A/N: I've never been one to really like sequels. They rarely live up to the original. I do, however, believe in follow-on stories and series. So, please consider this the second part of a duology. I did my best to maintain the mystery and suspense. I hope you enjoy it.

Yumi awakened slowly after having one of the most restful night's sleep she could ever remember. She didn't want to open her eyes and face a new day. She wanted to simply stay exactly where she was – warm and comfortable beneath her blanket and her head cradled by her soft pillow. For the first time in what seemed like years she had had no dreams or visions and felt absolutely no pressure to paint. No, all she felt was a sense of happiness, peace, and absolute safety and security. She didn't want to give that up. It felt too good; too right. The small smile that graced her pink lips was a reflection of the sunshine that filled her heart.

She sighed in total contentment and adjusted her head, taking a tighter hold on her warm, smooth, silky pillow. It was a little harder than normal, but the silky fabric of the cover felt wonderful to her fingers and cheek. Her smile slowly faded as it occurred to her that the bedding that Kato-san provided in her rented cottage was made of soft cotton, not silk. Cracking her eyes open she saw a gently undulating expanse of black silk just beyond her nose. She glanced down to see the spare blanket that was normally kept on the shelf in her closet, its fluffy, pale yellow fabric still too warm for Tokyo's tepid nights. With mounting trepidation she allowed her eyes to slide upwards.

The black silk rose up to cover an exquisite set of breasts; the V neckline of the designer gown exposing the pale, soft flesh and cleavage of at least a set of C cups. Looking slightly higher revealed a beautifully shaped collarbone and slender, shapely neck. But the acme of this vision of loveliness was the aristocratic face of Sachiko Ogasawara, for the first time seen in a deep slumber. She had a slight smile on her rosy red lips as if she were having an especially nice dream.

Yumi froze as everything from the previous night came back to her in a rush: her date with Kaori-sensei; the terror of a room filled with her nightmare portraits; her flight into the Tokyo night from Sei-sama's gallery; her attempted escape to the airport summarily spoiled by Kaori-sensei; her discussion with the older woman about her portraits; Sachiko and her friends bursting into her cottage; Sachiko's hate filled eyes as she accused Yumi of being a con artist. Seeing that hate and anger had undone her. Her initial tears of frustration at not being able to explain to Kaori-sensei why she had finally been required, by whatever power it was that was forcing her, to paint her own image into the latest portrait had turned into tears of anguish at the sight of the hard, steely eyes of the woman she loved. Knowing that any kind of relationship had been murdered before it could be born had torn her soul apart and left her a shredded husk.

She had tuned out everything from that point on, not hearing whatever it was that Kaori-sensei had said to the others. She had never in her life felt such misery and loss. She wanted to hide, to curl up in a dark corner and never return. Those hate filled eyes had killed any hope that may have remained of being with the beautiful Sachiko. And yet, shockingly, she had felt herself being pulled into someone's arms. She had opened her eyes to see not Kaori-sensei, but Sachiko herself; and those eyes were now no longer filled with hate. There was confusion and fear – so much fear – but underneath there was also need and desire, a look that she knew all too well from her portraits of the beautiful girl. She couldn't help herself; she dove into those arms, throwing her own around the slender waist and clutching desperately to the woman, unable to understand but also unwilling to let this one chance slip away from her.

And to her amazement she was not pushed away. Instead, within the circle of those arms she felt the love, caring and acceptance that she had craved for so very, very long. She couldn't stop her tears from flowing. She couldn't stop her sobs. But no longer did she weep in despair. Instead she wept for joy; for the hope that all was not lost and that she might still be with the woman she so dearly loved.

She must have cried herself to sleep and Sachiko had taken care of her, but to awaken with your head on the lap of the woman that you loved? Yumi smiled again, knowing now why she had felt such contentment.

But she couldn't stay where she was as much as she wanted to. Although she seemed to be deeply slumbering now, Sachiko would soon wake and she wanted to have everything ready for her when she did.

Yumi carefully got up, making sure that she didn't disturb her sleeping angel, and gently settled her so that she was comfortably laying on the couch, her head on a throw pillow and the blanket covering her. She then padded to her bedroom and quickly unpacked her bag and changed into a clean pair of jeans and a pale green polo shirt. She desperately wanted to take a bath or shower but she settled for a quick wash of face and hands and brushing her teeth.

Re-entering the living room she noted that Sachiko was still deeply asleep so Yumi quietly opened the door and headed over towards the main house. It was still a few minutes before seven. Breakfast had been scheduled for eight, but she knew that Kei-san would already be up and preparing for a ten o'clock appointment with one of her clients. Yumi knocked on the door and waited impatiently until it was opened by a bright-eyed and smiling Kei-san.

"Yumi-chan, you're up early," she quipped, "could it have anything to do with your overnight guest?" she asked with a knowing grin.

"Oh, well, yeah, I guess you would have noticed the commotion last night," Yumi replied with a shy smile. "I was wondering if you might have some clothes that Ogasawara-sama might borrow? I'm afraid that I cried all over her outfit," she explained with embarrassment.

"Hmm, she seems a bit taller than me, but," the bespectacled woman thought while she ushered Yumi into her living room, picturing the clothes hanging in her closet. "Ah, yes, that should do nicely," Kei said with a smile, "just give me a moment," she continued as she headed towards the hallway leading to her own bedroom.

Yumi took a seat on the comfortable sofa where she and Kei had relaxed over many a cup of tea. Unfortunately she was too pent up and nervous to relax this morning.

"I wonder why that is," she giggled to herself as Kei returned with a hanger holding a long dress in a beautiful shade of royal blue.

"The hemline may be a little shorter on Ogasawara-sama, but it's a wrap dress so the size shouldn't matter as much. I haven't worn it since my clubbing days at college, but it was a pretty lucky dress at the time," she laughed softly. "I met my first girlfriend while wearing this."

Yumi had to blush. She had long ago come to the realization that she was in love with another woman, or at least the image of one, but she was still surprised when others could speak so easily and openly about being gay. Of course she had known that Kei-san was a 'bian. They had spoken about it a couple of times in the three weeks she had been living in the small cottage, but it never ceased to amaze Yumi in how open she was about it. Yumi honestly didn't know if she was gay or not. Thoughts of having sex with a woman had simply never entered her mind. All she knew was that she was in love with one particular woman and wanted to be by her side in whatever role she could play.

"If-if it's alright, I really appreciate the loan of the dress," Yumi stuttered shyly, much to Kei's delight. She loved to tease the poor girl about female/female relationships, at least when she wasn't held within the grip of her demanding muse. Seeing the cute Yumi blush was one of the delights of her day.

"Keep it and wear it yourself when you get it back, Yumi-chan," Kei smiled at her, deciding to be nice this morning and not tease her so much. "You need at least one decent dress, and I think the blue will look good on you. Will you and Ogasawara-sama be joining me for breakfast?"

"Mmm, no thank you, I think that I'll cook for us this morning," Yumi grinned softly.

"Your first meal for your lover?" Kei smirked, unable to help herself as Yumi turned a deliciously bright shade of pink.

"It-it's not like that!" Yumi exclaimed as Kei just chuckled. "Th-thank you, Kei-san, for the dress. I really appreciate it," Yumi stammered before rushing back through the door towards the cottage.

"She's just too cute," Kei giggled.

Yumi entered as quietly as she had left. Sachiko was still asleep, but she had kicked the blanket to the floor. The slit in her evening gown had opened to expose an exquisitely shaped and toned leg.

Yumi quickly hung the wrap dress from a hook just outside the small bathroom and returned to replace the blanket back over her guest. Sachiko's breathing was a little less deep and, with her movements, Yumi figured that her raven haired angel would awaken soon. So she went into the small kitchen and started a pot of coffee as well as put on a kettle of water for tea. She opened the refrigerator and withdrew her last three eggs, half of a green pepper, and a few scallions along with a piece of sliced cheese. Mixing the three eggs in a bowl with a touch of milk, salt and pepper she poured half of the mixture into a buttered pan while she started dicing the vegetables and thin slicing the cheese. When the egg had hardened sufficiently she lay half of the sliced cheese on one side of the egg and then spread some of the diced veggies over the other half. She then flipped one side over the other, letting it cook a bit longer before sliding the completed, vegetarian western omelette onto a plate. She did a quick wipe of the pan before starting the process over with the rest of the beaten eggs.

By the time Sachiko began to stir Yumi had two fresh omelettes ready and staying warm in the oven along with a pot of coffee and a pot of English Breakfast tea.

"I wasn't sure whether you wanted coffee or tea, so I made both," she called out to the just waking executive. Sachiko sat up slowly, noting that she was now covered by the blanket that she had placed over the sleeping Yumi the night before.

"Normally black tea, but that coffee smells so delicious I think I'll have that," Sachiko replied weakly, scrubbing at her eyes. "What time is it?" she asked as she ran her fingers through her disheveled hair.

"A quarter after seven," Yumi replied, pouring the requested cup of coffee. "Would you like milk and sugar?"

"Black with a little sugar is fine," Sachiko answered, looking up to see the young woman's profile as she busied herself at the counter.

"I've drawn a bath for you, and there is a dress hanging outside the bathroom that you can change into," Yumi called, still not looking in her direction. "I hope you don't mind, but I think our hips are about the same size, so I put a clean pair of underwear in a basket in the bathroom as well. I'm sorry that I don't have a bra that will fit you, though," she went on with a slight blush. "Would you like to bathe first or would you like breakfast first?"

"Coffee and food," Sachiko groaned, stretching. Yumi removed the two plates from the oven and placed them on the counter to cool slightly. First things first, she took Sachiko her coffee and set it on the low table in front of the sofa.

"I'm sorry I don't have a dining table to offer you," Yume said shyly, "I hope this is alright."

"It's fine," Sachiko said, trying to smile for the cute girl trying so hard to please her. "And thank you for loaning me the clothes, "she said picking slightly at her gown, "I think this needs to go to the cleaners," she chuckled.

"I'm so sorry!" Yumi squeaked and blushed.

"Don't be," Sachiko replied. "I'm . . . happy," she said with a small smile, taking a sip of her coffee and realizing that it was true, she really was happy. "Ah, delicious. I hope I'm not putting you off. I have low blood pressure in the mornings, so you are seeing me at my worst."

"No! Y-you look beau . . . I mean, I think you look fine," Yumi squeaked again.

"Thank you . . . I'm sorry, but I don't even know your last name," Sachiko said as a slight blush suffused her cheeks.

"F-Fukuzawa. Fukuzawa Yumi, but you can call me Yumi," the pig-tailed girl said softly, her eyes focused on her own cup of tea.

"'Beautiful.' An apt name," Sachiko said gently with a smile as she took another sip of coffee as Yumi's cheeks flushed even further.

"Oh!" Yumi jumped up and ran back to the kitchen, grabbing the omelettes and bringing them back with some silverware and setting them out on the table. "It's not much, but it should at least cover you until you get back to your estate."

"Thank you, Yumi-san," Sachiko smiled. She sliced off a piece and put it in her mouth. The egg nearly melted on her tongue with just the right touch of spices. The sharpness of the peppers and scallions, mellowed by the smoothness of the cheese, turned the normal, everyday omelette into a taste of heaven. She moaned in pleasure.

"Is-is it alright, Ogasawara-sama," Yumi asked, sounding as if her very life depended upon the answer.

"It's absolutely wonderful, Yumi-san, and please call me Sachiko" Sachiko sighed in contentment.

"I'm-I'm glad that you like it S-Sachiko-s-sama," Yumi smiled in relief.

The two women continued to eat in relative silence, only broken now and then by another moan of pleasure from Sachiko at the wonderful taste of Yumi's omelette. When they had finished, Yumi collected their plates and placed them in the sink, running the hot water to allow them to soak for a bit. She refreshed their drinks before sitting on the floor once again and taking a sip of her tea.

"Yumi-san," Sachiko started slowly, "I am not really sure that I followed everything Kaori-sensei was saying last night, but is it true that all of those portraits of me that you painted were based on visions and dreams?"

So, Kaori-sensei explained to them about my dreams, Yumi thought. "It's true, Sachiko-sama. It's all true," she whispered. Yumi then began telling the older woman her story, from when she was a first-year in high school, through her time at the technical university, up to the point that she got on the plane to Tokyo. Yumi told her of her visions and dreams, of what they did to her, of how her friends all faded from her life until all she had left was her family and her painting. She spoke of the nights of crying, of nearly starving to death in her third year of high school when one particular portrait, the one where Sachiko was standing in the moonlight, holding her rosary up to the bright moon, consumed her so much that she had to be hospitalized. She told Sachiko about all of the doctors and therapists and of her fear of losing her sanity. And she told her of her eighteen months of searching for one particular school uniform and how it had finally led her to Lillian and to Kaori-sensei.

"I'm sorry that I did not believe you last night, Yumi-san," Sachiko said gently when Yumi had finished her tale, "but you have to admit that it's an incredible story." The blue eyed beauty said sadly, the pity and concern easily read in her lovely eyes.

"It wasn't much fun living it," Yumi sighed.

"Did you not get any breaks from your visions?"

"I would usually get a few months between portraits, but I could never sleep well and I was always nervous, never knowing when the next dream would claim me."

Sachiko sat quietly for a bit, thinking of all that she had been told and had learned of this amazing woman. But another thing that Kaori-sensei had said the previous evening would not leave her mind. She was reluctant to bring it up, but she really felt she needed to know how Yumi-san would answer.

"Is . . . is it also true what Kaori-sama said . . . that . . . that you fell in love with me?"

Yumi couldn't look at her. Instead of answering immediately, she took a last sip of her now cool tea and stood, walking into the kitchen, rinsing her cup and placing it gently on the counter. She continued to stand at the sink as her hands and arms began to tremble where she gripped the counter edge for courage. Sachiko couldn't see all of her face to understand her expression, but she could see moisture gathering at the corner of her eye.

"It's true," Yumi whispered, just loud enough for Sachiko to hear. "It took me a while, probably until that time I had to be hospitalized, to realize that I had truly begun to fall in love with you . . . with your image. I probably started loving you with the very first portrait even though I knew nothing about you. Up until I met Kaori-sensei I didn't even know that the girl in my portraits was real; that she really existed . . . and yet I still fell in love with you," she said softly, the tears evident in her voice. "I still don't know anything about you, or at least very little, but still I love you," she hiccupped. "I know it must be difficult, hearing that someone you have never met feels this way about you. I'm . . . I'm sure that it must be a burden to you. If . . . if it's too much for you, if I would only be a pest, all you need to do is say the word and I will . . . I will get on a plane and go back home and you will never see me again," she sobbed.

The pain that suddenly flared in Sachiko's heart at those words nearly undid her. It felt as if someone had just thrust a knife into her chest and the terror that flashed through her sent her reeling.

"NO!" she screamed, jumping up and racing to the crying girl and pulling her into her arms as Yumi covered her face with her hands. "Don't! D-don't you ever say such a thing, Yumi!" Sachiko begged, her own tears flowing freely now. "Never! I don't ever want to hear you say anything about leaving again!"

"B-but . . ." Yumi cried.

"No! No, Yumi, I don't want to hear it," Sachiko whispered in her ear. "I don't know everything about how I feel, but what I do know is that I want you by my side. I've never felt this way before about anyone and, frankly, it's frightens me."

"Then w-why . . ."

"I don't know why, Yumi!" Sachiko cried out. "I don't know why I feel this way. I don't know why the thought of you leaving me frightens me more than the thought of you loving me. All I know is that it does. So please, please don't leave me."

"J-just . . . just so long as you want me, I will always be by your side always, Sachiko-sama," Yumi sobbed, pulling the taller girl close and burying her face in her breast. Sachiko ran her fingers through Yumi's pigtails and clutched at her, the warmth and love of the girl in her arms slowly melting the ice of fear that had taken hold of her when she had offered to walk out of Sachiko's life forever.

"Y-Yumi, w-would you . . . would you like to come live with me at my estate?" Sachiko asked quietly, not knowing what was coming over her. She had always been more of a solitary person. Youko had taught her to be more open and honest with her feelings, and she had made wonderful friends with the other members of the Yamayurikai. Now that their forced engagement was ended, she had even managed to become friends with and, to an extent, love her cousin Suguru. But she had never in her life made a momentous decision like this without calmly and calculatingly looking at all of the possible angles. But Yumi . . . Yumi did something to her. This girl, still mostly a stranger to her, had opened pathways in her heart that she had never imagined existed. It terrified her that she seemed to have this kind of power over her, and yet it also gave her such joy just to be in her arms . . .

"Eeehhh?" Yumi squeaked at Sachiko's question.

"Is it that frightful a thing?" Sachiko asked with a grin, knowing that she had shocked the poor girl with her spontaneous offer.

"No-No, it's not frightening at all!" Yumi exclaimed, backing away and wringing her hands in a very cute manner. "It-It's just that it's so sudden!" Yumi turned back to the sink and started washing the dishes to give her some time to think while Sachiko stood behind her, watching closely with a smile until the brown haired woman sighed and turned back around, drying her hands on a towel. "I-I think that I would like that very much, Sachiko-sama, but . . . but I also think that I need some time to get used to the idea of knowing you and being with you. I've never been out of my parents' house. If I were to come live with you right now, I'm sure that I would love every minute of it, but I think that I need to learn how to live on my own first. I . . . I want to be able to stand beside you . . . not follow you, if you know what I mean. I don't want to be an appendage, but a partner . . . Is this making any sense?" she asked with a frustrated sigh.

Sachiko had to giggle. "Yes. Yes it does, Yumi. I understand what you mean. It took me a long time to become my own woman and not simply the daughter of my parents."

"Kaori-sensei has offered me a position teaching art at Lillian," Yumi said softly, "I think I'm going to take that job. It's much more money than I'll probably need, but it will also allow me to live independently. I'll stay here, at Kei-san's, at least for a little while, but I want to see you," she said, looking up into Sachiko's twinkling sapphire eyes, "and be with you, as much as I can. Is-is that alright?"

"It's fine, Yumi," Sachiko said as she took a step forward and caught Yumi in another welcome embrace that the younger girl returned with emotion, "just so long as you want to be with me."

They stood that way for a few moments, relishing the feel of being in each other's arms, before Yumi reluctantly stepped back.

"I'm afraid that your bath water is probably cold by now," she grinned shyly. "Let me heat it up again and you can get clean," she laughed as she gently fingered Sachiko's soiled evening gown. "I'll get a bag for your gown."

"Thank you, Yumi," Sachiko replied with a grin. "It would be nice to get clean."

Yumi led Sachiko to her room and pulled out a large towel and the robe that Kei-san had loaned to her. She laid them out on her bed and went into the bath to reheat the water while Sachiko changed.

She finished the dishes while the black haired beauty bathed and then brewed up another pot of tea. She was sitting on the sofa when Sachiko finally emerged dressed in Kei-san's wrap dress, her long hair still somewhat damp and glistening in the morning light coming through the windows. The sight of her almost took Yumi's breath away. The royal blue dress so dramatically highlighted Sachiko's sapphire eyes that she had a hard time looking away. She was still having difficulties believing that this woman, the woman from her dreams, the woman she had painted so many times over the past seven years, was real. Not only real, but wanted her to be by her side. Yumi shook her head, bringing herself back to reality as the beautiful woman smiled at her.

"I've called Aoki-kun, my butler, to bring the car around for me," Sachiko said, completely unaware of the thoughts going through Yumi's mind. "I'm sure that you have things to do today. I have a business meeting this afternoon myself, but would you care to join me at the estate for dinner this evening? I can have Aoki-kun pick you up and bring you back home."

"Yes," Yumi smiled, "I'd like that."

"Oh, there is one condition," Sachiko said with a small laugh.

"Hmmm?"

"You have to teach him how to make that wonderful omelette," she giggled.

"Of-of course," Yumi laughed before she noticed that Sachiko had become serious again.

"There is one more thing, Yumi," she said softly as she walked to the sofa and took hold of her hand, pulling the shorter girl to her feet, seeing the question in her eyes. "You have said that you will stay by my side, and that is exactly where I want you, but," she said as she reached behind her neck and took off her rosary. She held it in her hand a moment, looking at the piece of jewelry that had been handed down from Youko's onee-sama, to Youko and then to Sachiko. She had not taken it off except to bathe for over eight years, but she had thought about it while in the bath and it just felt right. "I don't know how much you know about the Soeur System at Lillian, Yumi," she began, "and I think both of us are a little old to become soeurs, but . . . I would be honored if you would please allow me to place this around your neck," she said softly, looking into those innocent brown eyes that had widened with both surprise and longing.

Yumi had seen that rosary in her visions for so long. She had painted it so many times and dreamed of Sachiko offering it to her in the moonlight. Until she had spoken to Kaori-sensei she had had no idea what it had meant, all that she knew was that she had wanted it so badly! Now, knowing what it meant to be offered that rosary, and how solemn a soeur relationship truly was, all she could do was nod her head in joy.

Yumi lowered her head as Sachiko gently placed the rosary around her neck. She fingered it, knowing what a treasure it was, not in monetary terms, but in how it bound the two together. She smiled as she looked up to see a similar smile on Sachiko's lips.

"Should . . . should I call you onee-sama now?" Yumi whispered.

"I think Sachiko would be just fine," the older girl said as she leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on Yumi's cheek.

A/N: Alright, there is chapter one of five. I hope you enjoyed it. As always, your reviews and comments would be most graciously welcomed.

Take care,

CX