This is such a pretty interesting volume.

For one, Rumiko Takahashi keeps making hot villains and monsters omg how am I supposed to NOT root for them 😂 Kidding aside, the art and character design just slaps.

Another is that, apparently this is the volume that hurt me the most as a kid in the anime 😂 I'm talking about Inuyasha "choosing" Kikyo and Kagome accepting that she will always come second and staying beside Inuyasha's side even though it hurts her. Like that hurt me as a kid/teen. Unrequited love is so fcking painful, I don't wish it on anyone. Still I remember being a bit mad at Kagome for being a martyr and a masochist. But I was also mad at Inuyasha for not being straight with Kagome.

HOWEVER, reading the manga now, I keep wondering, does Inuyasha even love Kikyo? All his thoughts and POV seem like he feels immense guilt and moral responsibility or obligation to Kikyo so he needs to protect her, rather than needing to protect her because he loves her. And this guilt and responsibility definitely clouds his judgement. Apparently he would "go to hell" with Kikyo if that's what she wanted? That doesn't sound like love to me 😭 and yet, he also admits, he feels "calm and light" with Kagome. Tell me right now who is he really supposed to be with 😭😂

What happened to Kikyo and Inuyasha fifty years ago was tragic and disgusting (on part of Naraku manipulating the whole thing). But it's clear that this will affect their actions and decisions further, and create a truly complicated situation between Inuyasha, Kagome, and Kikyo.


Also demon Inuyasha finally appears in this volume! 😆 Human Inuyasha still has my heart tho. Oh and more Kohaku arc in the next one!