6- A name at last

"It was nothing, I was just…thinking." Ichigo nervously laughed, looking up at Dark Ichigo. "About things…" Smiling nervously, he sat up, rubbing his left shoulder. "Ah…why are you so concerned?" Looking over at his dark side, he blinked, seeing him standing, his hand outstretched. Taking it, he was yanked up, blushing slightly as Dark Ichigo held him close, placing his chin on the mop of orange hair. "…other half?"

"Partner…quit being so depressed," he frowned, "is it because of what Rukia said?"

"No…not really."

"You're lying again…it is about that." Dark Ichigo sighed, parting and turning his back to the young Kurosaki. "Look…I won't leave, if you want me to stay." Ichigo blinked slowly, confused but calmed. Looking up at the clearing sky, Dark Ichigo shrugged his shoulders. "Just remember that I'll be here, and I'll lend you my strength."

"Or possess my body," the Soul Reaper huffed.

"Maybe," Dark Ichigo laughed, the sickening sound actually turning human to Ichigo's ears, no gurgle-like sound to it at all. "But…I prefer to deal with the Hollows. They're a waste of your time…and besides, you get to be outside all the time."

Ichigo had a thoughtful look on his face, his left hand under his chin, his right crossed. Closing his eyes, he nodded slowly; opening his eyes and seeing those golden eyes gaze into his own, making him stumble back. "W-What the hell! Don't do that!" he cried, relocating his left hand onto his chest, feeling his pounding heart thudding against his chest. His right dangling lifelessly. "I'd like to live a little longer, okay?!"

Dark Ichigo chuckled, his arms at his sides. "Zangetsu is impressed on your progress, he thinks that you don't need his strength."

"I actually think I still will," Ichigo admitted, looking at the sideways sky. "Hey, dark half, how about we give you a name?"

"A name? Why?"

"Because you call me by mine sometimes, and I don't want you to feel left out!!" he snapped, then looked down on the ground, thinking of a good name that he could use. "You are a Hollow…look like me…" He bit his lower lip, then snapped his fingers, the brilliant name decided. "Shirosaki!"

"What a dumb name," Dark Ichigo whined, rolling his eyes. "I don't like it."

"Aw…come on!" Ichigo persisted. "It's fitting!!"

"I said that I don't like it."

"You asshole!" Ichigo frowned, crossing his arms, then grinning like Dark Ichigo had when he had those sudden blood urges. "Or…I could call you Homo-Hollow."

"I'll stick with Shirosaki, thanks," Shirosaki frowned, his eyes narrowed. Laughing, Ichigo placed both his hands behind his head.

"Hey, it's not that bad," he laughed, slightly smiling as he dropped his arms, crossing them and shutting his eyes as he plopped his bottom down on the ground. "Although…now that I think about it…Homo-Hollow would've been hilarious."

"But I'm Shirosaki." Shirosaki sighed, shaking his head then dropping it. "It sounds so stupid…but what can you do?"

Ichigo nodded, yet looked at the ground, placing his hand on it, smiling warmly. Dropping his head enough so Shirosaki wouldn't see the smile. His stomach was tied in knots, his head fogging. The hollow accepted the name he bestowed upon him, and now he can call him by a name. Looking up with those brown eyes, he forced a frown. Those golden ones on him, a quirked brow.

"What is it?" he asked, confused that Ichigo's face brightened a bit, the rain gone.

"Nothing…" he complied. "…Shirosaki."

"Heh," Shirosaki smirked, "I'll have to get used to being called that, won't I, Ichigo?" Seeing the orange haired teen nod, he smiled cruelly, sitting down and wrapping an arm around his neck. Slowly pulling him close, leaning the side of his face against the mop of orange hair. "Fine, whatever."

"You finally have a name,"

Walking up, he looked to the side, raising an arm up and covering his eyes. Listening to the soft sound of rain that hit his window. Looking out the glass, sitting up and pressing his right hand against it, the young Kurosaki had to guess that it was the skies turn to be depressed. Blinking, his eyes caught Uryu waving to him from under an umbrella. The sun was hiding behind the clouds. Looking over to the alarm clock, Ichigo bolted up, stripping and pulling on his school uniform, seeing that Rukia had already left. Scowling, he darted out the door.

Dammit! I overslept! he thought angrily, catching up to the dark haired male, soaking wet. Covered in water. Why didn't anyone wake me up?!

"Hey, Uryu," he frowned, panting heavily as the pale form nodded, looking at him with concerned eyes. "So…how are you?"

"Fine, but…Ichigo," he spoke sternly, "are you alright? I'm more worried about you. Were you able to talk to your other half last night?" Ichigo's heart stopped, looking up at Ishida with wide, dull brown eyes. Blinking and standing, bringing a hand up, he tried to catch his breath. "Ichigo?"

"What are you talking about? I don't have another half, I'm me." he protested, shoving his hands into his pockets and looking away, getting rained on insanely. Shaking his head, Uryu lifted an extra umbrella, handing it to Ichigo, whom blinked as he took it and pressed a button, popping it open. Lifting it over his head, he laughed. "Where would you…get such a stupid idea?"

"Rukia."

"Ah…" the young teen was silent, both walking towards Karakura High. "Well…she must've been hallucinating." He looked to the opposite side of the Quincy, narrowing his eyes and cursing Rukia. Shaking his head slightly, the little droplets of water flaking off. "I'm me, as I said before, I have no other side."

"Ichigo, you weren't yourself yesterday." Uryu frowned, looking at him from the corner of his eye. "I'm beginning to think that one day we'll have to kill you."

"What?! Uryu! How can you say such a thing?!" he gasped out, glaring at him, tightening his grasp on the handle to the dark umbrella Ishida borrowed him. "Don't say that! You don't need to kill me, I was just out of it yesterday…I was still tired, you know, you don't get enough sleep…you lose it." The orange haired student was beginning to panic, wanting to get to that damn school as soon as possible. "Now…don't worry about me."

"She corrupted you,"

"You did, you fucking ass!!" he scolded, shutting his eyes tightly, biting his lower lip. "You did!"

"Yes, in some way, I have…" he smirked, bringing a hand up and brushing those orange bangs out of that pale face. Then swiftly grabbed a handful of the soft short hair, pulling him down farther. "…and I've corrupted myself…"

"Huh?" Those brown eyes opened.

"…for nothing…"

"W-What?!"

Those pale white lips connected with his own, making the orange haired teen shudder from some disgust and shock. Yanking away, throwing his head back, he panted for air, Dark Ichigo having sucked some out of his lungs.

"W…why'd you go and do that?!" he snapped, frowning as Dark Ichigo chuckled.

His eyes slightly dulled as he looked up at the dark gray skies, his frown deepening. Breathing steadily as he slowly blinked, feeling a hand on his shoulder as he looked over at Uryu.

"Ichigo?" Dark Ichigo blinked, looking at him with wide golden eyes, confused. "Why're you here? I thought…you only wanted to see me if you wanted to fight."

"Asshole!" he snapped, walking over and crossing his arms once he stopped in front of him. "Why'd you…k-k-k…kiss me?"

Dark Ichigo chuckled, "No reason, but…by the expression on your face, it was your first." He stood, facing him with his hands in the pockets of the outfit Ichigo was wearing. "And I stole it."

"N…no! M-Maybe…" He blushed, looking away. "Don't do that again…okay?"

"I'm fine," he insisted, "Uryu, don't worry, just worry about entrance exams."

"Yeah, I guess, I just don't want anything to happen. I don't want to kill you."

"So you can kick my ass when you get stronger, Ishida?" he smirked, seeing the dark haired teen frown deeply.

888

Sitting in his seat, Ichigo looked down on the book with a frown, placing his hand onto the side of his face, sighing from aggravation. Everything was out of control and he couldn't control a single thing. And at least his dark half had a name that he could call him by, that made thing's easier in a sense. A bit. But…what bothered him to no fucking end was that Shirosaki could have a complete solid body. A body to call his own, not sharing one.

That's what he wants… he thought as he relocated his hand, rubbing his eye. Shirosaki wants a body, he wants it so bad…even I can taste it, and the flavor is so bittersweet. You…don't want to leave, 'cause you know I'm used to you…and you wanna leave…so I can breathe more freely… Blinking, he used his hand to bite on, shaking his head once he let go, closing his eyes, clamping them tightly shut. ARGH! Why am I worrying?! I shouldn't!!

"Nnn…" He looked up at the board, yawning, knowing that this is exactly what just had to be on the entrance exams to go to a different school, or continue to attend; they did this each year before spring break. "What a load of crap."

Scratching the back of his neck, the young Kurosaki looked at the clock, wanting lunch to arrive, so he can sleep. Yes, sleep and talk things over with Shirosaki, wanting to know if parting was what he wanted, and the bittersweet taste.

If he wanted it, Ichigo could stand it, but his heart began to ache the more he thought about it. Looking up at the board slowly, he sighed with a grimace. His eyes were half-lidded as the teacher walked around passing out a quiz on History, one thing Ichigo was not so good at, since he kept thinking about the things that have happened in his life, turning him into a sad Soul Reaper, whom wanted to be really normal right now, no dealing with Hollows, no having to help ghosts, no having ever met Rukia Kuchiki, and having no dark half.

But…without having met Rukia he would've never learned any abilities he possesses now.

Shit…I need to concentrate on school, not this…damn! he thought harshly as he lifted his mechanical pencil once the teacher set the paper on his desk, placing it onto the paper and writing insanely as he bit his lower lip, Shirosaki's image of desire of a body so clear, making him push down to hard, snapping the thin piece of lead. Shirosaki, can you hear me?

"What is it?"

You can hear me…well…do you think I'm overreacting?

"On what?"

You know what you Hollow bastard!!

"You seemed pretty pissed today, Soul Reaper." his dark half hissed, crossing his arms.

"Argh…I can't do my work…" he grumbled as he placed the pencil down, shutting his eyes and leaning back in his chair with a droplet of sweat slipping from his brow, curving at the chin and falling down. "Okay, relax, relax, I'm pretty sure if I calm down…"

"Ichigo…"

Hn?

"I won't leave."

Ichigo slammed his fists onto the desk, cursing his Hollow half for saying such a thing. Picking the pencil back up, he pushed onto the dispenser until lead came out, his hand swaying across the paper in an angry way, glaring down on the white sheet as though it was all the poor objects fault for his frustration.