Disclaimer: I do not own MariMite. Sad sad sad. Nahh its cool. The creator is doing a great job. :-)

A/N: Alright, here is chapter 6!

On with the show!

Revenge is a Dish...

Chapter 6

0 – 0 – 0

Yumi crashed onto her bed with Yoshino on top of her, struggling to maintain her grip on her friend while at the same time making sure she had landed soundly on the soft mattress. Sure that she had indeed landed squarely on her bed, she leaned back into her friend's kiss. As she wrapped her hands around the back of Yoshino's head and her arm, Yumi found herself chiding her own audacity at her actions. Here she was, in her own room, under her parent's roof, making out with her friend. It was so unlike Yumi, she wondered if she were, in fact, dreaming.

A sharp pain from her shoulder, Yoshino giving the flesh that ran along her neck to her arm a short bite, prove otherwise. Yumi was, in fact, wide awake.

Awake, and treading on thin ice in her own home.

Yumi had actually invited Yoshino over to her home for dinner Saturday evening after school. She had agreed, and after going home for a few hours that afternoon, she had arrived just in time for supper with her parents and brother. After a nice dinner, Yumi's parents entertained the pair of girls for a while, only to be ushered away by their own daughter (the cheek!) in favor of their own activities in Yumi's room. When it got late, Yoshino was about to leave. However, Yumi's parents argued the point that it was already far too late for the girl to go home, and insisted that since tomorrow was a day off, that she stay the night.

Little did Yumi's parents know that they had just played into the trap and Yumi and Yoshino never even intended to set. After dessert (ice cream and cake! Yum!) and a shower, Yumi and Yoshino found themselves back in Yumi's room as the household turned in for the night.

However, Yumi and Yoshino weren't really sleeping.

Yumi hadn't planned on this… honestly… she hadn't. She had just planned on having a nice evening and dinner with her friend, and leaving it at that. It was all her parent's fault. It was her parent's fault that they made Yoshino stay the night and-

"Mmm…" Yumi felt helself moan as Yoshino slipped a hand underneath her nightshirt, squeezing her breast. The feeling of Yoshino's hand on her chest felt very different without her bra, and she felt her whole body respond to the contact.

"Shh!" Yoshino said, her voice above a whisper. "Not so loud!" Yumi glared at her friend above her.

"Well, maybe if you wouldn't do that!" She hissed. Yoshino flicked her hair, which she had unbraided after her shower, behind her head and smirked.

"You want me to stop?"

"No!" Yumi's eye went wide. "I'll be quiet, I swear!"

"Good girl." Yoshino nodded. Without so much as another word, she returned to her previous job of working her way down Yumi's shoulder. The girl wore a light pink, button-up night shirt. It didn't take much effort at all to undo the top button and slide the cotton fabric off her shoulder.

Yumi felt herself tense as Yoshino's hand slipped part of her shirt off. She knew what she was doing. She usually did, after all. She was purposely removing her clothes on purpose! The thought drove Yumi crazy. But with Yoshino right there on top of her, her legs on either side of her hips, there wasn't much she could really do. She could just lay there and let Yoshino do what she wanted.

Or could she?

Inwardly giving herself a pat on the back, Yumi snuck her hands underneath Yoshino's nightshirt, a loose-fitting yellow cotton shirt, and ran her hands along the skin of the girls back. Yoshino reacted to the touch by pressing her body up against Yumi's and digging her teeth more deeply into her shoulder. Not wasting any time, Yumi ran hands around the front of Yoshino and rested her hands just noticeably next to the girl's chest.

Yoshino pulled away from Yumi's shoulder and gave her a piercing look. Yumi shrugged and giggled quietly. After glaring at Yumi for a few moments, Yoshino returned her shrug and deftly popped open another button of Yumi's shirt.

"Ah…" Yumi breathed, suddenly very embarrassed. The light was off, so it wasn't like it mattered… but still… Yoshino snickered silently above her and leaned down, kissing the newly revealed part of Yumi's chest, below her neck. "Your horrible…" She managed to say, her voice just barely above a whisper.

"Oh am I?" Came Yoshino's reply. Suddenly, Yumi felt another button open… and another… and another… until she knew her shirt was completely open to Yoshino. Fidgeting softly under her friend, Yumi shut her eyes in embarrassment.

"Yes… you are…" She breathed, trying desperately to ignore the mad thumping of her heard in her chest. Why oh why was Yoshino always so determined about this? Why wasn't she like this when it came to their relationship? For the past two weeks, both of them had refrained from really talking about where they were in their relationship. Were they friends? Lovers? Girlfriends? Friends… with privileges? Yumi just didn't know.

She had tried to bring up the subject with Yoshino a few times. When she had, though, her friend usually brushed her off, or was overcome with a fit of indecisiveness. It was largely frustrating to Yumi. Not that she really knew where they stood, anyway. If Yoshino had come to her and asked what kind of relationship they had… she would have probably answered in a similar fashion.

But still… it didn't help the fact that the two of them were here, in Yumi's bed, doing exactly the kind of thing that friends shouldn't be doing with each other.

"-!-!-!-!" Yumi back stiffened suddenly, and it took all of her willpower not to cry out when she felt Yoshino's warm mouth rest on the tip of her breast. All words failed her as she felt Yoshino gently touch, lick, and nibble the tender flesh of her chest. She could only whimper softly until her friend appeared in front of her face again, a wide grin plastered on her face.

"Horrible, am I?" She said, planting a soft kiss on Yumi's lips.

"The worst…" Yumi stammered, still reeling from the new sensation that assaulted her.

"Well, what are you going to do about it, Yumi-chan?"

Yumi narrowed her eyes back towards her friend, the possibilities flying through her head. Suddenly thinking of one, she smiled.

"Want to go on a date tomorrow?"

The randomness of the question threw Yoshino off her stride, and she opened her mouth in confusion. Yumi took the chance to quickly slip free from Yoshino's grasp, and pulling the girl back to where she was, threw her leg over Yoshino's hips, effectively changing positions. Now on top of her friend, Yumi found herself reveling in the fact that she had done all that without screwing up. Impressive indeed.

"Gah!" Yoshino hissed, her face a mix of angry and humor. "You tricked me!" Yumi shook her head, slowly running her hands back up Yoshino's body from the bottom of her shirt.

"No… that was real. Want to go on a date tomorrow?"

Yoshino eyed her for a moment, until her face went rigid as Yumi's hands found Yoshino's breasts.

"Y-yes! Yes, I do…" Her face colored heavily, still visible in the low light of Yumi's bedroom. "But what are we going to do?"

Yumi shrugged, and leaned forward, kissing Yoshino's neck softly. "I don't know… but we'll think about it after this…"

0 – 0 – 0

The next morning, Yoshino and Yumi decided to follow their tentatively-made plans to go out on a date. However, not really knowing anywhere interesting to go, the pair opted to split up for a few hours and meet up at the transit station later for lunch. For one, Yoshino had to return home to change clothes. Yumi also had to discreetly ask around for good date ideas. Unfortunately for her, the only people who would be of any help were her Onee-sama, Sachiko, or her brother, Yuuki.

After Yoshino bid Yumi's parents a farewell and thanks for having her, she left, leaving Yumi for a few hours. Giving a small sigh, she started to make her way to her brother's room to ask for date ideas when, causing a curious smile to creep across her face, another option came to her.

All but running back to her room, Yumi snatched up her phone from its cradle and dialed a telephone number she had written down next to it from a short list of other digits. After a few rings, a calm, collected voice answered.

"Toudo residence. How may I help you?"

"Ah! Shimako-san! Good morning, this is Yumi Fukuzawa." There was a short pause on the other end of the line before Shimako spoke again, her voice noticeably more elated.

"Yumi-san! Good morning. This is a pleasant surprise. To what may I owe the pleasure of your call?"

"Actually, I wanted to know if you could give me some advice, Shimako-san." Yumi said into the phone, smiling to herself.

"Some advice? Of course, Yumi-san. What kind of advice?"

"I was wondering if you knew anything about dates…"

Getting information on what Shimako knew about dates didn't take very long, as the Rosa Gigantea (surprisingly) didn't know all that much more about dating than Yumi herself did. Nevertheless, combining what Yumi knew with what Shimako knew proved to be enough to get her started, and Yumi was able to formulate a plan for her and Yoshino's afternoon date.

Before she even realized it, eleven o'clock came and went, and Yumi had to rush to make it to the transit station by half-past eleven: her and Yoshino's designated meeting time. Arriving at the entrance to the station, it didn't take Yumi long to locate her date.

Standing beside a notice board, looking to the entire world like a girl impatient, was Yoshino. She wore a light colored turtleneck sweater and denim trousers. Her dark sneakers gave the idea that she expected to do some walking. Yumi, on the other hand, had opted for a dark blue hoodie (unzipped, of course), light pink blouse and white skirt. Her cream-colored leggings protected her from the growing cold. Finally, she, like Yoshino, wore sneakers.

"Yoshino-chan!" She trotted up to her friend, beaming happily. Yoshino swiveled her eyes towards Yumi and frowned.

"About time, Yumi-chan." The girl 'humphed' audibly, deliberately looking away from Yumi. "I was starting to think you weren't coming."

Yumi looked and the ground, fidgeting nervously. "I'm sorry, Yoshino-chan… I couldn't decide what to wear." Yoshino turned her head back towards Yumi, casting her eyes over her choice of clothing. After a few moments, she sighed and relaxed her shoulders.

"Alright, alright. You look cute so… I guess I'll forgive you." She said, a small glint sparkling in her dark brown eyes. "That is… if you kiss me."

Yumi sputtered in shock for a moment, but her surprise ended as soon as it started. Yoshino must have been planning that from the very moment she arrived at the station. It was all Yumi could do to oblige her friend, after all. And anyway, they had done more than kiss… so… what difficulty was one more?

Yumi leaned her face close to Yoshino and, before her friend could react, landed a soft kiss right against her lips. Yoshino blinked, her hands hanging limply at her sides. Yumi giggled and pressed her fingers together mischievously.

"How was that?" She said, sticking out her tongue playfully.

It took a few moments for Yoshino to come back from wherever she was. The girl shook her head and coughed into her hands. "Geez… I thought it was gonna be like… a cute, innocent kiss on the cheek or something." Yumi shrugged.

"What are you talking about? That was cute and innocent."

"Yea, right. And I'm a nun." She eyed Yumi, considering something, and then seemed to abandon it. "You're lucky we're in a public place, missy. Now where are we off to?" Yumi suppressed the blush that threatened to overtake her features and nodded towards one of the bus lines.

"We're heading off towards downtown. I figured we go for lunch first, and then see where that takes us."

Yoshino smiled and nodded, a suddenly ravenous look sweeping across her face. Yumi couldn't help but think the look suited Yoshino perfectly.

"Excellent! I'm starved! Let's go!"

After a nice lunch of Italian pasta (a moderately priced, yet tasteful restaurant about fifteen minutes away on the bus), the two girls decided to partake in the conveniently nearby aquarium. Yumi had been to the very same aquarium a number of years ago, and was pleased to see that the place hadn't really changed all that much. There were still many different fish and sea creatures in different habitats and exhibits, and even a lovely rest area surrounded by a variety of different aquatic backgrounds. After taking a tour around the suggested route of the building, Yumi and Yoshino sat down on a small, two-seat bench in the rest area. Yoshino offered to go and buy some drinks, and after disappearing for a couple minutes, returned with two boxes in her hand.

"What would you like?" She asked, holding the boxes toward Yumi. "Strawberry milk? Or milk tea?"

"Strawberry milk." Yumi said. Yoshino smiled and placed the box of milk tea into her back, withdrawing a straw instead.

"Me too." She said with a wink. And sat herself down next to Yumi and stabbed the box with her straw.

"But, there's only one…" Yumi said, her voice trailing off at the incredulous look Yoshino sent her.

"So?" Her friend said, handing the box to Yumi. "I don't mind sharing a straw with you, Yumi-chan. I would even go as far as to say that because last night your mouth was on my-"

"Alright!" Yumi hissed, her eyes wide. "You made your point…" She put her lips on the straw, sucking up the strawberry-flavored drink slowly, well aware that her face was likely the same color as the drink.

Yoshino giggled as she held the can. "That's better, Yumi-chan." When Yumi sipped her fill, Yoshino took a turn, drinking the liquid quietly. It took the girls only a minute to drain the box. Yoshino tossed the emptied container into a nearby rubbish bin and let out a soft sigh. "Nice choice, Yumi-chan."

"What, the milk?" Yumi said with a smirk. Yoshino shot her a humored look before shrugging.

"Yes, but what I meant was the aquarium." She looked around the rest area, her eyes lingering on the aquatic-themed murals littering the walls. "I came here with Rei-chan when I was little. But I didn't enjoy it as much as I am now."

"Why?" Yumi asked, interested.

"Because of my heart." Came the response. It hadn't been the answer Yumi had expected, not that she knew what to expect, anyway. Yoshino looked at her and pointed towards her chest. "It kind of dictated my whole life as a kid. I couldn't really play… I couldn't do the things I wanted… I had to just do what the doctors said at all times. It was infuriating… But I couldn't fight it."

Yumi nodded, listening intently. She knew the basics of Yoshino before her heart operation, but not everything. If it meant getting to know the girl more and getting into her heart… so to speak… Yumi was all ears.

"Ah… sorry… that's kind of a depressing story. We're supposed to be having fun, right?" Yoshino grinned, her face a study in embarrassment.

"No… I want to know." Yumi said, leaning closer to Yoshino. "Really… I want to know everything about you."

Yoshino studied Yumi's eyes for a long minute, before nodding. "Alright… where do I begin?"

For the rest of the afternoon, Yoshino talked to Yumi all about her childhood. How her heard condition impeded her from doing what she wanted. How she had to always follow what she was told. How it was 'for her protection'. About how, so many times, she had cried herself to sleep at her own powerlessness.

In the end, though, Yoshino had finally gathered up the courage to make her own decisions. She had decided to get the operation for her heart. She, herself, had decided to step out, and make her own life how she wanted to make it. She wanted to be strong on her own. She wanted to be her own person; not the kind of person her family and doctors told her to be. It would change her entire life, her decision.

It was inspiring to Yumi. As she heard all of Yoshino's feelings, Yumi could feel her own take shape inside of her heart. As she listened to her friend, she finally understood, deep down inside, that she was sure of herself.

Her feelings were clear.

She loved Yoshino.

0 – 0 – 0

It was Monday, during lunchbreak, when Yumi sought out Rosa Foetida in her class. The second year poked her head in the third year classroom, looking for the tall, short haired girl. It didn't take long to finally find her.

"Rei-sama!" Yumi waved her hand to get the older girl's attention. Rei, seeing Yumi had come to her class to talk to her, made an effort to drop everything she had (which was a rather nice-looking lunch), and make her way to Yumi.

"Yumi-chan… what can I do for you?"

"Ah… do you have some time…?" Yumi asked, suddenly unsure of bothering the third year during lunch. But, Rei nodded intently, her eyes sharp and serious.

"Of course. Let me get my lunch and we can talk." She retrieved her lunchbox and returned to Yumi in a flash. "Shall we go somewhere more quiet?"

"Yea… that might be a good idea."

The two girls left the third year hallway in search of a less-populated area. Before she even realized it, Yumi had led Rei to the very same spot that she and Shimako often ate lunch, behind the classroom building, next to the ginko tree. She sat herself down, gesturing to Rei that they had arrived at their destination.

"So… this is about Yoshino." Rei states, sitting down and smoothing out her skirt before opening her lunch.

"Yea. I just wanted to talk to you for a few minutes… is that alright?" Yumi asked, casting a gaze over the older girl's lunch. It was immaculate; a pile of steamed rice, stir-fried pork cutlets, marinated cabbage, and an omelet that looked like it had been filled with onions, bacon, and tomatoes. Just looking at the expertly-prepared lunch made Yumi's mouth water. Her lunch wasn't anything to sneer at… but compared to Rei's lunch…

"Would… you like some…?" Rei asked Yumi, seeing the younger girl eying her own food enviously. Yumi shook her head, dispelling her moment of weakness.

"No! No… it's alright. It just looks really good." Rei laughed.

"It's perfectly fine, Yumi-chan. Help yourself. Really." She set her lunch on the step the two sat on, a clear meaning for Yumi to take some food.

"Well… if you say it's fine…" Yumi mumbled, blushing while taking some stir-fried pork. She popped it into her mouth. "Oh… my… gosh! It's amazing, Rei-sama!"

"Why, thank you, Yumi-chan. I try." Rei said, smiling. Suddenly, her smile fell from her face. "Now… about Yoshino… is anything the matter?"

Yumi swallowed and set her chopsticks down, staring out at the ginko tree. "No… nothing is wrong. In fact, just the opposite. Things are going really well."

"I see."

Yumi turned her gaze back to Rei. "I want to apologize to you Rei-sama." The older girl's eyebrow raised questioningly.

"Apologize?"

"Well… I kind of… took… Yoshino-chan from you…" Yumi said, hanging her head. "I never considered your feelings. She told me how much you took care of her when you were kids… and how much she cares for you. Thinking about that… I felt back about… well, you know… taking her away from you."

Rei stared back at Yumi for a long while, her face a mirror of surprise. Then, even more surprisingly, she laughed. "Yumi-chan! You take me by surprise more and more every day!" She brought her hand to her face, suppressing a huge grin. "You are actually worried about how I will take Yoshino spending time with you? Haha!" She leaned forward, laughing again. Yumi sat still, not quite sure how to take Rei's reaction. Should she be happy? Afraid? Nervous? Yumi just didn't know.

"Uh… Rei-sama… are you… upset?" She chanced. After a few moments of laughing, Rei sobered up and looked back at Yumi.

"No… not in the slightest." She said, wiping her eyes. "I'm actually really happy for you and Yoshino. At first, I was upset. Angry, really. I was angry at Yoshino being taken away from me by someone who didn't really understand her. Someone who just wanted to… I don't know…" She shrugged. "Like, when you first told Sachiko and I that you two were dating. I was shocked more than anything. Obviously, I was against it. But Sachiko persuaded me that you and Yoshino were your own people, and deserved a chance to try to be together."

"Yea… she told me that…" Yumi said. Rei nodded.

"And then you and Yoshino just… ah… surprised us again… that time in the Rose Mansion…" Yumi colored deeply at the memory. She vividly remembered the faces that Rei and Sachiko had when they had walked in and found the two second years… well… together. "And… well… my protective instincts kicked in. I'm sorry if I scared you."

"Ah… no, it's ok. Yoshino-chan and I shouldn't have even done that in the Rose Mansion…"

Rei sent her a stern look, and nodded. "It's good that you understand that. If either Sachiko or I catch you two like that in the Rose Mansion again…" The threat was clear to Yumi, who nodded. "Anyway… what I want to say is… I trust you. I also trust Yoshino. She is quite a handful… but…" Rei rubbed her hair, a tired look on her face. "Like I told you at the very beginning… Be careful… alright?"

Yumi nodded seriously, her hands tightly clenched on her lap. "Don't worry, Rei-sama. I love Yoshino-chan. I promise I will do whatever I can for her."

Rei stared back at Yumi, her eyes wide in surprise. After a few quiet moments, she sighed and looked at the ginko tree in front of them. "Love, huh? Well, I guess that's alright…"

The two girls ate their lunch quietly, amidst the fallen ginko nuts, until the soft chime sounding the start of classes broke them of their reprieve.

0 – 0 – 0

Yumi waited another couple days before approaching Yoshino, deciding to walk with her to the bus stop after the Yamayurikai meeting on Wednesday. After bidding the Onee-sama farewell, and parting with Shimako and Noriko (Touko was nowhere to be found, having left early to take care of personal matters), Yumi and Yoshino found themselves passing by the figure of Maria-sama alone after many other students had already left for the day. Yumi stood right beside Yoshino as the two girls put their hands together in prayer.

"You talked to Rei-chan, didn't you?" Yoshino said, her voice hiding her amusement as she turned away from the statue of Maria-sama. Yumi coughed and skipped to catch up to her friend.

"H-how did you know?" Yumi asked fearfully. Yoshino giggled and glanced at her.

"She told me last night. Wouldn't tell me what you two talked about though… I don't suppose you would be willing to shed some light?" Yumi sighed and sped up her pace, passing Yoshino.

"Hmm… I don't know… it was kind of a secret… if you know what I mean." She looked back to see Yoshino standing still, her eyes wide and staring straight at Yumi.

"No… I don't know what you mean." She said, her voice menacing. "You mind telling me what you were doing with my cousin?" She stepped forward, not a few inches away from Yumi's face. Yumi couldn't really help it; she laughed.

"I'm kidding! I'm kidding!" She said, stepping back from Yoshino. "I just wanted to apologize to her for kinda stealing you." Yoshino let out a relieved breath, her shoulders relaxing visibly.

"Oh, my god… you scared me… I thought you were two-timing with my cousin! As healthy as my heart is now, I don't think it could handle that."

Yumi stepped back up to Yoshino and held her hand against her friend's chest, above her heart. "Don't worry; I'm yours. Just yours."

Yoshino arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "And what exactly do you mean by that, Yumi-chan?"

Yumi couldn't help the blush that spread along her cheeks. "Exactly what it sounds like…" She said, her voice just above a whisper. "I'm yours… I… I love you, Yoshino-chan." She said, looking into her friends dark brown eyes. Yoshino blinked, eyes face slowly adjusting to the confession.

"Uh…" Yoshino stammered, not sure how to respond. Of all the things she expected Yumi to say, it must have not been this. "I…"

Yumi grabbed Yoshino's hand, intertwining their fingers. "I am sure about my feelings now. I love you. I want to thank you for coming up with your damn crazy plan to get our Onee-sama to pay attention to us. If you didn't, I may never have awakened to these feelings. I may never have known that I love you."

"Yumi-chan…" Yoshino whispered, a bright pink blush creeping through her face.

"You are all I think about; day and night. I am happy when I am with you. I am sad when we are apart. I look forward to every second I spend with you. All I want to do is make you happy, and I will be happy. If that isn't love, what is?"

Yoshino's eyes wavered, clearly holding back tears. "Are you sure that isn't Sachiko-sama you are talking about? She said with a hint of humor.

"That's a different feeling. She is my Onee-sama. You are Yoshino-chan." Yumi said with a bright smile. Yoshino's mouth twitched once. Twice. A third time, before she sucked in a long breath.

"I… feel the same way about you, Yumi-chan."

Yumi gripper her friend's hand tightly, barely suppressing her own wide smile. "Really?"

"Yea…" Yoshino said, nodding. "I thought about it for a long time. At first, I thought it was similar to the way I love Rei-chan. But… it's not… this is different. You make me want to be courageous. You make me want to be my own person. I never really told you this… but if it weren't for you talking to me that one day… I would have never gone through with my heart operation."

Yumi's mouth opened, shocked. "What…?" Yoshino nodded.

"Yea. I was scared. Scared that I wasn't strong enough to go through with it. I wasn't sure I was the kind of person who could decide things on their own. I wasn't sure I could be the kind of person I wanted to be. Then you talked to me, and told me what you thought about me." She laughed softly, rubbing her eyes the back of Yumi's hand. "It was all wrong, of course. Because Rei's and my information was switched. But you still told me what you thought, even though you didn't know for sure. I don't know why, even now, but somehow… after talking to you… I had suddenly had the courage to take the next step."

"Yoshino-chan…"

"So… yes, Yumi-chan. My feelings are also real. I love you." Yoshino smiled at her friend. Yumi nodded, returning the bright smile back at Yoshino. The two girls stood there, holding each other's hands for a long time, until Yoshino laughed. "So… Yumi-chan. I'll ask again…"

Yumi tilted her head in question. "Hmm?"

"Do you do start dating to get our Onee-sama jealous?" Yoshino asked, a glint in her eye.

"But we don't need to make them jealous anymore…" Yumi said, matching her friend's expression. Yoshino shrugged.

"We don't have to. But won't it be fun?"

Yumi giggled and nodded, leaning forward to kiss her girlfriend. Yoshino returned the kiss, still holding Yumi's hands tightly with her own, as the figure of Maria-sama watched on from behind them.

0 – 0 – 0

The End .

A/N: Short and sweet. Just how I like em. Some of you may know I had more to the story, but honestly, it wasn't going where I wanted it to go, and was cutting into another story I was working on (a Touko-centered one). So, because of that, I cut out the later parts and just ended my Yumi X Yoshino story where I originally intended to end it. I hope people enjoy the story for what it is :-)

See you on the next tale!

Peace!