A.N: The title is a reference to a lyric from a Bob Segar song. I thought it felt right for this chapter. Also, not a songfic.

Chapter 11: There I go…

If I can say any good thing from working out in the morning before going to school, it was that I didn't feel guilty or tired by the time the lunch bell rang. Alright, I never felt guilty before, just tired. The only thing of note that happened before I went to lunch in hopes to see Kunikada was Haruhi before the first period bell rang.

As soon as I entered homeroom I instantly noticed Haruhi, looking dead at me as if she could smell me walking in this direction. She could be an excellent tracker. I walked inside to meet her before my desk. I groaned, just get it out.

''If you want to say something, now's the time.''

''Alright I will. You can't talk to save your life. You always speak with that deadpan tone you always have. That doesn't excite anybody! You need to be exciting to pump a crowd!''

Isn't that your job?

''I can't always be the one to do it. Koizumi has it nailed! Even Mikuru has it nailed…''

Of course she does. Miss Asahina could walk into a room and excite everybody with her very presence.

''…but you either bored everyone to tears or made people laugh at your terrible speech! You need a fire under your butt!''

I can wrestle Koizumi to a 30 minute stand still almost daily, isn't that enough? With that stare, nothing was.

''Koizumi can talk AND wrestle, and if you can't talk how will I ever expect you to be able to pull off any promo work? It makes the Brigade look bad if you can't excite anyone.''

We're only a tag team, Haruhi. He can do the voice work and I can wrestle. No big deal. Besides, everyone knows that a manager is a mouthpiece; you do the promo work and we go out there and wrestle; Pure and simple. I don't think he will get much promo time anyways. With the way Haruhi would love to eat the front of the camera, I'll be lucky if any of us can get a syllable in.

''Whatever. But if you want to be better than what you are, you'd better learn to talk in front of a crowd!''

What better way than to do it in front of a live crowd?

/

Lunch time was a much more somber tone.

I still didn't see any Brigade member at all in the Cafeteria which made me wonder where they all go when the lunch bell rings. I assume Asahina goes out with Tsuruya, especially now since Kunikada is sitting here with me. Koizumi was probably talking to the Agency or milking his newfound playboy title. Nagato was very likely reading and Haruhi could be in her own little dimension, literally. That or prepping for our adventure across the country, making about fifty different deals at once.

I was preoccupied with a hungover Taniguchi and a more content Kunikada, to my surprise. Taniguchi's groans were so annoying; they were like cat's crying in a household neighborhood in the witching hour.

''Ahhhhh, why are you two chewing so loud!?''

Ignoring him hoping that he would stop isn't going to work this time. Kunikada answered him, irritated.

''You drank from what I could count five flask-fulls of sake and a flask of tequila. You deserve what you get.''

Cold but true. Kunikada being cold was something new.

''I'll never drink again.'' He said, burying his head into the table; closing his ears off from the rest of the world. That alone must've been too loud for him to contain. Use your mental fortitude; you must have some if you ever get slapped.

This also gave me an opportunity to see how Kuni is feeling.

''So Kunikada, how are you?''

He looked down at his food, then back up at me without the slightest pause.

''I'll be fine.''

''Are you sure? You seemed broken last night.''

His face contorted slightly, very slightly.

''Did you know she was going to leave for over a week now? A few days before I gain the courage to ask her out and she already agreed to leave with your Brigade to travel around the country. How do you think that made me feel when I heard that? ''

I was speechless. How could I guess to what he was feeling? My first guess could've been crappy, but crappy was how I felt whenever I had to walk up the hill every morning. This wasn't anywhere near crappy.

''Haruhi never told me that.''

''Of course she didn't. Apparently Tsuruya ran into her while looking for Mikuru and Haruhi asked her if she willing to travel and finance for a trip around the country. She happily obliges!''

His rant was very theatrical, flailing his arms everywhere while his voice was slowly increasing in volume. Taniguchi's moans were growing too and so were the number of eyes looking in our direction. I had to calm him down.

''Buddy, you need to relax. Think about this…''

''Sure, tell me to relax! Me! The one time I finally get someone's attention and this happens to me. I feel splendid! Meanwhile, Haruhi is free to…''

He was starting to cross a line. ''Don't bring Haruhi into this. You know better than anyone that I don't let her do everything she wants either. You're better than this!''

He started to relax himself. Good. ''Can we…can we continue this outside?'' He calmly asked me. Tired but calm and considering that everyone was looking at us, standing up in a way too personal conversation. Getting out of here was the best bet.

''Whenever you're ready.'' We both left to go to the rooftop of the school. We had to leave Taniguchi there. The last thing he needed to hear was more yelling, not in his condition. Served him right though.

Not a word was said until the door was closed on the roof and we stood up, Kunikada leaning against the barricade until friction took over and let him slowly drop.

''I'm sorry, man. I've been frustrated. I wanted to be with her and now that I am, it feels way too short.''

''I know. Did you talk to her about that recently?'' He nodded, slightly cracking a smile.

''Yeah. We were up for hours discussing it. She promised me she would stay and we could talk over Skype the entire time she was away.

She told me she decided to go was well, her folks run a strong business and they wanted to know if she was going to be good with her future inheritance. She was having some trouble until Miss Suzumiya came to her with an offer and you know how she gets.''

I will assume excited.

''It's going to be tough. I know it. I've gotten so used to seeing her every day that now the best I will get to see is her over a computer screen. ''

The technology age has done wonders for the world but it's still impersonal. You can't kiss a computer screen without feeling weird about it. That's just my opinion. My folks do the exact same thing. Only difference is that they've been together for a very long time.

''Japan's not a big place. She'll be back and forth. Don't worry, man.''

I went down to his level. ''Will you be able to say goodbye to her?''

He nodded, his smile getting wider. ''Yeah. I'm spending the night at her place actually the night before she leaves.''

''Then, make it count.'' I commanded him, pointing out that if this may be the last time you see her for a week ,a month, whatever! You'd better make it count and give her a reason to come back.

He shook my hand and brought himself back up.

''I will. Thanks.''

Wait, he's spending the night with her?! I would've normally said,'don't do anything stupid' but it's Kunikada. I don't think he will do anything stupider than his rant earlier.

/

Besides further training and some last minute homework, nothing different happened until I realized what overexerted meant to Nagato. Before the night, I told my Mother that I was going to stay at a friend's house that night. Of course, I had to tell them Koizumi. My Mother didn't have his number and he was a guy. I was all set to finish my basic training with Nagato.

During the training at the Gym, Haruhi couldn't even try to tell at me or Koizumi instead she spent most of her time with Asahina though I doubt it was for anything to do with fitness. Our match was once again a 30 minute draw and I was getting sick of it. I wanted a win, I needed a win over him. If he was going to learn how to talk, I was going to learn how to wrestle octagons around him!

The final two programs involved counters from every aspect and learning how to finish off your opponent. I could've learned that last one long ago.

''Are you ready? This may cause you to overexert yourself.''

I nodded, determined to finish this and be finally done with this.

One hour later, and I was finished. I was tried and tired as always but I was done.

''Congratulations, You are finished the basic performance program. ''

On that last word, I realized something different had happened than what normally occurred during the program: I was sweating. I stroke the sweat off my brow, to feel my forehead was burning like an average day in Hell. This wasn't normal but I didn't freak out…until I tried to move my left leg. I couldn't.

''Nag-Na…?'' I couldn't speak. My throat was too dry.

''You have overexerted yourself from the program. Your body is currently in a state of dehydration, overheating, and experiencing cramps in several parts of your body. Allow me to get you some water. ''

Hurry, please! I was a prisoner inside my own body. The only limbs I could move were my arms and I dared not dry to move my other leg. It could fall off or I could fall down and hit myself in the head. I'm not risking anything.

Eventually, Nagato returned with a two litre canteen of water and a funnel. Odd but good call.

''Your mouth may not be able to move so I will put this funnel in your mouth and pour the water into your throat. Be ready to swallow.''

I would've said, uh huh, if my tongue could still move.

''But first you must lie down, with this I can help you.''

She laid down the canteen and the funnel, and quickly laid me down to the hardwood floor. Great, I can still feel my back!

She poured the liquid down my throat through the funnel in a steady pace. It seemed slower than usual because of how she poured the liquid down so there was a strong chance she was manipulating the data in gravity to make sure I wouldn't choke on the liquid. Something like that I bet. I feel my throat and tongue were coming back to me, allowing me to speak again. I wish Haruhi would try this; it would be interesting.

''Now you need to rest. Once you wake up tomorrow, you will be back to normal but you will need to be asleep for longer than usual due to your exposure to the Program.'' She was kneeling above me, her hand on my collarbone. If I wasn't so distracted by my lack of everything, I would've noticed her intoxicating aroma and soft touch. Who knew Aliens smelled nice?

''H-how long?'' I could barely get the words out but they were coming out.

''14 hours; almost twice the amount of recommended human sleep.''

I'm going to miss what could be my last full day of school. I won't complain for now.

I'll never go less than 24 hours in the program ever again. I quiver to think what would happen if overindulged. My sister giving me a German Suplex could become more real, and horrible.

/

I finally woke up at 5:00 pm on the dot. I must've passed out while she was talking and she must've carried me to her bedroom. I don't think she…did she? No way, it's Nagato. Just in case, I checked my clothes and noticed they were as form fitting as they were before I left for her apartment. Alright, that's one more thought out of my head. I went outside and noticed a large plate of food on the table. There was a small note attached to the cushion:

''Eat this before you leave. See you at 7:00 pm

-Yuki''

It's food! I'm more than happy to oblige! I should overexert myself more often if I expect this kind of treatment.

/

Giving me two hours to get all my things ready and meet up with the Brigade was no easy chore, especially without a car or a bike. In retrospect, I should've brought the latter with me. I got home in about ten minutes and made sure I had all of the essentials with me: clothes, hygienics, title belt, laptop, what I'll need. It felt weird to leave my room, my house in such a quick manner. I was only 17 and technically I was already leaving home. Sure it was only temporarily but it will be a while. Most people don't leave home until they're about 19 or 20 but 17 was reserved for problem houses mostly. I can't say I couldn't wait and I can't say I'm happy about leaving. It felt sudden and exciting.

''Mom! Do I get Kyon's room?''

''No, sweetie, he's only leaving for a short time.''

Dear Sister, I could be gone for forty years and you still wouldn't get my room.

I gave my hugs to them both and began to walk my way to the meeting place; which was the parking lot in front of the Arena. It was an uninteresting good-bye, just the usual, we will miss you and all that but there was one sentence that stuck with me.

''I wish your Father could be here to see this.''

A cheesy line by my Mother, but a line that said to me that Dad would've been shocked to know that his son is in the wrestling business. I wouldn't be surprised if he already knew. This was one thing Mom couldn't keep from him, and she couldn't keep a secret to save her life. I did wish Dad was here to see this. I wish Dad was around a bit more. Work is work and I don't think he wanted this. The Goodbyes and the Goodbye dinner took a while of my time and the walk to the Arena took even longer.

I was barely able to make the RV in time and what an RV it was! It looked more like a Double Decker Bus except a bit wider at the top. I can only imagine what it looked like from the inside.

''Kyon!''

Yeah yeah, I know. Late, penalty, put it on Tsuruya's tab and get it over with.

Speaking of Tsuruya, I saw her and Kunikada hugging each other. I guess they finally got everything resolved. Good for them.

''I'll Skype you every night, Kuni.''

''I'll answer every night.''

Get a room, you two. I wouldn't say that out loud but please, didn't you two spend a whole night together?

''This is sweet.'' I never expected any less from Miss Asahina to say but then Haruhi opened her mouth.

''Yeah yeah, fine and good. Alright everyone! Get your bags loaded into the RV and climb aboard! We have our first official paid matches tomorrow and I want to have everyone prepared for it!''

One last kiss and Tsuruya left Kunikada for the RV and the inside of it was amazing! Besides the usual stuff at the front of the vehicle, the first floor (And I mean first floor) had a flat-screen television, a kitchen, couches, and a large circular table with leather circular chairs and a few desks behind the stairs while upstairs had three bunk beds almost nose-to-nose. That floor seemed crowded but the large desk in front of a large half-moon shaped window made up for it, just for the view. There was also a bathroom downstairs with a shower so I can imagine mornings are only going to be chaotic with six people.

''Alright people! Make yourselves at home since this will be for the next little while. Check the list for your driving schedules which will be in effect every four hours, give or take, and your bedding. We move in five minutes!''

Beaming as ever with that million watt smile, she took Koizumi to the front of the RV to talk to him. It appeared that he was the first on driving duty for today. Nagato took a corner to read and Asahina was comforting Tsuruya. If we have five minutes, why can't Kunikada see his girlfriend for a bit longer? As we left, I noticed Tsuruya was waving good-bye to her short-time lover. I couldn't see him, but I knew he wouldn't be the same. She turned to hug Asahina as soon as he was out of a view. I left the two of them alone. I know it means nothing now since you'll never know in the near future but I'll add Tsuruya to my priority list, right next to Asahina's well-being.

I vaguely remembered that Koizumi was talking about certain accommodations before we were called into the spotlight. Bedding?

I went upstairs to look at the beds. This place was even small with everyone's bags in front of the window. I can still but it could've been worse. Each bed had A which represented the top bunk and B which represented the bottom. Each signature was written in black marker on a small note obviously written by either Haruhi or Koizumi; hers was too messy and his was too neat. A had the following names left-to-right:

''ME! (Haruhi, I assumed) – Tsuruya!- I (Koizumi)''

On the bottom wrote:

''Kyon-Mikuru(There was a heart right next to her name to the left, next to the M)-YUKI(The Enforcer was written as little as possible under her name)''

So Tsuruya sleeps above Asahina, Koizumi above Nagato, and Haruhi…above…me. I gulped. Koizumi what else do you have planned for me?

''YAHOO!''

This was gonna be a long trip.

/

A.N: Two for one because I was gonna send in one Friday but I was exhausted so I only finished half of it before the sheep took me away. Little good that did because I was up for another few hours.

Review, give constructive critique, and don't forget to vote on a poll about Koizumi's finishing move! If you have a different idea, PM me and I'll ponder on it!

Until then, good night and good luck!