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流離っている
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: California
Age: 34
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Tamekichi's Work
Hey yo.
For now, all I have is this Fan fic I have been working on. I would like some critique on it, as I've had this story idea in mind, and just wrote it out as more things materialized. I tried my best to stick to canon Kyon narration, but it's really easy to deviate away from that, so give me some criticism.
Ich liebe dich
This is a Kyon x Yuki fan fiction story, written in the style of Kyon's narrative in the novels. Kyon finds that Yuki is slowly getting more human feelings due to the emotion of love affecting her. Kyon goes through various situations with this new emotion filled Nagato, as well as trying to deal with his everyday responsibilities with the SOS Brigade, as Haruhi arranges for activities like a movie outing and a sleep over at Yuki's. This is not an adult story, as I want to stay as close to the Canon style narrative as possible, but I do have a little fun writing it. Just can't help myself sometimes.
Gotten up to 57,019 words now, so settle in if your going to read it all.
Spoiler for Chapter 1: Diary:
Y'know that period during the school year when time seems to be going at a normal pace, but before you know it, the end of the school year is upon you? I always think "Where did the year go, I can't seem to remember it passing so fast." It's that time that is seemingly in between the crawling clip of the start of the year and the similar slothful celerity of the end of the year. Somewhere, it picks up without my knowing. There is a time when I stop thinking "I wish this year was over" and only start thinking about what I have to do tomorrow. It sure does make it seem like the year flew by.
Of course, I can only realize this when I'm sitting quietly in the clubroom playing board games with Koizumi, quietly sipping on Asahina-san's tea. My mind, coupled with my eyes, wanders around the room at various times until I arrive at something that can keep my captious attention from wavering anymore.
Sometimes I stop on the ever-still alien reading her book in the corner. Today it looks like she's reading a French novel, "L’Étranger". I can't help but think back on picturing Nagato's various emotions, however little thought I had to expel to do it was enough.
Nagato suddenly realized my eyes had stumbled upon her. The only way I knew this was because her own lavender eyes had darted toward me, and instantaneously darted back to the pages of her book. It was imperceptible, but, having hung around Nagato for at least a year and a half, I feel I can almost sense these things about her. Huh. I'd never seen her trademark concentration broken like that.
Just then, my random musings on the staggered pace of the year and the stagnate state of the clubroom were suddenly broken by the one person who brought us all together.
"YAHOO!"
Her trademark overbearing voice blasted as she slammed the door open. Asahina-san cutely squealed as she made sure all her preparations for Haruhi's enter were complete, running to get our Brigade Commander her Oolong tea.
"Thanks Mikuru!"
She tossed her bag in the corner and plopped down on the Commander's chair, in front of the commander's desk and the computer we extorted from those poor computer club members.
"Kyon! What is something every group of friends needs to experience?"
You not coming up with dumb ideas? I don't know, I give up.
"Stupid. We all need to go to a movie together, and have a sleep over!"
What? Are we little 4th grade girls now?
"It doesn't matter Kyon, if we have fun that will be all that counts. Since we all know where Yuki's place is and we know her parents are never there for some reason, let’s have it there tomorrow night!"
Don't just go making plans at someone else's house for a party!
I looked at Nagato. She had stopped reading and was now intently staring at Haruhi.
"Sounds like it will be a fun time."
Koizumi's stupid smile and ever agreeing face only made these ideas more acceptable in Haruhi's mind.
"A-a sleep over?"
Asahina-san held the tea tray to her chest as she posed this meaningless question.
Haruhi jumped out of her seat with the quickness of a gymnast. She latched onto Asahina-san with her arms as a small sound could be heard
"Kyaa~!"
"Of course a sleep over Mikuru! Won't it be fun? We can stay up and tell ghost stories and play games all night. Hey, maybe even something mysterious will happen! Boy that would be great! Let’s have a talent contest too! Everyone has to do something tomorrow night to entertain the rest!"
Wait a sec. Isn’t this kind of inappropriate? A sleep over with 5 high school students, not to mention one with both sexes. Plus, how are we supposed to come up with a show this quickly? At least for me, I'm not like anyone here, I'm untalented.
"I already said it doesn't matter as long as we have fun! I won't let anything funny happen as Brigade Chief, so you'd better not try anything Kyon! You hear me?"
How could I not hear you when you’re yelling right into my face?
"Okay then! It's settled! Let's meet at the usual spot tomorrow at 6 PM for the movie! Afterward we'll head to Yuki's place."
And just like that my Saturday night was decided. Sigh. Looks like I'll have to lie to my mother again about my whereabouts. I'll have to tell Kunikida to remember that I told her I was sleeping at his house.
"I want everyone to get a good night's sleep tonight because tomorrow night is going to be a lot of fun! I don't think any of us will get any sleep! Dismissed!"
Haruhi quickly said those words as she grabbed her bag, and with one hand up in the air waving, she darted from the room. That girl. How does she have such incredible mood swings. At times like these it's hard to remember the melancholy Haruhi that sits behind me in class sighing. Actually, no it's not. That quiet Haruhi is my favorite one.
The rest of the people in the room did not move after Haruhi had gone. Nagato continued to look at the spot where Haruhi used to be. Koizumi just smiled as he turned his attention to cleaning up the board game. Asahina-san was still completely baffled.
"...s-sleep over. I-i-is that okay? I'll need to get clearance"
She was mumbling to herself again, as she seemed deep in thought but at the same time extremely worried. It's the same Asahina-san I had the pleasure of walking around town with that day I saved the spectacled boy from the van.
"I'm sure it will be alright Asahina-san, at least, if Haruhi doesn't do anything wild."
I tried to console her, as my insides seemed to melt when her emotions turned sour. Those tears that welled up in her eyes every so often were like the tears of my heart crying.
Whoa, I need to get a grip. We're not in some soap opera here. After that Koizumi put the board game away and left, while Asahina-san asked me to leave the room to change. I waited outside to retrieve my bag from inside after she was done. I thought we had gotten through another day without something out of the ordinary happening.
I thought.
After I said goodbye to Asahina-san, I went in to retrieve my bag. Nagato was still there. Usually she has closed her book by this time. I grabbed my bag and headed towards the door.
"See ya Nagato." I said without turning around.
Just then I felt a familiar tug on my arm. I reminisced to the last time this tug had happened. Back when we were in the world where Haruhi had disappeared. Back when Nagato was not an alien, back when she had nothing to do with the Integrated Data Entity. Back when she was just a normal girl...
I followed with my eyes down my arm to the disturbance, and there indeed was her hand, silently begging me to stay. Her face looked toward my shoes, bashfully, it seemed.
"Eh? Is something wrong Nagato?"
There was a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I thought about uttering these words. If Nagato were to think something is the matter, then something most definitely is the matter.
Nagato slowly nodded her head. She let go of my sleeve and walked toward the back of the clubroom. Her bag and open novel were on the table. She continued to face away from me, with her head still focused on the floor.
"Well, what is it? Is something wrong with Haruhi?"
She shook her head an inch to either side.
"Is there a disturbance or something?"
She nodded the same slow nod as before.
"Who's in trouble?"
"Me." She answered. Needless to say I was shocked. Not just because Nagato has never been in trouble since I've known her, but because I heard a twinge in her voice, the first time I've ever heard her monotone slip.
"You? What's wrong?"
"..."
She waited at least a 20 seconds to answer me. I couldn't tell if she was thinking or struggling to say what she wanted to say.
She finally quietly let out an answer: "I am not myself."
What? You not yourself? You're never not yourself! You're an alien.
"Lately there have been disturbances in my data correlation abilities. I cannot process the data I used to process easily. The Entity is non-responsive."
"..."
Now it was my turn for silence. I waited for her to go on but she stopped there, and turned toward the side of the room, now looking down at her open book with her bag next to it.
"Um... how long has this been happening?"
"7 days."
A week huh. I haven’t noticed anything. Actually, the only thing I've noticed was the glance she made at me today as I was staring at her. It was a normal reaction, but not for someone as abnormal as her.
"Do you know what's wrong? What is causing this? Can you fix it?"
"..."
This time I was sure she was struggling to find the words. I thought perhaps I saw her flinch a little bit. C'mon Nagato, this is not like you at all. Don't scare me, you're the one I can trust the most.
"I don't know."
Don't know what. I asked three questions.
"I... don't know how to fix it. I do know what is wrong and what caused it. There has been a disturbance in my existence. Something has been altered inside of me. It has been altered by... a person."
Who Nagato? Who did this to you?
"..."
She stayed silent for a couple beats. She then raised her index finger. As it elevated, I saw it come to a stop, pointing directly at...
"You." She said.
Okay… what? Now I'm really confused. What did I do? I haven’t done anything weird in the past month, let alone a week!
"...Nagato" I barely managed to helplessly squeak her name out before I saw something I am sure I'll never forget.
Nagato was slightly shivering. I could not see her face under her bangs as she still had her head down. I turned my attention to where she was looking, her book.
And there I saw 3 separate dots of moisture on the page.
Nagato was... crying.
"...Nagato" This time I said it with more force. What is going on? I'm really alarmed. Did I make Nagato cry? What is this? This certainly is not Nagato. Is it?
She stood there, silently sobbing, wetting the pages of her book. I took a couple steps toward her. I really wanted to console her. It's the same feeling to protect as I get with Asahina-san. But it felt stronger right now. This was Nagato, my protector. Not the other way around.
By now I was a couple feet from her, the both of us alone in the clubroom. The sun was low in the distance, and a wave of amber flowed over the room. It seemed like a dream. It must be a dream. I'm imagining this. She looked so helpless, so small and fragile.
I reached my hand out to touch her. She suddenly backed away, the whole time not allowing me to see her face. She put her sleeve over her eyes as she hurridly stuffed her book into her bad and ran out of the room carrying it. I could hear her faint sobs as she ran past me. I was too speechless to move.
I noticed as she turned the corner that she had dropped her book. What am I doing standing here? If anyone just saw this whole scene, please, agree with me, this is way too out of the ordinary.
I unfroze, and, noticing my hand was still shoulder height in the position to touch Nagato, lowered it. I stared at the book. It looked less thick than the one she was reading.
I walked over to it, and upon further inspection, realized it was not Nagato's novel. It was much thinner. A ribbon was protruding out of the top. It was a diary. It was Nagato's diary.
Wait, Nagato's diary? What could an Alien Humanoid Interface need with a diary? Could she actually write about her... her thoughts, her emotions? My mind flashed back to the Disappearance world, back to when I asked to use the computer in the Literature Club room. Was Nagato hiding what she had written from me? Was she embarrassed? Was she... lonely?
I picked up the small binding. It was a black book, with a black ribbon and pages as white as newly fallen snow.
...newly fallen snow...
I realize the implications of reading someone else's personal thoughts, and the breaking of moral code by opening someone else's diary, but something was seriously wrong with Nagato. Besides, I thought, there is no way in hell I can pass up this chance.
I flipped through the pages, realizing most all of them were empty. I had better start at the beginning.
I closed the cover and then opened the front to the first page. It was dated 6 days ago.
"Diary,
I do not know what is happening. I do not understand. I am usually able to understand anything this world has to offer. But not now. Now I have these thoughts. There is jumbled data. Corrupted. I am using you to get the data I can remember out. It seems I am at my limit, and am losing my ability to process knowledge. I hope to be able to recognize the disturbance soon, and correct it."
It was not a diary of happenings, but a diary of thoughts. Nagato's thoughts. The things I have always been puzzled by, I've always wondered if they were there. I've always wondered if Nagato had human thoughts. It is now apparent she does.
On to the next page. My heart is pounding, for some reason. Maybe reading into the enigma of a girl's inner most thoughts is scary. Yeah that's it.
"Diary,
It has now been 3 days since this thing has happened to me, but I can safely say I know the reason. I can also say that it is possible to reverse this."
I let out an involuntary sigh as I read this line.
"But I cannot do it. This disturbance, taking affect on me 3 days ago. It is him. Kyon-kun. I have spent too long observing these organic lifeforms, and now I am feeling what they feel. I have pinpointed the one emotion that transformed my abilities and my own inner feelings. There is only one emotion among these organic lifeforms that can do it."
...
"Love."
Now I stopped reading. I lifted my eyes to gaze out the window. I was met by the same blinding amber color that was there before. The same color that was in the classroom when... when Nagato saved me from Asakura. Nagato... loves... me? No. Nope. Can't happen. No way. How is this possible? Even though I have come to know Nagato and her emotions, and have always regarded her as kind of cute, I never once thought that she felt anything like that. In fact, I didn't know she felt that much until now. Until me, and something 7 days ago. I thought about the time with Nakamura. Was she at least a little disappointed?
"A little."
she had said.
I would have looked really idiotic to anyone who would have seen me at that moment. Kneeling on the floor with a diary in my hands, gazing out the window, my bag on the floor a couple feet away from me. Not moving.
Wait. That is 5 days ago. What else could she have written? I turned to the next page carefully, as if I were to turn too fast Nagato's thoughts and words would fly off the page.
"Diary,
Now it is even harder for me to act so emotionless, and it seems it is going to get harder. I can not manipulate the data I need to anymore. I cannot do anything about my current state. All because of him. The only thing I can do is tell him. But I feel I can't do that.
Today I stared at him in the clubroom for some time. I studied him. I long to call to him. To speak to him. Kyon. To hear the words leave my mouth and reach his ears. But this is forbidden, and only a dream for me now. These are the thoughts that swim in my head now. They circle like sharks, with my body, my mind, helplessly in the middle. I want someone to save me, but at the same time, I want to be eaten by these sharks."
She is so poetic. This is really wrenching my heart. And to think, she just sits there while I ogle Asahina-san all the time, while Haruhi makes subtle advances on me, and she does nothing. Even Koizumi. Nah never mind.
I didn't want to think about this, but my hand autonomously started turning to the next page. My image of Nagato was fading, and the blushing, smiling Nagato from last December is replacing it.
"Dear Diary,
I am slowly becoming just so powerless. I am becoming more like them. The lifeforms. But I can never be like them. All I want... is to be liked... by him. I had a dream last night. I was in this same apartment. It was as bare as it is now. I was cold, colder than I had ever felt. I tried to move, but I was frozen in the middle of the room. I started to cry. For the first time, I realized I had no control over what I controlled the most throughout my whole existence: myself. My tears slid off my cheeks, and hit the floor, each one hitting louder and louder until they disappeared into snowflakes. The snowflakes filled the room, matching my coldness. I cried for a while, not knowing what to do, not knowing what was wrong. Only knowing one thing. I needed him at that moment. I cried out 'Kyon-kun!' And then he appeared in my doorway. 'What's wrong Yuki-rin, we're going to be late.' He took my hand, and the gentle white flakes flushed past my face. I began to move with him, in synch with him, as he led me one step at a time to the door. ‘Kyon-kun’ I murmured. He stopped us right in the doorway and turned to me. 'Yuki-rin' he said quietly as he placed his hands on my shoulders. 'It will all be alright.' He said this as he pulled my body close to his, and embraced me. I then woke up out of my fairy tale, and the same snowflakes began welling in my eyes, as I stared through the blur at the barren apartment. My barren apartment with no life. My barren life, with no meaning. What is happening to me?
~ Yuki-rin"
...
I was now held speechless by a book for the first time in my life. Well, not a book, but by Nagato. Her thoughts. Her dream. A dream about... me. She had signed it Yuki-rin.
Yuki-rin.
I can't read anymore. Or else I might start to cry.
I took the diary and placed it in my bag, and headed out the door of the clubroom. I had to go to see her. Not for any reason, but… for clarification. This is just too much.
My bike came to a screeching halt outside of Nagato's apartment building. I waited for someone to come out of the door, and then headed on inside, leaving my bag with the manager at the front. My bag... except for one thing that was in it.
As I headed up to her room in the elevator, a wave of fear came over me. There is no last line of defense anymore. I can't keep having these weird things happen to me. What if another Asakura comes along. I'll be dead, that's what.
I stood facing her door. I thought perhaps I heard the faint sound of a violin.
I knocked twice softly, and the faint noice stopped.
"...yes?"
An answer. Nagato never answers, or rather, she answers with silence. Needless to say, it threw me off a little.
"Nagato... it's... me, Kyon."
"..."
Now there was the silence.
"Can I come in?"
"..."
I waited for about thirty seconds before I heard her.
"...yes."
She timidly opened the door, and once again, for like the thirtieth time today, I was surprised by what I saw. Nagato, in casual clothes, standing in front of an apartment more furnished than the one I had visited before. There were chairs and rugs and curtains and bookshelf’s and all sorts of things you'd think a human being would have.
And Nagato herself, clad in a sleeveless white top with a ribbon tie, capri pants and sandals of the same color. Her head was again focused on my feet.
Speechless. Surprised. Flabbergasted. All things that could describe me. We must have stood there like that for another minute or so before I regained thought and remembered why I came here.
"Nagato." I said, raising my hand, and with it, the object it held.
Nagato raised her head up, and her eyes widened a little as she read the words on the front of the object.
"Diary of Nagato Yuki."
She stood there looking at it. Her hands were at her sides. At least it was a trademark Nagato pose, sans the face.
She spoke suddenly, taking her gaze away from the diary, and back to my feet.
"Did you read it?"
I didn't know how to answer. I really wish I hadn't so I didn't have to lie to her. Or do I want to lie to her at all, this humanoid interface who suddenly has, unbeknownst to her, confessed her love for me?
I could only manage to stutter out an "uh..." before she put her hand out, palm up.
"Please."
She said. Now her eyes were on mine, the first time I had looked at these eyes straight on since she tugged at my shirt back at school. She sure was not freaking out like Asahina-san or Haruhi would. Of course, they would freak out in different ways, the latter of which would probably result in my face getting kicked.
I slowly placed the diary in her hand. Her fingers curled around the black leather and ribbon as her other hand joined the first on the book. She opened it to the first page, and then closed it, and clutched it to her chest. A cute pose I might have enjoyed if I weren't so scared right now.
Both her and my eyes darted away as we stood in awkward silence, the kind that reminded me of the first time I had met Nagato. I decided I needed to break this silence before I went crazy.
"Nagato, what did you mean... when you said... I-i was the disturbance?"
I knew the answer already.
"..."
But she did not answer. And contrary to the usual, it didn't seem like she was going to. In fact, I didn't really expect an answer now, as she closed her eyes.
"Nagato, please. Don't cry again." I meant this. I did not want to have my conscience wrenched again. I could see tears forming, seeping out of her eyelids. It seemed like she was trying to stop, but couldn't. She couldn't control herself anymore.
She opened her eyes to look at mine. The tears were now welled up, as she took her hand away from her diary and placed it on my chest, over my heart. The tears began to fall down her cheeks.
"Please...go..."
She said this as her face lowered, and she began to shake again, just like before. I saw a glimmer come from a falling crystal, a teardrop of immense meaning.
"Nagato, I can't... not if you're..."
"Please..."
She took her hand off of me and returned it to her diary on her chest. She turned, and slowly started to close her door.
"Nagato! Please!" I wanted so badly to talk to her, just to help her sort things out. I didn't want her to be like this, dreaming, stuck in a blizzard.
"...please..." She said this with an even fainter tone as she sobbed. The door then closed over her, as I was again left out in the hallway.
Alone, staring at the number 708.
Spoiler for Chapter 2: Ich liebe dich:
So, as I lay in bed the next morning, trying hard to decide if I should show up to our movie gathering, I thought about this new Nagato. It seems that she has fallen in love with me, and this emotion has started to turn her from an alien interface into an actual human girl, complete with real... sigh... emotions. My sister came in to wake me up only to see my eyes already open, staring at the ceiling.
"Ohh, you're already awake. Hey where's Shami? Shami~!"
I pointed to the cat I had tossed off the bed when I awoke. He was playing dead to spite me. Like I care, you get pampered enough you lazy feline.
I stayed cooped up in my room all day thinking. About various things. About the movie. About what I should do for our stupid talent competition. About... Nagato. We're going to be staying at her apartment. I wonder if she'll be able to bear it with me around, if she cries every time she sees me now. I guess I'll find out. This certainly wasn't the Nagato I was used to. All I could do to ease my mind was flip through the various tv programs on or read manga, it certainly was relaxing when I wasn't thinking.
Before I knew it though, it was time to get ready to head down to the station to meet. I got dressed after bathing and rode my bike down the oh so familiar street to get to our destination. Of course, I was 15 minutes early as I parked my bike. I turned the corner to see the complete SOS Brigade waiting for me, with the exception of the grunt, who was just about to join them.
"Once again, you're late Kyon! You should have hurried, you showed up just after Yuki."
Haruhi seemed full of joy as always. I turned my attention to the silent girl who had caused my brain so much trouble to past few hours. She was dressed in the North High uniform, complete with trademark Nagato cardigan. Hm. I guess she didn't want the rest of the brigade to know anything was up. That's going to be tough when we head over to her apartment and they see all her new furnishings.
The group bought tickets and boarded a train headed to the cinema. I sat next to Koizumi, on purpose for once, across from Asahina-san, who was beside Haruhi and Nagato. Koizumi and I were on the other side of the train, and it didn't seem like they were paying much attention, so I figured I could talk.
"Yo, Koizumi, you notice anything different about... anyone lately?"
"Hm. No, can't say that I do. Did I miss something?"
He said this as that stiff smile was plastered all over his face, coupling it with a few light chuckles. Get serious you ever smiling clown.
"I think something may be different about Nagato."
I said this as I looked in her direction. She was quietly and intently reading a novel while the hums of the train shifted her from right to left. I looked at the title on the book. "L’Étranger". It was the same French one from before. Weird. I'd never seen her reading the same thing twice.
Koizumi looked too.
"Now that you mention it, she does seem different as of late. I am no expert on Nagato-san though, as you seem to be. My expertise lies with Suzumiya-san, who lately has been very stable in her everyday happenings. She is very excited about this expedition we are going on."
Now it's an expedition. For once, you sound right Koizumi, because that's how I feel whenever Haruhi forces us to do anything.
“What have you noticed about Nagato-san?"
Sigh. Nothing. Forget it. It was just a thought.
I couldn’t explain what I had seen or read to him, he would just smile and go off about some type of theory about love or something. That wouldn't help at all. Maybe I could find that Kimidori girl, and ask her some things about Nagato, since they seemed to be sort of in the same faction. Naw, she would probably just tell me she knows nothing.
We arrived at the stop and exited the train in the same fashion we entered, with Haruhi and Asahina-san up front giggling and talking, Nagato walking silently in the middle, and Koizumi and I bringing up the rear, one of us smiling and the other with a look of exhaustion. Guess who is who.
I had to pay for our movie tickets for being late, as a penalty enforced by our resilient chief. The theater was dark and cool, making my ever present exhaustion creep up into my face and over my eyes, forcing my eyelids down throughout the movie.
The movie we chose to see was, of course, a teen love drama. Go figure. Haruhi watched the movie intently, making remarks every now and then when something stupid would happen or when sarcasm would readily be accepted. Asahina-san acted, well, like I would have guessed she would. She paid attention throughout the movie, getting attached to the characters and crying near the end when the young couple finally pronounced their hidden love for each other. Koizumi didn't seem to pay much attention at all, but then again his face always looks the same. He would be a horrible movie critic.
Then there was Nagato. I don't know if she moved throughout the whole movie. She just stared at the screen, seemingly non emotional, the old Nagato, the one I knew too well. The opposite of the one from yesterday. The only time I thought I saw her move was near the end of the movie when Asahina-san had started crying. She lowered her head slightly, seemingly to take her eyes off the screen. I was glad she didn't start crying like Asahina-san. I get scared with Nagato starts crying.
Well, that wasted a sufficient amount of time. I would not have objected if it were a horror movie and I got to sit next to Asahina-san, but I'll just keep that to my dreams for now. Besides, my mind was too captivated by the next activity.
The sleep over slash talent competition at Nagato's place.
We headed back to her apartment in the same fashion, on the train. This time everyone seemed a lot more tired. Koizumi's face no longer showed the smile, as his head bobbed up and down, trying to stay awake. He's lucky Haruhi is not paying attention, as her head is resting against Asahina-san's, whose head is in turn on Haruhi's shoulder. The gentle time traveler was dozing off. Sigh, I would be enjoying this sight so much more if the coming night did not have so much ambiguity to it.
Nagato was the same. Her and I seemed to be the only ones pseudo awake. She sat reading her novel. I sat looking at everyone else. About ten minutes into the ride, I looked again at Nagato to find that she was looking at me. Our eyes met for a brief second before hers returned to her novel. I wonder what she was thinking right now. Maybe something to put in her diary. If it was as hard to act emotionless as she had written, then she is doing a damn good job.
After waking everyone up, and exiting the train, we walked to Nagato's apartment. The small nap had invigorated everyone who had taken part in it, as Haruhi was excitedly jumping around, and Koizumi was back to grinning 24/7. I still remained the same, with my eyelids half closed. Oh why oh why did spend today lounging around? It makes me sleepy.
Nagato let us into her apartment complex, as we all squeezed into the elevator. I was eagerly anticipating seeing Nagato's apartment again, and to see what the other's say. We arrived on the seventh floor, as Nagato led the way to her apartment, with Haruhi and Asahina-san hot on her heels. It seemed they were both indeed grade school girls. I guess Asahina-san got that clearance or whatever, because she seemed like she was ready to have fun. Well if it's fun she wants...
Nevermind. I don't know why I'm even thinking about that at a time like this, even though it's what I wish I was thinking about.
Nagato unlocked the heavy door with the familiar three numbers on it. I had just been staring those numbers in the face last night, trying to match their rigidness. The door opened to reveal...
The same room I was familiar with, no furniture except the square table in the center. Chalk this moment up to the first time for today that I have been shocked, I bet a lot more will happen soon.
We each entered with our own enthusiasm, tossing our bags on the floor to the left, and heading to the other end of Nagato’s living room.
The night proceeded on as Haruhi announced her plans, no doubt thought up a couple seconds ago.
"Okay! First will be the talent portion of the night! We’ll draw toothpicks to see what order we go in!"
You carry those around with you?
"Shut up idiot. After everyone performs, your brigade chief will announce a winner and reward a prize!"
Wait a minute. Does that mean you aren’t doing anything? You're just the judge?
"Of course. There has to be a non-partisan party to judge the competition!"
Oh, excuse me. I didn't know this was so serious and professional.
"Everything is serious in the SOS Brigade!"
I thought this was about having fun!
"It is! And you'll do as you're told! Now, as I was saying, after the talent portion, we will change into pajamas and tell ghost stories while eating popcorn. Yuki, you have a flashlight and some popcorn, right?"
Nagato nodded. Of course she does. If she didn't, I bet Koizumi would have brought the items just to make Haruhi happy. Speaking of which, he better not be planning any stupid mystery thing or something.
"Don't worry, as this was just sprung upon us, I haven’t prepared anything. Although I'm sorry to hear you thought those were stupid, I worked hard on them."
Well, the Tsuruya Mansion one was less fun, as the Island Mansion one was a surprise. Plus, I was the one who figured out the Island one, so it's my favorite.
"Yes, we all remember, kudos."
Shut up Koizumi.
So we drew lots, each toothpick having either one, two, three, or no marks on them. I drew the one with one mark, so I was second. Koizumi was first, followed by Asahina-san coming third and Nagato being last.
"Ohh, how disappointing. I guess the chivalric code is absent tonight." Haruhi said.
What do you expect, this was all random. At least I think.
Well, now I'm presented with having to watch Koizumi's stupid act. He donned a Magician’s hat as he performed a magic act with cards and other small corny magic props. I hope Nagato wasn't planning on reading fortunes, because that would be very similar to Koizumi's act.
After my act, which I fail to mention on purpose, Asahina-san performed hers.
"O-oh, it's my turn? Okay, one moment! Um, Suzumiya-san?" Asahina-san looked toward Haruhi.
"Oh, right Mikuru! Mikuru and I worked on her act together, so stay right here!" Haruhi and Asahina-san smiled as they grabbed the bag Asahina-san had been carrying and entered the other room.
We waited for about 10 minutes, at least I think, because I began dozing, but what I saw next woke me for the rest of the night.
"Dun-dun-dun-Duhhhhh! Presenting..."
"Tsuruya-chan!"
There standing in the doorway of the adjacent room was Haruhi with her arms extended toward a figure in the same meiko costume that I'd seen at the last Culture Festival.
Asahina-san was clad in the same homemade maid outfit as before. Her hair was parted off of her forehead into two long bangs lightly swaying next to her precious face. Her hair was let down now, as I sat perplexed at an auburn haired Tsuruya.
"Nyorro~!" Asahina-san called out as she touched her index finder to her cheeck while smiling and winking.
"Isn't this great Kyon! Mikuru had the great idea of cosplaying as Tsuruya-chan! Isn't she just the cutest?"
"Thanks Haru-nyaa!"
Asahina-san was really into the part, not even losing her smile as Haruhi hugged her to death.
"The resemblance is uncanny." Koizumi said as he smiled with his Magician's hat on. What a douche.
"What do you think Kyon-kun? Isn't this great Nyoro?"
I was blown away by how two of my fantasy girls could be combined to create the most wonderful sight I had ever seen. She even had plastic fangs in her mouth.
"Uh... y-y-yeah..." I stuttered out as my gaze continued to be glued on Asahina-san. She proceeded to dance around and try to act like Tsuruya, which wasn't that bad. Halfway through it, Haruhi somehow became Asahina-san as they played together.
"Hey Mikuru-chan! Want to come to my mansion to look at all the fish in my pond?"
"U-uh, no, I can't. I'm too small and scared and full of moe."
Even though Haruhi was making a mockery of Asahina-san, she didn't mind, and I didn't so much either.
After this spectacle went on for 10 more minutes, with my heart speeding up about 10 times as much, it was deemed that Asahina-san's act was done, and it was time for Nagato's.
"Ok, what do you have planned for us Yuki?" Haruhi inquisitively asked her. Nagato stood up from her kneeling position, as everyone else was now kneeling or sitting, waiting for her act. She went into the other room, the same one Asahina-san and Haruhi had gone into, and came back with a violin. Hm. I didn't know Nagato played the violin. Of course, I didn't know she played the guitar either. In fact, Nagato probably didn't even know until 5 minutes before show time.
"Ooh, are you going to play for us Yuki? I didn't know you played the violin! You're quite the cultured girl! I'm surprised you don't have nerds sprinting to be your boyfriend!" Haruhi made her usual pointless comments.
Nagato stood in front of us, holding the violin in one hand and the accompanying bow in the other. She stood for about 30 seconds, without anyone saying anything. She then lifted the violin to her shoulder, placing it between her chin and the rest of her body in playing position, and touched the bow to the strings.
"Ich liebe dich." Nagato said these words as she looked straight at me, and then began to move the bow across the strings. The sounds that I heard were some of the most beautiful sounds that had ever reached my ears. She was flawless. The violin bow came in contact with the strings, and seemingly by magic created music the likes of which my conscience had never dared to hear. The long notes couple with short jabs, played rhythmically and melodically. Perfectly. I was blown away. Just as I was beginning to be swayed by her beautiful violin, she began to sing. Nagato began to sing in a magnificent voice, one that was slightly different from her monotone, and was able to change pitch slightly. It worked marvelously, as she played and sung at the same time. I was a melted pile of steaming rubble inside. Her voice travelled around the room, filling the air with beauty, inviting us to taste the delicacy of her playing, the finest sound anyone could ever hope to pay for. We were now hearing it for free. I was amazed and dazed at the same time, being hypnotized by the slow moving Nagato. My eyes were half closed, as all I wanted to concentrate on was the notes entering my ears.
I then realized. Her lyrics, the song she was playing. It was a love song. She closed her eyes as she played and sung, slowly swaying with the rhythm. She seemed lost in her own music, as if she was serenading herself.
She played for about 5 minutes, ending the song on both a long note played from the violin, and sung from her lips.
No one moved, as Nagato bent upright into her trademark position, and lowered her violin to her side. She was looking at me. I returned her gaze, staring right back into her eyes, telling her, Nagato, that was beautiful. You are beautiful.
The group, except for me, suddenly snapped out of the trance induced by the singing violin and the serenading Nagato. Haruhi was the first to talk.
"Wow."
"..."
What could anyone say after that. Now everyone shared my sentiment of speechlessness that this Nagato had caused for the past two days. Nagato turned and walked back to the room where the violin had come from, disappearing for a couple seconds before reappearing without her instrument. She went and kneeled next to Asahina-san.
We were all still silent. I was still staring at her, as her head was focused on the floor in front of her.
"Well, I can safely say that, even though Mikuru-chan put up a good fight, Yuki is the winner, hands down! Valiant effort Yuki! You're Brigade Chief is pleased. As for your reward for winning, you are now officially promoted to First Class Vice President of Operations of the SOS Brigade."
Nagato did not move as Haruhi said this. The meaningless title meant only something to Haruhi. What a prize.
"Now that the talent portion is done, it's time to change and get ready for ghost story time! Mikuru, you can change out of the maid costume, but you must keep your hair that way and continue to act like Tsuruya-Chan for the rest of the evening!"
"W-w-whaaa? The whole rest of the evening? B-but... o-ok."
At least you don't have to sleep in that maid outfit Asahina-san, although, I wouldn't mind...
Gah! I can't think of that right now. My mind is completely focused on the quiet alien sitting across the room. Is she an alien anymore? I had never heard anyone sing like that before, it was even better than Haruhi at the Culture Festival last year.
As we each returned to the room after having changed, Koizumi said to me:
"I think you're right. Something is definitely different about Nagato-san."
No shit Sherlock, what tipped you off?
"Calm down. I have never heard her voice change like that. Her singing and playing were amazing."
I agree with you there Koizumi.
The night of ghost stories and popcorn eating went as planned, seemingly. Koizumi had the best ghost story, as Asahina-san fell out of acting like Tsuruya-san after the first couple of minutes, cowering under her blankets. Haruhi was seemingly satisfied after a while, and pronounced that we should all get to sleep, as we've had enough fun for one day.
Yeah right. There is no way I can go to sleep now. My body is inverted; I was sleepy during the day and now I am wide awake at night. Maybe it's because of what happened to me during those intervals.
No, not to me. Around me. And not maybe, definitely. I couldn't stop thinking about this whole last two days and this new change in Nagato. She seemed very strong tonight, much more reassuring than the previous night. The previous night that was filled with tears.
We were all splayed out in Nagato's living room, since there wasn't any furniture to get in our way. I'll have to remember to ask Nagato what happened to all of her stuff. I lay next to Koizumi, who in turn was next to Haruhi, whose feet were next to Asahina-san's head. Nagato was on the other side of the room.
I laid on my pillow with my hands behind my head, staring up at the ceiling; A familiar pose when something weird happened in my life in the last year and a half. Haruhi was already asleep, as was Asahina-san, exhausted from her extensive role playing and being scared straight by the ghost stories. I looked at Koizumi, whose body was slowly heaving up and down, indicating that he too was asleep.
I turned my gaze over to where Nagato was, only to find that she was looking at me too. How many times is that today that our eyes have met randomly?
We stared at each other for a couple minutes, as my heart began to beat softer. Suddenly, she spoke:
"Was it good?"
What? Did we just have sex or something? (Thank god I didn't say this out loud).
"Did it sound good?"
Oh. My face reddened as I thought of the last image in my head before answering.
"It was unbelievably beautiful Nagato. I don't know where you learned to play or sing, but you seemed magical."
I said this as I smiled, propping myself up on my arm to look at her. She was already sitting up.
"Thank you." She simply replied. Her face turned away again to look down at her blankets, her bangs covering her eyes, as I saw her lips move.
"It was for you."
Last edited by Tamekichi; 2008-06-02 at 23:13.
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