A/N: clarec97, xEvilAngel56x, CheeseXlover09, TsunadeXShizune, silverice90, Kiros Razer, chkim218, kurakami, Ressey101, seirahErinyes, Gia0615, and madlax– thanks a lot for the review ;) Normally, I would respond to you individually but forgive me this time, I've been busy to do it. I've been to several meetings last week and it left me dazed and drained ;( I wasn't even able to write anything this weekend (never even managed to turn on my notebook). But you should be happy that this update came out faster than the previous ones (just can't promise that I could keep it up).
Well, nothing much happened in this chapter ;) Just showing the strengthening feelings (probably haha;) between the two.
You almost got the title right, silverice90.
Chapter 9. Ice
"She's doing it again," Yoshino said, looking at the quiet and blushing Yumi.
"She seems really happy lately," Shimako commented quietly.
"I wonder what happened. She's been like that since..." Yoshino paused, racking her memory on when their friend had started acting happier and how she seemed to be glowing every time they saw her. "Well, I can't exactly tell when...but I'd bet my fingers that it has something to do with Sachiko-sama," she finished.
Shimako glanced at the oblivious person in the Rose Mansion. Yumi was staring at her notes but it was obvious that her mind wasn't on it. Surely, there was nothing to smile about reading notes in physics.
"Yes, I believe you're right."
Shimako and Yoshino exchanged a look when a smile appeared in the lips of their topic in conversation.
"That's it. We need to find out what's going on," Yoshino said determinedly as she gazed intently at Yumi. "Yumi-san, tell me about it."
---o---
Yumi was snapped out of her thoughts when someone slammed at the table. Startled, she turned to see Yoshino looking at her with burning eyes, standing and leaning towards her with palms flat on the table.
"W...what is it, Yoshino-san?" She asked nervously. When she received no response, she turned to the other person at the room with startled and questioning eyes. What she received, however, was not what she wanted. Shimako just smiled at her.
"Let me see your notes, Yumi-san," Yoshino said, and before Yumi could react, she grabbed the said notes and browsed on it.
"What's wrong?" Yumi asked with confusion and a twinge of annoyance.
'And I was just having a nice thought about Onee-sama and...'
Yumi's eyes widened at the thought.
'I was thinking about Onee-sama and it must have shown in my face!'
Dread filled Yumi as she focused on Yoshino.
"Eh?!"
She pulled back a little, a form of defense, when she realized that Yoshino was nearer than before.
"Tell us the details, Yumi-san. What's going on? Why were you blushing? What happened between you and Sachiko-sama that we don't know?" Yoshino asked in succession.
"N-nothing, nothing at all," Yumi denied, then winced when Yoshino was unfazed with her answer.
"What do you think, Shimako-san? Is Yumi-san saying the truth?" Yoshino asked without taking her eyes off the uncomfortable Yumi.
Yumi looked at Shimako beseechingly. Her shoulders, however, dropped when Shimako spoke.
"I'm sorry, Yumi-san. Even if I say yes, Yoshino-san knows it already. And I'm sure you know, too, that she won't stop until you have satisfied her curiosity."
Defeated, Yumi sighed.
'Curse my face.'
"Alright, please calm down, Yoshino-san."
Yoshino gazed some more at Yumi, before she sat again with a grin of satisfaction.
"Well...I've been happy lately because Onee-sama and I went on a date last time. Only the two of us. We had picnic inside the Ogasawara Estate. We stayed there until the afternoon."
Yumi relayed what happened on that picnic to her friends, about the view, about laying side by side, about talking and laughing and then being playful. She decided that telling the truth was easier rather than trying to avoid the topic. Of course, she left some information unsaid. She wanted to keep it to herself and Sachiko for the time being. She would never ever forget that day.
"I love you, Yumi...I'm in love with you."
"I love you, Onee-sama. Not like before. I love you not as a friend and sister but..."
"I love you, too, Yumi. More than as a friend and sister."
"I love you so much, Onee-sama."
"I love you, too, Yumi."
Yumi remembered how after those magic words had been said, they had talk about a lot of things, though mostly not related to their newly established relationship, mainly because they didn't want to dampen their happiness. They had plenty of time to discuss how they would tell other people about them. At that moment, they just wanted to enjoy the presence of each other. She remembered how hers and Sachiko's sides were touching as they talked, their fingers intertwined, smiling and laughing together. It would be forever etched in her heart and mind.
---o---
Shimako and Yoshino exchanged unbelieving looks and marvelled at their friend's glowing face. Unconsciously, a smile also touched their lips, feeling happy for their friend, even if the reason wasn't clear yet to them.
"We believe what you said, Yumi-san. We know you're telling the truth. However, we also know that you're still hiding something," Yoshino said with a glint in her eye. She giggled when Yumi recoiled from her seat.
"It's as Yoshino-san said. However, we will not force it out on you. I'm sure you'll tell us when you're ready," Shimako added. She, too, giggled, when the relief in Yumi's face was evident.
"Seriously, Yumi-san, if you want to keep secrets, you should learn how to keep your emotions inside and not showing in your face," Yoshino teased.
Yumi giggled nervously.
"R-right."
"And as Shimako-san said, we won't force more information out of you. Besides, we already know what we needed to know. You and Sachiko-sama are..."
Yumi's eyes widened and her heartbeat sped up as she waited for Yoshino's words.
"Well, closer than before," Yoshino finished with a smile.
"Y-yes, I believe so," Yumi agreed, trying her best not to show her relief that though Yoshino was right, the latter hadn't fully understood yet how closer she and Sachiko had become. What would they say if they found out that she and Sachiko were in a relationship already? And how they would react if they ever found out the not-so-innocent words that had been exchanged between her and Sachiko?
"Because here I am, thinking and talking about your...anatomy like some per..."
"So um, do you want to know more about my anatomy?"
"So tell me more about brassiere, Yumi. I want to know more about it and what it has to do with me."
"I was thinking about Onee-sama and brassiere yesterday because I realized that I wasn't only thinking about you in a different way, I realized I was also acting on it."
"Do you want me to take off my bra, Yumi?"
"Well? Do you want me to? In that way, it won't serve as a barrier. I'll make one of your wish come true."
"Really? Does it involve taking off brassiere?"
"I think Yumi's are perfect, too."
"Do you like to ride me..."
As the memories flashed in Yumi's mind, the warmth within her increased. And this warmth had showed in her face judging by the giggles she heard from her companions.
"Are you feeling warm, Yumi-san?" Shimako asked.
Still blushing, Yumi thought how Shimako could ask that question innocently and yet somehow sound...not so innocent.
'Maybe it was just my thoughts. I'm really di...'
"I believe you seriously needed something cold, Yumi-san, like ice perhaps," Yoshino suggested mischievously.
Speechless, Yumi gazed at her friends.
"The canteen should have it even in this weather. There will be plenty of ice cold drinks there, I'm sure," Shimako added with twinkling eyes.
"You two..."
"Or you could open the window and let the cool air in. Or better yet, stay outdoors for a moment and you would be really cold," Yoshino continued cheekily.
Rolling her eyes, Yumi stood up.
"Yes, perhaps you two are right. I need something other than hot tea," Yumi said, though she only wanted to be out of the teasing Shimako and Yoshino's presence. Perhaps she could go downstairs and check if the weather would worsen. Or see if someone would come. Anything that would take her away from her giggling friends.
"And don't forget to put a lot of ice on it," Yoshino said to Yumi who was heading to the door.
"Thanks for your advice," Yumi said, hurriedly leaving the room. Barely slowing down, she opened the door and went outside. Only, she was prevented from leaving her friends' presence when she bumped right into something and she and that something fell on the floor with a thud.
"Ugh..."
Yumi opened her eyes and found out that she couldn't see anything. She noticed, however, that she was pressing against something soft. When that something soft moved, she raised her head a little and realized that she was looking at a material of uniform. Moving her gaze upwards, she saw a breathless Sachiko. Her eyes widened.
"Onee-sama?!"
"Somehow, it feels like a déjà vu," Sachiko said with a smile even though the air had just been knocked out of her at the impact of their fall, she cushioning Yumi with her own body. She was about to enter the meeting room when Yumi came barging out.
Forgetting their position on the floor and the other two persons watching them from the inside of the meeting room, Yumi smiled, happy to see the familiar and smiling face of her beloved. She blushed again, when she realized the way she had referred to Sachiko.
"You're done with the college entrance exam preparations for today?" Yumi asked with a smile.
Breathing with slight difficulty, Sachiko answered, "Yes. How about you, are you done with your homework?"
Yumi, however, finally noticing their position, didn't respond at Sachiko's inquiry. Her eyes widened and the blush in her face intensified.
'Onee-sama is so soft...ah! What am I thinking? Think of something else, Yumi.'
If Yumi had realized that getting up would have been easier to prevent her mind from wandering, she would have done it. As it was, she was consumed with her internal battle to think rationally. This wasn't the first time that she was laying on top of Sachiko. During the picnic, she had launched herself on top of Sachiko and unlike last time, this time, the feeling was more intense, intensified by a flashed of a memory.
"Do you want me to take off my bra, Yumi?"
'I said think of something else, Yumi...like ice perhaps. Ice is water in a solid state.' (13)
Sachiko exhaled.
'I'm pressed in Onee-sama's chest.'
Sachiko inhaled.
'Water ice is colorless and transparent, and crystallizes in the hexagonal system, as seen in snowflakes.' (13)
Sachiko exhaled.
'Onee-sama's chest presses to me whenever she breaths. Ek! Ice' melting point is 0 degrees Celsius.' (13)
Sachiko inhaled.
'She smells heavenly…I'm doing it again. Change topic. Change, change, change.'
"Are you alright, Yumi?"
Sachiko's question was ignored as Yumi continued with her internal battle.
'If her brassiere isn't in the way, the feel would have been better, softer and warmer. No, no! I'm doing it again. Think of ice, Yumi. That's cold, right? It should...'
"I'm sorry to disturb your thoughts, Yumi, but the floor is getting a little uncomfortable," Sachiko whispered to Yumi's left ear.
Yumi stiffened, not because she finally came into her senses but rather due to the tingle that Sachiko's warm breath on her ear had caused in her body.
"S-sorry, Onee-sama."
Yumi lifted herself off Sachiko as quickly as she could, and as she did it, unconsciously pressed some parts of her body on some parts of Sachiko's. She didn't notice it, however, as she was more focused on getting up and on feeling embarrassed.
---o---
Sachiko accepted Yumi's offered hand. Once she was up from the floor, she dusted the back of her uniform. When she was satisfied, she looked at the apologizing and blushing Yumi and couldn't help but sport a blush of her own, though she quickly masked it when she saw that there were two people watching them amusedly and curiously. She moved closer to Yumi and placed one hand on the younger girl's shoulder.
"What's wrong, Yumi? Why were you in a hurry?" Sachiko asked softly so that only Yumi could hear what she was saying.
Yumi mumbled some answer, which Sachiko didn't get.
"Pardon?"
"I need ice. I mean something cold to drink," Yumi mumbled again, not looking at Sachiko.
'There's nothing suspicious in wanting to have something cold to drink, right? After all, I am fairly feeling hot.'
Sachiko frowned. It was freezing cold already so she wondered why Yumi needed something cold to drink. It would be better to have something hot to drink to fight off the cold. If Yumi wasn't in a hurry already when she came, she would think, though rather embarrassedly, that Yumi needed something cold after their contact. They had been pressed so close and almost intimate, and with their relationship progressing and having not-so-innocent conversations lately, the encounter was quite pleasurable, if only her back didn't hurt from the fall. Although that pain was quickly brushed off when a very recent conversation flashed her mind, in particular, the words she had said.
"Do you like to ride me..."
'And if I raised my head a little earlier, our lips would have...Sachiko, stop it....Maybe I need something with plenty of ice, too.'
"Yes, an ice cold drink would be fine," Sachiko said. Letting go of the puzzled and still blushing Yumi, she looked at the observing persons beyond the door. "Shimako, Yoshino-chan, Yumi and I will go out but we will be back before the meeting starts."
That said, Sachiko started retracing her steps earlier. She was in the stairs when she paused and looked at the unmoving Yumi.
"Yumi, are you not coming?"
"Huh? Ah, yes, yes."
Blushing again at her inattentiveness, Yumi quickly followed Sachiko. She was still a little confused what had transpired when Sachiko was up, but she was glad that she would be with Sachiko alone even for a short time before they were with the others again.
Once they stepped outside the warm comfort of the Rose Mansion, Yumi faltered in her steps when she realized her mistake. Uneasy and shivering a little, she followed Sachiko, staying a step further. Her uneasiness, however, had gradually disappeared when Sachiko remained silent.
"It's getting colder and colder these days," Sachiko suddenly said, breaking the silence.
Once again, Yumi faltered in her step.
'Oh no. Not again...'
Yumi braced herself for the teasing question that would surely follow Sachiko's declaration.
"The holidays are approaching. It would be nice to get together again with everyone on New Year," Sachiko continued.
As soon as those words left Sachiko's lips, Yumi sighed with relief. It seemed she was safe.
Or so she thought.
"So why do you want ice cold drink in this weather? You like warm drink during this time, don't you?"
"Um, that is...because...I just thought it would be nice for a change," Yumi answered with a nervous giggle. Inside, she was already berating herself for that answer.
"And in such a hurry? My, I didn't know you wanted to experience that change badly," Sachiko commented without looking at Yumi. Though it would be nice to see Yumi's face right now, she opted to act nonchalant. If Yumi saw her smiling, then her blush would intensity and her stammering would increased, but, it would also mean that Yumi would know that she was teasing and instead of trying to find an escape and failing, would pout at her and accused her of being a tease again. She wanted to enjoy Yumi's excuses this time. After all, Yumi's reasoning when embarrassed was quite entertaining, too.
On second thought, she liked to experience both. If handled properly, she would see Yumi's intense blushed and stammering and at the same time, listen to her reasons.
'You're being merciless to your beloved again, Sachiko.'
"Why did you decide to change suddenly?" Sachiko asked, now looking at the uncomfortable Yumi. She couldn't hold out a giggle as she saw what she expected to see. And as also expected, when Yumi realized her merriment, she stopped stuttering and pouted.
"You're being mean again, Onee-sama," Yumi accused.
"I am merely curious, Yumi."
Yumi hemmed and mewed, before her pouting and blushing face was replaced with a mischievous one.
"And why do you want a cold drink, too, Onee-sama? You prefer warm drink during this time of the year, too."
Surprised but still calm at the sudden changed in Yumi and at the question, Sachiko said, "To accompany you. Don't you want to have a cold drink during this cold day with your...girlfriend?"
The blush returned in Yumi's face at the whispered last word. It was the first time Sachiko had put in words the level of their relationship.
"I...o-of course I would love to."
"See? Now let's hurry up. We only have a few minutes."
"Yes, my girlfriend," Yumi whispered happily, smiling when a faint blush appeared on Sachiko.
It was also the first time Yumi had said it to her and despite herself trying to remain calm and collected, the happiness the word brought made Sachiko's smile softer. But still, she wasn't finished with Yumi yet.
"I agree, my feeling-warm-again-so-she-need-a-drink-with-plenty-of-ice-girlfriend," Sachiko said in one breath and then giggled quietly, eyes gleaming at Yumi's again pouting lips and blushing face.
'You almost got me there, Yumi. You're right. I, too, needed something cold to drink after that.'
(13) "Ice." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008.
A/N: Next time, an overdue step will be taken, a little change in the relationship between the two. It's also a simple chapter ;)
Well, I've got nothing much to say this time...Let me think...Outside it's raining so hard and the wind is a little scary...My friend left the office for good already and will take care of the papers for his departure next month ;( ... I am going to a birthday party after work...I'm listening to MJ's music right now (just felt like it)... I haven't finished writing report about all the meetings I've attended last week... My table is a mess. There's a laptop, notebook and pen, envelopes and printouts, a newsletter, bottle of vitamins, a mug, a santol, and mobile phone haphazardly placed haha...Yes, I'm still at the office and thought of posting this chapter before I go back to work again (I took a break on my own accord but hey, it won't take me 5 minutes to babble and post, right?) (Author grinning sheepishly). What else...?
Nah, too much random things already haha;) Next chapter, the title is related to food. Well, it is food. That's easier to guess now ;)
Bye for now again! ;)
---Arvendell---
20 July 2009
3:10 PM
