Author's note: Sorry it took so long for this chapter to get out- I've known what I was going to do with it for a while, I just had some trouble finding the willpower to actually sit down and write it. Anyway- enjoy! :3
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
The pale moonlight bathed my room, giving it an odd, ethereal glow. The sun had not yet shown its first rays- but then again, it was 3:04 A.M.
I lay in my bed, unable to get to sleep, that image of Yuki, tears in her eyes, standing in the middle of that street just wouldn't leave my mind. I had called her apartment a few times, but she didn't pick up. I didn't expect she would.
Everything changed so quickly- the day started off so well, and then it all just fell apart. Sis was okay. I guess I was stupid about that- Why I didn't personally go check the arcade before freaking out is beyond me, but that's beside the point. Yuki however... that's another story entirely.
I recalled, vaguely, how space had subtly distorted around her hand- as if she were about to attack something. This, however, can't be the case- there was nothing hostile there... only me. Yuki would never hurt me. It was my imagination, I guess.
...No, I saw it. I can't fool myself. Something was, and is, very, very wrong.
And now, tomorrow, Haruhi is going to deliver her selfish little verdict concerning "my actions". I think I know what she's going to say, but I don't know how I'm going to react. She's going to tell Yuki and I to stop seeing each other, and then I'll...
Nothing.
I guess it all depends on how Yuki responds. Will she agree? Will she disagree? Will she just sit there and quietly accept it? I hope her conviction is as strong as mine...
Again, I look at the clock. 3:05 A.M.
This is going to be a long night. I hope I don't have any tests tomorrow. Not that I care.
I'll just let it come naturally I guess... I'll talk to Yuki tomorrow and try to get some answers from her. And we'll just see about Haruhi.
I settled myself in, and once more tried to get to sleep. I never did.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
When the morning finally came, I reluctantly dragged myself up out of bed to go about my morning routine. Again, sis didn't have to wake me. After all, I was already awake. After getting a shower, I went downstairs- a little earlier then normal- and found mom sitting at the table in the kitchen. I sat opposite her, and spoke to her for the first time since Saturday.
"Good morning..."
She gave me a smile.
"Good morning, Kyon. You look terrible, did you sleep last night?"
"...No."
"Why not? What's wrong? Are you and Yuki-chan okay?"
I flinched a little bit.
"Yeah. We're fine."
"Kyon..."
"...I don't know. Something is seriously wrong, but I can't figure out what. She came to me yesterday, trying to say something... but she didn't. She was crying... I tried to call her later- several times- but she never picked up."
"...Yuki cried? It's hard to imagine that..."
"It's unnatural... That... shouldn't happen."
"Everyone cries every once in a while, Kyon."
Not Yuki.
"I'll talk to her at school today. I'll figure out what's wrong."
"That's good. You're becoming quite the considerate, responsible, young man, Kyon."
"Thanks, Mom..."
"...But how are you feeling, right now?"
"Scared, I guess..."
She frowned, leaning forward over the table.
"Kyon, what happened?"
"Nothing."
"Kyon..."
"Really, mom... nothing. It just... came out of nowhere."
"Trouble with her parents, maybe?"
Trouble... with her parents?
"...Maybe."
Her parents... the Data Integration Thought Entity. That must be it... but what?
"Th-thanks mom, you're the best."
She grinned warmly.
"I know."
I stood up, bowing slightly.
"I have to go to school now, bye."
"Bye, Kyon!"
As I climbed the stairs, I reflected on this new revelation.
Did she receive an order? If she did, there's no question as to what it was. She was told to break up with me. Nothing else could make her react like that.
But then... why was the space around her hand distorted? And... tears? Would she cry, even when face with something like that?
The only thing that fits would be that she was ordered to... to kill me.
...That can't possibly be it. There has to be another piece to this puzzle... something I'm missing...
I picked up my things for school and stood clearing my mind, preparing myself for the day.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
The walk to school was completely normal, unnervingly so. I was expecting this day to be anything but normal, and it seemed almost mocking that it was.
When I opened the door to my homeroom class, Haruhi sat at her desk, a wide, happy grin plastered on her face. Naturally, this was probably bad for me. I sat down at my desk, immediately getting engaged in conversation.
"Hey, Kyon! You look terrible- did Yuki keep you up all night?"
Well...
"Yo, Haruhi..."
I didn't answer her question- it was meant in jest anyway. I noticed a small, neatly folded piece of paper on her desk.
"...What's that?"
She shrugged, picking up the paper and opening it up.
"It's a note- someone wants to meet me in the clubroom after the Brigade meeting. Doesn't say who it's from. It looks almost like it's typed."
"Can I see it?"
She handed it off to me. I held it up, and looked at the writing, suddenly very, very nervous.
Yuki's handwriting- I'd recognize it anywhere...but why?
I folded the note back up and handed it back to Haruhi, too tired to think too hard on it.
"...Maybe somebody is going to confess?"
"Maybe. Wouldn't be the first time. Almost everybody is so boring..."
"Almost?"
She looked me in the eyes, startled and then turned and looked out the window.
"...Yeah. Almost."
I sat, staring at her for a minute before turning back around and putting my head on my desk, resolved to get some sleep.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
As it turns out, I did get some sleep- if only for a few minutes. Sensei snapped a ruler on my desk, jolting me into wakefulness, even more tired then I was before. The rest of the day passed without incident. I attended my classes (in body, not in spirit), I ate lunch with Taniguchi and Kunikida, I went to yet more classes... and then it was time for the SOS brigade meeting.
Even here, everything seemed utterly normal. Everybody went about their normal activities. Again, I thrashed Koizumi in a game of checkers. Asahina-san, bless her heart, served us tea in her typical, calming fashion. Haruhi sat at her computer, clearly bored. And Yuki... wouldn't even meet my eyes.
She sat there reading her latest book... but usually, over the past week, she would look at me every once in a while. Not today. It seemed as if she was trying to ignore me...
As I played another game with Koizumi, he asked a question that I wasn't prepared to answer.
"Are you alright, Kyon-kun?"
"...I don't know."
He nodded, pushing one of his checkers forward in what was an incredibly stupid move. He couldn't possibly be giving his all here...
"...You know, if you need some advice, I could help you out."
Sorry Koizumi... I don't need your advice.
He put his hands up, that bastard-grin on his face.
"Of course you don't! But still, the offer is there."
I nodded.
"Thanks."
...Did I just say that? I must be more tired then I thought. Suddenly, Haruhi stood up, and made an announcement, though she was considerably more subdued then normal. She wasted no time in getting to the heart of the matter.
"Kyon, Yuki... I have reviewed your behavior over the weekend, and decided that your relationship is not in the best interest of the SOS Brigade. As your Chief, I order you to break up at once."
I sat, staring at my little section of the table, completely unsurprised. I gave no reaction. Slowly, I picked my head up and looked at everybody's face in turn.
Koizumi, for once, gave me what appeared to be a genuine smile. It was small, but I could tell what he was thinking. Sorry Kyon, tough luck.
Asahina-san's hands were covering her mouth, eyes wide, brimming with tears. Normally, this would be adorable... but of course, it wasn't in this situation.
Yuki had not even removed her eyes from her book. I thought I noticed something hidden behind her cardigan... but it must have been my imagination. She turned the page.
I looked at Haruhi, her resolve clearly very weak. I could see it. She knew this was wrong, and that she shouldn't be doing it... but she did anyway.
I asked the essential question: "...Why?"
"Because I..."
I stood up abruptly, suddenly very angry.
"Dammit, Haruhi..."
I walked over to the door and opened it, preparing to step through.
"God dammit..."
I closed the door behind me and stood, unsure of what to do. I walked around the corner and stood watching the door for a few seconds. After a short time, a minute at the most, Asahina-san and Koizumi emerged from the room, walking in the opposite direction that I went. Realizing that the main entrance was in the direction they were heading, I made my way back... Only to stop at the clubroom door.
I stood in indecision for a few seconds, before finally planting my ear on the door. I could hear a solid click as it was locked.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
After Kyon left, nobody said anything. After only a few seconds, Haruhi dismissed everybody.
"...You're all free to go."
Mikuru and Koizumi stood up wordlessly, and exited. Shortly after they left, Yuki got up and walked over to door.
She locked it.
"...Yuki, I need to wait for somebody here. Why did you lock the door?"
She said nothing, giving nothing away in her expression.
"Yuki..."
Finally, she spoke- two words.
"I'm sorry."
Suddenly, Haruhi's expression shifted into one of confused annoyance.
"For what? What's going on, Yu..."
Haruhi's sentence trailed off, shock and horror evident in her features.
"Oh...Yuki..."
While Haruhi was speaking, six inches of stainless steel had emerged from Yuki's cardigan, it's polished surface reflecting the red-orange light of the setting sun.
Everything seemed to grind to a halt, their breathing the only sound in the room.
Yuki repeated herself.
"...I'm sorry."
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
JE-SUS CHRIST, WTFBBQ.
Suspense? YES PLEASE.
Please send me your wonderful, delicious reviews. If you don't I'll hate you forever, and I'll curse your name with my dying breath. How will I acomplish this you say? On my death bed, I'll say "Curses...to everybody who isn't (names of my reviewers)". You don't want an angry nerd ghost haunting you, right? Review!
