Chapter 11 - Blissless Ignorance

Blissless Ignorance
Reimu and Konota ran up to Haruhi's limp body in horror. Righting Haruhi to face up, Reimu looked for lifesigns but her pulse and breathing were absent.

Konata stood up, pointing her sickle at Reimu's neck, "What did you do?" she threatened, all innocence lost.

"I did nothing," answered Reimu, looking into Haruhi's open eyes.

"Don't lie, I-"

"I did nothing!" shouted Reimu, facing Konata with sharp eyes, "Do you think I can do anything to Haruhi?!"

Konata lowered her weapon and fell to her knees in blank disbelief. There was a moment of silence. Then she came back to her senses, pulling out a phone out of her pocket.

Ritsu suddenly looked up in confusion, "Haruhi."

Santiago faced her, "What about her?"

As Ritsu did not respond immediately, Naluri spoke up, "Santiago, residents of North High can't refer to Haruhi by name. Did Haruhi actually decide to give your free will back?" Sasaki did not say anything.

Suddenly Ritsu's mobile phone rang. She answered it, "Hey, Konata, wh-" She suddenly stopped talking as Konata began to explain. Ritsu's expression changed drastically to one of uncertainty. She rushed towards the living room door, keeping the phone to her ear, pulled the door open and came face to face with Sakuya. It was clearly not what she was expecting, frowning. Sakuya put a hand on Ritsu's shoulder in encouragement. After a second of eye contact, Ritsu continued out the apartment without a word. Sakuya walked into the living room, closing the door.

"What's the meaning of this?" questioned Sasaki, not sure what to make of it.

"We need your help, Sasaki," bowed Sakuya, clearly distraught, "Haruhi just died," she stated bluntly.

"Prove it," challenged Naluri, though she seemed to be doubting herself, "Haruhi can't die."

"I am sorry," apologized Sakuya, with another bow, "I cannot personally prove it. Reimu would talk to you herself but she is currently travelling back down to Earth from one of Haruhi's starships. With the loss of Haruhi, North High has lost many of their old conveniences including instant travel and psychic communication. Thankfully, many powers of North High's administration still exist as well as a strong communications network." Her speech began to hurry. "However, most of the Colony are suffering from a backlash with their free will returned."

"Wait, wait," interrupted Naluri, "Why is Gensokyo so concerned about North High?"

"This is High Gensokyo," answered Sakuya, "The remnants of Gensokyo and North High have allied and are struggling to maintain order." Sasaki was keeping completely silent.

"I'm not surprised," noted Santiago, "We didn't exactly get great treatment back in Gensokyo." Naluri was suddenly distracted and stared ahead in concentration.

Sakuya just lowered her head. Sasaki rubbed a hand down her face, "... What can we do?" she asked quietly. Naluri stuck a finger in her right ear and twisted her finger round.

"We want you to bring Haruhi back as North High's leader," begged Sakuya, "We want you to meet with Reimu as soon as possible. Then we can take off your Barrier so you can bring Haruhi back."

"Tell me where she is," replied Sasaki straightening up.

"Personally, I don't-"

"Oy, maid," interrupted Naluri, firmly, "What about Yamaha? Do they have anything in mind?" She turned the finger in her ear the other direction.

"... We are trying to ask for their support. Even though they took over the United States, this is not the time to holds grudges. We need many of our friends that were left in the country."

"Why would they agree?"

"... I don't know. I am just the messenger," bowed Sakuya, "Is there anything else you want to know?"

Naluri looked at Sasaki, putting her arm down. Sasaki shook her head, "No, I'll try to catch up with Reimu." Sakuya bowed one last time before leaving.

Naluri got up to see Santiago looking at her. "In my world, earpieces with volume dials are common," he commented casually, "Listening in on secure communications?"

"Oh, you noticed," she smirked. The smirk vanished quickly, replaced by a serious look. "Sasaki. It's too late to get to Reimu. Her pod, with Konata, was intercepted midflight while in space. Also the Normandy captured the SOS Brigade, apart from Yuki, who escaped. These are top players, all defeated quickly. Sakuya wasn't lying. Haruhi's gone. North Hi- High Gensokyo is going to be liberated. Yamaha seems to be having trouble of their own." She took three bottles of drink from the mini-fridge next to the couch. "This might be the end of The Three Kingdoms. Well, two, technically. Drink up." Naluri threw Santiago a bottle, who opened it immediately, before personally offering a second bottle to Sasaki. Sasaki slowly took the bottle, a depressed look on her face. She did not attempt to open the bottle. "Don't worry, Sasaki, it's soft carbonated," smiled Naluri, sitting back down.

"... Do you think I like having this choker on me?" murmured Sasaki, quietly.

"... I guess not..."

"... Do you think I will ever lose it?"

Naluri did not answer. Santiago did instead, "No, no sane person wants an omnipotent god free of shackles."

Sasaki slid to the floor, back against the wall, close to tears. Naluri stopped drinking. "Was life really that bad in North High?" This question was obviously directed at Naluri.

"Haruhi and Konata kept pestering me all the time."

"Hmph," chuckled Santiago, "Sounds a lot better than what I used to come across in my world. The only colours I saw were black and red."

Not expecting a retort from Santiago, Naluri argued back, "Okay... fine. It was sort of comfortable. But I'm split up from my friends and comrades."

"Was that Haruhi's fault?" responded Santiago.

Naluri growled, "Haruhi removed all free will from her kingdom. People were like drones out there! They all lost their individuality!"

Santiago could not counter since he never been in Gensokyo. But Sasaki raised her head, "... Was that really true?" Sasaki and Naluri stared at each other in the eye.

But then Naluri put her face in her hands, "No," she corrected, shaking her head, "No, it's not. People still had their personalities, their quirks, what made them them. Even though everything was free and plentiful and no one was required to work, Haruhi kept the education, entertainment and commercial sectors open just for socialising. Everybody was happy but it wasn't the awkward kind of happy where it felt unnatural. And for the first time in my life, I felt sa-... I felt..." Naluri couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.

"Safe," finished Santiago.

"Before Doomsday," continued Naluri, "I always involuntarily swapped universes. And in each one, I'd get into some kind of fight. Here, I was guaranteed to wake up in the same bed every morning with no worries. Well, until Haruhi outlawed me. But then I was still protected by The Unwritten Law. And it didn't seem like they were being serious."

"So you're fine if we recreate Haruhi?" asked Santiago.

Naluri lifted her head, "I said no such thing," she retaliated, "Like I said, she outlawed me. I'm not going to support her. Why are you suddenly supporting her? I thought you hated her."

"I come from a world where you have to sleep with one eye open," answered Santiago, his expression and emotion hard to figure out with his mask, "Your life under Haruhi sounds like a paradise to me. I wouldn't mind losing some of my free will for guaranteed safety. My only qualm with Haruhi was that her presence was putting both Gensokyo and Yamaha on edge. But we've now found out that Gensokyo would be fine with Haruhi's return. And Yamaha is looking for help too. If Haruhi came back now, the three kingdoms would be different. No Barriers and thus cooperation and unity."

"Hmph," grunted Naluri, "You're too short sighted. How do you know the world's new leaders won't do better?"

"No one can guarantee your safety more than a generous god," stated Santiago, simply.

With a laugh, Naluri put a hand on the back of her neck, "Oh, yeah, generous for outlawing me. The world is better without Haruhi."

Santiago was not amused, "Someone out there broke The Unwritten Law. Someone out there broke The Unwritten Law... On an omnipotent goddess," he paused, "Do you feel safe?"

Naluri frowned, "I'm not going to help you recreate Haruhi and that's final."

"By the way, did you find out what High Gensokyo is doing to gain Yamaha's support?"

"... It's a two way thing. They're each trading three people to the other side as a good gesture. Which basically means they're not trading any top brass. High Gensokyo are trading the crew of the Thunder Child-" Naluri suddenly bit her lip but it was too late. Santiago had heard.

"Didn't Ritsu say the Thunder Child broke through the Hakurei Barrier?" Santiago asked Sasaki. Sasaki nodded realising Santiago's plan to use it to break her Barrier. "And didn't she say it went through the Sonic Barrier?" he continued, turning to Naluri. "Do you know where the exchange will take place?

Naluri glared intently at Santiago, knowing that he was suggesting to use it to get to the United States to find her long lost friend, Rokiahi. "... Yes. I do."

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