He scratches at his chin with a claw, letting his shark-finned tail dangle behind him and swish aimlessly.

"Mmm, well. Sort of, yes. I was 'born' this way, but that's not the usual way of things at all. Ichigo and I are a very special case. Most Hollows are formed from ghosts who have too many regrets and linger too long in the world of the living... but the process can be forced through artificial means, too."