Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Vol 18

[meganbmoore]

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.

Comments

[swanjun.livejournal.com]

Do you mean when real!Syaoran says, "Even if the heart never returns to where it was..."? I originally thought was a reference to Sakura's love for him, but now I think he's talking about Sakura's quest, which she declared to be returning clone!Syaoran's heart to him. So, even if her quest should fail, he will still be by her side.

[badtzphoto.livejournal.com]

"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."
:) - very funny.

That reminds me that I should read this again...

[kakkobean.livejournal.com]

SO. MUCH. ANGST.

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

I am with you on preferring Mafia!Eagle to Heroic!Eagle from MKR.

Re: 1) (spoiler for the most recent chapters) I think he is referring to Original!Sakura--why which I mean the Sakura who he has been talking about in the recent chapters--who is probably dead. Or at least mostly-dead.

3) Me too! With print-quality art!

[sora-blue.livejournal.com]

Most important question on my mind: What is up with CLAMP taking breaks to "gather data"?

Does this actually mean they have to stop and read the previous volumes to remember WTF they have told us? I think so. Yes.

...do you want a copy of vol 24 in Japanese? (It would be a bribe because I haven't started that fanfic yet...)

[chikapus.livejournal.com]

Pfff you think Volume 18 is an angst fest? Just you wait.