She hesitated, not with a lack of answer but to make him wait. Rangiku
knew exactly what she wanted to say but had opted to make Gin hopefully,
wait on baited breath. Maybe he would even feel the same painful ache
she felt every time he slipped away. It was like being desperate for water,
dry and course hands, reaching into an oasis that was swiftly evaporating.
Arms were crossed at her chest, plump lips drawn taut to make her reply
seem harsher than it would be. A sway was given, subtle and purposefully
done as a display of her sudden p a t i e n c e.
❝You haven’t changed one bit. At least I’m not as much of a fool, but you’re still an idiot ! ❞
From statue to life, Rangiku’s fingers had wound into silver locks. Her hold
was firm enough to make a point yet still convey the underlying fondness
that had remained. With ease, her forehead bumped lightly against his –
distance closed with a scowl on beautiful features.
❝ But maybe I haven’t changed, because I’m still a
fool for loving you. I’ll pull my arm through my
sleeve – if you ever want to match and smack
people with them. ❞
Silent reprimands were made as a few,
hot tears fell from dark lashes.
The silence that fell after he asked that, it was so wretched as it played around. On one hand it was calm, on the other it dug into his skin. The silence dragging and it was enough to drive one mad with its eerie nature. What was once a friend, was an enemy in the moment.
“I can agree with that... But you, you haven’t changed a bit. Still the same old Rangiku I’ve always known for a century and two decades. Still just as stubborn and fiery as usual.”
To him it was always something that he found to be good qualities in her. That will of hers that burned so brightly, she was the SUN of his world after all so it only made sense. The sun lived for such a long time, longer than anything and that’s always what he wanted for her as the one that made his world bright where it had been dark. The company offered never forgotten when she could have left once she was back to being in tip top shape again (or at least as good as she would ever get living where they did).
The sudden contact was welcome, cherished even more than the times he had back in Soul Society. Her forehead resting against his--- what a truly lovely feeling to be this close to her as he drank her in.
“So many times of sayin’ or thinking that I found you foolish to ever love someone like me... And while I still feel that, I can’t really deny or fight against such a thing like I would have in the past.” At the tears that fell from her eyes, the pain in his chest formed as he did feel like the idiot she always called him. It was his fault, he kept doing this to her-- and to what end? He just wanted it all to go away and for her to never shed another tear again. A single promise made for the lifetime and he kept breaking it for what would seem to be an endless cycle. “Rangiku...” Fingers were quick to catch them since it was all he could do now of all things. “I’m sorry... It’s my fault, don’t cry over a beast and save them for someone more worthy of your tears.”
