Bleach is a legendary shonen action anime with a sprawling cast of characters, and sometimes, those characters find true love. Even if action and adventure are the main focus of Bleach‘s story, there’s still room for a few heartwarming love stories, and some romantic pairings actually had a huge influence on the story.
Some Bleach characters get shipped in the story just for fun and to cheer up viewers, but other Bleach romances made all the difference in certain character arcs. Best of all, all of these Bleach pairings are delightfully innocent and wholesome, and for some characters, their love story is the best thing that ever happened to them. Some of these adorable Bleach couples are tales of true romantic love, while others are playful, subtly romantic friendships that inspire all kinds of fanon ships among anime fans.
The following contains minor spoilers for the Bleach manga.
10 Byakuya Kuchiki & Hisana
Several decades ago, the scion of the Kuchiki noble family, the kuudere Byakuya, found true love in the most unexpected place. He met an impoverished commoner woman named Hisana. Byakuya was evidently so smitten, he broke high society’s rules to marry her.
Little of this five-year marriage was seen in Bleach, and it tragically ended with Hisana’s death. Most of this couple’s cuteness is implied, such as a dying, bittersweet Hisana saying that her marriage to Byakuya was the happiest five years of her life. Bleach fans can only imagine their daily lives together since Byakuya hasn’t talked much about it.
9 Kaien Shiba & Miyako
Another off-screen romantic pairing in Bleach involved two Soul Reaper officers from Squad 13, Lieutenant Kaien Shiba and his wife Miyako. The story doesn’t go into much detail, but Bleach fans do know that Kaien and Miyako were happy together and were both highly popular among the court guard squads.
Based on how charming, empathetic, and kind Kaien and Miyako both were to other people, it’s easy to imagine them being a tightly-knit pair as married Soul Reapers. The sheer romantic cuteness is merely implied, but the implications are all positive and suggest that this was a model marriage.
8 Rukia Kuchiki & Renji Abarai
The Soul Society arc’s flashbacks made it clear that Rukia and Renji grew up together as street urchins in the Rukongai District, and they were the most talented members of their little group. Years later, they slowly drifted apart as Soul Reapers, but with Ichigo as a mutual friend, they’re close once again.
Rukia and Renji have solid chemistry as fellow tsunderes with a good heart, and Renji turned on his own Captain to rescue Rukia in the Soul Society arc. That is truly inspiring, and in the manga’s final chapter, Bleach fans saw that Rukia and Renji were happily married and even had a daughter, the lively Ichika.
7 Ichigo Kurosaki & Nelliel
In the Hueco Mundo story arc, Ichigo met a toddler Arrancar calling herself Nel, but Nel had a secret. Nel wasn’t just a wandering child; she was once the 3rd Espada, Nelliel Tu Odelschwank, though she had lost her memories. Nel became closely attached to Ichigo, and when her adult form and memories returned, she fought for his sake.
Nelliel was somewhat more mature in her adult form, but she still embraced Ichigo with childlike glee, which was an adorable sight. Even if Nelliel probably isn’t fully in love with Ichigo, she still deeply admires him, and even the kind Orihime got flustered when Ichigo and Nelliel embraced.
6 Uryu Ishida & Nemu Kurotsuchi
Even if Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi was Uyu Ishida’s enemy in the Soul Society arc, Mayuri’s Lieutenant/daughter Nemu was not. Nemu only put up a token fight under Mayuri’s orders, and when the fight ended, Nemu helped cure Uryu’s poison while Uryu showed her even greater kindness.
From that point on, Uryu and Nemu became an unofficial but wonderfully cute couple in Bleach‘s story. They reunited in Las Noches where, after Szayelaporro’s defeat, Nemu humorously held Uryu down so Mayuri could heal him. This sweet couple was an early and wholesome example of Quincy and Soul Reapers getting along despite their clashing tribes.
5 Soi Fon & Yoruichi Shihoin
When Captain Soi Fon of Squad 2 and Yoruichi Shihoin crossed paths in the Soul Society arc, they came to blows. Soi Fon, who positively idolized Yoruichi, was heartbroken when the latter vanished 100 years ago without explanation. During their fight, Soi Fon got over her bitter feelings and restored her friendship with Yoruichi.
The two of them aren’t just friends and teacher/student. Soi Fon absolutely adores Yoruichi, to the point of collecting black cat-related items to honor Yoruichi’s feline form. The two of them are very close, and it’s possible that Soi Fon’s feelings have a romantic undertone, too.
4 Toshiro Hitsugaya & Rangiku Matsumoto
Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya of Squad 10 and his Lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, are a fantastically adorable pair, even if their relationship isn’t fully romantic. The two of them have exciting chemistry, with Toshiro being a serious but bratty young Captain and Rangiku being older but much more carefree and silly.
The two of them met when Rangiku urged Toshiro to stand up for himself and make sure shopkeepers didn’t shortchange him. Years later, they both ended up in Squad 10 as Soul Reapers. Even if they verbally clash, they get along well. In many ways, Rangiku sees Toshiro as a lovable little brother, even if he outranks her.
3 Toshiro Hitsugaya & Momo Hinamori
Toshiro Hitsugaya also has good chemistry with his childhood friend, the kind Momo Hinamori. They were neighbors growing up, and they often teased one another with playful banter. Momo became a Soul Reaper first, and a few years later, Toshiro followed suit.
Toshiro and Momo continued their wonderful friendship in the court guard companies, where an exasperated Toshiro asked Momo to drop his childhood nicknames and address him by rank. Most importantly, Toshiro will fly into a reckless rage if anyone, even a fellow Soul Reaper, threatens Momo’s life.
2 Ichigo Kurosaki & Orihime Inoue
Even if Ichigo/Rukia is the Bleach fandom’s favorite pairing, it is fanon while the Ichigo/Orihime pairing is fully canon. Ichigo and Orihime are longtime friends and classmates, and Ichigo spent the entire Hueco Mundo arc fighting and risking his life to save her while Orihime had absolute faith in him.
Ichigo and Orihime get along well, and they bring out the best in each other. Ichigo taught Orihime to be brave and strong in the face of danger, and Orihime helps Ichigo understand that there’s more to life than fighting. Years after Yhwach’s defeat, Ichigo and Orihime settled down and married, forming a cozy and happy household with their son, Kazui.
1 Isshin Shiba & Masaki Kurosaki
Ichigo and Orihime are adorable together, but the cutest Bleach couple of all came a generation earlier. In recent flashbacks in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, Ichigo learned the truth about how his parents met. Back then, Isshin was Captain Shiba of Squad 10, while Masaki Kurosaki was a pureblood Quincy and a high school student.
Isshin and Masaki defeated the Hollow called White together, and they each had a favorable impression of the other. Then, Isshin gave up his Soul Reaper powers to save Masaki’s life, and they settled down and had three children together. They were incredibly happy together, and Isshin said that Masaki was warm and irresistible like the sun, being the one thing the entire Kurosaki family revolved around.
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