Disclaimer: I don't own Code Lyoko.

Chapter 4

Yumi sighed and sat down in a chair, crossing her fingers that today's lesson wouldn't be too terrible. Who knew what horrors Aelita and her mentors had in store for her?

"You're late," chided Aelita.

"Sorry, Jim made the class run an extra mile," said Yumi apologetically.

"Well, today we're going to reinforce the fact that Ulrich likes you," said Aelita, waving a small black book in her hand. "Let's see, here..."

"I can't believe you," said Yumi, gaping. "Stealing his book bag is one thing, but his diary?"

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," said Naomi with a shrug.

"Ah, September 21st," Aelita read aloud. "I can't believe it! William just walked up to our table at lunch today and asked Yumi if she was doing anything later! Who does he think he is? Then Yumi shot him down and muttered something; I think I heard the word pig, but maybe it was wishful thinking. William slouched away after that, letting us eat in peace. One of these days I think I'm just gonna lose it and push him down a hole. It's hard enough trying to talk to Yumi without him butting in! It'd really help if...Gah, I don't know. If William and Sissi could date each other? Yeah, perhaps. I still don't know--"

"Let me see that!" said Yumi, snatching the diary out of Aelita's hands. She read over the words to find Aelita hadn't embellished at all, and it was Ulrich's handwriting. She blushed and meekly handed it back.

"He has such a way with words, doesn't he?" asked Claire, smirking. "Oh, go to last Valentine's Day, I bet there's something good in there!"

Aelita nodded and obliged. "Ugh, I'm stuck going to a concert with Sissi. I'm surprised Yumi was okay with it, usually she hates Sissi. I guess Yumi finally fell for William or something, but I don't get it. William basically said she was just like every other girl! Idiot. Then again, that poem I tried to write wasn't much better, but Yumi seemed to like it. This is probably the most confusing day of the year. Why can't love ever be simple? Yep, I said it. I love Yumi Ishiyama! Oh, crap, Odd's looking at me funny. This is it for this entry."

Once again Yumi grabbed the diary to make sure she was hearing the truth. Aelita had skipped over some Lyoko bits, but everything else was just has she had read. Yumi blushed more profusely and sheepishly stared at the floor.

"Should we continue?" asked Azra.

"No," said Yumi, shaking her head. "Just make sure he gets it back."

"We wouldn't want to violate her boyfriend's privacy," said Aelita. "Oh, and Yumi, you're still tardy. Twenty push-ups. Now."

"What?" asked Yumi, startled. Had she heard her correctly?

"Fine. Thirty," ordered Aelita. She clapped her hands and yelled loudly, "Now!"

The emerald fire in her friend's eyes scared Yumi out of her wits, and confused her greatly. Her other teachers soon mimicked Aelita, and, under the glares and intimidation of ten, she did thirty push-ups, throwing in an extra five for good measure.

"What was that all about?" asked Yumi after Aelita's gaze softened.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Aelita, brushing it off. "All right, moving on."

"We're going to be using a...teaching tool today," said Jeremie, somewhat hesitantly. "Recognize this?"

"No," said Ulrich, watching Jeremie wave a book in his hand. "What is that?"

"Yumi's diary," said Jeremie calmly. "I thought it might be useful."

"What?!" asked Ulrich, standing up. "Jeremie, you actually stole her diary? Are you insane?"

"I didn't," said Jeremie. "And whoever did is besides the point. We have it, we're using it."

Ulrich reluctantly sat back down, though fuming at such an invasion.

"How about April 3rd?" asked Jeremie, turning the pages. "Yes, that's a good choice, and I think you remember that day." He began reading aloud. "I can't believe it. I nearly died because of Jeremie and Aelita! If they hadn't started making out Ulrich wouldn't have surprised me and I wouldn't have choked on a stupid fry! But, then Ulrich saved me. When I could finally breathe I felt his arms wrapped around me, and I felt so warm and safe inside, and...well, I'm starting to sound mushy, but it's true! He's got those gorgeous brown eyes, and that amazing smile, and...Now we know she thinks you're hot."

"Give me that," said Ulrich, skimming over the page. He turned bright red as he glanced at Yumi's perfect handwriting, and knew it wasn't forgery. "She does not think I'm hot, for the record, she was just a little shaken up."

"Right," said Odd sarcastically. "How about December 12th?"

"Oh, yeah," said Jeremie. "Ahem. Ulrich was so sweet today. His dad was so mad at him for his bad grades this term, and said it was because of his good-for-nothing friends. Especially that one older girl. Ulrich got really angry and started defending all of us, me the most. He said that we were more important than grades, and that we were the best thing to ever happen to him. I'm cleaning up the language a little bit, though. If I talked to my dad like that, I'd be in a convent right now. Still, I didn't know we meant that much to him. He's always so quiet, like he's got something big on his mind, and it's like he always knows whats on my mind, too."

"She's not serious, is she?" asked Ulrich incredulously. "I've spent hours trying to figure out what she's thinking!"

"Figure it out, Ulrich," said Jeremie. "You're always the first to know something's wrong with her. You're always the one to cheer her up. You're the one she spends the most time with. You have to have some idea of what she's speculating."

"Well, I guess so," said Ulrich thoughtfully.

"So you guess she's hot for your mind, too," said Jean-Baptiste, grinning. Ulrich blushed but didn't reply.

"You should see what else is in here," said Jeremie, gesturing to the diary. "There's a whole entry on just your eyes, and just your soccer game, and just your wedding day. The girl plans ahead, I'll give her that."

"You read the entire diary?" asked Ulrich, shocked.

"No, of course not!" said Jeremie, insulted. "That would be a violation of privacy."

Yumi smiled, having found Ulrich in the park as planned. He waved, and his cheeks looked a little red, like he was blushing.

"Hey," greeted Yumi. "Ready to spar?"

"Sure," said Ulrich.

The two bowed respectfully to each other and began. Yumi aimed a kick at his chest, but he dodged it. He attempted a blow to her arm, and she skillfully kicked it away. He smirked and grabbed her foot in midair, catching her by surprise and unable to free herself. Until she rammed her foot against his shin and he dropped it.

"Ouch!" yelled Ulrich. Yumi took the opportunity and sent him reeling to the ground, then setting her foot on his stomach as a sign of victory. "Okay, you win!"

"Try again?" asked Yumi, offering her hand. He nodded, and they bowed once more.

Ulrich moved with more agility in this round. Making false tries at punches caught Yumi off guard and confused her, giving him an advantage. She quickly learned his strategy, though. She grabbed both of his hands and tried to push him back, but he didn't give in, and pushed back.

Ulrich looked in her eyes for any show of weakness, and was instead drawn to them. Two beautiful eyes that seemed to show the beginning and the end. His force against her lacked, and Yumi took notice. She stared at him curiously. She met his eyes and stopped struggling, moved by the warmth in them. Their hands, still locked together, dropped down between the two.

Yumi felt him get closer, and in turn did the same. Their foreheads touched, and she pressed her lips against his. Ulrich raised his hand to her chin and deepened it, trembling. Neither of them heard a small click! and continued before parting slowly.

"Um, that was..." Yumi trailed off.

"Yeah," Ulrich agreed. Yumi's watch beeped and they jumped.

"I have to go," said Yumi shyly. "It's time for dinner."

"Yeah," said Ulrich, nodding. "See you tomorrow?"

"Yep," said Yumi, her lips tingling. She waved goodbye and started walking away, and couldn't help but relive that kiss in her mind. She couldn't help but want to feel it again.

A/N: Yes, I know this is a short chapter. If my style has changed for the worse, I"m sorry. A word of advice: Breaks stink. I can barely write JxA anymore!