Tamekichi's Work

[Tamekichi]

Well, I have indeed finished it. It only took so long because I decided to rewrite it. :/

Spoiler for Chapter 7: Thoughtless:

I heard two rings before a sound came over the line.

"Hello?"

His gentle voice finally answered. Even by just hearing it, you knew the owner of it was some handsome bastard who was taller than you.

"Koizumi?"

"Yeah, who's this?"

"...Kyon."

"Oh? Yeah?"

"Yeah, listen, can you meet me somewhere, I need to talk to you."

His voice changed, as a hint of startled uneasiness came into it.

"Um... sure."

"Front of the station, 15 minutes?"

"Okay. I'll be there."

I hung up the phone quickly and walked over to the station from Nagato's... er... Haruhi's apartment. 7 days. I can't really explain that to Koizumi. I can't tell that to anyone. Haruhi is the only one who's seen it, but the less people know the better. The only problem with that is, I still have no idea what to do.

As I arrived, I took the time to lean against the pole we usually met at. It was beginning to get dark. I scanned my gaze over the station. There was an unusually small amount of people here. I gazed off into the distance a ways to see the cafe we usually eat at, we being the SOS Brigade in my time. It seemed so remote now, so nostalgic.

I began to start falling asleep standing up against the pole. My eyes closed softly, my eyelids becoming heavier. My will to keep them open was slowly dissolving.

"Hey. Kyon?"

I felt a nudge as I awakened my senses. Koizumi's smiling face greeted my newly opened eyes.

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

I picked myself up, because I had fallen to a sitting position against the pole. Okay, time to get serious.

"Koizumi, listen carefully. I know you are an esper."

Koizumi's grinning face hardly flinched as he just kept radiating the repulsive and hollow smile back at me. I expected him to at least be a little surprised that I knew that, I figured it would be his biggest secret.

"It seemed like something was different about you Kyon."

I was extremely agitated by his relaxed nature.

"Yes. Let me be frank with you. I am not the me from this time plane."

The smiling esper only nodded and replied with "is that so?"

Yes, it is. If you can believe it, there were 5 SOS Brigade members in my time plane, the 5th being an humanoid interface created by the-

"Integrated Data Sentient Entity."

Koizumi quickly interrupted me without changing his demeanor.

Wait, you know about them?

"Kyon, it is my job to keep watch over Suzumiya Haruhi. It's part of the job description to know who else is watching her as well."

So that means...

"Yes, I know about Asahina-san."

The initiative in this conversation had been completely flipped, as now I was shocked that he knew so much, even though I intended for him to be impressed with my knowledge.

He only continued to smile as he said,

"Kyon, let me tell you something about the time plane we are in right now. I'm sure you're aware of the power Suzumiya-san possesses?"

Yes, you explained it to me before. I believe you were the one who thought... she was a God, right?

"Correct, in a sense. She has the power to recreate the world at will."

And it's tough for you, because Haruhi is so weird and wants all this crazy stuff to happen?

"Actually, no. Suzumiya Haruhi is very stable. Closed space is hardly ever created in this time plane, and when it is, the Shinjin do not act very destructive."

What? Haruhi… stable? I don’t think that thought can materialize in my mind. Although, what I had just gone through at her apartment really did prove his point a little.

He saw the confusion in my face.

"Oh, I'm sorry, do you not know about closed space? Shall I show you?"

He reached out his hand toward me. No thanks, you've taken me to a closed space before, and I know all about those Shinjin and whatnot. But I didn't know Haruhi was different in this time plane.

"Of course. I don't know how it is in your time plane Kyon, but there is only one thing that gives Haruhi grief, and it is her emotions. Particularly, love."

Oh boy. His grin grew wider as his head moved slightly toward mine.

"I feel I should let you know since you know all this already, but Suzumiya-san is in love with you. The greatest cause of her angst is the fact that she cannot tell you. She is too bashful. In fact, she created the SOS Club just to be with you."

Haruhi? In love with... me? SOS Club?

"Ah, yes, I heard you refer to it as a 'Brigade'. The SOS Club is nothing more than a social club Haruhi created. She did it because she wanted to spend time with you after school. She asked you to help her make it. I joined to keep her thoughts and actions in check. Asahina-san joined, well, because you did. Ever since you started dating Asahina-san, Haruhi had become much more dejected."

The little princess is jealous of Asahina-san?

"On the contrary, that isn’t the case. She is just very disappointed that you don't notice her more, and that she is able to see you give your love to someone else. But she is happy when you are happy Kyon, so she would no regret something that puts a smile on your face. That’s why both you and Asahina-san still exist and are still going out, Haruhi has not wished for you to break up."

He raised his face to look at a spot above me, seemingly searching for the distant stars that were hidden by the city lights.

“It will be much easier now though, if you are different. The you of this time plane, and pardon me for saying, really liked the Asahina-san of this time plane, it was easy to see. You confided in me your feelings, and I could just dismiss them as simple high school puppy love, so I let you go off and confess to her, even though it makes my job harder. But now that you are impartial, and don’t show feelings toward anyone, it should be easier for all of us.”

My mind swiftly brought up the image of Nagato, standing on the beach, the snow gently falling around us. She leaned into me, and met me with a kiss. I wouldn’t say I was impartial. Can’t let Koizumi know that though.

“You know Koizumi, this is all fine and dandy, but it's new to me. How am I supposed to act now that I know this?”

"Just act normal. Live your life. Be happy. It will be very troublesome for Suzumiya-san, and in extension, me, if you were to start acting.... weird."

Things have already gotten weird.

"I apologize for that Kyon. Just try to do your best..."

He dramatically lifted his wrist so I could see him looking at his watch.

"Well, look at the time. I had better get back home to get some sleep, I had been up the past couple of nights working. You know?"

Yeah. I know.

"Goodbye Kyon, and good luck."

He waved as he smiled and departed around the corner.

Things were unquestionably getting peculiar… that was an understatement. It was hard for me to grasp this new reality in my head. For some reason, my mind began to get hazy. I began to remember Nagato. I began to remember her soft touch, that dream I had on the beach with her. It was not a dream. That's the last time I saw her. Nagato. Her hand was so warm, it was so different than anytime I had felt her before. I had felt her love. Now she's gone.

I found myself to be in a daze. I walked in a wayward fashion across the city, the natural light had long since vanished behind the scenery, never daring to show its face in a depressed condition. The city took me up in its synthetic light, and let me bask in the warmth it provided. My feet moved mechanically, not in synch with my mind at all. Here and there, a curb would appear, and I would trip, only regaining balance after a few steps. There was fog in my head. What was this. I was blank inside, I cannot think. Everything is different now. I don't have Nagato anymore. She wanted me to be happy. She felt this was the best possible solution to the problem at hand. Why did I have to go and make her change? Wait, am I blaming myself for making someone fall in love with me? Why couldn't Nagato just live her life? I've often wondered how she really feels about her existence. Why couldn't the Integrated Data Sentient Entity just let her be a normal human being on the outside, who could live a normal life with her friends, and have normal feelings? They made the others, like Asakura, that way. Why did they do this to Nagato? Why can they let her data get corrupted? Do they not care?

I tripped again as I fell to a knee in a puddle along the dark street. The low roar of a passing car slowed my thought process.

Nagato. It's not fair. It's not fair to me. It's not fair to everyone. But it's especially not fair to you. The minute you start to feel a place in this world, you are swept away. Why did it have to happen like this? Nagato began to be more normal, she began to fit in more. The more she tried, the more "broken" she was to them.

I picked up my pace to a slow jog as my head continued to grind out thought after thought. I began to physically keep speed with my mind, as my thoughts got heated, so did my body. I had no idea what was happening anymore. The fog from before was coming into my head. Only this time, it was not from outside. There is no dream state. There is no Nagato. This is all me now. I'm all alone.

They can't do this! All the time I've spent as a high schooler, I've just been waiting for it to get better. I dwell on the things I have to do for the SOS Brigade, having to put up with Haruhi and gaze at Asahina-san, knowing I can never have her. I have to listen to Koizumi yak about nonsense, and I have to keep my grades up so I won't be disowned by my mother. Now that all of those problems are gone, I've realized that this existence, one without Nagato, my rock, the one person in the world I could depend on in my utmost moments of despair, is gone. All my various problems of before are gone, but they have left behind in their wake one of exponentially worse magnitude. There was no Nagato. And for some reason that I can't comprehend, it tears away at me.

Before I had realized it, my legs were running. I was running for no reason, in no direction, with no meaning... with no thoughts. Everything was emotion.

Why Nagato? Why this? Why does this have to happen? Why must you sacrifice yourself for the likes of the rest! You don't deserve this!

My cries became more external until I was saying them out loud as I ran. They grew in amplitude until I was yelling them out. I heard the repugnant sounds intermixed with my gasps for breath. Even if I collapsed right there, I would not care, I would still want to run. If my heart burst on the spot, it wouldn't matter, because it felt empty anyway. The ghastly sounds that started coming from me began to mix with my sobs. I was yelling and crying and panting all at the same time as running. Why? The only thing that would cross my mind! Why! Three letters in my head. Why! They flashed colors, they flashed lights, they flashed in and out, and began to fade. I felt a sharp pain in my knee as the indistinct landscape in front of me stopped moving. My side began to ache as if it were cut open.

I had slipped and fallen. I just lay there. What point was there in getting up? Why don't I just lay here, I deserve it for sending Nagato away, it's my fault. I don't care about Haruhi. I don't care about Asahina-san either. I just want things to be the way they were, I want Nagato back in the corner reading her books. I want to be able to look at her, and wonder what is going on in her head. I need that old reality to find its way into this one.

I slowed my sobs and breathing as I lifted my head to see where I was. There was a dark blue tint to everything, as if someone had applied a photo filter to the world. The golden lights of the city had left me behind, as now all I saw was a lone candlelight. I was near a shrine.

I picked myself up slowly, and struggled over to a bench outside, before throwing myself upon it in undying agony. My ears picked up the sound of a hoarse voice. It was coming from my left.

"We here on this earth do but walk in unison, yet bound ourselves to each other by ties of responsibility, of emotion. We will all fall in this three-legged race of life. So then I ask you, what is keeping you from cutting the rope tied around your ankle?"

I glanced over, trying hard not to make much of an effort to look. There I saw a small, old man, hunched over. A dark shawl covered him, as he swayed a little with his words. His arms were extended in front of him. He was facing out toward the shrubbery next to the shrine, and it seemed he was talking to no one.

It's a crazy guy. Great.

"Why must we make such treacherous activity be common-place on this earth? It is because of how we as humans live. We as humans are inherently evil, and will always find a way to better ourselves while tearing down those around us. We do not fool our innermost desires when our conscience gets to us. We all know what we want, and that is more."

I turned my head back to stop staring at the old man. I was about 10 feet away from him, and it did not seem like he had noticed I was there. Yet it did not seem like he noticed anyone was anywhere, and he certainly didn't notice that no one was where he was preaching to.

"Take a look at yourself. Now look to the left and right. What do you see? Do you see someone who is poorer? Better looking? Perhaps they smell bad? Why can we not look past these things? Do not stare into the picture frame, but avert your gaze to the mirror, for you look just as unfavorable to them as they do to you. So why must we break that mirror? Why must we skew it to not see ourselves? Is it because our reflection scares us? Or perhaps because the bad luck is the least of our worries..."

I have found the craziest guy in Japan. But... what makes him so much crazier than me? I felt so out of place right now that I have been running around blindly for the last 20 minutes. I don't feel I belong here at all. What does it all matter? I can't be happy here. Nagato wants me to, but even I cannot grant her that wish. Maybe I would be happy with Asahina-san as a girlfriend, but what would that amount to? Maybe it’s better that Haruhi is more laid back, but she is still capable of remaking the entire world. Even when I was placed in a world where I would supposedly be happy in every aspect, I was still stuck in the clutches of impending doom. So I ask again, what does it all matter?

"We may take the pen, and empty out the ink to see what is inside. But all we are left with is a sheet of paper stained with black emotion. The pen is gone, the insides are now seeping through to everything. The tip is lonely, it may roll, but it will never find itself to be whole, because it's already too late. Drip. Drip. Drip. The black ink has overflown. And so do our lives into the abyss."

I couldn't tell who’s thoughts were who's now, as it seemed the old man’s voice ran through my brain. My eyes closed gradually, and opened to see a pond in the darkness where I had been staring.

I unconsciously stood up and walked over to its edge, the dark water smiling back at me, the iciness seeping into the air around my face.

I could end it. What does it all matter anyway? I could join Nagato, and terminate myself. Then we'll see how this world reacts. I could not see my reflection in the water as my face drew nearer, my body edging closer and closer to the blackness, away from any light. I could just drown, and let the sweet cold water fill my lungs.

"The ink would just seep out, and drip away, until it was permanent with the scenery..."

Permanent... I wasn't permanent anywhere. The only thing that is permanent is death... and for Nagato, that time had come. For me...For me... take a step. Just fall.

“I will catch you. You won’t be cold anymore. Just fall.”

My pocket vibrated.

I stepped back from the water's edge by instinct. My mind seemingly came out of a trance, as the fog in it lifted little by little.

I reached in and grabbed the sleek chrome phone and flipped it open.

1 new TXT message

Open...

"Kyon... I'm worried about you. Please call me. Love ♥ Mikuru”

...

I felt tears coming to my eyes.

"Do you know why this is happening? It's you! Your fault! You’re selfish! Man is selfish! But you! You are the epitome! Life is not always about you! Repent! Regret! This is your fault!"

I closed my eyes tightly as the old man's voice reached my ears. No it wasn't. No... it... wasn’t...

"Your fault! Think for a second about others! You are here for a reason! A reason! This is your fault! Your fault!"

No! No it wasn't!

"Yes! Yes! Your fault! Your fault!"

“Your fault!”

Your fault!

Your…

Fault…

I spun my contorted face around and screamed,

"No it's not!"

No answer. Silence. I clutched my cellphone tightly in one hand, as a fist was made with the other. My eyes opened slowly. There was no one there. A lone tree branch rustled in the wind. There was no light anywhere, but there was no old man either.

I looked around. He was there... wasn't he? My eyes surveyed the area again. It was the same.

I looked down at my cellphone screen...

"♥Mikuru”

It's not my fault...

My fault...

Just keep saying that Kyon...

The more you say it, the more you know it isn't true.





The next day at school was interesting to say the least.

As I drudged up the slope to my everyday hell, which was sure to be worse today for the fact that I was in this time plane and knew nothing about what was happening, I felt a familiar slap on my back, coupled with the same greeting that always followed.

"Yo Kyon!"

Taniguchi ran up next to me and started walking.

"Yo."

Taniguchi seems the same. It sure would be weird if in this reality he was the one who had girls chasing after him instead of the other way around. That would sure freak me out enough to turn back and head home.

"Kyon, bro, you gotta tell me something. And be truthful man. How far have you gone with Asahina-san? No lying!"

"Shut up idiot!"

I turned and coldly looked into his smiling face. He returned my stare with a grin that hid no shame. My own face began to get red.

"C'mon! We're buds right? Just let me in on this..."

Right there I realized something. This was a golden opportunity to mess with Taniguchi. Granted, this isn't my style of joking, but I had had no fun since being thrown into this timeplane, only confusion and grief, so it was about time I balance it out. And there was no better way than getting Taniguchi all hot and bothered. It was one of the many things I loved to do, but hated to admit to, just like going to SOS Brigade meetings every day after school, that is, if there isn't anything weird planned.

"Ok Taniguchi, I'll tell you, but you have to swear to not tell anyone else."

I leaned in close to him and feigned seriousness. The "don't tell anyone" was a nice touch.

"Let's just say... last weekend I socked the ball pretty deep into the outfield, and didn't stop as I rounded third, if you know what I mean."

His eyes grew bigger as I knew my trick had worked. Really Taniguchi, is it that easy?

"No way Kyon! No way! You went all the way?! With Asahina-san?!"

“Hahaha! Taniguchi! Hohoho!”

I laughed in his face, almost doubling over as I clutched my sides. What a gullible friend I have!

"C'mon Kyon! Really! Truly? You swear?"

My laughs died down in sound as I bent over and put my hand on his shoulder.

"Shh! Yeah. There, I told you. Now don't tell anybody else."

"Ohh c'mon! Give me details! I need details!"

He grabbed my shoulders and tried to stop me as I started walking away but I shrugged him off.

"Hey, I told you enough, just forget about it."

"Agggghhh!"

He clutched his head as he let out an antagonized groan skyward. I smiled happily to myself as I continued up the slope. This day started out good enough.


I walked into class just before the lesson was starting. Haruhi was in the room staring at the vacant spot in front of her, where I should be sitting. I walked over and tossed my bag on the desk, breaking her concentration.

"Hey Haruhi."

She looked up at me, and then turned away, averting her gaze to the window.

"Hey."

Her cheeks went slightly red. Maybe she was remembering that I had been in her apartment last night.

So this Haruhi liked me huh? I'll admit it made me feel good to know this, I felt I had the upper hand in the relationship now. I stared at Haruhi for a little longer before turning around. Okabe-sensei had started the lesson. I looked over and saw a familiar person sitting a row to my right and three seats up. It was Koizumi. What was he doing in this class? Shouldn’t he be in that smart 2-9 class? He didn’t seem different at all when I talked to him before.

Sigh, now it was time to space out for a while until...

Lunch.

I didn't really know what to do during lunch. I just kind of sat there as the chime rung. Haruhi took a bento out of her bag. Well, that's weird... and different.

"You're eating here Kyon?"

"Umm, yeah I guess."

I took my bento out of my bag as well. Taniguchi and Kunikida were no where to be found, it seems they had rushed out of the classroom or something, so I might as well sit here and eat. Koizumi had left as well, presumably going to the cafeteria.

I took out my chopsticks and looked at Haruhi, who in turn had been staring at me. She looked back down and began to unwrap her bento.

"How come you aren’t eating with Mikuru-chan?"

Oh crap. The mention of her name made me remember I was supposed to call her. I should go talk to her.

"Oh. Uh. I don't know. I'm just gonna eat here and then maybe go talk to her."

I don't know why, but I felt much more uncomfortable knowing Haruhi had an interest in me. She was very shy. As I looked at her again, and noticed she was blushing, I realized how cute she looked. She delicately took out her chopsticks and began eating her bento slowly, with miniature bites.

I finished my lunch quickly as I said goodbye to Haruhi and left the room. As I was leaving, I noticed there were hardly any guys in the room at all, and didn't see that many in the halls as I walked over to Asahina-san's classroom.

I reached my hand out to grasp the doorknob. Just as I did, the door itself slammed open into me. I fell to the ground with a hard thud. Ow! What the hell just happened?

In the doorway was a menacing looking Tsuruya-san flanked by a crying Asahina-san, followed by some of their classmates, trying to comfort the poor sempai. Tsuruya-san took notice of my lying on the floor as her face turned from menacing to evil. She looked really mad. She jumped on me, grabbing my collar, and pulled my face close to hers.

"What is this Kyon!? You go around telling people about promiscuous nights with Mikuru-chan?! That's not something you just go spouting off you insensitive idiot!"

It seemed like she was either about to punch my head off or bite my neck with her giant canines. I tried to defend myself, although I was doing a pretty poor job. I had no idea what was going on either. If anyone knows, it would be great if you could come in and explain it for me, because I lack in the art of making up stories on the spot.

"I... Wha? Uh... Asahina-san?"

I looked at her as she was crying, staring at me through her tears and sobs. I slowly began to realize why. Taniguchi. That son of a bitch!

"No! Wait! Look, I can explain!"

I tried to push Tsuruya-san off of me, but she would not budge. I could just clear this up right now if you'd give me a chance!

Suddenly Asahina-san cried out in between sobs.

"Kyon! That was supposed to be our little secret! It's not something you tell your friends about!"

What?

"No No! Asahina-san! It's not like tha-"

Wait a second. Our secret? That means it actually happened? The me in this time plane had actually... bedded Asahina-san? No way! That bastard!

Wait, why am I mad, isn't it me anyway? Should I be praising my other self or kicking him in the crotch?

"I really had you pegged wrong Kyon, you pervert!"

Tsuruya got off me and pulled me to my feet in front of her face. Then, in front of everyone, and making a sound no one could ignore even if they were on the other side of the school, she slapped me across the face with such force that I was scared my head would spin all the way around.

"Get out of here!"

She pointed back down the hallway. I didn't move, but just held my cheek, complete with a red imprint of a hand, and stared at her and Asahina-san.

"NOW!"

She jumped toward me as I broke my trance and began to scamper off down the hall. I still wasn't clear on what was going on, but that seemed to be the theme in this time plane for me. As I walked back to my class rubbing my cheek, I began to realize that it was a huge mistake making that joke, as every person in the halls stared at me strangely, and lowered their voices in their conversations. If word got out that I... had done things to Asahina-san, the whole male population of the school would beat the living daylights out of me.

The chime rung, and as I entered room 2-5, a mob of blue blazers pounced on me.

"Kyon! no way"

"How was it?"

"Were you gentle?"

"Did you use a rubber?"

"How about those ta-tas?"

"Is she a moaner? I bet she's a moaner..."

Rabid questions came flying at me from left and right. What the hell? What am I supposed to say? I stood dumbfounded as the questions bounced off of me, the other guys in the class getting more and more annoyed. I saw Taniguchi's grinning face at the back of the mob. Goddamn him.

This is insanity. I tried to make my way through the small crowd back to my seat. Okabe-sensei came into the room and broke up the party, one of the few times I was actually glad to see him. I slumped down in my chair, as I realized Haruhi was not sitting in the seat behind me. Hm, maybe she went home. I also saw that Koizumi was gone as well. Weren't they both here earlier?

The rest of the day proceeded with whispers following me everywhere. I hung my head low so people couldn't see my face. Needless to say, I did not visit the Literature Club room after school.



I sighed as I looked at my digital clock.

9:45 PM.

I should go to sleep soon.

I flipped my phone open, and stared at the wallpaper. It was a photo of me and a smiling Asahina-san, my arm around her, my other arm protruding out of the picture, I assume to hold the phone to take the picture. She looked so happy. There was no worry in her face at all. Sigh. Why do I just have to ruin everything?

Just then my door flung open as my sister came bounding in, carrying Shamisan.

"Kyon-kun! Shami wants to sleep with you~! He's so cute!"

She tossed the furball onto my bed sheets and quickly exited the room. That was a brief visit for her, I didn't even get to tell her to knock before entering.

Sigh.

I looked into Shamisan's eyes as he returned my gaze. My hand reached up and began scratching him behind his ears.

"What in the world should I do Shamisan..."

"Isn't it obvious?"

My hand froze as my eyes enlarged. I had just heard the familiar melodic tenor voice I had heard last year when I first had found this cat. Did Shamisan just talk again? What?

I recoiled and scrunched up against the wall next to my bed.

"Shamisan? You can talk?"

"Yes."

He replied and stared at me, cocking his head a bit to his left. He didn't seem to think it was that big of a deal. Don’t act so casual! Wait, I’m yelling at a cat.

I was a little too shocked at this point to do anything. I could only sit in that uncomfortable pose and look at him, as he looked back. The ticking of the wall clock became noticeable.

He repeated what he had said again,

"Isn't it obvious?"

His gaze was piercing through me, his voice sounded all business. I was a little intimidated.

"Um... what?"

"What you should do. It's obvious."

Oh? Because I have no idea.

"12 days ago. Last Friday."

What? How do you know about last Friday? I pictured the bookmark in my head. 7 days. Nagato had to have been referring to that Friday.

"W-why last Friday..."

I noticed the shrill tone in my voice.

"Do you know what happened last Friday?"

Um. No…

"You confessed to Asahina Mikuru."

Shamisan’s face had not changed at all. I was having a discussion with a cat. And now he was telling me about my love life.

“I confessed to Asahina-san?”

“Yes.”

He turned his head down and began to lick his paw. I looked around the room to make sure there was no one else here, like a ventriloquist in my closet. I then crawled forward to get closer to Shamisan, so I could whisper.

“Shamisan, how do you know this?”

“I just do. I know quite a bit more than you.”

Usually, I would be extremely annoyed that a cat was insulting me, but this is good now. Information was good. I needed help.

“Just how much is that, Shamisan?”

“Let me say this. This time plane was split off from the old one because of the termination of Nagato Yuki. Because everyone’s memories would be changed, Nagato Yuki took the liberty of changing the reality to fit how she thought you would be most happy. She believed that this was how you wished you’re life to be. They could not alter your memory completely though, there were disturbances in correlation transfers and data dumps of brain matter.”

I felt like I was talking to Nagato herself. Shamisan still looked down, and paused to lick his other paw.

“Because of this, you were able to remember her.”

But, how do you know all this then, why isn’t your memory reset?

“That is due to Nagato Yuki as well. Unbeknownst to the Integrated Sentient Data Entity, Nagato Yuki made sure my memory was not altered, and also gave me an understanding of what was happening. I believe she left me intact in case this very situation happened. She is giving you a chance.”

A chance…

Shamisan walked in a small circle on my bed, patting down his territory. He paused for a moment after making 2 full circles, and then lowered his body to a laying position, while resting his head on his paws. His eyes closed.

“Wait, Shamisan. Does that mean… you know how to get her back? You know how to make everything go back to normal?”

He didn’t move for about 10 seconds. Don’t tell me you’re sleeping you lazy feline.

Then his small cat lips moved.

“Yes.”

I raised myself up from my hunched over position, and stared ahead at nothing in particular. All this time, I was looking for someone who could give me an answer, who could help me. And all this time, it was my cat. I had to look no where but at home.

Nagato had made sure that if I wanted to get her back, that it was possible. She even went over the head of her alien bosses.

I looked down at the resting cat. He was so relaxed, yet this information was so important. His demeanor was certainly helping me not to freak out.

“Shamisan…”

He didn’t answer.

“Shamisan…”

“What?”

This time he answered gruffly, and immediately. I seemed to be intruding upon his sleep. Wake up, this is important.

“What do I need to do to get her back?”

He opened one of his eyes halfway to look at me.

“Didn’t I say it was obvious?”

[Specular]

Thanks for the new chapter. I'm a little confused about the old man in the last chapter, but a i'm not very good in subtle plots. Go on with the story, i'll be waiting for the next one.

[Shinbou]

I've was busy and couldnt read ur story again. Now read up to chapter 6 and it was really great! Don't have time now so ill read chap 7 later.

The scene with nagato disapearing was really well made, it gave me the sad feeling it needed to. I also hope nagato is comming back! i prefer kyonxnagato instead of haruhi or asahina. You created the dream state very well and the confusing about forgetting something.

The makers of haruhi has to use ur work and make an anime out of this as for season 2 or 3 lol :P

[ghazghkull]

Wow...just wow....that was incredible. Beautiful execution, well thought out chapters, and very moving moments, where Kyon is realizing the magnitude of his feelings, and the fact that Kyon now has a means to get together with his Yuki :3

I am looking forward to the next chapter.

Flawless. Absolutely flawless :3

[FieryAeon]

Very impressive. The execution was really good, I like how I read it and the pace and style felt so much like the actual novels. Plus, Yuki has always been the character I loved the most in the story. Great stuff. Keep it up!

[Tamekichi]

Thank you everyone. I'm glad to see that it follows the novels nicely. There are some parts where I can't help but diverge from that though, like the shrine part in this chapter. I've wanted a deeper meaning to come out besides this just being an everyday run of the mill fanfic, and that's why that scene is there.

Haha, and I agree Shinbou. This would make a great episode or two for the anime. Throughout my writing, I picture what is happening and then try to describe what I see in my head, so it's as if I'm playing it out that way. I hope you guys can picture it to.

Work on chapter 8 is coming along nicely. I have finished initial writing of it and am moving on to editing, which should only take a couple days.

[ghazghkull]

Actually...it's a minor nitpick, but I noticed that in some of your chapters when you're describing Yuki's eyes, you say it's lavender, which is wrong. Her natural eye colour is actually gold/yellow colour :3

[Tamekichi]

Originally Posted by ghazghkull

Actually...it's a minor nitpick, but I noticed that in some of your chapters when you're describing Yuki's eyes, you say it's lavender, which is wrong. Her natural eye colour is actually gold/yellow colour :3

Yes, and I actually realized that as I was writing later, but I had already posted them up. I just must have been thinking of her hair.

Either that or I couldn't remember. I only remembered her having black eyes, and there would be no point in mentioning that.

[Shinbou]

I've read chapter 7 now and it was a nice story. You seem to break down kyon more and more. Altought i did think the talking cat part was a bit to much fantasy in my opinion, i hope there wont be more talking animals...but maby it's just me. The fight with asahina was also well done.

And i think when your novel is done there could be a whole season ^^. I got bored or reading novels and books but this seems to hook me. I also can picture everything in my head and its good to follow even tought i'm dutch, so im glad i'm good in english haha.

Well i'm looking forward to chap 8 =) take your time!

[Tamekichi]

Here is Chapter 8. Leaving you in suspense.

Spoiler for Chapter 8: Patzen:

So the rest of the conversation went like this.

At the time, I was still completely baffled that I was receiving all this information from my cat. It was a lot to swallow, and I had even more to think about now, knowing that this time plane was customized to my supposed taste. Nagato is looking out for me once again. I just wish I could look out for her. She was always there for me, and this is my chance to save her.

The image of a confused Nagato entered my head. She doesn’t know what’s happening to her. All she can do is scribble away in her diary, and try to suppress her emotions to seem as normal as possible. She then thinks up those dream states. And… invites me into them. Are those dream states the reality that Nagato prefers? She was able to be herself in there, without her mechanized personality, with just her true emotions showing. There was no data or programs or anything, it was just us. It was us down to the core, the most pure sense of reality. And it was the most comfortable I had ever been. Nagato…

I will get her back! Whatever it takes!

Shamisan looked at me through his half closed eyes. I don't know what his deal was, he seemed to always be sleeping, couldn't he just stay awake for this time to help me?

He had said it was obvious, but to me, it was still a mystery. And I felt that even though it may be obvious, the process would be extremely complicated and probably put me through hell. I just had this feeling, y'know? It was like my sixth sense. Or maybe because whenever something like this happened, there was always some complicated roundabout way of figuring it out. It’s never just something simple.

I was done messing around, as my anxiety level was intensifying. Shamisan was treating this like it was nothing. And the mere fact that he was my cat, and he was getting the best of me, really pissed me off.

"Shamisan, can you cut the crap? Wake up, look me in the face, and tell me what the hell I need to do."

He did nothing but nonchalantly close both of his eyes, beginning to breathe deeply.

"Shamisan!"

I did not yell too loud because I didn't want my sister running in here. I wonder if she knows he can talk in this time plane.

"No, she doesn't. Yuki Nagato gave me the ability to talk again, but it must be kept secret so as not to disturb the flow of time, due to yours and my memories intertwining through different time data and realities."

Still he had his eyes closed. Still his head rested on his paws. Ok, what am I doing? He's a cat.

I reached my arms out and clutched the little furball by the sides. He did not show shock but merely slid his eyes halfway open again, as if he were letting out a sigh, or was executing a facepalm expression.

I lifted him up to stare straight into my face, so he could see how serious I'd gotten.

"Shamisan, tell me right now what I need to do to get Nagato back, or else."

His gaze returned mine.

"You think threatening a cat will get you anywhere?”

Sigh. I guess not. It’s just, why can’t you help me? It doesn’t seem like you’re here for any reason other to help, yet you’re making this as painful as possible.

“Just trying to make you relax. You’re going to have to be able to relax under extreme circumstances if you want to survive.”

Well, it’s stressing me out if anything.

“Fine, if you put me down I'll tell you."

Finally.

I set him down gently next to my pillow and looked on him with eagerness.

"Okay, just relax. As I'm sure you are already guessing, you need to go back in time to 12 days ago, when you confessed to Asahina Mikuru. The time should be around 4 in the afternoon. At this time, Asahina Mikuru will be in the clubroom. ‘You’ will enter and nervously confess to her.”

I'm an awkward fool in this time plane as well. Got it.

“Asahina Mikuru will be overjoyed. She will accept ‘your’ confession and then hug ‘you’. She will then turn her head towards 'you'. The exact moment that she kisses ‘you’ for the first time is the moment Nagato Yuki split the time planes and created your ideal world."

Wow. This really is tailored to be like my dreams, I'm sure I've had one like that before. But there is an ending, involving more intimate gestures than just kissing, and I would rather not mention it here, even though our whole school gets the jist of it by now.

Ok...ok... so I go back to that moment, then what?

"You wanna take a guess?"

Uhh, no. Once again Shamisan, I’m clueless. Just tell me.

"Sigh. What is the one thing in this time plane that always ensures that the ‘you’ of this time plane will be happy?"

Well, I have no idea, I have not been happy in this time plane at all. All I have been is confused, tired, grief-stricken and slapped in the face.

"Not you, the 'you' from this time plane. Think."

...

Nothing. I couldn’t think of anything.

"Asahina Mikuru."

He said Asahina-san's name as he continued to look at me, trying to urge me on. It was a Koizumi like gaze. I felt I was talking to a person with Nagato's mannerisms, Koizumi's flare and Haruhi's temper.

"The you of this time plane loved Asahina Mikuru very much. Nagato Yuki made sure of that. But she also made sure that the Asahina Mikuru of this time plane loved you deeply as well. The Asahina Mikuru of this time plane cannot control her love for you, no matter what she does, because Nagato Yuki has programmed the data that way."

I was held speechless for a moment. It's the kind of speechlessness you get when someone unexpected gives you a compliment, and you just bask in the aura of pride it gives you.

"You must interfere with ‘your’ confession to Asahina Mikuru, you have to make sure ‘you’ do not ask her to go out with you. Most importantly, you have to make sure ‘you’ do not kiss her."

Well, that shouldn’t be too hard. I can just go back in time and jump on ‘them’, and tell them they cannot be together. They should understand, right?

My eyes then lit up. Wait, that's it? That seems way too easy!

"Hold on, that's step one."

I let out a soft groan as my eyes rolled upwards.

"Do you want to hear step two or not?"

Yeah yeah, continue. Sorry to interrupt you my little Prince.

He gave me a glare.

"Secondly, what else has changed in this time plane from the last?"

Umm, wait. Let me think.

...

Shamisan's brow went into an S shape.

Haruhi! She's way different, and she likes me in this time plane too!

"You are right about one thing, that she is different. You must go to Haruhi Suzumiya's apartment. There you will find something."

...

Yeah, and?

"And that's all I know."

What? I leaned back in surprise. What do you mean that's all you know?

"Like I said. Nagato Yuki has not given me the information needed to complete the time cohesion act. The last order is that you must go to that apartment, where you will find something. She has said that you should know what to do."

Great. Once again, I realize I have no confidence in myself, since I have had no idea what to do for the past 12 days, or at any point in this time plane. The best thing I did was accidentally talk to my cat.

Nonetheless, I let out a sigh of relief. I finally knew what it took. I finally knew how to get Nagato back. And it seems slightly simple. There were no keys or computer programs or Asahina-san Bigs or anythin-

Wait! I have to go back in time. Asahina-san usually takes me back in time. And currently, she hates me. How am I supposed to get her to take me back in time if A) she is freaked out by me anyway and B) she wouldn’t do anything for me since I had accidentally and unknowingly spread the story of her deflowering to the whole school.

"Were you listening?"

What? Wait, was I talking out loud?

Ignoring my confusion, he shook his head and repeated himself, like he kept having to do.

"Were you listening?"

Um, yeah, I think.

"No, because then you wouldn't be wondering about that problem.”

How do you know what I’m thinking?

“Asahina Mikuru loves you, no matter what, remember? She may be indifferent toward you on the outside, but deep down she loves you and wants to be with you. So no matter how badly you screw up - and you did screw up - she will still love you and do anything for you. You just have to make sure she is comfortable and thinks you are the real Kyon that she fell in love with."

I once again was stuck in that silence, thinking of how awesome I must be to have Asahina-san be madly in love with me.

"Programmed."

Shut up! Just let me have this little moment. The thought occurred to me again, that Nagato had adapted this world pretty well to make me happy. Haruhi didn't make any trouble, and shouldn't be mean to me if she likes me. Asahina-san is intensely in love with me so I'll finally have the love I show for her returned to me, fully proving my dreams to be right in their predictions. I could just sit back and enjoy what I’ve always pictured to be my ideal High School existence. The sort of stuff I daydream about in the middle of class instead of listening. If I wanted it so bad, why didn’t I take it? It was given to me on a silver platter. Why am I so conflicted then?

An image then flashed in my mind. Water. Black water. I could see myself in the water. My reflection was dim, in it I was not smiling. My face showed creased lines, as my outward appearance represented my inner feelings, those of despair. A shrine. Is it my fault? I could have ended it. Why end it? Despair. Despair.

Hold on. I had thought about this before. There was no way I could be happy without Nagato. Especially after what had happened in the past 12 days, what she had shown me… about herself…





The various synthetic sounds drifted into the air from my phone as I dialed Asahina-san's number.

Ringing...

Click. Hi! This is Mikuru! Leave me a message!

Sigh. Man. I really hope she isn't ignoring my calls.

"Asahina-san, listen, it's me Kyon. I... uh, I'm... I-I'm sorry about what happened.. and... c-can we talk sometime? C-call me..."

I stopped abruptly as I trailed off. My peripheral vision caught the sight of a smiling Cheshire cat. Shamisan was snickering at me.

"What's so funny?"

"That message. Listen, if you're going to get anything done, you'll have to take initiative. You need to think and act like the Kyon from this time plane. It will certainly put Asahina Mikuru's mind at ease. Press 7, and re-record your message."

I did as I was told and softly touched the key with my thumb.

"Now, this time, actually sound like you are sorry. Really, you did actually hurt her. Mean it this time. Call her Mikuru. And at the end, tell her that you love her."

My face went red as I looked away from Shamisan. The beeping to start the message sounded in my ear, but I couldn’t talk.

"What's wrong?"

I then turned back to him. He really did not realize how difficult this was for me.

"I can't concentrate! How am I supposed to say something like that?"

"You want her back don't you? And I don’t mean Asahina Mikuru."

I averted my gaze away from his stone cold demeanor. His response had come right away. He was right again. This was all for Nagato.

"7. Do it again."

"Fine! Just… can you leave? It's embarrassing."

"I'll leave for now, but you need to get used to the feeling. Remember, you have to be like the Kyon from this time plane. That means Asahina-Mikuru IS your girlfriend. And you DO love her."

He hopped off my bed gracefully and excited the room, propping the door open with his nose on the way out. He would probably be back.

Just then I heard the beeping sound. Ok, here goes.

"Mikuru, it's me, Kyon. I called to say I'm really, really sorry about what happened at school today. The only reason I told someone was because, well, I was too excited, and I needed to let someone know. That was the best time I had ever had with anyone, and I'm glad it was with you Mikuru. It was a dumb move to tell it to Taniguchi, I know. But I hope you can forgive me for it, and we can continue to see each other. I promise to keep any secrets we share from now on, and I promise nothing like that will ever happen again. You’ll always be safe with me Mikuru. You can always count on me, to be comforted, to be there for you. Please, just forgive me for it. And Mikuru..."

...My heart skipped a beat as I licked my lips involuntarily.

"I love you."

Click.

I sighed and fell back onto my bed, my head landing against the pillow. Wow. That was a grade A lie. I'm actually really proud of myself for being able to do that. But what Shamisan said worried me. And not just because it was a talking cat who said it to me. I need to be like the Kyon from this time plane, so Asahina-san will help me. For some reason, it was hard to do, hard to even think of. If this was a month before, I'm sure I would light up at the chance to pretend to be Asahina-san’s boyfriend. But, things have… transpired in the past few days. The past 12 days. My feelings of desire have shifted. To someone else. And for some reason, there was something in my unconscious that was blocking me from being able to say that stuff, or rather, making it difficult. I’m starting to think I know though. The bench. The beach. The sand. The snow. Nagato. My heart could not betray what it had felt that night… in that dream that was so real.

I looked toward the ceiling as Nagato's image came into my mind again. I had gone pretty long without seeing her for real, or hearing her voice. Too long. I wanted to get her back soon. Nagato. Back to normal. Normal. That's all you want. That's all you deserve. That’s all that should happen. And that’s all that will.




"Kyon-kun! Shami! Wake up~!

My sister crashed through the door loudly and jumped on me with the force of an Olympic pole-vaulter. He tiny arms went straight for the calico cat cushion, as they squeezed Shamisan to death. My eyes crept open as if they were glued shut with superglue. Or maybe a hot glue gun. Man that would hurt.

I turned over a few times while getting adjusted to the light. I stole a glance at the digital clock next to my bed.

7:02 AM.

I better hurry up.

I thought this languidly as I buried my face in my pillow. Just, like, 10 more minutes.

"Kyon-kun! C'mon! Let’s get some breakfast! Shami is hungry! Yay Shami~!"

She began parading Shamisan around like he was a puppet, holding his paws and wagging them back and forth, making him dance. I looked into his face. He wore an expression of eternal detestation, his brow sinking low over his eyes.

"Okay, okay, let me get up."

I began to struggle to move as I threw the covers off my bed and buried my head in my hands. My sister got up and, with Shamisan in arms, ran downstairs, loudly proclaiming that we would be having eggs and toast for breakfast.

I got dressed in a few minutes of acclimating to the morning air and went downstairs. Breakfast was good. Better than usual. I have no idea why. I started to get a little nervous about my day. Today I would have to hope Asahina-san forgives me, even though Shamisan says it's a sure thing. Then I have to ask her to take me back in time, in which there is no guarantee that she will do that either.

As I was grabbing my bag to walk out, I eyed Shamisan sitting by the door. I didn't want to say anything to him in case my sister was around. I opened the door and got half my body out into the fresh air before I heard the deep tenor voice.

"Good luck."

I turned back and nodded to him, and closed the door. Man, am I glad I kept him for a pet, he has really helped me out here. I'll be sure to give him some extra rationings of tuna when I get back home.

As I rode lazily to school on my bike, I stared at the sky. It was grey, but the sun peeked through it, giving the overall flow of the morning a sensation of melancholy. The sun was shining, yet it was hidden by the light grey clouds. It's the same feeling I have when the sun is shining but it is raining. It’s like the world is saying what is happening shouldn't be happening. Perhaps there is someone up there watching what is happening right now, and judging my every move. Maybe it’s the doing of Haruhi. I wonder what her closed space’s are like in this time plane? She was pretty calm it seemed like. My mind went back to the night we spent in the school together, in the world Haruhi had created. What world would this Haruhi create? Would I be the only one to go with her again? Maybe it wouldn’t be such a dark and scary place…

I averted my eyes back to the road and pedaled on.

The walk up the slope seemed shorter than usual. Perhaps it's because halfway up, my pocket began to vibrate.

I reached in without enthusiasm and looked at the incoming calls screen.

"♥Mikuru"

Gah! Yes! That’s right! I was so thrilled to flip my phone open that I almost dropped it.

"H-hello?"

I must have sounded excited. Probably because I was.

"Hello? Kyon-kun? It's-"

"Mikuru!"

I interrupted her accidently, letting my enthusiasm out without thinking. Please let her forgive me. I pray to all the Gods there ever were. Just let this plan go smoothly.

"Eh... yes. It's me."

She didn't sound too happy.

"Did you get my message?"

"Er... yes."

"..."

I waited. C'mon... moment of truth...

"Did you really mean that all Kyon-kun?"

"Yes! Ah, I mean... yes. Of course I did M-Mikuru. It was just an accident anyway, I wouldn't have let it out so easy otherwise. I'm sorry again. Please forgive me."

I was apologizing for something I knowingly did, yet joked about doing when I thought I hadn't done what I was joking about. No wait. No, that's right. My head started spinning. This is just too much of an unhappy coincidence. I'll also have to remember to punch Taniguchi in the face.

"In that case...

I forgive you!"

The familiar cheerful Asahina-san tone came back, and my heart rose. Yes. That's one less person that is sad now. I imagined her face lighting up as that million watt smile beamed, her fairy like features each glowing.

"I'm so relieved you called Kyon-kun. I'm sorry Tsuruya-san hit you yesterday. I wanted to bend down and help you, but I was too angry. It was silly for me to get upset."

"No, don't worry Asah- I mean Mikuru. You were perfectly justified in getting upset, and I was perfectly justified in getting slapped. It was just a misunderstanding, and let’s forget about it."

"I agree. Fufufu..."

I could almost see her joyful smile through the phone as she said this. I must have really taken a load off of her shoulders with that message.

"Mikuru, can I ask you something?"

"Sure Kyon-kun, anything."

"Can we meet somewhere right now? I want to talk to you."

Her voice was clearly startled and full of anxiety as she responded. I continued to walk up the slope slowly as I talked, not really paying attention to where I was going.

"Wha? B-but... right now?"

"Yeah... if you want."

"B-but... we have class."

Oh. Right. Damn, backtrack Kyon, backtrack.

"Oh, that’s ok then, if you don't want to miss it."

Her voice was then filled with worry again.

"It's not that I don't want to be with you! It's just... we've skipped too much school together this past week..."

A wave of excitement went over me. Yet again, I was jealous of the other me in this timeplane. Skipping school and spending a whole day with Asahina-san? And even more than once? My God... that was the work of master story tellers.

Then the thought entered my mind again, taunting me.

You know, there's no need to be jealous. It could be you. You can just let it happen. This life was made for you, why not enjoy it?

But after about a second of thinking that, my real sense comes back. Because this is a hollow life without her, that's why.

Without Nagato...

"No, it's fine Mikuru. I agree, we should go to class. How about we talk at lunch, in the club room?"

"Sure! I'll make certain to be there as soon as the chime rings!"

"Thanks Asah-... Mikuru."

"Kyon-kun... love you."

My lips trembled.

"Love you... Mikuru..."

I hung up and sighed as I looked up the hill leading to North High. I only had a little way left to go to get there.





I entered the 5th classroom of the 2nd years as normal as possible. I felt the stares of my fellow classmates, and even heard a few soft gasps of some of the girls as I passed by them. The secret was still fresh in everyone’s minds I see. Haruhi was not in the seat in the rear next to the window. Is she not here again?

As I sat down, I saw a familiar duo of North High students approaching me.

"Yo Kyon!"

"Hey Kyon."

Taniguchi and Kunikida greeted me.

"Well, look who it is. Big mouth himself. You know I told that to you as a joke, right Taniguchi? It got me in heaps of trouble with Asahina-san. You don’t know how much I want to wail on your face right now."

He stepped back a little, to create some room between us in case I decided to jump out at him right then and there. He then put on that stupid Taniguchi grin.

"Yo, Kyon, my man, I gotta say... sorry about that. It's just, I told them I knew something, and they just kept bugging me, and bugging me."

Sounds familiar.

"But that was actually a joke Kyon? I told Taniguchi it was a bad idea to have let it out."

Kunikida gave me a sincere look. I bet you were right there egging him on.

"Sigh... does it matter? If you must know, it wasn't a joke, but you guys still shouldn't talk about it, okay?"

"Okay Kyon, but one more thing. Tell me this truthfully, and I won't bug you..."

...

"Does the carpet match the drapes?"

“GET OUT OF HERE!”





The school day went on with me staring unfocused at the front of the classroom, while all throughout the day people pointed at me and whispered, their hands cupped next to their mouths. Who would have thought this would be such a big scandal? We are going out right? Is the Asahina fan club behind this or something?

The oh so awaited chime signaled it was time to stop the madness in the classroom and proceed with the madness of lunch. The class slowly got up as I laid my head on my hands, barely awake. I let the guys leave the classroom before I exited, so none of them would talk to me and ask me more questions.

I walked the familiar route to the clubroom. It felt good, relaxing, comforting. It added a sense of normalcy. But all the craziness around me quickly exterminated that feeling.

I knocked softly on the clubroom door as I clutched the doorknob.

"Yes?"

The sound of the sweet angel of North High came through the hard wood. I took a deep breath as I opened the barrier from the real world to a world filled with time travelers, aliens and espers. This door was quite the door.

Asahina-san cutely sat on a foldable chair and smiled warmly as I entered. I took a quick glance at the corner out of habit. There was no chair, and no books around anywhere, except the small bookcase that was there even before we went to this school. And there was especially no Nagato sitting there. I couldn’t avoid the twinge in my heart.

Ok, focus!

Asahina-san lightly leaped up and threw herself on me, her arms caressing the back of my neck. I felt her chest pressing against me.

So much for focus.

"Kyon-kun, I was so worried. It's good to see you again. I'm sorry about what happened."

I couldn’t help but blush, and stand awkwardly with her hanging off of me.

"I...I-it's okay Asah-... I mean Mikuru."

She turned her head, and with her eyes closed, delicately kissed my cheek. I almost fainted on the spot. She then softly said,

"Let's never let anything like that happen again, ok?"

Wait, the sex or the secret getting out?

Gah! Nevermind, not the time to think about that.

She let me go and turned her back to me to sit down.

"What did you want to talk about Kyon-kun?"

I still stood in the same position, slightly taken aback, my mouth hanging open, and my cheeks blushing.

There was so much cuteness floating about my head that I almost drowned in it. Her movements were like those of a fairy tale princess. They would melt any man's brain and turn him into her own toy puppet.

I slowly regained consciousness as she watched me questioningly.

"Uh..."

I looked around the room. Where do I start?

Shamisan's voice went through my head.

"You have to think and act like the ‘you’ of this time plane."

How am I supposed to do that, but also ask her to time travel? That would freak her out too much. Think Kyon! What advantages do you have in this situation?

...

My eyes made another sweep across the room, and finally stopped on Asahina-san's stunning face and gorgeous figure, sitting silently, waiting for me to say something. She looked intently at me. I got it.

"Asah-... Mikuru, you know what I was just thinking of?"

She lifted her index finger to the corner of her mouth.

"No, what were you thinking about?"

"Remember when I confessed to you?"

She smiled as she closed her eyes.

"Of course I do Kyon-kun. I was so happy that day."

"M-me too Mikuru. In fact, I wish we could relive that day."

I walked to the other side of the room and pulled a foldable chair over next to her. I took her hands and looked into her eyes.

"That would be so romantic to see that again, don't you think?"

She blushed, as I'm sure I was too. Her hands were so soft and warm. The feel of her skin was like caressing a silk pillow filled with the most beautiful and exquisite feathers in the world.

"Y-yes, that would be wonderful Kyon-kun."

She looked into my eyes, as I purposefully turned my head up, as if in thought.

"If only there were, some way we could... you know... travel through time to see it again. Right?"

She was taken aback a bit as she let my hands go. Her face was slightly conflicted. It seems her strict orders would probably be against this. But I was banking on one thing.

Shamisan told me that this Asahina-san loved me deeply. She would do anything for me. I'm sure if I requested this, she would do her best to do it. It's almost as if I had control over this relationship as well as mine with Haruhi now. It sure was great being loved.

She furrowed her brow and stood up, pacing away from me to the other side of the room. I continued...

"Wouldn't it be great if we could just somehow go back and see the looks on our faces? We could sit there and watch it like it was a movie starring us."

"K-Kyon-kun. I...I could take us back..."

My anxiety lifted, as my eyes glimmered.

"You can! That's great Asah-... Mikuru! It should be fun, just the two of us."

She turned and gave me a feeble smile, not looking at me.

"Y-yeah... it should be... f-fun..."

I walked over to her and hugged her.

"Thank you Mikuru, it would mean a lot to me."

Now it was her turn to receive the hug, but not give one back. She continued to recoil a bit and carry a look of extreme anxiety.

I released her, and as I held her hands, said,

"When shall we go?"

She still had not looked at me. This must be really hard for her to decide. After all, time travel is her main objective in her life. For me to trump it...

Her small voice came out.

"W...w-when d-do y-you want to?"

"How about as soon as we can. After school?"

She took a step backward and finally looked at me in the eyes.

"But we have a Club meeting, right?"

"Uh..."

I had forgotten about the SOS... club.

"Well, I didn't see Haruhi in class today, so I assume we don't need to be here."

Her eyes showed a bit of shock.

"She was gone again?"

"Um, yeah."

Asahina-san began to mumble to herself, looking toward the ground. Finally, she let out a response, just the one I had been waiting for.

"O-ok, after school."

"I'll call you, ok? Thanks Mikuru, for doing this. I'm sorry again for yesterday."

I said this as I began to leave. Am I forgetting something yet again?

"Kyon-kun!"

She said my nickname with a sense of urgency as I turned toward her. She was now completely facing me as I was almost out the door.

"...I...I love you. Bye."

I blushed again. Remember. All of this is for a reason, for a person. For Nagato. I took a breath.

"Yeah. I love you too... Mikuru."

I returned her weak smile as I closed the door on her. It only occurred to me after I had started walking back to class 2-5 that I should have walked her back to her classroom. But then again, I didn't want to run into Tsuruya-san and her Herculean strength.

As I sat in class, a nagging feeling kept watch over my errant attention span. It was a bad feeling, like I had done something wrong. Like the feeling you would have after stealing something of great value.

I was able to pinpoint the feeling about halfway through class. When I did, I let out an audible gasp that made everyone turn around and look at me.

"Sorry."

I buried my face in my desk to avoid their eyes. I knew what this feeling was.

I had basically just taken advantage of Asahina-san. I used her. I extorted her. I used her love for me to get me what I wanted, which will ultimately mean she won't ever see me again. Asahina-san was only going against her superiors because she loved me, and she thought I truly did want to go back and see my confession to her. She really thought I wanted to be with her She didn't know the purpose of the trip was going to be to merge my time plane back and get the real world back to normal. What would happen to this Asahina-san? Will she just be tragically lost forever? I felt horrible. I was going to break her heart. There was only one person she would do something for against her bosses, and that was me. And I was using her.

I put my head in my hands. Okay, calm down, calm down. This isn't the real Asahina-san.

But I touched her! She was warm! She said she loved me!

But this isn't where we belong. This is necessary to get back to normal.

But why must I destroy her to get what I want? Why must I make everyone else sad to make myself happy?

You want to see her again, right?

…

Right?

Of course! But why can't I just do it without having to destroy this Asahina-san's life? When she realizes why I went back in time with her, she will surely have a mental break down.

It is necessary. Asahina-san will be there when everything is back to normal.

But what about in this time plane? Will there be another Kyon? Or will she wander around looking for me forever?

Who knows…

"That's bullshit!"

Again everyone was looking at me. I was standing, my hands clenched, ready to pound on my desk. I had just yelled that last line out in the middle of class.

"Kyon! Take a seat! If you need to go see the nurse, go. But otherwise, stop disrupting the class."

"Sorry sensei."

Oh man, how embarrassing. The last thing I need is for people to have more of a reason to think badly about me.







I hastily packed my things into my bag as the chime rung for the end of the day. I zipped out of the room before anyone could ask me what that disturbance was all about. My pace to the Old Block was either a fast walk or a slow jog.

I didn't know what to expect as I opened the door, but I know that I didn't expect Asahina-san to be there yet. I threw my bag on the table, and began to wait for her. I took a glance around and noticed the tea kettle on the stove. It might be a nice gesture to make tea for Asahina-san for a change. I got up to go heat the stove but as I did the fairy herself walked into the room.

"Oh! You're here already!"

She looked very surprised.

"Yeah, haha. I guess I was excited."

She placed her bag on the desk, looking gloomily at the floor.

"W-well, do you still want to go?"

"For sure..."

She sighed and continued to study the floor in front of her.

"Okay... please sit down and close you're eyes."

I walked over to a foldable chair. I knew the routine. This had happened how many times before? My eyes closed on their own as I studied the blackness they created.

"R-ready?"

Asahina-san sounded really nervous. Suddenly, my head began to spin as the familiar feeling of being tossed around in a weightless space shuttle came over me. I was not as adverse to it this time, because I was glad I was going back this time. My body felt like it had been shot out of one of those cannons at the circus, and it was flailing through the air. Right before I felt I was going to hit the ground, the feeling began to slowly seep off of me. I felt the chair beneath me again, as I slowly opened my eyes. We were in the clubroom. I looked at the clock on the wall.

3:51 PM.

Great. Shamisan said approximately 4 PM would be when it happens. He also said Asahina-san would already be here, but she was not.

I looked over my shoulder to see the Asahina-san from 13 days ahead standing next to me. Her anxiety seemed to be leaving her, as a small smile came over her face.

"We're okay..."

I got up and hugged her.

"Yes we are. Thank you Asah-... Mikuru."

"Kyon-kun, this is the first time I've time traveled for fun, for myself. Without a mission."

You might not have a mission, but I do.

"Shall we hide to watch, Asah-... Mikuru? ‘You’ should be arriving soon right? You were here before me."

"Yes, let’s go over to the corner behind the broom closet and bookcase."

She pointed me to a spot where we could see what was going on, but the people in the room could not see us. The Asahina-san of this time shouldn’t see us, or else it might be trouble. But ‘she’ would be seeing me, when I disrupted her first kiss. I had a job to do here.

I heard the door click and open as we watched the cute Asahina-san of 13 days ago enter the room. I could see there was no cosplay wardrobe. Curses, that means she won't have to change. No wait, the Asahina-san of 13 days ahead would be right next to me, so it would be embarrassing. No wait, I had seen the Asahina-san that was next to me naked before, we slept together, right? I mean, not me, but... ah nevermind. It's too complicated.

I waited as I watched the Asahina-san clad in her school sailor outfit go and turn the stove on, warming the water for tea. She stared at it for a minute or so, seemingly in thought. After that, she turned to the door, and just as she did, the sound of a knock filled the room.

"Yes?"

The door opened and I saw myself timidly enter the room. There was something different about this guy’s face than the one I see in the mirror every morning, though. I studied his, er, ‘my’ face to see that there was much more confidence in it. This version of me had the guts to confess to Asahina-san. He generally seemed happier than me. But right now, I could see the nervousness in his face and the way he moved.

"Asahina-san, I wanted to talk to you."

"What is it Kyon-kun?"

The 13 days ago Asahina-san cutely turned towards the 13 days ago me. 'I' looked directly into her eyes, and coming closer, 'I' took her hands.

"Over the past few days, I've realized something about you. Asahina-san, you are beautiful, you are nice, and you're the most wonderful girl I have ever met. I feel that having been with you, I can truly say I have fallen for you. I love you!"

The me of 13 days ago said this as he fell to one knee. What is he doing, proposing? I heard the Asahina-san from 13 days later next to me let out a sigh that seemed to say "Awwwww." I took a glance at her and noticed she was watching closely with a small smile on her face. She was remembering how she felt.

The 13 days ago Asahina-san just stood there, before she let out a "Kyon-kun...”

'I' then proceeded to say as 'I' looked up at her from my kneeling position:

"Please be my girlfriend!"

The 13 days ago Asahina-san then gasped and took a step back. I couldn’t see her face, only the look on the face of 'me' from 13 days ago. 'I' was eagerly awaiting an answer, ‘my’ gaze fixated on her.

"Oh! Yes! Yes! Kyon-kun!"

She then jumped down to her knees and hugged me. This is it. Shamisan said that we kissed after this. There is no time to watch. I must act. Before the Asahina-san next to me could do anything, I leapt out from behind the cabinet and bookcase.

"No! Asahina-san!"

I yelled as I leaped toward 'us', my hand outstretched, in an attempt to make a grab.

I then felt my body jerk. I saw a hand clutched my wrist violently as it swung me around, throwing me into the table into the middle of the room. My body hit the chairs with a hard thud as I collapsed like a rag doll. I heard the simultaneous gasps of both Asahina-sans.

What had just happened? My heroic outpour of passion toward the kneeling couple was interrupted, and I was thrown away. This can't be happening! It's ruining everything! What happened? Who was it? Who did this?

I then heard a voice.

"Can't let you do that Kyon."

[ghazghkull]

GAHH!!!!!

CLIFFHANGER!!!!

GAHH!!!!!

[Specular]

Nice "to be continued" moment, there are more than a few good options for the person who interfered in the end.

Good Chapter, thanks.

Spoiler for my bet:

I highly doubt it, but i would like than Kyon from 13 days ago attacked "himself" to protect his present, in spite of this, my bet is Koizumi.

I will be expecting the outcome.

[Tamekichi]

Yes, I couldn't resist leaving it like that. It's reminiscent of when I printed out Book 4, and had only printed up to the chapter where Yuki reveals who changed the world. I was reading late at night with no computer, and the chapter ended right before she said who it was. I couldn't sleep for a while after that.

Spoiler for @ Specular:

Nice guess. I do not want to leave any clues to who it is, but I'll be sure to have the next chapter up soon. I actually wrote this scene as a whole, but split it in the middle into two different chapters, mainly for the suspense.

[Tamekichi]

I'm almost done with the final editing on Chapter 9, and I must say, I am really nervous about this one. I mean, I've been nervous about some of the other ones, mostly the more recent ones, but I'm hesitating on this one even more. I'm contemplating rewriting the whole chapter, which would not be good, since this one is about 7000 words.

I just don't know how the readers will react to it.

[ghazghkull]

Originally Posted by Tamekichi

I'm almost done with the final editing on Chapter 9, and I must say, I am really nervous about this one. I mean, I've been nervous about some of the other ones, mostly the more recent ones, but I'm hesitating on this one even more. I'm contemplating rewriting the whole chapter, which would not be good, since this one is about 7000 words.

I just don't know how the readers will react to it.

I say just run with it. It's your story. Granted that there will always be someone who will go "WTF?! Why did you do this?!" or some variation, the majority of us will most likely respect your work.

Sure we will give our critique and comment, but it's not like we're going to bash your work. With what you've done so far, we'll just find it an ironic plot twist at most

[Tamekichi]

Originally Posted by ghazghkull

I say just run with it. It's your story. Granted that there will always be someone who will go "WTF?! Why did you do this?!" or some variation, the majority of us will most likely respect your work.

Sure we will give our critique and comment, but it's not like we're going to bash your work. With what you've done so far, we'll just find it an ironic plot twist at most

In that case, I'll do some more editing, and it should be updated tomorrow sometime later in the day.

[Shinbou]

Originally Posted by Tamekichi

I'm almost done with the final editing on Chapter 9, and I must say, I am really nervous about this one. I mean, I've been nervous about some of the other ones, mostly the more recent ones, but I'm hesitating on this one even more. I'm contemplating rewriting the whole chapter, which would not be good, since this one is about 7000 words.

I just don't know how the readers will react to it.

Yes just place it and we can always just give critique and if it's still the same following the last chapters. You can always change it if something doesn't fit. But i don't really think there is a posability that you place a whole bad chaper.

Just try it =)

[Tamekichi]

Okay, here it is. I'll hold my breath for reactions.

Spoiler for Chapter 9: World My Own:

I blinked a couple times.

My whole plan that was supposed to be easy and simple was just derailed by someone. This was not supposed to go this way. I am supposed to be the hero. This is the one time where I actually get to save someone. Not just anyone, but Nagato. And myself. I'm the one who could get us back to our time plane, to our reality, and make everything better.

Let’s go over what just happened. I came back in time to disrupt the first kiss shared by Asahina-san and me in this time plane, which is the first step to fusing the time planes back together according to Shamisen. As ‘I’ confessed and ‘she’ accepted, they embraced and were about to kiss. I jumped out from my hiding spot with the Asahina-san from 13 days later to try and stop what was happening. Try being the operative word there. Then, someone came out of no where and threw me away, my body smashing into the table and chairs in the center of the room. Their words bounced off the inside of my head.

“Can’t let you do that Kyon.”

I tried to focus as I felt my lower back, accompanied by my side, throbbing. I lifted my hand up to rub my eyes. The mistiness lifted so I could see the trim figure of the person standing in front of me, the person that had interfered and thrown me aside. That person saw me finally look at them, and said,

"Sorry Kyon, but I can't let this happen."

There I sat, the chairs toppled over, and the table askew. I could see both Asahina-sans with their hands over their mouths, their eyes as wide as the vast Pacific Ocean. Even the 'me' from 13 days ago held the same expression that I myself did right now, one of pure surprise, with my mouth hanging open.

I struggled to get my words out, trying to say “why?” as I noticed it was harder with the searing pain in my abdomen, but no sound would escape my lips. I saw the person standing in front of me turn to the kneeling couple.

"Kiss him."

They looked at the person in surprise. An order from an individual who just came out of nowhere, hurled a guy across the room, and now looked coldly at them.

"Do it. Kiss him."

The Asahina-san from 13 days ago slowly turned her head towards the me of 13 days ago. 'He' stared into her eyes. She then started to lean toward his face.

"No! Stop!"

I reached my hand out toward them, in the same fashion a police officer would when he is directing traffic. Somehow, I had gained the ability of speech again.

"You can't!"

I jumped to my feet, and began to rush over to them. I felt the wiry hand of the person who stopped me from before jab into my chest. I stopped, and looked down at my rumpled North High uniform. My eyes then followed down to the person’s fingers, and across their hand and up their arm, until I saw the face of the agitator.

A handsome smiling face looked back at me.

"Koizumi..."

"Kyon, you can't go any further."

He brought his other arm up and shoved me backward with the full force of his body weight. I crashed hard onto the wood paneling of the floor as I heard both of the Asahina-sans gasp again, this time along with the me from 13 days ago. What was going on? Why was Koizumi interfering with this? And more importantly, why was he here? This isn't what Shamisan said would happen at all.

I looked at his face. He wore a smile, but it was one of the most twisted smiles I had ever seen. It was like someone took the Koizumi smirk and gave it to a serial killer. His eyes narrowed onto my face as he continued to grin.

I then glanced over at the Asahina-san from 13 days ahead. She had tears in her eyes, as her gaze darted from Koizumi to me and back to Koizumi.

He turned his body back to the 13 days ago Asahina-san who still held the 13 days ago me in her arms.

"Do it. Kiss him. And make it passionate."

Wait a second. These two people from the past would know Koizumi, right? Koizumi had said I talked to him about confessing. So why did they look at him as if they had never seen this person before? I tried to struggle to get up, but Koizumi placed his foot on my chest. The sole of his shoe grinded into my sternum.

"Ow! S-stop! No! D-don't!"

"Relax Kyon, there's nothing you can do now."

I turned my head to the side, and watched in horror as the sailor uniform clad Asahina-san from 13 days ago again turned back to the me from 13 days ago. They both had looks of fright in their eyes. I'm sure this is not what they envisioned their first kiss to be like. I hadn't envisioned it like this at all when I dreamed of it back in my time plane. The petite Asahina-san leaned in. Just as she did, I heard a high pitched shout.

"No!"

"oof!"

The pressure on my chest lifted off of me, as I saw the dark figure of Koizumi's North High uniform fall over to the side. What? More surprises?

I lifted my head to see the Asahina-san from 13 days later panting heavily, with tears coming down her cheeks, a look of intensity in her eyes. She had just shoved Koizumi off of me. I heard the 13 days ago Asahina-san cry out.

Now everyone in the room wore the look of disbelief, including me, the two young lovers, and Koizumi, as he lay over next to me near the table. The only one who didn't was Asahina-san, as she kneeled down next to me. Her face changed to a look of heavenly concern.

"Kyon-kun... are you alright?"

I didn't say anything as I just stared back into her face.

She got up and put back on her intense look, as she thrust her index finger toward the shocked esper lying next to me.

"This is not supposed to be how this went! I don't know where you came from Koizumi-kun, or how you got here, but you need to leave!"

All the while, small tears where coming from her eyes.

Koizumi shook himself off, and slowly got up. His gentle smile came back to him. He brushed his blazer in a dramatic fashion.

"Well. I didn't expect to see you here Asahina-san. It's too bad. I wouldn’t have wanted you to see me do this."

"I don't care! Just leave!"

"Not until those two over there,"

He pointed to the two North High students, still in each other's arms, kneeling.

"Kiss each other."

"No. They cannot be forced to kiss each other! If Kyon-kun doesn’t want them to, then I won’t let you make them do it!”

I was astonished. Let’s take this from Asahina-san's point of view. She had come back in time, her first time she ever time traveled for pleasure, challenging the authority of her superiors. She wanted to see 'my' confession, because she thought it would be a romantic scene. Everything is going according to plan until I jump out and disturb the scene. Koizumi then comes out of no where and throws me down. The whole scene is ruined in her eyes, and on top of that, she must realize that the time planes are messed up now, since ‘we’ saw the duplicates of ourselves from the future. She then infers that I don't want 'us' to kiss, so she takes initiative, and pretty much saves me by doing something Asahina-san would never do, something violent. Does that mean that every member of the SOS Brigade has saved me before? That's depressing… yet reassuring.

Asahina-san turned toward the two lovebirds. I don't know what's going through her head. This wasn't even a mission of hers and she was acting so passionately.

She walked toward 'us' as she softly put her hand on 'her' shoulder.

"Don't kiss him... please. Let him go."

The Asahina-san from 13 days ago did as she was told, rising to her feet as she left the me from 13 days ago kneeling on the floor. Koizumi hurried to the other side of the table.

"No, you have to kiss him Asahina-san. Don't listen to them. I know you want to kiss him, so go ahead and do it."

"No, don-"

The Asahina-san from 13 days later tried to yell, but Koizumi roughly shoved his hand over her mouth, and at the same time grabbed her body so she couldn't squirm away. I saw his fingers clench the tight waist of the sempai, his arms wrapped around her while his hand roughly applied pressure to her face. She tried to fight him, but he was too strong. He then turned back to the little 13 days ago Asahina-san.

"Now, do it."

She stared back at him as if she were staring at a school administrator striking fear into every student’s heart. She had no idea what to do.

"Now!"

His yell frightened her, as she jumped back away from him. She fell to the ground and curled up into a ball, hugging her knees, as she started sobbing uncontrollably.

Now, you may be wondering what the hell I was doing at this time. I'm wondering that too. I was just laying there watching this transpire. I think I was still in shock from the whole escapade. I need to do something! Get up! Go help Asahina-san! It's now time for me to save her, it's now time for me to fix the time planes, and save Nagato!

Rage began to build up inside me as I saw that Koizumi was restraining Asahina-san in such a rough and crude manner. That bastard! No one touches her like that, no matter what!

I rose to my feet, and, eyeing Koizumi with the most deadly scowl I could, I slowly dragged my feet across the room. The only reason I didn’t run was because my lower back ached terribly. He was facing away from me, with me boring a hole into him back with my eyes. His slender hands still held Asahina-san as she struggled to get away.

I had a little time to decide what the best course of action would be. I could do the same exact thing he was doing to Asahina-san, but to him, and then tell the 'me' from 13 days ago to run away. But Koizumi was stronger than me, and would shake me off. That esper douche.

I could crack him on the back of the head with some blunt object lying around here. But that wouldn't fly either, I don't want to risk missing and hitting Asahina-san.

I hastily decided to rush forward and try to rip him away form Asahina-san's body. I grabbed his arm that was over her mouth, and tore it away from her. I struggled with him as he turned around in sudden surprise. Koizumi released Asahina-san so he could turn all his attention to me. He lifted his other hand, and with a swift motion, one I didn't even see, he punched me across the side of my face. I fell hard to the floor again. But this time I wasn't shaken. I got back up and tried to hit Koizumi with my own right hook, but he just chuckled and dodged my fist gracefully, grabbing it as it went past him and shoving me down. My face felt like it shattered as it hit the floor. I let out a groan. Then I heard a crashing sound, one that didn’t have to do with me, but what was going on around me. It was like the sound of a gong being hit. A really big gong. I turned my head over to see Koizumi’s limp body on the floor. Asahina-san stood over him, her body heaving up and down. She clutched the tea pot in her hands, as her face turned toward me.

I looked back into her eyes. They were still full of moisture. The other Asahina-san was crying bitterly, and the other me still just sat on the ground, perplexed about what was going on around him. Asahina-san put the pot on the ground and came over to me, helping me up.

"Are you okay Kyon-kun?"

I took her hand and got up slowly. There was blood across my cheek, coming from my nose. I wiped at it with the back of my hand.

"Ow."

I involuntarily let out a yelp as my hand brushed my nose. I hope it isn't broken. Asahina-san led me over to the table. She picked up a chair and placed it upright. I sat on it and put my head in my hands. She went and got me some tissue. I looked at her as she handed me the box.

"Wipe your face Kyon-kun."

I did as she said, and then, as my main objective came back to my mind, I turned to the two students on the floor near the door.

"I'm sorry you had to see this happen. You can leave."

I then felt a twinge of regret in my heart. The me from 13 days ago began to get up slowly and walk toward the 13 days ago Asahina-san, who was still sobbing in the corner, just like she had after Haruhi made her get molested for that computer.

"Wait."

I got up and went over to them. I put my hands on the 13 days ago me’s shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Listen. I want you to take care of this Asahina-san no matter what. Make sure to love her forever. Make sure she is never unhappy, and always be there for her. Can you do this?"

He stared at me, his eyes wide again, before he slowly nodded his head up and down.

"Once you wake up tomorrow, I want you to come back to her and say everything you said today again. Confess to her. Make her happy."

His head bobbed up and down again. I don’t know why, but I felt compelled to say this to him. If everything went according to my plan, there would be no tomorrow for this time plane, as it would be fused back into mine. But just in case I screwed something up, or the flow of time got fixed and this me was still here, I wanted both him and the Asahina-san in this time plane to be happy.

He then went over the crying Asahina-san and helped her to her feet. They walked out of the clubroom together. I then turned my gaze to the body on the ground. Koizumi was unconscious.

"Asahina-san... I mean, Mikuru. We have to go. We have to go to Haruhi's apartment right now."

She looked up at me after having looked at Koizumi's head again. Her expression was one of a bit of shock, regret, and anxiety all brewed into one emotion. She wiped the tears from her face.

"W-why?"

"Because... because... I'll tell you… on the way there Asah-... Mikuru."

I went over to her and took her hand, as I led her out of the clubroom, making sure to close the door. There should be no more interferences.

The only way I could think of to get to Nagato's, er, Haruhi's apartment was to walk. It's pretty much the only route I knew. And I didn't want to alarm Asahina-san by telling her that we had to run. Besides, there's no hurry.

We got outside the North High complex, as the grey sky showered over us. A storm was imminent. We walked together, me supporting her a bit as she was still shocked from what had happened in the clubroom. There were so many questions left unanswered. We continued to walk in silence for some time, until we started to draw near to Nagato's - I mean, Haruhi's apartment. Just then Asahina-san's tiny voice came out from under my arm.

"Kyon-kun... why are we going to Suzumiya-san's apartment? You said you would tell me."

She seemed really reluctant to ask the question, as she didn't look at me but continued to look at the pavement as we walked over the tiny cracks. I wonder if she already has an idea as to what was going on.

I looked over my shoulder to the left and right. I noticed that we are right next to that magical park, where almost all of my time traveling adventures started. There was a bench adjacent to the outside of the park. I led her over to it and sat her down on it. Her body went limp as it hit the wood bench. She must be emotionally exhausted. It was amazing for Asahina-san to even be standing right now. I thought about it as I sat down too. Why did this Asahina-san act so differently? How did she have the strength to get away from Koizumi, and then the gusto to hit him over the head with the tea pot? The Asahina-san I knew wouldn't have done that in a million years. In fact, she would have been huddled together sobbing with the other Asahina-san that was in the room at the time. Where did she find this confidence? I strung my gaze around the scenery. We were sitting on a bench looking away from the park. A lone street lamp lit the area, as the street sprawled out in front of us. There were dark and tall buildings reaching up to the melancholy sky, as it stared down on anyone who may question what’s up there. My gaze finally fell onto Asahina-san's saddened face. I looked into her eyes. There, above the tiny pools of wetness transforming into tears at the bottom of her eyes, was a small glint of light. It might have been my imagination, or subconscious. Either way, I think I knew what it was. I think I knew why she did all that stuff back in the clubroom. It was just as Shamisan had said. It was because she loved me. She would do anything for me. Her love for me gave her the confidence and stability to be able to put herself in blatant danger just to save me. She also interrupted her own desires to see our first kiss, just because that's what she assumed I wanted to happen. As I thought about this, my soul began to weep. I felt even more regret for what I'm doing right now. How in the world could I, the one guy in all of Japan who has worshipped Asahina-san the most, and been in contact with her the most, and gone on the most adventures with her, now reject her blind love she gives to me. She is completely devoted to me now, and I can't do anything but push her away and use her to get back to the time where she is unhappy and feels worthless. I could see that this Asahina-san did not feel worthless at all. The Asahina-san in my time plane revealed to me on that day we went to buy tea leaves and I saved that spectacled kid from the van, that she felt useless and worthless for the lack of knowledge that was granted to her by her superiors, which I knew to be herself, just older. But this Asahina-san was not concerned with that. It was easy to see now that this Asahina-san had two motives in life: Observe Haruhi and be with “Kyon-kun”. And now I was about to wreck it all. I just wish there was some way to make this all go back to normal for everyone in every time plane. I looked at Asahina-san as she sniffled and wiped her tears, her eyes peering into mine. I took my hands and put them on her back to pull her into my chest. I hugged her softly, as I whispered to her.

"I'm sorry, Asahina-san."

She began her sobbing quietly again.

"The truth is, I am not the real Kyon. I'm not from this time plane. I only asked you to take me back so I could merge your time plane back into mine, and in the process, ruin your existence. I used you Asahina-san. I used you for my own gain, and I'm sorry."

Tears came to my own eyes as I held her in my arms. My one dream of being able to hold Asahina-san was nothing but a black shroud around my head now.

"Kyon-kun..."

She tried to talk through her tears and sobs, while directing her words into my chest.

"How... how... ho…"

She couldn't get it out and just gave up and started crying. I too could feel the warm salt water flowing down my cheeks, one by one, creating streaks of unhappiness, my face filled with discontent. We must have sat like that for about 5 minutes, and softly cried together.

Finally, her sobs began to grow further and further apart. I heard her angelic voice.

"K-Kyon-kun. W-w-why are we going t-to Suzumiya-san's apartment?"

I softly released her from my grip, so I could look in her eyes and say this to her,

"Asahina-san, the last step to merge the time planes is to go to Haruhi's apartment. I have to do something there. I don't know what. If you want to leave, that’s fine with me, I'm just sorry this had to happen...I'm sorry..."

Asahina-san stared at me with despair seeping out of her eyes. She closed them, releasing the tears that continued to flow. She held her face like that for a couple of seconds, still sniffling. She then opened her eyes, as her crimson lips moved.

"I... I'll go with you... I just want you to be able to go back to where you are happy."

Oh man. Could she have said anything more heart-wrenching to me? I tried my best to suppress my crying again. She leaned into my chest, and I put my arms around her again to hug her.

"Thank you Mikuru. Thank you."

We got up together, and walked the 100 some yards to the apartment complex. When we arrived outside, I pressed the 708 button on the intercom.

"Yes?"

"Haruhi?"

"Yes. Kyon?"

"Yeah. Can we come up please?"

"U-uh... we?"

"Mikuru is with me."

"..."

There was a short silence.

"Yeah… sure."

I heard the front door unlock as I said thank you into the intercom speaker. Asahina-san and I entered the lobby and headed for the elevator. I pressed the button for the 7th floor. The last time I was here with Asahina-san, I believe it was with Asahina-san (big) in the Disappearance world. She was still nervous around Nagato then. I wonder if this Asahina-san would be too.

As I studied the elevator ceiling tile while listening to the soft rhythm of the music exuding from it, the metal doors in front of us slid open, being accompanied by a dinging sound. We stepped out into the hallway. I noticed the meager lighting again, as the one bulb that was not burnt out struggled to keep the rest illuminated. I took a glance out the window. It was now raining heavily, the sky filled with dark clouds, blanketing the skyscrapers in the city, not allowing any of them to see each other. The buildings tried their best to light themselves with their artificial brightness, but the murky clouds of misery would not let them. The haze interfered with all the was happening, and allowed no one thing in the city to be at ease. The rain continued to flow.

I knocked on the door with the number '708' next to it, as Asahina-san held my arm. There was no answer, but I could hear someone's steps drumming the floor as they walked over to let us in. Haruhi's sullen face greeted us as the door gradually hinged open. She wore pink pajama pants and a white T-shirt that was too large for her. She had nothing on her feet, and her hair was again not tied in any fashion, with no ribbon present.

"Hey Haruhi. We’re sorry to intrude. May we come in?"

"U-um... yeah..."

She looked down and blushed, as she held her arm out toward the inside of the apartment, like a maid ushering us into a mansion.

Now my confident feeling, which was never actually there, was noticeably absent. This is as far as the information went. I had no knowledge of what was going to happen now. It was all me. Now was the time for me to figure it out. Shamisan had said I needed to find something, and he also said I would know what to do when I needed to do it. Or rather, Nagato said that.

I stepped into the apartment a few paces, and looked around. Sigh. I'm lost. I'm lost in a haystack, now where is the needle? I scanned each intricate part of the apartment. The furniture was all situated pretty much the same as the time I had visited before, which was... something like 10 or 11 days later. The television was on again, she was watching anime. There were blankets and whatnot strewn about, as it looked like there were the remnants of a dinner for one on the kotatsu in the middle of the room. There was a plate with a few scraps of food on it, accompanied by a fork and steak knife. I guess she was eating beef. There was a clock on the wall. It read 5:59. In addition, she had various books thrown all over the place. Well, this Haruhi is just as careless with nondescript items as the other one, that's how the clubroom got so much junk in it back in my time plane. It also looked like Haruhi had been working on her homework or something, as a sheet of paper was next to her dirty plates on the kotatsu, along with a pencil on top. There were some words scribbled on the paper, but not many.

"Come in, make yourself comfortable. Um... I-I'll get some tea."

Haruhi awkwardly went into the kitchen as she said this. It seemed like she didn't have very much experience with visitors. Asahina-san still clutched my arm, as her eyes flowed around the room just as mine did. She whispered to me.

"What do you have to do Kyon-kun?"

I lowered my voice back, even though I don't know why. Would it hurt anything if Haruhi knew what I was doing?

"I don't know. I need to find a certain something. I guess we should look around for stuff that would be interesting."

We walked around the room separately, opening end table drawers and turning blankets over.

I picked up a notebook that was lying on the floor and opened it. The inside housed handwriting all over every page. I looked closer and began to read.

“Science Notes.

The three basic states of matter are solid, liquid and gas. The only nowable matter that is able to be all 3 is H²O. Water.

He just sits there. Why does he just sit there? What does he think about? Does he ever think of me? I hope so. He never lets on that he does. I just know in my heart that someday he will come up to me and tell me everything I’ve longed to hear him say since the moment I saw him. Why can’t I be a strong person? Because I’m not, I can’t pretend to be what I’m not. All I can do is sit, and hope he is happy. No matter what, even if it isn’t with me, I just hope that in his life… he is able to say that he is happy.”

I noticed the scrawls to be Haruhi’s. She must have written this absentmindedly in Science class. I sighed out loud, which Asahina-san just took as a gesture toward our current search. Haruhi was also in love with me. That made all 3 girls of the SOS Brigade having feelings for me. She just wants me to be happy. I guess I just want that too.

I tossed the notebook back on the floor, and continued the hunt.

As I was upending the couch cushions, I heard a tiny sound come from the front of the apartment.

"Wa... What are you doing?"

Haruhi stood with a beet red face, carrying a tray with a tea pot and three tea cups, in the same fashion that she had when I came here before. Oh crap. Um...

Asahina-san piped up.

"We... Um... can't find the TV remote… Is it anywhere around here?"

"Uh.. y-yeah."

Haruhi placed the trey on the kotatsu and pointed.

"It's right there."

She was pointing right next to me. I looked down to see the remote sitting on the cushion next to the one I was overturning. Now all three of us were blushing.

"Oh, haha, there it is. Whoo! Got it, those are tricky, y'know?"

I stumbled out a response as I turned the pillow back over and placed it in its rightful spot on the couch. Asahina-san and I nervously went over to the kotatsu, and sat down cross legged.

Haruhi sat as well, as we each took a cup of tea that she had poured. She then took a sip, all the while not daring to look anywhere but down in her lap.

I saw out of my peripheral vision the paper with the pencil on top of it that was lying on the kotatsu. I didn’t want Haruhi to see me looking, but I was able to make out that she had written words in the shape of a poem. Suddenly,

“Ooh. Let me go get some sugar.”

Haruhi jumped up with a look like she had just forgotten she was running in the New York Marathon, and rushed back into the kitchen. I glanced at Asahina-san, who shrugged. I then picked the paper up and, little by little, read what she had written.

“I fell from the sky, and landed with a thud
On a beach out of nowhere, along with a flood
Of snowflakes around me, falling gently to the sand
I saw a girl, positioned differently, lending me her hand
‘I will help you, I know how you feel
Maybe one day, when the sun shines, we can both be real’
I rose to my feet, staring at the purple hair, her eyes as mine
Her expression was nowhere, her mouth a thin line
‘He will come for you, eventually, in some plane’
And in her face, I saw her grief and her pain
‘You love him too?’ I asked in a small voice
‘I do, but sadly for me, it’s not my choice’
I looked to the water, there I saw it gleam
‘It all must happen, but in a dream’”

That was it. I then lowered the paper, and looked at the wall. A poem… and that was… that was Nagato, in it. But, who said that last line, Haruhi or Nagato?

Just then Haruhi came back in unsteadily with a bowl of sugar. I quickly shoved the paper to the floor, and tucked it under the kotatsu. She sat down, and began to speak as if she had been rehearsing her lines.

"S-so... What are you guys here for?"

She didn't move her head as she said this. Asahina-san and I exchanged quick glances with each other. I could tell from her look that Asahina-san wasn’t going to say anything this time, so I had to come up with something.

"We... U-uh... we came... b-because..."

I couldn’t' think of a good excuse as I trailed off. Just then I heard a familiar voice. A familiar... masculine voice. The sound of it irked my stomach as I realized who it was.

"Why did you come here Kyon… I wonder..."

I looked behind me to see Koizumi Itsuki come out of the adjacent room to the living room, which I assumed to be Haruhi's bedroom. All three of us started and let out a breath of air. He was dressed in all black this time, a black turtle neck with a black blazer, black slacks and shiny black dress shoes. There was no bandage or anything on his head. He didn't look hurt at all. As he walked out of the shadow of the corner of the room, I could see him clearer. He was smiling the evil Koizumi smile again, his eyes in a v shape. He casually caressed an item in his hand. I looked closer at it, and my eyes widened. It was a snowglobe. It was a snowglobe, with the scenery inside being... a beach. Koizumi saw my startled look, as he turned his face to the crystal half-sphere, bringing it up close to his eyes.

"Oh, I see you like my little trinket here Kyon. It's quite the dandy."

He lowered the snowglobe to his side, still holding it upright. He then began to walk slowly toward us at the table.

"You see Kyon, you are a bother. You are not only a bother to me, but to everyone here. You come here with the intent on ruining this world. You come to this apartment with the intent to reconstruct your world, but at the same time, destroy our world. How selfish!"

The three of us who were kneeling were startled by his sudden shout. His face relaxed again.

"You don't understand the magnitude of what is happening Kyon. I'm not going to let this happen. I am here to observe and protect Suzumiya Haruhi. And you are only here to hurt her. You've done nothing but neglect her your whole life. I'm not just talking about this time plane. And for what Kyon? For what? Why do you want to destroy us?"

He lifted the snowglobe to his face again, as he peered into it. He shook it tenderly as he spoke into it.

"For some... alien. For a girl who took your fancy. For some individual who you... don't... even... need."

He lowered the globe and set his gaze upon my face.

"You are selfish Kyon. You would sacrifice every person who ever loved you just for you're own benefit. Think about it. You are about to destroy two people who love you with all the fibers of their beings…"

He swept his hand over the two girls sitting across from me as he said this. Haruhi blushed intensely and looked down. I heard Koizumi start to laugh. A really ugly, errant laugh, directed at Asahina-san.

"Heh.. heh heh. I... I can't even believe you Asahina. I can't believe you would help this guy after what he's doing to you. He doesn't love you! He doesn't even care about you! He's about to throw you away for a different girl, for some girl that doesn't even exist anymore. For a girl that he was never even interested in until 11 days before she disappeared. It's a laugh! You're pathetic! Look at you Asahina! You call yourself a time traveler? You're nothing but an attractive girl who has too many toys and too many things on her mind, nothing but a piece of ass who should just sit down, shut up, and look pretty for all the insignificant high schoolers. All you're good for is eye candy. And here you are, actually believing you're making a difference! Heh heh heh! You mean nothing! Just stay out of everyone's way Asahina, it would make everyone, especially Kyon, much happier."

Asahina-san buried her face in her hands as she began to weep ferociously. Haruhi just looked from the bawling sempai back to Koizumi. Koziumi had still been walking forward the whole time, and was now right next to us. He took a step or two and was on the other side of the kotatsu, next to Haruhi. He placed his free hand on her shoulder.

"Ah, yes. Miss Suzumiya. The wondrous God of all humans. Her world is her doing… Kyon, look at her. Take a look at her."

I turned my face toward Haruhi. She was uncomfortably blushing, while trying to ignore Koizumi's hand.

"This girl has the power to have anything she wants. She can have any wish. And the only wish she has is for you. And what do you do? You cast her aside into the cold like some piece of trash! She doesn't even grant her own desires just for you, and when you can finally accept to see other's feelings, you do nothing but see your own! Here Suzumiya-san sits, every night. Every school night, every weekend, every holiday. She stays in this apartment by herself, immersing herself in her own dreams. She can do nothing but dream of the day you realize her feelings Kyon. She sits in agony day and night, trying to comfort herself, putting herself in the shoes of romantic TV show characters just so she can see what love feels like when it is returned to her."

Haruhi glanced at the TV, and back to my face. Tears came to her eyes, as she tried to brush them away. All of this was true. It was all true.

Koizumi’s face once again peered into the snowglobe. He slowly turned to me, with a sly grin on his face, lowering his tone.

"You remember when you told the whole school you fucked Asahina, right?"

He looked at my face. He was still able to smile, even though he had made both girls cry by now. I didn't say a word, but only scowled back at him.

"I do Kyon. I do. I remember Asahina enduring the pain of all of her classmates calling her “easy”. They pointed at her, and laughed. They called her other much worse names. I remember Suzumiya-san overhearing the news. She was so struck with grief that she left school, and didn't come back. She never thought you actually did love Asahina, she always thought that someday you would realize you loved her. Do you know what Suzumiya-san was doing during those days she wasn't at school Kyon?"

He pointed to the doorway he had come out of.

"She was in her room. Crying. She cried all day, and after she had cried herself to sleep, she dreamed of only tears, before she awoke to cry again. She could do nothing but cry, Kyon. And all because of you. You had to have your way. I say again, you are selfish."

Koizumi coolly looked around the room as his words reverberated off the bleak and lonely walls.

Selfish.

His eyes then stopped again on the sobbing girl beneath his hand. He bent down next to her head, and elevated the snowglobe so that it was right next to her face, which was in turn right next to Koizumi's.

"Take a look, Suzumiya-san. What do you see? Is what you see here what you want? Is what you see here your sanctuary? Is this the world that people desire? Because this is what Kyon desires, right here."

Haruhi did not look up at him, she only continued to cry in her hands.

"Look! Look at this!”

Koizumi yelled into her face, which made her turn her head toward him out of fright. Her eyes blurred with tears, she looked sorrowfully at the snowglobe.

"Tell me Suzumiya! Is this the world!? Is this what you want!? Is this right!?"

Haruhi cringed a little as she put her clasped hands up to her mouth. Her eyes were so full of fear. She did not say a word.

"Answer me!" He screamed right into her face again and repeated his question.

"Is this the world?! Is this what you want?!"

Haruhi slowly shook her head back and forth as tears rolled down her cheeks, all the while cowering backward. Koizumi saw her gesture, and then like a madman, turned quickly and hurled the snowglobe.

"No! This isn’t!"

I watched the globe as it shattered on the front door of the apartment, the water inside splashing in all directions before leaving a dark stain on the carpet. The stain was littered with small white flakes from the globe, as I saw the beach scene, cracked into two pieces.

I then turned back to Koizumi. His face was twisted with rage as he stared menacingly at Haruhi's wet eyes. He had gone insane now.

"Choose! Choose what you want! You don't want him! You don't want happiness! The only happiness comes with destruction! This is not the world! You are not happy! She is not happy! He is not happy! No one is happy! Now where is the world headed!?"

With his hands on his knees, as he was at eye level with Haruhi, he breathed up and down as he stopped screaming. Asahina-san wept in a dreadfully piercing tone, while Haruhi just sniveled softly, recoiled from Koizumi right next to her face, afraid that if she makes a sound, he may strangle her or something. No one moved. The silence was broken by sobs, but it was silence nonetheless.

Koizumi then said to Haruhi is a stern voice.

"Speak."

"..."

"Speak!"

Haruhi looked away, and I saw her whisper:

"It's not true..."

Koizumi still had a look of hatred on his face.

"What did you say?!"

"I said it's not true!"

Haruhi suddenly came back with a shout of her own. Now Koizumi withdrew a few inches, as Haruhi put her hands back over her mouth, having to have moved them to cry out. She then looked at me, at Asahina-san, back at me, and then at Koizumi again. She removed her hands and spoke softly.

"It's not true."

We all just stared at her, as she looked down, as if in thought. I suddenly heard my voice come from no where.

"What isn't true... Haruhi..."

She again turned to me.

"You aren’t selfish."

She continued to gaze at me, her eyes filled with yearning. She wasn't crying anymore. Asahina-san had stopped just because of the silence. Koizumi continued to look intently at Haruhi. She then rose her arm, and with her hand and index finger, pointed to somewhere behind me.

"Look at that."

I turned to see another end table. On it was a book. I got up and, while turning back to look at everyone, picked it up. It was black, with sleek black leather. A black lace ribbon protruded out of the top. I ran my hand across the words on the front of the small book.

Diary of Suzumiya Haruhi

My startled eyes went back to Haruhi. Her mouth moved.

"That is what you are looking for Kyon. Open it."

I flipped through the pages. There must have been at least 70 pages, and each one was filled with words. Some with more than others. I began to turn the pages slower. Some had pictures. One had a school photo of me. A page entitled "Best day" had a picture roll of Haruhi and I from one of those picture booths. I read some of the writing. We had gone to the pier out by the beach together. It was the best time she had ever had. The last photo on the series of photos showed Haruhi and my faces next to each other as we smiled. I continued on through the diary, as I noticed a picture of Asahina-san. The entry said that she thought I loved her. And that if I did, she would want me to be happy. My face continued to scrunch up as I read.

"Stop Kyon. Give me that."

Koizumi finally came back to reality and realized that I had in my hands the object to re-fuse time. He started to come toward me, but was stopped when out in front of him a glint of light shone off a sleek silver blade. Haruhi had in her hands her steak knife from her dinner. Koizumi stepped back in surprise and fear, his hands rising to his shoulders with palms out.

"W-what are you doing Suzumiya-san?"

"I won't let you stop him Koizumi."

She turned toward me, my hands holding the open diary.

"Read the last page Kyon."

I turned to it. It was dated with today's date, at 4:14 PM.

It was not a diary entry, but a poem. I saw the title in script letters:

“World My Own”

My eyes went to the first line, as my lips began to move with the words. I heard my voice protrude into the atmosphere of the room, carrying with it the emotions of Haruhi’s every being.

“I do but cry once in a while.

Only at times when I die inside.

Like when he bestows me his smile.

Imagining me at his side.

Imagining me as his bride.”

I paused for a moment. The last page had a drawing on it. It was a drawing of a rose, with thorns coming out its sides. Next to the rose was a box of chocolates, with a tag bearing the writing: "Yuki-rin". The rose was bent over as if it were withering. The petals floated down the side of the page next to the poem. I continued to read.

"The world spins, but I do not.

This one idea bothering me the most.

I see emptiness next to him, and stare at that spot

Feeling so much like a dying ghost.

Feeling so close… so close… so close."

"Suzumiya-san! Stop this! He is destroying our world! He is destroying you! There is no chance for your love now! He will do away with it! He doesn't care about you at all!"

"Don't come closer."

Haruhi pointed the knife at Koizumi.

"Suzumiya-san, if you feel it's just, than you can thrust that knife into my heart. But I cannot let this happen. It is my duty."

"I know you can't. But I can't either."

She turned around and looked at me.

“Continue.”

My eyes moved across the words in stride as my voice floated into the air.

"Now I sit, now I moan

Here I stay, all alone

It will all end for the world unknown

And with my voice held heavy, me on my throne

I say one thing, to the world my own…"

I then heard Haruhi's voice in synch with mine as I read the last line of the poem.

"Goodbye Kyon."

As my words ended, my eye caught the sight of red liquid. I saw the light flash off the blade as it cut across Haruhi's throat, before the blood began to spill out.

Asahina-san and Koizumi gasped in horror. I screamed.

"Haruhi! Haruhi!"

Her bloodied hand lowered to her side, as she dropped the steak knife, covered in the liquid of her being. The oversized white T-shirt was now stained with unhappiness, as it seeped onto the sad floor, mixing with the stain from the snowglobe. She dropped to her knees. We were all frozen. Just as the pool of blood was about to reach my feet, I heard her faint voice.

"Goodbye... Kyon..."

[ghazghkull]

Wow....that was....profound.

That ending was incredibly profound, especially since it seems to be implying that in order for Kyon to get the love of his life back, the penalty is that he must trade the life of another whom loves him with as much passion.

Very profound. Quite moving as well if I do say so myself.

I WANT TO READ THE NEXT CHAPTER NOW!!!!! XD

Looking forward to it :3

[Specular]

I can't believe it. It's the most passional possible outcome, and yet it doesn't simplify the plot one bit. There are so many question left:

Spoiler for Only after chapter 9:

- Why was Nagato in the Haruhi's poems? What exacty was snowglobe? How is related each other?
- What was "Koizumi"? Esper or not, How is possible show up like that unharmed? Was a product of the Integrated Data Sentient Entity (IDSE)? Was he using the black clothes of the Disappearance world? (No one except Kyon remember that, no even the IDSE was present there)
- How was possible for Asahina to break the future's restrictions for the TPDD? Was the Nagato's data manipulating abilities doing? Why didn't the Asahina's bosses interfere?
- How many times the world was alterated? The world from 13 days ago (before the kiss) already exhibits alterations such as the Haruhi's apparment.
- Kyon's motives always has been confusing, sometimes a self-contradictions, particularly with the Haruhi's disappearance in the 4th novel and the Nagato's disappearance in this history. But why did Haruhi assure so vehemently "You aren’t selfish"?
- What will be the consequences of Haruhi death?