Unleashing Valor
By: Tellemicus Sundance
A Leap of Faith
In her room, Yumi watched the recording of the fights in the Royal Knights' Temple. She had watched the video so many times in the past few days that she had it memorized. It had become an obsession to her to find the identity of the warrior. She'd followed up on every possible clue that the video had to offer.
She'd searched the Internet for hours for recent katana sales. During that search she looked for the particular hilt design and color of the sword. Then she searched for a fighting style that matched the boy's, particularly his strange hand movements. And finally, she searched for any further news of that individual appearing again. Aside from the little bit of information Odd was able to give her of his rescuer, all her searches proved fruitless. Now she left with only the video to search for answers or clues that weren't forthcoming.
The harsh ringing of her phone pulled Yumi out of her reverie. Pausing the video, she answered it. The caller ID had the phrase Unknown illuminated brightly.
"Hello?"
"Yumi?" asked a deep voice.
"Yes?" she said as suspicions flew through her head.
"Stop trying to learn who I am," the voice said darkly.
A shadow appeared on her floor. Turning, Yumi saw the boy that she'd been searching for. He was dressed in the same outfit as before and held a black phone to his ear.
"Who are you?" Yumi demanded. "What do you want from me?"
The boy didn't respond immediately. But when he did, his voice wasn't as deep and but was noticeably subdued. Barely above a whisper, he said, "I'm not of any importance to you."
Suddenly he dropped out her sight. As she rushed to her window and opened it, there came a click on her phone. Peering through her window, Yumi spotted the boy. He was sprinting for the empty street.
Yumi threw herself out of the window without hesitation. Landing lightly on the ground, she ran after him. He glanced behind him and spotted her chasing him. He sprinted for the narrow gap between to homes with Yumi hot on his heels.
She couldn't help but to grin. He was running straight for a high fence that he couldn't have time to climb. She was too close for him to try. She had him cornered! With this in mind, she began to slow slightly.
Therefore it came as a surprise when he leapt to the side of the house, pushed off, and sailed over the fence with ease. For a moment, she stared in shock. Then a memory flashed through her mind: him running along the walls of the theater hallway.
Suppressing a groan of frustration, she redoubled her speed. As she neared the fence, she contemplated how to cross it. Climbing would take too long and she refused to go around the house. That left only one-way: his way.
He had slowed to a walk. His heart was racing slightly from the adrenaline of having her chasing him. It was lucky for him that he was so acrobatic. Under his mask, he grinned foolishly. That little chase had actually been a little fun.
Just as he was about to pull his mask off, he heard a grunt from the fence and the sound of feet landing heavily. He spared a glance and was surprised to see Yumi had jumped the fence. Her eyes blazed at him with fierce determination.
That was why he respected her. That determination.
Sprinting again, he glimpsed a nearby bridge. Grinning slightly he headed for it. Behind him he could hear her panting slightly as she gave chase. Though she was determined didn't mean that her body was ready for this level of exertion.
The two of them ran past the buildings and people on the sidewalk. They ignored their stares and concentrated on running. Then he did something truly reckless.
He ran across an intersection that was busy. Hoping back slightly, he narrowly missed a passing semi truck. Lunging under the trailer, he crossed over into the path of an approaching car.
Leaping as high as he could, he pulled his arms up and arched his head and back upwards. The car passed under him, just barely missing him. Landing in a crouch, he pushed it into a roll. On his feet in an instant, he ran for the railing of the bridge.
Behind him, he'd caused the traffic to come to a screeching halt. Seeing her chance, Yumi dashed across. She was able to cross without an incident thankfully.
Seeing her approaching, the boy stopped and climbed onto the bridge railing. Yumi watched him curiously. Would he do what she was thinking he'd do?
She slowed to jog as she was almost on top of him. He didn't move, save to put his hands into a position that she'd seen him do in the theater; thumb, index, and middle fingers joined and the other two curled.
"I told you to stop," he said carefully. "You'll only delay what needs to be done."
"What's that?" she demanded.
He didn't answer.
"Who are you!"
"No one of any importance." With that said, he leaned back and fell from the bridge. Yumi gasped and ran for the railing. Peering over, she watched as he flipped over and he crashed into the river below, feet first.
"BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Pausing only to gasp for air, Odd resumed his preposterous laughter. His howling left him panting and he had to force his eyes closed to hold back tears of mirth. Just when he thought that he'd gotten back under control, he'd peeked out at the sight before him and resumed his howling. He was laughing so hard that he was doubled over on the ground.
"It's not funny," Ulrich growled as he tried to wipe the already smeared mud and water from his face.
"Oh! Yes it is!" Odd gasped out. He grasped his aching chest, kicking the floor in an attempt vent his pent-up humor. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes it is!"
Ulrich was covered from head to toe in mud and water. Though he was able to get most of the mud off, it still was smeared into his clothes and hair. The water also had his clothes clinging to him like a second skin.
Grunting slightly, he ignored his howling friend. Gathering a fresh bundle of clothes from his drawer, he left to wash himself of the grime. Odd was still howling five minutes later when he heard his phone ringing.
Forcing himself up, he grasped his phone from his bed. As he answered, Kiwi leapt up to his lap.
"Hello?" he gasped out, petting Kiwi.
"Odd?" It sounded like Yumi. "Is Ulrich there?"
"Kind of," he fought to control a fresh wave of giggles. "He just got back and is taking a shower… Why? Do you wanna join him?"
"NO!" was her instantaneous answer.
"Sure," he said grinning.
"What's so funny?" Yumi demanded.
"Oh…nothing," he said with as much offhandedness as he could muster. "Except for the fact that Ulrich is covered in mud!"
"What?" Yumi asked surprised. "What are you talking about? How did that happen?"
"He says a driver sideswiped him while he was walking back here," Odd broke out in fresh laughter.
"Really?" There was something in her voice that caused Odd to stop his giggling. "And he just got back?"
"Yeah," Odd said, unsteadily. "Why? Is something wrong?"
There was a small pause before she answered. "I think so… Have you noticed him doing anything strange lately?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know!" she snapped. "You tell me!"
Odd thought briefly. Aside from that incident with Clayton and Aelita in the cafeteria, he couldn't think of anything in particular that could be deemed as strange. "I don't know… Is there something you need?"
"No," she answered. "I was calling to check up on you guys."
"You saw me today in school," he pointed out with a grin.
"You know what I mean," she growled, exasperated with him.
"Yeah, yeah." Outside he could hear Ulrich approaching the room. "Listen, I need to go. I'll tell you if I notice anything. Okay?"
"Okay."
"See ya!"
"Bye."
He was with Odd as dusk's last light was fading from the walls of their dorm room. Ulrich was at his desk while Odd lying on his back, playing his gameboy and petting Kiwi absentmindedly.
Ulrich was hunched over a notebook trying to study for science. At least that's what he was pretending to be doing. Partially hidden under his textbook was an old photograph of Yumi.
Then Odd's phone rang next to Ulrich and sent Kiwi into a string of barks. Looking up at Ulrich, Odd paused his game and waited. Rolling his eyes slightly, Ulrich tossed the phone to his friend.
"Hello?" Odd said. "…Who? …Oh, yeah he's here."
This caught Ulrich's attention. Watching Odd, he waited patiently for him to finish. Odd grew oddly serious as he listened to whoever called. Then a grin spread on his face abruptly.
"Yeah, sure!" Odd said with laughter. "As if that would ever happen! Oh! And how did you get my cell phone number anyway, Sissi?"
Odd flinched and jerked his phone from his ear. A stream of loud curses and screams erupted form the phone before Odd could hang up. Odd had a triumphant smile on his face as he stuffed his phone into his pocket.
"Guess I struck a nerve," Odd said as he returned to his game.
Nodding, Ulrich returned to his picture. This was the only way he could admire her anymore, he realized. Her face caused that horrible knot in his stomach to tighten again.
Then that terrible memory of Yumi kissing William made itself known. The knot tightened its grip dramatically. Though it wasn't physically painful, it was excruciating for his heart and soul.
Crickets sang loudly in the moonlight. The cloudless night allowed the full moon's light to flood into the room unhindered. The window was slightly ajar and a warm breeze seeped in. All was calm, quiet, and natural.
Then Odd's phone rang from his dresser. Kiwi, sleeping on the pillow with his master, woke and began barking loudly. Groaning but awake, Odd climbed out his bed and quickly answered his phone.
"Hello?"
"Ivan?" asked a feminine voice huskily. "Could you come over? I've got a very special treat for you."
Odd's face burned hotly for a moment. Then a devilish smile crept up his face. "Sure," he said. "I'd love to except one minor detail…"
"What's that, Honey?"
"My name isn't Ivan," Odd said. Picking up Kiwi, he continued speaking. "He's around here somewhere, though. Hang on a moment… Ah, here he is."
Holding the phone to Kiwi, he let the little dog sniff it. When the woman began speaking, Kiwi began barking fiercely. Taking the phone back to his ear, Odd said, "I think he said he'll be right over."
"You immature, little son of a bitch!" screamed the woman. "If I ever get my hands on you—"
"Maybe you should pay more attention to who you're calling," Odd snapped and hung up.
Putting his phone back on the dresser, he glanced over at Ulrich. But he was gone. The bed was clearly illuminated in the moonlight and the sheets were thrown back. Doubling back, Odd took his phone and dialed Yumi's number.
"Hello?" asked a sleepy voice.
"Hey, Yumi," Odd said. "Remember you wanted me to tell you if Ulrich did anything strange?"
"Yeah," she said, sounding more awake.
"Well, does disappearing in the middle of the night count as strange?"
"Yes," she said wide-awake. "Yes, it does. Thanks, Odd. You should get back to sleep."
Yawning, Odd didn't bother fighting. As soon as he had lain back down, he was asleep. In his dreams was a young woman screaming at him as he barked like dog and juggled phones.
Yumi crept as silently as she could out of the front door. Running to the street, she stopped and hid in the shadows. Sure that no one was following, Yumi walked to the factory.
Knowing Jeremy, she thought, he'll still be there. The repairs were nearly finished and Jeremy had spent little to no time outside of the factory. He ate, slept, and worked there. The others had to bring him his meals and would take turns spending time and helping him. Tonight was her turn, even though it should've been Ulrich's.
Ulrich…
She forcefully shoved his face from her mind. She didn't want to think about him. Had this been a week earlier, it would've been incredibly easy to do that. But not anymore. Since he'd returned, Yumi, despite her misgivings, had noticed there was an aura of sadness and pain about him. Like he'd seen something only a few days ago that was tearing him up. Like he'd knowingly and willingly done something so terrible that it had shaken him to his soul.
He seemed even more mysterious then before.
Then her thoughts turned to William. That kiss on the bus had been her first. William had told her that she was free to do what she wanted. Ulrich wasn't the one she loved anymore; it was William. It was then that she'd decided to show them both whom she cared for. Though she hadn't seen his, Yumi felt that she could've guessed what his expression was with a reasonable degree of confidence.
Ulrich's face once again rose into her mind as memories flashed through her mind, old and new. Even though her mind wanted to forget him, her heart had different ideas. She relived again those moment in Lyoko when he saved her. Then she remembered his reaction when they were in the ambulance. He seemed dead-set against telling her anything.
She was still mad at him for disappearing. Back when he'd first disappeared before the dance, she had been hurt. She'd been really looking forward to dancing with him. Then he up and disappears. It seemed logical to her at the time that he was just blowing her off. To take her mind off of him, she danced with William instead of him. It was that night that they'd gotten together.
Then when Ulrich returns, he expects everything to be the same way as before? Having exhausted her frustration with him, Yumi was once again forced to ask the question that had gone through her mind at his disappearance.
Why?
Bumping into something Yumi recoiled. Getting her bearings, she realized that she was standing at the entrance to the factory. As she entered the clash of steel on steel and the sound of running footsteps and screaming could be heard.
(A/N) Whew! That was a long chapter! I was even tempted to split it in two. But, then again, it seems fine as it is now. Forgive me if Ulrich and Yumi were once again OOC during the ambulance ride. I just wasn't thinking too clearly at the time and I was rushing it to satisfy you guys at the time.
So, here comes one of my more favorite chapters from TWL. I'm sure many of you know what's suppose to happen on the other side of the door. But here's a question for you…
Will it?
Next time: Dancing on a Knife's Edge