about this. 

While he's inserting the deck he just made into his clone Duel Disk (or is Yuugi's the clone? *shrug*), Atem silently thanks his partner for accepting this challenge, but since he's a duelist, it's his pride to put EVERYTHING he has into beating his opponent no matter the cost. Clearly he's not planning on just handing this one to Yuugi. Yuugi too is inserting his newly-made deck into his Duel Disk, thinking at his "other him" that he has to be strong, because otherwise Atem will never be free from his heart. He vows once more to defeat his "other him". 

How funny would it be if they accidentally chose each other's decks? I mean, I know there's no chance of that, since Yuugi's was in the puzzle box and everything, but it might break the tension a little if there was a silly little mix-up. Or it might just make everyone more upset, now that I think about it...

While Yuugi and Atem stand to face off against each other, the peanut gallery is very anxious. Jonouchi and Honda are clenching their teeth and their fists are raised, the former complaining that he doesn't know who to root for. He reiterates that if Yuugi wins, the OTHER Yuugi will leave them, and if the OTHER Yuugi wins, then nothing changes and they all get to stay together. Put that way, it sounds like a no-brainer, but Jonouchi adds that the second outcome would also mean Yuugi never gets to stand alone. No doubt that adventure in the Memory World was a one-off deal and Yuugi won't get another chance at independence like that again, so, fair.

Anzu frets silently, correcting her brain when it also tries to call Atem the OTHER Yuugi, and just wanting him to stay with them. She's coming down firmly on the side of wanting him to win it seems, just because she would HATE to see him go. Ishizu dispassionately explains that this trial will decide both their fates, since their souls have been joined in one heart for so long and they're the only ones who can find the answer. 

Atem shouts at Yuugi an invitation to get this thing going, and Yuugi nods in agreement. 

Are they doing that d-d-d-d-d-duel thing? That thing I hear all the time on YouTube?

Atem declares he's taking the lead, choosing a card from his hand to put in the graveyard with the accompanying explanation, and uses it to special summon something called "The Tricky" in attack position. It's got question marks on both its blank head topped with a jester's hat, and its torso, which reinforces the mystery of how its card doesn't appear to have any other tidbits about what it does than how to summon it. Atem then plays a card face down and ends his turn. 

As Yuugi carefully considers how Atem immediately special summoned a 2000-point monster, he announces his own turn and then slaps down Swords of Revealing Light, which appear all around The Tricky in order to hold it in place. Jonouchi marvels at how Yuugi used Swords of Revealing Light on his first turn and he's not messing around, and at last, Atem cracks a smile at Yuugi, appearing pretty impressed himself. 

Man, they're just CRUISING right along, aren't they? I guess these can go fairly fast absent the trash-talk.

After Atem says it's his turn again, he does some thinking about the basic strategy Yuugi is using - protecting himself from Atem's monsters until he has enough monsters out there to sacrifice for something high-level. But Atem, without any kind of mirth, thinks at Yuugi that he should know Swords of Revealing Light can't block ALL attacks. He holds out a card he's plucked from his hand, announcing it's a spell card he's playing. Yuugi seems astounded that Atem has THAT card: "Rebellion", which makes Green Gadget whirl around and prepare to attack Yuugi himself, per the text on the card and Atem's statement to as much. His own monster lunges for Yuugi, eliciting a worried, uneasy response from Marik. 

But Yuugi smiles and says he knew Atem would do that. Atem looks on in shock and disbelief as Yuugi reveals the trap he laid, "Stronghold", and it rises behind Yuugi like a cross between a massive server machine, a power plant, and kin to the exposed gear creature he summoned before. Atem leans forward as if he has to get a better look to really accept the "hidden fort trap" that Yuugi has played. Yuugi confidently awaits Green Gadget's molasses approach.

Not quite so BASIC as you thought, huh Atem?

Sugoroku acknowledges Yuugi's good move, narrating how Rebellion was negated and Yuugi's points remain intact, and the still conflicted Jonouchi mumbles good luck to BOTH the players. Fair, because after what we've seen both of them do, Atem's certainty that this will be his toughest challenge is probably an understatement. 

Atem ends his turn, straight-faced and serious. No other moves or ANYTHING. Yuugi declares his turn and draw, looks at the new card critically, and silently warns his "other him" that he's already got all the cards for a special combo in his hand, so he'd better be ready. Yuugi first plays a spell card with a price of 1000 of his points, called "Ties of the Brethren" which allows him to special summon a couple of monsters of the same type as the one he already has out there. He pulls the ones he wants from his deck, Atem looking on in alarm again. Yuugi calls for the gadgets to come to him, overly dramatic, but effective. 

No blue gadget? I guess primary colors can't ALWAYS be included in everything.

At last, Atem actually SPEAKS to Yuugi about what he's doing, and his assessment isn't very generous. He points out that the three monsters Yuugi has managed to get out there cannot be used for attack or sacrifice, and advises his partner that he can't be defeated through puny defensive tactics like Stronghold or his defense monsters. Uh, Atem seems to have traded the memory of certain game aspects for the memory of his name and past, because he's forgetting that a lot of these mech/robot monsters like to COMBINE. 

Indeed, Yuugi tells him his monsters AREN'T for defense, and are actually different steps to a whole attack strategy. Atem gapes again in disbelief while Yuugi shouts that they're doing this, and commands his gadgets to become the gears in that big fort behind him. They fly up to the empty slots on the Stronghold and rings of flowing air surround them as they get into position, which just seems to confuse the shit out of Atem, because he's perplexed as hell about what's going on here. So Yuugi explains that the three gears on the gadgets' backs fit into the Stronghold, and they turn, all while precisely this is happening.

Seriously, THIS should not be blowing your mind, Atem. 

Although it IS pretty massive, and Atem has to lean his head way far back to look up at the fusion attack he's identified. Yuugi asks if Atem is GETTING now that the usual field-card Stronghold can join with the gadgets and become Stronghold the Fort Monster at 3000 points of attack. I don't know, Atem is being awfully dense at the moment. Might not sink in until that walking fortress whaps him upside his cloudy head. Jonouchi, Honda, and Anzu all gape in various degrees of distress, but the dialog is more of awe that Yuugi's got this game going now. 

Yuugi demands that his Stronghold get Atem. 

Oh good, it's not that he's being DENSE, it's that he was using that IMPOSSIBLE poker face mind of his again. 

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? On the one hand, I appreciate the effort to show Atem's transition from mild skepticism of Yuugi's efforts at the beginning of the duel to his amazement at them. It makes more than enough sense that while he's proud of Yuugi for stepping up to take on this responsibility of his duel to end all duels, he might doubt that Yuugi can bring himself to put all his effort into the duel. Looking at this from Atem's perspective, I can see how Yuugi's moves for a minute MIGHT have come across as overly shy or like he was holding back, so his mini lecture about how Yuugi can't beat him with defensive moves is understandable. 

But, on the other hand, Atem being repeatedly taken-aback by the mechanics of these cards that he really should have predicted was a little grating. It didn't convey that his awe was in regards to Yuugi showing concerted effort, or being a little more in the game than he had assumed at first - it just made him look ridiculously dense. And the about-face at the end of the chapter where Atem shows he was in control all along just comes across as an over-correction for how stupid Atem was being written before. I've commented before on how Atem appears in both face AND thought to be on the ropes in a match, and then the next panel he's confident again when it's revealed that he had a countermeasure for whatever move he was reacting to in the first place. It seems disingenuous and like there's an effort to have it both ways: having tension built into the narrative while ALSO having your cool main character never REALLY be vulnerable or uncertain. In this particular case, there's also the impression KT might have pushed Atem's awe a little too far, and had to swing him back to a place where he's still in the competition. It's not great.

Otherwise, there's just a general melancholy to the start of this duel. The characters are expressing confusion at the situation, perplexity at how their friends ended up being on OPPOSITE sides of duel, and discomfort at what BOTH outcomes could mean. It is no wonder to me that, whenever Jonouchi in particular is depicted, he's got this sort of... lost expression, like he's totally unfamiliar with where he's at and he's failing to get his bearings. It's a little unsettling, but rich in emotion. 

And of course I can't deny that I'm feeling the impending ending a little more intensely with every subsequent chapter I recap/review here. It's getting WEIRD, and I don't even have a clever little countermove to the discomfort written for me like Atem does. I just have to DEAL.

Inuyasha Manga: 280 True Objective

Control and power. Full stop. Forgive me, but I'm a little sick of hearing well-meaning perpetually shocked folks always asking the rhetorical question, "Why are they doing this??" The answer is always that they want power and control over the rest of us, and if you look at any of their actions through that simple truth, you'll find it makes sense. Working ridiculously hard to take away necessary and popular health care procedures? Control and power. Permeating weapons of war throughout society's streets despite their proliferation meaning near constant death and destruction? Control and power. Ousting elected public officials from legislature because they had a mind to actually speak for their constituents instead of rich lobbyists? Control and power.

Holing up in a mountain that you eventually make a subset of your ridiculously complicated body so you can trap your enemies inside and absorb one of their friends after your hired assassins fail miserably to kill ANY of them? Control and power. Even if it's only over himself.

Sango and Miroku fly by on Kirara, dodging all the clumps of weird flesh falling from the ceiling that they were wading through before, and telling Inuyasha and Kagome that they need to get out of there before the miasma kicks their sorry asses. Inuyasha curses, then calls to Shippou, who pops up on his shoulder asking what it is. Inuyasha orders him to transform and take Kagome out of there first, and questions if he can manage it, to which Shippou responds with another perplexed noise. Kagome leans over Inuyasha's other shoulder and demands to know what will become of HIM in the meantime, and he asks if she WANTS him to save the wimpy wolf or not. He asserts that there's no way he can carry ALL of them and move freely, then repeats his command to go already. 

At least there aren't any drawn-out arguments about it. 

Inuyasha dives downward among the falling fleshy debris, curling his arm up by his nose and complaining that the miasma is nasty. No need to state redundancies to no one, dude. He spots the falling bubble containing Kouga, cracks his knuckles, and slashes down at the sack with a Sankon Tessou. It bursts and no sooner is Kouga free then Inuyash looks up to see a MASSIVE hunk of flesh descending on them at speed. Kouga doesn't appear to be conscious, so with another curse, Inuyasha pulls Kouga's arm over his shoulders and leaps him out of the way. 

He notes with alarm that the sack Kouga was in appears to have been melting him, now that he's got a feel of the chemical-looking burns on his hand and arm. Inuyasha supposes that the bastard Naraku was really trying to absorb Kouga, along with his Shikon shards. I guess Naraku just didn't want to take the time to poke and prod through Kouga's legs with his little tentacles to retrieve the fragments. He was in a bit of a hurry after a minute, after all.

Kouga coughs and a lot of fluid is expelled from his mouth - stuff that was presumably BURNING his insides. Inuyasha welcomes him to consciousness with a caustic observation that the wimpy wolf is awake, and Kouga answers with Inuyasha's WAY better nickname (Dog Turd) in a little bit of a daze. Then he starts freaking out about where Naraku is and what happened to their mutual enemy. Inuyasha yells at him to leave the details for later, since they've got to get out of there. Like, YESTERDAY. Inuyasha pushes off from another flesh ball to begin their ascent. 

From her safe-ish distance, Kikyou now observes that Mt. Hakurei is collapsing. Really sucks for the people living there, huh? It turns out that Kikyou's distance is not even as safe-ISH as I thought, though, because cracks start forming around her feet, branching out like a lightning strike. Another object is flying through the sky above her, but unlike Kagura, this one is descending rapidly right on top of her. 

Between the two, I would have preferred Kagura as a visitor. 

Kikyou says Naraku's name by way of disgusted and disdainful greeting, and Naraku chuckles at Kikyou that it's been a long while since they've interacted face to face. By Kikyou's expression, I'd say she's wishing it had been a LOT longer. 

Now THAT'S what I call collapsing. Volume 36.

Sango repeats the assessment that the big mountain is on its way down, and Miroku wonders if this means that Mt. Hakurei is no longer necessary to Naraku. Oh, I think its period of usefulness was just about as brief as anything else the guy uses and throws away. Kagome and Shippou stand at a distance from the mountain, just like Kikyou, and though the ground around them is rumbling ominously, Shippou worries aloud that Inuyasha is awfully late. Kagome just holds onto that fire-rat coat the way she was on the edge of the burning river a few chapters ago, once again terrified for Inuyasha's safety.

I don't know HOW, but she's able to make out a couple of figures emerging from the debris and dust, hugging Shippou to her as she identifies Inuyasha. Shippou adds happily that Kouga is there too. AMAZING eyes, these kids. A massive rock is coming up fast at Inuyasha and Kouga's backs, and Sango calls for them to watch out, like they didn't notice. Kouga's foot pushes off the ground in a hurry.

Kouga is just as fast at healing from traumatic burns as he is on his feet.

As Kouga touches down on the ground, Inuyasha presumably right behind him, and Kagome runs toward him thanking goodness that they're okay, he mopes about failing at what he INTENDED to do. He then grabs Kagome's hands and apologizes for their earlier separation in the cave, saying she must have been scared. Before Kagome can confirm that it was indeed pretty fucking scary watching him get swallowed up by the ground, Inuyasha punches Kouga on the back of his head, cursing him for acting like he got out all by his lonesome. 

Shippou chirps at Kouga that he could AT LEAST express some gratitude, and Kagome reveals that Inuyasha went to save Kouga even before she ASKED him to do it. Kouga actually looks a little humbled by this information, but when Inuyasha barks at him not to misunderstand, that he just didn't want Naraku to get the shards in Kouga's legs through complete inaction, Kouga says he sees and refuses to thank him. Still, Inuyasha encourages him (in a rather threatening, in-your-face manner) to say thank you, and Kouga asks which Inuyasha wants, because an expression of gratitude and surly refusal to acknowledge help are apparently on the same footing in his mind. Shippou dryly says Kouga KNOWS Inuyasha wants Kouga to say thank you. Kagome just closes her eyes in exasperation. Probably counting to ten in her head, these boys are just too annoying.

"So, I see the Youkai Haute Couture project is in full swing."

No, seriously, Kikyou asks Naraku what the deal is with his new form with a less-than-impressed expression. Clearly, she and I agree that he's looking pretty iffy right now. Naraku asks if she can't tell by looking that this is his new body, but Kikyou AIN'T buying it. She tells him not to make her laugh (though she looks the furthest thing from that reaction), and assures him that she's not blind. DEAD, but not blind. Kikyou says that this new body of his is flashy, but for show, and asked him what he sent out of Mt. Hakurei after spending so long holed up in there until the holy barrier came down. 

Naraku smirks, calls Kikyou as sharp as ever for noticing that, and Kikyou confirms that she spotted Kagura fleeing the mountain's impending collapse cradling something in her arms. She then lifts her bow, arrow nocked, asking what his true objective is. With a creepy glare, Naraku promises to tell her, if she really wants to know. Something tells me this was going to become apparent to her whether or not she even asked. Naraku lifts his forearm so that that horn on his bone armor lengthens, stating that he has something he really needs to get done no matter what. 

And it's not changing into an outfit that doesn't make his head look like it shrunk in the wash.

An almost imperceptible flash later...

Elsewhere, Inuyasha suddenly whirls around from Kagome, a panic in his face as he wonders what this foreboding feeling is.

Contrivance, perhaps?

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Things felt like they accelerated quite a bit in this chapter, in a good way. Since the collapsing mountain wasn't waiting for them to argue about what was going to be done and who was going to do it, there was very little deliberation over most of them escaping the mountain while Inuyasha stayed behind to rescue Kouga. And as Kagome noted to Kouga later, Inuyasha didn't wait for Kagome to suggest that he should save his "rival", it was an automatic impulse. And Kouga pretty much immediately showed the SAME impulse when he sped them away from a falling boulder later. Their unique bond may be built on their scraps over Kagome, but it's becoming more and more apparent that it's not really about Kagome at all - it's about them getting a rise out of the other one and enjoying the goofy mock fights they have because of their generally low stakes. They have some of their most ridiculous arguments after escaping the most intense life-or-death situations, which speaks volumes about how effective they are at releasing that tension. And if the characters can take a moment to relax with a humorous moment, the audience is given a small breather too.

Even though, at the same time, the tension between Naraku and Kikyou is mounting just a short distance away. We've seen them chatting before, and while it's been dripping with disdain on both ends, the danger to either of them has been minimal. Neither has made any true attempt to kill the other one, despite the clear distrust between them. So that's why it comes as something of a surprise that, after all this time, Naraku has finally struck Kikyou. Obviously it was a long time coming, and it's not all that shocking that it happened at ALL, but because it took so long to get to this point, I think I had become complacent in my expectations that the moment would eventually come around. I supposed they would just continue to lurk around each other's periphery and try to manipulate the result they wanted less directly. I believe Kikyou would still like to do that, considering her plan was to let the guy put back together the whole Shikon no Tama in order to purify them together. 

I'm kind of glad that there's some consequence to her waiting around for that moment, honestly. Despite my respect for her as a VERY interesting character and a general badass, I still think it is a VERY unsound plan.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 338 The Rite of the Duel!!

Exciting as this and its stakes sound, I am DESPAIRING of sitting inside reading about "the Rite of the Duel" at the moment. It's been raining nonstop since yesterday with more rain on the way, I haven't gotten out to get the rest of the stone for my herb spiral yet, and I didn't get to ride my bike this week like I'd grown accustomed. I'm feeling a little bit of cabin fever, and despite having plenty to do indoors (including this review), I can't help but feel a bit bored and bummed by it all. Normally the rain feels cozy here, so I don't know what's changed. Perhaps I'm longing for summer and sunshine more than I've ever done before. Perhaps I just need a little vacation.

But if Yuugi can keep truckin' with his somewhat painful duties to Atem at this bummer of a time for him, then my task of reviewing them is relatively small in comparison. 

He sits back in his chair, surrounded by piles of odd cards that didn't make the cut for the deck he just finished, some of them trailing out of his back haphazardly. He starts looking through his chosen cards again, mumbling that the balance isn't quite right, considering out loud some more traps, and saying that there's too many monsters. He thinks about how before now he always built his deck with "his other self" (except for that one time where he had his dream deck in the Memory World RPG, but perhaps he doesn't count that as "building" per se) as he makes the changes he was muttering about before, eventually giving his choices more notes of approval. He acknowledges that this time is different, though: this is his OWN deck, to duel the "other him" specifically. Can't let him have the advantage of seeing what he's up against beforehand, after all.

Over an image of the ship moving along the Nile, Yuugi also notes that they'll be arriving in the Valley of the Kings in just a few more hours, where the Shrine of the Underworld is, the arena for their duel against one another. At last, Yuugi decides to stop fussing over the deck and says that's it, stashing it away in the Millennium Puzzle box until the duel. Once Yuugi has closed the box and has taken it off the table, possibly to put it in his bag, Atem appears in spectral form beside him, asking if he's finished up building that deck yet. Yuugi responds to his "other him" in slight alarm, asking where he's been this whole time, saying everyone was worried about him.

Atem apologizes, claiming that he had to sleep to minimize the risk of seeing Yuugi build the deck for his duel with him. Yuugi assumes Atem must have heard the news then, to which Atem responds that he indeed was at least around to hear Marik's explanation about the Rite of the Duel, and he in turn assumes that Yuugi's accepted the responsibility of giving him his final test. Yuugi kind of hangs his head in morose silence, Atem waiting patiently for Yuugi to look up again and affirm that he'll use all his skills to duel him. Atem says he knows, so Yuugi launches into an excited declaration that it's his turn to build his own deck, urging him not to forget that he knows all the weaknesses of the current deck, his new deck has ways to beat the classic Atem strategies, and he shouldn't be underestimated. 

Atem doesn't respond. Yuugi hangs his head again and repeats that it's his turn.

Does their shared BODY ever get to rest? 

Inside, Yuugi is no less obviously unhappy about the course things have taken. He's got his spectral fists all balled up, his head inclined, his shoulder tensed up around his ears. He states in no uncertain terms that he doesn't really want to fight his "other him", as if he's talking straight to him. But he acknowledges that if he doesn't Atem won't ever be free, and will always be trapped in his heart. Heart-prisons have become something of a recurring idea, haven't they? Yuugi again looks back up with determination and insists that it's his duty to beat Atem, that he HAS to. 

Since they don't have much time, Yuugi would REALLY like to spend what they have left talking to Atem, but he's made the decision to fight as a duelist, so he resolves to keep silent. Toxic positivity switched out for a little of the toxic masculinity, I see. Although, I do agree that Yuugi should probz show Atem the same courtesy shown to himself and NOT interrupt him while he's building a new deck.

Would hate to break THAT intense concentration.

Thinking on Kaiba, Marik, and Pegasus, Atem acknowledges how he's fought many enemies on his journey, but he's convinced this Rite of the Duel will be his hardest challenge yet. He considers how willingly Yuugi took on this duty to fight to determine his fate. As he sifts through the cards from Yuugi's bag, it's clear to him that the trial isn't just his, looking at the puzzle box with Yuugi's deck sitting inside as a vessel for his hopes and dreams. He asserts to Yuugi (hypothetically, since Yuugi's removed himself from any possibility of conversation) that he also has hopes and dreams, and he'll put them ALL into his new deck. 

Over a panel of some ruins that we can assume the ship is passing at the moment, Atem thinks about how the stone slabs of 3000 years before have been reborn as cards in the modern day, and the cards he's choosing hold his soul as a duelist. A succinct summary, I like it. And the boat continues to chug along the river.

With the certainty that this duel will determine where he spends ETERNITY, staying in the modern day if he wins, and going on to the next life if he loses, there's no pressure or anything. Yuugi's image is superimposed on the puzzle box as Atem issues his challenge to his trusty partner. I would be looking a little sick, but Atem looks as composed and determined as ever. 

The ship approaches a mooring cleat at the edge of the river, and Atem sees from the window, supposing that they've arrived. He stashes the puzzle box with Yuugi's deck inside into the backpack, Presumably doing the same with his own deck, but I don't know how - there are SEVERAL stacks of cards in there otherwise, and I hope the damn thing doesn't get jostled and lost. 

The gangplank is lowered to the dock that where it lands and Atem arrives with the backpack slung up on one shoulder, and alone. He looks a bit shocked when he sees what's waiting for him. 

He was taking his sweet time in there, I guess.

Atem smiles at all of them warmly, and the ever impatient Jonouchi suggests that they all get going. Not that he's looking at all irritated about it - he seems to be rather gentle in his expression and tone right now. Atem inclines his head in agreement and they all take a walk among the rocky outcrops in the Valley of the Kings. At some point they descend a set of stairs, and once more Atem widens his eyes at the view at the bottom.

Everyone looks around in curious wonder, Jonouchi muttering about THIS being the Shrine of the Underworld. Ishizu gestures the folks standing at the head of the shrine to Atem, who approach him and kneel with the final two Millennium Items presented on a tray and dark altar cloth, telling him how they've been waiting for him. The man raising the tray makes the unnecessary comment that they have the last two items right here, and while Ishizu silently takes the tray off him, Atem turns silently to look at the tablet with all its very specifically-shaped indents. He opens up the backpack where the rest of the items are stashed. 

Ishizu instructs him to insert the items in their slots. Anzu watches Atem do so, addressing him silently in her increasing misery. The puzzle is the final item he puts in the tablet, right at the top in the chest of the pharaoh figure that the tablet is fashioned after. Atem stands back while light starts to shine out of the edges of the slots, and the Door to the Afterlife beyond shines from the eye set in the center top. Jonouchi observes this with alarm, and Ishizu explains how the Wadjet Eye will be judging the truth here, and this is how the Rite of the Duel begins. 

Atem raises his arm, Duel Disk clacking into shape, and behind him, Jonouchi points and makes an unneeded bid for them to look, Honda looking pretty stressed with his clenched jaw and sweatdrop next to him. 

That's something you don't see every day.

They're like twins, standing next to each other in a similar battle stance, though Yuugi appears just a bit more perplexed than the stoic Atem. Relatable, especially considering even the DUEL DISK has been cloned up. Jonouchi is astonished by Yuugi being split in two like a frickin' amoeba, but Honda blurts that their duel is about to start, as if THAT'S the most amazing part of this whole deal. Weird comment, dude. 

With Atem asking if his partner can surpass him, Yuugi determined not to lose to his "other him", and the onlookers running the gamut between anxiety, gaping, and stone-cold concentration, they're ready to face off. 

This is some Twilight Zone shit.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? There are a lot of emotions here, and a part of me is almost grateful that it's a little rushed, because I think KT could have gotten LOST in how many there are throughout many chapters. I certainly would have. As it stands, half to three-quarters of a chapter was a good amount of time to scratch the surface of the massive OCEAN that is these two trying to distance themselves preemptively. It's downright heartbreaking that Yuugi is struggling with sacrificing the goodbye he WANTS for the goodbye he thinks both he and Atem NEED in order to properly challenge each other. The fact that he feels his urge to communicate with Atem is incompatible with their trial is a bit of a tragedy, especially since Atem isn't exactly contradicting that perception. His wordless response to Yuugi's attempts to express excitement and encouragement came off as ice-cold, so it's not really a surprise that Yuugi came away with the conclusion that he had to try to be just as expressionless.

That's not to say I'm not sympathetic to Atem's reaction to this ordeal. It's not out of the ordinary to have an emotional deep freeze in stressful situations, where one tenses and clams up, unable to find the proper enthusiasm to match what's being expressed by others. Atem's certainty that this will be his biggest challenge speaks volumes about why he couldn't join in Yuugi's attempt at manufactured happiness. This one duel determines his future, and both outcomes could be a tad bit of a bummer, no matter how bubbly Yuugi tries to paint it.

These are just two different reactions to the same stressful stimuli, and unfortunately they clash pretty hard when they come in contact with one another. It highlights HOW different Yuugi and Atem are as people, despite how well they've worked together over the majority of the story, and the friction that can cause when they're FORCED to be opponents. It's... fucking weird. 

Not as weird as them splitting in two so they can make this whole thing physically WORK, of course. But on second thought, it's not all THAT surprising that the onlookers weren't too hung up about it. Marik, Rishid, and Ishizu have literally been preparing for this moment their entire lives, Ryoji was well acquainted with the Millennium Puzzle and primed for the weirdness before he even MET Yuugi, Sugoroku experienced his own weirdness when he first got the thing, and the main friend group has just been through a ridiculously bizarre adventure that is at least somewhat on par with watching Yuugi's body replicate itself before their very eyes. When dealing with the Millennium Items, one comes to expect every level of fuckery, I'm sure.