Before you start to read this story, I just want to warm you about some aspects of the story. There are going to be some 'dark' themes, I can't really go into detail because that would spoil the plot, but I will say that it will involve abuse, rape and suicidal feelings/thoughts. I won't go into graphic detail with them but I know that to some people, they can be very emotional to read, for a number of reasons and I don't won't anyone to feel uncomfortable reading this story.
Just writing the first chapter of this story, made me feel that it is going to be a very long story. Is that a good or bad thing? I have no idea! Guess we will just have to find out!
Disclaimer- Apparently, I don't own Code Lyoko. Well, that's what the police and the actually owners of Code Lyoko said.... still don't believe them though!
The sound of the bass rang throughout the small car, lyrics of foreign language filling the young girl's ears. Staring out the window, looking out onto the passing scenery, she felt tears build up in her tired eyes. They made her move from her friends, her home, her whole life. Did they ask for her opinion? Her view on the situation? No. They never did. Now, she was on her way to live with her father. Watching her mother in the drivers seat, she had the overwhelming urge to grab the wheel and turn the car around, back to her home.
Sighing with defeat, her eyes returned back to the book in her hands. Grabbing the pen once more, she began to let the ink form the words her soul was screaming.
Still driving. Don't know when we are going to stop but I don't to. Would you? Well, it is okay for you, you're just a book. You can live in the same place for decades, hundreds of years sometimes. Me? I just get passed around like a ball, thrown between two children in the playground. I wish they would just drop me, let me roll and when I finally stop, they leave me. It isn't because I don't love my dad, of course I do, but I don't belong here and I don't think I ever will.
"Honey?" her thoughts were broken by the sound of her mothers voice. Glancing into her mothers eyes, she saw the hurt passing through them. "We're here."
It was only then did she acknowledge that the car's fast movements had come to a stop. Letting out a shaky breath, she undid her seat belt, and stepped out the backseat door, letting her sneakers hit the loose gravel of the driveway that led to the place she was meant to call 'home' for the next few years. Hearing another door shut, she turned her body and faced her younger brother.
Hiroki stared up at his older sister, "I want to go home."
Yumi sighed and placed her hand on his shoulder, "Me too." Her hand slid down his arm, grasping his small hand within hers. Together they started to walk to the front door, to the start of their new lives.
The house was small; there was a tiny kitchen connected to the dining and living room. Upstairs held three small bedrooms, or as her mother called them, 'cosy'. There was only one bathroom, meaning that all three had to share, something Yumi knew would cause a problem on the near future. Her bedroom was the closest to the bathroom, but that was the only good aspect of it. Inside, the walls were a vile shade of green, as was the carpet. A simple futon lay pushed against the far wall, a wooden chest of drawers opposite it.
"Yumi?" Closing her eyes tight at the sound of her mothers tone, she stood still in the middle of the room, waiting for her to continue. "I know it's hard but it's for the best."
Yumi could feel the pain in her heart start to return, "For who, Mom? Me or you?" She heard her mother sigh and felt her soft hand place itself on her shoulder, turning her around.
"For all of us Yumi." She placed a soft kiss upon her daughters forehead, "It's time to move on, for all of us to move on."
A single tear fell from Yumi's eyes, slowly making its way down her smooth cheek. Frowning at this, her mother brushed it away with her thumb. "I know, Mom… I know."
Another kiss was placed on her forehead as they both said their goodbyes. More tears started to fall, as Yumi watched her mother walk away from her, leaving her in a strange and unknown place. Never had she felt so alone.
All of his life, he had everything he could ever want. A huge house, all the latest toys and gadgets, people to wait on him, but he never had anything he needed.
His parents gave him all the items to make up for never being there. His father was the head of an international corporation and spent most his time abroad, and any time he had at home, he spent alone in his office, working. His mother was in the same situation. Her and his father were partners, but she only worked at home. Neither stopped to take the time to listen to their only child.
He heard the familiar sound of his mothers heels on the wooden floor, come from behind him. "Ulrich, I'm going in to the office," she meant his fathers, "Not sure when I will be back. Clarita is here, just call her if you won't anything." she paused, searching around in her purse. "I don't want to be distracted." She turned and left the large room that was his bedroom.
Ulrich waited until he could no longer hear her heels and when he heard the door slam shut, he quickly ran down the staircase and into the kitchen. "Clarita?" His voice startled the worker. Clarita was one of the many helpers in the house. Her long, wavy blonde hair, bright sky blue eyes and slim figure, always made Ulrich wonder why she worked here and not in the modelling business.
"Yeah, sweetie." Came her sweet voice, making Ulrich smile. In his life, she had been the only adult that he felt love him.
"I'm going to my friends'. I'll be back around five... ish." Clarita smiled at the young boy. Nodding her head, she agreed to let him leave.
Slipping on his white sneakers, he rushed out of the door, not wanting to spend another minute in it. Throughout his fifteen years of life, never once had he felt like he belonged there, it would never be his home.
He walked through the metal gates and began his journey. Normally, it would only take him ten minutes to walk there, but for an unknown reason, he walked slower. Checking there were no cars driving, he crossed the grey road. He looked at the houses, placed side by side, smiling at the families playing on the front yard. Fathers playing soccer with their kids, mothers watching as their children got dirtier and dirtier. Ulrich never had those experiences. He had taught himself soccer, his father would be away working and his mother would be too busy to notice him.
As he passed the house on the end of the street, he stopped. Something inside of him felt pulled towards it, like there was something inside of it. His heart started to beat harder, his breathing became shallow. Shaking his head, he continued to make his way to his friends.
Little did he know, that if he looked towards the upper right window, he would of seen the black haired beauty, who's heart was still beating hard.
Yumi stared out of window, long after the mysterious boy had gone. He was a complete stranger, she shouldn't feel like she did. Sickness fell upon her. After all that she went through, she swore she would never fall for anyone. But there she was, face pressed against the cool glass, replaying the image of him over in her mind.
Stumbling backwards onto her futon, she collapsed into tears. Memories flooding over her, with all her strength, she tried to fight them. She made a promise to herself, to never remember the memories. She knew that she would never be able to forget, but she did know that she could try and forget all the details. After the tears turned into wet streaks on her cheeks, she rose. Wiping her face, she started to make her way to the kitchen. Descending down the stairs, she held back a sob. All she wanted was to go back home, never thinking that she would miss her mom this much, only she could help Yumi. Only she knew how to comfort her, make her hide the flashbacks.
Entering the small room, the saw the scene of her brother, playing on his hand held computer console, and her father, cooking pancakes on the stove. Pancakes were her favourite, but with what had just happened, she knew she wouldn't be able to eat anything. "Dad?" her throat felt dry, hoarse from crying. Only then did she consider that they might of heard, but that was pushed to the back of her mind when she concluded that if they did, they would have came to her room.
Takeo turned around, spatula in hand, facing his only daughter. "Yes?" Yumi just stood there, not knowing what to say to him. Takeo noticed, "Are you okay, Yumi?"
Yumi nodded. "Yeah. I was just wondering if I could go out. I want to take a look around for a bit."
Takeo frowned, knowing that she was fifteen and was very responsible, but also knew what she had been through, not wanting her to get scared so soon. Sighing, he nodded his head, "Fine, just be back by five. You sure you don't want any?" he referred to the pancakes, slowly cooking in the heated pan. Yumi shook her head, turning to leave.
Only once did she look back. Glancing at her new home again, no smile upon her face.
Leaving the house was a small relief. Out in the open air, she felt free. She remembered how she saw a small park near the street and began to walk. Breathing in the new air, a calm sensation fell on her body. Smiling as she walked, she began to see the outskirts of the park, the white fence that held so much fun for the young children, and happy memories for Yumi.
Stepping through the metal gate, she jumped when she saw another person sat on the swings, still, deep in thought. Her breathing fell heavy, sweat forming on her, now pale, skin. Ready to turn to leave, run away, she gasped onto the gate, causing it to creak. This also caused the strangers' head to shoot up, now staring straight at her. But with his action, came some sort of relief for Yumi. She had seen him before, not his face, but there was something about him, that made him familiar to her.
It came back to her. The clothes, the hair, the feeling that was building up inside of her. He was the boy that she saw from her window, the same boy that made her remember the terrible memories.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." his voice travelled through the quiet park. He leaned back on the swing, gasping the chains with his hands. Yumi stared at him, at his actions. She wished she could be like that, to act so natural around a stranger. Yumi probably would have ran off by now. "You okay?" he questioned, noticing her shaking frame.
Yumi couldn't speak, words caught in her throat. Her brain was telling her to run, he was a stranger, he could hurt her. But he heart was telling her to stay. For a reason she could not figure out.
"Seriously. Are you okay?" he questioned again, now worried for the girl. Standing up from the swing, he walked slowly towards her, causing Yumi's eyes to widen. As he get nearer, she took a step back. Again he took a step, she tried to step backwards again, but only hit her back against the fence. The fence enclosing her in with him. Noting her actions, and the tears threatening to fall, he stopped in his tracks. "It's okay." he soothed, "I'm not going to hurt you."
Yumi closed her eyes, knowing that no one meant those words. Every time she heard them, she would end up alone, bruised and broken. She shook her head, causing confusion for the boy.
"I'm Ulrich." She opened her eyes again, staring at him with glazed eyes. "What's your name?"
Again, Yumi did not speak. Ulrich sighed and took a step back, beginning to walk away. "Stop!" Yumi clasped her hand over her mouth, not believing that the word came from her. Even if she was scared when he was approaching her, she felt even more scared when he started to walk away.
Ulrich faced her once more, taking small steps towards her, stopping when he heard he take in a sharp breath. "I'm not going to hurt you." he repeated, this time, Yumi believed him. He smiled when he saw her remove her hand. "What's your name?"
Yumi swallowed hard before replying, "Yu... Yumi." She whispered.
"Hey, Yumi. Are you okay?" he paused, "you seem... scared." Yumi nodded, feeling no control in her body. Not once had she had a conversation with a boy, not including her brother or father, in four years. "You don't have to be. I'm not that scary." Yumi let out a soft laugh. "Or am I?" Yumi laughed again, making Ulrich smile, knowing he could make her laugh.
Silence fell upon them, not an awkward one, but comfortable. Yumi calmed her breathing, and her heart. "I... I better g... go." She stuttered. Even though it was only twenty past four, she wanted to get home as fast as possible.
"Yeah, me too. I was meant to meet my friends but it turns out they have things to do." Yumi frowned, not knowing what it was like to have friends, not true ones. "Where do you live?" He asked softly.
"Not.... not far... from here." Grasping the handle of the gate again, she muttered a goodbye and ran. Leaving Ulrich confused but strangely happy.