Chapter 7: An endurance story part 1-Joyous Moments

The idea and flash backs right before the wedding were written by my friend Pauline, also known as Midnight Cello...Thank you for all those that have read and reviewed When my Eyes open, hope you like this 3-part 7th chapter...

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Tick...Tock...Tick...Tock...

His eyes continually flicked towards the clock...

Ones minute had gone by, then two...

His hand wandered over to the plain silver band on his finger...

His pace rapidly grew as each second passed...

Sweat came from his forehead and his hand trembled out of nervousness

"What will I do?!?" He thought to himself as he pulled the hair on his head madly...Haji went to Kai as he noticed Kai looked troubled... "I am confident Jahana-san will be alright Kai" said Haji as he put his hand on Kai's shoulder.

Kai wiped his forehead "I guess you're right, thank you Haji..."

He marched over to the benches where the twins were sleeping. He smiled and sat beside them...he threw his head back, and his thoughts looked at the year before...The day he and Mao got married...

flash back

a month before the wedding...

"Kai! Can you help me with the invitations?" asked Mao

"Choto Matte! I'm just finishing up the Twins' lunch!!!!!!!!!!"

Kai sighed, "I have a feeling this is going to be a long day..."

kai marched into the living room to where Mao was after he finised preparing the Twins' lunch...

"Here's the list of guests..." said Mao...kai took the list from her, and started browsing it, "Whoah!!!!!!!! I feel like you've invited the whole darn universe!!!!!!!!" said the shocked Kai, Mao shrugged, "Well it doesn't matter, I want our wedding to be big and special..."said Mao

Kai sighed, "Fine..."

"Oh, which reminds me...I'm making Kaya and Hisa our cute, little flower girls..." said Mao

a week before the wedding...

Kai and Haji were alone in the living room...Kai was checking the list again when..."Oh crap!!!!!!!I don't have a best man!!!!!!!!!!!" shouted Kai..."Wait a minute...I have an idea...hmmm..." he said to himself. Wearing a grin, his eyes turned to Haji who was playing his cello. Haji raised and eyebrow as he noticed Kai was looking mischevously at him...

The wedding...

Kai looked nervously at the multitude of people in the cathedral, he loosened his collar as beads of sweat rolled down his face. Haji handed Kai a handcherchief, "Gee, thanks Haji..." Haji nodded in response. kai suddenly felt guilty forcing the stiff chevalier to become his best man, but before he could think further the organ sounded and Mao came in. Kai flushed red and his heart pounded, 'My God! She's beautiful!' Kai thought to himself as he gazed at Mao's slim form in the shinning, sterling white dress, her lush brown hair resting softly on her shoulders, and a crown of pearls on her head which held the silk veil in place. the bunch of roses that she held made her look even more radiant. Kai's eyes looked upon the stern man leading Mao to the altar. A cold chill went up Kai's spine... Mr. Jahana, Mao's father was first against his daughter marrying a delinquent, restaurant owner, but once Joel stepped in he gave his consent, afterall, who could say no to the rich and debonaire heir of the Goldschmidt family. As the pair reached the altar Mao put her hand in Kia's and gave him an encouraging smile. Mao's father grunted and Kai could feel his eyes boring into him, but the hulk of a man said nothing and sat down in his seat.

Kai's hand trembled as the priest began the ceremony. He felt that anytime he would faint... Everything became a blurr, and his feet became numb, it was as if the pressure on his right hand grew intense, and he came back to his senses, "Are you alright Kai?" Kai looked directly at Mao's eyes "I'm just nervous" he managed to splurt out. Mao whispered to his ear " I'm not nervous..." "Why not?" asked kai, Mao replied, "Because this wedding means we'll be together forever..." Kai's blush deepend... "Excuse me?" coughed the priest,Kai blinked at him, "I'm sorry what was the question again" the priest got a sweatdrop,

"Do you accept Mao Jahana as your beloved wife, to have and to hold forever and ever?"

Kai looked at Mao, and their gazes locked...

"I do..."

The priest turned to Mao

"Do you accept Kai Miyagusku as your wedded husband, to have and to hold forever and ever?"

Mao closed her eyes...

"I do..." she said warmly

The priest smiled and said, "You may now kiss the bride..."

The air was now filled with tension and anticipation as Kai and Mao leaned in for the kiss...Kai brushed Mao's veil aside and said so quietly that only Mao could hear... "I love you Mao..." and then they kissed...aand the whole Church roared with shouts and applause, the twins threw flowers randomly through the air...

At the reception party...

The dizziness had already left him...and now in this place, and at that particular moment in time... all he thought of was her...her terrible temper, her blaster attitude, her strength, her smile, his love...

The guests chanted

"Dance!dance!dance!dance!"

Kai looked at his bride, his wife, and she looked at him as they made their way to the dance floor...where they and only they mattered, this was their universe now...

"Mao..." whispered kai

"Yes? Kai?" Mao blushed

"I just have to tell you..."

"Yes???" Mao's eyes glittered with excitement

"I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Mao fell on the floor from shock

"You get all romantic and then ruin the moment with that out of the world stunt?!?!?!?" shouted mao

Kai sweatdropped, "Sorry honey, just telling you the truth..." Mao looked to her side with an angry look on her face, "Will it help if i beg?" asked Kai

Mao rolled her eyes...

"No, it won't help!"

Kai sighed, Mao saw her oppurtunity...

"But a kiss might..."

Kai smiled and shook his head...and kissed her ligtly on her cheek...

That's when Kai noticed the Twins and Haji walk up to the stage...

"We want to dedicate this song to Chichiue-san and Oka-san!!!!!!!!"shouted kaya...Mao flushed red...the twins were already calling them their own, their mother...

The low hum of Hjai's cello began the song...with Kaya playing the violin...Kai smiled, Kaya had somehow concinced him to allow her to take violin lessons...and now Hisa began the song...

Moon River...

Wider than a mile...

I'm crossing you in style someday...

Oh dream maker, you heart breaker, wherever you're going i'm going your way...

Two drifters...

Off to see the world...

There's sucha lot of worlds to see...

Were after the same rainbow's end,

just around the bend, my Huckle Berry friend...

Moon River and me...

Kai and Mao had barely started dancing when Kia had stepped on Mao's foot for more than five times...and Moa put a fist in his face each time...

They continued to dance when Mao pulled him close to her...

"Mao..." said Kai blushing...

She shushed him, and kissed him, "I will always love you even if you make my feet turn into swollen tomatoes..."

Kai laughed mildly and hugged Mao tight...

"I'll love you even though you make my face las rocky as the surface of the moon..."

Back to the present...

Kai scratched his head.and put his hand on the spot where his heart was...he then closed his eyes in prayer and said, "Oh God, please keep her safe..."

"Wahhhhh!!!Wahhhhhhh!!!!!"

Kai looked at the door , did he just hear? A-a baby?"

Haji stood up and Kaya and Hisa jumped to their feet as Julia came out of the room, she was smiling as she walked up to Kai...

"How is she?"

"Relax Kai, Mao is alright..." said Julia in her calm voice

"You may go in now..." but before Julia could say anything else Kai was inside right besid eMao and their newly born son...

"Look Kai, he's exactly like you..." Mao said

Kai looked at his child with tears in his eyes, he kissed its forehead...and caressed it for awhile...

"He's too cute to look like me..." said Kai as he looked at the baby's delicate features, his brown smily eyes, and the brown tuft of hair on his head...

Mao took the baby into her arms

"No Kai, he is a carbon-copy of you...he's strong and steadfast and loves to be held in my arms..." Kai kissed Mao on the lips...

Mao smiled back at him and said, "So what will we name him?"

Kai was about to say 'Why not Riku?' but that would be to selfish of him...

"why don't you decide Mao..."

Mao looked at him happily, "That's good I've already decided on a name for him..."

"Riku..."

Kai looked at mao, and she looked back...

"It is a beautiful name afterall, it suits a beautiful baby like him, don't you think Kai?"

Kai was too overwhelmed with emotion too respond, all he could do was smile, and cry at the same time, for these

were the blessed quiet moments in his life...these small and joyous moments...

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Hope you guys liked it!!!!!! Well that ends the endurance story part one!!!!!!