This fanfic is currently under construction and the chapters are therefore subjected to minor changes. I apologise for any confusion.

FEELINGS

"Miss Suzumiya?" The doctor approached Haruhi.

"Yes?" she replied directly.

"Your friend, Koizumi Itsuki, will soon awaken. It seems he wasn't seriously injured as the other four," said the doctor.

The four youths breathed out a sigh of relief. After what seemed like a lifetime of waiting, this was indeed the best news they heard so far.

"Oh, thank god..." said Haruhi, "I thought he - I mean, it seemed like he lost a lot of blood."

"Yes, he indeed lost a lot of blood," said the doctor, "But that's what puzzled us most. You see, like the other patients, he had an extreme blood loss caused by the stab; however, unlike the other four, the cut was not deep. It was like a little more than a scratch."

"What?" exclaimed Kyon, astounded. "Are you sure? Then how come he was bleeding all over the place?"

"Well, at first we thought he might have hemophilia, but that still doesn't explain the excessive blood loss or the fact that he was bleeding no more by the time he was on way to the hospital."

Haruhi puzzled about this for a moment, and then said, "Well, at least he's alright. Can we see him?"

"Of course – in a moment." He turned to Mr Kondo.

"Mr Kondo, Mr Miyugi's condition has become stable; there's no need to worry."

Mr Kondo began to cry of happiness. The doctor then told him to wait and turned to lead the youngsters to the ward in which Itsuki was staying.

"At the moment, he's comatose, but in a short while, he will awaken. Perhaps not tomorrow, but certainly not for long." The doctor left them in the room.

For a moment, all four of them simply stared at Koizumi's sleeping face.

"Sob..." It had been an emotional turmoil for the faint-hearted Asahina.

"He sure scared the hell out of us," said Kyon.

"..." Nagato was just expressionless. Kyon wondered how her face would look like if she would express anxiety or relief.

He turned to Haruhi. At that moment, he saw something which caught him by surprise.

Haruhi was looking at Koizumi with an ever so gentle expression on her face.

Kyon blinked. No, he was not imagining it.

Kyon tried to remember if ever he had seen Haruhi's face like that. Perhaps he had, but never to someone. The only time he had seen Haruhi's calm face was when she silently stared out of the classroom window during her melancholic days. But this look held more meaning in it.

Maybe it's because she was so worried, reasoned Kyon. Still, he never imagined to see such look on Haruhi's face.

"What are you gaping at?" Haruhi had felt someone staring at her. The soft expression was gone; she was now frowning at Kyon.

"Uh... Nothing." Kyon quickly turned to look at Itsuki instead.

"Listen up, I want everyone to do their duty as SOS Brigade members and visit Itsuki in turn, just like during Kyon's hospitalization. Starting tomorrow at 9 am..." Haruhi began scheduling each of the members' visit. "And don't be late! I'll be staying here the entire time, of course; that's my responsibility as the commander."

- -

"Wow. Amazing how that scratch made such a mess," said Kyon as he walked out of the hospital with Asahina and Nagato. They had left Haruhi in the ward.

"It didn't really look like a scratch... Uwaa... It looked really awful," said Asahina.

"... I have minimized the bodily damage," said Nagato.

"What?!" Kyon turned to her. "Hey, just a second, when did you – I mean, geez, Nagato, why didn't you tell us?"

"It would ignite Suzumiya Haruhi's suspicions since she was in the scene before us," said Nagato simply, as if oblivious to Kyon's exasperation.

- -

Even in the dim light of the night, Itsuki's unsmiling face looked nevertheless handsome. Perhaps it was because of all the stress, but it seemed to Haruhi that Itsuki's face looked better.

Nah. She must just be glad that he's okay. But he'll definitely look better when he smiles.

She prodded one corner of his mouth upwards.

"Yeah, definitely better," she said to herself.

- -

Itsuki woke up the next day, during Kyon's time of visit. He immediately proceeded to apologize to Haruhi for making her worry.

"Glad I didn't had to prompt you for an apology," she said. "Well, I've told you before, worrying about the well-being of the brigade members is one of the responsibilities of a commander."

"I'm glad it is, Suzumiya-san," said Itsuki with a gentle smile. At that moment, as she saw that smile, Haruhi's heart began to feel warm, as though it was chanting a beautiful song.

"Hmph," said Haruhi as she turned her back to him and began to complain about the injury, the hospital, the nurses' outfit and Kyon's hairstyle. But Itsuki was not really listening; something had not escape him when Haruhi turned her back. He thought he had seen an unusually soft look in her eyes.

Could it be –

He then glanced at Kyon, who made a retort at Haruhi's complaint.

No, what am I thinking? My brain must be muddled from the shock and the blood loss. She must just be extremely worried, as a commander would. Itsuki smiled to himself. No, I could only dream of receiving such feelings reserved only for Kyon, her knight.

"Damn it, when's Mikuru coming?" Haruhi looked out of the window. "I'm hungry. I want to eat some scallop snacks."

"Haven't you just eaten your lunch?" said Kyon.

"Yeah, but I'm now really in a mood for scallop snacks." She began to put on her jacket. "Kyon, you stay here with Koizumi. I'm going to the store across the hospital." With that, she left.

"What's with the sudden craving for scallop snacks?" said Kyon. "Anyway, about your wound..." He began to fill him in about Nagato's intervention.

- -

"Suzumiya-san!"

Haruhi turned to look at a pretty girl waving at her behind a shopping cart.

"Ah, Umi-chan! How are you?"

"I'm fine. Hey, are those scallop snacks?" Umi pointed at the small bag in Haruhi's hand.

"Yeah, I suddenly got in a mood for one," said Haruhi.

"Oh, they're so delicious! Anyway, how are you? You look kinda exhausted," said Umi.

Haruhi began to tell her about the former night's incident.

"Oh dear, how is Koizumi-kun? Is he alright?" Umi looked very worried.

"He's okay," replied Haruh, "The doctor said it was like a little more than a scratch. Can't believe he got us all worried for that. He did lose a lot of blood, though, but he'll be fine; he's already awake."

Umi sighed. "I'm so glad. No, actually, I'm really happy. You know, Suzumiya-san, there's something I wanted to ask you."

"Like what?" said Haruhi.

"Oh," Umi giggled. "Uhm, I wanted to ask you if Koizumi-kun's dating someone, 'cause you know, I've taken quite a liking to him."

© Mademoiselle X

Man, I already dislike Umi... Anyway, Hershey kisses for my readers' support! Thanks!! And as for the next chapter - well, I won't be telling you anything except the title and it is...

"An Approaching Storm"

But, forget it, it won't be up until next Monday or Tuesday. Until then! - Mademoiselle X