A/N - I may not own these characters, but I gotta love 'em!

Chapter 34

Shimako had watched from a distance for a time, not wanting to jump to any false conclusions or make any accusations until she was certain. That afternoon when Yoshino had left to escort Yumi to her appointment it all became very clear. "Noriko?"

"Hm? Yes, Onee-sama?" Noriko looked up from her papers with a curious glint in her eyes.

"Have you spoken to Toko much this week? How is she handling everything that has happened of late?" Shimako tried to seem nonchalant in her questioning but knew instinctively that her little sister would pick up on her train of thought.

The heavy sigh that fell from Noriko's lips a moment later indicated she was correct. "She is wearing her mask more and more. Fake giggles and empty smiles, though everyone knows she is worried for Yumi-sama."

"Ah, yes, she seems to be avoiding the mansion recently." Shimako finished signing a form requesting audio equipment for the graduation and set it aside.

"It appears she is using club activities as an excuse to be absent, though with the end of the term approaching most of her clubmates have retreated to do their revisions in preparation for the exams." A look of concern creased Noriko's brow as she spoke. "I had thought I was the only one who had noticed."

"No, I guarantee Yumi-chan was the first to notice the change." A look of deep sadness overtook Shimako's elegant face.

"I imagine Yumi-sama is in pain because of this." A flash of anger drove Noriko to her feet. Looking for something to help defuse it, she retrieved the cleaning cloth from the counter and began to wipe down the windows. "Isn't this the time when Yumi-sama needs Toko-chan the most?"

A gentle hand stopped Noriko's furious motions against the delicate window pane. "Imagine it from Toko-chan's perspective for a moment. She only just solidified her relationship with Yumi-chan and now she is faced with the possibility of losing her."

"She won't lose her!" Anger mixed with confidence as Noriko yelled her response, though she refused to meet Shimako's knowing gaze. Quieting her anger, she spoke again, this time in a softer gentler manner. "Yumi-sama will be her sister now, next week, next year even. Even after Yumi-sama graduates, she'll be by Toko-chan's side. When picking a university, Yumi-sama's guidance will be with her. The day Toko-chan gets married Yumi-sama will be there to help ease her nerves. There is still so much for Yumi-sama to give to Toko-chan."

"And so much for Toko-chan to give to Yumi-chan." Added Shimako with a smile. "You're right, we do need to look at this with hope, but we also need to help Toko-chan. Acting as though everything is perfectly fine will do her no good. Plus, if things were to go badly, it would be her biggest regret to have wasted this time by avoiding her Onee-sama."

"What do you propose then?"

Alone in the drama club's room, Toko stared aimlessly at her textbook before her. How long had passed since she had sat down at this table and opened the book, she didn't know. Ten minutes? An hour? It could have been three hours for all she knew. No matter what she did she couldn't focus. Her mock exam scores had shown a marked decrease in scores as of late. It didn't take a genius to understand why. A mind filled with thoughts of her Onee-sama drove out any of the knowledge she needed for the tests. She would read a story problem and before the end, her thoughts would already have drifted to thoughts of hospitals, sterile gowns, needles, cancer, and… death. Caskets gleaming bright would make appearances in her dreams, taunting her with the possibility they symbolized.

Just about to give up on the idea of studying entirely, the door slamming open all of a sudden sent Toko flying from her chair in panic. In the doorway stood an out of breath Noriko. Once her eyes fell on Toko, she bolted from the door and grabbed her friend's wrist. "Toko-chan, I found you! Quickly, you're needed at the mansion!"

Without waiting for permission to do so, Noriko scooped up Toko's textbooks, skillfully sliding them into the young girl's bag. Slinging it over her shoulder, she was out of the door moments later with a flustered Toko in tow.

"Noriko-chan! Noriko-chan, what is this?" Yet Noriko refused to answer except to say there was a desperate need for her at the mansion.

At the pace Noriko set, it took them only a few minutes to reach the council room. There sat Shimako and a tired-looking Yumi. Upon seeing her petite soeur, Yumi's face lit up with a brilliant smile. "Toko-chan, you came!"

Brushing off Noriko's iron grip, Toko muttered, "I didn't really have much of a choice." Then, as if a magical switch had been flipped, a smile dominated Toko's face as she crossed the room to kneel by her Onee-sama's side. "Onee-sama, would you like some tea?"

Reaching out, Yumi ran her fingers through Toko's ringlets and shook her head. "No, it's enough just to see your face." A genuine smile, at last, graced Toko's face and she took Yumi's hand in hers, holding it close to her cheek.

"Actually, Toko-chan, we need your help." Shimako interjected as she stood with her bag in hand.

"Yes, of course, I'm sorry for my continued absence recently." She bowed to her Rosa, never releasing Yumi's hand.

"Club activities cannot be helped, isn't that right?" A knowing glint was in her eyes as Shimako responded, though no words of accusation left her mouth. "Anyway, we would ask you to put aside those responsibilities for today as we are in desperate need of someone to escort your Onee-sama to her appointment this afternoon."

"To her appointment?" Toko responded, instantly growing nervous. "I thought Shimako-sama was to escort her today?"

"I was, but I'm afraid I am now unable to. In all honesty, it's out of my control and no one else is available at such short notice." Without waiting for Toko's response, Shimako moved toward the doorway where Noriko stood, obviously waiting to depart with her Onee-sama.

"Uh, wait, I don't know-"

"You know your way around hospitals, right, Toko-chan?" Noriko encouraged with a gentle smile. "We leave Yumi-sama in your capable care."

With that the two sisters exited the room, leaving an anxious Toko standing beside her Onee-sama. Seeing no way around it, Toko affixed a smile to her face once more and turned back to face Yumi. "Well, Onee-sama, it looks like you are stuck with me. I will try to care for you as well as the other sisters."

Yumi's tender smile touched Toko's hidden heart, making it harder to keep her mask in place. "Toko-chan will surely provide the best care. Let's go ahead and get going. The car Sachiko-san hired for me should be arriving at the gate soon."

Seeing Yumi struggle to stand, Toko instinctively offered her support in the form of a shoulder. Gratefully, Yumi grasped the shorter girl's shoulder and stood erect, though she swayed ever so slightly. Refusing to let Yumi carry anything, Toko slung their bags over her shoulder and slowly made her way to the door, Yumi all the while holding tightly to Toko.

They continued in this manner until they were both securely seated in the car and heading for the hospital. Though it was a short drive, Yumi soon fell asleep, her head resting gently against Toko's soft shoulder.

Seeing her Onee-sama looking so tired and weak sent fear through the younger girl's heart. This was why she had been avoiding the mansion. This is what she hadn't wanted to see. If she had been able to avoid seeing it she could easily act as though it were not true. But now, faced with the physical evidence of Yumi's illness, Toko knew she would not be able to continue acting like it wasn't happening.

When they arrived at the hospital, Toko insisted on a wheelchair for Yumi and on pushing it herself rather than letting a nurse handle it for her. Now that Yumi was in her care she would ensure her safety on her own. She would not entrust it to anyone else, not even the hospital staff. To her credit, Yumi did everything Toko asked, just silently smiling and going along with the whims of her little sister.

Before long, Toko sat beside Yumi as the chemo was administered through an IV. The process would take more than an hour, so they were left alone after the flow of medication began.

They were quiet for a time, Yumi with her head back resting and Toko with her eyes downcast as if immensely interested in the pattern of the tile floor.

"It's okay."

Startled, Toko looked up to find Yumi's understanding gaze on her. "Huh? What was that?"

"I said, it's okay, Toko-chan. I know you don't want to be here right now. If it makes you uneasy, I can call Sei to come and get me once the session is over. I will understand." By the look in her eyes, Toko knew Yumi was being serious and that she really would understand.

However, Toko found that now that she was by Yumi's side she didn't want to relinquish her to anyone else quite yet. Once more lowering her gaze, Toko responded in a voice barely above a whisper. "I'm ashamed."

"Ashamed? Why?"

"Surely you've noticed…" Toko felt her eyes grow moist and clinched them closed in a futile attempt to staunch the tears before they began to fall.

"Noticed?" Yumi asked quietly. "Oh, you mean noticed that you're afraid to be around me right now?"

Fists clenched in her lap, Toko looked up quickly, the action causing tears to fall into her lap. "I'm not afraid to be with you, Onee-sama. Never!"

"No, I suppose not." A weak chuckle rose from Yumi as she reached out a frail-looking hand for Toko to hold.

The girl took the proffered hand eagerly, moving her chair nearer to Yumi so as to hold her closer. Toko didn't speak, but merely studied Yumi's face and eyes. They had not been sisters for long, but they had known each other for nearly a year. Their relationship had started rough, but Toko clearly remembered how Yumi never seemed to give up on getting closer to her. At first, it was under the pretense of being there for Sachiko, but it quickly morphed into something far different. Long before she openly acknowledged it, Toko knew Yumi cared for her as an individual separate from Sachiko and the Ogasawara family. She had at first assumed it was Yumi taking pity on her for her background, being an orphan and having no true blood relation to the family for which she was named. Though that had not been the truth in the end. Now that she looked back, Yumi had nearly always shown her kindness and consideration far beyond what she deserved. Even now, after having so obviously avoided Yumi during her time of illness, the older girl was showing her nothing but love and kindness, even understanding.

Unbidden, tears fell in torrents from her glistening eyes as she drew Yumi's hand to her heart and held on tight. Despite the IV, Yumi drew Toko from her chair to sit beside her in her own seat. Moving as far to the side as she could, she made room for Toko to curl up against her side and cry into her chest. Without a word of protest, the younger girl did just that. No words of explanation were spoken, but none were needed either. Yumi understood the tears and held her petite soeur close. Toko felt the love in Yumi's embrace and fervently clung to her, begging God to stop time so that she would not have to be parted from her Onee-sama ever again.

When her tears had dried and her sobs quieted, Toko still clung to Yumi. No one approached but instead left the two to themselves. When it appeared the treatment was almost over, Yumi finally spoke. "Toko-chan, you don't have to hide your sadness or your tears. It's perfectly normal and there is nothing to be ashamed of."

Without raising her head from Yumi's shoulder, Toko responded. "You shouldn't have to see my weakness, Onee-sama. I should be able to be strong for you. I'm sorry."

"Oh, come now, that's ridiculous." Yumi squeezed Toko's shoulder affectionately in response. "Tears are not a sign of weakness. Having the courage to cry in front of someone else actually takes its own strength, okay?"

"Really? You really believe that?"

"I do."

There was a pause where only the beeping of the monitors surrounding them could be heard. "Onee-sama, what can I do?"

"What do you mean?"

"There has to be something I can do for you? Either now or later. Please, anything! Just give me something I can do for you." Toko sounded so sincere in her desire to help that Yumi could not bear to leave her without an answer.

She knew what she wished to ask of her petite soeur, she just didn't know if it was fair to do so or not. "What I want to request is so selfish, I don't know if I can bring myself to ask it."

Fisting her hand into Yumi's shirt, Toko pushed. "Please, Onee-sama. Put your faith in me. Trust me."

Sighing in reluctant surrender Yumi nodded. "Okay, I have only one request. If anything does happen to me, be there for Sachiko."

Toko instantly nodded, fresh tears rising at the turn of the conversation.

"Understand, she won't want anyone by her side. She will most likely try to retreat. Don't let her, okay?"

Toko nodded again, this time speaking. "The only one who could help her when her grandmother passed was you, Onee-sama. I don't know how I could possibly help in a situation like that, but I promise you, Sachiko-sama will not be left alone. I will stay by her side."

Yumi's grip on the young girl increased. "I'll hold you to that. Also, Toko-chan, I want you to continue with the council and with your drama club should anything happen." When Toko tried to pull back, Yumi's arm was there holding her in place. "You have the tendency to step back as well. Please, do these things for me?"

Tears now freely flowing down her face once more, Toko sobbed her response. "Onee-sama is not fair."

Resting her chin on top of Toko's head, Yumi smiled a bittersweet smile. "I know. Forgive me."

"No." Toko whispered in between sobs, burying her face further into the folds of Yumi's shirt.

"Okay, that's alright." The IV ended and a nurse came to remove it, but Yumi silently waved them off. After their recent distance, she wanted nothing to interrupt this time. Nothing at all. They would leave when Toko was ready, not before.

A/N - I figured at least a few people were wondering where our Toko had run off to. I hope you enjoyed this sister moment.