Me Writing A Meta For My Favorite Series: -Write Write Write Evidence Write Perfect Flow Write Write

Ichigo’s stance on the SS’s morality is definitely one where I also wondered how he act in response to it as a whole. He mainly is protecting those he cares including his friends in the SS, but on the other matters like the Quincy genocide or the falsity of the Soul King, he seems to be neutral, mainly focusing on the present, not the past actions that fuel who he's fighting. Like you said, his action to move forward with others towards a future for everyone is the antithesis to his opposition.

Him being a human also factors into the one time he’s been critically against SS was in the FB arc where he’s bold enough to ask for Ginjo’s body from them so he can bury it in the WOTL, despite Ginjo’s crimes against the SS. Like he still decided to trust them considering what they did to Ginjo, but that moment is segmented after his past actions that overturned the SS's rigid law that's lasted for thousands of years.

At the end of the day, Ichigo isn't the lonely teen he used to be with how he's developed and has let other people into his life opposed to Aizen. I say he would decide to leave the internal affairs of the Shinigami to those he trusts instead of taking things into his own hands like Aizen, and be his own figure that has Urahara's influence.

Tbh there's something about the way Ichigo, Kisuke, and Sōsuke are all reflecting off of each other in canon

Like this is sooooo influenced by my random uraichizen thoughts but

Like, considering Kisuke's Boddhisatva allegory with Guanyin/Kannon and his knowledge of the world, the idea that he preserves the status quo of the worlds by not actively doing anything in comparison to Sōsuke (from what we can see). He is a Boddhisattva in this sense. He's seen the truth, he teaches others the truth or hints at it because true Enlightenment can only be with the self. But.

Then there's the actual consequence of SS and what shinigami have to do to maintain the balance. Kisuke opposes Sōsuke and his views not because he believes it's right, but because he believes that the destruction of the worlds is not acceptable. It's a necessary evil.

Sōsuke has an ego with him wanting to become God, but there's also something almost tragic about his arc with reframing it from his perspective of Soul Society.

Soul Society is not a good place. Honestly horrible to live in. Especially when we find out that they sacrifice souls to hollows and vice versa in the name of balance.

Tbh, I ended up asking myself, from this viewpoint, is the Soul Society really worth protecting? Because it's goal is not about protecting people, but protecting the balance. Can the shinigami claim ignorance? Should they even be allowed to when they are complicit in destruction of lives? What would 'life' actually be considered in this universe? Do hollows deserve life as humans do? Except the SS ultimately sees both as a means to an end, hollows are just more of an obstacle.

Effwctively, shinigami are content sleeping on a bed of ground bones. I can see Sōsuke thinking this from a biased perspective.

But he's also not some savior either. He's arrogant and has a callousness to him that conflicts with this more sympathetic view of him.

His anger at Kisuke for knowing the truth of the world and not trying to change it seems genuine. There's an air of hypocrisy to his character I can't shake and it makes me wanna know more about why. Like the question of the greater evil vs the lesser evil.

Except Ichigo. He steps forward, finally knowing himself in full, to defeat Sōsuke, to defeat Yhwach, yet I can't help but feel like he's still so ignorant of the world he lives in. If he learned about their horrors, could he truly stand by in shadows waiting as Kisuke does, or would he become like another Sōsuke, for whatever reason. Or would he become a different path?

Sōsuke is also related to illusion and water, a reflection. We never see his bankai and I would even go so far as to think that he own powers don't work as they do in canon. There's still too many unknowns about him for me to be confident in them. But Ichigo’s own insights about Sōsuke's loneliness is just... it's so tempting to build off of that.

Because those feelings are likely a reflection of Ichigo from when he was a young age and his own confusing powers may have brought only more loneliness instead of understanding or connection.

I can't help but think that Kisuke represents Stagnation and Sōsuke represents Progess. Except poth come with an unsavory taste in the mouth. Kisuke waits, likely works towards a goal, bit it's far too slow for the people that have already suffered because of the world. Sōsuke steps forward, also hiding until he's sure of his strike, and he probably would have won if not for Ichigo. What is Ichigo then?

The only part of the Soul King that's named is his heart, which can bring about miracles, things unexplained due to emotions and desires. It acts similar to the Hōgyoku. Ichigo speculates that Sōsuke may have actually wanted to lose to him and that's... also a lot of implication about Sōsuke's character. There's also the idea that Sōsuke may have built Ichigo up. To what? Defeat him? Stand by his side? To make him less lonely? Or are these Ichigo’s unreliable feelings, are they simply Ichigo’s own reflected onto Sōsuke?

Both of Kisuke and Sōsuke's plans and views come with a price. And Ichigo remains ignorant, but he stills fights for everyone to not pay that price, even his enemies.

In a way, it's like Sōsuke decided to pay a huge price upfront to pay back later, Kisuke is frugal and making sure to balance everything while moving forward but that means people can't attain true wealth within their lifetime. Yhwach decided to destroy the concept itself despite that it means everyone will then have to pay that price.

Ichigo, is just, bursting through all of that. But he's also only one person. And idk, that feels important to how change must be made collectively when it's about a whole society. All Ichigo does is step forward, with other people, like the beginning of a wave.

Like, this is the end of the post but SŌSUKE AND KANAME??????? That alone needs a whole thesis and how it informs both of their characters since the only person Sōsuke actually trusts out of everyone is Kaname

Reblogging for this week's recent episode...

Style Points > Time

Incredible, I love how you can correlate the ups and downs Ichigo has Hollow Zangetsu with these kleshas.

Zangetsu, you’re making it sound like that’s a bad thing.

But the fear of becoming a raging monster…is a perfectly reasonable and healthy fear. We should all have such a fear!

My top 5 Bleach women and why I love them: Part 2

If you haven't seen Part 1 of this, here's the link. https://www.tumblr.com/takibikaen/725767150684520448/my-top-5-bleach-women-and-why-i-love-them-part-1?source=share

2/5. Orihime Inoue ~ The Princess

Why?

She’s ridiculously quirky and really wholesome, which really added a layer of emotion to the series as the character who could be empathic with so many individuals. Her struggles and belief she builds within herself in her friends and Ichigo is beautiful to see through the show. She’s a human teenager who wasn’t built for fighting like her friends but she still tries her best to help out and genuinely has a good heart void of killing intent.

The Orihime/Riruka interaction is even wholesome when you find out Orihime calls Riruka multiple times after TYBW lmao

Showing compassion in front of those who wronged you or are against you is hard to do. For Orihime, it’s her nature to be kind and non-aggressive even to those who hurt her. It’s a sentiment that one would usually discard especially in a lot of shows. However, I see Orihime being this way as reaching out to them because she knows they’re hurting on the inside like Sora and Riruka, or that they need to load power over her like Loly.

Throughout those experiences, she’s been able to keep her compassionate nature even in the face of all this. Obviously, I could keep on harping on how this makes her stand out from multiple other characters, but I’ll try not to. Her Fullbring powers are to reject phenomenon and I see her nature as an symbol of that, where outside events don’t get to her even in dark times, that she keeps true to herself no mater what.

We As one: are not intertwined. As two: do not share the same form. Of the third: we simply don't have eyes. Of the fourth: we have no hope in that direction. At the fifth therein lies the heart. - Bleach Vol. 27

Ichigo’s conflict in the Arcancar Arc was centered around protecting his friends to the point that he wouldn’t trust them to fight with him or confide with them. Orihime also goes through something like this, which that she goes to Hueco Mundo without telling them, so Ulquiorra wouldn’t hurt them. However in her heart, she was glad Ichigo and others came for her and even had a moment where Ichigo’s mysterious Hollowifaction scared her. The very thing Ichigo strived work towards to protect her and those they loved.

I especially look towards her pacifist nature being clear when Grimmjow demands she heals Ichigo so Grimmjow can kill him at full power in a new fight. Complete opposite of Unohana learning healing Kido to extend her fights, right? That’s why it ends beautifully when Orihime realizes Ichigo’s Hollow power shouldn't get in the way of her trust in him to end the fight. She comes forth to listen to her heart and gets past the idea of no hope, the Hollow eyes she stared into, Ichigo’s masked form, and believes in those she cares about. She doesn’t despair.

To finish it off, her growth in the Fullbring arc is good to see pay off especially where she has faith in Ichigo to make it through, that she’ll heal him even if it gives him the opportunity to get hurt again. Plus, she even develops her Fullbring ability to the point where she can defend and reactively attack at the same time, thus keeping true to her nature while fighting back. Orihime is genuinely a character who I love from her quirky & kind nature but to also how human she is in dealing with things outside of her control, and her internal growth towards her friends.

Pink background art belongs to @rakusakugk on Twitter. High School Orihime art belongs to @srkbom108 on Twitter, and the black-white background art belongs to @Mak_ai_ on Twitter. Absolutely talented artists.

Sorry, but Tumblr only allows 30 photos per post so there's a Part 3 of this mini-series.

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My top 5 Bleach women and why I love them: Part 3

If you haven't seen Part 1 and 2 of this, here's the link. (Some of this based on what makes them awesome, or how they're written. Also, th

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The Happy Birthday Chappy Cafe!

Set A: Curry Rice with pickles and wakame cucumber salad (498 kan)

Set B: Bunny Chow with pickles and wakame cucumber salad (448 kan)

Happy birthday, Rukia! Some post-series January, Rukia mentions that she really misses getting food at dives in the Living World. She’d have Ichigo take her places, and since Ichigo has the disposable income of a 15-year old, they were always dives, and she loved them. So for her birthday–leaning on talents gained while living with/working for the Urahara Shouten–Renji decides to recreate the experience in Soul Society. After interrogating Ichigo, he lands on curry rice. Chappy curry rice.

Here’s everyone he gets to help:

Keep reading

I don’t know if Segunda Etapa and Ichigo’s Dangai version of his Bankai/Mugetsu could be considered equals. Vasto Lorde Ichigo overpowered Ulquiorra’s second Resurrecion and then Dangai Ichigo was overpowering Hyogoku Aizen’s multiple forms who claimed he was transcending hollows and Shinigami.

Mayuri’s surveillance bacteria are by far Kubo’s greatest “has no relevance except this one fight” concept. Someone should ask him about it at Klub Outside.

the official and fan translations really don't agree on chapter 552:

but if Bankai and Resurreción are equivalent, then Segunda Etapa and Final Bankai are equivalent, and Ulquiorra did it without any drawbacks whatsoever

from chapter 348 it apparently wasn't the first time he'd ever used it, so he could use it as many times as he wanted. Uryū was there for most of the fight (although he admittedly didn't see the transformation), and Uryū:

was infected with surveillance bacteria per chapter 303

in other words Mayuri, via SRDI staff like Akon, should've had footage, if not far more advanced telemetry, of an Espada using Segunda Etapa, the equivalent of a Shinigami's Final Bankai, and should have known it was theoretically possible to stabilize the latter

this man apparently never researched the matter for even an instant, not on Shinigami or on his resurrected Arrancar, nor did he ever talk to Kisuke about it (nor did Ichigo, Uryū, or Orihime) because if that research ever had happened, TYBW would've been the time to use it or at least mention it as being unready

this dude literally has footage of someone operationally going from an atomic bomb (~20 kt) to a hydrogen bomb (~200–1,000 kt) in lethality and shrugged and went meh to play around with Privaron Espada and Arrancar corpses

are you kidding me

what, did Akon or Hiyosu or somebody delete the footage?

also how the fuck did Ichigo never mention having seen Segunda Etapa after having lost his powers from using Final Bankai? especially when he'd literally seen Uryū lose his powers from using Letzt Stil only to gain them back? Ichigo dude why were you moping around for 17 months when you literally knew people who'd used equivalent powers who either didn't lose them or got them back soon after

like it is INCONCEIVABLE that Mayuri and Kisuke don't know about Final Bankai (Kisuke literally showed up as it ended versus Aizen) and couldn't analogize it to Segunda Etapa and Letzt Stil, and yet neither of them shows any apparent interest in it whatsoever

some scientists

"Oh, the hydrogen bomb? Meh, I don't wanna be Edward Teller, I'm a Robert Oppenheimer kinda guy."

this is likewise INCONCEIVABLE when Kisuke and Mayuri should know Wandenreich is coming, despite their apparent total lack of preparations

unless they deliberately ignored the research avenue to let Wandenreich kill as many people as possible

then they both roll out smartphones and internet streaming by NBFH to bring down Shinigami culture hmmmmm no conspiracy there no sir

Oh, I haven't seen that Nanao art piece before, mistook it as Lisa there for a second haha!

Can't wait for more art from Kubo this year when Cour 3 airs.

I would love to see a fic on this.

What if Renji were the one who initially gave Ichigo his powers?

As requested by our-flame-never-goes-out. :)

Of course, it was Rukia who, in canon Bleach, gave Ichigo his original powers and then trained him in the ways of being a shinigami. But what if it were Renji who was sent to Karakura Town on a supposedly routine assignment, only to find himself losing his powers to some weird human? How would Bleach be different then? 

1. Renji would sacrifice his powers out of “weird-hair solidarity.”

In canon, Rukia’s motivation for giving Ichigo her powers was based partly on not wanting a family of humans to die, but mostly on the fact that Ichigo just looked so much like Kaien. But in this new reality, Renji’s motivation would be based largely on the fact that Ichigo has weird hair, just like him.

(later)

Byakuya: Renji….I understand.

Byakuya: This boy….has weird orange hair that reminds you of your own weird red hair.

Ichigo (bleeding on the ground): THAT was your motivation??

Renji: Hey! Don’t judge me!

2. Renji would follow Ichigo to school (in terrible clothes).

Like Rukia, Renji would stalk Ichigo until Ichigo agreed to be a shinigami. Unlike Rukia, though, Renji would show off his penchant for, just, really terrible clothing.

Renji: Yo.

Ichigo: WE HAVE A UNIFORM HERE, MAN!

Ichigo: Also what are you doing here?

Renji: Being a lot cooler than you, to be honest.

Ichigo: That is just not true.

3. Renji would sleep under Ichigo’s bed.

Unable to fit in Ichigo’s closet due to being giant, Renji would instead just sleep under Ichigo’s bed.

[hollow warning sound]

Ichigo: Where the hell is that noise coming from?

Renji (appearing suddenly from beneath the bed): Ichigo, let’s go!

Ichigo: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN UNDER MY BED?!

4. Renji would still do chores for Urahara.

After all, like Rukia, Renji would need help with his mysterious “powers not coming back” affliction. And so would buy stuff from Urahara’s shop.

Urahara: All right! Your total comes to….sweeping my shop!

Renji: …or I could pay with money?

Urahara: No, that doesn’t feel right.

5. Chad and Renji would send a hollow to hell together.

I bring this up only because I want you to imagine - really imagine - Chad picking Renji up, and throwing him into the air to fight the hollow.

Renji: You are freakishly strong.

Chad: You just watched me swing a telephone pole like a baseball bat.

Chad: This surprises you?

6. Eventually, Byakuya and Rukia would come to arrest him.

I have decided that in this universe, Renji and Rukia have basically switched places: Rukia is the lieutenant of Squad 6, and Renji is an unseated officer. He’s also in Squad 6, though, because Renji still secretly wants to beat Byakuya. Naturally enough, when it comes time for Renji to get arrested, his childhood friend and the super scary captain he admires from afar come for him.

Rukia: Abarai! Abarai Renji!

Renji: K-Kuchiki Rukia, is that you?

Rukia: …

Rukia: You know, it hasn’t been *that* long since we were in school together. Why are we being so formal?

Renji: Well, from my side it’s mostly because of the scary, murderous look you have on your face.

Rukia: That’s fair.

7. Ichigo’s first big fight would be against Rukia.

And he’d nearly lose, too. Because in this universe, Rukia never hesitates to use her shikai.

Ichigo: Ice powers? Do all of you shinigami have elemental powers?

Rukia: How ignorant you are, fool!

Rukia: You don’t even know that my brother, a famous captain, has flower petal powers!

Ichigo: Flowers are basically an element.

Rukia: FLOWERS ARE SO NOT AN ELEMENT

8. In jail, Renji would mostly be sad about losing Rukia.

He just can’t get over how depressing his life became after he and Rukia went to shinigami school. First he ended up in the remedial class while Rukia went to the top, then she got adopted by some hot-shot captain, and then she became lieutenant. And Renji ended up as some unseated officer. It’s no wonder he’s about to be executed, he thinks.

Renji: Maybe if I had trained harder.

Renji: Maybe if I had practiced kido more.

Renji: I just got so tired of blowing myself up!!

9. But Rukia would defect to save Renji.

After her epic fight with Ichigo and 20 minute flashback, I mean.

Rukia: Ichigo, I am on my knees begging you! You have to save Renji!

Rukia: Because sure, he may be a big dumb idiot sometimes, but he is MY big dumb idiot!

Ichigo: …

Ichigo: Man. We’re both so shippy with that guy.

Ichigo: Is this an OT3 sort of situation, do you think?

Rukia: FOCUS

10. Rukia would have to fight Byakuya.

She’d meet Ichigo during his training for bankai, let him know that Renji’s execution has been moved up, and then go off to fight her captain and brother, Byakuya.

Byakuya: Rukia….are you really going to fight me, your brother, in order to defend a scruffy peasant?

Rukia: If I have to, yes!

Byakuya: Respect.

Rukia: What?

Byakuya: I mean I will never let you get away with this.

11. Ichigo would rescue Renji at the very last second.

And then do his best to strike a cool pose on top of the scaffolding…while holding Renji.

Renji: PUT ME DOWN

Ichigo: Dude, I carry a sword bigger than me. I’ve got this.

Renji: THAT ISN’T REALLY THE POINT

12. And would then throw Renji directly at Rukia.

This would not work as well as the opposite did in canon.

Rukia: WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU FOOL?!

Renji: OH MY GOD I’M ABOUT TO KILL RUKIA

Ichigo: Wait, why did I think Rukia could catch Renji?

Ichigo: Oh well I’m sure it’ll be fine.

Ise Clan

I thought Shinken Hakkyōken was a cool reveal and I wished we got more backstory to it and I'm hoping we might get some in the anime and/or hell arc.

I always thought it was a failsafe in case the Soul King broke free. When the seals on him were removed his powers did attack the Sereitei and the Shinigami.

My guess is that it was specifically designed by Oetsu to combat the Soul King. Oetsu's bodyguards are examples of zanpakuto with built in powers.

It was revealed that the Ise Clan suffers from a curse that kills all men that marry into the family and also that they only birth daughters.

Nanao's mother speculated that it was Shinken Hakkyōken's doing.

It made me think about the incorrect relationships between Shinigami and zanpakuto that could develop which were mentioned by Oetsu.

I also thought of Oetsu having a harem of female zanpakuto spirits to serve him. I think maybe Shinken Hakkyōken has a similar mindset as his creator and sees the Ise Clan as his wives and him as their true husband.

Oetsu regulates male zanpakuto to working behind the scenes. But I think Shinken Hakkyōken is more extreme so kills off their husbands and ensures they only have daughters.

Some alternate titles.