Yay, good supernatural times!

Watanuki has to make Valentine’s Day chocolatey thing (chocolate/Valentine’s Day combo is a big deal in Japan, in case you didn’t know) for Yûko, and he is wonderfully mad at her about it. The very last chocolate fondant is for Himawari! But she’s sick! On Valentine’s Day, of all days! And then Dômeki casually strolls by and eats it. I agree with Watanuki, this kind of sucks. But maybe, just maybe, it doesn’t deserve the drama he makes about it? Teenagers… :)))

But then Dômeki is in big big (supernatural) trouble, and Watanuki feels he has to help. There is a short, exciting adventure, and it all ends well. Phew. (You guys are such great frenemies.)

Watanuki keeps making delicious lunches for Dômeki in this volume as well. Is this going to be a thing? (Not that I mind great food.)

The story with the twin sisters and words as bonds was very nice and touching, but not very interesting. It didn’t add much. The last few pages featuring the ghost hand were creepy, though... ( )

Another raucous adventure for Watanuki and company, this time exploring love-lorn ghosts and the power of words. Maybe not the most exciting of the stories so far, but still entertaining. ( )

This kind of dragged to be honest. I enjoyed the stories, but they weren't very suspenseful or engaging. ( )

More interesting world building. In this volume the power of words is on display. The power that we give words over us and the power of the words that we give others. Watanuki is getting some interesting character growth. He is becoming more compassionate to others. With all that his eyes can see, it takes thinking about what Yuko says and sees to him open up more to the world. Domeki is a key player this time too but he is more in the background of Watanuki's personal growth. The art is not only beautiful but it is also used to help make the character's pain more vivid. We are really starting to see the world open up to Watanuki, as he opens himself up more to it. The story about the sisters is very moving but disturbing. It has a lot to do with the way that others see themselves in relation to one person.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars.

I really do enjoy the insights that xxxHolic gives on the Tusbasa universe. In this one we learn that the chocolate that Fai force feeds Kurogane did, in fact, come from Watanuki's efforts in the kitchen. However, Watanuki's Fondant Au Chocolat creation impressed more than Syaoran and company. Domeki also greatly enjoys the last one only to have a spirit come and claim the sweet treat, along with his soul! Once again Watanuki is relunctantly to the rescue of his erstwhile competition for Himawari's affection. In other stories Watanuki assists two twins oddly bound by the power of their words and meets a friendly ghost.

The further I go in this series, the more interesting the stories. Certainly one I intend to keep on reading. ( )