Disclaimer: Maria-Sama Ga Miteru and its characters are not mine. Credits to the author, Konno Oyuki.
Chapter 8: Obliviousness
- - o 0 o - -
Yumi's heartbeat seemed to have stopped as she waited for her onee-sama's response.
A minute lapsed in silence, and Yumi's eyes started to water as her beloved's answer became apparent. Judging by her silence, it appeared to Yumi as if Sachiko-sama would not accept the compromise. But Yumi could not blame her. After all, she knew asking those things from her would be too much.
"It's no good then…this compromise." She whispered sadly.
"I don't like it."
Tears cascaded down Yumi's face and she covered her trembling lips to muffle her sobs. It was painful, to be rejected like this. But she knew she didn't have the right to demand understanding from her beloved who have already given her so much.
"I understand." Yumi said. "Then, I hope you have a good life, onee-sama. You are a wonderful person who deserves someone who will-"
Yumi wasn't able to continue what she was going to say, when all of a sudden, Sachiko-sama hastily removed the hand that was covering her lips, and pressed those luscious lips of her beloved's against hers. It was a chaste, but lingering kiss in which Yumi found herself following those sweet lips as Sachiko-sama slowly pulled away.
"I am not done, Yumi." Her onee-sama breathed. "Please stop crying."
Yumi blinked and tried to regain her senses. Just like the first time that night when her beloved kissed her, all of the words she had wanted to say and the things that were on her mind, instantly flew away, rendering her disoriented and dazed.
She touched her lips, still surprised that she had been kissed yet again…
'Does it mean that Sachiko-sama still wants to be with me?'
Yumi found the thought so hard to believe, so before jumping to conclusions again, she chose to wait and hear her onee-sama's reply first.
"Don't go saying goodbye just yet." Sachiko-sama said. "Weren't you listening to what I said earlier? That nothing you say will make me want to part from you."
"Onee-sama…"
"But still, I don't like that you will be feeding off of someone else, and I also hate that you will be keeping secrets from me. But-"
"…"
"…but I hate it even more if we are not together…if I am not a part of your life."
Her eyes widened. "So does this mean-"
The older woman smiled.
"So, you still want to be with me?"
Her beloved looked into her eyes, and wholeheartedly said, "Of course."
Yumi beamed and she threw her arms around Sachiko-sama, surprising her.
"Y-Yumi?"
But she continued to embrace her, burying her face in her beloved's hair and snuggling so closely to her neck. She was so relieved that no words could express just how happy she was.
The older woman also placed her arms around her, before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"However…I have some conditions."
Yumi pulled away, her brows furrowing, "Conditions?"
"It doesn't seem fair that you're not the only one with conditions, right?"
"Ah, of course. Please let me know what they are."
"First, you will not feed from Kanina Shizuka ever again."
Yumi giggled. "Why are you singling out Shizuka-sama?"
"Because I don't like her." Sachiko-sama answered rather quickly and without hesitation.
'Onee-sama is really cute when she's jealous.'
"Your answer?"
"Yes, onee-sama."
"Also, you will let me meet those people whom you will be feeding from. I want to at least know who they are, and they must know that you are only feeding from them out of necessity."
"Umm, onee-sama, I'm sure that Kei-sama and Kanako-chan ('Shizuka-sama is already excluded, right?') knew that already. Do I have to clearly say it to them?"
'Telling someone that they are only being fed from out of necessity is quite embarrassing.' Yumi mused.
Her onee-sama sighed. "Yes, Yumi. It's because you are so lenient that people go on assuming things. Look at what happened with Shizuka-san."
Yumi was still not convinced, but still said. "Okay. I will introduce you to Kanako-chan, if given the chance."
"Good. Next…"
"Onee-sama, just how many demands do you have?"
"Are you complaining?" The older woman asked, her eyebrows raised.
Yumi waved both her hands, "No, not at all! Sorry for interrupting. Please continue."
"Has anyone else fed off of you, aside from me?"
"No! Of course not!"
"Then keep it that way, Yumi. You will allow no one else to feed from you, aside from me. Is that clear?"
Yumi nodded her head emphatically. "Yes, of course. My blood belongs solely to you."
"And not only your blood…" Sachiko-sama blushed, and in soft voice said "…but also your heart."
Yumi reached out, enclosed her beloved's hands in hers, and gazed lovingly into her beautiful blue eyes, "My heart will always, always, belong only to you."
They shared a quiet moment, with the two looking at each other's eyes tenderly, before the older woman continued with her list of demands. "I'm not done yet, Yumi."
Yumi smiled yet again, 'These demands are just endless…' she thought. But still nodded her head, urging her beloved to continue.
"Can you promise me that you'll always come back to me, when you're done with whatever you're doing for the Society?"
"Yes, I will."
"And one last thing…"
'We finally reached the end of onee-sama's long list.' Yumi mused happily. However, when she heard the last request…
"I know that you'll be doing a lot of things, which I will not be aware of. But, can you at least promise me that you will not put your life in danger?"
Yumi froze, because that request…was something she could not unconditionally say 'yes' to.
But before she could answer, there was (thankfully) a knock on the door, and Kei-sama peaked inside. It distracted the older woman, so she was not able to see the troubled look that flashed in her imouto's eyes.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, but both your fathers are here looking for you. They said they need you outside."
"Okay, sempai, we'll be right out." Yumi quickly responded and stood up. "Let's go, onee-sama."
The older woman sighed. She had wanted to talk to Yumi some more, but if their fathers were already outside waiting for them, then they have no choice but to end their discussion.
"Okay, but later tonight, when we get back to the manor, we will continue this discussion. Also, I will teach you how to feed properly."
"There is a proper way to feed?" Yumi asked, clearly surprised.
'Well, there is…I guess.' Sachiko mused.
That was the best she could come up with at the moment, to 'teach' Yumi how to feed properly, because she found it quite embarrassing to directly invite her little sister to feed from her that night. She had been anticipating being fed from by her beloved again, since the first time was really such an embarrassingly pleasurable experience for her.
So instead of answering her imouto's question, which she was unsure of the answer anyway, she just said, "Well, I know that Shizuka-san may have said that you fed from her quite enjoyably. So probably, you're thinking that you've been doing it correctly all this time. You probably enjoyed it immensely too, to be feeding from her."
Yumi's face reddened. "What! No! I swear I didn't enjoy it. I was doing it out of necessity."
Sachiko's lips automatically drew up to a smile, but she forced it down, not wanting to let it show that she was greatly pleased with Yumi's response.
"Anyway, as your onee-sama, it is my duty to teach you. I know you were not yourself when you fed off of me, but if I remember correctly, you sank your fangs too fast and too deep."
"Did you hate it?"
"What?"
"Me feeding from you, did you hate it?"
Sachiko wasn't able to stop herself from giggling, because her imouto looked so adorable, with her face down, her eyes looking up at her, and her lips drawn to a pout.
'Hate it? If only Yumi knew how pleasurable it was.'
But she wouldn't go to the detail of what she felt the first time Yumi fed off of her.
"No, I didn't hate it, silly. But, it can be improved. Unless…someone else already taught you how to do it."
"Kei-sama gave me some pointers. But I would love to learn from you, onee-sama."
"Then, it's settled. Once we get back to the manor tonight, assuming you're still not too tired from tonight's party, I'll meet you in my room." Sachiko (tried) saying with a straight face. However, the younger woman's response was something she hadn't expected.
"Onee-sama..." Worry lined her imouto's face. "…I am not going home with you tonight."
'What? I thought we got everything sorted out.' Sachiko was flabbergasted.
"Why?"
"I have some things I need to do, before I am able to leave the Main Institute. But I promise I will come and live with you at the start of the third term. Can you wait until then, onee-sama?"
After a long pause, and after recalling her promise to accept everything about her beloved, Sachiko finally said "I don't have a choice but to agree, do I?"
"Onee-sama…" the younger woman whined.
"Fine." Sachiko sighed. "But not a day later than the start of the term, Yumi."
"Of course!"
And just after they shared a smile, there was another knock on the door, but this time, it was her father who stepped through the door. "Sachiko, I hate to cut short your reunion, but the guests are waiting to meet you and Yumi-chan. Can you please continue with your conversation later tonight?"
Her imouto cocked her head to side and gave her a look, as if saying that they really didn't have a choice but to end their conversation now.
"Yes, father." Sachiko said.
"I'm sorry for making you wait, Oji-sama." Yumi added just as she stood up.
"You're father's here too, Yumi-chan."
Sachiko turned to look at Yumi, "You call my father 'oji-sama' now?"
"I remember everything now, onee-sama." Yumi happily said. Then, she leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "Even the time when you kissed me while I was asleep back at your villa."
And without another word, Yumi rushed to the door.
Sachiko stood transfixed to the same spot, clearly shocked at what Yumi just said. It seems her imouto's cheekiness was back, just like how she was when they were younger. It irritated her somehow…but still, upon seeing her imouto's smiling face, she knew she wouldn't have it any other way, because it seemed to her that finally, her Yumi really is back.
- - o 0 o - -
For the first time in a long time, Yumi felt truly happy. It was not because of the extravagance of the party, nor because she was being introduced and apparently being accepted by the 'important' members of the Society. It was due to the fact that now, she was back together with her beloved, despite the complications of her current situation.
"Fukuzawa-san?"
The man's voice in front of her shook her out of her thoughts. She was currently sitting beside Kikuchi Kaoru-san, the son of another council member who was friends with her father. The man had been talking for quite some time, but Yumi was so busy thinking about her beloved senior to even understand what he was saying.
"Yes?" Yumi gave the man a smile, hiding her obliviousness earlier. After all, she needed to act lady-like, so as not to embarrass her family and her onee-sama.
The man blushed, something Yumi didn't notice because her attention was on Sachiko-sama, whom she just noticed was seated on table next to theirs.
"Would you like to dance?"
'Ah yes, 'proper' ladies know how to dance.' Yumi sighed.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know how to dance." It was better to admit it openly, rather than embarrass herself. Such were Yumi's thoughts.
"I can teach you." The man said, before he stood up and extended his hand in a gentlemanly fashion.
After a little bit of thought, and thinking that she didn't want to embarrass the man who already had his offered hand in front of her, she finally stood up and agreed to Kikuchi-san's proposition. They walked to the dance floor and her partner proceeded to place a hand on her waist, while gently clutching her other hand.
"This is waltz, so it's three beats."
In a low voice that only Yumi could hear, he counted for her. He then moved his feet to the beet, showing her how it was done.
Yumi concentrated and tried to follow the man's lead. It wasn't that hard for her, because Sachiko-sama had taught her how to dance on her last day at the manor. It was supposed to be for the Cinderella play, which she was not able to join. Yumi felt saddened by the memory, and the man was quick to notice her expression. But obviously, he misunderstood.
"You don't have to feel sad about it. I know you'll learn fast enough. Just follow my lead."
"Yes, thank you." She responded, choosing not to tell him that the dance was not the reason for the sudden change in her mood.
Not a moment later, her body started getting accustomed to dancing waltz, again, something her partner happily commented on.
"You're a fast learner, Fukuzawa-san."
"Because you're a good teacher, Kikuchi-san." She replied with a smile.
While dancing, they continued to converse about different topics, most of which were about their life at school. The music had already changed, when he suddenly said, "If I knew that Councilor Fukuzawa has such a wonderful daughter, I would have asked father to introduce me to you sooner."
Yumi missed what those words suggested, and just proceeded to respond casually, "It's my first time to attend one of the Society's events, so I don't know anyone that much."
"Then, I guess I'm lucky."
"Why is that?"
"Because it seems to me that you are not betrothed yet."
"What do you mean?"
Kikuchi-san raised his hand, a gesture which Yumi knew meant that she should spin. So she spun gracefully, before landing back into her dance partner's arms.
"Exactly as I said. It seems to me that you are not yet engaged to someone." The man continued to say.
"Oh. No, I am not."
"Then I should probably ask father to arrange a marriage meeting with Councilor Fukuzawa as soon as possible."
Yumi stopped dancing, "What?"
Kikuchi-san just smiled at her, "I think I like you, Fukuzawa-san. Of course we need to get to know each other more, but I think-"
"Excuse me."
Kikuchi-san wasn't able to finish what he was about to say, when an irritated Sachiko-sama interrupted them.
"Onee-sama."
"Onee-sama?" Kikuchi-san echoed. "Oh, you must be attending Lillian then. I am quite familiar with the 'soeur' tradition there, seeing as most of the woman in my family attended that school. I am from Hanadera myself."
Sachiko-sama smiled at the man, but Yumi knew it was forced, before she continued to say, "Can I borrow my sister for a moment."
"Of-"
Kikuchi-san hadn't finished speaking yet when her onee-sama immediately pulled her hand away from the man's hold.
"Onee-sama and the others are looking for you." Sachiko-sama reasoned. "But accompany me to the restroom first."
They continued walking out of the crowd and exited down a corridor. They kept their pace slow, remaining their elegant lady-like grace, despite the fact that the older woman was still fuming. Sachiko-sama only hastened her steps, dragging Yumi with her, when she spotted the ladies restroom sign.
As soon as they were inside, "I think we're alone", her grande soeur immediately said.
"Onee-sama, is something wrong?" Her senior's face, although it may appear stoic to others, clearly showed irritation to Yumi.
"Seriously, Yumi. You haven't figured it out?"
Yumi furrowed her brows in confusion, and unknown to the her, it irritated Sachiko even more.
Sachiko had been fuming from the moment she saw that man smiling flirtatiously at Yumi, she had wanted to step in and interfere. But because she was conversing with someone, a business man whom she didn't even bother remembering the name, she chose to control her anger. Anyway, she knew her oblivious little sister wouldn't even notice the man's apparent interest in her. However, when she overhead the man started talking about marriage proposals (she sharpened her sense of hearing to listen in on Yumi's conversation with that Kikuchi-san - it was for Yumi's own good!), Sachiko was not able to stop herself from rushing into the dance floor.
"I'm sorry, onee-sama, I really haven't." Yumi finally admitted.
"Just how oblivious can you get, Yumi? That man was clearly flirting with you."
Yumi's eyes widened in surprise, "Was he?"
'Of all the traits that Yumi chose to retain, why does it have to be her 'obliviousness'?'
"And you were making him feel that you are interested in him too."
"No, I honestly wasn't."
"Yumi, you laughed at his jokes, you didn't complain when he was standing so close to you, and you didn't reject his marriage proposition."
"I thought he was just being friendly and nice."
"He asked your hand in marriage. Didn't that even gave you a hint that what he wanted from you was more than friendship?"
"He wasn't serious, was he? We just met."
"He looked serious to me. And he wouldn't be saying those words if it were a joke."
"Oh."
"Oh? That's all you have to say? You were leading him on."
"I was? I'm sorry if it seemed that way to you, onee-sama."
"It didn't seem that way only to me Yumi. That man thinks so too." Sachiko sighed exasperatedly, "What will I do with you?''
Yumi looked to the ground and sincerely apologized, "I'm sorry."
"What will you do if he really did discuss marriage plans with your father?"
"I will say 'no' of course. After all, I already have you."
Sachiko's retort caught to her throat. Yumi's honesty and straight forwardness had rendered her speechless.
"I'm really sorry, onee-sama."
She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. She was still somewhat irritated.
"What can I do to make amends for making you this angry, onee-sama? I want to make it up to you soon, so that you'll allow me to feed from you."
Sachiko was stunned, 'where did that come from?'
And as if reading her thoughts, "I have been thinking about since earlier, that I want to taste your blood again. And now that we're alone..."
Sachiko gulped, unable to voice out that she had been thinking about the same thing.
"I have an idea. How about you teach me how to feed now, onee-sama?"
After saying those words, Yumi's once innocent-looking eyes had changed. She then sauntered towards the stunned heiress, her golden eyes looking so menacingly seductive and flirtatious, and her lips were drawn up to a mischievous smile.
'Is Yumi intentionally seducing me?'
And as the young pure-blood approached her, Sachiko took a thoughtless step back, her eyes widening as she watched Yumi's fangs slowly elongating.
"Yumi..."
"Yes?"
'She's seriously going to feed from me…in the bathroom?' Sachiko thought, as she continued backing away until her back hit the door.
Yumi stopped in front of her and gave her one last suggestive look before placing both her hands against the wall on either side of Sachiko, effectively trapping her. She then leaned forward, close to the older woman's ear and whispered, "Are you afraid of me, onee-sama?"
"N-No, of course not."
"I'm glad", the young brunette said, before reaching behind her to freeze the latch and the lock into place. "Just to be sure that we will not be interrupted this time."
Yumi then pulled away and gave her a sweet harmless smile (despite her sharp fangs and her glowing eyes), that for a moment, Sachiko thought she had just imagined the temptress Yumi had been earlier.
"You know onee-sama, I wanted to try feeding from you again. But this time, I want to be myself…would you please allow me at least a few mouthfuls?"
Pure-blood Yumi cocked her head to the side and looked at her pleadingly. It was an expression that was so difficult to say 'no' to.
So despite the fact that they were in a public place, in a restroom nonetheless, Sachiko found herself nodding her head in assent. "But only a few mouthfuls." She said firmly, trying to act like she was in control of the situation.
Yumi nodded her head, "Okay. So where do you want me to bite, onee-sama?"
Sachiko would have wanted to offer her neck, but not now, not when in this place…
"T-the wrist would be fine for now." Sachiko stammered uncharacteristically.
The young pure blood looked disappointed, but still said, "Okay."
Her beloved must have been so thirsty for her blood, because in a heartbeat, Yumi had already reached for her hand. It was another second later when those sweet lips (and skilful tongue) touched the skin of her left wrist, and started sensuously kissing and licking it, making Sachiko shudder.
'How much more if it were my neck?'
The heiress suppressed the moan that was threatening to escape her lips, because she was sure that their voices could be heard outside.
"Y-Yumi." She tentatively called out.
The younger woman looked up to her curiously.
"You're fangs. You should retract them back a little. The veins on the wrist are just on the surface, so you don't need to sink them too deep."
"Oh. I never thought about that." Yumi said, and immediately obliged. "I understand."
Her imouto leaned her head back down again and ran her sharp fangs onto her skin, to let her know of what was to come. Not a moment later, she felt sharp incisors piercing her skin, making her gasp and involuntarily close her eyes in pleasure.
'It's just the wrist, Sachiko. Don't get carried away.' She thought, in a desperate attempt to stop herself from slipping into a daze as the pain numbed and was replaced by bliss.
Her imouto must have interpreted her sharp intake of breath earlier as a sign that she had hurt her, because she quickly pulled away. "Did I sink it too fast and too deep again?" Yumi asked, blood dripping from her cute shortened fangs.
Sachiko snapped her eyes open, "No. You did it right. Please continue." She said, trying not to sound too frustrated that her sister stopped.
"Are you sure?" Yumi asked, peering to her face worriedly.
She lifted a hand and touch her beloved's face affectionately, "Yes, I'm sure. But we should hurry, I can hear someone approaching."
"It's just Kei-sama looking for me. I know her footsteps." Yumi said, before going back to kissing her wrist.
She felt her jealousy and possessiveness welled up at how close Yumi seemed to be with Kei-san. She even knew the sound of her footsteps.
But soon enough, all thoughts left her mind, when Yumi sank her fangs into her vein for the second time. And when her petite soeur took one long and hard draw of her blood, the drug that seemed to be coating Yumi's fangs (at least that's what Sachiko liked to think) flowed up to her head, making her throw her head back in elation. She then unconsciously reached behind her imouto, and pulled that warm slender frame of her beloved closer to her own body.
"Ah"
Sachiko was not able to stop herself from gasping when Yumi drew blood from her again. She held onto Yumi's shoulder for support as she felt her knees getting weak. It was just two mouthfuls so far, and Yumi already had her shaking and trembling.
And just when she felt her knees were about to give away…
"That's enough for now, onee-sama." Yumi said, quickly retracting her fangs.
"Oh, wait." The younger woman added, as she gripped her left hand tightly again, and started to slowly lick and suck at the still open wound until they finally clotted.
She didn't want Yumi to stop just yet, however, she knew she wouldn't last another second if her imouto continued to feed from her this intensely.
'…and pleasurably.' She added as an afterthought.
It was another few seconds before she was able to catch her breath and said, "I agree. We should stop for now."
She knew her face was flushed, judging by the warm feeling of her skin. And Yumi looking at her that intently was making her blush even more. "What is it, Yumi?"
"How was it, onee-sama?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did I feed properly? Did I do anything wrong?"
'What?'
Sachiko's thoughts were still muddled and incomprehensible.
"I like feeding from you the most, onee-sama. Your blood is so delicious." Yumi quietly admitted, her cheeks sporting and adorable blush. "I like it much more than any other blood I have tasted before."
It seems this sweet and honest side of Yumi did not change as well, even after she turned.
"That's good to hear, Yumi." She muttered, still trying to compose herself and to organize her thoughts. She also remained to be leaning against the door because her knees were still trembling.
"So, did I feed properly?" Her imouto repeated, her face looking expectantly up at her.
"You did…well." Sachiko swallowed hard.
'You did too well, in fact.'
Considering that Yumi had bitten her on a less intimate spot, and that her sister had been considerate of her and only drew two mouthfuls of blood, she was already rendered this weak and helpless. Then again, maybe she had not yet fully recovered. After all, she just escaped a near-death experience, woke up from a month-long coma and was just discharged from the hospital not too long ago.
"Just draw slower and gentler next time."
'…Or else, I won't last long.'
"Okay, onee-sama."
'I really need to build up my strength if I want to keep up with Yumi's needs.'
Sachiko braved standing up and she was glad that her knees held. Once she was sure that she would not topple over, she proceeded to go in front of the mirror and fix her appearance. She was slightly pale, and cold sweat lined her brow.
"Let me help you with that." Yumi said. Her imouto then pulled out some tissue from the dispenser, and wiped her brow for her.
"Kei-sama seem to be waiting for us outside. If you're ready, we can head out now, onee-sama. You said Youko-sama and the others are looking for us, right? We can introduce Kei-sama to them as well."
- - o 0 o - -
A/N: Now, Sachiko and Yumi are really back together, I hope you enjoyed that. Their journey had not been easy. So the next few chapters will be lighter, a little break for our two heroines.
Honestly, a lot is going on with my life right now, and I have been contemplating on ending 'Pure Blood' within the next 1 or 2 chapters. But I guess, I still like the story to continue, so I will try and finish this based on my original plan. *Sigh* It's very rare that I complain like this, but anyway, you readers are still here supporting my story, so I am encouraged to continue. Good day!
