#ler!rangiku

The sun filtered gently through the windows of the house in Karakura where Rangiku and Gin spent most of their time since leaving the Soul Society behind, or at least giving themselves a well-deserved rest from it. The afternoon was quiet, lazy, and everything conspired to make that day have no other purpose than relaxation.

Rangiku was sprawled on the futon, her hair loose and a half-empty sake cup in her hand. Gin, as always, maintained his half-smile on his face, lying on his back with one leg crossed over the other, but still, he didn't seem relaxed.

"You should stop being so tense, Gin, even when you're not doing anything" She commented, glancing sideways, observing how his muscles still seemed ready for action.

"Hmm... I'm just like that, Rangiku" He murmured, his eyes half-closed but clearly alert. "Always on guard"

"Maybe it's because you never let anyone take proper care of you" She said, scooting over to him.

Gin chuckled softly, that muffled sound that always made her stomach churn a little, even though she wouldn't admit it. Before he could say anything, she was already sitting at his feet, gently tugging at one of his ankles.

"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice with that falsely innocent tone but with a hint of curiosity.

"Massage. Be quiet for a moment, okay?" And without giving him time to protest, she began to firmly squeeze his toes, then slid her thumbs along the soles.

For a moment, everything went well, Gin seemed about to doze off. But then, she noticed an involuntary spasm. "Hm?" She looked at him with arched eyebrows. "You...?"

"Tsk" He turned his face away, feigning disinterest. "It's nothing"

She did it again, lighter now, almost like a stroke, just to test it. His foot visibly twitched, his lips pressed together, but the corners of his mouth were already trembling.

"Ah, Gin..." Rangiku spoke, in a tone of someone discovering a precious secret, a mischievous smile spreading across her lips. "Are you ticklish?"

"No" He retorted, too quickly.

She didn't answer. She simply grasped his ankle with one hand and, with the other, began to lightly slide the tips of her nails along the sole of his foot.

Gin flinched, trying to break free, his smile finally opening into something more genuine, almost a laugh. "R-Rangiku..."

"It's too late now" She said, relentlessly tracing his sole, alternating light touches with subtle pressure. "You've been hiding this from me all this time?"

Gin finally let out a laugh, pulling his leg away in a sudden movement, but she held on tight. His shoulders trembled and his body contorted, in a clear effort not to give in, already defeated. "Hahahahahaha! You're cruel, Rangiku..."

"You have no idea.." She leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "And now that I know, this is just the beginning"

"Hahahahahaha! W-Wait!" Gin tried to compose himself, but his expression was softened, free from his usual mask. Behind the restrained giggles, there was something rare there: comfort, surrender.

Rangiku slowed down, letting only her fingers lightly brush against the middle of his sole. "Hey," She said more softly. "I bet no one has ever seen you really laugh, right?"

"Only you, now" He replied, with a look that was both affectionate and teasing.

She smiled back, her hand still resting on his ankle, as if she wanted to cherish that moment, where he was vulnerable and where she knew him like no one else. "It's good to know you have weaknesses too"

"Only when you're around"

That response still echoed as Rangiku leaned a little closer to Gin's body, resting her chin on his chest, her eyes half-closed with that mixture of affection and pure mischief. "You should be more careful when you say things like that to me" She murmured, her voice slightly drawn out. "It just gives me ideas"

Gin kept smiling, but opened his eyes just enough to meet hers. A flicker of something between alertness and surrender passed through his gaze. "Ideas, huh?" He said. "This never ends well for me"

"Depends on your perspective" And with that, she settled herself on top of him, slowly sliding her fingers along his chest, moving to his ribcage with light touches. Gin's body stiffened subtly, and she noticed. "Ah, so it's not just the feet, huh?"

"Rangiku..." He warned, but there was no real firmness in his voice, it was more of a plea. And that, to her, was more of an invitation than a limit.

She settled more comfortably on top of him, now practically straddling his waist, and began tracing paths with her nails, first around his ribs, then below them, Gin holding his breath, clearly trying to maintain control. She then slid her fingers to the lower part of his armpits, very lightly.

It was there that he arched, letting out a stifled laugh through clenched teeth. "Hahahahahaha! N-No!"

"Ah, I liked that reaction"

"I told you you were cruel" He whispered, now with an amused glint in his eye, even while struggling not to squirm too much beneath her.

"And you're deliciously sensitive" She replied, leaning over him and whispering in his ear. "Is it here too?" She began to gently trace the curve of his neck, alternating with small bites and tickles with the tip of her nose.

Gin shuddered, a muffled sound escaping, half laugh, half sigh. "Hey-hahahahaha! Y-You're not going to stop, are you?"

"Now that I've found out you laugh? No way!" She laughed along, her body swaying with the lightness of someone completely at ease. "I deserve this, for all the times you teased me with that 'I know more than I say' face" She then slid her fingers down the sides of his stomach, until she reached his waistline, where he reacted more intensely, arching his back.

"R-Rangiku...! Hahahahahaha! Please!" Gin exclaimed, his voice trembling between laughter and trying to control the spasms.

"There it is," She said victoriously. "Your weakest spot"

"Y-You're going to kill me hahahahahaha!"

"No, no, just keep you laughing for a few more minutes"

Gin tried to hold her wrists, but Rangiku simply leaned in and lightly kissed his chin, her fingers still tracing his waist with calculated precision.

"That's not fair!" He said, now laughing freely, his eyes wide and bright, more disarmed than ever.

"Of course it is, you're mine" She retorted softly, resting her head on his chest, finally ceasing the tickling and only listening to the accelerated rhythm of his heart. "I love seeing you like this, defenseless, truly laughing"

Gin wrapped his arm around her shoulders, stroking her hair as a comforting silence spread through the room. "Promise you won't tell anyone that the dreaded Gin Ichimaru is ticklish?"

"Only if you promise to let me play with it whenever you want"

He smiled against the strands of her hair. "Ohh besides being cruel, she's a blackmailer..."