Disclaimer: I don't own any of Maria Sama Ga Miteru characters. XD

Chapter 6- Soeurs

Yumi glanced up at the rows of desks and chairs. She had been early. Unusually early today. Then again, it was more like she couldn't get the sleep she wanted. Her face was haggard. Dark eye circles formed around her eyes. Yumi looked dazed from the sunlight shining on her face as she sat down.

Soon flocks of students stormed into the classroom chattering enthusiastically. They had never ending topics to cover. They included of things like what they did the previous day, how the goldfish managed to get into the cat's mouth and gossips about people. Yumi thought that it was just to pass time, but today, it sounded irritating to her ears.

"Yumi san, oh my, you look like a dead fish." Tsutako commented.

Tsutako was a friend of Yumi's since year one. She had always been a support figure to her.

"T-Tsutako san! Did I make another weird face again?!" Yumi exclaimed and sat right up, cupping her cheeks and feeling her facial features.

"Yumi san, you need to relax a little. You're going to get mental over all this pressure. You may not notice it, but I think you're going to break." Tsutako's eyes narrowed as she gave Yumi a stern lecture for the morning.

"I'm very sorry!" Yumi said as she bowed towards the front.

"There's nothing to be sorry about Yumi san. Now, don't worry, do your best and cheer up alright?" Tsutako smiled wholeheartedly at her.

The camera shutter sounded.

"Ah.. Now I've got proof that Yumi san is frowning." Tsutako waved a peace sign towards Yumi and returned back to her seat.

"Yumi san! Yumi san!" Shimako and Yoshino waved from afar.

"Yumi san, are you feeling better today? Sensei said you were running a high fever yesterday." Shimako spoke with concern.

"Ehh.. Y-Yes, I feel absolutely fine! No worries!" Yumi tried to forge a sincere smile but somehow didn't manage to make it.

"There. Here are your notes for yesterday's lessons." Yoshino said as she handed a few sheets of paper to Yumi.

"Thank you Yoshino san. Could you also lend me yours later?" Yumi asked.

"Sure. No problem." Yoshino replied.

"Hey Yumi san, about Sachiko's birthday party this Friday, what do you think we should get her? I know you'll be having your own personal gift for her but I was wondering if you could give us some opinions. Rei chan and I are still pondering over what to get her." Yoshino lowered her voice as she pulled Yumi closer.

Yumi felt as though something hit her hard on the head. Oh no! She only has 2 more days to finish her gift for Sachiko. Will she really be on time?

"Umm Yoshino san, I don't really have an idea right now. But if I manage to think of one, I'll inform you okay?" Yumi responded.

"Alright. Thanks. We better get back to our seats, the class is starting." Yoshino smiled as she lunged back to her desk.

Class and lessons were the least of things on Yumi's mind. Again and again, she found herself day dreaming. Her teachers have noticed her change but dismissed it as the after effects of a fever. So Yumi was let off for the day. No one noticed, but Yumi had sat in silence for the whole day.

Hugging her bento tightly, Yumi proceeded to the rose mansion. As she was passing the third year corridors, she caught sight of her onesama. Sachiko had her back faced towards Yumi and was pacing off pretty swiftly. Yumi's legs urged her on.

"Onesama!" Yumi called as she quickened her steps.

There was no response.

"Onesama!" Yumi called again raising her voice a little.

Again, there was no reaction from her grande soeur. Now, they were barely less than a couple of metres apart.

"Onesama.." Yumi caught hold of Sachiko's shoulder and almost instantly slammed into her back. She felt herself gasping heavily for breath as she looked into her onesama's eyes.

"Onesama, why are you ignoring me? Please answer me." Yumi looked at Sachiko pleadingly.

Sachiko looked away from her petite soeur. A few seconds passed and she raised her head to face a tearing Yumi. Contempt and hate filled her face.

"Is anything the matter Yumi?" Sachiko questioned with disdain.

"Onesama.. I.." Yumi stammered as she couldn't find the correct words to say.

"If there is nothing you would like to say to me, then may I head on?" Sachiko continued sternly as she proceeded to walk off.

"Onesama.." Yumi found herself crying and grabbing onto one of Sachiko's arms, refusing to let go.

"Would you stop it? I have somewhere I need to go to. Let go of me Yumi. Go away!" Sachiko shouted.

Yumi was stunned right to her roots. She didn't move. She didn't blink. She stared at the spot in front of her where her onesama stood just a few seconds ago. Words echoed in her mind.

'Go away.. Go away.. Go away..' Yumi couldn't control her emotions as she ran towards the opposite direction.

Her heart shivered and soured. The pain she felt inside was indescribable. She needed to get out of this place now.

Sniffing and shuffling noises were heard from a cubicle. Yumi had been crying. Hard. This was the only place where people wouldn't look at her. It was the only place where she could pour her heart out and whimper. No one would know about it. not a single soul.

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"Shall we choose the pink flowers instead?" Yumi voiced.

The Yamayurikai meeting had been silent for the day except for 2 distinct voices bickering and arguing. They had a few issues to discuss today. The first was on the Christmas party to be conducted a few weeks later.

"No will do. I think that the Christmas tree will look fine. There is no need for additional materials to be added. Plus, it's a waste of time and effort." Sachiko lashed out at Yumi with extreme disapproval.

"But.. B-But we always place them there every year." Yumi tried to rebuke her onesama's statement.

"What are you saying?! Of course I know that. It would be boring to place the same decorations over and over again right? What's with that attitude?! And is that a challenge towards me? Are you trying to mock me?!" Sachiko bellowed at the frail girl standing opposite of her.

Yumi didn't dare to look up. She buried her face as low as possible and avoided everyone's gaze.

"Sachiko! That's enough! Please consider Yumi's feelings" Rei reprimanded.

Ignoring her fellow Rose, Sachiko continued.

"This is becoming unruly! Not only do you lack discipline, you also lack manners. Why the hell have I chosen you as my petite soeur?! You don't even listen to me! I can't even comprehend this situation! If that's the case, then I wish to dissolve our bond as soeurs right now!" Sachiko yelled as she slammed her hands on the table.

There was a ghastly silence among the people in the meeting room and a very horrified expression wrote itself on everyone's faces.

Yumi didn't move. She didn't raise her head either. She didn't even flinch at those words that hurt her deeply.

Slowly and with staggering movements, Yumi moved her hands towards her chest. She grabbed her uniform right at the knot and held it tight for a second. Thereafter, she removed her rosary and headed towards Sachiko. With unsteady steps, Yumi landed in front of her. She raised her grande soeur's hand and opened her palm. The rosary dropped into her hands as Yumi returned it.

The clattering sound marked the end of their relationship.

Yumi felt herself go numb as she shuddered. And in an instant, her feet carried her out of the door and out of the mansion. She was running. Running away from everything.

Yoshino watched as Yumi bolted out of the door. Suddenly, anger engulfed her.

"Sachiko sama, you're too much!" Yoshino said as she glared at Sachiko. Following that, she dashed out of the mansion.

Sachiko sat down at the table. Words did not reach her. Neither could she answer her peers. With hands clasped on her head, she cried silently.

"Sachiko! Sachiko answer me! Why in the world did you do that?!" Rei barked at her.

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Blood stained her clothes as Yumi fell. She was carrying herself with unbalanced movements and tripped over a hump. Both her knees were scraped and blood was flowing profusely. She dug her fingers into the grass patch beside of her in an attempt to reduce the pain. The dirt stained her nails. Adding to pain inside of her, Yumi questioned herself.

"Maria sama.. What did I do to deserve all this? Why? If this is a trial for me, then I'm afraid that I have failed..." Yumi sobbed heavily as she muttered the words.

"Yumi san.." A voice echoed.

Yumi looked up and found Yoshino staring at her. Her gaze was soft and filled with love. Instantaneously, Yumi found herself enveloped in Yoshino's embrace. For a second, she felt warmth.

"Yoshino san.. I.." Yumi faltered.

"Don't speak Yumi san.. You don't have to.. Not now.." Yoshino hugged her friend tightly.

Yumi broke into a fit of cries and screams. She kicked and shouted.

In a few minutes, Yoshino had managed to calm and coax her friend down. Pulling out her handkerchief, she placed it on top of Yumi's wound. But soon the material was getting soaked. Hence Yoshino helped Yumi to her feet and headed for the nurse's office.

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'Onesama.. I know I don't have the right to call you that anymore.. but I.. even if this is the last time I'm going to see you.. I will still finish what is to be done. I still wish to celebrate your birthday with you, onesama. Even though you said those words to me, I don't hate you. I want to celebrate your birthday with you.. Even if it's the last one.. And if.. If you never ever want to see me anymore, I will leave. I don't want to be a nuisance to you. I don't want to be your burden. You chose me to be your soeur. But it's alright. You can let me go.. As long as it makes you happy..' Yumi reflected with a depressing gaze as she continued her heart's gift.

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Unknown to Yumi, a special edition was already in print. The title was:

'The red Rose family falls out! Sachiko dissolves soeur relationship after finding out that Yumi was having another affair. What is the truth of this matter? Read on to find out!'