Blurred Lines

Disclaimer: I do not own Maria-sama ga miteru or any of its characters.

One Night

Sachiko

Sachiko as a person does not thrive in uncertainties. The risks she takes are always calculated ones, those with a high probability of success. If she can avoid risk, that would always be the best.

Sachiko also tries to keep a positive image about herself. Not one to enter into situations that could smear the good Ogasawara name. She is proud to say that she has avoided any situation that would otherwise compromise her 'image'. After all, her grandfather is always reminding her that she is the next face of the Ogasawara Company. She is the epitome of propriety, with the way she carries herself especially when she is not in her safe space or amongst her closest friends. It is only when she is with her former Yamayurikai peers that she lets her guard down – even for just a bit.

It wasn't so difficult really, she was brought up to have impeccable manners, trained on various arts and disciplines that acting like the princess that she is, requires little to no effort.

However, the current predicament she is in was something she wasn't mentally prepared for. No amount of reason could explain how she got herself tangled into this mess, nor give her an acceptable solution so that this scandal wouldn't blow up to be the biggest mistake of her life.

She knew what she was getting herself into the moment she let her emotions take over the night before. But as to why she ignored all reason and shut down the nagging voice in her head telling her to get her act together, stopping her from engaging in the illicit act that had happened, was what puzzles her the most.

Sachiko slowly sat up. The sun had risen, its rays peeking through the corners of the thick curtain that lined the wall to her left. She tried to find a clock, at least to know what time it is before she decides on what she should do next. She saw an alarm clock on a desk against the wall, and she took a deep breath before deciding to let go of the blanket that she was using to cover her naked body…the same blanket that was wrapped around the lower half of the person still sleeping on the bed… before standing up to check the time. She picked up the clock and brought it closer to her face, afraid to switch the light on or to open the curtains so as not to disturb her companion's sleep.

It was a few minutes past six in the morning. Thankfully, she woke up ahead of the other person, otherwise she'd be in hot water. She started dressing as quickly as she could. She picked up her garments that were piled up on the side of the bed as her mind reeled with options, analyzing what the implications of her next actions could be.

Sachiko could wake the other person up and ask them to keep quiet about what had happened. This way, she could make it clear that she is a person that values her privacy so much. Sachiko could offer payment for her silence…though that could also offend the other person, which could lead to further complications.

Or…Sachiko could leave and quietly disappear now.

They hadn't exchanged contact numbers. They didn't even tell each other their names. There is a possibility that her partner was drunk enough to have forgotten what happened. Or in case she remembers, she could have forgotten what Sachiko looked like.

Sachiko glanced at the face of the woman once more. The stranger was sleeping so peacefully… like an innocent angel… that Sachiko was unable to suppress the small smile that grazed her lips. The emotion that gripped her heart last night was creeping into her chest once again. There was this strong urge to caress those unruly brown locks or to run her fingers over those slightly parted lips. It was so mysterious how this woman could make her feel this way. A feeling so foreign that all her years of training felt useless in suppressing the desire that was welling up again inside of her. This was an attraction that was beyond comprehension and Sachiko found herself getting scared.

No.

She is not attracted to this woman.

She couldn't be.

It was Sei-sama's fault. All those teasing comments about her being single and not having any experience on intimacy had gotten to her head.

Yes, that must be it.

She will forget about this incident and she will forget about this woman. With that, she finally decided that there was no need to wake her up. No need to hear her sweet voice, nor see her gentle hazel brown eyes once more.

She cleared her mind, straightened up her back, grabbed her bag and exited the room as quietly as she could.

- - - o 0 o - - -

Yumi

Yumi was sitting outside her favorite cafe, enjoying milk tea with her best friend one Saturday afternoon. It was late spring and she was relishing the cold breeze that just passed by when Shimazu Yoshino-san popped a curious question.

"Does this mean you don't have a boyfriend now?"

Yumi creased her eyebrows, "What brought about this question?"

"Well, the last time you were able to visit Tokyo for an extended period of time was when you broke up with Kyoya-san, remember? I'm just saying you'd normally rather be spending your weekend with your man than with your own best friend."

Yumi has been working in Yokohama since she graduated from university. It had been a change of pace for her -new city, new apartment, new life. She easily got along with people, and it had not been difficult for her to make new friends. But from time to time, she heads back to Tokyo to be with her family or to meet with her friends.

"That's not true!" Yumi argued. "In case you didn't know, I am so busy with work that I spend most of my weekends sleeping."

"Really?"

"Really."

"No lover?"

"None."

Yoshino-san put down the glass she was holding and leaned her elbows on the table. "So, you're saying you haven't been to any group dates or blind dates?"

Her single friends in Yokohama are fond of setting up group dates to find lovers. Yumi joins them from time to time and admittedly enjoys them. They would eat, do karaoke, or hang out at bars.

"Well… yes, I went on group dates. But so far, I haven't found someone."

"Or maybe, you're still thinking about that woman, Yumi-san?" Yoshino-san wriggled her eyebrows teasingly.

Yumi sighed. "I'm telling you, Yoshino-san. I do not know who that person was. I didn't even get her name."

"Come one, Yumi-san. You have been dating men only to find out that you prefer women. Are you certain that you even loved Kyouya-san or Maki-san?"

Well, it was a revelation to Yumi as well that she was in fact attracted to the same sex. That one night with the mysterious stranger was unexpected and unplanned. Yes, she was drunk that night, but she was very well aware of what she was doing. She knew what she was implying when she invited that woman to her house. The woman had hinted at it as well, because few words were spoken before they ended up tangled in her bed. The other woman was sober, so the only conclusion Yumi could draw was that it was consensual no-strings attached sex. Yumi had to admit it was disappointing to have awoken to an empty room, but was quick to convince herself that that's how one-night stands worked. It was her first time to sleep with a stranger (a very beautiful one at that), her previous experiences were with her previous boyfriend.

But does being attracted to a woman invalidate the feelings she had for her ex-boyfriends? Yumi had thought about it and realized that she did in fact love them. Is it wrong to have been attracted to men all this time and then suddenly feel attracted to a woman? Maybe not. At least that's what Yumi thinks, which she knew could be different to societal norms. This was another reason why Yumi was quick to dismiss her ill-suited feelings for that unknown stranger, that maybe this woman was not open to admitting that she was likewise attracted to the same sex. Or possibly, that stranger had no feelings for her at all – that it was just physical intimacy.

"Yumi?"

Yumi blinked her eyes, she had spaced out again and was too deep in thought that her best friend was looking at her suspiciously.

"Yes." She started. "I did love Kyouya and Maki."

"That took quite a while to think about." Yoshino-san teased.

"I am sure I loved them." Yumi repeated firmly to stress her point. "Is there anything wrong with what I felt for them?"

She was sure Yoshino-san would not judge her, but she had to ask.

"Of course not." came her quick response. "You are free to love whomever you want, I just wanted to be sure because I feel like you have lingering feelings for that woman despite telling me repeatedly that you have no chance of being together with her."

Yoshino-san was right. There were moments when the woman's blue eyes, the scent of her perfume and the feel of skin would haunt Yumi's dreams. They were of course not so innocent dreams that Yumi finds herself waking up in the middle of the night to wash her face or take a quick cold shower.

It was useless to think there is a possibility of meeting that woman again, and if ever they did, it would be so awkward. She would have stayed if she were attracted to Yumi. The connection Yumi thought they had was obviously misplaced. The woman would have asked for her name and her number at least to have some means of communication. However, she did not.

"I am doing my best to forget about her. And if ever our paths were to cross, I think she will pretend as if nothing happened. It is likely that she regretted that night. To her, I may just be a nameless and faceless person she just happened to share the bed with."

"Ok, then find yourself a man…or a woman. I just want you to be happy. If that means I have to sacrifice the few weekends that we get to meet because you're spending it with your lover, that is fine by me."

Yumi smiled, touched by her friend's words. Yoshino-san was just looking out for her.

"I know you've been trying hard so that your emotions are not so apparent on your face. But I wouldn't be your best friend if I don't even know when you are troubled or not." Yoshino-san said proudly, before pulling Yumi by the hand to shop at the nearby mall.

- - - o 0 o - - -

Yumi attended the after party of Manabe-kun's wedding. He is a dear family friend and the Fukuzawas would have all been in attendance if it weren't for the fact that her parents had to be in Yamanashi to visit her grandmother. Her younger brother, Yuuki, had an urgent business trip and had bailed out at the last minute. But because of Yumi's friendly nature, she immediately became acquainted with the people she was seated with and stayed late to enjoy some drinks.

It was close to midnight when Yumi felt her head spinning. She had exceeded her limit and wanted to call it a night. She took a seat and requested the server for a glass of water. She wanted to sober up a bit before braving hailing a cab home. She had her eyes closed and was massaging her temples when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Yumi looked up, thinking it was one of the women she had befriended earlier, however, she was surprised to see two unknown men offering to drive her home. She declined of course as it was clear that they wanted something from her, but they seemed to have realized her drunkenness and pulled her up by the arm. Yumi was too weak to fight and her alcohol-addled brain was not quick enough to find a way out of her situation.

They half-dragged her, one man on either side of her, towards the exit when a woman stood in front of them.

"She clearly doesn't want to come with you, let her go."

Something stirred within Yumi, an inexplicable feeling rising just by looking at her deep blue eyes and her beautiful face. Yumi didn't know the stranger, hadn't met her other than when their eyes met earlier. They stood next to each other when the bride was about to throw her bouquet, but instead of focusing on being the one to get the flowers, Yumi couldn't take her eyes off of the beautiful person who had been looking at her curiously as if there was something she wanted to say. But no words were exchanged just as the flowers magically appeared before Yumi and hit her on the forehead. Some of the women beside her laughed, before everyone applauded and she was requested to join Eriko-sama, Manabe-kun's bride, to have their pictures taken.

"I will shout that you are harassing my friend, if you don't let her go right now. I have already informed security and they will arrive any minute now."

The men's hold on Yumi's arm loosened and she fell face forward into her savior. She suddenly felt embarrassed that she landed on the woman's breasts, but as she tried to stand up, she realized that her balance was off. The stranger took hold of her arm and helped her up.

"You should be careful, you look really drunk."

Yumi nodded her head.

"Do you have anyone to take you home?" The woman's voice was gentle, so unlike the firm tone she had with Yumi's assailants. Her hands, which were currently wrapped around Yumi's left arm for support, felt comforting.

"I'll be taking a cab."

"I can drive you home. Just give me your address."

Yumi stopped walking. They were already outside, in the middle of the parking lot, when she gently pulled her arm from the other woman's. "Why are you helping me?"

"I saw you speaking with one of my friends earlier, Sei-sama. You shared a table with them, right? However, both Sei-sama and my onee-sama just left."

Yumi did recall that the blonde-haired woman's name was Satou Sei.

"If you were friends, why weren't you at our table?" Yumi asked suspiciously.

"Because I was with my former schoolmates from Lillian."

"Why didn't Satou-san stay at your table if you were friends?"

"Because ours was already full and Sei-sama volunteered to move to a different table."

…

"Why are you helping me?"

At this, the woman paused and thought for a moment. "To be honest, I don't know myself. I…just felt like I wanted to. Also, it's the right think to do."

The woman's words sounded sincere, even if her expression clearly showed that she was unsure herself.

"How about you, why did you come with me?" The woman asked in return.

Yumi brought her hands to her chest, calming down her heartbeat that started speeding up again before she echoed the same response (and the same hesitation).

"I…just felt like I wanted to."

"I see."

Yumi gazed at those blue eyes. She was searching for answers for this inexplicable connection she was feeling. She was sure the first time they metwas at this party, but a part of her was feeling like they knew each other already. From another lifetime perhaps?

Yumi shook her head to erase those ridiculous thoughts.

"Do you have any more questions?" The woman asked, breaking Yumi's train of thought. The woman smiled at her teasingly like she knew she was being tested earlier. "Because if you're done, I believe we should leave." The woman then extended a hand to her, which Yumi immediately took.

She was already seated at the passenger's seat of a black luxury sedan before she gave her address to be typed into a GPS app on the woman's phone.

They drove in silence. Yumi had wanted to make small talk, to ask about the woman – her name for starters. But somehow, she got tongue tied and found that she was unable to make any coherent thought at the moment. Whether it was due to the alcohol, or maybe it was the effect of sitting so close to this beautiful woman, Yumi didn't know. She was still engrossed at finding a way to start a conversion when she felt the car stop. She looked outside and true enough found that they had arrived at her house. It was late and there was no traffic making the car ride unfortunately quick.

"This is the correct place, right?"

Yumi finally braved looking at her again. Her eyes were focused on the road earlier in fear that she would just be ogling and gazing stupidly at the woman's face. She was afraid that the other woman would feel uncomfortable being stared at and that she would think Yumi to be weird.

"Would you like to come in?"

The words that came out of Yumi's mouth were the least of what she was thinking of. She didn't know where that thought came from – maybe it was the way the beautiful woman looked at her that made her feel warm all over… and the gentle hand that was resting comfortably on Yumi's.

Silence enveloped them as the question hung in the air. The other woman's eyes lidded, her hand slowly sliding up Yumi's arm before it rested on her already flushed cheeks. Yumi leaned into the touch, finally giving up all reason and deciding not to make sense of what she was feeling.

The other woman looked at her questioningly, as if confirming if she was sure.

In response, Yumi leaned forward and claimed her lips. Again, an unconscious action on Yumi's part.

The woman did not react when their lips touched and it was enough to wake Yumi from her delusion. Yumi was obviously attracted to the other woman, but she wasn't sure that the feeling was mutual.

Yumi immediately pulled away, but was stopped as sweet lips chased hers. The kiss was brief, a mere touching of the lips, before the stranger whispered breathily…

"Yes."

A/N: Hi everyone! Thanks for continuing to support my stories. A special thanks to imoshen88 as well for doing beta review for me.

In case any of you will be leaving comments, no flames please ^_^