Just picked this up from my local shoppe this week. Kamui and two Mokona-pawns are the chess pieces, FYI. This one covers the start of X, which is so big it continues into Volume 9 - this volume just covers manga 1-8. It's incredibly extensive, with a great interview.

It also reminds me why I dropped X, and likely won't pick it up again - GOD, it's bleak. And not only is it bleak, but it's a crossover with lighter, happier works. Some manga are 'will they die or not?', X is 'when will they all die and how?'. And someone like me who enjoyed the ultra-cute fluffiness of CLAMP's Man of Many Faces does not need to know that Akira appears in X, and will likely die young in the upcoming apocalypse along with Utako. Probably violently.

I mean, if Fruits Basket had had Kyo killing Tohru in Vol. 11 while a horrified Yuki looked on? I likely wouldn't have stayed. I like my angst in fixable form. ^^;;;

Vol. 9 completes X, and also throws in the tiny Snow Tales and Miyuki-chan books. Should be out by the end of the year.