Shizuka Dōmeki
Shizuka Dômeki (百目鬼静, Shizuka Dōmeki) is a fictional character in the CLAMP manga, and anime, ×××HOLiC. The manga is currently ongoing and the anime series started 6 April 2006. In the anime he is voiced by Kazuya Nakai
Shizuka Dômeki (also spelled as Doumeki) is Watanuki's classmate and considered a rival by Watanuki. He is part of the school's archery club and often participates (and tops) school competitions. He lives in a shrine owned by his late grandfather, a priest in which during his childhood told him a lot of stories about folklore and legends. However, despite his heritage, Doumeki has a nearly null ability of seeing ghosts or spirits, though he can still exorcise them. He does seem to be able to feel spiritual "pressure" and have a vague sense of their prescence. One spirit he did see was the Lady in the Park that Watanuki often visited. Doumeki also collects stamps (only cited in the xxxHolic movie) and has a pure or refreshing scent as noted by the Ame-Warashi. Doumeki cannot enter Yuuko's Store, the explanation why is later revelaed on volume 8. His technique of excorcising spirits is by shooting them with an invisible arrow made of pure energy, as first revealed in volume 2.
Character and Personality
Doumeki's personality is a total opposite of Watanuki's. He has a cool, calm and often sarcastic demeanor. He barely speaks unless explaining folklore or asking Watanuki for impossible bento lunches (such as asking for food that is out of season or hard to find). Much to the annoyance of Watanuki he seems pop up everywhere, especially when Watanuki gets a chance to be with Himawari. He often replies in a one word phrase like "Um" or "Oh". He is also very observant, and even though he does not show it he seems to be very protective of Watanuki, such as in Volume 5 where he stood for hours in the rain to make sure Watanuki was safe and in Volume 6 during the incident with the spirit in the park.
Relationship with Watanuki
It has been sighted multiple times by various characters that Watanuki will be linked to someone that will make a major contribution to his life. The clearest citation of this all is the phrase "someone he (Watanuki) will constantly fight with." This is believed to be Doumeki. Doumeki is constantly seen throughout the series as a annoyance to Watanuki. Often sarcastic he has a way of making Watanuki help out with his chores as well as make lunches for him. Yuuko has advised Watanuki to stay close to Doumeki, since his mere presence drives away evil spirits. Thus because of this Yuuko always asks Watanuki to bring Doumeki along his "assignments".
Even though Doumeki may seem sarcastic around Watanuki and is sometimes annoyed with his eccentricity; Doumeki does have some concern for him as shown in the following instances:
- Angel San arc: When Watanuki fell over the school rooftop he caught him and held on despite the fact that his arm was injured
- Volume 5 Hydrangea arc: he dug up a hole and waited for 10 hours in the rain for Watanuki to re-emerge from the Ajasai after Watanuki disappeared
- Volume 6 Lady in the Park: Also known as lady who lost her son. After a much concern about Watanuki’s decline in health and rescuing him after he collapsed at Yuuko’s shop, Doumeki made a choice of shooting the Lady (who appeared transparent to him) with his arrow. Later on Yuuko explained that Doumeki did this because he did not want to lose Watanuki.
- Volume 7-8 Spider Grudge Arc: The most recent incident showing Domeki’s concern for Watanuki.In volume 7, Doumeki invokes the wrath of a spider when he destroys its web and in revenge, his right eye is sewn over with a spider web. Upon learning that Doumeki will eventually lose the sight in that eye, Watanuki made a way to transfer the spider’s grudge (making Watanuki lose his eye to save Domeki's) to himself, Doumeki became very agitated and concerned. He started researching ways to get Watanuki’s eye back. In volume 8 Watanuki went to see the Spider Queen to save the Zahishi but in the process he completely lost his sight, Doumeki gave half of his right eye’s ability to see to Yuuko in order for Watanuki to use. As of the present he and Watanuki sometimes share vision since they share half an eye.This is only one of the many situations in which the two lend each other a helping hand, and then some, and it's obvious that their futures are tightly intertwined
Domeki and Yuuko's Shop
Early on in the manga Doumeki and Yuuko seperately stated that he could not enter Yuuko's store. This was finally explained in Volume 8 of the manga since he does not need her store, he does not see it. To Doumeki, the plot where the shop is suppposedly standing is just a huge empty lot with old posts. In the lady in the park episode where Yuuko calls him to wait for Watanuki after he collapsed, Watanuki seemingly appears out of nowhere.
Trivia
The kanji of Doumeki's given name ("静") means "quiet or calm" and is likely meant to reflect his character. In conversation the word is often used in a command that literally means "be quiet", something often said to Watanuki.
Likewise, the kanji of his family name are individually read as "numerous" "eye" and "ghost or spirit" likely referring to the role of members of his family as excorcists as well as his ability to protect Watanuki from harm.