[FFML] [Haruhi] Sympathy -- Prologue

[Brian Randall]

I have a few chapters of this complete -- hopefully it's enjoyed. :)

#     Sympathy

##     A 'Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi' fanfiction
###     Prologue -- Understand
     Disclaimer: The novel series of Suzumiya Haruhi that began with
'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.
     Notes: Diverges at some vague point in novel nine.  May contain
spoilers to that point.
	---------------------------------
     I have a pretty good memory for the timing of things, and I like
things to happen neatly, symmetrically.
     But it's also a huge pain in the ass to wait until that happens.
     The day being one year to the day that a certain particularly
good dream -- the details of which you don't need to know -- is it
really _that_ unreasonable to want to see a similar pattern?
     Not identical -- that would be boring.  Similar.
     More interesting, more exciting ... well ... something like that.
 More meaningful, at least.
     It was one of those uncooperative days, though, where things
didn't really go the way I like.  It goes without saying, but it ticks
me off when that happens; I always get that annoying sense of tension
in the back of my head.  I'm too young for it to be blood pressure,
but it's no joke to say that the source of these pains is almost
always the insubordinate.
     Lately, there has been some tension, though ... and centered
around him, of course.  He's been more and more irritable ever since
that time we ran into that girl he knew from....
     That thought in mind, when I look up from the monitor, I see him
staring morosely at the game board across from Koizumi-kun.  It's
chess, and as always, Kyon is kicking Koizumi-kun's ass.  It's one of
those things where you can tell his heart isn't in it, though; he's
just crushing his opponent absently instead of stringing him along for
dozens of turns.
     Sometimes, when things are like this, I wonder if maybe he thinks
similar things -- that today feels off.
     I want to think he's a jerk for not remembering what happened a
year ago, to take it so casually....  But he's kind of ignorant that
way.  Never pays attention when he should.
     Then again, it's not like it's possible he'd know about it, given
it was my dream.
     More of that tension.
     "What's eating you, Kyon?" I finally chide him.
     He glances over at me with a raised eyebrow, frowning more
intently before settling back into his chair.  He probably thinks I
can't tell what he's doing, but it's pretty obvious when he thinks
he's gearing up for some sort of confrontation.
     Just what I didn't need.
     "I've got a bit of trouble," he acknowledges, nodding.  "So, I
don't think I can make this weekend's mystery search."
     I give him a look every bit as unimpressed as I feel.  "What lame
excuse do you have this time?" I wonder.
     He takes a breath at that, not _quite_ a sigh of resignation, but
I can read it for what it is.  He thinks he has it so tough?  I try
staring him down, but as always, he seems totally indifferent.
     "I don't have enough money," he says.
     I can only continue to stare at him for a minute.  "What the hell
are you talking about?"
     Koizumi-kun frowns, looking between us, giving that creepily
studying look he sometimes gets.  Mikuru-chan fidgets in her seat with
a look of intent concentration, as though she were trying to
understand something difficult.  Yuki just flips to the next page of
her book -- _Time Enough for Love_, today.
     "I seem to have somehow spent almost my entire savings over the
last year without really realizing it," Kyon mutters.  Not satisfied
with giving me just his typical snark, he looks at me intently,
crossing his arms over his chest as though somehow _I_ had lost his
money.
     "Well, that sucks for you, but I don't see how your financial
irresponsibility has anything to do with us meeting up for the mystery
searches.  What, do you need train fare?" I grumble at him.
     "Yes....  A connection between an activity where penalties can be
awarded, and me having no money," Kyon muses.
     "Kyon, you advance stupidity to whole new frontiers," I notify
him, shaking my head.  "If you didn't screw up and get penalized, this
would never have been a problem!"
     His face twitches for a moment, and one eyebrow gives a small tick--
     Okay--  Back up.
     He pisses me off sometimes, but if there's one thing I really
can't stand, it's seeing _him_ truly pissed off.
     I've seen that _twice_.  Once was at the friends of some girl he
knew from middle school, not that long ago.  I still haven't been able
to find out why.  It must have been pretty bad, though, because....
     The other time he got really pissed off--
     Anyway, I can't let him say something stupid, so I quickly say,
"Well, I guess it's a given you're always penalized, so that does
completely undermine the point of the system.  Trust you to ruin a
good idea....  So, fine, you can be exempt to penalties, since they
weren't helping anyway."
     He closes his eyes and looks away.  "Even--" he starts abruptly,
turning to face me with his eyes open before biting it off.
     Shit, is it _really_ that bad?  I mean ... how many penalties has
it been, anyway?
     Come to think of it ... there's been maybe five times ever when
it wasn't him....
     ...and there was that time I was the last one there and made him
pay anyway....
     Okay, he was being a genuine _ass_ that day, and it was just the
two of us, but still--  In the grand scheme of things....
     I guess that could be kind of a lot of money, couldn't it?
     Damn--  How can I fix this?
     "I don't like that look," he says suddenly, in a very dubious tone.
     "Ah, Kyon-kun," Koizumi-kun murmurs, finding his voice suddenly,
"if finances are a concern, as you know, I have a part-time job--  I
could find you employment--"
     "I'll still pass on that one," Kyon says, looking at the other
boy as though he just said something particularly distasteful.
     What's up with _that_?  If he's passing on a chance to make more
money....  He can't really be that lazy -- not if the money really
bothers him.  Can he?
     "Stop being so difficult!" I tell him.  "Get to the point already
-- what does it take to get you to quit moping?  Since this is such a
big deal--  Fine, I'll cover everyone's expenses for this weekend,
okay?"
     Kyon just shakes his head and stares at the table.
     "Well?" I press.  If he can't say what the hell is wrong, it's
never going to get fixed -- and all this internalization to keep him
from getting pissed off is seriously getting me worked up!
     "I....  I'm not feeling well," Kyon decides, suddenly standing
up.  "It's....  I'm sure everything will be fine; I just need to
rest."
     "Just say what's really bothering you, already!" I snap, unable
to keep my irritation completely in.
     "U...um," Mikuru-chan hesitantly begins, her eyes going between
Kyon and me hurriedly.  "D...don't fight...."
     God -- what a pain!  Kyon doesn't know half of what I do for him;
the jerk should try seeing things from _my_ perspective once in a
while!
     Kyon looks even more annoyed for a moment, and then I really wish
that were true -- that maybe I could see things from _his_ side well
enough to know what the hell was bothering him so much.
     That annoying pressure in the back of my head suddenly disperses,
and I feel dizzy -- like a rush of cold flowing out from my head to
the reaches of my body, and then even further, away from me
completely....
     Kyon lurches to one side, almost toppling over, but thrusting one
hand out.  It ... it seems for a moment like a chair suddenly slides
across the floor to meet his grasp, saving his balance.  It could have
been a trick of the light or something....
     "What the hell was that?" I wonder.
     Kyon might be clumsy, but I felt _something_, and it was
simultaneous.  No way I'm letting this go!
     "Oh," Kyon says suddenly, his hand rising, freezing as Yuki--
     Where the _hell_ did she come from!?
     Somehow, the space to one side of Kyon ripples and distorts,
disgorging Yuki's figure.  She's frozen in place, a brutal-looking
knife held in one hand, staring blankly at Kyon.  The weapon is
currently suspended in a lethal stab towards Kyon's heart, as though
pinned in place by his gesture.
     Why the hell is Yuki holding a knife?  Why would she try and attack Kyon?
     Mikuru-chan shrieks in terror, charging to my side and wrapping
her arms around me as she shivers nervously.  At the same time ...
unless I'm seeing things ... something truly amazing _is_ happening,
whatever the hell it is!
     How the hell did she even _appear_ like that in the _first_ place?
     "No," he groans, shaking his head.  "That....  Your bosses don't
like this, huh?"
     "What....  Kyon-kun, if what I think just happened took place,"
Koizumi-kun says slowly, his voice taking on a keen edge of worry, "I
believe you need to remain calm."
     "Why the hell do you think you know what happened?" I demand.
"Seriously--  Start explaining what's going on!"  I know that
Koizumi-kun hides things from me -- it's a given with how obvious he
is -- but something of _this_ magnitude?
     "It's not really you, so it's fine, it's fine," Kyon answers,
shaking his head and waving his hand--  Yuki vanishes just as suddenly
as she appeared.
     "Am--"  I cut myself off and look over my shoulder.  Yuki is
sitting in her seat, book in her lap as she stares intently at Kyon
with her usual, unreadable expression.  Mikuru-chan is still hanging
onto me, trembling like a leaf.  Koizumi-kun looks like he's seriously
considering bolting from the room, either towards the door or the
window.
     "Stop this playing around!" I yell.  This is too much, too fast!
"Someone tell me what the hell is going on!"
     "So ... you really think you can walk in my shoes?" Kyon asks
curiously.  He frowns, then shakes his head.
     Koizumi-kun begins to tremble like Mikuru-chan, who begins
sobbing wordlessly.
     "Okay....  Fine, then."
     "Hey--" is the last thing that I get to say before it all goes dark.
     Damn it, Kyon....
	---------------------------------
-- 
Brian Randall
--
Yrne awaits those with the courage to seek it.
--
I write fanfiction. Too much of it. You can read it here, on my
terrible webpage:
http://pishoque.net/brian/