×××HOLiC
×××HOLiC is a manga series planned and presented by CLAMP. It has been serialized in Kodansha’s Young KC Deluxe periodically since 2003 and currently published in the United States by Del Rey Manga.
The series’ protagonist, Watanuki Kimihiro, is a high school student who is continually plagued by supernatural monsters which are magically attracted to him. The creatures are invisible to all but himself, and as a result he feels extremely burdened by them. When he quite literally stumbles into a shop that grants wishes, everything in his life changes drastically.
Within the shop is the seductively beautiful Yūko Ichihara, a witch of many names and esoteric renown. The seemingly all-knowing witch soon gets right down to business: she offers to grant Watanuki’s wish to be rid of his ability to see spirits. However, a price equal to the power required to grant the wish must be paid. Yūko also discovers that Watanuki is very skilled with his hands. As a result, Watanuki soon finds himself forced to perform housework and odd jobs for Yūko until he has done enough work for his wish to be granted.
Fans of the anime/manga series Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE will already be familiar with Yūko, who crosses over into that series periodically. It and ×××HOLiC are famous for their numerous cameos from other CLAMP works.
×××HOLiC has recently been made into an anime series as well, the second episode of which aired just previous to this writing. It’s worth taking a look at, and is already licensed for English distribution by FUNimation.
Links:
Del Ray official site
Anime series official site
EXOTiQUE (fansite)
kimihiro.net (fansite)
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