A/N: I have spent 6+ months working out how the story was going to progress, and thanks to my 4 year old deciding that she did NOT want me to write; we have this gap in time. This chapter is either going to make you really happy or really angry. All that I can say is that I am sorry. I am so so sorry. Please enjoy and let me know what you thought.

Disclaimer: I do not own the chapters nor am I looking to make anything other than possibly better writing skills from this story.

Ten Years Later

Chapter 19: Sparks

Yumi

'Life seems to settle into a nice rhythm if you let it,' thought Yumi happily. It had been a couple of weeks since Shimako had essentially moved in and things were going well. Yuuichi had adjusted to waking up to 'Shimako-sensei' in the house every morning. He spent weekends with his father and usually came back talking more about how nice Michie was than his dad. 'Michie-chan is cute. If I was more like Sei, I would flirt with her just to make her and Masamune-kun uncomfortable,' she laughed to herself.

Work was going well too. On the heels of getting the Tenmei contract, she had successfully bid on two more projects, one of which would have her commuting daily to Yokohama. This required her to work out arrangements with her mother to pick Yuuichi up from kindergarten. Yuuichiro was letting her do much more of the marketing for the firm as well, signaling that he was pulling back from the day to day administration of the firm. 'It was bound to happen. I knew that Dad had planned to semi-retire the minute that I finished my degree.' She smiled at the thought of her father. They had become closer since the divorce and it was almost like it was before Sachiko blew into her life like a typhoon.

Yumi's phone rang, and she answered, hoping that it was Shimako, "Fukuzawa Architecture; Fukuzawa Yumi speaking. How may I help you?"

An older man's voice responded, much to her chagrin, "Yes, Fukuzawa-sensei, I am Saito, and I represent the Sendai City Council. We would like you to be the guest of honor at the grand opening of our Community Center. Your design and oversight of this undertaking went above and beyond our expectations, and the people of Sendai would like to express our appreciation and gratitude with a formal dinner. We will be sending a limousine for you next Friday afternoon at 1 PM. We will also be providing a hotel suite for you to rest in before returning to Tokyo the following morning as it is about a five hour trip by car."

Yumi felt overwhelmed, "Well, Saito-san, I would like to accept but I have to make arrangements for my child to be cared for overnight."

"We know that you are a single mother, Fukuzawa-sensei," replied Saito. "We are also aware that you are living with another woman. We must ask that you do not bring her as your date. It is nothing against your partner, but we had enough trouble with the conservatives due to your divorce. It would be disastrous for the Council politically if you were obvious about your orientation."

Yumi sighed. Shimako was going to be pissed. It was just another sacrifice that they were going to have to make if Yumi was to build her career. 'It would be nice if Japan was a little more open to relationships like ours. Sigh.' She took a cleansing breath, "Of course, Saito-san. I will be discreet. I am honored and will accept your invitation."

"Thank you so much, Fukuzawa-sensei. I do apologize for the demands and I empathize because I cannot bring my husband to events or even make it public that we are together. We just need to have faith that we will be able to be honest soon. Thank you again."

Feeling a little better about humanity, but dreading the next phone call, Yumi dialed her girlfriend's number. 'Maybe it will go straight to voicemail and I won't have to do damage control until I get home,' she thought and then felt ashamed. After what Shimako went through with Noriko, Shimako's insecurity was maddening, but somewhat understandable. 'I'm not looking to go with someone else. I'm happy with her. Why can't she see that?'

Fortunately, the phone gods were on Yumi's side and she heard the prompt for Shimako's voicemail. She left her message, and then went back to work. The rising young architect had a mountain of correspondence to go through; everything from magazines requesting interviews to companies inviting her to enter her design for their projects. "I guess that I really am making a name for myself," she sighed audibly.

"Quit your sighing and get back to work," Yuuichiro commanded with a cheeky smirk. "You have to make me rich so I can retire." Yumi shot her father a cross look and they both began to laugh. Yes, things were going well.

Sachiko

In the Ogasawara residence, Himeno Aya rushed to answer the ringing phone. A few minutes later, she knocked softly on her mistress' office door, "Sachiko-sama, a Saito from the Sendai City Council is on the phone requesting to speak to you."

"Thank you, Himeno," the heiress responded. "I'll take the call." Lifting the receiver to her ear, Sachiko said, "This is Ogasawara Sachiko. How may I help you, Saito-san?"

The older man replied, "Well, Ogasawara-sama, we have completed building the new Community Center, and would like to invite you, as the largest donor to the Grand Opening and the formal dinner honoring the architect who happens to be a former schoolmate of yours at Lillian next Friday here in Sendai."

With building excitement, Sachiko asked, "Would that architect happen to be named Fukuzawa?"

"Well, actually yes it is, Ogasawara-sama," Saito replied. "Fukuzawa Yumi designed and led the project that you so generously funded. She has committed to attend without her partner so as to deflect any criticism. If you are willing to attend, would your husband, Kashiwagi-sama, be accompanying you?"

'Hell no,' thought Sachiko happily. To Saito she said, "I am afraid that Suguru-san will not be able to attend due to a project that will have him overseas for the next few weeks." Suguru was negotiating in Australia on her behalf concerning the bid to purchase Southern Cross Petrol. He took Alice with him so it was business and pleasure. Shaking these thoughts from her mind, she continued, "Yumi-san is an old friend of mine, so I am happy that she is being honored and I look forward to seeing her. Do you think that it would be possible to seat us at the same table?"

Saito was happy that the notoriously cagey heiress was onboard so quickly. He smiled, "Of course, Ogasawara-sama, that is an easy request to accommodate? Would you like us to arrange your stay at the same hotel as Fukuzawa-sensei?"

"That would be very much appreciated," Sachiko replied calmly, her noble mask employed fully. She could barely contain her happiness. "I would prefer to be on the same floor with my friend if that is not too much of an imposition. We have a lot catching up to do. I would be willing to pay for both rooms so that the City of Sendai is not responsible for the expense."

Saito thought happily, 'She just saved the city 200,000 yen for the rooms. Sachiko-sama is so generous.' He responded to Sachiko, "Consider it done, Ogasawara-sama. You have done so much for us. The people of Sendai are forever in your debt. So you need us to send a car for you?"

"No, that will not be necessary," the young woman answered. "I will have my helicopter fly me there if there is a helipad near the event. It will help me surprise my friend." 'I need the element of surprise if this is to work. I have to take this chance to turn Yumi's heart toward me.'

Saito, shocked at how accommodating the Ogasawara was being, assured her that there indeed would be a helipad near the event. They ended the call with both parties thinking that had scored a huge coup.

Sachiko immediately sprung into action, ordering her servants to bring her car around. She was going shopping. She wanted the most elegant sexiest evening gown that she could find for her and something equally elegant, yet more understated for Yumi. She called ahead to Prado in Omotesando for them to have a consultant ready for her when she arrived. 'This has to be perfect,' the excited heiress thought. 'I cannot leave anything to chance. Yumi will be mine again!'

Yumi

It took Yumi multiple dates and love-making sessions to reassure Shimako that she was not sorry to be in a relationship with her. Her girlfriend's insecurities were beginning to really get to Yumi, and she was trying to be understanding because Shimako's ex had given her reason to be insecure. However, the night before the gala, Yumi's patience had finally ended and she snapped, "Jesus, Shimako! You would think that I was secretly having a heterosexual affair. Give it a rest, please. I am with you because I love you. Get that? Why can't you believe this? Do you not trust me that I am telling you the truth?"

"I know that, Yumi," Shimako sniffled. "I just feel like I am losing you like I did Noriko."

Yumi was angry now, "Have I shown anything that would suggest that I was tired of you? I am getting tired of you not trusting that what we have is real. I am getting tired of reassuring you. I love you, and if that is not enough for you, then there is nothing left for me to do." She turned to storm out of the bedroom.

As Yumi was leaving, she was grabbed by Shimako, who cried, "I am so sorry, Yumi. I know that I should not be borrowing trouble that is not there, but I am just so scared. I am so happy with you, so happy that my heart could burst with it. It frightens me that you affect me the way that you do."

"Do you honestly think that you do not have the same effect on me?" Yumi asked with rising exasperation. "I get butterflies in my stomach just by saying your name. My face gets warm every time I see you smile and my heart races when I hear your voice." The young mother smiled softly at her girlfriend. "You have helped me to discover what love truly can be. Now please just kiss me and let's go to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day for both of us."

Wordlessly, Shimako captured her love's lips and kissed her gently. After whispering a soft, "I love you," they made their way to the bed where she settled herself in the crook of Yumi's arm and fell asleep.

The next morning, Yumi was fretting about where she was going to rent an evening gown at the last moment. "Why do I always leave things like this to the last moment?" She asked forlornly.

"What is the crisis this time?" Yuuichiro asked, noticing his daughter's distress.

Yumi sighed, "I have this formal dinner for the Sendai Community Center tonight, and I spent so much time calming Shimako down that I forgot to arrange for something to wear tonight."

"And that is a problem, how? Just take some time go to the dress shop," the elder Fukuzawa suggested. "Or," he said, holding out a garment bag, "You could just use what the Sendai people just sent you."

Trying not to assault her father, Yumi growled, "Why didn't you something sooner, Dad?"

"And spoil my fun?" Yuuichiro laughed. "Besides, I knew that you would wait until last minute to take care of something that was not Yuuichi or design-related. You are like your mother in that. Plus, I loved watching you sweat."

His daughter gave him a toothy smile that promised future pain or an equally painful reprisal prank "Okay, you got me. I will take the dress. I still need to get my hair done, so I am leaving now." As she turned to leave, Yumi turned back to her father, all business, "Dad, I have a bid for a project in Fukuoka that I would like you to look over. I was invited to compete to design the new Kyushu Heritage Museum. It would be worth more than the Sendai project fiscally."

The senior Fukuzawa raised an eyebrow, and replied calmly, "Will do, Yumi. Thank you for your hard work. I don't say it enough, but you make me so proud. Go get ready for your party. Your mother will pick Yuuichi-kun up from school and we will have fun tonight spoiling our grandson rotten."

"Ugh," Yumi groaned, thinking of the behaviors with which she would have to deal after picking up her son. Her parents never failed to spoil him and he would come home expecting her to give him things like Grandma and Grandpa did. Sighing, Yumi responded, "Thanks Dad. Please thank Mom for me. If this was not good for business, I would not even go."

Her father put two hands on her shoulders and pushed, "Get going, kid. Time flies faster than you think it does."

Yumi nodded, grabbed her purse and walked out of the office. As she was driving to her favorite salon, she thought, 'I am not in the mood for any surprises tonight. I just hope that this is a boring party that ends soon so I can go back to my hotel room and call Shimako.'

Several hours later, Yumi was in the back of stretch Mercedes-Benz limousine. As the terrain stretched to the north, she had plenty of time to think and to get lonely. 'Maybe I should have Dad or Yuuki to come with me as my escort. At least I would have someone to talk to on this long car ride.' Even though the ride was making her drowsy, Yumi fought valiantly to stay awake because she had spent a small fortune, in her eyes, on her hair and make-up, and did want to spoil them.

Yumi reflected on the whirlwind the last few months had been: the resumption of contact with her former Oneesama, the end of her marriage, her making a name for herself in her industry, and her relationship with Shimako. 'It has been a wild ride. Maybe I should just make an appearance tonight, forego the hotel, fly home, and surprise Shi-chan. Nah; I don't think that I could afford a last-minute flight. Sigh…'

One benefit to spending this time in her head was that she did not notice that the limo was entering Sendai. Before she knew it, she was being ushered into what appeared to be a dressing room where young women touched up her make-up and hair. She was then taken into an anteroom, and a very officious man announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the guest of honor, the architect of our wonderful new Community Center, and one of Japan's rising stars, please welcome Fukuzawa Yumi-sensei."

The crowd stood and applauded as Yumi was led to the dais. She wanted to crawl in a rock and disappear, but she put on her best Lillian smile and gracefully acknowledged the applause. 'Now this is completely embarrassing. I want to go home,' she complained to herself.

Just as the applause was dying down, there was the sound of a helicopter approaching and landing. The guest murmured among themselves as sound quieted, and the same officious major domo intoned, "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you the largest single donor to the project that we are celebrating tonight. She is a rising star in the world of international business and the successor to the largest conglomerates in Japan, please welcome Ogasawara Sachiko-sama."

The crowd rose again to applaud, and Yumi sunk down in her chair, 'And here I thought that this night couldn't get any worse. Well Yumi, time to smile and look pretty so that people think that Sachiko-sama and I are friends.' She tried hard to smile without looking fake, but she felt nauseous. She motioned a waiter carrying a tray of champagne over and proceeded to down two glasses in rapid succession. The slight buzz in her head told her that the wine was having the desired effect, especially since she had not eaten since breakfast. She turned to her ex-girlfriend and said, "This certainly was a surprise, Sachiko-sama."

Yumi's smile may have been counterfeit, but there was no disguising the joy in the older woman's eyes as she regarded her crush and replied happily, "I planned it that way. I hope that you are not angry, Yumi."

"I'm not, but my girlfriend will be," answered Yumi, taking a small measure of satisfaction in the tightening of Sachiko's mouth when she said "girlfriend."

Sachiko bit her lip, trying to think of another comeback, but words escaped her because her Yumi was simply ravishing. Her black cocktail dress hugged Yumi's modest curves and was cut low enough that Sachiko could admire Yumi's chest that was larger than she remembered. 'Well, she did have a child too,' the heiress reminded herself.

Seeing her former soeur struggling to make conversation, Yumi reluctantly bailed her out, "The Tenmei project is coming along as we agreed. So far, we are under budget, and I intend to keep it that way. It appears that everything is right on schedule."

"That is excellent news, Yumi," Sachiko clapped delightedly. "Let's have some champagne to toast our friendship and our business arrangement!" Without waiting for a response, the older woman called the server over, and taking two glasses, she handed one to Yumi and said, "Here's to you and me. May we become better friends and better partners as the years roll on."

Yumi drank and the buzz in her head became even louder, and she began to giggle. "This party is already boring, Oneesama. Let's just drink so that we can ignore it!"

Sachiko

As if watching her former soeur get drunk wasn't shocking enough, the fact that Yumi was able to give a coherent, intelligent reply to crowd when she was presented a document declaring her to be an honorary citizen of the city blew the older girl's mind. She did not mind that Yumi got a little flirty and touchy. Hell, she loved it! Finally, she realized that Yumi was going to need help getting to her hotel room. Sachiko quickly called her pilot, who half-escorted, half-carried the soused younger woman from the party.

Sachiko had him follow her to her hotel room, and directed him to put Yumi on the bed. She tipped him 10,000 yen and dismissed him for the night. She gently rolled her crush over so as to loosen her dress when Yumi suddenly grabbed her and began to kiss her passionately. Sachiko moaned into the kiss. Finally, she thought, Yumi was coming back to her!

The two women continued to kiss and they had removed their clothes down to their underwear. Taking a breath, Sachiko thought that she was in a dream until Yumi said two words that she never thought the girl would say, "Take me." The fact that Yumi was drunk was pushed to the back of her mind as Sachiko fulfilled one of her heart's fondest dreams; she made love to her Yumi. Afterwards, she cradled Yumi's head against her breast, crying happily until she fell asleep.

Yumi

The next morning, Yumi awoke to the feeling of a mouth filled with cotton balls. Her head was pounding, and the sunlight that filtered into the room through the shades hurt her eyes. There was a warm lump next her in bed. 'Maybe Shi-chan came up here. I don't remember a damn thing except that Sachiko-sama showed up out of nowhere.' She slowly pulled the sheet back. Instead of her honey-blonde girlfriend, there was the raven black hair of her ex-girlfriend. Oh shit… She was naked. Oh shit… Sachiko was naked. Oh shit… She was lying in a wet spot and her groin was a mess. Yumi screamed, "Oh shit! What did I do?"

Sachiko, roused by the younger woman's uncharacteristic hysterics, grabbed her sleepily, and said, "Let's sleep a little longer, Yumi."

Yumi pulled away, stood up, and fled to the bathroom, making it to the toilet just before her abused stomach divested itself of its contents. She began to cry, knowing that she had just done the unthinkable. She had slept with Sachiko.

To be continued…

A/N: Well, there it is. We have more drama. An anonymous reviewer made a couple of points that I would like to address. First, yes, Shimako never showed any overt romantic interest in Yumi in the canon. My reason for pairing them is silly and simple: they needed each other to heal. Second, Shimako's clingy insecurity was caused by her relationship with Noriko. She spent the last year of their relationship seeing clues that Noriko was cheating on her. When Noriko moved to the US, she quickly began a relationship with a man. Just imagine that you were dreaming of becoming a nun, and then someone comes in and sweeps you off your feet, causing you to give up your dream to be with that person. That person then is insensitive to your feelings and breaks up with you. Wouldn't even the most levelheaded person become a little bit insecure? I am just asking.

Anyway, I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you thought. Thanks!