Warning: Rated for language, some violence and 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.
They drove to the only place where Ulrich's mother felt safe, the Ishiyamas. During the drive, Ulrich called ahead, explained some of what had happened, and asked if they could stay for a while. Takeo, who had answered the phone, said of course.
When they arrived, there were many cars parked in front of the house. When Ulrich knocked at the door, he was greeted by Hiroki, who had a hard look on his face and a wooden practice swordin his hand. He was about to say something harsh when he realized who it was.
"Hey everybody, they're here!"
Hiroki opened the door and let Ulrich and Rachael in. Waiting for them in the family room were Miko and Takeo Ishiyama, Aelita Hopper and her uncle Desmond and aunt Marie, Michael Belpois, his wife and son Jeremie, Odd Della Robbia and his parents, Sissi Delmas and her father Jean-Pierre, the Americans Taylor Thompson and his wife Ann, and their two friends Bill Pyle and Mike Coffy. And finally, just coming down the steps from upstairs, was the greatest graduation gift he could ever receive, Yumi.
"What's this, a reunion?" Ulrich asked, smiling.
"Nope," said Taylor Thompson, "this is Family helping Family. Pleased to meet you again, Mrs. Stern, it's been too long."
Rachael Stern was overwhelmed. When she first saw all the people, she almost bolted from the house, but held on to her son instead. Miko went over to her friend and took her into her arms. She softly pried the woman from Ulrich's arm and led the her to the comfort of the other women.
"You are safe in my house," Miko told Rachael, "no one will harm you here. No one will ever harm you again."
Yumi in the meantime walked over and took Ulrich into her arms.
"Surprise," she told him in a soft voice before losing herself in his embrace.
"Ulrich, Mrs. Ishiyama told me a little of what has been going on here," Desmond Hopper said as Ulrich broke from Yumi's kiss, "and I can assure you, if she chooses to, she can be free of him. I'll see to it."
"Thanks," Ulrich replied, tears in his eyes, "thanks for everything." He pulled Yumi close to him again.
Suddenly, the front door burst open, and in stormed Deiter Stern.
"Where is that traitorous bitch! When I get my hands on her, I'll..."
"You'll what?" That came from Michael Belpois. Mr. Stern stopped and looked at the scene in front of him.
His wife sat at the back of the room, surrounded by other women. The women had stood up when he entered, as he thought all women should, but the look they gave him was not one of respect and subservience, but of anger. The tall red-headed bombshell in particular had a murderous look on her face. Between him and the women were the men. They all had hard looks on their faces, matching his son's. Even the weakest of them, that nerd boy Belpois, looked as if he was ready to rip Deiter in two. And there, in the middle of all of them, stood his traitorous son, wrapped in the arms of that Jap bitch/whore of his. Well, he would show those two how a man should act, he would show them all!
"If you know what's good for you, you will step aside and let me take my wife home," Deiter said, "she isn't feeling very well at the moment, and my fool of a son believed one of her delusions and took her away. Come along now Rachael, you need to come home and take your medicine and rest."
"I'm afraid she won't be joining you," said Jean-Pierre Delmas, "for years I've feared that something was going on with Ulrich's family, and I'm sad to discover today I was right. You'll be taking her from here over my dead body."
"That won't be necessary, Jean-Pierre," said Taylor Thompson, the big American, "ain't nobody dyin' here tonight unless this fool is stupid enough to try something." Then he added with a predator's smile, "And I've got nineteen friends and Diplomatic Immunity to guarantee it."
"Deiter, you wanted me to make a choice earlier," Ulrich told the man, "well, I have. I choose to be one of those that helps others, like my Family has taught me." Yumi smiled as she rested her head on her husband's shoulder.
"You had best leave, Mr. Stern," Miko Ishiyama called from the back, "you may not realize it yet, but your sins are about to catch up with you."
"What do you mean by that, woman?" he sneered.
"She means that we've found some very interesting information out about you," Desmond Hopper said, "it seems you didn't erase your backtrail quite as thoroughly as you thought you did. We found some information linking you with that arms deal your brother-in-law is rotting in jail for."
"Yeah, and I've never had so much fun hacking around looking for it," Jeremie Belpois piped in, "when I found it, I just had to give it to Mr. Hopper."
"And Lemuel Kline's attorney was most appreciative of the gift," said Desmond, "and so was Interpol. And, for some reason, the Chinese were very interested in the information too. Now why would that be?"
Deiter Stern got a look of shock on his face, they knew about the Chinese?
"It's of no concern," he told them, "you may have won this day, but I'll be around. And one day, I'll get you, and I'll get her."
Then Jeremie Belpois said, "you just don't get it, do you? You really think you can intimidate and scare us like you've done with your wife. I don't think you understand, Mr. Stern, when you fight one of us, you're fighting all of us."
Suddenly, it was like blinders fell off Deiter Stern's eyes.
There wasn't just the people in the room standing against him. The room was filled with others, the very Host of Heaven, prepared for battle. Around all of them, and including the woman he once called wife, plaything and slave, was a thin silver chain that nothing could sever. It shone white hot and almost blinded him, barring his way to her. It began around Ulrich's neck, reached out and surrounded everyone else in the room but Deiter, and ended around the neck of Yumi Ishiyama. She stood with him, his wife in all but name, completing him and the circle.
Even with seeing all of this, Deiter Stern still made the last mistake he would ever make with these people. He walked towards his wife, to take her from them. Takeo Ishiyama went to stop him, and Deiter went to push him aside. The next thing he knew, Deiter was flung out of the room, into the hallway.
"You will not touch her!" Takeo roared, "how dare you bring such evil into my home! Have you no manners! No true man treats his wife as you have! Now leave before I throw you out!"
Deiter turned and ran from the house.
The sleeping arrangements for that night were awkward. After making sure that Deiter wasn't coming back any time soon, the others went home, leaving Rachael, Ulrich and the Ishiyamas alone.
Once things had settled down a bit, Ulrich and Takeo left the others and had a long conversation. Yumi never found out what was said, but when they returned, Hiroki was told to sleep in the family room until further notice because Rachael would be sleeping in his room.
"Where does that leave Ulrich, daddy?" Yumi asked.
"With you," he replied, "after hearing about what I have heard, then seeing it with my own eyes, your sleeping with Ulrich is an insignificant thing. Besides," he said with a smile growing on his face, "a husband and wife should not be separated so soon after being reunited, especially if they will have to part again."
Their reunion that night was joyous.
