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We are on an answer spree as we have even more answers this chapter!! And not only that: a long standing one!

Continuing from the conversation between Watanuki and the Yatagarasu, the only one in the room that was not affected by Watanuki’s soul-stopping magic. We learn that the reason Zashiki Warashi became a Shuka in the first place was because she was trying to grant Watanuki’s wish of bringing Yuuko back. Her intense wishing attracted impurities, thus turning her into a Shuka. I like that CLAMP explained this and I am satisfied with the answer. Indeed, when we first learned that she was turning into a Shuka years ago, I remember thinking it was a bit out of the blue or lacking explanation. I wasn’t even expecting an explanation at this point but it’s really nice to have one. And what’s best: to me it makes sense because I can see it being something that Zashiki Warashi would do and it makes sense for the story. As usual with CLAMP, characters move the story forward, not the opposite.

Now, the message here is that wishing for something impossible cannot lead to great results. Bringing someone back from the dead is impossible according to CLAMP rules. You know who else wanted to bring Yuuko back from the dead? Fei Wang Reed. We all know how that turned out. CLAMP are telling us that longingly and excessively wishing someone dead was still alive is not a good thing.

Watanuki then proceeds to send the soulless girl’s body inside the room where the Rain Dragon and the mabui cointaining Zashiski Warashi’s soul is stored. We see a beautiful page of the three of them indicating that “something” is happening. But we don’t see anything next.

We are taken back just outside the room where Watanuki, the Yatagarasu and the others are at, and Watanuki pulls out THE EGG!!! Yes, the egg that Yuuko gave to Doumeki (that came from Tokyo country in Tsubasa, REMEMBER THAT?).

WE FINALLY LEARN WHAT THE EGG IS FORRRRRR

If the egg is broken, Watanuki will forget all his memories of Yuuko.

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.

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OF COURSE!

It couldn’t have been anything else. Once again Yuuko laid out everything before she was gone! (pause: and people still think CLAMP will never finish X???? The same people that created a character like Yuuko? Like Clow? Both characters that are ALWAYS prepared? People don’t know what they are saying, CLEARLY).

Now, I seem to remember having seen this somewhere as the explanation for the egg. I think someone told me it was their theory that the egg would do such a thing, but I can’t remember who or maybe I’m tripping…

Anways, CLAMP used two pages to reveal this info. That’s how big this is (of course, we’ve been waiting the answer for this since 2008 or something). I don’t know why Watanuki had the egg with him, but I guess that’s not so important, and we know that Doumeki’s grandson hadn’t used the egg even at the end of Rou, which takes place several years after Rei.

Watanuki tells the Yatagarasu that he is aware of the egg’s content ever since he became the shop’s substitute manager. This is new too! We didn’t know that Watanuki knew about the egg, much less about its contents! But we need to start getting used to the idea of Watanuki knowing more and more. Soon, there won’t be anything he doesn’t know of, like Yuuko xD Watanuki says so himself, that little by little he is becoming more aware of things. He does say, however, that he doesn’t know why Yuuko gave the egg to Doumeki — maybe she knew he would ‘never’ use it?

The Yatagarasu asks Watanuki if he plans on using the egg on Zashiki Warashi (and make her forget something), but Watanuki says that the egg works only with himself, but thanks to it, he found a way to move forward: make everyone forget about his relationship with Yuuko (!!).

The Yatagarasu immediately reacts saying “that can’t be done” but Watanuki replies that he understands that it doing so would be way more than the “price” the Yatagarasu paid to him. I think it’s implied here that this is something that the Yatagarasu could help him with, although he himself understands that that would be too much.

Then, of course, Seoritsu-hime appears (of course Maru and Moro couldn’t keep her distracted for long) and Watanuki asks her if she can do it, instead.

Before they go any further into the conversation, the Yatagarasu stops them and decides to leave since this is a matter that doesn’t concern it. The chapter ends with Seoritsu-hime saying to the Yatagarasu that it is a wise decision.

Next: let’s see what Seoritsu-hime’s terms and conditions will be…

I’m not sure I understand why Watanuki wants that. Is it only so that people don’t worry about him for waiting for a dead woman that will never come back? Or is there anything else here? Also, does Doumeki even know what the egg does? We never saw Yuuko telling him (otherwise we would have known what the egg is for) but that doesn’t mean she never told him. And if Watanuki succeeds in making everyone forget about his relationship with Yuuko, then what is the meaning of that last scene in Rou where we see Doumeki wondering if it’s time to use the egg? Could it be that is precisely why the egg was never used by Sayaka Doumeki (the grandson of Shizuka Doumeki) in the end of Rou?

I was very happy that we found out what the egg is for. I must confess I wasn’t entirely sure that we would ever find out — I had seen theories that the egg was a big “what if” metaphor, a representation that things could have been differently if the egg was used. But no, and thank god no. The egg doesn’t feel retcon to me. It really feels like CLAMP knew all along what it was fore and let’s face it, it’s not even something unexpected. It makes perfect sense and it’s very, very CLAMP.

It’s rewarding getting an answer for such a long-standing mystery!

I didn’t have “the egg” on my list of mysteries since I didn’t expect it to be solved on this arc, so I added it and already scratched it!

What still remains to be seen:

-The amber stone
-What will happen to the Zashiki Warashi-lookalike?
-Why was Yuuko trying to kill the Zashiki Warashi-lookalike
-The contents of “the egg”
-The crimson pearl — Ame Warashi wanted Watanuki to give it to her so she could save Zashiki Warashi (from turning into a “Shuka”), maybe Watanuki will use it?
-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 sixth chapter of volume 7. 92 pages so far for volume 7. We’re halfway through volume 7!

XXXHOLiC Rei will be taking a longer break this time. Chapter 83 will be out on October 13th.