In From The Rain (Kinji Uehara X Homeless Child! Reader)

In From The Rain

You're walking. 

You're shambling along the street, a hollow shell of a human being, hair and clothes plastered to your emaciated frame. You're aching from hunger, your throat is scraped dry. You're not sure how long it's been since you last ate, but it was at least a day ago. Some woman from the wagashi shop took pity on you, and gave you some old dango. 

All day, it's been pouring down with rain. You've tried to take shelter from it, but so far, you've been unsuccessful. You took refuge under the play equipment on the playground earlier, but were kicked out of your temporary shelter by some other kid. He said you were filthy, punched you, left you with a bloody nose. So you ran off, went to a bus shelter instead. But again, you were driven off, when one of the drivers noticed that you had been there for several hours, and told you to stop loitering. And now, you're shambling through the town, looking for somewhere, anywhere, to hide until the rain clears up. 

You glance over at a family, out getting their shopping at a grocery store.  You flinch. Seeing them makes you sick to your stomach. The children are so happy, as their mother hands them red bean buns, and their father talks about the big dinner they're going to have tonight. You've never had a family. You've never been happy. All you've known is shouting and beatings and abuse. 

You cross the street, heading uphill. Your mother was only sixteen when you were born, still a child herself. She never wanted to keep you, wanting to put you up for adoption, but her parents were going to kick her out if she didn't keep you. Eventually, they did kick her out, and things only got worse from there. She shouted, screamed at you, drank herself to sleep every night. She stayed up at night, crying, asking Hod why she'd been stuck with you. And then, a few weeks ago, she drove out to this small town, miles away from your apartment, abandoned you, and made off as fast as she could. She left only a note in your pocket, saying to anyone who found you not to contact your parents, because she didn't want you back. 

You continue uphill. There's not much up this side of town, a few takeaways, a launderette, but that is it. You wonder if the takeaway places will have leftovers you can fish out. You wonder if the launderette will let you dry your clothes, at least. 

And then, you notice a man up ahead. He's tall, white haired, with a thick white stole wrapped around his shoulders. He's just come from one of the takeaway places, evident by the brown bag in his hand. You ignore him, until his eyes meet yours, and he walks over, bending down to your level. 

You freeze. You don't know what he wants. For all you know, he might just tell you to scram, tell you you're vermin, like the kid from earlier, like the bus driver, like your mother. But he doesn't. His face is full of...Is that concern? You can't tell. But he starts asking questions. He asks what you're doing out without a coat, in this rain. You don't answer. He asks where your mother is. You don't answer. He asks if you're alright. You don't answer. And then, he gets it. His pale face falls as he realises the situation you're in. 

"Oh, my, you poor little thing, all alone out in the cold," he says softly, "Is there anyone I can call for you?" 

You show him the note your mother left you. You tell this man, this complete stranger, that nobody's coming for you, and nobody wants you. The look on his face is one you'll never forget. He's shaken to the core, those blue eyes of his are trembling, like he wants to cry. 

He takes off his stole, wrapping it around your neck like a scarf. It's far too big for you, but it's warm and dry, so you don't complain. 

"For now, you can come with me. Let's get you out of this nasty cold, and warmed up, alright?" 

You freeze again. You're not sure if he's for real. 

He offers you his hand. "No need to fret now, little one. I promise, I'll keep you safe." 

You're still hesitant, but you give in, seeing as you have no other choice. He's the only person who's ever shown you kindness, let alone offer to shelter you. So you take his hand, and he leads you back into one of the takeaways, to buy udon. 

He drives you to what is, presumably, his house. He rummages around in his closet, trying to find some dry, child-sized clothing for you, but all he has for you now is a jumper that's way too big, and some old shorts. He makes you take a hot shower, before giving you your new clothes, and putting your old ones in the washing machine. 

"I'm sorry that's all I've got for you for now, little one," he says as you come out, with the jumper hanging off of you, "But that's got to be better than being in those nasty wet jeans, I expect." 

You agree wordlessly. 

"Now, how about getting you some dinner? It isn't healthy at all for you to be that thin. You mustn't have eaten in days." 

You nod, telling him how hungry you are. He sets a bowl of steaming udon in front of you, sitting opposite you with his own dinner. You eat greedily, polishing the noodles and broth off in seconds. 

"Try to eat a little slower, little one, or you'll give yourself a stomachache," he scolds, "Come on now." 

You try to obey, apologising to this mr...It's only now occured to you that you don't know his name. He tells you it's Kinji Uehara. You tell him your name is (Y/N). He tells you it's a nice name. 

Once dinner is over, Kinji tells you that you can spend the night at his place. He shows you the spare room, and the sight almost makes you cry with joy. It's clean, and comfortable, and pretty, not like your old room. And best of all, it doesn't smell like alcohol. 

Kinji says goodnight to you, telling you to rest up, before heading to his own room. And you do, for a bit. Exhausted from your time on the street, you fall asleep in minutes, but it doesn't last. You're plagued with nightmares. You see your mother, screaming and crying at you for no reason. You see her fists. You see her dashing off without you, driving away, leaving you on that street forever...

You awaken screaming, and the next thing you know, Kinji is at your door. He bursts in, asking what's bothering you. You break down and start crying, and he runs to you, holding you in his arms. 

"There now, (Y/N), it's alright. I've got you," he says softly, "Now, whatever's the matter?"

You cry even more as you tell him about the nightmares. About your mother. About everything you've been through. He says nothing as you cry, only holding you, only making soft hushing sounds. Only trying to soothe you, only trying to make you feel safe. 

"You poor, poor little thing," he eventually says, "I can't believe someone would do that to an innocent child!" 

You wipe your eyes. You tell him you wish you were never born, because then your mother would never have been able to hurt you. He hugs you tighter. Tells you he will never let anyone hurt you again. Not your mother, or anyone.

"I'll keep you safe, (Y/N). No one's going to hurt you, as long as I'm around." 

You ask if he means it. He says he does. He says that no child deserves to feel unwanted and unloved. You cry again in his arms. He wipes your eyes tenderly, patiently, and sings you lullabies to help you fall asleep. 

When morning comes, you expect to be kicked out. But he lets you stay. He buys you clothes. He gets you a music box that plays lullabies, to help you get to sleep. And you stay the next day, too. And the day after that. And you stay for weeks, until one day, you see him talking to the police, and social workers. You fear the worst, but it turns out that he's making plans to adopt you legally. And of course, the news makes you overjoyed. This wonderful, kind man, is going to be your papa. 

He turns the spare room into a beautiful bedroom for you. Enrols you in Hope's Peak Elementary, when he realises that you have a talent that warrants you a place there, and not a normal school. He takes you to church with him. 

And in time, the adoption passes. It's official, Kinji Uehara is your papa. 

It's official, you're going to live a wonderful, happy life, with him.