It's still weird to hear Zangetsu referring to Isshin as Dad, just as much as hearing him call her Mom. Maybe more. It doesn't match the scathing anger that she hears in those words, and she can't help but defend her absent husband.

"You have to understand... Isshin--He might be a Shinigami. A strong one that's good in combat... But there's a lot of things that he's not good at. He's needed help in so many things. Talking about himself, cooking and cleaning, raising children... Even the clinic when he first started... He was terrible. I really don't know how he managed to stay in business." Probably Urahara pulling the strings where needed. Or Ryuuken offering his distant but steadfast support. But she keeps going, her tone heartfelt.

"For a lot of those things, he looked to me. But one thing he's never needed help with--one thing that he's always been good at is caring about our family." She smiles fondly, but there's a touch of sadness in her tone. "He always promised that if I ever needed him, he would come running--Shinigami powers or not. Without a doubt, he would have taken a hit for any of us if he could. So if he was silent about all of this, then it's not because he didn't care. I'm sure that Ichigo understands that."