(A/N- Okay, -deep nervous breath- hope you guys like the ending. In fact, I think this even has sequel potential. Please let me know what you think.
Hoping for the best, -Kayleth)
The next thing I hear is rain on the roof, but it's not the hard pounding rain that was flooding the city. It's just that normal, comforting pitter-patter that I've grown to tolerate. Not that I have anything against a little rain now and then, but this is just too much.
I wish it would stop, I think as I change into new clothes and head into the kitchen for breakfast. There's nothing made; no smell of pancakes, eggs and bacon that always drift through the house on Sundays. It forces me to face the fact that my mother is dead.
Grabbing an apple as I leave I head towards the school, feeling determined now to find out what's really going on; why I'm not dead, why these kids go to some abandoned factory and travel through time.
I walk through the rain, letting it get me wet again; I don't care. The towering, black gate that surrounds the school is at my right now as I walk along the outer sidewalk. I notice Jeremie and his friends are sitting around a bench under the eves, just talking.
I walk up just as their finishing laughing over one of Odd's jokes. I really don't feel like laughing right now.
"Hey," I start, not really knowing what to say. I mean, you can't just walk up to people and go "I know all about you guys and your giant computer and this Lyoko place and blah-blah-blah!" There is nothing more lame-sounding than that statement, right there.
"I heard about…you know." Yumi says to me, standing up, treating me like I don't know anything about their secret, just like she should.
"Thanks," I mutter, looking right past her. "Jeremie," I start, taking a step away from Yumi. He looks surprised, like "How do you know my name?" surprised. He doesn't say anything, like he's hoping I won't push it. I feel awkward; everyone's eyes are staring at me, digging little holes in my skin. "Wha…" I stumble. I feel more nervous than I should. "What is Lyoko?" I ask.
They all look uncertain. I guess no one had ever thought the day would come when someone would find out about their secret on a permanent basis.
After a long time of no one saying anything, the girl I know to be Aelita stands up. "It's my home." she states, her tone unafraid, but flat.
The others look at a loss, but Jeremie looks as if his whole world is about to fall apart. I think I see a tear starting to form up, but I can't be certain.
"It's…It's a virtual world," he says at last, standing up at Aelita's side. "How…how much do you know?" he asks.
Ulrich hasn't said anything. He just sits there, an unreadable expression on his face.
"Why are you all looking at me like I'm going to kill you or something?" I ask, and though I don't know why, this question makes Jeremie cringe with anger. Aelita just looks worried for him, wanting him just to calm down.
"Just tell me what's going on!" I almost yell, feeling the darkness of this situation running through me. I drop my tone so no others will hear me, "I know you guys go back in time, I know you go to some virtual world called Lyoko and well, I would be dead right now if it weren't for you guys." I feel tears running down my face, unbidden.
I turn to walk off but a feel a hand placed on my shoulder. I turn around; it's Aelita.
"You have every right to know," she sighs, and starts to explain. "We fight against a virtual super intelligence called Xana. He wants something from my memory; none of us know what it is. He takes control of people and things to cause chaos here, and we fight against his forces on Lyoko to stop him."
I nod, dumbstruck at what I'm hearing, though, what was I supposed to expect in the first place? I'm about to ask her why they don't just shut Xana down, but she keeps going then.
"We can't stop Xana until Jeremie finds the antivirus for me. I'm linked to Lyoko, and if shut it down Xana will die, but so will I." she looks down at this, trying not to show me how afraid she is. Jeremie takes her hand, but I look away. I can't stand any more feelings right now.
"What are you going to do now?" a voice asks that is new to the conversation. It's Ulrich. "Now that you know?" he adds, voicing everyone's thoughts.
"What am I supposed to do?" I ask, looking at them in puzzlement. I never really realized how much actually solving this mystery would change my life.
I look up and see that Yumi's placed her hand on my other shoulder. She's not smiling, but she's got that calm, "I've got a suggestion" look.
"Fight with us," she offers, and I see Aelita nod in agreement.
Odd smiles, the first one of those I've seen in what feels like forever. "Sure! It'll be nice to have some help around here. Saving the world on a daily basis isn't easy after all!" he smiles and laughs at his own comment. I smile a little bit too.
Ulrich nods, his eyes telling us that he thinks the idea is acceptable.
"Well Jeremie?" Aelita asks, looking with a pleading hope into his eyes.
"Yeah, don't be a scrooge about it." Odd chimes in, still grinning.
He's completely out numbered now and I know it's only a matter of time before-
"Alright!" he announces, smiling lightly now. "Welcome to the team, uh…" he starts when he realizes they still don't know my name.
"Well, this is embarrassing, isn't it?" Odd laughs, still grinning in wide sheepishness.
"I'm Ryka," I say, somehow feeling a huge burden lift off me at those two little words.
"Then welcome to the team Ryka," Jeremie states, finishing what he started.
Aelita and Yumi are smiling, each with one hand on one of my shoulders.
I look out over the fields and I notice it's not raining any more. I smile, wide, and for the first time since my mother died I realize that I don't have that dark cloud hanging over me any more.
"We've got a lot of work to do if we're going to have a virtualization program for her Jeremie," Aelita hums, knowing that together they'll have it in no time.
I nod, still feeling like I don't quite fit in this group yet, but I know that it will come with time. They've been through more things than anyone remembers; except them of course.
"Yeah, and that means more leftovers for me!" Odd announces, smirking widely. Ulrich glares at him, but I know it's not meant in a mean way.
"What?!" Odd asks, "Was it something I said?"
"Guys," I hear Yumi call, telling them to knock it off.
"So, who wants to go get ice cream to celebrate?" Odd asks, back on the subject of food.
The group nods, which includes me, though it's strange to think that I'm really a part of it already. I'm not really, not yet, but I'm not going to worry about it.
We're almost all the way to the shop when it starts raining again suddenly. Dashing inside, laughing for no reason in particular I know everything will work out.
I'll fight against this evil. To prove myself to them, to protect myself and the people who I hope will become my friends. To save this city, this school, and the family I have left. I know I'll never be alone in this and that is what will keep me strong; day after day, fight after fight, and through my pain, even as the sky cries.