Disclaimer: Everyone shall be mine in year 50006! Wahahahaha!
Notes: Sensei – teacher
Gokigeniyou – Good day
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(Sachiko's POV)
Sitting here, in this very classroom, gives me a sense of nostalgia. To think that Youko once sat here, in the seat in front of me, listening as the teacher droned on. Did she ever drift off in class? Or was she unlike me, giving everyone else a facet of attention while dancing in my own daydreams?
There were many things that I have yet to learn from her, things that she handled with better manipulation than me, and all the while keeping near the side of sanity. I often wondered how she managed to dissect problems like you do an insect, or cope with the endless pressure of upholding the family's expectations and still exude the aura of someone who has a burden that's about as heavy as a feather.
How I wished I could be just like her.
Seemingly accepting of Suguru's advances, while mentally screaming out my frustrations and disgust of having to spend a moment longer with him was just not something I could put up with much longer. Guaranteed, the presence of Touko makes it better for me, serving as a source of distraction from him and his constant teasing. I cannot imagine the time for me to become his bride – the final seal that locks away any sense of self – time that counts down happily at my expense.
Time that constantly flicker away, bringing me ever so closer to the gates of hell.
I casually took down some notes on the board, not wanting to be caught for not paying attention in class.
Something which a proper lady should never do, in addition to all the etiquette and rules.
William Shakespeare. The man whom I had learnt about ever since I was five. The man whose famous sayings still ring true despite the change of era. The man who talks about love which would never exist for me. The man whom the teacher is talking about now. Could class ever be more plain and tasteless as this?
I feel my eyebrows furrowing, a sign of my irritation, and carefully schooled in my features.
A lady doesn't frown in face of boredom. She shall keep on a straight face and listen to the teacher. For she would always learn something from listening.
I listened, and I caught it.
"Revision test on Friday, and I expect your reports to be in by tomorrow. Gokigeniyou."
"Class stand. Gokigeniyou, Sensei."
That makes two tests on Friday, and another one tomorrow, not to mention the report for Literature due tomorrow and the rehearsal for the school festival today. The teachers officially hate Wednesdays, since they always pile the most work to us on this day.
They must really be the devil's spawn, or the reincarnate of teachers who got tortured by students.
How would the teachers look like with those rumoured red horns on their heads?
Inwardly, I gave myself a bitter grin. They were not unlike those who claimed themselves to care for me – by training me to be who I am now – how ironical.
"…Onee-sama!"
I turned, half expecting to see Yumi greeting me like she always does. Then I remembered.
It's better to stay away from her. Why give her trouble that she doesn't need?
"Gokigeniyou, Touko. Are we all set for lunch?"
I tried giving a smile, but all that felt like coming out was a grimace.
I tried again.
Again. Yumi. Why.
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I gave myself some time alone, walking around the familiar grounds of Lillian. Happy times, sad times, memories of the past came flooding back to me as I passed by each and every spot. I had known my future since a long time ago, when I first stepped into these very grounds. Father had told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was bound to marry Suguru after my graduation from school. The cold voice, uncaring and dispassionate, had struck into my heart chords of pain. The ultimate betrayal from the men of the house.
Although it wasn't because of that which made me hate men.
Thinking back now, my outburst to him was probably the first nail to my coffin.
I stopped in front of Maria-sama, her everlasting calm gaze brings me under her wing.
Time had reversed.
The first time I called out to her, perhaps under some unknown force in my heart that cried out for her, right in front of Maria-sama.
The time when my cursed fate entwined with hers.
Where I asked her to be my petite soeur, from the deepest valley of my soul. Right here. At this very place.
Ogasawara Sachiko found her oasis within the presence of Fukuzawa Yumi. How endearing. This wasn't taught by any of the teachers.
Right… It wasn't.
"Onee-sama? What are you doing out here?"
I whirled around gracefully.
How could I be so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't hear her approach me?
"Yumi." I started. "I was just taking a walk around the school, before I went to the gym to see how the rehearsal is going along."
That was good; just continue on in this vein. Nothing personal.
"Oh," was all that she replied.
"Onee-sama, it looks like rain soon. Shall we go back to the Rose mansion?"
Noting the dark clouds looming ahead, something which I missed out while walking around, I agreed.
Darker and darker. Like the shadow my mask is.
We were shielded by a blanket of silence, more and more so frequent as time passes. It was better this way.
Lost in our own thoughts.
Our feet brought us back to the mansion. The place filled with the most memories.
Today was one of those times again.
"Onee-sama? Let's go upstairs and brew ourselves a cup of tea to warm up. It's getting chilly in the corridor. I'll give Shimako a call to tell her we'll be late."
I watched her as she busied herself with the tea and the phone, taking a little break and resting in the comfortable armchair. Yumi has grown from the time I first met her, just seeing her straight back and confident walk was enough to tell me that she is well on her way to becoming a great Rosa Chinensis.
I wouldn't admit it to anyone else, but I missed the sense of peace that I always had when I'm alone with her. But today, just today, turmoil burns me alive, deep within my soul as I watched her.
It's one of those times again.
There was no need to pretend in front of Yumi, for she knows me better than any other. She saw me in my weakest moment, in my perfect princess façade, had been on the receiving end of my anger. There was no need to hide from her. With her, I could be myself. Totally just me.
A good lady knows that showing her true self should never be done completely.
She settled into the armchair opposite me, placing the tea set and some buttered scones on the coffee table. I relaxed myself and started on the scones.
"Onee-sama? I have something to ask you."
I carefully put down the scone and gave her a curious look, making sure to swallow the food in my mouth before talking.
"What is it, Yumi?"
She seemed to steel her resolve for whatever the matter was, and sat up straighter.
"I would like to make a formal request for the help from Hanadera for the school festival to be approved."
(Yumi's POV)
"I would like to make a formal request for the help from Hanadera for the school festival to be approved."
That's it, I've just said the very sentence I was supposed to. The sentence which hopefully allows more help for the festival.
I gave an inward sigh of relief, never noticing how Onee-sama seemed to take this request.
Totally unaware of how her sapphire blue eyes burned just a little brighter.
"I thought I've made it clear to Rei and Shimako that I would never approve of help from Hanadera! And isn't this case settled a long time ago? Why bring it up now?"
It seems that it would be more difficult than I thought. I've underestimated her reaction.
"But… Onee-sama, we can't possibly cope with the small pool of helpers we have! Besides, it's the tradition for Lillian and Hanadera to help each other out for their annual school festival. Don't you remember that we helped them out just two weeks ago?"
Right… I forgot. She wasn't there.
"No I don't. I will not approve of their help, not then, not now and not even on the day of the festival! I'm sure that you have all the help needed to make things run. I have trust in yours, Yoshino and Shimako's abilities to make sure that everything runs smoothly. I don't see the need for external help."
"What would you know, Onee-sama. You weren't even present for most of the planning sessions. All you saw were just the surface of things! Everybody's schedule is running tight and the festival is just next week! Please, Onee-sama. Just let us accept the extra help. It's not like you have to do anything with them."
Onee-sama, why don't you understand? We won't be able to proceed on with the festival as the planned date if things still do not pick up speed. It would definitely go faster if we could get extra help! Only the Hanadera boys are obliged to help us out in this matter!
"Absolutely not. I shall repeat myself one last time, Yumi. I will never accept help from Hanadera."
Onee-sama!
"Is this something to do with your hatred for boys and men alike? Or is this a bet you made with Kashiwagi-san?"
Baka. Why did you bring that up, Yumi. You idiot.
"Or is it because you are so selfish, Onee-sama. At this rate, you will never be free of the trouble that's named men!"
"That's enough!"
!SMACK!
I stared at her, as the pain registered in my mind. A sense of heat flushed through from my left cheek – the very spot where her hand just left – I touched it gingerly. It was still raw. But what is this wetness running down my cheeks?
Oh. My tears. Right.
She slapped me.
You were slapped. By Sachiko. The signal is clear, Yumi.
Time seemed to freeze at that instant.
Break away.
I turned around, and fled the room.
The rain. Rain that washes away everything.
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A/N: Yay, managed to make use of the Youth Day to write out this chapter. Sachiko's back in the foray after a long time. Maybe it's better to re-read some parts in order to get the feel of this chapter.
(Throws ice-cream around) I think I'm fattening up my reviewers!