Warning: Rated for language, violence and references to adult behavior.

The main characters of this story are based on characters from the cartoon 'Code Lyoko.' I do not own, nor do I claim, any copyright to these characters.

May 7th came and everybody was excited. Jeremie's parents drove down for the weekend and spent the day with him. Jeremie's mother took Aelita and Sissi out to get their hair done for the evening. They all agreed to meet at the Ishiyama's and go to the ball from there.

That evening, Jeremie's father drove Jeremie, Odd and Ulrich over to Yumi's to rendezvous with the girls. On the way, Odd was complaining about the black tuxedo he had to wear, and why couldn't he wear a purple one? Ulrich just sat silently, and wouldn't talk when either Jeremie or his father asked what was wrong.

They arrived at the Ishiyamas about an hour and a half before they needed to leave for the Embassy. All three of the boys were surprised at the number of cars parked there.

"I think you will find many surprises inside this evening, gentlemen," Mr. Belpois said.

Ulrich knocked on the door, and was answered by Yumi's brother Hiroki.

"They're here, everybody! Man, just wait! It's like Christmas!"the boy exclaimed.

Jeremie and the others entered, and were assaulted by flashes. It seemed like five different camera flashes fired off a the same time. All the new arrivals were temporarily blinded.

When their eyes cleared, they saw what was going on. The living room was crowded with parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Ishiyama stood to one side, dressed in casual clothing. Mr. Ishiyama was the one taking the pictures for their family. Jeremie's mother was standing next to them, holding her own camera. Next to her was Principal Delmas, a seemingly uncharacteristic smile on his face. He too had a camera.

Desmond Hopper was there with his wife, Marie. Jeremie had met her for the first time that weekend at the air base. Mr. and Mrs. Della Robbia was standing next to them, their cameras at the ready. Ulrich froze when he saw the last couple, his parents.

"Well, Ulrich, you do seem to be moving up in the world," said his father, smiling.

Mr. Stern seemed to project a sense of largeness about him. He was on the tall side, and trim. He had a big smile on his face that seemed friendly. When Jeremie shook his hand though, he had the sudden urge afterwards to go and wash them.

Ulrich's mother was quieter, almost to the point of being invisible. When they had been at the air base a few weeks back, she had always kept to herself, that is until Ulrich introduced her to Yumi and her parents. Tonight, she was the shy woman again, holding her camera, ready to take pictures again.

"Dad, I heard you were in town. How did you know about tonight?" Ulrich asked.

"Well son, for one thing, your mother and I have been invited, too," he replied, "another thing is the Ishiyamas have been setting up this little get-together ever since they found out you kids were going. It seems like she has got the idea in her head that it would be a good idea for all of us to get to know one another and keep in contact. Thinking about it, I think it's a good idea too. We really haven't been staying in touch with you as much as we should, and it's time that changed."

While saying that, Mr. Stern put his hand on Ulrich's shoulder. For a moment, Ulrich almost looked like he was going to shake it off, but didn't. Jeremie and Odd both noticed Ulrich's face as he looked at his father. It was not a look of love or even like.

"I thought you told me Ulrich loved his parents," Jeremie whispered to Odd.

"I thought he did too," Odd replied, "I know he loves his mom, and always tried to impress his dad with his soccer abilities, since he couldn't do with is grades. I had always thought he was trying to earn his respect. Now I'm not so sure."

"Yet another problem to ponder," Jeremie said.

Mr. Ishiyama then called for everybody's attention.

"Thank you all for coming," he began, "from what my wife tells me, there will be a car from the Embassy arriving here soon to take the children to the Ball."

Jeremie, Odd and Ulrich were surprised by that news.

"Surprise number two," said Jeremie's father.

"Three," said Ulrich.

"Since everyone is here to see the ladies, we will not keep you waiting anymore," Mr. Ishiyama said, "Yumi! It's time!"

A door opened upstairs, and there was movement. Then, a figure appeared at the top of the stairs. It was Yumi.

She was wearing the formal kimono she got in Japan last summer. It started out as a very light blue, almost turquoise in color, and darkened to almost blue-black at her shoulders. In the darker parts of the kimono, small golden stitches had been added to make the pattern look like the evening sky. The obi she wore around her waist was green, and made her look like she was the picture of a lake shore in the evening.

Ulrich smiled as she came down the steps, his troubles erased for the moment, remembering another time when she wore a kimono for him. The smile diminished some when he saw the fans in her sash. Yumi had showed them to Ulrich soon after she received them, and knew they weren't ordinary fans, but tessen fans. The ribs weren't made of wood, but iron. He was surprised she would even consider taking them this evening, and nervous at why she thought it was a good idea.

A few seconds after Yumi came downstairs, another figure appeared at the top of the steps. It was Sissi.

She was dressed in a black, strapless, gown that perfectly defined her figure. Though she was young, the dress clearly indicated that the beautiful woman was encased within was only a short time away from being fully matured.

Tonight, she wasn't wearing a headband in her hair. Her hair flowed down onto her shoulders, perfectly framing her face. Around her neck were pearls; her father gave them to her especially for this evening. They had once adorned her mother.

Odd's brain was vapor-locked by the very sight of Sissi. She walked up to him, a smile on her face that said 'mission accomplished,' and gave him a small kiss on the cheek to snap him back to reality. Both Jeremie and Ulrich were stunned by what they saw. It was like this was the first time they had ever seen Sissi Delmas.

Then Aelita appeared at the top of the steps.

She too was wearing a gown that displayed the potential woman soon to arrive. The dress was pearlescent white, with pink undertones. The dress didn't even look like it was made of cloth, it looked more like it had been somehow been made from mother-of-pearl and poured over Aelita, perfectly conforming to her. It had a halter collar, and when she turned, you saw that the back plunged down to just above her hips. She wore a small pendant with a pink topaz hanging from the chain, something Jeremie only saw his mother wear once, and that was in a wedding photograph of her and his father.

He was mesmerized by her as she walked down the steps. She told him her dress would knock his eyeballs out, and she was right. She was an angel after all, come down from heaven for him. His father had to give Jeremie a shake to snap him out of her spell.

"Yet another surprise," he said.

Then all of the picture taking started. First the couples separately, then together, then with their parents...

Finally came the knock at the door. Mr. Ishiyama answered it.

"I'm the driver from the Embassy. I've come to pick up a party of six."

The kids hustled to get their things, and Jeremie's parents and Ulrich's parents made their preparations to leave. There was more picture taking as the group was loaded into the limousine, shouts of 'have a good time,' and they were gone.

In the car, Jeremie asked, "Ulrich, what's up with your dad?"

"Nothing," Ulrich replied, "I was just surprised to see him, that's all."

"Are you going to be okay?" Yumi asked him, a worried look on her face.

"Sure. Say, are you okay? Why the fans?"

"I had a dream last night," she replied, "XANA has escaped."

The driver interrupted their conversation, "we've arrived, Ladies and Gentlemen."