Okay then, here's the next. Sorry for the extra wait. It ended being much longer than I thought, but I just couldn't seem to stop haha :) Part 2 came to around 20 pages so I'm going to split it and release it back to back.

Oh yeah and just in case it wasn't clear the italics are thoughts, memories and internal monologue.

Enjoy!

"Yuuumi-chan! How could you? After all those ideas I gave you as well." Yoshino was sulking as she hung up some tiny jack-o'-lantern fairy lights above the Hasekura living room window.

It was Friday the 31st and Yumi had come over two hours before the party was scheduled to start. As she was responsible for Rei's costume, and was getting dressed by Yoshino, she had offered to come round earlier and get ready there. The Hasekuras actually had quite a large house. It was not a mansion or anything, but had way more rooms that Yumi had expected. They were currently putting the finishing touches on the lounge-room. It was decorated beautifully in Yumi's opinion. There were several hand-carved pumpkins, glowing with yellow tea lights, sitting in each corner of the roomy lounge room. Another was placed another outside the front door. They'd hung fake cobwebs with plastic spiders from the front door as well as most of the lounge room furniture. A bowl of fruit punch, dyed with red food coloring was asking to be spiked on the sideboard, along with a variety of themed baked snacks, courtesy of Rei. Some included; ghost biscuits; red velvet cupcakes splattered with red corn syrup and little pumpkin and apple tarts. They had a mixed playlist of Halloween classics playing softly from the speakers in the corner.

In the conjoining kitchen there was a hefty supply of party pre-mixes in an ice bucket on the table. How they'd managed to get a hold of them remained a mystery to Yumi. What she didn't know (and Rei and Yoshino intended to keep it a secret) was that the supplier of the alcoholic beverages was none other than Kashiwagi Suguru. Apparently he'd heard about their Halloween party through Yuuki and had kindly offered to provide them with drinks… so long as they vowed the beverages would go towards a snapping of the horrendous sexual tension between his cousin and Yumi Fukuzawa…

She handed Yoshino some more blu-tack and sighed. The reason for Yoshino's indignant outburst was, of course, her costume choice for Rei. For the past two weeks Yoshino had been nagging her and pestering her about what she would dress her cousin as. It went something along the lines of:

Morning: "Yumi-chan I have a great idea for Rei-chan's costume..."

Morning Break: "Say Yumi, if you're stumped for ideas you know who to ask…"

Lunch: "Honestly Yumi, if you can't think of anything I've got some great ones…"

Afternoon Homeroom: "So…I wonder if Rei-chan has got Touko's costume ready? She won't tell what her own is either."

Afternoon Council meeting: "I sure hope we all have great costumes for the party. I'm sure Rei-chan will really rock it in something macho, don't you agree?"

The truth was that Yumi had not fully agreed with Yoshino on that last point. Sure, Rei looked great in masculine clothing, but Yumi had learnt a while back that Rei was actually far more feminine than she appeared from first impressions. The younger cousin, eager to help Yumi outfit Rei, had listed some of the costumes the older had worn in the past. Most of the time the long-suffering Kendo champion had allowed her younger cousin to choose her costumes for her. They had ranged from firefighters and pirates; to martial arts instructors and (by all accounts) several separate appearances of Sailor Uranus. Yumi had made up her mind that this year, Rei would have a breather from all the tough stuff. And thus, just ten minutes previous, the girl in question had walked in to model her costume. Yoshino had not been impressed.

"I mean, what an earth possessed you to dress her as Princess Peach?"

That's right. Yumi had gone to her local costume shop, and had come away with a complete Princess Peach costume. It had the pink gown with puffed sleeves, big blue clip-on earrings, and elbow-length white gloves. Underneath the sparkly gold bejeweled crown, Yumi had arranged some synthetic, blond, clip in hair extensions. She had been quite chuffed with herself in this area because it really looked like Rei had long blond hair. The brunette had even tried her hand at make-up and had managed to make the older girl almost unrecognizable. Rei had always had a gorgeous face, but with the addition of a bit of skillfully applied eye makeup, foundation and lip-gloss, the transformation was simply dazzling. Yumi honestly didn't see what Yoshino was whining about. Rei actually looked delighted with her new look. Yumi had caught her fixing her reflection in the oven door, pouting her lips and turning her head different angles to observe the effect.

"Yoshino give it a break already. This was Yumi's choice. I don't mind wearing this okay? The whole idea is that some people will be in costumes that are way out of their norm. I didn't pester you about your plans for Yumi. Speaking of which, you only have forty minutes before people start arriving people start arriving so you should go help her get ready." Yoshino was already dressed in her costume from Youko. She was supposed to be Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas. Adorned with a black and white pinstriped suit and spiked collar, she had spent nearly 45 minutes in the bathroom perfecting her make-up. She actually looked quite confronting.

"*Sigh* Fine, I suppose there is no helping it. Come along then Yumi, let's get you dressed up." And with that, the braided girl tugged her friend upstairs and into the largest bathroom.

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Sachiko was sneaking through her house like a burglar. Tip toeing up to the corner that led to the main hall, she peered around the wooden panels to check the coast was clear. Luckily she had, as a maid was crossing the hall after changing the sheets in one of the guest rooms. She flattened her back to the wall and waited, reflecting on her current predicament as she did so.

She was dressed in that panda costume. She had given Sei all her measurements and had received a plain box from the doorman two days later. Attached was a note that simply said "To Sachiko: Go get your sexy on for Yumi-chan" and was signed with a winky face. She had been furious at this. What if her mother had seen it? She had been considering letting Sei free from her costume after a few hours of the party. Now though…now she can wear the thing all night for all I care.

Upon trying on the outfit, she had to admit that it fit in all the right places. The furry skirt left most of her thighs uncovered from where it sat on her curvy hips, and her smooth stomach was exposed beneath the costume's top section. A fair amount of cleavage was exposed. She'd put the furry cuffs, hat, stockings and boots on the complete the image. She wasn't a complete prude. She knew that she looked what some people would describe as "hot" or "smoking". The only issue then, was getting out of the house dressed like a skanky endangered zoo animal. She'd had her driver collect her overnight bag and place it in the car that morning before school. Now she'd have to get herself down there.

She'd taken the longest coat she could find in her wardrobe, which only came to about and inch below her panda skirt. I really have to have a word with my maids. They should have already rotated my seasonal wardrobe by now! It covered her exposed midriff at least, but there was no hiding the stripper boots and fishnets.

So here she was, in full stealth-mode, watching around the corner. The door clicked shut, the coast was clear. She made it through the entire eastern wing of the mansion without being seen. She was on the home stretch; the foyer was just around the corner when-

"Ah, Sa-chan. Going out partying I see." Sachiko froze in complete horror. She gulped and turned in slow motion to face her mother, Sayako Ogasawara, who was watching her with an unreadable expression.

"Why yes, mother. I shall be going out to meet with some friends from the Lillian School Council. It is a very mundane engagement; I will probably stay the night.

We merely have some extra paperwork to go over," she finished in her most formal tone of voice.

"Oooh I see," said Sayako, raising an eyebrow at her daughter. "So is that why you're dressed as a panda?"

Oh god, oh god how does she know? Does she have X-Ray vision? Sachiko instinctively tightened her coat around herself. "N-no. I mean w-what are you talking about? W-what makes you say th-that? I most certainly am not dressed as a p-"

"You have a panda hood on your head Sachiko," deadpanned Sayako. Keeping a straight face as she watched her daughter reach up and feel the hat was one of the hardest gigs of her life. Sachiko's eyes widened in horror when she realized she'd been caught. Her mother decided to put the girl out of her misery.

"It's alright Sachiko, calm down. I don't mind if you go to a Halloween party with your friends. You're a teenage girl, you are well within your rights to go out and have fun so long as you stay safe. I've noticed a change in you lately dear. I think breaking off that engagement was one of the best decisions this family has ever made."

Sachiko remained speechless before she threw her arms around her mother and hugged her tightly. "Thank you mother, thank you so much." Sayako returned the embrace before saying to her daughter "That's perfectly fine my dear. Now hurry along or you'll be late."

"Oh right! I mustn't be tardy, it's unseemly to keep one's guests waiting." She beamed at her mother and headed for the door. Just as she was about to step out of the foyer, her mother called out to her one last time.

"Oh and Sachiko, I think you will make a very sexy panda. Let me know how it goes with Yumi-chan." And with a playful wink she turned and headed out of the room, leaving Sachiko frozen in the doorway.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! Does that mean she did see the note on that box? Maybe she even saw the costume. Wait… does that mean she's okay with it? It must do or else she wouldn't have winked like that. I don't have time to go and ask her what she suspects. I suppose it will have to wait for now.

Still a little shaken by her mother's strange behaviour, Sachiko gathered herself and headed out to the car. This is going to be an interesting night.

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The sleek black Mercedes pulled up out the front of the Hasekura residence with a minute to spare before 7. The driver walked around and opened the door for her. One stocking-clad leg made an appearance, and then the other. Squaring herself for the moment she would have to reveal her outfit, she looked round when she heard her name.

"Sachiko, you arrived the same time as us. I think we might be the first ones here." Sachiko's Onee-sama was lifting a cooler bag out of her car. If Sachiko could recall it correctly, Noriko had been assigned to dress her. She was clad all in black, a very gothic looking corset laced up her back, a layered black skirt and black gloves. When the woman turned to smile at her she nearly shrieked in fright. Neither of Youko's eyes was its normal shade of goldish hazel. Her right iris was a bright bloody scarlet while her left one was milky white. The contact lenses, coupled with the bloody red lipstick on her lips, made the woman's appearance quite startling.

"What exactly are you supposed to be Onee-sama?" enquired Sachiko, still a tad unnerved.

Youko chuckled. "Oh well little Noriko-chan and I got together in the week to talk about it and she admitted she was a little intimidated by me. In the end we decided to turn it into a joke and she told me to just make my self as scary looking as I possibly could. I'm going to jump scare her when she arrives."

"She needn't have gone to all the trouble for this costume," a muffled voice came from inside the passenger seat of the car. "I mean, she's scary enough as it is, even without the crazy eyes." Youko bent down and peered in the car. "My goodness Sei, I almost forgot about you. I suppose I should help you out of the car."

It was clear as the blond woman stepped out of the vehicle that she was trying to maintain as much of her dignity as she could. There, on the sidewalk stood Sei Satou in a white straightjacket, a plastic muzzle-mask covering the lower half of her face. She had freedom to move her legs, but her arms were firmly secured around her body in a crossed arrangement.

"Ah yes, my imagination really didn't do it justice," exclaimed a satisfied Sachiko. She'd asked one of the Ogasawara security team look up straightjackets for her and as it turned out, they had several straightjackets in the security storeroom (in case someone really crazy broke in). Who'd have thunk? Sure, he may now suspect her to have a strange bondage fetish, but it was worth it to have Sei like this for just one evening. The mask had been a cheap prop one off the Internet that she'd had delivered via express postage.

"Just you wait Ogasawara, once we get in there the coat comes off, and then we'll see who's laughing," jibed Sei through the mouth slit in her mask. That wiped the smirk off Sachiko's face and she led the way up to the door with a stony expression. Sei hopped forwards and rang the doorbell with her forehead.

Ding Dong.

When the door was swung open they were instantly blinded by a glittering mass of…pink? Rei?

"Welcome, you guys are the first ones here." Rei ushered them inside and took in their costumes. "Wow so I'm guess Sei is Hannibal Lector…Youko is…plain terrifying and Sachiko is…?" Her eyes darted up to the panda hood and then down to the coat that the heiress was holding firmly in place with her arms.

"Sachiko is… just about to show everyone, aren't you Sachiko?" nudged Sei with a sugary voice.

"Wait!" Rei interjected. "I get the feeling Yumi should be down here for this one, I'll just go and get her." And with that, she flounced off down the hall and up the stairs. Despite being nervous, Sachiko found herself smiling as she watched Rei swishing away in her princess costume. There was obviously a youth culture reference she was missing but she knew Yumi had been the one to dress Rei like that. She also knew that Yumi had endured two weeks of Yoshino's nagging and had obviously stood strong in her choice for Rei. It was obvious that Rei was enjoying the pink ball gown. As if I needed another reason to love Yumi. She's so kind and perceptive. She knew that Rei would enjoy that idea and she had held her ground against Yoshino's pressuring to make it happen. She's such a sweetheart… my sweetheart.

Her mushy thoughts were interrupted by a commotion on the stairs. She could hear Yoshino's voice, obviously bossing somebody around. A weak little protest came back in Yumi's voice.

"Come on Yumi we have to go downstairs now!"

"Mou, but Yoshino-chan I'm not sure, what if Onee-sama doesn't like how I look in this costume?"

"Honestly Yumi don't put all of my hard work to shame, you look beautiful. I wouldn't send you downstairs looking silly now would I? Besides you could probably wear the kitchen curtains and Sachiko-sama would find you the most beautiful in any room, okay?"

When a small mumbling was the only reply, it seemed that the argument was won.

Yoshino stepped through the doorway in her stripy costume. "Ladies and Seis," she announced, ignoring Sei's indignant squeak, "I now present to you the one, the only, my pièce de résistance…Yumi Fukuzawa!" There was a short pause, and then the girl in question stepped into view and met Sachiko's eyes instantly.

Sachiko couldn't contain her gasp. Standing before her was a little angel. Literally. Yumi's slender frame was clothed in a plain white dress that ended mid-thigh. The garment was form fitting around her waist and allowed her developing curves to stand out far more than her school uniform ever had. She wore the rosary from Sachiko around her slender neck. Her feet were adorned with pretty white evening slippers, with a modest heel. This meant that Yumi was a little taller that normal, her and Sachiko's height difference relatively unchanged with both of them in heels. Her hair was left down, but had been gently curled with a straightening iron so that soft ringlets framed her face. Yoshino had clearly made use of her braiding skills too. Leaving Yumi's fringe bangs down, Yoshino had used strands of hair from Yumi's temples to create two corresponding waterfall braids, which met at the back of her head. Pinned into the braids at intervals were little white hair-ornament flowers. This gave Yumi a sort of halo, or flower crown. Her natural beauty was enhanced yet again by small amount of eye make-up and foundation, which matured her features. Last, but not least was a pair of white, feathery costume wings, attached to the back of her dress.

"Yumi…" was all Sachiko could come out with.

The spell between them was shattered when Sei interjected. "Very nice Yumi-chan, very nice indeed. You're heaven in a dress. Now it's time for your Onee-sama to take her cloak off. You know the deal Sachiko. Strip."

I suppose it can't be helped then thought Sachiko as her as her shaky hands went up to the first button on the coat. Forgive me Yumi. She sent Yumi and pleading, apologetic look before turning around and unbuttoning the coat. In one fluid motion she slipped it off her shoulders and turned around.

It was lucky that Yoshino was still standing close by; otherwise the brunette would have hit the ground full force when she fainted. Yumi blushed tomato red, sputtered a little and then collapsed sideways into Yoshino. Sei could only watch the ensuing drama unfold with increasing mirth. Aahahahahaha oh I knew that was gonna happen. I could've taken it to the bank. Bravo Yumi-chan!

"YUMI! Oh Yumi my goodness are you alright?" Sachiko had rushed forward to help her little one the moment her eyes rolled back. Oh goodness this is entirely my fault. I must have disgusted her. What kind of onee-sama does something like that to her soeur? Sachiko took Yumi out of Yoshino's arms and placed her on the lounge, being careful not to crush her wings. While the teary Sachiko was busy crooning over Yumi, the doorbell rang again.

Youko, who had been torn between helping her soeur and laughing her ass off, made for the hall. "Oh! That's got to be Noriko and Shimako. Sorry everyone I have a jump scare to execute." And off she went.

Over on the lounge, Yumi had started to come around. There was a soft, shaky hand stroking her cheek. Uuuurgh what just happened? One minute I was following Yoshino downstairs; the next…Onee-sama was dressed as a sexy panda!

Sachiko gazed down at her drowsy love, aching with guilt. The girl appeared to be waking up.

Yumi's eyes flickered open as a spectacular blush spread up her ears and down her neck. The shrill sound of a girl being jump scared in the next room jolted her the rest of the way down to earth.

Yumi turned her head to meet her onee-sama's frantic gaze. "Yumi! Goodness you frightened me so. I'm so sorry Yumi, this is all my fault," she berated, hanging her head in shame. The brunette stretched out a soft hand to cup her chin and raised her head. Yumi was surprised to find tears swimming in those sapphire eyes she loved so much.

"It wasn't your fault onee-sama, really. Sure, it gave me a shock, but I was probably just a bit tired from all the decorating." Yumi spoke softy and Sachiko felt herself leaning closer to listen to her soeur. "You wore that panda costume even though you probably didn't want to. That's really brave onee-sama."

"Of course little one, at least now we can both say we've been dressed as pandas in front of one another" she whispered softly. "However, I now see that it was a bad decision. You shouldn't have had to see me like that and I feel terrible for it. I shall go find my coat again." She made to get up when a hand on her arm held her back.

"Please don't do that onee-sama, you really don't have to. I…I think you look absolutely lovely…I-I mean…th-that is to say I most l-likely fainted b-because my heart was b-beating so q-quickly." Yumi was visibly trembling as Sachiko moved back towards her, their faces dangerously close.

"Is that so? My…I suppose I shall have to wear this more often then," she whispered softly, her breath fanning Yumi's lips. Yumi's heart was pounding a mile a minute and everything seemed rather surreal as she watched Sachiko's face drawing nearer, her blue eyes hooded and dark. Yumi raised a delicate hand to rest upon Sachiko's cheek. The older girl turned her head and placed a soft kiss on the inside of Yumi's wrist. Both of them shivered from the electricity of the touch. Sachiko turned her gaze back to Yumi, and the younger girl was trying to comprehend all the emotions she saw swirling in her eyes. Love, affection, and tenderness…those were ever-present with her Onee-sama these days. Now though, those emotions were joined by a look of hunger, excitement and…desire? It seemed Sachiko was drawing closer and closer, so close her eyes could no longer focus on their blue opposites. She felt her onee-sama's nose brush her own. Both of them were breathing heavily, each wondering if what they desired was actually about to happen…

"Onee-sama? Are you ok? Oh my goodness what happened?"

Sachiko and Yumi leapt apart so quickly you'd think they'd just been burned. Touko had clearly just arrived and had chosen that exact moment to pop her head over the top of the couch to inquire about her big sister's health. While both Yumi and Sachiko looked in opposite directions with heated cheeks, Touko remained standing expectantly above her sister. It seemed that she had no idea what she had just interrupted.

"I'm fine Touko-chan, I fainted earlier but the dizziness has passed. I feel a lot better now, thank you." At least Yumi had finally found her voice.

"Well that's a relief to hear. Onee-sama, you make a wonderful angel. Yoshino did an excellent job on you. Do you like my costume? Rei-sama gave me the idea but I put it all together by myself at home." She held he arms out either side of her body and spun around to model her efforts.

"You're…a Mime! Wow, the makeup looks so professional. Well done Touko!" she praised.

Touko puffed herself up proudly. "Well, we do in more in drama club than simply prancing about the stage. Anyway, lets go into the other room. I think Youko-sama brought some drinks and she's pouring shots through the hole in Sei's mask!" She pulled Yumi by the hand and half-dragged her into the kitchen. The brunette threw a desperate, apologetic look over her should at Sachiko as she was led away.

Sachiko remained on the floor next the couch, silently fuming at her cousin. Well hello to you too, Touko-chan. Maria-sama! I was so close…WE were so close. Everything was perfect until she decided to come barging through. And she says she's a mime? Unless my knowledge escapes me, mimes aren't supposed to speak at all! They lock themselves in invisible boxes and keep out of the way. I'm tempted to lock her in a real box after that. Who knows when I'll get a chance like that with Yumi again?

Sachiko decided that she'd better go to the kitchen too or else they might wonder where she'd gone. Drinking everything alcoholic in sight seemed like a wonderful idea all of a sudden.

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Hope you all enjoyed that after the wait. The final part will be up really soon so prepare for the romantic fluff!