A/N: This continues from where the last chapter ends off.

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

Touko and Suguru, overhearing her side of the conversation, looked at Sachiko expectantly. "Well, Yumi met with Youko, presumably about the contract and left her about fifteen or so minutes ago," the older girl imparted. Sachiko dialed another set of numbers saying, "If I know her, she's probably heading to the office, in order to turn over that contract." When no one answered the line, Sachiko left her girlfriend a voice message, "Whatever you do, don't sign the contract. We'll figure out another way."

"I hope she gets the message." Touko said worriedly.

Sachiko turned to Suguru. "Take me there," she ordered as she grabbed her purse and walked out the door of the sitting room. The other two persons followed close behind.

Yumi walked the short distance from the cafe to the Ogasawara Group's headquarters. She was tired, mentally tired from her thoughts running in circles. She didn't want to get married. She didn't want to lose the woman that lived in the center of her world. All Yumi really wanted was the status quo. It would be wonderful if they could run away together, but Yumi would settle for what she had already. Sachiko and her together, no obligations, no expectations. Her deepest dream was to come home from work and be greeted with a smile from the love of her life. However, she knew, deep down, that it was never going to happen, and she and Sachiko would be separated. She would suffer either way. If her suffering could help the person she loved, then there was no other choice to make. She would be a silent martyr for her love. 'Let's get on with it," Yumi thought to herself, as she stood up and walked through the glass doors of the tall, imposing office building. Once through the doors, she marched through the atrium, boarded an elevator, and headed for the top floor.

Yumi exited the elevator and walked to the young lady manning the reception desk. "Excuse me, I'd like to see Ogasawara-sama please?" Yumi inquired of the receptionist.

The receptionist responded icily, "He is going to be in meetings for the rest of the afternoon. It would be best if I made you an appointment, Miss..?"

"Fukuzawa Yumi," Yumi responded. "It's about ..."

Hearing her name, the receptionist stood up and bowed, interrupting Yumi. "I'm sorry Fukuzawa-sama, I didn't recognize you." The frightened girl said apologetically. "Come with me please."

Yumi followed the receptionist to the large office she was in yesterday. As Yumi entered the office, the secretary said, "Have a seat, Fukuzawa-sama, I'll go tell Ogasawara-sama you are here." The young lady bowed low and left, closing the door behind her.

Yumi made herself comfortable in the big leather chair across the large wooden desk. 'There is no turning back now,' Yumi thought sadly, as she waited. 'Sachiko, my love, I hope you'll understand.'

Yumi turned her head as she heard the office door open behind her. In walked Sachiko's grandfather accompanied by a tall, dark-haired, gentleman wearing a three-piece suit. Yumi stood up and greeted him, "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Ogasawara-sama. I hope I am not a bother."

"You're never a bother, Yumi-chan. I asked one of the company's lawyers to join us in case you had any questions about the contract. Please sit," the old man said as he took his seat behind the desk.

Yumi sat and placed the packet of papers she had been clutching tightly, on the desk. "That's not necessary sir. I've already had the contract explained to me. Where do I sign?" Yumi questioned.

The lawyer came over to Yumi, and flipped to the last page of the contract. He indicated a place at the bottom of the page. "Sign and date it right there," he told the young girl as he handed her a pen.

Just as she was about to sign, Sachiko's grandfather asked her, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Yumi took a deep breath and answered, "Yes, it's for the best." She leaned over, placed the pen to the paper, signed her name, and wrote the date on the form. The lawyer leaned over and collected the papers, just as a commotion was heard outside the door of the office.

"... really can't go in there," the receptionist's voice sounded as a raven-haired goddess burst through the door and into the office. She was followed shortly by her two cousins.

"Yumi. Stop!." Sachiko yelled at the younger girl once she was through the door, "Don't sign that contract!"

Her grandfather responded merrily. "You're too late, Sachiko, my dear. Yumi-chan just finished sighing it."

Sachiko gave Yumi a pained expression, as tears started to form in her eyes. She then turned to her grandfather, dropped to her knees, and bowed low to the ground. "Grandfather, please, I beg you, tear up that contract. I'll gladly follow through with the wedding. Just let Yumi go." Sachiko begged the old man.

Yumi ran over to her girlfriend pleading, "Get up Sachiko. It is unbecoming of a lady to beg." Yumi bent down to pull the older girl to her feet. Soon Suguru came over and gave Yumi a hand. Once Sachiko was standing Yumi looked into the sad, sapphire, eyes and told her lover. "I can't let you live a lie, Sachiko. I'll marry him. You're free now." Yumi wrapped her arms around the taller girl, embracing her tightly and said, "I love you Sachiko. Let me do this for you. " Yumi kissed Sachiko's lips as she moved away from her love.

Suguru leaned in and whispered into Sachiko's ear, "I'll take good care of her Sa-chan. I promise."

Sachiko's grandfather spoke to the lawyer. "Escort Yumi-chan home to get her things, and then take her to the mansion. Me and my granddaughter need to talk."

The lawyer moved over to Yumi and grabbed a hold of her elbow. "Fukuzawa-sama, please come with me," he said as he guided her to the office door.

"Touko, go with Yumi." Sachiko ordered. Touko quickly complied, following Yumi as the lawyer led her out the door. Touko shut the door behind her after she left.

Sachiko stared at the door with longing for a couple of seconds before being interrupted by her grandfather's voice. "Have a seat, Sachiko."

Sachiko responded with venom in her voice. "No, thank you. I'd rather stand, Ogasawara-sama."

"As you wish," the old man said flatly. Suguru you may leave," he told the handsome young man.

The younger man put his hand on Sachiko's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "I'll be waiting outside, Sa-chan." Suguru said as he exited the office.

As the door closed, Sachiko spoke to her grandfather, "Why did you involve Yumi in this. She isn't part of the family. You have no right to impose this on her."

Sachiko's grandfather met her eyes and patted the contract in front of him. "Once this contract was signed, Yumi-chan became a member of the family," He said, then continued. "She signed this of her own free will. It was her choice."

Sachiko interrupted the old man with an icy voice, "Yumi is an innocent. All she knows is black and white. How dare you take advantage her in that manner."

"I did what I thought best for the company and the family. I know what the marriage would do to you. So when Yumi-chan came in, I gave her the choice of taking your place or running away. She chose to stay. She chose you." The man behind the desk told the girl in front of him.

'But at what cost?' Sachiko asked herself sadly then spoke, "You talked about doing what is best for the family. Yumi, as you say, is now family. What's best for her?"

The old man shot back. "Technically she is family, but she is not blood family. She is just the means to an end. I'm sure after the wedding you two can come up with some way to be together. Much in the manner of your father and I."

As Sachiko was listening to her grandfather's words, she realized that she didn't want to be a part-time lover. She wanted to be with that mocha-eyed girl full-time. Sachiko wanted to see her triumphs, and be there to cushion her failures. She wanted to watch Yumi's brown hair slowly turn gray. Finally she understood how deeply she hurt Yumi with her careless words before graduation. 'I'm so sorry, Yumi!' she wailed in her head. "But what about love?" Sachiko asked softly.

Sachiko's grandfather laughed at the question. "Love? 'What about love?' you ask," the old man said with contempt at the word. "In our world, love is just a hindrance, a weakness. It only holds us back from making the proper decisions that increase the standing of the family. There is no room for love."

"Then there's no room for me," Sachiko bit back angrily. "If 'love' is such a dirty, four letter word to this family, I want no part of it! Good-bye Ogasawara-sama." she said turning toward the exit.

As she was heading for the door, the old man spoke up. "So what are you going to do without the luxuries you've been accustomed to?"

As Sachiko opened the door to leave, she turned around to answer the old man behind the desk. "I will live happy," she said as she walked out of the office and headed toward the elevators. Suguru followed close behind.

"What will you do now?" Suguru asked as the boarded the elevator.

"Move out. Live on my own. Make my own way," the raven-haired girl replied. "I have the money grandmother left me. I'll be okay until I can get on my feet," she added.

Suguru looked at her with admiration. "How did you get so brave, Sa-chan?" He asked as they were walking through the atrium.

"I had a good teacher Suguru. You better take good care her while I find us a way out of this sticky situation." Sachiko told the young man.

"I promise. Yumi-chan is in good hands." Suguru vowed as they reached his car. "Can I drop you anywhere?" He asked.

"No thank you. A walk will help me sort things out. But if you could ask Yumi to pack some things for me. I would appreciate it." She asked her cousin.

"Sure, just let me know where to deliver it." Suguru agreed.

"I'll give you a call when I find a place. See you." The tall girl said as she walked toward the train station.

A/N: This is all I have for now.. I will be working on more over the next week, but I probably will not get a chance to type or post it until next weekend. Thanks again for following my story. Have a wonderful week ahead.