In the Tickle Closet

Startled, Gin let go of her entirely, holding her hands up to show she was safe. “I’m so sorry, was that too intimate? I didn’t mean—”

“N-No, it’s…not that,” Higuchi said quietly, pulling her limbs into herself and suddenly looking very uncomfortable.

“Then…what is it?”

“I just…I haven’t shaved.” The last part was said so quietly that it was almost a whisper.

Gin caught herself in time before she laughed out loud. “I don’t care if you forgot to shave.”

The blonde was quiet. She darted her eyes up, but never quite made contact with Gin’s. “No, I mean…I don’t shave. I haven’t for years.”

“So?”

“And my…my hair…” Higuchi grasped some of the blonde wisps that had gotten stuck to her face in the playful scuffle. “I dyed this, but…my legs are natural.”

Gin frowned, confused and perhaps a little hurt. “Ichiyo. You don’t really think I care about any of that, do you?”

“It’s just that, you’re so feminine and pretty. I know you take good care of your hair and your body and like to look smooth and shiny—” Higuchi stopped when Gin gently put a hand on hers.

“Ichiyo, that’s my body. My choice to make for myself. It doesn’t mean I expect every woman to care about all of that. I don’t expect you to shave your legs just because I do. It’s your body. You do what you want with it.”

The blonde hesitated. “But won’t you think it’s gross?”

“No? It’s just hair. It’s natural, like you said.” Gin observed her girlfriend for a moment longer, then shifted so she was holding her hand properly, squeezing it gently. “If you don’t want me to see it or touch it or anything right now, that’s okay. We don’t have to. I’ll tickle you somewhere else – assuming you’re still okay with that,” she added quickly.

Higuchi’s cheeks had already been slightly pink, but now the color was prominent. It made her look so cute. “I just…don’t want you to think I’m dirty. Or too masculine. Or…anything. I want you to keep liking me, because I like you so much.”

The words made Gin’s heart soar, but she understood now wasn’t the time to focus on that last part. She grabbed her girlfriend’s chin and forced her to look up, to finally make eye contact for the first time. “I like you so much, too. Just the way you are. Hair or no hair, makeup or no makeup, belly fat or toned abs. Your personality is what draws me to you, Ichiyo. The rest isn’t nearly as important as that.”

A more comfortable silence settled between them after that. Higuchi took a moment to consider, and Gin let her have as much time as she needed. Finally, the blonde squeezed her hand back. “I guess I don’t mind if you…keep going. I just got scared. I don’t want you to tease me about it.”

The brunette smiled, then leaned in to kiss her tenderly, letting all her love for the other woman seep into the moment. When she pulled back, that playful twinkle had returned. She gradually shifted down to take hold of her girlfriend’s ankle. “Shut up, you know that I love you – but that’s enough of this spiral~”

Higuchi blinked in astonishment, her lips quirking despite herself. “Did…did you just quote Hazbin Hotel – ah! Ahahahahahaha no fahahahahahair, you dihihihihihidn’t wahahahaharn me!”

“Grabbing your ankle wasn’t warning enough?” Gin giggled, watching her face as she went right back to what she’d been doing before, slipping a couple of fingers under her pants leg to scribble at her calf. “Now, I want to know! Do you have ticklish legs?”

This time, the blonde sputtered and covered her face in embarrassment – the good kind, now – and whined, “Nohohohohohohoho!” Just as Gin had expected her to do from the beginning.

“Oh? So this doesn’t tickle?” she teased, scritching her unfairly manicured nails into her girlfriend’s skin. “Not even a little?”

“Gihihihihihihihihihin!”

The brunette smiled, keeping up her playful attack until Higuchi was back to laughing freely and squirming around like she always did when her body wanted to get away but her heart wanted her to stay put and soak in the rare moment of fun.