Little Boy

Chapter 24 ~ Bonding

“Where’s Manta?” Ren asked as he stepped in front of Yoh.

The brunette frowned. “Where he’s safe from people like you. And just so you know, Ren, if you ever go near him or our baby, I will find out. And I will make you pay.”

Ren smirked. “Oh yeah? And how will you do that?”

Yoh glared angrily at him. “Do you really want to know?”

Ren’s smirk faded. “Don’t test me, Yoh. You’ll only lose everything you love if you do that.” With that he turned and walked away.

Yoh sighed, then opened the door of his locker. He yelped when he found Horo crammed into it.

“Shh! Is he gone?” Horo hissed.

Yoh stared with oddity, then blinked. “Who? Ren? Yeah, he’s gone.”

“Thank God,” Horo muttered, then fell out of the locker. With a groan he got up and smiled nervously. “Sorry ‘bout that. Ren’s having another bitch-attack because I broke up with him. Didn’t know where else to hide.”

Yoh blinked again. “Oukay then...” He shook his head some.

“Anyway,” Horo said as he stretched, “I’ve been thinking about Manta and the baby.”

“What about them?” Yoh asked with a cocked eyebrow.

“I think we should throw them a party. You know, like a mix of a baby shower and a regular party. We could invite the gang, or what’s left of it anyway.”

Yoh shook his head. “No parties. Not until I find out what happened last week. And besides which, Manta doesn’t like being around a lot of people.”

“Oh yeah,” Horo said quietly while looking down, then walked with Yoh towards their classes. “I’m really sorry, Yoh,” Horo finally said after an awkward silence.

“Don’t apologize to me,” Yoh said quietly. “Manta is the one who suffered. Now please change the subject.”

Horo thought for a moment, then smiled a bit. “How’s the baby?”

Yoh smiled at the thought of his unborn child. “Kibo’s getting there,” he said after a minute.

“Kibo?” Horo laughed gently. “Good choice. So I take it the baby is going to be a girl?”

“No idea,” Yoh replied with a chuckle. “Whether ia boa boy or a girl, we’re naming the baby Kibo, because he or she is our hope.”

“Cute,” Horo said with a slight smile. “But, uh... How is Manta gonna give birth?”

Yoh stopped with a curious expression on his face, then after a few minutes of thought, he grinned. “I guess Shizuka will just have to give Manta a sex change, ‘cause Manta said that he wants the give birth naturally...”

“A guy bring pregnant in the first place isn’t exactly natural,” Horo said while one eyebrow quirked.

Yoh smiled. “Daijobu. We’ll figure it out.”

Horo laughed, then blinked when the bell rang. “Oh, shit!” he yelled. “I gotta get to class! See ya at lunch!” he cried, then ran down the hall.

“Daddy?”

Faust looked up hearing Manta’s tired voice, then spotted him at the door, his face pale and his eyes tired. “Manta, are you okay?” he asked as he stood up.

“I got sick again,” he said with a small whimper, then walked over and hugFausFaust.

“Ah. Daijobu. That usually happens when one is pregnant,” Faust said as he scooped the boy into his arms. “How about if I make you some tea?”

“May I have some hot chocolate instead?” he asked after a moment.

Faust smiled. “Manta, you know that’s for at night.”

Manta looked up at him for a moment, then looked down with a sigh. “Okay...”

Faust frowned upon seeing the disappointed look in Manta’s eyes, then sighed. ”Perhaps I should let him have some...” he thought. ”How often does he actually ask for a treat, anyway?” He smiled a bit. “On second thought, Manta, I think you can have some this one time.”

Manta shook his head. “No... It’s for at night,” he said quietly.

“Well... Are you sure?” Faust asked.

“It wouldn’t be fair to the others,” Manta said quietly, then laid his head against Faust’s shoulder.

Faust smiled as he walked back to the living room and placed Manta on the couch, propping him with a pillow, then smiled. “Manta, I’m going to go get you a few things. You just sit and wait here.” He left the room, then returned minutes later with a soft quilt and covered Manta up, then knelt down and took one of the boy’s tiny hands into his own. “Manta, would you like some apple cider?”

Manta looked curiously at Faust, then nodded. “Yes, please.” Manta watched as Faust walked out of the room, then slid off the couch and walked over to the shelfre sre some tapes and discs rest, then picked out a brightly colored cassette case and retrieved the tape, then put it in the VCR. Once the cassette began to play, the boy retrieved his teddy bear from the corner of the room, then climbed back up onto the couch and pulled the blanket around himself and Sakura.

After about five minutes, Faust returned and found Manta sitting on the couch, watching the TV as a yellow bear and his friends try to help a blue bird. He smiled slightly, then walked over and gently placed the cup of hot cider in Manta’s small hands.

“Thank you, Daddy,” Manta said as he looked down at the drink.

“Think nothing of it,” Faust replied with a smile.

After a moment of silence, Manta looked up. “Daddy? Can we watch together?”

Faust looked at his watch, then shrugged slightly and sat on the couch while carefully placing Manta in his lap. “Of course we can. That’s what daddies do with their children,” he said with a soft laugh.

After a while, Faust looked down and saw Manta had finished the cider and fallen asleep, holding on tightly to the teddy bear. He smiled and carefully stood with Manta cradled in his arms, then went back to his office, where a small bed had been set up in case Manta ever needed somebody nearby. Once he had tucked Manta in, he sat down at his desk and began going through the bills, every now and then stealing a glance of his son.

The doctor blinked, then smiled to himself. For quite some time he had wanted to call Manta his own, but knew better. But now that he really could say Manta was his son, he felt fulfilled.

“Congratulations,” Mosuke’s voice said quietly.

Faust blinked, then looked up to the blacksmith spirit. “I didn’t sense you come in.”

“Yeah, well, I get that a lot. Just wanted to say congratulations on becoming a father.”

Faust watched as Mosuke looked sadly at Manta. “It wasn’t a competition, Mosuke... And you have to remember that even if Manta did care for you that way, it would be too hard on both of you.”

“I know,” he replied. “That’s about the only g keg keeping me from permanently possessing you.”

Faust cocked an eyebrow, then chuckled softly. “Well, as long as you don’t, everything should be fine. But Mosuke, beliee. Ie. I will take great care of him. I promise.”

The spirit nodded, then sighed. “I’m gonna go find Amidamaru before I depress myself again,” he muttered, then disappeared.

Faust sighed while closing his eyes. “It is for the best, my friend,” he thought. “Even if it had been Miki or Ryu who took responsibility for Manta...” With another sigh, the doctor returned his attention to the bills.