錫宮ハルヒ・の・助けて。/ The Redemption of Haruhi Suzumiya
By Alex Crosse
Prologue: Identity
"Suzumiya-san! This way!"
Asahina-san shouted from afar. The tense pressure in the atmosphere in this dark alley is rising; not that this was one ordinary day that our little brigade is having some quite a trouble, but having Haruhi with us in this kind of emergency was a first. After all, in these seven years that I've known and lived with this Haruhi, Lord of the Eccentrics, the ray of hope of the return of the normal life is still far from my grasp.
Yes, seven years. Seven years of my life taken by Haruhi. Why you ask? Ask her!
In response to Asahina-san's call, I instinctively held on to this lady's arm and dragged her away from the chaos behind us.
"Oy, Kyon! Where do you think we're going? The case is about to be solved!"
"Now is not the time for this!"
Haruhi took a deep breath before shouting behind me.
"Then when is? The time is right: our detective agency will solve this case no matter what!"
No Haruhi! This time this case is a trap, and we walked right into it! No matter how strong we can be, their alliance is coming down on us too much! We have to take you to safety right away...
She suddenly jerked her hand away from my grasp.
"What?" She asked me with her piercing gaze. For some reason, her angry look gave me a sudden well of calmness that I can't explain. Haruhi, if there's anything that I'm afraid of, it's the thought of losing anyone that I know. Anyone that's close to me. Anyone that I care for.
And for some reason, you're one of them.
So please, forget about this case and let's all go to safety!
"Haruhi," I tried to convince her, "we have to leave."
"WHY!?!"
She demanded with extreme irritation.
Now I'll have to choose my words carefully. What will I say? Come, think Kyon!
"You know very well that there is no case that the SDA will never solve! If we let this thing slip, I won't forgive anyone! Including you!"
I know that! But right now our supposed client isn't that trustworthy in any way. I knew this from the beginning that she entered our office.
"But Haruhi, can't you see that Koizumi and Mori-san are still under attack?"
As if on cue, the gunshots from both Mori-san and Koizumi's guns echoed through the alleyway.
Hang in there, Koizumi! Mori-san!
"See," I continued, "they're both doing their best to hold out to let us escape. Will you put all their efforts to waste?"
She still looked at me with those piercing eyes, but with less intensity. Will all these years with this girl, I can easily sense her nervousness. And now I can see that.
"I guess so..." She trailed. "But where are we exactly going?"
"Somewhere safe."
I looked at where the voice came from, and it came from the girl who beckoned us a few minutes ago.
"But I'm not sure whether you may deem it safe, it's just... it's the last resort and alternative we all know."
Asahina-san looked at me with a look that tells me that I know where we're going. Are you really sure? Because if we did that, all these secrecy from Haruhi all these years will be put to an end. Maybe I'll also have to use that trump card.
Sigh, this is getting unnecessarily complicated by the minute.
"Okay. Asahina-san, lead the way."
She then gave a cheery o-k smile.
"Let's go!"
I looked at Haruhi, asking for a reaction.
"I guess it can't be helped."
I took her hand as Asahina-san started running. Haruhi ran with at my side, intently following Asahina-san in the front. She's so full of questions, I can tell. That look of hers is so predictable.
"Kyon."
"What?"
"Why do you think those guys attacked us?"
It's because you're Haruhi! You have those powers! You are a threat to them! You have a counterpart that they have as an ally, and that they wanted to take these powers of yours away from you. In these six years that we've been at your side, we've been holding them at bay behind your back, taking care not to involve you into anything close to this. And now that we're being chased down like rats being chased by cats, I knew that the time has come for everything to end. Everything. Everything that I know, everything that I knew, everything in my life. No matter how absurd things may be, our little group has been my life. My own life. And, along with this girl beside me, I seriously can't believe that she had also became the center of my life.
"Maybe they knew they were about to be found out." I bluffed. "Also, they knew who was solving the case, so they think it was also a major threat."
"Just because I am the Detective?"
Let her buy that.
"Just because you are the detective." I assured her.
"Allright, I'll accept that explanation for now." Haruhi said with a wide grin. Apparently her ego was just bolstered to 150.
"So our name as a detective agency has reached the far corners of the Earth! Next we will..."
And so the rest of the way Haruhi talked non-stop about what her future plans are with the SOS Detective Agency. I was beginning to rethink what I said a while ago, maybe I shouldn't have said it at all.
Very annoying. Very annoying. Even in times like these you get yourself become annoying to epic proportions!
In any case, after what seemed like an eternity, Asahina-san then suddenly spoke up.
"Here."
Asahina-san then turned left into an empty street, lined with trees and lights. We've reached the park. Then, under the fourth lightpole to the left, I spotted a sillouette that gave me a rush of hope. Thank god you're still here!
"Nagato!" I shouted as we came near her. "We need your help!"
"There is no need to explain." She suddenly spoke up. "The anomaly that gave us the false information did not take care to place spatial data lockdowns ni the perimeter, so I can detect their activities from afar."
Uhh Nagato? Are you sure it's ok to say this in front of Haruhi?
"It's not a problem." She said as if reading my thoughts. "She didn't hear anything."
True enough, Haruhi was looking at the sky, deep in thought. This was a sudden change. her usual noisy attitude was suddenly supressed. maybe it was because of my lack of details in my explanation, but it can't be helped. She will have to settle for this, so I'll just leave the explanations to the other person she listens to.
I'm really sorry Haruhi. If only I knew this would have happened n the first place.
"Asahina-san..."
"Yes?"
"Where do we go from here?"
Asahina-san looked at me. "It's not just where." She said in a whisper.
What?!
"We're going to the December 18, six years ago, in the locker area of North High."
I stood there transfixed, racking my brain on what exactly I was doing that time. What happened that time?
Oh, great, now I remember.
It was that time that Nagato changed the world to normal, and that Haruhi wasn't a god, Koizumi didn't transfer and that section 1-9 didn't exist, among other things, and that Asahina-san didn't know who I was. It was a normal world, not far from the life that I had before I met her.
Wait, why are we going there?
"It's because..." Asahina-san sighed. "Nagato during that time has been able to copy the powers of Suzumiya-san, and we need that power."
Why do we need that power?
"We have to downgrade the powers of the Canopy Domain. They too have copied the powers of Suzumiya-san to some extent, and is posing a great deal of a problem here."
"Can't the Nagato now counter that power with the same power she copied before?"
"That is impossible." Nagato spoke up. "The Suzumiya Data Manipulation Program has been locked down by the Integrated Data Sentient Entity. I cannot execute the program without any authorization."
"Then why can't you ask for permission?"
"The program itself is corrupted and can give adverse effects to my logical process."
So that explains why the past Nagato six years ago did it.
"And also, I have put a restriction to myself to that end."
How can I forget? That day after I recovered from my supposed 'coma' was also the day that she placed that restriction on herself.
"So, how will we be going about it?" I asked.
"Once we arrive there, we will have Nagato(past) reduce the powers of the Canopy Domain," Asahina-san explained, "After which we return here then retaliate."
The plan's okay but--
"Are you guys sure it's ok to reveal your identities to her like this?"
"We can't do anything about it," Asahina-san replied ,"We have no other choice."
Sigh, I guess it's this desperate.
"In any case, Kyon-kun," she continued, "I'm betting on you to think of a way to make her forget everything we will do from now on!"
Why me again!?! It always have to come down to me whenever there are situations like this. How can this be? Are you guys serious? I know that I'm the 'chosen' person, but hey she hasn't listened to me seriously, except that time when I convinced her to-- ahem-- delete your photos off the internet. But to forget something such as this? It's like asking me to climb Mount Everest in my swimming trunks!
"Please--" Asahina-san winked.
Oh god not that! You know as well that I cannot resist you whenever you make that face!
"Oh all right."
"Thankies!"
I guess that's settled. I'll have to think of a way to let her think that everything's just her imagination.
Yes, your imagination, Haruhi!
If that's the case, we have best to hurry.
"Asahina-san. Let's go."
"As you will!" she playfully bowed down to me as Hades would mockingly bow down to Zeus. She the put out her tongue and turned around almost instantly.
"Suzumiya-san."
"What?" She came back as if in a daze.
"Let us go."
"Okay."
She prepared to leave in the direction Asahina-san was facing, but Asahina-san held her hand tightly.
"No, not there."
"Huh?" Haruhi looked at her in bewilderment.
"Here."
What came after was like just out from Chrono Cross.
Asahina-san closed her eyes, holding both of Haruhi's hands. Then, a slight gust of wind came about, circling us. A big circle then glowed brightly with us in its center. Then with a wooshing sound, a pillar of light appeared above Asahina-san.
No, that's not it.
It was deathly silent.
In fact, there was no sound at all. Despite all these effects that could match those of Spielberg's that coming out of a movie, everything was deathly silent.
I could almost hear Liberi Fatali playing at the back of my head.
Haruhi looked dumb as she stood there transfixed as she watched Asahina-san perform her daily duties as a little kid who have watched a magic show for the first time. The eerie silence was broken by Asahina-san.
"Wh-aaat what's happening?!" Haruhi stammered.
For the first time in the brigade, no one paid attention to her.
"WHOA Mikuru-chan I didn't know that you had hidden powers!!" Haruhi said, wide-eyed.
"Nagato-san, please input the coordinates to your location fifteen minutes to the time you attempted to change the world!"
Nagato then raised her hand towards Asahina-san, then started talking, just like the time she enchanted that baseball bat before.
"W---W--What are you doing!?!" Haruhi continued, "Don't tell me you too!?"
The light grew intense. And, from yellow to purple to green, Asahina-san then looked at the bushes as if waiting for a cue.
"It's about time..."
"Time for what?!?"
Right on the dot, the bushed moved and a familliar face appeared.
"Sorry we're late."
It was Koizumi, and behind him was the cheerful but professional-looking Mori-san.
"Koizumi! What is happening here?! Are you alright? Explain!" Haruhi demanded. obviously she's excited with everything that's happening.
"Suzumiya-san, there'll be time for us to explain all these things to you later," Koizumi said with a cheerful smile, "I'm sorry that we cannot tell you right now, but please cooperate with us to bring you and everyone to safety."
"BUT---"
"Please, Suzumiya-san."
For the first time in the history of mankind, Koizumi made a serious expression in front of Haruhi. This apparently hit home in the mind of Haruhi, since she too took it seriously.
Resigned, Haruhi turned her back.
Another first. It's the first time I've seen Koizumi be like that towards Haruhi... what the hell there are a lot of firsts today. Someone from Guiness write them down for me and publish it!
"Anyway," he turned to me, "As the situation stands, our enemies are gathering reinforcements. Canopy Domain's strikers are at about three. Me and Mori-san were able to strike down two of them."
True enough, Mori-san looked quite haggard behind Koizumi, carefully watching to make sure they weren't followed.
"What happened to the third?" I asked.
"Injured, but got away. The special data removal bullets that Nagato gave us were useful. Only if they weren't granted superhuman abilities, we would've hit home. We were able only to scratch her right arm, but barely severed her data link."
"In any case, we have to go now." I said.
"I agree. Our set destination is none other that what we have planned before."
What? You guys have been planning without my knowledge?
"I'm sorry, Kyon-kun. It seemed that Asahina-san was able to plan it all out with the heads of the 'Agency' before. I knew this since it was a direct order from my superiors a while ago."
I guess it can't be helped; Asahina-san is now the chief-time traveller of their group. Her correspondence with the 'Agency' isn't that at all doubtful, since it is natural for her to contact the head of the 'Agency' if ever she needs their cooperation.
Sighing, I simply nodded to Koizumi.
He smiled as a response. Then he strode into the glowing circle and stood guard as if he were waiting orders.
"Mori-san," Koizumi said. "Will you care to join us?"
"No," she politely declined. "I'll have to take care of your flank. And remember Canopy Domain is rounding up reinforcements."
"I see. Well then, take care." Koizumi wished her luck.
"You too." and with that, Mori-san winked. She then proceeded to walk back ito the bushes. "I'll be waiting for your return."
I'd guess we are going to return here the very second we leave.
Asahina-san then asked, "Ready?"
Everyone looked at me as if they were soldiers on standby.
"Ok, let's go."
"Kyon..."
Haruhi suddenly spoke.
She looked at me with both excitement and anxiety. Her eyes, usually bright with energy now looked like as if a supernova turned into a white dwarf. I know, Haruhi, I know. This is too much to take it all in at once. I myself took my time for it all to sink in-- heck even six years weren't enough.
I nodded towards her, trying to keep her calm.
I thought it was just that.
She suddenly took my hand and held it tight.
"It's gong to be alright," I said.
Then suddenly, the bright light above Asahina-san shrank and concentrated onto her, focusing on her head. The ground below us became immaterial, then we started floating downwards. It was like sinking, only that we know we aren't in danger of dying. I looked around, and I noticed the line circling us-- and I knew-- it was like a boundary between our time travelling space and between the normal world.
So this is how it is.
"Sooner or later you will know and understand, Kyon-kun!"
Asahina-san's words six years ago echoed through my brain, reminding me of every restriction of data that has been given to her and to me before. Then there's this time when I time travelled with Asahina-san(small) There's no need to make the distinction between Asahina(small) and Asahina(big), since Asahina-san(big) is the present Asahina-san and the person we have right now with us. When I make a distinction, I'm talking about the past, she asked me to close my eyes since I was not allowed to see. But right now I can see everything. Now I know. This is the reason. This is the time to know. Especially when that Nagato, Asahina-san and Koizumi are revealing their true identities to Haruhi, this just shows that our situation here is bad enough for them to do that.
Talk about drastic measures.
Right when the ground has quite literally eaten up everyone from head to toe, I got the same sensation everytime I went time travelling with Asahina-san. So this was it. I never knew it had spectacular effects like these. It's almost as if they just popped out of a movie. Now, as the swirling black mass surrounds me, I get a sensation that everything will now come to an end. Is this for real? Maybe, but what the heck-- I'm sure we'll all come out of this safe, sound and in one piece. Right, Haruhi?
The calming effect of this time travel hit its mark in me, I started to think back to the events these past few days have led up to this point. Then I started to wonder where did I go wrong. I was pretty vigilant every single hour of those days, and I made sure the moves of every faction of the SOS Brigade's anti-thesis were made known to me, and that me, Koizumi, Asahina-san and Nagato constantly planned out our moves in advance. I was so sure that nothing would go wrong. Where did I make a mistake? What part? When? How?
These questions revolved around me as I started to recall everything from day one...