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.
