xxxHOLiC 159 translation

[starlady]

So I spoke too soon when I said that raws of 158 would follow, since my university library lacks scanners (!), proving once again that popular images of Japan are woefully mistaken, and my friend who does have access to a scanner is in Europe, while I am heading to Matsuyama, where there are almost certainly no scanners. Anyone out there willing to scan if I mail you the pages? I'm serious.

Edit: Links to the chapter, scanned by nokiirat: SOA, RS,ZS.

In the meantime, I'll translate the new chapter.

[page 1]
Kohane: I've heard that you've become close recently.
Shizuka-kun and Kimihiro-kun.

I've heard that when you first met you fought.

Doumeki: As soon as our eyes met on the stairs,
He blew up at me.

Kohane: Kimihiro-kun said,
That as soon as he saw your face, he got angry, and lashed out at you with his foot.

Doumeki: That was also with a flying kick.

Kohane: Since when have you gotten along?

[page 2]
Doumeki: Even now he doesn't think we get along, does he.

Yuuko-san told him,
Even though we told one hundred stories at my temple, he has to say what he wants to borrow.

Even now when we meet he may kick me. That dumbass.

Kohane: And you, Shizuka-kun?

What do you think of Kimihiro-kun?

[page 3]
Doumeki: He's annoying.

A lot happened when we told the hundred stories.
But I thought that nothing changed.

He doesn't want to be concerned with me,
And I too have no reason to be concerned with him.

Kohane: Why?

If you thought that, why did you decide to be with him, Shizuka-kun?

[page 4]
Doumeki: ...On a rainy day,

[page 5]

[page 6]
Watanuki: I'll die like this too.

Alone.

[page 7[
Doumeki: "...Alone."

Kohane: I understand.

Doumeki: What?

Kohane: How Kimihiro and I are different.

[page 8]
Kohane: Since we first met I understood that Kimihiro was a person close to me.

But I thought we were different.

I was alone, but

Kimihiro-kun wasn't alone.

He might have been alone on that rainy day, but

But not anymore.

[page 9]
Because everyone is here.

FX: Casually

Doumeki: Because you're here too.

[page 10]
Kohane: I'd be happy if that's so.

FX: Smoothly

But

Since I don't have the power of purification anymore...

There's something you're carrying,
Isn't there.

[page 11]
Yuuko: Carry this,

For the sake of what will happen hereafter.

Doumeki: ...Yeah.

[page 12]
Kohane: Kimihiro-kun...please take care of him.

[page 13]
(flashback)
Yuuko: Please don't hesitate.

Even if that moment comes.

[page 14]
FX: Grip
                                                                                                                                                

Not a lot of text this time, just emotion, and Clamp reminding us of stuff that happened eons ago for emphasis. Now that Clamp-sensei have reminded us of things we have no business forgetting, I'm hoping the series can get on with it. Also, since it's been eons since I've read the eariler volumes and they're currently in boxes, I'm failing to remember what that pelt-thing (it's got a tail in the long shot) was, or if we even saw it before at all.

Comments

[lodelco.livejournal.com]

I'd love to help but I live in the Philippines so I don't know how fast that'd get here. ^^;

Heh, funny thing about that flying kick, I've yet to see Watanuki actually plant one on him. But this is weird, Watanuki hated Doumeki on sight an picked a fight with him? If this were a shoujo manga I'd like say that Watanuki just wanted to deny his attraction to Doumeki but since this is CLAMP, who knows?

So Watanuki standing by the riverbed, this was something that happened after Yuuko being in Watanuki's life and not before right?

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

To answer the last question first, I certainly think so, but there's nothing definitive in the visuals. My impression that the rainy day was post-Watanuki's second meeting with Yuuko comes from Kohane asking "What happened?" after Doumeki has already mentioned the hundred ghost stories incident.

One of my firm beliefs as a researcher is that Clamp actually does write shoujo, and I do think that Watanuki's instant reaction to Doumeki is indicative--not necessarily of (sexual) attraction, but of connection of some sort. Especially since Watanuki doesn't remember his past.

[(Anonymous)]

I think that the thing with the tail was a little dog. I think that in the first anime season, there was a story about the spirit of a little dog, that Watanuki saw. Hope it'll help. Thanks for the translations!

[tiggerpuss.livejournal.com]

I don't mind scanning the pages for you - I can do them in fairly high quality if you'd like - I have a US and UK address you could send them to (I'm an American living in Europe so I have two addresses although the UK address would get to me quicker)

If you'd like me to do it just let me know! Thanks for the translation!

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

http://mangahelpers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33201

Thanks for your offer, though! :-)

[laurus-nobilis.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot for the translations! :)

[herm-nefer.livejournal.com]

this is a chapter where stoic Doumeki better have some facial expressions -.- because he talks a lot and we sort of need expressions to guide what he might actually be saying (because that's how he is)

About a the fur pelet, I can't be sure until i see this chapter, but i don't think we've seen one before...

Egg = purification apparently...or maybe it enhanses it...what we saw in the 100 ghost stories is that Doumeki can purify things...i'm gonna have to reread those chapters now...
http://groups.msn.com/eXeXeXHOLICManga has the scanlations if you want to go back and relook through those chapters..

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

Meh, I can always just join the browsers at Book-Off, but thanks.

Expressions...sort of. Holic is so minimalist at the best of times. I thought it was a bit more expressive than usual, at least, but more from context than anything else, even though Kohane basically called him out.

[herm-nefer.livejournal.com]

Kah....fine i guess I can't expect much from Doumeki...CLAMP wouldn't make it that easy for us..but I love Kohane for being so obvervant about them and MAKING him talk...it appears as if they both need a push to be honest.
And true that is a lot more talkaing on his part than we're used to.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

I think being observant is her job now. :-) And yes, Clamp enjoy ambiguity way more than is healthy.

[nekocat17.livejournal.com]

What do you mean by called him out? Sorry if I'm missing something obvious.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

It sounds innoccuous in English, but Kohane's line "What do you think of Kimihiro-kun, Shizuka-kun?" uses the exact same language one would use (particularly in manga, especially more typical shoujo manga) to ask someone about their romantic interest in someone else. And she's being very direct and blunt throughout this chapter (which is quite a change from how people usually talk in xxxHOLiC).

[nekocat17.livejournal.com]

Oh really? That's interesting. Thanks for the answer!!

[doudidette.livejournal.com]

Oh... thanks for the translations, this chapter is very intense too !
o_o

[lotus-seed.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this....

[morgif-kun.livejournal.com]

*puts DouWata goggles on* Finally we get a glimpse of Doumeki's reasons! After Watanuki admitted he changed because of him in the previous chapter *silly grin*

I don't think we've seen that episode in the rain before tho...

[morgif-kun.livejournal.com]

Ugh, where are my manners?
Thank you for translating! ♥

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

What I like best is Watanuki smiling as he says it.

You are most welcome. :-)

[ariadnechan.livejournal.com]

thank you i hope we can have raws soon!!
scanner my horse for one!!

[strawrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the translations! Lol... somehow that makes me think that Watanuki fell in love with him at first sight. >D

Doumeki is so noble for being with Watanuki. :)

[nekocat17.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the translation!! That's so weird for Watanuki to act like that when first meeting someone though. I always thought that their fighting when they first met would've been more Doumeki's fault lol

It's nice to have a reason why Doumeki really stuck around and protected Watanuki in the very beginning. When I first read the series I didn't totally understand that.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

See my first comment above for theories on the fight-at-first-sight business--it's a huge tipoff (as if we didn't know already) that they have a Deep Connection.

[dumdumdumbutt.livejournal.com]

thanks for the translations ._.


I think I love doumeki

;;

[cardcaptorkiki.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for the translations! Having something repeated and us being reminded of it again can't be good... XD

[popkin16]

Thank you so, so much for translating this! When I read the cliffhanger for chapter 158, I actually screamed out, "NO!" >.>

I wonder if that rainy day was after the 100 Ghost Stories incident? Hm. I can't wait to read the chapter with the pictures. XD

Thanks again for translating!

[celestial-spare.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this! *bows* I'm going "Kyaah! Kyaaaah!" now because now we know (sorta) how Doumeki came to care for Watanuki. I'm screaming fan-girl adulation RABU RABU!!!

*pimps out*

[popkin16]

You're welcome :)

I've been wondering how they met (though it doesn't really give details), and also why Doumeki insists on sticking with Watanuki despite the injuries and danger. It's great to finally have some answers!

I think fangirls all over - or at least the ones that know about 159 - are screaming. XD

*Whistles admiringly at your pimpness*

[celestial-spare.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this! *bows* I'm going "Kyaah! Kyaaaah!" now because now we know (sorta) how Doumeki came to care for Watanuki. I'm screaming fan-girl adulation RABU RABU!!!

*pimps out*

[vicious-lullaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for this! ♥♥♥

[tiljaunique.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the translations. It's really something to hear Doumeki talking about Watanuki and how he feels towards him. Seems like it was hate at first sight for both of them. The kind that leads to deep connection, as you well said ^^ I always thought that the dislike was only on Watanuki's side from the start, but I see now it was mutual.
I was interested in what you termed as Kohane calling Doumeki out, it was really interesting the explanation, thank you ^^ That clarifies a lot.
I also wonder about that scene by the river, I've never seen something like it in the manga at least. But it's so like Wata I'm not surprised. And I still wonder how Doumeki can put up with everything in spite of all that is said.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

I agree, Doumeki has the patience of a saint, and I also think we've never seen the riverbank scene before, which makes a certain amount of sense, as it is obviously Imbued With Deep Significance.

[canon-4-life.livejournal.com]

thanks for the scans and translation =) if u need help to scan, i can also help too =)

[dhazard06.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot starlady!, U're awesome!! ^^