Chapter 25: Lies and Slander

For a moment, Haruhi just rested her forehead on the front door, sagging against it and trying to muster up the courage to walk into her house. She was so, so tired. Whatever she had done with Aqua and Kiriko had been the most draining experience of her life.

And, perhaps, the time she had most felt alive. When they had been singing together, weaving a world out of Song and Power...it had felt right. Like this had been what Haruhi had been searching for her entire life.

She swallowed, lifting her head up, and steeling her nerves. The second song was wonderful. The first...the first was nightmarish. It had spun out of control, Haruhi and Sasaki trying to sing over or against one another. How the world hadn't just collapsed into nothingness...Haruhi didn't know. It had ended with her trapped in a stranger's body, seeing out of their eyes but unable to do anything but gibber madly.

"So, take it slow," Haruhi muttered to herself. She fixed a smile on her face and squared her shoulders. Now she just had to face her parents.

"Mom, Dad, I'm-"

"Haruhi!" her mother sprinted out of the kitchen and practically tackled Haruhi, crying and clutching her to her chest.

"Hey, it's OK, relax, I'm fine," Haruhi said, trying to keep her tone light. What if her mother remembered? What if EVERYONE remembered? She didn't know if she could face her parents if they knew she was such a freak. Not yet.

"It's just...it's late, and I didn't know if you were coming back," her mother sniffed, still hugging Haruhi tightly.

"It's not that late, mom. It's hardly even 8:00. I've been out later than this," Haruhi protested. Her mother was somewhat prone to overreactions. Sometimes she seemed not to pay much heed to what Haruhi did, other times she was clinging and possessive like she was being now.

"I was just, I was so-Kazuma! She's back!" Haruhi's mother cried.

Haruhi soon found herself sandwiched between her parents. She wasn't sure why, they didn't seem to remember being gender flipped for a couple of days, but she was grateful after the harrowing experience she had been through.

"You holding up alright, Princess?" her father asked once he dried his own eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine now. Um, you two have something you want to tell me?" Haruhi asked nervously, looking and back and forth between her parents.

Her mother immediately opened her mouth, but nothing aside from a choked sound came out. Looking pained, her father rubbed his wife's back.

"Nothing we can tell you. What about you, Princess? You got something you want to say?"

So many things tumbled through Haruhi's mind, but what came out was, "Kyon and Yuki are dating."

That got both her parents to blink, share a look, then turn back to Haruhi.

"They, um, they're my friends in the club. I sort of had a crush on Kyon, and...and I sort of took their hooking up hard," Haruhi admitted. "I...I did some horrible stuff, but...we made up."

Her father muttered something under his breath, but her mother squeezed his hand. "Is there...anything else? We're here for you, Haruhi. I...I understand how hard it can be, to have the man you love turn to another woman…"

That derailed Haruhi's line of thought immediately. "What?! Dad, you damn pervert, did you cheat on Mom!? I swear I'll-"

"No. Never," her father said gently, giving his wife a warm smile. "That was...well, we had a mutual friend once, too. I started dating her before your mother. We...ended it, but your mother was in a similar position. Maybe the two of you should talk about it. Mother to daughter. You don't need a crusty old man interrupting you."

"You're not that old, dad," Haruhi giggled, but nodded. "Yeah, I guess that would be OK."

Haruhi and her mother went up to her room, where her mother left the door cracked. Haruhi sat cross legged on the bed with her mother, who peered at Haruhi, concern evident on her face.

"Haruhi, I…" Her mother licked her lips, then continued, "I know it's hard. The changes you're going through. I...I went through the same ones. Please. You can tell me. I can't...I can't help you if you don't tell me and let me."

Do you really, mom? Did you wake up one day and learn you had the ability to create worlds, or destroy them?

Haruhi stuck to more mundane subjects, but ones that hurt just as badly. "Kyon...he and I...we go back kinda far. I um...I think he took my first kiss."

"Oh. That's...well, that's hard. But really, you Japanese put too much stock in that. It's just a kiss, Haruhi. Don't tell your father, but if you do have someone you like and want to do more than kiss...I'm fine with it, honestly. Just, ah, use protection. We could put you on the pill if you wanted…?"

"That...might not be necessary," Haruhi admitted, blushing and looking down. She took a deep, steadying breath, and blurted, "I asked out Mikuru. I think...I think I like her. And maybe...maybe I'm a lesbian."

"Well not if you like Kyon, you're just not picky," her mother said with a shrug.

"You...don't hate me for that?" Haruhi asked nervously.

"Honey…" Haruhi's mother didn't seem to have the words, so she reached over and pulled her into a hug.

"Thanks, Mom," Haruhi whispered, tears trickling down her cheek as they separated.

"Just...be careful with Mikuru. I'm not sure what the risks are, but...have you made your-" Haruhi's mother's lips worked soundlessly, and Haruhi thought she was choking. Just before Haruhi tried the Heimlich maneuver, her mother gasped, "You're too young to decide what you do and don't like, just yet. But...maybe you could bring Mikuru over for dinner? I would like to see her."

"You don't think Dad will...you know. He's, well, he's not a prude, but...you know. I'm his 'Princess' and everything."

"I'll talk to him, but I don't think so. He is...well, you've heard me call him all sorts of things, but he's a good man. That's why I...Chose him."

"Did he really used to steal girl's panties like Auntie T says?" Haruhi giggled.

Her mother made a face. "Let's not talk about that. Anyway, is there...anything else?"

Haruhi nearly caved. She had thought, well, she wasn't sure what she had thought, but to have her mother so readily accept she'd asked another girl on a date...it was comforting. Maybe she could trust her mom with everything.

But no, Haruhi couldn't put that on her parents. Hey, Mom and Dad, surprise! Your baby girl is a goddess! Change your names to Mary and Joseph, because it's time to flee to Egypt before aliens and the Alphabet Soup Squad come after us!

"No, that was what was bothering me. Thanks, Mom," Haruhi said, and gave her mother another hug.

Her mother returned the hug, looking at Haruhi with a large degree of concern.

Managing a smile, Haruhi said, "I'm tired. Can I have some dinner and go to bed early?"

"I...yes. Of course. We have some leftovers I can heat up from you, or your favorite instant ramen?"

"Thanks Mom," Haruhi agreed, and inwardly relaxed. She could protect her parents, if no one else.

Groaning, Sasaki's eyes fluttered open. The light was coming in through her open window, and her mother was gently brushing a hand across her forehead.

"Good morning. Feeling better?" her mother asked, taking a seat on the edge of Sasaki's bed.

"Better," Sasaki lied. She felt awful. And not just her exhaustion or pounding headache. "How about you and father?"

"You gave us both quite a scare. Why don't you stay home from school today? We could spend a day together, just the two of us. Maybe watch one of those musicals you used to like when you were younger. Or just...talk."

Icy hands gripped Sasaki's heart, but she smiled serenely. "I couldn't do that. I have to maintain my record of academic excellence. I wouldn't want you or father to be disappointed in me."

"Kiriko...you know that your father and I would never be disappointed in you just because you had a bad grade. You're our daughter. You mean so much more to us," her mother said.

Liar, Sasaki thought. She well remembered that day, three and a half years ago, when her world came tumbling down. When she learned the Truth.

"Don't you have work?" Sasaki prompted. "It's late, you're usually off so early."

"I'm taking a sabbatical. Your father will be home for a while as well. Perhaps...we could take a vacation?" her mother offered.

Sasaki's eyes widened. Her mother taking a sabbatical? She never did that. She was supposedly dedicated to saving lives with her abilities as a doctor. Sasaki knew the Truth. The horrible truth. Just like the fact that her father wasn't a gifted athlete. He'd been doping his entire career, or close enough to it.

"Perhaps, but I am busy with school. You and father could go, I wouldn't mind. You've left me alone before. Perhaps I could stay at Haruhi's." Maybe then she could work out a way to get the world she wanted without all the complications that had arisen. Then she could have a normal life. And a family that loved her.

"You...won't be seeing Haruhi for a while," her mother said slowly, looking uncomfortable. "We...well, the two of you had a...don't you remember?"

"Our personal differences can never be worked out if we stay away. Aren't you the one who always told me I should be kinder to my cousin?" Sasaki prompted.

"Yes, well...until you and Haruhi...work out your issues...perhaps you could talk to me about it, or your father?"

I won't give you the satisfaction. You'd use me. Treat me like a little genie in a bottle. Then you could go back to that wretched world.

"I'm afraid our disagreement is somewhat juvenile. Haruhi wishes to live in a fantasy world of magic and monsters. I would rather things be as they appear to be: ordinary and plain." Safe. Safe, and away from monsters that ate children and their mothers whole. A world where magic could not be used to create demon lords.

Or goddesses.

Sasaki's mother left her alone at last, and Sasaki prepared for school. Her mother made breakfast, her father sitting silently at the table. He rarely spoke much, but halfway through the meal, he cleared his throat.

"Kiriko...your mother and I are concerned about you. I am...worried. Do you...understand...why?"

"I had a fight with my cousin. A childish outburst. Nothing more," Sasaki answered simply, poking the rice and eggs on her plate with her chopsticks.

"Sasaki. Don't lie to me," her father said sternly.

Sasaki looked up and met her fathers eyes. "Why ever would I do that? Don't you and mother always tell me the truth?"

Her father grimaced, looking away. Coward. Fool. If he would even try to tell her the truth...maybe then, she could forgive him for being willing to kill her.

Even if it had been to save the world. Just not this one.

Sasaki paused by the doorway, glancing at the names by the wall. Mr. and Dr. Ryuuguuin. What a joke. Sasaki turned away and headed outside, where she found an anxious Kyouko waiting for her.

"Sasaki! Are you, are your parents...is everything OK?!" her friend asked, practically hopping up and down in anxiety.

"It's fine," Sasaki said simply as they started walking. "They don't know I still know. I doubt they recall the events of the past few days. I'm...somewhat surprised you can. The others…?"

"Hina, Anzu, and Hitomi can't remember anything. I guess because they're not a part of the Anti-Brigade? I dunno, but Fujiwara can remember. Um, I can't tell with Suou. But! I talked to Koizumi, and, er well, he can remember, and-"

"I don't care what Haruhi's little friends are up to, Kyouko," Sasaki said stiffly. "Or that ridiculous Agency you used to work for."

"Oh." Kyouko looked despondent, her head dropping, shoulders slumping.

Sasaki sighed. "But I know you care about Koizumi personally. That's why we're seeking to build an Ordinary World, isn't it? So the two of you can be together?"

"Huh? Oh! Yes, I just...Itsuki is taking this really hard. He...he blames himself. Thinks he's responsible for killing off...the other us's."

"Don't be ridiculous. Even Haruhi, or that blue haired idiot, are not so callous as to wish an entire world of people dead. That world still exists, just...well, I suppose in an alternate dimension. We'll have to ask Fujiwara, I'm not certain what I did," Sasaki admitted.

"Wait, really? Is it, you know, ordinary?" Kyouko asked hesitantly.

"I think so. I...well, I have to admit, Aqua was leading the song. Haruhi and I improvised a little, but mostly we sang along with her. For such an apparent moron, she seems rather good at using powers similar to mine and Haruhi's," Sasaki sighed.

Kyouko perked up even more at that. "Should we ask her to, you know, help you?"

"No. For one thing, she's firmly in Haruhi's pocket. For another, she's just as enamoured with ridiculousness as Haruhi. She apparently comes from some sort of fantasy world. I believe the same as my mother, or perhaps one similar to it," Sasaki explained.

"Wait, wasn't your mother a-"

"Don't talk about it," Sasaki snapped, her eyes blazing.

"Sorry, sorry. I just...maybe that's important? You know, who your parents are, who Haruhi's parents are?"

"I assume Haruhi's parents are similar to mine. Uncle Kazuma does seem to be Japanese, but his green eyes...maybe he's from another world."

"Well, you know, that other guy, he was Kazuma too, right? You think maybe they're the same person? Like, him and Aqua-"

"Do not be ridiculous. That's simply impossible. Fujiwara would have told us if that sort of temporal disturbance was in play."

"You sure? Because he did try to kidnap Nagato and Aqua. He's kind of a jerk, Sasaki," Kyouko pointed out.

Sasaki groaned, rubbing her forehead with her finger tips. "Yes, I know. He did try to murder a little boy with a truck a few months back. Something about him being responsible for all sorts of temporal disturbances. I told him we don't work that way. Look, you've been to that future, the same as I. Wouldn't you take drastic measures to prevent such a future, where children are raised like animals, and people are retired via an incinerator? Not to mention turning little girls into living weapons."

"I mean, I guess. Not like I've never killed anyone before," Kyouko admitted.

Sasaki jerked around, her mouth open. "You...you what?!"

"Oh. Um, well, I didn't want to tell you, cause, you know, didn't want to scare you, but...well, I mean, they were KGB or something, and they were trying to kidnap you or whatever, and they had guns, and I didn't have much of a choice. Plus, there were the Mossad Agents that tried to get their hands on Haruhi back when I was with the Organization and I sort of killed one of them to get them to back off. Don't worry, I don't make a habit of it or anything."

"Kyouko. What is the one rule? The only rule that I have for our club?" Sasaki hissed, trembling with anger.

"The truth! I am being truthful! Look, the KGB guys were like, last week! I didn't have time to tell you with all the nuttiness going on! And you never asked before! I thought, you know, you'd know. I mean, I wasn't quiet about me working for the Organization and you know about all the secret agents and stuff. So, you know. Secret agents kill one other."

Taking a deep breath, Sasaki forced herself back to calm. "Yes. Well. Tell me about such things, next time. Do not hide them from me. I have seen death. You know that. More death than you can imagine."

"I dunno, Itsuki and I liked to watch horror movies, I can imagine a lot of dead people," Kyouko mused. "Like, how many people died in Akira? Has to be a lot."

"Akira is hardly a horror movie."

"Well what else do you call a movie where a guy gets turned into a fleshy monster and Tokyo gets nuked!?"

"Akira is a science fiction thriller movie. It's no more a horror movie than Star Wars, and an entire planet was blown up in that one."

"Pff, Star Wars is lame. Have you ever watched Legend of Galactic Heroes? That one is way better!"

"I am afraid we have reached the limit of my otaku knowledge, but I have heard Haruhi and her father discussing the series, so I know about Miracle Yang and such."

"Man, I miss being a simple otaku," Kyouko sighed. "I can't even remember the last time I stayed up all night watching OVAs or reading manga, or just arguing about it on the IRC channel or the Ground Battles board with Itsuki and the others at the Organization."

"Which is why we shall return the world to normal, and you can return to being a simple otaku," Sasaki said as they entered the school campus.

"Yeah, but, I mean, I can't go back to that. It's no fun just reading manga after having basically been a manga character," Kyouko pointed out. "What about you? I mean, you're a, you know, the g-word. How could you just be an ordinary person?"

"With great relish," Sasaki sighed as they walked through the halls to their class. "I just need to find the proper way to divest myself of such powers. Haruhi seems to have summoned a teacher to help her. If only I were so skilled."

"Can you do that? You know, wish for some sort of tutor for Reality Warping 101, or whatever it is you can do?" Kyouko asked, taking her seat behind Sasaki.

Sasaki shrugged. She was fairly certain she had manipulated the seating arrangement in their class so that she and Kyouko were together. "I think the past few days have proven I am nearly incapable of controlling my powers. Simply wishing seems to do nothing. There must be more."

"Yeah, I get it. There wasn't really a user manual on being an ESPer anyway. I mean, Itsuki and I spent months just figuring out how to enter Closed Space. But we could teach new recruits how to do it in like two minutes."

"Yes. I suppose I could ask my mother, but, well. I hardly trust her to give me a straight answer. If she knew I had the same abilities she used to...what would she do?" Sasaki asked.

"I mean, maybe she'd be happy for you? Your mom doesn't seem like such a bad person," Kyouko pointed out.

"That's the trick. She and father appear to be kind people. But what sort of monsters are willing to sacrifice their daughter for victory?" Sasaki asked bitterly. "You know that's why I changed my name. I refuse to be the daughter of such people."

"Maybe...I mean, you're still around, right?" Kyouko asked.

"Mere accident. I am simply the reincarnation of the original Kiriko, murdered by her parents in another world. They were willing to do much to attain victory. What would they do if they knew their daughter had such abilities? They would seek to go back to that world where mother was a princess, and father a hero."

"I mean...I guess. You know them better than I do," Kyouko said with a shrug.

Class started, and the teacher, back to a man, began to take roll. He had just begun when someone kicked the door inward, making Sasaki nearly jump out of her seat.

"BEHOLD!" a voice thundered as a grinning figure in a dark swirling cape stood in the entrance, red eyes glowing. "THE FOREMOST GENIUS OF THE CRIMSON DEMON CLAN HAS ARRIVED!"

Authors Note:

Yes, I know, technically, it's libel if it's in print.