Sorrowful Seraphim: Yah, I know it's pretty short, but it's also important, and a relatively short chapter usually means I'll update sooner, so you can probably expect another update within two day, most likely tomorrow. It's not really that interesting; it just needs to be here! Trust me!

Disclaimer: Doubt I need to say it anymore

Warnings: Erm...none

Even though the walk was treacherous in the blistering sun, we'd made it through the desert. I was trying not to pant, but it was pointless. We'd run out water long ago.

A lot had happened in the three weeks since we'd met the X-Laws. After our encounter with Boris, the vampiric-shaman, we'd once again rejected their offer, and in turn, they declared us their enemies and left.

Not long afterwards we'd ventured to another town, where an American shaman named Chocolove introduced himself to us, and told us he'd give us information about Patch Village if we let him travel with us.

We weren't entirely sure why he'd have to bargain to travel with us…until he started telling jokes. He's stopped for a small while now, but that's probably because he's too tired.

Chocolove had led us to a Seminoa medicine woman named Lililala. She was quite reluctant to show us the way to Patch Village, for she believed the Patch to be evil. After painful memories were enacted upon us, we realized Marco had been telling the truth about Hao's reincarnation.

We went on our way after her spirits vied to tell us the village's whereabouts, and we'd set off not long after. We were in a large canyon now, still no sign of Yoh. I could tell the others were starting to doubt him, and I found myself siding with them.

I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to accept he's betrayed us. But if he had, I would have no choice but to call us enemies.

We were put down even further after the Lily 5, as Yoh called them, lied about exchanging directions for a ride. It was a pitiful situation.

"Aren't you four a sight for sore eyes?" The mysterious words from above alerted me to a falling shadow. I looked up to see a large suit of armor diving towards us. I reacted the only way I could.

"Watch Out!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. Luckily, they all caught on. We jumped out of the way just in time. I quickly averted my gaze from the armor to the location of the voice, and saw the last thing I needed to see.

Three girls, a blunette, a red-head, and a blonde, where standing on the cliff, obviously shaman. Horo, Ryu, and Chocolove had noticed them also.

"Who are you!" I heard Horo yell next to me. The blunette started laughing, like she thought we were stupid. But it was the red-head who spoke up.

"You shouldn't be so rude, you know, that'll just make us want to kill you more painfully." She managed to giggle out. I scowled at them.

"Why are you here! Did Hao send you!" I wanted to beat them down, regardless of them being women. No one threatens Horo.

"Wow, I think they finally caught on." The blunette mocked teasingly. The blonde was solemn.

"Can we kill them now, Mari is bored." Great, one of them is mental. I may be a bit arrogant, but not enough to talk in third person.

"Yeah, Kanna, Yoh-sama's old friends are weak and boring. Let's just get this over with." The giggly red-head rasped. Yoh-sama again…how typical of them.

"We're not his 'old friends', for your information!" I was angry at them. I couldn't stand it when they talked about Yoh that way. "How do we know you're even telling the truth? How can we be sure you people aren't torturing him?" They all bust out laughing this time.

"That's funny." The leader, Kanna, was obviously the most talkative. "Yoh-sama himself was there when Hao-sama gave the order to have you killed." She paused to see our reactions. "Hao-sama even asked Yoh-sama if it was okay, and Yoh-sama said…" She couldn't contain her laughter. The blonde spoke up instead.

"Yoh-sama said 'why should I care about such petty weaklings? They mean nothing to me, Nii-san.' That's exactly what he said." I felt my expression turn to shock. Yoh would never say…or would he? My doubts of him intensified just then. I fell to my knees.

"Ren!" It was Horo. I heard him run over and put his hands on my shoulders. "Ren, get up! You have to get up."

"You're right girls, this IS boring. Ashcroft!" The armor started moving. But before it could get anywhere, two streams of brilliant light shot out from above, destroying Kanna's oversoul.

We looked back, seeing the Lily 5's van and…Anna?

Indeed it was. Anna was there, with two powerful shikigamis. I looked back up at the three girls. The scowled at Anna, but backed down and disappeared.

"Ren." I heard Anna say sternly. I stood up and turned to her, to see her looking around.

She didn't know.

"Where's Yoh?" Her demanding female voice dared anyone not to answer, but I couldn't do it. No one else attempted either, not even Chocolove, who hadn't, met Yoh or Anna.

"What….What's going on? What happened to Yoh!" She was screaming at me now, my shirt firmly clasped in her hands. "ANSWER ME!" Her angry had materialized to hide her worry, but I knew it was there.

"Hao's got him." I whispered at almost an inaudible level. But she heard me.

She let go, obviously shocked at my words. My emotions suddenly flooded me. I felt the tears slide down my cheeks. I had been strong for everyone until now, but I couldn't anymore. Even though I had never admitted it openly, Yoh was my best friend. To think he's been manipulated by his brother, and turned into an enemy was piercing my heart like a stake.

"I…I don't understand….how?" Her once strong voice was now a whimper.

After we sat down I recalled the past month for her. The blood in the cave, the scorch marks, the X-Laws, Lyserg, Marco's words, and the relentless taunts of Hao's followers. I let my words sink in. Manta, Tamao, and a rehabilitated Faust VIII were present as well. I could the disbelief in their eyes. Luckily, Anna spoke up to break the silence.

"Have…you actually seen him?" I shook my head. "And until I do, I refuse to believe it." I saw many of us nod our heads in agreement.

"You're right, Ren." I was surprised she was actually agreeing with me. "All we can do is head toward Patch Village."

We settled into camp, ready to leave bright and early in the morning, but not ready for the shock that lay ahead.

Sorrowful Seraphim: I know, there wasn't any fluff or anything, but there SHOULD be in the next chapter.