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[meimi-haneoka]

"With hindsight" Part 1 - a Yuna D. Kaito analysis because I won't be over the new chapter for a good while

Alright, I said it in my commentary/translation differences post for Chapter 70, but I'm far from having finished analyzing and saying what I wanted to say about what transpired from this last chapter, and since I need an outlet to vent my thoughts otherwise I'm going to implode, I'll start this post right away. To be honest this is just a collection of scenes from the whole story that I will be revisiting with the hindsight that Chapter 70 finally gave us. Scenes about Kaito, specifically. I'll try to give what I think is the right interpretation, but of course these are just my thoughts on the matter.

Drama CD n. 1

I will start not from the manga, but actually from the Drama CDs. The Drama CDs are "canon" to the manga storyline, because they insert themselves perfectly among the manga chapters, and they show us some "unreleased scenes" in the shape of audio recordings. This above is the extract of the scene that features Akiho coming home right after her first day of school, and her first meeting with Sakura. Now that we know what Kaito wanted to do...this scene takes such a tender connotation.... I mean....he welcomed Akiho home with sakura flavored tea to celebrate her meeting with Sakura....isn't that sweet??? Momo of course had to tease him about it, but for him it was such a pivotal element to his mission. And now I understand why he asked Akiho "it came from you?" when she said she told Sakura she wanted to be friends with her. He never forced anything. He only created the opportunity for them to meet and click together, but he pinned his hopes for them to get along in destiny and in their similarities. Because you know, his plan was perfect in his head, but if Sakura and Akiho couldn't get along it would've been all for nothing. He couldn't force Akiho to become a sister of someone she didn't love to begin with. And he sounds so interested, so eager to listen to Akiho's talk about her first day of school. He's genuinely glad to hear her so excited about her new friend. In this extract we also get glimpses of how Kaito was still learning to laugh properly, and that's another detail that crushes my heart. He has such a dead stare, when he was in the Association. Or we get the mention of how important, fundamental it was for him to obtain Eriol's house. Because he needed it for its magical protection properties. He needed it to protect her. And he was so nervous about finding an hindrance there. I can say thank you to Eriol for not leaving any spell inside that house, hahaha 😅

Drama CD n. 2

More Kaito tring to create "chances" for Sakura and Akiho to meet and bond. Just like tring to give a little "push". Although, Momo lectures him on the fact that there's no need to push things that way, that eventually Akiho and Sakura can become friends even without tricks... And the thing Momo hinted at, before trailing off? Yea, we always go back there. His limited understanding of love and relationships. Especially when they touch him. But he really tried to do his best with what he knew. "I have to make it work, somehow"

This is something different, though. This was one of the first attempts from Momo to make Kaito try to reflect on the reason why he's doing all of this. First, pointing out that he became quite informed on all kind of trivial things that he couldn't give a damn before. She mentions the character bento he made for Akiho. That's definitely something that goes beyond a butler's duty. He shrugs it off with a ridiculous excuse, so Momo tries again. She tries to make him realize that he changed. "No, I'm not that good at this" is a way to negate that. "No, I haven't changed, this is just job". And so Momo insists. He needs to friggin' realize it, he must do it by himself otherwise there's no meaning to it, but he has to. "Is this only because of the forbidden spell?" "Yes" "Just that?" Kaito doesn't answer. And serves the wine. That's when you know Momo made him uncomfortable. He doesn't say "Yes, just that" because something deep down inside of him is kicking and screaming the truth, and looking at how much he adores Akiho, he wouldn't try to deny that. But still, he dodges the question and that makes Momo irritated.

Damn, these hurt. Akiho, thanks to the synchro with Sakura, experienced her same dream and even heard the ominous voice. The one that now we know belongs to the Association, and warned Kaito of his destiny if he dared messing with the artifact. Here Kaito tries to cheer Akiho up because he thinks she's scared that something might happen to that "Alice", aka Sakura. To think that warning was actually for him.....I bet he knew. But since she heard it related to Sakura, he assumed she was scared because of that. Again, he tried to protect the bond between the two girls. And when he says "I will never allow that to happen", that was the biggest clue that he didn't intend to harm Sakura. Through the years I've always thought back to that phrase. He kept her in high regard because she would be the one who would fundamentally save his dear Akiho and make her happy one day. He would've protected her too, if necessary. Momo takes the chance again. The opportunity it's too good because gosh, here he is so serious and so fired up, he needs to realize who he's doing this for and why. And yet, Kaito not only doesn't understand, but also denies any deep involvement passing it off as "just what I decided to do" and then storms off the room with an excuse. When pressured about that matter, Kaito runs. And here my heart breaks because Momo has seen tragedies happening before, because of that book...and she didn't want to see another one. Not with these children in particular, these kids she cherishes so much. Now you understand why she cried in ch. 70?

"It's my job" - vol. 3

Now we switch to the manga. As soon as Kaito gets introduced, CLAMP are set in showing him as a polite, skilled but also distant type of person. So, merely a few panels after we saw how sweetly he told her she's never a bother to him, we see him breaking Akiho's heart by stating that this is job to him. Nothing could be worse for Akiho, who's used to be considered a burden by everyone. And yet. That's a lie that he's first and foremost telling to himself. Cause this is infinitely easier to bear if he pretends he's only doing it because it's his job. I'm not saying he's consciously lying - he doesn't want to peek in his heart, as Momo said later on. He's refusing to. Cause what he might find there might make this impossible to carry out.

"I'm glad about that" - vol. 4

Huge hint here. Kaito goes to pick Akiho up at Sakura's home, and on the way back Akiho tells him how kind Sakura is, and how she cares for everyone. Kaito asks "even for you?" and Akiho confirms happily. While his smile might have looked like it had a streak of shadiness, here, after chapter 70 it magically doesn't appear like that anymore. It's a sincere, kind smile. Kaito is glad that the two girls are bonding, and particularly that Sakura seems very well inclined towards Akiho. His bet with destiny seems in his favor, now. Sakura might indeed become a good sister for Akiho. That also explains his almost exaggerated reverence when he earlier called Sakura "Kinomoto-sama". That was honest respect for her.

"My name is Yuna D. Kaito" - vol. 4

I've always, always wondered about this scene. WHY, why did he go out of his way to introduce himself to Syaoran? Without even masking his powers? Was he challenging him? Wasn't it better if he stayed in the shadows and avoided him at best of his capacity? No. First of all, he wanted to know for himself who this famous "Syaoran Li" was. If he was a decent person, since Akiho would have eventually to be around him a lot, after becoming Sakura's sister. But also because......this meeting set off all of Syaoran's alarms, he contacted Eriol immediately to check on him etc. Kaito villainizing himself with Sakura's entourage was a test to check how efficient their protection network was, in case Akiho needed it in the future. Because, being part of the family, if anything (namely, the Association/Clan) still found the way to harm her, they would at least be there instead of him to protect her. His smile is so kind here....and now we know it's sincere.

Kaito's pocket watch - vol. 4

Leave me alone, I look at this page now and I can't help bawling my eyes out. Akiho of course knew how important that watch was to Kaito. She didn't know why, but probably by the way he always had it with him, she inferred it. And it became basically a symbol of him, for her. So much that she wanted to try recreating the pattern for the decoration of the cake roll that she would give him later. She's so observant, especially with him. To think that now....that watch is in her hands.....all damaged, broken....just like him....and that it will certainly lead her back to him...........OKAY LET'S MOVE ON

"Towards that time" - vol. 4

JESUS CHRIST the expression he's got here. It must be one of the sweetest he's ever had (also, the whiplash from the older character design is big). Momo had just being revealed as "being alive" and asked him if "that time" (WE KNOW NOW what time that was) was coming anytime soon...and while looking tenderly at his watch, he said that the cards (important "ingredient" of the magic he wanted to activate) were gathering more and more, and leading them to "that time". He's so glad, once again, that things are looking good so far. He seems like he's thinking "soon, she'll be free".

"Please...laugh like that again!" Vol. 4

Finally, the confirmation of Kaito's wholesomeness in this scene. First of all, how truly excited he was to open and eat Akiho's cake roll. By now we all know what kind of issues he had with food "previously": he fed himself with energy bars when he was little, couldn't care less how food tasted, and shunned most of Lilie's attempts at making him eat something different. Even when trying to find something he liked, the maximum he reached was "I can eat it". He wasn't excited for anything. But here, here we can see how much he loved to receive something from Akiho, baked directly by her. Even if people surely thought he might have just pretended (believing he had who-knows-what ominous plan to use her in the end), you could actually already find your answers in the shape of his speech bubbles. They're all bubbly and excited, especially when he says "it's delicious". Guys, knowing the flashback of chapter 60 where he couldn't find anything he really liked, this scene takes on a huge meaning. He finally defined something as "delicious". And of course, it came from Akiho. And thanks to how strangely "in tune" he seems with his true self (maybe because Akiho's present sparked true happiness in him?), we also have the rare "laugh scene". This scene often has been mistaken for Kaito laughing at Sakura's troubles, as if her troubles with the Cards amused him in a wicked way. Even here, we get the confirmation there wasn't any sinister kind of vibe to this laugh, it was just the laugh of someone who found the situation involuntarily cute (indeed, he apologizes with a blush right away, and a blush it's not something you normally summon at command, far less with someone who's still learning to manage his emotions). Akiho's "Please laugh like that again!" leaves him speechless, for a moment. It's the same suprised face he will make all the times Akiho will try to express her feelings towards him later on. Always that same, foolish, astounded face. He can't really believe someone would care for him. And his little smile right after, in this scene, suggests the thing warmed his heart and made him happy. ...alas, that also made him even more fired up to bring to completion his plan, as the scene that ensues right after this one suggests.

The dreams - Vol. 4

Same scene, this is the first time that Akiho let the readers know that she's been having dreams based on Sakura's experiences with the Clear Cards (and this is where I'M SURE that everyone thought "Kaito wants to give Akiho Sakura's magical powers, that's why she's dreaming of them"), under the guise of Alice's adventures. But it's definitely not the first time that she tells Kaito about this. It seems like a thing that's been happening for a while. We'll probably find out in the next chapters what these dreams were for in the grand scheme of things, personally I have several ideas but none of them seems to convince me enough, the only thing I know is that Kaito seems pleased that Akiho experiences these dreams so maybe they're connected to his plan (either for the play or for the life after the re-writing of the memories).

"Don't worry...I'll be by your side" - Vol. 5

Dear god, he always looks at her with such kind eyes. Always so full of love. Especially here, after she had her first synchronization with Sakura, so intense that she was about to pass out. Akiho had the opportunity to "channel" the vision Sakura was having in that same moment, and saw someone wearing the robe of her clan (this is how we find out for the first time that robe belonged to a clan and she was part of it). She was visibly distressed, and Kaito gently coaxed her to sleep, to rest. To be honest the situation with the dreams with MCF is yet to be clarified, so I won't push for an interpretation or the other, but I am inclined to believe Kaito wasn't particularly keen on having Akiho experience these kind of dreams. After all, the less she thinks about her abusive clan, the better. What he really was interested in was that she could experience the "Alice" dreams, not these ones that made her only extremely worried.

Confrontation with Eriol - vol. 5

Certainly, the most discussed and criticized scene. Because Kaito here didn't have any qualms in "attacking" directly Eriol. Always at the last moment, of course, because Eriol finished pretty much spilling anything he knew of Kaito to Kero and Yue by the time he interrupted them. Kaito will always be like this, even further along the story, when he decides to intervene. He really needs to be pushed into a corner to do so (and that's also an evidence of how he really doesn't enjoy nor he's inclined to attack people or cause problems). I always reiterated this however I could, in fandom spaces. Of course, he's not here to f*ck around. His goal is serious. He's staking his life on it, so if he needs to use strong methods, he will. However, it's not really clear what he intended to do to Eriol here. My idea is that he was just trying to destroy the communication (which surely must have been highly magically reinforced) between Eriol and the Guardians, but not cause to Eriol directly any harm. We see the staff cracking (cracks that are "healed" as soon as Eriol destroys Kaito's spell - one of the spikes breaking is an anime-only scene), maybe he wanted to break his magic tool to prevent any further intromission, but that's it. We don't see any bolt hitting Eriol or anything like that. He wasn't directly harmed. The fact that we see Eriol so debilitated for months is just because he depleted his magical power in order to counter Kaito's interruption, and that caused extreme exhaustion. Kaito is that strong. But, pay attention, Eriol afterwards will say that certainly Kaito got the same backlash from that attempted interruption too. After all, Eriol got his magic halved, but he's still a pretty formidable magician. So Kaito must have used lots of magic to "break in". But, as Eriol inferred from the rumors he heard of Kaito, he simply didn't show it and didn't care about the backlash. We have seen him faking to be completely ok while having heart attacks, do you think something like this could've fazed him?

Inverse dreams - vol. 5

Right after the confrontation with Eriol (maybe he was exhausted himself, but perfectly pretending he wasn't) he returned immediately to Akiho's side to be there when she woke up. Back then I was so mad at him because he promised to be by her side and then left as soon as she fell asleep, but with hindsight he was just, again, thinking about her and in her interest. She's constantly at the top of his priorities. Interrupting Eriol and ensuring that he wouldn't interfere with his plan would've allowed him to save her. Unfortunately, Akiho had a scary dream. Not "sad", but precisely "scary". And that's when we see for the first time Kaito becoming alarmed. Because Akiho saw her usual Clockland dream turning into something scary and she even heard a voice. Pay attention to her retelling of the dream: Alice meets in Clockland lots of strange creatures and inhabitants, she lives lots of curious experiences...she even sees a mirror capable of copying magic....BUT THEN...Akiho heard a clock's ticking sound growing louder and louder, and heard the sound of something breaking somewhere. Then, a voice (and this is where both Momo and Kaito grow immediately alarmed): "You can't come back anymore". When this chapter was released, it wasn't long that Syaoran and Sakura had that "date in the sky" thanks to the newly created Mirror Card, so we all thought that she simply saw the events that had just occurred with Sakura, as usual. But...pay attention...doesn't it remind you of something? Yes...this is exactly how things went in the story Kaito prepared for Clockland. Alice meets the inhabitants of Clockland, she visits and see curious things, but then there's the whole mess with Kaito and Syaoran using the two Mirror Cards....so what about the clock ticking sound and something breaking somewhere? Did Akiho have a dream of one of the possible outcomes of Clockland? Especially cause from her words and the panel, it's inferred that differently from other times, this Alice looked like Sakura. She doesn't say it aloud (in the very same scene of the Drama CD, she does), but to Kaito it's apparent that Akiho saw someone else other than her, and so it could have only been Sakura. Was something supposed to happen to Sakura? Kaito comforts Akiho in one of the sweetest scenes between the two, cause he can't stand to see her so worried. The smiles between the two, so tender, really tug at my heartstrings. Especially cause...he knows what "you can't come back anymore" refers to. I am just thinking whether Akiho dreamt of a future in which she went berserk in Clockland, and absorbed Sakura, hence the one who could not come back would be her in the end... Momo's warning that this dream could very well turn out to be true does nothing but firing Kaito up even more. I have the impression that he would've protected Sakura too, if necessary.

"Sacrificing something important" - Vol. 6

Momo basically told us Kaito's past here, and it was a big moment of revelation for the story. Finally we got some insight in Kaito's background, ever since he was a very small child. Why? Because it'll be important later. The reason why he acted how he acted, and accepted to take on his shoulders all the burden of such a self-sacrificing mission, is all here. When people accuse him to be "stupid", or ignorant because he doesn't understands Akiho's feelings (nor his own), they have to keep well in consideration what they told us in these pages (and further). This is also the very first time in which Momo confirms to the readers that Kaito is sacrificing something important in order to activate a "dangerous magic". She was meaning his life, of course, but also his relationship with Akiho.

"No matter where I look for them...I wouldn't be able to find those memories" - Vol. 6

Ah, g*ddammit. This scene hurts like a thousand bricks in the face now. Oof. Let's see...there's a lot to unpack here (and luckily it's the last feature for this first part). Big mess outside Sakura's house, Akiho's book is about to open up, she's already on the brink of losing her conscience and Kaito stopped time to prevent this mess from going any further. We find out that when Kaito picked Akiho up earlier on, he briefly investigated Sakura's house, finding out all the peculiarities about it (Nadeshiko's barrier, which at this time he still didn't know it was her doing) Now we know why he did so. He was checking out the place where Akiho would be living after he activated the forbidden magic. He had to make sure that it was a good place, and it was. This barrier he found was protecting the people inside, so it was perfect. We also find out that with a (questionable but harmless) trick he also checked a bit of Sakura's memories (probably in connection to the fact that he had to record Sakura's memories too, inside the Time Book). Momo makes sure to criticize him for that, and that's mostly where the "your personality is warped" goes to: sometimes he can be quite weird or inappropriate with the way he goes about things, but never to the extent of actually harming people. This will repeat again when he'll choose to use a "smiling" spell on Syaoran, later on. Compared to what this formidable magician is capable of doing, it's rather silly.

But the topic of reading Sakura's memories leads Kaito down a painful road. Because while he could ascertain that Sakura indeed lived a happy life with a wonderful family and lots of lovely people around her (thus making the situation ideal to insert Akiho in there and leave her in safe hands), his dear Akiho never had any of that. And he gets lost in this train of thought. Even if he tried looking for that kind of memories in her mind with the sweets he used with Sakura, he'd never find them. Because they never existed in the first place. No kind family, no happy memories. What he saw in Sakura back then was both reassuring but also a punch in the gut for him. This is another proof that Kaito isn't merely trying to fix a mistake to ease his conscience. He loves her, cares for her, and can't accept how much this poor girl had to suffer by the hands of the same cult that ruined him too. In short, he wants to make her happy. And all of that heartwrenching feeling goes in that hand that slowly, timidly, almost uncertainly tries to caress her face. I am convinced he's suffering along with her because he knows all too well what it means to live your life in loneliness. And even though he pretended he was completely fine with it, that cold, hollow feeling left its mark. Molded him. Conditioned his life and behavior. See, the biggest "irony" of all of this is that he's already making her happy, the happiest she's ever been, but he just can't fathom that because of his self-loathing. It is so heavy that it makes him blind to both her and his own feelings too. Of course, all this storm of feels doesn't go unnoticed to Momo, who takes immediately the opportunity for a comment, hoping to spark in him the understanding of where all those painful feelings come from: "You should see your face, right now". It was certainly something that he never had for anyone else before. Him, the one who couldn't care less about others and forming bonds with them, is now suffering for someone else he holds dear. And this one bond he formed is so powerful that is changing everything of him. I'd daresay that the hardest part of all of this is that, when he accepted the "Seal of D." at the very beginning of the journey because he was just a kid, he had nothing to lose and couldn't find a purpose in life, but now the time he spent with Akiho changed everything of him, included that "I have nothing to lose". No matter how much he fought it, the bond he tried to recoil from still naturally happened by itself. Because that's what happens when you spend time with others and have experiences together.

We'll explore this particular aspect better in the second part on this analysis, when his body will start literally to mutiny against him and his stubborness on its own.

[meimi-haneoka]

"With hindsight" Part 2 - a Yuna D. Kaito retrospective/analysis

Welcome to the second part of my retrospective on Yuna D. Kaito!

I remind you this is just a collection of scenes about Kaito from the whole story that I will be revisiting with the hindsight that Chapter 70 finally gave us. I'll try to give what I think is the right interpretation, but of course these are just my thoughts on the matter.

Continuing from Part 1, here we get into the heart of the story, while we find out more and more hints for Kaito's plan...but also hints for what's really in his heart.

My main goal with these posts is showing that the recent development didn't come out of the left field but there were actually subtle (or less subtle, but misunderstood due to prejudice) hints for it all along.

In this particular post, at some point, there'll be talk about heavy subjects related to life and death. The paragraph will have a warning beforehand, just to be sure, and you can skip to the next section if you want.

"The greatest magic artifact...Akiho-san herself" - Volume 6

After the huge event of the first time-rewind happening just merely a couple of chapters earlier, the end of volume 6 brings another earth-shaking revelation, along with many more important info.

First of all, since he completely dropped his "mask", we're shown for the first time how Kaito is immediately aware when Sakura creates a new Card. But that also confirms that he didn't meddle with those events, not in the beginning at least.

As I said previously, Kaito is someone who tends to act and intervene only at the last minute, when he cannot really avoid it anymore.

Even though the Card created by Sakura was so pivotal to the success of his plan, he really didn't intend to make her produce it by force. He still had time, so he hoped she would create it on her own without needing to resort to harsh methods. Another indication that he really wasn't keen on hurting Sakura at any moment of this plan. He was just standing there, going "oh!" when he could sense a vibration in the magic that suggested that Sakura's powers went out of control again, and soon another Card would be born. He just had to wait for the right one. A game of patience. Definitely a challenge for someone like him, used to obtain everything immediately, thanks to his magic.

We also get the first mentions about his plan: we acknowledge that he indeed needs a Card created by Sakura in particular, but that any of those new created ones will still be very useful to his goal (almost all the Cards in fact acted as "characters" for the story he prepared in Clockland).

We're informed that Momo is the guardian of the Book Akiho holds so dear, and that Kaito is trying to make that Book work to activate a forbidden spell.

Indeed, as we well know from chapter 70, everything went exactly as he wished for: they went inside the Book, he created the Clockland story using his memories and those of Akiho + Sakura in order to turn them sisters later on, the transparent Card he wanted was produced at the very last moment and he "piggybacked" Sakura's wish to exchange roles with Akiho to make an exchange himself.

But the biggest revelation (and one of the biggest misunderstandings) is that Kaito mentions "that's why I never returned it....the greatest artifact created by the Magic Association and that Clan...Akiho-san herself".

After this page, all the red flags and sirens probably went off in everyone's head, "omg he abducted her", "he wants to use her", "he's deceiving her"...but....to be honest, seeing the chapter with the first part of Akiho's past, and seeing how unhappy she was, we should've wondered immediately if that wasn't for the best.

Because it was.

He literally saved her life by never returning her to her clan.

Still, the sense of distrust in Kaito after this scene here (powered by that seemingly manic smile) persisted for long, long time in the fandom. And that was exactly what CLAMP planned us to feel like. Or rather, they wanted to see if we'd be able to get rid of this feeling the more the story went on.

Time magic at the behest of the Association - vol. 7

Just want to point out this small detail here - it tends to be forgotten, but Kaito didn't learn time magic when he decided to escort Akiho around the world, nor was given that ability by Momo.

He already knew how to work it, and has been using that dangerous type of magic ever since he was a kid, at the orders of the Association. Eriol obtained that information during his research.

This connects to chapter 70 because it made sense for them to impose a spell like the Seal of D on Kaito.

They knew he could use time magic, they knew he had no qualms in using it, and therefore that made him all the more dangerous to escort such a precious magic artifact in their eyes.

But most of all, this scene here confirms how Kaito himself was used and abused by the Association, in a similar way to what happened to Akiho. Scared of the terrible side effects, they ordered an emotionally stunted boy to use that magic on their behalf, well aware that it would've shaved off his life span. He didn't know any better, had a bleak existence because of how he grew up, he didn't have desires, so he couldn't really muster a will to refuse the orders.

"The boy didn't understand what was fun in that" - Volume 7

When talking about Kaito's past, CLAMP keep telling us "he didn't care for anyone, he didn't know what was fun in doing something with someone...spending time with them".

It's something they keep hammering because it's very indicative of how Kaito changed profoundly thanks to Akiho.

Now he experienced what's good in doing something for someone (not only all the things he did for her as her attendant, but also the very plan he set into motion, the sense of accomplishment we see in his final smile in chapter 70 comes directly from that), he experienced how good it can feel to spend time with someone (there's no doubt he loved spending time with Akiho, otherwise when given the chance - the time rewind at the date later on - he would've avoided it).

The only problem is.....he hasn't understood why yet. What really makes the difference here. Or rather, he stubbornly refused to acknowledge it till the end. And that stubborn ignorance led him to go on with his plan, thinking he was doing something good, oblivious to the effect this will have on Akiho later on when she'll find out what happened. That's why Momo cried "blockhead!!" in rage before he disappeared in chapter 70.

"Happy ending for whom?" - Vol. 7

And here we get HUGE, huge hints for what was coming up in the future.

Kaito was exhausted (Momo checks on him with a worried face) and fell asleep on a sofa, dreaming of his past and the moment that changed his life forever. The moment when the Association decided to tell him that they had just executed a magic ritual on the girl that he had certified as "magicless, like a blank book" long time before, in order to turn her into a magic artifact. Not "any girl", but the daughter of the only person who treated him with humanity for the little time they interacted with eachother.

If he was still dreaming of it now, years later, it meant that the event scarred his heart in a way that he didn't even fully understand himself. And we'll get confirmation of this only in chapter 60, 29 chapters after this one.

Kaito mentions that his dream looked "like a picture book", and Momo poses a clever question: "Does it look like this book will have a happy ending?".

We all took this question as figurative back then. But to imagine she actually was meaning it in a literal way, that we would really witness the characters becoming protagonists of a story set up by him! Again another hint under our noses.

Kaito confidently replies "It will (I'll make sure of it)", but that's when Momo (oh, I love her so much) comes with another sharper question that hits the bull's eye fully: "And that...will be a happy ending for whom, exactly?". My gosh. I don't know how Kaito didn't start second guessing after a question like that.

Because it's true, even though this might be the happy ending he imagined for Akiho (at his own expense, but he didn't care), it didn't even occur to him that this might not have been what she wanted at all. It didn't occur to him because of the complex feelings that his sense of disgust for himself and his guilt for what he had done to her were stirring in him. But we'll find out more about that later.

"She's really loved...by all the people involved with her" - vol. 7

Man, you can really feel we're halfway through the story, because in volume 7 are starting to surface a series of hints that become more and more specific to the revelation of Kaito's plan.

Kaito and Momo had just sensed that Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun came to Japan on behalf of Eriol, and Kaito knows very well that Eriol is venturing in scheming that far for his dear Sakura's sake.

And then....Kaito becomes sad? melancholic? for one moment...with a quite painful expression.

"She's really loved...by all the people involved with her"

This expression here kept me (and I'm sure not only me) wondering for long, long time. Years. It's apparent he's feeling a pang of sadness because Sakura's blessing with people who love and care for her wasn't granted on Akiho as well. But was he only feeling sad for Akiho? And what exactly that expression represented, was there envy for it? Longing?

Did he resent Sakura for the blessing of a loving entourage?

Now we know he really didn't. Of course the idea that CLAMP wanted to instill in our heads was that Kaito wanted to exchange the girls and felt envy/resentment towards Sakura, for the countless, shameless luck and privileges she was blessed with. I had fallen for that interpretation too for some time, because it kinda made sense. Seeing his past, his background, his upbringing...and the fact that Sakura was basically a stranger to him.

And Momo's further comment that Akiho loved Sakura too, with the subsequent silence from Kaito, was really staged by CLAMP in a way that could suggest Kaito was having second thoughts about his plan, because if he hurted Sakura, Akiho would've been sad.

But now it doesn't really seem like that was the case anymore. We know he never intended to hurt Sakura, nor exchanging them, from the very beginning.

I think here his storming feelings are originating not only from Akiho's situation, but also from his own need to be loved. A need that was naturally born in him along the years, but could not find its way to be acknowledged and expressed properly. And Momo mentioning that Akiho loved Sakura as a friend only contributed to make him feel even more alone, outside that "circle" of people loving eachother. He's excluded from this, because in his head he won't ever have someone who loves him. He's a bad person with a locking seal imposed on him that will swallow him whole at the end of this journey. Which is why...

"Because it's about you, Akiho-san" - Vol. 7

...when Kaito nonchalantly blurts out "Because it's about you, Akiho-san" in response to Akiho's question on how does he know perfectly everytime she's coming home to let her find her afternoon snacks ready, Momo becomes livid. So much that she wants to send him flying with a kick.

Because Akiho of course cannot help but running away, red in the face like the reddest tomato, in front of such sweet declaration of affection from him. It's like he's saying "you're important to me, so of course I always know everything about you, I have a sixth sense for you" and that would be perfectly fine, if it weren't for his otrageous obliviousness. His "?" face in front of a raging Momo is further proof of that. Remember when she said, in the Drama CD 2, "it's true they say people know the least about themselves"?

He's uttering it himself and yet he doesn't understand the full meaning of the words that are spilling out of his mouth. Nor he understands the effect they have on Akiho (because he's oblivious to her feelings as well).

Kaito never ever admitted that he's doing all of this for Akiho's sake, never spelled out that he cares about her and loves her in his own way. Even though it's apparent to everyone by now. And this obliviousness, or this refusal? to see the truth is precisely the reason why the success of his plan will only bring misery to Akiho in the long run. Despite he wanted (deep down in his heart) nothing more than making her happy.

"I will read more books" - vol. 7

If we exclude the scene where Kaito gets closer to Akiho during stopped time at the end of Vol. 5, this is the first time we clearly see Kaito hurting for something. The first time he clearly lets slip a sort of weakness in front of Akiho. And you can guess it, it's got always something to do with her.

This is the very first, timid proof that what little Kaito said on that fateful day of some years earlier had wrecked him in every possible way and had pushed him to give all of him to make things right.

Akiho says something really innocent, "I will read more and more books! I will memorize so many more things...!" because poor her, she just couldn't bear to keep embarrassing herself in front of her most important person with her clumsy, ignorant takes.

Little did she know, she had just pierced his heart with a knife at that very moment.

Because "reading more books" is not just an innocent, healthy activity, but in her case can also actually mean to push herself one step closer to death. And since it all started with something Kaito unintentionally said, the mere thought wrecks him more than 100 spells attacking him.

Kaito defends his 'family' - vol. 7

Allow me to comment on this scene, because I really need to point out something that will be more subtly connected to what happened in chapter 70 (we get into dark thematics related to death, so beware and skip to the next paragraph if you're sensitive on the matter).

The Magic Association tried to attack the Shinomoto mansion, likely to take Akiho back. Of course Kaito sensed it and counterattacked, using time magic.

Here he commented "As long as they continue to not include time magic (in their spells), due to their weakness and fear of its devastating effects on their bodies, it's going to have the same result every time".

The thing that immediately becomes apparent for people reading this for the first time is that Kaito not only betrayed the confraternity of people he was once part of, but he also despises them, thinks very little of them and probably has done so for quite some time (with all the reasons of this world).

Then, it's also very apparent how he indirectly poses himself in contrast to their actions: "they're weak and cowards, that's why they don't use time magic. While I have no qualms in using it. I am not afraid of what will happen. No one is gonna stop me".

Then....if we dig deeper...we also find something more personally concerning Kaito, in his sentence.

He's indirectly showing he acknowledged that they kept using him when he was a child to perform tasks that required time magic, because they were too coward to use it themselves. He acknowledges they used him, and lord only knows when that realization came about, probably after starting his journey with Akiho and staying away from that toxic environment for some time.

And that realization came with his greatest act of rebellion.

"I hate myself, I'll always be alone and am not interested in continuing living this life, but at the very least I won't ruin myself at your behest anymore. I WILL BE THE ONE to decide how and what to exhaust my life on". It is of course a terrible, horrible way to see the worth of his own life, but at the same time a desperate scream for self-determination that personally I can't ignore. For how horrible it is, this is Kaito calling the shots for what concerns him. He's not existing for the use and abuse of other people anymore. And this is also part of why he shows that self-satisfied smile at the end of ch. 70, although mixed with other emotions.

Of course, he made such decision with a mindset of someone who got nothing to lose. Nothing, or no one. And this is where he was terribly wrong.

Rewind & the silencing spell - vol. 7

Sakura produced the Rewind Card, and for the first time ever, we get a comment from Kaito indicating that, although it's not exactly the one he was looking for, it went quite close.

Now that we know that the Card he was looking for is Exchange, we can infer in which ways Rewind went close to it, but wasn't exactly what he was looking for.

I think Rewind was simply incomplete for the full plan Kaito had.

Rewind showed to be capable to change the appearance of someone to make look them like they were in a previous state. In Syaoran's case, it made him look like when he was very little, because that was what Sakura was thinking about when she created the Card. Even if Kaito wished, thanks to Rewind, to restore Akiho's situation back to when she wasn't turned into a magic artifact yet, that would've been only a superficial change. Rewind doesn't seem to have (for now) the full potential of the time-rewindings operated by Kaito. Sakura didn't actually travel in time to bring a little Syaoran back from those times, as Syaoran still had his own teenager conscience. The "change" doesn't operate at deep level, basically, and so it was insufficient for Kaito's plan.

Furthermore, in this same scene, we see him activating the silencing spell on Syaoran. Again, a move made at the very last moment, when Sakura had already found out that she was the one giving birth to those Cards. To be honest I still don't feel like this was malicious at all. He could've thought up so, so many harsher ways to stop them from interfering with his plans if he meant any harm to them. Messed with their minds, made them forget (Eriol did so with Yue!!), I don't know.

Instead, he chose this way, exposing himself even further, because why only mentions of Akiho and Kaito would get "blocked"? Of course that made so apparent that the spell came from him, and he somehow wanted Syaoran to know it did. Probably as a way to suggest "it's me, please don't interfere more than this". Of course, as I said before, Kaito is not here to f*ck around, so he found himself forced to use this silencing spell, or cutting off Eriol from communication, or to use all the time-rewinds he used.

The first decision I've ever made for myself - vol. 7 and vol. 8

I look at the first picture of this paragraph and I laugh, because I remember when this chapter came out people were making fun of Kaito, calling him "creep" for spying on a middle school (a swimming class, at that 😅). But looking at that smile now, with the hindsight of what we know...it's such a sweet smile. He seems genuinely happy to see Akiho enjoying her time with all her classmates. He loves to see all the bonds she created.

But that heartwarming feeling lasts very little, as his "half-assed" (as I always call it, what was that 'wave' for?) attempt to make Sakura create a new Card triggers Akiho's book, and for the first time ever we see it in action, making her lose her conscience completely.

The proof is that "Akiho" doesn't talk with her usual voice, but with the voices of the Association and the Clan. As you can see, at her feet, we see the same "book pages" that will engulf Kaito at the end of chapter 70 too (therefore almost confirming that's where he is right now, inside the damned book).

As both Momo and Kaito confirm, the spell that will eventually crush her soul is still very much active on her and not too far from its final goal. We get a glimpse of a very sorrowful expression from Kaito while he says with his own words that probably those people are hoping that the spell will crush Akiho's soul. This expression alone shoul've already been enough to confirm what Kaito's intentions were. But also how much he felt responsible for that atrocity.

Kaito doesn't have a choice, he will use *more* time magic to put some sort of "seal" on the book inside Akiho (freezing its time), full aware that this is just a patch and won't solve any problem definitively. But at least it should keep everyone (Sakura & Syaoran included, since it activated mostly in their presence) safe while he tried to bring his plan to completion.

Also...I can't help but point out how he softly caresses her face again before starting his spell, such a sweet gesture that almost seems as if saying "sorry" for performing a magic on her without the girl being aware.

Once again, he allows himself to be this sweet with her only when she's not aware of it. Knowing what we know now, it's no wonder why.

And here it is...probably the most important scene beside the one where he made a choice and said "I'll go".

His first conversation with Akiho.

For him, this wasn't really the first 'meeting'. Indeed, later on he will talk again about this moment and he will specifically use the japanese word for "conversation". Because although from afar, the very first time he met her was through the magic sphere.

Of course she was way too little to remember. So while for her this might have been effectively her first meeting with him, for him it wasn't, and his kind, sweet smile is proof of that.

He went there already knowing who she was, her background, who she was the daughter of, what happened to her, and prepared so that he could make her feel at ease from the very start. Of course someone must have taught him this, because before this scene he used to have such a dead stare. He looked like he never smiled once in his whole life.

My idea is that, after making his contract with Momo, she "trained him". For his smiles and everything else. Taught him how to interact properly with other people, since he was so averse to it beforehand.

This theory I have comes from the fact she's the one who told him, in one of the Drama CDs, "please laugh more properly! even it's a fake laugh!".

Anyway, this scene is so powerful because it's not only drawn in such a "fateful meeting" way, but also because this fountain and rose garden will appear later on in Clockland too, summoned by the magic of Momo's book browsing through Kaito's memories.

While other people might argue that this is also the place where he met Lilie once, I'd daresay first meetings and talks are more likely to leave such a big impression on someone. When he met Lilie there, it was one of their regular meetings (and clearly not the first one), while with Akiho it was the meeting that would start their journey together, and start the process of how his whole life would change thanks to her.

It's definitely not by chance that he's remembering this important moment while he discloses to the readers for the first time that "I made a decision that day. The first decision I've ever made for myself".

Stopping the time of the book inside Akiho proves to be very arduous.

So arduous that Kaito is sweating and panting at the end of it.

Not only that, but the book itself activates some sort of "defense" (that black matter that comes out of Akiho, the same black matter that comes out when she loses consciousness) and literally attacks Kaito. You can see it hitting him in several spots.

He looks stubborn and unstoppable, though. Even with the magic of the book hurting him, he still pushes through with his spell for the sake of Akiho.

Momo is taken aback because she didn't know *anything* of this idea of his, and she's really mad when he's done.

Always for the same reason.

Because while he can realize her change of mood without any problem ("You look even angrier now" "Ah, you can understand *that* just fine, hm? And yet you don't understand what's really important"), he hasn't understood Akiho's feelings nor his own, yet. And he keeps insisting in disregarding his life like it's nobody's business. The very core of the problem that will persist till chapter 70 lies all there.

Small detail I like to point out: Kaito's time magic isn't infinite. After he exerted himself on stopping Akiho's book, the magic he used to stop time for everyone literally starts to crumble apart, signifying that its effect will vanish very soon. This will happen again later on, in a *very* different situation.

Whenever Kaito's magic focus falls short, whether it's due to physical or emotional matters, his magic is affected and falls apart.

And with this scene of the beginning of volume 8 I will conclude this second part of my analysis! 💜

I have to be honest, when I started this "project", it was totally propelled by the strong feelings that chapter 70 gave me, but I thought I would finish this in 1, 2 posts maximum....but along the way, I found myself wanting to talk about so many scenes 😂that I'm not even sure I'll be able to finish this within the 3rd post 😂😂😂especially cause later on there'll be more and more hints scattered around...god help me 😅

At this point I can say for sure that part 3 will come after the release of chapter 71, so see you later for my monthly translation + commentary post!! 😉

[meimi-haneoka]

For those who will scroll :Spoiler alert!

Do you think yuna kaito will be able to be brough back from the magical clock he trapped himself in

Hmmm I don't like how this is phrased, so let me explain why first:

Kaito isn't trapped in the pocket watch, if this is what you're thinking. The pocket watch was literally the magical artifact he used to make an exchange (by using the Exchange Card ) with the magical book that was engraved in Akiho's body (another kind of magic artifact). Rather, what we see spreading under Kaito's feet in the moment the Seal of D. is activated in chapter 70 is that same "book" that used to spread under Akiho when she went "berserk", when the "artifact" that took control of her was still inside of her. So it's more legit to think that he's been trapped inside that artifact (we do in fact see the pages seemingly folding up on him).

Also, another statement that kinda bugs me: Kaito didn't "trap himself".

Let's tell the story how it is: Kaito was literally cursed. The Magic Association placed the Seal of D. on him, acting as some kind of trap that would activate in case he dared doing anything to Akiho and the artifact engraved in her. "Doing anything" as in, using the artifact or try to mess with it in a way that they didn't approve of. Not that they cared any bit about Akiho herself. Kaito already knew, young as he was, that he wanted indeed to mess with that artifact, wanting to remove it from Akiho. He knew that one day, by accepting that seal on himself, he was going to trigger it.

And yet, that was the price he had to pay to leave that goddamned place with Akiho. They got his back against the wall: either you accept this curse, or you won't be allowed to travel with her. And he really needed to bring her out of there (and probably, he wanted to leave that place himself). So what else could he do, already disillusioned and not seeing any worth in his life? He accepted.

But he was cornered into it. He was a child himself (he doesn't look much older than Sakura and Syaoran themselves in this flashback), suffered from child abuse himself and the abusers decided to put this last curse on him, de facto condemning him to eternal imprisonement at the first wrong move. When you are cornered into a decision, you can't really say it genuinely came from you. Therefore, Kaito didn't "trap himself", he was imprisoned by others as the result of messing with the artifact. Then, I certainly think that the decision he made to take Akiho out of there and the fact he still accepted the Seal on himself was also an act of rebellion against a congregation of criminals that did nothing but use him at their convenience. This was the first, the very first, thing he ever did on his own accord. Still, if he had any choice, he wouldn't have probably chosen this.

Sorry for the long preamble but this is something that I particularly care about, I want to make sure Kaito's actions are read in a way that is coherent with what's shown in the story (and not always as a "whim" of a wicked character, as he often passes for).

Now, to reply to your question! I truly believe that Sakura, Syaoran and most importantly, Akiho will be able to bring Kaito back. Sakura and Syaoran will take care of the magical aspect (I know they said the Seal of D. cannot be dispelled even by a magician of class D, but Sakura is superior to that sh*t), while Akiho will take care of the emotional one. Because yes, everyone wants him to come back, but does he want to? No one can force him to come back if that isn't his wish. However, I'm absolutely sure that deep down he wants to keep living with Akiho too. He just wanted to save her and make her happy so badly that he had to go through with his plan, but the bond he created with her along the years was something he didn't expect nor accounted for, and it's what gave him conflicting feelings towards the end, before the play started. His painful faces when he talked about the play, the "hand" that outstretched towards her on its own, they were all symptoms of that conflict. Of his true wish. Now, he just needs to realize and understand it. And Akiho will be able to make him see that. But in order to reach that point, Sakura and Syaoran will need to free him from the Seal that is active on him first, and somehow take care of the shortened lifespan too (cause there's that too, unfortunately).

It's not gonna be easy, but I believe that after so much suffering, both for the readers (in Japan the darker development wasn't welcomed with the same enthusiasm everywhere in the fandom) and for the in-story characters themselves, the only thing CLAMP can do is to give relief through a complete happy ending. I don't want to imagine CCS in the future as the "CLAMP work that left scars on the fans" like other CLAMP stories, there are other series they can do that with but CCS is and has always been here to bring another message. A message of hope and kindness. CLAMP know that fully well so I'm confident they will give the right closure to this. The right closure means not only giving a happy ending to Sakura and Syaoran, already privileged (and I used this term in the most positive way possible) in their wholesome lives full of love, but to the abused and struggling characters too, whose intentions have never been malicious and just did their best to make their most important person happy.

[meimi-haneoka]

can i ask something random?

whenever the story is talking about kaito, what do you prefer the character talking refer him as? because i remember some of your reactions on the blogs hating it whenever they refer to kaito as "the man" or i completely misinterpreted the entire thing– if so please don't mind this question and i apologize in advance 😓

Hello anon!! No, you didn't misinterpret at all, in fact I hate when they call him that way in the ENG translation 😂 Aaaand as usual, when it comes to Kaito, I start talking and I never know when I'll stop, so I realized along the way that this reply will get longer than I expected....therefore, find the reply under the cut! 😂

You see, the fact is that Kaito is never called specifically "man" in the Japanese original, not even once, not even from the younger characters. Syaoran calls him "that person", which is even the same term he used with Yukito back in the old series, so it doesn't even suggest acrimony from him, despite being always so mad at him (lol). あのひと ("that person") is a term that keeps things very generic, unspecified, from it you can only infer that he's older than Syaoran. Actually, there was this comment once, from a Japanese fan, that left a big impression on me: they pointed out how Syaoran's あのひと is written consistently in hiragana when he refers to Kaito, and denotes a certain degree of warmth. This person was saying "they're going to become friends in the end, right?" because apparently there's a difference if a character expresses that in hiragana or kanji (あの人, apparently more distant and formal). And surprisingly enough, I found confirmation of this POV in Kaito's own way to call people: あのひと for Lilie, and あの人達 for the Squids/Association. So it is a thing.

Momo and Lilie (even younger Lilie) notoriously & consistently call him "that boy" (あの子, also translatable as "that kid"). Although we could argue that everyone could be a kid for timeless powerful guardian lady Momo, it sounds different coming from Lilie. Maybe she calls him so because she will only ever know him as a little kid, after all.

Other characters who have mentioned him have either called him by his full name, Yuna D. Kaito, or "that butler" or "the magician". Never specifically "man".

Sometimes when characters used "that magician", the ENG translation forcefully changed it into "that man", and I just couldn't understand why. Hell, they even called him "man" during a flashback where he was clearly a child. Why this pressing need to get across the message that Kaito is "a man"? Maybe because it's more threatening? But that wasn't what the original japanese script was doing at all. We don't know his age, they shouldn't be pushing things that way.

Now, I don't want to affirm that Kaito is a child. Or, rather....he is, immature like a child (and there's noooo doubt about that, even the author themselves said so, therefore we're not gonna argue on this), but surely his supposed age doesn't make him one. It is clear by now that even if we don't know precisely his age (and probably never will!), he should be more or less Touya and Yukito's age, or even slightly younger. There are several elements suggesting that. My grievances with how the ENG keeps insisting that he's a "man" is that this kind of term automatically infers that Kaito is in a part of his life where he's fully aware of his actions, that he's reached full maturity, and therefore everything he's doing, he's doing it consciously, fully aware of all the implications and on purpose. Readers tend to not cut him any slack on his behavior because "he's a man". When he's actually acting like an emo late teenager who's throwing himself wholly into the first thing he ever wanted and he's completely blind in regards to knowing himself and his heart. Letting aside all the implications for a future with Akiho, which puts even more under a negative light an eventual future where they could become a couple (because you know, the age gap would be even bigger).

So how should they call him? Sticking to the Japanese text would already be a good start. If in JP they call him "that magician", call him that. If in JP they call him "that person" and doesn't sound natural enough in English? Call him "that guy", it's more vague. Hell, even "young man" could be okay. If in JP a character calls him "that boy", call him "that boy" (and they seem to have understood that! they're doing it, lately!). I hope that cleared it up, anon! Thanks for the ask! 😁

[meimi-haneoka]

Part 1 : Hi! So it is finally revealed that the card Kaito wanted is "Exchange". (1) I can see that “Transfer” is pretty close to it, but how come Kaito also said that “Rewind” is close as well? I couldn't see the connection between Exchange and Rewind 🤔. (2) During the Card's creation, it is weird that Sakura wished to play the Red Queen role to save Akiho. If they never get out of the story, both Alice and Red Queen will have the same fate, so it doesn't matter which role the girls played.

Hiiii, thank you for sending me this extensive ask!! 😁 You raised very interesting points! Let's see them together:

You know, I'm also trying to understand why Kaito said Rewind went close to the Card he wanted Sakura to make, cause it's not immediately understandable like in Transfer's case. We have two options: either Kaito wants to use Exchange in a way that will bring it closer to Rewind's scope, or we should probably look at this "resemblance" as something conceptual. Rewind showed how Syaoran looked in the past, but it didn't reset his conscience and memories. He was still basically his current self in the body of his baby self. Kaito probably needed to rewrite Akiho's story completely, so using a Card like Rewind that only changes the external appearance wouldn't have been enough. (That is also why I had the theory he needed a "Restore" Card). I hope the rest of the climax will shed some light on this matter.

This is a very interesting point. First of all, we have to keep in consideration that Sakura is a selfless girl and also very empathetic, so the pain of her loved ones is her own pain. Reminds me of how she cried her eyes out after that same pool incident that you mentioned, forgetting about what she saw but evidently her body did not forget. If I think back to her lines in the JP version of the infamous scene of chapter 69, you made me realize there might be an added nuance in the ENG version that might (once again) make things confusing for the readers. In the JP text, Sakura literally says: "Akiho-chan..(following) the script of the stage play...she would have stayed in that world forever? Without being able to go back?" See? She doesn't say "what if we never got out of the story" but actually shifts the focus on "following the script of the play": in Naoko's script, probably the Red Queen was destined to stay in that world forever? I have mentioned the "following script" part in my own translation post, but I'm afraid the way I phrased it myself might not have clarified exactly what the Japanese version was implying. Sakura here is stricken with guilt thinking about the script's play, probably because she knows that the Red Queen stays in Clockland forever. As CLAMP purposely hid the rest of the story from the moment Alice meets the Red Queen, we still don't know. But I think, if you consider things from this perspective, it's probably a little bit more clear why she wished for something like that in a moment where her mental state was very weak.

Thank you for empathizing with Kaito and me, too 😁it's nice to know I'm not the only one who's seeing things from both perspectives. I also have a very strong impression that Kaito was driven into a corner, to end up thinking a plan like this. I can't imagine someone like him, aloof and allergic to contact with people, suddenly deciding to mess with other people's life, exposing him to an unwanted amount of interactions and bothersome waste of time. His own reluctance to engage in fights with Sakura and Syaoran themselves shows that he isn't an extreme person per se, but can be driven into that position if he doesn't have other options available. Momo told him, "even with that D-rank magic of yours, you can't stop that book's time". She was referring to the ominous book that resides inside of Akiho. If it was as simple as stopping the book's time, he would've probably done so already. He did, in fact, stop it for a short period of time after the pool incident, but as he said it himself, it was only a "patch" that wasn't meant to last long. Moreover, stopping time would have shaved off his life anyway, leaving Akiho unprotected once he passed away. That was never meant to be a solution. There are things that not even Yuna D. Kaito can do. And removing the book/spell from Akiho is one of those. Despite him being the one who inadvertently caused that ritual to happen. Just imagine how that thought is gnawing at his soul. Therefore, that's why I think when he found Sakura he also found the solution to this problem. Because Sakura is able to create new magics. And among those, maybe a new magic that would be able to remove the spell from Akiho. But alas, as Momo heavily inferred in chapter 50, when he saw what a happy life Sakura lived, surrounded by love, a very powerful emotion got a hold of him and might have changed his plans into something more extreme. I have this impression, we'll see if I was right or not. Seen by Kaito's perspective, if the two girls keep their status quo regarding their magical powers, the exchange would bring the results that you stated above: Sakura would live in the Squid clan, but would not experience any abuse and would be somehow treated decently due to her strong powers. Akiho would still not have powers, but live a life surrounded by love because the Kinomoto family wouldn't care about that. No one would get turned into an artifact and the problem wouldn't even exist to begin with. Maybe, just maybe, Kaito even took into account the fact that Sakura and Syaoran would end up meeting again, seeing the connections between the Squids and the Li clan (and I'm sure hitsuzen would make them meet again alright - only in a "Romeo and Juliet" kind of situation 😅). Of course, this entire reasoning is possible in a state of mind like his, with a past like his, and a view on love and people like his. And completely ignoring that Akiho wants him and her friends to be happy, not someone else's life. I think I am not mad at Kaito's behavior because I still see a wide margin to make things right. He's not unsalvageable, so we'll see how this finale will play things out.

[meimi-haneoka]

Just to add to the reply to the latest ask, I'm also thinking that at some point Kaito *might have* realized that using Sakura as a commodity like this and "stealing" her happiness was a wrong choice. Because all he's ever known ever since he was a baby is that all magicians exploit and betray eachother, and the only sane magician he's ever known ended up in tragedy trying to save her daughter (even there, we still need to know what happened!!! Cause 庇って is a very specific term and implies specifically that Akiho's parents were protecting her from a negative situation, and died shielding her from it).

So why Sakura would've been any different? The plan was to take what he needed, correct the terrible destiny he inadvertently caused to Akiho, and go. "Simple" as that.

But then...

He saw that Sakura's kindness was genuine. Not only her, but also the people gravitating around her. He saw that Akiho was happy in her company and the company of her friends. And the way he felt towards the plan he himself thought up while still being a young boy changed. Because he didn't know such people could really exist. Otherwise...

...he wouldn't point out, with a hint of sadness that shows how his heart is hurting at that thought, that Akiho seems happy in the company of her new friends. A happiness that doesn't involve him (or so he thinks), just like he pictured. Not in this way, though. And he wouldn't make the painful face above, while talking about his definitive plan, activating the magic he desired, the "story". If he really was still ok with this, he wouldn't. He'd be thrilled to be so close to his goal.

And when Akiho expressed her enthusiasm for doing her best along with Sakura for this goddamned play, he totally wouldn't have made that face, if he still was ok with this. Probably that panel looks new to many of you, because it was changed in the tankobon version of that chapter, included in volume 13 which (as far as I know) still hasn't been released in English. CLAMP went as far as changing completely his face in that panel, to show clearly that something isn't right, here. Where he looked pensive before, now he looks stricken with guilt. And his hand istinctively reaches out to her in response to that feeling.

But what other choice does he have? Can he really stop?

When I saw this panel for the first time, I realized his non-answer was already an answer per se. One that made me grimace. That "smoke" in the background of this panel, so typical of CLAMP's art language, is conveying to us that the character is thinking and feeling something he's not saying aloud. And the worst part is that all of this might be happening while still not understanding the real reason why he's doing all of this.

If only that spell was never engraved onto her body. He probably would've stopped. But he doesn't have any other choice. Even if he might be regretting this at this point, he can only go forward, never looking back. Because her survival, even after he won't be here anymore, is the priority over everything. She will always be his priority.

[meimi-haneoka]

lol I created a new hashtag for this blog

everytime I'll do a post or reply delving into Kaito's complex character I will tag it as "Welcome to the Kaito Educational Channel"

because (sometimes understandably - it is the authors who want us ignorant about him-, sometimes less understandably) Kaito's motives and personality are still such a mystery for the fandom. Such an intricacy between what he says or displays, and what he actually feels.

[meimi-haneoka]

I think for Kaito, he has tunnel vision. He has one goal that he starts to lose sight of what's important. In his mind, he thinks he's giving Akiho the life she deserves and not paying too much mind of what it would mean to both Akiho and Sakura.

There's definitely an element of tunnel vision included in it (I guess it all comes back to the Space Clamp had some time ago and how they said Moonies tend to be "all or nothing"), but I think it's a bit more complicated than that.

As Ohkawa just said some days ago, he doesn't understand love ("doesn't understand", not "doesn't feel"). Not only that, but he doesn't even understands himself. That's a very serious and dangerous thing. Momo at the end of the Drama CD 2 (canon to the manga story) said "I know they say 'the one you understand the least is yourself', but..." commenting on Kaito's stubborn behavior. Here's an extract of their exchange throughout the Drama CD and why Momo was so frustrated and worried at the end of it:

Momo pressures him with very *specific* and tailored questions, in order to push him to understand and admit the truth. And yet, he deflects every single one, either by not replying or by beating around the bush with silly excuses (really? Going all the way to cook character bento for Akiho because it's fashionable? Coming from someone who couldn't care less about the rest of the world?). In the last, outrageous example, he even leaves the room. This is basically the content of Momo and Kaito's back-and-forth in chapter 51, only it was provided by Clamp an entire year prior that. It's always been like this, Kaito was always meant to be portrayed extremely reluctant to look into his heart. Afraid to do that.

He's impossibly afraid to deal with this (reason why Satsuki calles him "childish" in their Space of some days ago, and the others jumped in immediately saying "there's a reason for that, though") and the result is that he's completely acting on his instincts, but since the rational part is missing (understanding of exactly why he's doing all of this, or rather, for whom) he's on autopilot towards a literal tragedy that would make nobody happy. Cause if he stopped one second to realize Akiho's feelings and his own, the very next automatic question would be "I want her to be happy... But does she want this?". Cause I'm sure, removing the obsession and despair that's driving him insane right now, he would pause to think about what Akiho wants and what this would entail for her and Sakura (the matter of whether he does have another choice remains to be discussed though. Cause yeah Akiho got a right to decide her own happiness, but unfortunately the magic artifact is another issue altogether).

Because he truly does care about her. He just needs to peek into his heart. Like Momo said.

[meimi-haneoka]

I love this message of one’s happiness being decided by one’s self - do you think that’s why Momo was urging Sakura to think about what makes her happy? And to remind her how devastating it would be if everyone forgot her - so that when this final moment comes she will be strong enough to not let it go? (Not that she would) - now I see why Momo was worried about Kaito “killing” himself by using up his life magic, because HE makes Akiho happy, she doesn’t need someone else’s life. I think Akiho’s magic will awaken even stronger soon

Yes, I agree almost with everything anon! This is exactly the reason why Momo prompted Sakura to think about what happiness and despair represent to her. Because that will be crucial for her later, in order to wake up from the spell.

In Kaito's case, Momo's behavior towards him is due to multiple reasons: she certainly cares about him as well (they've been in this together since quite some time, she can look in his heart and see that he's moved by noble motives, but going the wrong way about it), but most importantly his demise would kill Akiho with grief. He's not only risking his magic, but his very own life. Even if he looks "fine" (but I actually think Mokona is doing a good job in showing how ill he feels, with the skilful use of screentones and the way she draws his eyes, which became even more "drooping" in the latest chapters), that's probably his magic covering up the real state of things, but he's dying.

And one way or another, even in her new life, she knows Akiho would realize. And that would make her new life, too, miserable.

I also don't think Akiho's "powers" will awake at all: she was born without powers and everyone needs to deal with it. If Clamp suddenly gave her powers at the end of the story, it would be such a bad move. The story tried to incessantly tell about her predicaments with her clan, how they scorned her and abused her for being born without powers, something she had no control over. Kaito lost his composure trying to tell her that's she's perfectly fine without magic powers. I feel like giving Akiho any kind of power would be a huge step back on those important morals: that even if we don't abide to society or family's expectations, we are worthy of love and dignity in our own uniqueness.