No one had seen Horo Horo or Jessica for a few days now. If anyone asked Pirika where they were she would simply reply "They are busy training." But Pirika was not stupid. She knew exactly what her brother was doing and it seemed that Anna did too, but she cared very little. Anna was keeping Yoh so busy now that he had hardly noticed Horo Horo's disappearance. Ryu was out of the house now trying to chat up a girl he had met. Kacia knew little about Horo Horo but was able to deduce from her best friends disappearance what they were up to but care very little as she trusted Jessica's judgement. Ren had not noticed Horo Horo's disappearance since he now spent most of his time in is room or out of the house trying to avoid Kacia and his odd feelings towards her.

Ren now had a lot of trouble hiding. Kacia was not stupid and had managed to work out that Ren was hiding from her and would now deliberately go looking for him. She didn't feel she could go marching into his room, but if she sew him sneaking out

through the front door she would make a deliberate attempt to follow him.

---

Ren was about to step through the door way when he heard her voice. "Ren!" she snapped. He turned to meet her.

"May I help you?" he asked coolly. But his icy tone vanished when he saw the look on her face. She looked truly terrified. "Are you alright?" he asked. But he knew she was not. He had seen her like this before and each time she had given him a mysterious warning.

"He is coming!" she said. Ren noticed that this time she had not even bother to whisper it. "He is coming soon." Horo Horo walked into the room with Jessica.

"Hello!" he greeted cheerfully. Ren gave Kacia a withering look.

"Terrifying isn't he." he said sarcastically. Ren knew what she was up to. He had known she would use any thing to try and follow him.

"No, Ren, he really is coming." she said in desperation.

"Yes, so you have said." Ren snapped and walked out. He had only taken a few steps when the thought came to him that maybe her warning had been for real and that perhaps he had been very harsh to her. But then the thought of love came back to him and he shook himself and went on his way.

---

"Where have you been? I have been worried sick about you!" Pirika hissed so no one would be able to hear.

"I've been with Jess." Horo Horo said.

"Training were you?"

"Yes as a matter of fact we -"

"Do not give me that!" Pirika snarled. "I know exactly what you were up to." The door opened ad Ren stepped in. "Ren!" Pirika gasped.

"What are you doing in my room?" he asked.

"We though no one would disturb …" Pirika's voice trailed off at the sight of Ren's darkened eyes. "…we will just go." She walked out of the room leaving Ren alone. He was about to sit down when he notice a little outside of his window. He looked out and saw something that made his heart stop.

"Is that?" he gasped. Something that lay on hiss table began to beep. His oracle bell. "The destiny star?"

---

"Yoh!" Anna cried "It is the destiny star!" Yoh hurried to meet her and look out. But then he noticed someone standing in his garden. They were tall with long hair. Yoh hurried pout to meet him. He looked a lot different, but Yoh could tell who it was.

"Hao." he breathed.

"Yoh." Hao said smiling. "It has been a while."

"But you…I thought you were."

"I never miss a tournament." Hao said.

"I thought you had to wait five hundred years...or something like that." Yoh said.

"I had a little help." Hao admitted. Then someone came and stood beside him. Ren ran out of the house to meet with Yoh. His heart froze when he saw who was standing beside Hao.

"Kacia." he gasped. "Why are you…" Kacia would not look at him. She stared at the ground. Ren felt like something had clicked inside his brain. He smiled bitterly. "He is coming." he quoted.

"That is right." Hao said smuggly. "She did try to warn you, but your foolish human emotions got in the way."

"Kacia, why did you…how could you…" Ren spluttered. She still would not look at him.

"Hao, I have killed you once and I will do it again. But I am a lot stronger than I was before. I would even go as far as to say I will defeat you before we get to Patch village."

"I would not be so certain if I were you." Hao said slyly.

Ren was vaguely aware that Yoh and Hao were exchanging insults but could not hear them. He looked at Kacia. This was the worst feeling he had ever felt. How had this happened?

Horo Horo, Pirika and Jessica ran out of the house to confront Hao.

"What are you doing back?" Horo Horo snarled at Hao. Hao tilted his head towards Kacia.

"Kacia? How could you?" Jessica cried. Kacia's head was still bowed.

"I would love to stand around and chat," Hao cut in, "But I really must be off. Kacia and I must round up some followers and mumbers of the future shaman only kingdom." He turned and walked away.

"No!" Jessica shouted to Kacia.

"Do not go with him." Ren said. Kacia looked up at him.

"I am sorry." she whispered and turned and followed her master.

"Kacia…" Ren whispered

To be continued

(A/N) Please R and R. I will update soon. I can not decide if things will turn out alright for Ren or not - if you have any preferences let me know!!! Thank you!