Not a Mob: Psycho

"You look exhausted," said Rukia, referring to the slight puffiness and discoloration beneath Ohta's eyes.
"Cats are vindictive creatures," mused Ohta, shifting the ball to Rukia's court by asking, "What about you? Did you manage to get any sleep last night?"
"I did," replied Rukia, adopting a faint smile. "I also got your letter. Thanks for apprising me of the situation. I greatly appreciate the courtesy."
"It's no big deal," responded Ohta, punctuating his statement with a yawn.
"It is to me," asserted Rukia. "After spending the day with that frustrating boy, I wanted to pull my hair out."
"Ichigo...?" asked Ohta.
"The same," affirmed Rukia. "He has a remarkable aptitude as a Shinigami but is stubborn, short-tempered, and impulsive. If this were the Academy, he'd surely be separated into the class for problem children."
"Sounds about right..." muttered Ohta. "I heard from Tatsuki that his mom died in a brutal accident six years ago. Before that, Ichigo was a massive momma's boy, so it's not surprising he became jaded after seeing her die in person. If that isn't tragic enough, he was found being shielded by her, covered face to toe in her blood..."
Staring at Ohta with an aghast look on her face, Rukia found herself at a complete loss for words. She knew Ichigo didn't have a mother, but she never imagined he had experienced such a horrendous tragedy. She had experienced more than her fair share of tragic experiences, but she was much, much older than the moody teen...
Taking advantage of Rukia's silence, Ohta adopted a faint smile as he reiterated, "So, yeah, don't be too hard on him. No matter how much he complains, I'm sure he's doing his best. I mean, he is putting his life on the line to slay Hollows, right? Most people run from danger, not toward it."
Nodding her head, Rukia faced forward and assured, "I've taken your words to heart. Rest assured, Ohta-kun. I won't push him too hard. And if it looks like he's having a particularly difficult time, I'll be sure to give him some time off."
Adopting a marginally more prominent smile, Ohta asked, "Then it falls to me to pick up the slack, right?"
After covering her mouth to stifle a girlish chuckle, Rukia looked up at Ohta, smiling brightly as she asserted, "You would be a great help. And that's putting it lightly."
"Careful not to inflate my ego too much," countered Ohta, joking, "I may start to think you have ulterior motives..."
Exhaling a scoffing laugh, Rukia gave Ohta a light shrug as she said, "You rogue. If anyone has ulterior motives, it's you."
Blinking in surprise, Ohta left Rukia at a momentary loss for words as he replied, "How did you know...?" with a pretend look of stupefaction.
Realizing that Ohta was messing with her, Rukia made a show of rolling her eyes as she softly remarked, "Humans sure are brazen these days..."
"We're not so bad..." responded Ohta, covering his mouth to stifle another yawn. After successfully giving Yoruichi the slip a second time, earning himself a cuddle session with her human form, the vindictive cat woman started taking things seriously. By the end of the third round, he suffered two black eyes, a fractured nose, and a few broken ribs, but Ohta viewed the exchange as his victory since he had forced someone much older and far more experienced to get serious while he was still holding back...
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After another half day of tedium, Ohta dragged his feet up to the roof, unsurprised to find Yoruichi waiting for him in her cat form.
Before Ohta could tease her by asking if she intended to sleep with him every time he took a nap, Yoruichi revealed, "I discussed it with Kisuke. If you're willing, we can expedite the process of you becoming a Shinigami. I will then spend the next 2-3 months training you."
Maintaining his teasing smile, Ohta asked, "Did I really leave such a deep impression on you after a single night of training?"
Catching Ohta a little off guard, though it didn't show on his face, Yoruichi flatly asserted, "You, Yamada Ohta, are an aberration, a genuine monster with limitless potential. If you're not eradicated within the next few years, you could reach this world's zenith, second only to the Soul King, the ruler of Soul Society himself..."
Understanding what Yoruichi was getting at, Ohta's smile waned a bit as he mused, "Meaning that if my allegiances and motives aren't clear, I'll be eliminated before I can become a threat..."
Nodding her head, Yoruichi stated, "People, including native souls, fear the unknown. In the wake of our training last night, when I was treating your injuries, I could sense your Hakusui(Soul Sleep), the container that holds your spirit energy, continuously expanding as it fed off the energy I was using to heal you. We think it has something to do with your extreme focus on mental energy. Now that you're starting to become more familiar with other forms of energy, your soul is changing and adapting rapidly..."
"I don't need a detailed explanation," replied Ohta. "What assurance do I have that you and that shady shopkeep won't simply kill or try to seal me away?"
"We wouldn't," responded Yoruichi, clarifying, "Because, even with your tremendous potential, you're far from the greatest threat to the existing balance. If we don't prevent those, there won't be a world left for you to ruin..."
"That's a fairly compelling argument," conceded Ohta. "But it's also extremely roundabout and vague. If I'm going to trust you, I require something more substantial..."
"I could sit on your face," offered Yoruichi, mostly as a joke but with a serious glint in her eyes.
"That's definitely a lot more substantial..." replied Ohta, earning a catty deadpan from Yoruichi as he made a show of furrowing his brows in deep contemplation. It helped that he was actually considering it...
"You must expect me to fight against these other threats if you're willing to train me, right?" asked Ohta.
Nodding in affirmation, Yoruichi was about to explain further but was preempted by Ohta saying, "Sounds like fun. In exchange, until those threats have been dealt with, you'll keep me company every night. Well, not every night, but you get what I'm trying to say."
Though she furrowed her feline brows, Yoruichi only hesitated for a few seconds before responding with a contemptuous-sounding, "Fine...". She was intending to entrap Ohta from the very beginning, but it made things easier for her if he believed she was against it.
"Well, guess I'll die now," said Ohta, leaving Yoruichi a little speechless as he made his way over to the roof's edge and began climbing the chainlink fence.
Instead of stopping Ohta outright, Yoruichi asked, "Do you not intend to have an artificial soul inhabit your body? I understand you might not feel any attachment to them, but you'll sadden those who view you in a kinder light if you simply kill yourself..."
"Hmmm...you make a good point..." conceded Ohta. He had also 'skipped' the first fifteen years of his life, so he felt it might be jumping the gun a bit to end things on only his seventh day at the helm. His past self 'had' put a fair amount of effort into crafting his public image and persona...
Releasing the chainlink fence and dropping back to the roof, Ohta turned to Yoruichi and asked, "Since you suggested it, I'm assuming that you, or, more accurately, Urahara-san, has everything prepared...?'
Nodding in affirmation, Yoruichi explained, "He also said he was willing to put your body in stasis and have a Gigai replace the version of you going to school. That way, if ever a time comes when you regret your decision to become a Shinigami, you can always return to live out the remainder of your days as a 'fairly' ordinary human..."
"How thoughtful," mused Ohta. He suspected that his original body could be used to seal him away if he ever became unruly, but he honestly didn't care. He had already lived and died once, so as long as he could have a bit of fun on his way out, he didn't mind kicking the bucket a second time.
Deciding that their conversation was finished, Ohta sat down before lying in the shade of the wall. Yoruichi would have joined him before their little arrangement, but as she was only requested to accompany him at 'night,' she wasted no time departing...
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Waiting until they were halfway to their apartments, Ohta nearly caused Rukia to faceplant by revealing, "I'm going to become a Shinigami. Maybe not tonight, but sometime in the near future."
"W-What are you saying!?" exclaimed Rukia, convincing herself she had heard wrong.
"I'll be able to hunt Hollows far more efficiently if I'm a Shinigami," stated Ohta, his voice calm and casual as he added, "Then you and Ichigo won't have to run out of class in the middle of the day only to come back for the last twenty minutes. He can focus on his education, and you can focus on regaining your power. It's a win-win-win for all parties."
"..."
Believing that Ohta had made his decision out of consideration for her and Ichigo, Rukia found herself at a loss for words until they were just outside their apartments. And she might have remained silent even longer if Ohta didn't turn to her, asking, "You good...?" with raised brows.
Staring up at Ohta, Rukia wore a conflicted look as she said, "You only recently learned about Shinigami and the Soul Society. It would be best-"
Interrupting Rukia's words, Ohta plopped his hand on her head, stating, "We're all entitled to make stupid decisions. You gave up your power to a temperamental teen with PTSD. I'm giving up a life of make-believe to be a part of a world where I can express myself freely. Comparing the two of us, I think my decision is better thought-out."
"You idiot..." replied Rukia, wiping away tears and laughing simultaneously. Just as she had learned more about Ichigo from Ohta and her classmates, she had made a concerted effort to learn more about her newly acquired friend and neighbor. She knew he was orphaned and that he usually kept to himself. However, much like Ichigo, he had a penchant for sticking his nose into other peoples' businesses, often playing the part of a villain to scare Delinquents straight and deter bullies from picking on the weak...
Retracting his hand, Ohta revealed, "I just lent you some of my power. I'm tired as hell after last night, so unless there's an emergency, I'm gonna hit the hay. See you around, pintsized."
Though she didn't appreciate being called pintsized, Rukia gave several nods, quickly wiped away her tears, and looked up at him with a smile as she said, "Sleep well, Ohta-kun..."
"And you try not to overwork yourself," countered Ohta, returning a smile of his own before opening his door and stepping inside. Rukie felt a pang of loneliness as he did so, but, not wanting to disturb his rest, she shook her head, slapped her cheeks, and retreated into her apartment...
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"Are you sure it's me you want to sit on your face?" asked Yoruichi, smiling mischievously at Ohta while lying sideways on his bed.
"She seems like a good, honest girl, but you're unquestionably more my type," replied Ohta, removing his blazer and proceeding to unbutton his shirt, this time while staring directly at Yoruichi.
"It's too bad that you're not mine," replied Yoruichi, lying as easily as she breathed. In actuality, as much as they annoyed her, she had a thing for clever and manipulative bastards. She and Kisuke were even a couple in the past, but after bickering for the better part of sixty years, they came to the conclusion things would never work between them. Not when she had her duties as the former and future leader of the Shihouin family, and he was incapable of love...
"It really is..." agreed Ohta, removing his pants but not approaching the bed. Instead, he donned some long-john gym pants, sweats, and a plain black t-shirt before looking back at Yoruichi and pointing out, "The Sun is still up. Either move over or get out of the way. I'm going to sleep."
"Seriously...?" asked Yoruichi, raising her brows in genuine surprise. She originally planned to wait a few weeks before pretending to give in, but Ohta's reaction both annoyed and provoked her. Even more so when his initial response to her question was to yawn...
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Staring at the peacefully sleeping face of Ohta, Yoruichi was genuinely tempted to sit on it. Not for either of their satisfaction but to asphyxiate him. The only problem was, based on what she knew of his personality, Ohta probably wouldn't mind going out in such a way...
("This brat really knows how to push my buttons...") thought Yoruichi, leaning back and phasing through the wall connecting Ohta's apartment to the one behind it. She wasn't just going to stare at him as he slept, so she transitioned into her cat form and perched atop the wall surrounding the complex, enjoying the last hour or so of sunlight before day gave way to night...
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Feeling a weight press against his lower abdomen, Ohta opened his eyes to find Yoruichi staring down at him in her human form, her body garbed in the same skintight, no-imagination-required outfit as before.
"Do you wear the same clothes every single day?" asked Ohta, causing Yoruichi's left eye to twitch as she questioned, "Is that seriously the first thing that came to your mind in this situation...?"
"I like to think I have realistic expectations," replied Ohta. "I wouldn't mind being proven wrong, but if you were this easy, you might not even be worth the minimal effort I've put in..."
Punctuating his words, Ohta gave Yoruichi a firm smack on her left ass cheek with his right hand. His actions earned him a kunai tip up his nose, but the slight pain and accompanying trickle did little to hinder the smile on his face as he remarked, "Nice."
Exhaling a huffy sigh and shaking her head, Yoruichi retracted her kunai from Ohta's nose, rising to stand over him as she stated, "It's about that time. You ready?"
"Let me enjoy this angle for a moment..." replied Ohta. Unfortunately, Yoruichi reacted by leaping soundlessly from his bed, making her way to the front door in long strides as she said, "I'll be outside..." in a flat tone.
Rising to a seated position, Ohta stretched his body, arching his right arm over his head and eliciting a satisfying pop from his lower back. A part of him regretted not enjoying the sensation of having Yoruichi sit atop him a while longer, but he was confident his incitements would either cause her to snap or prompt her to push him down of her own accord...
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After donning what might be his final disguise, Ohta made his way over to Urahara's shop, stepping into the antiquated-looking storefront with cat-form Yoruichi perched upon his shoulder.
"Well, look at you two," mused Kisuke, waiting for them atop the elevated section of the store's floor. "It's barely been two days, and you're already chummy. How enviable."
"Is everything prepared?" asked Ohta, not bothering to inquire about the process they would be using to off him.
"Yep. Just follow after me," replied Urahara, rising to his feet and guiding Ohta deeper into the building. There was a thick wooden hatch in what looked like an abandoned storage room, which, once opened, revealed a ladder that seemed to extend to the very depths of Hell.
After descending into a massive chamber whose terrain resembled a wasteland and whose walls and ceiling were structured to resemble a cloudy sky at midday, Urahara spread his arms and said, "Welcome to my secret underground study chamber~! Pretty impressive, isn't it? I made it myself."
"How?" asked Ohta. "This place is the size of multiple city blocks. How doesn't the city above collapse during an earthquake?"
Whipping out his bamboo folding fan and using it on himself, Urahara adopted a sly smile as he mused, "Trade secret, I'm afraid. Unless you become my employee and sign a non-disclosure agreement, I can't tell you."
"Hard pass," replied Ohta, waving his hand in front of his face like he was wafting away the smell of shit. At the same time, his gaze focused on a tall, bespectacled, muscular man with tanned skin, short dreadlocks, and a handlebar mustache standing next to two brats. The slightly taller one was a girl with glossy purple hair set in pigtails, two thick strands running down the center of her face, while the presumed younger of the two was a temperamental-looking little shit with short, bright-red hair and sanpaku eyes.
Upon reaching the trio, Urahara gestured toward them as he said, "These are my co-workers. The big one is Tessai, and the younger ones are Ururu and Jinta."
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," said Tessai, placing his hand over his heart and bowing courteously. The little girl, Ururu, followed his example by folding her hands over her lap and bowing her head, but the red-haired brat remained upright with his arms crossed, staring daggers at Ohta as he said, "You don't look so tough..."
Completely ignoring the brat, Ohta looked to Urahara and asked, "So, how we doin' this?"
Answering in Kisuke's stead, Yoruichi leaped from Ohta's shoulder, taking on her human form as she revealed, "We'll be using a method similar to the one Kuchiki Rukia used to transfer her powers to Kurosaki Ichigo, but more refined."
Nodding his head, Kisuke added, "You already possess a decent amount of spirit energy, so you already fulfill the basic requirement to become a Shinigami aspirant. The only things you're missing are a soul form and an Asauchi, the unattuned form of a Zanpakuto. Unfortunately, Asauichi don't exactly grow on trees, so..."
"So you'll basically be borrowing mine until you manage to acquire one or form a spiritual weapon of your own," appended Yoruichi.
Raising her right hand, palm facing upward, Yoruichi materialized a tanto-like blade from motes of bluish-white light. Most Shinigami carried their Zanpakuto on their body, but Yoruichi had effectively fused with hers to keep the spirit within from accusing her of neglect.
Pointing the tip of her Zanpakuto toward Ohta, Yoruichi adopted a teasing smile as she said, "Well, whenever you're ready, kiddo. All you need to do is willfully impale yourself on my Zanpakuto. More specifically, it needs to pierce your heart."
"I suppose that beats yeeting myself off the roof at school," replied Ohta, fearlessly stepping forward to grab Yoruichi's wrist with both hands. The notion that he was being set up to commit soul suicide briefly crossed his mind, but that didn't stop him from cracking a smile and impaling himself in the chest while staring into Yoruichi's eyes.
Feeling an 'explosion' within his body, Ohta was momentarily blinded by the same bluish-white light that appeared when Yoruichi manifested her Zanpakuto. When the light faded, he found himself in the courtyard of an ancient, Japanese-style palace, his body garbed in a loose black yukata...
"That woman is always doing things to piss me off..." groaned a husky yet unmistakably feminine voice. When Ohta turned toward it, the pupils of his eyes contracted as he found himself being stared at by a massive, at least five-meter-tall black cat.
Bringing its face down to Ohta's level, the monstrous cat narrowed its eyes and asked, "As I recall, you said you were a dog person, correct...?"
Adopting a somewhat forced smile, Ohta replied, "Something like that. But that's primarily because most cats are insufferable assholes. You give off a more dignified aura."
"So you say..." muttered the massive cat, lowering itself to its belly and folding its paws beneath it as it added, "I will lend you my power, but my condition is that you come here to play with me while you sleep. Neglect me, and I'll hunt you like a mouse in your dreams..."
"That's more than a little unreasonable," said Ohta. "I don't mind keeping you company, but I prefer to sleep while I sleep. I'm sure even you have moments where you want to shut off your brain and relax."
"Hmmm...you're not wrong..." admitted the giant cat, closing its eyes in deliberation for several seconds before opening them and saying, "Very well. I still require that you visit, but I will not force you to play. Instead, you will accompany me for a nap."
"That's marginally more agreeable," mused Ohta, raising his hand to ask, "Mind if I pet you?"
"Proceed," replied the monstrous cat, closing its eyes as Ohta placed his hand on its snout. Around that same time, Ohta found himself back in the real world, hearing Kisuke muse, "Oh my~" while Yoruichi stared back at him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, a reaction to the fact he was currently squeezing her left breast.
Retracing his right hand, Ohta casually inquired, "So, what now? Am I a Shinigami...?"
"Look behind you," suggested Kisuke, compelling Ohta to look back, discovering his ostensibly lifeless body collapsed on the ground. He also noticed he was wearing the same outfit that Rukia had appeared in the first time he encountered her, a uniform consisting of a white shitagi, a black kosode, black hakama, white tabi, and waraji-style straw sandals. There was also a tanto strapped to his lower back, and beneath the rest of his ensemble, he had on a black bodysuit, conforming to his body like a second skin.
Drawing the tanto from his back, Ohta observed his reflection in its highly polished blade, his brows perking up when the image briefly shifted to the eyes of the massive cat he had encountered moments prior.
Observing Ohta's actions, Yoruichi crossed her arms and inquired, "Were you able to learn its name?" in a genuinely curious tone.
"It didn't come up," replied Ohta, returning the silvery blade to its sheathe as he asked, "So, what now?"
"That's up to you," replied Kisuke, pulling out a tiny green sphere as he added, "This little fellow is a Gikongan(Artificial Soul Pill). If we place it in your body, an artificial soul will take control and carry on living your life. The other option is to place your body in stasis and prepare a Gigai in its stead."
Shaking his head, Ohta asserted, "I'm the type that only moves forward. Just toss it into my original body."
"How decisive," mused Kisuke, heeding Ohta's instructions by casually flicking the spherical pill into his former body's mouth. When he did, the body's lifeless eyes regained their light, followed by the person piloting it sitting up and giving himself a once-over.
Earning the artificial soul's attention, Ohta stated, "I honestly don't care what you do long-term, but try not to ruin the reputation I established for myself these past fifteen years."
Adopting a remarkably punchable smile, the artificial soul responded, "I don't need to be told what to do by the person who abandoned this body. Mind your own business."
Before Ohta could kick his former self in the face, Kisuke mused, "I tried picking the Gikongan that most closely matched your standoffish nature. He's also quite intelligent and emits a diffusion field that prevents those around him from suspecting anything is amiss, so you don't have to worry too much."
"Yeah, worry about yourself," appended the artificial soul, rising to his feet and dusting himself off, adding, "And this is where I make my exit." before turning around, giving everyone present the middle finger as he made his way toward the ladder leading to the surface.
Turning to Yoruichi, Ohta remarked, "I wouldn't intervene if you decided to kick his ass..." in a flat monotone.
"Eh, I'm used to people with your appearance being insufferable," mused Yoruichi, crossing her arms and smiling cheekily.
Rolling his eyes, Ohta shifted his gaze to Urahara and asked, "Does that have access to my memories?"
Shaking his head, Urahara mused, "If only. Unfortunately, artificial souls need to be programmed from scratch. I used the data I've collected on you over the past few years to give that one an edge, but he's basically a completely different person. The diffusion field he emits makes his body super durable, but he doesn't possess any of your innate skills, much less your memories. Why, you got something to hide?"
"Who doesn't?" asked Ohta, turning to Yoruichi and asking, "You ready to go?"
Blinking in surprise, Yoruichi asked, "Go where? This is the place we'll be using to conduct your Shinigami training. The forest may be out of sight from ordinary prying eyes, but this chamber blocks spiritual pressure and serves as a closed-off dimension. You need at least this much if you want to avoid Soul Society's surveillance teams long-term."
"Then we'll return tomorrow morning," replied Ohta. "I told Rukia I would be patrolling at night, and, last I checked, you agreed to accompany me. Am I mistaken...?"
Though she furrowed her brows, Yoruichi didn't attempt to refute Ohta's words. Instead, it was Kisuke who said, "Then I'll suppose we'll be seeing you tomorrow. Have a fun night, you two. Ohohoho~"
Hearing Kisuke's words, the red-haired Jinta remarked, "Seriously? You mean we came down here for nothing?"
Giving Jinta a light push, the muscular Tessai muttered, "Come along now, children. It's time for bed."
Clicking his tongue, Jinta cast a hateful stare at Ohta, but the latter didn't even acknowledge him. He could guess why the little shit was upset, but he genuinely didn't care. He might have agreed to train with Yoruichi, but that didn't mean he was going to subject himself to her, or anyone else's, authority. Their agreement also stipulated that she accompanied him at night, so wherever he went, she was obliged to follow...
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After relocating to a decently sized clearing, Yoruichi explained, "The foundation of Hoho is stepping. The purpose is to avoid damage, outmaneuver your opponent, and move from point A to point B in the briefest period."
Moving her left foot forward, tapping the ground with her toes, Yoruichi added, "The first Hoho technique prospective Shinigami are exposed to is the 8-Step Method. The principle is fairly straightforward, moving your feet front-to-back, side-to-side, and toward the four corners. The aim is to evade your opponent's attacks at a minimal distance, allowing you to take advantage of any openings they create."
Narrowing her eyes and adopting a cat-like smile, Yoruichi instructed, "I want you to try and touch me. You're free to use your power, but only to enhance your speed and strength."
"I already know you're fast," replied Ohta. "I also understand the basic principle behind the 8-Step Method, so what purpose is there in chasing you around while limiting myself?"
"The 8-Step Method is the basis for several other techniques, including the penultimate form of Hoho, Shunpo," said Yoruichi. "Mastering it would take years, so the best thing you can do for your upcoming battles is learn how to predict your opponent's movements based on the position of their feet and body."
"That's kind of my point," argued Ohta. "I agree with everything you're saying, but I'm not going to run around chasing my opponent and trying to tag them. What happened back in the alleyway was me trying to stay cool and be discreet. If I let my power run rampant, everything around us would have been destroyed."
"Hmmm..."
Crossing her arms in a way that further accented her already large bust,
Yoruichi proposed, "Then, how about using this opportunity to show me what you can do? I'll have a better idea of how to train you if I know what you're capable of."
Glancing at the undisturbed forest around him, Ohta's smile softened near imperceptibly, expressing, "I'd rather not. Not only would that expose my hand, but it would also result in the natural denizens of this forest having their homes destroyed for nothing."
Raising her right brow, Yoruichi remarked, "That's awfully considerate of you. I didn't peg you as the type to care about the devastation you cause. At least, so long as it doesn't inconvenience or expose you."
"Hey, accountability is important," said Ohta. "I might be an asshole, but I'm only a sadist toward those who deserve it. The animals inhabiting this forest never did anything to me."
"Then let's take things to the sky," replied Yoruichi, pointing upward. "As for exposing your hand, you're too sensitive. We determined the source of your psychic power long ago. You possess an inordinate amount of mental energy, vesting you immense psychic abilities. Well, news flash, kid, but that isn't a power unique to you. All creatures, living or spiritual, draw from the same three reservoirs of power: spirit, mental, and physical energy. A Shinigami's primary source of power is their spirit energy, but the process of controlling or materializing that energy is mental, aka, willpower."
To demonstrate her point, Yoruichi pulled out a kunai, seemingly from thin air, before throwing it at a tree. However, instead of driving into the tree's surface, it swerved around it, circumnavigating the trunk before returning to Yoruichi's hand.
"I specialize in Hoho and Hakuda techniques, but I'm proficient in each of the Shinigami Arts, including Kido(Demon Arts)," said Yoruichi. "Each uses mental energy to some extent, but the latter depends on it to cast spells. With sufficient mental and spiritual energy, Kido allows Shinigami to bind their opponents, seal their power, form barriers, cast powerful destruction magic, and heal both themselves and others. Sound familiar?"
"..."
Taking advantage of Ohta's silence, Yoruichi adopted a teasing smile and said, "What makes you irregular is that you have way more mental energy than most, even powerful Kido experts. With proper training, you could be one of the most powerful people in all three realms. The caveat is that as you stockpile more and more mental energy in the form of 'psychic power,' your spiritual and physical energies are being suppressed. In other words, it's killing you."
"Sounds about right," replied Ohta, recalling the headaches and severe nosebleeds his past self used to get. It was why his current self tried to conserve and use his power efficiently rather than actively attempting to develop it further.
"Man, nothing gets to you, does it?" asked Yoruichi. She knew that wasn't the case, but Ohta's mental fortitude was exceptional for his age.
Without waiting for Ohta's response, Yoruichi shrugged her shoulders and reasoned, "Well, dying young isn't necessarily a bad thing. Souls don't age conventionally, so if you cling to life unnecessarily, you could be stuck as an old man for centuries after your death. In your case, you could entrust your physical body to a mod soul, an artificial spirit, allowing it to maintain the identity you've crafted while you venture elsewhere."
"What are the downsides?" asked Ohta, genuinely curious. From the moment he learned that Rukia's body was artificially manufactured, he had thought of acquiring a few 'spares' to substitute his own if it broke down. He might not fear death, but that didn't mean he was in a hurry to die. In fact, persistence and survival were two of his proficiencies...
Noticing Ohta's interest, the corners of Yoruichi's smile curled upward as she replied, "None, at least, not in the short term. There's a chance that your soul would become incompatible with your original body as it ages, but there are medications to fix that. The bigger issue is that the artificial soul inhabiting might develop independence if you leave it unattended for too long. In other words, it could end up living a life different from the one you had in mind for yourself."
"That's not that big a deal," replied Ohta. "I don't have any meaningful attachments to this life, so if I 'did' give up my body, I wouldn't fret over the decisions its new owner makes in its comparably short life."
Exhaling a light chuckle, Yoruichi remarked, "You have a very pragmatic way of looking at things. If our operation goes smoothly, you should join my Shihouin family. We're one of the top five families in Soul Society, so if you're looking to acquire standing or status, it's a decent place to lay your roots."
"And become a vassal?" asked Ohta. He didn't know what status Yoruichi held within her family, but it had to be fairly high if she was talking about others joining casually.
"More like a Custodian," replied Yoruichi. "If cultivated, your power is too great for you to be reduced to a mere vassal. You also aren't a native-born Soul, so the history and traditions of the Soul Society don't apply to you. I 'could' assign you as my personal guard, but I neither need protection nor do I think you'd enjoy following me around."
Adopting a smile of his own, Ohta rebutted, "Don't be so sure. If you plan to walk around in pants like that, I wouldn't mind following behind you for a few hours each day..."
"Cute," replied Yoruichi. "However, unless you can surpass me in speed, strength, and Reiryoku density, you lack the qualifications to admire my backside. At least, not in front of members of my clan."
Half-turning away, providing a tantalizing view of her body from the side, Yoruichi added, "We'll discuss this matter in greater detail once the team from Soul Society has come to claim the Kuchiki brat. Having you become a Shinigami now will just draw unnecessary attention to yourself. Once we invade Soul Society, it will no longer matter. If you decide to join us in the rescue operation, you'll either die a criminal or help vindicate both us and the Kuchiki brat. After that, many things become possible."
Disappearing and reappearing several meters away, Yoruichi's golden eyes glistened in the light of the moon as she said, "In preparation for that, let's play a game. There's a good chance you'll need to escape the pursuit of one or more Captains, so, using whatever means you prefer, I want you to try and flee from me. If you can give me the slip or evade me for one hour, I'll reward you once we return to your apartment. Even you should find that agreeable."
"You're not wrong..." replied Ohta. "But I have some terms of my own. If I succeed the first time, you'll give me my 'reward' here in the forest. After that, we'll continue playing until sunrise..."
Raising her brows, Yoruichi remarked, "Wow, you really are an opportunist, aren't you? But sure. Assuming you win the first round, I'm game to play a few more. In fact, each round you win, I'll give you an even better reward. That should get your blood pump-"
Causing Yoruichi's pupils to contract to the size of pinholes, Ohta's body vanished before she could finish speaking. It was incredibly sloppy, but after seeing how Yoruichi had manipulated his psychic energy to execute her movement techniques, Ohta had copied them. More importantly, as she had yet to expel the psychic energy from her body, she was unable to pursue him immediately.
Contrasting the somewhat vicious smile on her face, Yoruichi couldn't help being amused by Ohta's actions. She had anticipated him using his psychic power to restrain her, but his timing had been perfect, catching her completely unawares. Unfortunately for Ohta, while she didn't mind rewarding him, Yoruichi was also a poor loser...
Forcibly breaking free from Ohta's psychic restraints, Yoruichi's body immediately disappeared, seemingly flickering out of existence. Ohta had taken to the sky and was speeding away like an intercontinental missile, but she wasn't called the 'Goddess of Shunpo' for nothing. It might take a few minutes, but she was confident she could catch and ground his ass...
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Sensing the remnant psychic power in Yoruichi's body moving away from him, pursuing the mass of energy he had sent hurtling toward the Pacific, a faint smile adorned Ohta's face as he mused, "That wasn't so difficult..."
Understanding that Yoruichi was going to be exceptionally butthurt when she realized he had pulled a fast one on her, Ohta began moving around the forest, implanting his psychic energy into various trees and stones. He had memorized the energy signature of Yoruichi's movement technique, so by pinging the dormant implants remotely, he could make it seem like he was darting around the forest at high speeds...
Sensing that Yoruichi had obliterated his 'goose,' Ohta returned to the clearing where their little game had commenced, lying on the grass and relaxing with his hands behind his head. It took around seven minutes for Yoruichi to catch his goose but only three for her to return, staring down at him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes as she said, "Okay, I'll admit it. That was pretty clever."
Getting straight to the point, Ohta asked, "Where's my reward? I'm fairly sure that qualifies as 'giving you the slip.'"
Crossing her arms, Yoruichi's cramped smile wilted into a frown as she asked, "What do you want?"
Patting his chest, Ohta replied, "We have about fifty minutes remaining until the end of the first round. Let's take a short nap. I'd prefer it if you remained in your human form, but I don't mind if you want to transform into a cat. Did you know that a cat's purring can help lower blood pressure and has many other health benefits...?"
Hearing Ohta repeat her joke back at her, Yoruichi rolled her eyes before stepping forward and placing her foot on his chest as she asked, "Is this your attempt to inject more psychic energy into my body?"
"You haven't even gotten rid of the energy I left there earlier," replied Ohta, demonstrating his point by causing the already skin-tight fabric around Yoruichi's chest, ass, and thighs to constrict slightly. She had expelled all traces of his energy from the interior of her body, but her clothes, hair, and accessories still carried traces of a psychic imprint.
Understanding why Ohta would go out of his way to reveal his hand, Yoruichi's left eye twitched as she suspected the next round would be even more annoying than the first...
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Chapter 14: Longing for Release