A/N: Finally, I had bought what I wanted (and needed). Savings drained and short in cash, I don't care that much! I hope with this new gadget, I would be able to write more ;) I named it Yash (I wanted to name it as Sunako – female lead character in Nadeshiko Yamato – but my friend argued that it should be a name for male because it is black. I said Yuuki but she said again that it should be one syllable for easier reference. How come it's so hard to choose a name?! Heck! I would have named it Beast if I had my way! Haha ;)

I noticed (and most likely you people, too) that most of the time I wrote nonsense in A/N. Nevertheless, I'll probably continue to do so (because I feel like doing it ;) You can ignore it, scoff, roll your eyes, or smile, whatever you like, just don't curse me ;)

Okay, here's something related.

I should have been clearer on my statement at the previous chapter. I'd like to rephrase what I said. "The extent of their relationship will be revealed to you readers but not yet to Yumi."

And more, I was…I couldn't explain it. I feel like there's something missing/amiss in this chapter and yet I couldn't tell. Or maybe there's really nothing wrong and I'm just worried over nothing. Whatever! I'm leaving it as it is.

Here comes naughty me!

Chapter 28. Yearning

Yumi waved to the others as they leave. She was sad that they had to leave already because of appointments and other matters (though unknown to her, it was planned by the group to let her be alone with Sachiko).

At the same time, Yumi was also nervous and thrilled to be alone with Sachiko in one house. Despite the barraged of emotions and questions brought by what she and Sachiko had shared near the lake before, Yumi was undeniably happy, and was surprisingly handling the situation well. Even though the want to be as close as possible to Sachiko was so strong every time she was near her, she suppressed that pleasant yet confusing emotion.

Maybe it was because she didn't want to see Sachiko's pained face. Or maybe because of the kiss itself. Or maybe something else. Whatever the case might be, she would let things happen as it should. For now, she acted like nothing happened, although she was more observant than ever when it came to Sachiko. Sachiko, too, had acted calmly around her and the others.

"Don't worry, Yumi. You'll see them soon," Sachiko said soothingly.

"Yes. I hope at that time, I can remember them already. They are quite a lively bunch, aren't they?" Yumi said. Though she couldn't remember any of them from before, she liked all of them already.

"I hope so," Sachiko said with a hopeful look, before she schooled it with a calm expression.

"Are you going to work tomorrow, too?" Yumi asked sadly. The thought of being separated from Sachiko made her want to stop the time from moving.

"No. I've been working hard for the past years. I think I need a break."

The smile that made its way to Yumi's face was enough to brighten the place and made Sachiko's insides flipped over.

"You look so beautiful when you smile like that, Yumi," Sachiko said with a slight flush in her cheeks.

If possible, Yumi's smile widened some more. She ignored the blush that crept in her cheeks. Sachiko's words made her really happy.

"Ever since I met you, I can't seem to stop smiling a lot, Sachiko."

"Really? I'm glad."

Yumi's brow furrowed. She thought this kind of conversation had happened before. However, she decided not to voice it out loud.

---o---

"I'm sorry, Sachiko, but I don't love you anymore," Yumi said sadly.

"No…" Sachiko whispered with horror. Yumi wouldn't say that, would she?

"Thank you for everything you had done for me, but I really can't return your feelings anymore. I have forgotten it already."

"No. That's not true…"

"I'm sorry, Sachiko."

"No. Yumi…Yumi!"

"Sachiko!"

Sachiko woke with a start. She was breathing heavily and was sweating profusely.

"Sachiko, what's wrong?" Yumi asked with concern. She was awoken by Sachiko screaming her name in pain. It made her worried and hurt for her.

Sachiko's blurred and hurt blue eyes turned to Yumi in surprise, realizing that she wasn't alone in the room.

"Yumi?"

"Yes?"

Before Yumi could speak more, Sachiko had engulfed her in a tight hug and cried on her shoulders.

Confused and utterly worried, Yumi hugged Sachiko tight to herself and whispered soothing words.

"It's okay, Sachiko. I'm here. I won't leave you."

Sachiko pulled away just enough to stare at Yumi intently amidst the tears that flowed from her eyes.

"Do you promise?"

The length of time that took Yumi to answer made Sachiko to think negatively. She pulled away from Yumi completely as another bout of tears flowed in her cheeks.

"No!" Yumi said, pulling Sachiko back in her arms.

"Yumi?"

Sachiko was confused. Her scared and hurt soul due to the dream wasn't able to process everything coherently. Yumi had said no but her actions spoke differently. However, she didn't voice out her confusion and instead let Yumi's warmth envelop her, easing her pain.

After a few moments, it was Yumi who pulled away from the hug and instead cupped Sachiko's tear-stained cheeks. She caught Sachiko's gaze and said seriously, "I promise I won't leave you, Sachiko."

It wasn't just a promise to appease Sachiko but it was also what she felt within her. She didn't want to leave Sachiko no matter what. She was still confused, alright, but one thing was sure within her. She didn't want to be away from Sachiko. It hurt her just thinking about it.

Gently, she kissed Sachiko's cheeks, drying the tears away. When Sachiko reacted by pulling her lips towards hers, she didn't resist like what she did the first time it happened near the lake. She kissed Sachiko back gently, feeling her whole body burned with the contact.

After some time and a few more gentle kisses, Sachiko pulled away and lay back to the bed, pulling Yumi with her with her arms still around Yumi. She was calmer now. The nightmare still lingered in her mind, but she didn't want to worry Yumi again.

"Thank you, Yumi."

Yumi nodded. Now more than ever, she had too many questions in her head. She wanted all the many questions running in her mind to be over. However, the worry and confusion, not to mention the bliss from the kiss, or make that kisses, stopped her from thinking about it. She didn't want to think about sad thoughts at the moment. She just wanted to savor the exhilarating feeling inside her. Besides, she had already decided earlier to let things happen as it should.

---o---

Sachiko stared at the ceiling for a long time. She felt it when Yumi had finally fallen asleep. She would have loved to join her and sleep, too, but she was still a bit worried that she would have the nightmare again. Her worried eyes turned to her left and gazed at Yumi who was fast asleep. She wiped the remains of her tears in her cheeks and gently, she tightened her arms around the woman beside her, enjoying the feel of her in her arms. As she did so, she thought about the things that happened near the lake before and of what just happened earlier. Yumi had kissed her back. At the first time, she pulled away, but this second time, she welcomed the kiss.

"Yumi, please remember me already. I missed you so much. Come back to me, love," she whispered softly, pleadingly.

And just like before, memories played around Sachiko's mind as she remained awake that night. One particular memory was vivid. It was a precious memory.

"Yumi, what happened to you?" Sachiko asked once the door to the Fukuzawa house opened and revealed a sweaty and dirty Yumi.

"Sachiko?" Yumi gasped, then flushed at being caught untidy.

"Yumi. I said, what happened to you?" Sachiko asked again.

"I…I'm cleaning the house," Yumi answered as she let Sachiko in who gazed around the house.

"I see. And are you done?"

"Yes. I'm about to have a shower now."

Sachiko's frown melted into a smile.

"Too bad. If I had come earlier, I would have helped you."

Yumi's face contorted as she imagined Sachiko holding a broom and a dustpan or a vacuum cleaner. She definitely couldn't imagine it. She snapped out of her reverie when she heard Sachiko's faint laughter.

"Uhm yeah, uh Sachiko, do you need something from me?" Yumi asked with a faint blush.

"I figured I'd accompany you while your parents are away and Yuuki isn't here either. Would you mind?" Sachiko asked a little worried. Was it really alright to invite herself just like that? But when she found out that Yumi would be alone, she didn't think twice and came here. She didn't want Yumi to be alone and lonely.

Yumi gazed at Sachiko and then at the small traveling bag at her hand. A smile broke her face.

"I don't mind, Sachiko. I don't mind at all."

"I'm glad," Sachiko said with a smile before she put her arms around Yumi who squeaked in surprise.

"S-sachiko?"

"Where's my kiss? You haven't given my welcome kiss yet?" Sachiko teased, giggling when an unhealthy shade of crimson covered Yumi's cheeks.

"I guess I'll just get it from you, right?" Sachiko continued and leaned towards Yumi who squirmed from Sachiko's arms.

"N-no. I'm all sweaty and dirty and…" Yumi's protests were cut-off as Sachiko's lips covered hers. Amidst feeling slightly embarrassed, she kissed Sachiko back.

The two shared a gentle kiss for sometime, before Sachiko pulled away, eyes sparkling when Yumi moaned in protests.

"You want more, love?"

Yumi flushed all the more in embarrassment, indignation and amusement. Not to mention from desire.

"You're making it your habit to tease me, aren't you?" She said with a pout, gasping when Sachiko leaned once again and kissed her briefly.

"There. That should do it for now. So, anything I can help you?" Sachiko asked with a giggle.

Giggling too, Yumi shook her head and helped Sachiko with her bag.

Later that night, as they prepared for bed, Sachiko noticed Yumi trying to massage her shoulders and back.

"Yumi, come here a moment," Sachiko said and gestured for Yumi to lie in bed.

Yumi's eyes widened in surprise and her heart started hammering her chest. Her mind had immediately jumped into conclusions. Why would Sachiko want her to…She stopped thinking and followed Sachiko's order while blushing furiously.

"On your stomach, Yumi. I'll massage your back."

Yumi's face flamed anew in embarrassment. What was she thinking?! Stupid!

Berating herself, she lay in her stomach as Sachiko pulled her pajama top up. She tried not to squirm away when her back was exposed to Sachiko.

Sachiko gasped softly when Yumi's smooth back came into view. 'It looked delectable,' she thought, then berated herself immediately. What was she thinking? She took a deep breath before she started massaging Yumi's shoulders with her slightly trembling hand. Why couldn't she stop it from trembling? She hoped Yumi wouldn't notice.

Yumi moaned, not only due to the comfort that the gentle massage was doing on her aching shoulders and back but also of Sachiko's seemingly burning yet soft hands on her back. It made her breathless, and made her feel something else. She closed her eyes as she enjoyed the feeling.

The little sounds Yumi created made Sachiko feel warm inside and stirred the desire within her from its slumber. Add the feel of Yumi's soft, smooth back, Sachiko knew she was in trouble. She was breathless. She had a strong want to touch not only Yumi's back but other parts of her as well. And she wanted her lips to also feel Yumi's soft, smooth back.

Yumi's eyes snapped open as she caught her breath in her throat. She felt her ears burned and her nipples hardened.

Why? Because Sachiko's soft warm hands had gently grazed the sides of her breasts. She was sure that it was an accident. When it wasn't repeated, she relaxed a bit and closed her eyes again as thoughts extremely naughty filled her head.

Yumi was trying to put the naughty thoughts away from her head when once again she felt Sachiko's hands gently grazed the sides of her breasts. She flinched and moaned with embarrassment and pleasure. Then, the grazing was repeated. Once. Twice. Until the hands just settled there, unmoving.

"Sachiko, I think you're getting carried away," she breathed. She felt the hands stiffened, before Sachiko pulled them away while muttering an apology. Yumi pulled her pajama top down and turned around to face Sachiko whose face was beet red. She reached out and held Sachiko's clenched hands with hers just as she held the latter's gaze. Then, with her shaky hands, she brought those hands to her lips and kissed them softly, before she put them inside her pajama top right on top of her aching breasts. At the touch, she froze. Anxiously and impatiently, she waited for Sachiko's response to her bold action.

Sachiko's inside flipped over as she sat there, frozen, her hands resting on the gentle swells of Yumi's front. She felt their softness and the heat coming from them, making her feel warm all over. She swallowed hard, before she started moving her hands gently, and her eyes widened when she saw Yumi caught her breath and her soft brown eyes turned darker with passion. Not breaking eye contact, she gently caressed Yumi, and had the satisfaction to see her threw her head back as she moaned, her back arching at her touch. She didn't need further encouragement. With trembling hands, she unbuttoned Yumi's pajama top until she had an unobstructed view of the things that had made her breathless. With a groan of pleasure, she leaned down and kissed Yumi's chest.

Yumi grasped the sheets tightly as she gasped and moaned at the feel of Sachiko's warm, moist mouth on her aching breast. This was just too much. Heat traveled within her and settled just below her stomach. It was driving her crazy. Sachiko was driving her crazy.

Sachiko kissed and nipped the gentle swells in front of her, giving it all the love and passion she felt at the moment. Before her burning lips moved lower, she raised her head and gazed at Yumi with blue eyes full of passion.

"Yumi, can I kiss you there?"

Hadn't Sachiko kissed her already, Yumi thought with confusion before she croaked in agreement, "Y-yes."

Yumi shivered when Sachiko's eyes turned darker as she went back and kissed her navel just as her hands pulled her pajama bottom down, which was shortly followed by her cottony soft underwear.

And then Yumi understood Sachiko's question. Her eyes widened, before they shut tightly as she bit her lips to stop from moaning out loud. All thoughts flew out of her mind as Sachiko kissed, licked and nibbled her. It was more than she could handle, and it wasn't surprising that it didn't take her long to come moaning Sachiko's name. And Sachiko stayed there as she trembled with the intensity of her pleasure, before Sachiko's lips made their way upward and settled on her lips and kissed her hungrily. She kissed her back. She tasted herself in Sachiko's lips, smelt herself in Sachiko, mingled with Sachiko's scent.

"Sachiko, where in the world did you learn to make love like that?" Yumi teased once she had her sanity back and as she gently pushed Sachiko on her back. She had the satisfaction to see Sachiko's face turned red.

"I'm sorry, Yumi. Did you not like it?" Sachiko asked worriedly and stupidly, earning laughter from Yumi.

"Yes I don't Sachiko, because I love it very, very, very much," Yumi said, blushing at her words though she didn't shy away from Sachiko's gaze whose eyes flashed with pride and pleasure.

"I'm glad," Sachiko breathed.

"Now, it's my turn," Yumi said as she started kissing Sachiko.

Sachiko shivered at the memory, her body now aching to touch and be touched. That particular memory was among her treasured ones. It was their first time together, of the very first time that Yumi became hers and she became Yumi's.

How long was she going to hold back her feelings, and how long was she going to wait for Yumi to be back to her again, she didn't know. The thought of Yumi not remembering her forever was killing her, weighing heavily in her lonely and yearning heart. Even if Yumi had promised she wouldn't leave her, she couldn't be at peace.

The kisses they had shared, what did Yumi truly felt about them? What did they mean to Yumi? Did Yumi kiss her back the first time because she initiated it? And the second time to pacify her? Would the Yumi now really love her again like before? And if she did, would she accept it? What if she fought her feelings?

Once again, tears ran down Sachiko's cheeks with pain, before she wiped them angrily. She had already gone this far. There was no way she would lose hope and give up now.

A/N: We are closer now ;)

What's next? Happiness? Recollections? Acceptance? Perfect? A Repeat? Farewell? Smile?

That's the tentative titles of the remaining chapters. That's not arranged according to the order of chapters! I'm just messing with you guys (meanie me! ;) Oh come on, don't be mad. Let me have my fun from time to time ;)

You'll like the next chapter I'm telling you.

If you don't, well…have it your way.

(Pouting…

…frowning

…then grinning again ;)

Expect the next chapter before this week ends! (Unless something troublesome happens!)

---Arvendell---

08 December 2008

3:05 PM