Who: Rangiku & Gin What: Christmas Goodness When: backdated, December 25thish Where: Their house Rating: C for Cute Status: Complete
Rangiku had spent the first days of the snow bouncing around like a five year old. She remembered a lot of snow from her dreams and all she did was try and mimic the feelings from them. She’d finally succeeded when she flumped under the persimmon trees. She stared up at the snow falling between their branches and smiled a bit, it was lovely. It felt wonderful. Even if it was chilly. Slender fingers raked through her hair then settled back against the snow she’d made into a pillow. Bright eyes stared up at the branches, watching the flakes drift lazily downwards and alight on her lashes. She laughed softly, her eyes sparkling. She loved snow. Loved it a lot. Now if Gin would stop being a lazy ass she’d love it even more, but she didn’t actually mind much.
It was true that Gin was very good at looking like he was a lazy ass. He had spent the entirety of yesterday afternoon folding paper cranes while lounging on the couch, after making some snow monsters on the roof of the house...because snowmen are boring. Sometime over the past week, he had watched whole entire seasons of Comedy Central shows. And he had taken his own damn sweet time when he went shopping or to pick up the mail, which resulted in trips that should have taken a half an hour, taking about five or six hours total to get done.
Because he isn't ever really doing the things he says he's doing. It's not suspicious at all. Especially when he comes home with, like, one candybar. Or some scotch tape.
Today, he had been napping like a hibernating forest critter, which was a biproduct of skipping out at night and leaving silly post it notes stuck to his pillow in case Rangiku woke up, while he was gone. It never said anything with words. All she got was a smiley emoticon or a sneaky-fox doodle. That was enough.
After he woke up, though, he went searching for Rangiku...because he is damn sure she didn't go into work. Damn sure, because anything that involves the word 'work' was something that Rangiku shunned, like last season's footwear.
He slid the big glass back door open and popped his head out, squintily blinking at the snow. Brrr. It reminded him of North Rukongai during the winter, when it was only him and Rangiku, and things were much simpler. Even if they were still very young and all on their own.
"Oh Rangiiiiiiikuuuu," he sang out, slyly, "you're gonna freeze yo' butt off. I kinda like that butt too, ya know. I'm gonna haveta defrost ya if you keep playin' around in it all day long."
Rangiku looked up as Gin called to her, smiling a bit at the sing song tone of voice. She loved when he used it on her name. She found it lovely. She rolled out of her snow pile and laughed at him. “I’d like that, Gin, you know this.” She giggled as she got to her feet and shrugged off the snow.
She padded towards him and grinned. She really did like the snow. She couldn’t help if it had been a deep secret wish of hers to have snow in California. She loved the fact that it’d fallen all over the place. She loved the trees. She loved how it looked. It was perfect. But she smiled as she reached for him.
“This brings back memories, Gin,” she said softly, a tiny smile curled on her lips. Slender fingers were cold, not that she seemed to notice right now. She remembered the days when they had to fend for themselves, and try to survive in the bitter cold. But the snow of her memories was held in a different spot than the icy cold.
Rangiku knew, of course, that when he went on a six hour shopping journey, he wasn’t shopping. She wasn’t stupid, but she’d long ago given up worrying too much about it. About ten hours, then she’d worry about him. She loved the little post it drawings, though, they were cute and she’d stored them in a folder tucked under her things.
Gin had taken hold of her cold hands and tried to lure her inside. Maybe later they could make some more snowmen under the trees, but for the time being? They had a house to live in that had some heat in it, and he was intending to enjoy it to the best of his ability. There was also another matter....
"...I got you a present," he told her, ready to close the door and leave the cold outside, where it belonged.
She curled her fingers in his and let him lure her inside. There was a tiny smile, knowing they had a home here, now felt wonderful. It was something to be cherished because she knew things weren’t always perfect. It could change at any time. She pulled his hands up and kissed the backs of them lightly.
“What? Oh Gin!” she said softly as she leaned against the door for a moment. “I have something for you, too, but now you’ve got me all curious.” she said with a smile, the red of her cheeks fading as she warmed up.
"It's the holidays an' all, so no better time than the present ta give gifts," Gin said, leaning in with a wide smirk, so he could peck a kiss against the side of her face. He whispered in her ear afterward, "Close your eyes and I'll give ya your surprise."
She closed her eyes as he kissed her cheek, skin flushing again as he did so. They’d had a few breakthrus over the last few months, but she still cherished the little signs of love. She had spent weeks hunting something down for Gin, he was very hard to buy for. She smiled sweetly, curious but keeping her eyes closed. “I’m excited!” gifts made her remember all the little ones he’d bring back for her after his sojourns elsewhere. That warm, happy feeling came with it.
Gin reached into a pocket where he had the necklace Canaan had made. He slipped it over her head and around Rangiku's neck, lifting her hair up over it in the back and tugging it so the chain slipped through a loop the same way she used to wear it. There was a smirk on his face when told her, "I think ya might already know what it is by now. Ya might as well look down at what I got you and the girls."
The moment the cold metal touched her neck she had an idea. She opened her eyes to look down, breath catching in her throat. Fingers reached up to run it through her fingers. Then she smiled softly.
“Oh Gin,” she looked up at him and leaned forwards to kiss him. “This is beautiful and perfect,” she said afterwards, arms wrapping around him as she hugged him. It was exactly the same. And having it on her neck made her feel like a part of her that was missing was back and it felt wonderful. “I love it,” she sighed happily.
That hug was instantly returned, along with a glance of his lips over the side of her face before whispering in her ear, "I love you, Rangiku. I can't give you some of the stuff ya might want outta me, but I could give this back to you again. That's gotta count for somethin'."
Because maybe later on she wouldn't be quite so angry that he ran off as a traitor and then ended up dying. Ooops.
Pesky death stuff. Always getting in the way of his excellent long-term, one-man plans.
She blushed at his words and smiled softly. “Oh, Gin.” she sighed softly. “It counts for a lot. I love you, you know. I don’t care that you can’t give me everything. This is beyond thoughtful. I felt so weird, knowing about it in my dreams but not having it.” she nuzzled his cheek gently.
Of course she’d be angry. But she’d get over it. She always did, didn’t she?
She did, because she was strong and stubborn. That was what Gin counted on, most. It would get her through anything, including his long-term, one-man plans.
"Felt weird not bein' able to do this." He touched his fingers to the platinum chain, between her breasts. "Gives me an added excuse to touch you there. Bwa ha ha."
Yes, his evil plan has been revealed. Fo shaaaaaame.
Rangiku was stubborn as all hell. It was her one shining trait. She could manage without him. Not that she wanted to. And she’d fight tooth and nail for him. Silly man could think he’d survive without her, not happening.
Her gaze softened as he said that. “I bet it did.” she grinned at him as he laid his fingers on it. “I think that’s a good excuse. I love it. Thank you. You just made this feel like home a little more.” she pulled his fingers to rest between her breasts and kissed him softly.
That’s his lil’ stubborn butt. She is a funny but obstinate (and infinitely lazy, often delightfully drunk...) handful. Which is why he liked her so much. She kept him on his toes and made him laugh, not to mention fun to tease her and watch her make faces and go ‘oooo!’ at him and stuff.
Of course, he was in no rush to end that kiss, either. He let all those thoughts of her and her quirks, stir around in his head, so it lasted even longer. Finally, it trailed off on it's own, taking it's own sweet time. Of course, leave it to him to end it by saying, "Unless you're givin' me more kisses, you mentioned that ya got me somethin' too."
She was a handful. But he liked that handful an awful lot. She didn’t want to change because well, that was no fun. She kept him happy. And he made her happy. It was the nature of their relationship to push each other and laugh the whole time. Even when she was mad at him, it wasn’t terribly so. And he could always ease it back into laughter.
She sighed happily into the kiss, letting it linger and fade on it’s own too. “Oh I could give you those too.” she grinned but nodded. “I did get you something, too, of course!” she grinned as she untangled herself from him and disappeared into her actual room. What? she hid stuff in it. She came out with a package and held it out to him. Inside was a handcarved sword stand for his blade and a new cleaning kit. He was hard to buy for because she didn’t know what he’d want from her, besides her. She also held a smaller gift in her fingertips.
When Gin opened it, he smiled brightly and gave her a big kiss. The stand was perfect, and he was certain that Shinso would like it as well.
"Ya didn't haveta get me anything," Gin confessed, "but I like it. Now what's this lil' gift? Ya got me two? I only got ya one. Besides fixing somethin' to eat later, but I do that anyway since you get lazy butt more often than I do."
And he liked that a lot too. Go fig. He took the smaller gift and opened it up.
She smiled at him. “I know. I know.” she laughed softly. She was glad he’d like the gifts. She’d hoped it was enough for him. The little box held a jade pendant piece, although she’d left the chain off and not included. On the jade was carved a simple cat outline. She grinned a bit.
“This is for you carry with ya, so I’m always there. Look, I even left off names and stuff so no one who doesn’t know me very well wouldn’t figure it out.” she grinned brightly at him.
"Ya catch on quicker than ya let on ta others, Rangiku." She knew him so well, including the fact he wouldn't wear it, but keep it with him in a pocket. He even took it out and made a show of tucking it into a back pocket, giving it a pat with one hand and leaning in to give her a kiss. When it was over, he said, "I like all've it, and I love you for splurging on me, for once. Before ya slap me for that last thing? Merry Christmas."
Rangiku grinned softly. "I do indeed, but let's keep that between you and i, eh?" she grinned softly and shook her head gently. "It's my little secret, you know?" she smiled at him and laughed softly. "Merry Christmas, I love you. It's a perfect Christmas, I think. Much better than some of our past Christmases. Thank you." she kissed him softly before pushing her hair out of her eyes. "Let's have food, and enjoy the rest of the night." she smiled and leaned on him to relax, and enjoy the moment. Christmas was perfect.