Disclaimer: I'm tired of this… I don't own Maria-sama ga Miteru.

Notes: Ohayo – Good morning

!word! - indicates actions

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Yuuki's POV)

!rattle!

Ah. That could only mean that it's Yumi at the door. No one else has the keys to the apartment.

"Ohayo! Yuuki, you're up early today."

Is that really Yumi? She sounds happy… For a while now it seemed that she wasn't cheerful. No… in fact, she didn't seem to be happy ever since the few weeks after the start of the school term. But yet… her voice didn't seem to hold the usual mellow note that was present only just recently. Is this real or has she just gotten better at hiding?

Yumi… did something happen yesterday?

"Good morning, Yumi. Breakfast is ready, so go wash up and eat it while it's hot!"

"Awww… Yuuki, you don't change do you. And here I thought I'll take a chance and come home early enough to make breakfast for you. I guess that you still get to the stove faster than me."

Yumi. Wanting to make breakfast for me? Am I still in my world of dreams?

"Yumi… What's the sudden urge to make breakfast today eh? You rarely even touch the stove."

!shrugs!

"Oh well, you could say that I'm in a good mood today. So… did you cook pancakes today? Are they in the kitchen?"

I studied her carefully, looking for any flaws that might be showing. The Yumi that I was used to for a few months now certainly wasn't like this. This was more like the young and innocent Yumi she was when she first started highschool. Except… she didn't have the awkwardness this time, and her eyes…

Her usually soft brown eyes were now filled with a hardened quality in them… not unlike a warrior who'd just came back from war.

Yumi… don't you know by now that you can't hide anything from me?

Or do you already know but you still insist on doing it?

"Yumi…"

I wrapped my arms around her, around her lithe body. For a moment, she tried to push me away valiantly. I didn't let go of her and held myself against her strength. After some time, she slowly gave in, as if defeated by my determination.

Cold… she felt cold… and she's trembling.

I could feel her clutching tightly onto my sleeve as if it was her anchor in the sea of pain. For once, I was glad that I was now tall enough for her to lean her head on me. I hugged her tightly, letting my warmth spread to her, trying to let her know in my own way that she isn't alone to face whatever she decided upon.

That's right… there was nothing in her eyes but that single determined glint. I hadn't seen that look from her for a long time. I knew somewhere deep within me that she was tortured by whatever she decided upon doing, but she still wouldn't give in… not when she had that look. She sounded so broken… and her heart-wrenching sobs were doing nothing to still my conflicting thoughts on whether I should pry about the details.

I felt wetness seeping through my shirt, right where her head was. Her head buried deeper into my shoulder, as if trying to hide from everything else. Now that I think of it… she hadn't cried for the same few months when she didn't smile as much. Had she been keeping all her pain and sadness to herself all this time?

I stroked her head… holding her till she was ready to let go. I wasn't sure of how to do it; it's usually her doing the comforting instead of me. It was always her picking up the broken pieces after I got bullied by the other guys for my small size. I wondered what had reduced my usually strong sister to such a state.

Slowly… but steadily, her sobs ceased. But I didn't let her go.

"Yumi……" I started, but she cut me short before I could say anything else.

"It's alright now, Yuuki. I'm sorry… sorry that I made you worried for so long."

I let go of her, sensing that she needed some space. She swiped away her tears with her hands, and tidied up herself.

"Yumi… Do you want to talk about it? I'll always be here to listen."

"Yuuki, you wouldn't understand even if I told you about it."

That's true… I don't really know what's happening around her that well…

"Then how about telling someone who does? At least that person can help you in whatever decision you wanted to make."

"Who could I talk to?"

That person… what was her name again? The person who called during the New Year's… the one who took Yumi out for the trip to the Ogasawara's.

"How about Sei-san?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

It only took the mention of her name… and Yumi's eyes had lit up with a sudden bright spark…

I stared at the door… the door where she had just left through a moment ago with a single "Goodbye!" to me.

Yumi. I hope that everything will work out just fine with you. Perhaps Sei-san can offer you more than what I can.

Or maybe it's just me that's thinking too much…

But did her outburst have something to do with her Onee-sama?

---------------------------------------------------------------------

(Sei's POV)

All along the way to the restaurant, I wasn't talking to Kei. We were just two women strolling side by side along any common street. Others probably thought that we were not acquainted, and the fact that we're roommates would most likely be lost to them. Being woken up by Kei instead of myself had always put me in a sappy mood, and right now, all I wanted to do was to relax and not do anything strenuous. Besides, it looks like Kei was also lost in her own thoughts.

Unknowingly, I went back two years in time, to the time when I was still in my second year.

The year where I both found and lost my first love.

Shiori…

Even till now, I still remember that day as clearly as though it was just yesterday. However, the pain and loneliness I felt before was dulled by time… so much so that all that's left of you now is just a memory. Onee-sama had been right, time heals all pain, and eventually, time will allow love to kindle again.

The enveloping presence and kindness of it, taking every trouble within its account and setting it right again.

As I continued walking, I felt that inside me, something was loosing its hold on me. I could almost feel, in that instant as I walked, claws that were slowly being withdrawn.

And for once, after such a long time, I actually felt a sense of peace that had been avoiding me for a long long time.

Am I slowly being released from my chains? But where did the chains come from in the first place?

I stepped into Nott's restaurant. Once again, in this small but yet cosy restaurant, many of my fondest memories in highschool were being unlocked. It was as though I could see myself and the others sitting on the couches and chatting happily away. I guessed that my mind, these times that had long passed would always be kept in that secret spot in my heart.

Eriko… Shimako… Onee-sama… Shiori…

Youko…

There was always something which appealed to me here. Was it the ambience? Or was it just plainly the steadiness in this place? Throughout these few years, this was the only place didn't change, the only place where I could still feel the past, albeit a little faded. After all, it has been such a long time since we had a gathering here. Everyone seemed to be too busy with their own matters.

However, I wasn't with any of them here today; but neither was I alone. Kei was with me, and even though it's more on her insistence than anything else that I brought her along, I was still pretty glad that she's here to accompany me. However, I wouldn't have admitted it under any amount of torture.

No way.

It was bad enough that I, Satou Sei, mischief maker and free woman in Lillian Highschool, could not handle Kei on a daily basis. There is no need for her to know more information that could bring me more torment.

And here I am, however, still pondering over whether my decision to succumb to her had been sound. Perhaps I should have a shrink to help me confirm my mental state.

And as I sat at one of the tables, I wonder what in the world has possessed me so totally that I let Kei bully me into bringing my assignment here to do while waiting.

Ah… it must be the summer heat. It must be. How absolutely perfect… Even the weather is working against me now!

As I scribbled on the worksheet on the table, I glanced at Kei from the corner of my eye, noticing that she was still staring at me with that hardened gaze. Her gaze - almost a glare now as she caught me peeping – was trying to scare me to the point of concentrating fully on my work.

I shivered at what she could do to me… and no, it's definitely not a shiver of pleasure.

The last time I tested the waters, she had me doing dishes and laundry all by myself for a month on top of consistently robbing me of my sleep by waking me up at the crack of dawn instead of letting me sleep in.

Crossing swords with a certain black-haired girl would be your downfall if you happened to live in the same house as her.

Which is, indefinitely, me.

Bless me. Dear Maria. Seriously.

"Sei, what's the time that Yumi is supposed to meet you today?"

I mumbled to her as I tried to work my way through the complicated math, not wanting to be distracted.

"Two o'clock."

"Ok."

She resumed her meal and we fell in a companionable silence.

I didn't think I needed anything else right now.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well, I guess I'll be going now."

I looked up from my work at the sound of her voice, as I tried to decipher her words that were overlapping with the persistent math equations.

"You're not staying? I thought you wanted to go shopping with me later on?"

"True… But I guess we could always do it tomorrow or some other day. I think… Yumi must have something important to tell you, and she wouldn't say it in front of me."

So even Kei could sense that Yumi wasn't that alright, even though she barely knows her. I wonder…

"Aww… Kei, did the vibes emitted from watching too much psychic investigation dramas get to you? It isn't like you to say such statements of the predictive nature."

"No, Sei, I'm serious here. Something must have happened to Yumi for her to suddenly call you, and she hadn't contacted you for weeks before today if you remember…"

"Hey, chill it… I was just joking. Sometimes you know, I'd sworn that you have no sense of humour, Kei. But other times, you just tickle me off so much that I wonder whether you have a hidden motive."

Kei… sometimes, you just worry too much. Just like her…

So very much alike.

She gave me a grin.

"Who knows, I may schizophrenic for all you know. Well, see you later then, Sei."

I gave her a wink. I was already long used to her sudden change in mood, but she still surprises me sometimes. Well… two can play at the game.

"Seeya."

I leant over and gave her a peck on the cheek, putting on what I hoped was a serious look on my face.

"Sei!"

Oops?

I buried myself quickly under the books and assignments on the table.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Zzzz… Yuuki is back in action! Lols… ok, face it… Yumi is luckier than Sachiko… at least she has the support from Yuuki. And yes, Yumi is hopefully finally talking to Sei in the next chapter. That's all I'm revealing now. :)

Ah… it was kind of hard to write Kei's actions. I had to piece her personality out from the minimal screen time she has, so please pardon me if you think it's a little OOC. Uh huh… I'm hearing more screams now. Couldn't help it. :P

Side note: Check out my profile if you want updates on the progress of the fic. And thanks for all the reviews! –bows bows- Hehhehs…