Not a Mob: Psycho

As her body was slowly raised into the sky, bound in a crucifixion pose, Rukia closed her eyes and recollected the days she spent with Ohta one final time before the Sokyoku, having transformed into a giant flaming bird, completely incinerated her soul. She suspected that Yamamoto was lying to her, but she chose to believe in her former Captain-Commander's words, muttering, "Please don't come, Ohta..." as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Funny. You usually say the opposite..." responded an all-too-familiar voice, a response Rukia initially thought of as an auditory hallucination until she felt a hand on her butt...
"So, you into bondage now?" asked Ohta, drawing Rukia's disbelieving gaze as she turned her head to find him standing behind her.
"Ohta..." muttered Rukia, her voice pained, her brows trembling, and her eyes watering. At the same time, however, she couldn't help smiling as she weakly cried, "You really came..."
"You'll get used to it..." teased Ohta, kissing Rukia's crown before staring down the giant flaming chicken observing their interaction with merciless eyes. The Sokyoku was said to possess the power of a million Zanpakuto, but based on what Ohta could sense, someone had either tampered with it, significantly reducing its power, or the information provided to him was false...
"So, this is the reckless Ryoka that has been making a mockery of the Thirteen Court Guardian Squads..." muttered Yamamoto, his silvery-grey eyes seeing through the depths of Ohta's power instantly.
"Impressive for one so young. A pity..." added the old man, subsequently stamping the ground with his cane as he commanded, "Proceed with the execution...!"
Seeing the flaming chicken flare up, preparing for its charge, Ohta used Shunpo to position himself in front of Rukia, a wispy black aura beginning to rise from his body as he thought ("This better fucking work...")
Slapping his hands together, covered in black gloves that resembled the visage of a wolf or jackal, Ohta shouted, "Balance the Scales, Kuroinu no Anpu...!"
In response to Ohta's shout, his usual Shihakusho exploded, leaving him shirtless but granting him a hooded, shadowy black cloak that cast a shadow over the upper half of his face and had two pointed ears sticking straight up. In place of his hakama, he gained a pair of black trousers and a black belt with a jackal-themed buckle. He was also barefoot, but there were bandages wrapped around his forearms and calves as the gloves he had been wearing became angular black tattoos around his wrists.
Though the observing Captains, Lieutenants, and supporting members of the Gotei had no idea what Ohta was planning, absolutely none of them expected to see him charge head-first at the Sokyoku, his eyes glowing like white flames within the shadow of his hood as he sported a notably sharp-toothed smile...
Despite feeling his skin crack and burn as he approached the Sokyoku, Ohta's smile broadened as he shouted, "Eat shit, Kentucky Fried...!" in a laughing tone. As he did so, he caught the pointed beak of the Sokyoku with his left hand, feeling a powerful, soul-destroying surge penetrate his body. Ohta felt like his insides had charred and vaporized, but the feeling only lasted an instant as he punched forward with a highly-telegraphed, seemingly innocuous punch...
*KAKROOOOW-!*
As a sound akin to a thunderclap reverberated through the bodies of everyone present, Ohta's punch 'obliterated' the entire left side of the Sokyoku. His body was blackened, and magmous cracks had formed across it, but the smile on his face didn't fade in the slightest. Instead, he burst out laughing as the body of the Sokyoku promptly plunged from the sky, forcing those below to flee as it dispersed into a tidal wave of soul-destroying flames on contact...
Continuing to cackle, giving off more of a hyena than a jackal vibe, the hazy white flames representing Ohta's eyes appeared to form tears along their periphery. He couldn't even begin to describe the pain he was in, but it was marginally outweighed by how ecstatic he felt.
"Capture the Ryoka...!" shouted Yamamoto, the only person who hadn't retreated from the Sokyoku's flames. Fortunately, just as he shouted, two figures appeared, flanking the old man with their hands on his shoulders.
"Come on, Yama-jii, let's have a chat..." said one of the figures, a middle-aged man with an unkempt appearance, facial stubble, and messy brown hair fastened into a loose ponytail. As he wore a straw hat and a flowery pink kimono over the usual Captain's attire, Ohta immediately recognized him as the Captain of Squad 8, Kyoraku Shinsui.
"You dare lay your hands upon me?" asked Yamamoto, staring at the two men, each his former students, with slightly widened eyes.
In response to Yamamoto's words, the second man, possessing delicate features, kind brown eyes, long white hair, and an unmodified Captain's outfit, replied, "We'll explain everything once we change venues..."
Though Yamamoto could have easily stopped the two men, he permitted Kyoraku and the white-haired Captain, Ukitake Jushiro, to whisk him away via Shunpo. He intended to discipline the two Captains, regardless of their explanation, but as he had watched over both men since they were snot-nosed youths, Yamamoto decided to hear them out before determining to what extent they needed to be punished...
With Yamamoto being 'escorted' away by Kyoraku and Ukitake, the only remaining Captains atop the Sokyoku Hill were Soifon, a motherly woman with braided black hair running down the center of her body, a massive man with a basket on his head, and Byakuya. Their Lieutenants were also present, but Ohta didn't consider them a threat, even in his current state. Rather, due to the pain he was enduring, he felt more powerful than ever before...
"Meep meep~!" mused Yoruichi, seemingly appearing out of thin air as she grabbed Soifon by her collar, carrying the slightly blushing Captain away at high speeds. At the same time, Ichigo, Chad, Uryu, and Orihime made their appearance, the orange-haired 'hero' leading the pack as he charged forward with his cleaver-like Zanpakuto, shouting, "Leave these guys to us, Ohta! Take Rukia and run!"
Recognizing Ichigo, Renji abruptly exclaimed, "It's you! The human who stole Rukia's powers...!"
Without waiting for his Captain's permission, Renji charged toward Ichigo with a fiercely indignant scowl. His catastrophic defeat against Ohta had damaged his pride in more ways than one, so while he was secretly over the moon about the possibility of Rukia being rescued, he intended to get in a few good licks against the other human who had embarrassed him in the past...
Prompted by Renji's errant charge, the other Lieutenants, sans the inordinately tall and busty Lieutenant of Squad 4, charged forward to provide support. As for their Captains, all three kept their gazes firm on Ohta, a looming sense of dread emanating from the core of their beings as the air and ground around them began to tremble violently.
Running the fingers of his right hand through his hair, an action that caused his hood to come off, Ohta revealed that it wasn't just his cloak that had pointed ears. His eyes also shifted from white to crimson, but if you looked closely, they were actually pitch black, the red hue emanating from the upside-down triangles that had replaced his pupils.
Maintaining his toothy grin, Ohta asked, "Are we about done here? If so, I'm going to take what's mine. Get in my way, and I may not kill you, but you 'will' suffer..."
Responding to Ohta's provocation, the 'man' with the basket on his head shouted, "You are the fiendish Ryoka who attacked Tosen! The only fate that awaits you here is just retribution...!"
Exhibiting none of the usual flair and posturing, the inordinately tall man drew his sword and struck a pose like he was about to smash it into the ground like a hammer, shouting, "Bankai...!" in a barking tone.
Though Ohta had been apprised of the capabilities of every Captain, his eyes widened slightly as he had to crane his head, looking up despite the fact he was in the air. The basket-headed man was the Captain of Squad 7, Komamura Saijin. As for his Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, it took on the form of a giant exceeding one hundred meters in height, its colossal body garbed in samurai-esque armor as it raised its massive sword in the same posture as Komamura.
"That's one big bitch..." muttered Ohta, unmoving even as Komamura's Bankai descended toward him like the blade of a guillotine, only several thousands of times larger. It was an exceptionally intimidating sight, but Ohta just raised his left hand, grinning like a demon as the colossal blade impacted an invisible barrier, creating visible cracks in the air as a massive shockwave spread through the area.
"What sorcery is this...?" muttered Komamura, eyes widening beneath his mask as blood leaked from his right palm. It felt as though all the force of his blow had been reflected back at him, fracturing the bones in his wrist and forearm.
Noticing Komamura's condition, Ohta chuckled and said, "Looks like we have bad compatibility." before punching at the giant's chest. His attack didn't make direct contact, but a large impact crater formed in the giant's breastplate as both it and Komamura was sent skidding backward, the latter coughing up blood that leaked through the thin slats in his bamboo mask.
"Such power..." muttered the motherly-looking woman, Captain Unohana Restu of Squad 4. Her expression conveyed concern, but if one were to look closely, there was an excited glimmer within the depths of her deep blue eyes. No one, not even Ohta, noticed it, but it was definitely there...
Turning his gaze to the two remaining Captains, the crimson triangles in his eyes focusing on Byakuya, Ohta asked, "Any more volunteers...?" in a cheeky tone.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Byakuya said, "Captain Unohana, Lieutenant Kotetsu, please go tend to Captain Komamura's wounds. Leave this one to me..."
Without waiting for the duo's response, Byakuya unsheathed his elegant-looking Zanpakuto, holding it in a reverse grip with the point aiming at the ground as he said, "Bankai..." in a cold, resolute tone. At the same time, he released his hold on his Zanpakuto, its blade sinking into the ground as if it were falling into a stagnant pool, creating visible ripples as the sound of a water droplet echoed through the area.
As the world around him became dark, followed by several giant blades materializing in two rows flanking Byakuya, Ohta felt goosebumps across his body as the ostensibly apathetic bishonen muttered, "Senbonzakura Kageyoshi..."
In response to Byakuya's words, the massive blades flanking his body burst into innumerable, glowing pink flower petals. It was a captivating sight to behold, but even in his current state, Ohta felt his skin prickle as the petals swarmed around him, several cutting deeply into the invisible barrier surrounding his body.
Spreading his hands outward in a swift, sweeping motion, Ohta expanded his barrier from the usual three meters to more than twenty. Furthermore, he flooded the area with a tremendous volume of psychic energy, causing the interior to fill with pink, purple, and blue light that formed ever-shifting geometric shapes, similar to the interior of a kaleidoscope.
Raising his brows slightly, Byakuya hesitated for the briefest of moments before sweeping his right hand forward, condensing tens of thousands of petals to serve as a spear, piercing deeply into Ohta's psychic barrier but ultimately failing to reach him.
If Byakuya was surprised by the potency of Ohta's defense, he was nearly left slack-jawed by what happened next. Beyond altering his appearance, Ohta's Zanpakuto possessed a simple but terrifyingly effective ability. It balanced the mental energy in his body, converting two-thirds to spiritual and physical energy. His maximum psychic output decreased as a result, but as Ohta's power was fueled by rage and other powerful emotions, his power steadily increased as the fight dragged on.
Punching toward the petal-comprised spear, Ohta seemingly 'obliterated' them from existence. As damage sustained by a Bankai could never be recovered, this meant Ohta's attack had decreased Byakuya's effective power 'permanently,' causing the usually stoic Captain's scalp to tingle as he adopted a serious expression and condensed petals in his right hand to form a super concentrated mass of spirit energy, ultimately taking the form of a sword...
...
..
.
(A/N: What do you guys think of Ohta's Zanpakuto? Pretty badass, no?)

Staring down at Byakuya, Ohta's power began to plateau as he remarked, "I'd rather not beat up my future brother-in-law..."
As his power was directly linked to his emotions, Ohta couldn't maintain it without some kind of 'stimulus.' Life and death battles would ordinarily be more than enough to sustain the increase in power, but as he had thus far been able to destroy everything in a single punch, he was starting to lose his motivation...
"As a Captain of the Gotei 13 and the Head of the Kuchiki Clan, I must see this through to the end. It is my duty..." replied Byakuya, his voice as calm as the surface of a reflecting pool as he got into a stance reminiscent of a kendo practitioner.
Exhaling a flame-like plume of energy, Ohta slipped his hands into his pockets, the black aura around his body stirring as he said, "Then, let's see it..." with a toothy grin.
Furrowing his brows, Byakuya abruptly disappeared from his starting position, intending to appear next to Ohta, but the kaleidoscopic swirl of psychic energy around the latter's body prevented him from doing so. He didn't sustain any damage, but trespassing the constantly shifting space was like stepping into a powerful current with contrasting flows. Stranger still, when Byakuya reached the termination point of his Shunpo, he was suddenly upside down...
Undaunted by the disorienting phenomenon, Byakuya sliced through the psychic medium, creating a vacuous blade of spirit energy that actually managed to reach Ohta. However, despite impacting the latter's chest, still charred from his exchange with the Sokyoku, it left no visible marks as Ohta continued to observe him with a smile.
"Looks like your attack lacks the potency of a 'million' Zanpakuto," mused Ohta, referring to the Sokyoku's rumored might. Byakuya might be able to cut him if his sword landed directly, but there was no way he could pierce him from a distance.
"Such arrogance..." muttered Byakuya, his form rapidly disappearing and reappearing at seemingly random locations within Ohta's psychic medium. He was trying to ride the 'currents' to get closer to Ohta's position, but as he moved closer, it became increasingly difficult to move at all.
Interrupting Byakuya's focus, Ohta stated, "Time's up," as he removed his left hand from his pocket. It had taken a while due to Byakuya's Reiryoku density, but he managed to seep a bit of his psychic energy into the man's body and clothes, allowing him to stop the proud Captain in his place.
"Try not to resent me for this," said Ohta, a black vortex appearing in the palm of his hand, forcibly drawing Byakuya's body through the maelstrom of psychic energy. This exposed him to the possibility of a counterattack, but he wasn't too concerned as he could move uninhibited while Byakuya could barely move at all.
Unable to resist Ohta's psychic power, Byakuya found himself statuesque as the former's index finger poked his forehead.
"I'd say this is my victory...would you agree?" asked Ohta, raising his brow in anticipation of Byakuya's response.
Closing his eyes, Byakuya exhaled a faint sigh, remaining silent for several seconds before conceding, "So it would appear..." in his characteristically neutral tone. He felt vexed having lost to a 15-16-year-old human-turned-Ryoka, but he also felt relieved knowing Rukia had found someone strong, willing to risk everything to protect her...
"Then I'm going to trust you not to stab me in the back when I let you go," remarked Ohta, adopting a cheeky smile as he warned, "But if you do, you better make it count..."
Adopting the faintest of smiles, Byakuya replied, "Rest assured. I value my honor over all but three things. I will not strike an opponent who has afforded me clemency..."
Nodding his head, Ohta released his psychic hold on Byakuya's body while allowing his 'psychic domain' to dissipate. He didn't lower his guard, but he 'did' entrust his back to the man, flying over to the very anxious-looking Rukia, having watched the entire encounter while suspended in the air.
"Hey there, spider-bunny..." whispered Ohta, reaching out to caress Rukia's cheek but stopping short since his fingers resembled charcoal. However, Rukia didn't seem to mind, nestling her cheek against his palm as she sobbed, "You hopeless fool...why did you come here?"
"I'll give you plenty of reasons once we're alone together," replied Ohta, adopting a toothy grin as he teased, "I'd feel sorry for your brother if he had to watch us make out."
Though she continued to sob, Rukia couldn't help laughing in response to Ohta's words. She truly wished she could hate him, as it would make what was to come much simpler, but she presently loved him so much that the guilt of 'ruining his life' was nearly impossible for her to bear...
Enveloping Rukia in his arms, Ohta held her as tenderly and lovingly as possible. At the same time, the strange cubes holding her in a crucifixion pose fractured under the strain of his psychic energy, freeing her to cling to him as she sobbed into his chest.
"You're such a crybaby..." muttered Ohta, ignoring the pain in his body as he ran his fingers through Rukia's hair, hoping to ease her anguish even a little.
"Hooooooo...what a heartwarming sight. Perhaps I should have timed my arrival a little later..." remarked a deep voice emanating from a few meters away. When Ohta looked over, he found a brown-haired, Josh Groban-looking motherfucker sitting on the Sokyoku's execution stand, observing him and Rukia with a relaxed smile. Standing behind him was another man with closed eyes, short grey hair, and almost snake-like features, his smile much larger and far creepier than the average person's. Both men had on the tell-tale uniforms of a Captain, complete with Haoris designating them as the Captains of the 3rd and 5th Divisions...
Earning a curious raise of the brows from the brown-haired Captain, Aizen Sosuke, Ohta adopted a smile and retorted, "If anything, you should have arrived sooner. Those who sit in the back and scheme despite possessing tremendous power are the biggest of cunts..."
Exhaling a lighthearted chuckle, Aizen adopted a smile of his own as he mused, "You are a fascinating young man, Yamada Ohta. Join me, and I will allow you to live as you please henceforth."
Eliciting a startled yelp from the very confused Rukia, Ohta gave her ass a light smack and an accompanying squeeze as he replied, "Man, you must really need glasses. If it wasn't transparently clear, I'm already living how I please..."
Before Aizen could contend Ohta's assertion, Byakuya abruptly appeared atop the Sokyoku's stand, a serious look on his face as he asked, "Captain Aizen Sosuke and Captain Ichimaru Gin, where have the two of you been? Why have you only just now revealed yourselves?"
"Ah, Captain Kuchiki, I'm relieved you were not seriously injured in your fight against the Ryoka," replied Aizen. "As for why I'm here..."
Pointing at Rukia, Aizen's smile broadened as he said, "I'm afraid your adoptive sister has something that belongs to me, sealed within the very depths of her soul. I was hoping to secretly reclaim it after her execution, but it seems I must now take matters into my own hands..."
The moment Aizen was finished speaking, Byakuya Shunpo'd forward at blinding speeds, seemingly intending to kill the lackadaisical Captain in a single blow. From Ohta's perspective, however, he stopped just short, the tip of his sword passing within a centimeter of Aizen's nose while the man didn't flinch. At the same time, the snake-like Gin drew his wakizashi-style Zanpakuto, aiming it at Byakuya as he said, "Shoot to kill, Shinso...!"
Seemingly oblivious to Gin's actions, Byakuya didn't even try to dodge as the grey-haired Captain's Zanpakuto pierced his left shoulder, extending nearly a hundred meters before retracting in the blink of an eye.
Opening his eyes slightly wider than usual, Byakuya Shunpo'd away before looking down at the blood stain rapidly spreading through his garments.
"Whoa, what was that~?" mused Gin, directing his close-eyed gaze to Ohta as he appended, "It appears our little friend intends to get in our way."
"That's a shame," remarked Aizen, rising to his feet and taking the time to dust himself as Ohta passed Rukia off to Byakuya, shouting, "Take her and find the other Ryoka. I'll handle this viper bitch and his Josh Groben gimp daddy...!"
Though he didn't appreciate Ohta giving him orders, Byakuya immediately disappeared with Rukia in tow. At the same time, Ohta clapped his hands together, black, purple-hued energy surging from his body as he intended to use Kusho.
Interrupting Ohta's preparations, Aizen casually raised his right hand's index and middle fingers, muttering, "Hado#90, Kurohitsugi..." in a calm, relaxed tone. The moment he was done, purple-black lightning emanated from his fingertips as the outline of a cube instantaneously formed around Ohta.
As a black, coffin-shaped well of immense gravitational pressure formed around him, Ohta's final thought before his world went dark was, ("I am going to kill this bitch...")
Seeing the look on Ohta's face as the 'black coffin' finished materializing, Aizen couldn't help smiling. He had known about Ohta nearly as long as Kisuke, so he looked forward to seeing how much the psychic-turned-Shinigami grew after this encounter, assuming he managed to survive...
Surpassing even Aizen's expectations, the gravitational well of the black coffin briefly intensified. A fully versed version of the spell was supposed to be able to break down even Reiryoku, yet, when the purple-hued coffin of darkness disappeared, Ohta was still intact, bleeding profusely within a sphere of purple-black energy as he said, "You fucked up..." with a toothy grin.
Spreading his palms, Ohta looked like he would release the same beam of black energy he used against Yoruichi, but he didn't stop at just cracking them open. Instead, he visibly struggled to pull them apart, revealing an abyssal-black sphere that grew in size as he did so.
Though the surrounding gravity had been affected the moment Ohta began to condense his psychic energy, the appearance of the abyssal-black sphere caused a powerful gust of wind to draw everything toward it, emulating the all-consuming power of a black hole. As it grew larger, drastically increasing the gravitational pull, Aizen, having evacuated to a safe distance, muttered, "How remarkable..." with a relaxed smile and a curious glimmer in his brown eyes.
Hearing Aizen's utterance, Gin opened his usually closed eyes like slits, revealing piercing blue irises and deep black pupils. Aizen was generally sarcastic when he praised people, but Gin didn't sense the usual humor in the man's tone. He seemed genuinely impressed with Ohta's display, at least enough to forego pursuing Rukia and completing their objective as quickly as possible.
"Captain Aizen..." muttered Gin, breaking the brown-haired schemer from his reverie.
Turning to Gin, Aizen mused, "It truly is a shame. He would have made an excellent replacement for Tosen..."
As Tosen had been cut down during an ill-advised skirmish with Zaraki, Aizen had been sincere when he invited Ohta to join him. Unfortunately, it seemed Urahara had beaten him to the punch this time, drawing the remarkably powerful youth to his side by having him fall for the vessel of the Hogyoku. Now, if Rukia perished while he was extracting it, Aizen had no doubt Ohta would pursue him like a man possessed. Much like he was about to do...
"Let us be on our way," said Aizen. "If Yamamoto Genryusai returns before we complete our objective, things might become troublesome."
Casting one last look at Ohta, Aizen turned away, disappearing alongside Gin nigh-instantaneously. Shortly after that, much of the Sokyoku hill was swallowed up by Ohta's attack, consumed by the black sphere of energy that continued to grow larger as the person controlling it had already lost consciousness. Fortunately, just as it began to separate from Ohta's body, leaking from the negative field he generated to keep it in check, Yoruichi appeared out of thin air, wielding a pure golden shortsword with an ornate hilt. As she stabbed it into the ostensibly all-consuming void enveloping Ohta's body, the entire thing, along with the gravitational sphere he had created, shattered like glass...
"Damnable fool..." muttered Yoruichi, throwing Ohta over her shoulder and retreating, entrusting him to the nearby Soifon before racing off to ensure Rukia wasn't killed...
...
..
.
(A/N: Josh Groben-lookin' motherfucker...)

"Are you really leaving...?" asked Orihime, having followed Ohta to the entrance of the secret area, located in the side of a cliff overlooking a verdant forest.
Half-turning to stare at Orihime over his shoulder, Ohta briefly considered telling her they weren't friends. However, as her healing hadn't simply removed the scar on his chest but every single one of them, he ultimately replied, "See you around, ginger snap. Look after my cat for me while I'm gone."
Though she wasn't fond of the idea of Ohta going off on his own, Orihime smiled when he called her 'ginger snap.' Bar a few outliers like Ichigo and Uryu, Ohta typically only gave pet names to those he cared about. At the very least, that's what Orihime had heard from Tatsuki. Yoruichi, however, knew the truth. Rather than to exhibit closeness, Ohta used pet names to distance himself from those attempting to get close to him, evidenced by how he called her cat and never once used Karin's name after she began training with him...
"Be safe," said Orhime, her smile exuding the radiance of the Sun as she added, "And if you get injured, I'll be here waiting for you..."
Raising his hand to show he had heard Orihime's parting remark, Ohta promptly vanished from view. In his wake, Orihime spent several minutes simply staring into the distance, her smile gradually fading until it became an expression of concern, tinged by a trace of longing. Shortly after that, her ears began burning as the image of Ohta's naked form pervaded her mind for the umpteenth time...
...
..
.
After meandering through the underground tunnels for hours, allowing him to move about undetected, Ohta eventually emerged in the district patrolled by Squad 12. According to Yoruichi, the Captain of Squad 12, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, would be out of commission for at least a few days. Squad 12 also had an antagonistic relationship with Squad 11, so Ohta assumed it would be the safest place to explore, gather information, and avoid Zaraki...
While Ohta didn't fear the battle-crazed Captain, their brief encounter had made him marginally more cautious. If Zaraki hadn't held back, Ohta knew he could have been killed in the first blow. His psychic barrier had offered him virtually no protection against Zaraki's sword, and if the man removed his eyepatch, Ohta knew he would become drastically more powerful. The tiny band of black fabric may look inconspicuous at first glance, but it was an advanced Reiryoku-devouring device, devouring and sealing up to 80% of Zaraki's power in his base form alone...
Fortunately for Ohta, around the time he emerged from the underground, Zaraki was napping on the bridge connecting the Seireitei's Hall of Justice to the Tower of Penitence that Rukia was being kept in. He believed that Ohta would make a beeline for the Senzaikyū when he learned about the advancement in Rukia's execution date. Instead, after being informed of the change by a very 'cooperative' member of Squad 12, Ohta returned to the underground tunnel system in a phenomenal mood. After all, with the date being moved up, it meant he would be reconvening with his favorite spider bunny nearly two weeks sooner...
...
..
.
[August 6th, the morning of Rukia's Execution]
Interrupting Ohta's meditation, as she was want to do, Yoruichi appeared before him in her human form, crossing her arms as she questioned, "Are you ready? Only two hours remaining until it's showtime."
Instead of answering Yoruichi's question, Ohta opened his eyes, asking, "What about the edgy strawberry? Did he succeed in attaining Bankai, or am I carrying this shit show alone...?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Yoruichi replied, "It's hard to say. He obtained 'something,' but it's unlike any Bankai I've ever seen. It's more of a state of spiritual compression, drastically increasing his speed and power but lacking the x-factor most Bankai are known for. What about you? Is the temperamental puppy dog still ignoring you...?"
"Something like that..." replied Ohta, rising to his feet and rolling his right arm. The truth was that the jackal had agreed to lend him his power, but there were some conditions attached. He demanded that Ohta 'discard his fetter and claim what was his.' This might sound like he was referring to Rukia, but the reality was far more 'primal.' The shadowy jackal hated how Yoruichi and other women took advantage of his 'forbearance,' so it expected him to either 'cut them loose' or take them for everything they were worth...
Approaching Yoruichi, Ohta left the dark-skinned woman feeling at a loss for words as he cupped her chin, tracing his thumb along her bottom lip as he said, "Do not fail me..." with a smoldering expression and tone. His words and actions confused her greatly, but she felt equally excited when he released her chin and sauntered past her, slapping her ass and saying, "Let's go." in the same commanding tone.
Turning to stare at Ohta's back, Yoruichi narrowed her eyes and remarked, "Someone's in a feisty mood...". When Ohta seemed to ignore her, walking away in silence completely, she then transformed into a cat, leaping onto his shoulder and purring, "Slap my ass like that again, and I'll take you on the spot..."
Surprising Yoruichi once again, Ohta flatly remarked, "I just might if you stop entrusting the world's fate to teenagers, get off your ass, and earn it..."
Turning to meet Yoruichi's gaze, Ohta asked, "What kind of 'Defender of the Realm' sits on their ass and watches others fight to protect it?"
Furrowing her brows, Yoruichi huffily contended, "You 'know' it's more complicated than that..."
"And 'you' know I don't give a fuck," retorted Ohta. "Either fight with me from now on or back the fuck off and stay out of my way. If shit's going to be thrust on my shoulders regardless, I'll be the one to decide how I deal with it..."
"..."
Though she wanted to protest by pointing out she had spent the last hundred years preparing for the coming confrontation, Yoruichi couldn't deny that she and Kisuke were forcing a tremendous burden onto Ohta's and Ichigo's shoulders. Matters of the Soul Society should be handled by those native to it. 'Conscripting' a bunch of high school students to fight against people trying to supplant the closest thing to a God in the current world was more than a little unreasonable...
Interrupting Yoruichi's reflection, Ohta said, "Don't get your skin-tight pants in a bunch. Even if you continue doing jack shit, I'll kill Aizen, that Yhwach bastard, and anyone else who threatens the 'balance' you're so desperate to protect. Just don't be surprised when I send the Shihouin Clan a massive fucking invoice for doing your jobs for you..."
Exhaling a scoffing chortle, Yoruichi noted, "You're beginning to remind me of when we first met and began interacting. I like it, but don't take things too far and say something you shouldn't. As playful as I appear, you should know I'm a very prideful woman. I 'always' give as good as I get..."
"Well, if you want to 'get' anything, start giving," countered Ohta, adding, "And no, that isn't an invitation to continue tempting me. I want to see you actively working to resolve the threats we've discussed&mdash;something other than leaving things to me and an angry strawberry with mommy issues..." Feeling increasingly annoyed, Ohta's brows furrowed as he added, "There are absolutely no guarantees that Ichigo will be able to acquire the power necessary to defeat Aizen and Yhwach. What you and the creepy candy store uncle 'should' have been doing for the last hundred years is training like the fucking world depends on it..."
"You're starting to piss me off..." muttered Yoruichi, her feline expression morphed into a deep frown. At the same time, however, she couldn't deny Ohta's words. It wasn't like she hadn't trained at all over the past hundred years, but she definitely could have done more. Instead, she trusted that Kisuke had a plan, dedicating most of her time to gathering information to keep him apprised of Aizen's movements, misappropriating materials from her Clan's storehouses to supply his store, and liquidating personal assets to finance his experiments. All in the name of their friendship and the love she once believed he had for her...
Biting Ohta's cheek hard enough to draw blood, Yoruichi leaped from his shoulder and said, "I need some fresh air," before disappearing, leaving perfect outlines of her feet within the stone comprising the underground pathway. In her wake, Ohta reached up to touch his cheek, taking note of the blood on his fingertips as he remarked, "I knew my words would come back to bite me but come on..."
Responding to Ohta's utterance, the familiar voice of the shadow jackal said, ("You have kept your end of the bargain. Just this once, I will lend you my power...")
"Don't you mean 'my' power?" countered Ohta. His Zanpakuto Spirit was an extension of himself, so even though they had distinctive egos, they were ultimately the same existence.
Ignoring Ohta's remark, or at least pretending to, the shadow jackal said, ("Listen closely. My name is...")
Hearing the name of his Zanpakuto, Ohta's eyes briefly widened before a toothy grin developed across his face...
...
..
.
Staring at the giant glaive that would soon reduce her soul to ashes, Rukia felt neither fear nor grief. Rather, as Ohta hadn't reemerged since his fight with Kenpachi, she felt relief. It wasn't easy to imagine Ohta fleeing out of fear, but she prayed that was the case. The Soul Society might not forgive him for his intrusion, but if he returned to the human world and lay low, he could enjoy a few more years of life...
"Have you made your peace...?" asked an incredibly ancient-looking man with a somewhat pointy bald head, numerous scars covering his face and body, long eyebrows that framed his face, and an even longer beard that extended to his knees, fastened by purple bindings. He supported himself with a large wooden cane, but no one in the whole of Soul Society would dare to consider him old and weak as the kanji emblazoned on the back of his Haori denoted him as the Captain of Squad 1, Captain-Commander of the Thirteen Court Guardian Squads and most powerful Shinigami to have ever lived, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
Adopting a faint smile, Rukia replied, "I have. And thank you for giving me one final moment to reflect..."
"Hmmm..."
Though barely half the Captains had shown up as instructed, Yamamoto nodded affirmatively, responding, "Very well. Then the time has arrived for your execution. Before that, have you any last words?"
Exhaling the faintest of chuckles, Rukia replied, "If I can be permitted a bit of selfishness, I would ask that the Ryoka who invaded Soul Society be allowed to return to their lives in peace. They are good people. Their lives should not be ruined trying to save their friend..."
"Hmmmmmmmm..."
Closing his eyes, Yamamoto looked like he was seriously considering Rukia's request. Fortunately, while the defeat of two Captains and the injury of several Lieutenants was no laughing matter, there had been no loss of life. In fact, based on the reports he had received, it seemed like the 'enemy' Ryoka had gone out of their way not to seriously injure or kill their opponents.
Surprising nearly everyone present, Yamamoto opened his eyes and said, "Agreed. Your last request will be honored. Assuming there are no further incidents, I shall allow the Ryoka to return unharmed."
Feeling even greater relief, Rukia exhaled a laughing sigh, a genuine smile developing across her face as she replied, "Then I can die without regret."
Nodding his head, Yamamoto said, "Then let us begin." In truth, he had no intention of letting Ohta and the others return, but as a final kindness to a girl he didn't believe deserved the punishment she had been assigned, he didn't mind telling a gentle lie...
...
..
.
(A/N: And his name is...!)

Chapter 51: Opening Act