Cinderella - Act IV

"Good, we don't have to send Sachiko after you today," Rosa Gigantea greeted Yumi with from her perch upon the windowsill as the younger girl stepped into the meeting room on the second floor of the Rose Mansion.

"As I'm the lead character now I didn't feel it would be appropriate for me to be late," Yumi countered with as she set her school bag down on one of the chairs. "I don't want to embarrass anyone."

"Anyone? Like a certain blue eyed, raven haired Onee-sama?" Sei teased and was rewarded with the appearance of a pink blush on Yumi's cheeks. "As we'll just be rehearsing lines today we'll be using the larger room downstairs," Sei informed her deciding to take it easy on the younger girl for now. "Help yourself to tea or coffee over there," she said indicating the kitchenette area in the corner of the room.

"I wondered if the rooms downstairs were used or not," Yumi commented as she walked over to the kitchenette area and took out a cup and saucer for herself.

"The room downstairs is larger than this one," Sei informed her while still staring out the window and sipping her tea. "It doesn't get much sun light and is not nearly as well ventilated as this room. We only use it occasionally for practices like this and then mostly when both of the gymnasiums are already in use by clubs or other activities."

Yumi spooned tea into her cup and then added hot water to it and waited for the tea to steep. "It sounds like it would make a better storage room then if that's the case," she suggested. Yumi suddenly froze as Sei reached around her and set her own cup down by the sink. When did she walk up behind me? Before Yumi could move she felt an arm draped over her shoulder and another slip around her waist from behind as she felt herself drawn into an intimate embrace pressed up against the older girl. "EEK! Rosa Gigantea!" Yumi exclaimed loudly just as the door to the room opened and Sachiko walked in carrying her school bag. Yumi could see those blue eyes narrow as they took in herself and the woman draped along her back. "Sa…Sachiko-sama…" Yumi stammered. "Gokigenyou!" she quickly added as was proper to do when greeting someone.

"That's twice now I've made Sachiko jealous for you, Yumi-chan," Sei whispered in Yumi's ear. "I'll collect my kisses another time though." Sei released the smaller girl from her embrace with a cheeky grin. "I think I'll go check downstairs and see if everyone one else is here yet," the Rose Gigantea said as she walked out of the room.

Sachiko's cold eyes following Sei every step of the way till the door closed leaving just the two Chinensis sisters in the room. The solid thunk of the door closing seemed to end the spell and the older girl moved to the table and sat in her usual chair before slipping the script for the play from her school bag and starting to study her lines once more.

"Still working on your lines," Yumi asked as she walked over and sat the cup of tea she had made for herself before Sachiko.

"Arigato," Sachiko replied with a warm smile before taking a sip of the tea and then sitting the cup back down once again. "I've gone over them several times but I'm not getting them as quickly as I did the Cinderella ones," Sachiko confessed as Yumi moved back over to the kitchenette and prepared another cup of tea for herself.

Yumi found it extremely hard to believe that Sachiko-sama could have difficulties with anything. She always makes everything appear so simple and effortless. Suddenly a section of the script for the play appeared in her head. Yumi had been reading the play nonstop ever since Youko had presented it to her. "I will wear a red velvet dress with English-made frills." Sachiko turned and looked at her with a questioning look for a long moment as if not certain as to what had been said. "I will wear a red velvet dress with English-made frills." Yumi repeated once more turning to face the other girl fully.

"I am fine with my usual skirt." Sachiko rose from her chair and walked slowly towards Yumi. "However, I will wear a manteaux with a golden floral pattern and a diamond broach. That is an extremely rare product, after all."

Yumi switched to one of her lines as Cinderella as the previous one had been a line for Sister A. "Sister, how does this hair look?"

"Cinderella, do you not wish you could also attend the Ball?" Sachiko smiled after saying the line.

"It would appear that you know your lines better than you thought," Yumi stated, returning the smile warmly. "Shall we go downstairs as the others must be waiting by now?" Yumi turned and walked to the biscuit door and reached to open it.

"Arigato, Yumi," Sachiko suddenly said.

Yumi smiled back over her shoulder at the woman she admired greatly. "It's my own fault that you have new lines to memorize. Please do not feel like you need to thank me." Sachiko knew it was only because she had allowed the younger girl to take on the role she was meant to perform. "Shall we?" Yumi asked holding the door open for the older girl. Sachiko smiled and walked out of the room, the two of them descending the stairs side by side.

"There you both are," Rosa Chinensis said as they entered the room downstairs. "Now that you've had your 'moment' together we can get started," she said. Sachiko and Yumi both looked towards Rosa Gigantea who looked away and started whistling innocently. Neither of them bought it for a moment. "You both can use your script books," Youko told them as she positioned them in their places.

"That won't be required, Onee-sama," Sachiko informed her abruptly. "Yumi has already memorized her lines," the sapphire eyed woman stated with pride evident in her voice. It was such a small thing but hearing the note of pride in Sachiko's voice caused Yumi's heart to swell with happiness.

-oOo-

"What a cute Cinderella," several of the handicraft club members stated as Yumi finished getting into the white dress with silver and gold stitching that they had tailored to her measurements. The cut and style of it accented all the curves that Yumi's still maturing body possessed. Glancing in the full length mirror she had to admit that, while nowhere as near as stunning as Sachiko was, she looked almost pretty. I look more mature dressed like this. It must be the cut and style of the dress.

"Yumi, did you bring what I asked you to," Rose Foetida asked as she turned and regarded the younger girl as well as the dress she was wearing. Yumi nodded that she had. "Alright then go put it on and then come back out so we can see how it looks." Yumi walked over and picking up a bag she had set aside earlier, disappeared into a changing room. Several long minutes passed before she reemerged.

"Rosa Foetida," Yumi said in a questioning tone of voice starring down at the overabundance of cleavage that she now suddenly possessed. "Isn't this a bit much? I think the breast area is too bare."

"Well, we certainly want to offer some service after all," Eriko replied with as she ran a finger along the front edge of the dress across the breast line. "I know, let's get a second opinion," the third year student offered as she suddenly spun Yumi around. "Sachiko."

Sachiko looked up from the script she was reading at the sound of her name and her eyes suddenly dilated outwards at the site before her. "Oh my," she exclaimed softly in a shocked tone of voice upon beholding all the white soft bare skin that was the swell of the tops of the younger girls breasts.

"That bad," Yumi asked leaning forward to offer a better view to the older girl of what the pushup bra did to help her fill out the costume.

"N…no…no…not at all," Sachiko stammered suddenly finding it extremely warm in the room. It's normal for girls to like beautiful things, she reasoned with herself though she was unable to remove her eyes from her Petite Sœur's chest. "J…just the opposite," she said after swallowing heavily. It's has gotten warm in here! Sachiko used the script book and started fanning her face with it.

"Well, if Sachiko-sama says so," Yumi finally said standing up straight again and turning to face Eriko.

"Just don't forget to bring that pushup bra on the day of the performance Yumi-chan," Eriko cautioned her sternly. "We can't have a play without at least a little service for the audience," she added with a chuckle.

"Service!" Sachiko's piercing voice suddenly cut in from the side. "Just what kind of service are you planning to have my Petite Sœur offer, Rosa Foetida?"

"Just the most beautiful figure possible for all the fans," Eriko replied unruffled by Sachiko's building anger.

"Yumi doesn't have any fans," Sachiko countered hotly. Yumi, well aware of her low social status, none the less felt a pain of hurt in her chest at the blunt declaration of it being so openly stated.

"She will after this dress," Eriko smirked as she turned away. "Isn't it time for you to get changed into sister B's dress Sachiko," the older girl asked in a tone that left no doubt that she was finished with the conversation.

Sachiko continued to fume for several long moments till she felt a light touch upon her arm. Looking to her side she found herself staring into a pair of soft brown eyes framed by matching pigtails. "It's alright Sachiko-sama," Yumi said in a tone that clearly carried her appreciation for what the older girl had tried to do for her. "I'll be fine," Yumi assured her. Better me than you have to do this Sachiko-sama. The thought of others ogling Sachiko sent a burning bolt of jealousy through the center of the younger girl's entire being.

"B…but…to put you out there…," Sachiko sputtered nearly unable to control her anger. "You're not some…," she would have continued but words failed her at the moment.

"Sachiko-sama, I would like to see you in your dress," Yumi said to distract the raging girl before her. "Will you please go change into it," she pleaded with a beseeching smile. Unable to say no to those brown eyes, Sachiko grabbed the dress and disappeared into one of the changing rooms. When she finally emerged she was just as stunning as Yumi had known she would be!

-oOo-

"Yumi-chan," Rosa Foetida said to gather the younger girl's attention. "Can you please run an errand for us?" Yumi turned with a questioning look residing upon her countenance at the older girl's request. "There will be someone waiting at the main gate to be picked up shortly," she explained. "His name will be Kashiwagi-san and he'll be wearing a uniform from the neighboring Hanadera School."

Yumi left the Rosa Mansion and stopped off long enough to change into her outdoor shoes. She could have kept her indoor shoes on however with a minefield of gingko nuts between the Rose Mansion and the front gate she didn't want to take the chance she might get the gingko odor on them. While Shimako may not mind the odor she knew the rest of the council members did, especially a certain raven haired one. Upon reaching the front gate there was but a single Hanadera uniform waiting there. "Excuse me but would you be Kashiwagi-san," she asked.

Kashiwagi Suguru turned to regard the small girl with cute matching pigtails beside him and stared blankly at her for a long moment. He had been to Lillian several times before however this was the first time he had the need to wait at the main gate. He had been passing the time by imagining a certain underclassman by the name of Yuuki in a Lillian uniform. He was astonished to hear his name spoken and turned to see the vision of his thoughts standing there beside him. "Yuukichi?" he breathed in barely a whisper.

"Pardon me?" Yumi asked not really having heard what was said having only seen the man's lips move slightly. He's tall and well built, Yumi thought at first glance. The uniform looks better on him than it does on Yuuki.

"You must be the person sent by the Yamayurikai," Kashiwagi-san stated turning to directly face Yumi. "Kashiwagi Suguru, pleased to meet you," he offered with a bow. "Please take good care of me."

"Fukuzawa Yumi," the small brunette replied in kind. "We're honored to have you Kashiwagi-san." Yumi's missed the slightly surprised look that briefly appeared on Suguru's face at the mention of her name. It disappeared almost as quietly as it appeared. As the two of them walked down the gingko lined path they conversed and Yumi learned that Kashiwagi-san was a third year student who had already received early acceptance into Hanadera University which was why he was able to be the student council president. That fact that Hanadera University only accepted about thirty students ahead of time indicated that Kashiwagi-san was exceptionally bright. A generous builds, easy on the eyes, smart, charming and with leadership abilities…he would make a wonderful match for Sachiko-sama, Yumi thought. No sooner did the idea enter her mind than she felt the fast becoming familiar pain of jealousy within her chest.

"Ah the Maria-sama statue," Kashiwagi-san said coming to stop at the fork in the road. "When Lillian students pass by they stop and pray."

"You appear very knowledgeable, Kashiwagi-san," Yumi stated.

"Not really," he countered with. "For whatever reason, obvious ones aside, all the males in my family have attended Hanadera while all the females have gone to Lillian. My mother, grandmother, aunt and even my cousin attended school here," he clarified. "From their conversations I have picked up a thing or two."

"Shakyamuni watches over Hanadera though correct?" Yumi asked. "As I recall it is a Buddhist school."

"True," Kashiwagi-san confirmed for her. "However we do not have any statues out in the open like this." Turning towards the statue of Mary he clasped his hands together and closed his eyes as if in prayer. Yumi couldn't tell if he was actually praying or not though. Still this afforded her time to follow suit and offer a prayer of her own. I wonder if that was his intentions to begin with?

Yumi took him to the visitor's entrance and provided him with a pair of slippers. "Please wait here for a moment as I need to go and change into my indoor shoes," she informed him. As she walked away she thought for a brief moment that she saw Sachiko-sama near the corner of the school building along the adjacent path. No, she's at the Rose Mansion, she reminded herself.

Yumi quickly returned and lead their guest to the Rose Mansion and upstairs to the second floor meeting room. "Welcome Kashiwagi-sama," Rosa Chinensis greeted him with warmly upon entering the room.

"Thank you for coming all the way over to Lillian for this rehearsal," Rosa Foetida added with an intrigued smile.

"You can set your school bag down here," Rosa Gigantea said indicating a vacant chair. "The cooking club brought curry to sample and asked for your opinion on it if you wouldn't mind," she offered setting a now cooled plate of curry on the table along with a spoon and napkin for their guest. As there was no microwave within the Mansion there was no manner in which they could reheat the curry for him.

"Of course, thank you for the treat! Itadakimasu" Kashiwagi-san said as he seated himself and started to eat. Those in the room let out a mental sigh as they had already eaten of the curry and did not want to be around a male if they were the only ones with curry breath.

Having delivered the curry, Sei made her way across the room to the corner kitchenette where Yumi was busy washing the dirty plates and tea cups that had been used earlier. So," she opened with as she leaned against the counter next to the smaller girl, "What do you make of Kashiwagi-san?"

Yumi looked up from washing a spoon and looked over at the man in question. "He eats like they do in the curry commercials," she remarked before returning to her task at hand.

"Not that!" Sei exclaimed as quietly as possible. "This is your first time meeting him. What's your impression of him?"

"He's intelligent, charming, punctual and attentive," Yumi replied glancing over once again at the man seated at the table while everyone else conversed making idle talk to pass the time.

"What's your impression of him as a guy?" Sei asked.

"Eh?" Yumi exclaimed loudly then quickly glanced about the room but it appeared that no one had noticed. What is this some marriage meeting, she began to wonder.

"I'm not good at reading guys," Sei explained after shushing her and warning her to keep it quiet. "So I'm asking Yumi-chan a typical normal girl."

"Did you have to say it like that Rosa Gigantea," Yumi asked crestfallen as being called typically normal. Sei turned and shot her an apologetic grin. "H…he's a good catch I guess," Yumi finally replied.

"So he passes and would be a good match for Sachiko?" Sei inquired. Again Yumi felt the pain of jealousy stab at her so all she could do was nod to the older girl. "We thought so as well," the older girl continued to explain in a soft whisper so no one else could hear. "Sachiko's home life is a bit strange. Both her father and grandfather have many mistresses it seems. With being as important as they both are their private lives are always in the news so Sachiko knows all about their activities. It is because of this that she has a strong hate for males," Sei explained. "We had hoped that by having the president of Hanadera's student council assist us, Sachiko would see that not all males have the same hang up that the men in her life do. We're not trying to get them together," Sei clarified quickly, "just to show her that there are good men out there. At least that was our plan before you came and took the Cinderella role from her," she concluded with a grin.

"While they will both be here so your plan may still work even if she doesn't have to dance with him," Yumi provided in way of response. It all made sense to Yumi now that she thought about it. If Sachiko-sama's home life is that way then it's no wonder she hates men so much! Unconsciously Yumi's eyes scanned the room quickly looking for the woman of her thoughts only to realize that she was no longer there. "Where is Sachiko-sama," Yumi finally asked Rosa Gigantea.

"She cannot stand to be around males so she made an excuse to leave ahead of us and said she would meet us at the gymnasium," Sei explained.

Maybe it was her I saw by the building earlier, Yumi wondered. "I think I'll go on ahead as well," she told the grinning girl next to her.

"Where is Cinderella," suddenly asked the only male voice in the room. "I'm looking forward to meeting her," Kashiwagi-san said having finished the curry and offered his suggestions which were written down by Yoshino-san to later be delivered to the cooking club for consideration.

All eyes turned and regarded Yumi who upon turning to face them all did a very graceful curtsy to Kashiwagi-san and all present as if she was in here Cinderella costume already. "That would be me," she said with a hesitant smile. Seeing the surprised look on Kashiwagi-san face she quickly added, "Sorry for not mentioning it earlier."

"I look forward to working with you," Kashiwagi-san said standing and bowing to her. "My apologizes in advance should I step upon your feet when we dance."

"Well, now that we have that out of the way there are a few script changes we would like to go over with you Kashiwagi-sama," Rosa Chinensis said gathering everyone attention back to the table.

"Weren't you going someplace Yumi-chan," Sei said nudging her towards the door.

"Right," she nodded slightly. "I'll be going on ahead as it takes me longer to get changed," she said loud enough for the others in the room to hear. Without waiting for an answer she quickly slipped from the room and ran down the squeaky stairs.

Upon reaching the gymnasium she could see that there was one other pair of shoes present. With a sigh of relief she changed into her athletic shoes and entered the gymnasium, her eyes quickly spotted the lone figure sitting upon the edge of the stage. Yumi crossed the room till she was a few feet away from the older girl who sat staring at the ground. "You'll get your skirt dirty sitting up there," Yumi said into the silence of the room.

Sachiko looked up with a slightly dazed look upon her face. "I hadn't thought of that," she offered. They regarded each other for a moment then both girls started to giggle. "Arigato, Yumi," Sachiko said with a warm smile once they had both finished giggling. "I think I needed that right now."

Yumi shrugged as if it was nothing. "I think I heard Rosa Chinensis say at some time that it was the Petite Sœur's duty to support their Onee-sama's," Yumi replied with in a matter-of-fact voice.

"That does sound like something Onee-sama would say," Sachiko agreed still smiling. "None the less, Arigato." Sachiko cocked her head to the side slightly and regarded the younger girl standing before her. "I seem to be telling you that an awful lot these past few days. I must be a terrible Onee-sama to be such a burden to you Yumi."

"Not at all," Yumi stated with strong conviction evident in the tone of her voice. "There isn't another living soul I would rather be a Petite Sœur to." Sachiko glanced away, her cheeks suddenly feeling warm. Yumi stepped forward and took the older girls hands in hers. "Dance with me," she asked pulling Sachiko from the stage, leaving her little choice in the matter. "We haven't danced together yet and I think I could use more practice so that I don't embarrass you."

Sachiko led her through several steps as they twirled about the room with her hands clasped together. "You have the dance steps down but you're too stiff, Yumi," the raven haired beauty told her. "You need to relax and trust yourself and your body to know the right moves to make. Just relax and let your heart feel the music," Sachiko advised.

Yumi looked up into the sparkling sapphire orbs before her and was immediately lost within them. Everything else, the room, the foot work the fact that the others would be here soon all faded away and no longer mattered to her. All that mattered was that she was dancing with Sachiko-sama. I can't believe how warm and soft her hand is in mine!

"There," Sachiko exclaimed with a bright smile that warmed the heart of the girl she danced with, "Now you have it. Dance just like that and you'll do wonderfully!" Sachiko thought her heart would leap out of her chest when Yumi smiled brightly back at her.

"It must be my dance partner," Yumi replied smiling brightly at the praise she received from the woman she had dreamed about the past several months. "I never knew dancing could be so much fun Onee-sama!" Yumi suddenly exclaimed as they spun and twirled about the room in perfect sync with each other's movements.

"M…me either," Sachiko stammered feeling her eyes begin to tear up. That's the first time she called me Onee-sama. Both girls suddenly stopped, breathing heavily they gazed deeply into each other eyes and took a step towards each other, lost in the moment as their arms slipped around each other in a tender embrace. The sound of applause shattered the moment and quickly brought them back to reality as the rest of the play cast and the costume committee members were standing near the doors watching them. Both girls quickly stepped away from each other turning slightly aside as well.

"Well, now that the two of you are warmed up, why don't we get you two into your costumes," Rose Chinensis said motioning for them to follow her to the dressing rooms. The two blushing younger Chinensis sisters collected their costumes and followed as instructed.


Author's Note:

A little role reversal from the original story. Please keep in mind that I said that one changed decision does not change the entire universe, only small portions of your own future. I hope you enjoy.

As always, though certainly not required, I do appreciate any and all reviews, comments and Private Messages. Please let me know what you like and what you disliked.

Kind Regards,

EJ Daniels

All characters within this story, unless otherwise stated are the sole property of Oyuki Konno the original writer of the Maria-sama ga Miteru light novel series.