Damn, my reading list is long
So, as you may know, I've been working on catching up on Bleach. I'm making my way through this massive manga slowly but surely.
One thing I found interesting is the way the shinigami refer to their zanpakutou. Instead of using "kore," which means "this thing," they use "koitsu," which means "this person." It reinforces the idea that a zanpakutou is an entity unto itself, not just a sword imbued with supernatural powers. They're inextricably bound to their masters, but they have their own minds and personalities.
Another thing I found interesting is that Hisagi Shuuhei is afraid of fighting. A vice-captain is scared of battle. It shows just how strong his spirit is that he was not only able to overcome that fear and become a shinigami, but fight his way through the ranks all the way to a vice-captain's position. And it's not just a fear that he held in the past and managed to tame. It's a fear he still holds. Every time he draws his sword, he's staring his terror in the face. It takes real strength of will to do something like that.
I love Ikkaku/Yumichika, but I also have a soft spot for Shuuhei/Yumichika. :3