Title: part of us
Rating: G
Fandom: Birushana
Relationship: Minamoto no Yoshitsune/Taira no Noritsune
Wordcount: 422
Short summary: When Noritsune returns, Yoshitsune has changed into her red, male kimono for the first time in a while. It’s really no big deal.
“I’m home!”
Yoshitsune is adjusting her kimono when Noritsune’s greeting rings. She turns around, arms crossed over her chest. “Welcome back, Noritsune.”
Noritsune blinks at the sight of her. “Oh? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you in that color.”
It has been indeed. Noritsune has spent most of her time in this house wearing a yellow kimono, a softer color, a softer fabric, a softer look. But today she wanted to change it up. “Surprised?”
“Yes, but it still looks good on you.”
Yoshitsune blushes at those words. “Thanks.”
She’s reeling a bit from her reaction to Noritsune’s frank words. His frank reaction of surprise but also that frank compliment. In her heart she knew that Noritsune would be fine with this, but experiencing the proof in the moment is a different matter. Because in this part of their lives Yoshitsune has expressed herself primarily as a woman, dressing as a woman, because she had spent so much of her life having to dress as a man. But sometimes she doesn’t want to be looked upon as an object of fragility, as someone only to protect in the eyes of most men. Even if she knows Noritsune doesn’t look at her that way. Even if she knows Noritsune loves her no matter if she were a man or a woman…
“Are you wishing to spar with me? I know it’s been a while but I bet you haven’t lost much of your touch.”
Yoshitsune blinks. Noritsune…really is the best partner she can ask for. If something like her style of dress feels like it shouldn’t be a big deal, then he doesn’t make it a big deal.
“Of course not. Training is good for the body and the mind.” She smiles. “I can still beat you.”
“Are you issuing the challenge this time?” Noritsune laughs. “Then I will be ready in just a moment.”
Noritsune sets down his pack by the shelves, taking out the produce he has traded for in the morning markets. “And afterwards we can share these fruits I got for us. Or maybe only the winner gets to taste it?”
Yoshitsune looks over at the red fruits, imagining their likely juicy sweetness. “Winner takes all,” she declares.
Noritsune laughs. “Sounds good. Let’s get this started!”
And if dueling over a few fruits seems ridiculous to anyone else, that it isn’t an activity for a wife and a husband to do, well Yoshitsune is Yoshitsune and Noritsune is Noritsune. This is just part of who they are.