Ryo and Jamie were greeted by the sound of dueling violins. When Alice had put a violin in 4-year-old Elena's hands Ryo was apprehensive. But the little girl took to the instrument with ease. By age of seven, she was composing music. Both Elena and Moma wore wireless mics.

(Hallelujah by Panic! at the disco)

"All you sinners stand up, sing hallelujah!' Moma voice was soft meant for acoustic music.

"Sing Hallelujah!' Elena's singing voice was more aggressive, making her perhaps not the best partner. "Show praise with your body. Stand up, sing hallelujah- hallelujah! And if you can't stop shaking, lean back, let it move right through ya!"

The girls with their violins matched each other beat for beat- "Say your prayers

Say your prayers

Say your prayers."

Moma started up, "I was drunk and it didn't mean a thing

Stop thinking about

The bullets from my mouth

I love the things you hate about yourself

Just finished a daydream

Who were you trying to BE?"

Ryo smiled as Elena held the note, her singing voice was so beautiful.

Jamie opened the door. "Babe, I'm so sorry."

"Hey, Ryo." Megumi had been sitting in the bed, "long time no see."

The last time Ryo had seen Megumi was the day the girls were dropped off for the middle school academy program. Before the onset of his illness.

"Would you like to hang out in the kitchen? I can maybe cook something for you?"

"Sure, that would be nice." Ryo was lost in her beautiful golden eyes as he followed her to the kitchen. "What brings you to Polar Star?"

"I brought over a video camera for Moma, she shooting an audition tape to try for a performing arts school." Megumi took down a pot and placed inside some dried scallops, shrimp, along with various herbs, she was making a broth. "How was Sweeden?"

"It was nice, a lot of IVs, dialysis. The sauna and the physical therapy were helpful." Ryo started to cough.

"Are you sure you're up for judging the finals? From what you told Soma, I know your organs are failing. What if you vomit?"

"Then I get to taste the dish twice."

Megumi laughed so hard she lost her breath. "God, Ryo, why did you have to leave with Alice…"

"What?"

"You could have gone anywhere you could have even stayed in Japan."

"I just didn't want to be alone. I guess at the time it felt like Alice was the only family I had."

"Do you remember that party during year three? Alice had a headache so she left early."

"You gave me a ride back to the mansion," Ryo remembered every moment, "we kissed."

"You told me I looked so beautiful under the light of the moon."

"I meant every word."

Megumi wiped tears from her eyes. "Maybe in another life." She tasted the broth. "I'll give the broth a few more minutes."

After Elena started at the academy Ryo considered leaving Alice. He was working non-stop, traveling, meeting with vendors, negotiating contracts. He was experiencing constant pain in his stomach, but he assumed it was due to ulcers. Ryo had suffered from ulcers his entire life. Then one day, in Barcelona, Ryo collapsed. When he opened his eyes at the hospital Alice's mother was by his side. "I'm so sorry," she said. "You have gastrointestinal cancer."

Ryo had not felt afraid when his father died at sea or when illness took his mother just a week later. He was not afraid was he was sold into slavery to pay his family's debts, or when he arrived in Denmark. Ryo was a warrior, but the idea of leaving this world, leaving behind Elena Rose caused him to weep.

"You're not giving up. I won't let you. I will pay for the best medical facilities in Europe."

"Thank you, Mom."

Alice's mother cried as she kissed Ryo's forehead. "I always thought of you as my son. "

Ryo was awoken back to the present as Elena came through the door.

"Daddy, there you are! I have some great ideas for my dish! Music always gets me inspired."

"What did you have in mind?" Ryo asked.

"A seafood egg drop soup!"

"That could be interesting," said Megumi.

"I could use food coloring to make every element a different color!"

Ryo and Megumi shot each other confused expressions.

"The broth can be tinted blue, the crab at the bottom can be tinted green like grass. I would leave some of the egg white as is, to serve as clouds but others could be yellow, orange and red like a sunrise! And I'll top the whole thing off with a seared scallop dusted with gold leaf."

Megumi was about to speak. Ryo quietly muttered, "Avoid the P-word. "

"Pretty?" Megumi asked out loud.

"Yes, that P-word," Ryo sighed.

Elena's face fell. "It does sound like something Mom would make."

"You could do something based around flavors," Megumi suggested, "Use natural ingredients to create colors and pair taste combinations."

"And nix the gold leaf," Ryo added.

The group went to work, experimenting with various combinations. The sweetness of crab paired well with a spinach puree. Saffron and turmeric created vibrantly colored egg strands, but the best combination was sriracha and tabasco with cyanine powder to create a vibrant red. "That is so good!" Elena shouted.

Ryo took a taste. "It pairs well with the subtle flavor of the broth." Ryo was feeling tired. He looked up at the clock, t was already six in the evening. "Why don't we call it a day, we can hang out in the rec-room, maybe watch a movie."

"Will you cook something for me?"Elena asked.

Megumi could see how exhausted Ryo was. "I could cook something."

"It's getting pretty late, you should head back to Soma."

Megumi kissed Ryo's cheek. "It was nice seeing you."

"You too."

Elena brought out puff pastry. "Can we make turnovers?"

"Like when you were little? You always loved to make all kinds of fun shapes."

"That's a great idea, let's make fun-shaped crab-scallop turnovers!" Elena mixed cooks crab with cream-cheese parsley and chives.

"Where's Jamie?" Ryo asked.

"Playing video games, I told him I wanted to spend the day with you." Elena's voice betrayed a hint of sadness.

Ryo placed his hand on her shoulder. "Are you unhappy?" He thought about his conversation with Moma. The last thing he wanted was for Elena to feel obligated to stay at the academy because she was the daughter of two graduates.

"No, I love it here. I love cooking, being with my friends. But I really miss you."

Ryo smiled as he seared off scallops. "I miss you too Elena."

They assembled the turnovers by placing some crab filling in the pastry followed by a scallop and more filling. Then each piece was closed and sealed with a fork, before being glazed with beaten egg.

They ate turnovers while watching cartoons until Elena fell asleep with her head on his lap. Ryo carefully stood up. He kissed Elena's cheek. "Sleep well, my angel."

He went to the kitchen. Taking a seat at the prep table he pulled out his notebook. "Dear Elena Rose…"