Unfinished Gems

Soul Brothers - 18

Rukia looked at Yoru in disbelief.

"You played poker for three hours with the guy who beat up your brother and the one who kidnapped Orihime? Are you insane?"

"In what terms? Urahara insane or Kurotsuchi insane?"

"What difference does it make?" asked Rukia.

"Urahara is fun to mess with, Kurotsuchi is just plain boring," said Yoru bluntly.

Ichigo and Shirosaki started cracking up.

"Rukia, you still don't get it, do you?"

Rukia and Renji gave him a look.

"Do you know what Ichigo and Mamoru's name means?"

"Ichi as in First, Go as in protector. Mamoru by itself means Shield," said Ichigo.

"Exactly. What you don't seem to realize is that names have more power than you can comprehend. A name gives meaning, meaning gives strength, strength promotes growth. It's an unending cycle of power."

"There's a reason why the Emperor named me Mamoru," grinned Shirosaki.

The three looked at Yoru in disbelief.

"I've been meaning to ask, but why does he always refer to you as Emperor?"

"He calls you King, since you rule the inner world where he was born and occasionally lives in. He calls me Emperor because he recognizes that I have the power to control and wipe him out at any time. I can do more damage without using Cheshire than I can with him. I just don't like advertising that fact."

"You...who are you?" asked Renji.

Yoru smirked.

"Someone who outranks all the Noble houses combined, yet prefers to stay the captain of Squad Five."

"Didn't that guy you went to see last month give you something?"

"Ichigo, for the last time if I pulled it out, then Zero would appear and it annoys them. The only time I will ever use that call is if I have absolutely no other choice in the matter."

"Zero?"

"Too much information can be bad for you," said Yoru quickly.

"So we are all agreed to rescue Orihime?" asked Ichigo.

"You know the soutaicho won't allow us."

"Relax. Orihime will be fine. What you don't know is that Ulquiorra did me a favor by kidnapping her in the first place," said Yoru.

Renji, Ichigo and Rukia gave him a look.

"Orihime is a healer, but unlike Squad Four she is no fighter. Her shield is impressive, yes, but her attack strength is too pathetic for the level we'll be fighting at. She's just too kind for fighting, and that's the truth."

"How do you know the Espada won't eat her for her powers?" demanded Rukia.

"Because I happen to know Ulquiorra better than you do...after all...he is me."

Ichigo understood better than the others did.

"So he's Shirosaki to you?"

"Exactly."

Ichigo stood up. He could accept that. It seemed he was the only one to notice the similarities between the hollow and his brother.

"So who are we taking with us?"

"Momo will assist Squad Ten and Tatsuki will fight alongside the soul reapers guarding the pillars. The advance force to attack Hueco Mundo will consist of Uryu, Ichigo, Chad, and myself. Rukia, you and Renji will come in after us, followed by Squads, Twelve, Six, Eleven, and Four. The other captains are defending Karakura while we attack Hueco Mundo and destroy the Hogyoku before it fully awakens."