(Is he? No, he doesn't look it! But what about what Riva said? She wouldn't lie to me! Not about something like this!)

I keep pacing my room, drowning out Billy Joel's "Pianoman" that is playing on my jukebox as well as the sounds of nurses walking past my door. It's normally quite lively, given that I live at the hospital, as this is most convenient for Mr. Wave and Tarran, and I normally keep the sound down. But no matter what I do, I can't seem to calm down!

(Did Oren really kill Dodge in Chates!? Is he even capable of such things!? What does he want with my little brother!? Tarran is a good judge of character, but is he in danger!? Does Oren have a personal vendetta with me? I don't think we've met before. Has he met Riva before now? Or Dodge or Chates a long time ago? He doesn't look that old. Ooooo... THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!!!!!!)

Kon. Kon.

"Huh!? Oh. Sorry! Come in!"

Mr. Wave opens the door.

"Hello, Sutoria. Do you have a minute?"

...

"I... Yes."

I sit down on my bed. Mr. Wave pulls up my desk chair and sits down. I guess he knows I don't want him sitting next to me on my bed.

"Something has been troubling you." he begins. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Nothing is wrong." I retort quickly.

"For better or worse, you're not good at lying, Sutoria."

"I said nothing is wrong!"

...

"I'm...sorry for disturbing you. But you can at least try to open up a bit more. Even if it's nothing major, I still want to help. That's what family is for, after all."

"You're not family to me!" I yell bluntly.

!!!

Hearing these words makes Mr. Wave brings a shocked expression to his face.

"I'm...I'm sorry. I'm not in a very good mood."

Mr. Wave looks at me with great concern. However, it seems he can't find anything to say.

So I attempt to break the silence.

"Why do you insist that I am family to you, in spite of how I've treated you over the years?"

"Your mother was family, and so I treat you the same."

"Why did you marry my mother anyway?"

"I fell in love."

He says this with a faint smile. I don't hear any false notes.

"Do I need a reason to help you?" he continues. "I didn't need a reason to help your mother when we first met. It's just who I am. Tarran thinks the same way, you know."

...

"I'd like you to tell me your troubles. It pains me to see you like this. I won't act as though I understand everything you've gone through, but I've seen hard times myself. And if I've learned anything over the years, there are some things best not to be tackled alone. Whether it's as a father or a friend, I'd like to help you. No need to suffer alone."

...

"Just think about it," he concludes as he walks towards the door.

Pata.

...

(Kind words. Much like Riva's. Two people who claim to be there for me. Two people who try to comfort me. ... And yet, their intentions seem to be as different as night and day. Riva's been there for me more than Mr. Wave has, but she wants me to be strong enough to take on the world, while he wants me to rely on others. Given the circumstances, which should I do? Who can I turn to when two of my closest friends are dead? What if getting more people involved puts their lives at risk? I don't know...)

...

(I just don't know...)

I look at the picture taken long ago that I brought back from my dressing room. The picture of my friends and family. And I think about Tarran, the only blood relative I have left.

The thought of losing him...

(No...)

I look back at the picture, then at my hands. I emit some electric rhime within the palm of each hand.

(I know...)

I think back to when I attempted to steal that sword from Oren. How he fights. The people he hangs around. He's dangerous, if nothing else.

(I know...what I must do.)

Riva is right.

Some things you just have to do alone.