"Why did I ask Touko-chan on a half date without planning it first?" Yumi moaned into her pillow. "What did you say?" asked Yuuki, frowning at his sister, though his eyebrows rose in humorous observation at her complaints. "Because all I heard through the pillow was mzmrpouh Touko-channnnn," Yuuki sing songed the younger girl's name in a disturbing parody of Yumi. "Not funny, Yuuki," said Yumi with a definite pout, trying to whap him with her pillow. "But accurate all the same," Yuuki laughed, dodging the pillow and jumping to his feet. Taking sympathy on his sibling as he watched her groan and collapse on the bed, he suggested, "Why not ask Sachiko for advice?" Yumi sat up, observing Yuuki with a look of horror. "I can't ask oneesama for help on my date with Touko-chan." "Why?" asked Yuuki with a teasing expression. "Because you're cheating on her?" Instantly, Yumi's face fell and Yuuki realized his mistake. "I'm sorry, sis, I didn't mean--" "But I am, aren't I?" said Yumi, turning her gaze away from him. "I wouldn't be if I chose Kanako-chan for my petite soeur but with Touko-chan it isn't the same." "You care for her like you care for Sachiko," said Yuuki, his tone a bit disbelieving. He never thought that he would see the day anyone could come close to taking Sachiko's place in his sister's heart but the way she had been acting lately with Touko… perhaps it was a real possibility. "Yes," Yumi admitted this almost painfully. She lifted her head to look at him rather desperately. "I can't help it though. Touko-chan reminds me so much of oneesama but in another way, a really good way. And I want to take care of her, make her happy, but it's different with her, Yuuki. She…" Yumi trailed off, her features growing still as she stared at something only she could see. "She what?" questioned Yuuki. "She wants to be loved and I want to love her," said Yumi finally, a soft but sad smile on her features. "Oneesama doesn't want that." "Sachiko loves you," said Yuuki, a little in shock at hearing what equaled to his sister declaring she was giving up on her love for Sachiko. "You know that." "I do," Yumi agreed, that sad smile remaining on her face. "And I love oneesama, I always will, but I know she won't really let me love her or really let herself love me back. Not to the fullest, not when she has to live up to the expectations of her family." "But she doesn't have to!" Yuuki cried, suddenly struck by how very unfair it was. He knew that Sachiko loved his sister and he knew his sister loved Sachiko. Why couldn't they be together? It was all just so stupid. "Oneesama thinks she does," said Yumi simply, closing her eyes and taking a long breath. "And as long as she thinks that we can't be together." Opening her eyes, Yumi stared down at her hands, pulling at the blanket on her bed. "I could wait for her to change her mind, I've already tried to change it myself and it didn't work." Looking up at Yuuki, she said quietly, "But it was oneesama who told me not to wait. To find a petite soeur because I would need the support once she went away." "Yumi," said Yuuki dejectedly. He stared at her for a moment then formed a determined expression. "Wait here," he commanded and then he went running out of the room. Yumi looked after him in confusion but he soon returned carrying an armful of magazines. "Dating research!" he announced proudly, plopping the magazines onto Yumi's bed. Grinning widely, he winked at his sister. "With all the advice in here we're bound to come up with something Touko-chan should like." Watching her brother rift through the pile of magazines, Yumi smiled slowly. He truly did want the best for her and somehow, without her explaining, he knew right now that was Touko. Kind as this was of him, Yumi couldn't help but tease her brother, just a little, about having an extensive collection of magazines with dating information. That was the way of being a big sister, after all. --- In the end, Yumi didn't take Touko to any of the magazine suggested date spots. She did, however, make use of the advice one of them gave her. Namely to pick something that appealed to the interests of your date but would genuinely hold your own attention as well. Which is how Yumi came to stand with Touko in front of the Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre, her hands flying from their place covering the younger girl's eyes as she exclaimed, "Ta dah!" The sounds of people milling about, cars honking, music blaring but no response from Touko. Biting the inside of her lip, Yumi wondered if maybe the magazine had gravely misled her. Then Touko looked at her, eyes shining with excitement and Yumi knew that at long last she had done the right thing regarding Touko. Not that she always thought she did the wrong thing but the younger girl could be so hard to read that Yumi often second guessed herself. It was nice, for once, to not feel that. To simply see Touko smiling happily and filled with joy. "Shall we go inside?" Yumi suggested, lacing her fingers with Touko's and taking a step towards the theatre. Her momentum was soon stopped by a subtle tug at her hand. Looking back, she saw Touko's head was lowered. At once, Yumi frowned, wondering if she had been wrong and the other girl actually wasn't happy with her choice. "Touko-chan? Is something the matter?" "How did you know?" asked Touko quietly, her head still lowered. Yumi blinked in confusion then she realized that Touko was asking how she had known that she would want to come here. Smiling tenderly, Yumi stepped closer, reaching out to cup the girl's cheek, causing Touko's eyes to lift and meet her own. "Because I pay very close attention to what Touko-chan likes," replied Yumi fondly, her thumb moving against soft skin in a gentle caress. "In hopes it might help her to like me." "Yumi-sama," Touko breathed and her lips moved silently as if in an unspoken confession. She looked helplessly into Yumi's kind gaze before dropping her eyes to the ground. Forming an expression of disappointed understanding, Yumi's hand fell down and she laced her fingers with Touko's once again. Pulling the younger girl forward, she said brightly, "Lets go inside! The show is about to start." In truth, they had thirty minutes before the curtain lifted. --- Two hours later, the humor of the playwright and skills of the actors portraying his words had removed all traces of earlier unease. Smiling and exchanging anecdotes about scenes in the play, they stepped out into the dimming sunlight of late afternoon. Reaching for Touko's hand with a hopeful look in her eyes, Yumi asked, "Are you hungry? We have plenty of time for lunch." Touko paused, seeming to contemplate seriously and something in Yumi just knew this wasn't good for her. Whenever Touko appeared to think too hard about things involving Yumi the older girl inevitably got rejected. Thus, Yumi made it her immediate objective to remove any thoughts from Touko's mind. This meant the tickle monster had to be brought out of retirement. "Say yes, Touko-chan," Yumi began, wearing a semi-threatening expression as she neared the other girl. "Yumi-sama?" Touko questioned, instinctively backing away. With that, Yumi launched her attack. Wearing an almost wicked smile, Yumi's hands curled outwards like frightening claws which attacked Touko's midsection. Digging at her flesh mercilessly until the younger girl was doubled over with laughter. "Say yes," repeated Yumi, not letting up in the slightest, even though her antics were drawing quite a bit of attention. "Yes," gasped Touko through her laughter. "Just stop!" Instantly, Yumi's hands stilled and she wore an expression of great satisfaction. Spinning on her heel to face forward, she stuck her arm backwards, hand outstretched in a silent imitation of the gesture Touko had made weeks earlier. A moment passed then Yumi felt the warmth of Touko's hand in hers. A wide smile on her face, she looked to the other girl. "Where should we eat?" Yumi questioned. "Anywhere is fine," murmured Touko, ears red as she noticed the stares that accompanied them as they walked down the street. Exactly how many people had seen Yumi's shameless attack on her anyway? "Anywhere is not fine when it involves Touko-chan," Yumi pouted, pulling the younger girl forward until she walked at her side. "You have to pick something." She formed an entreating expression and said, "Please?" "Why does it matter so much that I pick?" asked Touko wearily. "Because I want to know all of your favorite things," replied Yumi, smiling happily at Touko. "So," she dipped her head down and brought her face close to Touko's. "Will you tell me?" There was another long pause and Yumi feared Touko was thinking yet again when she released a sigh and said in something of a mumble, "Thai." "What?" Yumi asked, honestly unable to hear. "Thai food," said Touko reluctantly, averting her gaze. "That's my favorite." Another little piece of the wall around Touko's heart had been chipped away and Yumi felt a thrill at this. Giving Touko's hand a gentle squeeze, she looked into ambivalent blue eyes as they lifted to meet her own. "Where do we get the best Thai food?" she asked. For a response, Touko's eyes glinted and she formed a wicked smile that put Yumi's to shame.
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