Ch. 13: Eternity is in the Eyes.
*I hope nobody minds, but I'm giving Kenji and Uriko a western style wedding, seeing as it's the only kind I know enough to write about. As for the chapter, it's a quote I said once, I just remembered it for some reason. So there's a lot of eye references in this chapter (it's my favorite body part) *
Slowly, Kane rose from his bed. It had been nearly a month since he hurt his ribs in a fight against Long. Long was already fully healed from his injuries, and was training in the dojo with Uriko. Kane hated this feeling of helplessness. Sarah was at school, so he didn't have her to talk to. The cold kitchen floor woke him up as it sent a chill up his spine. He made his way to the refrigerator, and took out a bottle of Jack Daniels. He poured it in a glass with several ice cubes. It helped dull the pain, which was almost unbearable. But what was more unbearable is what the pain did to him. He needed to be free, to fly. He couldn't even make love to Sarah, or hold her in his arms. She was so distant, as close as she tried to stay to him. She spent her every waking hour doing everything she could for him, and he was thankful.
"I'll have to show her how much I appreciate it after I heal," he thought, taking another drink. He walked away from the kitchen, into the living room, past other various corridors, and to the dojo. Uriko and Long were inside sparring. Uriko was a very impressive fighter, giving the master the fight of his life. He could hear their light banter.
"I still can't believe you're engaged," Long said, "it makes me feel old. I remember when you first came to me, wanting to learn martial arts so you could fight Shenlong," Long said.
"Yeah, that was so long ago, I had just met Kenji. It feels just like yesterday." Uriko responded.
Kane walked away. Times he wasn't around for. He hadn't known Uriko then. He walked back to his bedroom, and climbed in. The light from his TV cast shadows over his face. He wasn't sad, no, he was afraid. The Tylon Corporation, Shenlong, Xion, Cronos, these people had faced it all. But were they ready for the storm on the horizon? August first, that day lingered in his mind. Scott was a far more dangerous animal than any they had ever faced. Scott was smart, cunning, ruthless, and possessed a trait far more dangerous, desperation.
He closed his eyes. Those days will come, but first there was the wedding. A joyous occasion, one he should look forward to. He slept peacefully, but that shadow still lurked in the back of his mind.
A kiss awakened him, and he opened his eyes to see Sarah smiling at him. He smiled and kissed her back, instinctively placing his hand on her breast. She smiled, tears filling her eyes as he pulled his hand away.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. Her eyes haunted him, that look of sadness. They had grown apart since the injury, and it was killing him inside.
"I'm going to make dinner," she said as she turned to leave.
Tears filled his eyes as he tried to get up. He sank back into bed, failing miserably. He cursed himself, and then tried again to get up. He made his way to the kitchen, and placed his arms around Sarah.
"I love you, Sarah." He said kissing her neck.
"I know," she replied, "I love you too. But you should be in bed."
"I can't stand it anymore. I need to be with you."
"Okay, but if you don't let go, I'll never get dinner ready."
Kane let go, and hobbled to the table. The air became heavy with the smell of spices. Sarah was a master of the culinary arts, that's what she was in college for. She hoped to become a world-class chef, and Kane was always encouraging her. She walked in, with two plates of lobster tails, shrimp, and scallops. Kane happily downed his plate as Sarah consumed her food much more gingerly. Sarah rose to her feet and grabbed her purse.
"I'm going over to Kenji's and Uriko's to help with the wedding planning. I'll be home soon."
"I'm going," Kane said. Sarah smiled at her boyfriend's persistence. He was one tough bastard, if nothing else. She helped him to the guesthouse, and they walked in. Yugo, Kenji's best man, and Alice, Uriko's maid of honor, were inside with them. They sat around the fireplace. The young couple's eyes were full of excitement, as were all those involved.
They planned out everything that was to happen, as well as everyone's roles. Kane was going to provide music and supervise the decoration, and Sarah was to cater the event, aided by Kane's servants. An invitation was made for Yugo's old friend Alan Gado, whom they hoped would officiate the ceremony. His daughter Shina Gado, Gado's "friend" Jenny, as well as several of Uriko's friends were also invited. It was going to be a small ceremony, with only a dozen or so guests.
"As far as I can tell, your ribs are all healed, the cast is off and the bone is fully healed, your %100 okay," Kane heard the doctor say. I had only been two months since his injuries, and he had made a miraculous recovery. "Quite frankly, I don't know how you did it. I mean you're in extraordinary shape and all..."
"I guess I just heal fast." Kane said grabbing his coat. "I'll see you next time I get banged up, doc." He exited the hospital, leaving the confused doctor behind.
Kane walked into the house with a definite strut in his walk. He looked around, and noticed that Sarah was still in school. He had his best chefs, besides Sarah of course, make the finest dinner they could, and gave them the rest of the night off. He placed candle all along the windowsills and counters, and two in the middle of the dining table, and lit them all. He dimmed the lights, and waited. When he heard a car pull up, he put on some romantic violin music, set the table, poured some champagne, and smiled as Sarah walked through the door.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"The doctor gave me a clean bill of health. I wanted to celebrate. I'm healthy, you're beautiful, and our two best friends are getting married in a week, what is there not to celebrate?"
"You're right," Sarah said as she walked over and kissed him. She sat down, and ate the dinner that Kane's chefs had prepared. Their eyes never left each other through the candlelight. After they had eaten, Kane lifted Sarah's hand towards an open floor, and the two danced. Her eyes transfixed Kane, never looking away from them. He danced her to the bedroom, and laid her on the bed. He placed his hand on her breast, still looking deep into her eyes. He stripped off her clothing and hovered on top of her. Slowly the two made love, with a heat that permeated the entire house. The candles burned brightly, casting their light on their bodies, wrapped in bed sheets. Sweat slickened them to the touch as their hands raced up and down each other's body. The night went on, as did they. Eventually, they were exhausted. Sarah lay next to him, looking into his eyes. The look of separation was gone, replaced by a closeness they never knew before. Where once his mind was full of uncertainty, he was now aware of only her. They were one, yet not the same.
Sarah walked to her car the next day after school. She spotted Uriko out of the corner of her eye. She walked over, and said one word to her with a wide grin.
"Nine."
*I hope nobody minds, but I'm giving Kenji and Uriko a western style wedding, seeing as it's the only kind I know enough to write about. As for the chapter, it's a quote I said once, I just remembered it for some reason. So there's a lot of eye references in this chapter (it's my favorite body part) *
Slowly, Kane rose from his bed. It had been nearly a month since he hurt his ribs in a fight against Long. Long was already fully healed from his injuries, and was training in the dojo with Uriko. Kane hated this feeling of helplessness. Sarah was at school, so he didn't have her to talk to. The cold kitchen floor woke him up as it sent a chill up his spine. He made his way to the refrigerator, and took out a bottle of Jack Daniels. He poured it in a glass with several ice cubes. It helped dull the pain, which was almost unbearable. But what was more unbearable is what the pain did to him. He needed to be free, to fly. He couldn't even make love to Sarah, or hold her in his arms. She was so distant, as close as she tried to stay to him. She spent her every waking hour doing everything she could for him, and he was thankful.
"I'll have to show her how much I appreciate it after I heal," he thought, taking another drink. He walked away from the kitchen, into the living room, past other various corridors, and to the dojo. Uriko and Long were inside sparring. Uriko was a very impressive fighter, giving the master the fight of his life. He could hear their light banter.
"I still can't believe you're engaged," Long said, "it makes me feel old. I remember when you first came to me, wanting to learn martial arts so you could fight Shenlong," Long said.
"Yeah, that was so long ago, I had just met Kenji. It feels just like yesterday." Uriko responded.
Kane walked away. Times he wasn't around for. He hadn't known Uriko then. He walked back to his bedroom, and climbed in. The light from his TV cast shadows over his face. He wasn't sad, no, he was afraid. The Tylon Corporation, Shenlong, Xion, Cronos, these people had faced it all. But were they ready for the storm on the horizon? August first, that day lingered in his mind. Scott was a far more dangerous animal than any they had ever faced. Scott was smart, cunning, ruthless, and possessed a trait far more dangerous, desperation.
He closed his eyes. Those days will come, but first there was the wedding. A joyous occasion, one he should look forward to. He slept peacefully, but that shadow still lurked in the back of his mind.
A kiss awakened him, and he opened his eyes to see Sarah smiling at him. He smiled and kissed her back, instinctively placing his hand on her breast. She smiled, tears filling her eyes as he pulled his hand away.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. Her eyes haunted him, that look of sadness. They had grown apart since the injury, and it was killing him inside.
"I'm going to make dinner," she said as she turned to leave.
Tears filled his eyes as he tried to get up. He sank back into bed, failing miserably. He cursed himself, and then tried again to get up. He made his way to the kitchen, and placed his arms around Sarah.
"I love you, Sarah." He said kissing her neck.
"I know," she replied, "I love you too. But you should be in bed."
"I can't stand it anymore. I need to be with you."
"Okay, but if you don't let go, I'll never get dinner ready."
Kane let go, and hobbled to the table. The air became heavy with the smell of spices. Sarah was a master of the culinary arts, that's what she was in college for. She hoped to become a world-class chef, and Kane was always encouraging her. She walked in, with two plates of lobster tails, shrimp, and scallops. Kane happily downed his plate as Sarah consumed her food much more gingerly. Sarah rose to her feet and grabbed her purse.
"I'm going over to Kenji's and Uriko's to help with the wedding planning. I'll be home soon."
"I'm going," Kane said. Sarah smiled at her boyfriend's persistence. He was one tough bastard, if nothing else. She helped him to the guesthouse, and they walked in. Yugo, Kenji's best man, and Alice, Uriko's maid of honor, were inside with them. They sat around the fireplace. The young couple's eyes were full of excitement, as were all those involved.
They planned out everything that was to happen, as well as everyone's roles. Kane was going to provide music and supervise the decoration, and Sarah was to cater the event, aided by Kane's servants. An invitation was made for Yugo's old friend Alan Gado, whom they hoped would officiate the ceremony. His daughter Shina Gado, Gado's "friend" Jenny, as well as several of Uriko's friends were also invited. It was going to be a small ceremony, with only a dozen or so guests.
"As far as I can tell, your ribs are all healed, the cast is off and the bone is fully healed, your %100 okay," Kane heard the doctor say. I had only been two months since his injuries, and he had made a miraculous recovery. "Quite frankly, I don't know how you did it. I mean you're in extraordinary shape and all..."
"I guess I just heal fast." Kane said grabbing his coat. "I'll see you next time I get banged up, doc." He exited the hospital, leaving the confused doctor behind.
Kane walked into the house with a definite strut in his walk. He looked around, and noticed that Sarah was still in school. He had his best chefs, besides Sarah of course, make the finest dinner they could, and gave them the rest of the night off. He placed candle all along the windowsills and counters, and two in the middle of the dining table, and lit them all. He dimmed the lights, and waited. When he heard a car pull up, he put on some romantic violin music, set the table, poured some champagne, and smiled as Sarah walked through the door.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"The doctor gave me a clean bill of health. I wanted to celebrate. I'm healthy, you're beautiful, and our two best friends are getting married in a week, what is there not to celebrate?"
"You're right," Sarah said as she walked over and kissed him. She sat down, and ate the dinner that Kane's chefs had prepared. Their eyes never left each other through the candlelight. After they had eaten, Kane lifted Sarah's hand towards an open floor, and the two danced. Her eyes transfixed Kane, never looking away from them. He danced her to the bedroom, and laid her on the bed. He placed his hand on her breast, still looking deep into her eyes. He stripped off her clothing and hovered on top of her. Slowly the two made love, with a heat that permeated the entire house. The candles burned brightly, casting their light on their bodies, wrapped in bed sheets. Sweat slickened them to the touch as their hands raced up and down each other's body. The night went on, as did they. Eventually, they were exhausted. Sarah lay next to him, looking into his eyes. The look of separation was gone, replaced by a closeness they never knew before. Where once his mind was full of uncertainty, he was now aware of only her. They were one, yet not the same.
Sarah walked to her car the next day after school. She spotted Uriko out of the corner of her eye. She walked over, and said one word to her with a wide grin.
"Nine."