Yoshino Sōma

is the one of the Bounts and Jin Kariya's former wife.

Appearance
Yoshino has long, soft brown hair, parted on the side. She wears a large-collared shirt with a vest over it that fans out at the bottom, giving it the appearance of tails. The bracelet and claw that she wears are actually her sealed doll.

Personality
As remarked by Uryu, Yoshino chooses to live next to a clock, waiting for the chance to live, rather than watch the passage of time. In the past, she was accepted only by Kariya, and was fiercely loyal to him. However, over time, their love faded and she was left opposing him, that is, after he began to attack the living.

Synopsis
When she first appeared, Yoruichi Shihōin stopped her from taking a living soul. Ichigo Kurosaki and Ririn then corner her and she releases her doll, Goethe. The fiery doll would have destroyed him, had it not been for the appearance of Rukia Kuchiki. Shortly after that, several snakes (made out of pipes) capture her doll, and her fellow Bount, Utagawa, takes her back to Kariya's mansion.

Yoshino escapes and saves Uryu Ishida from Utagawa's attack. She tries to explain the life she has lived as a Bount, but Uryu loses consciousness. She then takes him to his father's hospital, where he is attacked by Hō and Ban. Feeling like a burden, Uryu wanders from his friends and Yoshino picks him up once more. The two talk and she explains that Kariya must want to go to Hueco Mundo. It is then that Gō Koga and his doll attack. Unfortunately, the metallic Dalk is impervious to fire, and she is easily overpowered. Uryu saves her, though, by using his body as a shield. They are then taken back to Kariya's mansion.

Ishida's friends show up to rescue them. Ichigo battles Utagawa and Rukia battles Maki Ichinose, both of which end with her being brought back to Urahara's place. However, in order to protect everyone, she seeks out Kariya. The two share a short battle where Yoshino desperately merges with Goethe. She is impaled through the chest by Kariya and her soul was transmuted into the bitto.

Doll
is Yoshino Sōma's doll. It takes the form of a claw (on her left hand) and bracelet (on her right hand) when sealed. To unseal Goethe, Yoshino strikes the two pieces together to create a spark, which releases him. Goethe is a fire elemental, able to create and control flame. While mostly humanoid in appearance, it has no legs. It can't be attacked physically, being made of flame, and reforms if dispersed. Ichigo attempted to strike him through the heart, believing it to be his weakness. This resulted in Goethe splitting apart and firing each body part as a weapon.


 * Hybrid Being: In Yoshino's last moments, she and Goethe merge to create a stronger, hybrid being, allowing Yoshino to control fire herself. Both Yoshino and Goethe are able to talk in this form, but Yoshino is the more dominant one. The fire they are composed of is a light yellow, in contrast to the original orange. Unfortunately, her full capabilities weren't shown, as Kariya impaled and killed her quite easily in their last battle.



Trivia

 * It is possible that Yoshino's doll is named after Goethe, the German polymath.
 * She is the only Bount capable of giving birth, as stated by Kariya.
 * She is the second Bount to merge with her doll, Kariya being the first.