Chapter 17 – A Secret Revealed

Tomorrow is only a dream, today a mere moment and yesterday a fleeting memory which becomes just another drop in the sea of one's life, quickly lost among the waves. – Ogasawara Sachiko

"Excuse me, Youko-sama," Yumi spoke upon approaching the older woman.

Youko turned and upon seeing who it was addressing her smiled soft. "Yumi-chan, I was wondering if I might have a few moments of your time before you went home."

Yumi blinked rapidly several times as she was caught off guard. Her intentions in addressing her upperclassman had been to request the very same thing which Youko had just asked her. "Of course," she finally managed to reply, finding the response both embarrassingly short yet highly effective at the same time.

Youko gave her another smile and Yumi was certain the older woman knew exactly the reaction her request had caused within the newest member of the student council. "Why don't we walk to the main gate together?" Youko proposed. The Yamayurikai meeting had just finished. With both Sachiko and Sei absent there wasn't much they could do at this point and so had decided to call it an early day.

"I would like that," Yumi replied as her face lit up with a bright smile. Yumi did her share of the cleanup, working with Shimako and Yoshino without complaint. Yumi, unlike other teenagers, enjoyed physical labor. While her hands were busy it allowed her mind to think and work on various problems. Chief among those was what to do with her newly acquired Onee-sama. It was for the sake of the raven-haired beauty that she had spoken to her Onee-sama's, Onee-sama.

"I wanted to speak with you concerning, Sachiko," Youko told the slender brunette next to her as the two of them stepped from the Rose Mansion and headed in the direction of the front gates to Lillian Girls Academy. "She wanted me to extend you her apologies for not meeting with you this morning."

"There was a family mater which kept her from school today," Yumi supplied before the older woman could continue. Seeing Youko's look of surprise Yumi explained. "I spoke with Sei-sama before the meeting and she informed me."

"I should have realized that Sei would have seen to it already," Youko replied thoughtfully with her eyes downcast to the cobbled walk way.

"Youko-sama, is there some manner in which I should address you?" Youko gave her a quizzical look, uncertain as to what she meant. "You are the Grande Soeur of my Onee-sama. Would that make you my Obāsan?"

Youko chuckled and slipped her arm through Yumi's and clamped onto it. "Youko-sama or Rosa Chinensis is fine, Yumi-chan. There is no need to call me your Grandmother. Sachiko is the only Onee-sama you need be concerned with," Youko said, nudging the other girls shoulder with her own.

Yumi smiled, glad that she hadn't offended the other woman with her question. "I wasn't certain and wanted to make sure lest I unwittingly offend you."

"Though we are Roses I think you will find that we are not as thorny as that, Yumi-chan," Youko replied with, suppressing a laugh at her own choice of words.

Yumi sighed in relief. "I'm glad as you look far too young to be a Grandmother, Rosa Chinensis."

"Thank you, Yumi-chan," Youko replied to the compliment. If you only knew, she intoned silently to herself with a mental chuckle. "So, concerning Sachiko," Youko stated, moving on to the reason she had asked to speak with the young girl beside her. A quick glance to the side revealed an avid expression upon Yumi's face. Good. At least she seems to be interested in hearing what I have to say.

"Sachiko is a lonely child and has been for a long time," Youko opened with.

Yumi nodded having already heard that. "She's never had any siblings," Yumi supplied knowingly to indicate that she understood.

Youko's brow furrowed slightly. "Correct, she is an only child…" I see, she told herself, suddenly realizing that Yumi had misheard her. Rather than try and clarify the confusion she decided to roll with it. "Due to that she has been alone for the greater part of her life. She never learned to express her feelings and hence can be very contradictory in her actions."

"I'm not certain I understand, Rosa Chinensis," Yumi said with her confusion clearly displayed upon her face for anyone to see.

"Well….," the elder of the twain thought for a long moment before proceeding. "She gets easily flustered which embarrasses her. Due to this there are times when she may appear to be angry and yet she really isn't."

Yumi pondered Youko's words for a bit. "How will I know when she is really angry and when she isn't?"

"Trial and error," the dark haired woman offered with an apologetic shrug of her shoulders. "Sachiko is rather…."

"Complicated," Yumi finished for her.

"That's as well a way of putting it as anything else," Youko said with a small smile. "No one has ever shown her the proper manner in which to express herself. I'm hoping you will take the time to do that, Yumi-chan," Youko informed her of while turning her head to regard the younger girl hopefully.

Yumi recalled earlier when she had been informed of the manner in which Sachiko had grown up. Once again the images and ramification of how growing up without friends could affect Sachiko flashed through her mind. "I don't know what I can do, Rosa Chinensis. I may not be able to change anything," Yumi replied honestly.

"Sachiko needs someone who will not give up on her," Youko explained as they continued to stroll along. "I think you may very well be that person Yumi-chan. She felt bad about not being able to meet with you this morning."

"Rosa Chinensis," Yumi began in a hesitant tone. "Do you have Onee-sama's phone number?"

"She didn't give it to you yet?" Youko asked in disbelief.

"We didn't have time yesterday. I'm sure she had intended to give it to me this morning," Yumi offered, attempting to defend the missing woman's actions.

"That's certainly it then," Youko replied with a slight nod of her head. "Yes, I have it. Would you like it?"

"I…I thought I might give her a call when I arrived home," Yumi explained suddenly feeling nervous. "I mean I do not know what manner of family difficulties may have prevented her from attending school today but I thought that perhaps I could call and offer her what support I could without knowing all the details."

"I think that is a wonderful idea, Yumi-chan! You're so very thoughtful!" Youko exclaimed as they both paused at the doorway to the shoe locker building while Youko slipped a note pad from her school bag. Yumi, feeling her cheeks blush at the unexpected compliment turned away, embarrassed. "So I can count on you then?" Youko asked as she tore the piece of paper from the note pad and held it out towards the other girl.

Yumi turned back around and accepted the offered paper with Sachiko's name and number written upon it. "I'll do my best, Rosa Chinensis," she affirmed as she folded the paper and slipped it into her pocket.

"That's all I can ask for," Youko said with a slight nod. Once they had each changed their shoes they left the building and headed for the front gate. They talked quietly about the different duties that she would be expected to perform for the Yamayurikai. Yumi was amazed at just how much the Student Council was responsible for.

As the two of them stepped through the front gate Yumi saw a familiar face. "Gokigenyou, Miyuki-san," Yumi said to her classmate.

Miyuki turned to greet Yumi only to freeze in place upon seeing who she was with. "G… Gokigenyou, Rosa Chinensis," the startled girl finally managed to say, forgetting to say the same to Yumi.

"Gokigenyou…," Youko started to replay to the frozen girl before glancing towards Yumi for help.

"Oyamada Miyuki," Yumi supplied upon seeing her classmate was speechless. "She sits behind me in homeroom."

Youko's eyes widened slightly in understanding. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Oyamada-san," Youko said with a smile towards the underclassman. Please take good care of our Yumi-chan for us." Miyuki could do little more than nod in return. "Yumi," Youko said after the silence became awkward, "Please remember what I asked you to do."

"I understand, Rosa Chinensis. I'll do what I can for her," Yumi confirmed. Youko nodded once in acceptance before smiling to both girls and then turning to walk to her family car which was waiting for her. Yumi watched the elegant woman get into the car before she felt a slight tug upon the cuff of her sleeve.

"What's going on, Yumi-san," Miyuki asked in wide eyes wonder. "First you're pulled from class by Rosa Gigantea and now you're rubbing elbows with Rosa Chinensis!"

Yumi grinned at the look upon her friends face. I can just imagine what the rumor mills will be saying by tomorrow. "Can you keep a secret?" Yumi asked in a soft whisper only to see Miyuki nod her head so hard Yumi was fearful it might go flying off. Reaching beneath her uniform she pulled out Sachiko's rosary just far enough for the other girl to see it.

Miyuki's eyes seemed to grow to twice their normal size upon seeing the rosary before Yumi quickly hid it once more beneath her uniform. "Who?" she hissed, desperate to know whose rosary her friend now wore. Yumi leaned in and whispered in the girl's ear only to jump back rapidly as Miyuki screamed, "WHAT!" pulling Yumi into an ecstatic hug before squealing loudly with happiness for her friend.

"Sssshhhhh," Yumi quickly tried to quiet the squealing girl up as others were glancing over at the noise. "Quiet down, Miyuki-san!" Yumi said placing her hand over the other girl's mouth in an attempt to stifle her.

"When? How? Where?" Miyuki begged for details once she had regained enough control not to squeal loudly and jump about or hug Yumi.

"It just sort of happened yesterday," Yumi said with a slight shrug as the bus arrived and the doors opened. Yumi motioned that they should get on together and took a step in that direction.

"I can't," Miyuki informed her friend. "My brother is picking me up and would kill me if I wasn't here when he arrived," she explained.

Yumi smiled in understanding, clearly seeing that her friend was torn between wanting to know the details and not wanting to get her brother mad at her. "I'll tell you the rest tomorrow," she offered.

"You'd better!" Miyuki threatened jokingly. The two girls said their goodbyes and Yumi quickly boarded the bus and found a seat. Miyuki stood there with a smile plastered on her face and watched as the bus drove away. Reaching into her school bag she withdrew a cell phone and quickly dialed a number.

-oOo-

Tooru looked at the phone on his desk and frowned slightly at seeing the caller ID listed on the phone's digital display. "I thought I told you not to call me here," he said after lifting the receiver to his ear. The head of the Ogasawara clan listened for several long moments. "I see, so it is confirmed then?" he asked as he slipped a folder from his desk drawer and opened it. Tooru's eyes regarded the picture of Yumi that was fastened to the inside cover by a paperclip.

"Well this does make things interesting," he mused allowed. "I guess I should have seen this coming though. It only makes sense that Yumi-chan would become Sa-chan's Petite Soeur."

Tooru listened once again to the voice on the other end of the line and made a few notes within the file before him. "Thank you," he spoke into the receiver before pausing once again to listen. "No. No. Just keep an eye on both of them. Do not let any harm come to either one. We need both of them if this is to work after all." Tooru nodded to something he was told. "Call me if you learn anything else," he concluded the call with, hanging the phone up.

Tooru, suddenly feeling his age, leaned back in his chair and sighed heavily before standing and walking over to the wet bar in his office. "Events are progressing faster than we thought they would," he stated, weighing their odds of success as he poured himself a drink. "She's just a baby still!" he said heatedly before downing the drink in one gulp and hissing as it burnt all the way down. "Just a baby," he said in a low whisper as he poured himself another drink.

-oOo-

Yumi stepped off the bus and turned to begin the walk to the Fukuzawa residence where she lived with her family. It just doesn't make sense. As she walked along the street she played back the events of the day once again in her mind. There was also the revelation of the Yamayurikai as well as the origins of Maria-sama and finally her conversation with Youko-sama just prior to leaving school. If Onee-sama had no friends then why are both Sei-sama and Youko-sama so concerned for her? Certainly they are her friends!

Yumi shook her head slightly. I have to be overlooking something, she reasoned to herself, absently picking leaves from the bush she was walking past. Something Sei had told her earlier that day came to mind, 'Sachiko has grown up distanced from everyone, including her own family. She keeps others at arm's length from herself'.

"Maybe it isn't that others don't want to be friends with her," Yumi mumbled aloud. "Maybe she keeps everyone away so that they don't have the chance to become friends?"

Yumi turned the corner onto her street as she tried to puzzle out the woman who she would be spending a great deal of time with in the near future. "That's it!" she exclaimed coming to a stop where she was and then sheepishly looking about to make certain no one had heard her outburst. "That must be why Sei-sama and Youko-sama both asked me to do my best." Yumi started walking once more as a slow smile spread upon her face.

Onee-sama will have to spend time with me. She doesn't have the option to keep me away from her, Yumi reasoned. I can get close to her where others haven't had the opportunity. Yumi's smile turned into a grin as she walked up the short path to her front door. Still, that doesn't mean she'll open up to me and we'll become friends or anything, Yumi realized causing her grin to slip a little. No! I have to give it my best. She's been alone all this time. She needs me. Even if she doesn't realize it yet!

"I'm home," Yumi called out as she walked through the door and paused to remove her shoes after closing the door behind her.

"How was your day, Yumi-chan," her father, Fukuzawa Yuuichirou asked upon leaning his head out of the kitchen and shooting her a warm smile.

"It was fine, Papa," Yumi replied, pausing on her way into the kitchen long enough to give him an affectionate peck upon the cheek. The young brunette seated herself at the table after slipping off her coat and draping it across the back of her chair.

"Your mother called to say that she would be late again," Yuuichirou offered as he walked back over to the stove. "She said we should go ahead and eat without her."

"I'll set the table," Yumi offered rising to get the plates and utensils. Yumi had become used to dinners without her mother. Being the Queen had many responsibilities and at a young age Yumi learned that meals with the family were one of the first things her mother cut from her schedule in order to accommodate others. "As long as you're here, Papa."

"Don't you think it would be nice to have her here as well, Yumi-chan?" Yuuichirou asked as he stirred the vegetables.

"Yes, but it isn't going to happen," Yumi replied in an even tone. Her mother had missed so many meals that it no longer bothered the teenager. When she was younger she had resented the absence and even had gone as far as to throw tantrums, all to no avail. But now it was simply another fact of life that her mother would not be there.

"Mom's not coming again?" Yuuki asked in mock disbelief as he stepped from the back stairs and into the kitchen. "Gee there's a shocker!"

"Be nice Yuuki," Yumi admonished her younger brother though there was no heat to her words. "She is your mother after all," she tried to remind him.

"Then she should start acting like it," Yuuki bit off heatedly. While younger by seven months than his sister, Yumi suspected her brother still had a great deal more emotional growth to experience. "She should try being here every once in a while if she expects to be called 'Mom'."

"Yuuki-kun, you mind your manners!" Yuuichirou said from his place at the stove, turning and pointing a large metal spoon at his son. "You know as well as I do that it is not her fault that she is absent. She would most certainly be here if she could be."

"Whatever," Yuuki growled. Stepping to the cabinet he removed three glasses, placing them on the table for the three of them. "Sake, Papa?" he asked in a more normal tone of voice. Much like his older sibling, Yuuki always found it hard to stay mad for long. Even where his absent mother was concerned.

"No, tea please," Yuuki's father replied. "I think I've been hitting the sake a little too often of late," he added patting his stomach. "I think I've but on a few kilo's"

The two siblings glanced at each other and grinned. "I didn't want to say anything, Papa," Yumi offered first.

"Your pants were looking a little snug around the waist the other day, Papa," Yuuki chimed in with directly after his sister.

Yuuichirou sputtered and tried to think of something clever to say. The look of indignation upon his face soon had his children laughing loudly. With an overly loud 'Hhmmph!', which spoke volumes for just how funny he did not find their comments, he turned back to the pan and stirred the food once again. Only then did he allow a smile to briefly play across his lips, glad his antics had headed off another heated blow-up by his son. Though they were always short lived Yuuichirou had noticed they were becoming more frequent as his son worked his way through being a teenager.

It wasn't that he didn't feel his son had a right to be angry. On the contrary actually as he himself had been angry several times concerning his wife's absence. Yuuichirou though could also well understand the responsibilities of his Queen. He had to constantly remind himself that her decisions and actions saved lives. How terrible would I feel if she forsook her responsibilities to eat dinner with us and something went wrong? What if through her absence someone was injured or even killed? We can't allow ourselves to be selfish with her time when there is an entire race that needs her. He also knew that his relationship with the Queen was different than hers with her own children.

Yuuichirou's musings were cut short by another peck upon his cheek from his daughter. "Arigatou, Papa," Yumi whispered in his ear as she walked past him to collect the chop-sticks. Yuuichirou smiled, knowing that she was all too well aware of what he had done and why he had done it.

The three of them sat down together once the food was served. In unison they all clapped their hands together and intoned 'Itadakimasu' before they began to eat. While they ate, their father asked them about school, how their studies were going, what the teachers were like and other things related to each of them. When the meal was finished their father excused himself to his office and some work he needed to do for a rush project. The two siblings cleared everything from the table and working together washed the dishes and put them away.

"Yumi, want to watch a movie?" Yuuki offered as they stepped from the now spotless kitchen.

"Sure," Yumi replied with a smile, always happy to spend time with her younger brother. "I need to make a phone call first though," she informed him.

"Alright. I'll get it ready and just watch the news till you're ready," Yuuki said over his shoulder as he turned and headed for the living room.

Yumi watched him go for a moment before turning and walking the few feet down the hallways to the house phone. Slipping a hand into her pocket she extracted the piece of paper given to her Youko earlier that day. Standing there with phone and paper in hand Yumi began to get nervous.

Maybe I shouldn't call her? I mean I'm going to see her tomorrow aren't I? Yumi nodded slightly at her own logic till the voice in her head spoke up once more. Unless she isn't at school again. She's probably at home all alone right now with no one to talk to. The slender brunette could just see the older woman sitting within her bedroom all alone. Deep within her chest Yumi felt a stab of pain at the thought that Sachiko could be hurting and be all alone. No. I can do this. I promised Youko-sama and Sei-sama that I would do my best!

Yumi's heart started beating frantically within her chest as she dialed the numbers on the paper. When the phone connected a youthful male voice answered it. "Ogasawara residence, how may I help you?"

"Yes…uhh...hello. I'm terribly sorry for the late call," Yumi stammered, suddenly finding that her tongue wouldn't obey her.

Suguru grinned to himself upon hearing the cute and fear filled voice on the other end of the call. "Who is it?" Sachiko asked upon seeing her cousin smile.

Suguru held the phone out to his cousin still grinning. "I hope it is for you and not your father," he told Sachiko. "If it is for him he might be looking at time behind bars!"

Sachiko stood from where she had been seated at the dining room table enjoy an after diner cup of tea with her cousin. "Hello? Who is this," Sachiko demanded in an irritated tone. Silence met her words. "Is there anyone there?"

"S…Sachiko-sama?" a weak feminine voice asked from the other end of the call hesitantly.

"Yes, this is she!" Sachiko replied irritated to have her tea time interrupted. "To whom am I speaking?" she demanded into the phone.

"Onee-sama," Yumi said with a loud sigh of relief.

"Yumi?" Sachiko's surprised voice came back through the phone.

"I'm sorry for calling so late, Onee-sama," Yumi apologized. "I hope I haven't disturbed you."

Sachiko looked at her watch and saw it wasn't even eight o'clock yet. "Yumi, do you know what time it is?" Sachiko enquired when she realized that it wasn't late at all.

"N…no. I'm sorry Onee-sama," Yumi's words nearly tripped over themselves as they left her mouth so quickly. "I shouldn't have called. I will just wait and see you tomorrow, Onee-sama. Sorry I-"

"YUMI!" Sachiko snapped into the phone, fearful that the younger girl would hang up before she herself could say a word. "You've already called and we're speaking on the phone now. Was there some reason for your call?" Sachiko questioned in a more normal tone of voice.

Yumi paused, her ear still ringing from having her own name shouted into it through the phone. "You weren't at school today…," the petite first year student started with. Sachiko was about to apologize and say 'About that…' however the words froze in her mouth upon hear Yumi's next words. "I was worried about you and so I asked the Rosa Chinensis for your phone number. I hope that was alright?"

Sachiko had to pause for a long moment before she could reply. "No, that is alright. I'm sorry I didn't give you the number the day you accepted my rosary," she told Yumi. "I apologize about this morning. I had a family emergency come up that required me to deal with it personally."

"I understand, Onee-sama," Yumi replied back sympathetically. Having been raised in a royal household she was well aware of how one's duty could call you away at a moment's notice. She had seen her own mother run out enough times in the middle of the night while growing up. "I hope that it was nothing serious and that you were able to deal with it," Yumi offered into the receiver on her end of the call. "If there is anything I can do to help, you need only ask, Onee-sama."

Sachiko smiled slightly upon hearing the well wishes of her new little sister. "Thank you, Yumi. I believe that I've done all I can for now where the matter is concerned. How was your day today?" Sachiko enquired turning about to lean against the wall.

"You missed the meeting today," Yumi informed her Onee-sama as she turned and leaned her back against the wall in a similar fashion to which Sachiko had. "Sei-sama couldn't attend either though so we finished early."

"Is that so? Then I'm glad I didn't miss anything," Sachiko responded with. "Have you completed your school work?"

"Not yet," Yumi replied in a disheartened tone. "I did most of it during lunch and study period though. I just…really wanted to talk to you," Yumi explained.

"You should have finished it prior to calling me," Sachiko chided the younger girl in a stern tone. "School work is too important to save till the last minute."

"Yes, Onee-sama," Yumi responded with, crestfallen to be admonished by her Onee-sama already after only one day and on their first phone call. "I'll do it right away!"

"Very well," Sachiko replied. "I will expect you to meet me at the main gates in the morning with your finished homework, Yumi. Shall we say the same time we had agreed upon for this morning?"

"Yes, Onee-sama," Yumi replied. The young brunette suddenly wondered if Sachiko would be checking her work for mistakes as well and if that was why she wanted them to meet so early in the morning. That way if there are mistakes I'll have time to do it over again.

"Alright. I had better let you go then," Sachiko said, her tone softening somewhat.

"Good night, Onee-sama. I hope you have sweet dreams," Yumi said with a smile into the phone, meaning each word.

"Yumi," Sachiko's voice said softly. "Arigatou for calling tonight. Hearing your voice made me happy," The raven-haired woman said. "Sweet dreams, Yumi," she finished before dropping the call. With a soft smile upon her lips she returned the receiver to the cradle and turned back towards the table only to see her cousin regarding her with an arched brow. "What?" she asked defensively.

"Who is this Yumi?" Suguru enquired in a teasing tone. "Is she someone I need be concerned about stealing you away from me, Sa-chan? She sounded terribly cute on the phone!"

"I have never been yours to be stolen in the first place," Sachiko replied as she looked down to gather her tea cup and the saucer it rested upon and hence missed the flash of anger that flickered across her cousin's face.

"For your information," she continued with as she glanced towards him once again. "Yumi is my Petite Soeur and she is completely off-limits to you."

"Oh so you finally picked one?" Suguru asked with a slight chuckle of disbelief.

"It was either that or Onee-sama was going to pick one for me," Sachiko told him as she started to make her way around the table towards the door to the kitchen. "Now that I think about it I seem to recall her telling me that they already even had someone in mind."

"Is she one of us?" Suguru probed.

"No, she's a human," Sachiko answered as she neared the door. "Which is why she is off limits to you. I don't want anyone thinking she is food brought home for them."

"How very convenient, Sa-chan. Should you suddenly get hungry you can always lean over and nibble upon this Yumi-chan," Suguru teased. Sachiko turned away hurriedly but not before he saw the blush in her cheeks that his words had elicited. Suguru watched his cousin slip through the door and disappear into the next room. Reaching down he took a sip of his tea, already calculating how this new factor could playing into his hand. He never even noticed that the tea had gone cold.

-oOo-

'The cleanup from the ruptured tanker could take months experts are saying. In other news scientist have found what they believe to the frozen' – CLICK, Yuuki turned off the television in the middle of the news report and turned to his sister. "What's wrong, Yumi?" he enquired in a concerned voice.

"Huh?" Yumi responded with having been lost in thought and not really paying attention. She couldn't seem to figure her Onee-sama out. Having run their conversation through her mind several times already by this point, she was no closer to understanding it. Does she want to meet me then to make up for today or is it just so that she can check my school work?

"You've been sitting there for the last thirty minutes and haven't said a word," he told her. When Yumi had first joined him in the living room he could tell that she was deep in thought. Rather than start the movie he had continued to watch the news, knowing she would talk to him when she was ready. "So what's wrong? It's not like you to be so quiet," he added with a slight grin.

Yumi smirked at her near twin. "First you tell me I talk too much and now you complain I'm too quiet. I thought I was the only fickle girl in this family."

"You are, you are!" Yuuki was quick to exclaim in his own defense as he raised his hands and waved them back and forth as if to dispel her words. "I'm just the annoying younger brother remember?" he added with a grin.

"Well then it is a good thing I happen to like my little brother," she said with a mock serious expression. "Though he was a lot cuter when he was smaller as I recall. Not so much now," Yumi teased playfully.

"Hey!" Yuuki cried as he threw a couch pillow at his sister. "I'm still cute," he added in an indignant tone. Yumi just grinned and rolled her eyes at him. "So, what has you so lost in thought?" Yumi just sighed heavily and looked away. "That bad huh? You want to talk about it?"

"It's an upperclassman," Yumi finally opened with. "I don't know what to do with her."

"Do with her?" Yuuki's brow arched in question, a habit he had acquired from their father. "Is she bullying you or something? If she is you need to let your teachers know right away."

"No, nothing like that," Yumi assured him. "Besides, do you really think I couldn't handle something like a school bully?" she asked arching a brow to match him from just a moment before.

"I suppose so," he admitted begrudgingly, acknowledging his sisters abilities. "I've seen a lot of that sort of thing going on at Hanadera. Some students have even gotten seriously hurt and had to leave school," he told her. "Of course the administration has hushed it all up. I realize that Lillian is an all-girls school, and so may not have the same degree of problems that we face at Hanadera, but you should still be careful," he said, implying that because it was a girl's school they wouldn't have the same level of bullying that Hanadera, an all-boys school, would have.

Yumi glared at Yuuki for a long moment, recalling what her mother had once told her. 'Men are more direct in their deceitfulness. Women are more cunning and so need to be watched closer'. Just because the bullying wasn't out in the open at Lillian didn't mean it didn't exist. For a brief moment Yumi recalled the three girls who had attacked Sachiko.

"No, nothing of that sort," Yumi said shaking one hand in the air as if waving off his concerns. "I became her Petite Sœur yesterday," she told him even as her hand unconsciously rose and brushed against the rosary hanging between her breasts, hidden beneath her uniform. "Due to that I'm now a member of the Yamayurikai it seems."

"Isn't that the Student Council for Lillian?" Yuuki asked, having heard the name at Hanadera where he attended. "Then congratulations," he offered upon seeing Yumi's nod that his assumption was correct.

"Yeah, just what I need, two years of administration work so that I can graduate and become a princess and assume those duties full time," Yumi said with a frown. "Ouch, did that sound as whiney as I think it did?" she asked as she scrunched up her face distastefully.

"Just a little," Yuuki lied as it had sounded a great deal whinier than was typical for his sister. "If it's that big of a burden then just give her back her rosary and be done with it," he offered, being familiar with the Sœur system used at Lillian.

"It's not that simple," Yumi replied as she thought about the three girls who had attacked Sachiko. I can't leave Sachiko-sama alone. Not only did I promise Sei-sama and Youko-sama I would give it my all, I also promised myself!

"Why? Who is this girl?" Yuuki asked.

"An upper classman as I said," Yumi replied. "She's the current red rose budding, Rose Chinensis en Bouton, Ogasawara Sachiko."

"Seriously!" Yuuki exclaimed, nearly jumping out of his seat. "Ogasawara Sachiko?"

"That's her name," Yumi said with a slight nod of her head and a puzzled expression due to her brother's reaction to this news. There were several other students with the surname of Ogasawara currently attending school at Lillian, three to be exact, all of which were not related to her Onee-sama. While Sachiko's name had rung a bell when she first heard it several years ago, Yumi had assumed it was from all the gossip whispered about the girl she herself had heard while attending school. Even when Yumi was barely starting first grade there were already stories about the girl that had just yesterday become her Onee-sama. I wonder how Yuuki knows Onee-sama?

"Ogasawara Sachiko. As in the only daughter of Ogasawara Tooru, head of the Ogasawara Group and leader of the Ogasawara clan?" Seeing his sisters eyes grow large in disbelief he added the final piece of information even though he was certain it was no longer required. "Yumi, she's Kyuuketsuki!"


Author's Note:

Well, the puzzle pieces are slowly starting to fall into place, at least as far as our two favorite soeurs are concerned. We'll have to wait and see what Yumi does with the information now that she knows who Sachiko really is. I think their next meeting should be very interesting to say the least….well, or so I hope. I'll have to wait and see what the Muse comes up with.

So Yumi's soeurship is out of the bag. I wonder just who Miyuki was calling? Maybe it was Minako or Mami for a Kawaraban scoop? Speaking of unanswered question, who is keeping an eye on Yumi & Sachiko for Tooru? It seems that everyone, including us, have their eye on this couple! How scandalous! If you enjoyed the chapter (or even if you didn't) let me know by leaving a review!

As always, though certainly not required, I do appreciate any and all reviews. They really do motivate me to write more! Seriously!

Kind Regards,

EJ Daniels

All characters within this story, unless otherwise stated are the sole property of Oyuki Konno the original writer of the Maria-sama ga Miteru light novel series.