TRC 221 translation

[starlady]

Intense day at work was intense. I do not know our products by their colors! I do not drink our products (or our competition's, for that matter)! Pretend I'm color-blind, sales reps, and tell me your order by product # or name!

Ahem. Still no color pages this week. Something's going down--who wants to speculate? A full color chapter? A 29th volume? Color spread at the end?

---

!!! page 01
Yuuko: There is no need for you to bear anything more.
You have already suffered enough.

And the others of you as well.

Chapitre 221: The Providence That Was Reserved
------------------------
!!! page 02
Yuuko: However,

Even if we match our price,
It is difficult to give people life.

It's not that you will be able simply to be reborn, living your life and forgetting everything.

Even if you are born anew,
Your memories will remain.

The happy memories and the harsh memories.
------------------------
!!! page 03
And you will meet "this time" once again.

Shaoran: This time?
------------------------
!!! page 04
Yuuko: ...Now,
It is not the case that time is simply flowing in only one way from the past to the future.

The past and the future are mixed,
Multiply twisted and entangled.

Sakura: Because that person broke the principle...

Yuuko: Yes.
------------------------
!!! page 05
Yuuko: But
There is also a providence that is not broken.

The past and the future--

What decides everything is only choices in the "present."
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!!! page 06-07
Yuuko: You will go through new lives.

But once again,
You will encounter the others of you.

What will decide what happens when you encounter them

Is you. [TN: All these "you"s are in the plural.]
------------------------
!!! page 08
Shaoran: ...I..

Hurt various people...

Even Sakura...

Yuuko: That was not your will.

You were merely made to move according to Fei Wong's expectation.
------------------------
!!! page 09
Shaoran: But

The one who did it
...was me.

FX: Clench

Sakura: Even
If that is true,

If what you have done is a sin,

I want to bear that sin as well.
------------------------
!!! page 10
Shaoran: ...Sakura...

Sakura: If I'm punished sometime because of that, that's fine.
I want to live with you.
------------------------
!!! page 11
------------------------
!!! page 12
Yuuko: The choice is made.
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!!! page 13
FX: Gentle movement

FX: Magic

Shaoran: After we're born, we...

Yuuko: You will come into the world in the same dimension, the same world, and the same time.
Without fail, you will be able to meet.
------------------------
!!! page 14-15
Sakura: I can finally say it.

I...

Love you.
------------------------
!!! page 16
Shaoran: Me too.


The world's tomorrow,
Their future,
Will certainly come...

---

Best chapter yet, I say. What are the odds that the clones are Shaoran Jr.'s parents? 

Comments

[cutesherry.livejournal.com]

I can understand the doubts of many fans about Parents|SxS and also how wonderfully convenient, plot wise, it would be for them not to be the CCS|SxS but better to be actually the reincarnated clones from TRC, it would explain quite well why father and son looks exactly the same...but still, you are forgetting an iron clad sentence repeated enough by both Yuuko and FWR for us to remember it for a lifetime: "Syaoran is Clow Reed blood related relative", having inherited those powers mainly from his father's side, who is a Li. Starting from the point Clow Reed was undoubtedly recognized as being the same as CCS, they can only be CCS|SxS since they are the only ones who could have given birth to someone who could be said related to Clow Reed through blood ties.

[outou.livejournal.com]

Yet Li Xiaolang is only distantly related to Clow (it's obvious by his surname alone), whereas F.W.R. has insinuated that Junior is Clow's direct descendant.

Besides, we now know that Clow gave up what was left of his magical powers to save Syaoran. Wouldn't it be possible for those powers to be passed on to him, in order to better enable him to change the future? And have we not seen Junior's father use Clow's magic--something that Li Xiaolang never demonstrated the ability to do?

Furthermore, as the clones are being reincarnated, couldn't one of them be reborn as a true descendant of Clow?

[cutesherry.livejournal.com]

The people from either the Li or Reed families are the ones and only people that could be said to be 'descendant' of Clow Reed since Clow's father was a Reed and his mother a Li. This is established and confirmed knowledge. There is no such thing as a "direct descendant", because Clow Reed do not have children.

As for Clow's magic passing to Clone|Syaoran, you are twisting a bit what happened there: Clow's magic and life are a payment, not some kind of transfer of power ^^;; And I suspect this price is actually barely enough to save his life and enable Clone|Syao's rebirth in the future, it must be very expensive to save a soul that way x___x At least, this is how I understood things went on.

Now, unlike what it seems, it's not like I absolutely want them to be CCS, actually I resent Clamp for making them suffer so much and screw up their lives so far together with their kid :(
But for the time being, I see no solid reasoning that would undoubtedly disqualify them as the CCS|SxS couple. Of course, there is also no reason that would absolutely disqualify them as being the reincarnated clones either ^^

The part involving the fight stopped in chapter219 (chapters 220 and 221 were about the clones); I think we will be back with the battle in chapter 222, and seeing how we are dangerously nearing the end, I believe Clamp should give us a key and absolute revelation that would identify definitely the identity of Parents|SxS~

[chibi-mitsuki.livejournal.com]

I can agree with that. However, I think there is stronger evidence that its CCS!Saku and Syao who are R!Syao's parents more so than the clones. But hey, this is TRC, apparently anything can happen

When the two were putting the worlds back together, Sakura was using the star magic, while Syaoran was using the Li magic, just like his son. There were also various points made in the series that made it clear (at least, from what I could tell) that most of the evidence points to CCS!Saku and Syao being R!Syao's parents. Like I said before, R!Syao inherited his father's jian sword. He also uses the Shorai spells, just like his father. Another thing, when P!Saku and Syao were turning back their own time, they used the same magic (the star magic and the Li magic)

Also, so R!Syao could even go on his journey in the first place, P!Sakura gave up the star wand as a price. Yuuko said eariler in xxholic that CCS!Saku and Syao are LIVING in the Japan we know. R!Syao also comes from that Japan.

As for the dream P!Saku was referring to in Chap.217. We know that CCS!Sakura often saw dreams of the future. They were never of the present or of the past. So, I think that CCS!Sakura was giving her star wand to her future self, which would be P!Sakura.

C!Sakura never was able to use the star wand, let alone the star magic, so it wouldn't explain how she would be P!Saku. CCS!Sakura CREATED that magic herself. Same with C!Syao, and how he is unable to use the Li magic. Just because the two are reincarnated, doesn't mean that they obtain this instantly, just like cutesherry pointed out. The clones were made after R!Syao made his wish to turn back time. I don't get how they could be his parents, when before that distortion, they didn't even exist.

C!Syao and Saku being R!Syao's parents just doesn't make that much sense to me, nor do I see enough evidence supporting that. I think CLAMP made it clear that it wasn't the clones, but you can never really tell at this point. I really hope not though x_x;

[cutesherry.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree with you more ^^ Unfortunately, things are going so crazy in TRC lately that I don't even dare to believe in my own thoughts ^^;;
But as you said, Clamp pretty much spent their whole time, since the very first volumes of both TRC and Holic, throwing hints right and left about the *mysterious* and invisible parents to be CCS|SxS. And for the parents to use the exact same magic, specially the Star Magic in Sakura's case, Syaoran's chinese jiang, the fact they both are from CCS=Holic world, them being related to Clow Reed, even up to their chinese fashion should indeed be definite and absolute proofs of their identities.
That said, Clamp has been using a VERY convenient excuse: that the Logic of the World was overthrown and that everything was a mess, that even the Past and Future were mixed...from that point on, what seems so 'logic' might not be and Clamp might just as well use this *excuse* to make up some crazy out of the world scenario *unfortunately*

Finally, that aside, I really want to know where are Parents|SxS bodies? (we can see that they are somehow transparent in the fight)

[chibi-mitsuki.livejournal.com]

argh I know, curse that for being into play. But in all seriousness, if this is just a lousy excuse to make the claim that the clones are the parents, that would just be messed up...and I would be totally enraged because they are negating what already happened. (cause I like the idea that is already presented, CCS!Saku and Syao being the parents of R!Syao and Watanuki)

Good question on the bodies note...um...if it were CCS!Saku and Syao,I am sure they kept it somewhere safe. Touya and Yukito may be looking after them (with Kero and Tomoyo...or maybe them).

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

It seems to me, though, that the entire point of both manga is, on some level, "negating what already happened"--Yuuko's lines in this chapter about straightening time out certainly seem to imply that, when the action of TRC and Holic has finished, time will have been straightened out: I think that people in Watanuki's world are starting to forget Yuuko is a sign that the process is already happening. Which is why it's so important that Doumeki find the proper moment to use the egg, because when time straightens out, Watanuki's existence will be erased, since he came into being as a consequence of things being twisted.

[outou.livejournal.com]

And two more things, before I drop out of this discussion for good:

1) The strange clothes Junior's parents are wearing could be considered evidence against their being CCS|Xiaolang and Sakura. I say "strange," because his mother's dress bears only a superficial resemblance to real Chinese clothing. (Even if it was CLAMP's idea of hanfu, why would Sakura be wearing it? She never showed any inclination to adopt Chinese customs, while Xiaolang readily adapted to Japanese customs.)

2) The jian Xiaolang used is quite different from the one Junior's father used. Look at how much smaller it is. (http://i39.tinypic.com/t5lgrr.jpg) Also note the slight coloring differences.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree about the clothing; I've been suspecting something of the sort myself. I think their clothing is very appropriate to an alternate Hong Kong, but I can't quite see it in the world of CCS.

That said, though, I'm not sure how much stock to put in the differences between the CCS and TRC versions of Shaoran and Jr.'s swords, because the art styles are so vastly different. (Though you're right that the swords are actually not that similar...)

[outou.livejournal.com]

How do we know that Clow never had children?

I bring that up because of the way Fei Wang speaks of Junior--he says that "Clow's blood runs through his veins." If Junior was only indirectly related to Clow, then that phrase would seem strange, wouldn't it? Also, keep in mind that a direct descendant wouldn't have to have a surname of Reed/Read or Li if he descended from a daughter of Clow who married into a different family.

Also, I know I was twisting the magic bit, but I mentioned it because of how the events of the story are being juxtaposed with each other: shortly after finding out that Junior's father received Clow's magic, we find out that Clow gave up the rest of his powers to save Syaoran. Doesn't that seem more than a coincidence to you?

Keeping that in mind, why would Ms. Ohkawa place this scene with the clones in the middle of the final battle? If she only wanted us to know that the clones were moving on to a happy life with one another, then why wouldn't she save these chapters for the end of the series?

Granted, Ms. Ohkawa could be setting us up to believe that the parents are the clones, in order to reveal that the parents are in fact Xiaolang and Sakura from CCS--but that would be twisting the plot for the sake of twisting the plot. All things aside, having the clones become the parents would be far more suited to the story than having CCS|Xiaolang and Sakura become the parents. You see, the former is far, far more emotionally relevant than the latter, which in truth only appeals to fans of CCS.

Regardless, I'm glad you mentioned how upset you are about the pain Junior's parents went through. Every time I read about how much someone believes them to be CCS|Xiaolang and Sakura, I can't help but think that they want them to have horrible futures.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

I really am starting to suspect, personally, that FWR is Clow and Yuuko's son. It makes so much sense, at least to me.

I also like your point about the relevance of interrupting the final battle--if the clones become people who are completely unrelated, it's way more appropriate to have in an epilogue or other sort of atogaki. Particularly since Ohkawa is totally leading us on when Yuuko says that what happens when the reincarnated clones meet the originals will be up to them to decide.

I also agree that the thought of CCS!Shaoran and Sakura having to suffer so much pain is just too sad. ;_; Sad I tell you.

[chibi-mitsuki.livejournal.com]

XD FWR trying to bring back his dead "Mom"? in a way, it makes sense. But saying that he is bringing back a loved one is the same thing R!Syao wanted to do (hense why he said their wishes are similar)

and yet, it can't help but to make me wonder...was FWR trying to bring Yuuko back just to prove that he was "successful" in doing something that Clow wasn't? or is it because she is "dear" to him?

the whole matter with R!Syao's parents is just mind boggling to everyone. For now, I am sticking to "its CCS!Saku and Syao" unless proven otherwise, however if it turns out its the clones, I won't be too happy. There just isn't enough evidence for me to take that into consideration just yet. I'm not saying this because I am a CCS!fan (which I am) but I am saying it because it just doesn't make any sense to me. I would be alot more happier if it were the CCS!Saku and Syao, only because what we have seen so far is more justified. Also, if it so happened to be that the clones are the parents, R!Syao would of said something...even Watanuki. Because, they both are "each other" and they can recognize their own parents. They only treat the clones as "another self" not really "parents".

[rave-chick.livejournal.com]

But maybe R!Syao didn't know that the reincarnated clones are his parents and so by extension, neither did Watanuki. They only recognise the ones from the tube as their parents (Watanuki's body memories, as he gave up his actual memories). The tube Sakura and Syaoran are the ones who have (supposedly) been reincarnated - and they've shrunk to their soul-like selves and therefore, look exactly like the clones right now.

And the shrunk, soul-like ones would have to be careful not to give too much away, or they'd further break the boundaries of space and time that they are trying to fix!

[chibi-mitsuki.livejournal.com]

however, in order for the ones in the tube to look like that, they turned back their own time using the Star magic, and the Li magic. That is something only CCS!Sakura and Syaoran can use (and R!Syao can use the Li magic)

still, R!Syao and Watanuki both knew it was their parents, probably because of the magic aura. While Wata doesn't know it himself consciously, he can tell this, apart from the clone, whom he thought was just another Syaoran.

Another thing, the ones in the tube only remember what happened in the past, before the dimensional rip occurred. They do not recall of the journey that their son's clone went on (nor of their son really, only the pre-story stuff that took place from 189 to 203).

[rave-chick.livejournal.com]

however, in order for the ones in the tube to look like that, they turned back their own time using the Star magic, and the Li magic. That is something only CCS!Sakura and Syaoran can use (and R!Syao can use the Li magic)

No, no, the ones in the tube didn't turn back their time, they have just taken their soul forms (when they left the tubes, there is definately some growing backwards involved).^^

still, R!Syao and Watanuki both knew it was their parents, probably because of the magic aura. While Wata doesn't know it himself consciously, he can tell this, apart from the clone, whom he thought was just another Syaoran.

They don't recognise the clones as their parents, because they are not - only the reincarnated ones are - and they don't appear until this final battle, which is where they are recognised.

Another thing, the ones in the tube only remember what happened in the past, before the dimensional rip occurred. They do not recall of the journey that their son's clone went on (nor of their son really, only the pre-story stuff that took place from 189 to 203).

You have to remember they are the reincarnations of the CLONES. So, if we go through it step-by-step, it's like this:

-Sakura remembers her life before the wings with Clow as her father, meeting Clone!Syaoran and then the whole journey until she is killed by the clone. This includes the fact that she is a clone.

Syoaran remembers his father as Fujitaka, meeting Sakura, taking her to Yuuko, and the whole journey until he sacrifices himself. This includes the fact that he is a clone.

So they do actually have memories of the whole thing, nearly.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. There's no way we're not going to see the moment the reincarnated clones meet the originals--and I very much think it's going to come in the next chapter or two.

[chibi-mitsuki.livejournal.com]

First off, we don't know what the clones are going to be, so you can't really say that its definitely the clones reincarnations.

Second, the ones in the tube did turn back their time so they could pay the price to keep the worlds in balance and left Watanuki and R!Syao behind (see chap 216) Yuuko even stated it herself. To do that though, they used the star magic (that only Sakura K. can use) and the Li magic (that only Syaoran li and R!Syao can use)

One other thing I forgot to mention, Yuuko said she never met Sakura Kinomoto or Syaoran Li (this was stated several times), because they were already in the separate world that they sent themselves to. This world was given to Yuuko by Touya Kinomoto and Yukito. She already met the clones.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

You raise a very good point about Touya and Yukito showing up in 216. While I can't disagree with you on that point per se, while Jr.'s mother did use the power of the star staff (which is Kinomoto Sakura's power), in 217 Jr.'s mother explicitly says that she was leant the star staff by Kinomoto Sakura, who came from another world in a dream.

Jr. definitely has his father's power, which is definitely the power of Li Shaoran, but we've never been told (afaik) in any Clamp manga that the Li family is unique to the CCS!world (and TRC, imo, seems to argue against that being the case).

[rave-chick.livejournal.com]

Does exchanging power include blood? I know it didn't in CCS, but that was between Yue (a created being) and Toya (a human). If Reincd!Syaoran receives Clow's power (though even that's debatable as Yuuko says it's a 'price') via blood, would that make him a blood-relative?

I get the feeling Clamp's been using that term very carefully... well, that or we got lost in translation! XD

[chibi-mitsuki.livejournal.com]

No, it didn't involve blood

Clow's life and magic was ONLY a price. C!Syao did not receive that and can access its powers.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

Linguistically, there's no indication of blood being exchanged. The implication is that Clow voluntarily gave up his power and entrusted it for the purpose of allowing the clone to choose.

And yes, Clamp is very precise with their language--more precise than most of their translators, I think. ^^