effervescible | Not a revelation

So one of the reasons Ichigo/Rukia reached the top of my OTP pile, Bleach or otherwise, is because the pairing hits my equality kink really, really hard. Before anything else, they're partners and friends. At their best, they balance each other out quite well; at their worst, they're kicking and yelling at the other one to get back into balance.

So from there, when it comes to fic and future desires for canon, it's no surprise that I really love seeing Rukia rescue Ichigo. The chapter where she flash-freezes Grimmjow before Ichigo gets shanked is one of my favorites. But since it is equality, for me it goes both ways; I don't only want Rukia to do the saving as a way of making up for lamer shonen heroines from other series. I like to see them taking turns saving each other; I'm just as likely to get starry-eyed over Ichigo saving her as the other way around, provided there is no subtext of "...because you're just a weak little girl."

None of this is new thinking for me, but I was sort of amused yesterday when someone posted a fanart link to

ichi_ruki and I found two pictures that pretty much epitomize the opposing ends of my "Makes Jaina Go Squee" range: this and this*.

In some ways, I don't really mind being predictable.

*Yeah, I know they're both standing tall and battle-scarred in this one**, but something about it just struck me as a setting in which she did the lion's share of the saving. Maybe because of her more upright position.

**I also have a major thing for Rukia walking around in hakama and bindings instead of the usual top half of the uniform. I do not know why.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Rukia is a fabulous character, I just wish KT would explore that a bit more. All the stuff you've said is what makes me like her, and we just haven't seen any of it for ages.

It was short but awesome when she was fighting the leader of the Exequias! I sporfled when he started going on about how badass the Espada were, because uh, she KILLED one of them.

I completely agree. From the start, the first attraction I had to Bleach was how differently (in some cases) that Kubo differentiates himself from the norm with his women. Rukia was the one I honed in on, but beyond even her, most of his females can kick ass and then some. Unlike Naruto where most all the girls are healers, in Bleach it's the opposite (except Orihime ~cough~).

But most definitely the power balance between the two is so ~~kinky~~ refreshing and interesting that who couldn't be locked in by it. That's why Soul Society was much better than Hueco Mundo. It was/is lacking that same drive that we saw in SS. He's saving Orihime, and putting my pairing bias aside, it surely isn't with the same conviction he went in sword swinging to save Rukia. That's what makes IchiRuki stand out. Sure, he saved Rukia, but Ichigo has said time and time again that it was her who saved him from the very start, again, a mutual thing. Their saving each other is so pleasant (not corny) to watch because it's not about the other one being weak, but a mutual response. The fact that this is just one of the many ways the balance each other out is just another attraction of mine to this pairing and to them as individual characters overall.

I don't think Ichigo doesn't CARE about Orihime-I think he cares a lot-but yeah, he does have other focuses in this rescue mission. There's not the singleminded drive. It's not so much NOT worrying about Orihime as it is there are other things diluting his attention. It's just not as much of a personal journey for Ichigo.

Orihime just has him on too much of a pedestal. Give her a couple of years of therapy and maybe I could come closer to believing they'd be functional. Right now...nah.

Oh yeah I definitely agree. He cares about her, obviously, because they are friends to some extent, but, I don't know, it just doesn't seem as special.

The pedestal thing sort of drives me up a wall. Especially when poor Ishida is waiting there to be noticed.

Wow. That art is amazing. I love it! And yeah, I definitely like the toughness of Rukia. I really prefer, on the animated series, the Japanese subtitled version v. the U.S. dubbed version because I like the actress who voices Rukia in the Japanese one - she seems much tougher, whereas in the U.S. dubbing, they gave her this really pretty, girly voice and it just doesn't fit Rukia to me.

Her being such a strong character is why I much prefer Ichigo/Rukia over Ichigo/Orihime. But that's probably pretty obvious to you, heh.

Why is it I never remember you like Bleach? In any case I agree; I think Michelle Ruff does a serviceable job for the dub, but the Japanese one is so ridiculously perfect it's no competition. That sort of darker, husky voice fits her so well, and highlights the difference between her natural speech and her shojo act.

It's one reason I don't really like Ichigo/Orihime, along with the fact that they bring out the WORST in each other. Though I can understand why some people like it based on some of the earlier, dorkier Ichigo & Orihime moments, which were pretty fun all in all.

Eeee pretty pictures! *______*

And that second one...JAYSUS. It's like someone just whacked my kink buttons with a baseball bat. With bonus Ichigo chewing bandages and Rukia's hand on his SWORD (sword porn!) and the two of them working together to get that bandage tied off and...*gibber gibber gibber*

I believe this is where the correct response is UNF.

(I'm sure I have thoughts on I_R around here somewhere, but mostly, PRETTY PICTURES!)

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I had a spontaneous orgasm when I saw that second pic.

ditto that! :D

*ninjas away*

I also have a major thing for Rukia walking around in hakama and bindings instead of the usual top half of the uniform. I do not know why.

Because it's incredibly hot. Do I have to explain everything around here?

Well duh, but so MANY things about Rukia are hot!

But this is incredibly hot. See the difference?

add me back?

I'm sorry, I don't know who you are?

Not a revelation

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