'Rufus-sama, it would be in your best interest and everyone else's as well if you would say something.' The elder Turk understood that the boy was very close to the deceased and that her death was a shock to him, but the man also understood the need to talk about the youth's feelings about her death. Since her death 9 months ago, the boy hadn't said one word to anyone, no matter the question asked. When he wasn't doing school work, Rufus usually stayed in his room reading, watching one of the few shows he like on TV or standing on the balcony of his suite, staring down at the city bustling beneath him. Today, was one of the days that he was watching the city.

Tseng became increasingly worried about his mental state as the months of silence wore on. Rude told him that Rufus stopped talking right after he saw his mother's body. It was obvious to him that the shock of seeing someone that Rufus adored and who he felt was the only person that loved him dead drove him to silence. Having Rufus keep his feeling bottled up would only make things worse for him, not better.

'Sir? Did you understand what I said?' Dull, saddened blue eyes looked up and met the equally saddened brown eyes of the Turk.

Rufus didn't reply. The only sign that he heard the Turk was a nod of his head.

'How long do you intend to shut everyone out like this Rufus? We know that your mother's death is bothering you, but we also know that pushing everyone away like you are isn't going to help you.'

The Turk dropped to Rufus' eye-level and hesitantly turned Rufus to face him and put his hands on the youth's shoulders. Rufus didn't turn away or move forward; he acted as though the gesture didn't affect him at all.

Tseng pulled Rufus to him in a gentle hug. Without thinking, Rufus returned the gesture and hugged the Turk as hard as he could. Tseng sighed softly then tried to get through to Rufus again.

'Rufus, let us help you. Let me help you. You don't have to go through this alone. There is no harm in relying on others to help you with your loss. There is no need to continue to push us away. We want to help you, don't you want someone to help you through this?'

Rufus slowly removed himself from Tseng's embrace, keeping his arms wrapped around the Turk's neck, and looked at Tseng for few moments. Eventually, the young Shinra shook his head no, which meant to Tseng that he really did want to suffer through this by himself.

'But, why? Let us help you. Doing what you are doing is not healthy.'

Rufus fully freed himself from the Turk then quietly walked to the door to his suite. He glanced over his shoulder to the Turk, still on his knees, staring at him with a sad, almost desperate look. Rufus shook his head again, refusing the aid that so many wanted to give him.

Holding back his tears, he turned his gaze back to the suite then ran into his room locking the door behind him. Tseng may believe that he was isolating himself and pushing everyone that cares for him away, but that's not how Rufus saw it. He promised his mother he'd be strong. To him, that meant getting over her death on his own.