Horo sighed. "Man I can't believe I got lost." It was true somewhere in the canyon on the way to Dobie Village he had gotten separated from the others. Ren would have a field day when he got back to the others. Sometimes the Chinese shaman could be just such an asshole it really got to him. "Dammit." He muttered.

In truth he always felt a bit detached from the others. They were all in this tournament for ambitions of doing things to gain power, even Yoh in a way. Him? He just wanted to help the minutions. He didn't want power, he wanted to live quietly with nature, the others, they were used to living well, he lived with he needed. He enjoyed camping out. Knowing the others, Ren would scoff and say that it was a messy uncomfortable waste of time, Yoh would do nothing but stare at the stars or whine about Anna's training. Ryu wouldn't enjoy the fact that there were no pretty girls around.

Horo sat down on an outcropping on rocks and sighed. "Maybe I wasn't meant to be teamed up with them." He stared up at the sky, it was so much clearer in the desert than it was in Tokyo. "Heh… if it wasn't so damn hot here I might actually like it." He said shaking his head.

That's when he heard that laugh. It was cool and clear. A voice he knew well. "If you aren't meant to be with them, join me." He termed around quickly to see Hao sitting a mere five feet away on another rock.

"H-Hao!" Horo yelled jumping up. Kororo appeared above his shoulder immediately. Hao merely looked calmly as he sat.

"Calm down Northern Shaman." Hao said smiling slightly. "I did not come to fight you, merely to make an offer." He hopped off the rock and stood his cape blowing in the wind. Horo found his gaze traveling over the other shamans body. He quickly caught himself before Hao noticed.

Damn what am I doing? I am not interested in slime ball Hao! Horo thought berating himself for even looking at the considerably older shaman. "I don't want anything your offering." Horo said getting into a defensive stance.

"You refuse my offer yet only a few moments before you say you might not have been meant to be with those you call friends." Horo growled at that and in an instant fused Kororo into his snowboard. He lunged at Hao who simply changed his spirit of fire's form into that of a staff.

"It seems my words have struck a sensitive spot." Hao said as he fended off Horo's attacks with ease. "Maybe it hurts because you know it's true. I've seen the way you are separated from those you call friends. You try and insist that your one of them but you have none of their ambitions for power, merely just a dream of creating a place for minutians. How do you know that they will help you fulfill your dream in the end?"

That threw Horo off big time. He faltered in his attack leaving Hao the opening he needed. He went on the offensive and slammed Horo into one of the canyon walls and held his staffs at his chest keeping him from moving, his own face a close proximity to Horo's.

"My words have struck a cord within you. I can tell. You'll deny the truth they carry right now but soon you'll realize they're true." He smiled as Horo went through a series of emotions.

"I like your love of nature. Frankly your ambitions intrigue me, you don't seek power like so many others. In fact-" He said smirking slightly. "I also see you as a potential equal and partner." Then in an instant Hao cupped the blue haired shaman face with his hand. Horo noted that his hands were smooth. And then grabbed Horo into a searing kiss, the kiss infused a sense of power into Horo and as Hao pulled away Horo was left in shock.

Hao released him from the canyon wall but Horo remained still, in shock apparently. "I hope you will consider my offer and join me soon." Hao said as he vanished a in burst of flame.

Horo then muttered. "Maybe I wouldn't be so bad off with him."

Later when Horo rejoined his friends. They made the usually cracks about him getting lost but then thy all settled down to eat Horo sat slightly separate from them. Hao sat high above on a cliff watching. "Hmm… it seems that he will soon come to me." He then smiled slightly. "Hmm... I hope to see you soon Horokeu Usui."