Author's note: Hello, hello! I'm back again, writing yet another installment to my Zombie Apocalypse series! The story's have little (read:nothing) to do with zombies anymore... but I really like the way the characters developed. I assume you do too, seeing as how you are still reading this crap after two stories.

I originally planned to just leave it alone after the last one- but I keep coming back to it. I keep thinking about Kyon locked up in prison, and what I could do to further the plot. And in the end, I guess I just couldn't get away from it. I want this one to be good, so I might take a bit more time with it. I'll get the chapter's out when they are done. :3

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I sat, idly turning the bookmark around in my hand, examining it from all angles, as if a new perspective would somehow make everything click.

It's been about a week now since Koizumi showed up to visit me, since he delivered that brand-new copy of Hyperion to the prisons' library.

...Since I found the bookmark in it, with the neat, almost typed handwriting on it.

"...I wonder what I'm supposed to do."

Hmmmm...

I put the bookmark up to my mouth and kissed it. Nothing happened. A fellow prisoner in his cell on the other side of the block is looking at me strangely.

"What are you looking at?"

He shrugged.

"Whatever man, we all get a little lonely sometimes... But I've never seen someone tongue a piece of paper before. You know... whatever floats your boat."

"Shut up..."

He laughed roughly. I don't know that guys name... but he's been here for a couple days. I rarely take the time to memorize names here- I'd rather not associate with most of these people.

Prison is full of strange people... but then again, perhaps it was a bit much to hope that kissing this thing would turn it into a prince... or a princess... whatever, don't judge me.

I looked at the bookmark again, reading it for the millionth time:

'Wait for me', it says. For who? Yuki? That's even more absurd. But still...

I set the bookmark under my cot for safe keeping.

"...It's all I have left."

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1 year later

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I never imagined how long 'life' trully was back when I was in school, but in prison, it's easy to apprectiate the overwhelming bredth of eternity. When you don't have anything to look forward to, the days run together, and time really ceases to matter. It's less like living and more like... waiting.

Today is my 18th birthday. I'd break out the party favors, but they're in decidedly short supply here. Not that there's anyone to celebrate with anyway.

"Hey, Kyon."

"Hey Sato. What's up?"

Sato stopped outside my cell and leaned against the bars. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Smoking is prohibited in here, but nobody every cares either way. Even the warden is lax about it.

Sato hadn't changed much over the past few years. When I first landed myself in here, he was probably in his early 20's, probably only a few years out of high school. He looks mostly the same now, but a little more tired. His black hair is in a constant state of disaray. He probably stopped caring about his appearance years ago.

"You know, you aren't supposed to lean against the bars. I might try to assault you."

Sato shrugged, ignoring my joke. Strange- usually he'd come back with something more clever then anything I can come up with.

"Something on your mind, Sato?"

"Yeah..."

He took a long drag and dropped his hand to his side, holding the cigarette between his middle and index finger.

"I've decided to quit my job."

Shit. Shit.

"Ah... I see. Any particular reason?"

"I'm getting married soon. And... I don't know. I'm afraid of what this place will do to me."

"...I can understand that, I guess. Spending all your time around murderers and thieves can't be good for you."

"Don't take it the wrong way Kyon. You're a good guy, even if you... you know..."

"Thanks Sato, but I haven't even been able to forgive myself for what I did yet. I killed Haruhi. I don't think I could ever properly convey to you how much that means to me. I really hate myself for it."

Sato shook his head slowly.

"When I was a kid... I got into a fight with a friend of mine...A bad one. I was a lot stronger, and I went too far. He didn't end up dead, but it was a close thing. For a while they didn't know if he was going to make it."

"That's pretty rough... what happened?"

"He lived. He's still got a bit of a limp, but he's doing alright. And you know what else?"

"What?"

"One day, when I was visiting him in the hospital... he said 'I forgive you'. That was it. I don't even remember what the fight was about... He and I are still good friends to this day."

"Hmmmm..."

"Maybe... that girl would have forgiven you too."

Haruhi...

"I don't know. Haruhi was a very... strange person."

We lapsed into silence.

"Say, Kyon. If you had the chance to escape from here... would you take it?"

Huh... that's an odd question...

"No, I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"Why should I? There's nothing for me outside. I didn't get to finish my highschool education... and I don't have anyone I could turn to out there."

"There's nothing for you here either."

I briefly glanced over at the crumpled bookmark on my cot.

"Maybe..."

"What's up with that piece of paper anyway?"

What indeed...

"It's a memento. It's got Yuki's handwriting on it."

"Ah, I see."

"I'm not sure why I hang onto it. It's not like me to be so sentimental.

Sato took another puff of his cigarette. He held it up in front of his face, seeming to examine it for some reason.

"There's someone waiting for you."

What?

"...Visiting hours are over, Sato."

He ground his cigarette into the nearby wall, putting it out prematurely. He removed his keys from his pocket, making to unlock the door to my cell.

Wait... what's going on...

"...Walk with me, Kyon."

Without asking any further questions, I grabbed the bookmark off my cot and stepped outside the cell. I had never been outside my cell at this hour before. Needless to say, it was against regulations. If we got caught, Sato would face legal trouble, and they'd remove my recreation privilages for a while. I could live with my own punishment, but that was exactly the kind of thing Sato didn't need right now.

We walked down the hallway silently. I had no idea where he was taking me. All I knew is that it definitely wasn't the visitor's room.

Before long, we came to the library, he stopped in front of the entrance, and began unlocking the door with his set of keys. I'm suprised to see that we stopped here, but at the same time...

The lock clicked, indicating that it had opened. I'm reminded of the click the doorknob made to the club-room as Yuki unlocked it. I'm not sure why I'm reminded of that now. I've heard plenty of locks in the past few years.

Sato gripped the knob, turning it slowly, almost reluctantly. I was suddenly very, very apprehensive. The door swung open... and behind it, there was...

...the library. Nothing out of the ordinary. I gripped the bookmark in frustration.

We went inside. I thought of flipping on the light switch, but I decided against it. I looked around the room, seeing nothing abnormal.

"...Who is waiting for me, Sato?"

I glanced at him, taking in his expression. He seemed slightly unnerved.

"I don't know... but I was so sure of it..."

"..."

"I had a dream. In it, I was in the library. There was... someone, or something... and it said, 'Tonight, bring Kyon to me'."

"Oh... I see."

He shook his head, "I'm sorry."

"No... it's foolish of me to hope for anything anymore. When Yuki died... that was it for me. Perhaps it's best to just... forget about everything..."

I calmly walked over to the shelf that containted Hyperion. I noticed that it was still in new condition. It seems that in the past year, nobody picked it up. I lifted it off the shelf, cracked it open to the last page and hesitated slightly before sliding the bookmark in.

"...I'm sorry Yuki, I can't do this anymore."

I walked back over toward Sato, watching his sad expression. He really is a good guy. I'm glad I got to meet him.

Suddenly, his eyes widened. His lips parted slightly in suprise. "Wha...", he said in disbelief.

And then a level, ethereal voice drifted into my ears from behind. I stopped in my tracks.

"Kyon."

I shook my head, "It can't be..."

"What cannot be? Have you suspended your belief, despite all that we have seen?"

I turned around, eyes shut tightly, not daring to open them.

No... no, don't open them Kyon. Just turn around, and walk away. If you open your eyes, you'll only be dissapointed, and you can't take that anymore can you? One more will break you... so don't open your eyes-

I felt a pair of soft, petite hands on the sides of my face.

"Kyon..."

I opened my eyes, and was immediately overwhelmed.

"Yuki...!"

She was bathed in a light that seemed to com from nowhere, her face bare centimeters from mine. Not knowing what else to do, I leaned foward and captured her lips, feeling the warm, joyful tears slide down my face.

Oh, how I longed for this... How I hoped...

I stepped back. the light dissapeared, leaving Yuki Nagato standing before me as if nothing had happened besides the passage of time. She was a bit taller, her face had changed slightly, becoming more womanly. The curves of her body had similarly changed, making it difficult for me to focus my eyes on her face.

My god, she was beautiful.

All at once, I wanted very much to get out of this place.

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Author's Note: Hahahahaha! She lives! SHE LIVES!

You'll get an explanation as to what happened in the next chapter... in the mean time, please review! I'm very happy with this chapter, and I'd like to know what you think! Until next time!