A/N: Phew, I've been idle for more than a month and still haven't finished anything. This story, which was written along with the first two Excapades, was supposed to be revised and included in a longer story but sad to say, I wasn't in the mood to write during my absence (I'm more in the mood to read and that was what I did during this past month and it's what still am doing right now even if my eyes hurt ;) and so I decided to just post this story as it is. This kind of story may be common but I still thought it's worthy of my time when I wrote it. This is just a two-chapter story and I'll just have to edit the next chapter to lessen the grammatical errors (or I might lengthen it just like what I did with Excapade 2) before posting.

Oh well, on with my 15th story. Remember, if I own MSGM, then it wouldn't be a fanfic anymore. Sigh…

Be warned. Read at your own risk!

"Excapade (A) 03: Piece of Cake"

--Arvendell—

Chapter 1

"Yumi…Yumi…Yumi!"

Fukuzawa Yumi gasped as she looked around in surprised, only to meet her Onee-sama's, Ogasawara Sachiko's, frowning face. Her cheeks colored as she realized that Sachiko caught her daydreaming again.

Sachiko sighed as she muttered, "Honestly, Yumi."

Yumi blinked, then looked around once again.

"Onee-sama, where are the others?"

Once again, Sachiko sighed.

"They had been gone for quite some time now, Yumi. You should pay attention all the time. What are you daydreaming about anyway?"

"I…"

Yumi looked away. How could she possibly tell Sachiko that she had been daydreaming about her, like many times before? Instead of saying that, she said meekly, "I'm sorry, Onee-sama, it wouldn't happen again."

Sachiko gazed at her for a moment before a smile broke her face.

"I'm glad. You make me worry sometimes when you're like that."

Yumi wanted to kick herself at that. Again, she made Sachiko worry with her stupidity. Must she be always like that? She didn't like Sachiko being worried, especially if the caused of that worry was she.

Nonetheless, no matter how much Yumi tried, the scene repeated itself most of the time. Just like yesterday, and the day before yesterday, last week, or for how long that she could remember, she was spacing out again, and Sachiko would bring her back to reality with worry. And once again, she would scold herself for causing her Onee-sama worry.

This had to be stopped, Yumi thought as she lay awake that night. She had to do something. She had to stop Sachiko from worrying about her. She had to stop spacing out to not worry Sachiko. And to do that, she must solve the root of the problem first, which had something to do with Sachiko, too. She couldn't get her out of her mind. All she could think about was Sachiko. At school or at home, Sachiko's image filled her mind and made her heart race. And she wanted to see her everyday if possible.

What was going on with her? Was she in love with Sachiko? She knew that she loved her. But in loved? Was she?

She wasn't really sure.

---o—

Sachiko gazed at Yumi's faraway look. Again, Yumi was spacing out, making her worry at times. Although Yumi kept on saying that she was alright, it still didn't stop her from worrying.

Did Yumi have problems at home? But that was impossible. She had met Yumi's brother and parents and they were all kind and loving people.

Did Yumi have problems in school? Sure Yumi was doing average in her classes, but still, she could make it, she could do her assignments and pass her exams through hard work. However, if Yumi would keep on spacing out like that, then she would be in trouble with her studies. But what was bothering Yumi?

Unconsciously, Sachiko had stopped writing and instead stared at the person across the table. She and Yumi were alone at the Rose Mansion. The other members of the Yamayurikai and their friends, Hasekura Rei and Shimazu Yoshino, were in kendo club, and Toudou Shimako and Nijou Noriko went home early.

She studied Yumi's face for some time. Yumi maybe unaware of it, but she really was beautiful. Her soft brown eyes were framed with long brown lashes. And she had delicate jaw. And she had kissable, red lips. She blushed at her last thought. What was she thinking? Why was it that whenever Yumi came into her mind, it didn't miss to accompany the thoughts of Yumi's lips. Did she desire Yumi?

Maybe.

There were times that she had an urge to kiss those lips, especially whenever Yumi bestowed her a beautiful smile. Yumi didn't have an ugly smile, though. And she smiled and laughed a lot. So, did that mean that she desired Yumi all the time that they were together?

Yumi's voice brought Sachiko out of her reverie.

"Onee-sama, are you alright?" Yumi asked, a little worried. Was something wrong with Sachiko that she was spacing out, too?

"Of course I am, Yumi. Shall we go home now?"

"Are you sure? Your face is red, Onee-sama."

If Sachiko's cheeks were already red, then it turned even redder at Yumi's words. Chiding herself, she denied it and stood from her chair rather stiffly, which made Yumi cringed with worry, with fear, that she had angered her Onee-sama when in truth she hadn't.

Despite her worry though, Yumi couldn't help but think that Sachiko looked adorable with her flushed cheeks. It made her wanting to touch it, and kiss it. Her expression turned into shock at the thought of kissing Sachiko. Did she desire Sachiko? She asked herself. Of course you did, her mind responded. And you wanted to do more than kiss her. At that thought, her face flamed red with embarrassment, which soon turned into mortification when she realized that Sachiko was staring at her. Did Sachiko read what she just thought?

Yumi stood up in hurry and tidied her things, then in trembling voice said, "L-let's go, Onee-sama."

"Yumi, what is the matter with you?" Sachiko asked. She saw Yumi's face turned red, then into horror and fear. Was Yumi afraid of her? Did Yumi read what she thought earlier and was now scared of her?

Seeing Sachiko's again worried face, Yumi shook her head as she said that nothing was wrong with her. And how she and Sachiko parted that day, it was all in a blur for her, for all she could think about was the realization that she desired Sachiko, that she wanted her, to be with her.

Now she couldn't really sleep as she thought more about Sachiko.

In another place, in another bed, someone couldn't sleep either.

Sachiko couldn't sleep. Again, her mind was full of Yumi. Surely Yumi's face was full of fear earlier. However, she also saw something there that wasn't making her sleep.

Desire.

She saw it flashed Yumi's eyes earlier. Did Yumi desire her just as she desired her? Did they both feel the same thing?

She had to make sure. She would need to talk to Yumi. But how was she going to start? She couldn't just ask Yumi outright if she desires her. What if she scared her? Or worse, what if her assumption was wrong and Yumi would turn away from her? She couldn't bear that. And also, where was she going to talk to Yumi?

At the Rose Mansion?

Someone might just walk in.

At the greenhouse?

No. That wasn't a good place either.

How about inviting Yumi here, at the mansion? This would be a good place. But on what pretext her invitation would be?

A/N: There you have the first part ;)

Have a nice day!

08 July 2008