Oomph. What a dreary topic it is, death.

My first thought was, We can only pray and hope that Kubo-sensei will do the right thing and make him a captain. I don't suppose we can say for sure yet, can we? 'Cause we haven't ever seen the deaths of any other main shinigami/vaizard nor the presence of afterdeath!arrancar.

Ichigo's is a really unique case, I think. 'Cause the only oncs closest to his situation are the Vaizards, and they were shinigami from the start. As for our young gentleman here, I don't even know if he is part shinigami, totally human, or born with the full powers of a shinigami.

Bah. Sorry if this doesn't answer your question!

Bunnisteffi

I'm kind of confused by the question, because isn't Ichigo already dead? His chain of fate was cut by Urahara and Tessai in order to reawaken his Shinigami powers. His body continues on in Karakura Town because of Kon, but without the mod soul it's a corpse.

Chain cut = dead.
That's the only way you can tell in Bleach and that's what happened. To be a full shinigami, you have to be dead or born as a soul.

So, if Ichigo died, he'd be pretty much doomed.

That was my thought, that he was a human with special circumstances. Since he also now has a inner hollow though I don't know if he would be allowed into SS.

Ichigo's 'chain of fate' was cut by Urahara during the shattered shaft training. According to the manga, when the 'chain of fate' is cut, the person is technically dead. In my opinion, I think he's already dead and his physical body functions like a gigai now. So, if Ichigo died, he won't get reincarnated because he's a shinigami and not a normal soul. His spirit particles will basically become one with SS or something like that (according to Kaien).

Ichigo won't be reincarnated if he die. He's a shinigami. So, his soul isn't an ordinary soul. Kaien told Rukia (sorry I can't recall the chapter. But it's during the 'Rukia vs Espada 9' confrontation) that when they (shinigamis) die, they don't reincarnate. Instead, they become one with the spiritual particles of SS. So, if Ichigo die, he won't be reborn. His death would be permanent. Of course, there are a couple of circumstances that prevents his total death though. First, he's the main character of Bleach. I doubt Kubo will off his male lead. Second, his hollow side have influence over his life. Every time he's close to death, his hollow steps in and prevents it from happening. Third, Orihime's ability can just reverse everything and bring him back from the dead *shrug*

Umm... I dunno. If he died whilst still in his body, I'd assume he'd wake up a bit bewildered in his usual shinigami state, at which point he could go full-time. The question there is weather or not he'd need a konsou...

If he died as a shinigami, he'd be dead dead. One with the force and all that. :P

Thank you ^^

Not a shinigami though. Kaien explained that (I think). Unless the particles that make up SS that are made up of passed on Shinigami then reform somehow to re-enter the cycle of reincarnation.

Hmm, I never thought about Shinigami as being at the end of one "humanish" form of reincarnation.

Ah, that works. But my idea of reincarnation was that something of the "self" travelled through the cycles--and in the case of Shinigami, that was that.

Need to brush up on my Buddhism.

Ichigo's chained of fate was cut, ergo he is dead. Now many of us have specualte that his body functions like a gigai. To what extent then would his body keep going?

I think Ichigo won't be able to stay in his body for long because he is dead. I in my opinion his body will deteriorated because their has to be some effect since he is technically dead.

Kaien clearly says that when they (shinigami as he isn't talking about ordinary souls but them) die, because they are spirit, they desintegrate and become part of the particles that make up Soul Society.

To me this suggested that indeed, being a Shinigami is the ultimate transformation of a Soul as they live for eternity while ordinary Souls pass through the cycle of reincarnation. So if Ichigo died as a shinigami then that would be it for him as he would completely desintegrate. (See Ju-Ni version of chapter 268 page 14)

I hope I explain some of your questions but Kubo hasn't really touched upon this subnect in depth. We only have clues and hints, wether this is intentionally on his part or the subject of death doesn't really matter to the storyline, we don't know. It has never been specified by the manga.

I have never read in manga that Ichigo is alive. Human, yes but not alive. Though ,I must say the human part is arguable because he does have a hollow and that somehow strips him of a human quality.

I don't go by the anime because they are not trusworthy. The only one who can give you the true storyline is Kubo and to get that you must go through the manga.

As I said before the subject hasn't been touched upon much probably because Kubo is saving it for last. I would like to think that he would adress this issue and not leave it haging.

Yes, you are right on the gigai but I said that many have speculated that it functions like a gigai not that it is a gigai. Two diferent things and that is why I speculate that may be Ichigo's body might start to deteriorated over time and he might not have long to live a normal human existence.

Eh, no, Urahara did n't say anything of the sort. You could be talking about what Byakuya said about Ichigo reaching his limit, because in the end he is only human. Though I interpret that as in Ichigo having a limit and not being god. After all even Byakuya has a limit.

I am not a fan of the anime, sorry if I sound like an ass.:/

and although the anime is slow, has bad fight scenes, and can be poorly animated, it is nice when you cant read the manga. Though watching spanish subbed anime because the english subs arn't on veoh is a bit taxing on the mind.