Disclaimer: I wish

Author's Note: It's been awhile huh? Sorry about that. The last part of school was full of a lot of homework and tests (and not to mention those damn finals). And I'm going through some (guy) problems right now… --; anyway, sorry… So, yeah. SUMMER IS OFFICIALLY HERE! So, updates will come faster again!

On The Verge of Letting Go

Chapter 36: Looking Forward

Yumi stared at the little piece of paper in her hand, trying to discover what the small, scratchy handwriting meant.

"Maybe…take 2 steps forward…something to the right?"

Deciding to give it a try, she stepped forward twice, some wind nipping at her skin. She pulled her jacket closer to her, taking a step to the right and looking around. Nothing.

She took a few more and looked again, still seeing nothing. Finally, twenty or so paces to the right, she was standing in front of a tall tree, now away from the soccer field. She looked at the tree and saw a picture thumb tacked to it.

She gently pulled the picture off and looked at it with a smile. It was of the gang, including Aelita. It was the day she had been materialized. Odd was off in the corner, eating like usual, while Jeremie was sitting on a bench, his arm around Aelita's waist. Both of their cheeks were magenta. Yumi was sitting on Ulrich's lap, hugging him around the neck. He stared at the camera in shock, though a smile played across his face. They, too, were blushing.

She turned it over and saw the next clue.

Be ready and waiting for the bell's chime.

Now can you find that mysterious rhyme?

She arched an ebony eyebrow, rereading the message three or four times.

"Bells? Are there bells here?" She was beginning to wonder if she'd have to go back to London.

"Yumi?" she heard a voice call out to her. She pivoted on her heel, looking around.

"What?" she asked, before she spotted who had addressed her.

"Sissy!" her mouth dropped open as she stared at the younger girl, long hair tied in a high ponytail. She was wearing a designer top, pink in color, with a black miniskirt and sandals with tall heels. On her ears were big hooped earrings falling to her shoulders.

"Yumi? What are you doing here?"

Yumi looked around. "Reminiscing."

Sissy smiled. "So Ulrich finally left you?"

"No…" trying to keep her anger under control, she put on a fake smile and replied, "What are you doing here?"

"Coming to see Daddy."

"Oh. Well then I won't keep you."

Sissy smirked. "No, I understand. You've got to go get knocked up by more guys. Tah tah!"

Sissy pranced away, smirking like a hyena. Yumi sighed, trying not to retort. She's just jealous…she's just jealous because you've got Ulrich.

Ulrich? The note came back to her. She reread the message. After a few seconds, she looked up, wondering whether she should ask Sissy about the bells, but the girl was out of sight by then.

X

Odd led Sam through the town, dragging her by her hand. Sam, whose tears had finally stopped although their marks remained on her stained cheeks, followed him without choice, wondering where they were going.

"Odd…?"

He smiled and continued to drag her. On a busy street, he stopped and waved for a taxi, getting on a few seconds later. He helped Sam into the back seat and slid in after her.

Sam opened her mouth to ask again, but decided against it when she noticed Odd's expression. He put his arm around her and pulled her closer.

The taxi drove around town for ten minutes before Odd finally stopped him. Digging in his pocket, he handed the man some money and dragged Sam from the back.

They were in the center of town, in front of a large fountain. Sam looked around, confused.

"Why are we here?"

Odd reached into his pocket again and withdrew a shiny quarter. He put it in her palm and closed her fingers around it.

"Make a wish Sam."

X

Aelita hummed to a song as she pulled food out of the fridge. She had a beautiful singing voice, and every time he heard it, it gave Jeremie the goose bumps and immediately calmed him down.

"Hey Aelita!" he said, walking up behind her. She turned to him with a smile.

"Hello Jeremie. What's up?"

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from the fridge, closing it with his foot as they walked away. He led her to the couch and sat her down.

(A/N: I went through and reread like all the chapters and I couldn't find where I had posted Aelita and Jeremie's wedding date…did I post it? If I did, can someone please tell me in a review what it was (I've slept since then) thankies!)

"I want to talk to you."

She nodded. "Okay. What's up?"

"I want to know. What's been going on?"

She looked at him oddly. "What do you mean?"

"With Sam. You won't tell me…"

She gasped. "I…I can't…"

"Everyone else knows, right?"

She sighed. "I…I think so."

Jeremie grabbed her hand. "Okay. I understand."

She leaned up against him and breathed in his scent, smiling in contentment. She watched the television, though not really taking it in. She couldn't help but think of the future, of being Aelita Belpois. It just seemed so perfect.

X

Yumi walked into town and looked around. Unsure of what to do, she called for a taxi, and got one a few seconds later.

She crawled in the back. "I need to go see bells. Is there a bell tower nearby?"

The taxi driver looked at her, burrowing his eyebrows. He shifted the car into drive and drove away without answering.

Two blocks later, he stopped in front of a big, bell tower. Yumi laughed sheepishly to herself and paid the cab driver before sliding out of the car.

She stared at the giant bell tower and looked it over for another clue.

She saw him instead.

X

Yeah yeah yeah, sucky ending. But I wanted to update soon, so yeah…anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter. There will be another, then it'll skip time a little.

Dewa mata! Review!

Fox Kitsune