"The Troubling Meddling Mother's"

Characters: Ogasawara Sachiko, Fukuzawa Yumi, Ogasawara Sayako, Fukuzawa Miki.

A/N: (07/20/2014) Just reviewing and updating this lovely story. Maria-sama ga Miteru and the associated characters herein are property of their respective owners and the honorable Oyuki Konno. I own nothing except the Fan Fiction story concept written below. The author wishes to thank Oyuki-sama for creating such a beautiful world. And for graciously allowing those of us who enjoy it to come and play in it on occasion. This is my first attempt at story writting ever. Please enjoy and feel free to leave constructive comments and advice.

-Chapter 1 -

Fukuzawa Yumi was sitting silently in her front room. She had been gazing out the windows, lost in her thoughts for some time. She had come to the unsettling realization that she could not keep the feelings she had for her onee-sama bottled up much longer. Her onee-sama. That thought always brought a smile to Yumi's face. The name that could take her breath away just by hearing it.

Ogasawara Sachiko.

Lillian's famed Ice Princess was occupying her thoughts most of the time these days. As she sat musing on how to tell Sachiko those unspoken feelings, her mind was filled with many questions. Among the many she was contemplating: 'How will Sachiko react? What if Sachiko rejects my feelings? How will my mom and dad take the news? How will my friends in the Yamayurikai feel about it? How will Sachiko's parents and grandfather react?' And most troubling: 'What effect will this have on Sachiko's engagement and impending marriage?'

Without realizing it, Yumi had been constantly ruminating on the subject every moment she was not actively engaged in an activity. So much so that she appeared to be nearly catatonic by anyone observing her. Even at school, everyone had noted her distance. Out of respect for her status as Rosa Chinesis en Buton, none of her classmates had said anything. Even the Yamayurikai were worried that their normally bubbly and outgoing friend had seemed more and more withdrawn. So much so that even Sachiko had become more distant. Something was obviously going on, but none of them felt they should interfere.

As she sat staring out the front room windows, her mother Miki was sitting across from her quietly knitting. She had taken note of her daughter's pensive behavior. Mostly because she was not paying much attention to anything. This was made clear by the fact that Yumi's gaze had not strayed from the windows for more than two hours, nor had she paid attention to her favorite magazine. Which was laying in her lap, still open to the first page.

In an effort to discern what was bothering her daughter, Miki asked; "Yumi, what is wrong?"

As Yumi continued looking out the window, she replied, "Ano, it is nothing mother. Just..." Yumi then lapsed back into silence without explaining further. Audibly sighing Miki pressed on, "Well, it is obvious something is wrong Yumi. Please tell me what you are thinking."

Yumi continued to stare without answering for several seconds. "It's nothing mom, nothing that I can talk about now."

As she watched her daughter, Miki thought 'It's unusual for Yumi to not talk about a problem she has. It must be serious.' She then told her daughter, "Well, when you decide that you do want to talk about it, you know that you can come to me on anything. No matter what it is."

Yumi replied. "Yes, I do." She then lapsed into a typical Lillian response. "I am sorry to have troubled you. I am not ready to discuss it at this time. And you are certainly not ready to hear it."

As she was saying those words, Yumi's gaze had shifted to the table next to her. She stopped and focused on the 'Discipline' photo taken by Takeshima Tsutako. It was of the moment she and Sachiko had first met in front of Maria-sama's statue. She looked momentarily at it before returning to gazing out the window. Miki noted Yumi's brief glance at the photograph, but said nothing as she quietly stood and left the room. She began wondering if there could be something wrong between Yumi and Sachiko. She knew of no recent disagreements or misunderstandings between the pair. Aside from her constant contemplations, Yumi appeared to be happy. Yet she also had an air of sadness about her. Miki concluded that she would have to speak with her son before pondering the issue any further. She then proceeded upstairs to Yuuki's room.

-0-0-

Sachiko Ogasawara's thoughts on that matter were not far different at that very moment. She was tossing and turning restlessly as she was dreaming. Though her dream was a nightmare involving Yumi. She sensed that Yumi was some how in trouble, but try as she might, Sachiko couldn't seem to find her. When she did catch a fleeting glance of Yumi, she could never quite reach her. Suddenly, she heard Yumi screaming in distress before going quiet. Sachiko shouted "YUMI!" as loud as she could muster in a vain attempt to get her to respond. As her scream subsided in her ears, Sachiko became aware that she was sitting up in her own bed. The early afternoon sun was playing across the drapes covering the open terrace doors in her room. Comforted by the fact that she had been asleep, she shook her head to clear the disturbing nightmare. She reached for the pitcher beside her bed and poured herself a glass of water. She then stood and crossed the room and sat down by the open doors while she drank the contents of the glass.

Putting her glass down, she put on the headphones of her mp3 player and selected one of Yumi's favorite songs to help settle her nerves. Anything involving Yumi seemed to have that effect on her. Something she had become more and more aware of. Picking up a picture frame from the table next to her, she began fondly stroking the face of the person in the photograph. It was another picture taken by Takeshima Tsutako of Yumi. It had been taken near the greenhouse from an agle as Yumi had stood in front of Sachiko. In it, Yumi was smiling up at her for some forgotten reason. She smiled to herself as she loved seeing that look on her petite-soeur's face. She then turned her gaze out across the terrace into the distance as she absent mindedly continued to stroke the picture. Her thoughts turned to what was most troubling her, 'There are so many things that I want to tell you and share with you my love. How do I even begin to tell you everything that is in my heart? Especially, when you have been so very distant lately.' Sighing, she asked out loud, "Yumi, my most precious person. Why can I not tell you what I need to?"

Peering from the slightly open bedroom door, Ogasawara Sayako silently observed her daughter. She had been walking past Sachiko's room when she had clearly heard Sachiko yelling for Yumi. After seeing that her daughter was okay, she had listened in to find out what had brought Sachiko into such a panicked state. Sayako quietly shut the door without disturbing Sachiko and began walking down the hallway.

'What is going on between her and Yumi? Why is it giving Sachiko such bad dreams?' she pondered. Her thoughts continued on. 'And what was the meaning behind what Sachiko just said?' This was not normal for Sachiko. 'If I didn't know any better, I'd say that she was behaving like a teen crushing on her first love.' Pausing for a second she admitted to herself; 'Well, despite her maturity, she IS a teenager. So it is expected that she would have a crush at some point.'

Remembering how Sachiko was fondly holding Yumi's picture, she pondered further; 'I wonder what is bothering her that she needs to tell Yumi abo...' Sayako's thoughts suddenly coalesced together and hit her like a brick wall. She abruptly stopped and grabbed the table next to her as she gasped and turned pale. Sayako had the clear realization of what was bothering her daughter. Sachiko WAS crushing on someone, and that someone was Fukuzawa Yumi.

Looking back towards Sachiko's room, her mind raced through the implications. 'Could it be that my daughter likes...girls? Or at the very least likes Yumi-chan?' She needed to think on the repercussions that this revelation would have on her family, their businesses, and the as-yet-unscheduled marriage to Kashiwagi Suguru. 'This could be very bad.' she thought to herself as she continued down the hall towards her study.

-0-0-

Several days had passed since Miki's talk with Yumi. Yumi was still moping around in a semi-catatonic state at home. She was obviously still deep in thought over whatever issue was troubling her. But try as she might, Miki still could not get Yumi to tell her what was going on. Her conversation with Yuuki on the matter had not faired any better. There was something to be said for sibling's keeping secrets. As Yumi and Yuuki said goodbye and left for school, Miki decided that it was time for her to look into daughter's affairs. To settle her own mind if nothing else. She reached for the phone and placed a call.

A few moments later Sayako Ogasawara took the phone her butler was holding out to her. "Moshi-moshi, this is Sayako." she said into the phone. The voice on the other end identified herself as Miki Fukuzawa. 'Ah. Yumi-chan's mother.' Sayako quickly recalled. Miki began the conversation by saying "I am terribly sorry to bother you Sayako-sama, but there is something that I urgently need to discuss with you. It's about Yumi and Sachiko. Has Sachiko been acting any different lately?"

Sayako thought carefully before answering; "Now that you mention it, yes she has." Miki continued on, "Have you noticed any problems between them? Or did something happened between her and Yumi? I only ask because Yumi has been acting rather odd lately. I believe that it has something to do with Sachiko-chan, but Yumi refuses to discuss the issue. Would you know anything?"

"Miki-san, I am not aware of any serious issues between them." Sayako replied. "But there is a matter that I would like to discuss with you. However, I think it would be best if we talked in person. Preferrably someplace that neither Sachiko nor Yumi are likely to see us."

Mikki wondered what could be so important as to require a personal visit by Sayako-sama. Miki thought for a moment. "Okay, ano, how about Inokashira Park, near the shopping district? I can be there at one o'clock." Sayako replied; "That would be acceptable. I will see you there then." As they said their goodbyes and hung up, Sayako began wondering if she was doing the right thing by discussing what she knew about Sachiko's behavior. After hearing Miki's brief description of her daughter's behavior, she suspected Sachiko and Yumi's feelings were likely mutual. It had also become obvious to Sayako that neither girl had admitted their feelings to the other.

Several hours later at Inokashira Park, Sayako felt nervous as she saw Miki approaching the bench she was sitting on. She was still having second thoughts about interferring in an issue that should be between Sachiko and Yumi. But she had already committed to the meeting with Miki so she would stay the course for now. "Konichi wa, Sayako-sama. I trust you are well?" Miki said as she sat down beside Sayako."Konichi wa Miki-san. Yes, I am. Arigato." Sayako replied.

"I am sorry for troubling you earlier." Miki began. "However, I felt it could not wait any longer." Sayako looked at her companion, "Miki-san, where our daughters are concerned, it is never a trouble to discuss any issues that you may have. Tooru and I both adore Yumi-chan like she is family." Mikki smiled before replying, "I am glad to hear that. Yuuichirou and I feel the same about Sachiko-chan." Sayako returned a smile before continuing by saying "So, let us begin with what you have seen with Yumi-chan of late."

Miki began giving Sayako a brief description of Yumi's state of existance and her frequent staring at either the 'Discipline' photo or at nothing at all. Miki repeated her suspicion that whatever it was had something to do with Sachiko. Yumi's continuing refusal of any discussion was definitely out of character and only served to underline the seriousness of the matter. She finished by telling Sayako of Yumi's odd remark that Miki was not ready to hear about it.

As Sayako listened to Miki's story, she remembered how Sachiko fawned over Yumi's photo. "Yumi may be right about that." Sayako replied before telling Miki about the incident with Sachiko's nightmare a few days before. "I suspect Miki-san, that our daughter's feelings towards each other have dramatically changed."

Assuming the worst, Miki's face paled. "Oh no, I didn't know that their friendship had become strained. Do you know what happened? Does this mean that they may not be soeurs anymore?" Sayako patted Miki's hand to console her as she said, "No Miki-san. Their friendship is intact and as strong as ever. What I meant is that their bond may have become...deeper than that."

"Deeper?" Miki asked, looking confused. Sayako took a deep breath before stating her own suspicions. "Miki-san, I...I believe Sachiko and Yumi are...in love." Miki pondered Sayako's statement for a second. Then to clarify what Sayako said asked, "They are in love...with?" Continuing the thought for Miki, Sayako replied, "With each other."

Miki stared at Sayako blankly. Her mind initially rejected the idea. But as she processed everything she had witnessed and been told again, her mind also came back to the same conclusion. "Oh. Ooh...I see. Hmmm. I think Yuuki...was trying to tell me that." Sayako noticed that Miki did not seem to be very shocked by her statement.

"Yuuki-san knew about this?" she asked. "I think so Sayako-sama." Miki replied. "In fact, I suspect that he was trying to avoid talking about Yumi's personal affairs at all when I asked him about her recent activities. He did seem rather uncomfortable when I asked if she was seeing or dating anyone. He has not acted that way before. The only thing he did mention was that Yumi was not interested in any boys." At that memory, Miki paused momentarily before finishing with; "I must be a bad mother if I am still clueless after my son practically spells it out for me." Miki looked down at her lap, her face flush with embarassment.

Sayako patted Miki on her shoulder as she said, "Then I guess we both fall into that category. I have had Sachiko a year longer than you have had Yumi. I just figured it out for myself several days ago. So please don't feel bad about that. The question before us now is; What, if anything, can we do about it?" She noted Miki nodding her head in agreement. "I suspect that neither Yumi nor Sachiko are aware of the true feelings of the other, nor have they discussed it. Which is why they are now in this sad state of affairs. So, do we allow this to continue? Do we separate or discourage them? Can we even acknowledge that we are aware that they wish to be more than 'sisters'?" Sayako looked to Miki for her reaction.

Miki's eyes glazed over as she thought for several seconds before replying. "I do not know how you or Tooru-sama feel about, well, same sex attraction. It is not something that I have any experience with, nor do I recall ever having those kind of feelings for another woman." Miki paused briefly. "It is not something that I would choose for Yumi as her mother." Miki's gaze was seemingly transfixed to the pavement in front of them. Like her daughter, a multitude of thoughts were crossing her face as she searched for an answer.

Sayako then rephrased her question; "So, now that you know about their feelings and given their assumed sexual orientation, would a relationship between Sachiko and Yumi bother you?" Miki looked up at Sayako and did not hesitate in her answer. "No. That is not my choice to make. This is Yumi's path to follow. She must make the choices that best suit her. As long as she is healthy, happy and safe, it is not my concern. As I said before, from my point of view I know and adore Sachiko. Even if Yuuichirou and I were to treat her as we would a male suitor, we know that she comes from a good family, she treats Yumi exceptionally well and has a strong ethical background. All I can say is... I would be unable to find a reason to oppose Yumi on this matter."

Hearing the answer she was seeking, Sayako smiled again. "We are in agreement then. Except in my case, I know it to be futile to oppose Sachiko on any matter. She is as stubborn as her father in that regard." Sayako said laughing. "I feel the same way about Sachiko's choice of Yumi. It has been clear from the beginning that these two were meant to be together. Although, I never imagined them as a couple. I remember that Yumi was the only person who was able to reach Sachiko after my mother died. If not for her, I know I would have most certainly lost my daughter too." Sayako shuddered, remembering how unconsolable her daughter had been, before continuing, "When I figured out that Sachiko had such feelings for Yumi, naturally my first thoughts were of how this would negatively affect the family, and our businesses, and how we would be viewed by others. That this will bring serious trouble for everyone involved is an understatement. But, every time I start thinking of those two being together, I just cannot stop smiling."

Miki laughed in agreement. "I know what you mean. Yumi and Sachiko each have the ability to light up a room simply by being in it. But when those two are together, their combined brilliance outshines even the sun. It's like they are the center of the known universe for everyone around them. It is such a beautiful sight." Sayako smiled at Miki's description, then sombered up. "Miki-san, you and I both know that even in this modern day and age, that society will not go easy on them." Sayako could see sadness in Miki's eyes as she replied, "Yes, I know. It will be so difficult for them."

Turning to face Miki more directly, Sayako leaned towards her and then spoke in a conspiratorial voice, asking; "So, Miki-san, what can two meddling mothers do to get their love-sick children together and make their lives a just little easier for the immediate future?"

-0-0-