You're probably the first person I've seen say they think Sess will die. I'm not disagreeing with you, but it's an interesting viewpoint and yeah I could see it happening. If Rin and Sess die though, Kohaku is probably screwed unless Kagome somehow saves him. (I'm not sure how she could, but a while back Kikyou seemed to hint that it could be done.) And I don't want to think about that. *loves Kohaku*
On this:
For one thing, it teaches Sesshomaru to value fragile life and know that he's not all-powerful and he can lose the ones he loves.
But isn't that the lesson he was supposed to learn from Kagura's death?
And this:
A powerful demon like him and there's no sign of him existing in the modern era. I'd imagine that youkai have just become extinct for the most part by that time. Sess may be powerful, but there's no evidence that he's the most powerful youkai around or anything. (I doubt he is. youkai seem to gain power with age if we look at the Inu no Taishou, and Sess really doesn't seem to be that old in youkai years.) And
( ... )
I don't think Sess will die anytime soon, if at all. It'd be pretty brave of her to kill of one of her most popular characters though, if she did.
I think Kagome has to get to Kohaku now anyway. So who knows at this point if Kohaku would even be sticking around with Sess? Although it seems that he may want to.
But isn't that the lesson he was supposed to learn from Kagura's death?
Good point, but I don't think Sesshomaru was nearly as close or attached to Kagura at the time she died as he was to Rin.
As for youkai in the modern era, yeah, it seems in general they must have mostly been killed out in old wars. But for a main character like Sesshomaru, I can't really see her leaving his death (if he is dead in the modern era) to something so unrelated to the main plot. If she's gonna kill him, it makes more sense to me to integrate it into the story.
On Sesshoumaru's death. That's a good point, but what about Kouga's death? Because he's become a pretty major character as well, but I see the chance of him dying as slim to none. Oddly, I thought for sure he'd die earlier on though. But my opinion on that changed. It does make sense that someone needs to die in the final battle and probably a pretty major character. It's probably not going to be anyone in the Inu-tachi (if it's anyone, I think it would be Miroku. But I don't think she'll do that at all.), and Kouga seems to be 'safe.' Kagura and Kikyou both died with the desire to save Kohaku, so I think he'll live.
I think Kagome has to get to Kohaku now anyway. So who knows at this point if Kohaku would even be sticking around with Sess? Although it seems that he may want to.I wonder how Kagome can do it? I guess it's just something that hasn't been revealed yet, but I really have no idea. I think Kohaku feels awkward traveling with the Inu-tachi because he feels like a burden to Sango's heart (at least he will until Naraku is
( ... )
Yeah, I don't really see Koga dying anymore either. At this point, she seems to have, for the most part, wrapped Koga's story up. Not that I think he couldn't turn up again. But Sesshomaru's story is still very much open, so that's why I think it's possible his death could come up in the series.
I don't think she ever truly thought things would turn out bad for Sesshomaru in this test, and now that they are, her snark is gone for now.
I agree with you completely. In fact, her reaction was pretty much horrified when she learned Rin had already died once.
Oh, don't feel bad. Part of me wants Rin to stay dead too. If, for no other reason that to make death a big deal in the series once again. I also agree with you about teaching him about fragile life. And, to be honest, the guy can't very well learn to cherish life if death can be thrawted with a single swipe of a blade. Of course, we now know, Tenseiga is a one time thing.
Aw, *pets* It's okay to cry. I wish there would be been some better shots of Sesshoumaru's face. As it was, everything seemed sort of muddied.
Yeah, I think this chapter really did a lot to give us a better look into Sessmom's character. I kind of don't understand why people still think after this chapter that she's a heartless bitch. If anything, it shows where Sesshomaru gets his kind heart from.
I thought the one shot of Sess when his eyebrow was arched in sadness and he was thinking, 'They want to be saved, huh?' was brilliant. That was the saddest he's ever looked I think.
I think it's because for so long, years in fact, people have blamed Sesshoumaru's colder nature on his mother...
so, she could have shown up, given him a huge hug, and then fed the kids milk and cookies and the fan brats would have found some reason to call her heartless.
Aw, yeah, I loved that scene because it looked like he was almost, but not quite about to cry. And then, when he holds Tenseiga up. He looked so young in the panel. Poor kid.
Hm, I should add, it's pretty interesting that both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru both lost someone close to them recently. I hope that the Inu-tachi do show up to meet Sessmom, and I wonder what the interaction (if any) between Sesshomaru and Inuyasha would be.
Btw, What do you think is the reason behind Sessmom's clothes having butterflies on them? Butterflies are a symbol of death in Japan, right? You think she just has them as symbolic that she's the keeper of the meidou-seki, or is there something else going on?
I agree with you about Rin staying dead. I love Rin, but the whole dramaticness of her dying and Sesshoumaru feeling would be ruined if she came back to life anyways. I still wouldn't be disappointed if she came back to life, I'd probably be ecstatic and/or start crying, but it seems this whole arc would be much more meaningful if she stayed dead, for the reasons you described.
I love Sessmom even more at the end of this chapter. Her and Jaken are so much love.
Oh, Inuyasha is eating my insides, what will we do when it all ends?!
Oh, and also. Since Tenseiga's a one time thing, Jaken can be killed in one swipe now, as Sesshoumaru's already killed him to test out the sword, right? If Rin stays dead, perhaps Sesshoumaru will value Jaken more to make sure he doesnt lose his other close companion for good.
Jaken wasn't killed by Sesshomaru swiping him with Tenseiga to show him how the sword worked, because he sword couldn't cut him.
But, Jaken was cut in half by Kaijinbo with Tokijin, and that's when Sesshomaru used Tenseiga on Jaken to save him. So yeah, if Jaken dies again, he's dead for good. Which actually, makes previously written Jaken deathfic viable now. Like, I think a drabble I wrote a while ago, "Unsung Hero," had Jaken's death, but it didn't explain why Sesshomaru couldn't revive him. So now there's a canon explanation! heh
Yeah, Sessmom is awesome. She's only been around a couple chapters but she already has solid, distinguishable, and entertaining-as-hell characterization. ^^ Sessmom/Jaken OTP? ;)
When Inuyasha ends, I'm gonna have more time to look into more of her older series. And I am really looking forward to her starting a brand new series again and getting the feeling of being there when it's new and in the beginning. ^^
No offense, but IY's never once killed a person in the series- except for the time he went berserk and killed those bandits (which caused him tremendous guilt). Let alone has he killed people to gain powers. He has killed youkai for an upgrade, but only those who were his mortal enemies- Ryukotsusei. He didn't kill Ryu for the upgrade though. That just happened.
I would actually disagree and say that Sess has had his upgrades pretty easy up to this point, while IY's worked his butt off for his. I'm not one to think Rin is dying here (I really think she'll live), but I'm actually really glad he's having to really work to get his upgrades as opposed to them kind of 'coming to him' as they have before. Sess got his first upgrade just because he felt compassion for Kagura, but to be honest the Inu-tachi suffered from that death as much as Sess did. That's a nice change and I really like it and am very appreciative of it
( ... )
Oh, sorry, I probably should have phrased that better. I tend toward hyberbole, so no offense taken.
I probably should have said that Inu gets to defeat youkai for powers. Sometimes not, like with Hosenki.
And as for Inu having to work harder... true, he does physically exert himself and nearly die to get stronger, like most main characters. But Sesshomaru is feeling grief, I think, and emotional suffering would most likely hurt Sess more than physical pain. Not that Inuyasha wouldn't suffer just as badly- the brothers are pretty alike in that way.
The swords teach the brothers kindness. Inuyasha needs the power to protect people, Sesshomaru just needs to learn to protect people. Sess wants the Tessaiga but really doesn't need it, and Inuyasha would, as you said, recklessly use Tenseiga.
I think IY's suffered a lot of grief though in the series, as much as Sess. But IY doesn't get sword upgrades from it because for him what he needs to learn isn't compassion. He already has that and has no problem acknowledging it. I also think that IY has insecurity issues, and these tests help him overcome it. For Sess, he needs to develop on an emotional level moreso and that's why he gains his upgrades from 'feelings.'
IY having tenseiga would be a mess. Of course, he'd do it all with good intent. But I don't think he'd think about how much he's toying with life/death. Sess is better for it because he is colder, and thus won't play god. The swords are perfectly suited to each of their wielders. It works very well.
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On this:
For one thing, it teaches Sesshomaru to value fragile life and know that he's not all-powerful and he can lose the ones he loves.
But isn't that the lesson he was supposed to learn from Kagura's death?
And this:
A powerful demon like him and there's no sign of him existing in the modern era. I'd imagine that youkai have just become extinct for the most part by that time. Sess may be powerful, but there's no evidence that he's the most powerful youkai around or anything. (I doubt he is. youkai seem to gain power with age if we look at the Inu no Taishou, and Sess really doesn't seem to be that old in youkai years.) And ( ... )
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I think Kagome has to get to Kohaku now anyway. So who knows at this point if Kohaku would even be sticking around with Sess? Although it seems that he may want to.
But isn't that the lesson he was supposed to learn from Kagura's death?
Good point, but I don't think Sesshomaru was nearly as close or attached to Kagura at the time she died as he was to Rin.
As for youkai in the modern era, yeah, it seems in general they must have mostly been killed out in old wars. But for a main character like Sesshomaru, I can't really see her leaving his death (if he is dead in the modern era) to something so unrelated to the main plot. If she's gonna kill him, it makes more sense to me to integrate it into the story.
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I think Kagome has to get to Kohaku now anyway. So who knows at this point if Kohaku would even be sticking around with Sess? Although it seems that he may want to.I wonder how Kagome can do it? I guess it's just something that hasn't been revealed yet, but I really have no idea. I think Kohaku feels awkward traveling with the Inu-tachi because he feels like a burden to Sango's heart (at least he will until Naraku is ( ... )
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I agree with you completely. In fact, her reaction was pretty much horrified when she learned Rin had already died once.
Oh, don't feel bad. Part of me wants Rin to stay dead too. If, for no other reason that to make death a big deal in the series once again. I also agree with you about teaching him about fragile life. And, to be honest, the guy can't very well learn to cherish life if death can be thrawted with a single swipe of a blade. Of course, we now know, Tenseiga is a one time thing.
Aw, *pets* It's okay to cry. I wish there would be been some better shots of Sesshoumaru's face. As it was, everything seemed sort of muddied.
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I thought the one shot of Sess when his eyebrow was arched in sadness and he was thinking, 'They want to be saved, huh?' was brilliant. That was the saddest he's ever looked I think.
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so, she could have shown up, given him a huge hug, and then fed the kids milk and cookies and the fan brats would have found some reason to call her heartless.
Aw, yeah, I loved that scene because it looked like he was almost, but not quite about to cry. And then, when he holds Tenseiga up. He looked so young in the panel. Poor kid.
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Btw, What do you think is the reason behind Sessmom's clothes having butterflies on them? Butterflies are a symbol of death in Japan, right? You think she just has them as symbolic that she's the keeper of the meidou-seki, or is there something else going on?
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I love Sessmom even more at the end of this chapter. Her and Jaken are so much love.
Oh, Inuyasha is eating my insides, what will we do when it all ends?!
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... Jaken/Sesshoumaru bond over Rin's death fic!
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But, Jaken was cut in half by Kaijinbo with Tokijin, and that's when Sesshomaru used Tenseiga on Jaken to save him. So yeah, if Jaken dies again, he's dead for good. Which actually, makes previously written Jaken deathfic viable now. Like, I think a drabble I wrote a while ago, "Unsung Hero," had Jaken's death, but it didn't explain why Sesshomaru couldn't revive him. So now there's a canon explanation! heh
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When Inuyasha ends, I'm gonna have more time to look into more of her older series. And I am really looking forward to her starting a brand new series again and getting the feeling of being there when it's new and in the beginning. ^^
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Inu gains powers by killing people. I think he got the better sword.
Rin as a child forever is an interesting projection, and I think that may be Takahashi's intention.
It was a pretty heart-wrenching chapter. No one will make fun of you for crying... or if they do, they're heartless bastards.
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I would actually disagree and say that Sess has had his upgrades pretty easy up to this point, while IY's worked his butt off for his. I'm not one to think Rin is dying here (I really think she'll live), but I'm actually really glad he's having to really work to get his upgrades as opposed to them kind of 'coming to him' as they have before. Sess got his first upgrade just because he felt compassion for Kagura, but to be honest the Inu-tachi suffered from that death as much as Sess did. That's a nice change and I really like it and am very appreciative of it ( ... )
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I probably should have said that Inu gets to defeat youkai for powers. Sometimes not, like with Hosenki.
And as for Inu having to work harder... true, he does physically exert himself and nearly die to get stronger, like most main characters. But Sesshomaru is feeling grief, I think, and emotional suffering would most likely hurt Sess more than physical pain. Not that Inuyasha wouldn't suffer just as badly- the brothers are pretty alike in that way.
The swords teach the brothers kindness. Inuyasha needs the power to protect people, Sesshomaru just needs to learn to protect people. Sess wants the Tessaiga but really doesn't need it, and Inuyasha would, as you said, recklessly use Tenseiga.
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Anyway, it's okay. Sorry I read too much into it.
I think IY's suffered a lot of grief though in the series, as much as Sess. But IY doesn't get sword upgrades from it because for him what he needs to learn isn't compassion. He already has that and has no problem acknowledging it. I also think that IY has insecurity issues, and these tests help him overcome it. For Sess, he needs to develop on an emotional level moreso and that's why he gains his upgrades from 'feelings.'
IY having tenseiga would be a mess. Of course, he'd do it all with good intent. But I don't think he'd think about how much he's toying with life/death. Sess is better for it because he is colder, and thus won't play god. The swords are perfectly suited to each of their wielders. It works very well.
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