Author's Note:Next day, next chapter!I hope you enjoy it.

"Fight me."

"What…?"

"You heard me the first time. I want to fight you," Ren said, simply.

Horo stared back at him, dumbstruck. "What is with you, Ren?"

"Nothing is 'with' me. I just gave you a simple request," his kwan dao in hand, Ren gave Horo a challenging stare. "So, do you accept?"

Horo sighed. "I don't know what this is about, but sure; you're on!"

He watched Horo's black eyes glint with competition, a keen smile passing his face. Ren knew he wouldn't turn down a chance to fight – and he was glad of it too. Ever since Horo had told him the secret of his going away, Ren had just found himself getting more and more angry, with anything and everything. Now he had had a revelation: perhaps the way to vent his anger was to take it out on the one who was hurting him in the first place? And at the moment, so much fury coursed through him he felt as though he could tear right through Horo's skin.

"Very well, then," Ren nodded, walking with determination back out into the yard. "Follow me when you're ready to lose."

It was only a few minutes later when the yard of the inn was filled with the blinding blue and yellow colours of Ren and Horo's Oversouls.

"Chuuka Zanmai!" Ren cried, leaping toward Horo with his kwan dao raised.

Horo reacted fast, sending a blast of cold air to push himself out of the way of Ren's attack.

The blade of Ren's weapon fell straight into the ground, landing in the earth with a sharp thud. Pulling it out, he took another swooping dive at Horo.

"Scatter Sleet Shower!"

Tiny fractures of ice flew through the air from Horo's Oversoul towards Ren. Against the flurry of the ice, Ren couldn't block them all. Spinning his kwan dao around to deflect them, a few escaped his blade, nicking his skin and raising a few tiny cuts on his arms and face.

This didn't faze Ren – nothing could now. He was absorbed in the fight, flame of competition burning bright. He knew this was what he wanted. Battle was where he wanted to be. He was so focused, the only words he spoke were orders for Bason to attack. The glint of his weapon reflected the raging fury in Ren's eyes. The whole world disappeared around him – the only ones left now were he and Horo, in what was now a battlefield, their fight raging. Both were fighting with all they were worth, testing, pushing one another. Still, hatred seemed quite far from the emotion that was driving the battle.

After unleashing a Golden Vorpal Dance strike on his opponent, Ren saw Horo was too busy dodging the speed of his kwan dao to block another blow. Sub-consciously, he twisted the kwan dao around in his hand, taking another sweep at Horo.

As he hit the floor, Horo closed his eyes, shielding his face as he saw the attack come. He was defenceless.

The weapon sliced the air with speed and precision. It stopped just before hitting Horo, the blunt end of the kwan dao inches away from his body.

Horo dared to risk a glance when the attack he was expecting didn't come. Ren was standing above him, his face cast down so shadows covered his eyes from view. Panting with exhaustion, Ren quickly withdrew his weapon and turned around.

"Looks like I win, once again," he said, walking away.

Horo stared after him for a moment, taking in what had happened. He smiled to himself as he watched Ren disappear back inside the inn.

Walking past Anna, who was watching TV; Manta, who was scrubbing floors in the hall; Ryu and Chocolove, racing down the stairs throwing angry insults at one another, and finally, Yoh in the upstairs hall, Ren got to his room, closing the door behind him. Having hardly taken notice of anyone else's presence as he walked the through the house, just as they had to him, he let out a short laugh that he had been keeping inside himself since he had left the yard. He laughed quietly – unsure himself of what he found funny.

It was just that, after that fight, Ren felt so much more at ease within himself. Maybe it had been just what he needed. And what's more, he had won. He felt as though he had somehow conquered demons that were holding him back from feeling himself again. Being in battle had reminded him exactly who he was.

But even though he had won, he had not even the strength to stroke the finishing blow – even if it was not to be a fatal one. He had even resorted to using the blunt end of the kwan dao to attack. Placing his weapon now in its usual place, he sat down beside it on the floor. He couldn't stop the smile from passing over his face. He should have known himself better. As much as he might have thought he would have liked to hurt Horo for what he was unknowingly putting Ren through, Ren should have known he would never even dream of hurting Horo in reality. His rage always made his mind think things that were against his nature, and this time was no different. Still, he had no regrets about challenging Horo – in fact, he was glad he had done so.

Now, he felt he had cleared his mind. Perhaps now was the time for Ren to think.

Author's Note: I will make another update very soon! Please leave a review, if you have the time?
I want to say thanks to Lugga for feedback - it's much appreciated!