Chapter 4: My replacement
Ren sat near the fire that Hao had set up for his comrades. He sighed heavily as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 'Horokeu Usui…'
"Horokeu Usui," The male said from across him, the fire was covering part of him, but Ren knew who he was just by the voice. "He is getting in the way isn't he? If this continues I will have to get rid of him you hear that?"
"I know, I tried to stop him you know?" He looked away. "Not like I control him or anything, it's just that he's…he just…"
"One last chance alright? One wrong move with him and he's going again. If you try to stop me, the others will go with him." He smirked as he stood up and walked off into the woods.
Ren brought his knees up to his chest and hugged it tightly. If his father was to see him right now, he would be ashamed wouldn't he? And not just that, he was under Hao's control now, there was nothing he could do to stop it either.
"I hate this, I hate everything…why does it have to be me…why do I always have to suffer like this?" He mumbled to himself. Even though he hated his father, he did support him right? A father is a father, and he will always love him like that, sometimes he feels hatred, but that's just temporary .
"Horo, Chocolove…maybe I should've treasured the times that I spent with you more. All that I ever did was yell at you, called you stupid. But the truth was so much different, I guess this is right though, you guys don't need me anymore, Yoh was always a better leader."
"Ren, what are you doing say those things to yourself. As one of Hao-sama's comrades, you shouldn't be talking so lowly about yourself!" A orange haired female said pointing her broom at him. "That's a disgrace that he even let you join."
"You think I wanted to join? I didn't have a choice!" He stood up and shouted back at her. He glared at her, "I'm not like you or Hao."
"You did have a choice, and you wanted to save your friends, that's why you joined. That was the choice that you made, that this is where you ended up, now don't say that about Hao-sama," She said softly turning around. "You haven't even given Hao-sama a chance yet, he's only human too you know? He's doing this for a reason, and whatever reason that is, we are with him no matter what."
"…" He looked down, eyes saddening. Giving Hao a chance…? He commanded me to kill my own friends. What is there to give chances to? Tears began to fill his golden eyes.
Are you crying over them Ren? There's nothing to cry over, you're a strong boy…you father never taught you how to cry like a little baby. A voice said teasingly inside his head. He knew exactly who it was, and it wasn't his head that was talking to him either, it was Hao.
---Yoh and the others (Morning)---
"That Ren kid came again yesterday night…I don't know what he's up to…but it smells fishy," Horo said looking at the rest of the group members.
"I want some fish…" Chocolove said rubbing his stomach. "Why didn't you wake me up to smell him with you? Maybe he had some with-" He laid on the floor with a bump on his head and a bloody nose, twitching slightly from the sudden pain.
"Don't play around like that Chocolove," Horo said in an irritated voice. "Alright then, let's go team," He said gesturing to Chocolove and Lyserg. They both followed him. "We'll head first alright, see you guys at the residence then." Horo waved by, then jumped off with the other two.
"Horo Horo-kun, this isn't the way to the residence. Where are we going?" Lyserg questioned looking at the leader worriedly. "Yoh-kun and the others will get worried if we aren't there with they get there."
"Can't you see Lyserg, Horo wants to finish some business first. Why else would he be so ready for battle like this?" Chocolove said looking up to the sky with a smile on.
"You mean with that Ren kid? I don't think that we should mess with him unless he messes with us you know? He doesn't look too hard to handle anyways." Lyserg looked away and sighed. "But if you insist on fighting him I don't mind."
"I don't think it's a fight, although I'm sure that Horo is prepared for one if it is needed, I believe that it's more like talking you know? I do feel something towards him too, something like a connection." Chocolove looked at the two males.
"Chocolove, why are you talking so serious? You're usually more playful you know?" Horo continued to only look ahead. Then again, it's true…I feel some kind of connection towards Ren too, not like love, but something more like friendship. "But anyways, I want to talk to him myself, you two stay back okay?"
"Alright…" Chocolove said nodding and looking at Lyserg who nodded back.
"Thanks." Horo smiled to himself as he landed on the ground gracefully. The other two landed behind him as well. I know he's here…somewhere. I can sense his energy around here. His red eyes began to look around his surroundings.
Why is he here…why is he toying with my emotions? His golden eyes looked at the three in the forest. But I'm glad that Lyserg took my place though, at least…I know that they are…forgetting me.