Weak defence there. Like everyone else said kubo refused to confirm ulquiorra's death.

Which means he has at least thought of bringing him back. His story was not complete. He was the first hollow to gain a heart. The most loyal espada didnt tell aizen about his second phase. He had yet to even master his final attack. As a shounen fan I can tell you Ive never seen a villian unable to use his final weapon correctly unless the author intends to bring him back and show us the correct usage. We never got a back story. We got a picture of a hollow with a heart that extended into the next chapter which might I add had nothing to do with the following chapter. We were all left in a wtf daze. And lastly kubo in over a year has yet to take us to that dome. Is it just me or is the man trying to kill us with suspence. Why else is he detaining the dome scene unless something huge is happening xD! __________________ Point being when deciding to continue on his way to save Rukia, he chose to fight. In effect he has chosen her pride over Rukia's life there. If you want to say he prioritizes Rukia over Orihime by making the decision to save her, by choosing to fight at that moment he has done the very same thinghe has chosen to the prioritize Orihime's pride before continuing on to save Rukia. Note Ulquiorra's own words, "So have you found a reason to fight me?" Previously Ichigo stated he has NO reason to fight Ulquiorra, but now he does? So what was the impetus for change? From their previous interaction and his body language (e.g. Ulquiorra is unlike Yammy/Grimmjow), Ichigo should continue walking away, but instead is the one to initiate the fight. Ulquiorra's choice to bring up Orihime, Ichigo's change, followed by Ulquiorra rhetorical questions indicates strongly that his reason for fighting is over Orihime not because Ulquiorra is stopping him from saving Rukia. In fact Ulquiorra is doing the opposite, he stands in place when Ichigo walks away and just talks. It would be sensible for Ichigo to continue walking (as he does) when Ulquiorra continues to talk, only if Ulquiorra impeded his path would it make sense to fight--unless of course there is another reason he decided to fight. His comment to Nel was in passing and even hints at uncertainty, "Somehow it doesn't look like this guy is gonna let me pass through...". And again, what caused Ichigo to have no reason to fight him to having a reason to fight. He should have every reason to continue walking and disregard Ulquiorra's words. Nothing had changed when Ichigo was walking away besides Ulquiorra mentioning a specific person. Ichigo succumbing to Ulquiorra's goading only strengthens my point. What was the point of Ulquiorra seeking Ichigo out? Did he simply want Ichigo to go back home, or did he think only by fighting and seeing the difference in strength only then would Ichigo turn back. After all, Ulquiorra is a nihilist, and to him it's illogical to fight when you know you cannot win. Note, Ichigo barely knows anything about Ulquiorra or his intentions. In any case, almost the first thing Ulquiorra mentions is that Rukia is dead when they meet. What's Ulquiorra trying to do there? He's trying to goad Ulquiorra to fight by mentioning Rukia, but Ichigo doesn't bite. Seeing that doesn't work, he tries something else. Ichigo never told Ulquiorra that he was fighting him for Orihime's honor. In his entire stay in HM never once did he say that he was there to save Orihime. Ichigo said he was fighting him because Ulquiorra stood in his way. He understood that Ulquiorra was serious and he wouldn't stand aside and let him pass, that's why he fought him in the first place. __________________

I cannot say with absolute certainty that Ulquiorra is coming back. But there are better arguments in favor of his return than against it. In the HM arc hollows were not portrayed as emotionless killing machines, they were very human. And Ulquiorra was the first to receive a heart through Orihime. He showed genuine interest in her and what she did for him was a miracle. Also, we virtually know nothing about him, while Kubo gave a backstory to mostly every Espada. There are a lot of loose ends and Ulquiorra's return can greatly contribute to the story development, and also beat the Kurosaki-kuns out of Orihime. UlquiHime is a very dynamic and interesting relationship that had a very strong connection, and I want to see more of that. __________________ I don't necessarily think it's a long shot. Kubo neither confirmed nor denied Ulquiorra's death, he just laughed and told everyone that we will see. So, we can still hope that he will come back. __________________ It's true he protects all of his friends. But only ORIHIME could reach to him in a way nobody else could,.........cause she's the most fragile and really needs protection. After all only for her he extracted this Vasto Lord Hollow.... I think they are hints about them all over the place and eventually we're gonna get a couple. As for Rukia - she's totally reserved for Renji or even Byakuya.... She and Ichigo share great bond, but is only based on trust and friendship.... you guys are so bad at predicting things!! how on earth can he be with rukia?? they are simply very close friends, because she gave him the power to protect everyone he is greatful. but with orihime, they knew each other for a long time but they were never really close, they have only got a mutual friend and now he risks his life to save her life. with rukia he is very comfortable, he is not that comfortable with orihime, they are not close friends, they are something else. __________________ maaaan, when he was trying to rescue rukia he kept saying that thanks to her his family was saved and he was granted with his powers. it was mostly out of gratitude that he went to save her. and let me remind you, he wasn't gonna go after her until he talked to orihime. after that he made up his mind. when he went to save orihime on the hand, even though the whole soul society was against it, even though noone else was doing anything, he still didnt waste anytime and went after her imidiately. he is more emotional when it comes to orihime.

__________________ Ulqui is unlike any other foe that Ichigo himself has ever faced. Ulqui's general demeanor is more relaxed. His posture while he meets with Ichigo is not threatening, he is very robotic in his style and approach. However, just because Ulqui's body language is hard to read does not mean that his word choice isnt clear, he is there to fight and he intends to eradicate. I believe in Ulquiorra's return. I believe that Kubo-sensei planned his return before Ulquiorra left--that's why Ulqui didn't get a flashback, didn't get to ruminate further on what a heart is (he merely realized the idea as in "oh there!" which is lovely and poetic but knowing Kubo, there's usually more), and why Ulqui didn't throw Lanza del ReLampago successfully (my dear LB7-sensei was fuming about the scene and wondering why Kubo made it look like Ulqui needed bifocals--WHY miss? To only shoot successfully, say I, in the grand shounen tradition). Other reasons why Ulqui will return include that he's a wonderfully exploitable character--his suspicious nature makes him endlessly unfathomable so one may never really be sure whose side he's on, his relationship with Orihime seems to have caught fandom by fire and all artists and businesses love this sort of thing in an audience. Also, Ulquiorra's death was by far the most beautiful death in Bleach I've seen so far but it isn't the closing sentence on the heart theme. Hearts, as far as we understand them in Bleach so far, do not exist merely between a dead friend and a living one, such as in the dynamic between Kaien and Rukia introduced in the Arrancar arc. Orihime spoke of hearts in tower, Aizen spoke of hearts in recent chapters, and the heart theme, like Ulquiorra, I believe, will return again to Bleach. ETA: Aaaaand Alex made me remember two of the other main reasons I believe Ulqui is coming back. 1) because Orihime needs to show off her tremendous powers of bringing back something from nothing (like Hacchi did with Tsubaki). 2) (can't believe I forgot this one), I don't like the idea of a shounen hero having blood on his hands. Ichigo KILLED Ulquiorra against all the codes of civil warfare, when Ulqui was already disabled, and it wouldn't make any sense for Ichigo to atone for that without things being made "all better by the dragonballs." This IS shounen. lquiorra is "too good" to be human. His hollowness is much more fitting for him. I think he will return because he was a really interesting character and (mostly) because of Kubo evasive answer. But I also think that Kubo needs to be really careful with his way of bringing him back. Ulquiorras return, his relationship with Orihime and his new place in Bleachs world when he comes back has raised many expectations among fans, so I think Kubo needs to have a really good plan for him. And I know you have, Kubo, I have faith in you! :D I don't really care how or why he comes back, as long as he does. Oh, and I forgot. He only just found his heart when he died, and I really want Kubo to let him explore that. I don't really like the fact that he never got the chance to show us just what it means for a hollow to gain a heart. Sure, there is evidence that others, like Harribel, Nelliel,

and Starrk have hearts... But we never saw them before they gained their hearts. Ulquiorra was previously a guy who believed everything was meaningless... But he finally took interest in the nakama at the end, or so he said (though nobody else but me seems to want to believe that he meant that). I want to see just what he's like after finding his heart.
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Ulquiorra's death was a great moment in this manga. It was kind of poetic. And, it's also the first time that Kobo show some balls and actually kill one of the favorite Yes , this is Bleach , and it's Ulquiorra . I was thinking the same , I mean if he's alive or what ,because last words were forcing to think that it's not "over" . I would really love to see him alive =P In the end he was...lol , it even looked that they are friends O_O xD It would be nice to see them fight again =) In a fair fight...not some Ichigosuperman =\ I'm crossing my fingers to see Ulqy alive. Afterall , he is/was my fav Espada =( character in the manga, even if he was a "bad guy".

when I read the manga again (the hueco mundo arc)Ulquiorra didnt have any intention in his mind to make Orihime strong but his action, and how he treated her had made her strong. I do believe she has an important role coming up, through bringing Ulqui back or what have you, I think it's going to be epic. I'm ready for her to get a power up! Restored completely destroyed bodies to their previous states! Oh my god! How can you call that weak? No one in the entire Soul Society can do that! Even the medical division!!! SHE is basically a god, allowing the people die or not! Orihime is an awsome character - and has grown throughout the manga/anime. I dont understand how people could dislike her??! Without her in the group - bleach would of finished along time ago... She is the highest power in the bleach universe and if you dont understand rejection/negation/limitation (as quoted by Aizen)... then look it up! X i think that she is the most powerful or very powerful charachter in bleach..Inoue Orihime, becouse her powers attract even aizen,who is stroneger than anyone...so think about it ^^ It's actually blue, but on the anime, they make it into hazel gray i guess what i really wish is for orihime to get more independant tsubaki, her attack power 'migit' says he grows stronger with her anger so if she jus got really angry enough, wat could be the possibilites? she can slice anything? and i want her to not be so ditzy sometimes, and not so cute, a bit more rougher, and why oh

why did the animators give her such a childish voice? i mean its too l8 too complain, but i wish it sounded serious when she serious... :'( this girl has unique powers, she is pretty, she is funny and kind. What else do you want? Rukia is so a tipic anime character... Orihime has the greatest power of everyone. Able to undo the effects on anything that passed trough time. death itself can be undone by her. pair that with her fragility she always ends up in the sidelines always undoing the suffering her friends endure. she often becomes the target because of it as well. I no... she's so minor it makes ma heart break, really! They didnt even include her in the movie! AND i can tell da animators are ichiruki fans, jus noticin small things, like makin rukia appear better in their fillers, or openings/endings... ir mayb im paranoid? o_o' I find Orihime to be the realest person on bleach. I mean come on ur not going to find a gurl who's more like Rukia unless she's gothic or something. *which by the way I love gothic* People go on about Rukia being strong yea she is but she isnt my fav anime gurl. Serena is much more better than her even Yoko, Chidori, Kallen,Orihime too. I find them to be real girls going threw real things. Rukia only cares for ichigo because of kaien I dont see love like others see. Her Battle Strength is low only because she is a pacifist and does not want to fight. Her powers DON'T reverse time, they REJECT(hence the last word in her attack call) reality. As such she has the ability to alter reality and that is what makes her the most powerful of all the characters in Bleach. I've allways liked her, but i'm quite disapointed with her since the most recent chapters... I mean, she's cute, and she's incedibly powerful and she even has compassion for her enemys. But she has these damns inferiority and dependance complexes. I mean, how can she have godly powers and not do anything to stop that terrible fight on top of the dome? I mean, Ishidas's lost a hand and got impaled by a sword, Ulquiorra's dead and Ichigo's gonna be traumatized for life.