[drzorba]

Ok number one, Ichigo's mom being former 12th squad captain and promoted to the royal gaurd is nothing new. Some genius thought of that a few weeks ago.
Someone shot down that theory a while ago saying that Grand fisher was not strong enough to kill her if she was a captain, but if Fisher took the form of ichigo and she was not able to tell which was which she would have easily been defeated. Ichigo would have to if Fisher had hit him with a death shot instead of stabbing his right shoulder but that would have ended the show right there.
Number two, the royal guard theory may not be that bad. I still believe that all the vizard, Kisuke, and Isshin may be the royal guard put in the town because it is the only place a new kings key can be created.
Also the King of soul society may be Isshin himself. Hidden by Kisuke.
The reason hiyori may say she hates shinigami and humans alike is because she is shunned by both while she is protecting both.
It seems like not much is told about the royal gaurd in SS so it stands to reason that they put the vizards in the RG because they had power beyond captains; however they did not write this in the official records which would be why most shinigami would fear them.

New thought as well. Does a vizard that removes their mask gain power as a hollow that removes their mask?
I was just thinking that every time ichigo was about to die and could not move his hollow came out to save him, but when he ripped off the mask he had renewed power to fight the opponent for a few seconds longer. Was this just a story being a story or does the removal of the mask gain a new level of power.