It's 8:30PM Monday night and, guess who should be doing homework? ME! I SHOULD! But I'm not. I'm writing fanfiction. What does that say about my commitment to school? Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. It even comes complete with its own monologue at the end. Make sure to tell me what you think of this chapter, too!

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Nothing got better between 4 o'clock that morning and noon, when the power came back up, but Itsuki and Kyon assumed that the power companies had finally kicked it in the butt and gotten everything working again.

The first thing that Itsuki did when the power came back was turn up the heat, and he sighed as he rejoined Kyon on the couch. They'd laid there the whole time, listening to the rain and dozing off every once in awhile. Though it was apparent that it was daytime now, it was still pretty dark, and the weather hadn't let up at all.

Kyon grabbed a remote off of the coffee table and pressed the power button, sighing when the TV came on. "News..." he mumbled softly as he pressed the numbers for the local news channel.

The two watched the screen in horror as the screen displayed severe floods less than twenty miles from their town, and fires that had started elsewhere from lightning. Closer to Tokyo there was even an earthquake. The Japanese government had even declared a state of emergency.

Kyon looked over at Itsuki, who was sitting in a ball on the couch, clearly enjoying having his heat back. He didn't look happy in the least, though. He returned Kyon's look with a gloomy one of his own.

"The floods are getting closer to us," Kyon said, standing up slowly. "I think I'd better go and visit Haruhi."

Those were the words that Itsuki had been dreading. They'd talked it out, and although Itsuki felt like he was losing Kyon forever and a big hole was being ripped in his heart, he knew the sake of the world depended on his own ability to be mature enough to let go of Kyon.

Itsuki stood up with him and followed him to the door, each new heartbeat bringing a pain like hell. As Kyon began to pull on his now damp outer clothes, Itsuki almost burst into tears again.

A small cry escaped his throat unintentionally, and he looked down at the floor in embarrassment as he felt even more of the cries building up. He took a deep, shaky breath and swallowed his tears, though, and looked back up at Kyon.

"We're doing what we have to do..." he said softly, well aware that his eyes were tearing up. As Kyon finished pulling on his last coat, he opened up the door. Absolutely horrifying.

"Itsuki..." he sighed as he took a step out onto the porch. Itsuki followed, but stayed inside the door frame, his arms folded for warmth. Kyon leaned toward Itsuki, and instead of kissing his lips, he kissed his cheek softly. He leaned back, whispered, "I love you," and turned around to face the storm.

"I... I love you, too... Kyon..." the ESPer whispered as Kyon stepped off of the porch and into the rain.

Itsuki watched him for a moment, but couldn't handle the sight of him leaving. He stepped back inside the house and shut the door, and let his body be taken over by heavy sobs and let his eyes become drowned in tears.

Kyon had nearly drowned by the time he got to Haruhi's house, and he knocked on the door nonstop until it was answered. Haruhi, her face red and tear-streaked, stood with her arms folded. She wore common house clothes; a jacket and sweatpants, probably for warmth.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice breaking slightly, a little rough and tired.

"Haruhi... can I explain?" Kyon asked, making sure his voice was extra pleading. He knew he had to fix this, and fast.

Haruhi just stepped aside and pouted lightly, slamming the door shut once Kyon was inside. She took a seat on the couch, folding her legs up on the seat with her and staring into her lap. She looked truly melancholic.

Kyon repeated the lengthy process of ridding himself of his wet clothes, and he took a seat next to Haruhi the same way he did with Itsuki. This time, though, he kept a distance between them.

"Haruhi, will you look at me?" he asked, his voice and face both very serious.

"Why should I?" Haruhi asked, whipping her head around to scowl at him. "You were dating me, Kyon! And I find you... kissing... Koizumi!" She shook her head as she began to cry again, and Kyon scooted a little closer.

"Listen..." he said, his voice soft and gentle. "I was... really confused. But I left Koizumi for you. I don't love him... I love you, Haruhi." It wasn't hard to lie; he just had to pretend he was telling the truth. Some could even call it acting.

Haruhi looked up at him slowly. "You... you love me?" she asked, her hurt expression turning into one of hope. "Do you mean it?"

Kyon nodded and he took one of Haruhi's tiny, soft hands in his bigger one, squeezing it tight.

"I hope you can forgive me," he said quietly. "I'm really sorry that this happened..." He looked up to see what effect this was having on Haruhi, and she appeared to be deep in thought.

When she finally looked up, she wore a happy face. Kyon almost sighed in relief out loud. "You're forgiven, Kyon," she said, her voice breaking again, but this time it didn't sound so much out of sadness. "As long as you promise you really love me, and no one else."

Kyon smiled as genuine a smile as he could manage. "I could never love another man," he said. "Especially not as much as you." As Haruhi looked up at him, he noticed that the rain had quieted, maybe even stopped completely. To top things off, Kyon leaned forward and kissed Haruhi on the lips gently. When he pulled away, Haruhi was smiling.

Why... when I had finally found the one person I could trust? The one person I could love above everyone and everything else?

It isn't fair!

Why can't I be normal? I'd give my life and everything I own to be reborn in the same life as a normal human being surrounded by normal people.

If Haruhi wasn't fucking GOD, none of this would have to happen.

Kyon would still be here... holding me... I'd still be in Kyon's arms, happy, and warm.

I'll never fall out of love with Kyon. But what if he falls out of love with me because of Haruhi?

Maybe he could never love her, but... what's keeping his love for me going if we can't be together? Nothing is the answer. I'll never be happy without Kyon... it isn't possible. I dread the rest of my life without Kyon. How will I wake up and face the day knowing Kyon can never hold me or love me ever again?

I'll see them both at the brigade every day.

I'd quit that fucking hell if I could. If only I could. Haruhi would probably throw a fit and the whole world would implode.

It's all her fault...

I wish I was dead.

Or, even better?

I wish Haruhi Suzumiya was dead.

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