A/N: This is just a sort of fluffy MantaXYoh fiction. Its not really at any time, its sort of an AU. Its inspired by a song by Avril Lavigne..."I'm With You". It was originally going to be a song fic, but I've decided to just write the story. Anyhow. Shaman King and its characters don't belong to me...in any way shape or form. And this Author's Note is getting long.

------

It was a breezy, and rather stormy night. The clouds lit up with another streak of lightning. Anyone who would have actually seen Oyamada Manta walking in the rain would take a double take. Manta? Walking in the rain? He was smarter than that, wasn't he? The short spastic little boy sighed heavily. He held his umbrella over his head, struggling to keep a hold of it.

He was lonely tonight. His parents were both gone...of course, that wasn't new. His sister was spending the night at a friends house. Not unusual either. Somehow...it was harsher tonight than normally.

"The stars are beautiful tonight."

Manta blinked, wondering if he had imagined those familiar words. But then, there was Yoh, standing in the rain, drenched from head to toe, standing on the bridge and looking at the sky.

"Yoh-kuhn...there isn't any stars tonight. The clouds are covering them." The boy paused, looking at his friend like he had gone completely crazy.

Yoh just chuckled and looked back. "There isn't? Well...the raindrops are beautiful then!"

Manta smiled gently and giggled at the young shaman, and went to stand by him. "Yoh-kuhn...why are you standing out in the rain?"

"I don't really know. Anna sent me out for groceries...and I guess I got distracted, and never made it home," He shrugged, and sure enough, there was a soaked bag of groceries at his side. "I like the rain. Its comforting."

"Mmhmm," Manta nodded, and then withdrew his umbrella. "But its storming, Yoh-kuhn."

"I know.." Yoh sighed contentedly. "I don't know why, but I felt like I was waiting for someone. Like I had to meet someone...I wanted to see who would come by first." He looked at Manta, smiling. "I've been here for hours...Anna's going to kill me."

"You're right about that. What do you mean, 'meet someone'?" He looked into the river below, confused about the logic of this.

Yoh laughed, and ruffled Manta's hair softly. "Its hard to say. Spur of the moment thought."

"I don't think I'll ever understand you, Yoh-kuhn..."

"I know." The taller boy sighed and leaned against the railing. "I can't go home now though...Anna is going to be mad at me. And I don't want that..."

"She'll just be even more mad when you don't come home." He nodded, matter-of-factly, the thunder rolling in the background.

"Manta...?"

"Yes, Yoh-kuhn?" He blinked, closing the umbrella. The wind was about to blow it away, so he might as well get wet then lose it.

"Are...you alone at home right now? I mean...your family doesn't exactly like me, and I was wondering..."

"You want to stay at my house?" Manta blinked, looking at Yoh with a confused expression.

"I don't want to be yelled at right now...please Manta, just this once?"

"Yoh-kuhn..." He started protesting, but then, he would have someone to talk to if Yoh came over. With a dejected sigh, he smiled and gazed at Yoh for a minute. "Of course you can."

Yoh's face lit up, and he picked up his friend and hugged him in a sopping wet hug. "Yay! Thank you Manta! We're gonna have so much fun!"

Manta laughed and returned the hug, not caring about the rain.

"C'mon! Let's go already!" Yoh dropped the bag of groceries and left them in the rain, letting his free hand clasp into Manta's. Manta giggled, and then they slowly made their way towards Manta's house.

-----

Gah...so, what do you think? Please flame me if I shouldn't continue, and say so if I should...@_@;