#and even so you want to see orihime get back to tatsuki and bond again
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The Phoenix and the Dragon
Yet again we've arrived at Ulquihime week! Gotta confess I'm not much of a Christmas person but I do look forward to December for my OTP week. Everyone puts so much love and effort into their entries that it's hard not to be excited. Okay so today's theme is Crossover and I wanted to pick something that wasn't likely to be repeated by someone else, so leave it to my nostalgic mind to go 'What about a Winx Club crossover?' Thus here we are! This little one-shot is based on one of my fave childhood shows and one of the first villain ships I ever had. (Yes, my 10-year-old self hardcore shipped Darkar & Bloom) 😅 Hope you like it! (Spoilers for some aspects of season 2 of Winx Club. I'm taking from the 4kids version of the show and Nickelodeon special btw. And some mild spoilers for the second movie.)
Also for those who do know the winx cast and want to know who is who in the crossover here it is.
Orihime- Bloom
Ulquiorra- Darkar/Avalon
Tatsuki- Stella
Shizuka- Layla
Ichigo- Prince Sky
Isshin- Errendor
Sora- Daphne
Unohana- Faragonda
Okay now that's all set, here's the fic!
@ulquihimeweek
Ulquihime Week- Day 1 Crossover
The Phoenix and the Dragon
Orihime awoke in a dimly lit room. She didn't remember much, just going into Professor Schiffer's office and then...'And then he changed and turned into the Phoenix.'
"I can sense you. Just come out of the shadows already." She muttered.
Ulquiorra obliged, no longer looking like a human but in his true form as the Shadow Phoenix.
To her he didn't look much different, his skin was paler but his other features remained the same. He had large dark wings and a tail, along with tear markings.
"I should've known it was you. We get warmed about a Shadow Phoenix and next thing we know a new professor shows up at our school."
He chuckled. "Yes well, that didn't occur to you as we bonded, Ms. Inoue."
She lowered her head in shame. Since Ulquiorra arrived at Alfea he had become her favorite teacher, and even offered to teach her about her home kingdom, Sparx, which had been destroyed when she was just a baby.
"Is that why you brought me here? To taunt me?!"
"No, darling. I have other plans for you. Or should I say us?"
"I'll never collaborate with you!"
"You say that now, but you might change your mind after I explain my plans to you."
She frowned, but at the moment there was nothing she could do. Orihime sighed. "Fine. I suppose I can listen to you for a while."
"I appreciate it. First I must ask you something. What do you know about me, Orihime Inoue? Who do you think I am?"
"Headmistress Retsu told us you were once human. That you came to the underealm to try and find the shadow fire, but that it's power consumed you and that now you're seeking to take over the magic universe.
I also know that you came to our school and posed as a professor until now..."
"The headmistress is a wise woman, studious too since she appears to know my origins well, the one commonly excepted that is."
"What do you mean?"
"Indeed, I was once human, that I came here to study the Shadow Fire, but it's power didn't overtake me. For you see, I willingly submitted to it. I'm the one in control, always have been. And while I do wish to take over the magic dimension it is not for my own gain."
"Why else would you want to take over?"
"I want this dimension to change. I want to tear down the structures that bind its kingdoms. I've wanted that since I was a human.
You see, darling, the structures of this dimension are so very ancient and so very obsolete. The squabbles between kingdoms have led to so much war, to destruction, to sadness... Just look at what happened to Sparx."
"My kingdom was destroyed by the ancient witches. Not by war."
"You're right, but your kingdom had a close ally. An ally that should've saved you from the witches, yet instead bargained to have them take your kingdom and spare them. The king of Eraklyon made said bargain."
Orihime grew dizzy. 'No, no it can't be! Ichigo's father wouldn't do that! This is a lie!"
"You think I'm lying, don't you?"
"Of course you're lying! King Isshin wouldn't do that, neither would Ichigo!"
"Analyze the situation, darling. Eraklyon was your closest ally, and yet they didn't suffer any damage as Sparx was destroyed. Your parents vanished, your brother died saving you, your planet is now an icy wasteland. Yet Eraklyon stands as the richest land in Magix. As for your little prince, he was merely a child when this took place, but I don't doubt he'd keep it a secret from you, he has done so before."
Orihime felt as if her skin was catching fire. She hated to be reminded of that lie, to think back when Ichigo had hidden his royal lineage and engagement to a princess. She'd forgiven him, of course, and they were a couple once again, but deep inside she still distrusted him. And a part of her did think Ulquorra's words were true.
'Maybe that's why his father disapproved of us. Not because I'm a princess of a destroyed kingdom, but because my kingdom's destruction was partly his fault...'
"You see, darling. That's only one example of plenty I can give you. All of these realms need someone truly wise to rule them."
"Even if I believed you, that doesn't mean I'll join you. I don't want to kill anyone."
"Who said anything about killing? There are plenty of ways to dethrone a ruler. That's what I crave to do darling. Imagine it, a dimension without destroyed kingdoms, without arranged marriages, without squabbles for the throne. We'd be the only rulers, the royals would be our regents, they'd have to abide by what we demand."
Ulquiorra's eyes glowed green as he spoke. She had seen him like that before in his humanoid form. His eyes always sparkled as he thought her class about History and asked them to be part of the change.
"Ulquiorra, I think it's wonderful that you're trying to make the universe better, but I fail to see why would want me to join you. I'm no leader."
Orihime felt Ulquiorra's cold hand gently lift her chin. "Orihime, you're the only person I've ever met worthy of wearing such a crown.
The reason I posed as a teacher at Alfea wasn't to further my plans, or to steal the codex but to observe you. In just a few months you made such great progress that I couldn't help but be convinced you were worthy of sharing my crown, of carrying the dragon flame, of ruling over Magix.
You came from Earth yet quickly adapted to this dimension, to its power and its costumes. You're kind, fierce, strong, I couldn't ask for a better queen."
He noticed Orihime's pale skin turn bright red, and her sliver eyes grow misty. "No one's ever really praised me like that. Thank you."
He smirked. "I'll be sure to do so more often in the future then."
With a snap of Ulquiorra's fingers, her bounds disappeared. Orihime stood up, directly facing Ulquiorra.
He took her hands in his and directly stared into her eyes, silver meeting emerald. "Orihime Inoue, will you join me in my quest to bring peace and order to the magic dimension?"
It wasn't easy, she didn't want to leave her friends, her school, or even Ichigo. Even after what she learned it felt wrong to vanish without a word.
'But it must be done. Tatsuki-chan will be free to choose who she marries, Nemu-san won't be forced to follow the path her father wants for her, Shizuka-chan won't have to take the throne of the harmonic nebula...even Ichigo would now be free to make his own choices. This would be for the best.'
With a beautiful smile and newfound determination, Orihime finally responded. "Yes, I will."
"Then it is done, our power is now bound."
She could feel a surge of dark magic taking over, but it wasn't unpleasant. Her characteristic blue fae dress was now black and her fairy wings had turned grey. Orihime also noticed Ulquiorra's form slightly changed, his dark wings now had accents of green and he resembled his humanoid form a little more.
"It's the bond." He told her after noticing her confusion. "Light cannot exist without dark and vice versa. As such my darkness had to take some of your light and your light had to take some of my darkness."
Shadow Fire & Dragon Fire were united at last. Orihime was certain that now she and Ulquiorra would be unstoppable. 'We'll fix everything soon.'
"What shall we do now?"
"Since I've acquired all the pieces of the codex, I was thinking we could go to the Relix dimension. Your parents might've vanished there after the destruction of Sparx."
"My parents...I never thought it'd be possible to reach them."
"It is, my darling. We'll bring them back and then return Sparx to its former glory. After that, we can finally reshape the magic dimension into what it should've been from the beginning."
For the first in a long while, Orihime felt like she was doing things right. It would take her friends some time to forgive her, but she knew in time she would join them again. 'I'm doing this for all of us. For me, and for him.'
She gently kissed Ulquiorra's cheek, he blushed at the gesture. "I was not expecting that."
"I'm still a little miffed at you for pretending to be a professor but if we're to be in harmony as rulers this is a good place to start."
"Then I guess I should do my part too."
Ulquiorra wrapped his arm around her waist and gave her a passionate kiss. Orihime quickly blushed and playfully shoved him as he let go of her.
"Show off."
"Guilty as charged."
"Y'know, I remember seeing paintings back on earth with dragons and phoenixes together as a couple. Do you think that was a prediction?"
"It could be, after all, the most enduring romances are likely to echo through many universes."
#uhweek2020#ulquihime#orihime x ulquiorra#Ulquiorra Schiffer#Orihime Inoue#Day 1: Crossover#Winx Crossover AU
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hey there! so i used to be a huge fan of bleach, and loved ichiruki, and i was reminded of them today but i haven't been involved with the fandom since the series ended. however, i've heard of different variations of why the series ended/ships happened the way they did, and was wondering if you knew or could direct to me a post that explains that? i apologize if i'm bringing up bitter feelings, but i've always been curious if bleach's ending was a big FU from kubo or if he always intended rr/ih
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a post that really goes over it structurally in that kind of way (from a shipping perspective). I’ll get back to what you actually asked me after some asides, because it’s not so simple to just analyze the ships in a vacuum.
I’ve had my own post about why the ending was a fuck you moment, thematically, because it failed to resolve any of the themes and momentum of the series in a way that would be appropriate (either internally or in the context of the supposed genre of shounen.)
I would also say that the ending was a fuck you moment in terms of lore, backstory, and mystery, because all of the historical and political dimensions (i.e., things involving the Soul King and Great Houses) were unceremoniously shuffled off to Can’t Fear Your Own World. Not that any of those things were ever brought up properly in the manga to begin with; the proper and natural time for that would’ve been at the conclusion of the Soul Society arc, when Ichigo and co. spent a week there, which we saw none of. So I would say that everything in CFYOW is basically retconned bullshit hung off prior convenient plot hooks, and that the same was true of TYBW and LSS/TLA/Xcution as well. There may have been some notes and forethought, but it’s about as “valid” as Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert’s Dune works are compared to the original Frank Herbert ones; it’s second-hand, at best.
(This is setting aside that Bleach was clearly made up as it went along. For example: Noriaki literally admitted that he didn’t know who had killed Aizen in Soul Society until he realized that Aizen not being dead was the most shocking answer; the clear baiting and abandonment of Kisuke as the villain hinted at through various means such as his unclear and later retconned reasons for being exiled, and so on. Bleach was very much a J. J. Abrams-style mystery box work that was made as it went with, at best, rough notes, which is why its themes and focus change, for the worse. I also have a post about why it stopped being special, which is part of a running series I intend to write on how to rewrite it to fix and preserve that)
The best recent thing to compare it to is, really, HBO’s adaptation of Game of Thrones, wherein D. B. Weiss and David Benioff openly admitted to removing or deemphasizing story elements, and ignoring themes in adapting the work. The difference is that Bleach was not being adapted from anything; it degraded due to its own creator not understanding what he had created.
(To put it very simply, because this would be the point of Hyperchlorate Part II and would take a whole post to explain: the ending of the Soul Society arc did not properly establish and flesh out Soul Society as a place with a history, space, and purpose. Instead, the Arrancar and Hueco Mundo arcs decided to be a thematic inversion and deconstruction of the Karakura and Soul Society arcs. This again had an ending that did not establish or flesh anything out after Aizen’s defeat, with an even greater diffusion of focus onto ancillary characters. The Xcution arc tripled down on this by addressing something entirely new and retconned in, only to abandon it midway through in favor of going back to invoking Soul Society. And Thousand-Year Blood War took all of these problems to 11. tl;dr: Noriaki tried themes, people hated it, and so he just shoved in more and more dumb sword fights between people nobody cared about, half of whom hadn’t previously existed.)
So, let’s get back to your question. Let’s talk about ships. I’ve clicked a lot of keys and spilled a lot of ink on this subject over the years, but I no longer particularly feel like searching my own archives (really ought to go back through and organize them better) beyond this post and my own follow-up to it about the chronology of IR interactions, so I’m just going to repeat myself.
First, let’s say that Bleach was not ever a manga about ships.
I’m not disavowing that what Rukia and Ichigo had was special. That was called out multiple times through the focus of the art, the dialogue, and by the characters themselves. (Directly by, for example, Orihime’s outright statement to the effect in Soul Society, and her later jealousy regarding it. Indirectly by, say, Uryuu’s acknowledgement that him saving Rukia first would piss Ichigo off. In fact, the biggest indirect indicator doesn’t even involve Ichigo and Rukia; Shunsui asks Chad why he’s there and Chad says he wants to save Rukia, Shunsui calls bullshit that two months isn’t enough time to risk your life for that, and Chad agrees and says he’s there because Ichigo wants to do it. Shunsui moves on, but his argument is left hanging: why was two months enough for Ichigo? Because, as Orihime will later say out loud, Rukia is special.)
What I’m saying is that that was never the focus. It was explicitly constructed that way.
How do I know? The Grand Fisher fight. The Grand Fisher fight is emotionally charged, bringing up both Ichigo and Rukia’s greatest traumas, and is their one real moment of not understanding each other for a time. It was a triumphant moment that made them truly glad to know one another, and you can see it in their reactions afterward (Rukia thanking Ichigo for not dying, Ichigo asking Rukia if he can keep being a Shinigami). There was a lot to unpack there, and you can see it in the way they look at each other.
What happened immediately after the Grand Fisher fight? Noriaki skipped a whole month. We go from June 18th of 2001 to July 17th of 2001. He deliberately skipped all of the emotional impact of that event, and Rukia being around for Ichigo’s 16th birthday. Just never happened. We never hear about it. Wasn’t his focus as a writer.
Now, I’m convinced that was because he was scared of what he had on his hands. He wasn’t willing to commit to either a couple’s battle shoujo or a shounen with male and female seemingly-heterosexual co-equal deuteragonists who clearly had a strong emotional bond. More specifically, he wasn’t willing to make Rukia a centerpiece of the manga despite having designed her first, having made her the moral and philosophical core of his manga, and having based Ichigo entirely around completing and complementing her. But hey, that’s just my opinion, right? Except it kept happening.
From the Grand Fisher fight onward, the name of the game in the manga, structurally, became keeping Ichigo and Rukia apart.
The moment she was taken back to Soul Society, her prominence dropped. We got emotionally charged scenes of them regardless. Right at the conclusion, after yet another emotionally heavy set of Ichigo and Rukia interactions, we again skip almost a month, from the end of the first week in August of 2001 to September 1, 2001. (Due to some completely unnecessary timey-wimey bullshit with the Precipice World.)
In the Arrancar and Hueco Mundo arcs, they have roughly a day together over the course of three months. What happens after every meeting? They’re shuffled apart and split up, and we cut away. This time, for over a year!
Ichigo and Rukia again have a very emotionally charged meeting in the Xcution arc. And what happens at the end of that arc? We skip ahead another month to TYBW. (Xcution ended sometime in May of 2003, TYBW starts June 11, 2003.)
And in TYBW, Rukia and Ichigo barely meet up at all. Indeed, the focus is scarcely upon them.
In CFYOW, neither of them even appear, let alone have any relevance to the plot.
The implication, in my opinion, is pretty obvious: Noriaki was deathly afraid of dealing with the outcomes of their interactions, and that ultimately became him being deathly afraid of allowing them to interact at all to begin with. Why? Well, as I said in one of the last linked posts:
As an author, sometimes you will find your characters will do things you didn’t anticipate or plan for, and you’ve got two choices: you can go with the flow and do what’s natural and deal, or you can fight it and try and impose your vision anyway.
He refused to let his art take the direction it needed to go in.
Now, some people might say he got bored of them, or of having them together. I say that’s bullshit. And the reason I say is down to three things:
He didn’t ignore them, he did his best to keep them apart. I outlined this above.
He did not emphasize anything or anyone else instead. His focus was all over the place. While, admittedly, Ichigo’s prominence also declined, so did everyone else’s.
It would have served him well to focus on their interactions to expand his universe and explore its lore. The things that were detailed in the databooks and CFYOW could’ve been presented naturally and easily if they were together. But that came with a cost of shifting the focus. A cost he refused to pay.
Let’s talk more about (2) and (3) now.
Regarding (2), Chad and Orihime are inextricably linked in Bleach, because they essentially have the same relationship to Ichigo. “But Orihime loves Ichigo, and Chad is his no-homo bro!” someone proclaims. So what? They’re presented as equal and parallel at every step.
They both gain their powers at approximately the same time.
We are told they gained their powers due to the Hogyouku (in Rukia at the time) interpreting their wishes (and no one else’s, such as Tatsuki, Keigo, or Mizuiro), meaning they probably had the same strength of desire.
They both go to Soul Society “for Ichigo.”
They both utterly fail against Yammy and Ulquiorra.
They both spend most of the Hueco Mundo arc doing nothing.
They are both featured prominently in the Xcution arc, and both fail to see through Tsukishima’s powers despite their love for Ichigo. (Meanwhile, Byakuya coolly tries to murder someone who he thinks is his mentor, in Ichigo’s name.)
They both get sidelined in Hueco Mundo with Kisuke in TYBW, doing little to nothing.
They both are utterly ineffectual in the final fight in TYBW.
They are often portrayed together, they are often as effective as one another, and they are equally as developed in their relationship to Ichigo going forward, which is to say: not at all. The loss of focus on IR did not come with an attendant rise of focus on IH, any more than it did with the sudden rise of IchiChad. Nothing was built in IR’s place. There was no emotional or human content which filled its gap.
This is where the IH ending coming “out of nowhere” stems from: it indeed came out of nowhere, because Ichigo was never shown to have any interest in Orihime in all this time, nor an especially close relationship with her. He never hangs out with Chad or shows a bond with him either. He never hangs out with anyone, in fact. (Indeed, “friends” in Bleach do not do any of the things that friends actually do in real life. Nor do parents. You might say that interpersonal relationships and communication largely don’t exist in Bleach. But that’s its whole own topic.)
I would honestly say that more time and emphasis was given on Ichigo’s pseudo-surrogate mother relationship with Ikumi than was spent on him interacting with Orihime. (I would say Noriaki has serious hangups about relationships of any kind, be they romantic, familial, or friendly, and also has some severe hangups regarding mothers and fathers, but that is also its whole own topic.)
Regarding (3), Noriaki apparently wanted this big, Game of Thrones-style world with a long history and political machinations and so on. This is the whole point of TYBW and CFYOW. Trouble is, early Bleach was successful because of its small-scale intimacy. So how do you go from one to the other? You have to lay the foundations at every step. And Noriaki steadfastly refused to do so at every step. Having Ichigo and Rukia interact, and focusing on Rukia while Ichigo was sidelined without powers, would’ve permitted that organically. Indeed, if RR was the endgame, it would have given time to establish that, were it his desire. (Because Rukia never showed any interest in Renji, and frankly Renji always seemed way more preoccupied with Byakuya.) It didn’t serve his goals, but he did it anyway.
It’s much simpler to say he lost focus, and that he started to hate the manga as a whole. Why else would you have Mayuri fighting a giant hand when that achieved nothing, and Kenpachi fighting Thor when that achieved nothing? It became empty. Hollow, you might say.
But that takes us back to the question you posed: where did the ships come from? Nowhere. IH, RR, and fucking TatsuKeigo weren’t established anywhere. They just appeared. Why?
Well, why did every single character wind up doing the exact opposite of their intended and stated goals in the end?
Why did Soul Society revert to its previous attitude and rebuild the Sokyouku?
Why did nothing get resolved?
Why did nothing change?
Why was it all revealed to have been completely and utterly pointless?
In my view, it’s because that ending was a giant fuck you to the readership and Shueisha. There is no other way to interpret an author pulling a 180° and completely nullifying their characters’ arcs, and their work’s themes. Aizen’s little speech at the end is the cherry on top. I read it as Noriaki saying that he’s showing “courage” in telling us all to fuck off.
As to why? That’s an open question. His relationship with Shueisha was contentious, so maybe he was mad at them. (They gave him a deadline once he was dragging his feet, and reclassified Bleach as a joke manga.) His readership was on the decline after the Soul Society arc ended, so maybe he was mad at the audience. I don’t know. I also don’t really care. What I am convinced of is he decided to blow up his franchise and to not leave a single stone unturned when he did so.
That’s where that “ending” comes from, which is why despite it featuring IH and RR, both are thoroughly unsatisfying and without setup: it was the only way to piss absolutely everyone off, including people who wanted that outcome.
In a way, it was his greatest success since the early days of the manga.
Anyway, this was messy, but it’s not a simple topic to address. The tl;dr is that Bleach was a trainwreck from the very beginning that only succeeded on the merits of its characters, and that Noriaki deliberately avoided the promise it had to be something unique and grand. The ships are just a part of that, and cannot be understood in isolation from it.
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Now for part two I will be doing Ichihime.
Honestly I knew Ichihime would be endgame from early on in the manga and series.
A lot of IR claim that Ichihime doesnt make sense or that they have no development..which at this point I think this is what any anti for any pairing in every anime say.. because that's obviously not true at all.
Even from the very beginning.. not only do we know that Orihime likes Ichigo, but Ichigo seems to pay attention to Orihime, extra close at times.
In this panel, he admits that he worries about her and watching her wears him out with worry, he even wonders if she's really alright. Now its important to remember that this is fairly earlier in the story and at this time Orihime is only an acquaintance at best..but here he is worrying about her.
Not only does he notice her getting hurt...but during the Fullbringer arc he said that she was more likely to get followed or stalked than him when Orihime asked if anyone has been following him.
Hell he's even offered to walk her home.
Weird considering they're only acquaintances at this point right? While I know it's rare for the shounen protagonist to have a crush right off the bat..for arguments sake let's say you look at ichihime interactions with the idea that Ichigo has some sort of crush on Orihime. I feel like his interactions with her make more sense throughout the series and keep this I mind through this post.
Now antis always love to say that Orihime didn't understand Ichigo or couldn't encourage him like Rukia could..but..
Here! Even Tatsuki who has known him since childhood couldn't tell it wasnt Ichigo or his other friends.. but Orihime does notice..she knows that's not him right away.
And here Orihime right away knew he wasn't acting like himself...even Tatsuki was impressed, she said it took her years to figure that out.
Oh yeah she cant encourage him right?? Not only did she give Ichigo the resolve to go save Rukia..but during the Grimmjow fight.. Ichigo was so afraid of frightening Orihime with his mask that he wasn't focusing on the battle.. know think about that..he was so scared to frighten Orihime he wasn't fighting..knowing he could die or get really hurt.
I also hear antis say that Orihime is horrible for being scared of Ichigo when he was still fighting to save her but they need to understand that in the first few chapters of bleach..Orihime was attacked by her brother..her beloved brother, the only family she ever had before he died and he attacked her..as a hollow..and now she's looking at the man she loves with a hollow mask and she's afraid FOR him not necessarily OF him..she's afraid he'll turn completely hollow( which is fair, considering he does later during the ulquiorra fight).
Then all she had to say " please dont die..you dont have to fight for me and you dont have to win..just please dont get hurt". And Ichigo was ready to fight for real..then beat Grimmjow.
She was also able to feel his pain somehow and knew he was crying when he got his powers stolen despite her being far away from him at the time.
Not to mention at this time she was brainwashed by Tsukishima making her and Chad think Ichigo was the one going crazy, but even though she was brainwashed to think it was Tsukishima who she loved..her heart knew better and still felt Ichigo's pain even without seeing him.
Not to mention she was able to see he had a plan to defeat Ywach just from one look into his eyes.
So yeah.. Orihime does understand Ichigo more than most..and just because Rukia does too doesnt mean he should be with her.
And on Ichigo's side antis also say he doesn't care about Orihime only Rukia..and if he does care it's only because Ichigo is protective of his friends.
Now it's clear through the whole series that Ichigo does care about all his friends..but it's also apparent that Ichigo does hold Orihime to a different standard.
This is not far into the story..at this point they are still only classmates and only a few pages ago Ichigo refused to take over Rukia's Soul reaper duties..until he found out a hollow was after Orihime.
Or when Yammy and Ulquiorra hurt Orihime..they also hurt Tatsuki and Chad but he was shown to be obsessing over Orihime ( despite the fact she could literally reverse her injuries) and the fact Tatsuki was a human with no powers should've made him worry over her more..but he felt so guilty for not protecting Orihime he couldn't even look her in the eyes..it got so bad that Rukia made him go to her and look her in the eye and he vowed to never let anyone hurt her again, pluse he didn't apologize to anyone else..just Orihime. I also find it funny how Rukia seems to be a ichihime shipper while her fans hate Orihime and want her to be with Ichigo..I find it funny.
Then we all know how hurt he was when Orihime got taken to Hueco Mundo.. Yes I understand he did rescue Rukia as well but he even said its because he owed her..and he did he owe her his and his families lives..and she was his friend and only on death row because of him. But with Orihime she chose to go to protect her friends and Ichigo had no obligations to her other than she was his friend..
He also walked around like a zombie not even caring when Tatsuki beat the hell out of him asking where Orihime was. He even yelled and threw a fit at the captain commander(you know the strongest soul reaper alive) for suggesting she was a traitor..
He even went against the entire soul society wishes (as a substitute soul reaper no less) to go find Orihime in Hueco Mundo.
One of my favorite scenes is when Ichigo was hurrying to go help Chad and Rukia who were badly injured at the time..when Ulquiorra appears and tries to goad him into a fight.. nothing works until Ulquiorra mentions he was the one who brought Orihime to Hueco Mundo ..which in turn infuriates Ichigo and he swings his sword at him in a blind rage..(remember he was supposed to be helping Chad and Rukia who were injured) but he was so angry that he was the one who brought Orihime there...he didn't say he hurt her or tortured her...he only said he brought her. And. Ichigo. Flipped.
One of my other favorite scenes is when he almost literally rises from near death to get Grimmjow's hands off of Orihime
LET GO OF HER! Was the first thing he says never mind he was almost dead a few minutes ago and still can barely stand. And look at that face his eyes mean business.
And of course one of the most epic Ichihime moments is when Ulquiorra defeats Ichigo and kills him.. he hears Orihime calling for help as Ulquiorra advances to her.. and as he's dying he hears her and tells himself he needs to help her and protect her..even in death he needs to protect her. And yes I'm aware that his inner hollow is the one keeping him from dying..but the only reason Hichigo doesnt completely take over Ichigo and lose his humanity was his will to protect Orihime. Ichigo was chanting " help her", "help her", over and over like a mantra..that's was the last shred of his humanity and even his last shred of humanity wanted nothing more than to protect Orihime.
Not only is Ichigo extra protective of Orihime..but he get flustered around her too.
Like during The Thousand Year Blood War Arc.. when Ichigo was asked by Chad if he liked Orihime's outfit ( Which was very revealing..especially in the boob area) and Ichigo was blushing like an idiot of course.
While most antis swear it's just because Orihime is very beautiful and has a very large chest..remember Chad or Uryu didn't react despite them being males as well..just Ichigo.
Not only that but all of Ichigos enemies always use Orihime to bait him into fights. Enemies like Grimmjow, Nnotora, Ulquiorra, and even Ginjo..they all taunted him about how he was so determined to protect Orihime that they would use her presence to push Ichigo into fighting them.
Antis also claim that they didn't develop.. they went from classmate acquaintances to friends fighting side by side in battle. Orihime went from being shy and stuttering and being nervous in his room to borrowing manga from him and just marching in his room and both teasing each other. Ichigo also went from wanting to protect Orihime by leaving her on the side lines and out of harm's way.. to trusting her to be his shield in battle.
IR"s also claim that Rukia is better than Orihime because she's stronger. Now I know Rukia is strong no doubt..especially when she finally releases her bankai. But for most of the series she hardly does anything..even my husband noticed she only won like two or three fight the whole series and most of the time she was so beat up after she looks like she lost the fight. I'm not trying to talk down on Rukia I love her actually.. it's just is you go back and read the manga..Rukia didn't do much either.. plus Orihime actually has a really really OP power she just doesn't have the heart to hurt anyone so she usually uses her shield or healing, but just like Rukia they didn't do much with her powers.
In the end Ichihime had quite a bit of development..I'm not saying Rukia and Ichigo didnt have a bond..because they had a strong one..but that doesn't always mean romantic..I always felt it was more brother/ sister type than anything. But if you go back and look at all of the Ichihime moments you'll realize their bond as well..you'll realize that Orihime was always their during the really important times and fights.. like the Grimmjow fight, Ulquiorra, fight, the Nnotora fight, his Fullbringer training, his Visored training, and she stood side by side with him in the Ywach fight.
He was actually separated from Rukia more than he was with her..even when they were in the same places..they were always separated. Kubo..I feel made it very clear from early on that ichihime would be endgame..I feel some people were just in denial.
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How Kubo developed Romance in bleach (IR mostly)
http://www.well-storied.com/blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-crafting-your-storys-love-interest (Here is the link I used to reference for any writers out there.)
Types In Bleach
Enemies to Lovers
Friends to Lovers
Love Triangles
Second Chances at Love
Rags-to-Riches Romances
Star-Crossed Lovers
Opposites Attract
Fated Romances
Pretend Relationships
Love at First Sight
Royal Romances
Arranged or Political Marriages
Isshin’s and Maskai’s love and destiny gets repeated in Ichigo and Rukia (sigh* Kubo o.o)
Here Kubo introduces love tri and displays jealousy in Orihime (I know some I/H is gonna say some ish about how IR isn’t romantic blah blah well look Orihime displayed a jealousy towards Rukia and her effect on Ichigo and this is after Rukia had said (lied ill explain) that she didn’ t like Ichigo so why feel jealous of a close friend? Why would Kubo put this in if it was unnecessary? She wasn’t jealous of Tatsuki, because Rukia is special to Ichigo in a way she is not.
Rukia shows the series signature fake smile as she puts up her actor front and denies feelings for Ichigo but we get a look into her inner thoughts and she mentions “love, companionship and friendship” And how her like or hate for Ichigo is troublesome. She wouldn’t mention love of she wasn’t thinking of it or feeling it. She also separated love and friendship, if all she felt was a simple friendship for Ichigo she wouldn’t need to say love. Then we take into consideration her expression Bleach’s signature fake smile; a smile in the series that shows that you are pretending, lying, holding back emotion and/or putting up a front. Multiple characters have used this smile (below). Why would Rukia use a fake smile while answering about her feelings for Ichigo? She has never been one to beat around the bush this here displays that Kubo wanted Rukia to have feelings for Ichigo different from friendship, something that was growing. He even titled the chapter Needless Emotions.
#1: CHOOSE THE TYPE OF CHEMISTRY YOU’D LIKE TO BUILD.
Chemistry is that potent magnetism that draws two people — or, in our case, characters — together.
• A bond over shared interests or experiences
• A broadening of one another's horizons
• A grounding balance between dichotomous personalities
• A shared admiration for one another’s spirits
Love interests that do not have lives outside of their story's protagonists aren’t characters at all, I’d argue. They are objects, cardboard cutouts, prizes to be won.
Your love interest should exist as a fully-formed individual, with a life outside of the protagonist's story. ( >.> hmmm lol)
Ichigo is stubborn, short-tempered, strong-willed, impulsive, genuinely compassionate and empathetic towards others . outspoken, hot-headed demeanor
Rukia is grim, somber, stoic, straightforward, tactical, compassionate, selfless and had a difficulty making friends.
Before Rukia came along Ichigo did not smile because he blamed himself for his mother death. He was dealt with guilt and what some could say depression (rain in his heart) for years until after saving Rukia where we see his true smile for the first time, and this rain reappears many times to display Ichigo’s inner distress. Rukia is used as the cure to that distress multiple times, like here for example (below). One minute Ichigo is crying and covered in rain then after his powers are given back the rain stops completely and from then on out no one is getting rained on, not ginjou, Urahara, especially Ichigo, and so on, its as if that specific rain storm was related to Ichigo’s emotional turmoil and as soon as Rukia arrived and fixed everything it stopped. Also notice how of everyone Rukia is the only one that isn’ t getting wet by the rain (Kubo all the f-ing symbolism for nothing)
Rukia comes into the first arc as a character that looks defeated and emotionless because she blames her self for Kaien’s death, she is alone and the only family she has doesn’t speak to her. Ichigo teachers her to trust other, to make friends, to smile as well, and gives her a stronger will to live. Everything that Kaien once did for her Ichigo now does for her. She puts her trust in others and now feels joy. If we see Rukia changes in expression from the first chapter to the end of the SS arc you see just how much of a positive impact Ichigo has on her.(look below)
They balance each other out and as Orihime said they have pure chemistry, Rukia brings out a great Ichigo, an Okay Ichigo, and makes Ichigo feel better
chapter 181> chapter 1 (Ichigo and Rukia change in expression
#2: DEFINE YOUR PROTAGONIST’S ROMANTIC INTERESTS.
To choose the best type of chemistry to pursue in your story, you may find it helpful to first understand what your protagonist needs in a relationship. Not what they want or what they think they need, but what will truly bring a little love into their life.
In the throughout the series we see an emotionally conflicted Ichigo constantly battling with his inner demons (literally). In the beginning we see him emotionally conflicted with his mother death, then with his hollow, then with his vasto lorde form (which I/H love to claim as an I/h moment even though that form caused im anguish/ despair lmao *look below*), then when he lost his powers, and so on. Rukia constantly ,not in all these moments but most, play a pivotal part in Ichigo’s emotional stability. Kubo makes her Ichigo’s rock (ray of light, stopper of rain/angish) he makes her someone Ichigo needs to get back to normal for four Arcs (Sub-shingami, SS, HM, and Fullbringer). He makes her the reason why Ichigo can smile again. He makes her what Ichgo needs. Not once has he made Hime that. Throughout the course of the series he made her a friend, a girl in love with Ichigo, a healer and comical relief ; but not once has she made her someone that resolves the main problems Ichigo has emotionally and mentally. Ichigo was literally depressed for a year and a half up and she couldn’t do anything for him and throughout the F.B Arc Ichigo doesn’t smile once... we get one of his fake smiles that makes Yuzu sad but that's about it
GIVE YOUR LOVE INTEREST AUTONOMY.
This trope, which disproportionately affects female love interests, is a form of objectification that's sure to leave a bad taste in many readers' mouths. To counteract this, treat your love interest as the protagonist of their own story, giving them autonomy in the form of their own goals, desires, and needs.
Hime has displayed this trope after the SS arc Kubo makes her a Kurosaki-Kun machine. Her feelings for Ichigo become the largest part of her character or her role as a healer or as a damsel. When they aren’t fighting hime is imagining him in Shojo like scene which is comical in a Shounen ( he went from Ichigo to Usui lol). We understand that she is working but often times when she is in a panel its because she is going to see Ichigo she doesn’t have her own story in the series. Not even some panels showing her working. Just her alone at home thinking about Ichigo, talking about Ichigo (to or not to Tatsuki), Her walking to Ichigo’s Job, Her going to Ichigo’s house, you get the point...
MAKE YOUR LOVE INTEREST IRREPLACEABLE.
Further your love interest's development as a character by giving them a role in your story that is unrelated to their romance with the protagonist.
Rukia place in Ichigo’s life is unique. When Rukia disappears the first time Ichigo speaks on painfully feeling her absence (ch58). Then when he mentions Uryu he says that he’s absent but at least he would remember Rukia (instead of saying “oh yeah Uryu got hurt pretty bad so it makes sense that he’s absent...”) Then gain he mentions this odd feeling about how the world keep going even with out Rukia all in this chapter. This become reiterated in one of Kubo’s signature poems in Vol. 49(below) Ichigo now directly wonders again how can he keep up with the speed of the world without her in it ( It still makes me laugh when I/H deny this...) Then take into consideration that Rukia is the rain stopper (sadness stopper) in Ichigo’s life (another role only she has) Then the chapter where Ichigo gains his fullbringer powers, right before Rukia get a full page dedicated to her as Ichigo thinks of moment that could trigger his power and it is Rukia. Then when he loses his fullbring Rukia brings back his powers again. Rukia being the one who changed his world in general. Kubo again making all these specific decision, put Rukia’ s importance to Ichigo on the forefront.
ENSURE INFLUENCE IS A TWO-WAY STREET.
Relationships are a push-and-pull, a give-and-take. Protagonists are often challenged or transformed by their relationship with the love interest, but don’t forget to allow the relationship to shape your love interest in return.
Throughout the series Rukia is a positive influence to Ichigo. Not once has she ever caused negative development for him. The Ichigo has given Rukia people in her life that she can call her friends. He brings back joy in her life or as Renji says “ a shine in her face” (below) Because of Ichigo, Rukia gains the courage to finally confront Kaien’s family and she too begins to smile again. Because of Ichigo Rukia gets a second chance she can’t protect Kaien but she can protect Ichigo, he brings back her humanity and they give each other balance.
Kubo built all of this up only to go left in the end...
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Live Tweets from the Shinigami-Human-Quincy-Arrancar-Fullbringer Dinner
By Mod Serenity
Technical Author’s Choice, but also requested by @innersuperhero, @aestheticbleach101, and @shadowfaery7 :)
So, because I made those lists about what various groups of Bleach characters would wear for a formal event, I’ve decided to create a list of this joint formal event as a live-tweeting! So, without further ado, here are the live-tweets from the Shinigami-Human-Quincy-Arrancar-Fullbringer Formal Dinner, held in Karakura Town!
1) Ichigo
“Apparently, there’s a formal dinner tonight with the Gotei 13. And the Espada and Arrancars. And the Quincy. And the Fullbringers. And other Karakura Town people.”
#this is probably gonna end in disaster #especially if Karakura Town is the venue! #not only that #my dad and sisters have been invited as well #I should get ready now
2) Yumichika
“I can’t wait to see what everyone is dressed up in. They’re all going to look wonderful!”
#I love parties #so many pretty clothes to see
3) Rukia
”Okay, we just got to the venue, and apparently there’s some kind of fashion show that we all gotta participate in.”
#the Gotei 13 is going after the Karakura people though #Squad 0 are the judges too #I can’t wait to see what they’re all wearing #especially Inoue #she’s gonna be gorgeous!
4) Shutara
“Kurosaki Ichigo looks pretty fine in that tux. Inoue Orihime looks just like a princess in that gown.”
#well I already know who the winners of the Karakura people are gonna be
5) Sentoki
“Well, the humans and Karakura people are done. Time for the Gotei 13!”
#they’d better look good!
6) Ichigo
“Squad 6 is coming on now. Byakuya and Renji are both in black-tie tuxedos.”
#and Renji’s hair is actually down #he looks so good! #seriously #he should wear his hair down all the time!
7) Renji
“@ flower-noble: I guess wearing my hair down was a good idea, huh? Thanks for telling me that in advance.”
#we both look pretty classy tonight #I can feel Ichigo’s eyes on me actually
8) Byakuya
"Who would’ve thought that Zaraki Kenpachi would actually keep his suit clean tonight?
#I suppose even Squad 11 knows how to keep it classy
9) Ishida
“...WTAF is Kurotsuchi wearing??”
#are those... accordion pants?? #WTAF #the moment Kurotsuchi walked down the catwalk everyone was silent #seriously though #what is up with that outfit?? #especially since Nemu looks normal next to him
10) Orihime
"OMG, Kuchiki-san looks lovely! @ dancing-snow-bunny: I love your dress!”
#so classy and elegant! #and so cute as well!
11) Rukia
“@ robot-princess: YOUR DRESS IS PERFECTION YOU LOOK JUST LIKE A PRINCESS OMG”
#seriously though #that dress was made for you! #so beautiful!
12) Sentoki
“And now for the Espada, Hueco Mundo Crew, and Fracciónes!”
13) Gin
“@ beautifulshopper10: Rangiku, you look simply radiant tonight.”
#she is perfection itself #I wouldn’t mind spending some time with her tonight
14) Yumichika
"Halibel and Nelliel look simply stunning! BUT WTF IS THAT CHARLOTTE GUY EVEN WEARING
#HE LOOKS LIKE A DRAG QUEEN OMG #but Halibel looks like an actual queen!
15) Grimmjow
“@ strawberryprotector15: I can feel your eyes on me, Kurosaki. Admit it, I look good, don’t I?”
#yeah I know how to dress up #I can be classy whenever I want to be
16) Sentoki
“Now the Fullbringers are next!”
17) Orihime
“@ pinkcutie: Omg, Riruka! Your dress is so gorgeous and cute!”
#pink and a ballgown! #we match! #yaaaayyyy!!!
18) Riruka
“@ robot-princess: Why are you so excited over matching...?”
#you look really cute though
19) Renji
“@ coffee-boots: I gotta say, you look fine as hell tonight!”
#I’m serious #that’s such a nice dress you’re wearing
20) Jackie
“@ stray-dog-06: I appreciate your compliments. And you look just as handsome tonight.”
#you really are a good man
21) Oetsu
“Finally, it’s time for the Sternritter!”
22) Byakuya
“Jugram Haschwalth’s hair is a thing of beauty. It practically rivals Ukitake’s hair. @ thebalancer: will you tell me how you get it like that?”
#I must know your secret
23) Haschwalth
“@ flower-noble: You wish to know the secret behind my hair? I’d be glad to tell you. Besides, your hair is also quite lovely.”
#I’d love to share my secret with you #if you’ll tell me the secret behind your hair as well
24) Renji
- “I gotta say, Bazz-B has one nice-looking tux!”
#looks kinda punk #but it’s totally awesome!
25) Bazz-B
“You look pretty cool yourself, @ stray-dog-06!”
#nice eyebrows too! #and your hair!! #I’m so jealous!
26) Rukia
“... As Nodt is wearing a blood-splattered tuxedo. And Gerard is in a Thor costume.”
#I seriously hope that’s not real blood #WTAF are the Quincies anyways?!
27) Hikifune
"It’s time for dinner now! While we decide on the winners, I hope you enjoy my home cooking!
#I made it all especially for tonight! #all of my best recipes are the main course for dinner!
28) Orihime
"OMG, the food is soooooo good!! I’m gonna cry, this is so delicious!!”
#Hikifune: BEST CHEF EVER
29) Nelliel
“This is the best food I’ve ever eaten in my whole life!!”
#Soul Society chefs: way better than Hueco Mundo meals!
30) Tousen
"Soul Society may be a corrupt place, yet Hikifune’s meals are full of purity and goodness that I cannot complain.”
#Hikifune’s meals #perhaps the only good thing about Soul Society
31) Halibel
“I sure hope Aizen-sama told Aaroniero not to release in the hall here.”
#I would like to be able to eat my dinner without seeing a tentacled monster eating the food
32) Riruka
“OMG, what the actual hell is that thing at the Espada table?!”
#a giant tentacled monster!! #omg that’s so gross!
33) Rukia
“Well, now I know what’s gonna be haunting my dreams for the rest of my life.”
#I have to see Aaroniero release again?? #and this time for eating?? #oh god I did not want to know how a tentacled monster consumes its dinner
34) Aizen
“@ tentacles-09: I thought I told you to wait until we got back to Hueco Mundo to eat your dinner?? Just for that, I’m raising my spiritual pressure until you go out of release.”
#maybe Gillian Espada weren’t such a good idea #had I known that Aaroniero would be a tentacled monster I would not have used the Hogyoku on him #I need to think these things through from now on
35) Ukitake
“That’s the Espada that Kuchiki fought against? The one who impersonated Kaien?”
#poor Kaien #he must be weeping
36) Liltotto
“Well... that was a thing...”
#anyways #I can eat anyone else’s meal if they don’t want it
37) Bambietta
“@ quincy-glutton: Touch my food and you die.”
#I mean it
38) Ichibe
“It’s time for the awards to be presented, so listen up, everyone!”
39) Rukia
“Best Dressed Human Female goes to: Inoue!”
#I knew it! #I knew she would win! #if she didn’t I would riot #that dress is just too gorgeous!
40) Ishida
“Best Dressed Human Male goes to Ichigo?!”
#dammit how does Kurosaki have a better fashion sense than me?!
41) Kurotsuchi
"I cannot believe that Kuchiki Byakuya won ‘Best Dressed Male Captain’ over me.”
#you fools just don’t understand fashion at all
42) Byakuya
“And Unohana won Best Dressed Female Captain.”
#I’m not sure how to feel about that
43) Renji
“Hell yeah! I won the Best Dressed Male Lieutenant!”
#I knew wearing my hair down was a great idea! #Squad 6 baby! #we know how to look good!
44) Hisagi
“Best Dressed Female Lieutenant goes to Rangiku!”
#I knew she’d win that award! #Rangiku always looks good no matter what she wears!
45) Grimmjow
"Hell yeah, I’m the king! Won Best Dressed Male Espada! And Nelliel won Best Dressed Female Espada!”
#wow Nnoitra’s pissed off #he just screeched and tried to fight me #Aizen reiatsu-slammed him into sitting back down tho #nice! #eat it spoon-hood!
46) Yumichika
“So Best Dressed Female Fracción went to Sung-Sun. BUT HOW COME BEST DRESSED MALE FRACCION WENT TO CHARLOTTE??”
#he looked so ugly!
47) Tsukishima
“Of course I’d win Best Dressed Male Fullbringer. And of course Riruka would win the Best Dressed Female Fullbringer.”
#we look just perfect don’t we?
48) Kyoraku
“So Haschwalth wins Best Dressed Male Sternritter?”
#must be the hair #of course #his hair is as wonderful as Jushiro���s hair!
49) Bambietta
"That’s right, everyone! The Best Dressed Female Sternritter is me! So eat it, all of you!”
#Haschwalth and I are the king and queen now!
50) Ichigo
“Whoa, whoa, nobody told me there was dancing at this thing!”
#apparently all winners of the fashion contest have to dance with each other?? #that means Inoue and I are dancing together #god I hope I don’t step on her feet #I’m bad at dancing!
51) Tatsuki
“@ strawberryprotector15: You step on Orihime’s feet, I’ll punch you!”
#don’t you dare mess this up for her!
52) Chad
"Ichigo and Inoue are dancing now. Reminds me of Beauty and the Beast.”
#it’s actually very beautiful
53) Yoruichi
“Finally Ichigo does something right!”
#nice to see he’s careful not to step on Orihime’s toes!
54) Rukia
“Unohana-taichou and Nii-sama dancing: possibly the most graceful and elegant thing I’ve ever seen!”
#Nii-sama looks dignified as ever! #as expected of him!
55) Kira
“Whoa, Abarai and Grimmjow sure have some awesome moves!”
#I’m serious #the music changed to something more club-like #those two are killing it on the dance floor #Matsumoto and Nelliel are speechless #so is everyone else #looks like the Sexta Espada and Sixth Lieutenant have hit it off pretty well
56) Orihime
“I danced with Kurosaki-kun. And I managed not to mess it up! It was absolutely magical!”
#I feel like dancing all night now!
57) Unohana
“Looks like the dinner is over. It was truly a wonderful evening.”
#we definitely should do it again
58) Urahara
“Looks like Byakuya and Haschwalth are now talking about hair. And Abarai, Grimmjow, and Bazz-B are bonding.”
#unexpected friendships #the power of fancy dinners??
59) Yamamoto
“This was indeed quite a success.”
#everything worked out #and surprisingly #nothing was destroyed
60) Ichigo
“This... actually went way better than I thought it would. Maybe we should do this again next year!”
#unexpected success #let’s do this again shall we??
#Bleach#Bleach Lists#Gotei 13#Karakura Gang#Espada#Sternritter#Fullbringers#Ichigo#Shinigami#IchiHime#GinRan
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It’s 15 minutes after the deadline, but here’s my contribution for Ichirukimonth 2018: Day 14: Any
Summary: My take on the meme started by Prettysketch, Dance With Snow White.
“The Soul King is the key to this world. If the Soul King dies, Seireitei, the present world, Hueco Mundo, Everything…will disappear. -Hyōsube Ichibē”
He saw his blade strike home, saw Zangetsu cleave through Ywhach’s body. Then everything…shattered.
“It’s starting Orihime” Ichigo said.
“Be right there!” His wife cheerfully replied.
“You seen Kazui?”
“Hrmm. He should be upstairs. According to Tsubaki and the others, he just got back in from snooping around Hiyori’s place.”
Ichigo shook his head in disbelief. I’m married to Orihime? He thought. What? Why would that happen? That just doesn’t make sense.
Nothing Ichigo saw was making sense. The latest fragment drifted away from him tumbling end over end glinting like a mirror shard. They surrounded him as far as the eye could see. He floated in a formless void, helpless and confused, surrounded by the glowing, glassy things displaying light and life and sound. Some of the fragments made sense. There he was as a child learning karate with Tatsuki. Over there he saw Isshin treating a patient. Further out was someone he didn’t even know going about his daily business setting up shop. Ichigo couldn’t understand what it all meant. And every once in a while, he’d see something that he knew didn’t happen.
“Traitor!” Ichigo snarled. “Did you really think you could get by me with something like this?” Angrily he held up a silver arrowhead. “How dare you call yourself a Quincy? How dare you raise your hand against the emperor?”
Ishida raised his head up from the dust to glare up at Ywhach’s successor. Blood spewed from his mouth as he fought for breath staining the boots of Ichigo’s snow white uniform.
“Don’t be a damned fool Kurosaki.” He panted. “Can’t you see? He’s no leader. He’s a monster! He’s going to destroy everything. You have to fight the hold he’s placed on your mind Ichigo. You have to break free!”
The former Shinigami sneered as he drew Zangetsu from his back. “The only thing I have to do is eliminate the last obstacle to our future.”
Ichigo turned away. He couldn’t bear to watch anymore. There’s no way that could ever have happened. Ishida was his friend. What could ever make him want to harm his friends? It was a lie. It had to be.
Floating around was getting him nowhere. He tried touching one of the fragments. It moved away from his fingers like a soap bubble. Reaching for another had the same effect. There had to be something he could do! He sighed as a different fragment drifted past his eyes.
Ywach chuckled. “You never had a chance Kurosaki Ichigo. There was always a missing element in your attack.”
“I’m not done yet.” Ichigo declared. “Let’s see if I can find that element.”
“No need.” Ywhach mockingly assured him. “I’ve found it for you.”
Reaching into his billowing cape of eyes, he dragged out something large. Or rather, someone. Tightly bound and hobbled, she struggled to stay on her feet as Ywhach cruelly dragged her forward by the rope around her neck. Ichigo had flashbacks to Aizen pulling her by her prisoner collar.
“Rukia!” Ichigo cried.
“Yes, Kuchiki Rukia. “ Ywhach confirmed. “By trying to protect her, you have engineered your doom. Had you attacked me as a team you had a slim, but very real chance of winning.”
“Ichigo…” She gasped fighting off strangulation. “Run...”
“Don’t worry Rukia.” Ichigo said bringing Zangetsu to the ready position. “I’ll save you!”
“Oh, I can’t allow that.” Ywhach countered. “While you have a slim chance with her alive, dead you have no chance at all.”
Ichigo screamed in terror as Ywhach drew his sword. Even as he moved with every ounce of strength in his body, Ywhach seemed to move even faster. He was powerless to do anything as the blade swung down.
“NO!” Ichigo shouted. “RUKIA!”
“Ichigo?” A far away voice answered.
“Rukia? Is that you?” He called back.
“Of course it’s me fool! Who else would it be?”
He smiled. Just hearing her voice again made him feel better. At least he wasn’t alone. The spinning fragment containing her death drifted away forgotten.
“Where are you?” He asked “I can’t see you.”
“I don’t know.” She griped. “I’m just sort of floating around out here.”
“Can you see me?”
“If you can’t see me, then how can I see you?”
“Good point. Wait a minute, I’m going to try something.”
Taking a deep breath, he cleared his mind. Closing his eyes, he focused inward, trying to see with his mind’s eye. It didn’t take long for him to see it. The unbreakable bond. The red ribbon connecting him to Rukia. Now that he had a fix on it, he gathered spiritrons under his feet and followed it through the glittering cloud.
I’m coming your way.” He announced. “I’ll be there in a second.”
“Me too.” He heard her say. “You sound louder. We’re getting close.”
They nearly bumped heads when met. They both clutched the others sleeves to stop moving. Ichigo managed to pull enough spritrons together under his feet to create a “floor” allowing them a place to stand.
“Rukia. What are you doing here?” He demanded.
“I…I couldn’t stand waiting for you Ichigo. I felt I had to be there with you for some reason. I followed you and Renji as fast as I could. I’m…I’m sorry Ichigo. I wasn’t there in time to help.”
“Did you see what happened?” Ichigo asked. “One second I’m fighting Ywhach, the next we’re…here. And where is here anyway? Are we in another dimension? Another world?”
She sadly shook her head. “No Ichigo. This isn’t another world. Oh...how can I explain this? This is...all the worlds. All of space and time. Everything that was and everything that might have been. All smashed to pieces.”
“How is that possible?” He said. “How could our battle destroy everything?”
“Don’t you see?” She replied. “Soul Society set up the Soul King as the linchpin to reality. Ywhach took on that role when he absorbed the Soul King’s power. When you defeated him, that linchpin was destroyed.”
“What, seriously?” Ichigo demanded.
“Yes! Seriously!” Rukia countered. “Do you have a better explanation for what you see here?”
“Well is there anyone else here?” Ichigo asked. “Hello! Hello!”
They both tried shouting. “Hello! Hello!”
“Looks like it's just us here.” Ichigo observed. “Why is that?”
“I don't know.” Rukia replied.
“So what happens now?”
“I don't know.”
“Well what about...”
“Ichigo!” Rukia snapped. She took a deep breath. “I'm sorry. I didn't meant to do that. I...I'm a little scared right now. I knew something like this could happen if the Soul King was killed, but I was never trained, never prepared to deal with it. I'm sorry Ichigo. I can't help you.”
Ichigo gave a wry smile. “I'm sorry too. I'm so used to getting my answers from you. You've always been there to tell me what to do. I think I might putting too much on your shoulders sometimes.”
“It's all right.” She said. “Someone has to be there to keep you steady. Right?”
They both smiled bravely, but the fear persisted. Unconsciously, Ichigo pulled her close. He could feel her heart pounding against his chest as the fragments swirled around them.
“Ichigo, look.” Rukia pointed. “That piece over there.”
Following her finger, he quickly realized what was happening.
“It's dying.” He said.
As they watched, the “life” guttered out of the fragment leaving it gray and dull.
“Is this what's going to happen?” He asked. “Is everything just going to fade out?”
“I think so.” Rukia replied. “With reality broken, there's nothing to generate new energy. New life. I think this is the end of everthing.”
As more fragments began to sputter and die, it became harder to maintain the spiritrons under his feet. Ichigo stumbled as he lost his footing.
“Hey be careful.” Rukai warned.
“I'm trying.” He replied trying to regain a hold. They began spinning in place.
“Let me try.” Rukia offered. She had no more luck than Ichigo. With energy fading there was less to work with every second.
“I'm starting to get dizzy.” Ichigo complained.
Rukia nervously chuckled. “Why Mr. Kurosaki, you dance divinely.”
Ichigo tried to think up a comeback when he noticed something.
“Hey Rukia. Do you feel that?”
She frowned. “Feel what?”
“I'm not sure.” He answered. “Just follow my lead.”
Instead of trying to stop the spin, Ichigo began using what little push he could generate to increase it.
“Can you feel it now?” He asked.
“Yes.” Rukia replied. “I can feel something. I can feel power. We're generating something.”
It wasn't long at all before they could create a solid spritron platform again.
“Interesting.” Rukia noted. “But what good are we doing?”
“Who knows?” He replied. “It's not like we have anything better to do. Besides, it just feels right.”
“I've trusted your instincts before.” She said with a smile. “And yes, what else do we have to do.”
Ichigo had an idea. “This is getting boring. Let me show you a few moves.”
With a solid “floor” under his feet, he began to move in a pattern. Placing his hand on Rukia's waist, he held her hand out to the side. “Here, follow my lead. This is a basic box step. 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4.”
Rukia was surprised. “You never told me you could dance.”
“Mom used to teach me when I was little.” He said. “I was planning to show you some day. Let's try this now.”
Ichigo showed her new steps and moves as they went along floating in the vacuum. The energy they generated grew stronger and stronger.
“The fragments.” Rukia said. “They're glowing again.”
“And they're moving different too.” He added. “They were all moving outward before. Now they're starting to move back. Let's keep it up!”
As the fragments bumped and collided around them, they began to make a strange sort of music. The young couple began to forget the predicament they were in and were actually enjoying themselves. With the energy growing by the second, it began to affect them. Before Ichigo's eyes, Rukia transformed into a vision in frosty white. Laughing she pointed at him. He was transforming into his final form, covered in black flames. Fire and Ice, Yin and Yang, they danced in perfect balance and harmony.
Suddenly Ichigo saw it. Reaching out, he pulled a fragment out of the maelstrom. He showed it to Rukia. It was them. It was the very first moment they met in Ichigo's room. Rukia spotted another fragment and seized it. It was the moment she gave Ichigo her powers. Using his flame, Ichigo melded the fragment together. Using her ice, she sealed the mended pieces together. They soon found more. Going to school together. Fighting Shrieker. Battling Renji and Byakuya. Meeting again in Soul Society. Moment leading into moment, piece leading to piece, the broken pieces of reality were being reforged. It became a part of their dance as they moved back and forth, finding and repairing reality, one shattered piece at a time.
How long could it take to repair infinite pieces? It didn't really matter. In the void there was no time, only the satisfaction of purpose, the joy of creation, and the dance, always the dance. They put back together not just their lives, but all lives. They fixed the warped and damaged pieces created by Ywhach's perversion, setting things right. They were new gods of creation, remaking the world with the power of their dance. After an infinity of time that didn't seem that long at all, they were done, all of reality arcing overhead, a rainbow of light and life and possibility. The song of the universe was quiet now, only a steady thrum like the beating of a heart. And still they danced.
“It's almost done.” Rukia told him. “There's only one part left.”
Ichigo nodded. “Us. Once we go back, it all starts again.”
“I wonder what's going to happen?” She asked. “I wonder how it will be when we go back.”
“I know what you mean.” He answered. “I'm kinda nervous myself. Let not think about that for now. Lets just dance for a little while longer.”
Swaying in each other's arms, they put all other thoughts aside, simply enjoying each other's company.
“Rukia.” Ichigo began. “Before we go back, I just want to tell you...”
She put her finger against his lips. “I know.”
The music slowed, then stopped. Rukia let him go and stepped away.
“It's time.”
Nodding, he took her hand. Reaching upward, they rejoined the rest of the universe.
A strange voice was speaking.
“When the two that share destiny part and reunite, beyond the frame of time the ceased clock will awake and start to tick once again.”
Opening his eyes, he saw a strange tall man standing over him.
“Hello. Ichigo is it? I'd like to thank you for putting everything back together. I have to admit I was a bit worried. Prophecy's not as cut and dried as people think.”
It was then Ichigo noticed his eyes. They were just like Ywhach's! He scrambled to his feet in alarm and whipped Zangestu off his back.
“Just who the hell are you!?” He snarled.
“No need for that.” The strange man assured him. He began to stretch and wave his hands around. “Ah, it's so nice to have my arms and legs back. I hope they had a good time.”
“Listen freak!” Ichigo warned. “If you don't tell me who you are and just what the hell is going on...”
He was interrupted by a smack on the head.
“Fool!” Rukia shouted. “You can't talk to the Soul King like that!”
“Argh, dammit Rukia!” He complained rubbing his head. “Wait a minute. That's the Soul King? Wait. Rukia? We're back? We're back!”
Dropping Zangetsu on the floor, he swept Rukia up in his arms. Laughing and talking excitedly, they lost all notice of their royal host. He turned his back to give them some privacy. Well, as much as a near omnipresent being like himself could give. There would be time to go over his plans for them later. This was only the first step in a series of badly needed reforms in Soul Society. They still had a lot to do and Ichigo and Rukia would be key to every step. Judging by the way they were still holding each other, he was sure they wouldn't mind.
#ichiruki month 2018#ichirukimonth day 14 any#Bleach#Ichiruki#dance with snow white#ichigo kurosaki#rukia kuchiki#the soul king
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Anniversary ( Ichigo/Orihime)
August 18th: Anniversary /Pastels
Pairings: Ichigo/Orihime
Word Count: 1000
Rating: T in general
His words drifted but the meaning seemed to fill the space between them.
Warning: Post!Canon, set during the few years in between the timeskip.
Tatsuki face twisted in confusion.
“Are you sure you are not going overboard?”
Orihime’s head popped up from the open wardrobe.
“What do you mean?”
The room fell still for one moment. Sighing, Tatsuki picked up a piece of clothing from the bed.
“I mean this,”Tatsuki replied, flicking it over her shoulder “You’re worrying too much about it. It’s a celebration you know?”
Orihime bit her lip. In some ways she supposed Tatsuki was correct. Yet she couldn’t ignore how her stomach was somersaulting.
Everything was going well since she and Ichigo…since everything became more firm. It had started out gently enough. Their university campus’s weren’t to far away from the other and so studying together became natural. Then studying turned to evening meals..then evening meals turned to something else…
It had been over a year since then. And everyone had been happy for them! From Uryu to Chad and Tatsuki,
Even Ichigo’s sisters!
Orihime help up the bright pink sweater on her lap.
“It was so sweet of them to invite me.” She said sweetly “I just want to get it right!”
It was true. She had been so happy and all the more surprised when Ichigo slipped her that envelop two weeks prior.
“It wasn’t my idea,” he had said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head “But they insisted.”
Orihime paused, slowly opening it with care.
“I’m invited to a one year anniversary celebration?”
She stared back at him. Ichigo seemed bright red.
“Since you officially came over as…you know...”
He drifted off. They were both bright read.
“I’d hate to ask but…would you mind?”.
Orihime shivered away from her memories. She was unsure what to expect yet felt touched by the acceptance of the young Kurosaki sisters. When she wasn’t awash with essays or shifts at the bakery, she made time to take their calls, helped Yuzu with sewing projects, watched Karin with soccer and even provided notes for their studies.
Tatsuki scanned the etches of Orihime face and broke into a small smile. She had watched with happiness as two of her closest friends became increasingly interlinked. The invitation wasn’t that much of a surprise knowing the Kurosakis, but she knew how important these new family bonds meant Orihime. It was different type of relationship she had probably assumed she would never experience.
Tatsuki made her way over to Orihime before squatting to pat her head.
“Just think about having fun.” She said “And everything else will fall into place. Don’t worry.”
Orihime nodded, still clutching at the bright pink sweater..
___
They were already fighting when she stepped into the clinic.
Orihime blinked.
“Kurosaki-kun?”
“LET GO OF ME ALREADY!”
“Daddy stop bullying oniichan!”
Orihime stared on in confusion. No one seemed to notice she had slipped in, clutching baked goods close to her chest. The family in front of her were all animated in this strange disorder. A forgotten banner (stating ‘congratulations’) was left on one corner of the living room, Karin was dragging her father away from an angry Ichigo while Yuzu was scolding everyone from the door to the kitchen.
Freed from his impoundment, Ichigo sat up from his position on the floor, throwing an angry glance at his father.
“Just what the hell is wrong with you?”
“No need to get violent, just let me see!”
“Hell no!”
“Would you two quit it already?”
“Yes, Orihime-chan will be here any moment…”
There was a small cough.
The Kurosaki’s turned.
Orihime blushed as she smiled.
“I came a bit early didn’t I? He-he…”
Ichigo wanted the floor to swallow him.
__
“Why do I need an apology again?”
The evening had gone better than she expected. Things had proceeded as normal (well as normal as the Kurosaki household could manage) from dinner to games before Ichigo had practically tugged her away, insisting he would walk her home.
He had been apologetic ever since.
“I told him to behave himself,” Ichigo said, combing back his hair with his fingers “But he was worse than usual.”
Orihime giggled. “Kurosaki-san is funny.”
Ichigo grimaced in return. “In small doses. Otherwise he’s a pain.”
Orihime smiled back at him, thumbing the wrapped box in her hand. “It was really nice of your sisters to give me this.”
Ichigo shrugged. “Not really, they like hanging out with you .”
“And the dinner, and the games.” Orihime put a finger on her lip “I never knew Karin could dance so well.”
Ichigo snorted, and stuffed a hand in his pockets. “Well that’s them for you. Besides, they just wanted to show you they appreciated you being…you.”
Orihime beamed, daring to take his fingers in her own. A year ago she would have died at the thought of it but now only a light dust of a blush stained her cheeks.
“You’re all very kind.” She whispered “I-I’m…really happy.”
Ichigo looked down at her, ignoring how hard his heart was beating.
“You’re always…giving us undeserved complements.”
“Huh?”
Ichigo’s voice was low and soft. “I mean…all of this is normal right?”
Orihime felt his thumb brush against her lips and felt herself melting. Before she became a spluttering mess, Ichigo retracted his thumb, the embarrassment getting the better of him.
“Anyway you don’t have to think its so kind,” he whispered turning away “They’re just…I’m glad….that you and I are now..”
His words drifted but the meaning seemed to fill the space between them. Orihime’s eyes found the ground she inhaled with sweet scents of the late summer breeze.
“Sometimes it feels like I’m dreaming,” Orihime admitted, smiling to herself “I never thought, all these nice things would ever happen to me.”
Ichigo looked back at her. “Inoue..”
Suddenly, Orihime’s eyes widened, before turning to Ichigo in sudden realisation.
“Wait, what was it Kurosaki-san was talking about?”
“Huh?”
“The thing when I stepped inside!”
Ichigo’s face became aflame.
“I-It’s nothing….”
“Huh?”
“You really don’t have to worry about it…”
“Really?”
“Y-yeah….say do you want to stop for doughnuts?”
“Kurosaki-kun, why are you changing the subject?”
The banter continued all the way to Baskin-Robbins, their fingers entwined, while the Kurosaki twins toasted to their successful hosting back at the clinic.
___
Tatsuki looked appalled.
“He got you a rat.”
Orihime held up the fat hamster and pouted.
“Chou-chan isn’t a rat, he is really cute!”
“He got you a rat.”
“Tatsuki-chan!”
___
END
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what exactly is the crossover that nobody asked for but that you are personally offended doesn't exist (its gonna be good though everything by you is amazing)
Anonymous said: I read in your tags that you’re working on a crossover 👀👀 What’s it about? If you prefer to keep it a surprise no probs, I was just curious~
katanagatari + bleach crossover. shichika (katanagatari main character) is a swordless swordsman whose entire sword style revolves around the person themself being the sword. shichika dies and goes to soul society, and he is his own zanpakuto, effectively making him a self-wielding zanpakuto.
some shinigami who shichika is suddenly fighting or whatever: your spiritual power… you must be a shinigami, then… where’s your sword? shichika, who has no idea what’s going on: ‘,:/ im the sword the shinigami: the shinigami: youre the swordshichika: yeah im the sword the shinigami: you cant fight a sword wielder without a sword? are you stu-shichika: [fucking clowns them]
and by ‘fucking clowns them’ i mean that shichika breaks their zanpakuto because his sword style has a LOT of sword breaking moves. he breaks swords. that’s what he DOES. which makes him a danger who needs to either be recruited or eliminated.
i love the idea of shichika being a terror and a menace to anyone and everyone because he just. breaks so many fucking zanpakuto. they actually send a division to try and recruit him, or if not, to kill him, but shichika is just like “what? i dont know what you’re talking about. i’m pretty simple. whatever you’re saying is bouncing right off me” and breaks all their zanpakuto and leaves.
another thing that i hope happens:
kurotsuchi: i MUST get my hand on this intriguing specimen… shichika, who has no concept of soul society’s military structure, and even if he did, he wouldn’t care: kills him
then shichika just fucks off and does his own thing for a few hundred years.
until the aizen arc comes along, at which point shichika sees orihime’s resolve and desire to protect… or something… the details here are a little bit fuzzy. but my point is that shichika sees orihime’s strength of character and it impresses him so he Picks her. she’s his wielder now
orihime: um… i’m sorry… i don’t know who you are…? shichika: i’m the seventh head of the kotouryuu sword style, yasuri shichika. i’m going to help you kill aizen orihime: O-OH, UM… i don’t want to kill him! shichika: okorihime: …but i do want to defeat him so he can’t ever hurt my friends ever again… orihime: could you help me do that…?shichika: uhhh yeah sure. is that a commandorihime: i don’t want to command you, shichika-san!shichika: [frowns very hard, then shrugs and sits back] okay well i guess that’s command number one. i won’t kill aizen but i’ll do everything i can to help you defeat him orihime: it’s not a command!!! … um… but thank you for doing this…
thats the start
bonus details:
shichika gives himself the very serious self-assigned duty of keeping orihime safe (unless orihime asks otherwise) so he does show up to school, still dead, still immensely powerful, mostly just hanging out outside. also kills all the hollows in the area so they dont get orihime.
orihime: oh! um, hello shichika-san! what are you doing here? shichika: im protecting you orihime: worihime: what from? shichika: Things
at some point orihime is like “hey guys, um… do you mind if i invite an unusual friend to sit with us…” and everyone is like “yeah, sure, whatever” and orihime is like “great!” and then she leans over the side of the roof and calls for shichika and moment later shichika has jumped onto the roof and is crouching there alert like a dog at point
“orihime,” he says.
“hi, shichika-san!” she says. “um, it’s lunchtime now, so… i was wondering if maybe you wanted to spend time with me and my friends! it must get pretty boring and lonely doing guard duty all day…”
“it’s fine,” says shichika. “i can sit here if you want."
"yeah, that would be awesome!” says orihime. “only if you want to, though–”
“orihime, did that guy just leap onto the roof?” says ishida.
also ishida: [narrows his eyes] your spirit ribbon… what…? it’s not any color i’ve seen before…! what are you?shichika: i’m orihime’s swordishida: what?shichika, in the same tone of voice, but slightly more impatient now: i’m orihime’s swordorihime, upon getting everyone’s questioning looks: oh n-no, um, that’s not – shichika-san is – um… i’m not sure what he is, actually… but he’s a nice guy! he’s helping me get stronger so we can fight aizen!
ichigo and shichika have a conversation that goes something like, “are you a shinigami?” “no” “a – a plus soul?” “no” “well – are you dead?” “yeah” “not a hollow?” “no” “…are you going to try and kill me or any of my friends” “i have no interest in that” so ichigo goes, “okay, that’s good enough for me” and that’s that
ishida hates it because shichika is so SUSPICIOUS to him and he demands that shichika leaves, and shichika shrugs and is like “i’ll leave if orihime wants me to” and orihime is like “oh no, um… i want him to get along with everyone… please try and get along, ishida-kun…” and ishida is like “tch. fine”
i do love the promise of an ichigo-shichika dynamic because it would just be like
ichigo: i do wonder why there have been like, zero hollow attacks lately shichika: i’ve been killing them ichigo: ichigo: [your social link has gained a rank!]
ichigo also probably loves the fact that he doesn’t have to spend all his time and energy trying to protect his friends anymore. he can leave some of it to shichika now. they can take shifts. he expects shichika to understand this unspoken bond between men, and he treats shichika appropriately and is very friendly.
shichika, internally: … >:? shichika, externally: okay
ichigo appreciates shichika as a fellow powerhouse, and a source of solidarity and knowledge and experience that ISN’T urahara. shichika helps and protects ichigo because ichigo is orihime’s friend. their friendship is based on the vaguest terms possible.
more factoids about this au: orihime and tatsuki are gay for each other, ichigo gets to not be the main character and not get yanked around by centuries-old dead people, orihime gets to grow into her full potential, and the ichigo friend squad gets an actual happy ending. this is purely self indulgent wacky shenanigans and probably lots of curbstomping. shoutout to @salvainterra for listening to me talk about this au and contributing some fantastic ideas, such as orihime and tatsuki being gay
#bad idea catalogue#ask#this is all i've been thinking about for the past two days actually#Anonymous
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