A/N - I do not own these characters.
Chapter 25
When Yumi exited the bath it appeared Sachiko was still soaking in her own. Part of her wanted to go in and join the dark-haired goddess, but she held back. Space. Give her space. With great reluctance, she dropped her laundry off in her room and then quickly made her way to the den. Turning off the lights, she smoothly slipped under the covers of the futon and curled up, searching for just the right position.
Can I really sleep? Sachiko isn't a hundred meters away, yet I can't find the courage to go to her. All she wanted was to hold her lover tonight as tomorrow held so much unknown. But she wouldn't push Sachiko. She had already had to put up with so much, she deserved to have time to work through it at her own pace.
Yumi had nearly drifted off when a door creaked down the hallway. Eyes and ears wide open, Yumi listened as footsteps disappeared into their shared bedroom and the door shut behind them.
Trying her best to think of Sachiko's feelings before her own, Yumi tucked herself further into the futon and let the stresses and strains of the day pull her into a fitful slumber.
Sachiko laid back on the bed, not bothering with the covers. She wouldn't be able to sleep anyway, not with Yumi huddled away on a futon in the next room. Why did she feel like she had to do that? She touched her lips as she remembered the feel of biting Yumi and the taste of her blood. In truth, Sachiko had not intended to harm Yumi. At least, she hadn't planned on drawing blood. Yumi hadn't gotten mad though. She hadn't pulled away or glared or even reacted beyond a soft cry of pain. She had simply accepted Sachiko's anger and made no complaint about it. Even going as far as to continue the kiss they were sharing at the time.
It was Yoko who had insisted on cleaning it up for her. And Sachiko had let her Onee-sama lead the woman she loved away without a single word of protest. Yumi had even looked back at her and while there was sadness in her eyes she had still spared a tiny smile for Sachiko.
Growling her frustrations to the ceiling, Sachiko flipped over and stared at Yumi's bedside table. On it sat the picture of the moment the two of them first met. That moment when both their lives were forever changed. Sachiko was still ashamed that she had not remembered meeting Yumi that day. How could she have forgotten the young beauty, so awkwardly shy and aloof? She was even more ashamed for the reasons behind why she had first asked Yumi to be her petite soeur. Now she could look back with pride at how Yumi had stood her ground and said no, despite having the desire to accept. Sachiko was glad to be able to look back and know that when they had become sisters it was for true and pure reasons. They truly had loved each other as sisters would. It didn't take long before Sachiko had known her own feelings had grown beyond that platonic, sisterly love. Though she had remained silent for many reasons. Now she regretted having wasted that valuable time. How much longer would they have now? Why am I continuing to waste our time together?
Rolling unceremoniously off the bed, Sachiko took only a moment to straighten her gown before exiting the room and quietly padding her way to the den. It was dark, no lights having been left on, but she could still see the white of the blankets and futon near the corner of the room. As she approached, she could hear frantic mumbles from a sleeping Yumi.
"N-no, don't leave me this way. For-forgive me."
Kneeling beside Yumi, Sachiko could see the younger girl was sweating profusely and jerking around in her sleep. Reaching out, Sachiko gently caressed her lover's cheek. As if her touch were the cure to her ailment, Yumi's flailing slowly ceased and the pained look on her face faded to one of contentment. Just the simple touch of Sachiko's hand brought her such comfort, Sachiko was shocked. When the urge to kiss Yumi came upon her, she didn't hold herself back. She leaned forward and pressed her cool lips to Yumi's warm forehead. She stayed like that for a few moments, before pulling back.
She quickly found that she couldn't move too far back, for Yumi's arms were now wrapped firmly around her neck. Looking closely, Sachiko could see that the younger girl's eyes were barely open, but she was awake. She didn't speak, only held Sachiko from moving any further away.
Caressing Yumi's cheek once more and brushing the hair from her eyes, Sachiko offered her lover a small smile. "You were having a bad dream."
"I'm having a good one right now. Please, don't wake me up. I want to stay like this, in this dream, forever." Her voice was soft and cautious.
"Let's dream together then." Sachiko whispered softly as she leaned in to press her lips gently against Yumi's. The kiss was simple, yet they both felt the healing power it contained. That simple kiss was binding their wounds and soothing the pain.
When their lips finally separated, Sachiko asked quietly, "Am I joining you here or are you coming to join me in our bed?"
Yumi liked the sound of that. Our bed. This is really happening? We are living together? "Well, it would be a shame to waste a perfectly good bed in favor of a futon."
Sachiko smiled in agreement. Standing, she offered a hand to Yumi, which the younger girl accepted without hesitation. As quietly as they could manage, the two maneuvered their way out of the den, down the hall, and to their room.
Once in the light, Sachiko could see the slight bruising and redness at the corner of Yumi's mouth and guilt once again assaulted her. "Oh Yumi," She brushed the tips of her fingers over Yumi's lips and grimaced. "I truly am horrible at times, aren't I?"
Gripping Sachiko's hand, Yumi pressed her lips to her slender fingers and with closed eyes shook her head. "Not at all, Sachiko. It doesn't even hurt anymore, so don't worry. Please?"
"Liar." Sachiko knew Yumi wasn't being truthful about her pain, but she was grateful to the younger girl for her words. Pulling Yumi closer to her so that their bodies were flush with one another, Sachiko leaned in and kissed the corner of her mouth where it was bruised. "Forgive me?"
Humming in contentment, Yumi whispered, "The instant it happened."
They studied each other's eyes, each looking for forgiveness for their own misdeeds. They searched for what only the other could provide. Both opened their mouths as if to speak, but neither could. Finally, it was Sachiko who could no longer hold back. In an instant she had Yumi pinned to the wall, lips urgently moving against Yumi's. Yumi responded in kind, tongue instinctively delving into Sachiko's warm mouth.
They were feeling a sense of time running out. They couldn't waste this chance. Sachiko needed to feel Yumi's slim, toned body against her own. Moving her lips to Yumi's neck, she began to unbutton Yumi's nightshirt, a sexy blue silk long-sleeved pajama top. Her only bottoms were matching boy shorts that hugged her hips just right.
Yumi moaned as Sachiko's lips moved over her neck and shoulder. Her voice involuntarily grew in intensity when her lover nipped tenderly as her pulse point. The action made her knees feel weak, so she found herself clinging harder to Sachiko's shoulders.
Her shirt now only hanging off Yumi's shoulders, Sachiko was pleased to find no bra impeded her actions as she leaned down and drew Yumi's right nipple into her mouth. Yumi cried out, bringing one hand to the base of Sachiko's head as if to say, don't stop. Sachiko had no intention of stopping. As she sucked and nipped at Yumi's chest, Sachiko moved her right hand down the younger girl's toned stomach until her hand disappeared into Yumi's boy shorts.
Finding just the right spot, she curled her fingers up and in while simultaneously rubbing her thumb against Yumi's tender center. Sachiko was instantly rewarded with an uncontrollable moan from the younger girl, Yumi's hips moving to meet Sachiko's every motion. It didn't take long before Sachiko felt Yumi tighten around her fingers. At that sign, Sachiko quickened her hand's pace and returned her lips to Yumi's all too sensitive neck. Her finish was powerful and lengthy, thanks to Sachiko helping her ride it out to completion.
As Yumi trembled against the wall, breathing in deep gasps, Sachiko relieved her of her remaining clothes. Not to be outdone, Yumi reached out with trembling hands and slid the spaghetti straps of Sachiko's nightgown off her shoulders. Her lips grazed the newly bared flesh as her hands helped to guide the garment to its final destination on the floor. Now the only barrier between the two women was hugging Sachiko's voluptuous hips.
As she watched Sachiko's body become uncovered before her, Yumi felt a new strength in herself. She was shaking now, not from fatigue but desire. With her new physical strength on her side, Yumi quickly reversed their positions, finding herself facing a nearly nude Sachiko pinned where she herself had been just moments before.
"Yu-Yumi, the bed." Sachiko was breathing deeply, her own desire written clearly on her flushed face.
With a soft growl that sounded almost cat-like to Sachiko, Yumi's hands descended to those alluring hips Sachiko possessed. "I like you where you are." Before Sachiko could protest, Yumi's lips were against her breasts while her hands relieved her of the last of her clothing. Ever so slowly, Yumi's kisses trailed down Sachiko's soft stomach. She didn't have the muscle tone Yumi did, but she was slim and sexy nonetheless.
Sachiko's soft moans filled the air as Yumi took her time getting to her final destination. Just when Sachiko thought the wait was over, Yumi descended further, tenderly kissing the inside of her thigh a few inches above the knee. "Y-Yumi, please!" Sachiko begged, as Yumi began an even slower trek up her thigh.
Yumi smiled as she kissed Sachiko's smooth thigh. "Patience, love." Sachiko's response was to groan and lay her head back against the wall. Chuckling at her lover's impatience, Yumi took the opportunity to bite the tender flesh of Sachiko's thigh, taking her time to suck on it and then lavish the spot by licking the pain away. This drew a throaty moan from the older woman. Instinctively, Sachiko's hand had reached out and pulled Yumi's head closer.
After having lavished that one spot thoroughly, Yumi surprised Sachiko by moving straight to her center, where she was now drenched and aching for Yumi's touch. Sachiko's surprised moan turned to a muffled cry with hands covering her mouth when Yumi's tongue made contact.
Sachiko's cries of ecstasy were music to Yumi's ears. She loved being the only one able to make Sachiko crumble in this manner. No walls, no barriers - Just the true Sachiko bared before her, aching for what Yumi alone could give her.
Using her tongue, she stroked Sachiko's center, while she slid two fingers inside her. Yumi could feel her lover shaking, but neither made a move to change their location. There was something about this wall that somehow enriched the moment.
After a fair amount of teasing and dragging out Sachiko's pleasure, Yumi decided it was time to give her lover the finish for which she ached. Adding a third finger, she curled them just right and latched onto her center all at once. She moved her hand quickly, repeating the curling motion each time and sending Sachiko straight over the edge she had been teetering on for so long.
Yumi returned the favor from earlier and made her finish long and enjoyable. When she was finally done, Yumi stood and took the trembling Sachiko in her arms. "Sachiko? My love?"
"I-I didn't know you w-were a sadist, Yumi." Sachiko could barely breathe in the aftermath of her ecstasy.
Yumi giggled as she dropped soft, tender kisses along Sachiko's neck. "Of course I'm not. It's called increasing anticipation."
"It's called teasing and that was almost cruel." Sachiko admonished as she moved to nibble on Yumi's ear.
Yumi leaned into her, groaning appreciatively at the attention she was getting. "Did you really not enjoy it?"
"Were the sounds I made not affirmation enough for you?" Sachiko giggled, pushing away from the wall and moving them both toward the bed with their clothes forgotten on the floor.
Moments later they were curled together on the bed, legs intertwined and arms wrapped lovingly around each other. Yumi, resting her head against Sachiko's ample breasts, spoke softly. "I'm sorry for hurting you earlier, Onee-sama." Her use of Onee-sama warmed Sachiko's heart. It was now more a term of endearment than anything else and Sachiko had to admit, though she loved hearing her name on Yumi's lips, she would never get tired of being called Onee-sama.
"I can't say your choice on this doesn't break my heart, Yumi. The thought of being forced to stay away from you… Can you imagine how that makes me feel?"
"Yes, because I would feel equally hurt if our roles were reversed."
"I hate that I understand why you decided this. Is it okay with you if I understand, but am still angered by it?"
"I would expect nothing less from my Onee-sama. You yourself made so many decisions that would keep you near to me. So much so that I can't help but feel guilty, despite being resolute in this decision."
"Huh? Yumi, you knew?" Sachiko looked down into tired yet happy brown eyes.
"Knew that you chose Lillian as your university for my sake? Yes." She smiled. "It was obvious to me, though that might sound conceited."
"Why so obvious?" Sachiko asked, curious how she had been found out.
"My Onee-sama could have gone anywhere, even the most prestigious universities. A local ladies' college, no matter how good it is, didn't seem the natural fit for you. When I looked at everything, and with some outside perspective, it seemed I was the only outlying factor. At least, that I knew about." Yumi giggled, tucking her face back against her girlfriend's chest. "Again, sounds pretty conceited of me, doesn't it?"
Sachiko shared in her giggle, tightening her hold on the younger girl. "Conceited, maybe, but it was true."
"Sa-chan, are you sure there is no other university you would prefer to go to? Especially now that you're taking over your family's company yourself." Yumi's voice seemed strong as if the topic of Sachiko possibly going to a different university was no big deal, but Sachiko knew better. Yumi's back was tense, a clear sign that the girl was anxious.
"No, Yumi. To tell you the truth, before you came along I hadn't even considered where I would go. After all, it didn't seem to matter because my life had already been planned out for me. It was only when I was faced with the prospect of being separated from you that I had any thoughts of my own for my future. Lillian has perfectly respectable business and finance departments. My father has even approved." Sachiko caressed Yumi's bareback, relishing the feel of the smaller woman in her arms. "Yumi, you know that when the day comes that we want to marry our union won't be acknowledged as legitimate, right?"
Lifting herself up on her elbow, Yumi now looked down into Sachiko's eyes, tinged with sadness once more. Yumi nodded, reaching up and lovingly brushing the hair from her lover's face. "I know. Things are changing though. Courts are starting to be swayed in favor of the people. Even if that day arrives and we can't marry legitimately, I still wish to have a ceremony. The government doesn't have to acknowledge our commitment for it to be real to us or our loved ones."
Sachiko's eyes shone with joy at those words. "Would you really, Yumi?" Yumi nodded, her eyes reflecting the happiness Sachiko felt. "Then, Yumi, when that day comes… Would you be willing to take my name as your own?"
Eyes dancing with love and laughter, Yumi leaned in to rest her forehead against Sachiko's. "Without hesitation or trepidation. Only with elation and exhilaration will I take your name as my own, Ogasawara Sachiko." The kiss they shared then was soft and tender, lingering not because of a burning desire but because of their enduring love for one another.