After a month or so hiatus from LJ, where Bleach has been especially bland without the main hero and heroine present, KT provides a jewel of a chapter for most non-delusional fans to be happy about and finally gives me a huge incentive to make an entry. Given the supposed significance of this chapter in terms of shipping, with the reuniting of Inoue and her beloved Kurosaki-kun, I felt compelled to make an entry of why this chapter is so great if you're an ichiruki fan. Simply put, IchiRuki is where KT puts his heart and soul and IchiOri is where he puts....nothing special.

I've been prolonging this entry for so long because of two reasons. The first of them is I've been engaging in debates all across forums discussing the liklihood of IchiHime versus Ichiruki. Most recently, on animesuki in the "Ichigo And Rukia or Ichigo And Orihime?" thread we were discussing whether Orihime's "canon" romantic feelings provided strong evidence that IchiOri would happen. If you're bored and want to check out the thread here you go: The argument starts here, try to guess who is who in Bleach fandom =P (Though I'm surprised we haven't been banned yet o_o' for flaming the troll)

http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=26391&page=49

One argument that people who support IchiOri make all the time is that Orihime's feelings are the only ones which have been verbally articulated and acknowledged as romantic. They claim that what Ichigo and Rukia have can been easily interpreted as platonic, but nobody can deny or repel Orihime's romantic feelings for Ichigo. Somehow, they make a huge leap of logic to assume that Orihime's "canon" romantic feelings imply that IchiOri will be canon. I don't understand this argument for a variety fo reasons including their failure to understand that Orihime has more freedom as a character to wear her heart on her sleeve than Ichigo and Rukia. Ichigo and Rukia have issues with expression and Orihime doesn't.

Orihime's feelings have been a constant throughout the manga. In fact, it's pretty hard to deny that from the very beginning her feelings for Ichigo were romantic. The audience knows this. She's expressed herself out loud tons of times about wanting to care for Ichigo and protect him. She's had weird fantasies of dates with him. So it's not a big deal for the general audience to hear her expressing her love for Ichigo, though I still think her love is strange. She's always had the freedom to be open with her feelings about Ichigo.

However, Ichigo and Rukia never started out with romantic feelings for each other at the beginning of the manga. Rukia didn't fall in love with Ichigo at first sight and vice-versa. The thing I personally love about the IchiRuki relationship is that KT developed it beautifully. They went from strangers to comrades to friends to life-changers to a relationship that is quite exclusive. Call it romantic, call it platonic, define it any way you want but it's still exclusive, special, irreplacable. It's never been one-sided and unequal, as their relationship changed for one, it changed for the other. So of course it would make a lot of sense that if Ichigo and Rukia developed romantic feelings for each other, they would be new and fresh. They haven't always existed like Orihime's one-sided ones have, but instead they have been developing slowly and becoming more explicit. Both of them have been showing more emotional response to each other and about each other. Ichigo especially shows extreme emoitonal responses to anything Rukia. 

Anyway, my point is that IchiRuki is still growing together. Orihime went from pretty heavy crush to love. Logically it's easier for her to express feelings of romance. IchiRuki started out at zero for both of them and are developing together. Romance would be something newer and still hard to articulate for both of them. Kubo having them slowly realize their feelings for each other IMO is a better and more realistic development of their relationship rather than have Ichigo come out and say he's in love with Rukia. How OOC would that be?

Not to mention both Ichigo and Rukia are horrible when it comes to articulating their feelings to each other. Both of them have extreme issues of expression, but even that's changing as the walls break down. My overall point is that to acknowledge Orihime's articulated feelings as undeniable proof that she loves him doesn't automatically mean that Rukia or Ichigo's feelings for each other aren't romantic just because they haven't been able to articulate them yet. If we go by sheer body language or the amount of mutual care and concern these two show each other, then clearly we can see much stronger affection between Ichigo and Rukia. Romance doesn't need to be articulated to be present.

I also fail to understand how Orihime's feelings of love automatically mean they are going to be fulfilled and gives IchiOri an edge over IchiRuki. IchiRuki is a beautiful deep rich relationship that is mutual. IchiOri is one-sided and the ship just keeps on cracking the further we move into the manga. I don't understand people's logic at times, they're almost claiming that just because Orihime puts so much effort into her love for Ichigo she should get him - as if he's some sort of toy. I disagree with that because Ichigo hasn't showed any reciprocation yet and for him to start at this point would be so awkward and pale to the amount of passion he's shown for Rukia. And just because Rukia hasn't said she's loved Ichigo, it doesn't mean she hasn't put an equal amount, possibly more, effort into sustaining a relationship with Ichigo.

Anyway, just wanted to address that point. Now the second reason why I've been prolonging this post is because I dislike chapter 272 immensly. I feel KT wasted a whole chapter on something that was disorienting, disconnected, and quite random. KT transitioned beautifully out of the aaro mini-arc and back to HM, why couldn't he do the same for transitioning out of the Ulq/Ichi encounter to touch base with other characters in HM? Instead he puts in, as Nell said, the equivalent of a junior high school scene of jealousy and bullying to extract sympathy from the audience. I don't know what KT wants with us. When he writes Orihime, he goes stupid. Frankly, I'm done with Orihime. After 269 I said I was done with her because Rukia/Inoue seemed so one-sided and selfless on Rukia's part. Chapter 270 made me change my mind with her heartbreaking effort to try for Rukia when Rukia was alone and dying. Chapter 272 makes me HATE her and think she's pathetic. I'm not going to sugarcoat it, I think Orihime is a pathetic character. She didn't try, I don't care how her fans justify it, she didn't try to fight back. She failed, pure and simple, all her character development was for naught. Her whole arc seems wasted if she cannot try and defend herself, and I am angry at KT.

Since BF is down, and  btw Annie, Jaimie, Syn, Justine, and Maelle all agree that fandom life is boring without BF, there is no chapter thread for us to hijack there is no place to get a coherent script and a raw for Bleach 271. So those of you confused on where to go, you can get the script here:

http://mangahelpers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11514

And you can get the raw here:

http://forums.narutofan.com/showthread.php?t=206011


Enjoy! 

I was just thinking about how if not for a certain skirmish over an anonymeme community in one of my friend's journal, I would have never joined Live Journal. I was always hesitant of stepping into Bleach fandom, it took me six months before I snapped at the Rukia vs. Orihime thread at BF. It took me longer to comment on someone who I respected a lot's journal, and this was anonymously. For about a year I commented on journals anonymously, never feeling the need to join the Bleach Fandom wholeheartedly.

After watching how the Bleach Fandom treated its individual members with the whole Fandom Wank stupidity, I was disgusted at it. I was even more disgusted at the awful anonymeme community. I was confused at the whole lumping of "sane" versus "insane", until I realized to be considered "sane", you'd have to create an "insane" and therefore scapegoat certain members of the fandom. 

So after I wrote an entry in one of my friend's journal talking about how I'd never seen fandom treat its members so poorly and so awfully, she replied and was confused as well - and honestly I think she had every right to be confused. Justine is one of the kindest people out there. She has done nothing wrong except write strong opinions in her own journal, and for that she's persecuted horribly.

Well, anyway, the story goes, a certain person had trouble with Justine's statements of confusion and engaged in a 102 comment battle about how wrong Justine was for writing biased opinions in her own journal. It was one of the stupidest things I had ever seen. Of course I jumped into the battle, how could I not defend her against this illogical condemnation for writing her own thoughts in her own journal. I just felt a little awkward engaging in an argument as an anonymous poster, so I snapped and joined LJ. 

Now that I think about it, if it weren't for this skirmish on Justine's journal, I don't think I would have ever stepped into LJ.  If the skirmish hadn't happened, I wouldn't have ever heard of Jenni, who so valiantly replied with her articulate comments. If I had never joined LJ, I wouldn't have gotten to know Justine, because honestly before then, I had very little contact with her. IF it weren't for that skirmish, I wouldn't have known such great fans like Jaimie and Syn and all of those who participate in our MSN chat. Eurys, though, I would have known because of the GS connection.

Same with the BF. If there were no fanboys to pick on Rukia, I don't think I would have ever gotten to know Annie. I remember we tag teamed against a really dumb fanboy to try and show that Rukia wasn't a mere plot device and did have the ability to attain bankai. If it weren't for the fanboys, I wouldn't have known Nell, because I could have never seen her take on all of them in the 268 chapter thread with such ease. Not to mention her ability to send one of the most notorious fans packing impressed me so very much.

IF there wasn't drama on BF, I don't think I would have gotten to know these intelligent and smart people. If there wasn't drama on LJ, I wouldn't have ever met such fun, great, and non-pretentious people. These people who don't need a label of "elite" to intelligently and freely talk about their ship. There's nothing wrong with having strong opinions and there's nothing wrong with disliking a character for VALID reasons. There's nothing wrong in being competitive with your ship, I think that's half the fun. Why do ships need to live in a vacuum? When did shipping debates become taboo? Why can't you talk about IchiRuki and IchiOri in the same essay? And honestly, in the end, I'd rather be honest and open about my dislikes and likes, than be "politically correct" in regards to my ship.

So, I would like to thank everyone who hates strong shippers. I would like to thank everyone who has insulted Justine or insulted IchiRuki shippers or condemned Ichiruki shippers. Because in the end, its only result has been to unite us even more.

Goodbye Halcyon Days

Since 269 was all about people's reactions to Rukia's injury, of course KT had to show the reactions of both Renji and Ichigo, the two men who arguably care the most for her. Both of them swore on their soul to protect her and both of them succeeded in keeping this promise. I don't think we can measure who feels more for Rukia between these two men because Rukia has been such an influential part of both their lives. And that's why I feel that their reactions to finding out about Rukia's condition are equally intense and equally as worthy of Rukia.

Since discovering that the title of Bleach 268, "You Shall Not Die" was based on a line of a Modern Japanese Poem by Yosano Akiko, I've been thinking that KT truly is a believer in strong powerful females.

First of all I find it interesting that the author of the poem was a strong feminist, she's even dubbed a counterpart to Mary Wollstonecraft, who spoke about the changing role of the female during the turn of the century. I find it even more fitting that KT chose his title from this author because this chapter truly showcases the strength, power, and tenacity of his female lead Kuchiki Rukia.

I've never encountered another shonen where the female lead has such an influential role, backstory, and character development that even surpasses the hero's. I've never encountered another shonen where the representation of the heroine is so multifaceted that she can be feminine and strong at the same time, and that I think is TRUE feminism.

I've always thought that true feminism isn't a rejection of feminine qualities but an ability to embrace those qualities as well as other qualities traditionally associated with being strong. That's why I thought that KT putting Rukia in a tower for a majority of Bleach wasn't showing her weakness as a character, and it wasn't an insult to feminism, but he was showcasing his heroine's passive strength and endurance. 

Rukia being in a tower never made me think she was a weak character. She was able to face her execution with a smile on her face and peace in her heart, and I think that is true strength. She never cried for herself. Gin was the only one able to break her down and even then she quickly recovered and went to her execution with no regrets. Furthermore, she was self-sacrificing till the end thinking only of others. So, although Rukia was put in a passive position, she subverted the damsel in distress role, and still managed to be a strong character. KT didn't make her weak, on the contrary her imprisonment in SS made her look even stronger.

And in 268 KT puts her in an active position to showcase an active strength that the males in Bleach usually exhibit. She is able to bounce back and defeat her enemy through sheer will. Even while fatally injured she has the courage and will to keep living. No other character has bounced back like this in Bleach to defeat their enemy on such a final gasp of air, not even Ichigo. No other shinigami has defeated or killed an espada up till this point except Rukia. She's making history. KT truly makes his heroine shine.

So I truly think KT gets the complexity of feminism. His heroine is not a simple tomboy who rejects femininity, but she truly is feminine in a lot of ways. She can show both passive strength and active strength on a level most authors can't even convey. I've never seen any other author give his/her female lead such complexity and grace, even in shoujo series. This chapter truly seals the deal that KT loves strong females.

Although a part of me is extremely happy that Rukia showed a final push for strength and made the noveno espada go plop or (was it pop?), the point of the chapter had nothing to do with the way she cracked his fish tank or how much power she had or all the stuff the fanboys are concentrating their ire on. It's the opposite, the point of the chapter was all about KaiRuki and their beautiful relationship, and the way he completely changed her life. Even after death he gives her the strength to survive. I have never been so impressed with Bleach. Bleach has never moved me this much emotionally. KT has the power to write backwards and make past events so much more painful in the eyes of the readers by filling in blanks and spaces. Truly, if your heart isn't moved by this chapter than you do not understand Rukia, Kaien, and Bleach.

From early early spoilers this looks to be an amazing amazing chapter!  I am ecstatic about this chapter! I am in love with this chapter! I am so glad that Kuchiki Rukia is a SURVIVOR and always finds a way, always.

"Thanks to You My Heart Can Still Stay Here." - Shiba Kaien's dying words to Kuchiki Rukia. Volume 16. Chapter 136. Page 17.

I think this chapter has to be one of the darkest in Bleach, if not the darkest. I feel I need to get some of these feelings down, even if the raw hasn't come out yet. I think I'll most definitely edit this entry when I read the full scan, but for now I'll start.

Legions of Reglets is the title. I have a feeling it was KT screwing around with the English languge and it's supposed to be Legions of Regrets. Which would make more sense because "Night of the Winjruit" translates to Night of the Rue or flower of regret. So it connects back to the second memories in the rain arc.

Love for Syn, Ileenka, Annie, and Eurys...you girls are awesome! Let's keep on believing in Rukia! Stay strong!

Yay, so today when I walked out the door it was 60 degrees F, (that's 16 degrees C) and so I'm extremely extremely happy. After enduring such a cold and painful winter (omg I think I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder aka SAD), I'm so relieved I can smell spring around the corner. No more blizzards, no more walking to class looking like an eskimo, and no more drinking alcohol to stay warm XD.

For me, good weather is reason enough to be happy, so hooray.

Now I'm off to the college library to write a six page paper and probably won't be back for 24 hours, but it's good weather outside so I really have nothing to complain about.

Okay, so here's my second look at the chapter after taking a deep breath and appreciating the raw and the translation. I am so in love with this chapter!