A little later, when they were both clean, dried, and dressed in clean clothes, they both relaxed in the living room together. It was one of those easy, slow days, and they spent it together. Curled up on the sofa and watching films together. Happy, feelgood films because nobody wanted to dwell on the Bad Things that happened. Especially not those in The Forest. And when Gin broke off and returned to hand him a mug of tea in his favourite cat mug, he didn't think this day could get any more perfect.
. . .
When lunchtime came, and Gin went into the kitchen to cook, leaving him alone to rest, Sousuke moved quietly out into the garden. Unable to even remember the last time he was this happy. He was here, he was alive, he had Gin... really, what more could he ask for in life?
He took in a deep lungful of air, letting it cleanse his bruised body, and sighed. Warm, happy, perfectly content. If every single day of the rest of his life could be like this, it would be perfect.
Because he'd be with Gin. And he'd never have to worry about leaving his home ever again.
Because Gin would be there.
A gentle breeze brushed past him, ruffling his hair and cooling his skin as he scanned the flora around him. Wishing he had a cactus to express his warmth and ardent love for Gin. But they had a garden, not a desert, so he'd have to make do with another choice.
He moved slowly through the garden, steadily circling the koi pond. It certainly wouldn't do to fall in (again). Especially not since he was injured and especially not after he'd just gotten all warm, comfortable and clean. Not to mention the fact that he'd have to wash his clothes... and get his favourite yukata stained with dirty pond water. Gin always liked this green one. So much so, he'd taken to borrowing it on occasion.
No, best keep away from the pond. Just in case. Better to not fall in. Again. It had taken ages to get the mud stains out of his clothes. Not even the muddy stains from their adventurous rolls in the grass were so stubborn... and Gin had never let him live it down. Cackling like a witch at him for falling into his own koi pond. Hanging laundry of all things.
It'll be fine, he'd said. Some famous last words those were.
He resumed his search for the flowers he was looking for. The marshmallow was around here somewhere. He found it and plucked a small handful and returned to the kitchen with it, knowing he could get the peppermint he needed from their herb garden in the kitchen window.
Moving behind Gin, who was standing at the stove cooking up some Rukongai Stew, he reached for the little herb garden and pulled some peppermint. And then, putting them with the marshmallow flowers, he stood behind Gin and smoothly snuck an arm around his lover's waist. Pleasantly surprising his lovely fox.
"Oh, hello," Gin smiled softly. Still stirring the big pot of stew, but slowly leaning back into his lover's arms.
"Hello," Sousuke answered, still smiling like an idiot. "I have these for you," he said, presenting his love with the flowers he'd picked. Gin turned around to face him, his smile sweet and endearing as he took them.
"Oh, fer me? You shouldn't have." Gin said lightly, kissing him ever so gently.
Sousuke smiled. "Yes, I should," he said.
Gin seemed to consider this for a quiet moment. "Hm. You're right. You should," he said. "But anyway, thankyou. Marshmallow?"
"Marshmallow and peppermint," Sousuke nodded. Gin was getting better at recognising the different flowers now and he was very pleased.
"I don't think we've used marshmallow before," Gin mused, looking thoughtful.
"We haven't," Sousuke told him, softly kissing his Gin's forehead. "The flower dictionary's on your bedside table where you left it."
Gin frowned a little, or at least he pretended to. "Aw. Not gonna tell me what it means?"
Sousuke smirked, realising Gin's arms were now around his waist. If they weren't careful they'd get carried away again and the stew would burn. "I've found you learn better if you look the meanings up yourself."
Gin pouted. "Meanie."
"Oh, but you love me," Sousuke teased, laughing.
"Shut up," Gin said, though there was no heat behind it at all. "Go fetch me my flower dictionary."
"Yes, dear." Sousuke chuckled, but he did as he was told and obediently brought Gin the little book. Patiently waiting as Gin decoded his latest message.
"Hm, let's see..." Gin said, flipping through the pages while Aizen stirred the stew as it cooked. "Well I know peppermint is 'warmth of feeling', so where's marshmallow?"
Aizen waited very patiently as Gin searched for the entry for marshmallow, resisting the urge to find it for himself in his excitement. After all, students learned through working things out for themselves and solving problems on their own. And Aizen had always been a teacher at heart.
"Found it yet?" he asked.
"I'm lookin'," Gin answered, turning another page. "Gimme a sec, hold yer 'orses."
"Alright, I'll wait," Sousuke chuckled. Gin turned another page.
"Aha, here we go, I got it."
Sousuke waited while Gin read the entry for the marshmallow flower, anticipating the reaction.
"Oh," Gin gasped softly.
"Oh?" Sousuke echoed, his tone light and his amusement obvious. "'oh,' good or 'oh' bad?"
"Oh good," Gin said softly, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing or reading.
"Are you going to tell me what the marshmallow flower means?" Sousuke asked slowly, smiling just a little sheepishly. Though his sheepishness was overshadowed by his eagerness.
"It means... Gin began quietly. "It means 'kindness'."
Aizen waited, letting Gin decipher the rest of the message, looking adorably confused. "With the peppermint..." Gin paused again, surprised and confused now as he looked to his partner. Smiling. "I warm your heart with my kindness?" he asked, tilting his head much like Cherry did.
Aizen just smiled. "Yes. You do."
Gin laughed softly. "But I aint tryin' t'do that."
"Exactly. You're sweet without even trying."
Gin's cheeks quickly turned very pink at that. "Aw, come off it, ya sap."
"Never," Sousuke said, kissing Gin again, the stew forgotten for the moment. "Besides, you know you love it."
Gin grumbled a little, pretending to disagree, but they both knew it was all a sham. Prompting more chuckling from Sousuke. Gin just sighed at him like a long-suffering wife.
"If you say so dear," he said, closing the dictionary and putting it on the countertop out of the way.
"Oh? What's this?" Sousuke asked, his voice light, teasing and very, very playful. "Did you just actually admit I was right about something?" He raised his eyebrows in a comically exaggerated expression of surprise. "Should I alert the press?"
Gin just shook his head at his husband. "Just you keep stirring the stew else it'll burn."
"I'm not hearing a 'no'," Aizen teased further, a smug smirk on his lips.
"Just shut up and stir." Gin told him, not rising to the bait. If Aizen wanted a reaction out of him, he'd have to try a lot harder. So he left Aizen to mind the stew while he went to get a vase for the flowers – while Aizen snickered at his own antics. They served up the stew a little while after that, the smell of it making their bellies growl, and they ate like they'd never see food again. Like ravenous wolves. Perhaps they were. Gods knew they used to be, having both grown up in the Rukongai. Where good meaty stew like this was considered a luxury. Which was probably why Gin cooked it so rarely.
"You know, I think this stew gets better every time you make it," he told Gin, helping himself to seconds. Or was it thirds? He'd lost track a little while ago. Too focused on the delicious stew. He'd never forget the first time Gin made it for him, his old friend Yuki had given him the recipe and the sly fox had kept it a secret for the longest time. Gin guarded that recipe fiercely, until he decided Aizen could be trusted enough to keep it secret. If people knew they could make it, they'd be lined up outside their door all the way down the street just for a bowlful.
Gin smiled at the compliment. "Only cuz I've made it so many times," he demurred. "Yuki made it best though. Still remember the first night we had it. It was lovely."
Aizen smiled at the memory as it conjured itself in his mind. The festival, the crowded marketplace, a whole night spent talking and eating stew with his Rukongai friend playfully teasing them... it had been a good night. The best night. Second only to their wedding night, of course.
"Yes," Aizen agreed. "Yes it was. The stew was nice, too."
Gin's cheeks pinkened just a little at that, and the comment earned him a lighthearted little 'shove', but it was clear Gin shared the sentiment.
. . .
