In the Middle. (Use to be called THE LOVE TRIANGLE)
This might seem a little rushed but…your opinion counts! This seems more like a play form"Yumi!"
"I have to leave for school soon-" Yumi's mom cut her off and put her hand on her daughters shoulder.
"You may want to sit down for this. We know about your school but we'll be brief." Her mother assured her. Yumi sat down looking in the background at Hiroki who was playing his games as usual but today he seemed different. He didn't literally jump on her bed to wake her up, he didn't do the usual pranks in the bathroom, and instead, he looked…SAD. Like if he cried he'd kill the game controller. Okay. What in the world is going on? She thought.
"Well you're father has gotten a new job in Tokyo since he was fired…AGAIN. In the mean time we will live with your Grandmother at her house in Tokyo while I look for a new house."
"What?" Yumi was stunned. This obviously was NOT what she expected. Though she couldn't say that she didn't expect it, it was bound to happen. But today? The prom was coming up and she was sure as the colour black is black that William would ask and maybe Ulrich...
"And before I forget as soon as we go to Japan we are preparing for a wedding."
"Oh….um okay, who's wedding?" Yumi asked suddenly very intrigued. Weddings were always nice.
"Your wedding!" She exclaimed in a bubbly tone.
Wait…what? I'm 18! Yumi thought before she yelled at her mother."My wedding!" Yumi instantly sat up about to protest.
"Yumi, yes I know your only 18, I know this is all new but maybe it's for the best. France has been getting more….dangerous. Your father is working three jobs anyway, and I was fired last week. I've been looking for a job here also but I can't find anything. I just want you to be safe instead of living here. Plus you'll live a happier life in Japan. Trust me."
"Happier life? The one reason why we left Japan because you said France was going to be a HAPPIER LIFE!"
"Yumi calm down. You know Heiyiko's son was recently married but she never showed up at the wedding. So, Heiyiko came here a few days ago, she said that you would be a perfect wife."
"..." Yumi seemed to turn red at this point. Hiroki obviously knew he had to step out. ". . . SO YOU COULDN'T HAVE ASKED ME FIRST?"
"I don't see why you're so upset! In some families, betrothing is still present. And we never took part in it until now..." Her mother tried to reason with Yumi but Yumi wouldn't hear anymore.
Yumi stomped out of her house slamming the door hard. She knocked down the little ornament that was hanging from the door. She found herself face to face with William. A tear ran visibly down her cheek, William was about to ask but she shook her head no.
"Well...um...I thought I could walk you to school?"
"...Sure..." Yumi replied swallowing. Her anger was still showing and William wanted no part in it.
"Um…well…great!" William valued his life right now and didn't want to say anything much.
Yumi hugged her books staring blank into space. He looked at Yumi wondering why she looked so angry. Then the tear made it even more confusing. He decided to ask while they were walking.
"Are you alright?" William asked in a low tone. Yumi's face or eyes never looked at his.
"No." Was the flat answer. "Sorry I changed my mind; I'd really like to walk alone."
William stopped and Yumi kept on going. He stood there for two minutes trying to wonder what happened. He shrugged it off and mindlessly followed her. After few blocks Yumi walked into the gates looking at Ulrich and Odd at the Vending Machines. Odd was complaining about the hot chocolate again. Ulrich obviously wasn't listening so Odd decided to change the subject.
"So Ulrich, I heard Jeremy asked Aelita to the dance."
"Really?" Ulrich replied.
"And I haven't really had any luck on any girl lately…Bridgette left me, I have no clue why. I had her for two weeks and I wasn't even dating another girl…" Odd kept going and Ulrich didn't pay attention again. He was more interested at Yumi's dull yet emotional face.
Ulrich looked at her and caught her attention. She smiled meekly despite her mood, he smiled back at her until another smile came bulging into his face.
"Hi Mister Ricky!" A somewhat high pitched voice called out. Odd couldn't help but laugh, at the same time spitting out his drink.
"Mister-" He choked out, he coughed up for a minute, "Ricky?! First it was Ulrich Dear now this!" Odd kept on laughing and Sissy just glared at him. Ulrich rolled his eyes.
Sissy had a smirk on her face and put her hands on her hips.
"So-"
"No."
"I didn't even ask yet! SO, I wanted to ask you about that new movie that's out! I think you're interested so we can go together!" Sissy squealed slightly. Yumi came walking up barely making a sound. Everyone stared at each other for a moment until Sissy brought up the question again.
Ulrich breathed deeply and loudly before talking again. "No."
"Alright then," Sissy cleared her throat, "Okay, well as you know the prom is in a week and I have no date-"
"No." Ulrich said again with his pitch rising.
"Please?" Sissy begged childishly.
"No."
"Pretty Please?"
"No."
"Pretty, Pretty Please?"
"No."
"Preeeeeetty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty PLEASE?"
"Number one, no. Number two, no and Number 3…mmm…NO."
"Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty please with a cherry on top with rainbow sprinkles?"
"HE SAID NO!" Yumi spit out finally. "Sissy, please just do us all a favor, be a good dog and fetch the stick. DON'T BRING IT BACK." In addition Yumi picked up a wooden plank (randomly near by) and threw it to prove her point.
"Yah know Sissy, you and Kiwi might be able to make arrangements tonight for that movie." Odd snickered a little while Sissy kept a blunt face.
"That prank wasn't funny and it still isn't funny now." Sissy turned on her heel and finally walked away. Sissy was getting real desperate after she turned 16. Desperately pathetic if you asked anyone.
"Hey Yumi!" William shouted.
"Oh look, here comes the Devil wears Prada's husband." Odd muttered. William obviously heard it but made no comment.
"Can I talk to you privately?" He said directing that to Ulrich. Yumi didn't reply, she just huffed and nodded. Odd threw his cup at Ulrich and scolded him for not saying anything about "his woman".
"So...here over at the bench."
"I wanted to see if you would like to go to the prom-" William was stopped mid-sentence. Tears weld up in Yumi's eyes at the mentioning of that. She ran away from him leaving her book bag behind. Ulrich raised an eye brow and went over to William.
"What did you say to her?"
"I just asked her to the prom and then she ran off like a living waterfall. Gee's, she's been so sensitive since this morning."
She ran out of out of Kadiac and ran past her house. Finally she stopped at the end of a street corner. It was empty. The only thing next to her was an old abandoned dumpster. She sat down hugging her knees crying. She felt her phone vibrate and eventually shut it off.
Yumi sighed deeply. She looked up at the sky with dark clouds staring at her. Her hair sagged down hugging her cheeks. Her cheeks also had a flustered color. She bit her lip leaning further against the wall.
"The last thing I wanted today was being asked to the prom...fate has to be the cruelest thing there is."
Hours later-
"So Ulrich have you found Yumi?" Odd asked almost eating the tray instead of the food.
"What do you think?" Ulrich spun his spoon around in the soup with a face that looked worried and exhausted.
"You know Ulrich you ought to rest for awhile, where ever Yumi is I'm sure she's fine." Jeremy said in a coaxing tone but it didn't help.
"And besides if Yumi's gone who is he going to take for the school Prom?" Odd teased but Aelita slapped him and stuffed a couple of mini muffins inside his mouth.
"Muth was wat moor?" Said Odd trying to swallow the muffin but couldn't.
"Close your mouth when you chew."
"Close your mouth before you talk," Replied Odd who had finally swallowed the muffin. Ulrich sighed exhaustedly. Aelita raise an eyebrow at that. Sometimes Odd never made sense.
"Um Ulrich why don't we help you find Yumi?" Aelita asked so suddenly. Ulrich was about to say something when Sissy came in her Orange glory. She was clad in Orange from toe nails too lips. Hervé and Nicholas were in tow behind her.
"How do you like my outfit?" Odd responded by flicking some of Ulrich's soup at her. Sissy ducked and it landed on Hervé.
"So anyway, Ulrich, like I said we could help you find Yumi-" Aelita tried again but of course Sissy over-rid her sentence.
"She's missing? Aww too bad!" Sissy tried to sound sympathetic and failed miserably. "I hope you find the little runt." That hit Ulrich's last nerve. Sissy hadn't change too much over the years. She was nicer too people but when it came to her love life…you know the drill.
"Sissy why don't you get a life and leave mine alone! You just make people's lives more miserable just by your presence!" Yelled Ulrich. Sissy sucked in her lip.
"Well I never…"
"Well I never have seen someone so annoying."
Ulrich got up out of his chair knocking it into the floor almost breaking it. He ran out of the lunch room and grabbed his jacket. He slowly went out of the school grounds passing Jim successively. He decided to ask at Yumi's house. After a few blocks he reached their concrete porch and knocked on the Ishiyama's door. Hiroki answered with a semi angry face.
"Oh, it's you." Hiroki bluntly muttered.
"Uh...yeah but is Yumi home?" Hiroki looked at Ulrich; Hiroki left and called his mom. Mrs. Ishiyama came to the door.
"Yes?" Ask Mrs. Ishiyama
"I just wanted to know if Yumi's home."
Yumi's mom sighed, "She ran away. But nothing serious. She'll come back when she feels like it." She finished in a calm sentence closing the door. She was obviously stressed.
:blink:blink: Ran Away? If that was the case it didn't seem like Yumi's mom cared. He decided to take a walk down the street where Yumi was. He walked past her not noticing her, but she noticed him.
After Ulrich was at least a foot away from her she blew her cover by sneezing.
"Yumi?" He asked turning around. Talk about blind corner…
Oh gee, he knows me so well that he knows what my sneezes sound like. "Hi...Ulrich..." She spoke in a soft sad tone. Though you could tell she was angry.
Ulrich looked at her dumbly.
"I bet your wondering what's going on huh?" She asked. Ulrich nodded walking closer to her.
"I am so screwed...just because of my Japanese culture we moved to France, I thought we left our culture behind. But no! I recently found out I was betrothed!"
:blink: again.
"Affianced? Arranged Marriage?" Yumi said thinking he was confused. Ulrich got the message, but wasn't exactly talkative about it right then and there.
"Um…I'm just uh…shocked?." Ulrich stated. Yumi smiled weakly little bit but then buried her head into her knees.
"Ulrich, why did it have to be the way it is? I'm only 18...and in one week I'm flying back to Japan to meet my "Future Husband" Like I want to see his pig headed face anyway." Yumi sighed. "I can't do it Ulrich. Marriage is a big step. I don't even know him."
"Anybody should think it is. And not to change the subject but your parents don't seem to upset about you running away."
"Yeah well, they know I'll come back, and they know I can't do anything to stop what's happening. And here I thought being a half adult would make you have some kind of say in things."
"I'm not really going to be much help here. I'm not a good advice giver…all I can think to say is sorry."
"No Ulrich, I'm really sorry Ulrich...for both of us."
"W-what do you mean sorry for both of us?" Ulrich finally had gotten some words out of his voice. Yumi bit her lip and looked down; she looked up after a few seconds. She lifted her head up slightly and leaned in kissing him softly. She liked it at the same time hated it, her and Ulrich danced around each other and never even got together. Now, there wasn't any chance. Divorce could be an option. But who divorces a day after they get married? Well...actually….but that was beside the point!
She pulled away hugging Ulrich tightly. Ulrich of course didn't know what to say and just held her.
"I'm going to miss you guys so much." Yumi's tears soaked his shirt. Ulrich stroked her hair softly and lifted her chin up to his face.
"Hey, if you keep on crying you'll make me cry. And I don't cry."
"What about that time Xana sent that snow storm?" Yumi's voice cracked and she put on a tiny smile. Ulrich stuck his tongue out at her playfully. He sighed.
"Well, I better get back to my dorm. You better get home, it won't help being out here in the night."
----
Ulrich went back to school to his dorm opened the door to his dorm surprised to find Odd wide awake.
"Where have you been?" he asked but Ulrich just sat on his bed silent as it could be.
"Are you going to sit there or tell me what happened?" he said "Yoo-hoo ...Ulrich you there? What-"
"Just leave me alone Odd...I have a lot on my mind that I don't feel like talking about. Not here Not ever." Ulrich sighed. Odd sucked his lip. He threw Kiwi's ball for the hundredth time and Kiwi brought it back to him wagging his tail happily. Odd sighed as well, how long could a dog play fetch? Silence filled the air except for the time-to-time bark of Kiwi. Somebody then knocked on the door. Ulrich mumbled "Come in."
Odd gave a weird look at the person. Sissy?
"Hey Ulrich...this is really hard for me to say but...sorry...I acted like a jerk and I was hoping I could help you find Yumi." Ulrich seemed to form a smile but a grim one. "Thanks Sissy but uh...I found her."
"Yeah…um goodnight." Sissy fled out the room slamming the door for an odd reason.
Odd raised an eyebrow. "Okay… Yumi ran away, Sissy said she's sorry, Jim was normal for a day…Kiwi is immortal because he won't stop playing! What has the world come too...? Oh by the way Ulrich, you missed it. The principle said that we...well are going to a pre-selected college."
"Come again?"
"The school picked the colleges for us instead of the world, or government. Who ever picks it….our parents agreed to it and we didn't know. So, I'm going have across the world to some college to help my "Artistic Mind." AND your going too my college too! One is for art and…sports and then regular college trash…"
"That's just great. But we're only 17."
"I dunno. Kadiac has always been weird. Who knew you'd ever make it to college anyway."
"Thanks for the encouragement." He threw a pillow at his room mate.
In Yumi's case she was back at her home in her room staring at the ceiling. So many thoughts were swimming inside her mind, 'Who is this guy I'm marrying?' 'What about college?' 'I think I left Hiroki's bath tub water running.' Yumi's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Yumi?" asked her mom.
"Yes...?" Yumi didn't feel much like talking but she new her mother was going to ask questions and she had to answer them. Her mom opened the door and sat down next to her daughter. Yumi turned her back to her mom.
"I want to talk to you...about all of this...we thought you would be happy."
"Do I look happy to you?" Yumi asked.
"No. But I can tell your upset mostly about your wedding. You should be happy about it."
"Well I'm not. You can't force me to do this."
"No. But when you're betrothed, we can."
"I can't get married! I don't want to get married!"
"Yumi, it's our tradition, your life will be better. And not have to live here anymore, wasn't Japan better than this?" Yumi's mother tried to calm Yumi but it didn't work, obviously. "You'll have a whole new life."
"A whole new life? You don't know how much you just ruined my life!"
"Yumi be reasonable-"
"I AM being reasonable! I have a reason to protest!"
"And what is this reason?" Yumi's mother asked skeptically. Yumi froze, that came out the wrong way.
"I uh-forget it mother. Just leave me alone. I am out numbered aren't I? You and Dad were betrothed, and you still don't like each other. Grandma and Grandpa were betrothed. Both of them. The whole family tree was probably. So I guess I can't break it." It was silent for a bit before her mother spoke up again.
"We're leaving tomorrow."
"TOMORROW?" Yumi sprang up facing her mother straight in the face.
"Yes, tomorrow. Kadiac is leaving for a trip the day after tomorrow, oh no...it's tomorrow also. Plus that's the cheapest flight; we can't afford all the other flights. I and your father have already packed. Even you're stuff, all that's left is your bed." Her mother pointed out. She was right, even her stuffed animal was gone. Why hadn't she noticed that before?
"Just get out…"
Her mother made a growling sound getting up not saying a word. Yumi reached out to turn out the light which was in the floor and yelled in Japanese into her pillow.
The Next Day
Odd opened his eyes and yawned. Ulrich was already gone.
"Hmm...6:45. I don't wake up that early! Oh well, maybe Ulrich will save me a banana and croissant..."
Odd grabbed his purple clothes and ran out the door. He skidded past the showers and ran back to the door almost ramming in Ulrich.
"What are you so giddy about? Since when are you awake at this hour?" Ulrich asked leaning against the sink. Odd smiled.
"I don't know. Maybe it's just a special day for me!"
"You had sugar last night didn't you?" Ulrich asked not expecting any answer and grabbed his tooth brush going outside.
After 15 minutes Odd got out of the bathroom clad in his purple clothes.
"Hah! Only 10 more minutes to breakfast." He run toward the cafeteria but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"Excuse me?" A new voice asked. Odd turned around swiftly meeting a girl with red hair and green eyes. She had a strong southern accent.
"Hi, I'm new...I just moved here for the college stuff and I was wondering if you could show me the principles office?"
"Oh...um...down the hall, make a right and then...uh…to your left."
"Thanks" The girl hurriedly ran down the directions.
After his noon classes he walked outside shoving his hands into his pockets. He noticed a car in front of the main building. He saw the girl he met this morning getting out of it. Though it kind of looked like she got pushed out of it, the car sped off leaving the girl on the ground next too piles of bags. He heard her grunt.
"Need any help?" Odd said. The girl looked behind her, seeing the boy who helped her to get the office.
"Oh…um….it would be nice." She said with her voice quivering slightly.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of me." Odd teased. The girl barely smiled.
"No, I've just never really been to the outside world. I never really met new people. So I'm just new to the 'Hi and How are yah." Thing'."
"Oh I understand. So what's your name and where are you from?" Odd asked lifting the girl up from the ground.
"Clorea Troliantiniz [Tro-Lee-ANT-tin-ez but people call me Clor. I'm from Texas; you can probably tell by my accent. I use to work there with my Uncle in a paint shop. I painted a lot of pictures, but my Uncle retired and I had to go somewhere, since my Aunt lives here I had to live with her."
"Where are your parent's?" Odd looked at the 100 boxes stacked up neatly behind Clor.
"And that's just my stuff and my parents are...well My Aunt told me they died. And she adopted me. Though my aunts a total witch. She probably killed them or something so she could have children since she can't bear them and then my sister died and then I was forced to do a ritual about it and- that's probably more than ya'll want to know..."
"Yah." Odd rubbed the back of his neck. Clor licked her lips.
"And this is the stuff my Uncle gave me."
"Hey!" Odd's eye's lit up and grabbed a guitar shaped case. "You play?"
"Oh that old thing? That's from my Grandpa. It's just my hobby. I create my own songs, then play them. Then sing em'. I only did it around my Uncle though. Then he died 3 years after retirement. It's weird. I have no grandma, or grandpa. From both sides of family. No pictures of my sister just memories. All I have are memories of my family. So my Aunt sent me here, to get rid of my "Old tyrant behind."
"Nice Aunt..."
"Why am I telling you all this anyway? Oh forget it…and I know I just got to know you and it sounds crazy but I have a feeling that...well my Aunt did killed them all. I even had a dog and it died the day after my sister..."
"I'm not the CSI crew so don't ask me."
Clor giggled a bit. "You're funny." She cleared her throat and scratched her head. "Do you have a lunch room or something? I haven't eaten since I got here…."
"Well it is lunch time soon-"
Clor flew out of the area and took Odd's wrist pulling him out with her.
"Hey Odd are you going to eat that?" Clor asked but snatched it anyway before Odd could answer.
"Hey!, don't you know what owning is? I owned that cookie." Odd crossed his arms like a 5 year old who was told No. Clor giggled girlishly taking her tray back up for more
"Remind me who she is again?" Aelita asked Odd. Odd sipped his drink not saying anything.
"Really…you walked over here with her and she introduced herself for 5 seconds and ran off to eat." Jeremy added.
Aelita looked over her shoulder where she found herself staring at Clor begging Rosa for more. Odd's stomach was nothing compared to how big Clor's was. Clor was a skinny minnie and yet could eat a whole banquet by herself. Odd thought he heard Aelita comment about Clor being a female version of him.
Clor came back in triumph; she had a tray ten times bigger than that last one. She speedily sat back in her seat eating her food. Odd cleared his throat trying to engage a conversation. Clor looked at him blankly with her mouth stuffed full of desert. A few crumbs fell from her lips. Then Ulrich and Yumi came in.
"Oh hey Ulllll...rich and Yu-...mi?" Odd stopped and looked at Yumi's sad and angry expression. Ulrich had the same look just with more anger.
"Um...guys?" Odd asked the both of them.
"What!" Yumi and Ulrich snapped in union. Odd scooted away in his seat. Aelita kept on eating like she was never there, Jeremy hid his head in a book he was reading and Clor swallowed slowly.
"So...are these your...other...friends?" She asked afraid to cause any trouble at the two. Yumi sitting with her arms folded boring holes into the table while Ulrich kept on sighing every 2 seconds.
"Yes, but I don't think we should ask."
"I agree. Listen...um I'm going to take a…um….a walk! " Clor stated and sat up from her chair. Odd looked around eagerly and sat up also.
"I'm going to come to. Aelita?"
"Uh...me and Jeremy will just go and see some old files on –cough-Lyoko-cough-." She simply said. Odd nodded and Clor raised an eyebrow.
"What did she say?"
"Nothing…"
"What she said." Jeremy said and fled out the room with Aelita followed suit.
"Alright! Bub-bye!" Odd grabbed Clor's arm and ran out the cafeteria.
"Didn't mean to scare them…are you going to talk now?" Ulrichasked.
"I'm leaving today at 7:00." Yumi said barely above a whisper but Ulrich heard it.
"Today? I thought you said-" Yumi interrupted him with a sigh/growl.
"I thought so too." She began, "I'm going to miss all of you guys. I really am. And you can tell them about my little predicament when I leave. But when I leave...please?"
"I can promise you that, but I can't get the thought sunk in about you leaving. And when you actually DO leave, I think I'll go crazy. And if I here "Bride kills groom in Japan during her wedding." I think I'll know who that is."
"That actually isn't a bad idea." Yumi cracked a smile. "Why does this have to be me?" Ulrich shrugged.
"I better get going. My mom said come home by 6:30 and its 6:13 now so...yeah. Call me, email me. Send me letters do whatever I don't want to miss you without knowing where you are."
"Um…When you miss someone aren't you not supposed to know where they are?" " Ulrich replied stupidly.
"I don't know.." Yumi grinned sheepishly. She stopped at the doorway. She looked back at him give him the "come here" sign. Ulrich didn't waste a second's time coming up to the Japanese girl.
"You know...I would be more than happy if you accompanied me to the airport?" Yumi asked, though it really sounded like a demand more than anything else.
"Sure. But I don't think you have to ask me...I'd come follow you anyhow." Yumi blushed lightly at this.
"Take off the gentlemen act."
"Why?"
"Because it isn't like you." She replied. Ulrich was about to leave out the door but apparently Yumi wasn't moving a muscle.
"What is it?"
"Guilt… I'd love the others to come too but I don't know, I don't need all of you crying. That last thing I want is Odd to make up some weird conspiracy too delay the flight."
"You know Xana could always help along." Yumi huffed at the statement.
"I'm sure a deceased virus will do us plenty!"
"When did that "Oh I will miss you till that day I die and now I regret not telling my friends! WHAT AGONY!" conversation float too?"
"La-La land, where it should be." She simply said and pushed him out the door.
As Ulrich and Yumi left someone was behind the door, William. He heard "Air Port" and that's all he needed to know.
"Ah-hah…" Ironically it just so happens that he was going to Japan in…this summer, he didn't know exactly when, his parents never said anything particular about that…anyway he'd be there for over six months, plenty of time to find Yumi and find out what all that has been happening in two days. Then maybe he take her out to dinner, kill Ulrich, bring her roses cause' every girl loves roses, kill Ulrich with an axe, give her chocolate cause' every girl loves chocolate! Didn't she say she was allergic..? And lastly, kill Ulrich with an axe and throw him off the plane with an anvil over the ocean. Or maybe he just had too much of Rosa's food that resembled coal…Nah.
So…what'd'ya think? Too gruesome? Too stupid? ( I know that, but this fic is purely for humor and...Whatnot. )
I promise I'll update during or after Christmas. Oh wait…its July now isn't it? That's right, I wrote this last year! Oh no...wait two years…and then rewrote it on July 11, 2007.
Love ya'll!
P.S: Oh look, the FIRST longest chapter I've ever written in my entire life! Should I split it? Cause I really don't want too.
Sorry if anyone is off character. I tried… And I have very light romance in here. In fact, it's like your brother and sister kissing each other on the cheeks after he came home from war or from Tahiti. SOMEWHERE FAR away and then came back 10 years later...