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RukiHime BR/OTP week, day 2: angst

The first time Rukia called Orihime by her first name.

And my first entry for the RH week! It’s a little darker version of the events from the last chapters, with a more injured Hime. Does she live or…? I’ts up to your imagination! for me, she does, bc I love happy endings

(the basis for the last panel is taken from some other manga, I found it on Pinterest without a source)

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The Beauty of Rukia & Orihime's friendship and how one removal changed it all (Part 2)

Anyway here is part 2 of my RukiHime agenda because I refuse to use fewer manga panels to express my point.

Here is Part 1

Anyways, I had left off at -

Kaien expresses that the heart is the bond forged between friends and tells Rukia that she mustn't die alone so that way, her heart will live on with her friends.

And she overcomes Aaroneiro's mind games by remembering that Kaien's heart is with her.

Then, even as she's at the edge of death itself she resolves to continue picking herself up because she refuses to die alone - thus not leaving her heart with her friends.

Even though it shows flashes of all the friends she's made so far, the most prominent ones are with Orihime - the girl who symbolizes the heart the most.

She affirms that she knows what it is like being lonely, not just in terms of not having friends but in terms of being held captive and the joys that come with being saved.

In their own ways, Rukia and Orihime were both alone. During her conversation with Rangiku, Orihime mentions that she doesn't feel jealous or envious until she comes home and is alone. But unlike her other friends, Orihime lives by herself - as the only family member that she had is gone and later in the manga it mentions that she was supported by a distant relative.

The only other person in the karakura gang we can assume lives alone is Chad, but only Orihime gets focus on how lonely she feels outside of school.

Even though he lost his mother, Ichigo still has his father and siblings to come home to. Even though Uryu and Ryuken are not on the best of terms, they still come home to each other.

Between Orihime and Rukia... this is their heart. Their bond. Overcoming being alone. In part 1, I already mentioned how Ukitake said that he was glad that Rukia had found a friend and that she doesn't open up much, and here it reaffirms that Rukia knows what Orihime is going through and feeling.

These were two girls who were alone and yet, their "heart" with one another is what truly helped them overcome it.

As Rukia's spiritual energy fades, we also see this reaction from Orihime. She's banging on the wall demanding to be let out as she feels Rukia growing weaker.

For me, the fact that Kubo chose to show Orihime's reaction to Rukia specifically is also important because it reaffirms that their "heart" is truly between them and isn't one-sided. It further strengthens the feeling of helplessness that both of them have experienced at not being able to save their friends and being held captive, powerless to do anything to change their own situation.

Anyways... Jumping forward a bit more and I hope you all remembered how I mentioned that Orihime is the only person that Rukia seems to be gentle with.

Rukia is about to tease Ichigo back for mentioning that they shouldn't be walking around but then her attention cuts to Orihime.

The look that Rukia gives Orihime here mirrors the one that she gave her during the early parts of the Arrancar arc when Orihime thanked her for getting Ichigo back to normal.

Once again, she's shown being gentle with Orihime - a gentleness she doesn't really show to anyone else. I have to keep the focus on Orihime and Rukia so once again... I must skip ahead.

Further affirmation of their bond, when As Nodt uses his Fear on Rukia, one of the moments she specifically remembers is when she comforted her on the rooftops.

And it shows that Rukia is legitimately afraid of losing Orihime. By this point, it's safe to say that their bond and friendship has been solidified far beyond just knowing each other through Ichigo.

Once again, even as Orihime apologizes for not being able to help repair Ichigo's Tensa Zangetsu, Orihime pulls her into her lap and is the one to comfort her.

Time and time again, it's been shown that Rukia and Orihime care deeply about one another. Remove Ichigo from the equation and both of them would still be good friends on their own because their friendship - their heart - is between the two of them.

And sadly, the depth of this friendship was lost in the OG anime because it removed a foundational piece of their friendship - Orihime being the first to say that they were friends.

Without Orihime being the first to declare that she and Rukia are friends, the parallel between Orihime and Kaien in terms of how they became friends with Rukia by adopting their little introvert is removed.

The meaning of the heart between the two is lessened because their friendship in the OG anime can be read as being one-sided on Rukia's part, even though it was arguably originally one-sided on Orihime's because she's the first to declare Rukia a friend.

The dynamic of what it means to have a heart when it comes to Rukia is switched from being focused on Orihime to Ichigo without the establishment that she and Orihime are friends.

Of the shounen manga I've read, Orihime and Rukia have one of the most beautiful friendships. Their friendship exists outside of Ichigo and there is a heart that exists between the two of them that Rukia doesn't share with anyone else.

Yet all of this - Orihime being Rukia's first female friend, how they both suffer from loneliness, Rukia's empathy for Orihime being captured, Orihime's first breakdown trying to get to Rukia when she feels her spiritual pressure weakening, and on and on are all lost when you remove the foundation of their friendship.

Orihime saying that Rukia is her friend too and that she doesn't want her to die.

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The Beauty of Rukia & Orihime's friendship and how one removal changed it all (Part 1)

Anyways I'm back on my bullshit and I'm going to try to keep my gushing about Rukia and Orihime's friendship from being RukiHime ship propaganda no promises tho.

But I firmly believe these two have one of the best friendships in a shounen manga. I absolutely hate that the OG anime gutted Orihime's relationship with Ichigo, but in doing so, it also gutted her friendship with Rukia. Even though they met through Ichigo, even with him removed from the situation, their friendship is sincere and genuine.

They've known each other for probably a month? And already have a fast and sincere friendship. Sadly, this depth is missing from the anime because they removed Orihime's scene/line of declaring that Rukia was her friend as well in a moment that established the proper basis of their friendship going forward.

Without that moment, everything else that follows loses the emotional investment behind it because their friendship is no longer between the two of them, but revolves around having Ichigo as a mutual friend.

This is going to become RukiHime ship propaganda I have no idea why I even tried to entertain it not being.

Apparently, I have so much to say on the topic it will be continued in part 2 because I refuse to use fewer manga panels to prove my agenda.

Anyways to get started

Even though there was no real reason for Orihime to remember Rukia's name when she joined Ichigo's class, she still does while Rukia doesn't even know who she is.

Even though Rukia is putting on something of an act or character, Orihime goes along with it despite the fact that the two barely even know each other.

But who knew that a bit of an awkward first meeting would have bloomed into a very wonderful and precious friendship? Sadly, we don't get too many more interactions with them beyond this point up until the point where Rukia is taken back to the Soul Society.

That said - Orihime is among one of the people who actually remember that Rukia was part of their class before everyone else suddenly forgot her.

And it would be safe to assume that the two had actually become decently good friends considering...

When Ichigo is doubting whether or not to save her, one of the things Orihime tells him is that she doesn't want her friend Rukia to die either.

Now, when Renji speaks with Rukia while she's awaiting execution, Rukia mentions having been in the human world for two months.

This establishes that within two months, Orihime was at least comfortable enough with Rukia to call her a friend and be aware that she's in a dangerous situation and needs to be helped.

And this is the pivotal moment IMO for their friendship, without it, every other scene involving them loses so much emotional weight and value because it loses a simple but foundational building block.

Now, to jump back to the cover art of Chapter 58 real quick

Rukia is drawn with the other girls in class but as a blank, missing space. It looks like Tatsuki is interacting with Chizuru, with Michiru behind Orihime and another girl with long hair (likely Ryo, but she never had a huge role - but she's the only character I could find with long hair that is part of the Karakura HS) facing away from the group.

Orihime is the only one who looks to be facing Rukia, which also matches with her also being the one who asks Ichigo what happened to her or why she had disappeared so suddenly with everyone else forgetting her.

All of this to say - despite not having a lot of panels of them interacting, it is safe to say that during Rukia's two months, she got the closest to Orihime.

And it also matches with the idea that Orihime is Rukia's first female friend.

Now, someone else has already done a pretty good write-up but I want to do more too with more focus on some of the manga panels.

The only other female character that Rukia seemed to have a close relationship with was Miyako, but even then Rukia describes Miyako as her idol rather than someone who was a friend.

The only other friends Rukia was shown to have were the street rats in Rukongai and they were all boys. However, after just 10 years the other three had passed away and it was just her and Renji left.

So it's safe to assume that up until she met Kaien, after being separated from Renji she didn't really have friends.

And even then, it's less her becoming friends with Kaien and more like an introvert being adopted by an extrovert. That said, regardless it's safe to assume that they had become close.

Kaien's words to Rukia about being her friend for life so long as she's within the 13th division, also mirror how Orihime was the first to establish a sense of friendship between the two of them - something that is lost without that initial scene.

As I mentioned earlier, it seems like all of Rukia's friendships have been with male characters. After all, it makes sense considering that she "grew up" around boys.

But things like that only make her friendship with Orihime more beautiful because she's the first girl that Rukia has actually let her guard down around. Now that I've laid down some of the basis for Rukia's past friendships, let's circle back a bit

Once again, even though they've only known each other for roughly two months at this point, Orihime Is thinking about how much Rukia is going to love the dress that Uryu made after Rukia's execution had been stopped.

When Ichigo had been avoiding Orihime because she was injured by Yammy, the person who drags him to Orihime is Rukia. Even though Chad had also been injured, IMO the reason she drags him to Orihime - outside of the fact that Kubo wanted a scene of Ichigo promising to get stronger to Orihime - is because out of the Karakura gang, Orihime is the one that she is the closest to.

WIthout Orihime having established that she and Rukia are friends, this moment and the gentle looks that they give one another don't have the same emotional weight to them because such a simple, foundational piece removed the bond that they had with one another.

Like - just look at the look that Rukia gives her and for me, this is where their friendship truly starts to get deeper than just knowing each other because of Ichigo.

And because of how Rukia interacts with Ichigo and Renji, without the establishing moment where Orihime considers Rukia a friend, the way that Rukia is so gentle with Orihime gets lost because it can come off like Rukia simply not being "close enough" or "not good friends enough" with Orihime to be that level of rough as opposed to Orihime being a friend that Rukia simply is gentle and vulnerable with.

Fast forward a little bit and a thing I noticed about Orihime when she's talking to Rangiku

The way that she describes Rukia, despite admitting to being jealous, is similar to the way that Rukia had described Miyako. At this point, Orihime's risked her life trying to save someone she had only really known for a couple of months, yet says not a single bad thing about her even when consumed with her own jealousy and insecurity.

Even though Orihime describes Rukia in a way similar to how Rukia describes Miyako, the reason she breaks down in tears is because she feels jealousy and envy towards someone she considers a friend.

Also, how pained she feels also ties back to how the one time she expressed a negative feeling or emotion towards or about someone (Sora), she ended up losing them permanently. Orihime outright says that Rukia is beautiful, and kind and that she loves her for helping to cheer up Ichigo and beats her own self up for how she feels.

Yet, without the establishment that Orihime and Rukia are friends, this scene comes off as if she's jealous of someone that is more like a total stranger who happens to be closer to Ichigo than she is - even though Rangiku states that both of them are important and valuable to Ichigo.

And after Urahara says that Orihime should call it quits because she can't fight and would only hold the others back, the person that she runs into and confines in is Rukia.

Another thing I want to note is that in all the times we've seen Rukia, she's always been fairly rough when it comes to how she handles people. After all, she's been friends with primary boys her entire life and there's only one time when she's "rough" with Orihime.

And it's when she's trying to help cheer up Orihime. But Orihime doesn't "work" the same way that Renji and Ichigo do where you can hit them like they're broken TVs. In this instance, she tries to do what she normally does with Ichigo and Renji but sees that it doesn't work - and not to mention - she's pissed off on Orihime's behalf that Urahara pretty much dismissed her after Orihime had already - from Rukia's perspective - shown that she was willing to fight and protect her friends no matter what.

After all, Orihime had only known Rukia for a couple of months at best but was still willing to risk her life not just going to help protect Ichigo, but to save Rukia as well.

When she sees that Orihime is genuine in her feelings that she'd rather be sad than a burden, this is when Rukia switches to being more gentle - and Orihime is the only person that Rukia is really this gentle with.

I said it earlier but I'm going to emphasize it again - without the establishing moment that Orihime considers Rukia a friend, the level of vulnerability that Rukia shows when she's with Orihime is lost.

Even though she has a close friendship with Ichigo and Renji, Orihime is the only one that she's been shown to express emotional vulnerability with.

And for me, this scene is so important to the value of their friendship. Sadly, because the anime removed the scene where Orihime calls Rukia her friend as well, the emotional weight behind this scene is a lot less than in the manga even though it was a minor change.

Much like how Kaien established that he and Rukia were friends for as long as she was in the division, Orihime is the one who establishes that she's friends with Rukia. While she doesn't directly say it to Rukia, her actions show that she does genuinely care for Rukia as a friend even outside of Ichigo.

This is also one of the few times we see emotional vulnerability from Rukia as well because it was the only way for the two to properly connect with one another.

In the OG anime, this scene comes off as Rukia simply offering advice to someone who is in need as opposed to her being pissed off that someone like Urahara would dismiss her friend and Rukia expressing an emotional vulnerability to someone she considers a friend.

And they resolve to train together.

While watching them train, Ukitake even mentions that Rukia was never particularly good at making friends and that she rarely opens up.

And he even mentions being glad that she's found herself a friend. It's positioned against Hisagi's doubts of "even if that friend is a human?" is it truly a good thing? Because since Orihime is a normal human girl and Rukia is a soul reaper, they'll live very different lives.

Ukitake could have said this about Ichigo, but there's a reason it's positioned with Orihime - because her kindness and compassion is what allow her to properly reach the hearts of others.

Despite the friendship they have, it implies that Rukia hasn't truly opened her heart to Ichigo the same way that she had to Orihime. Yet without the establishment that the two are friends, the friendship between the two comes off as lessened even as Ukitake comments on it.

Even when Orihime can't immediately follow, both girls are confident that they'll see each other on the other side. After all, Rukia already knew of Orihime's insecurities when it came to being left behind or unable to follow her friends, yet here there's neither insecurity or doubt for either of them.

When it is suspected that Orihime is a traitor, Ichigo is ready to call bullshit and throw hands but has to be stopped by Renji - who suggests that they'll go after her.

Here, it's Rukia who questions Yamamoto's decision to abandon Orihime after Ichigo said that there was no way Orihime would have been killed. I think choosing Rukia to question the decision to abandon Rukia as well as having her be the one to say that she can't obey that order is important. Outside of Ichigo, she's also the only one outside of Ichigo who is close to Orihime.

Even though she apologizes to Ichigo as she's taken away, she is also the only one who knows what it is like to be taken away against your will and to have those around you powerless to save you. She's the one who apologizes to Ichigo because she can't do anything to save their friend.

I fully believe that if Yamamoto hadn't taken precautions, Rukia, Renji, and Ichigo would have said to hell with orders and not just because she's Ichigo's friend and wants to help him, but because she's Orihime's friend as well.

All of those shortly after establishing that Orihime is the first friend Orihime's actually made - or at least made in a while and this is further supported by Rukia's fight with Aaroneiro.

Even as he guilts Rukia using Kaien's body, she resolves that no matter how badly he makes her feel, she won't let him kill her until she knows that Orihime is safe. As she laid impaled by Aaroneiro, she recalls a conversation she had with Kaien.

One of the things the Hueco Mundo arc has revolved around was the idea of "The heart" and what it actually means. I'd have to do a separate post on how Orihime specifically represents that, but I'm going to focus on the "heart" between Rukia and Orihime.

Kaien tells her that "The heart" exists outside of the body and that it's the bond forged between friends. All of this going on affirming that Rukia and Orihime have a "heart" AKA a bond between them.

And simply put - what does all of this mean without the establishing moment that Orihime considers Rukia a friend? It makes the care between the two come off as one-sided on Rukia's part even though in the manga, much like how Kaien did - Orihime is the one who adopted our little introvert Rukia.

Just like how Orihime didn't go to the SS just to protect Ichigo, but to save her friend. Rukia didn't come to Hueco Mundo just to support Ichigo, but because she wanted to save her friend. Yet without such a simple, but pivotal moment, it comes off as if she's not truly there for Orihime.

To be continued in part 2 because TIL Tumblr only allows 30 images per post.

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Rangiku

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i find this scene so sweet because upon seeing rukia, she didn’t brush away with her usual fake smile like, “oh it’s nothing!” she went, “rukiaaaa…” sobs ;A; and that’s so??? sweet??? they’re close enough for orihime to reveal her distress and close enough for rukia to snap at her when she tried to brush it off. they’re close friends. i like these little moments that reveal characters relationships.

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now, is there honestly something cuter than rukia patting orihime's head? nope i don't think so

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Here’s one long-ass post about the Ulquiorra/Ichigo/Orihime dynamic (in a very obviously non-romantic context….lol), and the HM arc in general. This was prompted by an ask on one of my RP blogs, specifically my thoughts re: the Ulqu/Hime ship. As a general disclaimer, and reiteration: this is not UH-positive.

Keep reading

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I think the reason why Ichigo is such a likable main character for a Shonen series for me is that…he’s a punk. And not just in the vague idea of a punk that pop media has given us over the years, though that is how we’re initially introduced to him—he’s got a rude attitude, he gets into fights a lot, and he doesn’t fuck around. But the story also doesn’t waste time in showing us how much deeper it goes—because above all else, Ichigo is incredibly kind. We’re introduced to him beating up a bunch of thugs because they desecrated a dead girl’s shrine, and then comforting her spirit. And this attitude of Ichigo reaching out to care for those who have been hurt has never stopped—he’s even worried for his enemies, because for the most part, Ichigo doesn’t want to see people hurt or killed. He doesn’t even want to be the strongest shinigami, he just wants the world to get better, and since he has to power and the opportunity, he’ll take the responsibility if he needs to.

He just wants a normal life, and as long as the world refuses to give him one, he’ll fight until it lets him, and I think that’s wonderful.

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Drunk (Renji x Ichigo) 🔞

Ichigo gasps and moans with pleasure as his boyfriend thrusts his cock in and out of him as he is pinned back against the wall. He held on to the red-haired Soul Reaper with his legs wrapped around his waist and his arms around his neck.

Renji grunts and moans as he held his ass with both hands as he thrusts his cock in and out of his entrance. His long crimson hair was down and messy. Both of them are wearing nothing but their robes, revealing the front of their naked body.

“R…R…Ren…Renji…Ah!” The ginger-haired Substitute Soul Reaper moaned with delight as his lover hit his sweet spot. “Ha…looks like I found it b��uh!! You are so damn tight…” His lover moaned with a smirk on his face. “Shut…AH!…up…” The orange-haired male grunted out of annoyance between his moans.

The couple went out to have some drinks with their friends hosted by Rangiku. Ichigo wasn’t much of a drinker, but he drinks occasionally when he celebrates. Of course, Rangiku, who’s the life of the party, convinces him to have fun for once. And, of course, he ended up in a drinking battle with Rangiku, teasing him he was too shy and naive.

Ichigo’s stubbornness takes over, and he refuses to back out of a bet like this, proving himself who he really is, which hyped Rangiku up. Renji was about to tell him he didn’t have to participate, but it was too late because of how hyped his boyfriend was. Of course, he won, with Rangiku knocked out after.

When that happened, Renji, who was slightly drunk as well, was turned on by his boyfriend’s actions.

However, they decided to get back home before things got more intense. Ichigo drunkenly complains about his boyfriend taking him home.

It wasn’t long before they finally got home, and Ichigo was still complaining about leaving early and that he wanted to do another round with Rangiku. Renji then shuts him up as he smashes his lips to his. Ichigo was shocked at first, but he gladly accepted it.

They hardly got into Renji’s home and were in the hallway kissing each other passionately. Renji pins his boyfriend up against the wall as they begin kissing each other passionately. The kiss got heated, leading them both hard against their pants.

Both quickly stripped off their bottoms and were too lazy to take off their robes but untied the front, revealing their half-naked body. Renji held him, to his surprise, before kissing him and then slid his cock into his lover’s entrance to his pleasure.

That was them earlier how it all started.

Renji then grabs his lover’s hard cock causing Ichigo to grunt against his teeth. “Oi Renji…not too rough…AH!” Ichigo moans as he throws his head back as that happens. “Not too rough, eh? Ngh! Said the guy who actually likes it rough.” The red-haired Lieutenant chuckles seductively at his boyfriend.

Ichigo grunts and pouts at the same time when his boyfriend says that, with cheeks flushed red. He could feel himself cumming any moment soon. Renji was close as well.

He speeds his thrusts up, causing the Substitute Soul Reaper to hold on to his boyfriend tight.

Renji smirks and grunts with delight as he strokes his lover’s cock and speeds his thrusts up. “R…Ren…Renji…” Ichigo moans his boyfriend’s name out. “I-I’m clo-!!” He was then interrupted by his boyfriend smashing his lips with his. He moaned as he felt his tongue traveling everywhere in his mouth until he found his tongue.

It wasn’t long before their minds turned blank as they came.

They moan against the kiss. The red-haired lieutenant pulls out of the kiss slowly from his lover with a string of drool connected to his lips. He felt his cock slowly coming out of his lover’s entrance.

The orange-haired Substitute Soul Reaper gasped for breath as he held on to his boyfriend still. Renji did the same as well, without dropping him and about to carry him back to bed or bathing them. Ichigo then rests his forehead on his boyfriend’s shoulder.

“Damn you." Ichigo breathed out. "Oi oi, what the hell is that for?" Renji asked, slightly annoyed, as he carried his boyfriend to the bathroom. “Screwing me so hard after a few drinks.” Ichigo said as he arrived in the bathroom with his boyfriend. “Said the guy who likes it rough and had a drinking contest with Rangiku.” Renji said as he turned the bathtub’s faucets to turn on the water.

“Oi oi oi.” Ichigo then blushed and pouts. Renji smiles at his boyfriend’s adorable, shy actions. “What are you smiling about?” Ichigo asked his boyfriend as he noticed his smile. “You, of course. Because you are cute when you get shy like that.” He said as he kissed his boyfriend’s cheek, causing the orange-haired Substitute Soul Reaper to blush more.

The couple stripped out of their robes and got in the tub filled with warm water. Ichigo is held by his boyfriend from behind in his arms. “That’s the last time I’m having a drinking contest with Rangiku.” Ichigo said, all exhausted. “Eh? You were pretty interesting after that. Though not the best choice, which is going to lead to a bad hangover in the morning for you. But you did take it in a different turn .” Renji smirked as he kissed his boyfriend’s neck.

Ichigo chuckles at his boyfriend’s actions. “Well, you and I fucked each other even after a few drinks in the past, but mostly it wasn’t drinks. Since we are both crazy with each other.” Ichigo said as he turned his head to kiss the red-haired 6th Division Lieutenant on the cheek. Renji smiles at his boyfriend lovingly before he kisses him.

THE END

Gotta have BL involved in this account 🤤

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The sad thing is that things were not “as bad” before the manga ended and there was a lot more overlap between people who genuinely enjoyed Orihime as she’s written and not just their idea of her. Sadly people move on from fandoms and I wouldn’t be surprised if the spike in toxicity after the bleach ending was the last straw for some. For me personally, I left the IR fandom after the manga ended because the toxicity was straight up too much and one of the BNFs is someone who actively wished death on Kubo and they’re still popular despite being an overall shitty person.

I personally see the appeal of the ship and ship it myself, but I’m also under no impression that Ulquoirra is canonly better for Orihime than Ichigo. What’s funny is that some UH shippers paint Ichigo as someone is just awful for Orihime and doesn’t actually care about her and he cares about Rukia more but then ship him with Rukia and suddenly those bad points no longer exist.

It’s the same when people would call Kubo (ironically IR shippers mostly) a misogynist for how he wrote Orihime but then praise Rukia’s character writing… the only difference between the two is that they have different personalities and goals - so how is Kubo a mysognist for one but not the other??

Pain is being an ulquihime shipper but having to block/avoid most of them because they are weirdly anti-Orihime, anti-bleach ending, or "anti how Kubo wrote Orihime" even though she's one of the most consistently and well-written female characters in Shounen as well as the fact that they try to make Ulquiorra care more about Orihime than he actually did in the manga or even god forbid try to say that Ulquiorra cared more about Orihime than Ichigo did.

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★ 【飞机云君】 「 miku 」 ☆ ✔ republished w/permission ⊳ ⊳ follow me! insta • x • bsky

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🐈‍⬛🐕

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Everything is temporary but shippers of "feminist ships" calling other female characters fat as an insult is permanent.

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Once I've given my brain a break I might make some posts about Orihime and Rukia's friendship because I'm insanely salty about the fact that the OG anime gutted Orihime's character and her friendship with Rukia for literally no reason

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Anyone else ever think of how thematically satisfying it was (especially to us IH fans who’d been mocked for saying “Orihime is traumatised because of hollowfication and Ichigo feels badly about it; their relationship conflict is rooted in this as well as miscommunication born from wanting to protect the other with little regard for ones self, too much reliance on one, too little faith in the others abilities in the other”) that in the final arc Ichigo:

Asked Orihime to join him in battle (which, and correct me if I’m wrong, is the first and only time he’s actually flat out asked for help in a fight)

Wordlessly relied on her, and trusted her with his defense (which, despite ultimately being overwhelmed in that Dumb Shounen-Typical Fashion, still proved to be a lifesaver).

Literally addressed the events of the Lust Arc, her feelings (her fear), and reassured her before she even had to say a word? He cares for her so deeply he knew how she would feel the moment he hollowfied and the first thing he does is reassure her and smile. He knows her so well and cares for her so much…. I’m dying….

Ichigo and Orihime had this theme of her fearing for him throughout his Hollow ability developments (understandably so- as he willingly exposed himself to a dark power). In the fight against Yammy & Ulquiorra, she feared for him and he failed to communicate, both ending up hurt. In the fight against Grimmjow, she feared for him and he failed to communicate, both ending up hurt. Nnoitra, and then finally Ulquiorra and the Lust Arc… this track of battles during the HM arc created this theme of Orihime being closely associated with his hollow form in the sense that his vow to protect her (and his pursuit of her driving him forward during the arc) is what kept him chained to his humanity even in the midst of despair… when I say it’s thematically satisfying, I mean that his promise to Orihime is what kept him human in the Lust Arc, and then much later against Yhwach, he’s able to smile for Orihime (and her alone) while in his final hollow form. There’s something incredibly special about it.

[rainbowberriesandcookies]

"Orihime being afraid of Ichigo's hollow power shows she doesn't fully accept him."

I see this take and similar ones pop up from anti fans of Ichigo and Orihime and try to say that Orihime is bad, in the wrong, etc. for being afraid of his hollowfication powers when her first encounter with a hollow was her brother Sora.

I know the anime did a lot of damage to Orihime's character - especially by taking these scenes out and altering them compared to the manga - but when Ichigo begins to undergo the same process as Sora, it only makes sense that she's afraid.

Not because she's afraid of Ichigo but because what he can become.

And just like Sora said, "It would be [her] fault"

Also - this is to counter the whole "Ichigo and Orihime were never close/barely friends/just acquaintances" that I see floating around often too.

But all in all - Orihime was never afraid of Ichigo. She was afraid of what he could have become.

As Acidwire, Sora targeted Orihime because of her growing bonds with Tatsuki and Ichigo. He even says that he attacked them because they tried to tear him and Orihime apart and that she already knew why.

For clarity - what I'm about to say isn't me saying that Sora was abusive in life and I'm going to specifically try to use his name as a hollow "Acidwire" as much as possible to express the slight separation between Sora as he was while he was alive and Sora as he was when he became Acidwire.

Especially since early on, it established that hollows - while they were once former humans - often end up being twisted versions of the people they once were.

Now onto the point -

The "You already know why" isn't dissimilar from how abusers, manipulators, etc. often talk to their victims when they're angry or upset. It's similar to the silent treatment in a way where it implies that the victim intentionally made the abuser upset.

He references her prayers for him every day helped ease his own suffering before she became friends with Tatsuki and entered high school before she stopped praying for him altogether. He then says how it hurt him that when she got home, all she would talk about was Ichigo.

For one - the fact that Acidwire knows this proves that Ichigo and Orihime were at least already friends by the time the manga started. In contrast to the anime where Ichigo outright says to Rukia that they've "never had a real conversation"

Anyways - this here in and of itself proves Ichigo and Orihime at least knew each other beyond just acquaintances - because they were close enough for Acidwire to notice and be hurt by it.

She tries to defend herself but he cuts her off before attacking Ichigo again

Acidwire tells her to come with him back to when it was just the two of them. In the context of the story, this would basically be him killing her.

However, this is also a tactic abusers use known as isolation.

When she questions why she should go with him and why he'd hurt Ichigo and Tatsuki before saying that the brother she loved would have never done anything like this.

I feel like in the anime, it kinda breezed by these moments which are honestly heartbreaking in hindsight and key for the leadup to why Orihime was afraid when Ichigo would use his hollow mask.

but Acidwire's response to her refusal and saying that the brother she loved would never do this is to not just harm her, but blame her and say that he is going to kill her.

In the time that she's become friends with Ichigo and Tatsuki and slowly grew happier, Acidwire blamed her for his own despair and sadness.

The kind, loving older brother that she had always known became a monster that would kill her and everyone close to her, and it would be her fault that he did because she stopped praying for him.

Here, it shows how Acidwire views Orihime not as a person who should live her own fulfilling life, but as an object who should live for him because he gave up his entire life to raise and protect her.

Once again, not to say that Sora was an abuser or abusive person, but this line of logic is the same one that abusive and toxic parents often use when it comes to emotionally abusing their children. Saying how the sacrificed so much for their children to control how their children live their own lives when the child never asked to be born. Similarly, Orihime didn't ask to be born or ask for Sora to raise her.

Sora did because that's the kind of person that he is, but Acidwire turns these loving traits of Sora's into a manifestation of abuse.

And even though she has nothing to be sorry for... She apologizes to Acidwire because that's the kind of person she is.

It also shows how she puts on a smile so that way others don't have to worry about her. She didn't want Sora to think that she was sad and hurting, she didn't want him to worry about her so she buried and hid her own sadness.

She apologizes to Acidwire for making him sad and (in what she thinks are probably her last moments) says that she loves him and that she didn't mean to hurt him.

As he's slowly regaining himself, Sora admits that he already knew that Orihime was just trying to shield her sadness from him but still wanted her to pray for him because it was only in those moments that her heart was his.

Ichigo then tells him that it's the same, those who die and those who survive are just as sad as the other.

It's in this moment Sora had fully regained himself, enough to know that he couldn't stay in a form like this or else he'd come to hurt Orihime again. If he killed the little sister that he raised like a daughter over his own heartache, would he have been any better than their own abusive parents?

And finally, the two get to say goodbye properly.

Also - a side note - a lot of people criticize Orihime's passive nature and how she never seems to fight or argue with anyone but it's because the one time that she did have a fight with someone, they died and became a monster.

This entire sequence emphasizes why Orihime always tries to reach out to others in need and never argues or fights. She doesn't want her friends or even strangers, to become like how Sora became Acidwire.

Now, Rukia had changed/erased Orihime's memories following this event but it likely didn't work as intended since during the Rukia rescue arc, Orihime mentions that she's been able to see hollows and spirits ever since the encounter with Acidwire.

Now let's go ahead and jump ahead to VL Ichigo -

Going to Hueco Mundo - Ichigo already knew without having to be told or convinced by anyone that Orihime was in danger. Aizen did his best to make it look like Orihime was a traitor to the Soul Society and Ichigo never bought it

It's being put in plainer and plainer terms that Ichigo transformed as a response to Orihime's call for help.

Even if you want to argue that there was a mistranslation or that Ichigo doesn't directly reference Orihime, even if you remove all of the text the sequence of events goes

Orihime's cries

Ichigo began to move and get up - functionally coming back from being dead

Once again, even if you want to remove the text avoid arguing about whether or not it was properly translated - nevermind the fact that in Japanese pronouns are often omitted and there is a big assumption to just know who/what you are talking about -

Even without text, the images show Orihime crying, and Ichigo beginning to come back to life.

Both she and Ulquiorra question whether that is Ichigo

Now that said, I think that Ichigo vs Ulquiorra is one of the most brutal and best fights in the series. Both Uryu and Orihime know that this isn't Ichigo.

Yet remember how it is established that hollows often become twisted versions of the people they once were? This is a power that Ichigo can't control and yet uses it to protect the person who called out to him.

While I don't disagree with the notion that this is also White protecting Ichigo, it doesn't change the fact that Kubo intentionally drew Orihime and Ichigo rising side by side multiple times. Even without text, Kubo places emphasis on her and her cries for help against VL Ichigo - not White or Zangetsu.

And when Uryu tries to bring him back to his senses what does Ichigo do? Put a sword through him.

Once again, even if you want to remove any and all text, Kubo puts VL Ichigo paneled side by side with Orihime, and when Ichigo comes back to his senses

The first person that he sees is Orihime.

As much as I want, I'll save my yapping about Ulquiorra for a separate time.

But for a moment, even if only briefly, his desires to protect were twisted in a way that hurt those around him, and once again - Orihime was the catalyst.

Ichigo says that he didn't want to win like this - showing that he views fights as something more honorable than what White/VL Ichigo had done. His last memory being that he had a hole put in his chest, also shows that he more or less "blacked out" and had no control over his actions.

What is one of the things established when people become hollows?

That they lose control of themselves and their desires are twisted.

The difference between Ichigo and Acidwire is that Ichigo wants to protect Orihime while Acidwire wanted to own her - which is why Ichigo never directly harms Orihime even as he loses control of himself.

But - all of this yapping is to show how from Orihime's perspective, hollowfication and hollow powers aren't good. They turn people into monsters that hurt their friends and loved ones.

It's also established that Orihime is the type of person who will internalize her own thoughts and feelings (it isn't ""hubris"" as some people call it).

Whether or not you want to argue that it was an assumption that Ichigo became a VL because she cried for help, it doesn't change the fact that she still cried for help and that Ichigo became a hollow/VL.

From her own perspective, she blames herself regardless of whether or not you think that it is an assumption on her part that Ichigo became a VL to protect her.

And after all - why wouldn't she blame herself when her first encounter with a hollow - Acidwire - blamed her for the monster that he became?

I know I skipped over him using his mask in the fight with Grimmjow, but I already yap too much and wanted to try to keep an already long post short(er).

Anyway - all of this illustrates the trauma that Orihime has regarding hollows and hollowfication. It's not truly her fault - yet in both instances she blames herself.

And not just Kubo, but Ichigo himself is fully aware of this.

Which is why when he tells her not to worry and that he's still himself is so important - because it shows that Ichigo has learned to control that side of himself while at the same time, being aware that Orihime is someone who has been traumatized by hollows and hollowfication.

Ultimately - she doesn't want Ichigo to become a monster like Sora. For Ichigo, it's growth in his own ability while for Orihime it's comfort in knowing that Ichigo won't lose himself fighting to protect those he cares about.

In short, she isn't afraid of Ichigo - she was scared of him becoming a monster like Sora had.