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

The two girls had left the restaurant full of joy and feelings of love, after Sachiko's proposal and Yumi's subsequent acceptance. Hopes were high for the rest of the evening, as they gazed longingly at each other on the ride home. Once Sachiko sent the driver home and they entered their apartment, the two girls came together for a passionate kiss-fest. The passion soon turned awkward as Sachiko held herself back, not wanting to push her girlfriend too fast. Yumi, sensing the older girls hesitation was having second thoughts. The two girls broke apart, each red-faced and apologetic, changed and went to sleep for the night.

The next morning Sachiko got up to find Yumi already gone, leaving a note and an omelet waiting to be reheated. The black-haired girl read the note and smiled as she re-warmed breakfast in the microwave. As she was eating the breakfast Yumi prepared, she thought about her failure the previous night and decided to get her mother's advice on the situation.

"Sachiko, how are things? How's Yumi-chan," her mother asked.

Sachiko answered, "Things are going well here. Yumi is going to be teaching at the elementary branch."

"Why do I feel a 'but coming?" Sayako pressed. "How is Yumi-chan doing after ..." the older lady left hanging.

"Physically, she is doing well. She also seems mentally stable, but ..." Sachiko explained the events that happened last night and the ongoing awkwardness about their intimacy. "I am just at a loss as to how to handle things now," the younger woman finished.

"First, congratulations are in order. I truly believe you and Yumi-chan are meant for each other. It will be nice to have someone else to spoil." Sayako admitted before she continued. "As far as the awkwardness is concerned. You may just have to accept it. Things were always strained with your father after my experience. Why do you think I let him have those 'others'. I wasn't able to fulfill his needs in that way, so why should he have to suffer. In all fairness though, he never knew what had happened until I told him earlier this week. And since then, he's changed. He actually broke things off with the 'others' and started doting on my like he used to do when we were first dating. But as far as you and Yumi-chan are concerned, all you can do is be as patient and supportive as you can when she is ready to work things out.

Sachiko sighed in resignation when she responded, "I guess you're right mother, but it just hurts to know she is hurting and there is nothing I can do to fix it. Do you think there is anything you can do?"

"I could talk to her about it, but I would really need some sort of pretense to get together with her." Sayako offered.

"It would be odd for you to just call her out of the blue," Sachiko agreed.

"I got it," Sayako said as a light bulb went off above her head. "Considering your good news, it would be appropriate for us to get the families together and have a little celebration. Don't you think? We can have it here Saturday afternoon. I can try and get Yumi alone and see how things play out."

Sachiko laughed into the phone and teased her mother, "All you want is an excuse to have a party, mother"

Sayako responded laughing, "You know me too well, dear."

"I'll give Yumi a call and see if it is all right with her and get back to you, OK?" Sachiko told the older woman over the phone.

Sayako agreed, and the two women said their good-byes. Once she cleaned up her breakfast dishes, she sat down again and dialed her girlfriend.

Xxx

Yumi awoke early. She turned to look at her sleeping girlfriend and smiled sadly. "I'm sorry about last night, Sachiko," she said quietly so as not to wake the older girl. Yumi didn't even know how to respond to last night's fiasco. She quietly got out of bed and padded out of the bedroom. Yumi showered, dressed, and started breakfast with the older girl being none the wiser. She looked over toward the bedroom, 'It's better this way,' she thought. 'I can't face her right now. Not after last night. It isn't really fair to Sachiko for me to lead her on and then get cold feet. I really do long for her touch, but then my mind short circuits and I feel myself bent over that desk again. Helpless.' After the omelets were ready, she plated them, wrapped one up for Sachiko with a note, and left it on the counter. She then brought her's to the table to eat. Halfway through her meal, her eye was captured by the diamond adorning her left ring finger. 'Oh Sachiko, what am I going to do?' she thought and started weeping silently. Once she had cried herself out, she rose and threw away the rest of her omelet. After she cleaned up the kitchen, Yumi collected her things and hurried out the door before Sachiko awoke.

When Yumi reached her classroom, she immediately got settled and delved into her work, in and effort to avoid the her nagging worries about her physical relations with Sachiko. She focused on the lessons she was going to teach until the sound of her cell phone interrupted her. Turning away from the math text she was reading, Yumi reached for her phone and flipped it open, "Hello?"

The brown-haired girl's heart warmed when she heard her girlfriend's voice on the other end of the line. "Good morning Yumi," the older girl said happily. "Thank you for the delicious omelet you made me this morning."

"It was my pleasure, dear." the younger girl said, happy to know her effort was appreciated.

"You are too good to me, you know," Sachiko stated before continuing, "I just wanted to let you know that I told mother about us. She was head over heels at the news. She wants to get our families together for a little party at the mansion Saturday. I was wondering if you could extend the invitation to your family."

After hearing where the celebration would be, Yumi's heart raced and stomach tightened from fear. "The mansion, you say," the younger girl asked surprised.

"It was mother's suggestion. I know it will be awkward and stressful for you considering what happened the last time you were there, but 'HE' is on his way to the new house in Kyoto. If you really don't feel comfortable there, I am sure my mother would be alright with a change of venue." Sachiko explained.

Yumi swallowed hard before she decided to face her fears. "Don't worry about me, the mansion will be fine," she responded, forcing herself to sound pleased.

"Are you sure?" Sachiko asked skeptically.

"I'll be fine, love. Let me go ahead and call my mom about the party. I'll let you know what she says." Yumi told her girlfriend. "Bye Sachiko, I love you."

"I love you too, Yumi." Sachiko said as she broke the connection.

Yumi put down her phone and slowly got her nerves back under control. Saturday she would be visiting the site of her worst nightmare. 'I'll be fine, Sachiko will be with me,' the young teacher thought. Yumi's heartbeat returned to its steady pace and she picked up the phone to call home.

It had only been a couple of days, but so much had happened during those few days, that it felt like an eternity since Yumi last talked to her mother. She flipped open her phone and dialed the familiar digits. After two rings a lady's voice answered, "Fukuzawa here."

"Hi Mom," Yumi said, perking up at the sound of the comforting voice.

"Yumi, how nice to hear from you. How's Sachiko's wedding plans going?" Miki asked her daughter.

"They're not. The wedding has been canceled," Yumi answered and then proceeded to tell her mother about the deepening of her and Sachiko's relationship and the party Sayako was planning at the Ogasawara residence. She carefully avoided any mention of what had happened to her there.

"Oh Yumi, I am so happy for both of you. It's about time something good happened to you two," Yumi's mother gushed happily over the phone. "Why don't you give me their number and I'll call to accept for us and see what we can bring. I just can't wait to tell your father and Yukki. They'll be over the moon."

Yumi chuckled inwardly and smiled, her own self getting caught up in her mother's excitement. Finally when her mother stopped to take a breath, Yumi gave her the Ogasawara's phone number, said her good-byes and hung up.

Yumi dialed Sachiko back to let the older girl know about the conversation with her mother and that Miki would be calling over there later.

"Great news. I'll call mother right now to let her know to be expecting her call," the older girl said happily.

"And Sachiko, could you also ask your mother not to say anything about the incident. I really wouldn't want to worry my family over it." Yumi pleaded nervously.

"Don't worry, Yumi," Sachiko told her girlfriend, "My mother knows how to be discreet. OK?"

"OK," Yumi said relieved. "Let me get some more work done and I'll call you before I leave. All right honey?"

"That's fine. I love you," Sachiko said over the phone.

"I love you too. Talk to you later." Yumi responded.

Sachiko hung up the phone and sighed, 'She called me honey,' the black-haired girl thought fondly, blushing. After a moment, she became serious. 'Ooh, I better hurry up if I want everything ready by the time Yumi gets home.' She thought as she looked into the refrigerator.

Xxx

Yumi left Sachiko a message as she left the school, saying that she was on her way. She continued walking home. Smelling smoke as she approached the door to the apartment, she rushed inside to find Sachiko kneeling in the middle of the kitchen, crying into her hands. Yumi went over to the weeping girl and knelt down in front of her. Placing her hands on Sachiko's shoulders, the brown-haired girl asked gently, "What's wrong?"

Hearing Yumi's voice, Sachiko broke into a fresh bout of tears. Through her sobs, the older girl said, "I w-wanted to surprise you. You've b-been working so h-hard for us and I wanted to make a d-dinner for y-you to come home t-to. Like a r-real wife s-should. But I burned the bread, scorched the fish, and I have a pot of rice paste. I'm sorry I can't be a good wife to y-you." Sachiko sniffled and wiped her teary eyes.

Yumi looked around the mess that used to be a kitchen, and smiled, tears welling up in her eyes. "You did all this .. for me?" the younger girl said as she choked up. "Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before. Thank you Sachiko," Yumi finished as she wrapped her arms around her girlfriend, pulling Sachiko close.

"B-but I failed," Sachiko stated. "I burnt everything."

"Just the fact that you tried, makes me happy. You thought enough of me to move out of your comfort zone and attempt to cook dinner for me. I am the luckiest person in the world. I love you so much," Yumi explained to the older girl, kissing her head. "Now, wipe those tears, help me clean up this mess, and I will teach you how to make something. OK."

Sachiko looked up at Yumi, smiled and placed a light kiss on her girlfriend's cheek, before saying, "You're wonderful. You know that, love?"

Yumi blushed, seeing the adoration in Sachiko's eyes. "Let's get to it," she said as she helped the older girl to her feet.

A/N: Thank you for reading. I appreciate each and every one of you.