Summary: Hichigo hates the rain; a well known fact. What Zangetsu doesn't know is why. Well one rainy night, he's curious enough to want an answer. -One Shot-

Disclaimer: Tite Kubo owns the rights to Bleach and all related characters.

"I hate rain." Zangetsu sighed lightly, trying to suppress the urge to roll his eyes. He glanced over at the Hollow, watching as the man fidgeted at the sight and feel of pouring rain.

"I know." he said flatly, despite the fact that the constant statement was not meant to come with an answer. Most of what Hichigo said was perceived as blatant fact and demanded nothing but constant attention. So he hated the rain; Zangetsu learned that the very moment he met Hichigo. So he was possibly hydrophobic; that didn't bother the man one bit. But, as time wore on along with the rain, something inside of him wanted to know more. This led him to his first question of the evening. "Why do you hate it so much?" Hichigo looked up from his seat on the ground, at the perched man. Zangetsu gave back the same stare, the lack of confusion being the only difference.

"Why do you?" Zangetsu shrugged, jumping down from his pole to stand next to the Hollow.

"I don't hate it like you." he said, looking out at the open. "It's just...inconvenient." Hichigo raised an eyebrow, his frown deepening.

"Inconvenient? Is that all?" Zangetsu looked at him curiously before the Hollow abruptly turned to face the other direction. "That's not a good reason at all. It's downright selfish."

"Selfish?"

"Yeah." Hichigo said gruffly. "The rain is coming from King. King is a human being, unlike either of us and he doesn't do it on purpose. All you do is sit on your stupid perch all day and do nothing. You are a lazy piece of ass and I know this just as well as you do, so don't tell me it's inconvenient." He made a face, as if disgusted with the word. Zangetsu stood in silence for a minute, thinking about what was said.

"So...what would you call it then?" he asked quietly. Hichigo didn't answer right away, or even indicate he heard the man. He just sat there, Indian Style and facing away from Zangetsu. He seemed preoccupied by himself and whatever it was that he was thinking, but after a few moments he opened his mouth.

"Frightening." He said softly, his expression blank and unchanged. Zangetsu tilted his head to the side, his brow bunched up in confusion. Rain was frightening? Since when was a Hollow, let alone an insane one, afraid of water? That wasn't right at all.

"Why are you afraid?" He asked. "Rain has no permanent damage on a being, so it's perfectly-"

"No." Hichigo cut in sharply. "No..."

"Then why are you afraid?" Hichigo sighed heavily, his expression softening considerably. His eyes seemed to glaze over as he looked up at the rain, the rain dropping mercilessly all over his pale face.

"I'm afraid every time it rains because it has a chance of never stopping." Zangetsu smiled, sensing how uncomfortable the Hollow had become. Hichigo suddenly chuckled, looking down as he wiped off more than rain that traveled down his face, his eyes closed tightly. "I'm afraid Zangetsu. I'm afraid he will never be himself anymore." He flinched as a large hand found itself atop his head, the slim fingers massaging him lightly.

"That's okay.." Zangetsu muttered. "I'm afraid too." The two looked out in silence, their minds occupied with the rain and depression that came upon them.

That night, the rain never stopped.

THE END