Ok! Here's the next chapter!


Ulrich POV

One year, it's been one whole year since Yumi ran away. I can still remember the depressing phone call from her crying mother asking me if I had heard anything from her at all…but I hadn't.

Aelita blames herself for Yumi's disappearance because she was the last person to talk to her. Apparently Yumi called her the night she vanished. I don't blame Aelita—I don't! Its just…

Why the hell didn't she call me? If she had been in trouble I could've—I could've…I could've fucking saved her! I could've done something! If there's anyone to blame here its me, I should've seen this coming, she had been so depressed…

Our initial thought, when we first learned that she had 'run away', was that X.A.N.A. had kidnapped her and was holding her hostage, but we couldn't find an activated tower. For X.A.N.A. to function in the real world doesn't he have to activate a tower?

Maybe Yumi did run away—No, that's impossible, Yumi's no coward. She doesn't run away from her problems, but what other reason is there? If it wasn't X.A.N.A., who was it? Was Yumi just one more kid in another random abduction by some freaking psycho?

I hope not, God I really hope not. I'm so tired; I don't sleep anymore, I can't…not when I have no idea if she's safe. My grades are falling and soccer doesn't bring me the same joy it did before, and to top it off…I think X.A.N.A.'s winning.

Normal POV

"Good morning students! And welcome to another fabulous year at Kadic High School!" Principle Delmas shouted unnecessarily loud to the large group of students sitting in the assembly hall.

"I'm getting to old for school." Ulrich rolled his eyes at his best friend.

"Odd, that doesn't even make sense." Sissi giggled from his other side. She was a nice girl; a real asset to the team, but she was no Yumi.

"We are pleased to welcome back two seniors to our senior class, who left because of family obligations, so please give a warm welcome to William Dunbar and Yumi Ishiyama!"

Ulrich froze, Aelita gasped, Odd's mouth fell open, Jeremy dropped his books, and Sissi's eyes widened. There, walking onto the stage like it was nothing in the world, was Yumi.

She was wearing an outfit similar to the one she wore to the dance she attended with Ulrich before a giant teddy bear crashed the festivities.

She smiled out to the audience and said something to William before he laughed. "Alright!" The forgotten principle continued, "I think we've wasted enough time as it is! Get to class!"

The Lyoko gang made a bee-line for Yumi and William. "Yumi, Where have you been?!" Ulrich, of course, was the first to speak, followed closely by Odd.

"Yeah! And why the hell are you with him." Odd glared daggers at William as he spoke.

Yumi POV

A lot can change in a year I've decided. All three of the guys have grown, now towering over me, and Aelita has grown her hair long, so it brushes just past her shoulders, and Sissi…well she actually looked sorta kind.

I inwardly blanched at my own thoughts.

"I'm sorry if I worried you all." I gave them my best smile, now realizing that I really had missed them; my best friends…my ex-best friends. My smile faltered.

"Worried us? Yumi that's a bit of an understatement don't you think?!" I was taken aback by Aelita's furious tone, She had never raised her voice to me before.

"And you still haven't told us why you're with William." I took my gaze off of Aelita to focus on the hansom sight that was Ulrich, I felt old feelings stir in my stomach.

No—I can't love him anymore…He's my enemy.

"I'm with William," I began speaking directly to Ulrich, "Because we are on the same side." I watched as their reactions stretched from utter shock to unquenchable fury.

"What!" Ulrich looked angrier then I had ever seen him, "You've betrayed us Yumi, your best friends, for X.A.N.A.?!" His voice was saturated with rage but I could hear the hurt in there too.

And for a second, one glorious second I doubted what I was doing and what I was planning to do. Why was I following X.A.N.A.? He only wants to hurt people; He's dangerous and unpredictable…Why had I decided to follow him? I couldn't remember.

But just as quickly as it came it was gone and all doubt was swept from my mind; like some unknown force had erased it. I watched as my necklace glowed red, it was always so pretty when it did that. And just like that I couldn't remember what I was thinking about just a moment ago...

"I haven't betrayed you Ulrich, I've just had a change of heart." And with that said I turned around and walked away, not even sparing them a glance.

People like them don't deserve my time.


It looks like Yumi can still be saved! or does X.A.N.A. have to much control over her? Please review!

My apologies for the shortness! I've really had no time!