The Little Warrior

Chapter 2: Side Effects

-April 6-

It has been four days since Risa was diagnosed and she was tolerating the treatments very well. The first drug, ATRA, hadn't produced any side effects yet aside from what some patients taking high dose Vitamin A would expect, like headache, dry mouth, nose, and skin, and itching, while another drug, Idarubicin, was causing her to experience episodes of nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and her red and white blood cell counts were beginning to drop. Soon, she and her family would find out whether or not the drugs were working.

That morning, Risa and Rei were playing Monopoly Jr. Risa was in the middle of buying yet another property when Dr. Yoshida came into the room with the results of her last set of blood tests. Risa grew bored of the game and put it away and returned to her bed to listen to what the Doctor had to report.

"What did the results show?" Rei asked him nervously. She swallowed hard. It felt as if she had a lump caught in her throat.

"The number of leukemia cells went down drastically." he informed proudly, amazed at how quickly she was responding.

"That's great news!" Rei half-shouted, pulling her daughter into a hug.

"Yes, it is. When we first started, there were fifty-three percent cancer cells in her blood. Now, they're down to fourteen percent."

"You hear that, Risa? You're kicking cancer's butt!" Rei exclaimed.

"Yes!" Risa shouted as she did a little victory dance and jumped around on the bed as much as she could without knocking out her IV. "Does that mean I can go home?" She missed being at home, playing with her friends at school and sleeping in her own bed.

"Not yet, but I think it'll happen soon. Yoshida-sensei wants to make sure the bad guys are gone first."

"Okay." The little girl stopped jumping and sat down and colored in her My Little Pony coloring book.

-Afternoon-

Risa was in the playroom, playing a racing game with Haruka. Haruka and Michiru had stopped by and offered to sit with her, allowing Rei to go home and get some much needed sleep.

"I'm gonna beat you!" Risa teased as the word 'Go!' flashed on the TV screen.

"Oh yeah?"

Haruka gave her a head start, as she had done with Usagi and Minako the first time she raced against them. Risa sped around the track at speeds of over two hundred miles per hour, crashing a little as she neared some of the turns. Haruka took advantage of this and managed to catch up.

The race was neck and neck the entire time, but at the last second, Risa zoomed across the finish line and won!

"Good game, little one!" Haruka congratulated her.

"I won! Did you see that, Auntie Michiru? I beat Auntie Haruka!" Michiru chuckled softly.

"Yes, I saw it. You're pretty good." she agreed. Turning to Haruka, she added with a grin, "You let her win, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did." the blond admitted flatly.

"No, I let you let me win!" Risa replied, sticking out her tongue. She giggled as Haruka reached over and tickled her tummy.

The trio played for almost three hours. Michiru put on a violin concert for Risa and the other children who were playing there, then she and Haruka danced with them until Risa became tired and wanted to go back to her room.

"Thanks, girls. That was fun!"

"You're welcome, Risa-chan." the two outer senshi replied in unison.

Meanwhile, at the Hikawa Shrine, Rei sat on the porch, just staring absently as the clouds went by. She tried to take a nap, but she found herself unable to sleep. She was so sick with worry that sleep was the last thing on her mind. She was so out of it that she didn't even notice when someone came walking up the steps.

"Rei-chan! Earth to Rei!" the voice screeched. This snapped Rei back to reality and she tilted her head back down to see Usagi, who had arrived to give the grief stricken parents a batch of Makoto's freshly baked cookies.

"Usagi, what brings you here?" Rei questioned, though she wasn't too surprised. Usagi always had a habit of coming over without calling first. She was getting better with it though.

"Mako-chan asked me to give you these cookies. She said she's gonna stop by the hospital after work."

"Oh, that was kind of her. I'll have to tell her 'thank you' the next time I see her."

"So, how is she?"

"She's doing better. The chemo is wearing her out, but she's handling it well."

"I'm glad, and if you or Yūichirou ever need anything, don't hesitate to call me. I'll always be here for you." Tears fell down the raven haired woman's cheeks as she gave her best friend a hug.

"Thanks Usagi. I appreciate that. Would you like to come in for some tea?"

"I'd love to." Rei led Usagi into the main room and prepared the tea, then the two women sat at the table and talked for a while, until Rei could barely keep her eyes open anymore and Usagi sent her to bed.

Back at the hospital, it was now five forty-five and Makoto had arrived straight from work as she promised. Risa was thrilled to have another visitor. She was getting rather lonely in this place and it was driving her crazy!

"Hey, Risa-chan. How's my favorite little niece?" The thunder senshi greeted.

"I'm better, thank you."

"That's good. I brought you some of your favorite double chocolate chip cookies."

"Yay!" Makoto handed Risa the cookie box and the small child picked up a cookie and took a bite. "Yummy! Thanks."

"Anytime!" Risa tried to eat a few more, but she didn't have much of an appetite and her stomach was hurting, so she didn't force herself.

"Auntie Makoto, can you please put the cookies on the table?" she requested.

"Sure. Are you okay?" Risa simply nodded, trying desperately not to throw up. Makoto was deeply concerned for her 'niece'. She appeared pale and refused to eat any of her meals the entire day, only munching on a small bowl of fruit and two forkfuls of rice from what Haruka and Michiru had mentioned on their way out, and now a cookie and a half.

"I want Mama." Risa mumbled, feeling a little cranky.

"Mama had to get some sleep, so she went home, but I'll call Papa. Is that okay?"

"Okay. Tell him to bring my Barbie nightgown and my big Hello Kitty doll too."

"I will."

Makoto dialed Yūichirou's cell phone number and informed him of the situation. He arrived shortly after with the things his daughter requested.

"I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Auntie Makoto." Risa said with a yawn and Makoto hugged her goodbye and left.

It was only six-thirty, but she was bushed. She had a lot of fun today, despite being sick off and on. She put on her nightgown and got under the covers, wrapping her tiny arms around her favorite stuffed animal as her father tucked them both in.

She did not sleep though. She was too uncomfortable and nauseous and asked Yūichirou to help her get to the bathroom. He held her hair back as she vomited forcefully into the toilet.

"Papa, I feel so yucky." She spoke, barely above a whisper.

"I know, sweetheart. Mama and I will talk to Dr. Yoshida tomorrow morning and try to get you something to make you feel better." They stayed there for the next half-hour until nothing else was coming up, then he helped her back into bed.

The vicious cycle continued and it seemed this would never end, but finally, by ten o'clock, she was completely wiped out and fell asleep in her father's arms. He carried her to bed, tucked her back in, and turned out the light.

Next chapter soon! Thanks for the reviews. I enjoy reading them.