(A/N: I'm sorry this story probably doesn't feel much like a Haruhi story... I know that the mood is all off and after a while I'm not able to use Kyon's sarcastic tone as well. This story might actually get somewhere in this chapter, and you readers will learn a few interesting things about Akira. On the bright side...More dialogue in this chapter! Yay! And on that note ~enjoy)
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In the morning when I woke up, everything was the same as it had ever been, I guess the only thing that had changed was my mood or maybe the right word would be motivation. I really couldn't care less what was going on, but since I already knew that something was I couldn't help but spend countless moments worrying about it. So of course that night I'd barely managed to get any sleep at all, because even Nagato had seemed worried about the event at hand.
As much as I would have loved attempting to skip school, I knew that if I went to school I'd probably wind up finding out about and getting tangled up in some business involving that new girl that I really would not want to be involved in. So despite the my drowsiness as I walked up the hill toward the school I continued on my way.
As if to prove my point as I was about to enter the school gates Koizumi came up beside me and as we continued to walk the path into the school he spoke in a whisper, "Last night I asked my superiors in the Organization to do a check on 'Akira Mitsuki'."
"So, is she secretly a famous murderer or a con artist? Can't this wait?" I yawned. Just leave me in peace so I can get to homeroom and sleep.
"This school has no records of a freshman -or any student- by that name," Koizumi said with his usual enigmatic smile still intact, "In fact the Organization couldn't find any records of anyone by that name ever having existed."
It took me a moment to under stand what he'd said, but as soon as I did the odd statement snapped me awake, "Then it's a fake name?"
"Either that or she really is a slider and has come here from another dimension, I believe the later is more likely," Koizumi's serious expression was giving me the chills.
"So why did she bother coming here from her world? What does she want from Haruhi?" I couldn't help but ask the important questions that wear beginning to nag me, but by that point I was almost certain that the answer was one I'd rather not hear.
"Well about that..." Koizumi trail off for a moment, probably choosing his words carefully, "She doesn't seem to be willing to tell us -that is to say the members of the organization- what she's up to, and she's very careful not to let us find out, it's almost as though she can tell what's going on around her without even looking. So, we were hoping that you would ask for us."
What the... why do I get the feeling he's leaving something really important out. It's probably because he was.
"Wha- Why do you want me to do it? If your Organization couldn't get any information out of her what on earth makes you think I can?" My exclamation was somewhere between a whisper and a shout, Koizumi sighed.
"While one of our member's was trying to get information out of her she glared at them and said, 'Try all you want but I'll never tell your lot a single bit of useful information. There's only one person that I will give information to, what he does with it is his choice.' We've decided that the person she's willing to tell her her intentions to must be you."
What a strange condition, it seems this Akira girl really is going to be a troublesome person to deal with. Maybe more troublesome than Haruhi (is that even possible?) well this girl at least seemed to know what she was capable of, that's a plus... I guess. Is that why the organization is just tossing me at her? Wait... they're using me as an errand boy too!
"From what she said it could have easily been any guy in the world... in any world. What would make you think she means me?" I asked, hoping it was a steady defense because I didn't really want to spend anymore time with that troublesome girl than necessary.
Koizumi cut to the chase, "Yesterday in the clubroom when you asked her if she was a slider, she responded. We have come to believe that her answer was honest because we can't seem to find any records of her anywhere. So it's pretty safe to assume that you're the person she's willing to entrust information to."
"Fine I'll try talking to her after club activities today, I'll call you when I'm-" I started, only to be interrupted by Koizumi.
"Talk to her at lunch."
The bell rang for students to get in their classrooms so without an chance to argue Koizumi and I parted ways. I sighed, lunch it is then, it's not like I had anything prepared to eat anyway, though Haruhi might get mad if I don't sit with her.
I sat through class unable to really pay attention, just thinking about whatever my mind wandered to. Though out the period of one class I thought about everything that had happened to me so far, and everything that could happen in the near future, I pondered on every outrageous theory that I'd been told or theorized myself and unbelievable sight I'd seen happening before me. It cam to my attention that my life had reached the point where no matter what happened around me I had stopped questioning my own sanity, because after everything that's happened it's the only thing I can be sure of, at least I hope so.
Yes, I'm screwed, but at least I never get bored. Ever.
In any case while I was lost in thought reminiscing, Time passed by quickly and it was soon time for lunch, or rather my confrontation with the strange and secretive new girl. When she had been talking to Haruhi the day before she mentioned which freshman class she was in, so I had no trouble finding her.
I approached her from behind, just as I was about to greet her she turned to me and smiled, "Hello Kyon, you took a bit longer than I'd expected."
Even the underclassmen call me by that stupid nickname... well it was probably Haruhi's obscure introductions yesterday that caused her to do it. Of course that didn't matter, she'd expected me to come, there's no way that's a good thing.
"To be sure no one overhears anything that's about to be said perhaps we should move to a more private location? I'd rather uninvolved people not overhear me saying strange things. Don't worry it shouldn't take long, I only plan to tell you the most important things, but if you want to hear everything we can meet up at a more flexible time."
She led me to the place where Koizumi had bought me coffee and explained that he was a esper, I guess the park bench isn't the only mecca for weirdos in this town.
"What's up with the condition that you'll only tell me any information?" I asked as soon as we had both sat down, in hopes of not getting swept away with her pace.
"In everything there is a certain procedure that must be followed," She said, her voice gave the tone that she thought what she was saying was completely obvious, "In order to get close to Haruhi, one must first get reasonably close to you. Thus any confessions about my identify or motives are to be made to you. As part of what I need to do requires getting close to Haruhi, I must follow that procedure."
Why did I even bother asking? I sighed, "So you're trying to get close to Haruhi then, is that it?"
"I'm afraid it's not quite that simple, you see, Haruhi's power has grown strong enough that it is beginning to effect the world that I came from. It's effects have been disastrous, so naturally my wish is to remove her influence from my home," Akira spoke quietly with a sincere expression, "I know that it will not be an easy task but I must try for the sake of my friends back in that world."
"If you don't mind my asking, how do you plan to get Haruhi's 'influence' out of your world, and what exactly has it been doing there." Just out of curiosity.
She sighed, "I intend to place a weak seal on her power that will greatly weaken it's effects on the dimensional planes. As for what she's done to my world, she's greatly weakened the abilities of me and my comrades (yes, I am not alone in my work, though there are very few of us) and also created an increase of dimensional faults with those 'closed spaces' of her's. Not to mention, my hair wasn't originally blond... my hair is really supposed to be black, a good few similar events also occurred."
Haruhi changed this girl's hair color on a whim? Is nothing sacred? I couldn't help but feel sorry for her, I mean not only had Haruhi's closed spaces apparently created more work for her, Haruhi's power had also made the work harder by weakening her powers, and if that wasn't enough she randomly changed her hair color. Haruhi had gone to far.
"That sounds really important..." I said just to break the silence, "Is it really okay for someone as young as you to be sent for something as important as this?"
Akira giggled for a moment before finally speaking, "I'm flattered, but honestly I'm no where near as young as I appear, I've already lived much longer than someone like you could ever imagine. I can't be sure exactly how old I really am, as recently it has come to my attention that most of my childhood memories are false and that may also be Haruhi's doing, but I'm more than certain that the number is far past the millions. I do look quite young for my age don't I?"
Young for her age didn't seem to cover it at all, not if she was more than a million. For goodness sake, she only looked about fourteen or fifteen, maybe sixteen if you stretch it, how on earth is this even possible. I want to smack whoever it is that's in charge of the time-space continuum, there's something wrong with their system.
"Ah, that should be enough about me," Akira said suddenly, "The reason I've called you out is I want to know, are you willing to side with me in this situation? You see since my plan involves limiting a portion of Haruhi's power the other members of the SOS Brigade will surely be against it, especially Yuki whose job is to observe Haruhi and her power. They'll defiantly not want me to succeeded, they'll try to get in my way, and weakened as I am right now I may not be able to stop them, but if you were to side with me then my success would be guaranteed. Where Haruhi is concerned the others fully trust your judgment, if you make a choice they are likely to follow your will."
I was completely taken aback, what was I supposed to say to that? Yes or No? She want's me to help her, but is helping her the right thing to do, the cost is going against the rest of the SOS Brigade. This is all to much... I can't possibly...
"I won't ask you to make your decision right now. Give me the answer tomorrow before club activities, until then I will take no action." She stood up and began walking away, without every facing me she added, " The bell signaling that lunch is over will ring in approximately thirty seconds, I suggest you get to your class."
Before fully processing what she said and running to my classroom I simply sat there dumbfounded. I had been once again left with a choice that might (well it probably would) effect the fate of the world, I'm beginning to think that the world hates me.
