A Song of Hope, a code lyoko fanfic

Yumi was alone.

Literally and figuratively. Literally, she was sitting in the trees fringing Kadic with no one else around. Figuratively, her heart was alone.

Walking into school this morning she had seen Ulrich with Emily again, laughing and talking with her like they did it every day. She tried not to be judgmental, considering the last time Ulrich had been with Emily she had blown it totally out of proportion. But this time seemed different.

Ulrich hadn't sat with them at lunch, and Odd hadn't seen him all morning.

Yumi was already upset because of Ulrich, so when Jeremie announced that his new program to bring back William had way too many bugs and would never be launched, she had had to leave before she broke down.

She leaned back against the trunk of the tree currently behind her and stared up at the dappled leaves overhead. A song she had heard the other day whispered in her head and she began singing it softly.

"All things bright and beautiful you are, all things wise and wonderful you are. In my darkest night you brighten up the skies; a song will rise.

"I will sing a song of hope, sing along, God of Heaven come down, Heaven come down. Just to know that you are near is enough, God of Heaven come down, Heaven come down."

"Wow, that was pretty." She opened her eyes as Ulrich's voice reached her. Was she delusional?

No, there he was, standing a few feet away from her. Yumi staggered awkwardly to her feet, smiling hesitantly at him.

"Uh, thanks." Why was she mad at him again? His dark eyes held her captive.

"I wanted to apologize for earlier," Ulrich told her without looking at her. His eyes were on his feet as he scuffed them in the dead leaves nervously.

"No, don't apologize. If you and Emily want to be together-" Yumi's voice broke and she trailed off, turning her eyes to the ground also.

"We're not together." His voice held so much sincerity she couldn't help but look up at him. He looked up also and met her gaze.

"She wants to be, but I told her no," Ulrich continued, his words slow and uncertain. "I told her…I told her that I already had someone."

"You a-already have s-someone?" Yumi felt a surge of panic. Did Ulrich have another girl?

"I have you," he replied simply, smiling as he slid into a sitting position at the foot of the tree. Yumi felt her face break into a grin to match his as she sat next to him.

"Anyway, I liked that song. Could you sing it again?" Ulrich asked her. Yumi leaned her head on his shoulder absently.

"Sure." And so she began, her lilting song of hope drifting softly through the forest as the two of them were, at peace.

"All things bright and beautiful you are,

All things wise and wonderful you are.

In my darkest night you brighten up the skies;

A song will rise.

"I will sing a song of hope, sing along.