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ship_manifestoTitle: Near Wild Heaven: Rukia x Ichigo x Renji
Fandom: Bleach
Pairing: Kuchiki Rukia x Kurosaki Ichigo x Abarai Renji
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hallowd
Word Count: ~ 7500 words, whoops
Disclaimer: Bleach is copyright of Kubo Tite, Shounen Jump, Studio Pierrot et al. I own nothing. This is a fanwork for fun, not profit.
Warnings: het and slash
Thanks: Long ago,tenebris made me see this OT3. Much more recently, jaina heartily approved, raynos squeed at the right time, and kawree provided clever translations, pretty pictures, and inestimable support and was a true blue sine qua non. Fabulous acknowledgements, my ladies.
Notes: This manifesto follows manga canon, so it's peppered with spoilers up to the current arc (Fake Karakura). Names are given in the Japanese order, surname first. Dial-up users are kindly asked to exercise patience: this post is quite image-heavy. Please click on the thumbnails for full-sized images!
bankai: lit. "full release"; the fully realised, strongest form of a zanpakutou's power; only a rare few shinigami ever achieve this level
Hollow: dead souls that have lost their humanity and become monsters that eat human souls
reiatsu: lit. "spirit pressure"; the spiritual power and vitality of a shinigami
shinigami: lit. "death god" ("Soul Reaper" in the Viz translation); guardians who guide the souls of the dead to the afterlife and keep watch for Hollows causing havoc
Soul Society: the beyond in the Bleachverse; the spirit world where souls go, and from which they are reborn into the living world. Shinigami reside in Soul Society.
zanpakutou: lit. "soul cutting sword" ("Soul Cutter"); the official weapon of the shinigami, and an extension of their spirit
He's a brave, quick-tempered teenager-cum-hero with immense spiritual power and an attitude to match.
She's a tiny, tough shinigami girl with a scathing tongue and a well-concealed soft side.
And he's a brash shinigami lieutenant, family to her and rival-turned-friend to him, loud-mouthed and loyal to the last.
Together theyare so doing it power up to save the world—as you do.
In this manifesto, I explore the threesome 'ship of Abarai Renji, Kuchiki Rukia and Kurosaki Ichigo from Bleach. I'm a firm believer in equal opportunity and fluid power dynamics, so name order matters squat here. I'll be abbreviating it "IRR" for simplicity and convenience.
Bleach is a wildly popular shounen (boys') manga series by Kubo Tite, running in Shounen Jump since 2001 and adapted into animated form by Studio Pierrot. Both manga and anime are being localised in English by Viz Media. It centers around the exploits of one Kurosaki Ichigo, a boy who can see ghosts, and histravelling circus band of friends. They fight evil spirits known as Hollows and help normal ghosts reach the afterlife, a place called Soul Society.
It gets more complicated than that. There's a heroic rescue arc, a dark conspiracy spanning worlds, the threat of a war in the coming winter, and a more deconstructionist rescue arc, all mixed with themes of love (all three Greek kinds, really), integrity and estrangement. The series is full of the battles and improbable armaments typical to shounen, and more characters than you can shake a soul cutter at. Still, it handles the tropes of its genre with verve and grace and even subverts them on occasion. While Bleach is Ichigo's coming-of-age story, the other main characters get their own delicious slices of conflict and growth as well.
Ichigo, Renji and Rukia are all protagonists in the series and share a bond of friendship, trust and camaraderie, however you want to interpret it. It used to be that if you mentioned the term "OT3" in the Bleach fandom, chances were better than not you were talking about this 'ship. I've 'shipped it quietly since 2006. Even though the narrative focus has moved away from all of them but Ichigo lately, there's still a slow but steady trickle of interest in this rash, faithful, abrasive, lovely trio.
It's a common sentiment these days that Bleach is growing a little long in the tooth. The fights are hogging centre stage from character development and the Big Bad's plan of world dominion becomes more confusing by the week. I've stopped minding the pacing issues and turned my interest to what I always loved best: the characters, and the creative genius of the fandom itself.
This manifesto is, to a degree, a product of this laissez-faire attitude. As much as I love the IRR threesome, I know it's purely a fannish match-up. I can 'ship it with unadulterated glee, free of the burden of proving that my 'ship is More Canon Than Yours. However, I will base this essay on canon subtext. This is a lucky OT3 in that there is a relatively solid canonical foundation, if you're willing to dig a little. Let's grab that shovel and see what the fertile ground of Kubo's rich characterisation yields.
On the left, you can observe these three in their natural habitat. Bad shit is about to go down, but Rukia still has time to punch her boys back in line. They mean well, though—as they always do, and she forgives them, if only because they might all be dead quite soon. Their lives are occasionally weird, frequently dangerous, but you quite get the sense they wouldn't want it any other way.
Kurosaki Ichigo has always seen dead people. It's a family trait, really. He has an inordinate amount of raw spiritual power, but next to no formal training. His glaring orange hair often earns him snide remarks, so he's learned to riposte with a swift kick in a suitable body part. Despite this impudent veneer, he has a good heart, and courage, kindness and resolve to spare. He has a driving need to protect others, stemming from the traumatic loss of his mother as a small boy. He's also pig-headed, reckless, on occasion dense—and a consummate man of action.
Kuchiki Rukia often provides the necessary brake to Ichigo's full tilt ahead. She keeps both her love and her insecurities close to her chest, but never hesitates to help those in need. She lived in the streets as a child, but was adopted into the Kuchiki noble house when in the shinigami Academy. Rukia is a curious mix of poised, professional shinigami and adorably dorky girl, and by all accounts has a lot more balls than Ichigo. A deep guilt weighs on her heart, but mostly she manages to live in the day. She has sharp wits and quite a bit of emotional acuity.
Abarai Renji is her childhood friend. He accompanied her to the Academy, but they drifted apart after her adoption. Renji blamed himself for letting her go, and strove to surpass her adoptive brother, his own captain, Kuchiki Byakuya, to be able to face her on equal terms again. Concealing his fears behind grouchy glares and devilish smirks, Renji is fierce, stubborn and passionate. Painfully similar to Ichigo sometimes, he's yet tempered by his longer life and maturity. He's an accomplished and well-liked officer, but his first loyalty will always be to those he calls friend.
The story of Bleach has grown quite convoluted during its almost 400-chapter run. It starts, as they do, with boy meeting girl. While on Hollow patrol in Karakura, Ichigo's hometown, Rukia runs amock of him. She gets hurt trying to protect him and his family from said Hollow, and devises a desperate gambit to transfer her shinigami power to him to save them all.
This launches Ichigo's career as a part-time shinigami, filling in for her while she recovers. They combine power and experience to manage the job, soon developing a profound bond of trust. Rukia moves into Ichigo's closet; he guides her through the perplexing human world. Together, they help each other face personal traumas without even realising they're doing so.
Allow me to offer an example. Ichigo's lost his mother at a young age, and her death still haunts him. On the anniversary of her death, it turns out she was killed by a Hollow that is now after Ichigo's sisters. Ichigo and Rukia dash to the rescue in perfect lockstep while she, with a few well-placed words, demonstrates an insight into him completely disproportionate to their short time together. She knows he hides some sort of pain, but is also well aware it's not her place to tear at it. She merely offers her support, solving their earlier quarrel as she does do. Their unspoken accord is restored in the gaps in the conversation.
But you can't stay forever in Eden. Rukia is wanted by Soul Society for the crime of giving Ichigo her power. She is retrieved by her brother, Kuchiki Byakuya, and his second-in-command, Abarai Renji. The estranged friends meet again in rough circumstances. Renji proceeds to beat an intervening Ichigo into the ground, and Byakuya delivers a lethal final blow before Rukia is taken away.
Fortunately even reluctant heroes die hard. Ichigo gears up for a rescue mission with a few friends (Ishida Uryuu, Sado "Chad" Yasutora and Inoue Orihime). Rukia means too much to him that he could let her go: she changed his world, and he'll be damned if he lets a bunch of jerkass shinigami execute her for that.
Meanwhile in Soul Society, Renji and Rukia bicker through the bars of a holding cell. Rukia withdraws behind a sardonic mask, concealing her true feelings about their harsh reunion. Under the banter, Renji is deeply anxious about Rukia's fate. Byakuya should step in for his adoptive sister, but the rulebound captain seems bent on allowing justice to take its course.
The Rescue Rangers break into Soul Society, and the shinigami kick into high alert. Renji is ordered to transfer Rukia into the death row cell to wait for her execution. Here he steps over the line for the first time. He turns back from the brink of leaving her alone, grabs her shoulder and extends a sliver of hope to a girl doomed to die.
His sworn duty would tie his hands, yet he can't sit still. Wavering between love and duty, family and commanding officer, Renji takes the tried-and-true shounen option: he seeks out Ichigo in meaningful armed combat. This fight becomes one of the most emotionally charged in the whole series, as well pivotal to both Renji and the relationship between him and Ichigo. The confrontation ends with Renji seizing Ichigo's collar and begging him to do what he himself can't, to save Rukia's life.
The scene is heartbreaking, but more than that, hopeful for what it galvanises. His defeat renews Renji's resolution: if Soul Society won't help him, then he'll sooner forswear Soul Society than watch Rukia die.
Ichigo makes it to Rukia once, but is thwarted by Byakuya's arrival. Yoruichi, Ichigo's guide in Soul Society, spirits him away for a risky endeavour. Rukia's execution is three days away, but it may be possible to reach a new level power in that time. He throws himself in the effort.
Taped back together, Renji arrives at the Very Secret Hideout (do not ask me how) and takes up bankai training beside Ichigo. Obviously something happens in these three days, because for the rest of the arc, the two are parallelled in their attempt to save the girlthey both love time and again. Renji departs early to confront his captain, to conquer the man he idolises. It's no longer about the right to save Rukia; Renji has moved past that into the absolute certainty that he will save her or die in the attempt.
He almost manages the latter. Even with his newfound power, he is no match for Byakuya. Defeated, he crumples, bleeding and broken, as his captain demands whether he still expects to rescue Rukia. Renji's desperation practically beats off the pages: he cannot move, cannot breathe, cannot win.
Then the scene switches to Ichigo, struggling to master his soul cutter and achieve bankai. His sword-spirit poses a tart question: "Can you still stand?" In meshing, juxtaposed panels, Renji and Ichigo both pull themselves to their feet and into the answer to both Byakuya and Zangetsu, until we get to this sequence.
"I swore that I would save her... To no one... I swore to my soul!"
— chapter 143, p. 18
I dare you to tell which of them says that. My answer is, of course, that both of them do. It doesn't matter who stands in their way, because they know down to their souls what they have to do. It's cheesy, it's over the top, and it still chills me on a good day when I re-read it. They stand united against the rest of the world if need be, bound by their devotion to this girl. Don't tell me it isn't ridiculously romantic in its sentimentality.
This is the darkest hour of the arc. Renji collapses, while Ichigo's success remains uncertain. Rukia, on her way to the execution stand, feels Renji's life dwindle in her senses. However, the story moves forward, and so should we.
The Soul Society arc culminates at the execution scene. In his Heroic Cape, Ichigo arrives in the nick of time to pluck Rukia from the gallows tree. On the right you can see what I like to call his "I love this girl" face; that fleeting, amazed look that fades into the smirking "Yo". Like, for the barest moment, he allows himself to be moved, distracted by the wonder that Rukia still draws breath.
She yells that she doesn't need him to rescue her, and he tells her to shut up, because they've already been through this.
It's his moment of strength and courage, piercing her quiet resignation to her fate, quickening her again. It's one of the crowning glories of Ichigo and Rukia's bond. Let us move on for a little more.
He proceeds to demonstrate his amazing lack of skill at holding a girl, but doesn't get much further before—guess what—Renji turns up. He's been brought from death's door by Hanatarou, a steadfast, unassuming ally, and Ichigo entrusts Rukia to him before facing Byakuya in battle.
Here we are, then. Let's stop here a moment. Let me lay out this scene for you.
Coupled with the above reunion, this clinches the deal for me. The hope Ichigo awakens in Rukia pours out at the sight of Renji below the execution stand. Sheer elation and happiness breaking through, her face animates for the first time since he, in another apt parallel, told her that Ichigo was in Soul Society.
The tender moment is undercut by the Great Rukia Toss, landing us squarely on the flip side of why this trio is awesome. They can go from heartwrenching to hilarious to heroically resolute in two panels flat. In a sense, this scene encapsulates their dynamic; they care, they bicker, they protect, all with the same soaring ease with each other. They say all they need in brief, soulful glances, and linger on the shouty bits because they all know what they really mean.
It's a rough-and-tumble sort of love (often literally), but it holds fast when it must.
Ichigo defeats Byakuya in the climactic clash of the arc, while Renji spirits Rukia to safety. Just as things are looking up, the Big Bad drops down on the lot of them, reveals he's been using Rukia for a nefarious purpose, and then wipes the floor with both Renji and Ichigo as they try to defend her. What matters here isn't whether they win or lose (they do, hopelessly, and Rukia's anguish at their fall is awful and gorgeous). The point is that that they act in unison and with complete confidence in each other. You almost... get the sense that they are bound by more than the mutual desire to keep Rukia alive. Hmm.
After all this, and a touching farewell between Ichigo and Rukia where they demonstrate time and distance won't separate them, Ichigo and his friends go home. Here, I'd like to point out something. In the first page "quoted" on the left, it's Kubo Tite's usual visual tack of getting up close and personal with the characters' faces; namely, Ichigo and Rukia. Those subtle smiles, that understated goodbye; you're supposed to linger there. In the second, the closing shot of the Soul Society arc, they again loom largest in the focus, main characters among protagonists.
Still, if you like, Renji is there, always a little to the side from Rukia, with that easygoing grin on his face. It wouldn't take too much—a nudge, a tug, a push. If you like. But let us move forward.
Soon enough afterwards, the plot catches up to Our Heroes again. Ichigo is in a bit of a funk due to the dark side of his powers acting up and generally making a mess of him and his life. There are new enemies and troublesome potential allies afoot. Rukia and Renji come to Karakura as part of a shinigami investigation into a new threat. Rukia manages to punt Ichigo out of his depression, only to have things make a sharp left turn into darker and edgier territory, anyway.
Inoue Orihime, the healer of Ichigo's troupe, is abducted by enemy forces. As she's deemed a traitor due to some nefarious subterfuge, the shinigami in Karakura are ordered not to pursue her. Ichigo protests, Rukia echoes him, but it's Renji who pulls a clever one here.
(Eyes to the right, please.) He seizes Ichigo's shoulder and stops his incensed tirade. Renji doesn't know Orihime personally. Ichigo and Rukia have their respective friendships with her, yet here Renji is subverting a direct command in an attempt to save her, because it matters to someone nearer and dearer to him.
Well, and Renji's a big old softie that couldn't stand to see a sweet girl in trouble. That, too. He stops Ichigo here because he knows Ichigo's tactics will not work; and Ichigo, the reckless, wayward hero, steps aside and lets Renji take the lead. The lightning-quick trust that blazed between them in the Soul Society arc is there, but it's maturing into something more grounded and ultimately enduring.
Renji's valiant attempt is foiled, however. The shinigami squad is forced to return to Soul Society. With what amounts to a big fat middle finger to the shinigami command, Ichigo embarks on a private rescue mission with Chad and Ishida.
They don't make it too far into Hueco Mundo, the Hollow realm, when a sand Hollow attacks them—and who should turn up to save the day but Rukia with a conveniently deployed glacier (she gets her ice powers back some time earlier). Renji's in tow, and this time they are working the Heroic Capes. Does your OT3 have Heroic Capes?
Renji and Rukia then tag-team Ichigo in a glorious sequence of panels for his bull-headed insistence to go on alone. They are his friends and allies, Rukia expounds to him, what the hell was he thinking not to wait for them?
Much has been made of Rukia's speech to Ichigo here. I still say: so OT3 it hurts. Rukia and Renji disobey direct orders to come join Ichigo and co. in an illegal endeavour deemed too risky to try. It's stupid, it's brash, and it's the exact kind of loyal, loving idiocy they engage in for each other over and over again. It's also a Six Hearts (the six main protagonists) moment, but it centers on Rukia, Renji and Ichigo in art and in execution. Chad and Ishida provide amusing side commentary, but Rukia's loud declaration brings the emotional punch (Renji helps with the literal one, of course).
Meanwhile, Renji is the one to get the musing profile shot, the slight pre-punch smirk shared with Rukia, and the endearingly awkward stare to the side as she talks feelings and loyalty to the young diehard. Their arrival breaks Ichigo's spiral of grump and woe—seriously, he's pissed all through the intervening chapters. As soon as Rukia and Renji show up, he's all dry wit and big goofy grins. Coincidence? I think not.
In any case, the bonding moment is done and Team Awesome hauls ass to the Big Bad's hideout. Once inside the enemy fortress, Rukia does a dumb thing, Renji endorses it, and the five separate to cover maximum ground in their search for Orihime. What follows is a gruelling sequence of battles I won't cover in detail, but one is too important to ignore.
Rukia runs into one of the Big Bad's elite warriors and clashes with him in a desperate, if ultimately self-affirming struggle, emerging victorious even as her lifeblood spills on the floor. Sensing her waning reiatsu, Ichigo turns away from a battle to go to her; at the same, Renji all but loses it in his own fight with another superior opponent. There's something terribly visceral about both their reactions. Their fear for her is in no way rational. It could well jeopardise the greater mission and both their survival. I still find it fascinating that Kubo again chose to underline both their responses to Rukia's supposed death, and once again in ways that parallel each other.
As is to be expected, Rukia does get better. The Hueco Mundo fights are still going on as the manga draws up to the present. The three see each other, but there's time only for the briefest exchanges of confidence and encouragement. Ichigo gets himself into a pickle trying to get to Orihime, and his friends come rushing in in a re-entrance worthy of if not song, at least some more pictorial evidence.
Renji leads the cavalry charge, to Ichigo's shock and surprise, and by the time that Rukia arrives for a grand finish, his resolute glower is back in place. Renji's all brave and boisterous, rather like, I wonder, Ichigo himself in his better moments. Rukia's snappish reminder to go is all that he needs to put the final flourish on the matter.
One could see here an echo of how the trio repeatedly works in variations to support each other in the Soul Society arc: Renji and Rukia act in tandem to brace Ichigo for the fight ahead. (It's also a fabulous moment of reconnection for Ichigo and Chad, but I didn't want to stray off topic there.)
Ichigo must save Orihime; Rukia, Renji and Chad will hold the line for him. Even so, the instant of unity seems to be enough.
Even apart, they hold together.
Rukia is most commonly seen as the linchpin character on which this threesome turns. No matter if this is due to the fandom at large identifying with her female perspective (and hey, two smoking hot redheads doting on you, that's hardly an unappealing angle), or the fact that the Ichigo-Rukia and Renji-Rukia relationships are the ones to get the most panel time, I both agree with and contest the conclusion.
IchigoxRukia is the hero and the strange girl; it's partnership, bickering, kicks to the head and trust springing whole from the ground at the hour of need. It's debt and repayment, forgiveness and healing, hope in hell and love that transcends worlds.
RenjixRukia is the childhood friendship; it's comfort and joy, reliance and faith that endures across the years. It's also loving insults and punches, understanding the misunderstandings and repairing the burned bridges. It may be no grand romance, but it's a constant, a fixed star to guide you home.
RenjixIchigo is largely a fandom beast. They're brothers in arms in the text, going from cocky adversaries to something like fast friends in a shockingly short time. They're a push-pull dynamic of rivalry and one-upping, caustic remarks, blind faith and effortless co-operation all in one.
Rukia and Ichigo are the backbone of the series; their bond is malleable, but undeniable. They are the first two characters we see, sharing the spotlight all through the early run of the series.
There's little that's conventionally romantic about them, yet they are eminently 'shippable all the same. Two people that bond near-instantaneously, live in each other's pockets for two months, and in that time forge a trust and affection that spans both words and worlds. Neither of them is fixed in one role; while Rukia is more often Ichigo's acerbic emotional pinnacle, Ichigo is shown to possess a similar, surprising insight into her feelings. To wit, see the farewell scene on the left here. He'd like for her to go home with him, sure, but her desire to stay in Soul Society (and rediscover her own place there) is paramount.
Likewise, while Ichigo's usually the one to don the cape and cue the heroic rescue, Rukia gets to pull his hide out of the fire now and again. Here on the right, she's just iced a bad guy and is now delivering a kind—for her—verbal smackdown regarding Ichigo's stumbling battle prowess. They can be all fire and brimstone at each other, but they both seem to know and accept this. It's all right, because they come through for one another when it counts. They are both prone to feelings of guilt and inadequacy, yet they consistently master themselves for the other's sake.
That says love to me, loud and clear.
For their part, Renji and Rukia are family, whatever else they are. Renji's feelings for her run deep, that much is evident, and while Rukia may be more reserved in her affection, it's clear she values him equally. Take a look at her face when she thinks he dies fighting her brother; then another when he returns alive to spirit her away from the execution stand.
Their relationship is wound into the plot of the Soul Society arc, most of their relevant scenes occurring there. Renji becomes so focused on his will to save her that he goes against his own captain, his long-time personal paragon, for her. I've sometimes said Renji never wins a fight because he's too good at losing, bleeding all over the place with his hair down and delivering poetic sentiments on futility and force of will.
Or perhaps it is that he finds himself only in adversity, needing the hardships to grow. As he lies near death after his battle with Byakuya, Rukia's the last thing he tries to grasp.
And Rukia, serene and steeled to her impending death, crumbles at the realisation that Renji is fading, slipping away.
Yeah.
They let each other go once. Yes, I am phrasing it that way. At first glance, it's Renji who releases Rukia when she'd adopted by the Kuchiki. They grow up together in unimaginable misery, clinging together for life and safety and home. Renji makes a mistake in telling her to go, but it isn't his alone. He pines for Rukia, getting lost in his fear that she is too far above him now. Rukia never does a thing to correct his mistake, either, too stranded in her own loneliness.
It takes Ichigo, it takes her near death, to bring them back together. However, once they are, it's a thing of joy and contentment. We don't see much of them after the events at the execution scene, but what we see evinces a return to friendship and companionship for them. Renji grins from behind Rukia as Ichigo & co. depart; he helps Rukia deliver a few bolstering whacks to Ichigo when the kid's feeling blue; he slouches carefree beside her as she explains the plan of the shinigami investigative force; he is as devoted to her as ever.
She remains in Soul Society; tell me that isn't at least partly so she can reforge her bond with Renji and I will laugh. They've been friends, family forever—so long that for the greater part of time, they can just be and be understood. When Rukia believes herself deserving of death, Ichigo cracks her shell, but Renji is the one to drive the point home. She is worthy, and she is precious, to him and to others around her.
That, too, says love to me, softer and sweeter.
Renji and Ichigo's relationship, while superficially a straightforward shounen rivalry, undergoes the most remarkable metamorphosis of the three. (For an excellent snapshot of their dynamic, please see on the left.) On one level, it's a staple of the genre: the hero turns his rival into ally by defeat in combat.
That doesn't make the change any less significant.
At first, Ichigo epitomises Renji's failure to save Rukia. He humbles himself and begs the human boy to finish the task. However, he never wallows. There's no bitterness when he joins Ichigo in training. In the days that follow, they discuss Rukia more plainly than at least Ichigo seems to have done with anyone.
That's the most open we see Ichigo in this arc, and it's to Renji, a guy he's known for all of three days. Of course, it is implicit—and explicit in Renji's plea after their fight—that Renji's done the same; confided his reasons for needing to rescue Rukia to Ichigo, as well. Whatever forms there between them, it sure as hell is mutual. It's strong enough to glue them together in the battles that follow, to make them trust each other on nothing more than instinct and a few low words.
They first come together through and for Rukia, but they stick together even without her.
They have a sparking, fractious connection, with shades of what can only be called brotherly rivalry. Renji is the more serious and down-to-earth of the two, better prepared to face the facts and make the best of them than Ichigo, who believes that idealism and resolve will get him anywhere. More than once, Renji gets to share in Rukia's role as Ichigo's safety valve and voice of reason.
Take, for example, this post-battle exchange between them. Ichigo's just lost to a force that decimated most of their allies; Renji comes up to him as he broods in the aftermath. The failure is a bitter pill to swallow to Ichigo, who defines himself through his ability to protect his own, and often everyone else, too. Yet Renji calls him on his bullshit and provides a counterpoint to his existential angst. Few people get to say this to Ichigo, or get these sorts of reactions from him.
And that says love to me, rough and raw, but there.
To round off this section, I'd like to bring up one more particular scene.
Kubo Tite frequently uses foils to demonstrate character emotion and motivation. Characters do not hear the most important things directly, but via some suitable messenger.
The scene under inspection is adamantly presented by 'shippers as confirming RenjixRukia or IchigoxRukia, contingent on personal preference. Renji carries her romantically in his arms, whisking her away from a terrible fate and offering words of reassurance while he's at it. It's only a matter of time before she realises he'll always be there for her. Or, Renji delivers a heartfelt speech on how much she means to Ichigo, paving the way for the hero to eventually get a clue and get the girl.
I beg to differ, on both accounts.
Here's Renji carrying Rukia away. Even as they escape, they take the time to hash out a few important details about the whole situation. Please take your time; it's a gorgeous, wrenching and finally clement conversation.
I'm not saying these panels are the single greatest argument for IRR. That would be cheapening a complex and complicated relationship that solidifies and grows as the story moves along. I'll just say that they come damn close, neck to neck with the breathless reunions at the execution stand.
Here, Renji both serves in and brilliantly subverts the foil role. He's doing all I mentioned above in one gruffly tender instance.
I probably don't have to emphasise the pronouns used here. He sets himself and Ichigo on the same line, in the same place, where they both wanted to be: by her side. He knows how much she's given to them both. It's all right for her to lean on them, too. Astenebris once said, he's already decided and accepted that he's doing this together with Ichigo.
There's no possession in his words, nor selfless resignation of Rukia to Ichigo in the future. Ichigo's doing his part by facing Byakuya, and Renji has ceded that burden to him, but as for Rukia, it seems obvious. Whatever comes next, they'll be in it, all three, in unison.
The thing is, they really are.
Because they're fun. Because they're hot. Because it makes sense. Because they're good together.
Bleach characters communicate their warm sentiments in kicks, wallops and headbutts. Ichigo and Rukia especially excel in this, but I will again remind the esteemed reader that they're the main characters, and are therefore entitled to more pagetime. If you look on the right, who's there playing the dual role of Catching the Ichigo and Holding the Ichigo so Rukia can smack some more sense into him?
I'm sure you can tell by now.
A lot of IRR subtext can also be interpreted as teamtext, more indicative of platonic love and comrades-in-arms than romantic/sexual potential. The Six Hearts are all lovely and steadfast: it's a group you can slice any which way and make work. I'm a great fan of them all, separate or together.
However, there are a couple of remarkable things about the three in question.
Item the first: first name, no suffix. This is a tiny cultural thing of unexpected significance: Japanese employs name suffixes to add politeness and distance, and first names are generally only used among friends and family. Surnames soften interaction: a first name cuts to the quick, either rude or intimate. In the case of Ichigo, Rukia, Renji—all calling the others just that—both interpretations may hold true.
Gruff, but polite to his superiors, Renji calls pretty much only Ichigo and Rukia in this way (Rikichi, his fanboy in the Sixth Division, being the one exception).
Conditioned by noble decorum but showing her street rat tendencies on occasion, Rukia employs plain surnames for several people, but again, Ichigo and Renji are the only ones on purely first name basis.
Ichigo, full of teenage attitude, is much freer with people's names (in one infamous instance, he addresses Rukia's prim and proper captain brother as "Byakuya"). He, too, defaults to Rukia's given name from the get-go. Renji becomes the same way in the immediate wake of their fight.
Item the second: touching. Bleach isn't quite as devoid of physical contact between characters as a shounen series could be, but it's still kind of a Big Deal when it happens. 'Ships have been launched by a single hand on a shoulder. If we consider mutual physical contact among the three, I'll bet you the instances come up among the most numerous in the series.
Rukia and Ichigo are surprisingly casual about touching each other, kicking and slapping each other around at will. He carries her funny when there's occasion, and she tucks his head in her lap when he's hurt and hurting. It bespeaks a staggering level of comfort with each other. Renji, too, pretty much only touches the two of them. I'm serious. He seizes both their shoulders in different instances to make an emotional point; he carries Rukia in his arms all around Soul Society; he accepts a friendly shoulder clap from Ichigo.
But why the hell a threesome? We've debated the relative merits of RenjixRukia, IchigoxRenji and RukiaxIchigo at length. Why bring in a third wheel?
Because bicycles are not the only vehicle, said she with tongue in cheek.
Ichigo and Rukia need Renji to bring them down to earth. He's the one most comfortable in his own skin, the stablest and hardiest and gentlest of them. Rukia and Ichigo stand on the edge together, but you can't live your whole life in the wind at the top.
Without Ichigo, Rukia and Renji are too cosy in their familial relationship to ever move away from it. It's quiet and beautiful, but they could languish for the rest of their lives in that sheltered place. Ichigo is the catalyst of change (as Rukia is to him), blowing into the tried and true and making it anew, even if sometimes with far too much sound and fury.
And without Rukia, Ichigo and Renji are lost. She is the gravity centre of both their worlds, wherever they are. They all have their dorky moments, but really, she's the necessary counterweight to all the idiocy Ichigo and Renji are capable of committing together. She needs them to remind her to laugh, and to live life as it comes.
They would all be strong enough and brave enough to live without the others. There are no red strings to bind or to choke here. That they would, and do, choose to stay together is what makes them amazing.
It's a love that doesn't need to ask its name, because it is nonetheless. That is the beauty of it to me. They are not romantic. They simply sizzle with the potential to be—friends, confidantes, partners in crime, comrades in arms, lovers—whatever one wants to imagine them to be.
As Bleach threesomes go, this is one of the better-represented ones. There's a small and rather dormant community,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
ichirenruki, but browsing it back will yield some tasty morsels of 'fic and art.
IRR is also one of the more popular match-ups atspringkink, so rooting through their Bleach tag should turn up some (usually smutty) goodness.
The recs below mostly preclude straight-up porn in favour of stories that either a) consider the dynamics and drama of this threesome or b) are funny. Many of them are also older, so brace for some theories and conclusions jossed by later canon. They're still all good stuff.
Puzzle Pieces byaviss (M) "If anyone asked Kuchiki Rukia how they came to be the way they were, she would admit the fault was completely hers." This is one of the most poetic and powerful looks at this dynamic that I have yet seen, effective in its simplicity.
On the edge byaviss (M) "She knew it had to end; sooner or later they had to return to the real world and pick up the pieces of their lives." Lost in the desert of Hueco Mundo, Rukia deals with her nightmares, with help from Renji and Ichigo. Dark, urgent and lovely.
The Flexible Sword bytenebris (unrated, T-ish, AU-ish) After a return from Hueco Mundo in defeat, the three find a precarious balance together waiting for the future. The story weaves their pain and uncertainty into a wrenching yarn.
You Do, I Do bytenebris (unrated, around T) Rukia and Renji piece a fractured Ichigo back together. This story handles the weight of necessity with a delicate touch, and the stripped style foregrounds the character interplay beautifully.
the curious incident of the dog bytenebris (unrated, K+ or so) Renji knows where he stands. Then Ichigo stirs the soup, as he's wont to do. The power dynamics here are quite compelling.
untitled bytenebris (unrated, K+ or so) Ichigo and Renji discuss Rukia, astutely and hilariously. Hints of OT3, can also be read as RenRuki and IchiRuki.
One Night in Rukongai bymizbean (K+) "Ichigo, Renji and Rukia spend a long night drinking in Rukongai." The author has a subtle and gentle tack on their dynamic, and it really works here. Hints of OT3, but works equally well as a friendship piece.
Strange How the Pieces Fit bytehuberdork (T) "When Rukia met Kurosaki Ichigo, her first thought was: He and Renji would not get along." Rukia watches Renji and Ichigo do their thing, and wonders why.
Possibilities bytofuidol (M) "Ichigo hits puberty, Renji wants to hit something, and Rukia hits the jackpot." This one hits on a few true notes on how things would probably go.
When Literature (and Reasoning) Fails byraynos (unrated, T-ish) The one where Rukia does research, Ichigo and Renji fence with words, and Rukia and Renji walk in through Ichigo's wall. The dorky dynamics of the three are spot on.
The Idiot's Guide to Rescue Situations by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-syndicated.gif)
bravecows (T, AU) "Renji's had better days." Renji's about to be executed for lending his powers to a human, Ichigo arrives in the nick of time, and Rukia saves the day. Kind of. A thing of beauty.
Worries byautophanous (unrated, T-ish) Ichigo and Renji want Rukia to resolve a debate for them. She has other ideas.
Twiggy versus James Bond bycynic_in_charge (unrated, T-ish) "Ichigo and Renji learn why it's a bad idea to drink with Rukia." Wicked Rukia characterisation and delightfully whipped boys.
adults only byincandescens (M) " "So, c'mon," Renji said. "Where's the bars? Where's the brothels?" " The terrible trio, and booze. Wit, humour, and sex in public places.
... Okay, I should probably link to my own 'fic, too.
The Roots of Heaven (M) "Parallel worlds, lost friends, wine, women, dead souls, demons, male bonding, mind games, sex, angst, campfires, metaphysics, thrilling heroics, kindly lies, and Rukia." The long, plotty one with Ichigo and Renji on a road trip to find Rukia after she goes MIA. Takes the scenic route with the threesome, but if drama and slow, thorough build-up are your things, there's plenty of those to be had.
Golden (T) "This is one of the good mornings. Renji wakes up." The short and sweet one in a happier future.
Art of (only) these three (together) is relatively rare in the English-speaking fandom, and I lack the Japanese skillz to properly browse original-language fansites. Nothing overtly shippy here, just a few nice trio pieces. All are worksafe.
Bleach: Ichigo, Rukia, Renji by animetor21
BLEACHed by graffitee
Bleach coloring by jokulhaupar
Bleach: Save Rukia by buuzen
owned by dattebayooo
Red September (Spoken, "September") by Sierra Lorne of Premonition Studios: This is pretty much the Ichigo-Rukia-Renji vid, although it slants the way of the love triangle. Nonetheless, it's absolutely gorgeous. Watch it. Now. (Unauthorised YouTube link here.)
Zombie (The Cranberries, "Zombie") by ullasnullakrusidulla: The huskier song fits the lingering pace of this one. While not as technically impressive as the first one, this is pretty and melancholy.
ichirenruki — what it says on the tin
kurosaki_clinic — general Bleach 'fic
all_for_bleach — general Bleach fanworks
bleach_news — your one-stop shop for the latest goings-on in the fandom on LJ
Notes, The Comeback: I swore up and down I wouldn't quote a song lyric for a title if it killed me. With that in mind, the title is not a reference to R.E.M.'s "Near Wild Heaven". It's a fine song, but wrong for the context. (Instead, it could be a reference to the recurring heaven metaphors in Bleach, to half-wild dogs baying at stars, to pale moons in the night and scratches in the sky, to all that could be if you let the possibilities come and whisper in your ear and take you a little higher. However you like.)
And now, if you have somethin' to say, or any recs to offer that I missed, feel free to hit the comments!
Fandom: Bleach
Pairing: Kuchiki Rukia x Kurosaki Ichigo x Abarai Renji
Author:
hallowdWord Count: ~ 7500 words, whoops
Disclaimer: Bleach is copyright of Kubo Tite, Shounen Jump, Studio Pierrot et al. I own nothing. This is a fanwork for fun, not profit.
Thanks: Long ago,
tenebris made me see this OT3. Much more recently, jaina heartily approved, raynos squeed at the right time, and kawree provided clever translations, pretty pictures, and inestimable support and was a true blue sine qua non. Fabulous acknowledgements, my ladies.Notes: This manifesto follows manga canon, so it's peppered with spoilers up to the current arc (Fake Karakura). Names are given in the Japanese order, surname first. Dial-up users are kindly asked to exercise patience: this post is quite image-heavy. Please click on the thumbnails for full-sized images!
- Quick-and-Dirty Glossary
bankai: lit. "full release"; the fully realised, strongest form of a zanpakutou's power; only a rare few shinigami ever achieve this level
Hollow: dead souls that have lost their humanity and become monsters that eat human souls
reiatsu: lit. "spirit pressure"; the spiritual power and vitality of a shinigami
shinigami: lit. "death god" ("Soul Reaper" in the Viz translation); guardians who guide the souls of the dead to the afterlife and keep watch for Hollows causing havoc
Soul Society: the beyond in the Bleachverse; the spirit world where souls go, and from which they are reborn into the living world. Shinigami reside in Soul Society.
zanpakutou: lit. "soul cutting sword" ("Soul Cutter"); the official weapon of the shinigami, and an extension of their spirit
He's a brave, quick-tempered teenager-cum-hero with immense spiritual power and an attitude to match.
She's a tiny, tough shinigami girl with a scathing tongue and a well-concealed soft side.
And he's a brash shinigami lieutenant, family to her and rival-turned-friend to him, loud-mouthed and loyal to the last.
Together they
1. Teen Angst and Phallic Weaponry: Bleach and the Personal Experience
In this manifesto, I explore the threesome 'ship of Abarai Renji, Kuchiki Rukia and Kurosaki Ichigo from Bleach. I'm a firm believer in equal opportunity and fluid power dynamics, so name order matters squat here. I'll be abbreviating it "IRR" for simplicity and convenience.
Bleach is a wildly popular shounen (boys') manga series by Kubo Tite, running in Shounen Jump since 2001 and adapted into animated form by Studio Pierrot. Both manga and anime are being localised in English by Viz Media. It centers around the exploits of one Kurosaki Ichigo, a boy who can see ghosts, and his
It gets more complicated than that. There's a heroic rescue arc, a dark conspiracy spanning worlds, the threat of a war in the coming winter, and a more deconstructionist rescue arc, all mixed with themes of love (all three Greek kinds, really), integrity and estrangement. The series is full of the battles and improbable armaments typical to shounen, and more characters than you can shake a soul cutter at. Still, it handles the tropes of its genre with verve and grace and even subverts them on occasion. While Bleach is Ichigo's coming-of-age story, the other main characters get their own delicious slices of conflict and growth as well.
Ichigo, Renji and Rukia are all protagonists in the series and share a bond of friendship, trust and camaraderie, however you want to interpret it. It used to be that if you mentioned the term "OT3" in the Bleach fandom, chances were better than not you were talking about this 'ship. I've 'shipped it quietly since 2006. Even though the narrative focus has moved away from all of them but Ichigo lately, there's still a slow but steady trickle of interest in this rash, faithful, abrasive, lovely trio.
It's a common sentiment these days that Bleach is growing a little long in the tooth. The fights are hogging centre stage from character development and the Big Bad's plan of world dominion becomes more confusing by the week. I've stopped minding the pacing issues and turned my interest to what I always loved best: the characters, and the creative genius of the fandom itself.
This manifesto is, to a degree, a product of this laissez-faire attitude. As much as I love the IRR threesome, I know it's purely a fannish match-up. I can 'ship it with unadulterated glee, free of the burden of proving that my 'ship is More Canon Than Yours. However, I will base this essay on canon subtext. This is a lucky OT3 in that there is a relatively solid canonical foundation, if you're willing to dig a little. Let's grab that shovel and see what the fertile ground of Kubo's rich characterisation yields.
2. Dork Trio, Activate: the Characters
On the left, you can observe these three in their natural habitat. Bad shit is about to go down, but Rukia still has time to punch her boys back in line. They mean well, though—as they always do, and she forgives them, if only because they might all be dead quite soon. Their lives are occasionally weird, frequently dangerous, but you quite get the sense they wouldn't want it any other way.Kurosaki Ichigo has always seen dead people. It's a family trait, really. He has an inordinate amount of raw spiritual power, but next to no formal training. His glaring orange hair often earns him snide remarks, so he's learned to riposte with a swift kick in a suitable body part. Despite this impudent veneer, he has a good heart, and courage, kindness and resolve to spare. He has a driving need to protect others, stemming from the traumatic loss of his mother as a small boy. He's also pig-headed, reckless, on occasion dense—and a consummate man of action.
Kuchiki Rukia often provides the necessary brake to Ichigo's full tilt ahead. She keeps both her love and her insecurities close to her chest, but never hesitates to help those in need. She lived in the streets as a child, but was adopted into the Kuchiki noble house when in the shinigami Academy. Rukia is a curious mix of poised, professional shinigami and adorably dorky girl, and by all accounts has a lot more balls than Ichigo. A deep guilt weighs on her heart, but mostly she manages to live in the day. She has sharp wits and quite a bit of emotional acuity.
Abarai Renji is her childhood friend. He accompanied her to the Academy, but they drifted apart after her adoption. Renji blamed himself for letting her go, and strove to surpass her adoptive brother, his own captain, Kuchiki Byakuya, to be able to face her on equal terms again. Concealing his fears behind grouchy glares and devilish smirks, Renji is fierce, stubborn and passionate. Painfully similar to Ichigo sometimes, he's yet tempered by his longer life and maturity. He's an accomplished and well-liked officer, but his first loyalty will always be to those he calls friend.
3. This Ship's a Submarine: The Canon Evidence
The story of Bleach has grown quite convoluted during its almost 400-chapter run. It starts, as they do, with boy meeting girl. While on Hollow patrol in Karakura, Ichigo's hometown, Rukia runs amock of him. She gets hurt trying to protect him and his family from said Hollow, and devises a desperate gambit to transfer her shinigami power to him to save them all.
This launches Ichigo's career as a part-time shinigami, filling in for her while she recovers. They combine power and experience to manage the job, soon developing a profound bond of trust. Rukia moves into Ichigo's closet; he guides her through the perplexing human world. Together, they help each other face personal traumas without even realising they're doing so.
Allow me to offer an example. Ichigo's lost his mother at a young age, and her death still haunts him. On the anniversary of her death, it turns out she was killed by a Hollow that is now after Ichigo's sisters. Ichigo and Rukia dash to the rescue in perfect lockstep while she, with a few well-placed words, demonstrates an insight into him completely disproportionate to their short time together. She knows he hides some sort of pain, but is also well aware it's not her place to tear at it. She merely offers her support, solving their earlier quarrel as she does do. Their unspoken accord is restored in the gaps in the conversation.But you can't stay forever in Eden. Rukia is wanted by Soul Society for the crime of giving Ichigo her power. She is retrieved by her brother, Kuchiki Byakuya, and his second-in-command, Abarai Renji. The estranged friends meet again in rough circumstances. Renji proceeds to beat an intervening Ichigo into the ground, and Byakuya delivers a lethal final blow before Rukia is taken away.
Fortunately even reluctant heroes die hard. Ichigo gears up for a rescue mission with a few friends (Ishida Uryuu, Sado "Chad" Yasutora and Inoue Orihime). Rukia means too much to him that he could let her go: she changed his world, and he'll be damned if he lets a bunch of jerkass shinigami execute her for that.
Meanwhile in Soul Society, Renji and Rukia bicker through the bars of a holding cell. Rukia withdraws behind a sardonic mask, concealing her true feelings about their harsh reunion. Under the banter, Renji is deeply anxious about Rukia's fate. Byakuya should step in for his adoptive sister, but the rulebound captain seems bent on allowing justice to take its course.
The Rescue Rangers break into Soul Society, and the shinigami kick into high alert. Renji is ordered to transfer Rukia into the death row cell to wait for her execution. Here he steps over the line for the first time. He turns back from the brink of leaving her alone, grabs her shoulder and extends a sliver of hope to a girl doomed to die."It's been such a long time... since I last saw her face shining like that.
— Renji, chapter 79, p. 8
His sworn duty would tie his hands, yet he can't sit still. Wavering between love and duty, family and commanding officer, Renji takes the tried-and-true shounen option: he seeks out Ichigo in meaningful armed combat. This fight becomes one of the most emotionally charged in the whole series, as well pivotal to both Renji and the relationship between him and Ichigo. The confrontation ends with Renji seizing Ichigo's collar and begging him to do what he himself can't, to save Rukia's life.
The scene is heartbreaking, but more than that, hopeful for what it galvanises. His defeat renews Renji's resolution: if Soul Society won't help him, then he'll sooner forswear Soul Society than watch Rukia die.Ichigo makes it to Rukia once, but is thwarted by Byakuya's arrival. Yoruichi, Ichigo's guide in Soul Society, spirits him away for a risky endeavour. Rukia's execution is three days away, but it may be possible to reach a new level power in that time. He throws himself in the effort.
Taped back together, Renji arrives at the Very Secret Hideout (do not ask me how) and takes up bankai training beside Ichigo. Obviously something happens in these three days, because for the rest of the arc, the two are parallelled in their attempt to save the girl
He almost manages the latter. Even with his newfound power, he is no match for Byakuya. Defeated, he crumples, bleeding and broken, as his captain demands whether he still expects to rescue Rukia. Renji's desperation practically beats off the pages: he cannot move, cannot breathe, cannot win.
Then the scene switches to Ichigo, struggling to master his soul cutter and achieve bankai. His sword-spirit poses a tart question: "Can you still stand?" In meshing, juxtaposed panels, Renji and Ichigo both pull themselves to their feet and into the answer to both Byakuya and Zangetsu, until we get to this sequence.
"I swore that I would save her... To no one... I swore to my soul!"
— chapter 143, p. 18
I dare you to tell which of them says that. My answer is, of course, that both of them do. It doesn't matter who stands in their way, because they know down to their souls what they have to do. It's cheesy, it's over the top, and it still chills me on a good day when I re-read it. They stand united against the rest of the world if need be, bound by their devotion to this girl. Don't tell me it isn't ridiculously romantic in its sentimentality.
This is the darkest hour of the arc. Renji collapses, while Ichigo's success remains uncertain. Rukia, on her way to the execution stand, feels Renji's life dwindle in her senses. However, the story moves forward, and so should we.
The Soul Society arc culminates at the execution scene. In his Heroic Cape, Ichigo arrives in the nick of time to pluck Rukia from the gallows tree. On the right you can see what I like to call his "I love this girl" face; that fleeting, amazed look that fades into the smirking "Yo". Like, for the barest moment, he allows himself to be moved, distracted by the wonder that Rukia still draws breath.She yells that she doesn't need him to rescue her, and he tells her to shut up, because they've already been through this.
- Ichigo: "Stop telling me to leave you here and run away... it's so annoying! I told you, I don't care what you say. [...] This is the second time now... I've come to save you, Rukia."
Rukia: "I... I won't thank you for this... idiot!"
— chapter 151, pp. 22-23
It's his moment of strength and courage, piercing her quiet resignation to her fate, quickening her again. It's one of the crowning glories of Ichigo and Rukia's bond. Let us move on for a little more.
He proceeds to demonstrate his amazing lack of skill at holding a girl, but doesn't get much further before—guess what—Renji turns up. He's been brought from death's door by Hanatarou, a steadfast, unassuming ally, and Ichigo entrusts Rukia to him before facing Byakuya in battle.
Here we are, then. Let's stop here a moment. Let me lay out this scene for you.
Coupled with the above reunion, this clinches the deal for me. The hope Ichigo awakens in Rukia pours out at the sight of Renji below the execution stand. Sheer elation and happiness breaking through, her face animates for the first time since he, in another apt parallel, told her that Ichigo was in Soul Society.The tender moment is undercut by the Great Rukia Toss, landing us squarely on the flip side of why this trio is awesome. They can go from heartwrenching to hilarious to heroically resolute in two panels flat. In a sense, this scene encapsulates their dynamic; they care, they bicker, they protect, all with the same soaring ease with each other. They say all they need in brief, soulful glances, and linger on the shouty bits because they all know what they really mean.
It's a rough-and-tumble sort of love (often literally), but it holds fast when it must.
Ichigo defeats Byakuya in the climactic clash of the arc, while Renji spirits Rukia to safety. Just as things are looking up, the Big Bad drops down on the lot of them, reveals he's been using Rukia for a nefarious purpose, and then wipes the floor with both Renji and Ichigo as they try to defend her. What matters here isn't whether they win or lose (they do, hopelessly, and Rukia's anguish at their fall is awful and gorgeous). The point is that that they act in unison and with complete confidence in each other. You almost... get the sense that they are bound by more than the mutual desire to keep Rukia alive. Hmm.
After all this, and a touching farewell between Ichigo and Rukia where they demonstrate time and distance won't separate them, Ichigo and his friends go home. Here, I'd like to point out something. In the first page "quoted" on the left, it's Kubo Tite's usual visual tack of getting up close and personal with the characters' faces; namely, Ichigo and Rukia. Those subtle smiles, that understated goodbye; you're supposed to linger there. In the second, the closing shot of the Soul Society arc, they again loom largest in the focus, main characters among protagonists.Still, if you like, Renji is there, always a little to the side from Rukia, with that easygoing grin on his face. It wouldn't take too much—a nudge, a tug, a push. If you like. But let us move forward.
Soon enough afterwards, the plot catches up to Our Heroes again. Ichigo is in a bit of a funk due to the dark side of his powers acting up and generally making a mess of him and his life. There are new enemies and troublesome potential allies afoot. Rukia and Renji come to Karakura as part of a shinigami investigation into a new threat. Rukia manages to punt Ichigo out of his depression, only to have things make a sharp left turn into darker and edgier territory, anyway.
Inoue Orihime, the healer of Ichigo's troupe, is abducted by enemy forces. As she's deemed a traitor due to some nefarious subterfuge, the shinigami in Karakura are ordered not to pursue her. Ichigo protests, Rukia echoes him, but it's Renji who pulls a clever one here.
(Eyes to the right, please.) He seizes Ichigo's shoulder and stops his incensed tirade. Renji doesn't know Orihime personally. Ichigo and Rukia have their respective friendships with her, yet here Renji is subverting a direct command in an attempt to save her, because it matters to someone nearer and dearer to him.Well, and Renji's a big old softie that couldn't stand to see a sweet girl in trouble. That, too. He stops Ichigo here because he knows Ichigo's tactics will not work; and Ichigo, the reckless, wayward hero, steps aside and lets Renji take the lead. The lightning-quick trust that blazed between them in the Soul Society arc is there, but it's maturing into something more grounded and ultimately enduring.
Renji's valiant attempt is foiled, however. The shinigami squad is forced to return to Soul Society. With what amounts to a big fat middle finger to the shinigami command, Ichigo embarks on a private rescue mission with Chad and Ishida.
They don't make it too far into Hueco Mundo, the Hollow realm, when a sand Hollow attacks them—and who should turn up to save the day but Rukia with a conveniently deployed glacier (she gets her ice powers back some time earlier). Renji's in tow, and this time they are working the Heroic Capes. Does your OT3 have Heroic Capes?
Renji and Rukia then tag-team Ichigo in a glorious sequence of panels for his bull-headed insistence to go on alone. They are his friends and allies, Rukia expounds to him, what the hell was he thinking not to wait for them?
Much has been made of Rukia's speech to Ichigo here. I still say: so OT3 it hurts. Rukia and Renji disobey direct orders to come join Ichigo and co. in an illegal endeavour deemed too risky to try. It's stupid, it's brash, and it's the exact kind of loyal, loving idiocy they engage in for each other over and over again. It's also a Six Hearts (the six main protagonists) moment, but it centers on Rukia, Renji and Ichigo in art and in execution. Chad and Ishida provide amusing side commentary, but Rukia's loud declaration brings the emotional punch (Renji helps with the literal one, of course).Meanwhile, Renji is the one to get the musing profile shot, the slight pre-punch smirk shared with Rukia, and the endearingly awkward stare to the side as she talks feelings and loyalty to the young diehard. Their arrival breaks Ichigo's spiral of grump and woe—seriously, he's pissed all through the intervening chapters. As soon as Rukia and Renji show up, he's all dry wit and big goofy grins. Coincidence? I think not.
In any case, the bonding moment is done and Team Awesome hauls ass to the Big Bad's hideout. Once inside the enemy fortress, Rukia does a dumb thing, Renji endorses it, and the five separate to cover maximum ground in their search for Orihime. What follows is a gruelling sequence of battles I won't cover in detail, but one is too important to ignore.
Rukia runs into one of the Big Bad's elite warriors and clashes with him in a desperate, if ultimately self-affirming struggle, emerging victorious even as her lifeblood spills on the floor. Sensing her waning reiatsu, Ichigo turns away from a battle to go to her; at the same, Renji all but loses it in his own fight with another superior opponent. There's something terribly visceral about both their reactions. Their fear for her is in no way rational. It could well jeopardise the greater mission and both their survival. I still find it fascinating that Kubo again chose to underline both their responses to Rukia's supposed death, and once again in ways that parallel each other.
As is to be expected, Rukia does get better. The Hueco Mundo fights are still going on as the manga draws up to the present. The three see each other, but there's time only for the briefest exchanges of confidence and encouragement. Ichigo gets himself into a pickle trying to get to Orihime, and his friends come rushing in in a re-entrance worthy of if not song, at least some more pictorial evidence.
Renji leads the cavalry charge, to Ichigo's shock and surprise, and by the time that Rukia arrives for a grand finish, his resolute glower is back in place. Renji's all brave and boisterous, rather like, I wonder, Ichigo himself in his better moments. Rukia's snappish reminder to go is all that he needs to put the final flourish on the matter. One could see here an echo of how the trio repeatedly works in variations to support each other in the Soul Society arc: Renji and Rukia act in tandem to brace Ichigo for the fight ahead. (It's also a fabulous moment of reconnection for Ichigo and Chad, but I didn't want to stray off topic there.)
Ichigo must save Orihime; Rukia, Renji and Chad will hold the line for him. Even so, the instant of unity seems to be enough.
Even apart, they hold together.
4. The Strongest Shape: The Sides of the Triangle
Rukia is most commonly seen as the linchpin character on which this threesome turns. No matter if this is due to the fandom at large identifying with her female perspective (and hey, two smoking hot redheads doting on you, that's hardly an unappealing angle), or the fact that the Ichigo-Rukia and Renji-Rukia relationships are the ones to get the most panel time, I both agree with and contest the conclusion.
IchigoxRukia is the hero and the strange girl; it's partnership, bickering, kicks to the head and trust springing whole from the ground at the hour of need. It's debt and repayment, forgiveness and healing, hope in hell and love that transcends worlds.
RenjixRukia is the childhood friendship; it's comfort and joy, reliance and faith that endures across the years. It's also loving insults and punches, understanding the misunderstandings and repairing the burned bridges. It may be no grand romance, but it's a constant, a fixed star to guide you home.
RenjixIchigo is largely a fandom beast. They're brothers in arms in the text, going from cocky adversaries to something like fast friends in a shockingly short time. They're a push-pull dynamic of rivalry and one-upping, caustic remarks, blind faith and effortless co-operation all in one.
Rukia and Ichigo are the backbone of the series; their bond is malleable, but undeniable. They are the first two characters we see, sharing the spotlight all through the early run of the series.
There's little that's conventionally romantic about them, yet they are eminently 'shippable all the same. Two people that bond near-instantaneously, live in each other's pockets for two months, and in that time forge a trust and affection that spans both words and worlds. Neither of them is fixed in one role; while Rukia is more often Ichigo's acerbic emotional pinnacle, Ichigo is shown to possess a similar, surprising insight into her feelings. To wit, see the farewell scene on the left here. He'd like for her to go home with him, sure, but her desire to stay in Soul Society (and rediscover her own place there) is paramount. Likewise, while Ichigo's usually the one to don the cape and cue the heroic rescue, Rukia gets to pull his hide out of the fire now and again. Here on the right, she's just iced a bad guy and is now delivering a kind—for her—verbal smackdown regarding Ichigo's stumbling battle prowess. They can be all fire and brimstone at each other, but they both seem to know and accept this. It's all right, because they come through for one another when it counts. They are both prone to feelings of guilt and inadequacy, yet they consistently master themselves for the other's sake.That says love to me, loud and clear.
For their part, Renji and Rukia are family, whatever else they are. Renji's feelings for her run deep, that much is evident, and while Rukia may be more reserved in her affection, it's clear she values him equally. Take a look at her face when she thinks he dies fighting her brother; then another when he returns alive to spirit her away from the execution stand.
Their relationship is wound into the plot of the Soul Society arc, most of their relevant scenes occurring there. Renji becomes so focused on his will to save her that he goes against his own captain, his long-time personal paragon, for her. I've sometimes said Renji never wins a fight because he's too good at losing, bleeding all over the place with his hair down and delivering poetic sentiments on futility and force of will.
Or perhaps it is that he finds himself only in adversity, needing the hardships to grow. As he lies near death after his battle with Byakuya, Rukia's the last thing he tries to grasp.
And Rukia, serene and steeled to her impending death, crumbles at the realisation that Renji is fading, slipping away.
Yeah.
They let each other go once. Yes, I am phrasing it that way. At first glance, it's Renji who releases Rukia when she'd adopted by the Kuchiki. They grow up together in unimaginable misery, clinging together for life and safety and home. Renji makes a mistake in telling her to go, but it isn't his alone. He pines for Rukia, getting lost in his fear that she is too far above him now. Rukia never does a thing to correct his mistake, either, too stranded in her own loneliness.
It takes Ichigo, it takes her near death, to bring them back together. However, once they are, it's a thing of joy and contentment. We don't see much of them after the events at the execution scene, but what we see evinces a return to friendship and companionship for them. Renji grins from behind Rukia as Ichigo & co. depart; he helps Rukia deliver a few bolstering whacks to Ichigo when the kid's feeling blue; he slouches carefree beside her as she explains the plan of the shinigami investigative force; he is as devoted to her as ever.
She remains in Soul Society; tell me that isn't at least partly so she can reforge her bond with Renji and I will laugh. They've been friends, family forever—so long that for the greater part of time, they can just be and be understood. When Rukia believes herself deserving of death, Ichigo cracks her shell, but Renji is the one to drive the point home. She is worthy, and she is precious, to him and to others around her.
That, too, says love to me, softer and sweeter.
Renji and Ichigo's relationship, while superficially a straightforward shounen rivalry, undergoes the most remarkable metamorphosis of the three. (For an excellent snapshot of their dynamic, please see on the left.) On one level, it's a staple of the genre: the hero turns his rival into ally by defeat in combat.That doesn't make the change any less significant.
At first, Ichigo epitomises Renji's failure to save Rukia. He humbles himself and begs the human boy to finish the task. However, he never wallows. There's no bitterness when he joins Ichigo in training. In the days that follow, they discuss Rukia more plainly than at least Ichigo seems to have done with anyone.
- " 'Rukia saved my life. [...] She changed everything. She changed my entire destiny,' he said."
— Renji , on Ichigo, chapter 152, p. 7
That's the most open we see Ichigo in this arc, and it's to Renji, a guy he's known for all of three days. Of course, it is implicit—and explicit in Renji's plea after their fight—that Renji's done the same; confided his reasons for needing to rescue Rukia to Ichigo, as well. Whatever forms there between them, it sure as hell is mutual. It's strong enough to glue them together in the battles that follow, to make them trust each other on nothing more than instinct and a few low words.
They first come together through and for Rukia, but they stick together even without her.
They have a sparking, fractious connection, with shades of what can only be called brotherly rivalry. Renji is the more serious and down-to-earth of the two, better prepared to face the facts and make the best of them than Ichigo, who believes that idealism and resolve will get him anywhere. More than once, Renji gets to share in Rukia's role as Ichigo's safety valve and voice of reason.
Take, for example, this post-battle exchange between them. Ichigo's just lost to a force that decimated most of their allies; Renji comes up to him as he broods in the aftermath. The failure is a bitter pill to swallow to Ichigo, who defines himself through his ability to protect his own, and often everyone else, too. Yet Renji calls him on his bullshit and provides a counterpoint to his existential angst. Few people get to say this to Ichigo, or get these sorts of reactions from him.
And that says love to me, rough and raw, but there.
To round off this section, I'd like to bring up one more particular scene.
Kubo Tite frequently uses foils to demonstrate character emotion and motivation. Characters do not hear the most important things directly, but via some suitable messenger.
The scene under inspection is adamantly presented by 'shippers as confirming RenjixRukia or IchigoxRukia, contingent on personal preference. Renji carries her romantically in his arms, whisking her away from a terrible fate and offering words of reassurance while he's at it. It's only a matter of time before she realises he'll always be there for her. Or, Renji delivers a heartfelt speech on how much she means to Ichigo, paving the way for the hero to eventually get a clue and get the girl.
I beg to differ, on both accounts.
Here's Renji carrying Rukia away. Even as they escape, they take the time to hash out a few important details about the whole situation. Please take your time; it's a gorgeous, wrenching and finally clement conversation.
I'm not saying these panels are the single greatest argument for IRR. That would be cheapening a complex and complicated relationship that solidifies and grows as the story moves along. I'll just say that they come damn close, neck to neck with the breathless reunions at the execution stand.
Here, Renji both serves in and brilliantly subverts the foil role. He's doing all I mentioned above in one gruffly tender instance.
- "You don't have to be the pillar. Got that? Me and Ichigo, we've got stronger shoulders. Why can't you just depend on us for a little while? Take your time, let us carry some of the weight 'til you're strong enough to stand on your own. That's... the whole reason we worked to become stronger. You should believe in him, Rukia."
— Renji, chapter 152, p. 8
I probably don't have to emphasise the pronouns used here. He sets himself and Ichigo on the same line, in the same place, where they both wanted to be: by her side. He knows how much she's given to them both. It's all right for her to lean on them, too. As
tenebris once said, he's already decided and accepted that he's doing this together with Ichigo.There's no possession in his words, nor selfless resignation of Rukia to Ichigo in the future. Ichigo's doing his part by facing Byakuya, and Renji has ceded that burden to him, but as for Rukia, it seems obvious. Whatever comes next, they'll be in it, all three, in unison.
The thing is, they really are.
5. Love Is a Doing Word: Why Ship Them?
Because they're fun. Because they're hot. Because it makes sense. Because they're good together.
Bleach characters communicate their warm sentiments in kicks, wallops and headbutts. Ichigo and Rukia especially excel in this, but I will again remind the esteemed reader that they're the main characters, and are therefore entitled to more pagetime. If you look on the right, who's there playing the dual role of Catching the Ichigo and Holding the Ichigo so Rukia can smack some more sense into him?I'm sure you can tell by now.
A lot of IRR subtext can also be interpreted as teamtext, more indicative of platonic love and comrades-in-arms than romantic/sexual potential. The Six Hearts are all lovely and steadfast: it's a group you can slice any which way and make work. I'm a great fan of them all, separate or together.
However, there are a couple of remarkable things about the three in question.
Item the first: first name, no suffix. This is a tiny cultural thing of unexpected significance: Japanese employs name suffixes to add politeness and distance, and first names are generally only used among friends and family. Surnames soften interaction: a first name cuts to the quick, either rude or intimate. In the case of Ichigo, Rukia, Renji—all calling the others just that—both interpretations may hold true.
Gruff, but polite to his superiors, Renji calls pretty much only Ichigo and Rukia in this way (Rikichi, his fanboy in the Sixth Division, being the one exception).
Conditioned by noble decorum but showing her street rat tendencies on occasion, Rukia employs plain surnames for several people, but again, Ichigo and Renji are the only ones on purely first name basis.
Ichigo, full of teenage attitude, is much freer with people's names (in one infamous instance, he addresses Rukia's prim and proper captain brother as "Byakuya"). He, too, defaults to Rukia's given name from the get-go. Renji becomes the same way in the immediate wake of their fight.
Item the second: touching. Bleach isn't quite as devoid of physical contact between characters as a shounen series could be, but it's still kind of a Big Deal when it happens. 'Ships have been launched by a single hand on a shoulder. If we consider mutual physical contact among the three, I'll bet you the instances come up among the most numerous in the series.
Rukia and Ichigo are surprisingly casual about touching each other, kicking and slapping each other around at will. He carries her funny when there's occasion, and she tucks his head in her lap when he's hurt and hurting. It bespeaks a staggering level of comfort with each other. Renji, too, pretty much only touches the two of them. I'm serious. He seizes both their shoulders in different instances to make an emotional point; he carries Rukia in his arms all around Soul Society; he accepts a friendly shoulder clap from Ichigo.
But why the hell a threesome? We've debated the relative merits of RenjixRukia, IchigoxRenji and RukiaxIchigo at length. Why bring in a third wheel?
Because bicycles are not the only vehicle, said she with tongue in cheek.
Ichigo and Rukia need Renji to bring them down to earth. He's the one most comfortable in his own skin, the stablest and hardiest and gentlest of them. Rukia and Ichigo stand on the edge together, but you can't live your whole life in the wind at the top.
Without Ichigo, Rukia and Renji are too cosy in their familial relationship to ever move away from it. It's quiet and beautiful, but they could languish for the rest of their lives in that sheltered place. Ichigo is the catalyst of change (as Rukia is to him), blowing into the tried and true and making it anew, even if sometimes with far too much sound and fury.
And without Rukia, Ichigo and Renji are lost. She is the gravity centre of both their worlds, wherever they are. They all have their dorky moments, but really, she's the necessary counterweight to all the idiocy Ichigo and Renji are capable of committing together. She needs them to remind her to laugh, and to live life as it comes.
They would all be strong enough and brave enough to live without the others. There are no red strings to bind or to choke here. That they would, and do, choose to stay together is what makes them amazing.
It's a love that doesn't need to ask its name, because it is nonetheless. That is the beauty of it to me. They are not romantic. They simply sizzle with the potential to be—friends, confidantes, partners in crime, comrades in arms, lovers—whatever one wants to imagine them to be.
6. The Fandom, Baby: Resources
- Fanfiction
As Bleach threesomes go, this is one of the better-represented ones. There's a small and rather dormant community,
ichirenruki, but browsing it back will yield some tasty morsels of 'fic and art.IRR is also one of the more popular match-ups at
springkink, so rooting through their Bleach tag should turn up some (usually smutty) goodness.The recs below mostly preclude straight-up porn in favour of stories that either a) consider the dynamics and drama of this threesome or b) are funny. Many of them are also older, so brace for some theories and conclusions jossed by later canon. They're still all good stuff.
Puzzle Pieces by
aviss (M) "If anyone asked Kuchiki Rukia how they came to be the way they were, she would admit the fault was completely hers." This is one of the most poetic and powerful looks at this dynamic that I have yet seen, effective in its simplicity.On the edge by
aviss (M) "She knew it had to end; sooner or later they had to return to the real world and pick up the pieces of their lives." Lost in the desert of Hueco Mundo, Rukia deals with her nightmares, with help from Renji and Ichigo. Dark, urgent and lovely.The Flexible Sword by
tenebris (unrated, T-ish, AU-ish) After a return from Hueco Mundo in defeat, the three find a precarious balance together waiting for the future. The story weaves their pain and uncertainty into a wrenching yarn.You Do, I Do by
tenebris (unrated, around T) Rukia and Renji piece a fractured Ichigo back together. This story handles the weight of necessity with a delicate touch, and the stripped style foregrounds the character interplay beautifully.the curious incident of the dog by
tenebris (unrated, K+ or so) Renji knows where he stands. Then Ichigo stirs the soup, as he's wont to do. The power dynamics here are quite compelling.untitled by
tenebris (unrated, K+ or so) Ichigo and Renji discuss Rukia, astutely and hilariously. Hints of OT3, can also be read as RenRuki and IchiRuki.One Night in Rukongai by
mizbean (K+) "Ichigo, Renji and Rukia spend a long night drinking in Rukongai." The author has a subtle and gentle tack on their dynamic, and it really works here. Hints of OT3, but works equally well as a friendship piece.Strange How the Pieces Fit by
tehuberdork (T) "When Rukia met Kurosaki Ichigo, her first thought was: He and Renji would not get along." Rukia watches Renji and Ichigo do their thing, and wonders why.Possibilities by
tofuidol (M) "Ichigo hits puberty, Renji wants to hit something, and Rukia hits the jackpot." This one hits on a few true notes on how things would probably go.When Literature (and Reasoning) Fails by
raynos (unrated, T-ish) The one where Rukia does research, Ichigo and Renji fence with words, and Rukia and Renji walk in through Ichigo's wall. The dorky dynamics of the three are spot on.The Idiot's Guide to Rescue Situations by
bravecows (T, AU) "Renji's had better days." Renji's about to be executed for lending his powers to a human, Ichigo arrives in the nick of time, and Rukia saves the day. Kind of. A thing of beauty.Worries by
autophanous (unrated, T-ish) Ichigo and Renji want Rukia to resolve a debate for them. She has other ideas.Twiggy versus James Bond by
cynic_in_charge (unrated, T-ish) "Ichigo and Renji learn why it's a bad idea to drink with Rukia." Wicked Rukia characterisation and delightfully whipped boys.adults only by
incandescens (M) " "So, c'mon," Renji said. "Where's the bars? Where's the brothels?" " The terrible trio, and booze. Wit, humour, and sex in public places.... Okay, I should probably link to my own 'fic, too.
The Roots of Heaven (M) "Parallel worlds, lost friends, wine, women, dead souls, demons, male bonding, mind games, sex, angst, campfires, metaphysics, thrilling heroics, kindly lies, and Rukia." The long, plotty one with Ichigo and Renji on a road trip to find Rukia after she goes MIA. Takes the scenic route with the threesome, but if drama and slow, thorough build-up are your things, there's plenty of those to be had.
Golden (T) "This is one of the good mornings. Renji wakes up." The short and sweet one in a happier future.
- Fanart
Art of (only) these three (together) is relatively rare in the English-speaking fandom, and I lack the Japanese skillz to properly browse original-language fansites. Nothing overtly shippy here, just a few nice trio pieces. All are worksafe.
Bleach: Ichigo, Rukia, Renji by animetor21
BLEACHed by graffitee
Bleach coloring by jokulhaupar
Bleach: Save Rukia by buuzen
owned by dattebayooo
- AMVs
Red September (Spoken, "September") by Sierra Lorne of Premonition Studios: This is pretty much the Ichigo-Rukia-Renji vid, although it slants the way of the love triangle. Nonetheless, it's absolutely gorgeous. Watch it. Now. (Unauthorised YouTube link here.)
Zombie (The Cranberries, "Zombie") by ullasnullakrusidulla: The huskier song fits the lingering pace of this one. While not as technically impressive as the first one, this is pretty and melancholy.
- LJ Communities
ichirenruki — what it says on the tinkurosaki_clinic — general Bleach 'ficall_for_bleach — general Bleach fanworksbleach_news — your one-stop shop for the latest goings-on in the fandom on LJNotes, The Comeback: I swore up and down I wouldn't quote a song lyric for a title if it killed me. With that in mind, the title is not a reference to R.E.M.'s "Near Wild Heaven". It's a fine song, but wrong for the context. (Instead, it could be a reference to the recurring heaven metaphors in Bleach, to half-wild dogs baying at stars, to pale moons in the night and scratches in the sky, to all that could be if you let the possibilities come and whisper in your ear and take you a little higher. However you like.)
And now, if you have somethin' to say, or any recs to offer that I missed, feel free to hit the comments!
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Date: 2009-10-07 11:02 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2009-10-08 04:05 pm (UTC)I love this trio. And your writing. KICK ASS.
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Date: 2009-10-08 11:14 pm (UTC)They do deserve the love, though.
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Date: 2009-10-08 04:11 pm (UTC)You know I love this ship and I love your delicious fic for it, and now I love this too. <33333
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Date: 2009-10-08 11:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-08 05:03 pm (UTC)I would also point to The Pleasure Principle (http://accendonoxnocto.livejournal.com/17314.html#cutid1) by
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Date: 2009-10-08 11:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-08 11:57 pm (UTC)One point in your evidence that you made me take a second look at was the Hueco Mundo Rukia "Aren't we your comrades/friends/nakama/whatever other translations are out there?" speech. I've always thought of Renji's "awkward stare to the side" as him kind of distancing himself from the couple's big moment. But now I wonder if his placement there highlights his inclusion in the trio.
Also, "Does your OT3 have Heroic Capes?" was just awesome.
And now I have to make the difficult decision whether to actually do the work I'm supposed to do this evening or to read through all of the recommended fics.
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Date: 2009-10-09 12:18 am (UTC)Heh, I was kind of reading against the text when I mentioned Renji's inclusion--a lot of this manifesto is about alternative interpretation of scenes whose meaning the fandom has already established, really. It's just putting a different spin on the same core ideas. But Renji is awfully prominent in that atmospheric half-page panel where Rukia asks the pivotal question.
That is a dilemma, to be sure. :P
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Date: 2009-10-09 01:22 am (UTC)The icing on the cake, is that you're paperiuni on ff.net! (zomg face) It makes sense since you've written THE BEST and most encompassing IRR fic I've ever read. I'm just still a newbie to lj and forget that the circles can be small even while the internet is so vast and 2 people who blow my mind are actually the same person.
Forgive my fangirling, I really had smart things to say...I swear I did...I've forgotten them now...really...
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Date: 2009-10-09 12:48 pm (UTC)Well, if the smart things make an appearance, I would love to hear those, too. Thank you so much for reading.
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Date: 2009-10-09 02:06 am (UTC)At first, Ichigo epitomises Renji's failure to save Rukia. He humbles himself and begs the human boy to finish the task. However, he never wallows. There's no bitterness when he joins Ichigo in training. In the days that follow, they discuss Rukia more plainly than at least Ichigo seems to have done with anyone.
I think it's interesting that Renji doesn't allow anybody to see what he truly feels about conceding to Ichigo to save Rukia after it's all been said and done. The last line of this paragraph is especially true; and I think it's because Renji also hold Rukia in a special place in his heart -- Ichigo knows this, and therefore unknowingly opens up to Renji about Rukia more than to anyone else.
I really liked how you also focused on the RenIchi aspect of the threesome. Sometimes people forget that this OT3 is not only about two separate Rukia pairings being brought together but is really in the truest sense a triangle, with three sides.
Also I cannot articulate how much I *love* the "Because I swore to my soul" scene paralleling Renji and Ichigo's commitment. And also Renji's battle with Ichigo in SS is my favorite battle so far.
This was a beautifully written manifesto, with clear and excellent diction, great job on it. I enjoyed it so much! I'm glad that I'm not the only one who sees the various dimensions of IchiRenRuki as pretty blatantly obvious in the manga.
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Date: 2009-10-09 01:02 pm (UTC)It is true Renji's perspective doesn't really come up post the rescue. He's almost elided for the rest of the arc. One can only speculate what happened during the Week That Wasn't Shown that falls between chapters 179 and 180. However, it seems to me he's made his peace with it and accepted Ichigo as a friend in the very least. :)
Uhh, while I may joke about 'shipping threeways as a means of solving 'ship debates, I'm not really a fan of doing it solely to avoid one character being ignored or left out. There has to be something more, and Renji and Ichigo have it in spades. (There is, after all, a quite prolific slash following for the boys. Surely they get it from somewhere. *grins*)
I find that IRR is often a sort of shealth pairing for people--they don't actively 'fic or meta it, but are happy enough to read when the opportunity comes up?
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Date: 2009-10-10 12:31 am (UTC)At least in my case that is true. It took me awhile to actually realize that I love IRR :) and then when I went around looking for fics I was surprised that there are so relatively few fanworks. I don't know, I always thought that the most popular OT3 in Bleach would almost automatically be IRR but not many people actively ship it.
I would very much like to see little scenes or snippets at least from the Week That Wasn't Shown. I think it would offer new insight on the IchiRen relationship!
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Date: 2009-10-10 09:31 am (UTC)I think it is the most popular OT3 in Bleach. The fanworks are just really scattered and in most cases on the old side, so one needs to go hunting for them. But compared to some others that come to mind, it's at least got the bare bones of an organised fandom (a comm devoted to it, people listing it as an interest, etc.)
Heh, so would I. But the fandom tends to go with the canon, so not very many fics are set in the SS arc anymore. :)
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Date: 2009-10-10 01:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-10 05:00 am (UTC)Thank you for reading!
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Date: 2009-10-11 08:45 pm (UTC)He sets himself and Ichigo on the same line, in the same place, where they both wanted to be: by her side. He knows how much she's given to them both. It's all right for her to lean on them, too. As tenebris once said, he's already decided and accepted that he's doing this together with Ichigo.
You made me smile widely ^_________________________^
Cause i've read the RenRuki and the IchiRuki opinions about this escene in particular and not agreeing totally with them, beacuse I felt like you. For me Ichigo and Renji were doing her saving together. Ichigo gave her hope by savinf her life, Renji gave her hope telling the truth she wasn't able to see, cause renji knows her since they wer child.
Oooh, marvelous essay, you've made me love those three a lot more and yeah I want to do some art for them, cause I love Renji, Ichigo and Rukia (although I have to admit normally I don't put much attention to Rukia)
KISS!
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Date: 2009-10-14 12:06 pm (UTC)Oh, if I can inspire some fanworks with this, then there wouldn't be a happier person in the Bleach fandom than me. ;)
Thank you.
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Date: 2009-10-15 11:35 pm (UTC)Fade to Black, while first and foremost for me an IchiRuki film, also made me howl with laughter at the OT3 business going on. It's a nice dynamic because I appreciate that all three people GENUINELY care about each other, which is really quite rare outside of twincest-y fandoms.
Oh, also... FIC RECS YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES. Thank you for those.
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Date: 2009-10-16 12:05 am (UTC)I really don't care that much how you slice it, because however you do, it's a flexible and mutual dynamic.
Haha, Renji's "My soul tells me you're not the enemy" line just about killed me. That movie ships everyone if you just keep an eye open for subtext.
Oh, you're welcome. I just hoard links to whatever good stuff I can find.
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Date: 2009-10-20 12:31 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2010-06-07 06:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-07 06:05 pm (UTC)In my opinion, they switch, of course. Perhaps Rukia or Ichigo somewhat more in the beginning, but they're such a balanced dynamic I can't see them becoming very stuck in any given roles.
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Date: 2011-01-13 03:52 pm (UTC)Cause I totally LOVE YOU AND THIS MANIFESTO!
(you basically had me swooning, and laughing, and like 'YEAH')
<3 *is a happy IchiRukiRen shipper starting, like, NOW*
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Date: 2011-01-13 09:37 pm (UTC)Why, thank you very much. Glad to hear it entertained.
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Date: 2011-01-15 05:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 10:52 pm (UTC)Anyway, thank you for your work on this post! It's lovely and well done :)