"M-Master is… dead?" choked Ryu quietly.
"No! This has to be some kind of sick joke!" spat Horo Horo as he slammed his fists on the tea table.
"Nobody jokes about death." Said Anna calmly. "Yoh lost because he let Faust get to him. He didn't stand a chance."
"Then why the hell did you let him fight Faust!" shouted Horo Horo as he grabbed Anna. "You must be the most lousy fiancée ever! You sh- ack!"
"Oni-chan!" cried his sister Pirika as a pounding sound shook the room. Horo Horo was now lying on his back holding one side of his face with his hands. "Ryu-san! Why did you hit Oni-chan?"
"I don't like what I'm hearing from Anna-san." Mumbled Ryu. "But there is no reason for Horo Horo to act so violently towards a young lady."
"Ryu…" spoke Anna softly.
"Say no more… I heard enough." And with that, he combed through his jet-black hairdo and exited the room. From that point on everyone was silent. They just looked at each other with sad expressions.
Meanwhile, back in the cemetery, Faust was still around. He smiled as he settled himself on the steps near the entrance and glanced down at the bone covered plain.
"Eliza…" he said softly while hugging his wife's skeleton. "I'm finally one step closer to being with you… for real." He held her closer. "It's too bad that Yoh insulted you back then. He would've won for sure if he hadn't. Oh well… he learned the hard way." Faust snickered. "I can't sense his spirit either. He must've passed on. Not surprising. Our power is enough to send any evil spirit away."
"Yoh… is… not an evil spirit." Weakly spoke somebody.
"What?" said Faust as he looked around to see who was around. "Ah wait… I know." Chuckled the necromancer. "Hello Manta." Faust was right. Manta was lying behind a tombstone to the right of Faust.
"Damn… he heard me. I should've kept quiet!" said Manta whilst trembling.
"I'm surprised you're still alive. However… I can fix that." He stood up and started walking slowly towards his so-called experiment. Manta attempted to run but the pain surging throughout his body was too much. He fell over. Damn! I must escape! I must! Manta got up and tried to run again. He got as far as the next tombstone then fell over again. Ah! It's too much! I can't run! He slowly looked back to see how close Faust was. He's still coming this way… very slowly too. Then again… I guess he doesn't need to run. Yoh-kun… what should I do?
"It'll work out." Echoed a phrase that Yoh would always say.
"It'll work out…" quoted Manta to himself.
"Not this time!" sneered Faust as he kicked Manta in the ribs. The small boy rolled around in agony, his insides completely sore. Tears ran down his face as he looked up to Faust… his vision became blurry.
"You know… there is still more I'd like to find out about you. Your bone structure is abnormal for your age… I'll spare you from death." Said Faust with a smile as he placed a doctor's briefcase in front of Manta and started rummaging in it. Manta whimpered at the sound of various instruments clacking. "Ah here it is." Faust took out a bottle containing an unknown substance then dabbed a drop on a handkerchief.
"No… please no!" cried Manta weakly as he tried to roll away. Faust pressed one hand on Manta's body then covered his mouth and nose with the cloth.
"Don't bother struggling. You should be thankful. This way you wont feel any pain for a while." Chuckled Faust. "From now on, you'll be my little lab pet." Manta slowly felt the pain disappear… but also started losing consciousness. Yoh-kun… Where are you Yoh-kun? I need… help. As Manta fell asleep a final tear ran down his face. Faust scooped up Manta in his arms then turned to Eliza's skeleton.
"Well… the real Shaman fight doesn't start in a few months… let's go home."
To be continued…In part three- As Horo Horo and Ryu go off to train, Anna explains to Silver and Amidamaru about why she did nothing to help Yoh in battle. But it appears Silver has something to say too. Also, Faust arrives at his home in Germany and begins his next experiment with Manta.