![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tamabonotchiThoughts on whether Rukia seeing Ichigo's mask on him will affect her and will it be a parallel to Hollow!Kaien or Orihime's reaction to Ichigo's mask. In short, parallel will be for IchiRuki vs. KaiRuki or IchiRuki vs. IchiHime?
Spoilers to recent chapters.
Spoilers to recent chapters.
It'll inevitable when the event comes in the Manga where Ichigo will put on his Hollow mask to attack, and Rukia will finally see it. Orihime has already seen it, and her reaction wasn't positive at first, being a human girl who always thought Ichigo as a savior and never looking like a monster or having a hollow mask, like her brother. Although a little taken aback from the shock, Orihime soon changes from fear of Ichigo to fear for Ichigo as he fights. "Don't die, Kurosaki-kun!"
Well, no matter with all the parallels Hueco Mundo/Nakama arc has to the Soul Society arc, (damsel in distress, A whole new cast of characters, although there's a difference -cough-Rukia-cough-) One thing that hasn't happened is Rukia seeing Ichigo with his mask on.
Rukia knows about Ichigo's hollow, but she doesn't know about how he's been training to control it and even use it's powers. In fact, she doesn't know anything really about the Vizards except they have an ability like Orihime's, and Ichigo has been at their place, if not training. She doesn't know about his "new power".
Well, no matter with all the parallels Hueco Mundo/Nakama arc has to the Soul Society arc, (damsel in distress, A whole new cast of characters, although there's a difference -cough-Rukia-cough-) One thing that hasn't happened is Rukia seeing Ichigo with his mask on.
Rukia knows about Ichigo's hollow, but she doesn't know about how he's been training to control it and even use it's powers. In fact, she doesn't know anything really about the Vizards except they have an ability like Orihime's, and Ichigo has been at their place, if not training. She doesn't know about his "new power".
Chapter 237, page 9
Even though Orihime knows more about it than Rukia, Rukia is still able to trust Ichigo and leave him be, and then come back when the arrrancar attack again to save Ichigo.
So then- what will Rukia's reaction be when she finally does see Ichigo's mask? Will she become shocked and scared just like Orihime?
No.
Rukia had just defeated the Noveno Espada, who had taken Kaien's body and had all of his memories and abilities, who tried to manipulate Rukia to kill her and/or kill her nakama (Even Ichigo, as from chapter chapter 247 they ARE nakama, even with the hesitation to say so) and make her even more guilty about her killing Kaien. Even though Orihime's brother had also became a hollow to kill her, she never had such a guilt still mulling in her heart and he's already gone. Now, any guilt of Kaien's death should be resolved since she finally did save his body, and realize Kaien could never haunt her like that because he passed his heart onto her. Rukia had gotten major development on the matter and her spirits seem to have brightened and is still determined to save Orihime (More than Ichigo from what we've seen) so the meeting with the Noveno Espada probably would affect Rukia's reaction when she sees Vizard Ichigo- after all even though he has a hollow, she'll notice he's controlling the hollow to use its power. My guess on how she'll react would be some what surprised to see the yellow eyes, but then-
"I'm so glad, Ichigo. I knew you could beat your hollow."
Rukia WAS the one who figured Ichigo was depressed because he couldn't control his hollow, and was the one who told him just to beat his hollow down. Even though she doesn't know much on the matter, she understands Ichigo and trusts him.
Then when we do get a reaction from her, you bet people will have another point to compare for IchiRuki and IchiHime- who was better when they saw Ichigo with his mask? That means it'll be another Rukia and Orihime parallel.
But I don't want that.
Rukia just fought with the Noveno Espada and the matter of Kaien's death and her memories of him is brought up right now, how she hesitated fighting the Noveno Espada EVEN when she knew it wasn't him but it had his body. Ichigo has a hollow threatening to take over him and he's doing well controlling it.
I'm going to say when she does see Ichigo's mask, it won't parallel Orihime's reaction but Rukia and her past with Kaien. This time though, she won't be scared of Ichigo, she won't run away. She'll be happy to see him and his ability to control his hollow.
It's not ALWAYS about the IchiRukiHime line (because I don't like it as a triangle unless Rukia DOES have deep feelings for Orihime) and comparing IchiRuki scenes with paralleled IchiHime scenes (although it is fun). In fact, it's kind of sad no one is thinking about the IchiRukiRen triangle (or 'v', which ever you like) but then it seems people want a jealous Renji taking more action (like he has ever tried anymore) so it seems the winner in that duel is Rukia for Ichigo.
In my opinion, KaiRuki vs. IchiRuki > Ichihime vs. IchiRuki. That line(IchiRukiHime) bores me now with a poor, jealous human girl who needs some more character development.
============================
Poor, poor Orihime! I'm always both pro and against her feelings for Kurosaki-kun! Which is it already?!
Any triangle with Rukia is awesome.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
excellent entry
Date: 2008-08-16 09:06 pm (UTC)as Aizen said it, "Admiration is the furthest thing from understanding."
Rukia, as you said, accepts who Ichigo is. nor is she in the position to object to what he's become because, from the SS arc, he became a Vaizard because of her. to rescue her. Ichigo's actions, not what he looks like, give her the faith to believe in Ichigo, who has a place in her heart.
who knows how she'll react to his Hollow mask, but i think she won't compare Ichi to Kaien as much. like i said, Ichi became a Hollow [hybrid] because we went to save her. Kaien, unfortunately, was devoured and then manipulated as a Hollow. and a big difference between the two: because of what Rukia and Ichi have been through together, if Ichigo were to lose himself to his hollow, i believe Rukia can pull him through and out of it. in the SS arc, we see Rukia is haunted by Kaien. in HM, she defeats Aaroniero on her own, a sign that she has conquered her past tragedy, IMO.
what their reunion will be like, only Kubo-sensei knows. we'll have to wait and can only speculate until he gets back to the main group's fight. =/
-Kyoshi Slickfish [this is mah LJ]
Re: excellent entry
Date: 2008-08-16 09:38 pm (UTC)I couldn't believe Orihime was still in the mindset of Ichigo being her "prince in shining armor". When she saw him with his mask on and his eyes black with a yellow iris, she had gotten a rude awakening that what she wants isn't what she'll always get.
Yeah, Aizen's quote is a good one from Bleach that always floats in my mind when I write anything about Orihime and her feelings for Ichigo, but since I never saw that much admiration even in the beginning and "love", I don't like her feelings. What would be make less of a blow now on Ichigo that he won't hurt her feelings, confessing admiration or love? He couldn't reciprocate ANY feelings of love, and he would get rather uncomfortable on such a subject and rejecting her.
As far as I've read, Rukia hasn't compared Ichigo to Kaien that much because her relationships with them are too different to compare except their similar features and a few other details, and like you said, Rukia resolved her guilt over Kaien's death, and wouldn't be scared at all.
When ever their next reunion may be, it probably won't be downplayed, especially if Ichigo has his mask.