Horohoro sat on a bench in the park, wondering what Ren was up to. He was idly whittling away at a slab of wood, and he must have been there fore hours to perfect the gift he planned for Ren.

He blew on it to get the debris off, rubbing it with his shirt to polish it. He grinned and couldn't help but be proud of himself for finally finishing the ikupasuy.

He felt his cell phone ringing in his pocket, and he immediately answered it. He smiled to himself as Ren's voice entered through the earpiece.

"Horohoro?" Ren said in a nervous voice. "Where are you? Did something happen? You've been gone for hours."

"Eh?" Horohoro looked at his watch. He cursed mentally, it had already been five hours since he had left. "Oh...sorry, Ren. You see..." He quickly made up a fast fib. "Uh, there was a disturbance outside the grocery store, there was a car crash or something, so they wouldn't let me out until the crash site was cleared."

"Really?" Ren asked. "So, you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, Ren."

"S-Sorry for bothering you...I was just...worried about you."

The Ainu grinned. "Aww, Ren! You're so cute. Well, I'm on my way home now. See you in a bit, okay?"

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

He flipped the phone shut and pocketed it, along with the newly-made ikupasuy. As he stood up to begin the trip home, he heard an icy voice that was even colder than the weather address him.

"It's been a while, Horohoro."

Horohoro spun around. He knew that voice all too well. Trying to maintain his composure, he hissed, "What do you want with me, Hao?"

"You seem to be in good health," replied the fire shaman cheerfully. "It's good to see an old friend again." He smirked in a most unpleasant manner. "So...you're real close to Ren now, aren't you?"

Horohoro tensed. "That's none of your business."

"Yes, it is, Usui. If you'd allow me to warn you about something."

The blue-haired boy narrowed his eyes. "Warn me? Warn me about what?"

Hao's smile grew. "It's hard to tell you, but it's my duty...as your friend."

"Since when are you my friend?" Horohoro spat.

Hao ignored him. "Let me tell you this, Horohoro. Ren isn't they shy, innocent boy you think he is." He leaned closer to Horohoro as the poisonous words seemed to drip from his lips.

"He's a witch, Horohoro. The boy's a decietful witch. And he has you under his spell."

"What?" Horohoro said, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Why did you fall in love with him, Horohoro?"

He frowned, rubbing his head. "I have to admit that I really don't know."

"Exactly," Hao answered. "You may have thought he was a shaman, but he's nothing more than a mere witch. He forced you to fall in love with him with witchcraft. He possesed me and forced me into killing your precious friends so no one would be able to open your blinded eyes."

"I don't believe you," Horohoro insisted, although deep in his heart, he was beginning to doubt. Did Hao speak the truth? Was Ren really nothing more than a distrustful witch?

"And all that, Horohoro. Because he was after popularity."

"What?"

"He used you, Horohoro. He never really loved you. His real intention was to get close to you so that he would become one of the popular because he was with you...and when the time was right...he planned to kill you."

Horohoro's eyes widened. "No...No, not Ren. Ren would never..."

"But he did."

Something snapped in the Ainu's mind. It was something like hatred, but worse.

How could Ren do this?

He hated him. He hated Ren.

He turned to Hao, a fierce look in his eyes. "I believe you, Hao. I always knew you weren't the type to kill or murder anyone, especially not your brother, Yoh. Thank you for warning me."

"So, what are you going to do now?" inquired the taller shaman.

Horohoro clenched his fists. "I'll kill the filthy witch before he can kill me."