A/N: One moment I was revising this chapter. And then the next moment I was in Chapter 34. No wonder I got confused sometimes. I type whatever comes to mind whatever chapter that is haha ;)

Anyway, again, third update in a week!

Spikesagitta (and some of you) would surely think that it's a gift before I'll be away for a long time. Well, that might be true this time ;) Our holiday break will start on December 18 and I might go somewhere (undecided yet) where if I want to access the internet, I have to travel for more than half an hour or so. You know what that means…

If ever I'll leave on 18 (and be back next year – yay! Long vacation!), then most likely you will be able to read Chapter 32 next year, too.

Well, that's a possibility that you have to expect. We'll just find out later, right?

Chapter 30. A Repeat?

"Are you sure you're fine here?" Sachiko asked for what to be the nth time.

"Don't worry I'll be fine. I wouldn't set your house on fire or something," Yumi teased as her eyes roamed Sachiko's form once again. That suit really made Sachiko looked more intimidating than she already was. And she looked hot, too, she thought with a blush.

"Okay then," Sachiko conceded with a sigh. She didn't want to leave Yumi, but something came up at the office that she couldn't leave to other people's care. Her presence was necessary. She couldn't be stubborn and ignore it. She had to take care of the company, too, for her future. With Yumi.

"If anything happens, call me right away."

"Yes, yes. You said that four times already," Yumi said with a giggle, though inside she felt warmth at Sachiko's concern.

"Being the clumsy that you are, I'm quite worried," Sachiko said with raised eyebrows. She was well aware that Yumi wasn't the same clumsy girl anymore, but she couldn't help but tease back.

"Try me," Yumi challenged.

Smiling, Sachiko planted a soft kiss on Yumi before she headed to the car. She wanted to be done with her appointment as soon as possible.

---o---

Sachiko tried to hold in her temper. Why couldn't these people agree already and be done with it? She wanted to finish this and move on with her other tasks for the day and then go back to Yumi.

At the thought of Yumi, she allowed her face to soften a bit, before it went back to being stern and intimidating. She had never been this grumpy in a meeting like she was now.

'It's time to end this,' she thought with a frown.

Sachiko intervened to the ongoing discussion to get everybody's focus back on the real reason why they were having a meeting.

After another hour or so, Sachiko sighed with a small douse of relief. One task done. She just had to sign the pending papers and she could go home to Yumi.

Yumi.

Yumi in her house.

How was Yumi doing?

Was she lonely without her?

What would she do once she was back?

And about her amnesia, what were they going to do? Should they see a doctor specializing on Yumi's case?

Would she…

Sachiko's thoughts were cut when she heard a chuckle, a very familiar chuckle, followed by another familiar voice. She looked at the door to her office and saw two familiar figures, one looked carefree and the other looked dignified and intimidating. Both were looking at her with mirth.

"Will you look at that? The strict Boss being unproductive is such a sight to behold."

"Don't you two know how to knock?" Sachiko asked, trying to sound scolding but failed because of the smile that touched her lips.

"We did."

"Oh wow! That's what I'm talking about."

"It seems you've made progress with Yumi-chan."

"Onee-sama!"

"Her face said it all, Youko baby."

"You're quite right, Sei. So, how's Yumi-chan doing?" Youko said as she gave Sachiko a hug. She was relieved and glad that Sachiko looked so happy. She had missed the sight of her little sister happy.

"She's doing fine. We're fine. However, she couldn't remember yet. There were flashes of memory, but it's not enough," Sachiko said, a look of sadness touching her face.

"It will be alright, don't worry," Sei said, patting Sachiko's shoulder.

"I hope so," Sachiko said sadly, before she looked questioningly to the couple.

"Some people wanted to see you," Youko said before Sachiko could voice her question.

Sei walked towards the door and opened it, revealing familiar faces.

Sachiko's eyes widened as her heart beat furiously.

---o---

"It's so beautiful and quiet here," Yumi said softly as she gazed at the expanse of the lake. She had been here for a couple of hours already. After Sachiko left for work, she stayed at the house for some time before she decided to pass her time near the lake.

She had been thinking a lot about her life. It seemed that after meeting Sachiko, her world had been turned upside down. She was in love with a woman, and she was sure she had been before she lost her memory.

What was she going to do?

True, this place was paradise, and being with Sachiko was incomparable. However, what would be next? Would she remember eventually or would she forever lose her past? Would she be contented with the bits and pieces of what she had remembered and build new ones with Sachiko? And whether she remembered her past or not, would it be okay if she and Sachiko lived together? Would her family allow it? Would Sachiko's family allow it? Would Sachiko accept Yana in her life? In their lives? How would Yana react?

The accident. She was sure that it was a vital event. She believed that it had something to do with her relationship with Sachiko before. She couldn't think of any reason why it had happened. Were they really just at the wrong place at the wrong time when it happened? Or was it intended?

She shook her head to dispel the thoughts away. The more she thought about her past and the future, the more questions arose, and the more confused she got. She didn't like to be confused anymore. She had been for as long as she could remember. She was getting tired of it already. Whatever Sachiko's decision, she would do it. She promised Sachiko that she would never leave her and she intended to do that. Everyone would have to understand that.

"Mommy!"

Yumi straightened her back. Yana probably missed her so much already that she could hear her voice. She missed her so much, too. The thought of Yana crying at her absence made her heart ached with loneliness.

"Oh, Yana. I missed you so much. I wish you're here with me now," Yumi said sadly. If Yana was here, she was sure that she would brighten the place and her mood. It wasn't that she wasn't happy being with Sachiko. It was just that Yana's presence would surely take their mind off a lot of things that were troubling them. A break that both she and Sachiko needed.

"Mommy!"

That's another one.

Frowning, Yumi turned from the source of the voice. Shock covered her face before her breath was knocked out of her.

"Yana?"

"Mommy!"

Yumi couldn't believe that Yana was here. She hugged the little girl in surprise and happiness.

"Missed you, Mommy," Yana said, clinging to Yumi tightly.

"I've missed you, too, Baby. I'm sorry that Mommy didn't come home immediately," Yumi said tenderly, kissing Yana's hair before she turned to the person behind Yana with questioning eyes.

"They came to me this afternoon," Sachiko explained with a smile.

"They?"

Yumi frowned with confusion. Did Sachiko mean…

"Your parents, Yuuki-kun and Yana."

Yumi tensed. Why did they come here in Tokyo? What did they say to Sachiko?

"Don't worry. Everything is fine. They just wanted to talk to me," Sachiko reassured at the worry that showed in Yumi's face. She could understand Yumi's reaction. Yumi had found out that the last time she met with the Fukuzawa couple, they had refused her request. She was so worried earlier, too, when Yumi's family came to her office. However, after they had talk, she felt nothing but relief, happiness and strength. The Fukuzawas had forgiven everything, and wasn't mad at her. They explained that they were just so worried and afraid before, but now, they were entrusting Yumi to her care, to her help to Yumi to remember everything.

"Mommy, Sachiko is really nice and pretty," Yana said, smiling happily.

Both Yumi and Sachiko giggled softly.

"Baby, I told you it's Aunt Sachiko," Yumi gently reprimanded, which Yana answered with a pout.

"I don't mind, Yumi," Sachiko said with a smile, which made Yana squeaked with happiness.

"See Mommy? She's really nice!" Yana said happily, smiling at Sachiko cutely.

"You stole my number one fan, Sachiko," Yumi accused with a smile.

"I deny that accusation. I can't help it if she likes me best, can I?" Sachiko said with raised brows.

Yumi giggled again then said, "Because you've been spoiling her ever since you two met each other."

"I disagree with…"

Sachiko's denial was cut by Yana.

"Mommy, can I go swimming?" Yana asked, eyeing the lake wistfully.

"Sure."

"Yay! Can I swim now?" Yana asked, trying to break free from Yumi's arms.

Sighing yet smiling, Yumi looked at Sachiko for permission who nodded in return.

"Sure. Let's change into something."

Soon, Yana was running around cheerfully like the child that she was, making Sachiko and Yumi laugh.

"I like it here. Mommy, can we live here?" Yana asked, her blue eyes begging at Yumi.

Yumi giggled as heat colored her cheeks. Suddenly, she was unsure what to say. True, she and Sachiko were sort of in a relationship now. But to live together this early, she wasn't sure. She and Sachiko hadn't yet talk about things like living together. In fact, she had been wondering about it earlier.

At Yumi's silence, Yana turned to Sachiko and said cutely, "Can Mommy and I live here? Daddy Ken, too, and Grandmom and Granddad?"

The idea made Sachiko warm. She, Yumi and Yana together? She didn't have any problem with that. In fact, she loved the idea. Yumi's daughter would be like a daughter to her, too. Well, she had been treating her like one already.

"Sure."

"Yay!"

Yana squealed happily and kissed Sachiko's cheeks before going back to playing.

Sachiko laughed softly.

"She's like you, Yumi. Both of you knew how to use those eyes of yours."

Yumi giggled nervously, before she turned serious and looked at Sachiko.

"Sachiko, about what you said…"

"I meant every word of it. You and Yana could live here. I'd be delighted. If you're worried about work, you could work at my company, our company," Sachiko said seriously.

"Sachiko…"

Yumi felt a rush of affection. She moved closer to Sachiko and hugged her tenderly. She felt so lucky at having Sachiko's love. She wanted to return Sachiko's kindness and loving with everything she could, but the one thing that she believed would truly make Sachiko happy apart from her love was of her remembering her past. She hoped she wouldn't make Sachiko wait longer.

---o---

"Let's go, let's go!" Yana said excitedly, pulling Yumi. They were going to an amusement park again and Yana could hardly wait.

"Alright, alright," Yumi said, laughing as she let Yana pull her.

"Sachiko, hurry up!" Yana said when she saw Sachiko lagging behind.

"Yana, what did I tell you about calling Sachiko Aunt?" Yumi said seriously yet gently. Normally, Yana would follow what she said, sometimes with pouting but nevertheless she would. However, when it came to calling Sachiko with respect, she had already told her three times and still her daughter refused. Maybe because Sachiko let her get away with calling her by her name.

"Don't want to," Yana said before letting go of Yumi and went to Sachiko to pull her, too.

"Yana…If you don't want to call her Aunt, then how about…" Yumi said patiently, rolling her eyes when Sachiko raised her brows as if challenging her to make Yana obey.

"If I can't call her Sachiko, can I call her 'love' then?" Yana asked, which made both Sachiko and Yumi stop in their tracks.

"Why 'love'?" Yumi asked in confusion.

"I heard you call her 'love', Mommy. Can I call you 'love', Sachiko?" Yana asked innocently, oblivious to the blush that covered the cheeks of her two elders.

Sachiko cleared her throat. She tried to say something, but nothing came out of her lips.

"Why don't you call her Mommy, too?" Yumi came to Sachiko's rescue, smiling sheepishly at her suggestion.

"Okay then. Mommy and Mommy Love, let's go!"

Both Yumi and Sachiko blushed all the more. They looked at each other for some time, before a smile slowly made way to their lips. Soon, it turned into giggles.

"I think I have a competition with you, Sachiko," Yumi teased. She was really happy that Yana liked Sachiko so much. Maybe it wouldn't be really a problem if the three of them live together.

---o---

Sachiko couldn't stop smiling as they made way to the car. She was so happy she thought her heart would burst any moment. She, Yumi and Yana had a really nice time together. They were like a family, she thought with a blush.

"Sleepy…" Yana murmured, snuggling close to Sachiko. She had insisted to stay beside Sachiko for most of their time, which made Yumi really happy.

Sachiko smiled at Yana tenderly before she turned to the driver.

"Let's go."

Once the car started, Yumi was back to her anxious self when it came to riding cars. Though the driver was driving carefully and slowly per Sachiko's order, she couldn't still help but worry. Last time, she had clung onto Sachiko. Earlier, Yana had distracted her thoughts. But now that Yana was asleep, she couldn't help but think about the car and the accident and…

Yumi's thoughts were halted when she was thrown forward to the back of the driver's seat. She heard Sachiko's loud gasp followed by the screeched of tires.

A/N: What do you think is next? Is it Recollections or Farewell? ;)

(Readers giving death glares because of the cliffie :(

(Author trying to look as innocent as possible though she couldn't hide the mischievous glint in her eyes and the amused grin in her lips ;)

(Readers attempting to torture the author :(

(Author happily logging off to attend a professorial lecture ;)

That means, until next week!

---Arvendell---

12 December 2008

1:48 PM