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Names in this article are in Western order, with the surname after the given name.
XXXHOLiC is a manga written by CLAMP. XXXHOLiC is still continuing since 2003 in Kodansha's Young KC Deluxe periodically, and according to its website, a XXXHOLiC movie is scheduled for 2005. The XXXHOLiC manga is currently published in the United States by Del Rey Manga.
The manga's protagonist, Kimihiro Watanuki, a high school student, is plagued by supernatural beings. These creatures are all attracted to Watanuki, whether he wishes for it or not. He is greatly troubled with this supernatural existence, but the creatures are invisible to other people, and no one is able to help.
Plot elements
The story is full of occult factors that are hard to comprehend and includes puzzling beliefs. The monotone appearance of the manga creates an enigmatic atmosphere and looks beautiful in many scenes, whereas the drawing of CLAMP itself is already very sensitive and detailed.
One major point in XXXHOLiC is the connection between CLAMP's other manga. Many of CLAMP's characters outside of XXXHOLiC appear in this comic. In the beginning, Yūko talks to Watanuki about a girl, Sakura, the protagonist of Cardcaptor Sakura, and about a medium (or onmyouji) who is deduced as Subaru Sumeragi of Tokyo Babylon and X/1999, both characters from other manga series by CLAMP. For example, in the 8th chapter, characters from Tsubasa, which is one of CLAMP's other manga series, appear in the story. XXXHOLiC character Yūko Ichihara likewise appears in a chapter of Tsubasa. The same could be said in the following chapter, when Watanuki goes to a drug store and meets Kazahaya and Rikuo, characters from CLAMP's manga,Legal Drug. In addition, various items, like headphones resembling persocom ears appear. The link between other comics is one of the factors of XXXHOLiC, and the two series, Tsubasa and XXXHOLiC, are "linked."
Plot
When Watanuki is followed by one of these mysterious creatures, it somehow starts to expand, leaning heavily on Watanuki as he is pressed down to the ground. As Watanuki wails and struggles to get up, the creature suddenly disappears, and he is able to get up. Watanuki realizes that he is in front of a strange house. Just then, he is pulled inside by an invisible power. He resists entering a stranger's house, but the power pulls him in anyways into the main room, where a beautiful oriental woman with a long hair awaits.
Watanuki is confused, but the woman is confirmed for some reason and says, "There is no coincidence in this world. Everything that happens is necessary." So she explains that the encounter between her and Watanuki was inevitable. This mysterious woman named Yūko Ichihara starts to talk about Watanuki's birthday, family history, and even about his ability to attract monster-like creatures, just by asking his name. She is full of obscure elements, but it was sure that there was something with her. After talking thoroughly about Watanuki's profile, Yūko takes away his watch, an important thing for him.
The house Watanuki was pulled into was a house that grants one's wishes. However, "If you earn something, you must return something worth a suitable value in change." is what Yūko mentions. This was the reason for taking up his watch.
Watanuki wishes to put an end to his ability, so that he wouldn't see, smell, feel, or have to do anything with the creatures he is having trouble with. However, the wish was worth a big value that could not be paid at the moment. Therefore, Yuuko suggests him to work in her house everyday until the amount he worked reaches the value for his wish.
So Watanuki is forced to do all housework for Yūko every day, until his wish could be granted. Meanwhile, he sees many people entering this house, and granted wishes. Yuuko always repeats these words; "There is no coincidence in this world. Everything that happened was necessary." and "If you earn something, you must return something worth a suitable value in change." She always suggests things to solve each of their problems; however, she never tells a precise answer to it.
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