"What?" Horohoro blinked in confusion. Hao actually missed Yoh? He didn't think that Hao would be capable of feeling emotions like that. There had to be some kind of catch.

Hao laughed. "Yes, it's paradoxical, isn't it? But don't get me wrong, Horohoro. I don't want Yoh back for sentimental reasons. He's a strong shaman, and I need him to help me. So I can put an end to the boy who contaminates this world with his presence. The boy that you dare treat with equality he doesn't deserve."

So that was it.

Horohoro snorted. "I actually thought you really did miss him for a second."

"You thought wrong."

"I know." He stood up, guiding Ren to his feet. "Good luck with that," he scoffed. "Yoh isn't that type of guy. He wouldn't betray me."

"Is that so?" Hao smiled at them. "Do you think he'd rather listen to a mere friend...or his brother?"

Horohoro ignored him. He was already on his way out, supporting Ren to walk with him. Hao didn't bother to follow them or do anything to stop them. Instead, he simply went on his own way as well.

After a few minutes of walking on the empty Tokyo streets, they arrived home to their apartment. Horohoro hurriedly rushed Ren indoors where it was warmer.

He closed the doors and windows, cranking up the thermostat and lying Ren down on the couch. Before he could do anything more to try to make him comfortable, another coughing fit swept over the Chinese boy.

Horohoro felt so useless and stupid. All he could do when Ren's coughing spells took over was to watch him helplessly try to fight back the harsh coughs.

At last, Ren stopped coughing, panting slightly.

"Are you alright?" Horohoro asked uncertainly.

Ren nodded quietly, taking a few moments to catch his breath.

Horohoro got out his "blankie" and carefully wrapped it around Ren.

"You do deserve it," he explained reassuringly, thinking back to when he had claimed he didn't. He regretted it terribly. It was all his fault Ren suffered from those awful coughs, and there wasn't much he could do about it.

"If you cough up blood again," Horohoro insisted, "I'll call Faust. That guy can do incredible things. He's the one who brought you back to me." He grinned. "I owe that guy a lot."

Ren began coughing again, and Horohoro quickly put his arms tightly around him. He felt something thin and wet drip downwards, and he looked towards his hands. They were covered in blood. Ren's blood.

Ren's hands flew to his mouth and his eyes widened. He coughed again, producing more of the red liquid.

"Agh...!" he doubled over, trying to fight the pain that suddenly surged through his stomach.

"Ren!" Horohoro screamed. "Ren, are you alright! Ren! Hey, Ren!" He felt Ren's body go limp in his arms.

"Oh, shit."

"Hang in there, Ren," he muttered as he charged to the phone. He shoved papers of the desk by the phone, searching frantically for the post-it with Faust's number written on it. It was nowhere in sight.

"Screw that," he said to himself as he picked up the phone. Any other doctor would have to do. His fingers flew over the phone keys, calling the local hospital as fast as he could.

"You've reached Tokyo Hospital, how may I help you?" A friendly receptionist's voice flooded into the earpiece.

"It's an emergency!" Horohoro urged.

"Let me put you on hold," the receptionist said cheerfully.

"NO! Wait, you-" Classical music began playing.

"You bitch," Horohoro hissed, glancing anxiously towards the couch where Ren was lying motionless. "Hurry up...hurry up..."

The music stopped, and the peppy voice returned. "Hello, how may I help you?"

"Listen to me, bitch," Horohoro hissed angrily. "Send someone over now. It's an emergency, if you don't hurry, my Ren...will...he'll...Well, the point is, just make it snappy...please."

"Alright, sir."

Horohoro hurriedly gave the address and hung up.

He couldn't do much more than to wait for the ambulance to arrive.

During that painfully long wait, Horohoro felt like his whole life was on hold.