Ren couldn't sleep. He hadn't been sleeping properly for a week or so. Something was bothering him. Something… or someone…

He sighed then sat up in the bed and rubbed his eyebrows. Why was this happening to him? He could almost hear his body screaming from exhaustion. Then why couldn't he fall asleep? Was he sick or something? But he had already asked Faust and after a very careful and quite annoying examination the creepy doctor had told him there was nothing wrong with him.

Well, if his body wasn't ill then what was happening to him? Was his mind the problem?

He looked at the luminous face of the alarm clock. It was about five o'clock. Well, here goes another sleepless night, huh? And he still hadn't figured out what was wrong…

'Are you OK, Ren?' Yoh asked as his friend entered the kitchen. A growl was all he got in return.

'I bet he hasn't slept again' Horo said while once again swallowing like a good pig anything he could find on the table.

'Shut up you baka!' Ren glared at him dangerously 'It's all Faust's fault! If he's such a great doctor why can't he find out what's wrong with me!'

'Well he gave you pills…'

'…that don't work.'

The others exchanged glances.

'Ren, we shouldn't tell you this but… Faust said those pills he gave you the last time could make a bear fall asleep. ' Yoh said carefully.

'Well, they don't work on me!' Ren spitted and started eating.

'You know you look different. ' Anna suddenly said with her usual cold tone 'Aside from the tired look on your face.'

'What are you saying woman?' Ren raised an eyebrow.

'When is the last time you looked yourself in the mirror?' she stood up and walk to him then made him stand up.

Anna looked at him up and down. His hair wasn't pointy now, it was hanging freely almost touching his shoulders. But that wasn't new. It had been that way for four days. Though they hadn't gotten used to it yet.

'You're taller.' She said calmly.

'Yeah, so what?' Ren folded his hands and thought about all the clothes he recently had buy because of that.

Even though he was almost sixteen Ren was still a little shorter than Yoh and Horo Horo. But now, as Horo stood up and stood next to Ren it was very much obvious that the Tao was at least two inches taller than the Ainu.

'What the hell… You can't grow up so much in a week!' Horo shouted and Ren glared at him.

'And what's that?' Anna suddenly grabbed hs hair and pulled it.

'WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING YOU STUPID BITCH! LET GO!'

She ignored him as she looked carefully at the inky colored cluster in her hand. She then pulled out a blood-red lock.

'What the… huh? When did you color your hair? ' Horo asked.

'What are you talking about baka!' Ren finally released himself from Anna's grip and walk to the nearest mirror everybody following him. He looked at the crimson lock and his eyes widened with realization.

'Fuck! She's coming here!' he shouted and run to his room.

'Who's she?' Yoh called after him. No answer came, so he and Horo followed Ren. They didn't bother knocking as usual, since the door was wide open and came in. The Tao was searching wildly for something in the cupboard.

'Fuck, fuck, FUCK! Where is it?' he finally pulled out a small box with a large golden dragon on the top and opened it. Then he pulled out a pendant with the yin and yang symbol on it. It was glowing faintly.

'Ren…'

'No mistake. The curse is getting weaker. That's why I couldn't sleep. That's why I'm changing. And the lock… I should've thought of it sooner… '

'What curse? Guys, what's going on?' Pirika entered the room. She was wet from the bath she had just taken.

'REN! WHO'S COMING?' Horo finally shouted.

Ren looked at them blankly and a small but quite creepy smile crossed his lips.

'Destiny.'

Okey, guys, this is my first story. I have a hard time with the Japanese names since I've only watched the English version of Shaman king. I'm not English so it's even harder to me to right in English so correct me if I have any mistakes, please.