Having completed her own lesson reviews, Sachiko was now leafing through the large stack of books Yumi had brought, stopping only to note down a page number here and there. Yumi was still finishing up her assigned homework and this would save her time once she finally got around to starting the essay.
She couldn't believe Yumi had forgotten about such an important piece of assessment. What had she been thinking? Sachiko blushed as she realised where Yumi's thoughts might have been at. But still, the girl had been given plenty of time to finish the essay. If she'd known Yumi hadn't even started, she never would have suggested they go away on their date.
On second thought, considering the outcome of their weekend away, it was probably a good thing she hadn't known. She would not trade the events of the past day for anything.
Although, as she thought about it further, if they hadn't deepened their relationship when they had, she was sure they would have gotten to their current state anyway. Maybe not quite so soon, but it was inevitable. The love they shared was not something that would've remained hidden for long.
Looking up from her research, Sachiko glanced up across the table and smiled. Yumi was furiously working on a math problem, frowning in concentration as she bit her bottom lip. She looked so cute. Sachiko instantly wanted to take that lip into her own mouth. Run her tongue over it...
Pushing the thoughts from her head, Sachiko returned back to the task at hand. She needed to make sure Yumi had enough material to work with. As she came to the end of the book she looked back up and noticed Yumi was still struggling with the same problem.
"Yumi," she stood up and walked around to the other side of the table. She placed a hand on the girl's shoulder and leaned down to get a better look at the question.
Picking up her pencil, she drew a line through a couple of the equations.
"You're using the wrong one here and here," Sachiko explained. "Try these instead," she took a moment to write out the formulas. "They're quite similar so it's an easy mistake to make."
Yumi began to substitute the values immediately, her eyes coming alight with realisation. "It's actually quite simple . Why didn't I think of that? You're so smart Onee-sama. Thank you."
Sachiko gently kissed Yumi's cheek before returning to her seat.
"Let me know if you get stuck again. Okay? We have a lot to get through so it's best not to waste time if you're unsure of anything."
"Okay," Yumi agreed with a smile.
"Onee-sama..." Yumi ventured after a few minutes.
Sachiko looked up at the sound of Yumi's voice.
"Can you help me with this? I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. I've read over the solution to a similar problem, but I can't figure out how they arrived at it. I just don't get it."
Yumi sighed in frustration and dropped her mechanical pencil onto the table. "I hate math."
Sachiko laughed at the girl's reaction. Yumi could be so childlike sometimes. But that was one of the things she loved about her.
"Lets have a look," Sachiko picked up her chair and moved it next to Yumi's. "We should probably start with something a little simpler," she suggested after reading over the question. "Do you understand the basic theory behind quadratics?"
"Yes...well...kind of. I've worked through the first few sample questions and I can see how it's done. But then they go ahead and make 'em all tricky. It's not fair," she pouted.
Sachiko laughed again and reached across Yumi to pull the text book closer towards her. She flicked through the pages until she came to the start of the chapter
"Here, so you're able to understand these?"
"Yes."
"Well, the theory behind it is just the same for the harder ones," she flipped back to them . "Let me show you."
With that, Sachiko proceeded to write out a sample problem of her own.
"There you go, this is similar to the one you have to answer. Can you see what I've done here, and here?" She pointed at the middle steps of the solution. "If you take the time to expand these as well, it makes it easier. The book bypasses these two steps because they're not necessary, but if you include them in the solution they help you figure out if you're on the right track."
Sachiko looked at Yumi to see if she was following her explanation. She watched as the girl's eyes darted over the page a few times, until eventually her eyes lit up in understanding.
"You get it now?"
Yumi nodded and threw her arms around Sachiko, surprising her with a firm kiss against her lips. The contact lasted for only a moment, but it was enough to leave Sachiko breathless. Instantly she wanted more and found herself gazing deep into Yumi's eyes.
She was just about to move in when she heard the sound of her name being called out.
"Sachiko-sama! Onee-sama!"
Sachiko quickly pulled away from Yumi and turned around as her cousin burst into her room.
"Good day Sachiko-sama," Touko smiled a greeting before returning her attention to Yumi.
"Good day Onee-sama," Touko said as she reached Yumi's side.
"I've been looking for you. I knew you had to get your essay finished this weekend. You helped me with my lines when you should've been working on it and I felt bad for dragging you away from your studies. I tried calling your house yesterday, but Yuuki said you were on a date with Sachiko-sama. When I called again this morning he said you had some important school-work to do and were going to spend the night here. He said you looked a bit worried. You didn't forget about your essay did you?" Touko demanded, folding her arms with a frown.
Noting Yumi's chargrined expression, Sachiko lifted a hand to her lips to cover her laughter.
"That she did Touko-chan," Sachiko confirmed after she'd composed herself. "Your Onee-sama was a little lax with her responsibilities, so as her older sister I've had to step in and take charge. We can't have our sister setting a precedence of failure for the Red Rose family, now can we?"
Touko looked at Sachiko and burst into laughter, a mischevous glint in her eye.
"No we can't Sachiko-Onee-sama. Think of how bad it would make us look in front of the other Rose families."
"Heeeeey!" Yumi protested the teasing remarks.
Sachiko shared a knowing look with Touko and once again found herself struggling to contain her mirth.
"It's not funny," Yumi stood up and glared alternately from her elder sister to her younger one.
"I'm sorry Yumi," Sachiko told her gently, unable to disguise the laughter present in her tone. "But you did bring this on yourself."
Yumi continued to glare at her for a moment before a reuful smile reached her lips and she reluctantly sat back down.
"So, Onee-sama," Touko grabbed a chair and placed it next to Yumi's. "How much have you done? Do you have an outline yet?"
"Not yet," Sachiko answered for her. "No research either," she added.
"Onee-sama!" Touko said with rebuke.
Shaking her head as if dealing with a naughty child, the young girl reached into her own satchel and pulled out a notebook and pencil.
Sachiko smirked at the way Touko flashed Yumi another look of dissaproval, acting more like an elder sister than a younger one. She was glad Yumi had been able to form a relationship with her cousin. If there was anyone she trusted to look out for Yumi as a sister when she wasn't around, it was Touko-chan.
"Sachiko-sama, where should I start? I'll help with the research."
Yumi looked as if she were about to protest and Sachiko could tell she was getting a little irritated with the way they were talking over her.
Choosing to ignore her girlfriend's reaction nevertheless, Sachiko handed her cousin the paper she'd been writing on.
"If you like, Touko-chan, you can summarise the key pages I've noted down. I remember writing this essay last year so I have a pretty good idea of what Yumi might need to refer to. This will save her some time."
Touko nodded. "Okay Sachiko-sama."
"Just remember to correctly cite each reference."
"Aye aye," Touko grinned.
"Am I invisible?" Yumi glanced at her two sisters with a pout.
Sachiko lifted a hand to Yumi's cheek and allowed herself only a moment to enjoy the smoothness of the girl's skin.
"We're not ignoring you, silly," she gently tapped the top of Yumi's head with the back of her hand. "But we have a lot to get through. Hurry up and finish your homework and stop worrying about such trivial matters. Okay?"
With a blush in her cheek Yumi nodded. "Okay."
And with that, the Red Rose sisters worked without interruption until a house-servant knocked at Sachiko's door to announce that a late lunch had been prepared for them.
xxx
Some hours later, Sachiko put down her pencil and rubbed at her eyes. She glanced at her wall clock, surprised to note it was already past 6:00pm. At least the research had been completed and the format of ideas for the essay had now been mapped out.
"I think we're almost done here Touko-chan," she glanced over at her cousin. "The rest is up to you now Yumi."
"Thank you so much," Yumi smiled appreciatingly. "I'm really lucky to have such caring sisters."
"Of course you are," Touko smirked. "One would have to be a saint to put up with--"
"Tooouko-chaaan," Yumi interjected with a gentle poke at the girl's ribs.
"Hey!" Touko bent over in mock pain. "Is this the thanks I get for sacrificing my precious Sunday? What manners have you been teaching her Sachiko-sama? I thought you would have trained her a little more by now. You've had a whole year with her."
Sachiko chuckled and affectionately ruffled the top of her cousin's hair.
"Stop teasing her Touko-chan. You're Onee-sama's had a rough day."
"Okay," Touko relented. "But I don't know how you've managed this past year without me."
Yumi glared in mock protest at her younger sister.
After a few moments, all three girls began to laugh good naturedly.
"Lets get some dinner," Sachiko suggested. "Touko-chan, can you check with the kitchen staff and see if anything's been prepared yet. It's around the usual time."
"Of course."
"That Touko-chan," Yumi spoke her name with exasperation as the younger girl left the room.
"She's very proud of you, Yumi." Sachiko stood up to help Yumi out of her chair. "She looks up to you more than you realise."
"Really?" Yumi turned her gaze upwards and easily slipped into Sachiko's arms.
"I'm glad you've been able to look out for her."
"I haven't actually done anything."
"Just being there, being who you are, that's enough. She's always admired your courage."
"Courage?" Yumi gave her a look of disbelief.
"You should have seen her at the end of summer. Touko-chan was amazed by the way you handled yourself at Saionji's party."
"The Party..." Yumi's eyes widened in realisation.
"The night prior she actually telephoned me in an attempt to convince me to take you home. She was quite adamant about it. She even had the audacity to call me a selfish unfit Onee-sama."
"No..."
"After we got back to Tokyo, she graced us for dinner one evening and kept bringing your name up in conversation. Her eyes brimmed with pride each time. I think you really surprised her."
"I wasn't that brave, Sachiko. You were there with me..."
Sachiko pulled Yumi closer and tightened her hold, pressing a tender kiss against her lips before pulling back. She understood what Yumi meant. They both felt stronger when they were together.
"You know, Touko-chan adored you before she even met you. That might have been partly my doing though..."
Yumi giggled. "How so?"
"My own feelings for you biased her opinion. She kept telling me:
'I can't wait to meet this girl who makes my Sachiko-Onee-sama so happy.'
Yumi smiled up at her and as she looked down at her girlfriend, Sachiko felt the warmth of her love wash over her.
She cupped Yumi's cheeks with her hands and guided the girl's lips back to hers. She pressed against them lightly, afraid she wouldn't be able to contain herself if she deepened the kiss.
"You made me so happy, even at the start of our relationship. But the way I feel now doesn't even begin to compare..."
"Sachiko..." Yumi trailed off, her cheeks flaming with emotion.
Interrupting her train of thought, Sachiko leaned forward for another kiss and pushed open Yumi's lips with her own.
"Dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes, we can wash up and..."
Sachiko froze at the sound of Touko's voice.
She broke away from Yumi lips and hesitantly turned to face her cousin.
The three girls stood frozen on the spot, a flush of embarrasment adorning their cheeks.
Sachiko could see the shock in her cousin's gaze, but her own surprise prevented her from speaking. Her feelings for Yumi had only just been realised and she wasn't sure if she was quite ready to share them with the rest of the world yet.
As she remained motionless, Sachiko struggled to find the right words. Her relationship with Yumi was of no concern to anyone else. So why should she say anything at all?
It was Touko who finally broke the standoff.
"I...I'm going to wash up. I'll see you at the dinner table."
"T-Touko-chan," Yumi's voice called after her as the girl rushed out of the room.
"Let her go Yumi," Sachiko grabbed her girlfriend's hand to stop her from following.
"But..."
"We don't owe her or anyone else an explanation."
"But Sachiko, she's my petite seour. I--"
"Yumi, what would you say? No, there's nothing to say. Give her time to absorb what she's seen. There's no point rushing a response."
With that, Sachiko squeezed Yumi's hand and led her out the door.
Dinner was a quiet affair. The three girls ate in silence, conversation limited to the passing of condoments.
Touko was the first to finish and quickly excused herself.
When they had finally returned to her room, Sachiko half-expected Touko to have left already. She was a little surprised to find the girl sitting thoughtfully at the table, her hands folded in a triangle under her chin.
"Sachiko-sama, Onee-sama," Touko stood up in greeting.
"Touko-chan," Sachiko acknowledged. She reached for Yumi's hand in reassurance, sensing her girlfriend's trepidation.
"I just have one question for you," Touko addressed both girls solemnly, moving her gaze slowly from one to the other.
"What might that be?" Sachiko met her cousin's gaze searchingly, trying to decipher the girl's pensive mood.
"Are you...in love?"
What kind of a question was that? Of course they were in love. How could her cousin even think otherwise after what she'd witnessed?
"Yes!" Sachiko spoke without hesitation.
She turned to look at Yumi and her expression softened. How could she not be in love?
Yumi met her gaze and blushed. "Yes, we're in love."
"I see..." Touko moved away from the desk and headed towards her sisters. "Hearing you say that pleases me."
"It does?" Yumi looked down at her petite seour, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Of course," a genuine smile began to appear on Touko's face. "Being in love makes you happy, right?"
"Yes," Yumi acknowledged with a blush.
"Then I'm happy."
"Touko-chan..." Yumi's voice trembled and a second later she let go of Sachiko's hand and pulled her little sister into a tight hug.
Touko pulled away after a moment, a little embarrased by the display of affection. She picked up her satchel and flashed a smile at her older sister.
"Good luck with the essay Onee-sama. I'll see you at school tomorrow..."
Touko paused then and turned to face Sachiko, surprising her cousin with the fierceness of her expression.
"Sachiko-Sama... I know this goes without saying, but I have to say it anyway."
"Touko-chan?"
"Even though you're my cousin, and I love you, if you ever do anything to hurt my Onee-sama, I'll never forgive you."
Sachiko's eyes widened. She couldn't believe the audacity of her cousin's words. Hurt Yumi? Why would she ever hurt Yumi? How could her cousin even suggest it?
Instinctively, she reached for her girlfriend and pulled her close from behind, placing a soft kiss against her cheek as the back of the girl's head came to rest against her shoulder.
"Touko-chan! How dare you say such a thing? I would never hurt Yumi. You forget your place."
"No, you've forgotten yours," Touko's eyes narrowed formidably. "You're the only daughter of the Ogasawara family. You've got certian obligations..."
Obligations? Sachiko's brow furrowed. What did Touko mean?
Oh...
Her eyes widened in realisation and her heart began to pound in her chest. Releasing her hold on Yumi, she took a step back as a sudden knot appeared in the pit of her stomach. Touko was right, she had forgotten her place.
Her future was already pre-ordained...
"I assume you will let your family know these will not be met!?"
Touko spoke the words as more of a statement rather than a question.
"You've never refused anything your family has asked of you, so I hope you have enough strength to do what is necessary. Like I said, if you do anything to hurt my Onee-sama, I'll never forgive you."
Sachiko took a few deep breaths, doing her best to steady the knot in her stomach. A moment later, as if noting her anguish, Touko's gaze softened and she surprised her with a fierce hug.
Sachiko froze for a moment and then relaxed. She held her cousin close, accepting the girl's silent support. At least one member of her family wouldn't be dissapointed.
"I do love you," Touko whispered into her ear. "I know more than anyone how important it is to please your family...how hard it is to get approval...and I don't mean to push you. It was merely my intention to remind you of your place. I don't want to see either of you get hurt."
With that, Touko pulled away abruptly and gave her cousin a warm smile.
"By the way, you don't have to worry, I won't tell anyone. I'll let you do that when you're ready."
Absentmindedly, Sachiko reached out for Yumi and pulled her close, needing to feel the girl's warmth against her body.
"Thank you Touko-chan."
With a cheeky grin, Touko looked down pointedly to where Sachiko's hands were now wrapped protectively around Yumi's waist, with Yumi's hands resting comfortably on top.
"But your secret won't stay hidden for long. Not if you can't keep your hands to yourself."
Sachiko looked down with a reuful expression. Touko was right. She hadn't even realised she'd reached for Yumi.
"See you tomorrow Touko-chan," she dismissed her cousin with a nod.
"Bye Touko-chan," Yumi chimed in. "Thanks again for all your help."
"Bye," Touko's voice echoed as she entered the hallway.
Sachiko placed a soft kiss against Yumi's cheek while closing the door behind her cousin. Touko had given her a lot to think about, but since her obligations were not due to be met for a few years - not until after her graduation from University - Sachiko pushed them aside. She had more important things to think about right now.
"Come on Yumi, you've got work to do," she spoke into her girlfriend's ear, unable to resist a gentle nibble. She enjoyed the way Yumi's body reacted, pleased with the crimson blush appearing on her cheeks.
Forcing herself to behave, she reluctantly stepped away. Yumi's essay wasn't going to write itself.
"I'll leave you to your essay Yumi. I'm going to take a quick shower and change into my nightclothes. I think I'll read in bed while you work. I want to look over your essay when you're done."
Yumi smiled up at her with a loving expression. "Thank you Onee-sama."
Sachiko took a step back as Yumi reached for her, the girl's intentions clearly showing in her gaze.
"Hold that thought," she held a hand up and smiled. "We can have some fun once you've finished your essay. Not before. It'll never get done otherwise."
Yumi laughed and nodded. "You're right Onee-sama. I'll see you soon."
With that, Yumi quickly returned to her essay, eager to get it finished so that she could find out exactly what her girlfriend meant by 'fun'.