**SPOILERS** Latest Manga (on-topic, please..)

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

The latest chapter is up....And, to tell the truth, I'm caught between multiple emotions. For the first time, the Insane Optimist within me--who, until this point, has never had any trouble emerging from a battle victorious--is facing an opponent who may actually prove to be a challenge to defeat: Lady Frustration.

At first I was under the impression that Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were going to meet up in this chapter, and that the Ikkou would learn about the Meidou Zangetsuha. (I thought that the word "numawatari" had something to do with that, although the explanation for that bit of ignorance is "I didn't know what 'numawatari' meant.") Was anyone else under this impression, too?

A part of me is worried that this is going to turn into another ten-chapter story arc, further delaying the battle against That Dumb Bug. Another part of me is hoping that the next few chapters involve some interesting plot development. For instance, What will happen when Inuyasha finds out about Tenseiga's latest upgrade?

Insane Optimist vs. Lady Frustration... This is going to be an interesting battle, the outcome of which may be decided by the next couple chapters. It's all in your hands, Takahashi-sama.

[Kagura Hakubi]

*winces* Ouch... even Koryu-ane is breaking out the sarcasm now... I think I've given up worrying about it and am just going to enjoy the random battles now... and make sure I read it at midnight on a saturday or something..

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Oh, charming....Now I feel like I've committed a crime or something.... -____-

The battle still rages within me...and it's a frickin' stalemate....

[Brill]

Well at least you acknowledging what some of us have been *****ing about for months. It's a start. ^_^

[Kuro]

*winces* Ouch... even Koryu-ane is breaking out the sarcasm now... I think I've given up worrying about it and am just going to enjoy the random battles now... and make sure I read it at midnight on a saturday or something..
Want me to start posting them then? XD

I'm completely expecting Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru to meet up and Inuyasha to be like, "Dude, I KNOW you're going around killing things, now fess up and show me your sword!" At which point I expect the innuendo will just fester over beyond what it already is... :P

But seriously. We just had a story arc where there were two brothers who got killed in the midst of their conflict. I thought that might be forshadowing of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. And the inner sibling-rivalry-loving fangirl in me is DROOoOooOoling.

I wasn't expecting them to meet up in this chapter... but I AM expecting them to meet up soon. After all, ths is Takahashi, who takes about seven chapters (and three months) to tell us how water boils. :)

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

But seriously. We just had a story arc where there were two brothers who got killed in the midst of their conflict. I thought that might be forshadowing of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. And the inner sibling-rivalry-loving fangirl in me is DROOoOooOoling.
I never thought about it that way...that the Ginka and Kinka story arc was a foreshadowing of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's inevitable, near-future meeting. I wonder how much destruction their sibling rivalry is going to cause this time. :P (*is thinking of the third movie*) How many wounds is Mother Nature going to be forced to endure?

[Kagura Hakubi]

More than are comfortable for this elemental, that's for sure...

And you can post them when you like... though I guess it would make more sense for me to read them when the come out.. heh... so that the discussion isn't already over by the time I get to it

[sit_boy]

Since i finally caught up on all my manga reading, i can finally join this discussion! i'm agreeing that the manga seems to be so drawn out lately but there's been some priceless funny parts...i just adored 'peaceful table' and 'kind boy'..
kindof hoping some sort of more direct naraku business will pop up, the manga's gone really astray from how it started off... Mouryoumaru just seems to keep gaining more power and then gets kongousouhaed and flys away in a puff
But i still love it anyway ^_^
(and kuro, thanku soo much for your great site, if it wasn't for your translations id be buying the chinese versions and drowning in utter confusion.. hehe..)

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Why has nobody commented on the latest chapter before now? Don't tell me you people have given up on Takahashi! O_O

Well, I thought Sesshoumaru would show up earlier in the chapter, but better late than never, I guess. (And with such a nice greeting, too. What a kind way to greet one's brother when he's in a bind.) I can only imagine what is going to happen now that Sesshoumaru has entered the battlefield.

Okay, so maybe it's obvious that Sesshoumaru is going to use the Meidou Zangetsuha (and if he doesn't, I'm going to be shocked), and that the Ikkou is going to get to watch some fireworks courtesy of Tenseiga's Flashy Move, Inc. And that Inuyasha is going to be stunned and wonder, "Since when is Tenseiga able to attack?" And that Sesshoumaru is not going to tell him, even if he asks, because that's how Sesshoumaru is. -_-;

[Kagura Hakubi]

And who knows, maybe it'll be a full-moon already. 'cause that would just kick arse. heheh.

Let me rephrase... it would show just how cool Sesshoumaru is compared to Inuyasha, who has to go out and get extra screentime to make his sword more powerful, where Sesshoumaru can just stalk off and get on with it.

[Mr Gundam]

Bad news.... Ear Tweak's site got shut down. :( I don't know if it's going to be temporary or not. Guess I'm gonna have to use the other site to get my InuYasha manga, even though it sucks compared to Ear Tweak.

[meowchi]

Does anyone else have a site that does scans and translations? I feel really spoiled asking, but I would really like to at least see the pics while reading. Thanks for any help.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

NOOOOOO! Kuro-dono, what am I going to do without your translations?! This means I'll have to *gasp* find another site in the meanwhile. But it won't be nearly as good! Nothing will ever be nearly as good! Oh, woe!

[Kagura Hakubi]

There's always the wot club... *sighs and looks dejected.*

[Mr Gundam]

There's always the wot club... *sighs and looks dejected.*

Sucky thing is though that that site doesn't scan all the pics from the manga and just translates it. <_< Hopefully Ear Tweak will be back up sometime soon...

[crockeja]

man this sucks... I wonder what ol' Inuyasha and co. are up to right now... I bet Sesshomaru owned that water demon... I wonder if I'll ever get to see what happens to Naraku. =(

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Sure we'll get to see what happens to Naraku. I doubt that Ear-Tweak is going to be down forever. (At least, I really, really hope that it isn't down forever and that Kuro-dono puts it back up soon. :( )

[Mr Gundam]

Am I the only one who finds it odd that there are two links to scans of the InuYasha manga in the first post of this thread, and yet it's against the rules to post links to stuff like that? -_-;

[throughhim413]

i wondered that for awhile, but then i stopped worrying about it... really Ear-Tweak only had the last 10 manga chapters up, so it's not really a link where you can download the complete thing. and no chapter available in english has ever been up after the english version was available. at least that's what i assumed. in any case, Ear-Tweak is very much missed... i hope it returns soon...

EDIT: just noticed that an alternate site is linked from Ear-Tweak to a site that will be hosting until it's all worked out apparently.

[Mr Gundam]

Good news! :) Ear Tweak is back up and running. The new chapter is up and I just read it. Sesshoumaru pretty much owned that water youkai with the Tenseiga's new technique. Then Sesshoumaru pretty much badmouthing Inuyasha about how he's turned Tessaiga into such a disgraceful sword. Sesshoumaru pretty much makes a fool of Inuyasha and then just leaves. Inuyasha goes to see Toutousai and he tells Inuyasha that he has been slacking off and not strengthening himself enough. Looks like we'll see the introduction of a new character since it ended with Toutousai telling Inuyasha to go see Youreitaisei, whomever that might be.

[Kuro]

426 just came out yesterday, but as you can imagine, I didn't really have time to put the full thing out yet.

And I seriously think Takahashi was drunk or something when she wrote it. XD

[Matt Bauer]

Anyone have a link to the new chapters? Like a site I can get them off of?

Matt

[Mr Gundam]

Anyone have a link to the new chapters? Like a site I can get them off of?

Matt

Try looking at the very first post of this thread. That should answer your questions.

[Matt Bauer]

I did. Those links are pointless. Ear-tweak is still shut down and the other has no scanned pictures of it so it's too hard to follow along.

matt

[Mr Gundam]

I did. Those links are pointless. Ear-tweak is still shut down and the other has no scanned pictures of it so it's too hard to follow along.

matt

Uh..... what the heck are you talking about? :huh: I just said Ear Tweak's site was back up and running, and it is.

[Kagura Hakubi]

Heheh. Looks like Sessh is being set up as the one to kill Naraku to me... with the Meidou Zangetsuha, he can basically destroy him heart or no...

He just shows up. Pwns the Numagatari. Pwns Inuyasha. Smiles. And walks off again.

And Inuyasha is the one who, like a dog, looses his face. Then he gets pwned by Toutousai of all people. Yeah, don't ask when I started using 'pwned'... ><

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Ear-Tweak is back up! Hooray! *dances around the room in jubilation* Cheers for the Almighty Ear-Tweak, and the Almighty Kuro-hime! :D

There weren't that many surprises in this chapter, but in this case, I don't think that was a bad thing. Not at all. Sesshoumaru showed Inuyasha up. Again. (Really, who did not see that coming?) Tenseiga's debut performance of Meidou Zangetsuha left the audience with gaping jaws, wide eyes, and "WTF?!" expressions on their faces. :P

I do wonder why Sesshoumaru did not tell Inuyasha how to master the Dragon-Scaled Tetsusaiga. Maybe it goes beyond it being "unnatural," as Miroku put it, for him to be so generous. I wonder if he just wants Inuyasha to learn for himself how to master Tetsusaiga. One cannot become stronger if one does not seek to learn on one's own, rather than always taking advice from others. It would not be out of character for Sesshoumaru to think that way.

Besides, I bet he'd rather die than admit to helping and protecting his younger brother. That's just the kind of older sibling he is. :P

[color=darkblue]Heheh. Looks like Sessh is being set up as the one to kill Naraku to me... with the Meidou Zangetsuha, he can basically destroy him heart or no...
It's possible that Sesshoumaru may be the one to deliver the final blow to Naraku, but I'm inclined to think it's not that simple. There's no way it could be so simple. Perhaps Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha will have to work together? (Of course, this is granted that one of the warriors will actually deliver the final blow, and that it won't end up being one of Kagome's Arrows of Purity.)

[Kuro]

I don't give Sesshoumaru that much credit.

Sure he might have known, but I doubt he actually could tell Inuyasha how to master anything. He just couldn't resist the change to scorn his brother, and I also have the feeling that he was also pissed that his own attack wasn't working.

He says it right there, that the only reason he beat the Numawatari was because it was a water youkai.

In the end, I have the feeling everyone's going to have to work together. And I think the biggest "teams" will be --> Inuyasha/Kagome/Kikyou, Inuyasha/Sesshoumaru, and the Ikkou, naturally. :P

[Mr Gundam]

[color=darkblue]Heheh. Looks like Sessh is being set up as the one to kill Naraku to me... with the Meidou Zangetsuha, he can basically destroy him heart or no...

Even though it probably won't be that simple, I don't really see how Naraku could defend himself against it. Of course I belive it'll be Inuyasha dealing Naraku the final blow when it happens.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I guess it is a bit much to think that Sesshoumaru would want to help his own brother become stronger, at least in that way. -_-; I do think that Sesshoumaru respects Inuyasha, even if only a little, and even protects him (although he'd probably rather die than admit it), but a brother like him could never resist a chance to scorn the "little half-breed."

In the end, I have the feeling everyone's going to have to work together. And I think the biggest "teams" will be --> Inuyasha/Kagome/Kikyou, Inuyasha/Sesshoumaru, and the Ikkou, naturally. :P
I agree. I was thinking of those teams, too.

Even though it probably won't be that simple, I don't really see how Naraku could defend himself against it. Of course I belive it'll be Inuyasha dealing Naraku the final blow when it happens.
Who knows what kind of power-ups Naraku has gained since we last saw him in battle? For all we know, he could be planning on absorbing Mouryoumaru (or whatever is left of him after his @$$ is whupped).

[Mr Gundam]

Who knows what kind of power-ups Naraku has gained since we last saw him in battle? For all we know, he could be planning on absorbing Mouryoumaru (or whatever is left of him after his @$$ is whupped).

Somehow.... I think it would be a bad thing if Naraku transformed again. And when I say bad, I mean stupid. :P I'm sure he'll change his form though one last time before the end of this series. Also, I'm I the only one who has noticed that since Inuyasha got the Dragon-Scaled Tessaiga, all the other Tessaiga's abilities like the Kaze no Kizu, Bakuryuha, and Kongousouha have become pretty much useless? :P Seems like whenever he uses them now, they don't have much effect, no matter who he uses them on.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Somehow.... I think it would be a bad thing if Naraku transformed again. And when I say bad, I mean stupid. :P I'm sure he'll change his form though one last time before the end of this series.
Of course Naraku will change his form one last time before the end of the series! What else do you think he is going to use the Shikon no Tama for? :P Every other youkai who has used the jewel has used it completely--by merging it with their bodies--but so far Naraku has only used the jewel to increase his power, without absorbing it.

Also, I'm I the only one who has noticed that since Inuyasha got the Dragon-Scaled Tessaiga, all the other Tessaiga's abilities like the Kaze no Kizu, Bakuryuha, and Kongousouha have become pretty much useless? :P Seems like whenever he uses them now, they don't have much effect, no matter who he uses them on.
I hadn't really noticed that, but now that you mention it... I wouldn't say that Tetsusaiga's other attacks are useless; I would just say that they haven't worked against the enemies he has been facing recently. The Dragon-Scaled Tetsusaiga hardly worked, either, against the numawatari. That's why Sesshoumaru had to butt in and save his brother's @$$. :P

[Kagura Hakubi]

You can think of it in terms of a roleplaying game - the others are lower-level abilities, and are optimised to work against targets who were around at the 'level' Inuyasha gained the ability. But because those kinds of enemies don't pose a challenge, he doesn't get to fight them (don't try to deny it, you've played pokemon - you don't get Pidgies in the elite four, do you? It's the same thing).

So, those attacks get neglected because the enemies have too high a damage resistance or whatever for it to hurt them. Magic Missile may be deadly against the darkness, but it's a drop in the ocean against a Greater Shadow. Kaze no Kizu may be deadly against swarms of Zako, but it's throwing stones against something like the Numawatari or the Meioujuu

[Brill]

I find it ironical that Inuyasha has been accused of cheating. At least the theme of inner strength has been brought aroudn full circle. Thought Takahashi was getting too far off target.

[Matt Bauer]

I find it ironical that Inuyasha has been accused of cheating. At least the theme of inner strength has been brought aroudn full circle. Thought Takahashi was getting too far off target.

And it keeps going, and going like the Energizer Bunny.

Matt

[Matt Bauer]

Woah. Did anyone read the new chapter Ear-Tweak has up. Inuyasha is in such a bind.

Matt

[Kuro]

Literally.

[Kagura Hakubi]

And there I thought he could just use his claws for once. Heh.

I wonder if this makes that kid a Hanyou, or if the snake killed his mother.. hm.

So who else does Houreitaisei remind of Saya?

[Gerudo Grunt]

Two very good chapters, IMO. ^_^ Thanks, Kuro! :)

It's finally nice that we are starting to move away from all the constant sword upgrading. :D

Miroku and Sango finally try to help, but the Yourei-Taisei blows them away and Kagome doesn't even realise who did it. I know he's trying to help Inuyasha but still... :shifty:

Man, Inuyasha, doesn't even seem to remember Sankon Tessou and Hijin Kessou. :crybaby:

I wonder if that boy is some how involved in all of this and he's lying about havin gone out for medicine? Hmm...

Tessaiga doesn't want to come out? Hopefully, that'll give Inu the push he needs.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Two very good chapters! Arigatou, Kuro-dono! :)So who else does Houreitaisei remind of Saya?
*raises hand* I even imagined Yourei-taisei with Saya's voice. -_-;

Finally, the general rule "Think before you act" is being enforced; Inuyasha is actually going to have to do something besides whip out Tetsusaiga and "Bakuryuuha" his enemies. A nice change. :)

Miroku and Sango finally try to help, but the Yourei-Taisei blows them away and Kagome doesn't even realise who did it. I know he's trying to help Inuyasha but still... :shifty:
She seemed a bit surprised at the notion that it was the youkai who blew them away, though. I wonder if she suspects that maybe it wasn't the youkai....

If Miroku and Sango intervene, Inuyasha won't learn whatever lesson Yourei-taisei wants to teach him (a lesson that no doubt involves "Think before you act"). But it's still a shame that they lost their chance in the spotlight. *sigh*

I wonder if that boy is some how involved in all of this and he's lying about havin gone out for medicine? Hmm...
Hmmm...I never thought about that, but you have a point. This could all be a plot in which the boy is involved.

[Kagura Hakubi]

The recent chapter seems to have set him up as some form of Mantis-youkai.

I think this may all be part of a test by Yourei-taisei, actually.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I think this may all be part of a test by Yourei-taisei, actually.
I hadn't thought of that, but that's actually a possibility. I doubt everything was set up by Yourei-taisei, but by purposely contributing to the current situation, Yourei-taisei turned this battle into a test.

So it seems that our beloved hanyou has not forgotten that his sword is not his only weapon, that he does have very sharp claws. Yeah for Sankou-Tetsuou! :D

Now he just has to figure out why Tetsusaiga doesn't want to be forcefully unsheathed.... C'mon, Inuyasha, you can do it! You're on a roll!

[Kagura Hakubi]

The chains on the sword are lessening, if you noticed. The smarter Inuyasha fights, the more chains seem to dissapear. Maybe that's the secret - he needs to use his head for something other than keeping the rosary on.

[Brill]

I'm just wondering if this guy gets his innards back he'll wind up being Totosai's younger brother.

[Kagura Hakubi]

Or elder. Catchy new name, by the way.

[Brill]

Or elder. Catchy new name, by the way.

But do you know why? ;)

[Kagura Hakubi]

^^ This youkaze is as clueless as ever.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

The chains on the sword are lessening, if you noticed. The smarter Inuyasha fights, the more chains seem to dissapear. Maybe that's the secret - he needs to use his head for something other than keeping the rosary on.
I hadn't been paying attention to that, but you're right: the chains on the sword are lessening. The more Inuyasha thinks before he acts, the more chains disappear. Seems someone finally found a way to really teach Inuyasha the rule "Think before you act" (which is synomynous to "Use your brain"/"Use your head").

[Kuro]

Actually, I think it was just Takahashi being inconsistant... XD

[SonRyu]

Actually, I think it was just Takahashi being inconsistant... XDThat's what I was thinking; illustrating chains is probably frustrating and not much fun (like Toriyama doing Cell's skin texture). Given how the Inuyasha manga works, if the chains were really lessening, someone should have had an inner monologue stating such.

[Brill]

Well after 400 chapters, the mind starts to slip.....

[Matt Bauer]

New Chapter up on Tweak. The seal finally broke off after Inuyahsa declared he would advenge Youresei for his death. Wonder what is going to happen.

Matt

[Kagura Hakubi]

Well, I don't think Yourei is actually dead, for a start... heh. Kagome looked like she was trying to say something...

And there was an FX, I thought, when he looked and there were fewer chains...

[Brill]

Yourei is staging the whole thing, IMO. Its only reason why Sango and Miroku are uninjured.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I'm almost certain that Yourei-taisei is still alive and that he is staging the entire scenario. (Though I wonder if the snake-woman and her cohort are also part of the acting crew--willingly, that is.) I guess Yourei-taisei figured out that the best way to teach Inuyasha a lesson about using his sword properly is to put him in a "real-life" situation.

At least Inuyasha broke the seal on Tetsusaiga. I wonder if he is going to realize why he managed to break the seal....

[Matt Bauer]

I'm a little confused. Did Inuyasha kill the youki or what?

Matt

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I'm a little confused. Did Inuyasha kill the youki or what?We'll have to wait until the next chapter to find out. (Ah, the beauty of cliffhangers....)

I don't know what I was expecting in this chapter, but whatever it was, it didn't happen. I was not expecting the youki to regurgitate. I was not expecting Yourei-taisei to have something to do with the youketsu--although I figured he'd contributed to the situation in some way or another.

[Kagura Hakubi]

Well - if I can get Kuro-dono's confirmation about this - I think that it's the same 'you' in both words. But probalby doen't mean anything, as it's the same as in youkai, hanyou, youki, etc...

Definitly a plot on the part of Yourei-taisei. I'm willing to bet that we haven't seen the real body yet - the head-and-skin is akin to a hyperadvanced Kugutsu - one that is even better at hiding it's true form than Naraku's.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Definitly a plot on the part of Yourei-taisei. I'm willing to bet that we haven't seen the real body yet - the head-and-skin is akin to a hyperadvanced Kugutsu - one that is even better at hiding it's true form than Naraku's.
You know, now that you mention it...I hadn't thought of the head-and-skin Yourei-taisei as being a highly advanced kugutsu, but that's definitely a possibility.

Gotta admit, this entire ordeal is an excellent way to teach Inuyasha how to wield Tetsusaiga properly, ne?

[Kagura Hakubi]

Well, looks like I was partly right. I'd be all right if I hadn't gone too far, heh. Kudos to team AN for guessing the correct nature of the adventure. ^^

Still... I do hope it's going to move on soon.... I want to see something of Naraku. Some machinations. Not just Moury spouting off or something...

[Brill]

Sheesh Kagura. After30 Chapters on Tessaiga powerups you want something else? At that rate Takahashi may finish before Chapter 500.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Ah, so Inuyasha's training is finally over (except for discovering that other form of the Dragon-Scaled Tetsusaiga). Congratulations, Inuyasha, you managed to pass the "test." You should be very proud of yourself...and hopefully you've learned some responsibility about how to properly wield your heirloom.

Well, Kagura-san, it looks like Yourei-taisei is capable of creating kugutsu after all; he just didn't make one that looked like him. It also looks like he is somewhat of a shapeshifter. (What kind of youkai is he, anyway?)

I wonder what's going to happen next...

Sheesh Kagura. After30 Chapters on Tessaiga powerups you want something else? At that rate Takahashi may finish before Chapter 500.
Oh, c'mon, you make that sound like a bad thing. :P

[Brill]

Oh, c'mon, you make that sound like a bad thing. :P

It already was a bad thing.

[Kuro]

Kugutsu is more like "puppet," while Yourei-taisei's situation was the creating of genjutsu, which is more like "illusion." *shrugs* It's just technicalities. Don't think about it too hard.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Well, the latest chapter is up. Takahashi seems to be taking a (long-needed) break from focusing on Tetsusaiga. Instead, she...introduces a new character! And, best of all (for some)...KOUGA IS BACK!! :D Welcome back, old wolf! It's been...how many chapters since you last graced us with your precense? 50? :P

I wonder whatever happened to that new weapon that he'd gained? What was it called again? It began with a "G"....

[Kuro]

The Goraishi. FIVE-THUNDER-FINGERS!! MWahAhAHhAHH!! ;)

[Brill]

Well, the latest chapter is up. Takahashi seems to be taking a (long-needed) break from focusing on Tetsusaiga. Instead, she...introduces a new character! And, best of all (for some)...KOUGA IS BACK!! :D Welcome back, old wolf! It's been...how many chapters since you last graced us with your precense? 50? :P

I wonder whatever happened to that new weapon that he'd gained? What was it called again? It began with a "G"....

The answer is 50 Chapters. Bout time it got back on track, sort of.

[Kagura Hakubi]

The weapon that seems to have been absorbed into his skin... which is kinda creepy, if you ask me.

[Matt Bauer]

Once again, nothing interesting happens. Seriously. TakaHashi(don't know if spelled right) needs to get this story moving.

Matt

[Brill]

Well, we've been saying that for over a year now.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

At least Takahashi has moved away from focusing on Tetsusaiga and its numerous upgrades and problems. At least Naraku's name has been mentioned again--and, who knows, he might actually turn up in a little bit. (It had better not be Mouryoumaru again.)

Look on the bright side, wontcha?

[Matt Bauer]

Well, we've been saying that for over a year now.

You know, your very down about this whole thing. If it upsets you that much then why do you bother with the Inuyasha story?

Matt

[Brill]

Because I finish what I start. I've been following this series now for over 3 years and I'll watch it til it ends because the story is still compelling. I gripe because Takahashi is spemding too much time on tangents and the story hasn't significantly moved at all for almost a year.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

The latest chapter is up.

So it's Byakuya who is working behind the scenes here, not Naraku. *snaps fingers* Drat. I was hoping to see the King of the Nauseating Odor himself show up.

Looks like we'll finally to get see what new weaponry Kouga has acquired in the past 50-odd chapters. And it looks like Inuyasha may actually be staying out of this battle...at least for now. So Kouga will have his chance in the spotlight at last....

[Kagura Hakubi]

Finally... I hope he slaughters that cheap replacement.

[Ketaru]

Finally... I hope he slaughters that cheap replacement.

Besides Kanna, hasn't Naraku figured out yet that none of his detachments particularly like him? Except for maybe Goshinki (because we never even seen him with Naraku), all other detachments have rebelled in some way: Kagura, Kageromaru, Hakudoshi. Why should Byakuya be any different, I wonder.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Besides Kanna, hasn't Naraku figured out yet that none of his detachments particularly like him? Except for maybe Goshinki (because we never even seen him with Naraku), all other detachments have rebelled in some way: Kagura, Kageromaru, Hakudoshi. Why should Byakuya be any different, I wonder.
Yeah, well, it was Naraku's own fault for making Kagura so free-spirited and Hakudoushi so smart. :P

It's possible that Byakuya will follow in his predecessors' footsteps and rebel against Naraku, but it's also possible that he will be the rare breed who actually agrees with Naraku's motives and works alongside him. Who knows?

[Kuro]

The latest chapter is up.

So it's Byakuya who is working behind the scenes here, not Naraku. *snaps fingers* Drat. I was hoping to see the King of the Nauseating Odor himself show up.
It's like always, Naraku never does the dirty work himself, after all. The only reason he ever creates the bunshin is to make them do his bidding. Byakuya is already showing that he has no qualms about killing and he's as snarky as Hakudoushi, and he's shown no ulterior motive yet.

Plus he "admires" Sesshoumaru. XD

*yes, really likes Byakuya*

[Matt Bauer]

I wonder how Koga will fair against Byakuya. Can't wait to find out.

Matt

[meowchi]

I think Kouga will get his *** handed to him. He just isn't that good of a fighter, so I don't see him beating Byakuya. But I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time. :lol:

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Well, at the moment, I think it's safe to say that defeating Byakuya is the last of Kouga's worries. -_-; It figures as much that, as soon as one enemy gets out of their hands, our heroes straight into another.

I wonder if Byakuya knew that Mouryoumaru would end up grabbing (and crunching) the moth, or if Byakuya just figured that our heroes would end up running into a rather unpleasant obstacle, and didn't plan for that obstacle to be the Great Buzzing Ugly.

[Kuro]

Oh, I'm sure it was actually part of the plan.

"After all, you don't know what might come out to eat that thing, now do you."
"...what did he just say?!"

So, in typical "I knew you guys'd do that!" fashion, it kinda seems like it was a ploy to lure Mouryoumaru out and get him and Inuyasha to confront each other again somehow. 'Cause Naraku still has the plan to try and get those two to destroy each other.

'Course, he doesn't know about Inuyasha having figured out Tessaiga DS yet... ^_^

So if all that comes into play...

We'll probably see something happening by Christmas. XD

[Brill]

I'd settle for New Year's Day.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I'm going to be optimistic and agree with Kuro-dono; we'll probably see something happen by Christmas. Of course, it'd be nice if something happened before then...really nice...

[Hankoubou]

Christmas of '07.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Oh, for crying out loud...stop being such pessimists, will you?

[Kagura Hakubi]

'tis always better to be occasionally surprised than constantly dissapointed...

[Brill]

Oh, for crying out loud...stop being such pessimists, will you?

Ok, Christmas '06. If Takahashi is serious about getting to 500 that is.

[Hankoubou]

I'll give you In-Law's Day '06, but that is my final offer.

[Kagura Hakubi]

Oo There's an 'in-laws' day?!

Anyway, jokes aside... it looks like they're finally getting somewhere! I wonder... is Inuyasha's Tessaiga still getting stronger every time it absorbs from a weaker youkai?

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Folks, it's time to celebrate, because Mouryoumaru is FINALLY ON THE PATH TO BEING DEFEATED! :w00t: After all this time...at last, the blackened window cracks to let in a little light.... Let us rejoice!

For once, Inuyasha and Kouga are working together! Even if they must stop to bicker in the middle of a battle... (A twist of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," perhaps? Or am I looking into that too deeply?)

I wonder if we've finally found the key to really, truly defeating Mouryoumaru. (And does this mean that Sesshoumaru won't have to materialize out of nowhere to save our teenaged demon boys' arses? :P )

[Kagura Hakubi]

Possibly, though that would be a shame...

I'd wish it were more "The enemy of my friend is my enemy", but... that's too hopeful for the male characters in a Takahashi.

[Matt Bauer]

Rejoice! Thankfully.

Matt

[Ketaru]

Why do I see this happening though?

InuYasha and Koga reduce Mouryomaru to bare bones and Naraku's heart. Just as they are about to kill Naraku's heart, they get into an argument. One of Naraku's few minions comes in and takes it while InuYasha and Koga argue about who gets to kill it.

[Matt Bauer]

Well, probably because she dragging it out more. She did say it was going to be 500 chapters. Dang, just when I thought it was coming to an end.

Matt

[Ketaru]

Well, probably because she dragging it out more. She did say it was going to be 500 chapters. Dang, just when I thought it was coming to an end.

Matt

Yeah, I know. But what I meant was, why do I see Naraku escaping with his life because of stupid behavior between InuYasha and Koga?

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Yeah, I know. But what I meant was, why do I see Naraku escaping with his life because of stupid behavior between InuYasha and Koga?
Because, knowing Inuyasha and Kouga and their inability to stop bickering with each other even for a few minutes (as seen in this most recent chapter), something like that is extremely likely to happen. (And then they'd get into an argument over whose fault it was that Naraku's heart escaped.)

[Brill]

Folks, it's time to celebrate, because Mouryoumaru is FINALLY ON THE PATH TO BEING DEFEATED! :w00t: After all this time...at last, the blackened window cracks to let in a little light.... Let us rejoice!

For once, Inuyasha and Kouga are working together! Even if they must stop to bicker in the middle of a battle... (A twist of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," perhaps? Or am I looking into that too deeply?)

I wonder if we've finally found the key to really, truly defeating Mouryoumaru. (And does this mean that Sesshoumaru won't have to materialize out of nowhere to save our teenaged demon boys' arses? :P )


I'd go a step further and say it maybe a preview to Naraku's demise since he's a compilation of multiple demons, same as Mouryoumaru.

As for Mory buying the farm in this episode.....don't bet the ranch just yet.

[crockeja]

I really can't see them beating Mouryoumaru if for the simple fact that killing Naraku's baby = killing Naraku. That'd be pretty lame if they killed Naraku and didn't even fight him. Besides, she's got another 60 or so chapters to drag out. My guess is this is what will happen: Mouryoumaru steals Kouga's shards, escapes, runs around japan and gets the rest of the shards (including the one in Kohaku's back by killing him), Naraku takes the completed jewl from Mouryoumaru, says "thanks" then kills him, there's a big showdown with Inuyasha vs Naraku with Sesshoumaru, Kagome, Kouga, etc. assists, Naraku is killed, Kikyou's spirit power or something runs out and she moves on to the afterlife, Inuyasha confesses his love to Kagome, goes to live with her in her time, THE END!

....you laugh now, but keep watching, you'll call me the Nostradamus of Inuyasha in a year or two.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

You have a point... It would entirely defeat the purpose of dragging the series out for so long if Naraku were defeated before we even got to see him in battle. My guess is Mouryoumaru will be defeated soon, but the baby will somehow manage to escape unharmed. Maybe the Saimyoushou will carry off the baby just before Mouryoumaru is turned into a smoking pile of rubble.

I'm getting a feeling of forboding... Why did Midoriko's will have to "activate" at that particular moment? Did Midoriko want Kouga to get his leg impaled by a giant tentacle?

[Kagura Hakubi]

Of course. It's Midoriko's Will that the Jewel be completed, remember? Moury way outstrips Kouga in terms of power, so it's more likely that the jewel will be completed if he kills the wolf.

[Matt Bauer]

Well, I wonder if Inuyasha will slice the youketsu(idk how to spell it)

Matt

[Ketaru]

I was just thinking, as I was writing a reply to the "Who does InuYasha love more" post. In it, I said that Kikyo is becoming more and more like a priestess as time progresses and seems to be denying herself romantic interaction with InuYasha. She also has Midoriko's soul within her (and it would seem Midoriko went willingly with this).

But, from recent chapters, it looks like Midoriko has a lot of influence over the bodies of others if they have any remnants of her soul with them (just by her connection with the Shikon shards, she can stop Koga in his tracks).

I was wondering. As of late, Kikyo has been trying to destroy Naraku by destroying his heart while it is still outside of his body. Midoriko's will is to reunite the Shikon and destroy Naraku in that way. Kikyo has been showing an awful lot of concern for destroying Naraku by killing his heart because she wants Kohaku to be able to live. But Kohaku living would mean he will keep that one piece of his shard in his back. Is it just me or, at a very key moment, this is not going to sit well with Midoriko and she will attempt to somehow stop Kikyo from her intentions to save Kohaku?

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I was wondering. As of late, Kikyo has been trying to destroy Naraku by destroying his heart while it is still outside of his body. Midoriko's will is to reunite the Shikon and destroy Naraku in that way. Kikyo has been showing an awful lot of concern for destroying Naraku by killing his heart because she wants Kohaku to be able to live. But Kohaku living would mean he will keep that one piece of his shard in his back. Is it just me or, at a very key moment, this is not going to sit well with Midoriko and she will attempt to somehow stop Kikyo from her intentions to save Kohaku?
That's very possible... Actually, I'd say it's almost certain that's what will happen. If Kikyou's method for destroying Naraku means that Kohaku gets to keep his shard, I'm sure that Midoriko is going to intervene and try to prevent Kikyou from preserving Kohaku's shard. And Kohaku is going to end up shardless...and maybe dead. (It's not one of the most pleasant things to think about, though... I don't want Kohaku to die! :'( )

[Ketaru]

That's very possible... Actually, I'd say it's almost certain that's what will happen. If Kikyou's method for destroying Naraku means that Kohaku gets to keep his shard, I'm sure that Midoriko is going to intervene and try to prevent Kikyou from preserving Kohaku's shard. And Kohaku is going to end up shardless...and maybe dead. (It's not one of the most pleasant things to think about, though... I don't want Kohaku to die! )

Yeah, but the thing is, like the Shichinintai and Kikyo, he's dead to begin with. In fact, he has a lot in common with the Shichinintai because they too were reanimated because of Shikon shards (and died whenever they were removed). Don't be surprised if one day Kagome or Kikyo were accidently shoot his arm with an arrow, the arm turns bones and dirt, and it is clear to everyone as a very cruel reality that he too is not really "alive".

And, despite what Kikyo tauted about she and Midoriko being similar souls, the fact they spent a lifetime of fighting demons is where the similarities end. Their actual intentions are very different and it is clear Midoriko has a very definite plan in mind, judging by the way she haults Koga whenever she wants (and she is always doing so at moments where it seems like Mouryoumaru could possibly take his shards. The only reason Mouryoumaru fails is because InuYasha stops him). All Kikyo wants to do is kill Naraku. Midoriko wants to unite the shards and purify it once and for all. That has likely been her mindset from the very get-go of the birth of the jewel, so don't expect her to take pity on just one zombified and confused young boy (especially since, if the jewel continues to exist, she continues to exist indefinitely...which must not be very pleasant).

And Kikyo not only is in possession of a part of Midoriko's soul like anybody that has Shikon shards. She put it into her very body, which makes me think Midoriko could actually take control of her body whenever she wants. So also don't be surprised if one day Kikyo is wearing heavy armor waving a sword. If that day ever comes, we could probably assume Midoriko has decided to take over. The question of whether Kohaku lives or dies at that point depends on whether Kikyo's soul (remember how I said she only has a fragment of her own soul in the thread I made?) is strong enough to resist the influence of Midoriko's soul.

[Brill]

Yeah, but the thing is, like the Shichinintai and Kikyo, he's dead to begin with. In fact, he has a lot in common with the Shichinintai because they too were reanimated because of Shikon shards (and died whenever they were removed). Don't be surprised if one day Kagome or Kikyo were accidently shoot his arm with an arrow, the arm turns bones and dirt, and it is clear to everyone as a very cruel reality that he too is not really "alive".

One point. It is assumed Kohaku died at the castle. Sango survived the attack and maybe the jewels presence is more for control over Kohaku conscience rather than keeping him alive. He could have the jewel removed and be ok, just like Sango did. All we have is Naraku word on the subject.

[Kagura Hakubi]

And I'll be the first to tell you... Naraku's word is to 'good' as a wet paper bag is to 'inflammable'.

Midoriko's armour wasn't particularly heavy, though :p

Damn. There was something else I was going to say, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

And Kikyo not only is in possession of a part of Midoriko's soul like anybody that has Shikon shards. She put it into her very body, which makes me think Midoriko could actually take control of her body whenever she wants. So also don't be surprised if one day Kikyo is wearing heavy armor waving a sword. If that day ever comes, we could probably assume Midoriko has decided to take over. The question of whether Kohaku lives or dies at that point depends on whether Kikyo's soul (remember how I said she only has a fragment of her own soul in the thread I made?) is strong enough to resist the influence of Midoriko's soul.I don't quite think we're going to be seeing Kikyou wearing Midoriko's armour or carrying her sword :P , but I wouldn't be too surprised to one day "hear" (there's no audio in manga) Midoriko's voice coming out of Kikyou's mouth, nor would I be surprised if Kikyou were to do something that's completely out of character for her but very in-character for Midoriko.

I think whether Kikyou's soul (and willpower) is strong enough to resist the influence of Midoriko's soul would also depend on Kikyou's mood at the time. If she just witnessed something that unnerved her a bit, then Midoriko is going to have a much easier time gaining control than she would if Kikyou were at ease and confident.

[crockeja]

Well, it looks like Mouryoumaru got away... again. <_< It also looks like Kouga is joining the team for good, which is kinda cool.

I do believe that Kohaku died back when he was fighting the demons and I do believe that the shard is the only thing keeping him alive. This might sound kind of cold, but I think he needs to rest in peace. For one thing, Midoriko wants to unite the jewl, and she's not going to go anywhere even if Naraku died. That's just even more trouble for the rest of Kohaku's life. Plus, to be honest with you... I just don't like Kohaku.

[Brill]

Why am I not surprised? This is just going on, and on, and on.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Confound it! That stupid baby was this close to being defeated! >_< Takahashi-sama, why did you have to go and let Mouryoumaru escape? Why did you have to go and give Kai's shards to the baby? Inuyasha was so close to slicing that damned infant in half! <_<

*sigh* This is a little exasperating... Takahashi-sama, you'd better have a very good reason for doing this...

Anyway... Is it just me, or did Inuyasha--in his own indirect, offhand way--just invite Kouga, his ultimate rival in romance and in defeating Naraku, to join the Ikkou? O_O

Methinks there is going to be a blizzard in the Sahara Desert this holiday season.

[Brill]

Well this might get interesting, the gang hasn't seen Naraku since Inutaisho's graveyard. Wonder how this will play out.

Once again, the hypocracy of the Inu/Kag relationship plays out. Makes Inuyasha sit for lightly wrapping Kouga on the head, but Kagome isn;'t chided for letting Kouga cop a feel. Why is it Inuyasha gets reprimanded for being near Kikyo but doing nothing while Kagome never gets admonished for all the things Kouga does to her? Talk about a double standard.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

So...finally, after all this time, the King of Many Tentacles himself emerges from the deepest, darkest depths of his lair to greet our heroes...but under the strangest circumstances. What reason has he for re-awakening, and protecting, this cannibalistic tree?

Aside from the fact that he is going to do his darndest to cause a living hell (most likely) for our heroes.

As for Kouga... Just as he is invited to join the Ikkou, he decides to go off on his own--and he doesn't even have his comrades this time! Kouga, you idiot, what do you think you're doing?! Do you really think that you're going to be able to fight Naraku on your own, when you can't even control your own legs?!

I sense that our wolf friend is not going to last very long. I have a bad feeling that his comrades are going to return to find him nothing but a sizzling pile of fur and bones.

Makes Inuyasha sit for lightly wrapping Kouga on the head, but Kagome isn;'t chided for letting Kouga cop a feel. Why is it Inuyasha gets reprimanded for being near Kikyo but doing nothing while Kagome never gets admonished for all the things Kouga does to her? Talk about a double standard.I think Inuyasha gets after Kouga for hugging Kagome and holding her hand because he (Inuyasha) wants to send him (Kouga) a firm message: "Kagome is mine, get your stinky wolf paws off of her!" It's all a part of that canine possessiveness... That's different from Kagome reprimanding Inuyasha for smacking an injured Kouga upside the head.

[crockeja]

I dunno, I'm still kinda angry after seeing Mouryoumaru get away AGAIN... and then I got mad when Kouga left in this issue. Nothing is happening!!! We haven't moved the story forward in god knows how long!! I thought since Kouga had joined the team, we'd have some new story developments... but nope, he's has left to fight Naraku on his own... again.

But like you guys said, Naraku has appeared before them, and usually when that happens, **** hits the fan and the story gets interesting. So let's see what direction we'll go this time.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I dunno, I'm still kinda angry after seeing Mouryoumaru get away AGAIN... and then I got mad when Kouga left in this issue. Nothing is happening!!! We haven't moved the story forward in god knows how long!! I thought since Kouga had joined the team, we'd have some new story developments... but nope, he's has left to fight Naraku on his own... again.I wouldn't say nothing is happening. Mouryoumaru may have escaped, but Naraku has showed up. This is just the beginning of a whole chain of events. And chains of events don't always kick off right from the start--especially in a Takahashi tale.

Kouga didn't leave to fight Naraku on his own "again," because he wasn't "on his own" before; he was with his comrades. Sure, he was the only one in his group who stood even a remote chance against Naraku in battle, but at least he wasn't alone. Besides, I'm sure that, were he unable to move, Ginta and Hakkaku, if nothing else would have done their best to get him off the battlefield as soon as possible.

But now, if Kouga finds himself unable to move, there's nothing he can do. He did promise Kagome that he wouldn't be reckless, but caution in battle is not going to stop Midoriko's will from rendering him immobile while Naraku rips the Shikon shards out of his legs. Which is why I think Kouga is an idiot for leaving the Ikkou. With them, he was guaranteed back-up.

[Brill]

I think Inuyasha gets after Kouga for hugging Kagome and holding her hand because he (Inuyasha) wants to send him (Kouga) a firm message: "Kagome is mine, get your stinky wolf paws off of her!" It's all a part of that canine possessiveness... That's different from Kagome reprimanding Inuyasha for smacking an injured Kouga upside the head.

You're missing the point. Inuyasha gets reprimanded by his inaction to do things, while Kagome doesn't get reprimanded for not stopping Kouga's advances. Double-standard--yes?

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

You're missing the point. Inuyasha gets reprimanded by his inaction to do things, while Kagome doesn't get reprimanded for not stopping Kouga's advances. Double-standard--yes?
I'm not missing the point. A double-standard is when a person holds one standard for him/herself and another standard for everyone else. Since we're talking about the standards of two different people, not one person having two different standards, the term "double-standard" is not appropriate.

In my opinion, the reason Inuyasha doesn't reprimand Kagome for not stopping Kouga's advances is because doing so will only make Kouga feel justified in his belief that he is much better suited for Kagome than "dog turd." So instead, Inuyasha turns on Kouga, in an attempt to send the message, "Paws off; she's mine." But that's not a double-standard.

[crockeja]

I wouldn't say nothing is happening. Mouryoumaru may have escaped, but Naraku has showed up. This is just the beginning of a whole chain of events. And chains of events don't always kick off right from the start--especially in a Takahashi tale.

Kouga didn't leave to fight Naraku on his own "again," because he wasn't "on his own" before; he was with his comrades. Sure, he was the only one in his group who stood even a remote chance against Naraku in battle, but at least he wasn't alone. Besides, I'm sure that, were he unable to move, Ginta and Hakkaku, if nothing else would have done their best to get him off the battlefield as soon as possible.

But now, if Kouga finds himself unable to move, there's nothing he can do. He did promise Kagome that he wouldn't be reckless, but caution in battle is not going to stop Midoriko's will from rendering him immobile while Naraku rips the Shikon shards out of his legs. Which is why I think Kouga is an idiot for leaving the Ikkou. With them, he was guaranteed back-up. Nope, I'm going to have to disagree Tim. Kouga has fought besides Inuyasha plenty of times to beat some monster and then says he's got to leave because he's "going after Naraku myself." That's from Ear-Tweak's translation, but I don't know if you're trying to say that I meant Kouga is litterally fighting by himself, which I wasn't. I meant that he's fought with the group like this a couple of times before and left them every time. So like I said, the redundancy is annoying.

...and I pointed out that Naraku's appearance did make the chapter a little more interesting... so basically I don't really know what you're trying to argue with me about since you basically said you disagreed with my post and then restated every point I made.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

so basically I don't really know what you're trying to argue with me about since you basically said you disagreed with my post and then restated every point I made.
Oh, dear... Was I that unclear? :unsure: I think part of the problem is I misunderstood you and misinterpreted what you'd said. What I meant to do was counter your claim that nothing is happening...but it would appear I did it in a very roundabout way... -_-;

While Kouga does always leave the Ikkou claiming he is going after Naraku by himself, the difference is that this time, he is literally by himself. He does not have his fellow yourouzoku if something were to go wrong. I think that's somewhat of a turning point, at least as far as Kouga is concerned. Can't you sense that Takahashi is going to do something to him that is going to make him regret ever refusing to accept Kagome's offer?

[crockeja]

Alright, I see what you're saying now, and yeah that's a good point that Kouga left his two buddies this time. So maybe there really is something building up here that I didn't notice.

[Brill]

I'm not missing the point. A double-standard is when a person holds one standard for him/herself and another standard for everyone else. Since we're talking about the standards of two different people, not one person having two different standards, the term "double-standard" is not appropriate.

In my opinion, the reason Inuyasha doesn't reprimand Kagome for not stopping Kouga's advances is because doing so will only make Kouga feel justified in his belief that he is much better suited for Kagome than "dog turd." So instead, Inuyasha turns on Kouga, in an attempt to send the message, "Paws off; she's mine." But that's not a double-standard.


Yes it is a double-standard. Every time Inuyasha sees Kikyo, Kagome gets sulky, and Shippo, Sango, or Miroku will go to Inuyasha and say "Think about Kagome's feelings". Now when Kouga does his moves on Kagome, Inuyasha gets pissed, but no one tells Kagome "you should think about Inuyasha feelings and tell Kouga off". Does this happen, no. Thus it ia a double-standard.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Yes it is a double-standard. Every time Inuyasha sees Kikyo, Kagome gets sulky, and Shippo, Sango, or Miroku will go to Inuyasha and say "Think about Kagome's feelings". Now when Kouga does his moves on Kagome, Inuyasha gets pissed, but no one tells Kagome "you should think about Inuyasha feelings and tell Kouga off". Does this happen, no. Thus it ia a double-standard.
But you're talking about the standards of Miroku, Sango, and Shippou, not of Inuyasha or Kagome. So maybe Sango, Miroku, and Shippou have double standards regarding Inuyasha and Kagome's behavior around other possible romantic interests; but their standards have nothing to do with Inuyasha and Kagome's standards for each other.

You said that this double standard points toward the hypocrisy of Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship; but if this double standard is the double standard of others, then where's the hypocrisy?

[Aya Nakamura]

i agree totally with that. its so true. whenever inuyasha even see's kikyo kagome gets pissed and inuyasha is expected to just take it but when koga is around if inuyasha gets pissed he gets made to sit

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

But it's not a double standard, as I said before. A double standard would be one person holding two different standards for two different people. Kagome and Inuyasha are two different people. Their standards are different. That's not a double standard.

[Kagura Hakubi]

The reason they side with Kagome is that Inuyasha is a hanyou. That was made clear in the first part of the series, and a few months of travelling together aren't going to break that's subconscious effects, no matter how close you get through experience.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

The reason they side with Kagome is that Inuyasha is a hanyou. That was made clear in the first part of the series, and a few months of travelling together aren't going to break that's subconscious effects, no matter how close you get through experience.
I hadn't thought about that, but that's a very good point. Six months of getting to know the Inuyasha beneath the surface is not exactly going to completely turn around or erase a belief that one has held for one's entire life. And unless they (Miroku, Sango, and Shippou) really stop to think about it, they may not even realize that their actions are driven subconsciously.

[Brill]

But you're talking about the standards of Miroku, Sango, and Shippou, not of Inuyasha or Kagome. So maybe Sango, Miroku, and Shippou have double standards regarding Inuyasha and Kagome's behavior around other possible romantic interests; but their standards have nothing to do with Inuyasha and Kagome's standards for each other.

You said that this double standard points toward the hypocrisy of Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship; but if this double standard is the double standard of others, then where's the hypocrisy?

There is hypocrcasy in their relationship. Why does Inuyasha frequently get punished by Kagome for his interactions which are businesslike with Kikyo, while Kagome goes unpunsihed with her interactions with Kouga? Inuyasha has been punished on several occasions, while Kagome is unblemished for actions that are just as egregious. It reinforcedstheir relationship of master/dogs than that of a lvoing couple. Do we see Kagome thinking twice about how much her physical interactions on how they might upset Inuyasha, I don't think so.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Occhan, did it ever occur to you that perhaps the initial reason (the reason back in the beginning) Kagome let Kouga hold her hand was to get even with Inuyasha for hurting her, back when Inuyasha was meeting with Kikyou more frequently? She wanted Inuyasha to feel the way she felt, because telling him how she felt seemed to accomplish nothing.

And have you noticed that, whenever Kouga suddenly grabs Kagome's hand, she gets this weird look on her face? It looks like an expression of discomfort to me. And she didn't get after Inuyasha for drawing his sword on Kouga after he (Kouga) embraced her, did she?

[Brill]

Well that was Kagome's problem because Inuyasha was solely with Kikyo at that point in the story. She had no right to him. As she hasn't put at stop to it. Isn't that odd.

She may be discomforted. but she hasn't put a stop to it either. Even in the latest chapter, she didn't pull away! Now, she has no right to condemn Inuyasha for anything he might do with Kikyo. She's just as bad. Pot meet kettle.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Well that was Kagome's problem because Inuyasha was solely with Kikyo at that point in the story. She had no right to him. As she hasn't put at stop to it. Isn't that odd.
No, at that point in the story, Inuyasha was two-timing.

She may be discomforted. but she hasn't put a stop to it either. Even in the latest chapter, she didn't pull away! Now, she has no right to condemn Inuyasha for anything he might do with Kikyo. She's just as bad. Pot meet kettle.
Inuyasha gets upset when another man dares to make advances on Kagome, but he himself spent time with another woman. Kagome isn't the only criminal here; Inuyasha is just as guilty. (In fact, Inuyasha was the one who started it.)

And as I said before, the only reason Inuyasha doesn't get after Kagome is because that would only make Kouga feel justified in his belief that he (Kouga) is more suitable for Kagome than Inuyasha.

[Brill]

No, at that point in the story, Inuyasha was two-timing.

Um, no he wasn't since Kagome wasn't a contender at that point-and arguably still isn't.


Inuyasha gets upset when another man dares to make advances on Kagome, but he himself spent time with another woman. Kagome isn't the only criminal here; Inuyasha is just as guilty. (In fact, Inuyasha was the one who started it.)

And as I said before, the only reason Inuyasha doesn't get after Kagome is because that would only make Kouga feel justified in his belief that he (Kouga) is more suitable for Kagome than Inuyasha.

Didn't say inuyasha wasn't blameless, but Kagome is PORTRAYED as blameless when she isn't. Let's all have a good cry for Kagome when she's in the doghouse, but don't give Inuyasha a second look when he's treated exactly the same way. Hardly fair.

Or he doesn't care as muich as you think he does.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Kagome was a contender, so Inuyasha was two-timing, and I don't understand why you couldn't see that. Heck, I know people who are not even Inuyasha/Kagome fans, who accused Inuyasha of being a two-timer, back when he couldn't decide between Kikyou and Kagome. And those same non-Inu/Kag fans are the first to acknowledge that Inuyasha really does love Kagome, however much he may also love Kikyou.

You are the only person I know who so fervently denies that Inuyasha had feelings for Kagome back then, and that their relationship is stronger than outward appearances may suggest.

[Matt Bauer]

Hey, does anyone know when the next chapter of Inuyasha is supposed to be coming out? I have been looking for it and havn't seen it. I expected them to take a break for a while because of new year and the rest of the Holidays. If anyone has any idea as to when the new one is going to come out then it would be appreciative.

Matt

[Kuro]

Today. It's out. If you're following it on ET, it'll be up soon.

[Brill]

Kagome was a contender, so Inuyasha was two-timing, and I don't understand why you couldn't see that. Heck, I know people who are not even Inuyasha/Kagome fans, who accused Inuyasha of being a two-timer, back when he couldn't decide between Kikyou and Kagome. And those same non-Inu/Kag fans are the first to acknowledge that Inuyasha really does love Kagome, however much he may also love Kikyou.

Oh I'm not saying he ISN'T a two-timer, just not at that point in the series. He becomes a two-timer after the incident with Kouga though. That's the discrepancy.

You are the only person I know who so fervently denies that Inuyasha had feelings for Kagome back then, and that their relationship is stronger than outward appearances may suggest.

But what type fo feelings, Mika? Once again we come back to liking or loving. Your claim for loving is no more valid than mine for just liking. You say it is because you want it to be true, not that it is true.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

But what type fo feelings, Mika?
Love, occhan, love. These people I know who are not Inu/Kag fans are the first to admit that Inuyasha LOVES Kagome, and that the LOVE in their relationship goes deeper than outward appearances may suggest.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Chapter 440 is up, and look who's back everyone! It's our favourite resurrected priestess and her freckled ninja-wannabe companion! :P

But there's one problem: Now Naraku 4.0 has evolved into Naraku 5.0. And he's armed with the power of a man/youkai-eating tree. (I hope absorbing the youmeiji ends up backfiring on him.) But there is a bright side to all of this, despite He-of-the-Many-Tentacled-Appendages's escape:

This time, we have people on the trails of both bad guys. Naraku and Mouryoumaru are sharing the villain spotlight, whether they like it or not.

So, at last, Kouga meets Kikyou. (Though, I was expecting Kouga to react to Kikyou's strong physical resemblance to Kagome. I'm sure he must have noticed her face... Oh, well... ) I wonder, though, is it Kikyou aiming the arrow at Kouga, or Midoriko propelling her to shoot him in order to obtain his shards? But if the latter were the case, then surely Kouga's legs would have frozen by now, to prevent him from escaping, right?

[Matt Bauer]

I think it might have something to do with Midoriko's will but I wouldn't count on it. Personally, I think it is just Kikyo's attitude. Mybe she has something on her mind as to kill him so she doesn't have any interruption in dealing with mourymaru(Spelled Wrong).

Or maybe it is just her attitude in wanting to have the power over everything. I havn't kept up with them from when she was back in the stroy last time so I don't know how her attitude was back then and if it is different.

Matt

[crockeja]

I'm going to bet that:

- Naraku gets away
- Mouryoumaru gets away
- Kikyou doesn't do anything to Kouga and she goes away
- nothing happens

[Brill]

Love, occhan, love. These people I know who are not Inu/Kag fans are the first to admit that Inuyasha LOVES Kagome, and that the LOVE in their relationship goes deeper than outward appearances may suggest.

Like, Mika Like. More than like, most probably. Love, maybe. Your evidence? Nada. And you and your fellow conspirators can believe the world is flat and the sun circles the earth.. It doesn't mean your right. Where the beef Mika, cause your tell-tale signs which you always fall back on lost their credibility months ago. 100 people who have nothing have just as much as 1 person with nothing.

On to other subjects. Great, another power-up. STOP THE INSANITY, already Takahashi. Now Inuyasha need another powerup to confront Naraku. Anyone else feel like were going in circles. Bet you 5-1 Kikyo is aiming at Moury who's behind Kouga.

[crockeja]

I'm going to bet that:

- Naraku gets away
- Mouryoumaru gets away
- Kikyou doesn't do anything to Kouga and she goes away
- nothing happens
One down, three to go.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Kikyou did do something to Kouga. She took a shot at him. She missed, but she attempted to take the shards from him by force. (She's letting Midoriko get to her head.) I'd call that doing something.

I didn't expect Mouryoumaru and Naraku to face off so soon. In fact, I wasn't sure they'd even face off. I expected more wild goose chases on the part of the anti-Naraku factions and another confrontation with the bad guys, before the baddies themselves met face-to-face. (I wonder if Naraku absorbed the youmeiji because he was planning to confront Mouryoumaru and wanted yet another asset.)

The Ikkou are following Naraku, and the three K's (Kikyou, Kohaku and Kouga) are following Mouryoumaru... This means that the Ikkou and the three K's are going to meet again soon. It's been awhile since Inuyasha has seen Kikyou and Sango has seen her brother.

Wait a second... Do the Ikkou know that Kohaku is following Kikyou? :blink: I don't remember...

Well, things are definitely getting more interesting.

[crockeja]

Kikyou did do something to Kouga. She took a shot at him. She missed, but she attempted to take the shards from him by force. (She's letting Midoriko get to her head.) I'd call that doing something.
Bad wording on my part. I didn't mean that she litterally does *nothing*, I meant that she would accomplish nothing and there wouldn't be any difference in the story.

And while Mouryoumaru and Naraku are facing off, I am pretty sure that they'll both leave in the same state that they started in and nothing new will have happened (except maybe another power up).

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

And while Mouryoumaru and Naraku are facing off, I am pretty sure that they'll both leave in the same state that they started in and nothing new will have happened (except maybe another power up).
We may end up being surprised; you never know. Maybe someone WON'T come out of this battle unscathed. And even if they do, I have a feeling that things may start to get more interesting when at least two of our anti-Naraku factions meet up.

But think what you will.

[Kuro]

Wait a second... Do the Ikkou know that Kohaku is following Kikyou? :blink: I don't remember...

Yep, they do. Back around chapter 400-410-ish, around the time Mouryoumaru ate the armored shell and made Sesshoumaru get his fundoushi in a big twist over Kagura. Right around then, Kohaku and Kikyou were also chasing after Mouryoumaru and all of them met up on the mountain. They even had a nice little psychic rolecall.

About the only sugnificant thing (significant in Takahashi's writing, anyway) that happened this chapter is that Kikyou now knows who has the last of the shards. If she's to get the shikon jewel completed, she has to know who has all of them. Up until now, she didn't even know Kouga, let alone that he was carrying shards.

So, in typical Takahashi fashion, it has taken a good 50-odd chapters for all of the players who need to be involved in a particular thread to get on the same page. :P Before, it took everyone something like 60 or 70 chapters to get on the same page about the baby being Naraku's heart. So.... yeah, I'm not surprised at the pacing or the lack of anything other than talk.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

About the only sugnificant thing (significant in Takahashi's writing, anyway) that happened this chapter is that Kikyou now knows who has the last of the shards. If she's to get the shikon jewel completed, she has to know who has all of them. Up until now, she didn't even know Kouga, let alone that he was carrying shards.
That's right. Kikyou didn't know who had the last of the shards. (Well, of course. She didn't even know until two chapters ago that there was even a wolf-youkai named Kouga, let alone that he had two shikon shards. -_-; )

Kuro-dono, do you think there is going to be a huge showdown between Naraku and Mouryoumaru, and do you think only one of them is going to escape from the battle? Or do you think there is going to be a distraction (of some sort), and the loser is going to escape?

[Kuro]

Personally, I think tomorrow's chapter is going to have Naraku demonstrate whatever spiffy new power he's sucked up with the Youmeiju. That power was alluded to and left me going, "Okay.... WHAT power?"

After a lot of posturing, and heavy "ku ku ku"-age on both sides, Naraku is going to declare they decide once and for all who the Real!Headbadguy is, and determine it with a two-out-of-three match of thumbwrestling. Mouryoumaru, believing there is no way he can loose, will accept the challenge. Except that Naraku wins by default --- y'know... opposable thumbs and all.

Mouryoumaru, unwilling to admit defeat, will fly off into the horizon, screaming, "How dare you!! D*** you! D*** YOU ALL!"

Inuyasha, having witnessed all this, will finally realize that he's been standing there with his mouth agape for several pages, and once Shippou states so, he will then try to run after the already-departed Mouryoumaru, calling after him with unabated fury, "You're not going to get away!!" Of course, one knows that when one is told, "You're not going to get away," that all but confirms that you will, and likely already HAVE, escaped for another day.

Thus leaving Inuyasha's group behind, with Naraku,, who is busy "Ku ku ku"-ing over the developments.

Inuyasha then demands what Naraku has been scheming, becuase, y'know... it's been a while, and they never exchanged nengajou, so they really need to catch up on what the other has been doing. Naraku, ever so anxious to talk about his favorite subject -- himself -- gives Inuyasha's group the cliff's notes version of the past month's events ("Oh, I had a kid -- I believe you've met -- decided to take up gardening, which is really quite the joy, I must say!!") and then invites everyone to buy his book, and come to a speial book-signing. Just for them. :D :D :D

Inuyasha is of course, very eager to do so.

And that leads into chapter 443.

*nods*

[meowchi]

Just read chapter 442, I don't really know what to make of this chapter. From just reading the chapter it seems like Naraku has lot the fight. But really if I had to guess what was comming next, I think that Naraku is going to be able to control Mouryoumaru from inside his body. I guess I'll just have to wait untill the next chapter is out to see what is going to happen.

[Ketaru]

Just read chapter 442, I don't really know what to make of this chapter. From just reading the chapter it seems like Naraku has lot the fight. But really if I had to guess what was comming next, I think that Naraku is going to be able to control Mouryoumaru from inside his body. I guess I'll just have to wait untill the next chapter is out to see what is going to happen.

Something tells me we're going to find out why Naraku was so interested in absorbing that tree demon in the next chapter.

By the way, cheers for Kuro for providing us with the latest chapters time and time again. That is all >.>

[Aya Nakamura]

Yeh i'm thinking absorbing the tree demon will have something to do with how naraku is gonna win. It seems to me that he would be able to get to the baby from inside better

[crockeja]

By the way, cheers for Kuro for providing us with the latest chapters time and time again. That is all >.> Wait, you mean Kuro is the one who runs Ear-Tweak? Well in that case...

I agree, thanks Kuro for giving me part of my weekly entertainment! I may ***** and complain on these boards about the Inuyasha manga all the time, but the truth is that I really do enjoy the series despite my constaining groaning. You've always been on time with the updates and you do a really good job... so don't mind me when I start ranting, I really do appreciate all that you do for us Inuyasha fans.

[Matt Bauer]

Yeah, Naraku isn't that stupid. He definately absorbed that tree demon for a reason. It had to have been to win the fight, because like Inuyasha said. he doesn't go into a fight unless he knows he has a chance of winning.

Matt

[Brill]

Wouldn't it be funny if Naraku was dead and Inuyasha had to deak with Mory, and the series ended ion that battle. :)

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Darn it, Kuro-dono, your teaser picture tricked me. You made me think that Naraku was going to end up the apparent victor, not Mouryoumaru. To then see Naraku get blasted into a thousand pieces of flesh (gross imagery!), my initial reaction was, "HIGH HOLY HELL!"

I actually felt a rush of panic when Naraku's head was sliced in half--mainly because that had never happened to him before. Even when the rest of his body was destroyed, his head always remained intact. Now, I don't know whether to feel a tad relieved or upset to think that this all might be a trick on Naraku's part (which I'm sure it is; there's no way in the underworld he would die that easily). If this IS a trick, and Naraku IS able to control Mouryoumaru from within, then the anti-Naraku/Mouryoumaru factions risk finding themselves in a very deep hole in the near future. And you know, holes are never a good thing, especially deep ones.

Maybe now we'll get to find out why Naraku was so intent on absorbing that man-eating tree.

(There is one other thing I wonder: Why did Takahashi decide to make Naraku take on the form of a giant scorpion? Wasn't a spider bad enough?)

[Kagura Hakubi]

Maybe the damn spider decided that he was really wasting those pedipalps after all and decided to make them into claws... oh, and he never really used those spinnerets anyway... I know, why don't I change the web into poison and grow a tail... yeah! Though... it actually looks more like he's just a spider with a dragon's tail to me, now I look again.

Anyway... I'm praying Naraku made a final blunder - he does look pretty shocked in that last frame - but I'm not holding out much hope. Moury's been this cocky before, but look what ended up happening with the snake twins.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Maybe the damn spider decided that he was really wasting those pedipalps after all and decided to make them into claws... oh, and he never really used those spinnerets anyway... I know, why don't I change the web into poison and grow a tail... yeah! Though... it actually looks more like he's just a spider with a dragon's tail to me, now I look again.
The first creature that came to mind when I saw those claws and that tail was a scorpion. But now that I look at it again...you're right. He does look more like a spider with a tail. Though I wouldn't say that's a dragon's tail; it definitely looks like a scorpion's tail. Sting and everything.

So now he's a cross between a scorpion and a spider. With a human head. And with whatever that thing coming out of his stomach is. What's next, praying mantis wings?

Anyway... I'm praying Naraku made a final blunder - he does look pretty shocked in that last frame - but I'm not holding out much hope. Moury's been this cocky before, but look what ended up happening with the snake twins.
I'm not even going to let myself hope that Naraku has made a blunder. We haven't even found out what use it was absorbing youmeiji. And you know he got something out of that, or else he wouldn't have done it.

Inuyasha was right when he said that Naraku would never get involved in a battle unless he had a chance of winning. But even more so, Naraku would never lift a finger to do anything unless he got something out of it. Why else did he have all those bunshin to do his dirty work?

[Kagura Hakubi]

True, the old goat does tend to walk the line between manipulative and lazy.

A chance is a bit narrow... he wouldn't normally enter a fight unless he thought he was certain of winning. The Youmeiji must have some secret to absorption... I'd thought that like most Youkai trees, it relied on turning the things it needs to absorb into fertilizer, but... *shrugs* It can't be that Naraku's gained straight-up superior powers of absorption from the tree, 'cause if he had, the tree would have absorbed him...

[Brill]

Do you really think Takahashi is going to have it end with Inuyasha, Kikyo, Kouga, Miroku, Sango, Sesshoumnaru, and Kohaku being robbed of their revenge by Mouryoumaru ? I don't think so. ^_^

[EVAN -1]

Naraku getting himself taken out was awesome!
Of course he could be waiting for all the shards to be collected before he
appears. Death hasn't stop him before.

[Ketaru]

Well, I "think" Kuro made the Ear-tweak site. I don't remember why I thought that.

Do you really think Takahashi is going to have it end with Inuyasha, Kikyo, Kouga, Miroku, Sango, Sesshoumnaru, and Kohaku being robbed of their revenge by Mouryoumaru ? I don't think so. ^_^

Interesting enough, it's nice to see she is actually bringing the characters together in one place for once. Something about the series that kind of disappointed me is we never really got to see how many of the people involved would actually interact with each other (granted, it wasn't all that important that you know what sort of relationships they would have, but it still would've nice to know)

But yeah, Takahashi wouldn't kill off Naraku like that so easily. But as others have pointed out, it probably didn't go "exactly" the way he planned it to (he looked rather surprised when he was being absorbed by Mouryoumaru)

[Kuro]

^_^ Thanks, guys. Yep, ET is my baby. *a little blushy now* Thanks for the comments. :)

Either way, though, regarding 442-443; nah, I don't think Naraku's truly gone yet. Inuyasha went to all the trouble of pointing it out. It wouldn't have been pointed out to the readers if it wasn't somehow important.

1. Naraku wouldn't fight if he didn't have a chance of winning.
2. It was way too easy.

Naraku killed Hakudoushi, after all. No reason to believe he's thought of a way to try to kill Mouryoumaru, too.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

As Inuyasha said, "It was too easy." There's no way our seasoned villain would kiss this world goodbye with so little ceremony. (Forget the fact that we haven't seen him use whatever new powers he acquired from absorbing the youmeiji. For Naraku to go down so easily is just completely out of character!) If Mouryoumaru weren't so caught up in the moment, he might realize that there's something amiss in the fact that he was so easily able to absorb his rival.

So...it looks like soon all the shards will be gathered in one place. Which means that jewels are going to be...misplaced (that's an understatement, by the way), and the smile of a thief is going to be extra-glinty. Which means that at least one person is going to end up shedding blood.

It also means that all the anti-Naraku factions except Faction Sesshoumaru will be gathered in one place. Which could be a good or bad thing, depending. Should be interesting...

[Kagura Hakubi]

More likely to be explosive. The won't work together... just trip over each other. Meanwhile, Ginta and Hakkakku will be having tea and cakes in a quiet glade somewhere with Miroku and Sango, and the four will lament on how they're completely ineffective...

As for Moury.. I think his intelligence is only marginally better than Inuyasha's.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

As for Moury.. I think his intelligence is only marginally better than Inuyasha's.
He may seem smarter if it weren't for the fact that his head didn't frickin' swell so much every time he got an inch closer to his goal.

[meowchi]

So does anyone think that we may be comming upon the end of the manga any time soon? Seems like this should be the work up to the final battle, but I'm not going to hold my breath or any thing. :)

[Ketaru]

So does anyone think that we may be comming upon the end of the manga any time soon? Seems like this should be the work up to the final battle, but I'm not going to hold my breath or any thing.

If I remember correctly, Rumiko Takahashi says she is working towards 50 books (500 chapters).

So it seems, as we all probably already knew, Naraku lived. Though the baby is now in a VERY compromising position. I think this might be the end of Mouryoumaru >_>

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Talk about a compromising position! The baby has just found himself wedged between a rock and a very hard place. A VERY hard place. This is almost surely the end of Mouryoumaru... Almost everything--and everyone--is in place for the final battle. We're only missing Sesshoumaru.

Speaking of Sesshoumaru... He had better show up soon! We have yet to see him really put Tenseiga's new ability to use. What a waste it would be to learn a new attack and never get the chance to show it off... (Knowing him, he'll probably show up at the last minute.)

Now, back to the current battle... I feel sorry for Sango...and Kohaku. One of them is going to come out of this battle emotionally wounded...and it will probably be Sango.

Also, I wonder how this battle is going to affect the relationship between Kagome and Kikyou, and their relationships with Inuyasha. Kagome's desire to believe in Inuyasha's strength, and her comment on Inuyasha's wanting to defeat Naraku before Kikyou does, got me thinking: Does Kikyou believe Inuyasha has the strength to defeat Mouryoumaru and Naraku?

[meowchi]

^ I personally think that Kikyou has no faith in InuYasha at all. If she did then she would tell him more about what her plans are, and I think she would ask him for help. Then again I don't think that either one of them trusts the other, so I don't think the relationship is going to change at all.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

When I said that Inuyasha and Kikyou's relationship could possibly change as a result of this battle, I meant that it could worsen, not improve. I don't think their relationship is going to improve, at least not during this battle, and not while Kikyou harbors her "I am mighty" attitude.

I agree, though, that Kikyou has no faith whatsoever in Inuyasha. And Inuyasha probably knows that, too. I think Inuyasha feels that he needs to prove himself to Kikyou, because right now she doesn't think that anyone other than herself is capable of defeating Naraku. (Very arrogant of her, if you ask me.)

[Ketaru]

Does Kikyou believe Inuyasha has the strength to defeat Mouryoumaru and Naraku?

You're probably thinking what I'm thinking. Naraku is going to get away again.

Everybody here knows it. InuYasha has been nothing but sword upgrades for the past God-knows-how-long. If having the stronger weapon is how InuYasha thinks can beat somebody with cunning (and the power to back it up) like Naraku, the outlook is bleak indeed. Remember, Naraku's guiding hand is responsible for many of the sword upgrades. Things have fallen into place just as he wanted it to, probably.

When I said that Inuyasha and Kikyou's relationship could possibly change as a result of this battle, I meant that it could worsen, not improve. I don't think their relationship is going to improve, at least not during this battle, and not while Kikyou harbors her "I am mighty" attitude.

I agree, though, that Kikyou has no faith whatsoever in Inuyasha. And Inuyasha probably knows that, too. I think Inuyasha feels that he needs to prove himself to Kikyou, because right now she doesn't think that anyone other than herself is capable of defeating Naraku. (Very arrogant of her, if you ask me.)

I hardly think it's a "I am mighty" attitude. Given what Mrs. Takahashi has told us about her thoughts so far, it is more like a "There is no other way", an attitude that pervades in both Kohaku and Kikyo. Koga and Sesshomaru are the ones with the "I am mighty" attitudes. No matter how many times Sesshomaru is humbled, he persists in wanting to defeat Naraku by himself.

It isn't as if Kikyo hasn't tried to find ways to kill Mouryoumaru while preserving Kohaku's life. Those ways have simply ended in failure. In fact, both Kikyo and Kohaku harbor very defeatist attitudes. Cause 'lest we forget, Kohaku is just as in on this as Kikyo (and it isn't because she's confusing the poor boy in some way). If you ask me though, if an opportunity arises such that Kohaku's life can be saved, she would probably take it again.

I don't think Kikyo even knows what she wants to do. Given the opportunity once to try to defeat Mouryoumaru without killing Kohaku, she took it (and apologized to Kohaku thereafter because she failed). Recently, she simply wanted Koga to give up his shards to her and for him to get away. The more shards she has in her possession, the less Naraku/Mouryoumaru gets on his own. Once again, she apologizes to Kohaku for having the need to use his shard to beat him. To be honest, I don't think she has any intention of just letting Naraku have the Shikon Jewel. But the more he attains on his own, the less control she has over the situation (and the more she will be forced to resort to her more drastic plan). Kohaku and Kikyo are further resigning themselves to that tragic fate because, as far as they're concerned, Koga has just given Mouryoumaru/Naraku his shards that they tried to keep away from him. If Naraku succeeds in getting Koga's shards, Kohaku is next no matter what.

EDIT: On a side note, I'm becoming more and more convinced that Kikyo and Midoriko are not as of "one mind" as much as Kikyo would like to think she is, as I said in an earlier reply. At that time, Kikyo threatened Koga to leave his shards behind and escape with his life. If Midoriko really wanted Kikyo to have the shards, shouldn't Midoriko have stopped Koga right then and there?

Kikyo does not want Naraku to have the shards...at least, as far as it is being implied right now, not under his own conditions anyway. On the other hand, Midoriko freely stops Koga when it seems like Mouryoumaru has a chance at taking them. And it is pretty obvious that this isn't working the way Kikyo wants it to.

The way things seem right now, Kikyo wants the shards under her possession. Midoriko's Will seems to direct the shards toward Naraku/Mouryoumaru.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

You're probably thinking what I'm thinking. Naraku is going to get away again.
Err...actually, I wasn't thinking that. To tell the truth, I won't be surprised if Naraku won't want to escape this time. Once he defeats Mouryoumaru, he'll have what he needs to battle Inuyasha & Co. right then and there--including the convenience of all his enemies gathered in one place.

I hardly think it's a "I am mighty" attitude. Given what Mrs. Takahashi has told us about her thoughts so far, it is more like a "There is no other way", an attitude that pervades in both Kohaku and Kikyo. Koga and Sesshomaru are the ones with the "I am mighty" attitudes. No matter how many times Sesshomaru is humbled, he persists in wanting to defeat Naraku by himself.
I should have been more careful with my wording. I wasn't referring to Kikyou's overall attitude; I was referring to her attitude toward her temporary allies (other anti-Naraku folks). She sort of gives the impression that she thinks she is the only person who can defeat Naraku. Not just that her method is the only method that will work, but that she is the only person who can carry out that method.

You're right, though, that Kikyou doesn't have an "I am mighty" attitude, at least not in the same sense that Kouga and Sesshoumaru have "I am mighty" attitudes.

On a side note, I'm becoming more and more convinced that Kikyo and Midoriko are not as of "one mind" as much as Kikyo would like to think she is, as I said in an earlier reply. At that time, Kikyo threatened Koga to leave his shards behind and escape with his life. If Midoriko really wanted Kikyo to have the shards, shouldn't Midoriko have stopped Koga right then and there?
I noticed that, too. I think Kikyou and Midoriko are on two different pages of the same book. Kikyou wants to collect all the shards to keep them out of Naraku's hands. Midoriko doesn't care who has the jewel; she just wants the shards all in one place.

I think the reason Midoriko appears to want the shards in Mouryoumaru's and/or Naraku's hands is because, right now, they have most of the shards. Also, Mouryoumaru and Naraku are stronger than Kouga, and Midoriko probably wants the shards in the hands of the strongest contender--even if that contender has evil intentions.

[Brill]

Wow, Kagome did something assertive other than side-line cheerleader. Good for her. I think the story is finally progressing. Don't know how Naraku si going to be able to get out of this jam though.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Wow, Kagome did something assertive other than side-line cheerleader. Good for her. I think the story is finally progressing. Don't know how Naraku si going to be able to get out of this jam though.
Don't you mean to ask how the baby is going to get out of this jam? Because right now, the baby is the one wedged between a rock and a very hard place, not Naraku.

Now I'm positive that Naraku planned on being absorbed by Mouryoumaru. In fact, I'm starting to wonder if he was really absorbed, if he just gave off the impression of being absorbed, and he's still very much intact inside that wannabe Praying Mantis. (We already know that he's very much alive.)

[Ketaru]

I wish Mrs. Takahashi would hurry up with why Naraku was so interested in the tree.

[Matt Bauer]

I wonder if they will finally beat mouryoumaru once and for all. I belive his time is here to end soon.

Matt

[Ramen-Boy]

Predictable ending for Mouryoumaru. Sesshomaru will come from nowhere and unleash the power of his reforged Tenseiga. After all, Sesshomaru is the only character who has the power to slice trough Mouryoumaru's armor without any problem.
Right now, the meidou zangetsuha is the strongest technique of the manga.
I seriously doubt that Inuyasha could counter the meidou zangetsuha with his Bakuryuuha or absorb it with the dragon-scaled Tessaiga, even Naraku doesn't have any defense against this powerful technique.

---My theory of the ending. (I'm pretending that the following events will happen during the FINAL chapters of the manga.)

Maybe Naraku will absorb ALL the youkai and Hanyou of Japan. (Using the power of the completed shikon-no-tama. He will transform himself into a huge demonic beast with great destructive powers.) Kikyou and Kagome will combine their powers to protect Kouga,Shippou,Kirara,Jaken,Ah-Un, Myouga, Toutousai (Hey!! I hate the idea of Naraku absorbing Myouga and Toutousai!!)Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. (All the youkai and Hanyou of the anti-Naraku side.) Kanna will survive and betray Naraku!! (Quiet people is always planning something BIG!!) She will absorb Naraku's soul after Inuyasha's army(Yeah!! An army of weird characters!!) weaken the ubber powerful demon. Kanna will transform herself into a powerful maiden of destruction. Her nothingness powers will surpass the dragon-scaled Tessaiga and even the meidou- zangetsuha. The soul of Inuyasha's father will return to this world, after noticing that his sons are in a huge danger. Midoriko (After realizing that her plan was a big mistake...) and Inuyasha's father will combine their souls into Tessaiga's blade, transforming the sword into the ultimate weapon of both humans and Youkai. Inuyasha is a half-demon so he will be able to weild the sword with the soul of an Ubber-Miko and a Dai-Youkai.
Kanna will lost control of her body because Naraku wasn't fully absorbed. (Hey!! He is the MAIN villain!!) Naraku will absorb Kanna's powers and gain the power to destroy the time itself!! (Or a crap like that. Perhaps a new white hair and some creepy aura. You know, he will turn back into a human-looking youkai. I doubt that Naraku is the kind of person who loves an extremely demonic-beast appearance.)

Inuyasha's ultimate dragon-scaled Tessaiga will combine it's powers with Sesshomaru's Tenseiga. The swords will have enough power to fight with the upgraded Naraku (.6 OR .7!!!).
During the battle, Kirara and the other minor youkai characters will sacrifice their lifes. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru will fight one last time with Naraku, they will join the powers of both Tessaiga and Tenseiga to form an ultimate technique. (Perhaps a Meidou-Bakuryuuha, powered by Midoriko and Inu-taisho's soul...) However, the ultimate technique will consume the souls of the brothers, ending with their lifes after completely destroying Naraku (Or completely sending him to the afterworld... )
Kagome's heart will be broken after watching how Inuyasha sacrificed his life to protect Japan from Naraku (What the hell?!! We don't even know if Naraku wanted the jewel to conquer or destroy Japan.) A misteryous portal will open from nowhere and suck Kagome. Her friends will watch in awe as Kagome dissapear from the feudal-Era.

Kagome will appear in front of the shrine of her family. She will run into the small shrine and start to cry after noticing that the well dissapeared. (I'm pretending that it was destroyed during the final battle..)


-The scene will change, one month after the final battle....

Kagome will walk trough a street, memories of her friends will pass trough her mind as she try to act like she normally did with her other friends. (Yumi and the other freaks..)
Sunndely, her eyes will go wide after noticing something. She will run towards an old shop of ancient-stuff. (Forget their names... -_-; )
A weak smile will form on Kagome's face as she stare at an old rusted sword that was placed in a shop window.

-Flash backs of Kagome and her friends of the feudal era. At the end, a really ubberly-cute(Boring..) flash back of Kagome kissing Inuyasha. (If they will ever going to kiss...)

-Return to the present.

Kagome will walk towards her home, holding the old rusted sword. (DUH!! IT'S TESSAIGA.) A tear will run down her cheek as she mutter the name of Inuyasha.

The final page, a beautiful sunset behind Kagome's house, with the firm of Takahashi at the left corner. She will write something like--err---THANK YOU FOR READING THIS MANGA. I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED IT. -_-;

-----------------------

>>LMAO!! I WAS REALLY BORED. By the way, I know that my ending totally sucks. Most people is hoping that Kagome and Inuyasha will end together. However, I just wanted to explain why Youkai and Hanyou dissapeared from the world. (You know, the jewel can grant the power to transform a hanyou into a human. Why not grant the power to absorb all the youkai and Hanyou of Japan?!! :lol: )<<<

Of course, here's a list of obvious things that will happen before my idea of an ending:

1-Mouryoumaru will die!!!
2-Naraku will absorb the completed Shikon-no-tama.
3-Kanna will betray Naraku, she was manipulating her brothers since the begging!! O_o
4-Inuyasha will master the dragon-scaled Tessaiga.
5-Kikyou will realize that obeying Midoriko was a huge mistake.
6-Sesshomaru's feelings will increase the Meidou-zangetsuha, transforming the blade into a full moon.
7-Kohaku will die!!
8-Kouga will increase Goraishi's power after loosing the shikon fragments.
9-Kagome will master her miko-powers.(More than shooting simple arrows..)



Meidou-Bakuryuuha!! Wow, I hope that Takahashi has the same kind of weird ideas. ^_^

[crockeja]

Right now, the meidou zangetsuha is the strongest technique of the manga. I seriously doubt that Inuyasha could counter the meidou zangetsuha with his Bakuryuuha or absorb it with the dragon-scaled Tessaiga, even Naraku doesn't have any defense against this powerful technique.
I've been thinking about that as well. Is it even possible to have a defense against it? It sends things to the after world right? So technically it doesn't even kill anything, it just sends them to the place where killed people go. So even if Naraku got 5 upgrades over 200 chapters, it wouldn't matter because whatever defense he made would just get sent to the after life along with him.... right? Just something I was thinking...

Then again I can't see Sesshoumaru killing Naraku since Inuyasha is the main character and it just wouldn't be anime unless the main character killed the bad guy.

[Ketaru]

Kanna will betray Naraku, she was manipulating her brothers since the begging!!

Something tells me that isn't really going to happen. A while ago, we were under the impression Kanna was going to betray Naraku. It turns out that was all an act. Unlike Kagura, we have never been given any conclusive evidence to believe Kanna even has free will. So unless the manga starts exploring the idea NOW, if it does occur, it will feel very sudden, random, and probably leave a feeling of, "Why do I get the feeling the author just pulled that out of her arse?"

EDIT: Speaking of which, we haven't seen either Kanna or that other detachment, whatever his name was, as of late.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

EDIT: Speaking of which, we haven't seen either Kanna or that other detachment, whatever his name was, as of late.
You mean Byakuya? You're right, we haven't seen either him or Kanna for quite awhile--since just after Kanna had pretended to betray Naraku and side with Mouryoumaru, I think. My guess is that they're staying low in the shadows until Naraku needs them. If they don't show up to help Naraku defeat Mouryoumaru, then they'll be there on Naraku's side in the Final Confrontation©.

I would absolutely shocked if Kanna suddenly gets a mind of her own and decides to seriously betray Naraku. Aside from the fact that none of the other characters would believe her (they'd think she was trying to fool them again), it would be completely out of character for her. As Ketaru said, it would seem more like Takahashi-san ran out of ideas and decided to pull something out of her arse.

Right now, the meidou zangetsuha is the strongest technique of the manga.
If the Meidou Zangetsuha not the most powerful technique in the manga period, then it's at least the most powerful technique on the side of the anti-Naraku factions.

Or, at the very least, it's the most powerful technique until Inuyasha completely masters the Dragon-Scaled Tetsusaiga. For all we know, the Dragon-Scaled Tetsusaiga could be as powerful as the Meidou Zangetsuha, but Inuyasha hasn't mastered it yet. But even then, the Meidou Zangetsuha may still be the more powerful attack.

[Brill]

Don't you mean to ask how the baby is going to get out of this jam? Because right now, the baby is the one wedged between a rock and a very hard place, not Naraku.

Now I'm positive that Naraku planned on being absorbed by Mouryoumaru. In fact, I'm starting to wonder if he was really absorbed, if he just gave off the impression of being absorbed, and he's still very much intact inside that wannabe Praying Mantis. (We already know that he's very much alive.)

Well they are still linked, correct? Baby dies-Naraku dies. Somehow Naraku has to rip the kid out of Moury and flee with the remaining jewel shards. This time with Kouga's-hopefully. If Kouga still holds onto his after this ordeal that will be disappointing.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Well they are still linked, correct? Baby dies-Naraku dies. Somehow Naraku has to rip the kid out of Moury and flee with the remaining jewel shards. This time with Kouga's-hopefully. If Kouga still holds onto his after this ordeal that will be disappointing.
Unless Naraku has found a way to get around losing his life if he loses his heart, then yes, Naraku and the baby are still linked. But if Mouryoumaru dies, then the baby has lost its only shield, putting it at Naraku's mercy. I'm sure Naraku has planned everything out. The baby just saw its plans thrown out the window.

[Brill]

Unless Naraku has found a way to get around losing his life if he loses his heart, then yes, Naraku and the baby are still linked. But if Mouryoumaru dies, then the baby has lost its only shield, putting it at Naraku's mercy. I'm sure Naraku has planned everything out. The baby just saw its plans thrown out the window.

I doubt it, there have been no clue like there were at Mt. Hakurei. For Naraku to discover the secret of shedding the baby by absorbing a tree just doesn't wash.

[Ketaru]

So it seems Naraku has decided to turn Mouryoumaru into his new body

[Ramen-Boy]

Wow, it seems that Naraku's new power is able to dissolve the strongest barriers. However, he instead used the kongousouha's spears to confine Akago into a diamond prison, very close to his chest. Everyone was right with their theories, at some parts...

1-Naraku did had another transformation.
2-He still has a link with the baby.(For some weird reason he didn't tried to take his heart from Akago...)


Maybe Naraku gained something "new" from absorbing Mouryoumaru. Perhaps the power to summon a twister of diamonds, like a bakuryuuha or endless diamond-Tendrils of youmeiju. I doubt that Inuyasha will survive if he decides to fight with the new-Naraku. I think Inuyasha will run away from this upcoming battle, remember that Kagome is with him.

Perhaps he is going to have another annoying but necesary.....SWORD-UPGRADE.-_-;



PS: WHAT THE HELL?!! WAS KIRARA ABSORBED OR JUST HITTED BY THE DIAMOND-TENDRILS?!!! :crybaby:

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Okay, be honest, people. Who here did NOT think Naraku was going to survive the battle with Mouryoumaru? Who thought Mouryoumaru/the baby was going to emerge triumphant? Don't be shy...

It hadn't occured to me that Naraku would decide to make Mouryoumaru his new body, but the fact that he did isn't so surprising, really. Mouryoumaru had collected all these cool sorts of weapons. Why destroy your opponent's arsenal of weaponry when you make it your own? :shifty:

(Does this mean Naraku decided he'd prefer to look like a shelled insect, rather than like a spider-scorpion hybrid? :P)

In any case, things definitely don't look good for Kouga. Now, if Naraku had no interest in absorbing Kouga, then things might turn out okay, but it looks like that's not going to happen. And since Kouga's legs can't move... It looks like our wolf-boy has found himself clinging to the edge of a very deep abyss. I wonder what the chances are that he'll survive...

Inuyasha might run away, since he's with Kagome, but he might also just tell her to run for it, while he stays behind and fights. And he had better not need another sword upgrade! Just because Inuyasha might not be able to defeat Naraku the way he is now does not mean that he needs to spend another 20 chapters powering up Tetsusaiga! He can just--oh, I don't know--work together with other anti-Naraku folks!

(For some weird reason he didn't tried to take his heart from Akago...)
That's because the baby is his heart.

[Ramen-Boy]

And he had better not need another sword upgrade! Just because Inuyasha might not be able to defeat Naraku the way he is now does not mean that he needs to spend another 20 chapters powering up Tetsusaiga! He can just--oh, I don't know--work together with other anti-Naraku folks!



I was talking about the ultimate form of the dragon-scaled Tessaiga.
Of course, I still hope that the new form will involve my favorite technique of the manga/anime. (Bakuryuuha :P )

To be honest, Sesshomaru is enough powerful to take Naraku on his own. I seriously doubt that Naraku(.7?) will have any chances to survive the meidou-zangetsuha. Yeah, it's obvious that Naraku has the fuyoheki(sp?) so Inuyasha wouldn't be able to defeat him with the new youketsu-method.

It's obvious that Inuyasha will run away. Perhaps after rescuing Kouga. (after Naraku take his shards.)
I doubt that Kouga will have enough power to fight with Naraku after being atacked by the diamond spears and the shouki. Without Goraishi the dragon-scaled Tessaiga wouldn't have enough power to pierce trough Naraku's new armored body.

[Ketaru]

To be honest, Sesshomaru is enough powerful to take Naraku on his own. I seriously doubt that Naraku(.7?) will have any chances to survive the meidou-zangetsuha. Yeah, it's obvious that Naraku has the fuyoheki(sp?) so Inuyasha wouldn't be able to defeat him with the new youketsu-method.

If he was powerful enough, he would've done it already. Like I thought in the post where I said Kikyo wasn't in a "high and mighty" mindset, I believe that also applies to Koga and Sesshomaru as well. I get the feeling the chance for letting Naraku vs. XYZ duke it out and finish off the winner is long past.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

If he was powerful enough, he would've done it already. Like I thought in the post where I said Kikyo wasn't in a "high and mighty" mindset, I believe that also applies to Koga and Sesshomaru as well. I get the feeling the chance for letting Naraku vs. XYZ duke it out and finish off the winner is long past.
Wait... :blink: but you said that Sesshoumaru and Kouga do have a "high and mighty" attitude, and that Sesshoumaru's "high and mighty" attitude is part of the reason he refuses to acknowledge that he has been defeated and outskilled by Naraku.

[Ketaru]

Wait... but you said that Sesshoumaru and Kouga do have a "high and mighty" attitude, and that Sesshoumaru's "high and mighty" attitude is part of the reason he refuses to acknowledge that he has been defeated and outskilled by Naraku.

>.> And that is why Naraku is still alive. If Sesshomaru could do it by himself, you bet he would've by now. It was in somebody's earlier reply, but, as we noticed, Sesshomaru is the only player not around. Saving face as usual? Or finally ready to admit he can't beat Naraku as he stands? I suppose, for Koga's case, it looks like he's ready to acknowledge that InuYasha is, indeed, the better warrior (and if he doesn't by the time this episode is all over, it will be a huge disappointment to me)

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I suppose, for Koga's case, it looks like he's ready to acknowledge that InuYasha is, indeed, the better warrior (and if he doesn't by the time this episode is all over, it will be a huge disappointment to me)
If Kouga doesn't acknowledge that Inuyasha is the better warrior by the end of this episode, it will be either because he is that haughty and full of himself...or he is dead.

[Ketaru]

or he is dead.

That is a real possibility. Let's take a vote...Who thinks Koga is going to die?!

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Things don't look so good for our wolf-boy right now, but I'm going to hold back on casting any votes of any sort. Maybe I'll wait one more chapter before making a stand on whether or not Kouga is going to start traveling the Three Paths soon.

[Ramen-Boy]

>.> And that is why Naraku is still alive. If Sesshomaru could do it by himself, you bet he would've by now. It was in somebody's earlier reply, but, as we noticed, Sesshomaru is the only player not around. Saving face as usual? Or finally ready to admit he can't beat Naraku as he stands?

Afraid of Naraku? I don't think so. Sesshomaru is afraid of something else, he is afraid of not completely killing Naraku with his Meidou-zangetsuha. He know that his new technique is the only chance that he has to defeat Naraku but as Toutousai said before, the meidou-zangetsuha will become stronger if Sesshomaru complete some special requiriments. It's something like what happened when Sesshomaru tried to save Kagura's life with his Tenseiga, it was obvious that the fact that Tenseiga was useless hurted Sesshomaru's pride. (I doubt that he loved/liked Kagura. Nonetheless he had some respect for the female youkai who tried to become free at the price of her own life.)

Another fine example was when Mouryoumaru kicked Sesshomaru's ***. He lost his control and forgot about the limitations of his old-sword. (Toujikin)
Sesshomaru already knew about the power of the armored shell and Kongousouha. Yeah, he did shattered the diamond spears with Toujikin's blast of youki. However, the armored shell was a very different story...<_<

After that, Toutousai reforged Tenseiga and he learned about the power of the meidou-zangetsuha. I think that Sesshomaru is testing himself, he wants to see if he is enough powerful to master this new technique. If he doesn't then he will admit that Inuyasha is a better warrior for mastering the full potential of the dragon-scaled Tessaiga. Of course, I seriously doubt that Sesshomaru will not master the full power of the meidou-zangetsuha. ^_^

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Afraid of Naraku? I don't think so. Sesshomaru is afraid of something else, he is afraid of not completely killing Naraku with his Meidou-zangetsuha. He know that his new technique is the only chance that he has to defeat Naraku but as Toutousai said before, the meidou-zangetsuha will become stronger if Sesshomaru complete some special requiriments. It's something like what happened when Sesshomaru tried to save Kagura's life with his Tenseiga, it was obvious that the fact that Tenseiga was useless hurted Sesshomaru's pride. (I doubt that he loved/liked Kagura. Nonetheless he had some respect for the female youkai who tried to become free at the price of her own life.)
I doubt Sesshoumaru is afraid of Naraku; he doesn't strike me as the type to be afraid of someone. He thinks very highly of himself--and rightfully so. I think it's more likely that Sesshoumaru fears having his pride injured again.

It's possible that the fact that he couldn't save Kagura with Tenseiga hurt Sesshoumaru's pride, but I think he also regretted losing a possible chance for a relationship. I don't think Sesshoumaru quite loved Kagura, but he certainly cared deeply for her; his reaction when Mouryoumaru insulted her and the meaning of her death, and the fact that Toutousai deemed him ready to learn the Meidou Zangetsuha, are proof enough of that. And he certainly knew that she loved him. It's possible that, had she lived, he would have fallen in love with her, and I think he's realized that.

[Ketaru]

Something tells me Meidou Kangetsuha cannot defeat Naraku.

There is some speculation as to why Tenseiga couldn't save Kagura.
- Tenseiga can, more or less, only bring back people who have died recently. There has to be a body to save. Kagura was being dissolved by Naraku's poison so, once it's all over with, there is no body to save.

If you believe that is what happened, disregard my post altogether.

- Kagura may not have been saved by Tenseiga because the way she was born was so abnormal from other living things.

Imagine the second had happened. Tenseiga was ineffective in saving Kagura because Kagura was not a being that lives by the same rules of life and death as anybody else. Her birth is really not all that different from Naraku's (basically, being just a large mishmosh of demons configured in an optimal way). If an ability that transcends life and death could not save Kagura, then surely another comparable ability that transcends life and death cannot really "kill" Naraku. (though Naraku may be different since he is the original being. And is obviously nothing like his detachments, and any other demons in the series for that matter. Unlike all the other main antagonists, Naraku seems to be fully incapable of doing anything good)

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. But isn't the place Meidou Kangetsuha sends its target to the place where the bones of InuYasha and Sesshomaru's father lies? As he showed (very grotesquely) with Hakudoushi, as long as one of his detachments still resides in this world, he can escape that world fairly easily.

And, of course, Meidou Kangetsuha, as it is now, can "kill" its target, but only as far as fatally wounding them by banishing body parts. Naraku, on more than one occasion, has shown that he can do with having clumps of himself been destroyed.

And in earlier chapters of the manga, his body has been successfully destroyed before. But it seems, as long as his head is intact, he can continue on living. What is his heart anyway? It isn't an organ in his abdomen.

And this talk about Sesshomaru has got me thinking. Can Kohaku perhaps be saved by Tenseiga?

[crockeja]

Wow, it looks like stuff is actually happening right now. I got a little excited reading this last chapter (446) and that hasn't happened to me with Inuyasha for a while now.

I don't think that Kouga will be absorbed, but even if he does, he'll probably just get spit out later on in the series and be alright when they fight Naraku for the final battle. The only people I think might die in this series are Kikyo and Kohaku, but I doubt anybody else will die. If they do die, they'll come back at the end somehow.

In fact, I do believe that somebody important, most likely Kagome, will "die" later but then will be brought back to life by sacrificing the completed Shikon no tama. That way the story can end without any doubt that another monster like Naraku could abuse the Shikon no tama.

[Ramen-Boy]

I doubt that Kagome will die. It's more possible that Inuyasha will sacrifice his life to stop Naraku from using the full powers of the shikon-no-tama. Perhaps Kikyou will die and Midoriko's soul is going to be absorbed by Tessaiga, dramatically increasing the purifying powers of the dragon-scaled sword.

[Brill]

Well Inuyasha started off with some rather tragic elements that have eroded with extension of the series. Whether anyone on the good-side will die is anyone's guess. I originally thought yes, but the series has gotten very campy at this point so now I AM not expecting Kouga to die when the shards are ripped out. I get the feeling Inuyasha will have an unsatisfying happy ending instead of one that does it justice.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

And, of course, Meidou Kangetsuha, as it is now, can "kill" its target, but only as far as fatally wounding them by banishing body parts. Naraku, on more than one occasion, has shown that he can do with having clumps of himself been destroyed.
Ultimately, once Sesshoumaru completely masters the technique, the Meidou Zangetsuha will be able to banish an entire creature to the otherworld. Here's hoping that Sesshoumaru won't try using the Meidou Zangetsuha on Naraku until after he has mastered it (though I doubt he's that careless).

And this talk about Sesshomaru has got me thinking. Can Kohaku perhaps be saved by Tenseiga?
That's quite possible, and I think a thought that has been entertained by fans more than once.

[Kagura Hakubi]

Most fans think of it every time they appear with less than three chapters seperation...

Actually, for why Sessh hasn't appeared yet... you know what his sense of direction is like! He's probably in Hokkaido or something.

I wonder, though, if maybe the Meidou Zangetsuha could be used to strip away those powers which Naraku gains from Moury by sending those bodyparts to the otherworld... say, using the crescent to send the armoured shell into the underworld.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I wonder, though, if maybe the Meidou Zangetsuha could be used to strip away those powers which Naraku gains from Moury by sending those bodyparts to the otherworld... say, using the crescent to send the armoured shell into the underworld.That's possible. I hadn't thought of that. That would certainly be a way to weaken Naraku. :j He probably wouldn't be able to regain body parts that are sent to the otherworld. And since he'll probably end up relying on Mouryoumaru and his arsenal of weaponry and defense mechanisms as part of his plan to defeat his enemies, sending pieces of Mouryoumaru to the otherworld would certainly mess with his plans.

[Kagura Hakubi]

That's the problem with Naraku's method of gaining power-ups, compared to Tessaiga's. Though, relying on a magic weapon is also a weakness...

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

That's the problem with Naraku's method of gaining power-ups, compared to Tessaiga's. Though, relying on a magic weapon is also a weakness...There's one difference between Inuyasha's relying on Tetsusaiga and Naraku's relying on his hybrid body/ies. Even if Tetsusaiga is removed from Inuyasha's possession, no one else can wield it. If Naraku starts losing body parts, someone else might be able to use them against him. I think.

[Kagura Hakubi]

You'd have to have Naraku's power of merging with stolen bodyparts - though, now I think of it, Sesshoumaru does exactly that on several occasions. Not that he'd ever admit to needing it - especially off of some bastard like Naraku.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Doesn't Sesshoumaru just merge stolen arms with his arm stump? Isn't that the only body part he's even merged with?

[Kagura Hakubi]

Yes - but if he can do that to a healed-over stump, why not to any other part of his flesh?

[Ramen-Boy]

Perhaps Inuyasha could absorb the Youmeiju's powers with the dragon-scaled Tessaiga. Think about it, Inuyasha will have enough power to completely absorb Naraku's youki if he combines the power of the dragon-scales and the spirit tree.

However, don't forget about the shikon-no-tama. What kind of power could gain Naraku from absorbing the completed jewel? He already gained the power of a full-youkai after absorbing a nearly-completed jewel...

[Kagura Hakubi]

He hasn't absorbed it at all - for some reason, Naraku nor the Baby has ever actually considered absorbing the jewel until the most recent chapters... and for some reason, Akago can't absorb the jewel. It's not letting him.

[Ketaru]

In the latest chapter, something tells me Miroku has just made a very bad move.

[Ramen-Boy]

I think that Rumiko is planning to kill off one of her characters.....<_<

[Ketaru]

Well, it was definitely a bad idea. There is something about the way Miroku suddenly comes out of nowhere and attempts to suck Naraku into the hole in his hand that seemed so random and too good to be true, that I can't imagine it doing anything but backfiring.

I don't think whatever it is will kill Miroku though for one simple reason. If she intends to kill him at this point, there would've been a lot more focus on him in the last few chapters. If anybody, Koga would die. But it looks like he won't.

[Brill]

Why should he die when Takahashi is rewriting her own institutions as we speak. God! Now miko power aid demons instead of destroying them and they don't have to come in contact--arrows just have to be in the general vicinity to work. Can it get any worse? :x

Question. when the hell did Kagone tell Kikyo that she'd save Kouga? They haven't spokem to each other in over 70 chapters and that was before the reintroduction fof Kouga since Mt. Hakurei.

[Kuro]

They spoke to each other in the previous chapter.

[Brill]

They spoke to each other in the previous chapter.

Umm....did you forget to put a scan in the last chapter I don't see Kagome and Kikyo talking together in the last chapter. :unsure:

[Ketaru]

It was a few chapters ago, and it wasn't really a "promise" per say. All she really told Kikyo to do was sit tight for a little while and let InuYasha try to defeat Naraku so there would be no need to use Kohaku's shard.

And I have to agree, Mrs. Takahashi making it such that now purifying arrows can give Koga power is warped. Demons are demons, regardless of their intentions and Koga probably should've been blown away along with Naraku's shouki.

[Kuro]

Sorry, chapter 444. The last few chapters mush into one in my mind.

[Brill]

Ah, I see now. That's more palatable then. The arrow thing is still blatantly wrong though.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

While it's nice to see someone besides Inuyasha doing all the fighting, Miroku's sudden dash into the foray was...well...sudden. And unsettling. He just jumped right in, almost as if he didn't put thought into it, and that's not like him. Honestly, does he really think that he can absorb Naraku NOW, given how many times he has failed before?

Why should he die when Takahashi is rewriting her own institutions as we speak. God! Now miko power aid demons instead of destroying them and they don't have to come in contact--arrows just have to be in the general vicinity to work. Can it get any worse? :x
Takahashi is not "rewriting her own institutions." Kagome's arrow did not aid youkai. It aided the spirits of the divine ancestors of the Yourouzoku. That's a little different. (If you want me to go into detail, I can.) Do you remember what Kikyou said? "Kagome's arrow gave power to the spirits of the Yourouzoku."

[Ketaru]

Takahashi is not "rewriting her own institutions." Kagome's arrow did not aid youkai. It aided the spirits of the divine ancestors of the Yourouzoku. That's a little different. (If you want me to go into detail, I can.) Do you remember what Kikyou said? "Kagome's arrow gave power to the spirits of the Yourouzoku."

Still unsure about that one, because it doesn't really change the fact they are still demonic in origin. And Koga himself should've still felt the effects of the arrow.

[Ramen-Boy]

The arrow didn't aid any youkai-based energy. If my memory works, Kagome's arrow are powered by her spiritual power. You know, her spiritual arrows were enough powerful to over-flow Kanna's soul-sucking mirror.

Perhaps Naraku's shouki was so strong that Kagome's arrow just had the power to purify the shouki. However, as Kikyou said, Naraku's shouki was weakening the divine influence of the yourokuzou's spirits. When Kagome puryfied the shouki she also restored the power of the guardian spirits.

Miroku did a semi-smart move. Naraku's shouki was purified by Kagome's arrow so he could absorb him (Perhaps, he only wants to absorb the baby now that he is outside of Naraku's body.)

By the way, I always wondered if Inuyasha could counter the kongousouha with his Bakuryuuha. The kongousouha is a youki-based technique so I bet that Inuyasha could counter it and destroy Naraku's new body with a diamond-tornado. (If Naraku is planning to use the kongousouha's diamond spears..)

[Ketaru]

Miroku did a semi-smart move. Naraku's shouki was purified by Kagome's arrow so he could absorb him (Perhaps, he only wants to absorb the baby now that he is outside of Naraku's body.)

It still seems like a rather sudden and uncalculated move for a character that hasn't gotten any focus for the last who-knows-how-long. So there is no way Mrs. Takahashi would kill Miroku from this. Remember how many chapters Kagura was center stage of before her untimely demise?

But the way it is ending the chapter like that, it is definitely supposed to be important. You know...those diamond shards look like they could make a pretty deep cut...kind of like this one time the mantis claws of a demon sliced Miroku's hand.

Perhaps Miroku-centered, "Widened Kazaana Angst" chapters are on the way?

EDIT: On a side note, I just realized something. Keep in mind the shouki was eating away at Koga. It wasn't actually the shouki that was preventing him from moving. Let's take as a given the spirit's of Koga's clan really are spiritual (not demonic) beings. Then yeah, it is possible to see Kagome's arrow giving strength to them. But there is the matter of the fact they were not fighting Naraku's shouki. They were fighting Midoriko's hold on Koga.

[Brill]

Takahashi is not "rewriting her own institutions." Kagome's arrow did not aid youkai. It aided the spirits of the divine ancestors of the Yourouzoku. That's a little different. (If you want me to go into detail, I can.) Do you remember what Kikyou said? "Kagome's arrow gave power to the spirits of the Yourouzoku."

:lol:

Which part of demonic spirits do you not complehend? They are Kouga's ancestors hence, they too are demons. They get destroyed by miko's powers. Let's also not forget they are inside Kouga's legs which survived this onslaught and reacted with the spirit that are embeded in the shards. So Kagome's arrow hurts Naraku, does not hurt Kouga , and powers up the demonic spirits all at the SAME time. The same arrow doing three different things to three similar objects at the same time. That's crap.

[Ramen-Boy]

This is not the first time that Takahashi contradict one of her theories. Another example is the Bakuryuuha, anyone else noticed that Inuyasha used the bakuryuuha against the Numawatari without countering a youki-based atack? Perhaps Inuyasha only needs an enemy with enough youki for him to transform the kaze-no-kizu into the whirlwinds of Bakuryuuha.

By the way, Kikyou did noticed that Naraku's Jiaky was weakening the power of the guardian spirits.
Perhaps, Kagome's purifying powers reached Kouga's legs. (Remember that he said that the energy was burning him) However, the NEUTRAL nature of the jewel protected Kouga from being killed/purifyed.

Kikyou also said that Kagome's arrow released the power of the spirits but she also mentioned that the spiritual power was dissapearing. Maybe the yourokouzo's spirits are slowly being purified by the arrow, remember that they were the strongest youkai of the wolf-tribe. If my memory works, powerful youkai like Sesshomaru have bigger resistance to the spiritual powers of monks and mikos. Perhaps the divine protection of the Youroukozou will last enough for Kouga to run away from the battle.

[Brill]

This is not the first time that Takahashi contradict one of her theories. Another example is the Bakuryuuha, anyone else noticed that Inuyasha used the bakuryuuha against the Numawatari without countering a youki-based atack? Perhaps Inuyasha only needs an enemy with enough youki for him to transform the kaze-no-kizu into the whirlwinds of Bakuryuuha.

You missed the arguments between me and Bakeneko about Sesshoumaru wielding Tessaiga and how that was a violation of the Inuyasha world. Ahh, those were the days. ^_^

By the way, Kikyou did noticed that Naraku's Jiaky was weakening the power of the guardian spirits.
Perhaps, Kagome's purifying powers reached Kouga's legs. (Remember that he said that the energy was burning him) However, the NEUTRAL nature of the jewel protected Kouga from being killed/purified.
No, there have been other demons with shards who have been purified by either Kagome or Kikyo so I don't think that is the case here.

Oh! One more log to be thrown on the burning fire that was Takahashi's institutions: since when can Kagome break through Naraku's barrier? She hasn't been able to scratch him for over 200 Chapters and now she can shoot threw him as if it was nothing. Once again Takahashi uses Kagome as a wild-card to pull something out of her butt. While it may make good story-telling it trounces all over the precedence she has established earlier in this series.

[Ramen-Boy]

Oh! One more log to be thrown on the burning fire that was Takahashi's institutions: since when can Kagome break through Naraku's barrier? She hasn't been able to scratch him for over 200 Chapters and now she can shoot threw him as if it was nothing. Once again Takahashi uses Kagome as a wild-card to pull something out of her butt. While it may make good story-telling it trounces all over the precedence she has established earlier in this series.

You forgot that Naraku is using Mouryoumaru's body. Perhaps he doesn't have any need to use his cheap-barriers after adquiring a nearly-invensible body. Yeah, the arrow hitted the diamond-claw but didn't hurt Naraku at all.

I have another theory for the weird-wolf mistery. You know, maybe youkai and human souls adquire spiritual-based powers after leaving to the after-world. Kikyou is a fine example of this, she use the souls of the dead people to increase her spiritual powers and life force, even if they were just normal-villagers without any kind of spiritual-training. Japanese folklore is a bit weird, I just remember that deities don't have demonic powers like the other magical creatures. What if the wolf spirits became deities of the Youroukouzo? It sounds stupid but it's a decent point. Remember that they were guarding the graveyard of the Youroukozou, that's sound like the job of protective deities. (Like the wolf spirits from american-folklore...@_@)

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

This is not the first time that Takahashi contradict one of her theories. Another example is the Bakuryuuha, anyone else noticed that Inuyasha used the bakuryuuha against the Numawatari without countering a youki-based atack? Perhaps Inuyasha only needs an enemy with enough youki for him to transform the kaze-no-kizu into the whirlwinds of Bakuryuuha.I am pretty sure there is an explanation for why Inuyasha can use the Bakuryuuha even when not countering a youki-based attack, but at the moment that explanation is escaping. I don't want to say anything that isn't true, so I shall come back to this after a bit of research.
Kikyou also said that Kagome's arrow released the power of the spirits but she also mentioned that the spiritual power was dissapearing. Maybe the yourokouzo's spirits are slowly being purified by the arrow, remember that they were the strongest youkai of the wolf-tribe. If my memory works, powerful youkai like Sesshomaru have bigger resistance to the spiritual powers of monks and mikos. Perhaps the divine protection of the Youroukozou will last enough for Kouga to run away from the battle.
Kikyou didn't say that Kagome's arrow released the power of the spirits. She said Kagome's arrow helped the power of the spirits. I think that Kagome's arrow helped the spirits of the Yourouzoku overcome Naraku's shouki by purifying a bit of his youki. Now, that is just a guess. I could be wrong.

Which part of demonic spirits do you not complehend? They are Kouga's ancestors hence, they too are demons. They get destroyed by miko's powers. I understand that they are youkai spirits. I was thinking of the Shinto belief that ancestors can be deified, or become divine spirits. But I don't know if that also applies to youkai.

So Kagome's arrow hurts Naraku, does not hurt Kouga , and powers up the demonic spirits all at the SAME time. The same arrow doing three different things to three similar objects at the same time. That's crap.Kagome's arrow DID hurt Kouga. He said that his legs were burning. I think I'd call that "pain," don't you? And as I said before, I don't think Kagome's arrow powered up the spirits of the divine ancestors. I think it aided the spirits by weakening or purifying a part of Naraku's youki.

[Kagura Hakubi]

The ancestors protecting Kouga died and became Shiryou. I think that's the word...

They're deified ancestors. Why should they be purified by divine power?

Remember that funerals are a purification ritual in and of themselves. Death washes away all sins - that's in western culture as well. The only time it doesn't is when the person wishes as they die for revenge, or with hatred or some such...

The Youryokuzou Shiryou did no such thing, or they wouldn't be benevolent guardians. They would be evil spirits, like Mayu.

It makes sense that divine power gives strength to divine guardians... doesn't it? You fight fire with fire by burning the fuel the fire wants to use, not by throwing fireballs at an inferno. That just makes the flames burn hotter.

Combined with the purification of the Shouki, which was acting as a weakening agent... *shrugs* You have Kagome feeding power to the spirits and simultaneously weakening their shackles. That the spirit's vessel (Kouga) was slightly injured... doesn't really make much difference.

So, to put it into the same format Brill used;

Kagome's arrow Purifies Shouki, hurts Kouga, and powers up the elevated ancestors all at the SAME time. The same arrow acting as a carrier wave for a blast of holy energy doing similar things (feeding energy) to three objects in close proximity.

As for Naraku's barrier... he doesn't have it up at the moment, so that point is moot.

I think the area effect is actually something that bled back in from the anime, though... Sacred Arrows always had a purifying aura that blasted everything within two feet in the anime.

[Ramen-Boy]

Wait a second, Takahashi created Kouga's ancestors as normal spirits or deities?
I don't remember if Kouga mentioned that the guardians were deities or just the spirits of the ancient leaders, I just tought that it was the most coherent explanation... <_<


OT: I'm still waiting for Naraku to absorb the jewel and gain enough power to absorb all the youkai and Hanyou of Japan. You know, I always wondered why Sesshomaru(Or any other Youkai...) doesn't live on the modern times. I hope that Takahashi will explain this, perhaps the youkai and Hanyou learned to hid their youki. (Maybe they created more Fuyouheki or a similar artifact to hide their presence from humans with spiritual powers.)

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Wait a second, Takahashi created Kouga's ancestors as normal spirits or deities?
I don't remember if Kouga mentioned that the guardians were deities or just the spirits of the ancient leaders, I just tought that it was the most coherent explanation... <_<
The spirits of the Yourouzoku are deified ancestors. As Kagura-san said, funerals are rituals in and of themselves. After death, ancestors become deities who look after, protect, and are worshipped by their descendants. So, in a way, they are guardians. The spirits of the Yourouzoku who protected Kouga were deified ancestors.

In other words, yes, they are deities, but not on the same level of the pantheon as, say, the chief deities of the Shinto faith, such as Amaterasu, Okuninushi, or Inari.

(If you want to be technical, Takahashi didn't create anything, because everything she used regarding the ancestors of the Yourouzoku came from Shinto beliefs. [Shinto is one of the main religions in Japan. Buddhism is the other.])

[Ramen-Boy]

In other words, yes, they are deities, but not on the same level of the pantheon as, say, the chief deities of the Shinto faith, such as Amaterasu, Okuninushi, or Inari.

(If you want to be technical, Takahashi didn't create anything, because everything she used regarding the ancestors of the Yourouzoku came from Shinto beliefs. [Shinto is one of the main religions in Japan. Buddhism is the other.])[/color]

I've heard of shinto and some of their deities. I think that I searched for some minor-spirits when I was watching Gakkou no kaidan. Japanese folklore is so interesting, no wonder why japanese autors are able to create such amazing manga and Anime. Yeah, It was fun when I found out that Inuyasha was based on the legend of the Sishi, some magical dog-lions that protect temples and hold a sacred jewel.(Tama.) That explained a lot of things, like the misteryous fluffly-thing on Sesshomaru's shoulder.

Okay...So we already settled that the deities are not affected by spiritual arrows and Naraku doesn't need anymore his barriers. I think that we can only wait for the next chapter...>_<

I'm still waiting for Inuyasha to perform the Bakuryuuha!!!! I bet that Inuyasha will kill Naraku with that technique, perhaps using the ultimate-form of the DS Tessaiga.

[Brill]

I am pretty sure there is an explanation for why Inuyasha can use the Bakuryuuha even when not countering a youki-based attack, but at the moment that explanation is escaping. I don't want to say anything that isn't true, so I shall come back to this after a bit of research.

Yes, it's called Takahashi forgot again. When she explicitly states that the Bakuryuuha is a reflection attack, if there is no initial attack there shuoldn't be a Bakuryuuha. Face it, she screwed up, again.

Kagome's arrow DID hurt Kouga. He said that his legs were burning. I think I'd call that "pain," don't you? And as I said before, I don't think Kagome's arrow powered up the spirits of the divine ancestors. I think it aided the spirits by weakening or purifying a part of Naraku's youki.

Ok, let's try this approach. Kouga is a measly yokai. If he was a daiyokai like Sesshoumaru, that result might be plausible and even that would be iffy, but he isn't. Kikyo's and Kagome's arrows barely scratch's Moury's barrier and they can't even touch Naraku's barrier. So alot of energy is needed to break and penetrate that barrier, so much that is should have done more that just a mere "burning". If Kouga legs had exploded and there was nothing left of them, THAT would have been a plausible outcome, but no it didn't happen. Once again the cart of reality is getting away from Takahashi.

[Brill]

The ancestors protecting Kouga died and became Shiryou. I think that's the word...

They're deified ancestors. Why should they be purified by divine power?

Cause they're youkai, even if divine. Whether corporeal or spiritual they get purified by miko's powers.

The Youryokuzou Shiryou did no such thing, or they wouldn't be benevolent guardians. They would be evil spirits, like Mayu.

Who says they're benevolent? Is this the city of good demons we've been waiting to see, but never have? Japanese culture lacks the concept of good spiritual creatures, that's why they are so fascinated with the concept of Christian angels. They have oni and yokai but not their good counterparts.

It makes sense that divine power gives strength to divine guardians... doesn't it? You fight fire with fire by burning the fuel the fire wants to use, not by throwing fireballs at an inferno. That just makes the flames burn hotter.

Then you're saying that Kagome could ressurrect Inutaisho then with this logic. I don't think so.

Combined with the purification of the Shouki, which was acting as a weakening agent... *shrugs* You have Kagome feeding power to the spirits and simultaneously weakening their shackles. That the spirit's vessel (Kouga) was slightly injured... doesn't really make much difference.

Yes it does, Immense power has to penetrate that Barrier, Kouga should have been purified in the process but wasn't.

So, to put it into the same format Brill used;

Kagome's arrow Purifies Shouki, hurts Kouga, and powers up the elevated ancestors all at the SAME time. The same arrow acting as a carrier wave for a blast of holy energy doing similar things (feeding energy) to three objects in close proximity.

That's fine, but it should have obliterated Kouga's legs in the process or more realistically, all of Kouga. That amount of energy Kouga should not be able to resist being purified. The fact that he only gets a got flash of pain and can move his legs normally is pathethic. And if that was true, when Kagome shot the other time earlier and scracthed Mouryku ( the fusion of the two) when Kouga was still on the outside, he should have been purified at THAT instance in the previous chapter, but wasn't. WTF? So why when he's on the outside and the shot comes near him as he's tied up nothing happens to him, but when he's on the inside something does. That's crap.

As for Naraku's barrier... he doesn't have it up at the moment, so that point is moot.

It's not up because Takahashi forgot that Naraku has one. otherwise things couldn't proceed the way they did. Naraku the guy who walks around with he barrier on 24 hours a day just forgot to turn it on with his enemies present. I don't think so.

I think the area effect is actually something that bled back in from the anime, though... Sacred Arrows always had a purifying aura that blasted everything within two feet in the anime.[/color]

So then why didn't Kagome's arrows when shot at Hakudoushi, Mouryoumaru, and Naraku before purify them since they were in close proxmity before this moment? They didn't before, but now it does. That's poor prose.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Occhan, how much do you know about Shinto, Shinto beliefs, the Shinto pantheon, and Japanese Buddhism? (And don't scoff at that question. It's legitimate.)

Cause they're youkai, even if divine. Whether corporeal or spiritual they get purified by miko's powers.
It doesn't matter that the ancestors of the Yourouzoku were youkai when they were alive. "In Shinto, a person's soul is believed to become a kami after the death of its mortal 'host'." (That's why ancestors are worshipped by their descendants.) The ancestors of the Yourouzoku are now kami, divine beings. As kami, they cannot be purified by a miko's powers, because they are pure to begin with.

Japanese culture lacks the concept of good spiritual creatures, that's why they are so fascinated with the concept of Christian angels. They have oni and yokai but not their good counterparts.
Wrong. What do you mean, there aren't any good spiritual creatures in Japanese mythology? What do you think kami are? Are the words "divine entity" not synomynous with "good spiritual creature" in your mind? :huh:

Youkai are not, by definition, evil spiritual creatures. (I'm sure you've heard before that "demon" is not an accurate translation of the word youkai.) "The Shinto tradition does not believe that there is an absolute dichotomy of good and evil. Rather, all phenomena are thought to possess both negative and positive characteristics." In other words, youkai, like all other creatures, can be both good and evil. True, a lot of youkai tend to be malevolent more than benevolent, but there are benevolent youkai. Case in point: the rice god, Inari, whom farmers worship, is a kitsune.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Yes, it's called Takahashi forgot again. When she explicitly states that the Bakuryuuha is a reflection attack, if there is no initial attack there shuoldn't be a Bakuryuuha. Face it, she screwed up, again.
Fine, think that if you wish. I am not going to argue with you on this matter. :rolleyes:

Ok, let's try this approach. Kouga is a measly yokai. If he was a daiyokai like Sesshoumaru, that result might be plausible and even that would be iffy, but he isn't.
Technically, Kouga is not a "measly youkai." In the hierarchy of youkai, he is on the ladder rung directly beneath Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha.

Kikyo's and Kagome's arrows barely scratch's Moury's barrier and they can't even touch Naraku's barrier. So alot of energy is needed to break and penetrate that barrier, so much that is should have done more that just a mere "burning". If Kouga legs had exploded and there was nothing left of them, THAT would have been a plausible outcome, but no it didn't happen. Once again the cart of reality is getting away from Takahashi.
Well, for starters, Naraku apparently didn't have a barrier up. Why didn't he have a barrier up, when he always has before? Well, maybe the fact that he just switched bodies has something to do with it. Ever suppose that he needs time to set up a barrier, and that his barriers don't transfer from one body to the next?

So, if there isn't a barrier to begin with, then the energy required to break that barrier isn't needed, is it? So, it makes sense that Kouga's legs just burned, rather than exploded. Also, there are various degrees of "burning." For all we know, Kouga could have felt like his legs were on fire and melting.

[Brill]

Fine, think that if you wish. I am not going to argue with you on this matter. :rolleyes:

Pardon me for quoting canon. Isn't that what were supposed to be doing here?

Technically, Kouga is not a "measly youkai." In the hierarchy of youkai, he is on the ladder rung directly beneath Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha.

So you're saying he's lower than a hanyou. How does that make him great? He's not a daiyokai or are you saying he is? But still Kagome's shots and Kikyo's can purify creatures of his calliber. So why didn't it. Not to mention the shot clearly missed the target.


Well, for starters, Naraku apparently didn't have a barrier up. Why didn't he have a barrier up, when he always has before? Well, maybe the fact that he just switched bodies has something to do with it. Ever suppose that he needs time to set up a barrier, and that his barriers don't transfer from one body to the next?

So, if there isn't a barrier to begin with, then the energy required to break that barrier isn't needed, is it? So, it makes sense that Kouga's legs just burned, rather than exploded. Also, there are various degrees of "burning." For all we know, Kouga could have felt like his legs were on fire and melting.

Well yeah it does. Because Kagome shot at Koga 2 times before this and it did nothing except purify some shouki. So why didn't the wolves erupt after the first shot when Kouga was on the outside of Morryoumaru? Even if Naraku's barrier wasn't up, Moryoumaru's was and their shots did little to affect those as well. It just doesn't add up no matter how you spin it.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Pardon me for quoting canon. Isn't that what were supposed to be doing here?
That's not what I meant. For some reason, I'm inclined to think that something happened so that Inuyasha no longer has to be countering a youki attack in order to use Bakuryuuha. I feel like it has been addressed before, but I would have to do some research. Until then, I am not going to bother arguing with you on the matter.

So you're saying he's lower than a hanyou. How does that make him great? He's not a daiyokai or are you saying he is? But still Kagome's shots and Kikyo's can purify creatures of his calliber. So why didn't it. Not to mention the shot clearly missed the target.
The youkai blood in Inuyasha is that of a daiyoukai. So, if one were to place Inuyasha on the youkai hierarchy based on his blood, he would be categorized with the daiyoukai. In terms of actual strength, Inuyasha and Kouga are about equal.

Kouga is not a daiyoukai. He is a chuuyoukai, the rung of the ladder just beneath daiyoukai.

Well yeah it does. Because Kagome shot at Koga 2 times before this and it did nothing except purify some shouki. So why didn't the wolves erupt after the first shot when Kouga was on the outside of Morryoumaru? Even if Naraku's barrier wasn't up, Moryoumaru's was and their shots did little to affect those as well. It just doesn't add up no matter how you spin it.
Kagome's arrow did not cause the spirits of the divine Yourouzoku ancestors to spring into action. The spirits of the divine ancestors said they would only be able to protect Kouga once. They saved their help until he was absolutely unable to escape without otherworldly aide. Kagome's arrow merely aided the divine ancestors in their quest.

Again, I ask how much you know about Shinto beliefs.

[Ramen-Boy]

No offence but TESSAIGA is the one that is categorized as a dai-youkai sword. Face it, Inuyasha is at the same level of Kouga, their atacks aren't enough powerful to defeat the higher youkai. They even had problems to face Kagura, Inuyasha had to increase Tessaiga powers and Kouga was never able to defeat the wind-witch.

.........WAIT A SECOND!! WHY INUYASHA NEVER GAINED THE DRAGON-SCALES AFTER DEFEATING RYUUKOSSEI?!!! I tought that Ryuukosei's body had enough power to resist powerful-youki techniques, at some point it seemed that Ryuukossei just absorbed the blast of the Kaze-no-kizu with his body that was hard as steel. It doesn't make any sense, Takahashi just stated that dragon-scales had the power to absorb youki in the later chapters.
I know, Ryuujin was a very powerful youkai but I doubt that he could be able to defeat the Inutaisho like Ryuukossei did. Dragons are very rare to find on Inuyasha's universe, I doubt that lower-dragon had that kind of abilities. (Ah-Un is a fine example....)

It's obvious that giving Inuyasha that kind of power at the begging would've been extremely stupid. However, it doesn't make sense that Inuyasha gained that kind of power if he already defeated a dai-youkai Dragon. By the way, Takahashi never explained why Ryuujin's scales were different from the other dragons. (Correct me if I am wrong..) @_@

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

No offence but TESSAIGA is the one that is categorized as a dai-youkai sword. Face it, Inuyasha is at the same level of Kouga, their atacks aren't enough powerful to defeat the higher youkai. They even had problems to face Kagura, Inuyasha had to increase Tessaiga powers and Kouga was never able to defeat the wind-witch.
You're missing my point. Inuyasha is at the same level as Kouga, yes, but only because he is half-human. His youkai blood is the blood of a daiyoukai. If he were a full-fledged youkai, he would be equal to Sesshoumaru. The Yourouzoku are, and will always be, chuuyoukai.

.........WAIT A SECOND!! WHY INUYASHA NEVER GAINED THE DRAGON-SCALES AFTER DEFEATING RYUUKOSSEI?!!! I tought that Ryuukosei's body had enough power to resist powerful-youki techniques, at some point it seemed that Ryuukossei just absorbed the blast of the Kaze-no-kizu with his body that was hard as steel. It doesn't make any sense, Takahashi just stated that dragon-scales had the power to absorb youki in the later chapters.
Tetsusaiga gained the Dragon-Scaled technique after defeating a dragon-scaled sword. The Ryuukossei has nothing to do with it. The Dragon Scales have the power to absorb youki, but Tetsusaiga didn't have the Dragon Scales back when Inuyasha faced Ryuukossei. What point are you trying to make? I don't understand what you're trying to get at here.

[Ramen-Boy]

I'm still a bit confused, has every dai-youkai dragon the power to absorb youki with their scales or is something that only the Ryuujin could do? O_O

Perhaps Inuyasha never gained such abilities from Ryuukossei because he destroyed his body with the Bakuryuuha, in the other hand, he cutted trough datsuki's blade before transforming Tessaiga into a dragon-scaled sword. It makes sense, remember that Inuyasha always gain a new ability from a dai-youkai after slicing their bodies/weapons with Tessaiga. So, we can say that Ryuukossei had that kind of ability? Maybe that's the reason why Inutaisho's atacks were useless. Perhaps Ryuukossei's scales were weaker than Ryuujin's, that's why he didn't had enough power to absorb the Bakuryuuha when Inuyasha countered his blast of youki.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I'm still a bit confused, has every dai-youkai dragon the power to absorb youki with their scales or is something that only the Ryuujin could do? O_O
First off, whether or not a dragon youkai would have such an ability wouldn't necessarily have anything to do with its position in the youkai hierarchy. Secondly, no, not every dragon youkai has the ability to absorb youki with their scales. That was a technique unique to the Ryuujin.

So, we can say that Ryuukossei had that kind of ability? Maybe that's the reason why Inutaisho's atacks were useless. Perhaps Ryuukossei's scales were weaker than Ryuujin's, that's why he didn't had enough power to absorb the Bakuryuuha when Inuyasha countered his blast of youki.
As I said before, the ability to absorb youki with its scales was a technique unique to the Ryuujin, and is not something all dragon youkai can do. Therefore, the reason Tetsusaiga didn't acquire the Dragon Scales after Inuyasha defeated the Ryuukossei was because the Ryuukossei didn't have that technique to the begin with.

The inutaishou's attacks didn't defeat the Ryuukossei because the Ryuukossei's scales resisted the blow from a sword blade, even a blade forged from an inuyoukai's fang. (In other words, steel alone couldn't damage the Ryuukossei's scales.)

[Brill]

That's not what I meant. For some reason, I'm inclined to think that something happened so that Inuyasha no longer has to be countering a youki attack in order to use Bakuryuuha. I feel like it has been addressed before, but I would have to do some research. Until then, I am not going to bother arguing with you on the matter.

If it had been stated, I wouldn't have brought it up. The fact is simply that it hasn't. There is nothing. You can look all you want and you won't anything, cause there isn't. Your real defense is that Takahashi can't screw up when there are plenty of examples that she has.


The youkai blood in Inuyasha is that of a daiyoukai. So, if one were to place Inuyasha on the youkai hierarchy based on his blood, he would be categorized with the daiyoukai. In terms of actual strength, Inuyasha and Kouga are about equal.

Kouga is not a daiyoukai. He is a chuuyoukai, the rung of the ladder just beneath daiyoukai.

And where was this laid out in the text of the manga may I ask. Is this in that appendix you keep referrinhg to? That's beside the point, Kouga is still weak enough that is should have purified him but didn't. That's crap.


Kagome's arrow did not cause the spirits of the divine Yourouzoku ancestors to spring into action. The spirits of the divine ancestors said they would only be able to protect Kouga once. They saved their help until he was absolutely unable to escape without otherworldly aide. Kagome's arrow merely aided the divine ancestors in their quest.

Again, I ask how much you know about Shinto beliefs.

Virtually nothing, but then again none of your statements are laid out in the texts either. You're guessing that these demonic spirits are benevolent because... they're guardians?

Again, I ask you why didn't the arrows help him earlier when he was in just as much trouble as before. It should have worked the two times earlier, the conditions were the same--yet they didn't. The only difference is that the last one is more dramatic than the earlier two times. That's called inconsistancy and it's poor prose. And you never did address that the power required to penetrate Moury's barrier and Naraku's barrier would have incinerated Kouga with a near miss yet he magically gets pulled out of the fire just like Hakurei. This is am emerging pattern of hers when she gets in a jam. Just kill off Kouga already. I mean he's going to lose the shards, let it be now.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Your real defense is that Takahashi can't screw up when there are plenty of examples that she has.
I said I had an inkling. I never said that inkling was right. (And out of curiosity, what are you going to do if I prove you wrong?)

And where was this laid out in the text of the manga may I ask. Is this in that appendix you keep referrinhg to? That's beside the point, Kouga is still weak enough that is should have purified him but didn't. That's crap.
You mean the book of InuYasha information that Takahashi herself wrote? Do you not consider that a good reference? After all, the creator herself wrote it.

I have a question for you. Why do you say Kouga is so weak? Why do you seem to think that he is so much weaker than the other youkai characters? You seem to think that he's not worthy of the level of chuuyoukai. Why?

Virtually nothing, but then again none of your statements are laid out in the texts either. You're guessing that these demonic spirits are benevolent because... they're guardians?
Actually, I'm not guessing anything. All of that information about Shinto I got out of books about the Shinto religion and Shinto mythology. In fact, I even quoted directly from one of them. Did you not notice my quotation marks? Do I need to re-post them? Do you need me to quote more?

InuYasha really dives deeply into the world of Japanese folklore--so much, that one could argue that one needs an understanding, or at least some knowledge, of Shinto beliefs and mythology, in order to completely comprehend the mythological elements of the series. You said you know virtually nothing about Shinto. Until you learn a bit about Shinto and can contradict me with evidence from your research, don't be so quick to call wrong someone who has done research.

[Ramen-Boy]

No offence but Kouga is not strong. He is just using the power of the shikon shards. Face it, He even needed the shards to defeat these stupid paradise-birds. (The weaker-ones, not the leader with the shikon shards.) Actually, we can't tell Kouga's true power because he always had the shards since his first appearance in the manga.
Perhaps Kouga's lack of magical or powerful techniques are one of the main reasons why people believe that he is a lower-youkai.(Not as low as the brainless ones..)
I would rather think that Kouga's inner-power is at the same level of----Jinenji. Why? Because Jinenji was also the son of a higher-youkai (Maybe a chuuyoukai..), we must admit that he is stronger than the lower-youkai but not as strong as Inuyasha.


Without the shards, Kouga is not at the same level of Inuyasha. Yeah, Inuyasha has Tessaiga but he also has very powerful inner-techniques. I seriously doubt that Kouga is match for the sankotessou or the blood-blades. However, we must admit that Inuyasha's half-dai-youkai blood has something to do with his strenght.

I tought that chuuyoukai were like the ones of the thunder-brothers, while the stronger enemies like Ryuukossei and Abi's mother were classified as Dai-youkai.
Now, can someone please post the whole classes of Youkai? I don't remember the names of the lower-classes. >_<

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Actually, we can't tell Kouga's true power because he always had the shards since his first appearance in the manga.
Perhaps Kouga's lack of magical or powerful techniques are one of the main reasons why people believe that he is a lower-youkai.(Not as low as the brainless ones..)
Even if Kouga does lack magical techniques, that does not mean that he is not a strong character, or, to be more specific, a strong youkai. I'm not saying that Kouga is incredibly strong or anything. I'm just trying to point out that he may not be quite as weak as a lot of people think he is. I think the strength of a youkai is determined by the strength of his or her youryoku. It's true, however, that Kouga's true strength is hard to determine because of the shikon shards he possesses.

I would rather think that Kouga's inner-power is at the same level of----Jinenji. Why? Because Jinenji was also the son of a higher-youkai (Maybe a chuuyoukai..), we must admit that he is stronger than the lower-youkai but not as strong as Inuyasha.
The only youkai that are definitely and without a doubt stronger than Inuyasha are full-fledged daiyoukai, maybe really high up chuuyoukai. I think Kouga is rightfully placed as a chuuyoukai.

Maybe if he stopped relying on the shards so much and started using his own strength, fans would actually be able to figure out how strong he is. :lol:

I tought that chuuyoukai were like the ones of the thunder-brothers, while the stronger enemies like Ryuukossei and Abi's mother were classified as Dai-youkai.
The Thunder Brothers, chuuyoukai? I don't know if that were that strong--shardless, that is. But I could be wrong.

Now, can someone please post the whole classes of Youkai? I don't remember the names of the lower-classes. >_<
I hope Kagura-san doesn't mind me posting this in her place. (She's the one who put together the original list.)

Zakoyoukai (weakest youkai, have little youryoku)
Shouyoukai (such as Shippou or Jaken)
Chuuyoukai (middle youkai, like Kouga)
Taiyoukai (need I say more?)

[Brill]

I said I had an inkling. I never said that inkling was right. (And out of curiosity, what are you going to do if I prove you wrong?)

Then I say I'm wrong and we move on. But this forum is pretty good at picking out significant changes, and the Tessaiga changing a major attack ability wouldn't go unnoticed. I'm not worried about my position ^_^ I didn't like the fact that the Tessaiga has now been diminished to a mere youki-sucking sword instead of a symbol of Inuyasha's developing strength, but that is where Takahashi took it, so I accept it. However, if she changes one of the fundamentals in her universe without properly supporting it I'm gonna call her on it.

I have a question for you. Why do you say Kouga is so weak? Why do you seem to think that he is so much weaker than the other youkai characters? You seem to think that he's not worthy of the level of chuuyoukai. Why?

Because Kouga is nothing without the shards to support him. Kagura used him as a doormat after the shards were removed from his body. He's just a little stronger than his two lackeys, twiddle-dee and dum and that's it. Are you saying they can't be purified by one of Kagome's arrows? Sure they can. If you take away Inuyasha's Tessaiga, Sesshoumaru's Tensaiga, Naraku's shards, Miroku's kazanna, they are still something to be reckoned wtih. Kouga is nothing.


Actually, I'm not guessing anything. All of that information about Shinto I got out of books about the Shinto religion and Shinto mythology. In fact, I even quoted directly from one of them. Did you not notice my quotation marks? Do I need to re-post them? Do you need me to quote more?

And where was this placed in the story? Even if you have fundamentals, Takahashi explicitly states things with her institutions. I haven't read anything in the manga about the valley og good demons yet. But you still don't seen to acknowledge the fact that they are Kouga's ancestors, making them demons. Or Kouga isn't a demon. Which is it Mika.

InuYasha really dives deeply into the world of Japanese folklore--so much, that one could argue that one needs an understanding, or at least some knowledge, of Shinto beliefs and mythology, in order to completely comprehend the mythological elements of the series. You said you know virtually nothing about Shinto. Until you learn a bit about Shinto and can contradict me with evidence from your research, don't be so quick to call wrong someone who has done research.

Where is this written in the manga Mika? Show me the Chapter and page. This series is a Buddist/Shinto mix and it's part fantasy. What makes your points any more valid than mine? The only truth is in the text itself and there is nothing in it to corroborate this.

Once again, I ask you why didn't the arrows help him earlier when he was in just as much trouble as before. It should have worked the two times earlier, the conditions were the same--yet they didn't. The only difference is that the last one is more dramatic than the earlier two times.

[Ramen-Boy]

Speaking of japanese folklore, Wolves are at the same level of foxes. Yeah, they are like...uhmm....BUTTERFREE AND BEEDRILL!! XD

Foxes are strong in the magical department while wolves have more resistent bodies and strenght. Don't understimate foxes, they are one of the more powerful creatures of japan, sometimes at the same level of dragons. I think that Takahashi wanted a dog-demon because of the Tama-shishi legend. <_<

PS: Actually, there's a good reason why wolf-demons travell in packs. They are not so powerful...

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

Because Kouga is nothing without the shards to support him. Kagura used him as a doormat after the shards were removed from his body. He's just a little stronger than his two lackeys, twiddle-dee and dum and that's it. Are you saying they can't be purified by one of Kagome's arrows? Sure they can.
I'm not saying any of the Yourouzoku can't be purified by one of Kagome's arrows. Of course they can. But I don't think Takahashi-san decided not to have Kouga purified just for the sake of not having him purified. If she were that kind of writer, she wouldn't be as popular as she is.

Something just occured to me... Isn't it possible that the spirits of the divine ancestors of the Yourouzoku not only saved Kouga from being absorbed by Naraku, but also protected him from the reiryoku of Kagome's arrow?

And where was this placed in the story? Even if you have fundamentals, Takahashi explicitly states things with her institutions. I haven't read anything in the manga about the valley og good demons yet. But you still don't seen to acknowledge the fact that they are Kouga's ancestors, making them demons. Or Kouga isn't a demon. Which is it Mika.
Takahashi doesn't explain the Shinto beliefs that all things possess both good and evil, and that people are deified after death, because she doesn't have to. You're forgetting one very important thing, occhan: InuYasha wasn't created with an international audience in mind. It was created with a Japanese audience in mind. Given that almost the entire Japanese population practices Shinto, she doesn't need to elaborate on the basic Shinto beliefs for her Japanese audience.

And for those of us non-Japanese fans who are curious to know more... Well, we're perfectly capable of doing the research ourselves, aren't we?

Where is this written in the manga Mika? Show me the Chapter and page. This series is a Buddist/Shinto mix and it's part fantasy. What makes your points any more valid than mine? The only truth is in the text itself and there is nothing in it to corroborate this.
Pardon me, but I think it's pretty frickin' obvious that InuYasha deals with Japanese folklore and myth. You don't need Takahashi, or anyone else for that matter, to tell you that. And by the way, the fantasy element of InuYasha is the fantasy of Shinto folklore. That much is pretty obvious, too.

Once again, I ask you why didn't the arrows help him earlier when he was in just as much trouble as before. It should have worked the two times earlier, the conditions were the same--yet they didn't. The only difference is that the last one is more dramatic than the earlier two times.
And were there any divine ancestors involved those previous times?

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I think that Takahashi wanted a dog-demon because of the Tama-shishi legend. <_<
You mean the legend of Tamatemo and his dog who saved him from a deadly snake?

[Ketaru]

Something just occured to me... Isn't it possible that the spirits of the divine ancestors of the Yourouzoku not only saved Kouga from being absorbed by Naraku, but also protected him from the reiryoku of Kagome's arrow

That was only supposed to happen once, which just happened. A few chapters ago, Koga was caught in the radius of Kagome's arrow when she used it to purify the shouki drowning him. Still, he seems to be alive and well.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

That was only supposed to happen once, which just happened. A few chapters ago, Koga was caught in the radius of Kagome's arrow when she used it to purify the shouki drowning him. Still, he seems to be alive and well.
Inuyasha was caught in the radius, too, and he wasn't harmed one bit. Kagome's arrow purified the shouki, but neither youkai. Huh... Is it possible that a reiryoku can be contained in an arrow until the arrow hits another spiritual power or the source of another spiritual power? Or that her reiryoku purified the shouki covering Kouga but did not manage to purify Kouga himself?