Ulquiorra and Orihime

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

The fandom is riled up. I've had three impassioned discussions, two and a half arguments, and one near fist-fight this morning over what's going to happen next in Bleach. I've had to calm at least one panic-attacked shipper and offer cyber chamomille to another fan who I haven't seen this nervous since the night of the 2008 US presidential election.

Orihime haters, of all kinds, are fuming because Orihime's got the stage. Orihime fans, of all kinds, are biting their nails because Orihime's got the stage. Just as a lot of fanbois are pleased that Ichigo got pwned in this last fight (as by all rights he should have because of the power disparity between him and Numero Quatro) so these fanbois are hoping to be surprised by the next fight, the fangirls (and all of those who like character development in our manga--excuse my sometimes awful gender generalizations) are unable to predict how what happens next will impact the relationships of those we care about so much. Will Orihime redeem Ulquiorra? Will Ichigo wake up and notice that Orihime loves him? Will Orihime notice that Ishida loves her? Will the fifth tower fall? What does it all mean?

Shishou, if you cut away to the Fake Karakura Town fights now, expect your home to be torched by angry fans!

Okay, I'm interested in fighting if it includes psychological drama or exceptionally beautiful opponents (my all-time fangirl fantasy of all time of seeing White Angel Ishida versus Black Demon Ulquiorra is a possibility now--the mere visual would be enough to make me shoot blood out my ears, arrgh!) As a person with two x chromosomes, though, my real interest is in the way characters relate in shounen manga without stabbing and kicking and punching. I'm a fan of looks and words that don't mean what they say, oh my.

That's why I'm crazy about the Orihime and Ulquiorra relationship.

( Ulquiorra and Orihime! )

Now, if you'll excuse me, my husband the mild-mannered philosophy professor is watching kick boxing on cable and wondering why I haven't stopped babbling with my "Trekkie" friends all weekend about some damn cartoon. "Did somebody kiss at last? Is that why you"re excited?"

Noooo, someone got killed, which is just as good. As Chad's tattoo reminds us Amor y Muerte are close, really close. And this is Bleach. In the midst of death, we have talk of the heart and even though there's despair, we have promises of love.