Ch 9: Turning Points
* Why do I feel like I'm really sticking my neck out on this one? Oh well, this is the chapter you Keniko lovers will love me or hate me for, and hopefully it's the former! ^_^; *hears a guillotine * O_O*
Kenji woke from an uneasy sleep. It was early morning, and the sun had barely risen. He slowly got out of bed, as to not disturb his sleeping girlfriend. He placed a pillow where he had been for her to rest her head against. He bent down, kissed her cheek, and she smiled, nestled her head into the pillow, and continued sleeping. He spent a minute, just admiring the beauty of Uriko Nonomura. She was truly everything he had ever wanted, and the only one that could make him whole. He quietly sighed, and made his way to the kitchen. He downed a glass of orange juice, and grabbed the phone. Dialing quickly, he waited until a familiar voice answered.
"Yugo? I need to talk to you," He said over the line.
He had arranged some clothes the prior night. A collared sweater, some jeans, nothing major. He quickly dressed himself, put on some deodorant, combed his hair and brushed his teeth. He then went out to the hallway, checked the bedroom to make sure Uriko was still asleep, and went outside.
He got into his car, and pulled out the drive. A million thoughts raced through his head as he pulled up to Kane's house. Sarah was waiting for him outside.
"Where's Kane?" he asked.
"He went to see his father, so he sent me instead. We both thought you could use a woman's touch with this." She replied.
"Alright, fine. Let's get this over with," He said as she climbed in the car.
"C'mon, Kenji, lighten up."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so rude. I guess I'm." Kanji replied, but the word escaped him
"Nervous? You? Heh, I guess you are human after all."
The car sped away.
Kane Darkholm looked at his father, sitting behind his desk. Raven smiled, and pressed a button on the intercom. Dr. Busuzima wheeled in, with a cast around his shattered kneecap.
"Y-yes sir?" he said timidly.
"Dr. Busuzima, I have received information regarding your ties to the Menagerie Project. What do you have to say for yourself?" the old man questioned.
"I-I-I have no idea what you're taking about," Busuzima cried.
"Quite frankly Dr. Busuzima, I think you are full of shit."
"B-but sir!" the scientist pleaded.
"You, Dr. Hajime Busuzima, are fired."
Dejected, Busuzima wheeled out of the office, with Kane following. A few minutes later, Raven heard the sound of a wheelchair falling down the stairs and Busuzima screaming. Kane walked back in, and sat down next to his father.
"I'm sure you didn't want me here just to see Busuzima humiliated. What is going on?"
"I found your mother. She was here all along, in Busuzima's lab. She's gone to my private island, which is what brings me to my next order of business. I'm turning RavenTech over to you."
"What? Why father?"
"I'm not going to sugar coat it. I'm dying. Cancer, the doctors say it's too late for surgery, and the chemo isn't working. I'm going to the island, and spending the rest of my days with your mother."
Tears began to form in Kane's eyes, but he held them back, and stood. "I understand. I'll take good care of your life's work."
"I know you will son. I will hold a press conference next week."
The old man said as he left the room. Kane sat down, sinking it all in. RavenTech was his now. But he couldn't, not alone. Scott was always the businessman, and he's.well. He placed his hand on his head. This was too much. He made his way outside, got on his motorcycle, and headed home. For a few brief minutes, the wind in his hair allowed him to forget.
A Plymouth Prowler pulled up to Kane's home, and Sarah walked out, carrying a couple bags.
"That was fun, she said, we'll have to do it again sometime," she said to Kenji.
"Very funny. You and Kane will meet us at 6:30, right?" "Right. Okay then, later!" she said as Kenji pulled away. As she made her way up the driveway, she noticed Kane's motorcycle. She walked in, but found the house quiet and dark. She made her way through several rooms, until he found him in the dojo, meditating in the dark. She walked over, got on her knees, and put her arms around him.
"Honey, what's wrong?" she asked.
"My father..he's dying."
"I'm so sorry."
"That's not what's really bothering me. He was never really there for me, I hardly knew the guy. It's that he's leaving RavenTech to me. I was never a good businessman, that was Scott's calling," he relaxed, having got that off his chest. "But that's not important, we have other things to worry about. Did you get it?"
"Yeah, it's perfect."
"Good, I can't wait for tonight," he said giving Sarah a light kiss.
The night approached, and Kane clad himself in his best tuxedo. He looked at Sarah, clad in an eye popping black velvet dress with a slit up to her thigh. Her hair was bunched up into a bum, and her lipstick was a red as a rose. They climbed into the limo, and went to Kenji's house. They emerged, with Kenji wearing a black tuxedo and Uriko in a red satin dress. The two climbed into the limo and sat adjacent to Kane and Sarah. Kane, Sarah and Uriko laughed and talked the whole way, but Kenji remained silent. It wasn't the usual, calm silence, but an uneasy, nervous quiet.
Sarah and Uriko exited the limo first, followed by Kane and Kenji.
"I don't know if I can do this," Kenji said nervously.
"Carpe diem, Kenji. Carpe diem," He said, walking up to Sarah and hooking her arm. Uriko walked over to Kenji, took his hand, and led him into the restaurant. The waitress took their order, when Uriko noticed that the place was empty.
"I reserved the whole restaurant for the entire night." Kane answered Uriko inquisitiveness
"Which means the dance floor is all ours!" Uriko said. She dragged Kenji over to the dance floor, as Kane secretly cued the DJ to play "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica. Together, Kenji and Uriko glided across the dance floor. Such grace and elegance neither Kane nor Sarah had ever seen before. They moved as one, each spin and twirl painting a picture, and oh what a story it told. Six minutes and twenty eight seconds of pure poetry in motion. Kane and Sarah applauded, and gave their praise.
After the song was done, dinner had arrived. Kenji ordered a simple order of Sushi, while Uriko opted for a boiled swordfish and a side of scallops. Sarah opted for a Cesar salad, and Kane had a 12 oz. NY strip steak with mashed potatoes. After they were done eating, the waitress took their plates, and they engaged in light conversation. Every so often, Kane glanced at Kenji. His nervousness returned, until finally, he decided to do something about it.
He looked deep into Uriko's eyes, took her hand in his, and spoke. "When I first met you, I tried to kill you. But you saw past that, you saw the real me. Ever since then, you've been by my side, never leaving, never waning in your feelings for me. I love you, more than I can ever say. I know we're both young, but as Kane told me, 'for people like us, there may be no tomorrow', which is also what Alice and Yugo told me."
Uriko's eyes filled with tears as Kenji got up from his seat, reached into his pocket to retrieve a small black box, and got onto one knee. "Uriko," he began has he opened the box to reveal a sparkling diamond ring, "will you marry me?"
* Why do I feel like I'm really sticking my neck out on this one? Oh well, this is the chapter you Keniko lovers will love me or hate me for, and hopefully it's the former! ^_^; *hears a guillotine * O_O*
Kenji woke from an uneasy sleep. It was early morning, and the sun had barely risen. He slowly got out of bed, as to not disturb his sleeping girlfriend. He placed a pillow where he had been for her to rest her head against. He bent down, kissed her cheek, and she smiled, nestled her head into the pillow, and continued sleeping. He spent a minute, just admiring the beauty of Uriko Nonomura. She was truly everything he had ever wanted, and the only one that could make him whole. He quietly sighed, and made his way to the kitchen. He downed a glass of orange juice, and grabbed the phone. Dialing quickly, he waited until a familiar voice answered.
"Yugo? I need to talk to you," He said over the line.
He had arranged some clothes the prior night. A collared sweater, some jeans, nothing major. He quickly dressed himself, put on some deodorant, combed his hair and brushed his teeth. He then went out to the hallway, checked the bedroom to make sure Uriko was still asleep, and went outside.
He got into his car, and pulled out the drive. A million thoughts raced through his head as he pulled up to Kane's house. Sarah was waiting for him outside.
"Where's Kane?" he asked.
"He went to see his father, so he sent me instead. We both thought you could use a woman's touch with this." She replied.
"Alright, fine. Let's get this over with," He said as she climbed in the car.
"C'mon, Kenji, lighten up."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so rude. I guess I'm." Kanji replied, but the word escaped him
"Nervous? You? Heh, I guess you are human after all."
The car sped away.
Kane Darkholm looked at his father, sitting behind his desk. Raven smiled, and pressed a button on the intercom. Dr. Busuzima wheeled in, with a cast around his shattered kneecap.
"Y-yes sir?" he said timidly.
"Dr. Busuzima, I have received information regarding your ties to the Menagerie Project. What do you have to say for yourself?" the old man questioned.
"I-I-I have no idea what you're taking about," Busuzima cried.
"Quite frankly Dr. Busuzima, I think you are full of shit."
"B-but sir!" the scientist pleaded.
"You, Dr. Hajime Busuzima, are fired."
Dejected, Busuzima wheeled out of the office, with Kane following. A few minutes later, Raven heard the sound of a wheelchair falling down the stairs and Busuzima screaming. Kane walked back in, and sat down next to his father.
"I'm sure you didn't want me here just to see Busuzima humiliated. What is going on?"
"I found your mother. She was here all along, in Busuzima's lab. She's gone to my private island, which is what brings me to my next order of business. I'm turning RavenTech over to you."
"What? Why father?"
"I'm not going to sugar coat it. I'm dying. Cancer, the doctors say it's too late for surgery, and the chemo isn't working. I'm going to the island, and spending the rest of my days with your mother."
Tears began to form in Kane's eyes, but he held them back, and stood. "I understand. I'll take good care of your life's work."
"I know you will son. I will hold a press conference next week."
The old man said as he left the room. Kane sat down, sinking it all in. RavenTech was his now. But he couldn't, not alone. Scott was always the businessman, and he's.well. He placed his hand on his head. This was too much. He made his way outside, got on his motorcycle, and headed home. For a few brief minutes, the wind in his hair allowed him to forget.
A Plymouth Prowler pulled up to Kane's home, and Sarah walked out, carrying a couple bags.
"That was fun, she said, we'll have to do it again sometime," she said to Kenji.
"Very funny. You and Kane will meet us at 6:30, right?" "Right. Okay then, later!" she said as Kenji pulled away. As she made her way up the driveway, she noticed Kane's motorcycle. She walked in, but found the house quiet and dark. She made her way through several rooms, until he found him in the dojo, meditating in the dark. She walked over, got on her knees, and put her arms around him.
"Honey, what's wrong?" she asked.
"My father..he's dying."
"I'm so sorry."
"That's not what's really bothering me. He was never really there for me, I hardly knew the guy. It's that he's leaving RavenTech to me. I was never a good businessman, that was Scott's calling," he relaxed, having got that off his chest. "But that's not important, we have other things to worry about. Did you get it?"
"Yeah, it's perfect."
"Good, I can't wait for tonight," he said giving Sarah a light kiss.
The night approached, and Kane clad himself in his best tuxedo. He looked at Sarah, clad in an eye popping black velvet dress with a slit up to her thigh. Her hair was bunched up into a bum, and her lipstick was a red as a rose. They climbed into the limo, and went to Kenji's house. They emerged, with Kenji wearing a black tuxedo and Uriko in a red satin dress. The two climbed into the limo and sat adjacent to Kane and Sarah. Kane, Sarah and Uriko laughed and talked the whole way, but Kenji remained silent. It wasn't the usual, calm silence, but an uneasy, nervous quiet.
Sarah and Uriko exited the limo first, followed by Kane and Kenji.
"I don't know if I can do this," Kenji said nervously.
"Carpe diem, Kenji. Carpe diem," He said, walking up to Sarah and hooking her arm. Uriko walked over to Kenji, took his hand, and led him into the restaurant. The waitress took their order, when Uriko noticed that the place was empty.
"I reserved the whole restaurant for the entire night." Kane answered Uriko inquisitiveness
"Which means the dance floor is all ours!" Uriko said. She dragged Kenji over to the dance floor, as Kane secretly cued the DJ to play "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica. Together, Kenji and Uriko glided across the dance floor. Such grace and elegance neither Kane nor Sarah had ever seen before. They moved as one, each spin and twirl painting a picture, and oh what a story it told. Six minutes and twenty eight seconds of pure poetry in motion. Kane and Sarah applauded, and gave their praise.
After the song was done, dinner had arrived. Kenji ordered a simple order of Sushi, while Uriko opted for a boiled swordfish and a side of scallops. Sarah opted for a Cesar salad, and Kane had a 12 oz. NY strip steak with mashed potatoes. After they were done eating, the waitress took their plates, and they engaged in light conversation. Every so often, Kane glanced at Kenji. His nervousness returned, until finally, he decided to do something about it.
He looked deep into Uriko's eyes, took her hand in his, and spoke. "When I first met you, I tried to kill you. But you saw past that, you saw the real me. Ever since then, you've been by my side, never leaving, never waning in your feelings for me. I love you, more than I can ever say. I know we're both young, but as Kane told me, 'for people like us, there may be no tomorrow', which is also what Alice and Yugo told me."
Uriko's eyes filled with tears as Kenji got up from his seat, reached into his pocket to retrieve a small black box, and got onto one knee. "Uriko," he began has he opened the box to reveal a sparkling diamond ring, "will you marry me?"