Not a Mob: Psycho

After relocating to a lavishly decorated study, something Ohta had never put to use, Ichigo kicked things off by scratching his head and saying, "I wanted to thank you. Not just for bringing Karin back, but-"
"Stop it," said Ohta, shaking his head as he added, "I confronted Aizen to protect the things I cared about. Everything that happened afterward was a result of that decision. I don't need your gratitude."
Exhaling a tired sigh, Ichigo remarked, "You never change, do you? What's so difficult about accepting someone's gratitude?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta replied, "I don't like owing people or having them feel 'indebted' to me without clarifying what I expect from them. It's that simple."
"Besides..." said Ohta, smiling as he grabbed a bottle of whiskey from a cabinet, adding, "I'm not using this place at the moment, so letting your sister and others use it as a training facility doesn't affect me adversely. You and your friends can also choose rooms and use the facilities here. Just don't be too surprised if you stay long-term, and I put you to work..."
"Is that why you're letting the Visored stay here?" asked Ichigo. "Are they going to be working for you from now on...?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead," admitted Ohta. "It's only been a month since Aizen was imprisoned, and I have...other shit going on. I just didn't want Orihime staying here by herself, so I asked that pink-haired giant to teach her how to use Bakudu up to the 90s. The rest are residing here on their Captains' salaries."
With Ohta mentioning 'other shit,' Ichigo couldn't help remarking, "I heard you also lost your power..." with an apologetic smile.
"Yeah, but I'm still alive, aren't I?" contended Ohta. "I might have lost my power, but everything that allowed me to gain that power is right here..."
Pointing to his head and then his heart, Ohta added, "If anything, I view this as an opportunity. I allowed the power I possessed to go to my head and nearly paid the price for it. Now, I have the opportunity to start anew, shore up my foundation, and ultimately become even stronger. Unless you intend to live the rest of your life as a normal human, I suggest you do the same..."
"But how...?" asked Ichigo. "I heard from Orihime that not even her power could stabilize and restore my Reiatsu. And no-"
Interrupting Ichigo's lamenting, Ohta said, "It doesn't matter how. The only thing that matters is that there is 'always' a way to obtain what you desire, so long as you put in the effort. If you can't figure out something alone, bug that asshat Urahara or reach out to your Grand Aunt, Kukaku. 'Someone' will have the answers you're searching for, and you more than deserve them."
"What about you?" asked Ichigo. "Even though we're the same age, you seem to have your nose in everything..."
"That's the difference between you and me," replied Ohta. "We both stick our noses into things, but you do so to help people while I primarily seek to help myself and those I've chosen to care about..."
Handing Ichigo a shallow glass of whiskey, Ohta added, "You're the kind of guy that can save the world and not expect anything in return, even if the event traumatizes you for the rest of your life. I'm not so charitable..."
Accepting the glass Ohta presented him, Ichigo gave it a tentative whiff before scrunching his brows and muttering, "This is alcohol..."
"Yeah, and?" asked Ohta, taking a sip from his glass before adding, "We just saved the world, and most of the people who pretend to rule over it will never know that. Why should I give a damn about the rules and laws of people wholly unrelated to me? Trust me, those at the top sure as hell don't..."
"..."
Though he was tempted to ask what made Ohta the way he was, Ichigo remained silent, staring at the contents of his glass before taking a small sip. The flavor wasn't like he expected, but it felt surprisingly good going down, his throat and body filling with warmth.
Nodding his head in approval, Ohta said, "That's good. Keep in mind that as you regain your power, you become an entity capable of leveling cities or destroying entire countries. Having that kind of power and 'not' using it is just irresponsible. Those in power will force you to take sides, so if you truly wish to protect your family, you must choose your allies carefully and understand who your enemies are..."
Furrowing his brows, Ichigo remarked, "Sounds like you're trying to recruit me..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta replied, "Not really. I do, however, have a personal connection with the main branch of the Shiba Clan. Also, thanks to your idiot of a father, your sister has developed unrealistic expectations about the future. Because of that, I don't 'need' to recruit you. So long as you care about your family, you'll work with me regardless."
"What kind of expectations?" asked Ichigo, unamused by the implication of Ohta's words.
Shaking his head, Ohta contended, "That's something you need to work out with your family. I've more than made my intentions clear, so if Karin continues to follow and pursue me, it will be because she chose to do so, not because I goaded or manipulated her into doing it."
"You...!" began Ichigo. However, before he could approach or utter a second word, Ohta sent him back with a psychic push, stating, "All I did was tell her the truth and teach her the basics of developing her mental, spiritual, and physical energies. If you want to blame anyone, find a mirror or take it up with your father. I did nothing wrong."
While he couldn't completely absolve himself of guilt, Ohta had made it clear fairly early on that he had no intentions toward Karin. If Ishin hadn't fucked things up by encouraging her to pursue him, she would have given up as a matter of course. Now she was training with Ayame and Hiyori to familiarize herself with her Gigai and learn what it took to be a member of the Onmitsukido and a Visored...
Releasing his hold on Ichigo, Ohta said, "Anyways, since we've moved on to arguing over random shit, I assume we're about done. We can continue this discussion once you've caught up with your studies and acclimated to your new life. I plan to stick around until the end of Winter Break, but you can always ask Orihime to text me if I'm not here."
Though he wasn't happy about being manhandled by Ohta's telekinesis, Ichigo responded with a curt "Whatever..." before setting his glass on the nearby desk and turning to leave. In his wake, Ohta shook his head and filled his glass before moving around the desk to sit in the comfortable leather chair. He was an introvert at his core, so with a dozen people gathered in his living room, he would rather go another round with Aizen than go outside and socialize...
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"So you came..." muttered Ohta, opening his eyes as Tatsuki entered the study with a conflicted look on her face.
"What? Are you so much of a coward that you can't even look me in the eye anymore...?" asked Tatsuki.
"If not your eyes, where am I looking right now...?" countered Ohta, staring the short-haired tomboy down with a neutral expression as he poured himself another drink.
"..."
Making her way over to the desk, Tatsuki grabbed Ichigo's glass and said, "Pour me a drink..." in a firm, huffy tone.
Complying with Tatsuki's demand, Ohta casually filled her glass about a quarter before setting the bottle aside, allowing a fairly awkward silence to permeate the room.
As there were no other chairs present, Tatsuki sat on the edge of Ohta's desk, wearing a frown as she sniffed the contents of her glass and took a very tentative sip. Then, after nearly a full minute of silence, she revealed, "I'm thinking about becoming a Shinigami..." while staring at him from the corner of her eyes.
Before Ohta could respond, Tatsuki said, "Just shut up and listen..." Then, after downing the contents of her glass, she added, "I heard from Orihime what happened. You and Ichigo basically saved the world, right?"
"Something like that..." replied Ohta.
"Something like that..." parrotted Tatsuki, exhaling a contemptuous snort before staring at Ohta with a pouty expression as she said, "That's one of the things I hated about you...you're always leaping head-first into danger and never once asked for mine or anyone else's help..."
Slamming her glass on the table, Tatsuki shouted, "Just who do you think you are!? Why do you try and tackle everything on your own...!?"
Understanding that Tatsuki wasn't expecting an answer, Ohta remained silent, holding her gaze until she eventually deflated and exhaled a tired sigh. What he didn't expect was her to immediately follow up by asking, "I like you...you know that, don't you?"
After a brief moment of hesitation, Ohta nodded, replying, "I've known for a long time..."
"I know..." replied Tatsuki, furrowing her brows as she muttered, "I also know you were planning to ask me out when we started High School. But then all this crazy shit happened, and you felt you needed to create some distance to 'protect' me. Sound about right...?"
Without waiting for Ohta's response, Tatsuki firmly asserted, "Well, I don't 'need' nor do I 'want' your protection. I'm going to get stronger to protect Orihime and live how I please from now on..."
Punctuating her statement, Tatsuki adjusted her position so that she was seated right in front of Ohta with her feet on the chair's armrest, providing a clear view of the contents of her skirt...
After several seconds of silence, Tatsuki muttered, "Say something..." with a pouty expression, emphasized by the rosy hue coloring her cheeks and spreading through her neck and ears.
Instead of responding with words, Ohta caused Tatsuki's heart to skip a beat as he took advantage of her position to push up against the back of her knees, forcing her onto her back as he towered over her with a neutral expression but fiery eyes. Fortunately, a lifetime of karate and a few years of dance had made Tatsuki 'very' flexible, allowing Ohta to push her knees up to her shoulders as he warned, "If we go through with this, there's no going back..."
Though the blush coloring her cheeks deepened considerably, Tatsuki proved her 'determination' by grabbing her well-developed ass cheeks and willfully spreading her legs with a serious expression as she stated, "There's no way I'm leaving Orihime alone with someone like you, so just shut up and get on with it..."
"And what about my Doppelganger...?" asked Ohta, even as he tore the fabric of Tatsuki's spats, exposing her white, visibly damp panties.
"We broke up weeks ago..." revealed Tatsuki, averting her eyes as she added, "I told Orihime and Rukia to keep it a secret so I could confront you myself..."
"You picked a hell of a timing..." said Ohta, causing Tatsuki's body to tense as he dropped his trousers, pulled aside her panties, and placed the tip of his dick against her pussy, rubbing it between her folds. In truth, he had suspected that something like this might happen since Orihime kept trying to convince him to speak with Tatsuki in private. It also annoyed him that she had started dating his Doppelganger, so Ohta pushed against her last line of defense the moment his dick was properly lubricated...
Gritting her teeth and furrowing her brows, Tatsuki groaned, "Don't be in such a rush...this is my first time, and you're not exactly packing a pencil dick..."
Seeing the blood leaking from Tatsuki's crotch, Ohta didn't bother to ask why she was still a virgin. Instead, he leaned over her, staring intently at her with his hands flanking her head. His actions confused her initially, but as the distance between their faces gradually lessened, she realized what he was after, forcing a smile through her pain and discomfort as she said, "Just kiss me, you asshole..."
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(A/N: Who said the childhood friend always loses...?)

After nearly an hour and multiple positional changes, Tatsuki remarked, "Just how irresponsible can you be?" while wiping her crotch with a wad of tissues. "I can't believe you came inside me five times. Also, you owe me a pair of spats..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta replied, "I can afford it. As for me cumming inside you, don't worry about it. Orihime is a bit addicted to creampies, so I had my Gigai made sterile. We'd need to be in spirit form and undergo a process known as Soul Resonance for me to have any chance of knocking you up."
"Seriously?" asked Tatsuki.
"We've known each other most of our lives," replied Ohta. "I'm not going to pretend I'm honest, but I'm more likely not to say anything than lie to someone who can easily ascertain the truth..."
"..."
Not sure how to respond to Ohta's words, Tatsuki took a moment to fix her clothes before asking, "So, what does this make us...?" with slightly furrowed brows.
"I'd like to say 'fuck buddies,' but things are both simpler and a lot more complicated than that," replied Ohta. "If you're serious about becoming a Shinigami, I'll make the arrangements. Just don't be in too much of a rush to get involved with the Soul Society. Once you do, just visiting the human world becomes difficult, so you should take your time and spend the next couple of years enjoying what 'life' has to offer..."
"That doesn't really answer my question..." remarked Tatsuki, adopting a hurt expression as she asked, "Why can't you be direct about things like this? You don't seem to have any trouble speaking your mind about other things..."
"Because I only ever wanted one woman to anchor me to this world and life in general," replied Ohta. "Things have become way more complicated now, but we wouldn't be having this conversation if that wasn't the case. So, instead of questioning our relationship, you should focus on becoming the person you want to be. I'll support whatever path you choose..."
"So long as I never betray you..." appended Tatsuki.
"In this case, it would be betraying 'us,'" corrected Ohta. "Orihime has already made her choice, and this entire fiasco is the fault of Rukia. Now that I've become involved with the Shihouin, Kuchiki, and Shiba Clans, my path is set. If you get cold feet after realizing the shitstorm you've gotten yourself into, I won't force you. Only you can decide your path forward..."
"Stop trying to scare me," said Tatsuki, asserting, "I've already made my decision. I can't entrust Orihime to someone as indecisive as you, so I'm going to watch over and protect her..."
"Then it doesn't matter what 'we' are," contended Ohta. "But if you want to put it into words, you could say we're friends with benefits..."
"You're an asshole," declared Tatsuki, slugging Ohta in the shoulder but holding back her strength as she had sprained her wrist several times in the past. As she turned around to leave, however, Ohta caught her wrist, pulling her into his embrace and holding her close as he said, "You know I care about you..." in a faint tone.
"..."
With Tatsuki remaining silent, Ohta kissed her forehead, adding, "Even if you change your mind later, I'll ensure you can live a comfortable life. For now, just focus on the present and being a good friend to Orihime. I can't be here for either of you as much as you deserve, so it would make things easier for me if you could be there for each other..."
Furrowing her brows into a severe pout, Tatsuki replied, "I don't need you to remind me..."
"Yet you need me to remind you about other obvious things..." rebutted Ohta, surprising Tatsuki by hefting her up by her well-developed ass and silencing her response with a deep kiss. In truth, he would have been fine if things remained awkward between them and they never patched things up. Now that she had provoked him to action, however, he wouldn't let her 'escape' a second time...
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As Tatsuki had waited until everyone else had left become coming to search for Ohta, the only people waiting for them when they emerged from the study were Rukia, Orihime, Momo, and Lisa, the latter perusing a swimsuit catalog while the others played Jenga around the coffee table.
Seeing Ohta and Tatsuki materialize, Orihime beamed, jumping to her feet and rushing over to the latter, grabbing her hands as she exclaimed, "I'm so happy for you, Tatsuki-chan~!"
"You're exaggerating..." replied Tatsuki, feeling incredibly awkward as she averted Orihime's starry-eyed gaze.
"H-Hey...!?"
Before Tatsuki could protest, Orihime dragged her off for some girl talk, leaving Ohta alone with the trio of Shinigami. Momo's face was bright red, but Rukia and Lisa were calm, the former wearing a smile while the latter didn't bother to look up from her magazine.
"I take it things went well...?" asked Rukia.
Waiting until he was sitting next to her, Ohta answered, "I was surprised when she showed up, but things went pretty smoothly after she laid into me for a bit..."
"Well, you kind of deserved it..." mused Rukia, leaning her head against Ohta's shoulder as she added, "We need to return before it gets too late. I'll come by again this weekend..."
"If I'm not here, I'll be around..." replied Ohta, casually flicking one of the Jenga pieces out of position.
"Stay out of trouble until I return," said Rukia, pulling Ohta's collar to kiss his cheek. Afterward, she rose to her feet, focusing her gaze on Momo as she asked, "Are you ready to depart?"
"O-Of course, Captain Kuchiki...!" replied Momo, scrambling to her feet while Lisa remained seated on the couch. She had applied for a few days of leave, so she acted like no one else was present until Rukia and Momo departed through the Senkaimon.
Setting aside her magazine, Lisa cast a characteristically apathetic look at Ohta, calmly inquiring, "Did that little girl drain you dry...?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta replied, "The only person that can pull that off is Yoruichi..."
Near the end of his statement, Ohta pulled out a billfold, tossing it to the bespectacled Shinigami as he stated, "I set the card limit to &yen;12,000,000. If you need more, shoot me a text..."
"Yeah, yeah, I know..." responded Lisa, slipping the billfold between her breasts and departing the penthouse without further discussion. She was making a small fortune in the Seireitei by re-selling Josei manga and other goods from the Human World, and Ohta was her partner in crime. Not only was he bankrolling the operation, but he used the sub-dimensional space of his Royal Mantle to help her transport the goods in secret. She offered him sexual favors in return, but Ohta had only allowed her to suck his dick since she was a little too perverted, even for him...
While waiting for Orihime and Tatsuki to finish their conversation, Ohta flipped on his 183cm plasma screen TV and began playing Tekken 4 on his Gamestation 2 console. The gameplay and name were the same as a series from his previous world, but the story and characters were slightly different. The graphics were extremely dated from Ohta's perspective, but he enjoyed himself since he never got into gaming after being drafted into the war.
Emerging from Ohta's bedroom a few minutes later, Tatsuki, now wearing a change of clothes provided by Orihime, perked up when she saw what he was playing, asking, "Isn't this newest Tekken? I didn't even know you were into video games."
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta replied, "It's a decent way to pass the time. Want to go a few rounds...?"
Only hearing the last half of Ohta's words, Orihime, having just emerged from his bedroom, excitedly replied, "Oh! Are you still in the mood? If so, we can change into something sexier~!"
Without waiting for Ohta's response, Orihime dragged a flustered Tatsuki back into their room, ignoring the latter's protests. When they reemerged a few minutes later, Tatsuki was red up to her ears as Orihime had forced her to change into a mature set of black lingerie, complete with stockings and a garter belt...
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Though he proposed having them call in sick, Orihime and Tatsuki wanted to be present on Ichigo's first day back to school. As a result, Ohta found himself 'alone' after seeing them off at the front of the hotel.
Pulling out his cell phone, Ohta sent texts to Rukia, Yoruichi, and Rangiku before turning around to enter the hotel. Then, as it was somewhat nippy outside, he decided to hit up the gym and relax in the steam room before showering and returning to his penthouse. The first part went off without a hitch, but when he entered the steam room, he found it occupied by an inordinately short 'woman' with blonde hair fastened into spiky pigtails...
"Choose your words very carefully..." warned the snaggletoothed, lightly freckled blonde, staring at Ohta with her characteristically haggard brown eyes.
"Good morning to you too..." replied Ohta, deciding not to let the chibi ruin his mood as he sat in the middle of the bench to her left, leaning his head back with his arms spread wide. He also spread his legs, but since he was wearing a towel around his waist, she would need to get on her hands and knees or crane her head to glimpse his not-so-little brother.
Staring at Ohta for several seconds, the pig-tailed girl, Sarugaki Hiyori, remarked, "You're beyond shameless...you saw this room was occupied by a girl, and you still decided to come inside?"
Though he was tempted to point out that she looked like she had been in the steam room for hours, presumably waiting for him, Ohta asked, "What do you want...?" without raising his head or opening his eyes.
Furrowing her brows further than usual, Hiyori crossed her arms, refusing to respond for the better part of ten minutes. Then, instead of answering Ohta's question, she pointedly remarked, "I'm not 'that' much smaller than Rukia, you know..."
"Okay...?" replied Ohta, opening his right eye to stare at the pouty blonde with a raised brow. He knew she felt 'indebted' to him for saving her, but if she wanted to repay him, he wasn't sure he would accept. His relationship with Rukia had altered his perception of short stacks, but 133cm felt a lot shorter than 144cm...
"Just forget it..." said Hiyori, storming out of the steam room with crimson cheeks. She had anticipated more of a reaction from Ohta. Whether that reaction was positive or negative didn't really matter. However, seeing his 'disinterest' pissed her off...
Though he followed Hiyori's departure with his eyes, Ohta immediately returned to relaxing once she was gone. He would fuck just about anyone with his current mentality, but in 4'4'' Hiyori's case, he wasn't exactly sad to see her go. He might have given chase if it was someone like Mashiro, but she was 'definitely' fucking Kensei...
Thinking about the recently appointed Captain, whose Zanpakuto was a combat knife, Ohta briefly considered asking Kensei to help him with his hand-to-hand combat training. However, as the thought of getting his ass beat by someone who used to be much weaker than him wasn't pleasant, he promptly decided against it. Not because he was excessively prideful but because it would tarnish his reputation rather than help him improve it. Many Shinigami feared and resented him, and at least two Great Noble Clans wanted him dead. Exposing his weakened state would 'drastically' increase the number of people targetting him, either for clout or to accrue favor with those who resented him for 'stealing' Yoruichi. The latter hadn't been exaggerating when she said she was one of the most sought-after women in all of Soul Society, especially among Nobles looking to improve their standing.
"It's tough being popular..." mused Ohta, smiling as he imagined how people would react to Yoruichi walking around with a visibly pregnant belly. It was a shame only positive emotions such as love and devotion counted towards faith, or he might have been able to regain his power and attain godhood in a single go. Instead, he had to do things the hard way by getting people to like, respect, or revere him...
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(A/N: Poor Hiyori. 133cm tall and flatter than a board at 280+ years old xD...)

Shortly after Ohta separated from Kisuke and Ichigo, a chill ran up his spine when a familiar voice remarked, "I can't believe someone like you managed to defeat and seal away Aizen. You're one monstrous kid..."
Materializing from the interior of a building, Gin, wearing a black cloak, blocked Ohta's path with his inordinately short Zanpakuto hanging lazily from his right hand.
Opening his usually squinted eyes to reveal stark blue irises, Gin teased, "You look nervous..."
Furrowing his brows, Ohta responded with a firm, challenging, "Just get it over with..."
"Hmmmm..."
Bending his elbow, Gin maintained his creepy smile as he tapped his right shoulder with the back of his Zanpakuto, ostensibly considering whether or not to kill Ohta. When he didn't, even after several tens of seconds had passed, the latter snorted and began walking, strolling past Gin without a word.
Waiting until Ohta had taken several steps past him, Gin said, "After this, I'll be heading west. Do us both a favor by telling anyone who asks that I was betrayed by Aizen and used as a sacrifice to destroy the Kototsu..."
Before Ohta could retort or ask any questions, Gin abruptly disappeared, ending the conversation. His swift departure initially confused Ohta, but things became much clearer when nearly every officer-level Shinigami in the Gotei 13 showed up...
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[Thirty-Five Days Later, December 4th, 2001]
Standing at the edge of a koi pond, Ohta, wearing a loose black yukata, a lavender sash, and a haori that was white on the outside and lavender on the inside, remarked, "I could get used to this..." while tossing handfuls of feed to the oversized fish.
Though he had been vested a title and land as a reward for his services, Ohta entrusted the care of his comparably homely estate to the Shihouin Clan while he 'recovered' in Yoruichi's private compound, complete with a courtyard the size of a national park.
Interrupting Ohta's idle reverie, Soifon, wearing the ninja-like attire of a generic Onmitsukidō member, appeared next to him on one knee, head bowed in respect as she said, "Ohta-dono, you asked to be notified when Kurosaki Ichigo awoke. Shall I arrange for your journey to the world of the living...?"
As it had been over a month since Ichigo fell unconscious, Ohta couldn't help muttering, "It's about damn time..." before shifting his gaze to Soifon and asking, "Has Rukia been informed?"
Without raising her head, Soifon replied, "I sent a messenger to inform Captain Kuchiki before coming here. She should receive authorization to travel to the world of the living within the hour."
Nodding in approval, Ohta responded with a curt, "Go ahead and make the preparations..." before returning his attention to the koi pond. Soifon disappeared the moment he did so, once again leaving him 'alone' in the oversized courtyard. In reality, there were at least thirty members of the Onmitsukado's Special Escort Unit watching over and keeping tabs on him at any given moment. After all, while nothing had been made 'official,' he was almost universally regarded as Yoruichi's Consort...
A few minutes after Soifon's departure, a familiar warmth and softness pressed against Ohta's back as a pair of brown arms wrapped around his chest and shoulders.
"I just heard the news. When are we leaving?" asked Yoruichi, rubbing her cheek against Ohta's as she dangled from his back.
"What do you mean by we?" asked Ohta. "You know you can't travel to the Human World in your current state..."
"I'll just go without a Limiter," argued Yoruichi. "I'm good at suppressing my Reiatsu, so Old Man Yama shouldn't have any problems with it. Or are you worried about something happening to me during a day trip~?"
Licking the side of Ohta's face, Yoruichi huskily mused, "For someone who claims not to care about kids, you sure do fret a lot..."
"..."
Though he wanted to retort by pointing out he had only 'resonated' with her to expedite the removal of the seal hidden beneath his bangs, Ohta wisely remained silent. He needed to overcome four increasingly difficult trials to have it removed completely, and the first was facing one of his greatest fears by becoming a father. Rukia and Orihime weren't really in a position to become mothers, so by process of elimination and after much discussion, he put a bun in Yoruichi's oven...
"There you go, being all silent and mysterious..." mused Yoruichi, releasing her hold on Ohta's body so he could turn around to face her. When he did, he naturally slipped his hands into the openings in the side of her hakama, grasping her voluminous ass and planting a kiss on her lips before pulling away to say, "You and Rukia were the ones who told me I needed to start acting more dignified..."
"You say with your hands on my ass..." mused Yoruichi, snapping her teeth playfully as Ohta came in for another kiss. She didn't mind public displays of affection, but the Elders would nag her if their subordinates within the Special Escort Unit reported that she and Ohta were 'fooling around' while she was supposed to be on duty. She wouldn't have cared in the past, but the political climate of the Seireitei wasn't the best right now...
Releasing his hold on Yoruichi's ass, albeit after giving it a final squeeze, Ohta asserted, "I'll be fine. Momo and Lisa are bound to follow if Rukia travels to the Human World. With Beecat lurking in the shadows, that's three Captain-level Shinigami and a Lieutenant serving as my escort. Any would-be assassins would have to go through them to get to me..."
Furrowing her brows slightly, Yoruichi whispered, "Just remember, you're basically the lynchpin between three of the Great Noble Clans. Anyone outside our circle of trust should be regarded as an enemy. Never let your guard down..."
Without waiting for Ohta's response, Yoruichi half-turned, stretching her arms over her head as she said, "Well, guess I'll return to my post. Say hi to Rukia and Orihime for me. And be sure to message me if you decide to spend the night or stay at the hotel for an extended period. The old farts will complain if you aren't monitored."
Finished with what she had to say, Yoruichi directed a parting wink at Ohta before disappearing with Shunpo. Ohta felt his power plummet as the distance between them increased, but at least he wasn't powerless like a few weeks prior. Rather, even with an approximated 2.7% of his total power, increasing as Yoruichi brought their child to term, he was still more powerful than most Lieutenants...
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Seeing Ohta enter the 12th Division's Interdimensional Transportation Terminal alongside Soifon, a smile blossomed across Rukia's face as she teased, "You look more like a 'Lord' each time I see you. That outfit suits you." in response to the former's traditional Shihouin Clan attire.
"I could say the same to you..." responded Ohta, referencing Rukia's stylish white haori, possessing a pale-turquoise inlay and the kanji for Go(5) on the back.
Shifting his gaze to the two women standing near the entrance to the fixed Senkaimon, Yadomaru Lisa and Hinamori Momo, Ohta avoided staring at the former's exposed midriff as he said, "I'll be in your girls' care during our trip to the Human World."
Though the bespectacled, ponytailed Lisa responded with a curt nod, Momo, having cut her usually bunned hair into a somewhat messy bob, bowed respectfully and replied, "It is our honor, Yamada-dono..."
"If you say so..." replied Ohta, returning his gaze to Rukia, suppressing the urge to heft her by her ass and kiss her as he asked, "How busy are things back at the Squad 5 barracks? I'm thinking of staying in the Human World until the end of Winter Break."
Nodding in approval, Rukia stated, "That's good. You know Orihime gets lonely easily, so you should spend more time together. As for my Squad, tensions have started to relax, but it will be some time before Lisa and I gain everyone's confidence. Momo has been a tremendous help in that regard, but we shouldn't be gone for more than a few days to avoid our subordinates thinking we are slacking off while they patrol and adhere to the Gotei's post-war training regimen."
"Right..." responded Ohta.
Though the Gotei had managed to fill every vacant Captain position thanks to the Visored, the ease at which Aizen had defeated even the Captain-Commander compelled the newly established Central 46 to implement post-war restructuring policies. This included having Captains actively groom their successors. Now, each Squad had two Lieutenants, one responsible for the usual administrative duties and the other charged with mastering their Bankais to revitalize the Gotei's war potential.
"Don't look so glum," said Rukia, lightly punching Ohta's left bicep as she added, "The stronger the Gotei becomes, the less likely you'll have to take action in the future. There's also talk about adapting some of the Human World's technologies and innovations for use in the Seireitei and the central Rukon Districts, so we might be able to watch movies from across dimensions in the future."
"That would certainly be an improvement..." replied Ohta. As much as he 'enjoyed' roaming around Yoruichi's courtyard and overfeeding koi fish, he missed modern conveniences. He was also seriously contemplating going to the US or popularizing MMA in Japan after failing to bestow Aizen the beatdown he so desperately deserved. Doing so wouldn't just improve his skills, but if he became recognized as the greatest fighter in the world, it would help him accumulate some of the 'faith' Anpu mentioned he would need to gain access to his full potential...
"That's enough chatter," said Rukia, grabbing Ohta's hand and pulling him along as she added, "Orihime is presumably waiting for us on the other side. I'm sure you also have matters to discuss with Ichigo, so let's get a move on."
"Yeah, yeah..." replied Ohta, allowing himself to be dragged over to the fixed Senkaimon, waiting for Momo to open it before stepping through with the otherwise all-female group. When they reached the exit on the other side, they found not just Orihime but Ichigo, Chad, Uryu, Tatsuki, Keigo, Mizuiro, and Karin waiting for them. Ohta was aware that Tatsuki, Keigo, and Mizuiro had fully awakened as High-Spec Humans after their brief stint in the Soul Society. Still, he didn't expect to encounter them in his living room. Fortunately, they at least had enough sense not to invite his Doppelganger...
Preempting even Orihime, Karin shouted, "It's about time you showed up!" before bouncing to her feet and nearly tripping since she was still getting used to her Gigai. It had only been around two weeks since she acquired it, so her synchronization rate was only around 70%.
Extending his hand, Ohta prevented Karin's tumble with a telekinetic hold, causing a smile to develop across her face as she said, "Nice catch. How close are you to regaining your powers?"
"I'm getting closer each day..." replied Ohta, fixing Karin's posture as he shifted his gaze to Ichigo, staring in their direction with a frown. The last vestiges of his Reiatsu had disappeared shortly after awakening from his month-long coma, so he was the only person among those gathered who couldn't see the group of Ohta, Rukia, Soifon, Lisa, and Momo.
Transitioning to his Gigai, prompting Rukia to do the same, Ohta raised his hand and teased, "Long time no see, Strawberry-kun. Did you get enough beauty sleep?"
Forcing a smile, Ichigo muttered, "Something like that..." before rising to his feet and asking, "Mind if we talk somewhere?"
"That's the reason I came," replied Ohta, adding, "Well, one of them..." as he shifted his gaze to Orihime, punctuating his statement with a wink. His actions earned him a slightly annoyed look from Tatsuki, but as she was presently dating his Doppelganger, she didn't have much room to speak about his and Orihime's relationship. Not in public, at least...
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(A/N: I've decided to extend this volume to around 120 chapters since I know the battle against Aizen left a bad taste in some people's mouths. Though, compared to the literal shit Aizen had to cough up, I imagine it wasn't too bad o3o...)

Chapter 98: Comeuppance