Nothing could have thrilled Kimihiro more than stumbling upon the bizarre wish-granting shop of the beautiful but unnerving Y&ucirc;ko Ichihara, who solemnly promises to make the spirits plaguing Kimihiro go away just as soon as her fee&ndash;rendered in daily afternoon chores at her shop&ndash;is paid in full. 
Of course, the thrill wears off as soon as Kimihiro realizes that his payment plan bears a disturbing resemblance to indentured servitude . . . eternal indentured servitude. Still he soldiers on, ready for whatever number of adventures lie ahead. But in Kimihiro&rsquo;s case, three may not be the charm! 
His first assignment&ndash;to procure a pair of fake eyeglasses&ndash;is exceptionally pointless, even by Y&ucirc;ko&rsquo;s standards. Or at least it seems that way, until Kimihiro watches a woman throw herself into traffic. He soon discovers that the doors of bespectacled perception can swing both ways. 
Next, when a classmate seeks help solving a mystery involving text messages from the dead, Kimihiro is glad to play Sherlock. But he must turn to Y&ucirc;ko to determine whether the root of the riddle is otherworldly shenanigans, deceit, or murder. 
Finally, however ready, willing, and able Kimihiro thinks he is to face the most unusual of circumstances, he still finds himself completely bewildered by the stranger who chases away his darkest spirits, condemns Y&ucirc;ko as a craven charlatan, and offers Kimihiro a way out of his preternatural predicament&ndash;and a fortune besides. 
(Source: Del Rey)

Kimihiro Watanuki is haunted by visions of ghosts and spirits. He seeks help from a mysterious woman named Yuko, who claims she can help. However, Watanuki must work for Yuko in order to pay for her aid. Soon Watanuki finds himself employed in Yuko’s shop where he sees things and meets customers that are stranger than anything he could have ever imagined.
 
(Source: Kodansha USA)
 
Notes: 
- The series was re-named to xxxHolic&bull;Rou on chapter title pages of chapter 186 and on, but not on their volume's front covers, spines and indicia. 
- The chapter count contains a one-shot published in May 2010 to commemorate the switch, which was later collected into Volume 18. 
- The chapter count also reflects the magazine releases; the chapters plus the one-shot were re-arranged into 109 chapters across 19 volumes.

Tags