Little Boy

Chapter 25 ~ New Conflicts

Yoh watched with a smile as Manta slept. It had become almost a daily tradition to for Yoh too watched his tiny beloved after school, daydreaming about the future. Today was no exception. He blinked and looked curiously to Manta’s belly, then a huge grin crossed his face when he saw Manta’s belly shake a little. Gently he placed his hand down and smiled when he felt Kibo kick.

After a few minutes, the kicking awoke Manta, he groaned in discomfort. “What’s going on?” he murmured.

Yoh grinned. “Kibo’s kicking.” He giggled while poking Manta’s stomach. “Makes you look like you ate too much and it’s trying to get out!”

Manta looked curiously at Yoh. “Huh?”

“Hehehe... You’re fat.”

Manta blinked, then blushed. “I’m sorry...”

Yoh blinked. “Why? I think you’re cute when you’re pregnant.” After a moment Yoh blinked again, then grinned and hugged Manta. “I know! Let’s get you pregnant again right after you give birth!”

Manta looked down at Yoh quietly, then his expressions became less cheerful, but still he smiled. “If... that’s what you want, Yoh-chan,” he whispered.

Yoh looked up, then frowned. “Manta, don’t be like that. It’s your body. You shouldn’t do things that hurt or upset you.”

Manta sighed quietly.

“Yoh-kun, may I have a word with you?” Faust’s voice called from the door.

Yoh looked up, then nodded. “I’ll be back in a minute,” he said to Manta, then kissed the thin lips quickly, the got up and walked out into the hall with Faust. “Yeah?”

Faust looked at Yoh worriedly. “It’s about Manta... I don’t think he’s going to get through this...” he said quietly.

Yoh tilted his head. “You said he was doing fine.”

Faust shook his head. “Yoh-kun, the baby is going to be full size. He won’t be able to handle it. I hate to say this, but... but... the pregnancy needs to be terminated...” he said quietly while looking down.

Yoh glared at Faust. “Don’t you damn well tell me that!” he yelled. “Kibo is going to be born, Manta is going to be fine, and we’re going to be a family! Manta’s strong. He can handle this!”

“Yoh-kun, he isn’t as strong as we’d like to believe! He’s been acting! He may seem ready when he’s around you, but when he’s alone or with me he isn’t the same! Yoh-kun, he isn’t ready for any of this! To be a parent! To be in such an intimate relationship! It’s too much for him! I’ve been monitoring his condition much more closely, and though he’s been doing br, tr, this is just the damned eye of the storm, Yoh!”

Yoh looked shakily at the doctor, then growled. “Y-You’re just saying all of this so you can keep Manta to yourself!”

Faust looked at him quietly. “Yoh-kun, you have to understand. Manta’s been through a lot. This pregnancy isnaturatural, even with magic. He’s going to die, Yoh-kun, and even if he doesn’t, it’s going to damage him badly.” He looked at the floor. “Yoh, he never had a childhood because of that monster... When Hao got a hold of him... He did Manta a favour in a strange way... It’s like he was walking around in a shell, while his spirit was in a coma... His spirit is still very young...” He looked up quietly. “Yoh-kun... Manta isn’t ready... and if the pregnancy isn’t terminated, you’re going to lose both of them...”

Yoh looked shakily at Faust, then cast his gaze to the floor. For several long minutes he thought, then looked up at the older shaman. “... How sure are you?”

Faust shook his head. “I wouldn’t have brought it up if I wasn’t certain.”

A long silence followed. Finally Yoh closed his eyes. “Faust... If there isn’t a reasonable doubt in your mind... Perhaps... It will have to be done...”

“No!” Manta’s voice cried.

The two looked towards the door and found Manta standing there, tears running down his face.

“Kibo didn’t do anything! Please don’t take Kibo away!” he cried.

“Manta...” Yoh said gently as he knelt down and placed his hands on the small shoulders. “Manta, please listen... I don’t want to lose either of you... but...”

“No!” Manta cried again. “Yoh-chan, Kibo did nothing! Please don’t hurt Kibo! You can’t! She never did anything bad! Please don’t take her alone! Please!” He buried his face into Yoh’s shoulder while sobbing hysterically. “Please... Please don’t make her go away... please...”

Yoh looked at Manta with sad eyes, then nuzzled his face into the blonde hair. “Manta-chan...”

After a while, Yoh stood, cradling Manta in his arms, who made small gasps as he slept. Slowly he looked to Faust. “I... I changed my mind.... I can’t allow it...”

Faust nodded, a single tear running down his face. “I know...”

Yoh looked down at Manta sadly. “We’ll figure it out,” he said quietly, then walked back into the bedroom.

Faust clenched his handhen hen turned and returned to his office.

“Yes?” Mansumi asked as he answered the phone. “Yes, this is he.” He was silent for a moment. “That can be negotiated. I just want the job done. And if anybody gets in the way, they are expendable... Yes, the Funbari Resort...” He smirked to himself. “Good.” He hung up the phone while clasping his hands with a satisfied expression.

“Sir, may I ask what that was about?” Tamura asked quietly.

“None of your business,” Mansumi snapped. “Your job is to serve my wife and daughter. Nothing else. Now be gone!”

“Yes, Sir,” Tamura said quietly, then turned and left the room with worried eyes.