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xxxHOLiC: Rei [XXX ホリック・レイ] #4
xxxHOLiC Rei, Vol. 4
FAMILIAR FACES
After fulfilling his promise to Syaoran, Watanuki returns to the shop, where customer requests continue to roll in one after another. But satisfying customers isn’t the only thing on Watanuki’s mind—there’s still the mystery of the strange slab of amber, as well as the overwhelming sense of nostalgia that continues to plague him as more requests come in. And while Watanuki tries his best to grant all the wishes before him, his abilities as a shopkeeper are soon put to the test in a different way, determined by the outcome of a single choice…
After fulfilling his promise to Syaoran, Watanuki returns to the shop, where customer requests continue to roll in one after another. But satisfying customers isn’t the only thing on Watanuki’s mind—there’s still the mystery of the strange slab of amber, as well as the overwhelming sense of nostalgia that continues to plague him as more requests come in. And while Watanuki tries his best to grant all the wishes before him, his abilities as a shopkeeper are soon put to the test in a different way, determined by the outcome of a single choice…
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2016
About the author
Clamp
765 books3,180 followersŌkawa Nanase 大川七瀬
[born: 2 May 1967; Ōsaka, bloodtype: A]
Mokona Apapa もこなあぱぱ
[born: 16 Jun 1968, Kyōto; bloodtype: A]
Nekoi Mick 猫井みっく
[born: 21 Jan 1969, Kyōto; bloodtype: O]
Igarashi Satsuki 五十嵐さつき
[born: 8 Feb 1969, Kyōto; bloodtype: A]
CLAMP originally began in 1989 as a twelve-member dōjinshi circle, but by 1990, the circle had diminished from twelve to seven. Of the remaining seven, Tamayo Akiyama, Sei Nanao, and Leeza Sei left the group during the production of the RG Veda manga. Other former members of CLAMP also included Soushi Hishika, O-Kyon, Kazue Nakamori, Yuzuru Inoue and Shinya Ōmi. Currently, there are four members in the group.
In 2004, CLAMP's 15th anniversary as a mangaka group, the members changed their names from Nanase Ohkawa, Mokona Apapa, Mick Nekoi, and Satsuki Igarashi to Ageha Ohkawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi and Satsuki Igarashi (her name is pronounced the same, but written with different characters) respectively. The August 2004 issue of Newtype USA, a magazine specializing in events of the anime and manga subcultures, reported that the members of CLAMP simply wanted to try out new names. In a later interview with Ohkawa, it was revealed that initially Mokona wanted to drop her surname because it sounded too immature for her liking, while Nekoi disliked people commenting that her name was the same as Mick Jagger's. Ohkawa and Igarashi, wanting to go with the flow of Nekoi's and Mokona's name changes, changed their names as well.
In 2006, they made their first USA public debut at Anime Expo in Anaheim, California. They were well received at the convention, with 6,000 fans in attendance at their panel.
[born: 2 May 1967; Ōsaka, bloodtype: A]
Mokona Apapa もこなあぱぱ
[born: 16 Jun 1968, Kyōto; bloodtype: A]
Nekoi Mick 猫井みっく
[born: 21 Jan 1969, Kyōto; bloodtype: O]
Igarashi Satsuki 五十嵐さつき
[born: 8 Feb 1969, Kyōto; bloodtype: A]
CLAMP originally began in 1989 as a twelve-member dōjinshi circle, but by 1990, the circle had diminished from twelve to seven. Of the remaining seven, Tamayo Akiyama, Sei Nanao, and Leeza Sei left the group during the production of the RG Veda manga. Other former members of CLAMP also included Soushi Hishika, O-Kyon, Kazue Nakamori, Yuzuru Inoue and Shinya Ōmi. Currently, there are four members in the group.
In 2004, CLAMP's 15th anniversary as a mangaka group, the members changed their names from Nanase Ohkawa, Mokona Apapa, Mick Nekoi, and Satsuki Igarashi to Ageha Ohkawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi and Satsuki Igarashi (her name is pronounced the same, but written with different characters) respectively. The August 2004 issue of Newtype USA, a magazine specializing in events of the anime and manga subcultures, reported that the members of CLAMP simply wanted to try out new names. In a later interview with Ohkawa, it was revealed that initially Mokona wanted to drop her surname because it sounded too immature for her liking, while Nekoi disliked people commenting that her name was the same as Mick Jagger's. Ohkawa and Igarashi, wanting to go with the flow of Nekoi's and Mokona's name changes, changed their names as well.
In 2006, they made their first USA public debut at Anime Expo in Anaheim, California. They were well received at the convention, with 6,000 fans in attendance at their panel.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 17, 2022
FINALLY! Finally I could read this one and WOW this was just absolutely wonderful!
It took me some years but I finally got the fourth volume. Finally I could continue reading this one. Last week (and with that I mean in January) I re-read the other 3 books because it has been a few years since I read the series and I wanted to make sure I knew all the details again. Vaguely I knew, but not 100%.
In this volume Watanuki wakes from his slumber. Finally he has figured out what he was doing. Why he was asleep. What his plans were. And of course, CLAMP wouldn’t be CLAMP, it all connects to Tsubasa again. Haha, and let that be the one I hadn’t re-read so I was often quite confused. Just like xxxholi Rei it has been 5-8 years since I last read it and that is the main story, I am not sure how far I was in the next series of 3 volumes, so the details are vague. In the end I just went on Wikipedia to read up on what happened. And then things clicked. I was at least right on who was calling Watanuki in the previous volume. There is indeed one person who calls Watanuki Kimihiro. XD The Tsubasa story connecting so closely to xxxHolic is fun, but also heartbreaking. If the party there experiences heartbreak.. the connection with xxxHolic part also makes it heavy there. Causing Watanuki to faint for instance.
Thankfully, there are also other parts. Like Doumeki who brings along something from his mysterious professor again. It is up to Watanuki to figure out in the mysterious xxxHolic way. Aka mostly by doing favours and reading the mood/emotions. There is trouble in supernatural parts as well and I was just so sad to read about it. We got hints in the previous volumes that not all was well for the Gods and supernatural beings. People are just building everywhere, there are less and less spots for the youkai, and not only that. People are believing less. I just wanted to hug so many characters in this one.
I was proud of Watanuki though. Yes, it is a tough life he is having now. He is still fairly young but he already knows he can never leave. However he is making the most of it. Thankfully, he has many people (and Mokona) around him to make sure his life is vibrant and energetic. I love how mature he is these days and how he learned how to treat the customers, how to make sure it is a fair trade. We have seen that at times it wasn’t easy, sometimes he was just too kind or he didn’t know what would be good. But in this one? We see him get favours and know what to do next. Know what to do to make the exchange right.
Oh, and I hope that Watanuki takes of his glasses more often, haha, he looks way cuter then. XD
I had tons of fun reading this one… and now I guess the wait begins again. The hope that CLAMP continues this one and doesn’t take endless, then again, given that this one originally came out in 2016.. it has been too long already. 😐 sighs
All in all though, I would still recommend this series (and make sure you read Tsubasa as well) to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
It took me some years but I finally got the fourth volume. Finally I could continue reading this one. Last week (and with that I mean in January) I re-read the other 3 books because it has been a few years since I read the series and I wanted to make sure I knew all the details again. Vaguely I knew, but not 100%.
In this volume Watanuki wakes from his slumber. Finally he has figured out what he was doing. Why he was asleep. What his plans were. And of course, CLAMP wouldn’t be CLAMP, it all connects to Tsubasa again. Haha, and let that be the one I hadn’t re-read so I was often quite confused. Just like xxxholi Rei it has been 5-8 years since I last read it and that is the main story, I am not sure how far I was in the next series of 3 volumes, so the details are vague. In the end I just went on Wikipedia to read up on what happened. And then things clicked. I was at least right on who was calling Watanuki in the previous volume. There is indeed one person who calls Watanuki Kimihiro. XD The Tsubasa story connecting so closely to xxxHolic is fun, but also heartbreaking. If the party there experiences heartbreak.. the connection with xxxHolic part also makes it heavy there. Causing Watanuki to faint for instance.
Thankfully, there are also other parts. Like Doumeki who brings along something from his mysterious professor again. It is up to Watanuki to figure out in the mysterious xxxHolic way. Aka mostly by doing favours and reading the mood/emotions. There is trouble in supernatural parts as well and I was just so sad to read about it. We got hints in the previous volumes that not all was well for the Gods and supernatural beings. People are just building everywhere, there are less and less spots for the youkai, and not only that. People are believing less. I just wanted to hug so many characters in this one.
I was proud of Watanuki though. Yes, it is a tough life he is having now. He is still fairly young but he already knows he can never leave. However he is making the most of it. Thankfully, he has many people (and Mokona) around him to make sure his life is vibrant and energetic. I love how mature he is these days and how he learned how to treat the customers, how to make sure it is a fair trade. We have seen that at times it wasn’t easy, sometimes he was just too kind or he didn’t know what would be good. But in this one? We see him get favours and know what to do next. Know what to do to make the exchange right.
Oh, and I hope that Watanuki takes of his glasses more often, haha, he looks way cuter then. XD
I had tons of fun reading this one… and now I guess the wait begins again. The hope that CLAMP continues this one and doesn’t take endless, then again, given that this one originally came out in 2016.. it has been too long already. 😐 sighs
All in all though, I would still recommend this series (and make sure you read Tsubasa as well) to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
January 12, 2022
Ok, considering how good xxxHolic is in general, that volume wasn't really anything special. And of course this manga is on hiatus, so cliffhanger...
January 18, 2025
Ah. This feels bittersweet! To round out my first era with CLAMP's manga work (Magic Knight Rayearth started it all), here we have xxxHolic Rei. I initially wasn't sure what this companion series would serve after finishing xxxHolic. Some questions weren't answered despite thriving off of Watanuki's growth, and while they may not have necessarily been answered, Rei stil proved to be entertaining. The cameos offered in this volume made me smile. We can continue to see how Watanuki's world has grown in relation to the people he's met under Yuuko's care. I also think our lead has come more to terms with being on his own. Unfortunately, having knowledge of Tsubasa's spin off series, WoRLD CHRoNiCLE, would likely have helped me appreciate Rei more, especially since its initial plot point seemed to have hinged on it.
Was this series still worth it until the end? Naturally. I've made a good friend in my grad program after discovering we were both into CLAMP, and discussing it with him has been so fun! I also think having a slice of life series with a supernatural lean has helped reignite a spark in the genre that's cooled on me over the years. The character growth, pretty art, and queer subtext were several bonuses. Once I collect this series, I'll likely stop at 15.
BRB About to buy the anime now.
Was this series still worth it until the end? Naturally. I've made a good friend in my grad program after discovering we were both into CLAMP, and discussing it with him has been so fun! I also think having a slice of life series with a supernatural lean has helped reignite a spark in the genre that's cooled on me over the years. The character growth, pretty art, and queer subtext were several bonuses. Once I collect this series, I'll likely stop at 15.
BRB About to buy the anime now.
April 6, 2020
Beh, aspetto con ansia i prossimi.
Sperando non ci vogliano 5 secoli e mezzo
Sperando non ci vogliano 5 secoli e mezzo
July 8, 2023
3.5⭐
Right as it gets interesting the series goes on indefinite hiatus. That's typical
Right as it gets interesting the series goes on indefinite hiatus. That's typical
August 31, 2024
This series ends on a CLIFFHANGER?!?!
April 22, 2019
As much as I loved this volume, I was once again dismayed to find that Watanuki's story was not wrapped up and was left as a "To be continued..." sort of thing. I shouldn't be surprised, this is CLAMP's usual modus operandi, but still, the lack of another volume or a definitive ending makes me wanting more. The series is mentioned on wikipedia as ongoing, but its been six years since the last chapter has been released. At this point I am not sure this is a story CLAMP will continue, and that would be a shame to end one of the best mangas ever on a cliffhanger.
August 24, 2017
Malditos cliffhangers del mal D:<
March 31, 2024
Perhaps appropriately, this final volume highlights both my appreciation for, and my frustrations with, this series. Note that this review contains major spoilers for xxxHolic past v. 14 or so of the first series.
- I love the art, and also feel it relies on large panels and plain backgrounds too often.
- There are a number of appealing side characters, who show up infrequently. It's hard to develop an attachment to, or, in some cases, even remember them when they show up in a subsequent storyline.
- I never thought I'd say this, but I'm getting a little tired of seeing Yuuko.
- I was never entirely sold on the crossover aspect of this series. It always felt forced and artificial to me. CLAMP is trying to make two different genres mesh, and not to great success. Syaoran and Sakura show up briefly in this volume, reinforcing my irritation with that aspect of the series.
- CLAMP has a long game going on here, and they're starting to show their hand in this volume and in the previous one. Unfortunately, these revelations also show that their writer's over-structured, portentous writing is still in play, and has been for a couple dozen volumes of this series. That storytelling didn't do much for me in the 1990s, and doesn't do much for me now. It's always felt somewhat lifeless, lacking in sincerity (whatever that might amount to), or not open to playful inspiration, for me.
I've enjoyed this series a lot, despite my complaints, and am sorry to think that, like X, we might not ever see the end of it. After almost ten years of "hiatus," there's no reason to hold out hope for its return. 23 volumes isn't near enough, but there are always rereads. Maybe some of the recurring characters will make a stronger impression next time, which would be to the good.
Farewell for now, xxxHolic!
- I love the art, and also feel it relies on large panels and plain backgrounds too often.
- There are a number of appealing side characters, who show up infrequently. It's hard to develop an attachment to, or, in some cases, even remember them when they show up in a subsequent storyline.
- I never thought I'd say this, but I'm getting a little tired of seeing Yuuko.
A life, once gone, never returns. People don't come back to life. Even if their soul is the same, even if they are reborn, they will not have lived the same life. They will not have the same memories. At that point, it isn't "that person." It's someone else.Well, okay. Are Watanuki--and we, by extension--supposed to reconcile ourselves to Yuuko being gone forever? If so, let that happen, and don't have her (or "her") show up in every other episode to yank on our heartstrings. Perhaps her being in her most recent appearance is a way of showing that Watanuki's mourning is taking its course, and she will eventually become more of a memory than a vivid presence for him. This volume's cover, with , is another possible indication that that's what's happening.
- I was never entirely sold on the crossover aspect of this series. It always felt forced and artificial to me. CLAMP is trying to make two different genres mesh, and not to great success. Syaoran and Sakura show up briefly in this volume, reinforcing my irritation with that aspect of the series.
- CLAMP has a long game going on here, and they're starting to show their hand in this volume and in the previous one. Unfortunately, these revelations also show that their writer's over-structured, portentous writing is still in play, and has been for a couple dozen volumes of this series. That storytelling didn't do much for me in the 1990s, and doesn't do much for me now. It's always felt somewhat lifeless, lacking in sincerity (whatever that might amount to), or not open to playful inspiration, for me.
I've enjoyed this series a lot, despite my complaints, and am sorry to think that, like X, we might not ever see the end of it. After almost ten years of "hiatus," there's no reason to hold out hope for its return. 23 volumes isn't near enough, but there are always rereads. Maybe some of the recurring characters will make a stronger impression next time, which would be to the good.
Farewell for now, xxxHolic!
March 19, 2024
Zasshiki Warashi terserang bahaya karena habitatnya semakin rusak. Dia terancam akan menghilang dan berubah menjadi "shuka". Ame-warashi meminta mutiara merah yang diberikan yaobikuni untuk diberikan kepada Zasshiki Warashi. Tapi Watanuki tak memberikannya karena bayarannya terlalu tinggi. Sebagai gantinya, dia memberikan sebuah kurungan burung yang dikirim Syaoran dari Niraikanai. Namun, itu hanya berfungsi sementara. Neko-musume kemudian bilang bahwa yang menginginkan Zasshiki Warashi untuk menjadi "shuka" salah satunya adalah Penyihir Dimensi. Yuuko???
Dan setelah ini, bakal ada 3 chapter yang belum dibukukan dan gak ada sambungannya sampai sekarang. Huhuhuhu. Apa CLAMP bakal nerusin Rei setelah Clear Card sudah tamat? Gimanaaaaaa?
Dan setelah ini, bakal ada 3 chapter yang belum dibukukan dan gak ada sambungannya sampai sekarang. Huhuhuhu. Apa CLAMP bakal nerusin Rei setelah Clear Card sudah tamat? Gimanaaaaaa?
January 19, 2020
REALLY CLAMP? THAT'S WHERE YOU STOPPED THIS?
So, obviously this connects to Tsubasa World Chronicle which I'm now itching to read. I love the return of characters and concepts from the original xxxHolic! I appreciate how everything connects and adds more depth to what we already know, and the plot has really gotten interesting!
So now, of course, we know CLAMP is pausing work on this series, presumably to focus on the Cardcaptors sequel. I really, really hope they come back to it though (or, better yet, connect Cardcaptors to this and Tsubasa as well!).
All we can do is wait...
So, obviously this connects to Tsubasa World Chronicle which I'm now itching to read. I love the return of characters and concepts from the original xxxHolic! I appreciate how everything connects and adds more depth to what we already know, and the plot has really gotten interesting!
So now, of course, we know CLAMP is pausing work on this series, presumably to focus on the Cardcaptors sequel. I really, really hope they come back to it though (or, better yet, connect Cardcaptors to this and Tsubasa as well!).
All we can do is wait...
December 28, 2022
So so so, a new arc gets set up in Rei vol 4 about the Zashiki-Warashi (other things also happen, including a request from Doumeki's professor about a dragon living in amber, and Watanuki is in his full mature shopkeeper attitude, which I enjoy a lot.)
WARNING: while there's like 3 more unpublished chapters, Rei (currently- 2022) ends on a real cliffhanger.
However; it's still better than the finality of vanilla xxxholic's ending, so we can all be thankful that we aren't sobbing and instead live in moments of horror movie anticipation.
WARNING: while there's like 3 more unpublished chapters, Rei (currently- 2022) ends on a real cliffhanger.
However; it's still better than the finality of vanilla xxxholic's ending, so we can all be thankful that we aren't sobbing and instead live in moments of horror movie anticipation.
June 8, 2018
Another great read. I am very surprised of how the plot is unfolding. This is certainly a series that I am thoroughly enjoying a lot. I might re-read the first four volumes again. I hope that there will be another anime from this series.
There is much more to discover as the story progress. I am looking forward to the next volume when it comes out.
There is much more to discover as the story progress. I am looking forward to the next volume when it comes out.
May 13, 2019
Watanuki in Charge
Watanuki-san is serving as the caretaker in charge of the Shop of Granting Wishes in place of Yuko-san. Kimihiro is learning more and more in order to better serve his customers. He is also gaining more and more powers. Kimihiro cares deeply about his Friends probably too much so.
Watanuki-san is serving as the caretaker in charge of the Shop of Granting Wishes in place of Yuko-san. Kimihiro is learning more and more in order to better serve his customers. He is also gaining more and more powers. Kimihiro cares deeply about his Friends probably too much so.
August 1, 2022
Al principio estaba muy confundida por cómo empezaba la historia pero vaya pedazo de final.
La conexión con Tsubasa es claramente obvio pero aún así Holic me gana más en sentimiento. Me emociono más y lloro junto con Watanuki.
Aún así, el final es agridulce porque como SIEMPRE CLAMP no termina las historias xd ojalá y ya se apuren y no nos dejen como con X/1999
La conexión con Tsubasa es claramente obvio pero aún así Holic me gana más en sentimiento. Me emociono más y lloro junto con Watanuki.
Aún así, el final es agridulce porque como SIEMPRE CLAMP no termina las historias xd ojalá y ya se apuren y no nos dejen como con X/1999
May 7, 2018
I feel like there are some things that weren’t clear either because they were in Tsubasa and I didn’t read them, or because I’d forgotten what I’d read, but it was still nice to get another few chapters of the story.
June 2, 2023
How? It seems that Yûko is coming back, but from where? And why is she trying to kill the girl? That's uncharacteristic of her. It so mysterious yet exciting! I wonder how she will be able to come back. I hope this series gets continued soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2017
These cliffhanger endings are the worst!
July 16, 2018
It's not the end. AHHHH. There's more that my library does not have!!
What do the dreams mean? What has happened to the others?
What do the dreams mean? What has happened to the others?
January 5, 2019
3.5 stars
December 18, 2021
And that's it then, apparently the series went on hiatus after this and just hasn't come back. I'm going to go cry now.
January 15, 2022
I really like the continued development of Watanuki and the return of other characters in this volume. But I want the next one and it's not available!
May 24, 2022
Vorrei potermi cancellare la memoria per rileggere tutto Holic da capo.
November 5, 2022
Perfectly mysterious and wonderfully paced
December 4, 2023
Another connection to Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle with Syaoran has a special appearance here. I’m glad Clamp always got so many weird ideas.
June 29, 2020
UPDATED 6/28: So, having reread the series again in its entirety, I remain upset that there's no continuation yet.
It's been so fucking long since I saw a new volume for this series so really at least one star is just straight up excitement on my part. (CLAMP, if you could do a girl a solid and FINISH THIS??? and maybe Drug & Drop, I'd appreciate it.)
ANYWAY. Spoilers below.
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Okay, so this picks up where the last volume left off (Watanuki waking up from his Yuuko dream and jfc remembering that makes my heart hurt?? but also sending those items off to Syaoran). There's a brief convo with Syaoran via Mokonaphone, and then we switch to Doumeki (who... I *think* is Real Doumeki and not Relative Doumeki? If Syaoran & co. are still alive, then it's gotta be Real Doumeki, right? Right.) who shows up with ... something encased in amber for Watanuki to figure out.
Yaobikuni makes an appearance -- she was originally in ... Kei, I think? I maybe have to do a reread -- but she's returning the shamisen that Jorogumo borrowed (also... back in Kei?? Since Rei started with Watanuki in his dreamscape) and also asking some ~*~life advice~*~ because apparently she's in love with Jorogumo. Watanuki basically tells her that her being herself and growing strong enough to no longer think she deserves physical and emotional abuse is payment for all that Jorogumo does for her, she offers up the red pearl she'd created in her first appearance as payment. As is usual, balance has to be maintained, so Watanuki plays the shamisen and sends her off with a bottle of alcohol because for the advice and return of the shamisen, something as precious as a red pearl is too much as payment.
Ame Warashi, however, shows up not much later, asking for the red pearl as Zashiki Warashi is perilously close to disappearing. She says she realizes the price will be high, but she's willing to pay. Watanuki sends her away for now because he needs to Think.
He agonizes over it because of the price that would be required, and Doumeki offers some advice, as he do. Watanuki gets huffy (as *he* do), and walks off to get some booze, but then collapses. This ... I realize I need to catch up on Tsubasa World to understand, but basically something happened with Syaoran, and Watanuki sees Syaoran with the Clone, and it's a Thing, but then it gets resolved. Somehow. (Damn you, CLAMP. Tsubasa pisses me off so much.)
There's another convo with Syaoran, who reveals that he wants to return the cage Watanuki sent over. Fai and Kurogane apparently agreed to pay the price, so it gets delivered via Mokona Fed Ex. After this (or maybe it was before -- my copy is at home so I can't double check), Watanuki reveals to Doumeki he had a dream where Syaoran went to sleep which was why he was limiting contact with him.
Back to the cage. Watanuki calls Ame Warashi back to offer her the cage -- apparently, it's journey through dimensions has allowed it to gain power to protect whatever is in it, so Zashiki Warashi will be safe as long as she's inside, which gives them more time to find an answer that satisfies everyone to keep her from disappearing. In exchange, Watanuki asks her to tell him what's inside the amber that Doumeki brought him in the beginning.
Turns out that Doumeki's professor ended up with a dragon egg. Because of course he did.
The volume ends with the appearance of Neko Musume, who drops by to deliver some gossip about Zashiki Warashi, who is apparently in the process of being turned into a shuka, which is a curse, due to the impurities of the world. This is why Zashiki Warashi wants to disappear: to avoid becoming a shuka.
Of course, as they do, there are people who have already heard about this and want to have the shuka for themselves. It ends with the reveal of one such person: someone calling themselves the Space Time Witch.
Okay. Now that the recap is done. WTAF, CLAMP. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, though. See: Eriol. But what would the Space Time Witch want with a curse? They're supposed to maintain balance, and isn't that what Watanuki technically is?
Good entry. Nostalgia factor 10/10. Bonus points for being the first manga I've picked up in over a year.
It's been so fucking long since I saw a new volume for this series so really at least one star is just straight up excitement on my part. (CLAMP, if you could do a girl a solid and FINISH THIS??? and maybe Drug & Drop, I'd appreciate it.)
ANYWAY. Spoilers below.
-
-
-
-
-
Okay, so this picks up where the last volume left off (Watanuki waking up from his Yuuko dream and jfc remembering that makes my heart hurt?? but also sending those items off to Syaoran). There's a brief convo with Syaoran via Mokonaphone, and then we switch to Doumeki (who... I *think* is Real Doumeki and not Relative Doumeki? If Syaoran & co. are still alive, then it's gotta be Real Doumeki, right? Right.) who shows up with ... something encased in amber for Watanuki to figure out.
Yaobikuni makes an appearance -- she was originally in ... Kei, I think? I maybe have to do a reread -- but she's returning the shamisen that Jorogumo borrowed (also... back in Kei?? Since Rei started with Watanuki in his dreamscape) and also asking some ~*~life advice~*~ because apparently she's in love with Jorogumo. Watanuki basically tells her that her being herself and growing strong enough to no longer think she deserves physical and emotional abuse is payment for all that Jorogumo does for her, she offers up the red pearl she'd created in her first appearance as payment. As is usual, balance has to be maintained, so Watanuki plays the shamisen and sends her off with a bottle of alcohol because for the advice and return of the shamisen, something as precious as a red pearl is too much as payment.
Ame Warashi, however, shows up not much later, asking for the red pearl as Zashiki Warashi is perilously close to disappearing. She says she realizes the price will be high, but she's willing to pay. Watanuki sends her away for now because he needs to Think.
He agonizes over it because of the price that would be required, and Doumeki offers some advice, as he do. Watanuki gets huffy (as *he* do), and walks off to get some booze, but then collapses. This ... I realize I need to catch up on Tsubasa World to understand, but basically something happened with Syaoran, and Watanuki sees Syaoran with the Clone, and it's a Thing, but then it gets resolved. Somehow. (Damn you, CLAMP. Tsubasa pisses me off so much.)
There's another convo with Syaoran, who reveals that he wants to return the cage Watanuki sent over. Fai and Kurogane apparently agreed to pay the price, so it gets delivered via Mokona Fed Ex. After this (or maybe it was before -- my copy is at home so I can't double check), Watanuki reveals to Doumeki he had a dream where Syaoran went to sleep which was why he was limiting contact with him.
Back to the cage. Watanuki calls Ame Warashi back to offer her the cage -- apparently, it's journey through dimensions has allowed it to gain power to protect whatever is in it, so Zashiki Warashi will be safe as long as she's inside, which gives them more time to find an answer that satisfies everyone to keep her from disappearing. In exchange, Watanuki asks her to tell him what's inside the amber that Doumeki brought him in the beginning.
Turns out that Doumeki's professor ended up with a dragon egg. Because of course he did.
The volume ends with the appearance of Neko Musume, who drops by to deliver some gossip about Zashiki Warashi, who is apparently in the process of being turned into a shuka, which is a curse, due to the impurities of the world. This is why Zashiki Warashi wants to disappear: to avoid becoming a shuka.
Of course, as they do, there are people who have already heard about this and want to have the shuka for themselves. It ends with the reveal of one such person: someone calling themselves the Space Time Witch.
Okay. Now that the recap is done. WTAF, CLAMP. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, though. See: Eriol. But what would the Space Time Witch want with a curse? They're supposed to maintain balance, and isn't that what Watanuki technically is?
Good entry. Nostalgia factor 10/10. Bonus points for being the first manga I've picked up in over a year.
September 19, 2025
De hecho en 2025 releí todo xxxHolic y Rei. En menos de un mes, solo que no llevé tracking de las fechas exactas (me dio vergüenza).
Teen me and adult me lo amamos por las mismas razones: el estilo de dibujo es único, recuerdo cómo me impresionaba: las Clamp no tenían miedo de mostrar esos cuerpos tan largos, tan irreales. La ropa gótica, las líneas tan virtuales, las tramas tan densas. Me gustaban los espíritus y criaturas. Me gustaba Doumeki jajaja y me gusta como es un cozy manga de cierta manera, no pasa nada, solo siguen con sus vidas. No me gustaban tanto los retos psicológicos como los que implicaban valentía. Esta es mi comfort serie, que he visto y releido tantas veces, la amo tanto, sus openings, su arte.
Ahora le entendí un poco más, aunque en aquella época lo leí muy cerca de Tsubasa y eso definitivamente ayuda.
Teen me and adult me lo amamos por las mismas razones: el estilo de dibujo es único, recuerdo cómo me impresionaba: las Clamp no tenían miedo de mostrar esos cuerpos tan largos, tan irreales. La ropa gótica, las líneas tan virtuales, las tramas tan densas. Me gustaban los espíritus y criaturas. Me gustaba Doumeki jajaja y me gusta como es un cozy manga de cierta manera, no pasa nada, solo siguen con sus vidas. No me gustaban tanto los retos psicológicos como los que implicaban valentía. Esta es mi comfort serie, que he visto y releido tantas veces, la amo tanto, sus openings, su arte.
Ahora le entendí un poco más, aunque en aquella época lo leí muy cerca de Tsubasa y eso definitivamente ayuda.
May 10, 2025
Lo que más duele es saber que muchos años después la serie sigue sin terminarse. Y ya se vuelve medio molesto con las Clamp porque sus historias son geniales, pero queremos continuación y finales.
Dentro de la historia igual se vuelve ya muy castroso leer lo mismo y lo mismo, que Watanuki odie a Domeki y que se la pasen pidiendo más alcohol. Ya aburre. El problema ahora recae en la zashiki warashi, pero no me importó mucho.
Dentro de la historia igual se vuelve ya muy castroso leer lo mismo y lo mismo, que Watanuki odie a Domeki y que se la pasen pidiendo más alcohol. Ya aburre. El problema ahora recae en la zashiki warashi, pero no me importó mucho.
July 1, 2019
(2019 reread) "I'm looking for an answer, too, so that I can meet Yuko-san."
I don't even know what to say at this point - appearances by Yuko and Syaoran absolutely had me in tears. How can someone make these decisions, especially when he doesn't even know who - or what - he actually is?
I don't even know what to say at this point - appearances by Yuko and Syaoran absolutely had me in tears. How can someone make these decisions, especially when he doesn't even know who - or what - he actually is?
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