Disclaimer: I do not own The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya or any of its characters. I do own my character.

Sorry this took so long I got sick last week and I tend to avoid working on it during the weekends.

Chapter 7-A Trip, Visit, and an Oddity

The time had come for me to go back to school and boy do I hate Mondays. As per usual Kyon and I strolled up the hill to school. We had nothing to talk about especially since the little weekend outing.

We arrived in class and I was greeted by everyone with welcome backs and the such. Ryoko was still out because it would take more time for her injuries to get better then mine did. I was also received with snickers due to my "new attire". I feel like a walking logo but they were comfortable.

Class ended and I was asked to clean up, which I did swiftly, and then I was off to the club room. Kyon was standing outside which meant one of two things. Mikuru was changing or Haruhi was changing her personally.

"Hey Kyon, why are you standing out here?"

"Haruhi decided it was time to try new outfits, and you know how that works."

"Yeah, thanks to your explanation on how the brigade functions."

At that moment the door flung open almost smacking Kyon in the face. How does this door withstand so much punishment? Haruhi flew out of the room dragging Mikuru behind her: they were both dressed in bunny suits with flyers in their hands. Haruhi's was black and Mikuru's was red, how very fitting for the two of them. We walked into the club room and sat down.

"Well what do you suppose that was about Kyon?"

"Who knows? One thing I've learned is that Haruhi does what she wants to do on impulse."

"They went to distribute flyers at the front gate while the students departed."

"Ah, thanks Nagato, by the way Kyon, why do you think they wore bunny suits?"

"To attract attention why else?"

"Well Kyon did you ever think they might just like to wear them?"

With that Koizumi walked in and sat down across from us with the usual grin on his face.

"And why would Asahina want to wear a bunny suit? It's not in her usual character."

"Your logic makes sense, I admit, but until they return we won't know for sure."

Koizumi pulled out a new game from his bag. It was some "get to the end first" board game.

"I thought we could try this since there are three of us now."

Kyon and I had no choice but to accept his offer seeing as he was already setting up the board. We played and played and played till we started to get board no pun intended.

"How long are they gonna take? You don't suppose they went off grounds?"

"That is very probable."

"Hmm…thanks again Nagato."

"Hey Kotaro it's your turn."

"Ah, thanks Kyon."

I rolled and we continued to play till we didn't want to play and then we played some more. As the last game ended Haruhi and Mikuru came through the door. Haruhi had that smile on her face and Mikuru looked like she had been crying.

"We will be going on a trip this weekend! Be sure to show up at the station at 10am sharp. Now get out so we can change and continue the meeting."

We stood up and left knowing that Haruhi would kill us if we didn't. Oddly enough all three of us stood in silence until we were ordered back inside.

"You may enter"

We walked back inside and Haruhi was back in uniform and Mikuru was in her maid outfit brewing tea like usual.

"Don't just stand there hurry up and sit down! I have to explain our trip."

We hurriedly take our seats as not to incur punishment. I had to wonder what we would be doing and what the cost would be.

"We will be going to a neighboring town to investigate a haunted house."

"Why in the world would we do that?"

"Because Kyon, I have a feeling there really is something there and thus we have to investigate."

"Why do we have to go? If it's so interesting go investigate it yourself."

"And what would you do if you didn't go? Sleep in? Loaf around? Face it Kyon you have nothing else to do so shut up and show up."

Kyon just sighed and put his head down. He obviously knew it would be hopeless to continue but man that must have hurt.

"So Haruhi do you have anymore information about this trip? I mean like where the house is or where we might have to stay?"

"It won't be hard to find that out when we get there besides I can figure that out easily."

"Right…so how much will it cost?"

"I don't know just bring all the money you have just to be safe unless I say other wise."

Gee at this point I was glad I had a paying job or else I'd be screwed, but thankfully I get to work when I have time to. How I ever found that job is anyone's guess unless Haruhi heard about my money budget…yeah that makes sense.

"Ok everyone this meeting is over, dismissed!"

We all got up and left per usual Mikuru was the last one to leave because she had to change and all. Haruhi took off like a bullet. I wondered why but I didn't bother to follow her.

It was around 5:30 by the time we were dismissed, man what a long day. I went to work regardless for three hours and collected my pay and left.

I found myself wandering about and at about 9:00 I found myself at the hospital. That's right Ryoko was still recovering here, I wonder if she remembers what happened. Perhaps I should stop by and see how she is doing. I walked in and asked where she was at the front desk and made my way to her room. She was in the bed reading some book. She looked up at me and smiled.

"Good evening Kotaro how are you? I see you got some new cloths as well, they look good on you."

"Good evening Ryoko, I'm doing pretty well and yeah these were my recovery gift from the brigade. They speak for themselves as I'm sure you noticed."

"But really they look nice on you; they bring out your eyes."

"Really? I thought they clashed honestly, thank you."

There was an awkward silence there for awhile where we just stared at each other. You know the kind of silence that makes you go "hurry up and do it already".

"So what brings you here so late?"

"I was just wandering around and found myself at the hospital. How is your recovery coming along?"

"It's coming along fine but it will be about another two weeks before they let me out of here. Luckily someone left me a book but I don't know who they left it when I was asleep."

"Well that's nice but it looks like you're almost done with it now."

"Yes it's been a most delightful book and apparently it's part of a series."

"Is that so? Would you like me to see if I can find the next book for you?"

"I wouldn't ask that of you."

"I wouldn't mind besides you need something to do other the lay there all day."

"Well there is the TV and I can make phone calls if I really need to so really you don't have too."

"Alright, just be sure to tell me if you want it. Which reminds me, do you know about a haunted house in a neighboring town?"

"No, I've never heard of such a thing. Why do you ask?"

"Well Haruhi is dragging us over to a haunted house and didn't know much of anything about it so I was just curious."

"Sounds rather fun, almost makes me wish I could go as well."

"I'll be sure to let you know what happens but it isn't till this weekend so you may be waiting a bit."

"That's fine with me it gives me something to look forward to."

"Well I hope it doesn't disappoint, of course with Haruhi around I'm sure it will be interesting."

"I'm sure it will be entertaining after all hauntings can be interesting."

"Why do you say that? Have you been to something like this before?"

"No but I have read about them. If you are lucky you might even run into something unorthodox."

"That'll be the day won't it? I can see it now 'Young band of teens claims to have found ghosts.'"

"You sound like it would be a bad thing.

"It would be without proof because then we would be branded as insane…well even more so then we are now anyways."

"I suppose you're right but still try to have fun with it ok?"

"Oh I'll have fun with it alright I just hope it doesn't get me labeled."

We laughed a little but and then there was another awkward silence, as unnerving as it was, staring into her eyes that were as blue as the ocean seemed to keep me calm.

"So Ryoko are you worried about your studies at all? I mean you are missing a lot of school after all."

"Not at all the school is sending me my work so I can keep up with the class."

"I would have guessed as much from you. I'm amazed that you are so dedicated to your studies even I didn't do any work during my stay here."

"Oh you should know better then to blow off the school work. I bet you're paying for it now especially with Suzumiya dragging you off this weekend."

"Oh right, I almost forgot about that part and to think I wasted all of today without doing a single bit of it."

"So visiting me was a waste of time?"

"Of course not I meant walking and wandering around for three and a half hours was a waste, although, I can let the wandering slide because it led me here in the end."

She gave a little giggle and started to say something but the clock had struck 10:00 and visiting hours were over and I had to leave.

"Goodnight Ryoko."

"Goodnight Kotaro, feel free to come by again if you have time."

I knew I would have extra time sometime but for now I needed to get home but as I was walking home my phone rang and to my surprise it was Haruhi.

"Good evening Haruhi, is something wrong?"

"Not particularly, I just need to talk to you right away so get to the park."

She then abruptly hung up the phone. I'm glad there was only one park in the area and hopefully it was the right one. It took me maybe five minutes to get there and when I arrived Haruhi was there on a bench staring at the stars.

"Hey Haruhi, see anything interesting up there?"

"Hey Kotaro, no nothing special tonight but someday I will find something. What kind of sky do you like Kotaro?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well there are many kinds like the star lit night of tonight. There are also sunsets with breath taking views and deep blue skies that make you wanna fly through them."

"Hmm, I think I prefer star lit nights because I feel it's luminous and easy to get lost in."

"Yeah and it's also the best time to look for UFOs and aliens on Mars."

I chuckled at that statement. Haruhi was never like this during the day and it surprised me to see her enjoy something normal.

"Yeah you're right Haruhi, now why did you need to see me?"

"I wanted to know what you thought of the trip this weekend."

"I think it sounds like fun. I've never been on a trip like that before so it'll also be something new to me."

"Really? You don't think it's completely out of it at all?"

Ok I could tell something might be wrong with her. She never asks anyone what they think about her plans.

"Of course not, I really think it sounds like fun. Don't worry about it so much I'm sure the brigade will enjoy it too."

"Thank you Kotaro, that means a lot."

"Come on Haruhi you need to get home; do you want me to walk with you?"

"I wouldn't mind the company."

I started walking her home wondering what caused this abrupt change of behavior.

"Kotaro I noticed you came without even questioning me. Why did you do that?"

"Well when a friend needs you most of the time you go without question, at least that's how I think anyway."

"Really? Must be nice to be so reliable."

"Eh, if I can be of help then I like to help."

"That's a good way of thinking. If only more people thought like that as well."

"The world would be a better place that's for sure."

"Oh here we are already trying to change the world huh?"

We both laughed a bit and continued walking until she broke the silence.

"Well here is my house, thank you Kotaro."

"It was no a problem Haruhi, I'd rather get home later then risk having you get attacked or something."

"You didn't need to worry about that I can take care of myself but thanks for getting me to my house."

And that's when she did something I would have never expected. She embraced me and kissed me on the cheek, which caused me to flare up.

"Goodnight Kotaro."

I just stood there like an idiot and watched her go into her house. Did that really happen? Something was wrong with Haruhi and that proved it but why would she ever do that and to me of all people?

You know the usual reviews are welcome and help me get better.

I also bet the ending twist was kinda...out there to some people but I always have some kind of plan! Mostly...