Croutons and Speculations

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

I'm trying to be patient. I've figured out that while Kubo-sensei said that this arc would be over in June of this year, he couldn't possibly mean the ENTIRE Hueco Mundo arc but only the current goings-on in FKT . Sensei promised on Jump!Bang television that the bodies in Szayel's lab would play an important role in the plot, and I'm presuming Mayuri's loot wagon figures here, and we still have unresolved issues in HM--a battle between Yammy and the captains, Orihime's character crisis, etc. There's simply not enough time to tie up loose ends in a matter of a few weeks and enter into the inevitable training arc and/or long-awaited Isshin gaiden.



Keeping in mind that I won't be denied for long, that I'm just being teased by an evil evil mangaka with panels of Rangiku running, running to her reunion with Gin and keeping in mind that sometimes people actually savor the croutons in their salad without conjuring a single fantasy from the dessert menu, I reread last week's chapter. I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF, though--serial damn stories make me think ahead--what else are we supposed to do but predict what happens next? It's all part of the fucking FUUUUUUN. >.< (Last comment directed at people who keep telling me to stop predicting outcomes because oh dear, I'll embarrass myself when I'm wrong. Right back at you, kiddoes).

I figured there HAD to be a good reason for the three Amigos ganging up on Aizen yet again, only to fail to stop him as we all know they will.  I suppose one reason was that we were all supposed to take pleasure in the attack names as they were called out--"Shibari Benehime!" (so kinky, Kisuke!) and "Getsuga Tenshou!" (So familiar, Papa!)--but all I can see is a set up for cracking Aizen-sama out of his banana-peel/Gaga dancer/cocoon outfit, and the only thing sustaining me right now is the UraYoru.

They were so cute, weren't they?  But of course Aizen had to undercut their banter by suggesting that it was a distraction technique, a show meant to temporarily confuse the man in the banana peel. Is Aizen an anti-shipper? He also suggested that it was he and not Destiny that brought Ichigo and Rukia together. Whatever, Aizen-taichou. Ichi and Ruki could have been brought together by both you AND Destiny; Urahara and Yoruichi could have been sincerely bickering as well as trying to distract you! (btw, did everyone see Ju-Ni's scan of Deicide 6? I didn't post the translation bc I've been making too much out of translations lately but haha, Yoruichi wasn't referring to Isshin's nose as being painful--that was Urahara going "Ouch! My nose!" when Yoru, presumably, slapped Urahara with his own fan off-panel. *HAPPY SIGH* I love pairings that take time out to be violent to one another in the middle of a battle to save the universe! <3... I'm currently having the same log-on probs with Ju-Ni other people were having last week... grr).

Aizen double-speak is fun to decipher for about ... oh, a couple days after a chapter comes out. UraYoru cuteness lingers longer.



Although Yoruichi showed up in weird armor a while back, it wasn't until this chapter that it occurred to me to notice what Yoruichi was wearing instead of what she wasn't wearing, and I remembered how banged-up her arm got some couple hundred chapters ago against Yammy.









It's pretty cool when Sensei picks up a stitch from long ago like that. In this case, I wasn't anticipating any special power-ups or gadgets from Yoru so the armor was a nice surprise. It's a whole other story when you wait for years for Kubo to deliver. I'll never forget the moment Komamura squinted at the sky and said he would tear the blindness from Tousen's eyes. I waited and waited ... and waited. And just this year I got the whole package. Not just a wonderful reunion, but lots of irony cherries on my cake cooked with irony. Tousen got his sight back but as he was dying, he could not recognize the apparition of the woman for whom he started his quest for Justice. Not to mention that the villainous Ulquiorra who could regenerate his own eyeball and who had stated that he did not believe in what he could not see with his own eyes had preceded Tousen's death with the last words "I see" in the context of the human heart.

When Sensei promises a reunion, the resolution may take years but he'll come at you with a full plate. I mean you'll be trying to corral all the metaphors and wonderful meanings and if you're a Bleachtard like me the whole manga will be illuminated and maybe you'll cry a little and be unusually kind to strangers for a few days and perform more charitable deeds!

This GinRan reunion is currently taking my mind off the dome. I know that Kira looks too bad off to run at the moment but I figure Unohana will take her sweet time healing him and then at some moment when we least expect it Kira will show up to literally weigh down Gin's frivolity and wisecracks. The anime and the hilarious Dattebayo sub of Yammy swearing to get his revenge on Ishida, that "four-eyed TWINK" (where does Yammy learn these terms? The Hueco Mundo interstate ballrooms?) made me think that Orihime may launch Tsubaki against the guy who pulverized the little fairy (Tsubaki not Ishida) long ago and the justice of all that plus her defending Ishida would make such karmic good sense. And of course I still fret about Ulquiorra and his powers of regeneration ... argh, I called it in 2007 that the man would have a glorious redemption scene involving Orihime and I've been calling for his return for a year now and I'm wondering if the heart vibes he got from Orihime are enough for him to regenerate himself (I get Bleach stuff wrong sometimes but my Ulqui batting average is high--called his bat form and regeneration ability here May 08). A touch from Orihime's hand appeared to fix Ichigo's wound in chapter 238 so in another parallel, would Orihime giving Ulquiorra one of those organs he can't regenerate (a metaphorical heart in this case) allow Ulquiorra to regenerate himself as a new entity?

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If Kubo doesn't pick up the stitches soon, speculation will eventually land right on the money, you know. That's what happened when a bunch of fanbois predicted the whole YAMMY IS THE ZERO ESPADA. <3

I've called the man Kubo "Never Drops a Stitch" Tite before, but even a mad Kubo fangirl should admit that certain Bleachverse elements seem to have been discarded for whatever reason. I'm cool with not a mention of spirit threads or Hell's Gates in the past few years, less so with the absence of Tatsuki because characters are never throw-aways in Bleach.

So, okay, I've run out of coffee. I'll get Neha to make a poll for later but in the meantime, what are your Bleach dreams, speculations and Tanabata wishes for this summer?

Oh and almost forgot!  Volume cover 45. I missed posting it the other day. Old man looks hot! Pic thanks to Spacey.



Comments

[rionarch.livejournal.com]

That Hellgate will come again. The only thing that's been keeping hope alive for me is the fact that none of the 'deaths' so far have warranted it.

[escarboucle.livejournal.com]

I fangirled about the vol45 cover the other day with Annie. Oh boy, Yamaji is glorious, gloriously awesome :3333

As for the end of the arc, I'm not sure. I'm not sure he won't deal with the HM-centric stuff off-screen and through flashbacks, because seriously, seriously... this is the and of the arc, and no one wants to go back there, the stuff happening right now in Karakura town - the fake one - is too much important and interesting for Bleach itself and the fans.

[andrew-jp.livejournal.com]

I guessed that was the purpose of Yoruichi's armor before it was confirmed. Goes to show that Kubo goes back to everything eventually. (By eventually, I mean "After everyone except nerds like me have forgotten about it.")

Ulquiorra's return is inevitable, but there are definitely many things Kubo's going to return to before it happens, even beyond the end of the current battle, which will have to include Ichigo controlling the Ichibeast form. There's Tatsuki, Keigo, and Mizuiro's new powers, Orihime fixing up the Desert Bros., the fallout from the other surviving Espada...Probably the introduction of a new villain. I expect him to dramatically appear in the middle-early part of the next arc to help out Orihime.

[(Anonymous)]

oooo Loved your post. I completley agree that Kubo always takes his time and in the end the real Bleachtards get rewarded generously with the best resolutions.
There are so many revelations I can't help but feel anticipation for.
1. It was implied (or atleast I think it was) that Gin and Rangiku found a child. It would be interesting to know who that was though I already have a guess.
2. Whats under Aizen's shell. Was it just me or did his eyes disappear a few panels befor Isshin GTed him. He probably was done his final transformation.
3. I want to know about HIyori and Hikifune.
4. Why Gin is doing what he does because everyone in Bleach has a motivation of some sort.
5. If Yoruichi has a zanpakutou, what it would be along with Isshin and his shikai/bankai.
6. How the heck Rukia got the hogyokou (I know I'm not alone in this regard).
7. What will happen to Orihime....will she finally get over Ichigo and allow her powers to fluorish for her own sake. I have a feeling that when she fights for herself, she will show everyone her strength and that it doesn't come from a man.
8. The return of Ulquiorra. OH PLZ COME BACK TO ME!!!

As for Volume 45...I love the cover and it's contents. I think that for the first time, while I read those chapters, I finally understood and liked Old Yama.

[(Anonymous)]

ah crap I forgot to sign in. I'm not a anon. I'm xxboo_radleyxx.

[hinodeh.livejournal.com]

So, everyone, what's you're take on the Vasto Lorde issue? Last mention was in 2008 in a Nnoinel flashback.

Will Aizen pull ten VLs out of his ass hat in future chapters? Will an established arrancar attain this holy grail of hollowhood? Some surprise twist? Nothing at all?

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

Oh we'll definitely hear about the VLs again. They obviously didn't want to join Aizen's battle and somewhere, somehow in a restructuring of Heaven and Earth there may be a place for them as the rulers or dominant figures of HM... right now they appear to be absent while the hungry mobs and chaotic run the show.

I don't think Aizen needs them to enter the Royal Realm.

But yeah, VASTROLORDES.... the silhoutte so much like Ulqui in regards to the time they're mentioned makes me think that Ulquiorra's return may be accompanied by more VL info....

[secila80.livejournal.com]

Old man Yamma is looking good!

We have similar BleachDreams, I think . . . Orihime taking out Yammi with Tsubaki is my current number one and has been for quite a while. It just makes makes so much sense. Number two is Ulquiorra coming back of his own power as something other than a hollow.

Other Bleachtacies include: Yoruichi having played an instrumental role in Rukia getting the hogyoku and that Yoru's role is what resulted in Hisana coming into contact with Bayakuya; Isshin gaiden in which there is epic romance and tragedy; Ulquiorra-sensi helping Ichigo get a handle on his hollow form; and Chad meeting up with his abuelo (not sure where that came from, but I WANT it).

I also am starting to hope that Gin is some kind of double agent, possibly working for the Hell Realm. Yes, Gin very well may be the spawn of Satan (or this may be complete crack).


and if you're a Bleachtard like me the whole manga will be illuminated and maybe you'll cry a little and be unusually kind to strangers for a few days and perform more charitable deeds! LMAO! I know exactly what you are talking about. XD

[bemoan1000.livejournal.com]

1. It was implied (or atleast I think it was) that Gin and Rangiku found a child. It would be interesting to know who that was though I already have a guess.

I'm curious about what your guess is.

[sainnis.livejournal.com]

I am like a broken record (or poorly encoded mp3) with this one...Ukitake. I just want to see him healed and ready to fight, and then watch him kick some ass. Also, please, dear Kubo, Ishida with his hand back? <3

I know shenanigans with Yumichika and Ikkaku are so far off the map I can't even consider them, but I do want them, because damn, do I miss those boys.

[kamikaze43v3r.livejournal.com]

I LOVE IT when you talk very maturely about Bleach and Kubo-sensei's working of Bleach. It makes it so much believable and I always shed a tear of joy at it XD

And as for BLEACH vol 45... I gotta say Yama-jii never looked so freaking cool (or hot, whichever you prefer XD).

[strawberries-85.livejournal.com]

I hate to say this but...old man Yama looks kinda hot. O_O Dammit Kubo why do you do this?

Debbie...I think I am in awe of your Ulquiorra-predictions.

[hinodeh.livejournal.com]

Don't worry 'bout your Old Yama comment, when I saw that cover on BA my first thought was: "Yeah... I'd hit that."

[yet-adored.livejournal.com]

My first impression of Ulquiorra's disintegration was ding-dong, the bat is dead. As a doornail. Kaput. And now--I want to be wrong.

And where is Chojiro? He was kneeling in front of Yamajii when Aizen arrived, and now... Gathering up body parts? Fetching Nanao to save the day?

[kawaiisdreal1.livejournal.com]

*Reads your Ulqui essay from 08*
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OMG....you and your friends practically predicted the Lust Arc/The Dome.....

Right more pro Ulqui stuff....RIGHT MOAR!!!!! *spazes*

[adam-epp.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm of the opinion that this arc should have been concluded by June of last year, not this year (which it probably won't be). If the fights weren't so unnecessarily drawn out (seriously, why can none of these Shinigami fight all-out from the beginning and end their fights quickly? It just makes them look moronic), or if chapters had more dialogue, or if Matsumoto's Gin reunion occurred this chapter instead of the next (or who knows however many later), and so on...yes, this arc could have been over by June of this year and before; I'm basically ran out of patience.

[kawaiisdreal1.livejournal.com]

eeer... WRITE .....yeah -_-
*must not type while in bed*

[nendo-chan.livejournal.com]

...That Yama-jii is going to haunt my dreams. ;_; For all his occasional douchiness, I will miss the old guy, though. He kind of reminds me of my grandpa. xD Have we gotten the poem yet?

As for my Tanabata wishes... Orihime, of course, comes first-place. Either her taking out Yammy or Aizen himself would make my not-so-inner fangirl squee with joy. The idea of Neliel or Hacchi (maybe both) training her has also been one floating around in my mind for a while now. Quincy Papa is another must, and bonus points if he and Lisa are even on the same page. A bazillion if my ridiculous crack theory is right and she's Uryuu's mom. 8D Needs moar Chad, of course, and I want an Orihime and Tatsuki reunion tying into what Orihime said at the very beginning about always coming back to Tatsuki, and Tatsuki's feelings about going where Orihime can't follow.

[nendo-chan.livejournal.com]

Now that you bring it up, I have a crazy vision of these ten cloaked Hollows looking like a cross between Ashido's mantle and the Knights Who Say "Ni!' showing up out of nowhere, pwning Aizen, and then taking him away for disrupting the sanctity of HM and Hollows. Or nine of them, I should say, since it's my pet theory that Ulquiorra is an errant VL. I can't see Hollows that powerful as really being 'evil', but more like darkly neutral beings who have existed for so long, the loss of their hearts has been rendered null. (If that makes sense) If Ulqui comes back, then, I kind of like the idea of these VLs returning and giving him the choice of becoming one of them again, or turning into a completely new spiritual being...

//carried away

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

I want an Orihime and Tatsuki reunion tying into what Orihime said at the very beginning about always coming back to Tatsuki, and Tatsuki's feelings about going where Orihime can't follow.

I don't even dare to hope but MAN WOULD THAT NOT BE LIKE SO AWESOME????

[nendo-chan.livejournal.com]

Those are two of my favourite connections in the series- I nearly cried when Tatsuki flipped her shit at Ichigo because all of a sudden, not only could she not protect Orihime, she couldn't even begin to try/find her. //is a sap

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

*chase you like a butterfly*

Ah, if I only had time, I would write that fic!

[nendo-chan.livejournal.com]

I'll hold off, but if Kubo doesn't deliver, it goes right up there with "Uryuu and Orihime's trip to the King's Realm"... >:D

[pony-rocks.livejournal.com]

Completely and absolutely agree! Ukitake and Ishida! Please!

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

Can you point to the part where it's implied Gin and Rangiku found a child? I totally missed that and now I'm fascinated. Was it something that happened in a flashback, or was the implication something they said?