notes: continued silliness, Rangiku wearing her shipping goggles, Gin and Ran fluffiness, hinted AiGin waff.

I don't know where/when people are coming into this story, but if you're coming from Heir – which is pretty much a sequel to this fic – you probably caught a lot of spoilers for this. I am essentially building this fic around the Heir flashbacks, so there will be a lot of cross references between the two stories. Like the "I made a sun for you" line in this update. Drawing parallels in my writing is something I enjoy doing, and I like to make sly little references between different stories, character relationships, and other things.

We will now return to your irrregularly scheduled AiGin. As always I appreciate any faves, follows, and reviews. Enjoy the story.


Chapter 6: Some First Date Jitters

His body clean and dry and dressed in an elegant deep blue formal yukata, Aizen walked back into his study, drying off his damp hair with a towel. His feet padded softly on the wooden floor as he took slow and lazy steps into the room, and he sighed quietly as he set the wet towel onto the radiator to dry. The shower had been cleaned, he'd made his bed up with fresh sheets – just in case he did bring Gin home with him. And there was nothing to do now but wait. So, he walked into the kitchen and made himself a fresh pot of tea, and carried it back into the study along with a clean mug, where he kept his piano.

He carried his drink over to the piano and set it down onto the coasters he kept on top of it, pouring the tea into the empty mug before sitting on the piano bench ready to compose. His pen ready for him beside his half-empty score sheet. He lifted his mug of tea and took a long sip of it, thinking. He then set the mug back onto its coaster, right beside his trademark glasses, and picked up his pen to write the next notes of the song.

He frowned to himself before pushing the hair back off his face, so he could better concentrate. Leaving just one strand hanging down over his forehead. Then, he aligned his fingers over the piano keys and played the notes he'd just written.

. . .

"Ran, I already have clothes." Gin sighed. But Rangiku was having none of it.

"I know that." she cooed, "But don't you want to look nice for Aizen-san?"

Gin sighed, watching her scan through the different kimono and yukata in the shop.

"Well, I do, but-"

"Excellent!" she beamed at him, "Now, do you know what colours he likes? You can appeal to him by wearing his favourite colour."

"Dark colours." Gin supplied. Rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Thinking of the blue folders the man kept his files in on his desk when he taught their classes. "I hear he likes blue."

He looked up at her again, finding her smirking smugly across at him. Gin frowned.

"What?"

"You." She said, smiling. Her voice turning more mocking and playful as she impersonated her friend, "No, I'm not excited to go out with him. Nah, he don't like me. I got problems with me eyes. He smiles like that at everyone. You're a terrible liar, Gin. You like him. You know his favourite colour. You sit at the front in class just to be close to him." He watched her smile soften, then, along with her voice, "And you always smile that little bit wider and softer whenever you talk to him."

Gin could only stare at her, lips firmly pressed together and trying to fight the pink tinge in his cheeks.

"You think I don't notice, Gin." Rangiku said softly.

Gin opened his mouth to protest, but nothing came out of him. He closed his mouth again. She was right. She knew him too well, and she was very observant of people.

"Yer right." he conceded. Ignoring her smug grin. "I like him, 'kay. But who doesn't? He's smart, he's charmin', he's handsome, an' 'e always knows jus' what ta say."

Gin sighed softly and opened his eyes to find Rangiku smiling warmly at him.

"Wha' now?" he asked.

"That's the same smile he has when he looks at you." She swooned. "I'd put money on it that he thinks about you smiling at him like that."

Gin laughed. "Then ya'd be very poor." he said derisively, "Tha' guy don' do love. He jus' plays wit' people. Everyone knows it. All ya ever get with him is one night. An' I don' wanna be jus' another notch on 'is bedpost. I don' think I can do it, Ran."

She frowned, studying him quietly for a moment before she took his hands in hers. "Gin," she said, staring into his eyes intently, "I promise you, if he uses you like a toy, I'll kick his balls so hard he'll be tasting them for weeks. Okay?"

Gin smiled, knowing she would definitely do it. It wouldn't be the first time she'd kicked a man in the bollocks, either. Or the last. And he was suddenly very glad he had someone like her looking out for him.

He nodded. "kay."

She beamed a smile at him and released his hands, brushing his shoulders gently. "Now you just concentrate on having fun." she told him, "Go out, enjoy your dinner, get to know him a little better. And if anything happens, then it happens. And if he hurts you, you come get me and I'll kick his balls. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Good." she smiled. "But you know, I don't think for a second he will. I still think he'll be very good to you. You could ask him for the sun and he'd find a way to give it to you."

Gin's smile brightened a bit at the idea. "Ya think so?"

Rangiku reached over and brushed the hair out of Gin's eyes. "I know so."

Gin smiled tenderly at her, and quietly imagined living in a world with no sunlight or natural warmth. Making an offhanded comment to Aizen Sousuke about missing the sun, and waking up days later to bright sunlight coming in through the windows. And Sousuke lying naked beside him, smiling, and saying "I made a sun for you."

"Now come on," Rangiku said to him, taking his arm, "Let's get you looking nice for your date. I don't want you wearing your usual scruffy clothes. You said he liked blue, right? Let's have a look at the blue ones."

She led him over to the neatly folded collection of blue yukata on one of the tables, all various shades and sizes.

"Hey, Ran." Gin called to her while she perused the stock, "Thanks."

She smiled gently back at him. "No problem. You'd do the same for me."

Gin returned her smile. Very glad she was in his life. "Yeah, definitely."

They were interrupted by the little old lady who ran the shop, who came hobbling over with her walking stick.

"Hello, dears," she cooed gently, "Anything I can help you with?"

"Yes!" Rangiku chirped, a little too loudly for such a quiet little shop. Embarrassed by her mistake, she cleared her throat, speaking at a more appropriate volume. "Yes," she repeated, "My friend Gin here has a date tonight and he wants to look nice for him. What do you have in the colour blue?"

The old woman, tiny and hunched, peered at Gin through her glasses. Looking thoughtful. Rangiku kept talking.

"He's going out with a very important man." she elaborated, "A vice captain. And Gin really likes him so he needs to make a good impression."

"Ran," Gin hissed in her ear, "D'ya gotta embarrass me by tellin' everyone?"

But Rangiku ignored him. Smiling brightly at the shopkeeper. "So can you help us?"

The old woman scrutinised Gin, who was fighting embarrassment again, as if she were trying to place a familiar face.

"This man," she said finally, "What does he look like?"

"Oh," Rangiku grinned, "He's tall, handsome..." Rangiku twirled her thick hair with her fingers, pretending to look thoughtful, revelling in Gin's embarrassment, "Thick brown hair, black glasses... he looks a bit like a librarian. If a librarian were sexy."

Gin flushed a beet red. "Ran!" he hissed, indignant, "Don't say that!"

But Rangiku only smirked, thoroughly enjoying Gin's flustered face. Even the old lady seemed to be enjoying it, because she was smiling at him, too. Gin scowled at them.

"Ohh, I see," the old woman grinned, "You mean Aizen-san, don't you?"

Gin cringed and covered his face as Rangiku nodded excitedly. "Yes! He's taking Gin out for a fancy dinner. And if all goes well, Gin won't be making it back to his room tonight."

Gin dropped his hand from his face and felt more heat flood his face. Quietly dying of embarrassment. "Ran..." he pleaded, "Stop, please..."

The old woman clicked her fingers with a smile. "I knew I recognised you when you walked in, young man." she said, "Aizen-san told me all about you."

Gin groaned inwardly. "Yer kiddin."

"Oh, no," she chuckled, "He talked about you at great length. Said he was going to ask you out."

"Does all a fuckin' Seireitei know?" Gin spouted, "I mean, damn."

Rangiku tried to stifle a giggle, as the old woman continued. "How does the new uniform fit?"

Gin fell silent, and Rangiku took the opportunity to gently elbow Gin in the ribs knowingly. Grinning at him.

"Perfectly." Gin admitted. And the old woman smiled softly, nodding.

"Ah, excellent." she beamed at him. "I did hope I cut the material correctly to fit you. I was a little worried since I didn't have your exact measurements. He did place another order for you, I have it in the back ready. Aizen-san told me he'd come collect it after work tomorrow, but I think it'd be really nice if you wore it today and surprised him. It's already been paid for, so you don't need to worry about the bill."

Rangiku gasped, "Oh yes, that sounds wonderful."

Gin frowned, slightly dubious. "Knowin' him though, he'll prob'ly have me pay fer it in other ways."

"Alrighty, I'll just go and get it." the shop owner told them, "You two wait here."

The pair of them watched the little old lady disappear into the back of the shop behind the counter. Once she was out of earshot, Rangiku quietly squealed with excitement.

"Ohhh, Gin!" she gasped. But Gin had other things on his mind.

"If it turns out ta be a girls kimono, I'mma kill him."

But it turned out that Gin needn't have worried.

When the shop owner returned with the garment in question and opened the brown paper, Gin and Rangiku were greeted with the sight of a dark blue yukata, made of the finest cotton. Formal and elegant. Rangiku gasped and slowly raised her hands to cover her mouth.

"Oh, Gin..."

But Gin just sighed in relief, thanking the gods that it wasn't remotely feminine.

. . .

"Gin, it's gorgeous." Rangiku sighed as Gin stood in the doorway to the fitting room wearing his latest and most expensive gift from Aizen Sousuke. Trying hard not to think of just how much it had cost, and what he might have to do to pay for it.

"It's very formal." Gin stated. "I feel kinda overdressed."

"It's perfect. He has excellent taste." Rangiku smiled. "You look so elegant. He's probably taking you to a really fancy place to eat. Somewhere real classy."

Gin snorted and crossed his arms across his chest. "How do you know what his tastes are, Ran?" he asked, "He could be plannin' ta take me ta some back alley and-"

"Gin!" Rangiku gasped, "He won't do that!" She gave him a stern look, offended that he could even suggest Aizen was a sexual deviant. "Besides, I read the Women's Institute Weekly! They have a lot of information on all of the eligible bachelors. Even Aizen-san. He had a good rating, too, so don't you fret. He is most definitely not a sexual deviant according to my information."

Gin thought she meant to be reassuring, but he was just confused. Weren't sexual deviants good at hiding the fact that they were sexual deviants?

But he knew he had to say something, so he went with questioning her information. "Ya have a rating system?"

"Yes." she trilled on, "All the men get given a score based on desirable qualities. Like their cooking abilities, attractiveness, chivalry, if they can protect you in a fight..."

Gin snorted and rolled his eyes. "Ran, I can fight me own battles. I don't need protectin'."

"I know." Rangiku told him, "But say you were fighting an abnormal hollow, that you were badly injured, bleeding everywhere, wouldn't you want Aizen-san to stroll in and save you?" she asked hopefully, "I know I would."

Gin pressed his lips together, thinking. Would Aizen save him if he were in a pinch? Probably. It would depend on how many people were around, and what Aizen could get out of it.

"Well, yeah." Gin answered her. "If I was bleedin' everywhere an' on me last legs maybe. Bu' fer all I know he might jus' lemme die."

"Oh, please." Rangiku countered. "You'd be the first one carried to safety. I told you, he loves you."

It was all Gin could do not to laugh. But he managed a long sigh. "If ya say so, Ran."

"I do say so." She countered, a little smug in her opinion. "Now come on, I will not let you be late to meet Aizen-san!"

Before Gin could even answer, she took his arm and dragged him out of the shop while the old woman waved them off and wished Gin luck.

. . .

"I changed my mind, I dunno if I wanna do this." Gin told her. A bouncing ball of nerves as he walked with Rangiku towards Aizen's house. "I feel like I'm gonna throw up. Let's just go back."

Rangiku grabbed his arm again before he could run away. Gripping him tightly.

"Oh, no," she said sternly, "You are not wussing out. You promised Aizen-san. And you'll break his heart if you ditch him now. Besides, you were looking forward to this, too."

Gin groaned, watching their destination come into view in the evening sunlight. And he wished for some way, any way, to get out of this dinner. Because nevermind the fact that Aizen was playing him like a fucking fiddle - if he said something stupid or did something idiotic he'd never be able to look Aizen in the face again.

"You're just nervous." Rangiku continued, "It's normal. Just first date jitters. If you weren't nervous, it would mean you didn't care. And you're really nervous, so it means you care a lot about impressing him."

Gin frowned, loathe to admit she was right. But she just smiled, rummaging in her bag and procuring the small flask of sake she carried with her. She held it up in front of Gin's face.

"Here," she said softly, "To calm your nerves."

Gin took the flask and slowly unscrewed the lid. He drank a few large gulps of the sake, feeling it warm his insides, before handing it back to Rangiku. Though he was highly tempted to down the whole thing, if only to make his stomach stop twisting in on itself with nervousness.

"Better?" she asked him.

"Much. Thankya."

"Good." she nodded, smiling softly, "Now remember, he already loves you. So just be yourself, okay?"

"'Kay." Gin nodded, taking a deep breath. Though it did little to soothe his nerves.

"But what if-"

"But nothing!" She cut him off, "You go have fun. Oh, and don't worry if you don't make it back to your dorm tonight." she added with a sly smirk of her own. "I'll take your stuff back and feed your fox for you."

"Okay, Ran, I get it." Gin smiled. "Have fun. Be myself. Don't worry about stuff."

"Right." she beamed at him, giving him a big, warm, squeezy hug that he did not hesitate to return. "Good luck."

"Thanks, Ran."

"And tell me everything tomorrow!" she grinned, "And I mean everything. Details Gin, I want details!"

Gin had to laugh at her exuberance. "Can ya turn off yer shippin' goggles?" he asked, "It's jus' dinner."

She swatted him playfully on the arm. "You just go or you'll be late." she chided, pushing him in the direction of Aizen's home.

"Okay, okay!" Gin laughed. "I'm going!"

"Good!" she called out after him, turning to head back to the dorms. "And good luck! Not that you'll need it!"

Gin smiled after her as she set off, shaking his head slowly. He then took another deep breath, calmer now, and trudged towards the house and up the little path to Aizen's front door.

Well, he thought, here goes nothin'.