Disclaimer: Fushigi Yugi and all its characters are the property of its creator, Yuu Watase.

Title: A Mother's Love

Genre: General

Prompt: Parents

Words: 2,209

Rating: PG

Warnings: Some naughty words courtesy of Tasuki.

Summary: Somehow, when I hadn't been looking, she'd grown into a woman. A mama Yuuki fic.

Miaka has always been precious to me.

After Keisuke, I thought I'd never get pregnant again. I suffered miscarriage after miscarriage, agonizing loss after agonizing loss, but miraculously, when Keisuke was only four, I learned I was expecting another child. Naturally, I was overjoyed, but by then the damage had already been done. My husband walked out of our home and our lives when Miaka was only a newborn. I was twenty-eight years old with two small children and no way to support them. Before I even allowed myself to grieve the end of my marriage, I applied for every job I could, doing everything from waiting tables to proofreading copy to make ends meet. Sometimes, I did both. But my children were young and needing more every day, so I had no choice. Often I wondered… what if I gave up now? What if I just laid down and slept forever? But just when I felt my worst, my legs sore from being on my feet all day and my pride bruised by careless customers, I'd come home to my darlings. They always hugged me, exclaimed how much they missed me, and how they hoped I had a good day. When I looked into their eyes, I saw the beauty of a perfect world, and then suddenly, nothing could touch me. As long as I had Keisuke and Miaka to care for, I would do anything – and everything – to support our family, and I would never complain.

So time went by.

It's so amazing, how your children grow up before your very eyes. They're smiling and rambling about their awesome first day of grade school, but you can still only envision them in diapers, their skin soft and smelling of baby powder. It's a beautiful thing, but so scary too, because as they grow, you know you can't protect them as much anymore. They're eager to discover a brand new world, a world that's amazing and intriguing and so dangerous and uncertain, but no matter how much you want to keep them to yourself, you know you can't. It's not fair to them. It's selfish and foolish, to want to hide your child from the harsh realities of life. It will break them; that much is certain, but after all, you can't pick them up if you don't let them fall. Miaka… poor girl, she fell a lot. I still remember how she was picked on in preschool, how girls she thought were her friends would push her to the ground and kick dirt in her eyes. She was always too trusting; too willing to give her all to people who gave none in return. I suppose that's one of her greatest strengths, and also one of her greatest weaknesses. But no matter what happened, she always came home smiling.

"Miaka!" I would cry, observing her dirtied dress and the scraps on her arms. "Miaka-chan, what happened?" I still remember her answer, no matter when it was:

"Iie, s'okay, mama." She always grinned, proudly showing off the gaps in her smile. "I fell down and messed up the dress you bought me, but I'm fine! Everything's going to be okay!"

I don't consider myself a genius, but I'm not a stupid woman. I knew she was lying. But I never called her on it.

Maybe, deep down, we just both needed to pretend.

/---/

She was fifteen.

We'd just had another fight about, as usual, her studies. Miaka was much more eager about shopping at the mall with Yui than studying for her entrance exams, and it made me so angry. I suppose, thinking back on it, I was too hard on her. But I wanted for my children everything I had always wanted, but never got. I wanted so much more for my daughter than a life of waiting tables. I wanted her to succeed in life, and never depend on a man to support her. I only wanted her to be happy. Why couldn't she see that?

During this particular fight, Miaka had huffed and stomped her foot. "Mom! Maybe I don't want to go to Jonan! That's your dream, not mine!" Despite all of that, she did take the time to mention that she would be going to the library after school today, and not to expect her until late. I didn't see my baby again for several more hours, but I thought of her often. My dream? Didn't she know that everything I did, I did for her and her brother? And then when I saw her again she had found some boy to obsess over… some boy named Tamahome-! Maybe I overreacted that time, but it was a bit too much for me to take. Everything I tried to do for her, and she took it for granted?! I slapped her. Hard. The next thing I knew, Miaka was gone. She was missing for hours before she finally turned up again. I apologized for hitting her, but she didn't make things any better by saying that she'd been inside a library book, of all things. I wanted to shake some sense into her, the little devil.

The next morning, we parted ways as usual. The tension of before was gone, and Miaka even promised me that she would study twice as hard in school that day. I didn't think it significant then, but now I remember wanting to hold her tight and never let her go. I remember thinking that she was slipping away from me, and that once she was gone, I'd never have her in quite the same way again. I remember wanting to break down and cry as I watched her bounce happily out of the door, just as she did every morning. But it felt so very different. Perhaps it was just my imagination, but I could swear that I saw my daughter glowing.

She came home late that night, but she was… changed. As soon as she saw me, Miaka began to sob and launched herself into my arms. "I've missed you so much, Mom!"

Naturally, I was confused. "Miaka, I just saw you this morning."

And then she smiled at me, a soft warm smile that touched me to my core. She was beautiful. And for the first time, I saw her as the woman she was destined to be.

"Yeah, but it seems like so much longer…"

Miaka didn't get into Jonan, but somehow it no longer mattered. She had changed. She wasn't my baby anymore. She had become something more. Somehow, when I hadn't been looking… Miaka had grown into a woman. And I had missed it. Just as she'd said herself, I'd been too wrapped up in my own agenda to notice something so wondrous while it was happening. Even so, I never would've thought that it would occur as quickly as it did. It didn't make any sense.

I doubt that it ever will.

/---/

Today is her wedding day.

She is so beautiful. She is nothing like the fifteen year old she was before. Although she is still a bit of a glutton, I've noticed that she is also calmer now. More… mature. She has lost the last of her baby fat, and her face is lean and radiant as she leans against Taka's arm and waves to the crowd. I feel tears building in my eyes, but I wipe them quickly away. This is not the time for tears. This is not a sad time, but a happy one. There is no reason why I should miss her; she's standing right in front of me. I'm still trying to convince myself of that when Keisuke approaches me, crying openly though he occasionally reaches up to dab the tears away with the sleeve of his tuxedo. I consider reprimanding him for it, but think better of it. He smiles at me.

"She's really grown, hasn't she?"

I return his smile, though I still can't shake the feeling that somehow, I've missed something. Taka is a wonderful man, but his courting with Miaka has happened in the blink of an eye. I still remember when I used to blame him for corrupting Miaka when they both disappeared for several months, although I've grown more accepting of him as I've gotten to know him and his family. Still, I feel that she is rushing things and I have told her so, but the knowledgeable smile she gave me in response halted any further protests. "Taka is right for me, mom," she told me softly. "I know I might look silly to you now, but I know I'm making the right decision."

That feeling again. Loss. Since when did she become the insightful one, and I the one who needed to be taught?

"Yes," I finally answer my son. "She really has. It's almost hard for me to let her go." Keisuke ushers me over to a nearby bench, where we sit together with a perfect view of the wedding reception. The general atmosphere is jovial and the air is full of the sound of merry laughter and chatter. I consider stopping there, but the earnest look on my son's face makes me think better of it. "I feel like I'm losing her," I admit. "I feel like I've missed out on being there for her."

Keisuke squeezes my shoulder. "Don't worry, mom. Taka's a great guy. He'll take good care of her."

I feel my eyebrows raise as my expression grows incredulous. "Really? And how can you be so sure?"

He chuckles and shakes his head. "Just trust me. Those two belong together. Not even the pits of hell could separate them now."

Why was it that now everyone knew what was best except for me?

/---/

The wedding party is finally beginning to disperse as the sun slides toward the horizon. Yet still I sit on this bench, staring off into space as I ponder on where exactly all the time has gone. Suddenly I feel a presence just behind me, but thinking it to be Keisuke, I feel comfortable enough not to turn around. But when the person speaks, it is a sultry woman and not my son. Must be someone from Taka's side of the family, I think.

"She looked so beautiful, didn't she?" The woman says, her words carried on a reminiscent sigh. "I almost have a hard time connecting that radiant bride with the goofy food monger we all know and love."

I smiled. "Yes, I-"

"'Bout time they finally tied th' knot, though," A rough male voice mumbles from the side of me. I whirl around, but no one is there – not the man, and not even the woman. "They deserve ta be together after all th' shit they had ta go through."

"Yes, I concur!" This time, the voice is high-pitched and intelligent. Perhaps a young girl? Was I going crazy? "No one deserves happiness more than Miaka and Tama- I mean, Taka."

"The outfits of this world are extremely peculiar, however," a second male voice says. "Taka seemed to be quite uncomfortable."

"Haha… Of course he's uncomfortable – he's signin' th' rest o' his life away! Ya won't see me doin' that shi- Ow!"

"Shut it, Fang Boy! You're ruining a joyous occasion!"

"Ssh… stop being so loud, no da!" Another male whispers. "She can hear us, you know!" The rising voices quiet.

"…You would look quite good in one of those outfits, Heika-sama. What did Miaka call them? A… tux-ue-du?"

"No, a tuxedo, dumbass. An' ya call me stupid- Ow! Damnit, stop hittin' me, ya cross-dressing' lil'…"

"Oh, Suzaku... It's like dealing with children. Come on, you two. We need to get back to Mt. Taikyoku before Taiitsukun's magic wears off. This wasn't supposed to be a permanent thing, you know."

"Hai, hai, Mitsukake!"

The sun glows brilliant orange as it disappears behind the horizon. In the last light it emits before it falls, I see faint outlines of five young men and a woman, all turned towards the dwindling crowds. Taka and Miaka are long gone, off to begin their new lives as husband and wife, but their family and friends still look on. I stare in utter disbelief as the hallucinations disappear before my eyes, but not before a tall man with gravity-defying blue hair turns and smiles knowingly at me. At this point, I'm at peace with it – yes, in matter of fact I have gone completely insane. I hear a large bird trilling in the distance. For some reason, a feeling of peace washes over me.

There are some things in this world we are not meant to know. There are precious blessings we will receive, that, no matter how much we try to compel them, will never reveal their secrets to us. Miaka's 'sudden' transformation is one of those things. But I won't waste time anymore feeling sad about it; rather, I should be proud that I had a hand in raising a girl who has turned out to be such an amazing woman. Even though it's hard, you have to learn to let your children go.

Because that's the way it has to be.

And I smile.

XXXXXX

A/N: As it's been forever since I've read or watched Fushigi Yugi, I don't remember if the sequence of events Mrs. Yuuki addresses is completely accurate. So, for the sake of being lazy, I'm calling this an AU. Welcome to my latest venture into FY fanfiction; hope you enjoy!