I read the entire series in one day, with a nearly unbearable nine hours in the middle when I had to go to work.

This was just fabulous. I love how you manage to add significance to little things we see thoughout canon (Ikkaku's reaction to finding out who Ichigo's teacher was, the way Nemu was dressed, etc.). I also adore your take on the way the whole zanpakutou deal works, and how you made it pretty clear by the end how close Ikkaku was to getting his bankai.

This is definitely one of my favorite Bleach fics ever.