Okay. The special mentions are in Review Replies, 'kay? On to the story.
Through every hardship
Chapter two: How high can you fly?
By: michihikari
Sissy walked away from the spot where she had met Zack. She looked around her nervously, clutching the little white packets in her hand tighter. She shouldn't be doing this. Shouldn't be doing this, but.... she did SO want to finally get Ulrich and see Yumi and Theo jealous. She knew, deep down inside, that she wanted Theo more than she did Ulrich. But she had been after Ulrich for a long time, and if she stopped going after Ulrich, Yumi would get him much easier and faster. And the feeling she hated the most was feeling guilty and knowing that Yumi won something she had wanted. But.... nobody must see me with this...
Odd strolled along, smiling because he had just bought 5 candy bars. Seeing black hair reflect the light in the distance, Odd stopped and stuck closer to the wall, thinking it was Yumi and how much fun it would be to surprise her. Quickly, Odd slipped behind a pillar (you know, those huge circle/rectangle thingies that hold up the ceiling), where Yumi couldn't see him. The footsteps came closer, and Odd tensed himself. When Yumi's shadow revealed to Odd how close she was, Odd jumped out and yelled, "BOO!!"
Sissy screamed, dropping the packets she was holding. One skittered away from the others, hiding itself behind the pillar. In Sissy's nervousness she didn't see it, but Odd noticed this. He was going to tell her but the scared, deer-caught-in-the-middle-of-the-street look in Sissy's face made Odd laugh out loud, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"You...you...." Sissy growled, then she hurriedly scooped up the packets and ran away. Odd finally stopped laughing, but his stomach hurt. "Guess that wasn't Yumi", he said aloud. He was about to leave, but remembered the packet that Sissy didn't notice. Curious, Odd stooped down and got it. He ripped it open. It revealed fine, white powder. Odd sniffed it. "Huh." He said, glaring at the powder. "Doesn't have a smell. Guess I better leave this with Einstein. He'll figure out what this stuff is." Whistling, Odd headed over to Jeremie's room.
"That's a book," Jeremie explained patiently to Aelita. She had discovered his collection of books, and was amazed to see words all squeezed together in a hardcover thing.
"What is this for? Does it do anything special?" Aelita searched the book from cover to cover. "Where is its on switch?"
Yumi and Ulrich, who were in the room with them, laughed. "It doesn't have an on switch," Yumi told Aelita. "You simply read the words one at a time. Each book talks about a different thing, but some books may talk about the same thing, though they say it differently."
"Books are used also for research," Ulrich added. "I bet Jeremie used some of these to finally figure out how to properly materialize you."
Suddenly Odd burst in. "Hey," he said casually. "You guys weren't in our dorm or Yumi's and Aelita's, so, I decided you were here."
"What was your first clue, Sherlock?" Ulrich teased. "Where've you been?"
"Getting us candy." Odd tossed one of the candy bars to Ulrich, one to Jeremie, and one to Aelita. As Jeremie explained to her how to open it, Odd turned to Yumi. "Catch." He said, and he tossed her a candy bar. Ulrich suddenly leaned in and caught it before Yumi could.
"Hey, that's mine!" Yumi protested. Ulrich grinned at her. "Catch me."
"Okay, then." Yumi stood up and started chasing Ulrich around the room. Odd, Jeremie and Aelita ignored them, and when Aelita asked what they were doing, Odd and Jeremie said, "Flirting", in unison.
"Hey! We are not!" Yumi and Ulrich cried out, momentarily stopping their chase. Seizing the opportunity, Yumi tackled Ulrich, sending them both flying on top of Jeremie's bed. Both laughing wildly, Ulrich kept the candy out of reach while Yumi tried to snatch it from him. Finally, Ulrich slipped out of Yumi's range, and ran out of Jeremie's room into his and Odd's. Yumi followed, him, determined to get her share of sugar. Ulrich tried to close the door and lock Yumi out but Yumi slipped in before he could close it. When Ulrich closed the door and locked it, he realized that Yumi was behind him.
"Oh, hey, Yumi. Is there a particular reason why you followed me into my room?" Ulrich asked innocently.
"Oh yes, there is," Yumi replied just as innocently. "I need my sugar."
"Sugar?" Ulrich repeated, exaggeratedly hiding the c-bar (candy-bar) behind him.
"Yes, sugar." Quickly, Yumi changed tactics, from innocent to desperate. "Pleeeaaaase, Ulrich?"
"Hmmm..." Ulrich was clearly enjoying this.
"Ulrich..." It came out as a long whine.
"Hmmm..." Ulrich said yet again. He pretended to contemplate the possibility of handing Yumi the candy while looking at the wall. Yumi tackled him again, and started to tickle him.
"Hey!!" Ulrich gasped between laughs. "Not fair!!"
"All's fair in love and candy!!" Yumi answered, smiling at him.
"Okay, then." Ulrich put the candy on the dresser table beside his bed. "I happen to know that you're very ticklish."
Yumi quickly backed off. "You wouldn't, Ulrich."
"Would I?" He crept closer to her.
"No!!" Yumi backed away, trying to keep a straight face, but her smile gave her away. Ulrich crept closer, smiling maliciously. When he was close enough, he started tickling Yumi. She was consumed by bouts of laughter, but wouldn't let herself be defeated. Between giggles she started tickling Ulrich, too. Both not wanting to give in or stop, the two best friends (or are they more than that? ) didn't stop attacking each other playfully until they both collapsed on Ulrich's bed, gasping for breath.
Exhausted, Ulrich lay on his side, facing Yumi. She had her eyes closed and was breathing deeply. Wow, she's pretty...I can't believe I have a friend like her, but I feel something different for her, something like...love, even. How do I tell her? It's not as though I can just kiss her.... right? He sighed, and closed his eyes, just as Yumi opened hers.
God he's handsome, Yumi thought wistfully. Her eyes glazed over as she thought of all the times she had subtlety revealed her feelings for him. But I'm not sure if he even noticed. Maybe he thinks I followed him in here just because of the candy bar, but I know there's something more. But does he like Sissy? Jeremie told me once that I was just jealous, and maybe he's right. I want him for myself.... does he want me?
As Yumi was contemplating this, Ulrich opened his eyes to see Yumi gazing at him. He noticed that Yumi's eyes were clouded, like she was thinking of something really important, or she was just staring off to space. He smiled, wondering what she was thinking about. Could it be me? He thought idly. He waved one hand in front of her face. She didn't make a move. Ulrich decided to have a little fun with his crush.
"Is there a particular reason why you're staring at me, Yumi? Yumi?" Ulrich was amused by her blank expression, even more so when she snapped out of it and blushed, having been caught gawking.
"Oh, um..." Yumi felt herself getting redder. This was unusual of her, but lying in a bed with your crush qualifies as unusual too, doesn't it? Thinking quickly of an excuse, Yumi blurted out, "Um, you have some dirt on your face." To make this explanation seem more plausible, she reached out with one hand to brush imaginary dirt off Ulrich's cheek.
"Dirt nothing," Ulrich said, acting instinctively as he grabbed Yumi's outstretched hand, and pulled her closer. He brushed his lips against hers, enjoying the feel of her soft, warm lips. He slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. Yumi melted in his arms as she wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening their kiss. They had both waited for this moment, for the chance when they would finally be able to tell each other about their deepest desires. When they finally pulled apart for air, reluctantly of course, they just lay there, staring deeply into the other's eyes. Yumi still had the blush in her cheeks, and she struggled to find the words good enough to describe what she had felt.
"I...you...um..." Obviously, Yumi wasn't very good in situations like this. She's lucky Ulrich was.
Leaning forward so his face was only a few inches from Yumi's, Ulrich whispered quietly, "Do you love me?"
"Yes!" Yumi blurted out passionately. Instantly, she reddened even more. She avoided direct eye contact with Ulrich, worrying that he didn't fell the same. But she was wrong. Ulrich had felt as though a great weight had been lifted off his chest, and he felt as though he was up high in the clouds. He felt a slow smile spread across his face, and he gently touched Yumi's cheek, turning her face so he could see her eyes, confused, distressed, longing, and... hopeful. He felt his heart clench in his chest, knowing she was waiting for his next words, knowing she was close, so close to him.
"Well, that's perfect, since I love you too." He whispered, and he felt himself falling deeper for her, as he saw her eyes light up in happiness. She opened her mouth to speak, but Ulrich never gave her a chance to, because he cut her off, kissing her with a fiery passion. Again, she melted, and for the two lovers, nothing else mattered, it was just the two of them, no one else. When she pulled away and he leaned forward, Yumi was able to whisper a few words before Ulrich captured her lips again.
"So do I get my candy now?"
a/n : yay! Chapter two finished!! If you want chapter three up soon, review!!
