XXXHOLIC

Summary

Watanuki Kimihiro is a high school student plagued by yokai and ayakashi – spirits with a strong attraction to him. The spirits are invisible to others and encounters with them are extremely troublesome. When he stumbles into a shop that grants wishes, however, events in his life promise to become more unusual.

The shop is owned by Yuuko Ichihara – a mysterious and beautiful (sometimes playful) witch of many names and esoteric renown. For a price, she offers to grant Watanuki's wish to be rid of the spirits. The price, according to Yuuko, must be of equal value and so, as payment, he temporarily becomes Yuuko's part-time employee – a maid to be precise!

Watanuki's job also seems to consist of small errands dealing with the supernatural including the household chores. His love interest Himawari Kunogi, and "rival" Doumeki Shizuka, occasionally join him in his work as per Yuuko's request. The three become increasingly close despite Watanuki's annoyance with Doumeki.

The world of xxxHolic is directly connected to several other of Clamp's works through dimensional travelling. The series is directly connected to Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, while other series including Cardcaptor Sakura, Legal Drug, and Magic Knight Rayearth are referenced at different times.

Yuuko constantly refers to "hitsuzen", meaning inevitability, destiny, or fate, as being the driving force in the world. She states that there is no such thing as coincidence, and that every single action and decision is inevitable, because without them, other related events in the future could not happen.