[FFML] [Haruhi][Dark] Downfall: A Story in Three Acts -- Act III

[Brian Randall]

I'm posting this more for the sake of completion (here) than any other
particular reason.  I'm entering a personal hiatus on posting new fics
here, but on the offhand chance anyone actually reads my stuff here
(and not elsewhere), I felt I should complete it.  It was close enough
anyway, hmm?




     Awaiting her fate, her cold eyes filling with tears, Haruhi felt
a slowly forming confusion.

     She had ... willed whatever she had done to Kyon to happen to
her.  Why hadn't anything happened?

     Never-mind -- she'd had misfires before, rare as they might be.
Considering what she was trying....

     She reached out with her power again, this time correcting her intent:

     Whatever fate had befallen Kyon when he was 'removed from the
time stream', as Mikuru had said ... she wanted to endure that, too.
That was what she really deserved, after all.

     Her power filled her for a moment, building up intensely--

     And then Suzumiya Haruhi was no longer a part of the space-time continuum.

     ***

     Within her apartment, her college homework set aside for the
moment, Sasaki consoled the smaller girl collapsed on her knees before
her, sobbing about the earlier confrontation with the world's
legendary 'Witch of Miracles'.

     "Nonoko," she gently soothed the sister of her vanished, closest
friend.  "You know your brother wouldn't want you to keep dwelling
like this...."

     The girl sniffled, but didn't speak.

     Sasaki sighed softly, giving a wistful shake of her head before a
surge of some strange energy -- like electricity -- shot from one
corner of her room to the lighting fixture in the center.  A heartbeat
later, it felt almost as though the boundaries of the room itself ...
_pulsed_.

     Then, everything was as it was before -- save for the pretense of
Suou Kuyou standing in the center of the room, her face neutral.
"Assignment complete," she reported, not looking at either Sasaki or
Nonoko.

     The younger girl allowed a confused, startled noise to escape,
turning her face to peer at the new arrival, mystified.

     Kuyou's eyes closed slowly, then instantly snapped open, turning to Nonoko.

     "Kuyou?" Sasaki asked, frowning.  "Where did you go?  I haven't
seen you in....  How long has it been?"

     "1.077x10^11 missed synchronization events," the dark-haired girl
replied.  She blinked again.

     "I'm not ... sure I understand?"

     "Wide-band interference sources relocated," Kuyou explained,
turning to look at Sasaki.  "Communication restraints reduced in
effectiveness."  She paused, turning to Nonoko, then said, "An
opposing faction has until this point in time limited our abilities to
interact with your species.  Our initial target was subverted.  That
entity has passed beyond standard observational scope and no longer
participates in this reality.

     "Opposing factions caused significant entropy; signal to noise
ratio approached infinity.  Communication would have been impossible
-- save for retro-temporal instruction sets.  Interaction with the
intended target has fallen below acceptable probability threshold.

     "A new target for interaction must therefore be designated."  She
blinked again, her gaze fixed on Nonoko.  "You are the the inheritor
of the role of primary interaction and communication target."

     "W...what?" the smaller girl asked, completely baffled.  Then,
looking irate, she asked, "Why me?  Why not ... Suzumiya-san?"

     "Wide-band interference sources relocated," Kuyou repeated.
"That entity is no longer a viable target, and was never eligible.
You are the logical successor."

     "Kuyou ... are you saying that ... Suzumiya-san is gone?  And she
was distracting you?  So ... now that you're gone, you want Nonoko to
be an ambassador to your kind, because her brother is gone?"

     "The source of interference was not that entity, but the rival
faction focused on her," the dark-haired figures replied.

     The smaller girl slowly said, "If ... Sasaki-nee can give me
advice ... and it's something Nii-san would want, or I could do to
help Nii-san ... then I'll do it!"
     ---------------------------------
     Downfall

     Act III: A Distant Shore
     (Fantasy/Friendship)

     A 'Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi' fanfiction.

     Disclaimer: The novel 'Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu'/'The Melancholy
of Suzumiya Haruhi' is the creation of Nagaru Tanigawa.  No disrespect
is intended by the posting of this fanfiction, as I do not own the
characters or settings involved.  I'm merely dabbling with another set
of paints.  ;)

     Note: Gentle reader, welcome once more from our second act; to
those of you entering the theater just now, also be welcome!  Our
final act now begins; we hope you will enjoy.
     ---------------------------------
     I hadn't known what to expect, other than a vague certainty that
it would be what I deserved.  How would the end come?  What would it
have felt like to him?  Would I hurt, just as much?  Or would it be
over in an instant?

     I closed my eyes and waited for the inevitable--

     It came almost immediately.  It was a resounding yet giving
impact against one side of my body before I was completely enveloped
in shocking cold, something I couldn't breathe filling my nose as I
flailed in shock, descending through--

     I opened my eyes and clawed to the surface, choking and
sputtering for breath, feeling like an idiot to realize I'd collapsed
into water barely any deeper than my head.

     This was what I had sent Kyon to?  I cast about in confusion,
wiping water from my eyes as I realized that I was treading water in
the ocean, a few dozen meters from a shoreline.

     I was in a small, unused-looking cove, with no piers, just a long
beach.  A path wended through the trees to the very edge of the beach,
lit clearly by the setting sun that lay behind me, turning the reach
of the ocean into a glittering, shifting field of gold.

     Distantly, but coming more loudly, as I was trying to make sense
of this situation, I heard the plucking of some small stringed
instrument.  I looked around for the source of the noise, wondering if
maybe I could get some sort of explanation.  From the sea, with the
sun behind me, I was probably invisible to anyone else.

     I didn't think of that at the time, though.  While I searched, a
figure came down the path, an instrument of some kind held in both
hands as a voice ... _that_ voice ... sang....

     He couldn't sing before ... not very well.  He'd gotten better at
it -- unbelievably better, even in English.  Sitting in the sea like
an idiot in some strange afterlife, I couldn't think that his voice
would sell a lot of music.

     I didn't care; given a chance, I'd listen to it every day.  My
eyes clouded with moisture, so I focused on the words:

     "Somewhere over the rainbow way up high,
     "And the dreams that you dream of once in a lullaby,
     "Somewhere over the rainbow blue birds fly,
     "And the dreams that you dream of, dreams really do come true."

     He paused there, evidently unable to play, walk, and sing at the
same time.  I caused myself to float a little higher, so I wouldn't
need to splash or tread water.  I could see him more clearly, though
my eyes were still tearing too quickly to watch him for long.  He
continued playing the small instrument -- a ukulele, I realized.

     I could see he was not singing to _me_, because he wasn't even
facing my direction.  But....

     "Someday I'll wish upon a star,
     "Wake up where the clouds are far behind me,
     "Where trouble melts like lemon drops,
     "High above the chimney tops is where you'll find me."

     I started to move forward, too shaky to teleport, unwilling to
look away.  He continued singing anyway, his voice cracking once, but
he ignored it -- so did I.

     "Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly,
     "And the dreams that you dare to, oh why, oh why can't I?
     "Well I see trees of green and red roses too,
     "I'll watch then bloom for me and you."

     My toes reached the sand beneath me while I continued moving
forward, willing myself dry as I emerged from the surf.  A stray
thought replaced my jeans and shirt with a more comfortable -- and
flattering -- sun-dress.  As the sand ground beneath my feet, another
thought gave me a comfortable pair of sandals.

     I stepped across the beach, finally able to see him clearly,
though he was turned to the south, focused on the instrument in his
hands.  He missed a note before he cursed and restarted the chord; I
couldn't help but smile.

     "And I think to myself, what a wonderful world,
     "Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white and the
brightness of day,
     "I like the dark and I think to myself, what a wonderful world."

     That was as far as he got before hitting the wrong cord again,
breaking off with a sigh and a displeased sound.

     Then he stiffened, seeming to only just realize I was there.  He
turned slowly to face me, eyes wide in surprise as his mouth fell
open.  His face was ... leaner, a little.  More ruggedly handsome.
With nothing except an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt and a pair of shorts
on, I could see most of his chest -- more muscled than when she had
known him.

     How long would this last?

     I didn't know if I would get another chance -- where this place was.

     All I knew was that I had to apologize ... to tell him how sorry
I was--  To start to explain everything....  But when I opened her
mouth, the only thing I could find to blurt out was, "You got tanned!"
 Like an idiot.  I had a single special chance to talk to Kyon, and
that was the first thing out of my mouth.

     "Ha--"  He cut off, confused, and hiding the tiniest wince.
"W...what are you doing here?  Shouldn't--  You're going to be missing
your classes at Todai!"

     I didn't know what he was talking about, but I'd just said
something stupid, too.

     "...Kyon," I managed, stepping closer to him -- almost close
enough to touch.  I wanted to know if he would stay real, that he
wouldn't dissolve or melt away -- that I actually _did_ have this
chance....  He knew me, still, didn't he?

     "Suzumiya?"

     Of course ... it would have been too much to hope that I was
still somehow _Haruhi_ to him.  Even though I _should_ have expected
it ... I didn't.  Somehow, that hit me harder than everyting else,
shattering what little strength I'd built up since arriving.  I
collapsed, feeling like a puppet with cut strings -- and he tossed his
instrument to one side and lunged forward, just mana‌ging to catch me.

     My eyes teared again -- that was it, wasn't it?  The touch I had
so wanted to know he was real?

     "Suzumiya?" he asked me again, even as he held me.

     It felt so much better than I realizedood to be with him, and so
awful that we were still so far apart.  "I'm sorry!" I bawled,
clutching onto him like a child.  "I'm so sorry Kyon!  I never meant
to kill you!"

     He gasped suddenly, arms going around me more tightly.
"Y...you're not Suzumiya," he said shakily, which -- somehow -- hit me
even harder.  Just before I thought I would shatter completely and
forever, he gasped, "you're _Haruhi_!"

     And then it didn't hurt any more, even if I was still crying ...
and pressing my face into his chest, smelling the sea, the scent of
_him_....

     Everything faded away.

     ***

     It had been such a nice dream, I didn't want to wake from it.
Oh, Kyon, of course ... but Kyon alive, healthier than I'd seen him
before, and he'd remembered me without anger....

     When reality came back to me and I realized I was laying in a
bed, eyes closed, trying to cling to that dream....  What good did
that do me?

     I rubbed at my eyes and sat up, blinking at the unfamiliar surroundings.

     I was in a clean bed, in a room with that, a small writing desk,
and a dresser.  A few pictures lined the walls, views of coastlines at
a glance.  It didn't feel like a person's normal room -- more like a
guest bedroom.

     Looking down, I saw she was still wearing the sun-dress from
before.  Judging by the light streaming in through the window it was
daytime, though the sun wasn't visible, and the room had no clocks.
Having no better ideas, and not really sure where I was, I climbed out
of the bed, moving to the door to find out more.

     I could, of course, have simply blown the building apart --
harmlessly, if she wanted -- to see where everything was.  Or try and
make myself _know_ it.

     I resisted the urge, instead opening the door with my hand.

     There was the smell of pancakes, almost instantly, and the
subdued sounds of someone working in a kitchen, murmuring in
indistinct conversation with someone else.   I was at one end of a
hall on the upper story of a house, the stairs to one side, and doors
lining the other wall.  I glimpsed two other bedrooms.  One was
smaller, with a single bed, the walls lined with bookshelves which had
in turn been crammed to nearly overflowing with books.  The other was
larger, and didn't look very different from any other master bedroom I
had seen from my quick glance.  A bigger bed, more furniture....

     As tempting as it was to peek through those rooms, I was much
more curious about the voices.  And even if I could ignore it, or make
myself not _need_ to eat ... the smells were making me hungry.  When
_had_ I last eaten?  Why did I feel hungry, anyway?

     I cautiously climbed down the stairs, looking around, not knowing
what to expect.  At the bottom of the steps, the place opened up into
a front room -- empty of people at the moment, though I caught a
glimpse of movement from the living room beyond.  I gasped in shock
when the motion stopped, and I realized what I was seeing.

     Not just movement ... but ... _Yuki_.

     Not the Yuki of my journeys back through time and strange
memories -- a slightly older Yuki, with her hair grown out a little,
kept in place with a dark green hair-band.  She was wearing glasses
again, and her clothing was different, too, more casual than I
remembered her typically dressing.  A simple pair of khaki shorts and
a loose Hawaiian shirt.

     I didn't even notice how close I had come until my arms went
around the older -- but still smaller -- woman.  "Y...Yuki?" I asked.
"Y...you're here, too?"

     Yuki's expression was softer than I remembered, more relaxed.
She offered a tiny, indulgent smile.  "Good morning," she answered.

     "Ah?" another familiar voice called from the kitchen.  A moment
after that, I found herself staring again as Kyon stepped in through
the doorway, carrying a platter of pancakes in one hand and a stack of
plates in the other.  I could only manage to stare at him when he set
them on the table, my arms still wrapped around Yuki.

     I felt for a moment like a child, unable to choose between two
wonderful things.  I actually considered dragging Yuki over to Kyon
before he straightened from setting down the platter and gave me a
curious look, his smile fading slightly.  Had I done something wrong?
Were things turning bad?

     "Haruhi ... maybe you should sit down so we could talk properly?"
he suggested.

     "Alright," I agreed, smiling slowly.  "Y...yeah.  We've got all
the time in the world after all, right?"  If this was the afterlife I
sent him to, and he wasn't mad at me....

     He raised an eyebrow and shrugged before pulling out a chair and
guiding me to it, making me release Yuki.  His hands were gentle, so I
offered no resistance.  Yuki took the seat immediately next to mine,
saying, "It is ... nice to see you again."

     "Well," Kyon said doubtfully, offering me an apologetic smile, as
he sat down on my other side -- opposite Yuki, "you may have that kind
of time, but I have work in an hour and a half."

     That didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.  "Why do they have
jobs in the afterlife?"

     His eyebrows rose as he stared at me, then he blinked once.  "I
... give up?" he asked, cocking his head slightly to one side and
smiling in confusion.  "Why do they have jobs in the afterlife?"

     "No, I'm asking you," I said, frowning.  "Why do _you_ need a job
in the afterlife?"

     It was quiet for a moment, only the footsteps from the kitchen
breaking it as Mikuru -- the older one, again, came in with another
platter, this one loaded with eggs and sausage.  "Su--  Ah, no....
Haruhi," the woman said, before she set it down and took her own seat,
"ah ... I'm sorry if this alarms you, so brace yourself, alright?"
Her boldness in calling me by that name startled me briefly ... but if
there were any people I'd like to call me by that name, they were the
ones in that room.

     Not sure what was coming, I gave an uncertain nod, placing both
hands flat on the table before me.  It couldn't _all_ be good, after
all, could it?  There had to be a downside, and I needed to be aware
of it.  "O...okay...."

     "Haruhi ... this isn't the afterlife.  This is Hawaii."

     ...which....  Hawaii?  Kyon was in _Hawaii_?  Those years of
worry and self-loathing, recrmination and--  _Hawaii_?

     "Oh," Kyon said in belated realization, frowning.  "_That's_ what
you thought...."  He groaned, covering his upper face with one hand.
"I should have figured that out...."

     "T...this...."  Haruhi shook her head, eyes widening.  "H...how?"

     Turning to face the man, Mikuru gave him a surprisingly stern
look.  "Dearest, couldn't you skip work today?"

     "Ah, yeah," he agreed, shaking his head, dropping his hand to his
side.  "Sounds like we've got a lot of explaining to do."

     ***

     After the most surreal breakfast I had eaten in her life -- and
that was saying something, considering what I'd been through -- my
hosts led me to the living room.  Kyon sat in an armchair and plucked
at his ukulele with a look of bemusement.  As much as I wanted to hold
onto him again, I kept myself restrained, sitting on the couch --
surprised when Yuki moved so sit next to me and gave my hand a
reassuring pat.

     I wasn't clear on _exactly_ what was going on ... but I knew I
woke up in a guest bedroom.  If Yuki had the books, then ... that
master bedroom....

     I wasn't sure how to think of that yet.

     Mikuru sat down at my other side, the three of us all facing
towards Kyon -- though, Mikuru and Yuki were both facing me.

     Heaving a soft sigh, Mikuru gave me a sympathetic smile, and
began, "Ah ... though ... I suppose we were never able to explain it
to you, it happened at one point that Yuki ... um ... through some
very complicated means ... rewrote all of reality at one point.  With
my help and some tools that Yuki left behind before that, Kyon was
able to restore the world to its original state."

     I'd never heard of this before ... but I didn't really have a
reason not to believe it.  I had the power to reshape reality, myself,
after all.

     "To prevent a collapse of causality, it was required that events
that happened in an alternate future still happen -- therefore,
reality itself was split, and a second stable copy came into being,"
Yuki elaborated.

     I turned to Kyon expectantly, wondering what his input would be.

     "Don't even ask," he said with a shake of his head.  "This is all
beyond me.  You three are the movers and shakers -- I was just along
for the ride."

     ...somehow, that just felt so true to him, my eyes teared up again.

     "Dear," Mikuru said again, somewhat reprovingly.

     I saw it, then.  That little exchange, the way their eyes met.
It's not like it's that unique; it's something I never developed
with....

     But ... they were happy.  That was what I wanted, wasn't it?
That they be alive, and happy?

     Setting aside his ukulele, the man sat up straight and put his
palms on his knees.  "Alright ... you two -- and probably Haruhi, too
-- understand this much better than I do.  The theory is all beyond
me, and no fun anyway.  The practice is that we lost our home.

     "All I really know is that ... one day, Mikuru confessed to me,
and the next thing I knew, Ryouko was trying to kill me again."  He
made a face at that.

     "Again?" I protested.  "Wait--  Who's Ryouko?"

     He blinked, raising his eyebrows, then grinned ruefully.  "Ah ...
you don't remember the mysteriously vanishing class representative
from our freshman year?"

     Dimly, I did recall ... that was right.  I'd dragged Kyon with
me, and told him that story I had never even told....

     "I remember now," I managed, nodding.  "Why was she trying to
kill you?  And why did she try and kill you before?"

     "...you know, let's get to that later," he said, shaking his
head.  "For the moment, I was just as confused as you probably are,
except that I knew she had an urge to kill me. Yuki came to try and
save me, but she was already weakened because of Kuyou....  And in the
end, Suou Kuyou saved us -- Suou Kuyou and Mikuru."

     "And who is Kuyou?" I asked.  Why hadn't I known there were
evidently other beings of power around?

     "You encountered her a single time in passing," Yuki offered from
my side.  "She was a companion of Sasaki at the time; your attention
was focused elsewhere."

     That felt like a reminder I didn't think I needed.

     "She represented a power that comes to ally with humanity in the
future of that timeplane," she completed.

     "Normally this would be impossible for me," Mikuru admitted, "but
when we met in the past ... I don't know how long ago that was for
you....  Ah, when we spoke, though I don't ... think you meant to, you
broke the countermeasures that prevented me from using my TPDD freely
-- normally ... use licenses would come down from....  Well, that
doesn't matter anymore.

     "The point of it is that with Kuyou's assistance, we were able to
make a gate and crash free of that universe--  To come here.  But to
be truly honest, honest ... I believe that if you hadn't wished us to
survive, we would not have."

     I was more taken aback by that than anything else I had heard so
far.  That Mikuru would turn such a reversal on me....  In the end,
I'd actually done the good I wished?  It seemed ... almost _too_ good
to be true.  "S...so ... I didn't ... hurt you?" I asked Kyon, needing
him to prove it to me before I could really believe it.

     He snorted at that, giving a slight smile and a shake of his
head, dismissing my fears.  "Haruhi, none of this was your fault," he
insisted.

     I settled back to the couch, just staring.  Kyon shrugged,
picking his ukulele up again.

     There was so much to ask....  I couldn't think of where to begin
yet, so reached for something inconsequential until I could settle
down.  "So ... um ... what do you do, Kyon?   Are you a performer?" I
wondered.

     He snorted, smirking and shaking his head.  "Talent competition,"
he offered.  "I work as a translator for tourists."

     And even though I'd on just gotten to meet them again, and it was
something I was trying _not_ to ask about, I couldn't help myself.
"So, you and Mikuru-chan...?"

     "Engaged," he admitted quietly.  "Hmm, she was really evasive
abut setting a date, too...."  The woman blushed guiltily, offering an
apologetic smile.  "I guess I know why now."  I couldn't be mad,
though ... weirdly, now ... the idea of Kyon finally getting the
courage up to ask this Mikuru to be with him, the pair of them taking
care of Yuki....

     "Yes," Mikuru agreed.  "I didn't know that Haruhi would come to
us, but I suspected she might ... and remembering how badly Kyon-kun
and I hurt you through carelessness, I wouldn't want to do that
again."

     I flinched, reassured by Yuki taking my hand, a little ... but
mostly guilty that some of the damage I thought I had done was _real_.
 "S...so even though I was in another universe, you're so afraid of my
jealousy you won't be with the one you ... really love?  And ... you
do, right?  Mikuru-chan wouldn't confess to Kyon for a joke, right?" I
ask, so desperate for confirmation I slipped back into the more
familiar Japanese.

     Kyon's playing had broken off.  He stared at the floor in dismay.

     "Never, Haruhi," Mikuru swore.

     "T...then, you had better have wanted me as a maid of honor, and
not something stupid like needing my permission to make Kyon happy," I
eked out, eyes watering again.  I'd rather have been a guest at Kyon's
wedding then an uninvited observer at his memorial.

     "What about you, Haruhi?" Kyon worried.

     "I--"  I shook my head.  "I suppose ... you don't know anything
about what happened after you left?  Um, in ... our....  The other
world?"

     "Mikuru mentioned that ... eh ... Koizumi was behind part of it,"
Kyon admitted.  "I, uh ... pissed off Yuki's bosses, so they arranged
a deal with him to get rid of me."

     "Yuki's bosses?"  I remembered that Yuki was supposed to be a
being with powers -- evidently one of several that Kyon had known --
but I'd never heard anything about whoever it was Yuki would
supposedly have answered to.  At the time ... it just wasn't the part
of the equation that worried me.

     "The Integrated Data Sentience Entity," Yuki explained.  "They
created me and other human contact purposed interfaces to communicate
with humans, primarily for the purposes of observing you and your
abilities.  Ryouko was one of these."

     I nodded, grimacing.  That didn't feel good ... to know that I
had been studied by aliens who wouldn't openly talk to me?  Well ... I
supposed that Yuki was one of them, come to think of it.

     "In my time, that is ... the future I was from," Mikuru
continued, "the IDSE had lost interest in our planet and our people
at, um ... the point where you left.  But they weren't the only aliens
out there that were interested in humanity.  The Sky Canopy Domain had
been trying to communicate with us during the same time, but all of
their messages were being corrupted by the resonance between ...
well....

     "The important thing is that the Sky Canopy Domain was interested
in learning about human culture and experience.  Their attention was
drawn by you, Haruhi, initially, but they determined that
communicating with you would be difficult ... so they found someone
else that they thought was suitable."

     I looked at the woman curiously, but she just smiled and pointed at Kyon.

     "Your desire to encounter the unusual and unnatural caused his
path to cross with yours in such a way that accurate communication
could not occur," Yuki continued.

     "But ... now that you're here instead of the other universe, the
Sky Canopy Domain can establish contact with someone else, which ...
is ultimately what let me finally be the Mikuru that could save Kyon
-- and Yuki's memories, too!  I was able to ask the Suou Kuyou in
another time for instructions that I could give to her in the past --
so that we could escape," Mikuru concluded with a tiny sigh.

     Haruhi looked at the girl at her side, wondering.  "Your
memories?" she wondered.

    "Ah, yes ... the Nagato Yuki of that world couldn't leave without
being destroyed because of her dependence on the IDSE," she explained.
 "So, she left enough of herself behind to appear to be convincingly
destroyed, and then copied all of her memories and powers into
storage.

     "This world already had a human Nagato Yuki ... but one that was
in an extremely damaged mental state due to the circumstances of this
reality's creation," she continued.

     I grimaced at that thought, and Kyon looked guilty and
uncomfortable.  I can't imagine why, though ... it still seemed if it
weren't for _me_, none of this would have had to have happened.

    "So, then ... do ... I know you?" I wondered.  What Yuki was in
front of me?  At least I understood why she wore glasses again, but
did that mean this girl was actually a stranger?

    "With the data of two incomplete or damaged versions of myself, I
am more a complete person," Yuki explained.  "At least, that is how I
feel. I am not the being that can't express myself, nor the one that
cannot hold her emotions in check.  And for both of the sets of
memories that comprise my being now ... he is still my friend -- and I
am no longer lonely."

     That seemed to suggest that she was happy, like I had hoped.  I
supposed Kyon and Mikuru really were taking care of her....

     "And even if it's much weaker these days, she was able to
manipulate data enough for us to get passports and paperwork," Kyon
contributed.

     But ... if he really didn't have any grudge against me, there was
something I didn'tunderstand.  "S...so ... why aren't you better
friends with the other copy of me, then?"  And I know there has to be
one, or else he wouldn't have diferentiated between 'Suzumiya' and
'Haruhi' when he saw me ... though, understanding that now actually
makes an almost painful warmth fill my chest.  "You _know_ her, so....
 Why don't you even call her by her first name?"

    "Well, for me it's ... difficult, since she's not _you_.  We
e-mail, still, since she insists on staying in touch ... she gave me a
picture with her hair up, and told me to think of it as you....

     "Anyway, mostly she tells me what the copies of my family do --
since ... there was no original 'me' of this world.  I was just moved
over from the original universe when this one was made, so when I got
back, there was a hole where I used to be, here.

     "It's too strange to try and take back a place in that family, to
me, though.  I didn't even let them know I was here, since I'm not ...
really ... the person they think I am.  That's a big part of why we
came here.  I don't like that to them, someone vanished one day
without any explanation and was never seen again....  But I think it
might be even more difficult trying to explain everything.  Well, I
like to hear that they're okay anyway, and that little sister is doing
well."

     "She's pretty amazing," I managed, remembering.

     "Oh, yeah?  You stayed close with my sister?" Kyon asked, raising
his eyebrows and smiling at me hopefullys.

     I felt my eyes tearing again, and managed a rough smile.  "She
actually hates me, because ... everyone in that world believes that I
killed you, and Yuki, and Mikuru out of jealousy," I admitted.  "And
until ... not very long ago ... I believed that too."

     I was surprised when Yuki shifted in the seat next to me,
releasing my hand and moving to put one arm around me, holding me
close.  "It is okay," she said.  "You are with friends."

     Heaving a sigh, blinking away her tears, I managed an uneven
smile.  "Okay," I agreed.  I owed Kyon at least the truth, didn't I?
"S...so...."

     ***

     After I finished explaining the entire story, I looked around the
people who had offered me so much support and sympathy so far.  Yuki
was still hugging me, and I'd be lying if I said that seeing her alive
like that wasn't just as wonderful as seeing Kyon again.  Mikuru was
still holding one of my hands and offering the occasional soft pat.

     Kyon's had expression had shifted to a very somber, disappointed
one, before he sighed, rising from his armchair and moving to sit on
the edge of the coffee table, right in front of me.  He took me other
hand and said, "I don't ... even know where to begin, Haruhi.

     "I can say that I'm sorry ... I truly wish it hadn't worked out
that way, and I...."  He heaved a frustrated sigh, looking away.  "I
like to think that ... you can trust your friends.  With one real
exception, it's always been the right path for me.

     "And for that, well ... I think your story points out that I'm
right -- and that person just wasn't a friend," he concluded.

     "S...so ... what ... happens now?" Haruhi wondered.  "D...do you
want me to take -- I--  Wait!  I can take us all back to our own
world!"  My eyes widened in sudden realization.  Why didn't I think of
this earlier?  I came here, right?  Why couldn't I go back?  And bring
them with me?

     That was a way to set things right, finally!  "I could fix
everything!" I continued excitedly.  "We don't--"

     I was so startled by Mikuru pressing a fingertip to my lips, I
fell silent instantly.  "Haruhi ... I don't ... think that happens,"
she said with a small shake of her head, still smiling.  "Our
histories say that Kyon never came back to that world.  Even though
I'm sure you could find a way around that...."

     "We have had several years to get used to this," Kyon added.  "I
do miss our old world and my family, but it's not like life here is
terrible.  I'd like to somehow make my sister give you a friendly
smile again, but if that can't be done....  Eh, Haruhi ... why not
stay here with us?  As Mikuru explained things to me, that universe
doesn't believe you come back anyway."

     As soon as he said it, I realized it was what I really wanted to hear.

     That this bright world where nobody knew me, and my friends were
alive and happy had room for me.  "I can stay?" I asked meekly, barely
able to believe it.  After everything that had happened, even if they
forgave me ... wouldn't I be interfering in their lives?

     "Of course," Yuki replied.  "Like us, your vocation until this
point has been decided for you.  Now, you may choose new futures as
you wish."

     ...I hadn't even thought of it that way before.

     "W...what do you do, if Kyon's a translator?" I wondered.  Had I
ever really thought about what my friends would do for careers when I
knew them?  Before everything had fallen apart?

     "I am a literary critic," Yuki replied.

     "I'm just a teacher," Mikuru answered.

     "_Doctor_ Asahina has a PHD in Botany," Kyon added helpfully,
smirking at her.  "She teaches at a college."

     The woman blushed modestly at that.  "I...it's not such a big
deal," she countered, shaking her head.

     Those weren't things that I thought she could do.  Though when I
thought about it....  "I guess my English isn't at your level yet," I
sighed.

     "Why not come to school with me?" Mikuru suggested.  "You can
practice there while studying -- if you don't know what you want to do
yet, maybe that would be a good place to figure it out?"

     "I don't even have a high-school diploma, though," I said,
shaking my head.  And in the meantime, unless I survived off my
powers, what could I really contribute?  "I mean ... I could _make_
one, but it wouldn't give me what I need to know."

     "I will help you study," Yuki offered.  "I have not needed to
manipulate data for some time, but believe I can handle all of the
paperwork for you still."

     "Yes, it's Spring, here, and the academic year starts in Fall --
you should have enough time to catch up if you like," Mikuru
encouraged.

     "R...really?" I asked.  I'd wanted to go back to school so badly,
in my own world, and there hadn't been an option.  But here....  Well,
did I really want to go back to school, or did I just want to be with
my friends again?

     If I wasn't certain ... did it really matter if I could have both?

     "I'm not a genius, like all of the girls in this room," Kyon said
with a rueful grin, "but I've got a little money, so it shouldn't be
any problem helping you out.  That guest bedroom can be yours until
you're ready."

     I blinked at that, belatedly realizing....  Money?  I could
_make_ that....  "Kyon ... I have powers," I reminded him, not able to
really be annoyed.  "You think I'd worry about money?"

     "More like I was hoping I could offer you something at all," he
answered, his smile fading.  "Really ... after everything you've been
through, I hardly feel I can offer enough."

     "We're ... friends, right?" I asked cautiously.

     "Absolutely," he agreed.

     "Then ... you're offering me everything I need," I said.  "And
... thank you very much for the room.  E...even though I suppose it'll
have to be temporary, since you and Mikuru will probably want room for
children some day."

     "L...let's not get too hasty," Kyon said, suddenly nervous, while
Mikuru's blush deepened.  "I mean ... there's plenty of time, right?"

     "At that time, perhaps we should remain as roommates," Yuki
suggested, squeezing my hand gently before giving me another hug.

     "I think I'd like that," I agreed, hugging her back.  Turning to
look at Kyon, who was watching us with amusement, I warned him, "Ah
... but don't think that just because I suggested giving you room to
have kids means I won't be around!  Kyon, Mikuru -- for very obvious
reasons, I feel I must insist on being a godparent to whatever
children you have!"

     "Very well," Yuki said, breaking away from the embrace enough to
give me an amused smile.  "I will share that role with you."
     ---------------------------------
     Author's notes:  Gentle reader, as the curtain closes, we hope
you have enjoyed tonight's tale, and bid you a fond farewell ... until
next time.

     If you should wish to  hear the version of the song Kyon was
trying to perform, we feel it's best performed by Israel
Kamakawiwo'ole.

-- 
Brian Randall
--
I write fanfiction. Too much of it. You can read it here, thanks to a
kind grant from the Larry F foundation:
http://www.florestica.com/brandall/
--
Together. Allegiance or death. BIGFIRE!
--
Haiku of my lament:

Forgive my spelling,
my U.S. education,
is the source of blame.