I do think Hikki's planning on taking a break in the near future, but my understanding was that she wants to have kids, so I imagine the two would likely coincide. I somehow doubt she'll ever completely drop out of the music scene altogether; when you're with something as long as she's been with this, you grow attached to it in a way you might not imagine initially. My prediction is that she'll go on hiatus within the next couple of years, maybe start a family and think up new creative ideas. Possibly she'll still produce and write for other artists behind the scenes. Then, when the time is right, she'll come back with an album and pick up her career again. It's not like her fans are going anywhere, after all, and there's no need for her to rush.

As for touring...it's a different situation with Hikki than many artists. She's pretty much built her career (in terms of her character as a performer) around her quirks, and one of those quirks is that she isn't really a performer at all. Yes, she's a great singer, and yes, she makes fantastic music, but we all know she feels more comfortable in the studio than she does in front of a live audience. I think that's just the kind of person she is. She still connects with us through her blogs and all that, but she's made it clear in the past that touring really isn't her thing. And unlike artists that NEED tours to make their money, she really doesn't; she's popular enough that she can hide out in her room and make music on her Mac and never have to really show her face, and she could easily get by. In that way, Hikki is a bit like Enya, who has NEVER toured, ever, but is still famous and well-known.

That being said, I think the "In the Flesh" experience was very enlightening for Utada. From what she's been saying, her energy seems different; she likes that it's intimate and simple. I think she feels a lot more at home on smaller stages where she can ad lib and talk to people who are all crammed in the same space as her, and I don't think she's ever been able to do that in Japan. Stadium performances are much, much different from that, the entire atmosphere is different, so "In the Flesh" may have altered some of her perspectives on what touring can be like. I think she's genuinely enjoyed this tour, and it's certainly been a success, so there's no reason not for her to come back if she wants to. That's the thing about Hikki; she's a very whimsical person (I know because I am too), and we can't hold what she says in one interview or to one crowd against her. She'll pretty much do what she wants to do as she decides she wants to do it. She's totally unpredictable, which is one of her greatest attributes in my opinion. :3