Author's Note: This is it: my last chapter.
See the bottom for a 'special treat' to my all friends, all of you.
The Next Journey
"He said what?" Yumi almost yelled.
"I wonder what Sissi has of his this time," Jeremy said thoughtfully. "It does make some sense now. He probably doesn't what her to go around telling everyone about whatever she found."
"But why not tell us?" Aelita asked, watching Yumi.
Her raven-haired friend was pacing around them and the bench they sat at with an almost scary scrawl. Aelita shared some of her friend's resentment towards Ulrich not wanting their help to solve his problems. But, being as understanding and loving as she always was, she quickly forgave him. Yumi, on the other hand, continued her pacing, clenching her fists occasionally as she muttered incoherent sentences.
"Settle down, Yumi," Jeremy said. "I'm sure he would ask for our help if he needed it."
"That's not what's pissing me off," she growled. "The fact that he would rather not tell us what the real problem is and to handle it alone is what."
"You know what?" Odd said sneering. "I think you're jealous—"
"What!"
"—that Sissi has such a tight grip on Ulrich." He grinned at her furious expression. "I mean, you've wanted to keep him on a short leash every since you two got back together, didn't you?"
"And just what is that suppose to mean?"
"Shit happens," he said. "So deal with it."
No one spoke for a moment. Yumi just couldn't believe what Odd was saying. She didn't want to control Ulrich like Sissi; she knew that he wouldn't be her friend for very long if she tried.
Jeremy broke into her thoughts as he said smiling, "That actually made some sense…especially when coming from you."
They broke out in laughter, even Yumi. The look of their blonde-purple haired friend's face was worth a million. It especially felt good to laugh again. They had so little time these past few months.
Then, they appeared.
Sissi walked beside Ulrich holding his hand. They were emerging from the school building. Ulrich was walking a little awkwardly from his injures but Sissi sauntered like she was in heaven. Such love in her own victory at finally getting to spend time with her dearest desire. Her smile was large and happy.
It was repulsive.
Upon spotting the group, Sissi tugged Ulrich away. Pulling him toward the school parking lot, and he couldn't resist. All he could do was glance hungrily towards his true friends for only a second's notice.
"Aw," drawled a voice them. "Poor, poor Yumi, watching her boyfriend with another girl."
Turning instantly, the group found the two bullies-in-training standing near them. By the evil sneers on their faces, the kids could see that they wanted trouble.
-
"Ulrich dear," Sissi said as she tried to pull him away. "Come on. We're going to miss our bus."
Ulrich's eyes were fixed on his friends. He watched as they confronted the bullies, with a sinking feeling. Something bad was going to happen, he had to help. Sissi watched as his indifferent expression changed to one of grim determination.
"Oh no you're not!" she shrieked, clutching his arm with all her might. She finally got to keep him all to herself, she wasn't gonna lose him again. "You're staying right here."
Ulrich's jaw trembled as he fought to control his temper. This has to end, he thought bitterly. NOW! The look he gave her was one of purest hatred and distaste. It shocked her to say the least. Slowly, deliberately, he reached down and pried her hands from his body with an almost gentle but firm grip.
Looking her in the eyes, his voice was calm. He never said or did anything quite as cruel to her before, and there were plenty of examples to choose from. Sissi couldn't believe that this was the same Ulrich that she'd fallen in love with months ago. It hurt her emotionally.
"I do not love you," he said indifferently "I will never love you. That is because you will not understand what love truly is. And I'll give you a nickel's worth of free advice… I no longer care if you tell everyone what you seen… They would've found out anyway… Now. Leave! Me! Alone!"
Not waiting for a reply, he turned and sprinted back in the direction of his friends. If Sissi hadn't been wallowing in self-pity and grief, she'd have been astonished at the speed he was traveling. Especially with his injuries!
However, her vision swam out of focus as tears welled up in her eyes. Clutching her hands into tight fists, she nodded her head to the ground. The strength in her legs failed and she found herself on her knees. Tears fell from her cheeks, shamelessly.
Why can't I ever get what I truly want? she screamed to herself.
In reply, a sleeping voice awoke to comfort her.
-
Yumi looked up from her position on the ground. Clayton towered over her with a wicked grin on his face. Jeremy lay collapsed on the bench, bleeding from a split lip. Aelita sat beside him. She was unhurt and trying to find some way to comfort him. Yumi was on her side with growing bruises on her cheek and around her eyes. Only Odd was still standing… kind of.
Clayton held Odd up by hair, obeying Dirk's occasional advice on where to pommel him next. Odd was by far the worse for the wear. With growing bruises covering his face, chest, and abdomen, his body was turning an unnatural shade of blue and black.
"This is boring," Clayton said.
"Come on! Just a little more, big guy," Dirk said, sneering.
He loved this. He never really liked any of these kids. But he was just giddy at watching them getting beaten and broken, particularly because he didn't have the strength to do it himself.
Giving Odd a final punch to his stomach, Clayton watched as he gasped for a breath and keeled in pain. Dropping the boy to ground, he turned and started to walk away.
A strangled and broken voice wove its way around him. "Is that all… you've got?"
Glancing back, the bully watched as Odd struggled to climb to his feet. But his bruised and broken body wouldn't allow him to get pass his knees. Spitting out some blood that had gathered in his mouth, he coughed for a moment. Odd did his best to grin up at his abuser.
"Cause… if it is," Odd gasped and coughed for a moment. "That's… pretty lousy."
"What!" Clayton demanded, insulted.
"I bet that… was the… best you're… capable of…"
"Why you!"
He threw a powerful punch at the smaller boy's wobbling form. As the punch raced through the air, his slow brain had only enough time to register the blur of green in the corner of his eye. Then, suddenly, he found his fist in the strong grasp of a kneeling boy.
Ulrich held Clayton's fist firmly in his hand. The look of his face was of deadly fury. With an effortless push, Ulrich tossed Clayton away while he was still reeling in shock. Turning to Odd, he gently lifted him from the ground and placed him on the bench.
"Hey!" Dirk cried, recovering from his surprise. "Where did you come from?"
Ulrich ignored them as he went to aid Yumi. Yumi was filled immeasurable relief and happiness that Ulrich had come back. Leaning slightly on his solid frame, she reached for the bench.
"Thanks."
"Just rest," he said quietly. "I'll handle this."
"You want some too, huh?" Clayton said smiling. Setting himself into an aggressive stance, he watched Ulrich, trying to gauge his strength. He was eager for a new punching bag.
Sure that the bench safely supported Yumi, Ulrich finally turned to the bullies. Walking forward, Ulrich approached them. He stopped when he was in front of Clayton. Dirk moved closer to try to see his face when he started getting beat. The glare never left Ulrich as he looked at Clayton.
"You got something to say to me?" Clayton asked.
"Leave here now," he said quietly.
"Or what? You're gonna hurt me? I don't think so."
Cold silence was his answer.
"Uh-oh!" Dirk taunted, leaning closer. "I think you pissed him off. Give him what's com—"
Ulrich's hand flashed up and dealt a swift blow to the side of the small boy's neck. Moments later Dirk's eyes closed as his body went limp and collapsed onto the ground. Ulrich's eyes never left Clayton, the true threat.
Looking down on his unconscious partner, Clayton tried not to smile. Looking back at Ulrich, he let his smile come out in an open display of his eagerness. This is really gonna be fun.
"Hit me," Ulrich said quietly, but firmly.
"What?"
"Hit—me!"
"As you wish!"
The sharp jab to Ulrich's stomach had him bent over on Clayton's arm. Withdrawing his arm, the bully watched, waiting for his prey to fall to ground. Ulrich remained on his feet and slowly straightened himself. Looking up at Clayton, a small smile lit up his face.
"What?" Clayton said. "You should be on the ground!"
"Did you see that?" Yumi asked no one in particular. Ulrich had just taken what was no doubt the bully's most powerful punch and it didn't even seem to hurt him. It was almost scary.
"You are all bulk," Ulrich said. "No brawn."
Glaring at his prey, Clayton yelled, "What!"
He threw a fast series of punches at Ulrich, not one connected. Ulrich had leaned back when the first was thrown and the following passed over his bent chest harmlessly. Backing away from the bench and his friends, Ulrich moved to the more open area of the soccer field.
Even under the circumstances, Yumi was forced to admit that Clayton had good fighting form. His fists were up and cocked, ready to unleash a flurry of punches at Ulrich the moment he was within range.
Moving with a confidence that belied any injury he'd sustained, Ulrich watched Clayton as he followed. His friends watched with a feeling of growing pity for Clayton. Their guts told them that the bully was about to get more than he bargained for.
"I don't want to fight you, Clayton," he said indifferently.
"Well, who would?"
Balancing on the balls of his heels, Ulrich waited for the inevitable. Rushing forward, Clayton threw punch after punch after punch and each time hit only air. Glaring at Ulrich, he paused to catch his breath. The small smirk on Ulrich's face was irritating to him. That and the speeds of which he was traveling were unnerving. His calm expression made it seem as though he wasn't even trying.
"Stop mocking me!"
With a rejuvenated roar of outrage, Clayton lunged at him, swinging an impressive combo of punches… right jab, left jab, right roundhouse, and left haymaker. Not a single one connected. Ulrich wasn't even backing away. He simply twisted this way, that way, pivoted, and leaned almost casually out of reach. It was like he was dancing. Compared to Ulrich, Clayton was moving in slow motion.
But Clayton was also slowing from exertion. Though he was considerably stronger than Yumi thought he was, he was fighting a fresh boy while he was still tired from beating them.
Backing away slightly, the bully panted slightly. "Hold still, will you!"
Standing to his full height, Ulrich crossed his arms. "There is no need to continue. Just give up."
"What?" Clayton yelled. "No! Never!"
Rushing, he hoped to catch him unprepared. Throwing punches and kicks with all his might, Clayton forced Ulrich to back away. "You're nothing!" he shouted. "If I could a hold of you, I could rip you apart!"
"Oh yeah?" Ulrich said. He leaned back as he dodged backward, using his feet to block Clayton's attacks. Skipping backward from foot to foot, he continued as though talking and fighting were a common event to him. "Well, I suppose you would think that. Especially considering that you gauge your strength on kids half your size and age."
If possible, Clayton forced even more strength into his attacks after hearing that. "I'm going to kill you!"
"Well, at least make me use my hands," Ulrich said, grinning. His arms hadn't left their position on his chest.
Stopping for a moment, Clayton gasped for a breath. "That does it!" He rushed him, not bothering to punch. He just needed to pin him to the ground, then he was as good as dead.
Dropping to one knee, Ulrich's expression grew hard. He waited for Clayton's approaching form. Then, at the last possible instant, he planted a powerful punch to his foe's gut, knocking the wind from him.
The sheer force of the blow knocked Clayton backward slightly. Staggering, he tried unsuccessfully to remain on his feet. Dropping heavily onto his hind end, Clayton grasped his waist as his lungs screamed for air.
Ulrich stood and glared down on the bully who was wheezing quite audibly. For many months, he'd wanted to do that. And now that he'd finally beaten the bully at his own game, he felt… disgusted.
Disgusted for he had let himself be lowered to the bully's level. That wasn't what he wanted. He hated fighting. He only wanted to be with his friends, helping them with their pointless injuries. At the thought of his friends, he turned and walked back toward them.
Looking up as he approached them, Ulrich saw their expressions were all of shock. Shock at what he'd just done. Shock as realization dawned on them. They now knew where he must have been those months ago.
A single, incoherent thought went through their minds. If they could've understood it, they would've voiced it.
For like all things, life goes on. Things change with time. But several things always remain the same: everything changes and where one journey ends, another always starts.
Our next journey has begun.
That was the thought.
(Author's Final Note)
Thank you: Trillinka, Star Way, Nikana, Shadow Dragon99, Spirit of Dragon, blue-0-demon, wind rider, and dantheman7777. I loved reading your reviews the most of all.
I would also thank all of you others individually for reading this story, but that would take a while. It was a great fun to write The Weak Link and to read your opinions on it.
Since no one seemed to be able to guess my hints at the Ulrich/warrior kid similarities, here are few over-due explanations.
In What's Left Unheard, I described Ulrich as having calluses and much muscular arms than Yumi remembered him having.
In A Strange Presence, Ulrich knew the Japanese name of the clothing Kenji was wearing. I had thought that one would've been obvious! I mean, come on! Who honestly could know that here in America? I even pointed it out! Oh well.
This last one should've been the most obvious: Ulrich's awesome newfound strength and resilience (i.e. Bittersweet Love; when he smashed the window).
For Mango Tango: I don't believe that I ever fully described the warrior kid whenever he made his appearances. So how can you say that the descriptions didn't match?
P.S.
I know that I was a real jerk to all of you; leaving you constantly hanging. But that's how a writer keeps his readers interested… I think.
In case my story hasn't answered any of the smaller questions, please feel free to ask. I will check you questions and try to answer them in one week after I post this. I beg of you, for your own curiosity, don't hesitate to 'voice' even the smallest question.
If you don't wish to post any questions, I have just one last request for you. My dearly beloved reviewers, please can all of you post one last review on this story? I would die a happy man if you all did, including all you anonymous people who are too bashful to do so.
PLEASE!