"I want to know what's really going on!" Yoshino declared, whapping her hands down onto the table. They had been eating their lunch in relative silence with only the intermittent sound of polite chit chat interrupting them and it was too much for her to take. Especially considering the rather dramatic scene they had left back at school involving Yumi and Touko. The Rose Mansion meeting room almost seemed to shake from the force of Yoshino's agitation and pointing her finger accusingly at Yumi, she said, "You aren't just teasing Touko-chan, are you?" Normally the idea of Yumi playing with another person's emotions would be the furthest thing from Yoshino's thoughts but after the display she witnessed she wasn't so sure about that. Shimako raised an eyebrow in a sign of mild interest and turned to Yumi with an expression of blasé curiosity. Yumi, for her part, blinked at the sudden outburst and after a moment burst into embarrassed laughter, rubbing the back of her head. "I messed it up, didn't I?" asked Yumi sheepishly. Sighing quietly and wearing a wry look on her face she continued, "I never get it right when I try to be like oneesama so I don't know why I bother to try." "Yumi is Yumi," murmured Shimako, blue eyes warm with kindness. "She shouldn't try to be like Sachiko-sama because while there are some things only Sachiko-sama can do there are others that are just for Yumi." "I'm not sure Touko-chan is one of those things," said Yumi sadly. Yoshino released a snort and took a sip of her tea then said, "Of course not. But mostly because Touko-chan isn't a thing, Yumi-san. She's a person. One smart enough to know when you're attempting a bad impersonation of Sachiko-sama." Yumi gave a half hearted laugh at this and Yoshino looked at her friend sympathetically. "To be fair, you didn't remind me of Sachiko-sama back there. It was more like watching shades of Youko-sama." "Really?" Yumi brightened slightly. "Really," said Yoshino in dry tones. She set her cup of tea down with a clink and tilted her head to one side, observing her friend closely. "What is your plan for Touko-chan?" "Yes," Shimako broke in softly, leaning forward. "Does Yumi-san truly want Touko-chan as her petite soeur or is this something else?" "She had better want her!" Simultaneously, all three girls turned to see Noriko standing in the doorway to the meeting room. Her dark eyes were narrowed and she walked into the room, her stance quiet and controlled, gaze never leaving Yumi's as she said in commanding tones, "Don't play games with Touko's heart." "Noriko," murmured Shimako, standing up and walking to her petite soeur. Immediately, Noriko deflated, unable to maintain her anger while in Shimako's direct presence. Her dark eyes became gentle as she looked at the blonde. "Shimako-san," she said, her expression pleading. "Let me say this?" A small but understanding smile played on Shimako's lips and she dipped her head in acceptance. Noriko returned the smile before turning her serious eyes back to Yumi who looked at the younger girl apprehensively. "Touko sees herself as nothing but a replacement for Sachiko-sama to you. If that's the truth, I don't think you want her for your petite soeur for the right reasons and it would be best if you please left her alone." Yumi's brown eyes were impossibly wide then became slowly lidded. Deep in thought, she began speaking more to herself than anyone present. "At first, it was that. I couldn't bear the thought of being without oneesama and I longed for anyone to fill the void her absence would leave in my life. I went along with the tea party for potential soeurs in hopes of finding someone but it didn't work. In fact, nothing I did seemed to work." Lifting her gaze, Yumi smiled softly and said, "Then I started to spend time with Touko-chan. The more time I spent with her the less time I worried about oneesama leaving me. I thought of Touko-chan, not oneesama, wanted to be with Touko-chan, not oneesama, to see her smile and laugh, and I know I still love oneesama…" Yumi sighed deeply, looking off to one side, before turning back to face Noriko with eyes that reminded her so much of Touko's. Hurt and confused and begging just for the smallest bit of understanding. "I always will love oneesama but I think, maybe, these feelings I've been having mean that I can love Touko-chan too." Silence then Noriko released a huge whoosh of air and formed a lopsided grin. "Don't tease her too much, Yumi-sama," she advised, waving her finger at Yumi. "She doesn't know how to take it." "But that's what makes it fun," Yumi found herself pouting at the idea of not being able to tease Touko. She started to say something else but froze in midsentence as she realized how right Noriko really was. Touko didn't know how to take her teasing at all, she didn't know that Yumi didn't mean any harm with her words, that it was her way of showing affection. Considering that, suddenly her actions had an almost cruel effect and it was more than Yumi could bear. The need to set things right took her over and Yumi began rushing to gather up her things and soon went running out the door. Calling to her perplexed and questioning friends, "I need to explain!" Watching her go, Noriko smiled, lacing her fingers with Shimako's and murmured, "Good luck."
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