W-what?! Shock ran through Horohoro's body. He stared down at the Chinese man, completely and utterly dumfounded. Wait, shouldn't he be happy right now? His secret love had just confessed that he liked him for crying out loud! But this wasn't the way he'd imagined it at all. All those times he'd dreamed about Ren telling him he liked him, the other man was never curled up in a hospital bed, head bowed in shame- like a beaten child. Horo could tell he'd gone way too far.

Ren glanced up slightly from his arms. Why hadn't the Ainu baka said anything by now? Hadn't he expected that answer? A shiver of dread coursed through his body. Maybe Horo had only said that to make fun of him- just their usual bickering. They always fought when they were together, right? Had he accidentally acknowledged the fact he like Horo when the other was just teasing?

"R-Ren, I-" The snowboarder began to say but Ren cut him off.

"I think you got what you came here for, baka, so why don't you just get out," he growled dangerously. Black eyes lowered, Horo turned and walked to the door- Kororo and Bason had taken their leave a few moments before, just after Horo had stated exactly what was wrong with Ren.

The door gave a hollow click behind him as he entered the hallway and Horo saw Manta sitting on a bench outside the room. The short boy looked up at him questioningly.

"Is everything all right?" Concern was written all over Manta's face, but the Ainu just shook his head. Kororo and Bason hovered a few feet away, and glanced over nervously, obviously wondering the same thing.

But there was no answer Horo could give. Now Ren was both pissed and humiliated- not only had the spiky haired boy called him out, but he'd done it in front of other's, shattering the small bit of pride Ren had managed to hold onto. And worse of all, at the point when it would've been perfect to confess to Ren, all Horo could do was stand there stupidly, staring wide eyed. He'd come off as a jerk when he was trying to compensate for the hurt he was feeling when Ren was insulting him, ordering him to go away.

Inside the pale hospital room, Ren still had his head buried in his arms, absolutely refusing to let himself cry. If he cried- it would be in vain- he'd be crying for losing something he never even had. The snowboarder didn't return his feelings and probably never would, he'd figured that from the beginning, but now they couldn't even have what they had before all of this happened. At least before if Horo never admitted liking him, Ren would have been able to still talk to him, spend time with him- even if it was just arguing.

But now the baka knew how Ren felt. That moment would hang in the air between them forever now. Ren wouldn't be able to bear it. He would never talk to the Ainu named Horohoro again. He'd survived being alone almost all is life, not needing anyone and he could do it again.

Horo stayed the night at the old inn that Anna and Yoh used to live in. They'd decided to keep it after the tournament, in case they ever felt like staying in Tokyo again. Ryu stayed there too.

The next morning, he woke up, very surprisingly, before the rest of the group. He decided to head out immediately, so he could have some chance to talk to Ren without everyone else there- the last thing he wanted or needed was to humiliate the boy further. It was nearly ten o'clock in the morning by the time he reached the hospital. He tried to come up with some way to tell the Chinese shaman how he felt on the way up in the elevator, but when he exited, the scene that lay before him threw all thoughts far away.

The grayish couch and several chairs were ripped open at the cushions and the legs chopped to timber. The television was broken open, looking to have spontaneously combusted, with smoke rising from the wires inside. The front desk was broken in two, leaning inwards from the perfect crack in its center. All computers were in the same state as the television. Nurses ran frantically about, trying to convince panicking families to remain calm as they berated the staff. A group of three doctors conversed behind the broken desk, faces furious and embarrassed at the same time.

"Um...excuse me?" Horo asked, approaching the doctors. As he moved closer, he caught a small glimpse of the door to Ren's room. The entire door was set up against the wall next to the entrance, many cut marks in the pale wood. He felt a feeling of dread as he asked his next question. "What happened here?"

The one closest whirled around, ready to scream, but when he saw the snowboarder, calmed himself and sighed. "Some psycho who was staying here for treatment blew the whole place up! He said that if we didn't let him check himself out of here, he'd blow us up, but I never thought he'd do it!" He face was red, eyes frantic.

"Who was it?" The Ainu asked, almost not wanting to hear the answer- he knew too well who it was by now.

"Isn't it obvious?" he sneered, jerking his thumb in the direction of the hallway. "The patient in the only room with the door blown off!" Horo's black eyed widened, he'd gotten his answer, it was Ren. The doctor looked at him suspiciously. "Don't tell me you know that boy?"

Horohoro nodded, gulping as he saw the man's face turn even redder. For the next half an hour the doctor screamed at him for bringing a psychopath to a hospital and why they hadn't warned the staff about Ren's real condition and how much money it was going to take to repair or replace everything in the office.

"And if your friend doesn't come back here and take responsibility for the damage he'd caused, tell him we'll see him in court!" the older man called after him as Horo walked back onto the elevator. He couldn't help but smile at the thought of Ren going to court. He'd sooner destroy the entire court house than admit any kind of shame or responsibility for the damage.

What are you talking about, payment for my actions?! He could imagine Ren saying it. It's those bakas at the hospital's fault for not listening to the threats they receive!

Horohoro burst out in a fit of laughter that lasted until he was out of the hospital, which earned him some strange looks from staff and visitors. But his smile faded as he went over the situation at hand- he had to find Ren. He couldn't let the boy go without at least letting him know how he felt.

"He what?!" Yoh nearly fell back from the table as Horo went over the details he had gotten from the doctor. "He literally blew the place up?!" Ryu and Manta couldn't suppress their chuckles from where they sat on either side of Yoh, and Anna just stared into space out the window.

"Yeah," The blue haired boy said, smiling weakly. "But no one got hurt- well, that red-headed monster got a black eye from it, but if it were me, I'd have to say she'd have gotten much worse."

"Well, I guess there's nothing we can do but let him cool down for a while, huh, guys?" Manta said after a few moment s of awkward silence.

"Yeah, it would probably be best if we let Ren have some time to himself before we try to talk to him," Yoh agreed. "If we try to now, he may blow us up like all that stuff at the hospital." Yoh and the others laughed, but Horo remained quiet.

This is all my fault. If I hadn't acted like that, Ren could've stayed at the hospital and gotten the treatment he needed. Damn, why did I have to go and be such a jerk?!

"You okay, Horo?" Yoh asked suddenly, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," he sighed. "But I think I'll head up to the Tao mansion, he's bound to be there."

"No, it'll all be fine. Just give him a f-"

"No, Yoh!" Horo jumped to his feet, eyes flashing angrily. "I am not about to sit here while Ren goes and tries to kill himself again up in that nearly deserted home of his!"

"Just listen, Horo," Yoh said firmly, standing up too. "All the Taos are up there, and I'm sure that Bason informed them on what's happened- they'll watch him. Right now I think Ren needs a break from us, and if what Manta told me is true, it may be best if you waited even longer before seeing him yourself." Horo looked down at the small boy through narrowed eyes, and Manta looked off to the side.

"I honestly don't care what you think, Yoh," the blue haired Ainu growled. "I will go see him if I think it's what is best." He turned and began to exit the room, but felt Yoh's strong grip on his shoulder, he looked at Yoh out of the corner of his eye, glaring dangerously, but found the other's brown eyes full of concern.

"What happened between you and Ren, Horo?" he asked sadly. "Ever since you came back that night, you've been acting strangely. You're never this reckless."

"There are some times when one must be reckless," Horohoro replied, smirking. Yoh smiled back.

(The Tao Mansion)

"Master Ren! Open up!" Bason tired to go through the locked door, but again found that he could not.

"Leave me alone, Bason," he heard Ren's tired voice mutter through the door.

Inside, Ren sat outside the giant window, staring out at the stars- memories of what had happened in the last few days flashing before his eyes.

"Ren, would you stop being such a baby?" Tao Jun walked through the hall, to the large, dark wood door to Ren's room. "Aren't you a little old for this kind of behavior?"

Ren stood up angrily, giving Jun a very rude hand gesture through the door. "Can't I get any peace for myself around here? It seems all I've gotten from you all is 'Oh, you poor thing,' 'Are you sure you're all right?' 'How could you do such a thing, Ren?' All I need is to be left the hell alone!"

Jun giggled quietly on the other side. Bason gave her a distressed look.

"Should we be worried? What if he tries something again?!" Bason asked worriedly. Jun laughed harder.

"Do not worry, Bason. Ren is just going through a hard time right now- his teenage years are getting the better of him. Trust me, all will be fine." She walked back out, a smile still playing on her lips.

Story Title: Demon's Eye by Deep Purple Chapter Title: Run Riot by Def Leppard

A/N: Saroya is sorry if Ren seems a little OOC in this chappie, but I couldn't resist adding in that last scene! At first me was gonna just have Horo say he's leaving, but then I thought, "Now, what could Ren be doing right now?" and this scene came to mind. I hope you all likey! Remember, criticism is always welcomed from both me n Rei! Luv yall tons and Stay tuned for the next chap!