Kubo Tite - Bleach, vol. 15-20

[oyceter]

Finally! We have plot movement!

Spoilers for all six vols.

I am perpetually amused by the training sequences in Bleach because they inevitably teach Ichigo some Sooper Sekrit technique that only 0.000001% of the shinigami can do. Ichigo naturally masters said technique faster than anyone has ever done it before, and then when he takes that technique into battle, every single one of the other people he fights with AND all of his allies have mastered that technique as well.

Welcome to the world of ban kai! I particularly love that Byakuya explains that the ability to do ban kai is extremely rare and singles out the shinigami nobility. Then, of course, we see Byakuya's, Renji's, Ichigo's and short grumpy captain's.

I still haven't figured out what everyone in Bleach is named, but I have no problem distinguishing them!

Also, how much do I love the fact that Byakuya's ban kai is comprised of the sakura of DOOM? THIS MUCH! Literal sakura of DOOM! It's great!

On another side note, I keep wanting to scritch Renji. For anyone who doesn't know, I have four rats, three of whom are named Rukia, Renji and Byakuya. I call Rukia Ruki, just because he's a guy rat, and Byakuya is generally called Byabya. Due to Ruki's sex, I don't confuse him much with Rukia, and Byabya's personality is completely different from Byakuya's. But my Ren-rat (Renji, also nicknamed Renren) totally reminds me of Renji; he's all macho and belligerent but soft and squishy and totally adorable. Sadly, because of this, I now seem to permanently associate Renji the Rat with Renji the Shinigami. Every single time I see Renji, I must suppress the dreadful urge to shout "Renren! Awwwww! So cute!" in a high-pitched voice, and I also must suppress the urge to scritch his tummy.

But things could be worse! When I told coffeeandink this, she said that at least Renji the Shinigami probably did secretly want to be scritched, whereas Byakuya would sic the Sakura of DOOM on me.

So, there is much Renji love from me, but I can't actually tell if it's because of what Renji does, or just because I named my cute furry rat after him.

Anyway, back to the plot. Vol. 17 is the newest Best Thing Ever, because lesbian ninja! EEEEEEEE! Yoruichi lesbian ninja! Female captain lesbian ninja! Where is the lesbian ninja fic? I must read some!

I'm also glad that I've finally met some female captains; I was getting really irritated by how there were a good number of female vice-captains, but no female captains. I'm also glad that one of said female captains is a ninja. Or something.

The whole thing with Gin and Aizen and Hinamori and grumpy short captain was great, particularly how freaky Aizen was. He may be even freakier than Gin! And I continue to adore grumpy short captain beyond all reason, even though I can't even remember his name.

Also, have I mentioned just how awesome the Soi Fong-Yoruichi fight was?

On the other hand, I am extremely, extremely annoyed that not only is Rukia rescued by Ichigo at the last minute (that, by the way, was worth it, just because of the flames and etc.), but that she is immediately tossed over to Renji for safekeeping. And then, if that weren't enough, she gets saved yet another time by her brother! Argh. I understand that the whole gigai thing or whatever that Urahara cooked up has totally sapped her of power, but still! The annoyingness! The multiple rescues!

The entire thing with Ichigo and the Hollow confused me immensely, but it sounds like the next arc is going to deal a little with the whole Hollow-Shinigami-human divide, so that's cool.

And Urahara! Secret agenda! I love him so much.

In conclusion, YORUICHI!

ETA: corrected vols. read.

Comments

[oyceter]

Yeah... I was sort of ok (not really, but I could brush it aside) with Rukia in non-action, but the active rescuing is driving me a little nuts. Thankfully, I'm invested enough in the shinigami to continue (particularly Hitsugaya!).

Renren! So cute!