344 The Pride

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

It's not just me. I haven't seen this much excitement about Bleach chapters since the Turn Back the Pendulum arc started. I guess the moments we were all waiting for were in the IchiUlqui confrontation which has finally started to move. The characters we cared about most were there--Orihime, Ulquiorra, Ichigo and Hichigo. *Waves flag for Ishida's showing up*  Do I smell the hougyoku around anywhere?

Ton of comments just about the summary spoilers here

And here is the scanlation of 344 The Pride by SleepyFans at OneManga



Pride is the worst of the sins and I was expecting the chapter entitled such to be something somber and indicting but no, we get the old play on the Quincy's favorite word and a title page with Ishida looking BISHIDA again and really cool.

And just after the title The Pride flashes across the marquee, Yammi takes a fall. Pride cometh before the pratfall? I loooooooove it.

Other than that, I waited nearly three years for my IshiHime moment and I got it for the Valentine's Day WSJ special issue. Well, I've heard shippers from all walks claiming the panel for Orihime's "look" already. She was looking sadly at Ichigo leaving. She was looking sadly at Ulquiorra leaving. Maybe she was. I think because the panel followed Ishida's words about how he would protect her even if Ichigo hadn't asked him to, that she's noticed 1) ISHIDA, and no, wait, everyone's into protecting her and here she was the one who vowed she wouldn't stand behind Kurosaki-kun's back in battle again (see chapters waaaay back... I'll have to search) AND LO, Ichigo has his back to her YET AGAIN and 2) Orihime doesn't want to be protected over and over and over--she wants to help!

In my book, it's a Valentine's pressie from my Kubo: I got Orihime noticing Ishida. I've squeed myself hoarse in the appropriate FCs and dbnext brought up the point (along with some more arts! ANOTHER REASON TO CELEBRATE! CHRIS IS DRAWING ISHIHIME AGAIN!) that this chapter is the first time Ishida has mentioned protecting anyone. Ishida said during the Mayuri battle that he didn't know what he wanted to protect. Besides that, we were given the enormous foreshadowing of Souken's oh one day grasshopper Quincy you will know what you want to protect to underscore Ishida's dilemma. Ichigo, since early chapters, has spoken of wanting to protect "mountains of people" but Ishida declaring to protect anyone is special, even if his actions have been protective for hundreds of chapters now.

So, bring it on! Ishida development! (Know what you want to protect!) Orihime development! (Show that you don't always need to be protected!) IshiHime development? (oh yes, please!)

Ten to one Orihime and Ishida have a moment with the Hougyoku before the IchiUlqui fight is finished!

And good money on Yammi landing near his proper opponent, Chad.

And HOLY 9&**(! The art was awesome when Ichigo went Visored. I was shaking in my boots. And the moon in the sky and Ulquiorra's eyes going weird when he pronounced his release command. Oh yeah, I love Bleach.
 

Comments

[sidonzo.livejournal.com]

AWESOME chapter! I shipped Ishihime in it! XD And Ichigo and Ulquiorra were indeed awesome in it! It was just all around win! XD

[riah-chan.livejournal.com]

Chad landing near Chad?

Otherwise, completely awesome chapter and Quincy Archer protects you! I love it. And I have total faith that this willingness to protect will inspire Orihime to do some protecting of her own and to increase her awesomeness quotient.

[mezzo-marinaio.livejournal.com]

Ah ah - I do think she means Yammi! XD

[vraieesprit.livejournal.com]

Definitely more IshiHime goodness this chapter :)

Though I...er...really want to go back to Juu and Shun and what's happening there. I'm not so interested in this fight though Ishida and Hime was win and Ishida and Ichigo were funny as ever. I do hope Ulquiorra kicks Ichigo's butt again though. Because Ichigo isn't going to die, but I don't want Ulquiorra to either.

[grass-angel.livejournal.com]

*holds head* Getting deja vu here with Ishida and Ichigo's conversation.
But Ishida's so much more proactive than Renji, perhaps we will have the Quincy reach out to grasp his star.

[grass-angel.livejournal.com]

Also, I hope Hollow Ichigo will make a showing!

[haya5h1.livejournal.com]

HEEEE Ishihime~
....and off I go to Kinokuniya even though it means I probably won't get home till 9.XD (All the issues with IchiRuki and IshiHime have sold out RIDICULOUSLY fast lately - I wasn't even able to get the Akamaru Jump with the chibi poster, and the Akamaru editions usually have a habit of hanging around the shelves for weeks. geez.)

[bunnisteffi.livejournal.com]

I have the Akamaru Jump version~ Was thining of scanning the poster, but it took me too many tries, and it looked horrible in the end, so nothing came out of it.

I'd love to see the Rukia colourspread, though. Hope that you're able to get it!

So huh....

[deathbringerpt.livejournal.com]

Don´t arrancars have the ability to....you know, fly? In Hueco Mundo?

Oh well, who cares for inconsistencies, RUKIA IS SO MOE I CAN´T STAND IT.

Re: So huh....

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

Yammi was injured! Or else he was so stunned by Ishida's magnificance that he couldn't power up.

Besides, gravity is gravity. HE JUST FELL. AND IT WAS FUNNY.

Yeah, I hear you on the moe. People are divided about this cover. I'm on the IS SEXY side.

[balladbird.livejournal.com]

"She was looking sadly at Ulquiorra leaving"

To be fair, not too many members of the UlquiHime community can really bring ourselves to believe that. ^^ Personally I've always seen UlquiHime developments as one-sided on the part of Ulquiorra.

As to the chapter, while IshiHime isn't a particular passion of mine, I've no opposition to it either, and the ending of the IshiYamm fight was splendid. I'm not sure how I feel about masked Ichigo getting such a powerup, but I'll reserve my righteous indignation for after I stop fanboying the prospect of Ulquiorra's release.

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

I know. I love the UlquiHime fandom. It's very smart and groovy. But there was a little of that claiming Orihime's look. I don't know if there wasn't some sadness on Orihime's face about the whole prospect of battle--in my view, she may not have feelings for Ulquiorra like those she has for Ichigo or Ishida but she certainly cares for him at least as much as she did Loli. Kubo seems to have taken pains to show us her compassion in this arc.

[bunnisteffi.livejournal.com]

HM. Page 4. I nearly screamed when I saw badass!Ishida.

WHEN DID HE BECOME SO AWESOME? I'm considering tranferring to the Ishida Uryuu FC over Fail!Ichigo's.

... But I suppose now's not the time to be fickle, ne~

[bunnisteffi.livejournal.com]

Oh, lovely. Looks like Ishida IS going to get the girl, with him being pushed from two sides. Heheh.

[annie-08.livejournal.com]

I see Orihime's reaction panel as the one for Ishida's words how he'd protected her even if Ichigo didn't asked him to. I don't think it's about 'omg Kurosaki kun is leaving me' or 'Ishida kun will protect me' but rather a realization that her friends will always protect her. The result could be anything. Orihime could get upset that they simply see her as some fragile object to protect. Or she could finally able to open her eyes and see reality that her friends *do* care about her and live up to their feelings.

And sorry for this rant but while Orihime keeps saying she wanted to protect her friends, the truth is her actions have done nothing but hurt them in one way or the other. Her refusal to even defend herself from the lolis (I'm not even talking about fighting against them) only brings a confirmation to her friends she's not capable to taking care for herself. It doesn't matter that she has such godly powers or that she *once* kept Ichigo under her shield. The truth remains whenever the enemies are near, she turned into a helpless girl. And don't bring up how without her many would have died. This is Bleach, without her Kubo will still make someone a healer. Heck, if he could turned Kira into a former 4th Division member, he could turned even a tree to heal Chad if he has to.

Also, I find it funny some has to run around reassuring people that nooo Ishida didn't say he'd protect Hime and he only said he'd do what Ichigo just asked him anyway which is...still that he'd protect her (but in *my* defense, the spoiler used to word protect so I used it.). The only thing I care about is I didn't disappointed you when the scan is out.

I still find it weird by the 'use your body to shield her' sentence because something like that should have been in the spoiler. But all I saw was 'if her rikka can't shield her then you have to protect her.' And the context of this sentence confirms Ichigo sees Orihime as a weak one and he still doesn't trust her powers. But I can't blame him because meh..what did he just witnessed two chapters ago?

Also the winner argument for this chapter is, "Ishida paused before reply to Ichigo! zomg he's not really confident/determine/godknowswhatcrap unlike Ichigo who is so concernd over Hime!!" Honey, if he truly cares as in he loves her, he'd have at least look and talk to her. The only reason I can think of why Ichigo didn't show his face in page 8 is 'guilt'. He's feelings guilty of not being able to keep her away from harm. Now he's doing what he wanted most, to fight and let someone else take care of a girl he hasn't place safety as his priority.

Ichigo's double spread and Ulquiorra in the last page are made of win. They both look utterly awesome in those pages. But seriously, from the release command, I really think he'll some kind of a snake.

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

Also the winner argument for this chapter is, "Ishida paused before reply to Ichigo! zomg he's not really confident/determine/godknowswhatcrap unlike Ichigo who is so concernd over Hime!!"

Totally missing all this. But then I went to bed. I saw the usual suspects were still posting when I got up early this morning and I'm ignoring the Ishida is the gayest ever and Ichigo was overcome with jealousy stuff from them. It's gone beyond amusing and entered into holy cow, let's have some sympathy for the mentally ill territory.

It's interesting to see other parts of fandom besides just shippers being all hopping, though. Ulquiorra fans and Hollow!Ichigo fans are a-plenty. I can go to read Manga Helpers and read the usual fanboi complaints about power-ups and sense a change in how they're reacting--it's like, FINALLY BLEACH IS MOVING TO THE STUFF WE WANT TO SEE MOST.

[r0ck3tsci3ntist.livejournal.com]

It was an awesome chapter. It had something for everyone, imo.

I loved the Ishida resolve there. I thought he was at his best - serious, compassionate (toward Hime) and no nonsense. I think his feelings toward Orihime are clear and I'm so happy she has him.

Orihime's situation is so complicated here. Her expression was fabulous (from an artistic standpoint). It doesn't really matter who it was aimed at because I think it was aimed at all of them. It was a mix of anguish, chagrin, concern and frustration. And frankly, the only person she has to frustrated with is herself. I think perhaps she's coming to some hard realizations here; 1) that her knight in shining armor, Ichigo, is nothing of the sort. I think her eyes are opening and she's finally seeing who he really is instead of seeing only who she wants him to be. 2) the real extent of Ishida's concern for her and 3) this one is kind of ify, but the truth of the "psychological cage" that Ulquiorra spoke of, because there is SOMETHING binding her actions here, although she often acts like that in Ichigo's presence (which is the only real reason I don't care for the Ichi/Hime thing - what she becomes when she's around him). She simply isn't acting like the person she was before she came to HM. I'm so dying to know what Ulquiorra was going to say about her.

I think it was interesting even if it was inadvertent that both her nakama had their backs to her while they discussed her fate...

I hope Chad gets Yammy. It's only fitting. I hope Orihime and Ishida have an epic adventure and I know hope Ichigo gets his power up and I hope KT does something really interesting with Ulquiorra.

It could go either way, Ulqui gets pwned and discarded and someone else explains to Hime what happened to her or they have some last moments together and the hearts convo is finished and they part. Either way is kinda sad to me but the former would be better than the latter, as far as I'm concerned.

[nekari.livejournal.com]

"Orihime's situation is so complicated here. Her expression was fabulous (from an artistic standpoint)."

Yeah, KT did a very good job here, her face at the bottom of the page 8 is beautifully expressive.

"1) that her knight in shining armor, Ichigo, is nothing of the sort. I think her eyes are opening and she's finally seeing who he really is instead of seeing only who she wants him to be."

Er, what do you mean by "who he really is" ?
I agree with the fact that she needs to realize that her feelings are not and probably won't never be reciprocated, that Ichigo cares for her but not like she wants
I only do hope that in the process, Ichigo doesn't need to appear like a bastard or a total heartless :(

" 2) the real extent of Ishida's concern for her"

Yes ! That's one is good :D

[jaina.livejournal.com]

I thought she looked more surprised (possibly at Ishida's commitment to protecting her, possibly just cuz...lots of surprising things are happening) and concerned more than sad.

And LOLOL at Ichigo's "pfft I didn't want to know anyway, you're just a Chatty Cathy."

[r0ck3tsci3ntist.livejournal.com]

ot but - THE HAT!!!!!!!

[jaina.livejournal.com]

Also, that first shot of masked Ichigo is the creepiest-looking one of him that we've seen since he started going Vaizard, imo.

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

He looked feral--the mask has changed again. He's the Hollow one now, and I betcha Ulquiorra is the human.

TAH-DAH! Parallels again!

[gully-moe.livejournal.com]

Obvious parallel is obvious.

http://www.onemanga.com/Bleach/152/09/
http://www.onemanga.com/Bleach/344/08/

Different situations, but Ichigo is asking for another man to protect the girl. I knew this was going to happen. XD

I think I'm leaning towards IshiHime a little. I liked Annie's translation of Ishida's quote better. When I heard it first I thought it sounded adorable. Oh and despite all the crap that's been happening to Orihime, her facial expression looked very moe. And I'm pretty sure she was looking towards Ishida...

I also like lock better than bind. When I heard of lock I thought of a locked chest that held secrets, which I find fits Ulquiorra. He's so very mysterious that he seems to keep a lot of things locked inside him.

Someone noted that the reason why 4 and above can't release in the dome is because they are special, aka VL material. Or perhaps that they're just too powerful that it'd destroy Aizen's castle.

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

The question came up again at BA, why doesn't Ichigo use the tactical advantage against Ulquiorra and not follow him? He can't release below the dome so why not just stay put? But since when has Ichigo ever fought "unfair" and since when has Ichigo ever walked away from a fight?

This is the same man who had Orihime heal Grimmjow so things would be fair. He didn't put Orihime first; he had the hard-on for battle. This is Hollow Ichigo emerging. He's not the hero.

Meanwhile, Ishida, using dirty tactics, using Mayuri bombs, just wants to get Orihime out of there. He's the boy in white. He said it himself, "I'm here to rescue Inoue-san, not to fight Espada."

[andrew-jp.livejournal.com]

I was looking forward to killing someone, but I guess another Chad fight is cool too.

The Hollowfication was indeed awesome. I wonder if there's any significance in the way it was drawn as two separate pieces. Whenever Ichigo used it in the past the mask remained a single solid piece, no matter how he talked or yelled, but in this chapter the jaw was split from the upper half of the face as he transformed.

[r0ck3tsci3ntist.livejournal.com]

I think it's meant to show that it has become more natural to him. An integral part of his body and therefore more powerful. A visual way of supporting the whole power-up.

[(Anonymous)]

hello ^^ I was wondering.. which translation is more correct if you compare it to the RAW, because i would like to think ishida indeed is saying "I will protect her even if you didn't ask me to" but in other translations he is saying "You didn't have to tell me that." (about protecting orihime)
i am just asking out of curiosity (and 'm hoping you understand what i'm saying ... my english is just very bad >_>)so yea ..

[mezzo-marinaio.livejournal.com]

Literally, he says "Even if you didn't tell me, that is my intention".

So, yeah, the meaning is clear. ^o^ He didn't use the word 'protect' simply because Ichigo used it first, and he didn't need to repeat the word itself in order to make himself clear. ♥

[karenai.livejournal.com]

I'm with everyone on Ichigo's two page spread after he puts on the mask. This is why Kubo Tite rocks. What epic art. I have faith that Ulquiorra's fighting will be unique; I remember thinking how terrifying Byakuya's bankai was all that time ago. Epic drawing is epic.

I spent a lot of time wondering what Orihime's face really means in that single panel. More than anything, though, I'm still really hoping for Ishida to talk to her, because Ishida couldn't possibly ignore her, especially not when she looks like that. She's so clearly upset, and I want her to talk to him -so- bad; I think it could be cathartic.

I wonder how the fight will unfold from here on out. I feel like Ulquiorra is going to lose this fight, but I think it's necessary for him to resolve tension with Orihime before he dies/whatever. (I don't ship for or against them; just speaking as an observer of their issues.) Yet if she and Ishida go elsewhere, Hougyoku hunting or whatnot, and Ichigo is fighting Ulquiorra up above HM, they'll be separated at a really critical juncture. Well, I can't predict Kubo too much, he's too tricky.

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

I thought about starting a convo about Hime's expression last night because it intrigued me so much, but decided it would be better to wait for you. ;-)

I think that whole page is just full of awesome. The IchiIshi tension here (which, to me at least, is palpable) just sends me over the moon, but oh, that look on Hime's face! I'm not surprised people are debating over that expression -- Kubo really is a master; he can put SO much into a single look -- but the minute I saw it? My thought was: "DING! That is a look of recognition! That is a look that is just this shy of epiphany!"

Just for fun, I went back and had a look at this page:

http://www.onemanga.com/Bleach/180/19/

to compare it with this:

http://www.onemanga.com/Bleach/344/08/

I think Orihime gets it now. Ishida knows what he wants to protect, and now, so does Orihime.

It's definitely an expression of realization. I'll admit that she could be realizing some other things -- like, that she didn't want to be the one everyone is protecting. Also, even if she is realizing the Ishida has feelings for her, her look doesn't say she returns them -- just that she suddenly has a new perspective.

Still, with my standard caveat of "Hey, I don't really ship these two", even my first impression was that she had finally SEEN Ishida.

Maybe she had to go through all these trials and tribulations -- a breakdown of her normal spunky self -- to break down her own prior assumptions. Some seeds have to be scratched and nearly broken before they can germinate, grow and bloom.

[nels-snape.livejournal.com]

I stayed up last night waiting for this chapter to come out in onemanga and it was sooo worth it.

I'm glad Kubo finally put the Bleach back in Bleach if that makes any sense. This chapter just brought back the excitement I felt in most of the Soul Society chapters (and TBTP arc)--it was amazing.

Can't wait for next week^^ We'll definitely see some intense (and maybe reckless..) fighting from Ichigo..at least I hope. Then again I really want to see...Uquiorra snap and go crazy VL on Ichigo or something.

The color spread was so...breathtaking. I was simply left speechless by the artistic skills in it. I don't draw, so of course anything Kubo draws is amazing, but this was seriously beautiful. The colors, the outfit, Rukia's expression (though I did feel her eyes wanted to look into my soul o.O), everything fit.

I almost want to avoid spoilers for the next chapter and just be really surprised for whatever is going to happen next .-. but ugh that's going to be so hard.

[jdm6845.livejournal.com]

I'll probably get shot for this... but I think Orihime's eyes were angled towards Ichigo.

Does this mean I think a look can be "claimed" for any ship in this case? HELL NO. She's not so dumb to be thinking nothing but ILoveIchigoILoveIchigoILoveIchigoILoveIchigo in that moment. There are many things going on around her. While she may be looking at Ichigo, IMO her reaction is about everything going on around her-- mostly Ichigo, yes, because he's saying goodbye to his friends (the feeling I got from all the ominous shadows and whatnot when he was passing the task of protecting Orihime to Ishida) and running off to do something insanely dangerous-- something from which he may or may not recover. But it's also about Ishida's vow that he would have protected her anyway, the massive explosion that had just occurred, the deaths of the Lollis, the impending death of her babysitter, etc. etc. There's just too much going on to think that "love" is the only thing going on in her head right now.

As for Ichigo... well, it certainly would be silly to think that his actions mean that he's in love with her. He's leaving his friends behind to go fight. I'm not going to say he's selfish, because with Ulquiorra being as persistent as he is, I doubt he had any other choice... but that also doesn't mean that Ichigo doesn't somehow prefer this turn of events (the banter from his enemies thus far would suggest that he does). He's passed the torch to Ishida, and though he does care about Inoue, he's gone off in search of bigger fish to fry. Making sure that she remains safe is just common sense-- not romantic love.

[stace-s.livejournal.com]

As for Ichigo... well, it certainly would be silly to think that his actions mean that he's in love with her.

I agree. I keep reading the argument that he's stalled on using his mask to avoid scaring Orihime, but the thing about that argument is that he learned how much it scared her way back in the Arrancar arc and yet used it in front of her against Grimmjow anyway. So why start doing it to prevent scaring her now, when the stakes are so high? I can get him not wanting to hurt her with his reiatsu if he thinks it's gotten so strong, but that's not the same as trying to keep from scaring her.

[visforvanilla.livejournal.com]

I am extremly happy with this chapter. <3

Seriosly, I had begun to doubt Kubo, but now...wow. I am so happy and can't wait to see what happens in the next chapter.

-is so happy she joined the IshiHime Club-

[shinigami-lucia.livejournal.com]

The chapter was okay. But I think there were a couple of holes in it that doesn't make sense to me. In any case, I think it was alright chapter. I really like Ishida's quote about protecting Orihime. I think it's very sweet and sappy <333

The obvious parallel with this chapter & 152 was very interesting. Ichigo's statement to Ishida and to Renji aren't word for word similar, but the meaning behind it is the same, with one major difference - In ch152, Ichigo told Renji to take Rukia away from the battlefield to ensure her safety. In ch344, he didn't ask Ishida to take Orihime away. All he said, is that if her shield can't protect her, then Ishida should protect her instead. Wouldn't it be more convenient to take Orihime away from that area in order to ensure her safety 100%? What Ichigo is suggesting in this chapter, will not only give possibility of injury to 2 people, but also doesn't really guarantee Orihime's safety either.

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

Holes? Is it the Yammi can fly thing again? Because I insist he was injured and gravity is ONE INTENSE FORCE! :yell

I hadn't thought of it like that. "Take her away from here" would make more sense but then again, we all have our Ichigo moments. We're in a shounen manga world after all. ^^

Ichigo's going Hollow! Ichigo's going Hollow!

[lady-leia-solo.livejournal.com]

OMG! I can't even express myself properly right now! Ishida looks so handsome in this chapter and the way Orihime reacts to his words! PRICELESS! Oh jeez I love it!

[squishysushi.livejournal.com]

when I was reading this last night at 1AM! I had to hold myself from screaming Let's say I'm very satisfied with the chapter ^^
-chibi_izumi <---BA forum name haha XD

[araine.livejournal.com]

I like it how, even though Ishida is totally badasscool in this chapter, and I agree that the title is a play off of "Quincy Pride"--

He was totally his dorky self in this chapter anyways! I mean, basically, he was showing off his moves to Ichigo. (That "before you ask, this is how I did it" speech. LOL Ishida!) And then the face he made when Ichigo was like, "I wasn't really going to ask", was just so dorkishly in character, it was LOVELY.

I think that that moment really just kind of iced the cake for me on this chapter.

[cyanglow]

I had to stop reading the forum last night; it was getting so crazy I thought my head was going to explode.

I can't believe I was the only one who called the "Pride" being for Ishida. Surely someone else called it? It seemed too obvious to me, especially after his flashy entrance before. Yammi's fall made me laugh so hard! And Hichi... I literally shivered when I saw that mask open at the jaw.

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

Well, I had called it the week before but then everyone convinced me it was going to be the last sin.

I had to just go to bed because I was sleepy, but yeah, it was exciting huh?

I did get damn scared when Ichigo did his monster yawn. The mask--it wasn't a mask anymore--it was part of him! IT WAS INTENSE, BABY.