Not a Mob: Psycho

Though the bath was way too small for two people, Ohta and Rukia managed to fit inside, the latter washing the former's back with a tense, clearly anxious look on her face. It wasn't the first time she had scrubbed someone else's back, but she felt like she had crossed a dangerous line by asking Ohta to let her accompany him...
Breaking the tense silence, Ohta asked, "Are you trying to scrub my scars away? I'm starting to get friction burns..."
"Ah..."
Retracting the rag from Ohta's back, Rukia nearly apologized but stopped herself. Instead, after a moment of hesitation, she began scooping water from the tub, allowing it to trickle down Ohta's muscular back as she said, "You never did tell me how you got these scars..."
"That's not entirely true," replied Ohta, adopting a smile as he added, "I told you I used to crush gangs in and around Karakura, remember? These scars are the receipts issued for inexperience..."
Tracing her fingers along a cut running from Ohta's right shoulder to the center of his back, Rukia's brows creased. She felt compelled to chastise him for his recklessness, but as it was a matter from the past, she didn't have the wherewithal to do so. After all, the Ohta she had come to know was far removed from an inexperienced youth...
Catching Ohta more than a little off guard, Rukia abruptly asked, "That dark-skinned woman from your sketchbook, Yoruichi...the two of you have slept together, haven't you?"
Though genuinely surprised by the sudden inquiry, Ohta didn't hesitate to nod, answering, "Yeah...but it's complicated. You could say she's trying to entrap me, but it's nowhere near that simple..."
Exhaling a clearly exasperated sigh, Rukia remarked, "I thought as much." with an annoyed look on her face. "Ever since a few weeks ago, there has been a notably 'amoral' smell in your room, particularly around your bed..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta remarked, "Her personality is rotten, but she's a remarkably beautiful woman. If I had passed on the opportunity, I would have regretted it every time I saw her."
"Then what about this situation?" asked Rukia. "Am I also an 'opportunity' you wish to capitalize on?"
"I've said this before..." said Ohta, causing Rukia to wince as he declared, "But you're not exactly my type..."
Quickly clarifying before Rukia could run out on him, Ohta added, "But appearances aren't everything. In terms of personality and temperament, you're leagues ahead of Yoruichi. Every interaction I have with her is just us butting heads. With you, I can relax and let down my guard..."
Startling Rukia quite a bit, Ohta leaned back, entrusting his weight to her as she became statuesque, her eyes swimming around in their sockets as panic and confusion overtook her. She was wearing a thin bathrobe used for public bathing, but the front came undone as Ohta leaned against her.
To demonstrate his point, Ohta remained silent with his eyes closed and a relaxed smile adorning his face. Rukia was flustered for quite a while, but instead of attempting to push him away from her, she eventually exhaled a sigh and flatly remarked, "This position is uncomfortable. At least let me straighten out my legs..."
Before rising to a seated position, Ohta suggested, "If you want, we can swap positions outright. You washed my back, so it's only fair that I wash yours."
"Before that, there's something I want to ask you..." said Rukia, angling her head to stare directly at Ohta as she asked, "What's going to happen when we get out of this bath...?"
"That's entirely up to you," replied Ohta. "I'm fine if you want to remain friends, but if you want more than that, you'll need to make things clear. I'm a fairly simple guy. Unless you go out of your way to trouble or annoy me, I'll do just about anything you ask..."
Narrowing her eyes, Rukia challenged, "So, if I were to ask you to leave that woman, would you?"
"I can't separate from her completely, but I can stop having sex with her," replied Ohta. "Her Shinigami powers serve as the foundation of my own, so the two of us are inseparable in that regard..."
"I see..." muttered Rukia, her voice faint and expression becoming serious and deliberative. It annoyed her how casual Ohta was being, but she was more annoyed by the prospect of him continuing to sleep with Yoruichi. It could be her competitiveness, her dire situation, or the fact that Ohta was the first boy she had a crush on, but she didn't want to yield him to the far more attractive woman...
"Become my boyfriend..." said Rukia, her expression and tone firm despite her heart feeling as though it was about to burst from her chest.
Exhaling a soft chuckle, Ohta replied, "Sounds like fun..." before rising and adjusting his position to face Rukia. She averted her eyes and instinctually pulled her robe closed as he did, but he didn't tease her for it. Instead, he narrowed his eyes into a smoldering look and mused, "You suddenly look a lot more beautiful..."
Feeling that things were developing a little too quickly, Rukia was tempted to rise from the bath and summarily excuse herself. However, as she was the one to suggest becoming a couple, she had effectively cut her path of retreat...
Seeing through Rukia's thoughts, Ohta's smile became more amused as he mused, "Relax. I won't suddenly pounce on you just because we're a couple. We'll move forward when you're ready. For now, let's just relax..."
Though she was initially relieved by Ohta's words, a frown marred Rukia's face as she asked, "Are you sure you're just not in the mood because I'm not your type...?"
Raising his brows, Ohta asked, "Are you seriously holding a grudge, or are you trying to goad me? Don't make me carry your scrawny ass to bed and keep you there till morning..."
Swallowing hard, Rukia's frown deepened into a resolute glower as she said, "Fine...but if I find out you slept with that woman behind my back, I'll never forgive you..."
"Does that include if she's in her cat form?" asked Ohta. "Because I kind of got used to her sleeping on my chest."
"..."
Though she felt inclined to say no, Rukia briefly considered the matter before answering, "That's fine...just no sex. If you do, the two of us are finished..."
Nodding his head, Ohta asserted, "It's good to establish clear boundaries. Correspondingly, if I ever found out you were sleeping with another man, I'll kill or seriously injure him. I'm not the jealous type, but I always get my dues..."
Preempting Rukia's response, Ohta abruptly rose to his feet, startling her immensely by picking her up by the pits of her arms.
"W-What are you doing!? Unhand me right this instant...!" exclaimed Rukia, primarily out of reflex.
"Nope," replied Ohta, promptly throwing her over his shoulder as she said, "Every action has consequences. You goaded me into carrying you to the bed, so that's what I'm doing."
"It was a figure of speech! I didn't mean you could literally carry me over your shoulder...!" shouted Rukia.
"Yeah, but I want to..." replied Ohta, carrying the frantic Shinigami out of the bath and tossing her unceremoniously onto the bed. She drew away from him when he did, curling up and holding her soaked robes closed, so instead of pursuing her, Ohta adopted a wry smile and said, "You're going to make me feel like a criminal if you look at me like that..."
Realizing what she was doing, Rukia rose to a seated position, adopting an apologetic frown as she said, "You surprised me..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta remarked, "Spontaneity is the spice of a healthy relationship. As I said before, I'm not going to suddenly pounce on you. Even if you egg me on, I know when to stop..."
Emphasizing his point, Ohta turned away from Rukia, asking, "Want some more cocoa? I also have tea, but only black."
"..."
Taking a moment to fix her robes and adjust her bangs, Rukia muttered, "This isn't how I imagined my first time going..."
Briefly stopping in the midst of pouring hot water into the hot cocoa mix, Ohta had to suppress the urge to ask if it was truly Rukia's first time. No matter how prudish they were, he struggled to imagine how anyone could preserve their virginity for a hundred and fifty years. Rukia might not be a bombshell, but she wasn't unattractive. It didn't make sense for her not to have 'any' experience...
("Eh, their loss...") thought Ohta, finishing the cocoa preparations as he said, "Well, if there was something specific you had in mind, just tell me. Unless it involves dressing up as a cartoon rabbit, I'm down to do things your way."
"Just what kind of woman do you take me for?" huffed Rukia. However, in the not-so-inner depths of her mind, she imagined Ohta wearing a rabbit costume and letting her cuddle him...
"Mine?" asked Ohta, staring back at the petite Shinigami sitting in seiza atop his bed.
"..."
Feeling nervous again, Rukia averted her eyes to avoid Ohta's gaze. She was the one to ask him to become her boyfriend but hearing him refer to her as 'his' made her feel anxious...
"Am I wrong...?" asked Ohta, walking over to present a cup of hot cocoa to the increasingly demure-looking Shinigami.
"No..." replied Rukia, her voice barely a whisper. Then, summoning her courage, she gazed up at Ohta, asserting, "I'm yours so long as you're mine..."
"Then we belong to each other," appended Ohta, setting the cocoa aside since Rukia made no attempts to grab it. He then sat next to her, causing her to tense until he pat his lap and said, "Put your head down. It'll help to calm your nerves..."
Staring at the towel wrapped around Ohta's lap, Rukia remarked, "It might have before. Now, I'm not so sure..."
Smiling in amusement, Ohta asked, "Should I wear my Shinigami attire...?"
Shaking her head, Rukia's expression became even more resolute as she expressed, "No. If we continue delaying things, I'm not sure I'll ever have the confidence to move forward..."
Punctuating her words, Rukia unfastened her robe, revealing her lithe and athletic body. Her breasts looked like they would barely fit the palm of his hands, but her slender frame was more toned than Ohta was expecting, a sign that she took good care of herself...
"It's your turn..." muttered Rukia, feeling a little self-conscious with Ohta staring at her breasts.
"Are you sure?" asked Ohta, warning, "There's no turning back once this towel comes off..."
Furrowing her brows, Rukia responded to Ohta's words by getting off the bed and positioning herself in front of him, lowering herself to her knees before removing his towel of her own accord. Her intention was to show her determination, but her entire body tensed when she saw Ohta's penis up close.
"It's...bigger than I expected..." remarked Rukia.
"You'll be fine," assured Ohta, punctuating his words by caressing Rukia's head. She frowned slightly when he did but didn't tell him to stop as she tentatively grabbed his penis and began experimentally moving her hand up and down.
Curious to see what she would do if left to her own devices, Ohta eyed Rukia with amusement and appreciation as she brought her nose to the tip of his dick, sniffing it before swallowing hard and giving it a few licks. She clearly had the requisite knowledge, so while Ohta wasn't particularly satisfied, it was entertaining watching her try and put it to use...
Severely overestimating herself, Rukia tried to take Ohta's entire dick into her mouth, triggering her Gigai's gag reflex. She didn't throw up, but she heaved and coughed a few times, prompting Ohta to telepathically pull over the cup of hot cocoa, saying, "Take a drink and then take things nice and slow. We have hours until I need to go on patrol, and sex usually only lasts a few minutes. No need to rush..."
Though she frowned slightly, Rukia accepted the cup of cocoa and took several sips before returning it to Ohta, stating, "I'll do better this time."
Adopting a narrow-eyed smile, Ohta replied, "Sure, and once you're done, I'll return the favor. Look forward to it."
Staring wide-eyed at Ohta, Rukia wanted to say there was no need for him to service her, but most of the thin books she read had the males do precisely that. Thus, while the thought of Ohta bringing his face anywhere near her privates made her nervous, Rukia gave a curt nod, responding with an overly serious, "Understood..." before returning her gaze to his dick, staring at it as if it were a powerful adversary she had to overcome...
...
..
.

*slup* *slurp* *shlup*
Watching Rukia gradually figure out how best to suck his cock, eventually figuring out a nice, steady rhythm, Ohta couldn't help thinking, ("She has a knack for this...")
Though experienced women like Yoruichi were typically the best fucks, it was the quiet, dedicated girls that generally left the deepest impression. Ohta didn't know how to put it into words, but there was something captivating about watching an inexperienced woman slowly descend into the abyss of pleasure...
Feeling her jaw cramping, Rukia decided to take a break, separating from Ohta's cock, wiping the spittle from her lips, and staring up at him as she asked, "How long does this usually take? My jaw is getting sore."
"There's no need to get me to cum with your mouth," replied Ohta. "Really, so long as we're both properly lubed up, we can skip the foreplay and just have sex."
Though she didn't doubt Ohta's words, Rukia was unwilling to leave things half-finished. Before she could return to her ministrations, however, Ohta proposed, "Instead of sitting on your knees and potentially bruising them, you should try crouching with your legs open. It's a lot sexier, and you can make my job easier by touching yourself..."
Opening her eyes and craning her brows, Rukia stared intently at Ohta's face for several seconds before swallowing hard and slowly transitioning from her knees to a far more 'compromising' pose. The position change made things much easier on her knees, but she felt completely exposed, the tips of her ears turning red.
"You're a good woman..." remarked Ohta, catching Rukia by surprise and confusing her a little. All she had done was spread her legs, so she didn't understand how that made her a 'good woman' in Ohta's eyes...
Instead of elaborating further, Ohta placed his hand on Rukia's head, gently guiding her back to his cock. She was still confused by his words, but, remembering she had a job to finish, she dutifully parted her lips and resumed sucking his dick. Little did she know this greatly elevated Ohta's opinion of her. He had no problem with feisty, temperamental women, but obedient and dutiful women made much better partners...
Seeing how hard Rukia was working, Ohta decided to make things easier for her, stimulating his own prostate with psychic energy. Doing so made his asshole pucker, but it was the only thing he could think of to give the dutiful woman what she craved before her frustration overwhelmed her desire.
"I'm about to cum..." said Ohta, choosing to avoid a scenario where Rukia was caught off guard and made to choke on his semen.
Nodding her head, Rukia grabbed the base of Ohta's cock, looking up at him as she worked the top half of his dick. At the same time, remembering his words, she reached her free toward her crotch, tentatively rubbing her hairless slit. Ohta couldn't see it from his current position, but he cracked a narrow-eyed smile when he noticed what she was doing.
"I take it back..." said Ohta. "You're an amazing woman..."
Punctuating his statement, Ohta gently guided Rukia's head with his hand, coaxing her to swallow as much of his cock as she could before releasing his semen into her throat. Her eyes widened in response, but she did her best to drink as much as she could before abruptly pulling away her head and coughing as the rest shot out onto her face, chest, and stomach.
Waiting until Rukia had stopped coughing, Ohta asked, "You okay...?" with slightly raised brows.
Adopting a wry, somewhat forced smile, Rukia replied, "It was a bit more 'viscous' than I imagined. And the quantity..."
Looking down at her body, stained by Ohta's semen, Rukia's expression contorted into a frown. The thin books she used as 'research material' had made it look easy, but she couldn't imagine anyone ingesting such a large quantity of the syrupy, bitter, and slightly salty substance. Not when it all came shooting out at once. What little she 'did' manage to ingest gave her a slight stomach ache...
"Well, if you don't like it, there's no need to drink it," said Ohta. "From now on, just have a towel on hand. I can shoot it out into that, or you can use it to wipe down your body."
"That's a good idea," replied Rukia, rising to her feet and scampering away to retrieve a bundle of towels from the bathroom. Much of her nerves had settled after the nearly seventeen-minute blowjob, so she didn't think to close her robes or cover herself as she returned, giving Ohta a clear view of her slit.
("I anticipated it, but she really is hairless...") thought Ohta. He had slept with women who shaved and groomed themselves, but he had never seen a grown woman without so much as a faint trace of pubes. He was certain that Rukia was a proper adult, but she was skirting the edges of what he perceived as permissible...
"You're thinking something very rude..." accused Rukia, dropping off the towels and staring daggers at the marginally surprised Ohta. He was sure his expression hadn't changed, so he couldn't help remarking, "You have a pretty sharp intuition..."
Furrowing her brows even further, Rukia asked, "Is there something about my body you find unappealing...?"
"If anything, I'm more bothered by the fact I don't," replied Ohta, moving further onto the bed, lying down, and smacking his chest as he said, "It's my turn now. Come and take a seat on my face."
"I bed your pardon...?" asked Rukia, staring at Ohta as if he had lost his mind.
"Just do it..." said Ohta. "The alternative is lying on her back and having me eat you out, but that position is uncomfortable. It'll be easier for both of us if you just sit on my face."
Though she had serious doubts about Ohta's words, Rukia shed her robe before climbing onto the bed and reluctantly positioning herself over his face. Her expression didn't change much, but her cheeks went bright red when she felt his nose and mouth touch her, followed by his surprisingly 'dexterous' tongue invading her nearly untouched folds, producing sounds that caused her ears to burn...
After less than three minutes of stimulation, Rukia meekly asserted, "I...I think that's enough..." in a faint tone. Unfortunately, Ohta didn't let up on her, causing the strength in her legs to give out gradually. Before, she had been squatting over him, but by the five-minute mark, she was sitting with her full weight against him, eyes tightly closed as a terrifying tremor rose from the depths of her body...
"I'm serious...that's enough! Ohta-kun...!" exclaimed Rukia. She then tried to pull away from him, but Ohta kept her firmly in place, grasping her legs as he deliberately targeted the most sensitive part of her body.
Realizing she couldn't stop whatever was coming, Rukia closed her eyes even tighter, holding up her hands and balling them into fists as her back straightened before ultimately arching against her will. Ohta stopped her from smacking her head against the headboard, but Rukia didn't notice it as she experienced her first legitimate orgasm, impacting her body like a bolt of lightning as an indescribable pleasure permeated her brain, making her feel as though it was expanding faster than the universe...
While Rukia's body trembled and spasmed above him, Ohta endeavored to prolong her orgasm as long as possible. He knew she should be okay, but her size still concerned him. Thus, understanding she was the type to do very stupid things, Ohta wanted to make sure Rukia was 'exhaustively' prepared before claiming her virginity. He wasn't a complete monster...
Eventually recovering from her muddleheaded, borderline insensible state, Rukia's eyes widened as she covered her mouth, confirming that she had been salivating with a stupid grin and hurriedly wiping away all traces. In the process, a gentler wave of pleasure spread through her body like an echo, alerting her to the reality that Ohta was still licking her.
"I'm serious. That's enough..." asserted Rukia, forcing herself to sound serious even though her body trembled like a newborn fawn.
Raising Rukia's butt from his face by her ass cheeks, Ohta asked, "Want to call it a night, or are you ready for what comes next?"
"I...have prepared myself..." replied Rukia, staring intently at Ohta's cock as if it were her fated enemy.
"Then let's do it," said Ohta, surprising Rukia by grabbing her waist and lifting her effortlessly as he sat up. She couldn't weigh more than 33kgs, so he didn't even need to use psychic power to pull it off. He used to own dumbbells that weighed more than her.
With Ohta positioning her on his lap, his surprisingly hot penis protruding through her thighs and pressing against her most sensitive spot, Rukia no longer felt prepared. She didn't utter a sound, but as he reached his hand between her legs, gently probing her crotch before grabbing his penis and invariably positioning it for entry, her rampaging heart felt like it was going to leap from her throat in the form of a scream...
"It might help to hold your breath..." whispered Ohta, locating Rukia's tiny entrance and probing it with the tip of his dick until it slipped inside. She nodded her head in response to his words, so he waited for her to take a deep breath before gradually lowering her against him, feeling her almost uncompromising insides pry apart as his dick sunk into her suffocatingly steamy and tight depths...
Feeling like a spear was stabbing into her body and pushing against her insides, Rukia motioned like she was going to grasp at her throat, issuing a croaking noise as she did her best to hold her breath and avoid crying aloud. It wasn't nearly as bad as being stabbed or burned, two things she had experienced, but the 'pressure' was unimaginable...
"It's in..." whispered Ohta, bottoming out in Rukia's shallow depths with around a quarter of his cock remaining. Her insides would stretch as she became more habituated to his intrusion, but there was only so much her 144cm frame could handle.
Exhaling the breath she had been holding, Rukia took several gasping breaths as she looked down at her body. She couldn't see well from the position she was in, but she could sure as hell feel Ohta's penis inside of her, pressing against her innermost parts. Before she could even think to move, however, Ohta whispered, "Give yourself a few minutes to get used to it. There's no need to rush..."
Punctuating his words, Ohta gently caressed Rukia's clit and tentatively massaged her noticeably swollen and tender pussy. Removing his fingers revealed blood, but that wasn't unexpected, considering the difference in their size and the fact Rukia was a virgin.
Seeing the blood on Ohta's fingers, Rukia bravado dried up instantly. She didn't suggest they stop, but she was marginally concerned that her Gigai had been damaged beyond repair. Fortunately, this wasn't the case, and after a few minutes, the painful, pulsing numbness in her vagina gradually began to fade, replaced by a faint but growing feeling of stimulation.
"Turn your head..." whispered Ohta, confusing Rukia until she obliged his words and abruptly found his lips pressed against hers. Her eyes widened to their limits, but she made no attempts to draw away, leaving Ohta to do so as he jokingly remarked, "We messed up the order a bit..."
"Ah..."
Realizing that she had kissed Ohta's dick before kissing his lips, a red hue spread through Rukia's cheeks. Fortunately, Ohta didn't seem particularly concerned by her faux pas, planting several more kisses on her lips until she started to reciprocate. When she did, Rukia noticed the sensation of pleasure she was experiencing seemed to amplify, so their initially chaste kisses quickly became more intimate. Even more so when Ohta reached up to trace his fingers around her nipples and gently fondle her breasts...
...
..
.

Though he was somewhat tempted to go and see if Rukia's intuition was accurate, Ohta spent the anniversary of Ichigo's mother's death simply walking around town. Being invisible had its perks. Not because he had any plans on 'misusing' it, but because it allowed him to fuck with people and see the side of them they kept hidden from others. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't very pretty.
After loitering around behind a masked man who sneakily took pictures of a bunch of brats, Ohta followed the overweight fellow to his home to find he had a waste pit of an apartment filled with less-than-innocent photos. Shinigami, somewhat ironically, were prohibited from reaping the lives of humans without specific orders to do so, but as a 'freelancer,' Ohta felt no obligation to obey their laws.
Waiting until the man was preparing to perform his daily ritual, Ohta made a pistol out of his thumb, index, and middle fingers, placing it against the back of the man's head, sending shivers through the man's bloated body as he said, "Boom, headshot." before pulling an invisible trigger.
Though there was no blood or gore, the predatory man instantly slumped forward in response to Ohta's words, his brain experiencing a catastrophic hemorrhage.
Confused by what had happened, the overweight man, now in a ghostly spirit form, uttered a confused, "Huh? Is that my body...?" while staring at his sad figure, planted face-first into the ground with his dirty underwear on display.
"See ya later, fuckwad," said Ohta, earning the man's attention, distracting him from a pair of eerie purple doors that rose behind him, the front of which protruded two skeletal figures with bandages and chains adorning their bodies.
"Who the fuck are you!?" screamed the man, practically frothing at the mouth as he bellowed, "This is my apartment! You can't be here! Get out! Get the fuck out of here right now...!"
"You first," retorted Ohta, kicking the man in the chest as the doors behind him opened, revealing the eyes of a demonic entity shrouded in red and black energy. Yoruichi had explained that the interior connected to Hell, where wicked spirits and monstrous creatures were tortured until their souls dissipated. She couldn't explain how it was determined who ended up there and who moved on to Soul Society, but Ohta didn't really care. He just assumed it had something to do with Karma.
As the gates to Hell closed behind him, Ohta turned around and departed the smelly apartment, remarking, "Man, Japan is filled with perverts..." as he walked through the bars lining the third-floor landing, strolling casually through the air. He hadn't been keeping track, but this wasn't his first time sending a predator packing to the netherworld.
Allowing gravity to take hold of him, Ohta dropped to the ground near an alleyway where several high-school, if not college-aged, teenagers were skateboarding. An elderly woman was trying to pass through the area, but the group ignored her, hogging the street and sidewalk as if they were the only ones with a right to it.
As none of the boys outright deserved to die for their actions, Ohta took a moment to consider his options before using his psychic power to 'gently' squeeze the cores of each person. Doing so caused most of them to keel over, falling to their knees and holding their stomachs with expressions as white as sheets. Ironically, though not surprising, when the old woman saw this, she quickly approached the closest one, placing her hand on his shoulder to ask if he were okay and if she should call an ambulance.
"Hopefully, that teaches them something..." muttered Ohta, leaving the scene with his hands in his pockets. The old woman looked at him when he spoke, but that also wasn't surprising, as, according to Yoruichi, those close to death became progressively attuned to it...
...
..
.
*tok* *tok* *tok*
Though he was tempted to pretend he wasn't in, Ohta arose from his bed and went to his front door, unsurprised to find Rukia standing outside with a somber look, her hair dripping and the vanilla sundress she was wearing slightly transparent from the rain.
"Well, that's not promising..." remarked Ohta, stepping aside as he added, "Get in here..." in a marginally softer tone.
Instead of walking past and into his room, Rukia stepped closer to Ohta, bumping her forehead against his chest as she muttered, "I really messed up today..."
"..."
After a moment of silence and feigned hesitation, Ohta wrapped his arms around Rukia's body, finding she was trembling slightly. She tensed as he did so but made no effort to break free, permitting him to hold her until he said, "Let's get you into the bath. We can talk once you've warmed your body and are no longer shivering..."
Without waiting for Rukia's response, Ohta guided her to the bathroom. He was half-tempted to remove her dress, but even he felt that would be a bit much. Instead, he showed her where the towels were before leaving to retrieve a clothes change from her apartment.
While waiting for Rukia to finish bathing, Ohta prepared some hot cocoa while considering how to handle the present situation. The simplest thing to do would be to hear Rukia out and then send her on her way, but when a girl went to a man she liked for comfort, sending them away was a good way to send them spiraling into negativity.
"Well, we'll just see how things play out..." muttered Ohta. He technically wasn't in a relationship with Yoruichi, so if Rukia sought him for more than simple consolation, he had no reason to reject her. That might decimate his chances with Yoruichi, but he wasn't exactly looking forward to getting entangled in the mess that was her personal life...
Interrupting Ohta's thoughts, Rukia emerged from the bathroom wearing the silky beige pajamas he pulled from her dresser. She lacked the charm of a mature beauty like Yoruichi, but her delicate, forlorn appearance gave even Ohta a middling desire to protect her.
Rising from his bed, Ohta adopted a muted smile and asked, "Feeling better?" while picking up and proferring the cocoa he had prepared for her.
Accepting the cocoa, Rukia offered a faint "Thank you..." before taking a tentative sip. It wasn't as sweet as traditional hot chocolate, as it used actual cocoa powder, but its bittersweetness and warmth brought a smile to Rukia's face as she remarked, "It's good..."
"There's more if you need it," said Ohta, gesturing to his bed and adding, "When you're ready, take a seat and tell me what this is all about."
Nodding her head, Rukia sat on the edge of Ohta's bed, her smile fading somewhat when she witnessed him pulling out his desk chair rather than sitting beside her.
Noticing the subtle change, Ohta raised his brows and asked, "Did you want me to sit next to you? Because I can."
Though her instinct was to refute Ohta's words, Rukia ultimately remained silent, her smile gaining a hint of meek diffidence as she averted her eyes by hanging her head.
Exhaling a faint sigh through his nose, Ohta made things easier by sitting next to Rukia, putting his hand around her head, and pulling her face into his chest as he whispered, "Tell me what's wrong..."
Escaping from Ohta's hold, Rukia's forlorn look gave way to a wide-eyed, slightly panicked expression as she placed her hand on her chest, feeling her heart racing as she asked, "What are you doing?" in a near-monotone voice.
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta responded, "I 'thought' I was comforting you. Guess I took things too far...?"
Exhaling a sigh of her own, Rukia shook her head, regaining a hint of her earlier melancholy as she hung her head and replied, "No...it's true that I came here seeking consolation. It's just...I'm not very good at things like this..."
Instead of asking for clarification of what she meant, Ohta adopted a faint smile and expressed, "Just tell me what you want me to do. If you need a shoulder to cry on, I've got two."
Looking up at Ohta, Rukia's obsidian-black, faintly purple eyes wavered for several seconds before she swallowed hard and asked, "Can I put my head on your lap...?"
"I've also got one of those," replied Ohta, patting his lap as if it were no big deal. Then, when Rukia finally mustered the courage to put her head down, he proceeded to caress it, soothingly stroking his fingers through her hair in silence.
"..."
After what felt like an hour but was closer to ten minutes, Rukia repeated, "I really messed up today...a Hollow attacked while Ichigo and his family were visiting his mother's grave, and I got involved when I shouldn't have. To make matters words, a Shinigami from Squad 2, the Stealth Force, was present. With this, Soul Society knows about Ichigo and that I've lost my powers as a Shinigami..."
Instead of trying to sugar-coat things, Ohta conceded, "That's a pretty massive blunder. But I don't think it's the reason you're upset. Tell me what happened with Ichigo..."
"..."
Hesitating for several seconds, Rukia revealed, "The Hollow that attacked happened to be what killed Ichigo's mother six years ago. He asked me to stay out of it, but when it attacked his sisters, I took action..."
"Did you kill it...?" asked Ohta.
Shaking her head, Rukia replied, "No...I can't use your power as well as you can, so I only managed to injure it. After that, it ran away, escaping into the void and presumably returning to Hueco Mundo..."
"Then everything's fine," assured Ohta. "Ichigo might be a little butthurt, but he isn't going to hate you for stepping in to save his family. If he gives you a hard time, just let me know. I'll kick his teeth in."
"Don't you mean you'll talk some sense into him?" asked Rukia.
"Violence is an effective form of communication when people are being intentionally difficult or obstinant..." replied Ohta. "Besides, it wouldn't be the first time Ichigo and I fought. Our views haven't always aligned with one another..."
Exhaling a soft chuckle, Rukia sounded a lot happier as she muttered, "I can imagine. You're a lot more 'resolute' than other boys your age. There are times I can't help thinking you're much older..."
"Not as old as you..." retorted Ohta.
"Ha ha, very funny..." responded Rukia, her voice carrying a hint of feigned displeasure. She didn't appreciate the insinuation she was old, but at 153, she wasn't exactly young. At least not by human standards...
Exhaling a faint chuckle of his own, Ohta allowed a comfortable silence to settle between him and Rukia before asking, "Feeling better...?"
"Much..." replied Rukia, her expression having eased into a contemplative languor. She knew she should leave, but Ohta gently caressing her head was a comfort she hadn't experienced since she was a mortal starving in the streets...
Catching Ohta a little off guard, Rukia asked, "Why are you so good to me...?" in a faint, nearly inaudible tone.
"I'm not..." argued Ohta, his expression softening into a self-deprecating smile as he casually revealed, "If anything, I'm taking advantage of you. You seem lonely, so I'm hedging my bets by befriending you. Once I get to Soul Society, I expect you to return the favor in full..."
Believing that Ohta was just messing with her, Rukia snorted through her nose and muttered, "You never change..."
"That's not true," Ohta retorted. "Even though it's not strictly necessary, I change and wash my Shihakusho daily."
"That 'isn't' what I meant," replied Rukia, rising to a seated position so she could stare at Ohta and speak to him directly. However, when their gazes met, she found herself at a loss for words, entranced by the atypically gentle smile on his face. In reality, his expression wasn't any different from his usually cheeky smile, but with the right atmosphere, even apathy could resemble smoldering passion...
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Ohta asked, "Is there something on my face?"
Freed from the spell she was under, Rukia promptly turned away, placing her hand against her chest to find that it was again beating rapidly. She had made a habit of reminding herself that she didn't feel anything more than friendship and camaraderie toward Ohta, but now that there was a chance she would need to flee far from Karakura Town, she felt..terrified...
"Take your time and enjoy some cocoa," said Ohta. "I still need to shower and get changed. If you're still here when I get out, we can talk more..."
Rising to his feet, Ohta had every intention of showering but stopped mid-step when Rukia grabbed his sleeve, saying, "Wait..." in a nearly inaudible tone. This was expected. What wasn't was Rukia adopting a serious and resolute expression as she said, "Let me go with you..."
...
..
.

Chapter 24: Stepping off the Deep End