#and throw it in the face of anyone who might dare saying CLAMP changed Kaito's morality at the end of the story from left field

[meimi-haneoka]

Just to add to the reply to the latest ask, I'm also thinking that at some point Kaito *might have* realized that using Sakura as a commodity like this and "stealing" her happiness was a wrong choice. Because all he's ever known ever since he was a baby is that all magicians exploit and betray eachother, and the only sane magician he's ever known ended up in tragedy trying to save her daughter (even there, we still need to know what happened!!! Cause 庇って is a very specific term and implies specifically that Akiho's parents were protecting her from a negative situation, and died shielding her from it).

So why Sakura would've been any different? The plan was to take what he needed, correct the terrible destiny he inadvertently caused to Akiho, and go. "Simple" as that.

But then...

He saw that Sakura's kindness was genuine. Not only her, but also the people gravitating around her. He saw that Akiho was happy in her company and the company of her friends. And the way he felt towards the plan he himself thought up while still being a young boy changed. Because he didn't know such people could really exist. Otherwise...

...he wouldn't point out, with a hint of sadness that shows how his heart is hurting at that thought, that Akiho seems happy in the company of her new friends. A happiness that doesn't involve him (or so he thinks), just like he pictured. Not in this way, though. And he wouldn't make the painful face above, while talking about his definitive plan, activating the magic he desired, the "story". If he really was still ok with this, he wouldn't. He'd be thrilled to be so close to his goal.

And when Akiho expressed her enthusiasm for doing her best along with Sakura for this goddamned play, he totally wouldn't have made that face, if he still was ok with this. Probably that panel looks new to many of you, because it was changed in the tankobon version of that chapter, included in volume 13 which (as far as I know) still hasn't been released in English. CLAMP went as far as changing completely his face in that panel, to show clearly that something isn't right, here. Where he looked pensive before, now he looks stricken with guilt. And his hand istinctively reaches out to her in response to that feeling.

But what other choice does he have? Can he really stop?

When I saw this panel for the first time, I realized his non-answer was already an answer per se. One that made me grimace. That "smoke" in the background of this panel, so typical of CLAMP's art language, is conveying to us that the character is thinking and feeling something he's not saying aloud. And the worst part is that all of this might be happening while still not understanding the real reason why he's doing all of this.

If only that spell was never engraved onto her body. He probably would've stopped. But he doesn't have any other choice. Even if he might be regretting this at this point, he can only go forward, never looking back. Because her survival, even after he won't be here anymore, is the priority over everything. She will always be his priority.