#vol 166

[6]

I know this goes without saying but THAT BALL GOT SO TINY SO FAST.

Also? I’m so glad the earrings that they have only explained as a brief aside one (1) time in the past are suddenly useful without any preamble or reminder. 

I do love that CLAMP plan ahead but also holy heck that was a lengthy and SUBTLE AS ALL HELL set up for this one specific set of complicated events. 

But, I mean, if your earrings can’t save your dads from sudden death then what use are they, really?

It um

It has the power to amplify, right? That’s what Mokona’s earring was supposed to do? 

I guess this works too! MAGIC TRANSPORT LASER FIRE. 

My gay heart is so thrilled to see that Kurogane just isnt letting go of Fai. Which is the LOVE HE DESERVES and also the greatest thing this chapter has to offer. IM IN IT FOR THIS. 

WHY NOT THOUGH?

EVIL WOLVERINE I KNOW YOU HAVE ZERO SKILLS IN EXPLAINING ANYTHING EVER BUT WHY NOT?

Oh I suppose the earring could be amplifying Fai’s original transport spell, which now has enough power to get Kurogane too but not Fai as well. 

I’m just gonna stick with that because I don’t want Evil Wolverine to open his mouth again in all honesty. 

NOT LIKELY. 

FAI HAVE YOU SEEN HOW MUCH THIS MAN LOVES YOU.  THAT IS NOT THE FACE OF A MAN WHO’S GOING TO LET YOU GO. 

THAT IS THE FACE OF A MAN VERY QUICKLY TRYING TO FIND A LOOPHOLE TO DRAG YOUR ASS OUT OF THE LAMEST CURSE ANYONE HAS EVER HEARD OF IN THEIR LIFE

I see the fakeout where it looks like Kurogane is letting go and FAI JUST

MOMENTARILY

HAS THAT FACE

That is this awful mix of relief that he managed to save them and JUST A TAD OF “I knew it” AND? IT BREAKS MY HEART. RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. FOR AS SHORT AS IT LASTS. 

[7]

OKAY HANG ON LET’S DO IT. LET’S FINISH THE CHAPTER. 

BUT UNDER THE CUT BECAUSE YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHY

THIS IS BOTH THE WORST AND FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THIS BLOG”S LIFE AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS COMBINATION

[3]

Ok so far we have: The curse will activate regardless of Fai’s will, there is a trap that weakens or damages all magic users, and also the curse is closing the world up so no-one can get out. 

That SEEMS to be the gist of it, so far. Fingers crossed Evil Wolverine will stop talking so thing will start making sense again. 

WAIT NOW JUST HANG ON A MOMENT. 

Fai’s magic doesn’t get stronger and just kills him instead?

THAT’S QUITE A LARGE DIFFERENCE TO JUST THROW IN THERE OFF THE CUFF THERE CLAMP. 

If the entire two previous arcs were written around the fact that Fai’s magic increases the more he uses it should this not have been corrected at any point before now? 

WHO EVEN TOLD HIM HIS MAGIC GOT STRONGER THIS WAY? WAS IT ASHURA AGAIN? 

But also how does this work if he safely used his magic for centuries on Celes? Was that just dramatically shortening his life the whole time?

Was Ashura’s tattoo there to keep that from happening?

But if that was the case WHY ON EARTH LIE ABOUT THAT?

HELLO I HAVE TWELVE DOZEN MORE QUESTIONS AND THINGS ARE ONLY GETTING MORE CONFUSING AS WE GO. 

Also please note the sheer heartbroken panic on Kurogane’s face as he tries to process what Fai is saying. Because YES THIS IS QUITE A BAD THING. 

Though to be honest Fai’s magic killing him is a lot more shocking than this second curse that Evil Wolverine’s been so proud of since Day 1?

OOP.

FAI NO. 

FAI DON’T YOU DARE LEAVE YOURSELF BEHIND.

PLEASE TELL ME THAT IS KUROGANE GRABBING ONTO FAI’S ARM AND DRAGGING HIM ALONG AGAINST HIS WILL. 

[4]

Fai: I’m running out of magic. 

Me: Ok Fai’s running out of magic. 

Fai: I’ve run out of magic.

Me:

Chapitre 166 - The Closed World

In which we have a nice and composed Fai to wrap up our collection of Fai feelings so far. 

The splash text apparently reads: “Even if the beloved ones leave his side, even so, he has to keep on living.”

Which is quite an optimistic change for Fai. It helps reflect that now he has a better reason to live - not out of the intention to die later, but because now his twin really has bought him his chance to live freely, so now he has to do it. 

(Of course he can’t actually do it without Kurogane because of the blood thing, but still! The sentiment is nice)

The fact that Fai’s eyes are closed and his face is so openly frowning also how far he’s come in terms of character development. It’s essentially the opposite of this earlier cover:

Here he was staring directly at the camera and smiling his false smile that hid every one of the emotions he never let through - and especially the fact that he never intended to survive anything that was happening. 

Now we have a sadder more honest Fai who has faced all his worst fears and still come out the other end with a reason to live. It’s an incredible and deep shift that I really adore and appreciate.