A Desperate Life
Disclaimer: I don't own Code Lyoko. I also don't own the mentioned song Take on Me by Aha (I didn't post the lyrics).
Chapter 4: A New Start?
It was almost 6 a.m. and Ulrich went to take a shower.
It was a while since he had a real good shower. Water was disconnected at the last apartment they had snuck into.
Ulrich felt the warm water cascade his body and felt at peace. If it weren't for the whorehouse, he would've never met the Ishiyama's and Aelita Hopper.
He wished he could stay and make a better friendship with them, especially with Aelita. But his life was nomadic. Never staying somewhere too long. Never getting attached (this rule was often broken). It was for the best. If he hung around, the whorehouse might catch them all.
There was a careful opening of the door. Ulrich stopped showering and listened.
"It's me," Jeremie said.
Ulrich had already figured it out by Jeremie's footsteps. He wouldn't be able to do this with Aelita and Yumi. He'd need more time. Odd however knew and memorized footsteps immediately.
"What is it?" Ulrich asked.
Jeremie walked up to the curtain and pulled it back slightly.
Ulrich just stared back at him.
"Um," Jeremy said softly, his eyes suddenly downcast.
"What?" Ulrich asked him.
"Are you straight?" Jeremie blurted out.
Ulrich was shocked by the question.
"Of course," Ulrich said incredulously, "why wouldn't I be?"
"No you're not," Jeremie said.
Ulrich's face darkened.
"You can't condemn an entire sexuality Ulrich," Jeremie said to him, "not for what's been done to you."
Do you know what it was like?" Ulrich asked as he now breathed heavily.
"To be kidnapped and hurt all the time, no," Jeremie admitted, but to be tricked and learning your life for years was a lie, yeah," he told Ulrich.
Ulrich looked down at his feet.
"Would it be that bad if you weren't straight Ulrich?" Jeremie asked him honestly.
Ulrich looked away.
"Fine," Jeremie said and closed the curtain.
"I want to be straight you know," Ulrich said suddenly.
Jeremie who was about to turn away stood still and listened.
"I want to be the guy that looks at his best friend Sharon and isn't thinking of bedding her brother Steve," Ulrich said honestly, "I want to be the guy who loves having those posters of hot rockin' chicks on his wall," he said in a hoarse voice, "not the one hiding male porn so no one else will see," he said as his voice broke and he fell to his knees crying, "Oh God," he said tearfully, "I just want to be normal Jeremie."
Jeremie watched unable to say anything.
Suddenly the door was slammed open. This time it was Odd.
"Is there some reason," Odd said angrily, "why I wasn't allowed to follow you here?" he asked Jeremie.
Jeremie was now panicking. Ulrich was having a breakdown and Odd was mad at him.
How can this get worse? Jeremie wondered.
"I thought I told you about the rule," Yumi said coldly from the doorway, "not more than one of you in here at a time," she reminded them.
"Pipe down we're not having a three way in your stupid bathtub," Odd said and dismissively flashed a hand at her.
Yumi's eyes widened at Odd's statement.
The other two male teens were shocked as well.
"I want you two to stop pussy footing around me," Odd told them, "tell me a problem, not a lullaby," he said, "I'm not five, I can take it."
"That's why you're mad?" Jeremie asked completely oblivious.
Odd's face was becoming red as a tomato in anger.
"Hey," Ulrich said suddenly catching his attention, "I understand," he told Odd.
Odd's face was still angry. But he soon calmed down.
"You understand, huh?" Odd asked, "you understand always being treated as the weakest link, the poor poor little boy?" he asked Ulrich.
"Yeah, sorta," Ulrich responded.
"Sorta!" Odd exploded, "you understand sorta?"
"Yeah sorta," Ulrich repeated, "I'm the strong guy, the muscle of the group," he reminded Odd, "I don't have the misfortune or luxury of regularly being the poor poor little boy or some whooped weak link," he told Odd, "but there are times when I feel like that," he admitted, "times you probably would never guess."
"I felt like that when we exited where we first met Yumi," Jeremie revealed surprising everyone, "me the great strategist without a plan," he said in a cracked voice, "I actually worried that we'd be sent back," he said, "whoring our bodies again," he said tearfully and wiped away tears that rolled down his face.
"I won't let them take you," Yumi said suddenly surprising all of them, "I'm going to help you stay free," she declared.
"It's too dangerous Yumi," Ulrich responded, "we've already put you in enough potential danger by staying here," he told her, "these men are ruthless I might even have put Hiroki in danger by playing with him," he added.
"What?" Yumi asked in a small voice.
"Just tell him not to ask about me," Ulrich instructed, "any of us," he added.
Yumi gulped.
"Okay," Yumi agreed.
"I'm sorry," Aelita said as she entered the bathroom.
Before anyone could ask why they saw the source.
"Mr. Hopper?" Yumi asked in surprise.
"I'm sorry if you feel that my daughter betrayed you," Mr. Hopper apologized, "but it's probably a good thing she did," he added.
"How much did she tell you?" Ulrich asked coldly now completely behind the curtain.
"Everything she knows," Mr. Hopper responded, "I can't believe that all three of you were used for prostitution."
"Well believe it," Ulrich told him.
"You're mad," Mr. Hopper said.
"I'm really sorry," Aelita said softly.
"That's the risk you run when you trust people," Ulrich said with a shrug, "Jeremie had the right idea all along," he said, "we should've found somewhere else."
"Please don't be blame Yumi for my betrayal," Aelita begged.
"He's not," Jeremie said, "he's speaking of this entire situation," he told her, "it happens when we trust the wrong people," he added.
"You could've put your father in serious danger," Ulrich said to Aelita, "what if the whorehouse has people staking the house out right now?" he asked her.
"Then I'd probably be dead," Mr. Hopper said honestly.
Everyone else gasped except Ulrich.
"So you understand the situation," Ulrich said.
"Some, yes," Mr. Hopper responded.
"So what do you plan to do?" Ulrich asked him.
"I'm leaving it up to you to contact your father Ulrich," Mr. Hopper said seriously, "that's your choice."
"What about us?" Jeremie and Odd asked.
"I can't saw much for you Jeremie," Mr. Hopper admitted, "but if you come out as a Della Robia, Odd, you'll have to move to Switzerland," he revealed.
"What!" Odd screamed, "I don't want to leave France!" he said and started crying.
"You won't have to," Mr. Hopper said kindly, "but it's best for safety consideration that you come with me."
"What?" Aelita asked in surprise as the other two male teens looked at him suspiciously.
"I'll take him in and give him my last name," Mr. Hopper said shocking everyone.
"That's preposterous!" Jeremie shouted, "the paperwork, the red tape alone…!"
"Won't be a problem," Mr. Hopper told him.
"You expect us to trust you?" Ulrich asked frankly.
No," Mr. Hopper admitted, "but I can help Odd live a normal life," he told them, "and I can protect him," he added.
"How?" Jeremie asked suspiciously.
"I'm an inventor and scientist who's made some excellent inventions and powerful friends," Mr. Hopper said to him.
"The whorehouse has powerful friends too," Ulrich told him.
"That's why I can't guarantee one-hundred percent," Mr. Hopper responded, "I know which whorehouse you came from," he revealed.
Jeremie and Ulrich suddenly became defensive.
"Who are you?" Jeremie asked as he glared.
Ulrich looked at him darkly.
"Yumi stay with Hi…" Ulrich started to order.
"My father doesn't work for the whorehouse!" Aelita exploded.
"Aelita please," Mr. Hopper said calmly, "I help organizations tracking down human traffickers," he revealed, "I am aware of some of the whorehouses in France including The Bed," he told them.
All three boys gasped.
"You know the name?" Ulrich asked, "they always go by…"
"Mercy Adoption, I know," Mr. Hopper said.
"That place is a whorehouse!" Aelita screamed.
"They had the highest court rule against law enforcement conducting random searches because it would traumatize the children," Yumi recalled, "and that was twenty years ago."
"They've got everyone who searches the place in their pocket anyway," Ulrich said.
"Not everyone," Mr. Hoper said, "they also claim to only use the first four floors," he told Ulrich.
"They'd drop dead if they searched the underground," Ulrich muttered.
"You've been there?" Mr. Hopper asked incredulously.
"To the sewers mainly," Ulrich said.
"Sewers!" Mr. Hopper cried.
"Ulrich maybe…" Jeremie started.
"Naw he's clean," Ulrich told Jeremie, "he knows too little and his shock about the sewer seems genuine."
"But still…" Jeremie started.
"We'll leave by noon if you still want," Ulrich said surprising Jeremie, "You're our greatest strategist," he added and smiled.
"I can give you a chance of a new life too Jeremie," Mr. Hopper offered.
"No thanks," Jeremie turned down, "I think we should leave," he said and the Hoppers looked disappointed, "with Mr. Hopper," he added.
Everyone else was in shock. Except for Odd who was still crying.
Mr. Hopper walked up and hugged him.
"I know I can't give you your old life back," Mr. Hopper admitted, "but I'll do my best to care for you," he told Odd.
"I can't give you anything," Odd said as he now grasped the front of Mr. Hopper's shirt, "why do you want me?"
"Because I know you need someone," Mr. Hopper revealed, "more than you need your friends," he said in reference to Jeremie and Ulrich.
"We care for him just fine," Ulrich spoke up offended.
"Of course," Mr. Hopper said kindly, "you need a…" he started.
"I want to be with my friends," Odd said to Mr. Hopper.
"That's okay," Mr. Hopper said ready to leave.
"Will your place be close enough?" Odd asked suddenly.
Mr. Hopper smiled.
"Yes it is Odd," Mr. Hopper said and hugged Odd who hugged back this time, "it is."
"Can my last name be Mauve?" Odd asked suddenly.
Everyone else looked at him strangely.
Then Ulrich chuckled.
"Got purple on your mind again?" Ulrich asked.
"You said it was my favourite colour," Odd reminded him, "and I had on something purple almost all the time with what I remember."
"You're missing parts of your memory?" Mr. Hooper asked and Odd nodded.
"Trauma more than age," Jeremie explained.
"Well," Mr. Hopper said approvingly, "you're smart."
Jeremie blushed.
"So we can come too?" Ulrich asked.
"Of course," Mr. Hopper said happily, "I have more than enough room," he added.
"Um Mr. Hopper," Jeremie said humbly, "would you mind if I took your last name," he asked suddenly.
The bathroom was in complete silence.
"Um, no," Mr. Hopper responded.
"It's just that I don't have one," Jeremie explained.
"It's okay," Mr. Hopper said kindly, "I know it's hard when you feel like you're missing a piece of your identity," he said to Jeremie.
Tears welled in Jeremie's eyes as he smiled.
"You have a really great father Aelita," Jeremie told her.
"So you forgive me?" Aelita asked desperately.
"Completely," Jeremie said happily.
"One hundred percent," Odd declared.
"Yeah Aelita," Ulrich told her.
"Thank You," Aelita said humbly, "I hope you'll all lead better lives and someday find and see your parents," she stated.
"Maybe I should call and let my relatives know that I'm safe," Odd mused.
Ulrich sighed.
Everyone noticed and looked in the direction of the shower.
"Um, maybe we should give Ulrich some alone time," Jeremie suggested, "so he can finish his shower," he added.
Everyone else quickly agreed and they all exited the bathroom and left Ulrich to finish up.
Ulrich just stood still in the shower for a few minutes. Then he finished showering and got dressed.
----
By the time they all sat for breakfast Hiroki was up and excitedly talking to Ulrich.
"I can't believe you had a rare X-Men comic!" Hiroki cried.
"Someone special gave it to me," Ulrich told him.
"A girl?" Hiroki asked.
"Yes," Ulrich responded.
"Do you still have it?" Hiroki asked him.
"Hiroki," Yumi reprimanded.
Hiroki relaxed in his seat disappointed.
"After breakfast little man," Ulrich told him.
"I like buds better," Hiroki complained.
"Is that so?" Ulrich asked as he readied to eat more slices of bacon, "then buds it is," he said and returned to eat his meal of bacon, fried eggs, pancakes with blueberry syrup, and leftover lasagne and macaroni and cheese.
Everyone else ate less. Mr. Hopper was the only other one who wanted leftovers (the lasagne and macaroni and cheese) and had it with a few slices of bacon.
Eventually everyone finished eating. Hiroki jumped out of his seat.
"Here," Ulrich said and held out several comics kept in his jacket wrapped in clear plastic and held in place by rubber bands.
"I can read them?" Hiroki asked happily.
"You can have the rare one," Ulrich revealed.
Both Odd and Jeremie looked at Ulrich incredulously.
"Really?" Hiroki asked.
"Yeah," Ulrich told him, "but I need something from it first," he said.
"What?" Hiroki asked him.
"A letter the former owner wrote, and a few pictures that she had," Ulrich said.
"Had?" Hiroki asked Ulrich.
Ulrich nodded and held his hand out.
Hiroki handed him the comics and Ulrich opened the wrapper and took out what he wanted. Then he handed them back to Hiroki.
"I need back the others," Ulrich said to him.
"Okay," Hiroki agreed and went to read the comics.
"Who was she?" Yumi asked Odd in a whisper.
"A friend, she died," Odd told her.
"Oh," Yumi said and decided not to question further.
Instead she went to help Aelita with the dishes.
------
It was almost noon when everyone but Hiroki, Mr. Hopper and Odd sat together talking, laughing and joking.
"Jeremie," Aelita said.
"Yeah," Jeremie responded.
"You said you could sing right?" Aelita asked with a mischievous grin.
"Yeah, I did," Jeremie said secretly wishing now that he hadn't.
"Then sing something," Aelita said giggling.
"He's a real musical Casanova," Ulrich added, enjoying Jeremie's discomfort.
Jeremie glared at him.
Make fun of me will he? Jeremie thought.
"But Ulrich's the coming up dancer," Jeremie said causing horror to appear across Ulrich's face, "he's been training to impress the ladies," he added.
"Who trained him?" Yumi asked.
Ulrich grinned.
Beat that tippie toes, Ulrich thought confidently.
"Life experience," Jeremie said brightly.
Ulrich immediately gawked.
Aelita noticed.
"Don't make fun of Ulrich," Aelita chided, "it's not his fault he can't dance," she completed.
Ulrich who at first smiled at Aelita's statement, gawked at the last part.
"I can dance!" Ulrich cried.
"Prove it," Jeremie challenged.
"I hope you're not trying to be my dance partner," Ulrich said.
Jeremie looked at Ulrich as if he were crazy.
Aelita's eyes widened while Yumi who was sipping a drink started to choke.
Ulrich immediately patted her on the back.
"Are you okay?" Ulrich asked her.
Yumi nodded and put her drink aside.
"Um," Yumi said as she coughed, "we're having co-ed dances right?" she asked.
"Definitely," Jeremie said still phased by Ulrich's comment.
"So who'll dance with him?" Aelita asked.
"Hey!" Ulrich cried angrily, "I'm not dancing," he refused.
"Cause he can't," Jeremie teased.
Ulrich glared at Jeremie threateningly.
"Yumi, you dance with me," Ulrich ordered, "Jeremie, play, sing, whistle any song you want," he told Jeremie, "I'll show you dancing."
"The waltzing kind?" Jeremie asked with a smile on his face.
Ulrich's face reddened. He hadn't planned to do that with Yumi.
"Take on me by Aha," Jeremie said with a bright smile, "the entirety," he added.
"Done," Ulrich agreed.
"Am I here?" Yumi asked flabbergasted that she was chosen to do a dance she hadn't agreed to.
"It'll be fine," Ulrich told her, "I'll lead, you can follow and I'll ease you into the steps."
Yumi looked at him suspiciously.
"It will be fine, I promise," Ulrich promised.
"Okay," Yumi agreed.
"I'll get the Roll up Piano," Aelita announced excitedly and hurried off for it.
"Forget it!" Yumi cried, "I'm not dancing!"
"Why do you always have to be…?" Ulrich started to ask.
But Jeremie stopped him and shook his head.
"I don't want to dance okay," Yumi said calmly.
Aelita who was heading off turned back disappointed.
"Then I have another idea," Jeremie said mischievously, "truth or dare."
"But my Dad's here," Aelita protested.
"Yeah maybe…" Yumi stated.
"I didn't know Miss Strict was a coward." Ulrich interrupted.
"Ulrich," Aelita said in a warning tone.
"Grrr," Yumi responded, "fine, I'll play."
"Who wants to go first?" Jeremie asked.
Yumi's hand went up in the air.
"Okay," Jeremie said, "tru…"
"Dare," Yumi ordered.
Everyone else was surprised by Yumi's aggressiveness.
"I dare you to do something to Ulrich," Jeremie told her.
"What!" Ulrich shouted.
"Come on Yumi," Jeremie said, "don't you want to get back at him," he tempted her, "not even a wee bit?"
Yumi sat back and thought.
That boy has been a thorn in my side too long. It's time to put him in his place. Oh hell, I'm just going to freak him out and have fun doing it, Yumi decided.
"Alright," Yumi agreed, "but he has to close his eyes," she added.
"No way," Ulrich refused.
Yumi started to make chicken noises. Ulrich's face grew redder and redder.
"Ahem," Jeremie said, "this is a game, not life and death," he pointed out.
"Fine," Ulrich spat and closed his eyes.
Yumi gulped.
Am I still going to go through with it? Yumi wondered.
Yumi leaned forward while Ulrich remained still with a hardened face. She leaned by his ear and whispered.
"Smile Big Daddy," Yumi whispered.
Ulrich's eyes flew open.
Yumi then kissed him on the cheek and sat back down.
After a moment of silence both Aelita and Jeremie burst out laughing.
Soon both were rolling across the floor, overcome with laughter.
Yumi coughed to prevent her laughing. It was all more amusing than she thought it would be.
The only one not amused was Ulrich.
Slut, Ulrich thought.
"How about another for the left cheek?" Ulrich asked not willing to go down without a fight.
Yumi however saw what Ulrich was trying to do. Seconds later Ulrich had gotten a second kiss.
Ulrich's face didn't show any amusement. Then he let show a small smile.
"Not bad, I guess," Ulrich conceded.
"Come on you liked it," Yumi said.
Ulrich just sat there silently for a moment.
Suddenly he lunged at Yumi and pinned her down.
"Are you crazy?" Jeremie demanded.
"Ulrich, what are you doing?" Aelita asked incredulously.
"You know," Ulrich said as he leaned in close, "people used to have to pay to give kisses and anything beyond that to me," he told her, "you know how deep you'd have to go into your pocket?" he asked.
Yumi who was still breathing hard was unable to answer.
"You really shouldn't steal kisses you can't pay for," Ulrich told her.
"Well you're not at Mercy Adoption anymore," Yumi said, "I thought I could give you for free," she said smiling.
Slowly Ulrich smiled back.
Both Jeremie and Aelita were completely confused.
"When did you realize I was faking?" Ulrich asked her as the loosened his grip.
"Around the time you made that 'shouldn't steal kisses' comment," Yumi responded.
"Guess you know me better than I thought," Ulrich said and rose off her.
Yumi also got up and brushed herself off.
"So who's next?" Ulrich asked.
"Oh I'm done playing," Jeremie said immediately.
"Me too," Aelita agreed.
"Cowards," Yumi teased.
"And proud," Jeremie said frankly.
"I'm no coward," Aelita said boldly, "I just don't want to play," she said timidly.
"That's okay," Ulrich said, "it was fun while it lasted."
"What was fun?" Mr. Hopper asked as he and Odd entered the room.
"Chatting with my fellow teenagers," Ulrich said.
"Alright, I know when I'm not going to be told anything," Mr. Hopper said and everyone else laughed, "Odd's decided to contact the only relation he seems to have left in France," he revealed.
"I thought they all moved," Aelita said.
"Oh no not those," Ulrich said guessing who Odd was going to call, "I remember their son from Megan's birthday party."
"Well Mr. And Mrs. Douglas are dead," Odd revealed.
Ulrich immediately felt awful.
"But Frederick's still around," Odd said in reference to the 'son' Ulrich remembered from Megan's birthday party, "he's currently first in line to inherit my parent's company."
"But you're here," Yumi protested, "he can't take away your birthright!" she cried.
"That's just the problem," Odd told her, "my return takes away his chance to inherit the company," he said, "he's not going to want to take care of me."
"Wait," Ulrich said, "he's supposed to be your guardian?" he asked incredulously, "he's an ass whole!" he cried, "oh sorry," he added upon realizing that he said it out loud,
"Mr. Hopper will ensure that Frederick doesn't get complete guardianship over me," Odd said, "I'm not stupid, I don't trust him," he added.
"Then why go?" Ulrich persisted.
"I want to be with my family again Ulrich," Odd told him, "I miss them," he added in a cracked voice.
Mr. Hopper gently rubbed Odd's head.
"If anything goes wrong, remember I'm here," Mr. Hopper said kindly.
Odd suddenly hugged him tightly and started crying.
Everyone was taken a back.
"I never knew that Aelita's father would be so nice," Odd said tearfully, "thank you Mr. Hopper."
Mr. Hopper smiled and hugged him back.
"I'm glad that I was of help," Mr. Hopper said.
"You're sure about this Odd?" Jeremie asked.
"Yeah," Odd responded.
"I think it's a good idea for us to leave before nightfall," Mr. Hopper suggested, "maybe by around four o' clock?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Ishiyama will be back by nine o' clock tonight," Aelita told her father.
"Which probably means that my Dad will be darting in here at around 6 pm," Yumi muttered, "he already scheduled his friend's brother Mr. Cone to be here as adult supervision as usual."
"But he never came back last night," Aelita pointed out.
"My Dad doesn't know that," Yumi said and Aelita giggled.
"Where do you think he is?" Odd asked curiously as he now wiped away his tears and was no longer holding unto Aelita's father.
"He likes chasing ladies," Yumi said simply, "He's disappeared before," she said with a shrug.
"But he always manages to sneak back before Mr. and Mrs. Ishiyama come home," Aelita added.
"Are you sure that this has happened before?" Jeremie questioned, "him being away so long?" he asked.
"Once he was gone almost four out of the five days that he was supposed to be here to take care of Hiroki and I as well as help Aelita monitor us," Yumi informed him.
"Still," Jeremie said concerned.
A knock at the door diverted their attention.
"Stay here," Mr. Hopper said and went to the door, "oh it's you, Good Afternoon," he said brightly.
Mr. Hopper soon returned with a 5'7 Asian man who looked to be in his early thirties.
"Hey," Mr. Yoshi Cone said brightly, "so these are the young men you said are just here because they're staying with you Mr. Hopper?" he asked.
"Yes," Mr. Hopper responded.
"Well good afternoon nice guests," Mr. Cone said nicely with a broad smile.
Yumi raised an eyebrow. Mr. Cone wasn't usually this open and friendly around other people.
"Hi," all three boys said in careful unison.
"Um I think I'm going to check on Hiroki," Yumi said suddenly, "Ulrich," she said.
"Huh?" Ulrich asked.
"I can help," Aelita volunteered.
"Ulrich's got to get his comics back from Hiroki anyway so this is better Aelita," Yumi said brightly, too brightly for her usual demeanour.
Aelita realized something was wrong.
"Oh yeah those super hero comics," Aelita said, "better get them before Hiroki claims total ownership," she said trying to remain calm.
Odd and Jeremie's faces had now become stony.
"We'll stay here and chat with Mr. Hopper about his inventions," Jeremie said simply.
"Uh yes I have a blueprint for one in my car," Mr. Hopper said brightly, "which I'll show you later," he added realizing leaving the house might not be a good idea.
Both Yumi and Ulrich walked briskly to Hiroki's room. But just then they saw Hiroki run outside his room. Hiroki ran straight to Ulrich and grabbed unto him shaking.
Yumi looked at Hiroki fearfully.
He's shaking like a leaf, Yumi noticed.
"Did he touch you Hiroki?" Ulrich asked, "hit you or anything?"
Hiroki shook his head.
"He said he comes from a place where people pay big money to rape pretty little boys," Hiroki said tearfully, "that if I made any noise he'd give me first hand experience himself."
"Oh my God," Yumi said in a panic.
"What was this guy's name?" Ulrich demanded.
"He said to call him B.I.," Hiroki revealed.
"Brian Ink a.k.a. Boulder," Ulrich said, "he's just a messenger don't worry," he told them.
"Don't worry?" Yumi asked incredulously.
"He doesn't want to harm you," Ulrich revealed, "he just wants a guarantee that none of you will talk," he explained.
"But I thought…" Yumi started to say.
"It seems Mr. Hopper's presence must've spooked them," Ulrich told her, "he must've stronger friends than I thought."
The door to Hiroki's bedroom opened. Yumi grabbed Hiroki defensively.
"Boy come here," a voice said from inside the bedroom.
Hiroki buried his face into Yumi fearfully.
"It's me he wants," Ulrich told them.
"Ulrich don't," Yumi said.
"I have to," Ulrich said and entered the room.
"Well, well," Boulder said as Ulrich closed the door behind him, "come closer kid," he instructed.
Ulrich grudgingly obeyed.
"Come on smile," Boulder said, "I could've fucked your friend," he added.
Then I'd fuck you. Up. Ulrich thought.
Ulrich kept quiet.
"Silent treatment, cute," Boulder said simply, "but I want payment for not touching the kid," he said darkly.
"What's the message?" Ulrich asked him.
"Talk and we'll kill the eldest three Ishiyama's," Boulder told him, "we'll fuck the kid then send him to the boxes," he said, "we'll get Aelita and have a little…" he said but stopped, "then we'll let her go with a message for her father," he listed, "we'll reinstate Jeremie into his old position, put a permanent tracker chip in you and murder Odd by the pit," he concluded.
"Mur…!" Ulrich started to shout.
Boulder covered his mouth and took out a pistol.
"Shout like that again and you're dead," Boulder snapped at Ulrich, "yeah your friend Odd's dead if you guy's talk," he said, "these people in this house don't count," he pointed out, "but tell anyone else about Mercy, you're all fucked."
Ulrich nodded his hands held in the air to show both his agreement and surrender.
Boulder lifted his hand off Ulrich's mouth and put away his pistol.
"Lie down," Boulder ordered.
Ulrich looked fearfully at Hiroki's bed.
"It's either that or the floor," Boulder told him.
"I'll take the floor," Ulrich decided.
"Then lie down," Boulder said between clenched teeth.
Ulrich lay on his stomach and waited for it to be over.
Boulder unzipped his pants.
----
Half an hour later the door to Hiroki's bedroom opened. Ulrich stood there for a moment looking blank and barely shaking.
Standing across from the bedroom was Jeremie. Beside Jeremie's feet was a fresh set of clothes and the first aid kit.
Ulrich walked forward and picked them up.
"The bathroom's set up," Jeremie told him.
"You're mad," Ulrich noticed.
"Not at you," Jeremie responded, "this entire thing's fucked up," he muttered.
"Yeah," Ulrich agreed in a cracked voice.
"Come on," Jeremie said, "I'll help tidy you up."
Ulrich nodded and followed him.
------
Meanwhile Mr. Cone was sobbing downstairs.
"I'm so ashamed," Mr. Cone said tearfully, "but if I didn't do as they said, they would've harmed my family," he said, "they just said that they worked in the escort business and three employees ran away," he told them, "they said if I co-operated they'd just take the escorts and leave," he stated, "I swear!" he added.
"So you gave them a detailed plan of our house?" Yumi snapped fiercely, "what kind of architect are you?" she demanded.
"They just wanted their escorts back," Mr. Cone said, "I didn't want anything bad happening to my family."
"What if they had taken Ulrich?" Yumi demanded angrily, "what the hell would you have done!" Yumi shouted.
"Yumi," Mr. Hopper said, "this is only making things worse," he told her, "do you now realize what you have done?" he asked Mr. Cone.
"I'm very sorry, I swear," Mr. Cone swore.
"Ulrich's out," Odd said from the middle of the stairs, "Jeremie's with him, stay downstairs," he instructed them.
"Odd what happened?" Mr. Hopper asked.
"Later," Odd responded.
"Is that man gone?" Yumi asked urgently.
"Most likely, yes," Yumi said, "I'm just glad that Aelita decided to take Hiroki into the kitchen, he's really shook up."
"I can't believe they took it this far," Mr. Hopper said, "I thought when you said my presence spooked them that they'd drop their message and leave."
"That guy's evil, I knew it," Yumi said in a voice showing that she was on the verge of crying, "when I heard his voice I knew why Hiroki was so scared," she said and broke down crying.
Mr. Hopper tried his best to comfort her.
------
In the kitchen Aelita gave Hiroki some more chocolate milk.
"Do you think Ulrich's okay?" Hiroki asked her.
"Ulrich's very brave," Aelita told Hiroki, "he'll stand up to any bad guy."
"You're sure?" Hiroki asked her tearfully.
"Absolutely," Aelita said struggling not to cry herself.
No you're not, Hiroki thought.
-----
Twenty minutes later Jeremie came downstairs.
"He wants to talk to Odd," Jeremie said.
Odd quickly hurried upstairs.
"Is he okay?" Yumi asked.
"He'll be fine," Jeremie told her, "he just doesn't want to be too crowded right now," he added.
"He feels ashamed doesn't he?" Yumi asked, "that he couldn't have fought off that Brian a.k.a. Boulder guy?"
"You can never say that again," Jeremie said immediately.
"What?" Yumi asked confused.
"That guy threatened to kill you and your parents if we let anyone else find out that we were whored by Mercy Adoption," Jeremie revealed.
Yumi gasped in horror. Mr. Hopper looked horrified.
"Wait," Mr. Hopper said, "they're going to leave Hiroki?" he asked.
God you idiot, Jeremie thought in exasperation.
Yumi saw the look on Jeremie's face.
"What did they threaten to do?" Yumi asked in a fearful voice.
"They'll hurt him, continually," Jeremie revealed.
"You mean…?" Mr Hopper started in disbelief.
Jeremie nodded.
"No," Yumi refused to believe, "no," she repeated, "no, no, not my little brother," she said, "not Hiroki," she said firmly.
"We promise not to talk about where we ran away from," Jeremie promised her.
"I need to talk to Ulrich," Yumi said and ran before Jeremie could stop her.
"Yumi wait!" Jeremie cried and started to chase her.
"Jeremie!" Mr. Hopper shouted and Jeremie stopped, "let her go," he told Jeremie.
Jeremie turned around to glare at Mr. Hooper.
"I'll never understand, I know," Mr. Hopper responded to Jeremie's glare, "my presence probably caused this mess," he added guiltily.
"Your presence is most likely why they sent one messenger instead of a pack of elite retrievers," Jeremie said surprising Mr. Hopper, "they're afraid of what you're associated with," he explained, "organizations that are intent on bringing them and or human trafficking in general to a complete stop."
Mr. Hooper was completely surprised.
"Surprised?" Jeremie asked with a small smile, "you saved us," he told Mr. Hopper, "thank you for coming here," he said gratefully.
"Your welcome," Mr. Hopper told him, "come here," he said and opened his arms.
"I don't need a…" Jeremie started.
"I just want to give you one," Mr. Hopper said brightly.
Jeremie carefully thought about it. Then he decided to just do it.
Mr. Hopper tightly hugged Jeremie who tightly hugged him back.
----
In the guestroom Ulrich lay curled up in Odd's lap with the covers practically up to his neck.
Odd was sitting up with his back against the bed's headboard. He was gently stroking Ulrich's hair.
Yumi sat at the edge of the bed watching both of them. Odd was obviously struggling not to cry and tears hadn't stopped flowing out of Ulrich's eyes. His brown eyes filled with pain.
Yumi could barely look at him.
"Yumi," Ulrich said suddenly surprising both Yumi and Odd.
Yumi was especially surprised at how raspy and small his voice sounded. She had to move closer to hear him better.
"I'm sorry that this had to happen with Hiroki here," Ulrich said his voice getting tighter, "Yumi I'm so sorry."
"It was only the fault of that bastard and that whorehouse," Yumi told him firmly, "they even tricked and threatened Mr. Cone," she said, "he had no true idea who you were," she added.
"I don't blame Mr. Cone," Ulrich told her, "he only wanted to protect you and his family," he said.
"I'm so sorry that he raped you Ulrich," Yumi said, "I know you took it because of us."
"It was worth it to see you all safe," Ulrich said his voice cracking, "I just didn't want…" he said but his voice broke.
"I know he had his eyes on Hiroki," Yumi said, "I'm so sorry that this happened to you," she said tearfully, "but I'm so glad that you spared my little brother from it," she said and started to cry.
"We'd all take what Ulrich took to save Hiroki," Odd told Yumi.
Ulrich carefully sat up and turned to Yumi.
"Come here," Ulrich said to her.
Yumi pounced on him and continued sobbing.
Ulrich looked down at her.
Yumi had knocked Ulrich flat on his back. He noticed how she shook and cried out with wanton sobs. He could feel all the pain flowing through her body. The anger, the hurt, the desperation. He could see that she was hurting too.
Ulrich reached down and stroked her hair.
Yumi sobbed until she had no tears left. She just lay on top of Ulrich, breathing and rarely whimpering.
Eventually Yumi rose up and wiped away her tears. Ulrich slowly rose and sat up on the bed.
"It's okay Odd," Ulrich told him, "you can cry if you want to."
Odd was silent for a moment. But soon he could be heard crying into the pillows.
"I'm going to change out of this robe and come downstairs," Ulrich told her.
"Will you be okay?" Yumi asked him.
"I'm already starting to feel a little better," Ulrich told her.
"I'll be waiting downstairs," Yumi said and Ulrich nodded.
Yumi left, closing the door behind her.
-----
By the time Ulrich came downstairs Aelita and Hiroki were back with everyone else.
Odd slowly walked down behind him.
"Ulrich!" Hiroki cried when he saw him.
Ulrich gave Hiroki a confident smile and wave.
Hiroki ran forward and hugged him.
Odd walked over to Jeremie who immediately took his hand and squeezed it.
"I'm glad you're okay Ulrich," Mr. Hopper said.
Ulrich nodded.
Hiroki kept close to Ulrich. Noticing his silence but opting not to say anything about it.
"So what will we do now?" Aelita asked.
"Ulrich's decided that he'll call his Dad," Odd revealed, "I'll leave it to Mr. Stern to tell my surviving relatives that I'm still alive," he added.
"Wonderful," Mr. Hopper said happily, "so I'll just have Jeremie over at Hermitage."
"Hope one more kid won't be too much of a burden," Jeremie said jokingly even though really he was nervous.
Mr. Hopper chuckled.
"No, no, one more won't be a burden for me," Mr. Hopper told Jeremie as he smiled.
-----
I'm sorry about the late update. I'll try to have the next chapter up in two weeks. I had a Yumi and Ulrich moment put in for Yumi2. Sorry they won't be a couple in this story. All couples were decided by me before I started typing. Thank you for reading and reviewing and all questions (that don't reveal too much about the entire story) will be answered at my forum.