Ok, here's a little bit of friendship starting between Sissi and Odd. Enjoy!

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"How are you… um… feeling?" Sissi asked nervously.

Odd shrugged, deciding to be as civil as possible. "Alright, I guess." He suddenly noticed that she was still holding something behind her back. "What's that behind your back Sissi?"

Sissi blushed as she walked over to him. "Well… I… uh…" Fumbling with her words she handed over a stuffed dog. "It's a get well present…"

Normally Odd might have teased her for her cheesy choice of a gift, but he felt like he should keep being nice to her. "It looks just like Kiwi," he said.

Sissi relaxed visibly as Odd graciously accepted the gift instead of laughing at her. "So that's his name," she said. "I'm watching him for you. I think he really misses you a lot… I guess I… kind of figured that you missed him too…"

Odd nodded in agreement, shocked that she actually thought that deep into buying someone, especially himself, a present. "I do," he said. "Thanks. But isn't your dad mad about Kiwi? This isn't just a stuffed dog to replace the real one he's going to make me send away is it?"

Sissi shook her head in amusement. "I convinced him to let you keep the dog," she said proudly. "Jim was really the only one in favor of getting rid of Kiwi anyway."

Odd grinned. "Well if it was between Jim and me, I would have gotten out of it myself."

Sissi smiled slightly as she said in the chair beside him. Odd could tell she was trying to keep up polite conversation with him, something that normally didn't occur between them. "So you're coming back tomorrow night," she said. "I bet you're excited."

"I would be if I wasn't being forced to stay in bed for a week," Odd said pretty angrily, feeling like he could discuss this more freely with her than his friends, since they weren't exactly sympathetic about his bed rest. "And when I do go back to classes they're going to make me take the elevator! You'd think that they'd forgotten that my legs still worked fine."

"That sucks," Sissi said. "You can always sneak out though."

Odd laughed. "If Ulrich ever lets me out of his sight."

Sissi looked down. "Yea, he was really upset when Dr. Greene said that… well, you know…"

"Yea," Odd said. "Not that I'm trying to be a smartass or anything… but why aren't you trying to hang out with Ulrich and not me? Have you given up on him or something?"

"I haven't given up on him yet," Sissi said. "But I was worried about you… Odd… Are we… friends? I feel like I've been pretty mean to you…"

Odd looked confused, but he saw the sad look on her face. Sure, Sissi and he had always acted as if they hated each other, but there had been some moments, though few, when he hadn't minded her so much. On some rare occasions, she had even been helpful. Odd smiled. "Yea Sissi, we're friends." Sissi grinned and Odd blushed a bit. "You know, we could hang out sometime when I'm back at Kadic. You could help me sneak out."

"We'll see how you're doing first," Sissi laughed.

Mr. Delmas then walked into the room and smiled sadly. "Hello Odd. How are you feeling?"

"Like a million bucks," Odd lied.

"Listen Odd," Mr. Delmas said carefully. "I finally spoke with you parents…"

Odd looked up uncomfortable. He hadn't even thought of them yet. "What did they say?"

Mr. Delmas sighed. "They're both very worried… but… they can't come to see you… You know that you're parents are very busy people… If they could be here, I am sure they would… They promise to come soon."

"Oh…" Odd looked down with disappointment before forcing a smile. "That's ok. I have all the family I need right here at Kadic. They're all just out to lunch!"

Mr. Delmas smiled slightly. "So anyway, arrangements are being made for your return to school. You'll have to take it easy."

"I know. Do I really need to take the elevator though? My legs work fine."

Mr. Delmas gave him a disapproving yet amused look over the rims of his spectacles. "It's a precaution Odd. Do you want to be back here sooner than expected?"

"No, sir," Odd said. "But I don't want to sit around all of the time and relax. I'll get bored."

"It's only for a couple of months or so," Mr. Delmas told him. "Until your surgery you just need to relax, take your medicine, and take care of yourself. After that, things will be back to normal. You'll be able to do even more than before."

"And if I don't get my surgery?" Odd asked skeptically. "Will I have to spend the last months of my life in a bed like this, with an IV in my arm and tests every other hour? Because after all of them today, I have had enough."

"You'll get the transplant Odd," Sissi told him. "And you'll be better than ever."

"Yea…" Odd looked out of the window.

"Let's get going Sissi," Mr. Delmas said after a moment. "I can't leave Jim in charge for too long."

Sissi nodded and stood. "See you tomorrow Odd," she said. "I'll tell Kiwi you said hello."

Odd smiled at her. "Bye." He looked down at the stuffed dog after they left and blushed. "Oh man, the others are really going to make fun of me if they find out that I actually enjoyed Sissi's visit. She really isn't so bad though." Sighing, he put the dog on his bedside table.

Minutes later, his four best friends returned with a nurse carrying a tray in tow. Odd skipped the greeting for his four friends and greeted his food instead. "Lunch!" he cried enthusiastically, wanting to immediately keep their minds off of Sissi. He clapped his hands together and smiled brightly.

The nurse laughed as she set the tray in front of him and watched him dig in. "Are you sure you aren't here for a hole in your stomach?"

"Oh we're sure," Yumi said. "This is just a chronic condition. He's already learned to cope with it."

"Oh and we've had to cope too," Jeremire said. "Always having to defend out own food from Odd."

The nurse just shook her head and giggled as she left the room. Aelita smiled at Odd. "You certainly seem to be feeling better. Is it the food?"

"Or was it Sissi?" Yumi teased.

"Sorry for ditching you," Jeremie apologized. "I hope it wasn't too painful."

Odd set down his fork. "She's not that bad."

"But I thought you hated-"

"We should be nicer to her," Odd said as he glanced at the stuffed dog. "I think she's different then she lets on."

"Um… ok…" Ulrich and the others looked at him as if he'd grown another head.

Odd smiled again. "So where'd you guys go for lunch?"