ship_manifesto

Title: Strawberry and Red Pineapple (A Fruity Kind of Love)
Author: zealot1138
Pairing: Kurosaki Ichigo x Abarai Renji
Fandom: Bleach
Disclaimer: I own no part of Bleach - copyright to Kubo Tite, Shonen Jump, et al.

The Characters (but really, do I need to explain who are Ichigo and Renji?):

黒崎一護 Kurosaki Ichigo

Birthdate July 15

Age 15 (at start of series)

Height 174 cm (5'9")

Weight 61 kg (135 lbs.)

Debut Anime - Ep. 1/Manga - Ch. 1

Zanpaktou - Zangetsu

Shikai - always in Shikai as a body-length sword with no hilt/handle

Bankai - Tensa Zangetsu black katana

Human - with Shinigami abilities and is a Vizard (has a Hollow's mask and abilities)

Rank - Substitute/Acting agent Shinigami

Ichigo is the 15 year old protagonist of BLEACH. With his naturally orange colored hair and his dour expression, he has grown up facing hardships (such as being bullied) and only has a handful of friends in high school. Ichigo has the ability to see dead spirits. As the series unfolds, we learn that Ichigo's personality changed the day his mother died. A Hollow killed his mother because she protecting Ichigo. This event changed his life and spurs on his innate raison d'etre - to protect. Ichigo will not allow himself to be weak nor allow himself to be a burden on anyone; he will be the one to protect whoever needs it. His destiny changed the day a shinigami, Rukia Kuchiki, entered his life. As a Hollow was threatening Ichigo and his family, an injured Rukia loaned him her shinigami powers to allow Ichigo to save them all. Gaining these powers further enhanced the natural spirit energy Ichigo innately had which made his own shinigami abilities very powerful. Ichigo strives to be stronger for the purpose of protecting people against those dangers.

阿散井恋次 Abarai, Renji

Birthdate August 31

Height 188 cm (6'2")

Weight 78 kg (172 lbs.)

Debut Anime - ep. 15 (very end)/Manga - ch. 51 (though identity not revealed until ch. 52)

Team -

6th Division

Previous team(s) -

11th Division - 6th Seat 5th Division

Zanpaktou- Zabimaru - katana

Shikai - Segmented blade which extends and can be wielded like a bladed whip

Bankai - Hihiou Zabimaru

Soul - Shinigami

6th Division Lieutenant of the Gotei 13 in Soul Society

Renji Abarai is a shinigami and Lieutenant in the 6th Division of the Gotei 13 in Soul Society. He grew up in the 78th District (Inuzuri), along with Rukia Kuchiki, which is one of the poorest and roughest areas of Rukongai. When their other friends died, they both decided to become shinigami by entering the Acadamy for soul reapers. Renji's most dominant physical traits are his red hair and his body tattoos. His long red hair is kept up in a spiky ponytail which later earns him the nickname of Red Pineapple. The design of his tattoos are those of tribal tattoo art and increases as his fighting level and experience increases. They are a reflection of his bond with his zanpaktou, Zabimaru, who also has the tribal art markings on its nue form. Renji is loud and brash and what one would consider rough around the edges, but his education and training has softened his edges with maturity and discipline. One of Renji's biggest regrets was letting Rukia leave when she had been offered to be adopted by the Kuchiki family. Meeting Kuchiki Byakuya that day, Byakuya was the representation of the power that took Rukia away, and also the great power that Renji felt he needed to overcome to be worthy. Renji has since worked hard to become strong enough to surpass Byakuya Kuchiki and to protect Rukia. That is why his battle with Ichigo was incredibly meaningful to Renji's life, but created an intense relationship between Renji and Ichigo that continues from that moment and throughout Bleach today.

Why the pairing?

For me, Renji and Ichigo are such an obvious pairing, it is almost difficult to me to explain why. While their initial encounter centered around Rukia, once their fates crossed, Ichigo and Renji became bound by their souls as brothers in arms, friends (and the ultimate OTP in yaoi fandom).

With Rukia having changed Ichigo's destiny, saving her was his greatest goal. However, Soul Society's declaration that Rukia was to be brought back from the living world for punishment put Renji and Ichigo directly in opposition to one another.

Upon Renji's introduction into Ichigo's world, he's been an integral part of Ichigo's adventures throughout the living world and the afterlife. Renji starts off as becoming what looked to be Ichigo's greatest rival, but in a quick turn, due to their connection to Rukia, they become the greatest of allies. However, this alliance was formed without any real intention of doing so. And yet, tehy have one of the strongest bonds to one another within the Bleach universe.

Keypoints (canon supported):

One of Ichigo's quirks in never being able to remember anyone's name shows the impact Renji had made since Ichigo clearly remembered his first and last name. Even Renji remarks that he's impressed that Ichigo remembered.

Once Renji is defeated by Ichigo, Renji's outlook completely changes. Instead of viewing the substitute shinigami as the enemy, he now recognizes Ichigo's strength and turns to him as an ally. Ichigo is also immediately accepting of Renji. This bond is quickly reinforced by the way Renji even tells his own zanpaktou, Zabimaru, that Ichigo is no longer his opponent.

When Ichigo is training in secret to achieve bankai, Renji decides to join Ichigo so that he can further his training as well. This is the first time we've seen the manifestation of two zanpaktou forms and it happens to be for the two shinigami training together for one common goal.

Later, when Renji is battling Byakuya and he is nearly defeated, he loses hope. Suddenly, he and Ichigo are literally joined by their souls - Renji gathers strength and courage by mirroring Ichigo's resolve. They simultaneously regroup and gather additional strength as they claim their resolve to Rukia as a promise to themselves - a declaration to their souls which is proclaimed in unison. Mind you, these are two beings who have barely spent any time together, and yet, they are joined by their souls.

After Ichigo has rescued Rukia from Sokyoku and left her in Renji's care, Renji relays what Ichigo shared with him during their bankai training as to why Ichigo feels the need to rescue Rukia. I find this moment to be poignant because Ichigo is normally so closed off, and yet he shares a deep sentiment with this man he barely knows and had even tried to kill him. Their bond to one another is that immediate.

Also, this respect is further displayed when Aizen is about to wield a fatal blow to Renji (who is holding Rukia). Ichigo arrives in the nick of time to block the swing, but instead of saying to Renji, "I've come to save you," he actually says, "I've come to help you, Renji." That is an immediate sign of respect that Ichigo has no reason to give, especially considering what a young and brash kid he is. Then, when Renji tries to properly thank Ichigo, Ichigo relieves him of the "burden" by breaking the tension by teasing Renji. There they stand in a life and death struggle against Aizen while trying to protect Rukia, but both are so involved with one another, they forget their immediate danger and even Rukia (who is held so tightly by Renji she can't breathe) that they have a silly argumentative moment.

In the Hueco Mundo arc, once Renji and Rukia have joined the scene, Ichigo immediately relies on Renji to continue the mission to rescue Orihime. Though he's been traveling with Chad and Uryuu, and even though Rukia is there, he immediately calls on Renji.

Then, when Ichigo is the first to try and question what Renji is doing, he is the first to support the redhead. When Renji is about to release a kidou spell to give the group some light, Ichigo was doubtful and tried to question Renji's abilities. When the kidou's brightness is a disappointment and Uryuu and even Rukia poke fun at Renji, Ichigo is the one to give Renji a pat on the back for support and words of encouragemen to make him feel better.

And this is just the manga!

If you include the anime, the pairing is only further solidified through Renji being stationed in Karakura for the Bount arc. Their on-screen relationship rivals those of a couple who've been married for ages. Even at the high school, the teacher and Ichigo's friends Mizuiro and Keigo comment on the likeness between the two which cause them to think they are relatives.

I especially love this shot because both of them kick Keigo right when he's grilled Renji about what kind of girls he likes!!!

and a few more yaoi scenes:

Even in the Bleach animated movies, Renji had a pivotal role in giving Ichigo extra help specifically with letting Ichgo ride Hihio Zabimaru to gain access to the enemy. Most recently, Fade to Black highlighted a very key point in which everyone's memories were erased and no one could remember Ichigo (because Rukia had been erased from their minds). And yet, out of everyone in Soul Society, Renji followed his soul/gut (heart!) in believing this stranger named Ichigo (scene below is when he tells Ichigo this).

Now, while one might want to argue that the anime isn't canon, I'd beg to differ on at least this third film because my understanding is that Kubo Tite was involved with aspects of Fade to Black. Manga artists rarely have access or influence on the animation of their own creations but this unusual circumstance was allowed for Kubo. And if he has approved the direction of such films, that means he must still approve of the soul connection between Renji and Ichigo.

Also, for the current chapters of Bleach that are released weekly through Shonen Jump, Kubo continues to include Renji in the general art pieces he does of the Bleach characters. Of course Ichigo is always featured, but I love that wherever Ichgo is drawn, Renji isn't too far behind.

Why I ship them and why others should:

For me, there is no more natural pairing in Bleach (perhaps aside from Ikkaku & Yumichika) than Renji and Ichigo. They tease one another mercilessly, provoke the greatest ire in the other, and yet will support and rely on the other above the rest of their group.

I love the RenIchi pairing because they are so alike, yet different - kind of two halves of the same coin. They are both loud and brash, but Renji has more wisdom which comes from being older and his shinigami training. I think this is why Ichigo has a tendency to listen to Renji quicker than others. For instance, as seen in the panels above, he tells Renji to run away again with Rukia, but once Renji explains there is no point to run, Ichigo not only agrees but then says let's do this together. Considering Ichigo usually wants to protect everyone himself and usually relies only on himself, his acceptance of Renji as a partner speaks volumes.

Also, in Hueco Mundo, he gets angry at Rukia's idea for the group to split five ways, but when Renji speaks up about not insulting a warrior by worrying, Ichigo shuts up quickly and listens and accepts the rest.

It is as if because Renji is most like him, Ichigo can relate to and ultimately respects him best. Yet, because they are both rash and impulsive, they act alike and tend to argue between themselves.

They love to fight - against others and with each other - verbally and physically.

Their arguments create some of the best (sexual) tension between a pair ever, especially those created for the anime filler arc stories and the movies.

(Diamond Dust Rebellion)

And both of them are HOT. (Stupid statement, but it's how I feel and why I ship them.)

Have you SEEN Renji? OMG, can you look at his physique and those tattoos and not think he is a gorgeous speciman? And that long red hair. DAMN!

Ichigo has the pout and the scowl and his odd sweetness that comes from his innocence is attractive as well.

Kubo seems to reinforce their pairing even with the most random art pieces:

Fun Facts: They both have fruit nicknames - Strawberry and Red Pineapple (Renji even wears a shirt that says Red Pineapple on it - supposedly a prank gift from Ichigo) They both have Rukia as a commonality - Rukia changed Ichigo's life; she is Renji's oldest friend Only their zanpaktou (Zangetsu & Zabimaru) have materialized forms seen by others (not counting the anime Zanpaktou arc)

RenIchi Fandom:

I love when I hear that the Renji x Ichigo -ship has been "so overdone" because the reason it feels that way is because they are the most obvious pairing. And I would like to say there are some great sites and fics and art to further the RenIchi love -

ren_x_ichi

DeviantArt.com - Renji x Ichigo FC
Y! Gallery - IchixRenxIchi
Walking Together - RenIchi fanlisting
FanFiction.net - RenIchi fic

my love for the two was so strong, I created a RenIchi OTP site just for them

(this RenIchi OTP site also has links to a collection of official and unofficial/fanart of the duo plus access to various doujinshi among other OTP goodness)

the RenIchi yaoi fanfic that started it all for me:

Oneshots/Shorts

Of Birds and Bees by figaro_figaro

the "Stuck" series by WriterX

Multichapters

Phantasmagoria by djewellz

Insomnia by Silverkytten

Pull of Destiny by Renjifan

Other Side of the Looking Glass by Spikykun

Long Form series

Amaranthine Series by Akuni

and a general list of RenIchi fic I continually update on my OTP site I honestly can't get enough of the RenIchi pairing and I've had a few people say they've found the pairing recently to be great or have renewed interest based on all the goodness that has been promoted of them lately.

I hope you'll join in this fruity kind of love as well! Special thanks to

megan_moonlight for making me aware of the

ship_manifesto (since I had no clue)!

Thanks to all the RenIchi shippers, all the great fic writers and artists who help spread the RenIchi love and keep me inspired!