Title: The Babysitter

Author: Davael

A/N:

Okay, hm. I just thought Mannoko needed some spot light. She´s funny.

When Mannoko had, after much pursuing, agreed to babysat Makoto, she hadn't had no idea.

She was nineteen! Young and beautiful! She should have been partying with her friends!

"Stupid Manta," she muttered as she lifted yet another blanket to peer under the bed. Manta had been so adult and serious after Makoto had been born, it was starting to get annoying. He was only 24 for God's sake!

"Could you do me a favour, Manna?" she said to herself in a high, mocking voice, "could you please look after Toto tonight? He won't be trouble, I promise! Promise my ass! Stupid brat…"

So now Mannoko was stuck here, in Manta's huge apartment, where every room was like a big hiding place for a little six-year old boy.

And Makoto was missing.

She opened the bathroom door and looked inside. No one here. Where could he be? What if Manta came home and Mannoko would be still looking for his son?

Yeah sorry bro, he suggested Hide and Seek and then I couldn't find him anymore. Shall we do it again next time?

Mannoko snorted. Manta hadn't lost his temper in years but that might just do the trick.

Then she got an idea. She had been little once, and still was actually. What did she like when she was little?

"Oh, Makoto-oo! I have ice-crea-aam!"

First nothing happened.

Then the bathroom door creaked a little.

"Chocolate ice-cream?"

Damn! Had the brat been hiding behind shower curtains? Mannoko hadn't thought to check in there.

"The hell if I know. Just come out already, I'm tired of this game."

Little boy came out of the bathroom and gave Mannoko a huge smile. Once again, Mannoko was amazed how much he looked like Manta, only with slightly darker hair.

"Daddy says that swearing is bad," Makoto said but didn't seem very shocked. More like interested.

"I don't care. Let's go to living room." Mannoko said tiredly. The boy followed him happily. He seemed to have the same amount of energy as every little boy, in other word endless.

"What do we do now, auntie?"

"Now we play another game. The rules are simple. All you have to do is sit quietly where you are."

Makoto looked at her hard.

"You have to try better than that, auntie. My last babysitter already tried that one."

"Why you little-" Then Mannoko had an idea. Why shouldn't she entertain herself also while watching this little brat?

"Say…Do you know how to play poker?"

When Manta came home that night he found Mannoko watching TV on the living room.

"Where's Toto?"

"Oh, he's sleeping," Mannoko waved her hand dismissingly.

"We had a fun night. I could do this again sometime," she continued. Except the next time I'll leave my money home, she added in her mind. That little brat cleaned me out!

Fast learner, she thought then fondly.

Manta smiled at her, looking like he was not believing anything Mannoko had said.

"I think I'll go check on him."

"I'll go say good night first. Then I'll be on my way," Mannoko said quickly.

"Are you sure you won't stay over night?" Manta asked looking immediately worried, as the Big Brother-mode kicked in.

"Of course not! I'm not a little kid, Manta. Now excuse me!" She scoffed.

Makoto wasn't sleeping. Of course not.

"Hey, kid."

"Hey, auntie," the boy said, sitting up in his bed.

"Now remember," Mannoko said, taking her most serious expression, "not a word about…it to your father, okay?"

"Of course not. Are you crazy, auntie? Daddy would go nuts!" Makoto grinned. Apparently the word nuts seemed funny to him. Little boys…

"That's my nephew," Mannoko said fondly, ruffled his hair and started to leave.

"Remember that you still owe me, auntie!" Makato yelled after her.

Little brat.

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