Chapter 1 - A Stranger

A/N - Hey, I got the idea for this story last night, and didn't finish writing the chapter until today.

Enjoy and (please) review!

DISCLAIMER - Me no own Code Lyoko kay-o?

"Gloomy Yumi, Gloomy Yumi!"

'Make it stop, please make it stop.'

"Gloomy Yumi, Gloomy Yumi!" No, it was another day of hell for Yumi Ishiyama.

"Pfft, look at her - what a freak." one jeered.

"Yeah, stupid Emo-girl!" another laughed.

'Why do they do this? What did I do?' Yumi thought as she threw the rest of her lunch in the bin and ran away from the teasing crowd.

Yumi Ishiyama, as you may have noticed, was not the most popular of people in her school. She suffered major taunting, and teasing for most of her life, and because she had natural black hair and dark clothes, people called her am Emo, and occasionally a Goth.

Yumi had never had a real friend. Everyone was too cool for that, so she was quite used to being alone.

Going to her usual spot on the stairs to sit and mope, she found that today, things weren't going too smoothly.

"Look - Little Emo-kid is trying to escape us!"

Yumi almost cried - it was Sissi Delmas, the Principal's daughter, and the biggest plastic in school, "Gloomy Yumi's all alone - no surprise there!"

The crowd chuckled and began their cries again, "Freak girl" seemed to be a popular one today, and "Goth bitch" another.

Yumi sank against the wall allowing the comments to wash over her, trying to forget.

"Hey! Leave her alone! What the Hell do you guys think you're doing huh? Piss off all of you!"

Yumi looked up at the unrecognised voice that had spurred her from her thoughts.

A boy with shaggy, chocolate brown hair and green eyes was pushing the crowd back. Although appearing younger than most, he was much more muscular and seemed more confident in his actions, "Back the fuck off guys. Now."

Noticing the seriousness in his voice, the crowd decided it was better not to mess with this guy. Once everyone had gone away, he sat down next to Yumi, "hey, you shouldn't let them push you around like that."

Yumi found herself smiling slightly for the first time in a while, "Thanks...I guess."

"No problem - I'm Ulrich by the way, just transferred here." he held out a hand.

She shook it reluctantly, "I'm Yumi." This was getting too close for her liking - why did this boy want to speak to her? "Why did you help me? They'll just get you too next time. It was stupid of you." she pushed him away.

"I was...I was just trying to help!" He growled.

Yumi felt bad at snapping at him, "Yeah, well now we're in it together." Yumi sighed sadly.

"Nope, because my best friend goes here." Ulrich smiled.

"Yeah, and who would that be?"

"Odd Della Robia." Ulrich said.

Yumi gaped at him, "Odd Della Robia, as in, the most popular guy in school?"

"Yeah...that would be him." He nodded and gestured a hand to pull her up.

She took it, though he pulled too hard an they accidentally ended up with him against the wall and her pressed against him.

"Sorry." she blushed slightly and stepped back, 'He's kinda hot.'

"it's cool." he tinged pink too, 'Woah, she's cute.' "c'mon, I'll introduce you to him."

"um...okay then." Yumi followed the unusual boy reluctantly to what she hoped would be some form of light in her otherwise dark world.

A/N - Well, you might have guessed this will be good. yup! Anyway, I think I migth put Argent in, but only if you guys want me to!

Please review if you want! Arigato gozai-masu (thank you very much)!

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