Although episodic, I just really love the artwork and characterizations. ( )

Besides Watanuki's ongoing struggles with the supernatural, we finally get a hint of a longer term plot line in this volume! Watanuki sees a girl at school who has wings and who seems to be acting rather oddly. It turns out that these wings are actually a spirit parasite created by another powerful magician for the purpose of stealing souls. The pipe fox spirit (which is Watanuki's adorable new companion) was able to keep the thing from latching on to Watanuki after the girl's soul had been taken, but Yuko's concern hints that the battle is still forthcoming. Whether this new foe has any relation to the events going on Tsubasa or to Clow Reed is yet to be seen. ( )

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.com by express permission of this reviewer   Synopsis: Watanuki has several adventures, most with Domeki saving his butt, some by himself and all with Yuko making fun of him the entire time.   My Thoughts: The whole tone of xxxHolic is so different from Tsubasa that it is hard to compare them. xxxHolic is darker while at the same time being funnier. Watanuki and Domeki have the perfect comedy vibe between. So much so that even when they are both in terrible danger they are constantly bickering and making the audience laugh.   Watanuki does seem to have an unhealthy fascination for Himiwara, even though it is obvious she doesn't like him. Tie that in with the fact that the Rain spirit is nuts about him and you have to wonder what is going wrong inside his head.   The overall plot. Having read Tsubasa to the end I am now aware of what is going on, so little things are jumping out. But they are so little that if you didn't know the end of the story they wouldn't mean anything.   Rating: 4 of 5 Stars Artist & Author: CLAMP " ( )

This volume is fun, in my opinion. Lots of mythology and Japanese culture going on. White Day is when boys return gifts for the chocolates that they got on Valentine's day. So Watanuki is getting pressure about that from Yuko and the spirits that come to see him. The first story could be seen as a little scary but once you discover what is really only on it is just sad. But the volume ends with a cliff hanger. Watanuki has been seeing strange wings on people and Yuko knows what those mean but she gets him out of the way. I cannot remember what is really going on with them so I'm looking forward to rereading it.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars.

We finally get to meet the adorable Pipe Fox Spirit (I so want one!) and that first story dealing with the hydrangeas was excellent and one of my favorites of the series so far. ( )