"Today we have new students." Jim said as his P.E. class sat down on the poolside bleachers. Yumi smirked, 'They're here.'
Coming into view were five teens, three guys and two girls. Catching Yumi's eyes Velma gave a small acknowledging nod.
"Yo, Nooblits. Name's Kyle 'Stroka' Hopper." Said a bleached-blonde boy shaved into a non-spiked mohawk that hung between his pale blue eyes. He had a slim 5'10'' frame, not used to physical work, but could give a mean punch. He wore slouching black pants, a black shirt saying 'OFFSPRING' in scrabble blocks, and a SC sweatshirt.
"Stroka?"
The man turned to face the other male his hight."Yes, Xero?"
"Thanks, you just won me five bucks. I bet Will the first thing you'd say would be 'yo, nooblits'."
"Uhhhh... you're welcome? He actually bet against that? What a noob."
Bryce laughed,"I guess so. Pay up." He said to Will, who shrugged.
"Hey, I'm broke. I'll pay you back later."
Bryce raised his eyebrow, but ignored it. He faced the class."Hi, name's Bryce 'Xero' Hopper. Sad to say I'm that guys adopted brother." Bryce had dark golden hair and blue eyes with white rings in them. Bryce wore faded jeans, a green shirt, a hat-beanie, and a sweatshirt.
'They haven't changed much.' Ulrich thought.
"And this is my lovely girlfriend, Heather Usagi." Bryce gestured towards the slightly the taller of the two girls. Heathers brown hair reached down the bottom of her shoulder blades, her bangs were pushed aside to show green eyes, tinted yellow. She wore denim jeans and and a brown long sleeve shirt.
Taking Bryce's finish as an invitation, Will introduced himself. "Yo, I'm Will 'Sadischikku Gin' Getsu." Will dressed much like he had the day before, only with a different O'Neil shirt, minus the katanas of course.
Velma rolled her eyes, obviously finding Will's bold declerations completely pathetic. She sighed and flipped her long brown hair out her eyes.
"Anyway... I'm Velma Fae, possibly one of the least self-absorbed of these idiots," she pointed at the boys, causing a few random laughs to erupt from the class, "And it's great to meet you all." She smiled, and winked at the Lyoko crew. She had changed a little from yesterday, now wearing a black halter top and a pair of camo cargo pants.
"And I really hope you'll be nicer to me than them... they don't get the idea I don't like getting teased." Will opened his mouth to say something against that, but it changed to a yelp of pain as Velma's heel came down squarely on his foot. She continued her innocent act while he nursed his horribly throbbing foot.
"So abused..." he grumbled.
"Shut up, you know you deserved it."
"Your point being?"
"That you deserved it, so stop whinning."
Will held up his hands in defeat. "Hai, Koibito."
"Please sit as you'd like. While I take roll." They did so, sitting next to the Lyoko Crew.
"You Odd?" Kyle asked as he sat down next to the purple clad man.
"Yeah."
"I heard you guys used to have a band going. I was wondering if you'd like to start it up again? Will's decent at vocals, I'm good at bass and vocals, Xero is good at drums, Heather's another vocalist, and Birdi's pro at a mix board. So interested?
Odd grined,"Definately."
"Does anyone know where Dunbar is?" Jim failed to notice stifled laughter from Kyle, Will, Bryce and Heather. At everyone's nods Jim sighed. "I'll give him detention later. Anyway we're swiming today, you five are excused if you didn't bring swimsuits."
The guys just smirked, kicked off their shoes and socks, and preceeded to strip. Everyone covered their eyes, except Heather and Velma. "Stop or I'll give you detention!" Jim yelled.
"Oh calm down, we're wearing our trunks, teach." Stroka said. Indeed the three had been wearing their swim trunks under their shorts and pants.
"Well, that was funny."
Bryce grinned."I agree with Stroka"
"Uhh...anyway go change." Everyone got up and left for the changing rooms.
"I hope that prissy looking girl dosen't piss Birdi off too much."
Bryce looked up surprised."Why?"
Will gave a dramatic sigh, throwing up his hands."We're running out off places to hide the bodies." The guys laughed.
"You know what Will? You've got a point there, besides I think Odd would miss teasing her too much.
Velma trailed behind the group, yanking Yumi with her. They were the last to reach the locker room, but were whispering excitedly, catching up with eachother, and remembering the good old days.
"Geez, I miss those happy memories so much." Velma said, with a whistful sigh.
"I know what you mean..." Yumi said as she opened her PE locker. She pulled out a black tankini and stripped. When she had finished changing, she looked at her old friend. She was still in her clothes, leaning against the lockers, politely looking away
"You forget a swimsuit?" Yumi asked, "Cuz I have a spare..." She started to dig through her PE clothes.
"No, no. I was just waiting for you to finish..." Velma said, then peeled off her halter top, revealing a halter top bikini. She looked helplessly at Yumi.
"Can I stash these in your locker? I dont have one yet." Yumi smiled, slightly amused at her helpless friend.
"Sure, why not?"
Velma grinned and started to hand over her clothes. She froze when Sissy came to join them. Her eyes narrowed immediatly.
"What do you want, Sissy?" Yumi demanded
"I just want to talk to your friend, that's all." Sissy said, flipping her hair.
"Why should sh-" Yumi was cut off when Velma's arm shot out in front of her.
"How can I help you?" She said, her eyes resembling chunks of sharp green ice. Sissy flinched, then pulled herself back together. She glared at Yumi.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to talk ALONE."
"But-"
"It's fine, Yumi." Velma said cooly. Yumi snarled, then turned on her heel to join Aeilita and Heather.
"Now," Sissy started, "We need to have a little talk about school rules."
Velma raised her eyebrow. "School rules?"
"Yes, school rules."
"Go on."
Sissy pulled herself up to full height, which wasn't much taller than Velma, but just enough to be able to look down at her. "You can't touch Ulrich, he's mine."
"Who ever said I wanted him?" Velma's eyebrow twitched a little higher.
"I saw the way you looked at him!" Sissy retorted, " You WINKED at him!"
"Who said it was directed towards him?" Sissy's face twisted, the girl was frustrating, but she had to make sure she knew who was in charge!!
"You are not to touch him! He is mine, and no one else's!"
"Says who?"
"Are you challenging me?!"
"No."
"It sure seems like it."
"That's it, just keep telling yourself that...," Velma said, her voice taking on an icy edge, "Whatever made you think you had to tell me this?"
"I don't want a little hussy like you touching my handsome Ulrich, so you stay away from him!!" Sissy snarled. Then she turned on her heel, and made sure her hair slapped Velma's face as she did, then walked away.
Velma's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
"That little-!!!" She snarled, and started to lunge for Sissy. Yumi got to her first and yanked her back.
"Forget it, Velma!!! She's only doing it to get to you!!" Yumi pleaded as she pinned Velma's arms behind her back.
Only when Sissy left the locker room did Yumi loosen her grip. Velma's eyes were jade ice. Yumi could have sworn the temperature of the room had dropped a few degrees.
"Just forget it, I get that all the time." Yumi said again, hoping reason would cool her old friend's temper. Velma's tight shoulders loosened and she turned to face the girls.
"It's okay, I can deal..." she said slowly, then started to dig through her clothes.
"What are you looking for?" Yumi asked, "I can help you find it."
"No, no, it's fine. Go on ahead, I'll catch up."
Yumi saw a flash of silver, but it was gone when she looked again. Shaking her head, she turned and led the others back to the pool.
Yumi kept an eye out for Velma, but was starting to give up when she finally appeared. She was wearing a towel over her shoulders, and looked a little calmer, but was walking a little too slowly for her to be sure. Will spotted her and climbed out of the water.
"Hey, where've you be-" He stopped, and backed away very slowly, as if she were a wild animal to be treated with great caution. "Oh. Fuck." He had seen the fire in her eyes that came before a fight he didn't want to be part of. He let her pass without question. Yumi got up and started to walk to Velma, but didn't make it in time. Velma casually threw her towel onto the bleachers and walked to the edge of the pool. She did a casual dive into the water, surfacing near the middle.
"Vel-" Yumi stopped when Will's hand appeared in front of her face.
"Hey!!" She snapped, trying to push it aside.
"No, don't!" He said quickly, "You don't want to be a part of this."
Yumi started to snap something back, but stopped. He was... scared."Why?"
"You don't wanna know."
Yumi sighed, and sank down to the ground, dipping her feet in the pool. She swished the water with her legs as Will got his friends and the Lyoko kids out of the pool. Ulrich sat down next to her.
"Something wrong?"
"I don't know, but Will told me to stay here."
"Huh, funny, me too." They looked hopelessly at each other, and waited for the others to get there.
"Now everybody stay here and watch..." Will said, placing himself next to Ulrich. Odd sat down next to him.
"And why? Just a question..."
"Watch a master, and learn." He said, pointing to Velma.
The group watched as Velma made a steady pace, and casually swam towards the other end of the pool, ignoring Sissy as she swam by. She dove just before she reached the wall. And seemed to vanish.Ulrich looked at Will, who seemed to be waiting for something."What's going on?"
"Watch." Ulrich sighed, and waited. A few minutes later, Stroka shifted.
"Has she ever stayed under this long?" He asked impatiently.
"...No," Will said, and started to look a little worried, " I'm begining to wonder if she's okay..." The Lyoko crew looked at them, still having no clue of what was going on.
"Will-" Ulrich started.
"Oh wait! There she is!" He said, looking a little excited.
She surfaced, and swam over to them, her hair now black with moisture."Hiya."
"Where you been?" Will asked, raising a eyebrow.
"Enjoying the water, what else? I'm a goddamn aquaphile, man."
"You were under for a good 5 minutes."
"Oh really? Wow, new record."
"Velma... what were you doing?"
She looked a little sheepish.
"Okay, I was saying 'Hi' to a friend."
"Underwater?" Odd asked skeptically. She stuck her tounge out at him. He responded in kind.
"Whatever..." She said, with a shrug. She swam the the empty wall space next to Will and hoisted herself out of the water."Ah, nice day isn't it?"
"Depends..." Will said, eyeing her.
"On what?" She asked, looking just as skeptical as he sounded.
"...Nevermind."
"Alrighty."
Across the pool, Sissy, was climbing the ladder out of the pool. Velma watched her with interest. Sissy walked over towards their side of the pool, flashing a flirty look at Ulrich, who made a gagging sound. She glared at the rest of them, and started to dry herself off. As she walked away, Velma caught Yumi's attention.
"Oh right! Hey Yumi!" Yumi looked at her.
"What?"
"Just for a little momento..." She tossed something to her. Yumi caught it, and blinked.She stared at her hand, everyone else staring over her shoulder. A little bow, like the ones that were used to tie string bikinis shut was sitting in the palm of her hand.
"I-uh suggest you put that away about now." Velma cautioned.
Yumi nodded and closed her hand around it. Velma's attention, however, had shifted completely to Sissy.Then an earsplitting scream filled the air. The others jumped and watched as Sissy's swimsuit slowly started shredding, almost thread by thread. And that started a chain reaction of events around the pool.
"Oh my fucking God." Stroka said in amazment. Bryce let out a whistling breath.
"Wow." Odd said.
"Oh my." Aleilita gasped.
Jeremy and Heather just looked away, snickering.
Yumi and Ulrich stared, then started rolling across the pool deck laughing. When everyone turned away from Sissy, who had wrapped herself in a towel and was wailing at the top of her lungs, they stared at Velma. She held up 3 more knots like the one in Yumi's hand, looking guilty, but still grinning.
"How-?" Ulrich started, but stopped when he saw the small dive knife strapped to her leg."You didn't..."
"Actually, I'd say I did." She said, her grin widening. She looked around at the others.
"I got 3 more, who wants 'em?" She said, holding up the other knots. Odd immediatly snatched one out of her hand, followed by Ulrich. She held the last one up in question.
"Don't you want it?" Will asked. She pointed to the dive knife strapped to her leg.
"This is reminder enough."
Jeremy stretched out his hand. "I'll take it, if you dont mind..." Velma just grinned and placed it in his hand.
"Just so you all can have a laugh and a day of rememberence when your down."Everyone grinned.
Will leaned over and kissed her on the cheek."My little Imp." He said proudly. She smiled.
"Oh right!" she said quickly, "I'll be right back!" The others watched as she approached a still sobbing Sissy.
"Hey Sissy!" A voice next to her snapped. She looked up, it was that Velma girl again.
"What do you want?" She snapped back.
"Just wanted to tell you something, that's all."
"Then tell me, and leave me alone!"
"Alright, no need to get bitchy about it...," she said, holding up her hands, "I just want you to know that I'm taken, sweetie." Sissy looked up at her, not understanding.
"I got a boyfriend, and, to be honest, his name isn't Ulrich. It's Will. So get over yourself." Velma snapped, then turned to leave to leave her hair slapping Sissy across the face.. She stopped. "Oh right." She tossed something over her shoulder landing at Sissy's feet. Sissy bent down to pick it up. It was a little peice of cloth, big enough to be the spot on a swimsuit between the breasts on a string bikini. And... it looked like the same print her swimsuit had. She looked closer, the edges were slightly frayed, like they'd been cut. Then it hit her. It WAS part of her swimsuit.: She screamed in anguish and clung the towel close to her body.
"I won't forget this!!!!!" she screamed after Velma.
"Neither will I!" Velma called back, "It's WAY too amusing to forget!"
When Velma joined the others, her face was very solemn, and she looked at them all very seriously."Ladies and gentlemen, this is a very sad day... It's-it's" She looked like she couldn't go on, but finally managed to try, "It's the last day, in history, Sissy will ever wear a two-peice swimsuit to PE class." She grinned as the others roared with laughter.
"But seriously, how'd ya do that?" Odd asked
The five shared a look."Practice. Lots and lots of practice."
Jim came up."Sissy says you did that to her. Is there any validation in that, Miss Fae?"
Velma gave an innocent look."Who? Me? I dont even KNOW her, why would I do it?" Jim,though still suspicous, nodded and walked off.
"I think we'll have to watch out for trouble him...,"Will mumbled, "He seems like he could be a bit meddlesome..."
"True, Jim is like that..." Yumi said, jerking her head in Jim's direction. The group stared after him, watching as he escorted a sobbing, screaming Sissy from the pool area and back to the locker room.
"CLASS DISMISSED!!!!!" He yelled over his shoulder as he vanished around a corner.
"Shall we change and get down to business?" Yumi suggested.
Everyone shrugged and did so. A few minutes later everyone was by the pool again."Well, Stroka, you're our tech man, explain"
Stroka sighed."Fine. XANA as you know is one of my uncles programs for Lyoko. It acheived selve awarness and, for some unknown reason, grew unsavory with the world and decided to attempt to destroy it. It had to wait for its time however, Franz could shut him down, it saw its chance when Franz and Aelita hid from government agents in Lyoko. He acted to late to gain control of Aelita, but it managed to scramble Franzs data enough that it wouldn't take on a humonoid shape. However he needed both Franz and Aelitas keys to escape Lyokos main frame into the net he put computer into hibernation so that the nuclear battery wouldn't run out before he could escape."
"Ten years later Jeremy stumbled across it. From there you know up to this point. XANA destroyed your Lyoko to stop interference from your group, however it didn't expct you to get a hold of us. He had planned on quitely hacking our Lyoko and using our Towers to launch an attack on us and gain freedom from those who could stop him."
"However Franz managed to contact dad and as such we got involved too soon for XANA's plan, and it'll now take anywhere between three and five weeks before XANA can get in. So we got a while to enjoy ourselves before we gotta save the world." Stroka finished.
"How are we going to explain Williams disapearance? What do you think happened to him when Lyoko crashed?"
The five raised an eyebrow, Will answered the group."Why should we explain anything? Beyond his crush on you and his rivalry with Ulrich, there's no evidence of him having any ties to your group so we should be out of suspicion. I personally hope the fucker died when Lyoko crashed however, sadly, I believe XANA kept him alive to use as a battle avatar in case you guys caught up with him."
"And there you've got it. Now I believe I have a bet for Odd." Will broke the silence.
"A bet?"
"Yeah. Ten bucks says I can out eat you."
Odd grinned."I'll take that bet. Prepare to lose."
Will shrugged."I don't lose at eating. We'll do it tomarrow, the cafeteria won't be willing part with enough food for this. I'll see you guys later," He looked at Ulrich,"I need to talk about something with Ulrich, alone." Nodding everyone got up to leave.
"Aelita? Can I talk to you?" Looking curious, Aelita nodded and followed a slightly nervous Jeremy off to some quite spot to talk. Everyone looked on in curiousity, shrugged, and continued on to the cafeteria for lunch.
"What's up, Will?" Ulrich asked, his eyes following Yumi untill she was out of sight.
"I heard you got into an argument with your old man." Will chuckled at Ulrichs groan."I talked to him last night, about an idea of mine. You will move out of the dorms,to seperate you from your 'bad influences' here at Kadic," Will bluntly ignored Ulrich's enraged shout, "and shall move in with Stroka, Xero, and myself. You will continue to attend Kadic untill next semester. At that point your father will judge your academic improvement, if he finds it satisfactory he will allow you to return to living in the dorm."
"Now this is where it gets good. I never said I wouldn't make the same offer to those 'bad influences'. I will make this offer known to their parents by the end of week. This has a few advantages for us. No curfew, my house is close to where we'll be heading when XANA starts bitchin' around, the girls with next door to us, Aelita can move in with them, and I believe you'll love this one, we live across the street from Yumi." Ulrich's face broke into a grin.
"He made a deal with a Getsu and he wasn't specific? How high was he at the time?"
Will shruged."I haven't the slightest clue, but what ever it was it was damn strong stuff." They started to walk to the cafeteria.
"What do you think Jeremy wanted with Aelita?"
Will chuckled as he pointed to a corner. "What do you think he wanted?" From their spot Ulrich and Will could see Jeremy and Aelita sharing a kiss. "Looks like somebody around here takes my damn advice."
Ulrich glared at his much taller friend."Shut up Will. Yumi made it clear she wanted to" He spat the next word like poison."only be friends. I had spent the last two weeks of Summer working up the guts to tell her how I felt. When I get back she wants to 'tell me something', I say I do too. Trying to be polite I let her go first, and she tells me she only wants to be friends!" As Ulrich vented his anger, the air grew heavy with oppresive energy. Ulrich made eye contact, and Will could see the hurt in his eyes. Suddenly the pain was replaced by embarrasment, and the oppresive energy vanished."Sorry about that, Onii-san."
Will smilled."It's ok, Otouto. You've been bottling that up for awhile, haven't you? It's better you snapped at me then somebody else." On the outside Will appeared calm, but Ulrich new Will was very much like his favorite element, wind. He had just settled Yumi in the eye of a storm, one that made Katrina look like a summers breeze.
Ulrich narrowed his eyes, again."What are you planning, Will?"
"Who me? Oh, nothing" 'I'm just gonna tell Koibito. Cause she's the best at this sort of thing.'
Suddenly a voice spoke in Wills head.'What about me?'
'Gin? There's no way in Hell I'm gona take your advice, Velma would kill me.'
'What about mine?'
'No, not yours either, Greed.' Will groaned.'Go away, guys. And that 'no' goes for all of you' There was a series of grans, befoe silence prevailed in Wills mind.
Ulrich eyed Will cautiously."Fine. When am I moving out?"
"Tonight. You gonna need any help with your stuff?"
"I'd appreciate it."
"We'll swing by after last class." They stopped talking as they entered the Cafeteria. When they entered the Cafeteria, they quickly got in line to get their food. A minute later they sat down with their now enlarged group.
"What did Will need to talk too you about...What are you guys doing?" Yumi questioned as Ulrich, Velma, Kyle, and Bryce moved their treys away from Will.
"Protectecting our food,Yumi, protecting our food..." Bryce answered, eyeing Will like he was a dangerous animal.
Before she could ask what he meant, Will 'attacked'. In a flash his trey lacked any trace of food, he then proceded to perform the same trick on the two nearest treys; Aelita and Jeremys. "Well, I'm full." Will announced with a loud burp, which earned him a smack from Velma. "Owchy, why am I so abused again?" Will whined, rubbing his head.
Velma snorted "Like I said this morning, 'because you deserve it', so live with it."
Will shrugged. "Anyway, I need to talk to you after you finish eating." Velma nodded nonchalantly, tough you could tell she was curious.
Meanwhile Ulrich told Yumi he would tell the group what Will told him after classes. After Velma finished, she and Will got up, waved, and left.
Velma, Will, and Ulrich were waiting in what was soon to be solely Odds room. Ulrich was glad for Odds appearance, it distracted him from the sympathetic looks Velma had been giving him since she and Will had showed up to help him pack. A few minutes after Odd the others came in. "So...whats up?" Odd asked, petting Kiwis head.
Ulrich sighed. "My father has decided that I may no longer live in the dorms, though I will still attend Kadic. I will be staying with family friends in town."
His friends, though you could tell they didn't like it, nodded. "Who and where? And will we be allowed to visit?" Yumi asked.
Ulrich chuckled."I dont think my hosts will have a problem with you guys visiting. I will be living with Will, after all. As for where...Yumi? Did you notice that someone moved into the house across the street from yours?" Yumi nodded.
"Well that's our house." Will said, quitely laughing at the look on Yumis face. After a while Will got up. "Sorry, but we gotta go, Ulrich. If we dont hurry Stroka, Bryce, and Heather will eat our share of dinner. You guys can come over tommarow, see you then." He and Ulrich each picked up a suit case, nodding to everyone Velma, Will, Yumi, and Ulrich left the remaining borders.
"See you tommarrow, Yumi." Ulrich waved good bye as Yumi walked through her homes front gate, she smiled and waved back. After she dissapeared behind her door, Ulrich turned to face the house he'll be staying at for awhile. Suddenly Heather stuck her head out a window on the fiest floor.
"Hurry, before they eat it all!" Laughing along with Velma, Ulrich followed the fuming Will into the building.
'This may have been the best thing dads ever done for me.' Ulrich thought as he closed the door.
A/N ok there you go, my second chapter. So? Good? Bad? Ok? please review.
