xxxHOLiC Rou 195 translation

[starlady]

This is the reason I shouldn't have left my DS in another time zone.

!!! page 01
Watanuki: ...Spider lady...

Ah, I get it.

That "welcome" just now was guidance, huh.

Moon-rabbit: Your pardon. I'm weak against beautiful women.
-----------------
!!! page 02
Spider lady: There's a barrier stretched impudently
Over this store.

Watanuki: It's so people don't come in and break or steal things.

Like a certain someone.

Spider lady: Oh,
So there's a bad child here.
-----------------
!!! page 03
Watanuki: Are you saying that you're making prey of my right eye?

Spider lady: It was delicious.

Watanuki: If it's my left eye too, I'll ask you to leave.

Spider lady: That would be wonderful too, but

Today

I'm a customer.
-----------------
!!! page 04
FX: Fluffy

Spider lady: Well,
It's cramped.

Won't I be welcomed?

Watanuki: Not at all.

FX:Sliding

It's a room provided for you, hastily.

Those cushions are stuffed with fur from the pipe-fox.

Besides,
-----------------
!!! page 05
Watanuki: The flames are

All foxfire.

You didn't get along with the pipe-fox, did you?

Spider-lady: It's so narrow in here that you'll be caught in the flames too.

Watanuki: The pipe-foxfire won't hurt me.

Spider-lady: You've become cute.

FX: Drinking
-----------------
!!! page 06
Spider-lady: Delicious.

Watanuki: It's Bordeaux.

Do you like it?

Spider-lady: You're very knowledgable.

Watanuki: There are various things handed down here, too.

Spider-lady: You're the owner of this store, aren't you?

FX: Setting down

I have a wish for the store-owner.
-----------------
!!! page 07
Watanuki: What is it?

Spider-lady: There's something I want you to find.

Watanuki: Is it in the store?

Spider-lady: No, it's not in here.

Watanuki: You know, don't you?
I cannot leave this store.

Spider-lady: Yes.
But there are other methods of searching, don't you?

Now, for you.
-----------------
!!! page 08
Watanuki: It seems there are various things handed down to you, as well.

Spider-lady: Will you search?

Watanuki: As long as you pay the price.

Spider-lady: Then--

FX: Smooth
-----------------
!!! page 09
Spider-lady: In exchange for a down-payment.
-----------------
!!! page 10
Watanuki: Wasn't
That my share from the start?

Spider-lady: You have gotten cute.

Doumeki: The spider-lady?

Watanuki: Yeah.

Doumeki: Is that why he's out?

FX: Rubbing
-----------------
!!! page 11
Watanuki: Yeah.
He's pretty grouchy.

Mokona: It's because the spider-lady came on a moonless night,

And was mean to his beloved Watanuki.

FX: Nodding

Watanuki: I was fine this time.
Thanks to the dark of the moon.
-----------------
!!! page 12
Watanuki: Hey,
You're tickling me!

FX: Kiss kiss kiss

Doumeki: So, what did she come for?

Watanuki: There's something she wants me to find.

Doumeki: Did you take it?

Watanuki: It's my job.

FX: Snaking movement

Watanuki: Now then...
-----------------
!!! page 13
Watanuki: Put the dishes in the washer when you're finished.

Mokona: What about the dinnertime alcohol?

Watanuki: It's prepared in the kitchen.

The liquor is shouchuu from the storeroom.

Mokona: Sweet potato?

Or barley?

FX: Surprise

Watanuki: Sweet potato is fitting, isn't it?
Since there's deep-fried fish paste.

Mokona: YAY---!
-----------------
!!! page 14
Doumeki: Are you not eating dinner?

Watanuki: Afterwards.

FX: Landing

Doumeki: Are you sleepy again?

Watanuki: No.
-----------------
!!! page 15
Watanuki: Maru,
Moro--

Come help--

M&M: Right!

FX: Footsteps

M&M: What should we do?

Watanuki: Can you prepare a water basin?

M&M: Yes!

Watanuki: We should do this job quickly.

Since the moon is at a good phase, too.
-----------------
!!! page 16
Doumeki: What are you looking for?

Watanuki: A crimson
Pearl.

---

TN: Deep-fried fish paste is called "Satsuma-age", and sweet potato shouchuu generally is a product of Satsuma; hence them going together.

---

Oh Spider-lady. That was hot.

Comments

[ceitean.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the translation!

Heh, so the room was a trap for the Spider Lady? Awesome.

[levels.livejournal.com]

Oh, so very hot.

Thanks for the translation, as always ♥

[la-vie-noire.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! And I totally shouldn't be liking this, but the gender dynamic here was totally reversed from the convention, what with Watanuki being wary and not liking it one bit. I'm not exactly a fan of non-consensual, but what the hell, Spider Lady was wonderful, this is fiction and it's so rare.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

No, I agree, it's fascinating, though I'd say dubcon rather than noncon. And frankly I find the presence of sexuality in this manga at all interesting, let alone involving Watanuki.

[la-vie-noire.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't like the term dub-con actually, for me is non consensual or consensual (for a lot of personal reasons), but I don't mind its use in some cases, and this one may fit.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

That's probably a healthier way to think of it.

I did choose the cut-text deliberately; there's so many layers to this situation that it's hard to pick apart. Watanuki was deceived into inviting the Spider-lady into the store in the first place (if he hadn't invited her, she wouldn't have gotten in), and then her powers are curtailed in that room, but it's clear he's completely unwelcoming to her, and his comments to Doumeki imply he didn't see much choice in taking on her wish.

[empressmaude.livejournal.com]

I think it's very cool that Watanuki seemed to be in a bit of a dilemma here. He needs to be cool, or else the spider lady knows she has the upper hand, so he can't push her away or freak out. He also needs to protect himself from her, because she's dangerous. But the thing is, Watanuki's powers have been growing too, and he may be as dangerous as she is, in his own way. But it does seem to me that he doesn't like her or trust her, and he doesn't fall for her tricks, like when she kissed him and tried to use that as payment and he was like 'uh, that wine was mine from the start'.

But from watching him, I think I see what's going on with him. He's relaxed and acts like himself with Doumeki, the girls and Mokona. Not with the customers. It's a mask. It's possible Yuuko was the same way, and that her original personality was like her goofy, fun self.Her mysterious persona might have been as much of a mask as Watanuki's is now.

You do have a point that Watanuki seemed rather unwilling. At no point did HE touch HER. It was always the other way around, with him leaning away a bit or keping his hands off.

Wow, this got long. I'm sorry!

[la-vie-noire.livejournal.com]

I actually think Yuuko may have acted totally different from him. Yuuko was always the one in control, while Watanuki in this case totally wasn't in control. So I think it was interesting.

[empressmaude.livejournal.com]

Oh, I do think that Yuuko, unlike Watanuk, was always in total control. It's just so hard to reconcile her mysterious shop keeper self with the booze-drinking, fun Yuuko. I was wondering if she had been more like her silly self before the Clow incident, and whether necessity brough out her shop keeper side. It's only a theory, though. Note: I think that even as a silly booze-drinking Yuuko, she was always in control.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

There's a strong concept in Japan of self-regulating one's behaviour depending on whom one is with in what circumstances, so for that reason I don't find Yuuko and Watanuki acting so different around customers as opposed to their in-group hard to reconcile; it seems pretty normal, actually.

The control question is interesting, though, since I agree that Yuuko was in total control, except for the fact that she was brought back against her will. Watanuki has a similar reversal going on--he's alive by his own choices and will, but he doesn't have a lot of leverage with his clients. Though his powers are growing, and I liked that this chapter showed that he's got knowledge, and the wits to use it.

[la-vie-noire.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the thing is that I'm sure Watanuki is being cordial and treating a client with the same deference Yuuko would. What I meant is that I haven't seen an instance in which Yuuko didn't have the upper hand with one of her clients. Emotionally speaking.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

Ah, gotcha. Yeah, I'd definitely agree (see icon *g*).

[la-vie-noire.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, pretty much!

[lodelco.livejournal.com]

I gotta agree with this. I think its more like Yuuko and Watanuki are both obligated to their clients but Yuuko doesn't play doormat like Watanuki does. I guess its just not in Watanuki's real nature to be manipulative like that.

Thumbs up

[li-vox-il.livejournal.com]

i loved that long comment, it was perfect!

[superflavor.livejournal.com]

such an interesting chapter! thanks.

[mairenn-k.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the translation!

[jlarinda.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the translation o/

[ladyofjoy.livejournal.com]

God, that chapter was HOT(Paris Hilton voice please)!
Thanks for translating!

And I loved the comments about it ^

[nekocat17.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the translation!!

[ariadnechan.livejournal.com]

i think she is too hot to be truth, but not trustworthy
and she must deliver a better price!!

[outou.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the translation!

I know most of Watanuki's allowing the Spider Matron to, uh, make herself available to him is due to her having the upper hand power-wise, but I can't shake the feeling that some small part of it was due to his having less respect for his personal integrity. Yuuko would likely never have allowed someone to infringe on her like that--something which could be connected to how she lost control of her body following the whole incident with her death and Clow. Watanuki, while not being strong enough to protect himself like that, doesn't seem to care for his physical being that much.

Although, this was a lot stronger before I read the translation. The fandom's reaction made it seem as though Watanuki had become a male prostitute, or something.

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

*snarfle*

Watanuki, while not being strong enough to protect himself like that, doesn't seem to care for his physical being that much.

I think that's a really good point--and for someone who's had such trouble telling "real life" apart from dreams, it makes sense.

[assistantsensei.livejournal.com]

Hi! I'm sorry if this is a bother to you, but could you also translate the side text, as well? I get more insight about the chapters. And I like your translations, so I think it would be pretty cool.

Although, if it's too much of a hassle, don't worry about it.

Thanks for the translation you've already done, and another thanks in advance. Great work! :D