You know, it's terrible how much more forgetful I am about uploading the drabbles as opposed to writing them. Every day writing is happening, and yet I only just barely remember to submit a drabble a day. I also realized that in a few months, I'll be away for two weeks. I MAY have someone post some up while I'm gone, and I MIGHT have net access, it's just so iffy. But that's not until April (and hopefully I'll have all those chapters pre-written, haha!)
Thanks to: Renji's Girll, Solar Kitty, and MissTeak. All three of you have reviewed every chapter, it's such a nice, lovely feeling ^______^
10. Memory
Gin picked up a piece of unruly thread that was unraveling a bit at both its ends. He examined the thread ends, then his needle. A moment later, the needle was threaded. Gin was pleased to note he did it on his first try, as always.
Now came the tricky part. He folded the fabric in precise little edges, and began sewing together the two halves of fabric. It was a long, slow process, but it was an important mend, more important than patching his yukata or whatever else Rangiku gave him to mend. While he knew he was best at threading the needle, he was still far better than Rangiku when it came to sewing.
She was a spontaneous, impatient girl, so her stitches were wide and fast, jabbing and crumbling the fabric together. She was as likely to make the problem worse as better. Gin's hands were quick and patient. Sometimes, he wondered if they could be any more different, but then he would remember the differences between nobles and those from the depths of rukongai. When he remembered those differences, suddenly he and Rangiku seemed much the same again.
Eventually, the patch was done and stuffing had been pushed back into a tiny silver fox Rangiku had made him for his last birthday. It was much different from the usual things she sewed. Tiny, even stitches held it together, and careful embroidery made its grinning face.
Gin laid on his back, setting the little toy on his chest, remembering.
"Hey Gin? Have you ever had a toy?"Rangiku asked.
"The world's my toy, and everything in it."
"But what about a regular toy?"
"Nah."
He really did see the world as his toy; however, something in him delighted at getting a toy. It was something all his to play with, and love. Not only was it something rare and precious in this part of the rukongai, but it was from Rangiku. He still did not know how long it had taken her to make the little fox, especially without him finding out about it.
He had taken to carrying it always in his pocket, his own little friend who travelled with him wherever he might go. And it always reminded him of Rangiku, his best friend, and the only one he trusted.
But this meant more wear and tear on the stuffed animal than if Gin had simply set it on his bed. The little fox was still young, but already, it had several patches. Every time he saw a bit of stuffing poke out, it made him terribly sad. He wanted to be able to keep his Rangiku's present forever, to be able to cherish that little toy forever.
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