Not a Mob: Psycho

Contrasting Ohta's expectations, Sode-no-Shirayuki didn't try to compete with Rukia for his attention. Instead, she egged the latter on, pressing her to be more proactive while she sat in seiza off to the side, observing them with reddened cheeks.
Objectively speaking, since Rukia's and Sode-no-Shirayuki's senses were linked, it didn't matter which of them Ohta fucked. However, as Rukia was his woman, Ohta focused on her, forcing the petite Shinigami into dozens of different positions as they transitioned from their bed to the floor, atop most of their furniture, and even against the wall. Rukia struggled quite a bit at first, instinctually attempting to resist the pleasure, but after a while, both she and Ohta stopped caring, causing their lovemaking to become a lot more 'primal.'
Unfortunately, while Ohta wished he could fuck indefinitely like some kind of tireless sex god, his stamina had its limits. The semen he shot out was also packed with his Reiryoku, so after a few hours, Rukia was a twitching mess while he genuinely felt like he was on the verge of death. It was at that point that Sode-no-Shirayuki chose to get directly involved. However, instead of entreating him for sex, she cradled his head in her cool bosom, caressing his hair as he often did for Rukia...
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After their three-day descent into the abyss of pleasure, Ohta and Rukia returned to the underground chamber after recuperating, joined only by Soifon and Rangiku as Yoruichi had returned to Soul Society and Orihime was at school.
Standing in a relaxed Zanjutsu pose with her eyes closed, wielding the pure white katana representing Sode-no-Shirayuki's initial release, Rukia exhaled a frigid sigh, the roots of her hair gradually turning white as she muttered, "Bankai..." in a neutral tone.
In response to Rukia's utterance, her Reiatsu exploded outward in an eruption of ice and snow, similar to when Sode-no-Shirayuki manifested. When the explosion inverted, swirling around her before dissipating, Rukia no longer wore the standard Shihakusho of a Shinigami. Instead, she had on a pure white, ankle-length kimono with lined patterns. Unlike a normal kimono, however, it had an ornate collar, edges, and shoulder design with long, wide sleeves. Long ribbons formed loops behind her back, flowing gracefully in response to the fluctuations of her Reiatsu, while flowers of ice adorned her snow-white hair and the center of her chest, the former resembling a crown. As for her Zanpakuto, its shape hadn't changed, but the blade became transparent, resembling pure, unblemished ice.
Opening her eyes, revealing they had also become white, Rukia's voice sounded bone-chillingly cold and emotionless as she muttered, "Hakka-no-Togame(Censure of the White Haze)..." the name of her Bankai.
"Wow..." remarked Rangiku, genuinely awed by how beautiful Rukia's Bankai was. Ohta was similarly impressed, but he and Soifon had frowns as they simultaneously realized something was wrong.
While Rukia had certainly attained Bankai, artificially inflating her Reiryoku density and drastically increasing her Reiatsu, she hadn't moved a muscle since activating it. She appeared to be just as frozen as the terrain around her, and even from several tens of meters away, Ohta felt like he was in a deep freezer whose door had slammed and locked behind him.
Condensing psychic energy around his body, Ohta used Shunpo to reach Rukia's side, the ridiculously low temperature in the surroundings causing a visible layer of ice to appear across the surface of his psychic barrier as he eyed her up, asking, "You okay, monkeybun?"
Other than raising her eyes slightly, Rukia didn't respond to Ohta's words. She appeared to be frozen solid, and, as far as Ohta could tell, she wasn't breathing. Rather, after inserting a thread of energy into her body, Ohta's pupils contracted when he realized that not even feel her blood flowing...
*crack*
Though it was faint, Ohta felt a chill even colder than his surroundings when he heard a sharp sound emanate from Rukia's body, followed by a hair-thin crack appearing from her left eyelid to her jaw. She didn't bleed, but Ohta suspected that would change rapidly once her blood and body began to thaw...
Ignoring the danger, Ohta placed his hand, very gently, against Rukia's chest. He felt a potent chill even through the protection of his psychic and spiritual membranes, but he ignored it, consciously drawing the cold into his body as he depleted Rukia's Reiryoku. Yoruichi had informed him of his ability to absorb, adapt, and convert external energies before he became a Shinigami, so that's what Ohta did, his hair gradually turning white as a faint shade of pink returned to Rukia's complexion. With it, blood began to ooze from the crack in her face, but it was nothing a brief rest in her Gigai couldn't fix. If not, Orihime definitely could.
With no Reiryoku to sustain itself, Rukia's Bankai eventually dispersed, her hair regaining its raven sheen. At the same time, her pristine white kimono evaporated into icy mist, replaced by a standard black Shihakusho as she collapsed into Ohta's waiting embrace. His left arm and hair had lost their color, turning pure white, but his chest and right arm exuded a powerful warmth as he held her tenderly and stated, "You did well. Now sleep..." in a faint, soothing, somewhat assertive tone.
As Rukia collapsed from exhaustion, Ohta called out, "Soifon..." in a voice that was barely a whisper. Despite this, Soifon immediately appeared next to him, asking, "Shall I go and retrieve the one called Inoue Orihime...?"
Seeing Ohta nod, Soifon promptly vanished. In her wake, Rangiku walked over, asking, "How is she...?" in a concerned tone.
"She'll be fine..." assured Ohta, speaking more to himself than Rangiku. At the same time, he couldn't help wondering if something had gone wrong. Rukia's Bankai was nearly as devastating as his Kūsho, but the damage it caused was even more indiscriminate. After all, while his Kūsho hindered his senses, it didn't harm his body. Rukia's Hakka no Togame froze the very blood in her veins, and if she weren't careful, her entire body would fracture and crumble...
Feeling uncomfortable, Rangiku scratched her head, deliberating for a few seconds before asking, "Do you think it would be a good idea to move her to the hot spring?"
"That...is a very good idea..." conceded Ohta, attempting to pick up Rukia with just his right hand before Rangiku said, "Let me carry her. You should do something about that arm of yours before it gets even worse..."
Looking down at his left arm, Ohta noticed that pieces of his skin and a few crystalline chunks of flesh had flaked away without him realizing it. He could still move it, somehow, but he had absolutely no feeling in the appendage.
"You're on a roll today..." joked Ohta, entrusting Rukia's unconscious body to Rangiku. It was difficult for her to carry people due to her massive tits getting in the way, but Rukia's frame was light enough that Rangiku could extend her arms and support her with her elbows locked if she wanted to. Instead, she cradled the unconscious Kuchiki in a princess carry, whisking her away with an unpolished but passable variant of Shunpo...
While he didn't exactly 'trust' Rangiku, Ohta only stared in the direction of the hot spring for a few seconds turning his attention to his left arm and attempting to manipulate the energy within. It was a little difficult since it wasn't his, but he eventually managed to reverse the flow, extending his left hand to unleash a destructive avalanche of ice and snow that froze everything from the position he was standing to the far wall more than 300m away before scattering due to the impact, extending up to the roof and covering nearly half the underground chamber in glacial ice...
"..."
("...")
Feeling Anpu's presence, Ohta's expression became serious as he said, "I want one..."
("It hasn't been that long since you attained your Shikai...") replied Anpu. However, as he already knew what Ohta was going to say, he added, ("I'll consider it if you willfully subordinate that woman with the ashen cat and the tiny one with the stinger...")
"What, like thrashing or fucking their Zanpakuto Spirits...?" asked Ohta.
("If that's what it takes...") replied Anpu, adding, ("So long as they aren't able to cross you, I don't care what means you use. Keeping them around when their loyalties lie elsewhere is exposing yourself and those you care about to unnecessary risk...)
"You're not wrong..." admitted Ohta. However, as he hadn't been informed that Soifon would also be utilizing the Tenshintai, he didn't know how best to subordinate her. He could try shaming or embarrassing her as he did in the elevator, but Ohta was pretty sure she 'enjoyed' being bullied. In other words, she was a massive masochist. Not surprising, considering who her Mistress was...
("Treat her as you did your mate...") said Anpu, his voice a low growl as he added, ("Ravish her diminutive frame so thoroughly she can't imagine life without you...")
Raising his brows, Ohta remarked, "You're pretty fucked up, man...you're starting to make me think I'm a monster deep down..."
("Others will regard you as a monster, so you might as well embrace it...") asserted Anpu. ("If your enemies and allies alike learn to fear you, you will finally be able to live as you please...")
"That might work if I was content to live alone," replied Ohta. "But I don't want Rukia to become ostracized by her family and friends. Fear is good, but it can't be the only sentiment people have toward us. As a part of me, you should understand the pain of that loneliness..."
("...")
After a long silence, Anpu eventually replied, ("As I said, I don't care what method you use. But be forewarned. If you attempt to use the Tenshintai to steal my power, I will neither hold back nor show you mercy. I will take your body, eliminate all those who would lead this world to ruin, and then claim everything you have forsook...")
"You can fucking try," growled Ohta, subsequently adding, "Damn mutt..." under his breath. He had never seriously considered using the Tenshintai to attain his Bankai, as he didn't think it was wise to 'cut corners.' His first use of Kūsho and seeing Rukia nearly self-destruct were good examples of what could happen if you tried to wield power you weren't prepared for. Thus, unless he had no other options, he would try to awaken his Bankai in the traditional manner, reaching a compromise with the prick that had the nerve to name itself after an Egyptian God(A/N: For those that don't know, Anpu is the original translation for Anubis)...
("I can hear your thoughts...") remarked Anpu. ("And I am neither a prick nor did I choose this name. It has been with me from the moment I first gained awareness. As for 'fucking trying,' I won't even need to. So long as you continue to hold back and value the lives of so-called 'innocents,' you can never defeat me.")
"We're done talking," said Ohta, promptly 'severing' the connection with Anpu. The two could never be truly separated, as Anpu shared his senses and memories, but he could weaken the connection to his Soul Palace by simply willing it. He could practically feel the temperamental jackal being a butthurt bitch, but Ohta ignored him, proceeding to the hot spring after closing up most of the wounds on his left arm. He found Rangiku bathing naked as she tended to Rukia's body, but as the buxom blonde had been dwelling in his guest room the past four days, Ohta didn't bat an eye. The same could be said for Rangiku, who, other than casting a glance toward his cock, appeared calm and composed as she asked, "Want me to wash you back?" with a faint, intrinsically alluring smile.
"Maybe later," replied Ohta, casting aside his clothes and descending into the pleasantly hot water, retrieving Rukia's body from Rangiku without any resistance. She was sensible enough to know better than getting between him and his woman. If she didn't, Ohta would have given her massive and voluptuous ass the boot on day one...
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(A/N: Hey guys. If you're enjoying the story, please consider becoming a patron. I'm already reduced to eating eggs and rice to sustain myself, and it's only the middle of the month. I wouldn't care too much under normal circumstances, but I'd like to pick up some meds and purchase something a little healthier to avoid feeling like shit xD...)

"Looks like I'm in your debt again..." muttered Ohta, sitting with his arm raised while Orihime sat beside him, healing it with a happy smile on her face.
"I'm just happy both you and Rukia are okay~" replied Orihime, narrowing her eyes and smiling even brighter. She was a little surprised when Soifon showed up to her fifth-period English studies and abducted her, but when she learned the reason, she allowed herself to be carried willingly.
"You're a good woman..." said Ohta, using his fully recovered hand to pat Orihime's head. He felt like he was repeating those words a lot lately, but there was good reason to. Orihime was obedient and remarkably useful, a stark contrast to how he perceived her just a month prior.
Catching Orihime a little off guard, Ohta asked, "Your birthday was on the third, right?"
Recovering from her momentary stupor, Orihime smiled radiantly and said, "It was, but you don't have to get me anything, Ohta-kun. Every day since you and Rukia accepted me into your lives has been a gift. If I were to ask anything of either of you, it would be to avoid getting injured when I'm not around."
Exhaling a faint sigh through his nose, Ohta thought ("She really is a good woman...")
"Then, next year, assuming this shit with Aizen is resolved, I'll take you to a fancy restaurant and let you eat your fill..." asserted Ohta, causing the bubbly ginger's eyes to widen and glisten. She was a glutton to her core, but she was more excited by the prospect of going on a date. Ohta wasn't the type to go out unless he had a 'reason,' so Orihime never expected him to be the first to broach the subject of going on a date, even more so since she wasn't his girlfriend...
Not wanting to seem selfish, Orihime narrowed her eyes happily and said, "The three of us will go together. Or maybe we could throw a large party and invite all our friends? It's been a long time since I had a big birthday celebration. It's usually just me, Tatsuki, and sometimes her mother. Not that I'm complaining. Ehehehehe~"
"Ah...that explains why you visited Tatsuki that day..." remarked Ohta. As for Orihime's suggestion, he wouldn't make any concrete promises, but he would consider it so long as he wasn't required to plan the event. His ideal birthday celebration was a peaceful evening without worry, accompanied by an expensive bottle of whiskey, a premium-cut steak, and a warm bath filled with pain-relieving bath bombs. At least, that 'was' his ideal. Now, he would be content with sleeping in, getting his dick sucked, and spending the rest of the day just vibing in a bathrobe...
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Rushing over from Soul Society after Ohta sent her an inter-dimensional text, Yoruichi remarked, "I figured something like that might occur," after learning what had transpired. Before Ohta could get too annoyed with her, however, she waved her hand and appended, "Don't get your knickers in a twist. Incidents like this are common when training to attain and master Bankai since most Shinigami lack the control required to handle a sudden and drastic increase in Reiryoku. There's a reason it typically takes ten to a hundred years to master the technique."
Preempting Ohta's response, Yoruichi poked him in the chest, stating, "That's where you come in. The key component to control is mental energy, so you just need to put Rukia through the same training as your puppy lover. Whenever you infuse your mental energy into someone to enable them to use psychic powers, it bolsters their own. Rukia should have no trouble utilizing her Bankai if you assist her, and, given enough time, it will become second nature."
Though he was relieved by Yoruichi's words, Ohta maintained a glower as he asked, "Why didn't you mention this before? Rukia could have died..."
"Unlikely," replied Yoruichi, shrugging her shoulders as she added, "As for why I didn't mention it, it's because it's good to make mistakes and learn from them. Now that she's experienced what could go wrong, Rukia will work hard to ensure it doesn't. It's much better than assuming everything will go well and then being blindsided at a critical moment..."
"..."
Taking advantage of Ohta's silence, Yoruichi narrowed her eyes and added, "Besides, you were there, weren't you? Unless her Bankai caused her to erupt into a million pieces spontaneously, I was confident you and your pocket healer could handle the situation. Rukia also knew the risks well in advance, so unless you intend to lecture and bite her head off, cut me some slack. She 'did' obtain Bankai, didn't she?"
"Come here..." said Ohta, his neutral expression causing Yoruichi to stare at him in confusion. In the end, however, she moved closer, offering little resistance when he abruptly picked her up, tucking her under his arm with her ass sticking out.
"What are you-?"
Before Yoruichi could finish asking what he was doing, Ohta gave her ass a firm, echoing smack. Her excuse was fairly compelling, but he was too annoyed to let her off scot-free. He also knew from personal experience that she enjoyed spanking, so he saw it as an ideal solution to the current situation, allowing him to release his frustrations without making her feel indignant.
*smack* *smack* *smack* *smack* *smack* *smack* *smack* *smack* *smack* *smack*
Matching Ohta's expectations, Yoruichi frowned but offered no resistance as he slapped her ass an additional nine times. She felt embarrassed, but, at the same time, a rosy hue spread through her cheeks, accompanied by a faint moisture building between her thighs.
Before Ohta set her down, Yoruichi's voice sounded deeper than usual as she asked, "Are you done? Because the moment you set me down, it's my turn..."
"Yeah, I know..." replied Ohta, offering no meaningful resistance when the brown-skinned beauty promptly pounced on him. He refused to resonate with her more than once a month, but if it was 'just' fucking, he no longer cared. His three-day descent into debauchery with Rukia had given him a more 'primal' view of sex, much to his Zanpakuto's satisfaction. Unless the women he fucked demanded something from him in return, he would fuck them like the beast all humans were at the very core of their being...
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"You're back..." said Rukia, smiling weakly as Ohta entered their bedroom. She wasn't in pain, but after having most of her Reiryoku drained, she felt similar to when she first gave Ichigo her powers.
"Yeah...I intended to return sooner, but I got held up by a certain cat..." replied Ohta, approaching the bed and sitting beside Rukia, grasping her hand as she habitually placed her head against his shoulder.
"I hope you didn't blame her for what happened..." muttered Rukia. "It was my inexperience that caused-"
"It's fine," interrupted Ohta, kissing Rukia's head as he said, "If I were truly angry with her, I would have returned two hours ago. I gave her a few welts on her ass, but we managed to work things out after the fact..."
"That's good," responded Rukia, adopting a faint smile as she finally felt like Ohta was doing as he pleased. Orihime had been with her until just a few minutes prior, so she didn't feel lonely when she awoke to find he was absent. Rather, as it had given her time to reflect, Rukia was glad he took the time to 'work things out' with Yoruichi. After all, the latter was Ohta's 'original' woman, the person she had stolen him from. Rukia had no plans of giving him up, but she knew, deep in her heart, that Ohta and Yoruichi should have ended up together. She just couldn't help wanting to be the person closest to him...
Catching Ohta off guard, Rukia abruptly placed her hand on his crotch, adopting the narrow-eyed, alluring smile she had refined over the past three days as she said, "Help me replenish my Reiryoku..."
Recovering from his brief stupor, Ohta adopted a smoldering, wolfish grin as he replied, "Tell me how you want it. Slow and gentle on your back, or with your face pressed to the sheets...?"
Without hesitation, Rukia replied, "Both..." before pulling Ohta into a kiss by forcefully pulling his collar. He wasn't the only one who had developed a more primal view of sex. If not for Sode-no-Shirayuki abruptly reverting to a Tenshintai while they were making love, she and Ohta might not have left their room for several days longer...
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Nestled between the sleeping forms of Rukia and Orihime, snuggled up to him with content looks on their faces, Ohta had an excellent vibe going as he stared up at the ceiling with a relaxed smile, nearly devoid of thoughts. There were times in his current life when he felt like leaping head-first off a building or smashing his forehead into a wall, but, all things considered, he was living an enviable life. He was handsome, possessed near-godlike power, and despite his efforts to remain monogamous, he was surrounded by beautiful, incredibly amorous women who practically threw themselves at him with his future wife's approval. From an objective viewpoint, he had very little, if anything, to complain about...
*beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep* *beep*
"But not nothing..." muttered Ohta, rising to a seated position as Rukia and Orihime stirred at the sound of their alarms beeping incessantly, similar to when Uryu used bait to lure hundreds of Hollows for a stupid game.
Pulling over his phone using telekinesis, Ohta's frown deepened into a grimace as he read, "A large number of Hollows, led by an unidentified group of Arrancar, have invaded the town of Karakura..."
"No ETA...?" asked Rukia, her brows raising in confusion before creasing as she said, "We need to hurry...!"
Though he would prefer it if she and Orihime stayed behind, retreating underground for their safety, Ohta didn't protest Rukia's words. Instead, he got dressed quicker than both of them, saying, "I'll be waiting outside," before phasing through several walls to reach the exterior of the building. There, both Soifon and Yoruichi were waiting, the latter having decided to tarry for a bit after the intense dicking he had given her.
"What's going on?" asked Ohta.
"If I had to guess, Aizen either amassed forces in the human world and had them launch an attack, or they have the means to transfer between the realms without triggering the detection system used to monitor the Garganta," replied Yoruichi. "Either way, they're-"
Interrupting Yoruichi's words, a red-tinged black explosion erupted in the sky a few kilometers away, the resulting shockwave causing the windows of nearby buildings to shatter as the wave of pressure reached all the way to their location.
Recognizing the Reiatsu's signature, Ohta's brows perked as he asked, "Was that Ichigo? Since when did his balls drop...?"
Though Ichigo had defeated Renji and several other Lieutenants during the raid to prevent Rukia's execution, Ohta had never taken the orange-haired youth seriously. He knew the hybrid brat had a ridiculous amount of Reiyroku, but he had little control, and his spiritual sense was beyond sub-par. He was like a zippo lighter with a mainline to a gas barge. He had a shit ton of fuel but no way to utilize it effectively...
"I told you his potential was monstrous," replied Yoruichi. However, even she was taken aback by the power contained in the explosion. If Ichigo could concentrate it into a thin, precise beam of energy, she would need one of the artifacts from her family to block it...
"I'm going..." said Ohta. "You two join Rukia and Orihime to deal with the trash. If they insist on coming to me, escort them..."
"Look at you," mused Yoruichi, adopting a teasing smile as she gave the frowning Soifon a smack on her bottom, asking, "How are you supposed to respond when your Lord gives you an order?"
Recovering from her startled, visibly excited state, Soifon discarded her smile, becoming deadly serious as she bowed her head and cupped her hands together, responding, "As you will, Ohta-dono..."
Nodding in approval, Yoruichi turned to Ohta, intending to assure him she would protect the members of his 'harem,' but he abruptly Shunpo'd away, surprising her with how seamless the transition was.
"Ichigo definitely isn't the only one with monstrous potential..." muttered Yoruichi, narrowing her eyes in the direction Ohta had disappeared while Soifon observed her from the side, more than a little envious but similarly impressed by his speed...
...
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(A/N: Everyone else: *trains hard to get a fractional power-up* Ichigo: *screams Getsuga Tensho slightly louder, becoming twice as strong and keeping the boost indefinitely*. Also, thanks to the awesome people who lent me a hand yesterday. I still feel tired, but my condition is much better after a hearty meal, some extra strength Tylenol, and a long nap xD...)

With the rest of the week passing without incident, sans a minor event where Ohta was asked to spar by the Ikakku, the underground chamber was closed off in preparation for using the Tenshintai. Yoruichi had shown up earlier that morning, so she, Ohta, Rukia, Orihime, Soifon, and Rangiku had gathered in the massive chamber.
Earning herself a deadpan stare from Ohta, Yoruichi, propping up a white, vaguely human-shaped doll, kicked things off by remarking, "This is quite the little harem you've managed to gather for yourself..." in a teasing tone.
More amused than intimidated by Ohta's expression, Yoruichi maintained a relaxed smile as she passed her gaze over Orihime, Soifon, Rangiku, and Rukia, settling on the latter as she asked, "I'm guessing you're up first...?"
Nodding in affirmation, Rukia replied, "My Sode-no-Shirayuki has been in a dour mood ever since she was forced to lend her powers to Ichigo. This is a good opportunity for her to vent..."
"Then, all you have to do is stab this big boy through the heart, just like when you transferred your powers the first time," stated Yoruichi, patting the white doll's shoulder. "Before that, I advise everyone but Ohta to back off and keep your distance. Manifested Zanpakuto Spirits can even imperil Captains if they're not careful."
Once everyone else had backed away, Rukia unsheathed her Zanpakuto, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous, but with Ohta standing beside her, Rukia believed she could accomplish just about anything...
Opening her eyes, Rukia resolutely stabbed the Tenshintai in the heart, causing an abrupt explosion of frigid Reiryoku that pushed everyone back and froze everything within several tens of meters. Then, instead of dissipating, the Reiryoku, resembling the plume of snow that heralded an avalanche, retracted in on itself, swirling violently before merging into the figure of a beautiful, pale-skinned woman with waist-length, snow-white, lavender hair and cold, icy blue eyes whose outfit consisted of a pure white kimono with large sleeves, a long hem, a pastel, yellow-green obi, and a large, pale purple bow wrapped around her waist.
"She's beautiful..." muttered Rukia, having never seen Sode-no-Shirayuki with such clarity. She usually veiled herself behind a thin bamboo screen patterned with a snowy mountain, similar to an Emperor or a high-ranking Noblewoman that didn't wish to be seen.
Frowning deeply, the Yuki-onna-looking Spirit looked between Rukia and Ohta, her gaze lingering on the latter for a short moment before fixing on the former as she asked, "Kuichiki Rukia...you could not awaken my power on your own, so now you wish to steal it...?"
Shaking her head, Rukia did her best to appear firm as she replied, "That was never my intention. I want to work alongside you, but you refuse to acknowledge me. Tell me, Sode-no-Shirayuki, how can I convince you to lend me your power...?"
Manifesting a predominately white katana with a long, thin blade and an extended hilt adorned by a white ribbon, Sode-no-Shirayuki replied, "You can start by dying..."
Swinging her sword in a graceful arc, Sode-no-Shirayuki sent a crescent-shaped stream of icy wind at Rukia. The crescent was fairly slow initially, but the further it traveled, the faster it seemed to move. Unfortunately for Sode-no-Shirayuki, Rukia didn't even need to dodge as the blade of frigid energy impacted an invisible shield, scattering in a powdery explosion.
As Sode-no-Shirayuki shifted her gaze to him, Ohta's was equally as cold as he cautioned, "I would advise you to give Rukia a proper trial. You don't want me taking matters into my own hands..."
"..."
Contrasting Ohta's expectations, the palest of blushes developed through Sode-no-Shirayuki's incredibly fair cheeks as she said, "Please stay out of this, Ohta-dono..."
Recovering instantly, Ohta shook his head and replied, "I refuse. Rukia is my woman. I don't mind if the two of you want to 'settle' things, but if you seriously attempt to harm or supplant her will with your own...I will crush you..."
Leaving Ohta momentarily speechless, the blush in Sode-no-Shirayuki's cheeks deepened as she promptly averted her icy-blue eyes. The Spirit of a Zanpakuto was a reflection of its user, a materialization of their desires and the doubts rooted deeply within their hearts. They shared everything from their memories to their various senses, so Rukia wasn't the only one on the 'receiving end' when Ohta went to town on her...
Placing her hand on Ohta's arm, Rukia offered a comforting smile as she said, "I'm with Sode-no-Shirayuki on this one, Ohta. I want to at least try and defeat her with my own strength before depending on others..."
Looking down to meet Rukia's gaze, Ohta noticed a fierce determination in her obsidian-black eyes. He didn't know how she planned to win, but Ohta eventually adopted a smile, replying, "Fine...but I'll be watching you like a hawk..." before caressing the diminutive woman's head.
Feeling gratified, although it was fairly common for Ohta to tolerate her selfishness, Rukia grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into a brief but passionate kiss. Sode-no-Shirayuki frowned in the distance, but the pale-haired woman remained silent, waiting until Rukia released Ohta and for him to join the others before asking, "Do you honestly believe you can defeat me...?"
"If possible, I would prefer to avoid fighting you entirely," replied Rukia. "The two of us are one in mind, body, and spirit. We should be working together, not be at odds with one another."
Pointing her sword at Rukia, Sode-no-Shirayuki expressed, "If you truly believe we are one, swap places with me. You can be the one to rest in our Soul Palace while I serve Ohta-dono in your stead..."
Shaking her head, Rukia replied, "You know I can't permit that..." before adopting a faint, knowing smile as she added, "If I did, Ohta might come to hate you..."
Furrowing her brows, Sode-no-Shirayuki gazed in the direction of Ohta and his 'entourage,' finding the former staring back at her with crossed arms and an intent look on his face. If she intentionally did anything to imperil Rukia's life, Sode-no-Shirayuki had absolutely no doubt he would intervene...
Returning her gaze to Rukia, Sode-no-Shirayuki abruptly stated, "I hate you..." with a distinctly pouty expression. In truth, she 'envied' Rukia but hate was a stronger word and didn't make her appear as vulnerable...
Maintaining her smile, Rukia replied, "Even so, we must learn to work with one another. Neither Ohta nor I wish to suppress or make you subservient to us, but we need your power to oppose the perils that would force us to part..."
"Ohta-dono does not require our power..." contended Sode-no-Shirayuki. "It's 'you' who needs it to stand alongside him. You believe yourself to be inferior to him, and you're correct. A woman who would push their lover to bed other women lacks the qualifications to be Ohta-dono's wife..."
Though her right eye visibly twitched in response to Sode-no-Shirayuki's words, Rukia suppressed the urge to lash out. The pale-haired Zanpakuto Spirit was clearly just trying to irritate her, so she forced herself to remain calm, responding, "I am aware of my shortcomings...that's the reason we're in this situation. I wish to become a woman worthy of Ohta's love and affection. As my Zanpakuto Spirit, you must share that desire. Just tell me what I must do to win your trust, and we can start working toward it together..."
"..."
Seeing the passion and conviction in Rukia's eyes, Sode-no-Shirayuki's 'hatred' toward her diminished slightly. Unfortunately, the 'request' she had in mind, killing all the other girls, was far beyond Rukia's abilities. It might also cause Ohta to hate them, so Sode-no-Shirayuki found herself in a dilemma, unwilling to simply lend Rukia her power but unsure how to test her would-be Mistress's worth.
Looking toward Ohta, a near-imperceptible blush gradually permeated Sode-no-Shirayuki's cheeks. This was likely the only time she would be able to manifest in the real world, so she could think of better uses for her time than quibbling with Rukia...
Noticing the look on Sode-no-Shirayuki's face, Rukia raised her brows and inquired, "Could it be...you wish to spend time with Ohta-kun...?"
Though she furrowed her brows deeply, Sode-no-Shirayuki didn't refute Rukia's words. Instead, she turned to meet the raven-haired Shinigami's gaze and asserted, "The three of us, alone, for the next three days. If you can arrange that, I will begrudgingly lend you my power..."
Exhaling a faint chuckle, Rukia replied, "That's a simple matter..." before waving Ohta over, the latter appearing next to her in the blink of an eye, asking, "What's up? Manage to work something out...?"
Adopting a somewhat cheeky smile, Rukia explained, "Sode-no-Shirayuki said she's willing to lend me her power, but only if you pamper us the next three days. Alone."
"Seriously...?" asked Ohta, shifting his gaze to the pale-skinned Zanpakuto to ask, "What, specifically, did you have in mind?"
"Rukia and I are the same being," replied Sode-no-Shirayuki. "You cannot love one of us without loving the other. If she and I are to strengthen our bond, you, Ohta-dono, must serve as the bridge that unites us..."
"In other words, you want me to fuck you?" asked Ohta, causing the pale-skinned Zanpakuto Spirit to swallow audibly before responding, "That is a very 'direct' way of phrasing things, but you are correct..."
"Well, can't say I didn't see this coming..." replied Ohta, shaking his head but ultimately adding, "Let's do it." before picking up the started Rukia and Shunpo'ing over to Sode-no-Shirayuki, tossing the equally surprised Spirit over his shoulder and vanishing from the underground chamber...
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"And there they go..." remarked Yoruichi, unsurprised by how things had turned out. She had awoken her Bankai using a similar method, and it had been more interested in spending time with Kisuke than testing her. Now, whenever she wanted to use Bankai, she either needed to coax her Spirit into allowing it or needed Kisuke's 'assistance.' At least, that's how it was 'before' she experienced Soul Resonance with Ohta...
Turning to Orihime, Soifon, and Rangiku, Yoruichi warned, "The three of you should prepare yourselves if you wish to utilize this method. Even if Ohta doesn't subordinate your Zanpakuto Spirits directly, there's a good chance they will 'imprint' on him. In other words, they will pester you to spend time with him and threaten to withhold their power if you refuse."
Exhaling a throat chuckle, Rangiku replied, "That's no different from how Haineko usually behaves."
"Yeah, cat-like Spirits can be a real pain in the ass, can't they?" mused Yoruichi. Then, noticing Soifon's surly glower, she asked, "What's wrong, kitten?"
Immediately discarding her scowl, Soifon shook her head and replied, "There's nothing wrong, Yoruichi-sama. I'm merely...confused. You said the 'three' of us should prepare ourselves, but I've already attained my Bankai. Why would I need to undergo this training...?"
"It's because you 'hate' your Bankai," replied Yoruichi, crossing her arms as she added. "Also, I know you still have apprehensions about the duty you've been assigned, so this is a good opportunity to close the distance between you. You can't be his 'kagemusha' if he can't trust you and vice-versa..."
Though she frowned deeply, Soifon didn't protest Yoruichi's words. If the latter wanted her to 'trust' Ohta, she would even resort to self-hypnosis to convince herself. Members of the Onmitsukidō were expected to abandon their identities and sacrifice everything, even their allies, to complete their assigned duties. If her fate were to serve as Ohta's kagemusha(shadow warrior), Soifon would dedicate herself to that pursuit 'nearly' as much as she devoted herself to her Mistress...
Erasing the remainder of Soifon's doubts, Yoruichi adopted an ostensibly affectionate smile, stroking the slightly shorter woman's glossy black hair as she mused, "You're so cute when you're determined..."
"Yoruichi-sama..." muttered Soifon, her voice hot and heavy as she stared at her Mistress with a palpable yearning in her brown eyes. Fortunately for her, Yoruichi was in a playful mood, so she moved her hand from Soifon's head, caressing her cheek before cupping her chin and asserting, "I could just eat you up..." with a predatory glimmer in her eyes...
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(A/N: Shirayuki is a woman who understands her priorities (O w O). Also, daily reminder that this is not a harem novel. It's a complex, quadrilateral relationship with various subtleties (O 3 O)...)

Chapter 65: Frost Queen