A/N: 11/15/2014 I almost forgot to post my thoughts! Anyway, here is the next exciting chapter of our story. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. ^_^

Confrontation

Chapter 5 – Sachiko's Challenge

Touko came to the kitchen doorway of the Ogasawara house 30 minutes later. Sachiko was still at the table in the same position. Her thoughts and emotions still in turmoil as she sat lost in thought. She had far too many questions and too few answers. It was a distracting situation for her.

Touko stood quietly watching her cousin. Thanks in large part to Yumi's influence; Sachiko had changed over the past four years of their relationship. Because of that, Touko could now read her face almost as well as Yumi could. 'That's what love does to you.' She surmised. Thinking further, she realized that she had also changed after coming under the 'Yumi Effect' much like her cousin. She smiled to herself at the irony of it all.

Sadly, it wasn't the only habit she had inherited from Yumi she noted as she watched Sachiko. What she was seeing disturbed her a great deal. The woman she had looked up to for so long had changed in the last 24 hours. Gone was the energetic, take charge, graceful, knowledgeable and insightful person she knew. The woman in front of her now was lethargic, distracted, indecisive, self-doubting and lacked any confidence in herself. It was almost like looking at an earlier version of her onee-sama.

While she believed that it had been what Sachiko needed to break her out of the self-destructive cycle that she had been heading for, a part of her couldn't help but wonder if it had been taken too far. 'Was it too much for Sachiko to bear all at once?' she pondered. Only time would tell for sure she surmised.

Touko was amazed at the influence that Sachiko and Yumi had over each other. 'Amazing and scary.' She thought. She shuddered at the thought of someone having that much power over her. For that matter, it bothered her that she might have that much power over someone else. It would be too easy to hurt them accidentally. There needs to be a balance point somewhere between 'me' and 'us' in any relationship she concluded. It was something she would have to talk with Yumi about soon. For now, she had to deal with Sa-chan. She felt her cousin needed some motivation. And she knew just the thing she needed to say.

Assuming her best lecturing voice, she said. "You need only to act Sachiko-onee-sama. That is all she is asking of you."

Scowling at another unexpected interruption, Sachiko looked at her briefly. "I know that." She replied. Touko noted that while Sachiko was annoyed, her voice lacked its usual biting energy. "There are a lot of things at stake here." Sachiko continued. "Not only for her and I, but for my family as well. I could lose everything; Yumi, my home, even my name. It's just…" She gave a tired sigh in exasperation before she finished with. "There is a lot involved Touko-chan."

"I understand that." Touko began. "And yes, those are always possibilities. But what will you gain in return?"

Sachiko's voice held a note of sadness as she told her. "Last week, I would have said 'Yumi' without a doubt. Now, I am not sure… She was trying to end it between us last night. I have lost her, I know that in here." She pointed towards her heart as she continued. "It is obvious to me that she must hate me for what I have done, and not done. How could I expect her not to?"

Nodding her head in agreement, Touko said. "Sure, she should. However, I will tell you this much. She may be disgusted, resentful, annoyed, depressed, and even disillusioned right now because of you. But hate?" She asked her cousin. "No." She said shaking her head. "That is the one emotion she could never have towards you. As she told you, you are 'her heart and her princess'. Anyone who spends even a little time with Yumi knows that you are the very light at the center of her universe Sa-chan. Just as she is also to you. You have not lost her. You just need to have a little faith in her…and in yourself."

Sachiko listened to her cousin carefully and began thinking on her words. What she had said gave her some measure of hope. "You have given me something to hold onto Touko-chan." She told her with a small smile. "Arigato gozaimasu."

"Anything for a sister and my favorite cousin." Touko replied. Pausing to look at her for a moment, she thought 'I'm sorry to do this to you Sa-chan.' before she added. "However, do try to keep one thing in mind…"

"And that would be?" Sachiko asked her curiously.

Calling on her acting skills, she gave her cousin a dead serious stare as she told her. "If you carry though with this stupidity and marry Kashiwagi-kun because of whatever misguided sense of duty to the family that you have; believe me when I say that I will do everything in my power to see that you never become a part of her life ever again."

Sachiko was confused by her cousin's statement and sudden animosity. But not enough to blind her to the fact that she did not like the implied threat she had received. Giving Touko an icy stare, she asked her. "What are you starting Matsudaira Touko? Are you seriously threatening me in my own house?"

Touko simply shrugged as she turned to walk away. "You have been warned Sachiko." Was all Touko said over her shoulder as she left the kitchen and disappeared down the hallway.

Touko's warning did not set well with Sachiko. 'To tell me that I will never be apart of Yumi's life again.' She fumed. 'Who the hell does she think she is? Is she going to keep Yumi away from me? Or is she saying that she is going to take Yumi for herself?' She thought. That comment had left Sachiko feeling even more unsettled. It was a feeling that she had grown to despise. Yumi was hers and had always been only hers. No one had ever dared challenge Sachiko for Yumi's heart. Not even the ever-flirtatious former Rosa Gigantea Satou Sei had ever been stupid enough to try such a thing. 'Yumi wouldn't be interested in Touko.' She told herself. 'Would she?' Under the circumstances, it was another frustrating question that she couldn't answer. And it was one too many. She hated losing to anyone in general. She certainly had no intention of losing Yumi to anyone. Ever. And she most certainly would not lose her to Touko, even if she was her grand imouto and cousin.

Somewhere inside Sachiko a spark re-ignited and quickly flamed into life. Any doubting thoughts she had lingering about her current situation were quickly incinerated. While she had been committed before, now she had only one single thought: Prove to Yumi that we are worth all the sacrifices she has made. Straightening, she steeled herself for what she knew had to be done.

Standing, she went and dumped the remainder of her tea out in the sink before heading out of the kitchen. 'First.' She thought. 'I need to go change and freshen up. Then I need to talk with mother again before I see father.'

From her hiding place down the hall, Touko watched as Sachiko walked towards her room. A knowing smile quickly graced her face. 'Banzai Sa-chan! Take back the life that has always been yours.' Touko sent that prayer towards her cousin as she watched her walk away, Sachiko's well-known and determined stride was back in full view.

-0-0-

Thirty minutes later, Sachiko had changed and brushed her hair and was headed for her mother's study.

Sayako was resting on a couch. Sipping her tea as she was reading a book. The moment of relaxation was interrupted by a persistent noise. Putting the book down, she listened intently. She heard the approach of her daughter as it was announced by the 'clack, clack, clack' of her heels as she walked down the hall.

Sayako smiled at herself as she realized what it meant. Hearing the determination in those steps told her all she needed to know. Sachiko was back to being herself and she had chosen the future that she wanted most. Wearing her heels inside meant that she was on the warpath and that could only mean one thing; Yumi had won a permanent place in their lives.

The sound suddenly stopped and was replaced by a firm knock at her study door. Putting a stoic mask on to hide her joy, she said. "Come in." Sachiko entered the study and came straight to the point. "I need to talk to father."

Sayako looked up at her daughter and asked. "Am I to take it that you have made a decision regarding Yumi and your engagement?" Firmly, Sachiko answered. "I have." Pausing for a moment, Sayako then raised an eyebrow as she asked her. "And that would be?"

Looking straight into her mother's eyes, Sachiko responded evenly. "That I am engaged to the wrong person. My heart belongs only to Yumi Fukuzawa. I will not accept a marriage to anyone else."

Sayako sat back and looked at her daughter for a moment before a wide smile crossed her face. "I see." She replied, and then added. "Welcome back, it's nice to see that the real Sa-chan has returned."

Sachiko gave her mother a smile. One that she hoped hid the nervousness she felt inside at making such a bold confession out loud for the first time. She then asked. "When will father be home?" Sayako's smile faded a bit as she answered. "Unfortunately, he is on an overnight business trip and will not return until noon tomorrow."

"Just my luck." Sachiko replied with chagrin. "Never who I need when or where I need them to be…" Sayako giggled at her daughter's frustration. "It does seem to be that way doesn't it? Just remember that happens when you are the head of the Ogasawara companies." Sachiko rolled her eyes at her mother's statement. "You mean if I become head of the companies."

Sayako shrugged her shoulders before saying. "One can never tell. The future holds many possibilities. Why don't you sit with me a while and tell me all about the plans for the future you and Yumi will have?" She said with a smile.

Sachiko took a seat next to her mother as she said. "Well, if Yumi will still have me…"

-0-0-