Right…so finally I have an update. For about two years I wanted so much to leave it as it was, I was so happy with the first chapter and I was so scared of ruining it with a second. But, I was so frustrated with the lack of Manta and Yoh pairing fics that I took matters into my own hands, so that frustration produced this. I wrote this in pieces and eventually I think that maybe I had something decent…but anyway enough of my ramblings…fic!

Confessions

After that, well, nothing really happened. I understood. I left him alone, knowing my place, leaving him to his rightful bride, Anna. I had no business coming between them, and I knew that. So things went on as they did, as usual, for the next few days. It was the usual routine: wake up, go to school, go to cram school, go home, eat, sleep. It was only what I was used to. I felt that if I kept my distance from him that maybe things would return to normal, as if nothing had ever happened. I'd never been so wrong. It was all I could think about…the way his lips felt on mine, how secure I had felt in his arms. The tightness in my chest I had felt that night in the hot tub was back every time my mind strayed back to him. I found it almost impossible to concentrate on my studies. Lets face it, my life was just…boring without him. I'd never known change until I met him. He had showed me how wonderful life could be with the right attitude. Before him…my life was like it was now. I felt lonely, doing my homework everyday. No one really talked to me. Why would anyone listen to you when they just thought it was going to turn into another absurd ghost story? So I stopped trying altogether. Because what kind of friend wouldn't listen to you? Yoh hadn't been that way. He had actually stood up for me…when he was here. He stopped coming to school long ago. He didn't need to…he didn't need to strengthen his skills anymore. So finally I felt myself turning into my old self, going back to my old ways. But who cares? At least Yoh is happy. And that's all that matters to me.

When I woke, he was gone. I wondered where he had gone to…I walked downstairs in my yukata where I was greeted by a sleep chorus of "Ohayo, Yoh-kun…" After returning the greeting, I asked where Manta had gone, because I didn't see him there with everyone else. Anna nonchalantly said that the shorty had left a few hours ago, saying that he had had to go to school. "Ah, I forgot!" I mentally smacked myself, though I laughed it off to everyone else.

I didn't see him the next few days either. I wondered if something was up, and if I should go visit him. I mean, hey, we were still friends, right? And friends went to cheer each other up when they were sad.

I had just gotten home from cram school, and it was late. At least it was really dark by then. I had just undone my tie and was setting about to make myself some hot tea. I let out a sigh. School had been busy, and I had done nothing but work all day – but even in doing work made more work for itself, because the brown-haired Shaman wouldn't stay out of my thoughts. We could never be together, so why did I lead myself on, believing it only because I didn't want it to be so? I seem to do this to myself with a lot of things…but that's just who I am. I was standing in the kitchen when I heard the doorbell ring. "That's weird…" I thought. "Mom and Dad are still at work, and Mannoko is at a friend's sleepover…" When I answered the door, I nearly dropped my steaming cup.

"YOH-KUN!?" I gasped. I thought he'd never want to see me again…after I left him without explanation…even though it WAS for school…but it doesn't really feel the same…but all that melted away as I saw him standing there in the doorway, smiling.
"Yo!" He said, with a small smile and a wave.

"Yoh-kun…I…uh….hi!" I said stupidly.

"Hey Manta! What's been up with you lately? I got worried when you didn't at least visit for dinner after school, like you usually do. So I decided to come check on you! Are you okay?"

I was relieved. At least he was acting like his old self again.

"Yeah, Yoh-kun. I'm just fine! I've just had a lot of work to do, that's all…" I lied. "Actually I still have a lot to do…they've really piled it on."

"Hey, maybe I could help!" He said, brightly.

"Yeah! Hey Yoh, I just made some tea, do you want some?"

He always managed to bring out my better side, no matter what crappy mood I was in before. A few minutes with him and my bad day just melts away and I'm laughing again in no time. I got the tea and we headed for my room. Maybe it would be just like old times after all. If only I could forget…

We sat on the bed, and cracked open my history textbook. I had forgotten how much his presence alone affected me. I felt so weak, trying as hard as I could to keep my guard up, at least to the point where I could function normally as we used to be like. I still felt exactly the same way, and I hadn't gotten over him yet…but he acted like the old Yoh. As much as I wanted to be friends, my heart still yearned for him…but I tried my hardest not to let it show.

I could feel him sitting next to me, though we weren't actually touching. I could feel his warmth, the softness of his cotton shirt brushing against my arms, the room had suddenly gotten so warm. I became fully aware of the lack of space between us…but I refocused my eyes on my textbook and oh god, did he just sigh? I can't…what was I thinking…I shouldn't have let him in…my heartbeat was out of control…

"Yoh-kun…maybe…you should go."

"Do you think so? I guess I don't know much about studying this, so maybe you're right…I just wanted to make sure you were okay since you left without saying anything…I wondered…did you mean what you said to me that night?"

"Yoh-kun…" I couldn't tell him the truth…if I did, it would just make this problem prolong itself…but I could stop this here and now with just two little words. I would never feel his embrace again, I would never have to worry about being more than friends with him again…the thought itself made me quiver…

"Manta…?"

It was then we heard the closing of the front door and the chatter of my parents and their business propositions. Quickly I jerked out of my nervous state and into a panicked one. I quickly looked at him and he immediately understood. My father hated Yoh, if he found me with him while I was supposed to be studying…I just didn't want to think about it.

"Quick!" I whispered. "In here!" I shoved him into the shower, turned the water on, and jumped inside.

"Manta?" Mannheim's booming voice questioned.

"Yes, father?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm in the shower, father."

"Why are you taking a shower? Why is your homework lying here unfinished? Hurry up and finished washing, and get out here as soon as you're done!"

"Yes, father."

We heard the door slam, and I breathed a sigh. I looked up and Yoh's eyes caught mine. I blushed and looked down again.

"Manta…" He lifted his hand and placed it on my cheek. I looked up at him and he said, "Manta-chan, I'm sorry this had to happen. I should have known your parents would have been home soon – I should have remembered…"

"Yoh, its not your fault at all, its mine…"

"Manta, you never answered my question."

"…Yoh-kun, I…I…"

"Yes?" He encouraged. "You can tell me anything, you know…whatever you have to say to me would be fine…"

I wanted so badly to be with him, but that would be selfish wouldn't it…

"Yes, Yoh-kun…I did. I love you so much it hurts sometimes…I don't know what to do about this…I don't want to be a bother to you…the last thing I want is to get in your way…"

"Manta, its okay!" He smiled, and brought his other hand up to my other cheek. He kneeled, and slowly and gently he kissed me. The water from the shower now fully drenching us, I was in a daze just gazing into his warm, chocolate eyes. He took me in his arms and held me close to him. He kissed me deeper this time, and I finally let myself relax into his embrace. I held him to me, and he whispered in my ear, "Manta, don't worry about a thing. We'll figure something out, right?"

I shook as I whimpered my answer, feeling so exhausted by my nerves and feelings that I just wanted to collapse in his arms. After I had recovered somewhat or at least had stopped shaking, he looked into my eyes and said, "Let's get into some dry clothes, okay?" He said, smiling. He turned the shower off, and grabbed a towel from the counter. Wrapping me in it, he gently ruffled my hair. I giggled softly and offered it to him so he wouldn't be cold. We helped each other get dry, but our clothes were still quite damp. Not that there was anything we could do about that – anything Manta could wear would most definitely wouldn't fit Yoh, and using the dryer was out of the question.

"Maybe I should go now...if your parents find out I'm here it'll be both of our heads, and Anna is probably wondering where I am…and to have Anna wonder is never a good idea…"

"I know it. Yoh-kun…"

"Manta…I glad we could talk about this. I'm glad…that you could be honest with me about your feelings…"

"I'm glad that you feel the same way about me, Yoh-kun."

"Like I said, don't worry, Manta. It'll all work out in the end."