(This fiction is based on the characters and settings created by Oyuki Konno)

Touko sat on the plush, leather sofa as she watched her friend pace the length of the waiting area, located on the top floor of the Ogasawara Group's main headquarters in Tokyo. While waiting, the girl thought about the phone call she received last night, which brought her and Yumi to be in this particular situation.

**** FLASHBACK ****

"You want me to do what?" Touko said into her phone.

"As I said before, " Yumi responded, "I would like you to set up a meeting between me and Sachiko's grandfather."

"But, wouldn't it be easier to ask Sachiko to set it up as a casual meeting at the mansion?" Touko suggested.

"It probably would, but I don't want Sachiko to know about this." Yumi explained.

"What are you up to, Yumi?" the younger girl asked suspiciously.

"I can't tell you that right now." Yumi answered, "All I need to know is can you do it?"

Touko sighed into the phone, "I'll do my best. I give you a call when I know more."

"Thank you, Touko." Yumi said, "Remember, I am counting on you."

Touko hung up the line and lay down on her bed, wondering what game was afoot.

**** END FLASHBACK ****

"Yumi, would you stop pacing, you are wearing a hole in the carpet. Come sit down." Touko chided the older girl and patted the seat next to her.

Yumi turned and sat where indicated. "I'm just so nervous," Yumi saod wringing her hands to keep them from trembling.

Touko took Yumi's hands in her own. "Take a deep breathe and relax. Do you want to talk about it?" the younger girl asked.

Yumi exhaled and said, "Not just yet. I don't want to get any hopes up."

Touko looked in Yumi's eyes and said, "Remember, I'm here for you." She gently squeezed her friends hands to accentuate the point.

Just then an older gentleman came out of one of the offices and headed toward the two girls. When Touko saw this, she stood up and Yumi followed suit. When the gentleman reached the area in front of the them, Touko greeted him, bowing. "Honored grandfather thank you for meeting me. I hope you are well."

"I am good, thank you Touko-chan. Who is your cute friend?" the man asked the younger girl.

"I am Fukuzawa Yumi, Ogasawara-sama, pleased to meet you." Yumi said bowing low with respect.

"Ah, so you are the girl I have heard so much about. The sweet girl who melted my granddaughter's heart and made her smile again." The older man said. Turning to Touko he asked, "How may I help you Touko-chan."

Yumi piped in, "Actually, it was I who asked Touko to set up this meeting. Can we speak in private, honored sir."

"Come with me," the older man said indulgently and walked toward an office. When Touko started to follow, Yumi turned to her and said, " Why don't you wait here. This is something I have to do on my own."

Touko frowned and said, "OK, I'll wait here, but you will explain this."

Yumi nodded and went to follow the head of the Ogasawara Group into his office. Once the two entered the office, Sachiko's grandfather shut the door and said, "Have a seat, Yumi-chan, and tell me what's on your mind."

Yumi sat down in the leather chair across from the older gentleman, now seated behind the big desk. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves and stated. "Ogasawara-sama, I came to talk to you about Sachiko's wedding."

"Ah, the wedding, it has been a long time coming. It will benefit the families and increase the power of the Ogasawara Group. It will be a wonderful day." The old man said smiling.

"I don't believe Sachiko will be happy. She doesn't love Kashiwagi-san, and he feels the same way. They will both be sentenced to a loveless sham of a marriage. Both of them will suffer. Surely there must be another way to consolidate the families." Yumi pleaded.

"So you want me to cancel the wedding. Why does it even matter to you, Yumi-chan." He asked.

"Because I love Sachiko and I want her to be free and happy. She means more to me than anything else." Yumi asserted.

"I know all about your relationship with my granddaughter. I'm sure after the wedding we can make 'accommodations' for the two of you." The old man said flatly.

"I don't want our relationship to be hidden away like a 'dirty little secret'." Yumi shot back.

"Yumi-chan, think of it practically. Many mistresses live quite well hidden away. However I wouldn't want Sachiko to suffer needlessly. There might be another option." Sachiko's grandfather said thoughtfully. "It all depends on how much you love her."

"What do you mean?" Questioned Yumi.

"Well, since Sachiko made you her petit soeur, you are part of her family. If you love her enough to take her place at the altar, she would be free and the merger would still happen. Or in order to spare you, I could send you far enough away with enough money to get you started, provided you never returned."

Yumi thought about her options. The second one meant essentially giving up and running away. That was something Yumi couldn't allow herself to do. If she married Suguru, Sachiko would be free, but she would be stuck in Sachiko's position. 'I'd rather suffer than her; and as long as she is happy that's all I can ask for.' Yumi thought and sighed resignedly, "I'll take her place then," she answered, "but please let's not tell Sachiko until the wedding." Yumi added.

"As you wish. Now we only have a little less than a month until the wedding. I have some plans to make." He clicked on the intercom and asked for Touko to be brought in. "Yumi-chan, a driver will be waiting to take you to the bridal shop. Get whatever dress you want, and put it on our company account. Touko will go with you."

Yumi bowed low and took her leave of the old man. "Thank you for your time," she said before she left with Touko.

Touko looked at Yumi and asked, "What was that about?"

"I'm marrying Suguru instead of Sachiko." Yumi said matter of factly.

Touko did a double-take. "What!" she exclaimed.

Once the ladies got in the black sedan. Yumi recounted to Touko her conversation with Sachiko's grandfather. "I didn't know what to do. I went in there to try and get the wedding canceled, but when I couldn't I was offered the option to run away or marry him. I love Sachiko and I want her to be happy. I can handle it a lot better than she could. "I'll miss her, but at least she has a chance to find her own happiness." Yumi said resolutely. "I don't care about myself, I just want Sachiko happy. Can I count on you to be there for her when I can't?"

Touko, resigning herself to her friend's decision replied, "Sure, whatever you say. I don't agree with your decision but I will respect it."

"And you can never tell Sachiko about this until after the wedding. OK?" Yumi stated firmly.

"It will be our secret." Touko answered. "But if I am to support you, I need to know what you are thinking. Can you let me in?"

"When I was asked, 'How much do you love her?' I thought about it. I love Sachiko more than life itself. If my death would free her, I would gladly fall on my sword. So marrying Suguru should be a walk in the park, compared to dying. I would at least be alive in case the situation changed. Don't you think that is a small price for me to pay to let Sachiko find her own happiness?" Yumi elaborated.

Touko shot back angrily, "Don't you realize that YOU are Sachiko's happiness."

"At least she has more choices now. If she was locked in the marriage, she wouldn't even have that. I have to do what I can for the woman I love." Yumi told the younger girl as they pulled up in front of the bridal shop.

The two girls entered the shop. They were greeted by the sales clerk as soon as they walked in. "You are from the Ogasawara Group?" When they indicated assent, they were immediately escorted to a viewing salon. Yumi recognized the consultant, as the one which had serviced them beforehand.

Yumi addressed the consultant, "I was here yesterday with my friend. Remember the ballroom style dress she asked me to try on. I would like that one please?"

"Certainly," the consultant replied. "I'll bring it right back." The consultant exited the salon to retrieve the dress.

Touko looked at Yumi in wonder. "How did you know what to ask for?" The younger girl asked.

"I was here with Sachiko picking out her dress yesterday and she wanted me to try this one on. Sachiko liked it on me. It's the least I can do to ease her anger at what I am doing." Yumi explained to the younger girl.

Just then the consultant came back in carrying the dress. Yumi took it and went behind the changing screen and tried it on. When Touko saw Yumi as she came out, her jaw dropped and Yumi asked. "What's wrong Touko?"

Touko regained her composure and replied, "You do make a pretty bride. You look gorgeous in that."

Yumi blushed red and went to stand on the fitting platform as instructed. A seamstress came in to adjust and pin the dress. Once all the alterations were made, Yumi changed back into her clothes and the two girls left the boutique. Outside, Yumi left Touko with the driver, while she stared to walk home. As she was walking her cell phone rang. "Hello." she answered.

"Yumi-chan, is that you?" A male voice responded.

"Suguru-san, how nice to hear from you. What can I do for you?" the brown-haired girl asked.

"I just found out about the change in the wedding. Why did you agree to it, Yumi-chan?" Suguru asked angrily.

"Now Sachiko is free from her family obligations. Why are you so angry? Am I not acceptable to you?" Yumi shot back.

Suguru responded coldly, "It makes no difference who I marry. You know my preferences."

"Just think about it Suguru, you might even like being married to me. After all I can dress up in my brother's clothes and you can finally act out your deepest fantasy." The girl said sarcastically as she hung up the phone, and continued walking.