Author Note: Sorry for the lack of update here, but I finally got some inspiration and decided to update.

And I don't think it needs to be said, but I figure I'll let you people know. There are spoilers for the Haruhi series in this. Obviously. But to specify, there are spoilers for the movie in this specific chapter, so I suggest you tread carefully if you haven't read the Disappearance Novel, or seen the movie.

-Separator-

Chapter 5: Home At Last!

Achoo!

I look to my left and see Tanaguchi wearing a face mask, sniffing.

"How'd your date go last night?" I ask, remembering him going on and on about that date just yesterday. Judging from his cold, though, it probably didn't go well.

"Eh? Kyon? What are you talking about? I've been sick for the past week, I c...c... ACHOO!" He retorts, a sneeze finishing up his sentence. "I didn't h..have a date..."

My mind wanders for a moment, but I focus a bit. He hasn't been sick up until now. Infact, he was doing very well for himself. "... Tanaguchi? You're messing with me... right? Getting back at me? Really, how was your date?"

He actually stopped right in his tracks and looked over at me. "Okay okay, Kyon. You can stop teasing me about not getting a date," He coughs a few times. "You know, it's not right to pick on sick people, right?"

...What?

Huh?

Err...

"Tana... it was that girl from Kouyouen. You went on about how she was... rich and...you remember, right?" I kind of stuttered through that sentence. What's going on with me? I look at Tanaguchi in disbelief. He's joking with me, right?

Tanaguchi gives me a light punch in the arm, "What's up with you, Kyon? Drink too much last night?" He starts walking ahead of me again, and all I can do is stand there.

-Separator-

I continued onto school, pushing past my apparent memory lapse, and just hoping to get through the day.

The esteemed brigade leader was not in her seat when I arrived, and I seated myself, letting out a yawn.

But... now that I had some time to think, a look around the classroom revealed at least half of the students with similar masks to Tanaguchi on their faces. A few of them even coughed or sneezed.

No, no. It must be a quick onset of a cold. I mean, I could have just missed it. Nothing strange is going on today, I'm certain of it.

And... just as I'm about to relax, I hear the sliding of the door into our classroom. An upbeat giggle that I haven't heard in some time. One that I would be happy to never hear again. I keep my eyes on my desk, trying to not pay attention.

A moment passes. Then another. I hear whispers, and the voice. The voice of that person.

Another moment passes, and I stand up. And in front of me... no. It can't be. But... she looks exactly like that person. No... that... monster.

But I don't want to admit it.

"Oh... good morning Kyon," The blue-haired beauty chirps, a bright smile on her face as she stands in front of me with her school bag. She waves her hand slightly back and forth, and then lowers it.

"A...Asa...Asakura...?"

-Separator-

"GAH," I hear myself croak, and an intense pain in my head alerts me to the fact that I've somehow hit the floor.

I rub my head and look around, a room quite foreign, yet familiar at the same time greets my slightly blurred vision. In retrospect, going to sleep in a strange world was probably a bad idea. I don't even remember being tired either...

Wow... what a terrible dream to have at a time like this. But... it's like that time now, isn't it? I'm in a world similar, yet not so similar to my original one. A world where 'Haruhi' isn't here. One where I'm on my own...

My eyes drift around the room, a sky blue theme for color, but nothing else of true distinction. Except for, maybe the plushy toys sitting on the dresser. I guess that, as a girl, I would get things like that for a birthday.

A beeping noise, loud enough to make me jump, erupts from the bed. I dart over, and I notice it's not the bed itself, but my phone. I hesitantly pick it up, and flip open the device.

And for the first time since I've been here, I finally felt... happy.

User N. Yuki accessing data...

"Nagato... you've found me!" I almost shout, and quickly cover my mouth, realizing how loud I was. I look down at the screen again, and see a small bar.

1% Complete...

Does this mean that she can... bring me home? This is great news! I won't have to worry about bothering Kyonko, or causing any trouble in an alternate world.

"I'm going home!" I say out loud, and as those words left my mouth, my phone responded with another loud beeping noise.

User N. Yuki unable to access data...

Downloading Message from User N. Yuki... 15% Complete...

20% Complete...

24% Complete...

Wait... what does that mean? I sit down on the bed and lean back, my head hitting a pillow. Ow... well, that's still sore... I'll have to watch it.

I wait for a few minutes, watching the bar move forward. It starts to slow down as it nears 100%, but it does finally make it after a grueling twenty minutes.

Message Download Complete! Do you wish to play this message?

My hand hovers over the 'Ok" button, and I press it. The screen flashes for a moment, and as my eyes adjust, I see the small face of Yuki on the screen, only barely through the static of the screen.

"Kyon-" Zzzt! "I am unable to access your data, nor am I able to loc-" Zzztttt. "If you are no longer in this world as my data indicates, then y-" BRRRZZZTTTT! I can feel the phone vibrating from the noise itself. Gah, is it going to explode? "-ly experience uncontrollable reality shifting. If this is true, then please acti-" BRZZT!

"Nagato? Nagato! Come on! Work!" I shake the phone a bit, and the static clears just enough so that I can see her again.

"-mi Itsuki has discovered a theoretical space in wi-" BBRRZZZTTTT! "If you are able to access this space, it is possible to re-" BBZZTTTT! Damnit!

The screen flashes again, burning my eyes, and it clears. I see Nagato clear as day, the static completely gone.

"Accessing this space can be dangerous, and will require a tool capable of advanced data manipulation. If the world you are in contains an Integrated Data Thought Entity, finding a Humanoid Interface capable of that level of Data Manipulation will be possible." The screen suddenly fills with static, and a loud buzzing sound. It fades to black.

User A. Yuki accessing data... granted.

Streaming Message from User A. Yuki...

The screen fills with static again, and a face forms within the static.

"Wait, no! Nagato!" I shout into the phone, realizing Nagato's message has ended, and that this was someone else...

The static simmers away, revealing the familiar face of Nagato. She's different from my Nagato. A pair of glasses adorn her eyes; a pair of expressionless eyes are looking at me.

"S.H, Kyon #3219. The Data Stream Barriers surrounding worlds #3219 and #4003 have been disrupted. H.I, Asakura Yuki #012 and H.I, Kuonji Yuki #001 are accessing the Data Stream to repair. It is advised that you return to your world immediately."

The screen fades to black, and my mind reels. I'm trying to sort out everything that was just said to me, and it's all just a jumbled mess floating around in my head.

Nagato can't get me out of here... but she said that there's a way. And then another Nagato popped up saying something about data... streams? It doesn't really make much sense to me.

Nagato said that if I can just find someone who can-wait! If this world is just opposite in that way, then... there should be another Nagato here! I mean, he's probably a... guy, but he should have the same powers. And he could get me home.

Hmm... well... now I have to find her... err... him. It shouldn't be too hard, I mean, assuming he lives at the same place. It's worth trying anyway. I pick up my phone and scroll down through the contacts. Then I realize... wait. Nagato doesn't have a cell phone.

….

Then... I should go to Nagato's house. It's not that far away, and I could get there before dark. That way I'll be out of everyone's hair.

I head over to the only window in the room and unlock it, pushing it and feeling a gust of ice cold air flushing into the room. Brrr...

Well, here goes. I manage to squeeze myself out of the window, just barely. It's a lot colder than I thought out here, I really should have brought a jacket. I slowly lower myself onto the ground, and pull the window shut behind me.

…

The street as I once knew it is much different than it used to be. Different shaped and sized houses than I'm used to seeing line the streets. Well, I suppose with different gender comes different thought processes. People built the houses differently than their counterparts in my world...

I head out onto the sidewalk and start toward where I think Nagato's house should be. While I wish I had my bike for this, it will all be worth it when I'm back in my own world, even if I have to walk the whole way.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Some of the street names were different, but after a couple of hours, I did finally manage to make my way to the apartment complex where my Nagato would be staying. I head over to the gate, and find the speaker on the left side. I guess this would be the moment of truth.

I shakily raise my hand to the button marking her apartment number. Or... his, I guess. Come to think of it, I won't even know if I have the right person, since I won't recognize his voice. It's getting dark, and cold, so I don't really think it matters. I'd just like to get through this.

My finger pushes the button in. "Is this... Nagato's apartment?"

I release the button and await a response.

One minute passes.

Then two minutes.

Three minutes pass, and a stiff breeze passes me by.

I hear static over the speaker. "Yes."

I shiver. It sounded like a man, and not lacking emotion like I would expect from Nagato.

I cautiously press in the button again, "Nagato. My name is Kyon... I uhh... need to speak with you."

I take my hand off of the button, and I hear nothing again.

Another minute passes.

"Come in."

A low buzzing noise emanates from the speaker, and the gate clicks open.

I push my way through the gate, and head toward the elevator. I'm getting nervous just thinking about how I'm going to explain this.

Hi, I'm Kyonko, from another dimension where everyone's genders are the opposite, and some guy named Kato caused me to come to this dimension. Can you send me back?

….

Yeah... that won't work at all...

I enter the elevator and press the button for the top floor. I feel a rumble, and hold onto the sides as I wait to get there. How am I going to explain this to him. I mean, is he even going to believe who I am? Is he going to be willing to help me?

I probably should have asked Kyonko to come with me. This was stupid. And reckless. I hope this Nagato had at least similar experiences... he'd be willing to at least listen that way.

Ding

The elevator doors open to the pathway ahead. At the end will be Nagato's house. Come on Kyon, you can make it.

I push myself forward, taking the steps toward his apartment.

Thinking back, I've met Nagato for the first time... twice. Well... three times. The first time at school, in the literature club room.

Then, I was sent back in time, and I met her again, with Asahina (Big), for the first time. It was kind of awkward that time. But... it still doesn't beat the final time.

When Nagato altered the world, I met her counterpart for the first time in the literature club room. She was so timid and scared of me. But hell, I'd be scared of me too if I saw a larger man barging in, acting like he knows all about me.

Before I knew it, I was at the apartment. Room 708. I was shaking, almost too scared to knock. I can't believe I am this nervous. I can do this!

I raise my hand toward the door, and ball it up into a fist. I knock once. Then twice. And then a third time.

I hear footsteps behind the door. They're getting closer. My hearts beating faster. Please... please work...

I hear the knob turning. Light is leaking out from the crack of the door. I see a male North High uniform first. My gaze starts to shift up, and sets on the face.

A composition I wasn't expecting of Nagato, but not completely out of the question.

I really wasn't expecting deep blue eyes on him either, but...

My heartbeat picks up, beating at double time.

I'm seeing double, and I feel my own sense of balance start to fade. My eyes gaze up a little further, and I see the full head in view. Deep blue eyes, and an even deeper blue hair. Short hair, but it makes sense for a guy.

But not... for Nagato. This isn't Nagato. But... he should be dead in this world too. It looks... he looks so similar. But if the worlds are just opposite in gender, then he should be dead too.

A grin creeps onto his face, and he waves. "Yo, Kyon. What took ya?"

To be continued...