Kimihiro Watanuki

From CardCaptor Sakura

Kimihiro Watanuki (君尋四月一日, Watanuki Kimihiro ) is a fictional character in the Clamp manga, and anime, xxxHolic. The manga is currently ongoing and the anime series started 6 April 2006. He is voiced by Jun Fukuyama and in English is voiced by Todd Haberkorn. He is almost always referred to by his last name.

Contents 1 Story 2 Personality 3 At the shop 4 Existence 5 Relationships and connections 6 Watanuki's background

[edit] Story

Watanuki is a high school student whose life has been a rather difficult one — not only have both his parents died, forcing him to live alone, but he is plagued daily by spirits that only he can see (both the ability to see them and the cause of their attacks are evidently heritable traits—apparently Watanuki's blood smells very delicious to spirits).

On one run-of-the mill day, while Watanuki is being attacked by a monster, he falls over and his hand touches a fence. Oddly, the monster is instantly repelled. Beyond the fence is a very strange house, and before he knows it, Watanuki has stumbled past the two fence posts and into the courtyard of the house. Two little girls appear at the front door and take him by the hand, welcoming him into the house as a guest. Watanuki argues that he only stumbled in by accident, but a strange voice replies that it was inevitable he stumble in—it was "hitsuzen". This voice belongs to the powerful sorceress Yūko Ichihara, and the home he has stumbled into is actually a store that grants wishes.

Yūko asks what Watanuki wishes for, and although he never asks for anything directly Yūko sort of telepathically knows that Watanuki wants to stop seeing and being abused by his "spiritual friends". Yūko agrees to fulfill his wish, but only for an equitable payment—he must work at her store as payment, and when his "diligence" has balanced out his wish, she will grant it. This marks the beginning of Watanuki's very involved part-time job, a fated meeting with a certain quartet from Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, and so many "chance" happenings which occur not out of coincidence, but "hitsuzen".

[edit] Personality

Watanuki is known for a having both a volatile and caring nature to him. Depending upon the person he talks to, his emotions tend to be overly exaggerated. With Himawari he throws himself into the air accompanied by hearts and a "Himawari-chaaaaan!!" squeal. With Domeki, he almost always expresses irritation with various facial expressions, screaming, and arm motions that reminds Himawari of an angry cat. With the exception of these two and Yūko, Watanuki tends to address everyone around him with formality and kindness.

One of Watanuki's greater problems, especially early on in the manga, is his lack of self-worth. He found absolutely no value in himself and would often use himself to aid another, even if his life were at stake. An example of this is when he willingly gives up his right eye to the Spider's Grudge to save Domeki's, without considering how much his decision might hurt Domeki. He's forced to face up to this problem when trying to save the Zashiki-Warashi from the Joro-Gumo, when the spider matron harshly chatises him for his lack of consideration for both his own self and those who cared about him. Faced with the facts of how much he's hurt those around him, Watanuki begins to see some value in himself. He will still often use himself to save others, but now he is mindful of just how much his actions hurt other people.

[edit] At the shop

Life for Watanuki changes significantly once he starts working as Yūko's assistant (rather, her very indignant indentured servant) who not only cooks (wonderfully), cleans (diligently), and complains (constantly), but finds himself performing very odd jobs and learning more about the occult.

[edit] Existence

Volume 12 - 13 of the manga deals with the mystery surrounding Watanuki. Volume 12 already hinted that he is falling more asleep and dwelling in the dream world. In chapters 143 and 144 Watanuki admits to being bothered by the fact that he could not remember details of his life including his parents' names, his school year, and anything about people he meets outside of the shop besides Dômeki and Himawari. Nor is he ever seen eating or remember eating. It is revealed in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle that Watanuki gave his memories to Yuko as the price to protect and help the travelers as well as to help locate both Sakuras. It is revealed by Yuuko in chapter 157 of XxxHolic, that both Watanuki's and the clone Sakura's memories are sealed in black Mokona's left ear ring (Watanuki's memories of his parents, Sakura's memories of Syaoran). Not only is his memory of his past erased, but so is his memory of the exchange. After expressing doubts about his humanity, Yūko then assures him that he is in fact human, "like that boy [Syaoran]", and shares a strong bond with him.

[edit] Relationships and connections

• Yūko Ichihara - Watanuki's employer at his part time job in exchange for a wish he had. Their relationship is more of a master-slave and Mentor-student than anything romantic. She likes to tease him often, going as far as flirting with him or acting seductive, which irritates Watanuki more often than not. Yūko teaches him through experience (often humiliating if not near life and death situations) how he can grow and mature and seek his purpose. In chapter 144 she appears surprised by his offer to grant her wish, and the two embrace after she assures him of his humanity.

• Shizuka Dômeki - A classmate, who Watanuki sees as his rival mostly for Himawari's affections. He is Watanuki's polar opposite in terms of personality; while Watanuki is reactive and easily annoyed, Dômeki is generally calm and to the point with everything he does. Around Dômeki, Watanuki is safer when encountering any malicious spirits since Dômeki is a spirit repellent. Despite Watanuki's rants as to how annoying it is to be with Dômeki, Watanuki seems to willingly stay in his company and will make food for Dômeki, himself, and Himawari when he says he will not. He often accompanies Watanuki in his assignments, ask him to make lunch for him, gets him to do chores and saves him most of the time in trouble, much to Watanuki's annoyance. However, it was already foretold that Watanuki will meet someone like Dômeki and their relationships are said to run deeper.

• Himawari Kunogi - Watanuki's crush. She is always friendly towards him and appreciates his kindness. However, she avoided any further relationship with him because of her bad luck. Himawari goes to the same school as Watanuki and Dômeki.

• Zashiki-warashi - A Vestal Sprite of pure and innocent spirit. Naive and shy, she is easily moved to tears and has fallen in love or is infatuated with Watanuki. She gave him a Valentine's Day chocolate, but took it from Dômeki's body (later returning it to Watanuki). She risked her life trying to get Watanuki's eye back from the Spider Queen, but the Queen's evil spirit was poisonous to her. Watanuki saved her life in turn. In Chapter 121, Zashiki Warashi appears again with the Ame Warashi to check in on Watanuki after a tragic accident from volume 10, chapters 118-119. Watanuki remarks that her voice had "changed", or had become "firmer than before."

• Kohane Tsuyuri - The 11 year old prodigy in Spirit exorcism. She is introduced in Volume 9. No one has called her by her first name as long as she could remember. Watanuki being the first to call her " Kohane-chan" and be the one to give her first true act of kindness and in return she becomes the first person to call Watanuki by his first name, Kimihiro, since the death of his parents. She and Watanuki somewhat share a bond and Yūko has commented that their powers are the same; though she doesn't attract spirits, unlike Watanuki. She can also sense that Watanuki is not like normal human beings and that he could understand spirits like she does. Watanuki is very concerned about her well-being, even going so far as to make her a pair of gloves. He was most worried after seing an injured Kohane after the TV show incident where she was labeled as a fraud. Also he senses the indifference she has with her mother.

• Syaoran - Watanuki's 'other', original self. Watanuki was created to take Syaoran's place as the son of Sakura and Syaoran Li when Syaoran rewound time to save Sakura. It is indicated that the futures of both Watanuki and the Syaorans of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles are closely intertwined. He met the clone on Volume 1 of TRC as well as xxxHolic, and in chapter 119 of xxxHolic, Watanuki was able to see a short glimpse of the real Syaoran. Also, Sakura, after meeting Watanuki in a dream, states that Watanuki is very much like Syaoran. In chapter 140, the real Syaoran asks him "not to disappear" when Watanuki blacks out. In chapter 168 of TRC, Syaoran tells Watanuki that "You and I are closer than anyone else." Then in Chapter 181 of Tsubasa, Watanuki already paid a price so Syaoran and co. could find both Sakuras. He did this so he could pay back Syaoran and to let go of his haunting past. Again in chapter 181 of Tsubasa, Yuuko says to Syaoran [when she reveals that a price has been already paid for a wish he wants], "From the person who is closer to Syaoran than anyone else."

• Sakura - She and Watanuki share the same birthday (April First). He keeps Sakura's soul company in the dream world she escaped to following her separation from the TRC group, but their relationship and his role in the story is still not defined.

• Watanuki's parents - Sakura and Syaoran Li - They reportedly died when he was very young. In volume 12 of the manga after a talk with Sakura in his dreams he realizes that he cannot remember his parents' names. It has been revealed in Chapter 181 of Tsubasa, that he helped Syaoran and co. by giving up his memories of his past, as a future payment after Syaoran had paid a price to help Watanuki when he fell out a window. That's why he doesn't remember his parents' names at all. In XXXHolic Kei they were made a partial appearance in Watanuki's dream state after his fall from the school building. However unlike in the manga where they were able to speak to Watanuki, the anime showed their hand pulling Watanuki up and patting his head before disapearing. They are actually alive, but have moved to another world, waiting for both Watanuki and Syaoran to return to them. They are later revealed to be the reincarnated clones.

[edit] Watanuki's background

In chapter 2 of Volume 3, there is a hint that Watanuki has a higher purpose to the xxxHolic universe than to simply do Yūko's handiwork and have his wish granted. In the final panel, Yūko cryptically remarks, "Watanuki is a good kid, didn't we both think that? Clow..." This strongly suggests that Watanuki's arrival at the store was expected and possibly prepared for, just as Clow Reed and Yūko prepared the Mokona's for the Tsubasa group's arrival and Sakura's staff (the Sakura of Cardcaptor Sakura) well in advance. Yūko also mentions that her store was created specifically for a future event. At this point, the audience can only speculate as to what said event is. It is also worth mentioning that Watanuki, Syaoran and Sakura share the same birth date: April 1. It can also be noted that Watanuki's given name, Kimihiro, means "Prophet", Yūko's fortune teller friend comments this is a good name for him. Watanuki also displays some precognitive abilities, notably the morning before he lost his eye he has a dream where half his field of vision is blocked out.

In later chapters of the manga Yûko allows Watanuki to experience things on his own to contribute to his growth and maturity. This was explained in Volume 8 of the manga, where the change of his character was shown when he saved the Zashiki Warashi from the Spider Queen. This was noticed by other supernatural beings as well.

Watanuki loses sight in his right eye after it was eaten by the Spider Queen/Ruler of Spiders in Volume 8, and Watanuki now shares half of his right's eye vision with Dômeki. Chapter 121's colored first page reveals that his eyes are now heterochromatic with one blue eye and one golden eye - gold being the colour of Doumeki's eyes.

In chapter 152 of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Watanuki is revealed to be in a dream world with Sakura's soul. Yūko states that he "will become a chance that will change the future again." When Kurogane asked who that person is, Yūko only said, "That's an unrelated story...for now", hinting that Watanuki may one day encounter the TRC group.

Another area of concern that Watanuki has now been lately falling into dream like state regardless any time of the day or circumstances, such as when Kohane's mother splashes hot water on him after he temporarily blacked out.

In Chapter 181 of Tsubasa, Yuuko reveals that Watanuki has sold his memories to Yuuko. She says, "...Also he paid me the same price in the past as the princess who traveled with you [memories]. And he has forgotten about his own past, the names of his parents... Even about having handed the price over to me. For the sake of the same wish you have [as Syaoran has]."

It xxxHolic chapter 157 it is revealed that Watanuki's wish to know both Sakura's locations in exchange for his own memories was granted before his "first" time entering the shop, meaning that Watanuki had already met Yuuko before the story began, but his memory of that event was erased. The feather removed from Kohane apparently contains Sakura's memory of Syaoran. The black Mokona's earring contains Watanuki's memory of making the wish to save two futures.

In chapter 158 the old woman fortune teller hinted that Domeki was the destined person she foresaw before that he would be friends with. She also stated that Watanuki has matured but as well as Yuuko changing in herself, the images later shows a postcard sent from Yuuko.

Watanuki returns to the dream world to speak with Haruka.

A young Watanuki appears in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle chapter 192 in flashback^[1], as well as in chapter 194, when Sakura sees him and "Syaoran" in a vision of the seventh day.

In chapter 165 of xxxHolic, it is hinted that Watanuki is a distant relative of Clow Reed. In Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle 201, it is stated that Watanuki should not exist, and that he will 'replace' Syaoran (thus hinting that Watanuki is, in an altered timeline, the son of Syaoran Li and Sakura Li). xxxHolic chapter 167 takes this further by saying that the reason that Watanuki looks different is because Sakura and Syaoran had wished it. Yuko continues by saying that Sakura and Syaoran had died to save both Watanuki and Syaoran. Yuko also states that 'Kimihiro Watanuki' is not Watanuki's true name, rather that it was fabricated so that Fei Wong Reed would be unable to use Watanuki for his own ends. In Tsubasa Chronicle 202, Yuko remarks that Watanuki looks like Clow Reed did when he was a child. Fei Wong says that his existence will bring misery to his parents. Yuko cover's Watanuki's ears and tells him not to listen. As Fei Wong takes Syaoran, he yells "Don't disappear" to Watanuki just as his eyes open for the first time.

In chapter 168, Yuuko continues explaining that Watanuki feels that because of Syaoran he too must be alone. This aspect is what draws the spirits to him. She also goes on to explain that when Syaoran battled his clone in Tokyo, Watanuki subconsciously sensed it, meaning that when he fell out of the window, it as not solely down to Himawari's bad luck. Yukko explains that Watanuki does not remember this because it too was taken with his other memories as the price to locate both Sakuras. Yuuko goes on to say that Watanuki has changed his attitude, and as a result the frequency of his seeing spirits has decreased (thus contradicting an earlier volume in which Yuuko said that changing his attitude would not stop him from seeing spirits).

In chapter 170, the fortune teller phones Yuko, saying that she was mistaken when she said that "your parents have passed safely over to the other side". Yuko agrees, saying that Syaoran and Sakua are in another world, waiting for Watanuki and Syaoran to return to them. ^[2] This was also implied in an earlier chapter ^[3] when Yuuko remarked "your name contains the promise your parents made to you, to look for you, that they would absolutely go to meet you."

Watanuki briefly appears in Clow Country, witnessing his parents^[4][5]. He realises he knows them, but not who they are, saying that seeing them hurt. He then searches for Yuuko. Unable to find her, Watanuki aids a client (who was afraid to taste her own cooking). After visiting her, Watanuki finds the client unable to remember Yuuko, and leaves in a panic. He and Doumeki bump into the twins seen in an earlier volume, and they do not remember Yuuko either (despite the fact Yuuko had granted one of the sister's wishes). Watanuki rushes back to the shop, only to step into a black void^[6].

Watanuki meets Yuuko, who explains to him that she should have died a long time ago, but due to someone's power (Clow Reed; not mentioned here, but known from Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles) her time was halted until the choice was made (refers to the choice made by Syaoran in Tsubasa by pulling Sakura free). Now her time has began to move forward once again; she is dying.

From Tsubasa, we know that she was transported to Clow Country, where she released Watanuki's parents. Watanuki, is of course, puzzled at her mentioning of saving the 2 futures, since he is unaware of the actual situation. He also reveals, from the depth of his heart, how much he cherishes Yuuko and the experiences they had together (in a student-mentor/friends relationship).

Yuuko reveals to Watanuki that her shop and job was for a purpose, and now that its purpose has been fulfilled, it is gone. We learn from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles that it was a price to pay for Clone Sakura's reincarnation. In addition, Yuuko finally grants his wish of not being able to see and attract spirits. Although Watanuki pleads with her not to disappear, Yuuko gently tells him otherwise, stating that he is precious to her. Finally, upon Watanuki's pleading, Yuuko reveals that her wish is for him to continue existing. Watanuki makes a promise to himself and to her- that he will continue living and that if he wishes hard enough, he would want to meet her again. And for that, he will stay till she returns

In chapter 183, Watanuki awakens in the shop, with Doumeki by his side. Maru and Moro materialise and we learn that Yuuko had used her remaining power to preserve the shop's existence. Outside, Doumeki and Mokona chat, revealing a few things. Firstly, Doumeki also saw Yuuko disappearing through his shared eye with Watanuki. Also, Watanuki's choice to stay behind to wait for Yuuko has resulted in yet another choice for him to make, one which makes the egg necessary. The reader also learns that only Kohane, the fortune teller, Himawari, and Doumeki remembers Yuuko, and that these are the people that she felt would be needed to stay by Watanuki's side after her passing. Mokona finally reveals that because of their shared vision, the decision when to use the egg depends on Doumeki.

Watanuki heads for the storeroom and upon seeing Yuuko's robes, holds it and remembers her. Meanwhile, it appears that Mokona has informed Doumeki about the purpose of the egg, and that it can only be used once. Suddenly, Doumeki sees a vision of the two Syaorans, and a hand passing to someone else's hand a pair of glasses. He quickly rushes to Watanuki and sees him with his glasses in his hand, while still holding onto Yuuko's robes. We also learn that Watanuki, Syaoran and the others have made their choice, and that they will surely find their own happiness in the end.

Watanuki's choice is then revealed- he will stay at the shop, and succeed Yuuko, granting wishes for a suitable price. However, in order to do this task, he has to regain the power to see spirits (which Yuuko took away when she granted his wish). So as the price to regain this power, he cannot leave the shop at all. This is all for the sake of saving the shop until Yuuko returns. It is also revealed that because of this, Watanuki will not age, although as he adds, he too will die someday. After this conversation with Doumeki, it is shown that Doumeki cannot use the egg on Watanuki (we still do not know the purpose of the egg).

In chapter 186, we learn that 4 years have passed, and Doumeki is now studying folklore in university, something which Watanuki never ceases to be surprised at. Watanuki appears to have changed- he is seemingly calmer and more matured than before. In this chapter, he is seen lying lazily on Yuuko's chair, smoking away, just like how Yuuko was in the past. But he still cooks- Doumeki buys the ingredients (and his selection meets Watanuki's standards) and goes over (presumably daily, since only he leaves the shop) after studies.

The scene is dinner time, with Maru and Moro announcing the arrival of Kohane-chan (she has grown up since the last time). She has brought with her food that the old seer had prepared. Unfortunately, she can only stay for tea as the seer is waiting for her. As Watanuki goes to get the tea (along with sake and snacks for Mokona and Doumeki), Kohane follows him, wanting to help. At the kitchen, he notices a letter from the old seer, which informs him of the arrival of a customer the next day. Kohane-chan is visibly worried, but Watanuki assures her that he has changed since, and that he understands her concern. Even with Watanuki's best attempts at reassuring her, Kohane-chan is still worried about him getting hurt emotionally or physically. Later that night, we learn that Watanuki is powerless, and that even though he will not age, he can get hurt, as what Kohane-chan was concerned about. Despite that, he makes up his mind to meet every customer, and if possible, grant their wishes- Because he has decided to stay until Yuuko returns.

xxxHolic
Timeline of events
Media	Episodes
Theme Songs
Locations	Japan • Yūko's Shop • Dream World
Main Characters	Kimihiro Watanuki • Yūko Ichihara • Shizuka Dōmeki • Himawari Kunogi • Mokona Modoki • Kohane Tsuyuri
Minor Characters	Fei Wong Reed  · Clow Reed · "Syaoran" · Syaoran · Sakura

Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle
Timeline of events
Media	Chapters · Episodes · Media information
Theme Songs	BLAZE • Loop • IT'S • A Jet Waiting For Wind • aerial • amrita • synchronicity • Last Fruit
Locations	Clow Country/Japan (Tokyo · Clow Country) · Celes · Nihon · Japan · Hanshin Republic · Koryo Country · Foggy World · Jade Country · Ōto Country · Edonis Country · Shara Country · Shura Country (Shara's past) · Piffle World · Rekord Country · Infinity · Dream World · Tomoeda
Main Characters	Syaoran Li · Sakura Li · Tsubasa Li · Princess Tsubasa · Kurogane · Fay D. Flourite · Mokona · Yūko · Watanuki · Fei Wong
Minor Characters	Xing Huo · Kyle Rondart · Tomoyo · Seishirō · Subaru · Kamui · Fūma · Fujitaka · Touya · Yukito · Clow Reed · Other characters

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