Chapter NineTruth (MajorKris)
Yuki walked back to her home, staring at the cracks of the sidewalk as she carefully stepped over them as her train of thought began to fade.
For so long, Yuki had done nothing but follow orders. That was the purpose of her existence and since she was created no one had ever told her to do so otherwise. She did know however, that even though she hasn't existed for very long that she was evolving. She first noticed this when she began participating in the literature club. At first, she mostly did it to pass time, but eventually the curiosity of what humans felt and why got the better of her. Stories of love and war intrigued her the most, especially when the characters acted as though tough and improbable situations should be looked upon as nothing. Soon, Yuki began to feel a small longing of envy deep inside her circuitry for the characters in her books. They were usually outgoing, philosophical, and of course emotional.
Yuki's books were all she had really at first when she arrived on this planet. She had no friends, and Ryoko and her found no need to do what humans call, 'socializing' together. The people who were in the book club with her with kind but they usually left her alone, and whenever she took interest in some kind of game they were playing they always offered her to play. She had no family, no job of such to take responsibility of, and it wasn't so difficult to just keep an eye on Haruhi the first couple years as she kept tabs on Ryoko.
A part of her always wondered how Ryoko was able to fit in so well with the humans. She smiled, laughed, and even developed amusement of some kind whenever she found out what a certain human was doing. Perhaps Ryoko was able to understand human nature more than her, even if she was only pretending she did a magnificent job blending in as one of them. Yuki however, just observed with her nose behind a book. Was that the reason why her superiors felt it was a necessity to bring her back? Even though Ryoko was the backup, she did meet the standards that all humanoids of the time tried to accomplish; being human that is. You could say Ryoko was the more recent model.
As Yuki thought of Ryoko however, she felt a heavy weight go through her chest. Why is it that she suddenly comes back and takes over? What did she even do to send such human properties into her system? Was it some kind of upgrade for her server that her superiors thought was necessary to have? If so, do they realize how useless she is in such a state? Unless of course if they did know when they brought Ryoko back and this was a hint that she was being replaced. All because Ryoko rebelled and chose to take action even against orders? Was she being rewarded for it?
Yuki began to feel a slight, pulsing pain go through her head as she thought this, leaving her rather nervous and frightened of what was happening to her. Let alone that just a few hours ago, she cried tears for the very first time. Why did this have to happen? Why did she suddenly turn into…into…what she always wanted to be…?
Yuki considered deep down that she was grateful, but what was to become of her now? She could still use her abilities to think and strategies through tough situations, but other than that he programming turned to the point of worthlessness. If something were to repeat itself again like earlier, Haruhi or the others could end up killed! She knew she could never deal or forgive herself if that were to happen, knowing full well now the unbearable feeling of guilt she read so much about.
Yuki sighed and stopped in her tracks, lifting her hands up just then as a wet substance from the sky fell against them. She looked up at the dark, cloudy sky, feeling more of the cold drops of water fall into her face and eventually her hair. Yuki turned her head away suddenly and rubbed her eye as a drop fell closely to it. The intelligent part of her told her to run home and avoid the pointless task of getting wet and drying her clothes, but another part of her, deep down, wished to absorb the rain in order to have it make some attempt as to rinse the worry and the powerful, uncontrollable emotions away from her. Was that line perhaps, based on a character she herself once read about? She smiled, finding for the first time she couldn't remember.
Suddenly Yuki felt a sharp object hit against her, causing her to fall to the ground covering her nose as she looked up to see who it was who ran into her.
"Oh man! I'm so sorry about that! I was in a hurry and wasn't paying attention!"
Yuki blinked, now realizing she was seeing the face of one of Kyon's friends who had helped her earlier that day, and suddenly felt her frustration leave her as she felt tempted to laugh from the blush that was forming on the boy's face.
"It's alright," Yuki replied with a small smile, reaching for the hand that he offered to help her up.
"O-oh! Nagato! I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you! It is pretty dark out here and all…" Taniguchi tried to laugh off his embarrassment, thinking it really was quite a coincidence that he would run into her after thinking about her all day. "Hey, you didn't happen to be at the hospital just now, were you? I had tried calling Kyon and his sis' picked up and told me that Haruhi got hurt. I was just on my way to help him out, but I suppose it's a little late huh?" Taniguchi spoke the truth good enough, but deep down he was hoping to see Yuki again as well to see if she was alight.
"I see," replied Yuki trying to give him a reassuring smile of some kind before she spoke again, "Don't worry she's doing fine for now, as well as Kyon. He may stay with her all day tomorrow though while we go to school, but how about we go visit them tomorrow, together?"
Taniguchi blushed feeling his heart pounding as she emphasized the word, 'together.' He did however try not to show it though, "Ahh…Yeah! Su-Sure! Heh, so, umm…Can I walk you home…again? It's too late for someone so pretty- I mean, um, for anyone to be walking alone so late, so um, well…heh heh…" Taniguchi suddenly turned around trying to calm down and forget his mess up as he whispered a non-audible, 'smooth,' into the air.
Yuki couldn't help but slant her head side ways as she tried to understand why Taniguchi was acting in such away, but then again he was always such a strange human.
"Alright, if you insist," Yuki said as she walked around him and began down the sidewalk to her home, she then found herself smiling at him as he looked her way. Taniguchi on the other hand, realized he was becoming only more flustered and tried to keep his cool as he swallowed hard before smiling nervously, "O-O.K. cool,"
'What the hell is wrong with me?!' Thought Taniguchi to himself, 'Am I falling for her? No way! Taniguchi is not a one woman type of guy!'
Taniguchi couldn't help but look down at Yuki as they walked together, and soon, he felt a strong urge to start some type of conversation or hold her hand as they now continued on through the dimly lit sidewalks and into the darkness.
0o0o0o
Mikuru sighed; she's been doing that often lately. She supposed that she had gotten it from Kyon but that was irrelevant. She looked up at the sky, admiring that stars that so beautifully shinned with the moon as the light lingered down the walkway, making her smile.
"Are you alright, Mikuru?" came a voice calmly, snapping Mikuru out of her trance.
"Oh, y-yes, I'm fine Itsuki," she looked up to her left seeing the exhausted yet worried eyes of the esper Itsuki, forgetting that he was taking her home. "I was just thinking I suppose. About everything…" She smiled, "About us…"
Itsuki blushed as she said this, reaching for her hand as he laced their fingers together before he spoke, "And? What is it you've come up with?"
Mikuru giggled, feeling her heart pounding as she moves closer to him so that their arms were touching as well, "Hmm. Well, I believe that there will be many hardships ahead of us, but we will pull through. No matter what, and even if something happens that can't be unchanged then we will move along to find happiness again. But, only as long as we keep our memories and our friends close to us…"
Itsuki stopped walking, causing Mikuru to look up at him in confusing as she saw the sadness in his eyes, "Mikuru…I promise you that no matter what, we'll get through this together, with the help of our friends. I believe you Mikuru, you're right, this is a new beginning for all of us and we will overcome what it is that is happening. But there is one thing I want you to know Mikuru…something I've wanted to say for awhile now…"
Then without warning, Itsuki kissed her, bringing her tiny frame close to him as Mikuru closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck as she stood up on her toes to reach him.
The kiss was not as needy or lustful as her first, but it was just as wanting. This kiss was their pure affection for each other, the one of desperation to show that despite that one day they will have their goodbyes from each other that they won't let the other go. Especially at such a terrifying time as now, after seeing how close Kyon had come to losing Haruhi as Itsuki almost lost Mikuru to that gang of kidnappers.
But just then they pulled back, trying to catch each other's breath as they both stared into the other's eyes.
"Itsuki…" Mikuru began as she gasped for air, "At first…The only reason I decided to be with you was because I was so lonely, but now, I just don't know what I want anymore…"
Itsuki smiled, pulling Mikuru into an embrace as he kissed her forehead and then pulled back once again gently putting his fingers to the girls chin to have her look up at him, "Mikuru…if the world would to end, would you please let me spend this last few moments with you at your side?"
Mikuru gasped in shock, feeling her heart about to burst as she saw the intense emotion n the younger boy's eyes. She felt herself about to cry before she replied. "Yes," she whispered before hiccupping and laying her head on Itsuki's chest as he held her tightly. "Yes Itsuki, I…I want to be by your side as well, always…"
Itsuki smiled once again as he laid his head on hers, inhaling her sweet scent as he rubbed her back till her sobbing became sniffles. They stayed that way for some time, almost as long as they did back at Itsuki's home till Mikuru finally pulled away and rubbed her last few tears away. She then smiled angelically up at him, before taking his hand and leading him to her house.
When they arrived, they kissed one last time and stayed there till Mikuru finally left him at her doorstep. As soon as she did so she went to her bedroom, watching her new lover walk home from her bedroom window until he was only a dot in the distance.
That night they dreamed about the other and even though they both only got a few hours of sleep, neither one had such an enthusiasm to go back to her school to see each other again.
0o0o0o
A few hours later back at the hospital Kyon had just opened his eyes slowly as he began to wake from his sleep. The blinding light from the window in the hospital lobby stunned his eyes to the brink of tears till he finally tossed his jacket over his head. Kyon did try to sleep some more, but his back began to ache from the chair and his jacket was beginning to suffocate him to the point of delirium, and so, even though he was weak and groggy, Kyon decided to get up. After a few stretched and yawns he made his way to the vending machine for some breakfast. The cafeteria wouldn't be open till noon, so to hold himself over for awhile Kyon treated himself to a Snickers bar and a Coke.
After Kyon had finished his breakfast he looked as his watch to see whether or not it was too early to visit Haruhi, and after debating with his head for over twenty minutes he decided to head on in.
Kyon wasn't sure if Haruhi was capable of eating on her own or if she would need a feeding tube for awhile, but he certainly hoped that she wasn't in pain. As Kyon made his way to Haruhi's room he was grateful that none of the nurses came to bother him. He gently opened her door and peeked in, smiling to himself as he saw his Haruhi sleeping peacefully.
Walking as quietly as he could Kyon grabbed a chair and say down beside her bed, gently taking her hand as he stared at her. Kyon couldn't remember if he ever saw Haruhi sleeping, she was always so energetic and hyper that he began to believe that she never slept. Kyon frowned at the thought, for so long he believed that nothing would ever happen to her. She was Haruhi Suzumiya after all! The Goddess of this universe! Yet here she was, lying in a hospital bed from a broken arm and internal bleeding after almost being stomped to death by a…well, thing? He couldn't help but think about the story of Hercules as a comparison. In the end, even the son of Zeus met his match.
Kyon closed his eyes tightly, trying to let the idea come into his mind. The feeling of even imagining such a thing happening to Haruhi made his heart ache. He squeezed her hand hard, trying to control himself before she woke up.
"I'm so sorry Haruhi, I should have told you the truth from the very beginning. I knew one day I was going to, but…Oh God, Haruhi…Please forgive me…You may not have gotten hurt if I had just told you…" Kyon's eyes began to sting as his vision became blurry. Never before had he felt in such a way that he had to cry, not even after all the frustration Haruhi had caused him, as well as the near death experiences and embarrassing moments. But the truth was, Haruhi had given him so many experiences and, well even fun, that he realized that perhaps he never wanted to go back to his old life. If you were to ask him right now if he wanted to he would probably shake his head and tell you no without even thinking about it. This was beyond what Haruhi wanted anymore, this was what he wanted! Kyon loved Haruhi, and anyone who tells him other wise is an…!
Haruhi stirred, causing Kyon to panic and rub his eyes quickly to not hurt his pride. Once she opened her eyes she yawned, wincing in pain slightly before turning her head and smile once she saw Kyon, "Hey…" she whispered casually as Kyon felt his excitement coming back.
"Good morning," Kyon said gently, "How are you feeling?"
"Meh," Haruhi answer as she rolled her eyes, "The Doc said he was surprised how quickly I was recovering, he even said that my broken arm is only slightly sprained now, but I suppose that it's because I really want to get out of here…" Haruhi frowned. She slowly began to remember what Yuki had told her before they were attacked by those huge blue things.
"Hey Kyon," Haruhi said naturally as she stared up at the ceiling, "What am I?"
The day Kyon knew would come had finally arrived, but none the less he felt like he wasn't prepared for it.
"Haruhi, you're…" Kyon swallowed before he began again, turning his head slightly as to not panic from seeing the confused expression in her eyes, "I suppose to make it simple…You're God Haruhi. Whatever you truly want, you have the great potential of making it happen. I wasn't kidding when I told you the world was definitely going in an interesting direction with you in it. Also, whenever you want some sort of well mystery to happen it can come into motion. Like when the computer club's president went missing or when Yuki played guitar so perfectly. The reason why you can do everything you want to do! And yet, somehow get away with it. Ah…I think that's how it works anyway, Itsuki could explain it so much better than me…"
"Itsuki?" Haruhi asked looking a little annoyed now, "What does he know about this?"
Kyon sighed, rubbing his neck as he still fears looking at her.
"Itsuki…Is an esper, Haruhi."
Haruhi gasped, trying it hard to believe him but he couldn't help but stare at the seriousness on his face.
"And Mikuru, is a time traveler from the future, while Yuki is…an alien of some kind. We were all brought together because you wanted them there, and they too have known what you are all along…"
Haruhi felt close to tears, for so long she wanted this. To find out the excitement of adventure, and have the world at her finger tips! But this…this was too much. Haruhi suddenly then felt angry and hurt, if this was all true then that means they were all lying and keeping this from her from the very beginning, and if all this was true, then that means…
"Kyon…" Haruhi whispered angrily before noticing that he hadn't responded or even looked at her yet. Suddenly she yelled, not even wincing from the pain, "Look at me!"
Kyon flinched, never seeing Haruhi so angry before, not even whenever she got extremely ticked off at him. But once he took a closer look at her, he noticed that she looked so…hurt.
"Get out Kyon! I don't want to see you again!"
Kyon looked at Haruhi in shock, trying to grasp why Haruhi was growing so angry all of a sudden, "But, Haruhi…I lov-"
"Shut up! Don't say it! If that's true, then it's only because I wanted you to! It's fake! It's not real! You can't possibly mean it!" Haruhi began to shake her head and scream uncontrollably until she quietly sobbed, "You-you don't really…"
Kyon stared shocked, never had seen Haruhi this way. He clenched his fists and got on the bed straddling her hips as he kissed her forcefully, only pulling back once Haruhi tried to bite his tongue, "Haruhi! I know I love you! How could I be a figment of your imagination if I was born before you! I'm not some image you brought up to manipulate! You have potential to change events Haruhi, but you cannot control them!"
Haruhi looked up terrified. She had never seen Kyon so angry before but she was all relieved at the same time, "Do…do you mean it..?"
Kyon smiled, and kissed her again before laying on the bed next to her as he held her close to him, "Yes Haruhi. I love you, because I know deep down that I couldn't go through a boring world without you there to enlighten it. Perhaps…it was not you who sent me to find you, but I was the one who chose to be with you."
Haruhi finally smiled, trying to get as close to him as possible without moving or hurting herself to much. And soon, they had both fallen asleep together, as the nurses giggled and 'awed' before pulling the curtain to not disturb them.
