As night set in, true to Horohoro's words, the temperature dropped lower than it already was. Ren was fighting to stay warm, though he felt numb all over. His teeth were chattering and he was shivering.

"Little boy, why are you out here all alone in the cold? It's dangerous for children to be out after dark."

Ren looked up. A middle-aged couple, a man and a woman, stood in front of him, bundled warmly in thick winter clothing.

"I...I don't have anywhere to go," Ren answered between his chattering teeth. "I don't have a home, if that's what you're asking."

The couple looked at him sympathetically. "How would you like to come with us?"

Ren's eyes widened. Ever since Horohoro had kicked him out of the apartment, no one had really cared about him. Hundreds of people had walked by him without giving him even so much as a glance, and now, out of the blue, some people had went so far as to offer to take him in.

It was a tempting offer, but Ren couldn't bring himself to accept it.

"I...I'm grateful for your kindness...but..." he looked downwards. "I...I dont think I deserve it."

He realized that the couple looked very much like someone he had known before, could there be a connection?

"Oh, come on," the woman insisted. "There isn't a single soul in the whole world who doesn't deserve a home and a little love, don't you think?"

"I'm nothing," Ren said quietly. "I'm worse than trash...That's what he said before...before he left me here."

"Who?" inquired the man. "Who did such a terrible thing to you?"

Ren shook his head. "I don't want to say who...but I can say that once...he was my friend."

"What a lousy friend," the man scoffed. "Come on, kid. Come with us. You'll freeze to death if you stay out here."

Before Ren could refuse again, the woman took off her coat and wrapped it around him. It was so warm. Ren felt like maybe he did belong somewhere after all. She pulled Ren to his feet, smiling warmly.

She took Ren's hand. "We'll bring you to our home," she said. "You'll be safe there."

As they moved towards the direction of the couple's home, Ren had to know. "Er...may I have your names?" he inquired as politely as he could.

"Oh," the man said cheerfully. "I'm Asakura Mikihisa. and that's my wife, Asakura Keiko."

Ren's blood ran cold. They were Asakuras. Yoh's parents. Hao's parents.

He stopped. "No...I'm sorry," he whispered. "I...I can't go with you." He backed away from them, looking away.

"Nonsense."

He didn't know how, and he didn't know why, but somehow, one way or another, he found himself standing in the middle of the Asakura home. It was a neat place, and it was comfortingly warm. It was hard to believe someone as destructive and cold-hearted as Hao could live in such a pleasant, clean place.

"You can stay in our younger son's bedroom," siad the woman, Keiko. "His name was Yoh. He no longer is here with us. About a year ago, he was murdered by someone we still do not know of."

Ren swallowed. He wanted to tell her that Yoh had been murdered by Hao. By his brother. But he didn't expect her to believe him, so he remained quiet.

"Our other son, Hao, will be returning home shortly," continued the man, Mikihisa. "He went to visit a friend, but he should be back at any minute now."

Right on cue, as if it had been staged, the door opened and a figure still in school uniform stepped in. There was no mistakening the long hair, the unpleasant smirk.

Ren shut himself in Yoh's room, locking the door, heart pounding. How had he gotten himself trapped under the same roof as Hao? It was like the old saying, "In the lion's den."

He listened closely to the conversation that took place in the other room.

"Oh, Hao, you're back," Keiko said. Ren could hear Hao removing his shoes. "How was your visit to Horohoro's?"

Ren's heart sank. So Hao was still telling Horohoro lies, was he?

"By the way," Mikihisa said to his son, "We picked up a homeless boy off the streets today. He's staying in Yoh's old room, maybe you should introduce yourself? I expect that you treat him like you would treat a brother. Like you would treat Yoh."

"Of course."

Ren shuddered. Hao had killed Yoh. Treating him like Yoh would mean that Hao had every right to do away with him as well. He moved away from the door, terrified. He had to get away, but how? There were no windows in Yoh's room, no means of escape.

"Tomorrow," Keiko said to Hao, "He'll be going to school with you. We were going to enroll him, but it turns out he was a former student, so we won't have to go through that trouble."

"Okay, Mom. I'm going to see him now."

He heard the doorknob turn, and there was a click as Hao unlocked the door. Ren inhaled sharply, backing away. Hao grinned at him in a most unpleasant way.

"I knew it had to be you," Hao said, approaching Ren. "I'd love to say that darling Horohoro misses you terribly, but I'm afraid if I did, I would be lying. I have no intention to lie to you, Ren. So, I'll tell you truthfully that it really was me who told Horohoro about you being a witch. You and I both know that's not true, but what Horohoro doesn't know won't hurt him yes?"

"S...Stay away..." Ren stammered. It had been almost a year since he had last seen Hao.

"Is that how you greet an old friend after all this time?" Hao was now right in front of Ren. "You haven't changed much. You're still the scrawny little brat I knew a year ago." He reached out, stroking Ren's face. The Chinese boy flinched, trying to move away.

Hao laughed. "Your skin is as beautiful as ever, too, I've found. You still have that same pretty face and those same pretty eyes."

"Y...You lied to him..." Ren accused. "He hates me, Hao. W-We were...we were happy...and you had nothing better to do...than to take him away from me?"

An amused smile appeared at Hao's lips. "Trust me, Ren. Things are much better this way. Horohoro is back to his old self, thanks to me. And it'll stay that way." To Ren's relief, he finally stepped away from him.

"Go to sleep, darling Ren. I'm sure Horohoro is looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at school."