A/N: Thank you all for staying with me for this long. For those of you that may have been feeling slightly uneasy with regards to my treatment of Shimako, Noriko, Sakura, and Yukiko, all will become clear as you read this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own MSGM or any of its characters. All such honors belong to Oyuki Konno.
The ballroom was huge, with white walls and gold trim and a floor of burnished maple reflecting the light given off by dozens of gold and crystal chandeliers. Hundreds of people in beautiful ball gowns and black or white tuxedos and wearing or holding ornate half-masks milled around the outskirts of the central dance floor while the orchestra played a soft background music; just loud enough to be appreciated but not so loud as to impinge on conversations. Standing at the top of the short, three-step staircase that lead down to the ballroom floor just inside the central, double-door entrance, Yuuki and Touko surveyed the glittering gathering of Lillian and Hanadera students.
"We did this Touko-chan," Yuuki smiled at his date for the evening; and for much longer if he had anything to say about it.
"We had an awful lot of help, and even as sick as she was, onee-sama and you were the ones that really pulled this off," Touko replied while giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Shall we join our cohorts in the lounge area, milady," he asked with a grin, offering her his arm.
"Yes, let's do, kind sir," she replied with a giggle as she accepted his offer and held her golden mask over her face. They acknowledged various salutations along their way to joining their fellow council members. Their dinner had been wonderful but, since they had to be sure everything was set up properly, necessarily shorter than she would have liked. Even still she was looking forward to everyone being together.
Once again four generations of Roses would gather in one place for an evening of fun and frivolity. Yoshino had invited Rei while Nana's "date" for the evening was Eriko-sama. Shimako had invited Sei-sama and Touko had invited Youko-sama as her guest. Glancing across the room to the small, roped off VIP area for council members, Touko could see the three elder Roses gathered around a round table with Rei and Yoshino; drinks already in hand. Since it was a high school ball no alcoholic drinks were being served or allowed into the room, but it wouldn't have surprised her at all if Sei-sama had not found some way to sneak in a flask or two. She giggled when Sei noticed her and raised her glass in salute, her other hand occupied with that of her dark haired partner, Youko.
Touko stayed with Yuuki as they walked across to the enclosed area that was supposed to allow the Lillian and Hanadera councils some modicum of rest from the reality of having to actually run the ball. Although they were there to have fun just like everyone else they also, unfortunately, had to work. The VIP area had been set up to give them a place to relax every so often from the constant demands of their responsibilities.
Shimako, Noriko and Yukiko stood together with Nana and Sakura, the last two holding hands and spending more time looking at each other than at their surroundings. They stood in a small window alcove by the drink bar set up just outside the roped off VIP area. The council members could order their drinks without having to leave the comfort of the lounge while the bar remained open and available to the rest of the attendees as well. Each of the girls held a flute of sparkling cider, tonight's drink of choice.
Touko couldn't see Hiromi-sama or Tsutako-sama as they were probably running around together while Tsutako took candid photos. A professional photographer, one that came highly recommended by Tsutako, had been hired to take the requisite posed photos of couples as commemoration gifts from the two councils
Yuuki checked his watch again and then his cell phone.
"Is it almost time?" Touko asked him, getting nervous. She couldn't wait to see both her onee-sama and her Sachiko-oneesama. Her first thought after Yuuki had told her about Yumi's hair had been worry for her grande soeur before realizing that this was something else that Yumi would most likely shrug off just as she had everything else. She had then had to deal with the shock of what Sachiko had done to her own hair, but after only a moment's thought it had seemed to be just exactly something her cousin would do to help her partner, the woman she loved with all her heart, with the loss of her own hair. She marvelled at the courage it must have taken.
"Just about; I'm just waiting for Sachi's . . . ah, there it is," Yuuki said as the phone briefly buzzed in his hand indicating that a text message had just arrived. "Two minutes, love," he said as he quickly checked the phone. "Let's head over to the podium and the timing should be just about perfect." As he and Touko walked across the dance floor Yuuki waved to Alice as the boy stood next to a switch that controlled a softened spotlight. The spot went on as soon as Yuuki picked up the microphone sitting on the podium next to the where the orchestra had set up.
As the doors to the ballroom started to open Yumi heard her brother's voice as it was projected over the PA system.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my extreme honor to present to you Lillian's Rosa Chinensis, Fukuzawa Yumi-san, accompanied by her grande soeur and partner, the former Rosa Chinensis, Ogasawara Sachiko-sama . . . two of the people I love more than anything in this world. Ladies, we have been waiting for you. Would you please do us the honor of leading off the first dance?"
Yumi was absolutely stunned. Not only was there a soft spotlight on her and Sachiko as they stood framed by the ballroom doorway, but every single eye was on her and her date. The ballroom itself seemed almost half the size of a soccer field and easily accommodated the hundreds of people now standing and applauding around the periphery of the empty dance floor that stood waiting before them.
"Come on Yumi," Sachiko whispered to her date with a gentle smile, "After every eye in the place has been on you, what's the worst that can happen?" With a determined nod from her petite soeur the two women simultaneously lowered the wraps that covered their heads and walked arm-in-arm to the center of the dance floor. The applause had briefly faltered when their bald heads had been revealed, but only very briefly before it swelled to a new crescendo and was joined by a number of whistles and cheers. Almost everyone at the ball knew of Yumi and her situation and wanted to provide any support that they could. Sachiko's shaved head had come as a surprise to the audience, but based on their ovation was enthusiastically endorsed.
Yuuki had warned both councils of what was to come when Sachi and Yumi revealed themselves. If anything the members of the Handera student council and the members of the Yamayurikai were the most vocal of the entire audience. He could easily hear Sei-sama's whistles and Yoshino's scream of delight over the deafening tumult. The attendees may be young ladies and gentlemen of high station, but they were also teenagers out from under the watchful gaze of their parents for an evening. He had to wait a minute or so for the noise to die down to only a minor roar before he could once again have his voice heard over the din.
"Maestro, if you please" Yuuki called into the microphone as the two girls turned towards each other in the middle of the dance floor, "The Cinderella Waltz."
Sachiko took Yumi in her arms and, with the first strain of the violins the two began to dance the waltz that had brought them together over two years ago. Both easily remembered the steps that they had danced together so long ago and, just as it was back then, for those that watched them it was like living in a dream.
Yumi was dancing with her one true love held closely in her arms as the music played a song that meant so very much to both of them. The look in Sachiko's eyes as she gazed at her told her how much she was so dearly loved and, despite all that she had been through for the last few months, she could think of no other place she wanted to be at that moment. She smiled up at Sachiko as they danced around the floor to the music, all eyes on the pair as they stepped and twirled.
When the music finally came to a close the two slowed and stood once again in the center of the dance floor, still in each other's arms and, with the last strain of the music, Sachiko bowed her head as Yumi raised her own and the two shared a soft, gentle kiss to thunderous applause and cheers.
Touko took Yuuki by the arm as they watched Yumi and Sachiko kissing out on the dance floor. "Do you think we can ever be like that Yuuki," she asked in a quiet voice.
Yuuki, after being both surprised and thrilled at his sisters' sudden boldness, turned to her and took her in his arms and briefly brushed his lip against hers. "We can only hope to aspire to a love like theirs Touko, but I'm willing to make the effort if you are."
Her answer was to put her arms around his neck and give him a somewhat less than chaste kiss.
-oo-
Tsutako's camera shutter clicked softly as it surreptitiously captured the kiss between Touko and Yuuki while Hiromi continued to gaze with wonder at the sight of the two red roses out on the floor. She let the camera settle back on her chest as she took hold of Hiromi's arm.
"Only a couple of more months until graduation," Touko noted with a sigh. "I'm going to miss being with you every day."
"It's not like we will be that far away from each other. Lillian University and Hanadera University are right next to each other," Hiromi replied while pressing her arm against his side. Tsutako was resplendent in an off-the-shoulder gown of red silk that was cinched appealingly at the waist, showing off the curves that the Lillian uniform usually hid. Hiromi had elected to wear a somewhat unique gown himself. The top was very much like a white tuxedo with soft silver satin lapels and cuffs, while the white, floor length skirt had thin pinstripes of matching silver. The effect was somewhat masculine but looked quite feminine as well. How he pulled it off was anyone's guess, but he looked absolutely gorgeous to Tsutako.
"Still, we won't be able to see each other every day like we could these last couple of years. It's going to take a little time to get used to it," Tsutako sighed again.
Hiromi bent over and gave her a light kiss on her cheek, "I promise you, I won't be able to spend too much time away from you in the first place, so you can count on seeing me quite often."
"You had better, boyo," she grinned, "I've gotten used to seeing your face."
"And you are going to see a lot more of it, for many years to come, love," he smiled as he clutched briefly at the small jewelry box in his left coat pocket.
"That's a promise I will definitely hold you to," she grinned.
-oo-
"I'm impressed Yoshino," Rei commented to her petite soeur and cousin as they sat across the table from the three former roses, "When you told me what the two councils were planning I had no idea it was going to be this elaborate; but you really pulled it off. I doubt Sachiko and I could have done any better, and I know Sei would have come up with some wild stunt if she had been part of the planning," the former Rosa Foetida laughed.
Yoshino joined in the laughter just thinking about all of the wild ideas that Sei-sama had thrown out at some of the meetings that were held at Lillian. The former White Rose had sat in on a couple of those meetings and to say that her idea of fun was "unique" was an understatement. Not surprisingly many of her suggestions included some form of alcohol.
Her thoughts became a bit more serious and nervous, however, as a grin and a wink from her petite soeur reminded her that she had something a lot more important to do this evening.
"Um, Rei, I d-don't know if this is the best time or not, and I-I don't know if you will like it or hate it, but I h-have an early Christmas present for you, i-if you would like it, ah," Yoshino stumbled over the words she had been trying to say to her cousin for the last couple of days. She gave up on words and pulled the envelope out of her clutch purse and handed it to Rei.
"What's this Yoshino-chan?" The envelope was a plain white, medium grade and weight typically used in businesses all over the world. There was no writing on it whatsoever, but from the weight it obviously contained a letter of some sort. If it was a love letter Rei didn't know how she would react. She had been desperately trying to convey her feelings to Yoshino for the past couple of months, but doing so in the short times they had been together on her breaks from Todai, or worse, long-distance, had been almost impossible. She thought that Yoshino returned her feelings, but . . .
She slowly lifted the flap of the envelope and pulled out a heavy weight paper more often used in announcements. Opening the letter she noticed a very familiar letterhead and, reading the salutation she almost stopped breathing. She read the start of the letter out loud in an awed, cracking voice.
"'C-congratulations S-Shimazu Yoshino-san, on your a-acceptance to T-Tokyo University'."
"I-if you don't want me to go, I'll tell them no and just enroll at L-Lillian, Rei-chan. W-whatever you want me to do I-I'll do it, I just . . . I just wanted to be with you again. I love you Rei, more than you could ever know, and . . ." Yoshino stammered while she stared at the hands she was wringing in her lap, unable to look at the shock she was sure was on Rei's face.
Rei very carefully, so that her shaking hands did not tear the precious item, put the acceptance letter to Todai back in the envelope and set it on the table in front of her. She then turned to her cousin and took her face between her two callused hands.
"I don't know how you did it Yoshino, you must have studied your butt off since last Christmas, but if you dare turn them down and go anywhere else I swear I will come and find you and beat you bloody. I love you too, you idiot. I-I'll start looking for another apartment immediately . . . and . . . and . . .Oh, shit" she gave up and kissed her cousin as hard and as passionately as she had ever dreamed of doing. She felt Yoshino's arms grab her around her neck and pull her even harder into the kiss as she opened her mouth to allow her petite soeur's tongue the entry it was demanding.
-oo-
"Things certainly are different from when we went to Lillian, isn't it dear?" Seiko Kasuga, author of Forest of Thorns, commented wryly to her date for the evening as she watched another pair of young girls kissing at a table across the room.
"I'm not so sure about that, love," Kaori Tamura, Director of Lillian Girl's Academy, replied with a smile. "Thinking back to those days, I seem to recall a number of soeur relationships that went a little beyond the norm. I don't believe that our relationship was anywhere as near as unique as we thought it was at the time. Of course, we were still young and impetuous and thought we must be the only ones. I think the girls of today are simply a little more honest about their feelings than we were back then. Times have changed, and society's acceptance of same-gender relationships is still changing, but I don't believe that the feelings between two girls have changed one iota." She took hold of her date's hand and brought it to her lips, placing a tender kiss against the palm.
"Mmm, I think I could get to like this new openness," Seiko giggled with a shy smile. She leaned forward and briefly captured the Director's lips with her own, enjoying the way Kaori responded to her touch.
"I'm just glad we were able to keep the parents and nuns away from the ball," Kaori chuckled after a moment of savoring her lover's kiss.
"Too true," Seiko smiled, "but I guess we still have to try to set a good example for the students."
"And you don't think this is a good example?" Kaori exclaimed mockingly. The two older women laughed at their own childish antics, but their fingers were still entwined together below the level of the table.
-oo-
The three former Roses patently ignored the two girls sitting across from them in a lip-lock that showed no intention of ending any time soon. The smiles on their faces, however . . .
"So, what do you think of your petite soeur now, Youko," Sei grinned at her lover. "I admit, she really surprised me. I didn't think she had it in her."
"Frankly, neither did I," Youko replied with a smile as she watched the two still dancing together. "But then again, she has done nothing but surprise me over the past two years. It seems that Yumi-chan has had even more of an impact on her than I ever imagined she would; and all of it good."
"I don't ever think that I have seen Sachiko smile like that," Eriko grinned. "She really does look like a woman in love. But it's Yumi-san that surprises me the most. To think that she had that much courage . . ."
The three sat silently, each with their own thoughts, as they watched Yumi and Sachiko out on the dance floor as more couples began to join them.
"Why do those three remind me so much of a manga," Sei asked the other two former Roses with a chuckle as she tried hard not to look at the brand new couple sitting across from them still going at it.
"Mmm? Which three?" Youko asked with a confused look for her lover.
"Our three newest granddaughters: Nana-chan, Yukiko-chan, and Sakura-chan," the former White Rose said while quietly pointing at the three with her champagne filled glass. Switching the labels on a dozen bottles of champagne so that they looked like sparkling cider had been absolute child's play. Paying off the bartender had been even easier.
"Ah," Eriko piped up unexpectedly after studying the three beautiful girls in question, "let me see: an incomparable swordswoman, a Miko of undeniable strength, and a mysterious girl with no last name that, if my information is correct, appeared out of nowhere some time shortly after said Miko communed with a sakura tree and whose name just happens to be 'Sakura'. Do I have it right?"
"Now that you mention it . . ." Sei said in a thoughtful tone.
Youko laughed at her partner, "Don't go getting any strange ideas Sei. They are simply sweet, normal girls. Right?" she asked as her laughter wavered.
Sei chuckled again, "You're right, Youko. It's probably just my wild imagination."
Eriko just smiled, thinking that the future at Lillian could become very . . . interesting. She might just have to come back a little more often to check in on things.
-oo-
"Where did Yukiko-san run off to," Nana asked Sakura.
"You need to pay more attention dear," the auburn haired beauty replied with a giggle as she pointed out the couple on the dance floor. "Masamune-kun just grabbed her hand and dragged her out to dance. The two of them started hitting it off fairly well there towards the end of the joint meetings. It seems that some of Yuuki-kun's good manners and personality have rubbed off on him. He has been trying to woo her for the past few weeks," she finished with a grin.
"Does he know that she's a miko and she's supposed to remain a v-virgin?" Nana asked with a shyness that Sakura always found so cute.
"He knows," Sakura chuckled in reply, "that hasn't stopped him though. I honestly don't think that it is sex that is interesting him. He seems to simply enjoy her company. Although, I have heard her asking Tsutako-sama how she and Hiromi-kun have managed to keep things interesting without intercourse," she laughed.
"Then I wish them all the best of luck," Nana smiled shyly as her ears pinked. "Of course," she added a bit more seriously, "if he ever hurts her I'm going to have to kill him," she said as she pretended to reach for a sword.
"You would have to wait in line," Sakura laughed, "between Touko-sama and myself, if there was anything left of him I'm sure we would let you finish him off." Nana couldn't help but join in the laughter.
"Onee-sama," Noriko asked her grande soeur, "are you enjoying yourself?"
"Of course, Noriko-chan," Shimako replied with her normal, quiet, serene smile. The two White Rose sisters were holding hands and standing quite close together. Shimako had plans for her petite soeur after the ball. She had booked a room in the hotel with the excuse that they did not want to try to take public transportation back home so late at night. Her real rationale, however, was much more basic and . . . animal.
Noriko saw the smile on her lover's face and knew that something was up; something that she undoubtedly was going to enjoy immensely.
"Is this a typical Christmas event?" Sakura asked the soon-to-be retired White Rose as she and Nana-chan stepped closer, still hand-in-hand. She took another sip from her flute of champagne. A little coquettish seduction nicely negated the need to pay off the bartender. Especially after he started drooling.
"Oh, no, this is the first year for a ball, but you can probably expect it to occur from now on if I do not miss my guess," Shimako replied with a grin as she watched the now crowded dance floor.
The newest member of the Yamayurikai swirled the sparkling wine in her glass and looked over the gathering with eyes that seemed much more mature than the sixteen years the girl's age seemed to allow for. "I think these next two years could be a lot of fun," she smirked quietly, giving Nana's hand a gentle squeeze.
Shimako gave the girl a long suffering glance, "Please behave, Mother! Or I'll ask Yukiko-chan to put you back in your tree!"
"Yes, Shimako dear," Sakura replied with a chuckle, unfazed by the empty threat. Sakura knew Yukiko-chan liked her and thought she was a lot of fun!
"Would you care to dance, Sakura-san?" Nana asked her date, trying hard to hide her grin as mother and daughter traded jibes.
"Why, I would be delighted," Sakura replied, handing her glass over to an exasperated Shimako before the two sauntered off towards the dance floor.
Noriko just grinned through the whole exchange. "Shall we join them, Shimako?" she asked her lover.
"Yes, let's," Shimako replied with a smile, allowing her pique with her mother to quickly fade as she looked into Noriko's loving eyes.
-oo-
"The kiss surprised me," Yumi giggled as she and Sachiko continued to dance, holding each other close among the many party goers that had joined them on the dance floor.
"I felt like showing everyone how much I love you, Yumi. Was it wrong of me?" Sachiko asked.
"Uh-uh, I am very happy, Sachiko. I want the entire world to know that I love you and how much you mean to me," Yumi replied with a smile that Sachiko had not seen in quite a while. It was the smile that she had originally fallen in love with, the smile that displayed every ounce of joy and happiness that Yumi somehow found in her arms. It humbled her that this sweet, kind, loving, and incredibly strong girl had, for some unknown reason, allowed Sachiko into her heart and into her life. Yumi had done things over the years that had frustrated, confused, embarrassed, and even angered her; but the number of times she had done something that proved just how much she loved her were so many, many more.
"Yumi, shall we join our sisters," Sachiko asked as the second song came to an end.
"If you do not mind, can I have one more dance first?" Yumi asked with her best puppy dog eyes.
"Later," Sachiko laughed, "I promised your parents that I would not let you overdo tonight."
"Oonnee-saammaa," Yumi whined.
"Don't worry Yumi," Sachiko grinned as she captured Yumi's arm and started walking towards the VIP area where she saw the members of the Yamayurikai gathered, "we have plenty of time. The night is still young."
"Yes, Sachiko," Yumi replied with a smile, "all the time in the world."
The two Rosa Chinensis, current and former, laughed as they made their way hand-in-hand to the VIP area and their dear sisters and friends.
A/N: The line for the lynch mob forms to the right. Sorry about that folks, but in watching the anime, the way they picture Shimako as she worshipfully stands in front of the sakura tree (on multiple occasions), it always seemed to me that she could be communing with the spirit of the sakura tree rather than simply enjoying the sunshine or praying. If you take that image to the next level it isn't that far a stretch for her "angelic" beauty to be as a result of her own slightly less than human origins. I have used that imagery a few times in my stories and thought: why not see if I can have some fun with it? I apologize profusely to anyone that thinks that I may have overstepped, but it was all done in fun ^_^ I couldn't have the entire story seem so dark and "angsty".
This is the point where I originally ended this story but, at some folk's urging, I have decided to continue for two more chapters if you don't mind. I hope you continue to enjoy my little contribution.
As always, your comments and reviews would be greatly appreciated. Just please, no flames!
Thank you and take care,
CX