Hey everybody. I bet your wondering why this chapter is so late right now. Well, it goes like this. Work is a bitch, easy said right? Right! So, I've finally found time to get this new chapter off the ground, and here I am now. So, last time I left you all hanging, it was when XANA possessed Jeremie and later, slept with Yumi, Urlich's wife. What does XANA have to gain through this? Let's find out shall we? Be sure for this one to get a song called Within Me by Lacuna Coil for one segment in this story.
Chapter 9: A Flicker at the End of the Tunnel
Jeremie's eye's opened to find Urlich with a heavy looking bat above his head. His better judgement told him to roll out of the way, but a body was blocking him. He looked over to find Yumi's, sheet covered body, to be the thing blocking his roll. He looked in her eyes. All he saw was fear, anger, and confusion. "Jeremie, what have you done to my wife, you bustard," yelled Urlich, anger was the only thing that escaped his face, his body.
"What are you talking about? I haven't done anything to Yumi," said Jeremie, confused and scared as he ever was in his life. Urlich was about to swing the bat onto Jeremie's head, with all the force of a thousand suns, before Yumi put herself in his way. "Urlich, stop!" yelled Yumi, putting her hand in the way.
It was at that point, Jeremie found he was naked, then it the pieces started to connect. "I-I don't know what happened-or how it happ- wait," said Jeremie, remembering the night before. "I don't at all think your going to believe me- in fact, I would understand if you don't believe me at all- but something happened at the factory that had to deal with a tower being activated. Then, XANA's ghost toke over me, and then I find myself here."
"I can't believe it, Jeremie," yelled Urlich. "Your using XANA, a computer bug, that's trapped in some damn, little box we call Lyoko, and your blaming him for something you, you and your body did, Jeremie. Now, you raped Yumi, my wife, and said you did against your will. Look, I admit, I was hammered last night, and you could have been at the bar after we left it; but that's not the case.
"You have more control over how much you drink more than me and Odd; but, you don't see us raping Aelita, only to blame XANA when you show up the next morning you little son of a bitch!"
----------------------------------------Downstairs----------------------------------------
Aelita never did see Jeremie last night after she went to bed. She was making breakfast for the four of them, her mind constantly wandering over to why she was so angry last night. Maybe it was the alcohol I drank that made me so irritable last night. Maybe I just worry about Jeremie to much and miss him when he stays in front of computers, instead of just talking to me about–. Her thoughts were cut off by a loud crash in Yumi and Urlich's room. She quickly ran up the stairs as fast as her feet could take her. She came to Yumi and Urlich's room and heard Urlich roaring, as if he were practicing with his kendo stick, Yumi yelling, 'stop,' 'don't hurt him,' and 'we can work this out Urlich,' and Jeremie yelling as if he were being chased by a monster. Aelita quickly grabbed the door knob, turned it just as quickly and found what she heard. She saw Yumi on the bed, covering herself with the bed's sheets, a naked Jeremie running from a rampaging Urlich swinging a bat, destroying everything that was remotely close to Jeremie.
"Urlich, what are you doing," asked Aelita, running in the room, trying to grab the bat before he destroyed everything in the room.
Urlich turned to Aelita, still fuming. "Aelita, do you know where Jeremie was last night," Urlich asked to Aelita. "Urlich, don't tell her," yelled Jeremie, "Aelita, don't listen to him." Aelita was confused, but answered with only what she knew. "He was at the lab, but he made it home, as I can see."
"Do you have any idea what he's done to Yumi," demanded Urlich. "STOP URLICH! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO HER," yelled Jeremie, tears forming in his eyes. "He was sleeping with Yumi, you do understand don't you," Urlich said to Aelita.
Yumi was hiding her tears at the mentioning of what had happened last night. Could this be my fault? I did come onto him, but he still could have said no. What's going on.
Aeltia was mortified, she just stood there, then looked to Jeremie, walked over to him, then with a scream, slapped him hard. She then started to sob, and fell to the floor on her knees. Jeremie slowly pulled a comforting hand, to place around her shoulders; but her arms pushed them away as she yelled, "Don't touch me." She then stood up quickly and ran out the door, slamming it on the way out.
Jeremie could only kneel there, cradling himself; this question repeating in his mind, What have I done? Dear God, if your there, what have I done to deserve this?
------------------------Kadic principle sleeping quarters-----------------------------------
"You know babe, I don't feel so great right now," said Odd, rubbing his forehead.
"I wonder why Odd ... could it be that you drank more than what anyone was supposed to in one night," asked Sissy, dressing in casual attire. "That's ... that's true," said Odd, weakly smiling and getting some ice.
"It still makes me sort of angry that Jeremie never did show up at the bar, I wonder if he's still there," asked Sissy. "If you ask me, I bet he was trying to get to know the new enemy, if you catch my drift," stated Odd, pulling on his jeans.
The couple was getting dressed, admiring each other's silence; when suddenly, there was a pounding on the door, like one of the younger students wanting Sissy's help with something. "I'll get it," yelled Odd, getting his shirt on while running to the door. Another banging on the door, "I'll be right there," yelled Odd, running as fast as he could. Odd had his shirt over his eyes, expecting the trip to be short and painless; but, to much his avail, his feet had other ideas. He tripped over his own foot, his chin landing with a loud thud. "OW, GODDAMN IT," yelled Odd, slipping on his shirt down his neck and pushing himself up.
"You ok, Odd," asked Sissy, peeping around the corner. "I'll be better if I can reach the door without another spill like that," yelled Odd, rubbing his chin and grabbing the door knob.
Odd opened the door, to have someone being flung to his chest, arms wrapping around his back. He felt tears on his chest. He looked down and found Aelita crying her eyes out. "Odd, sob oh Odd, help me," cried Aelita. Comforting her as much as he could, he embraced her slowly, making her feel as comfortable as possible.
"Aelita, what's wrong," asked Odd, softly. "Oh Odd, I need to sit down," sobbed Aelita. Odd offered her a seat in the living space, and gave her a cup of tea, and sat her down.
"Thank you Odd," Aelita, a bit more calmed down. Odd had Aelita calmed down, now he had to figure out what was wrong; so, he asked, "Now, tell me what's wro-."
Sissy interrupted, "Odd, do you know where my emerald ... Aelita, what are you doing here?" Aelita was just opening her mouth, before Odd snapped back, "If you be quiet for a sec, she'll tell you."
Aelita stared down at her tea, opening her mouth, "It all started this morning..."
------------------------a few minutes, after the long story----------------------------------------
Odd and Sissy were shocked, this had to not be true. "How could that happen," asked Sissy. "Apparently, despite all my thinking, it can happen to a drunk Jeremie," answered Aelita.
Odd just sat in his chair, his hand covering his mouth, as if trying to figure a difficult math problem. "Did he say anything in his defense," asked Odd. Aelita stared at Odd, in sheer disbelief, how dare he try and side with Jeremie. But she answered, the only answer she knew. "Of course, he said XANA made him do it, but no one, not even Yumi can believe it."
Odd then stood up, and started to pace around the room, his hand still at his mouth. "You have any ideas Odd, you've been in the 'beat XANA's ass' group longer than I have. You think it really was XANA," asked Sissy. "I'm curious, it could happen. But, let's think. Jeremie could have come home hammered out of his mind, but I highly doubt that. Reason being, is simply because, he has more control over what he drinks, and to what extent he drinks it. Reason two, he could have made a mistake at which room to go in, but that is impossible. I know we've seen Jeremie goof up, but this idea is impossible when it comes to his own house, don't you think?
"Reason three, he could have had feelings for Yumi along time ago, and had to calm those emotions with the only way he knew how. Once again, that's impossible; simply because, ever since those two met, they've been like brother and sister, and I highly doubt they would have intimate feelings for each other," everyone was nodding at that idea. "Or ... he could have indeed been possessed by XANA, and then XANA made him sleep with Yumi; only question to that solution is, why the hell would he do that." Aelita and Sissy were silent, thinking about why XANA would ever do something like that, till an idea ran through Aelita's head and she loudly said, "to break us up." Odd nodded, "I wouldn't be surprised if it would happen again, but to someone else in the group. We haven't been to Lyoko in a long time; so, our immunity to his ghost could have be gone. But remember, this is completely conjecture, the only way we can figure that out is ... Aelita, you know this one."
She knew what he was talking about, she and the group had to go to Carthage, the resting place of XANA himself, and find the file about his latest possession, to prove Odd's hypothesis. "Yeah, thank you Odd," said Aelita. Odd went over to Sissy, put on arm on her shoulder, and smiled, "glad to help you cool off."
"Odd, can you drive me over to my house, I sorta ran all the way here, and I don't think I can do that again," said Aelita, Odd chuckled and Sissy smiled, "of course."
----------------------Hermitage: Jeremie and Aelita's room--------------------------------
(Time for Within Me by Lacuna Coil)
Jeremie was grabbing some clothes and throwing them in a suitcase, weeping as he did so. He rummaged through his dresser drawers grabbing everything his. As he worked his way to the top drawer, he found a framed picture of him and Aelita at the Kadic senior prom, Aelita in a white dress, with loose sleeves and sparkling shoes; Jeremie in a dark tux; both smiling as they were holding hands with Odd, Urlich, and Yumi next to them.
Jeremie walked back to his bed, eyes glued on to the picture, "why can't life be like what it was, before we all grew up." "Because, this is how life is," said Yumi, standing at the door.
Jeremie looked up, and nodded. He put the picture back on the dresser, and resumed packing all his clothes. Yumi just kept staring on, but had to ask, "do you really have to leave?"
"You know the answer. Urlich hates my guts; Aelita will never love me again; and you ... well, I ruined the close relationship we had. Besides, no one, except you believes me. All I want to do is make Aelita happy, understand," asked Jeremie. "You have the note I wrote for Aelita?"
Yumi pulled a small, folded note from her pocket, and handed it to Jeremie. Jeremie, then put the note under the portrait, and slammed the suitcase shut. He grabbed suitcase handle, and walked past Yumi. "Remember, you don't know where, and when I left," said Jeremie. Yumi nodded, and gave Jeremie a small hug; Jeremie taking in the last moment he would have with Yumi, and returned the hug.
They pulled away, and Jeremie walked to the door downstairs, grabbed his keys to his car. He left the door open, and Yumi walked with him, to watch him go.
Jeremie opened the car door, threw his suitcase in the back seat, jumped in the driver's seat, and closed the door behind him. He waved to Yumi, who returned the wave saying, "Goodbye Jeremie. She'll miss you before it's all over."
WOO, 5 pages of character development, ain't that great? Well, it would seem that XANA's plan to break up the team is starting to work. What's going to happen with Jeremie gone? What is in the note that Jeremie put under the portrait? And what happened to Tie and Heather in this chapter? We'll just have to figure all that later in chapter 10. So, see ya then!
