Not a Mob: Psycho

"I'm doing it...!" shouted Ichigo, finally forming a stable cannonball after nearly twenty hours of concerted effort.
While Orihime clapped supportively beside him, Ohta remarked, "Wow. And it only took twice as long as we originally intended to stay. It's a new record..."
"Can it," retorted Ichigo, going from happy to annoyed with the ease of flipping a light switch. As he did, visible cracks began appearing on the surface of his spherical barrier, followed by an abrupt implosion that left the orange-haired youth floored, twitching as smoke rose from his body...
"I'm sure that's some kind of record as well..." muttered Ohta, turning to Orihime to say, "Go and make sure he isn't dead."
"Okay~!" replied Orihime, bouncing to her feet and happily running over to carry out Ohta's instruction. During lunch, they had discussed opening up a 'Paranormal Detective Agency' to investigate abnormal occurrences and find lost items. More accurately, Orihime had pitched the idea while Ohta focused on eating, tentatively agreeing to let her become his investigative assistant in a vain attempt to end the conversation early...
"The two of you seem to be getting along rather swimmingly..." remarked Uryu, seated a few meters away.
Completely ignoring the bespectacled Quincy, Ohta watched with mild interest as Orihime's healing barrier caused the slight charring on Ichigo's clothes and body to disappear slowly. The treatment of his injuries wasn't too unusual, but he found it strange she could heal Ichigo's clothes, even if they were made from spirit particles...
"Thanks, Orihime..." said Ichigo, rising to a seated position with furrowed brows and an awkward smile.
"Oh, it's no problem, Ichigo," replied Orihime, clapping her hands together as she exclaimed, "I'm happy to have been of help~!"
Before Ichigo could respond, Ohta called out, instructing, "Oi, Strawberry. Hurry up and produce another shield. If you can hold it, we can blow this popsicle stand."
"Don't tell me what to do!" barked Ichigo. However, after holding Ohta's serious gaze for several seconds, he picked up the Reishukaku and spent a minute or two to produce another barrier. It took a while to start up, but Ohta could see it was more stable than the previous one.
"Looks like you aren't completely hopeless..." remarked Ohta, rising to his feet and declaring, "We're launching at noon. Take a bath, get something to eat, and try to get a few hours of rest. Once we enter the Seireitei, we don't know when we'll have another opportunity to do so."
"And who put you in charge...?" asked Uryu, startling slightly when a deep, masculine voice answered, "I did," prompting everyone to look toward the room's entrance, finding that Yoruichi had appeared, seemingly out of thin air.
"Ohta is the most powerful among you, by far," stated Yoruichi. "He also has the most experience, so you should defer to his judgment when I'm not around. You're free to use your own, but if he's going out of his way to tell you to do something, you can assume it's the correct thing to do."
As Ohta hadn't exactly told them to jump through hoops or smash their faces against a wall, Uryu couldn't refute Yoruichi's words. As for Chad, well, he didn't care who was in charge. He had come to Soul Society to repay a debt, so he would keep moving forward until Rukia was saved or his body could no longer continue.
With no one offering any arguments, not even Ichigo, the group left the training chamber to get some R&amp;R before their departure. Orihime asked Ohta if she could accompany him, but as he was planning to take a bath, he advised her to go and do the same. Fortunately, while Kukaku was a very 'free-spirited' woman, she had enough sense to separate the male and female baths...
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"Alright, I hope you shitstains are ready...! The final countdown begins now!" shouted Kukaku, standing outside the massive fireworks launcher while everyone else huddled within the chamber.
"Listen closely," said Yoruich, sitting atop the Reishukaku everyone had their hands on. "Once we get inside the Seireitei, it's crucial that we stick together. If we 'do' get split up, do your best to avoid direct contact with the enemy. And if you encounter any Captains, just run. Our objective is to rescue Rukia, not to pick a fight with the Soul Society."
Directing her gaze to Ohta, Yoruichi added, "I'll be depending on you to keep everyone together if something goes wrong."
Furrowing his brows, Ohta asserted, "I can ensure you stay together, but I'm splitting from the rest of the group. If we stay together, it will make it easier for the enemy to surround us."
"You can't do that, Ohta-kun!" exclaimed Orihime. However, before she could say anything more, Yoruichi replied, "Very well. I won't stop you. Just remember what we discussed, and don't go on a mindless rampage. The moment you kill a Captain or Lieutenant, this situation becomes a lot harder to salvage..."
"Mr. Yoruichi...!" exclaimed Orihime, unable to believe what she was hearing. In response, the soot-colored cat stared up at her, narrowing her eyes as she asserted, "Ohta-kun's power is far more destructive than you can imagine at your current level, young lady. When surrounded by allies, he cannot exercise his full might, so letting him serve as a distraction will greatly enhance our chances of success."
Shifting her gaze to Ichigo, Yoruichi added, "That means it will be up to us to rescue Rukia. Don't rush off on your own, and if you get separated from the group, seek shelter or hide underground."
"Understood..." responded Ichigo, his expression serious and resolute as he directed his stare at Ohta. He knew the latter was the most 'desperate' to save Rukia, so he believed Ohta was putting his trust in him by serving as a distraction.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Ohta stared at the Reishukaku and suggested, "We should probably start channeling our spirit energy before Kukaku sets this thing off..."
"Ohta-kun..." muttered Orihime, feeling somewhat useless and saddened by the reality he planned to fight alone. Unfortunately, she knew everyone else would require her power more, so even though she wanted to go with him, she ultimately hung her head and didn't ask...
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"We're breaking through!" screamed Yoruichi. "Channel as much of your spirit energy into the Reishukaku as possible! If we can't break the barrier, every single one of us will die...!"
Prompted by Yoruichi's words, everyone except Ohta began pumping their spirit energy into the Reishukaku. His priority was linking them together to ensure they wouldn't be separated. Thus, when the Reishukaku exploded moments after piercing the barrier, they remained tethered by an invisible cord while he waved his hand, saying, "Don't die." as he was launched out of the resulting energy vortex.
"Ohta-kun...!" shouted Orihime, extending her hand in his direction like she wanted to chase after him. Due to the invisible cord, however, she couldn't break free from the rest of the group. Chad had also grabbed her arm as an additional precaution, so Orihime had no choice but to remain behind while Ohta hurled toward the ground like a meteor.
Turning away from the energy vortex, Ohta controlled his descent as he thought ("That girl's a clinger...") with a deadpan expression. At the same time, he spread his senses through the area, having mastered picking up spiritual signatures as far as ten kilometers away. His psychic sense was much stronger, but that required leaving an 'imprint' like the ones he left in the bodies of everyone back in the Reishukaku.
Sensing no significant threats, Ohta clicked his tongue in mild frustration, impacting the street below without slowing. The energy of the Reishukaku veiled his body in a protective membrane of golden light, so he barely felt a thing despite his crash generating a large explosion and forming a crater more than five meters across.
Rising from the smoke cloud, Ohta dusted himself off and looked around the area, his ears picking up the distinctive sound of a Japanese 'clapper' alarm echoing throughout the entirety of the Seireitei. Shortly thereafter, the pitter-patter of footsteps drew Ohta's gaze to a group of Shinigami he had sensed long before their arrival.
"You there...!" shouted one of the Shinigami, a somewhat plain-looking man with short black hair and a square face, pointing his Zanpakuto at Ohta as he commanded, "Drop your weapon and get on your knees...!"
"Hard pass," replied Ohta, extending his left hand toward the crowd of thirteen people before slowly lowering it. As he did so, the predominately male group felt like a hydraulic press was pushing down on them from above, forcing them to their knees and cracking the ground beneath them as they tried to resist.
"You're lucky I'm not your 'enemy,'" stated Ohta, supplanting his psychic energy with Reiatsu(Spirit Pressure). According to Yoruichi, his reserves were around the level of a 3rd or 4th Seat, but his overwhelming mental energy made his Reiatsu like an exacto knife. Instead of applying broad pressure over an area, he could focus his Reiatsu to target his opponents' minds directly, incapacitating those with weaker wills in an instant.
Knocking everyone but the Shinigami who had spoken unconscious, Ohta pulled the man toward him with Telekinesis, emulating a certain Sith Lord as he coldly inquired, "What is your class, and what Squad do you belong to...?"
"Spirit...Spirit Class 4," replied the man, clawing in futility at his throat as he croaked, "Squad...Seven...!"
("Hmmm...that should be the Squad commanded by the Demi-human wolfman...") thought Ohta, recalling the information he had compiled on the more important members of the Gotei. Squad 7's Captain, Komamura Sajin, was in the category of individuals 'not' considered to be a member of Aizen's group, so Ohta allowed the purple-faced Shinigami to plummet to the ground, instructing, "Send word to your Captain and the rest of the Gotei. Yamada Ohta has come to reclaim what's his..."
Turning away from the man, Ohta began a slow and casual stroll through the antiquated-looking district. He was playing the part of a distraction, but if he got too serious and started rampaging, it would draw a little too much attention...
("Do not hesitate...") said a voice within Ohta's mind, causing him to stop in place.
("What you seek is within your reach. You need only to extend your hand and grasp it...") added the voice, unmistakably belonging to the shadowy jackal representing Ohta's Zanpakuto.
Drawing the combat knife strapped to his hip, Ohta stared at the near-pitch-black blade, asking, "You realize that if I do that, I endanger the lives of those brats and make things more complicated for myself further down the line, right?"
("It is better to fight for the preservation of your ideals than at the behest of others.") replied the jackal. ("Find the one named Aizen Sosuke and kill him. Then track down the one called Yhwach and extinguish his flame as well. This is the path you desire...")
"What I desire is up in that tower..." muttered Ohta, directing his gaze to the tallest structure in all of Seireitei. Yoruichi had informed him that was the location Rukia was being kept, not to encourage him to go there, but to provide him some peace of mind knowing he 'could.'
("You barely even know her...") remarked the jackal. ("You also know well her 'guilt.' She feels she has forced you into a relationship and fears she has become a shackle on your heart and actions. That's why she permits you to lie with the dark one...")
"It doesn't matter..." replied Ohta, furrowing his brows as he said, "Unless she can hold my gaze and tell me she doesn't love me, I will never let her go..."
("Yet here you are while she remains locked away in a tower...") countered the jackal.
"..."
("Forget it...") said the jackal. ("If this is the path you are determined to walk, I will continue to observe and pray for you to have good fortune in battle. Without my power, you'll need it...")
"We'll see..." replied Ohta, returning the knife to its sheathe before closing his eyes to better focus on his senses. Yoruichi had advised them to avoid clashing with Captains, if at all possible, but he was determined to fight at least one of them to 'prove' he could. The only question was, which would show up first...?
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(A/N: Any opinions on who Ohta should cross paths with? Is it time for Renji to get his teeth in? Maybe a fateful encounter with his brother-in-law? Or, perhaps, and angry kitten? Decisions, decisions...)

With Ohta making no effort to conceal himself, the number of assailing Shinigami, primarily from Squads 6, 7, and 8, steadily increased as they tried to surround him. Unfortunately, while Ohta had some interest in the Captain of Squad 6, Rukia's brother, Kuchiki Byakuya, his current location was probably the 'worst' place he could have ended up.
Based on the information provided by Yoruichi, the Captains of Squads 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 13 were the least likely to have any direct connection with Aizen's schemes. Furthermore, the Captain of Squad 8, Kyōraku no Jirō Sakuranosuke Shunsui, was in the category of people Yoruichi urged him 'not' to fuck with. The man was the person most likely to succeed the current Captain-Commander, denoting him as especially powerful among the Gotei 13. More importantly, he was one of the three Captains virtually guaranteed to take their side when it came time to rescue Rukia.
If Ohta were to kill any members of the Gotei, specifically Captains, the 'safest' options were Ichimaru Gin of Squad 3, Tosen Kaname of Squad 6, Kenpachi Zaraki of Squad 11, and Kurotsuchi Mayuri of Squad 12. Only the first two were considered candidates to be Aizen's collaborators, but the latter two were dangerous elements that might imperil his life even if they managed to succeed in Rukia's rescue. Zaraki was described as a monster who perpetually thirsted for battle, and Mayuri was a crazed scientist who reveled in dissection and human/spirit experimentation.&nbsp;
Curiously enough, at least according to Yoruichi, Ohta could be made the next Kenpachi if he killed the current one. Said title could only be passed from one person to another in combat to the death, so whoever killed the acting Kenpachi became the next. This made Zaraki a 'safe' option, but, as the acting Kenpachi, it also meant he was the 'strongest' Captain in terms of pure fighting prowess. Yoruichi also told him it would upset the Captain of Squad 4 if he actually slew the man, so he should only do so if left with no other choice.
"Let's just hope I don't run into Yoruichi's 'kitten' as my first opponent..." muttered Ohta, referring to the Captain of Squad 2, Su&igrave;-Fēng, aka Soifon. She was said to be the weakest of the current Captains, but her stealth capabilities and speed shouldn't be underestimated. Her Zanpakuto could also kill any target it struck in the same place twice, so even if she lacked raw power and Reiryoku, Soifon was among the most deadly of the Gotei. She was also, according to the cat herself, batshit crazy and more than a little obsessive over the exiled Shihouin heiress...
As Ohta was wondering who his first 'true' opponent would be, a figure plunged from the sky, landing a few tens of meters away from him along the corridor-like path he was walking. Ohta had been doing his best to maintain a relaxed, ostensibly apathetic expression, but he couldn't help smiling the moment he saw the figure.
Standing approximately 188cm tall, possessing distinctive crimson hair done up in a spiky ponytail and tattoos covering much of his face and body, the person who arrived before Ohta was none other than one of Rukia's captors, the recently-appointed Lieutenant of Squad 6, Abarai Renji.
Rising to his full height, Renji stared at Ohta with his sanpaku-like eyes, an intense look on his face as he asked, "Are you Yamada Ohta, the rumored 'lover' of the criminal, Kuchiki Rukia...?"
"Depending on 'your' answers, I'm the guy that's about to give you PTSD," replied Ohta. "Now, tell me, did you come here to stop me from reclaiming what's mine?"
Frowning even more so than he already was, Renji drew his sword and practically growled, "Rukia does not belong to you..."
"That was her decision to make, and she already made it," said Ohta, also drawing his Zanpakuto. Depending on the Spirit Class of his opponent, his 'base' psychic powers had limited effectiveness. One of the requirements for promotion to Lieutenant was a Reiryoku grade of Class 6 or higher, so he would need to touch Renji to effectuate his telekinesis against him.
"That's a lie, and you know it!" roared Renji, scowling as he accused, "You took advantage of her vulnerability and tricked her with your human wiles. Now, you've come here to give her false hope! Can you imagine how much it will torment her to learn of your death or imprisonment...!?"
"Guess I'll just have to survive," replied Ohta, smiling as he vanished from Renji's view.
Opening his eyes to their limits, Renji internally exclaimed ("He's fast...!") while leaping backward.
"Boo..." muttered Ohta, appearing behind the stunned Lieutenant as he slipped the tip of his Zanpakuto between Renji's ribs, just under his liver. At the same time, he placed his hand on Renji's left shoulder, placing a psychic imprint on him before vanishing as the crimson-haired Shinigami spun to try and bifurcate him at the waist.
"Shit..." grunted Renji, feeling his strength beginning to leave his body. Such wounds weren't especially effective against individuals with high Reiryoku density, but he would need to continuously channel his spirit energy to the area to prevent it from bleeding excessively.
Observing Renji from a distance, Ohta remained silent for several seconds before remarking, "You're weaker than I expected. Even without releasing your Zanpakuto, you should be stronger than this."
Understanding the reason for Renji's apparent weakness, Ohta narrowed his eyes and questioned, "Are you looking down on me?"
"Not anymore..." replied Renji, holding his Zanpakuto in front of him with his right hand, tracing his left across the flat of his blade as he shouted, "How, Zabimaru...!"
In response to Renji's shout, his Zanpakuto transitioned from a typical katana with a rectangular tsuba and a crimson handle to a six-segmented blade, each section getting wider from the hilt. Each segment had a pick-like protrusion at the front and back, giving it the appearance of a saw or the toothy maw of a beast.
"Neat," remarked Ohta, finding the design of Renji's Zanpakut impractical but fairly cool-looking. At the very least, it was a perfect fit for his rugged, tattooed, borderline-delinquent appearance.
"Take this!" shouted Renji, swinging his Zanpakuto despite a considerable between him and Ohta. As he did so, the six-segmented blade split apart, held together by a tendon-like material that allowed it to stretch and slice through the wall lining the street, sweeping at Ohta more than seventeen meters away.
Though he could have easily evaded the attack, Ohta intercepted the tip section of Renji's with his own, holding his Zanpakuto in a relaxed reverse grip as he stopped the fang-like blade in its tracks.
Seeing Ohta stand completely still, causing the remaining section of his Zanpakuto to tense and buckle as they tried to push him back, Renji asked, "What the hell is this? Even if you're somehow stronger than me, the momentum of my attack should have pushed you back..."
"It might have," responded Ohta, adopting a teasing smile as he added, "If I had allowed it to."
Deflecting the tip of Renji's Zanpakuto downward, Ohta backstepped to create a bit of distance between himself and his opponent. There was no need for this, but caution was better than overconfidence. He didn't know Renji's full capabilities, so he decided to play it safe, even though he was fairly certain he had already won.
Clenching his teeth and frowning, Renji tried to retract his Zanpakuto but ended up pulling himself forward abruptly as the end Ohta had embedded into the ground remained fixed like an anchor.
"What the hell...!?" exclaimed Renji, fixing his posture at the last moment to avoid being catapulted over the end of his now-immovable Zanpakuto. That wasn't an exaggeration either, as the moment the segments came together, Ohta promptly fixed them in place, turning the jagged-toothed blade into an edgier version of the fabled Excalibur. And, unfortunately for Renji, he wasn't worthy enough to draw it.
Exerting himself to the point his face turned purple, Renji tried and failed to extract his Zanpakuto while Ohta observed him with a faint smile from a few meters away. As Renji's blade impacted his own, Ohta channeled a shit ton of psychic energy into the fanged tip. When the other segments came into contact with it, the psychic energy spread through them like a virus, effectively granting him control over the crimson-haired Shinigami's prized weapon as he simply lacked the strength to counteract it.
"You about finished...?" asked Ohta, having stood idly by for nearly a full minute.
Raising his withering gaze to meet Ohta's, beads of sweat condensed beneath the visor covering Renji's brow, cascading down his nose and the sides of his face due to his strenuous exertions.
"What did you do?" asked Renji, shifting his gaze to the Ohta's Zanpakuto as he inquired, "Is this the ability of that little toy? What a cheap ability..."
"Not everyone needs to compensate for their inadequacies with size, flair, and facial tattoos," retorted Ohta, sheathing his Zanpakuto into the hilt at his hip as he asked, "Now, are you going to surrender obediently, or do I need to beat some sense into you...?"
Realizing that Ohta was suing for a scrap, Renji ceased trying to extract his Zanpakuto from the ground, veins bulging at his temples as he replied, "Bring it on, Ryoku(Traveling Evil)..."
Getting into a boxing pose, Ohta made a come-hither gesture with his left hand, smiling viciously as he said, "Come, let's see if you're even worthy of my time..."
Launching himself toward Ohta with a loud "Raaaaaaaaaaaaaagh...!" Renji intended to beat the former to within an inch of his life. Unfortunately for him, he abruptly froze halfway through his leap, his body trembling as he struggled to even breathe.
"I'm waiting..." said Ohta, his smile gradually easing into a deadpan at the realization Renji might genuinely be unable to free himself. Yoruichi could have broken free within milliseconds. Comparing Renji to her wasn't fair to either of them, but Ohta expected someone at the level of a Lieutenant to have more...gumption.
Easing out of his combat posture, Ohta asked, "Seriously, man? You really 'are' compensating with that appearance of yours..."
Unable to speak, all Renji could do was glare at Ohta as he slowly started to black out. Shinigami, strictly speaking, didn't need to breathe, but they could still be asphyxiated if the blood flowing to their brain was throttled or cut off.
After several tense moments, Ohta surprised Renji by firmly stating, "I'm going to save Rukia." before spontaneously releasing the crimson-haired man from his psychic hold. Then, while Renji gasped for air after plopping to the ground, Ohta added, "Rukia told me you were a colleague from the Rukon District. Out of consideration for her, I will spare you this one time. The next time our paths cross, expect no mercy..."
Punctuating his words, Ohta punted Renji's face, caving in the crimson-haired Shinigami's nose and sending him flipping backward through the air for several tens of meters. He wanted to send a message to the Gotei that a singular Lieutenant was no match for him, but more than that, he simply didn't like the 'indignant fury' in Renji's expression when he looked at him...
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Shortly after Ohta's defeat of Renji, word quickly spread through the Gotei 13. Most lower-ranking Shinigami were horrified to learn that a Ryoka had fought and defeated a Lieutenant. Other Lieutenants, Captains, and those who knew Renji personally, however, didn't take the news too seriously. It was no great secret that Renji had feelings for Rukia, so they assumed he either held back or let his sentimentality cloud his judgment.
Among those who believed Renji hadn't been bested in terms of pure skill with an inordinately handsome, almost beautiful man with slate-grey eyes and long black hair kept in place by an intricate headpiece, forming three thick strands of pointy bangs over his face. If Ohta saw him, he would be unnerved by how similar the man, Kuchiki Byakuya, was to his girlfriend, as despite being unrelated, the man looked like an older, male version of Rukia.
Upon hearing the news of Renji's defeat, Byakuya muttered, "So, this is the path you have chosen, Renji..." in his deep, characteristically apathetic monotone. He was the 'most' aware of Renji's feelings for Rukia, but while both Shinigami had risen from the Rukon District, Byakuya didn't consider the redhead worthy of his adopted sister. As for Ohta...the usually taciturn Byakuya had 'many' things he wanted to say to the formerly human youth before invariably killing him...
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(A/N: If Ohta had wanted, he could have totally been like, "Stop hitting yourself..." Renji's fortunate that, deep down, Ohta is a very 'considerate' person xD...)

"How long have I been clocked out?" asked Ohta, slipping on the tabi-like socks comprising part of his Shihakusho uniform.
"I don't know, something like seven hours?" replied Kukaku, lying on her side and using the nails from her left foot to scratch her calf, still naked as the day she was born.
Before Ohta could ask if she needed to prepare, Yoruichi, having already gotten dressed, remarked, "That ten-hour timeframe from before was just an excuse to give Ichigo and the others a chance to practice and improve their skills. There are still thirteen days until Rukia's scheduled execution, so there's no reason to rush things."
"..."
Though tempted to argue, Ohta remained silent and focused on getting dressed. He still remembered their conversation before getting sloshed, so while he wanted to fuck shit up, he had to be patient. Not for the sake of Kisuke's plan but to ensure that Rukia, Orihime, Chad, Ichigo, and even Uryu could continue their lives once the incident was over...
"Don't look so glum," said Kukaku. "Brooding expressions suit handsome guys, but you don't strike me as the genuinely sentimental type. Channel a bit of that beast from earlier this morning, and you'll have women eating from your palms."
"I already 'have' a woman like that, and she's a growing pain in my ass..." replied Ohta, directing his gaze to Yoruichi.
Contrasting Ohta's expectations, Yoruichi adopted a teasing smile and asked, "Oh, so I'm your woman now? News to me..."
"You're my cat," corrected Ohta. However, the damage had already been done, an alluring smile adorning Yoruichi's face as she mused, "Whatever you say..."
Before Ohta could retort, Kukaku pointed out, "Man, you two squabble like an old married couple. Either that or a cat and dog who managed to cross the line into an interspecies relationship. Seriously, just fuck it out..."
"You two make a dangerous combination..." remarked Ohta. "Remind me never to drink with you in the future..."
"Pfft, your loss..." spat Kukaku. Unlike Yoruichi, who seemed to have fallen face-first at Ohta's feet, she wasn't 'that' impressed with his performance. She wouldn't mind him dropping in to plow her fields every now and then, but she wasn't going to lose sleep over him being a moralist prude.
Stretching her body, Kukaku added, "Anyways, since we're done here, the two of you should check on those brats. Once the grumpy dandelion gets his shit in gear, I'll send your asses skyward."
"Grumpy dandelion...?" parroted Ohta. However, even without Kukaku clarifying, he had a pretty good idea of who she was talking about. Thus, after some additional back and forth, he went to check on the group of four's progress while Yoruichi stayed back to give Kukaku a piece of her mind...
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"Oh, Ohta-kun! You're back...!" exclaimed Orihime, noticing Ohta's arrival before anyone else. She had been able to form a perfect sphere on her very first attempt, so she was just watching everyone else, sitting off to the side with tea and snacks.
Instead of asking Orihime where she thought he had gone, Ohta gave a curt nod, replying, "Yeah." before asking, "How are things here...?" while looking over at Ichigo, sweating buckets as he barely got his Reishukaku to glow.
Smiling awkwardly, Orihime made the conscious decision not to answer Ohta's question, changing topics by asking, "How has life as a Shinigami been treating you? Do you ever get injured or feel overworked...?"
"Not really," replied Ohta, adopting a faint smile as he said, "I'm kind of a badass."
"I'll bet," agreed Orihime, striking a pose as she said, "According to Mr. Yoruichi, you can defeat hundreds of Hollows in a single blow! I've only ever fought one, and it took everything I had. Ehehehe~."
"Well, the first time is always the most difficult..." remarked Ohta, not intending to make an innuendo but realizing his words could easily be misconstrued as one. Fortunately, Orihime didn't appear to find what he had said odd, giggling girlishly before adopting a radiant smile as she replied, "That's good to hear. If every battle was as difficult as that one, I'm not sure I'd be able to hold up."
"Mmm..."
Not really in the mood for a bubbly conversation, Ohta simply hummed in response to Orihime's words while observing Chad and Uryu. The barrier produced by the former exuded a powerful 'static' while Uryu's resembled the pupil of a cat. It was extremely stable, but he was clearly accustomed to forming arrows and had little practice creating other shapes.
"Did you come here to check on Ichigo, Chad, and Ishida-kun?" asked Orihime, adopting a somewhat forlorn smile as she drew up her legs and rested her arms atop them like the previous night. She didn't like being ignored, but she understood that Ohta had far more important things on his mind than chatting and keeping her company.
"Something like that..." replied Ohta, noticing Orihime's melancholy and frowning as a result. He had enough problems with women without exacerbating matters by becoming friendly with the childhood friend of the one he had 'abandoned.'
Seemingly keen to exacerbate matters of her own accord, Orihime asked, "Can I tell you a secret...?" in a hushed voice.
"I can't stop you..." replied Ohta, mostly annoyed but moderately curious to hear what Orihime had to say. Information, especially if that knowledge was a 'secret,' could prove useful...
Stealing a glance at Ohta to see his reaction, Orihime revealed, "Tatsuki-chan has a crush on the other Ohta-kun..."
"..."
"She was really upset at first," said Orihime, returning her gaze to the front as she added, "But, after quarreling with him and forcing the other Ohta-kun to 'keep up appearances' by paying visits to her home, the two of them became much closer. Tatsuki-chan has been wanting to tell you so she can ask for your 'permission,' but she hasn't been able to find the courage..."
Though he had anticipated this exact scenario, Ohta was still caught off guard by Orihime's revelation. He didn't pay much attention to what his old body was up to, but he had heard from Rukia that he joined the men's karate team, immediately becoming the ace and most recently taking first place in the national tournament...
"Are you angry...?" asked Orihime, feeling hesitant and uncertain as Ohta's expression hadn't really changed.
"Not really..." replied Ohta, providing Orihime some semblance of relief by musing, "If anything, I'm relieved. If she's happy, I won't have to worry so much about her dropkicking me the next time we meet..."
Realizing that Ohta was making a joke, Orihime supplied a muted giggle. Tatsuki had entrusted her with discovering if he would be upset if she and his counterpart started dating. Now that she had received his answer, she had even more of a reason to return home safely.
Just to be certain, Ohta surprised Orihime by asking, "Was that the reason you've been behaving so strangely the past two days?"
"Eh...?"
Confused by what Ohta was talking about, Orihime asked, "What do you mean? Have I been behaving strangely...?"
"Well, we weren't exactly close before this..." said Ohta. "With how you've been behaving, I thought you might have developed a crush on me..."
As if hit by a paralysis spell, Orihime's smiling expression became as fixed as a statue. She didn't even appear to be breathing, and after about ten or so seconds, her remarkably fair complexion started to become noticeably ruddy...
"Oh, so you do..." noted Ohta, adopting a faint smile as he asked, "You do remember what we came here for, right? I'm already in a relationship with Rukia. Though, if I weren't, you'd definitely be up there in terms of girls I'd like to date..."
Though the truth was that he thought of Orihime as a bit of anchor, even after she gained her abilities, Ohta didn't want to crush her spirits just as they were about to enter a battlefield. He had also never seen what she was capable of, so there was a chance she could prove herself useful, so long as she could avoid being kidnapped or cannon-foddered...
Seemingly disregarding the first half of Ohta's statement, Orihime asked, "Really? Do you think I'm pretty...?" with visibly glistening eyes.
"I'm starting to think you're vain," retorted Ohta, adding, "You were the most popular girl in middle school and regarded as one of the top three beauties at our high school in the first month. There aren't many people who don't think you're 'pretty,' and those who do are more likely jealous..."
"I see..." replied Orihime, reaching up to massage the tension out of her cheeks, surprised by how hot they were. What Ohta didn't know was that she had been 'interested' in him since middle school. After all, he was the childhood friend of her best friend, a mysterious and handsome boy who seemed like he had a lot on his mind. She didn't start liking him until very recently, but the interest had always been there...
Earning herself a somewhat incredulous look from Ohta, Orihime asked, "Then, once we've saved Rukia and returned home, can we start spending time together? Not as boyfriend and girlfriend but as...colleagues who support and grow stronger together. I really admire your strength, Ohta-kun. You and Tatsuki-chan have always been amazing. I'm unsure if I can catch up to you, but I'd like to try. Will you...help me?"
Recovering from his brief stupor, Ohta cautioned, "You're dancing on a slippery slope..."
Adopting a narrow-eyed smile, head tilted slightly to the side, Orihime mused, "That's why I'm asking you for help. That way, if I ever slip and can't pull myself up, I'll have someone dependable to lend me a hand. I mean, you're willing to travel to a different world to save the girl you love. Even if we can never be more than friends, I believe you'd come to rescue me if I were ever kidnapped or in trouble..."
"I'd rather not..." replied Ohta.
"But you would come regardless," asserted Orihime, absolutely no traces of doubt within her obsidian eyes. In her mind, Ohta was the type of boy whose actions didn't match his words. Even if he pretended not to care, if someone he knew were in trouble, she was certain he would lend them a hand. No matter how grumpy he appeared while doing it...
"You're really overestimating me..." contended Ohta. However, instead of pressing the matter and insisting Orihime she was wrong, he added, "But, sure. If you ever get kidnapped, I'll come and rescue you. In exchange, if I ever get injured, you'll have to treat me free of charge."
"Why would I charge you...?" asked Orihime, tilting her head even further out of confusion. She never intended to ask for anything in return for her healing and support, so Ohta's words almost sounded silly.
Raising his brows, Ohta remarked, "Even in the Soul Society, those with an affinity for healing are rare and invaluable. I'm not going to tell you how to use your power, but if you run around healing people free of charge, that's what everyone will come to expect. Doctors charge exorbitant sums for a reason. Don't allow yourself to be taken advantage of..."
Giving Ohta the impression he was hitting his head against a brick wall, Orihime's smile brightened as she pointed out, "You're already looking out for me. Ehehehehe~"
Shaking his head, Ohta promptly decided to end the conversation, rising to his feet to see if the manor had anything to eat. Orihime had tea and a plate of milk cookies, but he never had much of a sweet tooth.
"Oh? Are you going on another scouting mission...?" asked Orihime, rising to her feet and following behind Ohta with her hands behind her back as she asked, "Is it okay if I come with you?"
"Just do whatever you want..." replied Ohta.
Giggling in amusement, Orihime left Ohta at a momentary loss for words as she playfully asserted, "If I did that, I'd have to apologize to Rukia for clinging to your arm without her permission..."
Muttering ("This girl...") within his mind, Ohta seriously considered getting the Soul Society's version of plastic surgery. Having a handsome face and muscular body was extremely convenient, but he was starting to believe he was too good-looking. Either that or a certain Auditor had 'cursed' him to have extreme luck with women...
...
..
.
(A/N: Let's all get together to play Ohta a musical elegy on the world's tiniest instruments...)

Chapter 42: I Walk Alone