Always there

Chapter 17: Halloween Dance


The first week with Hiroki 'in' on the whole Lyoko deal was awkward in every way. But as Halloween approached and Xana attacked over ten times in that week, everyone grew used to it. In fact, they began to appreciate his help.

But even after so many attacks, they couldn't figure out what Xana was up to. It was driving Jeremy up the wall and keeping everyone on edge slightly. But their spirits were picking up. This Friday was Halloween, and at 10 that night was the school's Halloween Dance.

On Wednesday between classes Hiroki pulled Ulrich aside in the hall. "What is it Hiroki?" Ulrich asked.

"Um, I was wondering. Are you and Yumi going to the dance on Friday?" Hiroki asked.

"Yeah, why?" Ulrich asked.

"Well, I was wondering if you could, um, tell me how I should, like, well, how could I asked, um,"

"You want to ask Millie don't you?" Ulrich asked with a grin.

"Well, er, yeah." Hiroki said, blushing.

"Its simple." Ulrich said, "Just act friendly, smile, and ask her if she'd go to the dance with you."

"Really?" Hiroki asked.

"Yeah. Just don't stutter or say 'um, like, um' all the time."

"Thanks." Hiroki said, running off to his next class. Ulrich had to run too so he wouldn't be late.

"Oh Ulrich!!!" he heard Sissy screech behind him. He groaned and stopped.

"What?" he asked.

"Oh nothing." she said coyly, "I was just wondering if you didn't have any plans this Friday..."

"I'm going to the dance with Yumi." Ulrich said flatly, "Not with you."

"B-but, why Ulrich?" She asked in her whiniest voice, "Why are you going with her? She's not nearly as beautiful-"

"She's more beautiful in a hundred different ways than you are." Ulrich said. "I'm surprised you're even still trying."

"Why are you surprised?" Sissi asked, putting her fists on her hips.

"Didn't your father tell you that I moved in with Yumi?" Ulrich asked. Apparently not, judging by the expression on Sissi's face. Ulrich turned around and walked to his class, leaving her speechless in the hall.

***

"Yumi! Its time to go!" Hiroki yelled up the steps. He was getting impatient waiting for his sister to come down so they could leave and meet up with Millie. Ulrich sat on the couch, seemingly infinitely patient. Ulrich was wearing a sharp suit; he was going to the dance as James Bond and Yumi was going as Vesper Lynd.

"I'll be right down." Yumi called. Hiroki walked over and sat across from Ulrich. Hiroki was going as Frankenstein and Millie was going as his wife.

"So I take it Millie said yes." Ulrich said. Hiroki beamed.

"She sure did!" He said.

"So did what I tell you help?"

"Nope. She asked me!" Hiroki said, "It was so much easier that way."

"Hm, I bet." Ulrich said with a smile. Yumi came down the steps. She was wearing a strapless dress down to her ankles and her normal black boots. She actually re-did her hair to look like Vesper Lynd from the movie. She spun around on her toes once she got downstairs.

"How do I look?" she asked. Ulrich got up and wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a kiss.

"Beautiful." he said.

"Ahem." Her dad said, clearing his throat, "Let's go." He walked with them out to the car and drove them all to the school; Ulrich in the front seat, Yumi and Hiroki arguing in the back. The car stopped in front of the school and they climbed out. Standing out front of the gymnasium was Millie in her white dress and black hair with a white streak.

"Hi Hiroki!" she said when they got there.

"Hi Millie!" Hiroki said.

"Since we'er all here, lets go in." Yumi suggested as they walked into the dimly lit and very loud room.

***

A half hour into the dance the DJ said over the mike "Hey all you guys and gals out there I'm taking requests now. Our first one comes from two cool guys, Hiroki and Ulrich, to their babes Millie and Yumi." He put the CD into the tray and instead of a popin' hip-hop or rap song, but instead came out the smooth melodies of George Straight's 'Just want to dance with you'. Ulrich walked over to where Yumi was sitting with Aelita and held out his hand.

"A little corny isn't it?" Yumi asked, taking his hand and standing up.

"Corny enough it seems." Ulrich said as they walked out to the middle of the gym. No one else was getting up to dance, it was just them. But you know what...they didn't care.

After a few awkward steps they managed to synch up with the song. And whenever the chorus got to 'Twirl you all around the floor' Ulrich twirled Yumi with expert timing. It didn't take long for another couple to join them dancing; Hiroki and Millie. Then another couple joined them; Aelita and...Odd?

The three couples moved and spun all around the center of the gym, getting cheers from the other students not gutsy enough to come out and dance to a romantic song.

After the song, when more up-beat requests were playing, the group of six sat down to cool off.

"Aelita, where's Jeremy?" Yumi asked, "And why'd you dance with Odd?"

"Are you insulting my dancing skills?" Odd asked in comic anger.

"I'm getting a drink." Ulrich said, getting up, "You want something while I'm up there Yumi?"

"No thanks." Yumi said.

"How about you Aelita?" Odd asked, also standing up.

"Just some punch please." she said. Odd and Ulrich walked off.

"Well Jeremy is busy trying to find out what Xana's up to." Aelita said, "And Odd, well, he's been helping me with my little problem."

"You mean..?" Yumi asked. Aelita nodded.

"Nothing romantic, just relief." Aelita said.

"Not romantic huh?" Yumi asked, grinning and raising an eyebrow, "Just so you know; you don't go with someone to a dance, dance to a love song, and make 'goo-goo' eyes at them and not be romantically involved."

"Who was making 'goo-goo' eyes?" Aelita asked.

"Both of you." Yumi said, "And I'm not the only one who noticed it. Ulrich noticed also. So tell me; Jeremy or Odd?"

"Well," Aelita said, closing her eyes and wearing a dreamy smile, "I'd like to have both."

"You are a nympho aren't you?" Yumi asked giving Aelita a push. She looked around, "Hey, where'd Hiroki go?" she asked.

"I think I saw them go outside to cool off." Aelita said, pointing at the door. Yumi walked out to find them. She had to keep an eye on her brother or else he could get in trouble. She stepped outside and looked around.

"Ooh!" she heard someone yell to her right. It sounded like Mill and, due to the recent frequency of attacks, Yumi was worried Xana was involved so she ran to the corner of the building and stepped around the corner. She jumped back around the building instantly and pressed her back to the wall, in shock and a little queesy. She turned and walked back inside in a slight daze. Ulrich and odd had returned and them and Aelita were still sitting around chatting. Yumi sat down with a stricken look on her face.

"Are you okay?" Ulrich asked.

"Not really." Yumi said.

"Did you find Hiroki?" Aelita asked. Yumi nodded. "Is he okay?" Yumi nodded again.

"What's wrong?" Ulrich asked.

"Yeah, you look like you've seen a ghost." Odd said.

"Was it Hiroki?" Ulrich asked.

"Yes." Yumi said.

"Is he okay? Is Milly okay" Aelita asked.

"Yes. They're fine." Yumi said.

"Then why do you look like you've just seen someone's head get cut off?" Odd asked.

"I just saw Hiroki and Milly having sex." Yumi said. To that, Ulrich, Odd, and Aelita raised their eyebrows.

"What?" they all asked.

"Don't make me say it again." Yumi said, "I'm already in shock."

"But where?" Odd asked.

"Outside." Yumi said, "Around the side of the building. Milly was up against the wall with her legs around Hiroki's waste..."

"Okay, TMI." Ulrich said.

"I don't think I want to dance anymore." Yumi said, "And I think I will have some of that punch now." Ulrich nodded and got up to get Yumi a drink.