Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, obviously.

Rei had been right. It was raining.

Sometimes I think the sky feels like I do.

Yumi couldn't tell what was going faster, her heart beats or the sound of her feet hitting the ground as she ran. There were leaves on the ground, and occasionally Yumi's feet would falter and she would begin to slip, hanging on to her balance as if life depended on it. Eventually, she slowed, and gradually came to a halt. She was out of breath, emotionally drained, and soaked to the bone. On top of that, she had not stopped crying. Her face was flushed from her tears, which caused the falling rain to sting her as if the drops were made of ice. Yumi took notice of this discomfort, but no amount of physical pain could match the emotional hell that she was in. The drops could be needles, and it would still hurt her less.

I wish it were needles. Yumi thought. I don't deserve something as soothing as rain…

She began to grimace as new tears began to form in the corners of her eyes, blurring her vision once again. She blinked back her tears and tore her gaze from her feet and took in her surroundings.

My subconscious can be so cruel…

She found herself only feet away from the statue of the Virgin Mary.

Despite her fragile state, she continued walking until she stood in front of the stone saint.

The memory of her first meeting with Sachiko came flooding into her mind.

This is where it all started. Will I hate it here, now?

Her thoughts continued as she brought her shaking hands up to her chest and felt her rosary through her clothes.
A new wave of pain hit her as she began to realize that she may not have the item come tomorrow.

I've ruined everything, haven't I, Sachiko? She collapsed to her knees and began to sob.

After a relatively short amount of time, Yumi no longer felt rain drops hitting her head. She opened her eyes and looked and the ground, only to find that it was still raining. Confused, she glanced up and saw that she was being protected by an umbrella.

"Yumi, you shouldn't be out in this rain…"

Yumi didn't turn, however. She knew who the voice belonged to. Instead, she closed her eyes and clenched her fists, attempting to herself to stop crying.

"Are you not going to speak to me, Yumi?"

"I think I've said, and done… enough for today." Yumi answered, her voice shaky from crying.

Sachiko kneeled down behind Yumi and wrapped her arms around Yumi, letting the umbrella come to rest against her shoulder.

"You shouldn't be sitting on the ground like this, you'll get your skirt dirty."

Yumi smiled slightly in remembrance of a conversation very similar to this and replied,

"What about yours?"

"I just thought of that." Sachiko stood and walked to face Yumi.
The seated girl could not bring her eyes to meet Sachiko's, so she fixed her gaze on Sachiko's shoes as new tears came.

Sachiko held her hand out, offering to help Yumi up to her feet. After a moment of hesitation, Yumi took her hand, still unable to look Sachiko in the eyes.

"You've been crying, haven't you? I seem to make you cry quite often." Sachiko dropped her umbrella and placed her hands on Yumi's neck. "Will you look at me?"

Yumi turned her head away and started to cry again. In response, Sachiko brought her face close to Yumi's and brushed her lips against her wet cheeks.
The younger girl forgot how to breathe. She was kissing her tears away.

"I wish you never felt the need to cry. Sometimes it's so upsetting to look at you. Your face is so full of emotion. So when you're distressed I feel it. Seeing you in pain kills me."

Sachiko moved Yumi's face and kissed the other cheek softly, feeling Yumi's skin blaze under her lips in the process.
"I'm sorry I hurt you."

"It wasn't your fault, onee sama… er, should I even call you that anymore? If you want to dissolve our bond, I wouldn't blame you…"

Sachiko pulled away from the crying girl and attempted to make eye contact. "Why would I do that?"

"I made a terrible mistake, I'm sorry. I just wanted to give you a graduation present-"

"It was the best gift I have ever received," interrupted Sachiko. "Do you regret giving it to me?"

"If I told you the real answer, you would hate me."

"Didn't I tell you earlier? I could never hate you. I promised."

Yumi stared at her feet.

"No, I do not regret giving it. I've been wanting to for a long time now. I just regret the damage I know it's caused."

"Yumi, do you consider my happiness to be damage?"

"No… never!"

Sachiko slid her hands from Yumi's neck up to her chin and tipped her face up.
The younger girl looked up out of impulse.
For the first time in what seemed like years, brown eyes met blue.

Yumi watched as Sachiko's faced inched towards hers, and again noticed the length of her lashes as her eyes slowly closed.

Soft lips pressed against her checks once again, kissing away the tears and the rain.

I know now why they compare Saint Mary's heart to a Sapphire, Sachiko. Sapphire must be the most beautiful color of them all… because it is the color of your eyes. You're eyes are as beautiful and as pure as a saint…

Sachiko's lips felt like fire on Yumi's skin. Every touch was scorching her skin.
Electricity shot through Yumi's body when she felt Sachiko kiss the corner of her mouth.

"Onee sama…?"

"Do you want me to stop?" Her breath was hot on her lips. It was a pleasant torture.

"No, please don't…"

Without another word, Sachiko brushed her lips against Yumi's. It lasted for a second, but it shook Yumi to her core.

"Your gift made this day the second happiest day of my life. Do you know what the happiest day is? It was the day I had the courage to tell you how I felt. Maybe I didn't specify, though. I don't just love you, Yumi. I am in love with you. I should have told you that day."

For the umpteenth time today, tears streamed down her cheeks.
Sachiko looked stricken.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to offend you-"

"I'm not crying out of pain," Yumi said, a smile playing on her lips.
"This is the second happiest day as my life, as well. I am in love with you too."

Sometimes I think the sky feels like I do. Yumi thought happily.

Authors note: So, I think that wraps it up. Thank you for all the encouragement. I owe you guys.