Chapter eight

Okay, this is how I see it now with the writing in this story, it won't make your eyes bleed= good enough to read. (please tell me if I'm doing something wrong and I'll try to improve it next time)

"Tea?"

"Um, what? Ah, yes please."

"Okay, then I'll make some for us." Manta had still not gotten over the chock that both Lilly's parents were… well… deceased, but still were at her side. 'Doesn't she have anyone else?' Perhaps it was so, Manta felt an increase of worry for the little girl.

Lilly opened up a few drawers and used them as a stair when she climbed to reach the upper cabinet.

"Ano, do need help?" Manta asked as he heard a few mutters from Lilly that were mostly about that things mostly wasn't in its right place when you needed them the most.

"No thanks, I've found it." Lilly chirped happily and jumped down on the floor. "Now it's just to put the kettle on." Lilly had to stand on a small stool in order to be able to put the kettle (which she also had to struggle with as it was heavy with water) on the oven.

"This shouldn't take so long…" Lilly sat down at the table as she waited for the water to boil.

"Um… so you live alone?" Manta really didn't know how to phrase it but he simply had to ask.

"No, I'm not alone, I got mom, dad and Mikkel to watch over me." Lilly said, obvious to what Manta actually meant. Manta looked deep down in is cup as he thought for a second, right now the tea was too hot to drink.

"I meant living people to take care of you." Manta quickly took a sip from his cup and burned his tongue slightly, did his statement really sound that stupid? He mentally scowled at himself as he glanced at Lilly's face. First it showed an expression of chock and then sadness, she looked down in her cup as she spoke.

"No, in that way I guess I'm on my own…"

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"It's okay, it's only natural that you wonder." Lilly said and blew at her tea so it would cool down enough to be drinkable. "Dad died before mom in a car accident when I was four, but since both mom and I could see ghosts it wasn't that big problem really. I've been able to see ghosts as long as I can remember. But mom had an incurable disease since long time before the car accident, we all knew that she'd pass away sooner or later. She looked hard trying to find a shaman family that could adopt me when she was gone but she didn't find any… and then she… died." She was silent for a moment. "But it's okay, I've heard that it's going to be an underground tournament and that the price is that you'll be able to bring two people back to life."

"It's only a rumor Lilly." Mikkel spoke as he appeared. "It might just as well be nothing but rubbish and anyhow I don't think you're strong enough to participate."

"But Mikkel this might be our only chance to bring back mom and dad! I'll train harder."

"It's not that you're not training hard enough, you're simply too young and inexperienced. You might get hurt if you start competing this early."

"What he says is true honey, you're not ready yet."

"But mom! This might be our only chance!"

***.

"I simply don't know what to do with her," Mikkel sighted when he 'walked' Manta to the door. Lilly was doing the dishes; she'd suddenly exclaimed that she'd postponed it for two days now and that Manta should return home before the sunrise and people would notice Frankensteiny.

"I know she's strong, but she's not even near strong enough to participate." Mikkel said with a worried voice. "As I am her guardian ghost it's my duty to protect her but… how am I supposed to protect someone that refuse to listen?"

'How do you protect a person who refuses to listen?' Manta turned over in his mind what Mikkel had said over and over again. Frankensteiny, as if sensing his master's worry walked beside him with his tail hung low and whined, now and then glancing up at Manta.

"Hm, nani?" Manta suddenly spoke as he felt something nibble at his hand. Looking down he realized that it was Frankensteiny. Since the dog was entirely made of bones it didn't have any tongue to lick his master's hand, but he did his best. He rested his jawbone against Manta's hand and whined as he had caught his attention.

"I'm okay Franky, don't worry about me." Manta said reassuringly as he patted Frankensteiny with a faint smile on his lips. But it was true what Mikkel had said, if Lilly would participate in the tournament she could end up hurt or worse.

"Tadaima" Manta said as he walked up the stairs and opened the door that lead to his and Faust's room at the hotel.

"Ah, welcome back. It sure must have been a long walk, I was nearly getting worried about you." Faust said, glancing over his book. "Did something special happen?"

"Yeah…" Manta told Faust what had happened. How he'd rescued Lilly and that she was an orphan that wanted to bring her parents back to life by entering the shaman tournament.

"Hm… I've heard about this rumor too." Faust said with a thoughtful voice. "The one who wins will get a wish and it's possible to wish somebody back to life… and that's also why I'll participate. Yet I can feel sympathy for the girl…"

Manta was just going to answer but forgot what he was going say as he noticed something. It was a flame hovering in the air. Perhaps it somehow sensed the attention that now was directed at it and approached them. When it was roughly a meter from Manta it stopped still floating in the air. A low growl could be heard from Frankensteiny as he slowly crept forward until he was beside Manta. A sizzling sound could be heard as the flame suddenly fell to the floor. The second it touched the floor the red flames disappeared into smoke. It all went too quickly to actually see what'd happened but on there on the floor now lay an envelope.

When Manta picked it up for a closer look he saw that it was sealed, it was a burning feather that was engraved in blood red wax. He nibbled little at the letter, and then looked up at Faust with the question unspoken in his eyes. Faust nodded slightly and Manta, returning his eyes to the envelope, carefully opened it. He read out loud.

Dear Manta Oyamada, your application to enter the shaman tournament has been approved. Congratulation. Though you shouldn't celebrate yet as your first fight is coming up within next week. It is set at the town's cemetery 2 o' clock at night to prevent any non shamanic interference. You have to show up at the definite time in order to truly enter the shaman fight. If you do not come at the decided time you will be disqualified and cannot participate until during the next tournament. Of course can you bring anyone with you to watch the fight just as long as they won't interfere.

The fight is over when either of the participants can't keep their oversoul intact or choose to give up. There's no time limit and remember to try to use your surroundings to your advantage.

As for the rest, keep in mind to take care of yourself before the fight and there will be shamans with medical education in the background ready to attend anyone of the participants that's hurt during the battle.

The organizers of the shaman tournament.

The exact second that Manta had finished reading the letter it started to reek and he instinctively dropped it. The paper sizzled as it crumbled and went up into flames. As it landed on the floor the flames for a split second formed a feather before it disappeared into smoke, not even leaving a mark in the carpet.

Frankensteiny sniffed at the place where the letter had landed and growled quietly.

"Shh… it's okay Franky…" Manta spoke as he gently stroke the dog's spine carefully. 'Amazing…' Manta murmured 'but… who is that sent the letter?'

"Well then," Faust suddenly said, closing his book with a loud flap, "I guess we have to double the training then." He said with a gentle smile. "Even though I'll participate too I don't wish that my apprentice will perform poorly."

Manta felt a huge sweat drop starting to form.

Harro. I'm sorry for the late update but it was school and it was hard to find the right words (aka writer's block?) and then Japanese class ended so late and I was so tired during the weekends and… okay you may yell at me T-T I could do so much better if I tried harder… but anyhow here's chapter 8, hope you like it3

o.O thank you sooo much for your reviews guys!

Lady Frieza D- You've changed your name so I didn't recognize you at first… noo, she fainted! DON'T DIEEEE!!! If, if you die then who will draw awesome Faust pics? –gives heart massage and first aid-

Kerokacola- wish u were logged in so I could tell you that I've updated. Oh well ") I'm happy that you like it.

13IsTaLkThEaKaTsUkI13 ((man, how do you even remember you name?)) thank you for the comment :D about Lilly's dad… well… not much I can say about him, he's a nice guy who loves his wife and kid even though he's been dead a while now.

Also, just a little note over jap phrases they use,

Ano- means like "well…" and is softening up the sentence (but it can also mean 'that thing over there' but then it have to have a subject following it)

Nani- what? Huh? (though you probably knew that already)

Tadaima- 'I'm home' said when returning back home (how you say welcome home is 'Okaeri nasai' though, you can leave out nasai depending on how polite you wish to be)