Bleach fanwork recommendations: fanfic; fanart; icons, colourbars, & mood themes; doujinshi
A list of recommended Bleach works - fanfic, fanart, and icons, broken down by type and (if applicable) pairing. They're linked in my memories as well, but this is where I get to show the best of the best and give a little blurb about why I like something.
THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BLEACH ANIME AND MANGA - do not read any further if you are not caught up and don't want to be spoiled.
Note: I have no control over the content of these entries; if they are edited or locked after I've listed them here, I won't know right away.
~Fanfic~
Renji/Rukia
Bleed by firstmidnight
Author's summary: Rukia wonders why Renji won't just let her go... and if she wants him to.
Akuni: A look at what might've been going through Rukia's head as she and Renji faced Aizen at the Soukyoku.
Golden Week by katsudon
Akuni: Renji and Rukia at the onsen, with a side of friendly bantering with Ichigo. This is fun and sexy and there's a wonderful piece of art by cacodaemonia that goes with it.
The Sweetest Thing by fine_lights
Author's summary: Renji gets a crash course in Living World Valentine’s Day traditions, with help from special guest stars Kira and Hisagi.
Akuni: Sweet without being sickening, funny without being contrived, and overall a wonderful portrayal of Renji and Rukia fumbling their way toward each other on Valentine's Day.
Renji/Ichigo ~ Ichigo/Renji
Merry Christmas, Ichigo! (part 1) by blind_nights
Author's summary: It's Christmas Eve, and Ichigo gets an unexpected visitor. Renji? What the...
Valentine's Day - Round Two (part 2) by blind_nights
Author's summary: Fifty two days later, Renji makes a return trip. Companion piece to 'Merry Christmas, Ichigo'.
Akuni: This fic (part 1 and part 2) was the first RenIchi I ever read. Thank goodness, because otherwise who knows what I might've read and where it might've taken me! I read this because I'd read a summary for a RenIchi smutfic but skipped it because I thought I might be horrified. But my curiosity was stirred, and since this had a gentler rating I gave it a shot. And then immediately raced back to find the smutfic again, which was...
Threshold by sanoken
Author's summary: Ichigo and Renji have a conversation about traditions, and things go a little far.
Akuni: ...this fic! This was the first fic I saw for the RenIchi pairing. I wasn't expecting to see that sort of thing, and I certainly wasn't looking for RenIchi smut, so I gave it a pass. But after I read blind_nights' fics, I was well on my way down the slippery slope, and I was ready for this. And that, as they say, was that. Irrevocably hooked. And in desperate need of a cold shower.
Forgotten Homework by xxtorturedxx
Akuni: Very funny, and with good imagery.
Dreams and Confusion by chzbrgrodoomfic (link goes to part 1 - the rest are very easy to find in her memories.)
Akuni: Sweet without being cloying. And Isshin is priceless in this.
Awkward by chzbrgrodoomfic
Author's summary: "Rukia's sick. She wants to see you." I wanted to see you.
Akuni: Rukia's role in this made me giggle.
Restless by moshesque
Author's summary: Ichigo considered throwing a pillow at his head, but that would only wake him up, and that would only lead to arguing, which would most likely lead to fighting.
Akuni: Ichigo can't sleep; neither can his annoying houseguest. Hot hot hot!
In Hide and Hair by moshesque
Author's summary: '“Shut up!” snapped Renji, rubbing gingerly at his neck. “You pillock, couldn’t you have grabbed hold of something else?”'
Akuni: Ichigo is glad Renji's been sent to the living world for many reasons. This fic is funny and oh my god hot beyond belief - with bonus points for special use of Renji's hair and tattoos. The tension between the two just pops off the page, and when it snaps... well, read for yourself!
Ichigo/Ishida
Aesthetics and Identity by kiyala
Author's summary: Slightly AU-ish story where Ichigo and Uryuu become famous singing stars XD
Akuni: An AU fic I couldn't resist because it was just so darn well written.
Dreaming of Skies Elsewhere by sublimeparadigm
Author's summary: Three years later, caught between dreams of death and the memory of a kiss, Ishida returns to rewrite his personal history. Ichigo, however, has ideas of his own.
Akuni: The exploration of the characters was fascinating.
Byakuya/Renji ~ Renji/Byakuya
On the Next Go Round by peroxide_fic
Author's summary: Undetermined future fic- Byakuya meets someone familiar.
Stunted Forward Motion (part 1) by peroxide_fic
Stunted Forward Motion (part 2) by peroxide_fic
Author's summary: Sort-of companion piece to “On the Next Go Round”- Byakuya and Renji battle loneliness and rejection.
Akuni: I almost put this series down because of the background IchiRuki (I just don't like it is all), but I'm glad I squinted around those parts because the writing is excellent and the exploration of the characters is interesting.
Hot For Teacher by artemisms
Akuni: I don't usually go for AUs, but this one was too fun and cute to pass up.
~Fanart~
xshelaghx and I came into fandom together years ago. She illustrated several of my fanfics, and does a variety of other unbelievably great artwork. Shelagh's on deviantArt and y!gal for your viewing pleasure. :)
sekra and I are just dangerous together, we really are. Lots of RenIchi, and a bunch of other pairings and series. Check out Sekra's work on deviantArt.
cacodaemonia does the most gorgeous Renji and RenRuki arts. I encourage you to check out her deviantArt.
~Icons, Colourbars, & Mood Themes~
Icons
moshesque makes gorgeous icons, and more people should be made aware of them. The number of fandoms Mosh is part of is a little bit scary, but that just means there's a great selection.
Colourbars
I've made two colourbars, one for Renji & Ichigo, and one for Ichigo & Orihime. Links go to the posts with the preview and the codes.
Mood Themes
I've also collaborated on a Renjigo mood theme with moshesque. Image link takes you to my post with DL links and instructions. Comment there if the links have expired and we'll re-UL.
Preview the entire mood theme.
~Doujinshi~
I scanned one of my favourite RenIchi doujinshi, and kashinosei's group did a great scanlation of it. Check this post for the link to their release of it.
Title: A Long Night (Bleach)
Mangaka: 302
Pairing: Renji x Ichigo
Year of First Print: 2006/08
Type: Yaoi
Status: Released April 11, 2007.
Summary: Ichigo's dreams, or are they nightmares, have just become too much. He needs to forget them. Renji is the only one that can help him forget.
THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BLEACH ANIME AND MANGA - do not read any further if you are not caught up and don't want to be spoiled.
Note: I have no control over the content of these entries; if they are edited or locked after I've listed them here, I won't know right away.
~Fanfic~
Renji/Rukia
Bleed by firstmidnight
Author's summary: Rukia wonders why Renji won't just let her go... and if she wants him to.
Akuni: A look at what might've been going through Rukia's head as she and Renji faced Aizen at the Soukyoku.
Golden Week by katsudon
Akuni: Renji and Rukia at the onsen, with a side of friendly bantering with Ichigo. This is fun and sexy and there's a wonderful piece of art by cacodaemonia that goes with it.
The Sweetest Thing by fine_lights
Author's summary: Renji gets a crash course in Living World Valentine’s Day traditions, with help from special guest stars Kira and Hisagi.
Akuni: Sweet without being sickening, funny without being contrived, and overall a wonderful portrayal of Renji and Rukia fumbling their way toward each other on Valentine's Day.
Renji/Ichigo ~ Ichigo/Renji
Merry Christmas, Ichigo! (part 1) by blind_nights
Author's summary: It's Christmas Eve, and Ichigo gets an unexpected visitor. Renji? What the...
Valentine's Day - Round Two (part 2) by blind_nights
Author's summary: Fifty two days later, Renji makes a return trip. Companion piece to 'Merry Christmas, Ichigo'.
Akuni: This fic (part 1 and part 2) was the first RenIchi I ever read. Thank goodness, because otherwise who knows what I might've read and where it might've taken me! I read this because I'd read a summary for a RenIchi smutfic but skipped it because I thought I might be horrified. But my curiosity was stirred, and since this had a gentler rating I gave it a shot. And then immediately raced back to find the smutfic again, which was...
Threshold by sanoken
Author's summary: Ichigo and Renji have a conversation about traditions, and things go a little far.
Akuni: ...this fic! This was the first fic I saw for the RenIchi pairing. I wasn't expecting to see that sort of thing, and I certainly wasn't looking for RenIchi smut, so I gave it a pass. But after I read blind_nights' fics, I was well on my way down the slippery slope, and I was ready for this. And that, as they say, was that. Irrevocably hooked. And in desperate need of a cold shower.
Forgotten Homework by xxtorturedxx
Akuni: Very funny, and with good imagery.
Dreams and Confusion by chzbrgrodoomfic (link goes to part 1 - the rest are very easy to find in her memories.)
Akuni: Sweet without being cloying. And Isshin is priceless in this.
Awkward by chzbrgrodoomfic
Author's summary: "Rukia's sick. She wants to see you." I wanted to see you.
Akuni: Rukia's role in this made me giggle.
Restless by moshesque
Author's summary: Ichigo considered throwing a pillow at his head, but that would only wake him up, and that would only lead to arguing, which would most likely lead to fighting.
Akuni: Ichigo can't sleep; neither can his annoying houseguest. Hot hot hot!
In Hide and Hair by moshesque
Author's summary: '“Shut up!” snapped Renji, rubbing gingerly at his neck. “You pillock, couldn’t you have grabbed hold of something else?”'
Akuni: Ichigo is glad Renji's been sent to the living world for many reasons. This fic is funny and oh my god hot beyond belief - with bonus points for special use of Renji's hair and tattoos. The tension between the two just pops off the page, and when it snaps... well, read for yourself!
Ichigo/Ishida
Aesthetics and Identity by kiyala
Author's summary: Slightly AU-ish story where Ichigo and Uryuu become famous singing stars XD
Akuni: An AU fic I couldn't resist because it was just so darn well written.
Dreaming of Skies Elsewhere by sublimeparadigm
Author's summary: Three years later, caught between dreams of death and the memory of a kiss, Ishida returns to rewrite his personal history. Ichigo, however, has ideas of his own.
Akuni: The exploration of the characters was fascinating.
Byakuya/Renji ~ Renji/Byakuya
On the Next Go Round by peroxide_fic
Author's summary: Undetermined future fic- Byakuya meets someone familiar.
Stunted Forward Motion (part 1) by peroxide_fic
Stunted Forward Motion (part 2) by peroxide_fic
Author's summary: Sort-of companion piece to “On the Next Go Round”- Byakuya and Renji battle loneliness and rejection.
Akuni: I almost put this series down because of the background IchiRuki (I just don't like it is all), but I'm glad I squinted around those parts because the writing is excellent and the exploration of the characters is interesting.
Hot For Teacher by artemisms
Akuni: I don't usually go for AUs, but this one was too fun and cute to pass up.
~Fanart~
xshelaghx and I came into fandom together years ago. She illustrated several of my fanfics, and does a variety of other unbelievably great artwork. Shelagh's on deviantArt and y!gal for your viewing pleasure. :)
sekra and I are just dangerous together, we really are. Lots of RenIchi, and a bunch of other pairings and series. Check out Sekra's work on deviantArt.
cacodaemonia does the most gorgeous Renji and RenRuki arts. I encourage you to check out her deviantArt.
~Icons, Colourbars, & Mood Themes~
Icons
moshesque makes gorgeous icons, and more people should be made aware of them. The number of fandoms Mosh is part of is a little bit scary, but that just means there's a great selection.
Colourbars
I've made two colourbars, one for Renji & Ichigo, and one for Ichigo & Orihime. Links go to the posts with the preview and the codes.
Mood Themes
I've also collaborated on a Renjigo mood theme with moshesque. Image link takes you to my post with DL links and instructions. Comment there if the links have expired and we'll re-UL.
Preview the entire mood theme.
~Doujinshi~
I scanned one of my favourite RenIchi doujinshi, and kashinosei's group did a great scanlation of it. Check this post for the link to their release of it.
Title: A Long Night (Bleach)
Mangaka: 302
Pairing: Renji x Ichigo
Year of First Print: 2006/08
Type: Yaoi
Status: Released April 11, 2007.
Summary: Ichigo's dreams, or are they nightmares, have just become too much. He needs to forget them. Renji is the only one that can help him forget.