Hey guys! Thanks so much for the reviews, they really help when I'm trying to figure out which direction I want this fic to go in. I know it's all somewhat slow-moving now, but I've already thought of a few plot twists and couplings and all that, as well as possibly some new OCs and such. :) Please be patient and I assure you you won't regret it. =D

Where am I? I can't feel my body. Everything is dark and I can't see. What's going on?

Suddenly, a light flickers to life and I'm standing high above the city. This had to be a dream, but it felt so real. There were houses on fire and tattered people trying desperately to put out the flames. There were riots, robberies, and assault running rampant. I was speechless. It was like staring down right into the Apocalypse. Death covered the streets of this once quiet city. People were killing, raping, and stealing without even a second thought. No one was safe. Blood, fire, and body parts surrounded everything. I felt my stomach wrench and churn.

There were giant creatures surrounding one house in particular, as if defending it, but as I watched them, the mythical soldiers toppled one by one. My heart suddenly raced as the house itself began to glow from the inside. What was in there? Why did I feel I needed to shield it from harm?

"I have came to take your power and claim it as my own," the dark figure of a winged man shouted at the house and chuckled cruelly as he ripped the door violently off its hinges. No! Stop! Don't go in there!

But I was powerless. I could barely even move and I felt I might pass out. The smell of blood and death from bellow mingling with smoke from the flames was overwhelming. My heart continued to pound in my chest and my head felt as though it would be torn in two. Everyone was suffering and I could do nothing about it. A scream coming from inside the house pierced the air and caught my attention immediately. The smell of blood was suddenly twice as powerful. The heavenly glow turned into the darkest black and I realized I recognized the voice. Haruhi? Haruhi!

And that's when I woke up in a cold sweat. My breathing was staggered and my stomach was still upset. Quickly, I got out of bed and ran toward the washroom down the hall to regurgitate that night's dinner into the toilet. As you can probably tell, I don't exactly enjoy the smell of blood, but that wasn't what frightened me. What frightened me was how real that dream felt. It felt as though it were happening - no, as if it was going to happen some time soon. That man with the wings seemed to familiar. Trying not to think of the metallic smell of death, I brushed my teeth again and walked slowly back to my bedroom where I soon found sleep again. I had to wait for my heart to stop pounding and I had to try to convince myself it was only a dream and nothing to feel deeply disturbed about, but after some time, I did find sleep.

The next morning, Saturday morning, I was not tired at all even though I'd spent most of the night talking myself into calming down so I could sleep. I suppose being able to do more with less sleep is an ability all super heroes have. Wait, did I just refer to myself as a super hero? Come to think of it, what am I?

My stomach growled angrily. I sighed. I guess I'll have to come back to that thought later.

I had nothing spectacular planned for that weekend, so when my mother asked me to go grocery shopping, I couldn't see why not and did so without much complaint. I biked to the nearest grocery store and parked my bicycle. Taking a small cart (there wasn't much I needed to buy), I made my way into the building and straight to the produce isle. While looking through the carrots, I heard my name called and turned to see Akane smiling at me. Remember Akane? The new girl at school, probably the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, and twin sister of that less-than-likable Ayame? Yes, that's her.

"Fancy seeing you here," she giggled cutely.

"Kimura-san," I resolved that she would be Kimura-san (unless she wants me to call her anything else) and that her brother would be simply Kimura. "Nice to see you again!"

"You too, Kyon. So how are things?"

With that, we were having a conversation, all the while shopping for whatever it was on our lists.

"You're a fan of Alice Five (1)?" she looked surprised. "No way!"

I suppose I really didn't look much like an Alice Five fan, but I owned enough of their CDs to have earned such a title. Their music was pretty awesome even though their appearance was a little extravagant for my tastes.

"I love them too!"

"Really?" I smiled. "That's great. None of my friends really know of Alice Five, so it's nice to know I finally have someone to speak to about them."

"Ah, me too! Ayame hates them. He thinks The Barette (1) is more hardcore."

"The Barette's good too," I responded. "But I like Alice Five more. I really used to like Malice Mistress (1) when Jackt (1) was their lead singer."

She nodded in agreement, showing off that dazzling smile again. God, she was so beautiful...!

"So, how did you do on that math homework last night?" asked she.

"Oh, it wasn't bad."

"Really? I didn't get a lot of it," Akane frowned. "This new school has a harder math program than my last school. Ayame's always been great at math, but he's never been a good teacher," she looked up at me then. "Kyon, do you mind tutoring me in math? I'm prepared to pay you for your time if you'll have me."

How could I say no to that face? How could I say no to the thought of a girl this beautiful being with me... Alone... In my bedroom... Hey, I'm a teenager with hormones, you know! So I guess it doesn't surprise anyone that I nodded in response to her request.

"Thanks so much, Kyon! So, how much do you think is a fair price?"

For you? I'd do it for free.

"Whatever you think is fine," I said.

We were both nearing the check out counter to pay for our things.

"Alright, how about twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday after school for two hours at $15 per hour?"

"Sounds good," I answered. I let her pay for her things first so I could admire her black hair pulled up into a ponytail.

"See you on Tuesday?" she asked, about to leave. My reaction was a nod and a smile. "Goodbye, Kyon!"

"I'll see you around, Kimura-san!"

Wow... Kimura-san wanted me to tutor her! That meant she's be at my house those days! But wait... Didn't I have meetings with the brigade every day after school?

No matter, I suppose. It's only two days... Right?

"What do you mean you won't be there today or Thursday!?"

Well, I guess I really should have known to take her somewhere more private when discussing the SOS Bridage. When I ushered Haruhi outside the classroom that Tuesday at lunch period, I thought that would be private enough, but she yelled so loud, I'm pretty sure every class on that floor of the school building must have heard. Now that I think of it, with a voice that annoyingly loud, is there anywhere we could have gone that would be considered private?

"Haruhi, don't yell like that!" I spoke in a hushed voice, trying not to notice the brief glances and stares.

"Don't tell me what not to do!" her voice hadn't lessened in volume that time.

I sighed. "Haruhi, it's only two days, alright? I'll be there every other day, just there's something important I have to do."

"What's more important than the SOS Brigade's meetings?" Haruhi inquired, becoming more and more frustrated with me. "Especially with that guy on the loose. How am I supposed to run a functional brigade without all my members? I may be an amazing leader, but I can't work miracles!"

Oh, if only you knew, Haruhi.

Irony aside, what should I say to her? I can't say "none of your business" because she'll only get angrier and create an even bigger scene, but how do I explain that Akane needs my help without Haruhi embarrassing her?

"Look, someone needs my help, alright?" I said as calmly as I could.

Haruhi raised an eyebrow at me then looked me up and down. Uh oh. That can't be good. I hate it when that happens; when Haruhi does something she's never done before. Impulsive as she is, when you've known her as long as I have, she becomes quite predictable. It's much easier to get along with her if you know exactly how she'll react and that's pretty much how I've been getting through our - is this a friendship? - our relationship. But sometimes she'll do something that'll completely throw me for a loop and I have no idea what she's thinking or what she'll do. That 'sometimes' was happening now. I tried not to fidget.

"It's a girl, isn't it?" she asked, eyebrow still raised. "Who?"

I bit my lip. Should I tell her?

"Is it Akane Kimura?"

I suppose I should accept defeat gracefully.

"Yes."

Then came another 'sometimes' situation. She was completely silent, just staring at me, that same look on her face. Then she shook her head, almost like she was disgusted with me, harshly stepped on my foot, and while retorting "Ass," under her breath, turned on her heel and stomped away, leaving me sore and a little bewildered.

I guess I always knew she'd be angry with me, but disgusted? When the pain had finally relieved itself, I walked back into class, only able to shake my head at what just happened. Of course, I was met with Taniguchi's snicker and Kunikida's sympathetic smile. Sometime during lunch, Akane apologized for her taking me from my after school club.

"I didn't mean to upset Suzumiya-san like that," she said sadly, reminding me a little of Asahina-san. "I'm so sorry, Kyon!"

"No, no, it's alright!" I smiled. "She's just over-reacting. It's alright, really."

Akane nodded, smiling a little and turning, so that sexy ponytail fliped gracefully in that one movement. "Alright, so I guess I'll see you tonight?"

I tried not to look at either of the boys I was sitting with when I replied, "Of course. I'll see you after school!"

Although I couldn't ignore when Taniguchi gave me a little nudge soon after Kimura-san left. "Hey, Kyon," he motioned with his head to his side, where older brother Kimura was approaching our table with two other guys, looking less than pleased. Looks like he's found friendship in yankee Tendo and tall, tanned Tachibana.

"Sato," Kimura addressed me. "So you're tutoring my sister, huh?"

"Yes, just like she asked."

"Well, let's get one thing clear, alright?" he bent down to my level and leaned on the desk. "Don't you think you and my sister can be anything more than just friends. I see the way you look at her."

I hated when people told me what to do. "What? You mean the same way you look at Haruhi?"

Taniguchi and Kunikida looked surprised. I must have been glaring. Kimura wasn't amused as his hand clenched into a fist and an eyebrow raised, matching my glare.

"What the hell does Suzumiya-san have to do with this?"

Taniguchi and Kunikida looked at me for an answer. Honestly, I wasn't sure what she had to do with it, so I said nothing and just held my glare. There's something about Ayame that makes me so angry and I can tell that there's something about me he hates too. If I were my usual rational self, I wouldn't be glaring or angry at all. I'd think "Maybe we got off on the wrong foot". I really wouldn't care whether he liked me or not. I'm not exactly a fighter, you know, but then I think of the way he was staring at Haruhi and for whatever reason, my blood boils.

"Look, just don't be coming onto my sister, okay?" he said. "Or you'll have to answer to me. Are we clear?"

"Crystal," I said in a tone of voice I hadn't used since I stopped the man from raping Haruhi about a week ago. By now, even Tendo and Tachibana seemed a little uneasy.

Kimura grinned his smug grin. I think his is the only smile I know of more annoying than Koizumi's. "I'm not sure I like your attitude, Sato."

"Look, Kimura," I'd had enough of this. I didn't want to speak to him anymore. I didn't want to have to fight him either since, honestly, I didn't really know my own strength yet and could get found out if I hurt him too badly. "I'm not going to do anything to your sister. She asked me for help and I intend on giving it to her. Nothing more."

I could tell by the disappearance of his grin that Kimura was still dissatisfied, but what could he do with his sister watching him at that very moment?

"I'm watching you, Sato," he growled as he turned to go back to wherever he'd come from. Tendo and Tachibana followed. The air of tension in the classroom lifted, but was replaced with curiosity. I was frustrated enough without having to talk about what just happened.

"What just happened?" I expected Taniguchi would ask that question.

"Nothing," I replied in a tone that clearly said 'I don't want to talk about this'. "Just an over protective twin brother. That's all."

Please review, fave, and all that good stuff!

Hopefully, Akane doesn't come off as TOO Mary-Sue. lol

(1) - If you can guess which real Japanese celebrities/bands those were supposed to be, I'll give you a cookie. XD