Code Lyoko: An American in Xana's Court

Disclaimer: I do not own CodeL Lyoko, nor do I take credit for Luna Forest's characters. They are her own and I only take credit for the characters that I have created.

Chapter One:

A year after Maia left:

"You're sending me WHERE?" A brown-haired girl screamed. An older woman raised her hand and tried to calm her enraged daughter.

"We're sending you to Caddick Academy in France." She said soothingly, with little success.

The brown-haired girl looked at her mother like she was insane. "I'm a freaking sophomore in high school for God's sake. Why the HELL are you sending me to boarding school?" A look passed over the girl's face as a thought occurred to her. "It's because of Arik isn't it? It's because i'm going back out with Arik and his mother doesn't want him to and his mother doesn't know." The girl searched her mother's frozen face, and suddenly she knew that it was true. "Damn it!" She cursed, and she stormed upstairs, tears starting to flow down her face.

"Kira!" the older woman called desperately at the foot of the stairs, but only her daughter's barely controlled sobs could be heard. She covered her own face in her hands and cried as well, her husband coming to stand behind her and rubbed her shoulders.

The next day:

Kira stood in the airport, her face blank of all emotion and her iPod ear buds firmly planted in her ears, her hair straightened, black eye shadow, mascara and eyeliner decorating her eyes, and a deep burgundy coloring her lips. Her outfit was completely black. She wore a tight black shirt with a low neckline and gauzy bell sleeves, her jeans were new black jeans and her boots laced and buckled up her thighs, the heels a good two inches tall. Around her neck she wore a silver necklace, the charm a pentacle with a garnet in its center. She wore a pentacle ring, also silver.

"Flight 665 leaving from Ft. Lauderdale to France now boarding. All women with small children and children flying alone can now board." A woman called over the intercom. Kira stood, not looking at her parents who stood behind her. Her red suitcase trailed behind her as she made her way to the gate, her laptop bag slung onto her right shoulder and her ticket in her hand. One ear bud was tucked into her shirt and she smiled thinly at the flight attendant who reached for her ticket.

"Are you flying alone?" the attendant asked sweetly. Kira just looked at her blankly. The attendant's smile faltered and she asked another question. "How old are you honey?"

"First of all, yes, I'm flying alone, and second of all, I'm not you're fucking 'honey' and i'm sixteen and can take care of myself." Kira said shortly, venom dripping from every word. The attendant's face flicked from utter shock and disdain, back to her sugary sweet smile in a matter of seconds. "Alrighty then, here's you ticket and enjoy you're flight."

Kira snatched the ticket from the woman's hand and walked down the ramp to the plane. Fracking bitch, like I'm gonna enjoy my flight. I'm being sent off to boarding school just like Maia. Kira thought bitterly as she went down the rows trying to find her seat. After a minute she found it and she lifted her her suitcase above her head and struggled to put it into the overhead compartment.

"Here, let me help you." A male voice said behind her and a pair of male arms appeared next to her own and they both eased her cumbersome luggage into place.

"Thanks," Kira mumbled as she sat down in her seat on the aisle. The guy sat down next to her and watched her take out a pair of earplugs from her pocket. He chuckled and she looked at him sharply, her face an angry mask. "What?"

He waved vaguely at her hands. "Earplugs?"

Kira bristled. "Yes earplugs. They're special ones for air pressure. Now, if you would be so kind." And with that she maneuvered the plugs in her ears and braced herself for takeoff. It came a few moments later. Kira closed her eyes and gripped her laptop case that sat on her lap tightly. I always hate this part. Why couldn't mom accept that I love him? Why did she have to send me away? Kira was oblivious to the fact that silent tears flowed freely down her face until the plane leveled out and she opened her eyes and saw the guy that had helped her was reaching to wipe away her tears.

She drew back sharply and furiously wiped away her tears. He sat back and watched her dig into the front pocket of the case and take out a mirror. Kira ignored him and checked her make-up, taking out a small cloth and wiped away her running mascara. She put everything back in her case and top out her laptop, and turned it on. The guy next to her tapped her shoulder and she looked at him sharply.

"You gonna take out those plugs? We're gonna have a long flight you know." He asked. Kira just looked at him and turned back to her computer, though she did take out the earplugs and tuck them in her pocket. She worked on her computer for a while until a flight attendant walked up with a cart full of food and drinks. She shut her laptop and put it back in its case as she received her food and drink, then leaned back in her chair as her neighbor's food and drink were passed to him.

"Do you know any French?" the guy asked.

"Non mon ami." Kira replied with a slight smirk. "Actually, the only French I know comes from reading a really great book series, and even some of that French I have no idea what it means." She laughed slightly, her animosity towards her neighbor slowly drifting away and she found herself opening up to him more than she ever had to any of her friends and family. Kira didn't even notice as they made their decent and landing until the captain came on over the intercom and said, "Welcome to France ladies and gentlemen. Remember to set your watches five hours ahead, or you'll get seriously messed up." The whole cabin laughed and the captain repeated himself in French before giving everyone instructions on how they were supposed to leave.

Kira stood and stretched, her arms reaching above her head and her body stretched taunt. She let her companion pass then slung her laptop case over her shoulder again and reached up to take out her suitcase. It was easier to take her hulking red suitcase down than putting it up, and she walked slowly off the plane, still talking to her companion. Kira looked up and saw a suited man holding a sign with her name on it and she turned to her companion and help out her hand.

"Thanks so much, it was nice meeting you." she said as they shook hands. "My ride's over there."

"Here, take my card. If you need to talk or want someone familiar to see around, give me a call or e-mail me. I enjoyed our talk." He said, and Kira took his card, putting it in her pocket with a smile.

She turned and walked towards the man with the sign. "Kira Hayes?" He asked with a slight French accent and she nodded.

"Yep, that's me. I have a bag to pick up before we leave for the school." The chauffeur nodded and they went downstairs to the main concourse.