Red Eye of Xana

It was strange; Jeremy realized. Now was the perfect time for Xana to attack continuously and not worry about them ruining his plans. However the super computer seemed content to have Jeremy and Aelita raking their brains in an attempt to reclaim the time reversal.

Unless, he quickly feared, that this was only a stepping-stone in Xana's latest scheme. This prospect scared Jeremy and caused him to redouble his attempts. He and Aelita spent the better part of the four days since the attack trying to recover their program. Jeremy was often caught skipping classes and spent as much time at the factory as he could. This change in behavior quickly angered the principal and Jim.

Thus, Jeremy was trapped in his room. He now had to work on the program from a distance and it proved much more difficult too.

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The humid air and hot Wednesday sun beat down on his shoulders. Dressed in his white shirt again, it quickly became loose a fit it was on him. Pulled back by the wind and drenched in sweat, the shirt was like a second skin. Flapping wildly in the wind, his bandana proved its worth yet again.

He ran to keep himself in top physical condition. He ran to feel the familiar burn of his muscles. He ran to recover the strength that he'd felt he lost while healing. He ran to keep himself free of Sissi's never-ending monologues and whining voice. He ran to keep his mind off Yumi...

It was four o'clock when they found still running. He saw his friends as they left the school building and go their separate ways. Odd settled into his headphones and listened to his music. Theo and Yumi were walking gradually toward the streets. Jeremy was running off toward his dorm room and his computer.

Slowing his pace to a walk, Ulrich's path of travel took him on a parallel course with Yumi...and Theo. As he approached, Yumi turned her face to her boyfriend and started a conversation.

Ulrich settled down on to the bench beside Odd. After a moment, Odd caught on to his best friend's staring after Yumi. For one of the few times in his life, Odd became serious. Pausing his song and pulling his headphones down, Odd grasped his shoulder and shook it.

"Don't be mad at Yumi," he said. Detecting Odd's tone, Ulrich gave him his full attention. He knew from Odd's voice that what he had to say was important, for once. "She only thinks that you abandoned her when you left. Plus, you really can't blame her for thinking that, either. You just disappeared, no note or even a good-bye."

Returning to his previous mind frame, Odd returned to his headphones. Thinking quickly, Ulrich stood and took off running after Yumi. Seeing his friend running after the girl of his dreams, Odd stood and left as well. There was an awesome new computer game he wanted to get.

Walking down the streets, Odd took a shortcut through the park. He was passing a clearing with his music playing loudly when things started happening. Because his music was so loud, he didn't hear the startled shouts or barks until he'd been tackled.

Struck from behind, Odd landed heavily on his chest. His headphones slipped from his ears and his CD player snapped in two when it hit the pavement. But that was the last thing Odd was thinking about. A mouthful of sharp teeth had buried itself in his left shoulder!

Screaming in pain, Odd struck at what held his shoulder reflexive. His fist caught the dog, a golden retriever, in the eye. Releasing Odd instantly, the retriever thrashed about slightly. Pushing himself to his feet, Odd saw the retriever quickly return its attention to him and then he heard more barks. Lots more!!

It was later that afternoon the dog pound dragged the dozen dogs away. With his body torn in many places, Odd was bleeding badly from the bites that covered him. He had managed to pull himself into the safety of a tree and there waited for help. But he wasn't lucky enough to escape with only one bite. But what really spooked him was that one each of the dogs' foreheads was a glowing Xana symbol!

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While Odd was trapped up in the tree, Ulrich was locked in his own desperate battle: talking to Yumi and have her seriously listen. He stood near her from her and Theo's spot on the bus stop bench. There were about six other people waiting for the bus.

When he had first approached, Yumi almost walked away again. Ulrich had first tried to apologize to her, but the words got stuck in his throat and didn't come. It didn't help with Theo there, supporting and influencing Yumi. She only glared at him. When Ulrich had asked why she was mad at him, Theo answered before she could.

"Why don't you leave her alone?" he demanded, standing up. "She obviously doesn't want you to be by her... If you're so desperate for a girlfriend, go get Sissi. You know? She was right: you two were meant for each other. You're doing the exact same thing that she always does to you."

As this thought raced through Ulrich's mind, he realized that Theo was right. He was doing the very thing that he despised Sissi for doing. He was begging and bugging Yumi to forgive him and be his friend again when she no longer wanted to know him anymore. Just as Sissi always was pestering him to like her when he was and is love with Yumi; he is annoying her while she is in love with Theo. Theo was right! This revelation made Ulrich sick.

Seeing that he'd found a weakness, Theo pushed on. "Now, why don't you pull that little trick you learned two months ago, and disappear! Everyone was happier when you were gone."

Then the bus arrived. As Theo walked Yumi on to the bus, Ulrich called out, "I'm sorry for being a thorn in your side, Yumi." The passion and pain in his voice was as thick as a milkshake. Even Yumi's newfound hatred of him was temporarily quenched by the evident heartbreak that he was experiencing.

Then the moment passed. They were absorbed into the flow of the six people as they entered the bus and the rest of the passengers disembarked. The moment was over but the feelings remained. For Ulrich, it was a tragedy. A sadness of proportions unknown to any who had never experienced a true heartbreak dampened Ulrich's already miserable mood.

He watched as Yumi as she took a seat near the window. Her face was turned toward Theo, lips moving silently as she spoke to him. As she spoke, a slow smile spread on her lips. Facing Theo, she said a couple of words and they leaned closer to each other. With a deepening fear, Ulrich watched from his limited field of vision at what happened next.

Yumi kissed Theo.

Barely able to breathe, Ulrich felt a strange knot of despair descend upon him. It contracted particularly hard around his heart. His stomach felt hallow and empty. All the love and happiness he'd ever felt throughout his life seemed to vanish in that instant. Then it was replaced with loneliness and emptiness. He had never known how much he had truly loved Yumi until that moment.

"Are you okay?" asked a boy.

Ulrich looked at him with cold, dead eyes. A gleaming stream of tears had rushed out of him without him even realizing it. Wiping his face, he blocked his feelings behind his emotional barrier as he nodded to the kid.

"Nice skateboard," Ulrich commented in an attempt to distract the boy.

"Thanks," the boy said proudly.

Returning his gaze to the bus, which was now pulling away, Ulrich noticed something on the instrument panel that made his blood freeze. Shining fiercely on the panel was the red eye of Xana!

(A/N) Perhaps Yumi is being ignorant of the fact, but she is still very angry. I mean, wouldn't you be if your best friend disappeared without saying goodbye? I know I would be.

If you dislike where this story is going now, then you'll hate me for where it will end! But thank you for reading it.

I would like to thank Trillika and IndustrialFear for their numerous and insightful reviews. Who knows? If you review enough, I'll thank you someday.

There's been a little problem with my academic progress so I may not be able to post as often as you (or I) would like. But please bear with me.