The Terrifying Return of Nurse Minako Aino. Pt 2.

Chapter 2: Great Responsibility.

"With great power comes great responsibility." Ben Parker.

Minako heard the noise of the time portal open and close from downstairs, and she realized that she was alone in her friend's huge home. Alone, except for her sleeping charge, Hotaru, that is.

Hotaru was sleeping peacefully now, she saw. She used this opportunity to go and change out of her nurse's costume. It had seemed so cute at the time, but given the weather, and other factors, it was just silly now.

Five minutes later she emerged from a nearby washroom in an orange sweater and blue jeans. She put a pair of heavy socks on and put the nurses uniform back in her bag. She then stood up and took a look around Hotaru's room.

Her room, Minako noticed, was a bit larger than her own room at home. Several bookcases lined the walls. A lot of the books were about history, Hotaru's favourite subject. There were some manga books as well as a handful of mystery novels by Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There were even a few romance novels as well. All of them appeared to be well thumbed.

Minako chuckled to herself. She's growing up quickly. She thought.

She also noticed a portable stereo and a modest CD collection. Minako pawed through it, almost expecting some odd music, given the fact that Hotaru dressed like what the Americans would call a 'gothic chick', but her music was mostly some of the newer trendy music that the average 14 year old would listen to. There were a few other odd CDs in there as well. A couple of albums that Minako had given to her for her last birthday by an artist named Chris De Burgh, that Minako liked after first hearing his music in England, years ago.

God, she only turned 14 a few weeks ago. Minako realized with a start. She shrugged and kept looking through the CDs. There were a few Anime soundtracks, and, not surprisingly, a few CDs by Michiru. All of them were personally autographed as well. To my beloved daughter Hotaru, love always. Michiru-mama. Minako smiled at this, and, making sure the volume was low this time, placed the CD into the player and turned it on. She brought the volume up slowly, and soon quiet violin music filled the room.

Minako looked over at Hotaru's desk. There was a schoolbook opened to some of her homework that she was in the middle of when she fell ill. There were several pictures as well. One was a smaller version of the family portrait of Hotaru, Michiru, Haruka, and Setsuna that hung in their living room. The next was Michiru, Haruka, and Setsuna, each showing the promise rings they had bought when they promised to raise Hotaru as their daughter.

The next photo was of Hotaru, along with herself, Usagi, Rei, Ami, and Makoto. All of them wore swimsuits. Minako smiled as she remembered when and where this photo was taken. A year or so after Setsuna and the others had adopted Hotaru they decided to take her to a beach resort for a vacation, and asked Minako and the others to join them. The photo was the unofficial 'Welcome to the Team' photo as Rei called it. The 'official' one, which depicted them in their Senshi outfits, was, hopefully, kept in a safe place.

Another photo was of her father, Professor Tomoe and a woman who looked like an older version of Hotaru, her Mother presumably. Minako winced and put the picture down with a sad expression.

The room was decorated with several posters of popular rock bands, from Japan and from other countries as well. There was one of Michiru's official tour posters with her and Haruka, and one of Haruka's racing posters. Both were autographed as well.

Several antique lamps were spread around the room, a holdover from the years she lived with her Father after her Mother died. Minako understood some of the reasons why Hotaru bought these lamps, but it made her sad thinking about it.

Hotaru started stirring a bit, interrupting Minako's reverie. She had started perspiring heavily again, and Minako was by her side in a flash. Soon she had a cold facecloth pressed to the younger Senshi's forehead.

"Setsuna-mama?" Hotaru called out weakly.

"Setsuna isn't here sweetie. It's me, Minako. Don't worry I'll take care of you, I promise you." Minako smiled reassuringly at the young girl.

"Don't leave me Minako." Hotaru pleaded.

"I won't Hotaru." Minako promised.

Hotaru drifted off to sleep again. Minako looked down at her sadly. She has suffered so much in such a short period of time. Why does it have to be this way? Why? Minako started weeping at the injustice of it all.

After awhile Hotaru was sleeping soundly again, so Minako quietly went down to the kitchen and made a few sandwiches. A few of them she kept for herself, and a few she wrapped up and kept for Hotaru in the hopes that at some point she would wake up and be hungry. She still had plenty of her Mom's soup left maybe she'd like that, as long as she didn't add any spice to it. The thought buoyed Minako's spirits as she grabbed a few sodas and quietly made her way back to Hotaru's room.

Hotaru was still asleep thankfully as Minako came back into the room. She sat down at Hotaru's desk and ate her sandwiches while keeping an eye on her charge. She finished and tided up as best she could before resuming her place beside Hotaru's bed. She grabbed one of Hotaru's romance novels on the way back, and started to flip through it while watching her charge.

Minako had dozed off a bit when Hotaru's voice cut in. "Minako?"

She awoke with a start and dropped the book. She looked down at Hotaru who was looking at her with a slight smile. She wasn't sweating as badly as she had been, but she was a mess.

"I'm sorry Hotaru. What do you need?" Minako asked gently.

"I need to go to the washroom, and a drink of water." Hotaru replied.

Minako smiled. "Of course." She helped Hotaru go into the washroom. While she was in there, Minako changed the sweat-soaked sheets on her bed. After Hotaru announced that she was ready, Minako gave her a fresh set of pyjamas to put on, helped her change, and then helped her back into bed.

"Thank you Nurse Minako." Hotaru said with a slight giggle. She was feeling a lot better.

"You're welcome Hotaru." Minako grinned back as she looked at the clock. It was only 0130 A.M.

"Could you sing a song for me Minako, please?" Hotaru asked as she took a sip of water.

"Sure. Any requests?" Minako was a great singer and had dreams of being a famous pop idol one day.

"Just a simple lullaby." Hotaru replied. "Michiru-mama likes to sing them to me when I have trouble sleeping."

"What about Setsuna or Haruka?" Minako asked.

Hotaru made a face. "Haruka-papa doesn't know any, and neither she or Setsuna-mama could carry a tune to save their lives. Don't tell them I said that." Hotaru giggled again.

Minako laughed as well. "I promise I won't tell. A lullaby, eh? Hmm, let me think here. Ah." Minako took a deep breath and her voice soon filled the room.

Goodnight, my Angel

Time to close your eyes

And save these questions for another day

I think I know what you've been asking me

I think you know what I've been trying to say

I promised I would never leave you

And you should always know

Wherever you may go

No matter where you are

I never will be far away

Goodnight my angel

Now it's time to sleep

And still so many things I want to say

Remember all the songs you sang for me

When we went sailing on an emerald bay

And like a boat out on the ocean

I'm rocking you to sleep

The water's dark

And deep inside this ancient heart

You'll always be a part of me

Goodnight my angel

Now it's time to dream

And dream how wonderful your life will be

Someday your child may cry

And if you sing this lullaby

Then in your heart

There will always be a part of me

Someday we'll all be gone

But lullabies' go on and on…

They never die

That's how you

And I

Will be.

Hotaru was fast asleep by the third verse but Minako had kept singing anyway. She smiled at her young friend and kissed her gently on the cheek.

"Sleep well Hotaru. Pleasant dreams." Minako smiled and went back to her reading. Soon she was fast asleep as well.

The morning sunlight was peering into the house when Michiru and Haruka pulled up into the driveway. Setsuna, who had returned at around 0400, greeted them at the door.

After exchanging hugs and bringing in the luggage, Michiru asked the question that had been on her mind throughout the trip. "How is Hotaru?"

"Come and see for yourself." Setsuna replied quietly. She had gotten a decent nights rest at the time gate after she was finished monitoring the time stream, and made sure that she returned home only a few hours after she left.

The three of them crept quietly up the stairs to Hotaru's room. Opening the door, they were greeted by a sight, which made them all smile warmly.

Hotaru was sound asleep in her bed, clutching Minako's hand. Minako was sleeping in a chair beside her bed with a book lying open at her feet.

Haruka quickly crept back downstairs and came back with her Polaroid Instant Camera.

The sound of the camera woke both Minako and Hotaru up with a start.

"Huh? What? Oh! Hi guys! I'm sorry I dozed off." Minako looked sheepishly at the three grinning parents.

"Setsuna-mama, Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama! You're home!" Hotaru sat up straight and opened her arms wide as each of her parents came up and hugged their daughter.

"How are you feeling, kiddo?" Haruka asked.

"A lot better now, especially that you're home. And I owe it all to Nurse Minako here." She grinned as Minako came over and hugged her.

"We can't thank you enough for what you did for Hotaru." Michiru said as she and Minako embraced.

"It was my pleasure. Anything you need, just call on the Goddess of Love, Minako Aino!" She grinned and flashed her trademark 'V' for victory sign. Everyone laughed.

"Well I don't know about the rest of you but I'm starving! What say we all go down to the kitchen and celebrate with a good breakfast!" Setsuna said.

"Yeah! Let's go!" Hotaru got out of bed and reached for her robe. She was still a bit weak and she nearly fell over. Minako caught her before she fell.

"Thank you again, Nurse Minako." Hotaru grinned and kissed her on the cheek.

"All part of the service, kiddo." Minako grinned back. Everyone laughed again as Haruka picked Hotaru up and carried her downstairs where they all enjoyed a good hearty breakfast together.

Epilogue, one week later, the residence of Minako Aino.

"Ah-choo!" Minako sneezed for what was the billionth time that day. She sighed and leaned back in her bed.

It figures. She thought. Just like the last time, I end up catching a cold, and I just got over one! Life sucks! She grumbled and sneezed again. And it was warming up outside as well!

She heard the doorbell ring downstairs, and her Mom answered it. She heard a few voices, followed by two pairs of feet coming up the stairs.

Minako's Mom knocked on her door. "Minako? One of your friends is here to see you."

"Come in." Minako croaked in a hoarse voice.

She expected Usagi to come bouncing in, complete with medical bag and Nurse's outfit, but to her surprise and delight, Hotaru walked in. She wasn't wearing a nurse's uniform either, just a purple fleece pullover, black turtleneck, and black pants.

"Hotaru! What brings you here?" Minako asked in surprise.

"Michiru-mama found out that you were ill from Usagi, and they both thought it was a great idea for me to come over and help you get better like you did for me." Hotaru smiled and put her backpack down and sat in the chair beside Minako's bed.

"This is so nice of you Hotaru, thank you." Minako smiled and took Hotaru's hand.

"You're welcome. I want to be a Nurse myself when I grow up, and what better way to practice than to take care of one of my closest friends. Especially the one who has helped to inspire me so much." Hotaru said.

Minako looked at the young girl in surprise. Then with her eyes full of tears, Minako reached over and embraced Hotaru. The young would be nurse, returned the embrace. Then the two friends sat there and talked well into the night.

The End.

AN: The song, Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel), was written by Billy Joel and was from his album River of Dreams (1993, Sony Music). He wrote it for his daughter originally. It was the only lullaby I could think of at the spur of the moment that I knew I had the lyrics to.