I'm confused about Ichigo staying in SS at the end. Kyoraku mentioned it, but I think that it is awkward for the ending of the story. Kubo likes the idea of Ichigo being the Shinigami Substitute, and I highly doubt Ichigo leaving behind his family and aging differently from them. I think that Urahara would come up with a way for Ichigo to not lose his powers and stay in the real world. I want Ichigo to stay with Rukia, but I just can't help with the idea that they would be separated again.
Anon, relax. What do you think the concept of “gigai” is about? Shinigamis are free to come to the human world (there’s practically a shinigami there everyday. It’s their job). And vice versa, for humans. It’s just like moving on to a different country. Except it’s easier and faster to come and go. It’s actually much better.
I highly doubt Ichigo leaving behind his family and aging differently from them.
Oh. You mean this.
In that case, we have different beliefs and opinion, anon. This is not a concept of different species/creatures (like “Kubera” or similar mangas/manhwuas). It’s about “spirits”.
It’s about spirits and humans.
All humans are spirits, the only difference is that they have a “material body”. This “material body” may grow old and fade away, but never a human’s soul. Actually, Bleach pretty much breaks the concept and importance of Death. A “dead soul” is just reborn as a “human”. A “dead human” simply becomes a “free soul”. It’s simply a never ending cycle.
Anon, I know this is not what you meant, but let me use your ask to tackle this:
This is why I find those who kept on flaunting that “Rukia is an old lady and that the age difference matters” as funny. I mean, I’m also one of those people who is also bothered by age difference (my acceptable range is 2 years only). For me, age difference matters. But it’s not applicable here. Why?
Because age literally doesn’t matter. Age are simply their “time spent” at their own respective residence/ world. A 72 year old human will die and go to Soul Society looking older than a 100 year old boy (10 yrs old) who had been there since he’s a baby. (Rukia who have the body of a 15 year old teenager, is actually older than Ichigo who has the body of a 17 year old. Ichigo assumes she’s the kouhai, so he should get the respect of the “senpai”. Rukia doesn’t like this. This is why she wanted to get “technical” here, and be treated as the “senpai”. The joke is that Rukia is younger, but she’s technically the senpai to be respected by an older Ichigo).
This is why I only use this age difference base on this grounds: mentality, spirit, and body. Age doesn’t matter, if they look like the same age (it’s not weird looking). Age doesn’t matter, if they have the same mentality age. And most importantly,
Age doesn’t matter, if the concept is spirits.
Why? Because spirits are ethereal beings. They don’t have the concept of age like humans do. Spirits are not made of “material” matter that will vanish and pass like a human body or any mundane and earthly things. Spirits - the souls - are always eternal. They merely change forms. And it’s these forms they take, that ages and pass away.
The body may die, but never the soul. The heart that makes a person a person, will not die along with the body. This is actually the value one will realize in Rukia’s fight against Kaien. Kaien’s spiritual body have been taken over but his soul, his heart, isn’t there. It’s with Rukia. The girl who he showed and entrusted his heart to.
[Besides, in Bleach, Spirits simply age 10x slower than humans. What is a 100 yr old spirit is simply a 10 yr old boy in human equivalence in mind, spirit, and body]
Now, for your question, anon. My answer is still this, age doesn’t really matter in Bleach. Sure, his family and friends may grow old and Ichigo will stay the same, but so what? Their essence, their soul, their heart is still the same. Their bonds won’t break just because of body or age difference. There won’t be insecurities either. Ichigo can just say that he’s as old as his friends if he goes to the human world. Besides, I have this head canon anyway that his friends are among the types who are younger-than-they-look (a 40 year old Orihime will only look in her late 20′s etc).
What makes the concept of aging heart-breaking is because you know that when they hit the prime age, they will die and you won’t see them again.
Which is a concept definitely not applicable to Bleach.
Because Bleach is about SOULS AND SPIRITS! They are practically crossing the Borderlines of Death. And Death will only happen if the spirit dies. Not your human body.
They may age in the human world, but if they die, then they will simply move on to Soul Society. Everyone is still happy.
Besides, if people are really bothered by their looks. They can just ask Mayuri or Kisuke. Mayuri can change the sexuality of the Zanpakutos, turn people to zombies, etc. What is to stop him from giving a rejuvenating make over? If you can’t trust Mayuri (for his tendencies), then trust on Kisuke.
I honestly don’t remember any shinigami girls who look old. All of them look quite young, don’t ya think :P