Yumi arrived at school early on Monday. She caught sight of her friends and started to walk over to them when someone stepped in front of her. It was William. Yumi felt a little twinge of anxiety in spite of herself, but kept her face impassive. "Morning, Dunbar," she said, referring to him by his last name as she attempted to brush by.

William smiled cruelly. "I know it was you," he told her softly, quietly enough so that no one else could hear him. "The anonymous phone call that was made to the police was you." Yumi stopped dead in her tracks. "I'm in a bit of trouble right now, thanks to you. But rest assured-" William had grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer, but Yumi still had to strain to hear his next words "- this isn't over. Not for you, not for Stern. Not for anyone, got that? You'll be hearing from me a lot sooner than you think." He released her and pushed her back, smirking as he turned away from her.

Yumi felt a shiver of fear run down her spine, but forgot William's threat as she joined her friends.

Jeremie raised his pale eyebrows. "You're early, Yumi. You usually eat breakfast at home."

Yumi shrugged. "I wasn't hungry. Besides, my parents are wiped out from the tournament. I didn't want to bother them."

"Were you talking to William just now?" Odd asked, who was the only one who didn't know what happened by now.

The atmosphere of the group changed instantly. Jeremie dropped his sky-blue eyes and stared at the dirt, his fingers on Aelita's shoulder tightening. Aelita let out a little involuntary noise. Ulrich's eyes flashed dangerously.

"Yes," Yumi answered in a nonchalant voice while Odd looked around the group, confused by the sudden anger. She glanced at Ulrich. "Can I talk to you for a moment, Ulrich?"

"What? Oh, sure." Ulrich followed Yumi away from the rest of the group, into the forest.

"I see your hand is better," Yumi commented, touching it gently. He had removed the bandage, and the cut had already begun to heal.

"Oh, yeah, that's true." It seemed that he had forgotten all about it. "Yumi… are you okay?"

Yumi paused to consider the question. "Yes," she told him at last. "Yes, I'm all right." And then, the question that she had been bursting to ask spilled out of her. "How did you know?"

She didn't need to explain; Ulrich knew what she was asking about. "Odd's girlfriend, Emily, heard that you were going out with William. She knew that Odd was your friend, and came looking for him in the dormitory last night. I was the only one there. It turns out that he pulls this with every girlfriend he has. I knew where his house was, so…" Ulrich trailed away. "… Yumi, I think that you could tell someone, preferably the police. You wouldn't want this happening-"

Ulrich stopped as Yumi put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I've already taken care of it. Don't worry." She had known at once that he had pulled this with other girls. He had been too good of an actor, played his part too well not to have done this before.

Ulrich grinned wryly. "I never do," he said quietly. He added in a more audible voice, "Was that all you wanted?"

Yumi shook her head. She took off her backpack and retrieved the velvet box from inside of it. Yumi held it out to him.

"You didn't like it?" Ulrich's voice didn't change, but Ulrich could see the pain in his jade eyes.

"No, I do," she said quickly. "I just… I can't accept this, Ulrich."

"Why?"

"I saw the price tag," Yumi confessed. "Buying that car means everything to you. I don't want you to spend it all on me. Here." Yumi shoved the box into his hands and started to walk away, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Doing something for you means more than any car ever could." Yumi turned, and saw that Ulrich's eyes were shining with passion. He continued:

"You mean more to me…"

Please, don't say it, Ulrich.

"… than anyone else on earth."

It would never work.

"You always have, Yumi…"

We already tried this.

"… but I could never tell you."

It's too complicated.

"I was afraid…"

William's angry at both of us…

"…that you wouldn't feel…"

We'd just be a double target.

"..the same way that I do."

We'd never hear the end of it from Odd.

"But not anymore."

We were just meant to be friends…

"Yumi…"

…yet why do I feel…

"I love you."

…that this is right?

Ulrich slid his arms around Yumi, drew her closer, and did what he had failed to do all those years ago on Lyoko: he kissed her. It was not a rough kiss as William's had been, Yumi noticed. Ulrich's was soft, almost hesitant, but she could feel all of his love and tenderness. And as Yumi melted into Ulrich's embrace, her doubts faded away. This is where I belong.

Finally, Ulrich drew away. "I'm sorry," he said, his face turning red. "That was really stupid. I put you in a bad-"

Ulrich stopped for the second time that day as Yumi kissed him again, just as he had done. "What took you so long?" she asked with a grin.

A mixture of relief, joy, and wonder washed over Ulrich's handsome features. There were a few more words shared before they came back to their original subject.

"I still want you to have this," Ulrich told her, holding out the box.

Yumi stared at it for a moment, and then shook her head. "Ulrich, I can't." Her face had a resolute expression on it that was impossible to argue with.

Ulrich considered her for a moment. "How about this: I'll take it back for now. Then, when I have enough money for both, I'll buy it back for you." His face mirrored her stubborn resolve, and Yumi could not help laughing.

"Deal." She sealed it with a quick kiss.

Ulrich had opened his mouth to say something more when a peal of laughter interrupted him. Ulrich and Yumi turned as one to see Odd, roaring with laughter. "I knew it!" he gasped, pointing triumphantly at the pair of them.

"Odd, I'm going to kill you, you little spy!" Ulrich called to him. Odd darted off, still giggling weakly. Ulrich glanced over at Yumi. "Should we go after him?"

"We might as well."

Ulrich grinned and ran after Odd, calling after him, "Come on, Yumi!"

"I'm coming!" Yumi dashed after them, still thinking. Ulrich, Yumi decided, had a great smile too.

The End

This is my most recent story, but the first one I'm posting. Go figure. This is actually for a contest on another site, but I would still like you to R&R.

R to the 3rd