Noami stole one last glance at the Miyahara castle – her home and her birthright. She did not know what has come over her... but perhaps it was the fact that Naomi refused to believe that Yumi was dead. She had been taking her evening tea when a bloodied soldier had burst through the doors, declaring that their attack had been an utter failure. And what's worse, Yumi had betrayed them all. Not that it mattered anymore since she had died in an explosion. It all seemed too strange to be real. Everything was too strange. Her mother had barely flinched at the news, the same with Monsieur – whereas she had nearly upset the entire table.
"Yumi? What...
"Sit down, Naomi." Her mother had commanded, not seeming to care for the news.
"But mother, Yumi is –"
"Be quiet!" Her mother had snapped. A malicious smile had spread across her lips before she spoke again. "Do you know the status of everyone else?" Her mother asked the soldier.
He shook his head ruefully. "They're all dead."
Her mother nodded in acknowledgment.
"Mother." Naomi tried again. "Yumi isn't-"
The slap across her face had been unexpected, unwarranted, as well. She looked at her mother in shock.
"I said be quiet." And with that, her mother left with Monsieur trailing close behind.
Naomi shuddered from the cold night air, despite the heavy riding cloak she had donned. Silently, she mounted her horse and prodded it into the direction of the border. She knew that Yumi could not be dead. She still felt her presence within her. The spell she had cast once upon a time was still in effect, thankfully, so she knew.
I have to find her.
Naomi concentrated deeply. With the name of her fiancé on her lips, she let the magic guide her.
Yumi...
Yumi squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block the sun out. It had been so sudden, the change. One moment she had been engulfed in the comforting coolness of the dark, and the next, sunlight flooded her room, pulling her out of her deep slumber.
Yumi slowly opened her eyes, afraid of what she would see and what she would feel. Consciousness had brought with it all the memories of the days prior – getting lost, getting rescued, betrayal, captivity, and now…. Now what? Yumi didn't know if Sachiko's offer was meant to be a strange form of penance for her actions.
She sat up, groggily, moaning slightly at the stiffness of her muscles. Of all the aches and pains however, nothing compared to the tightness she felt in her chest. She felt she had been disassembled, and reassembled, only where her heart should be, she felt a weight had been placed instead. It was difficult to breath, but Its never been this bad before. Yumi thought with concern. Although, she had never been pushed to the limit twice in the span of a day. She had always had Naomi with her before to help her control the energy she held.
A firm knock jolted Yumi out of her thoughts. "Yumi, are you awake? Can I come in?"
Yumi recognized the voice. Whether it was the sound of the feelings it evoked, Yumi recognized it.
"Um… No." Yumi answered. She still didn't know what to make of her feelings towards Sachiko. She had, afterall, had no time to process it. In the span of one night she had lost everything she had ever known – everything. And it likely had much to do with that particular person on the other side of the door. So, no, she could not come in.
Yumi swung her legs over the side of the bed, letting out a yelp of surprise when she found her legs could not support her. Her body met with the ground just as the door swung open, and Sachiko rushed towards her.
"Yumi-"
"Don't touch me." She warned automatically. She didn't need the all too familiar feeling of pain building in her ribcage to tell her that Sachiko still riled up something in her. Something she couldn't seem to control, but had to.
Sachiko froze, midstep, hand outstretched and a breath away from making contact. She withdrew and stepped back, unsure of how to interpret Yumi's reaction.
She watched in silence as Yumi picked herself up off the ground and propped herself against the bed. Yumi's bare legs stuck out from an oversized night shirt. They showed slight bruising, probably from the night before, but didn't look serious enough to affect the girl's ability to stand.
"I brought you your uniform." Sachiko informed in an even tone. When Yumi made no move to accept the clothes she offered, she placed them on the bed, taking a seat on the other side of the clothing.
"From now on, you will be expected to wear this whenever you are in training. All other times you can wear this – Sachiko added a linen shirt and black slacks to the pile – "And we'll worry about formal wear when the occasion arises. She gave a small smile, but received nothing in return. Not a nod, not a blink, nothing. There was no indication that Yumi was even listening to her, save for the intense look on Yumi's face which told Sachiko that she was in fact listening.
"Yumi, I…" Sachiko tried, but failed to find the words that would console her. "This arrangement is…" She couldn't even say that it was temporary. In truth, she had no idea how long Yumi would be in her service. The only thing she knew was that, as it was, Yumi would not be able to return to Miyahara. She had meant her actions to be a kindness, but it seemed only to hurt Yumi.
"I'm sorry, Yumi." Sachiko finally said. "If you need anything…"
Yumi gave her a look that halted her.
"... Anyway, please come down to the courtyard for training as soon as you are dressed."
Yumi let out a breath of air once Sachiko left. For the most part, it was too difficult to look Sachiko in the eye. She couldn't do it without sending a small school of fish through her stomach, nor could she do it without sending a wave of dizziness through her head. It was as if every fibre in her body rejected Sachiko, despite the newly blossoming feelings within her heart. Yumi shook her head vigorously, refusing to believe such a thing. She had been fine with Sachiko's presence and touch, up until now. She refused to believe that it was anything more than the uphill recovery she faced after such a rough ordeal.
Yumi snuck a glance at the group of knights-in-training, all sitting upright, rapt with attention. They seem to cling onto every word that Sachiko was saying, though whether it was because they were all eager to learn, or were just taken away by Sachiko, she could not tell.
Yumi came out a little further from her place behind a column to take a better look. There were maybe.. twenty of them. They were all close to her age, if not younger, and they all had pleasant looks about them. As if they had never suffered a day in their lives. They laughed easily and joked with mirth…. Yumi sighed, wondering if she would become a part of that, or if it would just be like in Miyahara.
"Yumi-chan."
Yumi gasped a little too loudly at the whisper in her ear. She took a step into the column as she instinctively brushed at her ear, trying to stop the tingling sensation that Sei's breath had left on her skin.
Sei laughed jovially at Yumi's reaction. "Shouldn't you be in class, Yumi-chan?"
"I-I.. um..Gomenasai!" Yumi blurted out suddenly. Her eyes swept over Sei, trying to see if she had been injured in battle.
Sei's smile faltered slightly.
"About what?"
Yumi blushed. "F-for that night..U-um…"
Sei sighed. "You're apologizing for saving my life?"
Yumi shook her head vigorously as tears began to form, but her tears did not get far as Sei suddenly gripped her. Her voice turned hard, but her eyes still twinkled with delight.
"Yumi-chan, I never want to hear you apologize for that night ever again. You saved us… what you did… it was not an easy thing to do."
Now tears did stream down her face. Yumi didn't know how to tell the blond that she really hadn't been thinking at all when she reacted. If she had known of the consequences, she didn't know if she would have still done anything… or chose to do anything since that choice had been taken from her.
"Wha-? No, no, no. Stop crying!" Sei started, worriedly. "Ah, um… I know how to make you stop."
Sei suddenly grabbed Yumi and brought her lips close, so close that another breath and they would have been kissing.
Yumi yelped, batting Sei away in surprise, but also falling backwards in the process.
Yumi suddenly noticed Sei trying very hard to contain her laughter.
"HEY-" She did not get much further, as she just noticed the entire starting class staring at her in shock.
"Hiyashi Yumi, right?" A stern voice sounded.
Yumi looked up meekly only to see a very pretty, very sever looking young lady staring down at her. Her position at the front of the class told her that she was likely one of the instructors. She saw Sachiko look at her with uncertainty off to her side.
"Y-yes…" Yumi tried to ignore the collective stares of the other students.
"You're very late. And to make things worse, you interrupted the entire class with your games. Really, Hiyashi-san, if you do not care to join us we would gladly do without you."
The instructor fixed her with a pointed stare as dread settled to the bottom of her stomach. Already on her first day she was being labelled a trouble-maker.
"I'm sorry." She mumbled quietly.
The instructor gave her one more stern look before returning her attention to the class and resuming her lesson.
Yumi let out the breath she didn't know she was holding, but it did little to lessen the anxiety she felt.
In the corner of her eye she saw a brown haired girl staring at her. Yumi blushed automatically, but felt the other was acting incredibly rude. She tried to twist her face into a glare so to discourage further speculation.
The girl broke out into a smile and gave a small wave, much to Yumi's surprise. Her surprise must have shown too, since the other suddenly burst into a fit of giggles.
"Yoshino-san! Do you have something you would like to share with the class?" The instructor turned her fury to the other girl.
"No, Ritsuko-sama." Yoshino said with a grin.
"Fine, in that case, everyone partner up. We will begin our combat exercises now."
Noise erupted as everyone scrambled to find a partner, though the brunt of the conversation regarded Yumi. Naturally, everyone had heard what had happened over the past few days.
Yumi felt a blush creep up from her neck as she noticed nearly everyone had a partner already. She saw out of the corner of her eye, Sachiko making her way over to her. Oh no. Please don't give me your pity. Please don't try to be nice to me, please, please, please…
"Yumi? I'm glad you made it." There was no malice in Sachiko's voice, so Yumi looked up tentatively. Sachiko wore a warm, though cautious smile. "If you don't have a partner, you and I can –"
"Yumi-san!" The voice of a girl interrupted them. "Yumi-san. That's your name right? I'm Yoshino. Do you have a partner? Let's go together." The words came out in a rush, and less as a question as it was the verbalization of a thought process.
"Ah… well.." Not that Yumi was in any position to reject an offer, but she was so surprised to find anyone talking to her.
Sachiko smiled encouragingly at her, giving her a slight nudge in the right direction.
Yumi had no time to react, as the girl suddenly grabbed Yumi's hand and dragged her over to a spot on the field to start their practice.
"You're being too soft on her." The voice of the other instructor interrupted Sachiko as her gaze followed Yumi.
"She will never amount to anything if you keep babying her, protecting her." She continued, much to Sachiko's annoyance. Though there was not much she could do. This woman was her senior as well. Only by six months, but it was enough to put a significant enough distance between them.
"Look, her stance is awkward, and her swordsmanship is unskilled. She's not suited-"
"That's enough." Sachiko said, barely able to conceal the anger that rolled off of her.
"Sachiko, I'm not trying to be mean. But she is far behind everyone else her age. It would be cruel to allow her to continue. She has no strength in her arms, and she has not had the... the breeding everyone else has. You may have to accept that she's not cut out for this. Or for you."
Sachiko clenched her jaw, visibly forcing herself to contain the rage that threatened to erupt. Sachiko turned to glare at Ritsuko, eyes ablaze.
"Thank you for your concern, Ritsuko-sama, but-"
"Soryu, Sachiko. No need for formalities. We're old friends."
Sachiko's rebuttal caught in her throat at her Soryu's remark. It was true they had known each other since their grade school days, but she would hardly call them friends. Especially after Soryu had confessed her feelings and Sachiko could not return them.
Sachiko's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me." She walked briskly towards Yumi, who was, as Soryu had pointed out, struggling to keep pace. Every stroke of Yoshino's sword, no matter how slow or light, was not easily dodged or blocked by the latter.
"Yumi." Sachiko called, a littler sterner than she had planned. "Yumi, you're holding the sword wrong."
Without breaking her step, she took the blade from Yumi's hands, not giving the girl a chance to protest.
"Like this." She showed the girl, and then thrust it back at her. Yumi's hands shook slightly as she grasped the handle, and Sachiko felt the sword drop significantly in Yumi's hands. Soryu was right again – Yumi wasn't strong enough to use a sword, let alone swing one.
"G-gomen-"
Sachiko stepped behind Yumi. She placed each hand above Yumi's, so that Yumi was caught in Sachiko's arms. She felt Yumi shift uncomfortably, but she ignored the girl's wordless protest. She had to prove to Soryu that Yumi could do it. She was determined to.
"Yoshino, spar with me. Just the basic movements." She instructed sternly.
Yoshino looked from Yumi to Sachiko with uncertainty before positioning herself at the ready.
Sachiko guided Yumi with every blow delivered by Yoshino. "Like this, Yumi."
Finally, when Sachiko felt Yumi's arms go slack she exhaled sharply in frustration." Yumi, you aren't even trying."
"M-my arms are tired."
Sachiko released Yumi, who wobbled slightly. She did look a little paler than when they first started, but it hadn't even been twenty minutes.
"Well, perhaps we should start you off with some strength training. Then you can stop wasting everyone's time." A voice interrupted.
Sachiko did not have to turn around to know who was making the admonishment. She was however, surprised to see nearly every head turned in their direction.
"Hiyashi-san, do you see those rocks over then, just down the hill?" The instructor approached Yumi, causing Sachiko to tense.
"I want you to move the all the rocks on the left, over to the right. This will help you build some muscle in those arms of yours."
Yumi looked at the field to which the instructor pointed. Half the field was lush and green with grass, while the other was dotted white with an assortment of large stones. Yumi did not see the point of moving the rocks over to the other side and was unsure if the request was a joke or not. When Yumi hesitated, she was fixed with a glare. "Are you disobeying me?"
"N-no!" Yumi squeaked and ran off in the direction of the rock garden.
"Yumi-san, come on back. We're all finished and it's dinner time." Yumi barely noticed her former partner shifting uncomfortably off to the side.
Yumi sighed slightly. She knew it was dinner time. The sun was setting and she was starving – a condition of her punishment was that she also received no lunch, and ontop of that, every fibre in her arms burned, and her fingers could barely grip anything anymore. But still, she was determined not to be the weakest member again. She absolutely had to work harder.
She forced a smile.
"It's okay, Yoshino-san. I just want to finish up here." It was useless of course, there were enough rocks to last her the rest of the week.
"Yumi-san... Are you mad at me?"
Yumi nearly dropped the stone she had been carrying. "Eh? No, why would I be?"
"Because... it's my fault you're here... doing this. I-I should have gone easier on you since it was your first time..."
Yumi shook her head vigorously, touched by Yoshino's concern. "It wasn't your fault. I really had no idea what I was doing... and I guess I am actually quite weak. I never had to do this in Miy... um, before. I have never had to do these things before."
Yoshino regarded her for another moment before finally replying. "I'm glad you aren't mad, Yumi-san. I've always wanted to be your friend."
Yoshino walked away then, leaving Yumi to ponder her statement. What does she mean 'always'? We only just met...
Sachiko looked around the dining hall. Amongst the throngs of freshfaced younger students, she could not see Yumi. Sachiko gave another scan of the room.
"Sachiko, sit down. You look lost."
Sachiko quickly looked down. Her table was filled with her usual circle – Sei and Youko sat across from her, while Rei sat to her left. Shimako was only just making her way to them now.
Sachiko looked down blankly at the hearty stew in front of her. It smelled delicious, but for some reason she felt no hunger, only concern for Yumi, who still had not shown up.
"I'm going to-"
"Sit down, Sachiko." Youko interrupted her in an almost bored voice. "I'm sure she is on her way."
"There will be no food left if she doesn't come soon." Sachiko explained rationally.
"Then Yumi-chan will learn to come on time in the future." Eriko joined them just then. "This is about Yumi, right?"
Sachiko's eyes narrowed. Had everyone always been so bent on punishing every little misstep? She could not recall ever noticing...
Sachiko resumed her place sitting, but still not eating. Just then, Yoshino came in, cheeks still flushed from being out in the night air. She had only her bowl of stew, but no bread.
"They ran out." She muttered.
Rei rolled her eyes, and broke her piece in two.
"Yoshino... did you see Yumi on your way in?"
Yoshino looked slightly uncomfortable. "She said she wouldn't be joining us. She's still moving rocks."
This time Sei was the one to speak. "Did she say when she would stop?"
"When she finishes moving them all, I think."
Sei took another bite of her loaf before standing. "I'll go get her." She muttered. "Nobody touch my food."
"No!" Sachiko stood instantly, causing Sei to jolt in surprise. "I-I'll get her."
She left before anyone could object.
Yumi blew into her clasped hands. She was freezing cold, now that the heat from the sun was no longer present. She shivered as she was hit by another blast of cold air. Yumi stared longingly at the Castle in the distance. It was lit up, warm and welcoming looking. She now wished she had taken Yoshino's offer to go back for dinner. She couldn't move another muscle anyways – which included every muscle it took to walk. Yumi had a sudden picture of Sachiko enjoying a warm meal and smiling at her. Yumi could not discern what about that image made her want to be in the castle more.
"Yumi..." The wind whispered.
Yumi's heart began to pick up. Did she just hear-?
"Yumi." The voice came out clearer this time. It sounded as if it came from just behind her.
"Sach- Eh?" A dark hooded figure stood directly behind her. Yumi opened her mouth to scream – "AA- oomph!"
Yumi had been knocked to the ground. The hooded thing lay ontop of her, a hand firmly clamped over her mouth to keep her from screaming her head off.
"Be quiet!" The figure hissed. There was something very familiar about that voice.
"Yumi..." The voice finally said when Yumi calmed a bit. The figure shook loose the hood that had been obscuring her face.
"Naomi?"
The red haired girl grinned. "Yumi." She breathed. Suddenly Yumi was yanked into a sitting position and was enclosed in Naomi's arms. "You're alive. I knew you would be."
"Naomi? Wha- How?"
Naomi loosened her hold on Yumi slightly. "Is it true? What I heard? Did you betray the crown? Did you betray me?" Her eyes were steely cold and stern.
"Ah... I... N-no... well, I mean, yes, but not because.. Or.."
Yumi was still too shocked at the fact that Naomi was here, infront of her. Her mind could not comprehend this impossibility.
"Why are you here, Naomi? How..."
Her questioning was cut off however, as Naomi gripped her shoulders hard. "Why did you do it, Yumi?"
"I..." How was she supposed to tell Naomi that she had fallen for someone else. Wait, did that mean she had fallen for Sachiko? Or, was that even what Naomi was asking about?
"How could you betray all of our people? The General is dead, because of you, you know."
Yumi's eyes went wide. "I-I... I didn't want.. I couldn't help it... I-It just happened-"
Naomi regarded Yumi for a moment longer. "Are you saying you were being controlled?"
Suddenly Naomi's hands were against her head, root through her hair and brushing away her bangs.
"Where is the band Monsieur gave you?" She demanded.
Finally, a question Yumi could answer. "It broke. I-I fell off my horse, and... and the knights rescued me, and.. they aren't bad people, Naomi."
Yumi whispered that last part but still received a slap across her face for it. Her eyes went wide as her cheek continued to sting.
"Y-Yumi... don't ever say that again." Naomi's voice shook as if she had not expected to react as she did. "They murdered your parents, remember? They're the reason why you haven't a family."
"I know." Yumi whispered as tears began to well in her eyes. She looked away.
"Oh Yumi... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"No, it's fine." Yumi said in an instant. She had never really talked about her parents to Naomi before. Actually, until now Noami hadn't mentioned her family in the longest time.
Naomi helped pick Yumi up off the ground. "Naomi, how did you get here?" She asked again.
"I rode my horse, of course." She shrugged it off as if passing the border was an everyday affair.
"But why? If you knew that I betrayed..."
"I had to be sure, Yumi. And now that I know you were being controlled..."
Yumi frowned. "I wasn't being controlled."
"Yes you were, silly. You said so yourself. Your band broke, right? That's the only thing that keeps you safe."
Yumi did not understand. "No... the band is because of my heart..."
Naomi waved it off. "Yumi, I don't have time to argue with you. I need to get you back-"
Just then, a voice sounded in the distance.
"Yumi? Are you there?"
Yumi's eyes went wide. Sachiko!
"Who is that, Yumi?" Naomi asked suspiciously.
"Naomi! Run! Hide.. ah. Um... please... you have to go..."
Naomi's eyes flared. "Come with me, Yumi."
"Naomi! Now is not the right time! Hide!" Yumi spoke harshly – sterner than she had ever spoken to Noami before. But then again, both their lives had never been at stake before either. "This isn't a game, Naomi!"
She quickly dragged Naomi out of site behind a boulder, just as Sachiko came into clear view.
"Yumi?"
Yumi quickly stepped out from behind the rock. "Y-Yes, Sachiko?"
Sachiko took in the sight of her for a moment before speaking. "What were you doing behind that rock?"
Yumi's heart began to hammer against her chest. "N-nothing, I-I was just... um..."
"Yumi, are you afraid of me? Do I scare you?"
Sachiko began to approach, but Yumi quickly stepped out closer, and further away from the rock, and Naomi. "N-no!" She practically yelled.
Sachiko took a slight step back in surprise. "I-I see. It's just that.. it always seem like you are avoiding me." Sachiko looked away when she said this, allowing Yumi to get a full look at Sachiko's face. A slight blush adorned the taller girl's cheeks. Had Yumi's heart not been working overdrive in anxiety, it would have skipped a beat.
"And anyway, Yumi, why don't you come in for dinner? This exercise... don't mind Ritsuko-sama. She wasn't angry at you." Yumi noted the way in which Sachiko emphasized the word 'you.'
Sachiko took another step closer. "I'm not angry with you either. I might have sounded that way earlier, but.. Yumi, are you listening to me?"
Yumi fought a blush. The way Sachiko was looking at her was making her lose focus. "Y-yes."
"..Why don't you just come into dinner with me?" Suddenly, Yumi's hand was safely enclosed in Sachiko's, and she was being gently lead away.
Yumi suddenly winced in pain, causing her to miss a step.
"Yumi?" Sachiko looked at her in concern, with those warm blue eyes.
Slowly, Sachiko turned Yumi's hands palm up. Looking down, she could see that her hands were raw from all the heavy lifting she had done in the afternoon.
"Yumi.. your hands."
"I'm okay." She answered automatically. Yumi had soon learned that the less visits to the doctor, the better. And besides, being injured was not the way to prove herself right now.
"No. You're not." She could hear Sachiko seething.
"I-I'm sorry-"
Sachiko refocused on the small girl in front of her. She noted her nervous expression. "I'm not angry with you, Yumi, but please don't tell me you're fine when you aren't."
"Mm.." Yumi muttered with non commitment.
The next thing Yumi knew, however, was three of Sachiko's finger's under her chin, bringing her face up to meet Sachiko's eyes.
"Yumi..." A hint of warning could be heard in Sachiko's voice.
"Y-yes, okay." Yumi stammered, blushing.
Sachiko's hand lingered a moment longer and Yumi saw a flash of something cross Sachiko's eyes, but she could not be sure what.
"Alright." Sachiko said, satisfied with Yumi's answer. "Come on, dinner is probably over, but we can share my meal. And I'll draw you a bath.. We have much to discuss tonight."
"Eh?" Had Yumi's muscles not been screaming at her in tiredness, she would have been able to put up more of a fight. But as it was, she could only follow.
Suddenly, she remembered Naomi.
"W-wait! I-I have to ... um... I left something..." She looked back hopefully at the rock hiding Naomi.
"If it's your sword, I have it." Sachiko said without looking back.
"N-no, it's not that.." Every step she took was taking her further away from Naomi. She had to go back to her. Yumi cast one more glance at the rock, just in time to see Naomi poke her head out.
She did not look happy.
In fact, she looked furious.
Yumi stood frozen in Sachiko's bed room, her heart thundering loudly. Sachiko had left to retrieve some hot stones to heat her bath water, leaving Yumi free to look around. But much as she wanted to, she could not. She stood rapt with fear, uncertain of where Naomi was, if she was even still here.
And she was.
Naomi's arrival was preceded by a rush of cold air, as the window swung open and Naomi hopped daintily in.
"Yumi." Naomi's voice was cold.
Yumi stared in disbelief. She had no idea Naomi was so adept at wall climbing and coming in and out of windows... She wondered where she had learned this skill, considering she had never needed to sneak around in Miyahara.
"Naomi..."
"Who is she?" Naomi demanded before she could say much more.
"S-she.. um... she found me when I g-got lost before. I was in prison before too.. and she got me out.. but I am now in her debt." Yumi explained as best she could under the glare of Naomi.
"I see. So you are to be her servant, or-"
"I- I don't know. S-she's training me to be a knight.."
Naomi regarded this for a moment, the displeasure not once leaving her eyes. "And is that all she wants with you?"
Yumi looked confused.
"I saw the way she looked at you, Yumi. She is not only interested in having you as her squire."
Yumi, against her will, found her cheeks growing warm – a reaction that did not go unnoticed by Naomi.
"Yumi, you are my fiancé. You do remember that don't you?" The way Naomi said fiancé made her feel more like cattle being traded than an actual lover, or someone special.
When Yumi said nothing, Naomi continued. "When I clear your name and bring you back to Miyahara, you will bind yourself to me. And I will not accept you spoiled."
The red in Yumi's cheeks deepened. Naomi seemed to be thinking much more ahead than her. It had not even crossed her mind, being with Sachiko. She knew she was beginning to feel something... but nothing like that, she didn't think.
"Yumi." Naomi's voice softened somewhat. "You still do love me, right?"
But before Yumi could answer, she heard a knock at the door.
"Yumi? Are you decent? May I come in?" Sachiko had returned.
Yumi shot Naomi a worried look. Her mouth slightly ajar as if she were unsure what to say.
A smirk entered Naomi's face.
"It doesn't matter, your answer. You're mine, and always have been."
Naomi's hand snaked behind her neck and pulled her close, suddenly. She felt Naomi's lips push forcefully against her own.
Yumi inhaled sharply, her eyes widening in surprise. "Mmgh!"
"Yumi? Are you alright? May I come in?" She heard Sachiko ask, concerned this time.
Naomi pulled back, breathing slightly heavily. "There. That was to keep you accountable. Wait for me, Yumi. I will find a way to bring you back."
And like that, Naomi was climbing out the window once again. And then she was gone.
Yumi stared dumbfounded at the window, her lips slightly tingling from the feel of Naomi's lips against her. Her first kiss. All Yumi could think about was that her first kiss went to a person she didn't think was in her heart.
"Yumi? Are you okay?"
Yumi spun around. She saw Sachiko approaching her slowly. When did she come in? Had she seen Naomi? Thoughts raced through Yumi's mind.
Sachiko gently touched her cheek. "Yumi? I thought I heard you talking to someone... but I guess not. What's wrong?"
Yumi shook her head vigorously. She did not trust herself to speak. And how could she anyway? Naomi's presence had been so surreal and short lived, she couldn't even be sure it had happened... if wasn't for the tingling that remained on her lips, and now engulfed her body.
"Yumi..." The edge of warning returned to Sachiko's voice. She knew the smaller girl was lying about her well being again.
Sachiko's hand slid down to her shoulder and those piercing blue eyes bore into her, causing her heart to flutter. Suddenly Yumi did not feel well anymore. Her head began to throb and she felt warm all over. Too warm.
"Yumi? What's happening? What's wrong?"
"I-I..."
Yumi collapsed.
A/N:
I had actually given up writing this story and had gone so far as to delete all my files from my computer. I completely threw myself into writing another story, which was much more enjoyable... but then I received a message from someone and y'know... I thought I'd give it another crack. And actually, this person had a suggestion of where they wanted to see this go, and I did incorporate it, not that it wasn't really far from my mind of what would have happened anyway. 'Just saying, if you reeeally want to see it go one way, you can always drop me a line and say it, and I will ponder it.
Next update? I'm not sure, but I try to get some writing in every day, but whether it's for this or my other one... who knows!
And as always, thanks for reading ^_^