Due to popular demand, and very persistant reviewers, I've decided to reanimate my fic. It's about my favorite SK character: Manta, of course! It's a little early, but what happens when an April Fools joke hits much harder than it was intended to? Some angst and maybe some humor will come into play...either way, let's get the fic started...

:: ::= Thoughts

I don't own Shaman King and I never will... (sob)

"Where the hell are you, you little bastard?!"

A voice echoed through the halls of the Oyamada household. Manta's father was not a man to cross, particularly when he was drunk. Which is, to say, when he wasn't sleeping. Manta was 10 minutes late for his curfew, and his father wouldn't stand for disobedience.

"Hiding will only make it worse!!"

The man began to throw the chairs in the kitchen into the wall, cracking the old house's peeling drywall. Upstairs, a small body flinched in a closet.

::Why did I let Yoh talk me into staying out?::

"I'm not going easy on you this time!!"

Manta shuddered.

::Please, God, don't let him find me again. Please, God, don't let him find me again.::

Manta Oyamada hadn't ever had life easy. When his mother died in childbirth, his father became a depressed man. Ever since then, Manta had suffered beatings, neglect, and malnutrition. That was why he'd never grown past his tiny height. Yoh had never asked about it, and whenever he mentioned meeting Manta's family, Manta quickly changed the subject. Yoh always just figured that maybe his family embarassed him, so he didn't press it.

The footsteps of the angry man downstairs had come up. Manta was still thinking his mantra over and over. So many times did he repeat it that he eventually tuned out to the sounds outside his door. A mistake.

The door was pulled open with such force that two of the hinges came off. Manta's father landed four kicks and a punch on the boy. He then picked the small boy up by the collar. Manta did everything he could to not cry...but the tears came against his will.

"You're worthless, you sniveling little wimp. You'll never amount to anything."

Manta sniffled, trying his hardest not to bawl.

"You don't have any friends, and never will. No one cares about you! Remember that!"

Manta's father snickered, then tossed the boy with brute force into the wall, cracking what sounded like was more than one rib. As the attacker turned and left, he added in a sinister voice:

"Good night...SON."

As Manta struggled to breathe, he let himself pained laugh, letting himself remember an important fact.

::You're wrong. I do have friends. They're the best friends that anyone could ever have.::

Manta got up the strength to climb into his bed and fell into a deep sleep.

********************The Next Day: April 1******************

//Yoh's Inn//

Yoh woke up to a bad feeling, and he knew what it was.

"Amidamaru, stop with the sleep paralysis! I'm awake, okay?"

The specter only visible to those with the sixth sense loomed over the raven-haired kid. He was the classical historic samurai, both in manner and dress. Yoh's very first ghost partner.

"I apologize, Lord Yoh, but you asked me to get you up before Lord Manta came over. And since Lady Anna has gone to visit her parents, I'm the only one that could do it."

This caused Yoh to bold upright.

"Manta isn't here yet, is he?!"

"No, he shouldn't be by for about 10 minutes. What's the matter, Lord Yoh?"

The shaman-in-training sighed with relief.

"Good, I have a plan for today."

The samurai looked confused.

"What are you talking about, Lord Yoh?"

Yoh pulled out a magazine he'd bought a few days ago.

"I read that in other countries, the first day of April is a day for practical jokes. I thought we'd get Manta. He could use a better sense of humor."

"Just what did you have in mind?"

"Nothing too special. I want to really freak him out."

Yoh paused, and thought for a minute.

"Manta doesn't seem to have any other friends besides us, correct?"

"It would seem that way, Lord Yoh."

"Well, let's pretend like we hate him. He'll be so shocked that he'll faint!"

The ghost seemed to frown, expressing concern.

"That doesn't seem like a very kind thing to do to a friend, Lord Yoh."

"It's just a joke. We'll give him a few hours then go tell him. I'll even take him out for ice cream, okay?"

The specter sighed, knowing he couldn't get out of helping.

"As you command, Lord Yoh."

//Street two blocks from the inn//

A boy with bandages on his face and under his shirt walked along a quiet street towards the home of his friends. He'd been lucky enough his father had been sleeping in, so he was able to get out with the first aid kit he'd kept outside in the shed for years. It helped him avoid suspicions of his teachers and peers. He'd gotten very proficient at setting his ribs and wrapping any injuries he might have. If anyone ever noticed, he just lied about being clumsy and falling down somewhere.

::At least now I'm away from that drunkard...today should be better than yesterday.::

He reached the old inn that Yoh and Anna rented. Struggling to walk with his injuries, not being helped by his out-of-shape physique, he berated himself:

::I'm lucky a loser like me has good friends. Without Yoh and Amidamaru, I don't know what I'd do...::

He reached the door of the apartment, not even vaguely suspecting what happened inside would change his life forever...

To be continued...

I know, everyone hates cliffhangers. But the next chapter will be much better, I promise.

Until then, R+R and even Flame if you wish! I love all feedback.