第22章: Came to my rescue

Jin Kariya arrived in an abandoned warehouse in the outskirts of Karakura Town. A group of Números welcomed him and dragged him inside where at the center stood Shawlong Koufang. He has as a long face with grey eyes and black hair, which is braided and usually hanging over his shoulder. What remains of his mask is on the top of his head, with a portion dropping down to cover the upper-left half of his face, and a long spike that points to his right. The location of his Hollow hole is in the center of his abdomen, but is hidden by his Arrancar uniform, which is standard.

"Welcome Jin Kariya, the bount's front man" Shawlong said with a smirk before some of the Números kicked him and made him kneel down. "You are the key to finding the bount's leader and creator" then the other Números dragged Sōma as she tries to get free from their grasp. "Jin!" she shouted catching the bount's attention. "Shut the fuck up" one of the captors growled at her. "I don't want to hurt her, so give me the information I need" Shawlong threatened. kariya activated his doll "he Great Winds, come before. The great powers, come into me. Messer: Windestanz" he said and summoned tornadoes to attack Shawlong. the leader of the said Números deflected his attack using his Zanpakutō "Snip, Tijereta" as he deflects the tornadoes being sent to him. "Wind Licht Schneide" Kariya fires off a strong, slim, blast of wind."Awake and Snip: Resurrección: Shawlong commanded and he grows an armor that covers his arms and upper chest, while his hands transform into long claws and his mask extends down to cover the left side of his face, while the part of his mask fragment, extending out to his right, becomes a claw-tipped tail. Also, his original mask fragment extends downward to form a sort of half-helmet, and the side protrusion becomes mounted on the back of his head and attacks Kariya.He falls on the ground unconscious. "What a shame" he commented as he kneels down to check if he's still breathing. "Jin!!! No" Sōma screamed and sobbed as she ran towards his unconscious body, with blood gushing out from his mouth he said "I love you Yoshino" touching her cheeks and ran out of breath "No, please don't die, I love you too Jin" then she rested her head to his chest and cried her heart out.

The door slammed open as Yuuta and Erza entered the warehouse ready for a fight. Yuuta immediately wore a red glove with a symbol of a flaming skull emblazoned on it. "Gokon Tekkō" he said pushing Erza's chest and removing her soul from her gigai and transformed into her shinigami form. He carried her body to a safe place and signaled her to fight. Erza even confused with why he has the gauntlet had no time to ask for the enemies started to charge at them. Both Yuuta and Erza faught back to back with each other as they both unsheated their Zanpakutō and started slashing, charging, piercing and killing. They danced in the battlefield, turning, twisting, dodging, attacking both watching each other's move in the corner of their eyes smirking in amazement with their swordsmanship. They fought perfectly and their teamwork seemed like they were fighting together for a long time. They managed to destroy the enemy and at the same time protect each other. "I have a question, are you a shinigami?" Erza asked "Is this the right time for such question?" he asked back while both of them fights."You're the most mysterious bastard I met" she stated "Look who's talking" he shot back at her.

Shawlong ran away and Yuuta noticed him "Jin! Jin!" Erza heard her friend Sōma cries so they went towards her and saw a female Números hurting her "You fiend!!!" she shouted and sliced her and killed her and ran towards her friend "Sōma are you alright?" but she just cried "Erza, you go after Shawlong, I'll take care of this" Yuuta suggested, so Erza hugged Sōma tight and left off. Shawlong and Erza fought. Erza tries her best to keep him alive for interrogation but what he said pissed her, triggered by his words "I enjoyed you lieutenant's death. Watching my subordinate devour and kill him was a pleasure" and laughed devilishly. Her knuckles turned White from clenching her fist too hard, and gritted teeth from effort to remain silent, her hunched form exuded an animosity that was like acid - burning, slicing, potent. Her face was red with suppressed rage,she swung around pointed her sword at him and mentally snapped.

"You make me sick!!!" She growled as she charges forward hitting him and pinning him down by straddling above him. She held her tears as she remembers how she and Shiba trained together, how his gentle reminders and caring words encouraged her. She started punching his face with all her might repeatedly and his face was now covered in blood. She swear she will not let anyone die in her watch again and that she'll protect her comrade, her nakaka even if it takes her life again. Renji and Urahara came for back up together with other shinigami. Urahara took Sōma to safety as he heals Kariya and Renji went to Erza stopping her from hitting Shawlong and injuring her bloody knuckles further but Erza can't be stopped so he held her under her arms and pulled her up carrying her on his shoulder and used a binding spell to trap Shawlong as the other shinigami took him. Erza ran towards Sōma and Urahara to check on them "How's he?" she asked "He's alright. The injury wasn't fatal." Urahara explained "What a relief" she answered hugging Sōma and tapping her back "Thank you Erza" she said. "he's gonna be alright" Erza assured her with a smile.

Yuuta was no where to be found. Erza tried to find him but he's gone. They all went back to Seireitei where Sōma was placed under protection program together with Kariya as they confessed all bount's activity and their leader Ran'Tao who is the researcher responsible for the creation of the Bounts. They described the she is a slender and youthful-looking woman with thin yellow-rimmed glasses, long brown hair usually hung up with a hairpin, and has brown eyes. In addition to the standard Shinigami attire, she also wears the standard lab coat worn by the other Shinigami scientists. After having her powers sealed, special markings were placed on her back. It has been stated by several characters that she greatly resembles Yoshino Sōma. It is explained that this is because Yoshino was an accidental partial clone of her from the early experiments that gave birth to the Bounts.

Erza's team new assignment is to get Ran'Tao, so they went on the usual surveillance, posing as mortals since the last report stated that she went to the world of the living to hide. Erza saw her and she saw Erza and ran so fast using her flash steps. Jumping from roof to roof. They ran endlessly for almost two hours. Erza didn't use any of her powers due to Ukitake's order not to hurt her and she must be brought back alive "Hey stop right there" she shouted but Ran'Tao just kept running when all of a sudden she fell on the ground when someone hit her unconscious. Erza was surprised and went to her to examine her making sure she is still alive and looked up to see who helped her. Her eye grew wide and her jaw dropped, her heart started racing fast, her throat became dry "Yu- Yuuta! is it really you?" she stuttered. He stood there proud and trying to act cool as he smirked at her "Long time no see" he said "Bastard!" Erza answered and formed a fist as she punches him on the face but he caught her hand and noticed that she was wearing his broken wrist watch. "uhmm, I, I just wore it to complete my undercover look" she explained with her red face and fidgeting. Yuuta pulled her close and his lips landed on hers with a heated kiss.

"what the hell was that for?!?" She asked as she stood there frozen.

"You just don't go on kissing people you don't like!!!" She insisted.

"That kiss was a greeting" he finally answered.

He leaned forward and kissed her again "That kiss is for someone I think is cute"

"You don't kiss someone just because you think they're cute!" She growled while her face is redder than her hair.

He smirked and his lips landed on hers one more time "That kiss is for someone I want to go further with"

Erza looked at him nervously lost for words as she wipes her lips with the back of her hand.

He took her hand away and kissed her one last time but this time more passionately, heated and yet gentle "That kiss had feelings for the person standing in front of me"

Erza was lost, confused, flustered and amazed all at the same time "Could you tell the difference?" He asked.

"If you don't answer, I'll kiss you for real" he teased but she doesn't know what to say and kept silent, so he kissed her again but this time he bit her lips to force her to part them so his tongue can go inside her mouth.

She pulled away covering her mouth and pushing him away. "You're not really young, are you?" she asked in worry that she might be doing this with a minor "No, not a high school kid and I am older than you can imagine" he said with a sweet smile. "Good, then who are you exactly?" she asked. He removed his soul from his gigai to reveal his shinigami form and with shock Erza almost fainted but before she reaches the ground he caught her with his arms and pulled her even closer "How did you do it? I, we didn't even recognize you" she said he smirked and explained "I'm sure Urahara noticed but to my surprise he remained silent about it. I used a gigai that hides and conceals reiatsu, altered it a little bit so it won't take my face and form, giving you the Yuuta you met" Erza had a vein popped on her temple in annoyance and weaved a hand sign and bind Ran'tao while she is still unconscious. "But why go that far? I didn't know you were assigned to this mission with us" she asked "I was never tasked to do this. I just got a little worried for you and wanted to make sure you're OK so I decided to help and protect you. I don't think I can live a single day without you"

She hit him on the head. "How dare you to play me, Sōsuke Aizen" she growled "It's your fault making me feel this way and making me crazy for you. I'll make you pay for hitting me on the head again" he said, smiled and pulled her into another passionately heated kiss as she kisses back.

"Erza, did you get her? hey Erza you there?... Erza come in, if you have her don't let her go... Why are you not answering? You'll regret it for the rest of your life if you let her escape, got it? Erza? Oi Erza!!!" Urahara said on the communication earpiece as the two enjoyed each other's company- Erza in his arms- sinking and melting while ignoring the voice on the other line.