A/N - Thank you all for the notes of encouragement and prayer! Each and every single one has been a blessing. I do not own these characters, but I love writing their stories for you!

Chapter 3 - The Storm Wall

Sachiko had never thought to imagine how it would feel to be aboard a boat being tossed around by the relentless assault of a storm. Nor had she ever thought to imagine herself this way huddled below deck, being thrown side to side with each jarring wave that pummeled the hull. At least, that is what she imagined the waves outside were doing to the beautiful boat she now stood upon.

Yes, it had not escaped Sachiko's notice that this was, in fact, an exceptionally beautiful boat. No, not just a boat. This was a freakin' yacht. How had Yumi come to own it? It was in that question that Sachiko truly realized just how little she knew of her once sister. How had she let their separation come to this? How had she forsaken this relationship for so long? Now she cursed her younger self for not having discovered a better way. What could she have possibly shared with Yumi had she not given in and given up on the desires of her own heart? Suguru had fought harder for her sake than she ever had for herself. After that day when Yumi had disappeared she hadn't felt she had deserved happiness. Suguru though had never stopped telling her differently.

An especially violent wave shook the cabin just as Sachiko had decided to venture into the galley for a cup of water. The floor shifting dangerously to the right, she found herself falling directly into the corner of a floor-to-ceiling pantry. To her surprise, nothing cracked under her weight. The pantry was solid wood, oak if she had to guess. Much like everything else she could see. Whereas these yachts typically sported shiny, chrome interiors that could feel cold, despite looking expensive, Yumi's boat looked homey inside. Wood cupboards lined the half galley kitchen, one side opening up to an eat-in bar that shared space with the small comfortable lounging area. The countertop and bar were butcher block, stained the same burgundy as the booth seats, and sealed against moisture. Thick, yet not shaggy, throw rugs adorned the floor in the kitchen and in the living space. A love seat and one recliner sat bolted to the decking, facing a modest TV mounted to the corner at the far end of the room. All in all, it looked and felt more comfortable than any home Sachiko had ever had herself. Whatever Yumi was doing for her job, she obviously did alright for herself. Unless… She found herself pausing in her appreciation of the cabin and sucking in an anxious breath. Unless, this was a boat she had not procured for herself, but rather something her significant other had gifted her? It was a possibility after all. Inwardly, Sachiko berated herself for not having pressed her friends for more information about Yumi's life.

Another wave sent the boat the other direction and Sachiko soon found herself gripping the countertop for support until the deck once more leveled out. Forgoing her search for a glass, Sachiko carefully made her way to the love seat whereon lay a blanket. Seating herself so that she would have a clear view of the stairs should Yumi descend them, Sachiko drew the blanket around herself. It smelled of ocean spray and sandalwood. The same scent that had clung to Yumi as she passed by on the street earlier that day. So that's what she smelled like now. With a tentative grin, Sachiko pulled the blanket up around her shoulders and tucked her nose beneath the plush material. It was so warm and she suddenly felt so tired. The emotional rollercoaster of the day had completely drained her. If it weren't for the violent rocking of the boat then she could actually imagine herself drifting off to sleep right there. And despite having no intention to do so, that's exactly what she did, not even noticing as her eyes drifted shut and her world went dark.


Five hours after departing Tokyo port, Yumi finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel, or rather the storm. It had been a raucous storm, but thankfully nothing close to the worst of what Yumi had experienced while at sea. As promised, she raised her satellite phone to her ear and placed the call to Sei. Only a few seconds after the connection was made, Sei's voice sounded clearly over the line.

"Yumi-chan? Yumi, are you there?" She sounded anxious and Yumi had to smile and shake her head at the concern her friend had for her.

"Yes, it's me. Relax, Senpai. I made it along the storm's edge safe and sound. The waves are still a bit rough, but the wind has definitely died down."

The line was quiet for a time before Sei spoke again. "That's- That's good. Very good. I'm glad you're safe."

With a chuckle, Yumi checked her heading and locked in the Iron Mike, the auto-pilot system before leaning back and refocusing on her friend. "You needn't worry so much, Sei-senpai. Actually, why are you so high-strung today? You've known I was in storms before, yet you've never acted like this before."

A heavy sigh crackled across the line, making Yumi wince at the sound. "Yumi-chan, I have a confession. Just, please, don't hate me. I didn't know all the details before this happened and I'm… I'm so sorry."

Narrowing her eyes, Yumi sat forward in her chair, nervously running her fingers through her hair until her palm rested on the short buzz of her undercut. "Sei-senpai, you're not making sense. What do you have to be sorry about?"

"I take it you haven't been below deck yet, have you?"

"No. The storm kept me busy. Why?"

Another pause. "A certain person might be waiting for you below deck."

With that pronouncement, Yumi straightened and jumped from her seat. "A person? Below deck? What the hell? Who?" Even as she asked, she knew the answer, yet every ounce of her soul cried for Sei to not say what she knew she was.

"Sachiko."

If it weren't her favorite sat phone, Yumi would have thrown it into the nearest wall of the cabin. "What the actual fuck, Sei!?" She could imagine Sei flinching at her yell, but she almost didn't care.

"I know, I know. And I'm so, so sorry! I swear, after you told me what happened I tried to get her to leave, but she was determined."

"I bet she was." Yumi growled. "She never was one to take no for an answer."

"Well, there was that one time…" Sei reminded her, before wisely deciding to shut up.

"So what the fuck am I supposed to do with her, Sei? I have to get back home. I'm kinda on the clock! I can't afford to waste the day and a half it would take to go back now."

"I don't know, Yumi-chan…" She was quiet on the line for a minute before softly continuing. "Maybe try your hand at finding forgiveness in your heart? Again, not for her sake, but for your own."

Yumi rolled her eyes at the suggestion but found she couldn't just toss the idea to the side. This might be a good opportunity to clear the air, or at least tell Sachiko exactly what she thought of her… "I can't promise the Sachiko you see next will be the same one you dropped in my lap."

"How she turns out after this is completely on her." Sei's tone was harsh, but not unfeeling. She really hadn't known what Sachiko had done. The realization made Yumi feel a slight bit better. Sei hadn't betrayed her, at least not in a malicious way. What she had done was out of concern and love. Yumi knew it and knew with time she would accept it. Right now though she wasn't in a very accepting mood.

"You do realize this means I'll be aboard this boat with Sachiko for nine more days, right? Nine days, Sei."

"I know… I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to make this up to you?"

"That would require a bar and copious amounts of liquor, my friend."

"Well, I did think that far ahead at least. Look at the back corner of the cabin. You should see two small boxes. Open the one with black tape along the top."

Setting the phone down, Yumi moved across the room and found the two boxes, one with black tape and one with red. Placing both on the worktable, she removed the black tape of the one Sei indicated and lifted the lid to find bottles of liquor, single malt whiskey. Sei knew it was her favorite. Lifting one bottle in her hand she moved back to the phone. "You are on your way to forgiveness." She said simply into the receiver.

Sei's laughter sounded from the other end. "I thought that might start me down the right trail… Just, don't open the other box. I- uh - May have made a bad judgment call with that one."

Curiosity being Yumi's biggest weakness, a weakness that had served her well in her work, she held up a finger as if Sei could see her. "Hold on a minute and I'll be the judge of that."

"No, really, Yumi-chan! Don't!" But it was too late. Yumi was already pulling back the red tape. Lifting the flaps of the box lid, she saw a small note that simply read, In case things go well. Beneath the note… Yumi felt her face burn as hot as the sun. In a rush, she grabbed for the phone and practically yelled into the receiver. "Sei, you're as pervy as ever! Who buys this kind of stuff for a friend?!"

A nervous chuckle echoed over the line. "A very, very good friend?"

Yumi really couldn't deny that as she stared into a box filled to the brim with silicone toys of a very intimate and mature nature. With a note of finality, she slammed the lid shut and unceremoniously slid the box beneath the edge of her desk. "Sei, you're my very best friend, but right now you take the bitch award."

"Well, I wouldn't be doing my job as your best friend justice if I didn't get that award at least once in my life."

Yumi and Sei laughed together and Yumi felt her tension beginning to melt away. "Be honest with me, Sei… Do you really think I'm ready for this?"

"Be honest with yourself, Yumi, don't you feel it in your heart?"

"It's not that easy… I mean, I've moved on and built a life for myself on the isle." Leaning forward over the table, she buried her face in the crook of her elbow and mumbled into the phone. "Won't doing this be like a giant step backward for me?"

Sei was silent for a time and Yumi decided not to pressure her into speaking. Instead, she waited, still cradling her head in the crook of her elbow. When Sei's voice finally sounded over the line, it seemed loud in the quiet space. "I don't know the details of how you've moved on with your life other than your work, Yumi-chan. And honestly, I don't have to in order to answer this question. However, do you really feel it's for me to answer in the first place? It doesn't matter what I think. It doesn't matter what Yoko thinks. Hell, it doesn't even matter what Sachiko thinks. It's all you, Yumi-chan. You have to do what's right for you."

With her heart swelling, Yumi straightened and nodded her head in agreement. She had spent years of her youth letting the whims of others, especially Sachiko, dictate the path of her life. In leaving seven years ago, she had severed that dependency, and now, faced with meeting Sachiko once more, she was so dangerously close to sliding back into that destructive, let others control things, mindset. No longer would she be going with the flow and hoping for the best. No. Never again. She had learned to use her voice and she had every intention of being heard regardless of the desires or wishes of others.

"Thank you, Sei."

"What are you going to do now?" Sei asked curiously.

With a groan of acceptance, Yumi responded the only way she could. "I have a stowaway that needs handling."


A strong and deliciously pungent scent stirred Sachiko from the darkness of sleep. For the first time in a long while her dreams had not been filled with images of the elites in Tokyo chiding her and calling her a failure. Instead, image after image of Yumi's turned back walking away from her had coursed through her unconscious mind. That day when she had walked away and Sachiko had not known she wouldn't be seeing her again. Sachiko dressed in traditional wedding garb, watching as Yumi disappeared into the crowd that had come to congratulate her on her marriage. Of course, Yumi had never been there. It was merely Sachiko's mind playing tricks on her and making an already bitter memory all the more painful. Endless examples of this had played through her mind, Yumi showing up in the important moments of her life only to be seen walking away, giving up on her time and time again. She didn't see her face, only the back of her head and the stiff set of her shoulders as she disappeared into crowds and darkness.

The sound of a few soft steps and the click of a door had Sachiko's eyes flying open. She found herself staring blearily across the rustic-looking cabin toward the stairs where she knew instinctively someone had been moments before. It could only have been one person since she knew Yumi was the only other person on the boat. Standing hastily, she tossed the blanket back onto the love seat where she had found it and moved to the stairs. Before she could ascend, a plate caught the attention of her olfactory nerve. On the counter, atop of a simple white porcelain plate sat a mound of plump steaming scrambled eggs, four strips of bacon, and one thick slice of french toast.

Another plate sat freshly washed to the side of the sink, so Sachiko knew she couldn't be mistaken. Yumi had made the plate of food for her. A small kernel of hope sprouted in her gut. Was this the younger woman's way of welcoming her? Or had she done it simply out of a feeling of obligation? Regardless of the underlying reason, Sachiko was touched by the gesture and was even tempted to ascend to the deck above and thank Yumi right away. Her stomach though would have none of that, growling harshly and demanding that she do what was needed to silence her gut before doing anything else.

It only took her a few minutes to polish off the food Yumi had left for her. The eggs were perfectly seasoned, bacon just crispy enough to be satisfying, and the french toast was the perfect mix of savory and sweet with a wonderful spice mixture crusted on the bread. Taking a moment to wash her dishes and place them alongside Yumi's, Sachiko stopped in the small bathroom to freshen up before she again approached the stairs.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly and steadily ascended. The door opened easily under her hand and she was met with the blinding glare of the sunset off the waters on the western horizon. Squinting, she looked around the deck but didn't find Yumi anywhere in sight. Turning away from the beautiful sunset that painted the sky in shades of pink, orange, and red, Sachiko moved along the narrow sliver of deck that led to the front of the boat. The bow, if Sachiko remembered correctly.

The chill wind off the sea whipped around her, sending her long black hair into a flurry around her head. But she didn't mind, not with the beauty of what she was seeing. The sea before her sparkled in the fading light. To her right the sun was disappearing below the horizon while the edge of the moon and signs of the first stars of the coming night could be seen glowing at the very edge of the horizon to her left. How had she never seen such a remarkable sight before? Was this real or was she still dreaming? Moving to the front of the boat, she stood and closed her eyes, breathing in deep the fresh scent of the sea around her. The spray of the ocean off the keel of the boat sprinkled her cheeks and she couldn't help but giggle at the tickling touch.

Something prickled at the back of her neck, a feeling as if she were being watched. With a slowness that she knew would convey her nervousness, but unable to hold it back, Sachiko turned and searched once more for the short-haired woman she had come above seeking. At first, she didn't see her, but when she looked up to the second deck there she was. Standing in the cockpit at the helm, was Yumi. Despite the aviator sunglasses that concealed her eyes, Sachiko knew she was looking at her. There was no smile on her lips, but also no sneer of disgust or annoyance either.

Sachiko should have been happy about that, right? Yet, part of her thought that a sneer would have been better than what she was facing. Which was… nothing. Had Yumi gotten better at hiding her emotions or was she truly as indifferent to Sachiko's presence as she appeared to be? They stared at each other in silence for long minutes before finally, feeling as though it might be better for her to exit the boat stage starboard, Sachiko raised her hand in a weak wave. "Hi… Fancy meeting you here."

Despite the sunglasses, Sachiko could see the lift of Yumi's eyebrow as if she were silently marveling at Sachiko's unimaginative greeting. Just when she was convinced Yumi was not going to return her greeting, she spoke. "Yes, I imagine it is quite shocking to find me on my own boat. Last place anyone would think to look, I guess."

Oh, the sound of her voice - Sachiko felt her heart flutter and play at the base of her throat. Was it her imagination or had Yumi's voice deepened somewhat? Instead of being that cheery, bubbly tone that she remembered, her voice now resembled something more akin to velvet - smooth, warm, and inviting. Inviting, regardless of the firm set of her jaw and the smooth line of her lips. No, there was no hint of invitation on those lips, yet Sachiko couldn't fight the surge of excitement she felt at simply hearing her voice after so long.

She opened her mouth to speak again, yet found she didn't know what to say. So instead, she closed her mouth again and turned to face the sunset once more. The sky and waves were captivating, she knew, yet every ounce of her awareness was solely focused on the woman standing above her, wondering if she too was focused on her.

The crinkle of stiff fabric caught her attention and she turned to find that Yumi had climbed out of the cockpit and was now standing on the hardtop ceiling of the inner cabin. She was leaning over the arm that jutted out from the mast that held the sail firmly in place. Yumi stood with her back to the sunset, leaning over the arm it appeared she was working to resecure the sail.

This gave Sachiko ample opportunity to admire Yumi's now mature body. She wore a snug black tank and khaki cargo pants rolled to mid-calf and was barefoot. As she battled with the sail, Sachiko saw well-defined muscles along her arms, biceps, and shoulders. She couldn't see her abs, but her imagination effortlessly painted a satisfactory picture for her. One she would most likely be revisiting later that night. Her eyes were then drawn to Yumi's calves and how the muscles there bulged and strained against the taut fabric of her cargos. At the sight, Sachiko found herself drawing her bottom lip between her teeth and biting down with enough force to sting. Damn, she had never been turned on by the mere sight of a woman's legs before, but Yumi's physique was otherworldly in its sex appeal.

Feeling her face grow warm, Sachiko turned back to the rail and leaned forward, letting the cool spray of the water once more tickle at the heat of her cheeks. Just when she felt the heat had finally left her cheeks, the boat rocked against a sudden wave and she felt herself shift involuntarily forward… toward the rapidly passing water.

A strong hand gripping her forearm pulled her back roughly from the short railing and before she knew what was happening, she found her body pressed against Yumi's. It was dark enough now that the aviator glasses had been relegated to the collar of her tank, the tug of the accessory pulling the fabric dangerously low. Yumi's brown eyes flashed with anger as she held Sachiko firmly. They stood nearly nose to nose, Sachiko only a few inches taller than Yumi. She could have sworn the difference in their height had been greater than that, but now that she thought back she couldn't be certain. She only knew three things for certain and those were that the heat had quickly returned to her cheeks at Yumi's closeness, Yumi was most definitely not wearing a bra, and that she was undeniably still head over heels in love with Fukuzawa Yumi. The second and third realizations did nothing to calm the flame in her cheeks and she found the hard stare from Yumi was doing nothing to help matters. Quite the contrary, actually. The fierceness with which Yumi held her gaze sent a pulse of warmth below her belly button where it begged for attention. Then Yumi spoke again and Sachiko's core turned molten.

"Don't lean out over the edge like that without holding onto the railing." She jerked her chin toward the rushing water at their feet. "At this speed that water will feel like a gravel pit and there is no telling how quickly I could get back to you. You could pass out on contact and drown before I ever find you. So…" Her eyes narrowed and searched Sachiko's a moment before she dropped her arms and took a step away. "Don't."

Instantly missing the warmth of Yumi's body against her own, Sachiko nodded. "Of course. I'm sorry. I guess I have a lot to learn about sailing."

With eyes still narrowed, Yumi searched her gaze in silence before turning away and walking smoothly back to the mainmast. Gripping the edge of the cabin roof, she hefted herself up, swung her foot up and stood in one fluid motion. Without a word, she padded her way back to the cockpit, but before she dropped back down into place behind the helm she turned back to face Sachiko again. "Exactly how long do you plan to dance around the fact that you're a stowaway on my boat?"

Sachiko jerked back at the pronouncement. "St-Stowaway? But I'm not." Seeing the lift of Yumi's eyebrow again, Sachiko glanced away before adding. "Well, not really."

As if not hearing her, Yumi spoke, a look of total seriousness on her face. "Did you know that the crime of stowing away aboard a vessel like this warrants jail time in some countries? Five years or more."

Swallowing back her nervousness, Sachiko clasped her shaking hands into fists at her sides before responding. "I-I didn't know that." Yumi was obviously messing with her, so Sachiko would hit right back. "That's okay though. I've spent all my life in a prison of my family's design. What's five more years?"

It may have been the dimming of the sunlight, but Sachiko could have sworn that the hard look on Yumi's face softened before she briskly turned away. "The waters are getting rougher so the forward deck isn't going to be the safest place for you to stand."

Pausing only a moment, Sachiko took a step closer. "Might I join you up there?"

Glancing over her shoulder, Yumi's shoulders moved in a minuscule shrug. "If you wish." When Sachiko went to climb up as Yumi had, Yumi motioned to the stern. "It may be easier for you to climb the ladder in the back."

Resting her fists on her hips, it was Sachiko's turn to cock an eyebrow at Yumi. "Underestimating me, are you?"

With an exaggerated shrug this time, Yumi turned back to the cockpit and jumped down. "I have no idea what you're capable of these days. Though I seem to recall you having little to no muscle mass in your arms. If that's changed, then, by all means, hoist yourself up." As if to say that she wouldn't be helping her, Yumi turned back to the readouts on her instruments and left Sachiko to fend for herself.

Sachiko was momentarily at a loss. The Yumi from seven years ago would have been falling all over herself trying to make things easier for her. While the Yumi she was now faced with didn't seem to give her ease or comfort a second thought. It was a hard pill to swallow, but Sachiko couldn't deny that she deserved as little consideration as possible given how horrible she had been to Yumi. Still, she had dared to hope that they would be able to slide right back into that easy relationship they once enjoyed. It was clear that that was a glorified pipe dream at this point.

Approaching the hardtop roof of the cabin, Sachiko looked for anything she might be able to take hold of, anything that might grant her a bit of leverage to climb up. Her first instinct was to grab the rigging that hung from the arm of the mainmast and try to pull herself up. But when she reached for it, the sound of someone clearing their throat broke the silence. Looking up she saw Yumi looking down, the glow of the instrument panel illuminating her face. Without meeting her eyes, Yumi shook her head, indicating without a question that Sachiko was not to pull on the rigging.

With a small grunt of annoyance, Sachiko gripped the edge of the roof that was just higher than her chest and tried to maneuver herself up and over the edge. It was smooth with no raised edge or ridge to get a good hold on. Still, Sachiko was determined. With a grunt she managed to hoist her knee up onto the edge and, by straining her whole body, rolled herself onto the roof. Breathing a little hard for her taste, she looked up at the sound of a chuckle. "You have something to say?" Heat touched her cheeks once more, this time due to her own embarrassment.

Eyebrows raised, Yumi was clearly averting her gaze. "Uh, what? Me?" She forced a cough to fight back an obvious laugh. "Nothing at all."

She didn't have to vocalize it, because Sachiko knew what she was thinking and decided to voice it herself. "I know, I know. I'm a weak ass woman who can't even handle the smallest of physical activities. Laugh it up."

It was silent between them as Sachiko hid her face behind her arm, trying to regulate her breathing. Then Yumi spoke, this time without a hint of humor in her strong voice. "There is no such thing as a weak woman, only those who choose not to try. That just makes them quitters, not weak." Sachiko ventured a peek at Yumi from under the edge of her arm. She was now looking at the horizon, eyes fixed straight ahead and purposefully not looking at Sachiko. Her hands rested on the polished wooden spokes of the helm, making minute adjustments as they flew across the water. "And I would never laugh at anyone's attempt to push themselves." Before she continued, Sachiko could have sworn she saw the corner of her lips pull upwards. "Now, if that certain someone flopped down after the attempt and laid staring at the sky as if rethinking their life choices, then yes, at that point I might chuckle."

Lowering her arm, Sachiko turned on her side and stared at the woman before her. Yumi had definitely grown up and without a doubt, she had changed, but she was relieved to see the good heart she had always admired shining through, despite the fact that Sachiko knew she didn't deserve to see it. Smiling, Sachiko shook her head. "A pep talk from my skipper so early in the trip? God, I'm some sort of lucky."

Even in the rapidly fading light, Yumi's eyes flashed and zeroed in on Sachiko. "Please, don't call me that."

"What? Skipper?" Sachiko asked curiously, sitting up and coming to her knees.

Yumi nodded. "This isn't the S.S. Minnow and we aren't going anywhere near Gilligan's Island, so please refrain from using that title, okay?"

"What should I call you then?" Sachiko's smile broadened at having already found a sensitive topic of teasing for Yumi. As she waited for a response, she stood unsteadily on the roof of the cabin and slowly made her way to the cockpit. A few moments later, she was standing securely by Yumi's side. "Well?"

With a sigh of exasperation, Yumi shook her head, her short roughly layered hair flipping away from her face in the force of the wind. "You can call me Yumi or Doctor, I guess. Honestly, I'm not sure why that's even a question."

Sachiko's own hair flew around her face and she had to gather it into a twist and tie it off at the end. Without looking at her, Sachiko responded, "Well, it's been a while. I guess I'm a bit nervous."

She felt Yumi's brown eyes on her, but still refused to look up and meet her gaze. After a few minutes of silence, Yumi spoke, her voice low and quiet. "I guess you should have thought about that before stowing away on Artemis."

With a soft growl, Sachiko leaned back against the edge of the cockpit and drilled Yumi with a glare. "Well, I wouldn't have had to if you hadn't avoided me this morning. What was with that? Walking right by me like that without a word? Don't I at least deserve an acknowledgment?"

When Yumi's back stiffened Sachiko knew she had made a mistake. Before she could retract her statement, Yumi was speaking, this time her voice was flat and emotionless.

"I wasn't aware that I owed you anything, Sachiko."

Sachiko? Only once before had Yumi called her Sachiko without an honorific. That was the last day she had seen her, in the heat of their argument. When Sachiko was younger and her feelings for Yumi were fresh and unexplored, she had imagined Yumi's gentle voice saying her name like that. But in her mind it had always sounded reverent, laced with affection and passion. In stark contrast, the two times Yumi had spoken her name like that it had been with flat indifference, nothing more. A slow ache started in her chest at the realization that she might actually be too late to salvage even a friendship with Yumi. Sachiko had never been a failure in anything, so it was difficult for her to swallow the harsh reality that her relationship with Yumi could be the ultimate casualty of the one big fuck up of her life.

Lowering her face into her hands, Sachiko sighed with a heaviness she felt in her heart. "You don't. You don't owe me a thing. I'm… I'm sorry if coming out here was the wrong move. After seeing you this morning and- and well, this was a big day for me so I must have been running high on endorphins or something." Lowering her hands, she moved toward the ladder at the rear of the cockpit. It had been a massive mistake to think this would work. She suddenly had no desire to even tell Yumi about her divorce. In her mind, it seemed like a manipulative move on her part. Trying to fan the flames of a dead romance before even reigniting the flames of friendship seemed like a bad idea. Sachiko had hurt Yumi enough. "I'll get out of your way."

Sachiko turned her back to Yumi's still stiff form and made to move across the darkening deck. There was a loud click at her back and suddenly she was blinking in a flood of lights. The edges of the deck on both levels, the railings, and even the masts and rigging glowed as if covered in twinkle lights. It was a gorgeous sight. Turning back to look over her shoulder at Yumi, she found the doctor doing the same and their eyes met. They were quiet for a moment before Yumi's velvety voice caressed Sachiko's spine, sending shivers from her neck to her toes. "Be careful going down. You can sleep in the main cabin. First door off the galley. Don't worry, the sheets are fresh."

A small seed of hope sprouted in Sachiko's chest at those simple words. Yumi did still care and in her own understated way, she was still trying to take care of Sachiko. The food earlier, catching her at the railing, and now this - Yumi did still care, but Sachiko could see the fear behind her actions and her words. She was afraid to expose herself to more harm. Sachiko couldn't blame her for that at all. She had done so much harm and she honestly didn't deserve the forgiveness she hoped Yumi would give her. With a small smile, she hoped would convey that thought, she inclined her head to Yumi. "Thank you." She said simply and made her way down the ladder and away from the woman she undoubtedly still loved.


A/N - Hope y'all enjoyed this update! I will be returning to Rising soon.