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Amazon.com: xxxHOLiC, Volume 10: Books: ClampWow. Something happened! I love xxxHolic, but most of the story has just been hints and suggestion buried in the random stories made up of Yuko's customers and Watanuki's misfortunes. I think it might be time to go back and re-read the previous volumes. I think I caught most of the clues about Himawari, but I'd like to see if there are ones I missed. Plus I'm curious about something...
I think most people have read this already, but I figure it's only polite since it is a a rather recent book... so spoilers for vol 10 and random fanfic-type speculations below this space...
So I know that Himawari is a jinx. I'd suspected as much from volume two or so, but the main question was it intentional, accidental and was she even aware of it. I'm glad it wasn't intentional, but I don't know if I'd call it accidental. If Himawari knew that she caused these problems, dangerous problems, it seems to me she's still culpable in some way. It's like someone having an incurable infectious disease, easily caught, hanging about people. People are going to get sick. Even if most people recover easily from the illness, there are some who don't. Some who die. Do you have the right then to be around people?
At the same time, what is Himawari supposed to do, live in a bubble? Never talk to anyone but her parents? Besides which, how far does her "jinx" actually go? If she had an livejournal and you put her on your friends list, would your computer crash? Would LJ delete your journal in a mistaken fight against porn? Doesn't seem very fair to expect her to be alone because of something she can't control. (And I find it an interesting parallel to the lonely Kohane, who is alone so she doesn't decrease her powers.) It does seem to be a cumulative effect, the more you're around her the worse things get for you. So, should she never have a good friend or a relationship? Besides, I like her. I don't want her to be unhappy either.
Anyway, it also makes me more curious about Domeki too. He seems to have a need to protect Watanuki, like when he tries to keep Watanuki from seeing the dead body, and I wonder why. I know it's CLAMP, so the popular theory is that they're "in love," but that's rather boring. I don't like them as a couple. Another reason to re-read, because I feel like I've missed something. I'm also curious about Domeki's grandfather... and also why all the men have women's names. "Haruka?" "Shizuka?" For a moment in book nine I thought Domeki was going to turn out to be a horribly butch woman in disguise. First they reveal his name is Shizuka and then there's a picture of him in a kimono. Scary moment. As a random comment, I like that you can almost automatically tell Domeki and his grandfather apart merely by body language.
This book also gives me ideas for fanfiction... a story between Watanuki and Himawari. The revelation in this chapter makes it nearly impossible for them to be a traditional "couple," which makes it an interesting challenge. How do you portray intimacy when there can be no physical intimacy? Mmmm....
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