Disclaimer: I do not own Maria-sama Ga Miteru. I own nothing but my own thoughts. Which is dangerous sometimes... *Dun dun DUN!*

A/N: A word about this: This story takes place a full 8-9 years AFTER the Yamayurikai crew have graduated Lillian. So, Yumi is 27, and assorted characters are their respective ages nine years after MariMite.

Hope you enjoy the first chapter!

The Princess and the Sparrow

Chapter 1

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Part 1

"Thank you for waiting. Here is your order." The young-looking girl in a barista uniform said with a smile, handing a paper cup full of dark steaming liquid out to be picked up. Yumi Fukuzawa stepped up to the counter and retrieved the drink, matching the younger girl's smile.

"Thank you very much." Yumi said and backed away from the pick-up counter, making room for an older man to pick up the pair of matching drinks he had ordered.

Making her way towards the corner of the café she frequented at least a few times a week, Yumi set her briefcase, purse, and coffee on the table and slid down into one of the plushy, cream-colored booths alongside the table surface. After making sure she was comfortably settled, she clasped one hand around the warm paper cup, letting the heat seep into her chilled fingers. With her other hand, she retrieved her mobile phone from her coat pocket.

"Now," She mumbled to herself as she keyed the phone to life. "Who texted me?" The clear, brightly colored screen flicked from one background to another as Yumi brought up her messages. There weren't all that many. A few from Yoshino Shimazu, her best friend from Lillian Academy for Women when they both attended there; a handful of messages from Yoshino's cousin, Rei Hasekawa; and one from Shimako Toudou, another friend from school. Finally, at the top of the list, there was a long thread of messages from Touko Matsudaira. Even after a full nine years after graduating high school, Yumi and her old student council friends were still as close as always.

Yumi flicked the screen up to new messages and screwed her face in slight annoyance. "Yuuki…" She sighed. Her brother never really had anything interesting to say when they talked. When he did send her messages or call her, it was usually about business of some sort. At least, she thought ruefully, it was presumably business related...if his writing ever improved. Expanding the message, Yumi shook her head in amusement as she realized she had been correct in her thinking.

Yumi,

Anuther clint wnts 2 hve meating about new desine skeem. Lemme no when iz a gud time 2 schedul sumethin.

Yuuki

"Yumi…" She read off from the message, trying to decipher what her brother was really saying. "Another client wants to have a meeting about the new design scheme. Let me know when is a good time to schedule something." Blinking a few times as she read off the small screen, Yumi couldn't help but sigh in irritation.

Honestly, how old was he?

Her brother's texts were always horrible in grammar, spelling and full of contractions. Not only that, it was clearly done on purpose. Luckily though, he knew better than to do that for business emails or with clients. Only with Yumi did he email like that. She didn't know whether to feel pleased or annoyed. Annoyed, most likely.

Hovering her thumb over the reply toggle, Yumi pursed her lips in thought. She could reply her brother now. But with her nice, hot coffee threatening to cool down and ruin the rest of her day…

She shook her head and keyed off her phone, shoving it back into her coat pocket. Yuuki-baka could keep for another hour, couldn't he?

With a long sigh, Yumi leaned back in her booth and cradled her other hand around her cup. She lifted it to her lips and took a tentative sip. It was scalding; but on a cold day in the middle of January, it was well worth the near-burn she had just now suffered. "I like coffee, I like tea…" She sang softly to herself as she let the steam fog up the lenses of her glasses. "I want coffee to sleep with me."

Stifling a laugh at her own impromptu song, Yumi cast her eyes around the café, taking in the quiet atmosphere of the small restaurant. She had first visited the establishment more than a year ago, and while the employees and regulars changed on occasion, she still liked to spend a few hours there a week. What with her 'busy' daily life, it was all she could do to relax every other day nursing a coffee… some tea and cakes… or sometimes a sandwich as she watched the fuzzy outlines of snow lazily fall outside through the frosted windows.

She had been lucky to stumble across this particular spot. On a day not much more than a year ago, she had been meandering around aimlessly on an equally cold day. As she rounded a corner, the small, yet attractively-designed building filled her vision. At once, Yumi's architect senses tingled, and she knew it was love at first sight. The fact that Yumi found the café visually pleasing beckoned her to enter, and the friendly, intimate feeling of the business let her come again.

At first, she had considered bringing her friends with her to the café. She knew Yoshino and Shimako, and Rei in particular with the girl's love of cute things and small eateries would have loved the place. But something told Yumi to keep the knowledge of the café to herself and herself alone. It would be her place of peace and quiet. A place where no matter how bad things got in her life, she would be able to relax and think.

No matter how bad things got…

Yumi pursed her lips and shook her head. No. She wouldn't think about that now. She had done exceptionally well the past year, and she was determined to keep it that way.

Taking another sip of coffee, Yumi slid off her glasses and, setting them softly on the table, let her eyes drift out towards the window beside her. She couldn't see outside of it, of course… not with the huge difference in temperatures fogging up the glass. Instead, she let her eyes focus on the condensation building up on her side of the window. To her eyes it looked as though she were staring into thick, white clouds.

Truth be told, her eyes were not all that bad. At twenty-seven years old, Yumi was proud to say that her eyesight was better than the majority of the Japanese people. But, considering she was an architect, and she spent the majority of her working hours hunched over a drafting table staring at lines and small measurements, eyeglasses sort of came with the territory.

Slowly, Yumi reached out with her index finger and pressed it to the cold, frosty glass of the window. In a simple motion, she drew a line in the moisture on the glass surface. Pursing her lips, she drew another line, intersecting the first. Then she drew another. And then another. And another. Soon, a solid picture began to take shape in the window, forming the outline of a simple one-story building. Her first line had already begun to fade away as she returned her hand to the warmth of her coffee cup.

Yumi allowed herself a small smile, watching her spontaneous creation fade away into the moisture on the window. If she were to meet herself as a teenager, she would have not really expected that she would have become an architect, as her father was. As a girl, she had never really given any thought to what she would do or what she would be. She simply 'was'.

Yumi's teen years in Lillian Academy for Women, middle school and high school divisions both, had been much the same. She didn't really know what she wanted to do or even what she was good at. Remembering one time as a second year high school student, she told a room full of first year girls that she was most proud of her 'average-ness'. Now that she was older, she couldn't help but laugh at that instance.

Actually, those three years spent in Lillian high school division had been perhaps one of the most influential times of her life. She had met her friends there. Yoshino… Shimako… Rei… Touko… She had joined the student council there; become the student council president in her third year alongside those friends. She had spent many fun and memory-filled days there.

She had also met her there.

Not able to keep the shiver that crept up her spine at the thought, Yumi clenched her coffee cup tightly in her hands, though not tightly enough as to spill her still-hot drink. Determined as she was to avoid that particular line of thought, memories of Lillian were most assuredly going to dredge it up from the depths of her mind.

Nevertheless, her rose-colored days in high school had to end sometime. In the wake of her youth ending, her future loomed ever-more closely in her steps. What would she do? What kind of person would she come to be? All of these things Yumi had never thought about prior to graduating. When it had finally dawned on her that she was pushed into the deep end of life and forced to paddle for herself, it was almost too much for her to take.

In the end, it had been because of her friends and family she had persevered and decided to go to school for architectural design. Forgoing the choice of Lillian University for her studies, Yumi chose a school at her friends' and father's suggestion. It had been hard; those years in university. While the coursework itself was simple enough, the act of 'being' was the difficult part.

After all that had happened after high school and during university, Yumi was shocked that she even survived it all to. No. Shocked wasn't the right word. Thankful was more appropriate. Thankful for everyone that stood by her and didn't abandon her in her darkest moments.

Lifting up her cup of coffee for a drink, Yumi put her mouth on the lip of the drink and tilted her head back-

Only to find that no coffee was left.

Blinking rapidly for a long moment, she stared at her drained cup, a somewhat familiar feeling of unease creeping through her mind. Obviously, she had finished her drink while thinking of times past. The taste of French Roast in her mouth was evidence enough. But the fact that she couldn't remember drinking any of it was eerie in and of itself.

"Again, huh?" She mumbled to herself softly. It wasn't the first time that had happened, and it wouldn't be the last. She would have to let Touko know later.

Pushing herself to her feet, Yumi picked up her purse and briefcase. After putting her glasses back on and making sure her used cup was properly disposed of in the garbage, Yumi took one last look around the small café. There were a few people by themselves; reading, typing away on a computer… a few couples chatting quietly amongst themselves… no one took more than a second glance as Yumi walked towards the front door.

As she opened and closed the door behind her, a small flurry of wind and snow blew in, emitting a cheery jingle from the pair of bells tied to the knob.

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Part 2

Yumi heard her phone buzzing lightly on her dresser as she stepped out of her attached bathroom, a light blue towel wrapped around her body and another around her head. Turning towards the dull rattling sound, she walked over to the blinking phone. She peered down at the display while moving the towel around her head in random directions. It would dry quickly, and at the same time give her hair a good tousle.

What did she care if her hair was a mess? She was home for the night anyway.

The name 'Touko Matsudaira' appeared on her phone's display, along with the accompanying number and area code. Yumi shot a glace up at her wall clock, more out of habit than any real need. She vaguely knew what time it was; Touko made it a point to call Yumi around eight thirty most nights. Tonight, she was making the call at eight thirty-seven.

After weighing the decision to pick up the call or continue to dry herself off, Yumi decided on the latter. She knew Touko would be more understanding than her brother had been earlier that day. Yumi had ended up returning his message a full three hours after he had sent it. He had been quite put out, much to Yumi's bemusement.

Serves him right for using such horrible Japanese in his messages.

After making sure her light brown hair was at least partially dry, Yumi tossed her head-towel onto her bed and picked up her phone. She walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down, keying her now-darkened phone back to life. It was now eight forty-two; a good time to call back Touko.

Yumi tapped the screen of her phone and pressed it to her ear. As she listened to the quiet dial tone, Yumi took a fleeting glance around her room. Her bed, her dresser, a portable drafting table (the larger one was located in her home office), the door to the bathroom and the door into the hallway… aside from a few other assorted furnishings and some clothing scattered around, the room was perfectly bare and practical. The only things that really stood out where a collection of photographs on a bulletin board above her bed.

The photos were assorted pictures of herself, her family and her friends, all in different locations and times. There was a large amount, but it was almost expected of someone like Yumi, who liked to collect pictures of family and friends.

Just as she was considering if her room was actually missing anything, a familiar voice took the place of the ringing in Yumi's ear.

"This is Touko Matsudaira. Who may I ask is calling?"

Yumi smiled to herself at Touko's voice. The young woman knew exactly who was calling. For all her prim properness, the girl loved to be coy. "Hello Touko. It's Yumi."

"Ah. Good evening, Onee-sama. How are you feeling?"

"Very well, thank you." Yumi replied truthfully. Hearing her 'little sister's' voice did always lighten her mood. "I'm sorry I didn't pick up before. I was in the shower."

There was a moment of silence. Then- "I assumed so. It's no problem. How has your day been?"

"It was fine. I spent the morning on the new draft. After lunch I went out for a walk. Yuuki wanted to schedule something like a meeting… but then he got all huffy at me calling him back so late." Yumi relayed the details of his message and her response, eliciting a small laugh from Touko.

It all was pretty scripted, Yumi knew, as she told the younger girl more about her afternoon. Touko would call Yumi in the evening and ask what she did that day. She would talk for a while about what she did, and then ask Touko about her's. Touko would then talk for a bit, all while Yumi listened as attentively as she could. It had been going on this way for a couple years, ever since Yumi had graduated university. She knew exactly why Touko wanted to talk with her so often, and that made her all the more thankful to the younger girl.

"Wow… it sounds like you will be busier than ever." Yumi said into her phone. She heard Touko's sigh and imagined the young woman tugging at her bangs in slight annoyance; a habit she had picked up a number of years ago.

"More or less. But that doesn't matter. If you ever need me, Onee-sama, all you need to do is ask. You are more important."

"More important than a hospital full of patients?" Yumi had to resist a disbelieving snort. Touko was still pursuing her double degrees in medicine and psychology, and therefore was not so much a doctor as she was part-custodian to her grandparent's hospital. Touko's family, when she graduated from Lillian, had agreed to let her take over the hospital when she got her medial doctorate. Until then, her grandfather would keep the hospital running and wait for her to finish. Touko attended school full time for a double doctorate as well as work at the hospital, gaining as much experience as she can.

That and take care of me in her off hours… The thought sent Yumi's mind into a darker place. As quickly as it had happened, though, Touko's voice cut through the fog of her mind like a knife.

"You know the answer to that, Onee-sama." Her voice was quiet, but that didn't make it any less serious. "You know how important you are to me."

"… I know." Yumi said after a long moment. "I'm sorry."

"It's quite alright." She could practically hear Touko shrug. "Well, anything else you want to talk about?" Yumi opened her mouth to say no when another thought occurred to her. She had forgotten about it until just now.

"Actually, yes. I… I blacked out again today."

There was silence on the other line for a few long seconds.

"I see."

"But, it wasn't really a black out. I just kind of… zoned out I guess? I kind of felt like I blacked out, but without the blacking out part." It even sounded silly to Yumi. But Touko's voice came back as serious as ever.

"I think I understand. What were you doing at the time?"

"I was drinking a coffee in-" Yumi hesitated for a moment. Even though Touko was essentially her little sister, Yumi wasn't quite ready to share her special place with her just yet. "-In a coffee house this afternoon. I was thinking, holding a full cup of coffee, and when I realized it, it was all gone. I didn't really remember drinking it all."

"Were… were you thinking about…" Touko trailed off, knowing Yumi would pick up on her meaning.

Touko meant if she were thinking about her.

"No… well, not really." Yumi admitted quietly. "I was actually thinking of the old days at Lillian. All of us, you know? So I guess she was there too, yea?"

"I see. Do you want to schedule an appointment with Doctor Kimigura?"

Yumi pursed her lips. She had just seen Emi Kimigura two weeks ago. She usually met with her psychologist once a month, give or take a week. It was just a little soon to visit again.

"No. I think it can wait another week or two. What do you think?"

Touko was silent for a few moments on the other line before answering. "If that is what you think, Onee-sama. But please let me know if anything else happens."

"Of course, Touko." Yumi promised. She could feel the woman's smile, even through her phone. It made her heart feel lighter than it had felt for a while. "I think that's about it, then. Same time tomorrow?"

"If you like, Onee-sama." Touko said lightly. Yumi laughed and shook her head. 'If you like' was actually a private joke between the two women. First started during Yumi's time in university, 'If you like' really meant 'every day, forever'. Being Touko's idea, it had often surprised Yumi how much of a romantic the girl was.

"You know, Touko…" Yumi said. "You are twenty-six years old. We graduated Lillian years ago. You don't have to call me 'Onee-sama' anymore." She knew she was preaching to the choir, but again, Yumi knew what the reply would be.

"Of course I know that, Onee-sama. You tell me often." From the tone of her voice, Yumi could tell that Touko was sporting her trademark smirk. "Have a lovely night."

"Good night, Touko." Yumi said and, with a sigh, keyed off her phone and tossed it on her bed. Taking another look at the clock, she noticed it had just passed nine o'clock. Allowing herself a small smile, Yumi traded her towel for a long t-shirt and panties and made her way to the living room, where her television awaited.

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Part 3

"Well, I must admit, I really like what I see, Fukuzawa-san." The man said, nodding appreciatively at the book of samples he just finished looking through. Pushing the book back to Yumi, he leaned back in his chair. "I can see why I was referred to you."

"Thank you very much, Onoga-san." Yuuki lowered his head in a bow beside Yumi, who mirrored her brother's action. "We are extremely pleased that you like our work."

Our work?

Yumi felt her eyebrow twitch. Yuuki hadn't picked up a drafting pencil since he graduated. But the client didn't really need to know that. Their father still did a lot, but he was slowly pushing more of the work onto his children in order to prepare for them taking over the Fukuzawa family business. Yuuki mainly concentrated on management and interacting with the clients, whereas Yumi did most of the designing herself. It was fine with her; she and Yuuki were sticking to their strengths. She wasn't really good with people the way Yuuki was.

She liked the isolation of the drafting table. Less time for acting and more time for thinking.

"Can we expect to be working with you, in that case?" Yuuki pressed Onoga politely. The older man scratched his stubble in a contemplative fashion for a few moments, casting his eyes between the two siblings. He 'hummed' to himself while he looked over Yuuki's features, and Yumi had to work to keep her business visage up when the man looked over her own face. After making up his mind, he nodded.

"I think we can expect great things." He said with a wide smile. "I would love my summer home to be designed by the Fukuzawas." With that, everyone stood up and exchanged handshakes.

"Thank you very much, Onoga-san." Yumi and Yuuki said together, causing the man to guffaw heartily.

"Gaha! You two certainly are twins! How excellent!"

After exchanging a few more crucial bits of information and deciding on their next meeting, Onoga bid the Fukuzawa siblings a goodbye and left the restaurant, leaving the pair to finish at their leisure. After a few seconds, Yuuki stretched his arms with a loud sigh.

"That went well! Awesome!" He said, grinning widely. He leaned over and ribbed Yumi, causing her to recoil back on her side of the booth. "Come on! Smile! We got the deal!"

Yumi stuffed her book of samples into her briefcase and took a sip from her glass of iced tea, her face stiff. "I know. I am happy, Yuuki." Even to her own ears, she didn't sound happy. Yuuki raised an eyebrow and frowned back as Yumi.

"Oh, yea. You sound ecstatic." He said sardonically, his smile sliding off his face. "Just wanna go out and jump for joy. Go and shout your joy to the world, right? Happy happy." He picked at his rice with a fork, a suddenly uncomfortable look creeping into his features. After a long moment, he sighed and put down his fork. "Alright, Yumi, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Really. I am. But Onoga-san is a really important client. We can't just turn him down because of…" He trailed off, waving his hand as if to emphasis his point. What point that was, Yumi could guess.

"You should have given me some kind of warning." She said softly, taking another moment to sip another half-mouthful of tea. "I wasn't really ready for that."

"I know. I'm sorry. I thought… well, I thought if I told you, you would have said no to the deal."

"It would have crossed my mind. But I am not a child, Yuuki. I would not have turned down a client simply because of a silly reason like that." Yumi willed her voice to keep as steady as she could, but it was a near thing.

"I understand. I just thought that because Onoga-san does business with the Ogasawaras, you-" The sound of Yumi slamming her glass on the table stopped Yuuki from finishing his sentence. Instead, he shook his head and sighed. "Shit. I'm sorry. I'll shut up now."

Yumi set her eyes on her brother's, a withering glare straining the muscles in her face. For a long moment, she kept her glare on her brother. But, because she didn't exercise her angry muscles very often, and due to the pitiful face of fake shame her brother was making to make her feel better, she relaxed with a tired smile.

"God, you look so damn pathetic when you're sorry." She said with a snort. She picked up a napkin and slowly dabbled at her hand, now a bit wet from spilt tea. Yuuki seemed to relax his shoulders and grinned back at Yumi.

"You know I look cute, though, right?"

"Just as cute as me, baaaaaaka. We're twins."

"Yea, but I'm the cuter one."

"Whatever." Yumi said, standing up with her bag. "I'm off. Call me later, alright?"

"No problem. I'll call you after I work out the details about the new deal." Yuuki snapped his fingers, suddenly remembering something. "Oh yea. Mom and Dad wanted to have dinner with us this weekend. Touko-san's invited, too. I'll pick you up?"

"Nah. Touko can drive me. See you then." Yumi waved to her brother and exited the restaurant in a brisk walk.

As she left the building and walked out into the cold, mid-January air, Yumi cupped her hands to her face and exhaled a breath of warm air into them. She watched the fog from her breath seep through her fingers and distantly thought if choosing to buy her first home had been a better choice than a car, as her brother opted for. At times like this, when Yumi had to rely on public transportation or her friends and family to transport her in the cold snowy air, she envied those who drove. But, when she got home that evening and could relax in her own home, watching her own television in her underwear, it made it all worth it.

Screw having a car. Her house was so much better.

Watching her bus approach up the road, Yumi fingered her phone in her coat pocket. She had a few good hours of free time, and considered calling someone to fill the gap. As the bus groaned and stopped in front of her, Yumi stepped up into the heated vehicle with thoughts of her friends floating through her mind.

First on her mental list was Yoshino Shimazu. Her best friend would be a perfect companion, even over the phone, to pass the time. That is… if she wasn't working at that particular moment. After graduating Lillian University, the vibrant girl had gone back to their old high school as a new teacher. Quite young to be an instructor of high school students, but her record at school as well as university allowed for some leeway. She spent her days teaching literature, both modern and (what she preferred to go into detail about) classic literature. She loved going on and on about old samurai epics and detective stories with her students, even if those pieces weren't part of the curriculum. She still had plenty of time on the weekends, luckily. She and Yumi often went out to various places during those times.

Next was Shimako Toudou. While not as close to Yumi as Yoshino was, Shimako was still a very good friend to her. Completely surprising everyone, when the girl graduated University she joined a famous law firm. No one ever noticed that the quiet, beautiful, and temple-raised Rosa Gigantea has an interest in law. But, even so, Shimako excelled brilliantly as a lawyer. One of the few that Yumi actually liked, humorously (or not so humorously) enough. This caused the girl's working hours to be somewhat sporadic, which often gave her and Yumi time to catch up during lunch.

Rei Hasekura was also definitely towards the top of the list. Or would be… if she, like her cousin, weren't teaching. Now a physical education teacher for a few different schools, the older girl had even less free time than Yoshino. But, even with how busy she usually was, Rei never failed in responding whenever Yumi wanted to talk or send an email.

Touko, of course, was out of the question. The younger woman was busy enough as it was, what with classes during the day and working at her grandfather's hospital in her spare time. Additionally, from what Touko said, the busy girl also made time to get together with her own petite soeur from Lillian from time to time. Yumi had no idea how the girl even managed it all. If it were Yumi, she would have cracked long ago.

Hell, thought Yumi as she watched the passing street signs and intersections through the foggy windows of the bus, I did crack… and I didn't even have the pressure that Touko has. Then again… that had been for completely different reasons.

Suddenly, with her thoughts threatening to turn depressing again, Yumi decided that she needed a coffee... and maybe some cake. And a cookie or two. And it just so happened the bus was currently stopping at the right place to get it.

As the bus coasted to a stop, Yumi stepped up to the opening door and hopped of the bus, careful to keep her footing on the sidewalk. The snow was well-cared for on the walkways, but it paid to tread lightly. Yumi watched her bus disappear down the road for a few moments, and then looked around to gain her bearings. After finding the right direction to take, she set off.

It didn't take long, maybe a few minutes of walking, to finally find her favorite café. As she got closer, she could see the pleasantly decorated outside of the building. The owner still hadn't taken down the Christmas decorations (a "huge hassle", the older woman reasoned), and the strings of differently colored lights beckoned to passersby to come and partake of whatever it was that happened to be brewing at any particular moment.

As she approached the front door, Yumi set her taste buds into 'coffee mode' and pulled the door open.

"Ah!"

"Uwah!"

The first thing Yumi saw was a mass of dark hair fill her vision. She then felt a light impact on her body and at once, the world seemed to spin upside down. Somewhere in the back of her mind, as she felt her back hit the ground, Yumi had the distinct feeling of déjà vu.

For a few short moments, the world was a dizzy kaleidoscope of light and dark. Yumi blinked a few times, and silently thanked herself that her glasses were in her purse. As her vision focused and her vertigo abated, she became aware that a heavy weight was on her body, pushing on both her stomach and her breast.

"Oh my! Are you alright?" She heard a voice call out. Again, the feeling of déjà vu continued.

"Wa…?" She felt her own voice croak, suddenly aware that the dark thing in her eyes was a mass of hair. "Who?" Then, the pressure lifted off of her chest, and she could breathe again.

"I'm sorry! I crushed you. Are you alright?"

As the pressure lifted from her body, so did the mess of hair. Suddenly able to see and move, Yumi pushed herself up on her elbows and looked up-

To see a face Yumi hadn't seen in years.

"O-Onee-sama?!" Yumi sputtered reflexively.

After speaking, Yumi's breath caught in her throat and her entire body seemed to freeze. Her coat and trousers were warm for winter weather, but it still felt as though she had jumped chest-first into a powdery snow bank naked.

Even as Yumi's mind numbly tried to reason that the girl couldn't possibly be who she thought it was, her eyes couldn't match it. Sharp, regal-looking and beautiful face. Long, dark hair spilling down her back and falling down beside her face. Piercing, dark blue eyes. There was little mistake. It looked exactly like her.

It was just impossible.

"Are you alright?"

The voice sent a prickly sensation through Yumi's ears and into her brain. It was the same exact voice as she remembered. She, more that anyone, would know this voice; this calm, controlled, and lovely voice.

Yumi stared, her eyes wide, at the women kneeling a couple feet away from her. Even after nine whole years of not seeing her in person, Yumi could still distinctively recognize her. Even after nine long years, she still had the same long, black hair. She still had dark, piercing blue eyes. Her face, though more mature-looking, was still the same beautiful face she had grown to love in high school. Her voice was still the same cool, calm and collected voice she heard every time she shut out the noises of the world.

She was exactly as she remembered.

It was Sachiko Ogasawara.

Yumi's Onee-sama.

The girl who left Yumi alone in the world.

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Updated 1/16/13 - Some spacing and spelling

A/N: A good start, I think. Plenty of questions to ask and lots of places to go. I'll tell you now though... it won't go in the direction you are thinking. ^.^

But PLEASE! Speculate! Guess! I love guesses and speculations! *Snicker*

Read and review, my peeps! I hiiiighly appreciate any and all critiques and praise (even constructive criticism... after I finish crying, of course) If people like this story, I'll continue it :-)

Peace!