meganbmoore: (2 of a kind)
meganbmoore ([personal profile] meganbmoore) wrote2008-10-07 10:28 pm

Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Vol 18

Those of you who were here (which is still most of you) when I binged on scans a few months back will most likely recall that this is the part where my brain ceases all ability to function and all that really comes out is “ASKDGFL AAAAANNNNGGGGSSSTTTT!!!! Most perfectest angst ever known and all other angst pales in comparison!!!”

This is the one with the Goth Loli Sakura. And the chessgame. And the guys draped in chains. With Sakura holding the end of the chains. Yes, Clamp. Brain is obediently ceasing function now.

We also have real!Syaoran doing the Dramatic Touching And Protecting And Realizing He Isn’t The One She Sees First. And real!Syaoran pining over Sakura because he’s in love with her (as we and he currently understand things) while Sakura pines over clone!Syaoran, who is currently off ruining worlds and real!Syaoran is getting blamed for it!

It…I…this angstfest is my favorite part of the whole series (including the parts to come.) Does that make me a bad person?

There’s also Kurogane doing the whole “nonono, don’t worry, we like you for you” thing, complete with hair tousling. Though, I seem to remember that the scans also had a bit of “but enough staring longingly at the princess because you aren’t the one she wants” mixed in. And, of course, real!Syaoran is all “but she doesn’t want me! She only wants hhhiiiimmmmm!!!” through the pep talk. That scene goes marvelously with his whole “RAWR! No one hints that I serve my princess by anything but my own free will! I kill!” bit.

And somewhere in there, Yuuko made this whole speech about “who cares if powerful forces manipulated you into joining forces! You are family forever and ever!”

And…and…it’s all 1000 times better knowing what’s coming…

And…err…I seem to prefer Eagle when he’s being a morally shady guy running an illegal gladiator-type ring as a mafia head to when he’s kinda noble and angsty. Go figure. I think Lantis is possibly even more reserved and angsty but in a less brooding and staring way than in Magic Knight Rayearth. I blame this on the apparent lack of a Hikaru in his life. When he finds his Hikaru, I hope she’s a bit more age appropriate.

To attempt to show that I do still have a functioning brain:

1) At one point, Syaoran comments on wanting to get something back, but knowing it may never come back to him. I wonder if he means Sakura’s love.
2) I continue to wonder what the two sets of brothers are looking for. I suspect the Kotori is Fuuma and Seishirou’s sister, and Hokuto is Kamui and Subaru’s sister.
3) What is coming. I cannot wait to read it again.
4) I vaguely recall wondering if Yuuko and Clow were Sakura’s parents when I first read this volume. (A theory! If it exists for Tsubasa/xxxHolic I have probably had it!)

Also [spoilers through recent chapters] I think there may actually be support for my “the petal from Sakura’s soul that clone!Syaoran grabbed gave him a soul” theory. At one point in this volume, Sakura said that the goal was to return clone!Syaoran’s heart to him.

Please use the spoiler code for anything after Vol 18.

[identity profile] meganbmoore.livejournal.com 2008-10-08 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
Heh. In general, I'm not big on "epic and destined from the second we meet," but it works for me with Clamp. With Hikaru/Lantis, I'm torn between being in full support and "OMG NO SHE IS TOO YOUNG FOR YOU STOP!"

Therefore, I have decided that he can just cool his heels until she at least gets old enough that she understands such things. She's a bit behind in that area and still embrcing the "all love is the same and I love everyone" mindset, and hasn't really learned about different kinds of love yet.

[identity profile] badtzphoto.livejournal.com 2008-10-08 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
> "all love is the same and I love everyone" mindset

That is totally Hikaru. I guess the open ended works in that case - let readers decide or maybe there'll be a sequel ;)

[identity profile] meganbmoore.livejournal.com 2008-10-08 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sure she'll figure it out in a year or two. After which, their only problem will be the bit where the top of her head only just reaches his ribcage.

[identity profile] badtzphoto.livejournal.com 2008-10-08 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
wahahahaha