"Yumi! No!"

I caught Yumi's hand but as soon as I did she began slipping.

"Odd, help me!"

I looked back to see Odd and Aelita fighting the one that pushed Yumi; William."

"Ulrich! I'm slipping!"

I looked back to Yumi and saw complete fear and terror in her eyes. My hand was becoming sweaty and hers did as well. We were holding each others hands by the tips of our fingers for a matter of seconds before I completely lost her. As tears weld up in my eyes I watched heartbroken as Yumi was lost to the digital sea.

I shot up quickly, tremors erupting from my body. Falling back down in my bed I whispered my usual apology.

"Oh Yumi, I'm so sorry..."

I began to feel cold as a chill hit me full body explosion. Looking down to my feet to see Odd's dog Kiwi pulling my blacket off.

"Kiwi...stop it..."

Pulling the blanket from Kiwi I wrapped myself up in it once again closing my eyes. Opening them once mroe Odd stood over me, an apologetic and sympathetic grin on his face.

"Come on buddy. That girl Sissi has been bragging about is coming today. Lots of festivity and some big 'formal' ball today."

Odd said formal in a way that bugged me. Annoyed I got out of bed, grabbed my stuff and trudged to the bathroom. Once the water was turned on I stripped my clothes and stepped in to the steaming water. Leaning my head back and wetting my hair I closed my eyes. Then I heard a familure yet unfamilure scream. My eyes shot open and all was quiet.

"What was that?"

But nobody was around to answer my question. I hurried to finished my shower, shut of the water and stummbled around. As I reached my rookm I opened the door once again finding myself alone. Walking around my room I pulled out a set of clothes and silently pulled them on. Then a thought crossed my mind, Sisi was going to be all over me today.

"Uhg! Her cousin is probably just as annoying if not worse!"

I finished getting ready and opened the door. I began walking toward the stairs and stopped when I saw my friends at the bottom, minus Yumi of course. I took a step down the stairs and my vision became blurry. But as I neared the bottom I caught a glimpse of a girl that seemed so familure. The very girl who at the time I didn't know would become my destiny. I watched as she darted around a corner. Then the annoyance: Sissi, she came into view from behind my friends.

"Ulrich dear!"

She stopped infront of me, nowhere for me to turn and run to.

"I'm still sorry about Yumi. But hey, here is a thought, why don't you come sit with my cousins and I?"

"I'll have to take a rain check there Sissi."

I walked passed her and followed the rest of the gathering crowd in to the auditorium. I sat down next to my friends and sighed. I then felt a gentle nudge in the side of my arm.

"Ulrich everything is going to be okay, just relax."

I shook my head looking down and once again closed my eyes.

"That is something I just don't believe anymore. Sorry Aelita."

She, like Odd, gave me a sympathetic smile.

"Ulrich, you're so wrong."

Then Sissi's father began to speak. As I looked over the people on the stage I saw Sissi and her father. An older lady and man, along with a boy and an amazingly cute girl which I could only assume were Sissi's cousin's.