"Do you want her to be your sister, or . . . do you want her to be something more?"
Why did those words haunt Sachiko so much as she lay in her bed late that evening staring at her ceiling as moonlight shone through the lace-clad french doors to her private balcony. She wasn't a stupid girl; she knew exactly what her father was asking her. Her immediate reaction to his question had been to try to assure him that she wanted Yumi as her sister, but he had only smiled and told her to take her time and think about it carefully before she gave her answer. Her father could usually think four or five moves ahead of everyone else and see things that she could not, but could he really have read her heart better than she could herself?
Sachiko had known for years that Yuuki would become the next head of the Ogasawara family and take over the responsibilities of the Ogasawara Group's far flung business concerns. His coursework and the many friends he had made at Hanadera Academy, coupled with a sound education from Hanadera University and training at his father's side, would be all he needed to successfully see the household and business far into the future. The end results of which meant that Sachiko was free to make any match that would make her happy. She was not required to marry strictly for business purposes, but could find a true love match for herself.
She sighed heavily and decided that it was not a question that required an answer anytime soon, if it required one at all.
After her father's bewildering statement, Tooru had gone on to tell her that he would leave Yumi in her and Morioka-sensei's care, at least for the moment, but that she should not hesitate to call on him if she felt she needed any help or began to become overwhelmed. He had put full faith in her and she was determined to live up to his expectations. After all, Yumi's health and happiness depended on it. She knew that she had taken on this heavy responsibility willingly, but it still kept her awake much longer than normal. It did, however, help to know that she had her father to fall back on if necessary.
She turned over and closed her eyes to try to get some sleep. Tomorrow was going to be another long day.
-oo-
Despite best wishes and fervent prayers, Maria-sama was unable to grace Yumi with undisturbed nights of sleep. Katsura-san, living in the room across from Yumi's, was awakened by the young girl's screams three of the next six nights in a row. Each time the pigtailed girl would cry out various things in English. Katsura's grades were not as good as Yumi's, but even she knew the words for "Father" and "Mother."
After the third night of terror Katsura decided that she needed to speak with someone about Yumi's dreams. Sister Agatha listened closely to everything the young girl told her, getting every bit of detail that she could, before she went to speak with Ikeda-sensei. The school counselor then contacted both Sachiko and Morioka-sensei and called a meeting of the three to discuss this new and disturbing turn of events.
"I have to assume that even with just the two sessions we have had already, those old memories are trying to force their way back into Yumi's mind," the greying psychologist said sadly. "Similar to cracks spreading in a dyke as a result of one single hole, I believe that these memories will find their way out one way or another and the dyke will burst. We have to be prepared for that."
"But what can we do sensei?" Sachiko asked worriedly, shredding the tissue in her hands that she had needed for her first spate of tears at hearing of Yumi's nightmares.
"I'd suggest putting her in the hospital, but I don't think that will do us any good in Yumi-chan's case. She would only see it as a major step backwards and possibly undo all the good that she has gained over the past nine years."
"I agree," Ikeda-sensei said calmly. "Yumi-san has made tremendous progress since she first arrived at Lillian and even more over the past few months since she met Sachiko-sama and the other members of the Yamayurikai. I wish that we could successfully pull out more of the happy memories of her and her family to off-set the horrible memories that are finding their way out of her subconscious when she sleeps," she finished with a sigh.
"One of these days Yumi-chan is going to remember everything," Morioka-sensei told the others. "Probably sooner than we had hoped and most likely at the worst possible moment. That's why it would be nice to have her in a controlled setting, but if we can't do that . . ." he shut is mouth and began rubbing his chin, deep in thought.
"What . . . what if I temporarily moved into the dorm with Yumi," Sachiko ventured. "I could be in her room and even sleep with her if necessary to ensure that someone is there when these nightmares begin."
Morioka-sensei and Ikeda-sensei looked at each other, communicating silently in that manner that only doctors and twins seemed to be capable of, before Ikeda-sensei spoke.
"It is a possible solution, but what pretext could we use as an excuse."
"I could tell her that the estate is being renovated and that my parents are moving to the summer house to live," Sachiko suggested. "I won't be able to commute to Lillian from there," Sachiko continued slowly, thinking out loud about the excuse she could give to Yumi, "and ask if I could stay with her for a while. I could even try to get her to give me the invitation rather than asking her myself. That way she would be even more likely to accept the situation." Both doctors nodded in agreement that it seemed to be a workable solution, if only temporarily.
"We should also increase the number of sessions per week. I'd like to see her at least three times a week if that is possible," Morioka-sensei said. "The faster we can bring out those good memories to counteract the bad ones, the better. However, we need to be prepared to bring everything out at one time, the good and the bad, and then deal with the consequences." Both of the women in the room nodded their heads in agreement, even if it was only reluctantly so in Sachiko's case.
"It sounds like we have a plan," Ikeda-sensei said with a tentative smile. "Let's put it into action. I'd like to get Sachiko-sama into Yumi's room before then end of the week if at all possible."
"I'll be sleeping with her by tomorrow tonight," Sachiko declared with certainty.
-oo-
"I'm sorry that it's not much, onee-sama," Yumi said with a blush of embarrassment as she showed Sachiko into her dorm room.
It hadn't even taken a full day to elicit Yumi's suggestion that Sachiko move in with her temporarily. Youko and her petite soeur had openly discussed the planned renovations to the estate house at the afternoon meeting of the Yamayurikai and the thoughtful and caring Yumi had immediately suggested that Sachiko live with her while the construction was being done. Explaining everything that was occurring to her parents, both Tooru and Sayako agreed that having their daughter move in temporarily with Yumi was a good idea, even if it was only a compromise solution. Tooru repeated his offer for her to come to him if she thought things were getting out of hand. Sachiko was grateful for his support and promised to contact him first if she needed any help.
"It is fine Yumi," Sachiko told her petite soeur with a smile as she looked around the almost bare room. "I appreciate your willingness to allow me to stay here with you."
"Oh, it's my pleasure, onee-sama," Yumi grinned. "I think it will be fun."
It was the first time Sachiko had been to Yumi's room and she was surprised at how little Yumi had of any personal items in view. There were no pictures on any of the walls, only a single wooden cross hanging from a simple nail above Yumi's bed. Nor were there any of the normal stuffed animals, knick knacks, or cute bedding that she would normally have associated with a young woman's room. The walls were a drab cream color, the furniture old but serviceable, and the bedding could at best be described as utilitarian although it was a nice shade of blue. From what she could tell the only personal touch in the room at all was a small, postage stamp sized framed photograph on the desk.
After putting her one suitcase down in a corner she walked over to the desk and, before picking up the small picture, looked to Yumi for permission. Yumi gave her a slight nod and a shy smile.
Looking at the photo it at first seemed to be a picture of Yumi at one of the petting zoos located around the Tokyo area. But a second glance made her realize that it was actually not Yumi in the photo, but instead it was her brother Yuuki. The fact that she could tell the near twins apart, even at such a young age, was a bit surprising to her, but Sachiko chalked it up to knowing the both of them so well now.
"That's the only picture of me I have of the time before I came to Lillian," Yumi explained quietly. "I'm not sure when it was taken, but it seems that I was happy at the time."
"It's a very nice picture, Yumi," Sachiko said with a smile, biting her tongue trying to keep her brother a secret for just a little bit longer. She prayed that it wouldn't be too much longer before she could finally introduce the two to each other. "I like the smile you have on your face. It really captures your joy."
"Um, would you like some tea?" Yumi asked with a slight blush of embarrassment touching her cheeks. "It's not as high a quality as the Yamayurikai normally drink, but it's alright."
"I would love some tea, Yumi," Sachiko said with a smile. "I'll even help if you will show me to the kitchen."
"You don't have to do that, onee-sama. I can make it," Yumi said quickly, her hands moving in a quick negating manner causing Sachiko to giggle. "You can take the time while I'm making the tea to unpack your things. I emptied the bottom two drawers of the dresser for your use and, of course, you can use the closet. It's pretty empty since I don't have much in the way of casual clothes."
"Then thank you, Yumi," Sachiko said with a grin as she moved towards her suitcase.
While Yumi went to make the tea, Sachiko began unpacking her things. The first items out of her suitcase were her two uniforms and a simple but well-made dress for casual wear. Opening the tiny closet door was a revelation. The only items hanging from the short rod other than Yumi's two Lillian uniforms were two white, button-down blouses, a pair of blue jeans, and a single pair of khaki pants. On the closet floor was one pair of worn tennis shoes with no brand marks whatsoever. She vowed at that moment that she would take Yumi shopping while she was staying with the girl.
The girls decided to take their tea to the wrought iron table in the conservatory.
"I did not get an opportunity to really appreciate this place the last time I was here," Sachiko said quietly, not wanting to disturb the peace of the flora filled room. "It's truly beautiful. You take care of all of these plants, Yumi?"
"Yes, onee-sama. It's one of the joys that I have," Yumi replied as she looked over the indoor garden. "I think that I have probably planted just about everything in here except for the dwarf trees over the past nine years; replacing those plants that have died along the way. I've also added a few touches here and there as well, like the little waterfall over there," she said as she pointed to the small, ornamental waterfall and brook located in one of the planting beds.
"You've done a splendid job, Yumi. It's very peaceful. It has almost a Zen-like feeling about it; as if it would be very easy to meditate amongst all the love you have given to these plants," Sachiko praised her as she took a sip of her green tea.
"Thank you, onee-sama," Yumi replied softly, still not very good at accepting compliments.
"I didn't even realize there was a pool here when I came by the first time. It adds a very nice and sweet humidity to the air, but is not overpowering."
"It's mostly used by the students to relax after they've finished their homework and taken their baths," Yumi explained with a smile. "The youngsters have a tendency to play a bit too much, but they don't go overboard to the point that they annoy the older students that simply want to enjoy the warm water and relax tired muscles and minds."
"Could we come back later, after we have finished our own baths? I would like to try it out if that's allowed," Sachiko asked with a grin. "I brought my swimsuit as you recommended."
"Of course, onee-sama," Yumi replied with a quick, bright smile. "Maybe it would help me to sleep," she went on as a small frown crossed her features. At Sachiko's look of interest she went on to explain. "I . . . I've been having nightmares it seems," Yumi said slowly. "I can't remember them when Katsura-san wakes me, but I guess it sounds like they're pretty awful. She says I've been screaming out during the night, so I guess I haven't been getting a really sound sleep for a week or more. I just hope that I don't disturb you tonight."
"I'm sure you won't, Yumi," Sachiko said as she leaned over and gently cupped Yumi's cheek. "I'm a bit difficult to wake up in the mornings since I have low blood pressure, and I usually sleep pretty soundly once I close my eyes," Sachiko explained gently as she ran her hands through Yumi's pigtails. "If you don't mind, I can hold you as you sleep. Maybe that will help with the nightmares."
"I-I think I'd like that, onee-sama," Yumi said with a shy smile.
The two girls enjoyed their tea in the conservatory, speaking softly of simple things, before stopping by the kitchen for refills. They then set about finishing their homework and taking their showers. It was a little unsettling for the rich and privileged girl to hear other girls walking around and talking as she was washing her body, but she eventually decided that it wasn't too much different than cleaning up after PE. It was almost 9:30 before they returned to the conservatory and the heated pool.
Yumi had insisted upon changing in the restroom while leaving Sachiko by herself to change into her bathing suit in the dorm room. Sachiko had said that the two could change together, but Yumi's cheeks and ears had burned a bright scarlet as she stammered her apologies and rushed from the room, her dark green school swimsuit and towels clutched tightly to her bosom. It was enough to pull a full throated laugh from the raven haired heiress.
"R-Rosa Chinensis en Bouton?" was whispered from numerous mouths as Sachiko and Yumi finally entered the conservatory. There were only five other girls in the pool; two older girls, including Katsura-san, and three youngsters whose mouths gaped open and closed as they took in the sight of the Red Rosebud in her demure but stunning black two-piece.
"Good evening, Rosa Chinensis en Bouton," Katsura-san called from her seat on the poolside.
"Good evening, Katsura-san. Good evening everyone," Sachiko said to the other bathers with a quick and inviting smile.
"G-good evening, Rosa Chinensis en Bouton," the others greeted her with awe.
"Thank you all for looking after my petite soeur."
"It's always been our pleasure to watch over Yumi-chan," Katsura replied with a grin. "Although it would probably be more truthfully said that she watches over us." There were plenty of heads nodding around the pool as everyone turned their eyes away from the taller girl to smile at their favorite dorm mate. "I hope that you are finding the dorm accommodations to your liking, Sachiko-sama," Katsura chuckled as she noticed Yumi's evident pride in her onee-sama.
"They are fine, Katsura-san, thank you for thinking of me."
"Just so you know, Yumi-chan snores," the first-year Peach class girl giggled.
"I-I do not snore!" Yumi exclaimed in defense of herself, as all the other girls laughed.
"I'll let you all know at breakfast tomorrow," Sachiko chuckled mischeviously.
The lively teasing and banter soon broke the ice and allowed everyone to go back to their usual play or relaxation even with the most famous member of the Yamayurikai in their midst. Sachiko would have to remember to thank Katsura-san later. Whoever it was from the tennis team that had snatched her up as their petite soeur was a lucky girl.
It had been fairly late when Yumi and Sachiko had joined everyone in the pool so it came as no surprise to find themselves alone after only a few minutes. Katsura-san's chivying of everyone to get ready for bed hadn't hurt either. She gave Sachiko a grin and a wink as she ushered the last of the youngsters from the room.
"This really is lovely, Yumi," Sachiko sighed as she rolled her shoulders to loosen the muscles from a long day of hard work and worry.
"Um, onee-sama, may I rub your shoulder's for you?" Yumi asked in a soft voice.
"Would you? You're fingers always seem to use just the right amount of pressure and find all of the best places. If you do, I promise that I'll do yours afterwards," Sachiko chuckled.
"Of course, onee-sama," Yumi grinned as her grande soeur turned her back towards her. Sachiko's hair had been pulled up in a bun high on the back of her head held together with two long, ornately carved chopsticks so as not to get it wet before bed. Yumi had pulled her hair up as well, but she had simply pulled the ends of her pigtails up higher on her head, wound the two into a bun and used a couple of bobby pins to keep it from falling. The expanse of nearly naked skin displayed before her, its owner begging for her to use her hands and fingers to touch and knead that skin and the muscles and tendons underneath, suddenly brought home to her just how beautiful and . . . sexy Sachiko-sama was.
It had become one of Yumi's favorite activities during the long Yamayurikai meetings to help Sachiko alleviate the tension by giving her a bit of a shoulder and neck massage. Sachiko had returned the favor a few times as well after noticing Yumi hitting her own shoulders trying to loosen up the tense muscles.
It was, however, the first time that Yumi had done this without a full layer of Lillian uniform between her fingers and Sachiko's porcelain-like skin. As she gently touched that bare skin, her fingers tingling from the least of contact, she became aware that there was simply no comparison between touching the fabric of the uniform and the softness and smoothness of Sachiko's skin. She likened it to kneading the softest silk as she ran her fingers and palms over the gently sloping shoulders and the narrow nape of Sachiko's graceful neck.
Before, giving Sachiko a massage had simply been a way to assist her friend, and now onee-sama, and to show how much she cared for her. There had been no other thoughts or feelings that would have brought to her the possible ramifications of what she was doing. Yumi was not unknowledgeable of the ways of love between a man and a woman . . . or between two women. She had read the books. She had been through the health classes taught by the school. She knew that there were certain things that people could do for each other that could be seen as either totally innocent or as the prelude to a deeper, more meaningful physical relationship. It had simply never crossed her mind, until tonight, that a simple shoulder massage could be one of those things.
But she had promised, so she would not back down now. Yumi was, however, extremely glad that Sachiko-sama's head was turned away from her so that she could not see the pink quickly rising in her cheeks.
Sachiko, for her part, had expected the feel of Yumi's hands to be nothing more than what she had felt many times before. She had not expected the electric sensations that shot through her at those first, tentative stokes along the tops of her shoulders and her neck. She had certainly not expected the heat that arose in her abdomen as those tentative touches slowly became more assured, more powerful and more . . . sensual. She grasped her hands together tightly under the water, her fingers entwined and squeezing almost painfully to try to override the feeling of pure pleasure that was running through her body as Yumi stroked and kneaded her tired muscles.
A low moan somehow escaped her lips and she almost froze until she heard Yumi's chuckles. The younger girl didn't make any comments, but Sachiko could just imagine the smile on the other girl's lips as she heard the evidence that her ministrations were surely calming and relaxing her onee-sama. Oh, how wrong she was! If anything Sachiko was getting more tense, more unnerved as Yumi continued her massage, moving slowly further down her back to her shoulder blades and then back up to her neck. Sachiko almost allowed another sound to escape before she tightly sealed her lips as she felt her core begin to flare with heat.
"Do you want her to be your sister, or . . . do you want her to be something more?"
Sachiko quickly stomped on those thoughts as they arose unbidden in her mind. "Dirty old man," she mumbled under her breath, too low for Yumi to hear over the lapping of the water in the pool. But she couldn't ignore the feelings inside her, the pleasure that Yumi's hands were providing and the resultant desire that was growing quickly in her loins.
Sachiko slipped out from under those extremely talented fingers and slid away before she further embarrassed herself.
"Onee-sama?" Yumi asked in confusion as her grande soeur moved away from her.
"Um, I think that's enough for now," Sachiko breathed heavily, willing the heat in her face and . . . elsewhere . . . to subside before she turned around to face her petite soeur with a smile. "Now it's my turn," she grinned. Yumi just returned her smile and turned around to provide her own back to Sachiko. Just as the older girl approached, Yumi lifted her hands and pulled the straps of her school swimsuit slightly down her arms to expose her shoulders fully. Sachiko's breath caught in her throat at the sight of all that skin even knowing that Yumi was innocently trying to make it easier for her.
But that exposure also reminded Sachiko of Yumi's dark past, for there was a multitude of small scars riddling that expanse of bare skin. Yumi had wrapped one towel around her shoulders and another around her waist, allowing it to cover most of her legs, from the time she left the bathroom on the second floor until she quickly slipped into the water of the pool, dipping down so that it flowed up to her neck. The brown eyed girl had not raised herself any higher until everyone else had left. Now, even knowing what had been done to her, the actual sight of the scarring was shocking.
"Onee-sama?" Yumi asked quietly when Sachiko had not immediately begun her own massage. "Is everything alright?"
"Of course, Yumi. I was just . . . tightening the string to my top."
"Oh."
Sachiko reached out and grasped Yumi's shoulders with assurance, beginning to massage them immediately so as not to give away that she had been surprised by the scars. She could barely feel them under her fingers and palms. Only the slightly whiter tone to Yumi's skin gave evidence of the violence done to her when she was young. If anything could put a damper on her unladylike sexual desires, that sight did it.
And that shamed her even more than the earlier feelings of arousal. She had known of those scars already. She knew where they were all over Yumi's body. She thought she had accepted them as simply another part of the girl she had so come to love. Obviously she had been wrong.
She held her breath a bit as she continued to massage Yumi's neck, shoulders, and upper back, trying desperately not to allow the tears and sobs building up in her chest to escape. It took a few minutes but she was finally able to bring her emotions under control, Yumi totally unaware of the tremendous battle that had been waged behind her.
Yumi was not unaware of the scars that her grande soeurs hands were now covering with wonderfully feeling strokes of pressure. She knew that they must have come as somewhat of a shock for Sachiko, and she was proud of the older girl for not saying anything or recoiling in horror. She had told them all of the beatings, rapes, and torture that she had supposedly endured before she arrived at Lillian. She had never, however, gone so far as to show them any of the evidence of those atrocities that adorned her body. Those on her shoulders and arms were smaller and even fainter than those on her legs and torso. Still, she continued to wear long sleeves so as not to subject others to the sight as well as to keep them from becoming even more obvious on lightly tanned skin.
Yumi closed her eyes, forgetting everything but the feelings of gentle pleasure and relaxation that flowed through her body. She felt the same heat burning in her abdomen and core that Sachiko had felt, but she had no experience to understand what those feelings were or meant. To her they were simply a few of many of the manifestations of the overall pleasure coming from Sachiko's tender massage. She didn't even make an attempt to withhold the moans and whimpers that flew from her lips.
"It feels wonderful, onee-sama," she said quietly into the stillness of the night.
"I-I'm glad, Yumi," Sachiko murmured. "I enjoy making you feel good."
"Then that's something else we have in common," Yumi giggled.
"Yes. Yes it is, Yumi," Sachiko smiled, wondering if it really was the same for Yumi as it was for her. Learning how nice it was to receive pleasure from Yumi was something of a shock. Learning how nice it was to give pleasure to Yumi, the feelings that arose in her heart, was something else again.
Maybe the old man knew more than I thought he did, Sachiko thought to herself with an odd grin.
-oo-
The girls took another brief shower to rinse off before donning their sleepwear for the evening; a set of silk pajamas of deep blue for Sachiko and an almost puritanical flannel nightgown for Yumi. It had been decided that Sachiko would sleep with her back against the wall while Yumi would sleep on the other side facing the open room.
As they settled themselves on the thin mattress it felt only right and natural for the slightly taller girl to put her arm around the smaller girl's waist and pull her tight, spooning her so that they touched all along her front. Yumi's body felt like it fit perfectly within the scope of her own. Their knees met at the perfect angle just as did their hips. Moreover, it felt comfortable and safe to be holding her petite soeur – no, her sister she tried to tell herself – in such a manner and it brought a smile to her lips.
"Good night, Yumi," she whispered tenderly.
"Good night, onee-sama," she heard Yumi whisper back. She could hear the answering smile in Yumi's voice and it warmed her more than anything else could as she closed her eyes.
Sachiko thought she knew about what to expect if the nightmares started up, but the reality was much worse than she could ever have imagined.
It started as a tiny, quiet whimpering around one in the morning. Sachiko, who had tried her best to sleep lightly, awoke almost instantly at the near silent mewling, but those minute sounds quickly escalated to moans and murmurs in English that were too low for Sachiko to hear, let alone understand.
"Yumi, Yumi," Sachiko said quietly, shaking the girl to try to wake her.
"No, no don't," Yumi murmured in English that the raven haired girl easily understood. She had been tutored since elementary school in conversational English so what Yumi was saying was easily translatable.
"Yumi, please wake up, Yumi," Sachiko said more loudly, shaking the brown eyed girl's shoulder even harder.
NO! NO! Don't hurt Mommy and Daddy!" she wailed softly, unable to break out of the deadly cycle of violence that had been plaguing her nightly for the past week and more. "NOOOOO!" she screeched and flinched, covering her ears as if having heard a loud, sharp noise. "MOMMMMY!"
"YUMI!" Sachiko yelled to no avail as she turned the terrorized girl over onto her back and shook both shoulders.
"YUUUKIIIII! PLEASE HELP ME!" Yumi suddenly screamed before her entire body tensed and froze. Sachiko was afraid that she was having a seizure until the younger girl suddenly relaxed and her eyes fluttered open. "O-Onee-sama?" Yumi asked in a soft, timid, and fearful voice.
"Oh, Yumi," Sachiko sobbed.
"Did I have another nightmare, onee-sama?"
"Yes, Yumi. Yes, you did, but it's alright now," Sachiko said gently, wiping her eyes to calm herself and pulling her sister into a tight embrace. "It's alright now. You're alright."
"I can't remember any of it. I'm sorry that I woke you, onee-sama," Yumi pouted, a tear in her eye for having disturbed her grande soeur's sleep.
"It's alright, Yumi. I wasn't really asleep yet anyway. I was still thinking about some things for the meeting tomorrow. Why don't we try again to get some sleep? Maybe this time we will both have a little better success," she smiled.
"Oh, um, yeah. Ok," Yumi agreed with another small smile.
The two girls resituated themselves on the narrow bed and it was only moments before Yumi fell into a deep sleep, a soft snore like the buzzing of bees barely escaping her slightly parted lips.
Sachiko, on the other hand, now had much to think about and would spend half the night wondering and worrying about her dear petite soeur. All she was able to accomplish, however, was to make one single decision.
"This cannot continue. We must do something."