Chapter 12: No Need For Nurse Fuyumi
Surprisingly enough, Ikuko was not angry with Usagi and Chibi-Usa when she found out what happened to Taiki, though she was concerned about him. She agreed that Chibi-Usa should be allowed to go visit him whenever she wanted. As she said, What a nice girl! That poor boy; I hope he handles Earth hospitals okay. But there was still one more question.

How did you get back here? Last time I saw you, Ikuko-mama, you were in the car with the bad girl, Chibi-Usa asked, confused.

She stopped the car and got out before it hit anything. She was very angry about something, but I don't think she was after me anyway. I wonder why she would be after you, Ikuko wondered aloud.

Well, she's someone who seems to think we're characters in an anime, like on TV. But that's silly, none of us are anime characters. And what's weird is, how come they know about Taiki and his friends? It doesn't make sense at all, Chibi-Usa whimpered, telling her troubles to her grandma.

I don't know much about this Sailor Senshi thing, but if it's true that you and the others have defeated many villains before and also could keep it a secret from me and the other girls' parents, I'm sure you'll be smart enough to figure out what's going on. Or, being evil,' as you say, maybe that girl is just lying and saying that to just make you doubt yourself and your own existence. But Chibi-Usa, I trust that you're a real person and not an animation on a movie or TV show, Ikuko reassured her.

As was to be a habit of hers for awhile, Chibi-Usa took the bus after school to go visit Taiki. Luckily, she had asked permission to have this habit, and since Ikuko was busy with housework, the arrangement worked out for both of them.

Of course, that didn't mean that it was an easy time. Taiki's condition worsened, and Chibi-Usa came to his bedside every day. She also searched for her brooch, but it was gone. One thing that was growing, however, was the bond between the pink-haired future princess and the intellectual alien. She missed her parents and future world like Taiki missed his own planet, and, just like Taiki, she had been separated from having friends because of her status in life. A princess was someone to respect, maybe even fear, but not to make friends with. This made Chibi-Usa cling to any friend she could get. She watched Fuyumi carefully, trying to find a weakness she might have. She also tried to tell the doctors what was going on, but they didn't believe her, and dismissed Taiki's strange illness as merely the effect of living in a new world.

Finally, as she was beginning to wonder whether Taiki would be killed by this or not, Chibi-Usa ran into Seiya and Yaten on the way to the hospital from school. Surely they would listen to her.

Please! Do you know where your friend Taiki has been all this time! she begged, desperate to have someone listen to her, as even Usagi just thought she was trying to be scary about doctors.

He's in the hospital, right? We saw him break his leg. Odd thing is, this one nurse always tells us to leave. She kind of looks like one of those evil girls, but what would one of them be doing in a hospital? Seiya reasoned.

She's trying to kill Taiki! She keeps giving him this weird drink that makes him sicker and sicker, and I'm afraid he'll die! she blurted out, tears forming in her red eyes for about the millionth time that week.

Then let's go see what's going on. You can use this if that nurse really is one of the villains, Yaten said, and he pulled a glittering object out of his pocket. Chibi-Usa smiled for the first time in many days.

My transformation brooch! Thank you so much! How did you find it? she gushed, hugging Yaten's legs.

I found it by the roadside pillow stand. It was probably lucky that you two landed there, Yaten joked.

Okay! Now we can get to the bottom of this! And I'll call Ikuko-mama, if she sees what's going on, she might help get Taiki home so Usagi can watch over him too, Chibi-Usa added.

Ikuko arrived quickly, as she was not only curious to see if Chibi-Usa was correct about the villain being in the hospital or not, but she also had thought that Taiki might've benefitted from staying at home to recover. She remembered once reading an English book, War of the Worlds, back in school when it was required for a foreign language class. What if the poor boy was being killed by all the Earth diseases at the hospital? She had to get him home!

Surprisingly enough, the doctors agreed. Maybe he would be better off at home.

NOOOO!!! Keep him here! He won't get proper treatment at home! shouted one nurse. Seiya gasped when he saw the red hair sticking out of her cap. She looked just like the girl who had tried to capture Hotaru in the park.

Don't listen to her! She's evil! Chibi-Usa here says she saw that nurse giving Taiki a weird drink that's making him sick! he blurted out.

Don't listen to that fool. There must be some problem with young people these days, making them think that the hospital is a dangerous place, Fuyumi said condescendingly.

You're not exactly old yourself, Yaten retorted. Fuyumi's eyes lit up when she saw him.

My Yaten! You've come for me! she gushed, grabbing him in a big hug. He shoved her to the floor.

I've come for Taiki, he needs to recover at home, Yaten said firmly. Dr. Mizuno, Ami's mother, was there, and she shook her head.

Kou Taiki must stay here. You do not have the proper medical equipment at home, she pointed out. The other doctors nodded, trusting her opinion on the matter.

YES!!! He'll be with me!! And you Sailor Senshi won't stop me here! Fuyumi shouted triumphantly. She raced off to where Taiki's room was, and Seiya, Ikuko, Chibi-Usa, and Yaten chased after her. Dr. Mizuno followed too; she had been a bit suspicious of that weird young nurse anyway.

Fuyumi knew the way best, unfortunately, and she arrived first. Now would be the time to do it! Taiki wasn't asleep, but he wasn't really awake either. She grinned maniacally as she pulled a dagger from her pocket and plunged it towards the sleeping alien's heart.

STOP THAT!!! a shrill, childlike voice shrieked as Fuyumi was thrown to the ground and the dagger bounced on the floor. Taiki blinked. That girl...she saved his life.

So, were you trying to kill my patients? Dr. Mizuno asked sternly, standing over Fuyumi and Chibi-Usa.

No, she was! Fuyumi begged, grabbing Chibi-Usa's arm so she couldn't escape.

I wouldn't hurt Taiki, he's my friend! Chibi-Usa sobbed. She touched her brooch. Taiki's life was more important than her identity being secret. But she didn't need to.

I think you'll be fired, Fuyumi. Here you come, not claiming to have any family name, and suspiciously arriving the day after Kou Taiki was taken in for his injuries. You must leave this job and go back to wherever you came from. And Miss Tsukino, I take this boy into your hands, since you adopted him, Dr. Mizuno finally said. Chibi-Usa smiled. Maybe Taiki would finally get better!