[FFML] [SYnY] [Lime] Annual Return from the Cold Palace

[Henry Cobb]

[SYnY] [Lime] Annual Return from the Cold Palace
By Henry J. Cobb

[The Haruhi Suzumiya characters are the creation of Nagaru Tanigawa,
etc. No infringement of their rights is intended.]

On the evening of the sixth of July, I stopped soaping up my wife's back
and put my attention to massaging her shoulders. "You're really tense. It's
about tomorrow, isn't it?"

"She isn't the only one." She looked down at the floor.

"Oh?"

"I too can show you what I looked like back in High School. And if that
isn't young enough, I can extrapolate what I should have looked like in
junior high, elementary, or would you like to see the kindergarten Yuki?"
She turned to face me.

"No." I turned her around to sit in my lap. "The Yuki I have now is my
trophy. The slight external changes show the hard battles we've had to wage
over the years to free your soul. It's a victory I will savor for the rest
of my life."

"And yet tomorrow, I become their thing again. Not even a toy. I'll just be
a tool that they pull out of the shed once a year. Like a snow blower, that
just sits in the corner of the garage."

"Those are their terms. One day in purgatory to earn a year's freedom. It's
the reverse for her."

"You love her." Yuki looks into my eyes. She isn't looking for confirmation
or denial, just support.

"I made my choice, and I haven't regretted it for a moment since."

After the bath I get ready for bed.

Yuki reaches over and removes the ring from my finger. "I will return this
to you, when I am myself again and you are mine again."

"And that will be the day after tomorrow."

"Should she ask for me, that thing will arrive and simulate me once
more. Whatever she wants to do with it is fine. I will be watching, but you
have my forgiveness. As if I had a choice. Please, enjoy your day pass."
She kisses me and then leaves. I hear her drive off to stay at the
hotel on our small island.

I wonder if she meets with the other brigade members, or if she avoids them
and spends the entire day as that thing, locked in a room to hide her
shame. This one day a year they all gather from far and when to be ready,
in case they are called for, or if I blow it.

I read one of Yuki's favorite books for a while, then turn off the lamp and
go to sleep.

In the morning I am awakened by the smells of breakfast. That is a
violation. She is not allowed to arrive before I awake. Did I half wake
earlier that morning, and was that her justification? Nothing I can do
about it now, but get ready and go downstairs. The rules of her existence,
like so many other things, are strictly off topic.

"Morning, Kyon." She has one of Yuki's aprons over her high school
uniform.

It reminds me of that time long ago when it was Yuki who had only her high
school uniform.

"Happy Tanabata, Haruhi." I sit at the dinning table and look at her for a
while, but find no changes from that day. I suppose that even if she had
aged one day per year, it would still be less than a month for her now.

"Is there something in my hair?"

"Just the same old ribbons. I kind of miss the variation in hairstyles each
day."

"Too much of a pain. I got bored with it." She brought the breakfast items
over to the table.

Over breakfast, she asks about my life and the friends we knew. I'm not
allowed to ask what she has been doing. That part of her is locked away for
the day, and I know better than to pry at that dreadful seal.

She goes to the one room in my house that is reserved for her, and changes
into casual clothes.

We walk hand in hand to the beach. There are few signs of the usual
vacationer traffic. The cleanup crew did an excellent job yesterday, and
today the beach is reserved for just us two. Itsuki's organization is well
aware of the danger of having petitioners accost her.

The lunch she prepares is, as always, divine, naturally. Or should that be
supernaturally?

After lunch she reads through a year's worth of news magazines and
constantly bombards me with questions about recent events. I don't consider
it odd, that she does not herself know everything instantly. The girl in
front of me is only the tip of the iceberg. No man can look on the true
face of God and live. I am thankful for her mercy.

After dinner we retire to the master bedroom and make love. It's not just
sex. I'm not just a gigolo putting on an act. I do care for her and I can
see some of the pain she has to deal with. She only gets one day off a year
and I am truly flattered that she chooses to spend it with me.

In the morning I reach over, but she is gone. Just like on that one day so
long ago, when I told her my love was for another.

"Good morning Kyon." Yuki is sitting at my desk.

"Good morning." I reach out my hand for the ring.

"First go wash her stink off you, and then you will be mine." Yuki's smile
shows that she's making a joke out of it.

"As you command." I rise, bow to her, then head to the bathroom.

-HJC
I have got to change my shipping address. How about a Itsuki x Yuki story?