Not a Mob: Psycho

After finishing his explanation, Ohta waited for Karin to finish writing in her notebook before saying, "I'm not sure how much mental energy you have, but your spirit energy should be decent since you can see those monsters called Hollows. Lucky for you, spirit and mental energy aren't too different in the things they can do. Spirit energy is better at suppressing those who are weaker than yourself, and mental energy is easier to control."
Nodding her head, Karin tried to transcribe Ohta's words, but he stopped her, saying, "That's enough note-taking. Utilizing spirit and mental energy is intuitive. The more you try to understand and define it, the further you get away from its essence."
Recalling what Kisuke had said during their first encounter, Ohta added, "The younger you are, the easier it should be to tap into both forms of energy as your way of thinking hasn't been 'polluted' by modern thought and rationales. Science, mathematics, and logic all have their places, but there's a reason you don't see Nobel Laureates and Physicists moving shit with their minds and blasting lightning from their fingertips."
Raising her brows, Karin asked, "I'll be able to shoot lightning from my fingers?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta replied, "That's on you. I'm in the former category. Here, check this out."
Pointing his index finger at the contents of his cup, Ohta flicked upward and made a little swirl with his fingertip. As he did, the cocoa in his cup came out, resembling a snake rising from his mug before swirling around in the shape of a ring.
Staring wide-eyed at the fantastical display, Karin's excitement increased at the notion that she, too, would be able to perform such feats.
"Don't get too excited," said Ohta. "Shit like this might look simple, but it's a lot harder than pushing or crushing objects. I'm a natural psychic, and it still took me a decade to reach this level. In the process, I suffered more headaches and nosebleeds than you have hair...in your eyebrows. Since I only have about ten to twenty days to teach you, our primary focus will be strengthening your body and learning the absolute basics."
Trusting that Ohta knew what he was talking about, Karin gave a curt nod and said, "Just tell me what I need to do."
"Ever heard of failure training...?" asked Ohta.
Shaking her head, Karin replied, "No, what is it?"
"It's repeating an action or exercise until you can't continue," said Ohta, further explaining, "When your body and mind are completely exhausted, it becomes easier to notice even minute changes in your condition. It also helps you understand and overcome your limitations as a human. Without the will to continue where others would break down and quit, you'll never be able to obtain the type of power you're looking for."
"Is that how you got so strong?" asked Karin, staring intently at Ohta as she awaited his response.
Adopting a cheeky smile, Ohta replied, "I was born exceptional, but yeah, even I had to bust my ass. Your old man can attest to that..."
"Then it's a good thing I brought my gym clothes," said Karin. Her current outfit, consisting of spats, a jersey, a white tee, socks, and running shoes, was also suitable for physical exertion, but they were also the clothes she would be walking home in. If they got dirty or stiff with sweat, it would be hell walking several kilometers in the summer heat.
"I'm using your bathroom," said Karin, grabbing her backpack and making her way over without waiting for Ohta's response. Instead of immediately entering, however, she looked back as if she had something to say.
"I'm not going to peek..." said Ohta, adopting a deadpan expression. The reason he and Tatsuki never started dating was because she was far too underdeveloped back in middle school. It could be said that his baseline had shifted after entering a relationship with Rukia, but he had no interest in peeping on an 11-12-year-old brat...
"You better not..." muttered Karin, entering the bathroom without another word while Ohta rolled his eyes. He could tell Karin had a bit of a crush on him, but even if Rukia died and he managed to hold off on entering a new relationship for a couple of years, the plucky tomboy wasn't in the running to become his partner. A 3-4 age gap wasn't too big a deal, especially in a country like Japan, but Ohta would rather shoot his dick off than date one of Ichigo's sisters...
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"Are you for real...?" asked Ohta, staring directly at Karin's face. Her gym uniform consisted of a short-sleeved t-shirt with blue trim and dark-blue shorts known as buruma. Such uniforms were fairly common, especially in elementary schools, but he expected Karin to come out in a tracksuit, not wearing pedo bait...
Feeling a little self-conscious, Karin avoided Ohta's gaze, holding her right arm in a closed posture as she quietly asserted, "It's 37 degrees outside and really humid this time of year..."
Though he shook his head and exhaled a faintly exasperated sigh, Ohta decided not to press the matter, rising to his feet as he said, "There's a park with a paved trail near here. When training your body, your primary focus will be cardio. After that, it's almost all core and leg workouts. I'll teach them to you when we get back."
Regaining a bit of her vigor, Karin responded with a curt "Understood." before following close behind when Ohta departed, leading the way to a park she had passed on her way to his apartment. The journey was super awkward, as Ohta didn't speak a word, but when Karin later learned the reason for his silence, she felt like a complete idiot. After all, if they had a conversation en route, it would have looked like she was speaking to the air...
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Watching Karin run several laps around the track, Ohta muttered, "She has good stamina..." while simultaneously pondering to himself, ("What the fuck am I doing here?")
Though he empathized with Karin's situation, Ohta had no obligation to instruct or train her. Hell, he didn't even need to save her when she was being attacked by a Hollow. That responsibility should have been Ichigo's, but while the orange-haired Hero was off training to rescue his lover, here he was, babysitting the annoying youth's sister...
Thinking back to what the shadowy jackal had said, Ohta felt like he was starting to understand the reason for its frustration. Because of Kisuke's plot to turn Ichigo into a weapon, he had been biding his time and going with the flow, effectively waiting for shit to happen. He could have easily prevented Rukia's capture by fleeing the country with her. Instead, he let her be taken from him, and for what? To advance the agenda of a man he wouldn't entrust a fucking ficus to...
Understanding 'why' he had behaved in such a way, the frown on Ohta's face became a conflicted glower. He hadn't been with Rukia then, so he simply didn't care what fate awaited her. He 'let' himself be used because it permitted him to fuck Yoruichi and secure a place for himself within the upper echelons of Soul Society. The moment he got with Rukia, however, that immediately changed. So why the fuck was he still doing the creepy uncle's bidding?
Interrupting Ohta's self-reflection, Karin abruptly collapsed, tripping and lying still on the pavement. Rather than the 37 degrees she said it was, it was closer to 39(102&deg;F). Thus, even though it had only been about half an hour since she started running, it wasn't too surprising he would collapse from heat exhaustion.
Shunpoing over to the hyperventilating girl's side, Ohta calmly inquired, "Can you continue...?"
Furrowing her brows, Karin did her best to push herself to her feet, but her body refused to listen. The most she could manage was getting to her knees, sweat dripping from the tip of her nose and forehead like raindrops that disappeared when they touched the hot pavement.
"Then this is your limit as a 'human,'" said Ohta, taking a knee and placing his hand on Karin's head as he instructed, "Continue taking deep breaths and focus on the changes in your body. You're going to feel like you want to pass out, but don't allow it. When that moment comes, you 'will' get up and keep going..."
Heeding Ohta's instructions, Karin continued gasping for air even when her blood was oversaturated with oxygen, causing shadows to creep in on the edges of her vision as a tingly, strangely pleasant sensation filled her head. Her body slumped forward, and she nearly crashed face-first into the ground, but an invisible force caught her at the last moment, arresting her fall and allowing her to push off the ground like a sprinter, releasing a loud shout akin to a war cry.
"She's definitely got pluck..." remarked Ohta, watching Karin sprint faster than most Olympians. His psychic powers had awakened during a similar form of training, so he was mildly curious to see if Karin could emulate his results. The odds were slim, but if he kept channeling power into her and healing her at the exact moment she wanted to collapse, she was bound to learn 'something.' If nothing else, he would vest her a will stronger than even the most seasoned veterans...
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After running for hours, the only thing preventing Karin from collapsing in the streets was an invisible force supporting her up like a harness as she dragged her feet. Her voluminous sweat made it look like she had dipped in a pool, but instead of feeling cool and refreshed, she felt like her brain and body were being baked in an oven...
"We're here," said Ohta, causing some focus to return to Karin's as she gazed into his apartment and felt the cool rush of airconditioned air hit her face.
"When we get inside, you should take a lukewarm shower and slowly, 'very' slowly decrease the temperature until it is completely cold," said Ohta. "Also, keep in mind that if you collapse, I'll have no choice but to come in and slap some sense into you..."
Regaining even more of her faculties, Karin glared at Ohta and said, "You wouldn't dare..."
"The entire process should take around an hour," said Ohta, his expression serious as he said, "Don't come out before then."
"..."
Though she was tempted to point out she would get hypothermia if she stayed under cold running water for an hour, Karin dragged her feet into the bathroom. She believed that if she started doubting Ohta's words, it would negatively influence her training. Thus, while she felt his methods were completely ludicrous, she stripped out of her gym uniform and took the lengthiest shower of her life, doing her best to ease into the cold as slowly as possible...
Seeing Karin emerge from the bath with pale skin and blue lips, shaking to her core, Ohta gave an approving nod, saying, "Good job. You did well not to pass out."
"I-I-Is a-a-a-all the t-t-training go-going to b-b-be like this?" stammered Karin, barely able to speak due to the clattering of her jaw.
Nodding his head, Ohta calmly asserted, "Cultivating mental energy and willpower requires enduring various extremes. Your body and mind 'will' want to quit on you. If you want to survive and become strong, you can't yield, even if you want to cry."
Though her teeth continued to clatter loudly, Karin did her best to appear resolute as she nodded in understanding. Fortunately, Ohta rewarded her by patting her head and infusing more of his psychic energy into her body, quashing her shivering nigh-instantaneously. Unfortunately, her relief was short-lived as they immediately transitioned into core exercises, primarily squats, crunches, and planks, but also a few unorthodox training methods like duck walking and something Ohta called 8-count body-builders. The exercises weren't that difficult to perform, but Ohta had her do each until she couldn't continue. Thus, by the time of her second long shower, Karin really wanted to go home...
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(A/N: Ohta over here training an 11-12-year-old girl like a Special Forces Operative...)

After the hell of the first day, Ohta genuinely didn't expect Karin to return for a second. He had pushed her much harder than strictly necessary to try and discourage her, but just as he was beginning to wrap up breakfast, a knock sounded at the door.
Making his way over, Ohta opened the door to find Karin looking up at him with a resolute expression on her face, this time wearing a sleeveless blue tank top, navy-blue spats, and a baseball cap.
"You don't know when to quit, do you?" asked Ohta.
Craning her right brow, Karin countered, "Don't tell me all that was just to scare me away? If it was..."
"Nah, it was legit," replied Ohta. "I just had you doing stuff you ordinarily wouldn't do until your body and mind had acclimated to intense strain and pressure. In other words, I threw you into the deep end."
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Karin regained a serious expression and said, "If that's the case, let's continue. This is to ensure my and my family's safety, so I won't give up or break that easily."
"So it would seem..." muttered Ohta, stepping aside to allow Karin into his apartment. He had spent the previous night wondering if he was wasting his time, but as Yoruichi was training the scrubs and Ichigo was using the underground study chamber to regain his power, Ohta had nothing better to do but focus on finding his center. It was said that teaching others was a good way to get a new perspective on things, so with Karin showing up of her own volition, Ohta figured he might as well teach her the basics. It beat sitting around, moping, and meditating all day...
"So, what'll it be today?" asked Karin, looking around Ohta's apartment as she asked, "Running through a field of blades? Bathing in lava? Skydiving without a parachute...?"
Shaking his head, Ohta replied, "I told you it was important to experience various extremes. Yesterday had a lot of variety, so it wasn't as stressful as it could have been since your brain and body constantly received new stimulation. Today will be the complete opposite."
Demonstrating a horse stance with his knees bent at ninety degrees, back straight, and fists near his hips, Ohta stated, "You will get in and hold this position for as long as possible."
Though it was an incredibly awkward position, especially since she was wearing spats, Karin gave an affirming nod before emulating Ohta's form and posture. Getting into it immediately made her aware that her thighs were about to be incredibly sore, but what made things worse was Ohta moving over to his bed, sitting atop it in a meditative posture, and closing his eyes without further explanation...
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Though he had been hearing the sound of her distressed groans for quite a while, Ohta waited until Karin had fallen onto her ass to open his eyes, finding her splayed out on the floor with closed eyes and a pained look on her face, brows trembling.
Looking over to his alarm clock, Ohta remarked, "Four minutes and some change. Not bad."
Hearing Ohta's words, Karin's brows furrowed deeply. It felt like she had been holding the pose much longer. Hearing that it hadn't even been five minutes made her realize just how hellish the day's training was going to be...
Matching Karin's expectations, Ohta got off his bed, making his way over to her to extend a hand as he said, "Get up..." in a firm, authoritative tone.
Clenching her teeth, Karin accepted Ohta's outstretched hand, allowing him to pull her up and subsequently place his hand atop her head. As he did, the pain in her groin and thighs seemed to melt away. Unfortunately, the moment he was finished, Ohta retracted his hand, saying, "That's one. Unless you can reach the six-minute marker, ninety-nine more to go..."
Though she trembled at the notion, Karin only hesitated for the time it took Ohta to return to his bed before getting back into a horse stance, a look of grim resolution on her face as she was determined to reach six minutes at all costs...
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Roughly three hours after they had begun, Karin was only her forty-first set when she fell to the ground and abruptly started silently sobbing. It wasn't an exaggeration to say the training was tortuous, but, as anyone with a strong will could attest, it was by enduring pain and suffering that one became unbreakable.
Instead of pitying Karin and asking if she were okay, Ohta gave her a few minutes to collect herself before asking, "Can you continue...?" in a calm tone.
Though she sniffled and kept her eyes concealed with her forearm, Karin eventually gave a silent, affirming nod. In response, Ohta got up from the bed. However, instead of extending his hand to pull her up, he knelt next to her, placing his hand atop her head and alleviating her pain as he said, "Then we'll continue after a short break. Want some hot cocoa...?"
While still hiding her eyes, Karin gave another nod, responding, "Yes..." in a meek, sobbing tone. She was experiencing a mild emotional breakdown, so she needed some time before rising to a seated position a few minutes after Ohta set a cup of cocoa next to her.
Taking a sip of the bittersweet beverage, Karin made her opinion of it known, muttering, "Your hot cocoa sucks..." with furrowed brows and a notably sheepish expression. She couldn't believe she had broken down and started crying, causing her to feel a blend of anger, embarrassment, and self-loathing...
"Hey, don't beat yourself up," said Ohta. "Most people would have given up a long ago. You've also improved your time from four minutes and ten seconds to four minutes and fifty-three. That's still quite a ways from six minutes, but, considering your muscles haven't really gotten any stronger, it shows your willpower has increased."
Though the truth was that Karin got stronger each time he healed her torn muscles, Ohta knew from personal experience that belief played a critical role in mental and spiritual development.
Hearing that she was improving, Karin's frustration and anxiety lessened considerably. Before Ohta informed her otherwise, she thought she was performing worse each set. If it was true that she had improved her time by forty-three seconds, that was a lot of progress in a fairly short period.
Sniffling one last time, Karin adopted a hopeful and resolute expression, earning an approving nod from Ohta as she said, "I'm ready to continue." in a firm tone. She failed to surpass the six-minute marker, plateauing around five minutes and thirty seconds, but she didn't give up or break down a second time...
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"I'm back," said Ohta, plopping down outside the twenty-meter no man's land marking his Zanpakuto Spirit's personal space.
Catching Ohta a little off guard, the shadowy jackal asked, "Why do you waste time training that whelp? How does aiding her 'benefit' you in any way?"
"Are you genuinely curious or just fishing for an excuse to insult and tear me down?" asked Ohta.
"Answer me," ordered the shadowy jackal.
Snorting through his nose, Ohta asked, "How can you claim to know me better than I know myself and 'not' know the answer to such a question? There's only one reason I'm helping that brat..."
"..."
With the jackal remaining silent, Ohta adopted a cheeky smile and said, "I'm training her because I fucking feel like it. Watching her push herself beyond her limits sure as shit beats sitting here, attempting to talk sense into your sorry ass..."
Rising to his feet, Ohta dusted himself off, stating, "To that end, there is something else I wanted to tell you..."
Knowing what Ohta would say even before the words left his mouth, the shadowy jackal narrowed its ghostly white eyes.
"I don't fucking need you," declared Ohta, turning around and slipping his hands into his pockets, walking away as he asserted, "I'll crush everyone and everything that stands in my way using my own power..."
"..."
Waiting until Ohta's form had vanished from his sight, the shadowy jackal put its head down on its paws. However, instead of looking upset like it usually did, it appeared fairly relaxed as it closed its eyes and muttered, "That's what you should have been doing from the very beginning..."
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Though it never got easier, Karin felt like she had gotten accustomed to Ohta's tortuous training methods by the end of the first week. She also noticed that her body had started to experience changes, her previously flat abdomen gaining a bit of definition as her thighs, calves, legs, back, and, somewhat worryingly, her butt became notably more toned.
While the changes in her body were objectively good things, a testament to the progress she had made, Karin couldn't help noticing that Ohta had yet to teach her anything remotely supernatural. He just had her training her body and increasing her mental resistance, so after entering his room for the eighth day in a row, she dropped off her backpack, turned to him with furrowed brows, and asked, "When are you going to start teaching me telekinesis and stuff? At this rate, even my brain is going to become a muscle..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta replied, "We've been trying to get you to a level that typically takes months in just a few days. Without a strong mind and an even stronger body, you could break both trying to learn even the basics of what I have to teach."
As Ohta's physique was the best she had ever seen, both in-person and while perusing magazines, Karin didn't doubt his words. She did, however, ask, "Then, how much longer do I need to keep this up?"
Adopting a teasing smile, Ohta replied, "That depends on you. Once you learn to tap into your mental and spiritual energies, you can use them to develop your physique indefinitely. If you're looking for a more concrete answer, a good baseline is reaching a point where you're bulletproof. The odds of you getting shot at are slim, but never zero..."
Blinking in surprise, Karin asked, "Are 'you' bulletproof...?"
Exhaling an amused snort, Ohta replied, "At my level, I could stare into the barrel of a tank like I'm posing for a picture."
Though it was difficult to imagine 'anyone' taking a tank round to the face without sustaining damage, Karin's ebony-black eyes glistened with awe as she correlated Ohta with a Hero from a comic book. She knew he could fly, and if the power he had lent her was any indication, he could probably level entire buildings with his attacks. Combine that with imperviousness to bullets, and he wasn't much different from a real-world Superman...
Quashing the idolatry in Karin's eyes, Ohta gave her head a light chop as he stated, "Anyways, if you want to get a jumpstart on your psychic and spiritual training, I have a few methods in mind. Before that, though, it's business as usual. Bust your ass from now until around three o'clock, and I'll teach you how to begin developing your psychic abilities. Fair warning, though...it's incredibly boring at the start..."
"Yeah, but then I'll be able to move things with my mind, right?" asked Karin. "Seems worth it to me."
Exhaling an amused chuckle, Ohta ruffled Karin's hair and mused, "You sweet summer child. If you think the frustration of training to failure is bad, wait until you spend hours failing to get a paperclip to twitch..."
"..."
Though she initially felt a fluttery sensation in her chest when Ohta ruffled her hair, Karin's somewhat embarrassed smile morphed into a deadpan when she heard his words. Fortunately, unlike Ohta, who had to figure things out from scratch, she had an experienced teacher who could boost her psychic powers using his own...
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(A/N: Only another chapter or two of the 'centering' sub-arc. Then we're off to Soul Society~)

Waiting for him within his soul space, the vestige of Yoruichi's Zanpakuto Spirit, which he had taken to calling Susu, bumped her head against Ohta as it said, "I'm sorry for your loss..."
Caressing the oversized cat on its snout, Ohta assured, "It's fine. I just need to go and get her back, right?"
Instead of responding to Ohta with words, Susu shrunk to roughly the size of a cow, rubbing her body against him and nearly knocking him over. She was similar to Yoruichi in the way she 'required' skinship, so Ohta let her do as she pleased, spreading his arms and rubbing his face against Susu's body as she used his like a grooming post.
Once Susu had gotten her fill, lying down, pulling her paws under her, and forming a 'cat loaf' next to him, Ohta scratched behind her ear and asked, "Seen my shadow recently...?"
"The shadowy one only comes out when you're present..." replied Susu, purring as she leaned her head into Ohta's scritches, effectively nuzzling his entire body.
"Then I'm gonna go looking for him," said Ohta, scratching under Susu's chin as he added, "Be a good girl and stay here. I'll come and play with you before I leave."
Though she wanted to go with him, Susu knew she was half the reason the 'shadowy one' wouldn't converse with Ohta. People weren't meant to be compatible with two Zanpakuto Spirits, but due to Ohta's regular Soul Resonances with Yoruichi when he first received his power, his soul was a half-step between a human's and a native-born soul. Those with attuned spiritual senses would even note he had a similar aura to a member of the Shihouin Clan.
"Okay, but don't take too long..." said Susu, nuzzling Ohta once last time before walking past him and leaping onto the boulder she usually napped on. There was no sun within Ohta's soul space, but a warm light radiated from above the Japanese-style palace, contrasting the perpetual twilight and gloom that loomed on the horizon...
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By roaming aimlessly through the battlefield surrounding the palace, allowing his instincts to guide him, it only took Ohta a few minutes to locate what he believed to be his Zanpakuto Spirit, a massive, shadowy jackal with wispy white eyes and an inverted triangle emitting a red light between its pointy ears.
As the jackal never allowed him to approach closer than twenty meters, Ohta stopped short of this, raising his hand and offering a curt "Yo," while the 4.5m tall canine observed him with an almost 'pouty' expression.
Exhaling a faint sigh through his nose, Ohta waited a few seconds before expressing, "You know, I can't tell why you're upset if you don't talk or try and communicate with me some other way..."
Like a tired dog throwing a tantrum, the shadowy jackal turned away from Ohta, lying its head atop its paws and exhaling a snort from its long snout.
"..."
Understanding the futility of trying to approach the shadowy beast, even with Shunpo, Ohta sat down and simply observed it in silence. According to Rukia and Yoruichi, he needed to earn its trust by overcoming a trial or coaxing it in some way, but even after weeks of trying, Ohta felt no closer to winning the damnable thing's trust...
"You know, I could really use your help..." grumbled Ohta. "Something important was taken from me. I want it back..."
Catching Ohta completely off guard, the shadowy jackal turned to face him as it asserted, "It was not taken...you relinquished it. You let others make decisions for you and must now suffer the consequences of your passivity. You are not worthy of my power..."
Furrowing his brows, Ohta argued, "If I had enough power, I wouldn't need to follow the plans of others..."
"Do you take me for a fool?" asked the shadowy jackal. "I know you better than you know yourself, John Alexander Doe. You do not seek power. You do not even possess the courage to 'live.' You merely exist, conducted by fate and the will of those you presume your superiors..."
"..."
Though he was tempted to ask what was wrong with simply existing, Ohta remained silent, locking gazes with the shadowy jackal for six full minutes before asking, "And what about you? What do you accomplish by refusing to lend me your power...?"
Without hesitation, the jackal replied, "I am your pride, the 'purpose' you have discarded. When you find me in the real world, my power will come to you naturally. Now, go. Your presence, as you are, sickens me."
"Yeah, well, you ain't exactly sunshine and rainbows yourself..." replied Ohta, rising to his feet and dusting himself off as he added, "I'll be back tomorrow..."
"And I'll be back to ignoring you," retorted the shadowy jackal, averting its eyes and exhaling a huffy, disdainful snort...
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With Yoruichi informing him that they would be departing on the 8th of August, Ohta had twenty days to prepare and gain the acknowledgment of his Zanpakuto. Unfortunately, after their previous discussion, the jackal had returned to ignoring him, covering its ears and eyes with its paws and disappearing if Ohta got too close.
"This fucking sucks..." muttered Ohta, staring at the ceiling above his bed, his motivation at an all-time low. He had gone out patrolling the previous night, but as a byproduct of the bait Uryu had used, it was expected that no Hollows would appear for weeks, maybe even months. In other words, he had nothing to take out his anger, frustration, and boredom on...
*tok* *tok* *tok*
Though he had sensed someone wandering around and walking past his apartment numerous times, Ohta didn't expect them to stop and knock on his front door. Since he was in soul form, he could easily just ignore them, but once he sensed who it was, he sat up and frowned.
*TOK* *TOK* *TOK*
After several seconds of silence, the person outside Ohta's door knocked much harder, shouting, "Hey, I know you're in there! Open up, already...!"
"I'm not in the mood for this shit..." muttered Ohta. However, despite this, he made his way to the front door, startling the person standing outside by sticking his head through and asking, "What do you want, bokukko...?"
Recovering from her initial surprise, the person standing outside, none other than Ichigo's little sister, Karin, adopted a serious expression as she replied, "My brother refused to talk, so I came here for answers. Open the door."
Exhaling a scoffing chuckle, Ohta mused, "You're a plucky little shit. I can appreciate that. But if your brother refused to explain things to you, what makes you think I will?"
"That's not the only reason I came here," revealed Karin, adopting the most serious expression she could manage as she said, "I want you to teach me. I've noticed that things seem to be getting more dangerous every day, and I don't want to have to depend on others to save me...if you hadn't shown up the other day, I would have died..."
"Unlikely," retorted Ohta, having previously learned that Yoruichi was nearby while Karin was being attacked, ready to intervene if he hadn't shown up. However, as Karin had no way of knowing that, not unless he told her, he added, "But, you're not wrong. Without power, you're fated to be a victim or a damsel in distress."
Dipping his head back inside, Ohta unlocked the door to his apartment, stepping aside as he said, "Come on in. I'll at least hear you out before telling you to fuck off."
Frowning, Karin was tempted to ask what was the point if he was just going to send her away, but she suppressed the urge and made her way inside. A sweet, somewhat musky aroma hit her nose when she stepped inside, but instead of concluding what most adults would, she gave the room a cursory inspection, remarking, "Nice place..." before setting her backpack on Ohta's desk. She didn't actually believe that, but she felt it would be rude to give her actual opinion...
Following behind Karin, Ohta said, "Start talking. You have until I finish making and drinking some hot cocoa to convince me..."
"Oh, you have hot cocoa?" asked Karin. "Make me a cup while you're at it."
Raising his brows, Ohta half-turned to give Karin an 'are you for real' look, prompting her to raise her own and question, "What? It's just a cup of hot cocoa. Do you not offer drinks to guests?"
"You're pressing your luck, boku..." muttered Ohta. However, instead of grabbing a single packet of cocoa, he grabbed two, pouring them into a pair of cups and mixing in hot water as Karin said, "Anyways, I took your advice and tried talking to Ichi-nii, but he completely blew me off. Now, he's run off to god-knows-where without telling any of us. Like, I get that he wants to keep us safe, but how does he expect to do that if he's gone and keeps us in the dark...?"
"I'm not a therapist," replied Ohta, handing Karin her cocoa as he added, "I'm also not inclined to explain things to people who have nothing to do with what's happening behind the scenes. Wanting the power to protect yourself is fine, but nosing around in shit unrelated to you is a good way to die young..."
Taking a sip from her cocoa, Karin frowned as it was more bitter than she was expecting. It didn't have a medicinal taste to it, though, so she didn't think Ohta had spiked it or anything, forcing herself to take another small sip before saying, "You say that, but I've seen your file. No one who minds their own business shows up at a family-owned clinic with cuts, puncture wounds, and bullet holes starting from when they were ten..."
Exhaling another scoffing chuckle, Ohta asserted, "You went through my medical file. Is that how you found me...?"
"My dad did you a ton of favors back in the day," said Karin. "Now, all I'm asking for is a few lessons so I can protect him, myself, and my sister. Is that so difficult...?"
Crossing his arms, Ohta didn't immediately respond to Karin's half-assed attempt at emotional blackmail. It was true that her dad, Isshin, had done him a lot of favors back in the day. However, he had made sure to pay the man for his services, depositing packets of money in their mail slot. Karin had no way of knowing that, but Ohta had long since paid his dues to the Kurosaki Clinic...
Seeing Ohta stare at her in ostensibly judgmental silence, Karin's mask of resolution began to crack. She was nervous just being in the same room as him, so her palms became sweaty, her heart racing as her fear of being turned away manifested as a suppressed panic attack...
Just as Karin looked like she was about to start crying, Ohta adopted a smile and said, "Fuck it. You want me to teach you? Sure. But whether or not you can learn anything depends on you. If you can't, don't blame me for your lack of talent."
Feeling tremendous relief, Karin exhaled a sigh that made her seem much older before adopting a pissed-off expression as she accused, "You enjoy messing with people, don't you?"
"You don't get shot in Japan without having a gift for pissing people off," replied Ohta. "Now, be specific. What, exactly, do you want me to teach you?"
"Well, what can you teach?" asked Karin. "I don't even know what's going on, so how can I know what to ask?"
"Hmmm...good point..." replied Ohta, moving over to the bookshelf Rukia had forced him to install. He still had the fairly detailed journal she wrote to explain Shinigami and the structure of Soul Society, so he tossed it at Karin, saying, "That should give you a general idea of what's going on with your brother. But don't think I'm giving it to you. Once you make a copy, I expect you to return it..."
Noticing the severity in Ohta's gaze, Karin swallowed hard and replied with a meek, "Right..." before placing the notebook in her backpack. Once done, she turned to Ohta and pointed out, "That still doesn't explain what you can teach me." in a marginally more confident tone.
"Then clear your ears and listen closely because I'm only going to say this once," said Ohta, subsequently explaining the basics of mental, spirit, and physical energy while Karin listened attentively and took notes...
...
..
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(A/N: Ichigo is not going to be happy...)

Chapter 33: Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body