Chapter Text
The fall started to seep its way into the winter, and the house was built before the first snow flakes drifted through the wind.
The house was beautiful, warm and for once in their lives they could experience the mountain snow. Snow that would go above their feet and as soft as clouds to make snow angles.
Nobuharu kept them warm, offering wood for them to use for their chimney, and even old winter jackets.
Hatsue had even grown enough to start crawling around the house.
Ryuunoske nearly cried, and so did Gin.
Because, Ryuunoske wasn’t expecting Hastue to grow into such a beautiful flower.
Who’d been growing in a malnourished garden.
And who’d been planted there just out of luck.
Though, admittedly, Ryuunoske wouldn’t have had it either way.
“C’mon! Let's go play in the snow!”
“Alright alright, let me just put my scarf on.”
Gin was excited, and while he tried to be disinterested about the snow…he did want to build a snow man at the very least.
Before he could dwell on it, he found himself outside in the snow with Gin dragging him along, holding his hand as he could hear her giggles.
She kicked the snow towards him, which of course made him raise his arms to prevent himself from getting snow in the face.
Ryuunoske found himself smiling while he tossed some snow towards her, and even chased her as she ran away to get no snow on her. Though they both found themselves throwing snowballs at each other as they continued to play in the snow.
It had been a long time since they’d felt this joyous.
Maybe if they’d been wiser as children, they could’ve ran away from the slums and come here sooner.
But there would’ve been no way to be here without Hatsue, it wouldn’t be the same. Not in a million years.
“Cough– I think that's enough for now– Cough– Gin —”
“Ryuu-! Are you okay–?”
Ryuunoske grabbed onto her arm, helping him regain his bearings from laughing and talking.
It must be the cold.
“Alright..let's head back home, I’ll start up a warm bath while you get your clothes. I’ll feed Hatsue while you bathe.”
Ryuunoske could only hum in response, his throat felt much dryer than before. He could taste iron on his tongue after he had coughed that second time. He didn’t want to dim Gin’s mood.
While Gin prepared the bath he grabbed some fresh clothes, while Hatsue was in his cot, sleeping soundly. He stared at Hatsue for a moment before turning towards the bathroom where Gin was waiting for him.
“The water’s all ready.” Gin said as she turned towards him, “Take your time.”
“You act as if we don’t have it. It’s barely morning.” Ryuunoske said as he placed his fresh clothes on the bathroom sink,
“We still haven’t eaten breakfast, and we don’t have a lot of food. So I have to go down to the village.” Gin reminded him.
"I?" Ryuunosuke raised and eyebrow.
"Yes 'I', you're already coughing from the cold, I don't want you catching a cold." Gin told him, "I'll grab some groceries and come back."
"Absolutely not, I'm not letting you go down there by yourself. Not when I'm not there to protect you." Ryuunoske protested, even when he could feel his lungs struggle to suppress an upcoming cough, which he failed to cover up miserably. Coughing into his left hand for a few moments before pulling his hand away to see some blood.
"Ryuu..." Gin looked scared, coming up to him and making him sit down on the edge of the tub. "...I can't let you over exert yourself like this. Not when I can do some things by myself now and watch you rot like this." She moved a strand of his hair out of his eyes.
Ryuunoske could only hide his face on her chest, trying to regain his bearings. Feeling a little light headed.
Damn him.
Why did he have to be so weak?
“I’m sorry…”
“It's okay. I know you mean well..” Gin ran her fingers through his hair, “but I have to help you too.”
Gin was too understanding for her own good. Even though she was in the mafia it never cracked her soft shell. He was glad it didn’t, not when his shell was already cracked and bruised.
“Once you're feeling okay, and it’s warm enough outside. I’m taking you to the doctor to see what the issue is.” Gin was firm in her resolve. “But first, take a bath and I’ll feed Hatsue meanwhile. I’ll go for groceries and come back.”
“Right.. very well." Ryuunoske nodded, watching as Gin left the bathroom before he closed the door behind him.
While Ryuunoske bathed, Gin was in the living room with Hatsue. Feeding him some baby food while he was on her lap. Spilling some of the baby food while Hatsue fussed onto the floor, while she just sighed in slight defeat.
“You don’t really like carrots do you?” Gin chuckled, while Hatsue only pouted before grabbing onto her shirt.
“Maybe I should just get you changed..” Gin looked at him, seeing how much he'd grown since then. “Oh man..you sure are big now.” It made her smile.
Gin could only reminisce for so long before she carried Hatsue to the bedroom to change his diaper and into some warmer clothes before Ryuunoske finished bathing, and once he did he was met with the sight of Hatsue babbling happily while Gin played with him on the bed.
Moments like these made his chest warm, even when he could feel his lungs rattle weakly.
“Ready to go to the Village?” he asked,
“Born ready.” Gin got up from the bed, putting her shoes back on before heading out. Waving goodbye before leaving.
Leaving just Ryuunoske and Hatsue by themselves.
Ryuunoske lay flat on the bed next to Hatsue who was blabbing and playing with a toy, while he struggled with the feeling of weakness he felt in his chest.
Why did he struggle so much?
Why was his body so weak?
He hated that Gin had to even lay a finger on a single chore.
He hated that he struggled to carry Hatsue more and more as the boy grew each passing day.
What was wrong with him?