All disclaimers in part 1... yo, Lurker, when's "Rainbow of Souls" part 2
coming out? =^_~= And does anyone have a translation of ANY part of the
Blue Seed Memorial Album? If so, contact me privately at
jhardy@campbellsvil.edu. Thanx!

Hidden Fires part 3

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

	Matsudaira quietly shut the door leading into the TAC's
mini-infirmary. "I've run just about evry test I can, and I still can't
isolate the main cause of Kusanagi's illness," she said softly. "The tests
show that there is some sort of parasite infecting his lymph system.
However, the parasite itself doesn't actually interact with his body; it
just seems to sit there." The scientist folded herself into a nearby chair
and sighed a bit, the only indication she would ever give of frustration.
	"What about his other injuries?" Kunikida asked, passing
Matsudaira a small cup of hot tea.
	"Well, I've stitched up the wounds in his chest and shoulder, but
what puzzles me is that they should be healing up on their own. His
self-healing powers are for some reason not working. If he doesn't improve
within the next fourty-eight hours, I may have to put him in surgery to
repair the damage."
	Um... Mrs. Matsudaira?" The team turned to look at Momiji. Her
normally cheerful demeanor was wiped away, leaving her withdrawn and
quiet. Her face was drawn with worry; her eyes were shimmering with unshed
tears. "Is... is Kusanagi going to be all right?"
	"i can't say for sure, but," and the older woman laid a gentle
hand on the teen's shoulder, "Kusanagi was in excellent health before
this. That improves the odds quite a bit. And Koume and Yaegashi are at
the hospital now picking up some antibiotics that should help him."
	"We can get him the best help in the nation, right, Matsu?"
Takeuchi spoke up, trying to be helpful. Her words fell flat in the tense
silence.
	Momiji suddenly stood up, clenching her hands together. "could I
go in and see him?" she asked in a tightly controlled voice.
	"Of course, Momiji-" The teen disappeared through the door before
waiting for an answer.
	"So what *are* the odds of Kusanagi making it, Matsudaira?"
Kunikida leaned forward intently, his voice lowered so that no one in
another room could hear.
	Matsu glanced at him, them lowered her eyes to the table. "The
best we can do now is hope," she said.

LilTigre