(This fiction is based on the characters and settings created by Oyuki Konno)
"A marriage contract?" Youko said shocked, looking up for from the papers in her hand. "Who's the lucky man?" She asked the younger girl. The two women were sitting at a corner table in a coffee shop by Youko's office. The young lawyer was wearing a black business suit and had a cup of tea in front of her. She looked at her younger companion, awaiting the answer to her question.
"Kashiwagi-san," Yumi replied, embarrassed.
"My, my, my. How surprising. You might as well give the the whole story before I look through this," the older girl said indicating the packet of papers before her.
Yumi recounted the story behind the marriage contract, and her standing in for Sachiko at the nuptial altar. Youko's expression alternated between shock and concern as the story was related to her. When Yumi finished her tale, Youko nodded understanding and asked. "You know, Sachiko is not going to take this well when she finds out."
"I know, and I ask you to please keep this secret, until I have a chance to break the news to her." Yumi responded.
Youko sighed and asked Yumi, "Can I have 1000 yen?" Yumi fished out the requested amount out of her purse and handed it to her older friend. "Now that you're a paying client, you are protected by attorney/client privilege. Anything we talk about concerning this is confidential." Youko explained to the brown-haired girl.
"Thank you, Youko-sama." Yumi said relieved.
Youko picked up the document and started reading it. Every once in a while she would make notes on a pad she took out of her briefcase for that purpose. After about 20 minutes, she put down the contract, pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed heavily. "This is one hell of a contract, Yumi-chan," she told the girl waiting patiently across from her.
Yumi looked back at the older woman, "What do you mean, Youko-sama?" she inquired.
Youko replied, explaining each clause of the contract to Yumi. Essentially, upon her marriage to Suguru, Yumi receives a generous monthly allowance and if the marriage were dissolved, Yumi leaves with nothing. In return Yumi would be required to be a dutiful, supportive, obedient wife, as well as conceive an heir within the first two years of the marraige. The ensuing child would be registered as an Ogasawara. If any of the requirements were not met, it was at the discretion of the head of the Ogasawara family whether to dissolve the union or not. Since divorce and annulment were forbidden under the terms of the contract, the only ways out of the marriage were death or dissolution. If she didn't want to go through with the wedding, there was an option where Yumi would receive a monetary settlement, but in return she would then have to move away and have no further contact with the Ogasawara family.
Yumi looked grim after hearing the detailed explanation and said, "So either I run away and never see Sachiko again, or I marry Suguru and be an obedient, little baby factory."
Youko answered her. "That's it in a nutshell, however you are well compensated either way. One more thing Yumi-chan, you have to sign this contract by midnight tomorrow, or it will be null and void."
"What if that happens, or I choose not to sign it?" Yumi questioned.
"Then I guess the original wedding plans stay in effect. Sachiko and Kashiwagi will be married. And for what it is worth Yumi-chan, whatever you decide, you will have my support." Youko told her young friend.
"Thank you, Youko-sama." Yumi said, sighing as she collected the papers from her senior and got ready to leave. "Bye, Youko-sama. I'll let you know my decision." Yumi bowed, taking her leave of the older woman.
Youko watched the girl slowly walk away, as if the weight of the world settled on her shoulders. "I pray things work out, Yumi-chan. I really do," she said to herself as she wiped a tear from her eye.
Upon his visit to the Ogasawara mansion, after running his errand, Suguru bumped into Touko as she was waiting in the sitting room. "Touko-chan, I didn't expect to see you here?" He said.
"I'm just waiting on Sachiko. We were planning on doing some shopping, Suguru onii-san." Touko replied. "What brings you here."
"I was just running an errand for grandfather. I had to drop something off for him," the young man answered, then continued. "By the way, I spoke to Yumi-chan today."
"Did you try to talk her out of it?" Touko asked cryptically.
"Ah, Touko-chan, I should have figured you would know about the change to the wedding," Suguru said. "But to answer your question. I tried, but I fear I just made her more determined to go through with it. She was going to sign the marriage contract right then and there, but …."
Just as he was about to finish his sentence, Suguru was interrupted by Sachiko, who was waiting in the doorway. "What's this about my Yumi signing a marriage contract!" she said hysterically, swooping into the room to face her cousins.
Touko stepped forward to try and calm the older girl. "Calm down Sachiko, we can't explain anything until you settle yourself and are ready to listen." The young girl pleaded.
"How can I calm down, when the woman I love is going to get married, and everyone seems to know except me. Who is this man? Who wants to steal my Yumi?" Sachiko shrieked.
"Me," Suguru stepped forward and told the older girl.
Sachiko brought her right hand back and slammed it hard against Suguru's cheek. It connected with a loud 'smack'. "Why, Suguru? What could you want with her?" Sachiko cried.
The young man recovered and answered. "It wasn't my idea. If you want reasons 'why', ask Yumi-chan. It was her idea."
Sachiko took a deep breath, collecting herself. "Yumi's idea?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes Sachiko," Touko piped in. "She's taking your place, so you don't have to live in an unhappy marriage. She is giving you freedom."
"How did she get such and idea?" Sachiko asked.
"It has something to do with your grandfather." Touko answered apprising Sachiko of the previous day's events at her grandfathers office.
At the end of Touko's tale, Sachiko turned to the younger girl. "Why didn't you do something to stop her?" Sachiko asked, her anger causing her voice to crack and Touko to shrink back in fear from Sachiko's flaming eyes.
"I wasn't in there with them," Touko explained. "I was just called in afterward. Even then, I didn't know the whole story, until Yumi told me in the car, on the way to the bridal shop."
"She's already chose a dress?" Sachiko asked, her frustration raising her voice even more, causing Touko to cringe as she nodded.
"Sa-chan," Suguru interjected. "It's not Touko-chan's fault. Lay off her. We've both been doing what we can to talk her out of it. She's not listening to us. All she sees is a way to protect you, like a knight rushing off heedlessly to save her damsel in distress."
Sachiko smiled inwardly, imagining Yumi in plate armor, riding on a white charger. 'Oh Yumi, what have you done?' Sachiko thought to herself. "Protect me from what?" the older girl asked.
"From reverting to the 'old' Sachiko again. I can't blame her either, I like the happier, more relaxed Sa-chan also." Suguru answered. "At least I stopped her from signing the contract, without reading it first. I told her she should ask a lawyer to explain it to her fully."
Sachiko mellowed as her eyes gained a hopeful gleam. "Onee-sama," she whispered under her breath, as she reached for her cell. Flipping it open she dialed the numbers without looking. After a minute the line connected. "Onee-sama?" Sachiko said with a tremble in her voice.
"Sachiko, what's wrong?" Youko asked.
"Have you by any chance seen Yumi?" Sachiko inquired.
"We had a bite together earlier. Is something wrong?" Youko responded.
"It all depends on what you two talked about?" Sachiko prodded.
'So Sachiko knows about the contract,' Youko thought to herself. 'How can I reach her without breaking my word to Yumi? I got it!' "You know I can not discuss a client's business Sachiko."
"Ah, I see," Sachiko stated knowingly. "When did you leave her? I really want to try and catch up with her." Sachiko asked her grande soeur.
"Well I just got back to my office, so maybe fifteen or twenty minutes."" Youko suggested.
"Thank you, onee-sama, I'll try giving her a ring." Sachiko finished, closing her phone.
A/N: I have more written. Hopefully I'll have a chance to type it in and post it later this weekend. Again thanks to all who are following this story.
