No Inhibitions

Disclaimer: I do not own Maria-sama ga Miteru or any of its characters.

A/N: Thank you for the review/comments and follows/favorites. I also want to share that I originally intended for this story to be a lot shorter compared to Still, but let's see ^^. And finally, a shout out to slytherinheiress.21, yup, ako po ay proudly pinoy!

On with the story...enjoy!

Sachiko hated it.

She is obviously not the type of person who goes to hang out in bars to drink, to dance or to meet people. But apparently, Yumi was, or at least, she used to be. And that was why she was finding it hard to control her irritation as Sei and Yumi conversed excitedly about the beach party that night. Touko, who was supposed to be her ally, was with the other group. While her onee-sama was just sitting casually on the bed, listening quietly, but with an amused look on her face. Sachiko was surprised to find out that Youko, who was the epitome of properness in high school, occasionally went to party with her partner, Sei.

After taking a bath, Yumi had changed out of her bikini to dress for that night's event. Which happens to be just another bikini, covered by a thin white loose-fitting cotton dress. The fabric of the dress was so fine that she could see Yumi's tangerine strapless two-piece underneath. It was so short that it didn't even reach Yumi's mid-thigh and the neckline was so low that she could see Yumi's cleavage and toned upper abdomen. It hardly counted as an article of clothing, in Sachiko's opinion.

But in all honesty, if Sachiko were to momentarily forget her ideals and just be true to herself, she actually liked how Yumi looked in that dress. And with Yumi's hair in a messy bun, she looked so gorgeous that Sachiko couldn't stop herself from ogling at her lover.

"Yumi's so hot, eh Sachiko?" Sei wiggled her eyebrows teasingly.

Sachiko cursed inwardly, knowing that she stared at Yumi for too long.

"That hardly counts as a dress" Sachiko spat.

"Yumi is actually being conservative. Some of the people who will attend the party will only be wearing two-piece swimsuits." Sei said.

"What kind of people do you acquaint yourself with, Sei-sama?" Yumi asked.

"Oh, you will get to meet some of them, Yumi-chan."

Sachiko didn't like the sound of that.

"Anyway, stop being an old lady and change into something more appropriate for the event, Sachiko. We'll wait for you outside. Come on Yumi-chan."

Yumi hesitated for a moment before saying, "I just need to put on some make-up."

"Wow, I really like this version of Yumi-chan. Sure, make yourself more pretty. But if you ask me, you look stunning enough." Sei winked at her before heading out the door.

When she was sure that her partner was out of earshot, Youko turned to face her imouto, "Why don't you just request Yumi-chan to put on some decent clothes Sachiko?" She let the question hang in the air for a moment, before exiting the room with a knowing smile.

Yumi didn't hear that last comment as she stepped in front of the mirror to put on some mascara and eye liner. While Sachiko stood motionless as she watched her onee-sama's retreating back. It seems Youko is as perceptive as ever.

As soon as the door closed shut, "Don't force yourself Sachiko. You can sit this one out." Yumi turned to face Sachiko and said, not forgetting to keep her voice down. She also chose not to approach Sachiko, just in case one of their seniors comes back.

"And if I do, what will you do?"

"That goes without saying, I'll think of an excuse and not attend the party too."

Sachiko bit her lip. The excitement in Yumi's eyes earlier had been real. Yumi was thrilled about this beach party and for her to bail out on this one on Sachiko's account just felt too cruel. "I can't ask you not to go. Not with you all dolled up and prepared for the party."

"I would rather they find out about us, than force you into a situation wherein you'll be uncomfortable. There will be lots of people. It will be loud and crazy."

"Are you saying I can't do this? Attend this party? I'll have you know that I have attended countless parties before, which also included drinking alcohol and dancing. How different will this be?"

Yumi just sighed, unsure of how to explain the difference of this event from her usual formal dinner parties.

"Okay, just don't overdo it." Yumi finally said.

"I will not lose consciousness or get crazy drunk, if that's what you're worried about."

"I didn't say anything."

"You don't have to. I know you too well to know that you are worrying too much."

And Yumi had every right to worry, because it seems like she unknowingly forced Sachiko to attend this party.

Before another word was exchanged, there was a knock on their bedroom door.

"Come in" Sachiko said, just as Yumi turned back to face the mirror and proceeded to apply some make-up on her face.

The door opened to reveal Youko. She glanced at the two occupants of the room first, as if gauging the atmosphere, before proceeding to enter. If she noticed something, Youko didn't show it.

"Do you have anything to wear?" Youko asked her imouto.

"Sorry, I don't" Sachiko didn't need to look at her luggage to know that all her clothes are not appropriate for tonight's event, which in her dictionary meant something less decent than what she would normally wear.

"I thought you wouldn't, so I brought some of mine. You can borrow it if you want." Youko handed her ripped denim shorts and a white lace cropped top.

"You wear this, onee-sama?"

Youko laughed, "You know, being a lawyer doesn't necessarily mean that my wardrobe is limited to dresses and business suits."

Sachiko eyebrow twitched. Guilty.

"And being with a person like Sei really changes one's personal style."

Sachiko was surprised at how open Youko was about her relationship. But why is she like this, all of a sudden?

Youko noticed the mild surprise in Sachiko's eyes. Just as she had calculated. "I'm sorry I haven't told you about it first…"

"Umm, excuse me Youko-sama, I'm done. I'll just wait outside." Yumi said, as if she wanted to give them some privacy.

"It's okay Yumi-chan. I want you to hear this as well." Youko then looked at the two women and took a deep breath before saying, "Sei and I are together."

Yumi and Sachiko exchanged glances, as if they could read what the other is thinking.

"C-congratulations" Yumi stuttered.

"Congratulations onee-sama."

"Aren't you even going to ask when our relationship was formalized?" Youko inquired with a smile on her face. Sachiko, but most especially Yumi's, reactions were very interesting.

Yumi could feel beads of sweat forming on her temples, thinking that Youko's manner of attack was totally different from Sei's. Yumi was finding it hard to think of anything to say, and it wasn't helping that Sachiko was as speechless as her. Until…

"Hey! We're waiting!" Sei's head popped out of the open door.

"A-ah yes! I'm done!" Yumi exclaimed.

"Well then, let's go. I have a few friends over and I want you to meet them." Sei said.

"You go on ahead, I will just change." Sachiko said with a blank look on her face, before stepping out of the room and heading for the bathroom.

Sei looked at her partner's face, "What were you talking about?"

"Nothing important."

After one last suspicious glance to Youko, Sei headed back out.

Yumi was about to follow Sei, when Youko called her, "Yumi-chan".

"Youko-sama?"

"It seems you're already comfortable being around Sachiko. By any chance, were you able to fix your misunderstanding already?"

Yumi knew she had a conflicted expression on her face. She may have matured and improved at hiding her emotions on her very expressive face, but she will never be as good as Sachiko. It is most especially difficult when she's in front of her friends or when she's feeling extreme emotions.

But what to say in this situation? Yumi could not lie to Youko. Aside from the fact that it would not sit well with her if she lied to her senior, she has a feeling that deceiving the woman in front of her will be futile.

After not hearing a response, "You should go and meet Sei's friends. I'll wait for Sachiko." Youko just said.

Yumi gave her an awkward smile, before making her way towards the deck.

A few minutes later…

"Onee-sama, isn't this too revealing?" Sachiko immediately complained.

"Well Sachiko, I think you look good in it. It will be dark anyway, so no one will have a chance to ogle at you."

"Everyone can see my abdomen and my chest if I move. I think I won't be able to dance." Sachiko grumbled.

"Really, you'll dance?" Youko smirked, thinking how interesting it will be to see a prim and proper person like Sachiko dance sensuously. "How different will it be than you wearing just your two-piece swimsuit earlier at the beach?"

"That's different?"

"How different? We're still at the beach."

Sachiko pouted. An expression only a few people ever see. And it made Youko smile.

Youko approached to touch Sachiko's cheeks "Now Sachiko, I am sure Yumi-chan will love the way you look." She then withdrew her hand and turned around to leave, not giving Sachiko a chance to respond. And Youko was sure, Sachiko will not be saying anything anyway.

Meanwhile, out on the deck, Yumi was introduced to Sei's friend and her companions. They were already drinking and chatting when Yumi joined them.

"Sei-sama, I thought we're heading for the party?" Yumi whispered.

"My friend unexpectedly showed up with some drinks. Let's just stay for a while. I already sent a message to Rei and Eriko. Anyway, we have a few minutes before the party is at full swing." Sei said with a smirk.

A glass was then shoved to her hand by one of their guests. "Mari. My name is Mari, in case you forgot." The person joked. "That is my special mix. We brought it from our room. I hope you like it."

After hearing those words, Yumi didn't have the heart to decline. So she just returned the woman's smile and took a sip. The drink tasted good, but she instantly felt how strong the alcohol was.

"How was it?" Mari asked.

"What did you put in it?"

"Was it too strong?"

Yes it was, Yumi thought.

"No, it's just fine." Yumi said with a grimace. She was no stranger to alcohol and a glass of this mysterious mix will not be enough to knock her out.

Shimako uncomfortably looked around. With the blaring sounds that filled the crowded beach, it was hard to believe that it was almost midnight. She hadn't been to parties like this before, so everything she laid her eyes on was unsettling to her. Like the fact that most of the people around her are barely dressed, including some of her friends, or the countless men and women whom she noticed were engaged in sensuous dances. But what really shocked her were those who were shamelessly making out despite being out in public.

Noriko took hold of her left hand and squeezed it comfortingly, and she gave a small reassuring smile to her imouto in response. But she was unable to stop the slight quiver in her lips, a clear hint of her unease. Fortunately, their table was situated in a dimly lit area, so Noriko could not have noticed her evident anxiety.

Sei shoved a glass in her right hand, "Have a drink, Shimako. It will calm your nerves and help you loosen up a bit." Sei shouted, so her voice could be heard through all the noise.

Shimako gingerly held the glass in her hand. She took a deep breath before downing her drink. She grimaced at the sharp taste of the alcohol on her tongue. It burned her throat and a warm feeling passed through her chest as she swallowed her drink. She had tried drinking before, but not something as strong as what her onee-sama just gave her. She put a hand on the standing table to steady herself, before she noticed another glass placed in front of her. Shimako stood motionless as she looked unbelievingly at her onee-sama.

Contrastingly, Yumi's body was involuntarily moving in tune to the beat of the music. She hadn't been out partying in a while because work had kept her busy these past few months.

The first time she went to a bar with her friends, she had been uncomfortable. She didn't know what to do and she had been afraid to make a fool of herself. It was Hika-kun who helped her out by giving her a glass of strong alcohol. And true enough, after a few glasses, she found herself dancing carelessly on the dance floor. That time, partying had been her escape from reality, a moment of freedom from the loneliness of being separated from Sachiko. Her occasional trips to clubs continued even after she graduated from college and she started working.

"You're itching to dance, Yumi-san" Yoshino shouted in her ear.

"I haven't danced in a while" Yumi shouted back.

"Niether have I. Let's go!" Yoshino invited.

"Later!"

Yumi spared a glance to her lover. And despite the poor lighting, she could still sense Sachiko's irritation and unease. She just can't leave her.

Sei offered everyone a glass of liquor, "Drink up!"

Sei then raised her glass for a toast and everyone did the same. Yumi downed hers in one go. This made Sei whistle, before her face broke into a huge grin. "Another round here please!" She shouted to the bartender.

A few more shots later, Yumi found herself in the middle of the crowd, dancing her heart away. She was surrounded by her friends, most of which appeared to be drunk, judging from their clumsy and careless movements. Only Sachiko and Youko remained at their standing table, looking very much clear-headed.

Sei deliberately got them drunk so they could party without any inhibitions, that much was certain. In Yumi's case, she has a higher alcohol tolerance than most of her friends. But because of the two or three glasses of mysterious cocktail from Sei's friend earlier, she was now feeling light headed and tipsy. She had wanted to stop dancing and get back to Sachiko's side, but the alcohol in her system, her body's desire to keep on dancing and the atmosphere was making it difficult for her to make rational choices.

At least Sachiko remained sober and thankfully, Youko also chose not to drink and was accompanying Sachiko. She remembered Sei pulling Sachiko's hand to join the crowd earlier, but she adamantly refused. Of course Yumi wanted to stay with her lover, until she remembered that she was supposed to be acting indifferent due to their apparent misunderstanding. But their friends didn't give her a chance to think, as a very drunk Yoshino and Shimako forced her to come with them, while their petite seours, Nana and Noriko, also helped by pushing her from behind. Sachiko also gave her a reassuring smile, an implied permission for her to enjoy herself. So with Sachiko's approval, with her friends' coaxing and with the influence of alcohol, Yumi acquiesced and joined the energetic crowd in partying.

Together with Yumi in the crowd was Shimako. But unlike her, Shimako's head was spinning.

Shimako knew she was drunk and she had lost all her inhibitions. Her onee-sama had been right, she was finding it a lot easier to move around and not care whether or not she was making a fool of herself. She was used to formal forms of dances that required precise and carefully measured steps. But she found this type of freestyle dancing was much more enjoyable. All she had to do was sway, move her hips and rub herself against her dance partner, just like what everyone around her was doing.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Yoshino and Rei engaged in a very erotic looking dance. The younger of the two then pulled her partner's head down for a kiss. Shimako just smiled at her friends' actions, before she tilted her head back and closed her eyes, allowing the world to spin and spin. The alcohol in her system and the make-out session she just witnessed was making her feel so warm all over that she suddenly felt the urge to either touch or be touched by someone. She was fortunate that most of the people that surrounded her were her friends, that way she didn't need to worry about mistakenly dancing with a stranger. With this in mind, she carelessly pulled one woman towards her and engaged her in a sensuous dance.

Contrary to the lively atmosphere, Sachiko has a deep set frown on her beautiful face. She knew that she allowed Yumi to party, but somehow, she was finding it difficult to control her irritation. The moon was full and it provided good illumination. There were also some beam lights from the different bars that lined the beach. But it still wasn't enough for her to see Yumi all the time amidst the dancing crowd.

Sachiko was very much sober. She didn't accept the cocktail offered by Sei's friend back in their cabin, but she did take the glass offered by Sei earlier that night. She didn't want her senior to notice that she wasn't drinking. So from time to time, Sachiko would spill its contents to the sand when she knew no one was looking.

"Sachiko, you're not going to dance?" Youko shouted.

"No" Sachiko replied.

Youko moved closer so she could hear her clearly, "Yumi-chan seem to be a very good dancer and is attracting a crowd down there. Are you sure you want to sit this one out?"

Sachiko's eyes travelled to the crowd and instantly spotted her woman. Of course she easily recognized Yumi, but with poor lighting, Sachiko was unsure if the people that surrounded her lover were their friends.

Then Sachiko saw one person put her arms on Yumi's hips and started grinding her midsection on Yumi's behind. Yumi appeared unperturbed and continued to move her body to match with the stranger's. The blaring music was suddenly muted in Sachiko's ears as her eyes witnessed the sensual dance. And from that distance, Sachiko noticed the stranger brought her head down on Yumi's neck while her lover proceeded to angle her head as if giving that person the permission to continue with her ministrations.

What is Yumi thinking? Allowing whoever that person is to touch and kiss her like that? Sachiko wanted to scream.

"You're joining in?" Sei had just returned and immediately smiled when she saw Sachiko step out from their spot.

"Yes" was Sachiko's curt and very irritated reply as she squeezed in through the crowd and made her way towards Yumi and that person who was flirting with her lover.