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It’s adorable, actually, how Mitsuru had asked the first time. There’s no other way to describe it.
They’ve been married eight years at this point, and they’ve spent so much of their lives together, romantically or otherwise, but Mitsuru—who had gone through hell and back, endured so much hardship and grief, still carrying the burden of the family name—blushes an adorable shade of red when she gently asks Yukari to call her her husband.
Understandably so, since Yukari can’t imagine this being an easy thing to admit to anyone, maybe even to your wife. She takes the opportunity to take Mitsuru’s face in her hands, a thumb caressing her lip. “I’ll call you anything you like,” she says, gentle in a way she only can be for very few things and people in her life, Mitsuru being one of them. “And I’ll be there for you through anything you discover about yourself.”
In the comfort of their bed, Mitsuru admits he prefers being referred to with masculine words, and in true Mitsuru fashion, he worries about it. “I know how you feel about men, and so it’s not something I want to put you through if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“I really don’t mind, baby,” she says, pressing a kiss to her husband’s cheek. “And you’re not just any man. You’re my man. That sets you apart from the rest of the world.”
Mitsuru is infamously the sweet talker between the two of them, so Yukari will take any and all opportunities to turn the tables. She considers it a win when Mitsuru buries his face in her shoulder, face burning—it still amazes her that even as they approach their forties, spending more than two decades together, they still have all these little moments discovering new things to love about each other.
“Your man,” Mitsuru says, circling his arms around Yukari and pulling her so, so close. Sometimes even when they’re pressed head to toe like this, Yukari still can’t get enough. “I like the sound of that.”
-
It’s not like it’s a surprise either. They’ve had countless discussions about what people would consider dysphoria, and Mitsuru does admit that in retrospect, many of his recollected experiences certainly felt like it. The more they talk about it and reminisce, the more Mitsuru feels confident, and Yukari is only ever so happy to be able to help him with this.
“Perhaps I’ll tell our friends soon, it would only be right,” Mitsuru says when they’re finally alone after attending one of the new Kirijo group’s events. He was so handsome in a tailored three-piece suit with his chest bound and it took every single cell in Yukari’s body not to jump him in front of investors and board of directors.
She still wants to, but maybe after they have this heartfelt conversation. “Whenever you’re ready, honey. They’ll love you, still.”
Mitsuru looks reassured, then turns red when Yukari starts taking off her dress as soon as the door to their apartment is locked behind them.
-
She truly tries not to wince when the TV host asks about Mitsuru, in good nature, but— “so how is your wife dealing with you doing all your stunts?”
It’s not her place, and it’s all on Mitsuru, so Yukari only puts on a smile for the public. “Fine, I get to make decisions about my career, and I do try to be careful to alleviate some of the worry.”
(Mitsuru recounts this small moment with so much fondness, even years later.)
-
Yukari shakes her head as she encircles a part of the script of an upcoming Hollywood film trying to get her as a producer. They’d initially requested to have her act, but her schedule didn’t permit it, so producing is the next best thing she can do especially for the director, with whom she goes way back with.
Sorry, she already has prior commitments that are non-negotiable, her agent had emailed the director, who had replied a cheeky: what on earth could sway Takeba Yukari away from a potential blockbuster?
The answer lies on a hospital bed, recovering from top surgery.
It had been an excruciating few hours waiting for the procedure to be done, and the relief she felt seeing Mitsuru wheeled into his suite is incomparable to anything on this earth. She’s always been a worrywart, a mother hen as Junpei and Akihiko like to put it, especially for Mitsuru—which is not easy for an individual married to someone who routinely risks their life to hunt shadows.
But Yukari presses on, knowing it just comes with being married to Mitsuru, who had grown to love the attention of being coddled and taken care of by his wife. Just one of the many ways they’re compatible.
After a few hours, Mitsuru stirs, groaning with discomfort. Yukari is at his side immediately. “Hey, handsome,” she says, placing a hand on his cheek. “You did it.”
It dawns on Mitsuru what they’d done, and he manages an uncharacteristically dopey and wide smile, with cracked lips and all. Yukari loves him so much.
(“Wait,” he mumbles, still heavily drugged. Yukari has half a mind to record this and she does, for safekeeping. “You can’t hold my hand. I have a wife. She’ll raise hell if she sees you.”
She laughs, pinching his cheek lightly. “I am your wife, silly. It’s okay.”
Mitsuru watches her, then his heart monitor beeps irregularly for a second before giving her a happy, satisfied grin.)
-
All of their friends come to visit, leaving very thoughtful gifts congratulating Mitsuru, all of which Aigis and Kikuno help to bring home.
Yukari runs Kikuno through the aftercare and medicine regimen, knowing full well they have to join forces if they want Mitsuru to recover as seamlessly as possible. She has some work to do at the studio on some days of the week, and Kikuno will be more than enough to help around the house and wrangle Mitsuru whenever he’s being difficult about what he can or can’t do while recovering.
“I swear, your only pastime is conspiring against me with Kikuno,” Mitsuru complains lightly as Yukari helps him with his shirt. He’s cleared to do some paperwork for the group, but not very stressful ones anyway.
“Yeah, yeah, it was a mistake to let you two meet all those years ago,” Yukari says in her best Mitsuru impression. “Maybe you should have thought twice about attempting to crash a heli into a shadow when we were seventeen. That brought us together more than anything else in this world.”
Mitsuru pouts, which Yukari kisses away once they’re done wearing the shirt. “I know you love it when I go mother hen on you like this.”
He finds it in himself to look shy, but doesn’t deny it.
-
“I think I’m ready to tell the world.”
Yukari puts down her book to look at her husband across the dining table, over breakfast. “That’s wonderful, baby,” she says, reaching over to lace their fingers together. “Anything I can do for you to help?”
Mitsuru lifts her hand up to press his cheek into her palm. “Do you still have that friend of yours working at V+ magazine?”
-
KEEPING UP WITH THE KIRIJOS
In an all-new, exclusive interview with V+ magazine, the Kirijo-Takeba couple bares it all: Mitsuru’s transition, Yukari’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star, married life and superstardom, and more!
“It’s the first time we’re doing this, since we’re both very private about our life together,” renowned actress Kirijo-Takeba Yukari says, sharing a sweet glance with her husband of eight years, current President of the new Kirijo group, who smiles and nods.
“Even then, there were a few things we felt were important to share with the general public; to give them strength, and let them know they are not alone especially in struggles of identity and the self,” he says, running a hand through his now short (but still stunning!) red hair. “But knowing us, we wanted to be fashionable about it.”
Read the issue for the full story.
Mrs. Kirijo-Takeba Yukari (left) in Mugler FW 1998, Valentino FW 2000. Mr. Kirijo-Takeba Mitsuru (right) in Tom Ford FW 2001, Valentino FW 2000. Styled by xxxx xxxx.