Ulquiorra/Orihime is now officially canon.

[misora]

Bleach Chapter 354.

"Heart".






Oh god. So beautiful. The entire replay, from his POV, as Orihime's reaching for him and she's fading from his view as he turns to dust.

Oh, I get it. This is it. This, here, in my hand.



And his tender expression, as he's looking at her between her splayed fingers -- she's still reaching for him, grasping.

The heart.


He's coming back. He's going to change, he's going to be very different. But he will come back.

It's not enough that Kubo wanted to give him this, this Tin Man without a heart, at the end of his story. His story's not over.

His crowning moment is still ahead -- when he acts with the heart he's been given, by Orihime. Because then his conversion to humanity will finally be complete.




And, to show you why I think this, my darlings, let me now take you back to Chapter 268...and Kaien's words to Rukia. (Remember to read right to left.)









When you and I interact with each other,
A heart is born between us for the first time.

Don't agonize over it.
If you want to be here, with all of your heart,
Then this is where your heart is.

If your heart is here,
Then that is your reason for being here.


Bleach is about hearts -- those who have them, versus those who are without. But Kubo's strongest message isn't that hearts are static -- because Ichigo lost his, for a moment there -- nor is it your enemies are unforgiveable. It's about crossing that barrier between love and mindless, numbing apathy...fear...despair. And with Orihime's help, Ulquiorra has done that.

Thank you, Kubo.

I'm so proud of you, Ulquiorra.


{The sheer fact that I'm saying this about a character, as though he would LISTEN, is retarded in and of itself but I'm going to forgo further psychoanalysis for now.}


...and now I'm crying, so I should probably go. .____.




...not even commenting on the Yammy bit, because that actually made me laugh. Eat your heart out, Stark. XDDD

Comments

[rabidline.livejournal.com]

*grins* I know you would write something about the chapter! I love your thoughts.

I actually developed a soft spot for Ulqui/Orihime after the latest chapters. It was ended very well.

[misora.livejournal.com]

I feel doubly vindicated after having shipped them since her abduction...there was just something about the way he was so fascinated with her that screamed to me that they were going to get more development -- together.

And they have. And people may not agree with me, but I don't think it's over -- I can't wait until he reappears in the manga in whatever form a Hollow with a heart would take. (Because surely such a thing has never been seen in Las Noches -- ever.)

[darkcountessb.livejournal.com]

I to think he will return but reborn at the same time. I think he'll still be an espada and still wear his number 4 rank but I think with Orihime he will be reborn. This is Kubo's way of redeeming Ulquiorra, which is something we fans have been saying all along. His role isn't done yet we still haven't seen Orihime's POV nor Ichigo's. Just by looking at the panels it's all too open still for his return.

[misora.livejournal.com]

It will be so interesting to see what direction Kubo takes when he returns...another form? Will he still have his Vasto Lorde characteristics? I can't wait to see...

[zelha.livejournal.com]

I'm going to share a secret with you - I just adored this chapter because of that scene. So poignant, so beautiful. The monster that fell for the human girl. It says a lot about Ulquiorra's character development. :3

I'm still sad because he died, but it was a good death. (Not like Grimmjow's anyway ¬¬) I'm having the nagging feeling that he'll be now compared to Sora or something. Meh. My ship is canon and I love it. Too bad that, in shounen series, people has to die to resolve the settlements of the ships.

[amononline.livejournal.com]

While I hope for the best between Orihime/Ulquiorra, let's hope any feelings she has aren't Stockholm Syndrome.

Also, if Ulquiorra returns, he better not still be Aizen's boy.

[misora.livejournal.com]

Haha - you mean like Amon wasn't Zaizen's boy any longer? XD

...Don't worry. When Ulquiorra comes back, it won't be as Aizen's lapdog...(I'm wondering just how much of that he was from the beginning, anyway, with his hiding his 2nd release from his boss)...because the fact of the matter is that Aizen has nothing to offer him now.

It's Orihime who he'll be loyal to. When he comes back more powerful than he was before, it's her he'd have to thank for that. :)

[misora.livejournal.com]

Some people have already compared Ulquiorra to Sora, but...meh, I just don't see it. The only thing they have in common is that they're (were, I should say) Hollows. I don't buy the theory that Ulquiorra is Sora, revisited -- Sora was purified and sent to Soul Society, anyway, in like the 3rd chapter of Bleach or something.

I'm still convinced Ulquiorra's not dead. ^^

[moko-moko.livejournal.com]

Hiya, this is pretty much a drive-by comment redirected from someone's comment on ff.net, methinks

But I wanted to say that I adore, ADORE your thoughtful insights and wonderfully laid out conclusions for this vastly under-appreciated ship. I'm such a simple type (the one who shrieks "You killed him! You killed him you bitch!" at the monitor and sulks for the rest of the week.) Then your metas come along and it's like a lightbulb giung off; someone opening a window in a wall you didn't even notice and I think you're fab because of it. Well, that and of course for your writing which totally helped my college years but that's another story.

Okay this is totally rambling now and I think the guy at the next table is way too interested in this. Teal deer version: thank you :3

[misora.livejournal.com]

^_______^ Omg, thank you!! :D

I'm so pleased to hear that. I write these metas mostly to calm myself down, to force myself to find the hidden nuances (because Kubo excels at that) in this story that assure me that there is a plan to it, and it's not all shonen-mind-numbing-violence...but the fact that people read my theories and take something away from it is even better.

And LOL@ writing helping your college years! You must be referring to WHR. Glad I could be of service! *snicker*

I plan on writing for Bleach the minute I get some free time...but I haven't forgotten my WHR roots either, so hopefully I'll get more accomplished on that end, too.

Anyway, your drive-by is much appreciated and definitely not tl;dr. ^.~ You're welcome!

[belle-favrielle.livejournal.com]

Thank you for writing this. :) It's given me hope for the future of these characters. The beginning of this chapter was amaaazing. It almost had me crying again. I agree that Kubo can't just leave it like that. There has to be more to his story.

[misora.livejournal.com]

♥ :D


I have hope. Don't give up on him, just yet. ^____^

[manonlechat.livejournal.com]

He's coming back. He's going to change, he's going to be very different. But he will come back.

I'm still 50/50 on it but I am choosing to entrust my heart to your theory. LET ME DOWN AND I WILL HUNT YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. ;)

Okay, 60/40 in favor of his returning.

[misora.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I believed Ulquiorra was dead and gone, after 353 came out. I did. It felt so final, and looked so hopeless for him, until...

Kubo goes and inserts that little part in 354. Why? Why am I so convinced now, that he's coming back later in the manga?

...Because of that "heart is in the hand" speech that he makes -- echoing Kaien -- and because it's not Ulquiorra's heart in Orihime's hand. "Entrusted with a heart" -- that's speaking of Ulquiorra, and it means he's been given one, not had it taken away from him in death.

Unlike Kaien and Rukia, Ulquiorra hasn't left his heart with Orihime as he's dying. He's just discovering he has it for himself.

Plus, with his last words definitively ending in a question, there's no way now that Kubo's not going to answer this later.

:)

I'm not telling you what to believe...I'm just telling you what I believe. There's a chance I'm wrong, sure, but there's also a chance I'm right. We'll just have to see.

[manonlechat.livejournal.com]

I'm not telling you what to believe...I'm just telling you what I believe.

Eeek! Oh, I know that. And you know me. I'm an opinionated thing. I listen and consider, but nobody decides what I think but me. :)

...Because of that "heart is in the hand" speech that he makes -- echoing Kaien -- and because it's not Ulquiorra's heart in Orihime's hand. "Entrusted with a heart" -- that's speaking of Ulquiorra, and it means he's been given one, not had it taken away from him in death.

And this is why I listen! Because that is a very good point. The fact that Orihime doesn't want to accept his disintegration---she reaches again, "grasping" as you say... A hopeful sign. She does have the power to do something.

[misora.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I know. I just didn't want to make it sound like I was the ultimate authority on the subject.

It's scary, I know, to hope for a ship again after the Zutara debacle. But at least we know that a) there is solid canon evidence now of Ulqui/Hime, at least from Ulquiorra's end (and maybe even Hime's, as she continues to reach for him long after he's disintegrated)...and b) Kubo Tite is not catering to twelve-year-olds like Bryke did. :D


Bleach may be a shonen manga, but Kubo's adult enough to recognize love where it lies, I think. :D

[manonlechat.livejournal.com]

HOW LONG WILL ZUTARA LEAVE SCARS ON MY HEART?? HOW LONG!! The first cut is the deepest.

And at least I've still got Gin/Ran. But my idea of "hope" there pretty much boils down to Gin not trying to kill her himself. :P

So how long are we going to have to sit through captains' battles now? *long groan*

[kalbim.livejournal.com]

"he's been given one, not had it taken away from him in death."
According to M7's translation it is "His heart, entrusted to others..."
----------------------------------
"Plus, with his last words definitively ending in a question"
It is not definitely a question. It is ambiguous if it ended as a question or not; but from what I've read on BA UlquiHime FC, it is more accurately not a question.

[misora.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that's not what I've heard, from people who actually know Japanese and read the raws.

Regardless, this is just what I believe. I don't think Kubo would end Ulquiorra's story, especially when he realizes what a heart is at the very last second. ^^

[kalbim.livejournal.com]

I hope the same. I just wanted to inform you about what I know on the matter. I too am waiting for his return. There is always hope until the manga ends! (And after Yammeh revelation, everything is possible!)

[misora.livejournal.com]

I think there's enough vagueries with the different scanlations out there of Bleach (M7's versus Sleepyfan's), that we can pretty much hold what was said in this chapter to be up to interpretation. After all, lots of different people have different ways of translating the Japanese. And still, even with a proper translation, Kubo's intent might still be hidden.

I think it would be so wonderful and magical and dramatic if Kubo brought him back even at the end of the story, at the very last battle -- because suppose with a heart, Ulquiorra is more powerful than even Ichi-beast? He would maybe turn the tide against someone like Aizen.

:)

[jbramx2.livejournal.com]

Oh Misora, now I definitely am going to do a fanart of this pairing! Squee! ^o^ Thank you for writing this! Tis beautiful and inspiring! :D

[misora.livejournal.com]

♥ You're welcome! I'm glad you're going to do fanart...your art is beautiful and I can't wait to see it!

I'm hoping to write fic as well, so maybe that will continue to inspire you. :D

[(Anonymous)]

At the end the message was: hey, without a heart, you are really stronger. Ichigo is stronger without a heart, in his Hollow form. Ulquoirra is almost dead when he gets one. Shitty moral.

[misora.livejournal.com]

Hi there, anon...~

Well, you could infer that was true, that Ichigo's heart-less form was more powerful than any other. However...look at what he sacrifices for that power. Ishida gets stabbed through the stomach. I'd hardly call that a power worth attaining (and if Orihime's smart, she won't call for Kurosaki-kun that way again, knowing what came out of that little fiasco). So I'd say that while Ichigo proved Ulquiorra correct -- without a heart, you're stronger -- it isn't the type of power that anyone actually wants.

Ulquiorra is almost dead, but...not quite? Could his attaining a heart have saved him in the eleventh hour, at the very last second? And don't you think it'd be interesting to see just how powerful a hollow with a heart is? Because we've never seen one before. Hueco Mundo has never seen one before. Ulquiorra would be the first.

Maybe he'd be more powerful than heart-less Ichi!Beast, this time.

And I would imagine Kubo would at least want to address that question.

[xxerebxx.livejournal.com]

Yes, to stab a fried isn't something you want.... But did that really get the attention, which it deserves? Kubo EVEN FORGOT TO DRAW THE SWORD in Ishida stomach, in some panels!
The whole incident didn't have any negative consequences, for Ichigo. That Ishida got stabbed isn't shown as something really serious or horrible, it was only a shock effekt. Neither Ichigo nor Orihime react like that.

(What's with Nel? Shouldn't she have a heart?)
A heart, the sorrow for friends, love etc. is indeed a strong motivation... but look at Orihime. She is by far the one who's .the niecest, nice to the enemies etc.. but she's mentally weak and has no self-esteem- she hasn't even the will to defend herself, or heal herself, like after the fight with Yammi.

Yup, I want Kubo to adress the topic further. This solution was disappointing!!! I know Orihime and Ulquoirras gesture was nice,
but what's about the dialouge "Are you scared?", anyway?
I don't get it, for me there is no deeper meaning begind it, it is only a repition! I couldn't fomd a explanation anywhere. With such a dump dialouge, I can't bring myself to take the scene serious.

[misora.livejournal.com]

You're right, Ishida's stabbing by Ichibeast really *didn't* get the attention it deserved...and it surprised me that Kubo would gloss over that hugely important detail. But I have a feeling he didn't want to get too much into it for a particular reason, and maybe he's going to revisit the issue again later (hopefully by then, Orihime will have learned that it's wrong to call for Ichigo's help when he's dead D:).

I agree that things could have been handled differently with the preceeding chapter, but I have confidence that Kubo isn't going to leave things hanging. He'll tie things up eventually -- it just might not be right away. (And this is further why I think Ulquiorra is coming back, because Kubo's got all the time in the world apparently to tie these plots together. :/)

I wouldn't say Orihime is "mentally weak". She's physically weak when she's unsure of herself, yes. And she has depended on her friends far too much until now. Ichigo turning into a mindless beast in order to help her was proof of that, and we even got a moment of clarity when Orihime herself realized it: "Why did I want him to help me?" I was pleased that she was finally able to step out of herself for a moment and analyze that, even if it was ill-timed.

But she's not weak. We've seen her show her backbone in other situations, earlier in the series, and then more recently with Ulquiorra. She needs to be with people who encourage those actions of hers, to stand up for herself and believe in her own judgment, more.

The whole "are you scared?" thing has relevence, because of Ulquiorra's earlier conversation wtih her in the tower. It's not dumb dialogue, in my opinion -- it's proof that he really does care what she thinks of him, and her response -- "No, I'm not scared (of you)." -- says that she never really saw him as a truly evil enemy, even when he was blowing a hole in Ichigo's chest. She seems to have known that his actions against her friends -- and particularly against Ichigo -- weren't out of malice, but because he was truly curious about the heart, and convinced that it made people weak.

Ulquiorra "gave up", telling IchiBeast to kill him, when he thought that he really *was* right -- that without a heart, Ichigo was stronger than he was with one. But what made Ulquiorra change his mind and leap to action, severing IchiBeast's horn and effectively bringing Ichigo back to normal? Right before that, we see Orihime screaming for Kurosaki to stop -- and maybe that was when Ulquiorra realized his mistake in wanting to prove the heart made someone weak.


I personally loved the scene. *shrug* To each his own.