I do not own Code Lyoko. OC are mine.
Ulrich sat on one of the beds, flicking through channels on the tv. It was nearing nine o'clock, and Kailey still wasn't back. Each creak in the hallway had his head turning to the door, waiting for it to open and reveal Kailey returning. Nothing. Beginning to panic, he wondered if something happened to her. He tossed the remote aside and started pacing. He was debating whether or not to go look for her when the door opened.
Kailey walked in, cool as anything, and sat down in the spot Ulrich had just vacated. "We need to talk," she said, the ice evident in her voice as she folded her hands in her lap. Ulrich swallowed and sat down on the other bed.
"I've been asking around, talking to some people who knew you from Kadic," Kailey dived in, staring at Ulrich. "Apparently you're promised to somebody named Yumi. Is that why you didn't want me to come? So I wouldn't meet Yumi?"
Ulrich fought hard to not smile. He waited a few seconds, then asked, "Who told you that?"
"Some girl, didn't say who she was," Kailey said, studying every detail of Ulrich's face. "Long black hair with a real whiny voice. She said she was your best friend in school. Is it true?"
Ulrich turned his head to look at Kailey. "Sounds like Sissi to me," he said. "She was the principal's daughter, and she had a major crush on me the whole time I was at Kadic. Didn't like her very much, still don't, as a matter of fact." He moved next to Kailey. "It's not true," he said, pulling her closer to him and kissing her forehead. "Yumi and I dated a bit, but not long. She's still my friend, though." He felt Kailey relax against him. "While you were out walking, did you think about what I told you at all?" he asked.
"Of course," she said, voice quiet. "It seems so unbelievable. I guess that's why I took Sissi's story hook, line, and sinker." She moved closer to Ulrich. "I don't want to lose you," she whispered.
Ulrich just held her, savoring each second with her in his arms. "What do I have to do to make you believe?" he muttered. "What can I possibly do to show you that Xana is real, that the world is in danger?"
He wasn't expecting an answer, so he was surprised when he heard Kailey mutter, "Show me Lyoko. Show me the danger." Ulrich pulled back and looked in her face. It was set in the same deteremined look he had seen before, when she shattered her hip in a hiking accident and doctors said she wouldn't walk again.
"Let me make a phone call," Ulrich said, withdrawing his cell phone. "I talked to Jeremie. He was at the factory. If he's still at the factory, we'll head there now." Kailey nodded, watching as Ulrich went to contacts to find Jeremie's number. Putting his phone to his ear, Ulrich waited while it rang. Kailey laid down, resting her head in his lap, and he began stroking her hair, relieved that she still had some faith in him. Hearing Jeremie pick up, Ulrich said, "Jer, are you still at the factory?"
"Of course," Jeremie said. "Why?"
"Is it possible for me to bring Kailey down there right now?" Ulrich asked.
"Sure," Jeremie said. "I'm finishing her program right now. She can take it for a test drive, maybe scout something for me."
"Right," Ulrich said, looking at Kailey's face. Her eyes were focused on him. "We'll be there in ten minutes." Hanging up, he kissed Kailey. "Jeremie's still there," he said. "He has a program he wants to run. Let's get going." Nodding, Kailey sat up.
"Where is this factory?" she asked, opening the door.
"By the school," Ulrich said. "We'll take a cab to Kadic and walk from there." He closed the door, and turned to find Kailey standing inches from him. She stood on her toes and kissed him, pulling him down as she lowered herself.
"Promise me we'll have a vacation, just the two of us, when this is all over," she said. "Promise."
"I promise," Ulrich said, grabbing her hand. Together, they walked down the hall to the stairs.
