Disclaimer: Insert standard disclaimers. Or would you prefer – I own nuts? -
Notes!word! – actions
-- word – memories/recollections
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(Yumi's POV)
Even as the pianist plays in the background, the silence between us was tangible to the point where I could almost taste it. Both Sei and I were concentrating on our food, and she's probably lost in her own thoughts like I am. Lunch was a time to slow down our footsteps; steps that paced all around, never once noticing that they were running in circles.
That's right, there was a reason why the world was round.
Because for the end of everything, it returns to the point where it first started.
Onee-sama… will everything return to where it first started?
Suddenly, I felt a presence coming closer to me. However, it reached me before I could even realize what was going on.
!poke poke!
Not this again…
"Eek! Sei-sama! That tickles!"
"Ara… does it now?"
!poke poke poke!
"Sei-sama! Stop doing – ah! It tickles!"
"Then would you share your penny of thought with me now? You know, I'm bored of just looking at you stare at your food."
My thoughts…
Onee-sama.
Sachiko-sama.
Sachiko.
Pain. Sorrow. Regrets.
"Sei-sama… can I ask you something?"
"Isn't that what you asked me out for? Of course you can, you silly girl. In fact, anything else is better than staring at you."
"Oh. Gomen, I didn't realize that you were finished with your food…"
Is this how I should feel? Is this what I should do? What am I supposed to do?
The world is round after all…
"Sei-sama… Did you have a quarrel with Shimako or your previous Onee-sama before?"
"Hmm? Quarrels? Not really. We of the white rose family didn't have that kind of a soeur relationship which can spark off a fight. For us, we require something different from our soeurs as compared to the Chinensis and Foetida family. It has been like this for a long time – almost long enough to be a trend that's passed down year by year."
She doesn't know how it feels like… how can she help me if she doesn't know how it feels like?
"By the way, why are you suddenly so interested to know?"
"It's nothing really… I was just curious. I had the sudden urge to ask you about it, that's all. Maybe it's because I want to know more about your kind of soeur relationship when I see Shimako with Noriko. Not to forget about you of course."
"Oh? So Youko was right when she said that Yumi-chan thinks about me every single day! Tell me, Yumi, did you miss me that much? Or did you miss this more?"
Before I could react or question her, she practically leapt out of her seat and tackled me.
The next moment where I gained my breath back, I found her wrapped around me from the back, her head on my shoulder.
And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't escape from her grip on me.
Just like the old times.
"Sei-sama… many people are watching."
I must have wasted my breath on that sentence. She didn't seem to get the meaning of it.
"Erh? Yumi-chan ain't shrieking anymore? That's no fun. Did hanging around Sachiko after I left reduce you to this solemn and serious state? Since when did you start caring about what the others thought?"
Onee-sama…
No… I didn't exactly hang around her like you thought I did.
"Did I change that much?"
"I wouldn't know for sure… shouldn't you know yourself better than me?"
She leant in - her face just inches away from mine.
"But not to worry, Yumi, everyone changes at some point or another. The most important thing is to know when you changed. Did you know… sometimes when we're in search of something, we tend to misplace everything else? We always seem to miss things out, things that will make us regret when we decide to look back to the past again; but even if we knew this, few would succeed in preventing it from happening. And it's because people change; that's why this happens all the time."
She enclosed me in a tighter embrace, her fingers playing with my hair as she continued whispering into my ear.
"Now let me ask you, Yumi. What do you desire most? And how would the world be like if that thing or person ceases to exist at all? From where did your drive for life come from? What have you been searching for?"
"Sei-sama, I… …"
"Shhh… you don't need to tell me, it'll be fine as long as you know the answer yourself. Now, this is my second challenge to you. I want you to do what it takes to make things right, do what you feel is right and the next time I see you; I hope that the Yumi I know will be back in action. But of course, the same rules apply."
I felt something warm and wet pressing against my cheeks for a moment before Sei released me.
Do what you think is right…
What I think is right…
Her voice shook me out of my thoughts, and I noticed that she looked ready to leave.
"Well then, Yumi-chan, I've got some shopping to do. Do you want to come along with me? Or would you rather go home now?"
"No thanks, I think I'll stay here for a while longer. Have fun!"
I smiled inwardly as she just gave me another one of her grins.
"Oh, before I forget… this is for the meal, Yumi."
"Nono, I should pay for it seeing that I was late…"
"Just take it. Well then, goodbye! Don't miss me too much, love!"
Whaa-at?
She was already out of sight, leaving me to fend off the stares of others again. No, I mustn't blush, I mustn't blush.
Sadly, my face wasn't listening to my command as I felt warmer and warmer.
Even so, thank you. For trusting that I can do it, and for many other reasons.
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Time to do my homework… School's starting tomorrow…
I took out the assignments, and spread them neatly on the table.
- Question one: What caused the conflict between Lily and Pierre?
Fukuzawa Yumi. What do you desire the most? How would life be like without your foremost desire? What keeps you awake, what keeps you anticipating the next day? Your family? Your friends? School?
Where do you get the drive to continue on?
What have you been searching for?
- Question two: Which word in paragraph four states that she was feeling upset by Pierre's actions?
I don't know. I can't be sure of anything else anymore.
-- everyone changes at some point or another --
Have I changed that much? Did it turn out this way because of me?
- Question three: Explain, in your own words, what Lily meant when she said 'you bath in mud, Pierre.'
Yumi, concentrate… concentrate on the questions.
- Question three: Explain, in your own words, what Lily meant when she said 'you bath in mud, Pierre.'
What would it have been if Sachiko didn't study in Lillian? How would it be if I became the soeur to some other person? Would I feel like this?
Arrggh. I give up. I can't do any work right now.
So many questions… too little answers…
"Yumi! There's a call for you! Hurry up!"
"Ok ok, I'm coming Yuuki!"
I scrambled out of my room at his yell and made my way to the receiver.
"Well, I'm off to play soccer with the other guys now, Yumi."
"Have fun while you're at it!"
"I will!"
Who would call me on a Sunday?
"Hello, this is Yumi. May I know who's speaking?"
"Yumi-sama, this is Touko."
"Touko-chan?"
How did she get my number? And why is she calling me?
"Yes, it's me. Gokigenyou, Yumi-sama."
"Gokigenyou, Touko-chan."
I heard her take in a deep breath on the other side of the receiver.
"Yumi-sama, what in the eighteen levels of hell did you do to Sachiko-sama? Do you know that she wasn't herself at all when we went out yesterday, and her dressing wasn't the only thing that was wrong! She was still fine when I had lunch with her on Friday, and I know that something happened that evening. She's acting totally happy and hyperactive yesterday, and that's what you never see from her! Besides that, I caught her crying in the bathroom, and she wouldn't tell me what happened. So tell me, what did you do to her? Were you being a total idiot again? And here I thought that you finally wised up and finally started to support her as you should. Where in the world has that side of you gone to!"
Huh?
"Touko-chan, what do you mean?"
Was what I'm hearing now really true?
Onee-sama… but weren't you the one?
"What else can I mean? Obviously it's exactly as what I've said just now! Yumi-sama, are you even LISTENING to what I'm saying?"
"Touko-chan… I…"
I thought that I was the only victim. But it wasn't as it should have turned out…
"Hmph. Save your explanation for someone else. I just can't believe you! I don't want to hear your excuses that would surely be as pathetic as they come! You aren't suited for Sachiko-sama at all! How could you be enjoying yourself with that Sei person when she's obviously not being herself? And don't you try denying it, we saw you in that restaurant laughing and joking with her! I'm severely disappointed with you! Good day!"
Touko's right, I'm an idiot… all I thought about was myself… and never about how you would have felt…
It shouldn't be like this.
With that, Touko hung up on me, her voice still ringing true in my ears.
You aren't suited for her at all…
I stumbled back to my room, not giving a hoot about anything else that was in my way.
Save your explanations. They're all excuses.
I flopped onto the bed, letting the sun's rays bombard me in the wake of afternoon like the trails of fiery fireballs.
Yes.
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A/N (It's a pretty long one this time): Ahhhhh…… I got all my happiness sucked out of me… TT.TT
Ok, now I've got that part out, here's something from me – hands everyone a yeyeo plushie that says 'stab me' – Go on, poke me. Sad to inform all of you, but I probably wouldn't be updating till a long time later. I'm having a major exam for this school year ('O' levels for those in Singapore) and probably have to start mugging. Plus, I'm having a week long mini exam starting 4 days later too. Hard life I lead. Death to exams! –roar-
Anyway, back to the topic…
All hail the conversation with Sei! Lols, I finally got that part out… it was pretty hard to write for me. Hmm… I need comments on how all of you thought on this chapter. I thought that something was a little odd about it, but I just couldn't get at where to change. Maybe someone could point it out?
I know the story's proceeding at a rather slow pace, but not to worry… that 'something' which both Yumi and Sachiko needs is coming out soon, and hopefully they'll see better days ahead… – evil grin – but then, maybe this would end in a happy ever after… that part remains to be seen… Oh yea, do surprise me with all kinds of reviews, yes? Hehes… -glomps reviews up like ice-cream- Darn it, I'm getting fatter.
edit I've added some parts to the second section of this chapter. After re-reading it on the net, I found that it was really abit off. Anyway, I hope that the mood of the part is better now.
To Naolin: Ah, prefer to call you this…(you don't mind do you?) Many thanks for your support from Chapter 1 till now. I'll work hard for my exams too! Oh, and for the spelling errors you mentioned, is it more about the 's' and 'z' or the Japanese spelling? I'm using Microsoft word to spell check, but I think it sometimes fluctuates between American and British spelling. Sheesh… -grin- Maybe I could get you as my beta or something… whad'ya think?
To xSojix: Wahaha… a fellow Singaporean! National Day was just yesterday! Anyway, thanks for your reviews too, it gave me encouragement to continue writing. Cheers!
To jcole, shadowWizz and Syaoran Li Clow: Peace, peace! It's moving along soon, probably in a few chapters more. And of course, thanks for reviewing me and providing me with some inspiration with your reviews! (don't know whether it's intended or not though –scratches head- but it does)
To other reviewers (too many more to name): I must give my heartfelt thanks for dropping a review like you did. It really warms me to think that the story touched you enough for you to review.
To others who read this story: It's nice to know that you are still continuing the story, and I hope that you enjoyed it as well as I enjoyed writing it!
Now this sounds like farewell… don't it? Nope, I assure you that I'll be back! Wish me luck!
- yeyeo