第3章: The Greenhorn

"Before we go can I change my clothing? I'm not comfortable with this uniform, I'm not one of you anyway and its covered with blood" Titania asked "Sure, although I am quite sure that you're a shinigami or at least meant to be one of us" Momo chuckled.  The red head went to go with one of the kids who invited her over. The little girl with dark blue hair held in high pigtails took her hand and pulled her running towards the village elder's house. They gave her a new set of clothes that she was comfortable with. She wears a white sarashi around her upper chest and a red hakama with a gold flame-like pattern at the bottom with black highlights, tied by white strings. Erza's hair is tied in a low loose tail at the back. To finish it off she wears a dark blue plain kimono with golden trimmed outline tied with black striped pattern obi by the waist and red beaded rope. She also wear a waraji- sandals made from rice straw rope.

"This is beautiful and comfortable, thank you" Erza commented bowing at the village elder. "No, it is I who should thank you. You saved the children and you are our village hero. Please visit us anytime. You are very much welcome here. It is very rare that we are treated nicely by someone from seireitei" the old man responded. "Thank you, I will sure repay your kindness. I'll sure come by and check out the kids from time to time" she smiled and bowed and went out to meet Momo. 

They walked silently towards the shuwaimon (Red Hollow Gate) when they reached a circular traditional Japanese castle they were greeted by one of the four gatekeepers- Higonyūdō,  he is a very large man, easily towering above most Shinigami. He wears a standard Shinigami uniform with the addition of a white robe over his right shoulder which is tucked into his obi sash at both the front and back. "Looks like the new one is extremely powerful and beautiful too" the giant said waving his hands as he let the two enter the gate. Erza looked at him with a smile and continued walking behind Momo.

 "Welcome to your new home, the seireitei where shinigami and nobility lives and they do not interact with the villagers or any citizens of Rukongai. This place  has four main entrances, ten days walk apart, These gates are collectively called the Shidai Seireimon ( Gates of Four Great Pure Soul) these gates are made up of the Kokuryōmon (Northern Black Ridge Gate), the Shōryūmon (Eastern Blue Stream Gate), the Shuwaimon (Southern Red Hollow Gate), and the Hakutōmon (Western White Way Gate or White Road Gate).The gates are so heavy, each guarded by one of the Gatekeepers and that guy is one of them." Momo explained. Erza just glanced at her from the corner of her eyes and nodded.

They reached a structure which at front it looked like a traditional samurai era Japanese compound and on top of the door a symbol in kanji that says 5th. "Alright, here we are! Like all the other barracks, the 5th Division Barracks house the offices and living quarters of the Shinigami of the 5th. While our captain, Sōsuke Aizen's room in the barrack is on the second floor." Momo explained as they enter the building, Erza continued walking behind her letting out a small sigh of disinterest as she was led to the captain's office and opening the door for her.

"Everyone you are dismissed, now leave." The man behind the desk ordered to the group of shinigami and they went out of the room, and he smiled at them. "Come in" he invited. "Hinamori, would you be so kind to get some tea for our guest, thank you dear" he asked gently. He stood up and went to the table at the center of the room pulled out one of its chair and sat facing her direction. She sees him sitting at his ease in that chair one leg crossed over the other, his chin braced on his right hand, arm resting on the table. He removed his glasses and swept his hand through his hair, revealing menacing eyes and a very different hairstyle; his hair is now swept back, with a strand hanging down his face. A pair of brown eyes fixed on her, the lazy gaze burns against her, calmly watching her every move- all of his attention on her. There's a glint in his eyes that are focused on her which made her feel a bit uneasy. She tried her best to hide the feeling and acted tough as always, she stood there and he sat there both not moving an inch and their eyes locked, he smirked as his eyes are staring at hers.

"You sure don't look like the owner of the spiritual pressure we felt earlier" he chuckled breaking the silence. Erza was frozen, the way he looked at her and his smile made her unusually fluster. Her head slightly bent down resting on the knuckles of her right hand which is resting above her left arm crossed under her chest, eyes closed and slightly nodding. "He is handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expressions of his voice. He had the kind of face that stopped you in your tracks. I guess he must get used to that, the sudden pause in a person's natural expression when they looked his way followed by an overcompensating nonchalant gaze and a weak smile. Of course the blush that accompanied it was a dead give-away." she talks to herself inwardly.

She felt a brush of warm air at her left ear that made her open her eyes as she trembled. She found the man now standing in front of her closing the space between them, his arms rested against the wall behind her, caging her, almost pinning her on the wall. "You seemed lost in the trail of your thoughts miss" he whispered with a low deep sultry voice, she turned her head to face him, her face became the color of a bad sunburn effect, making her face look like it was on fire. She turned her head to the side to avert her gaze, but the sudden rosiness of her cheeks gave her away as his long fingers curled under her chin, tilting it up. His eyelids slightly heavy while looking at her, thumb tracing her lips "You- You're too close!!!" she spat placing her palms against his chest and pushed him away in panic. "Those lips will sure put you in trouble" the man commented with a sly smirk glancing at her from the corner of his eyes.

Momo entered the room holding a tray in her hands with a tea set, she placed it gently on the table, looking at them with confusion. The guy put his glasses back on and let out a small laugh. "Are you okay Titania, are you sick?  Your face is red"  she commented. "Ye-yes, I'm fine- thank you, Its Erza, my name is Erza Belserion... That's what I remembered" She answered with a smile looking at the girl. "That dimwit! What did he think he's doing making me all flustered, I'll make him pay" she thought.

"Have a seat Erza, want some tea?" Gin said pouring some tea into a cup and signalling her to seat beside him. He keeps his eyes constantly narrowed to slits. He appears to be an early to mid twenty-year-old person, he is unusually thin and tall with very sharp features, giving him a skeletal appearance, and bears unusual silver hair, he also keeps his face set in a wide mocking smile. She went towards the table but sat beside Momo across Aizen who sat beside Gin. 

"My apologies if we haven't introduced ourselves formally. My name is Gin Ichimaru, captain of the third division former third seat lieutenant of the fifth division under the man here" he said with a fox-like grin. Erza looked at him amused with a smirk quietly sipping at the tea that he offered.

"Hi, My name is Momo Hinamori, second seat lieutenant of the fifth division, pleased to meet your acquaintance" she said smiling at her.  Erza nodded her agreement, seeing down her tea as she listens to them intently, arms crossed under her chest, legs crossed one over the other looking at her with a stoic expression.

 "My name is Sōsuke Aizen, captain of the fifth division and an instructor at the Shin'ō Academy. I called you here so I can offer you a post in my team. You will be under my wing and be my responsibility as a greenhorn you'll get all the help you'll need here." He offered with a gentle smile and voice totally different from the man she encountered a little earlier. Her eyes met his for a moment before returning to her tea, nodding with a small smile.

"How about a NO?" Erza answered. "I answer to no one and not planning to" she said.

"Well then, how about under my leadership then?" Gin teased

"Hell No! You seem nice and super smart but no thanks, I am not going to be under anyone obeying orders." Erza stressed out further.

"Hey, It's not as bad as you think it is Erza chan. It is very difficult to be a greenhorn, enemies will target you if you don't affiliate yourself with any of Gotei 13" Momo said trying to convince her.

"How did a nice girl such as you get associated with a a very mysterious man almost creepy that you can't even see his eyes and always has fox grin on his face!!! And- and... and this pervert, who's hiding on a decent, polite, soft spoken gentle face here" she said annoyed pointing at Aizen's face.

Every one laughed at her accusing Aizen as a pervert. "So is that what you think of me? You sure are difficult to please" the 5th division captain confirmed.

"Yes you are, with what you did earlier you are a perverted fool" Erza confirmed slyly, hiding her small smirk with her cup as she took another sip of the tea.

"Alright, Erza I'll show you to my room, we'll be roommates for the time being since you haven't decided yet. Let's go" Momo concluded.

"I can sure use a warm bath, I've been dying to soak in a hot tub" she said stretching her arms up and stood up to follow the girl's lead.

"Gin, what do you think?" Aizen asked him knowing he was there waiting for him to say something to him.

"The look on your face says what your intentions are." He mocked.

"What would that be?" he taunted.

"You want her don't you?" He asked, knowing Aizen all too well. 

"Do I want her as a pet or slave?" He thought to himself, smirking. "Gin do me a favor, kindly check on who she was before soul society. I want to know everything about her. I got a good feeling that she can be very essential to us" he added.

"I see you have chosen then?" Gin says walking away, then stopped at the door."Perhaps I might want her for her powers, have you ever thought that?" Aizen asked him."Possible but very unlikely."He noted, Aizen laughed to himself as he left. 

"My slave, Erza Belserion my property you shall become. I'll make your stubbornness bow down to me, I'll make you mine." He whispered with a smile closing his eyes.