Author's Note: If you would all please take the time to acknowledge whoever posted the review, claiming to be me, is not me, and is in fact, a dimwitted little loser. Of course, any plain idiot could have seen that it wasn't me anyways, for all the reasons I listed in a review of response.

I would also like to state that Old Habits Die Hard is coming near its final end, with only two chapters left to go. After it is over, you can look forward to updates in my other in-progress fictions, as well as many new ones. In the mean time, please continue your much-appreciated reviews. Lately, I haven't been getting many... Thank you.

In addition, I would also like to apologize for how short and crappy this next chapter is.

Horohoro had almost forgotten about the doctor who had saved Ren before, Faust. He had never bothered calling him to see if he could try helping him again. Maybe this was the only hope left?

He went back to his desk, where a variety of phone numbers were scattered on small slips and scraps of scratch paper. He shuffled through the mess, searching for Faust's number. He searched for twenty minutes, and finally found the small sliver of white paper.

He picked up the phone and carefully punched in the correct digits with his finger. He held the phone to his ear, waiting nervously for someone to pick up on the other line. The phone made its annoying beeping tone several times as it tried to connect wth the number Horohoro had punched in.

"If you'd like to leave a message, please wait for the tone..."

Head spinning with confusion, the Ainu placed the phone down, before trying again. He recieved the same response.

Horohoro tried again, with no luck. He assumed that maybe Faust wasn't present at his office and unable to pick up.

Two hours later, he tried yet again. Still no answer. He shrugged it off, deciding to try again the next day. He did, and yet again, no one picked up. For three or so days, he kept trying, and with each call, his heart sank further and further.

No one ever answered or picked up.

Horohoro decided to call Hao. Hao had seen him recently for the revival of Yoh, perhaps he knew of the doctor's whereabouts. After all, he couldn't have just disappeared into thin air, could he?

He dialed the number for the Asakura residence, and to his relief, someone picked up.

"You've reached the Asakuras, how may I help you?"

"Uh, hi...I was wondering if Hao's avaible?"

"Yes, dear, I'll get the phone to him now."

"Thanks."

He waited, twiddling his thumbs and tapping his foot for Hao, whom he now despised so much, to pick up. Presently, he did, and Horohoro didn't hold back to jump right on the gun and get straight to the core of the problem.

"Look, Hao," he said quickly. "I know you've been to Faust's not too long ago to get Yoh back. I have some business with him, so I tried calling him a whole bunch of times, but he never picked up the phone. I suppose thay maybe you know where that doctor is?"

Cold laughter came through the earpiece, sending a chill of dread up Horohoro's spine.

"Wouldn't you like to know, Usui?"

"Yes, I would," Horohoro spat. "Now tell me."

"And what...business do you have with him?"

"That's none of your concern."

Hao laughed again. "I'm not an idiot, Horohoro. I know why you want to call him. You need his help, don't you? You want him to save your darling little Ren, am I right?"

"Shut up."

"So it is true. Well, since you're so honest, I may as well tell you the truth."

"You'd better," Horohoro hissed. However, his intense hatred and malice suddenly turned into shock. His blood ran cold as he heard Hao's terrifying response.

"He's dead, Usui. I killed him long ago."

"WHAT!?' the blue-haired boy almsot screamed back. "Why!? What did you do to him!?"

"You see, I just knew you were going to ask him to help your dearly beloved Ren, and he'd probably agree to it, so I couldn't let that happen. As soon as Yoh was safely back, I merely disposed of him so he would be unable to commit such a foul crime."

"Hao...you bastard..." Feeling sick to his stomach, Horohoro threw the phone down. His heart was pounding painfully against his chest. Why had Hao commited yet another horrible murder? Faust had been his last option. The only hope he had left for saving Ren's life was gone, like an expensive piece of glass that had slipped from his fingers and shattered onto the floor in a thousand sharp and small uselss fragments.