317 "Six Hearts Will Beat As One"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

Thank you, Kubo-sensei.

chapter here

The spread is gorgeous.





The chapter is fun!
My IchiRuki friends no doubt feel cheated from "Save the Reunion for Later!" even though Ichigo's happy face with darts all over were worth at least a squee. My IchiOri friends no doubt feel cheated because there was NO IchiOri reunion, zip, nada, period.

But I'm in seventh heaven because

1) I got Orihime character development
2) I got Ulquiorra being damn weird and sexy
3) ISHIDA WAS THE ONLY ONE OF THE FRIENDS WHO DIDN'T SHOW UP TO FIGHT THE EXEQUIAS AT TOWER FIVE

Which just means that Kubo is saving his entrance for later....

*faints*

ETA--okay, I've had a few hours to recover. As some of you know, my brain likes to rat-tat-tat over Kubo's poems. I thought a couple weeks ago that I got the meaning of Kubo's volume poem for Orihime and it's what made me predict a nakama gathering at tower five (OMG, I WAS RIGHT ABOUT SUMTIN!)  Then Lucia made this observation about this week's chapter:
Originally Posted by Lucia

Spoiler! <input ... >

She said "Maybe it's impossible to feel exactly the same way as another person..." ....I don't know about you guys, but when I read this statement, it made me feel like she's finally understanding her one-sided feelings and that even though her feelings aren't return, it's still possible for her to be close to Ichigo as a friend.

After reading Lucia's comment, I wrote something halfway coherent in Jenni's journal:

I am so happy right now. I never thought the LACK of Ishida in a chapter would make me happy.

Everything's going as I predicted--the five friends converging on tower five (well, four so far) and Orihime evolution. The poem marked that evolution--first she was all Ichigo, Ichigo, and then it's as plain as METAPHOR 101 that she substitutes the romantic notion of what she doesn't have--"two hearts beating as one" for what she TRULY has, five friends. Five is where the heart lies.

Thank you Kubo-sensei.


fly to Jenni's journal for her always more-coherent thoughts

Comments

[bunnisteffi.livejournal.com]

HURRAH! I know just how much you love your Ishida kid... And someone'd better do something good with this colourspread soon...

Just posted on the IchiRuki Page before you upped this entry. ^ ^ Kubo-sensei loves us~

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I just got through reading all the excitement in the IchiRuki FC though--it seems that IchiRuki fans are ever so appreciative of what Kubo gave. And yeah, he DEFINITELY SINGLED OUT ICHIRUKI and gave Ichigo that "WOW, MAMA" look when he saw Rukia.

And certainly, if a guy is on his way to a romantic rescue, the last thing he has to be told is to "hurry up" by another woman who also tells him to save their reunion for later. LOL.

Game, set, match, IchiRuki. Just my humble opinion, but I expect hate mail in tomes.

[vayshti.livejournal.com]

I KNOW THIS ISN'T CAPSLOCK COMM, BUT CAPSLOCK SQUEE WILL ENSURE!

Just in little letters...

I love the spread - perhaps not quite as much as the food spread, but it's still adorable.

Ishida wearing a waiter's apron while he sets the table?
Rukia's plaits?
Ichigo being a dork with his headphones only half inside a partially popped collar?
Chad not satsified with carrying one object at a time?
Watermelon!
silly Renji hat!

Oh and is it just me, or does it look like Renji's wearing Ichigo's belt strap thingy?

\o/

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

THERE'S WINE IN THE BASKET. Hey, Kubo-sensei, these kids are minors!

Renji gets the prize for goofy hats in spreads. I <3 him. And Ishida the perpetual housewife... LOL.

I didn't know there were such things as watermelon sacks.

[xilvrin.livejournal.com]

*just read the chapter*

wow, Ulquiorra is a twisted version of the tin-man from the Wizard of Oz!

[gully-moe.livejournal.com]

LOL SO TRUE!

[laurabryannan.livejournal.com]

I'm remiss about thanking you for posting these scanlations, as I'd probably miss out otherwise.

What a glorious spread! And the chappie is totally exciting. I agree, Ishida is all set to make a grand entrance later. *squirms in anticipation*

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

WOW! And meep!

What a gorgeous chapter! My heart went up like a balloon when I saw Renji was back in top form and NOT made of fail. I practically clapped my hands with glee at everyone being OK.

Except... no Ishida. And by page 18, my heart was thumping, and even while being charmed and elated by what I was reading, I was still going "OMG wherez Ishida OMG wherez Ishida." And I'm still chewing my nails over it even now. *chews*

OK, he can't be dead, because everyone would have felt it. I'd LIKE to think that Renji wouldn't have left Ishida with Mayuri, esp after what they've been thru together, but Renji's not always the sharpest knife in the drawer, and maybe Ishida's taking longer to heal.

Riiiiiight.

So. Let's consider. Ishida not showing up IS important, esp because he's Ichigo's rival/opposite/mirror-image. The Wishful Thinking side of my brain says that Ishida got healed and ditched everyone to go find Orihime himself just like he told Urahara he would do and at some critical point, he'll show up at Tower Five in time to do Something Important -- like save Orihime so that Ichigo can concentrate on taking down Ulquiorra, or some other action that will turn the tide of battle AND prove to Kurosaki just what a badass Ishida is.

The less savory possibility is that Ishida still IS with Mayuri, because just like Ichigo has Unfinished Business with Ulquiorra, Ishida has Unfinished Business with Mayuri. It's that mirroring thing again. Ichigo had to go train with the Visored, Ishida had get his powers back from his father. Each guy has his own demons to fight.

But I really really really hope it's the first thing my brain grasped at, and not this second one.

Sniff. I want my dorky Quincy back.

Kubo is just torturing us. And probably chuckling about it, too.

*gnaws off another cuticle*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

Oh damn, Neha, are you going to write that torture fic with Ishida and Mayuri? Write it and make it non-canon! *does Picard imitation* MAKE IT SO!

Haha, you and me the Ishida fans. I was waiting for Ishida on every page... Ishida.... no Ishida... Ishida... no Ishida... Ishida?

[gully-moe.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling that Ulquiorra could possibly turn. I've always had this belief that he's curious about Orihime. Obviously he does seem to take an interest in her. And seeing him being curious about why she isn't afraid and what exactly hearts are, made me fangasm.

If you think about it, all of them are hollows not because they have a hollow hole, but because they are empty inside. Where their hollow is is where their heart used to be. Ulquiorra seems to be the emptiest of them all. He shows no emotion... yet he seems curious. All of the other arrancar wouldn't give a damn with what Orihime had to say, but he listened with interest. Heck, he could have killed her right there and then, without listening to that 'trash' talk. This is the guy who labeled her as trash in the beginning and ordered Yammy to kill her, but then later claims that she is a strong woman and can't even kill her when he claims that she's going to die.

I wanted more between those two. Orihime could have explained what the heart is, and possibly love, but Ichigo had to come in... Maybe it can all be explained through this fight...?

Basically Ulquiorra views everything as meaningless... Orihime can be the one to show him that there is a meaning to life; to change his view on things.

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

Well said, and I agree completely. I think Ulquiorra is reluctantly fascinated by Orihime because she's his opposite. Aizen referred to her as the sun, didn't he? She makes her own light, while Ulquiorra is, as you said, empty inside. Except for his loyalty to Aizen, he seems completely nihilistic. He's obviously developed feelings (such as they are) for Orihime, and that probably amplifies the confusion he feels about her.

When he said "If I open your chest, will I see it?" and put his hand just above her breast, I freaked a little because I thought he was going to punch a hole through her like he did to Ichigo; and then I recall Grimmjow saying Ulquiorra only did that to the opponents who really rattle him. Yeah, I know he's pointing at her heart, but the gesture was similar enough to make me catch my breath.

I had really hoped to see more development between these two -- it's fraught with potential -- but it looks like it will have to stand on what Kubo's written so far; but even those few hints show that there's something there.

since I have yet to say thing anywhere else...

[laurie-bunter.livejournal.com]

Ishida looks great wearing that apron. ♥ I love guys who are comfortable with domesticity.

Re: since I have yet to say thing anywhere else...

[bunnisteffi.livejournal.com]

Yes! And he was setting the table and everything!

If only Laurie-twin manages to sneak your LOVE!spiked cookies up onto their picnic table... XD

[metaphore-art.livejournal.com]

I don't feel cheated at all! I loved this chapter! I'll go into detail later, of course!

I loved Ichigo's reactions when he saw his friends. I especially loved his ecstatic face when he saw Rukia. I love the meaningful glance that seemed to pass a wealth of unspoken information between them when she told him to continue on. She told him; he was going to get waylaid. And after their gaze that spoke volumes, his resolve was there, and his all right was more of an "understood"

I think I would have felt more cheated if Kubo had said yep, this is it, they're reunited. Let's move on. But he didn't. I loved "Save the reunion for later." It was almost like Kubo-sensei was like, "Let me deal with this and then we'll do things properly." Regardless, that's definitely what Rukia was saying and Ichigo understood!

And oh! Orihime continuing to acknowledge all her friends! Fascinated Ulquiorra grilling her about hearts and their meaning!

AND OMG, NO ISHIDA! Last night when we were finally able to assemble the chapter (mangaone was totally screwy) everyone was just like, "Wait...did you see Ishida?" "NO, OMG, DID YOU?!" It was awesome! XDDDDDD

LOVED THIS CHAPTER!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

Aw, sorry I missed that. I would've been the first to notice the absence of Ishida. I'm glad the IchiRuki are happy because I personally LOVE the goofywow faces Ichigo always gives Rukia--and Rukia was SO badass cool in this chapter.... but there was no prolonged exchange.

THAT was all UlquiHime. Woo. And it was goooood.

[misumaru.livejournal.com]

I just loved this chapter - Orihime being all assertive? Renji and Chad actually getting to do something without jobbing horrendously? That's not even mentioning the pretty summer spread and woobie!Renji on the cover. Brilliant. :D

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I'm such a fool for that dansen Ichigo and Ishida. Yeah, woobie!Renji--I'm still waiting for an HQ of the cover so I can check out that forlorn little face of his. He's showing some chest and tats too so that's niiiice.

[r0ck3tsci3ntist.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh that spread! I want to BE THERE! The water is so blue!

So I think we know why Ulquiorrs pokes holes in people. He's looking to find their heart/soul thingy. :p Silly espada!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I know! It's so poignant! Ulqui! Looking for his heart! T___T <---emo tears.

[abandonreality.livejournal.com]

ALSJDF;LAJSDF;L MOAR EYE SEX TOO!! Come on, I can't be the only one that sees the eye-sex between Ulquiorra and Orhime. <.<;;

[main-titles.livejournal.com]

You're definitely not the only one.

[deathlike.livejournal.com]

Oops... I guess I was DEAD ON about the Exquinas being wiped out XDDD Uliquiorra was on his journey to be human; he tried killing Orihime while trying to understand the human soul 8(

[wdboldstar.livejournal.com]

I love that this chapter was absolutely a bounty of awesome for 3 of my favorite

We get absolutely MARVELOUS Rukia-Ichigo eyesmex - the rough, rowdy kind. I don't care if it was short, It was still epic. We had the Rukia shikai summoning stretched out over a couple panels to heighten the effect, we had dorky grins that both characters generally only save for each other, we had the EYE CONTACT. Hell yes.

And then there was Ulquihime. Ulquiorra may be coming about as close to a breakdown as we've ever seen. He's confused. The heart -- does it really exist? He's spent hundreds of years tell himself it hasn't, just to survive in the cold and unforgiving environs of Hueco Mundo. Driven to despair, he has fallen back on destruction and self delusion.

But now, Orihime may just be coming close to saving him, one way or another.

Finally, Ishida wasn't there to help fight the Exequas. I'd bet real money is on his way to save Orihime himself. I have to admit, as much as his bow's total soul destruction squicks me a bit -- please don't let him use it on Ulquiorra, Ulquiorra at least deserves a chance at reincarnation -- I love when Ishida gets all Knight in Shining Armorish. He's just so awesome.

Some people are saying they're underwhelmed by the chapter, but even after sleeping on it... I couldn't be happier!

[wdboldstar.livejournal.com]

awesome for my three favorite ships, that is.

[la-kalaka.livejournal.com]

Here I gooooo!! xDDD

I'm so late but adult life is like this.

When i started to read the scanlation my heart stard to pound even more with every page, NO ISHIDA! where was he?? A part of me had been though all the time when the spoilers appear that I felt i bit disappointed if Ishida was pop up in that scene. I Always wanted him going with Ichigo to rescue Orihime.

And now that idea is in my mind and I can't help it. I WISH Ishida and Orihime can see each other AGAIN, and talk to eacha other and bonding a bit more. I WANT Ishida believing in her, supporting her and take her with him.

I'm on the FANGASM stage since then x33333333333333333333333


And of course, I highly doubt that Ishida is with Mayuri, he is one of the six hearts, he is after all Orihime's Nakama, he can't be in any other place but tower fith, cuz there is a person who needs him.

*dies again*

[la-kalaka.livejournal.com]

PD. And my english sucks as hell riiight now x_D

[desudesu-love.livejournal.com]

OMFG. Ishida's entrance better be awesome or I will freak out.

The spread pissed me off enough. D:

MAKE ISHIDA BIGGER, DAMNIT!

[norrowa.livejournal.com]

I... don't think Orihime's statement has anything to do with love at all, actually. I read it more as -- we can't ever really be completely inside another person's heads/emotions. You can't ever really know exactly what another person is feeling, or how they're feeling it, because the only person's head or heart you can ever truly be inside of is your own.

But you care about them anyway, despite the element of chance and ignorance, and despite the fact that... despite the fact that you're not them, pretty much.

Anyway, that's how it strikes me XD

And in conclusion, regardless of what Orihime means, or anything else, really: THIS. CHAPTER. IS. AWESOME.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

Oh I agree with your assessment. I know you ship IchiOri but I don't believe Orihime, for ONE MOMENT, is tossing her love for Ichigo out with a rhyming couplet. Not at ALL. In fact I don't even think that her mind may have made a connection between two hearts beating as one versus the "authorial announcement" of six hearts beating as one. I think she was just having her little metaphysical exchange with Ulquiorra. But I do believe her focus has shifted from Kurosaki-kun to her friends. I may do a later entry on it--romantic love focus to nakama focus. I think Orihime rode the swells of those feelings all during this arc.

And yes, a beautiful chapter. I love it when Kubo slows down to do stuff like this between fights. Some of the fanbois may be bored, but BAH! Gimme the heart stuff!

[katt-08.livejournal.com]

NAani!!! no essay from debby?nande!!!nande!!!! :(

just observation? nande!!! nah its great as always you guys rock!! ^^
thanks debbie otherwise i would't have notice

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

Essay later, LOL. I'm too happy to think yet. Beautiful spread, shiny Obon cover, mucho sexy Renji, MISSING ISHIDA HAHA, IchiRuki fun, Chad going POW, Ulquiorra putting his hand between Orihime's boobs--what's NOT TO LOVE ABOUT THIS CHAPTER? <3

[gully-moe.livejournal.com]

I must add that I have been browsing some forums, and a lot of people seem to be really disappointed with this chapter, saying that nothing happened. My guess is that the majority of those people are fan boys who want action.

And sadly though, I think Kubo's message isn't getting across to them... this chapter was about friendship, yet they claim it's bull. It's really sad how some people just don't simply embrace the story or analyze it. People had been claiming the fights in Bleach had been too long, and now they're complaining about the lack of action.

I don't know what it is, but is Kubo thinking of the fangirls? I would say this chapter was definitely for the fangirls... XD

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

I expect you're right about the Action!fanbois being the one's complaining. This chapter totally blows my mind on so many levels. I don't think Kubo's writing specifically for the fangirls. He's an incredible story-teller, and I expect by now he knows that not everyone who hears the story is going to appreciate or "get" all levels of it -- but he knows that some people will (and those are the ones who give writers hope.) ;-)

I guess I'm trying to say that he's speaking to everyone, but if you possess the Seekrit Decoder Pin, you're going to get the real message. So yeah, he's talking to us. :-D

Re your ETA

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

I think you're right on the money about Hime evolving past her one-sided feelings. She says she went to Hueco Mundo to save all her friends, but when she left, she was really totally focused on Ichigo. Even tho she's mostly been shut in a tower, she's had a lot of lessons in this arc. I think her realization really started when she thought Chad and Rukia were dead. Wasn't that when she slapped Ulquiorra? For suggesting that her nakama coming after her had been useless? To make it all about Ichigo would not have honored her friends' sacrifice. (Makes me wonder if that slap might not have been fueled by a bit of guilt?)

I'm not going to say this right (mostly because I'm still so blown away by this chapter I can't think straight) but it feels like Orihime is going from that Eros stage of love, where you're focused on one other, to the Platonic stage, which acknowledges and embraces that but goes beyond it. You can see it in the incredible calm she has before Ulquiorra -- and I think (I want to believe) that this development is what's going to save Ulquiorra, too. (Because I would like him to be saved, in some way or another.)

I think I've spent so much time going "C'mon, get to the next part!" and waiting to see what would happen that I'm only now seeing all the stuff that HAS happened in this arc. I know we keep saying we want Orihime to *do* something, but re-reading the arc, I think she already has. She's grown/changed/developed. The Orihime standing before Ulquiorra right now is not the one he brought to HM.

How does Kubo do this? Your bf is a god. Every time I think of this chapter I get chills (which means my nipples have been hard practically ALL DAY.) Gah.

I'm sure this made no sense, but I'm still too excited and too full of ideas and adoration and OMG I need to find a fanartist to take a commission RIGHT NAO!!!

*tries to stop hyperventilating*

Re: Re your ETA

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

You have no idea how much it tickles me to have someone else adore my bf so much. It would have to be another poet-person. There's something sick about us people who spend hours tweaking three lines and then get in up front of a whole bunch of people to read them only to have most of the audience go "huh?"

But when the connection is made--it's so glorious. I love making connections with Kubo-sensei.

[grass-angel.livejournal.com]

I actually thought that Ichigo's breaking down a wall panel was Ishida shooting an arrow through the wall and making dramtic entrance ^TM

The more I look at the that spread, the more I like it. Ichigo's clearly going "So that's where you've been hiding Rukia" while said person is playing hide and seek. (I really want to see the rest of her outfit though~)

[marionette71088.livejournal.com]

I love how Rukia had worn her hair differently almost in every spread she was in last year, more and more playful and effin' adorable. Maybe Kubo is trying to say that despite all the complications in her life, she really is just a happy teenage girl at heart - can anyone say that she isn't suppose to be the SS equivalent of a teen after those spreads?

[desudesu-love.livejournal.com]

Oh my god...I just realized...I'm actually starting to like Heuco Mundo arc Orihime. OMFG!

Well, what she said was so...touching. She even faced the fact that Ichigo doesn't love her the same way. (You know in not in the lovey dovey sense)

I feel so inspired. I am now going to draw a picture of Orihime on MS paint and eventually upload it. :D

[sakuya07.livejournal.com]

I don't feel cheated at all! Oh and I'm a new member of the IchiRuki FC, and some forums too (aka yuuk1).

In any case, I'm just glad that Ichigo and Rukia finally saw each other after a very long, *excruciating* time! Also, Inoue finally had a little development and she finally understood her one-sided feelings and her friends' desperation to rescue her.

Though I was a bit upset at first since Ishida wasn't there, until I read this thread! >.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

Oh hi! I remember your name from somewhere--Anime Suki maybe? And yes, I am happy about the absence of Ishida. No one like Ishida for grand entrances. I just hope Kubo doesn't make us wait too long or doesn't pull the rug out from under us. Ishida fans are pumped!