Disclaimer: I don't own Code Lyoko. Poor me...

Loyalty

Chapter 1

Some days the quiet was almost more than I could stand, but other times when I'd just stop and listen, I got the feeling these woods wanted to tell me something. Gently running a few fingers through a small clump of grass I leaned my head back against a large oak tree. Today felt like one of those times...

The breeze ruffled a few strands of my hair as I slowly released a sigh. If this forest was like everyone else lately it should have been telling me all the things I needed to remember if I was going to survive life after graduation. The date that was only three days away now. But instead I got the idea it just wanted to say...goodbye.

Slowly standing I placed a hand against the the rough bark of the tree as a slight smile cracked my lips. "Thanks..." I whispered softly before tucking my fists into my jacket pockets. I was already sick of saying goodbyes, but sometimes it seemed like it was better than making promises you couldn't keep. Turning I started to walk away.

Hazy shadows from the treetops were lining my path, and if I let my mind slip just a little I knew I'd find my feet standing next to that same old familiar manhole cover. I had to be crazy, but lately I'd been wishing my phone would ring and Jeremie would be there to tell me XANA was attacking. Back then I used to hate how little free time I had, now I'd give almost anything to just spend all afternoon saving the world.

Saving the world with them...

Caught off guard I jumped slightly at the vibrating in my pocket. Pulling out my phone I gazed at the screen until my mind wrapped around the text message. "Do you want coffee, or are you busy sulking at the moment? lol - Yumi" I forced a frown onto my face as I tried to ignore the lightness filling my chest. That same stupid feeling. "Yeah I just finished. What time?" I quickly replied with a few taps of my thumb.

"I get off in 30 minutes. - Yumi" I answered with a simple: "Alright." Back then maybe I would have been happy for the attention, but today... Stopping I let my head fall back with a sigh as I took in the pieces of blue sky I could see through the tree branches. Today I was still happy...and that killed me more than she'd ever realize. Yumi had graduated last year and I figured that might be the last I'd see of her, but she kept texting me. I shook the creeping hope from my thoughts. She kept up with everybody...we were all friends...

Shuffling my feet through the leaf cover, I reminded myself for the thousandth time that we were, and would always be, just friends that's all. I was nineteen years old, and already I guessed the best time of my life was over. Coming to the edge of the forest I squinted at the sudden burst of light that hit my eyes. Nineteen...and already I was saying goodbye to everything that ever mattered to me. Or at least graduation would make sure of that...

Kadic's courtyard was a buzz with talk of graduation parties and long range life plans, but I slipped silently through the midst of it until I found myself outside my dorm. Slowly pushing the door open I noticed, as expected, Odd hunched over a stack of papers that he was franticly scribbling on. "So...how's the extra credit going?" I asked as I reached for my motorcycle keys. He quickly swung around in his chair before throwing his hands up in victory. "Better than anyone realized! If there's one thing I'm not gonna do it's repeat a year!"

I grinned slightly at him. "So all this time you just had to choose to be a good student...and you decided three days before we graduate?" He shook his head. "Nope, not really. But this is a creative writing assignment. And art good buddy, is anything but my weakness!" I raised an eyebrow as curiosity got the better of me. "What's your story about anyway?" A wide grin shot across his face as he gestured dramatically. "The reader sees life through the eyes of our dashing hero, Codd Bella Tobbia as he battles to save the world from an evil mastermind named ZANA!"

Rolling my eyes playfully I pulled open the door before stopping to look over my shoulder. "You should get points for originality anyway Odd." "Oh yeah!" He shouted as he punched the air in determination. "Graduation here I come!" I just shook my head as I slowly closed the door behind me. While Odd was busy trying to make sure he'd even graduate in the first place, I knew Jeremie was absorbed in writing the class speech, and I guessed Aelita was helping him. Which meant my evening was pretty much free anyway.

So making my way outside the school gate I found my motorcycle and gently slipped a helmet over my head. With a flip down of my visor and a twist of my wrist I felt the engine rev to life beneath me. For at least a second a million memories shot through my mind, and I almost believed I was back on Lyoko. The warm feeling filled my veins like adrenaline, but as I came back down to earth the thought just traced a deeper frown onto my face. Biting back the ridiculous burning in my eyes, I accelerated onto the road and let my emotions trail just far enough behind so that it was impossible for them to catch up.

I wished the speed limit would have been the same as the ones back on those open digital plains, but as it was forty-five would have to be fast enough to clear my mind. Forty-five with three red lights in-between... The white lines on the road blurred inside my mind the closer I got to that familiar coffee shop. Yumi had worked there for the last six months after her graduation. I couldn't help but think how much a failure my father would think I was if I ended up taking a simple job like that. But at the same time Yumi seemed like she had found something I hadn't managed to in years...she was happy.

The wind rustled across my jacket as the little shop came into view. In the back of my mind I wondered just why she was in such a good mood lately. As much as I hated myself for it I couldn't deny that I was waiting for some random guy's name to come up during one of our coffee breaks. It didn't make much sense I knew, but after so many years...I got the feeling if she ever started going out, or even if it turned into her getting married one day...I guessed she could look me in the eyes and expect me to congratulate her the same way Aelita would. It would be the ultimate proof that we were just good friends.

I slowly pulled to a stop as I reached to set my hair free from my helmet. Then hanging it on one of the handlebars I flipped my keys into my jacket pocket before pacing toward the building. But Yumi was right if she thought that... Even if I died in the very next moment, I'd congratulate her. I'd pretend to smile and wish her everything she's ever dreamed of. Stepping inside my eyes landed on her behind the counter. She was adding a few pinches of spice to a steaming mug of something. A large smile beamed across her face as she handed it to a customer. "Alright thanks sir, come again!"

Before I could think I let go of a sigh as that same old feeling filled my chest. Even if today was that day...if it was finally the day I lost her for good... I... "Hey Ulrich!" She called with a wave as she pulled me from my pointless thoughts. "I'll be off in five minutes." Nervously stuffing my hands in my pockets I nodded before walking to the back of the shop to take a seat. After a few minutes of trying my best to look casual, Yumi slipped into the the chair across from me as she sat our two cups of hot chocolate in front of us.

"So," she began with a small grin. "Let me guess, Odd is knee deep in mandatory extra credit, and Jeremie and Aelita are over their head in honor speeches?"Giving a slight smile I nodded, as I reached to wrap my hand around the warm cup. "Yeah you pretty much guessed it." Yumi's face suddenly turned a little concerned. "Is Odd really gonna get held back a year?" Rolling my eyes I shook my head. "I doubt it, he seems pretty determined not to let that happen." A chuckle then escaped me. "He's taking our hero days as inspiration for his creative writing assignment. The adventures of 'Codd Bella Tobbia' I think he called it."

Yumi's face lit up with laughter. "Am I assuming he wrote us right out of the story?" I shrugged playfully. "Don't know, but something tells me he's remembering things a little differently than the rest of us." Her eyes softened into a warm smile as she gently blew across the brim of her hot chocolate. "Yeah...no doubt about that." Silence slowly fell over the table before Yumi gently leaned into her hand, and fixed her eyes on me. "And what about you Ulrich?"

Looking away I stared down into the small ripples moving over the surface of my drink. "Well my grades are just good enough to pass without extra credit, and just bad enough to not have any speeches to worry about so...I guess I have some free time." "Are your parents coming?" She asked frankly. I cringed at the question, even though I figured it was coming. After taking a deep breath I looked up to meet her face to face. "Mom is. My dad has a big meeting that day or something..." I wanted my tone to sound empty, as if I could care less, but I had a feeling she knew me better than that.

"Hey Ulrich...I'm sorry." She said simply as a soft frown lined her face suddenly. I shrugged again. "It's cool, I didn't really expect him to show up since I'm not valedictorian or anything." Her eyebrows raised in what seemed like slight anger. "Did you tell him how much it would mean to you for him to be there?" I frowned as my voice took on a subtle edge of defensiveness. "Who said it would mean anything to me?" Annoyance built behind her eyes as her tone stiffened. "I did Ulrich." I didn't want to make her any madder at me so I let the subject drop, as I slowly took a sip of my cooling hot chocolate.

After a few moments passed in silence her face softened slightly, though she still looked more than a little irritated. "You know Ulrich," She began as she reached over to point in my face until her finger actually poked my forehead. "You can't expect me to buy that after all these years. You always want to play the tough guy who doesn't need anybody, but I can see through that brave face you put on." The first thing I wanted to do was deny her point, but I knew that would only prove it. And, even if I hated it, I knew she was right...

Letting go of a sigh I frowned again. "He wouldn't change his plans for me anyway, so why does it even matter...?" She stared at me silently for a few long moments before she spoke. "As long as it's the truth, your feelings always matter Ulrich." I felt a wave of heat come over my body as I faltered in figuring out anything to say to that. Why would she of all people tell me that? Wasn't it her fault that I hadn't told her my feelings? I knew she wouldn't agree with them, return them, so what did it matter?

I folded my arms. "Sometimes even when it's the truth it doesn't change people Yumi..." I whispered softly. Or was the truth as simple as knowing that I was too big a coward to explain everything she meant to me? Her eyes fell with what looked like discouragement, before she spoke softly. "I just don't want to believe that Ulrich..." I hadn't ever given much thought to choosing what to believe or feel, I felt like those had always been things other people had handed me whether I wanted them or not.

But seeing her look so deflated did something to me. Yeah the way it always did. "Will you be there?" I asked slowly. She looked up to meet my eyes as a confused expression came to her. "Huh?" "Are you gonna be there when I graduate...?" I asked again even as I started to think I was saying way too much. She nodded slowly, still not seeming to get why I'd ask what should have been obvious. "Well yeah of course you know that Ulrich." Taking a deep breath I felt a rush of adrenaline fill my veins. I shouldn't say it, but I was.

"Yeah I know that, but I mean if it was just me, if Odd, Aelita and Jeremie were out of the picture?" I watched as a smile gently formed on her face. Slowly she leaned into her hand again as she stared into my eyes. "Don't tell them but..." She began as she laughed playfully. "I was always gonna go for you Ulrich..."

Thanks so much for reading, and as always feel free to review. Also stay tuned for chapter 2 coming soon!