That's okay. I'm still impressed!

Dang, Patches, you rock. *bows down at the greatness that is Patches*

This has to be one of my favorite chapters. And now with evil baby entering the picture -- I can only imagine what that lil' devil's spawn is going to do.

I like devil's spawn. Heck I like Spawn! Hellspawn, Abyssalspawn. Gehennanspawn. All kind of evil spawn rock!

Okay WAY off topic. But in any case folks THANKS for the scans AND the translations.

Is anyone else really afraid for Kohaku now? I always suspected that Naraku might already know that Kohaku has regained his memory. He might already know that Kohaku is planning to try and betray him.

And then...

NARAKU: What are you staring at, Kohaku? Take her neck.
KOHAKU: This person is... who Naraku feared the most. What do I do!?
NARAKU: Is there a reason you're hesitating, Kohaku...?

Although I was fully thinking that Kagura and Kohaku would eventually try and team up, since they both wanted the same thing. And now they're both kinda... well, Naraku doesn't trust either one. If he did trust Kohaku before, that was certainly a test of sorts. Where he had control of the boy before, now he sees that Kohaku is clearly hesitant to obey his orders.

One last test, perhaps? Make him try to kill Sango.

... Kohaku will never do it. He'll certainly fight to break free of Naraku.

(end speculation)

Anyway... gah, that was a good chapter. Mind still reeling.

AND THE COLORS!

I am afraid for Kohaku. It would be just like Naraku to let him go on thinking he still has a chance when, really, he's about to be squished like a bug and handed to Sango.

Blah, what a lovely mental image THAT was... :ph34r:

What I'm really afraid of though is of Kikyou deciding to join the group. How awkward would that be..? I know it seems unlikely, but they have pretty much the only way of finding Naraku now (or, rather, the baby). What good would it do her to go it alone at this point?

Then again, I suppose she's more likely to pull something Naraku-like and disappear into the shadows, letting them find Naraku for her before she shows herself again.

There's that Honeybe...

Or maybe she'll be nice and play bait for Naraku. But end up dead again.

In any case I do think Naraku suspects he has more than one traitor in his midst. He's far from stupid.

Well, I've done my daily blog-runs, and have once again gotten little snippits of information about this week's manga chapter, entitled "Haku". "Haku" has nothing to do with "Kohaku", but is actually the name of a youkai, I think.

But, I did discover one very important aspect of this chapter:

KOUGA!!!!!!

Bout time!!

(spoiler space)








Ahhhhh!!!

Kouga-kun at last! I don't know if I should be happy or terrified. Kouga has the last two shards. Now that he's back... is it possible Takahashi is finally getting ready to end the story? Oh, lord, I hope not... but the pieces seem to fit. Naraku finally knows about Kohaku's memory returning, so one way or another, that plotline will probably be ended soon. Kohaku and Kagura both have a good idea of where the baby is, and a good shot at getting him (though that's probably changed with this latest chapter, and I just don't know it yet). Inuyasha, Kagome, and Kikyou seem reasonably close to finally sorting everything out--to the point where they'll probably be able to after everything with Naraku is finally over. And now, Kouga's back.

...Damn that wolf! ::glomps Kouga:: Well, I hope they at least gave him a good excuse for having been gone so long.








(end spoiler space)

Apparently Haku is a youkai that feeds off of human souls. Triple "haku"-age going on here... (HAKUdoushi, KoHAKU, and HAKU the youkai)! Kohaku thinks back to where he and Kagura had been talking before. In the flashback, they've found youki crystals (much like from Gakusanjin), and she mentions fuyouheki again. The crystals will help them find the baby.

Hakudoushi and Kohaku are travelling together, and they see also see human souls. Hakudoushi says that they've been eaten by the youkai Haku, and he's hunting. So... Hakudoushi kills it. o_O! He tells Kohaku to split its stomach open and look inside.

SASHIMI!!!

Ironically, "HAKU" in this case, literally means "soul."

HAKUDOUSHI: These are human souls. Prey for the youkai Haku.
KOHAKU: Souls...? (hehehe, I honestly don't know if he's saying "souls?" or the name. XD Darn you, Takahashi!)
HAKUDOUSHI: So then, how shall we use these...

Haku haku haku...


AND THEN... ABOUT FRIGGEN TIME HE SHOWED UP!!!



Gah, I'll talk more about Kouga in a minute...

---

KOUGA-TACHI

Kouga-tachi are investigating the remains of several dead youkai. Kouga mentions that the blood of the youkai they've smelled is pretty new, so whoever did it must be close. He's not sure if it has anything to do with Naraku, since they haven't had any clues in a while. (Well, yeah... you disappeared off the face of the earth for a while there, Kouga!) Hehe.

They get attacked by a youkai...which appears to be made up of youkai remains (Franken-youkai) and they fight. YEI FOR FIGHTS!


INU-TACHI

...Okay, poor Inu is getting hounded by Shippou about what he talked to Kikyou about. I think Shippou is more of a pain than Kagome now! XD But privately, Kagome also wonders what they talked about.

Anyway, it's treated a bit comically again. Pretty much, Sango is saying to Miroku, "Is it just me, or is there something in the air?" To which Miroku says, "Just put up with it. It's always like this."

INUYASHA: Hey, Kagome. You can't be upset forever.
KAGOME: (making "that look") I'm NOT upset.
INUYASHA: So what's with the attitude?

And then he pretty much tries to tell her again that he and Kikyou didn't talk about anything "shady," to which Kagome gives him more attitude, tells him to just be quiet. Bleh. Attitude, attitude, woman.


INU-TACHI MEETS KOUGA-TACHI

So then Inuyasha (literally) gets wind of Kouga. And they go to battle. YEI FOR FIGHTS! And then they meet Kouga. Priceless expression on Inuyasha's face. "WTF?!" And they see him fighting, when something comes out of the youkai, and that's where the chapter leaves off...

*sigh* So why did Inu and Kikyou have to talk so far away from everybody, anyway? It was just about Naraku, after all.

Heh-heh... good question. I was a little annoyed by the exchange again. After Kagome commented in 337 about how she thought it was fair that Kikyou got to talk to Inuyasha, I was kinda like, "ARGH! Here we go... AGAIN! Again! AGAIN!"

I guess Inuyasha kinda does make it seem like he wanted to talk to Kikyou alone rather than with the group... come to think of it, whenever he talks with her, the two usually tend to exclude the group for the most part, don't they?

Eh, maybe it was Kikyou's suggestion? She doesn't seem to care for the others all that much.

Sheesh, getting my hopes up that things were starting to be resolved here. It couldn't possibly be that easy, could it. It's like two steps forward, one step back.

It is frustrating to hear that Kagome threw attitude at Inuyasha again after 337. She seemed to have had some closure there. Maybe not. Maybe because he and Kikyou tend to talk alone from the others could be why she gets frustrated with him, especially since this last time there really was no reason for it. The information they shared either was already known to one party or the other while what was learned would be helpful to everyone. So there really was no reason for them to talk away from everybody.

Kouga is back

CHAPTER 338 - "Haku"
Shonen Sunday Vol 52 - 26.11.2003

Chapter 339: "Shisaku" I had no idea what that meant, but apparently it translates to "Prototype," or something experimental.

Well, leave it to the boys to go at it the second they're reunited.... XD Man, I didn't realize how much I missed their bickering over Kagome until now -- hehehe.

Kagome and Inuyasha have yet another little spat. I think I'm going to have to really translate this better, but I got the jist of it...

Kagome and Inuyasha have a little bit of a fallout over this whole jealousy thing with Kouga, Kikyou, and the two of them. Inuyasha gives Kagome some mouth about her "vague attitude" and how Kouga gets happy whenever she gives him attention. To which Kagome basically gives him, "As if you can say that." ("That's the pot calling the kettle back")

And Inuyasha goes, "......"

SHIPPOU: Hey, he's quiet.
SANGO: I guess he doesn't have a rebuttal.

They talk a little about Kikyou, Inuyasha says she's holding a grudge, they fight again, Inuyasha gets sat... MAJOR SITTAGE. Like, four times.
All in a day's fight.

So then...

There's a little discussion about the youkai that Kouga fought, and what it's made of. Miroku mentions it being made of dead human and youkai souls. So they come across another Franken-youkai that just slaughtered a village (YUM! It's eating a horse! Flashbacks of Goshinki, anyone?) and Inu-tachi fight it. I think this is where "PROTOTYPE" comes in. Looks like Hakudoushi is being the evil little Naraku Mini-Me that he is, and he's gone and built himself a monster...

So to get the shikon shards, he goes after Kouga with another monster thing.




Oh yesh, and I thought this was a cute line. Speck, you might like this...
After their fight, Kagome rides with Sango rather than Inuyasha (their typical post-fight arrangement).

KAGOME: I'm sorry, Sango-chan. This is actually Miroku-sama's place.

That thing..kinda looks like..whats his name? Hakudoshin?

The hair reminds me of him...creepy things...I hope Kouga lives..hes prolly gonna lose his shards..

::falls over laughing:: I guess that's one way to put it.

I'd translated the chapter title as "Experiment", but I suppose "Prototype" works a little better. Granted, like usual, my only reference for the chapter until you come along with your information is blog commentaries, so I had no context to base it off of (especially because the first line today was "You know... I don't really have much of an opinion about this chapter." -_-*).

Thanks again for the rundown, Kuro-Kuro. I'll be sure to make you Kappei Keeper when I take over the world.

Actually, that thing reminds me of Juuroumaru and Kageroumaru. o_O

And I officially have decided to give up on trying to figure out when and how this manga is gonna end.



XD WOOHOO!! Think he'll mind if I dress him up in puppy ears and make him sing "Love Letter" nonstop?

Actually... I was kinda at least hoping to be second in command...

Thanks for the info, Kuro! Sounds like a good chapter... I can't wait to see Inuyasha and Kouga's happy little reunion. Eesh, that prototype thing is pretty creepy. And we can see almost a leetle too much of him in that shot... XD


Heehee, that is a cute line... nice to see Rumiko-san is still giving Miroku and Sango's relationship a little bit of acknowledgement. Too bad the poor houshi has to give up his usual spot because of yet another Inuyasha/Kagome lover's spat. But such is life.

Anyone know where one can find scans of this week's chapter online? As it turns out, I'm not so great at hunting them down myself...

I get this newletter called AdInuyasha its a yahoo group, and the person there scans the new chaps..no translations though...and then this other website gets out a scanslation every once in a while..I forgot the addresses tho

About the Miro/San after Kagome says that does Inuyasha and Miroku say something along the same lines

EDIT

Heres a link for AdInuyasha, you have to sign up with yahoo though, but it has 339..I think thats what chap its up to, scans

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adinuyasha/f.../Chapter%20339/

Yeah, Miroku starts complaining about it. He says he'd find much more pleasure in, er, holding Sango's hips... XD

To which Inuyasha says something like, "What a lame excuse."

Kagome, I'm on the same mailing list. I only joined it to see the scans. The Japanese forum that usually posts the weekly chapters hasn't done it the past two weeks. At least I can't find it yet.

I'm worried for Kouga. What's Hakudoushi got planned? That evil little brat. Kouga's never encountered him before either, has he? I don't think he has. I hope Kouga doesn't get cocky thinking it's a simple child and his friend. He'll be in for one very rude awakening. OOOHHHH, I have a bad feeling about this.

Inuyasha and Kagome....She seems to be letting her frustration show a little bit more each time she and Inu have a spat/disagreement. I wish they would stop being so danged stubborn and talk already. This friction is leading up to something though. I think something big, I just don't like waiting to what it is.

I totally forgot about this...

While I was reading this week's chapter, I came across a pretty interesting case where I don't know how to explain a translation. Miroku is pointing out that it looks like Franken-youkai is made of different youkai parts. The following conversation goes something like this:

SANGO: Are those... souls? <-- tamashii
MIROKU: No. Those are souls. <-- haku
INUYASHA: Souls? <-- haku
KOUGA: What's that supposed to be?

And I went...


Okay, here's the weird bit. The words used are tamashii, and haku. I've always translated tamashii as "soul." Then when the term haku appeared, I translated THAT as "soul" as well.

Does anyone know what the difference is? o_O I'm wondering if one is more of a physical concept while the other is a more spiritual concept. Just like when the term "heart" is used in Naraku's case. There's the physical heart ("shinzou") as well as a more conceptual heart ("kokoro").

*runs off to do some research*

- EDIT -

NGAH, here's another one:

MIROKU: Humans, beasts, youkai, all are carrying inside them souls (kon) and souls (haku).




- EDIT 2 -

Well, I got an explaination from Roy that kinda makes at least the tamashii thing make a little more sense.

Tamashii describes the little spheres of light that represent the soul. Hmm... still wondering abut kon and haku, though.

...^^; man... damn you Takahashi-sama! For confusing your fans!
But, I guess Kon is the actual pronounciation for the kanji... right?
The kanji for tamashii. Hmmm... yes, I think I learned this in Bleach.
They have a character they named Kon, and he is just a soul...
they use him so he can take over Ichigo's body when he's fighting.
(for those who does not read Bleach, this makes no sense at all XD)

So... even though Hakureizan meant "White Soul Mountain",
does that mean they could have made it into a pun too...?
Haku... Rei... whatever! XD I just woke up, I'm confused! XD

Hmm... I guess Miroku offers his own explaination. I was kinda poring over this translation and doing more research on it, which turned up kinda nil. I wonder if anyone knows what this is based off of...?

Kon is that heart (kokoro).
Haku is the the power that moves the body...

Eh... uh... yeah. o_O At least, that's what Miroku says. o_O
I think I need to go to sleep and work on it more in the morning. XD

I took a look at it, and I think it makes an okay amount of sense.

"Tamashii" is like your mind or your will, the part of the soul that makes you "you".

"Haku" is what keeps you alive and kicking.

Miroku was looking at Franken-youkai, and said that it was moving around due to the force of "Haku" alone. Basically it was animated, but had no mind. Sort of like how Kikyou was before she absorbed part of Kagome's soul ("tamashii"). She was just an animated doll, and her ability to move was probably due to "haku".

At least... that's what I got out of it.

But now we know conclusively that, yes, youkai have souls.

Couldn't you maybe translate tamashii as spirit, then?
I think spirit and soul are pretty good words to use. :P
::Oily made this post in a bad mood, therefore short::


...gah... stupid jerk...
::Oily breaths fire::

Chapter 340:



I don't speak Japanese but just by going over this chapter one of the best moments is when Inuyasha uses Kongousouha!!

It's so cool!!!

http://www.miraclerose.net/340/340-15.jpg
http://www.miraclerose.net/340/340-16.jpg

HELLYES!!!

Kuro *HEARTS* t3h KONGOUSOUHANESS!!!!

...and looks like the prototype's name is Mouryoumaru?

Yep, definitely flashbacks of Goshinki.

That's all I think I'm going to say until I read up tomorrow. XD Except it looks like the Yourouzoku are rather... surprised by the new power. That's right, they've never seen Kongou, have they?

Quick-n-dirty translation:

INUYASHA: I've desired this oppourtunity. I've learned something new. (or somethng like "I can practice my new skill on ya now.")
HAKKAKU/GINTA: His sword looks like a diamond!
INUYASHA: KONGOUFRIGGENBOOYAKASOUHAAHAAHAHAHAHA!!!!1



Thanks for the preview, Kikyou.

---

As a sidenote: I made this comment on another board regarding chapter 339, and wondered if anyone had any thoughts:

There was a conversation that was almost identical to a previous chapter, where Inu-tachi meet Goshinki.

Inu and Kag fight about Kikyou.
Kagome gets mad.
Miroku tells Inuyasha he should apologize and makes a comment "this is an annoyance."
Inuyasha snaps back, "So I'M wrong, am I?"
Miroku then comments how it would be nicer to be doing something with Sango.
Inuyasha then smells something.

...and that's when Goshinki came into the picture.

This time (339) it's that Frankenyoukai thing. Deja`vu. So I wonder if something new is going to happen to Inuyasha... like it did when the met Goshinki and they discovered he'd transform into full-demon.

SWEET!

- EDIT -
Better translation.

Wow, cool. Kouga actually uses his sword for once!

http://www.miraclerose.net/340/340-07.jpg

(I know, of all things to be impressed about.)

I was so surprised to see Kouga actually use his sword. He realized he had to do something to get out of the mess he was in. There's a first for everything. I'm really wondering what's going on in the last page. Danged cliffhanger!

http://www.miraclerose.net/340/340-18.jpg

Hey, that was the first major thing that caught my eye, too. So much for all the theories as to why Kouga never uses his sword... apparently, he does know how to use it, and he hadn't forgotten it was ever there. (Or maybe he just had until this chapter?)

He~y... maybe that's what he was up to all that time he was away. Actually learning how to use that sword of his (no one say anything XD). You know, on Okinawa during breaks from collecting pineapples for Kagome.

Anyway... gah, not enough actually happened in this chapter. Here I was, spending the entirety of last week looking forward to seeing how this battle went, and it's not even close to being over. So now we get to wait a whole 'nother week... joy! XD

Oh well... I'm sure Rumiko-sama's got plans. I'm almost half-hoping that this battle will end with Kouga's shards being (finally) taken, actually. Things will really get moving then.

scanlation ?? stop teasing me blast it !

*runs and sobs*

Whaddaya mean not enough happened in this chapter?! KONGOUSOUHA!!! He used it again! I mean... woo! Didn't do anything, cuz apparently Mouryoumaru can fly, but... (man, that names a mouthful).

And as for Kouga's sword...
Kouga:"I just wear it for decoration in human form. I never thought I'd actually have to use it."
Inuyasha: "Keh! Don't compare your crappy sword to my Tessaiga!"

^_^* Ginta and Hakkaku had said something about how Kouga's sword didn't hurt Mouryoumaru very much, and the implicit assumption was that Inuyasha's sword couldn't as well. :P

Mouryoumaru needs pants.

Well, yeah... but that's my point. It didn't do anything. And even though it was cool to see it again, Inuyasha didn't use it until the end of the chapter, anyway. Basically, what I'm getting at is that pretty much nothing from the last chapter was resolved... but then again, it's not like that's unusual for this series.

And yeah--Mouryoumaru needs pants. I'm still getting over that final shot of him in last week's chapter. Kouga should start a club for the pants-deprived characters of Inuyasha. Himself, Miroku, Kagome (well, she's a girl... but could that skirt be any shorter?), Naraku, Kohaku, and now Mouryou, which is what I'm going to call him from now on because his name is long enough already.

Anyway... ::still hoping Kouga's shards get stolen::

XD ::BONKSOFTHUD:: Fine XD ok, I won't say anything,
I'll just act it out! ::stumbles over the keyboard...
saöofjru9wq0råjmdikgnsjözfieoöä<dnfgdioszpåirs9pjtig::
There XD ::BONKSOFTHUD:: XDDD Spectrum! I you
I never noticed how long his sword was...



XD indeed! XD He don't seem to have much to show though XD

Miroku, atleast in the anime, does have pants...they are light blue skin tight..they show 'em a few times when he does a flip majigger.

As for the chap. I liked it, I cant read it but..ah well.

I was very surprised to see Kouga use his sword...now the only thing left to see about Kouga is his actual youkai form.

You know, when Kouga was introduced in the anime, and Shippo was giving a rundown on who the wolf youkai were and how they bullied his clan off the mountain, he mentioned how terrifying yourouzoku were in their demon form. I would LOVE to see Kouga go feral. Just once. A big bad-ass, electric-eyed, rabid black wolf.

I bet his character fandom would literally triple, as so many others would finally get what some of us have known all along. Kouga's awesome!

And I had no idea he's had a sword this whole time. lol! Just read the translation of the latest chapter. Had to go through my cels, and my manga just to double check that - yes, there a sword attached to his person.

I'm right there with you, Thunk, I'd love to see Kouga's true form. And the way you describe him. "A big bad-ass, electric-eyed, rabid black wolf." OO! I like that.

<B>341</B> is now out.

A whole lotta fightin' going on!

Best Moment: Inuyasha's jealousy after Kouga saves Kagome . He waps both of Kouga's leakys on the head after they laugh at him.

Way to go Inu!!

Damit but it's another cliff hanger!!

Still no pants but he grew some wings...

enjoy and go easy on my server

http://www.miraclerose.net/341/

THANK YOU!!

Hellyes! I was overjoyed to see more Kongousoha! Diamonds! *PAH PAH PAH PAH PAH PAH* But other than that, when I read it, maybe it's the cold medicine kicking in, but I honestly didnt' have that much of an opinion on this week. *tired*

And if I read that line right...

KOUGA: Your arrows?
KAGOME: I think I can purify it!
KOUGA: LOOK OUT!
HAKKAKU/GINTA: Kouga and Kagome-nee-san, the breath was perfect! (Eh? That's a literal translation.)

INUYASHA *VIENPOP* *PUNCH*

HAKKAKU/GINTA: Wh~Y~Y~Y~?!

---

Sleepy.

Ooohhh...thanks Kikyou!! *massive huggles* Manga scans earlier than i usually get 'em!! Whee!!

(knew there was a good excuse to be here instead of getting ready for the big Christmas shindig tomorrow like i'm s'posed to be)


...lol!

And yet more huggles out to Kuro, who's sig updates i'm more & more looking foward to seeing:

RANDOM INUYASHA CHAPTER COMMENT
Line of the day: "Don't you DARE get close to Kagome while you're wearing that weird thing!" And it took me a second to think, "Okay, he's NOT talking about pants..."



ALL HAIL KURO, QUEEN OF PANTS! (or lack thereof)

I'll have the scans up in a bit but now for a little summary of what happens this week. Rumiko sure likes to make it hard...*shakes head* ^^
Oh yah double issue this week so no new issue next week.

343 will be on out Jan. 5th.

Major Spoliers ahead!!!



So that battle between Kouga, Inu-tachi vs. Mr. "Empty" pants monster was not in vain, but he does finally die, yayaya!! The monster gets the youkai crystals from Miroku though. Kagome of course seizes the moment and fires an arrow at Hakadoushi, who breaks up into pieces and comes back.

Sesshomaru finally comes back towards the end and meets up with Kagura

*gasp*

Why do I think it's all gonna be one big reunion soon...

I'm sorry, who finally dies?

the monster from last week...

(Spoilers everywhere in this post... but everyone in this thread is going to read them, so who cares? )







Gaaah... one step forward, two steps back. Again. I'm starting to wonder if Takahashi is ever going to end this series. Oh well... I'm glad Hakudoushi doesn't die, though. Gotta save him for Kagura or Kohaku to take down.

So Sesshoumaru's back again, is he? And meeting up with Kagura yet again? Is it just me, or does Takahashi hint at the two of them every time she gets a chance? It wouldn't surprise me if Kagura wound up following him around just like Jaken and Rin when she finally got her freedom. They sure have an odd relationship...

*whew!* Thank goodness. For a moment there I thought you meant Kouga.

Uh oh, if Fluffy's back, something big's about to go down. And he's still hanging out with Kagura, huh? Well, I guess she's his inside source on the goings on in Naraku-land. Kohaku usually hangs out with her, too, so maybe his time to taste Tenseiga has finally come.