Chapter Two

Preparations

I spent the rest of the day trying everything I could think of to talk Haruhi out of it, but she wouldn't have any of it. I resigned to my fate and went home to pack. You're probably wondering why my parents just let me go on these crazy trips with Haruhi, you're not alone. They just smile and say 'have fun'. They probably think it will look good for me when I apply to college that I took part in extra curricular activities. But when I told them I was going to Antarctica they responded like I was going to the park. They just didn't care at all! Is this you're doing, Haruhi? I bet I could say that we're going to the moon and they wouldn't bat an eye!

I was all packed up and tired, so I lay on my bed and took a minute to think about things.

Haruhi said not to worry about protection from the elements, since snow gear would be provided when we got on the plane tomorrow, so I guess that's a plus.

On top of that, Haruhi said that everyone is responsible to bring a friend and if we don't, there will be penalties. Well I've had enough of those to last me the rest of my life, so I decided I'd invite Taniguchi, and Kunikida for good measure. Try to penalize me now!

I had called Kunikida and told him all about our trip to Antarctica, and oddly enough he agreed instantly, yeah I don't get it either. He told me he had nothing better to do and that going to the south pole would be great learning experience for him.

Not that I'm complaining, but why would anyone care about learning in subzero environments?

I took a long shower and decided to call Taniguchi, you'd think this would be an even harder catch, but apparently Haruhi's powers know no limits.

I called him on my cell as soon as I sat down on my bed and waited for him to pick up.

Ring

I absently flipped through a book Nagato gave me once, not really taking in the text.

Ring

Hyperion is a classic and all, but how could she expect me to read this? It's pretty confusing.

Ring

Oh, that's right, she gave it to me so I could find her bookmark and meet up with her. That was when she told me she was an alien, huh, weird how little things can really jog you're memory.

"Yo, Kyon? What's up?"

Well, here goes.

"Hey man, I know you've probably got better things to do, but do you want to come to Antarctica with the brigade?"

As expected, he laughed hysterically for several minutes.

When he finally settled down, he said,

"...You're serious, aren't you?"

"Unfortunately I am"

He stayed quiet for a few moments, as if debating internally.

"...will there be girls? Other than Suzumiya of course."

I had to think about that for a minute, I knew three girls would be coming for sure, but it's hard telling who everyone else might invite.

"Well, Miss Asahina and Nagato are definitely coming... oh! And Asakura-"

I was cut off at Asakura. Why doesn't that surprise me?

"Miss Asakura? as in Ryoko Asakura?"

"Yep"

"I thought she moved to Canada or something! she's back, and in you're club! Oh, man I envy you!"

Yeah... I'm beside myself with joy...

"You bet you're ass I'm coming! I was gonna see a movie tomorrow, but I can do that anytime!"

He continued babbling about Asakura for... I don't know, maybe five minutes until I cut him off to tell him the details of the trip and hung up.

Finally! I can only listen to that guy for so long.

After hanging up, I fell backwards on my bed and stared at the ceiling wondering, what next? What does Antarctica hold for us? And just what are they unveiling over there?

I entertained these thoughts for an hour and before I knew it, I was out like a light. It was the closest thing to a peaceful sleep I enjoyed for a long time.

I was on a train, leaving for who knows where, when I noticed everything seemed off.

I was alone, with nothing to see but a heavily saturated orange light from outside the windows, I guess the sun was rising.

But I wasn't alone, I turned to see something odd that had caught my eye, a red eyed, blue haired girl in some other school's uniform. She looked about two or three years younger than me.

The hell?

"Why do you pilot Eva?" she asked in a monotone that reminded me of Nagato.

Suddenly, things slowly started to become squiggly and weird.

Why does this feel so familiar?

"Well I guess because I want people to praise me... wait a second! I don't even watch Evangelion anymore!"

Rei Ayanami tilted her head to the side slightly,

"I... see, then this is the wrong dream. Farewell." she said quietly as she faded away.

"Could have stayed and talked for a while..." I said, without emotion as the world around me stopped it's annoying squiggle-vision.

I found myself sitting in a meadow, surrounded by mountains and forests, and a bright blue sky.

"Well... that was weird"

"Indeed it was! How strange it is to dream about things you haven't thought about for so long! I think there was a theory about that, if I could just remember it..."

"Koizumi, what the hell are you doing in my dream? I swear if you're using some kind of esper powers, I'm going to deck you when I wake up!"

I looked up to see not Koizumi, but a boy with red eyes and ashen blonde hair.

"Oh, I'm afraid I'm not Koizumi, as he's behind you"

I turned around to see Koizumi smiling at me.

Annoying, oh so annoying...

"You and I are the same, Mr Nagisa!" Koizumi said cheerfully as he shook hands with Koaru 'Tabris' Nagisa.

For the love of god...

"You know what, I am not having some kind of acid dream based on an anime I haven't seen in years! Get out!"

Koaru bowed his head in shame,

"Okay, everyone let's go..." he said as the cast of evangelion walked out of the woods and through a conveniently placed exit door in the distance.

O_O

"Finally, I can dream in peace" I said as I relaxed and watched clouds pass by the imaginary sky.

"Dreams can be quite nice sometimes, can't they?"

I turned to face him again, glaring.

"Koizumi, I really will deck you, I'm not going to have some kind of yaoi dream either!"

"I take offense to that, what on earth made you think I was gay?"

Gee I wonder.

"You wouldn't like it if you were dreaming about me either!"

At least I hope he wouldn't... ugh... I never can tell with that guy.

"I wouldn't instantly assume the dream had homosexual undertones." he replied flatly

"Well what else could this be?" I asked irately.

"Perhaps you're fighting homosexual panic?"

"...Koizumi, I'm going to count to five and if you're still there..."

I curled my hands into fists, ready to beat the crap out of him.

Koizumi raised his hands in the air, slowly backing away.

"Okay, okay! ...But I'm telling the guys from Evangelion!"

"Well good, that means you're leaving!"