But before she even got around to making a suggestion, Neko relaxed a little.
"Better?" Mi-chan asked hopefully.
"Uh huh," Neko gasped.
"Don't think about it," Mi-chan suggested, knowing it was a feeble suggestion at best. "Think about something else. Tenshi-kun. Your future."
Neko was too busy fighting against passing out per Mi-chan's request. "Mi-chan," she said faintly, "maybe� you could call Jasper-kun and�." Mi-chan knew her angry thoughts about Jasper were loud and clear, but Neko continued anyway. "If he won't get sick� I don't want you and mom to die�." Finally, Mi-chan's feelings on the subject overwhelmed hers, and Neko stopped.
The truth was Mi-chan just stopped listening to anything about Jasper. Anyone who held a knife to Neko's throat didn't deserve her attention� that was unless she was about to beat him to death.
She forgot all about Jasper as Neko began to seize again, this time worse than ever. Mi-chan could feel Neko's pain overlap the slight pain she had begun to feel lately. And it didn't seem to be letting up.
"Neko-chan, talk to me," Mi-chan ordered her, hoping to keep her awake, but Neko didn't answer. "Come on, tell me something about what's going to happen after you get married. Are you going to stay in school? When Tenshi-kun gets her apartment next term, are you planning to live with her? Come on, Neko-chan, talk to me!"
Finally, Neko's grip on Mi-chan's hand eased up a little, and Mi-chan noticed her body relax a bit. Before she was fighting so hard and now she looked so frail, and just barely on this side of consciousness.
"Mi-chan�," she said drowsily, "I'm still here."
"Stay with me, okay? Promise me." As long as Neko was awake, Mi-chan knew she was that much further away from death. Mi-chan didn't want to take any chances.
"I'll be here� When Tenshi gets her apartment, I'll be here� until we get married at least. And� I'll stay in school�. She's going to be on the professional pole vault team, and they'll pay her�. But I don't think I'll make it�."
"Neko-chan!"
Through half-closed eyelids, Neko looked down at their interlocking hands and a single tear ran down her cheek. "Thanks for staying with me�. I wouldn't have made it this far� without your strength. I hope Dad finds a cure for you�." Her voice trailed off, and her eyes closed the rest of the way.
"Neko-chan! You can't let this beat you! You've got to stay awake!"
Neko gave her hand a small squeeze before she passed out completely. She was still alive, but she was still in pain too, and it seemed that her breathing was getting more and more difficult. And though she really wanted to fight the very idea, Mi-chan knew that Neko wasn't going to wake up again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tenshi lifted her head out of Morpheus's fur as her watch began to beep. Anxious for any news on Neko, she quickly opened it.
Mi-chan's face looked grim as she opened her mouth to speak to Tenshi. "That bad, huh?" Tenshi asked seriously.
"She's not going to die."
Mi-chan's words filled Tenshi with optimism. "Honto?" she asked hopefully.
Mi-chan looked away, and Tenshi realized her previous statement was simply one replete with the stubbornness that went along with being the self-ascribed protector of one's siblings. "She wanted me to tell you she loves you. And that she chose you over Heaven."
"What else did she say?" Tenshi whispered.
"That you'll get on the professional team and be great. That you'll get your apartment. That she can't wait to marry you."
Tenshi nodded, wishing she could return the sentiments. "Anything else?"
Mi-chan shook her head. "Just some junk about Jasper."
Tenshi blinked. "What'd she say about Jasper-san?" Jasper could heal the way she could. If Neko thought he could help�.
Mi-chan's eyes narrowed. "She thought that because he wasn't a Senshi, he wouldn't catch it, but it's dumb because he wouldn't come anyway."
"Is that true? That he wouldn't catch it?"
"I don't know. But I'm telling you, it won't matter. He tried to kill her! He wouldn't risk his life to save hers now!"
"It's the only chance we have, Mi-chan!" Tenshi shut off the communicator watch and ran to the Mizuno's next door neighbors' house, hoping they were nice enough to let her in and use the phone. Jasper could be Neko's last hope. She just prayed he didn't remember that the last time he was here, Mi-chan had promised to kill him the next time she saw him.
