Warning: Rated for subject matter.

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.


The door quietly opened, and the pink haired girl walked in. It had been a long night, longer than she had expected it to be. But she had to admit, it was fun, dancing literally on air.

Aelita Hopper looked around the room. Her roommate, Sissi Delmas, was asleep in her bed. From what the she could determine, she and her boyfriend had a wonderful time together her last night.

And, who is that sleeping in my bed? Aelita wondered.

She took a closer look and saw that the person was female, not male. Upon closer inspection, Aelita saw that it was Yumi Ishiyama.

Well, I guess I'm not going to get sleep in my own bed today.

She sat down in her desk chair. She thought a moment, then rummaged around in her pockets, until she found what she was looking for. She pulled out the foil wrapped packet and regarded it a moment, thinking back to when Yumi gave it to her on Thursday.

Take this, Yumi told the girl, that way, if you and Jeremie think it's right, you'll be ready.

Yumi was referring to her and her boyfriend, Jeremie Belpois, making love that evening, after the Autumn Harvest Dance. The packet contained a condom.

I wish it would have happened tonight, Aelita thought to herself, and one day it will. I'll just keep it until then. My Sister has been such a help to me.

As Aelita settled back in her chair, she remembered another time when Yumi, her Sister, had helped her...


Six months earlier, Aelita had been visiting Yumi's house. XANA hadn't escaped yet, and it was quiet that day. The girls were going out together for a little relaxation. Yumi's mom was downstairs, resting from her work day, before she went and started dinner preparations.

Yumi was just starting to change clothes, and Aelita excused herself to go to the bathroom. The teenager had just put on a fresh shirt when she heard a scream come from somewhere in the house.

Yumi ran out of her room, just as her mother bolted up the stairs. The sound had come from the bathroom; Aelita was in trouble.

Yumi got to the door and tried opening it, but it was locked.

"Mom, where's the key!" Yumi shouted. Her mother went into her bedroom and came back seconds later with a screwdriver. Aelita was now crying uncontrollably inside as Mrs. Ishiyama stuck the blade of the screwdriver into the round hole of the doorknob, twisted and turned it a bit, then unlocked the door. She threw the door open.

Aelita was there, in front of the toilet, standing bolt upright and rigid, her face as white as a sheet.

"Aelita, what's wrong?" Yumi's mother asked.

"I... I... I'm... Bleeding!" was the anguished reply.

Yumi looked at her friend. There was a thin line of red running down the inside of her legs. Her underwear was stained red.

"What's wrong, dear? Forget your pads?" Yumi's mother asked.

Yumi's eyes got wide in realization.

"Mother," she said in Japanese, "I think this is Aelita's first time."

"Surely they have studied this in Health Class," her mother replied, also in Japanese.

"No, Sex Ed doesn't start for a month yet in her grade."

"What about her last school, or her mother for that matter?"

"Mom, Aelita's mother is dead. And remember how I reacted my first time," Yumi said.

Mrs. Ishiyama thought for a moment. Aelita looked at the two women, speaking in a language she couldn't understand, thinking her life was about to end.

"Daughter," the adult said after a moment, "help your Sister."

"Yes, Mother," Yumi replied.

Yumi walked over to Aelita and started to calm her. She told her new Sister that everything was okay, that she wasn't going to die. She helped Aelita out of her clothes and ran a bath for her. Yumi took a washcloth and cleaned Aelita off, then settled her in the tub. She then took the soiled clothing and left.

A few minutes later, Yumi returned. Aelita had relaxed a little in the warm water, and her fear from earlier had subsided. Yumi brought a pair of her underwear, a robe, and some things that Aelita had never seen before.

Yumi rinsed and dried Aelita off, then showed her how to use the pads she brought with her, explaining their purpose. She then put the robe on Aelita and the girls went downstairs.

Yumi's mother was waiting in the kitchen for them. While the teenagers were upstairs, she had prepared tea for them. Yumi seated Aelita at the table, then sat next to her. Mrs. Ishiyama poured them tea.

"Today is a milestone for you, Daughter," Mrs. Ishiyama said to Aelita, "today, you are no longer a Girl, but a Woman."

Aelita looked at Yumi's mother, not understanding.

"Today is the beginning of your first menstrual period. Your body has started releasing eggs into your womb. When those eggs haven't been fertilized, they are flushed out. That is the blood you saw today. There is nothing wrong, you haven't been injured. This is a natural part of Life, as much as eating and drinking."

"I still don't understand," Aelita said.

"Do you not know where babies come from? They come from us. We are the Engines of Creation, the ones who allow humankind to continue. A man gives us a small part of himself, and we take that part and create a new person. When that doesn't happen, we reset ourselves for the next opportunity."

"Today is the first time you have reset yourself. This will go on for a few days, then stop. Then, around twenty-eight days later, it will happen again. And this cycle will continue for most of your adult life. The only time it will not happen is when you are too old to bear children, or you have a child growing within you."

Yumi sat and listened to her mother. She told Yumi almost the exact same thing when her first period came upon her. And now she was helping her friend, her Sister.

The women sat and drank their tea. Soon, there was a knock at the door. Mrs. Ishiyama went to answer it, and returned with Yolande Perraudin, the school nurse. Yumi's mother explained that she called the nurse while Aelita was in the bath, and then explained the situation to the nurse. Yolande helped Yumi's mother explain the Facts Of Life to Aelita. It was also decided that Aelita should visit a gynecologist to be examined.

When Aelita went for her appointment, both Yumi, her mother and Yolande went with the girl, and stayed with her through the entire examination. The doctor said that Aelita was in perfect health, and reinforced what the other women had told her earlier.


Aelita sat and looked at her friend, her Sister, sleeping there. She softly stroked the girl's hair.

I hope one day I can return the kindness and love you and your family has shown me.