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Yay, we have some more answers!!
After a few more flashback scenes where Zashiki Warashi (as the Shuka) explicitly asks for Watanuki’s help, we are taken back to ‘present day’.
The Yatagarasu doesn’t seem to be pending on either sides (Watanuki or the Fuuri). Instead, it seems to be following its own agenda, but it does appear to be a “fair” being.
Ame Warashi points out the similarity between Zashiki Warashi and her lookalike. In fact, she is unable to spot any differences.
The group stops in front of a closed room with Maru and Moro standing in front of it. They open the doors and… surprise! The amber stone/egg has hatched into a dragon! Finally!!
Watanuki explains that once Zashiki Warashi was separated from the Shuka, her body started to break down. Her soul was then stored inside the jar, the same one that can hold souls that the Yatagarasu used to store the soul that appeared with the Fuuri (remember that shiny thing that the Yatagarasu ‘captured’ inside the jar back in Chapter 67?). It turns out that there were not one, but two jars.
Watanuki explains that two jars came from Doumeki’s warehouse: one ended up with the Yatagarasu (as seen in Chapter 67) and it has a soul in it (the shining thing). The other was kept in the shop’s warehouse. Watanuki thought it wouldn’t be used for the time being but he ended up using it to keep Zashiki Warashi’s soul. He realizes that that must have been the reason for having two jars in the first place.
He then explains that Zashiki Warashi’s soul was exposed and needed protection and purification, and that there is nothing better for that than rain water, which surrounded the dragon egg. Hence, Watanuki managed make the “egg/stone” hatch itself into a rain dragon. He adds that on top of that, Zashiki Warashi has a strong bond with someone who controls the rain (Ame Warashi). All those things collaborated for protecting and purifying Zashiki Warashi’s soul, which is still being kept inside the jar (the “mabui”).
The chapter ends with Ame Warashi asking if Watanuki knew that the amber would be used for this moment and if that’s why he had kept it in the shop all this time. He replies that he can’t see things that far ahead, but he knows that things arrive and happen at the right time. Another indication that Watanuki is still much behind Yuuko in terms of power, she had great premonitory abilities.
The expression on Ame Warashi’s face near the end of the chapter shows great relief. She is starting to really trust Watanuki and I think that after this, Watanuki’s reputation as shop owner is going to improve (mainly due to Ame Warashi spreading the good word about his services!)
So! Who knew that there were two jars? xD Sneaky CLAMP! We should have known, after all everything in this arc is doubled!
Remember Watanuki now has the power to control souls… Zashiki Warashi doesn’t have a body right now, and there is a girl that looks exactly like her. But the girl has a soul of her own… right? We don’t even know her name, but would Watanuki be so cruel to swap souls just to put Zashiki Warashi’s soul into a body that looks exactly like her former self? That looks like the most ‘obvious’ thing but I don’t think he could do such a thing….
Just a thought: it would be cool if Zashiki Warashi became the dragon… wouldn’t it? I mean, her soul be transferred to the dragon. But then again, the dragon must have a soul of its own either… We need an empty vessel for Zashiki Warashi.
Anyway, really glad that the stone/egg finally “hatched”! I wonder if the dragon will be around or if it’s going to stay with Ame Warashi since it’s a rain dragon.
What still remains to be seen:
-The amber stone
-What will happen to the Zashiki Warashi-lookalike?
-Did Doumeki use his ring? Was that scene also omitted?
-Seoritsu-hime’s Book.
-Watanuki’s price for his soul-controlling magic.
16 pages for this fourth chapter of volume 7. 62 pages so far for volume 7.
Chapter 81 will be out on August 31st.
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You know, it’s really good to finally get some answers. And I found that to be a very satisfying use of the material. I also like interpreting this arc as a story of Watanuki’s growth—with his mistakes and how he sets things right—but also, in a way, as the building of his reputation within that other world.
Thanks always for reading, and for not letting me lose my way on the events.
You’re welcome! Thank you for reading it and commenting 🙂
I agree, it would be weird to have Watanuki paired up with Yuuko, who we know was much more experienced. It makes sense for Watanuki to make mistakes first and we are witnessing him becoming more powerful.