Well the last chapter left off on a bit of a sappy note. Sorry if you didn't like that very much. (Nervous laugh) personally I love those kinds of moments. I'm just a sucker for that kind of stuff. Fluffy, fluffy love! Anyway lets get back to the story!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Shaman King! (falls to knees in despair) WHYYYYYYYYYY!? (Haha just kidding)
The two continued to hold each other until Manta let out a sigh and pushed away from the taller boy. He wiped the tears from his eyes and gave a small smile to Yoh.
"Well...um..we better finish eating before the food gets too cold." Yoh said nothing just nodded
After all the food was eaten and the dishes washed the two retired to the hot springs. It had been a long time since Manta had sat in one and soon he was remembering just how amazing they were.
"This. Is. Awesome!" Manta let out a moan as the hot water eased all he tense, aching muscles. Yoh chuckled.
"What your apartment doesn't get hot water?" Yoh teased.
"It dose but I don't have a bath just a shower." Manta sighed and closed his eyes. He sunk down into the water until it reached his eyes. He sat there just enjoying the soothing warmth. The water caused the wound on his chest to sting slightly but not enough to cause his to leave the hot spring.
Just a couple of feet away Yoh sat near the edge watching in amusement as Manta rested in the water. It was good to see the blonde so relaxed. After all he had been attacked quite a lot in the past couple of weeks. Not to mention the past several years. The conversation the two just had over dinner troubled him greatly. The thought of Manta going through all that while he was gone, when he could have prevented it.
"It's not like you could have known." A voice said in the back of his head.
"But if I hadn't left, if I had told him what was really wrong..." Yoh thought back.
"Then he would have insisted on staying with you and he would have been in even more danger." Thevoice countered.
"It was my fault." Yoh thought. "I never-"
"I never should have left." Yoh said firmly.
Manta snapped his eyes open and turned to look at the shaman. Yoh stared at the shorter boy intensely, as if he was deciding something. Manta began to grow anxious and began to rise back out of the water he moved slightly towards the other. He opened his mouth to say something, but was stopped by Yoh's sudden movement.
Yoh's hands came up to cup the blondes face, his gaze firm, but they also held a gentle, loving look. Also, there was a another emotion hidden, but Manta had no time to wonder about it before he felt Yoh's lips on his. His eyes widened in shock and his body went stiff. The kiss lasted for only a few seconds before Yoh pulled away. The shaman looked at him for a second and, seeing his very shocked face, turned away.
"Sorry." Yoh dropped his eyes to the water. Manta still sat there trying to process what had just happened.
"He kissed me." Manta thought shocked at first then he got excited and a smile spread across his face. "He kissed me!"
He looked up at Yoh and his face fell a bit at the look on the others face. Manta then realized what that was a look of. Yoh was scared. Manta had only seen that look once before, it was when he had been hurt by Faust. He smiled gentle, but fell when he heard Yoh getting out of the bath.
"I'm going to bed." Yoh said grabbing a towel, not once looking at Manta.
"Wait Yoh!" Manta quickly got out of the water and began running, but only got a few steps before he slipped.
He never made it to the floor though, instead he felt a strong pair of arms wrap around his small frame and pull him close. He looked and saw Yoh had come back for him.
"Manta you-" Yoh started to talk but was cut off by the very lips he had just kissed moment earlier. It didn't take long for him to kiss back.
Manta wrapped his arms around the brunet's neck, while Yoh wrapped his around the blonds waist. The kiss lasted until they both needed air. When it did end they just stood there, holding each other. The silence broke when Manta let out a pained hiss.
Yoh pulled away and looked down at the other boy. Manta had a pained look and was covering his still wounded chest.
"We better get the wrapped up again." Yoh said pulling Manta out of the room.
Twenty minutes later Yoh put the finishing knot on the bandages. The two sat on the floor in Yoh room, Manta sat facing him. They both were now dressed in plain white robes. Manta sat with his half open as Yoh wrapped the bandages around his chest.
"There we go." Yoh said smiling. "Better?"
"Yep." Manta said pulling the robe back on, then leaned forward and placed a kiss on the shamans lips.
Yoh chuckled and leaned into the kiss. Manta placed his hands on Yoh shoulders before winding his arms around the others neck. Yoh took a chance and opened his mouth slightly, sliding his tongue across Manta's bottom lip. The other boy moaned at the feeling and opened his mouth. In an instant Manta's mouth was invaded by the shaman's tongue, causing manta to moan again.
Yoh relished the taste of Manta that was nothing but addictive. Yoh wrapped one arm around Manta's waist and the other he moved to the back of the his head tangling his fingers in Manta's soft blonde locks. He gently pulled Manta to where he was sitting on the shamans lap. Yoh coaxed Manta's tongue to play and soon there was a fight for dominance between the two. The kiss lasted until the need for air became too great and the two were forced to pull away.
Manta looked at Yoh for a few seconds, then without warning just threw himself at the other boy, wrapping his arms tighter around Yoh and burying his face in his neck. Yoh was surprised by the action and even more surprised when he felt Manta start to tremble. Yoh could tell Manta was crying but why he didn't know. Non the less he wrapped his arms around his love, waiting for him to calm down. He could feel tears falling against his neck as Manta pulled himself tighter to Yoh. When he finally did calm down, Manta still just held onto Yoh.
"Manta?" Yoh asked after a while. He loosed his grip slightly and tried to look at the others face. "You okay?"
"Don't let go." Manta mumbled softly against Yoh's neck. "So long..."
"What?" Yoh tried again to look at Manta's face. This time Manta lifted his head and looked The shaman straight in the eye. Fresh tears weld in his own eyes.
"I've waited over five years to be like this, to be this close to you. I've loved you since we were kids even after you said those things to me!" Tears began to fall down Manta's face as he confessed all that he held in his heart for the last five years.
"Manta." Yoh looked wide eyed at the in front of him.
"I tried to hate you, tried to forget, but I couldn't!" Manta continued. "When you showed up again after all this time I got angry. You acted like nothing happened. Like you had never left." Manta lowered his head. "Like you had never broken my heart with your words."
Yoh was at a loss for words, he could feel tears of his own threatening to fall. Blinking them away he slowly lifted his hands to cup Manta's face. Wiping away tears as he lifted the blondes face to look at him.
"Manta...I'm so sorry. I know that will never e enough." Yoh leaned forward while gently pulling Manta toward him until their foreheads touched. "I never knew I hurt you so much."
Yoh lifted his head and placed a gentle kiss on the crown of Manta's head. Then pulled the other to him. Manta let of a shuddering breath as he rested his head on Yoh chest. His hands moving to grip the fabric of the robe.
"I don't want to let." Manta whimpered. "I don't want you to ever let go."
Yoh hugged Manta closer to him. "I'll never let you go. Not again."
They stayed like that, just holding one another, soon Manta fell asleep. Yoh moved to his bed laid both of them on it. Yoh laid there looking at Manta's sleeping face, running his fingers through his hair. Even in his sleep Manta still clutched Yoh clothing.
Yoh thought over all that Manta had said. Manta had held in five years worth of pain and hate. He had gone through as much hell as Yoh had gone through. Physically and mentally. And still he managed to survive.
As sleep began to creep into his senses, the shaman he made a silent promise. A promise to never let Manta be alone, to protect him. To be by his side even in death. That was his last though as he drifted off to sleep. Holding close the one he loved with ever fiber of his being.
OMG! That was one of the toughest chapters I ever wrote! I rewrote most of the scenes in here like...8 times! But it's done that's what important, now you guys can tell me what you thought of it. You probably thought there was going to be a lemon with that kissing scene huh? Well sorry to disappoint but you'll just have to wait. Until then please review. See you next chapter!