nenena | Tsubasa double-feature: chapters 222 and 223

Chapter 222.

When we last left Yuuko Ex Machina, she was gazing at Cloney and Clone Princess as they vanished into a flurry of feathers, presumably to be reborn sometime in the "past" relative to this scene. Alone again now, Yuuko closes her eyes, bows her head, and says, "With this, my final duty..."

The magic circles and the feathers vanish. Yuuko is left floating in total darkness.

"...is fulfilled."

The darkness grows tentacles (uh, what kind of a manga are we reading here, again?) which begin to wrap around Yuuko. "And the dream is ended," Yuuko continues. "My stopped time will now move forward..."

The shadow tentacles lift her up and spread out her arms, essentially crucifying her.

"...toward death," Yuuko says. "To finally be with you again. But the dream of those children is only now just beginning. May all of them - all the children - find great happiness."

Blackness.

Is Yuuko dead?

God, I hope so. The last thing that this manga needs is for Yuuko to go all La Traviata on us.

Hmmm. Should I be sad about Yuuko's death? I think that was supposed to be a sad scene. But her death is just so long overdue at this point - both in terms of the in-story logic (since her death was artificially halted) and in terms of storytelling logic (since her death has been foreshadowed for so long, and since the emotional tone of Tsubasa now rings so hollow that really, who gives a fuck whether Yuuko lives or dies anymore?) - that meh, I just feel a kind of relief. Like, I'm glad that's finally freakin' over with! One less thing for this goddamn manga to drag out about its ending.

Speaking of dragging things out...

We now cut to Hong Kong in some contemporary-ish universe! Teenage Sakura is there, wearing a Horitsuba uniform! (Wait, in Hong Kong? They are in Hong Kong, right? That's DEFINITELY the Hong Kong skyline drawn in the background there, but... bwuh?) And three very, very familiar-looking girls, also wearing identical uniforms, are running toward Sakura. "SAKURA-CHAN!!" one girl calls out.

AW HELL YEAH

IT'S HIKARU, UMI, AND FUU

But seriously Jesus Christ WTF I can't believe it took us 222 freakin' chapters before we finally got a decent cameo from the Rayearth girls arrrrrgh!

But anywhoo, cameo time. Hikaru gives Sakura a full-frontal glomp. "We were looking for you!" she gushes.

Umi wags her finger and lectures Sakura. "Look, I know that the teachers said that this is 'free time,' but we're still in a foreign country, and you can't just wander off by yourself! This is only your first time in Hong Kong, isn't it?"

Oooooooh, I get it. They're on a school trip. Oh, okay. That makes sense.

"Yes," Sakura says. "It's my first time in Hong Kong, and it's also my first time traveling to a foreign country."

"I still can't believe we're in Hong Kong for our class trip," Umi says. "Our school sure is special, isn't it?"

'Special' is a nice way of putting it. 'Full of rich elitist snobs' might be more accurate. Seriously, how many high schools in Japan can fucking afford to go to a foreign country for their class trips?! Do you know where the high schools in MY area go for their class trips? They go to freakin' Kyoto! Just like everybody else in this entire region of Japan! Either that, or they go climb Mt. Ena or something. They climb Mt. Amikake if they're really cheap. ~~Like my school.~~ I mean, wow. Hong Kong. WOW. Clearly we are firmly in Manga Fantasy Territory right now, since I don't think that any Japanese high schools students that I know would ever dream of going to a foreign country for a class trip, let alone Hong Kong. Keep in mind that Hong Kong is one of the most expensive areas in Asia to travel to, outside of Japan.

Anyway, back to the spoiled brats.

"But isn't this awesome, though?!" Hikaru exclaims. "I always wanted to go to Hong Kong! Oh yeah, you said the same thing too, didn't you, Sakura-chan?"

"I did."

"Even if she did say that, Sakura still isn't freaking out and making an embarrassment of herself," Umi says pointedly, "unlike someone that I know."

Hikaru looks totally baffled. "Eh? Like who?"

UMI RAAAAAAGE. "I don't care if you're a moron, I'm not gonna let you get away with a lame punchline like that!"

"Whaaaat? Whaaaat? What'd I saaaaay?" Hikaru bawls as Umi chases her around. LOL, stupid manga antics. It's been a while.

Ignoring them, Fuu turns toward Sakura. "So you really wanted to come to Hong Kong, didn't you."

"Not just Hong Kong," Sakura says, smiling as she gazes up at some... sakura trees in full bloom. Oh, grooooaaaaaan. "I just want to travel to as many interesting places as I can."

"You like traveling?"

"...I guess. But really... I want to find him."

A short distance away, Hikaru and Umi are listening in on this conversation. Hikaru stares at Sakura. "Sakura-chan sounds really grown up right now!"

"Of course she does," Umi snarks. "Especially when compared to Hikaru."

"Fuu-chan and Umi-chan may be grown up too," Hikaru says, "but not really in the same way that Sakura is, I don't think. There's something different about her. It's like... There's something that she's always, always searching for. You can see it in her eyes."

Back to Fuu and Sakura. "Is there a reason that you wandered over to this place, specifically?" Fuu asks.

"I just think it's lovely, that the sakura are blooming in Hong Kong, too."

"You really like sakura, don't you, Sakura-san. It's because of your name, isn't it."

"Well yes, there's that. But also because... sakura are..."

Suddenly, Sakura sees someone approaching. Her eyes widen.

Then she lifts her hands to her mouth, and tears appear in her eyes.

It's Syaoran, wandering around among the sakura trees. Dressed, for some inexplicable reason, in traditional Chinese clothing. Because. Because wealthy teenage boys totally still do that in modern-day Hong Kong. They totally do. (*eyeroll*)

Syaoran sees Sakura.

His eyes widen, too.

And then he smiles at her.

Sakura stares at him, her hands still covering her mouth, her expression utterly shocked, tears still in her eyes.

Then Sakura runs toward him, throwing herself into his arms. Syaoran embraces Sakura as she cries and exclaims, "Finally! I finally found you!"

Chapter 223.

Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu stare in shock as Sakura throws herself into the arms of a total stranger and bawls like a baby. "It's been so long!" Sakura sobs. "But I always knew, I knew we'd find each other again. No matter what!"

And now

it's time

for

a time skip! Yaaaaay!

We see an unbelievably huge, gorgeous Chinese manor, complete with a secluded inner garden, a pond, and a gazebo. Wow. I guess revised!Clow Country is the only universe in which Syaoran's family isn't rolling in dough.

Inside the house, sitting peacefully on top of the world's largest bed, surrounded on all sides by the world's most incredible canopy curtains, adult!Sakura is cradling her newborn baby in her arms. She is dressed in a lovely Chinese-style robe, because I guess she's gone totally native now. Oh yes, and there are sakura petals everywhere. I mean like, everywhere. They're floating through the air, scattered across the bedsheets, even (apparently) clinging to the canopy drapery. Why? Who the fuck knows why? This is pretty obviously an indoor setting, but still. Bwuh?

Adult!Syaoran, also dressed in traditional clothing, pushes aside the canopy drapes and approaches her.

"I'm sorry that I made you worry," Sakura says, smiling at him. "But the baby and I are both fine, now."

Syaoran gazes at her and the baby, sorrowfully. Then he kneels beside the bed and takes Sakura's hand. "I thought I was going to lose you," he says. "Just like back then. All over again."

"I won't ever leave you," Sakura reassures him. "I promised you, didn't I? That even if it means accepting punishment for your sins, I only want to live with you. I said that," Sakura says, as Syaoran embraces both her and the baby, "and I meant it."

I think this scene would be a lot more moving if I weren't distracted by the sakura petals that are scattered all over Sakura's bed covers, her pillows, and even the sleeves of her robe. Seriously, where are those coming from?!

Syaoran kisses her temple. "...Sakura..."

Okay, I will say this: I LOVE the way that CLAMP is rendering the adult versions of Sakura and Syaoran. They look fantastic. And CLAMP has aged them so perfectly, too.

And that's about the only good thing I have to say about this chapter. Moving on.

Sakura gazes down at the baby, but addresses Syaoran. "Your mother and father said that this baby looks just like you when you were born." Then her smile fades. "That might be only natural, though." The baby reaches his tiny hand toward her, and she teases him with her fingers. "This child is a child born of you and me," Sakura tells Syaoran, "but he is also one and the same as you."

YES, HE'S HIS OWN GRANDPA.

Syaoran looks down at the baby sadly. "You mean... My son is really..."

YES, HE'S HIS OWN GRANDPA.

"Yes," Sakura says.

YES, HE'S HIS OWN GRANDPA.

"He is the 'other' Syaoran," she says.

YES, HE'S HIS OWN GRANDPA.

We see a fantastic panel overlapping an image of Oediporan, in his classic prisoner uniform, dramatically removing the bandage from his eye, while behind him, adult!Cloney looks sad and grapples with his existential angst. "Syaoran, you were created from this child," Sakura explains.

YES, HE'S HIS OWN GRANDPA.

"So this is the true meaning of the witch's words from back then," Syaoran says, looking down at his son.

YES, HE'S HIS OWN GRANDPA.

"You will both lead new lives," Yuuko says. "But inevitably, you will once again meet with your other selves."

YES, HE'S HIS OWN GRANDPA.

"I will someday meet with her again, too," Sakura says. "The 'other' me. And then, once again. We will both return to 'that' moment. Inevitably."

YES, HE'S HIS OWN GRANDPA.

But Syaoran once again wraps Sakura and the baby in his arms. "I'll protect you, no matter what," he vows. "My beloved wife, and my beloved son."

Sakura smiles at him, then closes her eyes, and rests her head against his chest.

YES, HE'S HIS OWN GRANDPA.

Years later. Sakura (still rocking the Fantasy Ancient China look, for some reason) is standing beneath the gazebo that we saw earlier, beside the pond. She is surrounded by sakura trees in full bloom, and once again, petals are flying everywhere. Grrrrrooooooaaaaaaan. Sakura catches a petal in her hand, and gazes up at the sky, sorrowfully.

Chibi Oediporan, also dressed like he lives in a fantasy novel set several centuries in the past, comes running toward Sakura. "Good morning, mother!"

The melodramatic sorrow instantly vanishes from Sakura's face. She smiles at her son. "Good morning. You're awake earlier than usual, aren't you."

"Father got back from his job yesterday, and he said that he was going to teach me lots of things today!"

A short distance away, adult!Cloney is approaching, but he pauses when he sees Sakura and his son. He hangs back behind a bush (like a dork), listening to them.

"That's great!" Sakura says, smiling. She embraces her son, pulling him close into her arms. Oediporan can't see her face anymore, and her smile fades. She looks pained.

Oediporan, however, appears to notice her discomfort, even without seeing her face. "Mother, if you're feeling ill again, maybe you should go inside and rest..."

"No. I'm not ill. I'm fine," Sakura says, still embracing him, now smiling again. But there is a bitter edge to her smile. (My god, CLAMP is fantastic with these facial expressions.) "I was just thinking," Sakura says, "about how blessed I am that you were born as my son. About how truly, truly happy you make me."

Also smiling sadly, Cloney steps around the bush and toward the two of them. He's holding his sword in his hand.

The chapter ends.

Coming up next: A three-week break! (*headdesk*)

Y'know, as long as we're going to waste our time putzing around with the backstory (or is it now the sequel/epilogue-story?) of the adult clones, I reaaaaaalllly hope that CLAMP is finally going to give us an explanation for why the fuck Sakura and Syaoran eventually FAKED THEIR DEATHS and ABANDONED THEIR SON WATANUKI like the world's most shitheaded parents ever. Seriously. I can't WAIT to see what explanation CLAMP could possibly come up with to justify that decision on Sakura and Syaoran's part. Because wow, is that a dick move to pull on your own son. A truly, truly dick move.

Oh yeah, and Syaoran is still a motherfucker, and still his own grandpa.

God I fucking hate how this manga is ending.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I was laughing aloud while reading it! Thanks!

Sparkles!

Hahaha, I'm so grateful for your summaries. It's such a shame CLAMP's dragged this out, I really stopped caring about Sakura and Syaoran (all of them) ages ago. I'm just here to find out what happens to Watanuki...

Please tell me this isn´t Card Captor Sakura 2 or something D:

Wouldn't that make him his own father... or did I miss yet another Syaoran incarnation?
Good lord. Even with your help I cannot comprehend this manga anymore!

1. Cloney begets Oediporan.
2. Oediporan then begets Cloney.

So. His own grandpa.

I'M SO CONFUSED.

Yet so enamored by the pretty art D:?

What is it with CLAMP and uncomfortable relationships? Were they traumatized as children or are they trying to make it all dramatic and heart wrenching? Because the latter isn't working!

Yes, why did they abandon Watanuki and left him to be depressed and constantly bothered by spirits who want to kill him?

Okay, this series sounds stupid beyond belief, but I love the Rayearth girls so much that I want to see these chapters just so I can see them. (Hikaru is my favorite, too; does that make me weird?)

If it does, then we're both weird, because Hikaru is definitely my favorite too.

Yay! We can be weird together! ^_^

Thank you so much for making these summaries! I'd be lost without them. WTF Clamp? (I'm just thanking my lucky stars that this isn't the future of the real CSS couple) The only reason I'm still with this series is because I'm in it too deep and need to know how it all ends (even if it would cause my mind to spntaneously combust).

And about Watanuki's parents abandoning him, maybe that was when the two of them were rescuing R!Syaoran and co. from Fei Wong? That, or they were getting stuffed into a glass tube in a dream world. Something like that. :/

Yeah, that's pretty much what we know happened. The Clones fake their deaths, aged themselves back to fourteen years old, got locked in the Doom Tube for however-the-fuck long, then emerged from the Dream World in order to help their 'other' selves fight FWR.

The question is WHY they had to do any of that in the first place. And HOW the reason for doing all of that could be important enough to cause them to abandon their own son.

These two chapters sound remotely interesting because of the Rayearth girls (Umi's my favorite~).

I don't get what CLAMP's smoking these days... I mean, Syaoran is his own grandpa. That's not cool! :O

Agreement: Adult!S&S are lovely.

So, CLAMP went for a Stable Time Loop again. How many are there in this series...? Sigh...

I get the feeling we were supposed to go "Aww, Yuuko loved Clow after all!" after her "to be with *you* again" comment. But I'm just annoyed as fuck that we still don't know what exactly was going on between between Clow, Yuuko, and Fei Wong. Just to be outrageous, I'll randomly guess that FWR is actually Clow and Yuuko's lovechild, and his motive for everything was that he didn't want his mommy to die. Because CLAMP has so many mommy issues in this series that it's almost to be expected.

If that turned out to be true, it would be like the perfect fail cherry on top of the fail ice cream sundae that is this series.

...Now I kind of hope that it turns out to be true.

(And you're absolutely right, it's hard to find any kind of emotional impact in a romance that we're only vaguely informed about. I really don't care whether or not Yuuko and Clow loved each other, since we never seem them interact with each other, and their *love* never amounts to anything more than Yuuko merely mentioning "Oh yeah, Clow Reed wished that I wouldn't die. And I guess I love him too.")

If it does turn out to be true, I will LOL forever. The magic circles scenes will so much funnier with that perspective...
FWR: HAY MUM, LOOKIT WUT I DID! I broke the universe just for you! WILL U COME BACK NAOW? I miss your bedtime stories. ~~Dad can go fuck himself for all I care.~~
Yuuko: You've been a very naughty boy. What have I told you about ~~emotionally destroying~~ bullying the neighborhood kids? You're grounded! Now go to bed before I have your father spank you.
Clow: *silent stern agreement face*
FWR: Mum and Dad are both trying to stop me?! NO FAAAIR.

Also, it would make the whole plot amount to FWR saying, regarding Clow's wish, "DAD, UR DOIN IT RONG!"

Like I said: I WILL LOL FOREVER.

Pardon the lulz via reading this and
OMFG PHALLIC SPARKLIES!!!
That made my day. Seriously. Win sparkles thar.

Tsubasa double-feature: chapters 222 and 223

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