Another one-shot. It's been in my head for a hot minute, and I finally got over the blockage of the writing to put it on paper. And actually finish it. hehe.
title: under my umbrella, ella, ella.
summary: he needs her and doesn't even know it.
listening to: muse - neutron star collision (love is forever)
disclaimer: i own nothing of bleach.
notes: this takes place after Orihime is walking home from Tatsuki's. It takes a big AU turn after that.
She stands there.
He's 10 feet away from her.
She wants to hold him.
Aches to hold him.
She doesn't move an inch.
.
.
.
cue scene.
Ichigo. Broken. On both knees. His head, bowed. Bright orange locks become plastered to his head as the rain beats mercilessly on his neck, shoulders and body.
His soul, it's crying.
.
.
.
In front of him, the headstone of his mother. The once center of his universe. He misses her, now more than ever. Misses that glorious smile that at once tells him that everything will be okay.
But she won't. That heart, his heart, had been ripped out from him, gone forever on a rainy night.
Just like this one.
.
.
.
He knows she's there.
.
.
.
Her fingers clutch the ebony handle. Tightly. Rooted to the ground she remains. Didn't matter if he stayed like that forever.
She'd stay.
The rain threatens to soak her as it pelts upon the umbrella.
She stays.
It's okay. I'm here.
Didn't matter if he knew that or not.
.
.
.
She'd still stay.
.
.
.
I think I understand you a little better..Kurosaki-kun.
But something was wrong.
.
.
.
His reiatsu engulfed her as she walked home. It was different this time.
It was..sad. Lonely. Hollow.
Lost.
Her legs started moving before she even had the time to think.
.
.
.
Hang on. I'll be by your side soon.
.
.
.
Thirty, forty, fifty minutes pass. He doesn't move. Neither does she.
The rain doesn't stop.
It doesn't matter to her.
.
.
.
She'd still stay.
.
.
.
He finally moves, gets up to his feet. Wobbles a little.
Her legs start moving before she even thinks about it.
.
.
.
They stand still.
.
.
.
"Why?" He asks. Only one word. He doesn't need to elaborate, she doesn't need to ask more.
She already knows.
.
.
.
"Because I understand."
.
.
.
She gives the most dazzling smile as she looks up into the eyes that's turned down to hers. For a split second, it feels like the power of the sun courses through him. Warming him.
Taking away his pain.
.
.
.
They walk. Somewhere, it's not important. Their footsteps are slow, in sync. Orihime holds the umbrella over them both.
Silence stretches on, nothing but the sound of rain and the slight scratching of their shoes moving across the wet pavement.
.
.
.
A second hand clasps the handle. This one, larger, rougher.
Covering her hand.
She is shocked, dizzy, happy, nervous, all emotions rolling into one tentative ball of WOW.
She looks up. He looks down.
Their eyes meet.
.
.
.
"Thank you, Orihime."
.
.
.
She nods and smiles that resplendent smile again.
.
.
.
As they walk towards that unknown destination, the sun peeks through the stormy clouds.
Just a little.
.
.
.
His hand, still on hers.
END.