Greetings! This is yet another fic I've started. Because I'm clearly barely in my right mind at times. So many fics. So many, you don't understand. So many. At any rate, all of the 'someone finds themselves in the Code Lyoko Universe and is fine with it' fics were driving me insane. Where are the people who are freaking the fuck out, desperately trying to get back to their own universe and the people they love? I want to see some of those people! So here is my version, with my own character. Rikako (pronounced Ree-ka-ko) is in no way shape or form me. I'm the whitest white girl, so if anyone has issues with how I'm writing a character who is Japanese-American, please, let me know. It is my wish to be as accurate and non-racist as possible.

French is written normally, Japanese is underlined, and English (which will appear in the first actual chapter) is italicized.

PROLOGUE

Hiroki was walking home alone, not unusual as Yumi usually stayed at school with her friends for a while, when he heard someone speak to him.

"Hey, you're Ishiyama Hiroki, right?" a female voice spoke in lilting Japanese. He started and turned toward the sound. She was leaning against a tree across the street, her expression sort of heartbroken.

"Who wants to know?" he asked, and she gave him an odd quirked smile, sadness still in her eyes.

"My name is Yamasaki Rikako. I just started at Kadic not too long ago. I'm in Yumi-chan's grade."

"Yumi's mentioned you," Hiroki says, relaxing his posture and looking at her in open curiosity. "She says your French is bad so you'll talk to her in Japanese instead."

"That's true," she shrugged, "I'm Japanese-American. I learned a bit of French in school, but American schools really are not good for learning a language."

"Or for much else, from what I've heard." He half expected her to take offense, but instead she just laughed. He took that moment to cross the street to stand in front of her. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I wanted to get away from the school, and this seemed like a good enough place. Perhaps not for long, but for a moment." She tucked a strand of long black hair behind her ear. "I'll admit I was also hoping I might catch sight of Yumi-chan. She has a better grasp on our work than I, and I was hoping she could help me out." She smiled at him, but he could see the sadness in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked plainly, not one for beating around the bush. The smile dropped off her face.

"I miss my family and friend," she admitted. "I was not given a choice in the move, and I have left them all behind. I didn't even get to say goodbye. I am... wondering how they are."

"Really?" he could not mask his surprise, "why were you forced to come here?"

"I don't honestly know," she looked away from him. "I just... can you keep a secret Hiroki-kun? From everyone. Even Johnny and Yumi-chan and Ulrich." Perhaps alarm bells should have been going off in Hiroki's mind, but instead the promise of a secret -a big one- was way too good a lure to miss. He nodded vigorously, and she looked around before she leaned over to talk into his ear. His eyes widened and he turned to stare at her in disbelief.

"Vraiment?!" he breathed it out, and she gave him a bitter smile.

"Vraiment," she looked away, across the street. "I had two brothers, you know. One was older than me, he'd nearly graduated. The other one was about your age. You kind of remind me of him, a little bit. Not much though." She gave a laugh, though it sounded more as if she were crying.

"You have two brothers," he reminded her, but she shook her head.

"The thing is, I don't even know anymore, I really don't." She pushed away from the tree. "I should probably head back, and I imagine you should get home soon too. Please don't tell anyone what I told you Hiroki-kun. I don't want to be tested for intergalactic travel." Hiroki couldn't help the giggle that came out at the thought, and she smiled at him more genuinely this time.

"I promise," he swore. As she turned to leave, he tapped her arm. She turned back to him. "If you ever want to talk about them, I'll listen." He said it shyly, but it was worth it to see the smile that lit her face up.

"Merci Hiroki-kun," she gave him a quick hug.

"Pas de problem," he said hugging back, "au revoir Nee-chan."

"Au revoir." She left him at the tree, where he stood for a moment more.

"Bizarre," he muttered before he turned and headed home.