xx I'm still sitting here trying to figure out how I want to write the progression of events that need to happen for this story. .. Oh well. Hopefully this won't become all cliché and need to be shot by the time it's finished. I think I like this couple since they aren't normal and can't be just the 'perfect couple in complete love' so they write far more interestingly.

For the record – I am not a programmer, but I know people who are. I'm basing my information of it on second hand sources, so my information might be incorrect. If you are a programmer, and notice something wrong, I apologize, and maybe you can tell me what to fix

---

There was no source of light whatsoever. Everything around him was a dark void, an empty pocket of space in which only he existed. He felt cold, almost lifeless.

He'd had this nightmare before. It came randomly, continued to haunt his nightmares even if the fears that had created it were long since conquered. At least that's what he thought. He tensed when he felt the presence above him and shut his eyes tight. He braced himself for the feel of razor-sharp, surgical steel tickling down his stomach. That never hurt, but the open feel of air and blood against his organs caused unbelievable agony. The more he panicked, it more his heart raced, only increasing the tickles of blood from the minimal veins the doctor had skillfully avoided.

But instead of a scalpel, he felt Faust's hand, ungloved, slide up his front. His palm and fingers, while somewhat cold, were soft and almost delicate as they traced across the stitched scar they had once created. Rough hands weren't exactly welcome in the medical world. Manta's head fell back, as always, but he didn't scream. He only managed a soft whimper at the heat spreading through his body. He felt the doctor's breath by his ear, a soft, almost energized pant. Manta couldn't hold back a moan at the feeling of the other's hand. There was no fear in him, just complete welcoming of the sensations. It was unlike him, fearless and accepting of what was happening to him, but that was the unfortunate part of dreams. There was no control.

He wasn't sure if, at this moment, that was a good or bad thing.

There was the breath of a smile on his neck, and Manta moaned louder when he felt those lips on his skin. He squeezed his eyes shut tighter as fire raced up his spine, barely able to stifle his moans again. He could prepare himself for the nightmare he often had, but this…This was entirely different.

And he had no defense for it.

His breath became increasingly ragged as Faust's hand started to trail back down his stomach. The doctor's soft, whisper of a kiss pressed to his ear, and he spoke gently to him. Manta didn't hear it; he was far too lost in the sensations. He finally let out a clipped cry as the touch moved even lower and beyond his stomach.

The intense feeling, one far greater than the pain any of his prior nightmares, flung him out of his sleep like a shot of lightning.

Manta sat there, panting as he continued to feel the aftermath of having those imaginary hands on him. His skin still tingled where the fingers had dragged, making him shiver just a little. He was sure that if his blush was deep last night, he must be practically crimson at this point. Fortunately, as he surveyed the room, he noticed Faust wasn't beside him anymore. He was worried how the doctor would have reacted to his post erotic-dream state. Blushing further at that thought, he flumped back down, pulled the covers over his head, and remained motionless until he was sure all the aftermath effects had disappeared.

---

Clumsily trudging down the stairs, Manta pressed the heel of his palm into his eyes as he tried to chase the last bits of sleep away. He felt refreshed and much better, as he had been told, but the longer he slept the longer it took for him to wake. He took another glance at his watch and grumbled. Already 2 pm…and he needed to finish his programming by the next morning and still have time to get a hardcopy to his father.

Good thing he had slept last night, as there was no chance in hell he was going to find time this evening.

With that, he took a sleepy seat in front of his laptop, stifling a final yawn before setting to work. But he blinked when he looked around the table his computer was set on. Beside him were a few sheets of paper, each covered with small, meticulous handwriting. Manta's jaw almost dropped when he realized what it was.

As a programmer, Manta had to rely on a certain level of mathematics. Equations that ranged from basic to quite complex were needed to sort out certain procedures the program needed to do. That was the most grueling task of his hobby. While he was rather good at it, and rarely made mistakes, the amount of codes that needed solving was amazing and simply ate up all his time.

He had the habit of writing out his code, and leaving unsolved equations for last. It allowed him to see the whole thing and make sure the majority of kinks were worked out before he set down to the time consuming tasks.

Judging from the small, neat and incredibly eligible script, Faust had been the author of the sheets of paper. At some point in the night, while Manta was asleep, the German had looked to his laptop, saw the mathematics that needed solving, and did them all for him.

Since it took no less then a degree in calculus as well as biology just to work around something like reptiles, Manta couldn't even begin to imagine the wealth of expertise Faust had on the subject. Not like that mattered, the doctor was amazingly talented in what seemed like everything.

Nevertheless, he had saved Manta countless hours of work.

He smiled warmly as he set to finalizing the project. He'd have time to finish, get the hardcopy back home, and be back in time to help Yoh with dinner and the dishes. The thought made him excited, knowing he wouldn't be pressured tonight, or tomorrow morning. Although he'd be able to sleep again, he wasn't sure if he could handle another of those dreams. Recollection of the past night made him pause as he thought about it with deeper rationality.

There no way he was attracted to the doctor….was there?

Although he couldn't possibly deny Faust was handsome, there was simply no use in putting any sort of feelings for him forward. After never having a girlfriend, and being around so many males he admired, he did wonder if he was even attracted to girls anymore. The thought made him wince. Just thinking of how his father would react to knowing his only son was gay churned his stomach with worry.

But even without his own inner turmoil causing him grief, Faust was completely out of his reach. He was unbalanced, violent, and still deeply in love with the woman he had lost years ago. No person in their right mind would think that was territory worth investing feelings in. Manta had always looked up to the man, as he can been through many of the childhood stresses he was experiencing right now, but, until last night, deep respect had been the most he had ever felt for him.

So why the dream now? Why the clawing feelings that Faust, perhaps, meant more to him than he was forcing himself believe?

His screensaver jumped up, as if a call for him to focus on his work. Once that was finished, there would be time to contemplate the subject further. He wasn't sure how much he actually wanted to, as the result may be one he didn't want.

---

The day came and went, and by the time even rolled around, Manta had already finished and returned home only to head back straight away. He didn't care to be around his family much lately. As he grew older, the less they spoke to him and the more he was yelled at. That shit was infuriating. But he would stay silent, holding his words until he was alone and able to rant angrily at nothing.

Returning to the inn, he was quickly met by a small list of course he hadn't been able to complete during the day. Anna held it by two fingers, as if it was trash, her other hand on her waist. "Yoh's going to do the dishes and make dinner. Help him by doing these, would you?" Her eyes stared down at him. Although it had been a request, Manta knew there was only one answer.

He managed to smile, looking at things from the bright side, and glad to be helping out a friend. "Of course…I'm sorry I hadn't been much help earlier. I can help you out today and tomorrow?"

Seemingly pleased with his answer, Anna just nodded and let him pluck the note from her fingers. "Yoh needs to go buy things, and I'm going out. So if you do the floor first, you won't have us walking all over it."

With a quick nod, Manta placed the note in his pocket, and disappeared to complete his tasks.

---

Upon realization that the house was completely empty, Manta felt a twinge of worry. He hadn't seen Faust all day. Wringing out the soapy cloth, the twisting motions of his hands making him seem like he was fretting all the more, the teen reminded himself that he had been out of the house for a good number of hours. Perhaps Faust has just hiding in his room, absorbed in his books, and hadn't seen the time fly.

It didn't really require a leap of the imagination to think that was the case. He let out a sigh, kneeling down again to polish the remains of the floor left untouched. Yes, Faust was just relaxing somewhere, out of sight from the others, allowed to just withdraw into his own mind. His self assurances made him feel a little better. He'd finish the tasks he was given, then help with dinner, and perhaps after that he'd go find the doctor. He wanted to give his thanks for the help he was given by him last night.

Once finished, he gathered up the fast becoming ragged cloth and the bucket of now murky water, and trudged back to the kitchen. Next was the grueling task of cleaning all the huge windows, and Manta groaned. His body was already stiff from being low on the floor, but now stretching to reach up as high as he could for a few more hours?

But, as if saved, he heard the door open as the shaman and itako returning. Inspecting his floor carefully, Anna seemed pleased. "You haven't done the windows yet."

"I was about to. I just finished the floor."

"Well then do it tomorrow. You need to help with dinner." She glanced behind her as her fiancée hefted a collection of bags onto the counter, heaving out a sigh once the weight was finally off his arms.

Pleased at having the hardest task set aside for later, Manta gladly set about helping unpack. But the nagging was still there at the back of his mind. "…Have you seen Faust at all today?" He asked as casually as he could, keeping his eyes turned away to hide the worry he was feeling.

Either Anna didn't catch it, or didn't react to it. "No, he's been gone all day. If you want you can check his room later." With that, she disappeared into the common room to watch television.

"Common Manta, let's get to work on this." Yoh cheerfully quipped. He could see something was bothering his friend, so decided to get his mind off whatever was worrying him.

"Ah…yah…sorry Yoh." With that, the two fell into casual conversation, and started preparing dinner.

---

The house was eerily quiet. None of the ghosts seemed to be rattling around as much as usual. Anna and Yoh had already retired to bed after being ushered away by Manta when he insisted on finishing the dishes. He knew Yoh had a lot of training to do the next day and needed sleep. Besides, he had finished in twenty minutes, and was already climbing the stairs to hit the sack as well.

But he paused when he came to Faust's door, his heart pounding loudly in his ears as he listened quietly, trying to pick up any sign of life within the room. He could swear he heard breathing, but his senses were hardly heightened like those of a shaman, so he wasn't sure.

Only one way to find out.

"Faust…?" Manta rested his hand against the smooth wood of the door, leaning in closer to hear a reply, if there was one. The breathing he thought he heard seemed to stop, but there was no answer. He felt a sudden, unexplainable rush of panic. "Faust, can I come in?"

"It..it would be best if you didn't."

The reply was weak and trembled, and Manta felt his heart skip a beat. Something was definitely wrong. He knew how Faust could be when he could into his depression swings. Most of the time, everyone just gave him his space, lest he completely snap and attack, but for some reason, Manta couldn't bring himself to just walk away. Sliding the door slowly, giving the doctor plenty of warning that he was indeed entering, Manta stepped inside, never turning his back on the other even as he closed the entrance behind him.

Faust sat on the floor, almost motionless; one knee raised slightly, his other leg tucked in against his body. His shoulders were slumped and his head down, the mass of wild blonde hair completely hiding his face. It didn't matter, Manta could tell from his trembling that he was crying. Eliza's skull was clenched in shaking hands, hands which were trickled with blood. More red splatter laced the floor where he sat.

"…Faust…" Manta stood his ground for the time being his hands on the door incase he needed to make a quick retreat. But the doctor merely looked up slowly, his expression one of pain as he parted his lips to ensure he could keep breathing. His sinuses were completely clogged.

Along with being red from the tears, Faust's eyes were bloodshot and his pupils were completely dilated. The blue iris seemed to practically glow in the dimly lit room. He was pale and sweating a little.

He hadn't taken his morphine. Judging from his condition, it had only been a few hours. He wasn't in the complete 'come off' stage yet, which was fortunate. That would have rendered him completely unstable and violent.

Taking an uneasy step, then another, watching the German the whole time, Manta walked towards him until he was able to kneel in front of him. "I'll stay with you…?"

When Faust looked into his eyes, the teen was taken back by how much of his soul was exposed. Those eyes were always so calm, sometimes emotionless, but now they were uneasy and wide with agony and sadness. "I don't think that's a good idea…" His hands further shook, his hold on Eliza's skull tightening as she were able to ground him. "It's not safe right now…"

Manta knew that as soon as he left, Faust would cut. And not in the teenage 'my parents hate me and no one understands me' angst way. The doctor really hurt himself when he was like this; half the scars on his body were self inflicted. His eyes briefly caught the small, metal try where a selection of bloodied instruments lay. Faust would use anything, scalpels, scissors, needles, even the tweezers or his nails…anything that could inflict pain. He'd withdraw from his morphine for the time so he could feel the hurt he brutally inflicted on himself. Without the drugs he was so dependant on, he was not only able to carve his body into pieces, but was able to suffer from the withdrawal, and all the symptoms it brought with it.

The thought of what Faust would do once he left made Manta ache for him. Without a word, he leaned closer and wrapped his arms around Faust's shoulders, pressing in a little close. "You need someone right now." He felt Faust jerk under the foreign touch of another, but only tightened his hold on him. "Please let me stay."

The doctor lifted a hand to push Manta way, but as his hand connected with the boy's chest, his fingers slipped inside his robe. They brushed across the multitude of hills and valleys from the stitching scar that ran all the way down his front. For a moment, his shaking subsided almost completely as his brain fought to work.

He had caused those.

Yes, he remembered now…in a twisted need to see how the once short boy's body was put together, he had opened him like a dead body under autopsy. It was a further bonus to see how the action had worked Yoh, his opponent at the time, into a blind rage.

And now, here Manta was, risking pain again just to comfort him. Manta had to know he was able to lash out at any moment, but yet stayed close to him, holding him. The thought brought further tears to his eyes. With Eliza's skull still clasped in his left hand, he brought his arms around the teen and pulled him closer still. Unable to hold himself back, he sobbed shakily against Manta's shoulder.

Tilting his head against the other, Manta remained quiet and let Faust cry against him. He wasn't worried anymore, wasn't afraid. Seeing someone who was always so powerful, so capable of shielding his tears around others, in pain like this pulled at his heart more than he thought it would have. He knew he could never begin to imagine Faust's pain, but the least he could do what help him through it…whatever way he could.

"I miss her so much…" His voice, choked by tears, and muffled against Manta's robe, barely made its way to the teen's ears. Manta glanced at him and held him tighter. This subject was shaky and saying the wrong thing of her would definitely push Faust into an explosive temper.

"I know…" He whispered quietly, tightening his hold on him. "But at least be thankful that you can be with her, in some sense. Others without your power never see those they've lost again…"

"It's not enough. I let her die. I couldn't save her." His voice spiked with anger, but it was self directed. "And I never found the one who killed her…" His teeth grit audibly and his fingers tightened around Manta's robe. "I will one day…"

Shivering from the bloodlust in his voice, Manta pulled away just a little, until the other looked up. So close to him, looking into his eyes, the boy felt another pull in his chest. He took an audible breath and looked away as another blush crept to his face. "M-Maybe you should lie down."

"Stay with me."

Manta's blush deepened more, but he nodded. He was genuinely worried about the man, and wanted to stay with him. But the increasingly confusing way his body and emotions were reacting to the doctor were taking him into a spin of uncertainty. "Only if you lie down…"

"That's fine…" Although still shaking, the doctor's voice was more even as he moved them both to the bed. Watching as Manta took a comfortable position against his chest, Faust found himself stroking the boy's hair. "Feel free to go to sleep. I'll be fine…"

Peeking open one eye, Manta blinked. "Promise?" He felt contented when Faust nodded. Resting against his chest again, he closed his eyes. "Oh!" He opened them once and sat up a little, causing Faust to jump slightly. "I wanted to thank you for helping me last night."

It took a moment for Faust to realize what he was taking about. "…Oh that? Think nothing of it, I was glad to help." He was truly happy if he had made Manta's life, even if it was minimal, a little bit easier on him. Manta's honest smile made something in his chest swell, and he rested his head back as the teen started to drift off against his chest.

As he watched him, he sighed and stroked his fingers over Eliza's skull again. "Things are getting complicated my love…" He set her gently on the ground next to him before picking up a needle. Tapping out the bubbles, he carefully injected, giving out a hiss of pain at the sensation he wasn't very used to. Letting the soothing effects of the morphine flood through his body, he picked up the opened book beside him and set down to read the remainder of the night away.

---

…booyah? A longer chapter Sorry this took so long to get out, I had other things to do.