"Onee-sama!" Yumi opened the door eagerly, greating her Onee-sama with a warm smile. "Come in," she gestured inside.
"Breakfast is ready," Yumi began to babble, thrilled to have Sachiko in her home for the first time. In fact, she'd been babbling for hours, something she hadn't done since she was in elementary school.
"I was up at six this morning. I couldn't sleep. I've never been to a hot-spring resort before. I wasn't sure what to pack. I've been waiting for you this whole time," she continued without skipping a beat, gesturing for Sachiko to follow behind her.
"My mother's already made breakfast. Both she and my father really wanted to be here to see you, but they had to go meet some friends this morning. They send you their greetings though, but Yuuki's here. Yuuki! Yuuki! Onee-sama's here. Come say hello."
"Good morning Sachiko-san," Yuuki greeted as he came down the stairs. "Please excuse my sister this morning. I think she's possessed. She hasn't been able to stop talking since she got up."
"Yuuki!" Yumi glared at her brother.
Sachiko smiled affectionately, a soft laugh escaping her lips.
"Yuuki," she glanced around the small rooms as she followed Yumi towards the kitchen. "Please tell your parents they have a beautiful home."
Yuuki bowed his head graciously. "Thank you Sachiko-san. I'll let them know."
Yumi grinned up at her Onee-sama as she took a seat at the table. "I'll show you my room when we've had breakfast. Oh!"
Yumi stood back up again as she remembered something.
"Would you like a cup of tea? There's coffee as well, but I've never really seen you drink coffee so I--"
"Yumi!" Sachiko moved towards the younger girl and grasped her by the shoulders. Much as she found her excitement adorable, she couldn't let her continue in this manner. She had a job to do as the girl's older sister.
"Relax! Take a deep breath and Relax. Think before you speak, Yumi."
Yuuki laughed. "I've been telling her to do that for about an hour now."
"Hey!" Yumi made a face at her brother before turning back to Sachiko. "I'm sorry. I'm just a little excited. Would you like some tea Onee-sama?"
"I'd love some, thank you Yumi," Sachiko replied with a smile before taking a seat.
They consumed the morning meal leisurly, the conversation flowing smoothly with topics ranging from the success of the school festival to the future plans of the Hanadera school council and even to the upcoming Roses election.
When the meal had finished, Yuuki helped his sister clean up, excusing her from washing up duty so she could escort her Onee-sama upstairs.
"Go on Yumi, I'll finish up down here."
Flashing her brother a huge grin, Yumi grasped her Onee-sama's hand and led her upstairs.
Sachiko looked around Yumi's room with a warm smile. She found the stuffed toys adorable, but couldn't help lingering on the photos pinned up against the wall. She smiled fondly at the one depicting their first meeting, recalling the days immediately following. They'd come a long way since then.
"That's still my favourite," Yumi interrupted Sachiko's thoughts, moving to stand beside her.
"It seems so far away now."
Yumi smiled. "At least you can finally remember when it was taken. I was such a huge fan of yours, and when you couldn't even recall the moment we first met, I felt crushed. You broke my heart Onee-sama. "
"Are you teasing me Yumi?"
"Maybe a little," Yumi grinned.
Sachiko looked down at the younger girl and laughed. She found it amazing how much she'd come to care for her. Impulsively, she reached over and placed her hand against Yumi's cheek, brushing her thumb affectionately over her skin.
"I was very much a hysterical child back then."
Yumi blushed at her Onee-sama's touch, her eyes lifting up to meet her gaze bashfully.
"You were never a child Onee-sama. Hysterical maybe, but never a child."
"Baka!" Sachiko tapped her cheek playfully. "Silly girl."
Yumi giggled and wraped an arm affectionately around Sachiko's waist, resting her head comfortably against her shoulder. "I love you Onee-sama."
Sachiko's heart warmed at the words. She could count on one hand the number of times Yumi had spoken them to her. As close as they'd become, she could still sense that Yumi was holding something back. In all fairness she herself wasn't much better. She too found it difficult to always express the feelings in her heart. Particularly as the feelings continued to grow...heading in a direction she found both terrifying and exhilarating.
The love they spoke of was pure and innocent. The natural love one had for a sister. And yet...the way her heart ached when Yumi wasn't around...the way it sped up at the sight of her...the way her eyes could find her instantly in a crowded room...that kind of love transcended all convention. Deep down she knew there was something more to the bond they shared, but a part of her was too terrified to give its meaning form.
"My Yumi," she whispered softly, presing a tender kiss atop the girl's hair. "What shall I do with you?"
Pulling away with a smile, Yumi looked up at her with adoration. "How about you help me finish packing? I'm still not sure what kind of bathing suit to pack. I was thinking a two-piece. What kind did you bring?"
"Bathing suit?"
Sachiko furrowed her brow in confusion.
"No bathing suit?" Yumi looked up at her with surprise.
"What for?"
"I-I-I... I see," Yumi stammered, her blush deepening. "So you didn't pack a bathing suit?"
"The pool area isn't open this time of year Yumi. It's too cold to go swimming. The hot-springs themselves are sectioned off and very private. One is able to reserve visiting times. Which reminds me. I've reserved ours for 12 today. If we don't get moving we'll be late."
"I'm sorry," Yumi apologised. "I'm almost done packing. I just need to grab a few items from the bathroom. I'll be right back."
Sachiko watched pensively as Yumi left, her thoughts returning to her strange reaction. Enjoying the benefits of a hot spring was a part of Japanese tradition and one couldn't do so if adorned with a bathing suit.
Sachiko lifted a hand to her mouth as a sudden realisation came to her. She quickly shook her head to stop the notion before it materialised. She couldn't bring herself to even think about such things...
"I'm ready Onee-sama."
Yumi's entrance brought Sachiko out of her thoughts and she gave the girl a warm smile in greeting.
"Lets go Yumi. The driver's waiting for us outside."
When they arrived at the resort, Sachiko stopped by the reception desk to check in and pick up their room key before leading Yumi upstairs.
"Wow!" Yumi glanced around their suite in awe as she dropped her overnight bag.
There was a small kitchen area in the corner and Yumi immediately refrigerated her mother's home-made lunch. In the centre of the room was a coffee table, a couple of armchairs and a fairly large sofa looking onto a medium sized Television set.
As she continued to explore, Yumi opened the door to the bedroom they would share, her eyes widening at the sight of the enourmous king-sized mattress. She glanced quickly around the room before peeking into the adjoining bathroom.
"Wow!" Yumi repeated her earlier comment as she returned to the main room and plonked herself ungracefully onto the sofa. "It's like a mini apartment in here. I've never stayed somewhere like this before. There's even a TV," she gestured, picking up the remote control.
Sachiko laughed as Yumi flicked on the television. "You don't plan on watching TV all morning, do you?"
Yumi flashed her Onee-sama a smile as the older girl took a seat next to her on the sofa.
"You booked the hot-spring for 12, right? We've got a little over an hour till then. We can catch the last of the Saturday-morning cartoons."
"Cartoons?"
"Please," she looked over at Sachiko with a sparkle in her eye. "I've always wondered what it would be like to lie back and watch TV with my Onee-sama. Please?"
As Yumi grasped her arm with both hands and lowered her head onto her shoulder, Sachiko looked down at her fondly. How could she refuse a request like that? Besides, the thought of watching television with Yumi was not unpleasant. Quite the opposite in fact.
"Okay," Sachiko agreed with a smile, settling herself into the seat comfortably. She knew this moment was one she wouldn't soon forget.
As they watched TV, Sachiko couldn't help but notice how Yumi's weight on her side began to get heavier and heavier, until eventually the girl was practically using her side as a pillow. She was clearly exhasuted, having worn herself out with excitement.
Careful not to wake her little sister, Sachiko gently repositioned her until the girl's head was placed comfortably on her lap and her legs were curled up on the sofa.
Looking down lovingly at her petite seour, Sachiko began to gently stroke Yumi's hair, enjoying the sight of her sleeping form. She cared for the girl so much.
How was it possible to have this much love for someone? What was she going to do next year when she graduated? How was she going to survive without Yumi by her side every day?
Would Yumi be allright without her? Would the younger girl miss her terribly? Or was she the only one who would feel the loneliness? Yumi would have the other Roses with her. And she now had Touko-chan to take care of as well. She wouldn't even notice her Onee-sama was gone.
Sachiko sighed at the turn of her thoughts. Of course Yumi would be okay without her. The girl could handle any situation. She'd grown so much this past year. But would she, Ogasawara Sachiko, the girl's Onee-sama, be okay without her?
Sachiko couldn't help but wonder who was really the petite seour in their relationship. Yumi looked out for her, protected her and was there for her in a way that not even Youko-sama was able to be.
"Oh Yumi," she whispered softly to the sleeping girl, her hands continuing their gentle carres. "I love you so much. How can I move on without you? Do you even realise how much you mean to me?"
"Onee-sama," Yumi mumbled in her sleep, subconsciously reacting to Sachiko's words.
Sachiko startled for a moment before realising the girl was still asleep. "Oh Yumi," she leaned down and gently kissed the girl's cheek. As she pulled away, she felt Yumi begin to stir.
"Onee-sama?" Yumi blinked her eyes a few times, taking a few moments to realise where she was.
"It's okay Yumi," Sachiko reassured, continuing to stroke Yumi's hair as she met her half-opened gaze. "Go back to sleep. We still have a bit of time before we have to go downstairs. I'll wake you when it's time to go."
"Okay Onee-sama," Yumi agreed drowsily. She was still half asleep so drifting back out was no problem.
Sachiko continued to caress her younger sister, feeling a contentment in her soul at the sight of her angelic face. Her thoughts had led her to an undeniable conclusion. She was now determined to spend as much of her free time with Yumi as she could.
She had no idea what would happen between them after she graduated, but If anything, she'd at least have some memories to sustain her. She would definitely make the most of the carefree time they had left together. It was a silent promise - both to herself and to Yumi.