Bleachness

Chapter 268 was my favorite chapter in Bleach so far. It got me imagining what Rukia's life before she came to the Living World. This story tries to be as canon filler as it can be, given that Kubo-san has not revealed much about Rukia's true past and has only thrown out some details about her life in the thirteenth division.

Oh hope that wasn't TOO sad.

Anyway, next subject-- many of my dear friends are whipping up the Orihime hate lately. Not that I can't understand. Rukia's last thoughts are about Orihime and so far the princess in the tower has only thanked "Kurosaki-kun." Remember--Orihime is love and kindness. She's 16 and sweet. She's (stupidly) in love with Ichigo and she hasn't had her moments of self-realization like Rukia has in 268. She hasn't woken up to the fact that Ishida is there for her.

So please, if you can't be as generous as Rukia was as she fell, bleeding, for Orihime, then try to remember that Orihime's not at all a villain--she's just a girl. And a very flawed girl who doesn't yet know her own strength. She will soon, though. You'll see. She will win your respect one day.