Ringo was reading a magazine and drinking a slushy. His shop seemed peaceful, even as he ducked his head under a giant bell flying straight into the wall Gong! The sound rattled through the shop, the bell itself stuck in the wall.
More importantly, the slushy was safely caught. Ringo's eyebrow twitched. He whirled around to slap another purifying tag onto the bell. The feather on his head was well lit as he glared at the bell as he hissed, "Quit breaking stuff, stupid bell."
The comment Ringo made seemed to strike... a nerve? Since the bell began shaking violently, jingling indignantly. Ringo groaned, standing out of his chair and stomping to the front door. He flapped open his magazine, reading with more haste to ignore it.
Three stores down, Ochiba's eyes glued to the faint figure of Ringo, who stared back with degrees lower than warmth, despite the fire. Yet Ochiba marched revealing a plastic sheath at his waist. His hand wrapped around the white handle of the blade. "We meet again... Ringo." His toothy smirk glinted in the sun, holding the small blade over his head, its red shine piercing into Ringo's eyes.
A small chuckle escaped Ochiba, his face contorting into something sinister, "Here's a gift..." In a blur of white and red Ochiba brought his hand down.
Ringo's fist stopped inches before Ochiba's face, his gaze caught on the cold treat. His arm fell weakly, hovering above the popsicle. "Interesting art?" he glanced up at Ochiba curiously.
Ochiba's grin widened, sinister melding to cheesy. "It's an appsicle. For you." He wiggled it in the air, the sweet aroma wafting to Ringo's nose. "I made it myself."
Ringo's face, once curious, dropped to skepticism. "An appsicle?"
Ochiba traced his finger around the apple shaped popsicle, elaborating, "Apple-popsicle! Though its cherry flavored..."
Ringo gave a flat stare emphasized by a dull chime from the bell as he snatched the popsicle "...Bummer." He muttered, holding the popsicle upside down to examine. "Is this drugged?" The aroma didn't make his nose numb, and it didn't melt through the floor so it was hard to tell.
Ochiba recoiled in a way that feigned offence, before smirking confidently "No, I'd rather win your heart properly."
This only got another flat, tolerant stare from Ringo "I'd say I'm relieved but, this is all so I can love you?"
Ochiba hesitated for a moment, the chime of the bell filling that silence "Well... I mean... do you?" Ochiba made no effort to hide his blush, as he stared straight into the eyes of Ringo.
'well he's honest.' Ringo thought. Out loud he said, "Oh, of course" he said flatly. "With an appsicle and all... why not-"
Clang!
The bell tore itself from the wall and hit Ringo on the head. his eyes rattled before rolling back as he fell unconscious, into Ochiba's arms.
Ochiba stared forward, blankly holding onto Ringo's limp body. 'did he just say "of course"?'
For a long while, he just held onto Ringo like he were treasure. Without knowing it himself, he had started beaming. While carrying Ringo to his bed at the back of the shop, Ochiba silently stared at him entire way.
His thoughts were louder than the furious jangling of the bell 'He said... of course... out loud. to me. after I asked him if he loved me!'
Placing his sleeping beauty on the bed he stared more, hesitating. His hand hovered, "I must..."
Instead, he snatched out a note book, scribbling words like it would be his last:
"Ochiba Banbusa, age sixteen. I FINALLY WON RINGO'S HEART!!"
He let out a silent scream (more a squeal) as he gently placed the pen into the crease of the notebook, slowly closing it-then immediately opens it so he could read it again.
Ringo fidgeted in his sleep, rolling further away from the edge and catching Ochiba's attention. While Ochiba continued staring, Ringo began mumbling, "closer to me..."
Ochiba gasped, looking at the appsicle, the jealous bell, and the sleeping beauty.
"true loves kiss." he whispered, blushing hard.
He stepped toward the bed, gulping hard. 'He said he loves me... so this is fine.' Ochiba reasoned 'just... not on the lips, the forehead.'
Trembling, Ochiba leaned forward his lips close enough to feel the heat from Ringo's body. He listened to Ringo take a deep breath "You're nervous too?" Ochiba whispered, chalking the rise in heat down to nervousness.
"Nervous?" The deep exhale dragged on, slowly twisting into a growl.
Ringo's eyes slid open, "...That's not quite right."
Ochiba stammered, trying for an excuse "Yo-you said you love me!"
Ringo paused, the fire on his head sputtered in confusion "What now?!"
"When you said 'of course' after I-"
"THAT!" he dropped his hands before he strangled Ochiba, choosing instead to punch him face first into the bell "It was-" *jangle jangle* the bell interrupts again.
Clang! the bell flung itself toward Ringo again, but was kicked into the ground, bounced up, and punted out of the window, jingling furiously mid flight.
Ringo turned back to Ochiba, his halo of flames blinding. "I was wrong to try and-"
From outside an elderly voice called, "Hello!? I'm here to bring that bell back!"