User blog comment:Njalm2/Nanja's Point of View: Shinigami Edition/@comment-1493741-20150503073419/@comment-3403804-20150503150324

Except, Shonen, there's never been a case where someone have loved one another for eternity. Marriage does exist in the Shinigami world, and once again Kaien was a noble, he was a noble of the Shiba clan, formerly one of the four great noble houses. Furthermore, there was no love at first sight between Masaki and Isshin, he didn't love her when he decided to give up his Shinigami powers for her, he was repaying a debt of gratitude, because Masaki had saved his life. When he had a chance to save hers, by becoming an opposition to the hollow energies within Masaki, then he jumped at the chance, Isshin's action was a very honorable one, but it was not motivated by love but by gratitude. At the time Masaki was still in High School, whereas Isshin had the form of a young man. All things considered, the romance probably didn't start until after she graduated high school.

Gin loved Rangiku very much, that was highly apparent; but I always got the feeling that Gin didn't love Rangiku the way she loved him. He cared very deeply for her, but it was probably more akin to a brother sister relationship on his end. Whereas Rangiku wanted to be with Gin romantically. Besides, I'm not certain what this is gonna prove, that Shinigami feel love? Well of course they can, I never said otherwise, but it's part of our own societal constructions that we believe marriage to be the pinnacle of love. What I'm saying, is that for Shinigami, it likely is not so, devoted Shinigami couples love one another just as much as married couples do - but they probably don't feel the need to put a label on it like we do.

My point is that marriage is something that's largely practiced by nobles; with most other Shinigami not practicing it to any large degree, and indeed, if Hisana and Byakuya were to see each other, it would probably require them to marry. Otherwise she would not be accepted as a member of the clan, and would be forced to continue living in the slums, where her opportunities to be with Byakuya would be limited. Despite your arguments here, the fact remains that there's no married couples in Bleach where at least one of the Shinigami isn't affiliated with nobility or powerful clans of similar repute such as the Omaeda.

Tousen considered her an extremely close friend, there's not really been any implications that he considered her more than that. He loved her dearly of course, much like Gin loved Rangiku, but the only reason people assume he was romantically interested in her is because he was male and she was female and they were described as being close. It is possible for a man to love a woman platonically, after all.

In regards to the whole things about how Shinigami are human, I've said my piece and my view hasn't changed. Shinigami are not humans, and that's a fact. They have a lot in common with humans, and share much of our mannerisms and behavior, but they are and never will be humans (until they die and are reincarnated as them, at least). Shinigami are Shinigami.