DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING.

Never To Far

In The Forest…..

It was a long night for the Lyoko Warriors. The gang had once again stopped Xana from trying to take over the world. Everyone was beat, especially Odd.

"I can't believe Xana would stoop so low," said Odd. "I mean come on, using my own weakness against me, that's just not right!"

"Yeah Odd I bet fighting those meatballs was pretty painful, phew I'd hate to be you," said Ulrich with a sarcastic grin on his face. Everyone laughed, except for Odd.

"Ha-ha Ulrich very funny, maybe next time you can fight off the giant Xanafied meatballs."

"Hey look at the bright side," Jeremy said, "Tomorrow is Thursday and then Friday Christmas break starts, so we all get to go on vacation." Ulrich and Odd weren't listening, they just kept on arguing.

"Sure and maybe next time You can fight off the mega tanks, William, AND the big kolasas monster, while I complain about indigestion from eating meatballs," Ulrich said still amused.

"Well when you put it like that sure it's gonna sound bad!" Odd replied.

"Alright you two, I think that's about enough bickering for one night," Yumi said.

"I second that," Alieta and Jeremy said.

"Yumi's right, this is pointless arguing," Ulrich said quietly.

"Yeah well we all know why you agree with Yumi," Odd retorted. Yumi and Ulrich blushed and the others laughed.

"It's not like that we're just friends right Yumi?" Ulrich said slowly.

"Huh…Oh yeah friends…good friends, yep that's us." Yumi replied back blushing once more.

"Yeah sure...well I am heading to bed," Odd said yawning.

"That sounds like a good idea it's been a long day for all of us," Jeremy said also with a tired tone. After everyone said there goodbyes and goodnights, they headed off to there rooms. Ulrich stayed back to personally wish Yumi a goodnight.

"Well umm goodnight Yumi," Ulrich said nervously.

"Goodnight Ulrich," Yumi smiled at him. She almost said something else but Odd Came back over to Ulrich when he realized he wasn't following him.

"Hey Ulrich, Yumi, there's this new thing called sleep have you tried it?" Odd said sarcastically, pulling Ulrich by his shirt as he walked off. Yumi just smiled sympathetically at Ulrich as he was being dragged off, and Ulrich waved back slowly smiling.

Back At the Dorms…..

"Dude, I cannot believe you said that back there!" Ulrich said in a frustrated tone.

"I only said the truth!" Odd said raising his voice back.

"But you know how I feel about Yumi and you know that the only thing she thinks of me as is a friend."

"Dude you don't even know what Yumi thinks of you, all you do is assume!"

"It's obvious ok Odd? Just drop it," Ulrich said finally giving up.

"No, no I'm not. You're going to go over to Yumi's house and you're going to tell her how you feel," Odd said getting up from his bed. Ulrich looked at him like he was crazy.

"Are you insane? What if she doesn't feel the same way?" Ulrich retorted.

"Then at least you'll know and you can finally move on," Odd said. Ulrich looked at Odd carefully. He was in deep thought. What if she didn't feel the same way? Then it would be awkward and he could never talk to her again….But what if she did feel the same way? After a couple moments Ulrich finally came to an Ultimatum.

"Fine, I'll tell her," he said quietly.

At Yumi's House…..

Yumi was in her room, doing her homework, when her mother called her. "Yumi, there is a boy here to see you."

"Ok mom," Yumi replied. She got up and when down stairs. She passed the living room, and Hiroki came out and followed her.

"Hey Yumi is it your boyfriend Ulrich?" Hiroki teased still following her.

"Be quiet he's not my boyfriend," she hissed. When she got to the door she smiled.

"Hey you're not Ulrich!" Hiroki said surprised.

"Should I be?" he said back. Hiroki didn't even reply he just walked off a little disappointed.

"Hey Theo," Yumi said.

"Hey Yumi, can we talk for a minute?" Theo asked.

"Of course," Yumi said. As Theo was explaining the situation to Yumi, Ulrich walked up and saw them talking. He quickly turned around and hid behind a tree. He was close enough to make out what they were saying.

"Ok, I'm just going to cut down to the chase, I like you," Theo said nervously.

"Really," Yumi replied?

"Yah really, will you go out with me?" Theo said. Ulrich froze. He wanted to shout out and stop her from answering but he couldn't even bring himself to breathe. He held his breath hoping she would say no.

"Of course I'll go out with you," she replied happily. Ulrich gasped. He felt his world slowly crumble into pieces. She said yes he thought. He was right Yumi didn't like him.

"But I thought you liked that other guy," Theo asked cracking a smile.

"Oh no were just friends that's all, I've always liked you," Yumi said smiling.

"Great," Theo replied happily as he gave Yumi a big hug. Tears came to Ulrich as he slowly backed away and ran back toward the school. As he ran he knocked over a trash can. Startled Theo broke the hug.

"What was that," Theo asked.

"Probably just a cat," Yumi replied. "So you think you're ready for the real deal?"

"Thanks to you I am," Theo replied with confidence. "Now I know how to ask out Kimberly." "I know that must have been awkward for you sorry I was desperate," he said shyly.

"No problem I'd do anything for a friend," she said nudging him in the arm.

"Ha-ha but still thank you," he said. "So how are things with that Ulrich guy?"

"To be honest I don't really know, I really like him but I don't think he feels the same way," she replied sadly.

"I think you should tell him tomorrow at school," Theo said leaning against the fence.

"What if he doesn't feel the same?" Yumi said quietly.

"Then at least you'll know and you can finally move on," Theo said.

After a couple moments Yumi came to an Ultimatum. "Fine, I'll tell him," she said smiling.

Back at school that night....

Ulrich came through the door eyes swollen from crying. Surprisingly Odd was still awake. Ulrich went straight to his bead facing the wall.

"Hey man how'd it go," Odd said sounding excited.

"Just leave me alone," Ulrich said with a cracked voice.

"What happened man," Odd said sounding more concerned.

"Exactly what I told you, Yumi doesn't like me, when I got over there she was all over Theo," he said almost choking on the words.

"Wow man I'm sorry, I know how you feel."

"NO, no you don't! You don't know what its like to watch the woman you love in the arms of a man, to hear her regard you as nothing," he replied angrily almost yelling.

"Your right, I'm sorry, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know I'm just going to avoid her, I can't face seeing her, and I'm gonna go away for the holidays away to clear my mind, to get away from her," he said more calmly.

"Ok man if that's what you want to do."

"Look Odd I'm tired I'm going to sleep," Ulrich said with a fake yawn.

"Alright goodnight man," Odd replied quietly knowing Ulrich wasn't about to fall asleep. And he didn't he just laid there all night thinking about what he heard and saw.