Nothing bad in here! 8D I own nothing! 8D

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Rain was pouring down in sheets, battering the poor girl who was unlucky enough to be caught in it. She shivered, her short pink fur standing on end. The short dress she wore provided no coverage, the material already soaked through, even the full skirt hung limply. Mint green eyes followed the footsteps she took as she ran down the slick sidewalk.

Yma suddenly felt her feet slip out from under her and crashed gracefully on her bottom. The hedgehog didn’t move from her spot on the ground. Tears popped up and started leaking down her face, blending in with the raindrops already there. She didn’t know why she was crying, she wasn’t hurt. Still, lip quivering, Yma cried silent tears.

The girl hated being weak, her and Amy always competed to be the toughest. Pulling her legs to her chest, Yma sighed and rested her head on the kneecaps. For some reason she was content to just sit there in the rain, all alone, like a lost doll. Turing the gold ring on her finger out of boredom, she smiled, a strange combination with the tears.

The hedgehog was so absorbed in watching the ring’s exterior catch the dim light, that she hardly noticed when the rain stopped falling on her. Nor the warmth from another person standing nearby. This passed for a few moments, till the stranger spoke, voice mono-tone with the faintest hint of concern.

“Yma? What are you doing?”

Startled, she jumped and fell back, catching herself on her elbows. Looking up, she blinked, green irises meeting with burning crimson ones. A blush slowly grew on her pale skin as she slowly realized that he was expecting an answer.

“…sitting.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Yma felt the familiar urge to smack herself. ’Sitting?!’ What kind of stupid answer was that?! Great, she’s sitting on a sidewalk in the middle of a storm like some idiot, and that’s all she could come up with?! Shadow was looking at her strangely and his lips twitched just so slightly.

“Sitting…in the rain?”

The teen nodded, cursing the gene that caused her to blush like she did. She was sure that he would laugh at her, who wouldn’t? Suddenly Yma was aware of all the flaws on her, the muddied and torn dress, lopsided headband, everything that had ever bothered her suddenly gleamed in a new light.

“Yeah...sitting.”

The male hedgehog moved the black umbrella he was toting to the other shoulder, never taking his eyes off Yma. Silence built between them, a wall thicker than any brick. She was the first to look away, eyes turning to her boots, trying to forget the fact that she embarrassed herself beyond belief. Now Shadow most likely thought she was some kind of moron.
Yma felt movement beside her and stole a glance at him from under her lashes. Then turned her face towards him fully. For sitting calmly beside the girl was Shadow, the water off the cement soaking into his jeans. The umbrella sheltered them both as they sat side by side. She spoke first. ‘

“Shadow?”

A small smile flashed on his dark skin. Not one of arrogance or cruel humor, but one of kindness.

“Then I’ll sit with you.”

Yma smiled back and leaned on Shadow’s shoulder, feeling the short fur tickle her face. Slowly, an arm wrapped around her shoulders and he rested his face on top of her head. The two sat there as the rain beat upon the umbrella’s thin fabric, even after the sun come out and dried the ground.

For that is love, it keeps you warm in the cold, dry in the rain, and when one is alone…the other will always join, even if it’s all an illusion.