Monday, February 9, 2009

Every Last Wave Be My Shield, Every Last Lightning Bolt, Be My Blade- Ukitake Jyuushirou

At certain times, you come across people that you're amazing by them. Maybe its the homeless man you find on the street who used to be a lawyer, but gave it all up. Or maybe it's the teacher who will stay at school till 7 to give extra help, and then move to Kenya to teach something there.

Or maybe it's Ukitake Jyuushirou, 13th Captain of the Gotei 13, a man who has lived for over 2000 years, his every breath suffering from TB. I cannot begin to understand the pain that he must be going through every second; but when we see him, he is always smiling and giving advice, there for not just his squad, but anyone who needs help. He will never allow pain to make him bitter and miserable. Instead, he uses it to make him the kind and peaceful model that he is. This is probably why he is one of the most respected captains of Seireitei.

Now that doesn't mean he's not strong. Because he is. Any shinigami who has survived for more than a few centuries is either a coward who refuses to leave Seireitei and do his job; or is unbelievably strong. Jyuushirou has lived for more than 2000 years, the first and ONLY captain of the 13th squad. Not the mention the peculiarity of his zanpakutou, only shared by his best friend since their academy days- Kyouraku Shunsui. Their swords are the only two double zanpakutos of Soul Society; and its a rumour that Genryuusai Yama-ji; captain commander of Soul Society has banned them from using their bankai; ever. His zanpakuto suits him, and thee shikai command is the title of this blog; which I am too lazy to rewrite.

I guess this is why you can't pity him- he's a strong person; and pity is not something he deserves. I think Shunsui is over than, but even he can understand the pain the his best friend goes through. I think for him, its unease; looking at his best friend, the guy he met when he was a teenager and spend a couple thousand years with suffer on a day to day basis- with nothing you can do to stop it... Shunsui has his own pain as well.

I think that's what makes the two who they are, his sickness and his friendship molded their character. I highly doubt they remember who they were before each other. 15 years in the course of 2000, in nothing. I believe that without this sickness, Jyuushiro would probably be a different person. To him, justice is so important- his justice- take a look at the plans he and Shunsui put together to free Rukia for the right cause; they knew something was wrong, so they acted upon it. Though Ukitake was the first to notice a problem in the situation. They eve stood up to Yamamoto Genryusai-taichou.

For me, it doesn't make a difference whether he is real or not. Ukitake Jyuushiro represents a model that I wish to follow; he is simply a person (real or not) to be in awe of.

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