A/N: Hello again everyone. I must offer my most humble apologies for the almost three month delay in posting this chapter. As any writer can tell you, sometimes the muse can be a obnoxious, selfish, and sadistic witch at times. Mine has been particularly unhelpful with this chapter. However, to be fair to her, she has given me ideas for several others that I am currently working on. And yes, they are more MSGM stories! ^_^
Now, this next part goes out to one of my favorite reviewers and a card carrying member of my merry band of story groupies; Taraemilia: Why the camera? Why indeed. (Hint: Youko is a meddler. Remember?) Read on for details. ^_~
As usual, I would like to welcome the following people to my merry band of story groupies: nytestorms, Chill19, CadetChik, Ravenna Wolf, Alexandra353, Aldmagali, and Shurei93. Thanks again for all your reviews and comments. ^_^
Disclaimer: MSGM, it's characters, and all rights/licensing/ownership pertaining thereto belong to the honorable Konno Oyuki-sama. This story in its current format within the MSGM universe is posted without profit. The story concept behind confrontation however, is entirely mine.
Back to our story...
Confrontation
Chapter 9 - Cameras and Confessions
Later that afternoon, Sachiko sat reading at her grandmother's former house. She was reviewing a few reports that her father had asked her to look over. She enjoyed her time in the home and lived there part-time. If Sachiko had to be honest about it, it was because the place was where she and Yumi first admitted their love and mutual attraction for each other during the horrible time after her grandmother had passed away. After she inherited it, they had spent a great deal of their quality time together there.
While the house interior had been redecorated since she had moved in. She had left the bedroom terrace door and the trim around it the same color. Along with the biscuit-colored door at the Rose Mansion and Maria-sama's statue, it was one of their favorite places to remember their beginnings.
Sachiko pondered that thought for a moment. 'It seems like all the places we cherish are doorways of one sort or another. The Maria-sama statue near the Lillian gates, the biscuit door at the Rose Mansion, the terrace door here at home. They all had played a part in the journey that had led each of us to the door of the other's heart.' She smiled at that thought. If all went well in the next few days, then this could truly become 'their' home permanently. At the thought of her girlfriend, she looked up from her desk towards a portrait of them together that was hanging on the wall. Closing her eyes she sent a small prayer to her heart's desire. 'Hold on just a little longer Yumi. We're almost there.' Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the door chime. "I wonder who that could be?" she said out loud to herself as she stood up and went to the door.
Mizouno Youko stood at Sachiko's door waiting for her friend to answer. She decided to stop by Sachiko's after she had dropped Yumi off at her house earlier. She had briefly reviewed and edited the contents of the camcorder in her pocket. Yumi was not aware of the recording and she hoped that Sachiko would keep that little secret to herself after she watched it. Youko had decided to have some fun at her friends expense when presenting it. She smiled at that thought as she heard the door start to open.
Sachiko opened the door and found Youko standing there. Surprised, she smiled at her friend and invited her in, asking. "To what do I owe this pleasant surprise Onee-sama?"
Stepping in to her foyer, Youko said. "Oh, I was out and about and realized that I had not seen you in a few days. So I thought I would stop by and show you something I found."
Sachiko took her coat and began hanging it up. "Oh?" She asked. "And what would that be?"
"It...it is a documentary...of sorts." Youko began hesitantly. "It's short, but I think you would be very interested in watching it." She then pulled out the camcorder.
Sachiko raised an eyebrow. Her curiosity was piqued, however the way Youko was talking about it was off. It was almost like she didn't want to show her what was on the video. "Really? May I ask what it is a documentary of?" She asked with concern as she closed the closet door.
"A certain brunette girlfriend of yours..." Youko deadpanned. "On a date."
Sachiko's head snapped around to look at Youko. Her eyes darkening and forming slits as she did. "Oh, on a date with whom?"
"A man." Youko replied.
Sachiko's face started to cloud over. 'Yumi went on a date with a man?' she thought. "Is that so?" She answered with venom in her voice. "Then let's go take a peek at it then, shall we?" She then started leading her friend back towards her study. As always, Sachiko was the picture of elegance as she walked, but the determined manner in which she walked betrayed her true feelings at the moment. Youko wondered if she was going too far with her prank, but decided to go ahead with it anyway. She was sure she would be forgiven later.
Once inside the study, Youko sat down at Sachiko's desk and proceeded to hook up the camcorder to her computer. When she was finished, she cued up the segment. She then hesitated a moment for effect then turned to Sachiko and asked. "Are you sure you really want to see this?"
Sachiko gave her a stern look and answered. "Absolutely." Her irritation showing through her voice.
Youko stood up and traded places with her. Once Sachiko sat down, Youko pressed the play button and moved away from the desk. Not-so-coincidentally, it also moved her out of Sachiko's reach. A small smile was evident on Youko's face.
Sachiko began watching the video with interest. The camera appeared to have been set up across from where a table was situated. It gave the lens a view of where both parties would be as they sat at the table. As she watched, questions were flowing through her head at a rapid pace. 'Who was Yumi going out with? Has Yumi given up on me that quickly? Could she really not wait any longer? And why a man? Did I hurt her that badly?' Her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a man entering the frame. A second later she recognized the man as her father. Confusion spread across her face as she tried to figure out what she was seeing.
A few moments later, Yumi was shown into the room by the maitre d and exchanged greetings with her father before sitting down. Sachiko looked up briefly at Youko for an explanation. However, Youko was facing away from her looking out the study window. Looking back at the video, she heard her father ask Yumi why she was meeting with him.
VIDEO:
Yumi: [Tooru-oji-sama, both you and Sayako-oba-sama have been most kind to me since Sachiko chose me to be her petite-soeur at Lillian. I feel blessed to have been able to come to know your family.]
Tooru: [We feel the same about you, Yumi-chan.]
Yumi: [In that time, I have come to care about, and love, Sachiko a great deal. To be honest Tooru-oji-sama, I am in love with Sachiko.]
Tooru: [I see. Is Sa-chan aware of your feelings towards her?]
Yumi: [Hai. She is.]
Sachiko had gasped at Yumi's declaration of love. "Yumi, what are you doing?" She said out loud. She was annoyed that Yumi had not waited for her father's decision. Despite everything Yumi had been through, Sachiko felt that she still had not learned the value of having patience. She would have to speak with Yumi about that later. She focused her attention back to the video.
Tooru: [What are your intentions Fukuzawa Yumi-chan?]
Yumi: [I wish to ask you to formally annul Sachiko's current betrothal and engagement to Kashiwagi-san. So that I may take my rightful place at her side.]
Tooru: [You wish to marry my daughter then?]
Yumi: [Hai, Tooru-oji-sama I do.]
Sachiko gasped again. She brought her hands up to cover her nose and lips as she started to tear up as the realization of what Yumi had just done sunk in. Yumi hadn't gone on a date. Yumi had met with her father seeking his permission to marry her. "Such a willful woman." She said aloud. Thinking to herself, 'Then again, she is a Rosa Chinensis and my petite-soeur isn't she?' She sniffed back her tears as she continued to watch the video.
Tooru: [And if I refuse?]
Yumi: [I would be most disappointed of course. However, it will not deter us in the slightest. We would continue to be with each other.]
Tooru: [So you will pursue a relationship with Sa-chan even against my wishes?]
Yumi: [Ogasawara-sama, let me be perfectly clear. Sachiko and I will be together. With you, without you, because of you, in spite of you, or; if necessary, even if I have to go through you.]
Sachiko smiled at Yumi's statement as she clutched at her shirt over her heart. Even through the digital recording medium, Sachiko could hear the implied threat in Yumi's voice. Youko heard Sachiko mutter a quiet. "That's my Yumi." in admiration. Due to Youko's editing, the video stopped at that point. Sachiko started the video over. She watched three more times before she looked at Youko with a smile and told her. "Yumi can pursue me all she wants, but only until I catch her!" They both giggled at that.
Sachiko then asked Youko if she could have a copy of the video. Youko agreed and saved it to Sachiko's hard drive. After she was finished, she told Sachiko. "There is more to that video, but you are going to have to wait to see it." Sachiko started to protest, but Youko cut her off. "Later, I promise when the time is right, I will e-mail you the video in it's entirety."
Sachiko nodded her understanding. She then lightly punched Youko in the arm. "You almost had me there. Trying to get me to believe that Yumi was cheating on me. I think you have been around Sei-sama too much." She said with a smile.
Youko feigned being hurt before smiling and saying. "Actually, it was Sei's idea." She paused for a moment. In a more somber tone, she added. "You deserved that anyway..."
Sachiko looked at her again confused. "...?..."
Youko clarified for her, in her best lecturing voice. "Because you left that beautiful young lady hanging on for the last two years with nothing more than a faint hope and a wish in her heart. Even then, SHE had to be the one to force the issue!" Youko shook her head in mock exasperation. "I thought I had taught you better, but I guess some petite-soeur's just never learn."
Sachiko looked at her friend with a mixture of indignation and disbelief. For a moment she wasn't sure if she should be offended by Youko's comment or not. Finally, she decided that it wasn't meant in offense, "Must be a lack of skill on the part of the teacher." She said laughing, as she teased her friend back.
"Touche." Youko told her.
Sachiko then asked. "How about I make some dinner for us to try and make up for your efforts at attempting to raise me right?" Youko readily agreed as they then proceeded out to the kitchen.
-0-0-
Later that same evening, Yumi sat at the kitchen table during dinner with her family. Her mind was replaying the conversation she had had with Ogasawara Tooru earlier.
As was usual for her, her thoughts were being mirrored on her face. A fact that did not go unnoticed by her parents or Yuuki. Her mother grew concerned as Yumi spent more time in silent contemplation than eating. Miki was afraid that if it lasted much longer, her stare would bore holes through the table where Yumi's eyes were fixated. Miki decided to break her daughter's silence by asking her, "So, Yumi-chan, what was the big meeting you had today all about?"
Yumi startled from her reverie with a stuttered, "O..oh, um, it was concerning Sachiko-sama."
"Really?" Miki replied. "And who was concerned about Sachiko-chan?"
"Um, Tooru-oji-sama..." Yumi quietly replied as she took a bite of her salad.
The mention of Sachiko's father aroused the curiosity of her father Yuuichiro. "Tooru-sama? How is he these days?"
"He is well." Yumi replied with a smile.
"What did he want to discuss with you about Sachiko-chan?" He continued.
Yumi started replying, "We were discussing her..." Before stopping. She was quiet for a moment as she stared at her plate. Her fork hovering half-way to her open mouth. In her nervousness and excitement over the meeting with Tooru, she had forgotten to tell her parents that she had intended to declare her intention to marry Sachiko. Using Youko as an intermediary to do so. That was something her parents would have likely wanted to know and have a choice about. She had failed to ask their thoughts on the matter. A cold sweat started to break out along Yumi's back.
After several moments of silence, Miki prodded her daughter with, "Yumi?"
Yumi's face flushed with embarrassment. She cleared her throat before replying. "Hai, I wanted to meet with him to discuss Sachiko's future." Looking up, she saw that she now had her entire family's total attention. 'I know I should speak clearly and honestly with them about it.' she thought. 'But are they even ready to know?'
Yuuichiro was the first to speak. "Sachiko-chan's future? Couldn't you ask her yourself? Why would you need to ask her father?"
Yumi's mind was blank. She couldn't think of an acceptable answer to that particular question without incurring more curious questions. 'Time to tell them what I did.' she thought as she inhaled deeply to answer her father.
She was interrupted by her mother. "Unless..." Miki began. "It concerned her upcoming wedding perhaps?"
Thankful for the interruption, Yumi nodded in silence at her mother's question.
Her father spoke again. "Even at that," he began. "Why would you need to speak to her father about it? You and Sa-chan have a close enough relationship that such a thing would be unnecessary. You would have no reason except to..." His voice trailed off as a thought suddenly formed in his head. Straightening his back, he snapped his head up and gave Yumi a serious look before asking. "Yumi, did you ask Tooru-sama to cancel the wedding?"
Nervously Yumi gulped. "Hai. I did."
Her father stiffened and inhaled deeply as her mother let out a gasp. Yuuki sat still and did not move at all. Preferring to remain an observer of the scene playing out in front of him.
"Why?" was her father's next question.
Yumi saw a smirk cross her brother's face at the question. Only he would be able to smile at a time like this. It infuriated her sometimes. She could see her mother was on the verge of tears. She surmised that the pair had already guessed what she was going to say. She put her fork down and placed her hands on the table as she took in another deep breath. Her heart was beating quickly as she briefly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she looked directly at her father as she answered. "Because I asked him to allow me to marry her instead."
Silence hung over the room as her father processed the information. "And what was his answer?" He quietly asked her.
"He said he would consider it." Yumi replied.
Miki could barely contain her excitement. An 'Eeep!' eerily similar to her daughter's escaped her lips as she reached across the table and squeezed Yumi's hand. Her brother resumed eating wearing a large smile.
"Really?" Her father asked. His eyebrows raised in surprise. Yumi nodded a silent yes.
"What else did he say? Her mother asked her.
Yumi calmed herself down a bit before she replied. "Strangely, he offered me an internship at his company, in addition to my studies at Lillian in business management and architecture. He said it would be a paid position, better than an internship. He...he also said that he wants to take me on as his protege..."
Yuuki's jaw dropped open at her answer. Her mother gave another gasp as Yuuichiro froze in place. In an imitation of his daughter earlier, his chop sticks hung over his plate half-way to his mouth. He stared at the table for several seconds before he finally put them down in silence. He then asked Yumi for the details of Tooru's offer. Yumi quickly filled her family in on all the details that they had discussed.
Still looking at the table, her father asked Yumi. "What was your answer Yumi-chan?"
Yumi gave her father an uneasy look. His behavior was odd and it was making her nervous. "I asked him to give me a few days to decide. I...I wanted to discuss it with both you and mom first."
Her father gave a sharp intake of breath as he softly planted his hands flat on the table. His mouth was set in a grim thin line. Yumi saw, for the first time in her young life, that her father was close to tears. She became worried that she had somehow offended or hurt him.
"Yumi-chan," Her father began. "Listen to me very carefully." He then looked up and into her eyes. "What he has offered to you is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Meaning, that it rarely ever happens. Even with all that we have accumulated, your mother and I could not buy you the kind of education and assistance he is offering you. To put it bluntly, there are student who are Business Majors in the Honors Programs at Tokyo and Waseda Universities that would kill to receive an offer like that. Especially one coming from an Ogasawara family member and the President of the company at that." He paused for a moment. "I would hope that you already know that much. That assistance alone could propel you farther in life than any of our grandest plans for you ever could. If this is what you want, if she is who you want a future with, then grab a hold of this opportunity with both of your hands and don't you dare let it go. Not even for our own small company. This..." He then choked up for a moment. Miki reached over and held his hand to comfort and support her husband. "This is my fondest wish for you."
Yumi nodded her head as she said "Hai." It was all she could manage to say at the depth of emotion and approval her father had just given her. She stood up and walked over to her father. Hugging him from behind, she said. "Tooru-oji-sama did say that he would also assist our company in anyway we wished. However, he made it clear that our company is just that. Ours. He will not interfere nor take over." Her father just nodded as he breathed a sigh of relief at her words.
Yumi then giggled. "Of course, he also said upon my graduation that I would be able to take over the company." That earned a brief chuckle from her father. "I don't doubt that." He replied. "After all, that was to happen eventually." He turned his head to her and said in mock seriousness. "Just not so soon. Please don't toss me out into the cold, cruel world yet Yumi-chan!"
Yumi laughed at her father's antics. "No way that is ever going to happen!" She replied as she hugged her father even tighter.
-0-0-
Later in her room, Yumi and her mother were discussing the rest of the events of her meeting with Tooru. She wanted to hear every detail of her confession. It was the first time Yumi could remember her mother squealing like a high school girl. The sight warmed her heart.
"You do realize," her mother finally told her. "That Ogasawara Tooru-sama's offer of becoming his protege, is his own way of giving you an indirect answer to your request. Right?"
Yumi's thoughts went back and replayed the earlier conversation again. Slowly, a small smile spread across her face as she blushed and nodded a quiet yes to her mother.
Miki leaned forward and hugged Yumi in happiness for her good fortune. She was deeply indebted to Sayako for her efforts to help her daughter. How was she ever going to repay such kindness?
-0-0-