Subculture Anime Blog

Epic.

Summary:

Himawari makes Watanuki recall all of the bad things that have happened in the past after he became involved with her. She mentions the ayakashi that follow Watanuki, but states that she is not one of them. Himawari seems to bring bad luck to those around her, only excluding her parents. She had first discovered this when she was four. Shortly after her ball had rolled into a neighboring yard, the house there began to burn. The friends she made all had accidents, and one acquaintance event committed suicide. Her grandmother had taken her to a shrine when she was a bit older, but the monk there assured her that Himawari was a normal girl. However, Himawari brought misfortune to those around her. This was due to simply speaking with or touching someone. Recalling that her parents were fine, Himawari guesses that she would not have been born if she had caused misfortune for them. Later, even Himawari’s grandmother had died due to being close to her.

Himawari attempts to leave after telling all of this to Watanuki, thanking him for all of the meals and saying goodbye. Watanuki stops her, however, only apologizing for surprising her during his accident. To make up for it, he promises to cook something only for Himawari when he heals. Watanuki assures Himawari that he certainly heard what she said, but he mentions that everything about Himawari makes him happy. He was truly happy to have met her. Himawari turns to warn Watanuki that he may die the next time, but he assures her that he will not. Watanuki states that he loves Himawari, only making her call him an idiot. Finally putting a smile on her face, Himawari gives her food request to Watanuki before continuing to exit. Before Himawari can leave, the two promise to see each other again. Outside the room, Himawari has a bleeding Doumeki promise to let Watanuki and herself keep their secret. Doumeki agrees, but he states that the three of them will definitely eat lunch together.

When Yuuko meets Watanuki again, she makes him realize that the price to pay for Himawari’s bad luck to go away would be far too much. It would likely cost her own happiness. Yuuko tells Watanuki to rest, but she tells him that he will not completely heal. No matter how much it healed, Watanuki’s pinky would never move again. Watanuki is fine with this, but he wishes to keep it a secret from Himawari. Beginning to lose his strength, Watanuki asks who payed the price for him. Yuuko tells him that it was Himawari and Doumeki, but she had promised not to tell Watanuki what they had to trade. While walking away, Yuuko recalls to herself that the price Doumeki payed was the amount of blood Watanuki had spilled in his accident. When Yuuko meets Doumeki, she mentions that he and Himawari have become customers in her shop to have their wishes granted. In tears outside, Himawari calls Watanuki a liar for making her cry. However, this was the first time someone had said that he was happy to have met her. The price Himawari had payed was to take Watanuki’s scars, but turning in gladness, Himawari states that she was also happy to have met Watanuki.

Watanuki wakes again after awhile, finding Yuuko by his side. Yuuko wonders if Watanuki will not ask about helping Himawari, but Watanuki realizes that this probably isn’t something she would want. Watanuki believes that Himawari probably does not want to hurt anyone else, so he suggests that he will do everything he can to make her smile even just a little bit. Yuuko advices Watanuki to rest more, but Watanuki wishes to have something to do. In response, Yuuko hands him an egg. This was the price for the water he had retrieved earlier, so it was his belonging. As Watanuki falls asleep with the egg in hand, Yuuko suggests that the bird would hatch in the form of his wishes. While Watanuki sleeps, the bird in his hand senses his kindness. The bird asks what Watanuki’s wish is, so he describes his want to make Himawari smile even just a bit. Understanding this, the bird assures him that it will be born.

When Watanuki wakes, he witness the bird hatch before him. Seeing the bird, Yuuko tells Watanuki that it would be fine by Himawari’s side. It would not be able to do anything else, but she suggests that Himawari would surely be happy. Yuuko mentions that while Watanuki has constantly been changing, he may have been able to make Himawari change as well. Now with his wounds healed, Watanuki makes his way to school. The bird leads him to Doumeki and Himawari, who are glad Watanuki has healed. Watanuki also sees that Himawari has changed her hairstyle, letting it down on the back. When Himawari notices the bird on Watanuki’s shoulder, he asks if she would take it. To Himawari’s surprise, Watanuki states that it was born for her sake. Himawari thanks Watanuki for her new companion, but she eventually decides that he should come up with a name for it. With the bird in delighted anticipation, Watanuki names it “Tanpopo”. Himawari notices that this is a flower name like hers, as Tanpopo shows its happiness. With this, the group continues to school in their usual conversation. Back at her shop, Yuuko raises a glass of sake to the sky.

Preview: The thunder beast.

Impression:

Epic….cuteness! This was probably one of the most anticipated episodes of Kei for me, and it didn’t disappoint at all. Even having already read the manga, Himawari’s finally revealing her secrets to Watanuki was just as impacting as ever. I was actually re-watching some of the first season yesterday, and Himawari’s bad luck was hinted as far back as episode two! That said, I think the decision to make this the last “official” final episode of Kei was a great choice. Though I do believe the early scenes could have done without the stylized bleeding, I thought the quick shots of flashback really added to Himawari’s speech in ways the manga didn’t. Himawari’s evil grin also seemed a lot more threatening after watching it annimated. The revealing of the prices paid was as amazing as ever too, especially Himawari’s scars.

This episode only continued to build on the strong themes that xxxHolic has been using for the longest time. Those would be of sacrifice, love, and friendship. In today’s world, there would be far too few who would have taken the same actions as Watanuki in his situation. This goes for Doumeki and Himawari as well. The episode also built on the development Watanuki had earlier in the season, as he finally realized how much those around him cared about his condition. Although simple storytelling, it’s things like this that make me rate this series so highly. The introduction of Tanpopo (dandelion) also played on one of Clamp’s common themes – the importance of a name. As this was the first thing that was played on in xxxHolic, I’m sure everyone by now knows how impacting it is. Anyways, the last episode is finally upon us next week. It’s the introduction of the thunder beast Raiju, just as planned.