Bleach 535

Another fine chapter this week.  So Masaki was not afraid even as she tumbled down a dark, lonely hole.  She felt someone was looking for her, presumably someone she trusted.  Could it be Isshin and Masaki already shared a bond?  The hollow face she drifts towards is clearly Ichigo's future mask, somewhat unformed.  The image of her floating closer and closer to its gaping maw is powerful and disturbing.

So Urahara and Isshin were not contemporaries.  Interesting.  I see others are already trying to fit this into the timeline of events.  I was glad to see the origins of the vaizard explained.  In order to prevent the individual from committing "Soul Suicide", balance must be restored through artificial means.  Quincy energy to counterbalance shingami, human to counter hollow.  This explains how Ichigo can be the only natural vaizard in existence.  He did not need to have quincy or human energy introduced to counter the hollow and shinigami sides.  He was born with all the elements necessary to create that balance as part of his birthright.

If I had any doubts about Ryuuken's true feelings towards Masaki, the last two chapters have certainly changed my mind.  This man clearly is in love.  He may have been hiding it, thinking it would make things easier for Masaki if she didn't have to deal with unrequited love on top of her practically being forced into an arranged marriage based on her status and bloodline.  Now, with her unconscious and on the verge of damnation, we see the real Ryuuken emerge.  We know they do not end up together.  He must have been very strong to let the woman he loved go her own way.  I hope they at least stayed good friends throughout her life.

Kubo is really showing us things in a whole new light and making us see things from a completely different angle.  We knew Isshin and Masaki loved each other and raised a happy family together.  We never knew they shared this kind of bond.  Isshin gave up everything in a heartbeat to keep her alive and human.  True, he is a heroic man, and as he said, if he refused, he wouldn't be able to look himself in the mirror the next day.  What would be the difference between this and dying to protect someone?  Still, giving up all of his power, becoming a normal human who can't even sense hollows for decades is a huge sacrifice.  I think he was motivated by a little more than a heroic impulse.  Now their souls are quite literally bound together.  How many people can say that?  They had a good introduction, both very impressed with each other and thinking about each other.  The obviously like each other.  Now, they are bound together for life.  I guess it's a good thing that initial attraction bloomed into a deep, true love.