A/N: Many apologies to my dear readers! I had intended to post this chapter last week. However, after reading it I decided that it needed a serious rework. So here it is for your reading enjoyment! I will try and keep the time between updates to a minimum as I am now a few chapters ahead.

I wish to acknowledge the following people as the newest members of my small band of story groupies: AyakashiAkira, Zaara-chan, elfspirit7, EAnIL, hagin690, and Master Kosa. Keep the favoriting, following and the reviews coming. Thank you! ^_^

As always, I only own the story concept. Everything else belongs to the honorable Oyuki Konno-sama!

And now, back to our story...

Confrontation

Chapter 4 – A Helping Hand

After spending the night at the Ogasawara residence and taking turns watching over Sachiko, Touko and Youko were up early the next morning. They had left Sachiko in the care of her mother Sayako as Youko drove first to Touko's house and then to her own for a change of clothes and a quick shower.

Feeling refreshed and full from a spectacular breakfast whipped up by Sato Sei as they updated her on the events at the Ogasawara household, they were now in front of the Fukuzawa residence. The target of their mission was inside, still asleep in her room.

They rang the bell and were let in by Miki-san. After pleasantries were exchanged, Youko joined Miki in the kitchen as Touko excused herself and went upstairs to check on Yumi.

-0-0-

It had been a fitful night for Yumi as well. She had awoken several times from pleasant dreams of Sachiko only to find herself crying again the instant she remembered their current strife. Yumi was miserable. If the night had been any indication of things to come, it was only going to get worse. Sure, she had promised Sayako to wait a week before she ended their relationship. However, she had been working on her relationship with Sachiko for four years. What could Sayako do in a week? Barring some kind of miracle, she was not very hopeful.

This was her waking thought as Yumi slowly became aware of the sunlight streaming in through her window. She wasn't ready to open her eyes and face the day ahead. But she knew she couldn't stay in bed all day. At the very least, she knew Yuuki would be in to bug her eventually.

As she lay trying to will herself back to sleep, she had the nagging feeling that she was not alone. She couldn't hear anything unusual and her brother would most certainly be making all the noise he could if he were trying to wake her.

Realizing that the feeling wasn't gong away, she opened her eyes to locate the source of her discontent…

-0-0-

Youko had been filling Miki in on the details of the argument between Yumi and Sachiko and the subsequent events of the night before. Miki was shaking her head at the news. "I am glad that Yumi had Sayako-sama as well as you and Touko-chan there for her. I shudder to think what kind of state she would have been in otherwise…"

"Anything for a sister." Youko replied as she smiled up at Miki. "Speaking of the sister in question, when does Yumi normally get up?" Miki turned to look at the wall clock. "She should be up in about…"

Her response was cut short by a high-pitched, blood-curdling scream emanating from Yumi's room upstairs. Youko smiled at Miki's startled look as she said. "Sounds like she's awake now." Miki then joined in as she and Youko giggled in merriment before they resumed sipping their teas.

-0-0-

Upon opening her eyes, Yumi had immediately focused on a pair of brown eyes staring back at her from 10 centimetres away. The face those eyes belonged to was framed by a pair of corkscrew pigtails lying on a pair of folded arms. The closeness of the intruder had startled Yumi into full alertness. She screamed as she immediately sat up and back-pedaled into the wall next to her bed.

As her brain finally started processing the image of the face and its owner, she began yelling at Touko for the rude awakening she had received. Touko only giggled uncontrollably at Yumi's ranting's. She finally managed to tell her. "Such a beautiful expressive face, even when you are sleeping." This served only to cause Yumi to blush at her petite-soeur's comment. "I'm sorry onee-sama." Touko apologized with a smile. "You were so cute I couldn't help myself."

"Mou." Yumi pouted. "You shouldn't frighten people like that Touko. Especially your onee-sama!" Then with a small smile. "Still…it is good to see you."

Touko stood up from where she had been kneeling next to the bed and climbed up to sit next to Yumi. She hugged her lovingly as she said. "It's good to see you too."

Enjoying the closeness for several moments, Yumi asked her. "So, I take it someone is concerned about me after…last night?"

"Hai." Touko replied.

Yumi waited a few seconds more before continuing. "So she sent you?"

"Which 'she' do you refer to?" Touko countered.

Yumi sighed. "You know…"

Touko continued her charade by holding up her hand as she began ticking off her fingers one at a time, saying. "Miki-oba-sama, Sayako-oba-sama, Youko-sama, Shimako-san, Yoshino-san. Oh, then there is your very own pervert Sei…."

"Eeehh?!" Yumi screeched before hitting Touko with her pillow. "Baka! You know very well who I mean Touko-chan. Stop pretending." Touko laughed at her reaction before saying. "Hai onee-sama." She then turned somber as she looked at her grande-soeur. "She did not Yumi. She is…not in any condition to do that as yet."

Yumi looked at the floor with a sad look as she sighed. "I suppose that is all my fault…"

"Partially." Touko said. Seeing the hurt expression cross her friends face, she added. "Gomenasai onee-sama, but you did give her quite the verbal lashing last night." Yumi thought about it for a second before she nodded appreciatively at the truth in Touko's words.

Touko continued with. "And I did say 'partially'. Because of Sachiko-onee-sama's inability to tell her parents or anyone else for that matter about the two of you, most of the responsibility for last night lies with her. She knows this. Perhaps that is the reason why she is so devastated. She has deceived her parents, her friends, the Yamayurikai, and worst of all; she hurt you in the process. I think that alone bothers her the most." She then looked at Yumi.

Yumi nodded her agreement and remained silent for several minutes. Touko finally broke the silence with. "You do know that she loves you more than anyone else on earth, right?"

Smiling briefly, Yumi replied. "Hai, I have never doubted that." Seeing Touko giving her a reproachful look, she hastily added. "Well, at least not since she asked me to be her girlfriend anyway." Thinking for a moment, Yumi went on. "Still, I am not so much as mad at her as I am mad at her actions. Rather, her lack of action…" Touko nodded her understanding.

"I guess it comes down to I am tired of struggling to be content in brief stolen moments with her. We are always having our relationship parceled out here and there. Arranging a private get-away or a secret meeting somewhere. Everyone else I know seems to have their relationships out in the open. They always seem to find agreement and balance in them. Why must she and I always be at odds?" Pausing. "Sometimes…it just feels like I am the only one that wants this to work. I guess that is what annoys me the most. The secrecy. I'm always in the shadows."

"It does tend to drive one to distraction, doesn't it?" Touko asked. Yumi nodded in tight-lipped agreement. Touko turned toward her and began stroking Yumi's hair as she explained. "For 21 years, Sachiko-onee-sama has lived in a world where, anything that can lend itself to being 'different', 'weird' or 'unusual' is often used as a weapon against others." Touko began. "The aristocracy she mingles with use anything they can to get that nth degree of advantage over their peers. Whether that information is real or imagined is not relevant. Only the results it brings. You have seen and experienced that yourself."

Yumi nodded at the memory of Saionji's party and deception.

"She had 16 years of indoctrination and living in that society before you came into her life." Touko continued. "You have helped change her perspective and lose some of that training, but a lot of it is still there. She's simply scared Yumi. She is afraid of how this will be used against her and used against her family. And I'm sure she is terrified of how it will be used against you. It is a very real fear of a very real possibility. Please have patience with her."

"I know that Touko." Yumi said with mild exasperation. "It's just…I am starting to question how much patience I should have. How many delays and denials must I tolerate? I am having doubts about the wisdom of continuing to be with her. Maybe I made the wrong decision…"

Touko felt her friend's hopelessness as she replied. "Onee-sama…"

Yumi suddenly shook her head as if to clear it. She then jumped up off the bed. "Enough sadness for now." She said decisively. "I'm hungry. I will wash up and join you downstairs." She then quickly disappeared into the bathroom, the door shutting loudly behind her.

Touko shook her head sadly at the thought of Yumi's state of mind and her sudden avoidance of further discussion. She and Youko had their work cut out for them…

-0-0-

As Yumi showered, Touko made her way downstairs and informed Miki and Youko of her conversation with Yumi. The older women shared her concern about Yumi's state of depression and avoidance of talking further about it.

Youko shared Touko's sentiments about their work being difficult. After thinking on it for a few moments, Youko looked at her great-grand-imouto and said. "Change of plans Touko-chan. I'm going to steal Yumi away from you for a while today."

Touko responded by giving her best pout. Youko rolled her eyes, saying. "Oh stop. I'll make it up to you later. In the meantime, you can either help Sayako-sama or go home and get some rest."

Touko smiled at her as she went into full actress mode. placing her hand over her heart, she dead-panned. "You'd better make it up! After all, I am sacrificing what little precious Yumi time I get…" She then winked at Youko before turning to go call for a car.

-0-0-

By the time Yumi dressed and came downstairs, Touko had left. She walked into the kitchen expecting to see her imouto waiting. Instead, the sight of her great-grande-soeur greeted her. "Youko-sama!" She said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Sitting at the table, Youko tilted her head to the side as she answered. "What? Can I not come see my favorite little sister when I want? Must I call your social secretary ahead of time for an appointment?"

"Of course not!" Yumi replied. "Mou, I didn't mean it that way. I'm just surprised is all. You know you can see me anytime. Um, but where is Touko-chan?"

Miki answered for Youko by saying. "Touko-chan had to go and take care of an urgent family matter. She apologizes for her abrupt departure. She said that she would call you later."

Yumi was disappointed. She had wanted to spend more time with her imouto. They didn't see each other very often as it was. She also couldn't help but wonder if the 'urgent family matter' had something to do with Sachiko.

Seeing the look on Yumi's face, Youko said. "Don't look so sad. You will be seeing her again soon. On the bright side, you get to spend some quality time with me."

Yumi smiled at Youko's comment before asking. "And what are we going to be doing?" as her mother placed her breakfast in front of her.

Youko gave a thoughtful look as she replied. "Oh…something special."

Looking at her suspiciously, Yumi asked her. "It doesn't involve a hot strawberry milk au lait does it?"

Youko almost choked on her tea as she began laughing out loud. "No. It absolutely does not. It's something every woman needs after having a bad day…retail therapy!"

Yumi perked up at the suggestion. She was always up for a good shopping spree. Thinking about it for a second, she then said. "That sounds great. However, I don't have a budget for anything big. So, it will be mostly window shopping."

Youko held up her hand. "No worries Yumi-chan. My treat." As Yumi began to protest, she stopped her mid-word. Saying, "Ah. Ah. Ah. It's my invite so it's my rules. I'm invoking my great-grande-soeur's privilege to spoil you any time I want." She paused as Yumi clamped her mouth shut. "And what do you say?" Yumi shook her head in disbelief before replying with an exaggerated. "Hai Youko-onee-sama!" in her best little girl voice. She then joined Youko and her mother in a giggle at her own antics.

As she began eating her breakfast, they began planning where they would go for the day.

-0-0-

At that moment at the Ogasawara house, Sachiko was in the shower. The hot water had been flowing over every inch of her alabaster skin for several minutes as she had simply stood in place. Fatigue had overwhelmed her ability to do anything more than that.

After finishing her shower, she had looked at herself in the mirror as she dried off. The bluenette was looking at a face that was exhausted. Her famous blue eyes were bloodshot and lacked their usual luster. The dark circles under them only served to highlight the fact that she looked like hell. 'No.' She decided. 'This is definitely not a day to be out in public.' Sighing, she drug herself back to her room. She elected to dress casually in a loose fitting sweater and jeans. Looking at herself again in the full length mirror, she reflected on the fact that she had been trying to emulate Yumi when she started wearing jeans several years before. She ran her hand over the surface of the fabric in sadness at the thought of her former imouto and girlfriend.

She was downstairs in the kitchen a few minutes later. She decided against her usual breakfast, settling instead for some toast and green tea. She sat staring into the hot liquid as she slowly stirred it, her thoughts drifting back to the evening before. If not for her fatigue, she would have believed it all to be some horribly bad dream. However, she knew better than that. "Whatever am I going to do?" she asked herself absentmindedly.

Sayako stood at the counter watching her daughter. She had been there for several minutes. Sachiko being so lost in thought that she had not noticed her mother's arrival and continued presence. Sayako broke her from her reverie by saying. "Thinking of a certain special someone are we?"

Sachiko started slightly at the sound of her mother's voice before saying. "Hai." She then gave a depressed sigh before continuing. "And also about how right she was that I have treated her so badly." She continued stirring her tea as she paused again. "I had thought I was doing well balancing our relationship between what I wanted and what the family was asking. Apparently, I was so very wrong. I forgot about what Yumi needed. I didn't see how my actions were hurting her. I missed all the clues. She is…" Her blue eyes darkened substantially. "I have greatly disappointed her." She finished.

Sayako reached over and gently began stroking her daughter's hair. "Had you shown her some loyalty and been honest with us about your relationship with her in the first place Sa-chan, last night could have been avoided."

"Hai." Replied Sachiko. "I see that now. However, that would only have made it right with you. There is still father and grandfather to contend with. I do not believe they would approve of either my relationship with her or meddling in their plans for me with my silly desires and wishes. Even if it is my life and happiness we are talking about." She said dejectedly.

Sayako shook her head sadly at her daughter's comment. "You need to talk with your father Sa-chan." She said. "Sooner than later. You need to make this right with everyone involved."

"Not that it would make any difference at this point." Sachiko responded. "Either with them or Yumi…"

Sayako stopped her ministrations with Sachiko's hair and briefly patted her shoulder before telling her. "I think you are assuming too much. Yumi-chan made it very clear where she stands on this…and what she expects you to do. You need only to do the honorable thing." She paused before adding. "Talk to him Sa-chan, you may be surprised."

Sachiko looked to her mother with a questioning look. "How so?" she asked.

Sayako simply shook her head no as she said. "You know that which you need to do. You only need do it. Go to him and be honest."

Concern and trepidation filled Sachiko's mind as she returned to stirring her now cold tea. "Hai." Was her only response to her mother's words. As Sayako moved to leave, Sachiko remembered something that she needed to tell her. "Mother?" she inquired.

Sayako turned back to her daughter. "Yes Sa-chan?"

"Gomenasai. For everything." She said sadly. Sayako gave her daughter a warm smile and patted her back as she said. "No need to be sorry. But thank you." With that, Sayako turned and left the kitchen. For the moment, she had done her part. Now it was up to her daughter and Touko-chan.

-0-0-