there. it took him a hot moment to gather the courage, to tell Takehiko as well; about Kaa-San and what they've talked about ever since they met again. about life and what cannot be called such no more; what's been lost and found.
found, for him... its Takehiko. she, and that now very pretty ring on her finger. it's obvious, visible, shines in the sunlight, but he'd not make it topic yet; they'll have to be introduced, first, and after all things did not go as magically conform as society would deem them to be / want them to.
the setup was simple in the apartment they'd found for Fuu, with some expensive coffee and blue cornflowers she'd never have not enough of on her table. touya makes sure there's always a new bunch.
this time it's takehiko who gifts them to her, though, and it's him who introduces her as who she is; to him; to them both now, part of a family that stitched itself back together.
her fingertips remain, ever gentle, against delicate petals of a blossom in the process of opening. one more day, she figures, and it will be ready to show itself fully to the world -- tomorrow morning as she has the coffee so thoughtfully provided, fuusetsu imagines she'll be able to admire each and every petal the flower has to offer. she becomes aware of the relaxed smile that's upon her face as fingers fold beneath her chin, admiration & joy given to her by something so simple more than apparent.
there's nobody to witness it, though.
not yet.
two mugs sit, waiting, upon the counter across from her. and perhaps the anticipation of their would-be holders' appearance gives life to her expression as well.
touya's told her she's able to meet her now... takehiko.
able to meet the girl ( woman ) who has captivated him so.
she's not been over-eager in the matter, understands full well it's been easiest / most sensible for her to become settled in a location that's safe & quiet & away from the business of others' lives before she's able to know the one responsible for filling touya's heart. fuu knows the possibility of getting to know her before this point was a potential hazard, an attraction of unnecessary attention -- and so she's been patient.
it's not been difficult, as her greatest priority is her beloved's safety & comfort.
and by extension, that of his beloved's.
so when the quiet knocks upon her door sounds, her heart leaps. she turns to look toward the narrow hallway that leads into her apartment, and holds her breath as she waits for the remainder. one more... two more. relief floods her veins as the pattern registers -- touya suggested it: a code so that she needn't even come close to the door if she's not expecting company -- and her breath thrums with happiness in her quiet exhale.
the door is drawn back quick & quiet, and an extended arm offers what has become her home to her son & takehiko. she doesn't fuss with introductions & formalities yet / nor do they, instead she's quick to indicate where they may store their outdoor shoes & retrieve those for the house, thanks them for their respect before they even move to comply.
fuusetsu dismisses herself politely, asks what their beverage of choice will be: touya elects for coffee, not even a heartbeat allowed to pass before he readily answers, but takehiko's is more hesitant. she can hear the quiet murmur of the other woman's voice in the genkan as she reaches her counter, and only picks up the bag of coffee to listen for a reply. the quiet thrum of touya is a reply to takehiko, and it's only then that she speaks up too and requests the same.
after she puts the coffee on, closes the top over the new filter, fuusetsu turns to find takehiko & touya both standing in the sitting area. takehiko appears nervous: those brilliant eyes which had caught her attention in touya's picture were angled toward the ground overtop the mask she kept on her face, and the flowers she bore were clutched close to her body. all the same, fuu can see takehiko's conscious effort to not crush the lovely blooms.
( sweet girl... ) fuu's gaze softens the longer she looks at the other woman, and her subconscious lifts a hand to fall overtop her heart. there's so much she doesn't know about her... and what she does know, beyond that which touya's told her, feels like an invasion of her privacy. the girl from the hokkaido incident, and everything that followed.
from that to now... all that's happened in her life, fuu's heart breaks to imagine it's more than just what was publicised in light of her trial. it breaks to recognize a lack of confidence in the other woman, born of so many different things she's endured 'til now. ( ...you're safe here. you don't need to be ashamed. please... )
with a blink of her eyes & touya's words, she finds takehiko bowing before her -- deep, respectful, genuine. fuu steps forward to close the distance, but surprise stops her short as something particular (sacred, really, a chosen union betwixt them).
( wife... )
the surprise evaporates into the warmest of smiles, pink flooding her cheeks as blood rushes / paints a blush upon pale skin. the ashen earth of her eyes seems to gleam with joy, and her heart feels as though it's accelerated five-fold. « oh, touya -- » her beam to him is one she'll not forget giving / likely one he'll always remember himself. « -- takehiko... » her eyes leave her son as she looks to the woman, and the distance she'd begun closing earlier at last is bridged.
« please, you're welcome here. » fuu extends a hand forward into her line of sight, and takehiko returns to her proper posture almost immediately. « i'm overjoyed to meet you at last... touya has told me much about you, but i can only imagine there's so much more he could tell me and you could as well. » the other woman swallowed silently, her eyes flickering upward once before she finds it in herself to stay looking at fuu.
the beam she's cast her angel
softens into a gentle smile as she looks to his.
loving. pure. reassuring.
« what pictures he's shown me... they can't compare to now, i don't think. you're even more lovely in person... » some of the tension trapped in takehiko's shoulders seems to evaporate, and with such relief she's able to offer the gift she's carried this whole time, holds the bouquet out to fuu. it's then she's able to see the ring upon takehiko's finger: beautiful silver, untarnished & still obviously very new. fuusetsu feels her heart swim in her endearment, and it's all she can do to not cup takehiko's hand in her own. she lets her eyes wander to the flowers, notes orchids & geranium threaded together. perhaps takehiko had been the one to choose them? after her assessment's moment passes, fuu reaches forward to take the gift graciously, and she dares to rest her fingers gently against takehiko's & the ring upon them.
« your gift is beautiful, too, takehiko. » she allows the intent of her words to sink in, and sees the flicker in takehiko's eyes when it does. ( touya is not the only person who thinks so. please, believe me. ). it's as she draws back, pulls the flowers to herself that she continues. « come... both of you. your coffee will be ready soon, so have a seat -- i would make for a remiss hostess if i let my daughter in-law stand her entire visit. »
ʜᴇʀ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
ʜᴀꜱ ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ʜɪꜱ ᴏᴡɴ.
