Not a Mob: Psycho

"It's quite beautiful, isn't it..." remarked Rukia, combing back a few strands of loose hair as she stared at the horizon, watching the Sun begin its slow and gradual ascent.
"It certainly has its charms..." replied Ohta, standing next to her with his hands in his pockets, unperturbed by the fact he was on a ledge thirteen stories above the ground.
Looking up at Ohta, Rukia found him staring straight ahead with a relaxed smile. Had she been a hundred, maybe even forty years younger, she may have found the scene fairly captivating.
"We should probably head back," said Rukia. "I still need to stop by the school to arrange my transfer."
Raising his brows, Ohta looked down at the diminutive Shinigami to ask, "Your transfer? How does becoming a student at our school benefit you in any way?"
"I need to keep an eye on Ichigo," asserted Rukia. "You can't move freely during the day, so if a Hollow appears, he'll need to take care of it."
"Yeah, and?" asked Ohta. "That doesn't explain why you have to become a student. Also, how can you and Ichigo move freely during the day but not me? That doesn't make any sense."
"..."
Though she was initially going to protest Ohta's words, Rukia, once again, found herself at a loss. Her plan was to enroll in Karakura High and use a device known as a Soul Apprehension Gauntlet to extract Ichigo's soul if a Hollow appeared, allowing them to mobilize and eliminate it. Since she would be accompanying him on these undertakings, it didn't make sense for her to enroll if she was going to skip classes...
Taking advantage of Rukia's silence, Ohta added, "Speaking of Ichigo, do you think it's a good idea to have him cut classes? His grades are pretty good, but this is our first year of High School. If he starts skipping classes all of a sudden, his grades are bound to suffer. Not to mention, once he gets in the habit of slaying Hollows, he won't be content to stand by and ignore them in the future. Won't future Shinigami who visit Karakura Town find it suspicious that a human is performing their duties?"
"..."
"Actually, now that I think about it, if you could transfer your power to Ichigo, why can't he transfer them back to you? Was there something special about the method you used?" asked Ohta.
"He lacks the aptitude and control necessary to execute the technique I performed..." replied Rukia. However, even as she said it, she wasn't too sure. Rather, now that she thought about it, she couldn't recall where she had learned the technique. It was forbidden for a Shinigami to grant their power to another, especially a human, so where and for what purpose did she learn to perform such a transfer? She didn't even complete her full six years at Shin'o Academy before being adopted into the Kuchiki family...
"Ah...!"
Feeling a sudden and intense migraine, Rukia keeled over and clutched her head. A loud buzzing sound, accompanied by a high-pitched ringing, filled her head, nearly causing her to fall from the ledge she was seated on before Ohta grabbed her arm, asking, "You good...?" with a confused look on his face.
"I'm...fine..." groaned Rukia. However, as crimson blood flowed from both her nostrils, her words weren't very convincing.
"Okay," replied Ohta. "But, hypothetically speaking, is there somewhere I could take you if you weren't fine? Also, what happens if your body dies? Do you just get ejected from it?"
"I hope you're not thinking of killing her," replied a deep, somewhat raspy voice, alerting Ohta and Rukia to the presence of a black, yellow-eyed cat occupying the same ledge as them.
"Your words have caused disharmony between her soul and the artificial body she is inhabiting," said the cat, Yoruichi, adding, "If her synchronicity rate falls below a certain threshold, her vessel will begin to decay rapidly."
In response to Yoruichi's words, Rukia pulled out a bottle filled with black, spherical pills known as Sōma Fixer(Inner-Soul Fixer), promptly ingesting two of them. Doing so caused her nose to stop bleeding, but her migraine lingered like a hangover.
Directing his gaze to Ohta, Yoruichi narrowed his feline eyes and said, "You're a curious one, aren't you? You remind me of a certain someone from the good old days. Unfortunately, much like him, you don't know when to leave things well enough alone..."
"Ominous," replied Ohta, adopting a teasing smile as he asked, "Is this where you reveal your true form and try to kill me?"
"It's very tempting," responded Yoruichi. "Unfortunately for you, you'll have to wait to see my true form some other time. For now, you need to carry that one back to her bed and then come with me."
"And if I refuse?" asked Ohta.
"Please do," replied Yoruichi, adopting an uncanny, almost human smile as he appended, "I don't get to have nearly as much fun as I used to."
"And this is why I'm a dog person..." remarked Ohta, surprising Rukia by picking her up in a princess carry.
"U-Unhand me...!" exclaimed Rukia. However, as her body was still weak from the near-desynchronization, she could barely form a fist, much less wriggle out of Ohta's embrace.
"It's this or the potato method," stated Ohta, stepping off the roof without waiting for Rukia's response. Then, even though it was significantly more demanding than his usual method of aviation, he materialized a spherical barrier around him and Rukia, propelling them through the air without the burden of wind pressure affecting them directly...
"You're pretty fast," remarked Yoruichi, resting atop the fence near Ohta's apartment.
"Is this where I ask how you got here so quickly?" asked Ohta, staring up at Yoruichi with a completely neutral expression.
"Just hurry and drop off the girl..." replied Yoruichi, ostensibly annoyed by Ohta's lack of a reaction.
"Yeah, yeah..." replied Ohta, carrying the silent Rukia to her door and undoing the lock with his telekinetic abilities. When he did, her pensive expression turned into a wry smile, but she didn't say anything until he laid her to rest on her bed.
"Thank you for carrying me," said Rukia. "You probably don't want my gratitude, but I appreciate it nonetheless."
"Just make sure to clean my jacket before you return it..." replied Ohta, turning to leave. Rukia attempted to grasp his sleeve as he did, but she was too slow due to the condition of her body. She then felt it would be awkward to call out to him, so she ultimately just watched him leave in silence...
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"Oh? You're back quicker than I expected," remarked Yoruichi. "I thought you would have stalled to try and annoy me."
"You're one of those quick on their feet, slow in the head types, ain't ya?" asked Ohta.
"There it is," mused Yoruichi, climbing to his feet and stretching his body as he said, "You're going to regret speaking to me like that one of these days. And I don't mean that as a threat."
"I doubt it," replied Ohta. "Even if you 'do' have the power to kill me, I can imagine worse things."
Narrowing his eyes, Yoruichi replied, "You and me both, kiddo. Now, do try and keep up."
Punctuating his words, Yoruichi leaped into the air, this time at a speed Ohta could follow. The latter wasn't very comfortable with flying around during the day, but he didn't hesitate to give chase, pursuing the black cat through the air...
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"Here we are," said Yoruichi, touching down outside an antiquated two-story shop made from bamboo and plaster, looking like a hold-over from the Edo Period.
Staring at the sign posted above the entrance, Ohta muttered, "Urahara Shoten(Shop)..."
"Looks like your schooling has paid off," remarked Yoruichi. "You read so well."
"You should consider it," retorted Ohta. "I'm certain there is at least one Obedience School in Karakura Town..."
Staring back and up at Ohta, Yoruichi asserted, "Trust me, kid, there isn't a person in this world that can make me obedient. Not without suffering serious consequences..."
"Neat," replied Ohta, adding, "So, am I supposed to go in, or what? Speak to me, oh unruly one."
"Unless you'd prefer to chat outside," responded an unfamiliar, scratchy, lazy-sounding voice. Immediately after, the front of the store slid open, revealing a man with messy, ashen-blonde hair, sunken features, and an overall unkempt appearance. He was dressed a bit like an antique store owner, wearing a green samue beneath a black haori, but the things that stood out the most were his striped, green-and-white fisherman's hat, his wooden geta, and his piercing black eyes.
"We meet at last, Yamada Ohta," said the man, removing his hat and placing it over his chest as he said, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Urahara Kisuke, the proprietor of this here shop. I'm also the Supplier of our mutual friend, Ms. Kuchiki. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"You're a dangerous one..." asserted Ohta, adopting a fearless smile. It was their first time meeting, but he could immediately tell Kisuke was a wolf in sheep's clothing. He reminded Ohta of the Fixers he encountered in his previous life, individuals who mediated and played both sides of a conflict. They were often responsible for brokering peace, but only when it benefitted them or furthered their agenda...
Spinning his hat on the tip of his finger and returning it to his head, Kisuke mused, "Maybe a few hundred years ago. I've since gone into retirement."
"Ever heard the saying 'be wary of old men in a business where most die young?'" asked Ohta.
"No, but I'll be sure to keep it in mind," replied Kisuke, adopting a sly smile as he stepped to the side and gestured to the interior of his shop, musing, "After you, dear guest..."
Making his way into the cramped store, Ohta found it was filled with what looked like various types of candy stored in glass jars. There were also a few miscellaneous items, such as tourist maps and plastic water bottles, prompting him to ask, "Is your front a gift shop...?"
"Something like that," replied Kisuke, clarifying, "Most people who can see this place are children who've yet to have their imagination and spirituality quashed by modern society. I keep the actual merchandise stored away, but unless you know what you're looking for and can request it by name, I can't sell it to you."
"I didn't come here to buy anything," said Ohta, turning to meet Kisuke's gaze as he added, "I was promised answers."
"And you'll have them," assured Kisuke. "However, before that, I'd like to ask you something. Tell me, Yamada Ohta, what is it you seek? Better yet, where do you see yourself in ten, twenty, maybe even fifty years? How do you intend to use that power of yours to shape your life and the world you live in?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta half-heartedly replied, "I'm just living life as it comes. Planning ten, twenty, or fifty years in the future is a waste of time when there are invisible monsters, spirits, Shinigami, schemers, and talking cats roaming the streets..."
Understanding that Ohta was referring to him when he said 'schemers,' Urahara exhaled an amused chuckle. Afterward, however, he adopted a very serious expression as he asked, "Then you have no interest in honing that power of yours?"
"I do," replied Ohta. "Just not under the scrutiny of someone I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw them. I have no intention of becoming your, or anyone else's, pawn."
"Hmmm..."
Reaching into his haori, Kisuke motioned as if he were about to pull out a weapon, but Ohta stared at him without so much as batting an eye. What he eventually pulled out was a simple bamboo fan, snapping it open and adopting a sly grin as he proposed, "Then, rather than a pawn, how about becoming my employee~?"
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"And why would I do that?" replied Ohta.
Adopting a faint smile, Urahara replied, "The pay might not be as great as plundering a bunch of gangs, but I can provide you with knowledge and information that can't be found anywhere else. I can also grant you access to spiritual items and training facilities that will allow you to hone your power without fear of discovery."
"And let you spy on me?" asked Ohta. "Hard pass."
"We've been spying on you for years," countered Kisuke, fanning himself as he added, "And we're not the only ones. Coming under my umbrella will at least prevent external parties from keeping an eye on you."
"Maybe, but there's a difference between being spied on and 'letting' yourself be spied on," contended Ohta. "Unless you have something more substantial to offer, my answer remains the same. Hard pass."
"At least hear me out," replied Kisuke, explaining, "I'm not asking you to tend the shop or run errands for me. All I really need for you to do is hone your power and stay out of the way of Kurosaki Ichigo's training. If things continue as they are, both he and Kuchiki Rukia are going to die."
"Continue," said Ohta, crossing his arms, curious to hear what Kisuke would say next.
"I'm not sure how much she has explained, but Ms. Kuchiki transferring her powers to a human is a capital offense," explained Kisuke. "I can't say with certainty when they'll arrive, but it's only a matter of time before Soul Society dispatches a Hunter or Execution squad to capture Rukia and take her back to be tried. If Ichigo's power is lacking at the time, he'll die."
"You say that like it's a pressing concern, but aren't you the ones who set the stage?" asked Ohta. "It sounds to me like you simply don't want me interfering in your plans."
"You're right on the second part but wrong on the first," asserted Kisuke. "I 'do' have a plan I'm working on, but I'm not the one that set the stage for Ms. Kuchiki transferring her power to Ichigo. I'm trying to bait out and stop the guy who set her up."
"I'm sure you are," replied Ohta, unconvinced. However, as both Kisuke and Yoruichi gave him the distinct impression he shouldn't fuck with them, he subsequently appended, "Just tell me, specifically, what you want from me."
"It's simple, really," replied Kisuke. "You're free to interact with them and deal with the Hollows appearing in and around Karakura Town, but don't get in the way of Ms. Kuchiki training Ichigo. The more you interfere, the more likely both of them will die."
"So, you want me to feign ignorance?" asked Ohta. "It's pretty obvious that washboard brat has been 'programmed.' You want me to play along and pretend I haven't noticed her brainwashing?"
"At least for the time being," replied Kisuke, explaining, "Until the person responsible for her brainwashing has been exposed, all you're doing by interfering is making things worse. The best thing you can do right now is consolidate your power and prepare for the mission to rescue Ms. Kuchiki and stay her execution. If that sounds too perilous, I suggest distancing yourself from this matter entirely."
"Man, I really hate people like you..." said Ohta, psychic energy exuding from his body naturally.
Though he couldn't see the tri-colored haze around Ohta's body, Kisuke could sense his aura increasing, causing tensions within the storefront to become tense to the point of palpable. Off to the side, Yoruichi narrowed his eyes in preparation, but Kisuke deterred him with a subtle shake of his head, confident that Ohta wouldn't attack. He might have if he was a truly heroic or selfless individual, but after observing Ohta for nearly ten years, Kisuke knew he was more of an opportunist than anything.
Matching Kisuke's expectations, Ohta gradually suppressed his aura, shaking his head and turning around as he said, "Whatever. I'll see how things play out and decide for myself how to handle things. If it seems like too much trouble, I'll just skip town."
"You're free to do so, but I would advise against it," replied Kisuke. "The world has become a dangerous place for High-Spec humans like yourself. Karakura Town is a sort of 'blind spot,' so if you venture too far, you'll draw the attention of secret societies and organizations the world over. Even if you seal away and never use your powers, someone will eventually track you down."
"How ominous," replied Ohta, looking over his shoulder and adopting a fearless smile as he added, "But until they track me down, I can't know for certain if you're telling the truth. People who allow themselves to be reined by news and information they haven't corroborated are no better than sheep. If someone wants to capture or try to experiment on me, they better be prepared for a fight..."
Adopting a smile of his own, Kisuke mused, "Well, with conviction like that, I'm sure you'll be fine just about anywhere. Just remember, if you ever find yourself on a dissection table being experimented on by a man with yellow teeth, blue hair, and black and white face paint, I 'did' try to warn you..."
"Noted," responded Ohta, exiting the store without looking back. He was curious about the man Kisuke was referring to, but his instincts told him the more he interacted with the ashen-haired man, the deeper he would fall into his schemes. Thus, while he failed to acquire the information he came searching for, Ohta departed without hesitation, fairly certain that any information he obtained from the man would be severely skewed to serve his ends...
Observing Ohta's departure, Kisuke and Yoruichi remained silent for several seconds before the latter questioned, "So, what do you think? Is he a threat?
"Oh, most definitely," replied Kisuke. "However, unless he can concretely determine that opposing us benefits him, he won't risk baring his fangs at us directly. This first encounter was probably to feel us out and see if we would threaten or try to strongarm him into doing our bidding. Now, just as he said, he'll most likely observe the situation and see how it plays out before deciding whether or not he wants to get involved further."
"Do you think he'll join the team to rescue Kuchiki?" asked Yoruichi. "If so, what ramifications might that have? We still don't know the limitations and scope of his power."
Instead of answering Yoruichi's questions outright, Urahara looked to his longtime companion and asked, "Can I entrust this matter to you?" with a serious glimmer in his eyes.
"You want me to get in the way of him and Kuchiki...?" asked Yoruichi.
"If they're left alone, there's a good chance an incident like what occurred this morning will happen again," said Kisuke. "If you can win his trust and separate him from Kuchiki, she'll have an easier time grooming Ichigo into the weapon we need him to be..."
"That doesn't sound particularly difficult," replied Yoruichi. "But are you sure this is the wisest course of action? It could backfire spectacularly."
"I'm confident in your skills as the former Captain of the Onmitsukidō," asserted Kisuke, adding, "The most important thing is that everything proceeds according to the plan. We won't get another chance at this..."
"Which is why it would have been better to scout or get rid of him years ago," said Yoruichi. "Now, even if we 'do' kill him, it could come back to bite us once Ichigo and his friends discover the truth..."
Adopting a sad smile, Kisuke muttered, "Sorry...but even if his power is a threat, every child has the right to life, right? It's too late to go back and change things. Even if I could, pulling Ohta to our side wouldn't be at the top things I'd like to fix..."
Exhaling a sigh, Yoruichi remarked, "You're getting old..." before leaping down and promptly exiting the store...
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After reaching his apartment on foot, Ohta intended to check on Rukia but couldn't sense her in her room. That being the case, he entered his own and took a long, relaxing bath instead of a shower. School started at 8:30 AM, so with more than two hours to prepare, he took his sweet time, only getting out once the water had become lukewarm.
"I was starting to think you had drowned," commented a familiar voice, drawing Ohta's attention to the black cat lying atop his bed.
Raising his brows, Ohta asked, "I'm guessing you're the 'insurance' to keep me from messing things up?"
"Something like that," replied Yoruichi. "More importantly, I'm going to be teaching you how to battle against Shinigami. Unlike Kisuke, I don't really care about the nature and origin of your power. If you're going to continue meddling, you should at least possess the knowledge to disguise yourself and be useful."
"Disguise myself? What do you mean...?" asked Ohta.
"I was listening when Rukia commented on how your power should allow you to mimic the abilities of a Shinigami," revealed Yourichi. "If that's true, I can teach you how to fight like and counter the abilities of any Shinigami you happen to encounter in the future. Better still, I can teach you to hide your presence and detect surveillance and spiritual probes. I imagine that would prove fairly useful if you choose to run away in the future."
"You're not wrong..." replied Ohta. Even now, he couldn't sense so much as a trace of Yoruichi's presence. The same could be said of Urahara but to a different extent. In his case, he exuded the aura of an ordinary human despite simultaneously giving the impression he was a monster...
Understanding that he wouldn't simply be able to chase Yoruichi away, Ohta pondered for a moment before replying, "Fine. But don't expect me to interpret what you say as gospel. I'll see what you have to teach and decide for myself if I should adapt it to my skill set."
"Fair enough," replied Yoruichi. "But if you 'do' decide to learn what I have to teach, I won't tolerate a half-assed resolve. You will give it your all, or you will die. Not to myself, perhaps, but definitely to the Execution Corps."
Adopting a dauntless smile, Ohta mused, "I'm quaking in my non-existent boots."
"Let's hope you can maintain that level of bravado when you encounter your first Captain," remarked Yoruichi. "The more likely scenario is that you shit yourself. If not before you die, then certainly afterward."
"Assuming they're an actual threat," retorted Ohta. "I'm not sure of the ranking system of Shinigami, but Rukia attested to being a Lieutenant. I'll concede that she was pretty light on her feet, but if push came to shove, I'm confident I could have defeated her."
"The Rukia you saw was limited to 20% of her spirit power and hadn't released her Zanpakuto," attested Yoruichi. "If she had, she would have been at least ten times as powerful as you observed. Beyond that, even the weakest Captains are at least five to tens times stronger, faster, and more skilled than their corresponding Lieutenants. And that's in their base form."
"Sounds convoluted..." replied Ohta. However, if Yoruichi's words were true, he had been underestimating the power of Shinigami by using Rukia as a basis. He didn't know what a Zanpakuto(Soul-Cutter Sword) was, but the name implied it had something to do with her weapon. If 'releasing' it truly made her ten times as powerful, that meant her strength with her 'Limiter' removed was fifty times what he had observed. If the weakest Captain was five to ten times as strong as that, he was dealing with foes 250-500x as powerful as someone whose initial movements he had been unable to follow...
"Looks like you're finally starting to understand how out of your depth you are," noted Yoruichi. "It might be difficult for you to imagine right now, but the leader of the Thirteen Court Guardian Squads, Captain Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, possesses a fire-type Zanpakuto whose flames burn as hot as the Sun. Your power is exceptional, especially for one so young, but it must be refined if you want to establish yourself at the pinnacle of this world. Against monsters that have lived for thousands of yours, all your arrogance will get you is killed."
Punctuating his words, Yoruichi rose from the bed, leaping onto the floor as he said, "Once you return from school, I'll give you a demonstration of what a Shinigami is capable of. You can decide for yourself how you want to progress from there."
Before Ohta could respond, Yoruichi stepped 'through' his wall, creating a shadow that lingered for a moment before abruptly disappearing like the image of an old television being shut off. In his wake, Ohta stared blankly at the spot he had departed before shaking his head, discarding the towel around his waist, and changing into his school uniform...
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Contrasting what he had told Rukia, Ohta didn't actually need to procure her a place to stay. His past self had already negotiated with the landlady to have the rooms above and adjacent to his apartment leased, two to use as storage and the other to prevent people from living above him. Thus, in the wake of Ruki'a departure, Ohta pulled out a spare key and entered the apartment next door, relocating several duffle bags filled with money and supplies to the room on the opposite side of the building.
While it was true he worked many odd jobs, Ohta wasn't nearly as fiscally impaired as Tatsuki thought him to be. Many of the injuries she believed he sustained from fighting were from crushing local drug rings and Yakuza groups. Thus, while he lived fairly frugally, he had around &yen;80,000,000 in non-sequential bills and a few hundred thousand in foreign currency and gold bullion. He also had a shipping container filled with confiscated guns down at the docks, but that was primarily because he thought it would be a waste to melt them down or toss them in the sea...
Roughly forty minutes after her departure, Rukia knocked on Ohta's door, the latter opening it to find the petite Shinigami standing outside with a pink, rabbit-themed gym bag.
"I'm starting to feel bad for Ichigo's sister..." remarked Ohta, earning a snort in response.
"Were you able to work something out with the landlady?" asked Rukia.
"Of course," replied Ohta. "When I presented her with the funds outright, she didn't even ask questions. The room next to mine also happened to be empty, so here, your key."
"Oh, that's convenient," remarked Rukia, accepting Ohta's explanation and the proferred key without question. She originally planned to use a device that could alter the memories of ordinary humans to mislead the landlady into believing she had the proper documentation, but the device only had so many uses. Six had been used to alter the memories of Ichigo's family in the wake of the previous Hollow attacks, so she was a little worried she would run out before returning to Soul Society.
Following Rukia into her apartment, Ohta asked, "Should we go shopping now, or would you prefer to wait until tomorrow? Most department stores are closed by now, but there are a few 24-hour stores we can visit."
Adopting a smile, Rukia replied, "That's very considerate of you. However, I should have everything I require for tonight and tomorrow. As such, let's postpone shopping until tomorrow afternoon."
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta offered a dismissive, "If you say so," before baiting Rukia's response by attempting to leave.
"Where are you going?" asked the petite Shinigami. "Do you not still have questions for me?"
"I do," answered Ohta, subsequently musing, "But I'm honestly not fond of long discussions. I don't mind keeping you company, but it would save time if you wrote everything in a notebook. That way, I could reference it at a later date."
"I don't mind," replied Rukia, quickly clarifying, "Writing things down, that is. Relationships between Shinigami and humans are strictly prohibited by law."
"Oh? And in all your years as a Shinigami, you've never once violated these so-called laws?" asked Ohta. "For some reason, I seriously doubt that."
Furrowing her brows, Rukia wanted to protest, but her current plight was an egregious violation of several laws and statutes. If it were discovered she transferred her Shinigami powers to a human, it was conceivable that both she and Ichigo would be executed. The penalty for 'consorting' with a human was a simple ten-year ban on traveling to the Human World, so it was an infinitely lesser offense.
Crossing her arms in a closed-off posture and averting her eyes, Rukia responded with verbose silence.
Raising his hand in mock surrender, Ohta remarked, "Whoa, now. It was just a joke. Didn't mean to offend or upset you."
Shaking her head, Rukia softly assured, "You didn't...I just have a lot going on right now, and your comment reminded me of a personal matter. Still, I would appreciate it if you abstained from such remarks in the future..."
"Fair enough," replied Ohta, lowering his hands as he added, "Then I'll go ahead and leave you to your devices. If anything comes up, just pound on the wall."
Though she looked like she had more to say, Rukia didn't thwart Ohta's second attempt to leave. Instead, she waited for him to depart before sitting on her bed and exhaling a profoundly exasperated sigh. She had been doing her best to ignore it, but Ohta's teasing reminded her of how serious her predicament was. If she couldn't regain her powers before her month-long assignment concluded, Soul Society would invariably send a team to capture her, likely killing anyone that stood in their way. She could delay them using the excuse she was conducting an investigation, but, as a Lieutenant, she could only be away from her Division for so long...
Burying her face into her hands, Rukia, albeit only for a fleeting moment, regretted sending Ohta away. She knew little about him, but with a literal deadline approaching, being alone made her anxious...
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*tok tok tok tok*
Opening his eyes before the second knock could reverberate through his room, Ohta briefly gazed at his alarm clock to find it was 2:19 AM. Instead of lamenting the disruption, however, he immediately parted with his bed, making his way over to the front door and opening it to find Rukia wearing his winter coat over a pair of pajama bottoms.
Holding up her cell phone, Rukia explained, "A Hollow is scheduled to appear near the riverbank at 2:30 AM, plus or minus ten minutes. How soon can you be ready?"
"Thirty seconds," replied Ohta, retreating to the interior of his room to retrieve a hoodie, a baseball cap, and a facemask. He had the habit of sleeping fully clothed after having one of his safehouses set ablaze in the middle of winter, so it didn't even take the full thirty seconds to return, earning a surprised, "You're an extremely prepared person, aren't you?" from Rukia.
"It's better than being caught unawares," replied Ohta. "Now, how are we getting to the riverbank? Can you run in that form?"
"I can," replied Rukia. "But I'm too slow to reach the riverbank in time. I'll need you to carry me."
Raising his brows, Ohta asked, "Like...a princess carry? Or should I throw you over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes?"
Furrowing her brows, Rukia asserted, "I'll ride on your back. Turn around and get on your knees."
"Tempting, but no thanks," replied Ohta, surprising Rukia by placing his hand on her head. Less than a second later, a tri-colored aura that was invisible to the naked eye surrounded her body.
"What do you think you're doing!?' exclaimed Rukia, batting away Ohta's hand before taking a step back and adopting a defensive posture.
"I'm not fond of having to protect people," replied Ohta. "So I transferred some of my power to you. I won't go into the specifics, but you should be able to fly so long as you can form a proper image."
Demonstrating his point, Ohta abruptly leaped into the sky, hands in the front pocket of his hoodie as he looked down at Rukia from above. To his immense surprise, she immediately followed after him, a curious look on her face as she asked, "You can transfer your power to others? How long does it last...?"
"As long as I want it to," replied Ohta. "Though it does tend to fade after an hour if I don't willfully sustain it. Just do me a favor and stay out of the way, okay? I gave you that power to prevent you from being a liability, not so you could show off."
"Yeah, whatever..." replied Rukia, making a show of rolling her eyes before taking the initiative to speed off in the direction of the riverbank. Ohta had no trouble catching up to her, but it was clear at a glance that Rukia had a fair amount of experience with flying. Her method was different from his, involving condensing energy at the base of her feet and using it to propel herself forward like riding a platform, but it was efficient.
"Are Shinigami usually able to fly?" asked Ohta, keeping pace with Rukia despite flying backward. Curiously enough, even though there was a lot of wind whipping past them, communication wasn't affected&mdash;one of the many peculiarities of existing in a cartoon world.
Instead of immediately responding to Ohta's question, Rukia descended from the sky, touching down near the riverbank's edge. It was only when he touched down next to her that she responded, "It's a technique called Geppo(Moon Walk), typically used by high-ranking Shinigami. It involves gathering spirit particles at the base of the feet to create a platform, so it isn't true flight..."
Turning to look up at Ohta, Rukia added, "More importantly...your power is incredibly versatile. It functions similarly to Spirit Energy, but the feeling is completely different. It's a lot more responsive, requiring almost no actual control..."
"Neat," replied Ohta. "But I've had this power pretty much my entire life. I don't exactly need others to tell me how it's used."
Shaking her head, Rukia asserted, "That wasn't my intention. I was going to say that if you received proper training, you could potentially learn the movement and combat techniques of Shinigami. Your physical form would constrain you, but they could prove useful in a pinch."
Recalling how Rukia had moved faster than his eyes could follow during their first encounter, Ohta didn't hesitate to respond, "Sounds interesting. When we get some time, teach them to me."
Adopting a sly grin, Rukia teased, "You want me to teach you Shinigami techniques when you won't even explain your power to me?"
"..."
Resisting the urge to point out he could yeet her into space if he wanted to, Ohta responded, "You already agreed to tell me about Shinigami. Are their techniques not a part of what makes them special?"
"Perhaps," replied Rukia. "But there's a difference between telling you what we're capable of and teaching you our methods. Generally speaking, prospective Shinigami would need to attend the Shin'o Academy for three years before learning proper techniques."
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta mused, "Then I guess I'll just have to wait until I die before learning them. That is, assuming I don't create my own. I'm pretty astute when I want to be."
Exhaling a faint chuckle, Rukia replied, "I don't doubt that. Just try not to flaunt your power in front of other Shinigami. If it's determined you pose a threat to the existing balance, you could become a target for elimination. I know you-"
Interrupting Rukia's warning, several figures crashed into the river's bank, kicking up dust clouds or creating large plumes of water. From within, several animastic Hollows emerged, but before they could even unleash their characteristic screams, their bodies converged to a point in the sky, compacting against one another as Ohta flexed his fingers and made a grasping gesture with his right hand.
"Go ahead and finish your sentence," mused Ohta. "I'm curious to hear the rest."
Seeing five Hollows being crushed to a pulp without being able to resist, Rukia found herself at a momentary loss for words. None of the five were particularly strong, but their numbers would have proven an issue for the average, unseated Shinigami. Even Ichigo might have struggled against them if he were surrounded, so seeing Ohta handle them with a wave of his hand was awe-inducing...
Instead of awaiting Rukia's response, Ohta finished the Hollows with the ease of squeezing a stress ball, casually remarking, "Well, that takes care of that. Any other Hollows scheduled to appear?"
"Uh..."
Pulling out her cell phone, Rukia quickly skimmed through her messages before responding, "Not in the area I'm meant to patrol..."
"Then we have two options," remarked Ohta. "We can head back and get some rest or patrol until sunrise. Your choice."
"You're willing to patrol even though there are no Hollows scheduled to appear?" asked Rukia.
"I never knew when they would appear in the past," contended Ohta, adding, "And I doubt your cell phone is completely accurate if you were caught off guard while stalking Ichigo and his family. Since we're already out and about, we may as well do our due diligence."
Though her brows furrowed when Ohta accused her of stalking Ichigo and his family, Rukia summarily regained her smile and replied, "Sure. I'd also like to familiarize myself with your power, so shall we circle the city a few times?"
"Try not to lag behind," teased Ohta, taking off into the sky the moment he was finished speaking. Rukia did her utmost to catch up and overtake him, but unless he allowed it, she had absolutely no chance of surpassing him using his own power...
...
..
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Chapter 9: Meowneuvering