2026-01-04: Miho Protected her Family
- Log: Miho Protected her Family
- Cast: Yua Ijuuin, Miho Ijuuin
- Where: Aoba - Penthouse
- OOC Date: 2026-01-04
- IC Date: Wed, Sep 05 2012
- Summary: Kimitake asks for breakfast when Yua wakes up, and it means she doesn't get to call Miho until she's at work... but she insists to the maid that she's returning to Miho's, that night, and so she cooks Miho a beautiful dinner and restores the happiness of their own home in the process. (She is the Queen of Miho's penthouse, at least, even if she feels like an awkward guest in her husband's house.) Once they're on a more even keel, she explores Miho's feelings about the wedding -- and shares her own, including her gratitude towards Miho for safeguarding their son's future. And, of course, she needs Miho to make her clean again...
- Content warning: Coercive control, consensual sexual references.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
When Yua wakes, the next morning, Kimitake asks -- sounding as sleepy as she is -- "Since you're here, would you mind cooking me breakfast...?"
And Yua, who is used to rolling out of bed and attending to it, mumbles, "... sure." (She has almost rolled out of bed as it is, teetering on the edge of his futon; true to his word, he never embraced her.)
By the time she realises she's in the kitchen, and he's waiting expectantly at the table... she realises that she can't call Miho, when she's busy preparing an omelette. It stings at her eyes, a little; but maybe that's just the hot steam of cooking.
Once she's slipped the plate onto his dining table -- he has a combined kitchen-and-dining room, so it's convenient to move food from one to the other -- she says, "... my stomach's feeling a little unsettled, so I'll get something later, okay? Just -- just a moment, I need to step out -- I need to call Mimi..."
"Oh," Kimitake looks surprised. "You haven't called her yet? Please, go ahead. She'll want to hear from you."
And Yua tells herself she's being unfair, feeling poorly-done-by.
By Yua and Miho's standards, at least, it's late in the early morning by the time Yua's number breaches Miho's phone; ring, ring...
"Mimi?" Her voice is a little small, a little stressed, as she opens the line.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho's breakfast is supplied by Eiko, having been mostly prepared already because Eiko is very good at what she does. Miho sleeps in today later than usual; she's not up until the sun is, this time. Because:
"Nn," Miho complains, as a sunbeam comes in through her window's curtains.
She does not have a hangover, but she does not have a glorious morning, either. But soon she's through breakfast, and on to an abbreviated morning workout.
"...Ikeda-san," Miho says. "Has Yua called yet?"
"Not yet, Ijuuin-sama," Eiko replies.
"Hn."
But later that morning, Miho is in the office. She pauses at a brief and looks to her phone. Then, she picks it up.
"Good morning, Yua."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"Mimi!" And all the light floods back into Yua's voice, when she hears Miho's. "Sorry I couldn't call earlier! Kimi-san wanted breakfast, so -- so, I -- this is the earliest I could..."
She looks at the clock, on the wall of her room, and her gaze turns down. "Sorry... you're at work already, right...?"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
So she's cooking him breakfast, too...
"Ah." But Yua further explains, and Miho's voice warms after that initial 'ah', and she says, "I am. But that's all right. It just means I can't talk long at the moment."
She can, however, spare a short time. ...She doesn't really like her 'bosses' anyway.
"How are you feeling?"
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
Yua's heart sinks, hearing Miho's initial tone. It must be... so hard for her, right...? But she says it's all right, she warms up...
"I don't feel good," she admits, quietly. "I--it's not that Kimi-san's doing anything wrong, I just..." And her voice will shatter, as she says: "I really miss you, Mimi..."
But she tries to get ahold of herself -- she doesn't want Miho to have to carry all her grief all through her workday, at that horrible place. "B-but I'm going to bake you some nice whitefish when you get back!" She promises, with more energy but a little more pressure behind her speech, too. "With yummy carrots and sweet potato! It'll be good, I promise--!! I love you, Mimi..." She'll see! If she just works hard enough, she'll see--!!
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
She doesn't feel good. "...I'm sorry," Miho says.
But, "Oh, yes?" Miho answers, and realizes of course what Yua needs in the moment, so she puts a little extra energy into her voice. "I'll look forward to it," she says. "It sounds like it will be."
"I'll tell you about my day when I get home," she says. She's planning to come home on time... but if she says that aloud, they might interfere. So instead, "I love you, too."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
There's a reason Yua isn't asking Miho how she feels, too, and it has everything to do with the moment...
... the moment when she's at work, surrounded by unsafe people.
"I want to hear all about it, okay?" Yua asks, and she's relieved to hear Miho talking like that, but strangely, it makes her want to cry. (Of course she would; it's safe to cry to Miho. All of these bad feelings...) But she smiles, instead, cradling her phone in her hands. "So-- so be sure to save lots of words for me!"
And she wants to keep talking, but she knows Miho's at work; they'll be watching her, too. "I'll welcome you back, okay? B-but I had better let you get back to work... bye-bye, Mimi! I love you!!"
She takes a moment to sit on her futon, when the phone line goes dead again; sitting with those awful feelings, weighing down her soul.
When she comes back out, she finds Kimitake gone -- and another maid rinsing the dishes. "Um... excuse me?" Yua starts, at the door to the hall, leading to the bedrooms.
"Oh! Ma'am, good morning! Sir's left for work already," the woman smiles, turning to her. "But he asked me to pass on his thanks for the lovely breakfast! Does this mean you'll be cooking for him when you're in residence?"
"Um... I-I guess so...?" Yua, put on the spot, acquieses; it must be a normal thing, if she's asking. (She doesn't realise that Kimitake, in fact, woke up earlier than she did -- and specifically told his maid not to prepare breakfast since his wife was home.) "Sorry, um... I-I'm Yua Ijuuin, what's your name?"
"I'm Okaidani," the maid introduces herself. "Will you be staying, ma'am...?"
"No! U-um, I mean, not tonight," Yua shakes her head, a touch spooked. "Thank you for getting the dishes, Okaidani-san... I'll just get ready and call my driver, I have to get to work... a-and I'm going to Mimi's tonight," she insists, again, trying to be firm.
"Very good, ma'am!" Okaidani chirps, to her, as she returns to loading the dishwasher up.
And Yua at least manages to put on a brave face for Gekkoukan...
... but she doesn't visit Studio Chura after work again, in her haste to get back home. She's glad to see Eiko; but the first thing she does is disappear under her weighted blanket, on the couch. She... eventually makes her way out from under it.
(Though Eiko may catch her crying, under there, weighed down by all the weight of what she's done and the need to work hard for Miho's sake.)
By the time Miho gets home, though, the scent of baking's all through the house; fish all wrapped in foil to preserve their tenderness, and Miho's, at least, is lovingly dressed with herbs and lemon to make it tasty instead of kind of bland. Yua's dressed in casual houseclothes, as she gets it all ready, with freshly-cut red roses on a vase on the dining table.
... her neckline swoops down quite generously, in this blouse, and that's entirely on purpose.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"Sure. I will."
Miho listens to Yua, and answers, "I love you," before they hang up the phone. Then... it's back to work. She has a few reports to fill out, a few documents to write...
Miho has to deal some with the office. At one point, when she's about to leave...
'Oh, Ijuuin-kun--I've got these reports here, it'd be real helpful if you could..."
"No," Miho answers. "I am expected at home."
"Oh? Well, if you want to let us down..."
"On the contrary. I've already taken care of the additional reports, as you will see when you return to your own desk. Good night."
Eiko, at home, does indeed catch Yua crying. She makes note of it for Miho, and quietly leaves a glass of water next to Yua on the table by the couch.
But soon...
"I'm home."
Eiko is mysteriously not there to welcome Miho, having left that task to Yua and made herself scarce. She knows when her presence is best not present.
So Miho walks in, and sees--a sweeping neckline. Red roses. And...
"Yua," Miho greets. There is emotion in that one word, in that name.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
Miho's working twice as hard for Yua, too...
Yua appreciates the water. She appreciates the privacy just as much. And --
"Welcome home--!!"
Yua all but bounds to the front door, to embrace Miho; her feet are still in those wretched compression socks, as one lifts to counter-balance herself, reaching up to urge her down to her level. She kisses her fiercely, though it's her head which tilts to the side to allow Miho; her chest rises and falls, as at length she rests her cheek against her chest, her loose hair at Miho's shoulder.
"Hold me tightly," she pleads, not quite willing to let go. "Mimi... Memimi..."
But of course, dinner's still waiting.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Yua practically leaps, and Miho leans down, accepting Yua's kiss and slowly warming because of it, as if life spreads from their lips through the rest of an otherwise cold body. Miho leans down--and does hold Yua, hanging onto her hard for a moment, seriously, severely. "Yua..."
She sighs, and after a moment, scoops Yua up into her arms and proceeds to the kitchen.
"I won't let your hard work be wasted," she says, but...
Doesn't actually hurry to get in and let her go. She walks slowly.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"Oh," Yua sighs, and it's not the first soft little sound she's made; her eye closes, and she sinks into Miho, finally feeling held together with her strong arms around her. "Mimi... Mimi..."
She could forget herself and everything, here beside her; but after that moment, she finds Miho leaning down, scooping her legs up under an arm as the other wraps about her back. "Oh!" Yua laughs, as she wraps her arms about Miho's neck and shoulders. "Ahaha... Mimi...!"
Yua heaves another loving sigh, as one of her hands reaches up, to cradle Miho's cheek in turn. "Mimi... I love you..."
A hand steadying herself at Miho's shoulder, she tilts her head up, to kiss her again. But of course, what goes up must come down; eventually they come to the dining room, as Tiger weaves between Miho's ankles.
"Heehee... Tiger loves you, too!!" Yua chirps, as her feet press to the ground again. "But he's already had his fishies, so don't go stealing Mimi's, okay, Tiger? You'll get too big!" She wags a finger at him, but her tone's far too light to be scolding.
Yua has set out wine for Miho; pomegranate juice, of course, for herself. There's a covering over the dishes to keep the heat trapped, but inside is a lovely spread of freshly-baked fish and vegetables. (And Miho's potions of sweet potatos and carrots have all been slit down the middle, to accommodate enriching butter which has seeped throughout them, alongside the herbs they've been bathed in.) "Ta-daa!" Yua chirps, as she takes a seat beside Miho.
Her own plate is less seasoned -- just a little lemon to taste -- but it's the same thing Miho's eating. She took her tablets, so she should be okay...
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho has many things to remember. One of them will be that laugh from Yua as she wraps arms about her neck and shoulders. "I love you," Miho says, looking down to Yua for a moment and smiling. Then, though--a kiss, and forward! Tiger weaves around, and Miho is glad to see him tonight; perhaps yesterday he was upset that she'd been out so long, or that Yua didn't come home.
"Tiger is very good," Miho agrees, "Though I think he would take more fishies if given the chance..."
He is already too big. Miho likes him that way.
Miho accepts the wine, and opens up the covering; inside, delicious fish and vegetables and butter and herbs. Miho looks impressed. "This looks wonderful, Yua."
She smiles, seeing Yua's dish so similar. "...Thank you," she says. "I do like to eat what you eat, when we can manage it."
"...We'll talk about everything, after dinner. Thank you for the food."
Miho will EAT.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
The way Miho looks at her when Yua's in her arms, too, is something that will write itself in her heart for a long time.
"Heehee..." Yua giggles, looking to Tiger. "He sure would! But this is you fish, Mimi! You fish!" Oh no, she's being cute.
Tiger is massive. He is also adorable.
Yua's face lights up in a bright smile, when Miho calls her meal wonderful. "Eee!" She chirps, happily, her legs kicking out in glee. "Mmhm, mmhm! Mine's just lemon, but it's still nice! It should be all flakey and soft, I made sure to get home early so I could bake it at a low temperature to make sure it would stay tender..."
She cracks her chopsticks, and nods -- "Mmhm! You're super welcome!!" -- when Miho assures them they'll talk after dinner. And that will probably be sad, but...
... first off, it's a nice dinner with Miho!
(It looks like those roses are hand-cut... they're definitely from Yua's personal rosebushes.)
She brings out some nice jelly set around pieces of canned peaches for dessert -- jelly is something that still manages to sit pretty well with her, despite all her tummy troubles, and canned peaches are usually mild enough to not cause her any problems. It means that she makes things like this for dessert a lot, these days, but... well, the cupcakes she likes baking are more often too much for her personally these days.
And once that's done -- and Miho gets a little more than she planned, because Yua kept scooping up spoonfuls and offering them to her -- Yua asks, a hand at Miho's arm, "Was it good...?"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
You fish! Miho laughs softly, but honestly. "I appreciate that," Miho says of the long bake. "You clearly thought it through and executed well."
Yes, talking may be sad. But a nice dinner...
"And," Miho says, "I adore the flowers. Those are from your garden, aren't they?" she inquires, and regards them fondly through much of dinner. The jelly set around peaches is nice, too--jelly works for Yua, and it certainly works for Miho. Cupcakes are good, but sharing is also good.
"it was very good," Miho agrees. "I feel the stress of the day melted down."
"...I feel better."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"I wanted things to be really nice for you!" Yua chirps, happily.
Which also means -- "Mmhm, mmhm! My rosebushes are doing really well, so it was easy to get some! I wanted flowers from the garden for you, Mimi!" Flowers she'd personally grown, that is.
Yua smiles, as her hand slips down to Miho's hand, and her chair scrapes back as she stands. "Come and sit with me, Mimi!" She urges her, as she leads her to their fine leather couch. Of course, when she says sit 'with' her...
She really means she's going to sit on her. Luckily, Yua still hasn't really put on much weight -- though Dr. Matsuhashi's told them she's likely to start showing over the next couple of weeks -- so that's hardly burdensome.
"Mm," Yua hums, resting her head against Miho's shoulder for a moment. "Mimi... now I'm with you, I'm better, now." Her eyelashes veil her eye, as it blinks open, and she lifts her head to look to Miho's face again.
"I want to know how you're feeling," and she is beseeching, inviting, a hand rubbing up and down Miho's upper arm. "I didn't think I could ask, when you were at work... but I've been thinking about it since we got separated."
That's one way to describe marrying another man.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"You succeeded."
It's very nice! And flowers from the garden... "That means even more," Miho says, than just buying them. She may prefer a masc style, but she does enjoy getting flowers. And Miho smiles at that urge--and lets herself be led, but sits down first, because of course Yua is going to sit on her. Even if she puts on some weight it won't bother Miho for a while. Miho holds Yua there, and looks down into her eye. Her face is clear; she doesn't even look particularly tired, now.
"I'm glad," Miho says. "I want you to be better. ...Never worse."
But Yua invites her to express it, and...
"It was best that you didn't," she says, "But..."
Separated. "I've been thinking of you, too."
"But are you sure?" she asks. "...It wasn't my best evening," she admits, "But I don't want to burden you, either. Are you sure you wouldn't rather just enjoy how things are now? ...Now I do feel good. It's good to have you back with me. To be reminded... that you only went for a little while. That you'll keep coming back."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
And Yua's all smiles, to hear that her efforts have paid off. Including, in the end, the flowers..!!
Of course Yua's going to sit on her. She always does!
Yua looks much better than she was yesterday, too; a little colour's returned to her cheeks, though it might take a little while for her to really return to her old self, and while she does still look a little tired that's also very normal for her right now. (It has more to do with the pain around her belly and the way she held onto Miho a little for support as she made her way over here, really.) "You make me better," she says, warmly.
But... Miho's feelings...
"Of course I'm sure!" Yua insists, reaching up to cradle Miho's cheek in a hand. A shred of uncertainty enters her gaze, as she asks: "Um--unless you don't want to talk about it? I mean, this is really nice, and... and I want to keep you up a while... but this stuff is really hard, Mimi. I don't want us to go through it alone..."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho's waiting for Yua's color to return to normal in general, but just to be in her cheeks. She likes her as she is and was, rather than as she was made to be for the sake of appearances. But she does notice the pain--the need for support. "Good," she says of making her better.
Yua insists. Miho sighs--but then smiles faintly. "No, I'm willing," she confirms, looking into Yua's eyes. "I just didn't want to add to your troubles."
"But if we're sharing them, then..."
"I was lonely," she admits. "I like having you here. Suddenly not... it was difficult."
"And I was worried. It sounded like..."
"Well, that's not fair, I suppose. He's not making the demands of you; the situation is. The family."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
Yua shakes her head, gently. "I'd have more troubles if I didn't know," she insists. "I want to know, Mimi."
And... Miho was lonely, and Yua strokes a hand back through her hair, fingers combing her shorter cut. She hums, and it makes her feel better, but it tells Miho she's listening, too.
Her head tilts, when she hears Miho's worries; it doesn't make sense to her, entirely, until she insists he's not making demands.
"Oh!" She says, then, in realisation. "No, no, it was nothing like that... he was just scared he'd have trouble sleeping, which is quite normal in a situation like this, isn't it...? Since he's having to do things he doesn't want, either... that's why I didn't want to cause a lot of noise going in and out to make a call. I thought... if I'd been thinking better, I could have done it earlier, you know...? So..." So she blames herself.
Which might explain why she says, "... I'm sorry." Yua takes a breath, her fingers resting at Miho's neck. "It was really hard... not being with you. Bathing on my own... didn't make me feel very clean. I didn't feel clean until you touched me... I had a lot of trouble sleeping, too. It's going to be hard when we do have to be apart..."
And he wants to take her away even more... just for appearances...
"S-so-- so let's think up a plan, Mimi!" Yua decides, looking up to her. "Let's, let's make up a trick we can use to feel how much we love each other, even when we're somewhere else!"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho can tell Yua is listening. And when she reassures her--"Oh," Miho says. "Oh, all right. ...I mean, if you had to do those things, I'd understand for my part, but... It distresses me to think of you having to do what you don't want to do." Sleeping... So that's all. "I see. Well, that's all right, then. No, it's not your fault; you were in an unfamiliar place, doing unfamiliar things. It's natural not to think of everything."
But Yua apologizes, and Miho shakes her head. "It's all right," she says. "I'm more concerned with that. ...I had a bath, too, but I... lost track of time." That's a euphemism, in its way. "It is hard," she agrees.
But--
"A plan?" Miho hesitates; this is not her strong suit. "I don't know any magic like that," she admits.
"...But maybe, if we put our heads together..."
"I could give you something to keep," she says. "Something you can wear that you don't have to show as much as the ring. A necklace, or a pendant, or..."
"Or well, if not a physical object, then..."
"Practice remembering my voice. And I'll do the same for yours."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"I know," Yua assures Miho, soothingly. "The last thing you want is for me to do something I don't want to... you've always wanted to protect me."
And it's hard... that she can't always do that, right?
She smiles, with relief, hearing Miho absolve her of her own worries. "Oh... I'm glad you understand. It was very overwhelming... he employs maids from an agency, she was so surprised when I wanted to know her name... and I had to sleep in his bed, Mimi! I balled up all the blankets between us to keep us separated, so I was okay... but I didn't feel okay at all," she pouts, scowling.
"I didn't like it," and she's a touch sulky, still grumbling about that. "Though," she sighs, "he wasn't happy with it, either... he was really worried about us getting pushed into stuff like that. He said that since he's from the branch family, or whatever, he doesn't have that much of a say... and I guess he's used to getting pushed around by the Order, now, too." She sighs, as she admits: "I wasn't comfy, but I also felt sorry for him..."
... which at least paints a picture of Kimitake being someone suffering alongside them.
But... Miho doesn't know magic. "That's okay!" Yua smiles, energy returning to her voice. "I know lots of good magic, Mimi! It's just like inviting good spirits into the house!" Yua's spirituality certainly does pervade their home; whether her efforts to keep them in good standing have protected them, of course...
Well, who's to say it couldn't be worse?
"I'd love a pendant," Yua sighs. "Or a locket... I could put your picture inside, Mimi! Then you'd always be over my heart!"
She smiles, as she adds: "Mmhm, mmhm! And I'll record my voice, too! Hiroki will be able to hear, soon, so I need to practice my lullabies anyway...!" Can babies really hear when they're still in the womb? Yua certainly seems to think so.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"Yes."
But she does understand. "I see. I suppose that makes sense." An agency. "...It's not uncommon." Using an agency, that is. "Learning the staff's names is unusual for a lot of people. Ikeda-san is... special." But sleep in his bed? Miho frowns, and then shakes her head. "I see..." The balled-up blankets. Well, that sounds like her at least.
"Ah." The branch family. So of course, he couldn't say too much. She hadn't considered it from that angle, but now she is thinking about it. "...It's not an ideal situation for him, either," Miho agrees.
Yua knows lots. Miho smiles at her. "Hmmm... You are good at that kind of thing." Spirits and such. It could be worse.
Miho smiles. "I'll give you a locket," she says. "And..." Record.
"Yes, that's a good idea. I'll leave you more messages, too. We can review those, when we have to be away."
Practice lullabies...
"Yes. Indeed." She smiles. That's... better.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"Mm... is it weird how I call her Eiko-san?" Yua asks, frowning, when Miho talks about how their maid is special. "When I asked her, she said it was just the way I was, so it didn't bother her... but was she just being nice?" The word is 'professional', but Yua's always struggled with that one.
"He said this was stuff it wasn't really proper to talk about, and everyone just knows..." Yua sighs. "But I'm bad at things which everyone just knows, Mimi. Mm... I said I wouldn't tell anyone, though..." She's worried about getting him into trouble, clearly. "Just... I thought it wasn't fair if it looked like he was a lot more in control than he was."
Yua smiles, when Miho calls her good at keeping the home, and it's a smile which spreads when Miho declares she'll give her a locket. "Yay!" She beams, all but sparkling, and that metaphor really isn't all that far off now her skin's always a little flushed.
"Mmhm, mmhm, I'd really like that!!" Yua encourages Miho, when she declares she'll record more messages. "I feel so much better when I hear your voice... though, it was weird? When we were talking this morning, I was really relieved, but I felt like I wanted to cry, too... but I think that's because I didn't really feel safe having emotions like that before." She looks a little down, thinking of that. "It's not his fault, or anything, just... I don't really know him... mm, but I appreciate him trying, I guess."
Like he did at the wedding?
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"No," Miho says. "It is unusual," she allows, "But if it were a problem, I'd have told you as much privately in the past. It's your way of showing your appreciation for her work, just as I show her respect by remaining formal. ..It might be strange if we both did as the other does, instead."
But, stuff everyone knows. "I'll help," Miho assures Yua. "I know. ...I appreciate knowing these things. But he's right about that much; in general, it is considered improper to discuss some of these things openly; it's the idea that we should know our places and maneuver automatically to occupy them, so that no one has to be disturbed by discussion of taboo topics."
"...They don't understand or appreciate honesty like you do. But I appreciate it."
"...I'll keep in mind that he's under pressures, too."
A locket! Miho smiles. "It will be a lovely thing. Perhaps I'll get one, too..."
She is exactly the type to say 'perhaps' instead of 'maybe'.
"Hmm. I suppose that makes sense," she says. "You wouldn't feel safe in a new, unfamiliar place so easily. You don't know where things are, or the places from which you'll be watched..."
Because of course that's a factor.
"Well, tonight you're with me again, and don't have to worry about it. You know this place. You know me."
"...I'm inclined to give Ikeda-san an early night, if there's nothing further you need from her."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"Okay..." Yua says, though she says it slowly. "I was worried I was being rude, since Kimi-san was surprised I talked about her like that, and the maid on at night, Funahata-san, she thought it was funny when I was confused she only had one name, like it was super obvious I'd never need to know or something... I thought maybe it was just... something else I didn't really get about life now." Life as a wealthy woman, she means.
But Miho will help her navigate that life; and indeed she always has, and Yua's hand strays to Miho's, holding her steady, to squeeze it as she smiles. She appreciates knowing... maybe Yua should just tell her, if she has to go over for appearances. Wouldn't that be okay? "It's... about keeping harmony, right?"
... for some reason, Yua looks so relieved, when Miho says she appreciates her honesty.
(Had she been thinking it was a bad thing...?)
"Mm, mm. He can't move freely, either, I think. But he's really trying his best to be considerate of us," Yua insists. Isn't that what he's doing, not wanting to worsen Miho's paranoia...?
She brightens up, though, when Miho wonders about getting her own locket. "Yeah! That's great, Mimi! You can wear it under your fancy dress shirts, too!" Yua knows that the kind of jewelry Miho prefers to display are things like fancy watches... because, of course, she's bought her a few.
(Huh? Watches aren't jewelry...?)
"Mm... it was scary going to sleep," Yua admits. "Nothing bad happened, but just, it was a new place... and no Mimi... but next time, I'll set up the Hinukan and everything, so it'll be okay!" Because of course every hearth needs a shrine to the Hinukan. How else is he supposed to visit the home?
... is Kimitake really going to be all right with that, though? Surely he will; he knew his wife followed the Ryukyuan religion, when he married her.
"I know you," Yua smiles, warmly. "It's okay, Mimi... I said Eiko-san could go already, since she could tell I really wanted to see you again." Yua also has the authority to give her an early mark! She's the one who knows best the needs of the home, after all. "Here," she says, reaching for the hand Miho isn't using to hold her steady. "Give me your hand?"
She takes it, and places it at her belly; it's easy to slip under her breezy blouse, because they're not clothes designed to be seen by most people. "Before anything... I want you to know you're keeping us safe, Mimi," she says, and of course she's not only referring to her but to the new life she's nurturing. "I know it's really hard... and sometimes it will still be hard, later, too... but we did this to take care of Hiroki. It's thanks to his mother that his mama's okay!" ... is that how she's getting around him having two mothers? "The really important thing is that we're a family... we just made it so the law can't argue with us about it, that's all."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"Usually one's servants might be friendly or pleasant, but not friends. Ikeda-san came to be our maid a different way. ...Accordingly, she can do things I wouldn't entrust to someone from an agency, or someone who could be more easily subverted." There are other reasons a maid might prefer to keep her given name hidden, of course; distance from one's employer isn't always a bad thing. But... That's not what Miho catches on.
Miho smiles back, then. "If you think so, then I am inclined to believe it," Miho says. She has to trust Yua, after all. That's important. But, Yua thinks it's great! "Yes," she says. "It would be primarily for me... Not to display to others." She does like the watches. But of course, she doesn't ever go quite all the way into men's clothes; no ties, for instance.
"I'm sorry it was so difficult," Miho says of Yua's sleep. "I'm glad nothing bad happened... but still." She pauses, then. Set up the Hinukan... Miho is not so sure her cousin will want that. But then, if he's trying to accommodate them...
"Hm."
But Yua already let Eiko go home for the day. "Oh? Good." She pauses, and then does indeed give Yua her hand. Then, she feels Yua's skin... and while she can't actually detect what's in there, she smiles all the same. "...Good," Miho says. "That's what I want to do."
They did it to take care of Hiroki. And Miho hears 'mother' and 'mama' for the first time relating to them. She finds... It works for her.
"Yes," Miho says. "I'm... glad you feel that way."
She'd started to doubt, but...
"A family."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"Oh... so it's different for other people?" Yua wonders. "That's a little sad... Eiko-san's really nice. I don't know how you'd feel okay in your home if you couldn't trust the people there with you..." ... which says something about the comfort ceiling Yua's going to have in Kimitake's home, if he uses agency maids.
And Yua smiles, when Miho believes her. "Mm!" She hums, affirmatively. And when she says the locket is for her, she hums more happily, "mmhm, mmhm! It's more... private!"
She squeezes Miho's hand, reassuringly, as she insists: "Yeah, nothing bad happened. It was just weird to be in a new house, that's all." Because Miho might be worried about whether there's dangers in the house, she knows.
Yua sinks into Miho's embrace, holding her hand to her belly; her eye drifts closed, for a moment. "That's right," she smiles, and her serenity is restored, in Miho's arms. "I know I'm safe here... I don't have to worry at all. Sometimes I'll have to work hard, too... but I can do that, because it means Mimi's baby will be part of her family, too! And that's important to Mimi, just like it's important to me... I'm sure he'll have hair just like yours, Mimi. Our leafy little baby!"
Is Miho's hair the shade of a leaf??? Does Miho have leaf hair????? This is brand new information????????
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"There are other ways to do it," Miho says. "A professional distance can also be a matter of respect; not asking more than they're willing to give. ...But Ikeda-san is a friend, and I do rely on her. It's my preference. Loyalty bought only with money is cheap indeed."
But more private! Yes. Good.
"I see. Well, all right. You can tell me if that changes."
She holds Yua, and smiles. Serenity... "You are," she says. "We'll both work hard, in our own ways. It's important to both of us... and, I imagine, will be important to him, too. Having a family is vital."
A laugh, then. "Leafy, is it?"
Apparently she does.
"Yes. Just like mine, I'm sure."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"Yeah! Eiko-san's our friend!" Yua chirps, brightening up, before she realises something. "Oh... and I guess Seiji-san's our friend, too? I was also thinking about him..." Sachie, at least, she knows; she was there when Miho hired her. Indeed, she was instrumental in Sachie, in particular, being hired... because she wouldn't tolerate the manner of anyone who acted too much like a nurse.
Still... she can tell Miho if the danger level changes. "If something scary happens, I'll definitely tell you!" Yua promises, and she thinks she is being as honest as she's ever been.
Be fair: she doesn't really recognise that anything scary's happened, so far.
"That's right!" Yua nods, gazing to Miho's hand on her belly with a warm smile. "He'll always have a place to come home to... that's really important to me. Even if he ends up being an independent boy... he needs a strong foundation he can rely on. That's why you're so great, Mimi!" She adds, looking up to her. "No one's more reliable than Memimi!"
She beams, as she adds: "Yup! I'm gonna put a flower in your hair, and feel like I ought to trim it! Heehee!" She lifts her hand to Miho's shoulder, though, so that she can lift her head up to add at a whisper: "... but there's a bushier bush I need to think about right now, mmhmhm!"
Oh, no... Yua's flirting was interrupted by her giggling some more...