Disclaimer: I don't own any of Maria Sama Ga Miteru characters. XD
Note: Sorry if this chapter is a bit boring? Or long winded? =X
Chapter 7- Realization
"Sachiko! Sachiko answer me! Why in the world did you do that?!" Rei barked at her.
Sachiko was silent.
"That is the worst thing you could have done, Sachiko! Why the hell did you do that?! Did you even consider Yumi's feelings?! Do you know how much effort she has put in to please you?! It's just a small matter, and you've blown it out of proportion! She merely tried to give you some opinions and you snapped. Is that how an onesama should behave? Don't you have enough compassion to grace any mistakes she might have made? This is the really the worst, Sachiko. Don't expect her to return to you with open arms. You've done it!" Rei stormed in anger.
Soundless crying was heard from the person sitting at the table. Sachiko still refused to give an explanation.
The atmosphere of the whole room felt like it was in flames. With Yoshino storming out of the door previously and the near explosive Rei puffing out smoke in one corner.
Then, the quietest person spoke.
"Sachiko sama, I know that this may be none of my business, but Yumi san is my dear friend. And I won't allow her to be treated like this. I really think that you should go and apologize to Yumi san. It isn't fair to her. With her in such an unstable condition.. What if something dreadful happens to her?" Shimako advised with caution. In truth, she was afraid to speak. Afraid that Sachiko would just hurl abuses at her just like she did with Yumi.
"So I'm the big villain now? Yes, it does seem so.. I'm sorry for startling everyone. I shall settle the matter on my own." Sachiko addressed everyone with a hard front.
Following that statement, she grabbed her bag and coat and rushed out of the mansion. Deep inside of her, she was crying. Regretting what she had done just a few minutes ago. She hated herself for her uncontrollable temper. She detested herself even more when she had just thrown out the most important person in her life. That one person that she had tried so hard to gain. And yet, she drove her away.
Sachiko hurried on. She didn't want to meet anyone. Neither did she look up to meet any gaze that landed on her. She was in a mess and the sanest thing to do was to clear herself up.
Sachiko froze.
It was Yoshino. And she was carrying Yumi along. Her ex petite soeur was bloodied up from her knees down. Yes. She knew at once, it was her fault. She couldn't deny it.
Yoshino looked up to meet Sachiko's gaze. It was only for a second, but she was certain, very certain that the Rosa Foetida en Bouton had shown extreme hatred towards her. It was written all over her face.
Sachiko was felt shameful over what she had done. With disregard for the school rules, she ran towards the school gate. She didn't even stop when she passed by the maria statue.
----------
As Sachiko finished recalling the events of the afternoon, she examined her heart again. It was now full of regret and contempt for herself.
'Why did I do that? Why was I jealous? And now I've hurt her. How I wish I could reverse time. It shouldn't be like this at all..' Sachiko whined like a puppy crying for a lost mother.
Tears filled her eyes as they clouded and obscured the moonlight through the window.
Suddenly, there was a knock.
Sachiko sat up and went to the door. After wiping her tears, she tried to compose herself.
"Yes?" Sachiko said as she swung the door open.
The face of her butler greeted her.
"Miss Sachiko, you have visitors. I am aware that it's late already but they say it is very important that they speak to you." The butler bowed as he spoke.
"Who are they?" Sachiko questioned.
"They are Miss Youko sama and Miss Sei sama. I have already brought them to the guest hall. Are you ready to see them, Miss Sachiko?" The butler replied.
'Onesama?! And.. Sei?! Sei.. You are the cause of all this mess.. The root of all evil! How dare you show up at my doorstep?!' Sachiko thought in resentment and fury.
"Fine, I will see them in a minute." Sachiko responded.
"Very well, Miss Sachiko. If you'll excuse me, I shall take my leave." The butler bowed deeply as he retraced his movements.
Sachiko took a quick change in clothes and went down. She faced the door where her guests were held. She was unconscious of it but her fists were curled into a ball. Ready to punch that person beside her onesama any moment.
With a deep breath, she opened the door.
Two faces turned in her direction.
"Sachiko.." Youko and Sei spoke at the same time.
"Onesama.." Sachiko gave a slight bow towards Youko while she shot Sei a glare filled with hatred. Sei looked absolutely revolting to her.
"So, what have you come to talk with me about?" Sachiko queried.
"Well, Sachiko.. About the events this afternoon.. Rei had told me about it and I figured that you needed some truth in this matter." Youko stated firmly.
"Sei…?" Youko turned to face her partner and raised her hand over her ears. Immediately, a loud yelp was heard.
"I-Itai~~! Ou-Ouch! My ear.. It's going to fall off!! Youko~ Please~ I'm sorry. Please~" Sei retracted in pain like a shrimp as Youko twisted her ear hard.
"Don't apologize to me! Apologize to Sachiko!" Youko roared.
After huffing and puffing, Sei regained her composure and shot a pouting look towards Youko.
"Sachiko.. I guess I need to apologize to you.." Sei said as she turned to face the person opposite her.
"Erm.. I think you have got it all wrong Sachiko. Yumi and I aren't going out and she didn't betray your trust either. I was just trying to have some fun and went overboard. Please do not blame her alright? In fact, she was with me because she needed some ideas and tips on what to get for you on your birthday. She was just seeking advice from me. And I erm.. Happened to be a little touchy.. I'm sorry sachiko." Sei bowed deeply as she finished her sentence.
'EH?!' Sachiko looked at Sei in extreme surprise.
"Then what about that day.. That day where you two were in the park.. And.. And you kissed! I witnessed it myself. That couldn't be wrong! How do you explain that?" Sachiko interrogated.
"Ah? Sachiko chan. You were following us?! Woahh~ I wouldn't have imagined that." Sei exclaimed.
"Sei?!" Youko stared at Sei with a startling look. Another twist was coming.
"Wa-Wait!" Sei glanced up at both the sisters. They looked like they were ready to smack her inside out.
"That was a misunderstanding! Yumi and I were sitting on the bench enjoying the nice weather when I noticed that a leaf was on her shoulder. Then I leaned over and brushed it off. I'm sorry. Did that look like a kiss to you? From which angle were you looking anyway?" Sei questioned as she sighed in relief. The both of them had considerably lowered their rage.
"T-That.. That is none of your business!" Sachiko raised her voice in attempt to hiding her blushing face.
"Ahh~~ Sachiko.. Don't be so fierce.. Please don't get angry alright. I promise that I will behave decently in future.. Especially around Yumi chan.. Alright? Plwease~?" Sei gave that puppy look after she finished. That was one look never failed to soften anyone's heart.
"Yes yes, I forgive you. Now would you stop behaving like that?" Sachiko sighed.
At the same time, she was feeling the worst in her life. Not only had she misunderstood things, she had also constructed an irreversible error. It was so serious to her, that Sachiko was unsure if she could rectify it.
Just then, her onesama spoke.
"Sachiko, I believe that you have heard the whole truth and you are very clear about the situation now. But what you have done to Yumi chan was incorrigible. Have you ever considered how she would feel against your words? Have you even given any thought about her feelings at all? What would you feel if I am to break of our bond with you right now?!" Youko gave Sachiko a stern lecture.
"Onesama?! You would like to break off our bond?!" Sachiko asked with a look of hurt and desperation on her face.
"Of course not. I am not a person who makes such mistakes. Now then, have you felt how Yumi felt? Have you experienced her pain? This is not a joking matter and words concerning it should be taken very seriously. I have failed in my duty as an onesama as I have not succeeded in educating you about such matters. But today, I will rectify it. Now.. Answer me. What are you going to do now?" Youko continued with a harsh tone that swore to tear Sachiko back to reality.
Sachiko felt sore. She felt herself sobbing uncontrollably. It was hurting her. Both her onesama and Yumi. The things that happened in these few days. The feelings were all coming back to her like a huge tidal wave.
"O-Onesama.." Sachiko spoke with a croaked voice.
"I-I will speak to Yumi about it and seek her understanding and forgiveness. I will do anything to rectify my actions. Please forgive this impudent action of mine. I deeply regret it. Onesama.." Sachiko pleaded.
Her eyes were swollen and red. Youko had not seen her petite soeur cry so harshly before.
"Sachiko.. You will always be my dear soeur. Whatever pain that you may experience is also hurtful to me. So please.. Don't do such things again alright? Love the people around you, and love yourself.." Youko whispered with concern as she caressed Sachiko's face and enveloping her in a bear hug.
----------
After sending her Youko and Sei off, Sachiko ran desperately towards the nearest phone.
It was nearly an hour to midnight.
She had to phone Yumi immediately. She had to seek her forgiveness right now or she wouldn't be able to sleep at all.
"Hello. Fukuzawa residence." A voice answered.
"H-Hello, I am Ogasawara Sachiko. A third year from Lillian academy. I apologize for calling so late at night. I wish to have a word with Yumi. May I know if she is able to take the call?" Sachiko spoke with uncertainty.
The voice on the other end went silent for a few seconds.
"Please wait." The voice said firmly.
Sachiko was getting impatient over the long pause. It had been a few minutes since she held the line.
"Sorry for the wait, but Yumi isn't available to answer the call now." The voice stated.
"Why? Please. This is important. Would you please tell her that I need to speak to her urgently?. Sachiko said with a hint of desperation.
There was the sound of the phone being put aside followed by another long pause.
"Sachiko sama, Yumi really doesn't want to take the call. She isn't free and does not want to talk to you at the moment. If you would, please call another time." The same voice spoke again.
"Yuki?! Is that you Yuki?! Please, get your sister to answer the phone. I need to settle some important matters with her now." Sachiko begged.
"Sachiko sama. I know it may be rather improper for me to say this. But as her brother, I feel a need to do so. Have you ever thought of her feelings, Sachiko sama? You've made her so sad and depressed. And now you just request for her to come back to you like that?! Yumi isn't a play toy! You can't just throw her around one day and expect her to be back smiling back at you the next day. She has feelings! Please have deep consideration for that!" Yuki's calm and reserved tone became something very harsh.
"Now, if you will respect that, I will put the down the phone now." Yuki stated.
Sachiko found herself speechless and listening to a dead phone tone. Yuki's words pierced her heart and she found herself filled with cold sweat.
'Is this how it should become, Yumi? Have I really made you hate me that much? Can I really not redeem myself anymore? Ohhh.. I want to die..' Sachiko reflected in extreme remorse.
----------
A certain figure stared in horror as she read the Lillian's latest edition newspaper.
'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!'
'Affair?! What was the affair about?!' Sachiko thought as she proceeded on to read the contents.
'Rosa Chinensis, Ogasawara Sachiko has broken up with her ex petite soeur, Fukuzawa Yumi. How did such a disastrous event happen? Apparently, Sachiko has been doubting that Yumi was deceiving her and misplaces her trust for her. As such, she has hired a private investigator to investigate this matter. Verbal evidences and several witnesses have testified that Yumi was spending most of her time away from Lillian academy when she is free. She has been spotted with another adult frequently. It is unknown if that person is in cahoots with the ex Rosa Chinensis en Bouton. There was also reportedly one witness who stated that Yumi has been seen going into a hotel with that mentioned figure. In these circumstances, we can only ask ourselves. Has Yumi become so desperate in an attempt to please her own desires?'
The article was concluded with a large picture involving the back view of two figures. It can be clearly identified that one of them had a coat on and the other was wearing pigtails although the people in the photo were slightly blurred due to the enlargement of the original file.
----------
In another part of Lillian academy, a figure was sitting alone trying to consume her bento. She hadn't been able to for the past half an hour. She had been showered with looks of disgust and hatred. Some people even tried to hit or trip her over. Most of all, terrible words such as 'Bitch, Betrayer, Witch, Traitor' were laid on her. She cried silently as un sympathizing looks dawned on her. It was horribly difficult to bear.
Suddenly, a hand reached out to her.