Questions about hougyoku and gigai

[Sewell]

I've always told my friends that the biggest plot hole in Bleach was how a shinigami like Rukia couldn't take out a scrub hollow in Episode 1. But now of course, if her abilities were already deteriorating from the moment we saw her, then it all makes sense.

Second, can anyone explain in more clarity what the hougyoku (that crystal ball) and gigai (faux body) are doing to her? Which is the one that's stripping her shinigami skills? If it's the "special" gigai that Urahara gave her to keep her hidden from Soul Society, then does the hougyoku inside her soul have any negative effect on her? And lastly, when was either put in? I thought Urahara was banished from SS for nearly 100 years.

[Tsukiyomi]

She didn't have the gigai until after she fought the hollow outside Ichigo's house, so thats no excuse for her falling to it. The trouble with the hollow she tried to fight in Gigai form can be attributed to her losing her powers, but in episode one she was still a fully powered Shinigami.

[JayG]

She didn't have the gigai until after she fought the hollow outside Ichigo's house, so thats no excuse for her falling to it. The trouble with the hollow she tried to fight in Gigai form can be attributed to her losing her powers, but in episode one she was still a fully powered Shinigami.


I think her inability to defeat the hollow can be directly tied to her shock at discovering that this human can see the hollow. I'll have to rewatch that first episode, but she was pretty shaken up when she realized that this boy could see what she was fighting.

Of course, now, we also know that Ichigo just happen to remind Rukia of Kaien, so that too could have affected her psyche.

Not only did she see a human who can see hollows, he also looked and reminded her of Kaien.

[archaned]

Also she was caught off guard and had trouble sensing spirit energy
because of Ichigo's reitsu.

I think her inability to defeat the hollow can be directly tied to her shock at discovering that this human can see the hollow. I'll have to rewatch that first episode, but she was pretty shaken up when she realized that this boy could see what she was fighting.

Of course, now, we also know that Ichigo just happen to remind Rukia of Kaien, so that too could have affected her psyche.

Not only did she see a human who can see hollows, he also looked and reminded her of Kaien.

[jonat3]

It's the gigai that makes rukia lose her powers. The gigais are used to trace shinigami, but Urahara made it that it's untracable. Even so, shinigami are still recognizable by their red spirit threads, so rukia had to turn into a human through the gigai to become truly untracable.

A hellmoth recognized rukia, though (i assume it saw she was a shinigami and the description fit). That's how they found rukia.

About the time when the hougyoku was placed in her, most believe it was at the same time as when Urahara gave the gigai. But this line makes me doubt that:

Aizen: "When i discovered this, you had already gone missing in the real world."

That line says Aizen found out that rukia had the hougyoku and that he didn't accomplish that because she went missing. So rukia may have had the hougyoku before she even met ichigo.

[TGC]

She she definitely obtained the hougyoku before she met Ichigo, Urahara, created it about the same time he left S.S., which was a loooong time ago. Seeing as how it was a dangerous creation he tried to destroy it but couldn't. That's when he inserted it into Rukia. Aizen figured that out later, and learned that she was in the human world. That's when Urahara gave her the Gigai, which drains your shinigami powers, and turns you into a human. This would hide Rukia, and the hougyoku's whereabouts.

[GSurge]

No, that's going too far.

The special gigai had the hougyoku in it. She did not have it inside her prior to meeting Ichigo.

[jonat3]

No, that's going too far.

The special gigai had the hougyoku in it. She did not have it inside her prior to meeting Ichigo.

I thought that too in the beginning, until i actually began reading back. Nowhere is it explicitly stated that urahara did it at the same time as the gigai. Also, Aizen's statements himself imply that it's been hidden in rukia prior to meeting Ichigo.

[Code]

Was there ever a reason to have the gigai before transferring her powers?

[blazingshadow]

urahara probably planned the whole thing with the hollow of the first episode. he knew aizen was looking for it so he hid it within rukia and gave her the gigai to finish hiding it.

[Tsukiyomi]

I think her inability to defeat the hollow can be directly tied to her shock at discovering that this human can see the hollow. I'll have to rewatch that first episode, but she was pretty shaken up when she realized that this boy could see what she was fighting.

Of course, now, we also know that Ichigo just happen to remind Rukia of Kaien, so that too could have affected her psyche.

Not only did she see a human who can see hollows, he also looked and reminded her of Kaien.

It shouldn't matter, she was a shinigami with atleast a few decades of training, Ichigo just had his sword for a few seconds without any prior knowledge on sword fighting techniques or anything about shinigami and he destroyed it in like 8 seconds, she shouldn't have had trouble with it unless she was drunk and her arms were tied behind her back.

[blazingshadow]

so probably she was powered down by the hougyoku or some kidou after all

[Tsukiyomi]

so probably she was powered down by the hougyoku or some kidou after all

If anything the hogyoku should have made her stronger, we've been told nothing to indicate it can do anything to decrease someones power.

[9Tail-Hokage]

It shouldn't matter, she was a shinigami with atleast a few decades of training, Ichigo just had his sword for a few seconds without any prior knowledge on sword fighting techniques or anything about shinigami and he destroyed it in like 8 seconds, she shouldn't have had trouble with it unless she was drunk and her arms were tied behind her back.
That doesn't make Rukia look at all competent now does it...?:oh

[Tsukiyomi]

That doesn't make Rukia look at all competent now does it...?:oh

No it doesn't, it makes her look like a failure.

[reepa]

So I take it this gigai and gougyoku isn't fully explained in the manga? (surely if it is then u manga readers better fill us in) but if not, a plot whole? Or maybe it's just not being mentioned untill a long time away from now as the story progresses.

[blazingshadow]

it's still a mystery in the manga. we can only guess right now.

If anything the hogyoku should have made her stronger, we've been told nothing to indicate it can do anything to decrease someones power.
not decrease but interfere with her powers. like the thing was in the way of her using her maximum reiatsu like with renji and the way his powers are limited in the human world.

[Tsukiyomi]

not decrease but interfere with her powers. like the thing was in the way of her using her maximum reiatsu like with renji and the way his powers are limited in the human world.

Renji willingly limits his powers in the real world as do all the other captains and vice-captains.

Until I hear something to indicate that the Hougyoku can have any effect on her powers positive or negative I'm sticking by my 'she should have been able to take that hollow' statement.

[Code]

Renji willingly limits his powers in the real world as do all the other captains and vice-captains.

Until I hear something to indicate that the Hougyoku can have any effect on her powers positive or negative I'm sticking by my 'she should have been able to take that hollow' statement.
Wasn't she distracted by Ichigo and was already injured before actually properly fighting?

[Skorpion]

Rukia never actually fought the hollow, she didn't even know it was there until it attacked Yuzu and Karin (which is the first thing that surprised her), because of the interference of Ichigo's high reiatsu.
When she tried to fight it, Ichigo got in her way and broke out of the binding spell that she put on him (which surprised her even more).
Ad when Ichigo tried to fight the hollow she jumped in between him and the charging hollow, stopping the hollow's attack and greatly injuring herself.

After tranferring her powers to Ichigo she needed (a normal) gigai in order to recover, but instead Urahara gave her the special gigai that he made especially for her so that she would NOT recover her shinigami powers, instead she would turn into a normal soul and further hide hougyoku

[Tsukiyomi]

Wasn't she distracted by Ichigo and was already injured before actually properly fighting?

She never fought it, and regardless of how distracted she was, she should have been able to cut the things head in half long before it got a chance to bite Ichigo. And even with her injury she should have been able to kill it, Ichigo with no training in sword fighting (I believe the training we saw him do was physical only, no weapons), no training in how to use his reiatsu and having Shinigami powers for all of 6 seconds took it down with what, two swings?

Rukia, a shinigami with decades of training should have been able to destroy it, hell she should have been able to hit it with a demon art at the least.

[SeruraRenge]

I thought that the reason she lost was because she got hurt protecting Ichigo.

[Duttyman Momochi]

aaaahhhhh yes rukia...

i say its a plot hole no jutsu.. def.. with some manga advancements we have had...

am with tsukiyomi on this one.. unless we get to hear that that hollow was an aizen creation or something.. there is no way rukia shoud have lost.. all i can say to the anime only watchers if u think u are confused now as to why she lost wait till here about the recent developments... u will be even more confused..

if this post in anyway can be considered as a spoiler please let me know ill will edit it to the best of my ability

[Raiza]

You guys should have payed attention to what Aizen said. He speicifically said that Rukia was given the Gigai BEFORE she left Soul Society, thats when he went to look for her but she has transferred to the human world. In search of her there, he could not locate her anymore. (which is when she obtained the faux body). Aizen explained all this.

[Insipidipity]

You guys should have payed attention to what Aizen said. He speicifically said that Rukia was given the Gigai BEFORE she left Soul Society, thats when he went to look for her but she has transferred to the human world. In search of her there, he could not locate her anymore. (which is when she obtained the faux body). Aizen explained all this.
No, it shows quite clearly that she was in her white robe(in other words after she lost her powers) that he approached her, not to mention Uruhara can't even ENTER soul society.

[Lainchan]

I always thought she had hougyoku before the begining of the manga.
Wouldnt putting it into her at the same time as putting her in the gigai mean Urahara was intentionally revieling its location to Aizen? I say this beacause Aizen didnt know where it was untill Rukia got stuck in the real world (I think o_0) so where ever Urahara would have had it hidden before must have worked as a better hiding place than Rukia did. How did he know she had it in her anyway? I cant remember if that was explained.
Its one of the most confusing things in the manga

[blazingshadow]

that he approached her, not to mention Uruhara can't even ENTER soul society
so? that doesn't mean he couldn't have stuck the thing inside rukia before leaving SS. whether she could take out a hollow with it or not is another matter

[GSurge]

Why is this a debate?

Urahara gave her the gigai with the hougyoku in it immediately following Ichigo taking her powers.

End of discussion!

[blazingshadow]

how do you know that? have you even read the other posts?

[Insipidipity]

how do you know that? have you even read the other posts?
I thought it was pretty clear. It seemed that he left Soul Society a while ago. More than just before Uruhara left. Cuz everyone seemed to know Mayuri pretty well. Well it seems that he ran away about the same time as Yoroichi. That would put it at least 100 years ago. In addition to Mayuri being in charge when Ishida's grandpa was alive, meaning Mayuri has been a captain for at least a decade.

So its pretty much impossible that he just ran away. So I doubt she's had it in her for 100 years when she became a shinigami less time than that.

[Duttyman Momochi]

actually.. i think he was still around when rukia joined the gotei 13 or when she joined the kuchiki house... ikkaku knew about urahara.. and also must have known his capabilities if he told ichigo he wasnt going to take it easy on him after he heard he was trained by urahara... and also it could be argued how long mayuri has been captain.. remember he told ishida that when he finally got a chance to experiment on ishida's kind they were already almost extinct...

and we do not know how long rukia knows urahara.. she could have known him from in rukongai... ( it could be argued that urahara was one to asociate with the "common folk" )

[Insipidipity]

actually.. i think he was still around when rukia joined the gotei 13 or when she joined the kuchiki house... ikkaku knew about urahara.. and also must have known his capabilities if he told ichigo he wasnt going to take it easy on him after he heard he was trained by urahara... and also it could be argued how long mayuri has been captain.. remember he told ishida that when he finally got a chance to experiment on ishida's kind they were already almost extinct...

and we do not know how long rukia knows urahara.. she could have known him from in rukongai... ( it could be argued that urahara was one to asociate with the "common folk" )
Ikkaku hasn't said how long he's been a shinigami. if he's a 3rd seat, its possible he's been a shinigami for over 50 years(in fact likely, considering Rukia seems to be at least 150-180 years old and a shinigami for 50 years yet never attaining a rank).
So at the very latest, he was in SS 50 years ago. I seriously don't think he would be able to hide his invention in one of the noble families for 50 years and then decide to hide it in a gigai...

Not to mention the fact that she never knew he put it in here. The only time he could've done that would've been by putting it inside the gigai.

[Skorpion]

Not to mention the fact that she never knew he put it in here. The only time he could've done that would've been by putting it inside the gigai.
Or maybe when she was still a baby? We know that she was baby when Hisana abondoned her, so that's also possible.

Just pay attention when Azien is explaining everything, towards the end of ep. 61. Events happen in this order:
- People searching for ways to fuse Shinigamis and Hollow together.
- Urahara found a way: Hougyoku.
- OMG!!!1 Houhyoku is dangerous. Urahara tries and fails to destroy it.
- Failing to destroy it Urahara put a barrier around it and hid in inside a soul (Rukia of course).
- Urahara invents the special gigai.
- Urahara leaves SS.
- Aizen discovers the Hougyoku is hidden inside Rukia; Rukia is already gone to the real world.
- Events in episode 1.
- Urahara gives Rukia the special gigai.
- After a few months Rukia is found in the real world, Aizen massacres Room 46.

yeah, go watch 61 again, I will too

[Insipidipity]

Or maybe when she was still a baby? We know that she was baby when Hisana abondoned her, so that's also possible.


- Urahara leaves SS.
- Aizen discovers the Hougyoku is hidden inside Rukia; Rukia is already gone to the real world.
- Events in episode 1.
Except we know they can't stay in SS longer than a month or so. Rukia is also 10x Ichigo's age. Which means it took Aizen 150 years to find it?

And he only decides to hide her with the gigai after 150 years of her out in the open?

Instead of giving it to her and hiding her at the same time?

Somehow, I seriously doubt that...

[blazingshadow]

aizen just knew about rukia having the hougyoku recently so yes she could've had it for 150 years. urahara probably gave her the gigai because he found out aizen knows about it and wanted to hide her from him.

[Tsukiyomi]

I can't imagine Urahara would wait a century and a half to hide it when Rukia's assignment was to guard the area in which he lived, she even seemed to visit him regularly for supplies.

Who is to say he didn't put it in her during one of these routine visits? Surely he of all people could have done it without even her noticing.

[blazingshadow]

well if it was a 100 ago it would mean that hiding the hougyoku within a soul had an effect in ppl trying to track it. aizen seemed like he didn't know about her having it until she went to earth in the first chapter (unless shinigami stay on earth for years at a time but that's not that likely)

[Insipidipity]

aizen just knew about rukia having the hougyoku recently so yes she could've had it for 150 years. urahara probably gave her the gigai because he found out aizen knows about it and wanted to hide her from him.
I'm saying that, from the way he's been able to plan everything, it took him 150 years to find out Rukia had it?

In fact wait, theres no way it could've been invented before Rukia became a shinigami. Kaien was the victim of a failure of Aizen's Hollow experiements. So in other words, it was created after Kaien died. Which means when Rukia was part of the Kuchiki clan. You think Uruhara managed to stick it inside her while she's part of the most powerful noble clan in Soul Society?

It just doesn't make any logical sense for him to have put it inside someone unless there was a way to conceal it. Otherwise, he could've just hidden it under a rug or something. Theres no reason he had to hide it in a person unless he could hide her presence.. In other words, he HAD to have put it in at the same time as her gigai.

[jonat3]

I'm saying that, from the way he's been able to plan everything, it took him 150 years to find out Rukia had it?

In fact wait, theres no way it could've been invented before Rukia became a shinigami. Kaien was the victim of a failure of Aizen's Hollow experiements. So in other words, it was created after Kaien died. Which means when Rukia was part of the Kuchiki clan. You think Uruhara managed to stick it inside her while she's part of the most powerful noble clan in Soul Society?

It just doesn't make any logical sense for him to have put it inside someone unless there was a way to conceal it. Otherwise, he could've just hidden it under a rug or something. Theres no reason he had to hide it in a person unless he could hide her presence.. In other words, he HAD to have put it in at the same time as her gigai.

Actually, if Urahara placed the hougyoku in rukia before she met Ichigo, i think it's likely he did it before he got exiled. That would mean that rukia wasn't part of the kuchiki clan at that time.

Also, you are assuming that the hougyoku can still be easily tracked. We don't even know if that is so. For all we know, trying to locate the hougyoku is a difficult thing to do, which might explain why it's only been found in rukia after such a long time.

Keep in mind that Urhara has been able to keep the hougyoku's location secret for atleast 150 years. It seems odd to me that Aizen was able to find out where the hougyoku was only when it was placed in rukia. Urahara did not place the hougyoku in rukia to instantly reveal it's location. He did it to HIDE the hougyoku.
If Urahara did place the hougyoku at the same time as the gigai and Aizen discovered that, then it was a very stupid thing to do. It would have then been better to keep hiding the hougyoku in it's old place, since it would seem that Aizen only discovered the hougyoku cause it was placed in rukia.

This is one of the reasons i think it likely that the hougyoku was in rukia for some time.

[blazingshadow]

the hougyoku was placed on rukia to hide it. that was before she went to ichigo's house. aizen found it was inside of rukia so urahara gave her the gigai to hide "the container". in other words it couldn't be traced that easily even without the gigai. most likely that the hollow that attacked ichigo was either sent by aizen or urahara because she had the hougyoku.

about aizen's experiments what does it have to do? he could've had experimented on hybridization even before urahara found the correct way to do it. heck who is to say that urahara wasn't working with him in the first place?


edit: yay! i got 700 posts!

[namesake]

Go back to the first episode. When Rukia is still in ichigo's room she mentions to him something like "lately, I feel like somethings been draining me" or somethign along those lines. What could that be? Hmm... sounds like Hougyoku to me. That subtitle was out of the lunar subbed version. However, if you listen to the Japanese that's actually what she says, so whether it's exactly that in the Naruto Fan's version or not (I joined Naruto Fan at like episode 15) holds no water in this argument.

It's right there in stone. She was feeling her powers leak away (while she turned human) before she even met Ichigo, let alone having have heard about the special Gigai.

Snap.

[onewithchaos]

im even more curious as to why yorouchi didnt save ruikia when ichigo and kuchiki had the encounter at the bridge. If yorouchi really wanted the hougyouku then she could have just saved her then, removed the hougyouku and just leave.

[Insipidipity]

Actually, if Urahara placed the hougyoku in rukia before she met Ichigo, i think it's likely he did it before he got exiled. That would mean that rukia wasn't part of the kuchiki clan at that time.

Also, you are assuming that the hougyoku can still be easily tracked. We don't even know if that is so. For all we know, trying to locate the hougyoku is a difficult thing to do, which might explain why it's only been found in rukia after such a long time.

Keep in mind that Urhara has been able to keep the hougyoku's location secret for atleast 150 years. It seems odd to me that Aizen was able to find out where the hougyoku was only when it was placed in rukia. Urahara did not place the hougyoku in rukia to instantly reveal it's location. He did it to HIDE the hougyoku.
If Urahara did place the hougyoku at the same time as the gigai and Aizen discovered that, then it was a very stupid thing to do. It would have then been better to keep hiding the hougyoku in it's old place, since it would seem that Aizen only discovered the hougyoku cause it was placed in rukia.

This is one of the reasons i think it likely that the hougyoku was in rukia for some time.
Or he could've just created it before he left(it could be the reason he seems banished) which would be between 50 and 100 years ago. I mean, what better reason for banning himself than to keep himself from people who desire its power.

The fact is that Rukia seems to know absolutely nothing about Uruhara other than he's an SS store owner. Do you not see the way she treats every captain? She has no idea about his captain rank and thus couldn't have met him in SS, and the only time he could've stuck it in her without her realizing it was the time she got her gigai.
Theres no other way he could've predicted she would need a gigai to recover her powers after becoming powerless after Ichigo took too much of her power, unless it wasn't a prediction and it was a chance encounter.

Unless you think he somehow orchestrated Kaien's death AND her encounter with Ichigo to convince her to give her powers to him so she'd need a gigai.

[jonat3]

Or he could've just created it before he left(it could be the reason he seems banished) which would be between 50 and 100 years ago. I mean, what better reason for banning himself than to keep himself from people who desire its power.

Urahara was banished 100 years ago. It was shown that he created the hougyoku while he still was a captain. We can know this, cause he was shown to have his captain robe when Aizen was talking about the hougyoku. So he definately created it 100 years ago or more.

Also, it has already been explained why he got banished. It was because of the gigai. I do admit, it's odd that he didn't get banished for the hougyoku, since it's this object that created so mnany problems.

The fact is that Rukia seems to know absolutely nothing about Uruhara other than he's an SS store owner. Do you not see the way she treats every captain? She has no idea about his captain rank and thus couldn't have met him in SS, and the only time he could've stuck it in her without her realizing it was the time she got her gigai.
Theres no other way he could've predicted she would need a gigai to recover her powers after becoming powerless after Ichigo took too much of her power, unless it wasn't a prediction and it was a chance encounter.

Rukia herself became a shinigami around 49 years ago. Her total age was around 150 years old. If Urahara created the hougyoku 100 years ago, it's likely he placed the hougyoku when rukia was around 50 years of age. She wouldn't even be a shinigami at the time and no reason to know the captains names or ranks.
If Urahara placed the hougyoku within her 100 years ago or more, i doubt he would have introduced himself to rukia.

Unless you think he somehow orchestrated Kaien's death AND her encounter with Ichigo to convince her to give her powers to him so she'd need a gigai.

Kaien's death was Aizen's fault and it doesn't have anything to do with the issue at hand.
As for her encounter with Ichigo, i think it was a fortunate coincedence and Urahara made use of it.

[Insipidipity]

Urahara was banished 100 years ago. It was shown that he created the hougyoku while he still was a captain. We can know this, cause he was shown to have his captain robe when Aizen was talking about the hougyoku. So he definately created it 100 years ago or more.

Also, it has already been explained why he got banished. It was because of the gigai. I do admit, it's odd that he didn't get banished for the hougyoku, since it's this object that created so mnany problems.

Rukia herself became a shinigami around 49 years ago. Her total age was around 150 years old. If Urahara created the hougyoku 100 years ago, it's likely he placed the hougyoku when rukia was around 50 years of age. She wouldn't even be a shinigami at the time and no reason to know the captains names or ranks.
If Urahara placed the hougyoku within her 100 years ago or more, i doubt he would have introduced himself to rukia.

Kaien's death was Aizen's fault and it doesn't have anything to do with the issue at hand.
As for her encounter with Ichigo, i think it was a fortunate coincedence and Urahara made use of it.
Well She became a Shinigami about 50 years ago, Uruhara was banished by then, and Kaien's possession was still part of Aizen's experimentation, meaning that the artifact hadn't been created yet(or else Aizen would've been focusing his attention on possessing it instead of experimenting). So therefore, it was created while Rukia was a Shinigami, which means he must've created it afterwards.

BTW, him having a captain robe is probably just signifying the fact that when Aizen thinks Urahara, he's most likely remembering him as looking like that. He wouldn't know about the Sandal-hat appearance unless he met him on earth.

[Kimi Sama]

I always thought that the special power draining gigai Urahara gave Rukia contained the Hougyku.

If not, then fuck knows when he put the Hougyku inside her. And for that matter, fuck knows WHY he did it to Rukia in particular.

[jonat3]

Well She became a Shinigami about 50 years ago, Uruhara was banished by then, and Kaien's possession was still part of Aizen's experimentation, meaning that the artifact hadn't been created yet(or else Aizen would've been focusing his attention on possessing it instead of experimenting). So therefore, it was created while Rukia was a Shinigami, which means he must've created it afterwards.

BTW, him having a captain robe is probably just signifying the fact that when Aizen thinks Urahara, he's most likely remembering him as looking like that. He wouldn't know about the Sandal-hat appearance unless he met him on earth.

I think Aizen tried to dupliacte Urahara's attempts on his own, since he wasn't able to obtain the hougyoku. Since he failed his experiments, he put more effort into locating the hougyoku.

[Skorpion]

Well She became a Shinigami about 50 years ago, Uruhara was banished by then, and Kaien's possession was still part of Aizen's experimentation, meaning that the artifact hadn't been created yet(or else Aizen would've been focusing his attention on possessing it instead of experimenting). So therefore, it was created while Rukia was a Shinigami, which means he must've created it afterwards.
No-one ever said that they were working together to make a shinigami-hollow hybrid. And I'm starting to think that when Azien discovered that Hougyoku is inside Rukia is the same time he found out that there is such a thing as Hougyoku.
The fact is that Rukia seems to know absolutely nothing about Uruhara other than he's an SS store owner. Do you not see the way she treats every captain? She has no idea about his captain rank and thus couldn't have met him in SS, and the only time he could've stuck it in her without her realizing it was the time she got her gigai.
Theres no other way he could've predicted she would need a gigai to recover her powers after becoming powerless after Ichigo took too much of her power, unless it wasn't a prediction and it was a chance encounter.
Remember there's always the possibility that he hid it inside her when she was a baby. Even if Rukia meeting Ichigo was a chance encounter or not, it was his chance to give her the gigai that would make her powerless and, more importantly, untraceable.
Putting a barrier around Hougyoku and then put it inside Rukia was done to hide Hougyoku.
Giving Rukia the gigai that would take away her powers was done to hide Rukia.

[Insipidipity]

No-one ever said that they were working together to make a shinigami-hollow hybrid. And I'm starting to think that when Azien discovered that Hougyoku is inside Rukia is the same time he found out that there is such a thing as Hougyoku.
Yea, but considering Urahara is in charge of the Research department, wouldn't it have been a good idea to check with him ahead of time to find out if they already created it instead of working his ass off then looking to see if its already been done?

[Skorpion]

Maybe he did, and Urahara was like "uhhh.....no....no progress yet.....(thinking: I gotta hide this shit......mmmm......I heard Byakuya has adopted a little baby girl recently.....)"