Oh look, chapter two. How lovely XD.
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"So…What..is that exactly?"
"It's C, like I told you the last few times. It's a coding program for…programming…I guess. It's for making computers work, and everything that runs with them. Its actually not that hard once you learn to understand the language."
"…So it's like in the Matrix, with all those codes on the screen. But the people are trained see 'blonde, brunette' and all that?"
Sweatdrop. Manta sighed before nodding. "Yeah, it's like in that movie, only this really isn't that complicated. Mostly 'cause it actually exists." He ran his palms over the laptops sides and keyboard lovingly. "I've been working on this program for a couple of days now. It's sucked me in." The boy scrolled over the coding on the screen again, admiring his work further.
Yoh lifted an eyebrow, concern passing over his features. "Is that why you look like hell?"
"…Thanks Yoh-kun."
"No, I'm serious. You look like you haven't slept in days. Guess you actually haven't." He made a motion to close the computer's screen, one that Manta blocked by wrapping his arms protectively around his baby. "You can go lie down for a little if you want to."
Manta shook his head as he saved his progress and closed the program. Leaving the laptop open on the table, he ventured into the kitchen with his taller friend as he ran a hand through his hair. "I'm not that tired. Besides, even if I was, it's too hot to sleep."
"Never too hot to sleep!" Yoh exclaimed happily, grabbing an orange from the green fruit bowl on the counter. He gestured patronizingly at Manta, a grin still on his face, the fruit clasped in his upturned palm. "Too hot to run, that's what it's too hot for."
"And you'll never finish if you don't start soon." Anna grumbled darkly as she casually walked past the two boys. Her glare pointed on Yoh, eyes narrowing just the slightest when he didn't move. "Now get going." She finished her quest to open the fridge.
With another smile genuine enough to ease the growing tension in the room, Yoh nodded. "You comin' Manta?" With that he had slipped out of the kitchen.
"Hai, I suppose." Waving a goodbye to Anna, he followed the brunette, closing the lid of his laptop along the way. Without looking, Manta moved out the front door quickly, afraid he might lose Yoh if he didn't hurry, and cast one last look back to his computer.
But his shoulder caught the arm of someone taller than him. Practically spinning from the way the movement had caught him, he looked up, not surprised to see it was Faust returning, but somewhat distressed it was the doctor he had jarred.
As he blurted out a quick apology, he thought he saw Faust almost looking through him, like he was studying what the features of his face held. Manta resisted the urge to shy away from those eyes, regardless of how truly calm and non-threatening they were. But, the blue iris softened even further and the man gave him a gentle smile.
"Think nothing of it." He assured before turning. "You best hurry; he's already a block away."
"Damnit!"
And the boy was off.
Smiling at the spontaneous ways Manta had of moving from situation to situation, Faust continued back into the building. But, worry continued to roll about inside him. He could tell something about the boy was not well. The slight decrease of his temperature, the dead look in his eyes...especially the way his body looked strained holding itself up.
He'd have to keep a closer eye on him for the time being.
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"Remember how I had the idea to fight the heat?" Yoh panted, his voice surprisingly full for how much energy he was using. "That was a damn good idea…this is probably really good for us." His grin, this time, didn't erase Manta's wish to hit him.
"I'm going to kill you…you and that happy attitude of yours. At least before it kills me." Manta had to pause for a moment, catching his breath. He was really regretting not bringing his bike around. Even if Yoh was running slow enough for Manta to keep a quick walk with him, he was exhausted.
The shaman jogged on the spot as he waited for his friend to gather his energy, a bit of worry coming over him as he watched. Manta really did need to lie down. The poor boy was pushed to his limits, not only by his desire to just learn everything about computers that he could, but by the endless stress placed on him by his father. There was far too much expected of him for one barely seventeen.
"Yoh-kun…" Manta finally stood straighter only to lean against the wall. "I'm going to head back. I'm sorry, I'm just not feeling that well anymore. You'll be okay on your own?"
Now Yoh was very worried. He'd known his friend needed to lay down, but somehow had trusted Manta's judgment of how well he was feeling. It had apparently been a mistake. "Yah. Common, I'll take you back." He stopped jogging and stood next to him, putting an arm around his shoulders to help support the body that looked ready to collapse.
But Manta gently pushed him away, able to look up through the hair that hung over his eyes. "I'll be fine going back on my own. Besides, if you don't hurry you'll be finishing your run the rest of the night. I'd rather head back alone then have Anna angry at you." He gave a reassuring smile and closed his eyes. "I'll be fine."
Knowing it might not be smart to trust Manta's own judgment over what he thought was best, Yoh nodded reluctantly. "If you're sure…"
"I am."
Yoh bit his lip, his concern fighting against his respect for his friend. He'd often ignore Manta's protests, going through with what the other boy was arguing regardless of the fight he put up. Then again, those protests were often crazy rambling brought on by Manta's paranoia. He was so calm now, so assured with himself. He found it hard to fight.
"As long as you'll be okay. If..If you need help, just sit down and wait for me to make another pass in about 20 minutes, alright? Then I can help you."
With a nod, Manta started his way back. "Thanks Yoh-kun. I'll see you after you finish."
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He had felt fine ten minutes ago. A little tired, but otherwise perfectly fine.
Now the world spun violently as Manta almost stumbled back to the inn. Had he not known the way perfectly, he wouldn't have made it back. He was forced to close his eyes to prevent becoming so dizzy that couldn't stand. His stomach had completely twisted itself into a knot, making him feel hungry and ready throw up at the same time. It was utterly agonizing.
I wanted to cry with joy when his feet dragged across the roughly paved entrance. Within a few moments, they found the couple of steps and the sliding door. As he pushed his way inside, feebly able to close the door behind him, it suddenly felt as if his head had been turned to glass and shattered.
The sauna. He'd forgotten in his barely conscious state.
The heat clung to him mercilessly, as if a swarm of insects had suddenly covered his body, making it impossible to move, impossible to think, impossible to breathe. With a final attempt to fill his lungs, he took a dry breath that torn at him from the inside all the way down. It did more harm than good, making the boy gasp and hack with pain.
His world took one more violent twist, and the ground promptly tilted up to meet him.
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Oh noes! Cliff hanger? Who will save him? … Yah, it's rather obvious -- But I'm working in shorter chapters for this story, at least for a lot of the introduction. It's kinda interesting that way I suppose. Anyway, more interaction next chapter.