Chapter 10: Memories

Disclaimer: Maria-sama ga Miteru and its characters are not mine. Credits to the author.

Yumi

Yumi was still trying to catch her breath. Her legs felt like jelly, her intimate area was sore and her whole body was still trembling from their love making. And it somehow irritated her to see that smirk never leaving Sachiko's face, as if she had won.

"Are you okay Yumi?" Sachiko playfully caressed her inner thigh.

Yumi shuddered at the contact but immediately pulled her legs out of Sachiko's reach.

"It seems like you've had enough?" the older woman teased.

"Please Sachiko, let me rest for a bit." Yumi mumbled.

She closed her eyes. Nobody would believe how utterly amazing Sachiko was in bed.

And how much of a cruel tease she is, Yumi thought.

She knew of Sachiko's stoic mask. Her cold exterior had earned her the title of ice princess in high school, while her aloofness and indifference in college was the reason people called her The Ojou-sama. Now that she is a top executive, Yumi can more or less guess how strict and nasty Sachiko can be, especially to those who do not meet her high standards when it comes to results.

She was privileged to be the only one who see this side of Sachiko.

They were in high school…

Sachiko was walking down the corridor with that stoic expression of hers. By the look of it, she seem to going to the teacher's lounge. Yumi was outside the door, speaking animatedly with her classmate after they had just returned the cleaning log to their homeroom teacher. Aound her, Yumi can't help but overhear some of the lower grade students whispering that Rosa Chinensis was in a bad mood, making them hesitant to greet her.

"Sachiko-sama seems irritated" her classmate said. "You should probably do something to improve her mood, Yumi-san."

Yumi turned to look at her onee-sama and almost laughed. Because she knew that she was not angry, but was in deep thought. Yumi should have corrected her classmate about it, but decided against it. She then stepped in the middle of the hallway, waiting for her onee-sama to notice her. She was already a feet away from her before Sachiko stopped and realized that Yumi was there.

Sachiko's eyes widened in surprise, but only for a fraction of a second, before greeting her with a neutral voice, "Gokigenyou Yumi"

"Gokigenyou onee-sama. Are you going to the teacher's lounge as well? My classmate and I just returned the cleaning log for our class."

"No, I was actually looking for you, and your classmates said this is where I would find you."

Yumi smiled, before she bid farewell to her classmate and approached her sister. "Onee-sama, let's go." She happily said before taking hold of Sachiko's arm and dragging her away from the crowd of fans.

They were already on the path towards the Rose Mansion when Yumi asked, "You seem in deep thought onee-sama. Is it something I can help you with?"

Sachiko's ears blushed. "Yes, actually you can. But don't laugh, okay?"

Yumi stopped walking and turned to face her seour. "I promise I won't" she responded with a serious face.

"I accompanied Rei yesterday to buy a birthday present for Yoshino-san. And I bought you something." Sachiko's blush now spread to her cheeks.

This got Yumi curious. Sachiko-sama rarely blushes. What could elicit this reaction from her?

The answer to that was revealed a second later, just as something was shoved in her hands. Yumi looked down and saw that she was handed a cellular phone strap. Dangling from its end was a small panda.

"I remembered you were wearing a panda costume during the Hanadera Festival, and I just couldn't help but buy it. Will you accept it?" Sachiko's voice now was barely a whisper.

Yumi smiled widely and clutched the object close to her heart. "Of course I will accept it onee-sama! It's wonderful! I will attach it to my phone as soon as I arrive home."

The worry in Sachiko's face soon disappear and was replaced by a radiant smile. "I'm glad. I have a similar one already attached to mine."

"Wait onee-sama, is this what you were agonizing about?" Yumi asked, remembering how she looked earlier.

"I was afraid you wouldn't like it."

"The other students thought you were angry" Yumi said, suppressing a laugh.

"Why would I be angry?" Sachiko asked perplexed.

xxx

She felt Sachiko reach for her hand and squeeze it, shaking her out of her recollection. "Tell me what's on your mind."

"It's nothing, I'm just tired." Yumi lied, knowing Sachiko would be embarrassed if she tells her.

Then the memory of Sachiko's accident and the conversation she had with her grandfather suddenly flashed in her mind. As it always did when she thought of Sachiko.

She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the fears and the guilt to disappear. Just this one night, maybe she can be selfish and have a peaceful and happy moment with Sachiko. She turned and buried her head in the crook of the older woman's shoulder, inhaling her scent, feeling her warmth and seeking comfort.

Meanwhile, Sachiko who was oblivious of Yumi's inner struggle suddenly asked. "We've been apart for too long and I wish to know more about you. Tell me something about your life now, Yumi."

Yumi smiled and welcomed the distraction from her negative thoughts. "I am working as an architect for a multinational company. It's nothing much, just designing buildings based on client requests or doing renovation work. How about you?"

It was like they were getting to know each other all over again.

"Nothing much about me either. Just reviewing and approving project plans, company strategies, launch of new business lines and a lot of that boring stuff. It's a lot of sitting down, giving sarcastic remarks and responding to emails."

Yumi laughed before placing butterfly kisses down Sachiko's bare shoulder, savouring the chance to be this close to her beloved.

A smile tugged on Sachiko's lips, enjoying what her lover was doing. She gently pulled Yumi's head and placed a gentle kiss on her lips, before she continued, "Your job is much more interesting Yumi. At least you get to travel, see places, design buildings and just be creative."

"At least no one orders you around" Yumi replied as she reached down and played with Sachiko's fingers.

"You're right about that. Father doesn't order around me that much, at least not anymore, because I am now familiar with the business. Do you mean someone bullies you in the office? Just let me know Yumi, I may be able to do something about it."

Yumi propped herself up and looked her in the eyes, "No, Ogasawara-sama. I am not being bullied. For normal employees like us, that is just how it is with a boss and a subordinate. The difference in your case is that you're just the one doing the scolding."

Sachiko leaned forward and bit Yumi's lower lip.

"Ouch!" Yumi protested, "What was that for?"

"I'll have you know that I am a nice boss to Keiko. And as for my subordinates, they will not be scolded if they are doing their job right." Sachiko defended.

"Keiko, you mean that woman in glasses?" Yumi said thinking back to time she went to see Sachiko.

Then she leaned forward and kissed Sachiko hard on the lips.

"What was that for?" Sachiko breathed as Yumi broke the kiss and hovered on top of her.

"Nothing. Your lips are just tempting me with all this talk" Yumi said seductively before kissing her again. Sachiko pulled Yumi's head down and kissed her long and hard.

"What are we talking about again?" Sachiko asked when they broke for air.

"I have no idea" Yumi responded before crashing her lips to Sachiko's again. Yumi slipped her tongue in Sachiko's warm mouth. She was getting light-headed at her lover's sweet taste. After another long passionate kiss, they laid back down on the bed.

Sachiko

Sachiko saw a ray of sunshine peak through the curtains of Yumi's hotel room window. She was enjoying the feeling of security and freedom that came with Yumi's presence. They didn't sleep and they kept talking about little things from their past and about their current lives.

Yumi was telling her about her current project in Nara-shi, but her mind was elsewhere. She was considering asking Yumi to be hers. However, she was finding it hard to say the words in fear of being rejected once more. It was a complicated feeling. She knew they just made love and Yumi's feelings had been evident in the way she embraced her, kissed her and touched her. But still, she was afraid.

What if Yumi say 'no' to her again? She was not sure if her heart could handle another rejection.

Sachiko closed her eyes and sighed. It was much easier when neither of them think. When they listen to their hearts, rather than their minds. From their unexpected meeting at the coffee shop that morning, to their encounter at the Ogasawara office a month after that and just earlier as they held each other and made love. All of those instances were results of ignoring reason and allowing their emotions to take over.

Probably that's why they were happier when they were younger. Things were simpler. She remembered a time, when simply holding Yumi's hand was enough to make both of them happy.

xxx

Sachiko was still second year student then, when her teacher asked her to get something from the laboratory, which was located near Yumi's classroom. Classes had just ended for the day, and most of the first years were exiting their classroom in groups. The hallway was filled with girls, excited to either go home or attend their club activities.

Even though there was still a considerable distance between them, Sachiko easily spotted Yumi. She could not mistake the trademark pigtails and that manner of walking for anyone else, but her seour. She walked through the throng of freshmen, knowing that her imouto would not notice her because of the chaos. And just as she neared the unknowing Yumi, she leaned down, held her little sister's hand briefly and squeezed it tight before immediately letting it go as she went ahead of her.

Yumi was conversing with one of her classmates at the time and abruptly stopped when she felt someone take hold of her hand. Sachiko knew that Yumi already saw her. And not a minute later Yumi appeared beside her.

"Onee-sama" she called, a blush and a smile adorning her adorable face.

Sachiko turned to her petite seour "Gokigenyou Yumi."

"Gokigenyou" she greeted back. "Were you the one w-w-who held my hand?" she stammered.

Sachiko feigned surprise, "I do not know what you're talking about". But she knew that the smile that would not leave her face was a dead giveaway for Yumi, making the younger girl blush a deeper shade of red.

She suddenly noticed Yumi square her shoulders and took a deep breath, before reaching out to hold her hand. "Should we go to the Rose Mansion together, onee-sama?" her confident demeanour was broken by her slightly trembling voice.

Sachiko could feel Yumi's nervousness, but she didn't have the gall to point this out because her own heartbeat was thumping loudly against her chest. She felt warmth spread to her cheeks, and bowed her head to hide her own blush. She swallowed hard to push down her nerves before trusting herself to speak, "I need to get something from the laboratory first. Would you accompany me?"

Yumi nodded, still not letting go of her hand. And honestly, she didn't mind.

The next day, rumours about the Red Rose "hand holding incident" spread around the campus. With everyone gushing about how wonderfully close their sisterly bond was.

xxx

Sachiko smiled at the memory.

"Hey are you listening" she snapped out of her recollection.

Sachiko looked confused for a moment and blushed at her inattentiveness.

"I was asking how you met Hagane-san? Kyouya-san told me that you spoke with him earlier tonight using Hagane-san's phone" Yumi repeated.

Sachiko remained motionless for a moment. That name really pushed her to edge. She took deep calming breaths but was still unable to suppress her growing anger. She then recalled the purpose for which she travelled long miles to Nara, and that is to have this conversation with Yumi.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Sachiko whispered.

"Who?" Yumi sounded stunned by the question.

Sachiko's eyes twitched with annoyance, "Nagisa Kyouya, is he your boyfriend?" she whispered.

Yumi

To say that she was surprised would be an understatement. They were having a peaceful conversation when Sachiko suddenly asked about Kyouya-san.

"Where did you get that idea?" she asked as she sat up.

Sachiko likewise sat up and faced her, "Just answer the question, Yumi. Is he the reason why you can't be with me?"

Yumi looked incredulous, "Don't be ridiculous, Sachiko. I just met Kyouya-san recently."

"So it must be your boyfriend before him? Or the guy before that?" Sachiko was fuming, not doing anything to mask her emotions anymore.

"Sachiko, stop it." Yumi whispered, feeling her chest constricting by the second.

"Isn't it true? You are dating men, one after another, and that is the reason why you and I – " Sachiko's voice broke.

"I said stop it!" Yumi shouted and Sachiko was taken aback by her outburst.

Yumi's heart felt like it was being squeezed. Why can't Sachiko understand the true reason for everything? The reason why she needed to be with those men, why none of her previous relationships last, why she didn't feel an ounce of pain when she ended things with her exes and why every year, on the day they broke up, she gets herself drunk? She wanted to scream.

She desperately wanted to be with Sachiko, but her fears and her guilt were stopping her. Just as the nightmares that kept her awake most nights, the nagging guilt and the words of Sachiko's grandfather had kept her in chains, away from the one she truly loves. It was so frustrating. Didn't Sachiko feel her longing and desperation with the way she touched her and held her as they made love earlier?

"Stop saying those things, Sachiko." Yumi was breathing hard, it was just so painful. "You know it's not true. You must know." She knew the desperation was evident in her voice.

"Which part of it was untrue? About you having boyfriends? Or about them being the reason why you don't want to be with me?"

"Whatever you heard about my exploits, it was not what it seemed."

"Then explain it to me Yumi! Tell me everything so I can understand!" Sachiko was hysterical, hey eyes brimming with tears.

Yumi didn't know where to start and was unable to say anything.

Sachiko looked at her, her eyes and her voice were filled with so much pain, "I may be married, but you know from the very start that there is nothing between Suguru-san and I. I haven't given him anything, not my heart and definitely not my body."

"I never gave my heart to anyone else either" she said, looking straight into those blue eyes and hoping that her feelings will come across clearly and reach Sachiko. "I never had intimate moments with anyone else either, no one…but you."

"But your boyfriends – " Sachiko began again. And by the look in her beloved's eyes, Yumi knew Sachiko was still doubting her words.

She then reached out and cupped Sachiko's face with both of her hands, and thankfully Sachiko didn't move away from her touch. "They never had me, Sachiko. No one did. Except you."

Sachiko was staring into her eyes, as if searching for a confirmation that she was indeed telling the truth. And Yumi stared back with determination, urging Sachiko to believe her words, when suddenly they heard a knock on the door.

Yumi broke eye contact and she saw a flash of worry in Sachiko's eyes. She turned to face her lover once more, "I will be back. I will just see who it is" she said, planting a soft kiss on older woman's lips.

Yumi slipped on her robe. She walked barefoot towards the door, but her mind remained with the woman she just left on her bed. She let a small smile tug at her lips as her heart filled with hope. Maybe it is time to forgive herself. Sachiko never blamed her for what happened before, no one did. And once she conquered her guilt, she will once again be able to proudly face her beloved without any fears and ask her to be with her. The only obstacle that will remain, is Sachiko's trust. She just needed to make her beloved believe that no one has ever taken her place in her heart. Because it was the truth. In all those years they were apart, her heart remained hollow because no one can fill that empty space, but her.

With this last thought, she reached out to open the door. But her happiness had been short lived, because standing by her door is a very tired looking Kyouya-san. And her heart filled with dread as she looked back inside her room, hoping that Sachiko doesn't come out to see her visitor.

A/N: Now there you have it, the conversation that should have happened if they haven't been busy. Thank you for all the comments, it really boosts me to write more. \(^_^)/

Chapter 9 had been a little intense, huh? **smirk** But I hope you still enjoyed it.

Anyway, this chapter turned out longer than I expected, because I had too much fun writing it, especially the stories about the younger Yumi and Sachiko. In those parts, they were not even a couple yet, but I wanted to portray that they already shared a lot of sweet little moments, despite still being sisters. I know the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but I hope that you still stick around and enjoy this story until end.

Okay, now I am talking too much. Let me know your thoughts.