Ren awoke the next morning feeling ghastly. His head was swimming and he felt sore all over from where the spirit of fire had singed him. He looked around the room to find Kacia, Yoh, Horohoro and Ryu in his room…or was it his room. Allowing his eyes to focus, he noticed that he was not in his room at all but in a hospital bed.

"Hi!" Yoh said cheerfully. "I never thought I'd see the day when Ren the great was in a hospital bed!"

"Huh." Ren said sitting up. Horohoro handed him some pain killers and a glass of water which Ren took gratefully. "How long have I been out?"

"It is one in the afternoon." Yoh said. Ren ran his fingers through his hair waking up. "It is quite ironic really…" Yoh added looking thoughtful.

"What is?" Ren asked.

"This is the hospital room they put me in once I'd fought you for the first time." Yoh said. Ren sat up properly and cuffed Yoh round the back of the head.

"Well, he is back to his usual self." Horohoro smirked.

"Good thing too. It doesn't feel right without him storming around tell people what to do." Kacia said.

"Oh, shh!" Ren said. Horohoro laughed.

"Sorry dude, we are just messing with ya."

Ren left the hospital that evening. The doctor wanted him to stay another night but Ren flatly refused. After another good nights sleep the next morning he felt a lot better. At the breakfast table everyone was cheerful. Ryu and Horohoro were making jokes as usual, Anna was bossing Yoh around, Manta and Yoh were talking and having fun. Ren was being teased and, of course, Jessica and Horohoro and Ren and Kacia were sitting next to each other talking. Everything seemed right with the world. That was until the post came.

Anna answered the door and received the letters, one of which was addressed to Jessica. She opened the letter and went silent. She left the room briefly and then called Kacia to join her. After what felt like hours they re-entered the room.

"Um…" Jessica said. "Myself and Kaica has three days left until we have to go."

---

Those three days ran quickly by. Jessica and Horohoro spent a lot of time together never leaving each others sight, but spent a lot of time with the others aswell. Ren and Kacia were much the same. The time they had left was enjoyable, they made the most of the time they had left. But on the last night Horohoro and Jessica went out for a walk and were soon followed by Ren and Kacia. They walked as a group for a little way, but the after a time divided.

Horohoro and Jessica sat by the lake. Neither of them spoke until Horohoro no longer could stand the silence.

"Why do you have to go?" He sighed.

"It is my father." she said. "He needs me to go back. And Kacia lives with us. It wont be for long. I promise I will come back."

"But how long will you be gone?" Horohoro said louder than he intended.

"I don't know." Jess said just as loudly. There was a pause. Jessica brushed a loose hair out of Horohoro's eyes and stroked his cheek. Horohoro noticed she had tears in her eyes. "I wont be long. A month or so, tops. And when I come back, it will be for a long time."

"You promise?" Horohoro asked, placing his hand on top of hers.

"Yes." she said smiling. The space between their lips seemed to have gotten smaller.

"I will miss you so much." Horohoro said, his voice trembling. "I love you. I have never left this way before."

"I love you too." Jessica said. "Before I met you -" but she was cut off. She closed her eyes and embraced the soft touch of the blue haired shaman's lips.

---

Ren and Kacia were talking for a long time until they reached a bench and decided to stop for a bit.

"I am going to miss you when you leave tomorrow." Ren admitted.

"Yeah, but I wont be gone for long." Kacia said holding his hand. "I will come back."

"Good." Ren said smiling. There was a short silence which was broken by a small laugh from Ren. "I cant believe you slapped me! How humiliating!"

"It woke you up didn't it?" Kacia said.

"Yeah, but…it still hurt."

"I just don't understand you. You will quite happily fight a giant fire spirit but you complain about a girl slapping you?!" Kacia said sniggering.

"Yeah!" Ren said. "Getting slapped by a girl is just embarrassing!" He looked into Kacia's eyes. "Though, I don't thik I will hold it against you." She added grinning.

"I don't think I have ever seen you smile so much." Kacia said.

"Well, I am upset you are leaving, but you will be back, right?"

"Yeah I will." Kacia said. Ren noticed that her voice had dramatically changed with the last few words. He looked harder and saw she was crying. He threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into his chest. "I don't want to leave you." Ren struggled hut managed to pull her off. He held her face in his hands.

"I love you." he said. "And I know you will come back. We will be together soon." He pressed his lips against hers gently but firmly. He stroked her copper coloured hair knowing this moment of bliss would not last. They broke apart. "I'm sorry -" he bagan to say, but Kacia had already silenced him again with a kiss. This time it lasted much longer. They spent that night under a tree locked in a close embrace, wishing that moment would last for eternity, but dreading the dawn.

---

"Where is Kacia?" Jessica asked Yoh.

"I don't know, she didn't return home last night." Yoh answered.

"She will be back." Anna answered calmly. And sure enough an hour later Kacia and Ren returned. It didn't take long for Jessica and Kacia to get ready to leave. Everyone wlaked with them to the train station. This was the moment they had all, particularly Horohoro and Ren, had been dreading.

"I guess this is it." Horohoro said.

"Yeah." Jessica said. They hugged for a good minute while Ryu and Yoh carried Kacia and Jessica's things onto the train. Ren and Kacia were hand in hand not speaking. Jessica and Kacia finally boarded the train. Kaica opened the window and held Ren's hand through it.

"I will write to you everyday." She said smiling.

"And I will write back." Ren replied.

"Don't be away too long." Horohoro said.

"We wont. We will be back before you know it!" Jessica said. "Which is a very good thing. You need more training." she added with a wink.

---

It was strange watching the train disappear away. Ren and Horohoro felt like they had lost something very important to them. But at the same time they felt like they had gained something too. Both of them had found love, and though if at some time had been difficult to keep their relationships going, it had been worth all the hard times. If those relationships had managed to last through all those difficulties, they would also be able to last through this…

(A/N) well dats it! It took a long time but I finally finished it! Hmmm…im not sure if I like the ending -seems a bit too sad. L please review. And special thanks to PandaYumi7 who I think has left a comment on every chapter lol thanks xxx!!!