I covered my face with my hand in order to block the sunlight from my eyes. After my sight had suitably adjusted to the sun, I put my hand down and looked out the open window. The sky was bright blue, barely a cloud in sight. I got up and got dressed, already figuring out what I needed to do today. Then there was a voice from behind me.

"If it keeps warming up at this rate, the snow will be all gone by April... if it's not already gone."

Walking to the window and looking out, I sighed and shook my head. "No, there's still a little left. I'd give it a day or two at the most."

I turned to see Emiri smiling up at me, her body covered in a morning dress. She brushed some hair back out of her face and got out of the bed. "I think it's a little concerning, how short the winter is getting. Don't you?"

I shook my head and stepped over to the small television that was set up in the corner, turning it on. "I don't see any reason to be distressed by it." I looked back at her and saw her frown. She was making a face that said something was bothering her ears.

I looked down at the television to see only static. That's… strange. I flipped through the one hundred and forty channels we got, only to find all but five had turned to static. All five remaining channels were being transmitted from a rather close location, and on top of that they were all coming through very poorly.

I slapped the top of the television, knowing full well that it wasn't the TV's fault. Under the normal sounds of people talking and the static crackling and fuzzing, I noticed another sound. It was a low-pitched whine, and it was starting to get to me. I turned the TV off after realizing that the sound was giving Emiri a headache.

She took a deep breath and turned to me. "Thank you. What do you think was making that noise?"

I just shrugged. "Maybe the signal was getting messed up by the sun. The news yesterday said something about solar activity."

"Record."

I looked at her. "Record?" Then I caught on and added the missing piece of the news report to my sentence. "Oh yeah, that's right. They said it was record solar activity…"

Behind me, she was changing into her clothes for the day. "Ryoko wants us in by nine thirty. What time is it?"

I glanced at the clock and, seeing that it was a quarter of an hour after nine in the morning, started getting ready for work with a great emphasis on speed. We didn't have time to grab anything to eat before we left, but Yuki would most likely let us have something of hers so long as we didn't eat too much.

Emiri clapped her hands together, catching my attention. "Hey! What time is it?"

I gave her an innocent smile, knowing full well she couldn't see it. "Sorry. It's a quarter after nine."

"Meaning we should hurry up." She grabbed a red-tipped cane from the corner and moved to the door.

I nodded and stepped over to join her. "The bus will be out front in three or four minutes. I'll race you."

We laughed as we stepped out the door and walked down the hallway. We took the stairs down to the main floor and walked out the front door of the apartment building, heading across the street to the bus stop. She rested her head against my shoulder as we waited.

Looking around, I could see that the snow was almost gone. The sun was melting it all away. For the end of March, I noted that there wasn't much in the way of green anywhere. In fact, the only plants that seemed to have grown had already withered and died under the heat from the sun. I began to think that maybe the early thaw wasn't for the best.

Come to think of it, I was starting to feel a bit queasy in the heat. I was about to say something about it when Emiri started leaning more heavily on me. Coupled with my quickly increasing dizziness, I almost fell over. I tried to straighten her up some, but she simply collapsed onto me.

It was the heat. I could feel it pounding me as well. Why didn't she say anything? The bus had air conditioning. Once it came, we would be fine.

I waited for an hour before I realized the bus wasn't coming. By that time it was too late. I could hardly move, and Emiri was already gone. The few people I could see had fainted the same as her. I had no way of knowing if they were still alive.

Everything went black, and I heard a voice.

"Haruhi Suzumiya is looking for me. Tell her that she can find me in Paris."

I shot out of bed, panting heavily and covered in cold sweat, and my head hit something green. Falling back into my bed, I slapped my hand to my forehead. I opened my eyes eventually to see Emiri rubbing her head in much the same way. Did I just hit my head on her head? What's she doing in my room?

I jumped up and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

She laughed. "Yes, I'll be fine. I should have known better than to stick my face so close to someone who was having a nightmare."

Oh yes, the dream. Was it a nightmare? The image of Emiri limp in my arms flashed through my mind, reminding me that it was indeed a nightmare. "Okay... why were you in my room to begin with?"

She smiled nervously. "You slept in past noon. Haruhi said it was probably just jet lag, but then we heard you yelling. They didn't know if you were wearing anything, so they sent me in. Um... what were you dreaming about."

Among other things, waking up in the same bed as you. Can't say that, can I? Especially if she thinks the whole thing was a terrible nightmare. That could ruin a relationship.

I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. "Why do you want to know?"

She blushed. "You said my name a few times..."

Uh... oops.

"And you said Haruhi's name once too..." She shook her head and handed me an envelope. "Forget I asked. Uh... here. This came in my mail box this morning. Ryoko says it has your name on it."

I took the envelope and, sure enough, it was addressed to me. Who would know they could reach me through Emiri? I was about to open it to find out when my phone started ringing. I picked it up and put it to my ear, holding it in place with my shoulder so I could open the envelope at the same time.

The voice on the other end was that of a smooth and calm young man. To be honest, it was also a bit creepy. "Did you get my letter?"

This whole situation is a bit awkward, but I'll humor the guy. "If it's the one I'm holding, then I did."

"Good. It includes a map of the city. You're going to need it when you get there."

"When I get where?" I finally managed to pry the envelope open and pull out a folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, I confirmed that it was a map. "What city is this?"

"Which do you think it is? Paris, of course. I told you." When does he think he told me? "In your dream last night." That got me. Did he just read my mind over the phone? "Yes, as a matter of fact, that's exactly what I did."

This has got to stop. "How did you do that? How are you doing that?"

"Simple. I'm an esper. So, can you bring Miss Suzumiya to Paris for me?"

I decided to stop thinking and just answer. "Uh, yeah. I think I can. Where are you right now?"

"Why, I'm in Paris. Don't worry about finding me. As soon as you arrive, my company will contact you and bring you both to me."

"Wait. You can read my mind from Paris?"

He gave a light chuckle, another word that is and always will be ridiculous. "Yes, but only so long as we're connected by phone."

Right. Of course. "Then how did you send me that... dream?"

"Oh, I planted that when we were still in school together. I admit, it would have seemed out of place had I not lived long enough to explain it to you, but I had been reassured that I would still be around."

"So, hold on. You're an esper, but you still have your powers?"

"Still have them? Yes, but they have grown quite a bit. I'd be glad to explain further once you arrive. Just tell Miss Suzumiya that Itsuki Koizumi called. I'll see you there."

Then he hung up, leaving me wondering how much of that to actually believe. He planted that dream in my head thirteen, maybe fourteen, years ago. How did he know I'd be thinking about being with Emiri Kimidori? More importantly, how did he know she would be blind? He leaves me with no choice but to believe him, which I naturally hate.

I made sure I was wearing proper clothing, then I stepped out into the hallway. I immediately had to dodge Asakura, who then ducked into a room and started coughing rather loudly. I went to check on her, only to find her bent over the bathroom sink with strands of red dripping from her mouth.

I looked down the hall both ways. Once I knew there was nobody near, I determined to press for answers. "This, whatever it is, is not okay. What's really wrong?"

She glared at me, taking a cloth and wiping the blood from her mouth. "I'm sick. That's all there really is. I'll be fine."

"Will you really?"

She grimaced and pushed past me. "For a few more months... don't tell anyone."

Ignoring whatever that could end up meaning, I followed her into the kitchen where everyone else was waiting. Emiri was seated at the table, happily eating a sandwich. Haruhi was leaning on the counter, eating a sandwich of her own while Yuki was whittling a stick with a rather disturbingly large knife. I was about to say something when I realized Haruhi was already talking to Yuki.

"Do you even wonder where the rest of the brigade went?"

Yuki missed a slice at her stick, gouging a chunk out of the wooden table instead. "...not really."

"Not even Mikuru?"

I realized then what Haruhi was trying to figure out, but it seemed to slip past everyone else. Yuki just frowned. "Really not."

Haruhi took another bight out of her sandwich, talking around the mouth full. "Why not? What's wrong with Mikuru?"

Yuki pounded the table, startling Emiri into dropping her sandwich, and practically shouted at Haruhi. "What's wrong with Mikuru!? You don't even know all the things she lied to you about! She was a worthless, spineless little-" I'll let you fill in the blank.

Haruhi set her sandwich aside. "Mikuru was essential to bringing clients to the brigade. What did you ever do?"

Yuki threw the stick at Haruhi, but it just bounced harmlessly off her shoulder. "More than you know! More than you could ever know!"

Asakura took a few steps away from the two, watching Yuki carefully. "Yuki... put down the knife."

Haruhi obviously didn't hear her, as she continued to antagonize an armed woman who stood more than half a foot taller than her. "You never did anything! I know I gave Kyon a lot of crap for it, but you were the one who never helped!"

I'm not so sure my mind was even capable of keeping up with what happened next, but I am sure that it didn't. One moment, they were standing opposite each other and Haruhi had just yelled something at Yuki. The next moment Yuki had her hand in the air, swinging her knife at Haruhi. It took my mind a few moments to register that Yuki wasn't finishing her swing, and a few more to realize it wasn't voluntary.

Suddenly, Asakura was between the two of them, her hand around the blade of the knife. Yuki let go of the handle and staggered back, as if she had move to attack Haruhi without even knowing it. Asakura dropped the knife and fell to the ground, shaking uncontrollably. Haruhi had frozen, her eyes moving from Asakura to Yuki and back again.

For some reason, it seemed like I was the only one that could move. I grabbed a cloth from the counter and, kneeling in front of Asakura, I wrapped it around her hand to cover the large gash and hopefully stop some of the blood flow.

I looked over my shoulder at Yuki. "Can you drive?"

Her eyes snapped over to me. "W-what?"

"We need to get her to a hospital. Can you drive?"

"Oh! Right, uh, yes!" She hurried into the front room, then to the garage. Emiri stood up and moved to follow her.

I hoisted Asakura up and walked her out to the car as quickly as I could. I briefly turned to Haruhi. "Stay here, okay?"

She just nodded in response. I carried Asakura to the car and loaded her in the back seat, resting her head on Emiri's lap, then got in the passenger seat. Yuki already had the motor running, but instead of driving away she turned back to Asakura.

"I'm sorry."

Asakura shook her head. "I just kept you from doing something you'd regret. You did the same for me. Remember?"

Yuki turned away and nodded. "I'm still sorry."

The car pulled out onto the road, and we were on the way to the hospital. No one said a word. Emiri quietly fussed over Asakura. Yuki tried to keep her eyes clear while she was driving. I tried in vain to work out why Yuki overreacted like that. I decided that I would ask her about it when we were sure Asakura was going to be fine.

When we pulled into the hospital parking lot, there were people standing out front waiting for her. Had Haruhi called ahead of us to tell them we were coming? We didn't waste time asking. We just handed Asakura over to them and let the professionals take over.

They wouldn't let us follow them as they carted her off into the hospital, but one of them stayed behind to explain why they were waiting. "We got a call just a few minutes ago. The police will be here in a few moments to take the weapon. The caller requested that it be destroyed, so we called the appropriate authorities."

Yuki stepped forward. "Yes, good. I want to get rid of it as soon as possible."

He nodded and went back into the hospital. I don't think he knew how the accident happened, but I was beginning to think Yuki had called instead of Haruhi. I was about to ask, but was cut off when a police car pulled up. A uniformed officer stepped out. Yuki handed him the weapon and talked to him for a bit. I don't know what she said. I was too distracted by Emiri, who had started clinging to my arm.

I was drawn back to reality when Yuki got into the police car. It drove off with her in the back, and I can only assume that she told him what happened. The car disappeared around a corner and we were left alone, just me and Emiri.

"What just happened?"

I looked down at Emiri. She was staring up at me blindly, asking where Yuki had disappeared to. I had no answer to give. No words came to my mouth. So we just stood there in the hospital parking lot. An hour might have passed before something happened, but eventually someone stopped their car in front of us. I hardly noticed until they spoke to us.

"You two look like you could use a lift."

I looked up and, lo and behold, there was a beautiful young redheaded woman. She was wearing a tight pair of jeans and a black, low-necked, sleeveless shirt. She smiled pleasantly at us from the front seat of a hot red convertible, with a little tea leaf decoration swinging from the top of the windshield.

Her smile never wavered. "Can I give you a ride somewhere?"

Emiri beat me to a response, but it's my own fault for spending too much time staring at the woman's rather sizable... attributes. Emiri put her hands on the car door. "Yes, if you wouldn't mind. Are you headed towards the airport?"

She just smiled wider. "I could make a detour. You leaving the country?"

Emiri shook her head. "No. There's an auto shop near the airport. We need to get back there."

"Oh, I know that place. Hop in. It shouldn't be a problem, really."

And so we were on our way, me and Emiri in the back seat of a brightly colored car, some stranger that was starting to feel eerily familiar chatting away at us from the driver's seat. Only yesterday, I was fixing lights and stuff halfway around the world. Now I'm wondering if I should have left a message on my answering machine telling people that I would not be available ever again because I'd been pulled into an adventure by a girl who had humiliated me in high school. Maybe that would have been too presumptuous...

Our driver casually laughed at something she had said, and I found myself wondering what the chances were that this might actually be Mikuru Asahina. She definitely looks like I would expect her to after thirteen years, but she's acting so differently from what I remember. Maybe I'm being too presumptuous. What are the chances, really?

She looked into the rear view mirror and our eyes met. She laughed some more before speaking. "Having trouble recognizing me, are you?"

Beside me, Emiri straightened up. "Who are you?"

She grinned triumphantly. "I'm an old friend. Let me remind you of someone I work with who's a bit fresher in your memories. Itsuki Koizumi?"

Emiri gasped, which only served to remind me that I hadn't told anyone about Koizumi's call yet. I sighed. "Okay, how much does he want Haruhi to go to Paris? Is it necessary that we go right now?"

"Oh, well, you don't have to go right this minute, but it's megas important that you go soon." She flinched, as if she had given herself away. I didn't catch anything, but apparently Emiri did.

Emiri scrunched her face in irritation. "Oh, you." Oh, who? Who is it? Emiri looked over to me as if sensing how lost I was. "It's Miss Tsuruya."

The person seated in front of us burst out laughing uncontrollably. "Well, you could just call me by my first name."

I don't think I ever knew her first name. I don't think Emiri did either, judging by the look on her face. "Yeah, can we just call you Tsuruya?"

She seemed disappointed, but agreed anyway. "Well, alright, but Haruhi can't know I'm here yet. She's not supposed to meet me until we're all in Paris. That's when Itsuki plans on telling her everything!"

Emiri grabbed Tsuruya's seat and pulled herself forward. "You can't be serious! You're going to tell her everything? Even after all this time, the result could be disastrous! We don't know how much of Haruhi's power is still there!"

She smiled again. "You don't, that's true. But Itsuki does. While the Data Thought-thingy left you all alone, other people kept their abilities. Itsuki is still an esper, and Mikuru is still an adorable time traveler. I mean, all the other espers lost their powers, but Itsuki's seem to just be getting stronger and stronger. Not everyone's had such bad luck, you know."

Emiri eased back down into her seat, a look on her face that told me she wanted to keep them from telling Haruhi. "How can he, even if he's got all his esper powers, see the future?"

"That's something you'll have to ask him." She stuck her tongue out at Emiri, making me wonder if she was aware that Emiri was blind. "For now, you just get out of my car and tell Haruhi that Itsuki Koizumi is waiting for her in Paris. Don't mention me or anything else. We'll contact you when you get there."

We got out and she drove away, leaving us wondering how we were going to tell Haruhi that Koizumi was in Paris, Tsuruya was here, and Yuki was in prison.

Author's Note: Did you like the dream? Compliments of Koizumi. Also, when did Tsuruya get here? Why is her hair a different color? When did she learn about everything?

And what are we gonna do about Yuki?