Yusuke Urameshi vs. Ichigo Kurosaki (The Ultimate Showdown)

VS.

The FINAL SHOWDOWN is about to begin and what better way to end BH month by talking about our heroes - Yusuke Urameshi from YYH and Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach? These two encompass everything when it comes to being a hero - Having the power to protect those they care about, have the potential to become even stronger when in times of impending danger, and have a signature move that defines where they're abilities stem from. These two are what make the YYH & Bleach series so interesting - they're well-developed, have a strong sense of what's close to them, and have pretty sick techniques when it comes to seeing their fights. Without further ado, let's begin our BH Season 1 Finale by comparing the following: History, Role in Story, Power/Abilities, Love Interest, Teamwork (New Segment), Legacy, & Fight Record.

History ~ Yusuke

Not much is emphasized in YYH on Yusuke's backstory, but as seen in the picture ~ Yusuke & Keiko have been childhood friends. Keiko was the one who reached out to Yusuke first and this then flourished into a friendship that'll develop into love.  In the past, Yusuke was disciplined by his father by being continuously spanked, but it's not the central focus of Yusuke's backstory. Yusuke's mother, as seen in YYH, is a single 28 year old raising her now 14 yr old son. You can safely say that Yusuke's upbringing wasn't the best and the only glimmer of hope and happiness he had was his meeting with Keiko. 

History ~ Ichigo

Ichigo's character constantly is revolved around his history. He had a loving Quincy mother who died trying to protect her son from a hollow attack, a father who is a member of the Shiba Clan & former 10th division Captain, and two twin sisters who are spiritually aware of Spirits & Hollows. Ichigo was once a happy little boy up until her mother's demise and since then, he constantly is reminded of that day. His father still mourns over her loss, but knows that there's more work to be done in the Kurosaki household. Ichigo is childhood friends with Tatsuki and later makes a promise with Chad to protect him if he does the same for him. Ichigo is renowned fighter growing up and to this day, is still challenged by various delinquents because of both his strength and his trademark orange hair. Since enrolling in school, Ichigo has made many friends - Keigo, Mizuiro, and the love interest herself, Orihime Inoue. 

Role in YHH ~ Yusuke

Yusuke is a 14 year old boy who died trying to save a boy from getting run over by a car. After his passing, he was tasked by Koenma to be a Spirit Detective. And from then on, he has been tasked in ridding the world of evil demons that plague to do wrong to both the Spirit World & the Human World such as Goki, Rando, Suzaku, the Toguro Brothers, Shinobu, & eventually Yomi ~ one of the 3 Kings of Demon World.. His eventual ascension into his Spirit Detective adventures lands him into the heart of the Dark Tournament, his discovery of demon ancestry, and his participation in the Demon Tournament. Along the way, he befriended demons of all sorts as he is the protector of both the Spirit & Human World. However, his discovery of demon ancestry jeopardized his position as Spirit Detective and his eventual ascension in power in the Demon World permanently fired him from his Spirit Detective job. Yusuke's journey from Spirit Detective to being one of Raizen's ancestors soon comes to an end wen he returns to the Human World to confess his love to Keiko Yukimura, the one woman who always had his back.

Role in Bleach ~ Ichigo

In order to protect his family from danger, Ichigo made a pact with Rukia and became the 2nd Substitute Soul Reaper. Rukia's involvement in Karakura had a big influence on Ichigo's life - going from a regular teenager to a Shinigami fighting off Hollows and eventually ~ other Shinigami, Bounts (filler), Arrancar, Manifested Zanpaktou (filler), Reigai (filler), Fullbringers, and, currently, Quincy. Ichigo, at first, was tasked in fighting off Hollows in Karakura Town, but soon Rukia is taken away and Ichigo has to save her before her execution. Later, it would be explained that Rukia's Gigai body holds the Hogyoku, capable of breaking the boundaries of Shinigami & Hollow. It wouldn't be long before Ichigo meets the Visored, who inform him of the Hollow within him. After conquering his Hollow powers & getting stronger, Ichigo's primary enemy became Aizen up until he defeated him after the Hogyoku rejected him. After Aizen's defeat, Ichigo lost all his Shinigami and Hollow powers and was now back to being a regular human. However, the battle wasn't over as Ichigo met a newfound enemy - The Fullbringers. Ichigo was thought to have lost after receiving his fullbringer powers, but Rukia comes back and saves Ichigo by giving him Shinigami powers. Ichigo would soon come to learn of the history behind his mother's death, who is father is, and who the Gotei 13 are currently facing - The Wandenreich. Ichigo's hidden Shinigami powers have resurfaced and it's up to him to once again save the day before the Human World & the Soul Society collapse.

Powers/Abilities ~ Yusuke

Yusuke is incredibly strong since he possesses both Spirit & Demon Energy. Being of Raizen's ancestors, the demon energy within him amplified his power ten-fold to S-class level. His trademark attack is a Spirit Gun, a blue beam of light that is concentrated as a projectile attack. He is also a hand-to-hand combatant, capable of standing toe-to-toe against strong demons like Rando, Younger Toguro, Shinobu, & even his ancestral father, Raizen. With Yusuke's built-up Spirit & Demon Energy, he is able to amplify his Spirit Gun to large extents, fire a Demon Gun (Demonic version of his Spirit Gun), fire a Spirit Shotgun (blast of spirit energy), the trademark Spirit Wave, his Demonic form, and even possesses Sacred Energy. Yusuke's has initially been just a delinquent, but after his death and training as Spirit Detective - he has only gotten stronger and stronger to the point where he truly is the strongest character in all of YYH. 

Powers/Abilities ~ Ichigo

Ichigo, being a Shinigami/Quincy hybrid, is easily one of the strongest characters in Bleach and is considered a special war potential to the Quincy. As a Shinigami, he was capable of both Shikai & Bankai, Shunpo, and being an expert swordsman. However, he also is capable of Hollowification ~ amplifying his power to that of a great or equal extent to a Captain-level Shinigami. Probably the most famous of Ichigo's techniques is Getsuga Tensho, a black wave of condensed spirit energy. After defeating Aizen, he temporarily lost his Shinigami powers and completely lost his Hollow powers, later to learn about Fullbring ~ only later to have it taken from him by Ginjo Kugo. Rukia and various other Shinigami gave Ichigo another opportunity, but Ichigo soon would come to realize that his actual Shinigami power was actually his true Quincy power. He had to find his Asauchi and soon, he has a newfound form of his Zangetsu & his newfound Quincy powers (capable of using Blut Vene). At the heart of it all, Ichigo is a Shinigami/Quincy hybird, the son of Shinigami Isshin & Quincy Masaki.

Yusuke & Keiko (YusKei)

Yusuke & Keiko's relationship throughout YYH has been a dynamic one because from the get-go, they've been relatively close. Since childhood, Keiko reached out Yusuke and it wouldn't be long before their friendship turned into love. When Yusuke was getting pummeled throughout the Dark Tournament, Keiko was at a loss of words, believing that the tournament full of Demons couldn't possible be real. This showcases her genuine concern and worry over Yusuke's wellbeing and Yusuke himself is pushing the limits of what he can/cannot do. During the Demon Tournament, Yusuke had to leave Keiko for a set amount of time ~ will their love flourish for being apart for awhile? After Yusuke's return, Keiko's hair has grown longer and she misses Yusuke dearly. When he reappears, Yusuke not only was knocked back by Keiko, but she kissed him as seen in the picture. Keiko has kissed Yusuke twice now (1st when he was "dead" and the finale). Truly, they do love each other and care for one another's wellbeing. 

Ichigo & Orihime (Ichihime) 

Much like YusKei, Ichigo and Orihime care for each other's wellbeing and want what's best for one another. As seen in the picture, Orihime was close to kissing Ichigo as she explained that if she had multiple lives, they'd all love Ichigo. Ichigo was deeply worried over her "Defection" to Aizen's army, but knew it was all a ploy to garner the attention of the Gotei 13 and instigate a full-on war between the Shinigami & Arrancar. Orihime deeply worries for Ichigo and goes out of her way to heal his wounds. Ichigo was almost kissed by Orihime, hugged from behind, and was cried for after Ichigo defeated Byakuya and almost died by Aizen's hands. Orihime was saved and carried by Ichigo. Ichihime still a long way before they each YusKei level. 

Team Urameshi

This new segment allows me to talk about Yusuke's team - Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, & Genkai. In the Dark Tournament, these 5 had to go toe-to-toe agains the strongest of demons. They persevered and learned not only how strong each other was, but learned to respect one another as teammates and as friends. Yusuke & Kuwabara already knew each other, but Yusuke met Hiei & Kurama when they were antagonists. The 4 soon developed a bond of friendship and rivalry that is to go done as one of the most dynamic groups out there. Genkai is seen as part of the group, but is more of a side-character since she only played a major role in the Dark Tournament. Team Urameshi has gone through hell and back to ensure that everyone is capable of fighting and comes out alive. They're a true family and there's no better word to describe it than that - family.

Team Kurosaki

Ichigo's team consists of Orihime, Uryu, Chad, Rukia, Renji, and, at times, Kisuke Urahara. These 4 all go the same high school and are incredibly close friends. In the past, Ichigo befriended Chad by making a promise with him - you got my back and I got yours. Ichigo and Orihime became friends through Tatsuki, but Orihime's feelings for him matured into love. Ichigo & Uryu are Shinigami & Quincy and thus are rivals, but Uryu has yet to learn of Ichigo's true heritage as a Hybrid. All-in-all, they are all close, worry for each other's safety, and have proven they can stand toe-to-toe against all odds as a team. They are much like Team Urameshu ~ A family.

Yusuke's Legacy

Yusuke's legacy has been a reminder that peace can happen between the Human, Spirit, & Demon Worlds. There can be no meddling so long as no one breaches each other's territory. That is what Yusuke's legacy encompasses. He is both human and demon ~ a mix of both worlds, but his true heritage lies in what he is capable of doing in the future - being all grown up, being together with Keiko, and still be close friends with his own Team. Yusuke's power, growth, and maturity are what define what he has become ~ a normal delinquent who turned into a responsible and well-respected man. He has changed the hearts of humans and demons alike - fostering a future that seems brighter than ever. 

Ichigo's Legacy

Bleach is still ongoing, but Ichigo's legacy will go down as being one of the most beneficial assets to the Soul Society, being a Shinigami + Quincy hybrid, and the one who took down Byakuya, Kenpachi, Aizen, Ginjo, and soon Yhwach. Ichigo is without a doubt one of the strongest characters in all of Bleach ~ garnering both the respect and fear from his peers. Ichigo's devotion to protecting the Human World & the Soul Society is unparallel. Ichigo truly is Bleach's hero and one who'll go down as being Soul Society's savior, peacekeeper, and friend. 

Fight Record ~ Yusuke

Yusuke is the main protagonist of YYH so he's had a lot of fights. His record is as follows:

Yusuke vs. Goki ~ Win

Yusuke vs. Hiei ~ Win

Yusuke vs. Kibano ~ Win

Yusuke vs. Rando ~ Win

Yusuke vs. Suzaku ~ Win

Yusuke w/Kuwabara vs. Toguro Brothers ~ Win

Yusuke vs. Chu ~ Win

Yusuke vs. Bakken ~ Win

Yusuke vs. Jin ~ Win

Yusuke vs. Younger Toguro ~ Win

Yusuke vs. The Doctor ~ Win

Yusuke vs. Shinobu Sensui ~ Win

Yusuke vs Raizen (Round 1) ~ Loss

Yusuke vs. Raizen (Final Round) ~ Win/Unanimous

Yusuke vs. Yomi ~ Loss/Tie

Yusuke vs. Yakumo (Movie Exclusive) ~ Win

Fight Record ~ Ichigo

Ichigo is the main character of Bleach so he's had a lot of fights (excluding fillers). His record is as follows:

Ichigo vs. various Hollows ~ Win

Ichigo vs. Renji & Byakuya (Round 1) ~ Loss

Ichigo vs. Ikkaku ~ Win

Ichigo vs. Renji (Final Round) ~ Win

Ichigo vs. Kenpachi ~ Win

Ichigo vs. Byakuya ~ Win

Ichigo vs. Aizen (Round 1) ~ Loss

Ichigo vs. Ulquiorra & Yammy (Round 1) ~ Loss

Ichigo vs. Dordoni ~ Win

Ichigo vs. Grimmjow (Round 1) ~ Loss

Ichigo vs. Grimmjow (Round 2) ~ Draw

Ichigo vs. Grimmjow (Final Round) ~ Win

Ichigo vs. Nnoitra ~ Loss/Interrupted

Ichigo vs. Ulquiorra (Final Round) ~ Win

Ichigo vs. Yammy (Final Round) ~ Win/Interrupted

Ichigo vs. Gin ~ Draw

Ichigo vs. Aizen (Final Round) ~ Win

Ichigo w/Ginjo vs. Tsukishima ~ Draw

Ichigo vs. Ginjo ~ Win

Ichigo vs. Asguiaro ~ Draw

Ichigo vs. Quile Opie ~ Draw

Ichigo vs. Yhach (Round 1) ~ Draw

Verdict

And the winner of our last BH post will go to...

One of the hardest things to judge and personally, I am 50/50 on this vote. I see the positives and negatives of both sides. I like both characters a lot, but to be fair for a second ~ we have to tackle each subject carefully and cautiously. Both had a pretty bad upbringing, were delinquents, and their fates would soon change. However, one fact still remains ~ Bleach is continuing & YYH is over. That is the biggest clincher in this fight and I think Bleach won because it leaves room for development on our main character. I love YYH's development in characters & powers ~ but it does question whether or not Yusuke will return later on in the upcoming Demon Tournaments or if he still will retain his power after the YYH finale. With Ichigo, he is still there ~ kicking ass & taking names. He just got a new Zanpaktou and we have yet to see what it's capable of whereas we know everything Yusuke is capable of. I do like Yusuke's character a lot, but to be honest - since Bleach is still ongoing, it leaves room to see what Ichigo is capable of now. So this victory, despite me being 50/50 on this decision, goes to Ichigo. 

So who do you think won this final matchup between these two fantastic, powerful, and likable warriors - Yusuke from YYH or Ichigo from Bleach? Comment below and let me know. Thank you so much for following me on this BH journey. This was something I wanted to do for quite some time. There'll be future collaborations with Bleach & other series, just you wait. There'll be a BH Season 2 later on in 2014/beginning of 2015. As always, you are a great audience and you all stay classy now. Please be sure to check out all the BH posts. Bleach won 20-8 against YYH

March BH Posts 

1) Toya vs. Hitsugaya Toshiro

2) Seiryu vs. Rukia Kuchiki

3) Toshin Raizen vs. Nnoitra Gilga

4) Karasu vs. Yumichika Ayasegawa

5) Bui vs. Ikkaku Madarame

6) Elder Toguro vs. Yachiru Kusajishi

7) Younger Toguro vs. Kenpachi Zaraki

8) Shizuru Kuwabara vs. Karin Kurosaki

9) Suzuki vs. Charlotte Chuhlhourne

10) Gama vs. Findorr Calius 

11) Goki vs. Ggio Vega

12) Tsukihito Amanuma vs. Yukio Hans Vorarlberna

13) Yakumo vs. Barragan Louisenbairn 

14) Mukuro vs. Yoruichi Shihoin

15) Yomi vs. Aizen Sousuke

February's BH Posts 

1) Hiei vs. Byakuya Kuchiki
2) Kazuma Kuwabara vs. Yasutora "Chad" Sado
3) Genkai vs. Kisuke Urahara
4) Keiko Yukimura vs. Orihime Inoue
5) Yoko Kurama vs. Uryu Ishida
6) Hiei vs. Sui-Feng
7) Jin vs. Kensei Muguruma
8) Chu vs. Shunsui Kyoraku
9) Minoru "The Doctor" Kamiya vs. Mayuri Kurotsuchi
10) Shinobu Sensui vs. Ginjo Kugo
11) Shishiwakamaru vs. Rojuro "Rose" Otoribashi
12) Yukina vs. Yuzu Kurosaki

There'll be no Fight Night Posts until April 7, 2014. Throwbacks will be moved from Sundays to Fridays! Look forward to a special announcement sometime in April.