"Izuru!"
Izuru looked up just in time to see Aniston vault over his desk and land in his lap, sending him spinning in his chair. His arms instinctively flew up around her, hers already wrapped tightly around his neck.
"Hiya!" she giggled.
"Hello, Aniston."
"I didn't know you had a girlfriend, Lieutenant."
Izuru glanced up to see 6th seat Asuka Katakura looking at them with an amused expression.
"Ah, I don't—she's not—"
Aniston giggled.
"Technically, I'm not his girlfriend—but it's a technicality," she grinned. "I'm Aniston Atchison. I'm—oh, Izuru, that's what I came to tell you!"
She squealed, suddenly excited, and Asuka laughed.
"I'm the new Fourth seat of Third Squad!" she squealed.
"R-really? That's great!"
"I know, right? I'm so excited! And Jaedelyn is—"
"Third seat*," Jaedelyn finished, walking in hand-in-hand with Gin.
"Hey, Jaede!" Aniston grinned. "Gin, did you request us specifically?"
"I did," he grinned.
She squealed again, vaulting back over the desk and latching onto Gin.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"
"Well she's excited," Jaedelyn laughed.
"Tha's an unda'statement," Gin chuckled.
Aniston stepped back, beaming up at her older sister and older-practically-brother.
"Of course I'm excited! I get to be with you two and with Izuru!"
"Mm-hm. I think you're mostly excited about being with Izuru," Jaedelyn teased.
"Well, you know I love you guys, buuut Izuru is cuter."
She grinned, glancing back to see a blush form on Izuru's face. He bent over his paperwork, hiding his face, and she giggled.
"Well, he's still our superior, you know," Jaedelyn pointed out.
Aniston blinked.
"Eh, technicalities," she shrugged and bounced back over to stand behind Izuru, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
Jaedelyn laughed and followed Gin into his office.
#
Toshiro looked up as the door to his office slammed open. He barely had time to process the blur that flew in before he found himself spinning around in his chair.
"Shiro!" Hunter giggled, curled up in his lap, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
He laughed lightly.
"You got the news?"
"Yes!" she squealed. "Third seat! And under you!"
"Mm-hm. And—"
"Well aren't you guys cute."
"Hayden!" Hunter grinned, waving.
Her brother was leaning against the doorway, looking amused.
"Well, Lil' Shiro, I'll refer to you properly in work settings—but in the private sector, nothing's gonna change."
"It's a start."
"What's going on?" Rangiku asked, popping her head in.
"Hayden and I get to hang out with you guys!" Hunter grinned. "I'm third seat and he's fourth!"
"Oh, that's great! We should go out and celebrate!"
"I can't see Shiro participating in your kind of celebration," Hunter laughed. "But you guys should. I bet Aniston and Izuru would be up for it, too—Jaedelyn told me that Gin got it so she and Toni are both on third squad."
"We should go someplace quieter, then—Toni said there were some guys creeping on her at that last place," Hayden said.
"I know a place," Rangiku grinned.
"Of course you do," Hunter giggled.
#
"Those two really do make great food," Jaedelyn sighed.
Gin just smiled, taking a bite of his pasta. They were enjoying the pasta London and Shuhei had made the night before.
"What?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Nothin'," he grinned.
"Tell me!"
"Nothin'!" he laughed. "Jus' watchin' ya."
"Oh," she blinked. "Why?"
"You're cute."
His grin widened when she blushed.
"I 'ave somethin' ta tell ya when you're done," he added.
"What is it?"
"You'll see," he chuckled.
She growled, jabbing her fork into her pasta. He laughed again.
#
"You ready, London?" Aniston asked, peeking into her sister's room.
"Which shoes should I wear?" London turned, holding up a pair of wedge ankle boots and a pair of stiletto sandals.
"Mm…. I think the boots would look cute with that skirt."
"Thanks," London grinned, slipping a pair of socks and the boots on. "You look cute."
"Thank you!" Aniston twirled, her black miniskirt flaring out around her thighs.
She'd gone with a pair of black stiletto sandals, the straps bedazzled with rhinestones. She wore a velvet choker with a black diamond cross hanging down. One earring was a large cross, the other a small, upside-down one.
Both girls wore short black lace gloves and a tank top—Aniston's black, London's purple. London's skirt was a bit more conservative, reaching her knees, but flared out similarly to Aniston's. Her choker held a heart charm rather than a cross, and her earrings were black rose studs.
"Are you guys coming or not?" Hayden sighed impatiently, popping up in the doorway and leaning against the frame.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist, Hayden," Aniston grinned, shoving past him.
"Did she just say 'knickers'?"
"Yes she did," London laughed, following her sister.
Hayden sighed and pushed himself off the doorframe, jogging down the stairs.
"Showing off the cleavage, I see," Aniston grinned at Rangiku.
"Of course," Rangiku grinned back. "You're not exactly conservatively dressed, either."
"Nope, but I don't have a hard time keeping my basoomas in regular shirts!"
"And now she's using 'basoomas,'" Hayden threw his hands up dramatically. "What's with the British slang?"
"Dunno," Aniston shrugged. "Just saying what comes to mind."
"Weirdo…."
Aniston stuck her tongue out at him and latched onto Izuru's arm, following Rangiku out.
#
"Where are we going, Gin?" Jaedelyn asked, sighing. "We've been walking forever!"
"You'll see," he grinned.
She sighed again, ducking under a branch. They'd been walking through the woods for half an hour—almost entirely uphill—and she was getting tired of dodging branches. She generally enjoyed hiking, but not while wearing a skirt. At least she'd worn Converse instead of heels.
"This better be worth it. And you're carrying me home!"
"It will be," he assured her, "an' tha's fine wit' me."
"I'm not k—whoa."
She stopped, suddenly finding herself in the middle of a clearing. They were on top of a hill filled with flowers, overlooking a lake. She ran forward, gasping at the sight of the moon and stars reflecting off the lake.
"Gin…."
"Worth it?" he asked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Yes," she smiled, leaning back into him.
"Thought ya'd like it," he kissed her cheek, pausing before speaking again. "There's more, ya know."
"More?" she looked up at him curiously.
"Yep," he smiled, stepping back.
He caught her hand in his, pulling her back toward the center of the clearing.
"Gin, what—" she stopped again as a table suddenly appeared**.
He led her over, pulling out her chair for her. She sat, watching curiously as he placed two glasses on the table and pulled a bottle of champagne from a cooler, followed by a plate of chocolate-dipped strawberries. He set the plate on the table and filled the glasses.
"What is all this, Gin?" she asked softly.
"We're celebratin'."
"Celebrating?" she smiled. "Celebrating what?"
"Celebratin' ya comin' back, celebratin' ya making third seat, celebratin' me getting' ya on my squad…an' celebratin' how much I love ya."
"Gin…."
"I do love ya, Jaedelyn," he said softly, taking her hand. "More than anythin'."
"I know," she said just as softly, smiling. "I love you too, Gin."
He smiled, kissing her hand.
#
"Well, now we know why Shuhei never went after any girls!" Rangiku laughed. "I was starting to think you were gay!"
"W-what? I am not!"
"Well I know that now," she laughed.
"You didn't date while I was gone?" London asked, surprised.
"Of course not."
"But that's why I broke up with you—I told you that!"
"I didn't want to," he sighed, taking a drink.
"But, why—"
"I was waiting for you. Any other girl would just be a waste of time."
London smiled, taking a sip of her drink.
"You guys are so cute," Aniston giggled, downing another shot of sake.
"You should slow down on the sake, Toni," London advised, "unless you want to get totally wasted this early."
"You should focus on getting Izuru drunk instead," Rangiku recommended, giggling. "Maybe he'd finally make a move."
"Rangiku!" Izuru blushed.
"That's mean, Rangiku," Aniston giggled, leaning into Izuru. "I'm not in any hurry."
"Relationships that start with alcohol never turn out well," London said.
"Speaking from experience, Lon?" Hayden grinned.
"As if. You know I've never dated anyone other than Shuhei."
"Speaking of, is it one relationship or two?" Aniston asked curiously. "I mean, you did break up, but neither of you dated anyone else, and you're back together…so it was kinda like you never broke up and you were just long-distance for awhile."
"I hadn't figured it out yet, but I think you just did, Toni," London smiled. "You might actually be more helpful drunk…."
"I'm not drunk!"
"Whatever you say."
#
Toshiro smiled, watching Hunter skate. She'd frozen the pond behind her house and had been skating for hours. She came toward him, sliding to a stop.
"Skate with me, Shiro!"
"Hunter—"
"Please?"
He sighed.
"All right. I'll join you in a minute."
"Yay!" she squealed, skating off.
He watched her do an axel jump as he grabbed the skates next to him on the bench, putting them on and lacing them up. He hadn't skated since Hunter left…. He sighed and stood, stepping onto the ice and gliding toward Hunter.
"Shiro!" she giggled, gliding toward him.
She slammed into him with a squeal, sending them sliding back toward the bench.
"Hunter!"
He caught his balance and brought them to a stop, sighing.
"Don't do that!" he snapped.
"I'm sorry," she whimpered softly, skating backward.
"Hunter—"
He cut off as the blade of her skate caught in a nick; she yelped as she started to fall. He jerked forward, grabbing her wrist and yanking her toward him. He found himself sprawled out on the ice, Hunter lying on top of him.
"I'm sor—"
"Are you ok?" he cut her off.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry. Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine."
"Good," she sighed.
She started to push herself up, intending to get up. She squeaked as he pulled her back down.
"No."
"Sh-Shiro—"
"Just wait for a minute," he said softly.
She smiled, burying her face in the crook of his neck.
"No complaints here," she murmured, sighing happily.
"What are you doing?"
#
Hunter and Toshiro looked up to find Avalon peering down at them curiously, standing above Toshiro's head.
"Laying on the ice," Hunter said, completely straight-faced.
"Well I can see that," she rolled her eyes. "I meant why?"
"I fell."
Avalon stared blankly back at her.
"Ook, whatever. Well Brook sent me to tell you that we're grilling hot dogs. And Theia got watermelon—"
She yelped, jumping back as Hunter hurriedly scrambled to her feet and rushed off of the ice, Toshiro right behind her. She laughed, heading back into the house as they swapped their skates for shoes.
#
"I love you, Gin," Jaedelyn murmured, clinging to his neck; true to his word, he was carrying her home.
"Love ya, too, Jaede."
She handed her key to him, and he unlocked the door. He carried her up the stairs and into her room, where he laid her on her bed.
"I'll see ya tomorra'," he said softly, kissing her forehead.
"You're not staying?" she asked, frowning.
"Not tonight."
"But I thought—"
"Thought what?" he sighed. "Nah, I know what ya thought. I knew that ya would."
"Gin—"
"Jaede, I did it for tha same reas'n I'm not stayin'—I love ya."
"I know," she said softly. "And you want to prove it."
"Yea'."
"All right," she sighed. "But…. Couldn't you still stay?"
"Jaede—"
"I don't want you to leave. Please. We'll just lie down and go to sleep. Please?" she pouted.
"I hate when ya pout like that," he sighed.
"Does that mean you'll stay?" she asked, maintaining the pout.
He sighed again.
"Damn pout. Can't say no to ya anyway, even without tha pout," he grumbled.
"So you're staying?"
"Yea'," he sighed, but couldn't suppress his smile.
"Yay!" she giggled, rolling to the other side of the bed and cuddling up to him the second he lay down. "I love you, Gin."
"I love ya, too," he pressed a brief, soft kiss to her lips and pulled her close.
*Most of you probably don't know this anyway, but we DO actually know who the cannon 3rd seat of Squad 3 is—it's Riku Togakushi. He's such a minor character, though—we literally see him, like, once—that I figured there was no harm in just…replacing him :P
**Gin was using Kido #26, Kyokko; it's typically used to hide the caster, but he cast it on the table.