Chapter 3: Welcome back, Team Sin
Nearly the two weeks had gone by; every second seeming to move slower and slower till it reached the time to head to the Lyoko World Championships. Team Kiwi were training extensively every day, wanting to win that first place trophy more than anything; especially the three that were heading to college, nothing better then adding that piece of information towards a college of their choice.
But the last day till the big day, Team Kiwi was taking some leisure time; a smart strategy to rest up before the time was right. Yet Yumi spent her last day at her scheduled date to her Psychiatrist Dr. Stein, a well known psychiatrist who specialized in paranoia and night terrors. Even though she looked to be in her early thirties, along with her figure making her look younger, she was highly experienced and respected in those fields.
The troubled Japanese girl was lying down on that couch as soft as granite; however she was so tired from her recent night terror she felt like she could sleep on a bed of rusted nails and glass comfortably. "So you had another one last night?" Dr. Stein asked, her voice almost sounded emotionless while she continuously wrote on that clipboard that seemed fused to her arm.
Yumi's hands begun to shake just from the thought of it, why did she have to be plagued by these horrible dreams, why couldn't she just live a normal life like the rest of her friends. She nodded. "Yes," her voice trembled, seeing the blood back on her hands, nearly losing her lunch which wouldn't be the first time, "they feel so real, I can barely tell they are dreams."
"But you also mentioned this has been your only night terror this week," the doctor replied, flipping the page but her writing never ceased, "they used to come to you almost everyday, this does show improvement."
"But my screams are getting so loud the neighbors' called the cops," her toes squeezed tightly, she took off her shoes before she relaxed on the couch. Her body suddenly felt very cold with her arms wrapped tightly around her chest, "I don't want to have these nightmares anymore."
"You mean," the doctor stopped writing to look up at the troubled teen, "so you can say yes to your boyfriend's proposal."
Yumi couldn't help but have a shade of red cover her cheeks, mentioning that to Dr. Stein in an earlier session. "Well," she looked away," that's... one of the reasons," then turned to meet the doctor's gaze, "but I also have the Lyoko World Tournament to get to, and I won't be at my home."
"I still don't understand why you insist not to tell your friends about this," the doctor returned to her notes, "they could probably help you more then you know through it."
The patient's ebony eyes started to swell up with warm tears, looking away from the doctor once again. "I-I," her tone matched her eyes, moving the small cylinder pillow from behind her head to clutch tightly in her arms, "already burden my family with my problem, I don't want anyone else to suffer because of me."
Not a word was spoken between then to what felt like ten minutes, only hearing the scratching of the pen on paper. "Well, if you feel that strongly towards that, there is a new medication that recently became available to the public," her tone never changed as she looked up at the young girl, "I know how you feel about taking this kind of medicine but I will give you a prescription to take just until you return home."
If anything came close to her night terrors in the rate of fear; it would be her fear of getting addicted to a medication or getting her picture taken. "Could I get addicted to it?"
Dr. Stein shook her head to her worried patient. "There is no need to worry, they are perfectly safe," she reassured; writing on a yellow piece of paper, she ripped it off and handed it over, "just head to your nearest pharmacy and give them this."
Yumi's trembling hand reached out to take it as just when she took it from the good doctor's hand, the alarm beeped announcing the end of their session. "Well, it looks like time is up for today. I hope this medicine works for you."
The Japanese teenager put her black boots back on her feet before she bowed in respect. "Thank you."
But as Yumi walked towards the door, Dr. Stein added with a small smile on her lips. "And good luck in the Tournament, kick their butts."
The Bodyguard of Team Kiwi couldn't help but let out a short giggle. "I will do my best."
Even though Odd had his eyes set on those bags of peanuts, the distance was short enough that they didn't need to go by plane; traveling to their hotel in the breath taking city of Paris viva a white Hummer limo.
Each one of the members of Team Kiwi looked out the windows: the sights captured their eyes, the smells of delicious meals made their mouth water, especially their stomach with legs of a teammate.
Yumi even felt less uneasy about coming, she knew she would at least give her family a break from her, but the city of love just made her feel relaxed; especially when her boyfriend moved his hand over hers, giving it a slight squeeze.
But everything has to come to an end as the limo stopped in front of the hotel they would be staying at for the duration of the games. Walking out they could only gaze in awe at the five-star hotel; the outer design made to look like that from the eighteenth century even though it was relatively new, a red brick style covered the walls and antique windows.
"This place is beautiful," their Deactivator couldn't help but cheer, but noticed the men of their team were having a hard time getting her cousin out of the limo.
"Could you two go check us in?" Ulrich struggled to pull Odd out by his legs, but he was holding with all of his might. "We're going to be a while."
"Come on," Odd whined, "just a little longer!"
Aelita smiled. "Just don't take too long boys," she looked at her quiet friend, "come on, Yumi, let's get our rooms."
"Yeah."
The girls where taken from the outside through the main entrance, and it rendered them speechless. Just like the outside it was designed with the antique look even though it was new; joined with replicas of famous artwork like Leonardo da Vinci to the roof designed similar to the Sistine Chapel of Michelangelo.
Strangely enough, it was the sound of the Prelude from Chopin being played on the white grand piano in the middle of the room; played by a teenage girl in a gorgeous white dress with long white hair nearly reaching the floor that truly got the girls attention. She couldn't have been more then fifteen or sixteen years old but she played like a master at it, not only playing so beautifully that everyone in the room stopped what they were doing to listen but her fingers, that looked if they would crumble like the fragile snow color they were, moved along the keys without a single flaw, almost an art form in itself.
A peaceful smile and her eyes closed as she played. It almost seemed like a crime when she finished up the last few notes, hearing the ovation from everyone as she gave her bows in respect where she was led off by another teen in a black suit; strangely he wore a white mask over his face bearing three red claw marks over the right eye. The girls thought maybe that's how the bellboys' dressed and brushed it off.
"Such a beautiful song to welcome the contestants," an all too familiar voice sent a shiver up the young girls' spine, "don't you think?"
That dark voice could only belong to one person they knew of, looking to their left it was confirmed; seeing Shadow from Team Sin relaxing comfortably in a one-seat couch, doing his usual crossword puzzle by filling in the word 'obscurity' in French. "Nice to see you two were able to make it."
"Too bad we can't say the same for you," Yumi stated to the one they despised, "where's the rest of your team?"
Putting in the word 'acquaintance' on his crossword puzzle, he looked up to meet their gaze with that usual sinister grin across his face: remembering all the fun times he has had with this particular team. "They will be here shortly, I just came ahead to get our rooms. Sword Hunter is thrilled to have her own room this year."
"Oh right," Aelita added, "your team is lacking a Controller. Isn't that against the rules?"
Shadow added 'immunity' in the crossword, connecting the y with 'obscurity' he put on earlier. "You should know by now, Team Kiwi. Team Sin might be the darkest team in the Lyoko Games, but we have never broken a rule. If you look at the rules it says you can have a team up to five members, so if you wanted your entire team could just be a Deactivator since that is all you need to win a match. But don't think Team Sin is handicapped because we lack a Controller."
"Because," his voice grew as sadistic as the look on his face, "we've been training,"
Once their bodies stopped shaking from that look on his face, Aelita stated to her female teammate. "W-We better get checked in."
Once the girls got the room keys, the watched as the boys walked, pulling Odd by force. The two couldn't help but giggle from the sight.
The boys' also seemed to be in awe by the interior of the entryway; the girls' only wished that they could have heard the music that was being played earlier. "So did we get good rooms?" Odd asked, still down having to get out of that limo.
Aelita nodded. "Yeah, twenty-fourth floor; we will have a clear view of the Eifel Tower."
"I always thought it was the Alf el Tower," Odd replied, his team knew he was going to say something like that.
"J-Jeremy," Yumi's voice stuttered aloud to get their attention, "could I have the single room this time?"
She rubbed her hands that hung by her waist, not wanting to take any chances of her friends' to find out her night terrors. Hoping her screams would at least be muffled by the walls.
Jeremy gave it a quick thought to her proposal. "Well I wouldn't mind, but then how would we work out the rooms?"
"I just know you can't sleep in our room," Ulrich replied quickly, "I will never get to sleep with your computer as a nightlight."
"Me either," Odd agreed, but quickly proposed the idea, "so why not just stay with our Princess."
The team was a bit shocked at his idea, but the Einstein couple couldn't help yet turn tomato red. "Odd," the team leader stated, "you know it's like an unwritten rule you can't have a guy and a girl stay in the same room."
Odd could only look puzzled to his friend's reaction. "I don't see the problem; they will be on their computers and their dating; besides, I doubt we would have to worry about anything like that."
The couple only turned a deeper shade of red; they had to admit they did look to be the least likely in the group to be into 'that' sort of thing; only wondering if their friends knew.
"Bonjour Kiwi d'équipe!" an all too familiar cheer called out to them, turning to see the rest of Team Sin walk through the door yet Sword Hunter couldn't help but run up to greet them.
(Hello Team Kiwi in French)
If she was a knock out to the male species before, it was almost like she was glowing now. Her perfectly tanned skin only added to her model figure, her chest went up at least another cup size while it seemed like she wore even less then before, now wearing a black katana on her right hip to add the saying 'look, but don't touch.'
Her heavenly long ebony hair flowed to each sway of her body, the male members of Team Kiwi couldn't help but be in complete awe as she stopped in front of the group. "It has been awhile," she gracefully moved a few strands of her hair behind her head while she licked her full blood red lips, "hasn't it?"
The boys' were almost drooling, they wanted to say something but no words could escape their mouths. "Oh where are my manners, I forgot to greet you all the Paris way."
She first put her hands on Yumi's shoulders to pull her closer; with a quick jester she kissed the air by each side of her cheeks; this was a common greeting. She continued to do this to the rest of the team until she finished up with Aelita, but she smelled a unique smell on the innocent Controller, causing a sadistic plot to already form in that head of hers so early in the Tournament. "Oh, I didn't know you were into that," she whispered into the pink hair girl's ear.
Aelita stood completely paralyzed from that comment, wondering how within the five minutes they met, Sword Hunter could find out or maybe she was just playing around like she always did. Still, either way she couldn't let her guard down.
The beauty of Team Sin stepped back to see all of the members to Team Kiwi, the boys still a bit dazed till the girls' elbowed them in their sides. "I'm glad to see you all could make it," she cheered.
Those eyes of hers were as seductive as Medusa and probably just as powerful; fluttering those long eyelashes the men around her couldn't help but stop and stare. "Good to see you too, Susan," Yumi replied, looking at the long Japanese katana strapped to her waist, "but why do you have that sword?"
Her face turned that into an innocent child, until she looked down at what Yumi was talking about; the handle had no guard with the blade concealed in the sheath, could easily be mistaken as just one large black stick. "Oh this?" she asked, "let's just say it's getting harder and harder to tell a guy 'no means no,' if you know what I mean."
Yumi remembered what Sword Hunter told her almost a year ago, nodding. "I understand," but she also looked at her outfit: strap-on black high heels to reveal her blood red painted toes and added to the figure of her smooth long legs. Her usual outfit which looked like a two-piece leather swimsuit was still the same but looked to be a bit more revealing then before. "Yet don't you think your asking for it?"
"I can't help it," she whined like a child in a grocery whose parents just denied her the candy bar she wanted. "Those clothes are just too stuffy. That's why I got this sword and a licenses that let's me carry it in public."
Only she would be so bold as to do that was the thought that could easily be read on Team Kiwi's faces. "I see you've been having fun already," their Team Leader Bloodlust stated, approaching the small group of Lyoko Warriors.
Still as dark as ever, he stopped with TNT by his side. "I hope we will have a challenge this year, Team Kiwi," Bloodlust grinned with that vampire fang smile of his, his dark sunglasses covering up the glee in his eyes.
Team Kiwi's Team Leader stood out in front. "Don't worry about it," stating defensively, "just get ready to congratulate us when we get first place this year."
The males on Team Sin couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "You took the words right out of my mouth," TNT replied, grinning with that usual sinister Team Sin smile.
"But for right now we got to go check out our rooms," their cheery teammate declared, "I can't wait to see how big my room is," she turned towards Shadow with her hands out, like if wanting some money to hit the arcade, "give me give me give me!"
He groaned, handing her her room key just to make her shut up. His hopes were not heard. "YIPPE! A room to myself!" yet before they made their way towards the elevator, she couldn't help but add to the other team. "How about later we head out to some of the sweet shops, I heard they are somewhat of a delicacy here," but her eyes focused directly on their Controller, lips curled, "or would you prefer something... salty?"
Aelita now knew for sure, she knew.
Aelita quickly pulled out the keycard to watch the light turn green, twisting the handle to see the picturesque two bed room before her. She could barely contain her excitement, rushing to the window to see the breathtaking view; the sun just turning the sky orange which just seemed to add its own beauty. "Jeremy, you have to come see this," she called out, not even diverting her eyes on the city of love, "I'm so glad we came here."
But Jeremy was having a hard time of his own, carrying not only his but her luggage as well: one suitcase in each hand with three on his arms blocking his sight. He could hardly keep his balance as he walked into the room, still a bit of a shock that he could even carry that much weight. "I would love to, but can I have some help first?"
She turned back to see her boyfriend's predicament, blushing from embarrassment on how she was so excited about the room she nearly forgot about him. "S-Sorry Jeremy."
Rushing to her boyfriend's aid, she took the two in his hands and set it on the right bed while he dropped them on the left. "What do you bring?" he asked, collapsing on the bed.
"Just some clothes and electronics," she replied, but sat next to him grinning, "but that shouldn't be a problem for my big strong man."
No matter how exhausted one man is, even at the brink of death, a statement like that is better then any energy drink; instantly sitting up. "Yup, no problem at all," he bragged, flexing his arms, "I could have lift twice that with no sweat."
She giggled a bit, wrapping her arms around his. "I'm glad to hear that, because I have a few more downstairs."
He nervously smiled, feeling like he was just bit in the butt. "S-Sure, no problem."
She squeezed his arm tighter, giggling again. "I'm just kidding; I only brought what I needed; including a dress for the Lyoko Ball."
His face flustered, after hearing that for this year the Lyoko Games were going to host a Ball at the Hotel Aelita went with Yumi for dress shopping. Both girls refused to show off what they got until the day of the Ball. "Could I see it?" he asked.
She rested her head on his shoulder, smiling comfortably. "I told you, not until you escort me to the Ball. It will be more special that way."
Jeremy exhaled, really wanting to see how his girlfriend could get even more beautiful then she was right now. But another idea came into his head. "Well, what would you like to do, now that we got this room all to ourselves?"
The blushing only grew on Aelita's face, feeling his hand rubbing on her bare leg. "What if our friends walk in on us? We share room keys."
"I'll just lock the door."
"But then won't they get suspicious?"
Jeremy removed his hand from her leg, he could tell she was just too nervous at the moment and pushing it would only make it worse. Looking deeply into those lovely eyes of hers he replied. "How about, we just get settled in first."
She loved it when he looked into her eyes like that, feeling her body warm up inside just from his gaze. "That sounds nice," she snapped out of it, "I mean yeah... but don't think you will be helping putting away my clothes."
Turning beet red, he looked away from her seductive glance, a look you would have never guessed would grace her face two years ago. "I would never think of it."
Ulrich rested Yumi's suitcases on her bed; it was a lot smaller then the usual two person bedrooms; about the same size as her room back home, a square inch or two larger. "Well that's everything," Ulrich stated, cracking his fingers, "would you like to just rest here for awhile or go look around before heading to the Opening?"
It took her a few seconds, still looking over her room. "I would like to... relax a bit."
"Alright," trying to hide the depression in his voice with a small smile, "if you need anything I'm just at the end of the hallway."
Yumi didn't even turn around. "Thanks."
Without another word, he walked towards the door. Opening the door he turned back, seeing she didn't look back as he let himself out.
She didn't turn around because she didn't want him to see the tears running down her face; it broke her heart hearing the depression on his voice.
Collapsing on the bed, she buried her face in the soft feathered pillow. Quickly it became warm and wet, clenching it in her arms, Why did she have to be such a burden to her family and Ulrich; she loved him with all her heart and soul, but all she does now is cause him pain. Wanting to say yes to his proposal a thousand times over but would it be better if just looked for someone else.
But thoughts like that only caused her more pain, even though all she wants is for Ulrich to be happy she couldn't stand the thought of him with someone else.
She wiped her watery eyes with her arm and grabbed one of her cases. Opening it she opened up the secret compartment to grab the medical bottle. Her hand shook with it in her grasp; if it meant she could be with Ulrich she was willing to do anything.
To Be Continued
Such pain and sorrow, but if it's just started you know I will have to come up with something darker later on. Read and Review.
