Not a Mob: Psycho

Shortly after Ohta separated from Kisuke and Ichigo, a chill ran up his spine when a familiar voice remarked, "I can't believe someone like you managed to defeat and seal away Aizen. You're one monstrous kid..."
Materializing from the interior of a building, Gin, wearing a black cloak, blocked Ohta's path with his inordinately short Zanpakuto hanging lazily from his right hand.
Opening his usually squinted eyes to reveal stark blue irises, Gin teased, "You look nervous..."
Furrowing his brows, Ohta responded with a firm, challenging, "Just get it over with..."
"Hmmmm..."
Bending his elbow, Gin maintained his creepy smile as he tapped his right shoulder with the back of his Zanpakuto, ostensibly considering whether or not to kill Ohta. When he didn't, even after several tens of seconds had passed, the latter snorted and began walking, strolling past Gin without a word.
Waiting until Ohta had taken several steps past him, Gin said, "After this, I'll be heading west. Do us both a favor by telling anyone who asks that I was betrayed by Aizen and used as a sacrifice to destroy the Kototsu..."
Before Ohta could retort or ask any questions, Gin abruptly disappeared, ending the conversation. His swift departure initially confused Ohta, but things became much clearer when nearly every officer-level Shinigami in the Gotei 13 showed up...
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[Thirty-Five Days Later, December 4th, 2001]
Standing at the edge of a koi pond, Ohta, wearing a loose black yukata, a lavender sash, and a haori that was white on the outside and lavender on the inside, remarked, "I could get used to this..." while tossing handfuls of feed to the oversized fish.
Though he had been vested a title and land as a reward for his services, Ohta entrusted the care of his comparably homely estate to the Shihouin Clan while he 'recovered' in Yoruichi's private compound, complete with a courtyard the size of a national park.
Interrupting Ohta's idle reverie, Soifon, wearing the ninja-like attire of a generic Onmitsukidō member, appeared next to him on one knee, head bowed in respect as she said, "Ohta-dono, you asked to be notified when Kurosaki Ichigo awoke. Shall I arrange for your journey to the world of the living...?"
As it had been over a month since Ichigo fell unconscious, Ohta couldn't help muttering, "It's about damn time..." before shifting his gaze to Soifon and asking, "Has Rukia been informed?"
Without raising her head, Soifon replied, "I sent a messenger to inform Captain Kuchiki before coming here. She should receive authorization to travel to the world of the living within the hour."
Nodding in approval, Ohta responded with a curt, "Go ahead and make the preparations..." before returning his attention to the koi pond. Soifon disappeared the moment he did so, once again leaving him 'alone' in the oversized courtyard. In reality, there were at least thirty members of the Onmitsukado's Special Escort Unit watching over and keeping tabs on him at any given moment. After all, while nothing had been made 'official,' he was almost universally regarded as Yoruichi's Consort...
A few minutes after Soifon's departure, a familiar warmth and softness pressed against Ohta's back as a pair of brown arms wrapped around his chest and shoulders.
"I just heard the news. When are we leaving?" asked Yoruichi, rubbing her cheek against Ohta's as she dangled from his back.
"What do you mean by we?" asked Ohta. "You know you can't travel to the Human World in your current state..."
"I'll just go without a Limiter," argued Yoruichi. "I'm good at suppressing my Reiatsu, so Old Man Yama shouldn't have any problems with it. Or are you worried about something happening to me during a day trip~?"
Licking the side of Ohta's face, Yoruichi huskily mused, "For someone who claims not to care about kids, you sure do fret a lot..."
"..."
Though he wanted to retort by pointing out he had only 'resonated' with her to expedite the removal of the seal hidden beneath his bangs, Ohta wisely remained silent. He needed to overcome four increasingly difficult trials to have it removed completely, and the first was facing one of his greatest fears by becoming a father. Rukia and Orihime weren't really in a position to become mothers, so by process of elimination and after much discussion, he put a bun in Yoruichi's oven...
"There you go, being all silent and mysterious..." mused Yoruichi, releasing her hold on Ohta's body so he could turn around to face her. When he did, he naturally slipped his hands into the openings in the side of her hakama, grasping her voluminous ass and planting a kiss on her lips before pulling away to say, "You and Rukia were the ones who told me I needed to start acting more dignified..."
"You say with your hands on my ass..." mused Yoruichi, snapping her teeth playfully as Ohta came in for another kiss. She didn't mind public displays of affection, but the Elders would nag her if their subordinates within the Special Escort Unit reported that she and Ohta were 'fooling around' while she was supposed to be on duty. She wouldn't have cared in the past, but the political climate of the Seireitei wasn't the best right now...
Releasing his hold on Yoruichi's ass, albeit after giving it a final squeeze, Ohta asserted, "I'll be fine. Momo and Lisa are bound to follow if Rukia travels to the Human World. With Beecat lurking in the shadows, that's three Captain-level Shinigami and a Lieutenant serving as my escort. Any would-be assassins would have to go through them to get to me..."
Furrowing her brows slightly, Yoruichi whispered, "Just remember, you're basically the lynchpin between three of the Great Noble Clans. Anyone outside our circle of trust should be regarded as an enemy. Never let your guard down..."
Without waiting for Ohta's response, Yoruichi half-turned, stretching her arms over her head as she said, "Well, guess I'll return to my post. Say hi to Rukia and Orihime for me. And be sure to message me if you decide to spend the night or stay at the hotel for an extended period. The old farts will complain if you aren't monitored."
Finished with what she had to say, Yoruichi directed a parting wink at Ohta before disappearing with Shunpo. Ohta felt his power plummet as the distance between them increased, but at least he wasn't powerless like a few weeks prior. Rather, even with an approximated 2.7% of his total power, increasing as Yoruichi brought their child to term, he was still more powerful than most Lieutenants...
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Seeing Ohta enter the 12th Division's Interdimensional Transportation Terminal alongside Soifon, a smile blossomed across Rukia's face as she teased, "You look more like a 'Lord' each time I see you. That outfit suits you." in response to the former's traditional Shihouin Clan attire.
"I could say the same to you..." responded Ohta, referencing Rukia's stylish white haori, possessing a pale-turquoise inlay and the kanji for Go(5) on the back.
Shifting his gaze to the two women standing near the entrance to the fixed Senkaimon, Yadomaru Lisa and Hinamori Momo, Ohta avoided staring at the former's exposed midriff as he said, "I'll be in your girls' care during our trip to the Human World."
Though the bespectacled, ponytailed Lisa responded with a curt nod, Momo, having cut her usually bunned hair into a somewhat messy bob, bowed respectfully and replied, "It is our honor, Yamada-dono..."
"If you say so..." replied Ohta, returning his gaze to Rukia, suppressing the urge to heft her by her ass and kiss her as he asked, "How busy are things back at the Squad 5 barracks? I'm thinking of staying in the Human World until the end of Winter Break."
Nodding in approval, Rukia stated, "That's good. You know Orihime gets lonely easily, so you should spend more time together. As for my Squad, tensions have started to relax, but it will be some time before Lisa and I gain everyone's confidence. Momo has been a tremendous help in that regard, but we shouldn't be gone for more than a few days to avoid our subordinates thinking we are slacking off while they patrol and adhere to the Gotei's post-war training regimen."
"Right..." responded Ohta.
Though the Gotei had managed to fill every vacant Captain position thanks to the Visored, the ease at which Aizen had defeated even the Captain-Commander compelled the newly established Central 46 to implement post-war restructuring policies. This included having Captains actively groom their successors. Now, each Squad had two Lieutenants, one responsible for the usual administrative duties and the other charged with mastering their Bankais to revitalize the Gotei's war potential.
"Don't look so glum," said Rukia, lightly punching Ohta's left bicep as she added, "The stronger the Gotei becomes, the less likely you'll have to take action in the future. There's also talk about adapting some of the Human World's technologies and innovations for use in the Seireitei and the central Rukon Districts, so we might be able to watch movies from across dimensions in the future."
"That would certainly be an improvement..." replied Ohta. As much as he 'enjoyed' roaming around Yoruichi's courtyard and overfeeding koi fish, he missed modern conveniences. He was also seriously contemplating going to the US or popularizing MMA in Japan after failing to bestow Aizen the beatdown he so desperately deserved. Doing so wouldn't just improve his skills, but if he became recognized as the greatest fighter in the world, it would help him accumulate some of the 'faith' Anpu mentioned he would need to gain access to his full potential...
"That's enough chatter," said Rukia, grabbing Ohta's hand and pulling him along as she added, "Orihime is presumably waiting for us on the other side. I'm sure you also have matters to discuss with Ichigo, so let's get a move on."
"Yeah, yeah..." replied Ohta, allowing himself to be dragged over to the fixed Senkaimon, waiting for Momo to open it before stepping through with the otherwise all-female group. When they reached the exit on the other side, they found not just Orihime but Ichigo, Chad, Uryu, Tatsuki, Keigo, Mizuiro, and Karin waiting for them. Ohta was aware that Tatsuki, Keigo, and Mizuiro had fully awakened as High-Spec Humans after their brief stint in the Soul Society. Still, he didn't expect to encounter them in his living room. Fortunately, they at least had enough sense not to invite his Doppelganger...
Preempting even Orihime, Karin shouted, "It's about time you showed up!" before bouncing to her feet and nearly tripping since she was still getting used to her Gigai. It had only been around two weeks since she acquired it, so her synchronization rate was only around 70%.
Extending his hand, Ohta prevented Karin's tumble with a telekinetic hold, causing a smile to develop across her face as she said, "Nice catch. How close are you to regaining your powers?"
"I'm getting closer each day..." replied Ohta, fixing Karin's posture as he shifted his gaze to Ichigo, staring in their direction with a frown. The last vestiges of his Reiatsu had disappeared shortly after awakening from his month-long coma, so he was the only person among those gathered who couldn't see the group of Ohta, Rukia, Soifon, Lisa, and Momo.
Transitioning to his Gigai, prompting Rukia to do the same, Ohta raised his hand and teased, "Long time no see, Strawberry-kun. Did you get enough beauty sleep?"
Forcing a smile, Ichigo muttered, "Something like that..." before rising to his feet and asking, "Mind if we talk somewhere?"
"That's the reason I came," replied Ohta, adding, "Well, one of them..." as he shifted his gaze to Orihime, punctuating his statement with a wink. His actions earned him a slightly annoyed look from Tatsuki, but as she was presently dating his Doppelganger, she didn't have much room to speak about his and Orihime's relationship. Not in public, at least...
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(A/N: I've decided to extend this volume to around 120 chapters since I know the battle against Aizen left a bad taste in some people's mouths. Though, compared to the literal shit Aizen had to cough up, I imagine it wasn't too bad o3o...)

After relocating to a lavishly decorated study, something Ohta had never put to use, Ichigo kicked things off by scratching his head and saying, "I wanted to thank you. Not just for bringing Karin back, but-"
"Stop it," said Ohta, shaking his head as he added, "I confronted Aizen to protect the things I cared about. Everything that happened afterward was a result of that decision. I don't need your gratitude."
Exhaling a tired sigh, Ichigo remarked, "You never change, do you? What's so difficult about accepting someone's gratitude?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta replied, "I don't like owing people or having them feel 'indebted' to me without clarifying what I expect from them. It's that simple."
"Besides..." said Ohta, smiling as he grabbed a bottle of whiskey from a cabinet, adding, "I'm not using this place at the moment, so letting your sister and others use it as a training facility doesn't affect me adversely. You and your friends can also choose rooms and use the facilities here. Just don't be too surprised if you stay long-term, and I put you to work..."
"Is that why you're letting the Visored stay here?" asked Ichigo. "Are they going to be working for you from now on...?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead," admitted Ohta. "It's only been a month since Aizen was imprisoned, and I have...other shit going on. I just didn't want Orihime staying here by herself, so I asked that pink-haired giant to teach her how to use Bakudu up to the 90s. The rest are residing here on their Captains' salaries."
With Ohta mentioning 'other shit,' Ichigo couldn't help remarking, "I heard you also lost your power..." with an apologetic smile.
"Yeah, but I'm still alive, aren't I?" contended Ohta. "I might have lost my power, but everything that allowed me to gain that power is right here..."
Pointing to his head and then his heart, Ohta added, "If anything, I view this as an opportunity. I allowed the power I possessed to go to my head and nearly paid the price for it. Now, I have the opportunity to start anew, shore up my foundation, and ultimately become even stronger. Unless you intend to live the rest of your life as a normal human, I suggest you do the same..."
"But how...?" asked Ichigo. "I heard from Orihime that not even her power could stabilize and restore my Reiatsu. And no-"
Interrupting Ichigo's lamenting, Ohta said, "It doesn't matter how. The only thing that matters is that there is 'always' a way to obtain what you desire, so long as you put in the effort. If you can't figure out something alone, bug that asshat Urahara or reach out to your Grand Aunt, Kukaku. 'Someone' will have the answers you're searching for, and you more than deserve them."
"What about you?" asked Ichigo. "Even though we're the same age, you seem to have your nose in everything..."
"That's the difference between you and me," replied Ohta. "We both stick our noses into things, but you do so to help people while I primarily seek to help myself and those I've chosen to care about..."
Handing Ichigo a shallow glass of whiskey, Ohta added, "You're the kind of guy that can save the world and not expect anything in return, even if the event traumatizes you for the rest of your life. I'm not so charitable..."
Accepting the glass Ohta presented him, Ichigo gave it a tentative whiff before scrunching his brows and muttering, "This is alcohol..."
"Yeah, and?" asked Ohta, taking a sip from his glass before adding, "We just saved the world, and most of the people who pretend to rule over it will never know that. Why should I give a damn about the rules and laws of people wholly unrelated to me? Trust me, those at the top sure as hell don't..."
"..."
Though he was tempted to ask what made Ohta the way he was, Ichigo remained silent, staring at the contents of his glass before taking a small sip. The flavor wasn't like he expected, but it felt surprisingly good going down, his throat and body filling with warmth.
Nodding his head in approval, Ohta said, "That's good. Keep in mind that as you regain your power, you become an entity capable of leveling cities or destroying entire countries. Having that kind of power and 'not' using it is just irresponsible. Those in power will force you to take sides, so if you truly wish to protect your family, you must choose your allies carefully and understand who your enemies are..."
Furrowing his brows, Ichigo remarked, "Sounds like you're trying to recruit me..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Ohta replied, "Not really. I do, however, have a personal connection with the main branch of the Shiba Clan. Also, thanks to your idiot of a father, your sister has developed unrealistic expectations about the future. Because of that, I don't 'need' to recruit you. So long as you care about your family, you'll work with me regardless."
"What kind of expectations?" asked Ichigo, unamused by the implication of Ohta's words.
Shaking his head, Ohta contended, "That's something you need to work out with your family. I've more than made my intentions clear, so if Karin continues to follow and pursue me, it will be because she chose to do so, not because I goaded or manipulated her into doing it."
"You...!" began Ichigo. However, before he could approach or utter a second word, Ohta sent him back with a psychic push, stating, "All I did was tell her the truth and teach her the basics of developing her mental, spiritual, and physical energies. If you want to blame anyone, find a mirror or take it up with your father. I did nothing wrong."
While he couldn't completely absolve himself of guilt, Ohta had made it clear fairly early on that he had no intentions toward Karin. If Ishin hadn't fucked things up by encouraging her to pursue him, she would have given up as a matter of course. Now she was training with Ayame and Hiyori to familiarize herself with her Gigai and learn what it took to be a member of the Onmitsukido and a Visored...
Releasing his hold on Ichigo, Ohta said, "Anyways, since we've moved on to arguing over random shit, I assume we're about done. We can continue this discussion once you've caught up with your studies and acclimated to your new life. I plan to stick around until the end of Winter Break, but you can always ask Orihime to text me if I'm not here."
Though he wasn't happy about being manhandled by Ohta's telekinesis, Ichigo responded with a curt "Whatever..." before setting his glass on the nearby desk and turning to leave. In his wake, Ohta shook his head and filled his glass before moving around the desk to sit in the comfortable leather chair. He was an introvert at his core, so with a dozen people gathered in his living room, he would rather go another round with Aizen than go outside and socialize...
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"So you came..." muttered Ohta, opening his eyes as Tatsuki entered the study with a conflicted look on her face.
"What? Are you so much of a coward that you can't even look me in the eye anymore...?" asked Tatsuki.
"If not your eyes, where am I looking right now...?" countered Ohta, staring the short-haired tomboy down with a neutral expression as he poured himself another drink.
"..."
Making her way over to the desk, Tatsuki grabbed Ichigo's glass and said, "Pour me a drink..." in a firm, huffy tone.
Complying with Tatsuki's demand, Ohta casually filled her glass about a quarter before setting the bottle aside, allowing a fairly awkward silence to permeate the room.
As there were no other chairs present, Tatsuki sat on the edge of Ohta's desk, wearing a frown as she sniffed the contents of her glass and took a very tentative sip. Then, after nearly a full minute of silence, she revealed, "I'm thinking about becoming a Shinigami..." while staring at him from the corner of her eyes.
Before Ohta could respond, Tatsuki said, "Just shut up and listen..." Then, after downing the contents of her glass, she added, "I heard from Orihime what happened. You and Ichigo basically saved the world, right?"
"Something like that..." replied Ohta.
"Something like that..." parrotted Tatsuki, exhaling a contemptuous snort before staring at Ohta with a pouty expression as she said, "That's one of the things I hated about you...you're always leaping head-first into danger and never once asked for mine or anyone else's help..."
Slamming her glass on the table, Tatsuki shouted, "Just who do you think you are!? Why do you try and tackle everything on your own...!?"
Understanding that Tatsuki wasn't expecting an answer, Ohta remained silent, holding her gaze until she eventually deflated and exhaled a tired sigh. What he didn't expect was her to immediately follow up by asking, "I like you...you know that, don't you?"
After a brief moment of hesitation, Ohta nodded, replying, "I've known for a long time..."
"I know..." replied Tatsuki, furrowing her brows as she muttered, "I also know you were planning to ask me out when we started High School. But then all this crazy shit happened, and you felt you needed to create some distance to 'protect' me. Sound about right...?"
Without waiting for Ohta's response, Tatsuki firmly asserted, "Well, I don't 'need' nor do I 'want' your protection. I'm going to get stronger to protect Orihime and live how I please from now on..."
Punctuating her statement, Tatsuki adjusted her position so that she was seated right in front of Ohta with her feet on the chair's armrest, providing a clear view of the contents of her skirt...
After several seconds of silence, Tatsuki muttered, "Say something..." with a pouty expression, emphasized by the rosy hue coloring her cheeks and spreading through her neck and ears.
Instead of responding with words, Ohta caused Tatsuki's heart to skip a beat as he took advantage of her position to push up against the back of her knees, forcing her onto her back as he towered over her with a neutral expression but fiery eyes. Fortunately, a lifetime of karate and a few years of dance had made Tatsuki 'very' flexible, allowing Ohta to push her knees up to her shoulders as he warned, "If we go through with this, there's no going back..."
Though the blush coloring her cheeks deepened considerably, Tatsuki proved her 'determination' by grabbing her well-developed ass cheeks and willfully spreading her legs with a serious expression as she stated, "There's no way I'm leaving Orihime alone with someone like you, so just shut up and get on with it..."
"And what about my Doppelganger...?" asked Ohta, even as he tore the fabric of Tatsuki's spats, exposing her white, visibly damp panties.
"We broke up weeks ago..." revealed Tatsuki, averting her eyes as she added, "I told Orihime and Rukia to keep it a secret so I could confront you myself..."
"You picked a hell of a timing..." said Ohta, causing Tatsuki's body to tense as he dropped his trousers, pulled aside her panties, and placed the tip of his dick against her pussy, rubbing it between her folds. In truth, he had suspected that something like this might happen since Orihime kept trying to convince him to speak with Tatsuki in private. It also annoyed him that she had started dating his Doppelganger, so Ohta pushed against her last line of defense the moment his dick was properly lubricated...
Gritting her teeth and furrowing her brows, Tatsuki groaned, "Don't be in such a rush...this is my first time, and you're not exactly packing a pencil dick..."
Seeing the blood leaking from Tatsuki's crotch, Ohta didn't bother to ask why she was still a virgin. Instead, he leaned over her, staring intently at her with his hands flanking her head. His actions confused her initially, but as the distance between their faces gradually lessened, she realized what he was after, forcing a smile through her pain and discomfort as she said, "Just kiss me, you asshole..."
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(A/N: Who said the childhood friend always loses...?)

"You...you wretched beast...!" hissed Aizen, his legs and body trembling as he stood shakily a few meters from Ohta, the latter smiling menacingly as blood leaked from his scalp, parting at his nose and dripping from his eyebrows.
"What's the matter?" asked Ohta. "You believed you had what it took to become a God, but when the odds aren't stacked in your favor, you can't even stand tall against a single human..."
Clenching his teeth, Aizen resisted the pain radiating from his crotch and charged toward Ohta, nearly catching him off guard as he slid across the ground without any initial movement.
Dodging Aizen's initial spear-like punch, Ohta attempted to grab his arm and perform a shoulder throw but was thwarted by a sharp impact to the back of his head. Aizen had headbutted him in the brief interval when he turned. Then, using the brief moment he was stunned, the furious, hazel-haired man put Ohta in a chokehold, screaming, "Die...!"
Fortunately for Ohta, he managed to tuck his chin before Aizen could get a good hold on his neck. When Aizen shouted, he grabbed the man's arm and threw his head back with as much force as he could muster, causing a sharp pain to radiate through his skull but succeeding in bashing Aizen's nose, forcing him to let go.
Intending to take advantage of Aizen's shock, Ohta turned around only to receive a devastating kick to his side, causing him to stumble. However, due to the adrenaline coursing through his veins, he was able to bounce back instantly, retaliating with a fierce series of strikes that kept Aizen on the backfoot but ultimately failed to break through his guard.
When Ohta invariably had to pull away to catch his breath, Aizen charged forward with similar passion, landing a lightning-fast jab square in the former's face before following it up with a veritable flurry of swift, precise strikes. Ohta managed to get up his guard, weaving, sidestepping, and ducking under some of Aizen's attacks, but the majority found purchase, stacking up damage and draining his stamina.
"Just die already...!" screamed Aizen, throwing his full body weight behind a decisive right straight. Ohta attempted to meet the punch head-on with his forehead, but Aizen anticipated his move, retracting his fist at the last moment before transitioning into a devastating knee strike as he grabbed the sides of Ohta's head.
Though he managed to get his hands under him to protect his face, Ohta soon found himself pinned to the ground after Aizen stepped back, pulling him by his Usekh. Then, like an executioner, he attempted to drop his elbow on the back of Ohta's neck, intending to cripple him. Instead, he found himself gritting his teeth as Ohta abruptly lunged forward, tackling him off his feet and causing him to land heavily on his back.
After rolling around for several seconds in a struggle for dominance, Ohta and Aizen were exhausted and breathing heavily. Blood flowed freely from their wounds, particularly the former, as they traded brutal blows with the ferocity of wild animals. When everything was said and done, it was Aizen who managed to get the upper hand, locking Ohta in a variation of a rear-naked choke as he exhaled a crazed chuckle, straining the muscles of his arms in an attempt to squeeze the life out of his opponent.
Spurred by Ohta's thrashing, Aizen's grip tightened as he screamed, "You did well, Yamada Ohta! This isn't how I imagined our climactic battle, but it was surprisingly fun! Now die...!"
Giving up on pulling Aizen's arms away from his neck, Ohta surprised his grinning opponent by abruptly reaching up, grabbing his head, and trying to stab him in the eyes with his thumbs. Aizen shook his head from side to side to avoid being blinded, but the more he struggled, the less pressure he could exert on Ohta's neck.
Demonstrating his desperation was far more 'extreme' than Aizen's, Ohta temporarily gave up on gouging the man's eyes out and instead closed his fingers around the former's ears, tearing and twisting without mercy. An ordinary person would have released him right then and there, but Aizen managed to fight through the pain, a loud, whining groan emanating from his throat as he closed his eyes, gnashed his teeth, and tightened his grip.
Stating the obvious, Anpu remarked, ("You're dying...") prompting Ohta to internally scream, ("No fucking shit...!") as he reached up to grab Aizen's hair, violently pulling it as he arched his back in a vain attempt to alleviate the pressure around his neck.
Gritting his teeth hard enough to cause his gums to bleed, Aizen resisted the pain from his scalp, determined to choke the life out of Ohta. He very nearly succeeded, but just as Ohta's struggles began to cease, a familiar figure appeared next to them, veiled in a pastel blue aura that contrasted their otherwise black surroundings.
For a brief moment, Ohta and Aizen ceased their struggles, staring at the new arrival in shock. Even Anpu and his green-skinned counterpart had looks of disbelief as, for the duration of the Trial, the domain of Anubis's Judgment was 'supposed' to be inviolable.
"Kurosaki Ichigo..." muttered Aizen, prompting the orange-haired youth to ask, "What's going on here...?" with a neutral mask that belied his extreme confusion. He had just spent the past 2000 hours unlocking a power that would allow him to strike down Aizen in his 'transcendent' form, but when he arrived, he found his greatest enemy and rival fighting each other like a pair of street toughs...
Since he could not speak, Ohta stared daggers at Ichigo while slapping Aizen's arm. He was barely clinging to consciousness at this point, so if the mindless ginger just kept staring at him, there was a good chance he would wake up in a hospital bed long after the fight had concluded.
Realizing that Ohta was asking for his help, Ichigo muttered, "Right..." before casually stabbing Aizen in the forearm with the shadowy black blade fused to his right hand.
As Aizen screamed and released his grip on Ohta, the green-skinned man across from Anpu declared, "The sanctity of the Trail has been violated. A penalty shall be applied to all parties..." in a hoarse, incredibly aged voice.
Immediately after the man had finished speaking, a symbol resembling a four-tiered Bishop from chess appeared on the foreheads of Ohta, Aizen, and Ichigo, glowing like a brand. In the latter's case, however, it failed to penetrate the aura veiling his body, ultimately disappearing as the space around them returned to normal.
"What is this...?" muttered Aizen, reaching up to touch his forehead as the Hogyoku in his chest gradually regained its light. He could tell that Ohta's power was no longer in effect, but his Reiatsu hadn't returned to him.
Before Aizen could make sense of the situation, red lights resembling the sharp ends of stakes erupted from his chest, forming the shape of a cross as a burning sensation permeated his body.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaah...!"
As Aizen reeled back, unable to remain standing due to the pain he was experiencing, Kisuke appeared out of thin air, remarking, "Looks like it's finally activated. Though, if I'm being honest, I never expected things to play out quite like this..."
Recognizing the voice of his most hated enemy, Aizen shouted, "Urahara Kisuke! What have you done!? What manner of Kido is this...!?"
"It's very clearly a seal..." replied Kisuke, shifting his gaze to Ohta or, more accurately, the symbol burned into his forehead as he explained, "I knew from the beginning that if you fused with the Hogyoku, it would be nearly impossible to kill you. Thus, during your metamorphosis, back when you were at your most vulnerable, I placed a Kido specially developed to seal the Hogyoku inside of you..."
Returning his gaze to Aizen, Kisuke seemed 'disappointed' as he added, "Never did I suspect that you would be rendered 'human' by Ohta-kun's power..."
"Human...?" parroted Aizen, disbelief marring his face before he shouted, "What are you talking about!? So long as the Hogyoku is embedded within me, I'll continue to grow and evolve without limitation! If you think I'll be defeated and sealed away this easily-"
Before Aizen could finish speaking, cross-shaped stakes of glowing red energy erupted from his back, drastically increasing his pain. He felt like he was simultaneously burning and being twisted apart from within, and he wasn't far off. Kisuke's seal was designed to scatter and constantly redirect the flow of energy in his body, so as the Hogyoku did its best to restore his Reiatsu, Aizen's muscles, nerves, and bones twisted within his flesh, contorting him painfully as a bone-colored mass erupted from the base of his feet, stretching, twisting, and compressing his body more than ten meters before forming a trio of interlinked crosses that hovered in the sky.
("Holy fucking shit...") thought Ohta, ignoring the burning sensation from his forehead as he stared at the brutal scene with wide eyes. He had no sympathy for Aizen, but watching someone having their body twisted and stretched like playdough was jarring. If Aizen managed to survive due to the Hogyoku's influence, he would be in a truly incomprehensible amount of pain...
"Do me a favor..." said Ohta, covering his right nostril to snort out a clot of blood before joking, "If you ever have to seal me away, don't use such an 'extreme' method..."
"I'm certain that won't be necessary," mused Kisuke, regaining his usual 'mysterious' smile as he looked at the Djed symbol on Ohta's forehead and added, "Rather, as far as I can tell, it appears you've done a number on yourself. I'm guessing that seal is a side-effect of utilizing a power you weren't prepared for...?"
"Something like that..." replied Ohta, seeing no reason to explain things in detail. He also didn't blame Ichigo for intervening as, if the orange-haired youth hadn't arrived, he'd likely be dead with most of his power absorbed by Aizen. If that had happened, there was a decent chance that nothing could have stopped his ascent...
Shifting his gaze to Ichigo, Ohta remarked, ("Well, almost nothing. This brat got a hell of a lot stronger in a very short period. I can't even sense his power anymore...")
Though most of his power had been sealed away, Ohta could at least 'feel' the Reiatsu radiating from Kisuke's body. When he looked at Ichigo, however, he felt nothing, almost like he was staring off into empty space or gazing up at the sky of Hueco Mundo.
Raising his brows, Ichigo asked, "Are you good? Need help standing...?"
"I've been better, and no," replied Ohta, forcing himself to his feet despite his body's protests. Most of the ribs on the left side of his body were at least fractured, and he had broken three fingers in his desperate attempts to get Aizen to release him. However, with his options being walking back with his head raised and being carried, he would endure.
"So, what's with the weird ass chain...?" asked Ohta, referring to the thin black chain wrapped around Ichigo's right arm, stemming from the black bandages encompassing his fist, preventing him from releasing the blade affixed to his hand.
"Ah..."
Staring down at his Zanpakuto with a forlorn expression, Ichigo revealed, "You're not the only one who went to great lengths to prevent Aizen from triumphing. I fused with my Zanpakuto in preparation for one final attack. Once I end my transformation and return to normal, I'm told my Shinigami powers will disappear completely..."
Furrowing his brows, Ohta briefly shifted his gaze to Kisuke, prompting the pale-haired blonde to smile and shake his head, mouthing the words, 'This is for the best.'
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Ohta returned his half-lidded gaze to Ichigo, shrugging his shoulders as he said, "Well, it's not like this is the first time you've lost your power. It might take a while, but I'm sure you'll get them back somehow. Until then, you should focus on your family and finishing High School..."
Seeing no reason to stick around with the mysterious candy store uncle and brooding teenager, Ohta slipped his hands into his pockets and began walking in the direction Rukia and the others should be. Not being able to teleport or use Shunpo was inconvenient, but Ohta pretended not to care as he kept calling out to Anpu and Susu in his mind, only to be greeted by silence...
...
..
.
(A/N: There are no true victors in war...)

Chapter 97: Post-War Recovery