Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo/Shonen Jump. I do own OC's and plot.

Author's Note:

Reader: BooknerdXD, what the hell, you haven't posted in months!? *raises glowing katana and shouts 'Getsuga Tensho!'*

Me: *Chuckles like Aizen, Bakudo # 81: Danku* I know, I know. Normally, I would be posting the next chapter of the Soul King arc, but for months I've been having trouble figuring out whose pov to do next and what the chapter will be about. I have re-watched bleach for the millionth time for inspiration from the all-mighty Tite Kubo, then it hit it me. In every anime, there is always a filler arc or episodes that are sometimes cannon to the plot. Thus, writing this filler chapter that is cannon to the plot of this fanfic. I do hope you all like it, but please please comment on what you thought about it. If you guys like it, I'll do some more filler flashback/background chapters and you readers can create the scenario or vote on a few I came up with.

Music to go with the chapter: I was very much inspired by Japanese festivals and the ost from the anime Kamisama Kiss. The song I listened to the most was Kagura Dance from the anime and the ost ending from season 1. One of my favs animes, and I highly recommend it!

Anyways, enjoy the filler chapter:

Title: The Forbidden Kiss Pt.1

(1 year ago; Summer, Karakura Town; August 2026)

Hisana:

It has been over a year since my training at the Soul Reaper Academy. Hansuke and Ayahiko were still there, finishing up their training. Unlike me who was only taught to manage my spiritual pressure, they were going to join the Gotei 13 to fight hollows and save lost souls. So when I received a phone call from Hansuke at quarter past eleven pm , I thought it strange but nevertheless excited to hear his voice.

"Y-you guys want to the Summer festival with me?" I said to Hansuke, gripping my silver Iphone 15, tightly against my palm.

"Of course!" Hansuke said. "I dare not break tradition. The gods would frown upon me, Hisana, and then curse me for the rest of my days!"

I placed the phone on my chest and spun in my swivel chair in my bedroom, hoping they wouldn't hear my victory squeal.

I put the phone back to my ear and heard Ayahiko say:

"The only curse you'll receive is from me if you don't get back to studying.." He mumbled sternly in the background.

I laughed. "They're pushing you two to the limit huh?"

"Yeah," Hansuke said, sighing. "All summer we've been doing is drills, exams, and sword practice with squad 11."

Sucking in a sharp inhale, I winced. "Oooh, I hope Captain Zaraki isn't the one teaching you guys."

"He is..." Ayahiko groaned. "And we have an exam from him tomorrow!"

"You two will be fine." I replied, assuring them both. "Do you not recall my days at the academy? I lasted two seconds in the ring with Captain Zaraki! I think he enjoyed giving me that black eye." I touched my right eye, feeling the phantom swollen pain.

Hansuke roared in an upbeat laugher; the kind of laugh when your best friend laughs at your pain. "Then, your uncle chided him in front of everyone! It was hilarious!" He said.

I clamped my mouth shut and clenched my jaw before parting my lips . "I'm glad my pain also brings you amusement." I said between gritted teeth.

"I'm just joking."

"He actually asks about you a lot, Hisana-san." Ayahiko said, interrupting. "Along with the other instructors and our friends.. They..." He paused. "They keep asking when you will come back to Soul Society."

Twirling my mechanical pencil spin rapidly on the top of my index finger, I let out a deep breath. In truth, I did miss my new friends I've made in soul society last summer. I missed my roommate Kohana with the cool zanpakuto ability. I missed geeking out over manga and anime with Kentaro; her twin (who may look like he doesn't care for them, but secretly he does). I even missed Ronin, "the challenger" who stood in the training ground for bragging rights. I enjoyed sparring with him even though he kicked my ass multiple times.

I do have friends in the world of the living, but they are not as endearing as my soul friends. My human friends haven't quite reached that level of friendship. Most of all, I missed my two best friends. Before I left soul society, Kohana told me one of them likes-likes me.

Could it be Hansuke? Blood rushes to my cheeks, giving me a feverish sensation. No, that's silly. Hansuke doesn't like me. Could it be Ayahiko? No way, he only sees me as a classmate.

"Hisana, you there?" Ayahiko said, snapping me back to reality.

"Yes, sorry. I was writing out this sentence for my book report due next week. What were you saying, Ayahiko?"

"When are you coming back to Soul Society Academy?" He repeated this time with an uplifted tone.

"Oh, I don't know." I said, glancing down at my notebook. "Uncle Byakuya was the one who convinced my parents to let me attend the Academy in the first place. To make sure I knew how to defend myself against hollows and controlling spiritual pressure, you know? Then, after Head Captain Kyoraku told him I can manage my spiritual powers on my own, mother and father wanted me to return home."

"Oh really? You completely mastered it?" Hansuke said snickering in the background. .

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, I don't have it mastered quite yet, but I was better than before. No hollows have appeared around me in three days!"

"Wow, what a record!"

"Shut up! Besides, you two both know becoming a soul reaper captain and slaying hollows all the time isn't how I want to spend the rest of my life." Glancing at my bookshelf behind me, I stared at the photo of my older brother and I at my first skating competition. I was five, and he was 11. I remember him teaching me how to skate, helping me master the basics, and cheering me on the sidelines as I practiced my routines. He always believed in me and encouraged me to strive for my dreams. After he died, it gave me more of an incentive to make that dream a reality. And with each routine on the ice, I find some way to honor him and our memories together.

"Just you wait, Suke-san, Ayahiko-san, I'm going to be the world's number one figure skate you know!" I stood up and gripped my phone in my hand, declaring to my two best friends and to anyone outside my open window with my free hand in the air. "And, I'm going to win that gold medal at nationals! Then, the Grand Prix!"

Right on que, Naruto's theme song played on my computer just when Naruto; the main character, declared his goal of being hokage of the hidden leaf village from the stoneface mountain side. The audio was a bit loud which freaked me out, because if my parents found out I was watching anime instead of my book report? I'd be grounded with no manga or anime for a solid month. As a fully fledged member of the otaku community since I was 3, I wouldn't last a minute without hearing an opening of an anime intro.

"Hisana!" A male voice shouted downstairs.

"Shit." Too late. The inner voice of my head thought as I quickly lowered the audio. Hansuke roared a heavy laughter on the other line.

"I hope you're doing your project!" The male voice continued. "If I come up there and see you not doing homework, I'm telling Ichigo!"

Taking off the phone from my ear, I shouted back, "I'm not watching anime, Grandpa Isshin! I'm working diligently! I'm almost done!" I put the phone back to my ear. "Sorry guys, looks like I have to go. See you both Friday?"

"Wait, I don't think next friday will be..." I heard Ayahiko say, but Hansuke said quickly, "You bet, bye!"

The phone hung up. I sat there for a moment, processing everything that happened. In the past, Hansuke would always go to festivals with me. Things are different now; we are not children anymore. My face heated, and I shook my head. Kohana must have been crazy, because none of my best friends would ever see me as "girlfriend" material. With that in mind, I put on some headphones and pressed the spacebar to continue watching Naruto, while Hinata (his classmate/friend) watched him from a distance with a blush on her face.

For the next three days, I eagerly waited for Friday to come. During that time, I finished my book report and planned out my skating routines for tryouts at the local skating rink. I hoped to impress a professor coach and maybe sponsor me for future events. I had to start somewhere, right? When Friday night came, I screamed bloody murder. Quickly, I glanced at the clock that read a quarter after five. Hansuke and Ayahiko were probably at the entrance, waiting for me. If this was a normal evening, I would have put on a BTS t-shirt, jeans, and then left the house. However, festival customs dictates everyone wearing yukata. Sure, not everyone really follows this rule, but the majority of the girls from school do.

An hour before the festival started, all my social media was flooded with girls in kimino's. Some were with a group of friends, others their boyfriends. And if I show up at the festival in a shirt and jeans, I'll be laughing stock and topic of discussion for at least six months. Rushing to my closet, I checked to see what I had.

I stood in front of the mirror with two dresses in hand. "Should I wear this or this?" I pondered, tilting my head to the side. "Hair up or down? No, this is stupid!"

Thirty minutes passed. Clothes were scattered all over my room. I groaned and threw myself on the bed in defeat, "why is being a girl hard!"

"Hisana, can I come in?" I heard Aunt Yuzu say with a gentle knock on my bedroom door, but she already began to walk in. "Oh my. What happened here?" She said.

Rolling to my side, I replied, "I can't find the right outfit for the festival, and I really want to impress my friends." I couldn't tell my aunt that I wanted to impress the boys and finally to have them look at me in a different way. She'd tell mom and dad, and then dad would get all over-protective along with every other male in my family. I get really embarrassed when they do that.

"I think I can solve that." She smiled as she laid two white boxes on my bed.

I got up from my bed. "What's in there?" I said curious.

She reached for the biggest box and opened the lid. Inside was a deep red, white, and gold patterned yukata. Small white cherry blossoms on branches were embroidered in the cotton fabric as a larger print of red blossoms without branches surrounded the white blossoms. The tips of the larger petals and its center were rimmed with a vibrant gold hue.

"Aunt Yuzu!" I gasped in surprise, recognizing who that kimino belongs to. "It's beautiful, but I-I can't wear that. That's grandma Misaki's."

My father's youngest sister gave a small frown. "Yes, it was her yukata. Karen and I would take turns wearing it at festivals in memory of her. Since you're the next female in the family and a young lady now, it's time for you to carry on the tradition. She would have wanted you to wear it tonight."

I've never met my Grandmother Misaki or my Aunt Hisana- the woman I'm named after. But from what I've been told by my mother and father, they were both incredible women. Maybe someday in the afterlife after soul society (if there is one), I'll get to see them.

Wiping the mist from my eyes with my hands, I raised my head and said to my aunt, "I'd be honored to wear it, Aunt Yuzu."

For the next hour, Aunt Yuzu helped me dress. This wasn't my first time wearing traditional clothing. I always wore Kimonos whenever I visited my Uncle Byakuya in soul society. It was a great pain to wear, because I'd overheat with the numerous layers befitting for nobility. However, since Yukatas are made of cotton fabric, they are more comfortable to wear, especially in the summer heat. The only downside is of wearing a yukata is how restrictive your movements are. No matter. This yukata gave me a sense of pride I'd never felt before.

After Aunt Yuzu put on the robe and tied with a white obi belt, she gathered the remaining fabric and tied it in a bow. Next, she fixed my hair in a braided crown, half-up style with the ends of my ponytail loosely curled. Then, she pinned a red and white cherry blossom Kanzashi (a Japanese hair ornament) on the left side of my braided crown. I loved the cascading mini red and white hearts tassels. Following makeup (which I normally don't wear), Aunt Yuzu just put a small touch of blush on my cheeks and pink gloss on my lips.

Last but not least, she helped me put on my wooden shoes (or Geta shoes) and handed me a small coin purse called a kinchaku. It matched the yukata well and had red drawstrings. Thankfully, the geta shoes wasn't too high like Uncle Kisukes. I honestly don't know how he fights and walks in them without his feet hurting.

When I was finally ready, I gave a small twirl for my aunt. "You look so beautiful, Hisana." Aunt Yuza said, patting her teary eyes. "Come, we have to take pictures for the family album!"

Rushing me downstairs with a tight grip of her hand on my arm, my grandfather came out with the old infamous instant print camera. He took so many pictures of me outside the house, with my aunt, one with him, and then father came home. I was surprised to see him. If he's here, I won't see mom in a couple of days.

His brown eyes scanned me from head to toe. "You going out?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes." I said quickly, trying to dismiss his first words to me in weeks. Would it bother him to say hello to his daughter?

"With whom?" Father said concerned.

I glanced to the side."Hansuke and Ayahiko. They're my dates to the festival this year."

"Date?" He said, sounding all surprised and shocked. "My little Hisana is dating?" My father shared at look with my Grandfather who was already crying his eyes out by Grandmother's blown up poster in the living room.

My face turned as red as a tomato. "Um, well, you know, Suke and I are best friends. We always go to the festival together, and this year we invited Ayahiko, because he's our best friend too. It's his first time going to a festival in the human world." I said quickly, hoping it wouldn't make this embarrassing situation any worse. "And I'm not a little girl anymore, Dad, I'm 14 years old. I'm turning 15 in December, remember?"

My father's eyes soften. "I know, Hisana, but to me, you will always be my little girl," He said making that fake smile again, hoping I couldn't tell he was on the verge of crying too.

"It's getting late, Hisana." Aunt Yuzu said, glancing at her wristwatch. "You don't want the boys waiting on you."

"Right. I'll see you in a couple hours." I said to my family, then slowly made my way to the doorway.

"W-wait!" My father said stopping me from opening the door. I turned and saw him fish out an old shrine charm from his pocket. "Take this with you. I'd feel a lot better if I knew you had this."

He stretched out his arm and handed me the raggy thing. To an ordinary person, it looked like an old shrine charms-the kind of ones you receive during New Years. To a spiritual person with powers, it was a powerful charm with incredible shielding abilities. It can hold its own against an Espada like Grand Fisher..or so Kon's story claims. I knew how he and mom felt about my safety. After what happened to Kaien, he and mother never let me out of their sight or near danger with hollows. As a teenager, I should be grateful for this space they're giving could have easily said no or worse, attending the festival with me. I wouldn't mind if they did. I barely see my parents, especially since their divorce. It takes effort for the both of them to be in the same room. It takes maximum effort to trick both of them to attend one of my skating tournaments.

At my age, Kaien could slay a dozen hollows no problem! I wanted to say to him. I can do that and so much more! So, why doesn't father or mother believe in me? Why does he still think me as incapable-

You dumbass. A familiar voice said to me.

Gesshoku?

Loss can either bring a family closer or cleave them apart. Kaien's death may have broken your family apart, but not their love for each other. Your father loves your mother, vice versa. And they love you, a factor that will never change. So, cut the old man some slack. He's just doing his job.

Gesshoku was right. Kaien's death may have broken my family, but not our love. I should hold onto this memory; this feeling before tragedy and death takes it away from me like my brother. I held out my hand. Father dropped the charm and smiled brightly.

"Thanks, father, but I have to get going now." I said, grinning and tying the charm on the drawstrings of my bag. " I don't want to keep Suke-san and Hiko-san waiting for me."

"Be home by ten, okay?" He said.

"You got it, dad." I said weakly, following a flash from grandfather's camera.

"Oh, sorry, I'm just capturing the moments!" Grandpa Isshin said sniffing up the snot that was dripping from his nostrils. Grandpa turned and said to my Grandma's poster, "Misaki, look at what we created! Our granddaughter is going on her first date!"

"It's not a date date!" I cried back, flushing red with embarrassment. "We are all just friends."

Everyone looked at me. Their eyes were like a laser beams, sending an unwavering stare that increased my embarrassment. I walked to the door, "I'll txt you when I'm on my way home. Bye."

"Have fun!" Aunt Yuzu said cheerfully.

"Call me if you see any hollows!" Father called.

"Ichigo, she's a big girl." said Aunt Yuzu. "Give her space."

"Hisana!" screamed my grandfather in a sobbing mess. Closing the door behind me, I took a deep breath and started walking down the street, following the blended aroma of savory and sweet smells that lingered on the warm summer wind.