Kyon's facial movements seem to be inconsistent with expected predictions. It appears that he is... "tense"? That is the word. Perhaps the lending of his jacket is causing him stress?

"If you are cold, there is no need to give me your jacket."

"You don't need to tell me. It's just something friends do for each other."

Expected. Kyon rarely changes his mind (He is what is referred to as... stubborn?) and this situation should be no different. However, this does not answer the question of why he appears troubled.

Kyon blushed as he put his jacket on my shoulders...

Of course. That would be his problem. The various "manga" and high school romance stories all point out blushing as a symptom of awkward moments. Was giving up his jacket awkward for Kyon? The Data Integration Thought Entity suggests that as Kyon has never acted in such a way, the only reasonable conclusion is that something has changed in his thought processes.

A query is needed.

"We are almost to my home now. Like I said, this whole thing may or may not be a big deal. I just don't think that we should leave anything involving Haruhi to chance, right?"

The query can wait. Dealing with Suzumiya Haruhi is more important.

I open the door, invite Nagato in, and announce to my mother that I have a friend over for a little while. Both my sister and my mother give me odd looks when they see that my friend is none other than Nagato, but neither say too much. My mother simply nods and asks if Nagato is staying for dinner, while my sister whispers something about "Yuki-chan" that I don't quite hear. Needless to say, I leave the two of them immediately before I subject myself to further embarrassment.

Once in my room, I quickly move to the drawer hiding the object that has caused me to lose sleep for quite some time now. As soon as I remove the silver-colored rod covered in inscriptions from the drawer, Nagato speaks up.

"90 silicon, 9 platinum. Trace amounts of other elements that do not have names in this language. The data in this storage device appears to be wildly unstable and the data domain within is leaking out. The Data Thought Integration Entity suggests that there may be hostile data lifeforms within the device, and they must be personally confronted and removed."

Does she even speak a language I can understand?

Obviously feeling uncomfortable at this much speech, Nagato appears at a loss for easier terms. Finally, "There is another dimension within that data device. We must enter and purge its inhabitants."

Great. I had always wanted a separate dimension leaking out into my bedroom, and Haruhi is thoughtful enough to provide me one. Just great.

"I will protect you from danger."

Danger? Of course. Haruhi enjoys ruining my day. Not that there is anything different from normal in that.

I hand Nagato the "data storage device" as its facets catch the light and shimmer. She seems to examine it for a moment, tracing over the intricate patterns in its surface. Finally, her lips move.

"Commencing data link. Transferring."

With that, Nagato grabbed my hand and the world went blank.

Approximately two hours since data transfer has completed. Kyon has still not woken. Connection to Data Integration Thought Entity still not possible. Contact with outside world still severed.

Kyon stirs. He sits up. He glances around for a while before realizing he is lost. He sighs. All as would be expected, yet another incident of normalcy from Kyon. But there are more important matters right now than considering Kyon's value in Haruhi's world.

He does not speak. He simply sits. What is he waiting for? Does he wish for me to speak?

"Hey, Nagato... what went wrong?"

Silence breaks.

"Interference. Hostile lifeforms a high possibility. Considering possibilities."

Silence again.

Another sigh.

"As usual, I blame Haruhi."

Perhaps that is true this time. In truth, there are no hostile lifeforms present. In fact, there appears to be no life at all. All data points to the belief that this is closed space.

But what caused it?

Why does nothing surprise me anymore?

No, that isn't the question. Haruhi's to blame for that. I guess a better way to say what I mean is, "Why am I not surprised about not being surprised about anything anymore?"

If that wasn't the worst sentence you've ever heard, come find me and tell me a worse one.

The room my silent companion and I are trapped in appears to have no exits whatsoever, with not even a single window or door. Did I mention I'm not surprised?

The furnishings are in a Western style, with a single bed in the corner (Only one? Were they expected only Nagato? And who's they anyhow?), a small kitchen in another corner, a bookcase stocked full of books, and a rather large fireplace complete with a huge, deep rug in front. All together, the room measures about ten meters each way.

Nagato appears completely unphased by the whole situation, and is sitting completely still like some sort of (Rather pretty, I must say) porcelain doll.

I suppose I could be held captive in a worse place. And with worse people for that matter...

Sorry, hormones again.

Sorry about the horrible ending for this chapter, but I have been trying to get this edited and fixed up quickly (Semester finals approaching fast) so I can get one more out soon. Hopefully Kyon is a bit better this time; I tried to make him more sarcastic (Probably failed). Once again, constructive criticism is always accepted.