this is my bankai

Ichigo Kurosaki Ichigo is the son of Isshin and Masaki, and the protagonist of Bleach. Thanks to Kuchiki Rukia, he became an unwilling stand in shinigami, and eventually into a super powered bankai part Hollow fighting machine. His battles are multi chaptered and can get boring, despite their epicness. Despite his gruff exterior, Ichigo likes to protect people and he is just like a sweet little antisocial puppy on the inside. Just don't feed the Hollow. Ichigo has also always had the ability to see ghosts. As a child, he was more outwardly dorky than he is today. According to Tatsuki, he cried when she beat him in martial arts classes, but the appearance of his mother would bring a big smile to his face - no matter how hard she beat on him. These days, Ichigo likes to come across as more badass; his face usually wears a scowl, and his attitude doesn't win points with the teachers. However, his general dorkiness is still there. It's endearing, really.

Masaki seemed to be a graceful, elegant woman, from what we've seen. Ichigo definitely inherited his dense and dorky side from his father. The two might spend a lot of time kicking each other, and Isshin's attitude and view on things usually don't go over well with his son. Perhaps that was what Ichigo was like before his mother died. The two are more alike than either would care to admit, though. Both blame themselves for Masaki's death, despite both knowing about Grand Fisher's involvement. No doubt both changed a lot after she died. Ichigo couldn't remain the same, but Isshin still comes across as silly and carefree and delightfully eccentric.

But then Isshin gets serious and makes us look at him in a new light. He isn't just Ichigo's ridiculous father, he's a former Captain of Soul Society and he will kill Grand Fisher and make it look easy. He gave Ichigo a protective charm upon his return from Soul Society which ended up saving Kon-as-Ichigo from Grand Fisher. Ichigo, meanwhile, has no clue about his father's true identity. No doubt he will be pissed when he finds out. Lots of Isshin's actions are made much more interesting looking back on them with new intelligence. It's definitely no coincidence that he lives so close to another Soul Society exile.

His parenting techniques are still questionable, though. Or perhaps he has enough faith and pride in Ichigo to know that the kid is going to come back alive, no matter what. And let's face it, Ichigo is far too stubborn to die. And no one dies in Bleach, anyway

«   »