Omg the omake. Don't buy Viz's book Kagome. The typos/errors/crap job translation will corrupt your heart~! I LOLed.   

(Quote)

My copy of Shonen Sunday: http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/1741/0627071548wc0.jpg

The "toilet paper": http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1784/0627071632ml4.jpg

I'm almost done with 511… Had a little snooze half-way through.

  

(Quote)

Starks: Looking forward to the high-res scans, thanks a lot. 

Saw your response to my post on IIFJ blog. My DVD player supports DivX and XviD. I've been using a program called Easy MPEG/AVI as my burn software. It is adequate at best, it has very few features, and is just a freeware version of a commercial program. I've been looking for an open source or full feature shareware burner with little luck. If you know a good program, I'd really appreciate the help!  

  

(Quote)

Woo-hoo! Thank you Starks!  

(Quote)

I'll be upping 511 in a hour or so. Still sitting in class. I've had it done for hours but the site was down.  

(Quote)

Starks: No hurry. I look forward to the high-resolution scans. Thank you!!

  

(Quote)

Glad things are all sorted out. Looking forward to 512 and the Forum…

I was a little miffed as well that Kikyo's presence is still looming over Kagome's future…yeah…I mean…I guess that's not far fetched and probably neccessary. Who the hell am I to dictate…I just feel a little tired of her…even though I did like her a lot in the past. Maybe the fluff and humor that usually springs from chapters in Modern Day Japan will make me feel better.

I was driving home from work today…and suddenly Miroku appeared in my head…I had this sudden concern that his death was imminent…I'd like a chapter or two revolving around that white elephant in the room that no one is acknowledging. It's not every day that I stop paying attention to traffic and fret over the fate of a fictitious character.

  

(Quote)

I read the preview for 512 on the inu-yasha.org blog and now I'm confused. Is RT just going to drop this thread and jump into some modern day fluff, or is next week actually going to pertain to the teaser at the end of this week's chapter? Not that I'm opposed to modern-day fluff, but just leaping into something new without at least a "Next week… A new development!" at the end of 511 is low even for her. On the other hand, it does have me anxious to see what comes next.

  

(Quote)

DavidK:  have you every burn your avi files into dvd as data files and play on your player? I heard from my friends that if your player support DivX then the dvd will play them even though they are burn as data files. Is that so?  

(Quote)

I read through chapter 511 and have been thinking about it and am now starting to think that rumiko takahashi is just making this stuff up as she goes along. It sounds like an upgrade arc for kagome but if not explained carefully sounds like it will introduce some plot holes.

Hitomiko said no spiritual power was coming from kagome to use the bow and that her powers were being sealed, probably from birth. I assume kagome's powers aren't totally sealed because we have seen her use them. But is she only able to use them when she or her friends are in great danger? If her powers are usually sealed, how do people know she is a miko? Have people just not noticed till she said or did something? I am hoping there is a good explanation for all of this.  

(Quote)

I kinda wish Naraku said "Curses, foiled again!" after he got shot through…

He kinda owes it to us after elaborating on his plot during the entire arc.

R.I.P. Miko no Mullet X'D 

  

(Quote)

P.S: Starks you are my hero. <3 <3 <3
 

  

(Quote)

Chrisfoo: Some DVD players can read data files, but mine does not. I am able to burn divx/xvid files and make great DVD's, it's just that I'm using the easy-bake oven of burn tools. I could use more flexibility then it provides.  

IFMADC: RT is just making stuff up as she goes along, that's her writing style! She's been writing this way since chapter one. It seems that she is running out of ideas, but isn't ready to start writing an ending, or at least a final arc.

The scans look amazing! I'm not used to HQ scans, thanks Starks!

  

(Quote)

Mental Butterfly: This isn 't the first time she's left a plot thread hanging to come back to it later. I think that probably we'll get the modern chapter, and then either it will go right back to Kagome or there'll be some unrelated arc before going back to her (hopefully not the latter, this is kind of urgent- being that there's no way Naraku can be defeated if Kagome's reached the limit of her 'sealed' powers and they aren't unsealed). I'm not totally surprised she's leaving it hanging, but I can't really complain about a modern day chapter. They're something that's yet to get old, and we need at least one more. 

 It might be touched on next chapter though.

IFDMAC: Yeah, she definitely does. Don't question Rumiko's gaping plotholes of doom with reason. XDDD

 It means that Kagome only had access to a fraction of her powers. He 'true power' is sealed. If Kagome is as powerful she is with just a small portion of her ability accessible, she's going to be something to behold once she's unsealed.  I would speculate that the seal intended to encompass ALL of her powers, but Kagome had so much to contain that it busted it a bit.

 On the other hand, I'm just happy that my timeline for the series came out correctly. Around chapter 500 I estimated March to late February of '97, and it turned out right.

  

(Quote)

Haro: The year 1997 also explains how Kagome was an utter moron during the last fluff arc when it came to using her rarely-used cell phone…  

(Quote)

I was wondering…. what chapter/volume does the Inuyasha manga keep going where the anime left off?  

(Quote)

Mystic: Around chapter 355.  

(Quote)

Mystic-G: The last chapter included in the anime was ch. 356 of volume 36. The last frames of this chapter are not in the anime. Any chapter after that was never made into the anime.
  

(Quote)

The anime ended at the beggining of the 356th chapter and that's where also started the manga. It's in the 36th volume, BTW^^  

(Quote)

Starks: I'm not sure what you mean? O.o;  

(Quote)

I know this isn't popular opinion, but I've had a sneaking suspicion for a long time now involving Kagome, Kikyou, Kikyou's last minutes on the funeral pyre, the reincarnation, and Kagome's inability to show her full powers in the manga (thus making her appear lame to fans even though she's obviously not).  I started tackling the story concept of it long ago (before I had to stop writing due to illnesses and life) with this same idea in mind.  Considering that we know that Kikyou and Kagome share nothing outside of their love for Inuyasha, their looks (somewhat…it comes out when Kagome is thoughtful or sad), and their spirituality (powers and soul included in this), it's often made me wonder if this wasn't intentional (well, in the manga's plot; obviously Rumiko made it intentional) due to Kikyou and her desire to have a normal life.  Perhaps in her last minutes, she wished for a different, better life, and Kagome is the result.

I really don't buy into the idea that Kagome's been relying on Kikyou all this time, but I do think that Kikyou could have accidentally sealed away Kagome's real power with such a wish.  Since Kagome is a person who feels her emotions strongly, we see evidence of this real power whenever she or someone she cares for is threatened, but it's still latent.  I think that, given time, she's finding a way (subconsciously) to release this power which is why she's getting stronger.  Unfortunately, her self-esteem issues are still holding this back because she still can't get over the "Kikyou was better than me" hump which is what she needs to do to release her full potential.  I'm interested in how this is going to go down, though as Haro said, it probably won't come up again until a modern era storyline.

For the love of all, Rumiko, get her past the damn hump, please.  Even though it looks like Naraku's "gone," we all know he isn't, and Kagome has to come to some sort of conclusion with this identity crisis before the final battle because it's obvious (at least to me, it is) that even though this manga is titled "Inuyasha," Kagome (along with Miroku?  I don't know) will have to be the one to deal out the final blow to him, due to this being not a battle relying on strength, but one of spirituality.  

And that's my rather long-winded reaction from this chapter.  Take it however you wish.  I'm kind of sick right now, so I'm trying to make up for not being around.  Hopefully, my speech made some bit of sense.

  

(Quote)

Sounds good to me, KagomeKagome.

I just want to see ass kicking soon…tired of all this whiney business.

  

(Quote)

KK: That's a very interesting theory… If it wasn't for the "probably from birth" line, I would've assumed that Kikyou had put the miko-lock on Kagome during the times where they despised each other.  

(Quote)

kagomekagome- i like your theory.  i really wonder if rt is going to have kikyo's sealing of kagome's powers be intentional or unintentional. 

i really liked 511.  still, i agree with blameless on naraku's lack of comment when his little plan to get rid of kagome got spoiled again.   i'm wondering about him, though.  i mean, it's obvious that he's not dead, since that would kinda end the manga (i suppose).  all the same, he hasn't had a body for a while because of sango's weapon's new power or whatever.  plus, the last time kagome shot him with an arrow, he was unable to heal that part of his body without making a whole new body.  so, since this time she shot him straight through the head, what's he going to do about a body? are we going to have to go through another 'naraku makes himself a new body' arc? ugh.  i mean, i can't imagine them going through the rest of the manga with naraku only being half of a face. 

on another note, i was really glad that there were no more attempts by the others to save kagome.  i'm quite pleased that rt had her deal with the whole thing with absolutely no help from inuyasha or the others.  the only thing that kinda bummed me out was at the end when she said "back then, kikyo's will saved us?" poor kagome, always in kikyo's shadow.  i hope that changes soon.

starks- just out of curiosity, what program do you use to clean up your scans?  an excellent job with all this, by the way. 

  

(Quote)

Kynareth: Yeah, Naraku is in terrible shape right now…  

(Quote)

BTW, I use Photoshop.  

(Quote)

thank you for the high resolution scans, it's awesome!  

(Quote)

DavidK: I looked at my favorite video website and couldn't find any program, let alone freeware, that allows the importation of DixX and XVid files, authors, burns DVD's, and does a good job.  I think maybe you already found the best one available that does all that.

You never really said what features you thought it was missing, but even the full version of an simple-to-use, all-in-one program like Easy MPEG/AVI will limit your options to some extent.

If you haven't already tried, you might locate a work-around solution to make up for its deficits at http://www.videohelp.com. They have a site search feature and provide a good many guides. If you can't find what you need, you can post a question in one of their many fora.

  

(Quote)

First off, thanks Starks these high res scans are awesome…well worth the wait!  I didn't much care for 511…as expected there was a loophole in which Kagome is able to shoot through Hitomiko to hit a utterly surprised Naraku (is he ever not surprised when some puny mortal blemishes his awesome godliness!  The expressions are hilarious…what my barrier!!?, what my body isn't recovering from this poison!)

Sorry, anyhow the ending to 511 was interesting, hopefully it will be explained really well.  I like the theories posed, I was thinking maybe since Kagome is Kikyo's reincarnation them existing in the same time period somehow sealed the powers of Kagome?  I really hope Kikyo just didn't seal them on purpose I don't want her character to be further vilified!!  Well Kagome still looks far from battle ready, where is the resolution? confidence?  When her powers are unleashed (wonder what they will be?) I am sure this is when she will be more like her teammates in battle.

I know I am in the minority here, but I just cant stand the modern era arcs, I guess they are comedic filler but they seem so out of place (we have fuedal era japan where the storyline is, where all the other significant characters (besides Kagome) reside) also are almost always…or always (cant remember) just pure filler.  Well hopefully it is just one issue, then we can back to the story.

  

(Quote)

Anything is possible at this point, but I have a feeling that Kagome/Kikyou's soul isn't responsible for the seal on Kagome's spiritual powers.  I think it was somebody living in the Modern Era who did that so that while Kagome was still a child she would be safe, or at least free from the responsibility of having them. Her family has tended the shrine for generations, so she may not have been the only one born with substantial spiritual powers.

I know the parents in manga are usually blasé about their children's adventures, but I have always suspected that Kagome's mother and grandfather know something that keeps them from worrying more about her than they do.  Legends about the Jewel of Four Souls definitely survived – in the first chapter, there was that keychain with a replica of the Jewel.  Also, the Higurashi shrine occupies the same land as Kaede's shrine, and I'll bet Grandpa has read any of the records that survived over the centuries, as well as heard the oral legends pertaining to the shrine.

  

(Quote)

Those are good theories, as well.  And Tanuki, you pointed out something else I've been wondering for a while.  Obviously Jii-chan/Gramps has read the shrine's legends (since he knows about the jewel), so something around there has to hint to the gang and what happens.

I don't mind modern era arcs, really.  We've had arcs that prove the existence of spirits in "our" time, and amusing chapters dealing with Inuyasha getting accustomed to modern Japan.  I do wish, however, that at least one modern era arc would deal with the idea of Gramps finding a legend in the shrine dealing with his granddaughter's adventures.  I'd like to see his and Mama's reactions to the information, whether it be good or bad. 

  

(Quote)

Jakensama:  You're not the only one who finds modern era chapters to be blah.  494 was only good for the last 4 or 5 pages.  

(Quote)

Thanks for the two chapters, Starks = D

When I first read the part where Kagome shot Naraku, I thought she had killed him. I don't know why, but I did. Honestly, though, I don't really think Kagome would be able to kill Naraku. Rumiko has said that Kagome has more spiritual power than Kikyo… but I don't really see that. I think Kikyo is more powerful than Kagome is.

Does anyone else think that this arc moved at an extremely slow pace? I'm glad that it's over (?), I think it was pointless.

Oh well. You can just ignore my ramblings. I'm just an odd little girl.

Can't wait for the next chapter. Keep up the awesome work, Starks, and thanks again! = D (By the way, I take it you didn't like the Inuyasha Manga Profiles book?)

  

(Quote)

I have also wondered a lot about Kagome's grandfather…she comes from an entire family of shrine keepers and priests…I would imagine that the grandfather has to have some kind of idea about the legend of the shikon jewel and its fate…And…I know this is a fantasy…fairy tale…fiction thing…but it has always bugged me slightly that Kagome's mom seems to worry very little about her daughter spending the majority of her time gamboling about Medieval Japan…Who knows…this could be the analytical, overly adult part of me.

I would take a risk and say this modern era fluff will revolve around Kagome's insecurities concerning her sealed power as well as Kikyo…and her somehow confiding in Inuyasha or possibly her family about them…whatever…like I said…I'm so ready for a good fight…I haven't felt really emotionally drawn in since like…Rin nearly snuffed it in Hell…

  

(Quote)

DavidK: Thanx. I also got burn files into dvd format and can be played on all players. Very successful indeed. But previously I burn data into data files format due to the lacking of good quality blank dvds. I just heard that some players can play to with "DivX" label. Em…….. Now I am looking for a data files dvd player. Wonder you heard of any and is there any label which I can see to identify the dvd player can play the data files.  

(Quote)

Chris: Look for the DivX logo… BTW, those players will also play most XviD files.
  

(Quote)

Chrisfoo: I don't know any specific models that play data DVD's, and I'm not sure how the ones that do would be labeled. A lot of players that say they can play divx may not mean they can play data, just that they can play burned dvd's (don't know if that makes sense). Talk to someone at Bestbuy, they would know what systems can play data dvd's.  

(Quote)

Yo guys. The forums are up…

http://forums.freelance-manga.com/

Check 'em out before I make the official announcement.

(Yes, mod positions are open and I am taking suggestions for additional boards and categories.) 

  

(Quote)

cheers for forums!  

(Quote)

About the sealing. Coming to it, it looks very logical. From hints here and there it looks like humans with strong spiritual power are able to use the power of Shikon no Tama (Naraku inflicted deadly wound on
Kikyo in order to make her use the Shikon to save herself, but she choose death instead, I'm not very sure if this is manga only, anime only or in both, but it makes sense).

Now if Kagome poweres weren't sealed she could have easily detected the presence of the Shikon and even started to use its power. Definitely sealing is needed for her to keep low profile   And now thanks to the manga we know that blasting monsters limbs  is  thanks to Kagome own power, not Shikon one.

About the hi resolution scan…

I didn't like it.

Indeed there could be seen more details, mainly in the dithering of the characters. However as whole images look more grayish and noisy. I guess this is no surprise as the other_scans have been passed over filter that makes them blacker and this destroys some of the fine details in the process (e.g quite noticeable in page heading text).

Because of the higher resolution and mine crappy comic reader, I have looked the images from pretty close (width extended to screen boundaries). Watching it in such manner reveals a lot of light gray spots here and there in solid white areas. This is very irritating. I guess that these should be cleaned by hand, as they are left overs from filtering and using stringer filter would hurt the image.

I already said that as whole images look like they have more noise, aka white/gray spots in black areas.. Unfortunately sometimes  It's very  hard to figure out if this is  RT drawing, printer dithering or just poor ink saturation (of the printing press).

Keep on trying

  

(Quote)

Sn0w: Thanks for pointing those things out. I expected my first attempt to be a little haphazard. Like I said, next week, the quality will be better and more consistent. I also want to point out that my scanner is less than a year old and any quality issues prior to scanning should be blamed on Rumiko and Shogakukan's printers rather than my Photoshop skills.  

(Quote)

Starks: I am sure you will eventually perfect the process of scanning, filtering, etc. and clarity will improve.  I sometimes scan things from the newspaper into my computer, so I understand the difficulties you face to some degree.

I compared your scans to previous scans from Anonymous, using Windows picture and Fax Viewer on a 17" monitor. Although it is entirely up to you, I am not sure that continuing with higher resolution scans is worth the extra scanning time, upload time, storage space, and bandwidth. I tend to read with the whole page in view, and before I could really see a difference, I hsd to zoom in quite a bit.

Since I am a dial-up user, nearly doubling the download time was a bit of a drawback for me, though guess I would eventually get used to it.   In that respect, I'm probably in the minority here, but just in case I am wrong, I thought I should mention it.

  

(Quote)

Thanks Starks and DavidK.  

(Quote)

with the conflict over rumiko takashi going to the modern episode after words, she has in the past taken charactors and stories to a place where i thought the story was long gone and i had no idea of how it was going to work or tie in but some how she pulls it all together and it works and she gets us back on track. her twist and turns in the story plot are one of the things i admire about her and she always seems to pull it together and tie it all in and at he end it all makes perfect scence. i dont know what shes planning now or what direction she will take (another moment where im lost) but im shure its something brilliant and it will all work out in the end, tie together and be resulved making perfect scence. i also think that she is, from this conflict, make a point or show kagome out of kikiyos shadow and seperate her as her own person while also showing that the girls share the same soal.  

(Quote)