Title: Rain
Author: Acmarache
Rating: K
Pairing: Urahara/Ichigo
Spoilers: We've all read to episode 3, haven't we?
Disclaimer: not mine
Prompt: the smell of rain from Conjure-lass
rainraingoawaycomeagainanotherdayrainraingoawaycomeagainanotherdayrainraingoawaycomeagainanotherday
Under the stormy clouds of the night, an orange-haired boy sat on a bench by the riverside thoroughly drenched. The boy didn't seem to care, let alone notice, as he slouched down and stared unseeingly towards the river.
The boy seemed completely unaware of the world around him. So closed off that Urahara wondered if the boy would even notice his presence. Sighing, Urahara moved to Ichigo's side and held his umbrella over the both of them.
When Ichigo registered that the heavens were no longer encouraging his melancholic state by crying on him, he glanced up. Seeing his lover, he realized belatedly that maybe it wasn't a good idea to wander out in the middle of a storm without leaving a note. Too depressed to voice the apology he knew he owed the blond, he simply grunted out a noncommittal "Thanks" before resuming his staring.
He knew the boy was in a fragile state right now. He may act like it at times, but he wasn't a fool. He knew that Ichigo loathed the rain, and he knew why, but it wasn't something that he could just talk to him about. If Ichigo wanted to talk, then he would talk. Sending a worried gaze complete with an uncharacteristic frown upon his normally jubilant face towards his lover, Urahara silently sat beside Ichigo in a way that barely pressed their shoulders together so that Ichigo knew he was there.
"It always makes me think of her." Ichigo said this barely above a whisper without stopping his staring. Urahara didn't need to ask to know exactly who he was talking about. He knew the pain and memories the rain brought with it. Each raindrop was like a knife spreading the already gaping wound. Each splash of water against the ground was a splash of her blood covering a young boy's hands.
Long ago, he had accepted that Ichigo would never completely recover from the loss of his mother, but he had promised himself that he would do everything in his power to help ease the pain. The first step had been helping the boy realize and tune his power, so he could protect his loved ones. The second step was becoming his lover and proving that he was loved just as much as he could love. The third and final step was being there for Ichigo no matter what to show him that life does go on.
"Even after the rain stops, the smell doesn't, and the memories keep coming. I hate it." Peering out of the corner of his eye, Urahara wasn't sure if those were tears streaming down the boy's face or water running down from his hair. Realizing Ichigo wouldn't be talking anymore tonight, Urahara attempted to offer what comfort he could.
"No, the memories will never stop, but you shouldn't hate the smell of the rain. I know the pain rain brings you, but the smell is so fresh. Fresh and new. With it, the smell of rain brings us a newness that didn't exist before. A promise for a new beginning. A promise that can't be broken." Shifting so that he was facing Ichigo, Urahara dropped the umbrella and held the boy's face in his hands. Smiling sadly, he leaned forward and kissed his forehead.
Raising his head up, Ichigo let a small smile grace his face. Kisuke was right. He didn't need to hate the smell of rain. With rain, there would always be memories, but, with the smell of rain, there would always be Kisuke.