Hello again everyone! Tenchi fans may be wondering where the Tenchi is in this story. Don't worry, it's coming I promise.

Thanks for reading. Please Review!

Once again, I do not own the rights to "Oh! My Goddess!" "Sailor Moon" OR "Tenchi Muyo" (Oh well...)

Sick Days: Chapter 2

Doctor Ayami Mizuno reluctantly followed Mara. Her emotions were a mix of anger at her abduction, fear for what might happen to her, and a genuine curiosity... Of course one tinged with a relief that her daughter Ami was not here with her.

Presently Mara led her into a splendidly appointed chamber. Oddly, more than just some sort of throne room, it also seemed to be a working office of some sort judging by the computer on the massive and ornately carved desk on one side of the room. Ayami came to a short stop as Mara knelt and reported to her ruler.

"Mistress Hild... I have brought Doctor Ayami Mizuno to see you."

"Very good Mara." Hild said with approval for once.

"You need not be afraid doctor." Hild said using her disarming charm. "You are my guest and as such are perfectly safe here."

"What makes you think I am afraid?" Ayami said trying to project a calm that she did not quite feel.

"Two reasons doctor. First is that as the CEO of the Demon Realm, I know every flavor of fear there is...

"Secondly, only a fool would be truly without fear under these circumstances and I do not take you to be a fool." Hild smiled. Though her stomach so very much wanted to heave, the Mistress of Niflheim refused to allow herself to appear weak before any mortal. However the facade was taking more than just a little effort so it was time to get down to matters at hand.

"Let me get get to the point doctor." Hild said leaning forward in her seat. "I require your services."

"My services?" Ayami repeated as if she had misheard.

"Yes doctor. I seem to have taken ill. As you can imagine, it is a serious matter for someone in my position to be sidelined by illness, no matter how slight."

"Surely you have your own doctors?"

Hild laughed not without some true humor. "Ayami... I have made contracts with a great many doctors. Unfortunately, once they have been granted a touch of wealth or fleeting fame they become obsessed with it! They dig for research grants... they steel the discoveries of their colleagues... They fret about getting tenure at a teaching hospital... they move to Rodeo Drive so they can get rich sucking the fat out of the butts of vain and shallow celebrities! In short, they do everything but practice medicine!"

Ayami's eyes opened wide, then narrowed. "Alright. Let's assume I believed you. Why should I want to help you?"

"Not an unreasonable question. I suppose from a mortal perspective I must seem like the most terrible being in the universe." Hild replied with that charm again. "Ayami... I run a business. While it would be normal to assume that I only wish for terrible things to happen, my business depends on having a market share and humans are my customers. Do you know how much business I lose when wars breakout? Almost everyone starts looking for angels when things get that bad, very few turn to us.

"What many of my subordinates fail to understand is that the universe requires balance. Light and darkness depend upon each other. Without one, the other cannot exist Ayami. "

Ayami nodded still uncertain.

"And then by your own nature... Would you turn away any patient merely because you disagreed with their philosophy? You are a healer and I am asking for your help doctor."

Ayami finally nodded her assent.

Hild smiled. "Mara, we'll need to draw up a contract to pay for services rendered."

"Yes Mistress." Mara said going to the computer and punching up a contract.

"Normally mine are the services rendered." Hild said conversationally. "But in this case, I offer you in payment for your services... One wish, no strings attached. It can be anything you wish and it will be done."

"I don't require payment." Ayami said feeling just a tiny bit scared at the implications of what Hild was offering.

"Of course not but you will accept it just the same Ayami."Hild said easily.

"Very well then..." Doctor Mizuno said steeling herself. "Please describe your symptoms..."


To Be Continued...