2026-06-24: Worthy
- Log: Worthy
- Cast: Yua Ijuuin, Miho Ijuuin
- Where: Hawaii
- OOC Date: June 24, 2026
- IC Date: November 29, 2012
- Summary: The Fencing World Cup in Hawaii has begun, and Miho and Yua fly out for Miho to compete in it. Miho finds an old rival, and an opponent worth her time--the reporters find questions to ask... and a Yua they didn't expect. Yua's cheering is important!
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
Yua's vacation turned out fortuitous, in the end; it made it easy for her to fly out, with Miho, all the way to Hawaii to attend the Fencing World Cup. It's one of the top fencing competitions of the world, and its bouts will sprawl over the coming year, held all across the globe...
Luckily, Miho's wealthy enough that she's able to handle the time off work, unlike the people who have to focus entirely on their competition.
(... is it lucky, when Miho's that kind of executive?)
Unfortunately, Tyrrha couldn't join them -- the Ijuuins are old money, but they don't have private jet money, and explaining their robot daughter to airplane security was going to be a big ask -- but Yua will just have to cheer twice as hard, for her.
There's not much Japanese direction, but luckily, there's plenty of English signage to point her to the stands. The fabric flag she's made to dangle down past their front row seats goes something like this:
Ufu-Mimi
Kachun <3
She's declared Miho great and cries for her victory in Okinawan, of course, with cute little hearts decorating it. As it happens, there's enough Okinawan expatriates here that there are other fans who recognise it...
"We're here today for the final first round qualifier bout, Ken!" A cheerful voice declares, in English, as the announcers hype up the crowd. "The United Kingdom's Regina McKinney's scored well in the Fencing World Cup for her whole career -- she was a finalist, last year!"
"But uh-oh," Ken declares, his English impeccable, "look out, Barb! Because the woman she's facing up against today is a champion from my very own Japan -- the indomitable Miho Ijuuin! She's taken the Cup three times running, and that's to say nothing of her performance at the Olympics."
"That's right," Barbara agrees, brightly. "Three Olympic gold medals, and that's hardly the sum of Ms. Ijuuin's career. It's even got her into some trouble -- she had to move this bout later this year after a fan stabbed her, didn't she, Ken?"
"She sure did," Ken replies. "But Ms. Ijuuin won't be defeated so easily! Even though she was attacked again -- in her own home, I heard! -- she's come out to compete today!"
"It has to be fate," Barbara insists. "Because it was a finalist match with Ms. Ijuuin which cost Ms. McKinney first place here at the last World Cup...! We're at the start of the next competition, now, so stakes aren't as high... but who can tell what kind of tension is bubbling down there between those two sabreuse?!"
Regina has a noble look to her -- red hair over pale Western skin, and piercing green eyes, all pinned back by her white armour. Her handshake is firm. "I'm glad you've recovered well. I'm pleased we have occasion to fight again," and her affect is warmer than the announcers give her credit for, "but things will go differently today."
Unfortunately, Miho's height and power advantage isn't so easy to defeat...
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho has been practicing more consistently to make up for lost time. One would easily make the mistake to assume she simply practiced harder; this is not the case. Wearing herself out wasn't going to do the trick. It is only through regimented training that she can regain and maintain her edge.
So that's what she did, and now...
Now she's in Hawaii, which is a very lovely place to be, actually. She is looking forward to the time away from this place... but not as much as she is looking forward to this particular match.
The announcer's words are nice, btu they are nothing compared to the piercing green eyes of her competitor. Miho relishes this part; the contest against a singular individual...
The stakes are high enough.
Miho also has her noble look--and just as firm a handshake. "Thank you," Miho says. "I regretted that I needed to push back... I've looked forward to this."
She may not sound particularly warm, but there's an intensity to her voice that at least brings with it meaning.
Still...
"We shall see."
And indeed--it does go differently, in that every single match is different. But Miho's sabre is supreme, and while her time away makes it closer than the last time they clashed...
At the end, Miho stands victorious, in salute to her worthy opponent.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
Distantly, from the stands, one might hear...
"KICK HER ASS, MIMI!!!"
... but of course, no one would be so uncouth as to yell that, would they?
"NO ONE'S STRONGER THAN MEMIMI--!"
That's right. It must just be the wind.
The vicious, vicious wind.
The match itself is quite silent, but for the occasional 'hah--!' of exertion and the chimes of successful scores from the electrical equipment -- though the announcers illustrate things for the audience quite aptly. "McKinney's point in line might just defeat -- NO! Ijuuin scores the derobement and surges forward to score the point!" "Let's go to the judges -- yes, it looks like they've given Ijuuin priority on this one!" "Can no one beat Ijuuin's forward offence?!"
The match is fast. Sabre fencing happens to just be the fastest combat sport in the world -- that's part of why a strong offense is so difficult to riposte. Perhaps it's no wonder Regina's panting, as she lifts her mask. "Let no one say... you were wasting time while recovering from all that," she says, and though she's disappointed, she's smiling, too. "Nevertheless... you haven't seen the last of me."
The competitors are ushered off for their various interviews, of course. Miho gets so many questions about whether she feels unsafe in Japan now and whether they've caught those crazy fans of hers yet, though, luckily, there are still enough questions about how she's been practicing. You know. The important things.
Of course, in that locker room with all the press crammed in, there comes from behind them a familiar-sounding voice:
"Excuse me -- pardon me -- oooooh!!"
Could that be Yua, trying to sneak in and getting thwarted by a cameraman?!
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
From the stands, Miho hears it. She doesn't crack. Her face (now beneath her mask) is completely straight.
...Well, at least part of her is.
But the match goes with great speed, amd Miho with it. It takes real effort to persist and win in this case--her breath is strong now. And she's smiling like she rarely smiles, at her opponent, lifting her own mask. "I expect nothing less," Miho says of not having seen the last of her. "And I look forward to your return."
Interviews. Miho answers that she feels it was a fluke, that Japan is very safe, actually. She is content to leave those matters to the police.
...Her practice, though, she's much more interested in talking about.
And then--
A voice!
"...But," Miho says, "I think that I must take my leave," she says. "Thank you for your interest in our sport."
Yua is trying to sneak in... Miho will help!
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
Yeah, straight as one of those pretzels people are eating in the stands.
HEYYYYY THOSE AREN'T STRAIGHT AT ALL --
Miho calls an end to the interview, and that voice can be heard, still in English, saying, "ah--! No, I'm not -- huh? I can't get you coffee, I don't--!", as that crowd of reporters files out. "Please excuse me...!!"
Until, of course, one of them asks in alarm and poorly-veiled glee: "Hold on, is that one of those crazy fans?!"
"Mooouu!" Yua stomps a foot, cheeks all puffed up. "You big meanie! That's my -- um -- my cousin!"
"You don't look like an Ijuuin," a cameraman points out, as another one calls out, "Security--!!"
"Rrrrrrrhhhhh...!!!"
This would be more surprising if it were the first time it's happened.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho should get a pretzel...
But Miho is dignified in ending the interview, as she is dignified in most things, and as the voice speaking in English is not. The reporters are mostly filing out, except--
"She is my cousin's wife," Miho says, her voice cutting through the din, sharp but not unduly harsh. "Please allow her through."
Once, it would've been 'that woman you were looking for'...
"I would like to speak with her. Security may be informed that their services are not required."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
If these JERKS don't QUIT RAINING ON YUA'S PARADE she's gonna TAKE THE LIGHTNING BOLTS FROM THE STORMCLOUD OVER HER HEAD and shove them RIGHT UP THEIR
oh good! Miho's here.
"That's right!" Yua huffs, her left hand lifting to point furiously at her mokume-gane ring. Somehow, her English is good enough that she can still speak it while incensed. "And Mimi's my best friend, so don't you dare call me weird! You're weird!"
"Hold on," one of the reporters realises, "so that must be Yua Ooshiro --"
"I-juu-in!" Yua stomps her foot to emphasise each agitated mora, and the wave of reporters scuttles out in the wake of Miho's insistence before anyone can check for sure.
Oh, no, the tabloids tomorrow are going to be fun.
"Moooouuu... unbelievable!" Yua huffs, hands to her hips, as she goes up to the door and makes sure no one's sticking around behind it to get a scoop. ("Shoo!") She at least does all her due diligence making sure the locker room's empty --
-- before she runs right at Miho and bounces up to sling her arms around her. "Yaaaay! Mimi, you won! You really won! Could you hear us, Mimi?! We were cheering you on--!!" Is jumping all over Miho too much excitement for Hiroki? Well, according to Yua, he's been helping, too...
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
It would be very uncomfortable for the jerks.
At least the ring is useful this time, anyway. Miho likewise switches to English as necessary. "She is," Miho agrees about 'best friend', and then--
Yua.
"I really must go."
The tabloids aren't Miho's problem. Instead, Miho smiles at Yua when she comes over, and leans down to put her arms around Yua in turn. "I did," she says. "Though it was nearer than last time--I haven't quite regained my full edge..."
She smiles. "Yes, I heard. It was very..." She considers. "Spirited."
"Both of you were why I could fight so hard."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
The ring does open certain doors.
... he owes her that much.
"But you were amazing, Mimi! So fast, and so strong! Even when she tried to trick you, you never got distracted...!" It's still too dangerous to kiss Miho in public, but she's sure she can get away with nuzzling her cheek against her. "If this is Mimi's seventy-five percent, there's no one who can beat you at a hundred...! That's my Chimimi...!"
('Chin' is another of those Okinawan terms Miho's bound to have absorbed; on the mainland, it's 'kin', but it all refers to gold.)
"Mmhm, mmhm!" Yua hums, squishing herself against Miho, arms slung about her strong back. "No one had better try beating Mimi when I'm around! If anyone doubts you, I'll believe ten times as hard! I can be fierce, too!!" No one tell her that she manages to make being furious look cute, actually. She tries so hard.
"You'll teach Hiroki how to be a winner, Mimi...!"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"She's a worthy opponent," Miho opines. "Her skill and guile are great. ...But mine proved the more potent today." No one who can beat her... Miho knows that's not precisely true, but she is pleased all the same that Yua would say so. That Yua would believe so.
She would be gold for her, anyday.
Yua gets treated to a strong-armed embrace by Miho for a brief moment--a hug that squeezes lightly, just gently enough not to hurt. She smiles, and pulls back. "Indeed so," Miho replies. "You can. You are."
"And I believe, when you're with me."
"...We both will. We'll teach him many things. Winning will only be one."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"Every day's Mimi's day!" Yua chirps, brightly.
'Every day is great at your Mimi' is absolutely a tune she's sung more than once, when those advertisements come on...
Yua's all smiles, as she squeaks happily to be squooshed. That's her favourite thing!! (One of her hundred favourite things...) "Good! If you're not sure, just remember I'm cheering for you, Mimi! All the way, every day!"
She's not wearing a cheerleader's outfit -- it's her usual black leotard, plus the black tights and long sleeves she's adopted for her comfort in the outside world these days -- but that doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't own one.
It's just, you know.
An 'inside outfit'...
"Mm, mm! And sharing, too!" Yua pulls a paper bag from her purse -- with a nice fresh pretzel, a bit torn off the side. "I tried to eat one of these, but my tummy was mad about it, so I stopped and took more pills like the doctor said... I bet they've worked by now! Victory pretzel for Mimi! Here--!"
Yua, helpfully, chomps one loop of the pretzel and stands on her tippy-toes, hands steadying herself against Miho's shoulders, to offer her the other loop.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Mimi, owner of every day... Maybe, maybe not. But she wants to be in Yua's days.
Squoosh! "I'll remember," Miho assures Yua. Cheering... yes, that outfit does exist. That's all that needs to be said about that much. Besides, Yua's great at cheering with or without it!
Sharing? "Oh," Miho answers, and then--smiles. "I'm glad that they helped," she says. "It's great when they do."
A beat, and then, CHOMP, Miho also accepts the loop, chewing it thoughtfully. She enjoys these pretzels. And of course, anything's better when Yua gives it to her.
She reaches out to brush a hand along the side of Yua's face--and then pulls back, to sit down so she can take off her boots.
"Winning, and sharing... A good combination, I think."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
Well, of course Miho rules Yua's days, powerful as the sun.
"These ones seem like they work a lot better," Yua assures Miho -- and of course Miho knows about the trouble that still follows them, making sure to take them all on time and being able to figure out when she needs to take them when the normal doses aren't enough and figuring out what foods are safer on the pills and which ones are still too much and --
But there's no need to say too much about the struggle, either, when Yua is being so cute.
She giggles, her cheeks flushing as Miho's fingers brush over them, and she holds her share of the loop like a chipmunk as she finishes nibbling it. Nibble, nibble, nibble...
"All gone!" She reports, cheerfully, though it takes long enough that Miho's able to shed her boots. (She knows that Miho is happy when she's able to eat...!)
"Mm, mm... Hiroki will learn how to share! He'll be a good boy! Kind, and gentle with the girls, and brave enough to not get pushed around by bullies who want him to be a jerk!" Not like the man on his birth certificate -- is a thought she leaves inside, too.
"And maybe..." Yua adds, as she moves to help Miho out of her conductive lamé; the body cord which powers that electrical-signal armour, of course, has already been unplugged and taken care of, or else Miho would have been tied to the ring. "We can head back a little early...?"
Yua's traditionally had more ways to celebrate Miho's victories than through pretzels, after all, though it's a thing left unspoken beyond the way her hands work at the muscles of Miho's shoulders when she's free of that jacket.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
But incomplete without the moon...
"I'm glad," Miho answers Yua, that they work better. There's a lot of trouble, of course--but it's worth it, to see Yua able to eat. And besides, Yua is adorable right now. It's great.
All gone... And Miho has finished hers as well, before Yua gets around to finishing her thought there. Miho smiles, and is unaware of how terrible that man is even now. Instead she says, "Yes. Dignified, but not self-important. Kind, gentle with women, and brave. And many other things, too."
But maybe: Yua moves to help Miho out, and Miho is appreciative of the assistance.
"Yes," Miho says. "Let me take a quick shower," this one alone, because of PUBLICNESS, "And we can head right back."
"I can think of nowhere else I'd rather be."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
The tides move at Yua's will, and hers alone.
Woe befall the man who does not realise how many things move with them...
Much like so much is carried by food, in ways which aren't at all obvious until it becomes hard to eat. "Mm, mm!" Yua hums, cheerfully.
"That's right! He won't be stuffy, even if he'll never have to worry about money or anything like that! I'll make sure of it, don't worry!" Yua doesn't look like an Ijuuin, so perhaps she can pull that off...
"I'll get your things packed while you're cleaning off, okay?" Yua smiles, to Miho, her hands dropping from her shoulders to fetch that lamé jacket and begin stowing it in with Miho's belongings. "You'll be all ready to go once you're nice and dry, promise!" And that kind of sorting and packing is also the kind of thing one would expect a wife to do, but...
... Yua ought to be Miho's wife, anyway.
It's a fact of life carried in empty locker rooms and locked hotel rooms, but these subtle workings underpin all creation, too.