Response to reviews!
Tiana Misoro: Yay, I'm not the only one that calls Ulquiorra that~! XD
Watermelondrea: It's Ulquiorra! Ullaallala is too….cute for him. XD
Miszxbrii: So…you're paranoid? 8D Kidding~!
Strawberry-Ringo: Hmm…thanks for the help! XD
Wolfdragonful: Evil is in the eye of the fans, not the author. I see it as…wonderful expression! XD *gives you twenty tissue boxes*
Chelsea Lynn: W-wait a sec! That's just mean to me! *cries, hides in a corner and anime gloom cloud pops up*
Skiggle: Thank you thank you! My next performance is…in this chapter! XD
Aya-ItaLover: Awesomesause eh? Haven't heard that phrase in awhile! XD
herRhi-chan: For your entertainment…and to see how far my imagination can truly travel! XD
HannahGee13: Ok! *throws chocolate chip cookie your way* Yes…it is the perfect combo, neh?
Eternal Love's Eclipse: Hah! Your review repeated! And I'm sorry about those mistakes; Microsoft corrects them like that and I never catch it until the chapter is up! *bows*
Raicheru: You'll find out…
Narlth: Yeah…not good, eh? *evil grin*
Solifer: I…have good charm? 8D
SakaSandora: Woof, I'm glad!
Cherry-Duck: I'll agree with ya on the beach deal! But have fun!
Kobato00: Been awhile, eh? 8D Well, I'm glad you're enjoying the story!
XanoSpako: I considered that…and I will do it! I just wanted to see what else people come up with~!
Sasu -Sama Sarukiji Senpai: Yup!
Aizen must Die: Good idea…but don't worry; you can skip the smex chapter!
Nathalorial: I heard about that one…ouchies. Well, like I said, thanks! But…I really need to move on with the story here…
Avgirl10: Wow, how cute and funny~! I did consider that…but having poor Shiro watch helplessly is soooo~ much better~!
Alright, due to my lack of imagination, I shall….skip out a little on the torture now, ok? Oh, I'll tell you what was happening, but you won't actually read it, ok? Also, thanks for the ideas! I will do my best to use a few…especially one from Nathalorial. Same method…but a little different. You'll see! All right…let's start Chapter 15!
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Chapter 15: Names and trust…
Rukia's POV
Present…
Ichigo's been asleep for awhile now, and I know Shiro and Dion know why he's like that. Right now, it was just me, Orihime, and those two, sitting and talking. It seemed to help Shiro relax. Well…that was until we had to actually ask him something. "Shiro….we need to ask you something…" I whispered. He turned his golden eyes on me and I couldn't help but gaze into them, trying to read what they wanted to tell me.
"What?" he asked. He knew it was about what had happened the past few days, but I was hoping it wasn't too bad…I don't want to see him go through one of those…spells again.
"Why did they want your name Shiro? Why were you so important to them?" His eyes glowed dangerously and for a moment, I thought he was going to yell at me, but instead, he sighed, got up and walked to where Ichigo was resting still. Dion's dark eyes followed him and he shook his head.
"Forgive him, please. It's…a rather touchy subject." He told us. I knew that, but, and I do hate feeling like this, but he needed to move on! How could we find out what was happening to them if he couldn't tell us?
"Well, can you tell us, Dion?" Orihime asked instead. "Can you tell us why they wanted to know his name? You were working with them at the time, right? The Espada, I mean." He looked down, his eyes trained on his hands, which were gripping his cup tightly.
"A fact that I am not proud of; never was and never will be…" he growled. I was still curious, but they way Shiro and Dion were acting…maybe it was best to leave it alone.
"You don't need to tell us. We can wait for Shiro-" Orihime tried to speak, but Dion cut her off.
"No, I'll tell you. Shiro…I don't want him to suffer this alone. I was there too, so I can tell you." He sighed and looked at us, then he turned and looked back at the doorway where Shiro had left before returning his gaze on us. "You want to know…why they wanted his name…"he said quietly.
"Yes…" Orihime said and I just nodded. After seeing that look…in Shiro's eyes…I just lost my voice. It was filled with so much pain, anger, hate and agony…what exactly did he go through?
"Fine, I'll tell you…just as I told them." He let out a long breath. "It was about 3 days after Ulquiorra began his…methods of interrogation..."
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Shiro's POV
8 days ago…
To tell you how much pain Ichigo was in…I'd have to write a three hour speech. Ulquiorra made good on his threat. I have no idea how many days have passed since we were trapped here, according to Dion it's to throw off our sense of time, and shit it was working, but he would come down and repeat his tortures, and add a new one every single time. Now…the total of 'methods' was four; burn his skin, dislocate and relocate his arms and legs, flay his skin in small places, and he would put this unimaginable weight of rocks on his chest, almost suffocating him. He now looked like a skinny, mutilated ghost of the person I loved. I always made sure he tried to rest, but his dreams were filled with nightmares; leftover experience from the Kurai Heya, I bet; especially when his had tried to reach into his chest. I always grabbed it to stop him and he would freeze before relaxing into true sleep. "Sleep, my beloved…" I whispered into his hair as I rest my head in his hair. It was turning a dull color because of his lack of nutrients and food…he needed to eat really badly. The door next to us creaked open and Dion came in, carrying fresh washcloths.
"Hope I didn't wake him up…" he muttered as he dropped the washcloths off in the bathroom. I shook my head as he walked back in and stood against the wall.
"No…he only now just began resting peacefully." I told him quietly. He nodded and stood there, shifting uneasily where he stood. I just rolled my eyes and sighed. "You can sit down, you know." I told him. He just rolled his eyes, grabbed a chair and sat down, staring at me as I stroked Ichigo's hair.
"You care for him a lot, don't you?" he asked me. I just sighed and nodded.
"Is that such a sin, for me to care?" I asked hotly.
"For someone in your position, who claims he doesn't have a name, yes, it's a sin." Dion's rather odd words forced me to tear my gaze away from Ichigo and look at him.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked him.
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Normal POV
Dion locked his dark eyes with Shiro's golden ones. "You feel emotions; you care for him. In turn, you must have a name." Shiro gave him a blank stare.
"I don't get it." Dion threw his arms up in the air.
"Tell me Hichigo; are you acting stupid on purpose, or are you really that thick headed?" Shiro's eyes glared dangerously and Dion scooted the chair back some. "Sorry, but you honestly have no idea?" Shiro shook his head.
"I have no clue why they want my name, or why the fuck it even matters!" he snapped, causing Ichigo to stir in his sleep. Shiro quickly looked at him, making sure that none of his fresh wounds had reopened. Seeing that none had opened, he sighed and looked back at the arrancar. He was staring at Ichigo, a mild concerned look on his face, completely ignoring the hollow's gaze. "So...are ya gonna tell me?"
"Hmm…what?" Dion asked, snapping his gaze away from Ichigo and back to Shiro.
"About what it is that you all want from me." Dion held his hand up in defense.
"It's what they want from you, not me. I told you I don't want to know your real name." he said. "Tell me something Hichigo, and please be honest; when Ichigo gave you your name, didn't you feel something inside you fill up?" Shiro's eyes widened. He could remember the exact moment that he had accepted the name Shiro as his own and he remembered feeling that.
"Yeah…it felt like I was…I dunno, completed." He nodded. "Like the part of me that was empty was then filled." Dion snapped his fingers.
"Yes! Now…tell me this; whenever you use a Getsugatensho…how can it be made stronger?" he asked. Shiro just sighed.
"By using its na-" he froze. Wait a second…using the techniques name… he doesn't mean…
"You seem to get at least some of it now, eh?" he said. "Names have power. When a Soul Reaper calls the name of their zanpakuto, it's released, giving it and the Soul Reaper more power. When a zanpakuto's technique is called by its name, it's stronger."
"But that still doesn't explain why these douche bags want my fucking name!" Shiro hissed under his breath, doing his best not to disturb Ichigo.
"It does, but you need to think for a second. You're a hollow Hichigo. The Hogyoku not only creates arrancars, but it can also control them…but only if you have the source of their power." Shiro's golden eyes widened in realization.
"They want my name…"
"So that they can control you. Ichigo himself is useless to them. Once they learn your name, they can gain control over your power. You'd be nothing but another servant of Aizen's." he finished.
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Dion's POV
I watched as it all sunk in and he slid against the wall. "No…they'll never get my name." he said quietly, as if he wasn't even sure if what he said was true. I felt bad for telling him, but he deserved to know the truth. In fact, I didn't give a shit for hiding things from them. After I learned who Ichigo was…a human…I just couldn't bear to see them suffer anymore. But what could I do? Nothing…that's what.
"They will; one way or another." I said. He shook his head.
"No. We'd rather die than say anything!" I just sighed. His voice was almost desperate.
"Hichigo….believe me, I don't want this to happen either." His eyes then seemed to bore into my very soul, his anger wasn't hidden very well.
"Why in fuck do you care? You're working for them, I know you are!" Every word he said was true, but at the same time, they burned my soul.
"I…I care because I hate this…I hate seeing them do this to the two of you." His eyes lightened up a little. "I felt pity for you…I guess it's in my true nature to care for you two."
"What do you mean by that?" he asked. I smiled.
"I'll tell ya my past, but on one condition; you have to tell me some more about Ichigo. You are a part of who he is…yet you're individual." Hichigo seemed to think about it before nodding.
"Fine."
"Ok…when I was a simple hollow, I was a rare case you could say; I remembered my name from my human past." I began.
"Dion." He said and I nodded.
"That allowed me to…I guess keep in touch with my former personality, which is what you see now. However; that all changed…when Lord Aizen found me. He said he saw promise in me. When he asked my name, I…gave it to him. He then turned me into an arrancar." Hichigo gave me a wary look suddenly.
"Then how do I know that you aren't lying?" he asked. I couldn't help but agree with him; he shouldn't trust me…
"I was given another name; Novia. But I didn't accept it as mine. Instead, I changed it and accepted my name again; this time as Dion Novia. I have a full name, but they have no influence over me. The only thing that ties me here now…is you two."
"Dion…" I could tell he was surprised; hell I surprised myself with that line.
I guess I really do care for them…I thought. I was a little surprised earlier when I felt pity for them, but now…
"Shiro." I looked up at him in shock.
"Ex-excuse me?" I wasn't sure I heard that.
"My name; it's Shiro." No way…he told me…
"But I said not-"
"I'm trusting you with it." I looked at him, but he seemed tired. Can't blame him. I just sighed.
"Fine, sleep, but ya have a promise to keep…Shiro." I told him. He merely nodded as his golden eyes slipped shut, falling asleep.
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Orihime's POV
Present…
A shocked cry from Shiro knocked Dion out of his explanation "Ichigo!" We all bolted to the room, to see Shiro cradling Ichigo in his arms. Ichigo's eyes were open, but they seemed blurry and scared.
"Sh…Shiro…?" his voice was scratchy and broken, as if his entire soul was cracked. Dion ran over to the two of them.
"It's me…it's me beloved…" he whispered, kissing Ichigo's forehead. He turned his head slowly…very slowly, like he could barely feel his neck, and stared at Dion.
"Dion…?" Dion just nodded. He looked around him, his eyes wide. "I…I can't see well…why not?" he asked. Shiro just shook his head. "Where are…we?"
"We're safe at Kisuke's Shop." Shiro said. Ichigo gave him a blank stare.
"Kisuke's…Shop?"
"Ichigo?" I couldn't help but whisper his name. He looked at me and Rukia…and clung to Shiro so hard his knuckles turned white, his hazy eyes filled with unimaginable fear.
"Shiro…who are these people?"
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Chapter 15 end
Mwahahahaha! Betcha y'all are wondering what happened, neh? Well….if ya push the button, not only will you be given your best horoscope, but you can vent your hatred on me~!