Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-4957813-20131130185522/@comment-1429792-20140913131727

The following two posts were made by users other than myself in another thread and merged here as they are on the same topic.

Ichigo's dual Zanpakuto.

Blakegriffin89

Is Ichigo's dual Zanpakuto that he's recently been using his asauchi (sealed) form or his shikai? I don't remember it saying or implying in the manga that the dual black blades that Ichigo has recently been wielding is his shikai. The reason why I ask is that the manga stated that the asauchi was specially made for Ichigo. The reason being that it was made specially to represent his hollow, or because his hollow and Shinigami powers merged so the asauchi was made specially or something along those lines. I can't remember exactly what Oetsu said to Ichigo, but I remember him saying something about him making the asauchi differently or especially for him. So that made me wonder if the form that Ichigo's Zanpakuto is currently in is his shikai or not. Also, Ichigo's new uniform has a special sheath, with the X shaped straps and shoulder guard, for both the short and long sword. I want to know and discuss what you think about what I posted above. Thanks.

Stefan (Shikai - "Rust & Shatter")

One has to activate a Zanpakutou's Shikai, or Bankai, before one can use its special ability, or any techniques connected to it, so when Ichigo used his crossed blade Getsuga Tenshou, Zangetsu must have been in its Shikai, or Bankai, state. Since the two swords had the same design as they had when Ichigo first held them, it's safe to assume that Zangetsu was forced into its Shikai State at that moment, just like what happened to his old sword.