A/N: The boss was so nice as to let me have a break from work this morning so after spending most of it reviewing (and feeling like my head is going to explode already with all the information I have reviewed since last week) I decided to take a break from it.

You do know that reviews really motivate me, so before we move on to the story, let me say my thanks to you, nice folks: lilgumba, PureWiings, Honulicious, devilhamster, elfspirit7, Artistia, Octave, ChronoCresentFlames, baekjool, Hikaru-wa-shiawase-ni-eien-ni, Catarina Luz, LadyJ07, kurakami, Phen Name, thyrokio, Debi Law, Ressey101, 1Nowhat, and crazy-music-monkey.

I have an urge to write again, a new story, which I haven't done for MSGM since the epilogue of Alphabet, but I don't have that much time for now. Besides, I shouldn't try to escape school works all the time, right? ;) It's my priority right now aside from work. It's really important to me. I hope my Saturday would turn out fine: a report in the morning, mid-term exam in the afternoon, and group work after exam until midnight (sigh)

Anyway, let's move on to the story. Remember, to take the scenes lightly ;) They are meant for fun ;)



Chapter 3. The Yamayurikai Members


"Why not?" Yoshino asked heatedly. She was glaring at Rei. The two of them were having their usual spat. Yoshino was, as usual, uncontrollable as she raised her voice a notch.

"I've explained it already, Yoshino. How many times do I have to say it before you would understand that you shouldn't rush on things and do as you like," Rei said with exasperation, tittering at the edge of losing her cool.

"What's going on?" Yumi whispered to Shimako, her eyes following the exchange, from one person to the other. She had arrived at the Rose Mansion with Yoshino and Rei arguing loudly. They hadn't even noticed her coming nor greeting everyone nor sitting between Sachiko and Shimako which was at the opposite side of the table where the arguing sisters were situated.

"Just the usual," Shimako answered, unaffected. She had stopped paying attention at the Yellow Rose sisters after the first two minutes of the argument. She and Sachiko continued with what they were doing like nothing was happening at the other side of the room.

Yumi nodded in understanding as she, too, albeit reluctantly, followed Sachiko and Shimako's lead. Yoshino was being her stubborn and hard-headed self and Rei was being her protective self. There was nothing new about it.

The loud argument lasted for a couple of minutes before it was replaced by a silent war. As much as they were used to it, Yumi finally decided to interfere.

"I remember I have a book due today. Yoshino-san, would you like to come with me?" She asked, breaking the silence that had enveloped the council room. She fidgeted uncomfortably when everyone's attention was turned to her, while Yoshino's expression relaxed. The latter nodded in agreement and without looking at Rei, headed to the door.

"Excuse us, everyone," Yumi said before she followed Yoshino.


When Yumi and Yoshino returned to the Rose Mansion, the latter's mood was better. She was even grinning while Yumi was protesting, albeit with a smile in her lips.

"What did we miss?" Shimako asked, curious.

"You should have seen Yumi-san, Shimako-san," Yoshino answered as she went and stood beside Rei who eyed her warily, bracing herself for another exchange of heated words. The latter was taken aback with what Yoshino said next.

"Onee-sama, please excuse me for my behaviour earlier. I'll try to do as you said next time," Yoshino apologized.

"I'm glad," Rei answered in shock. She was taken aback by the changed in mood of her hard-headed yet beloved cousin and little sister. She briefly wondered if Yoshino had another thing planned in her sleeves that she should be wary of. However, when her cousin grinned at her, she couldn't help but smile back and all her worries dissolved.

"They just love to give us a headache, don't they?" Noriko said with amusement, having arrived earlier and learned from Shimako happened when she commented on the absence of Yumi and Yoshino. She wasn't new either to the arguments that would erupt from time to time between the Yellow Rose sisters.

"Yes. It's a good thing we have Yumi-san to always make the atmosphere lighter," Shimako agreed, smiling faintly at Yumi who smiled back with embarrassment, once again being put in a spot. She seemed to always be in the spot, whether for unpleasant or pleasant reasons.

"Yumi-sama's presence is enough to break the tension," Noriko added.

"Hey, cut it out, Shimako-san, Noriko-chan," Yumi protested with a slight blush.

"See? When she looks like that, people couldn't help but smile," Noriko continued with teasing eyes.

"You sounded like a love-struck person, Noriko-chan," Yoshino said, deciding that she had been quiet enough already. The opportunity to tease Yumi because of her reactions was something that she wouldn't let pass.

"And she looks just like it," Rei added, wanting to get back at the others who were always teasing her for her and Yoshino's frequent spats. Sadly, that person at the moment was Yumi.

"Beware, Noriko-chan, or Shimako-san would be jealous of Yumi."

Before either Noriko or Shimako could respond to Yoshino, they were interrupted by the pouting Yumi.

"How come it's always me?"

"Sorry, Yumi-sama," Noriko apologized, though to Yumi's opinion, she didn't look sorry at all because she was grinning at her.

"Just to show you how sorry I am, I'll make you some tea, Yumi-sama," Noriko added with twinkling eyes.

"Hey! Why it's only Yumi-san?" Yoshino protested, a mocked scowl in her face.

"Because Yumi-chan is nice and cute, and you're not," Rei teased.

"Watch out what you say, Onee-sama," Yoshino warned with a giggle.

In all the playful exchanged, someone at the room had kept her silence. Sachiko heard it all but chose to keep herself busy. Or more like pretended to be busy. There was nothing wrong that every one of their friends liked Yumi. It was perfectly natural. They wouldn't have become Yumi's friends if they didn't like Yumi. However, all these talking about how cute and nice and love-struck had struck something in her mind. There must be something wrong with her. Suddenly, she was experiencing the feeling of possessiveness, something that seemed to frequently appear lately.

"You know what, I really believe Yumi-san had put a spell on people around her," Yoshino commented, still occupied at teasing Yumi.

"Why would you say that?" Yumi asked, confused.

"Everyone likes Yumi-sama," Noriko answered.

"That's not true!" Again, Yumi protested, the red in her face intensifying

"Really? How could you prove that?" Yoshino challenged.

"Uhm...I don't know. How about you, how could you prove it?" As Yumi asked the question, she realized what would be the answer already.

The fan girls.

"Not only the fan girls, Yumi-san," Yoshino said, reading Yumi's mind.

"Huh?"

"Have you forgotten the photography club and newspaper club? And of course, there's still us," Yoshino said teasingly. "Yumi-san..." she added with a ridiculously adoring sigh, earning chuckles from everyone except Yumi and of course, Sachiko.

"Y-yoshino-san!" As usual, Yumi found herself at a loss for words when it came to bantering with the others. They always joined together to tease her.

"I'm going on ahead. How about you, Yumi?" Sachiko asked as she stacked her notes carefully, effectively stopping the on-going banter with Yumi at the losing end.

"I'm going, too, Onee-sama," Yumi said, eager to yet again escape a situation she didn't know how to handle properly.

The others remained at the council room as the Red Rose sisters bade their goodbyes. They even let Yumi leave with an embarrassing, to Yumi's opinion, goodbye by pretending to be crestfallen about her leaving. As soon as Yumi and Sachiko were out of earshot, though, they looked at each other questioningly.

"Have you noticed lately?" Yoshino asked the other remaining people at the room.

"Yes. Sachiko-sama seems to be deep in thought most of the time."

"Do you think it has something to do with Yumi-sama?"

"I asked her before but you know her, if she didn't want to share it yet, she could easily twist the truth around," Rei answered thoughtfully.

"I'm sure it has something to do with Yumi-san," Yoshino said confidently after moments of silence. Everyone looked at her with questioning faces.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I just know. Let's wait and see."


Walking together in silence seemed to happen more frequent than before, Yumi observed as she walked a couple of steps behind Sachiko. She was sure that something was bothering her Onee-sama. She wanted to know what it was so she could help her in the best way she could. However, Sachiko's demeanour caused her to hesitate in asking questions. Nevertheless, she believed that she shouldn't let this silence linger on. What if Sachiko needed her help? She didn't want a repeat of what happened between them when Sachiko's grandmother was ill.

"I'm sorry, Yumi."

"...?"

There went her Onee-sama. Always ahead of Yumi.

"Sorry for what, Onee-sama?" She asked, confusion written all over her face.

"I haven't been myself lately. I know I'm making you worry. Please don't. It's nothing that I can't handle. I will tell you everything when the time is right."

Sachiko said it in such a confident manner that Yumi couldn't disagree.

"Promise?"

A smile touched Sachiko's lips as Yumi looked at her expectantly.

"I promise."

A smile broke Yumi's lips. Her worry had lessened. If Sachiko said so, then she believed her.

"Thank you, Onee-sama."

Feeling happy and relieved, Yumi hooked her right arm on Sachiko's left arm and gazed at Sachiko shyly yet lovingly.

Sachiko smiled back at Yumi. She was suddenly very happy. Yumi's smile, Yumi's look of affection, they were enough to comfort her increasingly getting confused mind. Why was she bothered with the others adoring Yumi? Yumi cared for her. Yumi was her little sister. She was closer to her than the others were. There was nothing to worry about. Yumi wouldn't exchange her for another. With those thought in her head, she finally relaxed totally.



A/N: Wish me luck on my Saturday-hell-of-a-day! ;) I want it to be over so I can return to my normal days and nights!

Until next time, folks! ;)

-Arvendell-

02 September 2010

12:05 PM