Another Inuyasha post
Inuyasha, my OTF, I'm falling in love with you again. <3





I have no words for how happy this makes me, except to say that I feel like singing.

And then there was this, too.



And that just makes me grin like an idiot (GO KOHAKU).

Let me backtrack to try to explain how I feel here. I've been an Inuyasha fan for just over five years now (though God, it feels a lot longer). Now, everyone goes through their different fandom phases, and this was around my fourth or fifth big one (let's see, there was Star Wars, Ronin Warriors, Gundam Wing, and Digimon... so yeah, fifth). But this was my first time falling in love with a still-ongoing series, one that was at the height of its prime at the time and showed no sign of stopping.

Anyone who's been in a fandom for a series that has ended as well as a fandom for a series that's still continuing can tell you that there are quite a few differences. Not that the former can't be just as active, but in general the latter type tend to be much more alive. There's constantly debate and speculation and gushing and complaining going on, and every week brings something new. So yeah, Inuyasha was my first ongoing fandom, and for that it will always hold a special place in my heart, because I experienced it at the same time as everyone else, and I grew along with the characters, and there was anticipation and excitement with every new chapter (and back in the days of the anime, the episodes too). I cried when Kagura died. I cheered when Miroku proposed to Sango. I nearly died of laughter when Shippou got possessed by that bug thing and wreaked havoc (Inuyasha flying away with the propeller on his head is still the most hysterically funny panel in the history of manga), and I turned to mush every time Inuyasha and Kagome grew closer to one another.

What I'm trying to explain is that I've bonded with this series, to put it simply. I love these characters. I love this story, ridiculously long-winded as it's become. I've never stopped loving it, even as I've moved on to other fandoms which I love even more (no guesses which). So to me, seeing it approach its conclusion at long last is exciting and strangely emotional in a way I haven't experienced with any other series (since Naruto's not there yet XD). I'm no longer in the fandom, so to speak (in that I've left my old IY online haunts), but I still read the manga faithfully every week, and the past year or so (because it's been that drawn out, but it's definitely been wrapping up for at least that long) has been a really great ride. I've bid farewell to some of my favorite characters (rest in peace, Kikyou), and read on with pride as others have matured (oh god, Kohaku, I love you so damn much). I've watched with fondness as my favorite pairs have become... well, even more my favorite (Miroku/Sango, my all-time OTP), and to my surprise, I've even seen characters I previously thought one-dimensional (er, hey there Sess) grow in ways I never expected (yeah, fuzzy boy, I never thought you had it in you to mature, but you did).

And I've counted down in my head as, one by one, plot threads of days gone by were wrapped up and bid farewell to. The Shikon shards are all accounted for save Kohaku's, which is about to taken care of one way or another. Kikyou is resting in peace (and no longer represents a barrier between Inuyasha and Kagome, either). Sesshoumaru's gotten over both his lingering issues with his father and his cliched and boring hatred for humans. Inuyasha's mastered Tessaiga--or at least, he damn well better have, because that is enough sword arcs, thank you very much--and his own power. Kohaku is overcoming his demons, as this latest chapter demonstrates. Virtually the only obstacle left for Miroku and Sango to overcome is Naraku, and his days have always been numbered. And Kagome is close to discovering Inner Kagome her true hidden power at last, which more than anything else marks the final curtain call of the series, because in the end it's always been about her journey and Inuyasha's, and that is finally coming to an end.

It's like watching your kids grow up. Or maybe the kids around the neighborhood, the ones you knew would always get together (after 11 years, for Sango and Miroku finally kiss--even if he was unconscious, dammit--that calls for a hell yes) and go on to do great things. And even though it's sad to see them getting ready to leave for good, at the same time, it's so great to watch them finally come into their own and kick some fucking ass while they're at it.

And damn, does it make you nostalgic. So yeah, while I never really fell out of love, I'm falling back in nonetheless. God, I'm going to miss these idiot kids. Yours has been an epic story in all the best ways, guys.

And thus ends my love letter. Incidentally, there's a site with every single episode of the dub (yes, the dub, so you can go sneer in a corner if you're gonna be elitist about that :P) available to stream and watch here, so if anyone else wants to go relive their favorite moments, I recommend that. As for the manga, you can download all of the chapters from this site, or check out the latest ones here if you're just interested in the recent stuff.

::goes to make fajitas and watch House::