I promised you that Tsukasa would show up and voila! He or rather I should say, she is here now. Subaru will also come into play here since she will kind of understand how Mimiru is feeling.

Most of the info I have gathered so far is from a wonderful site for the National Cancer Institute called cancer.gov. It's very informative and helpful for those who have lost family to cancer or just wish to know about cancer. Please check it out.

This story was written for A.O. He had cystic fibrosis rather than leukemia but I feel you understand why I chose to change the nature of the disease. The next chapters will be longer as I fall deeper into the story.

Samanda

This story is dedicated to Akichi-kun, S.C. and Firecracker Girl for friendship beyond bounds. It is also dedicated to A.O. who was a light in the darkness. I miss you and I always will. Watch over us well.

Disclaimer: I do not own dot hack.

Stars Ascend To Heaven

Chapter Two: Bad News

Dr. Isewa gave Mimiru and Mira a serious look. "When I got the blood test results back from lab yesterday something strange showed up. It seems that Mimiru's cell count is skewed. She has low platelets and hemoglobin levels but a high white cell count."

"But what does that mean?" Mimiru was impatient after a short pause.

Dr. Isewa was patient. "Do you know what leukemia is?"

Mimiru shook her head while her mother paled. Mimiru looked at her mother in alarm and took her hand.

"Is that what my daughter has?" Mira asked the doctor.

Dr. Isewa said. "We don't know for sure yet. There's one more test so we can know for sure. It's called a biopsy and we'll take a small piece of bone and test it for leukemia."

Mimiru shook her head violently. "No! That's going to hurt and I don't want to do that."

"No it won't," Dr. Isewa said quickly. "You'll be under anesthesia and won't feel a thing."

Mimiru looked at her suspiciously. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Dr. Isewa laughed.

***************************

Mimiru had to go to a hospital for the test but it was quickly arranged. Mimiru waited impatiently for two more days until the day finally came and she was put under anesthesia.

They did what they needed to do. She was sedated as they did a bone marrow aspiration and took out small samples of bone marrow from her right hip.

Mimiru's father, Tonami, took her home after the anesthesia wore off. Mimiru got the surprise of her life as she saw who was sitting in her living room.

"Tsukasa!" She gasped as she leaned weakly against the doorway.

Tsukasa looked up. She smiled at Mimiru. "Hello. I bet you forgot we were supposed to go shopping today."

"Mimiru can't go out," Tonami brushed by Mimiru and headed towards the kitchen. "She's sick."

"You look fine to me," Tsukasa studied her. "Although you look like you've stopped eating."

Mimiru sat on the couch next to Tsukasa. "I'm not fine, Tsukasa." She took a deep breath. "It could be very serious."

Tsukasa looked scared and she reached over and held Mimiru's hand. "What is it, Mimi-chan? Tell me, please."

Mimiru choked out after a few minutes. "They think I might have leukemia."

"The way you say that word means that its bad but I don't know what it means. Will you explain it to me?" Tsukasa asked as she squeezed her hand.

Mimiru nodded. "The way they explained it to me is that our white cells normally fight off infections like colds or the flu. But in people with leukemia their bone marrow manufactures too many white cells but not enough red cells or platelets. The white cells are attacking their own immune system and weakening it."

Mimiru sniffed and tried to hold back the tears. She failed and tears rushed to her eyes.

Tsukasa didn't know what to say so she said nothing at all. Probably a smart thing to do in the long run. She eyed Mimiru and did what most sympathetic people did.

Tsukasa held out her arms to Mimiru and she went into them willingly. Mimiru laid her head on the other girl's shoulder and let the tears go.

*************************

A phone rang in the stillness. A small feminine hand with its unpolished nails put aside blue VR goggles. In a graceful motion it picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

There was ten minutes of silence on her part as the caller talked. A sudden sharp intake of breath was the only surprise that she showed.

"I agree. I will be there tomorrow. Ja ne."

The slim hand put down the phone. It reached for the VR goggles and picked them up. The goggles were held against her heart for long minutes. In an unprecedented movement they were set down again and the screen that flashed the logo of The World was shut down.

The desk lamp was shut off but the owner of the hand made no effort to go near the bed. Instead, content in darkness with her thoughts, she waited out the night.