What?

What was that? I turned to our Asakura(Human), eyes wide and in shock, staring at the Asakura(Interface) bathed in silver light.

"It took longer than I thought to recreate a body for myself."

Without hesitation she pulled out her knife and rushed forward. Kyon moved aside with instinct, I froze again once more unable to move… Asakura(H) tackled me pushing both of us out of the way. The knife cut into the padding of the walls which tore like wet toilet paper.

"This is all very nostalgic, but it won't be like last time." She looked towards Kyon. "Nagato won't be coming

"How did you come back? Nagato put you away for good!" Kyon yelled on the brink of hyperventilation.

"I'm sorry Kyon but data cannot be completely destroyed or created with the exception of Suzumiya of course. I was merely dispersed in the form of other data when Nagato had terminated my link. Suzumiya subconsciously wished me back."

When was that?... Oh yes, when she wanted a Class President last week…

"Unfortunately I was only significant at a subconscious level, and I was unable to completely manifest. I remained a wandering speck of data without a physical body. Luckily I was self conscious and was still able to manipulate data on a fundamental level. In order to create a physical body I needed a mass of blank usable data. To obtain this mass of data I only had to look to Suzumiya. You see, there's always lots of data seeping out of Suzumiya. Gathering data is the simplest form of manipulation. Even you humans are able to do it."

I'm never able to understand what these interface thingies say but I have a basic idea anyway. Asakura continued her explanation.

"I had gathered the necessary amount of data and created a physical body for myself."

Asakura frowned.

"But there was a miscalculation. I had created a completely new Asakura, a body with its own consciousness. It was the exact same Asakura that Suzumiya had remembered her to be, the kind, smart, cheerful version of myself, the Asakura with only human protocol. I had used every bit of my remaining data to create a physical body, and I was unable to survive any longer without a host. In my weakened state I had no choice but to share this body with the consciousness I had created. The other me had no idea of course."

She smiled once more.

"I have observed Suzumiya for three years and one of the things I knew is how she created spaces. As time passed I discovered that I was able to create my own. Even more time passed and powers similar to my interface abilities were slowly beginning to come under my command, maybe even powers stronger than my former self. Eventually I became strong enough to completely take over the body for short periods of time. I was coming closer to being able to kill you and observe Suzumiya once again."

She spun around once with her arms in the air.

"And here we are!"

"Why are there two of you here?"

"In order to create and enter a space of full capacity I have to be in my pure form, so I separated myself from the body. Unlike humans, I learn from my errors and used a different kind of containment"

"You mean. You made this space?"

"Yes! Isn't it amazing what Suzumiya can make possible? Think of all the things that I would be able to observe if I killed you right now!"

Kyon, took a shot with his needle gun which missed miserably. He looked towards the exit but then everything including the door and windows were replaced by wall. With no light from the windows everything was dark.

"This space is under my data jurisdiction. No one can leave or enter." She gave a smile that was unlike Asakura(H). "I mean it this time."

The glow in her eyes charged at us. I imagined her raising her knife. We were cornered, game over…

But yes! I had expected this from the start! The valiant save right before our untimely demise. A flash of red separated us from the silver blade and its deadly wielder. Koizumi Itsuki had come through the ceiling and elegantly landed in front of us. Light once again shone into the auditorium like a spotlight on Koizumi.

"So you were the one who was creating those spaces. I can guess you were the one who injured my colleague as well."

"Ah yes I remember. It was the first time I had taken over this body. Also the first time I was able to freely test my powers. I would've destroyed you all if only the other me didn't get in the way. It's quite difficult to keep control."

Koizumi turned, how you be smiling?

"You three better leave. I'll hold her off. Get as far away as you can. Nagato will be coming soon." He blasted a hole where the door previously was.

I have always classified Koizumi as a Fairy instead of an Esper, always flying around glowing. That blast was something I was longing to see from him. You are now officially an Esper in my books.

"You think you can hold me off?"

Koizumi once again fiercely powered up, his red Esper aura lighting the entire auditorium making the exit visible. I couldn't see his face but I was one hundred percent sure he was smiling.

"That's impossible."

The three of us made a dash to the door, as the two powers clashed behind us.

We ran once again, no longer exhausted but unable to stop because of the pure adrenaline. Kyon was set on running. Yes! Haruhi's training was paying off! Asakura(H) was too shocked and confused to care. She came to a halt.

"C'mon we can't stop here!"

Asakura(H) shut her eyes and shook her head. What's the matter with her?

"I feel them…"

"Feel what?!"

"My memories…"

The school auditorium collapsed behind us. It was visible from the window of this hallway.

"Alan! Asakura! What're you doing?! This place is coming apart!" Kyon yelled from ahead.

"I want to go back…" Asakura whispered.

I took her by the shoulders.

"You can't! Do you want to die?!"

"I feel it stronger than ever. It won't disappear this time. I know it won't…"

"Forget about them! We have to leave!"

"No!" she screamed. "It feels horrible to sense these memories! The pricking sensation inside like a thorn. Every time I feel like I'm going insane! I'm going back!

She pushed me aside and ran in the other direction. I looked back at Kyon who was baffled by Asakura's decision to return. I had no choice.

"KEEP RUNNING WITH US!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

Asakura stopped in her tracks.

"You have friends to worry for you! Are your memories important enough to die for?!"

She turned around with tears in her eyes.

"If you die here what do you want us to do about it?!"

The sounds of battle echoed across the blackness of the sky and beyond.

"What do you want me to do about it?! You wanted me to introduce you to the brigade and you joined! And I'll be damned if you take the easy way out-"

The Hallway exploded behind me separating us from Kyon. I searched desperately through the smoke for any signs on movement. Kyon was slumped against slab of wall that kept together from the blast. Thank goodness he was still panting, he hadn't died just yet. Asakura(I) knew where we were. She's trying to kill us. I turned to Asakura(H) who was speechless after seeing Kyon get blasted. I pulled Kyon from the rubble but I couldn't carry him by myself.

"Let's go! Help me!" I yelled to Asakura(H)

She took a step forward in my direction, smiling. At that moment the floor collapsed beneath her as the building took a second shot from Asakura's(I) deadly blast. I saw her fall downwards along with the debris, that moment's smile had changed into an expression of regret and sorrow. The loud noise of the collapse had muffled out my screams of horror and she was visible no more. A bright light shined through the windows in front. The third blast was headed right towards me and Kyon. It exploded but it didn't hit the building. Koizumi Itsuki had taken a hit instead. He came through shattering the window, wounded.

"Itsuki!" I went as fast as I could, with Kyon, to his side. He won't be able to fight anymore…

The final attack was headed our way. I got to see the shape of Asakura's(I) blast. It was a brilliant ball of spiking white light with a hint of blue.

"My job is done…" Itsuki smiled.

What is this? Is he giving up? Is this the end? The ball of light halted a mere meter away from the three of us. I remained still, glowing. I feel a presence. The soft but commanding voice echoed and shook the very sky and ground.

"Your individual programs were still too weak, the special lockdown and data blockade in lateral sectors were still too weak, I detected you from the moment you assumed a form of re-existence, intrusion was granted."

The ball of light turned into a black mass and imploded into nothing. Asakura's(I) voice thundered in reply.

"You are going to interfere once more? I have the advantage in this space." It was chilling to hear her in such a cheerful tone. It was overlapped by the soft once again.

"Release spatial limiters."

The space in front of me shattered, Nagato had walked from the hole that had opened, which was as I would describe it, leaking color. The hole closed up and the color around it vanished and returned to the default gray. This Nagato was different. She looked powerful able to use her powers freely in this space designed specifically for interface thingy battle. "That Spatial Limit Release" or whatever changed her appearance. Nagato had glowing waist length hair, and piercing purple eyes.

"Asakura Ryoko, judged to be hostile. Proceeding with termination."

A fresh barrage of blasts came from Asakura(I). Yuki effortlessly blocked it with some sort of force field.

"Escape now."

Itsuki stood up, he was only a little bruised by the looks of it.

"Alan, Asakura(I) has redirected all of her energy fighting Nagato, therefore the containment of this space has suffered. Although it's been weakened, in my current state I can only get one of you out of here."

"Take Kyon he's injured. How will I get out?"

"I'm sorry but the space will not be lifted until the creator of the space is destroyed. You will have to bear with Yuki until then."

I nodded as Koizumi took Kyon and vanished. The barrage of blasts had stopped, apparently Asakura's(I) attack had a cool time. Yuki took off with great speed in Asakura's(I) direction. It became even fiercer than her battle with Koizumi. I looked to the end of the hallway where the floor collapsed and Asakura(H) fell through. Altough not likely, she still might be alive. No Alan, don't think that way. She's defiantly alive. I ran down the flight of stairs to the ground floor. There she was lying on a pile of rocks. I went up to her and started shaking her awake.

"Asakura! Wake up!"

Thank god she opened her eyes.

"Alan… What happened?"

"Not too much, Koizumi took Kyon to safety. Nagato's here to save us. We have to go!"

We looked toward where Asakura(I) and Nagato were fighting. Blinding flashes and explosions issued from the direction. Asakura(H) had no idea what I'd just said, but decided to go along with it.

"I can't run."

"What?"

"My ankle, it's sprained."

She stared into the black sky with a look that wanted me to go without her. Of course a fall from that height, I'm glad that you're alive. I had no choice but to carry her on my back.

"You're coming with me…"

She was surprised to see that I had begun trying to pick her up onto my back. It was way exhausting. After running that much and trying to carry Kyon, my supply of energy was running low. Haruhi's training was nothing compared to this ordeal. I had to walk, skipping a heart beat whenever a shot of Asakura's(I) blast had missed us by inches, destroying the surrounding areas. Asakura(H) was awfully quiet and calm. I'd think that the possibility of getting hit by an explosion might leave her shaking in fear but no, still and breathing quite steadily. With no idea where to go with an injured Asakura, I went in the direction of her apartment.

As we left the school grounds the sounds of battle were also dying out, less explosions and shots. Maybe I was on the brink of collapse as well. I wouldn't know. I don't care I just needed to keep going a bit further. I reached my limit in front of Asakura's(H) apartment. It has been completely quiet for a while. We leaned on the side of the building and wait for the battle to end and the space to fade away. Asakura's(H) head rested on my shoulder with her eyes closed and a smile. Was the battle over? It's been quiet for a while.

A shadowy figure slowly drew closer to our location. It looked weak and was limping. It was Asakura(I). Had Nagato lost? Is this the end?

"You…"

She pointed at Asakura(H).

"I need to get stronger… Come here so we can synchronize. That way I can reach my full power… Nagato is almost at the brink of termination. I need this power to finish this… You'll get all your memories back…"

Asakura(H) stared back with longing eyes. I pulled out my needle gun and aimed it at Asakura(I).

"Should I tell you a secret, human? If I die… She dies…"

I froze once again. I had promised myself to shoot but no… I can't. This isn't fair, I no longer had the energy to tremble but not in fear. It was in despair and anger… Asakura(H) stood up and started towards the other Asakura's(I) direction. I had no strength left to hold up the gun.

No… I mouthed.

You can't go just yet…

She turned and smiled at me and continued on her injured ankle with all her power. I can imagine the pain of trying to walk with it. She did she want her memories back? Listen Asakura, If you do this there's no more after that. No more memories. I'll be dead… Everyone…

Asakura(H) had reached Asakura(I)). Asakura(I) held out her hand eagerly to synchronize, I couldn't watch, I shut my eyes.