Disclaimer: Again, I do not own these characters.

It's amazing how fast time can go when you beg it not to.

Yumi had been in a daze all day. She couldn't concentrate in any of her classes, and hardly socialized with anyone all morning. For the first time in her life, she began to dread the end of every hour, and found herself silently praying for the halting of time. She sighed, knowing that her pleas' were pointless. No matter what she did, the day would end. And then the week. And soon, the semester would be over, and the event she had been dreading would be there.

If I'm ever going to do this, she thought. It needs to be soon.

"Yumi-chan! Wait up!" called a voice.

Yumi turned around and waited for her friend to catch up to her.

"Are you on your way to the Rose Mansion, Yoshino?"

"I am. Mind if I walk with you?"

"Not at all."

The two made their way to their destination, Yoshino talking all the while. Once again, Yumi found herself unable to pay attention, and instead tilted her head up and stared at the sky above her. Clouds had appeared.

"Yumi, are you even listening to a word I am saying?" said Yoshino, in a slightly raised voice. She placed a hand on Yumi's shoulder. "You've been distant all day, is something wrong?"

"Nothings wrong, I'm just tired, I guess."

"If you say so… but I don't think that's all. I think you're depressed because they're leaving soon, aren't you? We still have time left with them, you know. So don't fret. I'm upset too, but I'm trying to make the best of what little time we have. You should do the same. Plus, Rei doesn't like seeing me upset… so I doubt Sachiko wouldn't want to see you in such a sad state either."

"You're right, Yoshino." Yumi answered. "It's just hard."

The two walked the rest of the way in silence, both drowning in their own thoughts.

Yumi glanced around the room. She looked at each girl and finally came to rest on Sachiko's face. She had her face turned and all of her attention was on Shimako, who was currently speaking to the small group. Yumi felt her stomach twist. Burning Sachiko's image into her head was her main priority; she wanted to make sure she would clearly remember every expression the girl made.

She must have been staring for an extended amount of time, because she noticed a shift in Sachiko's attention, and soon found herself making eye contact with the girl. Yumi felt her face get hot as she broke the connection of their eyes and stared down at the cup of tea before her, unable to look up for the duration of the conference.

Minuets passed and soon the meeting ended. Yumi stayed seated and volunteered to clean up. As Rei was passing through the door, she grabbed one of the umbrellas placed near the door.

"May want to hurry up, Yumi. It's supposed to rain soon. I wouldn't want you to be out in the cold."

"Thank you, Rei sama."

With the rest of the Yamayurikai gone, Yumi found herself alone. She sighed and began washing the used tea cups, her mind fogged with thought. After only a few moments of solitude, there came a knock at the door.

"Yes?" Yumi called out. "Who is it?"

The door opened up and Sachiko entered.

"I figured I would keep you company. It's been a while since we have spent time together, Yumi. Would you mind if I stayed?"

Yumi felt her throat tighten.

"No, I wouldn't mind at all." She answered.

Sachiko made her way to the table and sat in the chair closest to the sink where Yumi was at. The pigtailed girl felt anxious, and feared she'd get so nervous she'd snap a cup in half. She could feel Sachiko's eyes on her, which made her heart feel like it would explode.

They had a casual talk; Yumi avoiding any subject she knew would depress her. She didn't want to worry Sachiko. Soon, Yumi had finished washing and drying the cups, so she joined Sachiko at the table and sat in the chair across from her.

Their conversation soon came to a halt, and Yumi became desperate to have the older girl say something. Anything.

Now is the perfect time, Yumi. Give her the present. You promised yourself you'd do it when you got the chance.

Yumi cleared her throat.

"Onee sama, you're graduating soon… How are your final classes going?"

"They're alright," Sachiko answered. "I am just ready for all these exams to be over."

"I'm sorry I have not been much help to you."

"I understand, Yumi. There is nothing you can do, anyway. So do not worry yourself."

Yumi stared down at her hands. They were sitting in her lap, and now clasped so firmly that her knuckles had turned white.

Do it… stop being a coward.

"Did you get Yōko-sama a graduation gift last year?"

"No. We had an unspoken agreement about those kinds of things." Sachiko frowned. "Why do you ask?"

This is it. Yumi thought. "Well, I hope you don't mind that I got you something…"

"Is it some more of those chocolates you made?" Sachiko asked with a smile.

"Not quite." Answered the younger girl while laughing nervously. "I'm never doing that again."

"So what is it?"

"Well, first I need you to close your eyes… and then open up your hands and put them palms up. Then you won't have to wonder…"

Sachiko complied, and Yumi felt all the color drain from her face. Scared but determined, she walked over to the older girl and pulled a chair close to her.

"Onee sama, I'm not sure you'll even like this. But can you promise me something? Can you promise you won't hate me?"

"I promise, I could never hate you," she answered. "You have nothing to worry about."

Yumi sat there and contemplated what she was about to do. This could go terribly wrong. This could be the last time I'm allowed in her presence. She gulped and placed her hands on top of Sachiko's, lacing their fingers. She leaned forward until they were face to face and began to study the girl. Never before had she noticed how long Sachiko's eyelashes were. Or how soft her lips looked…

Another image burned into my mind. You really are beautiful, onee sama… Sachiko…

Yumi closed her eyes and shortened the distance between their lips and gently brushed her lips against Sachiko. Yumi felt the long haired girl gasp against her lips, so she pulled back in fear. She stood up and searched Sachiko's face, but her eyes were still closed. She was impossible to read. Yumi started to cry.

The next few seconds were a blur for Yumi. All she could think about was getting out of there. So she managed to cry out apologies and fled the room shortly thereafter.

Leaving Sachiko completely bewildered.

More to come, if you're still interested.