Sorry for the long wait but I have been near a breakdown! Due to some unfortunate events *cough* my brother *cough* all of my stories except for 'Just A Dream' and 'Memories' were deleted. Thank god I managed to save 'Memories' otherwise I would have had a breakdown. I am really sorry to anyone who read/reviewed the stories that have been deleted but I am not going to post them again, instead I am going to focus all of my attention on this story... and making sure my computer is always password protected when I leave my room!

Disclaimer: All I own is the storyline and three stories that I will never see again!

"He... he raped me."

Ulrich froze. Yumi held onto him tighter

Ulrich felt like he was dreaming. His mind became hazy, his body dizzy. He did what? No. How could anyone do that to her? What kind of sick person does that to their step daughter?

Hearing Yumi cries, Ulrich was pulled out of thoughts. Looking down at the shaking girl, he gently ran his fingers through her soft, black hair, trying to give her comfort.

"Yumi?" He whispered, knowing he had to know more to truly help her. "Yumi, please look at me?"

When no response came, Ulrich placed two fingers under her chin and slowly lifted her head, their eyes locking. Yumi shook her head, silent tears falling. "Please don't make me."

Ulrich felt his heart break at her pain-filled voice. Sighing deeply, he wrapped his arms tighter around her thin body, letting her wrap her own around him, burying her head into his strong chest. Inhaling his sent, Yumi felt her body relax. Scared of her body's response but letting herself go along with it, Yumi thought about what she had just done. She had told him, not everything, but enough for now. Why did she do it? Because the fact that he would never have a relationship with her, was more frightening than telling him the truth. What did that mean? That answer, Yumi did not know.

"Okay, Yumes."

Yumi lifted her head from his chest, staring into his worried eyes. "Yumes?"

Ulrich raised his hand and brushed back a few stray hairs on Yumi's cheek, pushing them back behind her ear. He smiled softly, "Yeah. Yumes." he stated, causing a small smile from Yumi. Hating to break the moment, Ulrich opened his mouth to speak again. "Yumes... I'm so sorry."

Yumi frowned at him, "Why are you sorry?"

"Because..." Ulrich looked down at his trainers, "Because I wouldn't to know the truth- to know why you acted the why you do. But know I feel so... Yumi, if I had known what happened to you, then I wouldn't have pushed you. What happened was... terrible, horrible, sick! I'm so sorry."

It was Yumi's turn to lift his head, "Ulrich, you have nothing to be sorry for, you didn't know."

"Still I-"

Yumi cut him off, "No, Ulrich..." she suddenly tensed up, removing her body away from his, "I shouldn't have told you. God, you think I'm dirty, sick."

Ulrich's eyes widened in disbelief, "What? No! Of course I don't Yumi!" He reached out to take her hands again, but Yumi stood up, out of his reach.

"You said it yourself. What happened to me was sick! That means I'm sick!"

Ulrich saw her on the brink of more tears. Standing up and embracing her before she had chance to move away, he rested his head on hers as she clung onto his shirt, her tears slowly wetting it. "No it doesn't, Yumi. You are not sick, he is. It wasn't you fault, it wasn't a choice."

"But I let him. I didn't fight back, I just let him do it." she said through her tears.

"You were eleven." Ulrich fought back, determined to win this 'battle'.

"I still let him do it to me and the times after that."

Times after that? The urge to kill the man became even stronger for Ulrich.

Grasping her shoulders and pushing her back, keeping her at arms length, Ulrich stared deeply at her. "Listen to me Yumi. Listen to me." Yumi looked at him. "It wasn't your fault. It happened to you. You didn't make it happen. He is sick, not you. Okay?"

Yumi nodded slowly, reaching her arms out to him, wanting his warm, comforting embrace again. Ulrich blinked once before wrapping her tightly in his arms once again, loving the feeling of having her in his arms.

They stood like that, Yumi crying whilst Ulrich comforted her.

But both teenagers were oblivious to the figure stood watching them.

I know it's short but I also added a cliff hanger! So, who is the stranger? Are they a threat? Or just someone who likes seeing teenagers hug? To be honest, I don't know which one I would be more scared of!