A/N: While you all are anxiously awaiting (or not) the next chapter of Foundation, I thought I'd pass this one on. to you. This is just my take on how Yumi and Yoshino became best friends. It was pretty much ignored in the anime and, while the light novel goes into much greater detail, I kind of wanted to build their relationship my own way.
I do not own MSGM or any of its characters. All such honors belong to Oyuki Konno.
A Budding Friendship
"I'm sorry we're late," Yoshino Shimazu heard a familiar aristocratic voice call from across the gymnasium floor. She had been leaning against the wall watching her grande soeur and cousin, the Rosa Foetida en Bouton, Rei Hasekura, try to learn the intricate dance steps of a waltz and wishing she could be out there on the floor dancing with Rei. More than ever she was frustrated that her body - her heart really - could not stand up to something even as delicate as a waltz.
The call had come from the double door entrance to the gym in the distinctive voice of the Rosa Chinensis en Bouton, Sachiko Ogasawara. Yoshino knew, even before she turned to look, that the elegant "Ice Princess of Lillian" would be walking gracefully over the hardwood floor, her expression warm and smiling for the large crowd of students involved in the Yamayurikai's production of Cinderella. She also knew that that smile could be put on and taken off just like any other mask that the heiress was required to wear from time to time and would most assuredly not be reflected in the raven haired beauty's azure eyes.
So she was not only surprised, but shocked to see that Sachiko's typical grace seemed to have deserted her. Instead she was striding across the floor as if on a mission and the smile on her lips had definitely infiltrated her usually cold but now sparkling eyes. It was still too early to be sure, but Yoshino thought that those eyes and that smile just might have something to do with the young, wide-eyed girl that the bouton was dragging behind her by the hand. What was sure was that the presence of that young lady was likely the very first thing to bring a grin to Yoshino's own lips the entire day.
Yoshino had met Yumi Fukuzawa, a fellow first-year at Lillian, just the previous day as the pigtailed girl had been bowled over and knocked on her keister by an irate Sachiko as she went storming out of the meeting room of the Rose Mansion. She had then watched silently as a bewildered and scared young girl had first been grilled by the Roses and then insulted when Sachiko offered to take her as her petite soeur purely as a means to get out of playing the role of Cinderella and having to dance with the student council president of Hanadera Boy's Academy. Only the death squeeze Rei had put on their joined hands beneath the table had kept Yoshino from lashing out in defense of this sweet young girl.
Yoshino had easily seen both the shock and sadness that had rushed through Yumi's mind; her expressive face unable to keep the emotions from boiling out. And she had seen the crushing indecisiveness in her eyes when Sachiko had started to put her rosary around the shorter girl's neck.
But she had also seen that girl's back straighten and her pride rise to the fore when she told Sachiko that she could not become her soeur. Yoshino had been so proud of Yumi, to stand up for herself and deny herself something that she so obviously and dearly wanted just because of the way, and for the reason, that it had been offered to her.
In that moment Yoshino had decided that there was more to this young girl than met the eye. She was determined to get to know her better and, for some as yet unknown reason, to protect her if she could.
Yoshino watched as Rei and Sachiko began dancing to the triple time waltz. Sachiko was as smooth and graceful as anyone could ever want. Rei was doing fairly well, at least for a non-dancer with only a half hour's practice in a choreographed dance scene. Only her cousin's martial arts training kept her from making a complete fool of herself, yet even then Yoshino giggled softly when she saw Rei inadvertently step on Sachiko's foot.
She watched Rei's lips move as the tall blonde apologized to her blue eyed partner, but the two never broke rhythm. Despite the fact that she knew Rei loved her more than anyone else in the world, Yoshino felt a pang of jealousy as she watched the two glide and spin across the floor. She was pretty sure that she was simply jealous that it was Sachiko that Rei held in her arms and not herself, but she had yet to really allow herself to delve too deeply into that whirlpool of emotions that had been roiling within her for months now.
When the music stopped and Youko Mizuno, the Rosa Chinensis, began directing the dancers about their starting positions and reminding them of the need to play to the audience, Yoshino looked across at Yumi leaning against the wall, talking to Sei Satou, the Rosa Gigantea.
Suddenly Sei took the younger girl by the hand and pulled her out onto the gym floor. She saw Sei tap a triple time on the frightened Yumi's shoulder and the two started dancing a waltz. It was patently obvious that Yumi had never danced before and Yoshino had to hide a smile behind her hand as she tried desperately not to giggle again.
"Everyone," Sei yelled out as the two dancers came to an inelegant stop, realizing that almost every eye in the large room was on them, "I would like to introduce you to a new friend who will be joining the dance group starting today. This is Fukuzawa Yumi-chan. Please take good care of her." Sei whispered briefly into Yumi's ear and then turned back to the group. "Could someone please pair with her?"
Silence. Deathly silence.
Oh, no, this was not good! Not good at all! Everyone seemed to be trying to look in any direction other than Yumi's. Yoshino purposefully caught the eyes of her grande soeur and gave her a significant look. Rei nodded in understanding. It was for this reason, along with so many others, that Yoshino really loved her cousin.
"All right, I'll dance with her," Rei smiled, holding up a hand.
"Eeehhh?" Yumi squeaked, "b-but you're dancing with Sachiko-sama!" the young girl protested.
"I've always known that I am only a stand in for the Hanadera president," Rei explained with a grin, "so it's all good, right?"
"Ah, um, thank you," Yumi said shyly as Rei walked over and took her by the hand. They positioned themselves for the start of the dance and, when the music began, the two new dancers did their best which, from where Yoshino stood, was not all that good but at least they were trying.
Yumi spent the first third of the dance trying to watch her feet until Rei said something to the brown eyed girl. They got a little better after that, but then Yumi's eyes seemed to be constantly searching for Sachiko-sama. The desire that Yoshino was able to read in those expressive brown eyes was heartbreaking.
Yet while Yumi watched Sachiko, everyone else, at least those from the dance club, seemed to be watching Yumi and Rei. Yoshino could see the confusion and concern in some of those eyes, but some also held more than a touch of contempt, as if to say "just who do you think you are, rejecting Sachiko-sama, then dancing with Sei-sama, and then to be dancing with Rei-sama. Don't get above yourself!"
Those feelings must have been transmitted to Yumi because she suddenly stopped dancing.
"I-I just remembered…I have something I have to do," she said quickly and then took off at a run, out the double doors and into the late afternoon sun.
It was Rei's turn to give Yoshino a look. Yoshino nodded and started after Yumi. There was no way her body would allow her to try to catch the running girl, but Yoshino was pretty sure where she would find her.
-oo-
"There's n-no way that Sachiko-sama would seriously consider asking someone like m-me to be her soeur," Yumi whimpered tearfully before she collapsed crying to the floor, hiding her face behind her trembling hands as five or six girls surrounded her.
That was the scene Yoshino walked in on and the poignant words that she heard as Yumi broke down in front of the shoe lockers. Simple words, but they said so much of what the young girl thought of herself and the situation she was in.
The girls standing around her, her friends and acquaintances Yoshino assumed, had obviously been trying to find out what was going on between Yumi and Sachiko-sama. Why she was still with the beautiful girl if she had rejected her rosary. Why she was hanging around with the members of the Yamayurikai and dancing with both Rosa Gigantea and Rosa Foetida en Bouton. Those same people were now trying desperately to console the girl they had driven to tears.
They had no right!
"Leave her alone! Don't you think you've caused enough trouble?" Yoshino yelled as she walked up to where Yumi was still sitting on the floor crying. Of course, they attempted to explain that they were simply trying to understand the situation between Yumi-san and Sachiko-sama. "Whatever the situation is, that is between the two of them and the Yamayurikai. You all are just trying to get some gossip that you can spread to make you look big in front of your friends. Is this what friends do to each other? Make them cry? I'm ashamed of all of you!"
"We're sorry Yoshino-san…"
"We didn't want…"
"We weren't thinking…"
"That's right, you weren't thinking! You certainly weren't thinking about Yumi-san!" she berated them as she knelt down and took Yumi into her arms. The poor girl turned her face into Yoshino's breast and continued to weep, clutching her tightly around her waist. Yoshino stroked her hair and whispered how everything was going to be alright. "Please, everyone, just leave her alone," she said more quietly. "If you want to be real friends to her then do whatever you can to support and protect her. She deserves so much better than this."
The looks of shame, sorrow, and embarrassment in the faces around her were genuine. She thought that these girls would, from now on, take much better care of their friend than they had previously.
"Come on, Yumi-san. Let's get you out of here. I'll get your bag and we can go over to the Rose Mansion for a while until things cool down." She felt rather than heard the girl's agreement and, as they stood and grabbed her things from her locker, Yoshino kept a close eye on her. She had wiped the tears from her eyes and was trying valiantly to gather herself back together. This girl has a lot more strength than she gives herself credit for, Yoshino thought.
The two walked slowly over to the Rose Mansion, Yumi unconsciously shortening and slowing her stride to accommodate Yoshino's less than energetic steps. Yoshino smiled to herself. Yumi knew absolutely nothing about her but had automatically and without thought done what was necessary to accommodate the needs of her companion. It was just one more piece of information regarding the character of this simple yet enigmatic girl.
"Th-thank you, Yoshino-san," Yumi said quietly. "I don't know what came over me. It…it's just all so sudden. Up until now I have been happy just watching Sachiko-sama from a distance. To be thrown into the limelight, everyone watching me and judging me, wondering why Sachiko-sama would want to choose someone like me to be her petite soeur or why someone like me could have the temerity to reject her offer…"
"Why did you reject her, Yumi-san?" Yoshino asked. "I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I'd like to hear your own reasoning."
"It…it was just…I really do want to be her soeur," Yumi tried to explain, her thoughts seeming to bounce around inside her skull like ping pong balls. "It would be a dream come true for me but, to be offered her rosary just so that she could get out of playing Cinderella - offering her rosary to someone she had never met before yesterday morning and didn't even know my name when she tried to introduce me to the Roses yesterday. I could have been anyone. Any first-year would do, it didn't matter to her. Is that the way I want to become her soeur? Isn't a soeur relationship supposed to be based on something more…something better?"
"I understand, Yumi-san," Yoshino nodded, putting her arm around the distraught girl's shoulders as tears once again threatened to fall. It was exactly as she thought, but it was good to hear it from Yumi's own lips. "I thought so myself yesterday, that you really did want to become her soeur, but not in that manner and not for those reasons. It took a lot of courage to turn her down. I could see it in your eyes."
Yumi blushed as Yoshino pressed on. "But you have your own pride and needs to be met. You want Sachiko-sama to see you for who you are, not just some first-year that could get her out of a jam. Yes, Yumi-san, that took a lot of courage. I'm not sure I would have been able to do the same if I was in your shoes, but I know that, despite their words, you impressed at least some of the Roses when you did so."
Yoshino watched as Yumi wiped her tears and looked up into her eyes. The reassurance seemed to be having the desired impact, so she continued. "Rei and I talked about it last night, and even she was impressed with your courage. It was so obvious that, as you say, anyone might have been acceptable at that time. Instead, you stood up for yourself and, we think, taught Sachiko-sama a thing or two about how to treat someone properly."
Yumi laughed weakly, "I doubt that I could teach Sachiko-sama anything. She's so much better and grander than I am."
"Not better!" Yoshino protested. "Grander maybe, but not better, Yumi-san. Different, certainly, but even she has her faults and weaknesses. Being rich or powerful does not automatically make you a better person. I honestly think that you could teach her a lot, Yumi-san." Yumi was shaking her head in denial of Yoshino's words but the braided girl refused to let up.
"Let me tell you something. I have seen all sorts of emotions in Sachiko-sama's eyes over the past number of months, but today was the first time I ever saw her eyes sparkle like that and it was because you were holding her hand. You were making her happy, Yumi-san. Isn't that something that a petite soeur is expected to do?"
Yumi didn't say anything, but she had a shy smile on her face as the two approached the front door of the Rose Mansion.
-oo-
Yumi pulled a handkerchief out of her skirt pocket and wiped at her still tearing eyes as Yoshino-san led her into the old building. Yoshino had certainly helped her out of a sticky situation in front of the shoe lockers, and had even seemed to understand why she had rejected Sachiko-sama's rosary. She had not paid much attention to the silent girl yesterday, but the young woman with the long, dark brown braids in twin-tails down her back was certainly much more talkative today. And she had chided those girls so vehemently earlier in coming to Yumi's defense.
It had surprised her somewhat, but what had surprised her even more was the warmth and safety she had felt when Yoshino-san had held her while she cried. It wasn't a feeling that she had enjoyed very often except from her direct family members. It almost seemed like Yoshino-san really cared for her.
And Yumi had found herself opening up to her and trying hard to explain why she had acted as she had the previous day. She wasn't sure why, but for some reason she had a strong desire to win this girl's acceptance.
But Yumi had been hurt in the past when she too quickly jumped to conclusions where friendship was concerned. The memory of her thinking Shimako-san truly wanted to be her friend rose up in her mind, along with the heartbreak of realizing that Shimako was just that nice to everyone and that Yumi wasn't anything special to her.
She didn't want to feel that way again, but she was willing to give Yoshino-san a chance. She had certainly shown a deep and caring side of herself, but Yumi decided that she would continue to hold her heart close for a little while longer, just in case.
The two walked up the creaky old stairs to the meeting room where Yoshino forced her to take a seat while she made up some tea. Yumi decided to take a look around the room while Yoshino was busy at the kitchenette. She had not really taken much notice of her surroundings during yesterday's fiasco and she was surprised to find that she really liked this room.
It was bright and airy with the afternoon sunlight streaming in through the windows. Despite the fact that it only held a long table and chairs, and was used primarily as a conference room, it felt comfortable. The sparkling white cloth on the table, the sheers on the windows, the little kitchenette in the corner where Yoshino was finishing up brewing their tea, it all felt much more like a home than a student council meeting room.
"Here Yumi-san," Yoshino said as she put a cup of black tea in front of her, "the Roses will probably be back shortly. I assume that you would prefer to be gone before they get here, but please rest and relax at least for a little while," the slender girl said warmly.
"Thank you, and yes, you are right. I shouldn't stay long. Actually, I didn't get the chance to tell my mother that I would be staying late so I really should be going soon," Yumi explained.
"Do you have a cell phone, Yumi-san?" Yoshino asked suddenly.
"No, my parents can't afford one for both myself and my brother, so we do without," she replied.
"My parents really can't afford one either, but they insisted that I carry one," Yoshino said with a nervous grin. "Would you be willing to exchange phone numbers with me so that I can call you sometime? You can always feel free to call me anytime as well, of course," she smiled, "even if it is just to have someone to talk to. I know that the Roses can sometimes be a bit…intimidating, but I would like you to please think of me as a friend."
"O-of course, Yoshino-san! I-I would l-like that very much," Yumi stammered, surprised again that a member of the Yamayurikai wanted to befriend her. The two swapped phone numbers and spoke for a little longer. Yumi told her a little about herself and about her family; how she had, until recently, been much more of a loner until she made friends with Katsura-san and Tsutako-san.
"Oh, you mean the glasses-girl who was with you yesterday. I've heard of her, although I have never met her before." Yoshino then giggled. "It seemed that she was ready to take Sachiko-sama's head off there for a while. She certainly seems to care a lot about you, Yumi-san."
"She has become a very good friend over the past few months," Yumi agreed with a shy but warm smile, "although she has this thing about always trying to take my picture," she giggled.
"I can see why," Yoshino agreed with a laugh, "the expressions you sometimes show."
Yumi pretended to pout a bit before she too started to laugh. The two spent a few more minutes sharing tales before Yumi realized that she would have to get moving if she didn't want her mother to worry…or to get caught again by Sachiko-sama.
"Thank you for everything today, Yoshino-san," she said, trying to convey how much she truly appreciated all that the girl had done for her. "I really do appreciate it. And I had fun. You are very easy to talk to. Please, feel free to call me anytime," she said as she gathered her things together.
"Just so long as you agree to the same, Yumi-san," Yoshino smiled. "You can call me any time you want or need to talk. I mean that! I would very much like to get to know you better."
"Same here, Yoshino-san," Yumi grinned.
-oo-
Yoshino opened the door to the Rose Mansion the next afternoon after completing her classroom cleaning duties and was immediately set upon by Sei-sama.
"Yoshino-chan, let's go into the kitchen for a moment, shall we," the tall, western looking girl said with a smirking grin that told the younger girl that something was up. Yoshino called her on it.
"Does something have to be going on? Can't I just share a cup of tea with a kohai?" Sei asked with wide-eyed innocence that didn't fool the younger girl for a second.
"With you, there's always something you have up your sleeve, Sei-sama," Yoshino huffed.
Sei threw her hand over her heart. "You wound me Yoshino-chan," she pouted, but then smiled and went on to explain. "Sachiko-chan is upstairs with Yumi-chan and I was thinking that we should give them a few minutes alone together," Sei grinned wolfishly.
"What did you do Sei-sama? If you hurt Yumi-san…" Yoshino bridled.
"Are you concerned for her Yoshino-chan?" Sei asked with a genuine smile, no longer teasing. "Good. I'm glad to hear it. It seems like that girl could use a few more friends. And no, I didn't hurt her at all. I just wanted to get Sachiko-chan a little jealous," she explained as they went into the kitchen and Sei started to make some tea. "They're upstairs talking right now."
"Talking? Sachiko-sama and Yumi-san? I'm not sure how much they've actually spoken before," Yoshino said thoughtfully. "Sachiko wouldn't let Yumi-san say too much the day she tried to get Yumi to accept her rosary, and they hardly spoke at all at the rehearsal yesterday." The two contemplative girls were quiet for a few minutes while Sei prepared the tea.
"So what do you think of Yumi-chan, Yoshino-chan?" Sei asked her as she poured her kohai a cup. Yoshino looked again to see if there was any teasing in her eyes, but there seemed to be true concern there instead.
"Seriously?" she asked just to be sure.
"Seriously," Sei responded, handing her the cup of green tea. The tall blonde didn't seem to take any affront at Yoshino's dubiousness regarding her intentions. An uncaring attitude was part of the persona she was portraying these days; despite how that particular skin often chafed her. Even Yoshino could tell that much.
"Well, I think it's still a little too soon to tell," Yoshino replied thoughtfully, "but I think that she would probably make a good match for Sachiko-sama."
"Now why would you think that, Yoshino-chan?" Sei asked, again seemingly truly interested in her opinion.
"Well, I know Yumi-san really does like her, more than just as a fan-girl," Yoshino replied thoughtfully. "From what I saw yesterday I think that Sachiko-sama is starting to see Yumi-san as a person, not just any old first-year. I don't think I've ever seen her smile quite like that."
"I think so too," Sei agreed with her kohai as she gazed into her teacup. "You know, I heard about how you stood up for her yesterday afternoon."
"How did you hear about that?" Yoshino squeaked in embarrassment.
"From Shimako-chan. She overheard a friend of Yumi-chan's, a girl named Katsura I believe, apologizing again for making her cry. She also said that you were right in telling them that they should be ashamed of themselves. You really laid into them, didn't you?" Sei commented with a grin.
"They deserved it," Yoshino replied, angry all over again as she recalled what Yumi's so-called friends had put her through.
"Thank you, Yoshino-chan," Sei smiled at her. "I meant it when I said that Yumi-chan needs more friends. I would appreciate it if you could become one of them."
"Too late, Sei-sama," Yoshino grinned, "I already like her and think of her as a friend."
"Good girl," Sei smirked and patted her head as they heard the front door open and the rest of the Yamayurikai arriving.
Yoshino finished her tea quickly and then got up to begin making more for everyone else. The rehearsal was supposed to take place in the Rose Mansion's living room today since it was just line reading rather than dancing. Everyone must have been making enough noise to attract the attention of Sachiko-sama and Yumi-san because the two girls came walking down the stairs shortly thereafter. As they were about to gather into the living room there was a knock on the door.
"Oh, I'll get it," Yumi-san said and walked briskly toward the front door of the mansion. Yoshino quietly stood by the kitchen door, watching for a moment to see what was up.
"Good day," a large group of girls said in unison as they stood outside the now open doorway.
"Ah, uh, good day," Yumi stammered.
"We're from the handicraft club…"
"We're from the art club…"
"We're from the invention club…"
They all seemed to try to talk at once and Yoshino could see Yumi freezing up. She was about to go to the young girl's rescue when one of the club members spoke up.
"Oh, it's you Yumi-san. Thank goodness you answered the door. Are the Roses available?"
"Um, yes, but, why are you glad that I opened the door?" Yumi asked in confusion.
"Oh, because even though we all adore the Roses they can be a little frightening sometimes," one girl explained.
"You seem much friendlier Yumi-san," another spoke while giving the pigtailed girl a smile.
"I feel more relaxed now, thank you Yumi-san," a third chimed in.
"Oh, well, thank you," Yumi smiled shyly.
It looked like she didn't need Yoshino's help after all, so the braided girl just smiled as she held back a while longer.
"So, you really don't want to be her soeur?" one more girl asked Yumi.
"Eh, what?" Yumi squeaked.
"Well, I'm sure that there are issues involved, I just thought it would be nice if you became Sachiko-sama's petite soeur, Yumi-san," the girl finished.
Yumi's shy smile was back, but so was a wistfulness in her eyes; a desire that she could not hide, at least from Yoshino. It was time to take charge.
"Ladies," Yoshino called above the general tumult as she exited the kitchen while clapping her hands to get everyone's attention focused on her, "if you need to speak to the Roses, could you please go on into the living room and sit down. I'm sure that they will be happy to speak to you, but not all at once."
"Of course, Yoshino-san," a few answered, directing their fellow club members into the room to the right off the foyer.
"Are you alright, Yumi-san?" Yoshino asked her friend gently, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, Yoshino-san, yes, I'm fine, thank you. It just sort of shocked me," Yumi answered still somewhat in a daze. "I didn't think anyone could see me as a good match for Sachiko-sama."
"Well, they aren't the only ones, Yumi-san," Yoshino said as she linked her arm with Yumi's and they started for the entry to the living room. "I also happen to think that you might be a good match for Sachiko-sama."
"Eh, why?" Yumi asked, real surprise in her voice and on her face.
"I'm not exactly sure just yet," Yoshino said, wanting to be truthful to her new friend. "Call it a feeling, or a hunch, but I know that Sachiko-sama seems to relax a bit more when you are around. And I've noticed her smiling a little more. You seem to be good for her." Yumi just looked at her in disbelief until Yoshino jabbed her with her free hand. "Come on, Yumi-san. They're waiting for us," she grinned.
-oo-
It became a bit of a habit for Yumi and Yoshino to meet in the Rose Mansion after rehearsals had been completed for the day and Sachiko-sama had left to return home. Rei was still trying to get in an hour or so of kendo practice at the school's dojo, so the two would spend the time drinking tea and talking about what had happened that day, about their families, or about life in general. It didn't take long for the two of them to become quite close. Yoshino also took the opportunity to try to make Yumi realize that she had a lot to offer Sachiko-sama, or anyone for that matter, as a petite soeur.
She also noticed that she wasn't the only one trying to bolster Yumi's self confidence. Both Youko-sama and Sei-sama did the same thing whenever they got the chance at the rehearsals. Even Eriko-sama said a few kind words to Yumi-san every now and then and praised her whenever she had the chance. It was like a conspiracy between the Roses to try to get Yumi-san to see herself as worthy of being Sachiko's petite soeur and Yoshino felt good about being a part of that conspiracy, even if only peripherally.
She found that she really liked being around Yumi. The girl was sweet, kind, and caring of everyone around her. And she listened! Not half-heartedly, not with just one ear, not simply out of courtesy; she really listened. The answers she gave when asked were always thoughtful and intelligent. At least when it was concerning others, she had a common sense wisdom that belied her simple, innocent appearance. It was for this reason, at least that's what she told herself, that Yoshino broached a particularly delicate subject with her new friend one afternoon.
"Hey, Yumi-san, um, could I ask you something kind of personal?"
"You can always ask, Yoshino-san," Yumi giggled, "although I reserve the right not to answer."
"Fair enough," Yoshino grinned back and then turned a bit pensive. "Um, what do you think of two girls falling in love with each other?"
"Eeehhh! Yoshino, you don't mean…"
"No, no, no! Not you Yumi-san! Sheesh!" Yoshino exclaimed, before taking a deep breath. "Where is your head today! Idiot. No, I just meant in general."
"Oh, oh, of course not," Yumi said as she calmed down. She took a relieved breath herself before answering. "Mmm, to be honest, I never really thought about it. Could I ask you for another cup of tea while I think?"
"S-sure," Yoshino replied. She stood up and moved over to the small set of cabinets where they made their tea, trying to surreptitiously keep an eye on Yumi as she thought. Sure enough, Yoshino could pretty much follow her line of thinking simply by watching the young girl's face as she poured out two fresh teacups. She could see deep concentration and a slight confusion, maybe a little bit of interest followed by a blush as Yumi was obviously imagining some form of ecchi scene. A couple of other emotions passed by almost too swiftly to catch as Yoshino set Yumi's cup down on the table in front of her. What relieved her so much was not what she saw, but what she didn't see! At no time did any expression of fear or disgust cross that cute visage.
"I'm sorry if I'm taking too long, Yoshino-chan," Yumi smiled up at her friend.
"No, that's alright. If I wanted a flippant or off-the cuff answer I wouldn't have bothered to ask you," Yoshino explained as she took a seat.
"Well then, I guess that, from my own perspective, as long as both girls truly love each other then it wouldn't matter to me," she shrugged. "They should be able to be with the one they love. What's more important is how they feel about each other, not how others feel about them. Does that make any sense?"
Yoshino sighed and gave Yumi a small smile. "It makes perfect sense, Yumi-san, especially coming from you. I should have known that you would never judge someone just because of who they might love." Yoshino wasn't sure exactly how she felt about it yet, but hearing Yumi's thoughts made her feel a little better.
"So, did you have someone particular in mind?" Yumi grinned teasingly.
"Ah, I think I shall reserve the right not to answer that question," Yoshino laughed, followed very quickly by her friend.
In order to avoid going any further down a path which she was still hesitant to travel, Yoshino decided to ask a question on a completely different subject that she knew Yumi would have a definite answer for. "Has Sachiko-sama asked you to accept her rosary again yet?" she asked quietly.
Yumi sighed and looked deeply into the cup of tea cradled in her hands. "Yesterday."
"And?"
"And again I rejected her," Yumi responded quietly.
"Can I ask why? The two of you have gotten to know each other a bit now over the last week or so and I think Sachiko is starting to see you for who you are and not as a means to an end, so why are you still hesitant?" Yoshino asked even while hating to see the look of pain on her friend's face.
She watched again closely as Yumi thought about how to answer her. The two girls had become close since they met, and Yoshino knew Yumi wouldn't want to lie to her, but a slight grimace seemed to be saying that Yumi also knew that the truth would most likely result in another scolding. Still, Yumi elected to speak rather than to hold herself back or prevaricate.
"Tsutako-san once asked me why I didn't think that I would make a good petite soeur for someone. I told her that I see a soeur relationship as one that should be a two-way street; with both parties giving and receiving something special to one another. At the time I told her that I just didn't think that I have that much to offer to anyone." When Yoshino opened her mouth to protest, Yumi quickly continued. "I don't necessarily think that way anymore," she went on to say, forestalling Yoshino's outburst.
"I do hope and believe that someone out there might eventually find me worthy of their love and caring, just for me being who I am. I want to be able to walk next to my grande soeur hand-in-hand, neither taking too much nor giving too much, each receiving what they need from the other in equal measure. More like true partners as well as sisters…I don't know if I'm explaining this well or not."
"No, Yumi-san," Yoshino told her friend with a gentle smile, reaching over to lay her hand on top of Yumi's and taking it into her own. "I think you said it perfectly. I still think that you would make a wonderful petite soeur for Sachiko-sama, so I won't necessarily agree with you on that point, but I do understand how you feel."
True partners, walking hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder, supporting each other as equals. Once again Yumi's quiet wisdom had given Yoshino something important to think about.
-oo-
The day after the end of the festival everyone made such a fuss about Yumi finally becoming Sachiko-sama's petite soeur, but the one person that Yumi really wanted to talk to about it wasn't in the room.
"Um, Rei-sama, Yoshino-san isn't here today?" she asked her best friend's cousin and grande soeur.
"She hasn't been feeling well since the festival," Rei said with more than a little bit of concern in her voice, "she has a fever that won't go away. She always gets ill after one of these events."
"Ah, do you think she would mind if I called her this evening?" Yumi asked, her own growing concern evident.
"I think that she would be very pleased, Yumi-chan," Rei smiled at her, "I know that she has taken a real liking to you."
"I like her too, Rei-sama," Yumi blushed. "Somehow, when I wasn't looking, she's suddenly become my best friend."
"I'm happy to hear that. I'm pretty sure she thinks of you the same way," Rei said as she gave the newest member of the Yamayurikai a hug. "She needs more friends like you, Yumi-chan. Please look after her."
"Of course, Rei-sama," Yumi smiled, returning the hug from the girl she knew her best friend was in love with, even if Yoshino didn't know it yet herself.
Something tells me Rei-sama is in for a revelation…or maybe a revolution? Yumi grinned to herself.
A/N: Thanks for reading, everyone. As always, your reviews and/or comments would be greatly appreciated. I always love hearing from you :-)
Take care,
CX
