Ren was still in a fuss when the bus pulled in and they got on. He sat away from the others, who were all very worried about him. Most of all, of course, was Yoh. What if Ren found a way to prove who he really was before he revealed it himself? But, of course, Ren was too stubborn to let any of them get close. HoroHoro felt bad, too, and decided to try and help. "Guys, one of us should go over there and talk to Ren." Yoh nodded.

"Good idea. But he won't talk to me, remember?"

"And he doesn't even speak to me unless it is required." Ryu added. They both looked at HoroHoro with devious smirks on their faces. They shoved him over to Ren.

"H-hey, Ren…"

"Humph."

"Come on, its okay."

"No, its not! You are acting like everything is the same and there is definitely something wrong with that guy!"

"Okay, if you say so." HoroHoro said, shaking his head. "Actually, You and Anna have done the same too. I don't think any of us are the same anymore."

"What?"

"Yeah. Did you notice? After I learned Hao came back I haven't been acting the same? I've been… well, lets put it this way. I haven't been eating quite as much."

"…" Ren stared at his friend awkwardly. "You? Yeah, of course not. You just shoveled your whole breakfast down this morning and tried to eat everyone else's Chinese food."

"Okay, well, you have to admit it's not as much!"

"…True …"

"Yeah, see! And have you noticed I haven't even played with or spoken to Kororo much since then?" And sure enough, there was his tiny little spirit, holding a leaf and looking mildly upset, if not a little perturbed.

"You're right… Maybe it's just my imagination."

"It is! Dude, I wouldn't be saying this if it weren't true!"

"Yeah."

HoroHoro yanked Ren over to the seat with Yoh and Ryu. They laughed. "Better, Ren?"

"Yes, much. Thank you –"

"Dudes, I think this calls for a group hug!"

"Get close to me and you will be added to my father's collection of jiang-si!"

HoroHoro scooted over away from Ren with a dismal look on his face. Ren sniffed. Yoh and Ryu we're smiling while Opacho was stood up staring out the window. She was stood on the bus seat and had her face pressed against the glass.

"Yoh-Sama." she said sweetly.

"Yeah?"

"Opacho can read."

"Awh really!" smiled Yoh.

"Sign say 'Nice Blink. 500 bars."

"Huh?" said HoroHoro looking out the window. "Where?" Yoh laughed understanding his friend completely.

"No Opacho. You mean, Ice Rink. 500 yards." he laughed.

"Oh. Opacho like ice."

"I love this girl!" yelled HoroHoro happily.

"Does anyone feel like going ice skating? Cool us down?" suggested Yoh.

"Since when did you know how to skate?" said Ren looking at him from the corner of his eye.

"I don't I've never been." sighed Yoh.

"You have!" screamed Opacho.

"I haven't...Opacho..." said Yoh giving her a look.

"Oh sorry. Yoh remind Opacho of Hao-Sama again."

"When we see Hao again Opacho, are you going to go with him?" asked Ryu.

"Erm..." stuttered Opacho, not really knowing what the answer should be.

"Don't make her choose between us. I know Hao and I had our differences but he was nice to her." said Yoh pushing the 'stop' button on the bus.

"And how do you know that then Yoh?" said Ren.

"Cause she told me." said Yoh as if it wasn't a big deal of an answer getting up and approaching the front of the bus.

"Where are you going?" asked HoroHoro.

"Where do you think? We're going ice skating!" he smiled.

"Yay!" squealed Opacho.

"Let's go!" laughed HoroHoro jumping up.

"Anything Master Yoh says." said Ryu following Opacho and HoroHoro.

"Hmm..." sniffed Ren slowly standing.

At the skating rink the whole place was packed with people. Mainly because of the heat. It was Yoh's turn to rent a pair of skates.

"Size 5 and a half please." said Yoh to lady behind the counter.

"We have a selection of colours sir. Would you like to choose?' she said lifting 2 pairs of skates. One was orange and black. And one was red and gold.

"Wow. Nice colours." said HoroHoro. "Do you have blue size fours?"

"Certainly but please wait your turn sir." replied the lady.

"Oh." blinked HoroHoro. "Sorry!" he said crossing his arms.

"I'll have you a race later HoroHoro!" laughed Yoh.

"Please sir choose your colour there is a queue."

"Go ahead Yoh." said Ren eyeing the red and gold pair. "Choose!"

"Gosh you make it sound like a life or death decision." laughed Yoh picking up the orange and black pair. "And an infant size please."

"What-"

"Yellow." interrupted Yoh.

"Okay." she said lifting up a tiny pair of yellow skates.

"I don't even think we should be here Yoh. We should be getting to the Patch Village." said Ren.

"As if he'd try again without me there. He practically waited for me last time. Anyway..." said Yoh paying and approaching a bench. "Get your pair."

"Fine. I will." said Ren taking his turn. Yoh sat Opacho onto the bench and began to strap Opacho into her skates

"I am going to wipe the ice with you in our race Yoh! You're on!" laughed HoroHoro.

"Let's wait and see." said Yoh sitting on the bench and putting on his orange and black skates. "Wait and see."

"Opacho not know how to skate." said Opacho bottom lip quivering.

"Hey you don't need to worry. I'm here with you aren't I?" he smiled hugging her and then holding her hand and guiding her to the cramped ice. "And when I get going... These worthless humans will be off the ice sooner than you can say 'Shaman King'."

"But you can't melt the ice, Hao-sama!" Opacho whispered in his ear.

"Oh. Right. I forgot about that." He said. "I guess then we might have to cope with all these people."

"Yoh, let's get going! I'm gonna kick your – "

"Hold on there. I need to get used to the ice… and Opacho needs to learn to skate. Mind helping her?"

"Yes! Opacho needs help from Horo-kun!"

"Yeah, okay dudette!" HoroHoro said, liking the nickname Opacho bestowed upon him. He held Opacho's hand and began to explain. "It's easy and really fun, Opacho! All you do is push off with one foot, then the other, like this…"

Yoh laughed as he watched Opacho try to skate. He stepped out onto the ice, and skated himself. He did a few laps around the rink and when he got back to HoroHoro and Opacho, Opacho was skating slowly but surely. He picked Opacho up suddenly and hoisted her on his shoulders. Opacho laughed, and Yoh started doing some tricks; skating backwards, a few jumps, and spins.

"Hey, Yoh you're great at this!" HoroHoro called from behind him. Yoh nodded. "Thanks!"

They noticed some of the people exiting the rink to watch the other skaters. But what they didn't know was that every eye was on them, watching the two boys do tricks on the ice! Ren eventually joined in too, and he was also an exceptionally good skater. Ryu held back, however, joining the crowd too, seeing many pretty girls watching. Then a familiar tune began to play, and Yoh slowed down to listen. "I… I know this song!"

"Hmmm?" Ren slowed to his pace.

"Inyou no Chigiri…"

"It has a nice ring to it!" HoroHoro said, enjoying the song. Yoh began to sing to it, until Ren nudged him in the ribs. "Since when do you know that song?" he asked. Yoh shrugged. "I don't know. I just know it."

"HoroHoro, what do you think … HoroHoro?" Ren said, looking at HoroHoro's spaced-out look. "What has gotten into you?"

He didn't answer, just kept skating, as if in a trance. Yoh smiled. "He's relaxed… you can see it in his eyes. Actually, I am too…"

Ren shook his head. "Whatever. I'm going to go sit in the crowd, my feet are bleeding. I bought the wrong sized skates …"

"Okay. I'll keep an eye out for you!"

"Okay…"

As the song ended, Yoh sped up and waved in front of HoroHoro's eyes. "You okay in there?"

Then he snapped out of it. "Yoh! Ah, dude… what happened?"

"No idea. You just heard that song and blanked out …"

"Oh…"

"Let's have that race now, shall we?"

"Yeah! You, I mean it! I will kick your – "

"Hold on let me drop Opacho off with Ren." He interrupted again, getting off the ice and telling Opacho to go and sit with Ren. Opacho did so happily. "You can win Hao-sama!" she cheered before running off to Ren. Yoh laughed. He made his way back out onto the ice, where HoroHoro was waiting. "This'll be our finish line," he said. "five laps. Think you're up for it?"

"I know I am."

"Ready… set … Go!"

The two of them rocketed out onto the ice, HoroHoro in the lead. Yoh decided to skate a bit slower. "Come on is that all?" HoroHoro yelled. Yoh shook his head. "Not quite!"

"Well pick up the pace, dude!"

"I don't have to. You're about to crash! Watch where you're going!"

"What?" HoroHoro yelled, and turned away from the wall just in time to prevent himself from a collision. Yoh laughed. "You're welcome!" he called. Just as they turned to go into the fifth lap, Yoh put on a burst of speed and passed HoroHoro easily. He passed the finish line first, and when HoroHoro crossed it they both laughed. "Good race, dude!"

"Thanks! You were tough to beat!"

"No way! You're way better."

They skated off the ice together, still laughing. HoroHoro looked at the time. "I think we'd better head out if we're going to make it to Patch Village!"