xxxHOLiC ep.18

October 1, 2006 | 15 Comments

This is a nice adventure-style episode. I am really glad to see how lately the animation quality seems to be relatively good. I guess the producers save the money they didn't use in the early episodes and use it in these episodes. The storyline is also interesting because it delves into some Japanese mythology, particularly that of youkai and tsukumogami. At times like this I wish I had taken Japanese mythology class so I can recognise some of the creatures that are shown in this episode. This episode also has some amusing comic scenes. One stand out moment was when a mob of people chase two characters and they keep asking the characters to come back. I always find this hilarious because do the mobs seriously think the person being chased will come back and let himself get beaten to pulp?

The episode begins with Watanuki cleaning up the warehouse and bitching about the fact that he just cleaned the place up not too long ago. While doing this, he notices a painting featuring a female cat wearing kimono and carrying what looks like a lantern. When Watanuki thinks about this outloud, all of a sudden the painting moves and jumps around. Much to his surprise, the female cat in the painting comes out of the frame like Sadako from The Ring. Watanuki freaks out upon seeing this but before he can do anything, the cat already sits on top of him, complaining about his rudeness. Yuuko and Mokona then appear in the warehouse, asking Watanuki to get them some more snacks and sake. Upon seeing Yuuko, the female cat greets her and in return, Yuuko addresses the cat as 'Akari'. The two start talking about how it's almost that time of the year again much to Watanuki's frustation because they are talking on top of his body.

In the aftermath of the incident, Yuuko invites Akari to drink with her. Watanuki realises that he better stocks up on Eki-kyabe (to stop hangover) upon seeing the amount of sake that the two drink. Akari asks Yuuko if Watanuki is the guy that everyone talks about. Apparently Watanuki is famous in her world because he made Zashiki-Warashi falls in love with him, successfully helped Ame-Warashi, and caused the Kuda-Kitsune to be infatuated with him. Akari then informs Yuuko that it's time for her to go and proceeds to give her lantern to Yuuko. Yuuko, however, asks Akari to give it to Watanuki so she approaches Watanuki, wondering if he can be compared to Yuuko. Having said that, she encourages Watanuki to do his best because he'll see the change eventually. She then thanks Yuuko for the sake and the fish and proceeds to produce another lantern on her hand. She then bids goodbye to everyone and disappears into the night.

The next day, Watanuki tells Himawari that according to Yuuko, the object that he got is a 「鬼灯」- Hoozuki (chinese lantern plant). When Doumeki wonders if something strange is going to happen now, Watanuki tells him that Yuuko said if he holds onto it, he can 'join in' but he won't know until it happens. Himawari thinks it sounds exciting but when Watanuki asks her if she wants to come, she claims that she already has a plan and instead asks Doumeki to accompany Watanuki. As a result, Watanuki and Doumeki ends up standing together in a plain field in the middle of the night. Watanuki is pissed off and tells Doumeki that he won't save Doumeki this time around. In retaliation, Doumeki asks Watanuki if Watanuki ever saved him before. Watanuki is livid to hear this but decides to ask Doumeki about the time. Doumeki points out that it's almost the time so Watanuki opens the lantern, which now shines a bright light.

The two also find a note written by Yuuko, which tells them that only those who hold the lantern can participate so she asks Doumeki and Watanuki to hold the lantern together just like the statues on wedding cake. Watanuki cries in despair upon hearing this but Doumeki tells him that's what is written in the letter. Watanuki starts to suspect that Yuuko is watching them right now. However, when Watanuki looks around the area, Doumeki reads the letter outloud, telling Watanuki that it's pointless to search for Yuuko. The letter also points out that Watanuki is being a predictable idiot as usual. Watanuki accuses Doumeki of making up the last part of the sentence but as it turns out Mokona, Maru, and Moro were the ones who wrote the sentence. In the end, Watanuki has no choice but to hold the lantern together with Doumeki. Upon doing this, the light in the lantern grows bigger, illuminating the area and sending the two to another dimension.

Upon entering the dimension, Watanuki and Doumeki see various demons parading while holding the same lantern that they are holding. Doumeki quickly realises that this is「百鬼夜行」- Hyakkiyakou (The night parade of 100 demons). Watanuki wonders if Doumeki is talking about a parade where 「妖怪」- youkai (spectres) and 「付喪神」- tsukumogami (artifact spirits) carry lanterns. Doumeki confirms Watanuki's guess, saying that he once saw in an art from Edo period with the same name. At first Watanuki thinks that he is in some kind of drawing until a bunch of Yokai come over and tell the two that unless they join in the parade, they'll be left behind. They also assure him that this is not a painting but the real thing. Once the two are in the parade, Doumeki asks Watanuki if he feels okay and when Watanuki confirms this, Doumeki guesses that maybe there is nothing bad about being a part of the parade.

Even though there are spirits in front of them, they don't mean any harm. Doumeki also points out how in the past Watanuki was able to tell when the spirits have evil intention. While Watanuki agrees with this, he believes that there's no way of knowing for sure. In reply, Doumeki tells Watanuki that he's sure Watanuki knows the difference between good intentions and bad intentions. Watanuki wonders why Doumeki thinks like this but Doumeki doesn't have the answer for it, pissing Watanuki in the process. To stop Watanuki from ranting like a madman, Doumeki points out that they are the parade has lef them. Because of this, the two try to catch up and eventually arrive at a mountain overlooking the valley. At the centre of the parade is a giant tree of life. Doumeki wonders if Watanuki has a bad feeling about it but Watanuki thinks that he just feels overwhelmed by it. In front of them, many spirits bring their Hoozuki and hold it underneath the tree.

Since his view is obscured by larger demons, Watanuki ends up jumping up and down to see the event. Unfortunately, he ends up tripping on a small demon in front of him and loses his grip on the Hoozuki. All of a sudden the spirits around them realise that Watanuki is a human. They wonder how human can get here to begin with and what they should do with them. The spirits think that they are in trouble now since they believe humans are not friendly beings. Because of this, they think the only solution left to get rid of the intruder is to eat Watanuki. The spirits then start circling Watanuki and Doumeki but before they can get closer, Doumeki takes Watanuki away from the area, trying to escape the spirits. Away from the commotion, the little guys that form Karasu-Tengu notice Watanuki. One of them wonders why humans are in a place like this while another believes that Doumeki and Watanuki must be bad because the spirits want to eat them.

The Karasu-Tengu think that Watanuki is getting what he deserves. However, one of them reminds the leader that Zashiki-Warashi will cry if Watanuki dies so the leader concludes that they have to talk to Watanuki at least. They approach Watanuki and ask the guy what they are doing here. Instead of answering, Watanuki asks the Tengu to save them already. The Tengu leader, Keith, slaps Watanuki for being rude and tells him that if they save Watanuki and Doumeki, they'll be seen as one of the bad guys as well. He tells Watanuki to save himself and proceeds to jump to another hover board so Watanuki and Doumeki can use his hover board. Unfortunately for Watanuki, this is not the end of the chase since there are spirits that can fly and try to either topple them from the board or eat them in mid air. In an attempt to avoid the spirits, Watanuki falls from the board and plummets down. Thankfully for him, blue sparks manage to capture him mid air.

The blue sparks belong to the Zashiki-Warashi, who wonders why Watanuki is in this place. Watanuki explains that he and Doumeki were in the parade and now are being chased by the spirits. Upon hearing Doumeki's name, Zashiki-Warashi apologises to the guy for stealing his soul not too long ago. Doumeki asks her not to worry about it. Zashiki-Warashi then tells Watanuki that it's dangerous for him to be here and offers to take him to a safer place. However, when Watanuki grabs Zashiki-Warashi's hand, she becomes embarassed and forgets to concentrate her power on the blue sparks that prevents Watanuki from falling into the ground. Watanuki once again plumments down so Zashiki-Warashi orders the Karasu-Tengu to save him. Unfortunately for Watanuki, Karasu-Tengu idea's of stopping him from falling involves whacking him with the paper fan off to another area. Having said that, Watanuki ends up landing safely into the ground.

However, the spirits now manage to corner Doumeki and Watanuki. Before they can eat the two, however, the little Fox spirit from the Oden shop comes and asks the other spirits to stop. The Fox spirit explains that Watanuki is a good person but the other spirits refuse to believe unless the Fox shows them a proof. The Fox points out that Watanuki once said that the Oden made by its father is delicious. In addition to this, Watanuki gave it the broken arrow, which according to the spirits are Haja arrow. They are impressed and think that Watanuki must have a good spirit. The tree suddenly speaks and asks the other spirits to let the two go. It then asks Watanuki and Doumeki to come forward with their Hoozuki so they hold the lantern underneath a flower which produces a nectar. The flower quickly fills the Hoozuki up with nectar while the tree explains that every year a nectar drink is given to those who participate in the parade.

The tree asks Watanuki and Doumeki to drink the nectar for good health while Watanuki thanks the young Fox for saving their life. As Watanuki leaves the area, the tree tells him that although a link between two lifes are not always pleasant and often causes hardship, it'll change a person little by little. The tree believes that Watanuki should treasure the unique experience that came from meeting one unique individual. Watanuki and Doumeki then return to their world, where 8 hours has lapsed since they were in the area. When Watanuki wonders why Yuuko gave them the Hoozuki, Yuuko appears on top of a slide behind Watanuki, saying that it's because she wanted the nectar. She then uses the slide to kick Watanuki to the ground and grab the Hoozuki. She tells Watanuki that Hyakkiyakou nectar is tastier than any drink in this world. Watanuki is livid to hear this because it means he was used to deliver the nectar.

A horrified Watanuki wonders if the tree was referring to Yuuko when it said that he should cherish the unique experience he gets from meeting one unique individual. When offered to join them to drink the nectar, Watanuki tells them that he's a minor and can't have any sake. However, Mokona points out that it's just nectar and not sake so Watanuki eventually relents. After Watanuki passes out from too much drinking, Doumeki asks Yuuko why she went all the way to the park. He suspected that the reason is because she doesn't want him to enter her shop. Yuuko explains that her shop is here and yet it is not. The only ones who can enter are those who need to enter it and Doumeki has no need to enter the shop. Her shop is all about preparing for the future and that is why Watanuki came to the shop. She then looks at Watanuki while saying that in this world there is no coincidence. Everything is Hitsuzen (fate/inevitability).

Impression:

That was a lot of action scenes used to make what would have been a rather short episode into a full 24 minutes one. Having said that I don't really mind the involvement of Karasu-Tengu and Zashiki-Warashi. I find these characters to be highly entertaining to see. Besides, the little Fox spirit is still the one really gets to save Watanuki from those youkai at the end of the day. Speaking of Youkai, those are some fun creatures the designer included in the lineup. I think I saw pink elephant. Where did that come from? I kind of doubt that pink elephant was one of the Japanese famous youkai. I also can't help but laughing at CLAMP's transparent shounen-ai suggestion when Yuuko asks Doumeki and Watanuki to hold the lantern like a couple in wedding cake. If anyone couldn't see it before, it's hard to miss it this time around. This makes me wonder though if there are fans who are unhappy at the inclusion of Zashiki-Warashi in the story.

I may as well talk about that person the tree mentioned to Watanuki now. The tree thinks that Watanuki should treasure the moments that he gets from his meeting with this person. That was really vague in many ways because I can think of at least 3 people the tree refers to: Yuuko, Doumeki, and Zashiki-Warashi. Well, I was going to include Himawari but judging from the way Yuuko often says that she's a bringer of misfortune I wouldn't count on it. In my opinion the tree did refer to Yuuko because she's the one who started all of these changes in Watanuki's life. Without her, Watanuki would not even want to associate himself with Doumeki and without meeting Doumeki, then the entire incident with Zashiki-Warashi probably won't happened in the first place. This is interesting if one believes in the concept of Hitsuzen that Yuuko often mentions. Anyway, it's also because of Yuuko that Watanuki's personality slowly change for the better.

Another interesting thing about the story is the revelation that Doumeki can't or won't find Yuuko's store because he has no need for it. I find it hard to believe that there is a human who is so content with his/her life that the person doesn't even want anything in his life. But in the story Doumeki is defined as a person who usually achieves thing through his own effort so I guess I'm fine with this. What's more interesting, however, is the nature of Yuuko's store. Where does it actually located and what is the purpose for its existence? Yuuko always say that it's to prepare for the future but that does not say much. From what the Fox lady said, it seems that Yuuko is preparing Watanuki to be her replacement. That will be interesting to see because despite his frequent outburst of anger, Watanuki is essentially a good person. I do wonder if Watanuki will accept it though because he is helping Yuuko so he can be free from the spirit world.

© memento 2003