Now let's start chapter 10

Chapter 10

School was a bit better for Ichigo, maybe it's because he has his close friend with him. She was amazed at how many kids go to his school and how much they had to learn in one day. He told her it's not that much but she continued on that it must be tough to learn all this. Still, it was cute how she asks him a question on the material. She even wanted to try one of the questions herself, but he told her they could at lunchtime. People will start to think he was nuts, talking to thin air. Not that he cared what people thought of him but it would worry his pig-tailed friend.

Ichigo has yet to come up with a name for her. Having known her, for a very long time, and not calling her by a name is embarrassing, even for him. Throughout the class period Ichigo was thinking of what name she would like. She might not like too much of a girly name… or maybe she does? Who knows? The process was difficult but after what felt like forever he finally found one… or a few, just in case she did not like them.

Lunch finally came for our hero as the students started to walk out. He noticed Uryu looking in his direction. The way he looked at him meant he wanted something. He then walked out but not before tilting his head to tell Ichigo to follow. The aforementioned girl tugged a bit on his shirt to get his attention. Her face was crossed with an uncertain look. Ichigo knew that Uryu saw her and is looking for an answer as to why she is here, but knowing him, it's going to be more than that. Ichigo started to get up and walk toward the hallway with his pig-tailed friend close behind him.

"I know that you're worried, but don't be. Uryu just looks scary", the orange haired boy comfortably said, trying to smooth over her concerns.

The girl looks up and smiled, knowing he was trying to make her feel better.

"Hey, has your name come back to you yet"? He asked, hoping that it did come back to her.

The girl's smile went away and a frown replaced it. Her eyes now looked towards the ground, downcasted. He was afraid of this. She does not remember and it always made her sad. To not know who she is, a torture in itself. He hopes that giving her a name will ease that off her mind.

"It's okay, how about we come up with a name together"? Ichigo asked hoping that will brighten her mood

The girl looked very happy about it and gave Ichigo her bright smile.

"Yeah, lets"!

Ichigo chuckled a bit at her very enthusiastic attitude towards this. They finally came to the stairs where he grabbed hold onto the railing as he continued to his destination.

"Alright… How about Yumi"?

"Umm… No, I don't like it very much".

"Okay, how about Sakura?"

The girl looked at him with an unamused look, "There are two girls with that name in your class already, try harder".

The orange haired hero just groaned. Of course she would not like it. It's to freakin' common!

"Alright, alright. How about Natsumi"?

"Well, I don't hate it, but I don't know. It just doesn't fit". The pig tailed girl said as she kept up with Ichigo's progressing steps.

Ichigo knew that her name has to be unique, so being all out of names he try's his last one.

"How about Yuna?"

Just like that, her face brightened. She must like the name because she kept her smile as they got close to the roof.

"I love it. It's just so nice". She commented as they reached the door, waiting for Ichigo to open it for her. He complied and opened it as she walked though.

"It also rolls of the tongue. It took me time to think of it." Ichigo said as he grabbed hold on the railing of the roof's gate, looking down on the city.

"How did you find it? It sounds like to me that it was not easy to find". Yuna said as she followed Ichigo to the railing.

Ichigo looked down at her and looked away with a red tint on his checks, "Let's just say I found it by reading a book".

Truth be told, he found it through his guilty pleasure that no one knows about: his romance novels. He is not as dense as his friends say and, if anything else, he just does not find interest in the girls at his school. Besides, the novels help, a bit, with the situation that he is in now. Ichigo also makes sure that his father does not find out about them. It would be ammo for him to use for the rest of his days.

Before Yuna can say anything a voice interrupted her.

"So what I thought in class was true. She is a wondering sprit". The voice came towards them from the shadows.

Uryu came into view with an unamused look on his face. Ichigo knew, very well, that he was here to talk something more than his hunch. Ichigo took a step in front on Yuna to show that he was going to protect her. Uryu caught on to this and was going to make his point very clear to him.

"Why is she here? You should of sent her to the soul society like you do the all the other souls stuck here", Uryu continued as he stared down the two, knowing Ichigo will not take this very well.

"I'm warning you, Uryu, back off"! Ichigo said in a low angered tone. Uryu will not back off. No. He wants to know why she is different from the rest. He knows Ichigo well enough to know that either something was off or there was more to this.

"What's so different about her? Why is she with you? If I did not know better, I'd say you are friends with her", Uryu said, now raising his voice with every word.

"Is that a problem, Uryu? Or did you come looking for a fight because if you keep at it, you're going to get one"! Ichigo yelled.

He had enough of this. Uryu is scaring Yuna and even worse; he is making it sound like a crime to be friends with her. He does not understand the bond they have. He was not there when she was bloodied and scared out of her mind. Nor was he there when she was wondering the streets, lost and bleeding. Just implying what they have is wrong makes his blood boil.

Uryu saw that Ichigo was heated and ready for a fight and the girl was now scared of what he might do to her. All in all, he looks like the bad guy. This is not how he wanted this to go. Now he has to defuse the situation he started or this will get messy quick. Pushing up his glasses a bit he cleared his throat and continued.

"Relax Ichigo, I mean no harm. The reason I was asking is that you do know what happens to a soul that can't leave this world, right"? Uryu stated in a calm tone, hoping to defuse this situation. Ichigo lowered his stance and was wondering what Uryu is getting at, besides trying to upset Ichigo.

"Yeah, they turn to hollows. I have seen it tons of times".

"Yes, but do you know why"? Uryu pressed on to see if Ichigo is getting the picture.

"Something about grief, right"? Ichigo replied, not really sure himself.

"Well, sometimes yes, but the reason they turn is more complex. It depends on the circumstance".

This took Ichigo by surprise. There was more to it than just being a lost soul.

"Have you noticed that at the end of her chain there is a complete loop and not broken in half as the others we have seen"?

Yuna looked down and noticed that indeed, her chain looked whole. Ichigo meanwhile was shocked to say the least. Uryu saw this and decided to finish his theory.

"Yuna, as you call her, has bounded to you".

Ichigo was speechless.

He would have never thought that his act of kindness would mound up to something like this. He did notice that her chain never broke off strands but he never saw it whole. Ichigo took hold onto the railing and slowly sat down. It was too much to take in and his kindness, to show her freedom, has now bounded her like a prisoner. He took his right hand and placed it on his face as if to hide or rub away the new found guilt.

Yuna now was confused by the discussion of the two high school teens but one thing was for certain, Ichigo was taking it hard. She noticed him sitting on the floor with a guilty expression on his face. She quickly took his right hand and removed it from his face. She took it into her hands and gave it a gentle squeeze. This brought Ichigo out of his train of thought and looked towards Yuna. Her eyes, laced with worry, broke off any thoughts of guilt he had. He returned the gesture and gave her small hands a squeeze back, showing her that he was fine. Yuna gave a small smile but knew Ichigo was still bothered by the conversation.

"Sorry, Yuna, looks like you're stuck with me", Ichigo heavily sighed, "And to think that hanging around me caused you to bind to me".

Yuna now understood what he meant. Her broken chain somehow connected to Ichigo and became whole but in the process, bounded her to him.

She was not saddened by this at all. She was happy to be able to spend more time with him. She would rather have this than to be alone and scared of those monsters with the white masks. She has seen what they done to other wandering souls. They would chase, and then she would hear screaming and then they were gone. She was lucky that none of the monsters tried to get her. It seems like every time they chased someone the monsters never turned to even look at her. She remembers times where she was so scared she could not move, but they always walked passed her. She was happy for that but she never understood why. Maybe it has to do with Ichigo.

Uryu saw they're interaction and he knew they were close. He is not sure how close but sees enough to tell that they care about each other. Before he could speak, Ichigo beat him to it.

"Yes, she is different from the rest. You weren't there when I found her and I will not go into detail of how, but know this"…

Ichigo, still sitting, paused as he raised his head and locked eyes with Uryu, to strengthen his point.

"When she had no one, I was there and I'll be damned if I took all she had left as support and send her to the soul society. I have talked to her about where she would go if she passed on but she does not want to and I respect that".

Yuna looked towards Uryu and nodded with a smile, letting him know that what Ichigo said was true.

"Besides, she has come a long way from then and she likes it here", Ichigo finished with a smile.

Uryu was surprised that Ichigo, a hard as nails, rude, and beyond all else clueless at times, found a soft spot for this girl. He, of course, did not show his surprise state but it showed through his speechlessness. He again pushed his glasses up to prevent them from falling and is about to continue with his pervious statement, before being interrupted.

"It looks like she likes being around you and her being bound to you was not intentional". The glasses wearing teen said as he looked out towards the city below. "Ichigo, it's a much better than the alternative and you know that", he said as he started to walk back to the door that led him up the roof.

He did not leave before having the last words, "I believe it has to do with your huge reserve of spiritual pressure. I'm not sure how, but maybe Urahara can give a better answer than I… Oh and before I forget, your partners are not here today". With that said, he left down the stairs.

Ichigo noticed that his new partners were not here today, but it did not worry him much. It's hard to explain, but he could feel them and their presence; it felt calm. It was all a mystery, ever since the merger with the four, but it felt nice. Everything that has happened has been a change for the better. Ichigo started to get up as he hears the school bell ring for class.

Yuna looked at him to see if he will be alright. Ichigo smiled and said, "I'm fine now, thanks for the help"!

Yuna continued to smile, "I'm glad. Even if I'm bound to you, it is way better than being alone on the street and you helped me a lot. So, I should be thanking you". She gave his arm a squeeze.

Ichigo chuckled a bit, "Come on, we don't want to be late, do we"?

The two left to attend what's left of classes.

Well here it is chapter 10, sorry it took a while but, as promised, the Dead girl has been named and her name is Yuna! 'Till the next chapter, Shark Spartan out!