Things Worth Fighting For

Though he couldn't be bothered to explain in detail what happened during his time in Soul Society, Ohta did provide a general overview of what had transpired for Karin's benefit.

"So, basically, you beat up a bunch of 'Death Gods,' saved your woman, and returned home without any real consequences? That's...pretty cool..." remarked Karin, seated with her feet together atop Ohta's bed, observing him pack.

"Well, I 'am' a badass..." remarked Ohta, sparing his would-be apprentice a glance as he asserted, "And you can be too, so long as you don't give up halfway. The surly strawberry has already become decently powerful, and it hasn't even been that long since he started training."

"Ichi-nii...?" asked Karin, instantly correlating the words 'surly strawberry' with her brother.

"Yeah," replied Ohta. "He managed to pick up a technique even the most powerful Shinigami supposedly take a hundred years to master. Though, seeing how some of those bastards are super weak despite being ancient, I can't imagine them actively training."

"Maybe," admitted Karin, adopting a fairly cheeky smile as she added, "Or maybe you and Ichi-nii are just too strong."

"There's no such thing as 'too strong' when it comes to guaranteeing your way of life and protecting those you care about," contended Ohta, vesting the grinning tomboy a smidge of wisdom and shouldering a total of seven duffel bags.

Understanding that Ohta was about to leave, Karin's mood diminished as she questioned, "Are you really planning to carry those things out in broad daylight? Why not wait for nightfall...?"

"Because I have better uses for my time than sitting here chatting with you, boku," teased Ohta, hoisting two final duffel bags before turning to depart. Karin was a little annoyed with his parting words, but instead of trying to stop him, she sat atop his bed, staring in the direction he had departed for three full minutes before exhaling a defeated sigh...

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As they didn't know when Aizen would attack, Ohta, Rukia, and Orihime didn't spend every waking moment of every day lazing about or having sex. Instead, while Rukia taught Orihime the basics of Kido and Zanjutsu in preparation for becoming a Shinigami, Ohta spent between six and ten hours a day meditating, training to hone his focus and shift into his Kūsho state as quickly as possible.

"I am...immovable..." muttered Ohta, exhaling a stagnant breath that caused the surrounding space to 'bulge' outward, inverting when he took in another and added, "All things revolve around me..." in a state of deep focus. Mental imaging and belief in oneself were critical when developing and mastering psychic powers, but Ohta was taking things a step further by creating 'mantras' to stir his power quicker, similar to the chants used in Kido.

In response to Ohta's mantra, a sphere of brackish purple energy formed around his body, persisting for several seconds until he canceled it of his own accord, repeating, "I am immovable..." and he replicating the same results over, and over, and over again, determined to be able to trigger the state instinctively in the future...

Waiting for Ohta to finish his training, Rukia, followed closely by Orihime, almost as if the latter had become her lady-in-waiting, approached with a canteen, presenting it with a smile as she said, "Good work today."

Downing nearly the entire contents of the canteen in a single go, Ohta exhaled a refreshed sigh before adopting a smile of his own and saying, "Thanks. How did your girls' training go...?"

"It went well," assured Rukia, shifting her gaze to Orihime, prompting the bubbly ginger to raise her fists excitedly and exclaim, "I managed to use all the way up Bakudo #16 today~!"

"Hooooo...not bad..." muttered Ohta, making a come hither gesture so he could pat the grinning girl's head. Positive reinforcement was good for mental and spiritual development, but too much could make the recipient dependent on it to make progress. 'Balance' was key, so while his words were generally dismissive or casual, Ohta ensured Orihime felt gratified in other ways.

After permitting Orihime a few seconds of Ohta's undivided attention, Rukia revealed, "We just received word from the Urahara Shoten. The Gigai we ordered are ready, but he'd like us to test a new product he's been working on. They're on their way as we speak..."

Furrowing his brows, Ohta questioned, "What kind of product?" He was tempted to say they weren't Urahara's test subjects, but the sad reality was that most of their clothes and equipment came from the damnable candy store uncle.

Adopting a frown of her own, for obvious reasons, Rukia replied, "He said it uses spirit particle conversion to allow the user to transition between a physical and spiritual form without the need for a Gikon."

Blinking in surprise, Ohta asked, "Seriously...?" before shifting his gaze to Orihime. She tilted her head to the side as he did but quickly understood the reason for Ohta's surprise when he pointed out, "It's that thing that allowed you, Chad, and Uryu to transform your physical bodies into spirit form. If it actually works...that would be extremely convenient..."

"Oh, wow!" exclaimed Orihime. "Does that mean I can become invisible whenever I want...!?"

"Among other things..." replied Ohta, shifting his gaze back to Rukia as he asked, "Did he say what he wants for them?"

Shaking her head, Rukia momentarily closed her eyes, calmly revealing, "They were arranged for by Yoruichi-sama. She also sends you a message from the Soul Society. Would you like to hear it...?"

Though he was tempted to say no, Ohta replied, "Hit me..." with a slight frown.

Exhaling a faint sigh through her nose, Rukia opened her eyes and said, "She said, and I quote, "Just accept them. This way, you won't have to worry about your Gikon running wild or your Gigai falling into the wrong hands." End quote."

As he hadn't been looking forward to another version of himself walking around, substituting him in various situations, Ohta was secretly relieved by this development. However, Rukia's behavior was a little unusual, so he didn't insist they accept them. Instead, he asked, "Do you not want to be further indebted to Yoruichi...?"

Blinking in surprise, Rukia offered a confused "Huh...?" before shaking her head and explaining, "I've already accepted that Yoruichi-sama will be an 'inescapable' element in our lives for the foreseeable future. My...vexation has nothing to do with her..."

"Want to talk about it...?" asked Ohta, prompting Rukia to shake her head a second time, asserting, "No, it isn't anything worth discussing. Rather, if it never comes up in the future, that would probably be for the best..."

As the thing concerning her was the disappearance of her original Gigai, Rukia 'couldn't' discuss it with Ohta. If he knew there was a carbon copy of her floating around, potentially concealed in someone's closet or being piloted by an artificial soul, it would definitely bother him. It, sure as Hell was real, bothered her. If for no reason other than the fact, should Ohta find out about its existence and disappearance, he would 'definitely' hold those responsible accountable...

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While Tessai and several members of the Onmitsukidō unloaded large shipping crates from the back of a moving truck, Ohta read over the long list of items Kisuke was having him sign for. Yoruichi hadn't just footed the bill for the Gigai, but several other things, most notably a bunch of seeds belonging to plants that typically only grew in the Soul Society.

Preempting Ohta's questions, Kisuke fanned himself with his bamboo fan as he casually explained, "They're plants that are nourished by Reiryoku and, as a result, release trace amounts of it once they mature. Plant a few of these bad boys in your garden, and you'll always feel refreshed and full of vitality. Periodically mix some into your tea or grind them into a medical paste, and they can indefinitely extend the lifespan of a human."

Raising his brows, Ohta remarked, "Sounds like some Chinese cultivation shit..."

Exhaling a light chuckle, Kisuke mused, "You're not wrong. Until just a few thousand years ago, and for thousands before that, China was one of the regions that Soul Society had a strong influence over. Back then, humans weren't the only species occupying the planet, and the boundary between the Spiritual and Physical World was much easier to cross. Unfortunately, as you can imagine, certain people weren't satisfied with being ruled over by the 'Heavens.' There was a major push to oust all spiritual entities from the Physical World, eventually resulting in a massacre that saw most non-human races slaughtered or forced into hiding."

"Sounds about right..." muttered Ohta, frowning deeply. China was the principal instigator of the Third World War, gradually encroaching on the territorial waters of other nations in the 'South China Sea' until they had no choice but to defend themselves. After that, all hell broke loose as the Communist Superpower accused virtually every other country of violating their sovereignty, using it as an excuse to incite a war that left more than half the world's population in shallow, unmarked graves...

Noticing Ohta's serious expression and sudden loss of focus, Kisuke's usual smile faded as he asked, "You okay...?" in an ostensibly concerned tone.

"I'm fine," responded Ohta, signing the inventory list and handing the clipboard it was attached to back to Kisuke as he added, "But, even if I wasn't, it's none of your business..."

Regaining his smile, Kisuke mused, "Speaking of which, it was a pleasure doing business with you and the Shihouin Clan, Mr. Yamada. You take care now~."

Finished with his farewells, Kisuke turned around, waving the clipboard as he casually departed. Ohta also had no reason to stick around, so instead of watching the hat-and-clogs-wearing creeper walk off, climbing into the moving truck he had arrived in, he turned around and went inside to check out his new Gigai...

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[September 1st, 2001]

With Summer Break ending, giving way to a new school semester, Ohta rode with Rukia and Orihime to their first day, sandwiched between the two girls as they rode in the back of a 2001 Toyoda Century, chauffered by the purple-haired Ayame.

"What will you be doing while we're at school?" asked Rukia, tracing her thumb over Ohta's as they sat hand-in-hand.

"I'll either be training, sketching, or managing my stock portfolio..." replied Ohta, hesitating for a moment before asking, "What about the two of you? are you sure this is the best use of your time...?"

Squeezing Ohta's hand, Rukia mused, "It might not be the 'most efficient' use, but experiences like this have their value..."

Nodding her head, Orihime happily chimed, "Rukia's right! It might be boring sometimes, but school is the best place to meet and make new friends~!"

"You're not wrong..." conceded Ohta. However, as he had no intention of returning to school, he preceded the duo's invitation by stating, "I might consider giving it a second go a few hundred years from now. For now, I want to focus on getting stronger. Besides, as it stands, I have more than enough companionship..."

Raising his hands, each holding one of theirs, Ohta earned smiles from Rukia and Orihime. Sixteen days of cohabitation had brought the three of them much closer. Ohta still had no intention of settling down with more than one woman, even if it was a common practice in the Soul Society, but he had gradually opened the idea that Orihime would be with them for the long haul. She had even proposed becoming Rukia's attendant, so the odds of them shaking her off became increasingly slim with each passing day...

With the car stopping at the school's front entrance, Ohta shared a kiss with Rukia, planting another on Orihime's forehead before watching the duo disembark, his eyes naturally gravitating toward their asses and the tantalizing gap between the hem of their skirts and stockings. Then, as the pair passed through the front gate, stopping to take one final look in his direction, smiling and waving as they did so, Ohta narrowed his eyes and returned a smile of his own as he thought, ("You are so fucking dead, Aizen...")

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(A/N: To live and die for a smile...)