Probably the most divisive things within the BLEACH fandom is one thing that is still an item of contention and debate, although the indisputable the fact is apparent within the series in the start. Ichigo and Rukia’s innocent relationship is viewed as a cop-out by fans who, for whatever reason, have made the decision the S.S. “IchiRuki” may be the series’ real ship within the canonical outcome which sees Ichigo eventually marry and actually have a child with Orihime following the occasions from the 1000-Year Bloodstream War arc. Rukia, however, goes the friendship-to-romance route together with her childhood friend, Renji Abarai, that she also offers a young child.
Ichigo and Rukia’s relationship is certainly integral towards the BLEACH storyline, in addition to the introduction of both figures however, the reason behind this is much more complex compared to premise of some type of romantic outcome for the pair of them. Here’s the run-lower around the fated friendship of Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki.
The Rain
A recurring title within the BLEACH narrative for a number of chapters, the idea of “Dying and also the Strawberry” because the summary of BLEACH is essential because it centres the bond between Ichigo and Rukia, alluding towards the “fatefulness” from the encounter, along with its significance. The very first time “Dying and also the Strawberry” is invoked is the initial chapter and episode from the series, where the 15-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki has his first encounter having a Shinigami, despite getting lengthy had the ability to see ghosts. The encounter winds up getting existence-altering effects because it becomes Ichigo’s access point to Soul Society, which turns into a journey of self-discovery because he learns much more about the planet around him. For Ichigo, meeting Rukia is a vital instant because she could “result in the rain stop”. In BLEACH, rain is a very common device accustomed to communicate Ichigo’s feelings in no time of turmoil.
His inner world, featuring its numerous sideways skyscrapers, is continually trapped with rain whenever Ichigo goes through trouble, something which the spirit of his Zanpakutō, Zangetsu, has had note of. The rain is particularly furious in no time where Ichigo finds themself not able to safeguard the folks nearest to him, using the worst rain coming after the dying of his mother. His most significant character trait is his need to safeguard individuals around him, so when he can’t fulfill this central dogma, it entirely ruins Ichigo’s feeling of self. It is primarily the trait which makes Ichigo truly grateful to Rukia to save his existence, and enabling him to defeat the Hollow and safeguard them. Following the fight against Aizen, Ichigo’s reiatsu starts to dissipate included in the payment for his utilisation of the Final Getsuga Tenshō. Ichigo loses the opportunity to see Rukia and reverts to some normal human and through the occasions from the Fullbring Arc, Ichigo was manipulated by former Substitute Shinigami, Ginjō Kūgo, who preyed upon his desire to go back to his former self.
Guilt and also the Strawberry
In preserving his existence and also the lives of his family people, Rukia earned Ichigo’s respect, a currency which continued to become invaluable. Despite nearly losing his existence in fighting against Renji and Byakuya, Ichigo risks his existence again to visit Soul Society and save her – because that is what he felt he owed the one who saved his existence. While Rukia’s affect on Ichigo is obvious, his affect on her is possibly the most crucial reason they’re so close. Rukia’s central dogma is revealed during her incarceration in Soul Society – her greatest regret may be the dying from the former Lieutenant from the 13th Squad, Kaien Shiba. While Rukia’s hands is the one which slew Kaien, his dying was really caused by Aizen’s Hollowfication experiments, that are consequently hugely significant to the introduction of Ichigo and Rukia’s relationship since it is Aizen who will get Rukia delivered to Karakura Town to begin with.
Despite there being not one other way to cope with Kaien’s Hollowfication, Rukia’s trauma and guilt at not sufficiently strong in order to save among the couple of individuals who saw her for who she was and not simply part of among the Great Noble Groups of Soul Society. Rukia’s grief would lead her to create Kaien’s corpse to his family, speculate she blamed herself for his dying, she’d also will continue to tell the rest of the Shiba Clan people that she’s Kaien’s killer. In the last times of Soul Society, there have been five Great Noble families, which the Shiba Clan was one of these until its fall from elegance following a dying of their most prominent living member: Kaien Shiba. Effectively, Rukia saw herself responsible not just for that dying of her friend and superior, but in addition for the following collapse from the Shiba Clan, which she did not know was really a 2-pronged incident starting with the exile of Isshin Kurosaki née Shiba. When she was arrested and set on dying row for giving her Shinigami forces to some human, Rukia battled deeply using the feeling this outcome – her dying – is ultimately what she deserves. This guilt that they carries while imprisoned however, is augmented because deep lower, Rukia did not actually want to die – which only made her feel worse.
Seeing Double
Retrospectively, it does not make much sense for any Shinigami with Rukia’s competence to become wounded while protecting an individual from the Hollow attack. Rukia might have beaten that first Hollow easily however, she’d to cope with protecting the reckless Ichigo from getting themself wiped out, as well as in attempting to explain the problem to him mid-combat, Rukia was greatly distracted. However, she’d no real need to keep him from getting wiped out through the Hollow – Shinigami happen to be recognized to ignore certain distress calls, as was seen with Kurotsuchi’s participation within the delayed response to the Hollow attack on Sōken Ishida – Uryū’s grandfather. If Ichigo have been utilized as bait, Rukia might have even wiped out the Hollow without any casualties, but something compelled Rukia not only to attempt to safeguard the teen who overlooked her warnings. For just one, Rukia felt guilty again for involving Ichigo within the fight, but additionally because she accidentally galvanized him when she told him he was the Hollow’s real target.
At first, Rukia does not seem to observe that Ichigo looks just like the subject of her finest guilt, but this may be related to her dulled condition at that time. Within the Soul Society arc, Captain Ukitake sees Ichigo the very first time and it is so shocked he is able to barely speak. Ichigo’s resemblance to Kaien is uncanny, and shut enough to earn shocked looks, as well as some degree of confirmation from Byakuya themself. It does not seem sensible that Rukia would meet Ichigo the very first time and never be just like shocked as Ukitake was. It might then follow the big motivator that spurs Rukia into action that made her wish to safeguard Ichigo no matter what that even brought her to provide him her forces despite it as being a huge Soul Society taboo, is always that this orange-haired boy resembles Kaien.
Absolution
In preserving Ichigo and also the Kurosakis, Rukia is effectively doing what she could not previously, and creating on her guilt, even when she does not understand it yet. Ultimately, Rukia’s actions on that day set into motion a string of occasions that will have her and Ichigo depend on one another deeply, and promote the type of friendship that transcends the guilt.
For making the rain stop for Ichigo, Rukia puts an finish to her very own suffering too, but at no reason is that this due to a romantic link between them. Within the finish, Ichigo choosing Orihime, who’s in lots of ways like his mother and Rukia choosing someone that she’s seen both existence and dying, is just smart.
