Not a Mob: Psycho

Seeing Ichigo battling desperately against a middle-aged man with long, messy brown hair, a goatee, and dim sunglasses whose body was garbed in a shadowy cloak, Ohta asked, "Who's the old dude...?"
"That man is the manifested spirit of Ichigo's Zanpakuto," replied Yoruichi, sitting atop Ohta's shoulder in her cat form. "Our group was attacked by the Captain and Lieutenant of Squad 12, Kurotsuchi Mayuri and Kurotsuchi Nemu. Ichigo, Chad, and Uryu defeated him, but it was a close battle."
"Let me guess, you didn't help...?" asked Ohta. Yoruichi was the Captain of Squad 2 before Soifon, but more than that, she was the prodigious former Head of the Shihouin Clan. Except for a few outliers, she should be able to body just about any member of the Gotei, especially with 'help.'
"You know the reason..." muttered Yoruichi, a serious expression adorning her feline visage as she observed Ichigo, stating, "After battling Kenpachi, you should have a better understanding of how dangerous some Captains can be. Aizen is likely more powerful than every other Captain combined, sans Yamamoto..."
"And you believe Ichigo will be able to surpass him someday...?" asked Ohta, feeling 'very' differently as he watched said strawberry getting his ass handed to him. Even now, he could execute the most basic movement techniques, so he was running around and dodging desperately despite the old man, very clearly, pulling his punches...
"You had at least a decade to refine your powers and months of training with a Captain-level Shinigami," contended Yoruichi. "Even if you include the time Ichigo spent as Rukia's substitute, he's only had his powers for a few months and has received very little training. Despite that, he's already able to contend with Lieutenants and take on weaker Captains, albeit with Ishida Uryu contributing quite a bit to the fight..."
"Speaking of which, where is the poindexter...?" asked Ohta, having seen neither Uryu nor Chad since he awoke in the secret area.
"Who knows?" replied Yoruichi, shrugging her shoulders as she added, "They're definitely around here somewhere. Why? Planning to give them some pointers...?"
"Does that sound like something I would do?" asked Ohta, nearly scoffing at the idea.
"Ordinarily, no," admitted Yoruichi. "However, you did tor&ndash;I mean, teach Ichigo's kid sister how to strengthen her mind and develop her mental, physical, and spiritual energies. Considering her heritage, she might just become a monster herself in the future."
Though Karin was unable to manifest and utilize psychic abilities in the twenty or so days they trained together, Ohta couldn't deny that she had improved quickly. She possessed an almost intuitive ability to manipulate energy, and her mental fortitude was far beyond most adults. If she were to train under someone like Uryu or become a Shinigami, she really might become a monster...
Amused by Ohta's contemplative silence, Yoruichi adopted a feline smile, asking, "Thinking about investing in the future...?"
Contrasting Yoruichi's expectations, Ohta replied, "Something like that..." while continuing to think. Yoruichi had challenged him to form a society that could endure for ten thousand years, so if living in Soul Society was as tedious as it seemed, he might consider forming an organization of his own. He would likely need to work closely with the Soul Society to avoid being 'purged' like the Quincies two hundred years prior, but if he helped them defeat their enemies and groom talent, they should leave him be...
Believing she knew what Ohta was thinking, Yoruichi proposed, "If you're thinking of forming a group of your own, I could support you as the Head of the Shihouin. Before the formation of Central 46 and the establishment of the Gotei 13, we used to have representatives in the human world. That practice fell out of favor here in the East, but it's still fairly prevalent in the West."
Before Ohta could propose moving westward, Yoruichi added, "If you're considering heading west, I'd advise you to reconsider. The Soul Society West Branch might be more 'modern' than the East, but that's only for the time being. They go through cycles of destruction and restructuring every few hundred years, and there are hundreds of organizations fighting to be the next group in control. The political landscape of the Seireitei might as well be heaven compared to that hellscape..."
"I'll take your word for it..." replied Ohta. However, as someone that had grown up in a western society in his previous life, he knew how backward even their most 'progressive' ideologies could be. He had also acclimated to life in Japan, so he would probably stick around unless he was 'forced' to leave.
"Then, how about it?" asked Yoruichi, nuzzling her face and head against Ohta's cheek as she playfully appended, "Want me to become your sugar mommy~?"
"And let you have actual sway over my decisions?" questioned Ohta. "The hardest of passes..."
"Don't be like that," said Yoruichi, claiming, "As much as I enjoy teasing you, you know I wouldn't force you to do anything against your will, well, barring scenarios with world-ending stakes. Now, come on...you know it would be better than building an organization from scratch..."
("She has a point...") thought Ohta. However, as he was still more than a little annoyed about what had transpired a few days prior, he answered, "I'm not going to make decisions about the future in the present. We still need to rescue Rukia and body Aizen. I'll worry about other shit when it's relevant..."
"Then, when and if you return to the human world, I'll have a gift waiting for you," said Yoruichi, revealing, "I own a small mountain estate with an attached shrine just outside of Karakura Town. You're free to stay there and use it if you want..."
Making Yoruichi a little annoyed, Ohta responded with a curt "Hard pass.". Fortunately, before she could complain, he immediately followed this by saying, "If you really want to set me up with a place, make sure it's in the city and has a room like the one under Urahara's shop. If you can do that, I might seriously consider your offer from before..."
"Consider it done," responded Yoruichi, a triumphant melody to her voice. Ohta was the type to always repay his debts, in one form or another, so if she could set him up with the things he asked for, Yoruichi was confident he would return the favor if she had a request for him in the future.
("Now, if only I could get him to stop behaving like a prude...") thought Yoruichi, the image of Rukia appearing in her mind. She genuinely couldn't understand why Ohta was so 'fixated' on the petite Shinigami. However, if that fixation endured long term, she could definitely take advantage of it...
Unaware of Yoruichi's thought, Ohta continued to observe Ichigo getting his ass kicked for a few minutes longer before returning to the tiny abode near the hot spring. He hadn't eaten anything since their departure from Kukaku's, so while he wasn't looking forward to having Orihime pester him as he ate, Ohta could tolerate it since she was preparing the meals...
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Around the time Ohta was recovering from his battle with Zaraki, Rukia was gazing out the window of the Senzaikyū with a listless look on her face, staring at the massive polearm that was typically reserved for the execution and 'cremation' of Captain-class Shinigami.
As Ohta suspected she was, Rukia was presently regretting how 'selfish' she had been in the weeks leading up to her capture. She knew there was a possibility she would be executed, yet she still had the 'audacity' to fall in love with a human boy, not even a tenth her age. She felt as though she had forced Ohta into his current position, and while it initially made her heart race, knowing he had kept his promise to come for her, she quickly became depressed. After all, even if Ohta were somehow able to rescue her, their story was virtually guaranteed to end in tragedy. Soul Society would never let them go, and even if they did, she would never be able to repay Ohta's dedication...
"I'm such a fool..." muttered Rukia, as, despite all her misgivings, she still yearned for the man who had claimed her as his own. The weeks they had spent together made her the happiest she had ever been. Thus, while she regretted robbing Ohta of his 'agency,' entangling him in her affairs, Rukia wished she could return to that time and extend it indefinitely...
*shik* *shik* *shik* *shik* *shik* *shik* *CLUNK*
Interrupting Rukia's melancholic reverie, the swords barring the entrance to the Senzaikyū retracted, followed by the door dropping downward with a loud clunk. To her tremendous surprise, Rukia turned around to find her brother was the one entering the chamber, escorted by four men wearing masked robes.
For the first time in her life, at least as far as Rukia could recall, Byakuya looked directly at her as he coldly informed, "I have come to apprise you of Central 46's most-recent decision regarding your sentence..."
Before continuing, Byakuya turned his gaze to the guards, saying, "Leave us..." in a cold, commanding tone that left no room for discussion. He had no authority over the four men, and leaving a visitor alone with a prisoner violated more than a dozen ordinances, but the four immediately lowered their heads, bowing before summarily excusing themselves. Arguing with the Head of one of the Four Great Noble Families was a good way to end up dead or have your career run aground...
After confirming the quartet wasn't monitoring them with his spiritual sense, Byakuya returned his steely gaze to Rukia, surprising her further by stating, "That Ryoka you 'liaised' with in the human world has thus far defeated two Captains and survived a confrontation with Zaraki of Squad 11. Another, with the support of his allies, managed to severely injure the Captain of Squad 12, Kurotsuchi Mayuri..."
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Byakuya flatly remarked, "It would appear your sudden and inexplicable fondness for humans was not without its merits. Those two, Yamada Ohta in particular, are exceptional, even by Soul Society's standards..."
Staring at Byakuya with eyes as round as saucers, Rukia wanted to reply but couldn't find the words. She had 'never,' not in the forty years since her inclusion in the Kuchiki Clan, heard Byakuya praise another person...
Closing his eyes, Byakuya dropped the bombshell he had volunteered to convey, stating, "Regrettably, the actions of your errant 'associates' have led to Central 46 determining you are too much of a liability to afford the customary amount of time to repent your sins. The date of your execution has been moved to three days from now..."
Though she abruptly felt weak in the knees, Rukia managed to remain on her feet, forcing a smile as she said, "Thank you for being the one to bring this news to me, brother..."
Opening his eyes, Byakuya startled Rukia by asking, "Have you given up?" with a certain 'edge' to his otherwise neutral tone.
Lowering her gaze, Rukia's furrowed brows trembled as she replied, "If it would convince the Soul Society to let Yamada Ohta and his friends be, I would offer my life right here and now..."
"I see..." muttered Byakuya, promptly turning around as if he intended to leave without further discussion. Before exiting the chamber, however, he softly asserted, "The moment you chose to fall in love, your fate was no longer your own to decide. That boy is staking his life to 'reclaim' you. Do not tarnish his convictions with your folly..."
Finished with what he had to say, Byakuya departed without turning to see Rukia's reaction or await her response. She looked nearly identical to his late wife, so he couldn't stand seeing her in pain or duress. His heart wrenched when he heard her collapsing behind him, but as he had been assigned a very important mission, he couldn't afford to turn back or look her in the eye again. After all, in exchange for allowing him to convey the Centra 46's amended judgment, he had vowed to hunt and kill each of the invading Ryoka with his own hand. At least that way, he could ensure they died without having to experience too much suffering...
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(A/N: For those of you who think this is out of character for Byakuya, you should re-read the manga and novels. He is easily the most sentimental character in the entire series xD...)

"Are you really leaving...?" asked Orihime, having followed Ohta to the entrance of the secret area, located in the side of a cliff overlooking a verdant forest.
Half-turning to stare at Orihime over his shoulder, Ohta briefly considered telling her they weren't friends. However, as her healing hadn't simply removed the scar on his chest but every single one of them, he ultimately replied, "See you around, ginger snap. Look after my cat for me while I'm gone."
Though she wasn't fond of the idea of Ohta going off on his own, Orihime smiled when he called her 'ginger snap.' Bar a few outliers like Ichigo and Uryu, Ohta typically only gave pet names to those he cared about. At the very least, that's what Orihime had heard from Tatsuki. Yoruichi, however, knew the truth. Rather than to exhibit closeness, Ohta used pet names to distance himself from those attempting to get close to him, evidenced by how he called her cat and never once used Karin's name after she began training with him...
"Be safe," said Orhime, her smile exuding the radiance of the Sun as she added, "And if you get injured, I'll be here waiting for you..."
Raising his hand to show he had heard Orihime's parting remark, Ohta promptly vanished from view. In his wake, Orihime spent several minutes simply staring into the distance, her smile gradually fading until it became an expression of concern, tinged by a trace of longing. Shortly after that, her ears began burning as the image of Ohta's naked form pervaded her mind for the umpteenth time...
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After meandering through the underground tunnels for hours, allowing him to move about undetected, Ohta eventually emerged in the district patrolled by Squad 12. According to Yoruichi, the Captain of Squad 12, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, would be out of commission for at least a few days. Squad 12 also had an antagonistic relationship with Squad 11, so Ohta assumed it would be the safest place to explore, gather information, and avoid Zaraki...
While Ohta didn't fear the battle-crazed Captain, their brief encounter had made him marginally more cautious. If Zaraki hadn't held back, Ohta knew he could have been killed in the first blow. His psychic barrier had offered him virtually no protection against Zaraki's sword, and if the man removed his eyepatch, Ohta knew he would become drastically more powerful. The tiny band of black fabric may look inconspicuous at first glance, but it was an advanced Reiryoku-devouring device, devouring and sealing up to 80% of Zaraki's power in his base form alone...
Fortunately for Ohta, around the time he emerged from the underground, Zaraki was napping on the bridge connecting the Seireitei's Hall of Justice to the Tower of Penitence that Rukia was being kept in. He believed that Ohta would make a beeline for the Senzaikyū when he learned about the advancement in Rukia's execution date. Instead, after being informed of the change by a very 'cooperative' member of Squad 12, Ohta returned to the underground tunnel system in a phenomenal mood. After all, with the date being moved up, it meant he would be reconvening with his favorite spider bunny nearly two weeks sooner...
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[August 6th, the morning of Rukia's Execution]
Interrupting Ohta's meditation, as she was want to do, Yoruichi appeared before him in her human form, crossing her arms as she questioned, "Are you ready? Only two hours remaining until it's showtime."
Instead of answering Yoruichi's question, Ohta opened his eyes, asking, "What about the edgy strawberry? Did he succeed in attaining Bankai, or am I carrying this shit show alone...?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Yoruichi replied, "It's hard to say. He obtained 'something,' but it's unlike any Bankai I've ever seen. It's more of a state of spiritual compression, drastically increasing his speed and power but lacking the x-factor most Bankai are known for. What about you? Is the temperamental puppy dog still ignoring you...?"
"Something like that..." replied Ohta, rising to his feet and rolling his right arm. The truth was that the jackal had agreed to lend him his power, but there were some conditions attached. He demanded that Ohta 'discard his fetter and claim what was his.' This might sound like he was referring to Rukia, but the reality was far more 'primal.' The shadowy jackal hated how Yoruichi and other women took advantage of his 'forbearance,' so it expected him to either 'cut them loose' or take them for everything they were worth...
Approaching Yoruichi, Ohta left the dark-skinned woman feeling at a loss for words as he cupped her chin, tracing his thumb along her bottom lip as he said, "Do not fail me..." with a smoldering expression and tone. His words and actions confused her greatly, but she felt equally excited when he released her chin and sauntered past her, slapping her ass and saying, "Let's go." in the same commanding tone.
Turning to stare at Ohta's back, Yoruichi narrowed her eyes and remarked, "Someone's in a feisty mood...". When Ohta seemed to ignore her, walking away in silence completely, she then transformed into a cat, leaping onto his shoulder and purring, "Slap my ass like that again, and I'll take you on the spot..."
Surprising Yoruichi once again, Ohta flatly remarked, "I just might if you stop entrusting the world's fate to teenagers, get off your ass, and earn it..."
Turning to meet Yoruichi's gaze, Ohta asked, "What kind of 'Defender of the Realm' sits on their ass and watches others fight to protect it?"
Furrowing her brows, Yoruichi huffily contended, "You 'know' it's more complicated than that..."
"And 'you' know I don't give a fuck," retorted Ohta. "Either fight with me from now on or back the fuck off and stay out of my way. If shit's going to be thrust on my shoulders regardless, I'll be the one to decide how I deal with it..."
"..."
Though she wanted to protest by pointing out she had spent the last hundred years preparing for the coming confrontation, Yoruichi couldn't deny that she and Kisuke were forcing a tremendous burden onto Ohta's and Ichigo's shoulders. Matters of the Soul Society should be handled by those native to it. 'Conscripting' a bunch of high school students to fight against people trying to supplant the closest thing to a God in the current world was more than a little unreasonable...
Interrupting Yoruichi's reflection, Ohta said, "Don't get your skin-tight pants in a bunch. Even if you continue doing jack shit, I'll kill Aizen, that Yhwach bastard, and anyone else who threatens the 'balance' you're so desperate to protect. Just don't be surprised when I send the Shihouin Clan a massive fucking invoice for doing your jobs for you..."
Exhaling a scoffing chortle, Yoruichi noted, "You're beginning to remind me of when we first met and began interacting. I like it, but don't take things too far and say something you shouldn't. As playful as I appear, you should know I'm a very prideful woman. I 'always' give as good as I get..."
"Well, if you want to 'get' anything, start giving," countered Ohta, adding, "And no, that isn't an invitation to continue tempting me. I want to see you actively working to resolve the threats we've discussed&mdash;something other than leaving things to me and an angry strawberry with mommy issues..." Feeling increasingly annoyed, Ohta's brows furrowed as he added, "There are absolutely no guarantees that Ichigo will be able to acquire the power necessary to defeat Aizen and Yhwach. What you and the creepy candy store uncle 'should' have been doing for the last hundred years is training like the fucking world depends on it..."
"You're starting to piss me off..." muttered Yoruichi, her feline expression morphed into a deep frown. At the same time, however, she couldn't deny Ohta's words. It wasn't like she hadn't trained at all over the past hundred years, but she definitely could have done more. Instead, she trusted that Kisuke had a plan, dedicating most of her time to gathering information to keep him apprised of Aizen's movements, misappropriating materials from her Clan's storehouses to supply his store, and liquidating personal assets to finance his experiments. All in the name of their friendship and the love she once believed he had for her...
Biting Ohta's cheek hard enough to draw blood, Yoruichi leaped from his shoulder and said, "I need some fresh air," before disappearing, leaving perfect outlines of her feet within the stone comprising the underground pathway. In her wake, Ohta reached up to touch his cheek, taking note of the blood on his fingertips as he remarked, "I knew my words would come back to bite me but come on..."
Responding to Ohta's utterance, the familiar voice of the shadow jackal said, ("You have kept your end of the bargain. Just this once, I will lend you my power...")
"Don't you mean 'my' power?" countered Ohta. His Zanpakuto Spirit was an extension of himself, so even though they had distinctive egos, they were ultimately the same existence.
Ignoring Ohta's remark, or at least pretending to, the shadow jackal said, ("Listen closely. My name is...")
Hearing the name of his Zanpakuto, Ohta's eyes briefly widened before a toothy grin developed across his face...
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Staring at the giant glaive that would soon reduce her soul to ashes, Rukia felt neither fear nor grief. Rather, as Ohta hadn't reemerged since his fight with Kenpachi, she felt relief. It wasn't easy to imagine Ohta fleeing out of fear, but she prayed that was the case. The Soul Society might not forgive him for his intrusion, but if he returned to the human world and lay low, he could enjoy a few more years of life...
"Have you made your peace...?" asked an incredibly ancient-looking man with a somewhat pointy bald head, numerous scars covering his face and body, long eyebrows that framed his face, and an even longer beard that extended to his knees, fastened by purple bindings. He supported himself with a large wooden cane, but no one in the whole of Soul Society would dare to consider him old and weak as the kanji emblazoned on the back of his Haori denoted him as the Captain of Squad 1, Captain-Commander of the Thirteen Court Guardian Squads and most powerful Shinigami to have ever lived, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
Adopting a faint smile, Rukia replied, "I have. And thank you for giving me one final moment to reflect..."
"Hmmm..."
Though barely half the Captains had shown up as instructed, Yamamoto nodded affirmatively, responding, "Very well. Then the time has arrived for your execution. Before that, have you any last words?"
Exhaling the faintest of chuckles, Rukia replied, "If I can be permitted a bit of selfishness, I would ask that the Ryoka who invaded Soul Society be allowed to return to their lives in peace. They are good people. Their lives should not be ruined trying to save their friend..."
"Hmmmmmmmm..."
Closing his eyes, Yamamoto looked like he was seriously considering Rukia's request. Fortunately, while the defeat of two Captains and the injury of several Lieutenants was no laughing matter, there had been no loss of life. In fact, based on the reports he had received, it seemed like the 'enemy' Ryoka had gone out of their way not to seriously injure or kill their opponents.
Surprising nearly everyone present, Yamamoto opened his eyes and said, "Agreed. Your last request will be honored. Assuming there are no further incidents, I shall allow the Ryoka to return unharmed."
Feeling even greater relief, Rukia exhaled a laughing sigh, a genuine smile developing across her face as she replied, "Then I can die without regret."
Nodding his head, Yamamoto said, "Then let us begin." In truth, he had no intention of letting Ohta and the others return, but as a final kindness to a girl he didn't believe deserved the punishment she had been assigned, he didn't mind telling a gentle lie...
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(A/N: And his name is...!)

Though he immediately Shunpo'd away, Ohta felt an intense heat across his chest, the tip of Zaraki's sword having cut through both his active and passive psychic barriers and leaving a thankfully shallow wound from his diaphragm to his shoulder.
Swishing his sword to get Ohta's blood off of it, Zaraki mused, "You're a tough little bastard, ain'tcha? Even when the tip of my sword entered your flesh, it felt like I was cutting through stone."
Forcing a smile as he placed his hand over his wound and attempted to heal it, Ohta asked, "Do we have to do this right now? As someone looking for a challenge, I doubt you'd be satisfied defeating me when I'm at half-strength..."
"Hmmm..."
Resting his sword on his right shoulder, tapping it rhythmically, Zaraki looked like he was seriously considering Ohta's words. He was terrible at sensing spirit energy, so he could not verify if Ohta was at half-strength. However, as weak as Tosen was, he was still a Captain. It made sense if Ohta was a 'little' tired.
"And how do I know you won't run away or make excuses the next time?" asked Zaraki. "Even if you're only at half strength, I'd rather be the one to kill you than leave it to someone else."
"I can understand that..." replied Ohta. "However, if you were watching my fight with the Captain of Squad 9, you would know I'm not a close-range fighter. Rather than a proper fight, you'd end up chasing me around until I either made a mistake or gave you the slip..."
Adopting a toothy grin, Zaraki confidently asserted, "You're lying. You have quick reactions, and I can tell from your posture you're no slouch when it comes to fighting. Even your Zanpakuto suggests you like to get up close and personal with your opponent."
Exhaling a faintly exasperated sigh, Ohta pulled his Zanpakuto from his hilt, holding it low near his hip, tip facing toward Zaraki as he got into a loose combat pose, smiling as he remarked, "Fine...I'll play with you for a bit..."
"That's the spirit," replied Kenpachi, abruptly pulling the fabric of his kosode and Haori aside, exposing his muscular chest as he mused, "But let no one say I'm not a fair man. Go ahead, show me what you can do."
Raising his brows, Ohta asked, "You're giving me a free attack...?"
"That depends on you," replied Kenpachi. "If your attack does nothing, you'll have no one to blame but yourself. So I suggest you make it count, kid."
"Well, if you insist..." muttered Ohta, concentrating his spirit energy into the tip of his Zanpakuto as his body appeared to flicker. Zaraki's Reiryoku was like a gigantic lake with a turbulent and unstable surface. Ohta's was more like a frigid pond in an underground cavern, comparably calm, still, and with depths unknown.
"Huk..."
Though he was hopeful that Ohta could cut him, Zaraki was forced to exhale when the former stabbed him precisely in the diaphragm, burying his Zanpakuto to its hilt, the very tip of the blade pricking the intimidating Shinigami's heart. Unfortunately, when he immediately tried to pull away, Ohta found himself in a similar situation as Renji...
Swinging his sword to force Ohta to retreat, Zaraki's smile stretched at the muscles of his face as he grabbed the hilt of the knife stabbed into his body and raspily remarked, "Wow, you actually went for it. And without a shred of hesitation. I like you, kid. You've got guts..."
Pulling Ohta's blade from his abdomen, Zaraki casually tossed it over as he menacingly mused, "I can't wait to see what they look like."
Though it was nowhere as 'seamless' as a traditional Shunpo, Zaraki's raw speed caused goosebumps to spread across Ohta's body as the terrifying man appeared behind, sword raised high.
Contrasting Zaraki's expectation, Ohta didn't attempt to dodge out of the way. Zaraki had marked him the last time, so he suspected his back would be sliced open if he tried. Instead, he backstepped into Zaraki, bumping into the man's bleeding chest and reaching up to try and grab his wrist as it continued its downward arc.
Feeling a sensation akin to vertigo, Zaraki exhaled a raucous laugh as Ohta used a psychically empowered shoulder throw, hurtling him toward the ground several meters below, cratering it and producing an eruption of stone and debris more than 30m in height.
Understanding that such a blow wouldn't defeat Zaraki, Ohta rocketed skyward. As he did so, Zaraki emerged from the dust cloud, dispersing it with the momentum of his leap as he bellowed, "Where you going, gaki!? Things are just starting to get good...!"
Raising his right hand over his head like he was about to slap a bitch, Ohta intercepted Zaraki's pursuit with a massive hand-shaped construct. Zaraki 'somehow' managed to slice it in half, but the energy abruptly exploded as he did, stalling him long enough for Ohta to chant, "Oh Spirits of the Earth and Sky, hear my call. In this abode of spirits, I command the elements to form a stockade! Bakudo #40, Kaidan no Kago...!"
Though he doubted it would hold him for long, Ohta made a criss-cross gesture with his index and middle fingers, causing two plates of golden light to materialize at Zaraki's flanks before abruptly 'snapping' towards one another as he prepared a strike. When the light faded, Zaraki's neck and right hand were trapped in a stockade formed from spirit energy, the smile fading from his face as he shouted, "Cheap Tricks! Come and face me like a man...!"
"I'm here to rescue my woman, not to entertain you," replied Ohta, raising his hand high before striking down like he was trying to chop fifty tiles in a single go. As he did so, a much smaller but faster hand-shaped construct descended toward Zaraki like a bolt of lightning. He managed to angle his body and intercept it with his sword, but due to the stockade throttling his spirit energy and messing with his posture, he ended up being knocked to the ground a second time. When he emerged several seconds later, Ohta was already long gone. However, instead of lashing out and getting angry, Zaraki stared at the sky for a moment before bursting out laughing...
Interrupting Zaraki's laugh, an extremely tiny girl with pink hair, dark pink eyes, and perpetual blush marks on her cheeks appeared out of thin air, latching onto his back and asking, "Did you have fun, Kenny~?"
"Eh, I wouldn't say that..." replied Zaraki, albeit with a smile on his face.
"Then why are you laughing?" asked the girl, tilting her head nearly ninety degrees to the side.
Adopting an anticipatory grin, Zaraki explained, "Because if that was only half his strength, our next battle should be even more fun. Let's ambush him somewhere with a ceiling next time."
"Okay~!" replied the pink-haired girl, dangling her legs as she perched upon Zaraki's shoulder on her stomach. Despite her small size and child-like appearance, the girl, Kusaijishi Yachiru, was the Lieutenant of Squad 11, as indicated by the wooden badge attached to her sleeve. One of her duties was to track down strong opponents for her Captain to fight, so while Zaraki had no idea where Ohta had escaped to, Yachiru looked to the East with narrowed eyes and a smile...
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"And now I'm back here..." groaned Ohta, plopping down and sitting with his back to the wall of the underground tunnel he had descended into to recuperate. The wound Zaraki inflicted on his chest was saturated with the man's spirit energy, so it had been aggravating rather than closing up over time.
Using what remained of his spirit energy, Ohta expelled Zaraki's from his body before utilizing a basic Kaido technique to close the wound forcibly. It was far from healed, feeling like he had pulled every muscle in his left pectoral, but he had always had a high tolerance for pain. When it got especially bad, he even started laughing uncontrollably. Not because he was a masochist or anything but as an involuntary coping mechanism.
Exhaling a dry chuckle, Ohta briefly considered tracking down Yoruichi and requesting Orihime's assistance. He didn't know if her barrier-based healing could mend his wound, but her Reiryoku seemed especially suited to Kaido. If he or Yoruichi explained it to her, it might not even take her a few hours to master the basics. The bubbly ginger 'did' owe him a favor...
Deciding it wasn't worth it to give Orihime a 'reason' to worry about him, Ohta lay on his uninjured side, enduring the pain as he tried to get some rest. It definitely wasn't easy, but the breathing techniques Yoruichi had taught him to focus his mind and proactively enter his soul space/palace allowed him to suppress the pain until he found himself face-to-face with a giant, visibly concerned kitten...
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Feeling his body descend into a pool of warm liquid, Ohta's eyes snapped open, his body lurching forward as a familiar voice issued a "Kyaaaa...!" at his side.
Looking toward the voice's origin, Ohta was confused but unsurprised to find Orihime. The fact she was in her underwear was mildly disconcerting, but as they seemed to be in a murky hot spring, remarkably similar to the one in Urahara's underground study chamber, he supposed it was better than her being completely naked.
"I thought that might wake you up," remarked an equally familiar voice, drawing Ohta's gaze to Yoruichi, casually swimming around the hot spring in her feline form. It was somehow more perturbing to see a cat enjoying a hot spring, so Ohta's concerns about Orihime's state of dress vanished as he asked, "Where is this...?"
Perhaps dissatisfied that Ohta had immediately looked away from her, Orihime took it upon herself to explain, "It's a secret training area that Mr. Urahara and Yoruichi constructed long ago. We've been staying here to avoid detection and train."
Looking back at the usually bubbly woman, Ohta found Orihime staring at him with a forced smile and worry in her eyes, making no effort to conceal her massive tits, bound in semi-transparent beige fabric. Her panties had a similar color, likely coming as a set, but Ohta didn't get a good look at them as he held the girl's gaze for several tense moments before looking down at his chest, now completely healed.
Preempting what she believed to be Ohta's question or expression of gratitude, Orihime's countenance softened as she revealed, "Yoruichi brought you here on her shoulder and asked me to heal you. After that, we brought you here to clean the dirt and blood from your body."
"Why didn't Ichigo or one of the other guys bring me over...?" asked Ohta, prompting Yoruichi to explain, "The three stooges are undergoing special training right now. Orihime has been preparing meals and was standing by in case anyone gets injured, so I had her heal you up before carrying your smelly ass over here."
Though he was tempted to ask why Yoruichi didn't treat him where she found him, Ohta felt he would be spitting in the face of Orhime's effort if he voiced his thoughts aloud. He knew this was the catty woman getting back at him for the many times he pushed her buttons, so he decided the best course of action was to appear and remain calm.
Meeting Orihime's gaze, Ohta said, "Well, as you can see, I'm awake now. I appreciate the treatment, but I can wash my own body."
"Oh...okay..." replied Orhime, her smile becoming awkward as she looked away, a faint red hue coloring her cheeks. She hadn't actually planned to wash Ohta's body. Rather, Yoruichi had told her to toss him in, promising that he wouldn't drown even if he sank to the bottom. The reason she was in her underwear was because she had been doing laundry when Yoruichi arrived with his unconscious body in tow...
Leaving Orihime feeling even more flustered, Ohta adopted a faint smile and said, "Still, thanks for treating me. I don't mind acquiring a few new scars, but it's not like I'm trying to collect them."
Cupping her fiery cheeks, Orihime's eyes trembled as she replied, "I...I'm happy I could help...". Then, providing Ohta an unobstructed view of her ass, she leaped to her feet, exclaiming, "I need to check on something...!" before running off. In the wake of her departure, Yoruichi promptly asked if Ohta was enjoying the view. But, while he had, that didn't stop him from trying to drown the mischievous black furball...
...
..
.
(A/N: Zaraki be like, "You should have gone for the head...")

Chapter 49: Prelude to Finality