Little Boy

Chapter 28 ~ Family Reunion

“Shizuka, you don’t have to stay in Izumo after the spell is cast,” Yoh said quietly while looking up to the young miko, who sat across from him.

“It’s okay,” she replied while looking up. “It’s my duty to serve you and Lord Manta,” she said with a smile.

“But won’t you miss Raijin and Marcus and Chen?” he asked.

Her expression became slightly sad. “Yeah... No denying it’ll be hard without them...” she said quietly. “I’ve never been without Raijin and Marcus... Even after Hao killed my mom, and I detached from everything... They were still close by.” She looked up with a forced smile. “It’s time I learned to be without them. I was getting too close to Marcus anyway.”

Yoh leaned forward and placed a hand on her knee. “Shizuka... If I’m your lord, I grant you permission to be with one you love.”

She shook her head with a smile. “You and Manta are my priority. It was why I lived three thousand years ago, and it is why I was reborn. I don’t know why it is so important, but one day it will make sense. And then it will have been worth waiting to find love.”

Yoh giggled. “You sound like a Saturday morning cartoon.”

She tilted her head curiously, then smiled.

“I only hope that you can fulfill your role,” Faust said quietly.

The two looked over to Faust, who was looking down at Manta, who rest in his lap.

“Papa...” Shizuka said quietly.

Manta stared out the window, his eyes blank and revealing his weak spirit. Earlier before they had left the hotel, he had become too distressed, resulting in an administration of tranquilizer so he wouldn’t hurt himself. Since then he had been silent and unmoving.

Yoh sighed as he looked out the window. “We should be arriving outside of Izumo in about ten minutes,” he said.

Faust and Shizuka nodded, then the three were silent as the train made it’s way towards their destination.

Soon they walked down a dirty road silently, Amidamaru, Eliza and Mosuke hovering behind them.

“Ohayo!”

The group looked ahead and saw Tamao running up, Bonchi and Conchi following close behind

“Tamao,” Yoh said while smiling some, then hugged her once she reached their party.

Tamao looked up. “Ryu-san called and said you were on your way,” she explained. “Miki-san asked me to greet you. Uh...” She looked towards Manta. “Manta-sama?”

“It’s a long story,” Yoh said as his mood lowered again.

Eventually the group arrived at the Shinto shrine. Mikihisa, Keiko, and Kino all awaited their arrival on the front porch.

“It is good to see you again,” Keiko said with a smile as she hugged her son.

“I missed you, Mom,” Yoh said as he hugged her tightly, then hugged Kino. “And you as well, Grams.”

“”Miki-san, I would like to stop our silly fighting,” Shizuka said as she bowed slightly.

“Really? Well... Uh... That’s different,” he said while scratching the back of his head.

“It seems you are finally beginning to grow, young one,” Kino said quietly.

Shizuka looked to Kino. “Hmm? Oh! Konicha wa, Kino-kyoshi,” she said while bowing.

“It is actually evening. The sun is beginning to set,” she corrected. “But it is good to see you have healed since the last time we met.”

“Hmm?” Shizuka looked curiously at Kino.

“We shall save it for another time,” she said while looking to her grandson.

“We have prepared a room for you and Manta,” Keiko said to Yoh.

Yoh smiled some. “Arigato. Mom, Dad, Grams... I’ve come back, permanently. I do not wish to leave Manta or Kibo.”

Mikihisa nodded. “We know. Ryu explained it to us. He will be arriving by tomorrow morning with your belongings and has agreed to look after the hotel.”

Yoh smiled. “Sankyuu...”

“Hmm. Let’s get you settled in then,” Kino said, then turned and walked into the shrine, followed by Keiko.

“Shizuka,” Mikihisa said quietly.

“Mm?” She looked at him with soft, crystalline-blue eyes. “Hai?”

“We have a bit of a surprise for you,” he said, then the spirit of a woman about Keiko’s age floated out from behind Miki. Her hair was short like Shizuka’s, but black, and her eyes light blue. She wore a floral designed kimono with pink and green patterns, and had an encouraging smile similar to Raijin’s.

“Hello, Shizuka,” she said gently.

“Huh?” she looked at the woman with confusion. “Do I know you?”

“I didn’t think ten years could affect a spirit’s appearance,” she giggled, then looked up. “I’m your mother, Shizuka. Remember? Mayumi?”

She was quiet for several long minutes, then she felt Yoh give her a friendly shove.

“Don’t be shy,” Yoh said with a grin, then followed Faust into the building.

“Mommy?” Shizuka whisperer, a variety of images running through her mind, then stopping on one when she was four. She had been trapped in a crawl space with a small window that allowed her to witness Hao murdering her mother, then she blinked, not realizing tears were running down her face. “Mommy?” she asked again.

Mayumi nodded with a smile. “Mikihisa asked Kino to bring be here.”

“Miki-san,” she said as she looked to Yoh’s father, who scratched the back of his head.

“I figured you’d need company,” was all he said. “Dinner will be ready soon, so don’t stay out long.” With that he returned into the shrine.

Shizuka stared shakily at her mother’s spirit, then walked over curiously. “It really is you?”

“Hai,” she replied with a smile.

Shizuka smiled some. “Be my partner spirit?”

“I was hoping you would ask that,” she said with a smile. “Now get inside. It’s cold out tonight, and you might catch a cold.”

Shizuka nodded, then quickly ran into the shrine.

“I did not expect to see you again,” Amidamaru said as he appeared.

Mayumi looked at him, then smiled. “I guess I found peace when I saw she was hiding,” she replied.

Amidamaru nodded while looking away slightly. “Um... Thanks for coming all those years,” he said quietly.

“Of course,” she replied. “Think nothing of it. I see little Yaw iaw in you what I saw.”

He nodded slightly.

“Shall I leave you two lovebirds alone?” Mosuke snapped irritably, then floated into the shrine behind Eliza.

The two stared at Mosuke, then looked at each other and laughed gently.