A/N: I am so happy that this was so well-received. I'm happy that I had the weekend off so I could work on this chapter. It's been a while since I could get two chapters up so quickly. Please don't be disappointed if I can't the rest up at this pace. Witchgar must have been reading my mind. There will be an exposition of Yumi's reaction to Sachiko choosing her family. Thank you for reading.

Disclaimer: Maria-sama ga Miteru is the brainchild of Konno Oyuki. I am not making any money off this, so don't sue me.

Ten Years Later

Chapter 2: Death Warmed Over

Sachiko

(From Last Chapter) The ringing of her cell phone snapped Sachiko back from her reverie. She looked at her Caller ID, and her heart began to beat rapidly. The voice on the phone was sweet yet cold. "This is Fukuzawa. Is Ogasawara-sama available?"

Sachiko's spirit soared, but she controlled her voice, "Yumi-san? I'm so sorry to contact you after all these years, but I have some news for you." There was silence on the other end, so she continued, "My Grandmother's friend, Ikegami-sama has passed away."

"Yumiko-san was quite old, wasn't she? I will go to church to light a candle and pray to Maria-sama for her and her family. She was a wonderful woman," Yumi said quietly. "Is there anything else, Ogasawara-sama?"

The distance in Yumi's voice broke Sachiko's heart. Her throat constricted, and she replied, "The funeral will be Saturday. I'm guessing that it will be at Lillian's chapel. Could I call you with the time later?"

"That would be acceptable, until then, Gokigenyou." Yumi replied.

"Yumi, wait," Sachiko said desperately. "Please save my number, and call me anytime."

Yumi sighed, "I don't think that would be a good idea, Sachiko-sama. You made the choice that your life didn't have a space for me in it."

"Yumi, I never wanted to hurt you. I wanted to remain friends. Suguru-kun would not have objected to us remaining close," Sachiko said urgently.

"Sachiko-sama, this serves no purpose. All I ever wanted was for you to fight for us, to show me that I mattered as much to you as your family does," said Yumi tiredly. "I need to go. I need to make dinner for my son and my husband."

Sachiko cringed at the word, husband, but asked, "How old is your son, Yumi-san?"

"Sachiko-sama, do you really want to do this now? You had ten years to show interest in my life. Yuuichi-kun is 5. Don't worry; you will not be meeting him. I want nothing to do with you. Take care, Sachiko-sama," Yumi hung up.

Sachiko dropped her phone and began to weep, "She hates me. My Yumi hates me. My husband hates me, and our friends have deserted me. I have no one but Yumiko." In her mind, she heard an evil chuckle, 'You have no one to blame but yourself for that, right?' "Great, now I'm talking to myself. I've lost it. I need Yumi."

Yumi

As she was cooking, Yumi fumed, 'The nerve of that woman to ask about my life! What the hell does the high and mighty Ogasawara Sachiko care about me or my life?'

Her husband, Masamune, noticed that she was upset about something. They had only been married six years, but he had learned the expressions that Yumi had when she was angry. The only thing that would get her this emotionally engaged involved Ogasawara Sachiko. Masamune had been friends with Fukuzawa Yuuki since middle school. He had always thought that Yumi was cool and nice, but it wasn't until the Hanadera School festival planning sessions that he noticed that she was really attractive. When he asked his best friend about her, Yuuki told him to give up because she was in love with her Onee-sama. He was ready to give up like he was advised until that day.

Flashback

"Hey Kobayashi, have you seen my older sister around?" Yuuki asked in a panic, "None of her friends in the Yamayurikai have seen her since lunch, and Sachiko-san knows something, but she's keeping it to herself."

Masamune shook his head, "I'm sorry, Yuuki, I haven't. What's happened?"

Yuuki was ten months younger than Yumi, but people mistook them for twins because they were in the same year and they looked and acted so much alike. "Sachiko-san told me that she told Yumi that she had to marry Kashiwagi-sempai, which meant that she was dumping her. Yumi obviously didn't take it well. No surprise because my sister's whole life revolved around Sachiko-san. She loves her that much," Pausing for breath, the youngest Fukuzawa swallowed and then continued, "I'm afraid that she will do something stupid and permanent if we don't find her."

The bespectacled teen's heart leapt for joy, 'Yumi's single now! Oh wait, that doesn't mean I have a chance. She might really be that way. Anyway, I need to be a friend and help find her.' To Yuuki, "Does your sister have any places that she likes to go?"

Yuuki thought for moment, "Well, when Yumi thought that Sachiko-san was dumping her for Touko-chan, Satou-san took her to a friend's house. Maybe she's there."

"Sounds good, where is it?" Masamune asked.

"It's next to Lillian University. I just pray to God that she's there and not near the river," Yuuki breathed.

Noting the concern in his best friend's voice, Kobayashi attempted to comfort him as they got onto the bus for Lillian University. "Yuuki, your family is Roman Catholic, right?" Yuuki nodded. "And your religion believes that suicide is a deadly sin, right?" Again, affirmation came from the Hanadera President. "Would Yumi-san really put her soul in danger over this?"

"She was already committing a deadly sin being in a homosexual relationship, so we cannot rule it out." He ran his hand through his hair, and continued in an anguished voice, "When it comes to my sister's feelings for Sachiko-san all bets are off. I just wish that she hadn't fallen so hard."

Masamune was kicking himself, 'That was a total fail. I should shut up now and just be here for Yuuki.' After ten minutes of silence, the bus arrived at the entrance of Lillian University. Looking around, Kobayashi saw lots of houses within short walking distance, and asked Yuuki, "Now where is the house?"

Yuuki pointed to a hedge row right next to the north wall of the college. His friend was puzzled when Yuuki did not open the gate and walk in. Instead, he pushed a button on an intercom that was strategically positioned to the left of the gate in the hedge. "Ikegami-sama, I am Fukuzawa Yumi's younger brother, is my sister here?" While they were waiting for a response, he remarked absently to Masamune, "Ikegami-sama does not allow men on her property, so we must wait for her to respond."

The intercom crackled and a younger voice asked, "Are you Yuuki-kun?"

"Yes," he returned without hesitation. "Is Yumi with you, and is she safe?"

The voice replied, "I am Katou, and yes she is here. Ikegami-san is giving you special permission to come in and take her home. Yumi-chan's been crying for two hours straight, and we really think that she should be with her family. I see that you have a friend with you, I must ask that he remain there while you pick up your sister."

Kobayashi put his hand on Yuuki's shoulder, and said plainly, "Go get her. I'm fine here."

The brown-haired teen didn't need to be told twice, and he quickly opened the gate and momentarily returned with an exhausted, but still distraught Yumi. "Kobayashi, could you hold her up while I call home for a ride. We can't ride two buses with her like this."

His friend nodded, and Yuuki transferred Yumi's weight to Masamune's shoulder. Masamune felt like he had died and gone to heaven, being able to hold the girl that he liked in his arms. 'God, if this makes me a creep, so be it. She's so soft.'

Yuuki hung up the phone, and turned back to take his sister back from Kobayashi. Seeing the joyful gleam in the Student Council Secretary's eyes, he said quietly, "Kobayashi, this is not the time for that. If she is ready later, then you have my blessing, but not now when she's so vulnerable."

Masamune looked stricken, "I would never do something like that, I love her, and I'll wait for her forever, if need be."

Just then the Fukuzawa matriarch pulled up in the family sedan. Miki was still quite cute despite being in her early forties. Masamune thought, 'If Yumi ages like her mother, she'll still be hot at 50.' They loaded the now-passed out girl into the car, drove back to the house. Kobayashi excused himself after asking Yuuki to call him later.

After taking Yumi to her room, Miki rounded on her son, "What the hell happened to her?"

Yuuki was shocked at the passion in his mother's voice. With equal worry, he began to unfold the events of the afternoon, finishing, "Mom, you know how intense Nee-chan's feelings are for Sachiko-san. I always had a hunch that this would end badly."

Miki moved to the sofa, and fell heavily, "I thought this was just a phase. I never fell in love with my Onee-sama when I was at Lillian, but there were several sempais that I thought that I had crushes on. I should have made her create some distance."

"Mom, that wouldn't have mattered. By the time we noticed, she was already so in to Sachiko-san that there would have been little that we could do. Sis is quite stubborn, you know?"

She chuckled, "She gets that from your father." Sighing, she stood up. "I should check on her. Yuuki, I wanted thank you for being such a good brother. You two really are like twins."

After Miki went upstairs, he allowed himself to relax. Suddenly, he heard his mother scream, "Yuuki! Call an ambulance! Yumi's cut her wrists! God damn it, Yumi, don't you dare die on me!"

Too shocked by the situation to notice his mother rare use of profanity, he called the hospital, which dispatched an ambulance that would be there in ten minutes. He was instructed that direct pressure needed to be applied to the wounds so Yumi didn't bleed out before help arrived. Yuuki relayed the instructions to Miki, who tersely told him that she was already doing that.

He then called Shimazu Yoshino, one of Yumi's best friends and Matsudaira Touko, her Petite Soeur on 3-Way. "Shimazu-san, Matsudaira-san, we need you to meet us at the hospital. My sister has attempted suicide, and I think that she should have friends there for her." In the stunned silence that followed, he related to them how Sachiko had chosen her family over Yumi and his search for her.

"I am going to kill that fucking bitch!" Yoshino screeched. "How could she be so heartless?"

Touko shushed her and commented, "Threatening Sachiko-sama does not help Onee-sama, Yoshino-sama. I am positive that the old monster forced her to break up with Onee-sama."

Yuuki was curious, "What old monster?"

"Ogasawara-ojii-sama, her Grandfather," Touko answered. "He has been set on this merger with Suguru-nii-san's family for years, and he does not take no for an answer. My suspicion is that he threatened to make you all disappear to compel Sachiko-sama's obedience to his order. He knows that she is in love with Onee-sama, and how much she loves the rest of you."

Yoshino was not satisfied and asked, "How could he 'make them disappear' Touko-chan? Fukuzawa-oji-san is a pretty well-known architect. Someone would notice."

Touko gave a mirthless laugh, "Do you have any idea how rich the Ogasawara are and how much power they wield? That old monster has brought down three Prime Ministers with a phone call. He could collapse every major bank in Japan with a whisper. That is how powerful he is."

"Shit," said Rosa Foetida en Bouton. She had calmed down after Touko's explanation. "I'll have Sei-sama pick us up," Referring to the former Rosa Gigantea.

Later, at the hospital, Yuuki found himself repeating his story to all three former Roses and Todou Shimako, the current Rosa Gigantea and her Bouton, Nijou Noriko. All the young women vowed to keep an eye on Yumi when she returned to school to keep any rumors at bay. "Please," he pleaded. "My sister will need all of you. Please don't confront Sachiko-san or ostracize her for this because knowing Yumi, she will feel guilty and get more depressed."

Mizuno Youko, Sachiko's Onee-sama nodded sagely, responding, "We will do as you have asked. However, I will still have a talk with my Petite Soeur to hear her side of the story."

"I highly doubt that, You-chan," sniped her girlfriend, Satou Sei. "You just want to indulge in your favorite pastime, meddling."

Just as Youko was going to retort, the doctor came out of Yumi's room with Mr. and Mrs. Fukuzawa. They thanked the girls for their support, and advised that only two girls go in at a time, and that the visits must be short. The Yamayurikai, past and present, agreed and chose Touko and Shimako to go in first. Yoshino had objected, but her cousin and Onee-sama, Hasekura Rei shut her up with a look.

It was all Touko could do to keep from running into the hospital room. She restrained herself, and followed Shimako's calm pace. Yumi was awake, but her eyes were vacant and red. "Touko-chan, Shimako-san, you're here. Where is Onee-sama? I can't believe that I would be so clumsy while cooking. I still don't know how the knife hit both wrists. I hope that no one tells her that I was so clumsy because she won't want me as her little sister anymore."

Horror framed both faces staring at her. Shimako recovered first, and asked, "Where did you go at lunch today? I thought that you were coming to the Rose Mansion to eat with me as usual."

Smiling cutely, Yumi giggled, "Sorry, I had a date with Onee-sama. She was really frisky today. I hope that she didn't give me any visible hickeys!"

Touko shook her head sadly. "Onee-sama, do you remember what Sachiko-sama told you today about her and Suguru-nii-san?"

Yumi looked puzzled, "I don't remember anything. As far as I know, Tooru-oji-sama had cancelled the wedding because Kashiwagi-san is gay. Why?"

"Oh my God," Touko whispered. "Onee-sama, Sachiko-sama is still going to marry Suguru-nii-san after she graduates. She broke up with you." Ignoring Shimako's restraining hand, she continued. "You are in here because you took your brother's X-acto knife to both wrists. Onee-sama, you tried to kill yourself."

"Mou, Touko-chan, you tell such sad stories. Why would I kill myself? Onee-sama promised that we could live together while we attend Lillian University together," Yumi argued while tears began to flow from her eyes and her shoulders began to shake. "Onee-sama and I will be together forever," she laughed manically, oblivious to the astonished looks on her friends' faces.

End Flashback

Masamune heard about the first suicide attempt from Yuuki later. He was present for one of the others when Yumi tried to walk in front of a car. He studied his wife carefully, asking himself, 'Did she hear from Ogasawara-san? I just need to be patient. She'll tell me when she is ready.' He turned to ruffle his five-year old son's hair, "How was school today, Champ?"

Yuuichi was a combination child with Yumi's expressive face and his father's serious eyes. "It was fun. Seto-kun wiped his boogers on Ami-sensei's shirt. The boys laughed and the girls screamed with Ami-sensei. Seto-kun had to stay in for recess though." He paused, looking at Yumi, and asked, "Mommy is sad again. Why?"

Yumi's heart sank as she pretended not to hear her son's concern. 'I can't go back there again. I will not let that woman destroy me like she did ten years ago.' Her cell phone vibrated. It was a text message that read, "Yumi, please forgive me. I never stopped loving you. Call me." The color drained from her face, and she closed the phone quickly, favoring her young son with the sunniest smile that she could manage, but neither her son nor her husband was fooled. She was falling again.

A/N: I'm not a big fan of flashbacks. That being said, this story will have quite a few. I don't think that the others will be as long as this one was. I feel sorry for everyone in this story, but that doesn't mean that I will stop tormenting them anytime soon. Thank you for reading!