Chapter 1
Manta held the small plush close to his chest as he looked up at Faust with large blue eyes. It was early evening and Faust had asked Yoh and Ryu to head upstairs for a few hours so that he may be alone with the small strawberry blonde haired boy.
" Faust-papa..." Manta continued to stare up at him.
" Eh... Manta why don't we go over to the couch for a little while?" He gestured delicately and Manta followed soon after a look of confusion and fear written on his child like face.
Manta sat on the soft white leather couch gripping tightly on the bear that felt so soft and warm to him. almost felt as if something more than stuffing was there with it. It had felt so warm recently and he didn't seem to want to let go of that feeling it gave him. Though at times Ryu worried it had become a sort of security blanket for Manta.
Manta squeezed his eyes shut his small cheeks flushing " I... I think I know..." Faust looked up with a start
" know?" he raised his eyebrow his sapphire eyes penetrating into Manta's
"what...you're going to tell me... I think I know..." he said softly looking back at him. a feeling of anguish overcame Faust as well as the urge to hold Manta in his arms.
" Manta-chan... " He looked away for a moment biting down on his lip. " He.. didn't run away....."
" I Knew It!!!" Manta squeezed his eyes shut again letting out a shrill yelp as he jumped off the couch.
"Manta-chan!" Faust yelled in desperation grasping lightly on the boy's arm as he was about to leave.
" No!!! No!!!!" Manta cried trying to free himself. Faust crouched down wrapping his arms around him.
" you should know... the circumstances... you shouldn't run away from it..." Faust whispered gently.
"No!!!" Manta wailed tears running down from his porcelain skin and falling onto Faust's hand.
"It'll only hurt more...." Faust turned him around whiping away Manta's tears carefully.
" I don't care..." Manta bit his lip in a bratty manner. and quickly broke free of Faust's hands running as fast as he could to the door.
"Manta wait!!!" Faust called out his voice cracking a bit.
"Manta-chan!??" Yoh called out from the stair well but by the time he ran down them he was gone.
I Don't want to hear it I don't..please...just let me keep thinking...just for a little while...that he did run away Manta looked up at sky that almost seemed painted blood red