Chapter 14 – The Rage of Haruhi Suzumiya
A storm unlike any other that I had witnessed before was now discharging all about Makoto, Nanami, and I as we crawled out of the Coruscate Caverns, with the Bekyo plant with us. At the apex of this storm lay the Bugrom Empire, with its Supreme Commander now dead after making the ultimate sacrifice for the Bugrom Queen, which in turn had left her in a decidedly unbalanced mental state.
As Itsuki Koizumi had made clear to me many times before, Haruhi Suzumiya falling into a lack of mental stability is a harbinger of very unwelcome news for the world as a whole. The only difference this time is that the world being affected is not Earth, but rather El Hazard.
El Hazard, on a planetary level, had now been plunged into consummate chaos. Closed spaces had begun appearing all over El Hazard, causing deep fissures to form in the crust of El Hazard's surface, which meant severe earthquakes in diverse locales for El Hazard. Also appearing all over El Hazard were severe weather anomalies…
"Lord Galus!" exclaimed the Shadow Tribe scientist charged with monitoring weather conditions throughout El Hazard, "Acute thunderstorms, complete with caustic rain, are suddenly occurring in… the northern most portion of Dorasland, the western most portion of Roshtaria, within a two hundred cubic secordia region just a couple hundred secordias south of the latest Bugrom fortress, and… my word, there's not a signal country or notable region throughout the entire planet that isn't now suffering from thunderstorms!"
"Sire!" exclaimed a second Shadow Tribe scientist; one charged with monitoring the planet's tectonic plates for any possible seismic activity, "We have at least five major earthquakes to report! We have earthquakes measuring 5.1, 5.8, 6.4, 7.1, and 7.7 all on the Brodeur scale! Two of these five are within bodies of water, and hence may lead to tsunamis!"
El Hazard's Brodeur scale is a slightly higher measurement than the Earth's Richter scale, but otherwise the two operate the same.
"It's obvious that these are not merely highly unusual yet natural meteorological conditions or weather phenomena, Lord Galus" stated Fausto, "They correlate considerably well with the precipitous sharp rise in almost all of Haruhi Suzumiya's vital signs. She is precariously close to a state of medical shock, sire."
"My… Katsuhiko Jinnai has certainly come to mean a great deal to her, hasn't he?" asked Galus with a bemused grin, and in response to these words, "If I had suspected that sooner, I would have simply had him ordered killed while within her presence. Still… that's beside the point. My gamble has paid off!"
"Gamble, sire?" asked Fausto, a bit taken aback by Galus' statement here.
"Educated guess would be a better term, on second thought, Fausto" stated Galus, "It stands to reason that if Haruhi Suzumiya can activate her vast creative and reality altering powers out of mere whimsical desires that she ought to be able to do so with her very life in jeopardy. Even if Jinnai had not taken that blast for her, and she had been struck down by it, the brief moment of life she'd have before dying would likely see her unleash the penultimate pandemonium much like what she has so blessed us with now."
"I… see, sire" responded Fausto, finding Galus' rationale a bit esoteric here, "In any event, sire, Yuki Nagato has not taken any additional shots at Haruhi. Given Jinnai's unexpected involvement, she ceased her attacks, as she wasn't sure if that unexpected involvement would require a reconfiguring of your plans, Galus. That is what she is telling me through my link-up with her, anyway, sire."
"A convenient yet plausible excuse on Yuki Nagato's part designed purely to stall for time" stated Galus in turn, "But I have been a patient man long enough. With the final act in full bloom before us right now, it is time to now bring down the final curtain! Order Yuki Nagato to fire once more on Haruhi Suzumiya!"
"As you command, Lord Galus!" shouted Fausto in reply.
Haruhi had never been more melancholic than she was right now. For years she had hoped to find an unordinary person who was at the center of exceptional activity and circumstances. Given his charismatic command of an entire alien empire, and Haruhi's awareness of that fact, Katsuhiko Jinnai had become that person for her. His quick adapting to Haruhi's presence in his life, as well as his genuine kindness towards her, had turned an unwrapped fascination into an incredibly unexpected gift of romance. Haruhi had held that love was a mental disease; in spite of her recent decision to dispense with that previous position, it was now appearing to hold true…
"W-why has this happened?!" she asked, of nobody in particular, in a high pitch heavyhearted voice as tears seeped down her cheeks like rapidly falling droplets of dew off of tree leaves, "Who would want to do this to me?"
Alas, many people now would, Haruhi, particularly given the restoration of your bugrom features…
"T-the Bugrom Queen herself!" exclaimed the lead runner in a group of five Florestica night patrol guards in loud whisper to his four brothers in arms, as they raced towards her from an adjoining street, with Haruhi and Mikuru's earlier shouts having been impossible for them to ignore.
All five began to point their electrocution rifles at Haruhi, expecting to earn for themselves much honor and glory from Princess Rune Venus and Roshtaria as a whole, for this monumental capture or kill. Haruhi was too engulfed within disbelieving grief to even take notice of how she had gone from Nagato's frying pan and likely into the fire of the rifles of the Roshtarian guards. Groucho was trying desperately to calm the screeching Mikuru while attempting to contain his own emotions, hence his attention was not on the Roshtarian guards either.
"Who is she holding?" whispered a curious second guard to the lead runner who had been the first to take notice of her.
"Hhhmmm…" answered the lead runner, as he peered around and attempted to size up the face of young man currently held in Haruhi's arms, "He looks like an older worker… wait, no… those facial features! T-that's the notorious Katsuhiko Jinnai!"
"What luck! What fortune!" exclaimed a third guard, "The Bugrom Queen and the top Bugrom General both in one night! Tonight we sever the entire head of the Bugrom Empire! Tonight we send that oppressive empire back to the grave! For the Preservation of Roshtaria!!!"
"For the Preservation of Roshtaria!!!" the other four patrol guards shouted, as all were about to electrocute Haruhi right on the spot.
Oddly enough, Yuki Nagato would be the one to stop them.
"Begone" she stated to them, as she caused a small and localized, but intensely powerful, gust of wind to blow the five screaming guards aside, "This is not Roshtaria's concern. This is my concern."
This was not something that Haruhi, Groucho, or Mikuru could fail to notice, however…
"Y-Yuki" stated Haruhi, not sure if she should believe that this was really Yuki after the trap that she had earlier fallen into, "Is that really you, Yuki?!"
"Get away from my Queen, you traitorous butcher!" exclaimed an enraged Groucho at Yuki Nagato, as he had seen how she had been the one to shoot the blast at Haruhi, "I will avenge the death of my best friend, the great Katsuhiko Jinnai!"
Groucho leapt at Yuki with all of his might… but unfortunately for the noble, in his own way, bugrom soldier, he was easily knocked aside by one nimble crescent swipe of Nagato's energized key staff.
Haruhi was stunned by Groucho's words. She wondered what he had meant by them. Did he mean that Yuki Nagato had actually been the person to try to kill her, but instead striking down Katsuhiko?
"I-is what Groucho saying correct, Yuki?" asked Haruhi, "Were you actually the one to attack me, and hurt Katsuhiko?!"
"I have not yet come to fully understand bugrom" began Yuki in answer, "As such I do not know what the bugrom called Groucho said to you. However, I will confirm that, yes, Haruhi Suzumiya, I am the one to attack you, and hence indirectly maim Katsuhiko Jinnai severely."
"Why, Yuki… why?!", screamed Haruhi Suzumiya in loud questioning discordance, and with such force that saliva spurted out of her mouth while tears continued to stream down her cheeks, "Why would you try to hurt me like that?!"
"I am not allowed to answer that question, Haruhi Suzumiya" answered Yuki Nagato, as she pointed her key staff at Haruhi, at point blank range, and began charging it up for another blast, "…Goodbye, my former friend."
Haruhi's afflicted sense of shocking and supreme personal loss had been the catalyst to her unknowingly unleashing environmental horrors all over El Hazard. However, until now, her emotions were an intoxicating mixture of unfocused anger and miserable bereavement. With Yuki's revelation to Haruhi, though, that had changed. Haruhi now had a vehement rage precisely pinpointed on Yuki Nagato. Haruhi's pupils flashed a bright and foreboding red, while her mouth made an almost animalistic sneer. She was about to conscientiously lash out violently, just as Galus had wanted. Was this the end of El Hazard?!
Some say that in emergency situations the most unlikely of saviors will rise to the occasion. Some say that it is often the meek and mild, businesslike person who frequently goes unnoticed that will spring into action during such a crisis, leaving others astounded by the sight. The girl in the club room that is submissive. The girl that nobody suspects of inner courage and zeal…
"Mi-Mi-Mikuru Beam!!!" shouted Mikuru Asahina, as a bright pink, wide angle, photonic blast of vibrating energy shot forward out of her right eye, and directly against the front of Yuki Nagato!
Yuki Nagato was sent shooting backwards with explosive velocity, crashing through three small Florestica houses, before knocking up against the city walls of Florestica! She had left broken boards, shattered windows, crumbled and exposed bluish house insulation, and billowing dust and debris, in her wake. Yuki's face betrayed no pain, but her arms and legs did writhe considerably as she rose to her feet.
"Don't give up, Haruhi!" exclaimed Mikuru, as she bid forth every iota of courage and confidence that she had within her buxom breasts, and began to move and pose like the magical girls that she had enjoyed watching in animated shows when she had been younger, "Don't submit to the vile traps that have been set for you! Believe in Yuki, believe in me, believe in yourself, and believe in Katsuhiko! Believe with all of your heart that he will be alive at the end of this day and he will be! N-now… I will stop Yuki from hurting you while I try to save her from whatever is causing her to act this way! You and Katsuhiko get to safety!"
"Mi-Mikuru!" shouted Haruhi Suzumiya, rendered almost speechless, yet also deeply touched, by Mikuru's shocking heroics here.
The sight of a Mikuru Beam, given that the last time it had been seen was due to a deliberate wish on Haruhi's part, coupled with Mikuru's stirring words, gave Haruhi renewed belief and hope! Closing her eyes tightly, Haruhi did as Mikuru had instructed. She believed with all of her heart that Katsuhiko Jinnai would live once more! And…
"…Gggaaahhh…!!!" hawked Jinnai, as he coughed up blood.
Katsuhiko Jinnai's punctured heart had been miraculously made whole again. His internal bleeding had also ceased, while new blood simply appeared in his body replacing the great amounts previously lost. With Jinnai's literal heart restored, Haruhi's figurative heart would be mended as well.
"Katsuhiko!" cried Haruhi, as she smiled widely, and as tears of joy now poured forth from her eyes, "Y-you're alive! Thank goodness… you're alive!!!"
"Re…" Jinnai began in hoarse statement, "…treat!!! We… must get… out of… here! I'm still… bleeding, damn it! Tofu… get me… to Dr. … Tofu!"
"Yes, of course!" replied Haruhi, "I'm not going to let you die on me, Katsuhiko!"
"..Uuunnnnhhhh" groaned Groucho, finally coming too from Nagato's earlier attack against him, "W-wait up for me, my Queen!"
Haruhi greatly enlarged her bugrom wings. She also changed the shape of her right hand into that of an elongated snake, and used it to wrap it around Jinnai's open wound, applying both secure pressure and a makeshift seal of sorts to the wound. It would later leave Haruhi's right hand stained with a lot of blood, but it would also serve to cut off Jinnai's bleeding.
"Try to hold your breath!" shouted Haruhi to Jinnai, as she leapt into the air, and vertically ascended with breathtaking soaring speed!
Groucho leapt after his Queen and Supreme Commander as well as he could.
Before becoming entangled within Galus' little fiasco, Katsuhiko Jinnai had seen to it that a small Bugrom support team was set up just outside of Florestica. This support included one of the relatively few bugrom medic members. After Jinnai's addition to the Bugrom Empire, then Queen Diva felt that it was important to have at least a couple of Bugrom medic members trained in applying medical aid to humans. Haruhi's ascension to the Bugrom throne had made such bugrom medic members knowledgeable in human anatomy that much more important. As such, with Jinnai and Haruhi both on this mission to retrieve Koizumi, the bugrom Dr. Tofu was part of the support team situated just outside of Florestica. Haruhi now attempted to fly Jinnai to this Dr. Tofu as quickly as possible. Thankfully, the fulminating fight between Mikuru Asahina and Yuki Nagato had provided a useful distraction to Haruhi in that endeavor.
"Ahhh… ahhh… ahhhh!" shouted Mikuru, as she shot three brightly colored narrow bolts of energy at Yuki Nagato, as Yuki methodically walked towards her, deflecting each blast aside with a casual swinging of her key staff.
"Your initial Mikuru Beam was highly impressive" stated Yuki Nagato, "I even will say that I am not able to copy that attack. Regardless, these smaller blasts are entirely ineffectual against me. You will need stronger blasts than them if you hope to subdue me, Mikuru Asahina."
"You say that as though you want me to subdue you, Yuki!" shouted Mikuru in turn.
"I… make no comment on your observation" replied Yuki, as she began to point her key staff directly at Mikuru, "I will reveal, though, that seeing Haruhi Suzumiya take upon herself the form and features of Ryoko Asakura has further restored my memory data banks by approximately 7.895341 percent. I… now hold a clearer sense of the person I used to be. The incongruence between the person I once was and the person that I am now is discomposing."
"Then stop being like the person that you are now!" exclaimed Mikuru in turn, "It's not too late to be the Yuki Nagato that Haruhi and I both consider a dear friend!"
"That…" began Yuki Nagato, as she began to engage in rapid fire blasts of white pulsating energy at Mikuru, "…is where you are…", resulting in Mikuru screaming in dissonance while thrown about violently by the blasts, failing to dodge them outright, "…wrong, Mikuru".
Mikuru landed face first unto the ground. Yuki Nagato than aimed her key staff directly at Mikuru's head, angling at it from above.
"I am not ordered to kill you, Mikuru" stated Yuki, "I give you an opportunity to extradite yourself from our struggle, and remove yourself from my assigned path. I would advise you to take advantage of that opportunity. I… would be pleased if you took it, as it would allow me to conserve energy for actual objectives."
"I-I'm not going to be scared anymore!" shouted a deviant Mikuru in turn, quickly moving to her feet, while Yuki adjusted her key staff to match Mikuru's movements, "I'm not running away from my battles! You and I are both supposed to closely monitor Haruhi Suzumiya, and ensure that she maintains sound emotional well being! That is your initial function, Yuki; given to you by the integrated data entity!"
Yuki Nagato was slightly taken aback at further mention of the integrated data entity. More to the point, however, was how Yuki Nagato felt that she may have encountered a most useful programming loophole. Presuming that Mikuru was telling her the truth, then was it possible that Yuki had a function; had a primary objective; that superseded the stated desires of the key staff holder?
"I… now am 98.97 percent certain that the integrated data entity is a being that is part of existence and not merely a fictional creation foisted upon me by those who wish to impede the goals of the master of the key staff" stated Yuki Nagato, "Regardless, unless I can regain connectivity with this integrated data entity, the goals of the master of the key staff must take precedence. Hence…"
Yuki Nagato swung her key staff hard and fast at Mikuru's head, attempting to knock her out cold. Amazingly, Mikuru managed to dodge this attack, and…
"Mikuru Beam!!!" shouted Mikuru Asahina, as a bright pink, wide angle, photonic blast of vibrating energy shot forward out of her right eye, and directly against the side of Yuki Nagato.
This second Mikuru Beam had not sent Yuki Nagato flying, but it had left her markedly damaged.
"Lord Galus" stated Fausto, watching the battle between Yuki Nagato and Mikuru Asahina from afar, "Yuki Nagato has been severely damaged by the impacts of the two Mikuru Beams. It's not as localized as was the case when Masamichi Fujisawa dealt injurious blows to her, but it's still cause for concern, my liege."
"Sigh" responded Lord Galus, setting into his large spacious chair in a very languishing fashion, "Then my plans have been undone this day given this vexatious turn of events. However, at least we now have confirmation of what Haruhi Suzumiya's powers can do on an environmental level. Such information should prove useful in formulating a contingency plan. Have both Yuki Nagato, and Nahato, pull back here to our Shadow Tribe headquarters!"
"Yes, sire!" exclaimed Fausto in turn, before making those orders known to both Yuki Nagato and Nahato.
With that, Yuki Nagato quickly took flight, leaving Mikuru behind to futilely call out to her. Nahato, in turn, found it easy to exit Florestica given the commotion all about it at this late hour. Londs and his elite forces scurried all about Florestica, looking for the cause of the commotion within the city gates, but they were too far from the source of it to find it before Nagato had taken her leave. Furthermore, Princess Rune Venus and Dr. Schtalubaugh were distracted both by disastrous weather reports that Schtalubaugh was picking up as well as by Nanami and I delivering the Bekyo plant to them! Meanwhile, Makoto had decided to break off from Nanami and I to see what could be causing such an incredible raucous around the streets and town houses within Florestica. Lastly, Sensei Fujisawa, Princess Fatora, and the Three Priestesses were only a couple hours away from returning to Florestica.
"T-this burning rain is horrific!" screamed a highly displeased Fatora, as the Haruhi caused abnormal weather conditions were vexing her considerably, "It's starting to ruin my lavish and luxurious long flowing gown!"
"Well, Princess, if you would just sit underneath the shading provided by the sails of the Camerock…" stated Sensei Fujisawa in reply.
"Never!" exclaimed Fatora in reply, "I've spent more than enough time in dingy shadows! Beyond that, I've been repeatedly groped against my wishes by icky bugrom arms! I now desire to experience full fresh freedom!"
"Sigh" stated Shayla Shayla, "Man, you can be a hard one to please some time! Aren't you at least glad that we saved your sorry butt?!"
"How dare you address me in such an uncouth manner!" shouted Fatora in turn.
"Given your choice of past times, Princess, I'm… not altogether certain that you're in a position to talk about what's uncouth or not" stated Afura Mann in smiling and teasing reply, "Listen… try to calm down. We're almost back in Florestica, Ok? Once we get back, I'll do my best to determine what's causing this bizarre weather!"
"I will do that as well" added in Miz Mishtal, "To see water in this acidic and burning form is disgusting and offensive! Such pollution should never soil El Hazard!"
"I agree, Miz" stated Sensei Fujisawa, "El Hazard is relatively free of pollution compared to Earth, and I'd like to keep it that way!"
"That's a good point, Masamichi…" responded Miz Mishtal, "You told me about the massive factories and manufacturing plants on your world which emit vast amounts of dangerous gases. While such buildings exist on El Hazard, they are few and far between! Hence… where could pollution like this acidic caustic rain come from?"
"I think that it's more than just normal pollution" answered Shayla Shayla, "This weather… it doesn't even feel natural to me, or the byproduct of normal human consumption. There's something very strange causing it!"
Not some thing very strange, Shayla Shayla; but rather some one. That same sone one was about have an influential discussion with Katsuhiko Jinnai…
"How is he?" asked Haruhi of Dr. Tofu just outside of an improvised infirmary tent, approximately twenty minutes after Dr. Tofu had retrieved Katsuhiko Jinnai from Haruhi and began operating on him.
"Well… the wound on his chest is gravely large" began Dr. Tofu in answer, "However, other than one punctured lung, he appears to have remarkably avoided any internal injuries or a ruptured heart. The trajectory of the blast that punched through him must have been a most peculiar one."
"So…" continued Haruhi, "The wound on his chest, and his punctured lung… how did you address them?"
"I have been able to firmly and comprehensively bandage over his chest wound" answered Dr. Tofu, "However, Queen Haruhi, given my readily available medical supplies, I was only able to apply a temporary coating and dressing to his punctured lung. It should hold for a few hours, but that is all. We will need to get Lord Jinnai back to the bugrom fortress quickly!"
"I see…" responded a much more clam than before, but also dejected Haruhi, "Sigh. Koizumi's… Koizumi's going to have to wait, sadly. Is there anything else, Dr. Tofu?"
"Well… Lord Jinnai's blood pressure is concerning me somewhat" stated Dr. Tofu, "But given that he's having one of his Mizuhara episodes, as I call them…"
"Mizuhara episodes?" asked a perplexed Haruhi in turn, "What does that mean?"
"I humbly suggest that you talk to Lord Jinnai on the matter yourself, my Queen" answered Dr. Tofu, "I… do not believe I can do proper justice to how they impact Lord Jinnai."
"Well…" stated Haruhi, putting her proverbial Detective cap on, "This sounds interesting, albeit troubling! I'll go ask Katsuhiko about it right away!"
With that, Haruhi carefully walked into the tent in which Jinnai was resting upon an infirmary bed, as she didn't want to startle him. Mind you, Jinnai would not be easily startled right now, as his mind was in a mildly delusional delirious state.
"Mizh~hara!" he grumbled to himself, in a low tone of voice, while forming a fist, and beads of sweat dropped uneasily off of his furrowed brow, "This is your doing, isn't it, Makoto! You malignant cancer on my life!"
"Katsuhiko…" stated Haruhi softly, as she gracefully slid down to sit upon the edge of his bed, while Jinnai was rolled towards the wall, facing away from her, "You're safe now. I saw to that. What are you talking about to yourself? What has you so boiling over in rage?!"
"I now know who tried to kill you, Haruhi!" exclaimed Jinnai, rolling over to face her, "And blast it, I should have known who it was all along!"
"Known what, Katsuhiko?" asked a perturbed Haruhi in turn, "It was… it was Yuki Nagato that tried to kill me. I… I still don't know what to make of that…"
"Think, Haruhi, think!" replied Katsuhiko in turn, "Who did I tell you earlier has the ability to manipulate technology native to El Hazard? And what does Yuki Nagato now resemble, Haruhi?!"
"Makoto Mizuhara can manipulate such technology…" stated Haruhi beneath her breath, trying to make sense of Jinnai's words, "And… and Yuki now looks a lot like Ifurita, now that I think of it! You're not… you're not saying what I think you are… are you, Katsuhiko?!"
"That is exactly what I'm saying!" answered Jinnai, "Makoto Mizuhara has stolen Yuki Nagato from you, and has used her to try to kill you to get at me. That misbegotten phony! How I will make him pay for trying to hurt you like that!"
"Is he… is he really that bad, Katsuhiko?!" asked Haruhi, blown away by the thought that any human male of her age could be as villainous as this.
"Makoto Mizuhara is the worst!" exclaimed Jinnai in response, "He is the absolute worst! His entire life he has done everything in his power to destroy my life. And now… now he's even trying to get to me through you, that monstrous philistine!"
Haruhi Suzumiya looked crossed… very crossed indeed… over these words. She stood back up, with a reinvigorated sense of determination, drive, and purpose.
"Thank you, Katsuhiko" she said in a soft yet firm voice, "Thank you… for saving me earlier… but most of all, thank you for telling me what I needed to know in order to decided what to do next!"
"Huh?" asked Katsuhiko, worried over what Haruhi meant by this, "What do you mean by what you're going to do next?"
"Sadly… you're in no position to help me at this time, Katsuhiko" began Haruhi in answer, "So I'm going to have Dr. Tofu and Groucho accompany you back to our bugrom base through all of you travelling there on the Blue Drop. That trip is going to begin as soon as I leave, Katsuhiko, since ensuring your health is my top priority right now. After I've recovered Mikuru, and… taken care of some important business… I'll follow behind upon the Red Comet. So… don't worry about me. I can look after myself! You will not be far from my thoughts, Katsuhiko."
"…Just what are you planning?!" asked a deeply worried Jinnai, having grown to feel very protective of Haruhi, but as she confidently walked out of the tent that they were in.
Haruhi liked Jinnai a lot, but she knew that men could be overwhelmed by machismo pride, and that Jinnai was probably not entirely immune to that. Given that, she suspected that he'd object to her new plan if he knew what it was. But she now felt that to put an end to the cause of Jinnai's anguish, frustration, and pain, she needed to fulfill that plan. Meanwhile, Mikuru's only plan was trying to find someone she recognized, while she had fled from the watchful curious eyes of the citizens of Florestica who had been rudely awakened by her battle with Yuki. Mikuru was currently shivering, and scared, hiding within the shade of a city corner on a relatively deserted street.
"H-haruhi?" she began uneasily, "G-groucho? I-I-s anybody there?!"
"It's Ok!" came a soft, caring whisper of a voice from behind Mikuru, the source of it crouching down so as to meet her at eye level, "I recognize you, and I'm here to help you out."
Mikuru screeched in terror at the quick response of this unfamiliar voice.
"Q-quiet!" he shouted in a loud whisper, as he gently placed a hand over Mikuru's mouth to silence her, "The less attention you attract, the less explaining I'll have to do. I'm not an enemy, in spite of what the bugrom might have told you. Kyon and I have been really worried about you, Mikuru!"
"Y-you and Kyon?" asked Mikuru, as she slowly turned her quivering frame around to face this young man, "You know Kyon?!"
"Yes, I do" responded the young man, "My name is Makoto Mizuhara! It's nice to meet you. I'll be glad to bring you to Kyon and Itsuki Koizumi right away!"
"Y-y-you're not going to torture me, are you?!" asked a very frightened Mikuru.
"T-Torture you?!" asked a stunned Makoto Mizuhara in turn, "I would never do such a thing! Nobody here in Florestica would!"
"Liar!" came an explosive shout from a voice that Mikuru knew quite well, but was new to Makoto.
Makoto suddenly found himself on the receiving end of an awesomely athletic and fast double footed drop kick directly to his face! Now, Makoto, you know precisely what the Computer Club President felt like after he challenged the SOS Brigade to a duel…
"H-Haruhi!" shouted Mikuru after this devastating attack, "W-what are you doing?"
"I'm taking care of this bullying shyster is what I'm doing, Mikuru!" answered Haruhi in angry reply, "Don't worry… after I'm done with him, you and I are getting out of here! Katsuhiko is Ok, and we'll later come up with a new plan to save Koizumi!"
"K-Koizumi is going to be fine!" exclaimed Makoto, quickly coming to his feet, as he sounded increasingly nasally and put a hand over his now bleeding nose, "And you're Haruhi Suzumiya! Don't believe the nonsense that Jinnai has told you. He can't be trusted!"
"Katsuhiko can't be trusted?" asked Haruhi in sarcastic rhetorical reply, "Yeah… I guess that's why he risked his life for me, Mizu~hara! You mean vicious bully! You've been telling all sorts of awful, despicable lies about my boyfriend, haven't you?!"
"B-boyfriend?!" responded Makoto, as it started to dawn on him that Haruhi Suzumiya was far more 'mixed up with' the Bugrom Empire than what he had originally thought.
"That's right!" exclaimed Haruhi in turn, "And my boyfriend's enemies are my enemies… and that means you, Makoto!"
Haruhi then sprinted at Makoto, and tried to kick him in the shins. Makoto dodged the attack. Haruhi followed up by a partially diving attempt to claw his face. Makoto dodged that as well. Haruhi then tried to punch Makoto directly in the jaw, only to find him catching her first.
"You're pretty fast, Haruhi Suzumiya!" shouted Makoto, "But I didn't come in tops in gym class for nothing!"
Makoto then twisted Haruhi's arm around, and maneuvered behind her, taking hold of her free arm with his free arm. He now actually had Haruhi within his hold.
"L-let go of me!" shouted Haruhi.
"Not until you listen to reason!" exclaimed Makoto in turn, "I'm not your enemy!"
"Baloney!" shouted Haruhi in turn, "Like I said to you before, Katsuhiko's enemies are also my enemies! And besides that, you stole Yuki from me!"
Haruhi then somehow managed to lift one leg and swing it about in an incredible half circle, having it connect with Makoto's right temple, causing both of them to collapse unto the ground, Makoto shouting in pain!
Haruhi had freed herself from Makoto's hold, stood back up, and started kicking at him with her feet.
"I'm a top gym student too, Makoto!" she shouted at him, "And that means that you've met your match in me!"
Makoto rolled out of the way of Haruhi's fourth and fifth kicking motions; rose rapidly to his feet, and in desperation tried to clothesline Haruhi to the ground! Haruhi ducked the attack, however, and delivered a double-handed axe-handle of a blow directly to the nape of Makoto's neck! Makoto screamed from the attack… before collapsing to the ground, unconscious. Haruhi Suzumiya allowed herself a moment of megalomaniacal pride over this 'victory', as she saw it.
"And so I, Bugrom Queen Haruhi Suzumiya, have defeated the legendary arch-enemy of the bugrom champion Katsuhiko Jinnai; I have defeated the infamous villain Makoto Mizuhara!" she shouted with a boastful smile, "Mwa-ha-ha-Ha-Ah-Ha-HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Haruhi's impersonation of Jinnai's laugh was freakishly accurate. The only question now was what she planned to do next with Makoto Mizuhara…
To be continued…