The next day was particularly cold. The wonderful weather was suddenly gone, only to be replaced my dark storm clouds. It was like a pleasant memory being snatched away by nightmares. Strangely enough, this was quite similar to what would happen next.

In the middle of a soccer game, students began feeling droplets of water on them. They looked up into the dark sky, and a torrent of rain burst out upon them.

Horohoro splashed through puddles in a hurry to get back to his cabin, tailed closely by his friends. They were all completely soaked when the finally made it back in, and everyone looked like a group of drowned rats. Much to Horohoro's satisfaction, Hao had also gotten extremely muddy when he had slipped in the wet grass.

Lyzerg attempted to wring the water out of his emerald hair, commenting, "The weather sucks. Seriously, I think it's like an omen or something."

"An omen? Chocolove inquired, squeezing water out of his vest and creating a puddle on the floor.

"Yeah, an omen."

While everyone started screaming at Chocolove to stop getting the ground even wetter than it already was, Lyzerg's words struck Horohoro at full impact as he was removing his coat. An omen...? Whatever it was an omen for, it had to be bad.

Ren.

Cursing loudly, the Ainu dashed to the door and threw it open.

"Horo! Hey, Horo!" Yoh shouted. "Where're you going? It's pouring outside, you know!"

"I don't care!" Horohoro screamed, running out the door into the rain without even bothering to put his coat back on. Stumbling through the torrent, he jumped over puddles, or ran right through them in an insane race to the medical center.

"What's up his butt?" Hao asked.

"I don't know..." You said, with a worried look on his face. "But I think something bad's happened. Something really bad."

At last, he reached the medical center. He flung the door open and ran right past Faust.

"Wait!" Faust snapped. "Stupid kid, you have to put on a visitor sticker first!"

Horohoro ignored him, sliding on the cold tile floor. He skidded to a stop at the room where the patients were contained. The door was closed, which was unsual. It was usually open, welcoming concerned visitors.

Dreading what might be awaiting him, Horohoro licked his dry lips and slowly turned the knob.

He looked in, walking slowly through the rows of beds, still dripping wet.

He glanced to the side. A table with paper cranes still placed neatly on it. The corresponding bed's occupant had the blanket pulled entirely over it, signifying that they were no longer alive.

Shaking uncontrollably from dread and cold, Horohoro's quivering hands slowly lifted the clipboard attatched to the bed's foot. He checked the name. There was no mistake. It clearly read the name he had wished with all his heart would not be there.

Name: Tao Ren
Checked in: 4 days ago
Status: Passed away

The reality of it sunk into Horohoro's mind, registering every detail. He gritted his fists, and he screamed as loud as he could.

"Put a cork in it, kid!" Faust snapped irritably, "You're too noisy!"

"SHUT UP!" Horohoro screamed. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE BETTER CARE OF HIM, HUH!? YOU CALL YOURSLEF A DOCTOR, AND LOOK! HE'S DEAD! HE'S FREAKING DEAD!"

Faust looked truly remorseful. He placed a hand on Horohoro's shoulder, shaking his head. "Look, kid. I'm sorry. I did all I could, I really tried to save him. But you know, I'm not perfect."

Horohoro clenched his teeth. "I know...it's not your fault...I'm sorry..."

Faust sighed. "Your friend was a good kid. All the other ones were spoiled rotten and they thought I was their servant or something, costantly whining and complaing and telling me to make them better or their parents would sue...but this one, he was quiet. He never asked for anything...he was polite, he was respectful..." He glanced at Horohoro. The boy was trying so hard to keep the tears in that the expression on his face would have been funny if it weren't for the situation.

"It's alright, kid. Let it all out."

And he did.

Tears streamed from his eyes like a river, and Horohoro thought he would never stop. He was probably there for an hour, sobbing hysterically, as Faust patted his back reassuringly. It was humiliating, but he didn't care.

At last, he had cried out all the tears he could, and he felt like he had been drained dry. Sniffling, he said slowly, "C...can I see him?"

"I don't think you'll be able to take it, emotionally, I mean."

"I don't care."

"Fine," Faust said quietly. "Go ahead."

Hands still trembling, Horohoro gently lifted the white sheet from Ren's face.

The Chinese boy looked as if he was asleep, but Horohoro knew he would never wake up. A peaceful expression graced his facial features, eyes softly closed, a faint trace of a small smile still at his lips.

Horohoro reached out to touch his face, moving his fingers softly over his stone cold skin. He sighed, smiling bittersweetly, letting a few more tears drop downwards.

"I guess...that's that."