Bleach (Chapters 22-25)

Chapter 22

What the fuck was that? I noticed that Kubo liked alterning between serious moments and funny ones. I don't have any issue with that, but some may complain that it was not the right moment.

Previously in Bleach. Ichigo faces the hollow who killed his mother and wants to kill him.

Ichigo and Grand Fisher are fighting but Ichigo is careless and weaker than him.

However, Grand Fisher is far stronger than Ichigo.

Grand Fisher is undoubtedly one of the best villain in Bleach.

Chapter 23

"Even the most cool-headed Shinigami have a person whom they could never cut" Well, I don't know if it is true. Nevertheless, Grand Fisher is very clever, it comes therefore as no surprise that he managed to survive for so long.

Kon convinced Rukia to help and save Ichigo. He said that he didn't want to live with Ichigo's family. It is obviously not the true reason. Kon cares about Ichigo and doesn't want him to die.

Kon managed to convince Rukia to go and save Ichigo. She knows she should go but not what to do. This is the first time since becoming a Shinigami that Ichigo is fighting for himself. If she helps him, Grand Fisher might be killed, but Ichigo probably wouldn't be happy.

Pride is bullshit. Who cares about pride if you die? Moreover, if Ichigo loses the fight, Grand Fisher will kill his sisters, so it is even worse. Ichigo's actions are depicted as foolish, careless and bad. I don't give a fuck about Ichigo's pride, I think Rukia should have helped him, not only to save his life, but also to save the life of Ichigo's sisters and to prevent Grand Fisher from killing other innocent people. And that's her Shinigami duty.

Well without any spoiler, it is obvious that Rukia has experienced a friend's death because he fought to protect his pride. And she doesn't want to see another friend to suffer from that fate. This is why she pleads Ichigo not to die.

"I told you. Anger can dull the blade. It's over, Boy! So let's pay respect! Out of all those I've encountered, you were the youngest, the most thoughtless, and the weakest Shinigami of all!" Grand Fisher

Grand Fisher's speech was amazing. "It's over, boy. So let's pay respect!" then he explained why Ichigo sucks. That's badass!

I think Ichigo won the Epic Rap Battle. His verse was similar to Grand Fisher's one but better!

Chapter 24

This is why I used to love Orihime! Yeah I used the past tense. We will get to that one day.

Ichigo managed to beat Grand Fisher.

Remember when Ichigo was wearing a "Speaking is not communication" T-shirt? Ichigo and Rukia's facial expressions mean a lot of things. That's why their relationship is so wholesome.

Unfortunately, Grand Fisher is still alive.

Ichigo wants to kill him but he can't as he is severely wounded. He then lets himself fall onto her.

Rukia thanks Ichigo because he survived and kept his pride intact at the same time. She didn't want to see her only friend die and was grateful to him.

Chapter 25

Ichigo woke up. He was sad that he couldn't kill Grand Fisher. Rukia tried to console him as she told him he was the winner of the fight. However, Ichigo still feels guilty that he couldn't avenge his mother.

Isshin looked awesome for some panels then he went back to being goofy. It is obviously to cheer up Ichigo.

So Isshin smoked just to look cool. Therefore, every year on the anniversary of his wife's death, he smoke in front of her. That's a weird way to pay respect but I can understand.

The classic trick with the rain. Is Ichigo crying? Or is it just the rain? I'm pretty sure that Ichigo is crying. He bears such guilt. He wants people to blame him, to say that it was his fault that Masaki died.

Isshin is usually a funny asshole, but today he looks like the perfect dad to Ichigo.

It's a terrible day for rain. I'm not crying, you're crying.

After Isshin's speech, there is no rain anymore. Rain is a symbol of Ichigo's despair, but now Ichigo stopped feeling guilty about his mother's death. So the rain stops. That's some beautiful symbolism!

That's why Ichigo isn't like other Shonen protagonists. His goal is simple. Ichigo wants to become stronger in order to protect everyone and make his mother proud of him.