We meet again

Disclaimer: I do not own Maria-sama ga miteru or any of its characters. Credits to the author.

A/N: Thanks for the responses to my guests. Here is the first chapter of the story. Cheers!

Sachiko

It was a garden wedding. Sachiko could see tents set up on the sides. The biggest one was probably for the reception, while the other two were for the bride and groom. And in the middle was where the ceremony is to take place: rows of glass chairs, a red carpet in contrast to the green grass, bouquets of tulips, gerberas, bloodroots, snowdrop anemones and lilacs along the center aisle held together by white vases - all leading to an elegant gazebo completely covered in white lilies where she imagined Yumi and her groom to be standing as they make their vows for eternity.

It was a bright spring morning with big cumulus clouds covering the blue sky, shielding the garden from the sun. Everything was perfect, as if Maria-sama was watching over Yumi even to the day of her wedding. And Sachiko hated it all.

Her thoughts might have been evident on her face, because she felt Suguru lean down and whisper to her ear, "We can still leave if you want".

Sachiko looked up at him and frowned even more, "And why would I want that?"

Suguru shrugged, he was expecting that answer from his wife...denial. "Just suggesting" he began, "because it seems like it's taking every ounce of your energy just being here".

Sachiko gave him a sharp look.

"You know that won't work on me, Sacchan. We've been married for quite some time now and I am used to your temperament." He sighed. "Anyway, I will be going to the groom's tent to talk to Hiro-san and I think you can head over there" pointing to the white tent at the far left side at the back "to give your greetings to Yumi-chan. I am sure you have a lot to talk about."

"Since when did you know the man?" Sachiko asked with an irritated voice, and trying to steer away the conversation away from her and her former lover.

"Don't hate him, Sacchan. He is a good man. He was my junior in Hanadera and if I have to guess, he was one of Yumi-chan's fanboys during her time as Rosa Chinensis or even before. I heard that there were a lot of guys that had on crush on Yumi-chan the first time they saw her at the school festival."

Sachiko's frown deepened. She had her own fair share of fangirls and boys back in high school, and probably until now. But at least she could handle them well. Her cold exterior was more than enough to keep them at a distance, to admire her from afar. However, Yumi was much too different from her. To say that Yumi was being nice to them was an understatement. She remembered moments when Yumi was late for their Yamayurikai meeting, just because she couldn't say 'no' to girls wanting to have a chat with her. There was even a time when Yumi was rumoured to have a boyfriend from Hanadera.

...

Yumi entered the Yamayurikai meeting room with a frown. A very rare occurrence in Sachiko's opinion and it seems like the rest of the girls had the same thought.

"What is wrong Yumi-san?" Yoshino asked.

"Huh?!" Yumi looked up and was surprised that the whole Yamayurikai was complete and all pairs of eyes were looking at her with concern.

'Yumi didn't even notice any of us, I wonder what is on her mind right now?' Sachiko mused.

Then her face flushed red and she gave a deep bow in apology. "I'm sorry I was preoccupied, it slipped my mind that we had a meeting this afternoon".

Everybody laughed at her usual antics.

"We understand Yumi-chan. I would also be lost in thought if I received a bouquet of flowers from an anonymous boy." Rei smirked.

Yumi blushed even more, if it was even possible. "R-r-Rei-sama" Yumi exclaimed.

Now everybody's eyes were on Rei.

"What do you mean Rei?" Sachiko's brow creased.

"Oh, you didn't know Sachiko? This morning as my classmate was entering the gate, she saw a boy in a Hanadera High School uniform carrying a bouquet of flowers. She was approached by the boy and was requested to give the flowers to a 2nd year student named Yumi. Of course my classmate knew her because she is Rosa Chinesis en Bouton. But because she was late, she didn't have the chance to give the flowers until lunch break. She had the flowers with her all morning and told the whole class the story about Yumi-chan's secret admirer." Rei finished her story with a smile.

"But Rei-chan, I was in Yumi's class and didn't see her carrying any flowers around." Yoshino commented.

Rei's smile grew bigger and Shimako straightened in her chair in deep thought.

"I think Shimako knows of the flowers journey" Rei said.

"Yes. This explains the rumours about Yumi-san's secret admirer. You see, Misa-san had a bouquet of flowers when she came in to class after lunch. However, she was hurrying because she said she met with her onee-sama and had forgotten about the time. She explained that the flowers were for Yumi-san and as Rei-sama said, it was from a Hanadera student. I think she was only able to give the flowers to Yumi-san after classes. Yoshino-san must have gone ahead of her."

"Umm onee-sama" Noriko interjected. "This may also be the reason why Yumi-sama is rumoured to have a boyfriend from Hanadera"

"B-b-boyfriend?" Yumi muttered.

"Yes Yumi-sama. You know how these rumours spread" Noriko said.

"I haven't heard about it" Touko said.

"Because everybody knows that you are Yumi-san's imouto"

"Still...I could have defended Onee-sama and refuted the rumour" Touko huffed.

Through all this exchange, Sachiko remained quiet. She hated that she didn't know about this incident, but hated even more the idea of someone holding the hands of her Yumi. Scenarios of Yumi dating a guy flooded her mind and it enraged her.

"Boyfriend? Who does he think he is?!"

Sachiko must have said it out loud because she felt Touko-chan nudge her from the side. "Rosa Chinensis?"

She faked a cough and said, "I am happy that Yumi has a suitor, but the fact remains that she is late for the meeting. Make sure not to do it again. You will be Rosa Chinensis in a few months' time and still you cannot handle these matters?"

Yumi looked forlorn. "I'm sorry, onee-sama" she uttered and sat down on the other side of Sachiko.

Sachiko mentally scolded herself. She hated making Yumi feel bad. She knew it was not her imouto's fault and still she reprimanded her, knowing that the younger girl easily felt depressed upon knowing that she had caused disappointment to her onee-sama.

...

Sachiko turned to look in the direction where Yumi is supposed to be preparing for the ceremony. She missed the Yumi that never left her side. Her beloved imouto that hung on to every word, followed her every lead and looked at her with adoration. The old Yumi that easily blushed and that hated upsetting her. Until the very end of their relationship, Yumi remained to be the unselfish and loving woman that she is.

Yumi

Yumi felt the presence of Sachiko. She didn't expect her to attend her wedding. She chose not to give her an invitation, however, Suguru-san was one of Hiro-san's former seniors in Hanadera and a close one at that. He had to invite him and Yumi chose not to say anything against it. She didn't know how to remove him from the guest list without Hiro-san getting suspicious, and she was not ready to reveal anything to him about her previous relationship.

"Onee-sama, is it Sachiko-sama?" Touko peered into her face upon seeing her sigh and asked.

"Yes"

"You weren't expecting this?" she asked.

"No. I knew Hiro-san was inviting Suguru-san and that he would surely come, however, I didn't expect she would come along."

"Still onee-sama, I never thought that your secret admirer in high school would eventually be your husband" Touko said.

"You're right Touko. At first, I was too embarrassed to accept the flowers because I didn't know him. But really, it was not until we were in college that we became friends..."

Yumi's story has come to a stop because Yuuki's head suddenly popped by the entrance to the bridal tent "Touko-san, the coordinator is looking for you".

"It's probably about the souvenirs, tell her I'll be right out" she said to Yuuki before turning back to her onee-sama, "I'll be leaving you a while onee-sama, but I'll be back to help you with your veil."

"I'll be fine Touko" Yumi smiled reassuringly.

Yumi sat down in front of a make-shift dresser. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. She was ready. The make-up artist and stylist had done a wonderful job with her and she felt like a princess except for her veil. Touko was supposed to help her fix it before meeting with the coordinator for the last minute concerns. As Yumi's maid of honor, Touko was helping out with a lot with the on-the-day matters. Little things and details that needed to be perfect for her big sister's wedding.

"It can't be helped" she said to herself and smiled at her own reflection.

She was about to pick up the flowery pin on the table when she saw a hand take it from her and hold it up to her right ear.

"You want this here, right?"

She remained seated with her back to her guest and still kept her eyes down. She could feel her heart pounding and her hand starting to tremble.

"You've changed a lot. The old Yumi would have shrieked like a baby dinosaur in surprise by now" she laughed.

Yumi remained motionless. Not sure what she wanted to say or do. It was as if time stopped for her and her breath was caught up in her throat.

'Why does she still have this effect on me?' Yumi asked herself.

The older girl continued to pin her veil to the right place, then picked another pin to put it on the left side. But this time Yumi stopped her by putting her hand gently on hers.

Sachiko stopped momentarily, keeping her nervousness and fears at bay. She was afraid that Yumi will push her away or yell at her, but luckily for her, Yumi just kept still.

Sachiko swallowed hard and kept her act going. "Did I do it incorrectly? Do you want it a little higher?" she asked.

'Why? Why is she acting so familiar with me?" Yumi wanted to ask but she couldn't find her voice.

Sachiko put the second pin back down, escaping from Yumi's hold. She was about to fix the first one again when she was once again frozen into place upon seeing a pair of hazel brown eyes reflected in the mirror staring back her.

For a long time, Yumi hadn't seen Sachiko's face, yet for her, it still looked regal and beautiful. She could stare for hours at Sachiko's deep blue eyes and get lost in them.

And suddenly, memories of the moments they shared together rushed through her. Sachiko's sweet melodious laugh that only she was privileged to hear, her striking blue eyes that changed shades with every emotion, her soft gentle touches and the contrasting hard grasps as they made love. But she also remembered the cold lonely nights when she wanted to be with her lover but she couldn't because of Sachiko's 'duties', the secrets and the lies just to keep their relationship from everyone they cared for and their sad break-up where she didn't have the choice but to accept Sachiko's final decision to end their affair...where she just waited at the other end of the telephone line for any word from her, but no word was spoken...not even goodbye.

...

"Yumi?" Yuuki walked up to her as she sat motionless on her bed.

"We need to go, dad and mom are waiting for us by the car" Yuuki continued.

It was the night when Sachiko broke up with her and the night after Yumi's grandmother had died. She called to ask if Sachiko could come with them to the wake, but she ended up enraging Sachiko. She knew that her girlfriend had an important business dinner to attend to, but thought that just this once, Sachiko would be considerate and cancel her previous engagement just to be with Yumi and her family. However, what happened after was beyond anything she had expected.

Yumi's heart felt like it was about to burst. She wanted to tell Yuuki that he could go ahead and that she will just follow. But try as she might, only soft sobs escaped her lips. She wanted to hide her sadness but she couldn't.

Yumi looked up at him with a forced smile. She knew she couldn't fool him and she knew that she could not hide it very well, so she just let the tears fall. She let the phone slip down from her hand and fall to the floor and just wept her heart out.

"What happened?!" Yuuki's panicked voice came, but Yumi just kept crying.

...

That night, she wanted to go to the Ogasawara mansion and talk to Sachiko. To see her face and hear from her own lips that she wanted to end everything between them. But she also knew that when Sachiko has made her decision, she will not be able to do anything about it.

And now, as she was looking at the same eyes she wanted to see that night, a myriad of emotions was making it difficult for her to speak.

Sachiko's sudden appearance in her life – especially on the day of her wedding – had surprised her a lot. But the next words that came out of Sachiko's mouth stunned her even more...

Sachiko's eyes softened, her lips curled into a bitter smile and she softly said "I missed you."