A Way Home (MLGN/FSN)

A Way Home

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Commissioned by Marteddu

Wordcount: 2500

…

It was a miracle that all my friends managed to contain themselves until lunch, before they pounced upon me with a myriad of questions.

“How was it? Magical? Amazing? Absolutely hedonistic?” As I expected, Hayate’s mind was in the gutter as she leaned forward with a near-crazed look in her eye. Despite the commander’s uniform that she wore, I could only see a young girl who needed to reign her in both her mind and imagination. “I want to be called Hayate-chan by all your kids. Not auntie!”

“Fate-chan… I know that bento is a super-amazing, homemade bento made by your husband… but can I have some pleasseeeee.” Nanoha, meanwhile, was salivating and staring at the lunch Shirou prepared for me. “It looks like a lot, so I can have some right?”

Thankfully, while I was more than willing to handle both of my friends through a stern talking-to, Shirou was far kinder and lenient than I.

Upon unwrapping the wrapping of my bento box, my lunch was revealed to the eyes of all within the cafeteria.

Or, rather, the three layers of lunches that my husband prepared for my very nosy, very hungry friends, because he knew that they’d want to spent time with me after our long honeymoon together.

“Hayate, refrain from any insinuations, and Nanoha, feel free to eat your fill.” Each layer of the bento box was meticulously made with all three of us in mind. My layer was tempura, with a side of salad, and a sealed container of soup. Hayate was set to enjoy some salmon over rice, alongside a seaweed salad, and a small slice of cake. Nanoha had layers of rice, meat, and vegetables that could feed a family, yet would only serve her until dinner. “It is nice to see you both, after my honeymoon.”

As they both took their meals, I was reminded of the many times we ate together with food prepared by Shirou, except this time there was a ring on my finger… and I brought the food along from home instead of him dropping it off for us.

“Mmmm! So good, I missed Shirou-kun’s cooking so much!” Nanoha guarded her layer of the bento box with her arms, while she slowly chewed and savored the food within her mouth. One look at her confirmed that I needn’t worry about her any longer. Her appetite was sated, therefore I little to fear from my closest friend. “Its sooo gooodddd!”

Hayate took a moment to appreciate Shirou’s thoughtfulness, before her more perverse tendencies arose, and overcame my warnings in an instant.

“Ooh, is that lemon I see there? And is that a vinaigrette on your salad, Fate-chan?” Hayate attempted to insinuate, but the information she sought to convey was very clear. She was implying if I was pregnant, and had the typical, sour cravings one would have in such a state. I levelled a glare at her, but it was to no avail. Her grin simply widened. “I was thinking of going to bar to celebrate tonight, but maybe I should book a restaurant instead, hmmm?”

Given the fact that I already gave her the chance to be silent, and warned her against any more salacious comments, I decided to take more direct action against Hayate’s perverse mind.

“If you keep talking, I’ll call Signum.”

“I’ll be good.”

Ah, finally.

I get to enjoy the meal my husband has prepared for me.

…

Shirou stated he was fine with a small apartment close to work for my sake. However, after learning of his past home, and evaluating the mound of savings I had due to my focus, I decided that it was within our means to have a plot of land and a home much like what he had in the past.

We now both lived in a modernized, traditional Japanese home. Some rooms had tatami mats, others hardwood floors. There were both sliding doors, and doors that swung out and properly locked. Several walls were thin and meant to be opened to allow ventilation, and others were more… insulated from the rest of the house for reasons of privacy.

Even though he was willing to spend his time at home cleaning, cooking, and washing by hand, I decided against allowing him to do such things, so modern amenities were available. Four automatic vacuum cleaners roamed the halls and rooms, and he had a vacuum cleaner all his own. The kitchen had all the necessary appliances and was large enough for both of us to cook in. Should there be a thunderstorm, I invested in a dryer to go along with the washer, and thus there was no need whatsoever for him to spend too much time on chores.

“I’m home, Shirou.”

“Welcome home, Fate.”

Especially when he should be spending time on me.

I did not hesitate to fall into his extended arms, and enjoy his embrace, after a long day at work.

“Heh. You seem tired.” I pressed myself against him. Not in a flirtatious manner, but in a manner that demanded both affection and care. Underestimating the difficulty of returning to work oafter three weeks of vacation was my error, but as I held onto him, took in his warmth and presence, the results of that error was swiftly being washed away. “How was your day, Fate?”

The words “fine,” “pleasant,” and “typical” all danced upon my tongue, as it did with strangers, but with Shirou they were completely replaced.

“My staff did only the minimum amount of work and have grown lax. Reports were incessant, and I yearn for rest.” A fuzzy sensation lingered all over my body. It was not painful, but it felt as though I were lightly burning throughout my body. As ludicrous as it seemed, I was burned out after my fast day back to work. “Please be nice to me.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll be nice.” Shirou laughed and I felt some of my strength return. However, I felt no reason at all to use it, as he simply picked my up in his arms and gave me a grin as I grasped his shoulders for support. “Would like dinner, or a bath first?”

“I have no energy for a bath with you, so dinner first.” I answered without hesitation with the factual truth. Was I partly worried that our private time together would have to wait for weekends? Yes, but I had nothing to prove, and I was sure that I would regain my ability to work in an office shortly. Then, I would be able to decisively answer that I would very much like a bath with my husband. “What is it?”

“Beef stew. It’s my first time making it, so I hope you’ll be kind to me.” Shirou gave me another smile, this one reaching his golden eyes. His hair was long after our honeymoon, and so he tied it a bandana. With his apron, he wouldn’t be out of place in a restaurant or a café. If he wanted to pursue such a job, I would support him, even it was unnecessary. Cooking was a good hobby. “I asked Signum for some help.”

I tilted my head at the mention of Signum.

“Signum can cook?”

“She has been practicing, and it’s one of her favorites.” Shirou answered easily, while carrying me into the kitchen. He was not at all winded by my weight, and easily set me down to sit on one of the chairs at the counter. There was a table for eating meals at, but it was large and meant for parties with guests. I much preferred to eat with him close by, so we dined on the kitchen on high stools. “If Hayate has been too perverse, you should bring some along tomorrow, since she’s been getting sick of it.”

“Who are you you and what have you done with my kind, gentle husband?”

Shirou laughed at my little joke, even if it wasn’t all that good, and moved towards the stove. He retrieved two bowls quickly and ladled simmering stew into both. He set my plate with the bowl of soup and a side of bread, while he had a bowl of rice. It was not the milkbread that most Japanese stores had, but the heartier, European version, which I preferred. I did not know where he found it, but I was interested in going there with him in the near future, perhaps this very weekend.

“Thank you for the meal.” Shirou uttered thanks, and I did the same, before we both began to eat. We ate in silence together. I enjoyed the warmth of the soup, the richness of the beef, and the taste and texture of bread soaked in powerful, tasty broth. Still, even as I enjoyed the meal, I was prepared for my husband’s habits. “Hmmm, it’s still chewy.”

“It is good.”

“The sauce is a little thin.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I could have used less potatoes to make it healthier.”

“It is fine to be unhealthy every now and again.”

Shirou hmmm’d and hummed his analysis of his foods as we ate, while I simply consumed it. There were several foods that he perfected by doing this, and I grew used to it as we dated, so I simply moved, calmly flowed along with the tide.

The chunks of beef were savory, and were pleasant to chew, never reaching the state where it was nothing more than dry gristle before disappearing. The sauce was indeed thin, but the hearty nature of my bread accounted for that fact, even if his rice did not. And, finally, what was beef stew without plenty of delicious, amazing potatoes? Could the very nature of beef stew be sacrificed for the sake of health?

I would proudly attest that it would be better to have beef stew on occasion, with many, many potatoes, than have a healthier beef stew more often.

Some things were simply better unhealthy, so that they could be enjoyed properly.

…

While most of the house was traditional Japanese, I was used to a bed, and Shirou was more than willing to share a bed with me. Thus, we lay upon a queen-sized bed after we took separate baths. We shared a closet, and I had a dresser with a mirror, but besides that our bedroom only had two desks for lights, books, and electronics at our respective sides.

Since I have lived with him for more than a year and a half, I was used to sleeping with him in the evening, yet tonight was different.

Tonight my mind was plagued by Hayate’s incessant insinuations, and even though I could tell that Shirou was about to fall asleep, I couldn’t help but worry.

“Shirou?”

“Yes, Fate?”

“What if I cannot have children?” During our honeymoon, and even before that, we spent much time together. Since we decided that we wanted to have children, contraceptives were unnecessary, so we moved onward without as soon as our wedding was planned and set. However, after six months, and even with our more… amorous tendencies… I was not yet with child. It worried me immensely. “I know that we went to a physician, and we both checked whether we’re both able, yet… nothing has happened yet.”

He and I both wanted a child.

He wanted to be a good father, to raise a child, and give them a nice life in the peaceful world we fought hard to attain together.

I wanted to be the mother of his children, because I wanted him to be happy, and to see, feel, and touch a person that we made together.

We both made sure that we could have children, and before we checked whether we could, we both agreed we could adopt if it was impossible.

I had no qualms with the idea, yet after I learned that I could have children with him, my feelings on the matter were clear.

Without a doubt, even if it sounded cruel, I wanted us to have a child that was completely ours.

Yet there was still no sign of that dream coming true.

My feelings on the matter must’ve been clear, as Shirou didn’t reply immediately, but instead contemplated for a long time to find a proper answer.

“We don’t we try more often, more regularly?”

I closed my book at his jest, did my best to suppress my blush, and ignored my body’s other reactions before I answered him with a face as straight as I could manage.

“Shirou, I am willing to do that, but I am also serious.” I was gratified at the blush on his face at my direct answer to his lewd statement. However, I also wanted an answer to my previous question. “But I am truly worried that I cannot have kids. I know what the physician said, but… what if she is wrong? What if the way I was created DID affect my ability to have children?”

If I were an individual who made a clone of my deceased child, to be a reminder of how I was wronged and hated by others, I would not give that clone the ability to have children. Why would I endeavor to replicate such a process within a creature that I didn’t intend to see continue after I fulfilled my objectives and regained my true daughter?

A doll.

A fake.

That was all that I would’ve needed.

Nothing more.

“…Then, we’ll go to another, and another, and another to confirm things. And, if that’s the case, we find a way to let you have kids by going out there and looking for it.” When Shirou spoke, he spoke decisively and while holding my hand. He sat up on the bed and turned completely to face me. His golden eyes bore into my own gaze and I could look away as my breath hitched. Any thought I had of bringing up adoption again faded, as I knew that he knew my true, selfish feelings on the matter. “I swore that I’d do my best to keep you happy, Fate. I’ll keep that practice no matter what.”

Logically, I knew that those words alone shouldn’t have calmed my fears. There was plenty more that needed to be said, and far more concrete assurances and plans placed on the table.

However, after hearing those words, my body reacted by itself… and I was upon the man I loved and pulling up the hem of my nightgown with both my hands.

The first time this happened, when his words overtook me, Shirou was surprised.

After that first time, he made many jokes about the “quiet ones,” but they ceased when he realized that it wasn’t a single occurrence.

It was my preference, and by now he has grown used to it.

He smiled faintly as I undid his clothes for him, while straddling his waist.

“Well… I guess I asked for this didn’t I?”

Given his words, his affirmations, and the duty that shone in his eyes with his promise?

“Yes, you did, Shirou-kun.”

Without a doubt, he did.