(A/N) Though it's a close call, I think you all are HAPPIER that I finally updated more than I am. After this chapter, my story takes a slight detour from the main storyline but I think you'll all like it.

Some good news for all of you is that I've made nice amount of progress on this story. But some bad news is that I'll probably be unable to update again until this next Monday!

Bittersweet Love

Everyone screamed for those horrible seconds of weightlessness. A little blonde-haired five-year-old girl screamed for her mother as she hugged a dark, bearded man for dear life. The man held her firmly to his side in an attempt to brace her for the impact into the water.

The bus driver slipped to the floor as the two women trying to wake him screaming hysterically, watching the fast approaching water. Theo clung to the driver's seat and, though silent, had fear written across his face. Yumi was screaming as she desperately tried to unbuckle the seatbelt. Ulrich slipped from the hood and fell free of the bus.

The bus smashed its engine into the water and it quickly sunk. With the back of the bus sticking slightly out of the water, it bobbed like a cork for the briefest of moments. Then water quickly began flooding the interior.

Using the seats of the bus as a ladder, the dark man pulled the girl with him. Climbing to the back of the bus, the man set the girl down on the seat as he heaved on the handle. The cold water gushed up toward them, bringing the other passengers with it. Throwing all his strength and weight into opening the locked door, the man yelled in his exertion. But the effort was futile: the door wouldn't open.

Less than two minutes since it landed, the bus had completely submerged itself and the water had nearly filled it. The passengers inside were squeezed together and were quickly expending their remaining oxygen.

The man was still trying to heave the door open. Crashing to halt suddenly, the bus settled onto the river floor with its engine buried in the mud. As the air escaped through like openings in the frame, the passengers took the lastbreath they could.

The bright sun was shining and wavering in the dirty water and filled the window of the backdoor. Pushed by the current, the bus began to tip and fall on to its side when something passed in front of the sun.

Through the window, the man saw a dark shadow. In the gloom of the dark water he couldn't make out the figure, even as it took hold of the handle of the door. Then the window shattered as a bloody fist shot through.

In a burst of bubbles, the remaining air escaped the bus. Then a fraction of a second later, a strong hand grabbed the man's shirt and hauled him out of the bus. Without any further prompting, he swam as fast as he could toward the surface. As soon as he broke the surface, he took several deep breaths of the living-giving air. Within several seconds the other passengers followed.

Several long moments after the last of the people rose, a boy finally broke the surface and heaved. Two heads rose to the surface next to him but wouldn't remain afloat. Swimming over to him, the man took the unconscious boy from Ulrich and held him up.

It didn't take long for rescue boats to arrive on the scene. The people in the river were pulled to safety and wrapped in warm blankets against the wind. Theo and Yumi were immediately given the Heimlich maneuver as soon as they were brought aboard. Within moments, Theo awoke and coughed out the water that filled his lungs.

The first sight he saw was Yumi's still form as she was administered the Heimlich. Crawling over to her, he sat as close to her as he could. He didn't even notice a paramedic drape a blanket over his shoulders.

Ulrich and Theo alike watched Yumi for any sign of life, but there was none. After several minutes of nothing, the paramedics lost hope. With sad faces, they conceded defeat.

"What?" Theo cried. "No! Yumi!"

Rushing forward, he pulled Yumi's body to his own. He hugged her fiercely as tears dropped unnoticed down his cheeks. "Yumi! …Yumi, come back."

Ulrich crept forward and knelt down to his friend. With a blank face broken by a single tear, he gently pulled Yumi's face from Theo's grip. Theo would've protested but he relented, knowing that she was gone. Cradling her face, Ulrich brushed her raven hair from it.

Leaning forward, Ulrich whispered something into Yumi's ear. Even as close as he was to Ulrich, Theo couldn't hear what was said. When Ulrich leaned back, he wiped the tears from his face.

Eyes snapping open, Yumi broke out in a fierce fit of coughing. Bouts of river water were forced from her lungs as she heaved. Rolling on to her stomach, Yumi proceeded to cough out water for several minutes. When she could breathe without a coughing fit, Yumi pushed herself up into a sitting position. Throwing his blanket over her shoulders, Theo was pulled into a tight hug.

"Yumi," he said as he returned her hug. "I'm glad you're alright."

Looking at Ulrich, Theo extended a hand. With his hands hidden in the blanket, Ulrich only looked at the hand. Theo dropped his hand slowly as he said, "What did you say to her?"

Not receiving an answer, Theo returned his gaze to Yumi. Yumi looked happily at Theo and pulled him into a kiss. It seemed to last forever to Ulrich, to never end. It was only a simple kiss, but it said more than any words could for all three of them. Yumi was happy that she and Theo both had survived, and probably hadn't even noticed Ulrich yet.

Perhaps it was Ulrich climbing to his feet, or that the boat that they were riding on was preparing to dock, or that they knew that they had to stop, but whatever the cause Theo and Yumi broke their kiss.

As he was standing, Ulrich's blanket fell open just enough to reveal him holding his right hand gently with his left. Theo saw what Yumi did not as they followed Ulrich to their feet.

"What happened to your hand?" he asked as he held Yumi by her waist.

"Nothing," Ulrich growled as he turned away.

"The hell nothing happened," Theo said as he grabbed Ulrich's blanket.

In one swift movement, he yanked it free from Ulrich's shoulders. Staining his drenched and filthy bandages around his right wrist and forearm were several lines of fresh blood.

Facing Theo, Ulrich dropped his right hand to his side as he extended his left. A cold wind washed over them, but it hurt Ulrich more.

"My blanket, please," Ulrich demanded.

"What happened to your hand?" Theo repeated.

Eyes narrowed in anger and disgust, Ulrich finally held up his right hand. Yumi gasped when she finally realized what Theo was asking for. Ulrich's knuckles had several deep penetrations with his skin torn and draped over in ways that it shouldn't have been. Rivers of blood flowed from his knuckles, down his wrist, and to his elbow.

"My blanket," Ulrich demanded fiercely.

"Ulrich," Yumi said quietly. "What did you do to your hand?"

Ulrich's expression didn't alter but he answered. "I smashed the backdoor window."

Yumi and Theo looked at him in surprise. Seeing their expressions, Ulrich snatched his blanket back and threw it over his shoulders. A moment later the boat pulled into the dock and they were separated.

Ulrich was lucky; a paramedic spotted his bloody hand as well and had him taken to a nearby ambulance. Yumi, Theo, and the other passengers had to contend with the ever-aware press and reporters.

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Friday came as a relief and a curse for Ulrich. Two days spent in the hospital while his hand was attended to were extremely boring to him. When he finally walked free of its constraints, Ulrich now sported new bandages on his torso, arms, and his wrist. The bandages, though necessary, hindered Ulrich's free movement slightly. For this, he resented them but didn't try to remove them, yet.

"Ulrich dear!" was the first thing he'd heard when he'd reached the parking lot of the hospital. Leaning casually against her father's car, Sissi smiled brightly at him. A glance inside the car told Ulrich the obvious: Sissi had talked her father into transporting him back to school.

"I heard you were due out today," Sissi said as he approached. "So I thought it would be nice to pick you up personally."

Ulrich stopped a few paces away from her. Looking away from her in his disgust, Ulrich noticed the principal watching them. Moving forward, Ulrich knocked politely on the window. As it rolled down, he saw the principal smile politely.

"It's good to see you on your feet again, Ulrich," he said. "Well, come on. Get in, boy. I'm needed back at school."

"Sir," he said. "I appreciate the thought but the Ishiyama's have already promised me a ride."

"Oh," the principal said. "Alright. Well, I expect to see you in class on Monday. Come on, Sissi."

"One moment, Daddy," Sissi said as he rolled up his window.

Her eyes were narrowed in anger but Ulrich didn't care. There was very little he cared about anymore he realized. As Sissi approached him, she reached forward and took his right hand gently. Sissi studied the bandaging, sighed, and dropped his arm.

"What is it that makes Yumi so special to you? Even after she told you off in the park, slapped you, and caused you to ruin your hand. Please, tell me. Why do you still love her after all that? Why do you insist on loving a girl who doesn't love you?"

Ulrich turned a serious gaze upon her. His gaze was so powerful that Sissi felt as though he was looking through her and reading her thoughts. The gaze was frightening to her but she held it, determined to get an answer.

"Because I know she'll understand one day," he replied slowly. "And until then, I will continue to love her."

"But—"

"This is the reason, right now," Ulrich interrupted. He held his left hand up to her mouth, not touching her but having the same effect. Sure that he'd obtained her full attention, he lowered his hand slowly. "This is the reason you will never hold a place in my heart. You don't understand love."

Her mouth moved in denial but no sound escaped. After a moment, she dropped her face and quietly entered her father's car. Ulrich watched the car until it disappeared around a corner. When it did, he started walking down the sidewalk on his way to school. He had lied to the principal, which he regretted doing, but it was better than riding with Sissi.