Thanks For Reading: LordPlagus777
That red blast just now must've been Koizumi. What did Asakura do? He seems to be at ten times his usual energy now. Taking on all three of those Shinjins at once? I must've taken at least six of them to take just one giant Shinjin down. It must not have taken much to get Koizumi like this. After a few moments of trying to see what was going on around outside Asakura was running towards the hotel. She pushed open the double doors and entered the lobby.
"What did you do?" I asked.
Asakura was pink and flustered from the running it appears. For probably the first time in her life she stopped to catch her breath.
"It doesn't matter. Now we need to find Suzumiya before more Shinjins arrive."
"What's the point? The Shinjins will keep coming as long and you and Nagato are still alive. It'll be useless finding Haruhi if they're after Nagato."
"I said I have a plan! We have to find Suzumiya first."
"What kind of plan?" I asked.
Asakura looked at Nagato then shook her head.
"You'll find out Kyon. I can't tell you anything now, it'll make everything useless."
"You're planning to take out Nagato and get out of here yourself aren't you?" I said in disbelief.
"No you idiot. It doesn't matter what I do now. Suzumiya's powers have concluded that I can't be trusted with its will. It would be… Pointless."
Some of the blue lights were fading in the distance now. Koizumi was doing his job and doing it well.
"I thought it would be easy taking orders…" Asakura sighed. "I guess I'm slowed down because I have my own things I want."
"I'm not leaving until you tell me something." I said. You can't be too sure with her. She stabbed me once that one time on Tanabata. I'm not letting her stick anything inside me this time.
Asakura sighed then ruffled up her hair in mild frustration.
"Alright then… in order for the Shinjins to stop chasing Nagato, she needs a purpose." She said.
"Well how do we do that?"
"Simple, she needs to accept a purpose, before that someone needs to present her with one. That one person who can is you."
She pointed straight at me. Once again I'm put in a position where I have to do some hard thinking. Me? Give her a purpose? Just how the hell do I do that?
"Think of a reason for her to be with you. In order for it to be legitimate it has to be sincere."
This was hard, really hard, even harder when Nagato was trying to stare into my eyes with her own expectantly. How much pressure can you really put on a guy? I don't have any outstanding reasons but-
"Erm… Nagato, I think… you're an awesome friend, and I'd like for you to stay here in this reality forever!" It was the best thing I could come up with.
Nagato turned pink and looked Asakura.
"Did it work?" She asked her.
"No! That wasn't nearly as good of a reason to keep her anchored to this reality! You see what I'm talking about?"
"I don't really see the problem! I gave her a purpose didn't I?"
"Any old purpose you can give a random illusion on the street. If you two were the only two in it, then it might have enough momentum to work. But think about it, the illusions are there to keep you company. Just how many more illusions does this reality need? None, giving Nagato the same purpose as they have in not going to change anything, it's still close to zero."
"Then what should I do?"
Asakura slapped a hand on my mouth to keep me from saying anymore. Then she slowly let go after making sure I was quiet.
"Say that again…" She smirked.
"What should I do?" I repeated impatiently.
"You see? You don't know what you're doing, and I do. Now stay quiet and let's get a move on, because Nagato would be dead if I weren't to be trusted."
She pulled out the knife from out of her pocket. I didn't move, rooted to the spot by my determination to hold my ground if not my argument. She dangled the knife in front of me, enjoying watching my defeated expression then stuck it back in.
"And so would you." She said taking Nagato by the arm and pulling her to a corner out of my earshot.
She whispered some things to Nagato. She looked in alarm and nodded excitedly. To my surprise Asakura even laughed whispering these things to Nagato. My feelings of tenseness lightened up watching the two talk in secret between each other. They could've been at the host bar, or back at home. They hugged and walked back to where I was.
"Everything is going to be fine. Don't worry." She said to Nagato. "Are you worried?"
"No." Nagato replied, with a hint of confidence I might add.
"Alright everything's ready. I told Koizumi to meet in front of her room before he took off."
What else did you tell him? I bet that wasn't all… regarding your fail proof plan.
"You know where the room is?" I asked. She doesn't know which room I had taken Haruhi to.
"No, that's why you'll be leading the way."
"Does Koizumi know?"
"I would be surprised if Koizumi can even sense his own 'God' as he says, especially if his powers are this active right now."
Asakura walked ahead with Nagato and I following behind. Nagato kept her head down without saying a word. Must've been the trick of the light but for a minute there I thought she was hiding a smile.
…
"Alright we're here." I whispered so Haruhi doesn't know we were outside. I had stopped in front of a door that I was pretty sure was Haruhi's. I should've brought along the keys with me so I could've been more sure of which room it was, but the way this reality works. I doubt I'd get the wrong room even if I did choose the wrong door. I reached for the lock.
"Wait…" I said. "Let's think this over first. You stay out here and make sure Haruhi doesn't see you. I'll go in first with Nagato and say that I found her, but how does that solve our Shinjin problem and how do we get Koizumi back?"
"Kyon." Asakura said.
"What?"
"Go in first with Nagato and make sure both of them stay in the room. After that, come back outside. I have a few things I need to tell you."
"Sure then… come here Nagato."
Nagato stood next to me.
"I'll be over here then." Asakura said far from the door.
I pushed open the door and Nagato followed me inside. Haruhi was sitting cross legged on the bed. She was relieved to see that I was back and Nagato was fine.
"You're back! How was the storm? You aren't wet…" Haruhi said.
"Can you stay here with Nagato for a while? Koizumi's still out there and I've got to get him."
"What's this all of the sudden?" Haruhi asked confused.
"I'll be back, real soon. Just stay in here for a bit.
…
"Alright, I did what you said. What now? We still can't leave. Not without Koizumi."
"I'll send him up here."
"You?"
"Yes, me."
"How?"
"If the Shinjins get me then they'll go away."
"What? That's pointless… There's still Nagato left you know. It won't satisfy them if you go sacrifice yourself."
"Don't worry about Nagato. We've talked it out. She can escape from the Shinjins but in order to do that I need to get Koizumi first."
"I don't understand… you're handing yourself over?"
"I must, if I don't the Shinjins will still be around and you guys won't be able to escape even if all four of you got together."
"Isn't there another way? The Shinjins will stop coming if we just destroy them all, won't they? Koizumi's got to bear it just for a little bit more."
"No, I don't want to work him any longer than he needs to."
"What do I do? Is there anything I can do to help? I haven't really done much…"
"I still don't understand why you're this nice to me after the things I did."
"It's because… This is the longest I've went without you trying to stab me. Why did you attack Nagato?"
"Simple… I couldn't bring myself to do it.. I'm glad this reality made me what I was. Or I was afraid that I would've done it without hesitation… I love this reality Kyon. I can live the way I want without having any responsibilities. It felt so nice to be living an average life."
"This? An average life? With Haruhi?"
"Suzumiya's too much fun. Although it's interesting observing things as an interface, I wouldn't trade all the data in the universe to live in a place like this. I believe Nagato feels the same as well."
"So you're not a knife crazy maniac on the inside?"
"I can't deny… but oh well… you did survive didn't you?"
"…"
"Oh my, look outside. This may be too much, even for Koizumi. Stay inside the room with Suzumiya and Nagato until Koizumi arrives, don't go anywhere.
"I got it."
"Then… I better go."
"Bye then…"
"I'll… see you later right?..."
"Sure…"
…
It still appeared to be raining from inside the hotel. I was sitting in the room with Haruhi and Nagato. Both of them were close by next to me. All three of us were sitting silently waiting for Koizumi to return. I wish I could watch what was going on outside at least. Was it already done? Had the Shinjins already have gotten to Asakura?
*CRASH*
The windows shattered as Koizumi burst his way into the room. He landed clumsily on his knees. He looked outside the window. So did the three of us.
The scene was fantastic and horrifying at the same time. There were about a hundred Shinjins droning towards the hotel building. The room was bathed in pale blue light. We heard Asakura's voice thundering through the skies.
"Do it now Nagato!"
Koizumi with a look of panic on his face threw himself onto Haruhi covering her eyes.
"Uwah!" Haruhi yelled falling backwards with Koizumi.
"What the hell are you do- mmph!"
I felt Nagato's small hands on my face, pulling me away from looking at Haruhi and Koizumi. Sweetness filled my insides and spread through to every tip of my body. My mind went blank, everything melted away. Literally, melted away….
Was that the last I see of Asakura? I don't know… I probably might see her again… She came back when I thought she was gone for good. It felt sad letting her go this way. She made living in this reality a lot more pleasant that it would've been on its own. It felt like a death of a friend. What I wanted to say to her more than anything… Thanks… Thanks for getting us out… Thanks for everything…
That was one hell of a plan Asakura, one hell of a plan…
I'll miss having you around.
We were going home.
Where will I find myself next time?
Who cares...
For now…
It's the feeling that matters...