A/N: Welcome to chapter 5 and thanks for still being on board! Please give a warm welcome to our 4th POV character...

Chapter 5: Yoko

Mizuno Yoko lifted her arms, allowing the security guard to glide the metal detector up and down her body. The access routes to the temple had been cordoned off, and one could only enter the grounds after presenting a valid invitation, offering proof of identity, and submitting oneself to a thorough search. All of this was meant to protect the wedding guests, Japan's rich and powerful, who had gathered here today to witness the old wolf Toru finally hand over the reins of his empire to his designated successor, Kashiwagi Suguru—who would, on this day, adopt the illustrious name of the Ogasawara clan.

The person who would bequeath him this name was inconsequential to Toru, Suguru, and the assembled luminaries. But to Yoko, she was one of the dearest people alive—Ogasawara Sachiko, Toru's only child and Yoko's former petite soeur at Lillian Academy. Yoko would have loved to help out with Sa-chan's wedding. In an American movie, she would have been the maid of honor, helping Sa-chan pick out everything from venue to dress, getting her drunk at an epic bachelorette party, and making sure every instant of her big day was filled with joy. It had been Yoko, after all, who'd spent much of her time at Lillian coaxing Sa-chan out of her shell, prodding the icy heiress to loosen up and live a little, even getting her to drop some especially useless private tutors and spend more time around her friends. But this wasn't an American movie. It was a feudal Japanese wedding, everything—including the husband—had been decreed by committee, and only those on the formal protocol list would enter the temple itself. Sa-chan's closest friends, including Yoko, wouldn't even be able to see her say yes.

Yoko swallowed down the bitter taste in her mouth and focused on the ancient, eroded steps in front of her. She had to climb them all the way up the hill to reach the temple, she had to do it in her heels, and she had to look completely effortless in the process. She'd spent a lot of money on her outfit, and she'd practiced wearing the black shoes and skin-tight business suit night after night until she felt fully at ease moving around in them. Strictly speaking, Yoko had neither the time nor the money for such extravagance—she was a recent law school graduate with loans to pay and job applications to write—but there were a lot of important people here, a lot of executives, and Yoko's career goal was to practice law at a major Japanese corporation. If she wanted these people to notice her, she needed to look the part.

But it wasn't just about impressing corporate bigwigs. Equally important to Yoko was her standing among the former Yamayurikai members, many of whom she hadn't seen since her graduation. Yoko had been the undisputed leader of the Yamayurikai, and she knew that most other girls on the council had an awed respect for her. She had worked hard to earn that respect, especially at Lillian, which was full of people born with assets Yoko knew she lacked. She hailed from a humble, middle-class family that couldn't even afford her law school, so she'd cultivated a keen intellect, ruthless discipline, and an iron will to force open the doors that normally would have been shut to her. She had no easy charm or talent for making friends, so she'd developed other traits to rally people around her: leadership, reliability, and a care for others' affairs that could border on the meddlesome. And she was physically unremarkable, so she'd perfected the arts of exercise, dieting, grooming, make-up, and attire to leave a favorable impression.

There was only one person who saw right through Yoko's façade and into her fearful heart. To her eternal dismay, this was the one person she'd always been most eager to impress: her classmate and fellow Yamayurikai member Sato Sei. Yoko had been there through all of Sei's ups and downs at Lillian Academy: the beginnings, when Sei was so painfully isolated it seemed she'd freeze the hand off anyone who touched her; the Shiori debacle, after which Yoko had picked up a heartbroken Sei from the train station where she'd been awaiting her lover for who knew how many hours; and Sei's post-Shiori transformation into a flirtatious, outgoing, happy-go-lucky rake. Unlike Yoko, Sei had never cared about classes or grades. Unlike Yoko, Sei hadn't made the slightest effort to come to terms with life after Lillian. Unlike Yoko, Sei had always worn her hopes and fears on her sleeve. Was that why she admired Sei? Yoko wondered. Was it because whatever Sei was, she herself could never be? She had an irrationally strong desire for Sei to be her friend, and she'd tried so hard throughout and since Lillian to remain close to her, but Yoko's natural stiffness, coupled with Sei's instinctive bullshit detector, had always kept them at arm's length from each other.

Since moving to Osaka for her studies, Yoko hadn't been able to meet up with her fellow Lillian alumnae more than twice a year, and it had been around ten months since she'd last seen Sei. She'd debated calling the former Rosa Gigantea and arranging to go to the wedding together, but she'd gotten cold feet, afraid of seeming to care too much. Sei called Yoko a meddler and constantly poked fun at her attempts to stay involved with the lives of those around her. And while that was fair enough, and perhaps just showed that Sei was truly a friend, Yoko couldn't be sure, and she had too much pride to reach out to Sei as if she needed Sei more than the other way around. Of course, Yoko had come here today to attend Sa-chan's wedding, but since the formal proceedings wouldn't even give her a chance to talk to her petite soeur, it was Sei that she was most keen to see again.

At the top of the steps, Yoko took a moment to survey the crowds that had gathered around the shrine. Every major Japanese business family had sent representatives, and she noticed how more than one set of eyes turned to her as she made her way to the temple. Most of these gawkers were elderly men in high positions, on the lookout, Yoko suspected, for their next mistress. Somehow, they seemed to smell that Yoko was an eligible candidate, that she didn't truly belong in their midst, whether it was because she'd come alone or because they didn't recognize her from their regular social functions and clubs, which were, for the time being, too expensive for Yoko to access. She smiled politely at everyone who stared as she passed by, trying to strike just the right balance between approachable and professional. Mistress, after all, wasn't the position she'd worked so hard to attain.

To the right of the temple entrance, Yoko spotted the inner circle of the Ogasawara clan. In the midst of a small group of siblings and cousins stood Sa-chan's parents. Sayako-sama, wearing an exquisite but subdued kimono, was silent and composed as always. Yoko had never known quite what to make of the woman. To all appearances, she seemed like a well-bred but average upper-class wife whom her husband dragged out for family events and stowed away at home the rest of the time. But on the few occasions that Yoko had visited the Ogasawara Mansion, she had noticed something about the woman's eyes, about the way she looked at Sa-chan and her friends, that made Yoko feel penetrated right to her core.

Standing next to Sayako-sama was her husband, Ogasawara Toru. All the world knew how sick he was, and he had to be in sizeable pain at this very moment. As far as Yoko knew, he should have been confined to a hospital bed. But no one told the patriarch of the Ogasawara clan what to do or where to be. He stood perfectly straight in his conservative, double-breasted suit, and the only thing suggesting any physical discomfort on his part was the unadorned, dark wooden cane on which he leaned for support. His face, which looked much older than his sixty years, was an ashen but expressionless mask, unreadable, Yoko felt sure, even to those closest to him—except perhaps the eerily piercing eyes of Sayako-sama. It was this mixture of indomitable will and inscrutable purpose that had enabled Toru to rule the family business for more than three decades in spite of challenges that would have destroyed a lesser man, including his sickness and his notorious inability to produce male offspring.

A little off to the side, Yoko recognized her former Lillian schoolmates. They were standing at a respectful distance to the temple, under the shade of some gingko trees. The Foetida family was represented by Hasekura Rei, the Olympic kendo fighter, and Shimazu Yoshino, Rei-chan's younger cousin and petite soeur, who would soon receive her degree in psychology from Tokyo University. The Gigantea family had fielded two attendees as well, Todo Shimako and her petite soeur Nijo Noriko. The two were an odd pair: Shimako-chan, the heiress of an old family that ran one of the most ancient shrines around Tokyo, was a closeted—or not-so-closeted—Catholic. Noriko-chan, in contrast, was one of the few strictly Buddhist girls to attend Lillian Academy. But despite their difference in faith, the two girls were inseparable. Finally, Yoko spotted Matsudaira Toko, who had been Rosa Chinensis three years after herself. She was a distant cousin of Sa-chan's, which meant she stood with the other family members, but Yoko could see the fiery girl cast eager glances at the other Roses, clearly frustrated she couldn't be with them.

Yoko looked around some more but couldn't make out any further Lillian alumnae in the crowd. Torii Eriko's absence was to be expected. Rei-chan's onee-sama, who had been Rosa Foetida while Yoko was Rosa Chinensis, had lived in a world of her own even back at Lillian. Yoko was sure that Sa-chan had sent her a courtesy invitation and equally sure that Eriko had simply ignored it. Sei wasn't there either, but Yoko was sure she'd still make it. She'd show up at the last minute, Yoko would glare at her disapprovingly, Sei would wink at Yoko and give her a crooked smile, and as always, Yoko would forgive and forget all. But where was Fukuzawa Yumi, Sa-chan's petite soeur and biggest fan? It was inconceivable that she should miss even a second of her beloved onee-sama's wedding.

When the other Lillian girls noticed Yoko walking up to them, they stopped talking among each other, turned to face her, and straightened their poses. Yoko was pleased to see that her effect on the girls hadn't changed, but she was surprised to find herself a little saddened by their formal deference: they may have regarded Yoko as their leader, but this also meant they didn't truly see her as their friend.

"Yoko-sama. How have you been?" The question came from Hasekura Rei, the oldest in the group and therefore probably the one least intimidated by Yoko.

"Thank you, Rei-chan, I've been fine. Girls, how about you?"

"We're fine, Yoko-sama, thank you," the girls answered almost in unison.

"Where is Yumi-chan?"

An awkward silence passed between the former Yamayurikai members as furtive glances were exchanged. At last, it was Shimazu Yoshino who spoke up. Yoko knew she was a good friend of Yumi's, and also not one to mince words.

"Yumi and Sachiko-sama aren't talking."

"What? Why?"

"Well, normally I'd say that was their business, but since you're the one asking, and you also seem to be the only one who doesn't know, I'll tell you: Yumi told Sachiko-sama she loved her, and Sachiko-sama told her to get lost."

"She loved her? Get lost?" Yoko was stunned. "That doesn't sound like the Yumi I know—or like Sachiko, for that matter."

Yoshino shrugged. "Maybe you don't know them as well as you think."

"Yoshino!" Rei hissed.

"What?" Yoshino shot her older cousin a defiant stare. "Two years out of Lillian and we still have to tiptoe around our onee-samas?"

Yoko took a better look at Yoshino. Clearly, some things had changed since Lillian.

"No, you don't, Yoshino-chan," she said. "But just for your information, common courtesy is considered a grace even outside the gates of Lillian."

A slight blush spread over Yoshino's cheeks, but she didn't apologize.

"They're coming." The calm voice belonged to Todo Shimako, Sei's former petite soeur.

Yoko looked up. From behind the shrine, through a throng of softly applauding guests, stepped the soon-to-be-married couple, Ogasawara Sachiko and Kashiwagi Suguru. Sa-chan was dressed in a gorgeous white kimono with red lining. Her normally expressive face had been immobilized by a heavy coat of bridal make-up, and her hair, atypically for Sa-chan, was constrained in an elaborate bun. Next to her walked a maid, holding a white parasol over Sa-chan's head. Suguru was also in traditional clothes, with his usually floppy hair tamed by a generous helping of gel. They both looked stiff and ill at ease, neither of them smiling as they approached the open temple doors with measured steps. To Yoko, they looked like two children only playing at getting married, with all the exaggerated solemnity that children often display when they imitate adult rituals they don't fully comprehend.

As the couple neared the Lillian group, Yoko started applauding. She wanted so badly to offer her petite soeur some kind of reassurance, some sign that she was there for her and things would be alright, but all she found herself capable of was clap a little more loudly than the other guests. But then, unexpectedly, the other Roses followed her lead, and Sa-chan, hearing the sound, turned around to face the group. For a second, she came eye to eye with Yoko. In that instant, she seemed so lost and alone, no grand heiress worth billions of Yen, but just a little girl who was about to give up the world she knew for the sake of a harsh and uncertain future. Yoko knew this look was just for her. Gathering all her strength and determination, she nodded at Sa-chan with the bravest expression she could muster. Then, the instant had passed, Sa-chan had entered the temple, and Yoko was in tears.

"Yoko-sama." Shimako was handing her a tissue.

"Thank you, Shimako-chan." Yoko took the embroidered piece of cloth and dabbed cautiously at her eyes, careful not to smudge her make-up. "Have you heard from your onee-sama? Where is she?"

"Sadly, I haven't talked to Sei-sama in a while, Yoko-sama." Shimako's face betrayed no emotion. "I simply assumed she was running late as usual."

"So did I," Yoko said, "but now she's missed their entrance. And if she doesn't get here soon, she'll miss them coming out as well. I guess I'll have to give her a call." She opened her clutch and fished out her cellphone, scrolling down to Sei's name with unconscious habit. She pressed dial and started counting the rings.

"You wanted me…"

"Sei! Where are you?"

"…well, too bad," the recording spoke over her. "Guess you'll have to settle for my canned voice. To be honest, though, I don't really check my messages, so give it another shot some time!"

Yoko almost cursed as she ended the call. It wasn't the first time that Sei's stupid, chatty answerphone message had tripped her up.

"Her mobile's turned off," she said to no one in particular.

"Do you think that maybe they're together?" Noriko asked somewhat timidly.

"Together? With whom?" Yoko asked.

Another awkward exchange of glances. Yoko decided she'd been out of the loop way too long. Yes, her studies and career were important. But these people were family. And Yoko seemed to have no idea what was going on with them anymore.

"With Yumi—who else!" Yoshino exclaimed. "Geez, Yoko-sama, buy a clue!"

"Wait, you think that Yumi-chan—and Sei…" Yoko was too shocked to acknowledge the younger girl's rudeness.

"We don't know that," Rei said firmly, throwing an admonishing look at Yoshino. "In fact, we don't know anything for sure because we haven't talked to them."

"I've talked to Yumi," Yoshino objected.

"To them," Rei said curtly. "I said we haven't talked to them."

"Let me be clear about this," Yoko said. "You think that something may be going on between Yumi-chan and Sei?"

"Well, it would make sense," Yoshino replied. "Yumi and Sei-sama have always been close, Yumi was painfully rejected by Sachiko-sama, and Sei-sama has a savior complex."

"Is that the kind of psychology they teach you at Tokyo U?"

"Nope." Yoshino shrugged. "Just my intuition."

"They're coming out. It's done." Once again, it was Shimako's gentle voice that returned them to the present.

As the newly married couple emerged from the temple, the previously subdued applause swelled to a roar. But Yoko didn't feel like clapping anymore. She knew they weren't cheering for her petite soeur, but for the freshly minted director of the Ogasawara Business Group. Suguru seemed even more uncomfortable than before, as if it was starting to dawn on him that playtime was over, over forever, and that the fate of a multi-billion-yen-company now rested on his shoulders. But Sa-chan didn't look awkward anymore. She looked resigned, and it broke Yoko's heart. As she passed by her former schoolmates, she didn't even raise her head.

Sa-chan and Suguru disappeared down the steps, followed by the invitees as they started filing out of the temple grounds. There would be a limousine waiting for the couple at the base of the hill; in the evening, they would host a formal banquet, strictly for the big brass. The Lillian girls weren't invited, but Yoko didn't mind; she knew it would be an entirely ceremonial affair, and she could imagine how hard it had to have been for Sa-chan to even get them on the guest list for the wedding. All the more inexcusable, Yoko thought, for Yumi-chan and Sei not to show up. And that those two might be… Yoko could hardly wrap her head around it. She needed to get a hold of Sei.