Ami/Miroku: Personality Clash!

[RyderHakubi]

Helping Kwok to the ground, Ryder gave Kwok a concerned look and said, "John Kwok, we are not leaving here until I know what's wrong with you..."

And as she said that, the Mercury CPU appeared in her hands...

[Kwokinator]

Kwok settled into the ground and clutched a hand to his chest, unable to put up any arguments since his relentless coughing prevented speech nicely.

[Carthrat]

Miroku's coughing managed to settle down, as Ami checked on him...

..discovering Three (3) ailments to his person.

The first, and most blaring, was the Air Void constrained in Miroku's arm. About a page of data scrolled down about it, none of which was of interest.

The second was a slight case of Rabies, which reported having been passed down by a rabid dog. However, it seemed to be dormant...

...as the disease, Flamewreath seemed to have lodged itself within Miroku's system. Information on it scrolled down, some of it Ami hadn't caught before. One word screamed out:

INFECTIOUS.

More information scrolled down, revealing that Miroku had roughly a month to live, and that there was no known cure to be found for the disease, with the exception of Usagi's powers, and experimental medicine that was abandoned long before the Silver Millenium ended...

And neither of these had ever completely cured the disease before.

[RyderHakubi]

Ryder was speechless...

No!  I'm not losing him, no chance in hell!  He's the only friend I've got now...

However, Ryder did know one thing... she'd be no good to Kwok if she got infected.

"Kwok, you stay here, I'm going to look for something to help you out." she said as she rushed out of the hut...

As soon as she got out of the door, she checked to see if she had been infected...

[Carthrat]

Ami was in fine physical condition. She had no illnesses, no dormant diseases, and the only thing the Mercury Computer indicated was that she had just woken up.

[RyderHakubi]

That was a close one... Now, what to do, what to do!  I can't let him die, but I don't know how to save him... oh Kami-sama, please help me.

Ryder prayed as she paced back and forth in front of the lodge...

Wait, the medicine!  Maybe it'll work now...

Ryder then put a search quarry for all knowledge of the Flamewreath medicine into the Mercury Computer.

[Carthrat]

The specific details of what was required for Flamewreath were not listed. The medicine was still in the experimental stage, and relied on useing several chemicals that were heavily affected by UV radiation, the amount of which could only be obtained on Mercury, close as it was to the sun.

It DID state that several methods could be used to lessen the degree of the illness and increase the victims lifespan. Methods involved keeping the victim as warm as possible at all times, remaining as active as possible and burning up much energy, and eating less than usual. However, one had to strike a balance between the two in order to keep the patient at maximum fitness.

[RyderHakubi]

As a last check before going to help Kwok, Ryder looked for ways to contract the disease, so she doesn't catch it herself...

[Carthrat]

The disease was fairly rare; it seemed highly unlikely that Ryder would contract it simply by touching the wrong plant or something.

However, the disease was known to spread from being to being through blood, saliva, and was also sexually transmitted, according to the file. It claimed that being near a Flamewreathed individual wouldn't transmit the disease unless the individual managed to bite them or something.

This particular page also showed the origin of the disease: Mars, and an ancient magical design laboratory...

Quite some time ago.

[RyderHakubi]

Hold it... the Martians created this stuff?

While she was overcome with some curiosity, Ryder realized that Kwok was probably getting worried.  So, she sub-space pocketed the Mercury Computer and walked back into the cabin with a small frown on her face...

[Kwokinator]

"What's with the frown, Ryder?" Kwok asked. "Can't cure it?"

[RyderHakubi]

I can't tell him... It's not right for me to tell him that he's going to die...

Ryder looked down a little, then put on an obviously fake smile and said, "It's only going to last a few days... you've got the flu after all!"

[Kwokinator]

Kwok inwardly shrugged.  If Ryder had to fake a smile like that, it had to  be something bad, so he'll eventually know about it.

"Cool," he answered, his face expressionless. "Since it's just the flu and I'm alright, let's get a move on."

[RyderHakubi]

Ryder hesitantly nodded, but then remembered that she needed to keep Kwok active, and warm at the same time...

"You up for a jog?  It's a lovely day..."

[Kwokinator]

Kwok shrugged nonchalantly.

"Alright," he then nodded. "You probably know what I need to do to stay healthy, so I'll listen."