Fano's Fantasies

InuYasha Snarkdown! - Vat!Naraku (first in an infrequent series)

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:34:24 GMT

Ok. So I miss the manga, I admit it. It's over and I'm bored. So I took a dip back into the old manga files online to find something snarkable. My new rule is that I can only spend 5 min looking for something snarktastic or I stop ~~otherwise IY would be a total time suck~~. Anyway, today perusing Chapter 475 (The Mirror) I found...

Vat!Naraku
I mean, what IS it with the big bad guy always having to resuscitate himself in a vat of muculent guck. How scary can a guy who lazes around in blubbering goop in FULL BODY ARMOR really be? Sheesh. What the heck took those kids so damn long? Why didn't they just drain the damn petri dish?

So.... How should we run these snarkdowns? We can all just relive the old days and snark at stuff we remember because of this silly picture. OR I could run polls (which at the moment I'm not in the mood for, but might be in the future). OR you could all leave me your best narration line for this pic and I'll include them in the posts..... yeah. I like that one for today - so comment and give me your best caption for this picture.

Oh. And just for fun, I went back and looked at my own snark for this chapter. It wasn't bad! Inu spent lots of time waving his ~~dick~~ sword around and we all I how much fun I have with that. I got this out of it!

which inspired these by doggieearloverand me. Enjoy!

And finally - if you read The Pheonix Blade Time Lapse by fenikkusuken and are going through withdrawl on that too, go over to her LJ (and forthrightly's) and join the celebration party there too! And if you haven't read it, go start. It's amazing!

Cleaning Out the Attic - A Poem

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:38:26 GMT

The manga's done and I have to admit my inspiration for IY fics has been pretty limited lately (what? you haven't noticed?). I also have to admit that my epic - the 25 page outline, the 300 page draft.... is dead. I just don't have it in me (or my schedule) to dig into the depths of angst to pull out Myths of Rin. And so it goes on the pile with the unwritten screenplays, novels, short stories and a handful of fanfic drafts that will never see the light of day. For someone who loves to write I sure as hell have a hard time starting stuff, must less finishing it.

So I was thinking about all that drafting and writing and getting ready to mentally shelve it for good, when I remembered one poem I wrote that I liked and was a standalone. So I'll put it here in my journal for posterity. It is about InuYasha's experience through the centuries of waiting for Kagome, as her soul is reborn in and out of his life.

"Shinrai" means Trust.

It is sad.

Shinrai

Her arrival in his world once again

bursts on his soul like

the morning scatter of the sun

dappling the forest floor,

calming his tempestuous heart,

flickering before his eyes

as they reflect her golden light.

He revels in her warmth–

hoping to bask in her glow

for more than the fleeting moments of memory–

but he is little more than

the wind in the trees,

feeling her without touching her,

sharing her space –

yet forever distant.

Time itself becomes his enemy,

a jealous lover

tearing her from his brief embrace

and masking its crime as

inevitable –

natural –

as unstoppable as the daily

betrayal of the sun

as it escapes the sky’s hold

and slips once more

into the dark.

Time’s reluctant familiar,

he wanders after her

soul’s absence.

But no forgiveness grants him an end to her

flights beyond the night.

Together and always separate

he trusts in the next dawning,

another cycle,

another chance,

to lose her

all over again.

Drabble: Premonition

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:23:50 GMT

I normally don't post drabbles on my site, but it's been so long since I wrote anything, I thought I'd do it just for fun. Written for iyissekiwa. (Theme: Upset, Rated G, Inu+Kag). Thanks to fenikkusuken for her beta.

Premonition

Firelight danced before him, the flames' roiling acid light reflecting from deep within his gut to push back at the night.

“Something’s wrong. Kagome’s upset.” Sango’s soft words stirred his anger. He ignored her. It was… more than upset. He could feel…..

They watched Kagome turn from the fire, her movements slow, eyes transfixed on something beyond focus.

It was as though Kagome was out of focus and it shook him to the core. Her gaze on nothing, her footsteps stumbling; his heart beat hard against his lungs until breath fled from each thudding jar to his chest.

The air whistled as he lunged, meeting her where the light ended and catching her as she startled into his arms.

Their hearts together deafened him.

“InuYasha…” Her eyes were lost to him in the dark. “I’m losing…”

“No.” I’m losing.

“Time wants me back,” she whispered. Body rigid, he held her to his chest. I won’t let you go.

But Time is only about letting go.

His arms collapsed slowly, imprisoning his scream between furious red waves until he was hugging himself and only her flickering scent remained, a cruel tease of memory upended.

The blood-red wash held him, drowning him until he was lost….

“InuYasha?” Kagome called him back. “Time to get up.”

Life refocused as he awoke to the peaceful scents of the morning campfire. But still, he could barely breathe.

Time... Shaky rasps jarred the feared word in his heart. Silently he pleaded for just a little more.
.
.

Chapter 558 - "Tomorrow" - Last Chapter SPOILER

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:48:56 GMT

The final chapter.... really.

I laughed. I cried. I felt like I was reading fanfic...... Srsly. Note: Please read the chapter before you read my effort at snark. It's a long chapter and there are many emotions that go through your mind as you experience the end of anything. I am going to try to keep this snark-lite out of respect for this epic comic strip. Don't let me ruin it for you, just in case I fail. Two panels in particular are completely unsnarkable. But when you're done reading, come back for the bonus giveaway icons at the end of my snark!

WARNING - Image heavy post (this was a 36 page chapter!)
Catch up on previous chapters.

The first half of the chapter, I was holding my breath. This first panel really is a bad tease. "The Father?" Oh, let's shroud it in mystery..... The number three plays prominently in this chapter. Must be a Japanese thing.

Some things never change.....

Doink! What's Inu doing back in the Sengoku Jidai? *gets nervous*

Love Inu's expression. Guys. they're so nonchalant about a woman's suffering.

TOTALLY UNSNARKABLE PANEL #1....... Isn't Sango beautiful? Aren't they adorable? Awwwwww. Little twin girls. Somehow, Miroku deserves that. (oops. Is that a snark?)

Backstory.....

Gleep! *Fano gets sad and unable to snark* .... *sniff*

This is where the explanation of the three year beyond-long-distance relationship starts... I'm not sure it ever really gets any clearer....

Kagome! All grown up. Well, not really. She still looks 15 on the outside. They got into college? What about Kagome? I think she graduated too..... though it's frankly hard to tell.

But she looks happy. And pretty.

More backstory.....

Wha.....? The well takes him back? That was mean. Just like a fanfic!!!!

*Fano scratches her head trying to follow this.... * So, it was InuYasha that decided to come back? He separated them?

Is he regressing back to "I'm not that important" just cuz her mom was crying? WTF? I love Kaede's comment though. I think this panel is intended to show that Inu has matured even more than he had at the end of the battle with the jewel and Snaraku. They don't talk about him as having exhibited great anger and grief (like all the fanfics we write)... his reaction is ... very Japanese. And Shippou - giving away his secret! He really is pretty torn up underneath it all. So maybe it wasn't his idea to come back? I'm confused.

Kaede puts the kabosh on hope. *Fano swallows hard*

Now we see that Kagome thinks it's her fault. WTF again?

I guess she's saying that she rebonded with "home" after realizing that it had almost dissappeared on her? And that she hadn't wanted to risk that again and so emotionally shut down the well? Putting on my psychoanalyst's hat (and reading ahead) I'd say that when push came to shove, Kagome - being only 15 - wasn't able to leave home yet. Despite all her adventures and stuff, she was still just a kid and not ready to make the leap. Maybe Inu recognized this and it's why he went back down....

But she did/does love him..... *Fano's heart is breaking here....*

The sky? huh? I'm SO not following this.... (on first read)

The sky seems cloudy on both sides of time. This panel is just too funny! You know RT's been reading fanfic now. How many times have we written this?

Perfect! Little slayers in the making!

*hopes!*

Ahhhhhhh...... *holds breath*

TOTALLY UNSNARKABLE PANEL #2. ........ I love the look in Inu's eyes. It doens't come through in this smaller pic all that well. But it's just wonderful..... And Kagome's not in uniform either, which is important to her growing up story. *Fano choke up*

*still not snarking.....* *dabs tears*

er... ok. he called her an idiot? *humphs* still, they're hugging so that's not all bad. where's the kiss?

oops. as ever. interrupted!

So THAT's what Kagome was all broken up about with mama. She knew somehow that she could only be on one side of the well or the other and had to make a choice? I'm not sure of the physics of that, but then again I've never been sure of the physics of the well to begin with. Must not be a physics thing. Love how Souta's grown up though. Looks a little like Hojo....

On to tie up misc. character #2... Kohaku. He's off battling evil with a cool new weapon. Woot! Wow. Amazing how he seems so emotionally balanced to be carrying around such a dangerous weapon... after all that psychological torture... Uh.... let's not follow his story any more, shall we? *Is afraid of blood and guts* I guess we wrapped up Toutousai at the same time. Still old. Still sitting on a three eyed cow.

Back to ... Miko Kagome! She's so pretty. And she seems at home and at peace. Sess gave up Rin? But uh... RT threw us a little bone. Rin will get to make a choice someday. That's good. I like that she left that door open.

Whee!!!!

"Onii-san"? Help me guys. Doesn't that mean "great respectable bad-demon"? No wonder he frowned at her. Even Inu is annoyed. How/whyfor is Kagome so rude? What am I missing? Is it because she's been back in the modern era and forgotten her manners? If I were cynical I'd say that RT put this exchange in here just to quash any SessKagger hopes that these two would ever be lovemates. Seems a bit hamfisted to me. Though it does give us an excuse to see Sessy's lovely glare one more time. *sigh* gonna miss that guy. And yay! He's still coming back to dote on Rin. He's clearly not dumping her and leaving so there's hope for them yet!

[EDIT: Ok. I'm an idiot. It IS brother in law. (see totally illegible translation between panels). BUT why the hell is Iny annoyed at this? I'm so not getting it]

[EDIT 2: Reiku explained it... sorta. Because Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru are always going to pretend to dislike each other when it's obvious to everyone that they actually care a great deal for one another. Kagome calling Sesshoumaru big brother pretty much suggests that the brother's are on friendly terms. I'll buy that, I guess. Cuz it's the only thing that makes even the smallest amount of sense.]

They look... happy... where's the friggin' kiss!?!?!?!?!?

Gaaaahhhhhh... what? I'm speechless. Glad. Sad. *crying* wanted the kiss..... I'm so damn selfish. So damned American. So programmed by western sex-filled media.... I should be culturally sensitive and be happy about this. .... ok. I tried. ... I failed. .... *closes my eyes and imagines how RT would draw their kiss.* Ah well, that will have to do.

Still. At least they're together. Can't really snark that. Special treat #2! kriscynical has draw the Kiss That Was Meant To Be. Go see it!

On a totally snarkable note, I know why RT decided to put in the 3 year hiatus - now we fanfic smut writers can't be villafied for putting underage character (that would be Kagome, not Rin) in compromising positions - cuz now she's LEGAL!!! Whoot! *laughs*

*pauses*

It's over.
I can't believe it.

I have this terrible itch to start a snarkdown series pulling out old manga scans that amuse me. No clue if I'll do that. If you have any, though, send them in and we'll try some snarkdown reminiscences to help us go through withdrawl.

*pauses*

wow. over.

.....................

Despite the fact that I'm still in shock, one more thank you to the people that have brought us so much to love over the years...
(c) Rumiko Takahashi
Adinuyasha scans/trans/html from Urd-Chan, Patches & [Bad username: doggieearlover ................ wow. it's over............ Hold me?]

Sqqueeeee! - oh - Chap 557 - I Want To See You ( SPOILER)

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:52:45 GMT

OMG. Only ONE chapter left? @_@. Well, at least Chapter 557 was satisfying in it's own right. I got downright misty!

Catch up on previous chapters.

The jewel's heart (or whatever) "thumps" waiting for Kagome to make the selfish wish.... which seems to be anything but the right wish since between the demons and the jewel, their suggestions for Kagome's wish don't make a lot of sense anymore. Luckily, time and space warp just in time for her to hear Inu and not give up hope!

Inu knows it's a set-up and wants her to hold off until he gets there. Wonder if he has any clue what he'll do then? Oh well, it certainly sounds heroic this way!

So the demons go on and on trying to warp his mind and play mindgames on him. "Oh, now you've done it you stupid Inu, you've made her want to be with you and so you'll be her undoing! Mwahahahahaha!" That is just so like the stupid jewel/Naraku/whatever bad guy they've come up against the last 10 years.... Maybe this time our dynamic duo has finally learned something.....

"And now after tempting her with your voice, we'll cut you off! Mwahahahahaha!!" Bastards!

Kagome, however, does not succumb to her fear that Inu doesn't love her... for the first time in the whole series I believe. And it proves to be the right time. So I suppose finally she's learned the lesson of Naraku's baby and Mt. Azuza and a bunch of other trials where her shaken faith in Inu has come close to being her undoing.

Just in time too, cuz the jewel (or Naraku's ghost or whatever) is relentless...... but I think she's meditating.

Good girl! She knows if she wishes for anything it probably will be what her heart really desires most, which is to be with Inu. and.that.would.be.bad about now......

And once they're together, she won't have to waste that wish and concentrate on the other stuff... which was... uh.... oh - yeah - the RIGHT wish (whatever that is).

Lucky Inu! That dick sword finally proved it's worth! How exactly? I dunno. They're in the jewel. The Meidou. The time warp from hell. Or something. But Inu's dick sword always knows how to find Kagome!

I love this picture of Kagome. She looks so lonesome.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 2!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 3! I love it when RT draws Inu large and manly next to Kags like this. It looks like such a sincere hug. His eyes are closed and everything. *sniff*

And I LOVE how Kagome gets to make the wish. And Inu doesn't try to horn in on it. The boy's come a long way.

So now that they're together, THE ONE RING..... oops. nope. wrong story....

Whoot! Bust that baby into 18 million pieces! Yay Kagome! The one that does not fall to greed.

*pooft*

Awwwwwwwww. Still so heroic. *misty* Wonder where the hell they are?

EEEEPPPP! It really is the final chapter! How can she wrap all our characters up like that in one chapter! Grrrrrr. Won't we ever see Rin grown up? Sess get a haircut? Jaken grow up? Miroku learn not to palm girl's butts? Inu learn to sharpen his dick sword without Toutousai's help? Kagome graduate college? Oh, my. What will I snark about now?

Stay tuned - one last time.

(c) Rumiko Takahashi
Adinuyasha scans/trans/html from Urd-Chan, Patches & doggieearlover

Chap 556 - Fate

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:29:40 GMT

Ok. I'm encouraged - some almost squish! And Kagome kept her wits about her... But... uh... still. WTF? Who was that speeding bullet in Samurai armor?

Catch up on previous chapters.

So we get back to "Kagome's Choice". Sounds like an old movie... But this still has "BF TRICK written all over it"

Note to self+Kagome. If it seems to good to be true - IT IS.

Meanwhile, Inu chops up some misc-but-very-talkative demons, who spit out - Midoriko!

who promptly - despite much ballyoo and buildup through out about 500 chapters - promptly disappears. WTF?

So.... what did Kagome do to deserve this great honor? Still no real clue. Am bummed dind't get a chance to meet Midi either. Have a few questions for her. You know, like. WTF is going on?

Neat picture!

God. Does a bad guy EVER die? Just ONCE I'd like to see a bad guy die.

Maybe it's just sortof Bad Guys, Inc. going green and recycling. Out with the old and in with the new or something? Dunno.

Ah-ha! A Plot! I knew it! Oh. Is this the plot we've all been looking for?

Here comes the squish!

Finally. After all this time. We get a true recognition of Kag's value to Inu. I know he's not been so snarky to her in a while, but frankly I could have used this about 200 chapters ago.

Ok. Now I really am touched by this. But since this is a snark post I just couldn't stifle the following. Jeez, Inu. It really IS all about you, isn't it?

Back to the rock and the hard place. I guess this is the Jewel talking? and is this why the jewel didn't die w/ Kikyou? Because her last wish was to see Inu? Or am I reading into it? Of course, what choice do I have but to make stuff up since there's so little to go on here.

Ah-ha! It's a trick! The jewel warps your wish! Uh. didn't we know that? but despite my snark, I AM glad she seems to have sussed it out, but I'm not sure what the heck Ji-chan was talking about anyway. Sounds kinda Zen actually. It seems like a trick question.

Well, she seems to get it... She's Japanese after all and didn't they invent Zen?

Yay! Destiny!

Does "thump" mean "bummer" in jewelspeak?

ok. i'm still confused, but happy. Got some "destiny squish" and it looks like Kagome wont' die alone. Still bummed about Midi tho. Stay tuned!

(c) Rumiko Takahashi
Adinuyasha scans/trans/html from Urd-Chan, Patches & doggieearlover

Chap 555 - Darkness

Sat, 31 May 2008 22:26:15 GMT

This weeks chapter was both scary and kinda lightweight. It certainly sets up the whole conclusion rather directly, I must say. Not much to snark about (oo! found one)..... I'm both intrigued and scratching my head...

Catch up on previous chapters.

So we open with Inu floating around in space looking for Kagome. He's determined. That gives me hope.

Then he hears her family and they hear him and he realizes she's stuck in there.

And then (just to prove she's really nutz) the stabbed-through-the-heart-with-her-own-arrow jewel tells her she didn't really go home last week and go back to school, that she was really in some kinda daze here in limbo... so just like Naraku - now the Jewel is effing with her head.

And the jewel sets her up for a choice. Now this IS an interesting twist on the choice the fangirls have been waiting for all these years. But instead of a choice of which time to live in - and whether to "stay with Inu", she's supposed to choose to go back home or live in limbo, alone, in the dark. Uh. I'm sorry. Where's the choice in that? I mean, she is being given no choice where the well still exists. So maybe it's the choice to keep her memories? Her memories of Inu and the past... friends etc. She can have her memories only - or have her life and no memory of these people that have lived with her through so much. Now THAT's a choice that seems aweful. I'm going to believe that's what she's being asked to decide.

Of course the jewel says "you're alone anyway, so just stay that way". Why is Kagome going to "lose her fear of the darkness?" huh. I still don't really get the direct-translation choice here. -EDIT: Well, that would be because I sped read this panel a tad too fast. Thanks JR for the catch!

So, we find out it's all a hoax anyway and she's dOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOmed no matter what. That ought to be incentive for Inu to save her!

Uh. Ok. I can wait. Maybe it will make more sense next week?

Small Aha (EDIT) - Maybe the Jewel is getting Kagome back for all that indegestion it had to ensure when it lived in her spleen?

(c) Rumiko Takahashi
Adinuyasha scans/trans/html from Urd-Chan, Patches & doggieearlover

Chapter 554 - High School Life

Wed, 21 May 2008 02:35:44 GMT

Chapter 554 is slightly on the weird side. After last week's lightning plot development we're back to advancing the plot ball one inch at a time - if that. And on the downside, now it looks like Kagome may never get into college.

Catch up on previous chapters.

So last week ended with Kagome back in the modern era after Naraku died - and the well disappeared! Inu jumped into the Meidou created by a mighty swing of his dick sword and disappeared too. Kagome in a new school uniform was something of a "wtf" moment. And here we have it confirmed, she's in High School now. Apparently we've fast forwarded through time a bit. And what we're all wondering is if Kagome actually lived through any of that time or just got zapped there. Memory intact? Impaired? Did the last ten+ years really happen? Inquiring minds want to know.

Kagome wanders through conversations, apparently not totally clear on the life she's been leading of late.

Something is obviously nagging at her memory. This panel of her seeing the girls in archery club is interesting. What's she thinking?

She has a nagging memory of the well. But no one else does. What's going on? In the last chapter, people notices when the well disappeared. Now they never knew about it?

And she goes on a date with Hojo after exchanging cell text messages (yay for updating the technology, RT). But there doesn't seem to be any more spark there than there ever was. (Sorry Hojo fans)

The fact that her friends don't ask about the "abusive boyfriend" is probably the most direct clue (well, and the well) that something is severly out of whack in this world Kagome has landed herself in.

Doink.

I do love how this essential image of her finding him (and releasing him) continues to be at the heart of the series. I find it so powerful, evoking all the reverse sleeping beauty mythic power of the image.

But - oops. I don't think that her remembering was part of the plan. I find the repeat of these words "the one who holds the jewel makes the right wish" interesting - I don't think that refers to Naraku (who did hold the jewel last).

But rather than get sucked back to the Sengoku Jidai, Kagome kinda stutters back only a little bit. To when there was a well, which had just vanished. WTF?

But this is only a pit stop, meant to unravel the time that has just been raveled for her. Taking back her time in High School, even taking back her arrival back home.

Double Doink!

It looks like the final showdown may be upon us. Is she in the Meidou? Is she in a place IY can find her? Is he going to show up in the future with no well and have to find a way to where she is? What does the jewel want from her? Why did it send her to High School in the first place? Why did it bring her back? WTF?

Ok. Now you have all my insights on this current chapter. Which amount to zilch. Anyone else have a clue?

Oh. And thanks for all the good wishes on my pc upgrade. Looks like I've survived it!

(c) Rumiko Takahashi
Adinuyasha scans/trans/html from Urd-Chan, Patches & doggieearlover

Chapter 532 & Chapter %33 - SPOILER

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:13:23 GMT

OMG. Fall a week behind and what happens? Takahashi finds her plot. Make sure you READ Chapter 532 (Naraku's Death) and 533 (Incident at the Well) before you read further. Add'l warning, because my pc is being upgraded in - like - an hour, this post is short, to the point and low on snark. Ok. There's a little snark.

Catch up on previous chapters.

BEGIN CHAPTER 532: She shoots!

She scores! Seriously though, is this artwork not wonderful? So iconic.

Oops. You knew there had to be a catch. Turns out when Naraku had Byakuya whack Kagome with the meidou-empowered sword, he made his jewel-wish. And his wish would come true at the moment of his death. dun dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Eeep. This does not look good.

END CHAPTER 532: (Am so glad I never read last week's until now. What a cliffhanger!)

BEGIN CHAPTER 533

Now here's a heart-wrenching scene we've seen written about a lot and hoped we'd never see.

WTF? The Well's gone? Not just Kagome down the well, but the well itself is gone?

And Naraku is truly dead - which means his wish/ the wish of the jewel (whatever that is) has come true.... Now I just have to snark for a moment that RT has stolen Miroku's victory from him with this. And that's a tragedy even in addition to Kagome's sudden disappearance. The poor guy finally is free of his curse and he turns out to be nothing but a plot point. So even if RT won't say it, I will. Go Miroku!!!!!!!! *claps monk no the back*

Not one to waste time, Inu finds a new way through time, figuring I guess that if the Meidou could take Kagome somewhere, his Meidou-empowered dick sword could do the same. *admires the curve of Inuyasha's Meidou-empowered dick sword* (couldn't resist) But - more seriously - is the Tetsusaiga turning into a portable time machine?

This is interesting too. He's not following her for love or anything, but out of nobility. He doesn't want to see her tormented through time so he's going to save her. I'm not really snarking this, I think it's truly noble, but a little sentiment wouldn't hurt either. Oh, right. It's RT:)

Duh-wa? Well, if this isn't sending Kagome to hell I don't know what is.

END CHAPTER 533: Another cliffhanger!

Wow. Like Feni said - 300 chapters of filler and she packs all the plot development into ONE chapter? *shakes head*. Well, more next week. (And wish me luck on my PC upgrade)

(c) Rumiko Takahashi
Adinuyasha scans/trans/html from Urd-Chan, Patches & doggieearlover

Chap 551

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:23:18 GMT

Chapter 551 is rather serious. Didn't get so many snark inspirations outta this one. Though - we did get some prime Sesshy, including best line of the last few hundred chapters, I think. Clint Eastwood's got nothin' on Sess.

Catch up on previous chapters.

Oh noes! Great balls of shouki! (the battle rages on inside the Naraku-ball!)

And Inu & co. continues to whittle down the little Naraku-stub inside....

Which would seem like a good thing... except that Naraku seems to be enjoying it. Not a good sign!

Er.... Uh..... whoops. Naraku's up to his old manipulate-the-hell-out-our-emotions tricks. Why did Inu & co forget this ability of his? Well, it makes for a better cliffhanger, I guess, so I'll give him that.

Yay! Not only does Sesshy come to the rescue (sort of), he looks hot doing it! Even Naraku seems to think so, except that his mouth is stuck open so it's really hard to tell what he thinks nonverbally. Only one thing I don't get about this panel. Sesshy slices something (according to the sexy SFX), so why isn't Naraku in tatters?

But here is Sess for the win! "So what?" BWAHAHAHAHAHA! And the best part is the look on his face. He really MEANS it! There's no irony or anything. Just... Sess calling it as he sees it. As I recall he doesn't have reason to believe Rin is anywhere near the village so all those humans are of no consequence to him. Oh I just LOVE this panel!

Except... oops. That BakasaigaBakusaida attack is really kinda a disinigrating thing. And Naraku's face seems to be melting away around the jewel. Now what?

And now we know the jewel in it's corrupted state can't be whacked by either of our boys dicks swords. That leaves....

So everyone wisely runs away, though we don't actually SEE Sesshy exit. Hmmmmm. What does Kagome mean about it being alive? We can see Naraku's shadow in the ball o' doomgoo, but the whole alive thing is creepy. Did Naraku enter the jewel now?

Whee! Miroku is sucking shouki at will. I gather it's not affecting him terribly just yet or we'd notice, meaning Naraku hasn't substantially strengthened the jewel. But somehow I don't think that's his goal.

I really don't like this. First off, it's a cliffhanger which means something bad is about to happen. Second of all, this is only the first chapter of the "final battle" so you can tell it's just the beginning... and third - do we see a parallel to the opening of the series? I know Kagome is going for a purification here, but it was her arrow that originally created this mess. Can you imagine if she shattered the dark jewel and it sprayed the countryside? *shivers*.

eep! cliffhanger! I predict that next week either Kagome shatters the jewel and monsters rise up on all sides of them or Naraku somehow sucks her into the jewel to play.... and the boy's dicks swords have proven useless to making an impact on the jewel so she'd be pretty stuck in there. Of course, maybe without some guy swinging his dick sword around to save her ass she can come into her own strength. But.... this is InuYasha after all so I really kinda doubt it. Ah well, see you next week!

(c) Rumiko Takahashi
Adinuyasha scans/trans/html from Urd-Chan, Patches & doggieearlover

Chap 550 - Collapse

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:10:23 GMT

Chapter 550 is full of surprises - well, sort of. Not much happened really, but as the title promises, we seem to be setting up for "the end". Settle in with your popcorn and soda, though. I think it's going to be a long one. I mean - is THIS Naraku's true form? I dunno.... he's a baddie and they don't ever really show their true form until they're dead. One thing though - props to Kohaku and Rin! My heroes!

Catch up on previous chapters.

View Poll: The End is Near! (or Not)

Dramatic start to the end. Gang's all here, as you recall. Is it just me or is Inu appearing more poofy as the series ages? He always was rather poofy, but for some reason this panel makes him seem more so than usual.

And Naraku is unusually sarcastic here. His transformation into Snaraku has begun. Gone is the semi-polite and playful lord and enter - the A****le Hey! I just made up a new monster >.<

Eep! He lookin' scary! But what does Kagome mean? I think she's saying that his darkness is pushing back the light, but the "it" is a tad unspecific. Could refer to "hope" but that makes no sense, so I'm thinking she means the light. And Snaraku is really quite scarey here. I alwasy suspected he'd reveal more of his true form out from under that handsome prince at some point. I mean, he is THE evil dude and they're never very attractive on the inside. Can RT do the monster thing or what? I'm impressed!

So this whole thing w/ Snaraku being a product of Naraku+the black jewel is 1/2 interesting 1/2 WTF. I mean, originally there was a battle going on in the jewel between good and evil. Then Kikyou planted some light in it, theoretically strengthening theligh. Then Megasushi Magatsuhi popped out (related? dunno). The Megasushi Magatsuhi disappeared but apparently there was even more badness in there cuz it keeps getting overtaken by dark, despite losing it's darkside. I am thinking it's absorbing Snaraku Naraku to replace it's meanness - So Snaraku becomes the new Megasushi, trapped with - GASP - Kagome!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please tell me Midoriko won't let that happen, assuming she's still in there. *grips edge of seat*

So Inu whips out his big dick sword with the new cycle-shaped black attack and WHAP! - shatters Snaraku's new do. I found this issue about the jewel "clinging to this world" interesting too. I know he said that a few chapters ago, but ..... uh... when did we notice the jewel trying to get back? Is he just referring to it's effort to drag Kagome back to the feudal era to.... uh... what was it again? This is getting so complicated. What makes Inu think it would be easy to obliterate it and when did they decide to obliterate it instead of making a wish anyway? Kohaku's shard? Hey! It's not complete yet! How can it do all this stuff w/o being complete? I'm so confused.

Shouki balls attack Sess (yay for Nar+Sess!)

Leave it to Sess to Save the Children. I swear he should start his own foundation. I'd give, wouldn't you?

YAY for the children that save the day. Both so galant and - *gulp* Kohaku! Giving Miroku his mask! It's almost like he's saying "oh please don't die so you can be my big bro(in law). Behind a guy tho, he says "take care of my sister." I'm sure he means that too, though. What a hero! And Rin! Giving Sango her mask after Sango tried to snuff her. Bygones are clearly bygones now.

The kids escape! Whoot! But somehow I don't think they're out of the story yet. Not with that shard in Kohaku's back (he does still have it, right? It's just purified, right?). Frankly, the fact that Kohaku made it in and back out is rather miraculous. I think Snaraku's got something nasty up his brittle armor.

This sorta bugged me. "Snaraku won't let me kill him!" Come'on Kags. Of course he's not gonna give it to you. You've got to fight and actually TRY to get creative and use your brain to outthink him, or your heart to out emo him or SOMETHING. "Point and shoot" never wins against the really bad guys! Don't you read adventure novels?

See? He's luring you in. He WANTs you to shoot - when he's ready. And by the way, in bad-guy speak, this is BAD. It means he's laying a TRAP. Look it up. T... R... A... P... It means "not good for the good guys."

This I don't like either. Not only am I pretty sure Kohaku, Rin and Jaken aren't scot free yet, I have a feeling our gang has to thwart a Full Metal Alquemist type ending here. Not good at all!

So? Bets on how long the ending battle will be? And what's with the title of this chapter? "Collapse"? Naraku's body?

(c) Rumiko Takahashi
Adinuyasha scans/trans/html from Urd-Chan, Patches & doggieearlover

MMMMMMMmmmmmm..... Thanks, Silver. Nice Imagery!

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:30:51 GMT

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Chap 459 - The Gathering

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:14:21 GMT

"The Gathering"... kinda sounds like a coven meeting, doesn't it?

Catch up on previous chapters.

Srsly. I'm with Sess here. What is UP with the "can't kill the bad guy" stuff? Maybe this chapter? *reads ahead* nope.

Yay! Reunited at last!

Yay! Saved hanyou+lady butt. (note to viewers, this is where Sango's hiarakotsu slices through great balls 'o shouki being lobbed at our heros.) Hm.... They're looking rather serious.

Obligatory moment of levity from bubblegum!Shippou.

Hm.... more of that 'this doesnt' look good vibe." Last I check Miroku DIDN'T want to die - at least not enough to take Sango with him. And here they are together bumbling forward into death's very jaws.

Eep!

Love Kirara here. She looks downright bored. And where exactly IS that boomerang? Yay! Miroku is healing and the kazanna is closing! That must mean Naraku is on the way to being purified, right? (Isn't it funny how i combined these pictures by accident to make it look like Miroku is holding a giant sperm? Ok, I agree. That was really uncalled for, but I'm not going to delete it because I'm too tired and must forge forward or risk falling asleep...... onward ho!) *faceplants keyboard*

Du da duh duuuuuhhhhhhh! Big brother to the rescue! I guess. He's at least ripping through hunks of Naraku with more success at the moment than Inu.

Additional moment of humor, which Naraku appears to have NO appreciation for given the scary porcelian look on his face.

Ew.... *cue gian ripping sound* (i dont buy the SPX translation of "boof" for ripping large chunks of flesh asunder).

Cool picture. I hope they make a puzzle out of it!

Ah ha! the arrive-at-the-end-for-the-long-awaited-explanation shot.

It's so obvious that even Naraku appreciates the drama of the moment..... and Kagome... see's light? That's consistent with the healing Miroku's biggest hole. But with respect to her own Byakuya implant, I'm guessing that light is hers... and some of the darkness is now in her, lying dormant, awaiting orders.... bwahahahahaha.

So this week is one big set up for... a long speech by Naraku I'm guessing. Ok. If it helps us understand all this I'll be happy.

Good night all. Have a great weekend. Spring is here! (in DC anyway).

(c) Rumiko Takahashi
Adinuyasha scans/trans/html from Urd-Chan, Patches & doggieearlover

Chap 548 - Byakuya's Blade

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:15:08 GMT

Chapter 548 looks to be getting serious. But, uh.... what the hell happened to Kagome? [sorry for early post ~~stupid LJ~~... am done now!]

Catch up on previous chapters.

Miroku. Just don't go there. We've talked about this a thousand times. It would be.such.a.bad.idea.

And what makes him think Sango will be saved? Hello? Monk? You're in a hell hole that's being eaten from the inside out...... you can't drop her, blow yourself up and be confident she's gonna live! Get a clue!

*bonk* yea! Shippo and kilala are alive! (and still cute)

Sess has started to implode the ball with only one whack? Wow. That Bakasaiga is really powerful! *fangirl*

Love this "squirming" comment from Sess. Why is it hard to imagine him saying that.
deep baritone: S Q U I R M I N G. *laughs*

No. I'm not going to comment about how Inu's ~~dick~~ sword is all excited and black, like it's got frostbite or something (thanks Bz).

Riiiiiiiggghhhtttttt. This is Naraku? Remember? Don't be such a cartoon character....

Ah ha! So the way to get rid of Naraku is to sever or cleave his soul... and only Kagome can do that! hm. Dont' think he was expecting them to figure this out. Love Naraku's eyes here. Both of them. Gloating and then WTF?

He's given them the secret!!!!! Uh-oh. And that means..... they must die! eep! Um. Do NOT like the look of the Byakuya guy and that meidou-sucking one shot skinny little ~~dick~~ sword of his.

Ok. Now WHY is Inu sitting here narrating himself into slow reflexes?

YEEP!

mmmm kaaayyy. so who cares about the bad guy? where's Kagome? *slight panic*

Ah ha! She's.... okay? Whaaaa? Dun like the looks of this one either.....

Yay for bubblgum!Shippou!

Uh. "Fight?" That's an interesting term...... here. Translation or....

That's interesting ..... I see the knot being tied and am getting a bad feeling about this.

A very bad feeling.....

Why do I get the feeling that the only way to 'sever' Naraku will be to somehow 'sever' Kagome? Don't ask me why, but that cut that didn't cut left some kind of "poison pill" attack in Kagome.... and it's just like Naraku to make the only way Inu can take him out - cost him the thing most dear to him.

Gah.......... *wimpers*

(c) Rumiko Takahashi
Adinuyasha scans/trans/html from Urd-Chan, Patches & doggieearlover

Chap 547 - Cutting Meidou

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:28:55 GMT

Chapter 547 is interesting - including one of the best Naraku lines ever IMHO and a truly touching reunion - but of course I had a bit of a head scratch at the end. I mean, what's Sesshoumaru been waiting for?

Catch up on previous chapters.

As you may recall, Inu used his new black dick sword of death attack, Mediou-sundheit (aka Mediouzangetsuha, which I am no-way learning to spell)... and what comes out? His original attack, Blades of Blood* on black steroids, which I believe is the first attack we saw him use (other than his try-to-rip-the-girl-to-shred-bare-hands attack that is just SURE to get him the girl >.<). It is interesting that with Blades of Blood he used to literally rip his heart out and now that he carries Kagome around on his back, he doensn't need to do that anymore. He rather impressively rips Naraku in half, not unlike a falling-up-instead-of-down Darth Maul (yeah, just caught the kids watching SWI again).

Laughed SO hard at this one. I assume it's partly credited to rather blunt translation but.... OMG.... *still laughing*

Um... *puts finger to chin thoughtfully* What do you think? Cold War or Sisyphus? I vote for Sisyphus cuz he's the most underrated tragic hero of all time and I like to bring him attention whenever I can. (Sisyphus is my "god of the kitchen", btw, sharing my pain and laughing at me as I do the dishes again, and again, and again and againandagainandagaing....) Still, seems kinda stupid of Inu+Naraku.

So... to piece together last week + this week (and using Zigsa's line 'o reasoning), Inu claims his hanyouhood w/o shame and BAM! he gets a new combo attack. and we get a little insight into the Mediou-sundheit attack, it's a whore, pairing up with whatever dick sword will have it and making new little baby attacks sporting 1/2 it's genetic code and the other half of its mate's. Does make you wonder what Inu's Mediou-sundheit attack really is capable of, tho, eh?

I did think this small insight of Inu's - right before he goes all macho again - was interesting. Naraku is "clinging to this world" and it's true! Wonder if it has to do with his ungranted wish? Thought this graphic of the shard-like, reassembling spiderweb was made of awesome.

Kinda a gooey mess he made.

Gah! Almost forgot about our tragic lovers. I must say that the effects' translations here really kinda undermined the drama of the moment, though. "SPLUUURT"? and I can't help it. Whenever I see "SFX" I see.... well, yeah. So "Sex Spluuurt" just really has me giggling. And that is SO not the right reaction for these panels.

Bravely looking past the Spluuurting Sex here, I do like this. Sango is saving Miroku by offering to die with him. *Ba-bump* So bittersweet.... even as they *hands over face as laughs harder* dodge all the spluurting sex...... *BWAHAHAHAHA*... and right after he says he wants her.... *shakes head as laughter weakens* gah! must make appointment to take my mind out of the gutter.

Poor Jaken. Love his sound here "Bwaahchchch".... WTF? Looks like Jaken's getting a workout on the SFX though. I mean: Sex Thump Sex Crack Sex Jump. And all that on his own.

Nice art on Sess here. How does he know Inu's been whacking his dick sword around? Sorta a brother youkai tingle in his nose? Love fierce-face Sess in the last panel.

Woot! He breaks on through to the other side! (singing) So heroic (runs around trying to catch all the Sess fangirls before they hurt themselves falling). But uh. Why the hell didn't he do that before. Are their dicks swords stimulating each other now to new powers? (>.< ok. sorry, y appointment appears to be late)

And uh. This whole resorbtion thing didn't work on Naraku before did it? What am I forgetting? Why is this working now? Great Sexy Ruuuuumble pic there on the bottom. OMG "Sex Sput"????

Yay! Reunion time! Jaken is back in love after being lost for so long. Sess is so glad to see him he boots him in the face. Typical.

Yep, their dicks swords are definitly in tune here. But that gray wash over InNu's face has me worried. Baka-saiga (no, I dind't make that one up) doesn't eat Inuhanyous and their lady loves does it?

Love Naraku's "hmph". So delicate. He looks a tad stressed though. Wonder if this is an understatement by translation?

Meanwhile, Byakuya slinks in the back way... with the stolen Mediou-sundheit. Since he stole it with only a hilt, what's the Mediou-sundheit going to mate with? What will their little babies look like? Steak knives? hmmmm. I seem to be hungry now.

So, after failing miserably to get my brain washed, I shall wallow in it here for a bit, but you can all go back to your regularly scheduled programs. Looks like the jewel is wandering around loose, Sess is on his way and Mir+San are escaping (there was that big hole in the spider ball...... ) Looks a bit like a showdown with Naraku yet to reveal his ace in the hole - Byakuya... with some secret power up his sleeve, er, hilt. Stay tuned!

3500 if we're still counting.

*thanks Jim for the correction

(c) Rumiko Takahashi
Adinuyasha scans/trans/html from Urd-Chan, Patches & doggieearlover

Why am I not suprised?

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 05:33:15 GMT

And more importantly, why am i not in bed?

You are The Magician

Skill, wisdom, adaptation. Craft, cunning, depending on dignity.

Eleoquent and charismatic both verbally and in writing,
you are clever, witty, inventive and persuasive.

The Magician is the male power of creation, creation by willpower and desire. In that ancient sense, it is the ability to make things so just by speaking them aloud. Reflecting this is the fact that the Magician is represented by Mercury. He represents the gift of tongues, a smooth talker, a salesman. Also clever with the slight of hand and a medicine man - either a real doctor or someone trying to sell you snake oil.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Chapter 546 - Naraku's Wish

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 05:37:31 GMT

Chapter 546 has some dramatic art, but my favorite part was the dynamic duo of Inuyasha + Kagome playing psychobabble games with Naraku. Poor guy. Despite teetering on the brink of ultimate power, he's clearly done for.

Catch up on previous chapters.

Brief reprise. Sango has just chosen suicide w/ Miroku, her despair giving Naraku the booster rocket to absorb the jewel into his ultimate evildom. Eep!

Inu, in character all the way, decides to whack his ~~dick~~ sword at the bad guy.

Since this has never worked before, I suppose it's only logical that it doesn't work again.... (leading to the obvious question which I will bypass in the interest of playing old saws just so many times and no more) except this time it doesn't work in a much more interesting way. Besides appearing to give Naraku ultimate power (hear the cackling?), it causes some truly awesome artwork!

And here we get an emo reprise of the jewel's journey. What I found most interesting here was the direct statement about why the Jewel came back in Kagome, making it the Jewel's fault and not Kikyou's that this saga didn't just end in Kikyou's funeral pyre and bringing Kagome back. I suppose this was somewhat predictable, but I don't recall it ever having been so clearly laid out. And it makes you wonder if Megasushi (see? i've forgotten how to spell his real name already and am too lazy to go look it up) was just a pawn of the jewel as well? I mean, what WAS he all about, anyway? Anyway - Kagome seems shocked to learn that evil is a permanent part of the world. She is only 15, after all.

But, this revelation seems to give her some serious insight beyond her years.....

I love the "WTF?" expressions of both the hanyous. Kinda "Hey, girl. We're in the middle of a fight here, can you just sorta saunter off to the side and shut up for a bit, eh?" I do find it very interesting that RT chose to scar Naraku's face in such a way here towards the end that it almost makes it look like he's crying.

TADA! Dr. Higurashi is revealed! Who says she needs to go to College, much less High School? This this expression on Naraku's face is truly priceless. He looks both shocked and... sad. Like a little boy who just learned his dog died or something. Brilliant artwork.

Boy she hit a nerve too. I mean, he used her name. Has he ever addressed her by name before? This feels almost as momentous as when Sess spoke to her. (Imagines all the Nar+Kag fangirls out there swooning).

Shouki Bolts of Death! Thought this was also an interesting interpretation of "purification", i.e., that the truth - when acknowledged - can have the unintentional effect of transforming one's heart, whether one wants it to or not. Apparently the purification failed, but now we have a clue. Apparently, Naraku has actually been holding out HOPE until this point, though for what I'm not sure. If it was Kikyou, he blew that opportunity a few thousand times already. What am I missing? Anyone remember Kanna's clue? Does it play in here?

And so, now that Kagome's psychobabble has softened him up, Inu steps in for the finishing psycho-blow, "you can't have it both ways - human and youkai". *Doink*... Hey Inu, did you hear yourself?

"Oh, and you're a jerk and I don't like you so I'm going to keeeel jooo - for the four thousand two hundred and seventy eighth time! I swear! I'm doing it this time! Watch me!"

Um. Anyone see Darth Maul here? Mabye it's cuz the kids were just watching SW #1 again recently and I saw that scene where he gets sliced in CG but i love this. Naraku seems surprised. So what's happening now that wasn't happening earlier when Inu tried to take him out with his new black megazatranga attack (yes, I'm still too lazy to scroll down and see how it's really spelled). Did Kagome really soften up his heart after all and create a little space for a baby galaxy to find a home? Awwwww. And what's with Inu at the end, is his ~~dick~~ sword talking to him? Is it whispering "upgrade me, asshole!" or is he finally just going over the edge?

Tune in next week to find out what Inu's ~~dick~~ sword is really saying to him! Any bets?

2500

(c) Rumiko Takahashi
Adinuyasha scans/trans/html from Urd-Chan, Patches & doggieearlover