Where the Broken Heart Still Beats
Part: 1
By: Jean Lyons
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Katai & Co. I don't even own the title. Have you ever read "Where the Broken Heart Still Beats?" It's good, but it's got absolutely nothing to do with this story. I'm not sure how long this will be. I know it will be better than when I first wrote it, because I read this timeline that was quite helpful, that it was. I don't remember the URL, but it was Hitokiris Anonymous. I thought it was funny. I can imagine Kenshin going there and saying blandly, "Hi, I'm Kenshin. I kill people." And everyone else says "Hi, Kenshin!" In unison overly sweetly. anyway. This is after all of that, but only by a few years. He's the big 30! Ok, I'm shutting up. . . Now for the story.
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Kenshin walked down the street in the direction of home. Home is a nice word, Kenshin thought. With him, he carried his son, Kenji, who had just taken his first steps recently. On his way, he passed a girl sitting on the edge of the street with a strange stringed instrument playing a strange song. He caught a snatch of the words. ".This is my call I can do nothing else. I can do nothing else."
He thought nothing of it and continued toward home. Kenji yelled happily and pointed at something. Kenshin turned and saw Yahiko walk past. He stopped and said hello, and continued on his way. He reached his home as the sun was setting. He went inside, where he found his wife waiting for him. He kissed her on the cheek and gave Kenji to her and they went to eat dinner. They seemed to have a storybook life now. Kenshin knew it was a big step up from his days as the Battousai. He pondered this as they put Kenji to bed and went themselves. Kenshin watched his wife drift off to sleep and turned onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He was thinking about how much his life had settled down since he and Kaoru had gotten married, only to change once more when Kenji was born. He never could get a moments peace, could he? He didn't mind much, though. Kaoru and Kenji made him happier than anything in the world. Suddenly, he heard the song of the girl he'd seen on the street. Why would she still be out? He wondered. Her song permeated his thoughts and he just listened. ".This is my call, I belong to you. This is my call to sing the melodies of you. This is my call, I can do nothing else. I can do nothing else." Kenshin blocked out the sound and went to sleep.
Over the next few days, the routine was the same. He would do housework, while Kaoru taught. He was glad she had been able to resume teaching after all she'd been through. He hated that he'd brought her so much trouble, but he was glad it was over. But, every day after lunch, he would take a long walk, always taking Kenji with him because he wailed if Kenshin left him alone with Kaoru. He would always come home just in time for dinner and after, he would put Kenji to bed. He and Kaoru would talk awhile before going to bed themselves. Every day, as he walked, he saw the girl with the strange instrument playing and singing to no apparent audience. It was always the same song. One day, he was almost disappointed to see that she was not there. The song was beautiful. He had grown attached to the snatches he had heard. He had never heard the whole song. That evening, he saw that she was there again. This time, he stopped for a moment to listen. He still did not catch the whole song, but he caught a bit more than before. He then hurried home, Kenji needing Kaoru.
As they put Kenji to bed that night, Kenshin kept humming the girl's song. "Kenshin, what is that? It sounds familiar." Asked Kaoru.
"Do you ever hear that girl singing in the street?"
"Yes."
"That's her song."
"It's nice."
"I see her on my walks every day. She just stares into space and sings."
"I've seen her singing a different song. One day, I went to the market to get something for dinner while you were gone and she was singing to a group of children. It was a cute song. I've heard the one you speak of, but only from here, so it's rather faint." They went back to putting Kenji to bed, before going themselves.
The next day, he saw what Kaoru had spoken of. There was a crown of children around the girl this time, and the song was different. He stopped to listen to this one, which was much shorter than the other. She continued to sing with the children as Kenshin walked away.
Kenshin walked only a few feet before turning back to the girl to ask a favor.
"Miss, may I ask a favor?"
The girl stopped singing and looked up from her spot on the ground. Some of the children around her moved so Kenshin could step a bit closer.
"Do you wish for me to look after him?" she said, gesturing toward Kenji. How had she known? Kenshin nodded. "I'm Katai." She said with a smile.
"I'm Kenshin and this is Kenji."
"He's adorable. When do you intend to be back for him?"
"Around dinner time."
"He'll be fine," she said with a reassuring smile.
"Thank you," Kenshin said kindly, and he walked away once more. While he loved to walk with his son, it was nice not to have to worry about someone attacking him and hurting Kenji. He would be fine with Katai.
About an hour later, Kaoru came to this part of town to buy something for dinner. Her afternoon class would not start for a little, so she had time. She saw where Katai normally sat. She was there with the children, but she was not singing. She was laughing and telling a story. Kaoru looked over at the group and was shocked at what she saw. In the midst of the group in Katai's lap was Kenji. She went calmly over to the group and asked where Kenshin was.
Pointing, Katai said, "He went that way about an hour ago."
"But why has he left Kenji here?"
"He takes Kenji on his walks with him every day. Perhaps he just wanted one day where he didn't have to worry about someone attacking him and hurting Kenji." Perceptive, eh?
"Then why did he not leave him at home with me?"
"Perhaps the same reason he never does?"
"Which is?"
"How should I know? I only have spoken to him once, and he didn't say. Perhaps you know?"
"Give him to me."
She shrugged. "He's your son." And she handed Kenji to Kaoru. Kenji immediately began to wail. Kaoru handed him back to Katai.
"He never has liked me much. But Kenshin? Children love him. How does he do it?"
"Perhaps it's because his ki is much calmer than yours."
"What do you know about his ki?" Kaoru asked, almost bitterly.
"I know he's very kind and seemingly always calm. This I can tell from his ki."
"I don't have time for this," Kaoru nearly screamed, "Tell Kenshin he can sleep out in the rain tonight for all I care!" She stomped off muttering something about her lack of ki sensing ability.
Later, Kenshin came back for Kenji. By now, the children had all gone home and Katai sat alone with Kenji. She gave the child to him and stood. He saw now what he had not before. This young woman was going to have a baby. He stared for a moment wondering what to make of it.
"You are married?"
"No." Katai said sadly.
"You have something to say."
"I spoke to your wife. She seemed unhappy. I think, perhaps she is ill."
"What makes you say so?"
"Her ki is weak. Go home to her Kenshin." She waved him off and sat back down.
As Kenshin turned away, he noticed one last child hiding behind something. She saw that he noticed her and ran to Katai, who smiled. Cute little girl, Kenshin thought. He smiled and walked home.
He arrived home to find Kaoru sweating profusely. She was right, Kenshin thought, she really is ill. He cooked dinner himself that night, hoping it wasn't her scant amount of culinary skill that had made her so sick. Come to think of it, he still felt kind of strange from a few days ago. He couldn't help but wonder what it was. For a week or so, Kenshin did not take his walks, but stayed home to care for Kaoru.
Kenshin came from the market knowing things were going from bad to worse to nearly terrifying. Kaoru was not doing well at all. He went to her side where he could hear her breathing coming in jagged rasps. Her eyes were half closed and her lips parched, but he didn't mind. He kissed her and held her hand, assuring her that he was not going anywhere. He stared past her, out the window. He watched people pass and a couple of men in a drunken fight. He stared for awhile before realizing that Kaoru's hand had gone limp and her breathing was much slower. He stared into her half open eyes, whispering quietly but desperately, "No, Kaoru! There is no way I am letting you go now. Not now, please. Just hang on!" but, by the time he finished it was too late. Kaoru was dead. He held her limp hand and kissed her one last time.
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*~TBC~*
Umm. That's all for now, I guess.
Kaoru: I can't believe you killed me off!
Jean: Sorry, but if you were alive, how could Kenshin fall in love with someone else? **Claps a hand over mouth** I've said too much. **Shoves a screaming and fighting and overall angry Kaoru into a cage where she keeps dead characters from all of her past stories.As Jean attempts to lock the cage door, Kaoru beats the crap out of Michael (from 'What the Heart wants') who, apparently is experiencing Rebecca withdrawal and has touched her inappropriately**
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Katai & Co. I don't even own the title. Have you ever read "Where the Broken Heart Still Beats?" It's good, but it's got absolutely nothing to do with this story. I'm not sure how long this will be. I know it will be better than when I first wrote it, because I read this timeline that was quite helpful, that it was. I don't remember the URL, but it was Hitokiris Anonymous. I thought it was funny. I can imagine Kenshin going there and saying blandly, "Hi, I'm Kenshin. I kill people." And everyone else says "Hi, Kenshin!" In unison overly sweetly. anyway. This is after all of that, but only by a few years. He's the big 30! Ok, I'm shutting up. . . Now for the story.
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Kenshin walked down the street in the direction of home. Home is a nice word, Kenshin thought. With him, he carried his son, Kenji, who had just taken his first steps recently. On his way, he passed a girl sitting on the edge of the street with a strange stringed instrument playing a strange song. He caught a snatch of the words. ".This is my call I can do nothing else. I can do nothing else."
He thought nothing of it and continued toward home. Kenji yelled happily and pointed at something. Kenshin turned and saw Yahiko walk past. He stopped and said hello, and continued on his way. He reached his home as the sun was setting. He went inside, where he found his wife waiting for him. He kissed her on the cheek and gave Kenji to her and they went to eat dinner. They seemed to have a storybook life now. Kenshin knew it was a big step up from his days as the Battousai. He pondered this as they put Kenji to bed and went themselves. Kenshin watched his wife drift off to sleep and turned onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He was thinking about how much his life had settled down since he and Kaoru had gotten married, only to change once more when Kenji was born. He never could get a moments peace, could he? He didn't mind much, though. Kaoru and Kenji made him happier than anything in the world. Suddenly, he heard the song of the girl he'd seen on the street. Why would she still be out? He wondered. Her song permeated his thoughts and he just listened. ".This is my call, I belong to you. This is my call to sing the melodies of you. This is my call, I can do nothing else. I can do nothing else." Kenshin blocked out the sound and went to sleep.
Over the next few days, the routine was the same. He would do housework, while Kaoru taught. He was glad she had been able to resume teaching after all she'd been through. He hated that he'd brought her so much trouble, but he was glad it was over. But, every day after lunch, he would take a long walk, always taking Kenji with him because he wailed if Kenshin left him alone with Kaoru. He would always come home just in time for dinner and after, he would put Kenji to bed. He and Kaoru would talk awhile before going to bed themselves. Every day, as he walked, he saw the girl with the strange instrument playing and singing to no apparent audience. It was always the same song. One day, he was almost disappointed to see that she was not there. The song was beautiful. He had grown attached to the snatches he had heard. He had never heard the whole song. That evening, he saw that she was there again. This time, he stopped for a moment to listen. He still did not catch the whole song, but he caught a bit more than before. He then hurried home, Kenji needing Kaoru.
As they put Kenji to bed that night, Kenshin kept humming the girl's song. "Kenshin, what is that? It sounds familiar." Asked Kaoru.
"Do you ever hear that girl singing in the street?"
"Yes."
"That's her song."
"It's nice."
"I see her on my walks every day. She just stares into space and sings."
"I've seen her singing a different song. One day, I went to the market to get something for dinner while you were gone and she was singing to a group of children. It was a cute song. I've heard the one you speak of, but only from here, so it's rather faint." They went back to putting Kenji to bed, before going themselves.
The next day, he saw what Kaoru had spoken of. There was a crown of children around the girl this time, and the song was different. He stopped to listen to this one, which was much shorter than the other. She continued to sing with the children as Kenshin walked away.
Kenshin walked only a few feet before turning back to the girl to ask a favor.
"Miss, may I ask a favor?"
The girl stopped singing and looked up from her spot on the ground. Some of the children around her moved so Kenshin could step a bit closer.
"Do you wish for me to look after him?" she said, gesturing toward Kenji. How had she known? Kenshin nodded. "I'm Katai." She said with a smile.
"I'm Kenshin and this is Kenji."
"He's adorable. When do you intend to be back for him?"
"Around dinner time."
"He'll be fine," she said with a reassuring smile.
"Thank you," Kenshin said kindly, and he walked away once more. While he loved to walk with his son, it was nice not to have to worry about someone attacking him and hurting Kenji. He would be fine with Katai.
About an hour later, Kaoru came to this part of town to buy something for dinner. Her afternoon class would not start for a little, so she had time. She saw where Katai normally sat. She was there with the children, but she was not singing. She was laughing and telling a story. Kaoru looked over at the group and was shocked at what she saw. In the midst of the group in Katai's lap was Kenji. She went calmly over to the group and asked where Kenshin was.
Pointing, Katai said, "He went that way about an hour ago."
"But why has he left Kenji here?"
"He takes Kenji on his walks with him every day. Perhaps he just wanted one day where he didn't have to worry about someone attacking him and hurting Kenji." Perceptive, eh?
"Then why did he not leave him at home with me?"
"Perhaps the same reason he never does?"
"Which is?"
"How should I know? I only have spoken to him once, and he didn't say. Perhaps you know?"
"Give him to me."
She shrugged. "He's your son." And she handed Kenji to Kaoru. Kenji immediately began to wail. Kaoru handed him back to Katai.
"He never has liked me much. But Kenshin? Children love him. How does he do it?"
"Perhaps it's because his ki is much calmer than yours."
"What do you know about his ki?" Kaoru asked, almost bitterly.
"I know he's very kind and seemingly always calm. This I can tell from his ki."
"I don't have time for this," Kaoru nearly screamed, "Tell Kenshin he can sleep out in the rain tonight for all I care!" She stomped off muttering something about her lack of ki sensing ability.
Later, Kenshin came back for Kenji. By now, the children had all gone home and Katai sat alone with Kenji. She gave the child to him and stood. He saw now what he had not before. This young woman was going to have a baby. He stared for a moment wondering what to make of it.
"You are married?"
"No." Katai said sadly.
"You have something to say."
"I spoke to your wife. She seemed unhappy. I think, perhaps she is ill."
"What makes you say so?"
"Her ki is weak. Go home to her Kenshin." She waved him off and sat back down.
As Kenshin turned away, he noticed one last child hiding behind something. She saw that he noticed her and ran to Katai, who smiled. Cute little girl, Kenshin thought. He smiled and walked home.
He arrived home to find Kaoru sweating profusely. She was right, Kenshin thought, she really is ill. He cooked dinner himself that night, hoping it wasn't her scant amount of culinary skill that had made her so sick. Come to think of it, he still felt kind of strange from a few days ago. He couldn't help but wonder what it was. For a week or so, Kenshin did not take his walks, but stayed home to care for Kaoru.
Kenshin came from the market knowing things were going from bad to worse to nearly terrifying. Kaoru was not doing well at all. He went to her side where he could hear her breathing coming in jagged rasps. Her eyes were half closed and her lips parched, but he didn't mind. He kissed her and held her hand, assuring her that he was not going anywhere. He stared past her, out the window. He watched people pass and a couple of men in a drunken fight. He stared for awhile before realizing that Kaoru's hand had gone limp and her breathing was much slower. He stared into her half open eyes, whispering quietly but desperately, "No, Kaoru! There is no way I am letting you go now. Not now, please. Just hang on!" but, by the time he finished it was too late. Kaoru was dead. He held her limp hand and kissed her one last time.
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*~TBC~*
Umm. That's all for now, I guess.
Kaoru: I can't believe you killed me off!
Jean: Sorry, but if you were alive, how could Kenshin fall in love with someone else? **Claps a hand over mouth** I've said too much. **Shoves a screaming and fighting and overall angry Kaoru into a cage where she keeps dead characters from all of her past stories.As Jean attempts to lock the cage door, Kaoru beats the crap out of Michael (from 'What the Heart wants') who, apparently is experiencing Rebecca withdrawal and has touched her inappropriately**