A/N: Definition of FanFic: FICTION (a non realistic story) made by a FAN (an ardent follower and admirer) of another person's work, using that person's ideas to make an original story. As such, the only thing the FAN owns is their respective original story and original characters; NOT the object(s) of their FANdom.
Yumi entered the Yamayurikai office and was immediately surrounded; Sachiko smiling contentedly, Rei laughing slightly as she held back Yoshino from running over Yumi in an emotional fit. Looking from one face to another, Yumi couldn't help but smile for a moment, a warm, affectionate smile. Everybody else gasped. It was the first time Yumi had truly smiled in over a month.
Shimako was more than a little angry. And to make matters worse, she wasn't sure who to be angry with. Skipping the meeting, she was so upset that she didn't even notice the girls that stopped to say goodbye to her as she stalked off.
This was no longer something that she had the ability to handle. This was much bigger. But even in her anger, she didn't want to go to an outsider for help; she felt like she would be betraying Yumi. So, Shimako went to the person she knew who cared for Yumi almost as much as she did and also knew about this kind of situation.
And that's how Shimako Todo found herself inside Sei Sato's apartment.
"So, what is it that's bothering you?" Sei asked, handing Shimako a cup of tea. It was rare that Shimako came to her apartment, so whatever it was that was bothering her must really be something.
"I apologize for coming all of a sudden, Onee-sama. I just felt that you were the only person that I could rely on to make a good judgment in this situation. It's about Yumi-san. She has been very depressed lately. Also, she's becoming very withdrawn, to the point where she won't even let someone touch her anymore. And recently, she disappeared for a week without even telling Sachiko-Sama." Shimako placed her bag on the table and began rummaging through it.
"I'd think that this would be something that Sachiko, or even you and Yoshino would be able to talk with Yumi about. But I'm guessing that there's something much deeper involved, isn't there Shimako. Something not even Sachiko would be able to handle..?"
Her petite soeur nodded, handing her a photograph that she had gotten from Tsutako earlier, purposefully not looking at the picture.
As soon as her eyes narrowed while looking at the picture, Shimako expected her Onee-sama to rush out the door to her car, intending to confront Yumi on the spot, no matter where or who was around her.
If this situation had occurred a year ago, Sei might have done just that. However, in the past year Sei Sato had matured much more than anyone else in her graduating year. 'Onee-sama was never this calm before,' Shimako thought, 'after meeting Yumi-san, she's calmed down and become a true lady. Almost.'
"What do you think, Onee-sama?" Shimako asked after a few minutes of silence, "Do you think its..."
"...Yeah," Sei replied, after a moment, "I can tell without a doubt."
"But Why? What could possibly-?" Shimako began, but was interrupted.
"The reason why isn't what's most important right now." Shimako turned as a woman with short black hair came out of the bedroom, "What's most important right now is how we handle the situation." The woman looked at the picture, and cursed. "...This is worse than I thought. What Sachiko said didn't lead anywhere near this..."
The woman, Youko Mizuno, turned to Sei. "So, what are we going to do? Shimako's right; this is something that is over both of our petite soeur's heads. If we don't do something soon, Yumi might..."
"I know," Sei replied, "Call Sachiko and tell her to be ready when we get there. Let's go."
"Wait." Sei stopped at the door when her roommate called out, "What is it Youko?"
Youko reached into Sei's pocket and took her keys, "I think it's better if I drive."
When they pulled up in front of the Fukuzawa residence, the neighbors were already outside. "What's going on?" Sei asked.
"Sounds like some kind of domestic dispute. Someone on the inside broke one of the windows just a moment ago, and that's why we came out to see what's going on!" The neighbor, an elderly man looked them over for a second before continuing, "Are you girls Yumi-chan's friends?" Sei nodded, then walked up to the house. "AAAHHHH!"
The moment they heard the scream, the girls burst through the door, only to have their hearts stop at the sight.
"Sachiko," Youko said, her voice trembling, "Call the police."
This house would never be called a warm home again. Pools of blood painted the floor and the walls. All of the furniture was trashed, what wasn't completely mutilated was now painted with bright red splots. Shattered glass was everywhere.
"GET AWAY!" The girls looked towards the source of the scream in time to see Yumi's father fall down the stairs, blood flowing from his chest where he fell face down on the floor.
It was too much for Sachiko, the young woman fainting, Youko catching her, turning away from the sight. Sei was calm and collected, almost as the scene didn't bother her at all. "Come on, Shimako."
Stepping slowly, the two girls ascended the stairs; Sei making a point to step loudly to announce their presence. "Yumi-chan..?"
At the very back of the hall, Yumi stood facing them, her hair scattered around her face, matted with blood and sweat, her clothes soaked in the same. The girl was breathing heavily, barely capable of standing, yet she still glared at them as she shifted slightly, positioning herself in front of the unconscious girl behind her.
Sei gasped, "Yoshino? What is she-!"
"Yumi-san-Eek!" Sei grabbed Shimako, who had ran towards Yumi just in time to pull her back before the small blade in Yumi's hand connected with her face.
"STAY AWAY FROM US!"
"Stay back, Shimako," Sei warned, "Right now, Yumi-chan's mind is in shock, so she can't recognize us. To her, we're just more people trying to hurt her."
"Yumi-chan," Shimako whispered, "It's okay now." She took a small step closer, but stopped as Yumi tensed up, "It's me, Yumi-san, Shimako. Onee-sama and I are here now; we're here for you! We won't let anybody hurt you anymore." Slowly, she held out her hand to Yumi, "You don't have to hide your pain anymore. We're right here." Little by little, the light returned to Yumi's eyes as she recognized the girls she came to know as her friends.
"Shimako-san... Sei-sama... please... help me." Her strength exhausted, the girl fell, Shimako catching her in her arms as she gently embraced the unconscious girl. Sei checked on Yoshino as the police arrived and rushed up the stairs.
"They're both still alive, but badly injured," Sei said as the paramedics came up after the police, helping Yoshino onto a stretcher as Shimako did the same with Yumi. As the police led them out of the building, one of them walked up to them. "You girls can go ahead to the hospital with your friends. Go ahead and stay the night in the hotel across the street from it, and don't worry about school tomorrow. I know you're worried about your friends, but I'll need you to answer some questions tomorrow, alright?"
Sei nodded, while Shimako watched the ambulance drive off. The officer nodded as well, "Good. Then here, just give this card to the hotel steward, and you'll be good to go. I'll see you tomorrow."
This time Shimako nodded as well as Sei took her hand and led her towards her car, where Youko and Sachiko were waiting. As the car drove off, Sei told the now awake Sachiko and Youko what happened. As they stared out the window, both Shimako and Sachiko had the same thought. I'll never let you be hurt ever again.
A/N: Yeah, this chapter's a lot darker than the first one was. Actually, I might have to change the rating if it keeps going like this... Anyways, tell me what you think so far! Were any of you expecting the story to head down this path? Where do you think it will go from here?