Disclaimer- I don't in any way shape, form or otherwise own the rights to Code Lyoko.

A/N- Hey its me again! I'm on my sixth snowday this year so I'm treating you all with another chapter if you like it or not, but I hope you do.

Read, Review, enjoy my day off with me! I'm building an iIgloo and I am going to drink a coke in it all day. (maybe)

5 -- 5


Chapter II

Walking outside of the lunchroom Ulrich was immediately hit unexpectedly by a cold blast of artic wind. He had left his coat inside the lunchroom and didn't feel like missing his chance to catch up with Yumi was worth being warm. She was only a few feet away trudging through the wintry weather with her heavy combat boots sinking deep into the snow. She had her coat on and she clutched her books close to her chest as she pressed on into the cold night.

"Yumi," Ulrich called out to her but the wind captured her name and reduced his voice to nothing but a soft wispier.

He tried to run but the thick snow hindered his movement. The gap between them was growing larger almost like a metaphor Ulrich thought for their real relationship. When they always got close something trivial like William, school, Sissi, or even this damn snow would tear them apart farther then they were before.

No matter how hard the wind blew he was determined to get to Yumi and see her home safely. After about ten minutes of trailing her Ulrich finally reach Yumi who had dropped one of her books and was just beginning to pick it up.

"You dropped this Yumi," Ulrich said fighting back the incredible numb feeling in his fingers as he gave Yumi her book back.

"Thanks Ulrich. Now go inside this is silly your just going to get sick." She said rather firmly but with a since of care in her words. Yumi retrieved her book and continued her journey back home.

"Hey Yumi is everything alright? You know at hom-"

"Leave me alone Ulrich!" Yumi interrupted loudly and turned just in time for a shocked Ulrich to see teardrops stream down her face then freeze halfway down her face.

Ulrich reached out for her and grasped her shoulder tightly. She pulled back hard and when he didn't give in she kicked him hard in his right shin. In the pain Ulrich released Yumi who dashed as fast as one could in a snowstorm towards her house.

Defeated Ulrich sat there in the snow watching the shadowy figure of Yumi disappear into the snow filled air; his thought of what just happened rushing through his head. Yumi had struck me to get away from me. She didn't feel comfortable near me. She didn't responded to my touch and most of all I let her get away.


Ulrich stared at the hand that had grabbed her shoulder the whole way back to the dormitories making a few wrong turns because of it.

Back inside the warmth of his dorm building he raised his eyes to the landing at the top of the stairs and saw Odd was standing there holding what looked like Ulrich's coat.

"Hey Romeo you forgot your coat. You're more madly in love with Yumi then I thought. Practically running into that bizzard, man your nuts," Odd smirked then shielded his face playfully as Ulrich mounted the steps.

"Stow it Odd! I'm going to bed!" Ulrich spoke to Odd as coldly as the winter wind outside.

He laid wide awake, sleepless but tired, eyes fixed on a picture of him and the other Lyoko warriors huddled around Ulrich's favorite tree. Their faces smiled happily back at him. That was at a time before they had discovered Aelita or X.A.N.A. They were much younger back then. The constant battle between X.A.N.A and them had been a war of attrition slowly weathering away at their nerves and lives for two long years.

In school almost all of their grades had dropped, even Jeremy showed signs of lowered performance, but Ulrich's and Yumi's were most noticable. If only this anti-virus gambit could be pulled off they could safely shut down the super computer and then they could say good riddance to X.A.N.A and all his monsters. Though Ulrich took solace in that thought he could not shake a feeling of emptiness without Lyoko, which had been a major part of the last two years of his life.

Ulrich sulked and plotted what to do next there in his dark dorm room until about ten o'clock when his thoughts were interrupted by Odd coming in and playing with Kiwi.

"You know Ulrich, Yumi is just tired. Whatever she might have said or done she is just stressed and needs some down time to catch up with everything she has missed. We all are Ulrich even Jeremy and he is a genius! We are all just tired," Odd said knowingly.

Ulrich eyed the new philosophical Odd suspiciously then rolled on his side away from his friend to stare at the wall. He stayed like this until he knew for certain that Odd had gone to sleep to roll back over and sigh out loud.

Why did she strike me? Was I hurting her? I could have never know with my hands feeling so numb maybe I applied to much pressure. Did she always hate me or is she just tired like Odd said. I'm tired but sleep won't come to me just like Yumi wouldn't stay with me. Just like she never wanted to be with me. Just like . . . like.

Ulrich's thoughts began to multiple to a magnitude that was to high for him to keep them all organized and he found himself chasing around big circular thoughts that always came back to the question, 'did she always hate me?'

The morning bell rang, it was a Friday morning and Ulrich woke up to Kiwi licking his face profusely. "I love you also Kiwi," Ulrich said into his sleeve as he wiped his face with it.

After Odd had finally been roused they headed off to the showers. Odd always rushed through his shower to get down to the cafeteria earlier then everyone else. Ulrich didn't feel like rushing and stood in the shower thinking maybe if 'I stand here long enough I can wash away all my sins and pain I've caused Yumi.'

His pondering was quickly ended when he did not see what he was doing and got some soap in his eye. It burned like rubbing alcohol in an open wound. Ulrich cursed loudly to himself and left the bathroom angrily.

Ulrich's day, he thought hopefully, could not get much worse then this.