2025-08-12: Good Luck Starts With Hard Work
- Log: Good Luck Starts With Hard Work
- Cast: Yua Ooshiro, Miho Ijuuin
- Where: Aoba - Penthouse
- OOC Date: 2025-08-12
- IC Date: Sunday, June 24 2012
- Summary: Miho and Yua share an intimate moment together, as Yua opens up about her feelings -- and her desire to wed Miho and start a family with her, despite the challenges in their path. She's thought of ways around many of them, to Miho's delight, because of course she'd like to start a family with Yua just the same. But there's one more problem they need to solve... and this time, Miho will attend to it.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
OST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erGyUphZSt8 Taylor Swift - Dancing With Our Hands Tied
The hour is late, as Yua lays in the crook of Miho's arm, veiled by their bedsheets; they are soon to slumber. Her hand reaches across Miho's body, caressing her arm's bicep with a dreamy expression. "You're sculpted as a Grecian statue," Yua sighs, and her admiration for Miho's hard work isn't veiled in the slightest. "Like a beautiful Amazonian warrior... no one's more gorgeous than you." Of course Miho is a titaness; that's a good thing. The fact that she can pick her up seemingly without effort is one of her most charming qualities, in Yua's mind.
Yua's face is framed by her long hair pooling around them, as she tilts her head up to gaze lovingly to her woman, cheeks flush and eye warm. (The other eye is still covered by her eyepatch; must still be covered by that eyepatch.) "I'm so lucky," she heaves another sigh, quite lovestruck. "Oh, the way you look at me... Memimiii," she lilts, musically, and collapses into giggling. "Heehee... I love you!!"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Sweat dampens Miho's face--but less than it would've been, with longer hair. Yet another reason to appreciate the shorter style that she sports these days... The shorter style that contrasts Yua's. Because, "A smaller statue isn't less beautiful," Miho replies, not at all lightly. She looks at Yua in that way that makes Yua sigh, and smiles.
"And I love you," she answers, leaning to close the distance and kiss Yua right in the middle of all her giggling.
Is it luck, when they worked so hard for it?
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua's heart flutters in her chest, as Miho calls her beautiful, her smile spreading even wider on her face. Surely she can't contain all the love inside her, when Miho loves her so!
And she certainly feels lucky, particularly as she lifts her chin to press her lips to Miho's, murmuring sweetly as she yields. Her hand curls, at Miho's shoulder, as she takes a breath and a moment to gaze to her.
"I'm so happy," she murmurs -- more coherently, now, though no less sweet, "when you kiss me. Feeling your strong arms around me... the shape of your muscles under my fingers. Overheating's okay by me, if it's because of your warmth." Yua does run quite hot, but she's never expressed any desire to be anything but closer to her girlfriend. ... just a desire not to have too many blankets, at night.
It might have easily escalated to another kiss -- and another, and another -- with their boundless enthusiasm. But Yua speaks up, again, as she lifts her hand to play at the border between their silken pillows and Miho's short hair. "Mimi," she starts, and grows a touch more focused as she ventures it, "I've been thinking... about us."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Yua is happy, and that makes Miho happy. She is glad to be able to provide that feeling. "I'm very glad," Miho says. "...I can't help but heat when you're near." She can manage, without the blankets. The cooler air is refreshing. ...And they'd be in the way, in any case.
Still, while it could've escalated...
"...Hm?" Miho wonders, and her eyes shift a little, from viewing Yua to looking at Yua's face. She considers for a moment. What could it be...?
But there is no better way than to ask. "What are you thinking, Yua?"
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"I'm the world's cutest space heater!" Yua giggles, all but sparkling. Is that an Olympian sport, too...?
Well, surely Yua would win.
She appreciates all the ways Miho looks at her, of course; but when her eyes find hers, she makes a thoughtful noise. "Mm... I'm thinking... you know, when you and Myucchi rescued us?" Yua starts, with rising tone, "... back then, I wasn't doing very good. I was really scared, all the time... but no matter what, you were there for me." She smiles, gently, and finds in this moment her eye contact the good kind of consuming. "You were so kind, so reassuring... whenever I collapsed, whenever I felt trapped and helpless, you'd pick me up and show me the way forward. I was finally able to have what I'd wanted, making you dinner... helping you, giving you comfort, cheering you on..." Yua tilts her head, a new blush crossing her cheeks, as she admits, "... those things made me really happy."
She strokes at Miho's dampened hairline, pausing, for a moment, as she tries to think of how to say it. "What I mean is... my feelings haven't changed, since we were young." That it took a little bravery is revealed in the way her fingers curl, with a light gasp. "Ah... am I saying that too soon...?"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"Yes!" Miho agrees almost brightly, and watches Yua sparkle.
"I remember," Miho answers, and does not otherwise interrupt. She listens; she remembers, too, the way Yua has been. She tried to be these things... but Miho would wonder if she really achieved as much as Yua thinks, with so few missteps. ...But it's about what Yua feels at the moment, and she listens to that.
"I'm glad," Miho says.
But what she means...?
"Oh," Miho starts, and then recognizes what she must mean. "Oh."
She is surprised, but not displeased; a quieter, softer sort of feeling blossoms onto her features, one that most might wonder if Miho could have at all.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
It's bright by Miho's standards, and that makes Yua smile.
Of course, there are always missteps; they're evidently not what Yua remembers first and foremost, compared to the efforts Miho's made. She's happy to hear Miho accept her feelings with gladness, and...
Her cheeks flush, as her hand moves down, to cup Miho's cheek. She's sure that Miho can feel the way her heart is hammering, in her chest, but she summons bravery from Miho's soft expression. "In-- in my country," she starts, stumbling a little over her words, "the household needs a strong woman to guide the family's prayers... though I know that Japanese women observe the three submissions, here." She swallows, feeling her heart has surely lodged itself in her throat, and she'll make a fool of herself or secure everything she's dreamed of and it must be one of the two.
"L--let me observe your laws and submit to you, Mimi, if only you'll steer us true. I want it to be you," she insists, with a touch of fierceness behind her gentle mien. "I want to make sure your home is always warm and welcoming to you, with breakfast before you leave and dinner when you return! I want to bear you a son and heir, give you a family! I want you to be the first thing I see when I wake, and the last face I see before I sleep!"
Her face is quite flushed, as finally she finds she needs a brief reprieve from all her eye contact, closing her eye as she nuzzles her cheek into Miho's shoulder. "Take me as your wife," she beseeches, soft to breathlessness. "I'll make you happy..."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho is not nearly so free with her emotions as Yua can be, but that changes somewhat in circumstances like these. ...Good circumstances.
Miho feels Yua's heart hammering all right. And Miho knows Yua's country. "...Mm," Miho says. The three submissions. She has feelings about those... but she has more feelings for Yua, and for her need to speak.
To obey the laws of her land...
"Yua," she says, and Miho feels a swell of emotion herself. This... This is what she wants, too.
Miho wraps an arm more firmly around Yua, and smiles even if Yua can't see it. "...You would," Miho answers. "You will."
"I have my own feelings on submissions... But if you want a guide, that I can give."
"My home is you," she says. "...No matter what else, that is true."
A family...
"I would like that," she says. "A family, with you. ...To make that home, with you, for more than this temporary time..."
"Yes," she answers. "Yes, I will make you my wife," Miho says, "And nothing would make me happier."
A pause. "Though..."
"I do not yet know how, by the laws of this land. ...We'll have to figure something out. But regardless of what others say, we'll have those things."
"Together."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"Oh!" Yua gasps, quite happily, when Miho tightens her grasp. For all her feelings on Japan, she knows it's the culture of the mainland, and... if it's for Miho, taking on some of that is okay, really.
If it's for Miho, she'll take her name.
"Oh, Mimi..." That Miho considers her home is the greatest prize Yua can imagine, to give the woman she loves a place to have these emotions, far from the circumstances of the world around them.
"Mimi," she sighs, again, hugging herself to her as she promises it needn't be temporary, that she'd like a family, too. And --
And she says --
She says yes!!!
"You will?!" Yua lifts her head, eye sparkling with excitement, when Miho accepts her feelings. "Oh, Mimi!! I'm so super happy!" She even says it in English, so it's properly emphasised.
"I was looking into it," she admits, because of course their luck is made from work first. "If we weren't Japanese nationals, it would be a lot easier... but, there were some forums where people could speak anonymously about this sort of thing, and they said they could get their partners on their family registries by having their parents adopt them." Yua sighs, with a look of disappointment. "IVF will be harder, though... maybe they'll listen to you because you have an important name, but apparently, a lot of clinics won't offer any services to a woman who seems like she's single... and, mm, I really don't like the idea of the easy way. I don't like men like you do, Mimi..."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho would be glad to share that name, instead of taking on someone else's. ...She has found it unlikely that the latter would happen. Even if she married a man, most would favor the status of her name.
But why would she do that, when she has Yua now?
"Yua," she sighs back, and smiles. For all that she has her questions as to how it will work... She is also, 'so super happy'. "Yes," Miho says again. "I will."
But Yua has been looking into it, and considers. "Yes... There are some nations that recognize such unions, but Japan is not yet one."
"Hrm. An adoption..." Miho wrinkles her nose. "I'm certain I could get Father on board," she says. "But it's not ideal."
A pause. "...They might," she allows, "For a generous donation to their practice, perhaps. But..."
She doesn't like the 'easy way'. "I wouldn't ask that of you," Miho says to Yua. "Since you don't. ...Besides, it saves me some jealousy," she says, with a moment of levity. "...If it came to it, I could do that," she admits. "For our family's sake. But... I would prefer to exhaust every other option first. I am not... the maternal type."
"So we shall look into IVF."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
She will! She will!!!
"I did think about saying... 'Mimi! Let's take a different plane back when the Olympics end and go and live in Europe instead! We can get married there!'" And it's the kind of wild plan Yua might well have entertained, despite the fact their lives are here. "But," she sighs, a touch deflated, "'those men' would never accept that, so..."
She tilts her head, with an uneasy little smile. "I know," she says, her lips thinning for a moment. "It's weird... and people might just decide we're relatives, right? But... that's how some women made it work. Even though one of them admitted herself, they get mistaken for 'cousins' all the time, even though they look nothing alike...!"
Yua smiles, though, when Miho mentions that jealousy. "Now I'm here... I'd be a little jealous, too," she admits, though of course they've discussed her relationships in the time she was gone, and Yua was glad that Miho had found comfort in men back then. But she isn't missing from Miho's life, any more! "But it's okay, Mimi," Yua insists, shaking her head as she slips a hand down to her abdomen. "I know your body is your temple. You've worked so hard to make it perfect, I know that just by touching you... it would upset you to have it change so much, right?"
She lifts her hand, to rest it by Miho's shoulder. "Besides," she says, smiling, "I... really want to be a mother. Ever since I was a kid, helping make lunch for Yume and Yuken... I thought I'd like to have my own. And..." Her cheeks colour, pausing for a moment, something meaningful to her that feels so vulnerable to voice. "I was looking into it... they could use your egg, Mimi, and put it into me. So... even though we don't work like that... it would still be like I was having, your children...?"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"Yes," Miho says, "It's a thought... But indeed. They wouldn't accept it. And neither, I think, would you--you would be sad, to be so far from your home." Okinawa, of course. Not 'Japan'. ...Miho of course is attached to Japan, but it's not really the deciding factor for her.
An uneasy smile, and... Well. "Mm. Yes, people would think that. To have my father give you our name is not the same as to give you my name. ...But for legal purposes, it might be best."
There are things 'non family' can't do.
Miho smiles back. "I'm glad to hear it," she says of Yua's jealousy. She doesn't mind that at all; it's natural, healthy even to her mind. It makes her feel appreciated. ...But she doesn't need those men for that any longer. "I appreciate that," Miho says, resting a hand over Yua's for a moment at her own abdomen. "It would. If necessary I would, and I wouldn't begrudge it if it were for us... But I'd rather not."
"Especially not when you would be so perfect a mother," Miho says with a smile. "Yes, I can see it for sure."
But this...
"So they would be bound to me by blood, and you by body... Yes," Miho says. "That's perfect."
"...You've done your homework," she says. "I'm lucky you're so diligent..."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"You're right, I wouldn't want to leave," Yua sighs, biting at the inside of her cheek. "If it was just for a while, maybe it would be okay, but... it's hard enough being this far from home. And if I went to Europe, everyone would surely say, 'oh, you're Japanese!'... I know that won't get any better if I'm an Ijuuin, so I had to think very hard about it. There are a lot of people in Kukojima who'd be offended if I took someone else's name, since our Noro priestess has been an Ooshiro for generations now, it wasn't just grandma." Because of course Miho knew about Yua's formidable grandmother! "... both my dad and my grandpa took their wives' names because of that, even though mom was never trained for it. So, even if it was your name..." Yua pauses, scratching at her cheek, a touch abashed. "Well, especially if it's your name," because Ijuuin is an old clan, with far too much history, "... I had to decide if I was okay with taking that into me, and where I'd even fit in." Which explains why she was thinking about those submissions; there's only one role in Japan for a wife, so what happens when there are two?
"But my dad encouraged me to go for gold!" She adds, smiling brightly. "He said I'd survive the neighbours disapproving, but I'd always regret it if I really loved you and let something get in the way!" Fuyu, of course, isn't terribly popular himself.
"... and I won't ask you to give up your clan," she adds, lifting a hand to caress Miho's cheek. "I know how important it is to you, the support and resources it gives you... and the expectations people have, too." That's not to say her name isn't important to her, of course; but Kukojima is a village on a tiny island, part of a chain of islands collectively dwarfed by the military installations Japan didn't wish to inflict on its own people. She is a big fish in a small pond, and Miho... well, her pond is much bigger.
"Though... I do wish you could give me your name properly," Yua admits, with a longing sigh. "But there's not a single prefecture that supports it... and if we came out and said we were married, on the same register, who could challenge us? Maybe that's something we could only get away with under your family's reputation..." ... which means she's been thinking about admitting it, too. What's the difference between being gay in public and married and gay in public? She trails off, and doesn't quite say.
Yua appreciates Miho very, very much, and her cheeks are glowing, thinking of her approval of her dreams. "I'm really happy you'd be willing to make that sacrifice for me," she says, "but I'm sure you'll never need to! Even if there's complications... there might be, they pass from mother to daughter, and mom had trouble..." A frown ghosts over Yua's face, for a moment, before she smiles again. "But even if that happens, I want to work through them with you! And I know you'll make sure I'm well taken care of, so I won't worry about 'what if'!" If Yuna had the kind of care Miho can afford, maybe things would have turned out differently, with Yukiya. It's sad to think about, but... the money would be on her side instead of working against her, unlike her mother.
Yua sighs, happily, fingers playing at Miho's arm. "Oh, isn't it just a perfect solution, though?" She asks, evidently quite taken with her brilliant plan to connect their family together despite the odds. "And I thought... I'd like to name our son Hiroki," she adds, warm to glowing. "It's another reading of 'Ooshiro'... so I can still carry my name forward in some way." No wonder she wants a son.
Yua giggles with merry delight, then. "It's because good luck starts with hard work!" She chirps, because of course she'd tie the two together. "If you hadn't provided so well for me, I surely wouldn't have been so eager. I know it hasn't always been easy, since you can't just spite the Powers that Be directly... but I really appreciate you, Mimi," Yua lifts her head, showing the long, elegant curve of her neck as she pauses to kiss her, this time. "Really," she repeats herself, softly, as she settles her weight back down against her fiancee. "I really do."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"They would," Miho agrees--and she's glad that she doesn't have to mention that it will be trouble on that front either way. "I believe that," she says of offense. "...I am glad that this is so important to you, that you could make that decision. I would understand if you did not--if you preferred to keep your own name. I would not begrudge it. ...But I am happy that you will seek mine."
"Your father is a wise man." A pause. "...Yes. I could not."
But, not a single prefecture... "Mm. I think even my family would have difficulty making that happen," she admits. "It is something I would have to discuss with Father. But... I confess, I would prefer to live openly."
There are reasons she can't, though. Reasons they can't.
Mom had trouble... yes, Miho is aware of this story. "Yes," Miho says after that with a smile. "Regardless you will have the finest care."
A perfect solution! Yes. "...I see," Miho says, turning it over in her mind. "Yes," she says. "I support that idea. A union of our names, in this way."
Good luck starts with hard work! It is true. Miho laughs faintly.
"Well, then we shall appreciate each other," she says, and leans down into that kiss. A moment later...
"I'm happy with that."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"It would be... really hard for me to," Yua admits, on the topic of keeping her name, "since we can't just get married normally. But my mind's made up!" She nods, firmly, looking to Miho. "I want to be with you! I want to be part of your family!"
She's the one who can make that decision, after all.
"Wouldn't it be a case of... saying something was true, and daring them to say otherwise? It's a social bond, after all, and if we've another way to amend the registry they wouldn't question you showing up for me in hospital or anything. And, I thought... if we were married... no one would dare to say creepy things to me, then." And Yua's always been a very optimistic sort of woman, but...
But Miho will make sure Yua is taken care of, while she's carrying her children. (Of course, she's ambitious. She wants a girl, too!) Yua smiles, overfull with her warmth, and it only grows larger as Miho supports her choice of name too. "You like it? I'm so happy!"
And Miho... is happy with appreciating each other.
"I'm happy with you," Yua sighs, quite content, stroking at Miho's broad shoulder. "You've always made me... so happy."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Her mind is made up, and Miho will accept that. After all, it is Yua's decision on that side.
But...
"It may be so," Miho says of daring, "But they will dare much when it comes to 'social fabric'." A pause. "...But one day we will ensure that no one presumes to say such things to you. Definitely."
Ambition!!
"I am," she says. "And..."
She thinks back. Always...
Miho smiles. "Good," she says. "...I feel the same way."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"Does that mean... it won't work, even if we say it's true? Not even in Sumaru...? Mm..." Yua pouts, as she tries to think of another way through, only to thonk her head back down on Miho's chest. "This is complicated..."
She slips her arm around her, hugging herself to Miho. "But at least I'll always have you," she assures herself, nuzzling her face against her shoulder. "They can't take that away from us!" 'Those men'? One specific woman? Society? Perhaps she's just referring to them all.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"It..." She considers. She doubts it, really--there are powerful people invested in the status quo--but on the other hand, she has never quite grown out of the idea that her father can do anything. "It is complicated," she agrees. "You've done enough work today. Let me look into it as well, and we shall see."
A smile, then. "Yes. Always," she agrees.
"...No one can."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua sighs, honestly relieved to be able to hand such a weighty task off to her fiancee. (Her fiancee!! She's going to MARRY HER!!!) "Okay," she says, her smile just visible beneath all that hair she normally keeps in such a neat little bun. "I'll leave it in your hands, Mimi... just like meee..."
But laying against her, like this, inevitably reminds Yua that she's been awake since four in the morning; she pools out a little more, over Miho, relaxing like Tiger showing his best boneless display. (He'll surely jump on their bed just as they're drifting off to sleep. What a jerk.) "Sleepy now," she murmurs, reaching over to paw at the bedside lamp until it ceases illuminating the room, because of course it's a touch lamp. "It's always a good night, 'cause I get to sleep with Mimi..."
Oh no, she gets even sappier when she's sleepy.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Fiancee!! Double fiancee because it's both of them!
Just like her, though. "Right," Miho answers, and her words get briefer as she starts to grow a little tired herself. Yua relaxes, and Miho, too, is...
"Yes," Miho agrees. "...Always a fine night."
She closes her eyes.
...Tiger, indeed, will show up shortly.