Author's Note: Yay, another update! Again, same scenario as last time - next day, next chapter! Hope you enjoy.

Ren's mood did not shift the following day – though of course his happiness was never really evident on the outside.

It was morning, and he was heading out into the yard to train once again. Since yesterday's battle with Horo, he had felt quite restless. Stepping out of his room and into the corridor, Ren turned the corner in his own world – so much so that he bumped – quite literally – into Horo.

Horo stumbled a little, then went on the defensive, knowing Ren was likely to explode at him.

Ren just carried on. "Just keep walking, you stupid Ainu. And if you're lucky I won't give you another beating like yesterday."

Horo stared after Ren's back, wide-eyed. He had almost heard a smile in Ren's voice.

"Yes, shrimp. You are doing the chores today," Ren could hear Anna's voice from within one of the rooms as he passed. She was undoubtedly talking to Manta. "Horohoro's busy today."

"And you're letting him get away with not doing the chores because of that!" Manta exclaimed, obviously not able to believe the injustice. "It's his turn today!"

"Of course he's not getting away with it… he'll be doing them tomorrow instead."

"What's Horo doing today, anyway?"

"Beats me. But by the sound of it, he'll be out all day."

Out of earshot, Ren heard no more of the conversation. It seemed as though Horo was making preparations for his journey back home. What else could he be busy doing? After all, only three days remained before Horo would be leaving for home.

He tried not to think of it. Stepping outside, he felt the sun beating down upon his skin. The sky was cloudless, and the sun was full, bright and radiating a gentle heat upon the yard. He had prepared himself for training today – something he somehow longed for since the events of yesterday. He had already gathered what he needed and had assembled it outside.

Ren eyed the targets he had set up, the hand that held his kwan dao twitching instinctively. For a moment, he paused. Blinking against the sun's rays, he looked up once again at the sky. So blue and clear today… so peaceful…

He gave his weapon a sideward glance, and then propped it up against the wall with care.

A moment later, he was pulling himself up on to the roof of the inn. He had seen Horo do it before, and he knew the route to climb. Carefully, he placed his feet where he had watched Horo place his, hands shadowing the same places. Nearing the top, he was able to stretch his arms out and lift himself up on to the roof. He sat down on it heavily, legs hanging precariously over the edge. He hadn't realised that the roof was this high up – but somehow, it felt good to be here, as though nothing and no one could reach him. He looked down at his targets – a meaningless assembly of nothing was all he saw, his view changed by his perspective. As he looked down upon them, wondering to himself, a gentle breeze began to play through the air. He closed his eyes, letting it wash over him, suddenly aware of his surroundings. Now he understood why Horo sat up here so often.

Speaking of Horo… from the main gates, he saw Horo and Pirika leaving the inn, talking in hushed voices together. Engaged in what was obviously an important discussion, they didn't see him watching them from up there. Ren tilted his head to the side as he watched them heading away from Flame Inn, away from him. It was strange – even Horo looked different to him up here. He blushed slightly as he found himself staring at the Ainu's perfect face. Different he may seem, but no less of an angel to Ren as he always had been.

As the siblings left Ren's sight, he looked up and over, out at the town of Funbari. It looked so distant, like a whole other world out there. The sky stretched on for eternity; so far he couldn't see its end.

Suddenly feeling challenged in a whole new way from how he was used to, he jumped forward, using his arms to push himself from the rooftop. He landed perfectly, cat-like, on the ground.

Gracefully getting to his feet, he scanned the yard with his golden eyes. The emerald colours of the surrounding trees seemed much more vivid than they had before. As he watched the trees ripple with the wind, he thought back to the training course he had planned for himself. Suddenly, it seemed pointless.

Walking straight past them without so much as a second glance, he already knew where he was headed.

As quietly as he could, he went back through the main door into the inn. Thankfully, no one was around – he couldn't let anyone see him. He crept up the stairs, half expecting to bump into Manta or one of the others, running errands for Anna, as they normally seemed to be. Reaching the door, he took a few uneasy glances around –having seen Horo leave the inn, he was sure it would be safe, but it might not be if someone else caught him.

Sure no one was around, he pushed the door open slowly. The first thing that hit him was the smell – like a mixture of freshly carved wood with the sweet smell of ripened fruit. It was a scent Ren loved – made him feel so warm inside, at peace. Taking a deep breath of this smell, he entered, closing the door quietly behind him.

Horo's room.

Entering this place was like stepping into a different dimension for Ren. He recalled visiting here for brief moments before, but he had never really stopped to admire the feeling of peace that surrounded Horo's room. On one of the small tables sat a collection of things – all tribal designs, Ren thought inwardly. He felt almost drawn to them, and a moment later, he was standing in front of the collection, casting intrigued golden eyes over each handcrafted object. He looked at the carves in a small wooden charm Ren recalled was known as an Ikupasui. Though he didn't consider himself an expert on tribal crafts, he knew the marks and patterns in the wood had been made by Horo himself. He took the Ikupasui into his hand, admiring the smoothness of the carving and the intricate decoration. He ran his fingers over the grooves, looking at the Ikupasui against the roughness of his skin. His palms were scarred and blistered from training, hardened for battle. He pictured Horo, working away at carving the small object that Ren now held in his fingers, skilled hands moving quickly over the wood, carving into it those delicate and beautiful patterns. It made Ren wonder.

He clutched the Ikupasui close to his chest, and cast his eyes over the other items gathered on the table, all of Ainu origin. Horo had made them all – small Koroppo Kuru tombstones engraved with images of lily pads and rain; feathered jewellery encrusted with small, natural-looking stones; rock tablets bearing strange foreign characters…

It all seemed such a mystery to Ren. Though he knew little about the Ainu tribe itself, their ways and customs fascinated his endlessly. They were so at peace with nature, so caring and respectful in all that they did. He almost envied Horo for having Ainu blood running though his veins.

Ikupasui still clutched to his heart, Ren sat down on the bed, mind chasing thoughts. And he… what did he have?

He had the Taos to call a legacy. He bore with him generations of hatred, scorn and mistrust; centuries of war, struggle and destruction… he honoured his ancestors and all they did – he would forever live to uphold the Tao name. But thinking of the way the Ainus were… it seemed a shame that his own family could not live like that, at harmony with both spirits and humans alike.

To him at the moment, the differences between he and Horo seemed so imminent it was inescapable. Even as far down as their ancestry, things were different between them – they had been taught how to live in contrasting ways; Horo had been taught to love, whereas he had been taught to hate. Their ways of life even now seemed so opposing, with Ren living to fight, become the best, strongest… and Horo who lived to live, respecting and caring for all nature. Just being in this room made Ren wonder why he had never taken the time to stop for a moment and take note of his surroundings before.

Ren hadn't even noticed that, while he wondered these things, he had gently lowered himself, and was now lying, knees tucked up to his chest, on Horo's bed. Ikupasui still clasped close to him, his breathing slowed as he inhaled Horohoro's scent from the pillow he lay his head on. He found himself slowly slipping into a serene sleep.

Author's Note: Thanks again to all of my reviewers so far! You've been so supportive. Reviews for this chapter would be appreciated greatly.
Another update coming very soon!