Chapter 12

It had been three weeks since training first began.

Yoh had improved greatly, to say the least. He had gone from using a weak Oversoul, to almost having enough furyoku to go to the next level.

He was almost strong enough.

It amazed Ren, really. How could such a weak boy grow so powerful within only a few days, when it had taken him years of training to merely grow that powerful?

And then it hit him.

Hao was extremely powerful, too--not strong enough to take on a group like the X-Laws--but powerful enough that he might kill Ren if he wanted to. It wasn't just thanks to his spirit, either.

The pyromaniac shaman merely was just... naturally born with an immense amount of furyoku.

Really, who were the Asakuras? Were all the member's of the family or even trainees of the family this powerful?

...Well, whatever made killing the X-Laws easier.

Although Ren would make sure he'd be the one to kill Jeanne. Oh no, it wasn't just to avenge his sister anymore, but it was for HoroHoro; for Hao, for Yoh--for every shaman whom had to suffer because of that.

It really wasn't like him to think like this, was it? Usually, he'd just be doing this for his dear sister.

But... things had changed so dramatically over the passed few weeks. With HoroHoro and Yoh--he had never felt so close to someone before.

It was... a nice feeling.

And yet, again, Ren would never admit to this. He had never been remotely close to anyone else except for Jun, so...

He shook his head. He didn't want to think about loosing someone like that.

Soon. We'll go after them soon.

"Ne, Ren!" HoroHoro interrupted his thoughts, panting heavily; right now, he was fighting with Yoh; neither of the two currently winning. Ugh. They had been training all day!

"How long do we have to train like this!" Really! Yoh was just about as powerful as he was now! It shouldn't be any trouble to go after the group on their stupid rescue mission now!

Hn. He wasn't even doing this for Hao anyways. He didn't even like the guy. If it met kicking some of the X-Law's butts, then he was game for it--but for the sole purpose of saving Hao...?

Ick.

"Until I say you're prepared!" He twitched. He wasn't about to let them go in without letting the younger shaman be prepared first; and he knew very well that Yoh would not let them go without them.

So they had to train. It was just to be safe, of course.

Yoh fell to the ground at that, his Oversoul finally vanishing as Amidamaru appeared beside him again. He was really sleepy--today, he had strained himself a lot; even more so than when he had first began training.

He wanted to save his brother as soon as possible--so he was pushing himself more and more; trying to get stronger as soon as possible. He was well aware that time was running out, that they needed to hurry up and get to defeating the X-Laws and saving his brother; and whoever else they had kept captive.

HoroHoro's eyes narrowed when he saw Yoh pant heavily--helping Yoh back up and supporting him. "See? He's tired of this, too!" He twitched. "Yoh is prepared enough for this! Besides that, if we don't hurry, Hao might be dead by the time we get there!"

The brunet looked down at that, saying nothing as his fists clenched.

Oh, he was more than ready to save Hao.

Ren's tongari grew a little. Gah! They were just whining at this point! He could have trained much harder than they were! "Fine!" He threw his hands up in the air, slowly turning as he cursed in Chinese under his breathe; heading back inside.

Ugh. So ungrateful. He had taken time to train them himself, too!

Yoh blinked at that. "Ah, Ren!" He began, slowly going after him. "When are we--"

He was cut off when the door slammed shut; causing Yoh to look down again.

...If he had too, he'd go after Hao himself.

-

Ren sighed in a wary way under his breathe, grabbing a glass of milk from the refrigerator. He was loosing his patience from training them, really. It wasn't like he wanted to do this! It was just that...

...Hao would kill them if anything happened to Yoh.

"Do you have to be so hard on him?" HoroHoro finally spoke up, scratching his head a little. He had been watching Ren for a few moments now.

The other boy sighed once more at that, closing the refrigerator door. "I'm not a softie like you." That made the other boy twitch. He wasn't a softie! He just felt sorry for the poor kid!

The Chinese shaman eyed him. "...That's a stupid question, anyways." He snorted. "Of course I have to be hard on him. He wouldn't get any stronger if I wasn't." He opened his bottle of milk in a graceful manner. "You of all people shouldn't complain. You're the one who said we should go along with this stupid mission."

"Only because I wanted to kick some ass!" He grinned at the thought. "But..." A sigh; he frowned as quickly as he had grinned. "This training isn't worth it!" Really; running 20 laps around the city was insane. Ren was crazy! It was like he was trying to kill them!

A frown. "We're not doing it for you, if you haven't notice. I don't want to deal with that kid for the rest of my life."

HoroHoro twitched at that, before shaking his head, smiling slightly. The Chinese shaman might as well just admit he was doing it for the two of them, really.

He slowly went to the said shaman, wrapping his arms around him as he grinned--they hadn't done much as a couple, had they? But... what was there to do for... 12 year olds? The most they could do was cuddle, right?

"You still owe me from earlier." His grin only widened.

Ren flushed crimson at the touch, but despite that, he smirked. "I do, don't I?" He murmured quietly, turning a little to press his lips against HoroHoro briefly, separating from him. "Go cook. It's your turn."

"Again!" HoroHoro groaned. He hated cooking! "I did it last night!"

"And you agreed to do it tonight, stupid." Ren snapped right back at it. He paused. "If it's that much of a chore, get Yoh to help you with it." He smirked once more. "The kid needs to learn to fend for himself, anyways."

HoroHoro only rolled his eyes at that. He remembered no such agreement. Besides that, he was tired... But it really wouldn't do any good to argue with Ren, would it..?

"Hai, hai." He grumbled again, walking off to get Yoh.

-

The moonlight was the only thing shining upon the small guest room as Asakura Yoh began to contemplate; laying on his futon as he did so.

This was an odd task, mind you--especially for the small boy. He had never thought about things like this; never had to depend upon himself--Hao was always there to guide him through everything, to protect him, to do everything for him.

His fists clenched again.

Hao... I miss you.

But perhaps, without him even realizing this; it was good for him as well. Although it wasn't very surprising; under his circumstance, who wouldn't be overly dependant on the closest thing to him?

But Ren and HoroHoro...

A sigh. If it was up to Ren, he'd never get things done.

He looked to his katana, and the then to the window. If he could go alone... It would prevent HoroHoro and Ren from endangering themselves anymore than they had for him already.

...He was strong enough for that. To go alone; to take care of what he had caused in the first place. It was his fault Hao was where he was.

And... who knew? If he waited any longer; Hao might die! He couldn't wait for that to happen! He wouldn't know what he would do if that happened to him!

His brows furrowed at that, eyes shining in resolve as he slowly sat.

It was time to take things into his own hands for once; he wasn't going to depend on anyone for this.

It was time for him to protect Hao.

-

"Ren!"

Ren's eyes narrowed upon hearing HoroHoro approaching him again, stirring some rice as he cooked. "What is it! I already started cooking for you--"

"Yoh's gone!"

He stopped. "What do you mean gone!"

HoroHoro sent him a dry look. "His katana's gone! Amidamaru too!"

"...Great." Wow. Ren knew exactly where he had gone, too.

...That kid was a bit too predictable for his own good.

-

"Jeanne-sama!"

Silver-hair flew lightly as she turned her focus away from Hao--tomorrow was supposedly his last day. They were finished with him; ever since he had gotten there, it seemed like he... just wouldn't tell them what they wanted to know.

It was a waist to keep him alive; he was suffering, anyways. Jeanne never failed to use more and more spells when he refused to answer her questions.

"What is it?" She asked softly, staring at Marco calmly; however, he r voice held a bit of an edge to it. She was growing really, really impatient with this. They had been planning far too long for their deaths.

He slowly smirked. "We have an intruder." He starred at Hao. "I believe you know him? He looks like you."

Hao, who was hanging limply, froze at that, his eyes widening a little.

How did...?

His fists clenched at that. What was his brother thinking! He hadn't of wanted him to come here!

The brunet-haired boy fell limp at that again.

There wasn't any hope for... any of their survivals, was there...?

To be continued.

Hahaha. :P Another cliff-hanger. No, I'm not evil, really. x3

Woo! Two or three more chapters left. x.x; I don't like how this one came out, but ehh.

I suck. I know I do. I can't write HoroRen fluff if my life depended on it. I tried to put some here, but it's HARD. They're 12 people, 12! I can't make them do more than kiss!

...Erm... yeah... anyways.

Review please!