Chapter Ten
"Oh, yes, my past is very… sorrowful."
"I don't think we're hiring at the moment, but I'm sure I could find a place for you." Urahara smiled charmingly, waving his fan idly as he was eye-to-eye with the girl before him. In response, the monkey-girl cheered with childish delight. "Oh, thank you so much!"
"But, before that… how sad is it?" His eyes sparkled with mirth has they were shaded by his 'clever-looking hat'.
"Well.. uhm.." She scratched her head. "I was born.. uh.. in Alaska. My family, was, uh, away on business all of the time. Like, 24/7. Also, I had to chase chickens and lizard around for food."
"… Lizard around?"
"Oh, yes! You don't know the act of lizarding?" Ash laughed nervously.
"I'm afraid not. Would you demonstrate for me?" He grinned slightly, stepping back to give her enough 'lizarding room' in the roomy shop.
She gulped and knelt down, beginning to crawl stealthily across the floor on her hands and knees. Her face was red with embarrassment.
And it grew even redder when Ichigo Kurosaki, who was quite impatient from waiting outside, walked in. "…What the hell?"
"Oh, Ichigo! Your friend was just telling me about her unfortunate past, of scourging and.. Lizarding in the cold and barren lands of Alaska."
The carrot top's eye began twitching, and Ash took her cue to leave in a hurry. "Tell me about that job later, Paul!!"
"… Paul..?" He slowly turned his head to stare at Urahara, who in turn, merely smiled. "It's a long story."
"I bet."