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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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

[(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.