Saiyuki Reload vol 8 and a fic

[louiselux]

Heyyyy, I got Saiyuki Reload vol 8!

I found this volume very powerful, I think because of Goku's real grief and rage at the end, which helps him define what he is doing and why.

Also, I found myself staring at the drawing at the front of Gojyo and Hakkai and Goku (and Pippi!) and some of the youkai townspeople, and thinking how happy they looked. It's like a little glimpse of an alternative universe where they actually fit in. Also, Gojyo turns out to be Mr Practical and organises fixing the cart, which I like to see as a tiny allusion to Kenren's caretaking skillz. But they don't fit in with the youkai town, as Hakkai says to Gojyo when they're alone, they don't fit in anywhere and perhaps that's the reason why they're on the journey. Goku and Sanzo don't fit anywhere either, do they?

Hazel's amulet of doom get's broken! Which means Gat will die. I forgot the part where Gat comes along and tells Sanzo to look after Hazel for him. It's hard to tell what Sanzo think of that, if anything. I just don't know what to think about Hazel, although I was glad to see that he was made to see how the humans used him to kill Pippi's brother, as a way of beginning the final attack on the youkai town.

I love the theme of this whole volume, of not knowing who to fight for, or who draws the line between right and wrong. Also, that some people will die and kill others in what they believe to be a just cause. athena8 makes an interesting point that she didn't spot the similarity between Pippi's actions and suicide bombing. I didn't think of it in those terms either, I think because Pippi's actions seemed understandable to me, at least partly.


Also, I wrote somefing: Night Vision, Gojyoi/Hakkai, R, for the saiyuki_time prompt 'sight'

Comments

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Oooh, yes good point. It's interesting that they almost die in the desert in the beginning, because they are so lost - metaphorically and literally.

Yes, it could be that being in a place where they could live without harassment, at least from youkai, unsettles them as much as human prejudices. Maybe they are attached to the idea that they are something to be feared, even? Interesting.