A telephone was ringing in the Stern house at 1:30am. A tired Yumi answered it.

"Hello?...huh...you are joking, aren't you?...oh my, I'm on my way mom" Yumi literally sobbed now wide awake.

Ulrich came down rubbing his eyes also tired but soon became awake when he saw Yumi crying on the sofa.

"Yumi? What's wrong?" he asked uncertain.

"My dad he's dying in hospital as we speak, he's got a couple of hours to live, Ulrich I need to say goodbye"

"Let's go, it's lucky that Krystal is sleeping over at Twinkle's"

Yumi nodded but they both went upstairs to quickly change before driving off to the hospital. All the way Yumi was sobbing her heart off. Yumi had grown close to her father lately ever since moving back to France from England. And now the worst thing was happening to her, he was dying.

Ulrich dropped Yumi off outside whilst going to park the car. Yumi ran to reception desk to find out where her father was. Ulrich joined her just as the receptionist had finished telling her where to go to find her dad.

Yumi walked towards the lift and as she got in sobbed again. She was really trying not to cry, she knew her mother would be terrible upset. Yumi wanted to be the strong one for her but she really knew that Ulrich would be their rock. He would stay calm and look after both of them in this time of sadness. The lift beeped signalling that they were on the floor that they had requested. Yumi stood still even though the doors were open wide for her to go through into the corridor. Ulrich looked at her sympathetically. He couldn't even manage to begin what she was going through.

"Come on Yumi" he said wrapping his arm around her.

Yumi slowly walked out of the life with Ulrich's guiding. Mrs Ishiyama ran to Yumi and guided her to her father's bed.

Ulrich followed through and was watching Yumi for signs of wanting to leave. He knew that she had to say goodbye but there was also a limit on her saying goodbye and her wanting to leave through getting too upset.

Yumi's face when she saw her dad was pure shock and sadness.

Ulrich turned his head to look at his father-in-law and what he saw shocked him indeed. He had saw Mr Ishiyama only the week previous to this and he had looked perfectly healthy to him even though he had a kidney infection. Mr Ishiyama now was deathly pale with a blue-ish tinge around his mouth which indicated death. He was also connected up to several machines.

Yumi had told Ulrich on the way up what her mother had said on the phone. She had told Yumi that his kidney infection had gone beyond repair. That his blood was badly poisoned and had caused the heart to be affected.

Ulrich watched Yumi for a second longer and decided that Yumi and her parents needed some family time.

"Ulrich, where are you going dear?" Mrs Ishiyama asked him noticing him leaving.

"I'm gonna step outside so Yumi can have some time with her parents" he murmured quietly trying not to disturb Yumi from talking to her dad.

Mrs Ishiyama nodded her appreciation at his thoughtfulness.

Before Ulrich got through the door he heard his name being called groggily from Mr Ishiyama. He turned back and looked at his father-in-law with the greatest respect a man could ever give.

Mr Ishiyama spoke gruffly but he was understood. His meaning was clear:

'I know that Yumi loves you as much as you do her and I know you wouldn't let anything harm her but she can't be protected from death's bitter sting. I may not have liked you from the start but I have grown proud to call you my son-in-law. Krystal is the proof of how great you and Yumi are; tell her I love her please when she is old enough to understand the meaning of death. I love you all and have never been ashamed to admit that I would be nothing without my family'

With that he smiled at Ulrich and went back to reminiscing with Yumi and Mrs Ishiyama.

Ulrich was touched by Mr Ishiyama words. Ulrich went out into the corridor.

'Why did something always have to interrupt how happy we are? Yumi is going to be crushed when he's gone. Oh why does this have to happen now?'

Ulrich was brought out of his thoughts when several doctors and nurses rushed past him and into Mr Ishiyama's room.

'Oh no'

A nurse brought Mrs Ishiyama and Yumi out into the corridor while the doctors tried to revive Mr Ishiyama. Yumi was brawling onto her mother's shoulders. Mrs Ishiyama was herself bitterly crying.

'I can't do anything but watch, I don't want to intrude on this tragic family death. But Yumi is hurting, she's breaking her heart'

Ulrich's thoughts were driven away when a doctor came out and spoke to Mrs Ishiyama and Yumi. Ulrich was too far away to hear what was being said.

A tear escaped Ulrich's eyes when he realised by the two women's actions that his father-in-law had died.