A/N - I don't own these characters.

Chapter 11

After school the next day, Yumi found herself and Sachiko going to an unexpected location. "What did Candace-san say, again?" Sachiko asked for the third time.

"Only that she forgot to give me something. Not to worry, Onee-sama, this will only take a few minutes." Ever since the night before Sachiko had been a bit clingy with Yumi and while it was unusual, Yumi couldn't say that she wasn't enjoying the extra attention. "Mei-chan will be there so she should be able to give me whatever it was Candace-sama left behind."

Sachiko nodded, though it was still apparent that she was reluctant to go anywhere except straight home. The message from Candace had come immediately following Sachiko's whispered request that they explore the garden maze alone together. Remembering the velvety voice Sachiko had spoken in made Yumi's mouth run dry. Her Onee-sama was definitely growing bolder. So bold, in fact, that Yumi hoped she had the strength to resist the older girl's incredibly powerful allure.

Twenty minutes after leaving campus they exited the bus in a part of town not too far from where Yumi herself lived. From there it only took a few minutes for them to find the McCaid home. After ringing the bell, the door opened almost immediately, revealing an excited and bouncing Mei. "You're here!"

"Indeed." Sachiko smiled at the young girl, Mei's exuberance and joy at seeing them brightening her mood almost instantly.

"Of course! I said we would be." Yumi laughed.

"Mei-chan, don't make them wait on the stoop." A tall blonde-haired young man pulled the door wide open and greeted them with a smile. "Oh my, beauty personified." The young man spoke with a Scottish lilt much like Candace's and his eyes danced mischievously as he eyed the two girls. "Forgive my lack of manners as well. Your combined beauty knocked me for a loop. Please, come in."

Yumi's hand made itself at home in Sachiko's upon seeing the older girl stiffen. While this young man didn't look intimidating, he was still male and therefore a threat to Sachiko's sensibilities. "Thank you." Yumi took the lead and pulled Sachiko in right behind her. When they entered the sitting room, she was very careful to place herself between Sachiko and the taller boy. "I knew Mei-chan had siblings, but I'm afraid she's never shared with me your names." Yumi smiled apologetically.

It was Mei who handled the introductions. "This is Caleb. He goes to the local university in downtown Tokyo." Jumping off a chair, Mei clung to Caleb's back and giggled. "He's my big brother!"

Caleb laughed, completely unphased by Mei's antics. "Alright, Monkey, I might remind you that you only have big brothers."

"Well, you're my biggest brother!" Mei proclaimed gleefully. Just then two more young men entered the room. Just like Caleb, these two boys didn't appear to be Japanese either. "Oh! And these are my other two big brothers. Drew is the shorter ginger boy with freckles to spare. He's a year older than Rory, the black-haired boy behind him, even though Rory is so much taller than Drew." Mei was so excited that her words came out all in a jumble. The two boys though seemed to be used to this kind of introduction and merely smiled and bowed in a way of greeting.

Lowering Mei to the ground, Caleb walked across the room and reached behind a chair in the corner. "And this wee lil kipper is Mio-chan." In his arms, he lifted a little girl no older than four years. Her deep complexion and beautiful chocolate almond-shaped eyes were clear indications of her heritage. With short brown hair cut into a sweet bob, Mio-chan looked as precious as an angel.

Noting the obvious confusion on their faces, Caleb laughed. "I see neither mother nor Mei-chan bothered to warn you about our family. You see, we are all adopted."

Yumi's eyes grew wide as she looked at each of the siblings. Now that he mentioned it, even the boys looked nothing alike. "That is amazing! Candace-sama adopted all of you?"

Mei nodded, stepping between Drew and Rory, happily linking arms with them both. "When Auntie came to Japan she brought her three sons with her. When she officially adopted me I not only got a new mother but three brothers as well!"

"And believe me," Drew spoke for the first time, grinning down at his younger sister. "Mei-chan is spoiled from all the attention we give her."

Mei beamed at the comment and nodded her head emphatically. "Not denying it!"

"You've no shame, Monkey." Rory laughed, ruffling her hair as she leaned into his touch excitedly.

Stepping closer to Sachiko and Yumi, Caleb lifted Mio above his head and tossed her ever so slightly. Sachiko gasped softly, fearing that the little girl would fall, but she merely giggled as she landed safely back in Caleb's arms. "A few years ago mum decided our family wasn't complete after having met a small orphan girl. It was through a charity event hosted by mum's employer, the Ogasawara family." Caleb eyed Sachiko knowingly, a twinkle in his vibrant eyes. "That is how our dear Mio-chan came into our lives and made our hearts complete. I guess we have your family to thank for that, Sachiko-sama."

A slight blush touched Sachiko's cheeks as she shook her head. "Even if it was an event my family hosted, it's obviously your mother's big heart that brought Mio-chan into your lives. But, regardless, I am overjoyed and touched to hear of the part my family was able to play." Sachiko's eyes twinkled with joy as she looked at the face of the small girl, shyly tucking herself into her big brother's shoulder. "Mio-chan, you are quite beautiful."

"Isn't she though?" Caleb asked, looking down at the youngster. "Can you thank the kind lady, Mio-chan?" The little girl shook her head and hid her face as her answer. Laughing, Caleb shrugged. "She's a shy lil thing. It takes time for her to warm up to strangers."

On that note, Mei stepped forward and held her arms out to take her little sister. Seeing her sister's arms raised to her, Mio-chan eagerly dove into her waiting grasp. "Mio-chan, do you remember my Senpai I told you about? Yumi-sama?"

Mio-chan looked curiously from Mei to Yumi. She seemed confused until on a whim Yumi took up a karate stance she was well known for. At that moment recognition lit her young face and she fought hard to get out of Mei's arms. With a laugh, Mei let her down and they all watched as the little girl ran to take her place by Yumi's side, trying clumsily to mimic her stance.

Chuckling, Yumi helped to correct the youngster's stance. "That's really good, Mio-chan!" Yumi praised her while kneeling by her side. "You are a natural! Are you going to learn karate?"

Mio-chan nodded enthusiastically and finally spoke. "I want to learn from Yumi-Senpai!"

Yumi blinked in surprise and looked up at a blushing Mei for an explanation.

"Uh, well, sorry, Yumi-Senpai. I told Mio-chan all about how you helped to teach me and she loves watching your videos online." Anxiously toeing the edge of the carpet, Mei continued. "She's convinced that you will be her teacher too."

"You know, this is the second time someone has mentioned videos of me online. What are you all talking about?" Yumi looked around utterly confused, though it seemed she was the only one in the room who didn't know about the videos.

Mei opened her mouth to explain, but Sachiko motioned for her to stop. "Don't worry, Mei-chan, I'll clue her in when we return to the house." She smiled at the relieved look from Mei, knowing that the girl didn't want to deal with Yumi's reactions to the videos.

Looking between the two of them, Yumi sighed in defeat. "Okay, but I'm not letting you off the hook a second time. This is happening!" Sachiko nodded her head with a grin at Yumi's warning finger. Turning back to the little girl, Yumi smiled warmly. "Mio-chan, you let Mei-chan teach you the basics and I promise I will help teach you more when you're ready for it. Okay?"

Having too much excitement to contain in her little body, Mio-chan launched herself at Yumi and wrapped her little arms around her neck. "Thank you, Yumi-Senpai!"

Instinctively returning the hug, Yumi laughed. "You really are Mei-chan's sister. You are welcome!"

"Not to sound like I'm trying to drive you away, but I feel I must remind my sister that you stopped in for a reason and it was most likely not to socialize." Caleb eyed Mei with a humorous grin. "Isn't there something you need to give Yumi-Senpai?"

"Oh, right!" Bounding for the doorway leading further into the house, Mei called for Yumi to follow.

Seeing Sachiko's apprehension at being left alone with three male strangers, Yumi leaned in to whisper in Mio-chan's ear. "Mio-chan, I have a request. Could you keep Sachiko-sama company while I'm with your sister?" Seeing the little girl's disappointed face, she added, "This is very important to me. I need you to take care of her for me. Will you do that for Senpai?"

Taking it as a mission from her Senpai, Mio-chan nodded her little head seriously and ran to Sachiko's side. Raising her arms above her head she spoke, "I'll take care of you for my Senpai!"

Yumi smiled at Sachiko's anxious grin and immediately moved to follow Mei. They stepped into what appeared to be a small office and Mei shut the door. "Yumi-Senpai, what have you gotten mixed up in?" Mei asked in a low, stern voice, her countenance taking a 180. She looked worried.

Shaking her head, Yumi shrugged. "Nothing terribly dangerous, Mei-chan. I'm merely protecting Sachiko-sama."

Mei studied her closely. She was unnaturally still for the thirteen-year-old. Finally, she turned to the desk and pulled a small box from the drawer. Turning back to Yumi, she lifted the box and asked, "Do you know what this is?"

Yumi shook her head. "No, Candace-sama will be calling me with instructions later tonight."

Nodding her head, Mei didn't hide the fact that she was annoyed. "This is an emergency beacon. Mom, my Auntie, used similar devices in her days with special forces. It is a clay cap that forms to your back molar. The clay is designed to stay malleable because in it are two small components. When pressure is applied it sends out an electromagnetic signal that can be picked up on especially attuned radars." Mei paused, finally looking back up and meeting Yumi's astonished gaze. Yumi had never heard such talk from Mei. Gone was the exuberant kohai and there stood a young girl extremely knowledgeable about technology Yumi had not known even existed.

"Mei-chan?"

"Yumi-Senpai," Mei cut her off. "These are used in situations when a member of special forces is lost or captive and needs to be found… needs to be rescued. Please," Placing the box in Yumi's hand, Mei stared down into her Senpai's eyes. "Don't try to feed me anymore lines. Auntie has explained how this technology works, so I know I'm not wrong. You're planning something dangerous. Aren't you?"

Realizing there was little choice than, to be honest with Mei, Yumi leaned against the desk as she explained. "I'm not planning anything, Mei-chan. Honestly, this is merely a precautionary measure, okay? It's so that if by any chance something does happen your mother can find me."

"But Yumi-Senpai, why do you have to do this?" Mei now sounded more like her own self. She looked scared. "Why are you putting yourself in danger like this? I mean, can't anyone else protect Sachiko-sama?"

Yumi nodded. "Yes, any number of people could protect her." She raised her hand to cut off Mei's words before they were even spoken. "But I alone will be the one to do this, Mei. She needs me and I'm not going to trust her safety to anyone else."

"But why?"

Yumi took that moment to rest her hand on Mei's shoulder and grip it firmly. This pulled Mei back and helped to center her despite her panic. "Because," Yumi spoke in a gentle voice, smiling softly. "Sachiko is important to me. I love her, Mei-chan."

"You love her?" Mei repeated as if trying to puzzle out what it meant. When she saw the sad, guilty look in Yumi's eyes it suddenly clicked. "You mean, romantically? You love her that way?"

Yumi nodded, knowing that this news would most likely be confusing or even hurt the younger girl. "Mei-chan, I know that-"

Mei took a few steps away, obviously trying to work through her understanding. "But I always lo…"

"Mei-chan?" When the younger girl didn't respond, Yumi stepped up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist, resting her head against Mei's shoulder. She felt the silent tears fall on her arm and she tightened her hold. She had known the younger girl had feelings for her. It had been obvious, but she had never tried to encourage those feelings from Mei. Mei was like a younger sister. She loved her, but as she had explained in the locker room the day she left the dojo, it was a different kind of love. Knowing this was hard for the younger girl, Yumi simply held her and waited.

"Yumi-chan?" Mei's voice was soft and weak when she finally spoke.

"Yes?"

"Can I still stay by your side?"

Yumi paused, trying to search for the right words. Turning the younger girl around, she gently wiped the tears from her cheeks and smiled up at her. "Mei-chan, I have always seen you as a blessing in my life. You are not LIKE a sister to me. You ARE a sister to me. My little sister. Do you understand that?" Mei hesitated a moment before nodding. "So, understand me when I say that I love you as my little sister and I would never have you part from my side." Fresh tears fell from Mei's eyes and Yumi was there to wipe them away.

"So, I can stay by your side as-'' She paused, swallowing hard and seeming to steal her own nerves before continuing. "as your sister, but no more. Right?"

Taking the younger girl's hands in her own, Yumi held them close to her heart and looked Mei straight in the eye. "I am not going to lie to you, Mei. You are too precious to me to do that, so I pray you hear my words and understand my feelings for you. My heart is Sachiko's, despite whatever might happen. I love her. I won't risk hurting your feelings in the future by acting like that can change because I don't think it ever will." Lifting Mei's hand to her lips, Yumi kissed the backs of her hands and smiled up at her with tears in her eyes. "I want to support you in your life, Mei-chan. I want to be there by your side as you discover your dreams for your life. I want to be there when you find your real true love. When that day comes, I will be the one standing next to Candace-sama cheering you on until I'm blue in the face."

Mei lowered her eyes, refusing to look Yumi in the eye for a time. Finally, Yumi whispered again. "Mei-chan, I understand if you want nothing more to do with me. It will hurt my heart, but I will respect however you feel. If you don't want to see me anymore, I understand."

When Mei still didn't respond, Yumi nodded her head sadly and released her hold on the young girl. She turned to leave the room but was stopped by Mei's long arms wrapping around her from behind. "Being your sister is more than I could have ever hoped for, Yumi-chan… I mean, Yumi-Onee-chan. Is… Is that okay?"

"Of course." Yumi hugged the girl's arms in return. "But Mei-chan, are you sure?"

To her credit, Mei only hesitated a moment before responding. "I'm sure." Nuzzling into Yumi, she whispered, "After all, sisters are for life, right?"

"That's right."

"Then as long as I can have Yumi-Onee-chan in my life forever then my heart will be satisfied." Mei responded, a glimmer of her cheerfulness returning as she spoke.

"If only you went to my school. Then I could take you as my petite soeur." Yumi chuckled.

Releasing Yumi, Mei shook her head. "That school isn't for me. You can keep the rosary and skirts. I'll stick with my gi and tracksuit."

Laughing, Yumi nodded. "That sounds like my Mei-chan."

Mei smiled, only a hint of moisture still clinging to her eyes. "Th-Thank you, Yumi-Onee-chan."

Opening her arms wide for one last hug, Yumi grinned. "Thank you too, Mei-chan." They held each other for a moment before Yumi added, "On a side note, Candace-sama teaches you about some pretty odd stuff, doesn't she?"

Laughing exuberantly, Mei nodded. "You have no idea!"

Upon returning to the front room, they had found a slightly overwhelmed Sachiko taking part in a tea party with Mio-chan and Caleb. Relief was evident in Sachiko's eyes when she spotted Yumi. "Did you get everything you need?" She asked, still holding the plastic teacup elegantly in her hand.

Yumi nodded and smiled up at the younger girl beside her. "Yes, I think I did." It was only then that Sachiko noticed the two girls were holding hands and that Mei's eyes were tinged slightly red. Just when she was about to ask about it, Yumi released the younger girl's hand and stepped forward, hand extended to Sachiko. "Mio-chan, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to kidnap this princess. Do you mind?"

With an adorable tilt of her head, Mio-chan seemed to consider the request before relenting. "Okay, Senpai, but will Princess Sachiko-chan come back to play with me again?"

Leaning down close to Mio-chan, Sachiko grinned. "Of course, I promise, Princess Mio-chan." With a tender kiss to the little girl's plump cheek, Sachiko accepted Yumi's hand and stood.

It was obvious that Caleb had noticed Mei's eyes as well, but he held back from asking, instead choosing to stand close to his little sister's side. Sachiko's heart warmed at the obvious affection there was between the siblings in this house. None of them were related by blood and yet their devotion to each other was unquestionable.

They said their goodbyes and soon they found themselves sitting at the bus stop. Yumi hadn't said anything about what had happened between Mei and her and Sachiko did her best to resist the urge to ask. She didn't have to continue to wonder in silence though because Yumi soon explained.

Without looking in her direction, Yumi spoke in a soft steady voice. "Mei-chan kind of confessed to me." Surprised, Sachiko whipped around to face Yumi, but still, the younger girl did not meet her eyes.

"Really?" She asked hesitantly, instantly feeling a tinge of anxiety building in her gut. This was surely it, right? Sachiko had been worried that her delay in responding to Yumi's confession would drive the girl away. Surely now that another has been willing to express their feeling for her, Yumi would be drawn toward that warmth and comfort and away from the uncertainty of their ambiguous relationship.

Yumi nodded, eyes straight ahead and seemingly deep in thought. "Not in so many words, but… It was pretty clear to me."

After a minute of total silence, Sachiko could no longer stand it. "Are you going to leave it at that then? Am I to be left to imagine how this… interaction played out?"

With a carefully blank face, Yumi turned to meet Sachiko's worried face. "What do you mean?"

Exasperated, Sachiko growled low and rubbed her temples in irritation. "What do you mean? What do I mean? I mean, what was your response?"

Yumi studied Sachiko's face for a moment before a sly grin spread across her own. Turning away she said, "To think that Onee-sama has such little faith in me."

"What? Seriously, I never implied a lack of faith in you!" Sachiko cried, feeling her face warm as her blood pressure rose.

"Ah, but even to question me on this implies that you don't have faith in the love I've confessed for you." Yumi pointed out. She was meaning to tease Sachiko, but her Onee-sama was taking it very seriously.

"No! I simply wish to know what happened. That's all. I mean, Mei-chan is going to continue being in our lives so I'd like to know what transpired between the two of you. If she's going to be angry that we're together-"

"She may feel disappointment, but" Yumi laid her head back against the bench, enjoying the breeze that played off the trees behind them. "I think as long as she sees how happy I am with you, that disappointment won't turn to bitterness. I love her, after all. She's been a little sister to me for years. Far longer than I've even known you or anyone on the council."

"You really have that much faith in her love for you, despite her age and us?" Sachiko asked warily, not completely convinced.

"Honestly, I think she was simply afraid of losing me. We've only ever had a sisterly bond. I think now that she knows I have no intention of abandoning her she'll recognize the love between us for what it really is." Yumi's eyes remained shut as she spoke, but Sachiko could see her struggle in the clench of her jaw.

"And what love is that?"

"Platonic. Friendship. Dear, treasured sister, but nothing more." A single tear escaped Yumi's closed eyes.

"If that's the case, why do you cry?" Sachiko whispered as she inched closer to Yumi on the bench. Gently wiping the tears away she waited for Yumi to open her eyes and meet her gaze.

"Because," Yumi's voice cracked as she struggled to speak. "I hate having hurt her. Even if it's only temporary." This confession unleashed a steady flow of tears as Yumi leaned into Sachiko's waiting arms.

As she comforted her love, Sachiko found herself amazed at the tenderness that was Yumi's heart. At that moment, Sachiko knew that she did not deserve the pure love that Yumi offered her. Yet, at the same time, there was nothing that Sachiko wanted more.

Having returned to the manor just in time for dinner, the two girls had to wait until after the meal to walk the garden maze as they had planned. They were surprised to find that Sachiko's parents had gone out to a last-minute business dinner but were not displeased to find themselves alone. By the time they were done with their meal, the sun was setting and the air was cool. Each having changed into comfortable shorts and tank tops, they relaxed as they meandered slowly through the winding paths of the maze.

Near the center of the maze they came across a small circular clearing, roughly twenty feet in diameter. They stopped here and Sachiko pointed up, having spotted the first of the night's stars on the darkening horizon.

"Oh wow, this would be the perfect place to stargaze on a clear night. I mean, I know you can't see much here compared to the countryside, but this would still be nice." Yumi smiled broadly as she strained to see the stars as they began to appear.

Meanwhile, Sachiko studied Yumi from the side. Her shorts and tank fit her snugly, showing off her curves in an appealing way. As if its presence was highlighted by her choice of clothing, Yumi's rosary glimmered around her neck, disappearing beneath the neckline of her tank top. Sachiko had thought she would miss her little sister's pigtails, but honestly, she looked so calm and confident with her hair flowing freely that Sachiko found her beauty beyond captivating and incredibly alluring. Unconsciously, she reached her hand out and brushed a few stray strands from Yumi's eyes, which drew the younger girl's eyes back to hers.

Cocking her head curiously to the side, Yumi grinned at her Onee-sama. "Is everything okay, Onee-sama?"

She couldn't say what possessed her in the moment, but the words left her mouth before she realized what she was saying. "Teach me a kata."

Surprise lit Yumi's face as she turned her whole body to face the older girl. "What? You want to learn a kata?"

Sachiko nodded, leaning in closer she absently ran her finger along Yumi's toned arm. "Yes. I'm interested to see what the appeal is."

Hesitating for a moment, Yumi flushed slightly before agreeing. "Okay, we'll start easy and see what happens. Stand across from me and try to mimic what I do."

Standing roughly five feet apart, they faced each other, a cool breeze finding its way into the maze long enough to tousle their hair. Taking up a stance with feet shoulder-width apart, Yumi held her arms extended in a circle down in front of her stomach, arms flexed to the point her muscles were clearly defined even in the deepening shadows of the maze.

Sachiko tried her best to copy the stance, feeling awkward with the unnatural pose and her obvious lack of defined muscles. She didn't shy away though or back down. Not after asking for this herself.

Moving slowly so that Sachiko could see each move clearly, Yumi stepped out to the side with her right foot, stomping firmly as she extended her right hand at shoulder height. Keeping her arm bent, she posed with her hand flattened, as if threatening to chop the air while her left hand held the same pose over her chest.

Taking a moment to study this new position, Sachiko attempted to mimic it. To her credit, Yumi didn't laugh at the attempt, instead breaking silently from her stance to come to Sachiko's side. With a gentle hand, she tapped the back of her right knee. "Bend your knee a bit more. It'll help you keep your balance and help you transition smoothly when you move again." Letting her hands glide up her sides, Yumi next helped to reposition her arms. Raising her right arm a slight bit more and adjusting the angle of her arms. "Try to keep your right hand at the level of your eyes and try for roughly a ninety to one hundred and twenty-degree angle at your elbow. Forty-five degrees like that is too rigid." Running her hands along her arms, Yumi gently guided her into the correct stance, making minor corrections with the soft caresses of her fingertips.

Next, she stepped behind Sachiko, sidling close enough that she felt Yumi's chest press against her back. The unexpected closeness made Sachiko's breath catch in her throat and a thin sheen of sweat form on her forehead. It took all her concentration to keep her body in the stance Yumi had guided her to. Though feeling Yumi's hand press against her stomach was nearly her undoing. "Yu-Yumi?"

"Shhh." Yumi hushed her from behind, her hand pressing firmly against her. "Tighten your core, here. Keep your spine in perfect alignment with your neck and butt." Moving her hands to Sachiko's hips, she pressed down ever so slightly. "Now, sit down into your stance some." Sachiko followed the guidance from Yumi's hands, her words sounding distant due to Sachiko's heart beating in her ears.

Once Yumi was satisfied with her stance, she silently extracted herself from Sachiko's side, returning to her previous position. With a firm stomp forward, Yumi mimicked the previous position, only this time stepping and striking with her left leg and arm. Again, after demonstrating the motions, Yumi returned to Sachiko's side and gently guided her into the correct positions. With each new stance, Sachiko silently and eagerly anticipated Yumi's hands on her, touching her, moving her.

Before long, Yumi was moving alongside her, standing a mere foot in front of Sachiko. As one they reversed directions and stomped forward, this time punching at a downward angle with their left arms, then stepping forward and raising their right arms above their heads as if blocking an attack from above.

It was only a few simple moves repeated in sequence over and over again, but Sachiko found it remarkably freeing to experience it. While her body strength was nothing compared to Yumi's, she somehow felt stronger just by holding herself in this manner. It didn't hurt that whenever her stance was lacking, Yumi's breathtaking hands were there to make everything better. Every once in a while, Yumi would breathe a direction and they would switch their stances to face that new direction.

Before long, they were lost in the darkness of the maze, their only light the moon peeking above the trees, the dim stars, and the scant lights that emanated from the manor windows above. Still, they moved. Repeating those few motions in synchronized harmony. When Sachiko was feeling the burn in her arms, yet not wanting to voice her discomfort, Yumi spoke from her right. "Turn right." Following in sequence, Sachiko turned on her heel and stomped to the right, throwing her fist out into a low punch.

To her surprise, Yumi had instead turned to face her and had stepped directly into Sachiko's path. Sachiko yelped in shock as Yumi smoothly diverted her fist and stepped into the circle of her arms. Before she could say a word, Yumi had her hand on the nape of her neck and was guiding their mouths together.

Maybe it was the ambiance of the night sky. Maybe it was the excitement of the kata or the synchronized movements of the two as they exercised. Or maybe it was the teasing heat between the two as Yumi had taught Sachiko the proper motions, with insistent, confident hands on her body. Whatever it was, it set off a passion in their kiss they had never experienced before. In it, Sachiko poured all her desire, her fear, and her hope.

All day a knot had been forming in her gut. Was something really going to go wrong? Or was this her simply expecting the worst as normal? It was hard to say, but at that moment all thoughts of impending danger fled Sachiko's mind, to be replaced with nothing but thoughts of the girl now nestled in her arms.

As the kiss lengthened and deepened, Yumi pulled Sachiko down until the older girl was sitting in the grass with Yumi straddling her thighs. Yumi's lips traveled to her neck and Sachiko found herself moaning in pleasure while leaning back on the palms of her hands.

Closing her eyes to better enjoy the feel of Yumi's lips against her exposed neck, Sachiko became vividly aware of Yumi's hands moving under her tank. Fingers glided across sensitive skin, teasing at the idea of venturing to places as of yet unexplored. Sachiko found Yumi's boldness to be absolutely intoxicating and unbelievably terrifying at the same time.

She didn't fear Yumi's touch or love. No, not at all. She feared the trust that Yumi was placing in her despite her true feelings had been yet unspoken and unconfessed. Despite all of that, Yumi was offering so much. It wasn't that Sachiko believed the girl was fickle with her love. Quite the opposite, actually. Yumi safeguarded her heart and her love, sharing the full extent of it with very few. Hence why so few people knew the true Yumi. Despite her sweet nature and how everyone loved that part of her, no one really knew Yumi's heart. No one, except maybe Sachiko. It was that knowledge that both excited and terrified the older girl.

When Yumi's lips began to venture lower toward her chest and her hands higher along her back, they were both startled from their encounter by all the lights of the manor going off all at once. Sitting back, Yumi trained her eyes on the manor and quietly whispered, "Uh, I might be mistaken but I don't believe all the lights are on a timer. Right?"

Sachiko shook her head, the knot in her gut surging once more to the forefront of her mind. "No. The outdoor lights are on a timer to turn off at dawn, so at the very least those should still be on."

Standing, Yumi moved to help Sachiko up but froze an instant when streams of light bounced off the inside of the second-story windows.

Having missed it, Sachiko reacted to Yumi's hesitation. "What? What is it?"

"It- It could be nothing." Helping Sachiko rise to her feet, she asked, "Would you wait here while I check it out?"

While she could see the reluctance in the tensing of her shoulders, Yumi was pleasantly surprised that Sachiko did not attempt to fight her on it. Instead, the older girl nodded and whispered, "Just be careful and come back quickly."

Rising to her tiptoes, Yumi answered with a gentle kiss to her cheek and then disappeared along the maze path. Sachiko was left to wonder and worry, all the while fighting the urge to follow the girl who had captured her heart.

Yumi raced forward in a crouch, following the path she had memorized to get back out of the maze. Soon, she found herself coming back to the entrance and slowed her pace so that she could better listen for any disturbances. The dread that had blossomed in her gut at seeing the flashlights inside the manor erupted when she heard the unmistakable cadence of booted feet crossing the stone patio just beyond the gardens.

Kneeling, she inched her way toward the entrance and peeked her head slowly around the corner. Not fifty feet away she could see three shadowy figures near the back door which was standing wide open. They each held large guns, rifles by what Yumi could tell. Atop each rifle was a flashlight, which the intruders were using to scope out the gardens from a distance.

Shit. Candace-sama hasn't even made her move in France yet. I wasn't really expecting this tonight.

Realizing that plans had indeed gone awry, Yumi backed away from the entrance and quickly made her way back toward Sachiko. She knew what she would need to do, but Sachiko was not going to like it. Not in the slightest. That would mean, she'd have to be forceful in her persuasion; a fact that Yumi found herself extremely uncomfortable with.

Within minutes she had made her way back to Sachiko. The older girl was sitting huddled into the hedges near where Yumi had exited the little clearing. "What did you find?"

As an answer, Yumi replied, "You told me about a hiding place you had in the maze. We need to go there right now."

A/N - It was a rough week, so my update almost didn't happen! Thankfully though, it came together. I hope you enjoyed it! :) Please, leave a review and tell me what you think.