Chapter five
Have you ever been faced with a life or death situation? The kind where, thankfully, you live but before you do your life flashes before your eyes? I've dealt with this several times and each time it changes. Probably because I lived from the last one and have gained new memories by the next time the new one arrives. They're split second memories that only you can remember, and many scientists will tell you they are the ones you're most fond of. I've found that the memories that flash before my eyes are ones that try to help the situation.
For instance, as Miss Asakura came at me with the intent to kill, I saw things from the past. Most of them had to do with the brigade and Haruhi, but one showed itself more than once. It was when this happened the first time and Nagato jumped in the way to save me. She'd been pierced through a dozen times and lived through it all, and obviously I did as well. I think my mind was telling me that it was going to happen again; or at least wanting it to.
Lightning might strike the same place twice, it's a very slim chance but does happen, but it's never the same bolt of electricity that did the first bit of damage.
There was a crack like sound, another crash and then I smelled blood. Thick and strong of iron, I smelled blood. I choked on my breath as I felt tears of crimson run down my cheeks and I thought to myself 'this is it. I'm finally dead.'
But I wasn't.
I gaped up at the figure that had appeared at just the right moment, stopping Miss Asakura's daggers from striking me. I could only see her from the back, but I could still tell the wound was bad; a large hole in the pit of her stomach, all the way through and so forceful that the blood had splattered to me.
"Stop this right now," her voice said calmly and yet forceful. Ryoko Asakura jumped back and away, retrieving her knife-like hands, resting them to her side. The girl in front of me regenerated much faster than Nagato had the first time. She glanced back at me only a second but it was enough and I recognized her.
I'd seen Emiri Kimidori only once in the past, and it was brief. She had pale forest colored hair with the radiance of Miss Asahina. She was quiet, that time, and concerned about her 'boyfriend'; only later did we find out her so-called boyfriend didn't even know who she was. I had a theory she was working for some organization since she led us to a giant camel cricket that was actually some kind of monster virus.
Nagato wouldn't tell me anything and neither would the others; but now it was clear as day what she was.
"Ryoko Asakura unit, you will step down from this fight," Miss Kimidori said in the same sweet voice. It was almost as though she were afraid of Miss Asakura; not that I could blame her.
"He started it," Miss Asakura replied the second she got the chance; sounding just like a child caught in the act. She did have a point though, as much as I hated to admit it.
"It doesn't matter who begun this fight, the point is, it is over." Miss Kimidori was more bold that time, but she kept up her innocent charm.
"It cannot be over until subject Kyon is eliminated," Miss Asakura said aiming one of her knives at me. I felt my body grow tense but for some reason I still felt safe with Miss Kimidori standing over me.
"You know that is against your programming," Miss Kimidori said holding her hand up, palm facing towards the other girl. I half expected a blast of something to come out, but nothing did. "You must stop this now or we will not be able to fix the time stream."
"What if the time stream does not need to be fixed?" Miss Asakura said getting into her own little ready stance.
"It does and you know that," Miss Kimidori said as she turned her palmed hand into a fist. All at once, the ground around Miss Asakura opened up and four large pillars shot out. They were jagged, to some degree, aiming to trap the knifed girl; they met their target with a loud clanking sound. I thought the battle was over, but Miss Asakura only smiled beyond the restraints.
"Things would be better if this world continued to exist without the aid of the other," she said throwing her hands up, slicing the pillars each in half. They fell to the non-existent ground with a crash and bang; to which I had to cover my ears for. "Who is to say this world would not be a more suited one?"
"Only the original can thrive," Miss Kimidori said, tensing up which made me worry. "That world is the one that Miss Suzumiya chose and it is the one that must go on." She said opening her palm once more. She held it there only a second, I half expected another pillar attack, before whipping her hand to the side then letting it fall loosely back down. The second she had, Miss Asakura begun to dissolve into the air, similar to how the first one had. I knew the fight was over now, finally relaxing.
"This world is a new and better one. It should exist on its own," Miss Asakura said again, stepping forward. She kept repeating herself, which only made me more aware of the bugs in her system.
Miss Kimidori took a step back, which forced me to do the same, "there can't be two of the same worlds living together, you know that. Besides, what will become of the other one? Nagato unit is still in effect there and we cannot draw her back until she's met her requirements."
"Nagato unit should not have gotten involved as much as she did," Miss Asakura said, still stepping closer, but by now we weren't moving back. It felt as though a wall was behind me, making it impossible to move, even though I couldn't see anything.
"You are terminated now," Miss Kimidori sighed, almost sadly, "it is a shame to see one such as yourself go because of something like this."
"I am not saddened, "Miss Asakura said with a smile, "because of myself, subject Kyon must learn the truth. When he does, I am sure he will fix things the way they should have been."
"You're wrong, Ryoko, things only continue to flow the same direction, no matter what," Miss Kimidori said with a frown looking down before Miss Asakura exploded in tiny fragments of light. When those lights had disappeared into the air, the classroom slowly came back with Miss Kimidori and myself against the back wall.
Something was troubling me though, even more than the usual things. What did Miss Asakura mean by all that? What did I have to do with any of this? I looked over at Miss Kimidori who just stood a while, staring blankly. Then, with a small smile, she looked back at me. "You should get your answers," she said sweetly again, motioning me to follow her.
Neither one of us spoke as we walked down the halls of the school and to the club rooms. I could only imagine which room she was taking me to, and once we got to it, all I could do was sigh and step inside. My disappoint had all withdrawn as I stared inside at the once empty room, that now wasn't so empty. Nagato's books and bookshelf were all accounted for, Miss Asahina's kitchen set was laid out nicely and Koizumi's many games were on the table. Even Haruhi's master computer lay dormant on the tiny desk in front of the window.
"The brigade room," I said in awe, a smile plastered on my own mouth as I looked around. "It's all here. It's all back, did we go back?" I asked looking over at Miss Kimidori who remained at the door frame. She was smiling, but it was a lost one; like a girl who was forced to leave something she once loved behind.
"Kyon," she said softly, "you have not returned to your time. I've merely changed the configuration of this room to look like the other one."
My happiness melted, replaced by a sick confusion. "Then please tell me, what can I do to return to my own time zone? There has to be a way right? Miss Asakura mentioned fixing it."
"Ryoko Asakura, in any time, has faulty programming. Forgive us, we have limited models to use," she bowed as though asking my forgiveness.
"Who are you exactly?" I asked keeping a safe distance between us.
"I am Emiri Kimidori, as far as you know. I am an alien interface here to examine the strange mysteries of the world around Miss Suzumiya."
"So you're like Nagato," I summed up.
"Yes, but higher in rank. You could say she is my subordinate. Yuki Nagato works for me, and I am the one who assigned her to watch Miss Suzumiya as close as she has been."
So Miss Kimidori was Nagato's boss. It hardly made sense to me since she was so timid compared to Nagato. Sure, Nagato wasn't the big and bold type, but she seemed more suited for the job. Right? Maybe it was just wishful thinking. "Back there, in the classroom. Miss Asakura mentioned something about Nagato not getting involved like she was? What did that mean?"
Miss Kimidori was silent a while before replying, "Yuki Nagato was only suppose to serve as a watcher. She was only suppose to aid Haruhi Suzumiya in her quest to find strange things. However, it would appear it is too late to pull her back and send another unit in her place. It is complicated to explain," she said avoiding telling me anything.
"Alright," I muttered dropping the subject for now, "but you can fix the time stream still can't you?" I asked, hopeful for a positive answer.
"I am sorry. In my fixing the space continuum, a massive chain reaction would occur. I cannot do anything to alter it, in fear it might ruin the real world."
"Real world," I repeated, "then this really is another dimension."
"At the moment, it is easy to call it such," she nodded.
"Then what's happened to the real one?"
"Haruhi Suzumiya made this alternate world as a way to play upon your fantasy. She wished the two of you had never met, and in doing so created this world. In a way, she was testing to see if it is adequate enough before…" She stopped, and looked down at the ground which made me worry.
"Before what?" I urged.
"Before she makes this world permanent." She finished.
I felt a lose of words, now feeling even worse about everything. I pissed Haruhi off so bad, that she subconsciously made a new world that could become the real one. Figures. It really figures. "Then is there something I can do to change it? I already tried talking to the Haruhi here. I already tried to repeat what I did last time and it didn't work out the same way."
"No," Miss Kimidori said simply, "nothing happens the same way twice, as you've seen. I am sorry, we do not know how to fix this. Only you can fix it, Kyon."
"Okay great," I said sarcastically before panicking, "why me? What did ever do? If Haruhi's planning to keep it this way, what am I suppose to do? It's not like I have any strange powers that can change it all. I can't go back in time, I can't do anything." This day was just getting worse. I could feel myself choking up a bit, if you can believe that.
"You are wrong," Miss Kimidori said sighing, "Kyon, my sources tell me that the esper in your group, Itsuki Koizumi, has spoken to you several times about yours and Miss Suzumiya's bond?"
Bringing Koizumi into this wasn't going to help. "Yeah, he's told me about this invisible bond Haruhi and I have. Haruhi does trust me, I'll agree with him on that, but that doesn't mean I can control her."
"But you can," Miss Kimidori said sounding worried. "You have proven already in the past that you can change the outcome to Miss Suzumiya's powers. You keep her at bay and that is a very powerful thing."
"Look, Miss Kimidori, I'm sorry but I can't help you. This whole time I've been trying to find one of you and ask you to help me; not the other way around." I insisted. What help could I be to any of them? Koizumi confirmed I was just a normal human being after all.
"We can't interfere though, I am very sorry," Miss Kimidori said with a polite bow. "I will do all I can to try and aid you in the near future, but we ask of you to please try and convince this Haruhi to return to the real world."
"This Haruhi?" I asked looking at her confused, "what do you mean this Haruhi?"
"This Haruhi Suzumiya is not the real one, naturally. The real one is back in the real world. Everyone is back in the real world, this one is only a copy. Never the less, this Haruhi Suzumiya may or may not have the same powers and you need to provoke her."
"The last time I provoked Haruhi, I ended up here," I explained, "can't you talk to her?"
"I cannot. I already came into Miss Suzumiya's view once and I shouldn't have done even that." So this was the same girl as before. "Not only that, but I must go and report to Nagato. Currently, the real world is frozen in time and only when Miss Suzumiya comes up with a conclusion will things either return to normal or vanish altogether."
"No pressure," I muttered bitterly looking down at the ground. I traced the lines on the floor a second before looking back up, "so what if I-" I stopped though when I noticed she was gone. Not only that, but the entire classroom had gone back to its lifeless state.
Haruhi was back in school the next day, while Miss Asakura wasn't. When our teacher explained to the class that she'd moved to 'Canada', I expected Haruhi to jump at the chance to investigate, but naturally she didn't. I was slowly getting use to this calmer, less adventurous Haruhi, much to my dismay.
Class went on and I just kept trying to think of ways to get back to my world. I had to provoke Haruhi's wrath, according to Miss Kimidori. I wasn't so sure about her, but trying to piss off Haruhi was not the top of my to-do list. I mean, put yourself in my position for a minute. Would you rather:
A. Go about living a weird, yet normal, life in another dimension.
B. Piss off a god-like being and try to get back to the 'normal' world.
C. Piss off a god-like being and hopefully not die.
Or D. Sit and do nothing for the rest of your life.
The correct answer is E. All of the above. I've already done half those things and the other half was starting to look dangerously good.
I tapped my pencil on my desk, without realizing such, as I tried to think of what to do. We were in the middle of a test, and I wasn't even close to being done. How could I complete something as trivial as a test under these circumstances though? I had studied well enough to know it all, I just wasn't interested. You wouldn't be either, trust me.
"Can you stop that," came an annoyed voice from behind me. At first I didn't realize who it was or what they were talking about. Glancing out the window to see the reflection, I noticed Haruhi glaring back at me. After exams she always had time to just sleep, and as annoying as that was, it didn't bother me as much today. "People are trying to work," she followed up before shutting her eyes.
She was talking about the other students who weren't sleeping, naturally.
"Sorry," I said, setting my pencil aside, just staring down at the half finished test. "Hey Haruhi, can we talk after school today?" I asked trying to sound as calm and casual as possible; which turned out to be much easier than I expected.
"You going to kiss me again?" She hissed under her breath, just loud enough so I could hear.
"No, not at all," I assured.
"What do you want then?" She asked a little louder, so I hushed my voice to drop the hint.
"Just wanted to talk," I said with the faintest shrug. I waited a while but didn't get an answer back. Half heartedly I turned my attention to my test; some kind of biology statement. It was a trick question but the answer was still a simple one. The answer was E. All of the above.
When the bell finally rang and the students were free from the test, I got up and gathered my things sluggishly. The day had gone by with no excitement, nothing weird at all. I kept expecting Miss Kimidori to pop up and talk to me, but she never did. Haruhi barely spoke to me, aside from during the test, and after the dismissal she had vanished. Talking to Haruhi apparently wasn't going to happen today.
Kunikida and Taniguchi asked me if I wanted to hang out but I told them I wasn't feeling too good. They bought it, especially since I vanished at lunch that day; I was searching the school for any sign of Miss Kimidori. By the time lunch was over I had reported back to the classroom empty handed and with an empty stomach to match.
I got home eventually but nothing seemed to be able to cheer me up. My sister greeted me with her usual warm smile, obnoxiously so, but it didn't even annoy me today. I just went passed her and headed for my bedroom, where my bed looked rather inviting. As I lay face down on it, upset with the world, I tried to think of what I'd do if I was really stuck here. Forget my friends and family and live with these new ones? They were pretty much the same thing, and yet you could see the differences clearer each day.
I sighed and rolled over, glancing at my bookshelf for whatever reason, when I spotted a thin rectangular box. "Hm?" I muttered sitting up and staring. It was a black box, whatever it was, and I'd never seen it before. Not here anyway.
I stood up and walked over reaching out for it stopping when something appeared on the top, as if by magic. The all black box suddenly had a tiny note sized paper engraved on its surface. Written in fine handwriting it read 'Meet in the park in one hour.'
My clue had arrived and not a moment too late.