Chapter 19

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="95" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 46 WIDTH="91"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="91" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#003333" FACE="Arial" ><B>Ultra Symphony</B></FONT>  </div> <bR> <div> Chapter 19: Welcome to the 6:30 Earth-Shattering News</div> <div> ***</div> <bR> <div> Mrs. Hayagane stared into her cup of tea, much the same way her daughter had done just a day ago at MEU. The hospital cafeteria was full of diners who had dropped in for an early breakfast. She had a plate of food in front of her, but found herself unable to do anything except pick at it and stare into space.</div> <bR> <div> Across from her, Jerry and Dr. Hayashito were having a hearty conversation about the food and everything from baseball to the stock market. Dr. Hayashito made numerous attempts amidst his dining to check Mrs. Hayagane's disposition. She simply shrugged or nodded in response to his every question. </div> <bR> <div> She assumed that what had happened to Mikono had to be pretty bad, being that Dr. Hayashito hadn't once mentioned her in the whole time they'd been in the cafeteria. She silently wished that Jerry hadn't come along. He could be so domineering. She knew he was very concerned about Mikono, he'd been her manager since Mikono was only 15 and she was like a daughter to him, but he often went to great lengths to maintain normality in the face of adversity. And this was not a time for normality.</div> <bR> <div> She picked up her cup of tea, and without even knowing it, dropped it to the floor. Jerry and Hayashito stopped mid-sentence and stared at her. </div> <bR> <div> "Oh my god, Mrs. Hayagane.. are you allright?" Hayashito asked, getting up.</div> <bR> <div> She blinked, looking at the floor. "Oh.. my.. I'm sorry, I didn't even realize I'd done that.."</div> <bR> <div> Jerry stood up. "I'll get some paper towels." </div> <bR> <div> The picture of domestication.. Hayagane couldn't help but think. </div> <bR> <div> She suddenly looked up, realizing that Jerry was gone and she was alone with Dr. Hayashito. It had been inadvertant, but she did have an opportunity to get the truth from him, alone, as he had requested.</div> <bR> <div> "Doctor.. please.. tell me.. what has happened to my daughter? I can't go on like this, not knowing.." she whispered. </div> <bR> <div> He frowned, and sat down again. "First of all.. you need to know, it isn't likely to be life-threatening." </div> <bR> <div> She only felt a touch of relief. "Was it drugs, like everyone said?"</div> <bR> <div> He smiled grimly. "I don't know of any drugs which would do this.." he inhaled deeply. "It seems.. it seems that Mikono has had some sort of.. operation done, there is evidence of surgery in several places. And.. it seems that her bodily fluids have been tampered with in some way."</div> <bR> <div> Mrs. Hayagane looked up in shock. "What do you mean, tampered with?!" </div> <bR> <div> He frowned. "It's hard to explain.. we took blood tests, and it seems the genetic structure of her blood has been altered. We aren't sure how, or by what means, but it hasn't adversely affected her health."</div> <bR> <div> "Then why was she found outside MEU, passed out?!"</div> <bR> <div> "It appears to have been due to a massive adrenaline rush, we haven't found any other contributing factors.."</div> <bR> <div> Mrs. Hayagane shook her head in shock. </div> <bR> <div> "We're doing everything we can-" Hayashito began, but she got up and fled from the cafeteria before he could finish. </div> <bR> <div> Jerry returned with the paper towels and another cup of tea. He silently mopped up the spilled tea, threw the paper towels away and sat down to drink the rest of his tea. </div> <bR> <div> Several minutes passed before Jerry asked, calmly, "So how do you think Okinawa's going to do this year, now that they traded Gaeru Hito?"</div> <bR> <div> ***</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 20"><U>Chapter 20</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultra Symphony"><U>Back</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>