After a long, sleepless night, Horohoro and company rose early and made their way to the breakfast hall. They had to sit in assigned tables with their cabin mates, which Horohoro didn't mind about, if only Ren wasn't there.

He shoved eggs and various other vile breakfast items into his mouth, while Ren dolefully poked at his lumpy crap with his fork.

"What's the matter?" Yoh asked Ren. "Are you too good for camp food?"

Ren stayed silent and did not respond.

"Hey," Chocolove said. "It's polite to respond to someone when they talk to you,"

Ren did not respond again, and instead, continued to poke his food.

"Arrogant brat," Hao said, standing up suddenly. "Don't make me come over there and teach you some manners. If only you knew how badly I want to cut that lovely pale skin of yours."

Ren flinched and quickly shoved his plate aside.

"Leave him alone, you guys," Lyserg said between bites of what was supposed to be oatmeal, but looked like vomit. "You guys don't think the food tastes that great, either, do you?"

"I guess you're right, Mr. Pacifist," Chocolove replied. "It is pretty nasty. But what are you, some kind of peace-loving hippie or something?"

"Shut up," Lyserg snapped. "Hippies do drugs, and I don't."

"But you're named after a drug!"

"I said, shut up!" Lyserg growled irritably.

"How about we all shut up?" Yoh suggested. "You're all getting on my nerves."

"Stay out of it, Asakura," Chocolove retorted.

Yoh ignored him and turned to Horohoro. "You're awfully quiet today, Horo. What's up?"

Horohoro swallowed his bite slowly, his brain racing for an answer. "Uh, I'm just really hungry. No time to talk, you know?" He shoved another spoonful into his mouth. "See?' he said, although it sounded like "Shee?" on account of his mouth being jammed.

After breakfast, it was shower time. As you know, mountains in the mornings have killer cold temperatures. And the shower stalls were outdoors. Meaning, you'd have to step into the cold soaking wet. And nude, if you forgot your towel.

The boys lined up in the front of the large row of stalls. Hao smirked when he saw Ren step into a stall and lock the door. "Hey, guys," he said. "I have an idea."

"What?" Chocolove asked intently.

"We steal his towel and clothes."

The others found this hilarious. usuing a hairpin they borrowed from Pirika, Hao silently picked the lock and opened the door. Ren hadn't seen him and was busying himself testing the water temperature. Taking advantage of the moment, Hao grabbed the unsuspecting boy's towel and clothes, and silently slipped back out, quietly closing the door behind him.

He held up the items triumphantly as the others cheered and laughed. "And now...we wait."

Horohoro was furious. The poor boy was going to freeze. Of course, he didn't publicly display his emotion, and decided to try a plan of care and wit.

"You guys," he said, pointing to some empty shower stalls. "There's som vacancies."

Yoh counted the open stalls. "1, 2, 3, 4...There's only 4."

"It's OK," Horohoro said, taking ren's items from Hao. "You guys go first, and I'll wait with his stuff."

Agreeing, everyone hurried to claim the stalls and take their showers. Once they were all safely locked away, Horohoro carefully returned to Ren's.

He picked the lock and swung the door open. To his horror, Ren was standing there, dripping with water, and entirely nude. The boy was shivering and huddled on the stall's floor, apparently wondering what to do without his lcothes and towel.

Horohoro couldn't help but notice the ugly bruises, scars, and cuts that were scattered across his pale flesh. Most of them were his doing, and he felt a horrible pang of guilt that he never had before. Ren looked up at him, squeaked in terror, and backed away, his face turning a deep scarlet.

Horohoro realized that he, as well, was blushing furiously. "I-I'm not going to hurt you," he blurted. "I just wanted to...to give you these back."

He quickly handed Ren the items, looking away from his naked form.

Ren gingerly took his clothing and towel back, quickly wrapping himself in the towel. He stared at Horohoro in disbelief, wondering whether or not it was some kind of trap.

"Sorry," Horohoro muttered, glancing at Ren's wide-eyed expression. His wide, golden, fearful eyes. Horohoro fiercely shook his head to get the thoughts out of his mind.

"Th-thank you..." Ren stammered in a voice that was barely a whisper.

"No problem...I guess..." the Ainu replied akwardly. "Now, uh, I guess I'll go. Sorry for your trouble." He backed out the stall, closing the door behind him. As he exited, he found himself face-to-face with Hao.

And Hao, as a matter of fact, looked pretty pissed.