Little Boy

Chapter 15 ~ Separation


“You did WHAT?!” Yoh shrieked.

Horo stepped back quickly. “Yoh, I know. I’m an asshole and I’m sorry! Honestly! I didn’t hurt him, though!”

“No, you only weakened his spirit!” Yoh yelled. “Horo, how could you make Manta do such a thing?!”

“Would you just let me finish!” Horo said angrily. “Has Manta told you about the so-called party?”

Manta opened his eyes, then looked up nervously. “R-Ren?” he whimpered, finding the Tao looking down at him with a soft smirk.

“Shh... Manta, perhaps I was a little harsh on you before. I would really like for you and I to be friends,” he said gently.

Manta looked at him nervously, then whimpered as Ren placed a hand on the side of his face.

“Please, Manta?” Ren whispered, then kissed the quivering lips softly.

Slowly Manta nodded, too afraid not to agree. He sighed in relief when Ren pulled away.

“I brought you a present,” the Tao stated. “Since you never got to enjoy cartoons when you were young, I thought you might like this.” He pulled out a cassette that was packaged in a brightly colored box. On the cover was a yellow bear, an orange tiger with and oddly coiled tail, a small pig and a yellowish colored rabbit.

Manta blushed slightly at the sight. “Winnie the Pooh?”

Ren smiled gently at him. “Wouldn’t it be a nice change from the scarey things in the world?” he asked.

Manta sighed. “H-Hai...”

“Good.” He walked over and placed the cassette in the VCR, then turned on the TV. A moment later the cartoon began to play, then Ren looked at Manta. “I have to go do some training. Enjoy sho show.”

Manta sighed, but after about five minutes he found himself interested as Rabbit tried to help an injured bluebird named Casey.


Yoh looked quietly at Horo, who was holding his darkening eye. “Why did you let Ren do that to Manta?” he growled.

Horo sighed. “I don’t know... I figured at first Ren was just going to let Manta get me hardened up, then he’d finish up. But... I kinda lost myself in Manta... If you’ll pardon the pun.”

“Why would you let happen in the first place?!”

Once again the Ainu sighed. “Because Ren was going to tell Anna and Mansumi about you and Manta. Even if I do like Manta... I couldn’t let him be hurt by letting him be separated from the one he loves.”

Yoh stared. “You... like Manta?”

“Why do you think I feel like shit?!” he yelled.

“Horo...”

Ryu stared up at the stars with a smile from his resting place on the roof. “I wonder if Lyserg is watching them?” he thought.

“Ryu, I need to talk to you!” Tokagero said urgently as he appeared.

“Tokagero?” Ryu looked at him with confusion, then looked away, remembering the last time they had seen each other. “What do you want?”

“It’s about Manta. Anna and Ren are up to something.”

“And what makes you think it’s something bad?” Ryu asked almost sarcastically.

“Well the simple fact that they’re trying to break up Manta and Yoh may have something to do with it!”

“What?” He sat up and looked at him quietly. “Are you sure?”

“Sure I’m sure! Look, I know I was an asshole before, but I’m over that. Anna and Ren are up to something, and you guys have to believe me. Anna called Mansumi earlier, so things aren’t going to be pretty.” He blinked, then the two looked towards the road when they heard a vehicle pull up. “Shit... That’s him now. Keep him busy while I go let Yoh know what’s going on,” he said, then shot through the roof.

Ryu quickly slid to the edge of the roof and jumped down, then jogged out to the curb. Whether or not Tokagero was telling the truth, he knew that the Oyamada father was not a good person. “Oyamada-san!” he called. “What a surprise to see you!”

Meanwhile, Manta had dozed off moments before the cartoon ended. Anna peered in and watched him for a moment, then smirked. Once she was sure nobody was around, she walked over to the couch carrying a glass of warmed apple juice, and studied the sleeping boy. “Hmm... Yoh must be a pedofile if he finds his joys in such a cute little boy,” she muttered.

She smirked as Manta stirred a little in his sleep, then poured the juice over his crotch, being careful to let it soak through the blanket. Once she had emptied the glass, she quickly walked out of the room.

“What are you doing back?” Yoh asked as Tokagero appeared.

“Mansumi’s here and Anna and Ren are trying to break you and Manta up,” he said quickly. “And before you start up with the whole ‘why should I believe you’ bit, just hear me out. I’m sorry for what I did! I hate to admit it, but it’s true. Now get out there before something happens!”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like a tour of the premisses?” Ryu asked.

“Yes I’m sure! I only came here for my son!” Mantsumi yelled, the walked past the shaman angrily.

“Oh dear,” Ryu said nervously.

Inside, Manta’s eyes fluttered open. He rubbed his face into Sakura sleepily, then whimpered in discomfort. He looked down, then turned a bright shade of red realizing he and the blanket was soaked. Slowly he slid off the couch and gathered the blanket into his tiny arms, then felt the couch, letting out a sigh of relief when he found it was dry.

“Mansumi, Manta isn’t well! He needs a doctor nearby and a sense of security,” Yoh angrily argued.

“He is my son, and he’s coming home,” Mansumi replied with even more anger as he and the young Asakura came into the living room. “There you are, you little worm,” the Oyamada father growled when he spotted his trembling son.

Manta looked at his father with fear, holding the blanket close to hide his shame. “S-Sir...”

“You are going home! Now drop that stupid blanket and get out to the limo!”

“But...”

Mansumi stormed over and yanked the blanket, grabbing a wet area, then stared in disgust as he quickly dropped it and retrieved a small pack of sanitary napkins from his pocket. “You little pig! And what is this shit you’re watching?!”

“I’m sorry,” Manta whimpered.

“Manta...” Yoh said softly, surprised by the stain on the front of his beloved’s pyjama bottoms, theilediled slightly noticing what Manta was watching. Quickly he decided it had something to do with his health and disregarded any embarrassment.

“Sorry?!” Mansumi yelled. “You aren’t half as sorry as you’re going to be!” He roughly grabbed the thin arm and began dragging Manta, twisting it for a moment until the bone almost fractured.

“Y-You’re hurting me,” Manta whimpered.

“Hey! Let him go!” Yoh yelled.

Mansumi looked at him dangerously. “If you ever come near my son again, you’ll both regret it.”

Yoh stared as Mansumi dragged Manta out, then felt hot tears form. “Manta,” he said shakily, then ran to the door and watched as the limo pulled away quickly.

“I saw that,” Anna’s voice said gently.

Yoh blinked, then looked back to find Anna looking at him quietly. “What do you care?”

She walked over and hugged him. “Keeping you two apart wasn’t going to do something. I figured it’d be easier to just allow you to have Manta... I’m sorry Mansumi took him away.”

Yoh looked down silently at Anna, then pulled away. “I have to go find Faust,” he said silently. “Tell Ren to meet me later at Funbari Hill.”