Chapter 2
Smile

The bright sunshine illuminated the summer scenery of Tokyo, spreading the infectious energy that the warm weather brings. Nature, with the humming cicadas and colourful display of flowers in every city park, seemed to beckon all in its happy fervour as the masses flocked the streets, eagerly welcoming the fresh air.

While the city buzzed with joy, one particular place was dampened by one itako's foul mood.

Manta sat on the porch of the inn, keeping a wary eye at the aggravated girl whilst praying for Yoh to hurry home. Through some cruel trick of fate, Manta had decided to pay his friends a visit after finishing the last of his summer homework, hoping to enjoy the warm weather with them only to find that everyone had decided to act on those same feelings elsewhere without his knowledge- all except for Anna who ardently despised the heat. She had stationed herself in front of the lone electric fan in the sitting room, a frown permanently etched on her features while grumbling about the temperature and glaring at anything and everything that caused her to waste any unnecessary energy. After years of being acquainted with her, Manta knew better than to go any closer at this state, even to ask for the location of their friends, other than to follow any orders she may have- anything to make her less irritable.

'How could Yoh just leave me? Everyone else too! What could they possibly be doing right now that it would take them so long to return?' Manta fumed as he lay back on the wooden floors, staring up at the ornate glass wind chime that hung above him, its tintinnabulation resonating with the slight vibrations of the floors due to his movements. 'Was it really too much trouble to wait for me instead of leaving me here with Miss Grumpy?' He flailed his limbs in annoyance, knocking his fists on the floor boards as he did so.

A growl emitted from within the building; "Would you keep it down out there!"

Manta yelped in fright, letting out a squeak of apology before resuming his silent rage at the traitors who left him in this miserable position.

'I wish I could go out too… But there's nothing to do… I'll probably just end up doing nothing at home anyway.' He sighed quietly, careful not to incur any more anger from the girl inside.

After a few more moments of silent pondering on his part and television viewing on Anna's part, Manta was effectively bored. Left with no other real options, he decided to try his luck and ask Anna where the others had gone.

"…Hey Anna...-san" He called cautiously, quickly adding the honorific before any other bad luck befell him.

"…"

As he expected, only silence greeted him but he could practically feel her evil waves seeping through the cracks of the house as if reaching out to exterminate the source of her displeasure. Still, he persevered in broken tones; "Could you tell me- please!- where Yoh and the others are?"

"I don't see why," She began, vehemence and ire coating her words like poison as the old electric fan ticked at each word, "I have to tell you anything of the sort."

Manta let out a brief squeak before swiftly scooting further away from the open shoji door- just in case- and quickly bowing his head in the most formal manner as a form of deep repentance. "No, of course not! You're perfectly right about that!"

"Hmph." The pre-empted punishment never came, likely due to her lethargy in the summer heat, and only the minute noises of the worn out fan and banter from the television broke their mutual silence.

Daring to finally lift his head, Manta resumed his sitting position on the porch, facing the direction in which the others would eventually reappear. He was not disappointed for, within a few minutes, the approaching figures of the other residents of the inn materialized before his eyes.

'Finally!' He thought, immediately waving his hands enthusiastically to the group.

It was Yoh, standing at the head of their lively procession, carrying a large watermelon and a grocery bag over his shoulder, who first saw him. "Oh, it's Manta!" He waved back in greeting and proceeded to yell, "Hey, what are you doing there? We were hoping that you would come with us to the park!"

"I was looking for you, you idiot!" Manta yelled back, forgetting all restrain as he let the pent up frustration within him explode in an instant. As his ire ebbed, an indescribable chill overcame his tiny body, giving him the strange feeling of having his soul drained out of him. He involuntarily shivered at the sensation of impending doom, hesitating to turn around in the direction of the demonic force- there could only be one thing, after all, that could bring such calamitous aura.

Seemingly oblivious to the dark shadow that had befallen across Manta's face, as well as that of his fellow companions as they halted in their tracks at the sight of the menacing figure stirred behind shoji frame, Yoh waved cheerfully once again. "Hey there, Anna! We're back!" Her response did not equal his in liveliness; rather, the glare she threw in his direction contrasted the supposed intimacy of their relationship.

Ignoring the look she gave him, Yoh walked up to her, eager hands outstretched to display the objects in his hands. "Look, I got the watermelon and ramune you wanted! Perfect for getting over the heat, right?" He grinned proudly, as if the scowl on his fiancée's face would magically transform into a smile.

"Why are you all so freaking noisy when it's so hot out?" She growled in annoyance, throwing an especially dirty look at Manta. Yoh merely laughed; "well then, there's no better time to eat watermelon and ramune*, is there?" Gently, he ushered the itako into the house while giving Manta a quiet signal to join the rest of the group that was silently sneaking away in order to avoid the misfortune of Anna's wrath, leaving Yoh to be their unfortunate sacrifice.

The group decided to settle in the main garden, returning to their earlier merriment at Anna's departure from their company. At each robust laugh they gave, Manta could not help but feel the tingling sensation of worry that, at any moment, some shamanic power would exact on them the revenge of Anna's earlier rage.

No such thing happened.

Instead, Yoh came out, evidently perfectly healthy and unharmed, happily calling them in to eat some of the watermelon they had brought home. Hesitating at first, their hunger and fatigue got the better of them and they were compelled to follow him into the sitting room and sit around the low table, eagerly waiting for their promised meal.

Unexpectedly, it was Anna's subdued figure that entered the room bearing a platter of sliced watermelon, passing each of them a slice while walking around the table. Not knowing what to say at the rare sight, each of them muttered an embarrassed "thank you" then quickly averted their eyes to their food. Anna, on the other hand, ignored their words and continued around the circle of people until she reached Manta.

Manta looked up at the girl nervously, awaiting the pain that was sure to follow the unnerving stare she gave him. Rather than the sound of skin hitting skin, he heard the calm chuckle of Yoh as he walked over, holding a bottle of chilled ramune in each hand.

"Relax, Manta! Here, have a bottle." He tossed the uniquely-shaped bottle in his direction; the smaller male caught it and looked at the pair in confusion. He carefully watched the exchange between them as Yoh nudged the girl at his side and she silently complied with his unspoken insistence, giving the promised slice of fruit to Manta. Baffled, the boy gave his thanks though he was already lost in the notice of the two.

Yoh had already turned his attention to his betrothed and smiled at her. "And one for you too, of course." At his words, he lightly pressed the cool glass on her cheek, causing her to flinch slightly at the chill it gave her.

"Baka!" She exclaimed, snatching the bottle in his hand and stalking off to an empty corner at the other end of the room.

Manta eyed them both as Yoh followed after her, still all smiles, saying something in low tones that wouldn't carry to prying ears like his. Eventually, the anger in her dark eyes subsided and something that looked akin to a coy smile decorated her usually indifferent features.

Hurriedly, Manta looked away- it would not have been smart to keep watching lest Anna's eyes ventured in his direction. Nevertheless, his find only strengthened his newly discovered belief in their mutual love. "I mean," He thought resolutely, attacking the red flesh of the watermelon with greater fervour, "what else could it be?"

*Ramune – a Japanese carbonated drink often associated with festivals and summer time. (I suggest for you to try it, if you haven't already.)

AN: It ended up differently than expected but- hey!- I finished it. It's been a long time since I last read the manga by now (the first chapter was written almost immediately after I finished rereading it) so any inconsistencies are due to that… Although they are still, regrettably, my fault.