Disclaimer: I do not own Maria-sama ga Miteru and its characters. Credits to Konno Oyuki-sensei.

Chapter 19: Red Roses (Part 2)

- - o 0 o - -

Sachiko

"…I like it very much." Sachiko said, her voice coming out unexpectedly lustrous. She brought down her face onto Yumi's waiting neck and nipped her favourite spot, making the younger woman swallow hard.

She slowly pulled away and said, "Do you hate it when I do that?"

But without waiting for a response (not that Yumi could say anything anyway), she licked the other side of her neck, from her collar bone (ever so slowly) up to her ear, taking in all of Yumi's raw undiluted smell and taste.

Yumi inhaled sharply.

'You're not the only one who is good at playing these 'temptation games', Yumi.' Sachiko thought.

"Or this?"

She sucked hard on one spot, despite knowing that it would bruise and would surely earn them a lot of teasing when their friends would notice it the next day.

I don't care, Sachiko thought stubbornly.

"N-no…Sachiko…sama" Yumi said in between shaky breaths.

"No?" She questioned with a smirk, meeting the younger woman's dazed eyes.

"I-I don't hate it. I-"

I haven't paid you back for what happened the first time you boldly tempted me with your blood, Yumi, and I don't like to lose.

Sachiko leaned down again, kissing her delicate jaw before abruptly stopping.

"…please don't stop."

She smiled and did it again, but this time, she also snaked a hand, beneath Yumi's shirt to caress the younger woman's smooth back. And she found satisfaction at the way her beloved's body trembled under her touch.

Yumi shouldn't have offered her blood to Sachiko that night and she shouldn't have laid down on her bed looking so inviting. Her sister should have pushed her away when she crawled on top of her and shouldn't have said those words that finally broke her control…because now, it was too late…

There was no way for the younger woman to know this…but no way for her stop to Sachiko either…and she was not planning too. Sachiko had been so drunk with desire that she did not realize Yumi's fear when she thought the older woman would decline her offer, after all, this may be her last chance to feed her onee-sama.

Despite the older woman's pleasurable advances, Yumi was unable to stop her tears from falling as the dread of was is to come filled her heart.

Sachiko felt the wetness on her little sister's face and pulled herself up to look at her.

"What's wrong, Yumi?"

She too was unaware of her sister's inner struggle, so Sachiko thought that her advances were scaring Yumi.

But her sister just smiled up at her, "Nothing, onee-sama. I am just so happy to be here with you now, to be your imouto, to have remembered who you were in my life…"

"I am happy too, Yumi."

"I love you, onee-sama."

Yumi's heartfelt proclamation stunned Sachiko. She didn't know if Yumi loved her that way or if it was just an innocent sisterly love.

"I love you too, Yumi." She tentatively said.

…and once again, it was as if they were out by the balcony, under the starry night sky. With Yumi's lips so dangerously close to her and those hazel brown eyes tempting her to cross the line…and Sachiko had been right to think that.

After Yumi's conversation with Eriko-sama earlier, she was slowly starting to realize what kind of love she holds for the older woman. She had been scared at first, at the thought that her affection for her own sister was more than what was normal. It was a new feeling for her, something that was beyond her understanding. She didn't know what it meant or what she needed to do about it. Telling Sachiko-sama was not an option of course, her onee-sama would be appalled.

Maybe that was why she disliked Suguru-san. Based on the memories that were slowly coming back to her, the man was Sachiko-sama's fiancé. After meeting Suguru-san and Yuuki, and after her conversations with Shizuka-sama and the headmistress, trickles of faces, names, events and occurrences were slowly coming back to her. But with it was the dread that she was truly awakening. That was why she needed to be injected with that serum…to halt it at least for a day, for her to settle her affairs and to have time to properly express her gratitude to her friends.

She looked up at her onee-sama. The blue orbs staring back at her were startlingly darker than she had remembered, and if she would have to guess, it as if they were searching for something…waiting for a sign.

"I love you, Yumi…" Sachiko-sama repeated. But her words were so tender, much more heartfelt, that Yumi considered being conceited…to think that it was the same love she felt for her.

I'm going away anyway…

Yumi inched closer.

Unknown to her, it was what Sachiko had been waiting for.

But I don't want her to hate me…I don't want to be hated by the person I love the most.

But before Yumi could pull back, the older woman claimed her lips.

Sachiko kissed Yumi with all the love and longing she had for the younger girl. They were young and inexperienced. These feelings that were too much for their hearts to handle and they didn't know what to do with it. At least that was the case for Yumi.

Sachiko momentarily pulled away. "Yumi?"

Is this okay, Yumi? To kiss you? To desire you more than that of a soeur.

"I love you, Sachiko-sama", the younger woman whispered again.

Upon getting the response she wanted, Sachiko leaned back down and pressed their lips together once more, longer this time…until she felt tears streaming down Yumi's face again.

She was about to pull back again, but Yumi's arms stopped her. Those small slender hands snaked itself around her back and laced through her black locks. Yumi angled her head and parted her lips, urging Sachiko to do the same.

Yumi…

She obliged and deepened their kiss.

It was an amazing feeling, much more than the feel of Yumi's blood in her mouth. Yumi's wet lips and tongue were making her insides warm somehow, warmer and hotter than any of the many times she had fed off of her.

Yumi moaned as Sachiko's hands freely roamed the younger woman's body. She had lifted Yumi's top at some point so she could touch her lover's flat abdomen, stopping just below her modest chest. Sachiko's hands then slid to her sides and onto her back, but their lips remained locked, kissing without thinking, tasting without inhibitions.

Sachiko broke the kiss and gasped for air. Yumi was breathing just as hard as her, but the passion in her hazel brown orbs remained to burn so bright that for a moment, just for a fraction of a second, she thought she saw them glow gold.

Yumi's lips were already swollen and her cheeks were flushed, but Sachiko wanted more.

"I want to kiss you again, Yumi."

"I am yours to take, Sachiko-sama…" came her bold reply.

So Sachiko dove again, crashed their lips into another passionate kiss. She nipped, sucked and bit her lover's lips but Yumi didn't complain, instead she moaned in pleasure, making Sachiko's insides go on a frenzy.

Yumi's hands caressed her arm, up to her shoulder, to her sides than onto her back. Sachiko was beginning to regret the fact that she wore a one piece dress, hating that she couldn't feel Yumi's bare hands on her skin.

'Damn it', Sachiko cursed inwardly (and she almost never did), which was a clear sign of her frustration.

Sachiko's lips soon left Yumi's mouth. They travelled down the younger woman's jaw, down her neck and settling on one particular spot where she felt the blood flow to be the strongest. Her incisors involuntarily elongated once more, but instead of sinking her fangs into Yumi's neck, she decided to go further down.

Yumi opened her eyes for a second to see what she was doing, but her ministrations caused for the younger woman's eyes to close once more and for her to throw her head back as Sachiko's lips stopped onto Yumi's upper chest.

She had no intention of moving further down (at least not yet), because that would just be taking it too far considering they had just acknowledged their feelings for each other. So instead, Sachiko's lips stopped just above the younger woman's mounds. Using her fangs, she ran it onto her lover's skin, warning her of what is to come. Then not second later, she sank her fangs into Yumi's chest, making the younger woman gasp in surprise. She thought Yumi hated it, that she had been too bold for biting into that part of her body. But the younger woman just proceeded to caress her hair and even pulled her head down, urging her to continue with what she was doing. It was so sexy and elating for Sachiko that she proceeded to suck and feed on the blood that burst out of her lover's wound. She drank slowly, making sure not to draw too hard. After all, Sachiko wanted to relish this experience for as long as she could.

After a mouthful, Sachiko retracted her fangs and kissed the wounds until the blood clotted. She then lifted herself up and gazed into Yumi's eyes.

"Can I please kiss you again, onee-sama?" her lover whispered.

Sachiko smiled. "I am all yours, Yumi. Of course you can." She said before leaning back down to abide by her lover's wishes. But at the same time, she ran her fingers on the soft skin of Yumi's inner thigh. Her beloved shuddered in pleasure at the contact and Sachiko knew where she wanted to bite next.

She left her lover's mouth again and crawled down, trailing sweet kisses along the way, until her mouth stopped on her beloved's inner thigh. Her lips had just brushed the area, and Yumi was already squirming and moaning in pleasure. It seemed to be a particularly sensitive part for her young lover.

Sachiko smiled mischievously before she sank her fangs into her skin for the second time that night. Yumi's body jerked, but she held her thigh in place as she dug her incisors even deeper to reach a vein. There was not a moment when Sachiko thought that Yumi hated what she was doing, because the younger woman's aroused scent was filling her senses, urging her to keep on doing what she was doing. Yumi's blood and scent was intoxicating, drugging her and clearing her mind of all coherent thoughts. But it seemed like it was the same for Yumi, because as she drew blood, Yumi's moans were getting louder and more erotic.

"O-onee-sama…"

Sachiko retracted her fangs once more and lick the wound clean of blood, before lifting herself to be at eye level with Yumi.

"Are you still okay?"

Yumi forced to open her eyes and met her gaze. "Of course onee-sama, you only had two mouthfuls of blood so far, surely, you can do better than that?" It was a challenge and one that Sachiko would not back down from.

They were both bolder tonight, dangerously braver.

She also bit Yumi's wrist, then onto her side, before finally going back up to her neck.

Yumi was heaving, breathing hard, but her eyes remained bright and full of fire, as if telling Sachiko that she wanted more.

"You're really enjoying this?" Sachiko confirmed, just before she feed from her again. She knew she drank enough already. She had been so lost in euphoria whenever her lover's blood touched her lips, burning her insides with passion more intensely and intimately than ever before.

Maybe because Yumi is not just my soeur now, but also my lover. That thought made her insides warm, and her lips drew up to a smile.

"Yes, onee-sama. And I hope you are too."

"I am." And she claimed her lips again. Kissing her deeper, using her tongue to explore her mouth. She momentarily pulled away, "...very much so."

Her lips then travelled down again, trailing kisses down her jaw, nibbling her ear, tasting the soft skin of her upper neck before settling onto her favourite spot, where the blood flow was strongest.

"I love you, Sachiko-" She heard Yumi said one last time before she sank her fangs onto her lover's waiting neck.

Blood exploded in her mouth, coating her tongue, her teeth and her lips, filling her insides with a drug so intoxicating that her mind went blank, her senses numbed and all that mattered was Yumi, lying so close to her, pulling her closer still into an embrace. She drew ever so slowly, hoping to lengthen the pleasurable feeling that travelled down to her chest and into her core. Her center pulsed, a feeling she had never felt before, but a feeling she most definitely welcomed. It was elating and frustrating at the same time. A need, more than feeding, that she wanted to be satisfied. But there was no way of Yumi knowing this and no way for the younger woman to know what to do.

She retracted her fangs. She had just crossed one boundary, and crossing another line, a more dangerous one, was something she was not yet ready for.

She looked down and saw that her lover was in a daze. Her eyes were glassy, her lips swollen, her face flushed and her exposed chest was rising and falling as she took deep breaths. Sachiko knew she drank more than usual, but Yumi remained to be conscious, probably fighting her sleepiness.

Her beloved had indeed grown stronger these past few times she had fed from her. While Sachiko, for her part, had learned to draw slower than before.

Sachiko lied down on Yumi's bed with their arms touching and gazed unseeing above. It was a few moments later when she felt the younger woman snake her arms over her upper abdomen and whispered, "would you like to sleep with me tonight, onee-sama?"

That was exactly what was on Sachiko's mind, to not go back to her room.

"Yes."

Yumi's hair remained to be tied by ribbons. They had forgotten to remove them earlier. But with all that happened, her hair and her pigtails were now in a disarray.

Sachiko reached up and slowly plucked one of the black laces out of her beloved's hair.

"Can I keep this?"

She had always thought about it, asking for one of Yumi's ribbons.

Yumi nodded her head, her eyes already closed. "Of course. But only that one, onee-sama. I will keep the other one, so that wherever we are, we will always be connected."

Sachiko's heart beat faster, Yumi's words felt somewhat ominous.

"I will not allow you to be apart from me, Yumi."

"I know." She whispered, and her voice was now laced with so much tiredness.

"If you understand that much, then promise me that you will never leave me."

"Hmmm"

"Yumi?"

Sachiko pulled away to look at her lover's face, but she was already asleep.

She sighed and pulled the younger woman in to an embrace. She was just being paranoid. There was no way Yumi would ever leave her, right? Especially not now that they were lovers.

- - o 0 o - -

Yumi

Yumi opened her eyes to the darkness of her room. She had been slumbering for a while, but her sleep was not as deep as it used to be because of the elating smell of the person beside her. The effect of the serum must be wearing off now.

She was currently trapped in her beloved's arms, embraced possessively as if her lover knew of her plan to leave. She stayed in that position for a while, relishing the feel of her gentle breath tickling her skin and of her beloved's warm skin against hers. Yumi even proceeded to gaze at her face, which despite the darkness, she was finding no trouble to see clearly. Sachiko-sama is so beautiful, the most beautiful person Yumi had ever lain her eyes on. And she knew that it will be this woman's face who will be in her dreams for the many nights to come that they will be apart.

Her lover's lips were partly open, as if inviting her to claim them again, to taste them again, just like what they did a few hours before. But she knew she couldn't...and she shouldn't, because of the risk of waking her up.

Until now, Yumi felt guilty for leaving her beloved, especially after everything that had happened to them that night.

However, knowing that she would be leaving, would it be better if Sachiko-sama hadn't know about her romantic feelings for her senior? Knowing that this could be their last night together, should Yumi have pretended that she still saw Sachiko-sama only as a soeur and nothing more? Would it have been better if Yumi pushed her away when the older woman kissed her, instead of responding to her advances? Should Yumi have asked her to stop, instead of urging her to continue, when Sachiko-sama assaulted her body with sweet sensuous kisses and bites?

Yumi bit her trembling lip to stop herself from crying. She knew it would be hard when the time came for her to leave, but she didn't know that it would be this painfully difficult. Her heart was bleeding at the thought that this could be the last time she would gaze at her beloved's beautiful face, that despite the hope she had gained, there was still a possibility that she would never see her again.

Yumi closed her eyes and forced herself to look away. With much difficulty, she then slowly disentangled herself from her beloved's embrace. Her body felt somewhat lighter, making her move more nimbly than she did before. She was thankful for it, because she seemed to have not awoken the other woman as she stood up from her bed.

Her feet soundlessly touched the carpeted floor, but she dared not to turn on the lights, instead she felt around for her slippers. After putting them on, she willed her feet to move, to take that one heavy step away from Sachiko-sama.

Please Maria-sama, help me...

She reached up and pulled her other black ribbon, the other half of the one that was now in Sachiko-sama's possession. She laced it in her hands and pulled it closer to her chest, and it was then when she decided to allow herself one last look at her beloved's sleeping form.

I'm so sorry, Sachiko-sama...I love you.

She then quickly turned away and took hurried steps towards the door, afraid that if she delayed her departure for another second, it would be more difficult (or probably impossible) for her to leave.

Tears were streaming down her face even before she stepped outside of her bedroom door. She was stopping herself from sobbing, from making any noise.

"Yumi ojou-sama." A soft voice called out to her.

It was Maya.

"I have eyes and ears in this house…" the headmistress had said.

The other woman handed her a handkerchief and a small luggage. Since finding out that Maya was working directly for the headmistress earlier that morning, that she was pretending to be a clueless young maid, Yumi started seeing her in a different light. If she looked past Maya's small and fragile frame, she could just make out the slightly toned body and the strong unyielding eyes. Maya told her she had already awakened a few years ago, despite looking so young, and had trained with the headmistress specifically for the purpose of guarding Yumi when she moved to the manor.

She proceeded to wipe her tears. She stood up straighter, squared her shoulders and solidified her resolve, as if appearing braver would in effect make her feel braver and stronger somehow.

"Thank you for taking care of me, Maya-san." Yumi said.

Indeed, Maya had been looking out for me more than how I thought she had.

"I will look forward to seeing you again, Yumi ojou-sama."

"Me too. Has Shizuka-sama arrived?"

"Her car is parked outside the gate."

"Thank you."

And after one final curt bow, Yumi turned and walked down the familiar corridor. Its faint yellow light, casting an unusual glow on her now pale features. Her footsteps were also lighter than they used to, as she walked onto the wooden floor. But her chest was heavy as she carried the feelings of her friends, and most especially her onee-sama, in her heart.

She gripped the smooth dark wooden railing of the staircase and proceeded to go down the steps. Her eyes were glued to the wooden double doors that would take her outside of the place she called home for half a year. Despite the fact that her stay at the manor was brief, she had gathered a lot of memories she would surely cherish.

She soon reached the front door and stopped, she then turned to look to her left where the library door stood ajar. She smiled as she remembered her very first day at the manor. It was a rainy day and she had been so afraid to enter this seemingly haunted old house, but with her optimism that everything would be fine, she still went on to enter. Now, with her situation, she wished she could be that optimistic again. But those days seemed to be lifetimes away now. Who knew a lot could happen in a span of six months?

Yumi felt her tears welling up again, but before they fell, she proceeded to reach for the knob and open the door. But just after she stepped out...

"Yumi-chan."

- - o 0 o - -

Youko

"Yumi-chan."

The younger woman stopped in her tracks.

Youko had been waiting since the Society's car arrived outside their gate. The one guard she trusted had informed her about its arrival.

"Youko-sama."

"I am hurt, Yumi-chan. You said goodbye to everyone but me."

"I-I couldn't." And the younger woman indeed looked troubled, "I knew you would hint at it and…"

"-stop you?"

The younger girl nodded her head.

"You are very perceptive and I knew you would know instantly that something was happening. I was afraid you'd stop me like before…and when you did, I am afraid that I would have opted not to leave. You are quite persuasive."

"You think too highly of me, Yumi-chan."

"I left you a letter in your shoe locker at Lillian." Yumi-chan offered.

"I cannot say I am looking forward to reading that letter."

Fukuzawa Yumi-chan is her imouto's beloved sister. But Youko knew, that what her imouto felt for this young brunette was something more than that of a soeur's. She didn't confront Sachiko about it, and there was no need for her to do so because surely, her sister had realized it herself. It was only Yumi-chan who remained to be oblivious of Sachiko's ever growing love for her.

"The headmistress told me," Youko started, "about you and what you are."

"I'm sorry." The girl bowed her head in sincere apology.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I could have-"

"But you didn't. And I am sure that Sei, Shimako, Eriko and most especially Sachiko would never feel like you were a threat to us. We are strong too, you know, so you don't have to worry about killing any of us. You should have seen when Sei was angry and devastated, you wouldn't believe how strong she was."

Youko didn't elaborate further. It had been at the time Kubo Shiori left the manor…and left Sei.

Her brows furrowed, the thought of Kubo Shiori still angers her somehow.

"Thank you, Youko-sama. You are here now, so I will take this chance to thank you for everything you have done for me. You were the one who saved me on my first day."

"From whom? From Sachiko? From Sei?" Youko smiled at the memory. "Sachiko had no intention of killing you or hurting you more than just for a few bruises on your wrist. Sei, on the other hand, just wanted to feed from you. While I strangled you and had been so close to killing you then. I am not sure I deserve your gratitude."

And as if echoing her earlier words, "But you didn't. You stopped when Sachiko-sama asked you to."

Youko regarded the younger woman, "I wanted to stop you now too, you know. I reasoned with the headmistress yesterday, begged her to give me, give you, another option, just so you could stay with us. I think the Society's being too cautious. I don't think you're all that dangerous, Yumi-chan."

"They have every right to be cautious. They haven't seen an awakened adult pure-blood before."

"Sachiko will be distraught."

Again, the girl nodded, "I know I don't have to ask, but please help her understand."

"No words will ever make her understand, Yumi-chan. I may be her onee-sama, but you hold a deeper place in her heart. And to tell you the truth, even I don't totally agree with the headmistress' decision."

"At first, I was so afraid that I wished someone just killed me when I re-awakened three years ago. I had agonized over the fact that I could have killed any of you. But with everyone giving me strength, with onee-sama's love, I will try harder. I will do my best to survive what is to come and come back."

"Then I will be looking forward to that. I hope to see you again soon, Yumi-chan." Youko said and spread her arms open.

Yumi took her invitation, went into her arms and gave her a warm embrace.

"Thank you again, Youko-sama." The girl said and pulled away, "Goodbye."

Youko shook her head. "Not 'goodbye'…but 'until we meet again'."

Yumi smiled, a smile that was filled with hope. "Yes, until we meet again."

"Sachiko will not be looking for another soeur, and after Sachiko, I will not allow anyone else to be Rosa Chinensis."

"Yes, Youko-sama, I will try to come back and be Rosa Chinensis."

A black sedan pulled over just in front of them. Apparently, Maya had informed the guards to let the car in earlier.

The chauffeur opened the door for her and waited for Yumi to enter.

Yumi-chan then bowed down low one last time, before entering the car and sitting in the back seat.

And that sad smile on her friend's usually cheerful face was the last Youko saw, before the car left.

Until we meet again…Yumi-chan.

- - o 0 o - -

Sachiko

Sachiko was dreaming. It was rare for her to dream these past few months, or at least, to dream dreams that she would remember.

She and Yumi were at Lillian, by the gingko-line tree path and right in front of Maria-sama. They were talking about the time when they were younger, the times that she thought her most valuable person would never remember, when Yumi suddenly said, "How about we play a game, onee-sama?"

"Game? It's not similar to the games you play with Rosa Gigantae, right?"

Yumi laughed and Sachiko couldn't help but smile. Yumi's laugh was contagious.

"No, onee-sama. It's a simple game of 'hide and seek', similar to the one we played when we were kids."

Sachiko raised her eyebrows. "Hide and seek?"

"Surely, you know the rules of the game, onee-sama."

"Of course I know that much. But why that game?"

"Why onee-sama, aren't you confident enough that you'll find me?"

"Of course, I can find you wherever you are!" Sachiko proudly said. There were a few things that she can say with this much confidence, but finding Yumi, wherever she will be hiding, is something she surely could do. They have an unbreakable bond, and she was sure she'd 'sense' Yumi, even if she cannot see her.

"It's just that, it is such a childish game, Yumi."

"Just this once, onee-sama, will it be okay for you to indulge me?" Yumi then smiled at her and leaned forward, her hazel brown eyes so exceptionally larger and pleading that Sachiko couldn't help by eventually cave in.

"Fine. But just a few rounds. I want to go back to the manor soon. It's getting late."

Yumi beamed and for a moment, she was glad to have caused that wonderful smile on her little sister's face.

"Okay onee-sama, close your eyes and count to ten."

Sachiko nodded her head and faced the other way. And as she turned, she caught a glimpse of her little sister's brown eyes that always held an adoring look whenever she looks at her, her kind and gentle face, and her lips that were always drawn up to a smile.

She was now facing Maria-sama, and before she closed her eyes, she uttered a silent prayer, "Maria-sama, I hope these peaceful happy days with Yumi never ends."

She then started counting to ten as Yumi's footsteps grew fainter behind her.

One…

Yumi, just that morning, was holding her hand the whole time they rode from the manor going to Lillian. Sachiko gave her a questioning look before looking down at their joined hands, but her little sister just smiled at her. And it seemed like Yumi was not satisfied with just holding her hand, because her imouto then moved closer to rest her head on her shoulder. Sachiko liked being this close to her anyway, so she was not one to complain.

Two…

They were in the rose manor, Yumi was standing by the small sink, making tea with Shimako, when suddenly Yumi took hold of the other girl's hand and pulled it closer to her chest. For a moment, Sachiko had wanted to stand up and interrupt them, to pull Yumi's hand away from holding the other girl's, but for whatever reason, she chose not to. Probably because she finally accepted the fact that for Yumi, Shimako was just a friend and nothing more. But still, Sachiko had to make sure to keep an eye on Shimako because somehow, she feels like the young white rose holds deeper feelings for her Yumi.

Three…

As soon as the bell rang, signalling the end of classes that Saturday noon, she went to Yumi's classroom so they could walk to the rose mansion together. But to her dismay, the girl's classmates said that Yumi had already left. So she went straight to the rose mansion, thinking that she would find her beloved sister in the second floor meeting room already making tea. To her surprise, she saw Yumi walking with Rei and they seemed to be having a wonderful conversation. But just before they entered the front door, Rei suddenly stopped and their conversation seemed to have become more serious. Yumi's back was to her, so she didn't see the expression on her face. It was only when Sachiko saw a startled look on her fellow bouton's face, apparently due to something Yumi had said, that she decided to hasten her steps and to approach them.

Four…

Rosa Gigantae was late for their meeting. Her onee-sama asked Yumi to look for her, and her little sister was more than happy to oblige. She felt a twinge of irritation, 'why is Yumi always happy when she's around Sei-sama?' She possessively thought. 'She is my petite soeur.'

Five…

Sachiko had wanted to walk with Yumi to the car, but because there were some things that had to discuss about the upcoming school festival, she didn't have a choice but to walk with her fellow boutons. So she left Yumi with Yoshino-chan to clean up the meeting room.

Six…

As Yumi suggested, they watched a movie that afternoon. And just like before, Yumi was snuggling so close to her, with her head on her shoulder and their hands intertwined. The only moment they separated was when her little sister went to get some popcorn in the kitchen with Eriko-sama. It took some time for them to get back, which got her curious, but never asked about it anyway.

Seven…

Her onee-sama suggested that they practiced a bit of dancing in preparation for their play. She immediately grabbed her sister for a partner, just a few seconds before Sei-sama reached to grab Yumi's other hand. She taught Yumi how to dance the waltz. And despite Yumi's awkwardness, for not knowing how to dance, Sachiko still found dancing with her to be quite enjoyable. In her mind, she was considering going to the Christmas ball that December, the same one she decided not to go the previous year. Because this time, Yumi would be with her.

Eight…

Yumi was holding her arm, gazing at the garden of red roses, bathed under the bright moonlight. She would surely commit that moment to memory.

Nine…

Yumi was lying beneath her, looking up at her with those loving brown eyes. They had just admitted that they love each other, and she knew…finally…that Yumi loves her the same way that she did her.

Ten…

As she finished counting, she felt a tinge of nervousness as her earlier confidence of easily finding Yumi was gone for some reason. So she hurriedly opened her eyes and turned to look down at the gingko-tree lined path that she started to like, (despite hating Gingko trees) because of the countless times she walked down that pathway with her beloved seour. She scanned the area with her heart hammering wildly against her chest…she held her breath and looked around once more...but Yumi was nowhere in sight. Sachiko started to panic.

…

Sachiko sat bolt right up, ignoring the pounding in her head at her sudden movement.

The room she was in, her beloved Yumi's room, as expected, was bathed in darkness. And just like in her dream, her heartbeat continue to beat loudly as she willed her eyes to sharpen, effectively making them glow. She felt around the bed, scanned the room and willed her senses to sharpen to search for her scent or for any sign that her beloved was just nearby.

Her heartbeat sped up still, now thundering against her ribcage. Blood was pounding loudly against her ears and her hands felt cold and clammy. It was not long after when tears started spilling out her eyes, cascading down her cheeks and down onto the red mattress that they'd just shared not so long ago. Her body trembled as soft uncontrolled sobs escaped her lips and she brought her hand to cover it to muffle the sound. She closed her other fist to grip the fabric where Yumi had lain just before she closed her eyes that night…after she promised that she would never leave her.

Wait…did Yumi promise me?

No…she didn't...

Her shoulders shook violently as the downpour of tears increased and she was unable to stop herself from screaming her name again and again…hoping for that small possibility that her beloved could hear her and get out of wherever she was hiding. She wept unabashedly like a child, wishing that her crying would lessen the pain as her heart tear into pieces and her mind plunged into chaos.

She should have ran outside, searched every room, and turned over every bed just to find her.

But she knew it was no use.

She couldn't feel her…couldn't sense her...

Because somehow she knew that…

…Yumi was already gone.

- - o 0 o - -

A/N: It is "the end" for now. But, there will be an epilogue, which I am considering calling a chapter instead, because again, it turned out longer than I had originally planned. Also, making the next one into a full chapter may mean I can write more and continue with this story, but nothing's final yet as of now.

Anyway, the final part (whether I chose to call it a 'chapter' or an 'epilogue') will be posted soon. As always, your thoughts on the story is welcomed and much appreciated (but no flames please, I wish to keep my good spirits that could possibly urge me to keep on writing).

Thank you for reading and I hope you liked the story. 'Blood' had been my longest story so far and had been a wonderful journey for me. This is the fic that I had been writing to satisfy my own curiosity, if I could effectively create an alternate universe for Yumi and Sachiko to live in. There are some parts which have been 'inspired' by the original anime and/or light novels, with a little twist to blend into Blood's universe of course.

Gokigenyou! Magandang Gabi.