A/N: Yesterday, we had our college's sport fest. At morning, I didn't join any game because everything involves moving objects and since I'm not a player plus I'm wearing eyeglasses instead of contacts, I couldn't play. So when afternoon came and the games didn't involve balls and such, I eagerly joined. Heck, my team mates were even cheering that I was the ace of the team when it comes to running. I made a show at the first game I joined, the obstacle race. My opponent was my boss ;) I was only at the first stage when something embarrassing happen. One moment I was moving fast, the next moment I was on the ground. I fell over! Really stupid of me ;) But I did win the race because one fall couldn't stop me. I stood like nothing happened and moved again as fast as I could. It was a good thing that I was not the first and only person who in one way or another, fell over, I was not alone in an embarrassing situation, though I was kind of worried because some were middle aged or older and they might really hurt themselves. Good thing nothing worse happened. We had fun. Today, though, I'm paying for the price of not stretching enough before I joined the games or of being lazy about doing exercises everyday. The left part of my body, from my shoulder to foot, hurt a lot! (coz I fell on my left side ;) Still, an aching body wouldn't stop me from having fun again, later with my friends ;)

That's the reason why I couldn't post anything nor reply to reviews yesterday ;)

Chapter 4

"Yumi, are you sure you aren't uncomfortable in other places?" Sachiko asked for the nth time.

"Yes, I'm sure, Onee-sama. Except for my hands, I feel fine," Yumi answered for the nth time, mistaking the true meaning behind Sachiko's question. She even moved her body for emphasis. She was thankful that the chains of the handcuffs were long enough for her to move her hands, but were not long enough for her to reach past her ribcage.

Sachiko took a deep breath, her mind having a debate of the possible ways of asking the real question that she wanted to ask Yumi.

"Onee-sama, your face has been red ever since you came back from the bathroom. Are you feeling okay? Do you have a fever?" Yumi asked worriedly.

If possible, Sachiko flushed all the more. She berated herself for her inability to hide her emotions better.

"It must be the wine, Yumi," Sachiko lied. She just sipped a glass of wine. It didn't affect her at all. She had been to countless parties all her life so she had better tolerance to a glass or two. However, she couldn't tell Yumi the true reason behind her flushed face.

"It must have been a nice dinner. I wish I was there," Yumi said regretfully.

Silence engulfed Sachiko's room. Both occupants were busy thinking about each other.

"Yumi, they didn't put anything at you, did they?"

"Hmm…Aside from this negligee," Yumi paused as she blushed at the pieces of clothing she had on at the moment, "I don't think there's more."

Sachiko felt a pang of jealousy. The others had seen Yumi almost nude. They didn't even have the right, her mind screamed. 'Why Sachiko, do you think you have the right?' Her mind taunted.

"Why did they do this to me, anyway?"

"I believe it's their idea of a joke."

"Really? I guess you're right. Ah…" Yumi hesitated for a moment, before she bravely said, "Whatever the reasons I was brought here, I'm glad that I could spend some time with you, Onee-sama. Happy birthday."

Sachiko smiled with pure happiness, momentarily forgetting the battle within her.

"Thank you, Yumi. I'm glad that I could spend some time with you, too, despite the circumstances."

Yumi smiled in turn as she blushed some more. She marvelled at how Sachiko's smiling face seemed to brighten the dimly lit room.

"I have something for you, Onee-sama. They placed it on your table," Yumi said shyly.

"Really?"

Sachiko got up and searched for the gift. She spotted a gift wrapped in lavender with white ribbons. She smiled. Yumi was full of lavender this day. 'Was the content of the box lavender, too,' she thought with a smile.

"Can I open this now?" She asked with concealed excitement.

"Sure. I hope you'll like it," Yumi said nervously as she watched Sachiko unwrap the gift carefully.

"Yumi this is…"

A familiar song filled Sachiko's room as the music box played. In there, Cinderella and her prince danced to the tune.

"It was the play that had brought us closer so I thought it would be fitting," Yumi explained nervously.

Even before Yumi could finish her explanation, Sachiko had hugged her tight already.

"You're right, Yumi. This is perfect. Thank you very much."

Yumi smiled proudly.

"If you'd ever feel worn out or if you're missing me…" Yumi paused, blushing at the last two words. "You could listen to this and think about the good times we've shared, Onee-sama."

"And the good times that we will share."

"Yes, Onee-sama."

They stayed close, enjoying the warmth that emanated from each other.

It was Sachiko who decided to pull away after some time. Well, considering Yumi's condition, only she could pull away.

Sachiko took a deep breath. This could be the right time to tell Yumi. It was now or she would have to wait for another good time to do so.

"Yumi, I'd like to tell you s-something," Sachiko faltered, and cursed herself for doing so. She took another deep breath to calm her suddenly hammering heart and looked into Yumi's waiting soft brown eyes. Her breath hitched at the warmth she saw there.

"You're very important to me, Yumi. You've made me happy ever since you came into my life and…"

Sachiko paused and tried to find the right words. This was harder than she thought. As she thought about it, she realized that if she didn't speak right away, she would surely lose her nerves and may not say it.

"I guess there's no easier way to tell you this. What I'm trying to say is, I love you, Yumi. I am in love with you."

Sachiko strained to keep her eyes open after the last six words left her lips. She didn't know what to expect, but she wanted to do it as bravely as she could.

Yumi's heart skipped a beat. Her breathing literally stopped. Wide-eyed and mouth agape, she stared at Sachiko.

And stared at Sachiko...

And stared at Sachiko for some more...

Yumi's brain was unable to comprehend what she just heard. When her lungs screamed for oxygen, she exhaled and inhaled loudly, but still unable to say anything. Her lips parted and closed, trying to say something.

"Please say something, Yumi," Sachiko pleaded, unable to bear the silence anymore.

'I would if I could,' Yumi screamed in her mind.

"Yumi?"

"C-could you please repeat what you said?" Yumi finally asked in a croaked voice.

Sachiko held Yumi's eyes determinedly and said, "I'm in love with you, Yumi. I have been for quite some time."

'Onee-sama said she's in love with me! She loves me!'

The words chanted into Yumi's head over and over. And then her lips broke into a big, bright smile, bringing a tentative smile to the pensive Sachiko. She couldn't believe it! Was she dreaming? Was everything real? She gazed at the pensive Sachiko and realized that everything was real. The feelings that she had kept for so long was reciprocated.

"You've made me so happy, Onee-sama. I love you, too. I'm in love with you, too, even before you graduated from Lillian."

Sachiko's eyes and lips both smiled as she brought Yumi into her arms. Both closed their eyes at the contact. The relief that washed over Sachiko was so great that she felt weak.

"You've made me so happy, too, Yumi. I love you so much."

"I feel like it's my birthday, too," Yumi continued happily. "And I guess I look silly here, declaring my love to you with my hands tied in bed."

The two giggled.

"That means you can't escape me, Yumi."

"Like I have any plans of escaping. I guess we should thank them for bringing me here, though I would still have preferred if my hands aren't tied. I want to hug you, Onee-sama."

Sachiko suddenly pulled away a bit as a tinge of red adorned her cheeks.

"What is it, Onee-sama?" Yumi asked in confusion, in fear, thinking that Sachiko had changed her mind.

Sachiko cleared her throat and tried to speak several times but failed. She pulled away from Yumi completely and reached something from her table.

"Please read this, Yumi."

Yumi read the card that Sachiko gave her.

"What do they mean that the keys are somewhere where you most likely wouldn't dare to touch? And what does our relationship have to do with it?"

Yumi stared at Sachiko in confusion.

Sachiko averted her eyes from Yumi's.

"Think, Yumi. What things won't I dare to touch concerning you?"

"I don't think the keys are hidden in me because I'm not something that you wouldn't dare to touch, right?" Yumi asked with furrowed brows. Ever since, Sachiko always touched her freely, wiping the corner of her lips or her cheeks, even her nape. They held hands from time to time, too.

"Not likely," Sachiko muttered with embarrassment.

"Eh? What do you mean? Where could they have hidden the keys in me except in…" Yumi trailed off and squeaked in shock as she realized something.

"You didn't think they hid it in…uhmm…uh…" Yumi stammered in embarrassment, before she continued, "You don't think they putthekeyinmyunderthings?"

The two shared embarrassed looks, before both turned their gazes away and cleared their throats.

"T-that's why you kept asking me earlier if I'm feeling uncomfortable in other places aside from my hands," Yumi said, still mortified at the idea.

"Yes."

Silence ensued.

Yumi was furiously blushing while thinking that if the keys were hidden somewhere in her underthings, would she let Sachiko get it? Or would Sachiko get it?

Sachiko was also thinking along the lines of Yumi's thoughts. If the keys were hidden somewhere in Yumi's underthings, would Yumi let her? And would she dare do it? She started to sweat at the pressure. She could feel her hands trembling.

Her hands.

Yumi's underthings.

Would she dare?

A/N: Sorry I couldn't help myself but cut the story here, haha ;) This chapter was supposed to be longer, but I decided to break it into two ;)

Next time then!

Don't sweat over it ;) The author is being her naughty self again ;)

---Arvendell---

27 January 2009

10:30 AM