Title: That evening ..- part II of A bad day at school
Author: Ree
Theme: Setsuna (out of time)
Genre: Drama
Version: Manga/Anime pre- story line
Rating: PG

Setsuna and her friends all belong to Takeuchi Naoko. I just asked them very nicely if they wanted to play. They agreed, and quietly snuck out without Takeuchi-sensei's knowledge.

That evening .. - part II of A bad day at school

Sitting in the waiting room, Setsuna listened as Officer Tetsuro negotiated with the doctors so she could get in to see Misa. Normally only family was allowed into the ICU with the patients. After ten minutes, he signaled her to follow him. "She has stabilized, but has not come around yet. I have permission for you to sit with her until her family arrives. Then the Toshiro family will decide if you can stay." When they reached the door, Officer Tetsuro opened it for her. "If she wakes up, please let us know immediately. We have not heard from her what happened."

Nodding her head in agreement, Setsuna walked into the room. Officer Tetsuro shut the door quietly behind her. She crossed the dimly lit room, trying not to focus on all the beeps of the life support machines. Looking down into Misa's face, she tried not to cry. 'She's alive! I was so afraid that she wouldn't be. The last victim didn't survive five hours. It looks like most of the injures are on her torso. At least most of the scars can be covered.'

She pulled the only chair next to the bedside, and sat down. Looking down at Misa's hands, she noticed that they weren't badly hurt either. She slid her hand into Misa's unresponsive grasp. Pushing back the tears, she spent the rest of the night telling Misa all about the classes she missed that morning.

She woke up at four o'clock the next morning curled up in the chair. Misa's hand was still resting on hers. Someone had draped a blanket over her while she was asleep. Blinking her eyes, she tried to figure out what woke her up. Then she heard it again. Another soft moan came from the bed.

Tightening her grip on the hand twitching in hers, she leaned over the bed. As she watched, Misa's face flinched from the pain that the little bit of movement had caused her. Slowly her eyes opened, but they were completely blank. Setsuna felt that she was looking into the windows of an empty house.

Taking care speak softly, Setsuna called out to her. "Misa-chan. Misa-chan. It's me, Setsuna."

Misa's face drew in, and a panicky look settled on it. Her eyes still were blank. Misa struggled weakly. She seemed to still be fighting the monster that attacked her yesterday.

Setuna called out to her a little louder. "Misa-chan! You're safe now. You're in the hospital. Everything is going to be alright. Everything is going to be alright." Watching her eyes, Setsuna looked for any sign of recognition, or understanding, while she continued murmuring words of reassurance.

Misa pulled against her. Not wanting her to feel restrained, Setsuna started to let go of her hand until Misa tightened her grip on Setsuna hand. Setsuna stopped trying to pull her hand free, and continued trying to call her friend back to this time, and out of her nightmare of the past.

A half hour later, her voice was hoarse with talking. She couldn't quite reach the water set on the side table, and Misa was not releasing her grip on Setsuna's hand. Stopping to give her throat a small break, she dropped her head and closed her eyes, unable to look into those blank eyes any longer. 'Misa-chan. Wake up! Come back! The past is not where you need to be. Come back me. Come back to the present. Please!'

A small sob escaped her, and the tears she had been fighting slipped down her face. Her best friend in the whole world had slipped out of time, and was now lost in a hellish past. The tears fell unnoticed onto Misa's face.

Setsuna felt a hand brush the tears off her checks. Opening her eyes, she found herself looking down into the pain-filled, but not blank, eyes of her best friend. "Misa-chan!"

Misa smiled up at her, and answered her in a weak, hoarse voice. "Setsuna-chan. I'm sorry I didn't meet you."

Shaking her head slightly, Setsuna smiled back at her. "You have a good reason for not making it, but you have to take Takada-sensei's make up exam."

Chuckling weakly, Misa grimaced from the pain. Tightening her grip on Setsuna's hand, Misa rolled carefully over to face her friend. "I heard you. You gave me a line to follow back here. Thank you." Carefully, she yawned and settled deeper into the bed. Closing her eyes, she sighed. "Good night, Setsuna-chan."

Setsuna looked down at their joined hands, and then at the peacefully sleeping face. She'll call the officers in tomorrow. Settling back down into the chair, Setsuna made herself as comfortable as possible.