"I'm heading out," Hotarou announced as he finished putting his shoe on.

"'Kay, take care!" Tomoe called from the living room.

He closed the door and started to head for the station. This bright winter morning, which happened to be a Saturday and a day off for Hotarou, was one that he decided would be good for a trip to the library. The library was a place that was maintained by older folks who couldn't do as much physical labor as they had in their youth. Since the government thought the people would consider it 'inhumane' to 'put these older, more useless folk to eternal rest' they recruited some to work in the public building. Though the majority of the poor people didn't bother to even think about books, let alone read them, the building still stood filled with texts from as far back as anyone could remember. Shakespeare, Twain, Huxley, Plato…all sat silently turning to dust in the immaculate building.

The library was on the exact opposite of the city. Going there was a trek, about 30-45 minutes depending on the weather, but Hotarou decided it was worth it every couple of weeks. It was a nice chance for him to stretch out and think. Though, at this point, Hotarou felt wary of his surroundings, and so restrained his brain from wandering as it usually did.

He approached the building which loomed menacingly above. Tall, soot-covered, brick walls, a large round window at the front with small port windows lining the sides, all with bar across them, and a gigantic iron door was enough to make person nervous, let alone coax them inside. Hotarou admired this building for its ability to scare away people, but the coziness withheld inside. Upon entering the building, an old, but not musty, smell filled one's mind with memories they never remembered having. Old Persian rugs and carpets lined the floors, and thick curtain hung stylishly over the windows. Dark wood tables and chairs were set in perfect rows and columns, each with three, old-fashioned green lamps lined in the middle. Behind the rows of tables were shelves of books and on the center shelf was an embedded computer. The ancient database was even more stylish then today's ones, it required specific 'queries' and ran very slowly, but over many centuries it had acquired the record of every book in this library and across the galaxy.

Behind this group of shelves, which many of the few do not venture past, lays a huge room with a massive vaulted ceiling. The dome is of glass and lets in sunshine to fill the room, highlighting the small group of tables at its base. Two sets of staircases spiral up, opposite to each other, and meet as they reach each level, of which there are 4. The first level contains books about the arts and music; the second, maths and formulas (including some limited sciences); the third, sciences and the beginning of the histories; and the fourth, the continuation of the histories and the remnants of the cultures of the galaxy (including languages and maps).

So why include so much detail about this solitary building? Because it was Hotarou's haven and dwelling place. Rarely did another soul pass through those iron doors, save for the librarians, and so left Hotarou to his solidarity. No pesky girls asking questions, no nagging friends…just books. Not that Hotarou was fascinated by books, but he was fascinated by knowledge, though he rarely showed that side to anyone. So he could spend his day inside that nostalgic place scanning through books and doing research, or just reading leisurely. He loved the library.

Hotarou entered the building with the sneaking suspicion that he was still being followed. So he dove past the grove of books that sat behind those tables, which often dissuaded people from venturing further. He quickly took the spiraling stairs to the very top level and sat at chair in the back next to a fireplace. It was a nice chair he had made and donated to the library years ago. He asked to put it in the back, along with permission to light the fireplace and tend it until he left. The librarians willingly agreed.

Hotarou pulled out some wood and lit a match that had been prepared for any time he wanted to come, then sat down. He pulled out his book and began to page through it, to find where he had left off. But as he glanced up he saw a figure standing in front of him: A tall girl with dark hair, pale complexion, and an authoritative aura.

"You…" Hotarou growled as the girl approached and stood above him.

The girl blinked. "Do I have a name?" the girl coaxed.

"I don't remember, and I don't care," he replied sourly attempting to turn back to his book.

"Well I know your name, though the last time we met you rudely forgot to introduce yourself."

He shrugged, indifferent to common courtesies. The girl frowned, "Irisu…Fuyumi. Remember?"

"Nope." But he did. She continued to stand there and watch him, the eyes drilled into his head so he finally looked up. "What? What do you want?"

"I want to talk," she replied easily.

"Then go home. You're supposed to be quiet in the library. And I'm sure you have plenty of servants who would love to talk to you…"

"I want to talk to you. Now."

Hotarou looked her hard in the eye, hoping to make her nervous and leave him alone, but she, rather, returned the icy glance. Fine. He stood and closed his book then moved towards a table.

"So, what?" He moved his arms across his chest and leaned back.

"I have heard it said that everyone loves to travel," Irisu began, looking directly in Hotarou's eyes.

"I've never heard that."

"Think of it as a general statement," she said coolly. "I would think, you would like to travel. You look like that kind of person."

Don't imply stupid things, Hotarou thought.

"I believe it was just the other day you went to Saturn?" Hotarou made no reply. "I believe that would be 'strictly business,' correct? Well, I will not press because I know what you were doing. I was there too that day…"

What? Hotarou tried to recall, mentally searching among the crowds of people vaguely recalling a movement of black hair in the crowd.

"I have been told by a friend that you plan on going on a longer trip. Care to explain?"

Hotarou maintained his silence. Irisu studied him closely before speaking again. "I have also been informed that you are working on a project. I know you work on many projects in general, but this one seems to be taking a lot of time, especially at home…I can only think that is would be…a ship, perhaps?"

Hotarou silently fumed. Where did she learn that? Chitanda doesn't know, neither do Satoshi or Ibara. Haa, this girl…every time I see her, she gets on my nerves! "What's your point?" Hotarou asked.

"Well, if you consider that everyone likes to travel and that I am wondering about the marvelous ship you are building, you may say that I am…curious."

"Curious about what? There's nothing to be curious of," he sighed, clearly bored of the conversation.

The two sat quietly for a moment, examining the other. "You know," Irisu said. "It is not much of a conversation if only one person is talking." Hotarou knew what she meant, but was determined to not say anything to this aggravating girl.

"Perhaps I don't want to talk." Irisu seemed to consider this suggestion for a moment before standing and wandering away. Hotarou watched her leave, thinking: Good, she finally got the message, before returning to his book.

A little time passed before Hotarou heard the quiet footsteps of a person. Not again, he sighed try to look like he was very interested in the content of the text which he held. Irisu appeared once again, this time carrying a small book in her hand. She sat at opposite end of the table, from which Hotarou had been too lazy to move. She sat and opened the book, beginning to read whatever story resided in those pages. Hotarou was slightly surprised that she made no attempt to speak to him about books; she just sat a little ways away and read. That was fine by him, and he continued his reading.

Hotarou sighed mentally after about the second paragraph, having become bored with his book, and decided to try and figure out what Irisu was reading. He glanced up past his book and noted a protected red paper cover with a design that looked like an eye. 'Big Brother is watching you.' it read on the front with the year '1984', Hotarou guessed, as the title. That book is centuries old, I wonder what it could be about? He turned back to his own: I knew I shouldn't have tried Chicken Soup for the Soul again; I don't really even care about these dead people or how they dropped the cell phone in the toilet and ended up meeting their husband…

Hotarou decided to go get another book so he stood and wandered through the shelves, of the fourth level. History, history everywhere, but never something interesting to read…he thought as she scanned. He paused in front of the 'modern history' 2030's-2060's, and pulled out a small book the was squished between two thick volumes of "The Citizens' Convention" and "2040: My Space Age and Yours—interactions between our beloved Organization and its Happy Citizens!" The title of the book read: "The Wrong in this Picture: a diary/manual"; Hotarou thumbed through the pages. The text was hand-written and the pages wrinkled and yellowed, they weren't the professional-grade pages that were made to last for centuries; this belonged to a poor citizen. The hand writing was old, from a citizen who must have been one of the last to learn the cursive-style, and whose hand wrote with bold strokes, but gentle curves. Hotarou decided he would take this book.

When he returned, he found Irisu waiting expectantly with her finger stuck in the page of her book. "Your name is Oreki, right?" she asked assure herself. "Oreki, I want to understand what you are thinking. I also want to understand this book. It gives so many ideas that I have never heard of." Hotarou noticed that her all-knowing aura had vanished and that she had become just as curious as Eru. Hotarou also glanced at her book and saw that she was already about half-way through it.

Hotarou sighed. He didn't know if this girl was just putting on airs, or if she was genuinely curious. He sat diagonally from her using his thumb to play with the pages as he thought. "My guess is that, that book, 1984, is probably about opposing a oppressive government?" Irisu sat still, listening intently. "Well, I can't help you there because I don't know anything about that book," Hotarou informed her. "And today…today I don't want to think about that." He picked up his book and held it open with his pinky and his thumb.

"What is that?"

"This? It's a book."

"What about?"

"I don't know yet. I just pulled it out of the modern history section."

"So you like to read about history?"

"Sometimes."

"What else do you like?"

Hotarou considered for a moment. "Fiction. But it depends on the day."

"Do you like action?"

"Sometimes. I read a bit of everything."

"Ah." Irisu paused and thought, he really is not good with conversations at all. "I enjoy reading a bit of everything as well." She left the thought to hang, try to get Hotarou to converse. "What is your favorite genre?" she attempted one last time.

"Hmm, I'd say…mystery. Maybe."

Irisu wondered about that, "Why?"

"Hmm…I like how the characters have to figure things out and interesting situations are created. And sometimes I need to use my brain. I guess it's a form a brain-training for me."

"I though you would not like having to think about books."

"Why? 'Cos I'm lazy?" That's probably true. "But what about you, anyway?" Hotarou challenged, trying to move the conversation away from him.

"Hmm, I like romance."

"Typical."

Irisu gave him an icy glare. "I like romances that are not just romance." She seemed to become thoughtful. "I like it when they have action and adventure. Where the characters change throughout the story and they have to work to be with each other. One of my favorite couples is Marius and Eponine."

Hotarou look confused. "But…if I remember, they were never a couple. Wasn't it Marius and Lesette?"

"Cosette." Irisu corrected curtly. "And I do not support them. They had that nonsense 'true love at first sight'. I believe that is completely ridiculous." She crossed her arms indignantly.

Spoken like a true fan…Hotarou supposed. Hotarou had never been one for touchy-feely books. He liked how mysteries tended to be detached from emotion in his mind. He liked Poirot specifically because he didn't get up and go investigate things, he just observed and thought; Hotarou's favorite kind of reasoning. But he didn't hate romances either. He just thought they were unreasonable and too dramatic. The drama made him uncomfortable. And going and looking and being in love were a lot of work in his mind. Well, whatever. He took a glance at his watch, it was pretty late in the morning and he hadn't prepared a lunch. He decided he'd check out his book and head home.

He stood, Irisu following his action, then began to work his way back to the front of the library, with the girl in-stride. He went to the machine, yet another ancient beast the dwelled within the realm of the library, and sat his book under the metal box. It scanned it then asked for his ID. He typed it in but it denied him his book. Hotarou grumbled. "You're kidding me," he muttered under his breath, attempting to check out the book again. He was again rejected. Behind them, in the shadows, was a librarian. He was an old, old man, who presently seemed to be asleep. Hotarou turned to him, having known the man for years, and tilted his head slightly. The man-made a movement, imperceptible to anyone who did not know him, so Hotarou stood and began to walk away. Irisu glanced at Hotarou then back at the man and wondered at what had just passed between them. She was going to attempt to check out her own book Hotarou stopped her. "Don't worry about it." was all he said as he moved towards the great iron doors, expecting her to follow.

Once outside, he continued to walk toward the station. "Where are you going?" Irisu asked.

"To the station to drop you off," he replied. "Oh, and when you finish that book, I'll take it back for you."

Irisu was a little surprised by this thoughtful gesture from such a normally impersonal human. So surprised, in fact, that she couldn't help but say a quiet, "T-thanks…"


Hey there! Trivia fact, the world that my sister and I created was partially based of 1984 as well as Brave New World, if you want to look at those books or perhaps read them it will give you a pretty good idea of what the world is like (their also pretty good reads, the dystopains as well as Les Miserables).

I'm sorry if Irisu seems OOC, I'm trying to give her more (likable) characteristics...if there are those who don't really like her. She's gonna play a fairly big role later on so...I'm trying to give her a little more character beforehand.

Oh! and another thing, you may have noticed this chapter was a bit more detailed than the last...I just really felt being detailed today...so I hope you enjoyed that. I hope to write more like that consistently! ~~Thanks for leaving comments too!~~