Chapter Two: Confusion

Yumi and Ulrich were headed back to school, while her mom and Hiroki stayed at the hospital. Yumi didn't talk much she had a lot on her mind.

"Yumi, he'll be okay. I am positive, he has to be okay if he's anything like you." Ulrich saying, trying to make her laugh. Yumi's face didn't change she just started at the ground. Ulrich sighed inside trying to think of someway to get her mind off her father. "Hey we can still head to Lyoko for practice. I bet Odd was mad we skipped, after all it was out idea." Still Yumi said nothing. Ulrich had finally had enough. He slipped one of his hands into hers and with his other put it on her should to stop her. Yumi suddenly looked up into his eyes.

"He'll be alright, I just know it." Ulrich gently said. Yumi shook her head in agreement.

"I'……m…sorry Ulrich." Yumi said slowly, dropping her head towards the ground again.

"Hey, it's alright, I'm not mad." Ulrich said, gently lifting her chin. "If I can help in anyway let me know." Yumi nodded. "Come on we'll go show Odd how to really get X.A.N.A going." Ulrich said. He still was holding onto her hand, so he pulled her gently to come with him. Yumi slightly smiled and walked with Ulrich to the factory.

"At least I got a half smile." Ulrich thought. "Now if only I could get a whole smile."

"I don't understand. What did I do? My mom seemed so angry, I hope it wasn't my fault. What if it was. Oh man I hope he'll be alright." Yumi thought. Ulrich and Yumi got to the factory and jumped in the elevator. Yumi was still distant as the doors opened. Jeremy turned around and saw Yumi and Ulrich. He nodded as Ulrich pushed the button to go down to the scanner room. Ulrich and Yumi climbed in their scanners and waited for Jeremy to begin.

"I'm sending you two to the desert region, Odd has already attracted some company there. Transfer Ulrich, transfer Yumi, scanner Ulrich, scanner Yumi, virtualization." Jeremy said. Ulrich and Yumi landed on their feet in Lyoko. Odd was dodging from a laser right as they landed. Ulrich quickly ran towards the monster that was attacking Odd.

"Impact!" he shouted. The monster blew up. Yumi stood there in a daze as she watched. Aelita ran to hide behind her. Ulrich and Odd were busy fighting other monsters that they didn't notice a Mega Tank rolling up beside Yumi.

"Yumi beside you. Look out!" Jeremy shouted. Yumi just stood there as it charged up to fire. Ulrich and Odd looked back just as Yumi became devitalized. Odd quickly sunk a laser arrow into it, before it could hurt Aelita.

"Jeremy you had better take us out too." Ulrich said. Jeremy nodded and typed in some keys. Air was rushing past all of their ears then the doors opened. Ulrich and the others stepped out into the real world.

"Yumi," Ulrich said, running over to her. She had collapsed on the ground. Ulrich and Aelita were right behind him. Ulrich slowly lifted Yumi up until she could stand.

"Yumi are you alright?" Odd asked. Yumi slowly nodded her head. Suddenly her phone rang. Yumi reached down into her pocket to answer it.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Where are you! I need you here now! Watch Hiroki, I can't believe you left! You heathen child! What a complete moron you are! Get home soon, or you will regret it!" Yumi's mother screamed into the phone, then she hung up. No one else had heard the other line.

"I have to go home, my mom needs me." She said, slowly walking towards the elevator. Everyone else followed behind her. Odd and Aelita got off at Jeremy's level, while Ulrich rode up top with Yumi.

"Yumi, what's wrong? You don't look so well." Ulrich said. Yumi simply smiled.

"I'm fine, my mom just needs me to watch Hiroki. I'll see you at school." she said stepping out of the elevator. Ulrich nodded and pushed the button to go back down. Yumi waited for a minute then left.

When she got home her mother was playing with her brother. She looked up as Yumi walked in the door.

"Hiroki dear, why don't you go upstairs for a while, I must have a word with Yumi." she said. Hiroki smiled and ran upstairs. Yumi's mother waited until he was out of hearing distance.

"You wretched, stupid girl. Where were you?" Her mother demanded.

"I was with my friends, mom what's wrong?" Yumi asked surprised. Her mother normally wasn't like this.

"What's Wrong! You have the nerve to ask me what's wrong? Well my dear I'll tell you. Your father's in the hospital, you probably caused it, with all that grief you give us. You leave me alone, to fend for myself, and you ask me what's wrong? You stupid girl!" Her mother screamed, grabbing Yumi's wrist and pulling her to the kitchen.

"Mom that hurts. Oww mom please stop." Yumi begged. Her mother pretended not to hear her. She drug Yumi into the kitchen. She then twisted her wrist slightly. Yumi's knees struck the floor immediately. She wasn't ready for that. Yumi's mother watched as he face cringed in pain. Finally her mother tossed her to the floor. She whipped herself upstairs. Yumi looked at her wrist and saw it had begun to bruise.

The next day at school Yumi didn't talk to much, she had a lot on her mind. Aelita saw Yumi wasn't talking that much and grabbed her wrist to come join in. Aelita had accidentally grabbed Yumi's bad wrist and she flinched in pain. Aelita saw this and immediately dropped it. Everyone started at Yumi as she slid her hand behind her back. Ulrich gently reached over and pulled it out. He gently pulled up her sleeve to revel a black and blue bruise. Aelita gasped.

"Yumi what happened?" Ulrich demanded, gently running his fingers over the spot. Yumi dropped her head.

"I got home and my mom ummm." Yumi started. She looked up to see everyone staring at her. "My mom surprised me she walked around the corner and I hit it on a table when I jumped back." she finished. Odd burst out laughing. Suddenly the bell rang, Odd, Jeremy, and Aelita started to class. Ulrich stayed behind for a moment. Yumi smiled and gently pulled her hand away. She then started off to class rubbing her wrist..