insanity and genius
after reading through the entire manga once more over, I've managed to collect all of the noteworthy scenes of Byakuya and Renji dialogue. Nothing individual, here; just scenes where the two of them interact in some way.
sometimes, I'll sit and painstakingly analyze certain dialogue, but really, you can just be amused at Byakuya's bored sarcasm and Renji's general 'd;alfjsa;ldkj' in response to just about everything Byakuya does. Good times!
Renji: I haven't seen that in awhile. It's undoubtably amazing...! I barely saw the last two movements; I didn't even see when he pulled out his blade or even when he sheathed it when he was done. If I had a hard time taking in on what I just saw... that guy probably doesn't even know what hit him.
Byakuya's got a fanboy. But, really, this is our first glimpse of how much Renji, above all, respects Byakuya. This carries through even to their fight in chapters 140-144; despite defying his captain, Renji still undoubtly holds a sort of grudging respect - even awe - towards him.
Byakuya: Is something wrong, Renji?
Renji: No, sir... It's just there was no reason for you to directly attack him. I could've finished him myself.
Byakuya: Don't be like that. If I'm always the spectator, my skills may degrade.
Renji: *in thoughts* That's not true! You're...
Byakuya's entire tone here seems very dryly amused. Poor Renji's still a bit shellshocked and irritated at the same time, and this dialogue to me portrays Renji's frustration with his captain. Byakuya can flaunt his power so effortlessly, even as Renji simultaneously struggles for even a fraction of a similiar holding.
Renji: ...What...? Kuchiki-Taichou... You're saying...
Byakuya: It's just like what you've heard. I don't want to repeat it.
Renji: Damn...! Escape jail? There's no way! You're sentenced to captial punishment.
Renji: ...Is it really okay, Kuchiki-Taichou?
Ah, our first glimpses of Byakuya's vague discontent in dealing with Rukia, and Renji's worry and concern in her direction. This is also what I consider to be the first foreshadowing of their battle to come in chapters 140-144, and the growing conflict between them.
Renji: Who's that...? Such a powerful presence... He didn't even glance at me...
Byakuya: There is no need. Throw him in jail.
Oh, "apathy." How thee have blessed Kuchiki Byakuya.
Renji: I have always been afraid... always pretending to follow you closely, always pretending to sharpen my teeth, when the truth is, I am... scared to death just treading on your shadow.
This is very possibly my favorite Byakuya and Renji related quote evar. It sums up all of Renji's reservations, hopes, and fears dealing with Kuchiki Byakuya in only a few words. It implies a sense of finality - that Byakuya is the last obstacle, and what will make Renji complete if he can finally climb over that wall of a man. So poetic you are, Renji.
Byakuya: Where are you going, Renji?
Renji: I'm going... to save Rukia.
Byakuya: No, you are not.
Renji: ...I am going!
Renji: Won't you let me pass here peacefully?
Byakuya: I won't say the same thing twice.
~
Renji: Kuchiki-Taichou... your sword can no longer kill me!
Byakuya: ...Look at you. Talking like you have won.
Byakuya: What are you so confident about?
Byakuya: With that level of strength, did you really think you could break my blade?
~
Renji: ...I said your sword can no longer kill me.
Renji: That's not because I'm a vice captain.
Renji: For a long time now, before I joined the Gotei 13, the only person I have always wanted to surpass is you, Kuchiki-Taichou!
The infamous exchange that finally brings their confrontation and animosity to a boiling inferno. Byakuya, as usual, is dry and icy, whereas Renji begins to become indignant and puts all of his strength and effort into his words as well as his actions. Everything about him screams defiancy while Byakuya simply seems coolly amused.
Byakuya: You... Since when have you been able to use bankai...?
Renji: You'll never know, since you never did give a damn about your subordinates.
~
Renji: If you don't let me pass peacefully, I will just defeat you and then go!
Byakuya: That's not possible.
Byakuya: With your ability, you can't even make my knee touch the ground.
~
Renji: It touched the ground! Your knee, that is.
Probably one of the most misquoted scenes of all time, but here you go. I have nothing more to say... other than the fact Byakuya's WTF face was truly remarkable when his knee did, in fact, touch the ground.
Byakuya: Put an end to it, you said...
Byakuya: Very well, then.
Byakuya: The curtain that falls down at the end shall be pulled down by the blade of my sword.
Renji: ...I just told you now; have you already forgotten?
Renji: I know your sword inside and out - the sword to pull the curtain down will be mine!!
~
Byakuya: Did you forget, or did it never occur to you, that I also have bankai?
~
Byakuya: ...Let me tell you about the difference between you and me. It's like the story of the monkey trying to capture the moon.
Byakuya: However close he thinks he is to the moon, it is still just the reflection of the moon in the middle of the lake.
Byakuya: No matter how he struggles to capture that moon, he inevitably sinks to the bottom of the lake at the end to no avail.
Byakuya: Your fangs will never be able to reach me.
Byakuya: Ever.
The exchange where this domain's name comes from, and Byakuya's infamous legend of monkeys drowning. This comes from the famous Buddhist parable Enkou Sokugetsu, and the basic moral of this story is to not recklessly attempt tasks that are impossible. I go more into analyzing this legend in my relationship essays with these two. :)
In sumation, this exchange clearly notates Byakuya... not lack of respect, but lack of confidence in his subordinates and ultimately, Renji. I blame it on his aristocratic nature, truly, though later on, it's fairly obvious he can come to find strength in those of lower class. Renji may one day be one of those as well.
Renji: ...Damn it.
Byakuya: Congratulations.
Byakuya: Your fangs actually reached me.
Ah, here's this first glimmer of respect. Now, given, Byakuya may have allowed it with the thought that Renji was going to die in mind... but! nevertheless, here it is.
Byakuya: You must be wondering why I am still alive.
Renji: No way...
Renji: If you were to die, who would I look up to and strive to defeat?
Renji: Taichou... I...
Ichigo: RENJI!!
Renji: BE QUIET!!
Ichigo: Oh?!
Renji: What do you want...?! I was in the middle of saying something nice...
Ohoho, this is, undoubtedly, my favorite scene between these two... evar. I can only imagine what that "nice" thing Renji was going to say was ;) But, in all seriousness, this is the beginning of perhaps a grudging friendship and at the very least, respect between the two of them. I was quite happy Kubo allowed this, yessum.
