And here's the next chapter everybody! I'd never leave you guys on too much of a cliffhanger. Enjoy!

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I would be lying if I said there weren't a million questions going through my mind right now. I was confused to the maximum degree. But could you blame me?

Itsuki Koizumi had just told me that he was losing his esper abilities; not to mention the fact he was losing some of his memories as well. Yuki Nagato was beginning to act like a human, and Mikuru Asahina was also exhibiting signs of the same memory loss that was affecting Koizumi.

And this all had to do with Haruhi Suzumiya. She was the clear and present center of the entire problem. And she had absolutely no idea of any of it.

"What are you all waiting for? Go already!" Haruhi said; her voice just as commanding as usual. She had told us that today was our break day; and that there was no reason for us to be staying in the clubroom. I'm still surprised I didn't take this as a chance to sprint out.

I watched Koizumi leave first, before Mikuru followed him out. It was strange to see that she didn't even take the time to change out of her maid outfit; but she just left anyway. Yuki was the last to leave; and I could see that her movements were more haphazard and drowsy than normal. She really did look exhausted.

"Yuki needs more sleep. I don't want members who are going to come in like they're practically zombies." Haruhi commented behind me; having crossed her arms as she watched Yuki close the clubroom door behind her.

I turned to face Haruhi, raising an eyebrow as I did so. She looked focused at the moment; even though there was really nothing for her to focus on. Her eyes almost looked as if they were struggling to stop glaring. Haruhi's arms remained crossed, and she swung her face in my direction when she finally noticed that I had remained in the room.

"What are you looking at?" she asked me; her hands suddenly moving to her hips as she attempted to talk down to me.

Stuff like this wasn't anything new. I had begun to get used to Suzumiya-san's attitude to everything and everyone. Though it changed drastically and sporadically; there was still some sense of rationality in the way she expressed herself. Just enough of it for me to single out from all the rest of her eccentricities. I decided that the only sensible thing to do now was to try and be reasonable with Haruhi. Though that in itself sounds unreasonable.

"Is something bugging you? Because you seem different lately." I asked Haruhi; my voice doing it's best to express actual concern and care for her. It's not like this was something that I was trying to fake; but I knew for a fact something was definitely bugging Suzumiya-san.

"It's nothing. Stop worrying about me, Kyon." Haruhi replied; keeping her arms crossed as she actually turned away from me. It seemed that the window had suddenly become much more interesting to her. The sun was beginning to set outside. It's a real coincidence how many sunsets I've really been noticing lately.

I walked forward; putting my bag down in the process. A few months ago; and advance like this would most certainly be unwanted from Suzumiya-san; even from me. But I think there's a supposed relationship between us now; so I expected that even Haruhi wouldn't be as introverted around me as she usually was.

Slowly; I put a gentle hand on her shoulder; prompting her to face me, even though she still had her arms crossed and her face twisted in an annoyed expression.

"You can't even tell me? Come on. You can trust your underlings. You can trust your…"

My words seemed to just spiral off at the last part. I meant to say "boyfriend"; but the word didn't want to leave the sanctity of my mouth. It sat there, before dissolving back into the back of my mind; unused and unwanted.

"It's none of your business. And don't go trying to convince me with your kissing. That won't work." Haruhi said; almost pouting as she remained defiant about keeping her emotions secret from me.

"Fine. It's not like I was going to do it anyway." I replied; adding the last part purposefully. It was done so that it might not only ignite Suzumiya-san's temper; but also possibly have her reveal her thoughts in the process. She was sometimes one to just let things out by accident.

"What's that supposed to mean?!? Am I not good enough for you or something!?!?" Haruhi said with a shout, while grabbing me painfully by the ear at the same time. Like I've said; her grip is strong, and this was certainly hurting like hell.

"I mean….I just didn't think about it! Guess it didn't cross my mind!" I quickly replied, trying to sound as sorry as possible, while still in Haruhi's hold. My ear felt like it was going to be torn right off. I could tell that Suzumiya-san thought about my answer for a few seconds, before letting go of my ear; apparently satisfied with my response.

I rubbed my ear as if I was nursing a fatal wound. God, she has a real temper! I can only imagine if I ever had a second mind to break up with her…

Note to self; that would certainly mean the end of the world. In short; this means I have to stay with Haruhi as long as she wants. So if I'm correct; I have to be monogamous; or the entire universe could suffer at Suzumiya-san's hands. Wow; that almost sounds unfair, if you ask me.

It didn't take long for me to go back to my previous train of thought; mostly because I didn't really want to think of the consequences of actually doing something as foolish as breaking up with God. I looked back at Haruhi with uncertainty; nervously rubbing the back of my neck. For a few seconds; there was pure silence in the club room.

"You're still not going to tell me what's on your mind?"

Haruhi looked as if she was thinking about her answer to my question. She was staring away from me for a few seconds; and it was hard to admit that her attempts at ignoring other people were actually cute in way. Finally; Haruhi took a big deep breath, and she let arms finally uncross and hang at her sides.

"I'm just bored. Everything is too normal. I want something exciting to happen."

Despite the way she put it; Suzumiya-san did have a point with what she was saying. Although I didn't perceive the things going on in my life as boring; Haruhi always did. She always seemed to find the boring element to everything; even though her main goal was to find the exciting one. To Suzumiya-san; everything was undoubtedly boring. And that was why Koizumi insisted we entertain her and satiate her in any way we could. Even when I didn't want to say he was right; he always was anyway.

I looked back at Haruhi. I was a little unsure of what to say to her. I could go on about how she was really surrounded by all the bizarre people and things she searched for; but I certainly wasn't stupid. I sighed, realizing I could only say so much to Haruhi in response.

"It's not boring to me. You're the only one who gets bored like this. Maybe you should just be a little satisfied for once." I blankly replied. I didn't realize what the unintended results of my words might actually be.

"You don't get it!" Haruhi replied with an obviously angry tone; her finger suddenly pointing directly at my face. She has ceased to stop all this accusing pointing.

"I'm never going to be satisfied with normal. I'm only going to be satisfied with all the time travelers, espers and aliens that I can ever find!"

Suzumiya-san's words bounced through my ears with the speed of a runaway train. They were clear and concise, along with being dead serious as always. I was beginning to get the feeling that Haruhi thought that either I wasn't taking her seriously; or I was trying to mock her. Before I could say another word; she turned around, now diverting her attention to watching whatever was out the clubroom window.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Don't be late." Haruhi said to me; not making any attempt to change her annoyed tone of voice or to turn around and face me. I wasn't dumb enough to realize that Haruhi was indirectly telling me to leave. But I still couldn't help but feel left in the dark; not to mention saddened by the fact that Haruhi was making it seem like I had wronged her in some way.

What could I do now? Haruhi obviously didn't want to talk to me. The only available option now was to just leave.

And that's what I did. Without so much as a single word; I left Haruhi to think. The door closed behind me with little noise, and I didn't even take a look back to see if Haruhi had reacted at all.

I still don't get it. Was it my fault that Suzumiya-san was pissed off from the lack of strangeness lately? She seemed to make it sound like that. Her mood wasn't the same one I had seen the other day; when I had been forced to take her out to eat. She was more calm and happy yesterday. Now she was in yet another bad mood. And these bad moods seemed to be much worse than her melancholic ones.

The truth was; I haven't wronged Suzumiya-san at all. She was just taking out her problems on me. Even though I was the closest contact and friend that she probably had; she still couldn't help but get mad at me the most. Even though I was practically her boyfriend; she still had the utmost reason to continue treating me like a lowly Brigade member.

These thoughts and more surged through my mind as I left North High and began to head for home. The evening was already beginning to fall; and I had a feeling Haruhi would be leaving the clubroom soon enough. She probably just didn't want to leave at the same time as me. I wonder if she's watching me from the window above….

I can't believe I'm thinking this; but I'm almost starting to question this "relationship".

What had Haruhi done or shown that proves we're going out? We've held hands a few times. She kisses me when she wants to. I kiss her from time to time. We've gone on one actual date. But even I'm starting to doubt us being together. This relationship feels like the usual fare with her. Suzumiya-san needs to be in control; and I'm expected to just listen to her orders.

But I'm not her personal soldier! I'm just another teenage boy. It's not like I even asked for all this weirdness to pile on top of me when Haruhi entered my life! Even though it was boring; it was somewhat tranquil, and free of all the stress that I have now.

Haruhi might be God; but she still doesn't understand everything. She doesn't get that the world isn't supposed to revolve around her. Koizumi would say it literally does; but I still hold to saying that it shouldn't. Just because she has the power to change whatever the hell she wants; doesn't mean she should be indirectly exercising it whenever she gets into a piss-off mood.

Now the walk home is beginning to suddenly feel slow. I don't know if it's all because of the fact that I'm thinking; or maybe it's because I'm in no real rush to get back to my same old room.

Nevertheless; everything is starting to strangely feel quiet and empty.

Ugh; why do these things have to happen to me? Why did I have to end up falling for Haruhi Suzumiya? Someone might tell me it was fate, and someone else might tell me it was the doing of that same teenage girl. For all I know; she could be pulling the strings to all the feelings and emotions in my head. For all I know; I'm being forced to love her.

What the hell am I thinking? Are these thoughts all coming to me because I'm a little mad at Haruhi? The truth is; probably.

"You look deeper in thought than last time." A voice said; coming from beside me. If I hadn't been so enwrapped with my own thoughts; I might have actually been a little jumpy at the fact Koizumi was just walking next to me all of a sudden. If I hadn't known better, I might have said he was there the entire time.

Was he following me? If so; then that's kind of creepy. Nevertheless; I still manage to respond to his comment.

"I'm fine. There's a lot going on between me and Haruhi. I'm guessing you would know."

I didn't even have to look to know that Itsuki was most definitely smiling. He had his hands in his pockets, and the way he spoke gave me the impression that he was either too confident, or lying about something.

"I have some idea."

"Oh, you do?" I replied; purposely with an indignant tone. But Koizumi just gave me another smirk. That could go so far as to piss me off; especially considering my own mood right now.

"There is some tension between Suzumiya-san and you. And that's because of recent events. I'm starting to believe that the failure she experienced on that island is still affecting her. I'm also starting to believe that something beyond the end of the world is on the horizon." Koizumi said, and it was easy to tell that I was going to be doing more listening than talking in this conversation.

"You mean another end of the omniverse or whatever it was. I think I get that at this point. End of one universe, and then the creation of a new one."

Frankly; I was getting a little tired of the fact that Koizumi seemed to always assume I never knew enough. Just because he didn't tell me half the stuff I needed to know concerning Suzumiya-san; doesn't mean that I'm not able to come to conclusions myself.

"I don't think you understand at all. This is a very grave matter." Itsuki answered; his voice suddenly going from carefree to serious.

"You've already seen that I, Asahina-san and Nagato-san are beginning to lose what makes us special. My abilities have been weakening, Asahina is losing knowledge of the future, and Nagato is beginning to turn into a human being. These are not pure coincidences. They are all directly rooted to Suzumiya-san. Something inside her is causing us all to suffer."

"And do you have any idea what that might be?" I ask; trying my best to sound curious; but mostly wondering if Koizumi had a good answer to what he was trying to explain.

"I have only subtle clues, but I'm beginning to suspect that Suzumiya-san is beginning to lose her belief in the extraordinary. And once that belief is truly gone; the very things she has caused will begin to dissipate. But the worst part is not even that. With the help of some of my colleagues; we've concluded that Haruhi will slowly begin to lose her power as a deity. In essence; she will soon cease to be what we might call "God"."

"So you're saying that everything might just end up normal? The world might just end up being the way it once was; without any time travelers, espers or aliens?"

If I didn't know any better; that entire premise didn't actually sound so bad. A regular world wouldn't sound too bad at all.

Koizumi looked as if he was ready to make another smirk; but something was stopping him. His eyes narrowed; and his voice came out as if he was proclaiming impending doom. And in a way; he really was.

"It could be that simple; but it's not likely. Instead; I believe that when Suzumiya-san finally ceases to be God, all of reality will simply collapse. Everything that once was will be no more. But that's all in theory, of course."

Koizumi's words might have alluded to being "in theory"; but even I knew that they were probably right. It was kind of scary that he talked about it in such a carefree way. I certainly wouldn't be smiling if I was telling someone that the whole universe was on the verge of ending.

"I'm not even going to know who you are soon. It seems that Suzumiya-san is affecting our memories with every passing moment. I've forgotten so many things already. For all I know; I've forgotten the key to solving this entire problem." Itsuki added; his voice becoming serious again. He didn't smile this time.

"I must go. I have things to attend to. Watch yourself. Or better yet; watch Suzumiya-san." Itsuki finally said; before I watched him turn a street corner and disappear from my view. I could only expect him coming and going so fast. I'd absorbed most of what he said; but it was still hard to take in.

It's almost funny in a way, even though it shouldn't be. Reminds me of what Haruhi said the first day I met the girl. The day she stood up in the middle of the class, and said…

What did she say? I could have sworn….I remembered that. It was something about….

God…I think I've seriously forgotten it. I forgot the one statement she told everyone on her first day in North High.

Eh; it's no big deal. I'm sure it'll come back to me. I doubt it can stay out of my head for too long.

It was only then, after Koizumi had gone and my thoughts had stopped racing, had I noticed how dark everything had suddenly become. The streetlights themselves were flickering off as I looked around. There were no sounds at all. Everything was certainly eerier than normal. And to top it all off; I realized that I never had walked very far on my route to get home. I could have been walking in circles this entire time; because the houses hadn't changed at all.

Where the hell did I go?

In this suddenly dark atmosphere; it becomes easy to notice a white crane slowly descending from the sky. And it was the very same white crane that I had seen with Haruhi; back when we had taken an overnight trip to that deserted island.

Its feathers were just as brilliant as before, and I noticed that it flew towards the ground with a certain defined elegance. The bird flapped its wings slowly but efficiently. When its feet finally reached the asphalt, I watched as its gaze focused completely on me.

Before I could do anything; the crane began to dematerialize in front of me. Its body started breaking piece by piece; as if it was disassembling itself. I watched the tiny bits start to go into the air; collating themselves in what looked like a large cloud.

It was then I noticed that they were reassembling themselves. They started small; having put themselves together into a pair of shoes. The tiny particles continued reconstructing; now forming a skirt, and a dress. It was a familiar uniform. The same one that all the girls at North High wore.

When I started to see blue hair forming; I was already beginning to back away. It took another few seconds, and there was soon a person who was now standing in front of me.

A person I had watched literally sublime into data particles in front of my very eyes. A person I never thought to see again. To tell the truth; she wasn't really a person in the first place.

It was none other than Ryoko Asakura; the human interface that had tried to murder me, and would have been successful; if Nagato-san hadn't stopped her.

But there she was in front of me. She was smiling, and her voice was strangely cheerful as she spoke.

"It's been awhile. I missed so much since Nagato-san decided I had lost my purpose. I really wouldn't try running if I were you. There's a lot to discuss, and you need to be present to hear it."

Discuss? I have a feeling she's going to be doing this discussing over my dead body.

"I'm guessing this place is under your jurisdiction like last time?" I asked nervously; with a purposeful tone that implied not really wanting an answer. I was done backing away; because I knew there was no escape at this point.

Ryoko simply nodded; a smile still on her face before she started walking towards me; her blue hair waving slightly as she did so.

I had no words right now. I was clearly trapped, and the only thing on my mind was the fact that my death was staring me in the face. What might have I done if I had known something like this might happen? Well; I would have told Haruhi to shut up and just…

Never mind. I should have seen something like this coming. I should have; but I didn't. Stupid me…..