"Master Yoh left?!" exclaimed Ryu when Amidamaru finished narrating to everyone about Yoh's abrupt departure. "But why so sudden? Is his brother really that strong?"

"And why is he leaving me in charge for his ward?" complained Ren, rolling his eyes at Anna, who was sipping her tea nonchalantly. Damn that itako's cold calmness. Why is she acting as if everything is not such a big deal?

Chocolove grinned. "Then I'm free to take Anna already-"

Amidamaru shook his head. "Uh-uh. You battle me and Master Ren if you do that."

"I think Chocolove is too honorable to do that," said Pirika defensively, then turned her attention back to Manta's laptop. They were playing some kind of a hangman game.

Ren felt his hair tip vibrate in annoyance. Oh hell, why was he letting Pirika's presence affect him so much? He glared at the itako. "Maybe I better take Anna home with me already."

Anna shrugged. "Using me as a cover-up for jealousy is pathetic."

"Jealousy?!! What the hell-" Ren picked his spear up. "Lately, all of you have been ganging up on me already!!! I demand to know the conspiracy behind this!"

"What's his problem?" asked Pirika, glancing at the boy behind her shoulders. Manta smiled wanly as Anna sighed audibly.

Soon, it was time for them to retire. Anna went ahead, faking a headache excuse. She didn't like drinking sake.

She lied down her bed and looked at the ceiling. If Yoh was here, he would surely start telling her tales he learned from the streets, as if they were bedtime tales. She would pretend not to be interested, but she would listen eagerly to his good-humored and unpredictable stories, until she hears his faint snore. The storyteller slept ahead of the story listener. She would then gaze at him for some moments before she herself falls asleep too.

I wonder…where is Yoh now? Has he started his training already?

 She glanced at the empty bed beside her and laid her hand on the sheets quietly.

Tamao nearly dropped her ouji board in shock when she sensed the Fire coming. It can't be…but my intuition has never been wrong before. Then could it be…Hao-sama is on his way here?

She tried again, but she got the same vibes – the Fire indeed.

I must leave…I have to get out of here…

She gathered her shawl and looked out at the peaceful slumbering night disturbed only by the rain. Her housemates had apparently drunk themselves dead so they wouldn't notice her sneaking out. Her hand reached for the knob, and her eyes fell on the glittering ring on her finger. Automatically, her eyes fell upon the door of Horo Horo's room.

She felt something ache within her. In the few weeks that she stayed in his house, she already felt that this was the place where she belonged. She had learned to love the mansion…and perhaps, the man too.

Her face flushed. What was she thinking? Her life was in danger and here she was, thinking of Horo Horo?

"It's late. Shouldn't you be sleeping already?"

She shut her eyes. Now she could hear his voice!

"Hello? Earth to Tamao! I'm talking to you!" Horo touched her shoulder. "Hey?"

"Aah!" Tamao's eyes flapped open, finding Horo Horo himself standing before her, arms crossed.

"Don't tell me you got a midnight urge to do the household chores?" he asked skeptically. "Because if that is the case I would have to ask you to go back to your bedroom and-"

She shook her head vehemently.

"OK, you're sneaking out on a midnight date?"

She shook her head again, more vehemently this time.

He sighed. "Don't play charades. Just tell me why you're up at this time of the night."

She bit her lip. "I'm…going for a midnight stroll."

He rolled his eyes. "Can't you do any better? Like, the tree of Bo is calling you to the path of enlightenment, or you're going to marry Marvin the Martian tonight?"

"T-That pathetic, huh?" she said, head low.

His face softened. "Tamao, I just want the truth. Where are you going?"

She looked up to meet his gaze. "I-I'm leaving."

"Can't your date wait tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow may be too late," she said, biting her lip. She then narrated to him her predictions. In the end of her narration, Horo was frowning already.

"So…you're saying that the Prince Asakura is heading for this way," he said, rubbing his chin.

"I have to go. He mustn't see me," she said.

He held a hand up. "Wait…" He ran into his room and returned to her side quickly, dressed in a windbreaker. He placed the cap he was holding on her head. "Let's go."

"Eh? Where?"

"Where else, but far away from Prince Asakura," he said.

"Y-You don't mean to say that…you're coming with me?"

Horo rubbed his head. "Your mental pick-up is as fascinating as my sister's. Let's go."

She stopped him. "But I can't allow you to be involved with my problems!"

Horo exhaled sharply. "What kind of person would I be if I let you go off on your own? Besides, I still need you!"

She gulped when his voice rose. "So sorry," she whispered. "I know you still need me and my predictions-"

He couldn't reply – he still couldn't get over his outburst awhile ago. He did it – he was able to admit out loud that he needed the prophetess! "Double time, Tamao."

"But your sister-"

"I left a message to her already." He looked at her warily. "Any more objections?"

"I…I don't want you to…be included in the wrath of Prince Hao," she said.

"But I don't want you to suffer alone." He smiled at her. "You helped me before, now it's time to return the favor. I'll help you back."

"T-Thank you, Horo Horo."

Pirika watched as her brother led Tamao by hand into the other side of the forest. Her eyes welled up with tears. "My brother is always selfish…he never even thinks about what his little sister would feel if she finds him gone the next day. I wish God didn't make him kind, so I can have his attention all for myself…but then, his kindness is one of the things I love the most about him."

She was about to draw the curtains to a close when she heard a tap on her window. She slid it to the right and found Ren by her window, throwing a pebble up and down his hand.

"A-Are you trying to destroy the glass of my window?" she hissed angrily.

"I intend to do that if you won't open that window and let me in," he said, aiming a pebble at the window.

"Blackmailer!" But for the sake of not making a scene, she opened the window for him. To her surprise, he climbed the window using the trellis by her room. He let himself in, smirking.

"What are you doing here anyway?" she demanded. "Shouldn't you be outside the kitchen window, practicing?"

He gave her a so-you-know look, irritating her further. "I'm right where I should and want to be," he said instead, his eyes roving on the pink and white scheme of the room. Very Pirika, he decided.

"Did you come here to check my room's interior design?" she snapped, hands on her hips.

"That, and one thing."

"You want me to keep away from Chocolove, the way you warned me with Manta?" she guessed.

"Yes."

"What gave you the right to do that?"

"I was your first kiss."

Her face flamed. "S-So what?"

He shrugged. "Nothing." But his smirk said otherwise.

"You really enjoy manipulating others, don't you?" Her eyes crinkled in anger. "Well, let me tell you this, Ren Tao. I say that you don't have the right to tell me whom I should be friends with. Yes, you have my first kiss, but so what? It means nothing to me already."

"Nothing?" His eyes burned.

"Nothing," she repeated firmly. "Just like you said before, it was just a liplock. A-"

The rest of her words were cut when Ren grabbed her harshly and pushed her down the bed.

"I beg your pardon?" he asked furiously, voice dangerously low.

She gulped. "A…" She felt courage desert her, especially when she saw his face coming down on her closer and closer.

"A…?" he prompted. "Go on."

She shut her eyes fearfully. "Please get off."

"No," he said flatly.

"P-Please…" her voice broke.

Ren felt like a bucket of ice water was thrown on him. His eyes wandered on her frightened face, and his fingers touched the delicate contours of her face.

"Sorry," he murmured. He got up and picked up his spear.

She opened her eyes just in time to see Ren leap down from her window. She couldn't believe it – he was close to kissing her out of spite again!

Am I really that cheap in his eyes?

But awhile ago…when he murmured his apology…why did her fear melt so suddenly?

I guess I get the treatment I deserve. I really am cheap.

It was nearly dawn when Anna woke up. She was able to catch some pitiful hours of sleep, but she was already used to waking up at the crack of dawn to train Yoh. She washed her face and gargled, then tied her bandanna on her head. She slipped her sandals on and walked out in the garden, ignoring the rain and the chilly breeze. She wanted to stretch.

Amidamaru appeared beside her. "Good morning, Ms. Anna."

"You will still train even without Yoh," she said.

The spirit nodded. "Yes! I want to become stronger if Master Yoh would be strong too!"

She nodded and looked up at the dark skies, then back at the power spirit. "Let's start."

Despite the falling rain, Amidamaru concentrated on levitating himself above the meter stick that Anna provided. She told him that only sheer mental strength could let him remain stationary under such heavy rain. He mustn't open his eyes either, instructed Anna, because it was also a test of the depth of his concentration. He must ignore all other sounds of nature to keep his levitation.

Anna watched him, satisfied. The power spirit had not only the physical potential but also the will power. She was sure the samurai spirit could make any shaman proud if he would be pushed a bit more.

She could feel her foot starting to fall asleep. She irritably shook her left foot, but forgot that she was standing on an elevated muddy hill. Her right sole gave way and she crashed down to the ground.

"M-Miss Anna!" yelled the spirit.

"Stay there!" she ordered. "Don't open your eyes! Continue with your training!"

"B-But Ms. Anna-"

"I can manage!" she shouted, then forced herself to stand up. She collapsed back into the mire, clutching her right leg. She must have sprained a muscle or something!

She looked around. Where was Horo Horo? Ren Tao? Wasn't anyone awake yet? She coughed. Would she contact a fever first before she could get up?

She cursed herself. When had she learn to be helpless? She had always come by on her own before. Why was she feeling this way now then?

She remembered Yoh, her bodyguard who was always on her side, wanting to ensure she was comfortable or not bothered at all.

She slapped her forehead. She knew men were trouble. Now she had learned to be dependent!

She forced herself to get up, all the while cursing herself for her stupidity and for Yoh's stupidity too (it takes two to tango, you know).

The neigh of the horse broke her frantic thoughts. She slowly turned to the sound's direction and found a hooded figure looking down at her from up the horse.

"Wow, mud bath," the cloaked figure said, voice laced with amusement. "But in the middle of a storm?"

"Mind your own business," she hissed.

She heard him chuckle, and that irritated her. Her first words usually were enough to drive a man away – well, except for Yoh.

"I would love to join you, but it's quite chilly. Even more so for you, woman." He then noticed her hand on her leg. "Did you hurt yourself? How stupid of you!"

"Shut up! I'm not hurt!" She forced herself to get up, and she did, but not without feeling a sharp stab of pain on her right leg. No, she didn't mind. She would rather be in pain than be laughed at by this boorish stranger.

"Ah, I'm impressed by your spirit," he said, getting down from the horse. "Pretending that you are capable when you're not."

"Look, I didn't ask for your praise. Just leave me and-" Her words were cut when he suddenly lifted her in his arms.

"Unhand me, sir," she snapped coolly.

"Boy, you're stubborn," he commented, not losing his cheerfulness. "If pig-headedness hurts, you'll be in pain all day long." He mounted her carefully on the horse. "Tell me where you live and I'll bring you there."

"Do you expect me to be stupid enough to tell you where I live?" she asked coldly.

"Well, if you won't tell me where you live, I'll gladly bring you to where I live."

"How uncouth!" she cried, aghast.

This made him chuckle more. He kicked his horse lightly and it began to trot.

Anna noticed the power spirit still concentrating under the rain. "Amidamaru!!!" she called.

The samurai spirit clenched his fists. "I don't hear anything! They are just the voices of the devils in me, urging me to give up my training. Ms. Anna won't call me. Just like what she said, she'll never call me. I must beat the devils within me. I don't hear anything…don't hear anything…"

Anna groaned. Now she knew why Yoh and Amidamaru were the best of friends – they think alike, those two morons.

"Why, I am amazed. You can see spirits!" said the cloaked figure. "You are a box of surprise, woman. I wonder what your next shocker will be?"

She crossed her arms, trying to look smug, but ended up looking cold instead. No, she was already feeling the cold wind seeping into her body already.

"You have to speak up when you're not feeling well already," he said in a gentle, reprimanding tone. "How should I know that you're freezing already, woman? I shall not allow you to personify a…say…frozen delight?" He laughed at his own pun. "Your foolish, foolish pride. Oh, good Lord, you'll die because of your own doing." He pulled her closer to him. "Feeling any better?"

She fought the urge to nod. "You have the audacity to touch me so intimately," she said mockingly. "And a stranger at that."

He paused. "How can you think of such things when you're dying in the chill, with an injury even?"

"That would be my problem, not yours."

"Right, right." He chuckled. "You're not very nice."

Anna then noticed Mic pawing through the mud not too far away. Hope rose within her. "Mic!"

The animal immediately perked up when it sensed her, but growled when it sensed the other person.

The hooded figure jumped down first, then lifted her down to the ground by holding her waist.

"Get some fluids and rest immediately," he instructed. "I'll be back to check on you." He glanced at his wrist, then bowed at her. He then jumped on his horse, and his sudden movement caused the hood of the his cloak to fall, revealing the long wild dark hair flying with the harsh wind. He gave her one last glance. "We will meet again."

Anna was shocked. She recognized the face…

Yoh? No, he's not Yoh…then…

Dare desu ka?

Hao at last reached the clearing, where Zinc was standing with Nichrome.

"What is it so urgent that you have to call my attention so suddenly?" asked the prince.

"Master, we've been calling you for the past two days-"

"And I refuse to be disturbed. Now will you tell me what is so important?" asked the prince impatiently.

Zinc nodded. "Very well. Your Highness, Shilva and Karimu were able to get past the initial assassins."

Hao nodded. "As expected."

"W-What do you mean?"

"I sent those people not to kill them but to watch the actions of the priests. They will lead us to my long-lost brother," said Hao, shrugging. "So is that all? You are aware that you've wasted my time."

Zinc bowed humbly. "Forgive us, Your Highness."

Nichrome stepped forward. "But I have a gift for you, Your Highness. I'm sure you would be delighted with it."

"Oh?" His eyebrow arched.

"A girl who can see through the shadows of the heart of anyone," explained the younger priest.

"Hmm…sounds fun. I want to try it on someone," he said, remembering the high-spirited girl he met in the woods awhile ago. He had never met someone with so much attitude like her in his entire life!

"She's detained in the palace right now, Your Highness."

"Very well, I'll go see her." Hao looked back at the woods again, then smiled. He would visit the woods one of these days again.

Tsuzuku

I was suppose to translate the omake in the previous chapter but decided not to, because of excessive profanities ^^;;

Instead I made up a series of questions.  A word of caution: may suggest something naughty so if u don't feel up to it, skip this part.

Otherwise, get a notepad and start answering…

*drumroll*

Where did Hao-sama sleep last night?

His bed was…

! hot…burning…damn, he couldn't sleep at all!

!! a little sticky…and um, wet, but he managed to sleep a wink.

!!! too bouncy! The bed won't stop rocking!

His bedmate was…

! in heat

!! all over his body

!!! pumping up and down

He was crying…

! "it's getting hot in here, so take of all your clothes…"

!! "Caution: Slippery here when wet"

!!! "Wow, it's coming! It's COMING!"

The reply to his cry was…

! *grunt*

!! "You deserve that for spilling all your juice there."

!!! "Up….down…up…down…"

and for the last question…

*takes a deep breath*

…………………………

What woke him up?

! the cock-a-doodle of the rooster

!! the alarm clock

!!! giggles

(I know you were thinking of something perverted)

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Scoring

 For all ! – 1 pt. !! – 2 pts. !!! – 3 pts.

Simple enough. ^^

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Results:

5-8 : Hao-sama was sleeping with the his trusty Spirit of Fire!!! Aaw, ain't master-spirit friendship cute? ^^

9-12 : Hao-sama was sleeping in the kitchen floor! It looks like he spilled his orange juice on the floor and Anna's not too happy about it. She must have decided to make him sleep on the floor together with those nasty ants. ^^ tsk tsk

13-15 : Hao-sama was sleeping in an inflatable bed located in the slumber party in the Asakura house with Opacho, Zinc and the rest of his friends! Yay, Hao-sama has invited his friends over! ^^

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tsk. Tsk. Perverts. ^^

Just kidding. Don't take Syao-chan seriously.