A/N: Once again, thank you to Moonlitxangel for being my beta reader.

CW: So my review made you a bit hyper huh? Well that feeling is mutual, I do look forward to getting reviews from you as well.

Kadic Hospital, ER waiting room: Sissi looked up at her father and could read the very serious and grim expression on his face. She could guess what he was thinking and the reality unsettled her. Odd wasn't as safe as his friends thought he was. Not while her father considered him a threat to her or any of the other students anyway. But what could she do? Nothing would convince her father that Odd was no longer a threat. Not after hearing that Odd had lured and drugged two of his best friends.

Aelita entered the waiting room tired, but happy, as she beamed a smile that should have lit up the room. But Mr. Delmas looked like a raging storm and Jeremy was trembling with fear. Yumi and Ulrich looked like they were caught in something that was somehow both pleasant and painful at the same time. Sissi stood stone still in apparent shock and thoughtfulness. Mr. Delmas turned on her and she had hardly a second to brace herself before her happiness evaporated under the laser focus of the principal's gaze and his single question: "Did Odd drug Yumi and Ulrich with the intent of forcing them into a sexual relationship?" She staggered back under the barely concealed fury of the question.

In retrospect, her racing mind told her over the sound of her own pounding heart, you should have known that this moment was coming. She considered denying it since that's not exactly what had happened. But he'd only demand to know what did. The truth was untenable since it was straight out of science fiction that happened to be science fact. Affirming it seemed to be equally bad as she'd never seen the man so enraged. Not that she didn't understand the sentiment. But...

"Young lady, I asked you a question." Aelita couldn't help it and cringed as she was yelled at the by principal.

Jeremy answered the principal's demand with a furious tone of his own. "I told you what happened. Yumi and Ulrich confirmed it. Leave. Aelita. Alone." Yumi and Ulrich stepped forward to back him up, all the emotion making them edgy and willing to take it out on even an authority figure in defense of their own.

"STOP!" Sissi cried out at the top of her lungs. "What is wrong with all of you? How is this helping?"

Five pairs of very surprised eyes turned their collective attention on her. Almost shrinking back at the intensity of everybody's look she steeled herself, forcing herself to return each person's gaze. "You are all upset," she said in an angry but hopefully understanding tone. "But don't take it out on each other this way, you saw how it helped Odd."

The faces of the Lyoko warriors all dropped and they slowly gathered together. But principal Delmas wasn't swayed by his daughter's words. He turned towards her and barely stopped himself from yelling at her, demanding to know how she could defend someone like Odd. Instead, he managed to ask her but there was no way to hide the disappointment over having his daughter speak for a troubled boy who was obviously a clear and future, if not present, danger to his students. "Elizabeth, surely you understand why I have no choice but to refer this to the disciplinary committee along with a recommendation of expulsion."

"NO! You can't do that, not after we almost lost him." Aelita cried out, her voice showing that she was slipping back into despair.

Jeremy gently pulled her against him, hugging her supportively. Yumi and Ulrich stood at their side, each placing a hand on the couple's shoulder to show their support. Sissi looked between her father and the four teens as she struggled with the choice she feared she was going to have to make. She didn't want Odd gone and the intensity of that feeling surprised her. She looked between her father's harsh glare and the equally defiant foursome standing a short distance away. She couldn't go against family but wanted the kind of friendship that allowed the four students to stand ready to fight for their own no matter the odds. Looking sadly up at her father, and with her choice far from made, Sissi finally found her voice. It was low and pleading as she said "Odd nearly killed himself to prove how sorry he was for what happened. Isn't that enough?"

Her father looked at her and shook his head sadly, "no... not where you and the rest of my students are concerned." His frown deepened as he watched her struggle with something and wondered again just how she could be sticking up for the boy.

Odd's fate seemingly sealed Jeremy once again took command of his troops. In a whisper he handed out orders: "Yumi, tell Ulrich where Odd's room is and when you're done we'll all bolt. Ulrich head for Odd's room, tell him I'm sorry it had to come to this and ask him not to repeat that stunt today. Yumi, Aelita and I will head for the factory. Everyone take a separate route and the first person to the lab triggers a return trip."

Aelita looked at the principal's daughter, "what about Sissi?"

"We don't know if there'll be time to scan her and if she changes her mind afterwards she can get us all caught," Jeremy answered. Despite his response, it was clear that he wasn't as confident in that decision as his words suggested.

Aelita sighed and Yumi spoke up, "I say she comes with us. She's arguing for Odd, she's given up on Ulrich and helped him earlier."

Aelita nodded her agreement, leaving Jeremy to look pointedly at Ulrich. Ulrich looked in Sissi's direction for a moment and almost lost himself in memories, some shared with the girl in question and others that were his alone. "I'm with Yumi." There wasn't as much confidence in his voice as he would have liked but he'd answered.

"Sissi?" Aelita's voice startled her and she looked towards the group. "Come here."

Sissi obeyed and was quickly filled in on the slightly revised plan. She and Aelita would run to the factory where Aelita would explain everything and give her a chance to back out. Ulrich would head for Odd's room. Yumi and Jeremy would bolt from the hospital as a distraction. Her voice now shaking she looked around the circle of friends and realized they were about to let her in on something big and in return required her absolute loyalty. Still uncertain she needed to find out more and knew there was only one way to make that happen. She accepted the plan and felt a thrill as she considered that she might finally join the group she had admired and loathed from afar for so long.

Mr. Delmas bellowed at the five kids when they all lunged for the door, demanding that they return at once. His commands obviously fell on deaf ears so he ran into the hall after them only to see Ulrich head towards Odd's room while the rest went in the opposite direction and split up at each junction. Enraged he started after his daughter, unable to figure out how it was that such a good group of kids, Odd notwithstanding, could behave this way. It had to be a break from the tireless work and now the stress of watching one of their friends betray them then nearly die. He barked at a passing nurse to have the hospital locked down and to find the students. The nurse scrambled into action.

(*)

Kadic Hospital, Main floor, room 128: Ulrich dashed into Odd's room and rushed to his bedside, startling the boy. Very lightly panting from his sprint down the halls of the hospital he took only a second to catch his breath then said "I may not have much time but Mr. Delmas wants you expelled and."

"WHAT!" Odd shouted before Ulrich cut him off by clamping his hand over his mouth.

"Quiet." Ulrich whispered harshly. He removed his hand from Odd's mouth and looked regretfully at him. "Jeremy had to agree to tell Delmas what happened before he allowed Aelita to come see you. After hearing the story he wants you expelled. So Aelita and Sissi are heading to the factory to run a return to the past."

"What do you mean a return trip?" Odd whispered harshly. "How am I supposed to enjoy the attentions of all the sympathy laden girls at school if my legs aren't broken?"

"What are you talking about? You want to be stuck in a cast for a month?" Ulrich answered, his voice slightly raised in surprise. "You..." Ulrich cut himself off as Odd started to answer.

"No... But when Yumi was here she was gentle and sweet and..." He paused, deciding not to test Ulrich's jealousy by telling him how she kissed him on the cheek. "She promised that she'd make sure I got better. And after her visit a nurse dropped by and made sure I was ok and then Aelita came cried on my shoulder." His voice turned slightly wistful at that before reverting to normal as he continued. "Then a doctor came to let me know they'd reached my parents and obtained consent for my surgery and that I should carry around a marker for all the people who will want to sign my cast."

Ulrich nodded, now understanding Odd's point. While he was being wheeled around the campus, somewhat helpless and in pain he'd be a magnet for sympathy. The thought made Ulrich smile in spite of the disgust that came with thinking of how Odd would be using his self inflicted injury. "I see how you could consider that heaven. But it wouldn't have happened you know, as soon as it got around that this was self inflicted..."

"What's better to a girl then someone they can save?" Odd asked lightly before his voice turned harder and somewhat bitter. "Except that Delmas will make sure it's known that I drug girls who trust me now."

Ulrich shook his head, knowing Odd well enough to know that not all of that was directed outwards. "Look Odd, you messed up with that plan but it worked. Yumi's forgiven you, Aelita's forgiven you, Jeremy's forgiven you and so have I." Shaking his head he looked at the floor, regretting he couldn't have better defended his best friend. "We just couldn't convince the principal that it was a onetime thing."

"That I'd never do again." Odd finished with conviction. "Don't blame yourself, you were just as difficult to convince." Odd averted his eyes as he saw how much that statement hurt Ulrich. "No Ulrich, that's not what I meant I..."

"It's ok Odd, I know. I'm not exactly proud that I didn't fight harder for you before. You gave me the relationship with Yumi that I've always wanted... so thanks. I'm just sorry it had to come to this."

Odd injected some brightness into his voice, "Hey, it was a real thrill to try and go out this way and it was nice to think about being swarmed with sympathetic girls who wanted to make me feel better." Now smiling he added, "Besides, pranks are easier to pull with working legs."

Ulrich laughed, "maybe so..." Whatever else Ulrich was going to say was cut off as one of the hospital's security officers stepped into the room. He allowed a quick goodbye before escorting Ulrich back to face the principal.

(*)

Kadic City, Near The Factory: Investigators swarmed over the factory's island as Aelita and Sissi approached. Taking Sissi's hand Aelita yanked her back into the cover of the crowd that was gathering to find out what was going on. "We'll have to find the raft."

"Raft?" Sissiy whispered back incredulously.

"We have more than one way into the factory just in case." Aelita answered casually as she dragged her charge down the street and to an area where they could get down to the riverbank more easily and stealthily before leading her back to the bridge. She pointed out the raft and they silently launched it together. Each slosh of water or other sound made the pair of teens cringe and hold their collective breaths as they floated under the bridge. But the real worry were the times they had to leave the shelter of the road deck to dodge the pylons that supported it. The sense of vulnerability that came from being easily visible unnerved the two teens, making them act even more deliberately. Somehow they made it across undetected and breathed a sigh of relief as they beached the raft.

But they weren't done yet and Aelita led them around the perimeter of the factory and towards what looked like some sort of cellar entrance. The shadowed darkness combined with the general rundown look of the long abandoned place gave Sissi the creeps and she was glad that Aelita was leading her around with an air of confidence. But she couldn't shake of the unease of being here, nor the intense curiosity of why a girl like Aelita would know all the back ways into the decrepit building. Her questions were left unanswered for a while longer as Aelita stopped and pointed to what looked like an elevator shaft in the inky darkness, "that's our goal." Sissi gulped and hesitated as Aelita continued forward, wondering just what she had signed up for. "Are you coming?" Sissi looked at Aelita for a moment before following her.

When they finally arrived, covered in dust and grease from sneaking around, Sissi watched in fright and awe as Aelita stepped into the rundown looking elevator and motioned her to follow. Gulping hard, she stepped over the elevator's threshold and wondered again what it was she had gotten herself into. As if to put a point to her fears, the elevator lurched into motion with an unhealthy sound and her stomach rose as she descended. When it stopped her mind filled with panic at the thought of being stuck while Aelita calmly pulled the button cover off to reveal a hidden pad and typed in a four number sequence as though she did this sort of thing routinely. Jumping back at the crackling buzz of electricity flowing around the door she watched dumbstruck as the wheel in the center turned and the heavy doors parted.

Aelita walked through the door with an air of authority and as she stepped through her skin took on an odd greenish tint. Following the girl, Sissi realized that the large circular room Aelita had led her to was lit by some sort of old florescent lamps and the green glow of a large, multi paneled computer monitor. In the center of the room was a hole with a raised lip and floating above that hole was some sort of graphic. Aelita hopped into the large chair at the computer terminal and began expertly typing at the keyboard.

"What is this place?" Sissi asked, the wonder in her voice tainted with the fear she felt at being in such a strange and obviously secret environment.

(*)

Kadic Academy: William had had enough. Campus was abuzz with rumors of what may have happened and who it may have happened to. Wild theories circulated saying students had been kidnapped, or violently killed. Some simply assumed that all the activity reported at the old factory was a drug bust others just some sort of drill. The news, had anyone bothered to check it before opening their mouths, said a teenage boy had been injured at the abandoned factory and rushed to the hospital where he was being treated and was noted as being in stable condition. Not that it helped him figure out what had happened or which of the lyoko warriors was involved.

He knew they had to be involved because the factory was their place and further they were all missing and none were answering their cell phones. Worry invaded his mind as despite feeling like an outsider, he genuinely didn't want anything to happen to either Jeremy, Aelita, or Yumi. Ulrich, well that could actually work in his favor and Odd just didn't matter one way or the other. A pang of quilt rang through him, it wasn't that he wished either boy harm, they just hadn't been as friendly as Aelita or Jeremy.

Holding unto his cell phone he called Aelita once again and got her voice mail. He tried Yumi, Jeremy, Odd, Sissi and finally Ulrich one last time each but again got no farther than voice mail. Finally he decided to go see what was happening for himself. Moving with caution, he made his way to the secret passage on campus, relieved to find the door wasn't locked. He headed down the tunnel and into the sewers, walking along the disgusting sewage until he reached one particular ladder. He climbed up and pushed the manhole cover out of the way, emerging into the fresh air of the nearby forest and free of the campus. Now out of the uncomfortable humidity and stink of the sewers he took off in the direction of the hospital. Panting heavily as he arrived, he never noticed the black blur heading out of one exit until he collided with it in a violent collision. Growling at the indignity of his crash to the ground he yelled "Hey, why don't you watch where you're going?" As he tried to disentangle himself.

The fierce growl from the person he collided with sounded familiar and as he fell towards the ground a second time he placed the sound. "Yumi!"

"STOP!"

William looked at the two people emerging from the hospital and scrambled to his feet. Whatever they wanted, it couldn't be good if Yumi was running like that. Pointing in the wrong direction he shouted to the men "Black clothes, black haired asian woman?" The guard closest to him nodded. "She went that way." The officer nodded his thanks and both took off running. As soon as they'd turned their back William ran after Yumi who had taken off immediately after getting to her feet.

After a short chase that, to his already winded lungs and burning muscles felt too long he called out to "Yumi, you're not being followed. You can stop."

Yumi risked a glance over her shoulder and saw William. She considered just running away from him but then stopped herself. He had no idea what was happening and could be genuinely worried about Odd. She walked into the light from a nearby streetlamp, waiting as William came to a stop in front of her. He was out of breath and sweating despite the cold weather and she frowned, knowing how that was going to feel later. Shivering slightly from her still damp clothing she regarded William while he caught his breath enough to speak.

William looked at Yumi and immediately shrugged off his jacket, offering it to the shivering girl that still held so much of his interest. "You should take this, you're shivering."

Yumi shook her head no, "I'll be fine" she answered as cordially as she could. "What brings you out here?"

"I heard the news but they aren't saying much of anything. What's going on?"

Yumi looked at him and judged his sincerity, but it looked like he was nothing more than concerned for his friends. "Odd tried to commit suicide." Yumi answered in a slightly strained voice. "He's ok, just his legs are badly broken. But Delmas found out what happened, or a version of it anyway, and now wants Odd expelled. Since Sissi saved Odd's life without a second's thought her and Aelita went to the factory."

"And no one bothered to tell me." William exclaimed angrily.

Yumi pulled out her waterlogged cell phone. "Jeremy's the only one who's phone didn't get wet and the paramedics made sure his cell was off in the hospital."

Suitably chastised, William stepped closer to Yumi and when she didn't immediately bolt draped his jacket over her shoulders. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get upset but I was worried and just expected to be included." He directed a pointed look at her then forced out "how is Ulrich holding up?"

There was no hiding the surprise in her face as she heard the question. Even though it was forced, the fact that he'd asked was remarkable. Normally he harbored such animosity towards his romantic rival that she'd expected to him to say something like I hope Ulrich's not taking out his problems on you or boy, I hope you didn't leave him alone with Sissi." As well as can be expected given his best friend tried to kill himself and is now looking at expulsion."

William looked in the general direction of the factory, "maybe we should go to the factory, just make sure the guys chasing you didn't catch Aelita." Before they resumed walking though, Williams brow scrunched up in thought and he asked, "what did Odd do that warrants him getting expelled?" It wasn't exactly hard to see that something significant had happened, Odd had been enjoying some rotten treatment from the whole group though Yumi was by far the worst offender.

Yumi looked away from William, her expression hardening as she decided not to answer based on how upset that would likely make William. "Nothing you need to worry about," Yumi snapped.

"Yumi!" William said hotly before taking a breath and starting off a little more calmly, "Yumi, I know something happened..." He stopped as he briefly considered not saying anything but he needed to at least try. "Odd's been on the outside for the past few days and despite your obvious need for time and space, a need that I chose to respect by the way, you immediately turned around and started dating Ulrich." Noting the angry expression on her face he hurried up with an explanation. "And if you're happy than I am too." He frowned, he hadn't wanted to show all the pain he felt over her choice but couldn't hide it. "But something's wrong and I want to help... I also need to make sure you aren't somehow being forced to date Ulrich."

"William, do you really think I'd allow myself to be forced into anything?" She demanded, her earlier sympathy for his feelings dissolving at the mention of being forced into a relationship.

"If you thought it was for the greater good of the group then YES, I think you would. But you wouldn't be happy about it and the way you've treated Odd says you're. Not. Happy!" William suddenly realized he was shouting as he felt the eyes of a few people watch them. For some reason a sizeable crowd seemed to be gathering ahead. Lowering his voice, he added "look, Yumi..."

Yumi cut him off, her voice having a slight growl to it, "I'm happy with Ulrich so drop it."

William backed up a step and held his hands up in a gesture of surrender, "okay, okay, I get it..." He sighed sadly, "when you told me you needed your space, why not just tell me you had made your decision? Why leave me with some hope..." He stopped himself, not wanting to tempt her anger again.

Yumi tore her eyes away from the crowd gathering at the factory and looked in Williams direction. Despite the darkness of the evening he wasn't faking the hurt or disappointment and it made her feel guilty over her answer the last time they'd argued. But it was the truth at the time and she had been prepared to forgo the attentions of both suitors. Then Odd came up with his stupid plan, and Ulrich decided to finally be honest with her. In sharing their issues they had drawn closer and the trust built was cementing their relationship.

(*)

Hospital, ER Family Waiting Room: Ulrich heard the principal scream at Jeremy through the closed door and felt sorry for the young genius. This was a situation that nothing had really prepared him for and hearing the way the principal was demanding answers as to where everyone had went did nothing for his mood. Mr. Delmas simply did not understand either the situation or the resources at hand and there was nothing Jeremy could say to change that. Mentally bracing himself he went into the room. As he entered the principal, clearly exasperated, decided to change tact.

Mr. Delmas turned away from Jeremy, glared harshly at Ulrich then directed him to sit next to Jeremy. Once both students were sitting down the principal addressed Jeremy while looking at Ulrich. "Jeremy, I know you have all been working hard to ensure Ulrich's academic success and his continued relationship with Yumi. But consider this, Ulrich's father will find out about this and when he hears what Odd's done there will be only one response: Ulrich goes or Odd goes. Surely you don't want all your hard work to be in vain over someone who hasn't even bothered to put in the kind of effort the rest of your friends have. And think how you would feel if something like this happened again to another student, what it would be like to see someone else put into Yumi's position. Would the next girl be as lucky as Yumi was to have someone just swoop in and save her in the nick of time?"

Jeremy looked down at the floor, clearly affected by the principals words. Mr. Delmas decided to press his advantage, "I'm not saying that anyone should give up on Odd, only that if he's willing to do something like this then he needs help... The kind of help my school just isn't equipped to give. Tell me where your friends went and what they think they can do and I'll see to it that none of them are punished and that Odd gets the kind of counseling he needs... Both for his obvious lack of respect for a woman and his attempted suicide. The kind of help that neither you, his cousin, nor his friends can provide even if you do somehow get him out of this hospital and back to Kadic."

Without pulling his eyes away from his shoes, Jeremy sighed. Whatever the principal thought was impossible they would be doing any time. But the last words haunted him in the silence. If Odd really did need professional help, his band of friends couldn't offer it. He wished he had been able to see Odd for himself, to get some sort of read on his condition and mental state. That would have made this whole thing so much easier. He hoped that if Yumi, Aelita or Ulrich had seen any sign of a larger problem they would have told someone. But he knew that's not how things worked, not after all they'd been through together.

Ulrich glanced sideways at Jeremy, watching him struggle with some sort of dilemma. He could guess what it was and his heart went out to their leader. He would ultimately take full responsibility for what happened with his group no matter the situation. That sense had sometimes provided the group with its survival but had also led to much strife. Apparently the hope that such problems were behind them wasn't going to become the reality. But there was nothing to do but remain silent even as the principal left the room muttering about calling their parents. Remain silent and hope for the all consuming white dome to put things right again.

(*)

Factory, Computer lab: Aelita turned towards Sissi, satisfied that the lab security cameras showed they hadn't been followed, and her voice took on a sad tone with an undercurrent of loss. "This was my father's lab and-" Her voice showed a hint of bitterness, "his great project." She seemed to recover quickly and continued to explain about Lyoko, XANA, the fight Jeremy had undertaken along with Yumi, Ulrich and Odd to free her and lastly her father's final sacrifice to free the world from XANA.

Sissi stood in stunned wonder as so much of the group's weirdness clicked into place. There was no mistaking the strength of their bonds nor the coordination behind their actions. And Jeremy's position of leadership now made perfect sense. What didn't was why she was being told all of this. When Aelita ran the return to the past program all of it would disappear unless... Realization of what she was really being trusted with hit her with almost enough force to knock her out. If she agreed she would have to defend this secret with her life lest it end Aelita's and everyone else's. If she agreed she would become part of Aelita's family. If she didn't... "What happens after the return trip if I say no?"

Aelita sighed, slightly irritated at having to explain again. "You won't remember..." Cutting herself off as she figured out what Sissi was asking, she got off the chair and put both of her hands on Sissi's shoulders. Her voice had a much more gentle and understanding tone when she started speaking again. "We'll still know that you selflessly went in to save Odd and defended all of us to your father." She shook her head sadly, "but you won't... If the past is any indication you won't understand why we would be willing to treat you with respect and reverence you've earned and assume it's some sort of trick."

Sissi looked into the green eyes of Aelita and contemplated her offer and response. She was coming to accept that she didn't want to be the mean, shallow person she wasn't but acted as. This was her chance but she was frightened as well. If she screwed up it could bring down serious consequences that she wasn't sure she'd be able to live with. "I... I can't Aelita... I want to because... But if."

"It's not an easy road." Aelita replied to her unfinished statement of doubt, "and I understand. But I've seen you act courageously before even though you don't remember. I wouldn't be offering if I didn't trust that you could manage. And Sissi, we've all been to the point of giving up at one time or another. But we support each other like family, lending our strength to those who need it. It's how we survived our fight and how we'll live our lives from now on. If you accept we'll always be there for you... But we'll also expect that you'll be there for us too. And if you don't, we'll all understand and no one will think any less of you. It's not something that can be decided lightly and yes or no, I'm glad you're not."

Elizabeth regarded Aelita as the pink haired girl turned her attention back towards the computer terminal. She watched as Aelita hopped up into the oversized chair and wondered what it would be like to lose her own father that way. To only have half remembered fragments of a life spent in hiding. Guilt over the way she'd treated and thought of Aelita threatened to overwhelm her and she forced it back while Aelita brought up a couple of programs then turned back towards her. The next emotion was admiration, how much all of them had gone through to get here. And Sissi know she wasn't worthy of being in that company. While they had fought and sacrificed to save a world that would never know the danger it was in she had acted as the spoiled brat of the school. To be in their circle would be a belittlement of all they'd done and yet she still did not want to say no to the offer. Seconds stretched into minutes as the debate raged in her mind, possibilities both good and bad playing out behind the sound of Aelita's typing. It's end was signaled by a throat clear and the sound of her voice, hesitant and low, filling the chamber. "Aelita? I've made my decision."

(*)

Kadic City, Near The Factory: "Yumi?" William asked sounding concerned.

Pulling out of her thoughts she whispered, "I meant that at the time I said it... But circumstances changed and... I understand what's happened between Ulrich and I and that we both know how to make our relationship work now."

William frowned, that was hardly the answer he had hoped for. In fact, it wasn't really an answer at all. Taking in a deep breath he decided to try one last time. "Are you sure? Ulrich won't hesitate to show you his love? Won't hesitate to tell you how beautiful you are and how lucky he is to have you near him? He'll treat you with the trust and respect you deserve? He's really figured all that out in a day, because of one bad event?"

"No!" Yumi snapped. "He figured it out in one long, painful talk. And even if he's not as perfect as you obviously think you are we'll both be happy with each other."

"Or you'll both fight in a few days and go back to being miserable." William shot back, angered at both the rejection and the insult.

"So what's your alternative, date you?" Yumi shouted back. "The guy who let XANA capture him on his very first trip to Lyoko? You keep saying that you love me... Are you going to take that more seriously than the fate of the world or will I just be another game where the consequences don't matter as long as you have some fun."

William visibly deflated and turned away, walking slowly down the street. That had been a low blow and even though he knew he had been taking a chance and could provoke Yumi's ire, he hadn't been prepared for that.

"William... Wait." Yumi called after him, sounding contrite. "William!"

He stopped and turned to face her. Pain poured out of his voice as he yelled, "Don't... Just leave me alone... When Ulrich hurts you next time don't expect to come to me to make him jealous and you feel better."

"William?" Yumi's voice reached out, soft and sorrowful. "I didn't mean it that way... I... You're right in that I used you for that purpose in the past." Tears threatened to form in her eyes as she considered the consequences she was now seeing. "I'm sorry that it isn't you I want and I'm sorry about hitting you with your time as XANA's slave." Her tone hardened slightly, "But you need to understand that who I love is my choice, and I've made it... Ulrich is the one I want."

William considered simply turning away and walking off, leaving her to worry about him and maybe make her feelings for him stronger. Instead he turned towards her and looked into her eyes, seeing the determination that said she wasn't changing her mind. Forcing the smallest of smiles to his lips despite feeling about as far away from smiling as he could he answered "I understand... But I meant what I said, you can't use me as a tool to hurt Ulrich anymore."

Yumi exhaled loudly then nodded, "and you can't pursue me anymore... No trying to make Ulrich jealous." She extended her hand hesitantly, intent on shaking on their deal.

At the factory a white column of light burst out of the floor and pierced the night sky like a knife. The base of the column slowly expanded, filling the factory with a solid bubble that advanced on their position. Gasps went up from the crowd and a few tried to scatter, running away from the strange opaque, bright white object that made its way towards them, swallowing everything in its path. William hesitantly reached out and grasped Yumi's outstretched hand, giving it a firm shake before the bubble washed over them.

CW: I see your point on the Christmas prompts and don't blame you there, but they were fun to read. I hope it was a fun sort of busy. When you get L4D perhaps I can use a different alias and we can share a game or two. Only if it won't get you into trouble.

Oh, next time you want XAA to play with me can you leave one of XAA's toys with me?