A/N - Good morning my friends! I hope you enjoy this installment. Have a great weekend! - PS: I don't own these characters.
Chapter 5 - Winds They are A'changin'
Sachiko didn't know whether to be relieved that all she found was a plate of food upon her exit from her room. Yumi, once more, was nowhere in sight. After a moment of warring relief and exasperation, Sachiko shook herself and attempted to steal her determination. She came all this way to resolve things with Yumi and she would be damned if she'd let anything, even Yumi herself, get in the way of that.
Looking down, she checked that her clothes were in order. Her sleeveless sundress hugged her figure a bit more than she remembered and came only to her mid-thigh, but she couldn't deny that she did look good in it. She only hoped Yumi agreed with her assessment. Following Yumi's example, she decided to forgo shoes. Besides, walking the cool wooden deck barefoot felt oddly enjoyable.
With plate in hand and a lump of nervous energy nestled in her throat, she ascended the stairs and walked through the beautifully rustic main cabin. To the left of the stairs leading down, there were a few steps leading to an indoor cockpit and workspace. A desk sat against one wall with boxes all around it while two light tables spanned most of the rest of the space. The main landing where Sachiko stood was set up much like a family room, with comfortable-looking plush couches and chairs, and a bar running the left side of the room.
It struck her how homey the room felt. It wasn't cold in the slightest, as Sachiko often found boats like this. No, Yumi had managed to make this yacht cozy and comfortable in a way Sachiko had never experienced. How could the younger woman have made more of a home on this boat than Sachiko had ever made in Tokyo? The thought had Sachiko's head spinning for a moment and she had to steady herself before making her way to the door that led to the stern of the boat. They weren't moving, so the sound of the motor was absent, giving the moment a serenity that Sachiko hadn't felt since the last time she escaped to her family's summer home.
The sun had only just risen in the east and its glistening light danced along the waves, nearly blinding Sachiko as she stared in wonder at the beauty of the scene. Birds flew in the azure blue sky. The waters looked almost solid and shone like polished marble in the morning light. Only a few faint wisps of white clouds curled through the sky, appearing more as a fog high above than actual clouds.
All in all, the view was stunning and captivating. Putting her plate down on the nearby table, Sachiko grinned as she approached the high-waisted railing at the stern. Leaning into it she closed her eyes and smiled into the cool breeze that kissed her cheeks. It was so fresh and clear and peaceful - The opposite of life in the city. It was so peaceful that she nearly jumped out of her skin when a loud slap sounded at her feet and she opened her eyes to find a dark mass on the diving platform just below the stern.
"Ah! Yumi!" She cried and jumped back, hand flying to her throat in shock. Turning, she looked everywhere for the smaller woman, but she was nowhere in sight.
"I'm right here. No need to yell."
Confused, Sachiko turned back to the dark mass. The sun off the water was blinding her slightly, so she stepped to the side and guarded her eyes. Kneeling on the diving platform was a person… a person in a skin-tight wetsuit that left absolutely nothing to the imagination except for the identity of the individual wearing it, thanks to the hood and goggles that hid all but the warm brown eyes laughing up at her and a set of smirking lips.
"Yumi?!" Sachiko felt her heart both calm and speed up at the realization that it was Yumi in front of her. Arousal at the sight of her in such a skin-tight outfit replaced the momentary fear she had experienced. My god, look at her body. When did Yumi develop hips like that?! And, damn, her chest… Licking her lips at the sight before her, Sachiko didn't realize just how openly she was appraising the body before her until Yumi cleared her throat.
"If this is an exhibition, should I charge by the minute or per showing?"
Realizing what Yumi had just said, Sachiko felt her face flush. However, she refused to back down this time. "Whatever the price, it's more than worth it." She met Yumi's raised eyebrow with a look that she knew would convey her seriousness.
Yumi stood, removed her goggles, and lowered the hood on her wetsuit before shaking her head like a dog, sending water droplets spraying in all directions. Sachiko couldn't rein in the squeal of surprise that left her mouth as she instinctively turned to hide from the spray.
"What? Afraid of a little water?" Yumi laughed as she stepped closer, shaking her head once more.
With another squeal, Sachiko jumped away from the smaller woman, yet laughed when she saw the glint of mischief in her brown eyes. Biting her lip suggestively, Sachiko responded, "I actually quite enjoy getting wet." Her reward was a deep flush that traveled quickly up Yumi's neck to her ears and cheeks. With a satisfied grin, Sachiko turned back to the table and the food Yumi had prepared for her. Taking a seat where she could still watch Yumi, Sachiko slowly crossed her legs. All the while she could feel Yumi's eyes on her. Eyes that roved her curves and stopped on her bare thighs as the already short hem of her sundress was pulled even higher.
Sachiko could only feel satisfied as Yumi visibly swallowed as her eyes explored her body. Usually, this kind of attention would make her skin crawl and she would make sure the perpetrator would get an ear full about the assault. However, with Yumi it was different. With Yumi everything was different. As Yumi's eyes trailed the lines of her body it felt more like a desired caress rather than a violation.
After what felt like minutes, but was only a few moments, their eyes met. Yumi still stood on the lower platform, hands gripping the ladder, yet making no move to join Sachiko on the stern deck. Her flush was fading, but even from this distance Sachiko could tell her pupils were blown and she was breathing hard.
Finally unable to take the silence any longer, Sachiko lifted her fork from the plate laden with fluffy eggs. "Do you dive this early every morning?"
As if physically knocked out of a dream, Yumi jerked at the question then immediately shook her head. "No, actually I rarely dive this early." As Sachiko ate, Yumi climbed the ladder and retrieved the towel lying on a nearby chair. "It's more dangerous to swim near dawn and dusk due to sharks. Those are their feeding times. We won't be stopping again until late tonight though and I wanted to check the hull before we got any further from land."
"Sharks? Aren't shark attacks rare though?" Sachiko looked down to her plate and picked up a perfectly crisp piece of bacon. Breaking it in two, she placed a small piece in her mouth before looking back up to see an incredulous grimace on Yumi's face. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
With a sigh, Yumi tossed her towel to the side and began peeling back the wetsuit. Sachiko nearly choked on her bacon at the suddenness of the move, but her words of accusation stuck in her throat as the rubber suit was lowered past a black sports bra. There, in a crescent along Yumi's stomach, sat a series of discolored scars. Some were larger than others, but all looked as though they would have been painful. She was about to ask what had happened when Yumi turned and exposed her back, which sported the mirror image of the scars along her stomach. When realization struck, Sachiko felt her stomach jump into her throat and she gasped aloud.
Yumi didn't move or even look her way as Sachiko stood from her seat and walked up to her, now standing with the top of her wetsuit hanging from her shapely hips.
With tentative fingers, Sachiko reached out and traced her fingers along the puckered scars only centimeters from her spine. Yumi shivered under her touch but didn't pull away. After long moments of contact, Sachiko asked the question she didn't know if she wanted the answer to. "You- You were attacked by a-a"
"A shark."
Her mouth went dry at the thought of Yumi being hurt in such a way. By the look of the scars, it had not happened recently. No, they appeared to be years old. Had Yumi really been hurt so severely and yet no one had told her? She had nearly lost Yumi and would never have known it. That thought alone would have had Sachiko in tears, but thoughts of the pain Yumi must have endured had Sachiko gasping for breath between sobs.
Instead of turning around, Yumi's surprisingly gentle hand took hold of hers at her hip and drew her closer until Sachiko's chest was against Yumi's back. The move wasn't meant to be seductive, but simply comforting. "I'm okay." Her quiet voice reverberated against Sachiko's chest, causing Sachiko's tears to fall in smooth streams down her cheeks.
Leaning closer into Yumi, she rested her head against Yumi's shoulder and whimpered, "Wh-When?"
"It was years ago." As if sensing that Sachiko needed more, she continued, "I was with a science team off the Australian coast. My diving partner and I thought we'd get a jump on our assignments and against the advice of our veteran colleagues we dove before the sun had fully risen." She spoke softly, though with little inflection, as if reading from a report. "It happened so fast. Thankfully though the Tiger shark was smaller, not yet fully grown. If its mouth had been just an inch wider it would probably have severed my spinal column."
Shivering at the thought, Sachiko's grip around Yumi's stomach tightened, but she didn't interrupt or ask any questions.
"Shane, my diving partner, beat the shark off by hitting it in the eye and gills, while its attention was on me. By the time he got me back to the boat, I had lost a lot of blood, but it could have been far worse." She paused to take a steadying breath before she continued, her fingers tightening unconsciously around Sachiko's wrist as she did. "Six months later I was fully recovered and back with my research team. I'm always hesitant to swim too early, but I do take as many precautions as I can."
When it was clear that Yumi was done talking, Sachiko mumbled into her smooth shoulder. "If I were you I'd never have gone back in the water."
Yumi merely shrugged. "No matter what people may think, shark attacks actually are rare when you consider how many people go into the ocean every year. They are predators, but they aren't evil." She motioned to the shimmering waves. "This is their domain. I'm only a visitor. It's on me to be careful."
"So, you call diving solo careful?"
Sighing heavily, Yumi turned and looked at her over her shoulder. "No." Her bluntness took Sachiko by surprise. "It's incredibly stupid. Just as I know sailing on my own is extremely dangerous." She lifted a finger to stop Sachiko before she could interrupt. "But I'm not going to stop, so drop that bone before you even pick it up. If Sei and my other friends haven't been able to convince me to stop after this long, do you really think you have a chance to?"
Though she knew it was the truth, Yumi's words still stung and Sachiko found herself pulling back from their awkward embrace. "I guess I no longer have the right to worry about you, huh?"
Turning to face her, Yumi crossed her arms over her chest and cocked an eyebrow at her, yet didn't speak.
Sachiko took that as an answer all its own and nodded. "Right." Stepping away she raised her hands defensively and found she couldn't look Yumi in the eye.
When a growl of exasperation escaped Yumi's lips, Sachiko flinched, but still didn't look her way. "Sachiko, what is this? What are we doing?"
"What is what?" Walking to the railing, Sachiko looked out over the waters, taking note that the Sun had continued upwards and was now no longer touching the horizon.
"Don't play games. This? Us? What is it we are doing?" Yumi came to lean her back against the railing, standing a few feet to Sachiko's side. Sachiko could feel her brown eyes boring into the side of her head but still did not turn to meet her gaze.
"Enjoying the sunrise, of course," Sachiko mumbled, tightening her grip on the railing, the cool steel biting into her palms.
"Damn it, Sachiko! Cut the shit!"
"Fine!" Sachiko couldn't hold back anymore. Whirling on Yumi, she screamed her response, waving a free hand over her head almost frantically. "You want to know what this is? I'll tell you what this is! It's obviously a mistake! Me in my diluted delusional mental state actually imagined you might be happy to be part of my life again! That you might have actually missed me as much as I missed you!" Tears obstructed her vision so Yumi's shocked expression danced in front of her, but she didn't stop. "It was so stupid of me to think that your heart would have been as broken and lost without me as I was without you for these past seven years! After all, I was an idiot, right? I deserve to feel this pain, you don't. I deserve to feel the weight of this guilt - guilt over the damage I caused both of us. I don't know why I imagined you would actually still lo-" She caught herself before that forbidden word slipped past her lips. Suddenly furious with herself for having lost control, Sachiko turned and walked a few paces away, toward the cabins. "Forget it. I guess this really was a mistake. If you want to divert somewhere you can drop me off I'll pay for your wasted time and resources."
She had only taken a few steps when strong hands caught her wrist and yanked her to a jarring stop. Turning she found a fuming Yumi glaring up at her. "Forgiveness isn't the issue, damn it! You want forgiveness? Then fucking ask for it!"
"If forgiveness isn't the issue, what is?" Sachiko cried, trying and failing to pull free of Yumi's hold.
"Trust!"
They both grew still and quiet as that word sank into their hearts. Their eyes searched each others'. Yumi looked so broken at her admission that yet another stab of guilt took hold of Sachiko. "You really don't trust me anymore?"
Sighing, Yumi slowly released her wrist. "It's not as simple as that."
"Then simplify it for me." After a moment she added, "Please… I know you don't owe me anything, but I just want to understand."
Yumi was quiet for a time, obviously searching for the words to explain what she was feeling. Finally, she huffed and shrugged, "I trust that you care about me. I trust that you're still a good person. But…" Sachiko saw emotion and conflict swirling in Yumi's eyes. She wondered what exactly she was feeling, yet couldn't interpret the look she was giving her. Too long… It had been too long and she no longer had that easy understanding of Yumi's mind and heart.
"But?" She pressed, needing to know.
"But I can't trust you with my heart." Pain flashed in Yumi's eyes as she lifted a hand to her heart, still only covered by the sleek sports bra.
The admission and the sight of Yumi's pain all but stole her breath away. On instinct alone, she opened her mouth to respond, but no words were forthcoming.
"Of course, I missed you, Sachiko." Yumi's voice was lower and laced with pain as she continued. "I had been in love with you for years and what you did that day… It hurt. Even so, do you really think I could have just walked away from you and been okay? After my life had revolved around you for years?" Shaking her head she looked up at Sachiko, eyes imploring for understanding. "I had to find a way to move on though. I had to let you go."
Sachiko couldn't deny that she understood. She also couldn't deny the pain she was feeling at that admission as well. Breathing deep, she tried to calm the coil of pain and anxiety in her gut. Was it really too late? Was there nothing she could do to regain a relationship of any kind… With a jerking start, Sachiko straightened and nearly yelled her idea, "Be my friend then!"
Startled, Yumi jumped and looked at her in confusion. "Whu- huh? Your friend?"
Sachiko nodded frantically, taking a step closer to Yumi. "Yes! You're right. We barely know each other now. So, let's start by fixing that! Let's rebuild our friendship from the ground up. Let's go back to the beginning!" A smile spread uncontrollably at the idea of getting to know Yumi all over again. She loved the idea. She only prayed that Yumi did as well.
Friends? Yumi toyed with the word in her mind, tossing it back and forth and trying with all her might to apply it to the woman now standing in front of her. Could she really put aside their past and start fresh? Could she look at Sachiko with just friendship in mind? Instantly she knew the answer. Of course not. She had never been able to look at Sachiko with just friendship in mind. From the first day she had seen her, playing the piano, her mind had been enraptured by her very existence. Never had she been able to completely hide her feelings of, at first, worshipful adoration, and then later pure, unadulterated love. So to start fresh wouldn't exactly work for her because to start from the beginning would just mean she'd love without protecting her heart. That she refused to do.
From how the smile on Sachiko's face was slowly fading, Yumi could tell she was sensing Yumi's hesitation. With a low growl, Yumi shook her head. "Don't make that face, okay? This is… Damn-" She ran her fingers through her short, mussed hair and cast her gaze to the sky. "It's not that easy, okay? You may not have loved me from the first time you saw me, but you are no idiot, Sachiko. You know that my younger self was head over heels for you before you even straightened my scarf." Pity flashed in blue irises and Yumi saw red. "Don't you dare! Don't you fucking dare look at me with pity."
Searching for something to keep her hands busy, Yumi turned and stepped out of Sachiko's reach, moving to fully remove her diving suit. As she fought with the zipper that often stuck, Yumi continued. "I grew from that experience and I am who I am today in part because of it." Without looking her way Yumi added, "And I wouldn't trade the life I have now for anything."
The quick intake of breath behind her told Yumi her words had hit hard and stung. She didn't have a goal of hurting Sachiko, but neither did she have a goal of shielding her emotions either. "You don't know the life I lead. You don't know the internal battles I have fought, the wars I have waged, to have finally moved on with my life."
With one last jerk, she freed her slender legs from the wetsuit and unceremoniously draped it over the side of a nearby chair. Finally, she returned her gaze to her stowaway, who remained as quiet as a proverbial church mouse. One thing that was pissing Yumi off was that Sachiko still wasn't being honest with her. She had all but propositioned her the night before and yet still not a word about her divorce. That was alright though because two could wield facts in battles like this. "I don't imagine Surguru has anything to say about the fact that you have run away and disappeared like this?"
Sachiko's face visibility paled for a moment before her cheeks flushed crimson once more. "No, he doesn't have anything to say about this." Arms crossed over her ample chest clearly indicated she didn't want to discuss this, but Yumi wasn't going to let her off the hook.
"No, I guess divorce would kind of make his opinion on these things obsolete, huh?" Surprised, Sachiko's eyes widened. She opened her mouth as though she were going to speak, but nothing came out. Finally, Yumi continued. "Yeah, I know. Courtesy of our dear mutual friends, who wrongly assumed that your divorce would be the first thing you'd tell me about. Imagine that?" With a scoff, Yumi threw her hands up. "They expected you to be honest with me about your situation given the shit that went down previously." She glared. "Old habits die hard, I guess. You never felt the need to explain things to me before. Why would I expect that to change when you stowed away on my fucking boat and all but pulled me into your cabin last night? You realize if our friends hadn't told me about your divorce already that alone would have made me feel like a mistress, right?"
Alarm lit Sachiko's eyes and in a moment of panic, she stepped forward and grabbed Yumi by the arms. "No, god no, Yumi! Fuck! I'm so sorry. I didn't think- I mean…" She must have seen the hardness in Yumi's gaze because a moment later she released her arms and stepped away. "I really am too late, aren't I?"
Despite a portion of her traitorous heart telling her to, Yumi made no move to stop Sachiko as she turned and disappeared into the shadows of the cabin. The sight of her disappearing into the shadows weighed heavily on Yumi the instant she disappeared from view. It was as if she were seeing Sachiko removed from her life yet again. The sight had her instantly rethinking her actions. Did she really want to shove Sachiko out of her life after having gone so long without her? No, she couldn't trust her with her heart, but did that mean she actually wanted nothing to do with the woman? Just as before, she knew the answer immediately.
Turning she hauled off and kicked an equipment bucket across the deck. The loud clang of the plastic hitting the steel rail reverberated as if in pace with Yumi's heavy breathing. "For fuck's sake! I thought I was over this." She growled under her breath and turned to face the swiftly rising sun. Her body urged for her to go, disappear and hide beneath the waves that surrounded them. Yet any diver worth their salt knew that you don't go under while angry, so Yumi resisted the urge.
Closing her eyes she took a deep breath. The image of Sachiko's excited face as she asked her to be her friend again flashed in her mind's eye. Her angular cheekbones, more beautifully defined by her smile. Sparkling blue eyes and raven black hair that made her so striking when they were younger still held the same captivating power over Yumi even now. Groaning, Yumi lowered her head to the cool steel of the railing. She knew what her heart wanted, but could she really ignore her head when it came to Sachiko? The last time she did that it had taken two years to recover from the trauma of losing her. Could she risk another such trauma if Sachiko once again decided she wasn't worth loving?
A splash drew her attention and she opened her eyes to come face to face with the cool gray-blue nose of a dolphin. Momentarily shocked though she was, Yumi didn't cry out. Having worked in the ocean for so long she was used to unexpected visitors. That didn't keep her heart from nearly cascading out of her chest though.
"Well, hi there." It clicked excitedly, as if in greeting and she couldn't help the grin that replaced the scowl on her face. Slowly, Yumi raised her hand, palm outward, and moved to within just a few inches of the dolphin. With a loud whistle, it bopped its nose against her palm then danced backward in the waves.
Yumi laughed at the playful nature of the dolphin. "I'm afraid I can't swim with you right now, buddy. Gotta hit the waves." This dolphin had obviously seen humans before and was waiting for something, a snack maybe? Whatever it was, Yumi couldn't give in. She didn't have proper food for a dolphin on board and she hated it when others would throw just anything to these marvelous creatures. "Sorry, no snacks today. You are a beauty though."
As if pleased by her compliment, the dolphin gave a rapid click and danced in a circle. Yeah, this one had definitely interacted with humans before. She laughed at the dolphin's antics and shook her head. "Maybe I'll swim with you later if I see you again." She paused and studied the dolphin that now looked as though it were listening intently to her. "What do you think I should do?" A shrill whistle. "I know… It was seven years ago. People change. Can I risk my heart again though?"
The dolphin's response to this was to rush the edge of the boat and then spray Yumi in the face with seawater. Yumi laughed and tried in vain to shield herself from the wave, but with no such luck; she was once again soaked. Wiping the water from her eyes, she looked at her clicking friend. "How exactly am I supposed to take that?"
With a rapid thrashing of its body, the dolphin rose a few inches in the waves and whistled, all the while flapping its fins about excitedly.
Water once again splashed up to meet Yumi. "Okay, okay, I think I got the message." She grinned at her new friend and asked, "So, I should go with the flow huh? Do what feels right?" When the dolphin clicked in affirmation, Yumi nodded and stood. "You're a good listener. Feel free to visit anytime." If Yumi didn't know better, she could have sworn the dolphin waved her off with one fin before it dove back beneath the surface. She had seen a lot of weird things in her line of work, but this was definitely one of the most enjoyable. With a new lightness to her heart, she stretched and made her way to the helm in the open-air cockpit. She needed to go to Sachiko and talk, but that could wait for now. Right now she needed to get them moving again. After all, she had a lot waiting for her on the island. A lot that Sachiko still had no clue about.
A/N - Okay, I know this one is way different than my other stories. Still like it? Looking forward to hearing from y'all! :) Oh, VolpineGrinz, I loved all your reviews! lol Put a smile on my face when I really needed it. Blessed weekend to you all!
