"We have to go after him!" Ren yelled. Anna fell to her knees in tears, ashamed of how she had felt towards Hao, ashamed that she had not seen through him.
"I … I … Yoh … he's gone …" she stammered, sobbing.
"Anna! Calm down. We will find Hao, and then kill him!" Ren declared, pulling out the kwan-dao and running off, followed by Ryu, Chocolove and Lyserg. HoroHoro stood frozen on the spot, in shock. Anna got up and followed the others, barely noticing what she was doing. HoroHoro decided to run off too. "This isn't right…" he muttered, as he caught up to Ren.
"Wait!"
Everyone stopped in front of HoroHoro. "What are you doing!" Lyserg cried.
"You have to stop."
"Why? HoroHoro, you have finally gone and lost your mind! He killed Yoh!"
"So what?"
Everyone shut up after that statement. HoroHoro glared at them all and continued. "He said he's going to separate from Yoh. Let him do that. I want to give him a second chance."
"But, HoroHoro – "
"Shut up! That guy has changed. Seriously! When we went skating, the dude beat me. And you know what? I didn't care! I had fun, and so did he obviously! He's not a sick person! He's changed!"
Everyone stopped and thought about what HoroHoro said. Anna stepped forward slowly, her eyes hidden behind her hair. "Unforgivable…" she muttered. "This is unforgivable!" She slapped HoroHoro with full force knocking him over onto the road. "You can't be trusted!"
"Anna, listen – "
"No! Hao took my Yoh away. Again! And I can't forgive him! Ever!"
Ren put his Kwan-Dao to HoroHoro's neck. "Don't move. Don't speak. You'll be coming with us… and we will kill Hao."
"Fine. I'll come. But I won't help you. I'm giving him a second chance."
"Do as you will." Lyserg said, walking off behind Anna. Ryu and Chocolove followed solemnly. Ren pulled HoroHoro up by the neck and dragged him along. "I don't believe you… He killed our friend."
"No one evil can see spirits, Ren…"
Ren's eyes opened and he gasped for a breath like he had just been hit in the stomach. 'No one evil can see spirits' were Yoh's words. To Ren, it was almost like HoroHoro hadn't spoke, like it was Yoh stood with them, smiling, giggling. "Yoh would give him a second chance. Just like he gave you one…Ren." Finished HoroHoro. Ren dropped his kwan-dao onto the floor, it's bandage on its center gently swaying in the breeze. It was Hao who broke his kwan-dao…but…it was Hao who fixed it too…
"Yoh…" whispered Ren, loosening his grip on HoroHoro and then stepping back. "I…" Ren stopped in his tracks staring at the ground. His hair covering his eyes casting a shadow on his face. HoroHoro stared at Ren and then looked at the rest of them jogging in the distance attempting to follow Hao and his Spirit of Fire. HoroHoro slowly slipped the black and white snowboard out of his backpack and then held it in front of him holding it with both hands. He sighed sadly thinking about the recent events that had just occurred. Ren was still stood still, staring and the sandy ground. He was obviously thinking about his friend Asakura Yoh. But, he could also be thinking about the terrible things he has done in the past, and how easily Yoh found it to forgive him, and befriend him.
"I haven't done this in a while…" said HoroHoro dropping his board onto the ground and then stepping onto it like a skate board. "Kororo?" smirked HoroHoro, his little spirit appearing next to him. "Are you ready?" Kororo gave little cooing noises. "Kororo! Hyoui Gattai! Into the snowboard!" he exclaimed, Kororo then disappearing into the board. It began to shine a bright blue. "This way I am sure to get to him faster…" HoroHoro turned and looked at Ren. "When you feel like it, think about catching up to the others eh?" HoroHoro then zoomed across the ground, following the others. Soon passing them.
"What! HoroHoro! Are you mad!" yelled Lyserg shocked to see him pass them.
"Traitor!" screamed Anna in pain and sorrow. "Backstabber!" HoroHoro ignored their cries, and flew across the ground, into the far distance soon out of sight.
"Hao-Sama!" shrieked Opacho shaking him. Yoh was lay on his back in the center of a large patch of grass surrounded by trees and bushes. "Hao-Sama! Please get up!" she cried again tears spilling down her cheeks. Soon, Yoh's fingers twitched and he made a quiet groaning noise. "Hao-Sama okay?" smiled Opacho despite her tears. Yoh opened his eyes to only see the blue sky above him and trees swaying in the wind.
"What happened?" he sighed quietly. "Where am I?"
"Hao-Sama lost Oversoul! Hao fall from sky and pass out!" whimpered Opacho still nudging him to get up. "Hao okay?" Yoh groaned again sitting up slowly. He suddenly gave a loud agonizing shout.
"Ow…my ankle!" he sat up completely grasping his left foot with both hands. "I think it's broken," he moaned again.
"Hao not okay! Hao in pain!" Opacho fell on her butt and started to cry and whine.
"Shhh…shhh…Opacho." smiled Hao regarding his feelings. He had no reason to smile. And it was something he was used to doing every moment of every day. "I'm okay…" Yoh shifted backwards and then attempted to get to his feet, but failed crying out again. Opacho continued to bawl. "Opacho please. Now isn't the time to panic!" said Yoh trying hard to comfort her. He lifted her up and sat her on his knee. He wrapped her in his arms and rocked her backwards and forwards holding her tight to him. She hugged him closely peering over his shoulder. She sniffed sadly twisting his hair around her fingers.
"Opacho like Hao-Sama's longer hair…" she whispered.
"I do as well." Sniffed Yoh, Opacho threw her head back to look at his face, only to see a few simple tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Please do not cry Hao. Opacho here with you." She said softly comforting him.
"I don't know what I would do with out you with me." He chuckled. "I'm so glad to have at least one friend…"
"Two." Came a voice. Yoh's eyes opened in shock and he did not turn around. Opacho squealed delightedly.
"Horo-kun!" she smiled, tears still in her eyes. HoroHoro walked towards them both looking down at him.
"Why are you here?" sniffed Yoh wiping the tears away from his face quickly trying to hide his sadness. HoroHoro sighed and then sat down on the ground next to them.
"Some one once told me, that everyone deserves a second chance. That no one was evil. That everyone deserved to be treated right." He smiled at him. Yoh looked back at him blinking the tears out of his eyes and then wiping them away.
"I just want my little brother back."
"And I'm gonna help you."
"Really?"
"Sure! What are friends for?" smiled HoroHoro.
"You're my friend?" his eyes shone at the thought of being accepted by him.
"Yeah of course. And why are you sat here?" asked HoroHoro.
"You might be understanding but you're still slow." Chuckled Yoh. HoroHoro laughed slightly too.
"Hao-Sama fall from sky! Hao-Sama lose Oversoul!" cried Opacho.
"God! Are you okay Yoh? Hao? Whatever!" Yoh laughed at his confusion. HoroHoro giggled too. Soon they were both in fits or laughter, Opacho laughing madly as well.
"You can call me Hao!" laughed Yoh.
"That's gonna get a bit confusin' eh? Since you're in Yoh's body and everything."
"Well call me what you want. But Hao is my name. I'd rather you use that." Smiled Yoh.
"Okay I'll try Hao." Said HoroHoro getting to his feet. "So have you hurt yourself?"
"Yeah. My ankle hurts." He moaned moving it again.
"Okay. C'mon let me help you up." HoroHoro held his hand out to him; Yoh reached up and grabbed it. HoroHoro pulled him to his feet Opacho watching. Yoh soon fell forwards losing balance but HoroHoro grabbed him and hitched Yoh's arm over his shoulder supporting him. "There is that better?"
"Thank you HoroHoro." Sighed Yoh.
"For what?"
"For everything." He sighed again. Glad to have a friend like him. "For everything."
"Hey dude no worries!" HoroHoro laughed.
Yoh smiled. "Hey but HoroHoro could you give me a second alone? I need to change back…"
"Oh okay sure thing!" HoroHoro said, letting Yoh down on the ground gently so as not to hurt him. He walked away a bit, giving his new friend some space. "Just call when you're done!" he said. A few minutes later Hao called HoroHoro over and was helped up once more. "That's better…" Hao said, sighing with relief. HoroHoro nodded. "Now I won't be so confused."
Hao laughed. "You sure about that?"
"Hey what's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing at all! Just making sure."
HoroHoro laughed too. This guy's actually a lot of fun! He thought. I don't see why he's so lonely.
"Hey you do know I heard that don't you?"
"Oh yeah that's right," HoroHoro said. "You can read minds. I forgot that."
"Yeah Hao-sama is good at it!" Opacho chimed in. Hao laughed. "Opacho you can't be good at it exactly."
"Hao-sama is so good!" Opacho sang, not hearing Hao.
HoroHoro laughed again. "I don't have to address you as Hao-sama, do I?" he asked.
"Nope. I prefer Lord Hao."
HoroHoro stopped in his tracks, thinking Hao was being serious. Opacho giggled.
"HoroHoro, I didn't mean it. I was kidding." Hao said, smiling, trying to hold back a laugh.
"Oh." HoroHoro put his free hand behind his head, a little embarrassed. Hao then said, "Hey don't worry about it."
They continued walking in silence, the three of them enjoying each other's company. Meanwhile, the others were still trying to catch up. "I can't believe him…" Lyserg muttered. Chocolove nodded. "It's too weird." He said. Ryu kept his mouth shut, not deciding on what to say. Anna was still fuming. "Where is Ren?" She yelled, looking behind them at Ren. "Hurry up! You're slowing us down!"
Ren didn't move. "I… I…" he whimpered softly. He looked up, nearly in tears. "I'm coming…" he ran up to them, not sure what was going on completely. Two of his friends were gone now, one of them, fortunately still alive. Anna glared. "Oh and do wipe that look off your face! You look as if you've been slapped in the face by something repulsive."
"Don't be silly you haven't slapped me Anna."
"Why, you …!"
Ren ignored her and continued to walk, everyone staring at him in awe. "You just defied Anna!" Ryu yelled. "Are you insane?"
"Honestly, Ryu, I haven't a clue."
"Ren!" Lyserg yelled. "Are you okay? You're acting strange also."
""No. No, I'm not okay. These past few days I've felt like I was in hell. Now it's only worse. I'm so confused and I can't get out of this black hole that is my memories."
"Ren…"
"No. I have to live with the painful things I have done. I have sinned greatly, but only through my own fault."
"I've never heard you talk this way, Ren." Chocolove said, astounded. "You've changed so much!"
"Shut up. I want to be alone right now." Ren snapped. He walked ahead of the others. "We're almost to the village." He said. "And there's the traitor now."
"They're here…" Hao said, turning to look behind him. "Ren and the others."
"What! Already? How fast were they running?" HoroHoro yelled. "No time for this! We need to go, now!" He did Hyoi Gattai again, grabbing Hao and putting Opacho on his shoulder. He sped off into the distance. "We're almost at the village, right? I can barely make it out over there in the distance."
"Yeah, I see it too." Hao said, pointing ahead of them. Opacho pointed as well. "There, Horo-kun! Opacho can see it! Opacho sees it a little!"
"Good! Hold on you guys!" HoroHoro yelled as he sped up. "What the - ?"
"HoroHoro? Hao! What are you doing here?"
"Silva!"
HoroHoro lost his balance and the three of them stumbled forwards. Opacho landed on top of Hao and he smiled at her, his face twitching with both pain and amusement at Silva's appearance. HoroHoro jumped up first and ran to Hao.
"Yo! Dude! Are you alright!" he said with a worried expression on his face checking for any injuries.
"I'm Hao!" sighed Hao misunderstanding.
"Yeah I know I meant 'yo' as in…wait. Why did I say it again?"
"Stop confusing yourself and help me up!" yelled Hao lifting his hand to HoroHoro. He pulled Hao to his feet, only to see Silva running towards them since they had passed him and gone a fair distance before actually falling over.
"Stop right there Hao!" he called angrily. "You are not to enter the Path Village!"
"Heh. Heh. Surprise!" chuckled Hao opening his arms to show it is true. He was back. He looked uncertain what he was to do now. HoroHoro nudged him towards the snowboard as he hurried Opacho along to get on again too.
"Oh! HoroHoro my ankle! Stop pushing me around!" cried Hao hopping on one foot and then grabbing hold of HoroHoro for balance. HoroHoro hooked his arm under Hao's and supported him to the board, but it was too late. Silva and the others had already arrived.
"How dare you!" screamed Anna smacking HoroHoro across the face again full force. To stop HoroHoro from falling Hao grabbed his arm.
"God Anna." Sniffed HoroHoro feeling his face. Anna lifted her arm to slap Hao too but he easily grabbed her arm stopping the impact.
"Not now Anna I'm not in the mood." He muttered throwing her arm back down to her side.
"Hao get on the board quick!" said HoroHoro jumping on it Opacho hopping on it as well.
"Oh No! You ain't going no where!" yelled Ren his kwan-dao suddenly swinging down towards Hao. He grabbed it and stepped back attempting to take it from him. Ren grinned. Ren suddenly turned the kwan-dao over forcing Hao to the side and stumbling on his bad ankle. Ren snatched his weapon back and gained Oversoul. He began to throw him self at Hao attacking him over and over, Hao blocking and dodging every movement.
"Ren! Don't!" yelled HoroHoro.
"I'll deal with you later!" screamed Ren still determined to inflict pain on Hao. Hao wasn't saying anything; he was concentrating on his attacker.
"Hao-Sama!" cried Opacho. Chocolove gained furyoku too and swiped Hao's bad ankle with his claws. Hao lost his balance and fell to the ground. Everyone gathering round him HoroHoro began to try to hit everyone away.
"No! Get away from him!" he shouted. Hao looked up to see everyone's faces staring down at him.
"HoroHoro! I don't want to do this, but I am forbidding you to go near him or else you will be eliminated from the Shaman Fight! Do you understand!" ordered Silva.
"Do what you want! But my friend is in danger and I intended to help him!" HoroHoro ran on to the other side of the gang and peered into the circle through a gap next to Lyserg. "Hao! Hang on!" Ren had his kwan-dao to Hao's neck, and he was panting heavily after such a fight.
"I would be more than happy to run you through right now!" hissed Ren.
"You killed my Yoh!" cried Anna. "Now I will never see him again!" she sobbed.
"That's not true!" protested Hao.
"Do you honestly think we believe you for one second that you are going to do what you say you are going to hmm? Do you think we're stupid! Do you think we're blind?" yelled Ren.
"No!" Hao angrily yelled back.
"Yoh isn't coming back." Muttered Lyserg.
"He is gone. Because of you!" yelled Anna.
"Stop saying that! Yoh will come back!" shouted Hao denying such failure would happen. He will get his brother back if it was the last thing he ever did.
"Why are you not fighting back?" asked Ryu. "Too afraid?"
"Yeah we'd kick your butt back 1000 years so it would be like you we're never born!" sneered Chocolove.
"Hao-Sama!" cried Opacho. HoroHoro grabbed hold of his snowboard and holding with both hands smacked it down with full force onto Ren's head. Ren turned around to hit him away with his kwan-dao, giving Hao just enough space to summon his spirit.
"Spirit of Fire!" shouted Hao looking to the skies. Ren turned quickly glaring at him and made a strike for Hao's neck but HoroHoro grabbed Ren just in time and threw him to the ground kicking his kwan-dao out of his hands. Anna, Ryu, Chocolove and Lyserg each went to grab hold of HoroHoro for his deceit, but to HoroHoro's luck the Spirit of Fire appeared just in time and snatched HoroHoro, Hao and Opacho from the ground.
"Hao! You are not to enter the Patch Village!" called Silva.
"Stepping foot into the village is none of my expectations Silva. I am simply making my way to the Path of Stars where I will finally separate from my brother Asakura Yoh. And there is nothing you all can do about it." Chuckled Hao. Anna blinked. Was he really going to do what he said? Is he really going to bring Yoh back or is it just a trick? Hao made it sound like they were the bad guys, not him. Of course they would want Yoh back. So why stop him?
What could be so wrong about it…