Love Language
by Rose Thorne
Disclaimer: Don't own Miraculous Ladybug or make any money writing fanfiction.
Chapter Two
Kagami had asked Marinette and her parents to come to the airport to greet them on their return. The intention was a dinner at the Tsurugi home, with Marinette spending the night afterward.
Really, she hoped to have a late gift exchange. The hitch was that Kagami's gift to Marinette… was an engagement ring. In truth, she wished to propose to her upon their reunion at the airport.
She had agonized for weeks over design possibilities, quite aware Marinette's skill in that area and anxious of failure. She had carefully selected the engagement ring and wedding band, custom ordering it from a Japanese jeweler, Mokumeganeya, and choosing the same style for herself with different accompanying stones.
[ /LtCpVaJ]
The diamond cut was special, the Sakura cut, symbolizing the cherry blossom—her desire to spend the rest of their beautiful, fleeting lives together. Her own engagement ring had rubies on either side of the diamond. Marinette's had pink tourmaline. The wedding bands were tsunagaru-katachi, one connected wide ring cut from the same billet of Mokumegane to be pulled apart at the ceremony, each with three stones: tourmaline on one side, ruby on the other, with the purity of a diamond in between to represent the pure bliss of their union.
The union she hoped Marinette wished to share with her.
The designer she had met with had been confused by the order of two tsunagaru-katachi, one for engagement and one for wedding bands, as normally the engagement ring and both wedding bands were made from the base sheet. Same-sex marriages were new in Japan and restricted to certain areas, but the Tsurugi name carried enough weight for the request to be accepted without judgment.
The engagement rings were still connected by a tiny bit of metal, and should Marinette say yes, they would have a sharing ceremony over a celebratory dinner.
Kagami couldn't stop herself from checking her bag, in front of her on the floor of the aircraft, for the velvet box again, for what had to be the umpteenth time.
"Kagami, fidgeting is unlike you," her mother commented in Japanese. "What troubles you? Surely not doubts?"
"I only hope Mari-tō shares my desire to be united in marriage, Mother." She realized abruptly that made her sound doubtful. "I have no doubt she does, but even with such certainty, I cannot help but be nervous."
"Ah, I believe that is anxiety, which your chosen mate has much experience with according to her mother," Tomoe responded.
"I believe hers is quite a bit more severe than what I am experiencing at present, but this experience gives me a new appreciation of her fortitude."
Her mother placed a hand on her shoulder in a rare show of affection. "Then I have no doubt you will also conquer it and grow as a result. In the meantime, I suggest meditation."
The rest of the flight passed quickly as her meditation faded into sleep; Kagami woke as they were landing, and immediately understood what people meant regarding butterflies in one's stomach.
Her mother always travelled first class, so there was no wait to disembark. With other members of their retinue tasked with retrieving luggage and preparing to document her proposal, following a brief check by customs, there was nothing to delay meeting Marinette.
Kagami ducked into a restroom to smooth her clothing in a mirror, having chosen a simple andon-bakama, black with embroidered cranes and sunflowers—symbols of hope—with a red kosode for this occasion. A full kimono would have been uncomfortable on the long plane ride, but she wanted a level of formality for this occasion.
Tomoe waited patiently, not interrupting her as she checked herself in the mirror, likely recognizing this as more anxiety. But she had indicated her expectation that Kagami conquer it, so with a deep breath she left the restroom to continue on to meet Marinette.
Marinette was waiting beyond security with her parents, and she looked radiant. She was dressed in a pale pink qipao with gold embroidery, her pigtails higher on her head, in gentle buns that cascaded.
Kagami thought she might melt at the sight of her.
She met Marinette's smile with what she hoped was an acceptable one of her own, striding forward at the beat of her own heart before dropping to one knee, pulling the velvet box from her bag, and opening it. She was vaguely aware of the flash of cameras.
"Marinette… Mari-tō… I have been blessed every day by your presence in my life. Will you marry me?"
Kagami could see tears shining in Marinette's eyes. Instead of an answer, Marinette presented her with a wrapped box.
"My answer is in here," she said softly.
The box was shaking slightly in her grasp, and Kagami took it, closing the ring box and placing it back in her bag to unwrap.
Inside was a qipao, crimson with gold and silver embroidery. Down the bust was a resplendent dragon. In its claw it held a lotus.
Looking up, she realized Marinette wore its yin, a lustrous phoenix with its own lotus in a talon. She recognized the symbolism of two lotus blooms—shared heart and harmony, hé for union. There were other flowers as well, gently ornamented around the phoenix, mirrored around the dragon. Lilies, orchids, peonies, daffodils, roses, and tulips, and a winding pattern of gentle twined vines.
Marinette had prepared her 'yes' in advance, in such a Marinette way.
"Kagami?" She realized abruptly that her mother couldn't see the symbolism.
"Marinette has gifted me a qipao, embroidered with a golden dragon holding a lotus. She is wearing one with a phoenix holding its own lotus."
A soft intake of breath meant her mother also knew the symbolism; unsurprising, given she had taught it to Kagami.
Marinette's smile widened. "Ma sirène, I can think of no greater joy than spending the rest of my life with you."
Kagami was hardly aware of getting to her feet, only of pulling Marinette into her arms, finding her lips in a public display of affection she would normally not indulge in but felt right in this moment. She was lost in her, their warmth and closeness, in the smell of yeast and cinnamon sugar that seemed ingrained in her hair.
Slowly she was aware of applause, and she broke from Marinette to find that the airport had stilled around them, their engagement having gained attention.
Marinette's cheeks were red, and she was certain hers were as well if the heat in her face was any indication.
The attention was, thankfully, short-lived, with well-wishers expressing congratulations. Kagami was mostly aware of Marinette at her side as they were led to the waiting limo for the ride home.
It was another kiss from Marinette that pulled her more into awareness, when they entered the home.
"I wish to wear the qipao to dinner," Kagami told her. "You hand-embroidered it yourself, didn't you? It's stunning."
Marinette blushed happily at the compliment.
"Might I feel the stitching first, Marinette?" Tomoe asked politely. "I am only able to see with my hands."
"Of course, Tsurugi-san!" Marinette gently took the garment from Kagami to present to her mother.
She tutted. "Please, simply Tomoe is fine. You are to become family. Following the wedding, you may feel free to call me kaasan or haha, whichever you feel comfortable with."
Kagami thought Marinette might spontaneously combust at the offer, but she stood still as Tomoe's hand ran over the proffered qipao, finding the shape of the embroidery with ease.
"This is splendid work," she said softly. "You must have been working on this for some time."
Marinette giggled softly. "Actually, I started it when I received the package with the kimono."
Tomoe's fingers went still at that, and then gently grasped Marinette's right hand, pulling it out from under the fabric and feeling at the fingers. Kagami could see they were red, calloused, and her heart ached at the sight.
"Have more care with these, Marinette," Tomoe said finally. "They work magic, and should be treated well."
She asked one of the servants to bring a salve for Marinette's fingers to Kagami's room, and then invited Sabine and Tom to sit with her for pre-dinner tea, effectively dismissing the two of them until dinner.
When they were safely in Kagami's room, she took Marinette's hands, kissing each fingertip with reverence. When the salve arrived, she dabbed it on gently, rubbing it in with a tender touch.
They did not have time for relaxation, with dinner on the horizon, so Kagami changed into the qipao, which fit splendidly, falling just above her ankles and hugging her body in a way that gave her a figure. The slits up the sides were something she was unused to, but they did not go high enough to cause her discomfort or embarrassment. The higher collar gave the garment a modest appearance.
Marinette straightened and smoothed the fabric, making sure nothing was creased. She had only just finished when dinner was announced.
The meal was one of Kagami's favorites, sukiyaki with a lovely variety of vegetable side dishes. It was everything one could want on a cold winter evening.
Afterward, Kagami placed the velvet box on the table.
"The rings are tsunagaru-katachi, cut from one block," she said, opening the box and pulling out the rings to show they were joined by a tiny bit of remaining uncut metal. "In this sharing ceremony, we will together split them into two rings, to symbolize our eternal bond."
She heard a sniffle and realized Tom was tearing up, and paused, uncertain how to react.
Sabine just smiled. "He's a bit of a sucker for romance. Please go on, dear."
Kagami turned back to Marinette. "Mari-tō, I chose the Sakura-cut diamond, as the cut has more facets, making the diamond as brilliant as you. Cherry blossoms represent the fleeting beauty of life, and I wish to spend the rest of mine with you."
Marinette's eyes were wet, and Kagami knew she was just as much a romantic as Tom was. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to make her cry, though it would certainly show her she had hit her mark.
"The pink tourmaline is a representation of your love and compassion, and the way you work to protect and heal those around you," she continued. "And the ruby represents the passion you have inspired in me, the zest for life you have instilled in me since we met."
There went the tears; she had absolutely hit the mark.
"Mari-tō, will you share this ring with me?"
Marinette reached forward, letting Kagami guide her hand as they gently pulled the rings apart, gently bending and breaking the bit of metal that kept them together. Then Kagami took Marinette's left hand, sliding the perfectly-fitting ring onto her ring finger. Marinette did the same.
Together, they let Sabine take pictures, and eventually Marinette pulled out her phone to take a selfie of them and their rings, quickly posting it to her Instagram with the caption, "Kagami asked for my hand in marriage, and I accepted. We just had our sharing ceremony with the lovely tsunagaru-katachi she designed."
Kagami pulled out her own phone to like and share with her own followers. "I get to share my life with the most wonderful woman in Paris."
By the time they were done, the table had been set for dessert and tea. The centerpiece was a Bûche de Noël brought by Marinette's parents, and next to it was a red celebration suama. They were surrounded by wagashi, yuzu castella, manjū and mizu yōkan. Several pots containing different varieties of tea were also on the table.
It was a night of celebration. A night that let Kagami hear her mother's rare laughter as Tom used puns and Sabine regaled Tomoe with silly stories of Marinette growing up. A night that showed they would be, altogether, a lovely family, both sides together. A night that allowed her to feed Marinette her favorite Japanese sweets, and be fed by her in turn.
They ignored the soft mobile notifications of text messages from friends to focus on each other.
The tea was replaced by watered down sparkling sake to celebrate an auspicious night, and as she snuggled with the best friend who had become her beloved, Kagami found herself more content than she had ever been.
I thought this was gonna be a one-shot but I was wrong. I'm guessing it'll be of indeterminate length, added onto when I want some adorable fluff from these two.
Also, I already know the next chapter will be smutty.