Disclaimer: I don't own Code Lyoko.
Chapter 18
Spring. That was the only word to fit the scent Jeremie had just inhaled. He looked down at the girl, arms slung around his neck, legs bent over his lap, cuddling up against him, and sniffed again. Her scent was much better. She peered up at him and smiled, shifting in his embrace so they were closer in the shade of the tree they were under. He had one arm hugged around her back and was playing with the puff ball dangling on her boot with his free hand.
"Tell me something about you," she demanded, rubbing her cheek against his chest.
"Huh?" asked Jeremie, confused.
"Something I don't already know," Aelita elaborated. "Anything."
"All right..." Jeremie thought hard for a moment, raking his fingers through her hair. "I love eating macaroni. Your turn."
"You already know everything about me," reminded Aelita.
"Try me."
"Lilies are my favorite flower."
"I didn't know that," said Jeremie, mildly surprised. "I thought you preferred carnations."
"I changed my mind," replied Aelita simply. "Your turn."
Jeremie gazed inquisitively at her, wondering what caused her sudden curiosity. She pointed a finger at the algebra book cast aside. "We were studying," she said. "And we've got all the material down. Why not learn something about each other?"
"In that case, my favorite color isn't blue," said Jeremie. Aelita raised an eyebrow. "It's green."
"Why's that?" asked Aelita.
"A certain someone's eyes changed my mind," answered Jeremie, kissing her forehead. Aelita turned pink and buried herself deeper into him.
"Lately my nightmares haven't been so bad," murmured Aelita.
"That's great, Aelita," said Jeremie sincerely.
"Yeah...whenever something starts scaring me, I...um..." Aelita faltered in embarrassment. "You come along and chase it away. Then you hold me until I wake up."
Jeremie blushed bright red and hugged her as tight as physics would allow him. "I love you," whispered Jeremie.
"I know that," said Aelita, flushed. "And I love you, too."
Yes," said Jeremie, nuzzling the top of her head. "But what you don't know is that I'm not in love with only you."
Aelita's smile faded as confusion took over. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"I'm in love with your spirit," answered Jeremie. Aelita's grin returned. "Your mind." Jeremie planted a kiss on her temple. "Your eyes." He kissed each eyelid as they fluttered closed. "Your smile."
Jeremie pushed a gentle kiss on her mouth. Aelita cupped her hands around his face. Her eyes flew open in surprise when he pulled away suddenly, and their lips disconnected with a small smacking sound.
"All right, loverboy, come on."
Jeremie felt a pull on the back of his shirt as he was jerked away from Aelita. She was blushing and looking at something above his head.
"You couldn't have waited a few minutes?" grumbled Jeremie, turning around to see a smirking Ulrich.
"It's not my fault you've got a slow mouth," defended Ulrich, sitting down on the ground.
"Might I ask where the future Mrs. Stern is?" asked Aelita, giggling at Ulrich's monstrous blush. "I'm surprised you two aren't off somewhere alone."
"I know you set us up," said Ulrich venomously. "And for that, here." Ulrich balled up his fist and gave Jeremie two good bonks on the head.
"You had to do it twice?" asked Jeremie, rubbing the sore spot on his skull.
"I can't hit a girl," said Ulrich, shrugging. Aelita glared at him and planted a kiss on what was sure to become a lump on her beau's head. "I know you were involved too, Princess."
"I'd have thought you'd be more grateful for our services," muttered Jeremie.
"I'm grateful I didn't lose my mind!" spat Ulrich. "You two are cruel."
"Giving you the girl of your dreams as a girlfriend is cruel?" asked Aelita, quirking an eyebrow.
"You only needed that one last plan to get us to confess," said Ulrich. "Why didn't you use just that?"
"You want to be stuck on Lyoko for a week?" asked Jeremie. "You're both too stubborn. You were more likely to spill it while you were yelling at each other."
"So you did set us up," growled Ulrich. "Doesn't that sound a little familiar?"
"Like I told Odd, it was your one good plan," retorted Jeremie.
"Odd was in on it, too?" asked Ulrich furiously.
"He's your teacher too," pointed out Aelita.
"Don't tell Yumi," begged Ulrich. Although he loved her with all his heart and knew she felt the same, he'd die of embarrassment if she knew how much effort it took for him to tell her.
"Where is Yumi, anyway?" asked Jeremie.
"Her dad threatened to ground her if she didn't get home for dinner," said Ulrich glumly. "He wasn't exactly thrilled when he found out I was with her."
"Are you planning on sneaking up to her window?" asked Jeremie, smirking. "I think she'd prefer you over a fake love letter."
Ulrich felt the heat rising in his cheeks, remembering the last time he had come to Yumi's window. Jeremie didn't really need to know about that, did he? After all, he wasn't Ulrich's teacher anymore.
"None of your business," said Ulrich quickly.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Ulrich resisted the urge to give Jeremie another lump on his head. Yumi loved him. If Jeremie felt like being a little cheeky, he'd let him. Today. Ulrich jumped when he felt something sink down into the grass next to him. He turned to look at two unblinking brown eyes, and felt his heart going at it like a jackhammer.
"Hi, Yumi."
Yumi reluctantly tore her gaze away from Ulrich to Aelita, and her eyes narrowed. It didn't take a genius to know being trapped on Lyoko was no mistake. Getting Jeremie to go along with it would have been no problem; the boy was wrapped around the pinkette's finger. And Odd was always a fan of tormenting Yumi and Ulrich.
"Hi, Aelita," Yumi mumbled through gritted teeth.
"I for one am glad we're finally done with these lessons," said Aelita, flopping onto her back to embellish her exhaust.
"Aelita!" Yumi and Ulrich shouted at the same time. They froze at the sound of the other's voice and stared at each other. Aelita jerked her head up and gaped with Jeremie.
"You didn't..." Jeremie faltered, glancing at Aelita, the couple, and back again. "What exactly were you doing in the scanner room?...Wait, don't answer that. You didn't do a lot of talking though, did you?"
Ulrich and Yumi blushed, although they had resumed glaring at Aelita. Ulrich pressed a finger to his mouth, but that only made her eyes widen further.
"They have to know," Jeremie murmured to Aelita. "They weren't supposed to keep it a secret forever."
"Very well, we'll tell them," said Aelita, sitting back up. "Ulrich, you should recall that Yumi's been acting a little strangely lately, correct?"
"Aelita!" Yumi wanted nothing more than to strangle the girl right now, just to keep her silent.
"Yumi, he loves you, nothing I say is going to change that," reminded Aelita dryly. "Ulrich, do you remember when Yumi became a cheerleader?"
"Yeah," answered Ulrich.
"It didn't really seem like something Yumi would do, did it?"
Ulrich cast his gaze to the fuming girl next to her, not sure how to answer. She was deliriously happy earlier this afternoon, but now she seemed ready to murder. He didn't want to make it any worse.
"She didn't do it willingly," Aelita continued. "You know how Jeremie, Odd, and those other boys have been teaching you how to flirt with her?"
Yumi gasped and snapped her head to Ulrich fast enough to get whiplash. He looked like a deer caught in headlights. A very red deer.
"She's been having teachers, too."
Yumi's blush matched then surpassed Ulrich's. They both stared down, trying to absorb the information. Jeremie and Aelita waited somewhat impatiently, then sighed when the couple said nothing.
"Oh, come on, it's not that hard to believe," said Aelita. "I had teachers. Jeremie had teachers. Think of it as our gift to you."
"Wait a minute, you had teachers?" Ulrich was dumbfounded. "Aelita! Why didn't you tell us?"
"You didn't ask," replied Aelita sweetly.
"I can sort of believe Jeremie needing help with romance," admitted Yumi sheepishly. "No offense, Jer."
"None taken."
"And you..." Yumi stared at Ulrich. He'd been more stressed out than usual lately, and now she knew why. He'd been put through the exact same nightmare she'd been experiencing. Because...he loved her. Yumi smiled when she remembered that. Ulrich seemed to make the identical connection she did, and met her eyes again.
"Wow," he murmured, his face breaking out into a grin.
"I suppose now isn't a good time to say you two fight like an old married couple," Jeremie commented casually. They didn't seem to hear.
Ulrich knew that this didn't change anything, but felt like a cinder block had been lifted off his chest all the same. The reason Yumi hadn't thought he was acting like a dork was because she was too preoccupied trying to...flirt with him? It was too much to take in at once.
"Why didn't you say anything?" asked Yumi, half relieved, half exasperated. "You could've...it would've been so much...Ulrich Stern, what is the matter with you?"
"I just didn't want you to think I was desperate," said Ulrich. "You didn't exactly tell me all about your lessons!"
"Because I didn't want you to think I was..." Yumi trailed off, turning red. Ulrich smirked and scooted closer to her. He tipped her head up to his and kissed her mouth. Albeit he was quite familiar with it by now, it possessed a taste he'd never tire of.
After a while Aelita popped the question. "Jeremie, don't they need air?" Jeremie smiled and pressed a kiss on the top of her head. "I think their lungs are pretty strong," explained Jeremie. "I guess so," she murmured.
Ulrich pulled back and frowned at them. "Must you?" he asked incredulously. Jeremie and Aelita smirked.
"You walked in on us," said Aelita. "We'll tease if we want to."
Yumi rolled her eyes at them and looked back at Ulrich. He was all that mattered now, anyway. "Fine, we'll go," said Ulrich, standing up. "We could go back to my dorm, if you want."
Jeremie and Aelita snickered. Ulrich glared ruefully at them.
"I know for a fact that your room is accustomed to having a certain female visitor, Jeremie."
Jeremie fell silent as he blushed. Ulrich slipped an arm around Yumi's waist and left their tormentors behind. Yumi rested her head on his shoulder. They were quiet at first, content with each other's presence, until Ulrich broke the silence.
"I love you, Yumi."
Yumi felt her heart soar at those words. She loved hearing him say that. Ulrich was gazing at her, not watching where he was going. She sighed and nuzzled his shoulder.
"You are so beautiful," murmured Ulrich. Yumi turned pink against her will. "When are you supposed to be back home?"
"Ten," answered Yumi.
"Too early."
"I'd have to be gone by nine-thirty, anyway," reminded Yumi. "Kadic has a curfew, too."
"Since when do we ever go by curfews?" asked Ulrich. Yumi had to admit he was right; they had all snuck out more than once to conquer Xana.
"We've got right now, you know."
"And I'm taking full advantage of that."
Ulrich gripped her tighter and buried his nose in her hair. She smelled amazing. He wondered if he would ever let her go. If the world were run his way, he wouldn't. Ulrich brushed his lips against her forehead.
"I can't believe I was so stupid," he muttered. "If I told you how I really felt, we wouldn't have had to put up with the resident evil geniuses."
"Hey, don't think I'm letting you take all the blame," chided Yumi. "It's just as much my fault. I had no idea you were in the same nightmare I was."
"Still, I should've done something."
"Why? Because you're the guy?" teased Yumi.
"Because I love you."
Yumi fastened her arms securely around his neck and was pressing her lips against Ulrich's before he was aware of what was happening. When he did figure it out he wasted no time in wrapping his arms around her and replying with a fierce kiss of his own. Finally that annoying necessity by the name of oxygen interfered, and they broke apart.
"I've missed that," commented Yumi. "You're a really good kisser."
"You're not half bad yourself," joked Ulrich. Yumi grinned and punched him softly in the chest.
"I love you, Ulrich," she whispered, pecking him on the cheek. Ulrich beamed.
"I love you too, Yumes," he replied. "and I always will."
"So you finally understand I couldn't care less if William moved to Antarctica and was eaten by penguins?" asked Yumi. She had to be certain he knew where they stood.
"I know. And you know that if Sissi was suddenly trampled by an elephant, I wouldn't mind in the slightest?"
"Of course."
Yumi frowned when Ulrich started laughing. "What's so funny?" she inquired.
"You...jealous...of her!" Ulrich gasped out between chuckles. Yumi's frowned deepened, and he sobered somewhat. "Sorry, it's just...when you're by yourself, you're incredible, but compared to...that..."
"I already love you, you don't have to flirt like that," said Yumi, hating the blood that was now pumping into her face.
Ulrich now knew what Jeremie meant when his mentors had questioned the genius about sweet talking Aelita. It was far too easy to compliment Yumi, especially now. He'd do anything to make up for the insanity she'd suffered; telling her what he felt was only the truth was the least he could do. Yumi seemed embarrassed by it. She'll just have to get used to it, Ulrich thought. She's not going to go another day without knowing just how much I care for her.
Yumi stopped when they reached the dorm. She cupped Ulrich's face in her hands and met his lips, still shocked after all this time how well their mouths fit together. The fingers of Ulrich's left hand intertwined with her hair, while the fingers of his right one stroked her back. Yumi grinned and pulled back once she'd had her fill, and let him unlock the door. They had a lot of catching up to do.
"Sorry for the mess," said Ulrich sheepishly. "Odd's not the tidiest roommate."
But Yumi wasn't focused on the room as a whole. Her eyes were fixated on the wall above Ulrich's bed.
"Hey, Ulrich?"
"Yeah?"
"Why is there a giant poster of me over your bed?"
"...That is an excellent question, Yumi."
A/N: This took me way too friggin' long to finish. If I can't have it done by Halloween, I can at least post this chapter by Christmas.
There will be no Flirting 103. Mainly because I'm not creative enough to come up with a whole new set of plans, and because I'm too lazy. There will be a final part to this series for anyone who doesn't want to see it end. I'm not sure if I will post it before or after I finish rewriting this story.
Yes, I'm rewriting this. I'll be frank: I wish I never wrote it this way. Not nearly enough YxU fluff, and far too much JxA action (Excuse me while I wash my mouth out). I meant to put in an Ulrich/William fight in here somewhere...I also plan on cutting out that song Ulrich sang. Music is apparently not my strong point. Anyway, I also wanted more zany plans from the teachers. They didn't really serve much purpose in this story other than to intimidate Yumi and Ulrich. All right, so maybe I am an obsessive perfectionist...
I'm also not certain how active I'll be on FanFiction after I wrap this series up. I'm working on most of my JxA fics (Sorry, YxU fans). I'm about halfway done with the 99 JxA oneshots deal. I've got four or five other unfinished stories I'm trying to add on, but the damn writer's block won't bug off.
Thanks for reading, everyone.