What's Best for Fuu

A Welcome Change

The next morning, Fuu woke as had become habit. She slowly became aware of her consciousness and gave a slight groan of disappointment in knowing that this would be another day on the end of a metaphorical leash. After a few moments of laying with her eyes closed and willing her situation to be different, her gaze slowly drifted open to stare at the ceiling. It didn't take more than a moment, however, for the twenty year old to sit bolt upright at the sound of voices from downstairs.

While being greeted with morning conversations that took place beyond her chambers was not an unusual occurrence, this morning it reminded her of something very special. She had guests of her own in the house. Quickly Fuu changed from the yukata she had slept in, to her usual pink kimono, and put her hair in its more adult style of a low bun. Then the woman bounded down the steps, taking them two at a time.

Hiroshi's mother frowned as she caught sight of this most unladylike display from the corner of her eye, though the expression only lasted a moment before being replaced by a polite, if not friendly, smile. Around the table with Fuu's future in laws sat Hiroshi, Jin and Shino, sipping tea and casually dining on their breakfast. It was the matron of the house who spoke first to latest addition to their morning gathering, "How nice of you to join us, Fuu-chan. I was beginning to wonder if you'd lost that...impressive...appetite."

Jin frowned at this masked slight to his friend. That was one strike against her marrying into this family. A rude mother figure would not do. Of course, Hiroshi's treatment of the girl he had once acted as bodyguard toward would be the ultimate test.

"Okaa-san! There's no need for such behavior!" The youngest male at the table shot his mother a reproachful look, "Fuu-chan's appetite is that of a healthy woman, not a half starved housewife focused on propriety. I prefer her the way she is, and I won't have you belittling her...particularly not in front of her friends."

The matriarch's eyes widened at her son's speaking out against her. He had not only displayed a clear preference for a tea house hussy over his own mother, but he had done so in a way that insulted her own eating habits! To cover up her indignity, the woman took a dainty mouthful of her food, chewed slowly, and swallowed as Fuu moved to sit at Hiroshi's side. Once the waitress was settled, her future mother in law spoke once more, trying to make the venom in her words as subtle as possible, "Well then, eat, Fuu-chan...you must maintain your health after all."

Hiroshi's wicked glare towards the woman who had brought him into the world was not as subtle. Jin had to give the younger man full points for loyalty. He had chosen the girl he loved over his own mother's vanity, it seemed, and the ronin could not find fault with that. It also did not escape the former bodyguard's attention that the boy's samurai father seemed to be trying to suppress a small smirk at the exchange. Well, it seemed he appreciated Fuu as much as his son did then, that was good as well.

"Fuu," Jin spoke in his usual stoic tones as he gave a nod of greeting to his friend. That simple utterance of her name served to say so much, a greeting and inquiry after her well being all expressed in a single mention of her name, and glance her way.

"Good morning, Jin." Fuu smiled softly in reply, letting him know that she was doing well, though he couldn't help but notice a slight emptiness behind the gesture. A look exchanged with Shino conveyed that they shared the same thought.

"He get's Jin with no honorifics," Hiroshi sighed softly looking at his intended and drawing a sip of his tea before finishing the thoughts, "And I'm still being addressed as -kun. Not that I don't appreciate the respect, Fuu, and it's adorable, but can't you just call me Hiroshi?"

Large doe eyes blinked toward the samurai's son as a blush took hold of her features. He hadn't brought up the use of honorifics since the day he'd proposed. And now he chose to mention it in front of everyone, and to drop the -chan from her own name as well! Quickly shovelling some food into her mouth, much to the disdain of the matriarch, the waitress tried to avoid having to answer.