Dear Doctor

JK: You really could skip this chapter and not worry too much about the story. This one is full of references to various gods and religions. Not very much medical influence in this one, but I was studying for my Latin exam and Apollo came up in my work. That's the evil inspiration for this particular collection. That, and I've never seen a doctor panic before, so I thought it would be amusing.

Ame: I hope you're providing explanations at the end of this chapter.

JK: Yes, I am, and- Ame-chan, what in Set's name are you doing here?

Ame: I'm hiding. Kenshin's just found where I buried his hairdryer and he's threatening to stick me to the wall again.

JK: Right then. For those of you who haven't been introduced to Ame, he isn't mine. He likes to hide out here when Quatre Winner (i.d. no.) and co. are angry with him. I'm Q-bean's evil beta reader, when I'm not studying or working on this story. Quatre, if you read this, please call off Kenshin, and take Ame away, he's messing up my room again.

Reviewer Response (just the one, because only one person reviewed the last chapter. Sob. I feel so alone):

Black Charmer Girl: I don't really know if he's is going to get fans of any sort by the time this story is over. It would be nice if he did. I just have a bit of a soft spot for the throwaway characters out there.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, and I am not a Doctor. Ame isn't mine either, he's just messing up my room.

Dedicated to Dave, laughter is eternal.

Entry collection no. 4: I Swear By Apollo

Dear Journal,

In a strictly medical sense, to lose a patient is to let them die, mainly during an operation. There are other ways to lose them (e.g., have them move to another area, or change their regular doctor), but that's the main way.

As I said, there are ways and ways again to lose a patient, but I think that these cases should take the cake. I understand that it is fully possible to lose a patient in a hospital (how else would Bakura-san have gotten out?), but losing them on a confined blimp with only one exit, with said exit guarded?

Now that's a talent.

Perhaps I should get to the point.

TWO OF MY PATIENTS ARE MISSING! LITERALLY!

And the third is stuck in an inexplicable coma.

WOE IS ME!

What am I going to say to Bakura-san's parents; "So sorry, but whilst your son was under my care, he mysteriously vanished. Please, forgive me"?

What sort of an excuse is that?

I was briefly tempted to pretend that Tattoo-san had never existed, as there seem to be no records of him, beyond entering the Battle City tournament, and even I can tell that it's a pseudonym. After all, who would name their child after a Nordic God? Not very many people, and I doubt anybody living in Egypt. Well, it's kind of obvious that 'Balder' is from Egypt. Even I know what an Ankh is. I decided against any pretence. It's my job to keep people healthy, and preferably safe. The Hippocratic Oath is never to be taken lightly.

Never.

I've alerted the guards as to the matter of the two escapees. I can only hope that they shall both be found.

Later

I have nothing new to report about Kujaku-san's condition. That's the long and short of it.

I don't ask for much. Most of my salary goes either to my father or to various charities. I work hard. I've never disobeyed the Oath.

All I ever want in return is the joy that comes from helping people. That's all.

Sure, I'm only human. That's all that anybody is.

I've always been sceptical when it comes to prayer and faith healing, but I'm almost at my wits end when it comes to Kujaku-san.

To any gods of healing who may or may not be listening, I implore thee: Help her.

Don't let her die.

Hm.

I wonder if there are any patron gods of finding things?

Ahem.

To any gods of finding that which is lost (if there even are any. Please let there be at least one), who may or may not be listening, please smile down upon myself and the security guards, and allow them to find Tattoo-san and Bakura-san.

Um...

Okay, how about this: Oh great and powerful Ianus, guardian god of doorways... can you help me out here? Just after a sign, anything, seriously. You know wherefore each person goes, and you watch them as the travel through doorways and passages.

Maybe I'm pushing it. Mayhap it's all really Ianus' fault. He is also the god of Chaos, after all; perhaps he's just trying to turn everything around me into an extension of his first domain.

That's going a trifle overboard, I think.

Why have my thoughts suddenly turned to myths and gods?

Would that I knew. Unlike Ianus, I cannot see into the past and future.

Yep. Thought so. I need a coffee. Too bad I can't have one. Even the slightest of tremors that the caffeine could give me would have disastrous results if I had to perform surgery.

On this blimp, at this time, I think that's a distinct possibility, don't you?

Why am I asking questions of my journal?

I must really need that coffee.

Gods, Oaths, and other information.

The Hippocratic Oath is the oath taken by anybody entering the medical profession. It's named after the Ancient Greek healer (and later Patron god thereof) Hippocrates. One of the lines is 'First, do no harm', which I used for the previous entry collection. Another (older) line is 'I swear by Apollo, the healer', which forms the title of this collection. Apollo is my favourite of the Greek/Roman gods (he's also one of the few who don't change their names between the two pantheons), closely followed by his sister Artemis/Diana, and Ianus. This last is a purely Roman creation.

In addition to being the healing god, Apollo was also a god of prophecy, the sun (Artemis is the moon goddess) and of music. He is sometimes even depicted as a god of mischief, and, in one or two cases, a bringer of death.

Ianus (More commonly known as Janus, and pronounced Yane-us) was the Two-faced god of doorways and passages. In a few versions, he was also known for being able to see the past and future, whilst managing to keep watch over those in the present. In the very beginning, he was also Chaos itself, hence 'the first of his domains'. He also looked after communication, and as Portunus was the god of harbours. This made him the inventor of navigation. The month of January is named for him. His temple stood as a symbol of war or peace. Were the gates open, Rome was at war. Should they be closed (this didn't happen very often), then Rome was at peace.

Last but not least, the death of Balder was the beginning of the End, a prelude to the day of Ragnarok, the doom of the Gods. In addition to that reason for name-choice, I've always found his name amusing, and Rashiid is rather bald.

MTFBWY!

JK