A/N: Just want to share this. I finally found time (and the will) to download the soundtrack of Maria-sama ga Miteru. I was listening to the soundtrack at the apartment and my roommates commented that it sounded like an opera ;) I told them that it would be my music when I want to sleep because the music makes me sleepy ;)

Anyway, I don't own Maria-sama ga Miteru and everyone knows that ;)

Chapter 25. Reunion

"You hadn't explained yet why we are here, Yoshino," Rei commented for the third time, and got no response for the third time. She didn't fully understand why they were at Sachiko's house and why their friends from high school were there, too. She couldn't even remember how she had agreed to Yoshino. Probably she did it to stop Yoshino from nagging her. After all, Yoshino had insisted it for a whole week.

"Do you know anything, Shimako?" Rei asked to the quiet and nervous person opposite her. She had to repeat the question because it seemed that she wasn't heard despite the loudness of her voice.

"I'm not sure, Rei-sama. I may have an idea but it's…" Shimako trailed off. Would they believe her if she said that she suspected that it had something to do with what she and Noriko saw at a mall in Osaka? She herself hadn't come to terms with what she saw. Noriko, too, wasn't any better. It nagged them to no end, yet they didn't dare ask Sachiko for fear of bringing a very sensitive subject. She wanted to ask Sei, but she was unable to contact her.

"I guess no one knows why we're invited here," Eriko commented, eyeing Yoshino who had kept quiet about the whole thing. She could tell that the younger woman knew something, but decided not to press on the issue.

"Did Sachiko ask you to come, Onee-sama?" Rei asked.

"It was Sei. By the tone of her voice, it seemed pretty interesting so I decided to come," Eriko explained with twinkling eyes.

The others couldn't help but giggle, thinking that Eriko hadn't changed that much even after being married for years and having a child already.

"If Sei-sama is involved, then Youko-sama should be, too," Rei said.

"Touko-chan, you don't know anything?" Shimako asked the red-haired woman who was deep on thought.

"Nothing. When Sachiko-sama asked me to come, I thought she wanted my company here. I never thought that you people would come, too."

"Never mind. I'm sure we'll find out soon enough. This is a good chance to see each other. Sachiko hadn't invited us for a gathering ever since…well, you know," Eriko said.

"For once in my life, I agree with you, Eriko-sama. Seems that having a family had changed you a lot," Yoshino said, deciding to join the conversation. She had been wondering how long it would take before Eriko would nag her, and was prepared for it. She was quite surprised when the later didn't make any move to mess with her. She could tell that Eriko too, was a bit anxious about this gathering.

"And you're the same as ever, Yoshino-chan, forcing Rei to do your bidding without telling her your reasons," Eriko responded with amusement.

Yoshino proudly grinned at Eriko but kept her mouth shut.

Soon, the conversation was diverted on other things. As the others chatted with a tinge of anxiousness, Yoshino turned her gaze to the quiet Sachiko standing near a window.

"You're late," Yoshino said with mild irritation.

"Don't be such a grumpy one, Yoshino-chan. I've had enough of that from Sachiko," Sei said cheekily as she sat on the chair opposite Yoshino.

"Really?"

"Yep. But I think I wouldn't see her like that soon. I'll surely miss it," Sei said meaningfully.

"I think you're right," Yoshino said after a brief pause, trying to find if Sei knew anything that she should know.

"Huh? Do you know something that I don't, Yoshino-chan?" Sei asked in feigned confusion, trying to get a rise from the younger woman. She had missed having someone to tease aside from Youko. She couldn't do it that much to Sachiko because Youko would surely lecture her and besides, Sachiko deserved a break from her teasing.

"Not really. Maybe you're the one who knows something that you aren't telling us," Yoshino said confidently, trying not to let herself be caught in Sei's teasing.

"You're the one who asked me to meet you, you know," Sei said.

"Yes, well…"Yoshino hesitated. How was she going to broach the subject?

"You see, Rei-chan and I was in Osaka last time," Yoshino said slowly.

"And?" Sei prompted while winking at the waitress passing by.

Mildly irritated, Yoshino glared at the waitress, earning a chuckle from Sei.

"I saw Yumi-san," Yoshino said abruptly. No more beating around the bush. She was being serious here and Sei was not paying attention. It was starting to really irritate her. At other times, she would have played Sei's game. However, she couldn't at this moment. She had more important matter to discuss with the playful woman.

If Sei was surprised, she didn't show it. However, she did turn her full attention to Yoshino.

"Rei-chan didn't believe me, but I'm sure with what I saw. I checked records in Osaka but I couldn't find anything. I decided to start here in Tokyo. I went to the hospital where Yumi-san was brought and found something, I don't know, questionable or…"

"You're quite right, Yoshino-chan," Sei interrupted seriously, before she chuckled.

"I am?" Yoshino asked in surprise.

"You should have done it earlier, you know. But maybe it wouldn't have worked. Anyway, what did you find out?"

"Wait a minute. You said I was right. What do you mean by that?" Yoshino asked. Her heartbeat had quickened with anticipation and shock for the answer.

"Yumi-chan is very much alive thanks to Sachiko's father, and she had disappeared no thanks to Sachiko's grandfather."

"What?!"

As Sei explained everything, Yoshino's horror and anger grew, but afterwards, she was happy. Her friend was alive! Amnesia or not, she preferred Yumi alive rather than dead.

"I'll kill that man!"

While Yoshino was mad, Sei just chuckled good-naturedly, taking everything with stride. She had overcome her surprises before so despite her worries, she preferred not to show it anymore.

"Contact the others and let's have a reunion. Who knows, maybe Yumi-chan would remember if we started fighting in front of her," Sei teased.

Sachiko's movement stopped Yoshino's thoughts. She gazed at Sachiko who was standing rigidly. She watched as Sachiko started walking towards the door. It seemed that the person they were waiting for had arrived.

---o---

Yumi smiled uncertainly at the people all looking at her with shocked faces. As soon as Sachiko released her from a tight and warm hug, she was faced with six surprised people. She understood their reaction though. If she knew someone to be dead for a long time only to find out later on was alive, she would be shaken, too.

"Uh…"

Yumi's eyes widened when she realized that two of the six gaping people at her were the ones she and Yana met at a shopping mall in Osaka. What were their names again? Shimako and Noriko. Right. Those were their names.

Hello. I…"

Before Yumi could greet any of the six, she was enfolded into a hug after hug. The first, she heard from Sei, was named Shimazu Yoshino. She, too, looked familiar. She had met her before, in her amnesia state, she was sure of that. She just couldn't remember where and when. She almost cringed with the fierceness of the hug that she had received from her.

Then the one named Toudou Shimako followed by Nijou Noriko and then by Torii Eriko hugged her. Albeit nervous, she gratefully accepted the hug and felt warmth from them.

"What are you laughing at?" Youko asked when Sei snickered despite the tenderness in her eyes.

"I've never seen Eriko so shock like that. It's priceless," Sei answered, looking at the still speechless Eriko.

"Rei is worse," Youko commented, pointing with her eyes at Rei who after looking at Yumi with what seemed like an eternity, started walking towards Yumi while muttering 'Yoshino was right' over and over.

Rei tentatively reached out for Yumi's hand, feeling her, as if trying to make sure that she wasn't just a figment of her imagination. When she felt flesh and bone, she threw her arms around Yumi and hugged her tight.

After she released Yumi, Rei turned to Sachiko and hugged her tight. She was happy for her friend.

"Thank you, Rei."

Once Rei let go of Sachiko who had tears in her eyes, she went back to Yoshino and held her beloved cousin's hand. Though later on, she would surely reprimand her for hiding this fact to her. She could tell that Yoshino knew all along about Yumi and had kept it from her because she didn't believe her before. No wonder she had been fidgety for a couple of weeks. When she confronted her, Yoshino asked her to trust her and that she would know it when the right time came. For how long Yoshino knew about Yumi being alive, she wasn't sure.

Yumi tried hard not to fidget at the scrutiny of the people around her. Some were misty eyed, a few shed tears that she recognized as tears of happiness. However, the one with the red hair who didn't hug her made her feel like she had done something wrong with the intensity of her gaze. The red-haired woman was looking at her intently, as if scrutinizing her body and soul, while she stared back at her in surprise.

"Stop looking at me like that," the red-haired snapped at Yumi while a pink hue appeared in her cheeks.

"I'm sorry. It's just that, you look more beautiful in person," Yumi apologized quickly. No one could blame her, though. She didn't think she would meet the actress here in Sachiko's house. Sachiko hadn't told her that she knew Matsuu Touko. If Yana were here, she would be thrilled.

"Touko-chan, Yumi has amnesia," Sachiko gently reprimanded, before she turned to Yumi, ignoring the gasps of surprises around her.

"So that's why she acts different…" Shimako said to no one in particular. Noriko nodded, still not sure whether she would believe everything or not.

"Forgive me for failing to tell you that your little sister at Lillian, Matsudaira Touko, was also the same person known as Matsuu Touko in the entertainment world," Sachiko said to Yumi.

Yumi was surprised again, but this time she schooled her expression and smiled albeit anxiously.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't remember you, Touko, or any of you," Yumi apologized sadly.

"Still naïve," Touko said dryly.

Yumi stared at Touko in puzzlement. And then she was engulfed in a hug, tighter than Yoshino's. What more, Touko surprised her by bursting into tears.

"You're so stupid, Onee-sama," Touko whispered angrily, yet the happiness in her face belied her words.

Awkwardly, Yumi hugged the woman back and stroked her gently as she murmured soothing words. She felt hurt at the tormented look in Touko's face, not as strong as what she felt when she saw Sachiko sported the same look but still strong enough to make her heart ached with loneliness. Her expression scrunched as something flashed her mind.

"Leave me alone, Yumi-sama. I don't need your help."

"Aw come on, Touko-chan, don't be such a loner. Let's talk about it," Yumi cajoled.

"I said…"

"Please…"

"Hmp!"

Yumi blinked as everything became blurred again.

"Touko..."

"Are you really my Onee-sama? My Yumi-sama?" Touko asked in a shaky voice.

"I guess so…" she replied softly.

Once Touko let go of her, Yumi composed herself.

"I'm sorry, Touko, everyone," Yumi said, apologizing for the pain that they must have gone through thinking that she was gone. She may not remember them exactly, what they had played in her life before, but there was part in her that could recognized now that they were important to her, that they had been a part of her life, that they had played an important part in her life.

"It's not your fault, Yumi-san."

"Shimako is right. You were victim of circumstance. There's no need to apologize, Yumi-chan."

"The rest that happened was out of your control, Yumi-sama, and we understand that."

Yumi smiled with gratitude. She was glad to know that her friends before were nice and considerate. She liked them already. She wanted to remember everything about every one of them as soon as possible. She could hardly wait for that time to come.

A/N: Will Yumi remember everything now that she's with the others?

Of course not yet ;)

Until next time!

---Arvendell---

30 November 2008

6:00 PM