xXxHolic

[moogleloveschocobos]

xxxholic is really good, though i know some ppl cant seem to find the plot since it isnt the kind that jumps out at you. by the way things are going, i think xxxholic and tsubasa are not only starting together but ending together :D

[-KarumA-]

maybe a rebirth of Yuuko =< though I hope she remains alright

[xuia]

:( I really want a Yuuko/Watanuki ending. But CLAMP has been known to go for the sad ending.

What do you mean Sad Ending O.o??? Omg, i hope this one wont be one xD
@w@ wow ... i never thought about a Yuuko/Watanuki Pairing @w@ really wierd [no offense!!! QwQ]

[NickelXenon]

What do you mean Sad Ending O.o??? Omg, i hope this one wont be one xD
@w@ wow ... i never thought about a Yuuko/Watanuki Pairing @w@ really wierd [no offense!!! QwQ]

Not all their endings are sad. Okay, yeah, if you read Tokyo Babylon it's sad, but not all of them are sad. Man of Many Faces, Card Captor Sakura, Chobits, Magic Knights, etc. Those were pretty good endings. I agree that I don't see the Yuuko/Watanuki thing. My personal favorite is Doumeki/Watanuki, though. :heh:

[kayote]

although i like the Yuuko x Watanuki paring it does make more sense if she is Clow's wife or lover.

[NickelXenon]

But then what would her connection to Fei Wong be? If she was Clow's wife or lover, then what's her connection to Fei Wong?

[kayote]

i keep thinking that they all might have been friends or something, before and that something happend and it's now carried over to the battle that is now. that kind of senario would work in this situtation.

also Yuuko does all she can to hinder fai's plans and that could be that she can't actully hurt Fai directly. it's because she does not interfier but, i think it could also be because of there past.

[Kafriel]

Wasn't that second egg supposed to be one "with no magical power"? And I assume that was the one because the yellow lucky bird sprang from the other one...

[kayote]

it looks like Watanuki is settling into the role of running the shop. starting to make a differenece.

[yezhanquan]

If he's running the shop, then would he have magical powers to grant wishes? Or will he be the resident therapist?

[NickelXenon]

If he's running the shop, then would he have magical powers to grant wishes? Or will he be the resident therapist?

I don't think he has the power to grant wishes yet, but I think it's possible later he could gain powers like Yuuko. At the start of the series, Watanuki was just your average high school boy that happened to see youkai. I never saw him attempt to talk to them on his own and he only did so after many encounters through the encouragement of Yuuko. I think Watanuki is a lot more powerful now and understands people as well as youkai a lot better now. I think it's possible in the future for him to gain the same kind of status Yuuko had.

[yezhanquan]

If that is the case, I think Watanuki follows the tradition of many CLAMP heroes/heroines, in the sense that he probably has all his power within him all this while, just as how Sakura had the power of Clow Reed within her since the beginning. What Yuuko (and Eriol) did was to show them a path for them to learn and claim their powers as their own. CLAMP seemed to have the notion that power without wisdom is something very dangerous.

[Anh_Minh]

Maybe Watanuki has harem powers, which he'll use on supernatural entities. He's already started with Zashiki Warashi, the kudakitsune, Kohane....

[yezhanquan]

Well, he has that sort of charm. Can't blame him.

[KimmyChan]

I now am the proud owner of all 13 volumes of the xXxHolic manga series :)

[SidVicious]

Chapter 177 is out.

Looks like it is really Sakura and Syaoran from CCS.

[kayote]

Watanuki finally meets his parents. that was such a good chapter. Sakura was very motherly.

is this way too crazy or could Yuuko could really be born from the egg.

[finalnight]

Finally, Watanuki is getting some more interaction with the big plot.

[yezhanquan]

Sakura: Hot Shounen Mom.

Syaoran Sr.: Dude, you are THE man. The son hasn't reached your level of "cool looks" yet.

[Samanosuke]

Its probably silly , but chap 177 made me shed a tear.
really can't wait to see how it all plays out. I do know I have a very bad feeling about all this.

[yezhanquan]

Well, we did see the couple cry in chapter 1 of Tsubasa. Most probably Sakura doing something for the kid. Mothers.

[kayote]

^^i think it also has to do with them not being able to touch. they sacrifised contact. they can see each other but no contact. it's kind of like TRC's sakura and Syaoran. he does not appear in her momories as a result of the wish.

[yezhanquan]

I think if everything gets sorted out, the Lis should give Junior a good spanking. No more threatening the stability of space-time itself for a girl!

[Anh_Minh]

Oh, like they wouldn't have done the same.

If I were them, I'd worry more about his taste in girls. Being that much of a mommy's boy can't be good.

[yezhanquan]

Oh, like they wouldn't have done the same.

If I were them, I'd worry more about his taste in girls. Being that much of a mommy's boy can't be good.

I don't know about the first part, actually. I'm pretty sure that with a deed of this attitude, Sakura would only help her son because it's her son. If it's her husband doing it, she'll probably slap him and choose to sacrifice herself. Ditto for Syaoran Sr. After what they've been through in CCS, they would have a concept of things that are more important than love.

[Anh_Minh]

She'd sacrifice herself. Would she sacrifice Syaoran?

[yezhanquan]

That will be the part where the man gives her the push, and goes with a smile.

But, for Junior, seems that both of them are up to something. And this time, it's not just their world that will change. Every world in CLAMP will feel the ripples if Ass-chin pull off this stunt of his.

[KimmyChan]

I didn't realise that Volume 14 will be coming out soon :P

I thought that this series only went up to Volume 13, but I was wrong :)

[NickelXenon]

I didn't realise that Volume 14 will be coming out soon :P

I thought that this series only went up to Volume 13, but I was wrong :)


There are 25 volumes so far in Japan and the series is still not complete.

[KimmyChan]

Wow! That's even more incredible! Yaaaay!!! Even more of the fab Yuko to look forward to! ;D

[Miles Teg]

There are 25 volumes so far in Japan and the series is still not complete.

xxxHolic has 14 volumes released right now in Japan with volume 14 released the 02/17/2009.

Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE has 26 volumes released with volume 26 released the 03/17/2009 (vol. 27 05/15/2009).

[KimmyChan]

Thanks for that info, it's really helpful :) Can't wait for Volume 14 to be released over here :)

[NickelXenon]

xxxHolic has 14 volumes released right now in Japan with volume 14 released the 02/17/2009.

Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE has 26 volumes released with volume 26 released the 03/17/2009 (vol. 27 05/15/2009).

Woops, I was thinking of Tsubasa when I posted this. I was also on the Tsubasa thread and got the two mixed up. :heh: But yes, xxxHolic has 14 so far.

[KimmyChan]

I'm hazarding a guess that Volume 14 (published by Del Ray in the USA) won't be out for another few more months yet, heading on towards the end of the year maybe...BOOOOOO!!! :(

[finalnight]

Sakura: Hot Shounen Mom.

Syaoran Sr.: Dude, you are THE man. The son hasn't reached your level of "cool looks" yet.

I think you meant Sakura is a Hot Shoujo mom as CCS was a Shoujo series.

[Kafriel]

Happy birthday to all the Syaorans and Sakuras in the universe, clones are welcome to the party as well :)

[ellifeedn]

I think you meant Sakura is a Hot Shoujo mom as CCS was a Shoujo series.

Point is she's hot ;).

[yezhanquan]

I think you meant Sakura is a Hot Shoujo mom as CCS was a Shoujo series.

I don't completely agree with that.

1) The trope name is Hot Shounen Mom on TVtropes.
2) CCS is drawn in shojo style, but the story is quite shounen in nature. May have less blood in it, but still...

[KimmyChan]

I think it's ever so sweet how Syoaran will sacrifice anything in order to retrieve all of Sakura's feathers and memories about the two of them, as they are one of the ultimate anime couples ever :)

[lovelysan]

If I were them, I'd worry more about his taste in girls. Being that much of a mommy's boy can't be good.


THIS. Goddammit Jr, It's CREEPY.


Also, yeaaaaah after chapter 217 and well, a lot of the chapters lately, story is just too complicated and convoluted for it's own good. Eh well. Pretty pictures. EDIT- OF TSUBASA. I still think xxxHolic is a good time, generally speaking. If a touch slow.

[KimmyChan]

I think it's ever so sweet how Syoaran will sacrifice anything in order to retrieve all of Sakura's feathers and memories about the two of them, as they are one of the ultimate anime couples ever :)

Oh god, I'm sorry, this was meant for the Tsubasa thread, not the xXxHolic thread :p

I've only just realised this now :heh:

As far as xXxHolic is concerned, I find it a lot easier to follow than that of Tsubasa in a way :)

[Shirubia_Lamperouge]

Well yea. Tsubasa has all the time paradoxes and massive plot twists every chapter or so. Holic can be quite a nice break from it all. Although it's still going a bit slow. The last chapter was what, 12 pages?

[KimmyChan]

I'm not minding it's slowness in the least, as it's still one of my favourite latest ongoing manga series and will always be...I just can't find any fault in it whatsoever :)

[Shirubia_Lamperouge]

The slowness up til now has been fine. It really showcases how holic is about individual people, and how the small things they do make a difference to them and the people around them (obviously different to TRC, where it's all "save the universe"). But... It's not that I want it to cross over with TRC particularly, but it'd be nice for some things to happen. Something BEGAN to happen in that chapter, with food lady, but it stopped at that. They could have at least put a bit more into that single chapter.

[KimmyChan]

Still making for pretty gripping reading, with or without a newer storyline lately :)

[Kafriel]

Hmm...not that holic's been inferior or anything lately, but aren't the wish shop and its occupants the main theme of the manga? What will happen if they disappear?

[KimmyChan]

Very good thinking there Kafriel!!! You have a good point! It would be practically nothing! :p

[Shirubia_Lamperouge]

Wata at least probably won't disappear. That's was like the whole point of a story arc, him deciding that he wants to exist. Yuuko and the shop, on the other hand, I think probably will. They're there for "the day that is to come", as Yuuko keeps saying, and afterward I can't see why the shop would continue, especially as it seems Yuuko is kinda drifting between the worlds, and I doubt will just come back to the holic world and resume normal activities.
But watanuki is the central character, and I think as long as he doesn't disappear, the story will be complete.

[KimmyChan]

That's good to hear as Watanuki is my second fave xXxHolic character anyway, after Yuko :)

It would be a really great shame if Yuko does end up dissappearing on the other hand though :(

[Kafriel]

Going by the assumption that the manga is nearing its end, the shop will be gone but its legacy will carry on through Watanuki and his friends, they could start their own shop or save the current one in a separate world through what's left of Yuko...but I think it's still early to tell, I'll wait this one out.

[KimmyChan]

It would be pretty awesome if a sequal of xXxHolic is made :)

[Kafriel]

Fear not, the crossovers are eternal, I'd say there's a 4/5 chance we'll be seeing holic characters in future CLAMP releases.

[KimmyChan]

That's great news! I was hoping so as I do so love the characters in xXxHolic, especially Yuko, the twins and Watanuki :)

[finalnight]

They seem to be adding unintentional humor this chapter and the last by talking about the woman tasting wantanuki's (rice) balls.

[KimmyChan]

Whoa...Talk about somewhat suggestive...And it's supposed to be rated Teen this series :-/

[Miles Teg]

Whoa...Talk about somewhat suggestive...And it's supposed to be rated Teen this series :-/

I think that's something that only people with a dirty mind can see :heh:

And don't forget the manga is in Japanese and the bad jokes with rice ball perhaps can't be done with onigiri ;)

[KimmyChan]

Ah yes, very true, you have a very good and valid point there :)

[Eleutheria]

This thread is dead, but newest chapter 181:


Dimensional witch died long before Watanuki was born!

[yezhanquan]

Er... she was near death when Clow Reed was around, and the man has been gone for a long time.

[KimmyChan]

What great new developments! I look forward to finding these out for myself! :D

[Ashlotte]

Was starting to get bored out of my mind during the whole cooking arc, but boy did this chapter bring me right back...Ahhh 182 can't come soon enough...

[KimmyChan]

Watanuki's cooking side is pretty cute to read about in places, especially when he gets into arguments with Domeki about certain dishes that he makes for him and he still complains as such about, seeing Watanuki getting so worked up by him :D

[Kafriel]

Would be pretty refreshing if Watanuki made his wish his own reality and brought Yuko back to life as a normal person, this inter-dimensional circle needs to break.

[golthin]

I hope yuko doesn't disappear. She seemed surprised by Watanuki confessing how important she is to him.

[dragon4dudes]

Would be pretty refreshing if Watanuki made his wish his own reality and brought Yuko back to life as a normal person, this inter-dimensional circle needs to break.

But what would happen to Watanuki in this case? Don't wishes need an equal payment, not more not less?

[yezhanquan]

But what would happen to Watanuki in this case? Don't wishes need an equal payment, not more not less?

Probably not possible. My guess is that Yuko would join Haruka in dispensing advice to Watanuki.

[Kafriel]

Come to think of it, the Yuko dying in the separate world is the real one, but Watanuki can see ghosts so that shouldn't affect their relationship at all, right?

[yezhanquan]

Come to think of it, the Yuko dying in the separate world is the real one, but Watanuki can see ghosts so that shouldn't affect their relationship at all, right?

Hence, my post above.

Now, two ghosts smoking and drinking, and to Watanuki, that's normal. Yes, it can only come from CLAMP. However, I wonder how Yuko would react to losing her powers (unless of course she retains them even as a ghost).

[KimmyChan]

I hope yuko doesn't disappear. She seemed surprised by Watanuki confessing how important she is to him.

That she did and it was a really nice moment for them both :)

[Xellos-_^]

if Watanuki keeps wishing yuuko to stay, would that make him the future Fei Wong?


and yes Go WatanukiXYuuko:meh::hyper-^v^::smile:

[Anh_Minh]

if Watanuki keeps wishing yuuko to stay, would that make him the future Fei Wong?

Come to think of it, maybe we should worry that he might be the present Fei Wong. Goddamn broken causality.

[yezhanquan]

Come to think of it, maybe we should worry that he might be the present Fei Wong. Goddamn broken causality.

But, where does he get the powers from? Unless the space-time continuity is so damn broken that anything is possible...

[KimmyChan]

Even if watanuki does keep wishing for Yuko to stay, he could be the future Fei Wong, but non-baddie :p

[Anh_Minh]

But, where does he get the powers from? Unless the space-time continuity is so damn broken that anything is possible...

He's a descendant of Clow, as well as the son of Sakura and Syaoran. And he'll possibly inherit Yuko's shop. So, yeah, that's a lot of power he could have.

[Kafriel]

And don't forget he was a universal abnormality or whatnot, existing in a world he shouldn't...question: when did Sakura and Syaoran get married, last time I checked (ANYWHERE) they were just kids.

[-Sho-]

Anyone knows if there'll be a 3rd season ? i know there is oav but i saw that the manga got more materials etc ....
If not , someone can tell me what chapters is in the end of the first oav ? or the last episode from 2nd season .

[KimmyChan]

A third season would be so sweet! I'm hoping there will be eventually aswell! :D

[Kafriel]

I think they'd stick to doing OVAs with crossovers, getting chapters done little by little...but I really want to see this to the end.

[SidVicious]

It was a sad chapter. :(

[yezhanquan]

Fridge Logic: Why would Yuko want to take away Watanuki's ability to see spirits, since she is becoming one herself?

[FlyByNite]

It was a sad chapter. :(

:sad: I wonder how many chapters xxxholic has left in it. I'm hoping for some kinda Yuuko rez/reincarnation or something though

[Kafriel]

Sad chapter indeed :sad: Wonder if he can find a way to bring her back...

[NickelXenon]

What will happpen if Watanuki loses his ability to see spirits? I think that'd be sad!

[ellifeedn]

Have you people forgotten reincarnation?

[golthin]

it has been a while since I shed tears for a manga, but chapter 182 got me.

[Anh_Minh]

Fridge Logic: Why would Yuko want to take away Watanuki's ability to see spirits, since she is becoming one herself?

She's becoming dead... er. Who knows if she'll become a spirit? And, if you'll recall, losing his ability to see and attract spirits is what he wished for in the first place. Spirits are dangerous, and he nearly died several times because of them. Though I'm going to feel sorry for his spirit friends, like Zashiki Warashi, the tube fox, or the oden fox cub.

[yezhanquan]

She's becoming dead... er. Who knows if she'll become a spirit? And, if you'll recall, losing his ability to see and attract spirits is what he wished for in the first place. Spirits are dangerous, and he nearly died several times because of them. Though I'm going to feel sorry for his spirit friends, like Zashiki Warashi, the tube fox, or the oden fox cub.

It was also partly because of his own subconscious, along with his whole "unnatural" existence subplot. I thought once he's aware of it, he can/will protect himself. After all, he survived Himawari (although with Doumeki's help, I admit).

We know that Haruka is a spirit, and he's a dead person. Unless dead people don't automatically become spirits, I don't see why Yuuko wouldn't become one.

[Kafriel]

Hmm,but we don't know how Haruka died (or if we know, I don't remember:P I presume old age got him), Yuko was meant to have died many years ago so if she becomes a spirit wouldn't she normally go back to that time, meaning she'd be erased from watanuki's timeline?

[Anh_Minh]

It was also partly because of his own subconscious, along with his whole "unnatural" existence subplot. I thought once he's aware of it, he can/will protect himself. After all, he survived Himawari (although with Doumeki's help, I admit).

We know that Haruka is a spirit, and he's a dead person. Unless dead people don't automatically become spirits, I don't see why Yuuko wouldn't become one.

Why would you believe everyone becomes a spirit? Some, we know, are reincarnated. Maybe they went through a spirit phase, and maybe they didn't.

[yezhanquan]

CLAMP's treatment of the afterlife is beyond my expertise. The old dames are something. Now waiting to see what will happen over at the Tsubasa side.

[KimmyChan]

Have you people forgotten reincarnation?

Reincarnation & Tsubasa/CLAMP always go hand-in-hand ;)

[Kafriel]

People cannot be raised from the dead because then their reincarnated spirits would then go berserk and destroy the universe!

EDIT: all of the universes out there to be more specific.

[golthin]

People cannot be raised from the dead because then their reincarnated spirits would then go berserk and destroy the universe!

EDIT: all of the universes out there to be more specific.

wouldn't it be great if the girl that Watanuki has been in love with for ever(I forget her name) has always been Yuuko's reincarnation? I always thought that she looked like a younger Yuuko.

[Kafriel]

Hmm...it would make sense in the way that she is Yuko's reincarnation but because of Clow's wish her spirit was never complete so she had super jinx around her (look at that, it matches my crack theory above!) and if she somehow "remembers" Yuko's past life (because they're not exactly the same) then they could have a happy ending :P

[ellifeedn]

Who says Yuko has to be reincarnated into just one girl? :naughty:

[Anh_Minh]

True that she wouldn't be the first to reincarnate into several people at once.

(For that matter, who says she has to be reincarnated into a girl? Maybe she got reincarnated into Doumeki. They're both gluttons and big drinkers.)

[Mamori86]

or what about the Zashiki-warashi

[KimmyChan]

Who says Yuko has to be reincarnated into just one girl? :naughty:

Now that would be pretty interesting to say the least! LOTS of Yukos! Yay! :D

[Kafriel]

Then Watanuki could finally get his own harem and this whole thing can take an exciting turn towards ecchi! :love:

[KimmyChan]

Then Watanuki could finally get his own harem and this whole thing can take an exciting turn towards ecchi! :love:

That would be very different & a bit of a huge twist in the series indeed if it happened :)

[Anh_Minh]

Then Watanuki could finally get his own harem and this whole thing can take an exciting turn towards ecchi! :love:

Considering how often love and loss of life and/or body parts go together in CLAMP, I'm not sure a harem would be a good idea. Only a lovecraftian horror would have enough spares.

[KimmyChan]

I wonder if xXxHolic will prove to be just as long in manga volumes as what Tsubasa currently is :)

[Miles Teg]

If I remember correctly Clamp has said that both should stop at the same time (they have started nearly as the same time). We have 14 volumes of Holic and 27 of TRC, I really don't think it's possible for Holic to be as long as TRC or Holic will have to run for 6 more years :heh:

[KimmyChan]

Wow! When explained like that, I'm sure glad that it won't be even though I love Holic so much :)

[Miles Teg]

Holic prepublication is "strange" probably because TRC storyline is more important (not speaking about which is the better or anything like that, it's simply where most of the thing happen). A lot of pause have taken place simply to have events happening at the same time in both manga, plus some chapter have been cut in smaller parts for the same purpose. For example volume 13 compile chapter 145 to 157 into 5 chapters.

With all that it really looks like Clamp want both manga to finish at the same time and it's TRC who gives the tempo :D (and Clamp don't want to put too much filler in Holic).

[KimmyChan]

I'm still waiting patiently for Volume 14 to finally be released ;)

[Kafriel]

They COULD make a CCS-oriented prequel on Clow and how he became so strong he couldn't control himself, the origins of the Shaoran nickname, how Clow and Yuko met, etc.,etc.

[KimmyChan]

They COULD make a CCS-oriented prequel on Clow and how he became so strong he couldn't control himself, the origins of the Shaoran nickname, how Clow and Yuko met, etc.,etc.

That's a really good idea for a pre-quel! I couldn't have thought of it better myself! :D

[-KarumA-]

Here is something interesting in the comicstore last week D:
a novel of xxxholic by Nisio called AnotherHolic they're short stories based on the xxxholic universe, I decided to buy it but they are really nice. Does anyone know if there are more books coming out?

[KimmyChan]

I know of that particular one...

http://i40.tinypic.com/2s1afys.jpg

But I don't know of any more to be released as of yet personally :)

[-KarumA-]

I know of that particular one...

http://i40.tinypic.com/2s1afys.jpg

But I don't know of any more to be released as of yet personally :)

yes that's the one :D the cover was so pretty I couldn't help but buy it ha ha

[KimmyChan]

What better reason than any to get it huh? I totally agree with you ;) :D

Talking of which, I really must buy it myself one day soon :p

[Sugar_Prayer]

xxxHolic is an awesome manga!! I love how Yuko is always making Watanuki work!! XD

[KimmyChan]

That's very true & in so many funny ways at times! But you can tell she's fond of him :)

[fish eric]

I just started reading this the night before last. I got totally pulled in by the illustration style. I ended up staying up all night reading up till current.

I am kinda confused by about the last 20 chapters. I am having trouble telling when Watanuke is awake and when he is asleep.

[NickelXenon]

Have you also been reading Tsubasa? That's important for the last couple chapters.

[KimmyChan]

Both xXxHolic & Tsubasa cross over with each other as it mentions at the beginning of each volume, and whilst it's not always neccessary to read them both at the same time in order to understand what's going on, it gives you another perspective view to focus on :)

[fish eric]

Like I said I read all of xxxholic in one night and then the next day i started on TRC. It took me three days to finish that one because it was longer.

It raised more questions than it answered for me. TRC is a good manga. But I don't like the illustration style. I found alot of the panels I just couldn't tell what they were suppose to be. There wasn't alot of contrast. holic has that deep dark black and crisp white that I love. But TRC all the line work is kinda gray and faded.

I really want to know what is gonna happen to Watanuke. Is he in a dream right now? It seems like he is always waking up and the last chapter you just read was a dream. Even though Yuuko said in 182 that is was reality.


Between the two I prefer xxxholic. Not only because of the story but because of the artwork. I think you can say that either one has the better story, Arguably. But the visuals isn't even a contest. holic KOs TSR in the first round.


I think it is really deep how they did Watanuke's relationships. He is attracted to Himawari because she is bad luck and he sub-consciously wants to die. He hates Doumeki because he protects him. Wow, that is brilliant writing.

[yezhanquan]

One thing to take note of is that online scans are usually taken from the magazines, which is printed on paper of lousy quality.

Personally, I do not buy TRC or holics, because I am opposed to the idea of collecting the entire CLAMP canon just to make sense of one story (in 2 separate series, no less). I do have Chobits in my library.

[NickelXenon]

I want CLAMP's Clover. It's very beautiful. I do have all of Tokyo Babylon and Magic Knights.

[KimmyChan]

I have both the TRS & xXxHolic manga volumes, all of them to date, and still going :)

I'm now waiting (still) on Volume 14 of xXxHolic to be released soon :)

[fish eric]

I have both the TRS & xXxHolic manga volumes, all of them to date, and still going :)

I'm now waiting (still) on Volume 14 of xXxHolic to be released soon :)

So if you buy the books instead of the weekly magazines the image quality is better?


Kimmy chan, How is the quality of your TRC? I really want to buy the xxxHolic books. I am totally in love with the illustrations.

And Yuuko... Yuuko, Yuuko, Yuuko. She is the prettiest, most beautiful, coolest illustrated woman I have ever seen. I try to imagine what she would look like in real life. I think I once met a woman who looked like that, but she was korean.

I was only 15 at the time. I remember telling her husband that I thought his wife was the most beautiful woman I had met. He laughed and didn't really mind. Granted we were all high as kites ;)

[KimmyChan]

So if you buy the books instead of the weekly magazines the image quality is better?


Kimmy chan, How is the quality of your TRC? I really want to buy the xxxHolic books. I am totally in love with the illustrations.

And Yuuko... Yuuko, Yuuko, Yuuko. She is the prettiest, most beautiful, coolest illustrated woman I have ever seen. I try to imagine what she would look like in real life. I think I once met a woman who looked like that, but she was korean.

I was only 15 at the time. I remember telling her husband that I thought his wife was the most beautiful woman I had met. He laughed and didn't really mind. Granted we were all high as kites ;)

I personally think the book's image quality is much better, yes, always have done :)

And the image quality of TRC is just as beautiful & nice as xXxHolic's image quality :)

I'm totally up there with you on the whole really liking of Yuuko too, she's my fave character of them all :)

[-Sho-]

Someon can tell me what is the chapter ongoing with the oav ?

[Miles Teg]

If your speaking about Shunmuki :
OAD 1 start with chapter 158 to 160, after that volume 9 chapter 6 and we finish by some anime original material.
OAD 2 the part with Sakura at the end is chapter 145/146, what come before looks to be anime original.

I have only seen screenshot, but that should be it.

[-Sho-]

Lol so oav 2 is before oav 1 ? hmmmm i'll check . Thanks anyway .

[KimmyChan]

Sorry for sounding a bit dumb here, but what does "oav" mean? :)

[Slick_rick]

Sorry for sounding a bit dumb here, but what does "oav" mean? :)

Original animated video. Which is the same thing as a OVA(Original video animation). OVA being the more commonly used way to refer to it.

[KimmyChan]

Original animated video. Which is the same thing as a OVA(Original video animation). OVA being the more commonly used way to refer to it.

Oh, I see now :) Thank you so much for telling me the difference as I only know of it as OVA :)

[Miles Teg]

Chapter 183 :sad:

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/734/holic.th.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/holic.jpg/)

No waiting for translation.

[yezhanquan]

The pact is sealed: Watanuki is probably going to be the new master of the assistants.

On another note, I thought Yuuko would have at least told them the truth about her, or is it that they love her so much that they couldn't help but cry even though they knew about it beforehand?

[Zippicus]

I can't see getting rid of Yuko as anything permanent unless the manga is coming to an end. I don't follow Tusbasa so I don't know if that has any significance but xxxHolic without Yuko isn't xxxHolic anymore.

[Kafriel]

I think they're both about to end, since the whole mystery in TRC is getting solved.

[Miles Teg]

I think they're both about to end, since the whole mystery in TRC is getting solved.

Clamp has said that both manga will end this year.

[KimmyChan]

Wow, so xXxHolic will finally be coming to an end this year...I'm actually quite sad about that :(

[Kraker2k]

I just wish we could have carried on with the random short mystery stories, those were the best things I liked about xxxHolic.

[KimmyChan]

They were good :) It's part of what makes xXxHolic what it is; Simply superb manga reading :)

[yezhanquan]

I just wish we could have carried on with the random short mystery stories, those were the best things I liked about xxxHolic.

Well, seeing as how it was meant as a companion for Tsubasa, those were the "filler" to set the mood before we go into the main plot.

[Kafriel]

I perceive it the other way around, with the TRC parts being secondary (can't really call it filler), as a means to complete another series, and Watanuki's life in the shop as the main story, because that's where the holic cast develops.

[-KarumA-]

All good things must come to an end sometimes D: though I must agree it'll make me very sad as well
I just hope Clamp decides on finishing Legal Drug

also we still have some major plot twisting to go, I really wonder what kind of choice making the egg will be involved with
perhaps Yuuko returning as a bird as well?

[yezhanquan]

I perceive it the other way around, with the TRC parts being secondary (can't really call it filler), as a means to complete another series, and Watanuki's life in the shop as the main story, because that's where the holic cast develops.

Well, seeing as how Watanuki came from Shaoran's epic Xanatos Gambit...

[KimmyChan]

A spin-off xXxHolic series featuring just Yuko would please me very much if it were ever to be made :)

[Anh_Minh]

All good things must come to an end sometimes D: though I must agree it'll make me very sad as well
I just hope Clamp decides on finishing Legal Drug

also we still have some major plot twisting to go, I really wonder what kind of choice making the egg will be involved with
perhaps Yuuko returning as a bird as well?

Omelet or sunny side up?

[KimmyChan]

Lol! I would much prefer her sunny side up, but never scrambled :D

[fish eric]

I just wish we could have carried on with the random short mystery stories, those were the best things I liked about xxxHolic.

Those were my favorite parts too

That is what originally drew me to the series (that and the artwork). Even though I enjoy the direction they went in developing Watanuki I wish that they could have had more chapters dealing with customers' wishes.



Chapter 183 has me even more confused. The choice Watanuki will have to make?

Monoka says to Doumeki

"You alone can see what Watanuki sees. Thats why you are able to choose the time. Thats what Yuko believed and thats why she gave it to you (the egg)."

I think Yuko is gone for good. As much as it pains me she said goodbye to Watanuki. She has been dead for so long and she completed her purpose. But I wonder if the TRC characters are doomed to repeat time. How could they repeat everything without having Yuko around?

Im sure that we will see Yuko again but I bet it is only going to be in Watanuki's dreams.

[Kikuchi]

But I wonder if the TRC characters are doomed to repeat time. How could they repeat everything without having Yuko around?

I'm pretty sure TRC is intended to be the last repetition, thus the whole deal about Yuko disappearing and all...

[KimmyChan]

Does anyone know what number volume xXxHolic will be finishing with in the Del Ray manga book form?

[fish eric]

Does anyone know what number volume xXxHolic will be finishing with in the Del Ray manga book form?

im not too familiar with the actual books, but I think that whatever volume we are currently in will be the last.

is that the kind of answer you were looking for?

[KimmyChan]

Pretty much, and thank you for your help :) Volume 14 will be coming out soon :)

[-KarumA-]

any idea when we can expect a new chapter D:
it's been so long

[yezhanquan]

More Ho Yay between Watanuki and Doumeki: they actually think alike.

[NickelXenon]

More Ho Yay between Watanuki and Doumeki: they actually think alike.

It is CLAMP. What CLAMP manga doesn't have something going between two males?

[yezhanquan]

Only one I can think of is Chobits, unless you ship Shinbo and Motosuwa.

[ellifeedn]

I believe the CLAMP manga Suki: Dakara Suki doesn't have Ho Yay.

[kk2extreme]

i hope that watanuki does not turn to the dark side.

[Xellos-_^]

i hope that watanuki does not turn to the dark side.

Watanuki = Wong Fei

[OpenDoors]

Watanuki = Wong Fei

That would be a sad and twisted end to things... though I gotta agree it is well within the realm of high probability.

[yezhanquan]

Watanuki = Wong Fei

First, we have Syaoran creating the stable time loop. If Watanuki is indeed Fei Wong, then someone better have a way to break that time loop.

[Renegade334]

Well...c185 probably answered this concern.

Watanuki, as we already expected a couple chapters prior to this one, decides to take over Yuuko's shop - thereby succeeding her in her role as a wish-granter. The price he must pay (so that, in the end, he'll be able to see Yuuko again) is his own time, which means that 1°) he cannot leave the premises anymore and must drop out of school and 2°) he is granted a form of immortality (although he does amend that by stating that all things do die one day).

The egg issue is still unresolved, but Doumeki realizes it cannot be used on Watanuki himself.

It was quite touching to see Watanuki trying out Yuuko's opium pipe and failing to ingest the smoke.
Wonder what it'll mean for the rest of the cast, though - after all, Watanuki is at the center of many individuals' lives, like Doumeki, Kohane, Himawari, the Zashiki-Warashi, etc. We'll see whether this egg can lessen this self-inflicted burden and make this outcome a little less bittersweet.

[NickelXenon]

Watanuki = Wong Fei

But didn't he say he wasn't going to age? Unless Watanuki had a real plastic surgery job... I'd sue if I were him.

[fish eric]

Well...c185 probably answered this concern.

Watanuki, as we already expected a couple chapters prior to this one, decides to take over Yuuko's shop - thereby succeeding her in her role as a wish-granter. The price he must pay (so that, in the end, he'll be able to see Yuuko again) is his own time, which means that 1°) he cannot leave the premises anymore and must drop out of school and 2°) he is granted a form of immortality (although he does amend that by stating that all things do die one day).

The egg issue is still unresolved, but Doumeki realizes it cannot be used on Watanuki himself.

It was quite touching to see Watanuki trying out Yuuko's opium pipe and failing to ingest the smoke.
Wonder what it'll mean for the rest of the cast, though - after all, Watanuki is at the center of many individuals' lives, like Doumeki, Kohane, Himawari, the Zashiki-Warashi, etc. We'll see whether this egg can lessen this self-inflicted burden and make this outcome a little less bittersweet.


That is actually a tobacco pipe. Opium pipes are different. That style of pipe was popular in feudal Japan.


When Watanuki donned Yukko's robe it reminded me of when my roommate died. We were very close. He had a button up shirt that he always wore. The next day after he died. I don't know why but I put his shirt on. It somehow made me feel better. Oh it was clean BTW.

[Xellos-_^]

But didn't he say he wasn't going to age? Unless Watanuki had a real plastic surgery job... I'd sue if I were him.
good point but all the signs do point at watanuki as fei wong.

[Samanosuke]

if this ever comes to be true , this will be the greatest time paradox ever.
g'job CLAMP.

[kk2extreme]

good point but all the signs do point at watanuki as fei wong.

may be all the smoking over the years make him the way he is.

and whats up with him not leaving the shop, yuuko leaves the shop all the time.

[fish eric]

may be all the smoking over the years make him the way he is.

and whats up with him not leaving the shop, yuuko leaves the shop all the time.

And how is Watanuki able to determine the price to be paid?

[Samanosuke]

may be all the smoking over the years make him the way he is.

and whats up with him not leaving the shop, yuuko leaves the shop all the time.

because he is not replacing her because the shop is just empty , he is replacing her because that's part of his wish , which requires for him to not leave anymore.

And how is Watanuki able to determine the price to be paid?
wouldn't be strange , if he has to grant other people's wishes , he should know the prices.

[fish eric]

because he is not replacing her because the shop is just empty , he is replacing her because that's part of his wish , which requires for him to not leave anymore.


wouldn't be strange , if he has to grant other people's wishes , he should know the prices.

But he doesn't have the power to grant wishes. At least not yet.


I have a theory about the egg. When Yukko gives it to Doumeki she says that it survived the acid rain in Tokyo. There is only one thing that survives the acid rain in Tokyo and that is Sakura feathers. I think the egg contains a feather and that will be how Watanuki gets the power to grant wishes and not age.

[Anh_Minh]

Nope, Doumeki already said he won't use it on Watanuki. Besides, he talked as if it was already done.

I think that egg can cancel a wish or something like that.

[NickelXenon]

may be all the smoking over the years make him the way he is.

and whats up with him not leaving the shop, yuuko leaves the shop all the time.

There you go! A lesson for us all. Smoking makes us butt ugly. =/ Poor Watanuki. He should have read the warning labels.

[fish eric]

There you go! A lesson for us all. Smoking makes us butt ugly. =/ Poor Watanuki. He should have read the warning labels.

Hmm on the other hand it made Yukko incredibly beautiful... but maybe she placed a spell or something.

Remember that episode of Seinfeld where Kramer sues Marlboro because the tobacco makes him ugly?

[yezhanquan]

I get the feeling that Yuuko picked up the habit only after Clow made his wish to keep her from dying. Think about it: A beautiful lady who knows that her time is approaching, and yet cannot die. I know I'll be screwed enough to try tobacco.

[Anh_Minh]

Eh. We don't know how old she is. The unhealthy effects of tobacco were only advertised in the last few decades.

Also, it's probably too late to worry about this, but...

If the clones lived in Hong Kong, how come their other son Watanuki ended up in Japan? And why aren't his relatives (Touya? Fujitaka?) taking better care of him?

[NickelXenon]

Hmm on the other hand it made Yukko incredibly beautiful... but maybe she placed a spell or something.

Remember that episode of Seinfeld where Kramer sues Marlboro because the tobacco makes him ugly?

Maybe it's a double standard in the CLAMP world? Chicks with cigs can stay sexy but the guys turn butt ugly. With a chin of steel!

[fish eric]

Maybe it's a double standard in the CLAMP world? Chicks with cigs can stay sexy but the guys turn butt ugly. With a chin of steel!

Somehow the Hong Kong/Tokyo connection will come into play. It will involve Fei Wong also.

As far as I know Fei Wong is the only Chinese character in either xxxholic or TRC right?

[yezhanquan]

Syaoran (Xiao Lang) is part Chinese.

[Azure Flane]

Watanuki = Wong Fei

I totally agree. At first I thought Watanuki might be Sakura and Syaoran's future child, but now I'm geared towards him being Fei Wong's past or something. It also explains Fei Wong's fixation on resurrecting Yuko. Though this could all be wrong.

[Xellos-_^]

I totally agree. At first I thought Watanuki might be Sakura and Syaoran's future child, but now I'm geared towards him being Fei Wong's past or something. It also explains Fei Wong's fixation on resurrecting Yuko. Though this could all be wrong.

watanuki is Sayroan and Sakura's child, he is Sayroan's clone.:eyespin:

[Anh_Minh]

No, Syaoran's father is Syaoran's clone. Watanuki is indeed Syaoran and Sakura's child. (And Syaoran's sort of alter ego.)

[Azure Flane]

Whoa... This is what I get for missing a few chapters... When did we find out that Watanuki is Sakura and Syaoran's child?

On xxxholic chapter 181 and it's making me think Watanuki really will become Fei Wong Reed, if that thing about him becoming immortal/ageless is true in excahnge for the shop's stability (this is what I've read on the forum, not sure). I mean can you imagine waiting for eternity for the person you cared about even though you knew they'd never come (cuz they're dead)... I'd go mad in that position, kinda like Fei Wong.

Concerning Syaoran's (real not clone) existence, I'm a little unclear, since the latest chapters of Tsubasa are a little confusing for me. I know he's the clones' child, but it seems like something happened in 225 towards the end, like the clones were reincarnated in the originals or something... I'm rambling...

[-KarumA-]

poor Nuki, now he's trying to become a new Yuuko-san himself >.<

[Anh_Minh]

OMG, the time loop isn't going to turn Watanuki into Fei Wong, but into Yuuko. The price for being able to leave the store after all will be his penis.

[NickelXenon]

OMG, the time loop isn't going to turn Watanuki into Fei Wong, but into Yuuko. The price for being able to leave the store after all will be his penis.

Poor Watanuki. =/

[finalnight]

Been calling Watanuki as FWR for a while now, even more convinced after this chapter and the TRC chapter.

[CuXe]

I am sorry for altering the smooth flow of thoughts in this thread but ...


I watched Tsubasa Chronicles some years ago....but ended up lost and not being able to follow because there were like 3 seasons (with some time in between for releases) .. .and then they came out with some OVAs and all that which made it even harder to follow... and then I decided to watch xxxHolic cause it kinda reminded me of Tsubasa.... only to find out that the 2 series are actually related to each other .... G-D DAMMMMM and to top it all off they came out with 2 series and OVA and even a freaking movie for xxxHolic...

I just finished watching the second season and OVA of xxxHolic just to find out that I have to go back and try to find the eps I haven't seen of Tsubasa if I want to know if bad Shaoran kills the good shaoran or what happens with Tsubasa's crazy inter dimensional traveling dream feathers and what was the whole appearance of shaoran in front of Yuko's shop all about......... sssshhhhttttttttttttt

I need a guide to figure out the flow of things... is xxxHolic supposed to be watched after the third season of Tsubasa? and which ova should be watched after the third season of tsubasa? (sorry if there wansn't a third season .. its is just very confusing ... reservoir, chronicles.. yada yada yada)

[Anh_Minh]

You're supposed to read both at the same time. Though obviously it's not a one to one equivalence in terms of chapters.

Just read one and when you come to a crossover point, read the other till you catch up?

[Fabelyn]

The idea of Watanuki=FWR is looking really plausible, and that's not good...

There is only one problem with it: timeline. The only reason Watanuki exists and went to Yuuko in the first place was because of the confusion FWR created. So how is it possible?

[Anh_Minh]

No, no, the "timeline" really isn't a problem in TRC/xxxHolic.

[fish eric]

You guys are crazy. IMO is no way Wata is gonna be Fei Wong. Look at how he treats Syaoran and Sakura, his parents/other half of his existence.

The more I think of it the more I think that he is just Watanuki and will always be.

Didn't Yukko say that is was very important that Fei Wong never learn of Watanuki's existence?

[Fabelyn]

You guys are crazy. IMO is no way Wata is gonna be Fei Wong. Look at how he treats Syaoran and Sakura, his parents/other half of his existence.

The more I think of it the more I think that he is just Watanuki and will always be.

Didn't Yukko say that is was very important that Fei Wong never learn of Watanuki's existence?

Fei Wong might be a Watanuki from the future who, after decades of being alone in the shop wishing to see Yuuko again, became crazy and obsessed.

It would explain why Yuuko wouldn't wan them to meet, since they are the same person

[Miles Teg]

They have meet, and Fei Wang has said that Watanuki was looking like a young Clow Reed :heh: (chapter 202 of TRC)

[Anh_Minh]

So Watanuki will become Clow, and Doumeki will become Fei Wong?

[-KarumA-]

ooh dear God, if that happens I'll eat my socks D:

Nuki is prob so grieved with loss to a point where he decides to take over the shop and be like Yuuko
he's a crazed griever atm....

[yezhanquan]

So Watanuki will become Clow, and Doumeki will become Fei Wong?

Upon thinking, that makes a bit of sense. We know that Doumeki will have his Can't Spit It Out till the end of time. Combined with I Want My Beloved To Be Happy, I'll buy it.

Again, this means that the time loop just got a lot wilder.

[Fabelyn]

So Watanuki will become Clow, and Doumeki will become Fei Wong?

Now that would be an epic plot twist...

So I suppose what will come out of the egg is either a book entitled "Guide to Vilany" or evil powers.

[Miles Teg]

Chapter 186 spoiler



The chapters opens up with the hitsuzen line. Black butterflies are seen, flying off.
Doumeki enters the shop with bags, then welcomed by Moro and Maru (clearly translated here, with that scan).
Doumeki opens a door/is opened for him and Watanuki is lying there, on the sofa, with the pipe in his hands. Doumeki mentions something about naps, or unnecessary long naps. Watanuki replies.
Doumeki bought the vegetables for today's dinner (pffffft, like there would have been anything but food in those bags), so off to the kitchen.
Before dinner Mokona tells Doumeki that Watanuki is the same as always.
They have dinner, and Watanuki mentions something about a university, probably to do with Doumeki.
Watanuki talks about Doumeki's major and about what would have been better has he went with Science as a major, rather than Folklore.
Doumeki says that he already told him why/how he chose what he chose, four years ago. That because of the stuff his grandfather left him, and because of his interest in them ("And because someone has too keep you in line/safe/SANE," but he doesn't really say that).
Doumeki replies some more (?), and Watanuki smiles.
Watanuki is still in his Kimono.
It seems like Watanuki moves in this way (I wish I could explain that, but I'd guess he's being, you know... you know? Yuuko-like, when she moved about in her kimonos). He's dressed in a bit of loose kimono that's filled with butterflies.
Watanuki comments about The Suit, asking if students wear suits these days/at where Doumeki studies (?). What. Wait, right, don't tell me he got a job? Oi /o\ No, he actually wears them for students/faculty meetings (I don't even know why that makes me giggle, but it does).
Doumeki is ever-calm, hardly speaks with his usual sarcastic tone.
There's a pause/The Usual Doumeki Stare when Watanuki ponders about the whole major thing, before answering with "I'm doing it out of interest" answer. (This would lead one to believe that, of course, he clearly isn't doing it for that reason).


Just a curious observation pointed out by 2ch: On Young Magazine's current issue page, xxxHolic is listed as xxxHOLiC・籠 (Rou = Cage) as if it were a new title. It is usually listed like the other series with a link to the series page, but it stands out as something different this time.

All spoiler from -> http://community.livejournal.com/clamp_now/

[kk2extreme]

all this talk reminds me of X, where a good guy could suddenly turn bad (Fuuma, anyone :heh:)

[Renegade334]

Well, 186 popped up and we get to see Watanuki in his new role - he's done settling in as Yuuko's successor, even going as far as adopting her 'lascivious', reclining pose and becoming more proficient in the arcane art of...filling a room with tobacco smoke.

Doumeki, now an uni student, still visits him although he's no customer (ironically enough, he's almost what Watanuki was to Yuuki - the food-fetching errand runner). Turns out he's taken up folklore as his main course so as to take care of his grandfather's stuff (which he has in abundance...or so he claims).

Since issue #43 (next week's) also has a xxxHolic chapter, it appears we're entering a new arc, so I don't think it's going to end at the same time as TRC. Hopefully CLAMP will extend the series' life support and wrap it up accordingly after a few more adventures, with, I deeply hope, a happy resolution.


Anyway, Watanuki seems to have picked up Yuuko's habits, including the apathy (is tired most of the time and spends his days sleeping). However, I'm not sure what to make of Watanuki's...smirk at the very end. I'm not certain he was simply being snide at Doumeki's unforeseen change of vocation. Hopefully, next week we'll see the rest of the cast - honestly, having him turn to evil ways as some have theorized, without having caring people such as Doumeki, Himawari, Zashiki-Warashi or Kohane, going out of their way to curve his new personality shift, seems a bit too easy for my tastes. Hitsuzen-related, shop customers-only barrier in place or not.

Honestly, he deserves better than decaying into a villain for the sake of an umpteenth plot/mind twist that'd be CLAMP's parting shot to this universe (or should I say multiverse? whichever).

[yezhanquan]

So, we're given a time skip. 4 years can change a man, so I buy it.

Things are moving. Can't wait for TRC's end.

[Freeter]

*waits for adult Kohane to arrive* :smile:

[yezhanquan]

Throw Kobato in, while we're at it.

[fish eric]

Wow it has been more than 4 years in the story.

Actually It seems like it has been 4 years since the chapter was released.

[cry]

wah... i thought watanuki would do something better than just taking yuko's place... i'm really deceived by him :/

[yezhanquan]

I'm more peeved at the time-skip, or is this CLAMP's nod for fanfiction writers to fill in the gap?

[Anh_Minh]

Well, 186 popped up and we get to see Watanuki in his new role - he's done settling in as Yuuko's successor, even going as far as adopting her 'lascivious', reclining pose and becoming more proficient in the arcane art of...filling a room with tobacco smoke.

Considering how out of it he was, I don't think it was only tobacco...

[yezhanquan]

Opium is the general consensus, it seems. Hope he doesn't die from it.

[Kafriel]

Four years seems a bit much...and if I hadn't seen Watanuki in the first pages, I'd swear that's Yuuko talking to Doumeki.
Actually It seems like it has been 4 years since the chapter was released.
QFT, it's been so long since the last chapter and this one seems a bit small and uneventful :(
Still, having a holic chapter to read is a nice way to spend my time, waiting for the next one (hopefully) next week~

[fish eric]

Opium is the general consensus, it seems. Hope he doesn't die from it.

Trust me on this one that is a tobacco pipe. Opium is smoked a different way. You cant smoke opium out of a tobacco pipe. And opium wont kill you. It is way more healthy for you than cigarettes.



That type of pipe he is smoking is a traditional Japanese tobacco pipe called a Kiseru.


THe one thing that he may be smoking besides tobacco is marijuana.




Opium pipe -- From Wikipedia

An opium pipe is a pipe designed for the vaporization and inhalation of opium. True opium pipes allow for the drug to be vaporized while being heated over a special oil lamp known as an opium lamp. It is thought that this manner of "smoking" opium began in the seventeenth century when a special pipe was developed that vaporized opium instead of burning it. [1]

The configuration of the typical opium pipe consists of a long stem, a ceramic pipe-bowl, and a metal fitting, known as the "saddle", through which the pipe-bowl plugs into the pipe-stem. The pipe-bowl must be detachable from the stem due to the necessity to remove the bowl and scrape its insides clean of opium ash after several pipes have been smoked. The stems of opium pipes were usually made from bamboo, but other materials were used such as ivory, silver and jade, to name a few. Pipe-bowls were typically some type of ceramic, including Yixing clay and blue and white porcelain. Sometimes opium pipe-bowls were carved from more valuable materials such as jade. [2]

Because of its design, the opium pipe needed an opium lamp in order to function. The lamp was as highly specialized as the pipe, and was designed to channel just the right amount of heat upon the pipe-bowl so that the opium would vaporize and allow the smoker to inhale the intoxicating vapors.

Due to opium eradication campaigns in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, genuine opium pipes are now extremely rare. [3]

Kiseru -- From Wikipedia

Kiseru (煙管, kiseru?) is an old style Japanese smoking pipe. Kiseru have been used for smoking a very fine, shredded tobacco, as well as Cannabis. It is typically made out of metal on the ends (the mouth piece and bowl), with a shaft typically made out of bamboo. Another distinct trait of a kiseru is that the bowl is much smaller than that of many western-style pipes, and if fitted with a fine-mesh metal screen, permits small servings of any sifted herb at a low burning temperature.

There are many kiseru adorned with elaborate artwork and details made by skilled artisans. Made with precious metals, they naturally became a status symbol of the kiseru owner. The word kiseru comes from the Khmer word "ksher". Because the kiseru is basically a rod with metal ends, longer kiseru have been employed as weapons, especially by the gangster-like kabukimono samurai of Edo period Japan.

Tobacco was known about in Japan by the 1570s at the earliest. By the early 17th century, kiseru had become popular enough to even be mentioned in some Buddhist textbooks for children. The kiseru evolved along with the equipment and use of incense associated with the tea ceremony. The kō-bon, an incense tray, became the tabako-bon, a tobacco tray, the incense burner evolved into a pot for tobacco embers and the incense pot became a type of ash tray.[1]

During the Edo period weapons were frequently used as objects with which one could flaunt one's financial status. Since commoners were prohibited to carry weapons, an elaborate kiseru carried slung from the waist would often serve a similar purpose. After the Meiji restoration and the abolishment of the caste system, many craftsmen who previously had worked on decorating swords moved on to designing kiseru and buckles for tobacco pouches. Though mass-production of cigarettes began in the late 19th century, it was not until after World War II that the kiseru went out of style and became an object of tradition and relative obscurity.

[yezhanquan]

Marijuana... sounds about right.

Still, smoking anything is not a recipe for good health.

[fish eric]

Did you guys read Tsubasa today? Watanuki is there talking with the Syaorans, but I have no idea what is going on.

[yezhanquan]

Basically, space-time corrected itself. If I'm right, the clones are now gone, because their creator Fei Wong is gone as well.

[Shinguji]

Yes, and I don't understand it very well either. Hopefully, the whole "decision" thing with Watanuki gets cleared up in either Holic or Tsubasa... unless it has to do with him deciding to wait for Yuuko to come back.

I'm still curious to see what role Doumeki's egg will play, be it in the near or distant future.

[Renegade334]

Did you guys read Tsubasa today? Watanuki is there talking with the Syaorans, but I have no idea what is going on.

Well, basically Wata got drawn inside that sealed universe due to the fact that he's the same as the Syaorans. He learns of his real nature but eventually concludes, with his alter egos - for lack of a better term - that he remains a different entity, not even an artificial one. Although the situation he's in is quite dire (after all, it led to Yuuko's long-awaited demise), he harbors no hard feelings towards those responsible, because he knows it nevertheless allowed him to meet important, life-changing people.

C!Syaoran and C!Sakura, however, revert to feathers that the others can use to create another contradiction - in essence, a chasm between dimensions to slip in and out of, and return to the real world. At the end of the chapter the other two affirm their desire to return where they belong to.

[yezhanquan]

I think the "creator" which the clone mentioned could be Yuuko, rather than FWR.

But, yeah. Things are being put right. It's time to go home.

[Renegade334]

Well, just read 187, raw...
...Which continues from where the story left off. Since I'm impaired by the language barrier, I can only imagine what's being said. The important part is that we finally meet timeskip!Kohane, who's now graduated to the status of junior high cutie (I thought only people in need could enter the shop, but let us shelf that for a while); she visibly came with a bento and as she and Watanuki walk through a corridor, we can see that he's still got that caring side of his and that he hasn't completely fallen into that half-apathetic, half-sly manner we were introduced to last chapter. However, there was a letter beneath the wrapped parcel (which I can only assume as coming from the fortune-telling lady, since Kohane doesn't seem to know about it) - and whatever it covered or, due to the conversation it brought about, she doesn't really seem happy.

The chapter ends with Doumeki and Watanuki sitting on the garden porch and sharing liquor. I'll wait for a translation to know what was shared in those last few frames.
EDIT: alright, came across a t/l, blanks are filled in.
...Well, nothing much, except for two things:

- Kohane must've come at least once to the shop prior to this event, since he commented again on how her uniform looks good on her. I guess that if you're running errands for your boss and thus need to access the shop to complete your said objective(s), the barrier will grant you passage (which is probably what allowed Doumeki to walk through, too).

- Watanuki is going to receive a visitor...whose coming appears to be the source of some concern, although the specifics of which weren't specified. Kohane insisted that he cannot get hurt again, regardless of his ageless nature, for therein lies the catch to his makeshift immortality: he cannot age, but he can still die from just about anything that is deadly to a normal human (illness, lethal blow, etc). Whether Kohane and the fortune-teller were worried about Watanuki himself (who, by his own words, isn't the greatest of shopkeepers) or about the customer is left to speculation...or a closer look to the chapter's grammar/vocabulary.

Anyway, next chapter will apparently be out on the 10th of next month. CLAMP appears to go along with the new title, "xxxHolic Cage" or whatever: whether it is to announce the final arc or to show that they're making it a new series altogether (to be more specific, no longer tied to the TRC storyline) is also left to discussion.I must still observe that this chapter managed to dispel some of the concerns I had raised for the previous chapter: this time the mood had warmer hues, with Kohane worrying about Watanuki and him, showing his fondness in return. The old Wata is still there, though buried under a mountain-load of sadness and self-deprecation. Whatever impression his smirk in 186's last frame left me with, 187 quelled it somewhat. He's surrounded by loved ones and keeping true to his promise. He's forging on.

[Freeter]

Wow, that sure didn't take long :D Older Kohane is lovelier than ever, although the height difference between her and Watanuki is somewhat jarring. Was Watanuki always that tall?

As for the new customer, it's probably Himawari. She might try to get serious with Watanuki to fill the void left by Yuuko, which could be the reason for concern. Or it could be someone entirely different.

[Anh_Minh]

I read it as Watanuki frequently getting hurt whenever he gets a customer. Doesn't need to be a particularly difficult one.

[Renegade334]

As for the new customer, it's probably Himawari. She might try to get serious with Watanuki to fill the void left by Yuuko, which could be the reason for concern. Or it could be someone entirely different.
Or it could be a completely different person. One of the other interpretations is that one or several of Watanuki's previous customers didn't positively react to the fulfillment of their wishes. If you recall the earlier volumes that were published in what I'd call 'xxxHolic-only tales' - before all the TRC stuff came to the fore - wishes don't always come true in the manner of your own vision. Like the monkey paw, the computer-addicted woman or the cursed picture cases, no matter what you long for, there is a price to pay. You cannot dictate your wishes down to the comma. And some might not be ready or willing to pay or accept the outcome.

Despite the earlier, slightly sarcastic exchange between Watanuki and Doumeki, I think the former still lacks Yuuko's authority and rather than assert the fact that 'this is what you wished for, so take responsibility for your own choices', I see him remaining kind of passive and not standing up to whichever disgruntled customer is confronting him. And if it comes to blows (see Kohane's mother) and he's predictably unwilling to defend himself, well, we could have a possible reason as to why Kohane and Doumeki are so worried and the latter is even willing to stay at the shop when a customer arrives.

But, on the other hand, yes, it doesn't invalidate the possibility that it's indeed one of Watanuki's acquaintances and his two friends want to alleviate some of the burdens it could bring.


EDIT: Ninja'ed!

[kk2extreme]

grown up kohane is still pretty lolish, :love:

[wandering-dreamer]

For some reason I truly think that Watanuki is going to turn out to be Clow Reed or something. The way that he says he would wait again for Yuuko sounds similar to Clow and one of my friends is theorizing that FWR is a clone of Clow, err, crap, that part probably belongs in another thread. I really don't see how CLAMP expects people to be able to understand the whole story while only reading half of it.

[Renegade334]

Well, judging from the spoiler in the TRC thread, I have a good feeling next week's traveller will be none other thanSyaoran himself, whose price was to be an eternal vagrant, in contrast to Watanuki, who is now an eternal prisoner to the shop. He did state he'd pay Yuuko's shop a visit, so we might as well see the reunion between the two duplicates.

Somehow, I can't help but think that this might mark the last turn for xxxHolic, as all things finally come round and the last gears click in place, but hopefully (I might be shooting myself in the leg while saying that) CLAMP will indulge us and let xxxHolic continue.

Provided that the egg thing was not just written to demonstrate - and foreshadow - the 'duplicata' effect on time-travelling entities triggered by dimensional turmoils and Watanuki won't be seen off by an open ending wherein he keeps on waiting for someone who, in the end, might not come back, there is still room for more development and a dilution of this oh so bleak situation.

[Renegade334]

It's necromancy time!

[/removes_sacerdotal_robes]

Alrighty, just had a peek at ch188's Chinese scanlation and my earlier prediction died a swift, painful death.

Watanuki keeps fending off some of my fears about his apparent depression/apathy by showing a more mischievous side of his - by giving Maru and Moro a piece of their own medecine before they could even administer it to him (they like to pounce on him early in the morning, when he's still sleeping). I guess we needed a severe return to this kind of lighthearted comedy - the atmosphere could really do with some more of this candy.

Seeing him wearing some sort of Yuuko-style necklace had me shaking my head, though - he didn't have to go that far to establish himself as the shop's (spiritual) successor.

Anyway, the client's a woman in a hakama, apparently blind - though that doesn't prevent Watanuki from saying here eyes are beautiful when she opens them.

The object of her visit: a shamisen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamisen).

"Today I am here to bother you...
it's about the issues of this kid"

No date specified for the next chapter, sorry.

[yezhanquan]

Well, English subs are out and yeah, a guest arrives at the shop. Any CLAMP experts here to confirm that this lady is/isn't another crossover character?

[-KarumA-]

Well, English subs are out and yeah, a guest arrives at the shop. Any CLAMP experts here to confirm that this lady is/isn't another crossover character?

there are more crosscovers
Apparently Watanuki hates cellphones, specially typing messages and Mokana loves it.. he types 100 billion times a second D: ooh my god
the back ground sounds made by then are attacks from Saint Seiya

and the customer looks like Hotaru from Wish, but it cannot be her
It is merely a resemblance :D

[Renegade334]

the types 100 billion times a second D: ooh my god
the back ground sounds made by then are attacks from Saint Seiya

Which is hardly surprising since CLAMP started as a Captain Tsubasa and Saint Seiya doujinshi circle - they're merely acknowledging their deepest roots.

As for ch189, which should've been published one or two days ago...still no sign of the file, but some spoilers that've been going around insteadsuggest something about a cat and the shamisen being unable to produce sounds when played.

[Kafriel]

That was pretty short...then again, I have been reading monthly manga a lot lately so I'm used to having 30~40p/ch :(

[Xellos-_^]

Well, English subs are out and yeah, a guest arrives at the shop. Any CLAMP experts here to confirm that this lady is/isn't another crossover character?

i was thinking RG Veda when i saw the client but i can't really place her form any clamp stuff i seen before.

[Shiroth]

i was thinking RG Veda when i saw the client but i can't really place her form any clamp stuff i seen before.
Could you post a screenshot in a spoiler tag please? I haven't read the latest chapter yet, and i'm wondering about it.

[Renegade334]

Here you go:
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2959/88507116.th.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2959/88507116.jpg)

[Shiroth]

Here you go:
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2959/88507116.th.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2959/88507116.jpg)
It's a female Kakyo. :heh:

I don't recognize that character, though if i was to say she was from anything, then i also would say RG Veda. I pretty much remember everyone from that title, and her face doesn't come to mind. Probably a new creation.

[wandering-dreamer]

I know that someone said she might be from Wish and the pale eyes and hair do remind me of a certain someone....

[yezhanquan]

Well, 189 is out now. This shamisen is something.

[Shiroth]

I know that someone said she might be from Wish and the pale eyes and hair do remind me of a certain someone....
The only character she's similar to in Wish would be Hisui, though they look nothing alike really. Complete different hair style as well.

[wandering-dreamer]

Wow, 189 is out and translated already.

Ew, some instruments have such, colorful, pasts. Bleh, and it really does look like Rou won't be a temporary thing and that Watanuki has really taken over. And I guess he's still having those dreams of his, how would you describe Watanuki's dreams? They aren't prophetic but they are correct, dream-walking?

[Renegade334]

Watanuki certainly didn't dillydally during the timeskip - he now knows how to go into the dream world at will (or so it seems) and he uses that to contact the shamisen's spirit...
...
Who looks [i]exactly[i/] like her owner (astral imprinting?), except that she has slitted pupils - that of a cat.

She whispers the name of whoever she seeks in Watanuki's ear in the next day, he has a chat with Doumeki. Not sure what is shared between the two, but the latter ends up sifting through the storeroom for something that could help resolve the case. Doumeki appears to have found it: some strange, vase-shaped, flattened item adorned with the image of a butterfly.
...
Is it the cat's mate, that also suffered the same fate? Still awaiting a t/l.

[Miles Teg]

I think that the "thing" found by Doumeki is a kind of pick to play the Shamisen

[Renegade334]

Yup. 'twas a plectrum indeed.

Scanlation's out - that was quick, too.

[wandering-dreamer]

Nice to see that Watanuki can semi-control his dreams or can at least use them to his advantage.

As a side note, I believe I read that the next OVA is coming out with the 17th volume of Holic which is set for a spring release (March? April? something like that). So xxxHolic is going to be going on for a bit longer, I must admit that it doesn't feel like it's winding down at this point.

[yezhanquan]

But, a plectrum made of a cat's bones....

Of course, there is a possibility that Watanuki is on the wrong track.

[Renegade334]

Now this is interesting...

It appears Watanuki's hunch paid out and not all of the transactions he brokers at the shop have bad endings. The plectrum (AKA bachi) was indeed the key, as, when the client stroked the shamisen's strings with the said item, the instrument finally produced its trademark sound and the resulting melody brought Watanuki to some sort of dream sequence wherein he witnessed the shamisen's spirit embracing a nondescript person. The scene suddenly crumbled, forcing him back to reality...where the bachi had also broken to pieces between the woman's fingers. However, the shamisen's body (AKA dô) now sports a flowery motif, as if it were a parting gift to the owner.

Watanuki and the client finally and amiably conclude the deal, though the last frame shows him with - again - a melancholic face.

Next chapter should be scheduled for the 16th.

Now waiting for the speed scanlations...

[Renegade334]

*bump*

Well, I thought Watanuki's implied injuries from previous transactions at the shop were due to disgruntled customers, but ch192 reveals that there is actually more to it than meets the eye.

Watanuki seems to have forgotten part of Yuuko's lessons - the ones about cherishing oneself so as to not hurt other people.

Whenever he receives an unbalanced payment from the customers - too much or too little - he feels it's his responsibility to even it out by giving something of his own...which, from what I understand, can cause him physical or mental harm every time he does so.

The first postskip chapters were misleading - contrarily to appearances, Watanuki's compassion didn't lessen...in fact, it has become almost exacerbated. He's overdoing it, to the point of forgetting about the bonds tying him to his friends.

[Renegade334]

Well...this is interesting...

The final volume of TRC was recently released and the last chapter actually contains a few extra pages...and in one of them there is this quite...insightful? compelling? piece of conversation held between Fai and Kurogane:

Kurogane: But,
Why was he broken?

I definitely felt the shock from killing him.

Fai: I don't know.

But,
Fei Wong...he too may have been a copy that something created.
------------
!!! page 20
Fai: Not a person,
But a strong thought.

Or maybe the afterimage of the wish of someone with strong magic.

There is now another theory that's making the rounds: that Fei Wong Reed is actually a byproduct of Clow's desire to revive Yuuko - rather than actually being an aged Watanuki (who, btw, shouldn't be able to age/change - unless he manages to Gollumify himself by means unknown).

[wandering-dreamer]

Well...this is interesting...

The final volume of TRC was recently released and the last chapter actually contains a few extra pages...and in one of them there is this quite...insightful? compelling? piece of conversation held between Fai and Kurogane:



There is now another theory that's making the rounds: that Fei Wong Reed is actually a byproduct of Clow's desire to revive Yuuko - rather than actually being an aged Watanuki (who, btw, shouldn't be able to age/change - unless he manages to Gollumify himself by means unknown).

I'd had similar suspicions when his wish was revealed, really annoyed that CLAMP didn't touch more on that.
At that rate he could be created from Watanuki's wish that Yuko not die and then be doomed to fulfill all of this or risk chaning the past. Please no more mindbender time traveling CLAMP.

[Nosauz]

*bump*

Well, I thought Watanuki's implied injuries from previous transactions at the shop were due to disgruntled customers, but ch192 reveals that there is actually more to it than meets the eye.

Watanuki seems to have forgotten part of Yuuko's lessons - the ones about cherishing oneself so as to not hurt other people.

Whenever he receives an unbalanced payment from the customers - too much or too little - he feels it's his responsibility to even it out by giving something of his own...which, from what I understand, can cause him physical or mental harm every time he does so.

The first postskip chapters were misleading - contrarily to appearances, Watanuki's compassion didn't lessen...in fact, it has become almost exacerbated. He's overdoing it, to the point of forgetting about the bonds tying him to his friends.

Isn't this why haruka is now the guide. Considering the last time "he" gave up too much of himself he almost died, I just hope when they do finish holic that they give a proper conclusion to TSR because I would just feel some demoralized with the bittersweet ending in TSR I mean for christ sakes, sakura is the inheriter of the power of clow. end mini rant but it's kind of sad that there won't be any new chapters for a while.

[wandering-dreamer]

demoralized with the bittersweet ending in TSR I mean for christ sakes, sakura is the inheriter of the power of clow.
Um, wrong Sakura, that's CCS Sakura who had inherited all of Clow's power, very different from the one in TRC.
And it looks like Holic should return on the 21st but with all the breaks it's been having lately (can't think of a reason either unless CLAMP is working on a secret project) don't hold your breath. Actually, don't hold your breath at all, no one should try that for a week. XD

[-KarumA-]

new chapter... though I haven´t read a translation yet, but something with his pipe

[Von Himmel]

---and a new girl who seems to enter the shop after Watanuki was deceived(?) by the one who fix his pipe..o.o;
I wonder what's going to happen..

[-KarumA-]

---and a new girl who seems to enter the shop after Watanuki was deceived(?) by the one who fix his pipe..o.o;
I wonder what's going to happen..

I thought she looked like

the spider woman who ate Watanuki's eye

and I went O.O YOU!

edit:
it is her, compare the hair and neck strap, oh shi- XD
http://otakuness.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/xxxholickei3-1.jpg

I have a feeling it has to do with payment for something, but not sure
It could have something to do with Watanuki getting hurt.. I wonder what will happen if the pipe is all gone

[Nosauz]

she is the spider women who ate watanuki's eye. Dirty rabbit, I don't understand his reason for doing this. Chalk this up to watanuki not understanding equivalent trade huh

[wandering-dreamer]

Translations are out!
Looks like Watanuki had another fit while dreaming, dropped the pipe, and then needed it to be repaired. Poor him, he was trying to get the equivalent exchange right but it looks like he just invited in a problem instead...

[Shiroth]

Wow, what an appearance by the Spider lady. Didn't see that one coming.

I still wanna see Himawari again. :(