HoroHoro blinked, trying to take it all in. He looked down at Hao's pale face, trying hard not to cry. He looked up at Ren and Opacho. She gazed at him.

"Opacho want Hao-sama to be okay." She sniffed, tears filling in her eyes.

"He will be Opacho." HoroHoro said, trying to reassure the young child, although he didn't believe his own words. "Ren, help me get him inside." Ren placed Opacho down on the floor. She stood in awe, still gazing at Hao. She stuck her thumb in her mouth, trying to comfort herself. Ren and HoroHoro gently lifted Hao off the ground, carrying him into the house, Opacho not too far behind.

"Place him in the living room. The paramedics will be able to reach him easier there." Said Ren. They reached the living room, carefully placing him down upon the floor. HoroHoro checked his pulse. He sighed after a few seconds.

"It's really slow." He muttered. He looked at Ren. "Can people survive these sort of injuries?"

"Depends." Sighed Ren. "Depends on how much they wanted to die." Ren suddenly bit his lip; Opacho was stood right next to him. She acted like she hadn't heard him, still gazing upon her friend who had been like a big brother to her. Like a father. Bringing her up from when she was so young. Without him…what would she do?

It was too much to bear. Opacho broke down into tears and fled the room, running to HoroHoro's room and slamming the door. HoroHoro sighed.

"Where the hell are they? They should be here by now!" snapped Ren.

"Don't shout it makes things worse." Muttered HoroHoro. The sirens began to get closer and closer until eventually after the longest few minutes of their lives, the blue and red lights were visible through the window. Ren approached the front door, opening it widely. Two men dressed in bright green and yellow jackets rushed into the house carrying cases with the equipment they needed. Ren pointed to which room. Opacho was silently and unnoticeably stood at the bedroom door, peering through the crack to see what was happening. She was crying. She couldn't lose Hao…

"Is there anything you can do?" asked HoroHoro.

"Stand away please." Commanded one of the two men, brushing HoroHoro aside to tend to Hao. One of them lifted his left arm, checking his pulse.

"I already did that. It's really slow –"

"HoroHoro will you stop interfering." Spat Ren.

"His pulse is fine kid just let us check him over." Said the paramedic. They could see the mass of blood, staining his clothes and smeared all over his arm…but…where was the injury? One of the paramedics cleared his throat before speaking.

"Hey, err, can you see the wound?" he muttered.

"No." replied the other. HoroHoro pointed to Hao's right arm.

"His right arm! See! See!" he shouted desperately.

"There is not injury here kid." Said the paramedic. HoroHoro and Ren gasped and turned their attention to Hao's right wrist…

There was no cut…

"But…that's impossible…" whispered Ren.

"There really was…" muttered HoroHoro.

"Hmmm. He's still out cold." Said one to the other.

"Yeah." The paramedic checked his forehead. "There doesn't seem to be any major problem. He should just get some rest, and he should wake up sooner or later, he's simply passed out."

"So is he going to be okay?" asked HoroHoro. The two of them stood up, now leaving the room.

"Don't worry. He'll be fine." Smiled one.

"Just get him into bed and make sure he gets plenty of fluids when he wakes up." Said the other. Ren saw them out.

"Thank You." He said. "Good Bye." As Ren shut the door, HoroHoro knelt down next to him. Lifting his right wrist, checking it again for himself. The blood was there, but still, no slashes.

"This is insane…Hao…it's a miracle." Muttered HoroHoro, a tearful smile growing on his face. Ren approached him.

"Come. Let's get him into bed." Sighed Ren. HoroHoro nodded and smiled at Hao.

"Hao…I'm so glad you're okay…"

"Will you be okay now?" Yoh asked, holding Hao gently. Hao smiled. "Yes… I think so."

"Why were you doing this?" Yoh looked sadly, yet deeply into his brother's eyes. Hao closed his eyes, trying to hold back some tears. "I … wanted to be with you …"

"But you are with me."

"And … you did this, too …"

Yoh gasped. "So … you were imitating me?"

"Not … exactly…"

"So why?" Yoh asked again, but Hao shook his head. Yoh was beginning to realize where Hao was going with this. Could he be … trying to show Yoh how wrong he was? Trying to make him feel guilty, maybe?

"Yoh…" Hao began weakly. Yoh picked up his wrist and held it close to him, as if praying that Hao would be okay. "I promise you… I will never … do this again."

"Never?"

"No… never. As long as you promise the same thing."

"I will…"

"Promise me."

"Hao." Yoh closed his eyes sadly. "I really want to listen to you. I really want to do what you say. I will do anything for you, my brother … but this… is so hard …"

"I know. And that's okay." Hao comforted his twin. "Even though we are separate, we can still be together."

"Hao, I want you to remember that no matter what, I will always be your twin brother. And that will never change…"

"Never…" Hao repeated his twin, unintentionally. "Never…"

With those words, meant with all of their hearts, Hao's wrist, once cold and lifeless began to warm up … it began to heal, and Hao could move it freely again.

"I will heal…" Hao muttered to himself. Yoh allowed him to lie across his lap, and Hao closed his eyes peacefully. "I will heal… I have to heal. I cannot allow myself to die. Not now, not ever."

He opened his eyes slowly, but surely. His breathing had steadied…

He was back, knowing now what a fool he had been.

"Hao!" HoroHoro gasped in shock and glee when he saw his friend waking up. "You're … you're okay!"

"Of course I am," Hao said. "It is me, isn't it?"

Ren sniffed. "Well, you're better now. And I have some stuff I need to take care of. Good day." With that, Ren turned off to leave.

"Wait, Ren."

Hao had called to Ren. He was still too weak to get off the ground, but Ren walked over anyway. "What is it?" He snapped. Hao laughed. "I just wanted to say thank you."

"Oh, yes, yes, you're welcome," Ren said hurriedly. As he turned around again, he smiled to himself while Hao and HoroHoro laughed in a playful manner.

Maybe Hao really has changed… Ren thought. Quickly he shook his head, but the thought didn't leave his mind…

Once Ren had left, HoroHoro turned to Hao, now changing his playful look to a more serious one.

"What the hell did you think you were doing?" He said, directing his voice in such a way it made Hao concentrate. Hao closed his eyes and opened his mouth to reply until HoroHoro butted in. "I'll tell you what you were thinking you weren't thinking at all that's what you were thinking!"

"Well…I…"

"And what would happen to Opacho eh? And me! I'd miss you a hell of a lot!"

"Don't worry HoroHoro I promised I wouldn't do it again." smiled Hao. HoroHoro cocked his head to one side.

"Promised?" he repeated. Hao opened his eyes.

"You know…I'm tired. Can I just get in bed and get some rest?" muttered Hao changing the subject slightly. HoroHoro sighed.

"Yeah dude. C'mon." he said, standing and helping Hao get to his feet. He helped him to walk to his room, as they passed HoroHoro's room, Opacho ran out and gripped Hao's right leg.

"Opacho was so worried about Hao-sama!" she screamed, her face streaming with tears. Hao smiled and knelt down beside her.

"I'm sorry Opacho." He whispered, hugging her gently. She held him too, and then smiled.

"Opacho glad Hao-sama okay. Those green men were scary." She whimpered.

"Hey Opacho you make them sound like aliens!" laughed HoroHoro, Hao and Opacho laughed too.

"Horo-kun funny!" shrieked Opacho.

"Yeah you always know how to cheer people up HoroHoro." Agreed Hao, standing and continuing to his room, Opacho holding his hand on the way there.

"You should get changed so we can wash those clothes." Mentioned HoroHoro.

"Same goes for you." Sniffed Hao.

"You bled very badly – "

"I know stop going on about it. I'm fine now aren't I?" stated Hao, trying to avoid the conversation.

"What did you mean, you promised?" asked HoroHoro.

"HoroHoro. What did I just say?" said Hao, now glaring at him.

"You have to tell me these things Hao. You can't hide them forever." said HoroHoro, now glaring back at him. Hao sighed.

"Please HoroHoro. Just…give it a rest." Hao walked into his room, closing the door behind him. HoroHoro sighed sadly, Opacho pulled down on his shorts.

"What was Horo-kun and Hao-sama talking about?" she asked sweetly.

"Nothing Opacho." said HoroHoro, turning to walk back to his room, Opacho following. "Nothing."

A few hours passed, until a knock came upon Hao's door.

"Hello in there. May I come in?" came a voice.

"Sure." Replied Hao, not really bothered if they did or not. Ren opened the door and stepped inside, placing a tray with a bowl of soup and an orange juice drink on it down on the table.

"I brought you something to eat. I would have considered you to be hungry." He muttered, feeling embarrassed to be addressing him as a friend. He looked up to see Hao sat at the window, gazing out side. It was becoming darker out side, as the sun was setting casting an orange streak across the sky.

"Thanks." He muttered, not turning around. Ren lingered in the room, and eventually turned to exit. "You wish to speak with me?" asked Hao, still not turning round.

"You read my mind?" asked Ren.

"Sorta." Replied Hao. "Make yourself at home." Ren walked to a chair and sat down.

"Erm, Anna asked about you." said Ren after a few minutes.

"What about me?" asked Hao, being ignorant.

"She wanted to know how you are." said Ren.

"Why didn't she come to see for herself?"

"Because she didn't want to disturb you. You fell asleep right?"

"No."

"But, you've been in here for just over five hours." said Ren, quite surprised.

"I've been thinking about Yoh." said Hao, his voice not changing. "That's why I can't sleep." A silence grew in the room. "Do you wish to befriend me Tao Ren?" awkwardly asked Hao. Ren's eyes grew wide and he struggled to reply.

"I err…"

"I think you out of others would understand me more. Which was why I wanted you to join me a while back, Ren." Hao's eyes didn't divert from the outside world.

"What do you mean?" asked Ren, not sure if Hao should be talking to him about these things.

"I do not wish to speak of it with you, as I know what reaction you shall have. I know this, because I would react the same way. Which is why you and I are not so different." Hao spoke so calmly, which made Ren think about his words instead of denying them.

"I think…I know what you mean."

"No you don't. You just want me to explain it to you."

"No I do…you mean…" Ren lowered his head. "You and I…we have both…" Ren couldn't complete his sentence. Hao turned his head and looked at him.

"Is that a bad thing?" he said. Ren didn't know what he meant. "Is it a bad thing, that you and I have something in common? It isn't something to be proud of, but even so, I'm right aren't I?" Ren nodded his head. "It amazes me, how we can keep it all inside, and show happiness as well as sorrow."

"It's hard." Whispered Ren.

"I know. But you have to learn to live with it."

"I have."

"Me too."

"Have you?"

"Not really."

"Me neither."

The silence grew again. Hao smiled.

"Thank You Ren. You're good company." He grinned.

"Yes. You too." Ren looked at the tray he had brought in for him. "Do you not want this?"

"Leave it there. I shall eat it if I feel the need to later."

"Okay." Nodded Ren, standing and about to leave the room.

"And Ren?" called Hao. Ren turned when he reached the door.

"Yes?" he replied.

"Thank You."

"For what?"

"Giving me a second chance." smiled Hao, now lifting the orange juice to his lips and taking a sip. Ren smiled, and left.