Green is the Colour of Hope, and Disbelief
Mugi: Konnichiwa, Minna! Sorry for the lack of updates, I was on holiday. :D
Crystal: It rained D:
Mugi: But it was still fun. I'm happy with this chapter and are also happy to announce this fic is almost over! Only 3 or 4 chapters to go!
Crystal: And you're happy because...
Mugi: Because I have a load of ideas for other, less complicated fanfics I want to get started on!
Crystal: Why don't you just put this story on hiatus?
Mugi: I always finish my fanfics and never start another until I'm done. I'm not giving up on this Fic!
Crystal: But you're Mikuru one, and the Closed Space-
Mugi: Both one-shots! They don't count!
Crystal: But-
Mugi: THEY DON'T COUNT! Just shut it and do the disclaimer!
Crystal: We own nothing. Nothing but the clothes on our backs.
Mugi: We're not Hobo's!
"K-Kyon-k-kun!"
I stormed away, mind on fire.
What the hell was he playing at? Why on earth did he go confess his love to Asahina-san of all people? I mean, he's surrounded by girls. Why ask out the only one he can't go out with? And now he's made Asahina-san upset having to reject him.
Man, I just want to punch his face in!
Asahina-san grabbed my arm and pulled me round to face her.
"Kyon-kun! How could you do that! K-Koizum-mi-kun was just asking a s-simple question! Please Kyon-kun! Don't be m-m-mad!"
Her eyes shone with unshed tears as she choked out her words. I tugged my sleave out of her grasp and headed out into the yard.
Don't ask me why I went in the yard. I guess I needed some time to cool off.
"For God's freaking sake! What the hell is wrong with that guy!"
"Yaaah!"
Sudden presure on my feet caused me to look down into Real-World Nagato's face.
"N-Nagato! Sorry, I didn't see you. I didn't mean to suprise you!"
Shaking slightly and brushing herself off, she grasped onto my arm for support.
"Sorry."
She sat back down on the small wall and looked up into the sky. I followed her gaze.
"Whoa!"
The sky was illuminated with millions of tiny, twinkling stars.
"Now I can see why you're out here."
Nagato made a sound of approval.
After a few minutes of stargazing, she asked, "Why were you so angry before?"
Her face showed actual concern, so much unlike my Nagato. Her eyes shone in the moonlight, so shiny and anxious... I felt like I had seen this before, in a memory... or a dream...
"Whoa!"
Nagato gave me a confused glance and said, "A-are you alright?"
I grasped my head in my hands. That was strange- I just felt like I had seen that before.
"Deja vu," I mumbled, giving her a reasuring smile.
"Thats good. I was worried."
And then she smiled back. It wasn't the biggest smile in the world, but a beautiful smile that, I'm sure, could make the toughest man in Japan melt like a marshmellow.
I stared at her for a long time, taking in her breath-taking beauty. Now if only my Nagato would smile like that. With that, I glanced at my watch, swore in suprise and kidnapped Sara before running out of the door with a "Thanks for the food!" for Asahina-san and Koizumi, although I doubt they could hear me.
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He knows. I don't know how he knows but he knows.
I guess it's up to me to step in.
28Y0=72&L%_Su2U^^1yA.
What a foolish girl.
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Needless to say, Koizumi didn't come to school the next day. He may have died of embarrasment. Or he may have been forced through The Glass, into the other world, forced to face Suzumiya, Asakura and their minions, in a maid outfit with only an Othello board to defend himself (my plan).
Either way, Koizumi would have died, so decided to stay home.
Sitting in my classroom, at my desk, in the blistering heat, with Haruhi snoring slightly behind me was not the way I wanted to spend my lunch. So I decided to go eat in the clubroom. Nagato would be there and maybe Asahina-san. And I could have some tea. Yum.
Walking past the cafe, I spotted Tsuruya-san and Asahina-san eating bentos. Asahina-san happened to look my way, her eyes widened and she looked away again.
Damn, I shouldn't have yelled at her.
Sighing, I walked over to the vending machine to get myself a drink.
For some reason, I felt really bored. I wish I could create Closed Space. Hehe, Koizumi would be running around for days.
Bent down and reaching into the vending machine to retrieve her prize was a very familiar person.
Emiri Kimidori.
I wouldn't say she was one of my closest friends, but we said hi to each other in the corridors and sometimes stopped to chat on the way home.
"Kimidori-san!"
She looked up in suprise and then smiled.
"Kyon-kun, how are you today?"
"I'm fine thanks. Hey, do you have any plans for lunch? Are you eating with anyone?"
She shook her head.
"I am not. Why do you ask?"
"Um, would you like to have lunch with me?"
"Um, okay."
And that's how I ended up sitting with a smart, beautiful, B+ girl for lunch alone together. Not that I'm interested in her in that way, I'd just thought I'd point out that Taniguchi would practically explode with jealousy if he found out.
There was an akward silence, avoiding each others gaze; the only sound was that of muching on our pickled vegetables and rice.
"Sorry I made you sit with me," I blurted out at last, "You probably wanted to sit with your friends."
Kimidori-san looked up from her food and shook her head.
"No. It is alright. I actually do have something I need to talk to you about."
Well, why didn't you talk to me, instead of creating this really tense atmosphere!?
She sat there for a few seconds, taking deep breaths, before murmuring, "How should I say this...?"
Finally, she looked me straight in the eyes and said, "I know about Sara Suzumiya."
My eyes widened. I know there were many people involved, but now Kimidori-san aswell? This was crazy!
"I work undercover in Suzumiya-sama's Organisation. I have been tracking him and reporting back to Nagato-san, at her request. It seems she felt not knowing would put Haruhi Suzumiya and, you, in danger. She also requested I not tell you, but..."
She grasped her hair with her fists and said loudly, "But I had to tell you! I had to tell you about the file, it may be our only hope, if we are to keep this world safe, Asahina-san's in trouble, but a TPDD would, it would ruin everything-"
Wait wait wait.
What?
"Hold on," I said, grasping her wrist, "What are you talking about? How do you know about Asahina-san and this weird file and what was that about a TPDD?"
She took a deep breath and shook her head.
"I'm sorry. I guess I was rambling nonsense. But where to start..."
"Well, you could start by telling me how you knew Asahina-san was in trouble."
She nodded. "Because I work undercover over there. I was with Suzumiya-san in his office when he was talking to Asahina-san, right before he went to confront you. He said, "I have a favour to ask of you." Then he grabbed her hand and snapped this braclet onto her wrist."
She held her hand out to me and I took it. On her wrist was a simple, silver braclet.
"Why did he give you and Asahina-san braclets?"
"It is the way he keeps all the Humanoid Interfaces under control. One push of a button and he can send electric currents through the braclet and shock us."
I stared. Sounded like something out of a really bad spy novel or cheesy manga.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously. Asahina-san regonised it and tried to slip it off, but she could not. Suzumiya-sama then said, "Give me what I want and I'll let you and your friends go." But of course, she did not."
My blood was starting to boil.
"She told him he would never have one and he got angry. He pressed the button to activate the braclet repetedly for two minutes. When she did not give up, he ordered Asakura-san to kill you."
That was my breaking point.
"No way! How dare he do that to Asahina-san! Why does he want a TPDD so much anyway? And why does Asahina-san go to such lengths to keep them from him? I swear I am going to kill him!"
Kimidori-san looked shocked.
"Kyon-kun! Sit down and do not shout so loudly! People will hear you!"
"I don't care if anyone hears me! You hear this everyone!? I'M TORTURING ASAHINA-SAN IN ANOTHER WORLD!"
The instant those words left my mouth, I regretted them dearly. Thirty eyes turned toward me, some looking worried, some freaked out, others angry.
I felt my face burn and I sat down. Kimidori-san had her hands over her mouth, silver braclet glinting in the mid-April sun.
"Kyon-kun..."
"I know, I know. Sorry."
Kimidori-san lowered her hands and continued.
"Well anyway, he went out to kill you to force Asahina-san to give in. And when Koizumi-san appeared, he knew he could win her over. Why else do you think he went after his best friend?"
"Hold on, what?"
"Oh, of course, you wouldn't know. I don't know much about time-travel... would it be classified to tell you? Well I'm guessing you would find out anyway... Asahina-san and Koizumi-san have been seeing each other for over a year now. However, there is a twist."
Hold on, I'm still trying not to imagine that smug bastard getting it on with my precious Asahina-san.
"Asakura-san is in love with Koizumi-san."
WHAT THE HELL!?!?!?
"Kimidori-san, you're not screwing with me, are you?"
"I am not. Do you really think you could have survived Asakura-san if Koizumi-san had not appeared? She missed you deliberatly."
This is confusing. First there is people who aren't who they're supposed to be and people that don't exist and people who are meant to be dead and people from the future and now... everyone's in love with everyone. This doesn't make sense.
"I really don't understand where this is going, but continue."
"Well, I have no proof, but I feel that Asahina-san is probably starting to cave in. She hasn't seen you in a few days and knowing Asakura-san, she probably believes you're dead."
"Wait, she's from the future, so she knows what happens to me, right?"
"Asakura-san is not from this world. She can change the future of this world, even cause paradox's if she wants to and she will not be harmed. Asahina-san may believe she has already done so."
"But if Asakura changed the future, wouldn't Asahina-san... I don't know... disappear or something?"
"She would be in another world. She would not be affected. Her younger self could be killed by Asakura-san and her older self would live on. However, this is a complicated matter which cannot really be explained well, and you would not understand anyways."
I facepalmed. Seriously, my life is so confusing!
"Okay, okay, why does Suzumiya want a TPDD so much?"
"I do not know."
Well that was simple.
"Really?"
"Yes. His intentions are unknown. However, I can say with confidence that he probably plans to go back in time and change things. He would hide away his sister before she got kidnapped. He would save his wife before she died. He would stop sliders before they attack and know their every move."
"Wouldn't that cause the future to change?"
"Yes."
"Does he know this?"
"I do not think so."
"I see."
Strangely similar to conversations I've had with Nagato before.
"Um, and what was this about a file?"
"Oh yes. Well you see, when Sara was young, I-"
Briiiiiiiiiiiiiing!
Kimidori-san stopped mid-sentence.
"That is the school bell. We must continue this conversation another time. Kyon-kun, would it be possible for me to speak to Sara?"
I stood up from the table and packed my half eaten bento away.
"Sure, if you don't mind waiting around while I'm at the Brigade meeting, you can come back to my place."
Kimidori-san smiled up at me.
"Thank you, Kyon-kun."
With that, she turned away from me and began to walk toward the other side of the school.
I sighed and threw away my empty soda can.
I'm so used to having such a crazy life, but this has to be the craziest thing that has happened to me so far.
"Kyon!"
I turned around, and annoyingly saw Taniguchi sprinting toward me, Kunikida in tow.
"Kyon! I can't believe you just asked that Kimidori girl out! I mean, I didn't know you even knew her name! How do you get girls so easily?"
Damn you, Taniguchi.
"It's not what you think. She's just helping with homework-"
"Ahhh. A study date!"
I need to think up some better excuses.
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Waking over to the clubroom, I couldn't help but feel something was wrong.
Okay, I know a lot of things are wrong at the moment, but I had a feeling something was wrong with Haruhi. She'd slept through the morning classes. She hadn't turned up for afternoon classes. I hadn't even seen her eat lunch.
I should have woken her up.
I knocked on the door of the Literary Clubroom, but hearing no pitiful screams from Asahina-san, I opened the door and stepped inside.
At first, I thought the room was empty. There was no maid preparing tea, no smiling creep with a deck of cards or a board game (although today I hadn't expected it), no hyperactive Brigade leader. I'd have thought Nagato would have been here, but even the sound of pages being turned was missing from the clubroom.
Was Brigade meeting cancelled and Haruhi hadn't bothered to tell me? Not even a note on the door?
I began to walk toward the door, silently cursing Haruhi in my mind, when-
"Kyonnn~"
What the hell???
Spinning round to see who had spoken to me, I gave the room a once over. Nobody was here.
"Y-Yuki~?"
Okay, this was strange. I looked around the corner, behind the bookshelf, the only places I couldn't see from the doorway. Nothing.
"It's not my fault~"
I was starting to get really freaked out.
"Sor-rry, Mikuuuru-chan~"
Then I realized. I rushed over to the computer. Sitting in the chair with her head on the keyboard was Haruhi.
I held my breath. I really didn't want to wake up a sleeping Haruhi. No doubt, she wasn't a happy person if she was woken up.
I glanced at the screen. A search engine. What was she searching?
I hastily clicked on History and chose Today. Two links appeared.
I clicked on the first one.
.com
A cosplay website. Looking for outfits for Asahina-san to wear, obviously.
The next link was back to a search on that search engine she had been on.
I clicked on it.
Instantly a list of websites appeared. Most of them were for random things, such as online shopping and car insurance. However, in the search engine bar, Haruhi had typed 'TPDD'.
I stared at the screen. Did Haruhi know about TPDD's? At least the search hadn't come up with anything important. But how had she known?
"What are you doing?"
Crap.
I looked down to see I was leaning over Haruhi, her eyes staring up into mine. They looked like they were on fire.
"You nosey jerk!"
I'm screwed.
"How dare you look at my personal things!"
She sat up suddenly, smacking me in the face with her ribbon-adorned head. She closed down the Internet.
"You better not have done anything perverted!"
You don't have to worry about that.
Trying to direct the topic off me being a pervert, I asked, "Where are the others."
"Mikuru-chan's got cleaning duty, Yuki's at the Computer Research Society today and Koizumi-kun's ill."
She pouted.
"You'd better not have any plans today Kyon, because it's going to take longer to look for aliens and espers with just the three of us. And we've still got to wait for Mikuru-chan!"
"Haruhi, what's a TPDD?"
Haruhi looked at me like I was retarded.
"Kyon, are you an idiot?"
"You were the one who typed it in!"
"I never! My head must have done it while I was asle- resting."
No way. There is no way that was a coicidence.
"Did you hear Asahina-san talking about it?"
"No. Kyon, do you have any idea what a TPDD is?"
"Umm... no."
"Then shut up."
Just then I remembered Kimidori-san.
"Damn, Kimidori!"
"Green*? What are you talking about, Kyon? What does green have to do with anything? You know what, Mikuru and I will go by ourselves, we don't want to catch your stupidity."
With that she pouted and stormed off toward what I thought was probably the second year classrooms.
"And don't think you won't have to work extra hard once you've finished therepy!"
I know.
I made my way toward the library, where I promised to meet Kimidori-san after school. I found her reading a thick Nagato book, turning each page every few seconds. Well, she is a Data Entity, so no suprise there.
"Kimidori-san. We can leave now."
She looked up at me with beautiful eyes, slotted her book back into place and nodded.
Walking out of the school gates, I couldn't help but notice how petite and graceful she was. Did the Intergrated Thought Entity make all their Interfaces beautiful?
"Kimidori-san, you were going to say something to me before. What is this file?"
Kimidori-san sighed and looked at the sky dramatically.
"It is a hope, and hopefully, a saviour."
*For those of you who don't know (although you probably do) Kimidori, in Japanese, means green.
Mugi: Wow, fitted in two characters in one chapter! Sorry for all the explainy stuff again, I think this Fanfic lives on explainy stuff. And thanks to Emiri showing up, I have officially included every character from the series!
Crystal: What about Keiichi? Yutaka? Mori? Arakawa? Shaimasen? Haruhi-world Asakura? You have failed, Muges.
Mugi: Fine, every MAIN character, in some form. Hehe, Koizumi's gone into depression.
Crystal: Never thought I'd see the day. Lack of espers in this fic makes me sad.
Mugi: Ah well. Haruhi had a big part in this chapter, for all you Haruhi deprived people. I realised she has had the average total of 4 lines in the rest of the fic. Anyway, I'm going to shut up now and do my English Coursework T__________T
Crystal: Bye Bye!