i'm hoping too that this gives her a new-found spiritual power (or increased awareness and ability to use the spiritual power she already has), not just an upgrade of her bow.  i think that wouldn't be all that fair to her as a character, since her strength has always been in her purity of heart, not in a weapon.  just my humble opinion, of course.  maybe i'm thinking too much into it.  it is, after all, a fairy tale. 

RT put Kagome pretty much on the back burner for quite a while. It is about time for a little more focus on her development and learning process. She isn't my all time favorite then again I do like her and think that she should get some story line in. I like this arc a great deal….I do admit I hope that Kagome comes thru it on her own. I think it would be pretty lame if RT used one of her companions for a cop-out. 

Kagome certainly has the power to do so, I am still unsure why RT hasn't had her use it much before this. (Yes, she has done things but mostly by accident or without control). Outside of the bow she has let Kagome be a hit and miss kind of character. That is a strange approach for someone that is supposed to be a main character. 

Kagome is the only main character in this story like that. Everyone else struggled, then attained, learned and then went to the next hurdle. RT seems to left a lot of Kagome's challenges as ones of self image mainly with Kikyou. In a story that is a struggle to stay alive and be part of the contributing party Kagome's problems have more often then not put me at odds with the character.  Yet I do like her, not because of what she has done but because of what I am hoping she will be able to do.

i liked this chapter, although it would have been nice if someone OTHER than naraku had spoken a little more. 

anxiously awaiting 510.  i like arcs like this SO much more than the sword arcs.  they just seem like they drag on forever.  plus, it seems like kagome has been getting ignored an awful lot.  she's not my all-time favorite character or anything, but the poor girl really does deserve some more character development after all the time RT seems to have spent on other characters.

Again love this site and adore your pod casts! keep it up!!!

thanks!!

As for this chapter, all I can think of to say has been said.  Kagome — damned if you do, and damned if you don't.  And seriously, Naraku…I love you and all, but you need to learn when it's best to keep your mouth shut.  You fail hard at being evil scum right now. XD

LOL @ joke page, too.