A/N: Philippines used to be part of the top 4 countries that read TARNN. Now she's 8th and I feel sad. Step it up, Philippines!

Chapter 17:

It was a feeling students at Toshiko knew all too well. Rei, specifically, drove herself to the extreme whenever possible. She would always overcome this feeling, usually through good luck and a healthy immune system. But, as she entered her dormroom and placed her bag on a chair, the waves of fatigue compelled her to get a glass of water and plop down into bed without doing homework or freshening up.

Rei was wearing herself out again. Homework…I have…homework…First, a nap…then I should complete it…And study for the history test on Monday…She sipped some water, trying to ignore the growing feeling of soreness in her throat. She snuggled into her thick comforter and closed her eyes. My abilities have improved…But now I have homework…History…

人

Rei couldn't tell what was what. When she opened her eyes groggily, she couldn't even process the fact that she had opened them. Eyes? What are eyes? It's so hot….Why do I feel a coolness on my…head? Rei looked up to find a girl with light brown and bobbed hair looking at her with big brown eyes. The girl was frowning. Wait a minute…

"Haruhi? What's…wrong?" Rei grunted as she tried to sit up. She failed, and Haruhi helped lay her back on her pillow.

"You have a fever! It's 40 degrees! You're in really bad shape, Rei! I called the school nurse. It's probably just a really bad fever, but she'll come and take a look at you soon." Haruhi shook her head. "You shouldn't have gone to your tutor's house yesterday! Learning maths and sciences is nothing if you can't stay healthy."

Math? Science? Did I ever tell her why I've been leaving for the weekends?

"Haru-"

"You need to rest, Rei-chan. I've already added an extra blanket, and here," she held out her palm to show Rei two blue tablets. "swallow these, these should lower your fever. Chances are this is all you'll need. I'll get a nice, warm dinner for you soon. Let me go see if the forehead pad is cool enough." She swiftly walked off as soon as Rei swallowed the tabs.

Rei put her head in her hands and messied her hair in thought. This is bad, I can't do anything in this condition. I can't study, do homework, and I can't train…

"Haruhi," she croaked. Her voice had grown hoarse and weak while she slept.

"Here's the pad!" Haruhi rushed in. "Lie down." Rei obeyed and was rewarded with a soothing coolness- this time not from Haruhi- on her forehead.

"Haruhi, what time is it?" Rei got the sentence out.

"It's 9. So it's a little late for dinner, but you'll have some soup and bread after the doctor comes, okay?"

Rei lay on her side facing Haruhi. "When is the next level examination being held?"

Haruhi was taken aback. "The next level examination? That's more than a month away! Don't worry about that, you're sick, Rei-chan." She said softly.

"Right…" Rei agreed. "…Midterms are sooner. I should be focused on that." Rei closed her eyes. Focusing was taxing.

"Dear god, no! Don't focus on anything but resting! You're such a study-addict. Enjoy this rest. Your body needs it, Rei." As she said that, Haruhi stood up and walked to the door. "I'll wake you up when the nurse comes."

As Haruhi gently closed the door, Rei couldn't help but ignore her advice. All she could be focused on was the upcoming trials…

人

Rei was experiencing a delirious dream. The world was pitch black from all angles, and she was floating in it while wearing a frilly white dress. She wore a choker- one around her neck and one around her left ankle- with a white rose in it. There was light above her, filtering through the black sea, but she still could not see anything all around her.

As she looked around, light filtered from an indiscernible height above to her. A figure entered the light from the shadows.

She looked just like Rei, only she was wearing all black and the choker was around her right ankle: Dark Rei.

"You? Again?" Rei questioned.

"I can't leave you yet." Dark Rei responded.

"Why are you here? Am I just sick and I'm hallucinating right now?" Rei almost reached out to her with her right hand, but retracted immediately once she realized what she was doing.

"Oh, you're sick alright. Hallucinating, maybe. But I've been here for a while. Longer than you'd realize." Dark Rei mirrored Rei, reaching out her left hand. It was if there was a wall between them. Dark Rei held up her left hand at a halfway point.

Rei looked afraid. She lifted her right hand but flinched and put it back down. Dark Rei gave no expression. It was almost as if she was not judging her. She was just waiting for something. Rei, acting on Dark Rei's looks, reached out her hand and laced it with her hand. Dark Rei accommodated willingly.

"I should rest…But…This is my future…I don't have much in this world…School and my ability are my only ties to this world…"

I may have friends…and I may have acquaintances…But I have no parents…I don't have a real home…or a special person…or special people…I am held down to this world by weak strings. I drive myself into my work, hoping that either the strings get thicker or more strings are made. Doesn't anyone see that?" The moment Rei said that she recoiled. It was if she wasn't the one talking.

"I had a future, yet at the same time I didn't. My future was bright, so bright it had to be restrained. There had to be constant shade. And then some people came up with the idea of blocking the sun, the brightness. Too bright, they said. Some people wanted to have that brightness. Others just said it was too bright. No one was happy, really. No one had been happy with my future or my condition." Dark Rei echoed her own enigmatic thoughts. "Do you know how painful that was? Could you fathom that? An impossibly bright life darkening every second until it feels like you are walking blind? A world filled with shadows and pathetic filters of light? I had so much that it was lost easily. All of it."

"I don't understand you. Even if I didn't have my fever I still wouldn't be able to understand you." Rei responded. "What do you mean?" She held up her left hand and Dark Rei interlocked it with her right.

"I don't know." She said.

"What? What's that supposed to mean? I don't get you."

Rei woke up, her eyes widening. She felt like she was still in Dark Rei's presence, even though she had left the dream land.

But I get you.