Disclaimer: I don't own any of Maria Sama Ga Miteru characters. XD
Chapter 4- Confrontation
"Onesama! W-What happened?! Your hand! It's injured." Yumi questioned with a worried and concerned look on her face.
Sachiko had just arrived in front of the Maria statue. Just in time as Yumi finished praying. Sachiko looked distraught. Her hair wasn't kept the usual way, it looked like she had just came out of bed. A grim look gripped her eyes as she stared into the ones of her petite soeur. Numb. That was the word that had come to mind when Sachiko tried to say something. No feelings, no warmth.
"Onesama!" Yumi called out while rushing to Sachiko's side.
"What happened to your arm? Are you alright? Why aren't you saying anything? Onesama?" Yumi was flustered. She was utterly shocked that her onesama was behaving in such a manner. The usual Rosa Chinensis held her self with pride and dignity. Now the person standing in front of her was a slump. Definitely, something must be wrong.
"Yumi.." Sachiko's eyes burned with anger and sadness. Soon, it turned into a sour look and seemed teary.
"Onesama, come with me." Yumi said as she pulled Sachiko along to a secluded location. People were starting to gather around the pair. It was clear that something had gone wrong between the red rose family. If they were to continue to stay there, something dreadful would definitely be published in the Lillian newspaper.
"Onesama, please take a sit." Yumi settled Sachiko onto the bench and put both her hands on hers.
"What is the matter Onesama? What happened to your arm? Please.. Tell me." Yumi was terribly worried. Horrible thoughts ran through her head. Had her onesama got into an accident? Was she harmed by anyone?
"Yumi.. I.." Sachiko responded with a startling cry and rested herself into Yumi's chest.
Yumi proceeded to stroke and arrange her onesama's hair, coaxing her and ensuring that everything was going to be alright.
'It's warm.. I don't want to let go.' Sachiko thought as she tightened her grip around her petite soeur.
The sisters stayed there immobile in each other's arms for a period of time. Neither was letting go. Sachiko didn't want to while Yumi didn't dare. After composing herself, Sachiko released herself from Yumi.
"Yumi, I'm sorry!" Sachiko gasped as she saw the blood stain on Yumi's uniform. She pulled out her handkerchief and started desperately wiping it.
Catching Sachiko's arm, Yumi looked into her eyes. "Onesama, please stop. It's alright. I can wash it when I get home. But more importantly, please tell me what happened."
"Yumi.. Do you not want me anymore?" Sachiko gazed with pleading eyes.
"O-Onesama?! Why are you saying this?" Yumi was in shock at the sentence.
Sachiko stood up. No. she shouldn't ask her now. Not when school is about to start. It would ruin everything.
"Yumi, I just.. I accidentally cut myself. It's just a small injury. Don't worry." Sachiko attempted a smile forcefully.
Yumi was confused. She looked at her onesama for awhile and decided to probe with the queries later. Her insides were burning with questions. Each and every one concerning her onesama's condition.
'Why?' Yumi frowned in agony.
Sachiko looked like a lost kid in the middle of nowhere. Her expressions were full of pain and suffering. Yumi can't help it but shed a tear over this scene. She held her onesama's hand. Slowly treading and caressing through the bandages on it. Holding it up, Yumi brought it to her lips. She planted a soft kiss on the wounded spot. It smelled like a mixture of blood and Sachiko's scent. Both heartwarming and aching.
Sachiko stared in silence as her petite soeur look her hand. Words didn't reach her.
"Onesama.. Please take good care of yourself." Yumi said with agony as she laid a swift kiss on Sachiko's lips, with pink hues forming soon after.
The bell rang.
"Onesama, the first period is about to start. Let's go to class quickly. I'll see you at lunch break alright?" Yumi stated.
And so the both of them headed to class quietly. Yumi made sure that Sachiko had settled down before leaving for her own homeroom.
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Yumi was unable to concentrate. The words of her teacher echoed by.
"Fukuzawa Yumi san?" The homeroom teacher questioned.
"Y-Yes! I'm sorry!" Yumi stood up and gave a bow towards the front.
"Please pay attention in class." The teacher said sternly and proceeded on with the lecture.
The rest of the class glanced up at her. Yumi had been an attentive student all along. It was unusual that the Rosa Chinensis en Bouton was distracted. Shimako and Yoshino were especially concerned.
Both of them went up to Yumi when the class ended.
"Yumi san, are you alright? You seemed pretty low and distracted lately." Yoshino enquired.
"Yes Yoshino san, Shimako san, I'm fine. I'm sorry to have worried you. I have to head out to find onesama now. Please excuse me." Yumi gave a slight smile and left the classroom hastily.
Sachiko was no where to be found. She wasn't in class. Not in the Rose mansion either. Yumi searched the school frantically as she became increasingly worried. Just as she was running around the corner, she bumped into someone.
"I'm sorry. Yumi chan? Are you injured?" the voice spoke.
"R-Rosa Foetida!" Yumi stammered.
After regaining herself to her feet, she asked. "Rei sama, have you seen my onesama?"
"Sachiko? Oh yes, I was told that she had to leave early due to her being sick. I think her family picked her up just awhile ago. Not to worry alright?" Rei smiled and patted on Yumi's head, reassuring her that everything was fine.
Yumi nodded and let out a huge sigh.
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When school ended, Yumi headed swiftly to the school gate, only pausing to offer a prayer to Maria sama.
"Sorry I was late. I was held up by the last period. Have you been wating long?" Yumi paused to get her breath on track.
"Yo! Yumi chan~ No worries, I've just reached." Sei smiled as she reached out her hand to pat on Yumi's head.
'She's as cute as usual~' Sei thought.
Enveloping her arms around her with a hug, Sei pulled Yumi along. They went to town with haste and bought the materials needed. Yumi intended to make Sachiko a scarf and she needed to complete it fast. Soon after, Yumi bid goodbye to the previous Rosa Gigantea before heading home.
However, Yumi was extremely distracted by the events of the day. She couldn't take her mind off Sachiko. She was worried. Extremely worried. She can't wait to get home so she could call up her onesama. And with hurry, Yumi quickly paced home.
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It has only been a while since Yumi got home and the phone rang.
"Yumi, there's a call for you. It's Satou san." Yumi's mother said as she handed over the receiver to her.
"Hello, this is Yumi speaking." Yumi responded as she took over the receiver.
"Yumi chan? Erm, are you free right now? I think I should tell you this." Sei enquired with uncertainty.
"Sei sama, go ahead. I'm listening." Yumi spoke as she sat herself down on her bed.
"Well, erm.. I met Sachiko just now on the streets. She.." Sei was cut off.
"Onesama?! You saw her just now? Where?!" Yumi exclaimed in surprise.
"Yumi chan, hear me out first alright?" Sei reprimanded.
"Yes, I apologize for that. Please continue." Yumi replied.
"As I was saying, I saw Sachiko on the streets. She looked very distraught and her hair was all messy and unkempt. I was wondering what happened to her and so I approached her. She seemed to not notice my presence until I touched her. She exclaimed in shock and looked at me. Well, then I asked her if she was feeling fine and such. But she didn't respond. There was one of those death glares on her face. And I think it was serious. Then I asked her again. This time she snapped at me. I wasn't aware of the reason at first but then I realized it. She's concerned about us, Yumi. You and me. Apparently, I think she has misunderstood us and thinks that you are avoiding her because we're going out. She shouted and ranted in front of everyone and I had to pull her into an alley to continue our conversation. She was very agitated and angry as she spoke. She also asked me why I had to take you away from her. That first was Shimako, and now you. She cried and hammered at me asking how many times I must do so in order to be happy. And that I was deliberately out to spite her and take everything away from her. I'm at a loss Yumi. I don't understand. Has anything happened between the both of you?" As Sei finished explaining, there was a moment of silence.
"Was there anything else that she said?" Yumi tried to sound composed and questioned Sei for more. Her heart was pounding. She hated herself. For bringing on that mistake on her onesama.
"Yes, she also warned that I should leave you alone and not go near you anymore. But I think she merely said it in defense. She was very heated up afterall." Sei replied with a frowning tone.
"Sei sama, I'm terribly sorry to have brought this upon you. Please don't take her words to heart. I will call her immediately to clarify things." Yumi spoke in a regretful manner.
"Yes alright. I hope the both of you can settle things well. Take care." Sei responded with worry before putting down the phone.
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Sachiko had been trying. Trying very hard to get through the line to the Fukuzawa residence. And it was getting on her nerves. With a mixture of anger and agony, the line finally connected.
"Hello, Fukuzawa residence." Yumi answered.
"Yumi.. This is Sachiko speaking." Sachiko continued.
"O-Onesama?!" Yumi squeaked.
"Yumi, I have been trying to get through the line for the past half hour. Is anyone busy using the phone?" Sachiko questioned.
"Erm.. No, onesama. Sorry for the delay. I was on the phone just now." Yumi replied.
"Who were you speaking with?" Sachiko asked with a hint of increasing irritation.
"Erm.. It was.. Erm.. It was a friend." Yumi staggered in her speech.
"Friend? And might your friend be Satou Sei?" Sachiko interrogated.
Yumi gasped and was speechless for a second.. Her onesama knew.
Sachiko heard the loud reaction and continued. "Why are you so reluctant to say her name? Why did you not mention her to me? And what's with the secrecy with meeting her everyday?" Sachiko found herelf fuming and her temper rising.
"Onesama, please. Listen to my explanation. There was something I needed from Sei sama and I had to ask for her help. That's all. Please onesama, believe me." Yumi said as she tried desperately to seek Sachiko's understanding.
"And what would that be?" Sachiko pressed on.
"Onesama! I can't tell you anymore than this. Please, you have to understand the situation. I promise you it's not what you have in mind." Yumi found herself choking back on her tears.
"Not what I have in mind?! How would you know what I have in my mind? And you can't tell me anymore? Tell me Yumi. What am I to you? You are my petite soeur and I treat you closer than anyone else in school. And yet, now you say you're unable to divulge anything to me?! Is this some kind of joke? Do you like Sei more? Much more than me? She comes in between the both of us and tries to spoil our relationship?! I don't understand it Yumi. If you are going to insist on your own way, maybe we will have to reconsider our soeur relationship. It is useless to maintain if one party isn't interested right?" Sachiko shouted as she lost her temper.
Yumi had not seen such an onesama before. Never. Not once in her life. Until today that is. She was devastated and hurt. She felt as if a sharpened dagger just drove through her chest. Pain was overflowing everywhere. She cried loudly against her pillow, muffling the voice.
Finally, she spoke.
"Onesama.. I won't allow you to bad mouth Sei sama. It's unfair to her. You… have got it all wrong. Please, it's a misunderstanding. I will explain all of it to you in due time. Please… onesama. Listen to me." Yumi struggled to keep up with each word as she choked along.
"What?! Now you're defending Sei?! So it's unfair and I am the villain now, badmouthing Sei? Fine, if that is your reasoning, there is no reason to for us to continue this conversation any more.
Yumi heard the sound of a click and the phone went dead.
Overwhelmed with an immense mix of feelings of hurt and pain, Yumi screamed and yelled into her pillow, hoping that no one would hear her. She felt as if she would die this instant.
'Onesama.. Why?.. Why has it become like this? Onesama.. No.. Don't leave me.. Please.. I need you.. Please listen.. I love you..' Thoughts trailed off as Yumi fell into the pool of tears on her pillow.
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A strong wind blew furiously as the door to the Fukuzawa residence opened. A figure stepped out and rested her face against the wind. Tears streamed sideways as she stammered onto the streets.