User blog comment:Godisme/Shades of the Bond/@comment-28861328-20111202190116

I think people are reading into things way too much lately, and things that have been explained are being completely thrown out the window for crackpot theories. I don't mean that disrespectfully, its just an observation.
 * 1) Kugo did not copy Ichigo's Bankai - This is the theory most easily dismissed. Rukia herself said that Kugo only stole Ichgio's Fullbring, something Kugo himself admitted later on. She also says that he cannot take Ichigo's Shinigami powers, so it is impossible for him to have copied Bankai. The only reason he had Getsuga Tensho was because it was part of Ichigo's Fullbring. Secondly, Kugo has never been stated to have lost his Shinigami powers. Not once. He is a Human and Shinigami, just like Ichigo, which means he can use Fullbring AND Shinigami powers easily. What we are likely seeing is exactly what Kugo has already implied; the fusion of his Fullbring and Shinigami powers.
 * 2) Kugo's new form is not related to Hollow Ichigo - This one seems the most odd to me. Hollow Ichigo is part of Ichigo's Shinigami powers. This was established a LONG time ago. When Ichigo lost his powers, Hollow Ichigo went with them. Kugo can't steal Ichigo's Shinigami powers and that includes his Inner Hollow. People seem to be under the impression that because Fullbring is "Hollow-like", it must originate from his Hollow powers, but that makes no sense. A Fullbring is the result of the person's PARENT having been attacked by a Hollow, which is highly possible since Isshin was a Shinigami and likely was attacked by Hollow's often. Kugo is not fusing with Hollow Ichigo. No way. Just because he looks similar doesn't mean anything. You're reading in to things too much.
 * 3) On Ichigo's appearance change - Again, this has already been explained, but no one seems to notice it. Kugo himself said that Ichigo having gained Fullbring, despite it being taken, had changed upon regaining his Shinigami powers. Those cross marks all over him are a result of his Fullbring. I can site the chapter AND the page to prove this. Further more, you'll notice that when Ichigo first completed his Fullbring, you'll notice that when he first turned his badge into a sword, the same cross mark that is appearing on his body in various places, also formed on the badge. It was easy to overlook because it was only shown once, but Kubo showed the badge's symbol change to that form, further implying it is a result of his Fullbring.

The explanations aren't hard to find if you look in the right places.