Author's Note: His footsteps echo hollowly in the darkness. The wooden floors creak in protest at the unexpected weight- the dust has settled upon them in a thick layer, a testament to the the expanse of time that has passed since last they were disturbed. Among the clutter, there is a certain box, indistinguishable from the many others that populate the attic. This is what he has come for. Or rather, what lies therein. He wipes the dust from it's flaps, taking a moment to watch the particles flit about lazily in the dim light coming through the decrepit wooden ceiling. He opens it gently, as if it's contents would crumble into dust at the slightest touch.
It is a manuscript. At the top, the title is written- "Irrelevant". Smiling in reminiscence, he reads the story for the first time in ages. The one that he began so long ago. It is new to him- he has forgotten much, but slowly, it begins to come back. At last, he reaches the last page and frowns. He stares at the blank pages as if he expected them to somehow sprout words of their own volition. After a short time he reaches into his pocket and removes a pen. Silently, he sets it to the page. He smiles again. He has a job to do.
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A dead girl's saccharine smile dominates my field of vision. The view is surreal- beyond Haruhi's turned head, bathed in the reddish light of the evening is Asakura Ryouko. She stands in the middle of the street, buildings rising up on either side. Nagato, who got to her feet as soon as the other girl had spoken, was staring at her in a manner I can only describe as standoffish. Her arms were limp, though clearly tensed for action at a moments notice.
The whole scene could have been ripped straight out of an American western.
Silence. A cicada chirps. Haruhi recovers her composure.
"Y-Yuki! Sit back down!"
Nagato didn't answer, she only continued staring. Somehow, I get the feeling that Nagato's seizure isn't unrelated to the unannounced, and entirely unexpected, return of the girl who had once tried to kill me.
"Hey, Nagato..."
"I'm fine."
Her response was quick, but knowing Nagato, it's undoubtedly true. I can at least be assured that she isn't in danger.
I follow her gaze down the street to Asakura again. Suddenly I'm not so sure. If a human returns from the dead, you call them a zombie. But if a supernatural being like Asakura returns from the dead, what would you call it? Jesus?
Asakura began walking toward us, radiant smile betraying no ill intent.
Haruhi placed her hand on Nagato's shoulder.
"Yuki, let's go to the hospital now. You can't just ignore something like this!"
"I'm fine." She roundly refused Haruhi's uncharacteristic motherly concern.
"You really should take Suzumiya-san's advice," Asakura came to a stop only a few feet from Nagato, "aren't things like this fairly serious?"
"This is not the first time I have suffered an epileptic seizure. I will go home, take my medication and rest."
Haruhi blinked in surprise.
"Yuki, I had no idea that you have epilepsy! Why didn't you tell me?"
"...I will schedule an appointment with a neurologist as soon as possible."
It's clear that she just wants to get away from Asakura. I still don't quite know what's going on here.
Haruhi looked unconvinced, but turned her attention to Asakura, eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing here anyway? Weren't you in Canada?"
Asakura looked bemused. "Canada?"
Nagato and I didn't say anything. What should I do? Should I remain silent? Should I ask her questions about her "trip"? Will she even play along? After all, her stated objective is to coax a reaction from Haruhi...
I curled my hands into fists.
This is bad.
"It was enlightening!"
Huh?
"I had a great time, and I learned a lot! Shall I tell you all about it while we walk Nagato home?"
Nagato pursed her lips slightly.
Haruhi's expression was still somewhat suspicious. She turned back to look at Nagato again before finally relenting with an exacerbated sigh.
"Fine, fine... but you better schedule that appointment, Yuki."
Nagato said nothing, but nodded her ascent reluctantly.
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Nagato and I lagged behind Haruhi and Asakura, watching them carefully. Slowly, I watched Haruhi's expression shift from suspicion to total disinterest. Not enough aliens, time travelers, and espers, I guess.
Really, Asakura's account of her trip to Canada was masterful. The people, the government, the scenery... personal stories, with exquisite detail...
Of course she's making it up though. She's probably reading directly out of the Thought Entity's equivalent of Wikipedia.
I decide to ask her a question.
"What are you doing back here, Asakura? Didn't you transfer?"
She placed her finger on her chin in a perfect mockery of a "thoughtful expression".
"I was only there for a few months while my father was taking care of business. But now I'm back for good. Canada is nice, but I've got friends here."
She smiled at Nagato and myself meaningfully. A chill went down my spine.
This time, if she were to dissapear, we can't simply write it off as a trip to Canada. Another dissapearance would result in an endless enquiry from Haruhi. But what other alternative is there?
Haruhi wasn't even paying attention. She obviously doesn't care much about the specifics of Asakura's trip, or her return. It's ironic that as soon as the mystery surrounding our class rep's disappearance is solved for her, it is only beginning for me.
Soon enough we arrive at Nagato's appartment. It occurs to me that we never met back up with Koizumi and Asahina-san. I'm sure by now they know something is up, but I'd might as well call anyway.
I took out my cell-phone.
"Haruhi, I'm calling Koizumi to tell him what happened."
Haruhi nodded absently before taking Nagato by the arm and leading her off into the lobby. Nagato protested, or came as close as she could to protesting. It mostly consisted of "I'm fine", and "This is unnecessary". Asakura followed behind them, leaving me alone.
I dialed Koizumi's number and waited. After only one ring, he picked up.
"Yo, Koizumi."
"Hello Kyon. Are you and the others on your way back yet?"
"No. Nagato had a... ahh... seizure."
I couldn't even hear him breathing on the other side of the line.
"...and than Asakura showed up."
More silence.
"...I see. Well, this certainly presents a problem. Does Suzumiya-san suspect anything?"
"I don't think so. Surprisingly enough, she played along. Haruhi got bored of her stories from Canada pretty quickly."
"Hmmm... what does Nagato have to say about it?"
"I don't know. I haven't had a chance to talk with her yet."
"What was Nagato's seizure like?"
"Well... she hitched up on a syllable mid-sentence and just collapsed. From there, she started spouting off that high speed computer gibberish."
Silence, yet again.
"Koizumi?"
"Perhaps Nagato recreated Asakura."
"What? Why would she do something like that?"
"I don't know," his tone suddenly got darker, "but suppose that her...employer...had a change of heart?"
My breath hitched at this possibility. Ah! But...
"The first thing Nagato said when she stopped was 'There is a problem'."
Koizumi considered this.
"Maybe her actions were somehow overridden? It seems unlikely to me that her 'episode' and the reappearance of Asakura are unrelated."
This is true. In fact, I already thought about that earlier. I just can't believe that Nagato would betray me.
"...Nagato is a being of logic, Kyon. If her employer has changed factions..."
"Nagato gave me her word."
He didn't respond. I could almost feel his stern look through the phone.
"...Be careful, Kyon. You never know what is going through the mind of the Data Integration Thought Entity."
"Bye, Koizumi."
I hung up and stuck the phone in my pocket.
Nagato wouldn't betray me. I don't think so at least...
I turned back torward entrance and stepped inside the empty lobby. Empty...
...except for Asakura.
She was sitting in a recliner, smiling bewitchingly at me. I stared back.
We remained like that for nealy a minute before she stood up and walked toward me.
Am I frozen? I can't do anything! If I run, she can stop me. If I fight, it would be like boxing my shadow. If I beg for mercy, she'll just cock her head in curiosity and say, "Mercy? Why would you need that? In order to preserve your life? I simply cannot understand the human desire to survive."
She placed her hand on my shoulder and brought her mouth right up to my ear.
"I'll see you later, Kyon."
An unwanted shiver moves through my body. She removes her hand and walks past me. After not hearing the automatic door open for a few seconds, I slowly turn around.
She isn't there.
I collapsed into a seated position, completely drained.
"Nagato..."
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On weak legs, I took the elevator up to Nagato's appartment, and knocked on the door. Haruhi answered quietly.
"Kyon, where have you been? Don't you care about Nagato at all?"
I shrugged and stepped inside. I didn't feel like arguing with her.
Nagato was already asleep, or seemingly so, on a futon at the far side of the room.
"I've already taken care of her. You can go home."
"But..."
"What, do you want to look at her sleeping face, Kyon?"
"What? No!"
Well... a little.
She suddenly took on a more stern tone.
"Shhh! Be quiet!"
"Sorry."
She stopped and stared at me for a moment before sighing.
"Fine, but just for a minute. I'm not going to leave you here alone with her. I'll go when you do."
I nodded. Haruhi waited outside the doorway, while I walked inside Nagato's darkened apartment. She was already looking at me from her position on the futon from across the room.
Well, guess I won't get to catch a glimpse of her sleeping face...
I took a seat next to her and returned her look.
Koizumi's words on my mind, I jumped right into it.
"Nagato... what happened?"
She turned away stared at the ceiling.
"...I don't know."
Dead silence. The barrenness of Nagato's apartment is stifling.
"Nagato, did you recreate Asakura?"
"..."
"Nagato?"
"It would appear so."
You aren't exactly being forthcoming, Nagato...
She says nothing.
I stood up...
...only to feel a light tug.
I looked down and saw Nagato's hand grasping my sleeve.
"..."
Nagato?
"Be careful."
I nodded.
"I will tell you more when I know."
She's staring directly at me. Why did she feel the need to add that? Nagato never says more than is necessary.
I examined her eyes, but I couldn't see much in the darkness.
"Okay. I'll see you later, Nagato."
She layed her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes. I know it's an act for Haruhi but...
Her sleeping face is kind of cute...
"Kyon."
I turned around and saw Haruhi's disapproving face wreathed with light from the hallway, much like a medieval icon's depiction of Christ.
"Let's go."
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Author's Note: Holy shit, I know, right!? I'm actually writing again! I know some of you probably hate me and taste bile at the mere mention of my name now, but whatevs, I'm back!
AND YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.