It Doesn't Matter

Sissi and Jeremie agreed that the others needed physical training. While Sissi was training William, Aelita, and Ulrich, she concluded that the whole team needed a different kind of training, but since they didn't listen to Jeremie all that much–and Jeremie could be a bit overdemanding when he held a stopwatch in his hand–the team needed someone else. But who?

Aelita got the wonderful idea to have Jim, their gym teacher, be their trainer since he trained Special Op forces; of course, he'd rather not talk about it. So they enlisted Jim's help.

It was a big mistake, or at least Jeremie thought so. He didn't think he would be included in the training routine. His legs screamed for a break, and his laptop backpack got heavier and heavier with each moment. He and Odd struggled up a hill in the afternoon forest, feeling the Earth's gravity slowly pull them to an early grave. Odd huddled his stomach as their new instructor came up to press them on. "Come on, you slowpokes, no use lazying around. What's the matter? You couldn't outrun a one-legged chicken at that pace! Hup two Hup two!" shouted Jim. The two ran up the hill and joined the others, barely breathing.

It was brutal work. Even Sissi was panting at the end, and Jim didn't seem to pity her weak leg. "It's just what I need," Sissi smirked weakly, "Someone that isn't afraid to push me." Currently, though, she, and all the rest of the team, was regretting that.

They struggled over to training ground where balancing logs, crawling lanes, climbing nets, and a thin crosswalk all waited for them. Ulrich had trouble with climbing on the net as did William. Yumi's pants got stuck in the thorny crawl lane. Odd struggled to pull himself up, and Jeremie couldn't shimmy his way across the crosswalk. Aelita and Sissi especially had difficulty balancing on the logs. "Alright," Jim said, looking at his stopwatch. "Not bad for the first time. We'll rest for a while and then start back in a few minutes." The group collapsed to the ground.

"Aelita?" Sissi panted. "The next time you have a bright idea. Remind me to stop you."

"I thought you wanted a challenge?"

"I did. I did not want a sore... everything. I can't even feel my legs anymore."

"Your game is off then," Aelita smirked. The Dragon Queen growled and leered at the pink-haired elf. Sissi pushed her upper body up and spotted William cracking his back.

"You okay?" she asked.

"I didn't think anyone could pound the back of my head any harder than you. This is brutal," William groaned.

"You said it," Sissi sighed. William scooted closer to her.

"Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"What is... I mean... how do you know if you like someone. Like really like someone?"

Sissi's eyes were half-lidded, probably out of exhaustion, but she raised her eyebrow. "Why?" she said in a low tone.

"I was just... curious."

"I'd be the last person to know, remember? Former crazed Ulrich fan?" Sissi sighed then chuckled. "It's funny. When Ulrich messed up at the swimming pool, I remember you asking if I believed in destiny."

"Do you?" Will asked.

"No," Sissi sighed while the others listened to Jim's stories. "I don't know. I just...can't figure out my own love problems, okay? I'm just... clueless." She tucked her knees to her chest and buried her head.

"Hey, it's better than being in a panic like you are now," William said. Sissi's head popped up and looked at him. "I mean, as much as Yumi's shut me down, I still tried. Like you said. You have to learn from it."

Sissi squinted her eyes. "Why are you telling me this?" Just then, they heard Jeremie's laptop going off. Jim looked at his watch and called everyone to follow him for another run. Jeremie reached for the backpack and confirmed Sissi and William's suspicion.

"XANA," Jeremie said.

"We have to get to the factory. Time to cut training short," Sissi said.

"I'll round up the others. You two get to the factory," Jeremie instructed. The two nodded and darted through the forest.

"So... why are you so worried about my problem," Sissi panted.

"I just wanted to help. Seems like I do a bad lousy job at it," William huffed as he jumped another bush.

"You are, but you're obviously hiding something." Sissi jumped over a bush and slid under a branch. She ran until that familiar sharp pain ran up her leg. She gritted her teeth but struggled to keep her pace.

"Sissi?"

"I'm fine. Keep going," Sissi grunted out. It must have sounded like a horse was inside of her throat. They finally made their way to the factory. Rushing down the rope, they slid into the elevator. Sissi hit her back against the wall and slid down to the floor. "Ahhh, geez."

"Your leg?" Will asked.

"Yeah. But... it's a little better. I just had to push through it," Sissi sighed. "You still haven't told me."

"Uh... all about what?" Sissi glared with the quietness of a lion about to kill its prey. "I was just worried."

"That's not the complete truth," Sissi said.

"What do you want from me?"

"The truth."

"You can't handle the truth," William said theatrically. Sissi rolled her eyes.

"Drama queen."

"Takes one to know one, your Majesty," William slightly bowed, smirking. Sissi rolled her eyes again and stood up when the elevator finally came to the computer lab.

"Alright, let me make a call," Sissi said. Soon Aelita picked up.

"Hello?"

"What's going on?"

"A wild boar is after Jeremie and Jim. Jim injured his leg pretty bad, so Jeremie's caring for him."

"That doesn't sound good," William muttered.

"We don't have time to worry about that," Sissi huffed, "Where are you guys?"

"We're making our way there. Go on without us," Aelita answered.

"Okay," Sissi hung up.

"Shouldn't someone make sure Jeremie's okay?" William asked.

"Don't worry, he'll be okay," Sissi said hastily.

"Harsh."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm just saying. Would it be different if..." He stopped. Sissi's gritted teeth flared out. Her eyes narrowed and her nostrils flashed as the room grew hot from her rage. Or at least, that's what William thought.

"If. What?" She growled lowly.

"If... Odd was there?"

"Okay, I'm sick of this! There's something you're not telling me. What is it?"

"I... I can't."

"Why?"

"The others-"

"Others?" Sissi's eyes scanned his frame. She stepped into William's personal bubble. "No more secrets," She hissed, pressing a finger into his chest. "What is it that you're not telling me?"

William didn't say a word for a full minute. He finally sighed, "It's for your own good." Sissi backed away.

"He... He doesn't like me... does he?"

"I don't know," William said, rubbing the back of his neck, "But... ugh, Aelita's gonna kill me. When Odd left the skateboard tournament, Sam was upset that he was leaving. But... she realized that it was for the best and... she let him go." Sissi's eyes widened.

"And? What did she say?"

"I... I can't tell you." William frowned.

"WHY NOT!" She roared out, pounding her fist to the metal wall behind him. Her gritted teeth, flaring nostrils, and narrowed eyes completed her Dragon Queen look.

"Because it wouldn't make a difference!"

"DAAAAHHHHH!" Sissi screamed. She stormed away and grasped the computer chair. The cushion squeaked under her grip, and her heavy breaths loudly banged against the hollow chamber. William stood still. There's a sickening nauseous feeling one gets in this type of situation. It even has a nervous kind of smell. Would she try to do away with him or simply throw another temper tantrum? Either was scary. She had the tools to make it look like XANA did it. Then her back straightened; she had been hunched over when she reached the chair. Her breathing calmed down. The eerie silence made William's heart thump louder. "You're right," She finally said. "You're right. Even if she said yes or no, the facts are still the facts." Sissi made a short chuckle. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have gotten mad like that. It's just-" Her clutched cane trembled as she looked down. William rested his hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay. I know what it's like," William smiled. Sissi showed a ghost of a smile. Soon the sound of the elevator called their attention.

"Come on, we have XANA to take care of," Sissi said.

Sissi plopped onto her bed and stared at the ceiling. The screaming panics and worries in her head slowly quieted as she focused on her breathing. Breathe in. Breath out. With the possessed boar gone, the rest of the team were glad that Jim's boot camp was over, except Jeremie. He decided he would go on with Jim's training. Sissi smiled. "I guess Jim finally said that got to him." Sissi looked at the door when a knock came. Getting to her feet, she walked over, opened the door, and saw Ulrich. Sissi blinked several times before wordlessly inviting him in. "I have to be honest," She quickly broke the silence, "I wasn't expecting you here."

"Why?" Ulrich asked.

"I don't know. It's like seeing Odd doing laundry."

"Hehe. Uh...actually, William told me what happened at the computer lab."

"Of course," Sissi sighed, sliding back onto her bed.

"So... what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. Fight XANA before I can possibly ruin my date life?" Sissi replied.

"Just to be sure we're talking about-"

"Yes, I know it's strange and weird, and you can't figure out how in the world I would like him. Well, the truth is I can't figure out either!" Sissi sighed, throwing her arm over her eyes. "And that's the worst kind of feeling. When you don't fall in love but walk into it. And before you can ever realize what's happening, it's got you."

"Right, but that's not what I was gonna ask you," Ulrich said. Sissi rose her arm off her eyes. He shrugged his head into his shoulder again. That nervous quirk of his never failed to make her smile. "I wanted to know if you had any advice for... me and Yumi."

"I'll be honest, you're doing better than she is."

"What do you mean?"

Sissi got up from her bed and heaved her body over to the shelves of inventions, browsing through them. "One, you welcomed William in and give him the respect that she's slowly giving him. Two, you're not as hot-headed. You're growing up, slowly but still growing."

"That's good?" Ulrich asked.

"Of course it's good," She said with a roll of her eyes. "It means you're maturing, which is probably what Yumi wanted in the first place."

"So what should I do?"

"What do you want to do?" Sissi asked, looking back over her shoulder. Ulrich remained quiet while Sissi grabbed the item she needed. "You two had an agreement that you would be friends, right?" Ulrich nodded. "Nothing says that an agreement can't be altered. But with your track history, just... try to think through it first."

"I will. Thanks, Sissi. And... I'm sorry."

"For what?" she asked, tilting her head.

"For not trusting you when you first came to the group. For accusing you when I got angry. For-"

"Ulrich," Sissi laughed, "If you keep this on we're going to be up for a while. It's okay. You're forgiven."

"Thanks," Ulrich smiled as he walked out of her room.

Continued...