Ichimaru Gin is a fox-faced bastard (fox_face) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-10-28 04:40:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, gin ichimaru, rangiku matsumoto |
Who: Gin Ichimaru, Rangiku Matsumoto
What: How To Give Your (un)Girlfriend Wild Mood Swings 101 - with your instructor, Gin Ichimaru.
When: After the hold up and subsequent texts.
Rating: Lowish. Language n' nonsexy smush only.
Status: Complete!
Rangiku was sitting on the porch of the house waiting for Gin to get there, her phone in her left hand, she rolled her eyes. A lot. at half the things Gin had said. Then smiled a bit. At least he offered to come get her. Her long hair was damp, and smelled of herbs - she’d been treating it since the moment she got home and damned it she was gonna let anything get damaged any more than it had been. She had one knee tucked up under her chin, and a smile on her face.
If nothing else it reminded her how much fun she’d had in school getting into brawls - either jumping in with Yumi, defending herself or just pissing people off. It had been a good evening, despite the fact she’d gotten into a huge yelling match with Renji at work to start. That was something she’d have to tell Gin about too.
The smile faded as she stared out over the driveway and waited, her face thoughtful as
she waited.
Gin didn't really take the scenic route, it was the direct one. The thing that took so long was that he didn't drive in a rush or anything. He knew Rangiku was all right and there was no reason to hurry at all. He would get there when he got there, so it might seem like he was taking his own sweet time.
Eventually, his convertible pulled into the driveway and Gin waved a hand up in the air as soon as it came to a stop. In a light and laidback voice, he said just loud enough to be heard over the idling engine, "Hiya, Rangiku. Don't you look pretty, even all roughed up."
There was the same old smile on his face as always. He was getting away with something but it was impossible to tell what that was, precisely.
Rangiku was perfectly fine. She’d had a rough day but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle. Or manage. The gun pointed at her had been new but it had only managed to piss her off and not scare her. Good thing Rangiku was a tough chick here and now, too.
She pushed off the chair and headed down to his car with a smile on her face.
“Damn right I do,” she grinned at him before hopping in. Rangiku actually blushed though, at his compliment. She had felt less pretty for all of ten minutes until her hair had started to feel smoother again and her scalp stopped aching.
“So before the robber even showed up Renji and I got in this amazingly loud screaming match,” she said with a slight frown. Not her shining moment, no no no.
Gin noticed the bruises on her hands and leaned over, to give her a quick kiss on her blushing cheek, before he started pulling the car back out of the driveway. His expression didn't change even when she told him that or because she was frowning, which he did notice.
"That so? What were ya two screamin' about? Abarai-kun's pretty rambunctious. That ain't too surprisin'."
“You, mainly,” she said as she looked out as they headed away from the house. She had smiled again at the kiss to her cheek, but it was back to being faint when she explained. “Rather enjoyed making fun of you, to be honest, and then said some things that shouldn’t be yelled out in public, and accused me of being dick whipped of all things.” She rolled her eyes a bit.
Rangiku played with her hands as she talked, running her thumb over her knuckles lightly.
He was very, very quiet, while driving, although the smile on his face didn't change. It was almost like he didn't hear her at all. Although, in actuality, he was trying to figure out if he should stab Abarai repeatedly or continue to feign ignorance.
Even if he was irked, feigning ignorance was probably the better route.
"Ya want anything before we get ta my place?" he asked, when they were stuck at a stoplight. Way to change the subject, Gin.
Way. To change. The subject.
Rangiku of course noticed. But she only sighed softly, and pushed onwards, ignoring the fact his evasiveness was already ratcheting up her temper again. “No. I don’t need anything,” she said lightly before lifting her eyes to look at him.
“I slapped him a few times. He was not loving that one,” she said after a moment before looking back outside. “Then the robber showed up as he was apologizing.” She felt lost, a feeling too familiar when Gin was being evasive.
The car took off again, with a rush of wind through their hair. It was impossible to tell if Gin had his eyes on the road or not. It was safe to assume he did, because his nose was pointed in that direction - straight ahead - and nowhere else.
Finally, he spoke. It was hard to hear over the sound of the motor, the passing of cars going in the opposite direction, or the wind in their ears.
"Ahh well," he said a little too softly, "I'm sure all's forgiven. Abarai-kun's one of those types that wouldn't hold a grudge. Even after someone he swore he was gonna beat, gave him an ass kickin' into next week or beyond. He'd still be friends with 'em afterward."
Rangiku wasn’t sure what was going on. She tilted her head at him.
“I wasn’t really worried about him forgiving me or not.” she said ever so softly, lips pursed faintly. “I suppose I got more upset with him talking about you like that.” She looked at him, eyes half closed as she tried to figure him out.
It was a migraine giving attempt, and she abandoned it in favor of sighing. “It’s not the biggest deal in the world. I guess I just am not happy listening to that stuff when you’ve been nothing but amazing to me.” she smiled, softly, then. She truly was happy Gin was being so good to her.’
"Maybe," said the pot that was calling the kettle black, "ya need ta ignore it, Rangiku. Ya can't go around slappin' everyone about them havin' an opinion."
He smiled over at her, momentarily, his mouth set in the same smirk that was like he knew a joke that no one else knew about, and his eyes squinted up in happy half-moon shapes.
As quick as that happened, he was back to driving again, and getting close to pulling up at the house so she could get some peace and quiet. After a night at work like that? She probably really needed it.
She gave him a look as if to say, do you actually know me? because she’s pretty temperamental and people really got under her skin. Especially with half her friends telling her he was a bad idea for her. What the fuck did they know anyways?
“He got in my face. Really pissed me off. It was a knee jerk reaction.” She took no comfort from his smile at her.
Rangiku fell silent until they got to the house, fingers toying with her phone idly. Once there, she pulled up the video and tossed her phone at him. “Catch and watch,” she said lightly. “Pretty decent for me, I guess.” Rang had been feeling super proud of herself now she felt stupid for even bothering to show him.
When the car was parked, he caught the phone and pressed play, watching it. The smile turned into a wide grin as he watched, and even his eyebrows raised up like he really was impressed.
"Lookit you two, tag teamin' that guy. Nice work, for someone that pissed ya off so bad." He held the phone back out to her. "It's more than decent. Ya always had a mean kick an' a punchy fist."
She laughed softly at his expression. “You almost look impressed, Gin.” She smiled a bit and ran her hand through her hair, which was super soft now. Yum. “Well he DID apologize.” She shrugged a bit and tucked her phone away. “He had the hair, Gin. You just don’t do that.” She gave him another look because, well she loved her hair. It was one of her best features, behind the girls.
Rangiku looked, self consciously, down at her hands. They were bruised and sore, but she felt happy. Like it was a job well done. She hadn’t been as bad as Yumi in school, but she’d gotten her own licks in to the world and more slaps and punches to the face given out than she’d wanted to, boys just thought because she had big tits they were there to be grabbed. She’d rather hated that from day one.
"I am impressed," he told her, leaning over and nuzzling his nose against her cheek. It was his way of getting her to stop staring at her hands like that, since he knew they looked like ouch. "I think you're gonna hear a lotta stuff, that's all."
She looked up at him as he said that, smiling gently. She was warm and fuzzy feeling knowing he was impressed. It felt nice. Then another smile as he nuzzled her cheek. It was adorable and got her to look up instead of down. “I guess. Sorry I let it get to me so badly.” Her lips twitched apologetically.
If Gin found the guy that grabbed her hair and got ahold of him, he was going to wish he was dead a trillion times over. As it was, he loved everything about her. Not only her hair or how well endowed she was, but the entire package.
He gave her a smooch on the cheek and then was out of the car in an instant, and heading for the front door, while speaking in his gentle but lazy sounding voice, "What'd ya want me to get for you. Some ice maybe? Or you want me ta rub it better?"
Dude was gonna be spending a few in the hospital. Between Renji and her he was not loving life right now. At least he didn’t grab her boobs. She probably would have killed him. Without a second thought. Or put a gun to them, then there would have been more agony. At least the love of Gin’s life (she knows she is, he’ll just admit it some decade) wasn’t a pushover!!!
She slid from the car and followed him inside. “Massages. I’ve been icing since it happened. I think I could use a break from the cold stuff.” She smiled a bit. “This makes me feel like I need to hit a gym up or something..”
"I don't think you're gonna have to worry about doin' that," he told her, unlocking the door and entering the alarm code after going in. "If ya want a hot shower first, you're welcome to it. It isn't like ya don' know where everything is by now."
In all seriousness, if the dreams and situation with others in the area were different? He would have asked her in an instant to live with him again. There hadn't been any problems back then. He remembered it fondly. In fact, it was what got him through being away from her, simply remembering it.
He didn't ask. He wasn't going to ask.
Instead, he stood there, smiling at her as he closed the door and locked it.
"Ya want somethin' to drink? Sake or tea or anythin'?" he offered, kicking his shoes off by the front door.
“Took a shower when I got home,” she said quietly as she slipped her shoes off. She stretched for a moment then tilted her head at him. “I don’t know, a gym might be good for me,” she said softly. The whole day was bothering her somewhat. It was partially that she had enjoyed getting in a good fight. And partially because Renji really seemed concerned under his bravado. She didn’t know what to make of it.
If things were different, she’d have no problem just moving in. Hell, if he’d asked, she’d still say yes. There was so much there that bound them together she was willing to take on the horde of friends she had to prove he wasn’t hurting her. But she smiled softly at him.
“I think today is a tea day,” she said with a tilt of her head. Sake sounded great but she wasn’t sure it was a good idea. She was already maudlin enough.
He sort of mimicked the motion, tilting his head back at her, ever smiling.
"Maybe, if ya feel like it," he finally told her, after a long moment in which he seemed like he was pausing for some undisclosed reason. Like not telling her she was going to be changing into something else, maybe? "I guess I don't see the point. But it ain't up ta me. That's your decision. Yep."
Because she would be able to kick someone through a wall if she wanted to, sooner or later.
"Well? You had a real bad, rough day. Lemme get ya that tea."
He nodded only once and went to make some tea for them both, making sure there was enough water in the electric kettle and turning it on.
Sometimes he was very curious with his motions. It made her smile a bit, though. She watched him for a moment, curiously, a brow arching up ever so delicately.
“You paused an awful long time there, Gin. Something you want to let me in on?” she asked, knowing full well he wouldn’t but hoping he would too.
If she knew she’d be looking forward to being able to kick Gin through a wall. ;) If only to chastise him for being an evasive bastard.
She smiled again, before letting him get started on it. But it didn’t take her long to walk up behind him, drape her arms around his shoulders from behind and lay her head on his shoulder, turning her head to kiss his cheek. “You’re good to me, Gin. Thank you.”
"You’re welcome, but I dunno wha'cha mean about those other things," he said, sounding chipper despite any insinuations. He was poking through an open cabinet for cups. That was a good way to have his back to her, and so she couldn't see the moment when there wasn't a smile on his face at all, even after she kissed him on the cheek or rested against him. "Whaddya think I'm leavin' out?"
By the time he turned to face her, that smile was back in place, but he kicked it up another notch, so he seemed even more nonchalant. He put the cups down and started to reach for the container he kept the tea in.
“Nevermind, just a feeling.” She leaned up to kiss his cheek again before moving to sit and wait for the tea. She didn’t trust that look worth a damn right now but she didn’t say anything, either, merely stuffed it down to dig through later. While he turned to fix their tea she fixed his back with such a sad look that had he seen it, well she’d have felt bad.
Something was nagging at her and she couldn’t put a finger on it. But before he turned back again, she was smiling and resting her hands on the table, fingers stretched to ease the ache. She hadn’t decked someone like that in a long time. It had felt wonderful.
“How was your day?” she changed topics. He wasn’t the only one who could pull that trick.
If only he would fall for his own tricks.
The smile had been less harsh and more genuine after the last kiss, which he didn't bother to hide from her at all. But when he had the tea in the cups, waiting for them to steep, he leaned forward on the countertop, resting on his elbows, to look at her. And at her hands.
After a moment, he took them into his hands, gently, and rubbed everywhere that wasn't bruised or scuffed up, with his thumbs.
"...oh, ya know? Boring finance stuff." Otherwise known as taking some of his funds and fixing her parent's stuff with it, and then making it seem like he was the best accountant ever. Which, he actually is. But it's often not used for actual accounting skills, even if he was a smarty. "I know how your day went, which wasn't the greatest. Ehh. Ya really hauled off an' hit him. Good. I don't wanna think about you gettin' hurt. I'm glad you weren't alone."
Rangiku watched him quietly as he set the cups down to steep and lean forward to examine her hands. She offered him a warm smile, glad his had softened a bit. She wasn’t sure she liked when he had that other smile on. It worried her a little bit.
She smiled shyly and blushed when he picked up her hands and ran his fingers over every non-bruised spot. She didn’t even flinch if he did brush a bruise. Despite her outwardly girly-girl nature, she really was a tough girl at heart. She had to develop a tough hide and strong persona after getting boobs like hers.
“Sounds dreadful, hun.” She smiled a bit. “But as long as you enjoy it, then I’m happy.” She tilted her head at him and smiled again, a real genuine warm smile this time. “I don’t mess around. He had a gun, not for long but someone else could have gotten hurt.”
She bit her lip. “You worry about lil ole me?” she asked with a lilt to her voice, although it almost came across teasing, she was flattered by his concern and it showed on her face. No one had really worried like that for her before. Everyone worried about her but not enough to say it in that fashion.
"Yep. Looks like you're the one that's got a really exciting life," he said, laughing a little at his own twisted joke. After all, he couldn't tell what had happened to her after he was gone, in his dreams. He didn't look upset about it, not on the outside. Instead, he raised one of her hands up, guiding it, so that he could place a kiss against the palm, where it wasn't hurt. "I guess I gotta worry about you a lil' more now that you're bustin' faces at a burger joint."
He did worry about what would happen to her in this life. Because she was the one who was going to have to put up with hearing every negative thing imaginable about him. He knew he deserved it, but Rangiku didn't. He simply wasn't sure how to say it, or if he should. It would ruin things now, instead of later...when she might leave anyway. She was stubborn, but would she be that stubborn to stick it out with a traitor?
Better to enjoy today, than to live in fear of tomorrow. That would all happen, soon enough.
Enough was enough. He pushed those thoughts aside, while still gently holding her hand near to his face.
"Remind me not ta piss you off, so ya break your knuckles again," he said, once again seeming as though he was playfully teasing her. "You want sugar, honey, or that fake stuff in your tea?"
Rangiku blushed as he kissed her palm unaware of the turmoil in his head. She smiled softly at him still flattered someone worried about her.
No day but today, Gin.
"I think you'd fare better than that crook did. You’d not grab the hair. " She laughed softly and curled those fingers against his face gently. "Honey. Never that fake shit."
"Ya say the nicest things, Ran-chan," he joked, turning his face to hide part of it into her hand, peeking at her. Of course, he was doing it through a squint, because it was too soon after thoughts like that to even look at her, straight on. "Never any fake shit. Honey only. Gotcha."
"If that's the nicest things. ... you need to hear more nicer ones. " She stroked his cheek as he hid in her hand. Evasive pain in the ass. She let him go with a sad smile. She felt she should hold onto him as long as possible.
He had reluctantly pulled away and rummaged around for the honey, finally finding it and putting a big squirt of it into both of their cups. It even made a farting noise, to which Gin said, "I ain't gotta dog to blame it on, so I'm gonna blame that on you."
Rangiku rolled her eyes laughing. "I blame you. Nice try though." She rubbed her face with her hand before he turned around, a smile back in her lips. She wondered how much he'd missed her before she came to the network.
"Nope. Can’t be. Mine're silent but deadly," he joked in a gentle but lighthearted tone of voice, smiling proudly. He slid the cup toward her. "Be careful. It's hot like yo' damn temper."
He had missed her a lot ever since he dreamed of her. One doesn't set out on a massive revenge spree of a hundred or so years over a girl, and forget her face or anything else about her. In fact, the dreams wouldn't let him forget, even when he was with other girls, which made things a pain, and made it hard for him to really get a good attachment to try to forget Rangiku. It simply didn't work that way...even if he did have fun, especially with Faye, for a while there.
He picked up his own cup in one hand and blew on it slowly, still watching her behind his happily squinted eyes.
Rangiku laughed, an honest lilting laugh at that. "Well then! " She picked up her mug. "Hot like my temper huh?" she said in mock outrage, but her eyes were sparkling.
She wished she knew enough to know if she's missed him before now or not. She be happy to know he had missed her a lot.
"Hey," she said with a small smile. "Thank you for coming to get me and stuff. " I love you, she left off verbally but her smile said it.
He nodded at her like 'yep' and he tried to keep a straight face, but it was difficult and a few times he ended up laugh sputtering while blowing on his tea.
He smiled back at her, but it was the same smile, and the same expression. Of course he loved her. He wanted to say 'I'd do that any time'...but he couldn’t. He couldn’t say it, because he hadn't done that before. He had disappeared. If she ran into trouble, he wasn’t there, or anywhere where he could hear if she was hurt or sad or angry. The unexpected realization of that fact crashed down on him hard enough that the expression cracked for a split second, his lips twitched inward at the corners, and he had to quickly lift the cup to his lips to act like he was taking a quick test sip off it, for temperature.
"...whew...that's still a lil' hot. I think I overdid it with the water.” He went back to blowing on it, lips puckered up, instead. He kept things light and conversational, "It’s notta big deal. Ya caught me when I was home. That was pretty lucky."
She set her cup down, she hadn’t missed that crack in his facade. Slender fingers took his cup from his fingers, setting it aside too. She ran her fingers over the side of his face and pulled him gently to her. She pressed her lips against his softly, then whispered against them.
“I don’t know what caused that, but whatever it is don’t let it get to you. I’m here for you.” She punctuated it with another kiss before she sat back, letting her fingers slide slowly from his face. She didn’t know what was wrong under the surface but she didn’t want to see that crack again, it made her worry.
She picked up her cup, cradling it against her sore fingers, watching him intently, that genuinely happy smile back on her lips. “I’ve got my own brand of good luck.”
He didn't really smile when she did that. Not through her setting the cup aside, drawing him closer to her, the kiss, or when she let go. A small part of him wanted to say what probably should be said, but the larger part said not to do it, and that she would figure it out on her own.
And so he didn't tell her anything.
Instead, he smiled back at her and nodded again, trying to lighten the mood. "You sure do, ya brute. I guess it's by bringin' the pain to someone else's face, so it ain't their lucky day. You an' Abarai-kun are big damn heroes."
Rangiku grabbed her cup of tea and pulled it to her lips. She suddenly didn’t care if it was too hot or not. Her lips pursed tightly as she stared at him. Don’t think, Gin, you got away with all that not smiling BS. She saw that and it made her a little displeased. She sipped her tea, noting that it was farrrrrrr too hot to drink but drank it anyways, before giving him a smile. Faint. And barely there. But a smile.
“Ain’t never been called a brute before. And yeah not so much on the hero thing but thanks anyways.” She stared into her tea for a moment, trying to figure out her next move. She looked up, head tilting ever so slightly.
“You’re not telling me something.” She held up a hand to stall any protest or bullshit.
“I’m too tired, too worn out and too sore to actually press you on it. But I have this feeling I’m missing something and I don’t like that.” She wanted to make her displeasure known. “Make it up to me.”
She flipped a small jar of yummy smelling ointment out of her pocket and held out a hand, the jar in her palm, with that look of you promised on her face. She wasn’t walking out, so you gained brownie points there, Gin, just saying. She wasn’t ready to give up. Not by any length. He was also not forgiven, not yet.
"I meant 'brute' with affection, Rangiku, since I know you're a lil' rough sometimes. I like that about ya," he said a little too cutely, not seeming to be affected or offended by what she had said to him. His tone was a little too light, and a little too sweet, in that he sounded much like he was weaving words around her. Not to strangle, but to try to soothe someone's temper.
As for the rest of what she said, he took a very leisurely sip of tea, not in a rush to reply. He was eyeing - behind the ever present squint - the ointment she held out to him. He reached out and took the jar from her, giving it a little flip in the palm of his hand like it was a coin, and then set it down within reach, like that was answer enough that he recognized she was upset and that he would do it.
"I shoo don't wanna tangle with ya when you're feelin' worn out," he told her. "Even if I don't know what ya think it is that you're missin'."
Aaaaaaaaaaaaand, right back to square one: If all else fails, play dumb.
“Mmm. Sure you did,” she said with a real genuine smile. Although she couldn’t keep her tired and vaguely annoyed look out of her eyes. She just didn’t quite submit to the soothing of the temper act he was pulling. But she didn’t resist too hard, either. He was going to have to be compliant tonight with her request or he’d get her angry face.
Her lips twitched as she resisted the urge to tell him that playing dumb didn’t suit him. Instead she just left her hand out there for him to get to work on, watching him with tender eyes. She loved him, evasive nature and all. She knew if she wanted answers she’d have to manage to back him into a corner. A really hard thing to do, But doable. If she got extremely lucky.
“Smart man,” she said with a wry smile, playful and sweet once more. Even if she felt like punching him through a wall.
But he liked her angry face! It was as pretty as her other faces were, or her face in general. And, after all, he was a bit of an envelope pusher and not afraid to get in close to dangerous people at all. So it was like he was taunting fate to kick his ass and drop a meteor on him at any given moment, anyway.
"Yep, I sho’ am." Gin stared at her hand like he wasn't sure what she was wanting. He was finishing his tea, before he started anything. He was an impossibly difficult person to get to fulfill what was expected of him. It was like trying to pound a square peg into a round hole: not going to work out well, nope.
His smile split into a boyishly playful grin, as he reached out and turned her hand, very gently, so her palm was facing him. Then he gave it a baby light pat, so it was a high five moment. Once that was done, he took another leisurely sip of tea as if he was taking his own damn sweet time, and waited for her next move.
Rangiku was irritated enough with him that she snagged the jar and opened it herself. She stretched her hands looking at him. "Gin what am I going to do with you. " She looked up at him with a sigh.
"You going to help with my hands or am I going to have to do it." Rangiku looked at him with a sad look. "Please? "
"I could think of several things ya probably want to do to me," he replied with the greatest of ease, "but only about half of 'em are gonna feel good. The rest of it involves me bein' in pain."
He polished off his tea since there was only a sip or two left, and put two fingers into the ointment jar. He then took her hand in one of his, and rubbed those two fingers over the bruises in slow, steady circles.
“At least you know where you stand, then.” she said evenly as she smiled at him. “I think tonight I’ll take the half that feel good over the ones that involve dishing out pain. Work for you?” she asked with a wry smile.
A fluttered look of pure ecstasy crossed her face as his fingers ran over he bruises.
"Oh, I dunno. What if I'm inta that?" He was watching her face as he rubbed his fingers over the top of her hand and then used his thumbs to rub out her wrist, which surely bore the brunt of impact during the hits, too. "I think you're right though. Ya had a bad first day at work. Unwinding might be a good idea."
“Then I’ll dish out some pain just for you,” she laughed softly, eyes closed as he worked the ointment into her hand and wrist. She was currently in heaven, and it showed on her face. And her posture. “Oh, that feels heavenly.” She sighed softly. “Unwinding is a perfect idea,” she said with a tiny smile.
"We could be boring and watch tee-vee if ya want," he suggested, "or go sit outside for a while. Wallow under the trees for a bit. That don't sound too bad or too deadly." There was a pause before he added, "Or too painful...ya really bruised your hands up."
His touch was gentle, even a little bit too light, but that couldn't be helped. He was more a shinigami than a human and she was still more human than a shinigami. It was enough to get by without notice or question, at least. And it was nice not having to use a puppet body to interact, too. That was a pain in the ass when it had to be left behind, especially if one ran out of soul candy so they left a real animated puppet behind and not what looked like a corpse. That was a novice shinigami maneuver, but a still made for a good prank. Gin had done that a couple of times on missions into the living world for a laugh, just to see what people did when a body dropped and was lifeless, then follow it along to the morgue and give the clerks a heart attack when he 'came to life' again.
The thought made him smile more vibrantly, because that had been pretty hilarious, and it topped his top ten list of pranks to pull on the living.
"I'll leave it up to you what you wanna do," he told her, "since you're the one who had the bad day."
She chalked up the light touch to Gin being nice. No questions there! A gentle smile curled her lips. “I think I’d like to wallow under the trees for a bit. It sounds like a perfect end to a long day.” She smiled up at him. She might still be angry but he was doing a good job of soothing that anger. For now anyways.
“Well, like I said. I haven’t really laid into someone in a long time.” And then she added, almost quietly, “It felt kind of good” before using her other hand to grab her tea and finish it off. She was as jello-feeling as a jellyfish after his work on her one hand. It felt utterly heavenly and all she wanted to do was be a girl for ten minutes and snuggle him. Poor Gin.
"Ya probably need the fresh air," he said, still rubbing at her wrist, then over her hand and her fingers again, before he stopped and let go. There was a little tilt to his head off to one side as he smiled at her, pleased she looked much more relaxed. And much less suspicious of him. "C'mon, lil' Miss Butt Kicky. Let's get ya outside."
He moved to take her other hand and lead her outdoors. It wasn't a huge space at all, but it was well kept. Since the wisteria was gone from going on the attack, there wasn't a whole lot of color anymore. It was a span of green grass that was so fussed over that it resembled carpet, and the persimmon trees, two almost medium sized ones and one much smaller one. They weren't full grown, by any means, and because they were painstakingly transplanted (even with the greatest of care), the yield of fruit wasn't going to be all that great. Even if he had somehow managed to coax them into growing a rare few this year.
She smiled at him as he let her hand go gently, she was more relaxed now. Still mad but less likely to explode on him. “Alright.” She took his hand with her other one and got to her feet. She didn’t mind that it wasn’t a large garden, in fact she found it to be perfect sized.
There was a white lawn chair that was far, far away from the trees, in case Orange County decided to get weird again. But Gin didn't even go to fetch it. No. Instead, he lead her between the two taller trees and stood there, holding her hand so he could help her sit down on the grass. If they were going to wallow, might as well do it on the ground where they could look up through the limbs at the sky, and she could use him as a cuddle cushion, instead.
“They’re going to be beautiful.” she gestured to the persimmon trees with a smile as she looked around slowly. She smiled as he led her between two trees and helped her to sit down. There was something comforting about being on the grass, under the trees and able to relax like this.
She found a way to sprawl on him, head on his lap, one arm stretched up around his hip. Fingers curling on his hip, “Thank you, Gin, this? Is perfect.” She smiled softly, warmly, lovingly.
Sitting there, Gin didn't look up so much as he looked down at her. He smiled and traced lazy little circles and lines over her forehead with a fingertip. It really was perfect and he wished it could be like this forever. But such things didn't last, and he wasn't one to fool himself. It was better to enjoy the moment, fleeting though it might be. And he was enjoying it, enough that the smile was genuine again, and it didn't waver.
"They're growin' pretty well. I'm sure the neighbors're gonna be pissed off when they get a lil' taller, if they start blockin' their view. I'll deal with it then an' kinda shape 'em up a bit, when they're more settled in and get taller." It was odd thinking of anything associated with him being settled in, but it wasn't a really a bad thought, either. "Lucky there was a lotta immigrants that came here and know how to dry 'em, so I had a few leads on where to get 'em and what to do."
He remembered making hoshigaki from his dreams, so there wasn't much in the way of instruction that he required. Only the trees, which he had paid a good chunk of change for.
He finished by commenting with, "Ya look like you're feelin' better already."
She smiled up at him, totally relaxed under his fingers. “They’ll be perfect. I don’t care what anyone else says.” she said softly as she closed her eyes for a moment. She was a fool, and she did hope things would last. Although she also knew enough to enjoy the moment as they happened.
“I am feeling wonderful already.” She opened her eyes to look at him, a gentle smile on her lips. She loved moments like these, where nothing mattered except the moment. The fresh air. The company.
Some night, Gin thought to himself, he would have to bring out some really good sake and they could drink it, there, under the trees. It might be a nice thing to do and fun too, since they usually had a good time and there was lots of laughing. He made a little mental note and tucked it away for later.
"Ya look wonderful," he told her, sly and teasing, "and I gotta great view of you an' the girls. Truth told, though? I'm happy ya didn't get roughed up. Remind me to be marginally more nicer to Abarai-kun if I ever go back there again."
He probably wouldn't, because it was like a doomsday timer was running in his mind's eye and it was just a matter of time before someone said something about him. But he'd deal with that when it happened.
Rangiku smiled at him.
“Of course you do, they’re pretty much saying hi how are you,” she said up at him, laughing ever so quietly. She was enjoying the night, it’d turned out for the best. “I’m happy I didn’t get roughed up, either.” She looked up at him, brushing a hair out of her eyes.
She reached up at him, running her fingers along his cheek. “This is beautiful, and feels so… “ She wasn’t sure what she was feeling right now. “Perfect. Right.” She looked down shyly. “Sorry.”
"I like 'em a lot. They're very polite ta say hello," he joked and then opened his eyes more when he looked down at her, unsure of what caused her to act that way. He even took hold of her hand. "Huh? If it's perfect and right, then why're you sayin' sorry and lookin' away like that?"
“They try to be,” she replied a bit quieter as she snuggled down into his lap. Fingers curled against his gently. “I’ve done and gone all sappy on you, s’why,” she said looking back up at him, eyes sparkling, her cheeks red.
Gin's eyes were open and his eyebrows raised way up. He still looked amused, but that was really his default facial expression. However, he was staring at her with a fond gleam in his eyes, and he gave her hand as much as a gentle squeeze as he could, trying not to hurt her at all.
"There's nothing wrong with that, Rangiku.” His tone of voice was gentle as always, but perhaps more so. “Ain't bothered me before, ain't botherin' me now."
Rangiku blushed darker at all that fuss. She returned the squeeze, heedless of her pain. She didn’t care right this second.
“I just… don’t want to run you off with all this sap,” she said with a small smile, trust a girl to go from bitchy to worried in all of five seconds. Of course it was her worry about him being so evasive manifesting this way. But that was alright. Better this way than her being mad at him.
Gin was silently staring down at her for what seemed like an hour, but it really was only less than a minute. He blinked a few times, and decided, yes, that Rangiku was worried. He knew her moods enough that it was all entirely normal to him. She could go from angry to happy to angry again in a flash. She was a bit tempestuous, but she was honest and stubbornly loyal and funny, too.
Even so, his answer was very soft spoken, because he had to be (somewhat) honest with her, "There will be times when I run off. I won't say why or where. I got stuff to do. But, Rangiku...it would never be because of you bein' sappy. So don't ever think that."
A flash of something in her eyes. She’s heard that line before. At least she thinks she has. Then a soft sigh. Rangiku should be named a weather pattern - hurricane to calm summer breeze and back again. El Nino has nothing on her.
Her voice was soft, she knew he’d been honest with her. She could tell. Feel it. Know it. But even so, “You’ll come back to me, right?”
There was fierceness in her voice, something that almost said she dared him to say no and mean it or to lie and say yes when he really meant no.
There was a long pause before an equally long exhale, as Gin closed his eyes. The smile started to tug at the corners of his lips. She was a force of nature, that’s for sure.
"I dunno. Those accounting conventions can get pretty wild sometimes. I might fall outta window. If I do, I'll try to crawl back to ya."
It wasn't a lie. It wasn't the truth either. Mostly because he left out the fact that maybe, someday, he wouldn't be able to come back to her, just like he hadn't been able to, before.
To try and set her mind at ease, he told her, "Doncha worry about that right now."
She sensed the hesitation. The half-truth. The omitted lie. But she only sighed. “You better be crawling yer broken ass back to me or I’ll hunt you down myself.” Yep. Force of nature. Fiery. Feisty. And oh so very much someone who cares way too much about a sneaky fucker.
“I won’t.” She rested her head against his hip, licking her lips softly and half-closing her eyes, looking very much like he usually did. “Mm.”
She looked relaxed but he still went to tease her a little bit, hoping to make light of it all. And probably to get her back for that licking thing. That was downright evil.
"What're ya gonna do when you find me, after huntin' me down," he coyly asked, smoothing some of her hair away from her face or her neck, using his fingertips. "Hit me upside my head with a fryin' pan an' drag me home by the scruff of my neck?"
“A fryin’ pan? You think I ain’t got some kind of class?” she laughed softly, as he brushed hair from her face, the touch cool and soothing to her. She smiled despite it all. ”I’ll knock you out with my own fist then drag you back by an ear. And give you a good talkin’ to. You don’t get to leave me,” she said with a grin as wide as texas.
That's a pretty big grin. It rivaled his own. And from the looks of it, he was DAMN amused by what she said.
"You're so mean-spirited. What're my accounting' buddies gonna say, if ya go doin' that? I'll never be able ta show my face at another convention, ever again." Gee, there were so many of those conventions. And who needs an accountant on a friday night so they don't get home until early saturday morning, anyway? NOT SUSPICIOUS AT ALL, REALLY. "I said I wasn't runnin' off if you were bein' sappy, Ran~gi~ku. When'd it turn into I don't get ta leave you, huh?"
She waved her hand idly. "Not what I meant. Nevermind, silly." Then settled back against him, eyes closed. "And if you’re in need of a frying pan to the head it'd be better to not break it and let me use my fist," she said still smiling.
"Punchy," he replied, still playing dumb as usual. Diversion works. It was back to that smile again. Yes, it’s that smile. "I don't think I'm gonna let you punch me. There's other, better ways you could get your hands on me, doncha think?"
Rangiku opened one eye to look at him at that comment. “Much better ways. But we hadn’t been talking about how to get my hands on you. If we are I can come up with many other ways.” She offered him a smile before dragging the nails of one hand down across his hip.
"Ahhhhh, Rangiku," he sighed out, softly, trying to ignore any stirrings that she might be trying to incite. "Huh. What were ya talkin' about, then? Afraid I didn't catch your other meaning. Maybe you should be more forward an' tell me."
He almost laughed because it wasn't possible for Rangiku to be more forward than she already was. He also took hold of her hand. Partially because he wanted to hold it, and partially to keep her from repeating that gesture. It was too easy to cave into temptation.
She was a really good temptation. But she wasn't trying to stir him up at all. No she was just teasing to prove her point. "We were talking about how I'd come drag you back if you fell off a cliff at your conventions." She laughed softly and closed eyes again letting Her fingers curl his, stroking along his softly and slowly.
Rangiku truly wanted to lay under the trees and enjoy his company and the fresh air. She didn't need to drag him to his room every time she saw him. She enjoyed these moments too.
The dragging of his fingernails on his hip was temptation enough, but he knew he had to refrain. What more, he wanted to. And he liked hearing her voice and missed their conversations, so moments like this were priceless and to be treasured. Even if he couldn't say that, out loud, to her.
"...silly me," he said, even more softly, like he suddenly realized a mistake. His own thumb rubbed lightly over the top of her hand. Even so, he couldn't resist a teasing joke, "Everyone'll think you're my wife if ya go doin' that sorta stuff. Always draggin' me home while yellin' at me for fallin' offa cliffs an' balconies an' things."
He wanted to bust out laughing, but instead he silently waited for her reaction.
Every moment was treasured. She had felt like this whole thing was a coming home thing and she wondered what she'd missed. He could say it out loud and watch her melt into a puddle of dawwws.
Eyes still closed, she smiled faintly. "They'd be jealous of you snagging someone like me," she teased back. Though there was a blush creeping up her cheeks as if that wasn't a bad thing. She had a feeling if she stuck with him she'd never see a wedding night. Gin didn't have to say it, she could feel it.
It's Gin. There would be no wedding night or even a wedding, that much was certain. He still had too much to hide and having a wife would be a liability, in his profession. He wouldn't even say he had a girlfriend, if asked. Not because he didn't want Rangiku to be that, but because he simply couldn't...or run the risk of connecting them, officially.
But, of course, he wasn't going to say that either. He smiled away, happily, enjoying the slight blush and continuing to joke around in lightened tones, to keep the mood as equally light.
"Probably, but I'd haveta tell them about your other qualities. Then they wouldn't be quite so jealous no more. I don't never get no dinner, ya lure me into drinkin' sake with ya all the time, an' I haveta pay for everything."
"Hey I'm good at ordering in and I've yet to hear you argue sake." She ignored that last part. Should she ever learn of it all, she might get a little sad. It's every girl's dream to have a wedding, after all. Not that she didn't already know this was all a dream for her, that it wasn’t going to happen, but she wasn’t disappointed. She had him, it didn’t really matter. The rest of it anyways.
She idly dragged her other hand up to brush against his cheek softly eyes only partially open now as she looked at him, something unreadable in her eyes.
"I better leave you with a credit card," he said, sounding like it was enormously funny. "So you can keep us stocked up on delivery food an' sake ta drink."
The teasing immediately stopped, when he went to tip his head in more against her hand, and then noticed that change in the way she was looking at him.
"...what is it?" he asked her, not sounding unsure, but simply as though he wanted to know. For he is male, and he knows it is a loaded question. He's asking anyway.
Rangiku laughed at him. “You don’t need to do something like that. I’ll just go take cooking classes or somethin’,” she teased back. “But I will take it to stock up on sake.” She nodded lightly.
She rested her hand on his face with a small smile. “Nothing for you to worry about, Gin,” she answered not wanting to get into such a depressing topic. Not when she knew it wasn’t useful to talk about it anyways. She gave him a reassuring smile (of course he knew her well enough to know that she was playing sneaky hidey bugger too).
"I know ya. You'd sleep through half the classes, if ya even decided ta go, an' it'd be a huge waste of money. I don't need cooked for or cleaned up after or any of that." There was a pause before he added in a whisper, like it was a huge conspiracy, "But we could use the sake?"
He did know, and for a moment, he weighed out the fact that he couldn't answer her questions, so why would he expect her to answer his? Then again, Rangiku was way more of an open book and he knew when she was trying to hide things too. Her changing moods and expressions were things that he got to know pretty well.
"I know a liar when I see one," Gin told her, keeping his manner of speech sounding like it was full of mirth and levity, "even if ya might accuse me of the same thing. I think you're a big liar right now, so I'm gonna haveta set your pants on fire if ya aren't gonna tell me. Lemme get some matches."
He acted like he was starting to move, shifting around slightly, so she had time to smack him and stop him.
“Probably,” she laughed softly. “Not a big fan of actually paying attention for too long.” She laughed as if it was the funniest thing in the world although she was beginning to hate it about herself a little bit. “But yes on the sake,” she teased.
Rangiku was a huge open book. Could just look and sorta tell what she was feeling or thinking or dreaming bout. Not always but sometimes. This time? Definately. She was a poor liar. Always had been. Rangiku was more of a being honest type folk.
She smacked him lightly, though.
“Stop that, no lighting my pants on fire. It’s nothing to worry bout none.” She shook her head at him. Of course she was lying her ass off. “Nothing I want to worry about now, yeah?” She poked him lightly. “Please?”
Gin laughed at that and raised his eyebrows a little, along with a shrug of 'what can ya do?', since that was such a Rangiku thing, it was hilarious. He loved it and always would love it, because her quirks are what made her all the more fun, funny, and appealing to him. If she ever told him that she hated it, he would insist he did love it, because that is the actual, factual truth. He doesn’t even know why it annoys anyone else.
Even so, he took hold of her finger in one hand, so she couldn't poke him again.
"Rangiku," he said, in that melodious way of saying her name. Only now, he was saying it like she should know better. "I don't wanna light a fire under yo' butt to get you ta tell me, but if I haveta...." He let the rest of that trail off, as he waited.
She sat up, then and stared at him, lips pursed a bit in annoyance. “Why are we willing to ruin such a lovely night?” she asked with her brows furrowed, not prying her hand or finger from his. She looked at him sadly, knowing full well he wasn’t gonna give up on it either. He could be just as stubborn as she was.
“Fine,” she said after a moment of looking at him. “Just got thinkin’ about the future, is all.”
Gin didn't look the least bit taken back. In fact, he sat there, staring at her through a happy squint, looking snug as a bug in a rug regardless of what was happening. Deep down inside might be a different story, but on the exterior, nothing was out of place. He didn't let go of her finger, either. His stubborn was of the quiet variety, and he waited until she said something, before he let go.
"It ain't ruinin' anything. Not since it's been on your mind for a lil' while, already," he said, knowingly. "What part of the future are ya thinkin' about? You want a spaceship or a light saber? Sorry, I can't help ya with that."
He waited to her what she really had to say, silently yet expectantly.
“Will too,” she said quietly and tucked a leg under her, curling into his arm, not wanting to let him go either. Not just yet. Not until she said something stupid, which was very much her thing. Open mouth, insert nervous foot. Not that she was nervous. She was her confident self, even if inside she was breaking to a million pieces.
“No, don’t want space ships or light sabers. Just want to stay happy.” She looked at him. “And while I know I am happy, now. And I know I will be later, too. Because I’m extremely happy now - but … you won’t label us. What am I supposed to tell my family when they ask? Or anyone?”
She honestly had no idea how to tell ANYONE what they were and she figured it was close enough to what was eating her brain that he’d not press too much further.
"Will not." He had put one arm around her in response, opening his eyes to look back at her. He looked a little regretful, a bit wistful, and yet that smile was on his lips. It was softened considerably and wasn't as harsh or exaggerated, but it was still there. "I can't tell you that we're always gonna be happy, like this. And I can't tell you what to call us, either. Tell 'em you're with a close friend, I guess. There's not really gonna be an answer that's gonna make you happy with it, Rangiku...but that's the way it's gotta be."
Rangiku didn't say a damn thing. She just looked at him and sighed softly. She wasn't sure what to say. She was livid and tired and accepting it all at once. She had known of course but it was different hearing it in person. She tried to put a real smile on for him because despite it all, she still loved him.
He knew that look, too. Which was why he added onto it by saying, "I love you. You know it. I know it. It ain't no one else's business but our business. No matter what, remember that I didn't lie to ya, when I said that."
Because everyone else would be calling him a liar and worse, soon enough.
Rangiku tried another smile. She was happy she knew that. "I love you too. Alright I... I can handle this," she said softly as she smiled at him trying to make herself feel better. She believed him.
The arm around her tightened to pull her closer and try to reassure her a little bit, But whereas he would have reveled in teasing anyone else with what he next said, he didn't at all with Rangiku, "I love ya, Ran, but you're fakin' that smile. I can tell." Since he’s the master of fake smiles.
She cracked. Like an egg. Tears welled up and spilled over. Rangiku didn't cry much. It was a very rare occurrence. But she was now, even if she was trying to hide it by being silent about it. Shoulders shook quietly as she buried her head into his shoulder. She knew he'd never change and she didn't want him to. But it didn't mean it didn't hurt.
If there was one thing that was a real stab to the heart above all else, it was Rangiku when she was crying. He knew what to do by instinct from the dreams, which was to hold her closer until she got it all out of her system. That didn't make it any easier. And yes, even to him - when he claimed he never felt a thing - it still hurt. He never cried at all, though, since he was a little too good at hiding everything, even sometimes for her sake.
Gin held her and lowered his face down enough to rest his lips against the top of her head, listening to any change in her breathing to tell if it was going to get better or worse, and staring at the back garden, like he was on a silent little vigil. In a way, he was. He still had to watch out for Rangiku in this life, after all, even if he seemed like he wasn't really doing that at all.
Gin realized too, that he was not very good at watching over anyone, if he kept leaving them behind. Maybe he should have waited to approach her. Or maybe it wouldn't matter at all either way, depending on how she reacted the next time she had any dreams.
So, he did the only thing he really could do, because he was sure - if they were together or not - that she would still have friends to rely on. Under his breath, he promised her, "It'll be ok, Rangiku." Because he was sure that, no matter what, it would. She would still have Toshiro and Momo and Renji and...basically everyone else...to help her get past whatever might happen.
Which was generally what he had been counting on when he skipped out on that first revenge fueled long-term plan. And he had a second revenge fueled long-term plan here, too, that he couldn't even tell her about.
Gin decided right then and there, that fate could be a real kick to the nuts.
The tears hadn’t stopped. Or even really slowed down yet. Despite the fact he was doing his best to comfort her. Her breath was choked, the silent sobs hard on her. She had no desire, though, to lose it completely. Her world felt broken, how was she supposed to fix that? No. There was no way to fix it. The only thing to do was go on, despite it all. Not that she was taking comfort in that, though.
Through tear choked breathes she spoke. “Will it?” she asked simply, forcing her eyes open to fix him with a look. She didn’t believe him. Not for a moment. After all, she knew he was a sneaky bastard. Who’s say he’s right? No she didn’t quite put her faith in his words. She trusted him. She loved him. But couldn’t quite bear to believe him on this one.
Who knew what time would bring. What memories would bring. But in the end it didn’t matter. She had her ground faith - in him, in herself. And eventually others, but for now she was certain of her path. Even if it was wiggly wavy twisted and broken in places. It was the path she choose. Life wasn’t easy and she didn’t want it to be.
She stared up at him, eyes wet and glistening, cheeks damp with tears, lips doing their best to hide the fact she was breaking a little bit. She needed a good cry, her day had not gone as planned, and her night wasn’t going as planned either. Why her?
Yep, hearing her cry like that was always going to be a stab to the heart. It hurt. More than he would probably admit. Which was fine with him, since he’s not going to admit it.
"It will be," Gin told her, while staring into her eyes. He had loosened his hold enough to let her pull away, but he wasn't letting go of her either. The smile on his lips was a little wistful and he was staring back at her with regret in his own eyes, but he promised her once more, "It will."
It would be, because if he had to manipulate things so he knew she was being watched over by other people, he could - and would - do that. So it would all be ok. And if anything really bad did happen, then she wouldn't be alone. He had already set out on his path before he even had his first dream with her in it, and he was one of those secretly determined people that didn't deviate from their goal once they had it in mind...even at the expense of others. But for right now, the only thing in front of him was Rangiku.
He raised one hand to brush the tears from her cheeks with his thumb and fingertips, drying them away with a featherlight touch.
"No matter what," he promised her, giving her a brief kiss before he finished saying, "I love you. There's no one else, Rangiku. Only you. Don't ever forget that an' it'll be ok."
It wasn’t like Rangiku liked crying. She did it as rarely as possible. It was hell on her complexion, her mental state and her physical well being. Crying took the world out of her, stomped on her a few times, then shoved her back into shape. And if she ever found out, ever ever, that it hurt him too? She’d feel even worse.
She searched his eyes then nodded slowly. She was going to take a leap of faith, even though her gut said no. Don’t. Stop. He’d probably have to manipulate all that fun. And then watch as she pushed everyone away, because she wasn’t someone to let the world see her break. It wasn’t who she was and if they needed to step in? She was broken.
Rangiku was the rare woman who didn’t demand that their loved ones change their paths. Their lives for her. She’d never do that to him, she merely ask he make room for her in his life. And she knew he would. Even if at the end of it all she had to make that room stick around she would. At least she was stubborn.
She closed her eyes as he brushed the tears away from her cheeks, trying her best not to let any more fall. Although his words had her hiccuping as she tried to shove the flood of feelings back down so she wouldn’t start back up again. She returned his kiss gently, her lips tasting of salt and dampness.
“I never doubted that, Gin, never,” she said softly, she’d never thought she’d be second fiddle to any other girl. Worried that originally he had seen her as a one nighter? Sure but that got scratched off her worries early.
As though he hadn't tasted enough of her tears during the kiss, he placed little kisses over her cheeks and by her eyes, like he was removing the last traces of them, the best he could. It was something he had done when they were younger, when other people had hurt her, and when he didn't know how else to fix it or make it better.
"I'll make ya happy now," he told her, "by givin' you one wish an' only one wish for somethin' from me. You can save it for later or you can use it now, an' if it's reasonable 'nuff? I'll give it to ya. Weddings? Not reasonable. Kids?" He laughed a little and - eyes wide open - gave her a look like who would they be kidding even TRYING that? He rested his hands on the sides of her face, so he could really gaze into her eyes, without her hair or tears or anything in the way. "If I say no ta somethin', ya still get that one wish so you can pick somethin' else. How's that sound, Ran~gi~ku?"
If all else fails? Turn it into a game, and hopefully it would be a game that might have a chance at making her happy. He also said her name like it was a sweet little song, one that he would sing to her and only her.
His kisses made her laugh softly, hiccuping, tear stained laughter but it was better than outright sobs. Eyes were closed as the feelings of familiarity came back to her. He’d done this when she was young. There. Dreams. Whatever. And it made her smile, faintly. A wispy smile.
“You...don’t have to do that, Gin,” she said softly but smiled. “I’ll save it, I wouldn’t waste such a gift on rash thinking.” But she was giving him an equally wide eyed look at the kid line. Yeah. That was utter nutters, no thanks. Rangiku never wanted kids, thankfully. She felt little mini-hers would be terrifying.
Her hands hung loosely at her side, she felt utterly worn down, but she looked up at his eyes, savoring the feel of his hands holding her face like that. It was comfortable. She sighed softly and lifted a hand, gently placing it on his cheek.
Her voice was a very quiet whisper. “Hey, Gin,” really no way to make that sound any sort of as awesome as he made hers sound, “I like the way you say my name.” She gave him a smile, the waterworks drying up.
"I want to. I'm kinda curious when you'll use it, or what you'll use it for, and if it'll be something I can't say no to." His voice was softened down to a whisper too, but he was smiling again. Not the fake ass one but the one he showed only to her, now and again. Because, face it, she saw the fake ass smile, a lot.
He also liked her eyes. They were honest and expressive and a beautiful shade of hazy blue. He looked into them with his eyes - the color of an afternoon's cloudless sky - and leaned in to steal another little kiss. Afterward, he told her, "I like sayin' it. Think it's one of my favorite things to say now. Sorry? Ya can't use your wish to make me stop."
He mock pouted at her, for comedic effect.
She liked his real smile. The one saved specially for her when things were going better. It was a beautiful smile and she wanted nothing more than to earn it when she could.
“I think you’ll be kept waiting for a little bit then,” she said honestly, she had a million things she could wish for but they were rash and impulsive and she refused to waste this on something silly. She leaned up to steal a kiss. “We’ll have to agree on how I should ask, I don’t want you mistaking an ‘I wish I had a bottle of sake’ for that,” she said with a quirky smile.
Heck, Rangiku liked seeing his eyes, too. She couldn’t read him but sometimes his eyes gave her a hint. Plus they were gorgeous, and she enjoyed the sight of them. A smile curled her lips. “I think that using my wish for that would be unreasonable. and I don’t need to use it to make you say my name, you enjoy it enough that I don’t need to beg you to do so.” She really did like the sing song way he said her name sometimes.
He thought about what she said there, and made a little face while shaking his head.
"That wish wouldn't count. Ya always want sake," he murmured, touching their noses together. "It can't be for nothin' normal, like our usual stuff. It's gotta be for somethin' big, an' somethin' that I won't say no to. That's the trick..." He moved so that his cheek rubbed against hers and he could whisper next to her ear, "...makin' sure it's somethin' I can't say no to, Rangiku."
It helped that he often dreamed about her and her face, or the feel of her and the sound of her voice. They simply fit together...even as dysfunctional as he was, it did feel right. And now, it still felt right, as much as it had in the dreams before everything went wrong.