H-happy 10th anniversary to this fanfic! It feels nuts to say that, but its really been that long. I'm really amazed its taken this long, but i'm even more amazed that i've still come back to it...
thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed, favorited and just plain read this fic! It means more to me than I can really express. Whenever I feel lost, I reread the reviews and I feel like I can keep going!
Inspiration: "lets hear it for rock bottom" by the offspring, "just so you know" by jesse mccartney, "i'm a mess" by bebe rexha, "pompeii" by bastille, "the finer things" by steve winwood, "memory" and "over you" by sugarcult and "why cant this be love" by van halen!
Thank you all again, lets get going now!
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A blast lit up the night sky, casting long shadows over the cemetery. Blowing in the gust of wind, the trees swayed and groaned. The ground was pockmarked and upturned, graves shattered in the wake of the battle.
Ren knelt on one knee, sucking in harsh breaths. The golden glow around his spear began to waver and dim, before going out altogether. As the smoke cleared, he could only wonder where he'd gone so wrong.
Throat tight, he fought to choke down the bitter gall of loss. Behind him, Yoh stood still, breathing hard. Ren willed himself to stand, but found his legs refusing to obey. He clenched his jaw, letting his head dip.
"How...?" he breathed, hoarsely. "How did I lose...?"
A breeze swept passed, heedless of his misery. It occurred to Ren, exactly how he'd lost. No matter how he came at Yoh, he'd always known he couldn't defeat him. You couldn't slice the wind or rain. It did what it wanted, sweeping by you and carrying on its way.
He let out a harsh laugh, running a hand over his sweaty face. "Of course..." he muttered.
"No, you didn't lose..."
Blinking, Ren craned his neck to see over his shoulder. Yoh had turned, mouth a thin line across his face, brows drawn. The ancient sword in his hand was dull and lifeless, bereft of the ethereal glow of an Oversoul.
It took him a moment to process what he was seeing. When it hit him, Ren stood and spun around, a frustrated confusion taking him. "What?!"
Yoh was just as disheveled and breathless as himself, but the confusion on his face gave him the look of a terrified animal. He was just as lost as Ren.
How would they know who won, if neither had?
There was a gust of wind and a soft tap of feet hitting the upturned earth behind Yoh. Ren recognized the tall stranger as Silva, mantle fluttering in the wind as he stood up fully. A pleasant smile curved the man's lips, as he regarded the two before him.
It wasn't lost on Ren, how his gaze lingered on Yoh, who turned to stare at the man in surprise. "Both of your Oversouls were drained at the same time." he said. "Thus, you've ended in a draw."
A beat passed, before Yoh spoke up. "But then...how do we know whose going to the next round?"
Before Silva could respond, another gust of wind kicked up, bringing ten strangers. They lined up behind the man, their patterned mantles settling neatly back into place as the wind died down. The ten judges, Ren knew.
Looking up, the smallest of the ten aimed a pleased smile at the two. They looked important, he thought. "We've received a reply from the Great Spirit. The two have you have made it through the preliminaries of the Shaman Fight."
For a moment, no one spoke, the news sinking in. Then, Yoh let out a heavy, relieved sigh and slumped. "Thank god..."
Ren had to agree.
000
"We could fix it up." Amber said, homework forgotten in her lap.
Glancing up from his own worksheets, Manta blinked. "The...cemetery?"
Amber nodded, eying the off kilter stones that stretched out before their hilltop seat. They'd been coming here for a week now, sometimes with homework and sometimes just to talk. If Manta had been worried that the girl might dampen his new haven, he'd been sorely mistaken.
"Its sad to see a place like this." the girl explained, frowning. "It just feels wrong, somehow."
Manta agreed. An abandoned cemetery didn't sit well with him and the lack of cheerful spirits roaming it only made it worse. "Yeah, but... how?" he asked, blinking.
That seemed to catch her off guard. Tapping her chin, Amber leaned back on her hands. "Well," she began, thinking as she spoke, "we could do it after class. Or on weekends. We could get ahold of some tools and just do what we can."
He wanted to point out that there was no way he could get a lawnmower or a weed whacker, least of all one that could traverse this place, but that determined look in his friend's eyes told him it would only be seen as an excuse. Not that Amber would be wrong.
Turning to look out at the overgrown cemetery, Manta hummed in thought. "Well... if we had gardening tools, we could."
Glancing at him, Amber grinned. "Oh that shouldn't be difficult. Sam has some."
"Sam?"
"Kid with too many belts, we hung out a week ago."
"Ohh."
Truth be told, Manta still didn't remember Sam. Or for that matter, any of Amber's friends. They were friendly, sure, but he just didn't have it in him to bond and make friends. Still, if it meant that he could avoid his father finding out about his new hangout, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to make friends.
"Well," Manta said, looking up at the heavy leaves that hung over them. "Then I guess we have a new hobby."
"We could use it for a college paper, to."
"That's...a really good idea." he admitted, a smile turning up the corners of his mouth.
Amber snickered. "I have them sometimes."
It was a lot less fun than Manta had been anticipating. Two days later, found him sighing as he tossed another soda can into the garbage bag he held, rooting around the grass for bits of trash or debris. Amber was across the grave yard, digging away at garbage, humming to herself.
Maybe this had been a fools errand.
Still, it felt good to clean up the place, even if it was just a bit. It already looked nicer, without bags and cans cluttered around. The other day, they'd cleared away the rocks and rotted wood from the grounds, so that the lawn mower could more easily pass through.
"Want a lunch break?" Amber called, standing up straight.
"Yeah." he replied, wiping his hands on the front of his pants.
They made their way back up the hill, sitting down heavily and sighing to themselves. Manta leaned back, waving limply at his face. Amber was digging in the cooler they'd brought, handing him a bottle of water. He took it gratefully, taking a long swig.
"This is... kind of hard, huh?" the girl said, brushing the hair from her face.
Manta shrugged, holding the bottle to his forehead. "Its pretty hot and miserable..."
"But..." Amber began, toying with the top to her water bottle. "It looks nice. Peaceful. I bet if we keep working, it'll look like it did way back when!"
"No way!"
The girl laughed, a wide smile on her face. "Okay, maybe not but... at least it'll be nicer."
He rolled his eyes, taking another long sip of his water. "Yeah."
With any luck, it'd go off without a hitch. He had a feeling something would go wrong eventually, but for now it was going well. Small miracles, he reminded himself. Amber hummed, leaning back on a hand, looking up at the tree they sat beneath.
A linden tree, Manta thought, watching the great leaves sway in the breeze. He wondered how old it was. If it had been watching over the cemetery for all this time, silent and steadfast.
"You know, there's a story behind this tree's leaves." Amber said.
Glancing at the girl, Manta blinked. The leaves cast flickering shadows over her, a soft smile turning up her lips. "Yeah?"
"Well..." she began, glancing at him. "Its about an elderly couple who were so kind, they were the only ones Zeus spared from a flood. When he asked what they'd like as a reward, they had two requests."
It sounded familiar. Manta wasn't as knowledgeable of Greek myths though. "What were they...?"
"The first was to take care of his temple. The second... was to ask that neither ever had to see the other's grave." She hummed, tilting her head. "When one passed away, they both turned into linden trees. That's why the leaves are heart shaped."
"That's so sweet..." he mumbled, tilting his head. "But there's only one tree here..."
Amber blinked, looking at him oddly. "Well...yeah, there is."
A shiver went up his spine. That was such a lonely thought. There was a faint prickling of his hair standing on end and Manta resisted the urge to turn around. Swallowing, he wondered if Amber could feel it to. A quick glance gave him the idea she didn't
"Well, lets eat!" she chimed, a bright grin forming.
000
Flopping into bed, Manta sighed heavily. It felt so good to lay down, after a long day of work. He'd been relieved to find the house blissfully empty. Covered in dirt and sweat, he definitely didn't need Tamurazaki snooping about his business.
If his father found out he was still sneaking around cemeteries...who knew what he'd do? Manta definitely didn't Although he hadn't seen the man since that day in the hospital, there was no telling when he'd pop back up.
Looking up at the window, Manta bit his lip. He hadn't seen a ghost in...a very long time. Part of him had wondered if it would fade away, the part of him still connected to the afterlife, like everything else about his life had.
He'd thought the cemetery had been empty. Maybe he just couldn't see the spirits that did remain. But that one beneath the linden tree had been a shock.
A dull thrum of fear ran through him. Amber couldn't see ghosts. If he wasn't careful, this cemetery fixer-upper could end horribly.
He threw an arm over his eyes and groaned. "How did I end up like this..." he mumbled.
000
Chalky clouds scuttled across the otherwise clear blue sky, the summer day inviting. Yoh wondered if it wouldn't be impossible to just sneak out and take a nap on the roof. It was the perfect time of day for one.
The teacher droned on ahead, reading aloud from a novel. Yoh was aware that his own turn to read would be coming up shortly, but he couldn't find the will to care. The last few days hadn't felt real. As if at any moment, he'd blink awake from a dream and the last few months would reset.
Part of him wished they would.
It didn't feel right, sitting here as if nothing had happened. As if he didn't have more important things to be doing. He didn't, not really, but that was besides the point.
When lunch came, Yoh slipped away to the roof. Like he'd thought, the temperature was just right for napping. He settled down and sighed, closing his eyes. It felt good to let his brain shut down and the world slip away.
The soft tap of footsteps drew him from his attempts. "There you are."
Opening his eyes, he blinked. "Anna?"
She smoothed her skirt out, sitting beside him. For a long moment, she didn't speak as she settled there. "You've been behaving strangely, lately."
"Eh...?"
"Don't "eh" me." she glanced at him, dark eyes focusing on him. He thought they looked concerned. "You've been strange since you left the cave."
Heart thumping in his chest, Yoh turned his attention to the sky. He hadn't told Anna about his revelations or his thoughts. Of course, she was concerned. Throat tight, he swallowed back his panic.
"I'm alright." he said, softly. "Just been...thinking."
"About?"
The panic rose like a tide in his chest. If he told her, what would she say? Would she, like Manta, turn away from him? Would she hate him? Yoh wasn't oblivious to the way she felt. It wasn't something that he could easily brush aside and once he admitted the truth to her, he knew Anna would be hurt.
I cant do that to her, to. I cant do it, he thought, heart hammering in his chest.
"Just...the fight. It doesn't feel real." he said.
Anna was quiet, watching him with a frown. "You cant tell me?"
"I..."
"Its alright." she said, standing and brushing her skirt off. "I'll wait."
Yoh watched her helplessly, sitting up. She looked out across the cityscape, gaze distant. He wanted to tell her he was sorry, or to hug her, but it wouldn't be fair. Anna deserved better than excuses.
"This is real though." Anna hummed, brushing her hair behind an ear. "You worked hard and you passed the preliminaries. That's why we're here, sitting peacefully like this."
A breeze caught her hair, the sun alighting on each strand. Heart in his throat, Yoh wondered if he really didn't still love her. Turning to face him, she fished a paper from her skirt pocket and handed it to him. Blinking, Yoh took it and opened it.
A training schedule.
"This is the new training guide for the next round." she said, watching his face fall in misery. "It is also real."
Well now, it was a bit easier to believe, he thought as the girl made her way back to the door.
000
In the dying light of sunset, the cemetery was breathtaking. The tall grass waved silently in a light breeze, shimmering like an ocean. Atop the hill, the linden tree stood, unmoving. Its great, heart shaped leaves moved slowly in the wind and Manta wondered how he hadn't seen it before.
A firefly glow of a spirit stood beneath the great, old tree. From the road, he could only just tell that it was a woman, long hair flowing lightly about it.
This was probably the first time he'd been near a spirit by himself, without Yoh to determine whether or not the stranger was safe.
From the way she was looking at him, Manta didn't think it was possible to keep ignoring her though. Swallowing back his unease, the boy made his way to the gate. She wore an old dress, the type he'd seen in photos of people from the 20s. It looked nice, clearly tailored for her, but it paled in comparison to her face.
He took a breath and held it. What was he supposed to say? Should he say anything? If he ignored her, she'd probably grow angry. "H-Hello, ma'am." he called out, voice cracking.
The woman watched him, unmoving. "You can see me."
Not a question. "Yeah."
She seemed so lost, just then. Manta had the feeling that she hadn't seen anyone in decades. "I didn't think anyone would ever visit again."
"Well..." Manta began, a nervous smile pulling at his face. "Its beautiful here. It... reminds me of home."
Maybe that sounded rude. He wished he could talk as easily as Yoh could. The woman's distressed expression eased somewhat. "I see. I'm glad that you feel that way. Its been...lonely."
It must have been. "Well, I can keep you company." he offered, smile small but genuine.
"I...would appreciate that."
Manta slipped into the cemetery, glad to be alone today. Amber was busy with family and he wasn't sure if he could have resolved this issue with her around. As he approached the hill, Manta realized the tree wasn't the only thing on the hill. Just behind it, was a crumbling grave.
No wonder the tree seemed so lonely, he thought, taking a seat beside the woman's ethereal form. She watched him curiously, the sadness leaving her eyes for the first time since they'd spoken. Up close, she was rather lovely.
"Did...you want to talk?" he asked, looking up to her with a weak smile.
A faint smile turned up the corners of the woman's mouth and she sat beside him gracefully. She folded her hands neatly in her lap. "I'd like that."
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ahhhh tiny me didnt plan the details as well as i'd like her to... ah well. Its better that way!
Also, I have a yoh/manta playlist if anyone is actually interested. All the songs I list in the inspiration section are on there and honestly it updates faster than this fic...
www. Youtube playlist?list=PLuRfZKInJHAPxFRHTEEbHImBZsIDv8uim
there u go, if anyone wants it! Just remove the spaces and it should be fine