Re-uploading to do some minor edits.

I'M BAAACK! .:sees everyone run off into hiding:. Well I love you too. Anyway, here's the first chapter of my new story. Let me make note that it takes place in Season 2 so no reviews telling me anything that happened after, oh say, Vertigo.

The night was peaceful. The sounds of the day had given way to the more peaceful ones of night time and the activity that was present when the sun shined was extinguished by the glow of the moon light. Darkness engulfed the whole town, and the only lights come from the many homes and the boarding school in the center. Inside the boarding school, known as Kadic Academy, all slept soundly...that is all but one.

Jeremie Belpois sat in front of his computer screen, eyes focused on the jumble of numbers and letters that littered the monitor. His fingers flew over the keyboard as he typed in command after command.

The sound of his door opening caused him to cease. Slowly, he turned only to see a pink haired girl standing in his doorway.

"Jeremie? Why aren't you asleep?" she asked, stepping into the doorway. Closing the door behind her she walked up to him and glanced at what was on the monitor.

"I couldn't sleep, Aelita." he replied, turning back to his work.

"You're not still working on finding the antivirus are you?" Aelita asked, a knowing look in her eyes.

"I'm making some progress. I want to get the virus out of you, so that you'll be free from XANA forever."

A smile crossed Aelita's face. "Jeremie, I know how much you want that to happen, but you won't be able to function if you don't get some sleep."

"I know. But every time I try to fall asleep, thoughts keep racing through my mind. I can't sleep well anyway."

"Well, I'm going back to my room before Jim catches me. Promise me you won't stay up all night?"

"I promise."

"Good night Jeremie."

"Good night Aelita."

He watched as Aelita walked through his bedroom door, quietly closing it behind her. He sighed. She was beautiful to him in every way imaginable. He loved her...even if she wasn't quite human. At least, not yet. As soon as he could find the antivirus and free her from the demonic artificial intelligence that bound her, she would be just about as human as she could ever be. He fantasized for that day for come . . . he prayed for it every morning when he got up and every night before he fell asleep.

A large yawn escaped past his lips. He moved his glasses to wipe his eyes; he was tired. Slowly he closed out of his research, being sure to save it all before shutting down his computer. Pushing back his chair, he put his glasses down on the desk before climbing into bed. He glanced at his clock before closing his eyelids: 3:18. He had pulled another all-nighter; no doubt he was going to be tired for the next day's classes.

It doesn't matter, Jeremie thought to himself moments before he fell asleep. The more time I spend on it, the faster I will find the antivirus. Then we'll never have to worry about XANA ever again...

The sound of her alarm clock woke Yumi Ishiyama out of a dead sleep. With a groan, the Japanese girl reached up and slammed her hand down on the snooze button. Why did the morning have to come so soon? She pushed the blankets off herself as she turned the alarm off least she would have to hear it's annoying beeping again.

Slowly, she stumbled into the bathroom and glanced in the mirror. She looked beat. Splashing some cold water on her face, Yumi tried to wipe the sleepiness from her eyes. Unfortunately she was unsuccessful. In the past few nights she had gotten a total of about 6 hours sleep - maybe. Time flew whenever she was in Lyoko and often times when she, Jeremie, Aelita, Odd Della Robbia, and Ulrich Stern finally defeated XANA, it was already into the wee hours of the morning.

She sighed as she dried the water off her face and grabbed her outfit she'd be wearing that day. In no time she was dressed and walking down to the kitchen where her parents and her little brother were already sitting at the table, eating their breakfast.

"Morning mom and dad." she greeted as she grabbed a bowl for herself.

"Yumi. You look exhausted!" her mother pointed out. "Have you been getting enough sleep?"

"Yes mom." she lied . . . something she hated to do. Then again, she couldn't tell her parents that she had spent most of the night in a virtual world fighting a crazy artificial intelligence with one virtual girl who recently had been virtualized and three boys either.

Yumi quickly finished her breakfast and kissed each parent. "Goodbye! I'll see you after school."

"Good bye Yumi!" her mother called after her as the girl ran out of the front door, book bag slung over her shoulder. She was eager to get to school, not because she found the work great, but rather to see her friends.

She ran down through the streets for a few blocks until she came to the gates of the school, not winded in the least. The school and her home were not too far away from each other and all the running she did constantly when XANA launched an attack had kept her in top physical condition.

Yumi's paced slowed as she passed through the gates. As she walked inside, her eyes scanned the groups of students milling about. As her gazed traveled toward a bench in the center of the grounds, she spotted the others standing around talking with one another.

Ulrich Stern was the first to notice her. "Hey Yumi!" he greeted as she walked toward them.

"Hey guys." she greeted back, taking a seat on the bench next to Jeremie. She slung her book bag off her shoulder and set it down in front of her. Casting a sideways glance at Jeremie she saw a huge yawn escape past his lips.

"Up too late again?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"I'm making too much progress on the anti virus to waste extra time sleeping." Jeremie responded with a nonchalanced wave of his hand.

A small smile stole away on Aelita's face. "But Jeremie, you do need to sleep. You know, if a human does not get enough sleep they could suffer from serious health problems."

"I guess that means that Odd's in the best health of any of us!" Ulrich joked, casting a glance at his friend.
Odd Della Robbia flashed a goofy grin in response to the comment. "Just another perk of sleeping in class."

A similar yawn escaped past Yumi's lips.

"I guess I wasn't the only one who was up late last night." Jeremie retorted.

"Between all these XANA attacks and the extra homework lately it's a wonder I got any sleep at all!" Yumi replied, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

"Like I said before," Odd started. "Sleeping in class has its advantages."

"Thanks Odd, but no thanks." Ulrich replied as he ruffled Odd's blonde hair. "I'm struggling enough as it is. I need to pay attention. Otherwise -"

"Oh Ulrich!" a female voice rang out in a sing song manner.

"Oh no." Ulrich muttered to himself. Slowly he turned to see Elizabeth "Sissy" Delmas approaching him.

"Ulrich, sweetie," she started. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Somehow I have the feeling I have no say in the matter." Ulrich retorted, folding his arms across his chest.

A small scowl appeared on Sissy's face, but only momentarily. "Guess what -"

"Time's up!" Odd shouted suddenly.

Sissy turned and glared at him. "Oh shut up you!"

"What?" Odd asked innocently. "You only asked for a second!"

"Humph!" Sissy snorted before turning back to Ulrich. "Ulrich, dear, you know that the Subsonics are doing a concert in town this weekend, right?"

A surprised looked crossed Ulrich's face. "Oh, really?" he asked.

Sissy smiled and nodded her head, glad to have gotten his attention. "Uh huh. And guess who has two front row tickets?" she asked as she waved two tickets around for everyone to see.

"You?" Ulrich asked, surprised.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go with me." she asked.

"Uh..." Ulrich said, glancing at Yumi. He would have loved to go, just not with Sissy!

"Come on Ulrich. I know they're your favorite group. No one else you know could possibly get you these kinds of tickets!" Sissy boasted, casting a sideways glance at Yumi, a small sneer on her face.

"Uh...you know...I have to see…what I have going on."

Sissy smiled as if she had won an enormous victory. "Alright. I'll see you tonight then."

"Huh? What?" He hadn't made any promises to her.

Casting another glance at Yumi, Sissy sneered at her in triumph, then turned and walked away. Nicholas and an extremely angry Herb followed.

"Ugh." Ulrich replied, leaning against the bench. "Why can't she get it through her thick skull that I don't like her?"

He glanced over at Yumi only to see that her arms were folded over her chest and an unhappy scowl lined her face. "What?" Ulrich asked.

"You never told her no." Yumi pointed out, anger and jealousy flashing through her eyes. She got to her feet and grabbed her bag. "Sounded like you really wanted to go."

"Well the Subsonics is his favorite group, Yumi." Jeremie added. "And let's face it, you know he would love those kinds of seats."

"So?" Yumi replied, getting to her feet. "If you don't like Sissy - like you claim you don't - it shouldn't have been all that difficult to tell her no."

"Yumi, what has gotten into you?" Ulrich replied, raising his hands in surrender.

"I'm sick of it." Yumi said. "Do you like Sissy or not?"

"What about you and William?" Ulrich retorted, trying to regain some credibility. He did not liking to have to defend himself to her.

"Oh boy. Here comes World War III." Odd complained.

Aelita squirmed around in her seat, clearly uncomfortable. She hated to hear any of her friends fight - especially with each other. She glanced at the two squabbling friends, then one at Jeremie who only shook his head.

"I'm sick of wondering about that!" Ulrich retorted.

"Why, jealous or something?" Yumi responded, grabbing her book bag up off the ground.

"Me? Jealous of William. You've got to be kidding!"

The sound of the bell ringing interrupted the argument.

"Uh, hate to cut it short, but we've got to get to class." Odd reminded them.

With fire in her eyes, Yumi turned and stormed off in the opposite direction as the rest of them without saying a word.

As the others turned and walked the other way, a sigh came past Aelita's lips. Jeremie could tell she was upset and, without a word, grabbed her hand. "Don't worry about it Aelita." Jeremie reassured her. "They can't stay mad at each other for too long."

"Ulrich, why do you and Yumi fight constantly?" Odd asked. "I mean, we all know you two like each other, so why do you guys try to deny it?"

"It's none of your business Odd." Ulrich snapped before walking ahead of the rest of them.

"Wow when he sulks, he does a darn good job of it." Odd commented in a low voice. No comment was made as the four continued to walk to their first class of the day.