Saiyuki Reload vol. 7

What is that Tarot card doing there?

You see, I had a problem deciding how to express anything about this volume above the cut, without spoiling the story. The previous volume had left us in a totally horrible moment. If you recall, there had just been two really wonderful conversations about life and death - but mostly about life - touched off by the results of Hazel's resurrection powers. Gojyo and Hakkai had discussed their future - and the emphasis should be on "their," despite Hakkai's extended fantasy on the indestructible woman he is supposedly seeking. Meanwhile, Goku had seemingly touched Sanzo with his understanding of the points Sanzo was making about living life fully, without dwelling on life's end. Sanzo has given Goku that little smile before, but not while Goku was awake to see it - and I don't think Goku was fooled by the fact that the smile was aimed at Sanzo's cigarette.

Then something attacked Goku, and there was blood everywhere. Bam - end of volume 6.

So, volume 7, and this card. This is the Six of Swords (from the Rider-Waite deck, if anyone is into that sort of occult trivia). Swords represent trouble, strife, sorrow. A ferryman poles a shallow barge over a river, carrying two huddled figures, adult and child, and six swords, apparently driven point-down into the floor of the barge. The usual interpretation of the card is "leaving sorrows behind." But when I read this card, I see that the sorrows - the swords - are in the boat with the refugees. Although they have succeeded in obtaining passage away from whatever they have left behind on the bank, they carry their sorrows with them.

And so it is with the Sanzo ikkou in this volume.

( Read on - spoilers! )