Chapter 11
By: Leelei
Author's Note: Oh my gosh, you guys leave the coolest reviews. : ) I love them all so much, but I wanted to reply to the way some of you guys are viewing how I wrote older Sissi.
Yes, she is quite a skank now, but a lot of people are saying that she's too mean. Please don't get me wrong, I appreciate how constructive you all are instead of leaving mindless flames, but I disagree. I just watched "Routine" a few days ago, and I think the last chapter portrayed her personality rather well in comparison. In the episode, she had a selfish, frustrated attitude, and she kept implying that she wanted simply to get rid of Yumi and Emily to get to Ulrich, not caring at all if she were to hurt the two girls' emotions (and also treating poor Nicholas and Herb in the background like trash, in my opinion). See now, this is where I wish I would've continued Chapter 10 a little more…..I wanted to add that she still has a vendetta with Odd and Yumi, but it's on a different level now. She wanted a way to hurt Yumi after what Odd said to her (knowing that he would be offended, too), and knew just how to using only words, like she does so easily –and so often- in the show.
But then again, this character is definitely NOT the one from the series anymore. I totally agree with all of you on that part- I think the pregnant, chain-smoking, foul-mouthed version came along after my imagination ran away with its creative lisence. : D I know she's better than that.
Thanks again for all your support…I can't believe the rap I'm getting now as an author from this story! Wow…none of my other fanfiction is like this. Ah well, I trust you guys to understand. : ) Not very much of this left!!
Archived at: Ransomed Heart's Fan Fiction Page
The image changed to the inside of a lightly packed restaurant where Death and Ulrich stood near an empty table near the middle of the dining room. Ulrich couldn't put a name to the new location, but soon recognized the small dinner party that took the vacant seats.
Yumi and Odd entered first, along with Yumi's parents behind them. Ulrich was surprised to see just how much five years had aged his friend's parents, both Mr. and Mrs. Ishiyama seeming slightly more pale and gray-haired, with heavy wrinkles under their eyes and thick creases in Mr. Ishiyama's brow.
Odd pulled out a chair for Mrs. Ishiyama and helped her sit down, the older woman smiling graciously and thanking him as he bowed. She had grown to adore Odd and his caring, funny behavior. After the parents were seated, Odd did the same for Yumi, the young adult smiling and giggling at his gesture. After Odd had finally sat down himself next to Yumi, he spoke up, "I'll go get our drinks."
"But Odd," Mrs. Ishiyama replied. "You just sat down!"
"It's okay," Odd said as he jumped up again. "I don't mind." He lifted himself from the chair and jogged away from the table, the chains from the wallet in his back pocket to his belt making noise against the table as he left. Ulrich looked to Mr. Ishiyama, knowing that he would disapprove of the eccentric accessory, let alone the disruption it caused, but the man showed nothing of the emotion as he unwrapped the folded napkin in front of him.
"All right, here we go." Odd returned a few minutes later and broke the silence between the small family. He managed to hold on to four cups, setting them all down without managing to spill anything. "Coffee and cream for Mr. Ishiyama –decaff because I know you have to wake up early tomorrow- and green tea for you, Mrs. Ishiyama." He distributed their drinks to them.
The parents both smiled. "Why, thank you, Odd." Yumi's mother replied.
"Thanks," Mr. Ishiyama added with a smile as he looked up to the teen.
"No problem." Odd then pushed the last two cups over to his and Yumi's side,
hurrying around the chairs and sitting next to her again. "Here, Yumi," he held her soft drink out to her. "They didn't have your favorite, but I got this for you. It's the same as mine."
Yumi eyed it suspiciously as her parents watched intently. "Odd, what is it?"
"Trust me," Odd said. "You'll like it."
Yumi took it and slowly sipped the drink, smiling after she swallowed. "Wow, this
is better than what I usually get!" she said. Her parents smiled proudly at Odd's thoughtfulness involving their daughter.
Ulrich watched in utter disbelief. "So what, they like him now?"Death nodded. "Yes, they even approve of him for Yumi now."
"But…" Ulrich's own brow creased, the frustration hurting him inside. "But that still should've been me… Death, what's going on? You said you were going to explain this to me."
"I did," Death replied. "And I will…Ulrich, as I said before, you must understand that the times have changed. The family you see before you is different than the friends and adults you knew when you were alive."
"Yeah, but my feelings for all of them haven't changed, and it seems like theirs have stayed the same for me," Ulrich stopped himself quickly and rethought his statement. "Well, at least all but Odd's…"
"I can see Odd's change has hurt you the most, even more than Yumi's," Death said.
"Yeah…he just seems so unlike the person I had known…my best friend…"
Death waved her arm and made the image disappear, leaving the two to stand in the vast white again. "Tell me what you would like to know."
"Why did he change?" Ulrich asked immediately. "Yumi's parents couldn't possibly approve of him; he lies, swears, and that girl said he was smoking earlier!" Ulrich was becoming frustrated. "Why does Yumi even approve of him anymore?"
"You are right, Odd has changed, but he hasn't made a transition for the worse, you have to admit. He's still in school, he takes care of Yumi and watches out for her and her family, and he always plans to take care of himself and his girlfriend in the future."
"And the lying, swearing, and smoking? Where does that fit in as 'not being for the worse?'" Ulrich asked skeptically.
"Even though you are offended by those things, they have been shown to hurt Odd himself more than others. You have to look at the overall picture now, Ulrich; he moved on, but didn't leave himself behind like the others did." Death explained. "And as for his faults…no one is perfect."
"So he's just an average guy now, by what you're saying," replied Ulrich. "Trying to forget the past, living each day as they come. But what about this marriage? Why do you say that he's going to marry Yumi? I mean, what ever happened to Sam and all those girls that he always chased after?"
"Sam moved to America later in the year of your death," answered the apparition. "With Odd still in his short-lived depression, he wasn't in the mood to convince her to talk her parents' out of their decision to move to the United States. And as for all the other girls…Odd just simply started to ignore them. He had his friends, but as he spent more time with Yumi, he grew more attached to her."
"And then they fell in love…" Ulrich mumbled, his eyes downcast as the reality of the situation hit him.
"Yes," Death replied. "Yumi also grew attached to him, never being able to let go of the past, viewing him as her only link left to it besides Jeremie."
"So that's why she visits Jeremie all the time, even if he wasn't the same anymore?" Ulrich asked with a look back up to the ghost.
Death nodded. "She never could let go." The spirit continued explaining, "Yumi's parents were skeptical of her and Odd's relationship at first, but then were supportive after they saw the improvement in Yumi's personality when she was around him. They had spent thousands of dollars in therapy trying to keep their daughter sane after her loss, and they knew that if Odd would help her, then they wouldn't jeopardize her happiness. They could tell he was important to her just by how her face brightened up when he entered the room, or how easy she was to talk to when with him. Ulrich, they just wanted her to remain healthy and normal."
Ulrich sighed painfully, his brow creasing as he kept his vision from the apparition. "I understand…"
"But of course Mr. and Mrs. Ishiyama had their doubts at first about Odd's ability to support their daughter, especially so early after his graduation from high school, but he had surprised them with a promised position after he had finished school.
"He had remained a musician, learning to play different instruments and joining, and starting, plenty of bands throughout his teen years, until he called it quits his senior year to concentrate on his grades, like Yumi had wanted him to do, instead of all the music and partying. However, Odd had met many label representatives during those years, and kept in touch with them, letting them know of other up-and-coming bands even though none of them ever picked up on any of his. His talents and knowledge of music eventually led his friends at one label to sign a band that blew up, sky-rocketing over all the charts in Europe and the U.S., selling millions of CD's worldwide. After that, Odd was guaranteed a well-paid position as a talent scout."
"And Yumi?" Ulrich asked.
"Yumi just followed along with it…she went to all the concerts with him, smiled and shook the hands of all his "big time" friends, and went with him wherever he traveled. She enjoyed the lifestyle, but it was never fulfilling. Influenced by Odd's vocation, she finally settled on a major in college and became a music teacher. The music business had never seemed right for her as a career, but she found peace in it anyway through the years, finding time to work in local schools teaching students how to sing and read basic music notes."
"I know she always liked singing, but she didn't want to do that forever," said Ulrich. "She never went into some high-paying career? God, she was so smart…she could've done anything."
Death shook her head. "Not while in Odd's shadow."
Suddenly a loud tolling of a bell was heard. It was short, but shook whatever the flooring Ulrich had been standing on in the white area, sending shivers up his spine. "Death, what was that?" he asked, trying to hide the fright in his tone.
Death just gazed upwards. "That was just a warning," answered the apparition. "It is almost time for your final judgment."
Ulrich's eyes went wide. "My…my final judgement?" he stuttered, forgetting all about the pending time while he was with the spirit.
"Don't worry, Ulrich," Death tried to calm him. "I still have to show you more before the end."
Ulrich quivered at her statement, but closed his eyes and nodded. The end for him was near, he knew it.
But he didn't know then if it was still what he wanted.
Yes, you read correctly; it's coming to an end. Next chapter just needs the finishing touches, so expect it soon. Until then, please review! : )