Ichigo and Rukia? or Ichigo and Orihime?

[Asianknight82]

They should change the name of this thread to "Why Ichigo x Rukia is the best!" lol, you rukia fans are vicous.

[Zu Ra]

Originally Posted by Melodymix

Actually alot of anime characters bicker alot but end up kissing or nearly kissing. Take Inuyasha and Kagome for example. At first they act like they can't stand each other's guts but ends up kissing in the movie (and nearly in the manga once)

I agree with you If you do recall I also elobrated on what you said in your post

Originally Posted by Geta Boshi

. Exactly as you said after those insults petty fights and vulgar gestures of one trying to top another .Where both end up doing something ridiculious and then there is silence and at that time they have these moments . Where both dont say a word but their eyes till whats in their heart

Unfortunately both being stuborn and obstinate never confess or kiss each other at that point . They Rather crush these moments by changing the subject or getting very formal .

Spoiler for TEASER:

Like Kiss each other Already

Also I do support the reverse harem theory Renji Ichi n Rukia . But IMHO Rukia deserves better

[Tyan]

Who says he'll end up with anybody? :P Besides, in Bleach there is more focus on
the strength of true friendship. Support from his friends is what keeps Ichigo going
^^ I guess it is necessary for the creators to make the romance a little "airy fairy"
so that we can begin to ponder. But, we won't get to know anything before the
series are over, and (luckily) it doesn't seem to be near the end yet.

[Uchih@]

Originally Posted by Tyan

Who says he'll end up with anybody? :P Besides, in Bleach there is more focus on
the strength of true friendship. Support from his friends is what keeps Ichigo going
^^ I guess it is necessary for the creators to make the romance a little "airy fairy"
so that we can begin to ponder. But, we won't get to know anything before the
series are over, and (luckily) it doesn't seem to be near the end yet.

I think this Aizen arc is going to be the last arc of bleach

[Tyan]

Pity. But all good things come to an end. ^^

[yahoosoda]

Originally Posted by evenex

By the way what could "The Rain Drags The Black Sun Down But The Rain Dried The White Moon"? know Ichigo and Rukia's relationship also involves the rain but hmmm...

I think its a gramatical error on the part of the Japanese writers. It happens often so I'm not really surprised. I believe the true meaning of the quote is

"The rain drags the black sun down but the white moon dries the rain."

[MonkeyMadness]

Originally Posted by yahoosoda

I think its a gramatical error on the part of the Japanese writers. It happens often so I'm not really surprised. I believe the true meaning of the quote is

"The rain drags the black sun down but the white moon dries the rain."

Am I the only one that sees the quote as a bad thing? I mean who wants to be dragged down, or dried up? It sounds more like a negative relationship than a positive one.

[Teletha]

Originally Posted by Tyan

Who says he'll end up with anybody? :P Besides, in Bleach there is more focus on
the strength of true friendship. Support from his friends is what keeps Ichigo going
^^ I guess it is necessary for the creators to make the romance a little "airy fairy"
so that we can begin to ponder. But, we won't get to know anything before the
series are over, and (luckily) it doesn't seem to be near the end yet.

I agree with that. I seriously don't anyone is really going to end up together.

Orihime might have one sided crush on Ichigo, but Ichigo also has no romantic feelings for anyone at this point does he? So it's not like Ichigo loves someone else and not Orihime. At least with Orihime you know it's romantic love. There isn't really that much that type of love in Bleach. Sure friendships, allies and everything else... but romance?

Rukia and Ichigo is pretty no sided to me. I don't even compare them to other popular "bickering" couples because usually those couples have had a defining romantic moment that kind of seals their relationship and it's usually long before nearly 300 chapters of manga. Not to say I don't like them together, but to me they aren't romantic. They are great friends who share a very special bond and she changed his life forever. I'd be disappointed in the end if they actually got together. That being said I like IchiHime and Rukia with Renji.

As for Orihime's "sudden" feelings, they really aren't sudden. She's had them since the beginning of the manga, but it just wasn't that focused on. The anime team also clearly likes Rukia more.

[Forever_young]

Orihime's feelings didn't start suddenley but it did become very serious all of a sudden. Plus KT totally drew Ichigo as Ying and Yang (life death, Black Sun White Moon, Black Zenpakuto White Zanpakuto etc)and I'm sure he didn't accidentally do that.I still believe Ichigo's gonna end up with no one but if he is it's most likley Rukia, I mean not all love has be be said

Originally Posted by MonkeyMadness

Am I the only one that sees the quote as a bad thing? I mean who wants to be dragged down, or dried up? It sounds more like a negative relationship than a positive one.

Well I don't see anything written about Ichigo and Orihime by Kubo. I think KT wants to explain the opposite attract between Ichigo and Rukia in the sentence. Plus just because it says “dried up” or “dragged down” doesn’t mean it’s how you read it from the sentence.

Here is a sentence I found on a certain Bleach web...

Spoiler:

From The Sand and The Rotator chapters, it seems that Ichigo and Rukia have this sort of 'connection' right from the beginning. Their meeting that day, it felt as if it were pre-destined. These two chapters implied that Rukia is the stronger character, as contrasted to Ichigo. While Ichigo likened himself to the sand that was stuck under the gears of destiny, helpless against the crushing gears, Rukia likened herself to the reason why the gears of destiny are moving. She believes in crushing destinies by moving forward, and changing them, despite the circumstances. Ichigo -- the weaker one, Rukia -- the stronger one. Complete opposites, yet their destiny is somewhat connected. According to both Chapter 0a and 0b, both Ichigo and Rukia used the term 'gears' to represent 'destiny'. While Ichigo likened himself to the sand that is trapped and crushed between the gears of destiny, unable to do anything but be helpless, Rukia likened herself to the force that sets the gears of destiny into motion. Ichigo's world changed when he met Rukia that night. Rukia had changed Ichigo from the helpless sand that was trapped and crushed, into a moving gear. And in turn, Ichigo moves Rukia's world too. Both of them need each other to be able to move.”

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

Rukia and Ichigo remind me somewhat of my grand parents, its quite funny the way they argue with each other, they are totally polar-opposites, in every respect. It amazes us all they are together after nearly 60 years still, at 85 and 86. I could totally picture Rukia and Ichigo being like that after 50 years of marriage/living together.

[Mishasan]

Lol

Rukia: Where's my walking stick?

Ichigo: its right in front of you Baka (Hits him) Owww....

[Naive]

Originally Posted by Teletha

I agree with that. I seriously don't anyone is really going to end up together.

Orihime might have one sided crush on Ichigo, but Ichigo also has no romantic feelings for anyone at this point does he? So it's not like Ichigo loves someone else and not Orihime. At least with Orihime you know it's romantic love. There isn't really that much that type of love in Bleach. Sure friendships, allies and everything else... but romance?

I have to highly disagree with just about every single statement in this paragraph.
First of all, romance is a constant in Bleach, or at least hints of romance. We have Kira's feelings for Momo - which Renji points out. Rangiku's and Gin's for each other. Byakuya for Hisana. Orihime's explicitely one-sided feelings for Ichigo. So you cannot say that romance doesn't exist in Bleach. Bleach is about relationships and romantic relationships are categorized under relationships. It's not strictly cut and dry platonic relationships. In fact, what Ichigo and Rukia have is much much deeper than a simple nakama.

If you've read and comprehended Bleach you should have paid attention to Orihime's words that Rukia is not just a nakama to Ichigo, she is the woman who changed his life. Even Orihime acknowledges that their relationship cannot be compared to simple friendship, it's something that runs much deeper. And something that Orihime can never live up to, otherwise there wouldn't be constant feelings of doubt about herself compared to Rukia. There wouldn't be that jealousy she feels in 199

Finally, I don't understand your standards of romance. How is articulating that you're in love with someone make your love more genuine than other forms of expression - that are in fact mutually shown. Just because Orihime says she loves him doesn't necessarily mean that because Rukia doesn't say she loves him, she doesn't love him. Just because Ichigo doesn't say anything about liking anyone, it doesn't mean he doesn't have romantic feelings for Rukia.

You have to remember, both Ichigo and Rukia are not sappy people who wear their hearts on their sleeves. They don't articulate what they feel very well, so to have Rukia admitting her feelings for Ichigo so forthrightly as Orihime would be out of character. So to have Ichigo admit his feelings so forthrightly as Orihime would make him not Ichigo.

Furthermore, due to recent manga developments I feel that Ichigo has shown a substantial amount of feelings to Rukia. He is showing his emotions more and more and his protective nature more and more to Rukia without hiding it. I was a former RenRuki fan, but recent developments in the manga, actually all post-181, have actually made me realize that IchiRuki has been developed more than RenRuki romantically or IchiHime romantically. Now I fully support IchiRuki and I think it's very likely to happen at this point.

Spoiler for post 213 and up:

Ever since Rukia got back from Soul Society, their relationship has been stronger than ever. She is the only one who got Ichigo out of his depression. She is the only one who knew exactly what to say to him and how to lift his spirit up. KT made sure to emphasize the IchiRuki bond in this chapter and how special it was. He made sure to tell the audience that all that stuff about her changing his life still held strong and was not just words filled with air, but held so much truth.

Orihime's jealousy in this chapter 199 also provides significant evidence that she viewed Rukia as a threat. Orihime tried to be the one to comfort Kurosaki but she failed miserably. She couldn't do it because she has no connection with Ichigo, and honestly I don't think she can ever have such a deep world-altering connection with Ichigo - therefore her relationship with him would always be unsatisfying and missing something. It would always be a pale shadow to the IchiRuki relation.

In 213 after Rukia gets injured, Ichigo gives her the most tender look we've seen in the manga. This look is so important that Orihime closes her eyes in pain. The look is so important that it is the only scene of Ichigo and Rukia in chapter 213 - it was meant to be special. The look is so important that Orihime remembers it later on and angsts about it. This is a very very explicit look of tenderness that Ichigo has never shown to anyone.

In 214 after Orihime heals Rukia, Ichigo completely ignores Orihime. He doesn't thank her for healing Rukia. He doesn't even speak to her. While Orihime has her full attention on Ichigo, Ichigo has his full attention on Rukia, and that's always always how their relationship has been. And even now, the relationship hasn't changed. It's Orihime ---- > Ichigo -----> Rukia.

Her injury is the one that spurs Ichigo to go to the vaizards to get stronger. His animosity against GJ is for hurting Rukia and almost killing him. When in 235 GJ is about to kill Ichigo, Rukia interferes and saves his life.

The scene that follows is quite tender with Rukia trying to pull GJ's sword out of Ichigo's hand. Ichigo is impressed with Rukia's display of power and Rukia just wants to get him out of there. This is the first meeting of Ichigo and Rukia since he ran away to train with the vaizards without telling anyone. It's also quite significant because Ichigo is embarassed because Rukia had to save his life while once again he's helpless. He tried to get stronger because of her, to protect her, and once again she is the one who ends up saving his life and almost gets killed.

Well we know what happens with Orihime going to HM. When Rukia and Ichigo unite in 247 he is so very very happy to see her. When she tells him that she'll always be there for him, I've never seen him smile with such goofiness and freedom as I did there.

248 is a significant chapter. When Rukia suggests they split up Ichigo blows his top off because he's specifically worried about her safety. It's not that she's weak, because he had openly admired her power in 235 and she had just killed the sand monster hollow in 247, but because he cares for her in a very very special way. Notice, he wasn't worried about Chad's, Ishida's, or Renji's safety, but solely about Rukia's. Rukia has to tell him off and say that he's showing his emotions too easily, something he has never done before. Clearly, I think this is evidence that his feelings for her have become more explicit and more open and more overprotective.

The next huge moment in 270 where when finding out that Rukia could be dead. A lot of us expected Ichigo to have a dilemma on whether to go forward to save Inoue, after all he had made so much progress and even gone forward when chad had been hurt, or go back to Rukia. I never expected the choice would be so easy. There was so much raw emotion on his face when Ulq told him that Rukia was dead and then his face was shadowed the rest of the chapter and his back turned. He was going to leave, he didn't even think about Inoue once until Ulquiorra reminded him that she wasn't a traitor and he kidnapped her.

As a sidenote: 270 also showed that Ichigo had doubts that Orihime was kidnapped. Ulquiorra even was surprised and Ichigo said nothing to deny the fact that he had doubts. Compare this to the utter faith Rukia always had in Orihime being kidnapped - and it shows that Ichi/Ori is quite doomed if Ichigo cannot even have basic trust in her character.

Anyway, even after finding out Orihime's not a traitor, Ichigo cools down easily. He doesn't want to fight Ulq for Orihime's pride, he wants to get out of there. So he goes all out for Rukia. He has never gone all out and shown all of this power ever, and this is the moment where he powers up because he knows he has to fight Ulquiorra and time is ticking. I think 270 was one of the most romantic chapters. Furthermore, I think Ichigo was quite cold to Orihime in this chapter. Not only did he have doubts but he didn't ask where she was or even articulate anything about saving her. He never once said "i'm going to hurt you Ulquiorra for hurting Orihime and making her cry." However, he so easily said that to Byakuya in SS. Once again, Ichigo's focus is Rukia, it's always been Rukia.

In 271 after "defeating Ulquiorra" he takes two seconds to rest and then immediately wants to get out of there. Even though he's pouring sweat he says he doesn't want to waste time resting forever and wants to go to her. When Ulquiorra blasts a cero through the palace wall, Ichigo tries to run the other direction. It was made plenty clear that Ichigo had nothing on his mind except Rukia.

So in actuality, I think you're wrong. Ichigo has shown a lot of feelings for Rukia. They may not be explicitely articulated but if you were to read a little deeper, then you'd realize there is a lot of body language and expression and development with his feelings. And now, since he's almost lost her again, I don't think he'll ever let her out of his sight again. He was, after all, the one most worried about her safety.

You know I never understood why it had to be who will Ichigo choose: Orihime or Rukia when that's never been an obstacle to the IchiRuki relationship. Orihime has never been an obstacle to an IchiRuki relationship. Ichigo has no romantic feelings for Orihime. They don't even seem close at all. Ichigo has always been Rukiacentric with his feelings. I've always thought the issue is not who will Ichigo pick, but whether Rukia will return Ichigo's feelings. Ichigo is pretty obvious with the fact that he holds Rukia in a special place in his heart - but we rarely get Rukia ---> Ichigo moments that are that explicit.

However, 269 was a very important chapter that showed exactly that she holds a very very special place for Ichigo, a place higher than Renji or Byakuya. In her flashback of her friends, it is Ichigo who is the only one who got his own panel with fresh new art. All the other panels were lifted from old manga chapters. Renji and Byakuya shared a panel while Ichigo was alone. This is a significant significant placement because she doesn't care for Renji the way she cares for Ichigo.

And if you think about it, Rukia has always shown a great deal of caring for Ichigo. She wants to be near him so she stays at his house when she could have gone to Urahara's with Renji. She worries about him getting hurt which is why she's distracted enough for Grimmjow to spear her in their first encounter and almost kill her in their second encounter. When Ichigo disappears she's the one who spends days and days running around looking for Ichigo. In 237, she is the one who worries about him and puts him to bed. Karin and Yuzu even ask her if they can eat with Ichigo, almost like she's his girlfriend. It's subtle but she has always always cared about Ichigo in a way she has never cared about other people in her life. So I think there is equal reciprocation.

Originally Posted by teletha

Rukia and Ichigo is pretty no sided to me. I don't even compare them to other popular "bickering" couples because usually those couples have had a defining romantic moment that kind of seals their relationship and it's usually long before nearly 300 chapters of manga. Not to say I don't like them together, but to me they aren't romantic. They are great friends who share a very special bond and she changed his life forever. I'd be disappointed in the end if they actually got together. That being said I like IchiHime and Rukia with Renji.

Maybe you just can't see it but I think Ichigo and Rukia are plenty developed, a lot more romantic and developed than something like KiraLacus in GSD or AsuMey in GSD. Those are paper thin compared to the complexity of Ichigo and Rukia. I think Ichigo and Rukia have had a lot of tender exclusive moments which can be interpreted as romantic - and they've only gotten more and more intense as the manga has developed. I would be disappointed if they didn't get together in the end and KT cops out and goes for IchiOri because it can never ever compare to rich development of IchiRuki. And that's something that's not even debatable. If KT wanted IchiOri, he'd have at least created some sort of relationship between these two characters when there has been NOTHING substantial whatsoever. Even Renji, Ishida, Chad, and Nell all have deeper relationships with Ichigo than Inoue. How does that make logical sense that IchiOri is better?

Why do people assume that just because inoue shows explicit feelings for Ichigo she deserves him more than Rukia when Ichigo hasn't shown a hint of reciprocation. The disconnect between them is too much and IMO can never be bridged. Ichigo doesn't care about Inoue. He doesn't know her. He doubts her. He chooses to save Rukia when Inoue could be hurt and in pain. Ichigo and Inoue is not romantic and will never be, Ichigo and Rukia is plenty romantic. This is why his conviction to save Rukia was so much stronger and more passionate than his conviction to save inoue. Inoue is a nakama to Ichigo - and even then he doubts her. I don't foresee IchiOri going anywhere, especially when KT has such a richly developed mutual relationship on his hands.

Originally Posted by teletha

As for Orihime's "sudden" feelings, they really aren't sudden. She's had them since the beginning of the manga, but it just wasn't that focused on. The anime team also clearly likes Rukia more.

She's had them since the beginning this is true. But in the beginning of the manga it wasn't love but more of a crush. However, somewhere along the way she fell head over heels into five-live love and for a lot of us we found that jarring for three reasons.

1. Ichigo and Inoue haven't interacted that much at all
2. Ichigo shows no reciprocation whatsoever and doesn't even know her
3. Her love for him is almost fangirlish "Kurosaki-kun is so great and can do so many great things". But she doesn't realize that he has flaws and sometimes needs a kick to the head.

I'ts not the anime's fault. I read the manga and was shocked at Orihime's confession in 199 because it was a very jarring transition from crush to love. Especially in SS when they barely talked to each other.

So in the end, I don't see how you can justify that a one-sided Ichihime is more romantic than a mutual ichiruki just because Inoue can articulate her feelings easily. That is illogical when Ichigo and Rukia show so much more concern over each other. It is naive to think that just because Inoue loves Ichigo she will get him and deserves him, especially when now more than ever he only has eyes for Rukia.

[Mishasan]

Omg Well said. Rukia is the one that changed his life and even he said it. I think what Orhime has is a infatuation. Every girl in his class has a crush on him including Tasuki.

I didnt notice that Kira has a crush on Momo 0_o

[Zu Ra]

Originally Posted by Mr Hat and Clogs

Rukia and Ichigo remind me somewhat of my grand parents, its quite funny the way they argue with each other, they are totally polar-opposites, in every respect. It amazes us all they are together after nearly 60 years still, at 85 and 86. I could totally picture Rukia and Ichigo being like that after 50 years of marriage/living together.

I must say your Grandma is really cool I am so envious : D

[Naive]

Originally Posted by Mishasan

Omg Well said. Rukia is the one that changed his life and even he said it. I think what Orhime has is a infatuation. Every girl in his class has a crush on him including Tasuki.

I didnt notice that Kira has a crush on Momo 0_o

I dunno if it's an infatuation but I do think it's blown out of proportion what Orihime feels for Ichigo and it is fangirlish-type love. I think she also admires him and wants to be like him: strong and confident. He inspires her. In the end, it's not mutual and not an equal relationship. She almost puts him on a pedestal.


LoL, Kira has a crush on momo. From the moment they met Renji could tell when Kira blushed. Then he was so worried about her in SS when he found out Aizen had stabbed Hinamori he was like "They promised they wouldn't do anything to Hinamori-kun."

[Bronwen Stx]

Originally Posted by Naive

Spoiler for everything:

I have to highly disagree with just about every single statement in this paragraph.
First of all, romance is a constant in Bleach, or at least hints of romance. We have Kira's feelings for Momo - which Renji points out. Rangiku's and Gin's for each other. Byakuya for Hisana. Orihime's explicitely one-sided feelings for Ichigo. So you cannot say that romance doesn't exist in Bleach. Bleach is about relationships and romantic relationships are categorized under relationships. It's not strictly cut and dry platonic relationships. In fact, what Ichigo and Rukia have is much much deeper than a simple nakama.

If you've read and comprehended Bleach you should have paid attention to Orihime's words that Rukia is not just a nakama to Ichigo, she is the woman who changed his life. Even Orihime acknowledges that their relationship cannot be compared to simple friendship, it's something that runs much deeper. And something that Orihime can never live up to, otherwise there wouldn't be constant feelings of doubt about herself compared to Rukia. There wouldn't be that jealousy she feels in 199

Finally, I don't understand your standards of romance. How is articulating that you're in love with someone make your love more genuine than other forms of expression - that are in fact mutually shown. Just because Orihime says she loves him doesn't necessarily mean that because Rukia doesn't say she loves him, she doesn't love him. Just because Ichigo doesn't say anything about liking anyone, it doesn't mean he doesn't have romantic feelings for Rukia.

You have to remember, both Ichigo and Rukia are not sappy people who wear their hearts on their sleeves. They don't articulate what they feel very well, so to have Rukia admitting her feelings for Ichigo so forthrightly as Orihime would be out of character. So to have Ichigo admit his feelings so forthrightly as Orihime would make him not Ichigo.

Furthermore, due to recent manga developments I feel that Ichigo has shown a substantial amount of feelings to Rukia. He is showing his emotions more and more and his protective nature more and more to Rukia without hiding it. I was a former RenRuki fan, but recent developments in the manga, actually all post-181, have actually made me realize that IchiRuki has been developed more than RenRuki romantically or IchiHime romantically. Now I fully support IchiRuki and I think it's very likely to happen at this point.

Spoiler for post 213 and up:

Ever since Rukia got back from Soul Society, their relationship has been stronger than ever. She is the only one who got Ichigo out of his depression. She is the only one who knew exactly what to say to him and how to lift his spirit up. KT made sure to emphasize the IchiRuki bond in this chapter and how special it was. He made sure to tell the audience that all that stuff about her changing his life still held strong and was not just words filled with air, but held so much truth.

Orihime's jealousy in this chapter 199 also provides significant evidence that she viewed Rukia as a threat. Orihime tried to be the one to comfort Kurosaki but she failed miserably. She couldn't do it because she has no connection with Ichigo, and honestly I don't think she can ever have such a deep world-altering connection with Ichigo - therefore her relationship with him would always be unsatisfying and missing something. It would always be a pale shadow to the IchiRuki relation.

In 213 after Rukia gets injured, Ichigo gives her the most tender look we've seen in the manga. This look is so important that Orihime closes her eyes in pain. The look is so important that it is the only scene of Ichigo and Rukia in chapter 213 - it was meant to be special. The look is so important that Orihime remembers it later on and angsts about it. This is a very very explicit look of tenderness that Ichigo has never shown to anyone.

In 214 after Orihime heals Rukia, Ichigo completely ignores Orihime. He doesn't thank her for healing Rukia. He doesn't even speak to her. While Orihime has her full attention on Ichigo, Ichigo has his full attention on Rukia, and that's always always how their relationship has been. And even now, the relationship hasn't changed. It's Orihime ---- > Ichigo -----> Rukia.

Her injury is the one that spurs Ichigo to go to the vaizards to get stronger. His animosity against GJ is for hurting Rukia and almost killing him. When in 235 GJ is about to kill Ichigo, Rukia interferes and saves his life.

The scene that follows is quite tender with Rukia trying to pull GJ's sword out of Ichigo's hand. Ichigo is impressed with Rukia's display of power and Rukia just wants to get him out of there. This is the first meeting of Ichigo and Rukia since he ran away to train with the vaizards without telling anyone. It's also quite significant because Ichigo is embarassed because Rukia had to save his life while once again he's helpless. He tried to get stronger because of her, to protect her, and once again she is the one who ends up saving his life and almost gets killed.

Well we know what happens with Orihime going to HM. When Rukia and Ichigo unite in 247 he is so very very happy to see her. When she tells him that she'll always be there for him, I've never seen him smile with such goofiness and freedom as I did there.

248 is a significant chapter. When Rukia suggests they split up Ichigo blows his top off because he's specifically worried about her safety. It's not that she's weak, because he had openly admired her power in 235 and she had just killed the sand monster hollow in 247, but because he cares for her in a very very special way. Notice, he wasn't worried about Chad's, Ishida's, or Renji's safety, but solely about Rukia's. Rukia has to tell him off and say that he's showing his emotions too easily, something he has never done before. Clearly, I think this is evidence that his feelings for her have become more explicit and more open and more overprotective.

The next huge moment in 270 where when finding out that Rukia could be dead. A lot of us expected Ichigo to have a dilemma on whether to go forward to save Inoue, after all he had made so much progress and even gone forward when chad had been hurt, or go back to Rukia. I never expected the choice would be so easy. There was so much raw emotion on his face when Ulq told him that Rukia was dead and then his face was shadowed the rest of the chapter and his back turned. He was going to leave, he didn't even think about Inoue once until Ulquiorra reminded him that she wasn't a traitor and he kidnapped her.

As a sidenote: 270 also showed that Ichigo had doubts that Orihime was kidnapped. Ulquiorra even was surprised and Ichigo said nothing to deny the fact that he had doubts. Compare this to the utter faith Rukia always had in Orihime being kidnapped - and it shows that Ichi/Ori is quite doomed if Ichigo cannot even have basic trust in her character.

Anyway, even after finding out Orihime's a traitor, Ichigo cools down easily. He doesn't want to fight Ulq for Orihime's pride, he wants to get out of there. So he goes all out for Rukia. He has never gone all out and shown all of this power ever, and this is the moment where he powers up because he knows he has to fight Ulquiorra and time is ticking. I think 270 was one of the most romantic chapters. Furthermore, I think Ichigo was quite cold to Orihime in this chapter. Not only did he have doubts but he didn't ask where she was or even articulate anything about saving her. He never once said "i'm going to hurt you Ulquiorra for hurting Orihime and making her cry." However, he so easily said that to Byakuya in SS. Once again, Ichigo's focus is Rukia, it's always been Rukia.

In 271 after "defeating Ulquiorra" he takes two seconds to rest and then immediately wants to get out of there. Even though he's pouring sweat he says he doesn't want to waste time resting forever and wants to go to her. When Ulquiorra blasts a cero through the palace wall, Ichigo tries to run the other direction. It was made plenty clear that Ichigo had nothing on his mind except Rukia.

So in actuality, I think you're wrong. Ichigo has shown a lot of feelings for Rukia. They may not be explicitely articulated but if you were to read a little deeper, then you'd realize there is a lot of body language and expression and development with his feelings. And now, since he's almost lost her again, I don't think he'll ever let her out of his sight again. He was, after all, the one most worried about her safety.

You know I never understood why it had to be who will Ichigo choose: Orihime or Rukia when that's never been an obstacle to the IchiRuki relationship. Orihime has never been an obstacle to an IchiRuki relationship. Ichigo has no romantic feelings for Orihime. They don't even seem close at all. Ichigo has always been Rukiacentric with his feelings. I've always thought the issue is not who will Ichigo pick, but whether Rukia will return Ichigo's feelings. Ichigo is pretty obvious with the fact that he holds Rukia in a special place in his heart - but we rarely get Rukia ---> Ichigo moments that are that explicit.

However, 269 was a very important chapter that showed exactly that she holds a very very special place for Ichigo, a place higher than Renji or Byakuya. In her flashback of her friends, it is Ichigo who is the only one who got his own panel with fresh new art. All the other panels were lifted from old manga chapters. Renji and Byakuya shared a panel while Ichigo was alone. This is a significant significant placement because she doesn't care for Renji the way she cares for Ichigo.

And if you think about it, Rukia has always shown a great deal of caring for Ichigo. She wants to be near him so she stays at his house when she could have gone to Urahara's with Renji. She worries about him getting hurt which is why she's distracted enough for Grimmjow to spear her in their first encounter and almost kill her in their second encounter. When Ichigo disappears she's the one who spends days and days running around looking for Ichigo. In 237, she is the one who worries about him and puts him to bed. Karin and Yuzu even ask her if they can eat with Ichigo, almost like she's his girlfriend. It's subtle but she has always always cared about Ichigo in a way she has never cared about other people in her life. So I think there is equal reciprocation.

Maybe you just can't see it but I think Ichigo and Rukia are plenty developed, a lot more romantic and developed than something like KiraLacus in GSD or AsuMey in GSD. Those are paper thin compared to the complexity of Ichigo and Rukia. I think Ichigo and Rukia have had a lot of tender exclusive moments which can be interpreted as romantic - and they've only gotten more and more intense as the manga has developed. I would be disappointed if they didn't get together in the end and KT cops out and goes for IchiOri because it can never ever compare to rich development of IchiRuki. And that's something that's not even debatable. If KT wanted IchiOri, he'd have at least created some sort of relationship between these two characters when there has been NOTHING substantial whatsoever. Even Renji, Ishida, Chad, and Nell all have deeper relationships with Ichigo than Inoue. How does that make logical sense that IchiOri is better?

Why do people assume that just because inoue shows explicit feelings for Ichigo she deserves him more than Rukia when Ichigo hasn't shown a hint of reciprocation. The disconnect between them is too much and IMO can never be bridged. Ichigo doesn't care about Inoue. He doesn't know her. He doubts her. He chooses to save Rukia when Inoue could be hurt and in pain. Ichigo and Inoue is not romantic and will never be, Ichigo and Rukia is plenty romantic. This is why his conviction to save Rukia was so much stronger and more passionate than his conviction to save inoue. Inoue is a nakama to Ichigo - and even then he doubts her. I don't foresee IchiOri going anywhere, especially when KT has such a richly developed mutual relationship on his hands.



She's had them since the beginning this is true. But in the beginning of the manga it wasn't love but more of a crush. However, somewhere along the way she fell head over heels into five-live love and for a lot of us we found that jarring for three reasons.

1. Ichigo and Inoue haven't interacted that much at all
2. Ichigo shows no reciprocation whatsoever and doesn't even know her
3. Her love for him is almost fangirlish "Kurosaki-kun is so great and can do so many great things". But she doesn't realize that he has flaws and sometimes needs a kick to the head.

I'ts not the anime's fault. I read the manga and was shocked at Orihime's confession in 199 because it was a very jarring transition from crush to love. Especially in SS when they barely talked to each other.

So in the end, I don't see how you can justify that a one-sided Ichihime is more romantic than a mutual ichiruki just because Inoue can articulate her feelings easily. That is illogical when Ichigo and Rukia show so much more concern over each other. It is naive to think that just because Inoue loves Ichigo she will get him and deserves him, especially when now more than ever he only has eyes for Rukia.

*floored* Wow. I couldn't have said it better myself. I'm so jealous how some people know how to use the right words.

[animeffs13240]

Uh.... well I have to agree that Rukia changed Ichigo's life, but their nothing more than co-workers, they have the same job as Soul Reapers. When Ichigo and the others went to stop the execution of Rukia, I believe that Orihime kind of fell for Ishda (I don't remember when it's been a long time since I watched it). I think they make a cute couple.

[TwilightHack]

I think I've said it before.

But the hostility Ichi x Ori fans get when they try to make a point is overwhelming... to the point that the Ichi x Ori fans have gotten tired and have come to the decision to sit this thread out and wait for the manga to play out.

[Naive]

Excuse me, how was that hostile? I was perfectly polite to him/her. I don't understand why some people are so sensitive?

Just because I disagree with her points makes me hostile? Fine, if you can't take it sit out the thread, it's not like it matters

Originally Posted by Bronwen Stx

*floored* Wow. I couldn't have said it better myself. I'm so jealous how some people know how to use the right words.

LOL, I was just writing it on the fly, I feel like all ichirukis think the same way .

[TwilightHack]

Honestly, how did I come off as sensitive o.O

But clearly, there are more Ichi x Ruki supporters than Ichi x Ori supporters.

Taking that information into account, over 75% of the thread is IxR... and whenever an Ichi x Ori fan posts a point they suffer a lash back from IxR supporters who do everything they can to disprove it.

Who knows, Im a bit back on the times but I might just come around and start playing around in this thread again.