Kekkaishi Vol 10 + Vagabond artbooks
Well, given all the "we must bond and be buddies and partners!" that went on in vol 9, I figured the book was heading for Major Angst territory, but I figured it would be Atora or one of the grandparents, not Gen. naturally, it's a mangaka I trust to actually let someone die. My petty side also says this is another reason to dislike the annoying Ayakashi whose name I can never remember. (Ok, no, not really, as I try not to hold "killed so-and-so" against characters unless there's a how/why attached, I just don't care for him, though I acknowledge he serves a good purpose.)
I find it interesting, though, that the organization made Masamori remove his people just as a horde of Ayakashi were on their way. I took a long (unitentional) break from catching up with the series when Claymore ate my life, and this is pretty plotty for a shounen, so I forget: have there been hints before that Masamori's bosses are working with or under Kokuboro?
I also find it very curious the Kokuburo expecte the Karasumori site to heal their princess. Granted, my understanding of this part of mythology is far from perfect, but aren't places like that influenced by the people who live there and have power, and become "like" them? It would seem that, after generations of being protected by Tokine and Yoshimori's families, it would give off "good" waves instead of "evil." As I understand it, the princess is more powerful and sensitive than your average Ayakashi, so wouldn't taking her to a place Ayakashi have been killed at and been driven away from for generations be bad? Or maybe I just completely misunderstand the mythology surrounding that, which is entirely possible.
Sole downside 9in terms of the story...Gen's death is naturally OMG NO BAD WHY??, but good story-wise): Tokine did even less than last volume. I hope this isn't going to be a trend.
Unrelated: I've put Vagabond reading and buying on hold until I find out if Takehiko Inoue ever plans to actually, you know, finish it. (Look, I appreciate his showing everything through a psychological perspective and what's going on in people's heads as they prepare to and do fight, but at a certain point, it starts feeling like plot progression no longer exists.) I did, however, get his two artbooks in the mail yesterday, and they are pretty pretty pretty. Called Sumi and Water, I recommend anyone who gets a chance to to check them out, even if you have no interest in Vagabond. Or, for that matter, manga in general, as the artstyle is nothing at all like most manga art.