She Can't Be Real
Chapter 9: Betrayal
(Time: 12:45pm, Place: The Stern's family Manor, Country: Germany)
(Yumi's POV)
Ulrich and I fell on grassy plains with a hard thud.
I closed my eyes and winced. My body still ached from my fight with that stupid virtual octopus. I think that girl Xanya called it a skitsazoa, or something. Sounded more like a disease or disorder to me. I tried to get up but felt really woozy.
"You feel it too?" Ulrich asked and I noticed he was kneeling, "I feel a little tired too," he told me, "creepy jet lag," he added.
I smiled. Soon I was laughing.
I think I heard Ulrich chuckle. I'm not sure.
"Wait!" Ulrich shouted and jumped to his feet.
I looked at Ulrich with concern. He was looking around as if this was all the most unbelievable thing he had seen. In my opinion waking up with a mouth stash on my face because of my little brother was more unbelievable than this. For all I knew we were in another virtual world. And this one at least didn't have monsters. Well, none that have made themselves known so far.
"This is it Yumi," Ulrich said to me, "the last day I saw you," he said.
I was shocked.
How could he know that? I wondered.
Ulrich pointed a shaky hand and my eyes followed it.
Further down in a field of grain, two figures ran through it hurriedly. One was definitely wearing a dress. A dark coloured dress.
"Let's go," Ulrich said seriously.
"What?" I asked.
"That's us," Ulrich revealed to me, "we played in the grain the last time we met," he told me.
I was completely mystified.
That little girl down there is me? I wondered unable to believe it.
"Come on Yumi," Ulrich said urgently and pulled me to my feet, "we only have an hour," he added.
"But Ulrich…" I started still feeling a bit de-virtualised style jet lagged.
"It will take us about fifteen minutes to get there," Ulrich interrupted me, "running," he added.
I looked at him incredulously.
"We don't know how long we have before you disappear from me forever," Ulrich told me, "or at least…forever in my young mind's eye," he added.
I could sense his longing and urgency. It made me feel sorry for him.
But wait? I thought, is he worried about me or Hin Yinn? I asked myself, if Hin Yinn's not me…I thought, oh no.
"Ulrich," I said loudly, "I want to go back," I said suddenly.
"What?" Ulrich asked incredulously.
"Hin Yinn, Rin,…what does it matter?" I asked him, "you have me, I have you, we have Odd, Jeremie, Aelita…" I said, "we don't need anything else," I said pulling him back, "forget about the past," I said happily, "let's go towards our future," I said and pulled him back harder as a virtual return hole appeared.
What the hell? Ulrich wondered.
Ulrich pulled his hand away from me angrily.
"How did you know that was there?" Ulrich demanded, "why aren't we really in the past?"
"Ulrich," I said reaching for him, "we are in the past," I told him, "we are…" I said but stopped as my voice slowed down.
I suddenly felt tired. I didn't understand it.
What's the matter with me? I thought wearily.
(Normal POV)
Ulrich watched Yumi faze in and out of focus. Or at least something that either wanted to fool him or really thought it was Yumi.
Maybe I can use this to my advantage, Ulrich thought.
"Ahhhhh!" the fake Yumi suddenly screamed and blew up into a million blue virtual pieces.
"Yumi!" Ulrich cried out by instinct.
Suddenly there was giggling. Evil childish giggling.
Ulrich looked to see himself surrounded by evil red glowing eyed younger versions of both him and Yumi.
"Did you really think I'd help you?" a voice spoke.
Ulrich looked up. The voice seemed to come from the sky.
"Xanya?" Ulrich asked.
"I'm a feminized virtual version of Xana," Xanya spoke, "Xana's in the outside world now," she revealed, "in your body," she added.
"What!" Ulrich shouted, "what's the meaning of this?" he demanded angrily.
Xanya laughed loudly.
"I want revenge," Xanya said her voice now deep and computerized, "I was locked away, but no more!" she shouted, "no more," she said in a slowing voice.
Ulrich noticed everything around him started to go in and out of focus. Like a power surge.
Suddenly all the evil virtual children disappeared. Blue virtual pieces floating into the air then disappearing.
Then everything turned back to normal.
Well as normal as it turns back to when you're trapped in a virtual world.
"How the hell am I going to get out of this?" Ulrich asked himself as he looked around the same rocky terrain he was in before he went to save Xanya.
----
Yumi opened her eyes and looked around. It was definitely in the afternoon. When she looked up she saw two kids staring at her.
Yumi gasped.
One looked just like Ulrich. But younger.
The other looked like…
"Are you me?" Yumi asked, "or Hin Yinn?"
The Young Ulrich grabbed Hin Yinn's hand defensively.
"She's mine," Young Ulrich said defensively.
Hin Yinn looked at him quizzically.
Yumi slowly stood up and brushed herself off.
Young Ulrich glared at her angrily.
"Um," Yumi said, "I was uh…" she said trying to think of something, "I was sent from the future," she decided to tell the truth.
"Liar!" Young Ulrich shouted, "you're here to steal Hin Yinn away!" he shouted angrily, "you were sent by her father!" he yelled and stood protectively in front of her.
Yumi was appalled. The little boy really thought that she was here to steal away his friend.
Hin Yinn gently touched his shoulder.
"She's real Ulrich," Hin Yinn whispered.
Young Ulrich looked at Hin Yinn.
"What's your name?" Hin Yinn asked Yumi.
Yumi gulped.
"She's you isn't she?" Young Ulrich interrupted, "she'd have your name," he insisted.
Hin Yinn sighed.
"Go and get my pink dress Ulrich," Hin Yinn instructed him.
"What?" Young Ulrich asked incredulously, "I'm not…"
"I'll be safe," Hin Yinn said, "if anything Goron will save me," she told me.
Yumi raised an eyebrow.
Young Ulrich went deep in thought. Then he hugged Hin Yinn, glared at Yumi, then ran off.
Hin Yinn sighed.
"Was he mad?" Hin Yinn asked suddenly.
"What?" Yumi asked taken a back.
"When you told him the truth," Hin Yinn persisted.
"Uh…" Yumi said.
"He hates me," Hin Yinn said tearfully, "in the future he hates me," she said nearly crying, "that's why you came back," she
"Wait no…." Yumi started.
"Don't lie to me!" Hin Yinn shrieked, "you told him I wasn't really imaginary!" she accused.
Yumi froze.
"What?" Yumi asked softly.
"I lied to him," Hin Yinn said tears flowing down her cheeks, "I'm just a Japanese girl named Rin," she revealed, "I'm not imaginary at all," she said truthfully.
"You," Young Ulrich suddenly snarled.
Both Rin and Yumi turned around.
Standing there glaring with eyes filled with loathing was Young Ulrich.
His eyes piercing the very soul of a frightened Rin.
"You!" Young Ulrich shouted pointing at Yumi this time, "where is my future self?" he demanded.
"Huh?" Yumi asked, "oh, he should be…" she started, "he was supposed to be here with me," she said softly.
"You were here alone," Rin said.
Yumi looked around desperately. How was this possible? Ulrich was to be here with her.
"What could've…?" I started to ask myself, "Xanya," she snarled in realization.
I've been tricked, Yumi realized.
----
Aelita and Mr. Hopper ran as fast as they could.
A red eyed Ulrich growled and chased after them. Blue lightening emanating from his hands.
Finally I XANA will have his revenge, Xana thought.
"Aelita," Mr. Hopper whispered.
"Yes Dad," Aelita said her legs pumping with great effort.
"There's a turn up ahead," Mr. Hopper said, "take it," he told her.
"What?" Aelita asked incredulously.
"Get back to the factory," Mr. Hopper instructed, "undo the damage Xana's done," he said seriously.
"Bu…" Aelita protested.
"Do as I say!" Mr. Hopper shouted.
A shocked Aelita took the turn when she saw it.
Mr. Hopper continued running straight forward.
Xana stopped.
"Hmph, I can always kill that pink bitch later," Xana decided and proceeded to speed up the chase after his creator and betrayer.
----
I apologize profusely to those expecting Ulrich and Yumi fluff. It just didn't work out for this chapter. I'll get it in when I can. Welcome back Yumi2. Welcome back to all those reviewers who've been absent til recently. Thank you for reviewing the last chapter and thank you to all who review this one.