A/N: I woke up this morning and realized I've got nothing to do (or more like I didn't feel like doing anything because I'm alone! Sad ;( Though I brought work to do during the holiday, I won't start it just as my awaited vacation begins! After being unproductive for hours, I decided to read this chapter and see if I could post it already and so here it is ;)
But before you move on to the story, I'd like to say something (Again? Geez, what's with the long A/N all the time?! ;)
Sorry to disappoint you who are expecting more detailed heated scenes in this story. Sachiko and Yumi's first time is the most detailed that you would see (read?) in this story. I wanted to keep the story not focused on 'naughty' scenes. I want it to be romantic, drama/serious/angst, and yet fun at the same time. If I put too much emphasis on the 'naughty' ones, I believe I would stray from what this story is about….
(Eh? What is this story about again? Can anyone tell me? Haha :)
Some of you had noticed that earlier, even before the scene of Sachiko and Yumi's first time together, this story was rated M already. It's not really because I will put that scene in the story but rather because this story isn't a light reading, even if lately I'm making it light due to Yana's presence (I don't want a very tragic scene that involves a kid. That's torture for a young mind!)
Anyway, what I can promise you is that starting from the previous chapter, all you would read are nice and happy scenes. Minor issues are still not completely resolved, but all in all, everything is a relief for our beloved couple. If I can stretch the bad scenes, of course I can stretch the good scenes, too, you know ;)
Chapter 32. Happiness
Yumi woke up early. The sun hadn't risen yet. The room was still dark. She looked around in panic, not sure where she was or what happened. When her eyes settled on Sachiko's sleeping form beside her, she almost cried with relief. It wasn't just a dream. It was real. Everything was real. Sachiko was here. They survived the accident. She could remember Sachiko now and what she was in her life.
She inhaled and exhaled softly for some time, trying to calm her nerves. Once relaxed, she gazed at Sachiko's sleeping face. She's really beautiful, though somehow, she could see anxiety mingled with happiness in her beautiful face. Gingerly, she traced a finger to Sachiko's face, a smile marring her lips when Sachiko's frown melted. She outlined the beautiful face lovingly, thinking how she had rained it with both loving and hungry kisses just before both of them fell asleep.
Gently, she pulled the blanket that covered Sachiko's form. She gasped in pleasure at the sight that greeted her eyes. Even with the nightgown, she could see that Sachiko had become more exquisite than she could remember. Her eyes surveyed Sachiko, wanting to take in the sight of her, wanting to memorize every part of her. She just sat there for some time, watching Sachiko with love and desire flowing within her. There was nothing she wanted to do right now but to pull Sachiko and kiss her senseless. She wanted to make love to her as much as she could. It was something that they weren't able to do when she remembered everything earlier. They had been contented to hug and kiss each other over and over again before they decided to rest their tired bodies and minds. The events yesterday, the near accident plus the headaches and the recollection of her memories, had drained her energy. Sachiko, too, was physically and emotionally drained. But now…
Yumi's quiet reverie was cut off by the ringing of the phone.
"Who's calling at this early hour?"
Hastily, she answered the phone to avoid waking the sleeping princess at the bed. The word hello wasn't even out of her lips when a somewhat familiar voice started talking at once, which surprised her. She hadn't expected the person to forget formalities just like that. But probably, she was so worried for her daughter to mind formalities.
"Sachiko, what are you planning to do? Did you cancel the marriage already because Yumi-chan is alive? Why aren't you telling me anything? I hadn't talk to you for a long time. Tell me if there's still a wedding to pursue or none? The marriage meeting would be tonight. Are you still going to marry Suguru-kun? I told you before, you shouldn't have agreed to your grandfather just like that. Tell me what is going on with you, please," Ogasawara Sayako said worriedly.
Yumi's eyes widened at the news.
Sachiko?
Marry Kashiwagi.
Yumi thought about Sachiko getting married to Kashiwagi. Her eyes turned into slits.
Jealousy.
Suddenly, she was overcome by jealousy. There was no way in this world that she would let it happen.
Yumi turned to the sleeping person at the bed. Her eyes widened in surprised to see Sachiko already awake, looking at her intently. Her jealousy instantly disappeared at the sight of her beloved. She smiled at her.
"I'm sorry, but there will be no marriage between Sachiko and Kashiwagi-san," she said without breaking eye contact to Sachiko whose eyes widened in surprise, before it was replaced by a smile on her lips.
The person on the other line was quiet for a long time that Yumi thought she was not there anymore, but then she whispered in a nervous voice, "Who is this?"
"It's Yumi, Sayako-obasama," she answered softly. She heard the woman gasped.
"Yumi-chan," Sayako whispered in disbelief. "Is it really you?"
"Yes, Sayako-obasama, it is really me. Do you want to speak with Sachiko?" She asked, but the line was already cut. Sachiko's mother must have been so surprised. She shrugged her shoulders as she put the phone down, before she walked to the bed straight to Sachiko's waiting arms.
"Yumi, you can remember now?" Sachiko asked in disbelief and yet expectant face.
"Yes," Yumi said with tender eyes.
Sachiko smiled.
Yumi smiled back. It seemed Sachiko handled the news perfectly well.
"…"
…
Or maybe not.
Sachiko froze. Wide eyes stared at Yumi with puzzlement. She heard what Yumi said, but she couldn't quite comprehend it.
Yumi gazed at Sachiko's frozen state with love and understanding, then into remorse.
"Oh, Sachiko, I'm so sorry for what you've gone through at the thought that you lost me. I could never imagine the pain that you must have suffered. You are so strong, my love. If it had been me, I' would have probably given up from the pain a long time ago," Yumi said as she hugged Sachiko tight.
Sachiko remained in a frozen state until finally the realization hit her. She pulled away from Yumi and cupped her cheeks with wonder.
"D-do you really…" Sachiko tried to asked, but was unable to finish the question because her throat constricted and she had difficulty breathing. She could feel her heart drumming hard in her chest, almost deafening her as she impatiently waited for Yumi's confirmation.
"I do, love. I do," Yumi said softly, placing her hands on Sachiko's and squeezed them tight. Tears made way to her cheeks as a rush of emotions flooded her. However, one emotion dominated the rest.
Love.
Love for the person in front of her.
"I'm not dreaming?" Sachiko asked, wiping Yumi's tears with her thumb reflexively, still quite unable to believe that it was true. It just seemed surreal. No major event that happened. Only waking up and finding that the person who couldn't remember her yesterday now knew who she was. No. It must be the near accident yesterday. It must have overcome all the barriers in Yumi's mind.
Yumi smiled the smile she used to give Sachiko when they were younger. A soft, loving and heartfelt smile.
"Oh Yumi."
Sachiko let go of Yumi's cheeks and started crying at the realization that it was true, that her Yumi was back to her.
Yumi was truly back.
She had her Yumi back.
Her beloved was back to her.
Completely.
Her Yumi.
For some time, nothing could be heard at the room except crying, sometimes soft, sometimes almost hysterical. It was occasionally interrupted by quiet murmurs of love and apology.
Sachiko cried hard, letting go of her fears, her pain, her suffering, everything that hunted her for years at the thought that she had lost Yumi. Yumi held her as she cried, crying with her. And when finally she calmed down, she gazed at Yumi's face lovingly, a beautiful and happy smile adorning her face.
Yumi gasped softly at Sachiko's smile. It was so beautiful that it seemed to brighten the room. Gone was the loneliness in her eyes, the fears, the emptiness, the anguish, the bitterness, the anger. Finally, Sachiko had let go all of the demons that plague her soul for so many years.
"I love you, Sachiko," Yumi whispered with all the love in her heart.
"And I, loves you with all my heart, Yumi," Sachiko whispered back in the same emotion. Finally, she had her love back. She had her back completely.
The two reunited couple shared a kiss that was so tender it brought another bout of fresh tears in their eyes. When they broke the kiss, they stared at each other intently, as if trying to memorize the face of their other half.
The trance was broken when they heard a happy squeal outside. They stared at each other quizzically, before they remembered something important. With all the emotions rushing over them, they had forgotten the presence of another precious person at the house.
"That must be Yana."
"You're right," Sachiko agreed when she saw that Yana's bed was empty. She had completely forgotten that there was supposed to be a third person in the room.
"She must be pestering your servants, Sachiko," Yumi said, smiling humorously.
"I bet she does," Sachiko said, sporting the same smile as Yumi.
The two of them couldn't help smiling a lot that they decided to just let it adorn their face for as long as their cheeks and jaws could take. Sometimes, though, a tear drop or two would fall from their eyes, but they were tears of happiness, of relief.
"Care for some breakfast, love?"
"I would love, too, sexy," Yumi teased, giggling when Sachiko's face reddened. "I missed saying that."
"I missed hearing that, beautiful," Sachiko replied with a smile.
Yumi giggled all the more, ignoring the heat that covered her cheeks and something more inside her.
---o---
Sayako surprised Sachiko and Yumi when she showed at Sachiko's doorstep just before lunch time. She stood frozen there for what seemed an eternity, gazing at Yumi with wide eyes. And when Yumi greeted her good day, she surprised Yumi again by enveloping her in a tight hug as she cried almost hysterically in her shoulders.
Yumi held Sayako as she cried. Somehow, she understood her. Sayako was a witness to Sachiko's suffering. And seeing Sayako like this, pained Yumi more as she could somehow understand what Sachiko's life was like while she was away.
"Yumi-chan, thank you so much for coming back to my daughter's life," Sayako said in a broken voice. She couldn't stop herself from crying. She was so happy, especially with the happy and contented smile on Sachiko's face when she greeted her, something she thought she would never see again.
"No. I'm the one who should thank you, Sayako-obasama. Thank you for taking care of Sachiko while I was away."
Yumi's words only made Sayako cry harder.
Laughing, Sachiko joined the hug as she teased her mother for being such a cry baby. Sayako hugged her and Yumi before she let go and pouted at her daughter, though inside, she was smiling with happiness.
"You're just like me, Sachiko. You're quite a sight, too, when you're crying like a baby," Sayako said, laughing faintly when her daughter scowled at her. She had never thought to see Sachiko being playful like this, so happy that her face was glowing.
Sachiko's smile faltered when her gaze settled at the man standing at the door. She hadn't noticed him before, and hadn't expected to see him in her house. And she had never seen him looking so unsure before, looking so old.
"Father?"
Tooru cleared his throat, before he spoke in a voice that Sachiko had never heard from him before.
"I only wanted to make sure that you're alright, that everything is alright now. Please excuse me."
Sachiko watched her father turned and made his way away from her house. He hadn't made it far when she called him to a stop.
"Father, won't you stay here for some time?" She asked softly.
Tooru's face brightened, before he nodded and slowly made his way back into the house. Sachiko surprised him with a hug. Sachiko had never hugged him before, saved when she was just a little kid. He closed his eyes at the feel of it, at the joy of having his daughter in his arms. He had forgotten this feeling before, this happiness, this contentment at seeing his child so happy.
"Father, thank you so much. Thank you for everything you have done to Yumi, for protecting her and her family. I know I haven't been the daughter that you had wanted me to be, but I…"
Tooru cut Sachiko's words with a laugh.
"You are everything that a father could hope for, Sachiko. I'm the one who had not been a good father to you."
"Yes, you are a good father, Sir, because you did what you could for the person that your daughter cares so much," Yumi interjected with a smile. She was so happy for Sachiko, for finally having her family fully supporting her.
Tooru smiled.
"I haven't done a very good job at it. But now, everything's fine. Don't worry anymore. As long as I am breathing, no one would touch my daughters. No one," he promised.
Yumi's eyes blurred with unshed tears. As Tooru opened his one arm for her, she joined him and Sachiko in a hug.
Yes, everything would be alright now.
---o---
That day after Yumi got back her memories, she immediately went to her parents. When she arrived at their house in Osaka, the Fukuzawa couple was so surprised when they were hugged tight by their crying daughter. At first they felt worry and anger, thinking that someone had done wrong to her again, that the Ogasawaras had done something to her again. However, at the sight of her smile, they calmed down, only to be surprised again at the sight of Sachiko and the Ogasawara couple at their door. Confused, they stared at their daughter.
"Mom, Dad, thank you for everything. Thank you for all that you've done for me. Thank you for deciding to come back here in Japan," Yumi said emotionally.
"Yumi-chan?" The couple asked nervously, their hearts beating fast. Could it be…
"Yes, Mom, Dad, your Yumi-chan is finally back. I love you so much, Mom, Dad," Yumi said softly, before she giggled when her Mom burst into tears. She could see that her Dad too, had misty eyes as he laughed happily.
And when Yuuki came down, having heard the commotion downstairs, Yumi surprised him by throwing her arms to him like a child. She really was happy. She couldn't contain her happiness.
Yuuki tried to balance himself as he held his sister in bewilderment. But seeing the smiling faces of everyone at their house, his bewilderment turned into a joyful laugh as he whirled Yumi around. He understood. He had his sister back.
"You know what this means, Yumi. I can tease you again to my heart's content," he teased, which Yumi responded with a pout before both of them broke into laughter.
Of course someone had to interfere them.
Feeling left out at the commotion, Yana tugged on Yuuki's pants. She raised her hands imploringly when Yuuki looked at her.
"You want a hug, too?"
"I want to fly, too, Daddy Ken," Yana said with puppy eyes, making everyone burst into laughter.
"Whatever my little girl wants," Yuuki said as he picked Yana and whirled her around, too.
A/N: And that's what I'm finally leaving you for 2008. Hope you enjoyed it ;)
The remaining chapters are entitled Farewell, Smile, and Perfect. There's also an Epilogue (which is most likely become another chapter because originally, it was less than 700 words but as I was revising it last week, I couldn't stop myself from writing and before I knew it, it was more than 1,700 words already!) I'll probably write another Epilogue (grinning sheepishly). Or I might not. Who knows? We'll just find out next year ;)
Oh, by the way, my birthday is on the first week of January so be sure to wrap your gifts and send it to me with a smile once I'm back here ;) I like ice cream and cakes, and anything nice. I accept cash, too haha ;) Heck, as you get older, you don't receive anymore but rather, you spend more. Well, as long as everyone is happy, who cares?!
With that, I am wishing you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year! Enjoy the holiday and have fun!
Until 2009!
---Arvendell---
18 December 2008
4:05 PM