342 The Greed

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

And the scanlated chapter is up at One Manga now here. I just woke up and there's already nearly 60 comments on the spoiler summary post so start talking about the chapter in this post. My first impression is OMG YAMMI HAS CUUUUUTE PUPPY! More later.

Comments

[riah-chan.livejournal.com]

He has a cute puppy and he really did look like the Cook-aid Man when he broke through the wall. ^___^

[metaphore-art.livejournal.com]

Awww...I love his cute puppy!! *___________*

I...simply can't settle on a singular thought process for this chapter. On the one had, I'm still loving Ulquiorra and all his badassery. Still loving the banter between him and Orihime. Absurdly love that one panel where he's totally looking back and Inoue and the lolies and not paying attention to the fight...

On the other hand, the return of the "Kurosaki-kun" and the loli twins has brought the snarl back. Enough with the "le sigh, oh no! Help me; I'm being picked on by jealous girls and I can't help myself! Because they're sooo jealous of me!" FFS! I HATE THAT!! I really, really can't stand that. I didn't think it was possible to hate it more than I hated it the first time, but...there it is!

So, on the one hand I'm just steaming about them, but on the other hand...when she said "Kurosaki-kun," and those hands came through the wall to cut her off, I kind of got a weird sense of satisfaction from it... o.O

Maybe I'm just tired of this arc altogether?

[jaina.livejournal.com]

Aw, Hollow puppy is really cute.

I REALLY hope Orihime doesn't just sit back and take it after she finally showed some initiative last chapter. Also, you know right now someone is totally making a stupid comment about how Ichigo obviously loves seeing Orihime's clothes get ripped off.

[gully-moe.livejournal.com]

I was thinking the same about the puppy! <3

I was a bit disappointed with Orihime. She was determined the last chapter, and now she lets her guard down a bit and actually looks a little... nervous when Ulquiorra started to taunt her.

*sigh* And then Ichigo says, please don't help, yadda yadda. and then she's at the sidelines again... going back to the pathetic looking Orihime. Ah well it's to be expected from Ichigo.

Again. *sigh*

But at least we get a change in her costume and people can stop asking where the hell is Yammy.

[grass-angel.livejournal.com]

Puppy is indeed cute. Shame the cute only lasted for a page though.

And ugh... ripping out eyeballs. I've had enough of that in my other fandoms - I really want 'Hime to keep both her eyes.

The clothes ripping could've been fun, if I hadn't been aware that somewhere, someone was making a comment about how this means Ichigo and Orihime love each other. (Because other people ripping of their clothes so proves that. *rolls eyes*)

[darkcountessb.livejournal.com]

Dude, no way? Seriously people are saying that? *facepalm*

[darkcountessb.livejournal.com]

Well I enjoyed the chapter and my mind nearly exploded with it. Kubo did a good job with the art this time, a really good job. Yammy with a dog was so cute, I really want to draw him in a chibi version with a doggie. I think it just goes to show that Ichigo makes Orihime weak. She didn't "Kurosaki-kun" until he spoke to her. My hope is that she gains her strength in the next chapters, puts her feelings aside, and stands up for herself for once.

I love the fact Ulquiorra called her out on the fact that she didn't protect Ichigo the first time around. Also Ulquiorra's first emotion was great as well. I feel really excited to be a fan of Ulquiorra.

[tolstoyfan.livejournal.com]

Lol, the clothes-ripping=lurve comment can't possibly beat the comment that "Ichigo has never looked that angry before." Which is funny, because he said something similar to what he said to Ulquiorra to Nnoitra when he had his hands all over Nel. The facial expressions are almost completely alike. Let's also not mention his look he gave Byakuya when he mentioned killing Ichigo then personally dealing with Rukia himself. That look was fit to kill.

Oh well, let them enjoy la-la land I say.

[pogo2468.livejournal.com]

AHAHA, yeah, I heard that comment. Someone actually posted a picture of Ichi getting mad at Nnoitra and said that that was Ichi in this chapter and I thought it was. Seriously, the pictures are almost exactly the same. Oh, and the look Ichi gave Byakuya was so chilling. Nothing beats that one.

[gully-moe.livejournal.com]

It just hit me but some of the Espada represent a sin.

Grimmjow - Wrath
Zommari - Pride
Szayel - Lust
Stark - Sloth
Areo - Gluttony
Ulquiorra - Envy. He is the green eyed monster after all.

Yammy could be Greed???

[pixyteri.livejournal.com]

Oooh clever. XD I like it!

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

I also groaned when Orihime backed off -- I SO wanted to see her kick some ass -- and I think it's easy to focus on her physically stepping back when Ichigo tells her to. However, it seems to me that her whole 'wavering Orihime' persona comes back not then, but when Ulquiorra questioned her motivations. So... maybe it isn't just a case of "Oh, I guess I'd better do what Kurosaki says" but a reflection of her conflicted feelings about Ulquiorra.

I hated seeing the Lollis get her, tho. I DON'T know why she won't defend herself from an immediate threat. Very frustrating.

[gully-moe.livejournal.com]

Indeed. It's like Noitora and Tesla over again. Ichigo fights, Orihime gets grabbed and then Ichigo yells again. Only this time Orihime gets abused and that just makes it worse, because it shows that she's helpless and pathetic, but she really isn't. She can take on those girls. They're lowly servants who don't appear to have swords.

My problem is is that she's willing to protect her friends, but not her self. She still seems to carry on this self worthlessness. Rukia was able to grow out of that, so hopefully we can see that development, but it just seems to be taking forever.

[vraieesprit.livejournal.com]

Dear God you can tell when my brain's on another planet.

That dog reminded me of the dog from the Funnybones stories we used to have in playschool...

Glad Yami wasn't forgotten. Though I didn't think he would be.

I'm wondering now what's going on inside of Hime's head, actually. I think it might be quite interesting, given the things Ulquiorra;s said, and that Ichigo's said...and that Ichigo cut Ulquiorra off, as if he didn't want it put in words.

But yeah, God, that puppy...

LOL

Vraie

[gully-moe.livejournal.com]

I want to go into depth about Orihime. Again, I can't help but be disappointed. It's the same process over again.

Now I'm not a hater, but I'm not a lover either. However I've always had a soft spot for her, since she's a main character. I loved her for her humor in the SS arc. She does have her adorable moments. In the HM arc we see a dark side to her. I liked when she stood up against Ulquiorra. I liked how she protected Tatsuki as well. I liked how I can almost relate to her feelings and emotions.

However, last chapter I was glad to see her determined and actually being able to do something. Now in this chapter it's disregarded. She lets her gaurd down just a little bit when Ulquiorra asks her why she didn't do that earlier on. Also her reaction was 'huh?' Like she was confused. I was hoping that maybe she wouldn't answer and just look a little mad, but she's back to having that naive look and she starts to look a bit vulnerable. Of course Ulquiorra's taunt was, "why didn't you protect him sooner before?" Since it pertained to Ichigo, perhaps she couldn't help but get nervous. This says something to me of course about her feelings for Ichigo. She gets all nervous regarding it all. But that's for something later.

However, then she gets pushed back to the sidelines... again. It's the same. It's like Noitora and Tesla over again. Ulquiorra fights, while the girls grab onto Orihime, and Ichigo yells. What's different of course is that they are hurting her. Which just makes it worse. She becomes helpless and pathetic and just goes back to being the damsel and distress. However, wait a moment. Orihime can defend herself. She just displayed to us her power in the last chapter. She can put up a shield. She can use Tsubaki. I'm sure she can take on those girls. She thought of using her powers before on Tesla, but he encouraged her not to because he'd crush them. However Tesla is a fraccion. These girls are just lowly servants. If they wanted to destroy Orihime, they'd pull out their swords on her, but it seems like they don't have any. Why can't Orihime defend herself with her powers?

Basically Orihime is willing to protect her friends but she isn't willing to defend herself. She's had feelings of self worthlessness before hand when she was jealous of Rukia, or when Urahara said that they don't need her. She was already feeling pathetic. What needs to change is her self esteem. It's what every teenager goes through, and they need to grow out of it and learn that they are worth something. We saw that in chapter 317, I believe, that she said that she finally saw that she is worth something to her friends, however what about herself? She needs to see herself that she is someone worth being.

That's the problem that I have is that I don't see that yet. She's gotten a fair amount of development, but it's taking too long for her to grow out of this state.

Sorry for the length and the multiple comments of mine. I could post this in my LJ, but I'm too lazy.

[pixyteri.livejournal.com]

IAWTC.

[karenai.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm completely ambivalent about Orihime most of the time and the "Six hearts beat as one" chapter made my heart squeeze for her. It was like she finally understood her own heart and the hearts of her friends. But no. Too bad.

[naviji.livejournal.com]

heh...for some reason, I really really thought that Inoue would do something in this chapter after her intervention in the last one. But it just seems, as everyone has said, she is right back to where she started. And getting beaten up again too. I agree, she can't go super woman and attack the two, but she can at least prevent them from doing this. Its just sad and really, I'm put off.

The doggie...such a cute surprise...Yammy...hhmmm there is a party going on in the tower now lol. Wonder who is next to crash in xP

[pogo2468.livejournal.com]

Yup. I basically agree with all of you. We're back to passive, side-lined, Hime, who is, once again, watching the fight, instead of fighting alongside Ichigo. And now she's even getting beat up. I'm so disappointed and hope Kubo redeems her. Nothing else to add about that. You've all pretty much said what I was thinking about Hime.

Ulqui was awesome in this chapter, while Ichigo was a complete and utter buffoon. Seriously, the boy almost killed Hime. Not intentionally, but still Ichi, use your brain, please.

Also, that dog was so freaking adorable!

[spartydragon.livejournal.com]

1st thought: LOL PUPPYCAR!
2nd: hmmmm... >.>

I wonder what they're up to...

Think they're trying to force Ichigo to go hollow then have Aizen pop in go , "Lol! Thx gais I can take it from here" then use him as a guineapig for ye olde hougyoku? What would that do to a viazard anyway?

Logicly speaking, they should be threatening Rukia's life for that, but there's a good chance Ichigo wouldn't completely loose it over that - he'd manage to remain a shred of control which could throw quite the wrench in the monkeyworks. Inoue might be the better bait for going to the dark side, since she almost refuses to help herself and isn't really inspiring him to go super saiyan or anything.

Or maybe he bumped into Ishida on his way up to the tower and Ichigo's just keeping everyone busy while Ishida sneaks in all ninja like.

[karenai.livejournal.com]

Argh. Long comment. I was bitterly disappointed with this chapter. Yammi coming in doesn't excite me - in fact, I think he kills the tension in the room - though now that I read it, I think he might interfere with the girls bullying Orihime.

Kubo is taking too long with Orihime. I know he's capable of better, and every time I think it's coming, it's like a cold bucket of water to see her stand down to Ichigo or Ulquiorra or whoever. I was delighted when she shielded Ichigo last chapter, hoping that it was in fact only the tip of the iceberg, when it fact that was the best part.

It's becoming even clearer than before that Ichigo does not bring out the best in Orihime. Because her capabilities are so dependent on how much she believes in herself, when Ichigo tells her to stand down and she lets him, it manifests itself as reality, and she truly does become weak, whatever her potential otherwise. That she lets Ichigo get away with doing this is also evidence to me that Orihime does not bring out the best in Ichigo.

She's a girl with great powers and no faith in herself. She's disturbing me because she's beginning to remind me of a domestic violence victim in that she just takes and takes and takes unimaginable stress and pain and takes no actions to prevent otherwise, almost like she thinks she deserves it. Her reaction to the girls in this chapter really exemplifies that. I don't see her struggling at all. It kills me.

Sometimes I think Kubo is trying to make a very elaborate social argument with Orihime, in that there comes a point when you need to have belief in yourself and your worth as a person that is independent of what people believe in you. People can be wrong, are often wrong.

It's never been a problem that she's been a healer and not a fighter - that's not the growth I'm waiting for. I'm waiting for a moment when she *believes* that. She talks about wanting to fight by Ichigo's side, but while it would be great if she could, she's hardly worthless if she doesn't. Also, this is ICHIGO we're talking about here - if she does indeed want to fight with him - he's a blockhead, he needs to be yelled at or beaten to understand something! That she somehow missed this memo makes me sad.

[gully-moe.livejournal.com]

IAWTC.

[yl-yl.livejournal.com]

I'm just chanting Ishida Ishida Ishida Ishida Ishida Ishida Ishida Ishida...

Come on, four against two (or one, if you want to exclude the seemingly confused Damsel In Distress), that's bullying!

It's time for Ishida to appear!!! *screams madly*

It seems absence do make the heart grow fonder, cos Kubo-sensei is really doing a great job at that. But fondness if going to just develop into insanity if the missing Ishida continues to be... missing.

[cyanglow]

PUPPY!

That's all I have to say. ;D

[samurai-parfait.livejournal.com]

HOORAY! 8D

*super stealth spartydragon RP post XD*

[andrew-jp.livejournal.com]

I've been wondering where Yammy was...that's now all ten Espada accounted for.

[pixyteri.livejournal.com]

No. Where is Grimmjow.

[pixyteri.livejournal.com]

Good chapter. A bit confusing, and a bit of a let-down, but it's still very good. Any chapter that causes this much fan confusion, discussion, etc is GOOD, whether people like the material or not.

The dog's annoying. :P It needs to shut up. As is Yammy. Ugh.

Wow, Orihime. You continue to disappoint. Why are you letting them tear your clothes off? Do you WANT Ichigo to see your boobs? Is that what you want?

You could shield them away from you. You could fire tsubaki at them. ANYTHING. Yet you continue to play the part of the victim, so Ichigo will feel more sorry for you and continue to fight?

Why not fight for yourself, or alongside Ichigo? Ulquiorra cares more for you. Meh.

(Sorry went off on a tangent there)

Kubo knows what he's doing, guys. Seems he's destroying the Ichihime's hopes in a pretty obvious way.

[xxerebxx.livejournal.com]

Orihime didn`t said "Kurosaki-kun", only "Kurosaki". It's strange, isn't it? Perhaps she noticed something about him.

In our forum, there's the theory that Hichigo takes over Ichigo at the moment. He said it in the last chapter: perhaps he had become more like an Hollow.
And he endagered Orihimes life. Something very untypical for him.

Plus: he`s constantly in Bankai-form, perhaps he relies too much on Hollow-Reiatsu!
So that could be the reason why he didn't use his mask. He's afraid, that the Hichigo takes over.
(sorry for bad english, ahem)

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

She said "Kurosaki-kun"--the translation just didn't copy the whole thing. It would be weird if Orihime suddenly became so rude as to call Ichigo "Kurosaki."

[hikaruasakura.livejournal.com]

Dissapointed. Orihime said "Kurosaki-kun" again and acted like a helpless pathetic person.The determination from the last chapter lasted only a week...T___T seriuosly, Orihime needs to stop acting like that. I'm still hoping for a true change.

Ulquiorra was totally great in this chapter. :)

Where's Ishida?!!!!!

[dawnduskdancer.livejournal.com]

I'm so upset about what's happening to Hime. I just really really hope that Ishida will show up, rescue Hime from Loli and Menoli and then give her some sore of morale boost/encouragement that will lead to her firing Tsubaki. It's about bloody time she did.

[visforvanilla.livejournal.com]

...Am I the only person who really liked this chapter.... >>;;

Everyone was IC, and I after much thinking and debating with fellow Bleachtards, I knew last chapters 'development' of Orihime's character was only meant as a cliffhanger for the chapter. =_= Maybe the reason why I am not dissapointed with this chapter is tha that I got exactly what I was exepecting.


ISHIDA COME BACK!

[gully-moe.livejournal.com]

I did like the chapter. It was a good read, and things were still exciting. Just that some of the events that occurred didn't make me feel good.

[(Anonymous)]

while i have been very pleased with the way kubo's been handling ulqui's development, i dont think i can say the same with orihime.

her actions and expression in the last chapter confused me a little - while she very bravely threw up a shield to protect ichigo, her expression wasnt one of strong determination. it was almost hesitant, as if she was worried or perhaps even afraid. i didnt understand that expression - she couldnt have been afraid of ulqui, could she? surely she couldnt be afraid for her safety by doing so, because i dont believe ulqui would have attacked her. i dont understand her hesitancy so i hope kubo explains it soon.

and that is why her current situation in this chapter doesnt surprise me very much. she stutters over why she threw up a shield, which gives the impression that she is weak in her resolve. but then i remember her 6 hearts beat as one speech, and i am again left confused.

and lastly, it bugs me that kubo put orihime in a situation which she was easily caught off guard and again subjected to abuse by the loly twins. why did he not instead choose to put them on equal ground, to face off each other that way? but perhaps, this is more revealing of the loly twins' characters, who are cowards and could not face orihime directly than of orihime herself.

i wonder if it is fair to judge kubo's characters based on the choices he did not allow them to make.

-drcalcium