I actually have the 21 volumes that are out and yes it takes several volumes to explain desh's background before shifting back to the present time. Almost all of the questions of his past are answered by volume 21, and the story seems to be heading into its final arc at the end of 21.

As far as I remember the cards do not reappear again outside of that arc. The next arc is about shido(spelling?) and his clan's old enemy.

LoL, just because he is a moderater and he said that it doesn't mean it is the be all end all of the arguement. Moderator status just means that he is a moderator for this forum not that he speaks for Oda so no insult to Cosmic, but being a moderator doesn't make his words any better than anyone else's. Also using your own arguements that unless it is specifically stated it isn't true, then since your precious graph doesn't say that it includes the gears and asura it must not then since it isn't specifically stated. You saying that he made that graph with those abilities in mind is your own speculation.

Look I'm not even going to get into where Luffy and Zolo stand in strength, but I find it hilarious that there is 11 pages of people spouting off 6=6 to support their arguement using a clearly outdated data book. Seriously, you can't tell me that a data book that old takes into account both the gears and asura, and don't even dare try to say that the data book isn't outdated since what would the point of coming out with a new data book be if the old one wasn't outdated. In conclusion, grow a pair and use something more than an old data book to support your arguements.

From what I remember I don't believe that she puts a number to how many soul slayers are always in released form. Though Ichigo does ask if Kenpachi's soul slayer is like his and she just doesn't respond and keeps on explaining his training. Since she doesn't answer you can take it in my opinion in a couple of ways. She could be not answering since he is correct or she could have just been ignoring his question since he interrupted her explaination of his training. Unfortunatey it doesn't seem that we will be getting a definite answer until Aizen makes his move since that is most likely when we will see Kenpachi fight next.

No one knows for sure whether Kenpachi's sword is always released. There are arguements for both sides saying that it is or isn't released. Personally, I believe that it isn't always released since he doesn't seem to know the name of his sword which seems to be a requirement of being able to use your Shikai, but I admit that I don't think anyone has confirmed that it is a requirement of having a Shikai. Oh and this is my first post which is a bit weird seeing that I have been coming to this site since last november when I started reading One Piece.