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Spoiler warning!
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| The Inevitable | |
| Season 1, Episode 1 | |
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| Air Date | April 6 2006 |
| Episode Guide | |
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The Inevitable (ヒツゼン, Hitsuzen) is the first episode of the XxxHOLiC anime series.
Overview[]
Watanuki's life changes completely when he meets Yūko for the first time. Watanuki is given a job at Yūko's shop in order to pay off his debt.
Plot[]
A young boy is seen walking with the crowd, listening to their conversation while being chased by multiple spirits. While struggling to escape from them, he touches a fence and stumbles across a small house. While being dragged inside the house by Maru and Moro he asks himself why his legs are moving on their own, and Yūko Ichihara's voice answers him by saying:"That's because this is inevitable".
Kimihiro Watanuki
Watanuki meets the woman, who tells him the fence is a barrier, then asks him to show the item in his pocket -- a pocket watch of value to him. The woman asks his name which is, Kimihiro Watanuki, and his birth date which is, April 1st. She tells him that if a person easily gives their name, they're giving their enemy a means in which to capture that person's soul. She continues by saying if a person reveals his/her birthday, it gives an enemy a way to capture the person's past and future.
She tells him her name, Yūko Ichihara, stating that it's an alias; thus, not revealing her true name. She introduces the girls to him, Maru and Moro. Watanuki, tired of her games, decides to leave, but the door closes itself. Yūko repeats that "it is all inevitable and there is no coincidence in this world."
Afterwards, Maru and Moro bring in a pot filled with water. Yūko floats a fortune-like disk and begins to read Watanuki's fate: The place where he was born and where he lives now are different. He has suffered since his childhood because he's always been chased by spirits. His blood makes them attracted to him.
When Watanuki asks how she knew, Yūko replies that he had already given his name and birthday. She then keeps the pocket watch, saying she'll need it in exchange for his favor. She adds that taking too little won't do and taking too much will not do either as there will be consequences to the health of the transient world, to the fortune of the Astral World, and to the soul of the heavenly world. He yells at her, saying he didn't ask for anything and he didn't get anything back.
Watanuki asks where he is and what kind of place he's in. Yūko replies that it's a shop that deals with wishes. The girls tell him that it's shop that grants wishes and as long as the mistress is able to do it, the wish can be granted in exchange for a payment; but it must be something equivalent (e.g. a soul) or something valuable to that person. While thinking he doesn't have any wishes, Yūko inquires if he wants be rid of the spirits that are attracted to him or disturb him. She agrees to grant his wish and discusses payment. Stunned, Watanuki replies that the pocket watch was his payment but she answers, "That was that, this is this" and asks him to work for her part-time until the payment for his wish is balanced out.
Black Mokona awakened from sleep
She plans a welcome party for him, asking for a banquet with her old drinking buddy. Watanuki's first task is to call her drinking buddy from the treasure room. In the process, Watanuki stumbles onto a small, black bunny-like creature named Mokona Modoki which, much to his surprise, can speak.
Yūko asks Mokona if he slept well and Watanuki asks how long he's been there. Mokona replies that he's been hibernating for three years. Yūko then tells Mokona about the party to celebrate the new part-time employee. Watanuki asks if the black manju is her "drinking buddy" and what a "Mokona" is. She replies that Mokona is Mokona and you count them like this: "one Mokona...two Mokona...", not answering his question.
Watanuki is given his second task, which is shopping for the banquet. He will have to use his own money to purchase items, but Yūko agrees to compensate him later.
While walking to the grocery store, Watanuki is embarrassed that other seeing him walking with Mokona makes it seem that he collects cute dolls. He walks so fast that Mokona becomes ill and must freshen up at a sink in the park. During shopping, Mokona insists that Watanuki purchase Chinese cabbage, despite its high price, because he said he wanted Chinese cabbage, pork stew and Yuzu paté.
Watanuki wonders how they will eat all of it, seeing that there's now food for several people. He's then chased by another spirit and tries to escape by walking fast. As he does so, he encounters a group of female students with one of them saying that she can see spirits, too. This, however, is false since she doesn't see the ghoul wrapped around his body.
Watanuki offers consolation, but this only angers her. She sees Watanuki as someone who just doesn't understand, and remarks in a scathing tone, "They're happy, aren't they? The people who can't see them." Watanuki tries to leave, but bumps shoulders with the girl. The purple ghoul following Watanuki - seemingly embodying his ability to see the spirits - wraps around the girl. She sighs and tells her group they should leave. As the girl moves away from Watanuki, the spirit smiles and waves.
Back at the house, Watanuki is angry and asks Yūko about the girl and the spirit saying that he never wanted to transfer his spirits-seeing ability to someone else. Yūko assures him that that the spirit was not meant for him and that the girl had possibly wished for it. Watanuki tries to leave, but Yūko reminds Watanuki of their bonded destiny and fate, their ties no matter how big or small, far or near, eternal. Watanuki leaves but Yūko says he'll return, which he does remembering Yūko's promise to compensate him. Then, he will leave forever.
Characters[]
Trivia[]
- Black Mokona do not appear in the manga version.
Adapted Chapters[]
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