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Clamp’s xxxHolic is back for a fourth round of spirits, intrigue, and wishes.

Watanuki has a problem: he can see spirits, and spirits can see him. But these spirits aren’t your regular Casper the Friendly Ghost – these spirits are malicious, and want to dish out a world of hurt on him. Lucky for Watanuki, he stumbled into a wish granting shop, where the Time Space Witch, Yuko, gave him a job in return for the eventual granting of his wish.

Volume Four picks up at episode thirteen (an auspicious number, given the subject matter). In “Transfiguration”, Watanuki has become increasingly interested in a classmate of his who appears to have sprouted wings from her back. Despite Yuko’s warning to keep away, Watanuki finds himself drawn into the girl’s orbit, baffled by her ever-increasing hostility. Fans of the series (both manga and anime) will be pleased to see the return of the Pipe Fox, and to see just what happens when you piss off a Pipe Fox.

“Seal” and “Release” tells the story of a set of twins that the odd couple Watanuki and Doumeki meet and subsequently date. The twins are as different as can be – one is outgoing and friendly, while the other is mired in self doubt and a crippling inability to see herself in positive outcomes. The doom and gloom twin doesn’t just have a hard time with her outlook – as she becomes increasingly critical of herself, mysterious wounds appear.

“Reunion” is centered around Watanuki and his now full-formed Pipe Fox friend. The fox has been roaming around in his grown up form for too long. Though he’s insanely adorable, Watanuki has a hard time appreciating the fox as he climbs all over him (attempting to do the things he did in his little fox form), and steals Watanuki’s food. Yuko decides it’s time for the fox to revert to his smaller form, and sends Watanuki to the spirit world where he’s reunited with some old friends.

xxxHolic is a fantastic show, filled with silliness, ghosts, and sheer fun. For the most part, each disc (thus far) is easily watchable on its own, with enough stand alone material that anyone wanting to dive in could do so easily. The art style is a little different from traditional anime – the characters have extended, almost mannerist, bodies, though the crazy hair and color pallet is fairly similar. I’m a big fan of Clamp, and in xxxHolic I trust.

The bonus features are the same here as they are in every other disc – textless songs, image gallery, and, of course, the wealth of trailers that will make you twitch like a junkie in need of a fix.

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