Chapter Three: Visions (MajorKris)

Itsuki was never the type to defy Haruhi, knowing full well the consequences of doing so, but once in awhile he very much wished he could slap her in the face for the way she treats Mikuru. Mikuru was so sweet, kind, fragile, and beautiful, so why is it she was given the pointless task of becoming Haruhi's plaything?

Not only that, she has feelings for that clueless boy, Kyon. The feeling of jealousy inside him was almost unbearable. How often was it that he had to put on that fake smile in front of everyone just to hide his inner anger? Sure, Itsuki knew it wasn't Kyon's fault, but it drove him crazy! But even so, Itsuki knew himself to be a hypocrite.

'Stay back and observe, and protect the world as you keep the Goddess from creating Armageddon. That's my duty, and as long as Haruhi Suzumiya is alive that's how it will be. Yet, I long for a normal life. Before all this happened I had a dream to become a doctor, just like my dad. But ever since I could see the future, I knew I wouldn't be able to.'

'The reason? Well, I can see how people die of course. Especially those I am very close too. When I was twelve, I saw my dad's death. A fire had consumed our home, and in an attempt to save my mom and I he was over come by the smoke and suffocated to death. My father did succeed getting my mom and me out of the building, but as he, himself, tried to escape the ceiling had blocked the exit, leaving him there to his fate.'

'Father urged me that it was only a dream when I confessed it to him, and I believed him. Then, one night, I envisioned how my mother was going to die. Cancer at age sixty-two, but luckily, she had thirty more years to enjoy her life.'

'Even after witnessing both visions however, I still believed in my father's words. Unfortunately, one night after I had turned fourteen, I found myself in a bed in the hospital with my mother by my side. It was then that I found out that my father died, and ever since I wasn't the same. Not much longer later, I had learned the truth about my visions, and eventually about my own power and other abilities. The cause of it all was because of a young girl named Haruhi Suzumyia.'

'It was all her fault that I am the way I am. A freak… But even though I knew she didn't know what she was I detested her behavior from the very beginning, but knowing the consequences I obeyed her, like a dog. Luckily Kyon could take more of the baggage than me, at least. Not to mention I would have to deal with Yuki if I were to interfere or anger Haruhi in anyway.'

'Yes, I know all about Yuki, as well as Mikuru, and in return, they know everything about me. I even had the honor to see what Yuki was capable of as I envisioned Ryoko's death. I was surprised however, I always saw her to be such a sweet girl. Who knew she was a sadistic, alien psycho?'

"I ramble too much," Itsuki spoke to himself sincerely. "I hope she is alright, I don't know what I would do if she left…"

The statement was true enough. Mikuru had always been Itsuki's reason to stay so late in that clubroom. He would always pretend to be interested in the board game Kyon and he would be playing; but her down-to-earth personality and kindness was always what made him excited to go to the room each day. Sometimes he caught himself staring at her in her latest outfit as she made tea for them all. There was also so many times that when she was upset that he wanted to reach out and comfort her. To kiss her and stop her tears as she cried, but he was too much of a coward to really do it.

For the longest time Itsuki knew he was falling for her, even though that he knew that it would be unwise to. But he couldn't help himself! God if he didn't love how close he was to her in that film Haruhi had put them in. He even had a chance to kiss her, but once the camera was away, Mikuru pulled back, blushing and apologizing over and over again. And as usual, he just smiled, even though his heart ached from the rejection. Even so, he thanked Haruhi for the opportunity.

Now that he thought about it, he wasn't even sure what had upset Mikuru earlier. He had barley arrived at the clubroom when he saw Mikuru crying as she ran out of the room, not even noticing him as she ran down the hall. He wanted so badly to go after her, but he knew that he had to get to the clubroom first. Once he arrived however, Haruhi had ordered them to go shopping with her. But knowing that Haruhi wouldn't mind too much if he ditched them, he was now in the middle of central park, rambling in his head as he looked for her.

"Maybe I'm going crazy now too, I don't even know where to begin looking to find her! Gah, why can't I make these powers work to their own accord once in awhile!" Itsuki cried out in frustration, punching a tree as he did so, causing there to be a burn mark where he hit the trees wood. Itsuki cursed to himself, but was grateful to know that no one was around to see. It was just then when he was about to give up that he heard a scream down a pathway.

"St-Stop it!" yelled a young female voice, kicking and screaming as she tried to hit an older man in front of her, who held her tightly by her arms.

"Now, now, we can't have that now," spoke the older man's deep and cold voice. "All we want to do is have some fun! Sota, tape the bitch's mouth shut before she draws attention to us."

Mikuru looked up to see two other man surround her, their faces were dirty and consisted of many scars as well as matching dark brown hair. Their clothes were black and consisted mostly of hoodies and jeans. Mikuru knew she was in trouble.

She tried to cry out again, but her mouth was then roughly covered with tape. After that, she felt her wrists being tied painfully rough behind her back. It was then that she heard one of them speak.

"We scored big time this time big brother! Who would have guessed that we would find such a healthy and young new whore for our brothel in a place like this?"

"Not to mention a hot one at that!" another cried out enthusiastically.

"But right now, I say we have a little fun with her first…" came another voice Mikuru followed, seeing it was the one named Sota who spoke.

Mikuru closed her eyes tightly, praying in her mind that someone would come and save her. She tired to make herself faint, but the pain in her wrists and from how rough Sota was holding her kept her awake. She heard laughter coming from the men as they swarmed around her, feeling one of them beginning to slide a hand up her skirt. She tried to struggle, but that only made it worse as they held her even tighter. Mikuru knew what was about to happen, she began to cry as she prayed again.

'Please…someone, anybody, please…ugh!' Her cry was muffled from the tape, but she felt their hands just as well. One began to lay a hand on her breast, but as soon as it touched her, it was quickly pulled away.

"Who the hell do you think you are pretty-boy? Get 'outta here before you get yourself hurt, or worse!" Mikuru looked up to see who the man was talking to and gasped once she saw Itsuki. Never before has she been so happy and yet fearful at the same time.

Itsuki was relieved once he found Mikuru, but it soon turned to anger and hate once he figured out what was happening. Mikuru never saw him so angry before till now, noticing the intensity in his eyes was so strong that she almost felt like he was going to transform into a monster of some kind.

In a way he did however. Itsuki lunged forward, fire bolt in hand, and punched one of them men so hard that the sound of his neck snapping echoed through the wood of the park. Itsuki was too angry and full of vengeance to notice that he had complete control of his powers, none the less that he had just killed a man.

"You son of a bitch!" cried out the other brother, pulling out a .45 magnum from his belt, aiming it for Itsuki's head. Mikuru's muffled scream was heard after the shot, and then just as quickly, the sound of a string of electricity. Itsuki was able to deflect the bullet with a type of force field which then caused it to ricochet back to the man and into his chest, killing him instantly.

Only Sota was left, and in at loss of his brothers and in fear of his life he panicked, grabbing Mikuru from the ground as he then forced a hunter's knife against her throat. "Come near me, and I'll slit the bitch's throat for all that its worth, pretty boy!"

Itzuki stared the man down with deep hatred. How dare he touch and bring harm to Mikuru! Itsuki wanted this man to suffer dearly for threatening her, and so, he tried using his ultimate power.

Controlling another's will was an unwritten rule of what not to do among the espers, but Itsuki knew that this was definitely a special reason to break the rule. He concentrated fully, staring the man down with all his might as he eyes began to glow a deep shade of green and blue, and soon, the man known as Sota began to shout, "Wha-what the hell are you doing!? Stop it!"

The man's arm which held the knife began to shake uncontrollably. Within a few seconds, it was raised above his head. Sota was loosing the fight, and his will was not strong enough to fight off Itsuki's power. Mikuru was let go and dropped to the ground as Sota struggled to push his own arm away from him. He made one last cry as Itsuki forced the man to stab himself in the chest and straight into his heart.

After Itsuki believed the man was dead, he released his hold on him, allowing him to fall on his knees and onto the ground. Itsuki almost let his own body collapse as his energy grew weak from using such strong a power, but he forced himself to stand and look toward Mikuru. He couldn't help but notice the look of terror in her eyes as she looked toward the man next to her, and quickly she passed out.

Itsuki quickly forced his body to moves toward her, feeling his head pounding in pain but quickly ignored it as he sank to his knees next to her, taking the tape off her mouth carefully as he untied her wrists. He shook her gently.

"Mikuru…" he whispered, shaking the young girl gently as he picked her up gently off the ground to do so. Mikuru stirred, slowly opening her eyes.

"It-Itsuki..?" Mikuru whispered as she looked up at him, giving him a small smile as she felt so relieved that he was alright.

Itsuki smiled back as well, feeling more of his energy return jut from that small action of hers before he spoke, "Let's get you somewhere safe, Mikuru."

Mikuru nodded and held onto him tightly as he picked her up carefully to carry her, and soon, within a matter of minutes she was asleep in his arms, not noticing that they had arrived at Itsuki's home that was only a few blocks away from where he saved her.