Manta POV:

All I could really remember of that night started just after supper, everyone in the Asakura's Inn was sleepy after the big feast that celebrated Yoh's victory and new title of Shaman King. All of the guests chatted around the table sleepily yet happily with each other, but Yoh was ever energetic and happy, as usual, as it should be! Because tonight was special. Probably the most special night of his entire life. It was over. The Shaman Fight in Tokyo was over...the Shaman King declared. For all he went through to achieve this goal...all I can say is he truly deserved it. He was so great, strong, kind, good, and always came through for his friends...he had accomplished so much...and I felt so...insignificant. I could never offer much to help him, as friends should, I seemed only to tag along. But nevertheless, he was always there for me, and cared for me, like a big brother, even though there was so many other things he should've been concerned with. But he cared for me, spent the little time he had with me, the useless little human that I am. What a great guy. He deserves everything that comes to him now, he's earned it...I wish him only the very best of the best. Honestly...I admire him so much...do I dare say it? I love him. For being all the things I wish I could be. Yet there's so much I don't understand. Some of it I never will. I will never truly understand what Shamans are.

Yoh POV:

Ah, this is great! No more fighting, or training, (well, exercise is important, after all...as much as I hate to admit it --) but there's nothing but listening to my favorite music all day...well, at least that's what I thought before! But there's just so much more I'm aware of now...so when I finally meet those Great Spirits I'll be able to help everyone! I want to help them. No matter what. But...I'm not King Shaman yet. Not just yet. Actually I'm not entirely sure how that works...but there's no need to worry about it. They'll let me know. Until then, there's nothing to worry about. So...I've been thinking a lot. About a lot of different things. But mainly...ultimately...everything is in the Great Spirits' hands, aren't they? I feel like they decided Hao wasn't good enough that day...and that they helped me against him, somehow. Maybe I'm just imagining things ; But if so much is true...why would they have chosen me, over Hao? We both had a lot of power...And we're almost biologically identical. Almost everyone believed that we were the same person at one time...then...according to the Great Spirits, what makes me any different than Hao?

Manta POV:

We relaxed in the hot tub after dinner. I could see Yoh in the starlight, but he didn't look the same. For once, in the entire time I'd known him, he was looking troubled and in deep thought all of a sudden. This sight...it gave me chills.

"Yoh-kun?"

"...Hmm?"

"You're really quiet all of a sudden...are you okay?"

"Oh...yeah, of course!" He flashed his infamous smile. "Why?"

"Oh, no reason." I said quickly. I could feel my cheeks tinge a light pink. But I think the night sky hid that. Or at least distracted him.

"The stars...! Wow, they're so beautiful tonight!"

"Yeah!" Ren, Ryu, Lyserg, and the other boys gasped. I had hardly noticed them come in. I could vaguely see them with all the steam rising in the air.

"Hey, its been a long time since its been clear enough to see them!" Horo Horo added.

"Kuu kuu kuu!" Agreed a very excited Kororo who nudged Horo Horo playfully. Everyone else laughed which made Horo Horo blush. "Hey, stop that!" He said indignantly, which just made everyone laugh harder.

"So...Yoh-dono. What do you plan to do first ?" Ryu asked.

"Eh, well...I haven't really thought about it yet. Who knows?" Yoh said.

"Well, I'm sure you know...as the duty of Shaman King, you must take a wife." Ren stated. A huge gasp erupted from the hot tub, as if on cue.

"Wha...?" Yoh's jaw dropped in surprise.

"No one told you? When you become Shaman King, Anna, your betrothed, becomes your wife. Its only custom." Ren finished.

"Really?" Yoh said, slightly gaining composure. "Does...Anna know?"

"Probably."

Yoh rarely shows nervousness...but if he did, this would have been the time. Because Anna was one of the few people who could shake him out of him "normal attitude", and everyone knew it. But he merely looked down without much objection...continuing his previous state of mind. The boys laughed, too giddy to notice the look on Yoh's face. I giggled lightly, to lighten the mood mostly, but inside...I felt...something else. Then he'd be married, at least by Shaman standards. Married...but he is so young, he has his whole life ahead of him, shouldn't he be allowed to choose for himself? After all, he is the King! He should be able to do what he likes. But the thought still scared me. Maybe that's what scared him too. But he'd get over it. They had been engaged for two years, it only seemed right. At least, Anna seemed to be in love with him, in her own way...but how did he feel? While I thought, the conversation had long since moved on. But Yoh had gone quiet again.

"Yoh-kun? Anything you wanna talk about?" I asked.

"Umm...I guess its kind of obvious, huh?" He smiled hopelessly and scratched his head. "Just thinking."

"Yeah, I'm sure...you're just scared about Anna aren't you?" I asked, mock-accusingly. I attempted to laugh it off, but he continued.

"No...I was thinking...about Hao. Why I was chosen over him. Everyone said we were so alike..."

"I remember that! I couldn't believe everyone thought you were Hao! I was so..."

Then I caught him staring at me. It was just for a brief second, but I felt something inside flutter and it shot right through me...freezing me and paralyzing me in an instant. I didn't know what he meant by it...I looked around, feeling a little uncomfortable...but no one was there. There was only us. But what could I say? His eyes...to me, looked full of question, of longing, of confusion and pain...I didn't know what to do.

"Manta..."

I shivered, despite the heat of the water. I flushed a deeper crimson. I could feel it burning in my cheeks. Just his whispering my name made me tremble.

"I realized...what it was. That makes us different. Its...humans. He would have nothing to do with them...and I wanted to save them." I found we were very close now. I was nervous, and found myself wondering what was happening. Is this real? Could...Yoh-kun really, possibly, love me too? The mixture of happiness, excitement, and nervousness built up inside. I felt I would explode, the pain was there in my chest...with all this stir of sudden strong emotion I hardly knew what was occurring.

"Manta..." He whispered again. I trembled again. And suddenly found his lips upon mine. I couldn't think. I didn't want to.

Incredible...impossible...

...but wrong

But that feeling, those feelings, from before...bubbling and building up inside of me...vanished instantly. All with one thought, as if pricked by a pin...

Anna.

When he ended the kiss, I looked down, slowly shrunk down and sobbed as the reminder ate at my heart.

"Manta...what's wrong?"

"Yoh-kun..." I managed to mutter in between sobs. "You have...Anna, and she's your...fiancé..."

My heart broke entirely when I heard myself admit it. I was pushing him away...too scared to tell him how I felt. He waited for me to continue. "Anna will never know...about this...but..." I could only cry harder...I couldn't help it. He smiled sadly, and nodded as if he understood. I could see the pain in his eyes...I knew he was hurting too. I grabbed my towel. "Take some time to think, Yoh..." What was I saying? I smiled meekly anyway, my voice was weak from crying. He smiled back, and looked away...thinking again. "Thank you, Manta." I heard him say. I nodded and walked inside, closing the door quietly.

Throughout the next day my feelings remained mixed as they were the last night. The kiss...it was haunting me, the only thing I could think about...the weight, that heavy feeling in my chest, came back. Yes, I loved him...but I would never tell him. I would never mess things up for him. I would never cause him trouble. He seemed alright, and seemed to have forgotten...I just didn't know. I could never take him away from Anna...that was impossible. I would never come between them. There's too much dishonor there...he doesn't deserve that. Besides...these days Anna and Yoh seemed to be getting along better...Anna seemed to be nicer. Yoh was becoming accustomed to her. I was happy for them. I truly was. He didn't know that I loved him...at least I never told him.

Later that night, I stood, shaking, outside his bedroom door. I don't know what made me do it. Honestly, I'll never know. I was terrified. But I couldn't stop myself. I edged through the door, being as quiet as possible. I want to, but I had to...maybe I just...felt that if I admitted it in his presence that it would be all over...

"Yoh...uh..."I said quietly. Because Anna had ears like a cat, and could probably hear things while she slept. She always had a way of knowing these things...the mass on the bed shifted a little. "Manta?" He said sleepily as he sat up. I hadn't actually thought that he'd be awake after all. "Something wrong?" He whispered loudly, concerned but seemingly happy to see me. I looked down again, at a loss for words. I hadn't actually expected him to be awake. I sat on the edge of the bed on the floor. He watched me, waiting. The turmoil began to build again. What am I doing? I shouldn't be here...but something had to be done now. I took a deep breath, struggled to hold it against the whirl inside, shaking more profusely than before.

"Yoh-kun...I know what I told you before..." Tell-tale tears began streaming down my face again. Damn it, why did I always have to break down? It hurt so badly...I was determined to fight it through. But...this was so wrong...I shouldn't...

"Yoh-kun I...I love you!" I busted out in full sobs now, realizing I'd never be able to take it back, and the damage was done, and if he felt the same way I...I could never forgive myself, but...I needed him...I'm so selfish. I hated myself for doing it now. I refused to meet his eyes now. His eyes widened, as if surprised, but for sure I'll never know. But he pulled me close to him. I couldn't stop crying. Like the night before. I couldn't explain...I couldn't breathe...the pain was great in my chest...

Had I opened a Pandora's Box, never to be closed again? I felt awful. But his embrace was too warm, too wonderful, and I didn't want it to stop.

"Manta..." He whispered into my ear, and held me tighter.