AN: Again, thanks for the reviews and suggestions! This chapter is dedicated to... Wrin Bennett for her great suggestions (which I am taking into consideration.). Read, review, and enjoy!
Ulrick looped his arm around Yumi's shoulder and jerked her down to the ground with him. The laser narrowly missed them and cut a hole into the tree Ulrick was leaning against. Both of the warriors blushed at their closeness before they remembered the monster ahead of them. Yumi pushed herself to her feet, took aim, and whipped her fan at the crab. Caught unawares, the crab exploded, leaving the path clear.
"Five more life points gone, Yumi," Jeremy said solemnly.
Only seven and a half minutes before I lose her for forever, Ulrick thought grimly. No, I'm not going to lose her! We're both going to make it through this.
"Let's go," Ulrick said, standing up, "We have to get to that tower."
"Yeah," Yumi said, nodding her head once for emphasis. The two began sprinting down the path, Yumi ignoring the ever building X.A.N.A. induced pain, and Ulrick trying to keep his face blank anytime he looked at Yumi or saw her looking at him for he did not want her to see his sadness.
"Hey Ulrick," Yumi said, staring straight ahead at the path.
"Yes?" Ulrick asked, glancing over at her and noting the pallor of her skin.
"Thanks for saving me all those times - for being there for me..."
Ulrick couldn't help but detect a note of finality in her voice, as if she didn't believe they would make it in time.
"You can pay me back next time we come to Lyoko," Ulrick said lightly.
"There might not be a next time," Yumi said softly, a tear escaping down her left cheek where it would be unnoticed by the observant Ulrick.
"There will be," he promised. I'll make sure there is, he thought to himself. I'll bet my life on it.