Note: I've realized that these parts I am uploading are not really 'chapters' – as each part I upload is a continuation from the previous section. As the story goes on, I'll find that I'll want to upload bigger parts than others as there are more significant moments in the story to come. So I've decided to start numbering the sections rather than call them 'chapters'.

This story is really more of a series of events that occur from beginning to end, there doesn't seem to be a 'beginning' a 'middle' or an 'end' – you could say it's like a series of episodes. I took the time to read the whole story again after so long over the past few days and it came to my attention that the first half or so of 'Return of Fire' Hao remains the main focus of the story, with him being the dominant main character. And you'll see that eventually the roles change with Yoh becoming to main character in the future. Okay, I don't want to give too much away. Basically I'm just letting you know what you're letting yourself in for as you continue to follow the tale. I'm sure you'll enjoy the journey. I promise you more characters, more locations, more twists and events to come. Thank you for taking the time to read this, now let's get on with the story:

3.

The next morning the heat wave had returned. The house was full of heat and discomfort. Anna was stood in the kitchen on her own, not quite doing anything; just standing there staring at the floor. HoroHoro walked into the room and then fell to his knees gasping for breath.

"Must...have...water...must...have...rest..." he gasped.

"Big Brother get back outside right now!" called Pirika appearing in the room. She stood behind her exhausted brother with her hands on her hips. "Get a move on!" she shouted.

"Hey...what's all the yelling about?" came a voice. Yoh walked into the room carrying a bottle of water. He wasn't wearing a shirt and he wasn't wearing his headphones. His hair had been combed into a straighter style and he stood in the room with his hand in his pocket staring at HoroHoro, smiling again.

"Are you feeling okay Yoh?" asked Pirika. "You look different."

"Oh?" muttered Yoh. He then looked down at himself and then looked up at her smiling again. "Oh you mean this? It is 98 degrees today. I'm just trying to keep cool!" he laughed. HoroHoro looked up at Yoh and held his hand up in the air, agonizing for a sip.

"Must...have...water..." he repeated. Yoh smiled a non-caring smile at him, opened the bottle and to HoroHoro's horror, poured what was left of it over his own head and then smoothed his soaked hair down and threw the empty bottle in the garbage. HoroHoro stammered and then fell on his front, passed out.

"Big brother! Hey!" yelled Pirika kicking him in the shin. HoroHoro moaned and then got on his feet, glared at Yoh and then walked back out the room gasping still.

"Why, hello. You are looking very beautiful today my darling future wife." smiled Yoh opening the refrigerator. He knelt in front of it. "Ah. Now this feels a whole lot better." he said looking over his shoulder at Anna. She was watching him, looking puzzled at Yoh's new attitude towards her. She was making small gasping noises and humming a non existent tune. "Why don't you come on over Anna. We can chill out together." He smiled a dark leering smile at her. She smiled as well, like she was in some sort of hypnotic trance. She slowly approached the cool spot with Yoh and knelt down with him. She wasn't paying attention to the cold, she was watching him and he looked very deep into her eyes. "Isn't this a whole lot nicer?" he whispered. Anna nodded. He weaved his arm under hers. His skin was still wet from the water he spilled over his head. Anna looked at what he was doing but did not move. He moved his hand towards hers and hooked his fingers with hers and held her hand and squeezed it gently. Anna's eyes shimmered. Yoh closed his eyes and smiled. "What are you doing later on today? I am very hot...maybe I should..." not finishing his sentence, Yoh got up and left Anna sat in front of the open refrigerator and exited the room. Anna fell back on the floor, placed her hand on her chest and suddenly began to gasp for breath like she had been suffocating. She blinked really hard and then shook her head violently. Not quite understanding what she had just been through.

Yoh smiled and laughed to himself. "That was almost too easy … she didn't even attempt to get away." He blinked. "Now, where is Ren's room…?" he muttered, walking down the hall. He opened the door to Ren's room and smiled.

"Good morning, Ren."

"Hmm? Yoh? What, may I ask, are you doing barging into my room first thing in the morning?" Ren asked, sipping a bottle of milk. Yoh pretended to look shocked. "Me? Ren, I thought we were… friends." He stumbled over the last word, trying his best to keep smiling at Ren.

"Yes, I suppose we are, Yoh. But don't we all need a bit of privacy sometimes?"

"Yeah… Sorry."

"Oh, this heat! I feel as if I were melting…" Ren said, sipping some more milk. "My Milk's not even cold anymore…" Yoh grinned.

"Want me to buy you a new one?"

"Hmm?"

"More milk, I mean." He grinned again and laughed a little. "What did you think I meant?"

"I thought … never mind. Yes, I would like another one."

"Okay, I'll get going then – "

"No! Not so fast. You're so incompetent you'd get lost on the way there. Besides, it's hot. And I know you'd just forget why you had the milk in your hands and drink it yourself. I'm coming too."

"Erm … O-okay, then, if you're sure…"

"Yes, I am. Let's go." Ren replied, putting his shoes on. Yoh nodded uncertainly. "Okay. Let me go get my shoes, then …" He left Ren's room - went into his own and put on his shirt and shoes. Then he thought to himself, Wait, this is perfect. I can get Ren easily, right now. He got up and walked to the front door, meeting Ren there. "Well, Yoh it's about time you got here, you sluggish idiot."

"Yeah, whatever … Let's get going." Yoh said. It took all of his self-restraint to keep himself from punching Ren right in the nose, but luckily his expression did not show it. He opened the door and stepped outside, which was no cooler than indoors. As they stepped onto the street, Yoh looked at Ren strangely. "You know, you really have changed…" he said.

"What…?"

"Yeah… You no longer want to kill everyone."

"Yoh, what are you …"

"I don't see a lust for blood in your eyes anymore."

"Yoh …"

"It's incredible."

"I…"

"Hmm… It's strange, too. You don't have anything left to work towards, so you spend your time with us…" Yoh smiled, while Ren just stared ahead of himself, thinking about what Yoh had just said, in a sort of trance-like state. "Yoh …" he said. "I … I don't understand. What exactly are you saying?"

"I'm saying it will take awhile to forget all this. You killed so many people…" Ren took a step back at Yoh's words.

"You… you're right… I… I think I'm going to go back."

"Don't go now."

"I … have some stuff to do, though – "

"No matter, I'll help you with it later. Now let's just get your milk then."

"Yoh …" he stared at Yoh, with widened eyes. He took a deep breath and then jolted back. "I...I can do with out the milk. I have some things to think about." Ren turned and began to run back up the road, into the house and into his room. He shut the door quickly behind him and then stood behind the door and gasped for breath. He then slid down the door and knelt resting his head on his knees. "I...I..." he repeated. And a few soft whimpers followed. Back outside Yoh shrugged.

"I never realized how easy it is to get through to the real Ren," he laughed, continuing down the hill towards Tamao and Pirika's house...