Originally posted by: XanBcoo
I would say that Ichigo has the following :
shikai mode - 1st form is the normal one with Zangetsu sword, 2nd form is Getsuga Tenshou.
bankai mode - 1st form is when he fights Byakuya, 2nd form unknown:
No, Ichigo's Shikai has only one form, just like the rest. It is possible that they have multiple abilities though. The same goes for Bankai.
Actually, XanBcoo I think this is a semantic argument because I would argue that there is only 1 Shikai and 1 Bankai release ; however, there are multiple forms for each release. Form is defined as "the essence of something; the mode in which a thing exists, acts, or manifests itself." Whereas, ability is defined as " the quality of being able to do something to accomplish something." In this case, ability is a little broad, but form I think is fitting because of the nature of each Zanpaktu. As far as we know, the Zanpaktu in the essence of the sword and each Zanpaktu has 2 releases (Shikai and Bankai); however, how the Zanpaktu manifests itself can be in multiple forms (exactly how Kensee stated it in his post above).
Furthermore, the translations in the anime (I haven't read the manga translations) states on a couple occasions a reference to form (and more loosely to ability).
Byakuya, "The true form of Senbonzakura."
Byakuya (to Ichigo), "So it was not you in that form who was trying to attack me relentlessly."
I actually tend to agree with Darth's latter statement about a writer and the freedom to make liberal interprutations of his 'rules'.
Orginally posted by: DarthEnder
Whenever the writer wants a character to have a new power he's just gonna add one. If he wants Byakuya's bankai to have 5 different shapes then it will, with no reguard to the rest of all that.
However, in the end I think Kensee hit it on the nail:
Originally posted by: Kensee
Yeah and theres still a lot of the story to be uncovered (hell the Manga isnt that farther off from the anime so even manga readers still have so many unanswered questions). SO just sit back and let it come =D.