A/N - I do not own these characters.
Chapter 5
The next day, Sachiko woke early from a fitful night and prepared for the day. Checking her appearance one last time in the vanity mirror, she nodded in satisfaction and exited the room. It was still early, but Sachiko wanted to start the morning by making sure that Yumi had everything she needed.
Moving quietly, she crossed the wide hallway and knocked on the door. When after a short time there was no response, she knocked once more. Yet still, Yumi didn't respond. Should I go in and wake her up? That would be okay, right? That's not out of place for a grand soeur and her petite soeur. Nodding to reassure herself that it would be okay, Sachiko silently slid the door to Yumi's room open and stepped into the dimly lit room.
Taking a moment for her eyes to adjust to the lighting, Sachiko looked to the bed but was confused to find no one there. By the dark, open doorway to the bathroom, it was evident Yumi wasn't in there either. Where could she be? Sachiko was about to exit the room when she noticed an odd sound and turned to find the door to the balcony open. Making her way outside, she expected to find her petite soeur on the stone balcony but instead found it empty as well. Following the noise she had heard before, Sachiko approached the balcony rail and peered down into the garden courtyard below. There, standing barefoot in the center of the stone courtyard, was Yumi. She was dressed in her gi and moving fluidly through what Sachiko could only assume was a karate exercise.
Leaning against the stone rail, partly hidden by the massive tree growing right next to the balcony, Sachiko contentedly watched as Yumi stood straight and slowly spread her arms out until they were parallel with the ground. She held the pose for a long pause and then rapidly slammed her right foot forward, bending her knees and snapping her arms out in front of her body. Smoothly, stepping forward with her right foot she slid her left foot along the smooth stone ground, gliding it in a semi-circle in front of her. After a motion driving her hand down as if chopping an enemy past her leg, she turned sharply to the left throwing a strong right jab followed by a left. Turning around on her heel and repeated the jabs in rapid succession. Taking a half turn to her right, she threw one more right jab then abruptly dropped to her side on the ground. Using her arms, she braced her body a few inches off the ground and drove her left leg up in a powerful kick. Flipping herself around with incredible speed and accuracy, she repeated the kick with her right foot and then brought her foot back down to the ground to balance her prone body.
Captivated by the dance before her, Sachiko barely blinked the entire time she watched Yumi. The rising sun sent Yumi's shadow dancing across the garden in an almost ominous otherworldly mimicry of her motions, yet that only served to highlight the majestic elegance of her exercise. After a time, Yumi surprised Sachiko by jumping, spinning horizontally in the air and landing on her palms, kneeling with one foot directly below her chest and the other extended behind her. She was so shocked by the suddenness of the move that Sachiko couldn't help the audible gasp she released.
Distracted by the sudden disturbance, Yumi's head shot up. Eyes going wide at the sight of her Onee-sama, Yumi instantly lost all focus and her balance. Clumsily, she caught herself before she face-planted into the stone patio.
Worried that she may have caused Yumi to hurt herself, Sachiko straightened and called out, "Yumi? Are you alright?"
"Onee-sama?" Yumi looked up, sweat glistening on her forehead, neck, and arms. "How long have you been there?"
"Uh, well, long enough." Embarrassed at having been caught watching her again, Sachiko looked away toward the rising sun. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
There was a momentary pause before Yumi's voice drifted up to her again. "Yes, indeed, beautiful."
Glancing back down out of the corner of her eye, Sachiko's breath caught in her throat upon seeing that Yumi's eyes were on her, not the sunrise. "How long have you been up?"
"An hour or so." Yumi responded, finally looking away as she straightened her gi.
"Well, why don't you come back up and shower quickly? Then we can have breakfast together before going to school."
"Okay, that sounds good. Step back, I'll be there momentarily." With a running start, Yumi raced toward the tree and bounded a few steps up the rough trunk before she was able to reach the lowest hanging branch. Gripping it, she easily swung her leg up and around the wide branch. Bracing her hands on the branch, she lifted herself to her feet and then turned to find Sachiko staring wide-eyed at her from only a few feet directly above her.
"Yumi! Have you lost your mind?" Sachiko breathed, suddenly scared that Yumi might fall from the tree and hurt herself.
Not at all shocked by Sachiko's reaction, Yumi merely nodded. "Yeah, I think it happened right around the school festival last year. Now, would you mind backing up a step?"
Too shocked by Yumi's quick-witted remark to respond right away, Sachiko did as requested and took a few steps back. She couldn't see anything at first but then Yumi's hands appeared gripping the slender pillars of the railing. She heard her grunt softly as she lifted herself high enough to stand along the outside edge of the railing. Straightening, she smiled at Sachiko, despite the sweat trickling down the side of her face. "Nothing like a quick climb to start the morning, right?"
Not amused in the slightest, Sachiko crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. "I surely wouldn't know. Now, are you done being reckless?"
With a glint of mischief in her eyes, Yumi released her hold on the railing and lifted her shoulders in an exaggerated shrug. "I don't know what you mean, Onee-sama. Reckless? Surely not!"
"Yumi!" Instinctively, Sachiko jumped forward and grabbed Yumi by the collar of her gi.
There was instant regret in Yumi's eyes at seeing the sudden fright on Sachiko's face. "Onee-sama, I'm okay! Really! Look." She motioned down to where she had wrapped her leg around one of the railing pillars. "I wasn't in any danger." When Sachiko didn't release her hold, Yumi smoothly slid herself over the railing until she was securely on the balcony next to her grand soeur. "Onee-sama, it's okay. Really, I'm fine." She rested her hands over Sachiko's trembling hands, effectively breaking the spell that had her in a daze. "Onee-sama?"
"Forget protecting me. You'll be the death of me one day!" Releasing her gi with a jerk of her hands, Sachiko turned her back on Yumi, leaning over the railing.
Unable to see her face any longer, Yumi felt a stab of guilt. She had gone too far with that prank. "I'm sorry, Onee-sama. I'll be more careful in the future." With that she turned and retreated into her room and bathroom to prepare for the day, leaving Sachiko alone on the balcony.
Yumi had merely been excited. Sachiko knew that and already her anger over the incident was gone. She knew Yumi was finding it a relief to be able to be her complete and true self in front of her now. That thought actually brought a smile to Sachiko's face, driving her serious expression into hiding once more. This was the impact of Yumi in her life; she smiled more than ever before. Shaking her head, she whispered to herself, "What am I going to do with her?"
"Who her?" Yumi spoke from directly behind Sachiko, making the older girl jump heavenward.
Gripping her chest in the aftermath of shock, Sachiko rolled her eyes at the younger girl. "You, of course. Who else would I be talking about?"
Yumi was busy tying her scarf and not looking directly at her Onee-sama. "Well, Onee-sama, we both know how many young women there are in your life. It would be conceited of me to assume you are always thinking about me." Looking up from her knotted scarf, she lifted one curious eyebrow as she asked, "Wouldn't it?"
At first, Sachiko didn't respond, choosing instead to step forward and straighten the already neat knot Yumi had only just tied into her scarf. Smoothing down the tails of the scarf over Yumi's shoulders, Sachiko let her hands linger there and she met her petite soeur's eyes. "But I am… always."
Sachiko could feel her nerve beginning to melt under Yumi's steady, sweltering gaze. However, she was determined to keep a straight face and not blush at her own display of honesty. After a few moments, Yumi's face broke into a beautiful smile. "I think of Onee-sama all the time as well. You are my favorite person, after all."
How Yumi managed to outdo her in simple honesty puzzled Sachiko to no end. How could she be so free with her emotions like this? Saying whatever she feels without shame or hesitation? It was enough to drive a person mad or give them a heart attack from the sheer amount of cuteness her words conveyed.
Out of habit, Yumi began to gather her hair into pigtails, but her hands were instantly stilled by Sachiko's soft touch. "No, you should wear your hair down from now on, Yumi. If that's who you are… be who you are."
With another grin, Yumi nodded. "Okay, Onee-sama. Shall I follow your example then?"
Those words stung. Sachiko knew it was not intentional on Yumi's part, but she had managed to send her arrow straight into the weakest part of her character. Here she was telling Yumi to be true to herself while she herself refused to do the same. Sachiko couldn't help the bitter smile that touched her lips. "No, my example is not one to follow in this matter, Yumi."
A look of confusion clouded the younger girl's face, but before she could ask what Sachiko meant, her grand soeur swiftly changed the topic.
"Yumi, what exactly were you doing earlier in the courtyard? It looked as if you were having a mock battle." Sachiko turned to look down into the courtyard. If she let her mind wander she could see a phantom Yumi standing tall in her gi, her face serious as if facing an opponent.
"Oh, that? That is Unshu, a kata my Sensei taught me over the past few months in preparation for my leaving the dojo. It's rather advanced so I'm not very good at it yet." Yumi came to stand next to Sachiko and stared down into the courtyard.
"It was beautiful and so graceful." Sachiko breathed in a soft whisper.
"Thank you." Yumi giggled. "Are you shocked I could be that graceful?"
Turning a serious face toward Yumi, Sachiko didn't hesitate in her answer. "Honestly? Yes."
"Ouch!" Yumi hung her head in shame. "I guess that makes sense though."
"Huh? Wait, now that you mention it... I've been confused since I first saw you at the dojo. Why were you so nervous and clumsy at school before? Was it an act?" She tried to hold back the tone of accusation but did not fully succeed.
"Oh, no! Nothing like that really." Yumi waved her hands in front of her chest as if warding off the accusation itself. A panicked look on her face indicated to Sachiko she was being truthful. "In all honesty, Onee-sama, I'm not at my best when I'm near you."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know exactly how to describe it." Yumi's face tinted slightly in embarrassment, but Sachiko wasn't going to let her go that easily.
"Try."
"Well, it's like I get extremely nervous when I'm around you and having to do anything where I might mess up and embarrass you." Sighing, she hung her head and leaned lower on the wide stone railing. "But it's my nervousness that ends up being the problem in the end. Ah! It's so frustrating!"
Curious and somewhat excited by this new admission, Sachiko decided to push for more. "Why would you get nervous around me? I'm your favorite person after all." She smiled, enjoying teasing Yumi more than she thought she would.
"That's why I get nervous!" Yumi retorted, hiding her face all the more.
On a sudden impulse, Sachiko grabbed Yumi by the shoulders and spun the girl around so that they were face to face. "So, that fierce Yumi I saw below this morning - the one who is brimming with confidence - disappears when you are by my side?" She grimaced and shook her head in disappointment. "That's no good." Gently caressing Yumi's jaw from her ear to her chin, she whispered, "I like that Yumi very much."
Yumi's brown eyes search Sachiko's face curiously. "Really? You do?"
Sachiko merely nodded, continuing with her hand on Yumi's cheek. "I do."
Sighing, Yumi looked toward the rising sun. It had long ago risen over the horizon, illuminating the gorgeous gardens below. "I've hidden for so long. It's second nature to slip into my role now. But…" Turning back to face her, Sachiko saw the anxious Yumi before her fade away to be replaced by the cool and confident Yumi she had first seen in that dojo. Her smile was not that giddy, glowing grin she was so famous for. It somehow conveyed a message, something saying she had a secret. Sachiko instantly felt the desire to discover that secret invade her heart. "If it'll inspire Onee-sama to stay closer by my side, I'll do my best to put the other Yumi away for good." Reaching down, Yumi took Sachiko's hand in hers and brought it once more to her lips in a soft, yet alluring kiss. "Well then, Onee-sama, shall we get going?"
Feeling her heart race at Yumi's touch, Sachiko merely nodded and let the younger girl lead her back inside. If this was how Yumi was moments after embracing her true self, Sachiko wasn't certain if her heart would be able to handle being by her side all the time. Squeezing Yumi's hand in hers, Sachiko grinned to herself. But Lord knows I'll enjoy trying.
Upon unspoken agreement, neither Yumi nor Sachiko told their friends about their new situation. Neither of them wanted their friends to worry and Yumi, specifically, didn't want anyone making a big deal over her living at the Ogasawara mansion during this time. She was having a hard enough time keeping her own giddiness under control. The last thing she needed was Yoshino or Noriko or (God forbid!) Sei adding their own teasing to the situation.
Yumi had enjoyed her morning with Sachiko immensely. It was somehow refreshing to see her Onee-sama before anyone else and with her guard so low. Closing her eyes, Yumi could still feel the soft sensation of Sachiko's fingers trailing across her chin. Feeling her face flush, Yumi tried to shake off the memory. History class is no place to go into a lovestruck coma. Yes, love. Yumi had long ago accepted the fact that she loved Sachiko. To herself, she never rejected the fact or tried to persuade herself otherwise. While working to complete her 5th Dan training, she had also been working to accept that the closest she would ever get to Sachiko was as a sister. No more than that. Sachiko, however, was ruining Yumi's strongly developed resistance to hope. Sachiko has been saying and doing some odd things… could she? Before she could continue in that line of thought, Yumi pinched herself hard under her arm. "Ah!" Stop it! Don't go down that path. If you do, you may have to walk away from Sachiko forever.
The lunch bell rang and Yumi was out the door before it finished echoing in the halls. Moving as fast as she believed would be considered appropriate, she made her way to Sachiko's classroom with her lunch bag in hand. She had a surprise for her sister. Seeing her Onee-sama just inside the door talking with a few classmates, Yumi decided not to interrupt and instead stationed herself across from the door to wait. Turning her back to the door, she stared out the window. Everything seemed so vibrant, the sky a crisp true blue that seemed almost fake, and the green of the foliage looking so vivid that it appeared nearly artificial. Resting her forehead against the windowpane, she sighed in contentment at the warmth it had absorbed.
So comfortable was she that for a moment she was lost to the world and nearly jumped out of her skin when a cool finger poked the nape of her neck. "Gah!" Whirling around and backing up into the half-wall, Yumi's eyes were wide with shock as they fell on a grinning Rei standing next to Sachiko, who was busy shaking her head at the display. "Rei-sama? Onee-sama?"
"Sorry, Yumi-chan, but I couldn't help it. Finding you asleep standing in the hallway is both rare and humorous." Rei chuckled.
"I - I wasn't sleeping! Honestly, I was just… resting."
"Resting?" Sachiko raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
"Yes." Yumi swallowed back the apology that was on the tip of her tongue. She didn't really have anything she needed to apologize for. No, that was a habit formed from the mask she had worn for so long. A habit she was now determined to change. Intentionally putting on a mischievous smile, Yumi cast her gaze on Sachiko. "The day is so beautiful and I found it so comforting to be so close to Onee-sama that I couldn't help but revel in it for a time."
A look of surprise struck both Rei and Sachiko at the same time. Before either could recover, Yumi offered her hand to her Onee-sama. "Shall we go? I thought lunch outside might be nice since the temperature is just right."
Still, in a slight state of shock, Sachiko accepted her outstretched hand while hesitantly looking around the hall for prying eyes. "We need to go and purchase our food from the milk bar. Everything was so busy, I completely neglected asking the kitchen staff for anything last night."
"I've already got it covered, Onee-sama." Yumi provided no further explanation, which had Sachiko visibility intrigued.
Excusing herself to go find Yoshino, Rei departed, but not before winking conspiratorially at Yumi, who laughed in response. Starting down the hall, Sachiko unconsciously matched her speed and gait to Yumi's.
It felt so right to hold Sachiko's hand. It was almost as if her hand was made to fit the older girl's. There was a part of herself ( a not-so-small part ) that was jumping up and down, banging on the walls of her mind screaming at herself for her display of boldness. Yet, Sachiko's words that morning encouraged Yumi to push that shy, backward portion of herself deeper within her soul. She liked the forward, bold Yumi. So, that was what Yumi was determined to embrace once more.
Maybe sensing a bit of her buried hesitancy, Sachiko squeezed her hand gently, sending Yumi's heart into somersaults. She squeezed back and smiled up at her Onee-sama. "Would you like to see a special place I go when I want to be alone?"
Sachiko's interest was instantly evident in her blue eyes. "I'd love to."
Yumi led Sachiko out the back door of the building and then stopped to check and make sure no one was watching. Adjusting her grip on Sachiko's hand, she boldly intertwined their fingers and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "This way." Yumi followed the paved path for a few steps before veering off into a wooded area.
"Y-Yumi, we should stick to the path." Sachiko voiced nervously.
"But this is a path, Onee-sama. Trust me." Yumi grinned over her shoulder at Sachiko, never once stopping her forward progress. It was hard to spot at first, but Yumi was right. They were indeed on a path, though it was dirt and seemed to not have been used very often.
"Yumi, how did you find this? I couldn't even see there was a path here at first.
"Well, let's just say I found it while exploring one day."
Sachiko was silent for a time before she commented. "I feel like there is more to this story you aren't saying."
"Very astute of you, Onee-sama." Yumi laughed, though there was no real joy in it.
"Yumi…" There was a warning in the way Sachiko spoke her name. Briefly, Yumi wondered what might happen if she didn't respond, but she quickly put that notion away. She knew herself well enough that when pushed she would never be able to keep anything from her Sachiko.
Jerking to a sudden stop, Yumi's mind exploded. MY Sachiko? Where the heck did that come from?
"Yumi?"
Oh no! She won't be able to tell I thought that, right? Oh, Baka! Of course not!
"Yumi, are you okay?" Sachiko spoke again, leaning forward to try and get a look at Yumi's downturned face.
Releasing Sachiko's hand, Yumi bounded forward a few steps before turning back with a brilliant smile firmly in place. "Of course, why wouldn't I be? I'm here with you, after all."
With a look that screamed, I'm not convinced, Sachiko merely stood and waited.
"Uh, my spot is just a little ways further this way." Turning her back to Sachiko, Yumi continued forward, stopping only to lift a few overburdened tree limbs from the path for Sachiko. Within minutes, when the wooded area seemed to be growing thicker, there was a sudden break in the treeline and they emerged into a small clearing. A few stumps littered the area, but other than that it appeared to be a meadow with patches of wildflowers strewn about.
Turning to see Sachiko's reaction, Yumi was all too pleased by the smile on her face and the twinkle in her eye. "Beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it." Yumi beamed, reaching once more for Sachiko's hand. "There is a large stump over here we can sit on while we eat." She led the way to a stump roughly three feet in diameter.
To Yumi's surprise, Sachiko sat without hesitation and looked at her expectantly. Setting her lunch bag down on the stump, Yumi pulled out two Bentos and gingerly handed one to her Onee-sama.
Eyes wide, Sachiko accepted the bento and opened it. "Oh dear, did you go to the convenience store to pick these up? They look so fresh!"
"No, actually, your chef graciously provided me with the ingredients this morning. She's a really nice woman. I can't believe she has three children. She looks so young! Anyway, I put these together before exercising this morning." Sitting next to Sachiko, Yumi opened her bento and pulled out the chopsticks. It wasn't until she noticed Sachiko's stillness that she turned to find a look of shocked awe on her Onee-sama's face. "Onee-sama? Are you okay?"
"I'm curious, Yumi. Do you ever sleep?" By the look on her face, Yumi could tell that Sachiko was mostly serious, though there was a tinge of humor in her words.
"Of course, Onee-sama. I just don't stay up reading the way you do." Yumi tried to play it off as normal, but Sachiko wasn't having it.
"What time did you actually get up this morning?"
"Ummm, well," Yumi knew better than to lie about this, especially given that if asked the chef could tell Sachiko the truth. "Around 4 a.m. I believe."
"Yumi!"
"What?!"
"Even if you went to bed as soon as you left me last night you would have only gotten five hours of sleep. That is not enough! And you don't need to concern yourself with getting up and making lunches for us. You should take the time to rest!" Sachiko's face was flushed, but Yumi honestly couldn't tell if it was more from being touched by the fact Yumi had made the meal herself or that she had not rested enough.
"You worry too much, Onee-sama. I merely had a difficult time staying asleep. I was in an unfamiliar room that was much larger than what I'm used to. I'm also used to noise coming in off the street at night and it was so quiet last night that I found it a bit eerie." Saying a quick thanks for the food, Yumi began to eat. When Sachiko still didn't make a move to touch her own, Yumi decided to pull out the big guns. Turning confused eyes on her Onee-sama, she spoke almost mournfully, "If Onee-sama really doesn't want to eat the food I made for her I can go to the milk bar and bring you something more to your liking."
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Sachiko studied her for a moment before pointing her chopsticks at her accusingly. "You are diabolical." With that, Sachiko broke the chopsticks apart and lifted a tender-looking meatball to her mouth. Biting into it her mouth exploded with its wonderful flavors. Finishing her bite, she turned to Yumi. "Forget being my bodyguard. I'm going to hire you as my personal chef! First last night and now today for lunch - You are spoiling my taste buds, Yumi."
Yumi grinned uncontrollably at the praise from her Onee-sama. In truth, the elements that made up the bento were nothing altogether special, but Yumi knew they were things Sachiko had only rarely been exposed to. "As long as I can stay by your side, I'll gladly cook for you anytime."
The council was just finishing up for the day when Rei broke from their discussion about exam prep. "Oh, Sachiko-san, I double-checked with our club advisor about what you requested. It's all good. Here's an extra key for the dojo."
As Sachiko accepted the key she noticed Yumi's curious gaze from across the table. "I asked Rei-san to check into the possibility of you utilizing the dojo on the days the Kendo club does not meet."
Yumi's eyes widened in shock. "Seriously?"
"Of course, why would we joke about this?" Sachiko asked, a look of calm serenity on her face.
"Our advisor even said you could use the empty storage closet at the end of the hall to store any gear or equipment you may have. It's not a ton of space, but it should suffice for what you need." Rei continued, a grin of satisfaction on her gentle, yet angular face.
"Oh, thank you so much, Rei-sama!" Yumi's eyes lit with excitement that Sachiko only ever rarely got to see.
I wish I could always see Yumi so happy.
"Yumi-chan!" Excitement rolled off of her in waves as Yoshino pounced on Yumi from behind and wrapped her arms around her neck. "Train with me!"
"Uh," Yumi looked toward Sachiko, an unspoken question in her eyes.
Sachiko nodded slightly, indicating it would be fine for them to stay long enough for her to train with Yoshino. As Yumi and Yoshino talked excitedly about their training, Sachiko took a moment to think back over the events of the day. Surprisingly, she found herself smiling. It hadn't felt as if Yumi were guarding her. Not at all. Instead, it merely felt like she was spending quality time with her little sister. She could get used to that. As long as things continued in this manner, Sachiko imagined she could truly get used to Yumi spoiling her with attention just like today.
There is no way I can get used to this! Sachiko thought as she watched Yumi lifting weights from across the room. They were in a back room at the dojo filled with exercise equipment. Yumi had taken time to explain the different exercises to Yoshino and was now going through her own regime while Yoshino struggled at the bench next to her.
In her track pants and a simple green tank top, both Yumi's toned arms and stomach were in plain view for Sachiko. Though she couldn't see her stomach clearly, it appeared as though the younger girl might have clearly defined abs. Seeing Yumi like this was sending chills through Sachiko and making her blood boil all at the same time. Sachiko knew that if anyone were paying attention right then it would be no secret where her thoughts were taking her. No, she knew her desire was written all over her face.
Feeling her self-control beginning to slip, Sachiko stood and was about to leave the room when the door was forcefully slammed open, revealing the one and only Sato Sei. With her blonde hair and casual clothes, Sei looked striking. Her eyes instantly landed on the fleeing Sachiko, showing confusion at her flustered appearance. "Sachiko-san? Where are you running off to?"
Realization instantly lit her eyes when she noticed Yumi across the room bench pressing what appeared to be eighty pounds. "Oh, so the rumors are true, huh? Our Yumi has been holding out on us." Her eyes widened when she caught sight of Yumi's abs. "Oh, dear god! Did she order that stomach from Models 'R' Us? Damn!"
Her blush turning from a small controlled flame into a raging fire, Sachiko tried to push Sei out of the room, but the mischievous fox of a woman was quick to dodge. Sidestepping Sachiko with ease, Sei pranced giddily across the room to Yumi's side.
Sachiko was instantly torn between escaping the alluring sight of Yumi exercising and being there to stop Sei's inevitable advances toward the younger girl. Yumi's squeal of shock a moment later instantly made up Sachiko's mind for her. Turning on her heel, she marched across the room to find Sei closely examining Yumi's stomach. Not just examining it. She had Yumi's tank lifted and was nuzzling her cheek into the smaller girl's abs.
"Sei-sama?!" Yumi was struggling to lift the bar back into place thanks to her focus being absolutely ruined by her graduated friend.
"Sei-sama, let her put the weight down before you glomp her any further!" Yoshino yelled from her own bench as she was trying to put her weights back in place so she could help Yumi.
Without thinking, Sachiko stepped to the head of the weight bench and grabbed the bar on either side of Yumi's hands. Though Sachiko couldn't lift the weight, she could help Yumi guide it back into position. Their eyes met for an instant before they managed to safely secure the weights.
All the while, Sei never relented in her assault of Yumi's muscular abs.
Sachiko was about to step around and give the woman a piece of her mind when, to her shock, Yumi reached out and smacked the woman across the back of her head.
Utterly surprised, Sei lifted a bewildered gaze to meet Yumi's fuming stare. "... Ouch…"
"Serves you right! Do you realize how dangerous that was?!" Yumi cried, sweat dripping down the sides of her face. "I could have lost my grip and injured the both of us in the process!" Seeing the look of hurt on the older woman's face, Yumi's angry shell visibly softened. "In the future, please wait to glomp me until I'm done exercising? Or at least wait until I don't have any equipment in my hands, okay?"
At this, Sei's mischievous smile returned. "You strike a hard bargain, Yumi-chan. After all, you should really be punished for keeping such a finely toned body a secret. However, having just explored a little piece of feminine heaven, I am feeling generous." Crossing her finger over her heart, she acted as though she were making a solemn vow. "I promise to never glomp you while in the middle of an exercise again."
"Glomping my petite soeur in such a familiar manner is not acceptable, Sei-sama!" Sachiko could stay silent no longer, not with Sei's hand still boldly and obviously exploring the younger girl's stomach. Reaching forward, she captured Sei by the arm and pulled the woman to her feet.
Instead of pulling away, Sei sidled closer to Sachiko and whispered in her ear. "Then should I devour her with my eyes the way you do?"
Taken off guard, Sachiko swiftly backed away from Sei and turned to face away from them all. I knew it looked obvious, but Sei only saw me looking at her briefly. That quickly? She figured it out that fast?
Having been released by Sachiko, Sei returned to sit next to Yumi on the bench. "So, Yumi, I'm curious, how did you hide this from me? I've held you in my arms countless times yet I've never felt these muscles on you before!"
Sachiko's blood boiled for an instant and she was about to respond herself when Yumi suddenly laughed. "Don't you wish you knew, Sei-sama?"
"Oh, come on! Tell me!" Sei looked partly amused but mostly intrigued. Yumi was obviously catching her off guard.
Leaning her head to the side and appearing to consider it for a moment, Yumi hummed to herself. "Hmmm, well," Leaning in close to Sei she playfully tapped the older woman's nose and laughed. "Not a chance!"
At first, Sei seemed to be shocked speechless by this changed Yumi, but an instant later a genuine smile beamed from the blonde's face as laughter broke from her mouth. "Oh, this is going to be interesting." Turning gleaming eyes dancing with laughter to Sachiko, she winked. "Wouldn't you agree, Sachiko?"
Catching Yumi's eye once more, Sachiko felt the weight of that stare like a caress down her spine. Shivering slightly, she responded, "Very interesting, indeed."