Title: The following morning - part III of A bad day at school
Author: Ree
Theme: Setsuna
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.

The following morning - part III of A bad day at school

Later that morning, Setsuna was awakened by the nurse coming into the room. With a quick glance, the nurse noticed the clasped hands, and the peacefully resting patient. With another glance, she noticed the stiff and sore over night visitor blinking sleepily at her.

Whispering, she asked "Good morning. Would you like some tea and breakfast?" The nurse smiled gently at her as Setsuna tried to stretch without letting go of Misa's hand.

While nodding her head in agreement, Setsuna smiled gently back, and in a hoarse voice she asked, "Can you move the table closer? I can't quite reach it from here."

With the table closer, and breakfast waiting on her, Setsuna started wishing for the bathroom. Ignoring the clamoring need of her body, she started eating. The nurse checked the life-support instruments, and made notes on the chart. As quietly as she had come, the nurse left. Setsuna watched as Misa's face winced as the door closed. Adjusting her arm, she continued to eat.

A little while later Misa woke up again. She let go of Setsuna's hand. "Thank you."

Flexing her fingers, Setsuna ignored the tingling running up her arm. "You're welcome." Her eyes flickered towards the door, and back again. 'I should call the officers in. I promised Officer Tetsuro that I would.'

Misa watched her for a long moment. Finally, she figured out what Setsuna was thinking. She asked in a hoarse voice, just to be sure. "There are police officers here to speak to me, right?"

When Setsuna nodded her head, Misa grimaced. "Will you stay with me while I talk to them? Please?"

"Yes, if they let me." Standing up, she walked to the door. Looking back, she continued. "I'll let them know that you are awake. Will you be okay alone for a moment?" When Misa nodded, she slipped out the door. 'First stop is the restroom.'

The nurse from earlier noticed her first, and quickly gestured her to a door before the officers spotted her. "Here is the restroom. I'm sure you need it. Is Toshiro-san awake?"

Setsuna looked grateful. "Yes, she just woke up. I was going to tell the officers." She looked at the nurse's name tag. She was Nurse Kamishi.

Nurse Kamishi gestured to the restroom. "Please, relieve yourself first. I want to check on her before they start questioning."

Setsuna slipped into the restroom while the nurse slipped into Misa's room. With the last of her morning needs met, Setsuna informed the officer on duty that Misa was awake. The officer asked her to wait outside.

She settled down in a chair near the nurse's station. With in minutes, the officer stuck his head out the door and requested her presence in the room. As she walked in the door, the officer gestured her back to the chair.

"Officer Tetsuro will be here shortly. Toshiro-san has requested that you be here during the questioning. That will be up to Officer Tetsuro when he arrives." The officer bowed himself out of the room.

While they waited, Nurse Kamishi came in to change the bandages, re-checked Misa's vital signs, and gave her the next dose of pain-killers and antibiotics. By the time Officer Tetsuro arrived, Misa was sipping on a small cup of tea. It was all she could hold down.

Officer Tetsuro bowed to both of them. "Officer Yamada informed me that Toshiro-san requested your presence during the questioning, Meioh-san. Do you wish to stay?" Setsuna nodded her head. "Okay, all I ask is that you remain silent." Setsuna nodded again, and settled down deeper into the chair.

Over the next half-hour she heard the horrible story of what happened yesterday morning. She was shocked by the audacity of the perpetrator, and was proud of the way Misa had fought back. She watched as Officer Tetsuro took detailed notes of the wounds that Misa said the man had suffered. Misa ended her tale by saying that she had passed out, and woke up in the hospital. He then asked for another detective to draw the likeness of the man as Misa described him. After another hour of grueling descriptions, they had a good picture. Misa was drooping wearily by time they were done.

As Officer Tetsuro left, the doctor came in, and Setsuna had to leave the room. When she stepped into the hall, Officer Tetsuro walked back to her, with a grateful look on his face. "The nurse says that you are the reason Toshiro-san is doing so well this morning. Thank you. I did not expect to get as much done as we did this morning. Hopefully, we will be able to find this criminal before he strikes again." Bowing again he continued."Thank you once again." Then he turned and left.

Setsuna sank back down in the chair near the nurse's station.