Authors note: I wanted to thank every one for the great reviews. Some of them made me smile, and other made me chuckle. Please keep in mind in this next chapter that I too and a huge Sachiko/Yumi fan, but the story is practically writing its self. Once again i want to thank Unseen for putting up with me during the creative process. Bittersweet means truth.

~Snow

Bittersweet

The sun barely began to set and bodies were already stretched on the deck of the tea house soaking up the warmth from the bright star. Temporarily sated from their lovemaking Sachiko watched Yumi with her eyes closed simply sun bathing. It was a relatively warm evening as if summer was trying one last time to bid farewell and then finally surrender to the bite of autumn. When Sachiko was with Yumi she felt freer than she had in her entire life. For a lifetime it seemed she was chasing the ghost of the girl in high school and now there she was, flesh and blood. It was like a dream come true but what next? She had not had many relationships, hell she had not slept with many people period. There was something about Yumi where she was afraid to open her heart to her, but she couldn't help but see that she had given to Yumi everything she already was. Their relationship, new as it was, felt like years in the making. Yumi knew her body so well as if her hands had caressed and unlocked secrets only a life time lover could have unlocked. Sachiko knew she was out of line yesterday when she was talking to Sei but damn it felt good to shove it her face for once that she, Sachiko, got the girl. But in hindsight she was a pig and demeaned the time she spent with Yumi to nothing more than a great screw.

Sachiko sighed and sat up and it was that movement that made her wince. Yumi took her hard this afternoon as if she was a woman possessed. She would not stop as she brought Sachiko over the edge over and over. Sachiko smiled at the memory of the session and realized she liked it when Yumi took control and dominated like that. She reached for her water and hissed at the twinge of desire and evidence of Yumi's ministrations. When she felt Yumi's hand on her thigh.

"Did I hurt you?" Yumi's small voice carried a heartfelt concern for Sachiko's wellbeing. Sachiko looked down into deep brown eyes and smiled. She could not help but lean down and kiss the worry from Yumi's brow.

"No, I'm just tender. That was very… enthusiastic lover," Sachiko laid back down and propped her head up on her hand and looked at Yumi mirroring her posture. Sachiko saw Yumi watch her for a moment then she nodded. Yumi's hand snaked out and rested on Sachiko's hip. Sachiko could have purred as Yumi drew invisible circles on her skin.

"Tell me something about you Sachiko, anything," Yumi spoke. Sachiko pursed her lips in thought. What should she say? There was not much to say.

"I don't know. Narrow down the subject please," Sachiko said as she thought of something then Yumi smiled as she continued to draw patterns on her skin with her fingers.

"Let's make this easy. What is your favorite color?" Yumi asked with a smile. Sachiko thought for a moment then smiled back at Yumi.

"I'm not sure what's yours?"

"Well I love the color of the clouds as a massive storm rolls in," Yumi supplied.

"So your favorite color is grey," simplified Sachiko.

"No, not really. It's the color of milky dark navy grey blues tinted slightly purple in some places."

"So your favorite color is that of a horrible bruise on milky white skin," joked Sachiko. Yumi lightly slapped Sachiko's bare hip in a playful manner.

"Oh forget it! How about your favorite food Sachiko. You must have favorite food," Yumi challenged. Sachiko reached out began to caress Yumi in much the way Yumi was touching her.

"I think I like fried tofu," Sachiko said lightly looking to Yumi's lips and wanting nothing more than to press her own there.

"You think? Sachiko how can you think you like a favorite food. Having a favorite food is like a necessity. You need it and crave. You have to have that food," Yumi chided Sachiko gently.

"Well, what is yours Yumi?" Sachiko countered as she fingers began to trace a path higher up Yumi's body over her abdomen.

"Oh that's easy. I absolutely love pasta. Any form any sauce, I especially love the bow tie noodles with an alfredo sauce, with toasted garlic bread on the side," Sachiko could almost see the woman practically drool at the thought. Sachiko's fingers slipped a little higher to Yumi's upper abdomen. She knew what she would love to eat right now and it was right in front of her.

"So your favorite food is Italian," Sachiko smiled as she slipped her fingers to the flesh between Yumi's breasts.

"For the love of God, Sachiko! It's not that simple! You…" Yumi was cut off as Sachiko kissed her passionately slipping into her mouth tasting and drinking from her lips. Sachiko lightly pushed Yumi to her back as she shifted her body in between her legs. Sachiko pulled away from Yumi's lips to kiss a trail across her cheek and to her ear.

"I can give you one hint right now as to what I'd love to feast on right this second," Sachiko growled sensually in Yumi's ear. Sachiko smiled at the sharp intake of Yumi's breath. Yumi's breathing became shallow as Sachiko trailed a hot path down Yumi's body. Yes, there was only one thing Sachiko wanted to feast on at that moment and she was about to take her fill, and go back for more.

%%%

Yumi rode her motorcycle home hours later. Sachiko was at the forefront of her thoughts. She knew she asked questions but they weren't invasive, or deep and dark soul altering questions but Sachiko didn't answer any of them. That fact was not lost on her as Sachiko took Yumi. It was as if Sachiko deliberately avoided talking about herself, or deliberately avoided Yumi. When Yumi sped down the road she revved the engine of the Ducati and threw the bike into high gear. How in the hell do you get to know someone, learn that persons likes and dislikes when they won't talk.

She pulled her bike to a stop at her house and was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar yellow bug and a red sports car. At least Sei would talk to her. Then all of a sudden she paused remembering last night. Sei looking at her. Telling her she would give her the moon and the stars can be damned. Yumi would admit that if she was not with Sachiko she would have kissed her right then on the spot. What would she do? What can she do? The answer was a very loud and strong nothing. She will walk through the door of her house and then she would treat Sei as the friend she was.

The door was locked which didn't surprise Yumi seeing as it was horribly late in the evening. As she opened the door the house was dark except for the kitchen. She smiled as she closed and locked the door. The robust laughter emanating from the kitchen was inviting and as she walked through the house she slipped unnoticed into the kitchen to see several bottles of beer littering different surfaces. Then she noticed the three hooligans in the kitchen her trying to balance spoons off the tips of theirs noses while playing poker. Yumi could see that most of the cash lay in piles in front of Sei and Yumi had to shake her head as she brother and Suguru tried to keep up with woman.

"You have to keep the spoon on your nose or it's going to cost extra Yuuki," Sei scolded him playfully as he tried to get the spoon to sit right on his nose.

"Who's bloody idea was it to bring spoons into the game anyway?" grouched her brother, but Yumi noticed Suguru slip a little container to Sei under the table. Yumi leaned against the counter still unobserved, and watched the scene play out before her. It seems her brother was too drunk to notice that Sei and Suguru sabotaged his spoon with something that made the spoon repeatedly fall off his nose. The pile grew a few more dollars before Yuuki finally got the spoon on his nose and then when Sei was dealing the cards she did so slowly so she didn't drop her own spoon then Suguru reached for something, intentionally, and bumped her hand making her spoon fall.

"Your turn Sei! Money in the pot!" Sei chuckled and threw in a few dollars and the game commenced. IT was Yuuki who had the best hand and won all of his money back in the pot but the scene was hilarious none the less when Yuuki threw his hands in the air in triumph and knocked his spoon of nose again. All you heard was a curse and then he tossed the spoon on the table fed up with it. Yumi laughed. It was then that three heads spun in her direction. She still wore a smile but it slipped a little as Sei's grey eyes slammed into hers. There she was. There was that playful, vibrant woman she knew and cared about.

"Hi," Sei spoke and it was a strange tone that Yumi wasn't used to hearing. Sei cleared her throat and looked to the others at the table then back to Yumi, "I am sure we will be done with our game momentarily. Yuuki had too much to drink, and I think he is getting belligerent."

"I am not!" Yelled Yuuki proving he had indeed become a bear. Suguru laughed and patted Yuuki's hand.

"We best think about going to bed Yuuki, you don't want to lose any more money to this card shark," Suguru suggested.

"If we didn't play with spoons I would have been fine. Who came up with that insane idea?" Yuuki slurred.

"Um… Yuuki, it was your idea," Suguru said smiling as he began packing up and cleaning up the kitchen. Sei was also helping but she continued to watch Yumi.

"Please don't go on my account you seemed like you were having so much fun," Yumi offered. She felt like an ass because once she came through the door all the fun was gone. Sei shook her head.

"No, it's alright. The game was over with as soon as we brought in the spoons. One weird idea from the drunk in the room and we gave in to the challenge," Sei said.

"The game is over but are you leaving," Yumi asked.

"I believe it is for the best Yumi," Sei looked to the boys who were cleaning up and lowered her voice, "Especially after what I said last night."

"Sei," Yumi began but didn't find the right words. What could she say to her? Stay with me. Don't go. Please… All Yumi could do was nod. The Sei turned from her and bid farewell to Suguru since Yuuki grumbled about something and stumbled out of the room.

"Maybe next time we leave alcohol out of the penalties game in poker," Laughed Sei, "I'll talk to you soon Suguru and thanks for talking and listening."

"My pleasure Sei, and feel free to call me anytime. I'm glad I could help you with that issue," Suguru waved and followed his lover upstairs to make sure he was taken care of. Yumi watched Sei as Sei looked at her. Something happened today that flipped a switch in Sei, or maybe it was last night conversation but Sei when Sei looked at her there was no mask. She was not hiding anymore. Yumi felt like she was under a microscope when Sei looked at her like that and she turned to the cabinet and got a glass and filled it with water. She felt Sei walk toward her. She felt the heat of Sei's body draw near her and it was intoxicating but then it stopped. Sei leaned against the counter with her arms crossed and a faraway look on her face. She looked happy.

"Would you like a cup of coffee?" asked Yumi suddenly shy. Sei looked at her with heavy lidded eyes and then smile tenderly at her.

"No, but there is something I want to talk to you about," Sei paused, "It's serious." Yumi left her stomach drop as she thought of having another soul revealing conversation with Sei. After spending the afternoon doing to Sachiko what she wanted to do with Sei she felt dirty, and shameful. She should call off everything with Sachiko but it was difficult for her. Yumi nodded and swallowed.

"You have a meeting tomorrow at 10am," then Sei whispered in her, "Don't be late." Then she drew back. Yumi felt her entire body burn with desire and all Sei did was whisper in her ear. Wait a tick.

"That's it?" Yumi's voice screeched at the lack of moisture in her mouth and throat. Then Sei nodded but still wore the same smile she had before as she push off the counter and then made for the door.

"You could have called to tell me that. So why are you here? What did Suguru help you with? What did you talk about?" Yumi questioned as Sei turned around. When Sei's grey eyes slammed into her brown ones her breath caught again.

"That was personal…" Sei paused and smiled but this time it didn't reach her eyes, "Boss."

With that statement Sei walked from her and left the house. That statement hung in the air like a foul stench that would not go away. Yumi hated it. She stood next to the sink and filled her glass again and drank. She turned around quickly when she heard a chair scrape the floor. Suguru sat at the table and gestured for her to join him. She eyed the chair and then felt wonderfully grateful for his company.

As she sat down she observed a frown on his usually smiling lips and she knew this was going to be a conversation she didn't want to participate in. She looked at her glass and waited, but the way he watched her made her nervous and she decided to fill the void with chat.

"How is my brother?" Yumi asked with a small smile. She knew for a fact that Yuuki was a lightweight and hardly drank recreationally. He was a little boy sitting at the big boys table thinking he could keep up with Sei and Suguru.

"He will live. He shall have a throbbing around his temples tomorrow and hate the world while he prays to the porcelain gods, but he will live," Suguru smiled at her. Then back to watching her again and then her eyes met his and they were so much like Sachiko's.

"Yumi I want you to understand that I am a third party observer in these matters but I am partial to your safely," Suguru paused and the slightly nodded, "and Sei's. Sachiko is my cousin so therefore I want her safe as well." When Suguru knew he had Yumi's undivided attention he continued.

"What are you doing?" Suguru asked bluntly. Yumi was taken aback at the straightforwardness of the question that she seriously didn't know what he was referring to.

"What do you mean? I don't understand,"

"Oh please," Suguru scoffed, "You and Sachiko, let's start there. What are you doing?"

"Well I kinda thought that was obvious Suguru," Yumi retorted sharply. Yumi thought he would become angry or frustrated but Suguru simply waited for a direct answer.

"I don't honestly know Suguru. She won't talk to me. I ask her questions and I try to get to know her but it's like she is intentionally keeping me at arm's length," Yumi looked at the glass. She wanted to pour her guts out to Suguru but she remained silent on some matters.

"Why did you fall into her bed so quickly Yumi?" Suguru softly asked which made Yumi gaze fly to his own. Her cheeks flushed and she knew she was crimson from embarrassment, and anger.

"What kind of question is that?" hissed Yumi.

"A legitimate one," Suguru replied once more in a soft tone. Yumi looked away but found her voice.

"There was something about her when we were in high school. There was an air of mystery about her that sucked me in. Even while I was away I thought of her constantly. When I came back she was all I could think of again. I saw her and my world flipped," She swallowed but continued trying to find answers to her own questions, "When I fell into her bed it felt like it was supposed to happen. After everything it was meant to occur. Nothing would have kept us from it."

"How do you feel about it know?" Suguru inquired. Yumi sighed and blew out a huff of air.

"Honestly I'm confused," Yumi confessed. Then she saw Suguru nod and that motion drew her attention back to him. She read his face and his eyes and saw nothing but kindness and support with a sprinkle of tough love.

"Do you have deep feelings for her, Yumi?" Suguru ventured. Yumi looked at him. These questions were becoming way too personal. They were beginning to drive home a very obvious fact. Her heart began to clench as she thought of her relationship with Sachiko. But she answered truthfully.

"I want to."

"But you don't have deep feelings for her?" Suguru clarified. Yumi shook her head and felt the first tear slip from her eye and slide down her cheek.

"Why?" Suguru reached out to clench one of her hands supporting her.

Yumi squeezed it back and she thought of the reason why she didn't feel deeply for Sachiko and it was a combination of so many different things. One major factor was the lack of communication, sharing of information, sharing ones heart. Then there was Sei. Where Sachiko could not or would not give, Sei gave in abundance. Then Yumi realized that Sachiko didn't love her or would not allow herself to love her. But Sei did.

"I don't think I can love a person that doesn't love me back," Yumi whispered and then Suguru moved his chair next to hers and held out his arms. She fell into them and wept feeling better. After a few moments Suguru spoke.

"I am not done Yumi," Suguru gently pushed Yumi away but held her hand. Yumi wiped her eyes. She just wanted to get through with this conversation and go to bed. Too much had been taken out of her emotionally she just wanted sleep.

"What are you doing with Sei?" Suguru whispered. Then Yumi's hand tightened on Suguru's hand and it was in that moment and after all of those revelations and realizations she knew she loved Sei. She knew she adored her best friend but would never admit it, even to herself, until now.

"I made a mistake with Sei," Yumi said.

"Go on," Suguru eased Yumi to tell as much as she could. Yumi held her breath and then remembered those small kisses, the warmth or her arms, and the glint of passion in Sei's eyes. Each and every gesture she made was all for Yumi. Sei offered devotion, adoration, and passion all wrapped into one Sei sized package. Yumi was too blinded chasing Sachiko's skirt to really believe Sei offered that loyal kind of love. Yumi was also afraid to let herself slip into Sei's affections and be swept away by the charismatic woman due to her reputation.

"It doesn't matter. She is seeing a dark haired woman."

"Are you sure?"

"I saw her at Sei's apartment the other night." Suguru thought for a moment and then smiled.

"Did you ask if she was sleeping with the woman?" Suguru offered.

"Of course I did Suguru, I'm not a complete idiot," Yumi snapped at him.

"What did she say?"

"She said the woman was nothing more than a friend," Yumi remembered how she met that woman half clothed in Sei apartment and gritted, "She said she wasn't sleeping with her but I don't think I believe her."

"IF she said she wasn't screwing the woman then why are you willing to not believe her? I thought you trusted her Yumi."

"I do but it just that…" Yumi was caught then blurted, "She was half naked Suguru. What am I supposed to think?" This time Suguru simply shrugged.

"I think we have done as much as we can for one evening Yumi. You have decisions to make and soon before people get hurt," Suguru stood and wrapped her in a hug and whispered, "Especially yourself. Take care of your heart Yumi. Good night." Yumi watched the man walk upstairs to join her brother. Yumi had to admit as she followed moments later and took a shower she felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her. AS she lay in bed thinking what to do she told herself she would begin to fix it as soon as possible but she needed her sleep for 10am meeting. After that she would tackle one issue at a time, then finally feel freedom again.