A/N: Thank you, everyone for all the reviews and Moon Fairy 15 for the 100th review. :)

Kotoko's disease, diagnosis, causes, symptoms, treatment- everything is written out of imagination which does not have any logical explanation.

Hope

It's been 3 months since Kotoko joined Hope as a nurse. But it didn't even take 3 weeks for everyone at Hope to find out that she was just as clumsy and loud as a nurse like when she was as an assistant. However they weren't surprised. Her fellow colleagues and friends already knew her through and through. They loved her bubbly character and admired her capability of working so hard. She didn't have much works as an assistant. She only arranged Dr. Ayano's schedules and organised his research works. She did mess up a few things at the beginning but then she got better. She also studied at lot. The nurses Izumi Hana and Kiyoshi Mio who were the nurses in charge during her treatment became her closest friends. They accompanied her and helped her in study all the time. They also guided her and constantly monitored her. Not only because she was ill herself, but also as they knew she will cause ruckus from time to time. They completely believed that she had some kind of magnet attached to her which only attracts troubles. But she improved since the last month. The first 2 months were a total disaster. She was scolded by the head nurse all the time for the fundamental mistakes. The patients were terrified of her because she was really bad at collecting blood. Well she isn't perfect at that yet but was much better than the beginning.

...

It was just another normal morning. It is in past tense because- it isn't normal anymore. There had been a serious car accident and four teen boys were brought to emergency. Two of them had head injuries and were transferred to the neurology department. Kotoko and Hana rushed with Dr. Ayano, Dr. Shinju and two other neurosurgeons to assist in the operations. But Dr. Ayano held her back before she could enter the operation theater.

"Kotoko, you stay out of this operation. Send Mio instead of you."

"Why?" She was bewildered. Dr. Ayano never stopped her before. In fact he was the one who always encouraged her staying positive and working just like all the nurses do.

"No time to explain. Do it now." He ordered and went inside leaving her.

Although Kotoko felt bad but she did what she was told to do. Dr. Ayano must have had a reason. She went back into the nurse station and dropped on a chair.

...

(Kotoko POV)

What did I do wrong now? I tried to think harder wrinkling my eyebrows. But I couldn't remember any mistakes. Ahh I don't know. Whatever. I pouted, folding my arms. Lunch time was approaching so I decided to have my lunch. I couldn't wait for Mio or Hana as I have to take medicine after my lunch. I was nearly done eating when Hana and Mio joined me with lunch trays in their hands.

"Hi, dazed queen." Mio grinned at me. And yes, that's what he calls me. Dazed queen! Because, apparently he finds it amusing that I have my own little world, where I seem to explore from time to time regardless of my surroundings. I glared at him in answer.

"What did you do now Kotoko?" Hana asked me sitting beside me while Mio sat across me.

"I don't know! I don't remember messing up anything." I pouted at my food.

"Did you take Nana-chan for the MRI on time?" Hana inquired.

"Yes, I did."

"What about Saki-san? Did you check on him?"

"Yes, and he is fine. I don't mess up with the patients anymore." I pouted at her again.

"Aww... Don't worry so much. Probably it wasn't serious enough since the head nurse didn't scold you yet." Mio said casually biting on his food.

"But if it wasn't serious then why would Dr. Ayano stop Kotoko from assisting him?" Hana asked him.

"But he wasn't angry when I went in the theater." Mio pointed out.

"Well of course he wasn't angry. He rarely gets angry at work." Hana said.

"Oh well, then she should be fine. Besides, being told off by Dr. Ayano would be better than the head nurse. She is a nightmare when she is angry." Mio shrugged.

They were talking about me being in trouble in such a way as if they were discussing about the weather. I rolled my eyes.

"Thanks a bunch guys. I'm glad to know how much you both trust me." I retorted.

"Oh we do trust you dear. We just don't trust the trouble that always seems to find you." Mio grinned widely again. Hana chocked on her food while I again glared at him.

"Shush." Hana told him swallowing her food. I sighed pushing away my food tray.

"Hey, finish all of it." Hana ordered me.

"I'm not hungry." I replied.

"That's not a good enough reason." Mio pushed back the tray at me.

I frowned but resumed eating as I knew I will have to finish it if I wanted to get back to work. Hana and Mio never let me skip lunch. After the lunch we retired at the nurse station. Dr. Ayano came looking for me after a while.

"Kotoko-san, you okay?" That was a common question that he always asked me. I stood up and nodded in affirmative at him.

"You must be wondering why I didn't let you assist me." I nodded again.

"Well, you see, your therapy is scheduled in 3 days. You will start feeling feverish and dizzy in no time. I didn't think it would be appropriate for you to attend an operation right now. I took that decision as your doctor, not as your colleague." He smiled.

I beamed at him. So that was the reason. I knew I didn't do anything wrong! I eyed Mio and Hana who were determined not to look at me.

"I understand Dr. Ayano. Thank you so much for that." I meant it.

"That's no problem. You start getting prepared for your therapy."

"Okay." I smiled. I turned at the duo who acted to be busy with some papers.

"So, who was it again that thought I was in trouble?" I folded my arms.

"It was her." Mio immediately pointed at Hana blaming her.

"Miiiiiiiiiiiiioo!" Hana protested. "What did I say? I had complete faith in Kotoko!"

"Well you were the one who said it was serious since Dr. Ayano stopped her while I..." he pointed his index at himself "was sure she didn't do anything wrong as the head nurse was quiet."

I rolled my eyes at them again. They sometimes act like a pair of teenagers. But they were very cute together. I completely adore them. They started going out 4 months ago. Needless to say, I acted as a cupid for their love to bloom. To be honest it was Mio who dragged me in the matter. I had the hunch that they liked each other and when I inquired them both separately, they confessed to me. They treat me like their best friend. Mio asked me to help him with the confession. I set up a date for them and Mio took Hana at Minato Mirai. Since then they are officially a couple. I sometimes feel like a bad person when I am with them. They treat me so warmly, yet I have hidden the most important parts of my life from them. They know I'm married and I have a family. Also that my husband lives out of town and his name is Irie. But that's all they know. I never elaborated anything about him to them. I agreed for the treatment with the condition that Irie-kun or my family will not get involved until I tell them. I reminded them the condition when they first tried to inquire me about him and since then, they didn't try again. I don't know what they assumed but I'm pretty sure whatever it is, it isn't nice and I don't ever want to know about it.

...

Three days passed and my therapy day arrived. I took admission around 9 am in the Hope for 2 days. I was given saline in the morning. Around 12 pm my therapy started. Well basically the therapy kills the Neuroshia cells that are present in my blood and once those cells die the white blood cells does its job which is to eat and digest all dead things such as dead cells and cell debris. That process of killing the cells is really painful and exhausting. The process of the therapy is more or less similar to the chemo-therapy given for the cancer. It usually takes 5 to 6 hours to finish the therapy. I slept until 12 am after finishing. Hana brought some porridge and medicine after I woke up. She always brought porridge for me when I stay in hospital.

I had to stay the next day too. The pain subsided by the afternoon and I returned home at 6:30 pm. I took a bath carefully. I was feeling feverish. I didn't have any appetite but still I stuffed some food in during dinner.

"Kotoko-chan, do you have fever?" Oka-san inquired.

"Yes, I'm a little feverish."

"You work too much dear. You should take care of your health and eat more. You got so much thinner!" Oka-san eyed me with concern.

"Don't worry oka-san. I'm fine really." I smiled at her.

"You always get the fever after you do the duty during the therapy. Are you sure the patient is safe for everyone?" Yuki-kun asked me. I choked on my food. No wonder he is just like his brother! Perfect observation.

"Absolutely safe." If it wasn't safe, I wouldn't sit here with you all. I said that in my head. "I get the fever probably because I don't get enough time to sleep or eat properly. I feel so tired." I hoped that reason would satisfy him. It probably did as he didn't ask anything further.

"Kotoko-chan, you sure it's alright?" Oka-san seemed to get worried.

"Positive oka-san." I smiled at her again.

"It's fine." I added to my father seeing his creased forehead.

After dinner I went straight back to my room, ate my medicine and went to sleep. I have the next 2 days off. But to be precise, I could say that, I have the entire week off since Hana and Mio wouldn't let me do much work in the next few days. I will just rest in the nursing station while they will cover most of my works. Since the head nurse knew my condition, I was getting treated with this special care without any hindrance. Everyone in the neurology department was very friendly to me. I was very thankful to each and every one of them.