Hello! If you know me then you have read my others stories like Lucky Rabbit Foot and Junjou Angel. If not and your just here for a Shaman King Fanfic then that's okay too.

Now this is an AU as I have mentioned in the summery, also mentioned in the summery this takes place five years from when Yoh told Manta that he did not want to be friends anymore and that it was his fault that he had lost his second match in the Shaman Fight. Manta never followed Yoh, he never went to America like his parents wanted, and he has come to reject his ability to see ghost. ( I would like to point out now that I have not seen or read the entire Shaman King series, this means the anime and the manga, yet but I am in the process of it. So if something is off well this is fanfiction soo..) Thank you and please REVIEW!

Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King. But if I did...OOOOOOh the things I could do with it (evil laugh).

Manta stood in the hospital room doorway looking at his friend in disbelief, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

"But...Yoh..."

"I don't want to be your friend anymore Manta!" The shaman boy kept his head down not once casting a glace at the smaller boy. "It's your fault I lost the battle."

Manta took a step back, shaking his head slowly, as if it could make all the hurt go away.

"Go away Manta!" Said boy took another step back as tears began free falling down his face. Anger and sadness welled up inside the small boy, until in all erupted out.

"Your such a heartless jerk, Yoh!" Manta scream, letting his rage fuel his voice. "I wish we'd never met."

Manta opened his eyes slowly, he was met with a small sliver sunlight streaming in through his bedroom window just above his bed. He sat up and pulled the curtains closed, before laying back down. He let out a sigh and closed his eyes, trying to go back to sleep. He laid there for about ten more minutes before sighing again and getting up. He went around opening his curtains and windows letting the bright morning sun fill the small one bedroom apartment with light.

Then he went to the bathroom and slashed some cold water on his face. Reaching over for a towel, images of his dream came flooding back. Though it was no dream, but actually a painful memory.

"Why am I even thinking about that?" Manta said bitterly. "It's been five years already."

Five years, had it really been that long? Manta looked a himself in the mirror above the sink, a lot had change in the last five years. He was no longer the abnormally short, thirteen year old when his so called best friend had blamed him for a lost and crushed his happiness. Now he was eighteen, and some how had managed to grow to just above four feet. Though how that had happened was beyond him (And many doctors who had said he would not grow above his abnormal two feet height.).

Oh his was still considered short, but a least he had grown some. He had let his hair grow out as well, now he was able to tie it into a small pony tail. Which did not go well with his father, an argument started and ended with him moving out and almost being disowned. The only reason he was not disowned completely was because of his mother's pleading.

Walking out of the bathroom Manta went to the kitchen and starting to rummage through the fridge. He pulled out a carton of eggs, some butter, and a loaf of bread. After placing them all on the counter by the stove he looked up at the clock, his eye bulging out as he noticed the time.

"Shit! I'm gonna be late!"

The blonde haired boy quickly put back most of the food and put a slice of bread into the toaster. Then ran to his closet and through on some cloths. Finishing his outfit with a light blue hoodie, much like the one he wore when he was in middle school. Light blue with angel wings on the back and a halo on the hood, Manta looked at the hoodie. More memories of when he and Yoh were best friends filling his mind.

He shook his head trying to rid himself of the memories.

"I don't have time for this." He grabbing his bag and heading back to the kitchen. He took the toast from the toaster and stuffed in tin his mouth. After locking his door he ran down the stairs and stopping to say hello to neighbors.

"Late for work Manta-chan?" Asked one old lady.

"Yeah, over slept." Manta smiled a bit embarrassed.

"Well better hurry. Have a nice day."

"You too."

Manta started running again and soon made it to the convenience store where he worked part-time. Once there he stood outside the doors catching his breathe. After a few moments Manta stopped panting and headed inside. His boss was not mad, saying that he was only a few minutes late and it was a slow day anyway.

And indeed it was, the work day went by fast for Manta, and soon it was time to leave. Grabbing his bag and hoodie, Manta waved good bye to his replacement for the next shift and headed out into the now dark street.

"Have a good weekend." The girl taking over the counter called.

"That's right, it's Friday." Thought Manta as he stood at the street corner, waiting for the traffic light to change. "I have to go there today."

As soon as the light changed and the traffic stopped Manta made a bee line for the other side. Not stopping until he made it to a dark alley and slipped inside a large door marked employes only. He walked into a large back room filled with men getting dressed in their uniforms.

"Hey Manta!" A voice called before Manta found himself being strangled by a pair of arms.

"Hi, Shu." Manta knew full well who was strangling, or as Shu called it "hugging" him. "But can you let go before I black out this time."

Shu was only a little bigger than Manta but he had a lot of strength. He was about a head taller, with shaggy green hair and matching green eyes.

"But I missed you!" The boy whined as he released Manta. "I haven't seen you in forever."

Manta opened his mouth to say that they had just seen each other yesterday at his other workplace when a loud angry voice called out.

"Hey will you two stop messing around and get to work." It was their manager, Yuji-san. "Shu, you have table 6 waiting. GO!" Shu wasted no time and ran out of the dressing room. Then Yuji-san turned to Manta.

"Hurry up and get dressed then go clear off tables for the new customers."

Manta nodded his head and quickly got dressed in his work uniform, which was a plain white button down shirt with a name tag just over his heart and a pair of black form fitting pants. Manta worked as a waiter at a popular escort club on the weekends. Though that didn't stop the many, many request he got from the customers, and he rejected everyone of them.

Manta went out to the floor and began his work, starting with clearing off the tables like Yuji-san had commanded. Unlike his previous job just hours before, where he mostly just stood behind a counter and checked stock, Manta was constantly on the move. Taking and delivering orders, clearing tables for the next round of people, and rejecting offers from many people (men and woman alike) that took an interest in him. Friday was definitely one of the clubs busiest nights.

The blonde haired boy let out a tired moan as he dropped off a load of dishes in the kitchen.

"Oh tired already Manta-kun?" Said boy turned to see the clubs owner smiling at him.

"Hello Hoshi-san." Manta greeted, Hoshi-san pouted.

"Oh Manta, why wont you call me Mama?"

"Because it's creepy beyond all reason," Manta said frowning at the man, "for me to call my boss, another man, Mama."

"Oh, how cruel of you!" Hoshi-san wailed. Manta just rolled his eyes.

Hoshi-san, or Hoshi-Mama as he tried to get everyone to call him, owned the escort club. He was a nice enough man, with long black hair always tied in a braid, and was always dressed in a dark suit. Though half the time he would act like an idiot, his took care of his employees, stepping in when someone would get to rough with one of the escorts or when a fight would break out.

Hoshi-san took great pride in the fact that his club provided both male and female escorts. Go as far as having a time when only the male escorts entertained and another with only females. You never knew when he was going to do it. At times it was a bit funny to see male customers act when there were only male escorts.

"So how is work tonight?" Hoshi-san asked.

Manta shrugged. "Normal I guess."

"Still not taking any clients?"

"Hell no!" Hoshi-san smiled at the young man. "There is no way I am with those pervs."

"Oh come now Manta-kun, there no need to be shy." Hoshi-san grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Why don't you ever take any clients? Is it that you are still a virgin?"

Manta's face flushed red. "Tha-that's not...I...just. Oh shut up!"

Hoshi-san laughed as Manta scurried away to finish his work. He loved to tease the boy and Manta was one of the few who were not afraid to talk back to him, or speak his mind. Hoshi-san shook his head and smiled again, Manta shyness about sex reminded him a bit of his own lover when they were young. Speaking of which were was Yuji-kun, Hoshi turned and set out to find the man.

Several hours later, Manta let out a relived sigh as he shrugged off his work uniform and pulled on his normal cloths. It was just past two in the morning and he was ready to just flop on his bed and pass out.

"Finally I can go home." Manta grabbed his bag and went for the door. The second he stepped into the ally trouble started.

The blonde haired boy let out a grunt as he was shoved against a hard brick wall. He looked up to see who had attacked him, the light above the door allowed him to see three men smirking at him.

"Can I help you?" Manta glared at the men. "So what is it, a mugging or a beating?"

The one in front, a man with brown hair that was slicked back and wore a dark green shirt with black slacks, grinned at him.

"You could say that." He said. "Seeing as though you were to busy to see us inside."

Manta mentally cursed as he realized these three must have been among the men he had rejected earlier in the club. That's all he needed right now, a group of sex starved thugs.

"Well sorry to disappoint you but I'm off duty right now. So why don't you just get lost." Manta made to go around the man but was pulled back and once again slammed against the wall, this time with more force.

"Well then how about you go for some over time, huh?" The man said, his buddies snickered behind him.

Manta racked his brain for some way to get away but found that he couldn't. He was about to just try a make a run for it, though part of him knew it was useless, when a voice rang out.

"Hey, I'd leave him alone if I were you." Everyone turned to see a figure standing at the entrance of the ally way. Manta tried to look at the persons face but could not see it. Though there was something in the voice that seemed familiar.

"Yeah, and what if we don't?" Yelled one of the men that stood behind the leader.

"Then I'll make you." The figure said in threatening tone. This caused the three men to laugh.

"You? What could a punk like you do to us?" The leader mocked, then turned to the other two behind him. "Take care of that." He nodded toward the person at the end of the ally.

"You got it Seji." One of the other men replied.

As the two men moved toward the man in question, Manta tried to get away but was stopped when the dark haired man grabbed his throat. Manta couldn't help but let out a panicked whimper.

"Now, now, don't try that again or you might get hurt." The man, Seji as his friend had called him, lifted his other hand and placed it on Manta's face trailing his fingers down his jawline. Manta did his best to move away from the offensive touch.

"Ahh!"

Seji dropped his hand and they both turned to the source of the yell. The two thugs that were sent t take care of the unknown man were now on the ground. Only leaving the nameless man standing.

"How the...?" The Seji glared at the strange man, letting go of Manta he rushed toward the obscure man, fist raised. "You should have just minded your own business."

Manta slumped to the ground, his neck sore from the mans firm hold on it. He wasn't sure what happened next, one minute his attacker was running at the stranger ready to fight and the next the same man was of the ground, knocked out.

Manta just stayed on the ground not completely what just happened. As he sat there the stranger that had just saved him walked over. When he got close enough the light from over head showed just who the man was. The man's features were both familiar and new, familiar, from knowing the face so well, and new for the amount of aging the person had gone through.

Manta just stared at the person in front of him, a mix of shock and anger welled up inside of him.

"You okay?" The man asked and held out a hand. Manta stared at the hand, the hand of one Yoh Asakura.

Okay so...I think that went well. Or not. You guys tell me, if you like it let me know if not, well you can tell me too. Please review! :)

Quick question! Which witch name do you guys like Manta or Morty? I like the original one better. Manta just seems to fit better.

Pfft...fit...Manta can fit anywhere he so small! HAHA!