Work Text:
The gentle stirring on the bed made Fujino slowly open her eyes. Her brain was still adjusting to waking up, loading sluggishly as it often did in the morning. Struggling to keep her eyelids up, she smiled at the sight of Kyomoto. The soft morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, creating a patchwork of shadows and highlights across the large, messy bed where she was cozily nestled next to her beautiful wife.
Kyomoto hadn't yet noticed she was being observed, and Fujino took the moment to look at her lovingly.
Kyomoto was sitting on the bed, her back resting against the wide, dark wooden headboard. Kyomoto sat on the bed, her back resting against the wide, dark wooden headboard. Her straight hair, loose and flowing, fell gently to her shoulders, and the sunlight made it look even darker and brighter. Kyomoto always wore a simple white blouse as pajamas. This time, it was pulled up to her tits to nurse the small, precious bundle in her arms. With her right breast exposed, Kyomoto focused on little Mako, who was nursing with her typical vigor. The room was silent, save for the soft sound of Mako's constant sucking and the distant rustling of the tree leaves outside, swaying in Yamagata's morning breeze.
Mako, as usual, woke up with a ravenous appetite, demanding her mother's immediate attention as soon as the day started. Being a princess spoiled by her loving mothers, she didn't hesitate to show her dissatisfaction. However, it seems that this time Kyomoto was able to predict her tantrum, because Fujino didn't hear a single cry.
Kyomoto often joked that Mako had inherited her appetite and demands from her other mom.
Mom.
It’s such a funny word.
Fujino felt the peace of the moment with her family, but also a faint confusion in her sleepy mind as she tried to process it all again. She had never imagined herself becoming a mother — or at least, not like this: married to a woman, her best friend, former school rival, and mangaka partner, no less. She had always thought that to be a mother, she’d first need to marry a man. And even as a child, the idea had seemed gross and repulsive. Her older sister, Amaya, could kiss boys and daydream about Korean boy bands, while Fujino felt nothing but disgust at the thought of ending up like her when she turned thirteen. Fortunately, at thirteen, Fujino had been too busy drawing more and more stories.
Sometimes, Fujino felt a gnawing guilt in her gut for the constant nausea brought on by the whole situation. She had always had a tendency to quit, run away, or pretend she didn’t care when things became truly overwhelming. Whether it was her unyielding pride, her pettiness, or her desperate desire for Kyomoto to stay forever while simultaneously feeling guilty for asking that of her — but the problem wasn't Kyomoto, it would never be her. Kyo was perfect. Always patient and kind, never demanding more than Fujino could give. Even when Fujino withdrew shyly, afraid of not being enough, Kyomoto stood by her, caring for her with unwavering dedication, showing her how good it was to be a mother and a wife.
Being a lesbian isn’t exactly easy. Even though her family accepted it over time and learned to cope better with her life, Fujino still went through these moments of fear about what would become of them in the future. What would happen when Mako went to school? Children could be cruel, often reflecting the prejudices of their parents... Fujino couldn’t bear the thought of her little girl suffering like that.
To conceive Mako, Fujino and Kyomoto had traveled to the United States, going through all the necessary steps as a japanese couple determined to grow their family. The clinic and stay had been expensive, but it was worth every penny and marked a major milestone for them. She was trying to stay positive. But, even though the LGBT community in Japan has gained visibility and strength in recent years, especially with the internet, same-sex marriage was still not legalized. Fujino hoped that in the near future, they could live in a less hostile and prejudiced society where Mako could proudly and freely say she had two mothers without facing disapproval.
Fujino yawned, sitting up slowly in bed, and murmured: "Good morning."
Kyomoto smiled, a peaceful smile full of love and tenderness. "Good morning, Fuji. Mako woke up a little earlier today."
Fujino glanced at Mako’s small form wrapped in a pink blanket adorned with shark designs, cradled gently in Kyomoto’s arms. With a soft sigh, Fujino leaned in and kissed Mako’s forehead. She smelled of baby perfume and talcum. Her toothless mouth twitched, as if attempting a smile, but she didn’t release her mother’s breast for even a second. Fujino chuckled at that, warmth and gratitude flooding her chest.
Her daughter was infinitely perfect and loved; Fujino couldn’t have drawn anyone who surpassed her cuteness in a thousand years. And in the end, despite the doubts swirling in her mind and the fear of doing something wrong, those two were still her family. Fujino would never regret that — never.
Kyomoto was happier and more content than ever.
As the morning light spread further across the room with the sun's shift, a sense of calm overtook Fujino’s mind. There was no point in running away or hiding at this stage of life. The bed with its rumpled, messy sheets, the toys scattered around the room, the photos of happy moments on shelves and walls, the sketches, drafts, and volumes of her manga and oneshots written together, the shelf filled with clippings from magazines and newspapers celebrating the awards “Kyo Fujino” had won over the years — everything felt so natural. Deep down, Fujino knew that everything was where it was meant to be, including her.