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Kagome is in a real bad spot right now. Kagome hasnt ever confronted a jewel-powered full-youkai, mindless Inuyasha. In past, Tessaiga had been able to keep Inuyasha from going full-youkai berserker, and allowed him to use youkai strength while staying sane. But it looks like, this time, Tessaiga couldnt do a thing to stop or control the transformation.

And in the past, Kagome was able to bring Inuyasha back from youkai madness, with her love. But can her love be strong enough this time to go up not only against the beast within Inu but also the evil within the jewel? Inu this time took a swipe at Kagome, which hed never done before, so I dont think so. Kagome still has her sit command of course, but as noted above by Godai, what if it doesnt work anymore because of the seal on her powers and/or the jewels evil effects? Or what if Inu now can rip the subjugation beads away or they fall off because theyre caught between two giant opposed magical forces? That would leave Kagome in mortal danger, with no ready means to counter a rampaging Inuyasha. Certainly, Kagome faces a crisis far more deadly than any shes faced before.

Its ironic that the completed Shikon Jewel has, in essence, granted Inuyasha the wish he had back in the beginning of this story to be full youkai and not a hanyou. But Inu has long since moved beyond that simple wish and I think he has developed a great capacity for love. In fact, I think love will be what beats Narakus ploy. But Kagomes love of Inuyasha by itself wont be strong enough this time to restore our dog-boy to himself. Inu from somewhere deep inside of himself will have to bring forth a love for Kagome to match Kagomes love for Inu. Only then will the two of them together be able to overcome the jewels baneful influence and bring Inu back to normal. And I think their mutually-affirmed love also will play a key part in unsealing Kagomes powers.

Naraku surely was a sly devil, using Rin to halt the one Inu attack that might actually do him damage. It looked like Naraku took pains to display Rin in a way that left big doubts about whether what Inus group saw could be real or fake. It also wasnt at all surprising that Naraku would try to separate the fighters. Divide and conquer is one of the oldest tactics there is. Sesshomaru is off someplace, Sango and Miroku are by themselves, and Kagome is off alone with a full-nutso youkai-Inu. Separated, Naraku can pick them off individually, at his leisure.

The wild card now is Sesshomaru and what he will be capable of. As with Inu and Kagome, Sesshomarus power to assist in this desperate final fight will arise from his compassion and ability to love, not just love Rin but also Inuyasha and, by extension, Inus whole group. But how Sesshomaru will exhibit that vital compassion and love is unclear to me yet.

Next week will see a double-numbered Shonen Sunday issue, which means no chapter the week of Dec. 17. Therell probably be a chapter the week of Dec. 24 but then another skip for New Years week. So basically there are two chapters left to run this year. I cant see this story wrapping up in just two chapters (more like 22) so its most likely to keep running into the spring. But it looks like well have quite a wild ride from here to The End. (^_*)

REPOSTING WHAT I WROTE ON CHAP. 534

MANGA CHAP. 534 - ARROW OF SHOUKI

OUR STORY: As chapter opens, Kagome confronts a bereserk youkai Inuyasha as Naraku looks on. She yells for Inu to pull himself together, but in his youkai madness Inu instead attacks Kagome, gashing her right shoulder with his claws. Her blood flows. Naraku asks Kagome why she doesn't calm Inu down by purifying him. Kagome looks back at Inuyasha stalking her as Naraku jeers that she can't to anything now because her powers are still sealed by Magatsuhi. Kagome runs in a direction opposite of where she senses the jewel, hoping Inu will follow her. She's thinking that if she can lure Inu far enough away from the jewel, he'll return to his senses.

Naraku tells Kagome it's useless to run, that youkai Inuyasha's sole thought is killing her. Naraku offers to help her. He gives her an arrow, telling her that it's filled with his deadly shouki and that if she shoots Inuyasha with it, she will be safe. Kagome is appalled at this, and keeps on running despite the pain from her bleeding shoulder wound. Inuyasha follows her, growling, bloodlust in his eyes. Kagome's run is stopped short, however, when Naraku forms a high cliff from his flesh right in front of her. She turns back to see Inuyasha coming up fast and for the first time, Kagome is afraid of him. She calls out Inu's name but he doesn't respond.

Naraku again offers Kagome his shouki arrow and says it's either shoot Inu or be killed by him. Kagome calls Naraku stupid and declares she'd never shoot Inuyasha, that he would never... "Never kill you?" says Naraku with an evil chuckle. He says Kagome will understand everything shortly. Inuyasha races up to Kagome, growling, and punches her in the heart, sending her flying over the edge. In her last moment of consciousness, Kagome can't believe what Inu just did to her. She plunges into darkness as Inu watches his prey get away. Naraku laughs at Kagome for being such a fool.

Scene changes to a view of Miroku, Sango and Kilala making their way through Naraku's body. Sango wonders what part of Naraku's body they're in. Miroku reminds her that Kagome sensed the Shikon Jewel deep inside Naraku. In the silence that follows, Sango hears the thin hiss of air being drawn in past the edges of the Kazaana's cover and thinks the sound is louder than before. She's afraid the next time Miroku opens his Kazaana might be his last. Miroku sees her concerned look at him and asks her what's the matter. Before she can do more than say his name, a mist swirls up around them and they wonder what nastiness Naraku is up to now.

The mist clears away to reveal a decrepit temple building. Sango wonders if this is another illusion. But Miroku recognizes the building as the place where he was raised by the old monk Mushin after his father died, and wonders what Naraku's purpose is in showing this. Figures appear and talk with each other. Miroku recognizes what Naraku is showing to him and Sango - the final moments that Miroku's father spent in the living world. They watch as papa says his farewells to Miroku and Mushin, then goes out to the middle of the temple field and is destroyed by his own Kazaana. Sango screams in fright and despair, utterly horrified by this fate. The scene vanishes, but Sango is in shock. She clings to Miroku, shivering and sobbing. Miroku tells her to not be alarmed, it was just an illusion. He wonders why Naraku showed them this vision, but quickly realizes Naraku's sinister purpose was for Sango to see Miroku's fate if he keeps using the Kazaana. At this point, the Naraku-flesh around them stirs and Naraku forms sharp-tipped tentacles for an attack on the couple.

Scene changes to the base of Naraku's cliff where Kagome has fallen. She is injured and unconscious. Sesshomaru, still searching for his Rin, turns a corner and discovers Kagome. He stands still and studies the helpless wounded girl.. THE END (^_*).

MY THOUGHTS

Oh brother! Naraku's out to divide and conquer. He's caused the unthinkable to occur between Inu and Kagome. Inuyasha for the first time actually attacked and hurt Kagome with the intent to kill her. Kagome for the first time seemed afraid OF Inuyasha instead of fearing for him. And now Sesshomaru comes upon Kagome, lying helpless and hurt.

Sessho knows she and Inu were together and can probably figure that something's gone very wrong with Inuyasha for Kagome to end up like she has. But what will Sessho do in response? I think he'll put aside his search for Rin for the moment, awaken Kagome, find out for sure what happened and then he'll go try to knock some sense into Inu. Just to thwart Naraku's plan, of course, not out of brotherly concern.

Or will Naraku try to prevent that from happening by showing Sesshomaru that Rin is nearby, presenting Sessho with a choice of saving Rin and letting Kagome die at Inuyasha's hand as Naraku wants, or saving Kagome from youkai Inuyasha in order to thwart Naraku's plan, at a price of losing Rin? In short, choose between love and pride.

Still, while Inu's attack on Kagome was violent, it didn't strike me as an all-out attack by a mindless youkai on its prey. Could it be that there's still a spark of recognition somewhere within Inu's rage that Kagome isn't something to kill? Or, more likely, Naraku was holding Inu back in hopes Kagome would be desperate enough to shoot Inu in a reprise of what Kikyou did to Inuyasha, even to the point of providing a poisoned arrow for Kagome to shoot. Which would generate a lot more fear and loathing to fuel the jewel.

If Kagome had considered taking the arrow, even for a moment, it would also have provided Naraku an avenue to attack Kagome's greatest strength -- her unshakeable faith in her friends. Man, Naraku is one twisted, evil wretch. He wanted Kagome angry enough or fearful enough to strike back at Inu, thereby providing him an opening to defeat Kagome's good heart. So far, though, no success.

Meanwhile, what Naraku did to Sango was really low and slimy. First he shows Sango very graphic images of the fate that awaits Miroku if he uses the Kazaana any more, lets her get good and frightened for her man, and then readies an attack that will probably put Miroku in a position of choosing death by Kazaana or watching Sango be speared by tentacles. Or putting Sango in a position of sacrificing her own life to keep Miroku alive. And Sango must now realize that if she is by Miroku's side when the Kazaana goes out of control, she'll be destroyed along with him. Which is exactly what Naraku wants her to think, since now Sango will have to be afraid OF her man as well as fearing for him.

And with all this up in the air, there will be no chapter next week. Nice timing. (^_*)