Not a Mob: Psycho

After relocating to a decently sized clearing, Yoruichi explained, "The foundation of Hoho is stepping. The purpose is to avoid damage, outmaneuver your opponent, and move from point A to point B in the briefest period."
Moving her left foot forward, tapping the ground with her toes, Yoruichi added, "The first Hoho technique prospective Shinigami are exposed to is the 8-Step Method. The principle is fairly straightforward, moving your feet front-to-back, side-to-side, and toward the four corners. The aim is to evade your opponent's attacks at a minimal distance, allowing you to take advantage of any openings they create."
Narrowing her eyes and adopting a cat-like smile, Yoruichi instructed, "I want you to try and touch me. You're free to use your power, but only to enhance your speed and strength."
"I already know you're fast," replied Ohta. "I also understand the basic principle behind the 8-Step Method, so what purpose is there in chasing you around while limiting myself?"
"The 8-Step Method is the basis for several other techniques, including the penultimate form of Hoho, Shunpo," said Yoruichi. "Mastering it would take years, so the best thing you can do for your upcoming battles is learn how to predict your opponent's movements based on the position of their feet and body."
"That's kind of my point," argued Ohta. "I agree with everything you're saying, but I'm not going to run around chasing my opponent and trying to tag them. What happened back in the alleyway was me trying to stay cool and be discreet. If I let my power run rampant, everything around us would have been destroyed."
"Hmmm..."
Crossing her arms in a way that further accented her already large bust,
Yoruichi proposed, "Then, how about using this opportunity to show me what you can do? I'll have a better idea of how to train you if I know what you're capable of."
Glancing at the undisturbed forest around him, Ohta's smile softened near imperceptibly, expressing, "I'd rather not. Not only would that expose my hand, but it would also result in the natural denizens of this forest having their homes destroyed for nothing."
Raising her right brow, Yoruichi remarked, "That's awfully considerate of you. I didn't peg you as the type to care about the devastation you cause. At least, so long as it doesn't inconvenience or expose you."
"Hey, accountability is important," said Ohta. "I might be an asshole, but I'm only a sadist toward those who deserve it. The animals inhabiting this forest never did anything to me."
"Then let's take things to the sky," replied Yoruichi, pointing upward. "As for exposing your hand, you're too sensitive. We determined the source of your psychic power long ago. You possess an inordinate amount of mental energy, vesting you immense psychic abilities. Well, news flash, kid, but that isn't a power unique to you. All creatures, living or spiritual, draw from the same three reservoirs of power: spirit, mental, and physical energy. A Shinigami's primary source of power is their spirit energy, but the process of controlling or materializing that energy is mental, aka, willpower."
To demonstrate her point, Yoruichi pulled out a kunai, seemingly from thin air, before throwing it at a tree. However, instead of driving into the tree's surface, it swerved around it, circumnavigating the trunk before returning to Yoruichi's hand.
"I specialize in Hoho and Hakuda techniques, but I'm proficient in each of the Shinigami Arts, including Kido(Demon Arts)," said Yoruichi. "Each uses mental energy to some extent, but the latter depends on it to cast spells. With sufficient mental and spiritual energy, Kido allows Shinigami to bind their opponents, seal their power, form barriers, cast powerful destruction magic, and heal both themselves and others. Sound familiar?"
"..."
Taking advantage of Ohta's silence, Yoruichi adopted a teasing smile and said, "What makes you irregular is that you have way more mental energy than most, even powerful Kido experts. With proper training, you could be one of the most powerful people in all three realms. The caveat is that as you stockpile more and more mental energy in the form of 'psychic power,' your spiritual and physical energies are being suppressed. In other words, it's killing you."
"Sounds about right," replied Ohta, recalling the headaches and severe nosebleeds his past self used to get. It was why his current self tried to conserve and use his power efficiently rather than actively attempting to develop it further.
"Man, nothing gets to you, does it?" asked Yoruichi. She knew that wasn't the case, but Ohta's mental fortitude was exceptional for his age.
Without waiting for Ohta's response, Yoruichi shrugged her shoulders and reasoned, "Well, dying young isn't necessarily a bad thing. Souls don't age conventionally, so if you cling to life unnecessarily, you could be stuck as an old man for centuries after your death. In your case, you could entrust your physical body to a mod soul, an artificial spirit, allowing it to maintain the identity you've crafted while you venture elsewhere."
"What are the downsides?" asked Ohta, genuinely curious. From the moment he learned that Rukia's body was artificially manufactured, he had thought of acquiring a few 'spares' to substitute his own if it broke down. He might not fear death, but that didn't mean he was in a hurry to die. In fact, persistence and survival were two of his proficiencies...
Noticing Ohta's interest, the corners of Yoruichi's smile curled upward as she replied, "None, at least, not in the short term. There's a chance that your soul would become incompatible with your original body as it ages, but there are medications to fix that. The bigger issue is that the artificial soul inhabiting might develop independence if you leave it unattended for too long. In other words, it could end up living a life different from the one you had in mind for yourself."
"That's not that big a deal," replied Ohta. "I don't have any meaningful attachments to this life, so if I 'did' give up my body, I wouldn't fret over the decisions its new owner makes in its comparably short life."
Exhaling a light chuckle, Yoruichi remarked, "You have a very pragmatic way of looking at things. If our operation goes smoothly, you should join my Shihouin family. We're one of the top five families in Soul Society, so if you're looking to acquire standing or status, it's a decent place to lay your roots."
"And become a vassal?" asked Ohta. He didn't know what status Yoruichi held within her family, but it had to be fairly high if she was talking about others joining casually.
"More like a Custodian," replied Yoruichi. "If cultivated, your power is too great for you to be reduced to a mere vassal. You also aren't a native-born Soul, so the history and traditions of the Soul Society don't apply to you. I 'could' assign you as my personal guard, but I neither need protection nor do I think you'd enjoy following me around."
Adopting a smile of his own, Ohta rebutted, "Don't be so sure. If you plan to walk around in pants like that, I wouldn't mind following behind you for a few hours each day..."
"Cute," replied Yoruichi. "However, unless you can surpass me in speed, strength, and Reiryoku density, you lack the qualifications to admire my backside. At least, not in front of members of my clan."
Half-turning away, providing a tantalizing view of her body from the side, Yoruichi added, "We'll discuss this matter in greater detail once the team from Soul Society has come to claim the Kuchiki brat. Having you become a Shinigami now will just draw unnecessary attention to yourself. Once we invade Soul Society, it will no longer matter. If you decide to join us in the rescue operation, you'll either die a criminal or help vindicate both us and the Kuchiki brat. After that, many things become possible."
Disappearing and reappearing several meters away, Yoruichi's golden eyes glistened in the light of the moon as she said, "In preparation for that, let's play a game. There's a good chance you'll need to escape the pursuit of one or more Captains, so, using whatever means you prefer, I want you to try and flee from me. If you can give me the slip or evade me for one hour, I'll reward you once we return to your apartment. Even you should find that agreeable."
"You're not wrong..." replied Ohta. "But I have some terms of my own. If I succeed the first time, you'll give me my 'reward' here in the forest. After that, we'll continue playing until sunrise..."
Raising her brows, Yoruichi remarked, "Wow, you really are an opportunist, aren't you? But sure. Assuming you win the first round, I'm game to play a few more. In fact, each round you win, I'll give you an even better reward. That should get your blood pump-"
Causing Yoruichi's pupils to contract to the size of pinholes, Ohta's body vanished before she could finish speaking. It was incredibly sloppy, but after seeing how Yoruichi had manipulated his psychic energy to execute her movement techniques, Ohta had copied them. More importantly, as she had yet to expel the psychic energy from her body, she was unable to pursue him immediately.
Contrasting the somewhat vicious smile on her face, Yoruichi couldn't help being amused by Ohta's actions. She had anticipated him using his psychic power to restrain her, but his timing had been perfect, catching her completely unawares. Unfortunately for Ohta, while she didn't mind rewarding him, Yoruichi was also a poor loser...
Forcibly breaking free from Ohta's psychic restraints, Yoruichi's body immediately disappeared, seemingly flickering out of existence. Ohta had taken to the sky and was speeding away like an intercontinental missile, but she wasn't called the 'Goddess of Shunpo' for nothing. It might take a few minutes, but she was confident she could catch and ground his ass...
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Sensing the remnant psychic power in Yoruichi's body moving away from him, pursuing the mass of energy he had sent hurtling toward the Pacific, a faint smile adorned Ohta's face as he mused, "That wasn't so difficult..."
Understanding that Yoruichi was going to be exceptionally butthurt when she realized he had pulled a fast one on her, Ohta began moving around the forest, implanting his psychic energy into various trees and stones. He had memorized the energy signature of Yoruichi's movement technique, so by pinging the dormant implants remotely, he could make it seem like he was darting around the forest at high speeds...
Sensing that Yoruichi had obliterated his 'goose,' Ohta returned to the clearing where their little game had commenced, lying on the grass and relaxing with his hands behind his head. It took around seven minutes for Yoruichi to catch his goose but only three for her to return, staring down at him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes as she said, "Okay, I'll admit it. That was pretty clever."
Getting straight to the point, Ohta asked, "Where's my reward? I'm fairly sure that qualifies as 'giving you the slip.'"
Crossing her arms, Yoruichi's cramped smile wilted into a frown as she asked, "What do you want?"
Patting his chest, Ohta replied, "We have about fifty minutes remaining until the end of the first round. Let's take a short nap. I'd prefer it if you remained in your human form, but I don't mind if you want to transform into a cat. Did you know that a cat's purring can help lower blood pressure and has many other health benefits...?"
Hearing Ohta repeat her joke back at her, Yoruichi rolled her eyes before stepping forward and placing her foot on his chest as she asked, "Is this your attempt to inject more psychic energy into my body?"
"You haven't even gotten rid of the energy I left there earlier," replied Ohta, demonstrating his point by causing the already skin-tight fabric around Yoruichi's chest, ass, and thighs to constrict slightly. She had expelled all traces of his energy from the interior of her body, but her clothes, hair, and accessories still carried traces of a psychic imprint.
Understanding why Ohta would go out of his way to reveal his hand, Yoruichi's left eye twitched as she suspected the next round would be even more annoying than the first...
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"You look exhausted," said Rukia, referring to the slight puffiness and discoloration beneath Ohta's eyes.
"Cats are vindictive creatures," mused Ohta, shifting the ball to Rukia's court by asking, "What about you? Did you manage to get any sleep last night?"
"I did," replied Rukia, adopting a faint smile. "I also got your letter. Thanks for apprising me of the situation. I greatly appreciate the courtesy."
"It's no big deal," responded Ohta, punctuating his statement with a yawn.
"It is to me," asserted Rukia. "After spending the day with that frustrating boy, I wanted to pull my hair out."
"Ichigo...?" asked Ohta.
"The same," affirmed Rukia. "He has a remarkable aptitude as a Shinigami but is stubborn, short-tempered, and impulsive. If this were the Academy, he'd surely be separated into the class for problem children."
"Sounds about right..." muttered Ohta. "I heard from Tatsuki that his mom died in a brutal accident six years ago. Before that, Ichigo was a massive momma's boy, so it's not surprising he became jaded after seeing her die in person. If that isn't tragic enough, he was found being shielded by her, covered face to toe in her blood..."
Staring at Ohta with an aghast look on her face, Rukia found herself at a complete loss for words. She knew Ichigo didn't have a mother, but she never imagined he had experienced such a horrendous tragedy. She had experienced more than her fair share of tragic experiences, but she was much, much older than the moody teen...
Taking advantage of Rukia's silence, Ohta adopted a faint smile as he reiterated, "So, yeah, don't be too hard on him. No matter how much he complains, I'm sure he's doing his best. I mean, he is putting his life on the line to slay Hollows, right? Most people run from danger, not toward it."
Nodding her head, Rukia faced forward and assured, "I've taken your words to heart. Rest assured, Ohta-kun. I won't push him too hard. And if it looks like he's having a particularly difficult time, I'll be sure to give him some time off."
Adopting a marginally more prominent smile, Ohta asked, "Then it falls to me to pick up the slack, right?"
After covering her mouth to stifle a girlish chuckle, Rukia looked up at Ohta, smiling brightly as she asserted, "You would be a great help. And that's putting it lightly."
"Careful not to inflate my ego too much," countered Ohta, joking, "I may start to think you have ulterior motives..."
Exhaling a scoffing laugh, Rukia gave Ohta a light shrug as she said, "You rogue. If anyone has ulterior motives, it's you."
Blinking in surprise, Ohta left Rukia at a momentary loss for words as he replied, "How did you know...?" with a pretend look of stupefaction.
Realizing that Ohta was messing with her, Rukia made a show of rolling her eyes as she softly remarked, "Humans sure are brazen these days..."
"We're not so bad..." responded Ohta, covering his mouth to stifle another yawn. After successfully giving Yoruichi the slip a second time, earning himself a cuddle session with her human form, the vindictive cat woman started taking things seriously. By the end of the third round, he suffered two black eyes, a fractured nose, and a few broken ribs, but Ohta viewed the exchange as his victory since he had forced someone much older and far more experienced to get serious while he was still holding back...
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After another half day of tedium, Ohta dragged his feet up to the roof, unsurprised to find Yoruichi waiting for him in her cat form.
Before Ohta could tease her by asking if she intended to sleep with him every time he took a nap, Yoruichi revealed, "I discussed it with Kisuke. If you're willing, we can expedite the process of you becoming a Shinigami. I will then spend the next 2-3 months training you."
Maintaining his teasing smile, Ohta asked, "Did I really leave such a deep impression on you after a single night of training?"
Catching Ohta a little off guard, though it didn't show on his face, Yoruichi flatly asserted, "You, Yamada Ohta, are an aberration, a genuine monster with limitless potential. If you're not eradicated within the next few years, you could reach this world's zenith, second only to the Soul King, the ruler of Soul Society himself..."
Understanding what Yoruichi was getting at, Ohta's smile waned a bit as he mused, "Meaning that if my allegiances and motives aren't clear, I'll be eliminated before I can become a threat..."
Nodding her head, Yoruichi stated, "People, including native souls, fear the unknown. In the wake of our training last night, when I was treating your injuries, I could sense your Hakusui(Soul Sleep), the container that holds your spirit energy, continuously expanding as it fed off the energy I was using to heal you. We think it has something to do with your extreme focus on mental energy. Now that you're starting to become more familiar with other forms of energy, your soul is changing and adapting rapidly..."
"I don't need a detailed explanation," replied Ohta. "What assurance do I have that you and that shady shopkeep won't simply kill or try to seal me away?"
"We wouldn't," responded Yoruichi, clarifying, "Because, even with your tremendous potential, you're far from the greatest threat to the existing balance. If we don't prevent those, there won't be a world left for you to ruin..."
"That's a fairly compelling argument," conceded Ohta. "But it's also extremely roundabout and vague. If I'm going to trust you, I require something more substantial..."
"I could sit on your face," offered Yoruichi, mostly as a joke but with a serious glint in her eyes.
"That's definitely a lot more substantial..." replied Ohta, earning a catty deadpan from Yoruichi as he made a show of furrowing his brows in deep contemplation. It helped that he was actually considering it...
"You must expect me to fight against these other threats if you're willing to train me, right?" asked Ohta.
Nodding in affirmation, Yoruichi was about to explain further but was preempted by Ohta saying, "Sounds like fun. In exchange, until those threats have been dealt with, you'll keep me company every night. Well, not every night, but you get what I'm trying to say."
Though she furrowed her feline brows, Yoruichi only hesitated for a few seconds before responding with a contemptuous-sounding, "Fine...". She was intending to entrap Ohta from the very beginning, but it made things easier for her if he believed she was against it.
"Well, guess I'll die now," said Ohta, leaving Yoruichi a little speechless as he made his way over to the roof's edge and began climbing the chainlink fence.
Instead of stopping Ohta outright, Yoruichi asked, "Do you not intend to have an artificial soul inhabit your body? I understand you might not feel any attachment to them, but you'll sadden those who view you in a kinder light if you simply kill yourself..."
"Hmmm...you make a good point..." conceded Ohta. He had also 'skipped' the first fifteen years of his life, so he felt it might be jumping the gun a bit to end things on only his seventh day at the helm. His past self 'had' put a fair amount of effort into crafting his public image and persona...
Releasing the chainlink fence and dropping back to the roof, Ohta turned to Yoruichi and asked, "Since you suggested it, I'm assuming that you, or, more accurately, Urahara-san, has everything prepared...?'
Nodding in affirmation, Yoruichi explained, "He also said he was willing to put your body in stasis and have a Gigai replace the version of you going to school. That way, if ever a time comes when you regret your decision to become a Shinigami, you can always return to live out the remainder of your days as a 'fairly' ordinary human..."
"How thoughtful," mused Ohta. He suspected that his original body could be used to seal him away if he ever became unruly, but he honestly didn't care. He had already lived and died once, so as long as he could have a bit of fun on his way out, he didn't mind kicking the bucket a second time.
Deciding that their conversation was finished, Ohta sat down before lying in the shade of the wall. Yoruichi would have joined him before their little arrangement, but as she was only requested to accompany him at 'night,' she wasted no time departing...
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Waiting until they were halfway to their apartments, Ohta nearly caused Rukia to faceplant by revealing, "I'm going to become a Shinigami. Maybe not tonight, but sometime in the near future."
"W-What are you saying!?" exclaimed Rukia, convincing herself she had heard wrong.
"I'll be able to hunt Hollows far more efficiently if I'm a Shinigami," stated Ohta, his voice calm and casual as he added, "Then you and Ichigo won't have to run out of class in the middle of the day only to come back for the last twenty minutes. He can focus on his education, and you can focus on regaining your power. It's a win-win-win for all parties."
"..."
Believing that Ohta had made his decision out of consideration for her and Ichigo, Rukia found herself at a loss for words until they were just outside their apartments. And she might have remained silent even longer if Ohta didn't turn to her, asking, "You good...?" with raised brows.
Staring up at Ohta, Rukia wore a conflicted look as she said, "You only recently learned about Shinigami and the Soul Society. It would be best-"
Interrupting Rukia's words, Ohta plopped his hand on her head, stating, "We're all entitled to make stupid decisions. You gave up your power to a temperamental teen with PTSD. I'm giving up a life of make-believe to be a part of a world where I can express myself freely. Comparing the two of us, I think my decision is better thought-out."
"You idiot..." replied Rukia, wiping away tears and laughing simultaneously. Just as she had learned more about Ichigo from Ohta and her classmates, she had made a concerted effort to learn more about her newly acquired friend and neighbor. She knew he was orphaned and that he usually kept to himself. However, much like Ichigo, he had a penchant for sticking his nose into other peoples' businesses, often playing the part of a villain to scare Delinquents straight and deter bullies from picking on the weak...
Retracting his hand, Ohta revealed, "I just lent you some of my power. I'm tired as hell after last night, so unless there's an emergency, I'm gonna hit the hay. See you around, pintsized."
Though she didn't appreciate being called pintsized, Rukia gave several nods, quickly wiped away her tears, and looked up at him with a smile as she said, "Sleep well, Ohta-kun..."
"And you try not to overwork yourself," countered Ohta, returning a smile of his own before opening his door and stepping inside. Rukie felt a pang of loneliness as he did so, but, not wanting to disturb his rest, she shook her head, slapped her cheeks, and retreated into her apartment...
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"Are you sure it's me you want to sit on your face?" asked Yoruichi, smiling mischievously at Ohta while lying sideways on his bed.
"She seems like a good, honest girl, but you're unquestionably more my type," replied Ohta, removing his blazer and proceeding to unbutton his shirt, this time while staring directly at Yoruichi.
"It's too bad that you're not mine," replied Yoruichi, lying as easily as she breathed. In actuality, as much as they annoyed her, she had a thing for clever and manipulative bastards. She and Kisuke were even a couple in the past, but after bickering for the better part of sixty years, they came to the conclusion things would never work between them. Not when she had her duties as the former and future leader of the Shihouin family, and he was incapable of love...
"It really is..." agreed Ohta, removing his pants but not approaching the bed. Instead, he donned some long-john gym pants, sweats, and a plain black t-shirt before looking back at Yoruichi and pointing out, "The Sun is still up. Either move over or get out of the way. I'm going to sleep."
"Seriously...?" asked Yoruichi, raising her brows in genuine surprise. She originally planned to wait a few weeks before pretending to give in, but Ohta's reaction both annoyed and provoked her. Even more so when his initial response to her question was to yawn...
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"How long are you going to keep pretending?" asked Yoruichi, staring at Ohta slumped on the ground from atop a large boulder.
"A few more hours," replied Ohta. "I didn't get much sleep last night, and I'll probably be asked to go on patrol later..."
"Nah, even that Kuchiki girl needs to sleep every now and then," attested Yoruichi. "Before knocking on your door, she was up all night writing down everything you wanted to know. Unless there's a major attack, she'll likely ignore it. If any spirits end up being devoured in the process, it's their own fault for clinging to a world that no longer has anything to do with them."
Rising to a seated position, Ohta looked up at Yoruichi and asked, "Is that the prevailing mentality among Shinigami, or have you just become jaded with old age?"
Though she smiled in response to Ohta's words, Yoruichi was unable to prevent her brow from twitching 'near' imperceptibly as she stated, "Are those eyes of yours for decoration? Irrespective of my age, I'm as supple and fit as they come."
"Maybe," replied Ohta, adopting a mischievous smile as he asserted, "But you could be using some sort of illusion or transformation technique to try and fool me. Without checking for myself, I can't know for certain if you're as 'supple' as you claim..."
Exhaling a scoffing laugh, Yoruichi remarked, "Arrogant and brazen. You'd think getting your ass kicked by a woman would humble you a bit."
"That's an antiquated point of view," contended Ohta. "Besides, practiced humility is self-sabotaging. You may have kicked my ass, but that doesn't mean you'll 'always' be able to kick my ass. Believing you have achieved something by defeating me when there's a clear power gap between us is a sign that 'you' need to be humbled..."
Blinking in surprise, Yoruichi remarked, "You're amazingly impertinent. If your attacks were half as forceful as your tongue is sharp, I'd be riddled with holes by now..."
"I can think of better uses for my tongue," retorted Ohta, earning a lazy eye-roll from the buxom Shinigami. At the very least, he assumed she was one.
"Tell you what, kid. If you can master the basics of Hoho, learn Shunpo, and beat me in a foot race, I'll show you what 'my' tongue can do. Until then, you simply aren't good enough," asserted Yoruichi, eyes narrowed and a smug grin on her face.
"Eh, that sounds like a lot of trouble just for some tongue action," replied Ohta. "Besides, I learn and master techniques for myself, not to chase tail. If you later reneged on your promise, I'd end up looking like a fucking idiot."
Before Yoruichi could compliment him for his ethics, a sly grin developed across Ohta's face as he added, "If you reward me in advance, however, I imagine it would do wonders for my motivation..."
Unable to contain herself, Yourichi burst out laughing, falling back atop the boulder she was seated upon and cradling her stomach. Ohta was one of the most insufferable people she had ever had the displeasure of dealing with, but the 'most' insufferable was her best friend. She initially intended to half-ass her assignment, but now it was starting to look like she could genuinely have some fun...
Though he was tempted to uproot the boulder that Yoruichi was seated on, taking advantage of her apparent lapse of awareness, Ohta ultimately chose to lay back down and close his eyes. At times like this, it was best to force the other party to act than take action himself.
Noticing Ohta's actions, Yoruichi ceased laughing and sat up, adopting a posture where the heels of her feet were touching as she looked down at him and asked, "Do you not want to learn Shinigami techniques and how to counter them?"
"If I'm going to get hot and heavy with a woman, I'd rather do it once the Sun goes down," replied Ohta. "If you were right, and Rukia does choose to sleep in, we can always train this evening."
As there was an inherent truth to Ohta's words, Yoruichi felt herself at a slight loss. She 'knew' he was trying to pull her into his pace, but unless she intended to force the matter by beating him into shape, her options were frustratingly limited...
("This is why I'm not cut out to teach people...") thought Yoruichi, her brow twitching when she sensed that Ohta had actually fallen asleep. It wasn't a particularly deep slumber but it showed he didn't view her as a threat. He knew she could kill him, but was supremely confident that she wouldn't...
("He's a lot like Kisuke was when we were younger...") thought Yoruichi, recalling a time when things were arguably more complicated but much simpler. Back then, her path was set for her from birth, so all she had to do was go through the motions, and everything would simply work out as if ordained by some greater power...
Exhaling an inaudible sigh, Yoruichi's expression gained an undertone of melancholy as she muttered, "I really am getting old..."
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Waking around three and a half hours after falling asleep, Ohta rose to a seated position and looked around. Yoruichi was nowhere to be seen, so after a moment of silent deliberation, he rose to his feet, took to the sky, and headed in the direction he believed was Karakura Town. Yoruichi had dropped him off in a mountainous forest, and it was the only heading with notable light pollution.
Having guessed correctly, Ohta quickly flew to his apartment, moderately surprised that Yoruichi hadn't ambushed him along the way. That surprise quickly turned to mild annoyance, however, when he opened the door and found a black cat sleeping in his bed.
"Oh? Finally awake...?" asked Yoruichi, stirring awake and stretching her body like a cat in response to Ohta's arrival.
"I don't sense Rukia in her room," remarked Ohta. "Shouldn't she have returned by now?"
"She came by earlier," revealed Yoruichi, arching her back and holding the pose for several seconds before easing out of it and adding, "I gave her one of the duffle bags you had stowed away, so she went shopping for clothes and other indispensables. You'll have to invite her out some other time if you want to see her try on some new clothes."
Understanding that Yoruichi was attempting to get a rise out of him, Ohta responded with a curt "Pass" before removing his blazer and changing out of his school uniform. Yoruichi observed him as he did so, but Ohta wasn't shy. One of his many takeaways from war was that decency and decorum were just complacency and posturing. When your identity was stripped away, and the only things that mattered were survival and ensuring your enemy didn't, you either learned quickly how little such things mattered or died even quicker...
Seeing the faint traces of scars covering Ohta's body, including a bullet wound above his right hip, various thoughts crossed Yoruichi's mind. She had only started observing him on and off once he turned twelve, so she wasn't around when Ohta was at his most reckless. Now that she saw his scars in person, she was somewhat curious to learn the story behind each of them...
"You don't fear death, do you?" asked Yoruichi.
"Death walks beside us from the moment we are born," replied Ohta, adopting a faint smile as he added, "And, more recently, I learned that those who preside over it aren't much different from humans. It's difficult to fear something that comes packaged in the form of an impressionable girl that barely reaches my chest and a talking cat..."
"Just wait until you meet the Kenpachi from Zaraki," remarked Yoruichi, narrowing her eyes as she mused, "That'll put the fear of death back into you."
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta responded with a lax, "Maybe. We'll see when the time comes."
"Ah, yes, you only find value in the things you've experienced..." muttered Yoruichi. However, instead of continuing, she let her words trail off. After all, before the events of a hundred years ago, she wasn't all that different from Ohta. Others had called her reckless and irresponsible, especially for the successor to one of the Five Great Noble Houses, but she had always called it 'living.'
Realizing something, Yoruichi furrowed her feline brows as she internally remarked, ("I'm starting to understand why Kisuke had me keep an eye on him. That manipulative bastard...")
Noticing Yoruichi's reaction, Ohta raised his brows and asked, "Do I need to go out and buy you a litter box? The bathroom is over-"
Interrupting Ohta's words, Yoruichi transformed into her human form and hurled a pillow into his face, impacting it with a muffled 'thump.' Then, no longer feeling sentimental, she sauntered past him, saying, "Finish getting changed and meet me back at the forest..." in an icy monotone.
"Sure," replied Ohta. However, instead of immediately following after the ostensibly upset cat girl, he took a moment to write and leave a note for Rukia. He might fuck Yoruichi if the opportunity presented itself, but she wasn't the type of woman that could be reined in or trusted. She was the textbook definition of a femme fatale, so if he was serious about investing in his future within the Soul Society, a door&ndash;an impressionable woman like Rukia was the safer option. If he decided to assist in her rescue, securing her favor would almost be too easy...
"I really am a bastard..." mused Ohta, his smile briefly gaining a faint undertone of self-deprecation before he slipped on a sweater, placed the note in Rukia's room, and took off in the direction Yoruichi had departed a few minutes prior...
...
..
.
As Ohta wouldn't have been able to locate her amid the forest and foliage, Yoruichi awaited him in the sky, arms crossed and brows slightly furrowed as she asked, "Just to be sure, are you ready to take things seriously?"
"So long as you don't try and use me as a punching bag to relieve your stress," replied Ohta. "I'm willing to throw down whenever, but I have no patience for people who use training as an excuse to fuck with people..."
"Then first things, first," said Yoruichi. "Vest me with some of your power, and I'll demonstrate the basics of Hoho using it. I was originally going to use that Kuchiki brat to demonstrate things, but I'm guessing you don't want to flaunt your powers in front of Ichigo, right?"
"I also don't want to vest people with my power will nilly," replied Ohta. "But I'll make an exception in this case since it means I'll be able to fuck you over if you try anything..."
"You can try, but you better kill me if you do," said Yoruichi. "Because the moment I free myself, I'll be making a ditch from here to your apartment using your face..."
"Fair enough," replied Ohta, fearlessly extending his hand to pat the top of Yoruichi's head. Her right eye subtly twitched as he did so, but she didn't say anything as she felt an energy similar to spirit energy but less 'cloudy' begin to permeate and encompass her body. If she had to compare it to something, she would correlate spirit energy to mineral water and Ohta's psychic power to purified tap. It wasn't without impurities, but it felt clearer somehow...
Without waiting for Ohta to finish, Yoruichi's body flickered, disappearing before reappearing a few meters away without a change in posture. She also maintained a neutral expression, but within her mind, she remarked, ("This kid is a monster in the making...). She was among the most skilled manipulators of spirit energy in the entirety of Soul Society, so she knew from the moment she used Ohta's power to execute her trademark Hoho technique, Shunpo, that its versatility was on another level. It barely even took conscious effort to achieve the result she desired. It just 'happened' as she envisioned it...
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Chapter 13: The Cake is a Lie