I am so sorry for the delay on this story. My only excuse is that my other stories are taking up my time. That and the fact that Akichi has been teaching me that not all my stories have to be angsty so I've actually come out with a few humorous ones. In other words he is luring me to the dark side.

Samanda

Thank you to those who have reviewed.

Alley Drendo and Solar Chrono: I am so sorry to hear about your losses. I firmly believe that souls go on after death. They are watching over you.

Eternal Future: Thank you. Your wonderful words keep me writing. If it wasn't for you and Mimi-Chan I'd probably update less often.

Zero Tribal: I'm just glad people like you find time to read my work. Thanks!

Lailee and Rosered5: Thank you for your kind words. Don't worry I'm prepared to see this story out to the end.

And death: There are a few Mimiru/Tsukasa lemons out there. I know. ^_^

Disclaimer: No I don't own .HACK// although I do wish I owned Tsukasa, Crim and/or Akichi. They would decorate my house so nicely, don't you think?

Stars Ascend To Heaven

Chapter Three: Denial

By

Samanda Hime-sama

Koishitawa Mimiru still lay in her bed though the sun had been up for hours and shining through her window as she contemplated getting up. For some reason Subaru's visit yesterday to her house kept plaguing her.

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

Flashback:

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

"Do you need someone to talk to?" Subaru's eyes were kind as she studied Mimiru's profile.

"No, I'm fine." Mimiru looked at her. "I was overreacting yesterday. There's nothing wrong with me."

Mimiru saw that Subaru's hands were folded neatly together in her lap as her dark eyes looked down at them. Her hair was caught in a ponytail and Mimiru envied her overall appearance of neatness. Mimiru was still in pajamas and her hair was still messy from sleep since no one had woken her up till her guest had knocked politely on the door.

Subaru's eyes were sad. "I see. Well when you have conquered your denial please call me. Our situations and reactions might be different but I have been where you are. Let me know when you need my help."

"I'm not in denial," Mimiru protested.

"It's understandable," Subaru said compassionately.

Subaru turned her wheelchair around and left Mimiru's room.

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

End Flashback

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

Finally she sat up, swung her feet off the bed and made her way over to her desk. She logged on to The World via her PC and put on her VR goggles.

After all it had been quite a while since she had been online.

"Hi guys," She said cheerfully to Bear, Crim and B.T.

The three had been apprised of the situation that Mimiru was in due to Tsukasa calling Bear. Bear was openly worried about Mimiru's condition as he eyed her. Crim was concerned but better adept at hiding it than his male companion. B.T. put on an indifferent face but inside she was as worried as Bear.

"Feel better now?" Bear asked her kindly.

Mimiru waved her hand dismissively. "I'm fine. The doctor is going to find nothing wrong with me."

So that's how she's dealing with it. She's in denial and pretending that nothing is wrong with her. Bear thought and his worry increased.

"I see," Crim said and looked straight at her with his golden eyes. "So are you up for a dungeon?"

Mimiru melted inside at his gaze although her reaction didn't show on her face. (But who wouldn't at that golden gaze that seems to hold all the warmth and light from the sun.) Mimiru shook off her reaction to the bishounen.

Bear opened his mouth but Mimiru interrupted him. "Nah, I can't stay online that long. My mom is going to be home soon and she won't want me here for too long."

Mimiru smiled at them and confided. "She thinks I'm sick. She'll be so happy when she realizes that the doctor is wrong."

Poor Mimiru, B.T. thought. I hope she's right. I hope she'll be okay.

"Oops. Got to go," Mimiru waved at them and sauntered off. "Mom is home now. See you soon!"

Mimiru gated out of The World and left three thoughtful people staring after her. Crim and B.T. looked at each other then at Bear. Bear just stared off into the distance thinking.

Crim shook his head and voiced the thought everyone was thinking. "She's in denial but I still hope she's right."

"Yeah me too," B.T. said.

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

Three days after Mimiru had logged into The World to reassure her friends that she was fine, Mimiru and her parents went to the doctor's office again despite Mimiru's protests.

"I don't need to go," Mimiru told them. "He's just going to tell us that he's wrong and that I'm okay."

Her parents exchanged glances then her father said. "Just humor us, Mimiru."

"Fine," She grumbled and reluctantly walked with them.

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

Mimiru was bored.

She and her parents had been stuck inside the examination room for hours. Well she swore it felt like hours but her mother had said it had only been thirty minutes.

Mimiru's mother, Mira, had taken Tonami's hand and was holding it tightly. As tightly as her husband was holding onto Mira's hand as they waited for the doctor's appearance.

Finally a knock sounded and the door swung open. A harried looking Dr. Isewa walked through the door with a chart clenched to her chest and sat on her stool.

"Well how is everyone today?" The doctor asked with worn cheerfulness.

Mimiru smiled. "Doing a lot better. Don't worry you don't have to say it. I know I'm not sick."

"I'm sorry Mimiru but I got the results of your test back," Dr. Isewa looked at her parents as she said it.

Tonami saw that Mira couldn't bring herself to ask so he forced himself to say it. "And what are the results."

"I'm so sorry," Dr. Isewa began.

Mira burst into sobs and Tonami gathered her against him. He rocked her in his arms and said, white faced. "What can we do?"

Dr. Isewa looked compassionate. "There are cancer centers and hospitals that specialize in the treatment of children's cancer. "

"No!" Mimiru stood up suddenly and yelled. "I'm not sick. I'm not!"

Her mother reached out her arms and drew her into an embrace. Mimiru lost her anger and started to cry. "I'm not sick. I can't be sick."

But despite her protestations of disbelief Mimiru had lost her ability to deny the truth in front of her. She began to believe that she indeed was sick. But her parents grief over her sickness made her cry harder and they didn't know how to comfort her.

The doctor in her compassion gave them time alone to cry in their misery.

A long time later they summoned the doctor back into the examination room. All three were drained and exhausted by the emotions that had rocked them in the last hour. Mira and Tonami had rallied their strength and were ready to beat the disease that threatened their daughter.

But Mimiru hadn't rallied. She was no longer denying that she was sick but she had her mind occupied with the fact that she was sick. So occupied in accepting that fact that she really couldn't come to terms with anything else right now.

The doctor had come in with a specialist in children's leukemia. His name was Dr. Souh and he was very kind to the shocked family.

Dr. Souh explained to them. "What Mimiru has is called acute lymphoblastic leukemia and it is most common in children. The good news is that the survival rate is high especially if we catch it early."

Mira asked him. "Did you catch it early?"

Dr. Souh looked a little uncomfortable. "No, in Mimiru's case she is in the intermediate stages of the disease. But her chance of recovering and living normally is still high."

Mira paled and her husband squeezed her hand then said. "What do we have to do?"

Dr. Souh said. "Well the most common treatment for ALL as it's also called is chemotherapy. You can do outpatient care or you can do full patient care in the hospital. It is really your decision. The only thing I ask you to remember is that it's easier to catch colds and minor things like that when you are doing chemo. So if you do outpatient care you will have to be very careful."

"We have a younger daughter at home," Tonami said thoughtfully. "Will that be a problem?"

Dr. Souh looked regretful. "Young children are more likely to carry harmless illnesses like colds, flu and chickenpox. But Mimiru's weakened immune system won't be able to handle it and she would get very sick."

Mira looked at her husband's openly worried face and then down at her daughter who still clung to her although she hadn't cried for a while now.

"What hospital would you recommend?" Mira said in a worn voice.