February 10, 2006. Present time:
"Hey, honey." Mrs. Ishiyama greeted her daughter as she walked into her home.
"What do you want?" Yumi asked coldly. Not even turning to glance at her mother, she was much too focused on the fire burning in front of her, and quite frankly, she didn't exactly jump for joy when her mother came over.
"Well, I know William's at work so I thought I'd come see you." She replied, already used to her daughter's indifference towards her.
"For what? So our conversation could lead to its usual route? You tell me William beats me because he's stressed, I tell you that you ruined my life, then you say you and father did it for my best interest. Kay, I don't want to hear it." Yumi was tired of the same routine over and over, her mother's visits usually led to arguments, and the same words were always exchanged. Today wasn't going to be like that, she wouldn't hear it, not today.
"Listen, honey, I know he's not the man you love, but maybe if you were a bit, kinder with him, he wouldn't hurt you." Mrs. Ishiyama suggested, struggling to find the appropriate words to justify him.
"Mother might I remind you that he's with a different girl every night? Might I remind you that last time he beat me simply because it was hot outside? I don't know what kind of dirt he's got on my father but it must be pretty big if I'm forced to endure him." Yumi finished, tears threatening to fall out of her eyes.
"It was for your own good! That stupid nobody lied to you, he got you pregnant and then you found him with some other girl. Nobody would want a pregnant woman, you're lucky William even took you in the condition you were in. You would've disgraced our whole family." Mrs. Ishiyama scolded her daughter.
"Mother you ruined my life! Grandpa might've arranged your marriage as well, and regardless of my father's temper he's a good man. He provides for you, he cares for you, he's never laid a hand on you, and you and he have even managed to love each other. I've got to live with some psycho that thinks I ruin everything in his life when in reality he ruined mine!" Yumi yelled back and ran out the door.
"YUMI COME BACK!" Mrs. Ishiyama called after her daughter. Despite what she said, she really did regret marrying her against her will. She remembered her own unhappiness at the beginning of her marriage with Mr. Ishiyama. Lucky for her, he turned out a wonderful husband and companion. She never really knew why her husband had insisted on arranging Yumi and William's wedding, she just supported his decision, as always.
"Wow," Ulrich said taking in the sights. Plenty of new buildings were now standing in the place of what used to be tons of abandoned lots. "Lots of good playgrounds ruined." He mumbled to himself. He hadn't been in Lyoko for ten years, not since Yumi's wedding. The subject still hurt him. He hadn't seen or heard from her since what did he expect? He messed up. He decided he'd stop at the old donut shop he used to work at for something to eat. He'd been on the road for quite some time and he was pretty starving.
"Greaaaaat." Yumi thought to herself, she was a good fifteen blocks from her house and Mother Nature had decided it'd be funny to make her walk in the rain. "Only I would forget all my money." At least it means I have to spend less time with William, she thought to herself. I wonder how things would be if Ulrich had fought for us. If he hadn't left. Unfortunately, her thoughts were soon interrupted by a door smashing right into her face.
"Owww!" She yelled while grasping her face with her hand. "Who in the world makes their exit doors push on such a small sidewalk."
"Yumi?" A slightly confused but familiar voice asked. "I'm so sorry."
"Oh my God. Ulrich…" Was all Yumi managed to say, before he grabbed her tightly in his arms.
"Why do we keep meeting like this?" Ulrich chuckled reminiscing on how they had first met.
"I guess you like hitting me with doors when it rains," Yumi smiled taking in his warm embrace. "Listen I'd better go, it's late and William must be waiting for me." She said breaking off the hug.
"Did you come walking? I can take you home. For, old times sake? You live in the same house right?" Ulrich smiled.
"Yes. Only because it's raining." Yumi replied as she got in the passenger seat.
An Awkward silence filled the car. Ulrich couldn't focus on the road, he couldn't keep his eyes off of her, he didn't know what to say, how to act, he'd been waiting for this moment so long, and now he was at a loss for his words. She was still so beautiful, she'd aged a bit, but still gorgeous as always. Yumi, on the other hand, wanted so much to ask him why. Why did he leave? Why didn't he stop her wedding? Why didn't he stand up to her dad? Why?
"Yumi, did you get a tattoo or what is that I'm seeing all over your arms?" Ulrich asked, noticing strange patterns all over Yumi's arms and shoulders.
"No. They're nothing. Nothing at all." Yumi answered tensing up immediately and attempting to keep her arms out of his sight.
"Yumi that's not nothing." Ulrich shot back grabbing her arm with his free one. Yumi simply winced in pain. "Yumi are those, bruises?" He asked, shock filling his voice.
"What does it matter." She answered coldly.
"It matters Yumi. Who did this to you and why?" Ulrich asked, concern obvious in his tone, the only reason he'd let go was because he was driving.
"William. Why? Because I had to marry him. Why? Because you left me here to rot!" Yumi screamed, tears filling her eyes.
"Yumi, I , I thought you'd be better with him. I'm going to kill him. You know I love you." He told her, he wouldn't dare tell her the real reason and despite how sincere he sounded, Yumi just couldn't believe him.
"Ulrich, if you really loved me, you wouldn't have left me. You wouldn't have lied to me from the start. You wouldn't have been with that girl that night. You wouldn't have chosen money or soccer over me. You wouldn't have allowed me to get married that night." Yumi shot back.
Ulrich was devastated, he couldn't believe Yumi thought he never loved her. He did with all of his heart, he still did. "Your parents didn't want me for you Yumes! They wanted someone with money, that's why they chose William." Ulrich said, realizing they were in front of her home.
"No, they wanted my child to have a father, you left and I was pregnant!" Yumi managed to scream through her sobs.
"What! Yumi, you were pregnant! Why didn't you tell me, I would've never-"
"For what! William killed him when he found out. He beat me. Which is good I guess because my baby's better off in heaven than in the hell I call a home." Yumi interrupted running out of the car.
"Yumi wait!" Ulrich called as he chased her down the street.
"Yumi who's out there with you?" William called out sliding the fence's metal door open. He had a bat in his hand and didn't look too pleased.
"Nobody William, he was just leaving," Yumi answered running to his side, scared to death.
"Is that Ulrich, Ulrich Stern?" William asked pushing Yumi into the brick fence. "You know you shouldn't be with him or any other man when you're married to me?"
"William don't you dare lay another finger on her." Ulrich threatened.
"Stern I don't think you're one to tell me how to treat MY wife. She's none of your business. Our life shouldn't concern you in the least bit. Worry about your own you failure. I'm surprised you even have a car." William smirked in satisfaction at Ulrich's silence. "Now get inside!" He yelled at Yumi, once again throwing her through the metal door, straight to the ground.
That was it, Ulrich lost it, he couldn't stand watching him hurt Yumi, but just as he was about to punch William, he turned around and nailed him right in the head with his bat. The last thing he saw before he blacked out was a furious William chasing Yumi inside the house.