XXXHolic Volume 12 by Clamp

Kimihiro Watanuki had gone to work for Yuko the Time-Space Witch so that she could take away his ability to see ghosts and spirits around every corner. But as he worked for her, his abrasive personality began wearing away, and he became a much nicer sort of person, one who is close friends even with his classmate Domeki, someone he had previously scorned, though they still argue a lot.

Now it is the beginning of Spring, and Watanuki is celebrating his birthday with Yuko, Domeki and the girl Watanuki loves, Himawari-chan. Life has been growing better now and he is no longer troubled by ghosts and spirits so much. But he has begun to note that he is dreaming much, much more than he used to, and has begun to sleep even in situations where it would be hard to sleep, such as when someone has begun to sling a container of hot tea at him.

Then Princess Sakura starts to appear in Watanuki's dreams, appearing low and distressed. Watanuki attempts to help her, but he does most of his help simply by talking to her. At the same time, the little psychic girl that he befriended, Kohane, appeared on a show and saw the ghosts better than the other, older psychics. Because all the other psychics disagreed with her, people have begun to feel that she is a fake, and turn on her.

Watanuki and Domeki try to help her, and Watanuki helps her realize that while she may not want to try and help herself, she should still try to help others who are her friends. She defends Watanuki to her mother, finally doing something for him. But she's not the only one Watanuki wants to help. He also offers to fulfill a wish for Yuko, his employer, as she spends her time granting others wishes, but who grants hers? She is startled by his offer, and grateful at the same time.

But Watanuki realizes after a dream conversation with Sakura that he can't remember the names of his mother and father. Is he really a human, and alive? Or is he something or someone else dreaming that he is Watanuki? Why can't he remember doing so many things? Yuko tells him he has a connection to both Sakura and Syaoran. All three are born on the same day. But what is this strange connection? Will we ever find out?

Another stunner from Clamp. Here, their long, slender bodied and stretched out style is in full swing, but the art doesn't matter as much of the story, of seeing inner truths that are concealed. Sakura has seen the inside of her companions, and none of them are really what they seem. Kurogane seems like nothing but a raging swordsman, but inside he's a protector, like an older brother. Fai presented a cheerful and uncaring outer demeanor, while inside he lived with pain few others could have lived through.

Watanuki feels that same kind of disconnect in his own life, and his many dreams are causing him to question if he is even really himself any more. Has he been decieved all along in believing he knew who and what he was? Where is the truth in a life you can't even be sure is real or anything but a dream? Yuko tries to reassure him, but he can't even be sure that what she is telling him isn't a dream either, and all he feels is sadness.

This newest volume continues the drawing down of the series, but asks us to question all we thought we knew about Watanuki and his world. This book raises many questions, and we don't have any real answers yet. Watanuki doesn't demand them of Yuko, because he knows she will tell him anyway... when he needs to know them. It's frustrating that he doesn't want answers when the readers do, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see for the answers we're desperate for.