I Wanted You To Stay With Me [Espada’s Contradictions, Part 2]
Ah, sweet denial, our man Ulquiorria just won't admit (to himself) what he really wants. This is really the "A ha!" moment that made me go from vaguely interested multishipper to UlquiHime fan.
In addition to all the points you made I would add that if Ulquiorra's only goal and duty was to protect Los Noches as Aizen-sama ordered, the best way to do that would be reduce the risk, i.e.: let the Woman who is the subject of the invaders' pursuit leave without a fight.
When Ulquiorra is confronted by Ichigo, who claims to be there to rescue Orihime, it would have been easy for Ulqui to say "The Woman is useless to Aizen. Take her and get out." That would have achieved both men's stated goals without any loss of face. That would have given Ichigo and Co. no reason to stay. Presumably they could have left Los Noches faster to search for the captains and a way out of Hueco Mundo.
Except that neither Ulquiorra nor Ichigo are acting in their own best interests. It had become personal and both men have other motivations; one wants to fight to restore his pride and the other fights to keep the Woman he doesn't want to let go of.
By challenging Ichigo to a duel, Ulquiorra is actually undermining his orders because fighting Ichigo risked damaging Los Noches more than letting Ichigo escape with Orihime would have. Orihime has become a liability in that sense.
Nevertheless, despite the fact that the other arrancar interpreted Aizen's words as a blessing to do whatever they wanted to Orihime, "by-the-book" Ulquiorra says he won't kill her unless he's ordered to do so. In fact, he ends up protecting her and making excuses (Aizen-sama) for why he won't let Ichigo leave with her.
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Date: 2009-04-21 08:08 pm (UTC)Ah, sweet denial, our man Ulquiorria just won't admit (to himself) what he really wants. This is really the "A ha!" moment that made me go from vaguely interested multishipper to UlquiHime fan.
In addition to all the points you made I would add that if Ulquiorra's only goal and duty was to protect Los Noches as Aizen-sama ordered, the best way to do that would be reduce the risk, i.e.: let the Woman who is the subject of the invaders' pursuit leave without a fight.
When Ulquiorra is confronted by Ichigo, who claims to be there to rescue Orihime, it would have been easy for Ulqui to say "The Woman is useless to Aizen. Take her and get out." That would have achieved both men's stated goals without any loss of face. That would have given Ichigo and Co. no reason to stay. Presumably they could have left Los Noches faster to search for the captains and a way out of Hueco Mundo.
Except that neither Ulquiorra nor Ichigo are acting in their own best interests. It had become personal and both men have other motivations; one wants to fight to restore his pride and the other fights to keep the Woman he doesn't want to let go of.
By challenging Ichigo to a duel, Ulquiorra is actually undermining his orders because fighting Ichigo risked damaging Los Noches more than letting Ichigo escape with Orihime would have. Orihime has become a liability in that sense.
Nevertheless, despite the fact that the other arrancar interpreted Aizen's words as a blessing to do whatever they wanted to Orihime, "by-the-book" Ulquiorra says he won't kill her unless he's ordered to do so. In fact, he ends up protecting her and making excuses (Aizen-sama) for why he won't let Ichigo leave with her.