Disclaimer: I do not own MSGM or its characters. All such honors belong to Oyuki Konno.

Before the Yamayurikai could begin to fully focus on the School Festival and their presentation of The Swan Princess they would first have to go through the trials and tribulations represented by that worst of all school traditions: the Sports Festival.

Tsutako kept taking shot after shot of the girls of Lillian Academy as they ran the 4 x 400 meter relay. The Chrysanthemum Group had a slight lead in the overall standings, but the Apple Group was ahead in the relay race. A win would put them in the overall lead. The Pine Group, to which both she and Yumi belonged, was hurting. The school had a total of six groups: Pine, Chrysanthemum, Camellia, Apple, Plum and Cherry; however, the Plum and Cherry groups were combined since there were only first- and third-year classes in the Plum Group and the Cherry Group only consisted of a single, second-year class. Each of these groups were further defined by a separate color. Therefore, the breakout of the schools groups looked like:

Yellow: Chrysanthemum (Kiku)

Green: Pine (Matsu)

White: Plum (Sumomo) and Cherry (Sakura)

Red: Camellia (Tsubaki)

Purple: Apple (Fuji)

The school's Sports Festival pitted the various groups against each other in activities such as individual and group relay races, a scavenger hunt race, ball toss, pep squad, and dance competitions,

Tsutako, just as in the previous years, had been exempted from the actual events and had even been given only the most minor of chores to accomplish before she could start wielding her favorite weapon. Everyone seemed to want a picture of one or another favorite person, petite soeur, or onee-sama and everyone automatically assumed that the capture of such a photo was best left to the president and "Ace" of the Photography Club, Tsutako Takeshima. Of course, Tsutako had no problems with any of this since it gave her the opportunity to happily take as many photos as she liked throughout the day-long event.

Last year she had Hiromi-san to help her with everything that needed to be done since he had been recovering from a head injury. This year she had to depend on Shouko-chan since Hiromi was part of a special archery demonstration and competition among the members of the Kyudo Club being put on for the benefit of the multitude of parents and family members in the audience. He was anchoring the Pine Group's 4 x 400 meter relay team and if many of Tsutako's photos of the race just happened to include him in the picture frame, well, it was just serendipity . . . right?

And despite the lead that the Apple Group's first three runner's had generated for their team, Hiromi was quickly catching up. Unfortunately he was unable to completely overcome them by the end of the race. He was, however, able to take his team from fourth to second in the final outcome. Yumi, participating only in the ball toss event this year, rushed up to him and gave him a big hug of congratulations along with a bottle of water. The rest of the Pine Group was quick to join her in thanking him for his hard work.

Tsutako just kept pressing the shutter button on her camera as she smiled. Last year's Pine Group had been barely able to squeak out second to last place. It looked like this year they might have a chance to actually place third. Somehow, also just like last year, the Chrysanthemum Group had been able to stack the deck and had a good portion of the track team, along with the preeminent members of the softball and basketball teams, on their roster. Once again they were the overall favorites to win according to the latest issue of the Lillian Kawaraban. Maybe Tsutako should stick a bug in Mami-chan's ear that an investigative report regarding specifically who it was that selected the Yellow team's students prior to the beginning of the year might be an interesting read.

Hiromi had excused himself and was heading to the locker room to change into the hakama and jacket of his kyudo uniform for the archery demonstration. Tsutako took herself off and went in search of more of her "special request" targets.

"Tsutako-chan," she heard her name called from a section of folding risers that had been set up for visitors. A turn of her head brought into view a pair of arms swinging wildly trying to get her attention. She smiled as she saw the face of the young woman sitting in the stands along with that of the older woman sitting beside her.

"Chiyoko-okaasama, Kimiko-obaasama, good day. I hope you are doing well and enjoying yourselves," she called out with a wave as she walked over to Hiromi's mother and grandmother, taking pictures of the two classically beautiful women while she approached the pair.

"We most assuredly are, thank you Tsutako-chan," the delightful, dark haired woman replied with a loving smile. Tsutako and the two women had almost immediately taken to each other when they had first met over a year ago. Tsutako had been the first to learn of Hiromi's masquerade (well almost the first since it turned out that Sachiko-sama had known the first time she had laid eyes on the cross-dressing boy the first day of school the previous year) and that event had brought her to the attention of Hiromi's family. "I hope that the day finds you equally well. Are you not participating in any of the events? I notice that you are still wearing your normal uniform rather than your gym uniform."

Holding up her camera she grinned at the woman that still looked too young to be the mother of an eighteen year old. "As usual, this is my only event okaa-sama," she laughed. "Every year they have excused me from the actual events so that I could capture pictures of all of their favorites."

"And their requests could not be in better hands, I am sure," the dark eyed woman replied with an equal laugh. "So when are you coming over to the house again, my dear. We have been missing you these last couple of weeks. You still need to tell us all about your vacation at the bay house. For some reason Hiromi would only tell us about the mundane events. We want to hear the dirt, you know," she whispered theatrically with a sly smirk.

Tsutako blushed a deep shade of red at the request but giggled nevertheless. The fact that she and Hiromi would get married after college was almost a given and had been discussed at length by the older women, usually to Hiromi's significant embarrassment, but he never argued against it. Tsutako had gone along with the gentle teasing with gusto.

"I'm sorry to say that I will not be able to acquiesce to your request either okaa-sama, obaa-sama," she giggled, "but let me just say that 'a good time was had by all'. Does that help to satisfy your curiosity?"

"Ah, you're no fun Tsutako-chan," Kimiko laughed, "you know that we old women can only live vicariously through you youngsters these days."

"That is not what I am hearing from Hiromi-san, Kimiko-obaasama," she said with a chuckle, "I thought I heard something about you and your widower neighbor a couple of months ago."

"Oh, him," the grey haired woman smirked, "he still has the looks, but he is lacking in stamina. He does, however, have an appointment with his doctor to talk about a little blue pill."

If Tsutako could have gotten any redder she would have. All she could do was laugh along with the Takeda women and marvel at their outgoing nature. Here were a couple of Lillian graduates openly speaking about sex like it was a proper discussion to have with a teenage girl. Well, maybe that was why she loved them both so much. They treated her not only as a member of their family, but as an important part of their lives.

She spent a few more minutes talking to them before she had to excuse herself and get back to her job. She had seen Hiromi exit the locker room with his bow and quiver and head over to the demonstration area. She decided to work her way over in that direction as she started once again snapping photos. She really had not stopped even while she had been sitting with the Takeda's. She had simply switched to her telephoto lens and continued on while they spoke. But now she had to get serious. She put her game face on and started looking for Shouko-chan. She was going to need some help spotting her assigned targets.

-oo-

The preparations for the Yamayurikai production of The Swan Princess were moving along smoothly. Limited personnel also meant limited parts, so the original script was cut and rewritten by a friend of Touko's and one of the student's that, along with Tsutako, had received the Rose's Scholarship for the Arts the previous year, Hidemi Takachi. Given the numerous prefectural and national awards she had received for creative writing, the script re-write was certainly within her capabilities.

Rehearsals started with almost two weeks to spare. The Dance Club had agreed to help again, especially with the choreography of the Swan Lake scene, and Suguru Kashiwagi had agreed to help, but only after he had forced Yumi to ask him directly.

"So, you think that I can play an evil sorcerer easier than anyone else that is available?" he asked Yumi with a smirk that first day of mixed rehearsals.

"I just call them like I see them, Suguru-kun," she shrugged.

"Yumi-san, I am hurt that you could see me in such a manner," he swooned.

"Yes, well, I am sorry, but please, look around you," she said indicating the other members of Hanadera's council in attendance, "can you honestly see Yuuki, Alice, Masamune-kun, or Magane-kun playing the part?"

"Ah, I begin to see your problem, Yumi-san. So, who will I be dancing with at the ball?" he asked with a sly grin.

Yumi sighed, "with me, Suguru-kun. In addition to some dancers borrowed from the Dance Club, Alice will dance with Nana-chan, Masamune-kun with Noriko-san, and Magane-kun with Yoshino-san. Although I have switched it up just a bit. I am having Alice play the woman and Nana-chan will play the man. It is my treat to Alice for all his hard work on the Christmas Ball."

"Interesting, and I am sure he will thank you for it. I am sure he does not get an opportunity to dress as a girl often. You are being very kind, Yumi-san. I applaud you. And it seems that, as expected, you have everything well in hand."

"Thank you."

"And who will be playing the dual role of Odette/Odile?" he asked.

"Is there any doubt?" Yumi replied with a smile, "Touko-chan is probably the only person in all of Lillian that has the capability of playing both the innocent and naïve Odette as well as the evil Odile."

"Which leaves Yuuki playing Siegfried and you playing . . ."

"Queen Uberta, Siegfried's mother," she replied, "Luckily I will not have that many lines to memorize since I will also be directing."

"You amaze me Yumi-san. When I think how much you have grown since I first met you."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Suguru-kun, since I am sure that is how you meant it; and thank you," she gave him a brief nod, "but I believe I am needed elsewhere right now. If you will excuse me?"

Suguru watched the Rosa Chinensis walk over to her brother and Touko-chan to give them some stage directions regarding the Swan Lake scene. He realized that all throughout their discussion she had still been keeping her eye on the progression of the rehearsal. He really had meant his words to be a compliment. The Yumi-chan he had first met had been a shy, introverted, naïve girl with serious self-esteem issues. She had been sweet and kind, and willing to do anything at all for Sachiko, but totally clueless about her own capabilities. However, even back then she had had an insight, at least of Sachiko's needs, that went far beyond almost anything he had ever witnessed.

As he watched her take charge of not only the play, but of the Yamayurikai and, in essence, the entire school, he marveled at how much she had changed in the two years he had known her. He also knew that Sachiko could not take full responsibility for those changes. The love that the two girls shared was certainly a large part of it, but so was Yumi's own strength that she had finally allowed to come forth.

He had seen almost the same growth in Yuuki-kun. Yumi was still ahead of her brother, but not by anywhere near as much as Yukichi thought. The Fukuzawa siblings: alone each was a force to be reckoned with, but together . . . ?

He smiled at what he thought the world could be like with the two of them in it.

"Sakura-chan, can you please put a little more 'seductress' into it when you first meet Siegfried," Yumi asked the petite but voluptuous auburn haired girl, "I want the audience to be captivated by your beauty and sexuality."

"Certainly, Yumi-sama," the petite angel replied with a shy smile.

"Once again from the top folks, please," Yumi called.

Yuuki entered from stage right and took a firing position with his bow, aiming up towards the other side of the stage. He then seemed to track his quarry as the swan flew down and settled on the body of the lake. Suddenly the point of the arrow dropped and he threw his bow behind him and off the stage as Touko-chan entered from stage left, her movements similar to those of a ballet dancer but without the music. Her grace immediately captured the eye of not only Siegfried, but of everyone in the auditorium. She was followed by four additional swans (Shimako, Yukiko, Hiromi, and Sakura), all moving with near equal grace and strength. Sakura, however, was more languid and sensual than the others, her movements more seductive and blatantly sexual. She sidled past Touko-chan and the others and approached close to Siegfried, first circling around him, dragging her fingertips around his torso, and then pressing her body tightly against him and running a liquid hand down his cheek, his neck, his chest, and his abdomen to finally encircle his waist loosely.

"Odette, my Swan Queen, look what we have here," Sakura purred, her voice velvet, "a strong, handsome hunter has been provided for our enjoyment. Shall we partake of his . . . beauty?"

Silence reigned throughout the auditorium. Yuuki couldn't move as beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. Every eye was on the petite seductress, most mouths hanging open, no one moving although some were leaning towards the beautiful first-year, some of the guys with a hint of drool on their lips.

"Sakura-chan, that was wonderful," Yumi called from the first row of chairs, "but could you please dial it down about thirty percent? We want the husbands in the audience to want to go home with their wives after the performance."

"Oh, alright, Yumi-sama," Sakura pouted but with a certain devilment in her eyes, "although that would require about a forty percent reduction I think," she finished coquettishly, a finger to her chin and a tilt to her head as if she gave the matter serious thought, "yes, at least forty percent I believe; maybe even fifty."

-oo-

"And that's how the rehearsal went, onee-sama," Yumi was trying to explain to Sachiko later that week in the meeting room of the Rose Mansion. "I actually had to poke Suguru-kun to get his attention and push him back off the stage. Why he was onstage I have no idea."

Sachiko couldn't stop laughing at the image in her head of a drooling Suguru, lusting after a tiny sixteen year old girl and shambling like a zombie, his body totally out of his control as he moved towards Touko-chan's petite soeur. Sachiko had met the girl and had to admit that she was very beautiful, but to have that kind of effect on Suguru!

Yumi giggled at her lover's reaction. She could easily imagine what was going through her mind. She had had a hard time not laughing herself at the scene when it happened. Everyone had forgotten their lines and movements as they had watched Sakura go through the scene four more times before Yumi thought she had it at the correct level of seductiveness for the character. It had been her own idea to let Sakura play the part in that way and she was very happy with the results. That is, of course, assuming that the men in the audience were able to remain in their seats and not storm the stage. And they had not even been in their swan costumes which, from what she had seen, were going to be much sexier than she had originally envisioned.

""I wish I could have been there Yumi," Sachiko gasped as she finally tried to settle herself. "Maybe I will have to skip a class or two to watch for myself."

"If you want, onee-sama, I can see if Tsutako-san can make you a copy of the video."

"Doesn't Tsutako-san normally only deal in still photographs?" Sachiko asked, surprised.

"True, but she said something about her 'muse' screaming at her again. I did not understand all of it, but I think it had something to do with how she always seems to get her photos."

"I would love to see it," she giggled, "It all sounds wonderfully exciting. It also sounds like your casting is as impeccable as I would have imagined. I want to see Alice's face when he tries on his gown. That was a stroke of pure genius my dear. He more than deserves some reward for everything he has done to help out both with the play as well as the Christmas Ball."

"That was my thought as well," Yumi smiled, "He is Yuuki's 'Hiromi-san' in a way. Alice's ability to coordinate everything that needs to be done and ensure that everyone has what they need to get their job done is a godsend for Yuuki, and I think that deserves a little recognition and happiness."

Yumi started to gather her things together so the two could leave.

"Ow! That's going to leave a mark!" Yumi exclaimed as she started rubbing her shin where it had inadvertently collided with the table leg.

"Are you alright Yumi?" Sachiko asked with concern. Yumi had matured so much in her two and a half years at Lillian and had proven to be an exceptional Rosa Chinensis in her own right. She was adored by her fellow students, praised by the teachers and administration of the Academy, and dearly loved by her friends and fellow members of the Yamayurikai. The one thing she seemed incapable of outgrowing was her occasional tendency to be accident prone. Sachiko found it hard sometimes remembering a day when Yumi did not sport a bruise or two somewhere on her body.

And since they had declared their love for each other in the summer of Yumi's second year, Sachiko had found many opportunities to admire the younger girl's youthful, girlish curves and tenderly touch that soft and extremely sensitive skin. Now that Yumi was a senior and Sachiko was in the middle of her first year at Lillian University, the two had not had nearly as many opportunities to see each other as they had originally planned, so Sachiko truly cherished the times when the two could get together for an afternoon or evening of fun.

Today's plan was to go shopping after completion of the daily student council meeting. There were no rehearsals today and Sachiko had gotten out of class early and had decided to join her petite soeur so that they could leave directly after the end of the meeting.

"I'm fine onee-sama. Just being my usual, klutzy self. Let me get the rest of my things and we can head out," Yumi replied.

"Were you planning on shopping for anything in particular today Yumi," asked Sachiko as she closely watched her lover limp around the table towards her. She would have gotten up to help her, but Yumi wouldn't have wanted that.

"Well, I need to look for a ball gown and I was really hoping that you would help me find one that you would approve of," Yumi said shyly.

"A ball gown? Certainly I can help you," Sachiko beamed, thinking of the chance to dress her Yumi up in beautiful clothes, "I know a few stores that have some absolutely wonderful gowns that probably even have some in your price range; or you can even borrow one of my older ones if you don't want to spend the money."

Yumi smiled at Sachiko's generosity. Her grande soeur knew that Yumi's parents were not able to provide a gown anywhere near as nice as those that were probably gathering dust in her closet, but she hated to impose. They headed down the squeaky stairs of the Rose Mansion and headed towards the main gates of the school and Sachiko's car.

"Actually," Yumi continued in a softer and more tentative voice, looking up through her eyelashes at Sachiko with a sense of quiet desperation, "I was kind of hoping that you would like to go with me Sachiko, if that's alright with you?"

"Yumi," Sachiko sighed in feigned exasperation, "whatever am I going to do with you?"

"Oneeee-samaaa!" Yumi whined prettily and Sachiko could not control her giggles.

"Of course I will go with you, love. I want the two of us to dance the night away and show everyone what it is to truly love someone," she said with a look of deep affection for the young girl with deep brown eyes and that, despite her growing maturity, still wore her hair in pigtails.

"Thank you Sachiko, I love you, too," Yumi smiled and then breathed a sigh of relief, "I did not want to end up having to ask Yuuki to be my date! That would have been just way too embarrassing! Having to go with my brother? Ugh! Besides, I think Touko-chan would have gladly wrung my neck if I even tried," she giggled.

Sachiko couldn't help but laugh at the expense of her dear petite soeur. Since she had met this wonderful girl her days had been filled with so much more joy and laughter. She shivered at the thought of what her life would have become if she had never met Yumi. At the very least she knew that she would most likely still be affianced to her cousin Suguru rather than free to choose her own path in life as she was today.

As the current and former Rosa Chinensis approached the statue of Maria-sama, they paused a moment to say their traditional prayers. Sachiko had taken to reciting the same prayer every time she passed by the statue: Maria-sama, thank you again for bringing Yumi into my life. I humbly ask you to please watch over her and keep her from harm. Amen.

The two looked lovingly at each other with gentle smiles and turned towards the main gates of the school and the fancy red sports car that awaited them.

-oo-

As they walked down the sidewalk of the shopping district skipping from one high-class store to another Yumi was her normal happy and laughing self. She was with her beautiful, raven haired Sachiko, walking hand-in-hand with the woman that looked like a model and acted like a princess. And those sapphire eyes were gazing only at Yumi that afternoon. She felt like she could die happy right then, but that would mean missing out on so much time with the girl she loved and who, for some unknown reason, loved her back just as much.

At Sachiko's direction Yumi tried on dress after dress and gown after gown, most of which she could never in her lifetime afford, but it made her onee-sama happy. The only real problem was that her shin still hurt and she had had to change the small bandage twice to be sure to keep any blood off of the dresses. She was still limping a bit, but she was having too much fun to give it any thought. In the end, however, she was disappointed in not finding any dresses that she really wanted to take home with her.

Since there was over three months until the actual ball she was in no hurry and wanted to be able to find just the right dress that would knock Sachiko's socks off! The one thing that the shopping trip had done for her was to give her an idea of what kind of dress Sachiko liked. Of the ones that Yumi modeled for her she seemed to like spaghetti straps, cleavage, and form fitting. Whether that kind of dress was appropriate for the ball or not, Yumi didn't really care. She was more concerned with what her lover liked than what anyone else thought. The fact that Sachiko seemed entranced by her body and wanted to see more of it gave Yumi goose bumps.

Yumi and Sachiko agreed to meet at the Ogasawara estate two weeks later so that the two could look through some of Sachiko's older gowns and dresses that might have a chance of fitting the much more petite girl. Yumi looked forward to any opportunity she had to spend time with her lover. She smiled at the thought of another weekend in bed with the girl she loved. Well, trying on dresses might give her an opportunity to tease Sachiko a bit. Maybe she would pick up a DVD or two at the rental store. Do they even have instructional DVD's on stripping, she wondered.

Thank you for reading. Please feel free to leave a review or comments.