Almost performing a most dishonorable spit-take, Yumi slightly craned her head to left. She already knew whom the voice belonged to.
"O…Onee-sama!" Yumi fumbled a bit with her words, and bowed deeply. "Goo… good day!"
(Please don't be angry, please don't be upset… I was standing so rudely while drinking too, and she saw that… EHHHHH? That's right! That was HER I passed hurrying here! Even more rude actions from me…)
As per usual, Fukuzawa Yumi's tanuki-like face filled in all the blanks for Sachiko as her mind darted from one topic of horror to the next. Instead of any scolding, a vivid smile appeared on Sachiko's soft features.
After hearing Sachiko giggling slightly, Yumi finally realized she was not in any danger of being reprimanded. "Onee-sama! Why are you laughing now? Honestly, I was scared you were upset with me!" Yumi puffed her cheeks in her agitation, as light and playful as it was.
"I'm sorry Yumi," Sachiko started through the remaining giggles, "however, your face is just too amusing in these situations. I immediately knew what you were thinking." She smiled deeply. "Anyways… why did you pass me without saying a word?"
"I didn't realize it was you onee-sama! It's… a different look for you today…" Yumi immediately scolded herself for those words as well, as they did not sound quite right to her. "B- But you look lovely today as well, onee-sama."
"Ah, so that was it. I figured since the university like a new start in life, I'd try something different. I've always wanted to wear my hair like this more often." Sachiko slowly combed her fingers through the spout of raven hair. "I'm glad to know that you enjoy it, Yumi." A slight pink appeared on Sachiko's cheeks.
"Mmm… MM!" Yumi nodded her head rapidly in agreement. "It's very stunning." She added, blushing all the while.
(Onee-sama could be wearing anything and always look so beautiful...)
"Ohhh. Right, why are you here so late Yumi? It's already five o'clock… I was just on my way home when I saw you skipping to the milk hall… and I of course received this in the mail along with a ticket to Lillian's festival this year. Could this be why you're still here, Yumi?" Sachiko flashed an ornate rectangular piece of paper in front of Yumi. "I'll be sure to attend. Will you show me around once again this year? Last year was a bit… hectic, I suppose."
"Of course onee-sama! I'll try not to be late since I'm in the play once again this year, and I also have to help out my class!" Yumi was illuminated by the joy of having the pleasure of showing her favorite person around the festival.
"Ah, that's correct! I heard from onee-sama that Eriko-sama's request is being performed this year." Sachiko planted her hand on Yumi's right shoulder and looked into Yumi's eyes with sense of jubilant curiosity. "So, who will play the lead role, Yumi? Who will be playing the other roles?"
Yumi, terribly conscious of Sachiko's hand on her shoulder, flushed a deep red. "Ermmm… well…" In order to avoid the question for the moment, she quickly brought her wristwatch up to her gaze.
"AHH!" Yumi suddenly realized with much horror. "Touko-chan is waiting for me! I missed my bus so… Touko-chan will take me home." Yumi shyly admitted.
"So you have prior engagements." Sachiko concluded. A slight pout emerged and just as quickly faded from Sachiko's visage.
(Was that a frown that just passed onee-sama's face, or am I imagining it? Surely, the latter.)
"I must go now onee-sama, but… please come to the festival tomorrow, if it isn't too troublesome!" Yumi triumphantly began walking quickly back to the Rose Mansion in order to meet a sure to be aggravated Touko.
"Silly girl…" Sachiko mumbled aloud to no one in particular. "Didn't I already promise you I'd attend?"
Yumi returned to the Rose Mansion just as Touko exited the building. Touko stormed up to Yumi and wagged her index finger at Yumi.
"Onee-sama… what took you so long? Do you wish to make me late like you?" The words were harsh, and stung a bit like sour green tea.
After finally regaining her breath from running half of the way, Yumi gave Touko a sincerely apologetic look. "I'm truly sorry Touko-chan. I saw onee-sama on the way to the milk hall, and lost track of time." Yumi bowed deeply to the drill-haired girl.
"Sachiko-onee-sama stopped you? I suppose it's okay then…" Touko frowned slightly.
"Shall we get going?" Yumi straightened the pleats on her skirt. "I mean, Touko-chan is in a hurry right?"
"Yes, onee-sama." The two followed the path towards home from Lillian.
Sachiko had a fairly long day. Three tests and two papers later, she was absolutely exhausted mentally when she had decided to take a walk where life seemed a bit more slow-paced. Meeting her little sister here was only icing on the cake of such a peaceful stroll.
Now, Yumi had traveled home. She had wished to accompany Yumi home initially; however, her mannerisms saved her a small bit of disappointment.
(It would have been rude to make Yumi wait for another bus on my account… plus she had plans with Touko-chan. She seemed happy… at least they're finally connecting more… but what is this lingering feeling of disappointment I still possess?)
"Yo, Sachiko!"
Sachiko lifted up her head in confusion. Certainly, this person could not be…
"Sei-sama. How unexpected... what are you doing here so late?" Sachiko inquired.
"More like, what aren't you doing here? I heard you talking about my little Yumi-chan!" Sei grinned like a fool in Sachiko's direction. "Speaking of which, I can't wait to spend some time with her tomorrow at the festival!"
(Impossible, Yumi gave her other ticket to… Sei-sama? In all actuality, Yumi does seem very relaxed around Sei-sama… it makes sense.)
"Ah, so I see." Sachiko flashed her trademark meek smile while hiding the small bit of turmoil that occupied her heart. "I'm sure Shimako-chan will be absolutely ecstatic to see you as well."
"She doesn't need me much anymore." Sei threw her arms behind her head and took a few more steps towards Sachiko while her short hair bobbed slightly. "Unlike a certain soeur couple I know of." Sei closed her eyes tightly and laughed heartily. "Honestly Sachiko, when are you going to tell her? Then again, I guess little Yumi-chan is holding out on you as well to be fair!"
"Sei-sama, please refrain from making extraneous comments." Sachiko shot Sei an absolutely icy stare. "Yumi is my little sister, nothing more." An expected cool response that escaped Sachiko's vocal chords as per usual.
(Yumi is just my little sister… it's perfectly normal for your heart to beat more quickly around your little sister… right? Surely, it must be true… otherwise…)
In a rare moment, Sachiko felt defeated and simply cast her eyes to the ground, and blushed slightly after thinking about Yumi.
"Just give it some thought, Sachiko, and I think you'll realize just how important Yumi is to you. See you tomorrow!" Sei responded with an encouraging wink, and strolled on her merry way home.
--
A/N: This thing is starting to get much more beastly than I'd have EVER imagined. At least for me, anyways. It's hit 8 pages in MS Word, and I'm more attuned to the short fluffy kind of fic. This could possibly go beyond 3 chapters, as a matter of fact, I think it definitely will. I was just never into writing for my own entertainment again until I saw Marimite... the characters are so MARVELOUS and DEEP, so Miss Oyuki Konno does such a marvelous job, and I really wish the light novels would also be released here and translated officially. My weak Japanese skills just can't decipher much kanji yet. To any of the fan-translators of the novels, thanks so very much.
I found myself wondering, should I make Sei expose to Sachiko that she saw the whole interaction between her and Yumi, but I thought it was much too cruel to poor Sachiko-sama. In the actual series, Sei's clairvoyance is REALLY something else. I guess Sachiko puts it best in the OVA, "Sei-sama always seems to know when you're going through a major change, Yumi."
Touko. When she first appeared in the anime, I wanted to drop kick her. I'm sure most people felt that way. At first, I was all in favor of Kanako becoming Yumi's soeur, but how it turned out and my feelings about that really surprise me. I suppose Touko is a very acquired taste... I read over some of her and Yumi's interactions in the first chapter, and I felt like I almost made a Touko x Yumi fic subconsciously. Pretty hilarious, and completely unintentional. I see them being more of enemies turned friends rather than lovers though.
Thanks for the reviews, and I hope to upload the next chapter whenever I finish it. Sorry this chapter was so short, it's I suppose more of a transition.:)