Last update til after October (2018) – because I have many pieces to have written for various deadlines then. Blame TheFoxPack ;) Go check them all out! They're all lovely! - Timewaster123456789, SesshomaruFreak, Spnky0ne, Ganymede Lullaby, Catsafari, HitsugayaKuchiki, Salazar Marvolo, Henka-chan, Tropicallight, Twisted Virtue. [do I miss anyone?] - please go leave them all pretty reviews :)
a/n: Because Foxes Fix Everything :) – for Lull&Spunky. Feel better soon!
Notes: Che-Che. Foxes Fix Everything. Crossreferences to stories 'Chessboards' and 'Say it' because this series is reaching mothy's 'Evillious' levels of crossreferencing. Alludes to Demisexual!Gin. Some ace/demi-ace problems and feeling out of place [love to Cat for being HERE for that]. Mutual pining! Flower language foreshadowing that probably only Time will get. Setup setup setup.
Next chapter will be a joint effort with myself and Timewaster123456789 – who I worked on Cold Feet and Sanctuary with. Rembrandt [me] meets Picasso [her]. Get excited! I am!
If October doesn't kill us, you'll see us working together again soon! Enjoy the chapter, I am off to have a hot chocolate and rest.
I'm tired of messing around
I'm tired of playing games
I'm tired of hide and seek yeah
I want you, I want you
I know it's breaking me down
It's driving me insane
So, baby, tell me if I
just had a minute with you
Would our wildest dreams come true?
Tell me would you feel it too?
All I want to hear is that you
Love me, love me, baby
- Yusuke Kira [Games]
Chapter 26: Peppermint and White Poplar
Gin was still feeling giddy and light headed as he walked back home. Unable to keep from smiling like a loon. He felt like he were still dreaming, because real life couldn't possibly be this good. As he whistled for Cherry to come to heel to walk down the paved streets of Aizen's neighbourhood, he kept replaying their evening and morning together. Wondering if this was what people meant when they talked about this falling in love business. If this is what it felt like. But from overheard conversations at school, Gin had gathered that falling in love was all fiery passion, intense heat, and butterflies in your stomach. This was... different. Of course, there were elements of those things, particularly the moths in his belly, but... in general Gin just felt a soft warmth. Like a hearthfire on a cold winter day when he was around Sousuke. He felt calm. Safe. Happy.
His smile softened as he thought about it. Realising he'd felt like this for all of last night and this morning.
Could this be love? He wondered. Is this what they all talk about? This feeling? And more importantly, does he feel the same about me? Does he feel this way around me? It's... so hard to tell.
But, he thought, his mind drifting back to that magical night they'd spent together. His fingers unconciously playing with the ends of the deep blue scarf wrapped loosely around his neck, still hiding his hickeys. He gave me the stars and made me feel beautiful. He makes me feel wanted. And I feel like I can be myself around him.
And for just a little while, all his walls came down, too.
When he got to the park again, he let Cherry run free through the fields and around the trees, though she always kept within sight of him. That didn't stop her from getting up to mischief, though.
She spent most of her time eating blackberries off bushes, digging holes in the dirt, and kicking up little pebbles onto the paths. She even picked up sticks to chew, and Gin had to stop her from trying to drag a branch three times her size home with her. And when she ran out of sticks, she tried to eat the long grass that grew at the edges of the fields that got missed by the lawnmowers. Gin told her off several times for her naughtiness, but she didn't seem to care. Her response was to stand looking at him with her big pink tongue lolling out of her mouth with a face that said, 'Yes. And? Your point is?'
So understandably, when Gin returned home with her, he was a little big exasperated and very much exhausted. But he supposed she kept him from brooding too much, so that was something. Well, he guessed so, anyway.
"Oh, Gin," Rangiku called to him. Another excitable puppy in his life. "You're back!"
"Yeh, I'm back." he answered. Collapsing onto the sofa while Cherry pranced into the living room and nosed in her box of toys. She retrieved an antler bone Gin had treated her to the other week, and settled down to gnaw on it. Gin just sighed, long and tired as he rested his eyes. Only opening them when he heard Ran shuffle into the room with a hot mug of tea in each hand.
"Here," she said, offering him a mug. "Thought you might need this."
Gin smiled warmly at her. She really knew him so well. She also knew just how much of a handful his little Cherry-chan could be, too. Though he wouldn't trade his baby fox in for anything.
"Thanks, Ran."
She smiled softly in return and took a seat beside him. "You're welcome. I figured between loverboy McDreamy and Cherry-chan both wearing you out, you might need a bit of time to rest and recharge your batteries."
Gin's face flushed just a little at the comment.
"Yeah, 'm pretty worn out," he said, sipping his tea and trying not to rise to the bait. Much to the amusement of his zanpaktou. "But d'ya have to call 'im that?"
Rangiku giggled. "Ah yes, you're right. I suppose McSteamy might be more accurate since I'm sure things got heated between you two last night..." she smirked. "Maybe this morning, too."
Gin nearly choked on his tea, coughing and spluttering. Face the colour of an angry red sun. Again.
"Ran!"
"What?" she asked, feigning innocence. "It's true! You look me in the eye and tell me it's not true."
"I..." Gin stammered, fumbling around for words. Cursing his own inability to lie to her with a straight face with for all he was worth. "Well, I... ya see... well..."
Rangiku smirked, triumphant. "I knew it," she said smugly. "Why else would you be wearing a scarf in springtime?"
Gin's fingertips instinctively reached up for the soft, thin cotton around his neck patterned with the constellations, and fought the blush aggressively rushing to his cheeks. "Be-" he began, pausing to scrape together some composure. "Because I thought it was nice and he bought it for me."
Shinsou cackled. Nice try, kiddo.
"Aw, come on Gin, tell me the real story," she whined. "I promise I won't tell anyone."
Gin pressed his lips together, not wanting to give in. but Shinsou kept on snickering. You know she won't let you rest til you give her something. And besides, she is your best friend. You should tell her.
Gin frowned, because the worst bit was Shinsou was right. He did owe Ran this. If he were her, he'd want to know, too.
"Okay, alright." Gin relented, much to Rangiku's delight. "I'll tell ya. But this goes nowhere, a'ight? I aint 'avin it goin' round th' whole damn school I'm 'avin it off with the teacher."
"Agreed." Rangiku said eagerly.
"You promise?"
Rangiku nodded seriously. "Pinky promise," she said, offering him her little finger. "This stays between us."
Gin nodded, satisfied, and linked his pinky finger with hers. A sacred pact that had survived their childhood in the Rukongai.
"So... Tell me, tell me, tell me!" Rangiku pressed.
"Alrgiht then, alright," Gin said, separating their fingers again and proceeding to tell her what happened. He cleared his throat.
"Well, yer right," he began, cheeks still flushed bright pink. "Things between us did get a bit..." he paused, cleared his throat again. "Passionate."
He risked a glance at her, trying to ignore her huge grin and continued. "So as you probably guessed, there's some, erm, marks on me skin."
Rangiku nodded. "So you brought the scarf to hide them."
"Actually, no." Gin told her. Much to her surprise.
"No?"
"No." Gin echoed. "Actually what happened was, we went out ventured into the food market. Y'know, that one they have every year?"
"Oh, that one we always say we'll go to but never do?"
Gin smiled. "Yeah, that one. But anyway, we were walkin' 'round and fer well, obvious reasons, I felt self-conscious. An' ya know how anxious I get, feelin' like everyone's starin' at me. So he stops an' goes into a shop an' comes back ta me and wraps this around me," he said, gesturing to the scarf. "So I didn' feel so uncomfortable no more."
Rangiku smiled. "Oh Gin, that's so romantic," she sighed, "I'm so, so happy for you."
Gin smiled softly at the memory. "Yeah," he said quietly, "I'm pretty lucky, huh?"
"No duh!" Rangiku squealed happily. "Do you know how many people would kill to be in your shoes and have that gorgeous man dote on them the way he does you? Gin, you're the luckiest guy in the world! Because he loves you, and out of all the people in the world, he picked you."
"I guess so." Gin said. Smiling despite himself.
"Sooo," Rangiku cooed. "What else happened on your date?"
Gin laughed softly, a little embarrassed still. "Well, we had some Rukon stew at the food festival thing, he introduced me to his childhood friend Yuki, and after that we broke into the hot spring baths and spent some time in there."
He paused, drinking his tea again. But it was too much to hope for that she wouldn't take too much notice of that last part.
"Old habits die hard I see," she said, smirking. "Your idea to break in?" she asked, with a raised eyebrow.
"His, actually." Gin told her, keeping his tone casual. Waiting for her inevitable surprise.
"No way!" she gaped. "I don't believe it. Not the perfect, buttoned up lecturer Aizen Sousuke!"
"Believe it," Gin told her. "He grew up on the same streets we did. Th' man knows how to find trouble... knows how to pick a lock, too."
Rangiku whistled. "Damn, I never would've guessed."
Gin smiled knowingly. "S'always the ones ya least expect, aint it?"
"I'll say," she agreed.
"So as you can imagine, we bonded over a bowl of hot Rukon stew." Gin smiled. "His friend runs the stall and she made it for us. Real nice girl. Seemed to approve of me."
"Well, she'd be crazy not to!" Rangiku told him. "But oh, Gin, this is perfect. He's letting you meet people he cares about. This can only mean he's really serious about you! Oh, I'm so happy for you!"
Gin laughed. "Yeah, you said that already Ran."
"I mean, I didn't expect you'd ever find anyone," she added, "because you just weren't interested in a relationship. And most people only see outer beauty, you know?"
"Gee, Ran," Gin deadpanned. "Thanks."
"Ugh, no, I didn't mean it like that!" She said. "Gosh that came out all wrong! I'm sorry. I mean I'm just... really, really glad you've found someone you really connect with, who loves you the way you are. Who likes you for you and thinks you're goddamn beautiful."
Gin's smile returned at that softening his expression considerably. "Thanks Ran," he said gently. "Me too."
"And from the looks of things," she added, "I think you're starting to feel the same way about him, too."
Gin had to think about that for a moment. Was he feeling that way about Sousuke? The way he was feeling earlier... could it be love? Were the icy walls defending his heart starting to melt? Was he beginning to thaw around him? He might be. He might definitely be. If only he could be sure those feelings were reciprocated...
"I think I might be," Gin admitted. "I'm thawing a bit towards him. I just... dunno what he's thinkin'. And then I aint sure. But then he gives me that look, an' I feel like I'm drownin' in those deep eyes. An' then he smiles a me like 'm th' best person in the world – and I just feel so gone."
Gin sighed softly, trying to work it out. Could this be love?
"Oh, that sounds lke love to me," Rangiku said softly. "Or at least the beginnings of t."
"Ya think?"
"From what I've seen, I think so," she answered, smiling warmly at him. "Even if you don't quite know it yourself yet. But I'll let you figure that out on your own."
Gin smiled to himself as he mulled that over. Thankful that Ran was going to give him the space he needed to work his feelings out himself. Because feelings were complicated enough. And if he factored in the little game he was playing with Sousuke, well that took things to a whole new level of complicated for something that should really be very simple.
But he just couldn't ignore the way he felt, that spark between them, or that wonderful evening they'd shared where they'd connected in a very real way that made him smile whenever he thought about it. It could very well be love, for all he knew. And that made him stop and wonder if maybe Ran was onto something there.
"Thanks Ran," Gin said, still smiling. "I 'preciate it."
"No problem," she smiled. "Just don't take too long though, you don't want him to get away."
"You shutup," he said, smiling as she giggled at her own little joke.
"Oh Gin, you know I'm just messing with you."
"Yeh, I know," he said, drinking the rest of his tea, "Ya mess wit' me every chance ya get."
Oh you know you love it," she teased. To which Gin could only make a half hearted "Hmm," of agreement.
"So tell me, Gin, did you give him a kiss goodbye when you left him today?" Rangiku asked, hoping for more information from him.
"'Course," Gin said. "What d'ya take me for, some cold floppy fish?"
"I just wanted to know," she smiled. "Oh, and did you give him the peppermint and white poplar, too?"
The hopefulness in her voice made Gin cringe. "Ah, uhm... no..." he admitted. More than a little ashamed. Cursing himself. Shit. I knew I forgot somethin'...
He covered his face with his hand, groaning. How could he have been so stupid?
"Aw, Gin!" Rangiku groaned, sharing his disappointment. "You missed a perfect opportunity!"
"I know, I know!" Gin groaned again. "We were just having so much fun- and the stew and- and I got distracted..."
And I completely forgot we're supposed t'be playing a game.
Both he and Rangiku sighed in unison.
"It's okay," she said gently. "I mean, the important thing is that you had fun and grew closer together, right? I mean he couldn't take his eyes off you today, so you're definitely doing something right."
Gin sighed softly and smiled. Way to go Ran, remindin' me a the important stuff. "Yer right, yer right. There'll be other opportunities t'give it to him, right?" And plenty of time to regroup.
"Exactly," she nodded."Plenty of opportunities. And maybe even time to come up with a more appropriate answer, even."
Gin smirked at her. "Such as?"
"Hmm, well, you know," she said suggestively, "Maybe something like jonquil... for desire. If things are getting passionate between you two."
She giggled as heat rushed to his face again.
"Ran," he sighed, shaking his head slowly at her antics. "No."
"Oh suit yourself," she said. "Just don't let the moment pass this time, okay?"
Gin nodded. "Okay."
"Good," she said. "Now are you finished with your tea?"
"Yeah." Gin handed her his empty mug and she stood, ready to take the dirty mugs into the kitchen to wash them. As she walked towards the kitchen, Gin took out the Polaroid photo Sousuke had given him, and sat examining it. Utterly fixated on just how happy they looked together. Him, Sousuke, and Cherry-chan. Jus' like a little family, he thought, smiling tenderly. Feeling that warmth spreading through his chest again, filling him up inside.
"Hey, Ran!" he called out to her, waiting until she poked her head out of the kitchen to answer him.
"Yeah?"
"Have ya got a frame fer this I can use?" he asked, holding up the photograph.
He watched her smile brighten up enough to rival the sun as she grinned at him. "Of course! I have loads! Come on, we can find one you like."
Gin smiled at her and followed her through to her room, fingers still clutching his photograph.
. . .
Later that evening, Gin set his newly framed photograph on his table, right beside the tulip in its vase and his flower dictionary. He'd chosen an elegantly simple oak frame for it. He smiled at it, satisfied, and then flopped onto his bed, sighing heavily. He was still digesting the events of the last two days, and though he was exhausted, he also felt happy. The past couple of days had been... for the lack of any better words, so wonderfully amazing. Really, he didn't see how things could get any better.
If only it could be like this every day, he thought, rolling over and burying his face into the duvet and inhaling deeply. Mmm, god, it still smells like him...
Gin lay on the bed, quietly enjoying the lingering scent of Sousuke on his pillows and bedsheets, and wondered how many other people could claim to have had this pleasure of their bed smelling like Sousuke. Nobody, if Ran could be believed. Because rumour was he always took his partners back to his place, he never stayed the night at anyone's house. If so, did that mean Sousuke cared about him? Could he be in love? It was possible. Okay, the possibility was very slim, but still, it was possible.
Wasn't it?
It was possible, right?
Right?
Gin sighed heavily. He hoped it was possible, anyway. Life would be so much easier if it was.
He was interrupted from his musing by the sound of paws thundering across the floor as Cherry pushed the lightly closed door open and ran into the room, launching herself onto the bed beside him. Laying down in a huff on what had been Sousuke's side of the bed, looking rather glum.
"You miss him too, huh?" Gin asked, gently stroking her fluffy white fur. Cherry just sighed softly in answer. Shooting him a disappointed glance, violet eyes asking 'why isn't he back yet?'
"C'mere," he said, rolling back over onto his back and gently patting his chest; his way of inviting her for a cuddle. One that she gladly accepted. She climbed onto him and settled down on his body. "We'll see him soon," Gin told her, holding her gently in his arms. She was his baby, after all.
And in the meantime, I can work out how I feel.
He let his fingers run through Cherry's soft, fluffy white fur, his mind wandering. Drifting through different possibilities of the two of them building a life together. Waking up next to each other every day like they had this morning. Could that happen? Gin wondered. Could we have a life like that?
He sighed again. Does he even want a life like that with me? Or is it really just a game?
He hugged Cherry close and tried to ignore the knot in his stomach as he thought about it. Why can't it be easy? He wondered. Why can't you just make it easy, Sousuke?
Everyone else finds this easy. So why'm I questionin' everythin'?
Cherry-chan whined softly and snuggled into him, and he gave her a gentle squeeze. But then when you're around, I just feel, I dunno... happy. But how can I know if you feel the same?
Do I make you happy like you make me happy?
I mean, he sighed again, snuggling Cherry, who was very much enjoying the snuggling. I've never felt like this about anyone before. At least, not romantically. No-one's ever made me feel... attraction - or desire before.
He lazily stroked Cherry-chan's fur. It really was so soft. And it helped him to think. She sighed deeply, eyes closing slowly as she drifted into sleep.
There's been no-one before you. No-one. I just never felt attracted to anyone like that. Sure found people good-looking, but tha' were different. I didn' feel that spark, so I jus' weren't interested. And I couldn' even imagine climbing into bed with someone I didn't even know, much less love. Which s why I jus' can't have a one night stand like everyone else.
If I could, it wouldn' matter or not if I trusted ya. I'd just enjoy ya while I had ya.
But I can't.
I just aint wired that way.
So come on, Sou, just make it easy. Tell me you love me, so I can love you.
Cuz I'm tired of messin' around, 'm tired a playin' games...
All I wanna hear is that ya love me...
What do I gotta do? Hold you down and force you to say it?
Tell you to lie to me?
Don't ya know that I want you?
Gin closed his eyes, lulled almost into sleep and he stroked and held a very comfortable Cherry in his arms as she lay on his chest, snoring away. Gin looked at her and smiled. She was so cute, even if she was a bit of a pain in the ass sometimes. As he watched her, he thought of the last few weeks with Sousuke. And last night. And this morning. And he couldn't help but smile at that, too.
That was when it hit him. Maybe that was why Ran was making such a huge deal out of their romance. Why she'd made a massive deal out of Gin liking him, even. Was finding him sexually attractive. He knew she was so excited about it simply because there'd been nobody else on his radar before him.
Because Gin had never been attracted to anyone at all.
He still remembered the time she'd been so shocked to hear it. They were in their first year at the academy, and somehow they'd got onto the topic of crushes, because Rangiku had been chatting to some of her girl friends about 'the cute boys in class' and 'the sexy teachers'.
"So who do you think is sexy?" Rangku asked him.
"Eh me? N-nobody..."
"Whaaaat? No, come on, really... who do you find sexy?"
"Nobody. Sorry I jus'... don't find anyone attractive like that."
"For real? Hm well, that's alright I guess. If you don't feel it you don't feel it, right?"
Of course, she'd been quite accepting of it, but Gin remembered thinking at the time how out of his depth he felt talking about it. Though that had paled in comparison to sitting with Ran and her guy and girl friends, drinking and listening to them talk about their love lives. Their sex lives. That had made him desire to be swallowed whole by the ground beneath him. Because he had nothing to add to the conversation, no real experience to share, and couldn't relate to anything they were talking about at all. And he'd never felt so out of place in his life.
It had been awful.
But then, he'd always felt out of place. Ran pointed it out to him.
Until he'd met Sousuke Aizen.
Then his entire world shifted.
It didn't happen right away. The change was so gradual, he didn't even notice it until Ran pointed it out to him in her rather unsubtle way. 'So, come on, Gin. What do you think of our new teacher?'
But it happened. And things were never the same again.
It was a normal day, just like any other. He went to his class and handed in his assignments that were due. Had his lunch outside with Ran in the sunshine. It was a normal bog-standard day, at least, right up until the last lecture of the day. Hirako Shinji, Captain of the fifth was scheduled to teach the class, but the man who came in was not Hirako Shinji. There was a lot of confusion – who was this guy and where was their lecturer? - but the man calmly called for quiet, introduced himself, and explained there's been a switch out and that he'd be teaching the class instead. There was a bit of murmuring, but everyone accepted it and he began teaching them all the basics of kidou.
Gin watched him pick up a stick of chalk, wishing he could be half as calm and collected and composed at this man – right up until their eyes met and Aizen-sensei seemed to go still, staring at him for a moment, and dropped his chalk onto the floor with a clatter.
And the whole class bar Gin giggled. 'Ah, oops, how clumsy of me.' He smiled, playing it off, clearing his throat and turning to write on the blackboard. 'Right, now we'll begin, shall we?'. And Gin instantly smiled and felt a lot better, feeling a lot of respect. Even fukutaichou's were human and made fools of themselves. And if this guy could goof up and have it be okay, anybody could. Even him.
And for the whole hour, Gin couldn't take his eyes off him.
His knowledge was fascinating, and his voice was very easy on the ears. There was something about him, too. Like he was a puzzle waiting to be solved. A Rubik's Cube in human form. He even raised a couple of points Gin wanted to ask him about, which he made a note to speak to him about after class was over. Which he did.
Aizen was all the right things. Polite, warm, courteous. Interested in the questions Gin asked. He seemed genuinely intrigued, too.
Time moved on, and the two of them often talked shop after class. Regularly getting into deep discussions until Ran had to come drag him out because it was getting too close to dinnertime. Something the man just smiled and shook his head at. Even as she was literally pushing him out of the classroom.
When the practical kidou lessons started, Gin quickly realised he needed a lot of correcting. Theory was one thing, but practicals... well, they were a whole other story. His posture and stance were awful. Aizen had to gently move his hand, his arm, his feet, nudge his thighs further apart. Sometimes standing a little too close for comfort. But oddly enough, he didn't really mind. And if he was going to learn, he needed to learn the correct way of casting kidou spells.
And eventually, Gin found he improved. And Aizen's obvious approval of this made him smile for the rest of the day. And every time Rangiku would point this out, happy he was in a good mood, and questioning why this was.
Gin supposed this must have been when things began changing, though at the time he'd been quite oblivious to it. Even thinking nobody would notice if he sat just a little bit closer to the front of the class just so he could be a little closer to the walking enigma teaching him. Although lately, the man was becoming less and less of an enigma and more of a real person to him, and he wondered how that had happened in such a short span of time.
Maybe he was thawing. Maybe his feelings really were warming up towards Sousuke. Maybe he was in love.
Ran sure seemed to think so, which was probably why she was pushing so hard for him to pursue the man. Why she was so adamant about responding positively to his floral offerings. Hell, it was probably why she'd even set them up on a date in the first place.
I think you're starting to feel the same way about him, she'd said. Could she be right? He wondered. Do I love him? And more importantly, does he love me?
"What do you think, Cherry-chan?" he asked softly, "Do you think I love him?"
The little fox opened one of her lovely violet-blue eyes, flicking her ear as if to say, 'Duh. Don't ask such silly questions.'
Gin smiled softly. "Thought you'd say that. So Miss 'I know everythin'', what does he think about me then?"
Cherry opened both of her eyes and stood up on his chest and barked, clambering off him and onto his bedside table, where she sniffed the red tulip with her tail high in the air, wagging it slowly. She nosed the bright red flower delicately and then turned and barked at him thrice. Looking at him expectantly and tilting her head.
"Ugh, yer as bad as Ran," Gin groaned, only to have Cherry-chan pounce on him and land on his stomach, nearly winding him. Then she promptly began licking his face repeatedly and whining.
"Ah, Che-Che, stop! No!" he cried, thrashing and laughing until he had to lift her off him to get her to stop. She just wagged her tail happily.
"'Kay, 'nough now. Ya made yer point. But whaddya think I should do 'bout it, if he does love me?"
Cherry wriggled in his hands until he let her go. She immediately started pawing the flower dictionary on the bedside table, trying to drag it closer. Gin sat up and picked it up, thumbing through the pages, thinking.
"Well, I already know I gotta answer him with a flower, but which one?" he asked her. "There's so many choices..."
Cherry looked from his face to the tulip again, but Gin shook his head. "I don' wanna say that if I aint even sure how I feel meself, Che-Che," he said gently. "I can't lie."
Cherry lay down and huffed a sigh, obviously quite disappointed by this. Gin appeased her by stroking her head tenderly. "Maybe there's a better option ya can help me find, ne?"
Cherry snuffled closer, combat-crawling across the bed to settle herself beside him. Her rump in his armpit and her head on his stomach so she could read the book, too as Gin slowly read through the list of meanings.
"Hm, rose maybe?" he mused, turning to the list of roses. Finding about a page of just the different coloured roses. "Yikes, that's a lotta roses. Maybe not then."
He noticed then that there was something scribbled in the margin of the book.
"Ohh, Sou's handwritin'," he gasped, grinning, and Cherry leaned closer to the book to see.
"Jeez, does he deface all his books like this?" Gin wondered aloud, but was intrigued nonetheless. What could Sousuke want to note down? What would he deem important enough to write down on a page in his dictionary?
Cherry yipped, sensing the excitement, urging him to read it.
"Blue rose. 'Impossible' or 'impossibility'. Gin read, even more curious now. He may not have known much about flowers, but even he knew blue roses didn't exist naturally. But he read on. "Only created artificially, blue roses symbolise the impossible or unobtainable and in the flower language refers to unrealisable or unobtainable dreams or fantasies. With red roses 'impossible love'."
Gin opened his eyes, truly intrigued now. Until something twigged in his brain. "Is this what he thinks about me?!" he exclaimed, shocked and, slightly offended. Almost growling at the book in his hands. Making Cherry yelp in surprise with his ferocity.
"I hope not," Gin grumbled, scowling at the page. Cherry just whuffed softly and looked at the tulip again, nudging his hand with her nose.
Gin lay his hand on her head gently. "Yer right, yer right, I gotta focus," he told her, and the pair of them resumed browsing the flower meanings together peacefully.
Gin turned more pages, gears turning in his head, until he came across the entry for spearmint: warmth of sentiment. And peppermint: warmth of feeling.
And something instantly clicked in his mind.
"Peppermint!" he exclaimed, grinning. "It's perfect!"
Cherry-chan jumped up and wagged her tail, yipping joyfully.
"D'ya wanna help me find some peppermint t'give 'im Che-Che?" Gin grinned at his beloved pet, excited. Cherry jumped off the bed and ran around the room, no more than a white streaky blur as Gin laughed at her antics. She only stopped to sniff about when she caught the scent of something.
"Hm? What s it, Cherry-chan?" Gin asked, watching her with curiosity as she followed the scent to his bag that he'd just dumped carelessly in the corner of his room. He laughed when she stuck her head inside it.
"What're you doin' in there?" he asked, snickering. "C'mon, get outta that bag. Aint nothin' fer you in there."
Cherry did so, but when she pulled her head out of the bag, she was gently holding a twig in her mouth. No, not a twig, Gin realised. A small branch of a tree... is that...? The white poplar branch Ran gave me to give him? It is! An' she tied a big of peppermint to it, too! 'In time my feelings will warm to you', she said it meant. It's... it's perfect!
"Oh, good girl, Cherry-chan!" Gin smiled as she pranced over to him with her find. "Tha's perfect!"
Cherry sat down at his feet and she wagged her tail, looking quite pleased with herself at helping solve the problem. Gin gently took the poplar and the peppermint and smiled as he put them in the vase with his tulip, so they would keep until tomorrow. Unknowingly altering the flowers' meaning to 'in time my feelings will warm into love for you'.
"There we go," he smiled at Cherry-chan, "We can give it to him after school tomorrow."
Cherry yipped happily in response and Gin laughed, scooping her up into his arms. Giving her a big cuddle and lots of fuss for a job well done. "Alright, c'mon, time fer bed."
Cherry yipped once more and curled up with Gin after he climbed under the duvet, both of them settling down to sleep for the night. Cherry wiggled and pressed herself close to him, and Gin ran his fingers through her soft, fluffy fur, quietly drifting off to dreamland.
"Huh. I guess Ran's right," he mumbled sleepily, "Foxes really do fix everythin'."
