12 roses chapter two.

Satou Sei stood staring at the dazed girl, who somehow managed to remain standing after such an onslaught. She had been surprised with the younger girls request for help in the field of swordsmanship and under normal circumstances she would have informed the girl that such skills were to be acquired from her master knight. Yumi however was not normal-quite far from it. The arrangement allowed her to observe the girl, and perhaps pump her for information without having to create an excuse to spirit away Sachiko's petite soeur.

"Humm, I suppose with such a beautiful face you would be a lover not a fighter."

The girl squeaked and Sei would have almost been willing to admit that she did indeed find her flustered state to be interesting, and she enjoyed forcing Yumi out of her element. Such strong reactions for all to see, there was no doubt as to why the fates had not placed her in the white rose family. 'still' she thought rather sullenly, 'it would have been fun to have such a creature by my side.'

"Come on, you've had enough. Would you grace me with your presence for lunch?"

They both knew that Sei asking had been more of a pleasentry rather than a request because Yumi now was below the other girl as far as the chain of command went and her eyes widened as she realized the connotations of having to do anything that the taller girl requested. Shaking such throughts from her head and promising herself that they were completely unjustified, though she wasn't sure of that, she stood and followed the white knight.

"I'm honored to have such a beauty dining with me. Ahh but now that we're alone Yumi chan, tell me. How has your first week as a knight gone?"

Few things brought such mirth to her chest however Sei found the endearing way that Yumi's eyes had widened at the beginning of her sentence had become one of them.

"Umm well I, I mean.."

Wanting to put the younger girl at ease Sei sighed as she dipped her bread in her chicken soup it was a rather meager meal for a knight however she had never been one to indulge in such regal fallacies. It was truly a pathetic puppet show, the fine dining dinners one of the few optional scenes. It seemed that her attitude, silence and patient which was not honestly part of the nature she displayed before others, Yumi relaxed silently.

"The first night was the worst. Sachiko sama led me to her chambers where she offered me a rosary, and a sword. I umm, well, I was unsure that I should take it. I'm not trying to diminish myself or anything of the sort but I know what I am, and she deserves better. Those were the thoughts running through my mind and after I accepted and followed her to the great hall to meet with the queen, I could feel the eyes of everyone in the castle upon me, and they agreed with my previous sentiment.

That Sachiko sama could have done quite a bit better."

Wondering briefly if this was the reason the smaller girl had yet to refer to her master knight as Onee Sama as all trainees were encouraged to so, Sei reached for another slice of bread nodding for Yumi to continue with her story.

And as the bread was lifted to her lips the dam holding Yumi's resolve broke as the younger girl spilled her true thoughts of the past few days.

"I didn't mean to mistake Rei Sama as a castle hand. I swear, but when she approached me in such an informal manner I well, I felt as if she were someone I could talk to. She asked me why I was alone in an unused area of the library and i told her the truth-that am unsuitable to be a petite soeur. She asked me why that was, and then she stood offering me her hand. I was confused until she said, "You have a dance to attend tomorrow night am I corret? At the very least I can help teach you to dance."

Suddenly it made sense why Rei had argued in such a spirited manner with Sachiko over her decision.

"Well Yumi Chan are you ready to get back to work?"

The smaller girl squeaked and Sei sama smiled knowing that she had forgotten the entire reason that they were spending time together and she had to admit that she found the younger girl's habits endearing. Sill to their newest member It had to feel as if she was caught in a whirlwind of emotion without the time to sort through any of what was changing in her life. Walking once more towards the area of the courtyard reserved for the training of knights, Sei felt compelled to ask one more question.

"So did you ever get to see Sachiko again?"

The smaller girl at her side halted for a moment as a tell all blush covered her face accompanying a yearning grin and the stars in her hazy eyes.

Flashback

Shifting awkwardly clinging to the stone wall of the ball room Yumi wished to be anywhere else. The hordes of obnoxious people were suffocating her even if this had been the world she'd been born into she knew that she would not enjoy this. Glancing over at the open doorways leading out to the gardens Yumi quickly slipped out looking up at the stars, finding a spot as far away from the people as she could safely be, and there she sighed catching her breath.

"I did not consider how overwhelming such functions may be your first time in attendance, Yumi forgive me."

Looking up she saw none other than the reason for her confusion, for every emotion she had been feeling for the past thirty nine hours. Sachiko sama was truly beautiful in the moon light her dark hair and storm blue eyes enchanting. Next to such a perfect visage she knew she appeared even more out of place however to Sachiko, well Yumi was the definition of serenity.

"Have you at least shared a dance?"

Shaking her head quietly Yumi flinched awaiting scolding for not partaking in the festivities as was expected of a petite soeur, or well rather what she though was to be expected from a petite soeur. If the only knew that half of them along with their older counterparts had arrived for social appearances ony then retreated to separate locations in the garden.

Sachiko's eyes clouded over for a moment confounding Yumi, for she saw no reason for such sadness to appear in the eyes of perfection. Then an even more impossible event occurred as an open hand was offered to her. Following the hand up the arm and then to the eyes of the older knight she paused wondering what was going on.

"Come."

The soft words mingled with the atmosphere creating a moment that exceeded her expectations of perfection. Taking the hand in an unsure manner, for there was no way Sachiko knew what she was doing in choosing her, she attempted to focus on not stepping on the older woman's feet for the first few momentshowever soon her body relaxed into the other and they twirled about the castle gardens by the light of the moon, the picturesque moment stealingthe breath of anyone who just so happened to glance their way.

Well i've ended this chapter in a similar manner to the last chapter. What can i say? I love to think of the two wrapped within one anotheres arms. The next Chapter will be up soon. Other than that drop a review because well...*smiles* i'm starved for human interaction.

Yours Truly,

G. Laces.

P.S. I really love getting to write two stores in two seperate running timelines...