I just want to say three things (well four things):
1. This is one of the best discussions I've seen in a long time re this topic. Thoughtful and thought-out on both sides. Well done!
2. (especially Rukia. I'm actually seriously worried as to how her story is going to wrap up, and I kind-of... seriously disagree with you over Rukia and Kaien -- I don't think that that's anywhere near finished with yet).
I so hope you are right. The Arroniro-as-fake-Kaien and the heart speech was frustratingly wrong to me. I'd like to think that part of the story was only the second movement of the Rukia-Kaien story rather than its final chapter.
3. And unless Kubo somehow throws a chick-shaped spanner in the works (Tatsuki/Ichigo would be absolutely incredible, and believable),
As a IchiTats fan, I thank you for the "and believable" part of that sentence. I doubt it'll happen, but if Kubo chose to go that route, he's laid the foundation for it and if it did happen, the fallout for Orihime has the potential to be a truly frightening twist. Again, it is most doubtful that it will happen, but the possibility is always there.
4. Thank you, especially for this particular thread and its participants, for such an interesting read. Reading it makes me a little excited about Bleach again.
Re: wow this took a long while to reply to XD
1. This is one of the best discussions I've seen in a long time re this topic. Thoughtful and thought-out on both sides. Well done!
2. (especially Rukia. I'm actually seriously worried as to how her story is going to wrap up, and I kind-of... seriously disagree with you over Rukia and Kaien -- I don't think that that's anywhere near finished with yet).
I so hope you are right. The Arroniro-as-fake-Kaien and the heart speech was frustratingly wrong to me. I'd like to think that part of the story was only the second movement of the Rukia-Kaien story rather than its final chapter.
3. And unless Kubo somehow throws a chick-shaped spanner in the works (Tatsuki/Ichigo would be absolutely incredible, and believable),
As a IchiTats fan, I thank you for the "and believable" part of that sentence. I doubt it'll happen, but if Kubo chose to go that route, he's laid the foundation for it and if it did happen, the fallout for Orihime has the potential to be a truly frightening twist. Again, it is most doubtful that it will happen, but the possibility is always there.
4. Thank you, especially for this particular thread and its participants, for such an interesting read. Reading it makes me a little excited about Bleach again.