A/N: As you'll find out sooner, this story takes place months after New Year. As the title says, let's do it little by little :) :)
Chapter 2.1. A Drunken Moment
Sachiko stared at the peacefully sleeping form beside her. Yumi had fallen asleep with her arm slung across her stomach and her head resting on her shoulder. She could feel her left shoulder going numb but she would never move Yumi's head off her shoulder. In fact, she did the opposite and drew Yumi closer as her mind drifted on what happened this day and yesterday. She smiled as she remembered the graduation ceremony at Lillian the other day and how Yumi gave a tear-filled speech for the graduating third years, which she responded with an equally emotional one. Yumi had really grown from the time she met her. Her confident bearing and erect posture made her heart swelled with pride.
Her Yumi had grown.
Yes, she was her Yumi.
And yet despite the fact that they had admitted their feelings for each other last New Year, they also avoided it. They never talk about it. In fact, that night, they slept without a word, though their fingers were intertwined the whole night.
But even if they avoided the topic, a touch here and there, a smile there, or simply a look on each other, spoke volumes of their feelings. Why they didn't do anything about their feelings, she didn't know.
Perhaps because both of them were busy.
Or perhaps, both of them were scared.
Scared of what?
Maybe scared on what people would say.
Or simply scared on how they would handle their feelings.
Whatever their reasons were, they had simply thrown them away this night.
This night, once again, the Yamayurikai members, past and present, gathered together and gave a graduation party for her and Rei. They did it a day after the graduation because yesterday night, her parents held a big party for her graduation. The party was attended by people from the high society. And yet it didn't bring happiness to her. Her friends did not come to that party but instead, decided to throw a party with only them, with friends alone. She was really happy. Everyone chatted merrily and played board and card games. No more game of truth and consequence.
Sachiko smiled at the thought.
When Sei suggested that they play truth or consequence, Yumi, Yoshino and Shimako objected immediately and strongly. Why not? After being grilled on the spot the last time they played?
Everything was going on smoothly until Sei took a bottle of wine. No one minded drinking, and so they did drink. But the one bottle was soon followed by another, and another, and thus, after a few bottles, those who weren't strong with alcohol were getting tipsy.
Touko fell asleep on Yumi's lap after a few shots while the latter kept on drinking but was then getting clumsier even more than she was during her first year at Lillian. And yet Sachiko noticed that she was quiet, unlike Yoshino who was having a heated argument with Sei and Eriko. What was new with that? Every time they were together, trust that Yoshino would always end up having an exchange like that with either or both of the two.
Rei, Shimako and Noriko didn't seem to act differently.
But what surprised Sachiko was Youko. She was the same person as she had known her, calm, collected, and yet when Yoshino and Sei's voices were getting too loud, she stopped them with a scream. Everyone abruptly stopped from whatever they were doing. The silence was deafening as they stared at an enraged Youko. They hadn't noticed before that the latter was drinking way too fast and by the looked of it, she had quite enough alcohol more than she could handle.
"Yoshino-chan, stop denying that you're not possessive. We quite know that you're jealous of anyone and anything when it comes to Rei. While you, Rei, stop acting like you aren't enjoying Yoshino-chan lavishing all her attention on you. You're always struggling half-heartedly it's so obvious."
The two persons mentioned visibly paled.
"Onee-sama, please calm down," Sachiko said after a moment. She caught her breath when Youko turned to her.
"And you, my dear petite soeur, what are you doing playing around? If you're in love with Yumi-chan then go for it. Stop acting like the world would come to an end if you'll be with her. Stop acting like you can live without her when we know that you can't."
Then Youko turned her attention to the shocked Yumi.
This side of Youko was really surprising and frightening at best. 'Cursed those wines. Cursed Sei for bringing so many.' Everyone thought so.
"What, Yumi-chan? You want to say something? What are you afraid of? You aren't a child anymore so for once, please act like a grown one and put some sense in the head of that Onee-sama of yours."
Now, no one dared to talk for fear of hearing what Youko would say. The loud noises that Sei and Yoshino made earlier seemed to have a bad effect on a certainly drunk Youko. Besides, there must be another reason that triggered that outburst. Whatever it was though, no one knew. But they assumed that the alcohol greatly influenced it.
However, one person hadn't learned her lesson yet.
Youko turned to the snickering Sei.
Sachiko closed her eyes. If an enraged Youko was a surprised, so was a speechless and pale Sei. She had seen a no-nonsense, irresponsible, irritating and playful Sei but not a serious one.
Once again, her mind drifted back on Youko and Sei.
"You dare to laugh, Sei. Stop acting like you know everything when in fact you don't. You don't know anything at all."
And then Youko broke down. Everyone was again surprised at the sudden change of mood. Sei was quick to react and was instantly on Youko's side and held her.
"There, there, I think you've had enough alcohol, Youko. Sachiko, where will Youko stay to…"
"I hate you, Sei! I hate you!"
Sei abruptly stopped talking and looked at the sobbing Youko with surprised.
"Youko?"
"I hate you, I hate you for making me feel like this, and yet, and yet, I couldn't help but love you, too."
Sei paled and froze.
And so did everyone. Well, maybe only half of them because Sachiko, Shimako and Eriko didn't look surprised at all. If anything, they were looking at Sei and Youko with worry.
"What did you do to me to feel like this? Oh, I hate you so."
"Onee-sama…" Sachiko reached for the sobbing Youko and took her from the frozen Sei. She then turned to Yumi. "Yumi, could you help me please. Let's take Onee-sama to the guest room."
"I'll do it," Sei finally managed to say. "Please let me, Sachiko."
The serious look on Sei's face left no doubt that she wouldn't back out even if everyone opposed her. So, together with Sachiko, they led Youko to the guest room.
"Let me take care of her, if it's alright with you, Sachiko."
"Of course. If you need anything, just asked the maids or you can come to me."
Sachiko left the two alone, a little worried about Youko, but she knew that Sei would definitely take care of Youko.
And thus, everyone left to their rooms that night with shock and worry. However, the alcohol did its job and despite everything, everyone fell asleep easily.
Well, everyone except for two persons.
Sachiko would think about it tomorrow. For now, sleep was claiming her senses.
A/N: Thanks again for making it here! Part 2 next time:) And if you will, please drop a few comments :)
Oh yeah, have you ever been drunk? Well, I have been. Though I didn't go wild, I remember that I'm quite noisy (because I'm a very quiet person in reality) and a little daring. Thankfully, I didn't spill any secrets in those few times.
---Arvendell---
30 January 2008
