Little Boy

Epilogue

It’s been ten years now. Some days it feels a whole lot longer, while others it doesn’t seem quite as long. Strange how time can have that effect, simply by the events of the day.

Kibo grows like a weed. Just like everything else in the garden. Her hair definitely comes from my side of the family, her bangs imitating mine, my parents, and my grandmother’s. But she has the same soft complexion that Oyamadas always seem to have, and her eyes are as blutiful as Manta;s. Okay, I know that was corny, but it’s quicker than saying ‘beautiful and blue’. But then I just said it, didn’t I?

Shizuka wasn’t kidding when she said that she would wait for love until she knew her mission was complete. She still has that boyishness to her, but she’s still pretty in her own way. And whenever Ryu visits, he trto pto persuade her to let somebody into her life. Of course, everybody knows who that somebody is, so we try to give them as much time together as possible.

I don’t see much of my parents anymore. When Grams passed away five years ago, they spent a few months at the shrine, then finally Mom returned to her duties as a priestess, while Dad went back to training.

Faust stuck around, though, which I’m grateful for. It was hard after my parents first left, but we finally managed to get things sorted out. Faust continued his position as a doctor, but he also finished a program and became a certified councillor, which has in the past been helpful. He says a lot of times he stays for everybody, but like Mosuke, it’s easy to see his true reason for staying in Izumo, rather than return to Funbari Onsen.

And speaking of which, Ryu is now the manager of the hotel. At first I was edgy about leaving him in charge of who was hired, but I quickly found that Ryu had a lot more business sense than he sometimes seemed to have. Though he won’t openly admit it (or at least to me), it’s been easy to tell that he loves Shizuka. But he seems to be as stubborn as her when it comes to waiting for love.

As for me? Well, after finishing home schooling, I went to college in Tokyo and earned certification for hotel and restaurant management (this time studying on my own, rather than using a spirit’s ability). Manta and I were married a week after his sixteenth birthday, and I have never allowed myself to be kept from home. I think I’m beginning to better understand the past, though. Sometimes it makes me want to cry, while other times it makes me angry. But I tend to get over it within a few minutes and try to do as many things with my family as possible.

But...

There are some things time hasn’t healed...

When he thinks nobody is looking, Manta still hides in any small place he can find and cries, and since he told Kibo and I he loved us, he hasn’t made a single sound.

But he is nowhere near lost. He smiles every day, and he tries his hardest Kibo. He isn’t one for a lot of activities, but he seems happy to listen when Kibo needs to talk, and in his own way he encourages her, sometimes just listening, and other times doing things like letting her get out of some of her chores or making her favourite treats.

There’s only one wish in my heart, though. I long for the day when Kibo and I hear Manta’s happy, natural voice laugh and say it’s all good. But until that day arrives, I am happy knowing that we are a family.

~§~

Manta sat on his bed, holding on tightly to Sakura and leaning against the wall. He wasn’t used to Yoh being gone for so long, leaving him with insecure memories of Ren telling him Yoh would one day abandon him.

He held the teddy bear tighter, while hiding his face in the soft material, then remembered what Yoh told him so long ago.

”Manta, whenever I can’t come home, don’t be scared. Take deep breaths, and remember that I love you, always. Nothing will change that, okay?”

Manta slowly did as Yoh instructed him long ago, then began to calm. After a while he looked up towards the door that led to the garden. A nostalgic feeling of being invited filled him, then slowly he slid off the bed while holding on tightly to Sakura. He quietly walked out and through the garden, spring grass tickling his bare feet, then came to a stop. He stared at the figure that sat quietly, then looked down some.

“It’s okay,” he cooed gently. “I promised you I wouldn’t leave you alone, so I came home real fast.”

Manta looked quietly at the Asakura, then slowly he made his way over and let the strong arms embrace him, nuzzling his face into his shoulder.

The brunette smiled, then kissed the thin lips gently, then scooped Manta up gently and returned to the house, gently placing him into the soft bed, then covered him up and sat on the side of the bed, watching Manta.

Manta looked up quietly at him, then hugged Sakura tightly and sleepily rubbed his face into the material. After a short while, he drifted to sleep.

“Good night, my little,” t,” the shaman said quietly, then kissed Manta and walked back out to the garden.

~§~§~§~§~§~§~§~§~§~§~§~§~§~§~§~

Ne? So that’s it. But..... Would anybody like a sequel? Anyhoo, I really hope the readers enjoyed this. Reviews greatly appreciated, peps. Thanks to Genki Jessi-chan, who helped with some of the events, and drove me nuts for a good ending. ^_^