Journey of the Heart

A story based on an occ role-play

Done by Me (~LoVe~N~HaPpInEsS~) and my good friend anime_wizzard

Disclaimer: We do not own Code Lyoko or any of the characters. We do however own this story line.

Chapter 1:

The sun arose above the beautiful empire that lay in the valley of beautiful mountains. The palace walls gave off a gold tint as the sun hit them. The emperor was busy in the garden with his wife, the empress, talking about how their daughter was coming of age to be wed and it was time to find a suitable suitor for her. At about this time, a young man walked towards the city. His clothes were worn from years of travel. His brown hair was short and kept up with a yellow headband. His blade tucked at his side. With grace learned as a child, training to become a samurai, he walked down the dirt road. He was ronin, a lord-less samurai that had been looking for a home. As he got closer, his piercing forest green eyes saw that the gates were open.

A young woman opened her eyes and looked about her large marble room. She slid out of bed and ran a hand through her short black hair. She stretched and stood up slipping her feet into her silk slippers. She was the princess of Lyoko. She stood on her balcony in her nightdress looking out at the valley. "It's a beautiful day," she thought as she stood there with the breeze circling around her moving her hair across her face.

The young man passed through the gates and entered the city of Lyoko. It was market day, so the streets were bustling with people haggling over items from seeds and rice to fine jewels and weapons. Many stared as he passed but Ulrich took no notice, as he was use to it. Just then a street urchin bumped into him and ran off, only to be yanked back by the cord on his wallet that was tied to his belt. He put on a face that frightened the boy. "And why would a young lad such as yourself be wanting to take my purse?" he made as if to pull his sword, only to smile and took out a few coins. "Tell me about this city and you will earn these." He said to the boy.

"Well sir, this" he waved his hand around him "is the city of Lyoko. My name is Odd. I'm sorry for trying to steal your purse but my family is poor so I have to steal so they may eat. This is a proud city that s full of beauty including Princess Yumi." The boy blushed when he said the last part and Ulrich tossed the coins to him. "Go on you little scamp." He smiled as the boy ran off and walked on to look at the merchandise and to hear some of the stories.

Yumi pulled on a black kimono that was embroidered in red and white flowers and tucked a red flower behind her ear and walked down into the garden to greet her parents. She tucked her hands in her sleeves and walked as she was taught to with her head held high as she passed various servants and maids. Her shoes clicked on the marble flooring as she walked outside across the stone pavement to her parents who were sitting by the fountain. Yumi overheard her parents talking about betrothal and stopped in her tracks. There was no way she was going to marry anyone she didn't know. She turned and ran back into the palace "how could they? They don't even consider how I may feel about this matter either..." she ran into the armory and hid behind her father's old war uniform "I will not..." she looked up at the clothing and smirked "hmmm". She unsheathed the katana on the mannequin and smiled "perhaps I won't have to... if I disguise myself as someone else, I can run away and disappear forever" she held the sword at arms length and smiled. "I think that's just what I'll do"

"Have your heard? The princess is going to receive suitors" Ulrich over heard as he walked down the street. "Whomever she picks is a lucky man indeed," one of the men behind a kiosk said as he handed a woman her merchandise. "Makes me wish my son was a prince"

A young man walked by bumping into Ulrich on accident "pardon me" he said but sounded more like a young boy than he did a man. His face was too feminine to be a man. Ulrich turned around and looked at the man. "Oh, it's my fault entirely" he smiled as he checked for his purse discretely

Yumi thought to herself 'its a piece of cake' she was clad in her fathers old uniform but it was out dated so it just looked like a men's outfit rather than a military uniform. She kept her hand at the katana just in case someone tried something. She shook her head "I just need to watch where I'm going" she said in her best impression of a guy. Ulrich raised an eyebrow and turned back to the conversation. In his mind though he was feeling a little off by what had happened, but he shook the feeling.

She heard the word suitor and turned around "I heard otherwise, the princess is far to stubborn to pick a suitor" she said. A man chimed in at this "True, but it is for the good of the kingdom. We need a strong king to rule after the princess's dies." everyone nodded and a few said "long live the king." Ulrich left at that point and headed to a tavern to get a meal and a bed. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees the man walking behind him. Yumi kept her eyes low so it didn't seem like she was following him. "You know... its strange to see someone carrying a sword in broad daylight... you're not from around here are you?" she asked keeping her tone low. "No I'm not. I just came into town today." Ulrich replied and stopped at the entrance to a tavern and let him pass before he entered, as was customary. "Though isn't it even stranger to not introduce yourself when you bump into someone?"

"Forgive me, I'm Yuki from Edo... just a traveler myself really. I've been here for a few weeks. Though I was thinking of leaving town pretty soon." she looked down at his sword, "you must be pretty skilled to have that showing in broad daylight" Ulrich looked down at his sword, the memories of his kendo training and his sensei entering his mind. "I'm only as good as I have to be, but this blade isn't all that it appears." He pats the blade as the head to a table. A servant walks up and ask what they will have. "Sake please."

"I'm only eighteen, I don't drink," she said holding up her hand "I'll just take anything non-alcoholic please" The servant looked at Yumi for a moment. "You look familiar," he said before shaking his head. "Forget it, most people look familiar to me anyway" he turned and moments later brought back a sake bottle and a shot glass along with a glass of orange juice. Yumi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. Ulrich looked at the sake and smelled it before pouring it into the glass. He looked at Yuki and held up the drink "to you" Yumi smiled and nodded holding up the orange juice "to happiness" Ulrich smiled and took a small sip. "Now back to my sword, it is a reverse blade. It is my penitence for my lord."

"A reverse blade? Meaning you can't kill anyone with it?" she set down her glass and looked at him 'he has really pretty green eyes' she though to herself.

"That is not totally true, but I refrain from killing." He looked off into the distance as a memory came into his mind. He was battling with the lord's armies, as his lord was struck down. Sadness entered his eyes and he lifted his drink again, toasting to the memory of a fare man.

"I see" she said then took a sip of her juice. She realized she hadn't masked her voice that time so she sounded totally feminine 'just great' she thought. Ulrich looked at the man beside him and lifted an eyebrow. "Where did you say your were from again?" he looked closer at his garb and paid special attention to the face.

"Edo. Far from here" she said. Her voice shaking slightly.

"Hmmm. that's strange since you wear the uniform for the lords army here. Who are you really?" He got up from his seat and looked at the man. She had forgotten about the uniform 'great...' she sighed and in a low tone she started "I'm Yumi. The princess... I don't wanna be forced to marry someone... I wanted to run away" she said low enough that no one else could hear. Ulrich looked at the princess and place a few coins for the drinks on the table. Before he turned to leave he said "Yumi, you shouldn't leave your kingdom." He walked towards the door. She stood and followed him "so I should be forced to marry someone I don't love? Is that what you're saying to me? Who the hell do you think you are?" He turned and stared into her eyes. "I am Ulrich, and I am a ronin. Warrior for a dead lord, brother of murdered friends. That is who I am, now you should ask yourself the same question Yuki." He used Yumi's fake name as the walked towards the city gates incase anyone was listening. The sun was setting as the reached the outer wall. She still followed him. "How dare you," she unsheathed her katana, "You think my life is easy? I never asked for any of this!" she pointed the blade at his throat. With a flash, he pulled his sword and knocked hers out of her hands. The anger flashed in his eyes and vanished as he sheathed the blade. "Life isn't fare. You dealt your hand and your all in... you can't fold now. You have people that love you in that city" he points as the gates closed "and you want to run? That is just selfish. And now I have to sleep on the ground again because of you." He stormed off towards his next destination. "Please... You can stay in the palace... I'm going back... I know how to get through the wall even if the gates are closed!" she called out to him. All he did was wave his hand and kept walking

She clenched her fists and followed after him "you're as stubborn as I am!" He stopped and laughed. "Stubborn? Me? Oh no princess, I just know where I'm not wanted and if I stay with you any longer, your father will have his guards throw me into the dungeon, thinking that I've kidnapped you" He turned towards her "You go ahead and return to you castle. Find a man that is right for your kingdom, grow fat and leave me the hell alone." Yumi slapped him hard across the face "SHUT UP! WHAT DO YOU KNOW!" Before he lost his cool, Ulrich turned and walked off. "I know what's right for a kingdom."

"And you don't even consider how I feel about all of this!" she caught up to him, "you're despicable..." He started to run and entered the forest. "Why should I care? I don't know and certainly don't want to know you. You're a spoiled brat that wants to be pampered." Yumi stopped and fell to her knees "All I want is to get out of that place and be normal..." she said quietly. Ulrich stopped dead in his tracks and sighed. "No you don't. You don't want to be like the rest of us, where we have to fight and steal for our next meal" as he said this he thought of Odd. "Just go back Yumi, and forget this dream of being like us." She didn't move. She just stared at the ground. She said nothing and just sighed. She finally stood and turned "I won't give up... I don't care if I have to fight and steal just to get fed. I hate it there... I like to do things on my own. I don't want everyone to do it for me. I was never meant to be a princess Ulrich... I can't live knowing that there are people starving on the streets while I'm in the palace getting gourmet meals... its just not right"

He turned around and walked towards her. "Then do something about it. Give food to those that are starving, gold to the poor. do anything than run away." He picked up her chin just as laughter started and men came out of the shadows. The biggest of them walking forward and laughing the hardest. "Look boys, a lovers quarrel."

A/N ah I just love leaving people at a cliffhanger ^^ It gets me more reviews haha. Anywho… just let me know what you think and maybe just maybe I'll post the next chappie.

-LoVe-N-HaPpInEsS-