Bleach Happiness

[liralen]

Finally got to the end of the Bounto Arc.



Already said elsewhere that I loved seeing Izaru helping Ichigo out with his friend, and seeing Shuuhei fight. That was sweet. It still mildly bemuses me that everyone calls Izaru "Kira", when it's really his surname. Does he really hold everyone at such a distance that they are only comfortable calling him by his last name? Poor guy.

I can't help but hope that Rukia learned something from being possessed about why what she did for Kaien was a much better thing than if she had stood aside or allowed herself to be killed.

I'm still very happily in love with shy and capable Nova, especially when he's paired with Rangiku, who is even more capable but makes him even *more* shy. *giggles* a lot. I should pair those for a springkink prompt. *laughter*

I also really, really, really loved at the very end, when Kariya starts to glow and Yoruichi starts yelling at Byakuya to go, we have to STOP him... and Byakuya just stands there. Watching.

And it makes me think that Byakuya saw something Yoruichi didn't, that he saw how the fight was going to go even as he saw them approach each other, which makes me think probably more of Byakuya's fighting skills than I had even thought, before.

I also really, really enjoyed all of Maki Ichinose's interactions with Zaraki-taichou. I got a much, much better handle on how Zaraki works, now, and what his standards and ideals really are. That helped immensely.

And, at the very last, when Ichigo, Rukia and Renji are just enjoying watching the clouds on a sunny day... I loved, loved, loved the line about how some fights end in only bitterness.

Comments

[archangelbeth]

I am not sure I've seen the full end of that arc, darnit.

On the other hand... of what I've seen, the part I loved the absolute most?

STEALTH BANKAI! That whole sequence rocked.

And Kira getting some spotlight time was nice, too. Ditto Rangiku.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Stealth Bankai?? I don't actually remember that. Meep...

Yes, I liked Kira and Rangiku getting spotlight time to show their strengths, it was really neat...

[marith.livejournal.com]

*snatches quick lj skim*

Yay, glad you enjoyed it! I think my favorite part of the end episodes was Soi Fon's big fight. She may not be on par with Yoruichi yet, but I felt like she proved she's earned the position she holds - strength, smarts, tactics and style. :)

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Oh!! YES!! Definitely. She's very, very cool in her fight. I loved the whole sequence so much. Yay! More to like about that part of the series!! Yay!

[incandescens]

I think Beth's thinking of the sequence when Ichigo and Ishida and Kariya and Byakuya all end up together at night for an orgy the usual big fight scene, and that while Ichigo and Kariya are posturing at each other, Byakuya quietly activates shikai, at least (not sure if it was full bankai) and dumps a million angry cherry blossoms on Kariya.

I remember watching it with Beth. We both cheered him displaying tactics.

And I also love the bit where the Chad-Nova-Rangiku-etc team is busy discussing how to fight the old guy with the whale, and Chad tries to be protective, and Rangiku stands up and points out that she is vice-captain, etc. :)

[liralen.livejournal.com]

*falls over at the strikeout*

Ah! I think he did quietly say bankai, actually. Yay! Tactics!!

Yeah, I loved that bit with Rangiku. Powerful women. It's neat.

[incandescens]

It wasn't a bad arc at all. Not as good as the real manga (unfortunately, the fact that the real story is very good means that the contrast is more striking than in less-good series), but still a lot of fun.

[archangelbeth]

It was full bankai. It was all:
Byakuya fights Kariya.
Ichigo shows up.
Byakuya says, politely, "Back off."
Ichigo and Kariya don't. They start mixing it up.
Byakuya all but rolls his eyes, and quietly says, "Bankai." Sword goes down into ground, rose petals occur, Ichigo yells about it, and Byakuya says, politely, "I told you to back off. You didn't listen. Suck it up and dodge."

[incandescens]

Reasons Why We Love Byakuya, 100043.

[archangelbeth]

Amen!

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Yes!! I loved that, too. I loved that last line. *grin*

And I'll add an Amen to incandescens' comment.