Bleach: Tidbits
Nov. 3rd, 2005 02:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
branchandrootA few character tidbits that didn't quite fit in anywhere else.
The vol 15 omake chapter tells us that the Shinou Academy was founded 2000 years ago, and the Captain-General tells us that he was the one who founded it. Since humans have been around far longer than two millennia, and the division of plus and minus spirits seems to be a basic function, I suspect that shinigami have been around for far longer, too. Their level of organization may well be increasing over time, however, and perhaps their social stratification as well. There are a few things that hint at a far more savage past than the Academy's exams and Divisions' military bureaucracy--the possibility of becoming captain by defeating the current captain with the Division witnessing, for instance, or what Yumichika says about the old way of executing criminals by dropping them into a pit with a Hollow (87.5).
Contrary to such tooth-and-claw traditions, the Academy both shelters its students and inculcates a very institutional respect for the authority of the hierarchy. This shape of organization tells us that Yamamoto is deeply invested in order. This may help explain why he's so unwilling to countenance the independent judgment Ukitake and Kyouraku show in saving Rukia against the apparent will of the Forty-six.
He seems to have a real temper on him, but looks like it takes a lot to bring it out. The very first time we meet him, when he and Renji come after Rukia, he's calm enough, speaks fairly kindly to his brash and careless vice-captain, and even lets Rukia convince him not to finish off Ichigo. Once Rukia is condemned, the stress seems to bring out a real edge, though. He picks a fight with Zaraki, for crying out loud, without batting an eyelash. When Renji goes, without orders, to fight Ichigo and loses, he declares Renji worthless and orders him to be tossed in a cell without treatment. And then says that Renji should be demoted, too. His judgment that, since Renji chose to fight alone, he had a duty to win is considerably harsher than the attitude his actions in the human world displayed--after all, he basically saved Renji's bacon when Renji pushed Ichigo into going ape for the first time and was unprepared for the consequences. On the other hand, after the crisis is over he barely grouses at all about Ichigo bursting into his hospital room like a brass band and calling him by his given name.
Interestingly enough, while Byakuya is undeniably an unspeakable snob, martial ability seems to earn his respect as well as noble blood... if not quite as much as noble blood. In 117, during the fight on the tower bridge, he starts by holding Ichigo in utter contempt, angered to the point of actually growling by Ichigo's temerity in fighting him. He tells Ukitake that Ichigo is a worthless nobody compared to Ganju. As Ichigo demonstrates his increased ability, though, Byakuya seems to calm down and address him more reasonably. Their duel on Soukyouko's mount follows a similar pattern. Ichigo's claim to have reached bankai infuriates Byakuya to the snapping point, but once Ichigo has demonstrated his bankai Byakuya focuses down again and addresses him by his full name. As opposed to various uncomplimentary epithets. Byakuya is quite well-spoken to opponents whose strength he respects, both with Renji and with Ichigo.
Yamamoto
The vol 15 omake chapter tells us that the Shinou Academy was founded 2000 years ago, and the Captain-General tells us that he was the one who founded it. Since humans have been around far longer than two millennia, and the division of plus and minus spirits seems to be a basic function, I suspect that shinigami have been around for far longer, too. Their level of organization may well be increasing over time, however, and perhaps their social stratification as well. There are a few things that hint at a far more savage past than the Academy's exams and Divisions' military bureaucracy--the possibility of becoming captain by defeating the current captain with the Division witnessing, for instance, or what Yumichika says about the old way of executing criminals by dropping them into a pit with a Hollow (87.5).
Contrary to such tooth-and-claw traditions, the Academy both shelters its students and inculcates a very institutional respect for the authority of the hierarchy. This shape of organization tells us that Yamamoto is deeply invested in order. This may help explain why he's so unwilling to countenance the independent judgment Ukitake and Kyouraku show in saving Rukia against the apparent will of the Forty-six.
.
Byakuya
He seems to have a real temper on him, but looks like it takes a lot to bring it out. The very first time we meet him, when he and Renji come after Rukia, he's calm enough, speaks fairly kindly to his brash and careless vice-captain, and even lets Rukia convince him not to finish off Ichigo. Once Rukia is condemned, the stress seems to bring out a real edge, though. He picks a fight with Zaraki, for crying out loud, without batting an eyelash. When Renji goes, without orders, to fight Ichigo and loses, he declares Renji worthless and orders him to be tossed in a cell without treatment. And then says that Renji should be demoted, too. His judgment that, since Renji chose to fight alone, he had a duty to win is considerably harsher than the attitude his actions in the human world displayed--after all, he basically saved Renji's bacon when Renji pushed Ichigo into going ape for the first time and was unprepared for the consequences. On the other hand, after the crisis is over he barely grouses at all about Ichigo bursting into his hospital room like a brass band and calling him by his given name.
Interestingly enough, while Byakuya is undeniably an unspeakable snob, martial ability seems to earn his respect as well as noble blood... if not quite as much as noble blood. In 117, during the fight on the tower bridge, he starts by holding Ichigo in utter contempt, angered to the point of actually growling by Ichigo's temerity in fighting him. He tells Ukitake that Ichigo is a worthless nobody compared to Ganju. As Ichigo demonstrates his increased ability, though, Byakuya seems to calm down and address him more reasonably. Their duel on Soukyouko's mount follows a similar pattern. Ichigo's claim to have reached bankai infuriates Byakuya to the snapping point, but once Ichigo has demonstrated his bankai Byakuya focuses down again and addresses him by his full name. As opposed to various uncomplimentary epithets. Byakuya is quite well-spoken to opponents whose strength he respects, both with Renji and with Ichigo.
