Yumigirl06: OMG! It's been how long? I'm weally sowwy fow not getting another chappie up in a weally long time, but it's all good now, cause I think I have something... U.I.L. contest is Friday, so wish me luck!
Odd: You don't need luck cause it's all skill out there...
Kiki: Thanks Odd, but if you've heard the way I play, you'd cry from torture...
Yumi: Whatever Kiki! You're good on... what do you play again?
Kiki: The French Horn, and let's hope I do better than usual...
Ulrich: Bandnerds... oi...
Kiki: Oh well, I think I'll be okay... now on with the long awaited chapter...
The door opened slowly as Yumi, Ulrich and Kiki walked into the room containing the principal, a policeman and Yumi's parents. The principal stood up and walked up to the kids, blocking them from coming farther into the room.
"I'm sorry Ulrich and Kiki, but this is between Yumi, her parents, the police and myself." Yumi turned sharply to the principal.
"Sir, I want them to be here with me. The whole reason I ran away in the first place was so I could find them. If they go, I go too." The principal looked shockingly at Yumi, surprised by her comment. He looked toward Yumi's parents, asking them silently what should be done about this situation. Yumi's dad stood up and walked over to the trio.
"I'm sorry Yumi, but I'm afraid they can't be here." Yumi's eyes welled up again and she turned to run. Ulrich caught her and held her tightly, not letting her go at all. Yumi, sensing her defeat, fell into Ulrich's arms, crying softly. Yumi's dad glared at Ulrich, but Ulrich returned the glare just as roughly. He looked back at Yumi who was still softly crying against his shoulder.
"C'mon Yumi, you have to do this... for me." Yumi nodded against his shoulder and slowly turned back around to face her parents and the principal.
"They stay. I don't care what you say, they will stay." Yumi's mother stood up and walked over to her husband. She placed a hand on his shoulder calming him down.
"Whatever is said here today will not leave this room, understand?" She asked authoritatively. Ulrich and Kiki nodded and took a seat beside Yumi on the bed.
"Now, is the description and story you gave me true?" The policeman asked Yumi for what felt like the one-hundredth time. Yumi sighed heavily and nodded wearily.
"Yes, it's all like I said." Yumi's dad took over at that moment.
"I think she should be home schooled so we can keep an eye on her. This is traumatizing to her and I feel like she needs to rest." Yumi stood up sharply and clenched her fists in anger.
"I refuse to be home schooled. That would only lead to us moving, and I'm not doing that. I want to stay here with my friends and go on the trip. I'd be out of harms way by going to the states." Ulrich and Kiki nodded.
"It's true sir, we could ask the police in the U.S. to be on the lookout for that man if he does follow us. Yumi will always be with one of us because we'll be sharing a room and with all the teachers around, no one would dare try anything." The blonde said in Yumi's defense. The principal thought about her words for a minute then sighed.
"I think it would be a bit much for getting the U.S. police in on this whole thing, but we will hire extra guards to patrol the halls and look out for suspicious characters." Yumi's mother nodded, but her father huffed loudly.
"But what would happen if her attacker somehow got past the guards?" Her father retorted smartly, thinking he had won the fight. Kiki and Ulrich stood up at that and crossed their arms.
"Then they would have to deal with us. Besides, what are the chances that he would come with us undetected and get close to Yumi? I know I'm gonna be spending most of my trip with her and Kiki's pretty much gonna be by her side all the time anyway, so what could happen?" Ulrich's voice was strong and confident, taking Mr. Ishiyama back. Mrs. Ishiyama spoke up, defending the two teens' argument.
"Ulrich has a point dear. We could ask the airport police to help be on the lookout for strange people coming onto the plane, and after they left, who knows where they would be. The principal has the only schedule of events that will be done while they are in the states and where the route they'll be taking, so I don't see what could hurt. We can talk about what her school future will be when she gets back." Yumi's eyes lit up excitedly. She knew that her mom could always put up a better argument than anyone, and 9 times out of 10 she would win. Luckily this time, one of those 9 times was picked and Mrs. Ishiyama prevailed. Yumi ran up to her mom and hugged her as tight as she could. The principal received the paperwork from the policeman and got the number to the sheriff. Mr. Ishiyama stood up and walked out of the room, obviously upset that he lost his argument. Mrs. Ishiyama broke the hug and followed after her husband, planning on negotiation with him about Yumi's school future. Ulrich walked behind Yumi and gave her a comforting hug. For now, the world was right and no problems could bother the gang. Yumi got to stay, and each day was precious to them now. All their hopes and fears now rest on Mrs. Ishiyama's shoulders, but at least for now, everyone could rest. XANA was defeated, a big trip to the U.S. is coming up and lots more had to be done to prepare for it. Kiki walked towards the door and turned back around to Yumi and Ulrich.
"Hey guys, let's go back to the room. We still have a lot of packing to do. Remember, we leave tomorrow after breakfast." Ulrich turned around to Kiki.
"Yes mom, we're coming." Yumi nodded and walked up to Kiki.
"I have an idea. Let's go back to the others. Play along with me. It should be interesting." Ulrich looked quizzically at the raven-haired girl, but followed her and Kiki out back into Jeremie's room. Ulrich pulled ahead of the girls and went up to Jeremie's door, getting the others excited about the news. Kiki pulled Yumi to the side a little ways before they reached the door. She needed to talk, and now.
"Yumi. What happened back there….. none of my old friends back in the states would have ever done that and stood up to adults like that for me." Yumi smiled and placed a hand on Kiki's shoulder.
"Don't mention it. I know how it felt to be left out before I met the guys. There were so many kids at my old school back in Japan that there would always be someone else more important to defend. Just remember that, no matter what, you won't be judged here." A noise could be heard from Jeremie's room; most likely Ulrich getting jumped by Kiwi. A sly grin could now be found on Yumi's face, a mischievous plan obviously forming in her head. Kiki became curious.
"Yumi? What're you planning?" Yumi smiled wider and lowered her voice to a whisper.
"We scare the others with what happened to me." Kiki's eyes widened.
"Yumi, that's just evil. And right up my alley." Yumi grinned and looked towards the door where the others were.
"Ulrich knows already, so when we come in he's gonna be all sad for me. You run up to Odd and act all sad. If you can, work up some tears to make it more convincing. Then I'll take over from there and you and Ulrich'll play along." Kiki nodded solemnly, already trying to get into character.
In Jeremie's room……..
"Odd! Would you just lay off? Yumi will tell you when she gets here!" Ulrich said breaking the lock Odd had placed on him. He then grabbed Odd's arm and flipped him over his shoulder onto the bed. Odd's feet ended up where his head should've and his heels hit the wall hard. Odd winced from surpriseas he hit the wall. Kiwi jumped up on the bed and proceeded to lick Odd's face.
"Kiwi, stop! Down boy!" He said flipping himself upright. Jeremie sat at his computer desk and Aelita sat next to him on the edge of the bed. Just then, the door creaked open. All heads turned to see Kiki come in crying like a baby. Odd jumped up as the blonde ran into his arms.
"Kiki, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" He asked gently as Kiki continued to cry into his shoulder. As if on cue, Yumi entered the room, a single tear falling from her face. Aelita, Jeremie, and Odd all turned their heads to face her, worry now plaguing them. Ulrich walked over to Yumi and pulled her into a loving hug, as if to comfort her. Aelita couldn't stand the silence and spoke up eagerly.
"Yumi, what happened? What did they decide?" Yumi looked up at the others, barely able to keep a straight face. Ulrich spoke up for her with a grave tone in his voice.
"She was interrogated by police, the principal, and both her parents all at the same time. Well….." he broke off. Odd grew impatient and anxious for the answer.
"What? What's going to happen to Yumi?" Kiki looked at Odd, who looked back at her.
"Do you realize why she's crying?" Odd shook his head slowly and looked at her, puzzled. Yumi pulled away from Ulrich's embrace as a small smile appeared over her face.
"I'm crying because I'm happy." Aelita raised her eyebrow, confused about what Yumi was saying when she was clearly crying.
"So, you're happy that you're leaving us?" Now it was Yumi's turn to look confused. She shook her head and snickered a bit.
"I don't have to go anywhere. They're letting me stay for the trip. After I get back, we're going to discuss my future in school." An audible sigh could be heard from Odd, Jeremie, and Aelita as a wave of relief washed over them.
"That means we have to hurry and finish getting you packed Yumi!" Kiki said sporting a wide smile. Odd held onto Kiki though, restricting her from going anywhere.
"Odd let me go. I have to help Yumi pack."
"You had us all scared Kiki. I can't let you go now." He said and kissed her in front of everyone. Jeremie fake cringed. Odd broke the kiss and turned to Jeremie.
"It's okay Kiki, we can catch up tonight." He said in a much too playful voice. Jeremie's eyes widened and he turned towards the window.
"Bleh! I didn't want to know that." Kiki snickered.
"Well, if we ever hope to go on the trip, we need to pack. Our plane leaves after breakfast tomorrow. We need to be entirely ready for it." Ulrich nodded and saluted her.
"Ma'am, yes ma'am!" Kiki grabbed a pillow off Jeremie's bed and threw it at him.
"Okay, Sir Smart-off A Lot, we need to finish packing." Aelita, Kiki, and Yumi walked out towards Kiki's room, never suspecting that a pair of eyes was watching them from a safe distance.
"Be happy while you still can my young adversaries, because once you reach the States, you won't be coming back to tell of your adventures."
Yumigirl06: Who is this mysterious person? What do they have in store for the Lyoko gang? All this and more on the next chappie. But for now, I'll leave you with a nice little preview of the upcoming chapter.
Kiki watched on helplessly as the cloaked man began his attack on her friends. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't look away at the horrific sight before her.
Kiki: Hahahahahah! I'm evil…….
Odd, Ulrich, Yumi, Jeremie, Aelita: 0.0'……….. Kiki! What's gonna happen!
Kiki: Sorry, you'll just have to wait. I don't want to make you guys wait, since I already made you wait like 2 or 3 months, but I'm in desperate need of some purple marshmallows to go with my hot cocoa. Press that little purple button at the bottom and leave a comment. Flames will be used to warm my hot cocoa, but remember, constructive criticism is always the best way to go!
Odd, Ulrich, Yumi, Jeremie, Aelita: REVIEW! HURRY! WE WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!