Notes: Okay. This is the first thing I've written in a while, and I mean a really long while, so bear with me.

I'd like to get some opinions on this as chapter one of an ongoing story and some constructive criticism on the flow of the writing, the pace of the story, the characters, etc., for two simple resons: One, this is a new fandom for me; and two, I have been out of the writing game for some time, as I mentioned.

Owing to this, I have got no idea how long it's going to be or what's going to happen in each chapter other than at least one date (which involves a dog) and some kisses.

I am also quite interested in any suggestions you have for changes in the plot. I know it will come to me, because Yumi and Sachiko are fairly easy to understand, I think, but I'm curious to see what other people want to happen, and curious if I would be able to write like that.

So, I'm going to stop yammering on now.

Thank you for reading this tentative first chapter (if you're not already bored to death by the notes).

CHAPTER ONE

The sweet spring breeze played with Yumi's hair as she stood before Maria-sama, hands clasped. Graduation had come and gone, and now it was the beginning of term again in the perennial school cycle.

Shimako-san had given the farewell address this year. Nobody was surprised. When she had announced her intention to do so at the graduation ceremony meeting at Rose Mansion, it had been met with relieved smiles and perceptive nods. It seemed common knowledge that Yumi, much to her chagrin, would cry at the stand, and that Yoshino, even though she would have a strong hold of her emotions up there, would not want to be separated quite so much from Rei. She might not be sat next to her onee-sama but she was at least in the same crowd for now.

Yumi sighed for her friend. She couldn't imagine having onee-sama so far away, but Yoshino was stronger than Yumi, in that way. Besides, everyone knows how much she loves an adventure, Yumi thought, seeing Shimazu-san's confident grin in her mind. Yoshino will visit Rei, she was sure, and as close a family as they were, they would never become too distant in their hearts.

She laughed to herself remembering how indignant Yoshino had been on learning that she had to perform again at the graduation party. She had been excellent, though, performing a dance she had composed entirely herself incorporating Kendo manoeuvres and disciplines. Touko-chan was wonderful also, reciting a translation of Parting by Charlotte Bronte. It had captured all of their hearts and brought unexpected tears to Rei-sama's eyes. Most surprisingly, it was Noriko who had stolen the show. Even though only in her school uniform and sick with nerves, she had danced a traditional fan dance with a grace and elegance that belied her occasionally blunt personality. They had all later learned from Shimako-san that it was something Noriko had not done in public since her days in elementary.

The sun was already quite high this mid-April morning and Yumi took a slow, deep breath of the crisp air. It was a beautiful day. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, painting scatterings of pink amid the green school grounds, and one or two had been caught by the playful little breeze and danced over to her as she stood at the foot of the statue. She had always found it calming to stand for just a moment with Maria-sama watching over her, even if not in prayer.

Today, however, she was asking for Maria-sama's blessing of courage and strength, as she had done each and every day so far this year.

Being a senior was hard. And Yumi didn't mean hard like, 'Oh my, how complicated this little equation seems!' No.

There was more time devoted to classes this year than in her previous two years at Lilian. She already had papers to complete from each of her teachers and there had been barely 2 weeks to become acquainted with school life again. As well as her usual studies, she also had guidance advice to attend soon. Yumi groaned inwardly. How was she supposed to know what she wanted to do for the rest of her life? How does one make a choice like that? How did onee-sama decide?

She was also now Rosa Chinensis, something she'd only begun to acknowledge as a possibility recently. Even though the events of last year had been leading up to it, Yumi found it difficult to comprehend the role she had now inherited. Somehow, even when Youko-sama had been at school, it was always Sachiko-sama that had held the title of Rosa Chinensis in Yumi's heart.

She couldn't imagine having to adopt that mantle.

When onee-sama had first offered her the rosary that Touko-chan now kept, Yumi had run. She'd not understood why onee-sama had chosen her as her petite-soeur, thinking only that she'd been thrown to her by chance and that Sachiko-sama had picked her up as the first to come along. It had been true at the time, but a friendship had developed which led Yumi to accept onee-sama's offer. Yumi smiled happily at the memory.

It did, however, complicate her feelings towards being Rosa Chinensis. It pleased Yumi to know that Sachiko-sama chose her because she felt she was the right petite-soeur for her and not just because she would make a good Rose, but it also left her feeling shaky about her abilities as Rosa Chinensis and also, more importantly, her responsibilities as a grande-soeur.

Onee-sama! How do I keep up with it all? How can I balance my school work, my duties as a Rose, and Touko-chan? Yumi looked down at her clasped hands. She meant to be praying to Maria-sama but... Onee-sama... I...I need you...

'Ooh, Yumi-sama, you look so wistful again today! Poor Yumi-sama!'

Yumi jumped and looked to her left to see Touko-chan standing beside her with a playful smirk.

'What do you mean, Touko-chan! You startled me!' she admonished. 'And you are supposed to call me onee-sama!'

Touko-chan waved her off nonchalantly. 'Yes, yes,' she said, leaning in closer to Yumi. 'Thinking about your missing onee-sama again, eh?'

Yumi flushed red. How can she know that? she thought with a grumble. And I thought I'd got better at making faces...

Touko-chan stuck her tongue out. 'Ah, Yumi-sama, you are better at hiding it but not from me!'

Yumi's eyes widened. 'Oh! Did I say that out loud?'

Touko laughed. 'It used to get on my nerves but now I love your honest face! Come on, Yumi-sama,' she added, tugging on her older sister's sleeve. 'You don't want to be late so often anymore now that you're Rosa Chinensis!' She walked ahead with a smile.

Yumi hunched her shoulders and trudged after Touko-chan. She was pleased that during their half-day date her petite-soeur had opened up to her and that she, Touko-chan and onee-sama had become more comfortable with each other during their week at the Ogasawara summer home, but she was beginning to regret fate having chosen her such a wilful sister.

'Touko-chan!' she shouted. 'Call me ONEE-SAMA!'

Matsudaira Touko, with one hand carrying her school satchel, raised the other in a wave as she continued to walk through the school doors.

Yumi groaned aloud. A wilful sister indeed! She smiled, though, and took her first step towards the building. I wouldn't have her any other way.

Sachiko surprised herself, really. She had found it quite easy to ingratiate herself into the university campus, despite her dislike for crowds of strangers. She had been a little worried at first upon learning that Lilian Girls' University had a very large percentage of students outside the escalator system attending, but it had found that it was somehow... different to school.

She looked around at the students scattered throughout the cafeteria. Some were reading for their assignments, like her, and others, for pleasure. There were small groups of friends talking happily with each other over their meals, and some just sitting quietly and staring out at the cherry blossoms. It was calmer, as though the urgency and competition at school had been removed from learning, leaving students free to pursue things in their own time. Sachiko was unsure how this had come to be as both the University and High School had a similar student council system, similar clubs and activities and similar values and aims. She could only surmise that it was the collective attitude of people at University. Sachiko remembered Yumi telling her that Sei-sama wanted to come to Lilian Girls' to relax and try to enjoy life for a while. She glanced again at the many faces in the room, wondering if most of them came with that as one of their objectives.

For a moment, she thought how different she must seem to them, coming here only to be close to someone dear to her, but knew it in her heart that she couldn't be the only one.

But even so... she felt lonely without Yumi.

Sachiko stared at the page and brushed her fingers across the knitted book cover, smiling to herself. Yumi had given her a matching book bag that she'd also made herself with the same motif; green background, bright red rose. She saw the bag in her mind as she remembered unwrapping it under the stars with Yumi by her side, her eyes wide with apprehension and eagerness. She'd knitted the straps wider and thicker at the arch especially so that they wouldn't cut into Sachiko's shoulders and, Yumi being Yumi, hadn't pointed it out to Sachiko.

Sachiko beamed at her petite-soeur. You don't do things for people in order for them to like you, or to receive their thanks, do you, Yumi? She gripped the handles of her bag so tightly that her knuckles were white. I will never let go of this.

Yumi looked so relieved. 'I hope you don't think that I cheated, Onee-sama, giving you the same thing as last year.'

Sachiko couldn't help it. She brought one of her hands up to Yumi's cheek tenderly, shaking her head no. So soft, so kind... my Yumi.

Her petite-soeur leaned into the touch and, soon enough, Sachiko felt a wetness that she'd been anticipating.

'I'm going to miss you, onee-sama,' Yumi said, sniffling through her tears.

'Oh, Yumi, we won't be so very far apart. I will only be next door and you know where my house is. You can always visit me.' Sachiko knew, though, even as she said this, that Yumi would not visit unless invited. Still, she seemed somewhat comforted.

'I wish that I hadn't won the election now so that I could see you more. I would be less busy if I wasn't going to become Rosa Chinensis. It's going to be a lot of work, isn't it, onee-sama?'

Sachiko looked down into Yumi's eyes kindly. 'It will, Yumi, but you can do it. I know you can. And you have Touko-chan to support you now.'

Yumi smiled up at her with sparkling eyes and Sachiko braced herself inside. She'd never had such difficulties with a conversation before. She wanted more than ever to take Yumi by the shoulders and beg her to leave school, to run away and be together.

Not yet, though. Sachiko knew that Yumi was still so innocent, so young, and didn't think any more of her devotion to Sachiko than a great admiration of her grande-soeur. She couldn't see past it as anything other than the innocent adoration of an upperclassmen. If Sachiko didn't time it absolutely right, just as she hadn't with the first rosary offering, then Yumi would run from this also.

'That's true...' Yumi said, reigning her straying thoughts in. 'But, the truth is that I'm also worried about being a grande-soeur, onee-sama. I wonder if I'm really ready for that.'

Sachiko hooked the book bag in her elbow. She pulled her hand away from Yumi's cheek, not missing the fleeting disappointment that crossed her face, and straightened out the scarf of her petite-soeur's uniform. This was the best way to comfort Yumi right now. She needed Sachiko's guidance as an older sister for one last time in school grounds before they left. She knew what Yumi needed to remember right now, even if it was hard to hear it.

'You care for Touko-chan, don't you?' she asked.

'Of course!' Yumi answered, as expected. 'I love Touko-chan.'

As she'd thought, the words pierced her heart a little but Sachiko pushed away her selfishness for Yumi's sake. 'Then you have no need to worry,' she told her softly. 'I know that you are someone who takes care of things she loves. You have done so without even realising.'

She hadn't actually meant to say the last part, not in such a way, but Sachiko had been rewarded for it. She closed her eyes from the book and tried to recall her feelings at that moment. She knew it had been wrong to, but at the time she had allowed herself to imagine Yumi's next words were weighted with a heavier meaning.

'I love you, onee-sama.'

She had never really felt it before, she knew then. She had never felt this kind of love for anyone until she had met Yumi, and held her soft, delicate frame against her as her petite-soeur. Sachiko touched her lips lightly, wondering not for the first time, what would it be like?

She opened her eyes and jumped back.

'Sachiko-chan! How's it going!'

Satou Sei was sat in the chair directly opposite her with an eyebrow raised and her chin resting in her hand. Sachiko, although startled, fought the urge to growl at her senior. It's not that she hated Sei-sama, after all, how could she hate someone who was so sensitive and caring to Yumi? But everyone knew that their personalities would often... clash.

'Sei-sama, you startled me,' she began, getting her bearings. 'I apologise for not noticing you there. I was reading.'

Sei's eyebrows exaggeratedly flew into her fringe. 'Sachiko-chan, you must have been have been deep in that book- I've been here for some time, now!' The hint of a smirk flashed in her eyes.

Caught.

Sachiko bit back her irritation and smiled coolly at the woman opposite. 'Is there something I can help with, Satou-sama?'

Sei laughed and sat back in her chair, fanning her hands. 'You're such a lady, Sachiko-chan! Always with the formalities! I actually just came to ask how Yumi-chan is doing? I've not seen her since the last school year.' That glint of mischief again.

She was slightly suspicious, but Sachiko answered. 'Yumi-chan is doing well, as far as I know.'

'As far as you know, eh, Sachiko-chan?' Sei grinned.

'What is this?' Sachiko wondered. She eyed Sei across the table as the senior placed her chin in her hand again and tried to figure out what the aim of this conversation was. She'd not sought out Sei-sama's company since starting university, or vice versa. People very rarely, if at all, came to Sachiko for small talk and pleasantries, including Sei. Yumi was the only one who really did that.

Oh.

She barely managed to curb the shock before it came to her face.

Oh, I see, she thought, as the point whipped into her mind. So that's the game, is it? Sachiko hid a knowing smile and waited for the next play.

'Are you not concerned for cute little Yumi-chan?'

Sachiko was ready for this, though. Throughout their respective second and third years at school, Sei was constantly touching Yumi and flirting with her to make Sachiko jealous. At first, she thought she'd seen right through it, that it had been to make Sachiko realise that she wanted to protect Yumi by becoming her grande-soeur. Having Sei come here and call her 'cute little Yumi-chan' though, without Yumi around and without the soeur system being a factor just confirmed what shocked Sachiko a moment ago- she hadn't seen through anything.

Sei knows. Sei has always known. And she is here to comfort me.

Sachiko lowered her head, smiling as she closed the book she'd been holding open. She folded her hands over the red rose, grateful for someone's understanding.

Of course, she would never say such a thing. Sei-sama could take gratitude from Yumi and Yumi alone because of how she is. Everyone else, however, was another matter, so Sachiko decided to thank Sei for her cryptic comfort in a way that her senior would understand.

She sat back in her chair nonchalantly and feigned inspection of her well kept nails. 'I'm not worried about my Yumi, Sei-sama. She is virtually in the next room to me.' Sachiko pretended to pick something from the shoulder of her jacket as she flashed a smile at Sei behind hooded eyes, one brow raised. 'It's not as though she's half-way across the world.'

Sei gasped, paled, and finally started laughing. She beat a hand quietly on the table in her mirth. 'Oh, Sachiko-san, I knew that Yumi-chan would be a good influence on you! You are much more fun now!'

Sachiko secretly flushed with pride at winning that hand, finally warming to Sei. She knew that if she looked deeper, she would find that she'd always been fairly jealous of Sei's flamboyant nature and, as of late, her innate sensitivity to Yumi but Sachiko wasn't a fool; she knew that she could trust Sei with her beloved soeur. She wasn't worried about further developments in their friendship; she was envious of how tactile they were together, something that Sachiko could only bring herself to be when Yumi was upset or if they were alone together. It was something she cursed her upbringing for.

Standing, Sei gave a casual salute as a farewell and winked. 'I'll have to come and visit you again, Sachiko-chan, now that you're so interesting to be around.' Now that we understand one another, Sachiko filled in for her. 'And perhaps,' Sei added as a parting shot, 'you will even have finished that page by then, eh? Ciao!'

Sachiko let her eyes roll the tiniest bit and nodded as she watched Sei's leave.

Touché, Sei-san.

Notes: Thanks again for reading this if you did. Please let me know how it reads, if there are any discrepancies with the characters, if I need to revise my writing style a bit, and if you think it is a believable premise that Sachiko has loved Yumi for sometime and that Yumi is still too innocent to think of Sachiko in such a way. I really want to get this one right.

And plot suggestions if you have any, of course.

Thanks