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That title page is EVERYTHING! It is already one of my favourite Clear Card illustrations (maybe even from all of Card Captor Sakura). Not only the setting is very different from what CLAMP usually do, but I also love the aesthetics! Love the big moon in the background and our moon guardians in the foreground (Yukito and Nakuru are very prominent in this chapter so this title page makes a lot of sense). Needless to say that I loved Tokyo Tower’s comeback, even if in this minimalist way. Anyway, really love the composition, colours, wardrobe, everything!

So back from exactly where last chapter left us: day turning into night. So indeed it was related to the business Yukito and Nakuru did at Tsukimine shrine a few chapters earlier.

Turns out Mizuki and Yukito had a very moonie-to-moonie talk before she departed to England. (sidetone: Mizuki-sensei is looking like a teenager girl in this contemporary CLAMP style). Yukito finds out that Yue was created out of the power of the Moon and the Tsukimine Shrine holds great Moon power and apparently grants wishes if you wish strong enough (and perhaps if you are associated to the Moon, your chances increased).

Apparently the business Yukito and Nakuru went to do at Tsukimine Shrine was in order for Yukito to form a pact with the Shrine’s moon power. Turning (part of?) Tomoeda into night seems to be part of that pact but I don’t know if there is anything more to it. There is the question of course of why turn (part of?) Tomoeda night, but it must be in order to enhance Yue and Ruby Moon’s powers, given that Kero and Supi powers are drawn from the Sun and the Sun shines on its own therefore they don’t need the sunlight to enhance their powers (or something along these lines). Are they preparing the battlefield…?

The pact was only possible because it was Yukito doing it, not Yue, given that he has a pact with Sakura already. It’s interesting how CLAMP are letting very clear how Yukito and Yue are different people (and yet, the same?). Prior to this, Yukito had no recollection of what Yue did whatsoever but after this pact, he will.

There is, of course, a price to it and judging by Nakuru’s look in the frame that show her talking about it, I would say it’s a heavy one (obviously) and Nakuru herself might have something to do with it (which would explain her going to the Shrine, her serious look and her being the one speaking about it). Yukito won’t tell the price but at least we know it isn’t something like a sacrifice.

This is all very interesting and natural character development. They are just being CLAMP characters and following their wishes. I for one am happy that the guardians (even though Yukito isn’t really one) are doing something that has Sakura’s best interest. Yukito is not Yue but the fact that Yue gave his consent implies that it will ultimately benefit Sakura and Yukito himself is somewhat like a guardian to Sakura. It even makes more sense when you look at moon-based personalities as Kero pointed out.

Yukito seems overly confident and he has that look of a CLAMP character who is feeling happy and plain about their decision.

Sakura is obviously worried as hell so she makes him promise he won’t get hurt and by doing so, Sakura creates another card, PROMISE. The card has Yukito’s appearance, which makes me think that we might be seeing cards with the appearances of Touya, Nadeshiko, Akiho and of course, Syaoran (EDIT: several readers pointed out that we already have a Syaoran card: REWIND, of course!). I thought about a card with Sakura’s own appearance as well.

Sakura’s reaction to the card is exactly like mine: WHAT DOES THIS CARD DO?! And she wishes it will be able to help Yukito (bless her). Lots of card lately that we don’t know what they really do…….

Back to Kaito and Akiho’s place (it doesn’t appear to be dark there), Kaito of course is already aware of what happened over at Yukito’s place and he points out he, unlike Sakura, is on his own (or at least he thinks so!). Momo is not related to Kaito in any aspect but it really seemed as though she is developing some attachment to him.

…and what just happened there on the last frame? The clock on the Alice in Clockland book started to tick…? Countdown?

The updated list of cards secured so far:

1. GALE
2. SIEGE
3. AQUA
4. ACTION
5. REFLECT
6. RECORD
7. FLIGHT
8. LUCID
9. SPIRAL
10. SNOOZE
11. LABYRINTH
12. APPEAR
13. BLAZE
14. MIRROR
15. BLADE
16. REPAIR
17. REWIND
18. SHADE
19. BREAK
20. TRANSFER
21. PROMISE

Anime-only cards:

1. GRAVITATION
2. HAIL
3. REVERSAL
4. MIRAGE
5. SWING
6. STRUGGLE

28 pages for this chapter, closing volume 9 with 140 or so pages. Next chapter will be published only on August 1st! The next issue of Nakayoshi (June 1st) will have a short story, then the following issue (July) we will have a break. We’re going to have to hang in there to see what happens next!