Bleach Manga: Post Pendulum

Well, the pendulum arc has finished and what an arc that was! With long time manga readers like me just subsisting on the stray scraps of plot Kubo-san keeps throwing at us, this was something of a bonanza. I know I was squealing at the last scene of chapter -97, it was just so exciting! Pity chapter 316 and 317 turned out to be a little dull, but I guess it'll pick up pace soon. Anyway, a LOT of things got cleared up and we're finally seeing the big picture now, but there are still a few things I don't get.

The Hougyoku- Okay, when did Urahara put this in Rukia? I don't think he had time when he was leaving Soul Society, and besides it was a long time ago, I don't think Rukia even existed back then. So this only leaves us the time when she was injured in the first chapter. Besides, if Kubo-san has not omitted anything then Rukia should be a semi-stranger to Urahara. The manga shows him approaching her but the anime does not. Now why would he put such an important and dangerous item in her when he had kept it and safeguarded it all these years? Even if Urahara did put it in her at that time, then how did Aizen know?

Ichigo's Vaizard state- So now we know how the Vaizards came to be. It still doesn't explain Ichigo. Why is he one? Is it because he nearly became a hollow during his training with Urahara? But what bothers me about this theory is the first fight he has with Renji, when he's nearly dead and BOOM! All of a sudden he's kicking Renji's ass and would have killed him without thought if Byakuya hadn't stopped him. It seems so uncharacteristic of him, he was so cocky, arrogant and cruel- doesn't that resemble his hollow's nature?

Is he one because he has a Shinigami for a father and a human mother? Did Urahara use the Hougyoku on Ichigo any time? Why would he do something like that? And another thing that bothers me- how important was Kaien, really? Is Ichigo's resemblance to him just a coincidence?

Isshin- Why is Isshin in Karakura? He was seemingly nowhere around during Urahara's exile. Yet they know each other. Was he captain before or after Urahara's time? If he was, then was he exiled as well? On the night Ichigo gained his Shinigami powers, did Isshin know what was happening? Was he not home on purpose?

Masaki- So many powerful people are in Karakura. Isshin, Urahara, Ishida's dad Ryuuken and (possibly) the Vaizards. Not a single person was around to help Masaki when she died. Which is odd considering they seem to omniscient most of the time. Okay, maybe they messed up the one time. Her death also was odd, its like she knew what was happening. Was Masaki really just an ordinary human? And Ichigo too, is he really just 15, or is it possible that he's older? Because Ishida mentions (in the early days, just after their confrontation) clearly - "I knew you had Spirit power the minute you transferred to our school" or something like that. But Ichigo grew up in the same town and was always there - apparently.

Of course, Kubo-san being Kubo-san will manage to pull this off somehow in a very unexpected way, but one can't help but wonder.

*sighs*

I feel so much better now, putting all these thoughts down!