A/N: First; the legal stuff: Maria-sama ga Miteru and the associated characters herein are property of their respective owners and Oyuki Konno. I own nothing except the Fan Fiction story concept below.

Second; the creator service: The author wishes to thank Oyuki-sama for creating such a beautiful world and for graciously allowing those of us who enjoy her work to come and play there on occasion. (Some of us more than others...) ^_~

Third; my turn: Welcome to my 5th story (4th posted.) in the MSGM universe. This time I decided to switch up the personalities a bit between Sachiko and Yumi. The story takes place some 2 years after Yumi's graduation from Lillian High. Both she and Sachiko are currently attending Lillian University.

For my faithful followers, a cookie: The song mentioned in the first paragraph, "Benibara no Tema", also has a YouTube video. Sung by the anime voice actors of Yumi, Sachiko, and Youko's characters. Listen to the song as you begin reading to get "into" the story! How's that for interactive fan fiction? ^_^ (Album information at the end of this chapter.)

Please feel free to leave comments and reviews.

And now, to our story...

Confrontation

Chapter 1: The Argument

Ogasawara House – Main Study.

It was a Saturday afternoon and Yumi and Sachiko were playing and singing duets on the piano. They were waiting for their Chinensis family soeur's Touko Matsudaira and Youko Mizuno to arrive. As they finished the song "Benibara no Tema", Sachiko sighs in contentment. "That was great Yumi! I love playing together with you."

Sitting at the bench next to Sachiko, Yumi had dropped her hands into her lap. She had looked up to Sachiko at her comment, a smile briefly lighting her face before it quickly faded. She was deep in thought, and her face was showing it. Unfortunately, Sachiko wasn't looking at her and missed the clue that something was wrong.

Yumi looked to Sachiko again briefly before quietly saying, "Sachiko?"

Looking at her friend, Sachiko said, "Yes love?" in reply.

"It's a month away…" Yumi said sadly.

Sachiko looked down dejectedly at the piano keyboard as she sighed at the mention of her impending marriage to Kashiwagi Suguru. "Yes. Yes it is."

Yumi continued looking down at her lap. Already knowing the answer to her next question before she even asked it. "What are you going to do about it?"

Sachiko closed the piano's key cover softly. "There is nothing to be done Yumi. You know this."

With her voice rising in irritation, Yumi retorted with "What I know is that you are unwilling to tell them the truth about us…and about you."

Sachiko's exasperation was evident as she said. "Yumi, please stop. I want to spend a pleasant evening with you. We have so very few of them left together."

Sachiko's implied ending of their relationship did not go unnoticed by Yumi. Not wanting to deal with the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her, Yumi vented her frustration with Sachiko as she suddenly stood up and walked away from the piano. "Aaarrgghh! Avoiding the issue won't solve it!"

"Neither does confronting my parents!" Sachiko shot back.

Yumi was standing at the open veranda doors looking at the darkening sky; she was shaking her head slowly in disapproval. "It's all about saving face with your family isn't it? Think and believe whatever you want, but heaven forbid that you fail to maintain the façade."

Sachiko looked over at Yumi, the hurt from Yumi's comment evident upon her face. "That is not fair Yumi." Looking over her shoulder towards Sachiko, Yumi asked. "And what you're doing to me is?" Sachiko glared at Yumi before replying. "Stop it. We have gone over this before. I am neither in a position to challenge my parents nor make demands that they abandon the agreement. As much as I wish that I could." Mild disgust was evident in Yumi's voice as she said. "Hai. For two years, and you still won't confront them."

As silence ensued between the pair for several minutes, neither of them noticed a tall figure approach and stand in the darkness outside on the veranda.

"What of Kashiwagi-san?" Yumi finally asked. "Some help he is." Sachiko replied with obvious resentment. "With what he and his family stand to gain from this 'merger', he has solidly done nothing. After all, this is 'my problem'." Yumi sadly shook her head again. "But it's not just your problem Sa-chan, it's ours. Your decisions affect me as well." Sachiko wrapped her arms around her own waist as she looked sadly at the floor. She nodded in silent agreement.

More silence followed.

Yumi turned back around to look at her girlfriend. She tilted her head to one side as she sadly asked "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you confess to me that day? Why did you confess your love? If you were aware that you would not alter their plans for you, why didn't you maintain your silence and let me follow my own path, blissfully unaware of your feelings?"

Sachiko was confused as she replied. "Because I love you."

Yumi continued staring at Sachiko. "Do you? Do you really?" Offended by her implication, Sachiko's voice rose as she said. "Of course!"

"I think you lie…"

Shocked by Yumi's accusation, Sachiko managed to get out a stunned. "What?! Why would you think such a thing?" Folding her arms across her chest, Yumi continued with. "You love me enough to confess your love and affection, but not enough to acknowledge me to either your parents or our friends."

Despite a pained expression on her face, Sachiko could only give a proper lady's response. "I have other considerations besides just you and I…"

"Liar." Yumi said in disgust while rolling her eyes.

This annoyed Sachiko as she glared at Yumi. "Why do you insist on saying that? It is not true!"

"Because you are lying! To me, to our friends, to your parents, and worst of all; to yourself."

Sachiko tried pleading, the pain evident in her voice. "Yumi, please understand. I cannot go against them yet. It isn't the right time."

Yumi's agitation became evident again as she demanded. "Then when Sachiko? When? You have been saying that for over two years now." Sighing, she used her hands to emphasize her point, "Always with what you cannot do. Where did my Sa-chan go? Do you know? Do you even remember her?" Sachiko could only stand silently in thought.

"Do you remember our first time together in the green house?" Sachiko sighed and nodded that she did. "Do you remember what you said to me that day?" Sachiko gave her no answer. Looking up at the ceiling in thought, Yumi went on. "You said; 'Let me fight, I am tired of running.'" Looking back to Sachiko, she asked. "Do you remember those words Sa-chan? Where is that woman? I miss her."

"Yumi…"

Yumi held up her hand to silence Sachiko. "That is where I am now Sa-chan. Let me fight for us if you can't. I am tired of running."

"I cannot let you do that Yumi. This is something that I, and I alone, must do."

In a sharply raised voice, Yumi shouted. "Then do it!"

Silenced by her outburst, Sachiko gave an exasperated sigh but said nothing.

Yumi reached up to her collar and removed a rosary lying underneath it. It was one that Sachiko had given her the previous Christmas. Seeing this, Sachiko asked. "What are you doing?" Looking at Sachiko with almost dead eyes, Yumi told her. "It's time Sachiko. It's time for you to make a decision." Sachiko's eyes grew wide with fear. "Yumi. Please don't do this. You're hurting me…"

"Which is exactly what you have been doing to me." Yumi replied flatly.

A moment of silence passed between them.

"So, which is it to be Sachiko? Them? Or me?" Sachiko started to cry as she pleaded "Yumi, please…" Yumi made her demand again. "Make a choice Sachiko. Now." Distraught, Sachiko tried to reason with her petite-soeur. "Yumi…I…can't. I can't lose you, but I also cannot go against them. It's my duty and obligation."

"And what of your obligation to me? Or to us?" Yumi asked coldly.

The sadness was evident in her eyes as she said, "Those…have to come second…"

"I do not believe what I am hearing." Yumi said angrily. "For all your grace and charm, you coward! It's nothing, nothing but a smokescreen for the real you!"

"Gomenasai…" Sachiko began. "Sorry will not suffice!" Yumi shouted at her friend.

Sachiko shouted back, asking. "What do you want from me?"

"Acknowledgement!" Yumi demanded. "To know that I matter enough for you to tell your family what I am to you. And what we are to each other!"

Sachiko told her sadly. "I cannot do that."

"Then take it!" Yumi said as she held out the rosary towards Sachiko. Sachiko managed to sob out a no to Yumi's demand. Still shouting; Yumi told her friend. "Grow up Sachiko! You have made your decision. Now here is mine. Either you tell them about us, now, or we are through! I will not live in the shadows for your convenience and comfort any longer."

Sachiko backed away from Yumi, pleading. "Please, stop…" Keeping close to Sachiko, Yumi stepped forward. "Only you can stop this Sa-chan. Choose." Shaking her head, Sachiko repeated. "No. I won't.", as she backed away from Yumi again.

This time Yumi held her ground and looked at Sachiko incredulously. "You…selfish little girl. All the sacrifices I have made for you, because you asked me to. All the time I have spent acquiescing to your needs. Yet you cannot do this one thing for me…for us! Instead you choose to run away from taking any responsibility or control of your life. Such cowardice. Is this the real you Sachiko? Is this what you have been hiding behind the facade you have created? If it is, then I want no part of this anymore. It's time to release me Sachiko. Take your rosary and let me walk away."

Sachiko vigorously shook her head. "No Yumi. No!" With chagrin, Yumi pantomimed Sachiko in an almost perfect imitation of her voice and facial expressions. "I grow so tired of this…" Then continuing in her normal voice, "Stop being an idiot and take it!" Sachiko just silently shook her head no.

Yumi finally lost her patience. "Take it! Take it back! Release me and you will never ever have to see me again! Your family and Kashiwagi-san can have you all to themselves, I promise..." The rosary was dangling from Yumi's hand, mere centimeters in front of Sachiko's face.

Sachiko shrieked in horror at the thought. "No! Nooo!" Bending over at her waist Sachiko let loose an unintelligible guttural scream that caused Yumi to step back in shock. A scream that emanated from deep within her soul that Sachiko directed at the floor in front of her. Tears were now streaming down her face, as she stood upright again. Sobbing loudly she said. "I will not do it! Please. Do not make me choose."

-0-0-

Outside the study, Ogasawara Sayako, Matsudaira Touko, and Mizuno Youko had been approaching as they heard Sachiko's gut wrenching scream. They traded alarmed looks with each other, with Sayako saying. "What on earth…" as they begin listening in.

-0-0-

"Why not?" Yumi demanded. "So you do not have to suffer from your decisions? As long as it is not an Ogasawara dealing with the consequences then it doesn't matter? It doesn't matter since it is only me?"

Sachiko shrieked out "No!" at Yumi's accusation. She paused briefly before saying. "You do matter Yumi. You always have!"

"Then why?"

"I…I can't choose between you. I need you both… Both of you are important. Having one... doesn't matter without the other…" Sachiko finally managed to choke out.

Yumi's contempt was spilling over as she replied. "That has been obvious from the beginning. But still, you continue to deny me to them! It is like I am a shameful secret that is to be kept hidden away. Is that what I am to you Sachiko? A shameful, disgusting secret?"

Sachiko forcefully denied the accusation with a loud. "No!"

-0-0-

Having heard enough, Sayako decided that it was time to intercede. Telling the two friends with her to stay put, she burst into the study, leaving the doors open. There was concern in her voice as she demanded, "What is going on in here?!"

Upon her mother's entry, Sachiko abruptly turned away. She attempted to hide the tears streaming down her face. It was unlady-like after all. To be seen crying by her mother wouldn't be proper.

Ignoring Sayako's question for the moment, Yumi stared at Sachiko's back for several seconds before asking her. "Why are you so silent Sa-chan? Are you going to do it again? Say nothing in the vain hope that no one asks any further?" An angry smirk was visible upon her face.

-0-0-

Standing beside the study doors, Youko and Touko looked at each other in wide-eyed wonder at Yumi's calling Sachiko out. This was a side of their friend that they had definitely not seen before. Neither of them were especially surprised that Sachiko had been hiding a secret from everyone. It was just like the ice princess to keep things to herself.

-0-0-

"Yumi-chan?" Sayako inquired of her daughter's imouto.

Yumi turned halfway around and looked back to Sayako. "Gomenasai Sayako-obasan." She replied as she pointed her thumb over her shoulder at Sachiko. "It is a disagreement over 'her' inability to tell the truth."

"Yumi!" Sachiko warned loudly.

Having surmised what was happening between Yumi and Sachiko, Sayako was not surprised that it was over their hidden relationship. She had been expecting something like this for some time. She looked to her daughter, asking. "Sa-chan, what are you not being truthful about?"

Silence was Sachiko's only response.

Disgust returning to her voice, Yumi said. "And the lies continue…" Sachiko snapped her head around to give Yumi a piercing gaze as a warning. It was met by an equally unflinching stare from Yumi. A silent war was raged between the two sets of eyes for several seconds. Relenting, Sachiko then turned her head back around, being careful to avoid eye contact with her mother. Raising her voice, Yumi said. "Coward!" Sachiko's ears turned red, but she maintained her self-imposed silence.

Sayako looked at the both of them. Realizing that they were at an impasse, she angrily demanded. "Someone explain this. Now!"

Yumi looked down at the rosary she was holding, it's cross was dangling free in her right hand. She sighed before she replied. "She is, or rather she has been, lying to you about us." Continuing to face away from them, Sachiko remained silent.

Sayako's gaze fell to Yumi, "Lying?" She asked. Getting a nodded yes from Yumi, she then asked Sachiko. "What is she talking about Sa-chan?" Her daughter stood silently shaking her head no.

Yumi let out an exasperated sigh before saying. "About the nature of our relationship since her graduation from Lillian."

Knowing that Sachiko would not provide the answer, Sayako asked Yumi. "And that would be…?"

Yumi waited to see if there would be a response from Sachiko. After failing to get an answer for several seconds, she angrily replied. "That we are seeing each other."

-0-0-

Touko and Youko looked at each other with amazement on their faces and shared a silent 'Oh my god!' upon hearing Yumi's confession about her and Sachiko. They then smiled and gave each other a high-five at Yumi's boldness before returning to their eavesdropping.

-0-0-

Following up on Yumi's comment, Sayako wanted to hear her daughter admisssion. "As sisters, right?"

Yumi smiled briefly at Sayako's reply. "No Obasan, we are dating. Romantically. She is my girlfriend and I am hers."

Still looking at Sachiko's back, Sayako repeated. "Girlfriends?"

With a resigned sigh, Yumi continued to answer Sayako's questions. "Hai, the love of her life. At least that is what she says..." Looking back to Sachiko. "Right now however, I am not so sure."

"Is this true Sa-chan?" Sayako asked her daughter. While Sachiko maintained her silence, it was evident to both of them that she was fighting to keep control over her emotions. It was a fight that she was slowly losing.

Annoyed with Sachiko's continued silence Yumi shouted. "Answer her!" Sachiko spun around and glared at Yumi. Her face showing the internal struggle she was waging. Her mouth opened to shout back at Yumi. She paused long enough to regain control of herself, she closed her mouth before quietly saying. "It is…complicated."

-0-0-

Youko and Touko rolled their eyes and shook their heads. Neither could believe that Sachiko would continue to be so stubborn in the face of such an admission by Yumi.

-0-0-

Sayako was now giving her daughter a disgusted look as Yumi replied. "Which part is complicated? That I am your girlfriend? That we are in love with each other? That Kashiwagi-san is not the one you love? Or is it just simply because as your lover, I am an inconvenient truth?"

Sachiko's building frustration with Yumi became evident as she yelled. "Stop making things up!"

Glaring at her friend. Yumi held up the rosary in front of Sachiko's face. As she stared directly into Sachiko's eyes, she said to Sayako. "Obasan, I swear on Maria-sama's name; everything I have said here is the truth. She is my girlfriend and my love. My heart belongs only to her…whether she chooses to admit it or not."

Sachiko stomped her foot at Yumi's remark saying. "Stop!"

Stepping closer to her onee-sama as she advanced upon her, Yumi angrily yelled at Sachiko. "Go on, deny it Sachiko! Swear! Swear upon our rosary that anything I have said is a lie!" Her movement caused Sachiko to back into the piano they were playing earlier. "Go ahead Sachiko. Deny me again. Deny 'us' to Maria-sama!"

Slowly sinking to her knees with a defeated look upon her face, Sachiko sobbed. "I…I…" She then let out a sigh, as she looked downward. "I cannot."

Sayako, who was inwardly content that Sachiko had finally started to admit her true feelings, only said. "I see…"

Still holding the rosary over Sachiko, Yumi asked. "And Kashiwagi-san?" Sachiko was now weeping openly as she admitted, "I do not love him. I do not want to be his wife."

-0-0-

Outside the study, Touko and Youko silently said "Yes!" at Sachiko's refusal to deny Yumi to Maria-sama. However, their joy was to be short lived.

-0-0-

Nothing was said between the three inside the study for several moments.

Yumi had slightly relaxed from her earlier outburst. Now it was out in the open. Sayako-obasan had heard Sachiko admit it. Now maybe she could get some closure, one way or another. "One last time," She asked her girlfriend. "What am I to you?" Sachiko's head was tilted down. Sobbing, she quietly slumped forward to the floor without answering.

"Sachiko…I am waiting…" Yumi said with sadness.

"You are…my…" Sachiko began before she collapsed into a fit of crying without answering further.

Sayako quietly moved across the space to stand behind Yumi. Yumi shook her head slowly, as an evident sadness completely enveloped her; "That is what I thought. Still trying to hide behind the façade. Exactly what you always do."

Yumi closed her eyes briefly. Mustering all the love she could, Yumi continued. "Sachiko, I want to walk in the sunlight with you. I will suffocate and die in the darkness you are trying to protect us with. I will not be a mistress. I will not be treated like a dirty secret. More importantly, I would not allow you to be treated in such a manner either. Whether it was by my family or anyone else. You are worth more than that to me. You deserve better, as do I."

Sachiko remained silent in her position on the floor.

"You are my heart and my princess." Yumi bitterly said. "I thought I was yours…" She then opened her hand and started to turn it over. She was intent on allowing the rosary to fall to the floor in front of Sachiko. As she did, an arm shot out beside her and caught the rosary, clasping it tightly back into her hand. Startled, Yumi looked to her right with a puzzled look. "Sayako-obasan?"

"A word, Yumi-chan." Sayako said quietly into her ear as she pulled Yumi towards the study doors several meters away from Sachiko. "That is enough Yumi-chan." Sayako quietly explained. "Look at her. Can you not see? If you return this to her, it will break her. It will destroy her as surely as being forced to marry Suguru-san would. Is that what you want?"

Despite her anger at Sachiko, seeing her love as she sat genuflected on the floor quietly sobbing caused Yumi a great deal of pain. She shook her head. "No." she answered. "That is not my intent."

Sayako squeezed her shoulder as she told her. "I am on your side Yumi-chan. I am asking you, please give me some time with her. I will need a week at the very least. I am in a position to help you both, but even I cannot resolve it tonight. Could you trust me?" Still looking at Sachiko, Yumi nodded yes and sighed deeply.

Sayako smiled at Yumi before hugging her. "Then please rest on this and leave it in my care for now. I will have a driver take you home." Yumi nodded her assent again. Then turning towards Sachiko, she said in a practiced and pleasant manner. "Sa-chan? I will see you at school on Monday. Gokigenyou!" Turning back to Sayako, she said, "Please take care of my love." loud enough for Sachiko to hear. She then turned towards the open doors and walked out of the study as Sayako focused her attention on her daughter.

-0-0-

On the opposite side of the room, no one noticed the darkened figure outside silently move away from the open patio doors.

-0-0-

In the hallway, Matsudaira Touko and Mizuno Youko were standing outside the study. Sharing a look, both had silently committed themselves to helping their two friends and sisters achieve the happiness they deserved. They had almost started to cry at Yumi's comment about being Sachiko's heart and princess. Little did Sachiko know that she would receive little, if any, comfort from either her cousin or her onee-sama after hearing Yumi's heartfelt plea for Sachiko's acknowledgement go unanswered.

Exiting the room, Yumi had almost ran into the pair. The three friends all stood silently for a few moments staring at each other. Yumi had an idea that they had heard what the argument was about. She wasn't sure of how much they knew. It was likely that they knew enough to piece it together. 'They probably think I'm the 'bad girl'.' She thought. 'Now they will probably take Sachiko's side.' At that thought, Yumi balled her hands into fists at her side as she sighed heavily. She said to them. "Go. Just...go to her." Dejection was evident on her face as she started to walk between them.

Youko reached out and stopped Yumi. Pulling her in for a tight hug, she whispered into Yumi's ear. "This is what she needed Yumi-chan. You need not worry about what we think, we already knew…and we are all happy for the both of you." Touko nodded her agreement from the other side as she also hugged Yumi. Saying to her. "Now that your 'secret' is out, your friends in the Yamayurikai can help change things for the better, for the both of you. This is a good thing onee-sama. I promise." Touko then kissed her on the cheek before she and Youko walked into the study.

While Yumi was grateful for her friends kind words of encouragement and their acceptance of her and Sachiko as a couple, she was having a hard time believing that anything would change Sachiko's mind.

Drained and exhausted, Yumi slowly walked out towards the waiting car.

-0-0-

A/N: "Benibara no Tema" (Red Roses Theme) is from Maria-sama ga Miteru Image Album Volume 1. The lyrics are by Oyuki Konno. The vocals are Yumi (Voiced by Kana Ueda), Sachiko (Voiced by Miki Itou), and Youko (Voiced by Emi Shinohara). The album is available from Frontier Works.