A/N: Sorry about the wait on this one, I've been pretty busy again... It never ends I swear. I have a few thoughts on this one below, but overall I think there is only a few chapters left of this story. More thoughts down below.
"I'm home." Yumi said as she closed the door behind her and walked into the kitchen where she was greeted by her mother with a big hug.
"It's good to see you, Yumi." Mrs. Fukuzawa said before releasing her daughter with a smile on her face. "So, how was your trip?" She asked curiously as Yumi thought about her last date with Sachiko.
"It was the best trip I ever had." Yumi said with a somewhat shy smile.
Mrs. Fukuzawa was a little confused by her daughter's smile, but decided to ignore it. It was probably just the result of something that happened on the trip. "That's good to hear." She replied before turning back to the cutting board where she was starting to prepare dinner. "So, how was school, Yumi? Did your Onee-sama get you there on time or were you two up late having fun all night?" Mrs. Fukuzawa asked as Yumi let out a sigh.
Normally, she would have probably blushed deeply from thinking about having fun with Sachiko, but that wasn't on her mind today. "It was good. . . How was your day?" Yumi asked trying to change the subject immediately. She knew she was walking on thin ice talking about her school day any further.
"Just another normal day. Would you mind helping me with dinner?" Mrs. Fukuzawa asked as Yumi nodded and went over to the sink to wash her hands.
"H-Hey, mom. I have a question and it's kind of an odd one." Yumi said as she dried her hands and joined her mother at the cutting board. "You see, I have this friend at school and she has this secret, but it got out and now the whole school knows. The rumor is true, but she is afraid to say it so what do you think she should do?" Yumi asked as Mrs. Fukuzawa raised and eyebrow in curiosity.
"So your friend's secret got out and even though it's true she is afraid to admit it?" Mr.. Fukuzawa asked as Yumi nodded. "Well, I guess that depends on the secret. What is it that she is afraid of everyone knowing?"
"Uhh, It-It's nothing. I don't think she would want me telling you." Yumi explained with a deep breath as her heart started to beat a little faster.
"It's not like I'm going to tell anyone, Yumi." Mrs. Fukuzawa replied as Yumi's heart started to race now, she knew it was risky asking the question in the first place, but now her mother was questioning her.
"I still can't tell you, it wouldn't be fair to her." Yumi argued as her mother gave her an awkward look.
"Well at least we know she has a good friend. I guess to answer your question I will have to know if she did something bad?" Mrs. Fukuzawa asked.
"No, she didn't do anything bad. . . She is more afraid that what she is doing won't be accepted by everyone." Yumi said as she tried to get closer to the point without being obvious.
"If that is the case then I would say who cares what others think. If she feels it's right and wants to keep doing it, then it shouldn't matter what others think." Mrs. Fukuzawa replied as Yumi thought over her words for a minute before smiling.
"Thanks mom, I think I will tell her that." Yumi said before finishing what she was cutting for her mother and making her way up stairs to her room. She had always gone to her mother for the right answers and though she was very pleased with her mothers response she still knew it would be tough deciding. All she could do now was wait for Sachiko to call and hopefully they would be able to make a decision.
-X-X-
Sachiko sighed as she struggled to focus on her homework that she had been doing for the past hour. It wasn't that the homework was very tough, it was more that she couldn't help thinking about what she and Yumi should do about school.
Thankfully her mother hadn't been bothering her on this day, because if she had then she would have known something was going on with her daughter. That fact had been made obvious by the maid who even noticed her behavior was a little off.
The only thing Sachiko could think to do in a time like this where she couldn't go to her parents was to call her Onee-sama.
"Hello?" Youko answered.
"Hello, Onee-sama. I am sorry to call you out of the blue like this, but I need your help." Sachiko said followed by a pause as Youko immediately thought about her and Yumi splitting apart.
"A-Alright, what's wrong?" Youko asked hesitantly, she really didn't want to hear those words come from her Petite Soeur's mouth.
"Onee-sama, they put a picture of me and Yumi...kissing, in the school newspaper." Sachiko explained with a little shyness. "We don't know what to do, we have been denying it for now, but I don't want to deny it. I don't like lying about our relationship, it pains me to tell them that Yumi is just a friend."
"Well, it sounds like you already know what to do then." Youko replied as Sachiko raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
Youko sighed, obviously Sachiko had missed her point. "Sachiko, how far are you willing to go for Yumi-chan?"
Sachiko thought about the question for a moment. "If it means staying with her, I would go to the end of the earth." Sachiko finally replied.
Youko smiled before continuing. "Good, than doing what matters most right now shouldn't even be a question." Youko explained as Sachiko felt a new wave of confidence wash over her.
"You're right. . . Denying it will only bring pain caused by the fear of what others think. I won't let that come between Yumi and I. She is too important to lose over anything." Sachiko explained with a smile towards the end. "Thank you, Onee-sama. I don't know what I would do without you in my life."
"Figure it out with Yumi of course. She is your lover after all." Youko replied as Sachiko smiled at the small framed picture of her and Yumi she had on her desk at home.
"You're right, I think I need to talk to her now. I will call you soon." Sachiko said before hanging up the phone and thinking about her next day at school, which if she were to go through with this would be undoubtedly odd and possibly relieving all in one.
-X-X-
"Yumi, telephone." Mrs. Fukuzawa called up the stairs as Yumi poked her head up from her homework before grabbing the cordless phone she had in her room.
"Hello?" Yumi answered as her mother hung up the phone.
"Hello, Yumi. How is your evening going?" Sachiko asked as Yumi smiled.
"It's good, I was just doing some homework, but I'm almost done now so it's alright if we talk." Yumi replied.
"Good, because I think I know what I would like to do about our current situation." Sachiko said.
"I also think I know what I want to do, but I will let you go first." Yumi replied as she stood from her chair and went over to sit on the edge of her bed.
Sachiko took a deep breath as she gathered her confidence again. "Yumi, I don't want to hide it. I am happier than I ever have been with you. Denying that you are the one I love more than anyone hurts and I don't want to do it anymore. Of course, I am leaving it up to you whether or not I tell anyone." Sachiko explained as the phone line went silent.
It was only a moment later that Sachiko heard a soft sniffle. "Yumi? Are you alright, Yumi?" Sachiko asked concerned as Yumi smiled. Sachiko was her weak spot and when Sachiko spoke from the heart like that Yumi couldn't help but get a bit emotional.
"I-I'm fine, Sachiko...I-I just love you so much and I agree, I don't want to deny it anymore either. You are the world to me Sachiko. . . I don't want to lose you to something like this." Yumi explained as she wiped the small tear away from her eye. It amazed her how Sachiko's affection could move her so much. She also knew that Sachiko would be the only one to ever do this to her also.
Sachiko smiled as she looked up to her door to make sure she was still in private. "I love you too, Yumi. I love you more than anything in this world. Even in my worst nightmares we are still together, because it's something that will never change, no matter what." Sachiko replied as the door to her room opened and a maid came in with a message.
"Thank you, I will be right out." Sachiko told the maid before speaking to Yumi once more. "Yumi, I have to go. Dinner is ready here, but I will see you in the morning alright? I will pick you up an hour before school starts."
Yumi smiled even though she was a bit sad her phone call was cut short. "Alright, I will be waiting for you. I love you."
"I love you too, Yumi."
-X-X-
Yumi yawned as she woke up to the sound of her alarm clock, though today unlike the others she was a bit more alert this early on in her day. She was excited to have Sachiko picking her up for school. It was little, but Yumi loved anything that Sachiko did for her. Today though was a big day for both of them. It was the day they had decided to confirm the rumors about their relationship, though both were still nervous about it.
That was to worry about later though, for now she had to get ready for school and go downstairs for breakfast because she knew Sachiko would arrive soon and she didn't want to be late.
"You're up early." Mrs. Fukuzawa said as Yumi walked into the kitchen with a smile on her face. Once her mother noticed her cheery expression she couldn't help but comment. "Up early and happy? What has gotten into you?"
Yumi could only blush a little as she went over and grabbed a piece of toast. "Sachiko, is coming to pick me up for school." She explained trying to hide the faint blush on her face.
Mrs. Fukuzawa raised an eyebrow. "Sachiko, huh?" She asked as Yumi turned and nodded. "When did you stop calling her Onee-sama?" She asked curiously a moment later.
Yumi paused before shaking her head. "Y-You know what I meant. . . It's still early after all." Yumi explained as her mother chuckled.
"I guess you have a point, but I know how hard she had to try to get you to call her Onee-sama, I think she would be quite surprised if you started calling her by her first name again. Especially without the -sama at the end." Mrs. Fukuzawa replied as Yumi turned back to her food.
"I don't think she would mind." Yumi whispered to herself with a smile as she thought about her quickly approaching girlfriend.
"Speaking, of Onee-sama's, I think someones is here and she looks rather happy if I do say so myself." Mrs. Fukuzawa commented a moment later as she saw a black car park out front and Sachiko climb out the back.
Yumi poked her head up from her plate as she wiped her face and stood from the chair. "I have to get going, thanks for the food." Yumi said almost excitedly as she quickly made her way out the door and and over to Sachiko who immediately gave her a tight hug.
"Sachiko, my mother is watching." Yumi said as Sachiko smiled and let Yumi go.
"Perhaps she would like a show?" Sachiko asked teasingly as Yumi blushed with wide eyes. "I'm just joking, Yumi. She will know when we're ready." Sachiko continued as Yumi sighed in relief.
"You seem awfully cheery today." Yumi commented as Sachiko chuckled a little before escorting her to the car and helping her in.
"Is that so? I guess I'm just happy that we have decided to not hide our relationship anymore." Sachiko explained as Yumi smiled shyly.
"So how are we going to tell them?" Yumi asked a moment later.
"I don't know if we should tell them. I think it will be better to answer truthfully if asked. It should help to keep the attention off our relationship. I fear if we tell everyone at once that it would only draw unwanted attention to us. I'd rather just be happy and left alone with you. Hopefully just answering questions here and there will not be as big of a shock and they will leave us alone." Sachiko explained as Yumi nodded.
"I guess you're right, they might not approach us if they are alone." Yumi replied as Sachiko put an arm around her and pulled her closer.
"Even if they do question us, it doesn't matter. I know what I want now." Sachiko said with a smile as Yumi just simply enjoyed being in her girlfriend's arms.
It wasn't too much longer that the car had pulled to a stop and Sachiko and Yumi were suddenly feeling their nerves rush back to them. Even then, Sachiko tried to stay strong for Yumi. "Are you ready to go, Yumi?" Sachiko asked as she glanced out the window at some girls who were already staring at her car. Sachiko always came to school in this car, most students by now knew that and she also knew that she would be getting attention when she climbed out of it, especially with Yumi.
Yumi took one last deep breath to calm her nerves, which Sachiko saw as an opportune time to go in and give Yumi a quick kiss.
"Everything will be fine, I'm right here." Sachiko said as Yumi simply smiled and nodded.
"You're right, I'm ready now." Yumi replied as Sachiko opened the car door and helped Yumi out before taking her hand and facing the gates of Lillian where a few girls were already staring.
"Remember, we don't have to tell them, we just won't deny it anymore." Sachiko said one last time while squeezing Yumi's hand a little tighter.
Yumi smiled and nodded as she lifted her head with a new sense of confidence, of course part of that confidence was coming from being with Sachiko.
Both Sachiko and Yumi were feeling a little exposed almost as they noticed every girl looking at them, walking and holding hands together. This was usual behavior for them, but today as they only thought about exposing their relationship, it almost felt embarrassing.
"Look. . ."
"Do you think it's really true? Are they really dating?"
"You mean like girlfriend's?"
"Yea, I saw in the paper that they kissed at school." The girl said as Sachiko and Yumi tried hard not to pay attention to them.
Thankfully Yoshino and Rei would approach them and save them from the group of girls that they thought surely would ask about their relationship. "Sachiko-Sama, Yumi-san!" Yoshino said excitedly as she paused and looked at their hands.
"You know holding hands like that might only make the rumors worse." Yoshino whispered to Sachiko and Yumi.
Sachiko smiled at Yoshino and Rei before taking a breath. "Thank you for your concern, but we have nothing to hide. Yumi is my girlfriend and I want to hold her hand. The others can think what they want." Sachiko stated firmly as Yumi smiled. Sachiko really was going through with this and Yumi couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly loved by her girlfriend.
"Sachiko, is right. We have nothing to hide. I love her and I don't care what anyone else says." Yumi said after Sachiko was done speaking.
"I see you two have made your decision, that was fast." Rei commented with a questioning look.
"Yes, we decided to take your advice. We don't think we should hide it." Yumi said as Sachiko smiled.
"It was kind of a sudden decision, we realize. We want to be together though and not have to lie about it. That being said, we are only going to tell those who ask. We think it may be better to slowly let them figure it out instead of telling everyone at once." Sachiko explained as Rei smiled slightly.
"I think that is a good idea. We still have to talk with Minako and Tsutako though, you should come with us, Minako is waiting at the Rose Mansion." Rei replied as Sachiko simply gave a nod.
-X-X-
Minako froze as she saw the door open and none other than Sachiko standing in it with Yumi behind her. Never before had she seen such a cold look across the raven haired girls face. It was enough to instantly make her regret what she had done.
The room remained silent for a moment as tensions grew high. Minako especially was feeling remorseful as Sachiko took a seat across the table from her. "R-Rosa Chinesis, forgive me." Minako said as she bowed her head a little in fear of Sachiko's well known temper.
"I will not." Sachiko said firmly as Minako kept her head down. "Do you realize what you have done?" She asked a moment later as Yumi placed a hand on her knee to calm her, which did wonders. Unfortunately for Minako though, Sachiko's training had kicked in and she could hold her icy glare all day if she had too.
"Y-yes. . . I'm sorry." Minako said weakly as Sachiko took a deep breath.
"I won't accept an apology that easily, not after having to deal with the rumors you have spread. Putting that aside, we did not call you here to confront me." Sachiko said as Minako lifted her head slightly, still a bit nervous to look Sachiko in the eyes.
"We have a few questions." Shimako said trying to get the attention off of Sachiko and towards her, she knew Minako would be much more comfortable talking with her.
Minako looked over to Shimako a little relieved, but still had Sachiko's wrath in the back of her mind.
"Right, first off. Where did you get this picture?" Shimako asked holding up the newspaper that Minako had handed out the day before showing Sachiko and Yumi sharing their first kiss.
Minako glanced over to Sachiko and Yumi for a moment before looking back to Shimako. "I got it from, Tsutako." She said as Yumi looked up to her.
"Tsutako told us that she wouldn't use the picture unless permission was given from Sachiko-sama and Yumi-san." Shimako explained as Minako looked down at the table.
"I. . . I. . Well, she did give it to me." Minako replied as Sachiko looked at her curiously. Everyone could tell Minako was a bit uneasy, but she still tried hard to keep her lie. "I can do another paper falsifying everything said in the last one." Minako said as Rei and Yoshino looked to Sachiko curious as to what she would say.
"That won't be necessary." Sachiko said with a deep breath as Minako looked up to her a little shocked though she kept silent.
"If I don't, everyone will think that you are a couple though." Minako explained confused as Sachiko took Yumi's hand for encouragement.
"T-that's fine. It is the truth after all." Sachiko said quietly though everyone could hear, including Yumi who was now blushing as she avoided all eye contact with Minako.
Minako blinked a few times as the words registered in her mind. "T-The truth. . .?" Minako asked a moment later breaking the silence as Sachiko took a deep breath. She had never felt so uneasy in her life as everyone stared at them.
"Yes, Sachiko-sama is my girlfriend." Yumi replied, which surprised everyone. Usually she was the type to stay quiet during a time like this.
Minako paused as she looked back and forth between Sachiko and Yumi. "G-girlfriend? You mean that kiss was. . . real?" Minako asked a little surprised as Rei chuckled.
"You didn't honestly think they would kiss for no reason did you?" Rei said as Minako sat their stunned.
"W-well, no. . . I thought it was probably a bet or a dare or something. I didn't know what I was writing was the truth." Minako went on to say as Sachiko cleared her throat effectively silencing Minako.
"Yes, well what you wrote was still wrong. You have given us a lot of unwanted attention and by no stretch of the imagination am I happy with you." Sachiko said coldly.
"Why did you post the picture in the newspaper even if Tsutako gave it to you. You had to have known that Sachiko-sama and Yumi-san would get attention. . ." Yoshino said before glancing over at Sachiko and Yumi. "Even if they are actually a couple, it's still not right to post their relationship so publicly."
"Y-You're right. . . I just wanted a good story." Minako explained weakly.
"That doesn't make it alright. Yumi and I are being questioned and stared at constantly now. Do you know what it feels like to walk through the halls stared at while everyone is talking about you?" Sachiko asked as Minako remained silent. "It doesn't feel good."
"Sachiko. . ." Yumi said as the older girl calmed herself and looked to Yumi. She knew the younger girl was trying to keep her calm. Yumi like Sachiko was quite displeased with Minako's actions, but she unlike Sachiko had a much better control on her anger. Sachiko had always resorted to this cold personality when faced with something that was tough or things she was unsure of.
"Thank you, Yumi." Sachiko said with a deep breath before turning back to Minako. "That is all we wanted to ask. I don't ever want to see me or Yumi in that newspaper again." Sachiko continued firmly as Minako swallowed and nodded. She knew that tone just like everyone did. It was not often that Sachiko threatened.
"Thank you for your time." Shimako finally said after a long pause as Minako took her queue to stand form her chair and leave.
Touko sighed once the door was closed and Minako was out of the room. "She told us something different then Tsutako did. Tsutako claims that she isn't sure how Minako got a hold of the picture."
"So now we just have to figure out who is telling the truth." Shimako added as the room went silent and the girls thought quietly to themselves for a moment.
Rei unlike the others wasn't thinking about who was telling the truth though, she had something else on her mind. "Sachiko, are you sure telling her of all people that Yumi is your girlfriend was the best choice?"
"It will be fine, she would find out sooner or later anyways and she already posted it in the paper so it can't get much worse than that." Sachiko replied as Rei nodded in agreement.
"Besides, she is in a lot of trouble. I don't think she would do something like that again." Yumi added.
"I guess you have a point. What else can she do? She already put out a paper saying you two were together." Rei said as she dismissed her thought.
"We need to talk to Tsutako-sama." Touko said a moment later.
"Yes, but it will have to wait, classes are going to start soon." Sachiko said as she stood from her chair and waited for Yumi to stand.
Yumi didn't need to be told twice though as she quickly joined Sachiko's side and took her hand before making their way towards the door.
Sachiko had already wanted to forget the frustration that had been brought on by speaking with Minako and this whole newspaper incident. Thankfully she had just the way to do that.
"Yumi." Sachiko said as she stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned to her girlfriend.
"Yes?" Yumi asked a little confused as Sachiko smiled and leaned in, kissing her firmly on the lips.
Sachiko smiled a moment later as she pulled away and looked up to see if anyone from the Yamayurikai had seen them, which she really didn't care if they did. "I owed you and I think this is one of the few private moments we will have all day." She explained as Yumi smiled.
"We could eat lunch at the green house." Yumi said as her smile turned to a small grin.
Sachiko could only smile and blush a little as she saw the rest of the girls coming out of the council room and down the stairs. "Lunch at the green house it is then."
-X-X-
"Yumi-san, are you sure this is a good idea?" Yoshino asked as she took a seat in front of Yumi.
"You mean telling everyone?" Yumi asked as she glanced over to a few girls who immediately looked away from her.
"Yes, what if others don't accept it?" Yoshino asked as Yumi looked at her seriously.
"That is just too bad for them then. I am in love with Sachiko and I want to be with her. That is why we decided not to hide it so quickly. Being able to tell her I love her when and where I want matters to me more than what any girl in this school says is right or wrong." Yumi explained a little harshly.
Yoshino smiled a moment later, she had never heard Yumi be so serious about something. "I still find it hard to believe that things actually turned out like this. . . I mean you and Sachiko being lovers and all." Yoshino said.
"I know what you mean. . . I thought she wanted her rosary back, but I ended up having my first kiss instead." Yumi added.
"So did you like her before that day, Yumi...? I mean, did you always have a crush on her?" Yoshino asked as Yumi blushed a little.
"Yes, from the moment I saw her I could feel something in my heart and the moment she kissed me was the best thing to ever happen. That was until I could start calling her my girlfriend. I really do love her and I was just as surprised as any of you to find out that she had feelings for me too." Yumi replied.
"Hmm, I guess the next best moment of your life will be when she asks you to become her wife then right?" Yoshino asked a little teasingly as Yumi's blush deepened.
"Yoshino!" Yumi pouted as a curious girl who was listening in on their conversation stood from her desk and came over to them.
"I-I don't mean to interrupt, but...Did you just say that Rosa Chinesis is your girlfriend?" The girl asked as Yumi took a deep breath and looked up to her.
"Yes. Sachiko is my girlfriend." Yumi said proudly as she tried hard to forget her nerves.
"R-really?" The girl asked in surprise as Yoshino turned to her.
"Yep, they're lovers!" Yoshino said teasingly as Yumi immediately blushed in embarrassment.
Yumi could only remain silent as the girl blinked a few times at her. "I never would have guessed the paper was true, but either way, I am happy for you and Rosa Chinesis. I'm sure dealing with the papers isn't exactly easy."
Yumi immediately smiled back, she really was happy to hear that someone was alright with their relationship. "It isn't, everyone stares at us and questions everything we do. . ." Yumi explained with a sigh. "That is why we decided to start telling the truth in hopes that eventually no one will question it anymore and just accept that we are together."
"I'm not so sure that will work, but either way you two have my support." The girl said with a smile as Yumi bowed her head to her.
Yoshino smiled at Yumi as the girl walked away. "So, how does it feel to finally tell someone you don't know very well that you and Sachiko-sama are girlfriend's?"
"Awkward. . ." Yumi replied as the teacher walked in to the room and told everyone to find their seats. She would spend the rest of her class thinking about the fact that she told someone. She knew she and Sachiko had agreed that they would be open about it from now on, but she couldn't help but wonder if it would make things worse. Thankfully the first person she told seemed to accept it without much issue.
-X-X-
Sachiko smiled when she saw the door to the greenhouse open and Yumi step in cautiously as if trying to hide from someone. "Yumi, what are you doing?" Sachiko asked as Yumi turned to her with a big smile as she made her way over and took a seat.
"I was just making sure no one followed me here, because I wanted to be alone with you undisturbed." Yumi replied before leaning over and kissing Sachiko on the lips briefly. "I told someone." Yumi added as she pulled away and started to unwrap her sandwich that she had brought.
"You mean, about us?" Sachiko asked as she took a bite of her own food.
"Yes, it was a girl in my class. She overheard me and Yoshino-san talking and decided to ask, so I told her the truth." Yumi replied followed by a bite of her own food.
Sachiko was a little surprised admittedly, she knew Yumi could be quite shy at times, but for her to have told someone before Sachiko was not only surprising, but heartwarming. Yumi cared for her enough to put aside her fears.
"I'm glad." Sachiko said with a smile. "I haven't told anyone yet, they all just stare from a distance, it's almost as if they are afraid to speak to me." Sachiko said as Yumi chuckled.
"That is alright with me. I like having you all to myself." Yumi admitted as Sachiko gave her a questioning look.
"Do I have a jealous girlfriend?" Sachiko asked as Yumi blushed a little which made her chuckle. "Well, you don't have to worry, Yumi. I only have eyes for you." She added before leaning in for another longer kiss that would be broken by the greenhouse door opening. Sachiko's eyes immediately looked to the door though she never broke the kiss until she saw Tsutako enter and immediately go wide eyed.
"S-Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt!" Tsutako said as Yumi opened her eyes and pulled away.
"I-it's fine." Sachiko said before Tsutako could leave. "We want to talk with you, if you don't mind."
Tsutako paused as she looked back at the two who now had their hands and lips to themselves. "I don't mind. I just don't don't want to be a bother more than I already have." Tsutako said thinking about the picture.
"What's done is done." Sachiko said before continuing on. "We would like to know when you took the picture and why you gave it to Minako without our permission."
Tsutako sighed as she grabbed the camera around her neck. "Well, I was out looking for stories for the newspaper and I saw Yumi-san running and stop in front of the statue. It looked like she was crying and then I saw Sachiko-sama grab her wrist. I couldn't see what you two were saying, but when you two kissed I couldn't pass up the rare opportunity."
"Then how did the picture get in the newspaper?" Sachiko asked.
"I-I'm not sure. . . I mentioned I possibly had a story for the paper, but I couldn't get your permission before you left on your trip so I never gave it to them. It's been on my camera the whole time." Tsutako explained. "I really am telling the truth. I have no idea how they got a hold of the picture. . . I would never try and ruin whatever it is you two have."
"We are together." Sachiko said a moment later as Tsutako looked at her a little unsure of what to say, thankfully Sachiko had picked up on that. "What I mean is, Yumi is my girlfriend. What you saw in that picture was our first kiss." She went on to explain.
"W-Why are you telling me this?" Tsutako asked.
"Because it's the truth and we have nothing to hide." Yumi answered. "We still don't want our relationship in the paper though. It's our own personal lives and we shouldn't have to let everyone know if we don't want."
Tsutako put her head down feeling ashamed even though she really had no idea how Minako got the picture. "You're right and I'm sorry. I should have never taken the picture. Then again, I probably should have never told Minako-san that I had a picture that could be front page worthy." Tsutako admitted as Sachiko raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Minako-san told us that you gave her the picture." Sachiko said as Tsutako looked at her curiously.
"That's not true. I never gave her the picture. I didn't even tell her what it was of." Tsutako argued.
"Sachiko, didn't Minako seem uneasy when we asked her where she got the picture this morning?" Yumi asked as Sachiko thought about it. Truthfully, Yumi believed Tsutako over Minako, she had always known Minako to want the best scoop and she had always known Tsutako for trying to keep her good reputation.
"Yes, she did, I think we will have to talk with the principal to check our stories though." Sachiko replied. Admittedly she to sided with Tsutako over Minako in this situation. "We don't have anymore questions, that was all we wanted to ask." Sachiko said as Tsutako bowed her head.
"Again, I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you two and I hope this doesn't interfere with your relationship at all." Tsutako said before making her way out the door.
Yumi sighed once she was gone. "I wish this whole ordeal was over with."
"Me, too. . ." Sachiko replied before grinning slightly, trying to overlook the fact. "We still have another 10 minutes on our lunch break though and I would like to enjoy it with my girlfriend."
Yumi could only blush slightly as Sachiko leaned in one more time to finish what she started before Tsutako entered.
-X-X-
The rest of the day had gone by like normal and for Touko that was a good thing because she was getting tired of all the talk being about Yumi and Sachiko. Thankfully though even the two lovers seemed back to normal when they entered the council room for the meeting. Well as normal as they could. Sachiko would stare at Yumi lost in thought and Yumi would blush every once in awhile when she noticed.
Touko knew they were ultimately trying to ignore the fact that they were in the paper and like the rest of the Yamayurikai, she would go along with it. When the meeting was over she would wait outside the Rose Mansion for Sachiko and Yumi so she could walk to the gates with them before bidding them a farewell. The only difference between normal and now was the fact that Sachiko would go along with Yumi to where ever it is they were going.
Touko could only smile at the thought as she sat here a few hours later looking at the newspaper in her room. She still had to stop every once in awhile to grasp that her cousin really was dating her Onee-sama. It all seemed like too much, but at the same time she could tell what they had was true and pure, they were made for each other in her eyes.
Touko stared at the picture for another minute or so before putting it down on a small table she had by her bed. "Guess I'll go wash up for dinner, I'm sure it's almost done." She told herself as she crawled out of her bed and made her way down the hall towards the bathroom.
Unfortunately her mother coming into her room was just a minute too late. "Touko, dinner is ready." Her mother said as she poked her head in the room only to find and empty room. "Ugh, this girl really has to put her clothes in the laundry room." She said as she quickly went around and picked up a few dirty clothes around her room before noticing the newspaper near her bed.
'Since when has she been interested in reading?' Her mother thought as she went over and picked up the paper before going wide eyed. "S-Sachiko. . .?"
A/N: Alrighty, so I hope this chapter didn't feel rushed on their decision. I realize that there wasn't much drama behind it, but I honestly never intended there to be. I also hope it didn't seem to void of. . . stuff? I don't know. I really didn't plan this story out fully, I just open a text document and go, which I believe is starting to show personally. This story only has a little bit left, but I wonder if I should have ended it when Yumi and Sachiko became a couple instead of dragging it out. Meh, what's done is done. I think there are only 2 chapters left of this story, which is good because this story has been stressing me out beyond belief lately. I'm not done writing or discouraged, I just don't think I'm doing well with this one anymore. It's also hard when I got a ton of other things I want to do.
I surely hope my other stories are better than this one. I honestly feel like this story is just too messy. I believe I'm much better at the shorter 10-20k ones which is what I have upcomming. A lot of them are coming after this one is over and I am excited for them. As for this chapter, I feel like things are a bit rushed mainly because I don't have any clues as to what to do, but I feel I need to get it out asap. (Mainly causing the stress).. I know I will get a lot of don't worries, but it really does weigh pretty heavily on me.
I guess all I really wanted to do in this message was apologize and really tell you what I think going into the last 2 chapters most likely. Anyways, that is all I got. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope you stick around once the story is over because The Surprise part 3 is up next. I do better with that story. I'm not very good with this excessively shy Yumi and this somewhat protective/odd Sachiko. I don't know. My personal thoughts on them are not exactly what I have them acting like in this story. I missed my mark on that part, but oh well. I am still pretty happy with this one, I just really think i should have ended it at them becoming girlfriends.
Again sorry for the rant and really long A/N! I'm done now and I feel much better getting my thoughts out to everyone. :) Chapter 18 being started tomorrow as it is 1 am and I'm very tired :(