A Scripta

Nate perked his head at the older man's approach. Expectantly, he asked, "Daisuke?"

"No."

"Oh." He looked down disappointedly. "Anyone?"

"Star."

He smiled. "She a good person."

Lodestar sat down and nodded. "That she is. A rare pure jewel."

"I don't hate her."

He said nothing, looking across to him.

"Daisuke," he said wistfully. "He's left me."

"Nate, I don't--"

"I don't really blame him. I was never good for him. I destroyed him."

"Nate, he hasn't left you."

"Nothing. Not even tried to find out how I was doing." He sat back down again. "I hurt him so much." Nate focused on Lodestar. Nate's eyes were clear, without any anguish. "Lodestar, it's okay." He looked down. "He doesn't want me anymore. I've hurt him too much."

Lodestar touched Nate's hand. "I don't think he's left you. I think he's giving you time to be alone so you can work things out here," he gestured to the empty land before him.

"If he never comes back, I'll be all right. I'll just move on, find some nice girl, or find no one at all."

Lodestar looked at Nate's face, studied his aura. He hid nothing, no anger, no defiance, no lying. "You're serious."

He nodded. "I'm sad, but I'll be all right. I couldn't take it out on him."

"Will you take it out on anyone?"

Nate smiled slightly. "I'll try not to." Lodestar looked beyond Nate to see a woman standing a few feet behind him. Nate didn't turn around to see where Lodestar was looking.

He sighed. "It's my mother." He got up from kneeling on the ground next to Lodestar. "I'll be with her for a while, but if Daisuke comes..."

Lodestar nodded and watched Nate turn to go back to see this woman - who had knives sticking out of her back.